Now that we are back in the United States, we have been missing all of the food that we experienced during our time in Europe. We are strong advocates of trying a variety of foods when you are travelling, even if it takes you out of your comfort zone at times. We wish that there were more family owned, local, farm-to-table restaurants here for us to enjoy like when we were travelling. We haven’t had the opportunity to try and replicate any of the meals that we tasted since we aren’t in our new home yet, but we are looking forward to trying to capture the essence of some of those dishes. It wasn’t just about trying the local food, but sometimes simply about going into a small restaurant with authentic food from another region of the world. At the end of the day, what mattered most was the love for the food and the seasonally fresh ingredients.
Charming RestaurantRestaurant in Lucca, ItalyPork and Potato DumplingBrazen Head Pub – The Oldest Pub in Dublin, Ireland
When looking for a restaurant, don’t always just go to the ones on the main streets of the tourist locations. Look for restaurants on the smaller side streets, talk to the locals and find out where they eat, read the menus and be inspired to give a place a try just based on the food that they offer. We were able to find many truly unique restaurants during our travels and each of them had their own worldly charm. The ambiance of the places can definitely add to the overall experience, whether it is the artwork or photos on the wall, the lights, stained glass windows, etc. We will continue to do our best to experiment with new places and look forward to finding places here in the US that have that same commitment to food, service, and atmosphere.
Restaurant in Nuremburg, GermanyVenison with Red CabbageRestaurant in Prague
To say that the food of Tuscany, at least Florence and Lucca where we ate, is delicious is an understatement. What makes it so good? Fresh ingredients, fresh pasta, and a true love for food. You can expect to find authentic, brick-oven, fire-roasted pizza and a wonderful variety of pasta dishes. What you shouldn’t expect is to find dishes that you have never heard of and are not sure of what they are. Authentic Italian food can be found throughout the world and it seems to be one of the few cuisines that has exported itself without losing its fundamental roots. The difference, as we have said, is the attention to detail and the use of the freshest ingredients.
Fresh Zucchini RavioliDuck LegAuthentic PizzaMussels in White Wine Sauce
There is something about the tomatoes and herbs that are grown in Tuscany that seem to truly make a difference. Despite the fact that there were so many pasta dishes available, we tended to gravitate towards fresh seafood and items that might be a little more unique. Throughout Europe, we found that food was always prepared using what was in season and not just a set menu that was served throughout the entire year. We truly enjoyed the wonderful food that we tasted during our time there and will measure all Italian meals in the future against these wonderful creations.
Veal in a Mushroom SauceRoasted VegetablesRabbit SaladOf Course We Ate Oysters
We were determined not to let the weather dampen our spirits as we ventured back to the city of love for a quick weekend trip. Although it was definitely a rainy weekend, we enjoyed our trip as much as if the sun had been shining from sunrise to sunset. Since we had been to Paris before, this trip was about spending time together in a city that was actually the first place in Europe that the two of us ever visited together. Perhaps it didn’t make for the most picturesque of trips, but that wasn’t what this trip was meant to be about. We went into Montmartre and looked over the gorgeous landscape that is downtown Paris. We listened to a nun give a service in the Basilica de Sacré-Cœur, which was actually quite an interesting experience as we don’t normally see nuns lead a service.
Bringing Back Great MemoriesThe Eiffel Tower is Impressive even on a Rainy DayThe Arc de TriompheService in the BasilicaView from Montmartre
Of course there was plenty of food and wine, but we did what we like to do the most while we are in Paris, we walked the streets. Around every corner, whether walking along the Seine or heading into the neighborhoods, the buildings and the scenery are always incredible. Despite the rain, there was a definite feeling of Spring in the air, which is unusual for us as we don’t normally think about a green grass in Colorado until May. We can’t go to Paris without at least walking by the Eiffel Tower, but we decided to retake a photo from our very first visit, at least as close as we could since our daughter was not with us. We did not go to the top again, mostly due to the weather, but also due to our limited time in the city.
ReminiscingWalking the StreetsMuseum D’OrsayStatue on one of the BridgesSigns of Tolerance
We climbed to the top of the Arc de Triomphe, which was actually something that we had never done before and would definitely recommend. Obviously the views are not as astounding as those from the top of the Eiffel Tower or Montmartre, but they are still worth the effort to climb the approximate 250 stairs. One of the priorities for our visit was to buy a piece of art from one of the street artists along the Seine, although there were very few out due to the time of year and the weather. We were about to give up when we came upon a stall with some original oil paintings that were exactly what we had hoped to find. Finding various paintings, etches, or sketches in the different places that we have traveled to during our time here in Europe has become one of the ways that we have chosen to memorialize our time abroad.
Champs-ÉlyséesUnder the ArcView of the Eiffel Tower from the Top of the ArcView from the Arc de TriompheThe Basilica Sacré-Cœur
The next few weeks will be extremely hectic as we attempt to make the most of our remaining time. Having the opportunity to jump on a train and spend a weekend in Paris is one of the memories that has made the past six months so very special. We have spent many nights reminiscing about the incredible sights that we have seen, people we have met, and food that we have tasted. It will take us as many months to truly share all of our experiences here with all of you, but every moment has made us only want to travel even more during the months and years ahead. Regardless of what the future holds, though, we will leave you with the timeless quote from Rick in the movie Casablanca, “We will always have Paris”.
Bridge to the LouvreEiffel TowerAnother View of the Basilica
