DAY 3 IN PARIS

I had to stop by the animalerie to see the animals. I think this guy wanted to come home with me!

Box of Macaroons for our trip to Italy

Train Ride to the airport Charles De Gaule

Can I tell you how awesome the train (metro subway) is in Paris. Not only is it the cheapest way to get around but the easiest. A new train comes about every 1 minute. Those of you who live in Chicago could really appreciate this. We took the train all through the city and it was extremely safe and cheap. Just my advice, when in Paris don't take taxi's take the metro!

Crepes and Omelettes for breakfast at Cafe Duguerre

Chocolate crepes and 3 pepper and bacon omelette

Le Pain for fresh bread

Stopped by Le Pain to pick up some bread to take to Italy (like Italy needs French bread)!

Last dinner in Paris, Crab Mousse, lobster bisque, filet with a red wine reduction sauce, chocolate mousse for dessert and cappucino to find our way!

Croque Monsieres at midnight. Do you know what a Croque Madamme is? It's a Croque Monsiere with an egg on top!

No, I didn't say grilled ham and cheese. This is a crisp piece of toast with Emantzer cheese and a thin slice of ham grilled to perfection but with no top piece of bread!

DAY 2 IN PARIS-Notre Dame Cathedral

Inside Notre Dame

Pissed off Parisian alligator

Seine River in Paris

Louvre Museum

Mona Lisa

I finally got to see it!

Steak and Pomme Frites for lunch and lots of my Precor treadmill when I get home

The Restaurant is "Relais de Entrecote" and is famous for their "secret sauce". Well I didn't know this before David gave us the recommendation. I loved the sauce on the steak so much I was trying to ask my server about it by pointing at the sauce and obviously she didn't understand me and thought I wanted another plate of steak and fries so she brought me one. I had 2 lunches. Yum! Finally at the end I asked her again and she said "secret sauce" no to you! Hilarious!

The famous "Laduree" for macaroons

Arc De Triomphe

Eiffel Tower

My Alma Mater "Le Cordon Bleu Paris"

Day 1 in Paris

Well as some of you know I have decided to travel to Europe on a "Food Extravaganza", as I would like to call it. Today is day 1 in Paris and I managed to hit all the local food shops without any sleep or a shower. Of course, check in at our hotel wasn't until 3:00 pm and our room wasn't ready at 7:00 am when we landed so what's a girl to do but shop! I always said on day one in Paris the first thing I wanted to touch my lips would be a chocolate croissant and yes, this did happen! I must say I think I will remember that chocolate croissant for the rest of my life. I can't even explain the flakiness of the crust and all the butter in it or the creamy slightly sweet chocolate oozing out of it, you will just have to believe me. This was the best thing I've had this year. Ok, I know I've said the yogurt in Sydney with passion fruit and mangoes was my obsession right now but I am allowed to change my mind. And I have. If this was my last day on earth and there was only one thing left to eat it would be that chocolate croissant. Would it be really wrong for me to have one every morning with coffee? Ok, with that said I've included some pictures from my morning shopping. One of the fabulous local street markets for food shopping is Rue Daguerre and lucky me it's only blocks from our hotel. Did I secretly plan this, I must have!

My lunch "Beef Bourguignon" with a salad and a glass of Bordeaux how fitting for Paris

The local Boulangerie (bread shop)

Sweets for the sweet

I'm glad to know I am using the same pasta at home

Fresh antipasto bar

You have to love the fact that you can buy a single serving of homemade sauce to go with your homemade pasta (only in Europe)

Handmade Pasta (Are we in Italy or France?

Olive bar

Why can't our rotisserie chicken come with fingerling potatoes that have been drenched in chicken grease?

Who pissed them off?

Fresh fish on ice

The biggest shrimp ever (the size of small lobsters)

If anyone was wondering this is not my hand! I don't have man hands!

The largest pan of Paella I've seen so far

Beautiful vine-ripe tomatoes everywhere

Fresh displays of lettuces

Can you say "Mushrooms"

Wine Shop

Fromagerie shop (cheese)

TURKEY TACO SOUP WITH AVOCADO CREMA

Kimi requested taco soup. You got it kimi I just posted it. Hope to fly with you again soon!

Sherri and Leslie requested Butternut Squash Soup

I just posted my new recipe for you two. I added a roasted apple and some Champagne mangoes I had in my freezer and it came out incredible. Hope you two like it!

Comment from Christian regarding Green Chili Pork

Christian wrote:"Did it..!! Loved it..!! Finished it off yesterday at a benifit concert for a friend in need ...The 3 remainig pounds of chile verde from the original batch dissapeared in minutes..!! ( : Goooood stuff..!!"

NEW MEXICO HATCH CHILI SEASON

Don't forget to buy your Hatch chilies at the grocery store. They will only be around for a couple of weeks more. That way you can make my unbelievable Green Chili Pork and invite me to dinner. Make sure and blacken then on the stove and take the seeds out of them. You can freeze them up to a year in the freezer. I've got about 6 bags frozen right now. Looks like I will be serving Green Chili Pork on Halloween night. SCARRY!

SYDNEY FISH MARKET

When I'm in Sydney (which is about twice a month now) I always stop at the fish market. You can pick out a piece of fresh fish and they will grill it right in front of you. I'm also addicted to the greek yogurt there. The texture is like silky sour cream and tastes like double churned vanilla ice cream. I bought a yogurt maker in Sydney and brought it home. I'm going to try and duplicate the yogurt there. I'll keep you posted!