Category Archives: Friends & Family

Gobble, Gobble? Nope…Quack, Quack

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This year, we visited our American friends in Strasbourg, France for Thanksgiving. Since both of the husbands are the principal cookers in the families, we (the wives) left all of the menu planning to them! Both families decided to abandon tradition and to be open to anything Mr. France put on the table!

Oh wow…did he deliver the most amazing French Thanksgiving (or just plain dinner) we had ever eaten!! FIVE courses…to be exact…each paired with its own beverage. Did I already use the word “Wow!”?

After a mid-morning snack of pretzels, obatzda, and beer, we headed our respective ways to collect bread, wine, liquor, and vegetables…all super fresh!

First course (the only American part of the meal): chestnut squash soup.

soupSecond course: Foie gras with balsamic vinegar, paired with a tasty Gewurztraminer.

Foie grasIn preparation for the main course, Mr. France and Mr. Germany did some flambé-ing! Mr. France was in charge of the alcohol and Mr. Germany, the matches!

flambe 1flambe 2Main course: Green beans with caramelized onions, pureed potatoes and parsnips, and braised duck, paired with a great French red wine. 

quack, quack!

quack, quack!

It was SOOO good! Look at these clean plates!

clean platesFourth course: a plate of six different cheeses.

cheese plateBefore the final course, we took a little break and sipped some cognac.

cognac

Mrs. France, warming her cognac!

Mrs. France, warming her cognac!

Last, but DEFINITELY not least, was the fifth, and final, course: dark chocolate pot de crème garnished with a Macaroon made by Mr. France himself, and mint leaves direct from the balcony!

dessertWe are so thankful for the open home, friendship, and AMAZING cooking/hospitality of Mr. & Mrs. France. This was a Thanksgiving dinner we will never forget!

Happy Thanksgiving from France!

Happy Thanksgiving from France!

My buddy on the track team…

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One of my earliest memories of Joe was when I saw him while driving down Ponce De Leon Blvd in Coral Gables in my Jeep. He was running on the sidewalk in the horrid south Florida afternoon heat and humidity, wearing a UM Track & Field shirt. It was drenched in sweat. I thought to myself, “Hey, that’s the guy who tried to pick me up during SCUBA class last night.”

Needless to say, after uncountable tries, I finally agreed to give him more than a few minutes of my time. And with a simple “Sure, I guess I’ll go out with you”, began a lifetime of “My buddy on the track team…” stories.

The catch is…these “track buddies” were so enigmatic that I began to believe they didn’t exist. However…ever so slowly…they began to show their actual faces: in Manhattan bars, at Washington DC weddings, and even my own wedding day. I actually met one on an airplane between Atlanta and Miami and didn’t even know it. Here is how that “buddy on the track team” conversation went:

Joe: How was your flight?

Trysta: Good, except the guy in the seat next to me was laying it on thick the entire time.

Joe: Oh really?

Trysta: Yeah, don’t worry though. I snuck a peak at his boarding pass, so you can beat him up later.

Joe: Oh really? What did it say?

Trysta: Aaron, with two A’s. He was wearing a fat UM ring too.

Joe: Wait. Aaron with two A’s? Aaron Moser? That’s my track buddy. Did you tell him I was your boyfriend?

Trysta: Ummm….no. How was I supposed to know some random dude in the airplane seat next to me was your “track” friend?

Joe: Come on Trys. I’ve told you…

 

Yeah, that’s for sure.

Here are the ‘track buddies’…back in their heyday.

Top left to right: Joe, CJ, Pedro, Nick. Bottom left to right: Dirty Ed Reed, Aaron

Top left to right: Joe, CJ, Pedro, Nick. Bottom left to right: Dirty Ed Reed, Aaron

Slowly, each one of them has substantiated the stories I have been hearing for years. Except for Pedro. You see, Pedro is Spanish, and henceforth lives in Spain. This “track buddy” was also a roommate (think 10 x 10 foot dorm room), which meant über-ridiculous closeness and stories. (We did all go to University of Miami, remember?) As we were preparing for this Olmsted journey (and still to this day), I often heard and continued to hear: “Oh good, we can visit Pedro” or “We should just stop in at Pedro’s” and even, “Maybe we could just move in with Pedro.”

Well…what better reason to head to Marbella, Spain (and meet the infamous Pedro) than a wedding….Pedro’s wedding!

Here are some of the ‘track buddies’…reliving the heydays.

Pedro, Nick, Aaron, Nick. In absentia: CJ

Pedro, Nick, Aaron, Nick. In absentia: CJ

And here’s the beautiful couple, sharing their first kiss as we look out over the Strait of Gibraltar.

kissing

So…finally…the stories have come full circle. (Almost) every team member present and accounted for. (Almost) every story verified by a second source. Except for Dirty Ed Reed. I am still waiting for him to show his face. I guess he is a little busy in Houston, but there are still a few “track buddy” stories I need to discuss with that guy.

Der Romantische Rhine

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Two days, two boat trips, four castle tours. At least that was the plan.

My mom, sister and I headed to the Romantic Rhine for two days of ‘castle-ing’!  Day one went great. First stop was Burg Rheinstein, which had a beautiful terrace, creepy crypt, and extra-tall tower to climb. Then we moved on to the ‘Castle of Death’, Burg Reichenstein. Owned by Friedrich Wilhelm Utsch, who was an avid hunter…every square inch of the castle interior was covered in mounted trophies! What a wonderful room of death!” (insert Ace Ventura voice here).

Burg Reichenstein

Burg Reichenstein

Whilst riding the boat down the Rhine, you can really see how close together all of these castles are. It was interesting that back in the day, each castle and its surrounding areas were ruled by a separate monarchic family. Merchants transporting their wares would have to pay a toll at each of the castles in order to continue their voyage. Some castles had long chains that spread across the river, which were raised or lowered depending on confirmation of toll payment.

Burg Pfalzgrafenstein is probably the Rhine’s most famous castle, located in the middle of the river and resembling a massive stone ship.

Burg Pfalzgrafenstein and Burg Gutenfels on the hill.

Burg Pfalzgrafenstein and Burg Gutenfels on the hill.

Day two started out with a healthy hike up the hill to Marksburg. The tours were only in German, but my mom and sister were good Sports about it and followed along as best as possible with the English handouts. Marksburg is the Rhine’s oldest original castle, suffering no pillage, fire, or war during its 900+ year history.

Marksburg

Marksburg

After Marksburg, with blue skies and sun overhead, we headed to the boat to move onto the next castle. This is what we found…

flooding

Even though the boat company told us that the chances of services running today were 90%, there was SO much flooding along the Rhine, that the boat was prevented from safely docking. Mind you, we had disembarked here successfully the evening prior and there was no rain during the night. Oh well! I guess this is what that remaining10% looks like…sad boaters.

Sad Boaters

Sad Boaters

As we were making a Plan B, the dock operator showed up on his bike, waded knee-deep into the water, turned around, and then left. Short workday, I guess. Lucky guy. With minimal delay we were on the way again, thanks to the German train system!

Last stop was a funicular trip up to Ehrenbreitstein Fortress. What was so amazing about Ehrenbreitstein was that there was evidence of fortifications on the site dating back to 1000BC! I mean, I understand Carbon-14 dating and all that, but I still think it is totally amazing that archeologists can determine exactly what was happening at the site that long ago.

Ehrenbreitstein also has a fantastic view of Koblenz, where the Rhine meets the Mosel. Check out all the flooding on the right side of the picture!

view

Two days, one boat trip, one train ride, four castle tours. Just a slight modification of the plan! A huge thank you to my sister and Mom: for being flexible, for being patient with my freak-outs, and for eating the lard-spread that showed up at our dinner table.  I love you both. You are amazing castle-goers!