Bourgogne and its escargots

Bourgogne is a french region mainly know for its quality wines, but there are other points of interest in this region. So I went on a discovery tour...

It's always nice to visit to new regions, its monuments like ancient churches, cathedrals, castles... but what I really enjoy is to discover the gastronomy (what a surprise! eheh).

The most famous speciality is without a doubt the snails, which became a worldwide french gastronomy icon. Snails, or most fancy called escargots, are famous mainly because of their uniqueness inside french cuisine.
Typically les escargots de Boulogne are big, prepared only with butter, onions and garlic oil. Et voilá... something simple and very tasty you should try.
There are strict rules regarding the way snails are selected and prepared, that's why this "simple" speciality is expensive and you won't find it in every restaurant.

One other product very typical from this region is the mustard from Dijon, which is different (and stronger!) than your typical yellow mustard.

For the wines... I was positively surprised with the white wine from Chablis. Served chilled, is a good option to accompany fish, sea food and escargots.

Next time I have to try the Volaille de Bresse (Bresse Poultry), a type of chicken (very tasty supposedly) which is raised under very strict conditions in order to preserve its origins, dated from 1957 (these chickens are really old! eheh).

Besides the gastronomy, this was also a good opportunity to visit the region: vineyards, castles and churches, like the Basilique Sainte Madeleine in Vézelay, considered World Heritage by UNESCO.

Ah, one other thing very important: most of the restaurants in this region serve generous portions, nothing like the nouvelle cuisine where you have a huge plate, a tiny portion and a big price! eheh

I invite you to discover too through my photo album. Enjoy... even if you can't taste it ;)

Around Bourgogne album

 

Christmas lights in the lightless avenue

It's not Christmas yet but, like most other cities, Paris is already "dressed up" for the next holiday season.
That time of the year when people are naturally happy, everyone tries to make a good action and share.

These images were taken at Champs-Élysées, the famous avenue in the City of Lights. If this avenue was once filled with glamour, now has its reputation going lower and lower.
Paris is worldwide known for its beauty and for the parisians' bad reputation.
This week it was published a survey of the most prestigious shopping streets in the world, and les Champs were ranked last out of sixteen famous names.
Main reason? Shop assistants and poor service at the main boutiques... oh yes, and the entire avenue isn't as clean as it should be.

But there is one good explanation regarding garbage: simply because there aren't trash cans! :-D
In 1995 there was a serie of terrorist bombings and most of the bombs were hidden in garbage cans. In order to avoid problems in the future, authorities removed the cans.
Regarding the parisians' "politeness"... well, there's no explanation for that! eheheh

But soon will be Christmas again, and people's hearts will be warm, happy and fill with joy... even for the parisians ;-)

Happy Saint Martin!

Is true that Saint Martin's Day is November 11th, but in Portugal we usually celebrate it on the following Sunday. How do we celebrate it? Typically with chestnuts and local light alcoholic beverages.

Chestnuts are usually eaten roasted, preferably outdoors on an open fire, with friends and family. Alternatively, if going out and cold are an obstacle, you can prepare them in the oven.

Regarding the wine, in Portugal St. Martin's day is also associated to the maturation of the year's wine (the first day when you can taste the new wine).
The popular beverages are água-pé (a watered-down wine) or the stronger jeropiga (a liquor).

At this time of the year the weather really doesn't invite you to go outdoors, but in Portugal usually there's a small period of good weather which we refer as Saint Martin's Summer (Verão de São Martinho).
But this weather "phenomenon" is related with the most famous Saint Martin's legend. By the time when he was a roman soldier (travelling supposedely from Italy to France) he met a beggar during a rain storm. So he cut this cloak to save the beggar from dying of the cold.... after a while the rain stopped and the sun started to shine.

Now is time for some chestnuts! Even if I'm in France, for me a tradition will always be a tradition! ;-)

Happy St. Martin! Bom São Martinho!

Darth Halloween

It was Halloween and all the freaks came out! eheh Of course not, it was a normal typical Halloween night, with some people dressed up for the occasion.
Although not as popular as in England, Ireland or USA, some teenagers and young adults were dressed up as vampires, pirates, "gothic creatures" and so on.

But on the subway there was this guy who got everyone's attention. He was disguised as Darth Vader with this huge black helmet!

Even bad guys like Darth Vader have to suffer in the parisian public transports! eheheh