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FAVORITE QUOTES

  • Only Those Who See the Invisible, Can Do The Impossible
  • The Age of your Heart is the Age of what you Love - Marcel Prévost
  • Tell me and I'll forget. Show me and I may remember. Involve me and I'll understand.
  • When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we don't see the one opening before us. -Helen Keller
  • The sole meaning of life is to serve humanity. -Leo Tolstoy
  • Nothing makes us so lonely as our secrets. -Paul Tournier
  • They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel. -Carl W. Buechner
  • Just trust yourself, then you will know how to live. -Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
  • The foolish reject what they see, the wise reject what they think
  • Imagination is more important than knowledge - Albert Einstein
  • When you realize nothing is lacking, the whole world belongs to you - Lao-tzu
  • The world surrenders to a quiet mind
  • It is a funny thing about life: If you refuse to accept anything but the best you very often get it - Somerset Maugham
  • "At the moment of commitment, the universe conspires to assist you." Goethe


February 07, 2010

Winefinder Makes Buying Wine Fun

Cortexica's Steve Semenzato demos Winefinder at VatorSplash in San Francisco this past week.

The magic behind Winefinder is an image recognition technology that informs a buyer of the kind of wine they are buying simply from a photograph of the label. They can also learn where they can purchase it for less. While currently only available in the U.K, they plan to expand to other countries soon.

February 7, 2010 in Events, On Food & Wine, On Technology, United Kingdom, Videos | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

January 31, 2010

Bavarian Food: Not a Light Feast: #bavaria #munich

While food was clearly not my on my high list of kudos in Germany this past week, I managed to sample a cross selection of traditional German food in beer halls, restaurants, cosmopolitan bistros, pubs, markets as well as the renown Dallmayr exquisite food shop along Munich's Dienerstr.

A few shares for your virtual taste buds below.

Bavarian Food (1)

Bavarian Food (2)

Bavarian Food (7)

Bavarian Food (10)

Bavarian Food (16)

Bavarian Food (20)

Central Munich (15)

Central Munich (90)

Central Munich (92)

Central Munich (97)

Central Munich (95)

Central Munich (21)

January 31, 2010 in Europe, On Food & Wine | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack

January 30, 2010

Sensuality in Germany? How You Wonder? #munich

Click below to energize your senses with the aromas of homemade German chocolate. Tucked away on a side street not far from Munich's food market where you are mainly faced with sausage, sausage and more sausage, a little gem called Sama Sama sits.

The building itself on Westenriederstr is crooked and crammed inside, every corner filled with homemade delicacies oozing with combinations you are unlikely to have tasted.

Not only do they use the best quality ingredients to create dark and milk chocolate masterpieces but they incorporate pistachios, cherries, lemons, ginger, amaretto, pepper, lavender, violets, roses, blueberries, vanilla, strawberries and more.

Allow yourself to surrender to chocolate everywhere you travel on this magical globe of ours. In one video, you will also see the chocolate in process as well as the finished product.

January 30, 2010 in Europe, On Food & Wine, Travel, Videos | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

December 31, 2009

Sacha Finkelsztayn for a Yiddish Gastronomic Wonder

Finkel I ran across legendary Sacha Finkelsztayn in Paris earlier this month. On a mission to find dark chocolate, my tastebuds found taramasalata, mini baguette-like pastries with poppy seeds and some wondrous looking dumpling instead.

Imagine trying to get a shot of the place without 6,000 people coming in and out of its regularly visited door on a Saturday afternoon close to Christmas. As I stood there with frozen fingers trying to shoot -- and waiting to shoot -- more than one Parisian shouted the word "Impossible" at me.

Progress at last.

Sacha Finkelsztajn on 27 rue des rosiers in Le Marais in Paris (26)

The area is old, so this incredibly quaint and adorable shop along Rue Des Rosiers isn't your only surprise, but it's so memorable that it had me longing for another visit days later.

Taglined La Gastronomie Yiddish D'Europe Centrale et Russie, it's a Yiddish gastronomic wonderland.

Sacha Finkelsztajn on 27 rue des rosiers in Le Marais in Paris (4)

Sacha Finkelsztajn on 27 rue des rosiers in Le Marais in Paris (13)

Sacha Finkelsztajn on 27 rue des rosiers in Le Marais in Paris (15)

Sacha Finkelsztajn on 27 rue des rosiers in Le Marais in Paris (14)

They have their own beautiful description: "On y retrouve les saveurs et les senteurs qui ont charmé l'enfance de Chagall, Soutine, Freud, ou Woody Allen. On y entend tous les accents des langues d'Europe de l'Est, des Balkans aux pays Baltes, et l'on y croise bien des célébrités du spectacle ou des Arts et Lettres."

It's been standing tall through three generations of Finkelsztajn. The colors, its heritage and the smells bring you in.

Sacha Finkelsztajn on 27 rue des rosiers in Le Marais in Paris (18)

The collective experience, including the people who show up -- and stay -- are what keep you there.

Sacha Finkelsztajn on 27 rue des rosiers in Le Marais in Paris (7)

It was far too busy to shoot video or do an interview despite the urge to do so. Instead, I hung out in the corner and observed for a long time, while sampling one thing after another.

And, each and every time, I was greeted by this man at the end of the shop who took my money and grinned, because clearly I was a newbie.....clearly I wasn't a local. It was not just the camera that gave it away. The must would have been my awe-stricken face in the corner oohing and aahhing after every bite and then again before the next one.

Sacha Finkelsztajn on 27 rue des rosiers in Le Marais in Paris (9)

It's shocking to me that I had never entered its walls, despite my countless visits to Paris over the years, which often included a stroll up and down Rue Des Rosiers. All I can think of is that my priorities must have been different in the past. It's like trying to see the color green on shop signs when you are only looking for blue.

After more than a decade living back in the states, where food is not honored and worshipped as it is in Europe, particularly Paris, I now seek out the best of the best on every trip with a goal of having a gastronomic breakthrough each time. Indeed, a fabulous find.

December 31, 2009 in Europe, On Food & Wine, On France, Travel | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

December 27, 2009

To Taste Paris is to Know Paris

The French have always taken food seriously. They still do. My most recent trip to Paris continued to surprise, amaze and remind me that we still have a lot to learn about presentation and timing. About originality and flavor. About ambience and style. About taste that lasts. Lingers. Fulfills. Adds.

J'Go near the Odeon, which also has a great selection of wine

JGo restaurant in Paris (10)

JGo restaurant in Paris (13)

JGo restaurant in Paris (15)

Fish soup at a restaurant in the Marais on a cold December night

Soup at restaurant in the Marais (1)

At a pub in Montmartre

At a cafe in Montmartre Paris meals Dec 2009 (12)

Lamb at Les Editeurs on Carrefour

Lamb at les editeurs on carrefour de 'odeon Paris meals Dec 2009 (33)

Le Christine on 1 Rue Christine

Le Christine restaurant on 1 rue christine in paris Paris meals Dec 2009 (34)

Le Pre Grill on 17 Rue Saint-Severin

Le Pre Grill on 17 rue saint-severin in paris near st michel dec 09 (1)

Paris meals Dec 2009 (4)

Les Fous De Lile on 33 Rue Des Deux Ponts

Les Fous De Lile on 33 rue des deux ponts in Paris meals Dec 2009 (29)

Les Fous DeLile on 33 rue des deux ponts Paris meals Dec 2009 (26)

Les Fous DeLile on 33 rue des deux ponts Paris meals Dec 2009 (28)

Les Fous DeLile on 33 rue des deux ponts Paris meals Dec 2009 (33)

Les Fous DeLile on 33 rue des deux ponts Paris meals Dec 2009 (35)

Paris meals Dec 2009 (3)

Even the most basic catering performs

Food at Orange offices in Paris (1)

Food at Orange offices in Paris (3)

Les Bougresses in the Marais

Traveling-Geeks kickoff dinner in Paris Les Bougresses in the Marais (11)

Traveling-Geeks kickoff dinner in Paris Les Bougresses in the Marais (15)

December 27, 2009 in Europe, On Food & Wine, On France | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack

December 23, 2009

To Savor Pleasure is to Know Pleasure

If you've ever spent a considerable amount of time in Europe, you'll notice that your tastebuds 'change.' When you return to American soil, the bread somehow tastes processed as does every other grain in your cupboard. Even the salt and pepper doesn't taste quite right.

It takes awhile but soon your taste buds adapt and ignite and as for the rest? The rest is just full of one magical moment after another.

I found myself having orgasmic moments in 30 degree temperatures, decked out with gloves, leotards, 3 pairs of socks, hat, and a woolen scarf. As my hands turned a deep blue, I stood in the middle of a pedestrian street while diving into triple dark chocolate cakes, paying tribute to the gods above me who introduced me to Paris.

Repeat visits were made to: Girard Chocolatier, La Maison d Chocolat on Carrousel du Louvre, Roger Patrick on Old St. Germain, Jeff de Bruges Exploitation and Las Maison Du Chocolate both on Rue Sevres.

There there's Amorino, which now has a couple of locations in NYC, PSG De Neuville, Les Paris Gourmands on Rue Des Archives and lastly Tunisian specialties from an incredibly creative and colorful little 'bright blue' place along Boulevard Saint Germain called Masmoudi.

Masmoudi Maison de patisserie with food from Tunisia on 106 Boulevard St Germaine (1)

December 23, 2009 in Europe, On Food & Wine, On France | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Pavlov and the Crepe

Ever have a moment when you hear or taste something and suddenly you’re back in time to a moment and the world disappears?

Pavlov never forgets. The body never forgets – it’s one of the reasons neural linguistic programming works as well as it does.

My first visit to France was to Paris; I was a mere pup with a group of American high school kids and our focus was study. History. Facts. Legends. Wars. Traditions. Art. Food wasn’t even on the agenda.

Still a mere pup and on a budget, I spent a few months in the south of France a year or so later. I ‘camped’ with 7 Europeans and Australians in a hotel room in Nice and my days were spent sampling crepes inland and along the entire coast.

I became an expert of sorts. I could tell whether the eggs were fresh and the cheese was local or imported. What I didn’t realize at the time was that the French crepe had become embedded in my system. Literally.

Since then, every time I set on French soil, it’s as if Pavlov takes over. If I don’t have a crepe in my hands within 24 hours, finding one becomes an obsession.

Ahhhhhh France, I’m craving a crepe.

Ahhhhhh France, where’s my crepe?

Ahhhhhh France, why am I not eating a crepe?

Ahhhhhh France, give me a crepe damn it.

December 23, 2009 in Europe, On Food & Wine, On France | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

December 13, 2009

A Chat with Gary Vaynerchuk #leweb #tg09

Below is a chat with Gary Vaynerchuk on LeWeb stage in Paris this past week. As passionate as ever, he takes over the interview, wanting to make sure he doesn't leave the stage without the audience knowing that they 'must do what they love.'

He touts that most people don't although LeWeb audience seemed to respond differently than the typical yank crowd he's more accustomed to addressing. While clearly this isn't scalable, he says - answer every email, answer every direct message tweet. Not only scalable but highly inprobable once success really hits unless you give up ever seeing your child or a tree again. At some point, something has to give.

That said, what he's talking about is the personal touch, the value of connecting with your audience and a large reason for his success. It's not because he's a master of wine above and beyond everyone else.

His success is because of his resilience, his determination, his ability to connect to the every day man - in their language and in a genuine way. he wears his immigrant status on his sleeve and as second and third generation Americans, we can still relate to that. Rags to riches and of course social media makes that reality more possible than ever. The second gold rush is in play.

December 13, 2009 in Conference Highlights, Europe, On Blogging, On Food & Wine, On France, Social Media, TravelingGeeks, Videos | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

December 06, 2009

Traveling Geeks Kick Things into Gear in the Marais

A few visuals to get you in the 'traveling geeks' frame of mind. The Traveling Geeks are getting ready to roll.........and move, non-stop for the next four days.

We had a 'geek' session to ensure we'll stay connected and can create content, anytime, anywhere. Thanks Orange, Skype and MAXroam. Below, Amanda, Olivier, Sky and Robin get the scoop.

Traveling Geeks Kick off meeting and dinner at Les Bougresses in the Marais (10)

Amanda, Beth and Eliane -- on the move. Off to explore the city and well, yeah eat. Night one.

Traveling-Geeks head to kick off dinner at Les Bougresses in the Maris in Paris (4)

Olivier Ezratty shows up with the Canon 85 mm 1.2 portrait lense. Ahhhhh, what a magnificent lense.

Olivier-Ezratty (1) 

Beth Blecherman and Eliane Fiolet en route to the kickoff dinner in the Marais.

Eliane and Beth in the train (2)

David Spark and Tom Foremski (yeah, well, we're still in the Metro)

Traveling-Geeks head to kick off dinner at Les Bougresses in the Maris in Paris (7)

Ah yes, ambience. Get used to it, she says with a smile. You're not in Kansas anymore. Silicon Valley either. Renee Blodgett, Jean-Xtophe and Eliane Fiolet in ambience-rich Les Bougresses.

Renee-Blodgett Jean-Xtophe and Eliane-Fiolet (3) 

MobileGlobe's founder Yoann Valensi was our host so typical "traveling geek" style, we looked at toys and saw demos over dinner. Thanks Yoann, look forward to trying out your service. Rodrigo, what was your question again?

Traveling-Geeks kickoff dinner in Paris Les Bougresses in the Marais (17) 

Thank god for SMS and some of the phones that did work (we've had issues with 'em - unlocked devices can have its complications)....Ewan Spence from Edinburgh made it with luggage in time to join us. A joyous Frederic Lardinois to his right.

Traveling-Geeks kickoff dinner in Paris Les Bougresses in the Marais (22) 

And as for the food, what can I say? It's Paris after all. We didn't starve nor did we complain. Great job Les Bougresses (located in the Marais.....most definitely worth a try).

Traveling-Geeks kickoff dinner in Paris Les Bougresses in the Marais (15)

December 6, 2009 in Europe, On Food & Wine, On France, On Mobile & Wireless, On Technology, TravelingGeeks, Web 2.0 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

November 20, 2009

Best Table Designs in the Bay Area

Below are a sample of photos taken at this week's Dining by Design event in San Francisco, an effort to help raise money for AIDS and people who don't have healthcare insurance, which has grown this year.

DIFFA has mobilizing the immense resources of the design communities for over a decade and granted over $38 million to hundreds of AIDS service organizations nationwide.

Designed by Billy Cook (2)

Designed by Cantilever Deisgn in collaboration with Carey Cheng

Dining by design shots (1)

Floor one table design (2)

Hartmann Studios designed by Robert Fung (3)

Robert Fung design or Cantilever design in collaboration with carey cheng (4)

Table designed by Michael Friedes Design Associates (4)

Square design no table (3)

November 20, 2009 in America The Free, On Food & Wine, San Francisco | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack

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