Travel Lust: Bruges, Belgium

In the northwest of Belgium lies one of the most charming placed I have ever visited: Bruges. With its series of canals and gorgeous architecture, this city should make it to your next European vacation. I was able to visit Bruge in high school as part of a school trip touring both France and Belgium. Our host, my French teacher, was a Belgian transplant- a darling and vivacious woman whom I still refer to as simply Madame. Market Square Madame was the perfect person to have  around because in Bruges, they speak not only French but also Flemish (Belgian Dutch). She was sure to teach us how to say, "I don't know" in Flemish and to follow...

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Bon Appétit's Perfect Pasta

I love Italian food. If I had to pick a single cuisine to eat every day for the rest of my life- Italian would be it. I recently have subscribed to Bon Appétit Magazine and their Italy issue was the first to arrive last month. It was packed with fantastic recipes from pasta to pizza to delicious desserts- unlike most magazines, this one will earn a permanent place on my bookshelf. My favorite article was not one focused on different recipes, but rather one teaching you basic tips to make the perfect pasta- regardless of your ingredients. To test out these tips I made one of their accompanying recipes- Pasta Al Pomodoro. To start, onions, garlic...

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Ciao, Pesto!

I have many great memories of my time in Rome- a good number involve food, no doubt. When we weren't traveling, weekend nights were spent at our friends' apartment; we talked and laughed into the wee hours of the night with our new-found friends abroad while enjoying a big jug of wine and a great antipasto platter.  In the evening, we would stroll down the cobble stone streets to the GS, Rome's grocery store chain, and pick up an assortment of prosciutto, salami and other cured meats, olives, cheeses and some crusty bread. Though each component was amazing, my favorite part of our antipasto was the pesto- none of that jarred stuff, in Rome...

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