The event

First to bar, first to the pool, a night of superlatives.


Fabby!
Come to my bosom!

SuperModelDocumentaryHourBari

Wedding Weekend

ROAD TRIP!
Crack-whores of the piazzaScissor me softlyScene of the crime, morning after
Shh.....

Childcare, first night

mo' remma, mo' problems / fun

Imminent invasion
Disco inferno
Pretty things

Prosec
Soldiering on

It's funny 'cause it's true

warning: explicit language!

Le quartier chinois

The first thing one notices about Paris's tiny Chinatown in the bowels of the 13eme is that it is actually a Vietnamtown. Oops! True, most of the people there seem to be Southern Chinese who immigrated to France from Vietnam, but the food on offer--by far the most important characteristic of a Chinatown, at least to me--is almost all Vietnamese.
Not that this is a bad thing. I had a truly fantastic bahn mi (pictured), and the pho smells delicious. Also saw a few quasi-Cantonese places, including a little stand dedicated exclusively to noodle-wrapped youtiao. Delish.

Still, no hotpot, no Sichuanese of any kind, no xiaolongbao, not even any JIAOZI. I had heard there was a big Hakka community in Paris, so was also hoping for some Kejia cai. Mais non! Makes me think about how much more the world needs to learn about Chinese food. Also makes me a sad panda.
Stopped by the famous Tang Freres supermarket, which is meant to be the biggest and best Asian supermarket in France. But this cannot be true; it was adequate, but only just. There must be something hidden out in the suburbs somewhere.

Most surprising to me, a general sleepiness pervaded the entire area, not a word I ever expected to associate with a Chinatown (but maybe a Vietnamtown? People say Hanoi is like a country village compared to Chinese cities...).

Fortunately, Paris's food strengths complement some of New York's weaknesses, Vietnamese being a case in point. New York Vietnamese is getting better (especially the bahn mi; Americans never met a sandwich they didn't like), but you still have to work for it. Same for Moroccan. I had a great tagine here the other day with Andy and Hannah. And then there is all the west African food to explore, which in New York is hard to come by. So there is plenty on my plate for the summer.

And I hear that French food is pretty good too!

Last Bratwurst before America!

Portugal flashback: got some pictures from the intrepid travelers today, includingGotta get it while you can...

Notice the saucy she-wurst on the side.

So that's why.

Thanks Alicia!

Welcome Seamus!

Today the clan began a new generation with Mr. Seamus Robert Kekoa Farrell, a giant little Irish-Hawaiian package of delight.


We couldn't be happier.

The best sausage in Rome

Chez moi

Getting settled here in the City of Light. Swept in late last night to meet the flatmate, the sister, the boyfriend, and the mother (the latter answering the door in leopard print pajamas, bangly jewelry, and "blond" ringlets; a true MILF cougar)--all seem very nice.

Very Parisian apartment: garret roof, tiny kitchen, nice moldings, big windows, and even a grumpy downstairs neighbor who's known to knock on the ceiling with his cane when there is too much noise.

Even someone to watch over me as I sleep.
Also, plenty of room for visitors...

New species of olive beetle discovered in Maremma