blogfromafar

Back in the day, Galveston was “our” beach. We went there, brown water, brown sand, and all, before exotic spots like Padre Island and the Florida Panhandle caught our attention and held it. Today, Galveston, still reeling and riddled years after Hurricane Rita, boasts cute resorts cut-and-pasted between abandoned buildings with roofing still flapping in the wind. We found it tarball-free as it ever was; tarballs were a phenomenon before the “BP Disaster” but none were evident on our visit.

So we took a trip to visit our old friend, to find its soul. Galveston’s got all the elements; it’s got history (including a storm in 1901 that followed the same path as Rita with much the same effect), a historic downtown filled with interesting stories and carefully preserved architecture, it has an authentic food culture with dashes of Cajun thrown in. (more…)

Our meal at Il Vicoletto (the little alley) received one of my “Lifetime Top Five” restaurant awards. It’s a tiny restaurant tucked away in an alley off the winding path up to the top of the historic district in Torremaggiore near Foggia in Puglia. Each course provided layers of thoughtful taste, interleaved with local delicacies and original presentation. I will go on, I’m sure, for quite awhile. Even though our extended dinner caused me to embark on my first all-nighter in several decades to catch an early morning ride to the airport, every minute was worth it. (more…)

We love Luxardo Marascha cherries from the Veneto. They’re everything our “Maraschinos” are not. First, they taste like cherries, ruby-rich and deep. The texture is plump and just a little resilient. And they come in jam, cherries in syrup, and baba (a sweet cake) in Maraschino, a cherry liqueur. Pictured above? A limpid Luxardo cherry resting in vodka, a perfect holiday “-tini”. The vodka isn’t overwhelmed with foreign flavors; just the right hint seeps through. Of course, there’s a surprise at the bottom of the glass! We’ve got limited supplies of all three at Flavors From Afar - call 214.696.2327 to order!

The first Italian Style Expo held in Houston this year by the Italian-American Chamber of Commerce presented a little taste of Italy for those of us landlocked on this side of the Atlantic at the moment. Food, wine, spirits, Vespas, Ducati, Fiats, jewelry, ceramics, even Berettas surrounded the visitors milling around the George R. Brown convention center on a warm September weekend. A Vegas-style crooner singing Sinatra songs got the crowd tapping toes, even if inadvertently, and reminded us of the roots of certain Rat Pack members. (more…)

That’s right! Flavors From Afar is heading to the Texas Olive Ranch next week to check out the local harvest. Set down south in Carizzo Springs, the trees are all Spanish arbequina olives and the olive oil is unctuous and grassy.

We’ll bring back a taste of the new oil, and will have it on the shelves as soon as Jim and Karen can bottle it! Meanwhile, we’ll also bring back some baby olive trees (about 3′ tall) for those who would like them. $24.99 and they’re yours. Call 214.696.2327 or email sales@flavorsfromafar.com to order.

Only one night in New York, and so many wheres to go! Torn between the desire to experience something new, and the need to revisit old haunts, we did a little of both. It turned out to be a dinner with two sons.

First, we tried Chez Josephine as our “new place” to go. Technically in Hell’s Kitchen, it was near enough to our hip little hotel Stay to walk. Josephine’s is, of course, run by her son Jean-Claude Baker, and the place is an homage to her, …all of her, if you get my drift! (more…)

Trieste has a lot of competition:  The Campo in Siena, the Piazza San Marco in Venice…but the Piazza dell’ Unita is one of the finest squares in Italy.  The architecture is Hapsburg sublime, and the open spaces, lined with evergreen trees that let off an alpine scent even when you’re not thinking about Christmas.  They invite strolling, political speechmaking, and all of the sorts of human interaction that make Italy’s liveable spaces so compelling to those of us who live in American suburbs and meet friends only after driving somewhere in a car.

Last night I wandered into Caffe degli Specchi on the piazza.  If it were not raining, I would have sat outside, but then I would have missed the awards ceremony for the soccer team that had won the trophy for the entire region.  Prosecco and toasts all ’round, (more…)

Yes, I am.  Illy’s designers are the best, and this newest espresso maker is so engaging, it almost has a face. You want to take him home with you just for that reason!  But then does he have a brain?  Will the relationship stand the test of time?  We asked Stefano Tognon at the Illy booth at Triesteespresso, a convention of all things coffee here in Trieste. 

The answer is absolutely yes.  (more…)

Maybe it’s just me, but the chilly rain in Trieste and the lack of
dining companions has me gravitating towards soup.  It comforts, has
an interesting mix of flavors, and feeds a hungry soul in a short
time.

In Trieste, there is a special kind of soup called jota (j is silent).
 In an homage to the days when the Austrian Hapsburgs ruled the world
(or at least most of it, including Trieste), it includes sauerkraut,
borlotti beans, whole peppercorns, pork (for flavoring; a little to
fatty to eat), and a bay leaf.  (more…)

       Art in East Texas?  Well, I can say it, since I have roots there.  Not exactly the most liberal mindset.  But go east, towards Edom.  A couple of hours away, it’s a nice day trip, especially if you venture off I-20 to get there. 

For starters, how to lure your not-so-artsy friends?  Try The Shed Cafe, recently named the best restaurant in East Texas by Texas Monthly.  That’s your Coconut Dream pie pictured above.  I tell you, the cream filling is unctuous, framed perfectly by the crunchy coconut uptop, and the graham cracker crust below.  If family friend and Gilmer native Ola Williams were alive today, I’d have to challenge her to a bake-off!  A piece will set you back less than $4, and way better than those “too much going on” desserts.  Just perfection.  Oh, and for the actual meal?  Chicken fried steak, pure and simple.

(more…)