It’s actually happening – down to zero hour when I start my trip to Italy! I’m so excited that I can’t stand myself (I have no idea what that means I just always say it when I’m more than excited about something)! Heading to Emilia Romagna, between Florence and Venice, which many consider to be the heart of Northern Italian food for Lambrusco and Sangiovese, Prosciutto, Parmigiano-Reggiano, fresh pasta and more! I’ll be eating at a 3 Michelin Star restaurant in Modena, Osteria Francescana, going to many early morning markets to see what’s in season, taking cooking classes with the Nonnas (grandmothers) to learn how to make their special pasta and so much more. It will be a whirlwind trip, and I absolutely cannot wait to get on that plane! I’ll be stopping in New York for one day first for a “food crawl” in Brooklyn. Now for the stuff…
I love to travel. The joke in my family has always been that I will have my bags packed before you can finish saying to me “Why don’t we go to … ?” I have two requirements — it must include an overnight stay and where ever it is they HAVE to cook amazing food, and now it’s happening again! I am packed for my trip to Emilia-Romagna, a region famous for its food, wine, and ceramics. I’m excited to taste wonderful cheese (Parmigiano-Reggiano in particular), balsamic vinegar, and pastas — not to mention meats and salumi! It just doesn’t get better than this. I always run through my go-to travel hacks — tips that I’ve used for years — that way I don’t forget very many things. I always carry the important stuff in my carry-on bag. If my luggage is lost, I’m good for a couple of days.…
This year, the holidays snuck up on me. Usually I’ve finished my shopping for gifts long before everyone else, am feeling quite smug about it and am ready to put on my dancing shoes. This year, not so much and, to my surprise, I’ve been hit with a slight case of the “holiday blues.” It might have had something to do with my being out of my home (that I lived in less than a year) for over 3 months due to a flood and dealing with construction. Or perhaps it is because that was my third move in as many years, or maybe it’s my decision to retire from my restaurants that I’ve owned for more than 20 years to start a new career, or maybe it was just actually succumbing to a case of those holiday blues that seem to affect a lot of us. In any case,…
If you know me, you know I love bubbles more than any other adult beverage and if those bubbles are not only good but also pink, I’m in heaven. They did get me into “trouble” one night, though. I met a couple of girlfriends for dinner after a particularly awful day at work. It turned out they’d also had awful days at work so we ordered a good bottle of pink bubbles with our meal. Sometime in the middle of the second bottle, we decided that a trip to London was in order! Not only did we plan that trip that night, we actually went and it was one of the most fun trips I’ve had. The night of that dinner ended not only with a lot of laughter, but also the anticipation of something to look forward to. I think that the spontaneity of the planning was a big part…
One thing I know is that sometimes the food that I’m craving is not at a restaurant close by – wherever I am. It doesn’t matter what city I’m in, whether I’m traveling or at home, this holds true. There are a lot of Italian restaurants close to where I live, including my favorite that is within walking distance from my house. But if I want Indian cuisine, I get in my car and drive about 15 minutes away to a favorite place in Culver City. If I want to try the newest American place, it might be downtown or Santa Monica or in one of the beach cities- all perhaps at least 30 minutes away. And, here’s the kicker, if I want great Dim Sum I drive over an hour. That’s just the deal. Good food is worth the travel miles – it’s worth the gas and the traffic. If you…
SĀMBĀR I love Indian food, but my favorite place closed a few years ago. I hadn’t been able to find a new place to satisfy my craving until recently when one of my best friends, Akasha Richmond, opened SĀMBĀR in Culver City, CA. If you’re looking for wonderful flavors presented in a slightly untraditional way, then SĀMBĀR needs to be on your list of go-to restaurants. They’ve recently opened for lunch and have some fantastic salads and Kati Rolls on the menu if you want something lighter. For dinner, they offer a curry I thought I’d never eat in Los Angeles – Truck Stop Goat Curry. Don’t let the goat scare you. If I tell you it’s amazing – I wouldn’t be exaggerating. They have beautiful little samosas, oven roasted curried cauliflower and yogurt roasted vegetables to mention just a few of their vegetarian offerings. All of their sauces and chutneys are made…
I’m going to make a confession here – my favorite cuisine is Italian and my hands-down favorite Italian restaurant is Sfixio in Beverly Hills, CA. It’s the closest to any food I’ve eaten in Italy that I can find in the States. So, think of it as getting your Italian fix, without the expense of traveling to that gorgeous place – imagine, Firenze in the spring. Sfixio means “on a whim” in Italian slang and I’m so glad that Mara and Massimio (husband and wife owners) decided to open this “on a whim” in 2011. At the time, I lived almost down the street and walked by one evening looking for a place to have dinner and went in. I am SO glad I did. It has been my “go to” place for a birthday celebration, the place I always take friends that I want to impress with great food but…
1
/
65
Deleted video
A sneak peek! | Fran Berger
CELEBRATE My first book!! | Fran Berger
1
/
65