So what’s next? I finished patisserie, did the stage, traveled a bit, and now…
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travel
The Greek Experience: Chalkidiki
Apart from exploring Thessaloniki, my friend took me around Chalkidiki, a series of peninsulas in northern Greece. We stayed overnight in one village called Afitos and did a day trip to a very small beach called Kavourotripes. Both were amazingly scenic, especially Kavourotripes, and on the way we ate some really great food as well.
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The Greek Experience: Thessaloniki
After my sister went back to the States, I drowned my farewell sorrows by going to Greece! I have a friend from college who spends every summer in Thessaloniki, a small city in northern Greece, so I decided to visit her for a few days. People always say that the best way to travel is to know a local, and I definitely experienced the truth of that during this trip. The places we went and the restaurants we ate at were side street wonders and local joints. It also didn’t hurt that my friend is a Hellenic Studies master. She was like my own pocket professor giving me lectures about everything from ancient history and architecture to modern politics. It was great! She also introduced me to the real flavors of Greek cuisine. Bright and fresh, and I never knew Greek food went beyond the street food gyro. I left completely enamored by the food and inspired to cook with those elements back home.
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Roland Garros Sandwich aka St. Moret, Cornichon, and Jambon Sandwich
A couple years ago I wrote about being a tennis fan with my sister and going to the US Open. I’ve since left New York and haven’t been back, but lucky for me I moved across the world only to land in another city that hosts a Grand Slam. Roland Garros, or the French Open, is played on a clay surface, which makes it different from the more familiar hard court surface of the US Open. My sister and I loved going to the US Open together, so it only made sense that her Euro trip to visit me coincided with Roland Garros (which ended last Sunday). I had been to the tournament the previous year and remembered how mediocre but expensive the food was so I decided to pack some sandwiches for us.
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Belgium, Minus the Chocolates
Despite the ridiculous amount of chocolate shops in Belgium, we (my sister, her good friend, and I) actually spent more time overindulging in frites, mussels, and beer. Some of it was good and some of it was bad, but coupled with all of the sites and good company, the overall experience was wonderful.
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