Maison Kayser

This weekend my husband and I went to brunch at a French bakery in town. Every time I eat a French pastry it brings me back to Paris and my favorite Parisian bakery -- Maison Kayser.

Maison Kayser is both a boulangerie and a patisserie with locations throughout Paris and the world. I was lucky enough to stumble upon their original location a short walk from Notre Dame Cathedral. And once I stumbled in once, I was addicted!

Maison Kayser is an artisanal bakery through and through. The founder, Eric Kayser, is devoted to being a craftsman baker. All of their breads and pastries are obviously made from scratch and dear God are they good. Their breads are just perfect -- they are crispy on the outside and soft and scrumptious inside. Maison Kayser serves 60 varieties of bread, 50 types of cakes, and 25 types of pastries. Though it seems like the shop has been around forever, Maison Kayser was only opened in 1996. Since then he has opened 69 other shops around the world.

Kayser, a fifth generation baker also invented the Fermentolevain, a machine marketed by Electrolux Baking that creates and maintains a liquid leaven that he uses in his breads in lieu of yeast. The liquid leaven causes a lactic fermentation giving hints of milk, hazelnut, and honey to his breads.

Though the bread is phenomenal, the pastries are what I remember most about this charming little shop. Chocolate tarts, croissants and every other type of pastry you can imagine are all lined up like lovely jewels. The hardest part is actually choosing one! But once you do you pretty much are guaranteed to be happy. I especially like their chocolate-hazelnut tart -- it was a perfectly prepared tart shell with the most amazing chocolate ganache filling. It was like Nutella on steroids!!! I still have dreams about this tart!

The original locations, where we went, are side by side. One of which is the boulangerie, which also sells pastries, where you just walk in, grab and go. The other is more of a patisserie where there are a few seats and where you can also grab a beverage. Both of these locations are absolutely charming. They are small store fronts with tons of Parisians bustling in and out at a rapid speed. We definitely had to use our French language skills! When you walk in, you can just tell the goods are made from scratch and with real, full fat butter. Yummm!!!

I would highly recommend finding time in your trip to Paris to find a location of Maison Kayser and grabbing a baguette or a pastry. It is a true Parisian experience.

Maison Kayser
8 Rue Monge (and 14 Rue Monge)
Paris 5e
01-44-07-01-42
http://www.maison-kayser.com/

Trattoria Sostanza

This past weekend, my husband and I had a nice dinner at an Italian restaurant in town. I ordered a cocktail that had Italian wild strawberries floating in it. I had never seen these tiny strawberries outside of Italy, so I was reminded of the first time I had these delightful little fruits -- the Trattoria Sostanza in Florence.

Trattoria Sostanza is a casual restaurant in Florence serving very traditional Tuscan fare that has been around since 1869. Its nickname is "Il Troia" -- "The Trough" -- due to the large wooden tables and benches lining the restaurant. This is not the place to come for cutting-edge cuisine, but if you want to taste authentic and amazing Tuscan food, Trattoria Sostanza cannot be beat.

It is definitely a "touristy" place -- they sit you at a big table with others that speak your language. My husband and I were at the American table, which was next to the Japanese table. However, across from us was the Italian table, so there definitely will be locals to mingle with as well. But, honestly, you will not care that you are seated with only Americans once you taste the food. It is simple, rustic and just unbelievably delicious.

The specialty of the house is the Petti di Pollo al Burro, which is simply chicken breasts fried in butter. But, wow is this dish amazing. It comes served on a cast-iron skillet, so it still piping hot when it reaches the table. The chicken is perfectly cooked inside and has got a great crispy crust. Your chicken sits in a bubbly pool of butter that is someone not nearly as greasy as it sounds. All in all it is a fantastic dish.

All of the other food items ordered by my husband and I or others at our table were fantastic. Plump little tortellini in a rich bolognese sauce. An artichoke pie with an amazing egg crust. A traditional Florentine T-bone. All of which come in generous portions.

Then, there is that wild strawberry dessert. Italian wild strawberries are tiny -- half the size of a raspberry -- and delicious. At Trattoria Sostanza, they are served as part of a meringue cake with tiny chocolate chips. Though you likely will be full by the time dessert comes, try the cake with the wild strawberries. I promise you will not regret it.

TIP: Trattoria Sostanza is small and is closed in August, so I would highly recommend making advance reservations. In addition, be aware that the restaurant is cash-only, so be prepared.

Trattoria Sostanza
Via Porcellana 25r
Florence, Italy
39-055-212-691

A University of Texas at Austin Football Game

So, last week began college football season (and all the men of America rejoiced)! During college football season, I am always nostalgic about college and the great city of Austin, Texas. While there are many amazing things to see and do in Austin (many of which I will cover in upcoming posts), I wanted to focus now on college football because attending a University of Texas football game is an experience that should not be missed.

First of all, the Darrell K. Royal - Texas Memorial Stadium is awesome. It is huge and loud and really just personifies the State of Texas. The stadium opened in 1924, but has obviously undergone numerous renovations. It now seats over 100,000 people and trust me, it is always packed. It is smack dab in the middle of campus, so people stream in from all over the campus and the city (and, let's be honest, the state) to attend the games.

And the games are SO MUCH FUN (even when the Longhorns lose). There is a great mixture of students, alumni and "townies." Everyone is dressed up in their best burnt orange and cowboy hats. And everyone is psyched about the game. There is definitely a good bit of tailgating that goes on, but for Longhorn fans the game is really the main event.

UT also has a ton of great traditions associated with its football games. Bevo, the mascot, happens to be a true Texas longhorn and is escorted onto the field by the Silver Spurs, a student organization. Though Bevo really does not do much, he is always there to represent the school. Every once in a while he makes a "mess" on the other teams' sideline, but that is just good fun. There is also Smokey the Cannon, a (you guessed it) cannon which is shot every time Texas scores any points. Smokey is handled by the Texas Cowboys, another student organization. Yet another student organization brings out a Texas flag that covers the entire field during pre-game. Supposedly, this is the World's Largest Texas flag. The most important tradition throughout the game, though, is flashing your "hook 'em horns" pretty much every 5 minutes.   

So the big question is, how do I purchase a ticket? Your best bet may be through StubHub or another reputable ticket agent if there is not much time before the game. The more official way is through TexasBoxOffice.com. However, if you want these tickets you do have to buy them way in advance.

TIP: Before game day, stop on Guadalupe Street -- the "Drag" -- and buy some Texas garb. Not only will you fit in but wearing burnt orange will get you in the spirit as well. Plus you will have a great souvenir to remember your trip (once you wash out the beer of course). Be aware though that the games are usually quite hot, so keep this in mind when packing. This may not be the best day to try out your new wool pants.

I think that attending a University of Texas at Austin football game is a great way to spend a day (or evening) in Austin. I also think this recommendation not only applies to UT -- attending a Michigan game in Ann Arbor, an LSU game in Baton Rouge or a Notre Dame game in South Bend, Indiana would probably provide you the same unique experience. But, since I am a Texas Ex, I am recommending Texas!

HOOK 'EM HORNS!!!!!

Darell K. Royal Texas Memorial Stadium
2100 San Jacinto Boulevard
Austin, TX 78712
(512) 471-4602
http://www.texassports.com/

South Beach Hotel Bar Hop

Especially during the winter time, my husband and I often receive house guests. Spending a few days in sunny Miami is very appealing to our friends and family, especially those that live in chilly places. Whenever these house guests descend on us, there is one activity we almost always partake in -- a bar crawl through the various hotel bars on South Beach. This is the prototypical South Beach experience -- even if our guest is not typically a bar person, everyone likes dressing up and going out on the town every once in a while. Now, depending on who we bring with us depends on what bars we would go to, but there are so many hotels and so many corresponding bars, that you can really find a bar to suit all tastes and preferences (even if they do not drink alcohol!). Here are some of my favorites:

First, the classic (and one of the first) South Beach hotel bars -- the Delano. Some may argue that the Delano is not as chic as it used to be and is past its prime. That may well be the case, but for the classic South Beach experience, it cannot be beat. When you walk up to the Delano, like all the hotels you will see, there are ridiculous cars parked outside -- Bentley, Maserati, Ferrari -- cars you usually see exclusively on television. When you walk inside, you quickly realize this is not your ordinary hotel. There are sparse furnishings and white fabric blowing in the breeze. You walk straight through the lobby and do your best Tyra Banks walk down the stairs to get to the pool area. That is where the action is. The pool is long and skinny (like most of the clientele) and there are beds along one side and cabanas along the other side. Depending on your budget and how long you are staying at the Delano, you may want to reserve either a bed or a cabana. Once you find yourself a seat or a place to stand, get a drink and enjoy the people watching. You may even see someone famous!

Another hotel bar that is a must-see is the Setai. The Setai is slightly more-low key and upscale than the Delano, so this is the place to take an older guest or someone who is not really a big partier. The design of this bar is absolutely insane (and I mean that in the best way possible). It takes some time to even figure out if the bar is inside or outside (the answer is outside by the way). Your group can grab a seat, order cocktails (or food if you like) and just marvel at the architecture and interior design. The Setai will truly take your breath away.

Another great hotel bar with a much different vibe is the Raleigh. At the Raleigh, there is space to drink inside, but the outside area, which is part of the restaurant, is where you should head. It is a calm, peaceful oasis from the South Beach madness. You will sit under huge trees with really cool lanterns hanging from the branches, enjoy your cocktail and just enjoy being so close to the beach and (hopefully) on vacation. A fun fact is that the unusually shaped pool used to be featured in the old Esther Williams movies. So, not only is the Raleigh a great place to chill now, it has a great history behind it.

Another more lively spot is the Shore Club. This is definitely a place to go if you want to really party. There are actually numerous bars located throughout the Shore Club all under the Skybar brand. There is a DJ and bars set up around the large pool area which is called Rumbar. There is also a smaller outside bar next door to the pool called the Redroom Gardens. Inside the hotel is the Red Room which is exactly as it sounds. The Shore Club is often packed and you can sometimes hear the noise from the street. If it gives you any idea of what kind of place this is, I started my bachelorette party here before hitting a South Beach club!

If you are seeking a killer view, I would recommend trying Plunge on the rooftop of the Gansevoort Miami Beach. As the location suggests, this is a lounge on the rooftop of the hotel surrounding the rooftop pool. The view from this bar is absolutely amazing and there is pretty much always a nice breeze. I truly would try out this bar for the view alone though the people-watching here is certainly great also. I think they named the bar after the low-cut tops most of the girls wear (hehe).

TIP: Before embarking on an excursion to any of the above locations, please check online or call to make sure they are still open. Bars and hotels open and close very quickly and regularly in Miami. Also, check with the concierge at your hotel or ask around with the locals to see whether there are any new spots you should check out.

No matter what your age (well as long as you are 21 or can fake it well), I think a bar hop to the South Beach hotel bars is a great way to see gorgeous architecture, cool interior design and interesting people. Plus, you get the added bonus of drinking a cocktail al fresco...and really, what could be better than that!

Delano Hotel

1685 Collins Ave.

Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 672-2000
http://www.delano-hotel.com/

The Setai Resort & Residences
2001 Collins Avenue
Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 520 6000 or (888) 625 7500
http://www.setai.com/

The Raleigh Hotel
1775 Collins Avenue
Miami Beach, Florida 33139
(800) 848 1775
info@raleighhotel.com
http://www.raleighhotel.com/

Shore Club
1901 Collins Avenue
Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 695 3100
http://www.shoreclub.com/

Gansevoort Miami Beach
2377 Collins Avenue
Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 604-1000
http://www.gansevoortmiamibeach.com/