Germany in Snow

So this past Friday - October 26 - my 2 weeks of vacation started!! One of the benefits of this program is I meet assistants from all over the world. It just so happens that I'm friends with assistants from Germany (Bianca) and New Zealand (Petrina) and Bianca invited us to come visit her home in Germany! So for this vacation - I'm going to Konstanz, Freiburg, Munich, and Prague!

We left on Friday and drove about 5 hours to Konstanz - I got to pass through Switzerland to get here - so surreal to me that I can just casually pass through European countries and not even need to show my passport!

On Saturday while we were out and about shopping it was so incredibly cold and was starting to snow! I couldn't believe it - SNOW in October! They said it hasn't snowed this early in over 70 years! Of course it would happen when I arrived haha

To escape the cold that night we made a traditional Black Forest Cake. Oh my goodness it was so tasty but so big!! It's 3 layers of chocolate cake, each covered in cherry schnapps and whipped cream and layer of cherries. Then the entire thing is covered in whipped cream and chocolate. Oh man, I ate my weight in it! haha

Black Forest Cake

Bianca and Me in front of the Harbor. SO cold!

The next day when we woke up there was snow on the roofs and the trees - so beautiful and it was snowing! We had the best lazy Sunday. First we ventured down to the Harbor and walked around in the snow - quite picturesque!
Then we went to this absolutely wonderful restaurant - Pano- it had a cozy atmosphere and the most delicious food! Think Panera bread but ten times better and European! Picture this: we were sitting a a large family style wooden table, watching the snow fall outside,  sipping on my Chai tea latte and eating the most delicious and simple meal of a piece of toasted whole grain German bread topped half with rosemary apricot cream cheese and half with basil cream and bruchetta. Oh my word - divine!! Everything people were eating looked simple delectable! The atmosphere was brilliant - I could go to this place like everyday. Then for dessert we all three split some luscious gelato - oh it's my downfall! So we had 3 flavors - blueberry yogurt, banana and chocolate, and tirimisu! The tirimisu was my favorite.

My lunch - oh my word

Gelato we all shared

Coffee bar and ice cream bar

Then after that extremely satisfying lunch, we headed to the spa! I couldn't believe I was about to go swimming while it was snowing outside - but I did! I actually swam outside in really warm water while it was snowing - so bizarre yet cool! Never experienced such polarity in my life.

For dinner that night, Bianca made us a very traditional and soul warming German meal - called Spatzle. She made the pasta herself and even had an Spatzle pasta maker! Then she topped it with this rich and onctuous mushroom sauce made out of cream, mushrooms, onion, salt, and pepper. And on the side we had a German style slaw- cabbage soaked in wine, sugar, vinegar but served warm. It was a very filling meal but incredibly delicious on a cold night!

The spatzel pasta

The spatzel pasta maker

The German style cabbage

 Monday - My favorite day of the entire trip! We went to Freiburg Germany and the Black Forest! Oh my goodness. There are no words to describe the tremendous beauty that I saw. I feel so privileged that I got to see the Black Forest not only covered in snow, but in October! We drove through the Black Forest - oh my oh my - just simply gorgeous. Never in my life have I seen so much snow and for them, it was nothing! It was an absolutely gorgeous day - blue skies, crisp cold air, and snow glistening on the earth. Here are some pictures of the Black Forest - these are real!

Yeah, pretty surreal. I have to keep reminding myself that this is my life!
So from the Black Forest, we arrived in Freiburg, which is a very cool city and one that I highly recommend visiting!
Everyday til about 1, there is an absolutely fabulous European market in front of the Cathedral no less. It was awesome and I wanted to buy everything in sight - I used great self restraint ;)
They had flowers, fruits, vegetables, pumpkins, meats, honey, spices, the list goes on and on!
I picked up some local Black Forest honey, Pizza spices, and of course some food to eat while wandering the market!

The market:)

For the first time in my life I finally got to have some roasted chestnuts! I've heard about them in Christmas songs and movies all my life and there is a good reason they're mentioned. They are scrumptious! I can't wait to eat some more and various Christmas markets I plan on visiting! Then I had a very traditional German sandwich - German bratwurst and onions on a Kaiser roll. Oh my, it was tasty and so warming! I also got to taste to traditional Black Forest Ham - rather salty, but still quite tasty.

Chestnuts roasting

Me and my delicious German meal

So after lunch we ventured around the city and went up to a high point and were able to see some gorgeous views of Freiburg. It was stunning! Kept telling myself that this is my life! So completely surreal! Plus add the fact that there are autumn colored trees everywhere and it snowed. So mind boggling! I really enjoyed this day. Simply magical and gorgeous!

Bianca, Petrina, and I escaped the cold and enjoyed some lovely tea at a tea shop

Cool wine store

View of Freiburg

View of Freiburg

Worldly group

on the way up

 Well, I'm off to Munich today and will update soon!!
Carpe Diem!

Eating and Motorbiking!

This past weekend, beginning Thursday night, I have been eating, eating, and eating!! Don't get me wrong, I have enjoyed every morsel - but whew, eating is a great love here.

So let me just begin describing the food fest:

Thursday - I made dinner for Carolyn and Pascal  - Salmon, brussel sprouts, rice, and bread. It was quite tasty and so great to be back in the kitchen! The wine we had with it was wondeful - a Savagnin from the Jura - the famous Aime Rodet's vineyard - oh it was amazing. It is so full of character and flavor - the walnut taste is just brilliant and so memorable. For dessert, they opened up a bottle of actual Champagne, not the cremant. It was much drier than a crement to me. We had it with dessert of delicious homemade salted caramel ice cream!

Then Friday, after I worked with Didier, Pascal took me on a motorbike ride around the area! Once again, I could not believe it was my life! First time of a motor bike and I wasn't scarred at all - rather I had a fantastic time and the scenery was absolutely gorgeous!! They had me over for dinner and Carolyn fixed a tasty quiche of leeks, ham, and cheese! It was so delicious. And they opened up a wonderful bottle of red wine from the Provence region. Wine in that region is really dry and very tannic. It was unlike any wine I had ever had before - but I quite enjoyed it.And for dessert, Carolyn made a chocolate chip cookie bar - so delicious - forgot how much I miss chocolate chip cookies!!

Wine from Provence - even had a gold label

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Saturday - My day of motorbiking around the Jura with Bernard - Pascal's father! One of the best days I've had thus far. I was outfitted for motorbiking - the shoes, coat, helmet - the works - I was looking good! So he picked me up at 10 and we headed around the area! It was an absolutely beautiful day - 75 degrees and sunny! I'm not going to list every place we went - just so many but we saw a lot - I saw a castle in Frontenay - absolutely gorgeous! Click on Frontenay to check it out! I saw the oldest crypt in France, the largest oak producer in all of Europe, the town were matches were created. I also saw 2 of the most beautfiul cities in France - there are 180 or so villages and I saw 2 two of them - Chateau Chalon and Baume-les-Messieurs. They were indeed stunning!!

The motorbike I rode on!

View from Cheateau Chalon

 We also visited the 2nd plateau of the Jura and visited a place called Bonlieu - literally meaning "Good Place" and good place it was! The lake and trees were stunning and the colors of autumn were striking. Couldn't believe that I was actually getting to see such tremendous beauty in France! So surreal!

Lake at Bonlieu

View from our picnic - lac chalin

 For lunch, Bernard and I had a little picnic at another lake- Lac Chalin - it was lovely! Like we had the place to ourselves. And at lunch, Pascal and Didier and his wife Coco joined us for the rest of the afternoon! We traveled around the forest areas - so breathtaking!! And we went fast  - sooo fun! We stopped for a drink in a Clairvaux-les-Lacs- cute little town.
All in all, my first motorbiking experience was brilliant and I want to go again!!

So that night for dinner, I ate at Bernard and Pauline's home in Menetru le Vignoble. They were having a grand dinner with Pauline's sister and Pascal and Carolyn. We had a grand feast!! My word. So we started with appetizers of various crackers and chips and Crement mixed with chesnut syrup - it was good, but a very sweet fizzy drink. Then for the entree we had a walnut and cheese tart with a simple salad of little spinach leaves paired with a traditional jura white wine - which is a mix between a savagnin and a chardonnay. Delicious once again. Then for the plat principal we had like a beef stew with dumplings and side of roasted potatoes and served a pinot noir from Burgundy. It was a light red wine and very nice. And paired very nicely with this heavy, hearty dish. Then we had a delicious cheese course with multigrain bread. There was the traditional goat cheese, comte, Camembert, and a new one to me- Picodon. It was brought by Pauline's sister who lives near Dieulefit - which translates at God Made it! haha what a great name of a village. The cheese is a type of goat cheese. so delicious, but can only be found in that region. I hope to have some more of it soon! Then, more food. We had a chocolate pecan pie served with a side of caramel ice cream. Whew I was so stuffed by the time I left and could barely move. But I enjoyed it all! The French sure do know how to host a tasty dinner party! I can't wait to visit Pauline and Bernard again and their sweet boarder collie Malize.

Then I had one more day of eating! SUNDAY LUNCH! So Rachel, a former American English assistant who is now living in France and getting married to to Frenchman, invited Carolyn and I to lunch at her place in Besancon - only about a 40 minute drive away!   So we arrived around 1:30 and we didn't leave until around 6:30! It was the longest lunch I have ever experienced, but the time passed so fast! It was delightful! So we started by dining on the terrace with an Alsace Reisling and almonds and olives. Then we moved inside for the entree course of cooked figs with a thin slice of ham - it was an interesting pairing - the contrast of sweet and salty was quite nice. Then she brought a a scrumptious pumpkin soup topped with dollop of creme fraiche and nutmeg - it was so perfect for fall! Then for the main course, Rachel had prepared a pork roast and goat cheese and leek stuffed cooked apples - oh my goodness - so incredibly delicious - I will defintely be making them myself. With the main course, we had a Pinot Noir from the Loire Valley, which was a nice and light red wine and quite drinkable. I recommend it! THEN, there was a cheese course! She had a morbier, comte, and a new goat cheese- it was covered in ash. I have forgotten the name, but it was very creamy and rich - I really enjoyed it! Thankfully, we took an hour walk around Besancon to let our food digest - man I was stuffed and very much needed a walk to makes some room for dessert! haha For dessert, we had a Crement from Aime Rodet in the Jura - very nice again. Rachel had prepared a lovely harvest tart of figs, apples, and raisins nestled in a flakey crust topped with a creme mixed with Calavdos - which is an apple liquor specific to France. Very very good!! I had a lovely time - great conversation and food!
As you can see,  it was definitely a weekend full of eating!! Hahaha Vive la France!

Hope these entries weren't too long! But til next time!!

An exchange of English

So I began actually assisting this past Wednesday! My first day as an assistant went splendidly on so many levels! I will be working 12 hours a week and get every Monday and Friday off! Pretty nice, huh?!  The kids seemed to like me a lot and the conversation went pretty well - I'm going to have to think of some fun teaching ideas for them. And I really like my professors I am working with, so generous and friendly.
Remember how I mentioned Didier - the excellent pastry chef - in my previous posts. Well, he just so happens to be friends with my professor Pascal and told Pascal that I could come work in his kitchen and help him with his English! I could even use the back door - something reserved only for friends! I was so thrilled to hear this news!! So on Wednesday morning before I headed to school, I stopped by Didier's shop - He was so excited to see me and told me to come back that afternoon at 4:00 and begin working! It was a fantastic start to my day and added to the excitement of my first day!
Plus, during the lunch hour one of the professors bought a galette au sugre for dessert from his shop! It was delicious - blonde in color and airy texture - mmmm I wish I had a piece now!

So at 4:00 I skipped on over to Didier's and entered through the back door ;) We started off with a bang! He had two boy apprentices working with him - both really nice! But Didier is so eager to learn English - it is so much fun! He let me do stuff immediately - gave me an apron to wear and everything. So I got to spread a very thin layer of dark chocolate on the slab of praline (only hazelnut and almond) and help cut them into squares with a special machine! We were having great exchange of English and French! I keep thinking to myself: "who am I? I can't believe that I, Hanna Gordon, am working in a French pastry kitchen not only helping a Frenchman learn English, but I am improving my French and learning amazing things!" It was incredibly wonderful! I also got to roll lots and lots of chocolate balls. And then dip squares of pralines in chocolate and do a little design on the top - it was very cool! Didier and I set up that I will come by every Wednesday and Friday afternoon and go to his Macaroon class on November 13th and make lemon and chocolate Macaroons! I could not stop smiling after I left - so very happy! He even gave me a little goody bag of the chocolates I help to dip and do the design on top! He also made me taste everything - I definitely am not complaining about that!

The Praline candies that I dipped in chocolate - they were DELICIOUS

So on Friday I went back to Didier's again and this time he was making animals and figures out of almond paste! And yes, he even let me make my own! First I started out making a rose. You have to roll the center of the flower a certain way, and man oh man, was it difficult for me to get! He had to get behind me and help me roll it with my hands! I also made a little cat of out almond paste too - did the eyes and everything! Very precise work! He is quite a master- it was amazing watching him work. He made stuff for Halloween too - little ghost and a grave stone - just for kicks and giggles! It was so fun! He also let me spread the chocolate for the chocolate medallions that go on top of his cakes and such! It was brilliant!

My first cat out of almond paste

my rose

I cannot wait to go back every week and have fun!!! Oh it was so wonderful!

A bit of traveling

Hello! So I have so much to catch y'all up on I don't even know where to begin!
First of all, I have to say that I am absolutely in love with this country  - I am so very happy right now!

So I have been doing a lot since this past weekend! I visited a fellow assistant in Saint Claude, which is in the upper Jura region. It is the capital of pipe making and they had pipes everywhere - flower arrangements, murals, statues - it was amusing!

Pipe statue in the center of city

Me and a pipe quote

 But unlike Poligny, which is in the first plateau of the Jura, Saint Claude is the in 2nd plateau and the terrain is quite different! Unlike Poligny, where I am surrounded by gorgeous vineyards and rolling hills (yes my life is like a movie right now), Saint Claude is a much more industrial city surrounded by huge mountains and lots and lots of uphill climbs - quite a workout!
 My visit was lovely - Saturday was a huge market day! In the morning, there was a giant food market both covered and uncovered - it had everything I could want - cheese, honey, meats, fish, fresh and vibrant fruits and veggies! I had to restrain myself from buying up the place! Then that afternoon, there was a huge clothing outdoor market that only happens once a month and I just happened to be there! Can you say perfect timing? :) I purchased a cute grey sweater for only 15 euros and it looks great if I say so myself... 

The covered food market in Saint Cladue

 For lunch that day we had a delicious and quite memorable meal! We went to a little local restaurant and got the menu fixe for the day. For 12 euros we got three courses. So the first course was a delightful salad of simple greens, tomato slices, hard boiled egg, and topped with simple dressing of olive oil and herbs. Then the main course was slices of roasted pork, thick steak fries, and this delectable mushroom sauce - I could have licked the bowl - so rich yet light. Then for dessert I chose the raspberry tart. Good decision. It was a sugar cookie like crust, but not as sweet. Topped with a light layer of vanilla custard, then topped with rows of fresh raspberries, and of course of side of fresh whipped cream! It was delicious and so fresh!

So from Saint Claude we went to Besancon, which is the capital city of the Franche-comte region (the region I am in). We had our second day of training there on Monday and our medical examinations on Tuesday.
So on Monday night we spent the night with one of my professor's brother and neighbor. They live in a little suburb outside of Besancon- a lovely area! So let me tell you about the fantastic dinner we had! Oh it was amazing!!

So he fixed us a traditional Franche-Comte meal - Cheese and bread fondue. So we chopped up a lot of cheese - comte, swiss, and a blue cheese. Then in a fondue pot he mixed together all the cheese and added wine. Then to make it more bubbly, he added baking soda and flour to a glass of wine and then added it to the fondue. So for dinner I literally ate just bread and cheese and a light salad. But the wine we had was fantastic, another typical Jura wine - called a Savagnin- once again has that nutty taste of walnuts. Really becoming my favorite!

The savagnin wine

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So the next day, I explored Besancon a bit and we went to the Citadel, which is an old military fortress on the top of the city! And when I say on the top, I mean it! We walked all the way to the top and oh my goodness it was a trek! I had my 30 pound backpack on from my travels and there were A LOT of steps - whew I was so glad when I finally made it! The view was absolutely breathtaking - and definitely worth the trek!

View from the top - Queen's View

I really enjoyed my visit to Besancon - it was a bigger city, but not too big and has some great shopping! I plan to visit again soon!!

1st day of observation - ie best day so far!

Yesterday was the first day of observation and I LOVED it! I went to several classes and interacted with the students! They asked me questions and I got to help out with their oral and writing skills! It was so fantastic! I had a full day and was so glad not to be lonely and board!

Everything about yesterday was great!
For lunch, I went to a local boulangerie and picked up a jambon cru sandwich. It was a baguette with butter, pickles, ham, tomatoes, lettuce, and cheese. Man oh man was it good! I have never had butter on a sandwich before, but I have to say, it was goooodddd! Oh and get this. In the salle de profs a crepe maker was there during lunch making free crepes and severing wine! Haha of course I didn't pass on that. I got a crepe with caramel. mmmmm sooo tasty and the first crepe I've had since I've been here!

Crepe maker!

After school was over, Pascal, an English teacher, showed me around the school! I got to see the student kitchens and the American bar. It was great.

He invited me to dinner with him and his girlfriend Carolyn who is a former American assistant and is now living in France. They are the nicest people and so glad to have met them - so generous and fun!
But before we headed to their house, we stopped by his friend Dider's patisserie  - which is probs the best in the city! And Dider gave me a tour of his kitchen!!! It was so awesome!! Dider is a wonderful, happy, and full of life kind of man and gave me a bag of chocolates and gave us macroons (chocolate and expresso)! Plus, he is having a cooking class at the first of November about macroons and yes, I definitely plan to go!

Bag of chocolates - so divine!

For dinner, we made a traditional and very local meal of potatoes and morteau sausage (very large sausage) topped with Mont d'Or cheese. Now let me tell you a little about this cheese. First of all, it is like heaven. So it comes in a round wooden crate that is specially carved from the trunks of cheese. Then you wrap the base of it in aluminum, cut a hole out of the top of the cheese and pour in white wine. Then bake in oven on about 350 for about 20-25 minutes til golden brown on top. Then you pour the cheese on top of the potatoes and sausage. Oh my word. Can you say French Soul Food. It was so delicious. Plus, they said the cheese is also very good cold or served on bread!

Now to the alcohol we had. First I had a Belgium Beer - Leffe. It was a light beer and very good, I recommend trying it!

Then for dinner we had a wonderful, local Chardonnay. A very good, full-bodied wine made by a 91 year old man named Aime Rodet who lives right down the road. This Chardonnary had more of a nutty taste, and man oh man, so fantastic!  I hope to visit his vineyard soon.

The Chardonnay I had for dinner

This weekend, some assistants and I are going to visit Lons-le-Saunier and go to a wine and food fest in Arbois and may even do a bit of hiking! I can't wait!!