I went to Paris!

In paris you 


  • melt over afternoon tea at @lemeuriceparis for its most fabulous pastry experience

    One of the best food experiences I’ve ever had. All of it! The ambiance of the 1700s, pops of gold, and panels of mirrors lining the walls. The tea set was exquisite, earl grey and rooibos poured from silver into French China. Cedric Grolet is amongst France’s top pastry chefs. His “fruit” designed desserts were the perfect example of modern-day haute pastry. He re-creates fruit in the form of chocolate mousse, puree, and chocolate. The scones stood tall and cylindrical, unlike a typical squat square mound. We are slathered with double cream and raspberry jam. The finger sandwiches included tuna tartar on a buttered brioche, turkey, and mustard rectangular cutout.

  • roam le Marais for the best miche, brie gaperone & comté and have a picnic with it— invite the pigeons too

    Ina Garten wrote about Poilâne which meant we were going. I could barley get my words out in French so we settled with the pre-sliced miche sitting at the counter. It was moist and perfect. Fromagerie Laurent Dubois was also discussed on the web by reputable sources. We chose Brie, Comte, caperone. Something briny and stinky, semi- hard, and semi-hard with a little peppery crumble.

    Valentine’s Day at its best. Finding the best cheese and bread in the city. Having a picnic in the park. Grab salumi and prosciutto on the way.  During this you’ll discover a newfound love for cheese! Caperone is like cacio e pepe in a ball of cheese- so amazing.

  • tear into warm baguette first thing

    As much as we wanted to finish the cheese spread we decided to save it for later. We set out for fresh, warm baguette the next morning right up the block from the airbnb. I nibbled on the way back and we had our cheese spread in peace!

  • buy a bouquet of red hydrangeas

    Yes my guy is the sweetest of peas! He knows I love my flowers- and NOT just any. I am particular (I know…) but I love a flower that comes in chic fashion. We stopped by a plush shop on our way to our fromage picnic and I chose the red hydrangeas a pink ranunculus.

  • do dinner at French bistro and choose a bowl of truffled roots over veal

    Benoit is the 1 michelin French bistro in Paris— the only. Alain Ducasse, the infamous culinary extraordinaire, leads the charge here. I wanted both an elevated and classic dining experience. Valentine’s day came with a pre- fix menu that included veal to which I had to exchange for vegetables. I love those calves too much!

  • share hot chocolate at breakfast

    Another Ina rec! It felt a bit of a tourist trap but I think if you’re going to hit a popular joint at least once it’s ok to go here. Our waiter was great, the table mat was adorable, and the hot chocoalte with whipped cream was just right for a breakfast sip.

  • give macaron and baba au rhum a second chance- you’ll be happy

    One of the oldest pastry shops in Paris known for baba and kougin amann. Of course the latter was sold out but the baba was great. I don’t like rum but I appreciated how plush the baba was and how fresh the syrup tasted.

    Pierre Herme is one of the most notable pastry chefs in France SO when we happened upon a satellite shop near the Eiffel tower we had to stop. Dillon picked out a chocolate and floral macaron that we were both pleased with. Just a couple bites- that’s all I needed. I gave both of these sweets a chance, ok!

48 hours "ish" in Frankfurt

In Germany you: 

  • Kaespatzle 

Frankfurt might not be a hot spot, but we chose to stay a few days and made the most of it. As a kid, I was introduced to spaetzle as a side to braised short ribs. It’s so nostalgic and downright yummy- of course, hailing from a type of dumpling, pasta, noodle situation- so there was no way I was leaving without having spatzle on German turf. The restaurant was a bit of a tourist trap, but the spaetzle was unaware of that. It was a deep bowl of chunky noodles kissed with butter, coated in mountain cheese (semi-hard cheese similar to Swiss), and sprinkled with fried onions.

  • Pork knuckle 

Beer hall dining at Adolf Wagner was a top hit in the area. People are sharing wooden benches in the cafeteria style. Ordering frankfurter schnitzel with a creamy, herby sauce was a priority. But so was pork knuckle. Eating it felt slightly barbaric in the best way. Tough pork braised until tender and deep-fried. The outer layer has this crackling situation going on that was bonkers. It’s super rich, so eat with a heavy appetite.

  • Drink lemony radler beer

Never knew a beer I liked until this one. In the US it’s called a shandy. News to me…

  • nibble on Frankfurter Kranz (crown cake) & Bethmännchen (cookies)

I was thrilled to see something so complex and timeless in a German cafe. Frankfurter Kranz is a vanilla cake with four layers of French buttercream, currant jam, and an outer layer of toasted hazelnuts. It was the nuts that drew me in!

Bethmännchen are these cute domed marzipan cookies made with rose water. The barista made a comment that these were the essence of Frankfurt wrapped in a cookie. I think some important info!

  • take pics with good friends 

Wild getting to travel for pleasure but making a point to visit good friends who live far and abroad. Make a point of traveling to see friends or family living elsewhere. Maybe not your best friend or closest relative, but having this personal experience puts you all in a little bubble where some of the best experiences are had.

  • seek out Turkish food when you’re tired or schnitzel 

We were indeed a little raw from pork heavy flavor. And to my curiosity Germany is home to many Turkish immigrants. It was fun to stop at a local fast casual spot for spread of inspired nibbles like chicken kebab, flatbread, and fried manti. Plus we were only charged on lattes and a brownie.

  • Dine in Düsseldorf for Japanese 

It is one of the only few cities in the EU with a significant Japanese population that has its own little Japan. My friend and his wife don’t often eat ethnic cuisine beyond old-school classic German food in Münster. The Okonomiyaki or Japanese egg pancake had interesting flavor- never had before- and karaage or fried chicken on the soba noodles was crunchy, juicy, and sweet!

  • chant at futbol games

The crowd roar from the trail leading up to the stadium was freaky. It made me feel like we were going to a Roman battlefield. But the singing and chanting was insane. If you weren’t smoking or juggling a dozen cups of beer, you may have missed the true experience. Everyone dressed in their team attire too, and I stood out just a bit. Half-time was a thing- people got up to take a snack break. The Pretzle was measly, but the orange Miranda soda was on par. No beer for us, just secondhand smoke.


Cheers oxo!





Strasbourg is a hidden gem

In Strasbourg, Alsace you

  • stop for fancy gingerbread 

First patisserie was shoppe; red, quaint, and filled to brim with gingerbread this and that. I’m not a gingerbread gal, but I wanted to experience what seemed to be a popular and award-winning pleasure. Raspberry filled, reminding me of a linzer (I wish it was one!) and a little gingerbread chocolate orange pyramid.

  • go antiquing or thrifting at least once 

It’s exactly what you’d fantasize. A tiny storefront with a path paved only for narrow walking. Antiques abound from who knows when. Dillon spotted a Madeline tin and from a region known for them it was definitely getting purchased. 

  • walk the entire city stopping for pastry along the way — get chocolate Madelines

Sebastian cafe was absolutely adorable. Modern, chic, fun tiling around. Never had a chocolate Madeline and felt this was the right spot to do it. We tried little treats here and there as we walked and walked and walked. That was the trade-off!

  • drink creamy melted chocolate with a side of whipped cream dressed up in choco pearls 

Same cafe with some of the best hot chocolate I’ve had in public. It’s very hard to find good hot chocolate or sipping chocolate beyond your own kitchen. It tasted REAL, melted chocolate coated my spoon at the bottom. This one came with a side of whipped cream. What a freaking dream. 

  • ask local bookstore keeper for best breakfast rec— go each morning & have baguette with egg, jambon, assort. cheese & rooibos latte 

Cafe Bretelle was the best little Parisian breakfast spot. We went twice, and each had the same thing twice. I’m trying to avoid coffee, so tea lattes are my next favorite option. Chai and London's fogs get boring when that’s all you can find. This Roobois latte was an exciting find. It was so creamy, nutty, and forward.

  • sip on cremant d'alsace with cheesy Kartoffelpfluten (potato dumpling)

I was told to get a glass in Alsace. I love white bubbly. Tart and just enough sweet! The potato dumpling was soft and cheesy. Kinda like a giant gnocchi in a fondu sauce. 

  • dive into the choucroute garnie (sausages, pork belly, sauerkraut) 

If I didn’t confirm my love for pork on this trip… the infamous dish reigning from collided Franco Germanic culture. A mound of boiled everything- sauerkraut, pork sausages like TK, and pork belly, and potatoes. 




Franki X Reconnect Food

This is one of those instances where I told myself- go for it. I love collaborations, and I love exploring food-related businesses and brands. David Cruz is a fellow CIA alum who started Reconnect Foods via a food truck in the Hudson Valley. I was thrilled when I saw the concept turn to brick and mortar.

He’s combing his Mexican roots with Japanese flavors through soy-marinated pork belly bao buns with salsa verde; hand pressed purple corn masa-turned tortillas with pulled chicken, and beefy ramen with hand-pulled noodles, jammy eggs, and the occasional foraged mushrooms.

Galentine's Day

I am all about this galentine’s day revolution! Of course, wine and dine with your partner, your man or woman, or spouse whoever they are to you- but! Girlfriends are major and spending this dedicated day with them is important. Even if you take a rain check or mail them a little piece of sister love here is some inspiration to get you planning a curated gals night in.

Photos & inspiration from pinterest