My Top Eight Favourite European Foods Or Drinks

While we were in Europe, I got to try so many new foods. I had eight absolute favourites and very good reasons.



1: Gelato; because it has so many flavours and you can find everywhere in Italy.

2: Hot chocolate; because it is practically melted chocolate with a little bit of milk in it. Also it is really yummy.

3: Escargot; because they are not very salty and they have garlic butter on them, which makes them extra healthy.

4: Macaroons; because the cookie is crunchy but the middle isn't, and that makes the perfect combination for a snack.

5: European Mustard; the mustard in Europe is actually spicy so it makes everything extra good.

6: Chocolate croissant; inside, the chocolate makes it taste just as if you have died and gone to heaven.

7: Penne with red sauce; the mixture of tomato and sort of plain but not really makes an awesome lunch time meal.

8: Chocolate Mousse; the difference between Canadian and French is more creamy?

As you can see I tried a lot of different foods that I wish we had in Canada, but boy oh boy, I can't wait to have Tim Hortons!

C.L.K.

~ Posted midst our newest adventure ~

Location:Rue Saint-Abin,Montrouge,France

Villa Borghese Pic Nic Lunch

This afternoon we went to Villa Borghese. The villa is where the Borghese family lived. The Borghese family was just like royalty. The villa is very beautiful, with lots of fruit trees, flowers, statues, and fountains.
On the way through a path we saw a bunch of carts. They had enough seats for nine people and pedals for six of the seats. I discovered that they had steering wheels for turning. One family that we saw had eight people, but not everyone was pedalling at the same sped so it looked as though they were going to crash. A few minutes later we saw them pushing the cart out of a ditch, which they had managed to get stuck in.
We started to get hungry and went to a cafe. It was called Pic Nic and had lots of snacky things to eat.

My grandma and mom got hamburgers, and Jocelyn and I got hotdogs with fries. When we looked around, we realized that the fries were actually deep fried potato chips. When our food came, I was over joyed to see that the hotdogs were actual hotdogs with actual hotdog buns!
See, usually when you ask for a hotdog, you get a sausage on a baguette. So obviously, when I saw the actual bun I almost stood up and danced.
When we were done eating, we payed and went to a fountain. The scenery around the fountain was gorgeous but the actual water in the pond was disgusting. There was garbage and sticks floating in it and it was a murky yellow. I drew a few pictures of Willow while we were there because I wasn't inspired by the fountain.
The villa was amazing and I would definitely go back and do more exploring, but sadly I can't until I'm older, because we are flying to Paris tomorrow at seven in the morning!
C.L.K.
~ Posted midst our newest adventure ~

Location:Via del Pie' di Marmo,Rome,Italy

Location:Via Beato Angelico,Rome,Italy

Pizza in Rome

I think that pizza in Rome is way different than from Canada in ways such as size, toppings, and taste.

The size of the pizza is huge! It is like half a pizza. But it is only good until you have eaten a quarter and finally the taste gets old. I think it would be enough to serve four people! After you finish you will not want more. Unless you are crazy for food, don't take a dare to eat two pieces.

I am used to a small layer of pasta sauce with some spices, a thin layer or cheese, and only two pieces of pepperoni on each piece. We make it at home and it tastes fresh. In Rome, the pizza has a little tiny bit of plain tomato sauce with no spices, a HUGE layer of cheese, and tonnes of pepperoni - like fifteen layers of pepperoni on each piece. The crust in Rome is chewy and hard to rip. The pizza I have had is not that fresh - it is on a platter and then they warm it up on a grilled.

The taste of the pizza in Rome is mostly cheese and pepperoni. You can't paste the tomato sauce until you get to the crust. It is way too cheese. I like it better with less cheese.



Overall, the pizza is good, but not what I am used to. This is the way Italian Pizza is made, and I have to get used to it or order something else.

Jocelyn

~ Posted midst our newest adventure ~

Location:Via della Pineta Sacchetti,Rome,Italy

Gelato Greatness

Gelato
Gelato
You are unique
You are ice cream
With fresh ingredients
Not processed
A healthier treat
So many flavours
Pistachio
Lemon
Cream Carmel
Strawberry
Chocolate
Nutella
Mint Chocolate Chip
and then Tiramisu
You melt in my mouth
turn into flavoured lava
A perfect taste
A special gaze
From a person like me who loves you
You come with toppings
Whipped Cream
Chocolate sticks
Fruit
Maraschino Cherries are the best
and compared to the rest
With Lemon gelato
A maraschino cherry
You tower above them all
Desserts cower in your shadow
Macaroons are jealous
Oh how I love you
I love you so much.

C.L.K.
~ Posted midst our newest adventure ~

Location:Via della Pineta Sacchetti,Rome,Italy

Comparing Paris to Rome

Paris and Rome are really different.

This is the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris:


This is the Pantheon in Rome:


Paris starts off everyday with rain and clouds, then turns into a beautiful sunny day. In Rome, it's sunny and looks like it is still summer. We have heard it can rain pretty heavily.

Paris has really old buildings and they are not at all colourful. Most of the colours are grey or black. Some buildings are light coloured. Rome has lots of new buildings. Rome's buildings are yellow, orange, white, and other light colours. Even the old buildings are white.

Paris does not have very many plants or trees. If it does, you are not allow to touch them or go on the grass. In Rome, there are many beautiful plants like palm trees, pine trees, chestnut trees, birch trees, and trees with flowers. There are lots gardens in both cities.

The airports in Paris are quick and organized. It is easy to grab your bags and find taxis. In the Rome's Leonard Da Vinci airport it took us an hour to get our bags, and some people were waiting 4 hours. The Rome airport was not as organized as the ones in Paris. There are many non-official Taxi drivers who try to trap you.

The food in Paris is fresh bread and other pastries. Most people eat sandwiches and the meals are small. The food in Rome is mostly pasta or pizza. The pizza's toppings have weird names - pepperoni is actually hot peppers in Italy. There is not much meat on menus in Rome or Paris.

Overall, Paris and Rome are very similar, but so far I like Rome better because they serve my favourite food (pasta) all the time!

Jocelyn

~ Posted midst our newest adventure ~

Location:Via della Pineta Sacchetti,Rome,Italy

Macaroon Delight

Today we went to the bakery
after a long time at the park.
My mommy asked me a question
and if I answered it right I would win
a macaroon fresh from the bakery
I answered her wrong
wrong
wrong
and then finally
I got it
I giggled with joy
jumped to my feet
and said
"Yay! Yay! Macaroons for me!"
I stood at the shelf
pondered and wiggled.
Finally I decided
"Pink macaroons, or the flavour of raspberry.
I smiled and shook
as mommy paid
and jumped when she brought them to me.
I bit down into joy
sat in a throne
looked down from the heavens and then tasted more
The jelly burt in my mouth
a firework of dancing flavour
a light in the darkness of my mouth.
I was happy
overjoyed
to be living this dream
of macaroons
dancing
around my head
as I slowly left the shop.

For those of you who wondered: Macaroons in France, are almost like two cookies with cream in between the cookies. But the flavour of the is a fruit or ice-creamish flavour. They are delicious!
C.L.K.
~ Posted midst our newest adventure ~

Location:Rue Feydeau,Paris,France

Crumbs in the pond

Ducks and fish in a pond.
Fountains tumbling water
Creating huge splashes
and tiny ripples.

Metal chairs for lounging
fill with artists, tourists,
families, school children.

A grandma, a mom, and two sisters picnicking -
Baguettes, salami, cheeses
And Nutella crepes.

Two sisters bring crumbs
To the pond edge.
From deep in the pond
Long grey fish leap to the surface
And snatch the bread.







Ducks dash towards the snacks.
The ducklings are
too slow and frustrated.

The sisters throw bites closer
to the little ones.
And smile as the crumbs
vanished.

Jocelyn


- Posted from the horizon -

Location:Rue Vivienne,Paris,France

Waiting for Escargot

We got a snail holder and a special fork right away but still they have not brought the escargot.

We are nursing our happy hour drinks: the, bier, and a cosmopolitan for mom. Still no sign of our escargot.

We made origami lotus flowers to hold our cups de l'eau and then Jocelyn crumpled hers.

Mom has told us in complete detail why she cannot wear thongs.

Cassie did a short version of the cup song.

We watched a fashion show that feature beige sacs on anorexic women.

Then mom asked our Garçon where are the escargot - he n'est parle pas anglais. But he got the message. Cassie is maniacally laughing as she licks her chops.

Grandma is plotting how I will have to buy a ceramic bowl for making escargot and mushrooms with garlic butter. Or clam chowder.

We are discovering the slow food movement but still have not mastered the Parisienne way of eating for hours. Once our escargot arrived they we consumed rapidly.

Yana

- Posted from the horizon -

Location:Montmartre, Paris, France

The Amazing Bubble Tea

Today I tried bubble tea it is my favourite thing I tasted in Paris! I learned that the drinks comes from Taiwan and Dana probably has tasted it before (why didn't she tell me about it!)

If I had only known about this yummy drink, I would have skipped the crepes and been drinking bubble tea sooner. First of all we had to choose what kind to get. The lady suggested some flavours they were mango, strawberry, coconut, pineapple, peach, and some okay ones. We chose mango.

She then asked us what kind of bubbles we wanted (which are called perles in French), but we were not sure so the owner gave us a bubble to try. We all had one. They were so good because when you popped the bubble a whole bunch of lychee juice came out! There were a choice between lychee and passion fruit. We chose lychee bubbles. I had never tried lychee juice before.

There was honey and milk blended with mango, and the bubbles (perles) were added after.

I was a really smooth blend. It reminded me of a smoothy but then there were


bubble surprises in your mouth. Sometimes when I slurp it, a bubble goes right down my throat. Mostly, I catch them in my mouth and pop the bubble before swallowing. The drink only lasted about 5 minutes because we all shared it, and it tasted so good. Cassie got the last bubbles - but I got the last sip of smoothy.

Jocelyn


~ Posted midst our newest adventure ~

Location:Rue Feydeau,Paris,France

French Taco Salad

Yesterday for dinner we went to a French restaurant. It was really weird because I ordered a taco salad, and it turned out really different than Canadian taco salads. A normal taco salad has lettuce, tomatoes, corn, cheddar cheese, guacamole, salsa, sour cream, nachos, beef, beans, and maybe peppers or onions. I really like it the way dad made it last week.


The French restaurant salad had lots of strange things in it like, guacamole, goat cheese, no salsa or sour cream, lettuce that tasted like vinegar because there was salad dressing on it, salami, corn, big round tomatoes, nachos that were cheesy and very salty, and some chicken!
I was not very fond of the taco salad, but I liked putting the nachos in the guacamole. When I first saw the goat cheese, I ate it by itself. It didn't taste like anything, but I didn't have any more because I didn't like the way it broke up in my mouth. I don't think they have even hear of salsa in France. Cassie said, "We should introduce the French to Salsa." I think they would like it!
Jocelyn
~ Posted midst our newest adventure ~

Location:Rue Feydeau,Paris,France

Step by Step

Step 1: Airport - really busy. Lots of huge line ups.Stores, eating places, and lounges. Watching airplanes landing and taking off.

Step 2: The Airplane - Scary at first. Quiet because everyone was watching movies on their own screens. They served dinner at 12:00 at night. It was confusing because of the time change. The plane flew at 41,000ft and 502 miles/hour.
Step 3: Arriving in France - It was scary as the plane went down but it was so beautiful. You could see the buildings and cranes everywhere. It hurst my head from my ears popping. When we were going off the plane, a steward asked us if we wanted to see the cockpit. We asked some questions of the pilots and got to sit in the pilot's chair and move the controls.
Step 4: Train ride - This was first time I was on a train. It went very fast but I wasn't scared because it was enclosed and we couldn't fall out. There were not many people on the train.

Step 5: Once we were settled we went wandering around Paris. We went shopping. Then we went for dinner on Rue Montmatre in a cafe. I ate a snail. I didn't like the taste but I said I would try it so I did. For dessert we bought a nutella-banana crepe from a street vendor.
Jocelyn
~ Posted midst our newest adventure ~

Location:Paris, France

Valet Service

We met Galina for dinner at PF Chang's. It is an Asian Fusion restaurant near her work. The whole Plaza is full of restaurants with no noticeable parking lot. So they provide Valet Parking. I have never before on the receiving end of such decadent service. It took a certain amount of trepidation and trust to hand over my new-to-me vehicle and only receive a voucher in exchange.

Dinner (all shared)
- Great red wine from Australia
- Mussels in Black Bean Sauce
- Calamari
- Spicy shrimp and scallops in a chilli pepper sauce
- Chicken Lettuce Wraps
- rice noodles
- roast duck

Followed by:
- Coffees and teas
- Sorbet with fruit
- Mini Mousse
- Mini Cheesecake
- Mini red velvet cake

Splendid and some leftovers for the next day. Thank you for suggesting the place, Gala.

And... The valet re-exchanged my car for the paper voucher and a tip. Yay!



~ Yana


- Posted from my iPhone

Connecting with Family

Lots of cement stairs with lots of bees in a honey jar.
A trap!
Stranger's house waiting for grandpa or aunt.
There they are!
Grandpa came up the stairs with a shower of hugs and kisses.
I felt loved!
A little car seat with a little baby.
Is that my cousin Leibel?
Auntie Claire came in holding my cousin Mushka's hand.
I was so surprised Mushka could walk!
Grandpa Arkady said "follow me" and led me into the playroom.
Lots of kids, all different ages!
Joined Mushka and Cassie running up and down the stairs.
Mushka laughing so hard!
Lunch served on a ginormous table.
Their traditions gave me a taste of wine, washed my hands a special way,and I couldn't talk until I broke a piece of bread off the challah and ate some.
Salmon, White fish, Mango Salad, Horseradish, Steak, Potatoes, and my favourite broccoli quiche! Yummy!
Ice Cream for Dessert.
Fooling around with the other kids.
Talking, comparing chores, school.
Learning where everyone lives.
They were pretty interesting!
We had to say goodbye.
Grandpa showered us again with hugs and kisses.
Auntie Claire and Cassie compared heights - Cassie is taller!
I was sad to say goodbye because they live in New York,
We never get to see them,
but we are going to try to visit again
tomorrow before our flight.

By Jocelyn

~ Posted midst our newest adventure ~

Location:Toronto, Ontario

Made It To Toronto

Today was the beginning of our biggest adventure. We left town at 8:30 this morning and hit the highway. My mom started a game of bury the cows, where if you see cows you say cow, cow, cow, then if you see a yellow vehicle, you say bury your cows and they lose all their animals and you don't. Well I stopped playing at about Nairn Centre, but in Barry, I saw another cow, so I said cow. I protected it until just before Toronto. My mom buried him, but I raised him from the dead, and made him a vampire cow. I named him Vow and declared amnesty on him so that while we are in Toronto, no-one can hurt my precious Vow.
When we got to Toronto we had about 45 minutes at my Grandma's house before we went out to dinner at PF Chang's with my mom's best friend. We went to an Asian dinner, and it was the best! First we were all surprised at the fact that there was a valet. Then we entered the restaurant. It is pretty, casual, but also a bit fancy. For dinner I had an appetizer. It was a Chang Chicken Lettuce Wrap. A lettuce wrap is a regular spicy chicken wrap except, instead of the tortilla, it is a lettuce leaf. It sound good doesn't it?
All in all, I am having an awesome time so far, and we are only one day into the trip.


by Cassie
~ Posted midst our newest adventure ~

Location:Richmond Hill, Toronto