We Ate All The Things (in Iceland & Paris)
I just recently returned from a vacation to Iceland and Paris where my friend and I set out to see all the sights, walk all the places and eat all the things. I think we accomplished our goals!
Among the highlights:
- A multi-course Icelandic Christmas meal on our first night (over 9 courses!)
- The BEST fish & chips in downtown Reykjavik
- Hot chocolate at Angelina in Paris - this stuff is so rich, it's a meal in itself
- Beef Bourguignon and Tarte Tatin for Thanksgiving Dinner
- Fresh pastries every morning for breakfast
- And the wine...oh the wine...hot or cold, we drank it all!
See below for the culinary highlights of our trip!
First course: Creamed soup of parmesan with wild mushrooms and foie gras and homemade bread
Second course: Skyr-herring with bananas and homemade dandelion syrup with homemade hot spring cooked rye bread. (Note: skyr is a thick, traditional Icelandic yogurt)
Third Course: Twice smoked lamb with pickled red onions, candied nuts and white chocolate
Fourth Course: Hot smoked goose with brie and fresh raspberries
Fifth Course: Port glazed hot smoked salmon with fennel sesame seed salad
Sixth Course: Onto the main courses...Duck orange, parsnip puree and potato rosti
Seventh Course: Roasted pork belly with braised red cabbage and Icelandic wild herb sauce and new potatoes
Eighth Course: Turkey breast with stuffing, wild mushroom sauce and apple salad
Ninth Course: DESSERT!! First part, homemade Icelandic ice cream with granola and white chocolate accent
Ninth Course: Dessert Part 2 - a platter of assorted treats including creme brulee, chocolate dream cake and ris a la mande (traditional rice pudding with almonds) along with fresh strawberries and accents of white chocolate, caramel and milk chocolate mousse
Traditional home made hot spring rye bread - the bread is cooked right in the hot spring!
Icelandic Viking Beer - very tasty!
cooking our breakfast eggs in a hot spring
soft boiled eggs - fresh from the hot spring!
hot dogs from the famous little hot dog stand in downtown Reykjavic
last meal in Iceland was one of the best - fresh cod fish in the BEST fish and chips I've ever had. EVER.
first meal in paris...tfromage and jambon tartine (cheese & ham on bread) with frites and salad
the world's best hot chocolate from Angelina
the perfect cup of hot chocolate
St. Honore pastry at Angelina
first dinner in Paris...a simple spread of cheese, fruit, crackers and wine
croissant amande - one of the ways I started my morning every day
the "specialty" of Chartre...a gingerbread-shaped, chocolate-filled croissant
amazing buckwheat galette filled with cheese, white asparagus, creme fraiche and chives
and for dessert...a crepe with homemade caramel sauce, salted butter, bananas and whipped cream...divine!!
excuse me, waiter...there's a happy face in my cider! :o)
french onion soup for lunch...it hit the spot!
unfortunately, this wouldn't fit in any of the luggage i brought...if only
this chocolatier came highly recommended and they didn't disappoint. i selected a milk chocolate rocher - a crispy hazelnut flavored truffle. if you think ferrero rocher is delicious, this is 10 times better. worth every penny!
milk chocolate rocher...holy cow deliciousness!
hot dog fromage - the perfect street sandwich at the Christmas market along the Champs-Elysees
beef bourguignon for Thanksgiving dinner - and I didn't have to cook or do dishes!
Tarte Tatin - apple pie on Thanksgiving, Paris-style
macaron tree at Laduree - the creators of the macaron as we know it - and definitely the best ones I've ever had
raclette sandwich at Montmartre - another tasty street sandwich!
vin chaud (mulled hot wine) - we enjoyed many a cup of this!
last dinner in paris...pasta carbonara
Boules de Noel - chocolate-covered marshmallow confections that come in various flavors
we made sure to leave some wine for the rest paris...