Back in the Big D

So I suppose that this is the official end of my vacation...we safely arrived home in Dallas and are back at Aurora. We are excited to be back and to see some Dallasites come in. As I look back at my vacation now and over my entries, it is a whole new experience for me to see Cap Ferrat and the rest of France -- The Samuels' way. I only hope you have enjoyed reading it as much as I did putting it together (well and there was that being in France part that was pretty grand too.)

As I sit inside Aurora I feel like I am looking at it through a new set of eyes or at least I am looking at it in another way. I know Avner is too - you should see the sparkle in his eyes...Its most apparent when I look at the crystal portrait of Aurora. As much as I have always seen through it to the kitchen, I am now seeing the picture of the Goddess Aurora and the new dawn she is bringing. It is exactly the way I felt at Cuccia Noya - but now I really understand what it means. Perhaps this epiphany is the same Avner is having? It is that patience, calmity and energy I thought was from the Mediterranean but in reality has always been here. However, somehow it is different - but at least I can say it is a new dawn at Aurora.

Come by sometime, we will be happy to share our experience of France with you.

The Last Dinner

By the time you probably read this I am sure we will be either packing up our stuff or already on our way to Dallas...we love Dallas and our eager to be home, but as you have hopefully seen, Cap Ferrat is beautiful and the mood here is appreciative, humble and inspiring.

To celebrate our last dinner, we dined at Cap Ferrat's Chateau Eza. Our view was picturesque (see the picture below with our amuse bouche)and the meal was memorable and a perfect way to end this fantastic sabattical/vacation. We had a wonderful amuse-bouche that was more like a platter than a small tasting.

And although I didn't have enough room to show you every course we had (we opted for more of a tasting than regular courses), we did have to show you how the diver scallop with foie gras looks over here (one of Aurora's famed dishes.)


Which of course, what brings me back to think about Aurora...I know Avner has been thinking about it ever free chance it gets...there is a look that he gets when something is really got his mind churning. And I suppose, this place has gotten my mind thinking about it too. However, I think the plane ride home will give me the opportunity to really put it all together...you know that feeling you get in your stomach when something is going to happen - something exciting and new. I just can't put my finger on it...

Our Friends of Cuccia Noya

So I have been so intently thinking about what we are doing and what we are eating, I have not ever told you about where it is we are staying or who we are staying with.

Well it all started with I received a phone call from Helen, a Dallas woman with an Austrailian accent looking to set up a private cooking class at Aurora for her husband Paul's birthday. The couple came to the class and we all hit it off so splendidly (that's what food and wine can do for you) that we began fast friends. Coincidentally enough that phone was made a little over a year ago...we actually celebrated Paul's birthday over the weekend while we have been here. It so interesting to see how things have changed in such a short time.

The beautiful place we are staying at is Cuccia Noya (there is a great picture in this blog on the day that we arrived). The place belongs to Paul's dad who is also here with us...actually I have a book at home that talks all about this place and how it dates back to the times of The Moors. It is incredible the life that his villa has had and the people that have visited here! Evidently there is something in the air and the water here as Cap-Ferrat was actually named after St. Hospice, who, after a huge war, was found kneeling and praying to God - so his life was spared. I guess this is the huge feeling of calm I keep talking about that we are all experiencing.

I am hoping to bring this feeling back with me when we depart for home on Wednesday.

A rare moment

Something you don't see everyday...Avner relaxed, enjoying himself and just in the moment. (Ahhhh...vacation needs to last for another ten years.)

Fresh gambas

We have had a fantastic week and to be honest, I am in denial this weekend that our lovely vacation is coming soon to an end (but not yet.) Today the guys went fishing, caught some gambas (Spanish reference to small prawns) and dressed them with some parsley and garlic for a midday meal. It is amazing what simple spices can do to make something so delicious. Most of what Avner has created while we have been here have been very simple with a few local ingredients focusing on the natural flavors of the food and just enhancing them.

We are taking it easy most of the weekend but Monday night Avner is going to visit one of his friends at Joël Robuchon in Monte Carlo and join him in the kitchen for the evening. Contemporary, inventive cuisine concept under the expert guidance of Master Chef Joël Robuchon and supervised by Executive Chef Christophe Cussac. This beautiful restaurant can be find at five-star Hotel Metropole.

Avner is excited and is looking forward to an evening of working in the kitchen.

Until then ~ adieu from the Samuels.

Ever had French Daurade?

Eating lunch at Colomb D'or, a phenomenal restaurant/inn frequented by artists over the century, including such luminaries as Renoir. We chose not to eat in the gardens as we wanted a little more shade. For my meal I dined on a delicately seasoned French Daurade followed by frais du bois. Avner chose fresh figs with procuitto followed by baked turbot. Although both were nice, but I thought mine was prettier, so I chose to share it with you.

It is not just about the food

So we ordererd this remarkable bottle of 1989 Château Giscours Margaux. IT is rich and full bodied and actually the best bottle of wine we have had so far in our trip. What one can really appreciate about the chateau is it is rich history, which dates back to the 14th century as a dungeon. Louis XIV is also to have been a huge fan of this fruity classic

I guess now Avner and I will have to decide who gets the last glass, which is quickly going to happen, since our glasses are both sitting rather empty.

Lunch in Monoco

So we had a wonderful lunch today in Monaco at a lovely restaurant called Le Michelangelo in the Fontvielle district. A Focused on regional cuisine, Le Michelangelo is one of the local favorites with staple foods of the Mediterranean liked this lamb dish that I am dying to taste. The smells are intense and so are the other dishes around us. It is meals such as these that inspire Avner's own concoctions he creates at Aurora. To be honest, sometimes he creates things when you eat there that aren't even on the menu. I am sure this meal will be the impetus for something to come very soon.

Avner makes lunch

So our morning trip to the market turned into another trip and a fantastic lunch that Avner made. Looking at all the beautiful fresh vegetables and meat inspired him to put together one of his family favorites, of course done, Avner-style. It looks as good as it taste, if that is possible. Everything is juicy and as we might say in Dallas, "finger-licking good" (actually I wouldn't say that) but it all was just perfect.

The simple, but classic menu was comprised of fresh roasted chicken and sausage with roasted vegetables (tomoatoes, artichokes, onions, mushrooms and some other regional vegetables that had to be included. It sad to think that I am already thinking about what we are going to eat for dinner...The Samuels spend a lot of time thinking about menus...

Fresh from the market today

So we got to start the day with a nice walk in the market. We picked up
Salads with jambon fresh from market today. We rushed back to the villa and made this salad. Doesn't it look wonderful, colorful and beautiful? I am sure we will go back later as there was so many foods we wanted to create with.

We are still determining where we should go to dine this evening. However, one of our possible stops to go and visit this afternoon is Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild. Like everything here - it is beautiful and picturesque. The website provides some fantastic photos both inside and out in the gardens - but I wish we could really show you how bright and incredible the greens, reds and blues. And honestly just being here you can learn to take everything in a less rushed manner. You enjoy your meals longer even if it is a simple salad and a glass of wine. I wish I could bring that back to Dallas with us to.

What I was doing around 3 pm in Cuccia Noya

I think this picture speaks a thousand words. Once I revel in the sun for just a little while, I will tell you more about Cuccia Noya. This place is amazing and our friends' have the best story of its history that I would like to share with you. Avner loves this place - as it gives him such a positive energy and calmity- perhaps it is the scenery or the air or a little of both.

Let me get a little sun and I will tell you more...

On the road again...well at least on the train

So we got to spend one beautiful night in Paris and then board the TGV to meet our next destination in St. Jean-Cap-Ferrat. The scenery is beautiful, but honestly, the train itself is a pretty amazing as well. French for high-speed train, the TGV operates at around 200 mph. It is a short trip to the villa where will be staying and after the long flight yesterday, the TGV is a breath of fresh air. Unfortunately, food is not what the train is known for, so we are holding on to thoughts of the grand meals we will have at our friends' home rather than the lunch we are eating today.

As you can see we are having a lovely meal comprised of pasta, carrot salad, croque monsieur creme brulee and a little Syrah. Not exactly luxury food, but not bad compared to airplane gourmet meals. It is simple and colorful and we didn't have to make it ourselves, so we are all thankful.

Now, the kids are really to bolt and to tell you the truth, Avner is too. We are ready to relax and lay next to the pool. Thank goodness for vacation - it makes the world seem like a whole different place when you stop and take a deep breath.

So what does $200,000 look like

Well as we walked in the rain (and off the caviar), we look in the window at the House of Caviar to find a large display of beluga worth $200K.

What a great stocking stuffer!

Oh food, glorious food!

It's raining here...raining something dreadful! I thought we might escape the flooding in Dallas - but I guess that like smoke, rain follows beauty :).

So it took a little bit of persuading, but I don't think that we would have picked anything more appropo of us to partake first in Paris than caviar. Oh look at how good this Beluga, sevruga and osetra looks (I figured the picture was best taken before we ravaged it.)

The menu at Aurora features all three of these caviar types as Avner loves flavor burst that caviar gives to foods, especially in Aurora's amuse bouche.

We've arrived in Paris!

So as you can expect, we are so very happy we can't can contain it (that's what flying all night will do for you.)

So to make our smiles a little more obvious, we are on our way over to have something to eat.

I will post later what the Samuels decide on...

Jet-set

So are bags are packed and we are on our way out the door. I am not going to include a picture of this one - as you can assume, we are excited, but will be much happier once we reach land tomorrow morning (Dallas time.) Unless of course, you want to see a picture of many people standing around in an airport (and I presume you all have a personal experience to reflect on of that.)

I will do my best to show you are first sights of Paris, upon arrival.

Until then...Bon Voyage!

The Itinerary

We are busy preparing for the trip as well as handling our usual busy schedule at Aurora, however, thoughts of Paris lights are making this week’s tasks a little more rewarding to complete.
The itinerary at this time is as follows:

Sunday – Depart for Paris

Monday – A fantastic day in the city…and a surprise dinner reservation Avner has planned (more on that later.)

Tuesday - we depart Paris for Nice via the TVG (train à grande vitesse, French for "high-speed train").

While in Nice, we are staying in one of my favorite places in the world, St. Jean-Cap-Ferrat, at a villa owned by our friends called Cuccia Noya. (Actually the villa’s history dates back to the Moors.)

Of course we plan for many great stops along the way that I will share with you! (Oh the joys of technology that allow me to post to the blog through my phone.)

Tuesday - Home again to Dallas.

Only a month to go...

It almost one month until we take off for Paris...