DFW to Barcelona, Spain - Day 1 :)

Cue the 80’s En Vogue video flashback… “Back to Life… Back to Reality"…

I hate to admit that’s been re-playing in my head all morning since I woke up. Annoyingly, I don’t even know all of the words.. (but I’m not sure I even WANT to) ;)

So as you might have guessed, after a year of planning (and saving), our European Adventure has come and gone.  Boo. Although it was just as amazing as we had imagined it would be, I must admit that it was the PERFECT amount of time to be away. Our bodies ached and our longing for the comforts of home had just begun to appear as the last day in Paris came to an end. Perfect timing.

And as much as I’m sure you all love to hear me ramble, I’m devoting these next several posts to our VERY well documented vacation, with over 3,000 pictures taken in just 10 days… (what can I say, I want to remember EVERYTHING!). We actually used our baby Canon handheld more than I thought we would..just cause it was easier to lug around and less of a tourist target..but I'm happy to say that our little guy did VERY WELL!  :) 

Oh and I’m also going to post for the days that we were actually there.. if in case, one day, I decide to make a Blog Book. ;)

Pretty darn good airplane food I must say....
at least mine was, Chad got some sad looking chicken dish (that wasn't worth a picture...lol. 

Pit Stop for a plane change in Madrid.  :)

Finding our way through the really cool industrial looking airport.  :)

So long Aeropuerto De Madrid - Barajas... Until we meet again.  :)

And we're OFF... again.  :)

Madrid to Barcelona

View of the mountain side cemetry from our fast moving taxi...

Carrer de Monjos, where our temporary "home away from home" was.. for three days at least :)

Our super cute little apartment we found on Crashpadder.com :)

The owners were super nice..they even met us at the front door to give us suggestions on things to do and places to go :) 

Living/Dining room, with Chad standing in our bedroom.  :) 

View from our itty bitty balcony...

After meeting up with Jenn, her hubs Brent and Christine and her hubs Darren (at the Statue of Columbus), we headed to the Metro to ride up to Montjuic

Chad and Brent taking a looksie

Arc de Triomf - built for the Exposición Universal de Barcelona (1888)

Parc de la Ciutadella

Correfoc - or Fire Run, is part of the Merce Festival that takes place every year throughout the city.  Correfoc takes place at dusk normally along and around Via Laietana. The street is closed off and then "The Devils" emerge running up the streets with bangers and hand held fireworks. Fire breathing dragons (or at least sparkler-breathing dragons) also roam the streets with Devils skipping along with spiralling fireworks held in their hands.

NUTS is all I can say.  Will post a short video soon to show you what I mean. 

 

One of the Correfoc Dragons at the end of the parade route - Looks worn out.  ;)

Santa Maria del Mar - is an imposing church in the Ribera district of Barcelona, Spain, built between 1329 and 1383 at the height of Catalonia's maritime and mercantile preeminence

What a beautiful sight!!

Ran right into one of my favorite churches in Barcelona, Santa Maria Del Mar, as we head to our meeting spot after the crazy Correfoc madness. 

Dinner at a cafe by our apartment with the gang. 

Spanish Paella - a must :)

Mmmmm...

Barcelona's Olympic Village

View from the beach - Pez Gehry off to the right :)

Jenn and Brenty, being silly

And.... that's a wrap!  For the night anyway. 

Time to rest up for Day 2 :)

Jet Lag Prevention Theory - Pre-Vacation Hysteria

For those of you who have ever traveled abroad, you know that jet lag can hit you pretty damn hard.  Your body is out of whack, your head feels out of sorts...and eventually, probably after the adrenaline of being in a new and exciting place has worn off, you succumb to it and end up sleeping more than you should...during the middle of the day...when you really should be out and about exploring. 

A few days before our trip, Chad and I devised a plan to try to beat Mr. Jet Lag at his own game.  ;)  Waking up each day an hour earlier.. (and going to bed an hour earlier each night)... we found ourselves a bit  grumpy and near hysteria at 3:45am on the morning of our flight to Barcelona. 

Thank goodness for Walmart being open 24 hours and giving us a place to run amok in the wee hours of the morning.. ;) 

As you can tell, pictures speak a thousand words.. ;) 

hahahaha.. this one makes me crack up every time I see it. 

LOVE my silly HUSBAND! 

Pippy Longstocking's Elmo??  Lol..

This was Chad saying Scoooby Doooby Dooooo... ;)  Caught in mid-Doooo  ;)

I think I might have to go back for this one... (for Chad of course.  ;)

Normas Cafe at 6am.  Best and WORST idea for a pre-flight meal. 

SOOOOO Good, but SOOOO RICH, it made us a bit queasy. 

BEST biscuits you'll ever have in your life..  HANDS DOWN.  Must try again at a decent hour.  ;) 

Stay tuned for pictures of

Day 1 - DFW to Barcelona

COMING SOON :) 

L'Atelier Saint Germain de Joel Robuchon - Dinner Reservations in Paris, France

Sometimes all it takes is an email like this to make you want to squeal with joy as you bust out a little happy dance (to yourself of course so you don't act a-fool in the office).... :)  all while cursing the heavens for not letting you win the lottery..just so you can travel the world, eating at fabulous restaurants like this... ALL. THE. TIME!  ;)  Whew... that was kinda long winded...but still true.  :)  I'm doing my happy dance now.. ;)

Mr. Chad Kelley

We are happy to confirm your reservation in our restaurant: L’Atelier Saint Germain de Joel Robuchon 5 rue de Montalembert 75007 Paris.

Due to the increasing number of no-shows, we will not guarantee this reservation unless you reconfirm the day before your arrival.

With our best regards,

François Orisé

With another fabulous restaurant reservation made, this time in Paris, it's time to cross off another amazing restaurant off of Chad's "Ultimate Places to Eat" list. :)

Update:  Link to the post about our actual visit can be found 

HERE!!  

As noted in the Joel Robuchon website...

Joël Robuchon was awarded in 1976 « Meilleur Ouvrier de France », then in 1987 « Chef de l'annee », then in 1990 « Cuisinier du siècle ». As of today, with 26 Michelin stars, he is the only chef to hold such a worldwide record .

At his birth April 7th, 1945 in Poitiers, nothing compelled this bricklayer's son to walk off with all those titles and rewards. Pupil at the Petit Séminaire de Mauléon-sur-Sèvres in les Deux-Sèvres, he once thought about entering the service of God but he finally found his way in the gastronomy by becoming at first an apprentice then a companion.

At the age of 29, he took over the commands of the kitchen of the Concorde Lafayette hotel and managed 90 cooks, serving several thousands meals per day. His professionalism, his rigor, his assurance, his creativity gave him a beautiful reputation. After a remarkable passage as an Executive Chef and as a Food and Beverage manager of the hotel Nikko where he gained two Michelin stars, he then opens his restaurant in December 1981: Jamin.

The first year he received his first Michelin star, the following year, the second one and the year after, the third. Three years, three Stars, a feat never seen before in gastronomy!

For over ten years, his restaurant achieved remarkable success. In 1994, he settled down Avenue Raymond Poincaré, in a restaurant bearing his name.

The « Joël Robuchon » restaurant was awarded « Best Restaurant in the World » in 1994 by the International Herald Tribune. A worldwide success was already taking place.

As promised, Joël Robuchon, 50 years old, announced his retirement, to focus on handing over his knowledge. Far from the pressure of the stars, he decided with his friend film director Guy Job, « to bring » la cuisine to the television making it more accessible and to demystify it.

For over 10 years, with the most famous « Bon Appetit Bien Sûr » - TV show, Joël Robuchon proposed a daily rendez-vous, a real cuisine lesson, where he greets a fellow chef every week, presents simple and affordable recipes, tips and tricks, thus making it accessible to a broader public.

During all these years, Joel Robuchon travelled the world and regularly went to Japan to discover new products, skilfully passed on techniques by the chefs for decades and became passionate about the empire of the rising sun.

His Japanese experience and his discovery of tapas bars in Spain gave him the inspiration to offer a new dynamics to his vision of cooking. He elaborated a new original concept of restaurant to bring his 'cuisine'in front of the guests, a 'cuisine' of quality products offered in a spirit of conviviality.

The concept of « L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon » - was born!

Joël Robuchon asked Pierre-Yves Rochon to design this luxurious place so as to put forward his chefs, his products and flavours. A restaurant where classic gold and white colours specific to many luxury French restaurants, were replaced by black and red.

As a conductor, Joël Robuchon calls upon his long-standing fellows; Eric Bouchenoire, Philippe Braun and Eric Lecerf to write the musical score of his 'cuisine', François Benot to create new pastries and Antoine Hernandez to create his wine list.

In 2003, the first « L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon » opened its doors in Paris, in the 7th arrondissement, and simultaneously in Tokyo thus disrupting the traditions of « La haute gastronomie ».

This place is unique, warm hearted, opened on the kitchen's stoves, where customers immediately feel at ease, far away from classic restaurants. The first customers are delighted to discover this innovative concept, where gastronomy rhymes with conviviality. This opening makes an echo in the French and foreign press who greet the return of this great French chef.

The success of L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon in Paris encouraged Joël Robuchon to develop its concept on all continents: Las Vegas in 2005, New York, London and Hong Kong in 2006 and Taipei in 2009. 

The same touch, the same know-how, the same use of products, but a cooking adapted according to the country and its culinary traditions where epicureans throughout the world meet in the same spirit of conviviality. The concept is appealing.

Joël Robuchon and his team get involved into each of the restaurants, going from London to New York, and from Hong Kong to Las Vegas. Between two journeys, between two countries or two continents, he heads to his Parisian laboratory where he crafts, prepares, tests and studies the future dishes to be offered to its customers worldwide.

To answer the different demands from worldwide customers, Joël Robuchon besides his ateliers opened other establishments in luxurious environments always respecting this spirit of sublime simplicity; a 3 star gourmet restaurant in a « French-style » castle right in the heart of Tokyo, another 3 star restaurant situated in Macao at the top of a casino or in the model of a mansion, 3 star restaurant right in the heart of the casino of MGM , Las Vegas. Outside these tables of exception, we also count, the Restaurant of Joêl Robuchon in Monaco (2 stars) and his Japanese restaurant Yoshi (1 star), without forgetting satellites, tearooms, pastry shops and the other dining outlets that declines the spirit of Joël Robuchon.

In each of his restaurants throughout the world, Joël Robuchon remains faithful to his principles which made him a guide of the French gastronomy; an exceptional choice of products and ease in execution thanks to his talent in choosing and training his team.

**** Europe HERE WE COME! ****

Hasta La Pasta Lovelies, see ya in about 2 weeks! :)

Meddlesome Moth Menu Changes - Coming Soon

As The Moth prepares for a revamped menu, set to be unveiled in the coming weeks, I'll get teaser pictures like THESE from Chad every so often as he plays in the kitchen... letting me know what he's up to...and just to get my tummy grumbling.  :) 

Prosciutto and Pear Salad with Parmesan, Spanish Olive Oil and Saba

Chilled Steak and Iceberg Salad

So Long California.... HELLO Dallas!

So.. after much anticipation and nearly 3 days on the road .. The Schmidts (Chad's Sister Christy, her Hubs Ryan, our niece Kenzie and nephew Logan) have FINALLY made their big move to .. TEXAS! 

They actually arrived last Thursday afternoon after being trapped (in a good way.. ;) in the car with two kids (5 & 3 years old), a weinie dog, two beta fish and a smiley rock.. (yes, it REALLY is a ROCK that looks like it's smiling.. ;) Picture to come of Mr. Smiley later...

Since then, they've settled in with us while they get their housing situation worked out... (so basically, to break it down, it's...5 adults (Ryan's dad moved out here two weeks ago), 2 kids, 2 dogs, 2 betas and a smiley rock ;) in 1,800 SF... YOU do the math...GASP!!).. which actually just means... SLUMBER PARTY!!  ;)  Oh, and finding creative ways to entertain the kiddies that have MORE ENERGY than you could possibly IMAGINE!  :) :) 

With a little bit of this, and a little bit 'o that we've let the good times ROLL!!  Welcome to Texas Ya'll! 

Kenzie sportin' her Wobbly Gobbles.. or was it.. Gobbly Wobbles??

Either way.. So CUTE!!

Kids enjoying the beautiful weather. :)

Welcome Home Ice Cream at Henry's in Plano :)

At the Elementary School Park by our house...

Comerç 24 Dinner Reservations - Barcelona, Spain :)

If there was one known Chef that I quickly learned about after first meeting Chad, it was definitely Ferran Adria.  Head Chef of El Bulli, one of the most experimental restaurants in the world, Chad has always had a school boy fascination with Ferran's use of molecular gastronomy while creating his dishes.  El Bulli, a Michelin 3 star restaurant, which officially closed it's doors on July 30, 2011, was legendary.  Receiving nearly 2 million reservation requests a year, the restaurant only accommodated 8,000 guests per season.  Needless to say, Chad was more than a bit bummed that we would never get to cross a visit to El Bulli off his bucket list.  HOWEVER, parts of Ferran Adria live on in the likes of El Bulli Rock Star and Ferran Adria protege, Carles Abellan, Chef and Creator of Comerç 24 in Barcelona.  Michelin star rated as well, Comerç 24 is sure to be one hell of a restaurant experience..

Any guesses where we scored dinner reservations next week?!  Chad's one happy camper!  :)

You can read more about this restaurant, and other Carles Abellan concepts, at their website HERE