Bâlehoo

If you love all things cocoa, don’t miss my latest obsession: an order of chocolates from Paris chocolatier Patrick Roger.

These nuggets of chocolatey goodness can please even the most refined palates with (life-altering) flavors like Peppery Mint Ganache and Citronella and Sichuan Peppercorn Ganache. In fact, they’re so amazing that I’ve placed an order for my deathbed (right next to the assiette du fromage) but there’s no need to wait. Just order online and before you know it these little bites of perfection will be at your door.

If the price for the gift boxes seems a bit steep, just stop by the shop on your next jaunt to Paris. There you can pick and choose a small bag full of “le yum”* for just about 8 Euros. At these prices, get an extra bag and ship it off to your friends in the States. They’re not shipping there yet!

*No, I don’t recommend you say this to Patrick – or to anyone in Paris, actually.

If your expat-Nationalistic (expationlistic?) pride requires that you MUST have Swiss chocolate then grab some pralines from Beschle (they also make stellar homemade ice cream) or Gilgen.

Patrick Roger
108 Blvd St. Germain
Paris 75006
Closed Sunday
www.patrickroger.com

If you need night-vision goggles to see your salad, then you must be at Basel’s Blindekuh Restaurant. This restaurant, in which the waitstaff are blind or visually impaired, invites you to experience the world as they do – in the dark. That’s right, you go through the entire dining experience in a pitch-black room. You’ll never appreciate your sight more than when you try to eat a simple forkful of lettuce and miss your mouth – three times!

A fun and educational night out for friends and family, Blindekuh is also a great idea for corporate teambuilding events. And, of course, it is the perfect venue for… you guessed it…. a blind date! (Insert groaning noises here.)

A word of warning: Blindekuh is not for the faint of heart (several in our group experienced a mild degree of claustrophobia) nor is it particularly for the food (which is good but not great). Still it is an absolutely worthwhile experience that will open your eyes to the world of the visually impaired. Most importantly, it benefits the Blind-Liecht foundation, an organization working to create employment opportunities for blind and visually impaired people! That’s reason enough in my book.

For an interesting article about another person’s Blindekug experience, check out the
English Show website.

Blindekuh
bar restaurant kultur bildung im dunkeln
Dornacherstrasse 192
4053 Basel
www.blindekuh.ch
Tel: 061 336 33 00

If you’ve struggled with converting your recipes from American measures to metric, visit the Chocolate & Zucchini site for a handy reference.

While you’re there, make sure to bookmark this excellent cooking site and visit often for Clotilde’s charming stories, unique recipe ideas and great restaurant recommendations for your next visit to Paris (and sometimes the Alsace). She’s got a new book out, too!

The ski season may be coming to a close, but there’s still plenty to enjoy in Wengen – especially if you are staying at the Hotel Caprice. Owned and operated by the charming Christian and Monica Aubert, the hotel combines a fresh Swiss Chalet-Meets-W-Hotel aesthetic with a fabulous view of the Jungfrau and a gourmet restaurant.

Spend the day hiking around the mountain then return to relax in front of the fire in their beautifully appointed lounge. You’ll be glad you worked up an appetite when you get a glance at the restaurant’s impressive dinner menu featuring incredible French cuisine. Visit their site for photos and more information: www.caprice-wengen.ch.

*Photo from Hotel Caprice website