Moods & Foods

Sole Meunière

2010-01-28T21:09:00.003+01:00

Sole is one of my favourite fish. It's delicate and so good.

For this recipe I used:

1 sole fish approx. 300gr
1 lemon
5 branches parsley
30 gr. butter + 1 tbs oil
flour
salt and pepper

Rinse and chop parsley
Spread the flour on a large plate and dredge the sole in it and shake to remove the excess flour
In a big pan melt half the butter with the oil when it's hot place the sole and cook it for about 4-5 minutes on each side turning it carefully not to dismantle it
Place on a plate, sprinkle the chopped parsley and the lemon juice
in the same pan you cooked it, melt the remaining butter, when it turn slightly brown pour it over the sole, it will foam at the contact with the lemon and parsley.
This is often served with boiled patatoes or rice. Today I only wanted vegetables.

Bon Appetit !

HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!

2010-01-02T21:33:00.003+01:00

Happy New Year !

Today I opened my fridge, I had some duck breast I had bought for Christmas and the date being near I decided to treat myself.

For this recipe I used (serves two):

1 duck breast
3 shallots
butter
1dl cream
white balsamic vinegar
cognac
salt, pepper

Take the duck out of the fridge about half an hour before you start cooking it, and slice the skin to to draw squares, salt and pepper on both sides.

Clean the shallots and cut them in halves.

Melt some butter in a pan and add the shallots , cover them and let them cook for about 10 minutes at low temperature. After that poor a little bit balsamic vinegar and then add also about 3 tbs cognac. Let cook 1 or two mn and add the cream. Make it boil a few minutes to allow it to thicken. I added some chilly powder for the taste.

In the meantime, heat a pan without any grease and when it's hot lay the duck fillet on the skin side. Let it cook at medium temperature for approximately 7mn, then remove the excess fat that has melted and turn it on the other side for 2mn.

Slice the duck and pour the sauce on it. You can serve this with noodles or rice and French beans.

Bon Appétit !

MERRY XMAS EVERYBODY !!!

2009-12-24T17:01:00.001+01:00

and another one...

Chicken with cream

2009-12-15T21:24:00.005+01:00

After a month in India, being served and relaxed, I came back home with no motivation to cook. And it's been a month. So today, as it's very cold, I thought why not start treating myself with something 'light' !

For this recipe you need:

2 chicken breasts
2 shallots
1dl crème fraiche
paprika
0.5dl cognac
flour
salt and pepper

mince the shallots
cut the chicken in small pieces
put some flour in a plastic bag, put the chicken in it and shake it until all pieces are covered with it.
heat some butter in a pan, add the shallots and stir for a minute
add the chicken, stir it a few minutes and let it cook for 10 minutes
sprinkle some paprika and stir again
poor the cognac, if you want can light it to make it 'flambé'
add the crème fraiche and allow to boil a minute
Salt and pepper to taste

Serve it with rice or noodles and some vegetable which I didn't have tonight.

Bon Appetit !

Kerala

2009-11-23T18:08:00.003+01:00

Here are some pictures of the fish I had in Kerala on my last trip a few weeks back. It was great and so delicious. I went to Fort Kochi for a couple of days and there picked up some fresh fish which was cooked for me friends at a place nearby and also cooked at the Hotel Mothertree, the guest house I stayed.

Soup 'Avgolemono'

2009-09-24T22:29:00.005+02:00

This a an rather easy soup, 'avgolemono' in Greek translates into egg with lemon. Most of my friends love it and ask for eat when I leave the choice of food.

For this recipe I used:

1.5 litres water
2 cubes vegetable broth
0.5 cup Basmati rice
2 eggs
2 lemons
salt & pepper

boil the water with the broth
add the rice and cook as indicated covered
beat the eggs in a bowl and then slowly pour the broth (trying to avoid including the rice at the same time) and keep on beating the eggs. Do this until you have incorporated have the broth.
Add the lemon juice, if you don't want your soup very sour start with the juice of one lemon, I prefer putting more lemon and less salt and then slowly pour the mixture back into the rest of the soup.

I usually eat this as a main course, but it's also great for a start.

Bon appetit !

Plum tart

2009-09-12T18:24:00.004+02:00

Here is one of the favourite deserts in Switzerland at this time of the year. This is the easy way to do it :

1 package of ready rolled short crust pastry
1 tablespoon flour
2 or 3 tablespoons sugar
1kg plume
butter

Roll down the pastry and place it in a flan dish
Sprinkle the flour and some sugar
Wash the prunes, cut them in half and place them on the pastry
Add some sugar to your likings
Cut small pieces of butter
Cook for about 30mn at 180°

For my tart I added some clove to give it a little more taste and it was excellent.

I prefer eating it slightly warm, but it's also delicious when cold.

Bon Appetit !

Indian Summer in Geneva Lake

2009-09-12T17:51:00.005+02:00

The view from Chambesy, a near Geneva

Rolle, a small town in Canton de Vaud about twenty minutes from Geneva

ROBBIE WILLIAMS

2009-09-04T17:11:00.000+02:00

Robbie Williams new song Bodies to be released on 12 October 2009

The Mamma Mia! weddings in Greece -Times Online

2009-08-12T09:32:00.001+02:00

The Mamma Mia! weddings in Greece -Times Online

Shared via AddThis

Scrambled Eggs with tomatoes

2009-07-28T19:52:00.004+02:00

This is nothing very complicated, but again when it's hot outside, it's so good and also very healthy.

For 1 hungry person you need :

3 eggs
3 tomatoes
a few branches thyme
salt and pepper
a little bit of butter (optional)

Boil some water, put the tomatoes in it for approximately 30s, then place them in cold water and after a few minutes peal them and dice them.
Heat a small frying pan with the butter and add the tomatoes with the thyme, let them cook for about five minutes.
Beat the eggs and add them to the tomato sauce.
Scramble them to your taste.

Bon appetit !

Tomato & Mozzarella

2009-07-25T16:05:00.005+02:00

Here again a very easy recipe, but one very refreshing one for a nice summer day or as appetizer. For this I used :

2 San Marzano tomatoes
5 small mozzarella di bufula
a few basil leafs
olive oil
white balsamic vinegar
salt & pepper

Slice the tomatoes and the mozzarella. Place the tomatoes on a plate. On top of them place a mozzarella slice. Add some salt and pepper. Place the basile leafs on top. Finish by pouring the olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

Eat very fresh. Bon appetit !

Chicken & Merguez

2009-06-27T23:32:00.004+02:00

Here is a very easy and excellent recipe

2 pieces of chicken
8 merguez
1tbs olive oil
salt & pepper

Heat the oven at 250°
Place the merguez in a baking dish
Place the chicken on top of them and baste them with the olive oil
Place the dish in the oven, after 10mn turn the chicken and lower the oven temperature at 180° and cook for 30mn, baste from time to time with the oil coming out of the merguez.

Thriller - Michael Jackson tribute dance (Prison inmates)

2009-06-27T23:23:00.001+02:00

We are the World by Michael Jackson & Co

2009-06-26T20:27:00.004+02:00

I really love this song even after so many year. Can anybody still write anything like this ? We'll miss a great Artist !

USA For Africa - We Are The World
envoyé par ineptique. -

So True...

2009-05-19T21:59:00.001+02:00

Oreo Fun Commercial

2009-05-19T21:19:00.001+02:00

What a lovely pet to have at home !

Cod Fish Curry

2009-05-18T22:00:00.003+02:00

Today there a promotion on cod, fish and as my nutritionist strongly advised to eat healthy (or to try to) I bought a filet which was quite big, but then I won't have to cook for next 2 days. I wanted to make a curry, so thank you Google and thanks to Jamie Oliver's recipe found here I did the following slightly adjusted:

550gr. cod fish (filet)
6 tomatoes
3 white onions
3cm fresh ginger
3 garlic cloves
2 teaspoons mustard seeds
1 teaspoon fennel seeds
2 teaspoons turmeric
1 little green pepper
10 curry leaves
400ml coconut milk
1 red pepper
250gr fresh spinach
5tbs olive oil
salt

Peel the tomatoes and cut them in pieces
Chop the onions
Mash the garlic and grate the ginger
In a wok, heat the oil and put the mustard seeds, when they start crackle add the fennel seeds, ginger, garlic, curry leaves and stir. Then add the onion and simmer for 5 minutes, add the tomatoes, turmeric, red pepper and green little pepper simmer a few minutes. Poor the coconut milk, add the fish, cover and allow to cook for about 5 more minutes. Adjust the seasoning if needed. One minute before serving add the spinach.

Bon appetit !

Green Beans or Haricots Verts

2009-05-16T17:10:00.000+02:00

Another of the recipes I love, in Greek it's called 'Fassolakia Freska me Tomata'. Green beans are very healthy having vitamins and there are many ways to cook serve them. You can have the as side dish with a nice piece of meat or chicken, or as main dish.

Ingredients:

400gr. Green beans
4 chopped tomatoes
1dl water
2 onions
2 garlic cloves
olive oil
salt and pepper

Chop the onions and the garlic
Heat the oil in a frying pan and sauté the onion until they become translucent
Add the garlic and green beans and stir a few more minutes
Add the tomatoes and water, salt and pepper stir
Cover and let it cook for approximately 25 minutes

Bon Appétit !

Beef Stew

2009-05-10T22:59:00.003+02:00

On Saturday when I went to the downstairs supermarket, there was a promotion on Beef Stew. I won't say I love, because I came to realise that I love pretty everything as long as it is food, but yes this is a dish I really like, my friends like it, and as I had a friend over to organise our holiday at the end of the month, I bought it, and here is the recipe.

Ingredients for 4:

700gr beef in big pieces
2 cans chopped tomatoes
50gr butter
1 stick 5cm cinnamon
1dl white whine
salt and pepper

Put the butter in a big saucepan and when melted add the meat, stir for 5mn to colour on all sides
Add the wine, stir again for 1 minutes
Add the tomato sauce, salt, pepper and cinnamon stir some more, cover
Cook for 2 hours at low temperature stirring from time to time

With this sauce the best thing to serve with this is noodles or if you have some Greek hilopites.

Tweety

2009-05-10T21:49:00.000+02:00

Minced Porc

2009-05-08T22:45:00.001+02:00

I went to the supermarket again and there was a pack with a slice of porc at 50% discount as the date was nearly due. With all this swine flue talk all around, I thought why not give it a shot. I arrived at home and that's what I found in my fridge:

140gr minced pork
1 teaspoon ginger/garlic paste
a few branches thyme
10 gr butter
1/4 cup white wine
1/2 lemon's juice
flour
salt and pepper
crème fraiche

Put 1tbs floor in a small plastic bag, add the meat, hold the bag tightly closed and shake it until the flour covers the meat.
Fry the pork in the meat for 5 minutes on all sides
Add the ginger/garlic past and stir
Add the white wine, lemon juice, thyme, salt and pepper and stir some more, cover and let it cook 10 minutes.
Before serving add a little bit crème fraiche and stir.
I had some rice left over from yesterday and my diner was ready and delicious.
Bon Appetit !

Fera Fish

2009-05-07T22:01:00.003+02:00

On my way back from the office, I stopped at the super market, bought 2 mangoes, a few tomatoes, a cucumber, and then went to look at what was available at the fish department. I bought a fish lake typical around the Geneva Lake. In French it's called "Fera", in English I don't know as according too Wikipedia it lives only in the Geneva Lake... love this fish, in fact I love all fishes, but this one has a very subtle taste.

When I arrived at home, I had a problem as I have often eaten Fera at restaurants, but never cooked it before, and as always I googlise it to find a recipe that suited me. The original one is here, in fact it's only the sauce recipe I was looking for, and here is the recipe I prepared for myself.

Ingredients for 1:
1/2 fillet of Fera (200gr)
1 French shallot 1 big carott
1/2 cup white wine
1/4 cup white balsamic vinegar
5 sticks chives
30gr butter
1 tbs creme fraiche (optional)

Chop the shallot and the carrot and put them in the white wine and vinegar with some salt and pepper and reduced to one quarter (approx. 10mn), then add the butter (very cold and cut in cubes, and stir. Add the crème fraiche.
In a separate pan heat a little bit of butter with 1tbs olive oil (you can use corn or any kind if you like) and cook the fish for 2 minutes on each side. Serve in a plate, pour the sauce and serve with some rice. Decorate with the chives.

Bon Appetit !

A Video For Greeks Only

2009-05-05T19:40:00.001+02:00

Sorry for the others... but this is a Greek movie.

Chicken with shallots

2009-05-03T22:27:00.008+02:00

I love chicken. Its low fat and there are so many way to cook it that I never get bored. Here is a very good and simple way to cook it.

2 chicken fillet
4 tomatoes
5 shallots
white wine
butter
a few branches thyme

Peal and cut in pieces the tomatoes
clean and slice the shallots, saute them in a little butter
add the chicken and cook 1mn on each face
add the tomato and a little white white (I've put too much, my hand slipped... oups ! the sauce was too liquid)
add the thyme branches, salt and pepper

Cook approximately 45 mn covered in low temperature, before serving add a little bit crème fraiche, serve with noodles or rice and some vegetables.
Bon appetit !

BloggerAid

2009-04-28T19:57:00.006+02:00

Today was a first for me. I had my first subscriber Ivy...

I also wanted to share with you this very nice Greek proverb I received in my mail box from BloggerAid :

One hand washes the other and both wash the face.

This Greek proverb means that only helping each other and working together or as a team you can accomplish greater things.

Please come and read what the general idea is about.

Visit BloggerAid at: http://bloggeraid.ning.com

Chicken didn't have time to run...

2009-04-27T22:35:00.001+02:00

This is one of my hit recipes. I know it sounds stupid, everybody knows how to cook a chicken in the oven, but well try this one and let me know. My grandmother showed me her recipe year ago, and well the chicken is perfectly cooked and the potatoes as sweet a very good Loukoum.

1 chicken
1 kg small potatoes
a few branches rosemary
10 garlic cloves cut in half
1 cup white wine
1 cup olive oil
salt and pepper

Peel the potatoes and cut them is small pieces
Make a small cut in the chicken skin and insert a halved garlic clove together with a few 'spines' rosemary and repeat this all over the chicken.
Put the rest of the rosemary inside the chicken (save some to for the potatoes) with a few garlic cloves
Place the chicken and potatoes in a big baking dish add the remaining garlic and rosemary, poor the olive oil, white wine and mix. Add salt and pepper to your likings.
Cook in the oven first at maximum heat to roast the chicken skin, approximately 10 minutes on the top, then turn for another 10 minutes. Then lower the oven at 200°, cover the chicken with aluminium and let it cook for at least another hour and half depending on the size of it. From time to time poor some sauce on the chicken to avoid it getting dry.

Tuna Salad

2009-04-24T21:25:00.001+02:00

Here is a light cool salad for Summer when it's hot, as a main dish or a side dish.

1/2 cucumber
2 gherkins
1/2 onion
1 tin tuna
3 tbs capers
basil
olive oil, balsamic vinegar
salt, pepper

Peel and cut in small piece the cucumber, salt it and let it drain
chop the onion in small piece, do the same with the gherkin and the basil
drain the oil off the tuna and crumble it with a fork
mix everything together in a plate add some olive oil, vinegar, adjust the seasoning and eat fresh.

Christos Anesti! Χριστὸς ἀνέστη!

2009-04-19T21:21:00.003+02:00

Today was the end of the celebration of the Easter for the Orthodox, Greeks, Russians, etc... In Greece lots of people do the whole 41 days Lent, go to Church every Friday the Cheretizmi, go to Church on Thursday and on Good Friday we decorate the Epitaphio (the symbolic bier of Christ). On Saturday morning we go to Church without having drank or eaten anything and we take the holy Communion. Then most people will continue fasting until after midnight and the Resurrection. In my family, we break the fast and meet friends in a tea-room to have a good breakfast...

Then my mum goes back home to prepare the Magiritsa. The Magiritsa is a soup which contains lots of the offal of the Lamb that will be cooked on Sunday, so nothing is lost. My mum however, prepares a 'clean' Magirista. She prepares the broth using the head, neck, and when she finds it a foot or two. Ok I know this sound terrible, but well. Then she takes the meat part of the head and the neck of the lamb and cuts them in tiny parts, she adds to the the liver. She also puts a lot of spring onion, dill and cooks everything in the broth. Then she beats the eggs adding slowly the broth and then puts everything back together.

As we live in Switzerland, the Priest celebrates Easter at 11.00 pm in order to celebrate at the same time as in Greece. So around 10.30pm we go to Church. This is really a great celebration. They first turn of the lights and everybody holds an unlight candle and then the Holy Light comes slowly when everybody lights theirs candles. At this point the Church is full and there are even more people outside. At midight in Greece (11.00pm here) the Preist and start singing Christos Anestis (Christ has arisen) and everybody sings together. We then kiss and greet by saying Christos Anesti and the other person answer Alithos Anesti (Truly He has arisen).

It is the custom to carry the Eternal Flame home and use it to make the sign of the cross on the door frame in smoke. The smoke cross is left there throughout the year, symbolizing that the light of the Resurrection has blessed the home. The candles are used to light icon candelabra, and are put on the table for the midnight meal.

We then sit all together to crush our red eggs and eat the Magiritsa. On Saturday night for the Anastasi we were 12 to share this fantastic meal.

On Sunday morning, in Greece they prepare the barbecue to cook the lamb, with potatoes in the oven, a green salad seasoned with dill, spring onions, olive oil and some vinegar. or le. Here where I live, Greeks usually gather in a big place. Today, we had a plate of mezze for a start, then Lamb cooked in the oven with the potatoes, then they served us pieces of 2 lambs they cooked at the barbecues outside as the weather allowed it. We then had a ice cream and baklava. All this with live Greek music. It was a nice party. In Greece this will last until late at night, but then we do it at home and it's more confortable and very very noisy with all the family and friends gathering.

Next year I'll have my mum at home to prepare her Magiritsa so that I can share here recipe with you. I'll also have my camera to take some pictures as I forgot it yesterday.

Baked Chickpeas

2009-04-14T21:35:00.000+02:00

I soaked my chickpeas in the morning without knowing how to cook them or what I really wanted. In the evening when I returned home late afternoon I googled a few recipes and found one here. I changed it as I was not very excited about the lemon.

500gr chickpeas (dry)
2 onions
4garlic cloves
1 tin diced tomatoes
thyme
2 bay leaf
1 cup olive oil
1 cup white wine
salt, pepper, sugar

Soak the chickpease
Cut the onions in big slices
Split the peas in 4 high-walled earthenware baking vessel or 1 big Pyrex type of dish
Pour some olive oil, white wine, 2 tbs tomatoes
Add the bay leafs and salt, pepper, sugar to taste
cover with aluminium foil and cook for 2 hours in the oven at 160°.

A beautiful weekend in Geneva

2009-04-13T17:12:00.007+02:00

Some pictures of Geneva on a lovely sunny Easter Monday at the botanical garden, on the lake side, the WTO building and our famous Jet d'Eau

Stuffed Tomatoes with Rice

2009-04-12T20:26:00.005+02:00

Christian Orthodox (Greek, Russian, etc.) will celebrate Easter next week, for a start of an explanation click here. So this week for me is Lent, even if started a month ago. Lent in Greece means that you can't eat any meat, poultry, cheese, eggs, well nothing that comes from animals which has blood in veins (well that's my mum's definition). During this period we eat lots of vegetables, beans, seafood, pasta and rice.

Here's my grandmother's recipe for stuffed tomatoes and peppers, of course you can do only tomatoes, but peppers give the dish an extra taste.

15 tomatoes & peppers
4 big onions
200 gr. rice
1 bunch of parsley
1 bunch of fresh mint
1/2 cup dry black raisins
1 /2 cup pine nuts
1.5 cup olive oil
bread crumbs, salt, pepper, sugar

Slice the top of the tomatoes and with a spoon empty them, try to remove as much you can without poking them and save the inner part, cut the top of the peppers and remove the seeds from inside
Chop (separately) the onions, the mint, parsley
Boil the onions in 1 cup of water for approximatly 1 minutes
Add half the olive oil and allow to color.
Add the parsley, mint, pine nuts and stir
Add the rice and the tomatoes' flesh (keep some for later), salt, pepper and let it cook for one or two minutes
Fill the tomatoes and the peppers put back the 'hat' and sprinkle some bread crumbs and sugar
Pour the remaining olive oil and tomato flesh
Cook 1h 30mn in the oven at 180°

You can keep this for a few days, and it's also very good cold.

Tarama

2009-04-10T18:23:00.002+02:00

Tarama, also called taramosalata (ταραμοσαλάτα) is a classic Greek mezze, especially during Lent. There two types the with or the pink fish eggs. The white one is considered better, but I could only find the pink one. There are also different ways to do it either with bread of potato, I never used potato, probably because my mother didn't use it, and it the taste is stronger with bread.

100gr tarama
1 onion
olive oil (approximately 1 cup)
one or two slices of dry bread

Put the bread to soak in water and then squeeze to remove the water
chop (mash) the onion
put the tarama in a bowl and start mixing pouring slowly the olive oil and lemon juice until it turns into a nice and smooth dip, add the the bread and onion and mix some more. If it is to salty or if the taste is too strong for you add more bread. Also, if you're not used to olive oil taste you can use half corn oil and half olive oil.

Let it cool in the fridge before service and decorate with a small leave parlsey, or an olive (I did not have any left...), eat with pita bread, a nice greek Choriatiki salad

Strawberries, Ginger & Mascarpone...

2009-04-06T21:54:00.001+02:00

I bought some strawberries, cleaned them started eating them, but they were kind of tasteless. So I prepared a syrup (found the recipe here)with 1 cup of sugar, 2 of water and fresh ginger, let it cook for 20 minutes, let it cool for and poured it on the strawberries. Not bad, but there was too much ginger... Ok, then I decided to mix them all together and to prepare a 'coulis'.

Then I bought another box of strawberries, cut them in small cubes, and cut also 3 kiwis as well. Then found some Mascarpone in my fridge. I took 2 tbs of it and mixed it with the 'coulis' I had prepared a few days before and put it in a glass, then add some plain coulis to give it some colour, and above added the strawberries and kiwis.

For something done out of the blue for a test, I must say it looked very nice and the taste was very interresting.

Spanakoriso - Spinach with rice

2009-04-06T21:22:00.003+02:00

This is a vegetarian dish which I usually prepare the week before Easter while doing Lent, I know I should do Lent for 5 weeks, but for me one week is enough resisting the temptation of sweets, pizzas and steaks. Anyway, it's a Greek speciality. This is the recipe of my mum, grandmother, of my family to make the long story short.

750gr fresh spinach
6 tomatos (or one tin)
3 onions
3 spring onions
2 cloves garlic
a bunch of dill
a bunch of parsley
1 cup of rice (Basmati for me)
2 lemons

Boil some water and put the tomatoes for 1 minute and then place them in a bowl with very cold water. Peel them and cut them in cubes.
Wash the spinach many times in thorough water, if you're in a hurry use frozen spinach, but even if it's not bad, it's really not the same...
Chop the onions and the garlic
Chop the dill and the parsley
Heat a generous amount of olive oil and saute the onion and garlic till it becomes translucent
Add the spinach and stir
Add the herbs, salt and pepper (I also added some chilly powder)
Add the tomato
Rinse and add the rice
Let it cook for 15 minutes at low temperature
Once it's cooked add lemon if you like it.

This taste good the same day, but even better the day after, and then one after that. Use your bread to do what we call 'paparra' in Greece = mop your bread in the sauce.

Grilled Calamareti

2009-04-04T23:12:00.007+02:00

A few years ago, I was with my Mum at a taverna called Platano in Athens, in the Plaka area. They had on the menu Grilled Calamar. I ordered the dish, and it was simple, but so good. I asked the waiter how it was prepared. As you can see even a novice can do it... Here's a recipe for 1 person.

6 Calamareti
1 lemon
thyme
olive oil
salt & pepper

clean the calamareti or have them cleaned.
in a service plate put some olive oil, the lemon juice and the thyme.
heat a grill pan or prepare a barbecue, cook the calamareti for two minutes on each side and place them in the service plate.

Serve with spinach, or a nice salad and rice

A simple Salad

2009-04-03T22:46:00.004+02:00

I know most of everybody is able to prepare a good salad, but this one is a simple one I really love...

1 Oak leaf lettuce
6 cherry tomatoes
1 small onion
Parmesan
1 garlic clove
Olive Oil
Balsamic vinegar
Mustard

Rinse the salad & tomatoes.
Chop the garlic and slice finely the onion
Prepare the vinaigrette with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, the garlic and mustard. I don't measure these, as I like my salad sauce 'strong' and tasty.

Put the salad in a bowl, garnish with the cherry tomatoes and and parmesan shavings. Poor the vinaigrette.

Roger Rabbit with Beer

2009-04-01T20:19:00.005+02:00

Ingredients:

half a rabbit in pieces
3 onions slices
1 beer (I used a Heinken 33cl)
1/2 tbs flour
2tbs crème fraiche
50gr. butter
1 bay leaf
salt and pepper

fry the onions in the butter for about 3 minutes, brown rabbit pieces on all sides, then sprinkle the flour and mix to allow it to go on all pieces. Pour the beer and stir, add the bay leaf. Cover and simmer for approximately 45 minutes stirring occasionally . Add the crème fraiche, adjust the seasoning and serve.

This is excellent with brown rice or noodles.

Rice & Carotts

2009-03-29T17:27:00.001+02:00

1 cup basmati rice
3 carrots (or more)
1 onion
1 garlic clove
2cm fresh ginger
1 tbs garam massala
curcuma
25gr butter
salt

Peel and chop the carrots, onion, the clove, ginger
wash the rice
heat the butter and roast the onion , then add the ginger and garlic and garam masala
add the carrots and let it cook for 2 minutes, and add the rice
add 2 cups of water and some salt and let cook for about 10 minutes.
I found the recipe for the garam masala here

Tzatziki

2009-03-27T20:58:00.001+01:00

1 strained Greek yoghurt (Fage Total 170gr.)

1 piece of cucumber
1 garlic clove (you add more if you sleep alone or want to...)
10 leaves fresh mint
2 tbs olive oil
salt, pepper

peel and grate the cucumber, place it in a sieved and above a bowl, sprinkle with salt and let it rest to draw out water, drain it well by squizzing it.
finely chop the garlic and the mint leaves
Mix all the ingredients and stir. Garnish with a few leaves of fresh mint or a black olive.

Allow to rest 1 or 2 hours in the fridge and serve it very fresh.

Emincé de poulet au curry

2009-03-24T20:15:00.006+01:00

J'ai trouvé cette recette sur http://www.goosto.fr/recette-de-cuisine/curry-poulet-indien-10012317.htm. J'ai légèrement modifié la recette, car j'aime l'odeur des clous de girofle que j'ai ramené d'Inde et que je préfère utiliser des tomates fraiches quand j'ai le temps. Même sans ces petits changements, la recette est divine.

Temps de préparation : 50 minutes / Temps de cuisson : 20 minutes

Ingrédients :

4 escalopes de poulet,
1 oignon émincé
2 gousses d’ail pelées
1 morceau de gingembre frais et pelé de la taille de 2 gousses d’ail
1 cuillère à café rase de graines de cumin
1 cuillère à café rase de graines de coriandre
1 piment rouge séché
½ cuillère à café rase de poivre blanc
2cm de cannelle en bâton
3 gousses de cardamome
3 clous de girofle
½ cuillère à café de curcuma moulu
huile végétale
1 petite boite de tomates entières pelées ou 4 tomates de taille moyenne
1 yaourt
½ botte de coriandre

Coupez les escalopes de poulet en morceaux et mettez-les dans un bol. Au dessus du bol, écrasez les gousses d'ail puis râpez le gingembre. Ajoutez une cuillère à soupe d'huile puis mélangez. Couvrez et laissez mariner à température ambiante.
Faites chauffer une poêle sans matière grasse sur feu moyen. Ajoutez le cumin, la coriandre, le piment, le poivre, la cannelle, la cardamome et faites-les revenir en remuant de temps en temps, jusqu'à ce qu'elles commencent à crépiter. Versez dans un bol et laissez refroidir. Versez dans un petit robot puis broyez-les. Versez la poudre obtenue dans un petit bol, ajoutez le curcuma puis mélangez.
Pelez les tomates en les plongeant dans de l'eau bouillante quelques secondes, coupez les en cubes.
Versez 2 cuillères à soupe d'huile dans une cocotte puis faites chauffer sur feu doux. Ajoutez les oignons puis faites-les revenir pendant 8 minutes, jusqu'à ce qu'ils soient bien tendres. Ajoutez le mélange d'épices et mélangez pendant 30 secondes. Ajoutez le poulet, augmentez le feu à feu vif et faites revenir en remuant sans cesse pendant 1 minute. Ajoutez les tomates et leur jus puis mélangez bien. Ajoutez 10 cl d'eau, portez à ébullition, couvrez et baissez le feu. Laissez mijoter pendant 15 minutes.
Hors du feu, ajoutez 2 grosses cuillères à soupe de yaourt et mélangez. Salez puis mélangez à nouveau. Servez avec de la coriandre ciselée.

Cauliflower Gratin

2009-03-24T19:42:00.002+01:00

1 Cauliflower
25cl crème fraiche
100gr. grated Gruyère cheese
salt, pepper, muscat powder

Cut the cauliflower in small pieces, wash and boil in salted water for about 20mn
During this time heat the oven at maximum heat on grill position
place the cooked cauliflower in a gratin dish and put it for a minute or two in the over to dry
mix the cream with the Gruyère, salt, pepper and muscat and pour it on the cauliflower
place it back in the over for ten minutes.

Keftedes or Greek meatballs

2009-03-22T20:38:00.001+01:00

1kg minced meat (500gr. beef, 250gr. lamb, 250gr. pork)

2 or 3 onions
parsley
fresh mint
2 eggs
2 slices dried bread
2 tbs ouzo or red wine
salt, pepper
olive oil

put the dry bread in water to soak
mince the onion
mix all the ingredient together
prepared the meatballs and roll them in flour
heat the olive oil and cook the meat balls for about 5 minutes

In Greece we usually serve these with tzatziki, with a Choriatiki salad (tomato, cucumber, feta, onion, black olives) and fresh French fries... You can also serve this as an appetizer, cold or warm- You can keep them a few days in the fridge or freeze them in little packs and heat them as needed.

For the Tzatziki you need 1 Greek yoghurt (preferably), 1 piece of grated cucumber , 2 or 3 garlic cloves and some fresh mint. salt and pepper . Mix everything together and keep it in the fridge for a few hours to serve it fresh.

Tuna with Tomato & Balsamic Vinegar

2009-03-20T21:22:00.010+01:00

Ingredients for 2:

3 tomatoes, peeled and chopped
a handful fresh chopped basil
2 tuna steaks
olive oil,
Balsamic vinegar
salt, pepper

Cook the tuna in a little olive oil 2 minutes on each side
Deglaze with the Balsamic vinegar and then add the tomatoes, allow to cook for a few more minutes, add the basil.
Adjust the seasoning and serve with some rice and salad.

This is also delicious cold when there is any leftover...

The Little Girl

2009-03-16T18:26:00.001+01:00

A white man was seated next to a little black girl on the airplane when he turned to her and said, "Let's talk. I've heard that flights go quicker if you strike up a conversation with your fellow passenger."

The little girl, who had just opened her coloring book, closed it slowly and said to the man, "What would you like to talk about?"

"Oh, I don't know," said the man. "Since you are black, do you think that So-called President Elect Barak Obama is qualified for the job?" and he smiles. "OK", she said.

'That could be an interesting topic. But let me ask you a question first. A horse, a cow, and a deer all eat the same stuff - grass. Yet a deer excretes little pellets, while a cow turns out a flat patty, and a horse produces clumps of dried grass. Why do you suppose that is?"

The man, visibly surprised by the little girl's intelligence, thinks about it and says, "Hmmm, I have no idea."

To which the little girl replies, "Do you really feel qualified to discuss President Barack Obama ..... when you don't know shit..."

Pineapple & Ginger juice

2009-03-15T00:05:00.009+01:00

I had a pineapple which I had forgotten, so I cut it , cleared the rotten part and put it in a mixer to make juice out of it. Then I also had a piece of ginger. I then google these and came out with this:

1 pineapple
75 gr. fresh ginger
3 lemon
0.5l water
sugar

Mix the pineapple
cut the ginger in small pieces, rinse it and mix it in the water
Add the ginger, pineapple, lemon juice and sugar in a bottle if possible.
Let it rest for a few hours, serve and enjoy !
In the original recipe, it said to also use a handful mint leave and vanilla, but since I had none, I can't tell you how it would taste. But without these, it was just perfect !

Quiche au thon

2009-02-22T16:51:00.006+01:00

1 rouleau de pâte feuilletée abaissée
4 œufs
2 c.à.s. de parmesan
1dl de crème fraiche
1/2 oignon
1 tomate
3 c.à.s. de câpres
1 boite de thon rose

Battre les œufs avec la crème
ajouter le parmesan, les câpres, l'oignon et le thon
verser dans le moule
ajouter la tomate coupée en tranche
cuire au four à 180° pendant environ 30mn

Servir avec une belle salade et déguster

Duo de mousses au chocolat blanc et noir

2009-02-14T00:05:00.002+01:00

Duo de mousses au chocolat blanc et noir

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Biscuit moelleux au chocolat, ganache épicée

2009-02-13T22:54:00.001+01:00

Biscuit moelleux au chocolat, ganache épicée

Posted using ShareThis

Chicken with fresh ginger, etc

2009-02-01T20:22:00.002+01:00

4 chicken breasts
1 big piece ginger
3 garlic cloves
1 lemon juice
a few sprigs of thyme
1dl white wine
olive oil
crème fraiche
salt, pepper,
a pinch of sugar

grate the ginger and chop the garlic
put the chicken breasts in a Pirex type of plate
add the white wine, lemon juice, the thyme, salt, pepper, sugar and a little bit olive oil
cook 30mn in the oven, turn the breasts from time to time and wet them with the sauce
before serving add some crème fraiche and serve with rice and vegetable

Street children in India

2009-01-04T22:00:00.006+01:00

Merry Christmas !

2008-12-26T00:06:00.000+01:00

Kourabiedes

2008-12-21T21:41:00.009+01:00

Les Kourabiedes sont des biscuits fait pendant les fêtes de fin d'année principalement. Ce biscuit se fait autant en Grèce, qu'au Liban ou en Turquie avec bien sur quelques variantes selon le pays. Ceci est la recette de ma grand-mère et de ma mère et maintenant la mienne aussi. Beaucoup de recettes les fond plus épais, plus gros. Personnellement, je préfère les faire plus petits, c'est plus facile à manger après un bon repas.

500 gr. de beurre
2 jaunes d'œuf
1kg de farine
2 sachet de sucre vanillé
2 c.à s. de sucre glace 2 verres de cognac
200 grammes d'amandes grillées et concassées (pas en poudre !)

500 gr. sucre glace mélangé à sachets de sucre glace

Préchauffer le four à 200°
battre le beurre jusqu'à ce qu'il blanchisse
ajouter les œufs, le cognac, le sucre & la vanille et continuer à battre un peu
incorporer petit à petit la farine, d'abord au batteur, puis en pétrissant à la main
avant que toute la farine soit incorporée ajouter les amandes, ajouter ensuite la farine restante, mais faire attention que la pâte ne devienne pas sèche, il me reste toujours un peu de farine à la fin.
si la pâte s'émiette se frotter les mains avec un peu de beurre et pétrir la pâte.

faire les Kourabies en forme de petits croissants ou lunes en les roulants entre les mains, si vous n'y arrivez pas, découpez les avec des formes

cuire 16 minutes
dès la sortie du four les rouler délicatement dans le sucre glace, les poser sur une grille
lorsque les biscuits ont refroidi, les dresser sur une assiette et les saupoudrer avec le reste du sucre glace.

Alexandra Burke

2008-12-18T22:27:00.001+01:00

Well, I'm not a big fan of this kind of programs, but as I was in search of something to watch last Saturday I fell on this show and started watching the final for the X-Factor.
I wish this girl all the best for her future, she really really really deserves it. And as soon as her CD will be available in Switzerland, I'll certainly get it unless I find someone to bring it back from London...

boosterblog

2008-12-17T22:35:00.000+01:00

http://www.boosterblog.com

Qype: Restaurant Soupçon in Genève

2008-12-13T23:38:00.001+01:00

Geneve - Restaurants

Went for Saturday lunch and went rather early at 12.00. We seat upstairs as they told us downstairs was either booked of for more than 2, and were nearly alone. By the time we left there more people both upstaires and downstairs.
We had a 'Club Sandwich de luxe' (according to the menu), with fries. It was good, although for my taste there was something missing, mainly salt both in the fries and salad and probably some tasty sauce in the club. I then took 3 crèmes brulées, one was pistachio, one orange and one I don't remember. Not worth the calories and the price, they were too thick and tasteless. I had been to this place a year or more ago and again the deserts looked appealing in the menu, but much less when tasted.
One thing I really love about the Soupçon is the place is it's 'décor'.
Check out my review of Restaurant Soupçon - I am tweetybaby - on Qype

Qype: Brasserie Restaurant Lyrique in Genève

2008-12-13T23:21:00.001+01:00

Geneve - Restaurants

Went for dinner last night. Le Lyrique is one of these typical Geneva restaurants. It serves French food. The quality is constant, not at all exotic and not very creative, but always good, never exceptional. Yesterday we had the evening suggestion, which was fish with prawns, vegetable, rice.
It was good, very well served. It 's a pitty it can't attract more people in the evenings, because at lunch time it's always fully booked.
I will certainly recommend this restaurant.
Check out my review of Brasserie Restaurant Lyrique - I am tweetybaby - on Qype

L'escalade 2008

2008-12-13T20:44:00.004+01:00

definition from Wikipedia:

L'Escalade, or Fête de l'Escalade (from escalade, the act of scaling defensive walls) is an annual festival held in December in Geneva, Switzerland, celebrating the defeat of the surprise attack by troops sent by Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy during the night of 11–12 December 1602. The celebrations and other commemorative activities are usually held on 11 December or the closest weekend.

full link if you want to learn the whole story: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L'Escalade

And my pictures of the day - click on the picture to see all of them...

L'escalade 2008

December in Geneva

2008-12-02T22:08:00.003+01:00

The view from the reception of my Bank...

Mumbai massacre

2008-11-27T22:36:00.004+01:00

To the terrorist who attacked hotels and hospitals not only in Mumbai last night, but around the world, killing innocent people, are you proud of the visible and invisible wounds you inflicted this little child ?

Did you learn to read and analyse the texts you are reading, because if you had studied a little bit you would understand the Coran, Bible and other Holy text instead of letting other people explain them to you the way they want you to understand them. You could understand that nowhere and in no religion there is any words of hate. You are cowards, worthless persons. Maybe you should learn to respect yourself first. Can you look at your ugly faces in the mirror ???

My first carott soup

2008-11-24T21:58:00.006+01:00

If anyone ever reads this, first let me apologise for the English translation, my English is good, but still lacks that little touch...
As it was cold yesterday, I wanted a soup. I had carrots, onions and oranges and a few spices in my cabinet. So I googlised carrot soup, I read a lot of recipes to inspire me and mixed a bit of some of them to prepare my soup. And here's my recipe:

7 carrots
1 onion
Juice of an orange
1 pinch of cumin seeds
1 cardamom pod, split
1 t.s. ginger powder
2 cubes vegetable broth
Salt, pepper, olive oil

Peel carrots and cut into slices
Peel and mince the onion
Coarsely crush the seeds of cardamom and cumin
Heat olive oil
Add the onions and stir them a few minutes
Add the carrots and let cook few minutes
Add the cumin, cardamom and ginger
Add the orange juice
Add1 litre of water, 2 cubes of vegetables broth, salt & pepper

cook approximatly 30 minutes, mixer, adjust the seasoning. I added a dash of cream. It was divine.

Soupe de carotte

2008-11-23T18:59:00.012+01:00

Comme il fait froid, ce soir j'avais envie d'une soupe. J'avais des carottes , oignons et oranges et quelques épices au fond de mon armoire. J'ai donc googlisé soupe de carottes, j'ai lu pas mal de recettes pour m'inspirer et mixer un peu ce que j'ai lu pour m'inspirer. Et voici ma recette:

7 carottes
1 oignon
le jus d'une orange
1 pincée de grains de cumin
1 gousse de cardamone
1 c. à c. de gingembre en poudre
2 cubes de bouillon de légumes
sel, poivre, huile d'olive

éplucher les carottes et les couper en rondelles
éplucher et émincer l'oignon
écraser grossièrement les graines de cardamone et le cumin
faire chauffer l'huile d'olive
ajouter les oignons et les faire revenir quelques minutes
les carottes et laisser revenir quelques minutes
le cumin, cardamone & gingembre
mouiller avec le jus d'orange
1 litre d'eau, les 2 cubes de légumes, sel & poivre

laisser cuir environ 30 minutes, mixer le tout, ajuster l'assaisonnement. J'ai ajouter un filet de crème fraîche. C'était divin.

Qype: Café du Soleil - Geneve in Geneva

2008-11-23T01:16:00.001+01:00

Geneva

I went this evening. They welcomed me with my name (I'm going quite often, I live close to the place). As often we had a cheese fondue which was as always excellent. It's not the best fondue in Switzerland, but the place is always full, the service is very friendly, and the prices very reasonable. In addition, they added an extra meringue because we were 2 and they usually serve 3 meringues which are hard to share.
Check out my review of Café du Soleil - Geneve - I am tweetybaby - on Qype

Smoke...

2008-11-18T22:10:00.006+01:00

I had my first cigarette when I was about 12 year old. I had one once in a while, but as my parents were checking quite closely I couldn't start without hiding before I turned 18.

My mother had told me "when you're 18, you can do what you want", well I took her word and did as I wanted. Smoking was one of them (I'm not proud of all of them...). Ever since 13th November 1985 I have been smoking more or less, let's say rather much more than less, a pack of Marlborough gold/light a day. I nearly never tried to quit nor really wanted to. My first attempt was in 1999. Then someone brought me her box telling me my temper was terrible. Well, try putting a bottle of wine in front of an alcoholic... The second time was in the summer of 2004. I found this great job, nice people, very good bank. I did not make it to the end of the trial period. And as soon as they fired me, that's when my mother decided to tell me everything she had withheld for the past 36 years. One evening I went to a rock festival, bought 3 packs and smoked all of them within 24h. Then I decided that quitting was not for me. And you know what to quit smoking is like dieting :every time you start eating or smoking you smoke more and/or put more kilos on.

Until this year when in Geneva we were asked to vote whether we wanted to forbid smoke in public places, restaurants, bars etc. Eventhough I was a heavy smoker, I voted yes. And the new 'law' was implemented on July 1st. You know when it's summertime you sit on terrace, a bench or by the lake it's ok to smoke. Then, my employer also decided to forbid smoking inside the premises of the bank. And the last thing was my 6 days holiday in a club.

When I returned from my holiday and was unpacking, I realised that I had managed t smoke 10 pack in 6 days ! Ok I was in a club, but alone, no big party, no disco, no exciting bar or friends. Then when I went back to work, I started going downstairs to smoke, and I would even smoke while walking in the street. waiting for the bus, but the worst part was in the evening. I would do nothing else that go back home to smoke and would not go bed before finnishing my pack.

That's when I saw an add on Internet. I called to ask what it was and how much it cost and within two minutes I had no answers but an appointment two days later. I still did not want to quit, I had about 25 packs at home and did not feel ready. So on a Friday evening I went to see Mr Couturier and he started explaining about his system which is like accumptucture done with 'cold laser', the price (CHF 450.-) and then he asked me if I was ready. I was taken aback so I said well let's try. He did his thing for 30mn. I paid left my cigarettes back and came back home. Smoked a pack of cigarettes, about 8, that was left on the table and went to sleep. saturday morning went back for the second appointment and told him about my smoking of last night. He told me I might need a third appointment, did his thing again and I left. That evning I forced a friend to give me a cigarette and that was the last one.

I had my last cigarette on 20th September 2008. And I am very very proud of my-self. I don't know if it this system, or what I paid or just like the AA theory you know : today I don't smoke/drink and tomorrow is a new day, but I don't miss it, I'm not nervous, not more than before, my hair does not stink anymore, neither does my flat, sheets, towels...

Qype: Restaurant Da Paolo in Genève

2008-11-09T20:17:00.001+01:00

Geneve - Restaurants - Italian & Pizza

I've been going there for too many years too mention. And as often I often do, I went at Da Paolo for a Sunday lunch. After having wasted half an hour to find a parking space, we eventually managed to make it to Da Paolo. As usual it was full, even if it was already nearly 2pm (Swiss eat rather early...)! Anyway, being only two it's always easier to be seated quickly. We ordered a pizza with gorgonzal, chilly and salami. It was a good, though a bit dry, the service good and the coffee always good. The only problem today was that we were sitting at the back of the restaurant and it was awfully warm, too much food smell, and a heavy smoker sitting next to us. Hopefully the smoke free law will be soon put back in place.
At the end of the day it remain a very nice place, good food, a bit more expensive than some other pizzerias, but success must have it's share in that and you can eat all day on Sunday, which is great.
Check out my review of Restaurant Da Paolo - I am tweetybaby - on Qype

Obama !!!!!!!

2008-11-05T05:39:00.005+01:00

Mr Obama is President ! Bushism is over and hopefully we will all get out of the middle age in which the Idiot made us live the past eight years. all over the world, I will wait until after 21 January 2009 to travel back to the US. I know everything will not change in a blink, and that Mr Obama will not be able to change the image of the USA in one week, but nothing can be worst than these past years.
Good Luck and Keep your promises Mr Obama and make the changes happen !

The worst case scenario for the US election 2008

2008-11-03T22:59:00.005+01:00

I had a short nightmare today. McCain gets elected today. The emotion has provokes a heart attack (God protect him, even if I would prefer Obama !), he dies and never makes to January 20,2009 to be sworn into the office. Instead, the USA end up having Mrs Palin as president !!!
For those who did not vote yet : PLEASE THINK TWICE AND VOTE CORRECTLY !
(Un)fortunately, I'm not American, and therefore I can't vote :-(

Qype: Restaurant Carnivore SA in Genève

2008-10-30T20:23:00.001+01:00

Geneve - Restaurants

Must have changed owner a few months ago and has lost its charm, the service is very very lousy, the waitresses are completly lost and the food, well it's not bad, but nothing exceptional for the price.
Check out my review of Restaurant Carnivore SA - I am tweetybaby - on Qype

Qype: Molino in Genève

2008-10-30T20:09:00.001+01:00

Geneve - Restaurants - Italian & Pizza

The service is too slow, the food too expensive and the décor too cheep, there are much better place close by to have a good pizza or spaghetti or salad of whatever.
Check out my review of Molino - I am tweetybaby - on Qype

Qype: Restaurant L'Escalade in Genève

2008-10-30T20:05:00.001+01:00

Geneve - Restaurants

After a big deception at the Auberge de Coutance at the beginning of the month, I learned that the ex-owner of the Coutance took over l'Escalade. The place does not have the 'charme' of his old restaurant, but the spirit and the staff is all there. Anyway, I went fort lunch yesterday. We took the plat du jour which was a pumpkin soup to start and the main dish was lamb curry with fresh noodles. It was very good. The soup was excellent and the lamb very well spiced. The service was excellent, they behaved with us as if we were their best clients ! I really look forward to going back an evening the have the chasse.
Check out my review of Restaurant L'Escalade - I am tweetybaby - on Qype

Qype: la table carouge in Geneva

2008-10-30T19:58:00.001+01:00

Geneva

I went there Friday 24th October. the restaurant was pretty full, but the owner asked to wait a few minutes to accommodate us. I took only one dish which was a beef tartare very well seasoned and served with a green salad, tomato salad and potatoes. For desert I had a white chocolate and orange mousse which was very interesting. The person who was with me had a light diner with foie gras for first and a cooked one for main course. We had 2 glasses of wine each and a coffee. We paid CHF 140.- including the tip which is quite reasonable for Geneva and the quantity served.
My last comment, the restaurant is non smoking, and was full, that is a very good point to eat without the cigarettes, cigars, etc...
Check out my review of la table carouge - I am tweetybaby - on Qype

2008-09-21T18:54:00.003+02:00

Here is part of an article I just read on the Internet. It's quoting Ahmed Ridha, head of Iraq's National Investment Commission, who said one billion dollars for the island development was not too ambitious in the war-torn nation, considering the amount of money coming in to the country.

Iraq unveiled plans on Sunday for a multi-billion-dollar resort with spas, golf courses and a six-star hotel to revive a once popular honeymoon island on the Tigris river in Baghdad.

Tourist board chief Hamud al-Yakuby said the organisation wanted to secure between one and three billion dollars for the new development on al-A'arass island in the heart of the capital.

And why not build schools, hospitals, roads, things that could benefit the majority instead of the lucky fews ? But you see they receive so much money from all of our countries, that one billion $ are peanuts.

I wish our governments would stop funding such stupid & completly useless projects and Countries !!!

Goodbye Beijing, Hello London !

2008-08-24T17:12:00.004+02:00

Beijing 2008 is eventually over and in our back. We will certainly keep good memories of these Olympic games. Of the athletes, their joys and pains. The records with Michael Phelps, Michel Bolt and all the others. Lets hope their joy was their own and not the one of the doctors and labs...

The organisation was very good, fantastic, without problems. The opening ceremony was beautiful, except the little cheating about this cute little girl who was not cute enough to be shown to the world and replaced by the other 'cuter' one, but the show was breathtaking. The closing ceremony was nice. Spotless. Lifeless !

I was zapping on my TV and saw that BBC1 was showing the party organised by London for 2012 Olympic Games. Ok, it's only a party and the games are six year away. But it is spontaneous, it's lively, it's fun. Everything that I missed watching the Beijing games.

Chinese have made hugh progress. They have probably made a very big effort welcoming all the athletes, journalists and tourists in their country. There probably was no major problem during these two weeks. But I feel it was all as if it was all written in a scenario. Of course you have to plan such a hugh event. I spent a week in Athens in 2004, the volunteers were great, the games were great. The spirit was great. Of course, I watched Beijing Olympics on TV, but I also watched all the other Olympic games on TV. Still I feel this spirit was not there in Beijing. The party was missing.

I look forward to 2012. To the party, the fun and the Olympic spirit. The Freedom !

Roger & Stanislas

2008-08-16T17:32:00.004+02:00

THANK YOU FOR THIS FANTASTIC VICTORY !!!

Congratulation for you gold medals ! I hope you will continue enchanting us for many more years...

Fête de Genève

2008-08-13T22:03:00.006+02:00

Every year at the beginning of August, the city of Geneva organises a big popular feast with free concerts, fairground entertainer around the lake, and to close the festivities a big firework is offered. Hundreds of thousands of visitors gather around the lake to see it. Here are some pictures of the fireworks.

A Sunny Sunday in Geneva

2008-07-23T00:25:00.002+02:00

Ayurveda in Kerala

2008-06-23T19:59:00.000+02:00

I decided 2 months ago to go to Kerala for an Ayurveda treatment. I've been living with intense back pain for so many years that I don't even notice it. Over here I've been to see all kind of doctors, physio, doing massages, yoga & pilate courses, nothing seemed to work on the long run.
In addition, the weather being stuck on rain and cold for the past year or so, some sunny and warm weather would be very welcome.
I started by a Google search on Ayurveda to see what it really is. Then it was time to find a resort. I googled again, and of course was faced with millions of results. going through the various resorts, I had to decided whether I wanted be go south, east, north or west. Since I was going close to the monsoon season, I decided that all the way to the south toward Trivandrum would be too risky and that I should rather go northern towards Cochin, but there again, being by the sea the rains would reach earlier. Then I narrowed my search towards two choice the Hills Station towards Thekkady or Munar or go around Kottayam or Trichur.
I was afraid that by going to the Hills I would be to far from everything. Trichur and Kottayam looked better as I would be able to access and the hills and the sea and they are closer to Cochin's airport. One of the contact I made, was a travel agent who offered a very good package at a place called The Athreya Ayurvedic Resort. He promised the place was nice, the doctors very good. And being thousand of kilometres away and not knowing anyhting about any place over there, I could only believe him and make a choice.
I booked a 3 weeks stay at the Athreya. The price looked interesting as well $2'200 for the 3 weeks stay, food, all treatments and medicine provided as well as pick up from the airport. I also booked my flight with Qatar Airways Geneva - Doha - Cochin which cost me $1'150.-.
All that was left was finish the pending work at the office, pack my luggage and enjoy my trip.

BURMA HELP !

2008-05-09T20:47:00.005+02:00

As most of everybody know by now Burma was hit one week ago by a terrible typhoon. The junta is continuing their cynic game in order to have their run their fake democratic poll. It's hard to know where to send funds if you want help Burmese people who lack everything. However if you want make a donation you can go to the following blog http://aidebirmanie.blogspot.com/ it has been set up by a French guy who lives in Rangoon and runs a travel agency there, he is married with a Burmese and is very involved. The site is in French, but there is a bank account where you can send your donation if you want to. Everyday starting today 9th Mas, he says he is and will be leaving Rangoon to go to the delta with a truck loaded with food, mainly rice. He is working closely with an NGO called Association ISHA TANAKA who will receive the funds and them somehow transfer them to him. I do not personally know Hervé Flejo who with help from people in France set up this blog and all the logistic behind, but I was in contact with him last year as I wanted to go to Burma before I had to cancel due to the turmoil, but I've heard only very good feed back from everybody who has met him. So please help Hervé, Help Burmese, it might give them some faith.
Thank you !

My Tripadvisor

2008-04-27T13:18:00.001+02:00

Well, there's still lots of travelling to do to fill it, but it's never to late to start.

Athens, Greece

Rome, Italy

New York City, NY, USA

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China & Boycott 2

2008-04-14T20:32:00.003+02:00

April 7 - April 13, 2008 - Cartoons of the Week - TIME*

China & Boycott

2008-03-26T22:51:00.005+01:00

Two week that the turmoil started in Tibet and that China started it's ethnic cleansing just like Myanmar had done a few months back. And everybody goes with their idea of boycotting the Olympic Games.
Of Course, this is easy to say, but what a shame to punish all those athletes who have been training for year and have damaged their health with all the doping and deprive them of their medals...
Instead there is something we can all do. Stop buying made in China products, stop going to Chinese restaurants. I might be an idealist, but if everybody checks the made in China labels and buys the next article not made there, it will do them a much bigger damage that boycotting the Games and might help a poorer country as well. In the worst of cases, instead of buying two items, you'll might only be able to afford one, but then it might save some space in your cupboards.
It has proved that rallies, demonstrations and words have no effect. So start acting now, and try not to buy any more Chinese goods.

It's snowing again

2008-03-24T23:34:00.004+01:00

Today it didn't stop all day, in fact in stopped for a few minutes, but didn't stop since mid-afternoon. I took this picture around 6p.m. I thought it would be a nice souvenir... I can't remember the last Christmas when we had so much snow :-).

Spring

2008-03-22T23:21:00.008+01:00

Spring arrived yesterday ! Longer days, warmer days, trees blooming, birds singing...

Well, that's what I learned when I was younger, and that was not long ago. Ok it was about 20 or 30 years ago, but not a century ago.

But there is a problem. Yesterday I woke up and there was snow all over the place. I don't live in southern Europe or Africa, but in Geneva. There hasn't been a single trace of snow all winter, and on that first day of spring, Mr Winter just realise he fell asleep during these past months in our beautiful city. And of course not only does it snow, but the temperatures follow the trend and dropped quite a lot compared to a few days earlier.

Poor Mother Nature is going to regret it. The trees were already blooming, the birds were already singing and we were already thinking of leaving the coats in the closet

Anyway, I am in contact with people in India, Nepal and this part of the world and they complain about the heat.

Which raises the following question: is anybody happy about the climate they live in ?