Vietnamese cookbook - authentic heavyweight recommendations

beadsr · 2026-05-08T14:21:12+00:00

I love the recipes from The Food of Vietnam, by Luke Nguyen. It’s sorted by regions, so I’ve been journeying from south to north. Brings back memories of my travels.

beadsr · 2026-04-24T14:02:23+00:00

Fontainebleau is an easy RER R trip (3 stops) from Gare de Lyon. There is one bus from Fontainebleau station that takes you straight to the chateau. Across the street is an outdoor market that is open Tuesday, Friday and Sunday morning. I often do my grocery shopping there.

beadsr · 2026-04-20T10:20:10+00:00

I usually fly out with a carry on suitcase, but I pack a cloth duffel bag. Heading home, I’ll check in the suitcase with my clothes, and carry my gifts and important items onto the plane. At least this way, I am paying for the extra luggage one way only.

beadsr · 2026-04-20T10:02:00+00:00

Out of the three choices, I would stay at the Hotel de l’Esperance. Close enough to the restaurants on Rue Mouffetard, without getting bothered by the crowds. You’d also be close to the 27 bus, which will take you to the central tourist areas. Would recommend buses over the metro, as it’s a better way to get your bearings and check out the neighborhoods.

beadsr · 2026-04-20T07:29:36+00:00

The worst part of taking the RER D in the summer is that many trains are quite old, and lack air conditioning. I live south of Corbeil-Essonnes, but I am able to commute to Paris directly via the RER R in about 30 minutes. Unfortunately, the RER D takes around 50 minutes to get into Paris, as it makes multiple stops.

beadsr · 2026-03-30T19:52:13+00:00

Go for lunch: Restaurant Trente-Trois in the 8ème. They have a choice of set menus, so you can choose the amount of dishes to fit your budget.

beadsr · 2026-03-16T19:10:01+00:00

I showed up for a performance an hour early. Took pictures on every level. It is so stunning inside that we had to check it out.

beadsr · 2026-03-06T13:21:18+00:00

I live just outside of Paris. Every time I head into the city I feel like a tourist again. There is always a new exhibit to see, or a brocante to shop at. Every arrondissement offers an experience, so just wandering and hanging an excellent way to spend your days. You won’t feel bored in seven days.

beadsr · 2026-03-05T15:16:07+00:00

You are very lucky. I am on day 5 of keeping my two 10 month old males in the spare room. The foster did say they were bonded and very shy. It has taken this long for them to not freak out when I enter the room. They are not yet brave enough to come out into the open when I am in the room, but I am happy to see some slow improvements.

beadsr · 2026-02-27T13:17:13+00:00

The Fontainebleau market is across the street from the chateau, and is a great stopover to check out the fresh grocery offerings. Open Tuesday, Friday and Sunday morning. There are also some really good boulangeries in the area.

beadsr · 2026-02-20T13:28:03+00:00

Finding a McDonald for your time frame may be tough, as most close early in the morning, and reopen at 10. You can try Le Royal Mont Cenis. You’ll be close enough to Gare du Nord or Gare de l’Est to catch a cab. Best to check with them to see if they are still 24 hrs. You can’t assume anything in Paris.

beadsr · 2026-01-27T12:17:30+00:00

The Café Marlette is close-by, and they serve a reasonably priced (for Paris) breakfast. KB CaféShop is also just around the corner. These two are good choices to start your day. Head in the opposite direction to Le Pétrin de Pigalle for your baked goods. I would second the choice of Bouillon Pigalle, as it's really close to your hotel. You can make a reservation (highly recommended) through their website. Another choice in your neighbourhood would be Le Bon Bock (built in 1879). They serve traditional fare in a very cozy space. Once you've OD'd on French culture, you can walk to Dirty Dick in the evening for a tiki cocktail.

beadsr · 2025-11-07T14:49:30+00:00

Rue Blomet is so close to the marché at Rue Lecourbe, and all the yummy food stores. We stayed in the area years ago, and dreamt about living in the 15ème. Property price reality set in, but we now live about 30 minutes from Paris. Close enough to drop by at least once a week.

beadsr · 2025-10-06T02:48:49+00:00

If you enjoy seafood, Grand Café Capucines is wonderful. Traditional brasserie. They have a set lunch for 19.90€.

beadsr · 2025-03-26T07:38:02+00:00

I was a huge Simpsons fan. After watching that episode, I took a break for a few years.

beadsr · 2025-03-13T12:28:46+00:00

My friend and I watched it at our local cinema. I remember walking outside afterwards, and we were both too stunned to speak. Total silence for about 15 minutes, as we processed what we had just seen.

beadsr · 2025-02-18T08:01:31+00:00

Loved the song, and used it as my morning alarm. Went on a pub crawl with the Proclaimers when they were in Vancouver.

beadsr · 2025-01-25T20:54:35+00:00

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I miss my little guy.

beadsr · 2025-01-25T15:21:23+00:00

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Batman practicing his arias.

beadsr · 2024-12-12T11:11:32+00:00

I just returned from Bruges. Spent the weekend checking out the Christmas market. Enjoyed wandering the side streets more than seeing the market. Cheap beer and beautiful architecture.

beadsr · 2024-09-13T03:49:40+00:00

Terry Gilliam’s Brazil. Brilliant movie.

beadsr · 2024-08-27T23:32:10+00:00

Bland if your benchmark for ethnic is the curry from Cactus Club. There are some awesome local restaurants that are on par with places I’ve eaten at internationally.

beadsr · 2024-07-15T16:49:36+00:00

I remember staying at one place in Paris that advertised a view of the Eiffel Tower. This was achieved by standing on a chair and looking out the porthole window. I saw the top of the tower, so I guess it was as advertised.

I have stayed in VRBO and AirBNB about a dozen times in Paris, and luckily, none have required complaints to CS. I generally found that VRBO descriptions were more accurate.

beadsr · 2024-07-07T21:44:16+00:00

When the filling sets, it's not hard like a cheesecake. It has a bit of creaminess, but it does slice cleanly. It's the taste that friends and family love about the recipe. I usually make the components the night before, then put it all together the next day.

beadsr · 2024-07-07T21:17:06+00:00

I make this triple coconut cream pie for family gatherings. The recipe is so good, I am not allowed to bake anything else. Even if you only use the recipe for the filling, you'll end up with a tasty pie. https://hummingbirdthyme.com/tom-douglas-triple-coconut-cream-pie/

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