Destination Spotlight: Munich, Germany

Did you know that today marks 5 months until Christmas?  In honor of those who have been counting down the days to Christmas 2015 since December 26th, 2014 (you know who you are), as well as a friend's upcoming trip to Germany, this Destination Spotlight is dedicated to one of my top 3 favorite cities in Europe that truly shines during the Christmas season: Munchen, or, in English, Munich!  I was lucky to visit Munich twice, each time during the Christmas season when the city's Christkindlmarkt (Christmas Market) was taking place; the smell of fresh lebkuchen (gingerbread) paired with gluhwein (warm mulled wine), the sight of children (and me) ice skating in the seasonal rinks and everyone shopping for handmade decorations and toys.....these are just some of the reasons why I love visiting Munich at this time of the year, and what I would like to share with you!

One fun and unique yet lesser known Christmas celebration in Munich is the Tollwood Festival.  Side note/fun fact: Tollwood is held in the same location as Oktoberfest!  I visited the Tollwood Festival at night, so it was pretty to see the bright holiday lights contrasted with the white snow.  Just as with the Marienplatz location, this Christmas market was filled with people mixing and mingling; however, Tollwood has an international influence and features both local cuisine and regional handicrafts as well as those from other countries.  This is one example of how Munich really has become a city that focuses on the future while retaining its heritage.

After you've had your fill of holiday sweets and treats, take an excursion to Nymphenburg Palace which is located on the outskirts of the city and was the main summer residence of Bavaria's rulers.  The palace's grounds are quite extensive, and a walk around them is a beautiful way to feel a little less guilty about indulging in Deutschland's delicacies.  While on your walk, don't forget to look for Christmas trees located on the various staircase landings!



Munich's Marienplatz plays host to the city's largest Christkindlmarkt that is located in front of the Town Hall.  It's a festive scene, and I enjoyed seeing both locals and visitors come together to drink gluhwein around makeshift tables surrounded by traditional decor.  There isn't an air of commercialism like with our Christmas in the States; it's more about camaraderie and celebrating the season in an authentic and delicious way!



Camaraderie and delicious are also words that describe the scene at Munich's famed Hofbrauhaus, which serves a Bavarian feast combined with a side of holiday decor in the restaurant's blue and gold colors; you'll find patrons sitting at long tables and enjoying their beer underneath festively decorated wreaths.  Prost to the (upcoming) holidays!

CHANEL for the People

CHANEL for the People: if I ever run for political office, this is going to be my campaign platform!  For my fellow European fashion lovers, is there anything better than seeing and holding your dream closet items up close and personal in a store?  You escape reality for a moment....until you look at the accompanying price tag and enter sticker shock!  For now, as I'm still somewhat patiently waiting to own a timeless Chanel tweed jacket, I'm happy to share with you, especially my readers in the Atlanta area, how you can obtain real Chanel and other European designer merchandise at counterfeit prices: by shopping at The Drake Closet in either Alpharetta or Roswell!  While this article focuses on The Drake Closet, since I volunteer there, people living in other locales can take advantage of their local thrift stores to hopefully score similar fashionable finds.  Fresh on The Drake Closet's stylish heels of its annual fashion show, here are a few European finds that will leave you looking good and your wallet (and conscience) feeling happy, as all proceeds from The Drake Closet benefit The Drake House!  Note: jet lag and an expensive plane ticket are not included in the price of these select European fashions.

Speaking of heels, I love shoes; one of my greatest thrills is seeing the look on someone's face when looking at my shoe collection for the first time!  Yes, I have no life, but for now, let's focus on these real Chanel flats that I found while volunteering at The Drake Closet's recent fashion show; they're size 10 perfection wrapped in supple leather and decked out in Chanel's signature black and beige colors.  As those standing within 10 feet of me can attest to, I could not stop "talking," i.e. happily screeching, about these shoes and the fact that they were selling for a small percentage of what the regular retail would have been!   C'est fantastique!

More of an Italian shoe lover?  Well, then let's talk about Italy's "3 P's" of shoes: Pucci, Pliner, and Prada!  Drumroll, please.....first up, place your peeps on these Pucci's; their unique metallic finish and blend of four colors is just as dolce as a blend of three gelato flavors, except these quality Firenze shoes will last much longer!

Legend has it that the famous Donald J. Pliner shoes are made in the hills of Italy, just like another Italian specialty....wine!  It's moments like these that I couldn't be more proud of my Italian heritage!  Another fact that brings me joy?  Fellow shoe lovers who love Italian quality like me won't have to pay retail for these bellissima bronze beauties, leaving more money for vino!  This is a fine example of European Fashion Economics 101.


The other prominent "P" in Italian fashion?  Prada!  You'll want "more, more" of these Miu Miu's, which is Prada's less expensive and more youthful fashion line.  These shoes remind me of Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli's song title, "Mistero dell'Amore," i.e. "the mystery of love."  I can't explain why I love these shoes, nor was I expecting to find them; they just appeared on The Drake Closet's shelf one day, and now I can't stop thinking about them.

It's time to move on, though, because what goes great with stylish European shoes?  No, not wearing them while stepping out of a Lamborghini....an equally stylish European dress, like this Emanuel Ungaro!  French women are known for having that certain je ne sais quoi about them; they always effortlessly look polished and chic.  You can create that same image on this side of the Atlantic Ocean by wearing this simple yet elegant shift dress at a price point that will leave some fromage in your bank account!  As Coco Chanel once said, "Elegance does not exist in putting on a new dress."  "Elegance is refusal" (to pay retail for European fashion)!



Keep in mind that merchandise availability at The Drake Closet changes daily, but that just gives you another excuse to be a frequent shopper there or at your local consignment/thrift store; you never know what fashion treasure you'll find!  To learn more about The Drake Closet and The Drake House, please visit www.thedrakehouse.org, and don't forget to "like" The Drake Closet on Facebook to learn about promotions and see featured outfits that are for sale!  Happy shopping! (is there another kind?)

Destination Spotlight: Santa Croce del Sanno, Italy

Ah, bella Italia.....the delectable cuisine, stunning scenery, and historical monuments are some of the reasons why people visit Italy; add gelato and shopping to that list, and you've got my top 5!  My mother and I have seen most of the cities/towns and regions of Italy during our trips there; however, back in 2008, we embarked on a special tour of Italy with other family members to discover what is quintessentially Italian: la famiglia!  Thanks to the research and hard work of one of my aunts, we were on a mission to meet our relatives that hadn't immigrated to the United States years ago with the rest of our ancestors.  While on our journey, we discovered what my mother calls the "real Italy," and what I invite you to share in with this month's Destination Spotlight of Santa Croce del Sanno, Italy!  Note: Making Italian hand gestures while reading this blog post is optional but encouraged. 

Santa Croce del Sanno, where my ancestors are from, is located about two hours outside of Florence in Italy's Tuscany region; it is a small town with a population of approximately 13,000 people.  If you're looking for tourist attractions and souvenirs, you won't find them there; what you will see while walking on the original cobblestone streets are centuries old houses with wooden shuttered windows, wrought iron balconies with clean laundry drying in the crisp Italian air, and numerous colorful flower displays on porches and in alleyways.  The incredible panoramic views of Tuscany are the icing on la torta!

Upon our arrival in Santa Croce, our family was greeted by our relatives; they own a small bed and breakfast, which is where we stayed during our visit.  The bed and breakfast was full of rustic, old world charm that is typical of traditional Italian accommodations in the Tuscany region, such as tile floors, kitchens with stone walls, and simple decor.  I enjoyed the fresh Italian pastries that were on the kitchen table in the morning!







And now, andiamo!  After settling in, we toured Santa Croce with our Italian relatives and found the house where my great grandfather was born; it looked the same as it did when it was built over 150 years ago, which is a testament to the hard work and skill of Italian craftsmen.  Seeing the house was also a reminder of just how primitively my great grandfather and his family lived; for example, there was no running water in their house, so every day they had to walk down a long hill to get water from a well, and then carry the heavy load back up the hill.  If you don't have an Italian nonna to tell you so multiple times a day, this can be a lesson to not take anything for granted!

We then continued our trek up the winding and narrow streets to the well-preserved church where my great grandfather was baptized; upon entering the church, we saw the original baptismal font

with its intricate marble carvings and gold details.  Other highlights of the church included the frescoed walls and ceilings and the original wooden pulpit that one of my aunts climbed up!  When Italians preach, we do it with style!

What else do Italians do best?  Eat!  After working up an appetite touring Santa Croce, our relatives took us to a local restaurant for a delicious Italian feast complete with regional wines; we laughed, we talked, and we ate antipasti featuring lard (yes, lard; it wasn't a soft Italian cheese like I originally thought).  After toasts thanking us for making the trip to Italy, our Italian relatives presented each of our American families with drawings of Santa Croce as a heartfelt souvenir and memento of our journey.  The evening was more than a meal (and an introduction to eating fresh lard); it was a gift from our Italian relatives that was meant to be enjoyed and remembered, just as my family journey to Santa Croce del Sanno was!

 

Recipe Spotlight: Polish Pierogi

One of my favorite perks of living in a big city is that I've had the opportunity to meet people from different countries, including Spain, Finland, Germany, China, Malaysia, Nigeria, and Ethiopia.  When I had the chance to have lunch with a nice Polish lady that I recently met and talk about my upcoming trip to Poland, I enthusiastically agreed!  After lunch with her, I walked away with two books on Krakow, the knowledge that I should devote my carry-on bag to bringing home the famous Polish pierniczki and E. Wedel chocolate (which, as a gingerbread and chocolate addict, I was planning to do anyway), and an authentic recipe for Polish dumplings, i.e. pierogi!  Pierogi can have a variety of fillings, such as sauerkraut and mushroom, prune, and meat; this recipe is for potato and cheese and serves 4. 

Pierogi Dough

• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 2 1/2 cups flour

Beat egg, milk, water, and salt in a mixing bowl, and add the flour, 1 cup at a time, until fully blended. Turn dough out onto a floured surface and knead until smooth and firm.  The dough should not be too sticky.  Allow dough to rest under the overturned mixing bowl for 20 minutes.

Using a rolling pin, roll dough as thinly as you would pasta dough; you can even use a pasta machine if you'd like.  Cut the dough into circles using a biscuit cutter or an empty can.

Potato and Cheese Filling

• 3-4 russet potatoes (1 1/2 to 2 pounds), cooked and mashed
• 2 large onions, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup milk
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1/3 cup grated cheddar cheese
• Kosher salt and pepper
• 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter
• Sour cream

Peel and cut potatoes into 3- or 4-inch cubes and place them in a saucepan.  Add water until potatoes are covered.  Bring to boil, reduce heat to medium, and cook covered for 20 minutes or until a fork can easily be poked through their center.

Meanwhile, heat a saute pan on medium heat and add 2 tablespoons of butter to the pan.  Once butter has melted, add finely chopped onions and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes until the onions are tender and begin to brown.  Once browning begins, lower the heat and cook for an additional 2-5 minutes.  As the sugar in the onions caramelizes, they will begin to brown more quickly.  Transfer to a plate when they are golden brown.

Drain water from the potatoes and add the remaining butter and milk to the pot.  Using a potato masher, mash potatoes to the desired texture.  Mix in salt, pepper, and half of the caramelized onions and allow to cool before adding the grated cheese or filling the pierogi.

Stretch the dough to the desired size and place a spoon of filling on one side of the circle.  Fold the other side over the filling and pinch or crimp to seal.  The pierogi will be a crescent (half circle) shape.  If pierogi are not sealing well, paint the edges with water or beaten egg white.  You can use a fork or your fingers to make a fancy edge if you'd like.

To cook the pierogi, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and gently place pierogi in the boiling water.  Allow to cook for 8-10 minutes.  Carefully drain the pierogi and place them in a saute pan that has been heated with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and 1 tablespoon of butter.  Add the remaining caramelized onions to the pan and stir gently, cooking until the pierogi are lightly browned.  Serve with sour cream on the side for a delicious feast! 

Destination Spotlight: Toledo, Spain

Confession: I wasn't expecting to be "wowed" during my first visit to Spain in 2011; at the very least, I thought that I would finally be able to see in person all of the monuments and places that I had read about in my Spanish textbooks throughout my eleven years of studying the language, as well as eat authentic paella washed down with sublime sangria.  Needless to say, I was wrong!  I absolutely loved touring Spain due to its friendly people, culture, history, shopping scene, and muy delicioso cuisine.  Even though it's not nice to have favorites, Spain is my favorite European country to visit.  I was happy to return there with my mother in 2014 and introduce her to my favorite Spanish city: Toledo!

Toledo, surrounded by the Tagus River, was once the capital of Spain; now it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that effortlessly blends its Moorish origins with a modern vibe, all without losing its historic charm.  Toledo is located in the La Mancha region of Spain that was popularized in the book Don Quixote de la Mancha.  I enjoy walking on Toledo's original cobblestone streets and interacting with the locals while admiring views of its Alcazar, which dates back to the 3rd century, and its 13th century Cathedral.

Now that the brief Toledo history lesson is complete, we can move on to my favorite subject: its mazapan, or marzipan!  Toledo is known for crafting some of the world's best marzipan, which is a delightful dulce made from crushed almonds and sugar.  In Spain, it's very popular to purchase and give as a gift during the Christmas season, but I would happily buy marzipan every day as it exemplifies my mother's European shopping motto of "sweets before clothes!"  Before leaving the States for Spain, I researched where to buy the best marzipan in Toledo.  In addition to the typical stores, one traditional spot was mentioned: the Convent of San Antonio. 

The convent's nuns have been making fresh marzipan and other famous Spanish sweets for ages; the proceeds benefit the church and the convent, while the contents inside each beautifully packaged box will benefit your taste buds!  If you're lucky like me, you can have the experience of seeing the traditionally dressed nuns carrying the fresh sweets from the kitchen to the store!
 

After purchasing our Convent sweets, my mother and I continued our marzipan mission at Toledo's best and most famous store: Confiteria Santo Tome!  This is when knowing the Spanish language comes in handy, as I could confidently say, "I'd like to purchase the entire contents of your store!"  Santo Tome has three locations in Toledo; we bought our marzipan at the flagship store located in the lively Plaza de Zocodover.  In 2014, Toledo honored the 400th anniversary of the death of El Greco ("The Greek"), the famous painter and sculptor during the Spanish Renaissance who lived in Toledo.  As a tribute to El Greco, Santo Tome featured colorful displays of his works in their store windows.
 

Seeing an authentic painting by El Greco is possible at the El Greco Museum.  After paying a small fee of a few euros, you step inside a small room where you can get an up close and personal view of El Greco's masterpiece, "The Burial of the Count of Orgaz."  I've seen the painting twice and love El Greco's exquisite detailing in his painting; you can feel the anguish of the burial followed by the redemption of being welcomed into Heaven.

 
Another one of Toledo's important art masterpieces is damasquino, or "damascene;" this involves applying patterns in gold or silver onto steel to produce jewelry, pins, and other small trinkets.  The patterns are a reflection of Toledo's Moorish heritage combined with its Spanish Renaissance influence.  You can find damascene shops all over Toledo that sell these unique handicrafts at various price levels. 

Speaking of steel, this industry is what Toledo has most famously been known for since 500 BC....sorry marzipan, I so wanted it to be you!  Often imitated but never replicated, Toledo's steel swords have been the weapon of choice due to the quality of its steel for Roman armies in the Middle Ages to European armies and Japanese samurai.  I had the opportunity to watch a skilled Toledo tradesman produce a steel sword blade in his workshop and was able to visually see the high level of detail and precision that is the hallmark of Toledo's swords.  As with the marzipan and damascene, you will see steel and sword shops throughout Toledo. 

After years of searching, I finally found my knight in shining armor in Toledo, but alas, I could not take him back to the States with me.  I didn't mind too much, though, as I had mucho marzipan and buen memories of Toledo to comfort me! 

Destination Spotlight: Salzburg, Austria

In honor of the 50th anniversary of "The Sound of Music," i.e. the greatest movie ever in my opinion, this month's "Destination Spotlight" is Salzburg, Austria!  While most of us know Salzburg due to it being the main setting for the movie, there is much more to Salzburg.  Therefore, following are a few fun facts about the city whose "hills are alive with perfection!"  I apologize in advance for any song lyrics from "The Sound of Music" that may get stuck in your head as you read this blog post.  Now, let's start at the very beginning, a very good place to start:

Salzburg is all about salt, literally, as the German word "salz" means "salt."  Salzburg is located along the banks of the Salzach River, which was once used to transport salt as part of Salzburg's burgeoning economy.  The river now beautifully divides Salzburg into the "New Town" and the "Old Town."  When I'm feeling sad, I simply remember one of my favorite European river views and then I don't feel so bad!  Tourist attractions including the Mirabell Gardens are located in the "New Town," while the pedestrian-friendly "Old Town" is home to places such as St. Peter's Cemetery, Nonnberg Abbey, and the towering Hohensalzburg Castle atop a hill.

That sound of music that you hear in Salzburg?  It's probably more Mozart than the Von Trapps, as the famous composer and performer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in Salzburg; visitors can see and, for a small fee, tour inside his gebertshaus located at Getreidegasse, 9. Salzburg pays homage to its musical son in other ways, too.  As a chocoholic, my favorite tribute is the Mozartkugel, which is a candy made with chocolate and marzipan; it is a sweet symphony of taste!  You can buy these chocolates in most grocery stores in Salzburg, but the best selection, highest quality, and most elegant shopping experience can be found at Reber, which is a famous Austrian candy store located in the Alter Markt (Old Market Square).  Seeing its colorful window displays alone are enough to make you believe that somewhere in your youth or childhood, you must have done something good!














Once you've had your delicious fill of Mozartkugel, if such a state exists, you can spend some quality one-on-one time with Mozart by visiting his statue located in the Mozartplatz.  If, like me, you're lucky enough to be in Salzburg during the Christmas season, you can ice skate under the watchful eye of Mozart in his rink; it's fun for all ages, even if you're not sixteen going on seventeen!  I have confidence that my smooth moves on the rink would have made Mozart proud. 

How do you solve a problem like hunger after you've worked up an appetite ice skating or strolling in Mozartplatz?  You follow every street sign until you find your gastronomical dream at St. Peter Stiftskeller, which is located in the Old Town and is Europe's oldest restaurant!  Be prepared to feast on such traditional dishes as wiener schnitzel, delectable parsley potatoes, and apfelstrudel....these are a few of my favorite things!  Each of the restaurant's dining areas are filled with a combination of delightful aromas and ambiance.  I dined at St. Peter during the Christmas season, so the decor was especially festive with European elegance.

Another unlikely elegant spot in Salzburg?  St. Peter's Cemetery, which is one of the oldest cemeteries in the world.  Mozart's sister and other notable Austrians are buried there in graves identified with intricately detailed wrought-iron markers.

While the movie Von Trapps hid from the Nazis behind the gates of the cemetery's catacombs, my mother and I ventured through the gates and into the adjoining Stiftsbackerie St. Peter, which is Salzburg's oldest bakery and is operated by the monks of the adjoining St. Peter's Abbey monastery.  The bakery is located right at the base of a grain mill with the original water wheel outside and the original wood-burning ovens inside.  My mother bought a few freshly baked rolls that were delightfully presented to her in a brown paper package tied up with string.  Small and white, clean and bright, the rolls were delicious and definitely one of her favorite things! 

Though I hated to leave this delightfully gorgeous and historic city, as I cannot tell a lie, I know that my life will be blessed with a return to Salzburg and Austria where I'll have fun once more!

ALDI-Mate Chocolate

Ich spreche schokolade. You know the song, "You Were Always On My Mind?"  That is how I feel about European dark chocolate, specifically after I've eaten the last of the minimum 15 chocolate bars that I always bring home with me (hey, this is a judgment free zone).  My sweet love will never die for it.  What is even sweeter than cramming my carry-on bag with dark chocolate and being laughed at in foreign airports by Customs officials and my mom?  Being able to buy affordable and authentic European dark chocolate every day.  Yes, every day.  No, this is not a dream; say hallo to ALDI!

ALDI is a German grocery store chain that is known for low prices; its stores can be found in most European countries, not just in Germany.  I know this for a fact because my mom will always excitedly say, "look Elana, there's an ALDI store!" whenever she sees one in the European country that we're visiting.  In our country, my favorite ALDI item and former best-kept secret is the 5-pack of dark chocolate bars from Germany for only $1.99 (the price at the time of this blog post).  If you're not a dark chocolate aficionado like I am, there are various 5-pack chocolate bar flavors to choose from in addition to other sweet selections. 

But wait, there's more!  In addition to ALDI's standard German chocolate selection, starting this week you can also purchase other specialty Deutsche delights including strudel, spaetzle, Bavarian bratwurst, and muesli.  This is a delicious and affordable way to bring the taste of the EU to you!  I loved every meal that I ate while vacationing in Germany, so I will definitely be stocking up this week! 

The only authentic German goodness that ALDI can't import?  This sweet picture of Heidelberg, courtesy of my German friend Monika.  I love it when my blog readers share their European pictures with me....almost as much as I love my ALDI dark chocolate!