I had a really special dining experience and evening at Damoro Italian Restaurant in Davos Platz. Antonio said he was taking me out for dinner but I hadn't a clue where. We arrived fairly close to closing time and were actually the only people in the entire establishment. Normally this would sketch me out a bit but we were quickly taken care of so I didn't notice after a few minutes. Antonio knew the Maître D'hôtel and he treated us very well. A taste of prosecco and a gorgeous bread basket before we even barely opened our menus. Yes please. 

​I honestly wasn't even all that hungry when we walked in but I quickly found the space. It was really nice to be surprised  with a night out at a beautiful restaurant. I scanned the menu for vegetarian options and when I read "burrata" I needn't look further. It's one of my favourite things ever ever ever and the rendition I had at Damoro didn't disappoint. It was served along side tomatoes that had been marinated in sugar and vinegar. Really quite simple but perfectly executed. They were so delicious, the texture was almost like biting into something gently cooked but the center remained fresh and juicy. Balsamic pearls to garnish.  I quite happily used the table bread as a vehicle to deliver all this deliciousness into my mouth.

​I had a silky pumpkin soup with crispy leeks and goats cheese gnocchi as my main course. It was elegant and rich. I was 100% hitting my food wall by this point. Then Antonio and the Maître D'hôtel exchanged a bunch of words in Italian. I could tell Antonio was trying to say "no more food!!!" It was evident we weren't really going to have a choice in the matter. Cannoli wasn't negotiable. I thought, Ok we can share one dessert. Of course out came two, plus a plate of biscotti.

When I thought the experience couldn't get any better out came rucolino. A beverage special to the area where Antonio comes from in Italy. It is an arugula based digestif liqueur. Similar nuances to bitters. Our server also comes from the same island Antonio does, called Ischia. (a ferry ride from Naples)  When I first met Antonio I researched his island and was therefore familiar with this special drink. I was actually really moved because I couldn't believe there were bottles of this in Davos and they happened to be appearing before my eyes. Another bottle of "rucolino crema"  came out also, and this was my favourite. Coffee flavour I do believe. We sampled each, I was in my happy place. Then again in more Italian they exchanged words. Antonio arranged to buy a bottle for me to bring back to Canada. 

I will certainly go back the next time I'm in Davos. In the meantime I can sip on my rucolino crema and reminisce about the perfect night. 

I booked a trip a few months ago to spend Christmas 2018 with my brother and my niece and nephew. They recently relocated from Basel, where I've spent a lot of time over the years, to a town called Schaffhausen. I will be gone for about 2 weeks. I loved getting to know Basel over the years and have spent a bit of time in Sass Fee and Zermatt in the past, so I am really looking forward to hanging out in my brother's new town. This trip is to spend time with family over the holidays but for sure I hope to explore the food and scenery. I'm sure we will cook at home a lot but that just means fun Christmas markets and no doubt some shopping in Germany as it is much more affordable to cross the border for groceries. I'm also planning to hop on a train and head to Davos Platz a resort city in the Swiss Alps. I'm going to connect with my friend Antonio, who is also a chef at a pizzeria called Il Padrino. We were Instagram friends for quite a long time but never chatted. I commented on a photo he posted 2 months ago and we became fast friends. I will go there for 2 nights. We will go up the mountains. Eat. I will take pictures. I'm pretty nervous to meet him but I can always have breakfast vodka if I'm freaking out. Just Kidding. Sort Of. Pre trip planning right now involves trying to figure out how to pack light because I will already be hauling over my camera gear and Christmas presents. Just realised I will arrive at noon on Saturday. My brother will pick me up in Zurich. Then I'll need to pull it together as he has a party planned that evening. Work friends for dinner and drinks. ​

I took a quick overnight trip to Fredericton to visit my 92 year old grandfather in the hospital.  His body is failing and in constant pain from cancer that probably has spread to his bones. His mind is still sharp when it isn't clouded from the morphine and Dilaudid. Dad had a few photographs of grandpa as a young man with him. I could see the resemblance now more than ever. Weight loss during his time in the hospital emphasized his bone structure,  reveling a striking likeness to his younger self more than I ever noticed before. Somehow the comparison just made everything seem more real. He told my dad he isn't afraid to die. I haven't had to deal with a lot of loss and death of loved ones in my life.  Mostly right now I just don't want him to suffer anymore. We were able to have a small chat. Dad got him talking and he was able to tell a story of an old friend. He finished the story with a strong punch line, a chuckle and a little smile. He always could remember details and stories and dates. My memory is kinda shit sometimes, so I've always found him impressive for this. A nice memory that keeps popping into my mind is probably from 6 years ago or so. Christmas time sitting at the kitchen table with grandpa while mum was making dinner, maybe Christmas day I'm not sure. But grandpa and I  just casually chatted, sipped a nice scotch and nibbled on some cheeses that mum had put out. I remember talking about how good the blue cheese was. 

No matter what is happening in our lives, we still need to eat. If I'm happy or sad I still think about food. I went to Fredericton to visit grandpa, but inevitably I wondered what we would manage for dinner that night. Mum and I talked about going to a few different places downtown but in the end we decided to stay in and order pizza. It was a Sunday and my first couple of choices were closed.  Also there was sketchy winter weather happening. Fredericton has Luna Pizza and we've been eating there for YEARS. If I am in Fredericton for any amount of time we pretty much always have a Luna Pizza night. I always look forward to the food experience, but it isn't just about the pizza. It is about the combination of their Caesar salad and the pizza. This is so important that each and every time we order Luna pizza my mum will chime in about how she likes the pizza but it wouldn't be the same without the Caesar. She is not wrong. We never skimp on the dressing either, the salad MUST be saucy. I feel I need to mention that the bacon bits are of the simulated variety. WHAT? I know. I don't even know who I am if I like simulated bacon bits. But I do like this meal, a lot. One of my best friends Jenny came over for dinner and wine that night too. I don't know if it was due to stress or just my fleeting willpower but I drank copious amounts of wine and smoked. My hangover the next day was impressive. Maybe I just needed to relax, or to self destruct a little bit. Who knows.