the chef goes frog

after some intense days of work i have found some time to update all readers of what has been going down in the land of frog. apart from work the mind is slowly but surely getting in the grove for summer holidays. big plans are being thrown around. and soon enough i will post my movements during the upcoming summer. but all i can say right now is that it will be a smasher. otherwise i have been up to my usual. trying everything and building a memorial everywhere i go. pushing myself beyond limits and keeping the urgency to explore and discover. what a privilegde it is. so my newest finding is part of the gourmandise francaise...aka cuisse de grenouille. better known as frogs legs to the common man on the street. i found myself in a small restaurant with a friend up a side alley in a well-known cartier in montpellier. my inspiration got the better of me and i decided to to the frog to the test. what a pleasant surprise it was. even though i am not telling you the taste or sensation i will tell you this one thing. it was pure bliss. you have to try it. be brave. i dare you. the pics posted are to wet your apetite.

kala

this is kala. i adopted her cause the owner did not want her anymore. she was badly treated and neglected. but how amazing it was to see her transform and become a part of the fold...

sheba

i miss my kids.......this is the baby. sheba.

tomorrow

the sun will rise tomorrow and life will be different....why. i dont know. i just have that feeling that things are moving into a different dimension. another gear. and i am up for it. all of it.

the journey

life never stops to amaze me. around every corner i walk into a new dream. a new destination. a new direction to follow. maybe. perhaps. i dont know. i feels as if the world is suddenly as bigger place. with more destinations than i ever knew. and they seem so close. yet so far. suddenly i dream different dreams. bigger ones. its a whole new ball game. but have i been invited to play. do i need to qualify first. do i have the needed skills. all these qusetions puzzle me. they clog my brain. they get the juices flowing. but it is a good form of confusion. a welcomed one. rather this than nothing to dream about. nothing to look forward to. nothing to live for. aspire to. it makes me dig deep in yesterday. to find if there are still some cracks in the old armour before i set out again. to wonder off into tomorrow. to see what lies ahead. to travel the road less traveled. i am up for a new challenge. a new adventure. a different one this time. one i have to undertake. my life depends on it. and so does my future. so my bags are packed. with ambition. with courage. with endurance. with perseverance. with passion. and with joy.

i will try

i whistle a sad tune

the past is done

i have been betrayed

that is the truth
i believe without a doubt
the future holds a different song
you will be there i am sure

you will give me what i need

and i will find my freedom

we will talk about the happy and the sad
and laugh about the memories of yesterday
we will marvel as the sun goes down
never to forget where we come from
tonight i picked a star for you
and hope to show it to you soon
i realised that youth is wasted on the young

i wish we could have another chance
close your eyes not to hear me

i do not want you to see me cry

i do not know if i will heal

but i will try

alsace roadtrip 5

one of our last visits. this man was incredible. pierre. he made us taste 36 wines in one hour. then he took us to see his vineyards. he explained to us his biodynamic vineyards. that means moon and stars govern most of what he does. it determines his actions. very funny but very interesting. a man that shines passion for what he does. meinard and i had to throw away our mindset concerning conventional winemaking after this visit. i think perhaps a turning point in our careers. to taste wines of this quality knowing the way they were made simply left us speechless. bien fait pierre. bravo. and a final salut to alsace. it opened our minds and changed our way of thinking. this is learning. this is gaining the experience we are craving. a different way. extending boundries. colour in over the lines....

alsace roadtrip 4

some of claras pics. love the colour. not even sure when she took them. enjoy...

alsace roadtrip 3

strasbourgh. what a city. a must visit for those that enjoy tranquillity and peace. this city has it all. after all it is the european capital. or was. i dont remeber anymore. some pics in black and white.

alsace roadtrip 2

we came. we saw. we conquered. alsace will never be the same. neither will we. the learning experience was incredible. the knowledge gained was unheard of. and what we will take with us is of immeasurable value. they do things in a different way. perhaps so should we...

alsace roadtrip 1

we hit the road again. this time a smaller crew. clara. meinard. and me. this time destination alsace. it is on the border with germany and very beautiful. a must visit for those that have not been there. this is us. doing what we do best...tasting the worlds best wines and have the time of our lives.

forever

so here is where my stories starts

with all the palces that i have seen

and now the time to start again

i realize tomorrow is where i have been

i wander across the sands of time

i will never know when this life began to be

i have loved and lost i crossed the line

no regrets but never again

the vision of eternity

like a dream a fantasy of old

the Keeper of my sanity

now it seems the Master of my heart

forever my heart

forever i dream

forever i am

(a reworking of a known song from long time ago...)

two or four

i have been fortunate enough to experience both sides of the gastronomic and hotel business. recently i have spent time in the very famous and expensive st tropez. it was fabulous. a week later i find myself tucked up in a small alsacian village in the middle of the vosges mountains and forests of north eastern france. what a difference. but both experiences are unique and perfect in its own way. allow me to explain. my four star experience was packed with luxury. smart yet linear living. everything in its place. sterility and cleanliness the order of the day. here everybody falls over their feet to serve you. yes sir. no sir. three bags full sir. the food in these places you have to search for with a magnifying glass. but the quality is the haute couture in gastronomic proportions. the comfort and lavishness of such an experience is to be craved by anyone. it has everything yet lacks something. and this i found in my 2 star paradise in alsace. the difference was personality. the chalet in alsace was run by a family of crazy sisters. the food was home cooked and it felt like having a family dinner. everybody in the restaurant spoke to everybody. glasses of wine was passed around for everyone to taste. stories were shares around and laughter filled the warm room. even though the wall paper had flowers on and was pealing in every corner. these are the sort of things that can easily be replaced by merry times with friends. good wine. and good food. even the corny ceramic statues and stuffed animals can be forgiven and overlooked. fun was had by all. even the germans at the table next to us. so from st tropez... with the yatchs. the sun and atmosphere. the stretches of coastline that surrounds it and surreal blue waters. magical. to the flip side... alsace. its mystical cathedral towers and funny architecture. its hillside vineyards and enchanting small villages. so which of the two i prefer. not one of them but both. each to his own i always say. in this case each situation to its own. some days you want the one. other times you need the other. know yourself and draw the most from every experience you find yourself in. it will make your travelling so much more fun.