Well, the holidays are almost over and as Downith says so far so fat. Oh my holy jaysus, how much food can two people consume in a few short days? I’ll tell you, too much. Last night I was up every two hours munching Tums in between vivid carbohydrate/fat-induced nightmares.
It all started innocently enough with some lovely tea from the coolest Tea Man in Strasbourg.
And from there things ramped up considerably.
Every ten feet there was a stand like this. One half of the market smells like hot pretzels and waffles and crepes covered in cinnamon sugar while the other smells like mulled wine and spicy cider. After sampling one of everything yet another scent wafted across the breeze, chocolate. Now we’re talking.
A couple of those, then a couple of these …
It was time to get the hell out of there. I figured I’d be safe strolling the streets away from the temptations of yet more delicious goodies. We spent hours gazing at all the beautifully decorated windows and, as everyone knows, window shopping is harmless right? Right.
Mon dieu! And thanks be to dieu I couldn’t afford a single caramel from this shop let alone a whole bear made of chocolate. The big box on the left could be yours for a mere 125 euros. Amazingly the line for this boutique wound right around the block as did the line from the swanky cheese shop next door. Same thing at many of the stunning bakeries offering the most beautiful Christmas cakes and pastries I have ever seen. From what I saw the French are certainly willing to lay out the dough for … dough.
But what does a sensible and frugal gal like me do after eating her way through a gigantic Christmas market in France? Why, of course, a feed of Chinese …
To those who think me gauche for feasting on fried noodles and sweet and sour pork in a pineapple in France, kiss me arse. It was heaven, maybe even better than Miracle Whip. Anyway, copious amounts of French food were scarfed down the last night in Strasbourg followed by a five hour Christmas Day lunch back in Semur. Champagne, smoked salmon, foie gras, duck confit, cheeses, salad and two masterpieces from the local patisserie (merci Elodie!).
Then yesterday I received a care package stuffed with chocolates made in Newfoundland. There’s only one word to describe them, gone. The only thing missing at this point is some good old Alka Seltzer. That and a personal trainer. And by trainer I mean someone to help me button my pants.
my arse got bigger just looking at that chocolate. I have had chicken noodle soup (it has to be Campbells when I am ill) the last three days. I hope everyone had a wonderful Chistmas.
Poor Oma. I hope you feel better soon.
The chocolates in the third picture are RIDICULOUS. They look like they could weigh a pound each.
I know! They are called ‘bombes’
But totally worth it, right Bobbi?
My children, who have loved all your photos, are now campaigning for me to fly to France and bring back that bear.
I’m game, but since their part of the deal is to pay for the plane ticket there—and two for the trip home, I’m guessing—I’ll be staying here for a while, enjoying vicarious indigestion.
Happy bromo, Bobbi!
I think I just gained 10 lbs. looking at the pictures!
A bear made of chocolate. Oh my. My vices were a tad more ordinary — dark chocolate Hershey’s kisses and creme broulee cheesecake for breakfast — but a vice nonetheless. Sit-ups here I come.
Oh. Oooooooooooooooo……
I’m going to take these photos and lock myself in a room with them.
That bear is fabulous.
Do bears have a special Christmas meaning in France? I notice your pictures have had a few of them – several white ones, then this brown one.
That is a good question. They were everywhere especially polar bears. A good tourist would have stopped stuffing her face long enough to ask.
Hey, that’s what Google’s for :)
And Google tells us that the first Coca-Cola ads with polar bears in them appeared in France in 1922 – maybe they’ve remained a fixture.
http://shopwithmeaning.org/featured/white-polar-bear-cans/
I think that because of Strasbourg’s location the bear has more to do with Swiss/German culture. And I think them folk used to like having dancing bears around a lot. I could look it up but right now I have to dash and get more ice cubes lest my V&T lose some of its froideur.
All that was missing was some Purity syrup to wash it all down…
Oh my jaysus, purity syrup. Rot the teeth right out of your head buddy.
I’m in LOVE with the Tea Man of Strasbourg.
The pictures were fab-o-loso and I really, really needed to take a mental vacation today. O, the pictures and the tale of your wander thru Xmas Land really touched me. And I used to think that only great TV commercials could make me cry.
Vivian he was so cool you cannot even imagine!
I would lose all control. I mean faceplant in a food stall.
Hahaha that was really funny.
Good grief. Food porn. food in the US just does not look like that.
My mother used to talk about eating Chinese food across Europe. There were pictures, she knew what she was ordering, and no one made fun of her halting French or her nonexistent Italian or Polish.
Loverly! Glad you did some Xmas eating for me! My biggest splurge has been panforte from Siena, the good stuff. I just can’t stop chewing through it. Buon Anno Bobbi xcat
Ohhh, I can see you had a VERY merry Christmas. :D That’s the way to do it, girl!