The new MUSAC (Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Castilla y León) in Spain is maybe my favorite museum I’ve never been to. These pictures will show you why:

It’s a magical rainbow museum!

WOW. I think it’s just mesmerizingly beautiful and totally rainbow-riffic. I loves. It’s in León, Spain, which is in the Northwestern part of Spain, on your way to Portugal. I’m seeing a Castilian road trip in my future.  Why did I waste my last trip to Spain by going to that stupid Bilbao Guggenheim instead of going here?!?!? Just kidding. The Bilbao Guggenheim is super frickin’ awesome… and also worth a trip.

click here to go to the MUSAC website
click here to go to the Guggeneim Bilbao website

When folks heard we were heading to Northeastern China for the Ice and Snow Festivals, I found it interesting that EVERYONE asked if we were staying in an ice hotel. To which I replied, “Hell no! We’re staying in the hotel most likely to have heaters!” Sorry, but the idea of going to a super cold place to sleep on an ice bed doesn’t appeal, no matter how many reindeer skins you lay on me.

But it looks like you can get the best of both worlds at the Kakslauttanen Hotel in Finland by staying in these glass igloos.

They say:

Whoa, you had me there all they way up to “swim in an ice hole.” But the rest sounds A-OK. Also I like saying “Kakslauttanen” in a fake Nordic accent.

I was cooking with red wine just now, and had about half an open bottle, so I thought, heck, it’s Friday afternoon, I’m going to make myself a kalimotxo!

Kalimotxo (pronounced kah-lee-MOO-choe)  is a fancy Basque word meaning “1/2 red wine and 1/2 cola”. About 20 years ago we had a Basque exchange student and my family has been drinking them ever since. A more recent trip to Bilbao and San Sebastian confirmed that this is actually a really popular drink at bars and such, not just some Fernando-specific anomaly as I had previously suspected. In Spain they usually use Rioja, presumably because that’s what they’ve got lying around, but pretty much any hearty red wine will do. Before you start thinking “what the f*** kinda trashy broad mixes coke and wine together?” let me assure you that this is a more tasty and refreshing drink than you might imagine. Some people use ice and some people just use a really cold coke and a room temperature wine. It’s always served in a stemless glass, like a water glass or a highball glass, never ever filled all the way to the top. I don’t know why that is. It just is.

Sure, you can drink these at home, but a kalimotxo is also a great thing to get if you’re at, say, a party where they’re serving only crappy wine and soft drinks, or on a night when maybe you want to take it easy and/or mix uppers and downers without resorting to red bull (iwww). So if you’re in a poor wine situation but really want to get your drink on, you can order a glass of red wine, a coke, and an extra glass, do a little mixy mixy and BOOM you’ve got 2 good drinks! Or, like, if you’re in the Basque country. According to Wikipedia they drink this in other countries too, but of all the places they list the only place I have ever really seen large numbers of people ordering this at a bar is in Spain.

A note about the name: Basque is a crazy-a$$ language with tons of k’s and x’s and z’s. In the rest of Spain you’ll probably see it spelled “calimocho” or “calimucho” or “kalimucho” but it’s all the same thing. And lest you’re not a fan of coke, have no fear: just ask for a tinto de verano and you’ll get red wine and sprite! As the Basque say: ¡Eskerriska!

Are you tired of consuming your fried fish in an unseemly setting? May I suggest you head to Littlehampton, England, and you can chow all the cod n’ chips you like in the amazing Thomas Heatherwick-designed East Beach Café.

With crowds streaming in to catch a gander, folks have noticed the stunning structure is having a “Bilbao effect” on the little beachfront burg. I can see why. I wanna go! I wanna go! So where’s Littlehampton in relation to somewhere you might actually be, ie London? I did some research and it looks like it’s about a 2 hour drive, near Brighton. Here. I’ll even give you directions. And tell you that can also take the Southern Line from London. You’re welcome!

On my last trip to Dublin, we went to a little wine store called The French Paradox- and they have some light food there as well for lunch, in a lovely setting.

It was a little on the pricey side for the food (somewhere in the neighborhood of 15 euros for a salad), but the wine flight was reasonable (9 euros for 3 pours) and involved 3 tasty wines, no duds.  Plus it’s in Ballsbridge. Say it a few times. It really rolls right off the tongue. Ballsbridge. Ballsbridge. Ballllllsssssbridge.

Do you know what the term “French Paradox” refers to? I did not, but luckily Ross educated me. I love that they used it as the name of a restaurant! From Wikipedia:

“The French paradox is the observation that the French suffer a relatively low incidence of coronary heart disease, despite having a diet relatively rich in saturated fats. The phenomenon was first noted by Irish physician Samuel Black in 1819. The term French paradox was coined by Dr. Serge Renaud, a scientist from Bordeaux University in France in 1992.”

Find more info on the wine store and restaurant at The French Paradox, and give it a go for lunch if you find yourself in Dublin!

I got a request from a friend who was traveling to Nice, France since she is heading there for work. There is a restaurant there that is so good, so special, and so memorable that I wanted to tell everyone even though I myself haven’t been to Nice for about 5 years!

The restaurant is called La Merenda- you will not find much about it online, if anything. There is no phone, so you have to stop by during the day in person to make a reservation, then go back in the evening when it’s time to eat. It is a sublime example of well-done simplicity. The place is tiny and has extremely personable, professional service. The food is largely no-frills and totally divine. When I’m a billionaire I’m going to hire the chef to open a branch of the restaurant in my living room. I wish it was close enough to be my local neighborhood haunt! If you find yourself in Nice or nearby, don’t miss it.

the info:
La Merenda
4 rue Terrasse
Nice, France

today in Haiku Reviews:

ICE CREAMS OF THE WORLD

Haiku Reviews: They’re baaaa-aaaaaaack! I had a fierce urge to put some haikus together today, and I have to tell you, the haiku muse has been conspicuously absent for the better part of 6 months now, so I thought I should go with it. The timing is unfortunate, since I just posted a recipe earlier today after not posting for like a week, but what can I say? I can be an undisciplined blogger. (I’m working on it, though, in therapy. Or I would if I went to therapy.) At any rate, I’ve decided to strike while the muse-iron is hot and wax poetic on some ice creams of the world!

I could have gone on all day, but then it would be one in the afternoon and I’d still be in my pajamas. Oh wait! That happened already. Add your suggestions/disagreements in the commments and tell me what creamy delights I’m missing out on!

this ice cream in Dubrovnik, Croatia looked pretty, but sadly it did not taste that good.

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BASKIN-ROBBINS (Everywhere)
Ah, the old standby.
gold medal ribbon kicks a**.
thirty one-derful

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MITCHELL’S (San Francisco)
San Francisco treat!
I admit, I never try
the purple yam though.

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BEN & JERRY’S (Everywhere)
it’s a hearty scoop
it reminds me of college
cookie dough is king

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GELATO (Anywhere in Italy)
there’s nothing better.
throw down as much as you can
before you die. word.

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MASHTI MALONE’S (Los Angeles)
ice cream from Iran?
well, it is really hot there.
this place is AWESOME.

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MR. SOFTEE (Northeast U.S./China/HK)
summer in New York
hearing the tune, I’m consumed:
plain dip with jimmies

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HUMPHRY SLOCOMBE (San Francisco)
you’re a bit much, dude.
salt, pepper, chili, and such?
get “secret breakfast”

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FENTON’S CREAMERY (Oakland, CA)
love the old-time biz.
fun for the whole family!
sundaes are required.

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CHRISTINA’S (Cambridge, MA)
so many flavors!
(folks will say “Toscanini’s!”
C-Money’s better.)

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BI-RITE CREAMERY (San Francisco)
can be uneven,
but salted caramel IS
as good as they say

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LOARD’S ICE CREAM (Oakland, CA)
a cool, old skool joint
big creamy cones to drool for
they have candies too!

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BERTHILLON (Paris, France)
the best in Paris
it’s famous for a reason.
oui, c’est bon bon bon!

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COLDSTONE CREAMERY (Everywhere)
it’s too much pressure.
I always feel sick after.
mix-ins overwhelm

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CARVEL (Northeast U.S.)
hi, fudgy the whale!
now you taste artificial.
better as a kid.

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Here’s why I do them in haikus.

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