Cheers, London

Four months in London flew by faster than the actual flight across the Atlantic. The end was hard because of all of the incredible people I met while living there. The last week, I embraced all that the city had to offer for me, and of course, made a few trips back to the Borough Market to say my last farewell. Even in the snowy December weather, the flowers were in full bloom and the produce was some of the freshest I've seen. I have never been one to love tomatoes, but sometime this past summer, my tastebuds must have taken a turn to tomato-town, especially when I discovered the coveted, heirloom tomato. My favorite way to prepare them is roasted with olive oil and garlic. Collaborated with a piece of fresh mozzarella and a crunchy hunk of french bread is beyond words. One of the last nights in London, my dear and incredibly missed friend, Pat showed me the most magical fantasy of a place, called Winter Wonderland. And it was as it sounds- a huge nighttime marketplace with pints of German beers set inside their wooden linkin-log-esque structures, christmas music and children ice skating around the rink. A perfect way to end my time in the city. London, its been amazing. Cheers to you.

Thanksgiving is Essential

Even in the midst of a London November, my three, fellow American roommates and I decided it wouldn't be right if we didn't even attempt to have a Thanksgiving dinner. Our flat was located off of the Middle Eastern mecca of London- Edgware Road, so finding ingredients was a bit tricky, but do-able. It was a completely new Thanksgiving than I have ever had, since I was used to my parents traditional dinner. Never before has my Thanksgiving dinner involved cupcakes, boiled eggs or macaroni and cheese, but despite the new foods- I managed to throw in some traditional turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans and homemade stuffing. Pumpkin pie has always been a staple at our holiday dinner, but the lack of pie pans proved to be somewhat of a challenge. A muffin tin worked as best it could to make twelve individual pumpkin pies, which were delicious and adorable at the same time! Coming from Martha's Vineyard, I have been spoiled with the decadence of scallops and bacon, so it was a must for my appetizer. For our guests who had never tried the tiny morsels, they were a huge hit, prompting the whole crew to ask if they could come to the island and try some fresh scallops this summer.

From Sweden with Love

Christmas in Sweden is possibly the most amazing time to be there. There are rusty fire pits around the market places to warm up your fingers and even though the sun sets around 2:00 in the afternoon, it just gives the city more of a reason to put twinkling Christmas lights everywhere! The people are incredible- the nicest I've encountered in Europe, by far. We stayed with an old friend and his family, which, I quickly found, is the best way to travel. Despite the fact that me and my two travel mates had to share one bed for four nights, we all agreed that Stockholm was our favorite place we had been to. Stylish, friendly people, the deepest most delicious red wine and simplistic foods make Stockholm what it is. Heaven.

Slight Indulgence

Having visitors in London was a great excuse to get out and see the touristy sights again, ride a double decker bus and indulge in the treats I normally wouldn't have had. Upon my sister's arrival, we, of course, had fish and chips as we walked along the Thames on a beautiful October day. We continued on to see the sights, which, as big and amazing as they are, can get old, fast. I decided to take her off the beaten path the next day and do something we both love; nature walks. We indulged in rich chocolate cupcakes and thick, creamy hot chocolate, while we walked through the Regent's Park rose garden. A day fit for the Queen, if you ask me.

Où sont les légumes?

And this was my question up until my last night in Paris. Where are the vegetables? Perhaps we were looking in the wrong places, but all my sister and I seemed to stumble across in Paris was carbohydrates and wine. This also encompasses the moto of the youth hostel we stayed in, which highly touted its "breakfast included" meal plan. The only included breakfast we saw was a mini baguette and butter, with a side of coffee or hot chocolate. For us, breakfast always meant some sort of protein and a fruit. It wasn't until the last day where we found a market with a few items that could pass as nourishment, and on our last night in Paris, Voila! We ate at a hole in the wall local spot where we feasted on steak, potatoes, roasted tomatoes and some asparagus washed down with many-a-glass of beautiful Bordeaux wine. That meal was well worth the wait.

Viva Italia

It had been a solid month of cooking my own meals-for-one in my tiny white kitchen in London so a week of homemade meals with my sister in Florence was much needed. Have you ever noticed its easier to cook for two, than just one? Its also a lot more fun to prepare with someone else, especially my beautiful sister who I hadn't seen in a month. She brought me to the local markets, of which I have no idea the name, but they were nonetheless, amazing. Dried fruits galore, and fresh fruit being sold by big Italian men alongside their nona's. The week was full of fresh pasta's, vegetables, wine and of homemade granola using simply oatmeal, honey and olive oil. Buono Appetito.

Borough Market

London: People driving on the wrong side of the road. Charming accents, and surprisingly, great fresh and local markets. Most importantly, I think, is the Borough Market. Walking into the entrance, you are greeted by produce that has fallen off the truck and been stomped on a thousand times, and people's rubbish from their free samples- of which are abundant. Once inside the market, you don't know what to do first. Do you follow the smell of hot mulled cider that trails directly to your nose, or do you go sample a spoonful of the curry, bubbling over its five foot radius pan.
This salad was one of the simplest, yet most decadent I've ever had. Nothing can go wrong with crispy lettuce, fresh buffalo mozzarella, tomatoes and perfectly ripe figs. I can never seem to make it as good as at this market though.

Who am I?

I am an island girl from Martha's Vineyard with a passion for photography and food. Mixing the two only seems natural to me. I have done some traveling the past few months which only ignited my love of food markets and my interest in fresh foods. Bon Appetit!