Put the Bread Down NOW!

For the past year, I've been trying to get on top of my fatigue issues by experimenting with my diet. I have a strong suspicion that gluten and sugar could be the culprits so I've been doing my best to reduce my intake of both. I'm not doing so well with the sugar thing (take my cookies and I'll break your arm) but I've managed to cut out an amazing amount of gluten products.

And then I arrived in Germany.

There's all sorts of talk about the french baguette which I am not going to deny, is pretty damn fantastic. I have very fond memories of devouring one with a block of cheese under the Eiffel Tower many moons ago. However, I am quickly learning how awesome the German breads are and just how damn accessible they are! There's a godforsaken backerei on every block which I swear, sadistically opens its ventilation system ever time I walk by.

This week has been particularly bad. It started with the rolls at Sunday brunch coupled with cheese and jam. Mmmm... Then I decided to buy a loaf of that wonderfully dark, hearty bread that reminded me of Hartter's brownies. Milwaukee, do you remember these blocks of heaven? The turtle brownies in particular?? They were like bricks...well, bricks of rich, gooey goodness that almost broke your wrist when you snatched them from the cashier. Anyway, that is what this loaf of bread is like...chock full of seeds and nuts and all sorts of things that probably helped someone go plow a field at one time, not sit on her ass and blog.

Shortly after that, I made a wonderful, creamy soup from scratch and well, you just cannot not have some warm fresh bread next to that for dipping!

And yesterday, Jack and his mom arrived so I had to buy a loaf of her favorite: a nutty, seedy organic type that makes me have to floss every six seconds.

And because it's now cold and blustery, I decided that there's nothing better than warm, vanilla, cinnamon speckled bread pudding so I dropped everything to whip up a pot of that. (And how divine it will be coupled with delicious, dark coffee brought by Jack's mom all the way from Brooklyn!)

So anyway, I've been on a bread bender and I think I felt the need to confess to it. But I'm sort of on vacation and isn't this the kind of stuff you get to do when you are away from home? It wouldn't be so bad if I ate like a glutton the whole time I was in Germany as long as I promised myself to get back on the wagon when I got back to the States, right??

Another cold, dark morning. Hot, teeth staining coffee on the way. Perhaps I will have some muesli with yogurt. And perhaps I will ignore that half pot of bread pudding in the fridge or the remaining baguette on the counter. Or maybe I will remind myself that when in Rome...

It's Always Nice to Know You're Missed

After being a cat owner for a decade or so, it's really strange not to hear a little meow on the other side of the door as I fumble with my apartment keys. And I can't help but be a little sad that my clothes are gradually becoming lint free.

Luckily, I have an awesome roomie and subletter back in Brooklyn who are taking very good care of Baxter the Cat while I'm gone. I mean, seriously...how many people would take the time to send a photo like this, just to make me laugh?

Thanks, ladies.

Stupid American

Dear Faithful Readers,

I hate to admit it but I feel like "Stupid American" could become a regular column. I could easily chart all of the experiences that lead me to feel like an idiot on a regular basis while in foreign lands. God knows I will never forget the ungodly amount of time it took me to figure out how to close the blinds in my Madrid apartment. Dumb, dumb, dumb...

Anyway, considering that we are easing into a new week, I don't think my self-esteem is quite ready for a good flogging yet. I think I'll keep it simple for now.

Oh, Germany, I love you so but sometimes you scare the dickens out of me, especially your...

1) Trams.

This is something that the bulk of Americans are not used to. In fact, we don't even call them trams. We refer to them as streetcars or those cute-as-a-button trolleys of San Fran. Anyway, for those of you who know me, you can attest to my tendency to be well, a bit oblivious to my surroundings at time. Actually, let me clarify. When I need to be on, I can read body language like nobody's business and quickly react to it. Is she nervous? Is he angry? Is that dude gonna try to swipe my purse?

However, when it comes to general daily life on the street, I'm not so good. I've had friends yelling at me, trying to get my attention but it won't be until they step right in front of me that I actually notice them. I guess, most days, I'm just too much in my head.

Throw in the crazy stimulation of a new city and well, well...a big pink elephant could be dancing around and I would only notice the cake shop two feet ahead.

So let's combine this inattentiveness of mine with the trams in Berlin. Do you see where this is going?

I remember my mom having a similar experience in Germany when she was a young lady, bumming around Europe. She and her friend had rented a car and as Americans from rural Wisconsin, didn't quite notice all of those tram tracks. They were too busy reading the map and in the process, almost got themselves flattened out.

For me, I was standing in the median (because New Yorkers cannot wait for the "walk" sign and will dodge across the street, even if it means only getting halfway), observing the traffic flow from the other direction. It was slowing down and as I leaned forward, a mere second from touching my little toes to the street, I was almost knocked over by the wind of a tram zipping by from the opposite direction.

People, this thing was clipping along, a whole six inches from me and I didn't even hear the thing coming or see it zoom by. I felt the air and then it was gone.

Meanwhile, my heart was in my throat. I know my mom worries about me when I travel abroad but it's due to me meeting so many strangers. I highly doubt that she worries about her youngest being taken out by a tram. Or maybe she does because sometimes, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

Your faithful correspondent (tucked safely away in her apartment),

Rachael

But What if You Are in Love with the Pie?

So I'm going off the Germany track for a moment...

I've noticed that there's been a great interest amongst my readers regarding my relationship/dating posts. A few people have even emailed me directly, asking, "What is going on? We haven't heard about your latest date yet!" It doesn't matter if they are single or married. This confirms my theory that most human beings cannot wrap their heads around what makes relationships really work. And don't worry, I've got more to say about the dating scene....I will post soon enough about that.

In the meantime, let me tell you how much I adore the blog, Fork This. I'm not going to pretend that the woman behind Fork This is not a friend of mine either. She is fabulous and we have done a pretty good job eating ourselves around NYC throughout the past year. Anyway, she regularly posts about local foodie events or her own delicious recipes but this latest post is a bit different and it absolutely resonated with me. I wonder if it will with some of you, too.

So go check it out unless, of course, you are in the throes of a new romance and are too busy canoodling over pie.

The Waffle Didn't Last Long Enough to Photograph...

My new German friend invited me out for coffee at the KaufBar in charming Friedrichshain (which I cannot appropriately say to save my life), the family friendly, yet Bohemian cool neighborhood in the former east. My first impression of Friedrichshain is that this is where the former singletons from Kreuzberg move to after they find themselves married and preggers (but still hip and cool). I have no idea if this is at all accurate but it's the vibe I got.

Anyway, dying for a decent cup of coffee, I ordered what seemed to be an Americano while my friend got this lovely foamy I-don't-know-what but it came in a big glass and made me want to immediately shove an almond biscotti into it. Casually perusing the menu as I wasn't really that hungry, I was quickly reminded that when it comes to sweets, I can always find room. I suddenly found myself ordering a waffle with a plume marmalade (apparently quite typical). It came smallish (in comparison with the American version of a gigantoid Belgian waffle) and light and I enjoyed every bite of it.

Besides, who needs a candelit dinner when you can have candles, coffee, waffles, and a lovely conversation with a new friend at noon on Tuesday?

Perfect, I tell you.

I've Got Chills (and They're Probably Multiplying)

A friend posted this link on Facebook and I feel compelled to share it with all of you. These are AMAZING photos from "The Berlin Reunion" (the giant marionettes I wrote about the other day), compliments of the Boston Globe. Makes you wanna cry, they're so beautiful. Sigh.

Perhaps Bloomberg Should Start Subsidizing Xanax

As much as I love New York City, it's nice to have a little vacation away from the...umm...extroverts. I find the Germans quite calming. "Quintessential New York?" Yes, I believe so which is why I think my blood pressure might be on its way down.