One of the great joys of summer is that Andrew is back at the beach and back into baking.   It’s not that we don’t have temporary bursts of wonderful cakes, pies and cookies at other times of the year, but in Summer he settles…

I’d go back to Ireland in a New York minute, but it wouldn’t be for the food. We never got anywhere near Darina Allen’s Culinary Course and aside from a wonderful Thanksgiving feast that we prepared ourselves, a dinner at Fallon and Byrne in Dublin…

A short time ago, we went to the Jewish Community Center of Manhattan (344 Amsterdam Ave, NY NY 10023 Tel: (646) 505-4444). Judging from the smell of freshly-baked chocolate chip cookies, the place has a robust culinary arts program in addition to all its other…

Port Recine in Cap de La Hague, Normandy For all the time we have spent in France, inexplicably we have never been to the northwest corner of the country and their provinces of Brittany and Normandy. While we didn’t get to Brittany, Cherbourg, was our…

Rise and Shine! It’s At Sea Day on Viking Sea’s Maiden Voyage Viking at Sea          On Viking Star there was only one.  On the Maiden Voyage of Viking Sea, there would be three of them but for us, just one.  Sea Days. These port-less…

Are these the best alternative restaurants afloat? We went aboard Viking Star and Sea to find out Jun 1, 2016 | 3:59 pm By Monte Mathews Staff Writer Manfredi’s was magnificent, but was it our favorite on the ship?  Photo Credit: Viking Ocean Cruises Every…

Las Galleries La Coruna line the Avenue Marina.   The one building without a Galleria is called the “Missing Tooth”         Some places are total surprises.  I would have to say that the entire country of Portugal was one.  But second to that was the arrival…

Chef Anthony Mauboussin in action aboard the Viking Sea. By Land and by Sea: Viking’s New ‘Kitchen Table’ Culinary Arts Program By Monte Mathews Staff Writer We set the scene for Viking Cruise’s new ‘Kitchen Table’ chef experience Since last year’s launch of its first…

Our first glimpse of Viking Sea docked in Lisbon            But first, about last night…it was our second and final night in Lisbon and my good friend Bruce highly recommended Cervejaria Ramiro (1 Avenida Almirante Reis, Lisbon, Tel: +351 218 851 024) Since Bruce seems…

Sintra’s Palaces, Lisbon by Beetle and us. The Rossio Restaurant atop Altis Avenida          Day Two dawned with a blue sky and Spring temperatures.  Breakfast at the Altis Avenida takes place in a stylish roost on the 7th floor of the hotel.   Considering that it’s…

         I was thrilled to be invited to participate in the Maiden Voyage of Viking Sea, sister ship to Viking Star, Viking Cruises ocean-going liners that have set a new standard in affordable luxury since their inception last year.   I was even more delighted when…

         Granted, “Canard et Champagne”  (Duck and Champagne) are arguably two of France’s greatest gifts to cuisine but it took some nerve to open a restaurant which sells nothing else.   But that is precisely what Jean-Francois Montfort and partners Jean Valfort and Pierre Dutaret did…

         A braise may not strike you as a Spring preparation at all.  Aren’t braises hearty affairs that build flavor by the hours they spend in the oven?  Aren’t they winter warmers and not something you’d expect to see any time after May 1st?  Well…

       As some of you know, Andrew and I have embarked on what we have named “Andrew and Monte’s 130th Birthday Trip”.  That’s our combined birthday this year and we’re celebrating with a trip to Europe.  Believe me, you will hear all about it.  But in…