It's Baby Wiss!

"Hi, everybody! I'll see you June 15." 

We're reviving this blog. And it's about to get exciting!

Another January Milestone

Yet another life changing event occurred in our lives this month...Nick turned 30! 

To ring in his 30th year, we spent the day in New Orleans after a huge birthday breakfast at home (a pile of homemade mixed berry pancakes made by yours truly). We checked out the New Orleans Museum of Art in City Park (a work of art in itself), which houses an extremely varied, but interesting collection.

We took a walk on the Riverwalk along the Mississippi, had coffee and beignets at Cafe Du Monde (more on that later),

 

then tried a new tapas restaurant, Rambla, at the International House Hotel before heading home in a torrential downpour (characteristic of many of our NoLa date nights). The most memorable part of the night, you ask? Instead of choosing a dessert for additional birthday candles, Nick wanted one more course of tapas. The waitress was then kind enough to place a candle into Nick's steak tartare. Classic.

Happy Birthday, sweet man. Here's to the next 30. 

It's a Beautiful Day.

I'm still too awestruck at the historical significance of yesterday to write anything worthy of being coined 'commentary' on the day's events. I will just say that I was absolutely covered in goosebumps all day and got chills at the start of each new celebration. 

I stole some quality company time to watch streaming video of President Obama's swearing in and inaugural address at my desk (Digital Wissler), and it was worth every penny. Congratulations, President Obama. Here's to an attempt to reunite our country. 

The Mysterious Mirliton

The mirliton, also know as "cayote squash" is a favorite ingredient used in cooking almost exclusively by natives of Louisiana (and those who live next door to them). This year, I'm giving my holiday recipes a Southern twist by making mirliton and shrimp stuffing, with the help of my neighbor Linda, a native New Orlinean. Her stuffing is without a doubt the very best I have ever had. Because people in Missisisippi aren't as familiar with mirliton, I had to go to Rouses to get the squash, where I also picked up the fresh shrimp. Here's Nick getting the shrimp ready for the pot.

Here's the "recipe" according to Linda:

-Boil about a dozen mirliton (she says MEH-lit-uhn)

-peel back the waxy layer

-saute an "entiahhh headah gahlic" with an onion in butter then throw in some fresh parsley

-then throw in 'this much' (making a bowl with her hands) of fresh shrimp

-then toss in fresh bread crumbs to taste

The result is heaven in your mouth. I promise. According to my research, mirliton are also grown in California. I want Nicole of Pinch My Salt to try this sometime and give it a gourmet twist!

We hope you are all having a very Merry Christmas, no matter what kind of stuffing you make!

No Christmas is complete without...

A kid with Santa photo...

Here's our niece Audrey with Santa...this year turned out exponentially better than last year. 

And for those of you, like me, that think the crying-child-with-Santa photos are even better, check this out: 

Scared of Santa: Scenes of Terror in Toyland by Denise Joyce. Soooo funny. 

Thanksgiving in WV

We were thrilled to get home to West Virginia for a few days over Thanksgiving and even more thrilled (up until the end of the game) to get to Pittsburgh for the Backyard Brawl. It was so great to get a little snow and family in our holiday season early on! That's us above, in the nosebleed section of Heinz Field where the windchill had to be 10 degree, trying to act like we don't live in the sunny south.

We were so happy to catch up with Missy & Blair at the alumni association tailgate on the Waterfront before the game. Then we took the ferry over to Heinz Field. Hey DG's, does anyone recognize this boat???

Pittsburgh skyline (part of it) taken from the ferry. Don't let the sunny skies fool you. It was freezing. 

We're baaaaack!

We've decided to resurrect the blog, because, well, there's no reason not to. Just because we don't have an entire ocean between us and our friends and family doesn't mean it's any easier to stay connected. Plus, our life on the Gulf Coast is just as exciting as ever. We'll post all of our culinary expeditions from Florida through Louisiana and beyond. In the meantime, we hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season!

Last night in Sicily

Nick and Steve checking out the brilliant Sicilian sunset.


After savoring our last dusk in the Med, we met our friends at Buongustaio in Motta S. Anastasia. For those of you who haven't been, Buongustaio is actually quite a gem in the little enclave of Motta. Their cuisine is fairly progressive for Sicily and its still extremely affordable. Buon appettito. Better than the great food was the company. There was no better way to end our last Sicilian night.



I'm condfident that we are the loudest crew to ever dine at Buongustaio.
We miss you guys!

More Arrivederci Sicily

Nick, me, and Chad ready to play in our poker gear.

Steve is really going to miss Currier and his fancy toys...


And his life partner Paolo...

Arrivederci Sicilia!

Unfortunately all good things come to an end, and our Sicilian days are somehow over. We've met some amazing friends that I know we'll have for a lifetime, and you have no idea how much we miss you already. Thank you for the great "Arrivederci" parties and dinners. We feel so blessed to have found such great friends and were wholeheartedly sad to leave. Here are some highlights from our last week off the tip of the boot.

The "sette vele" or "seven veils" cake that my co-workers bought for my last day of work. This is my VERY FAVORITE Italian delicacy. Made of seven layers of different types of chocolate, this cake was sent to Italy directly from God.


We had dinner at the amazing Valle di Marge agriturismo beside Mineo with our Mineo family: Allison, Colin, & Brian Georger, and Stacy, Katarina, Lilliana, and Monica Young. Thanksgiving won't be the same without you!



The hostess with the mostess, Coleen, threw our buddy Chad, Nick, and me an awesome going away party. It was the fourth meeting of the Swigonella Beer Club and a subsequent poker tournament. Neither Nick nor I fared well in the latter. But we're always champs at Beer Club meetings!




Thank you for the great times, Balents!

YOU MUST.

When planning your trip to Barcelona, you MUST pencil in a lunch at tapas bar Cal Pep. Highly recommended by each of our guidebooks (we like to compare classics, like Frommer's and more irreverant takes on the city, like the UK-published Cadogan guides), Cal Pep is a fairly touristy stop, and once you step in to the small cafe, you begin to figure out why. We waited with the other hungry guests along the outer parameter of the seating area and were teased by the amazing aromas being plated up in front of us. When we finally snagged a seat, we knew what we wanted from watching the chefs plate up menu items from right behind the counter.



The beauty about Spanish tapas bars is that for only three to six euros per plate, you can sample a variety of items and flavors. So Nick and I were ready to try as many courses as possible.



We immediately ordered a plate of flash-fried green peppers with sea salt...AMAZING. Then we had what was possibly the best tuna tartare we've ever had. They served the tuna with a few crostini that weren't even necessary. We dove right in with our forks. We finished up with a Spanish quiche-like course. It's an egg bake topped with a creamy onion sauce. The three small courses coupled with a few (not quite sure how many..hehe) glasses of kava (a yummy, sweet Spanish champagne) was a perfect lunch at this world-reknowned gem.

Viva Barcelona!

I know. You've been waiting far too long for details on Barcelona. I do apologize, and I'm trying to find time in my newly arranged schedule (grad school AND our upcoming return to the States) to update the blog. Obviously, I'm still working on that. Anyhoo, here are our favorite spots to check out in Barcelona for when you and yours make your own trek to the family-friendly city of Antoni Gaudi.


This is La Segrada Famiglia, one of Barcelona's crowning jewels and biggest tourist attractions. It's been under construction for over 120 years and isn't slated for completion until 2030!!!

Inside view of one of Segrada's beautiful stained glass windows.



Barcelona's main shopping district, Las Ramblas, at night.

New Year--Bigger Family!

Just before the end of 2006, one final HUGE EVENT had to go down: the birth of our very first niece, Audrey Marie Bozarth!!!!

We are now Uncle Nick and Aunt Becca. The fact that we will impart all of our knowledge and wisdom to this little one humbles us...then makes us giggle.

Weighing in at a respectable 6 lbs, 12 oz, Audrey is resting comfortably with her hard-working mom and dad, Heather Wissler and Matthew Bozarth in Bloomington, Indiana.


Here she is with Nick's mom, her Nonnie.

If you can't tell, we're already a little obsessed with this pretty princess and can't wait to meet her when we come home in March.

Santa hit the place!

Thank you everyone for all of our wonderful gifts. Despite being away from home, we were still spoiled beyond belief. We felt truly loved and missed. Thank you so much!

After. Look at all that stuff!

Even Steve was worn out from all of the Christmas excitement. He really needed a nap, but not before putting on his new sweater from his Nonnie Wissler. Buon Natale!

Sicilian Holiday

This was our first holiday season away from home, and because of our fantastic friends (our family away from family), it ended up being one of the most memorable and festive Christmases we've ever had.
This is our very first attempt at roasted turkey! We got up very early on Christmas Eve to get it ready and in the oven, and it ended up being really fun. Given the massive amounts of butter and herbs Nick and I slathered on this bird, there was no way it wasn't going to be good.
Thank God we also baked a turkey, because Nick's attempt at frying one didn't turn out very well. Maybe next time, Nick!

These are our friends Nicole and Megan, digging in to traditional Condron Christmas fixin's, sweet potato casserole, granny's corn pudding, mashed potatoes...the works.
Here are Trent and Currier, enjoying Christmas tree splendor and watching Bad Santa.

Paris--Nick 'n Becca Style

In honor of my 25th birthday our 2nd wedding anniversary, Nick and I headed to the City of Light, Paris, France. I couldn't have been more excited, as this was my #1 must-see destination upon moving to Europe. After hearing countless stories of Parisian exploits from my sister, Marie, I absolutely could not wait to discover this city on my own...I mean...with Nick. :)

Post-airport we headed straight for our hotel, L'Hotel Academie on Rue de Saint Peres, where we checked in to the world's tiniest hotel room and started mapping out a plan.

We headed to the Notre Dame, just a few blocks from our hotel. This is one massive cathedral! However, I've never really been into the Gothic style, and the scary panther/beasts extended from the cathedrals side reminded me of Nightmare on Elm St. 4, so we didn't stay there too long.

This is me seconds after commencing my 25th year at Georges, a Costes brothers restaurant on the top floor of the Centre Pompidou. You can't see it here, but the Eiffel Tower was glittering in the background. Great moment.

The day of our AnniBirthary we visited the newly-renovated Musee D'Orsay, which is home to Paris's modern art collection.