I thought I would've posted as soon as I got back from Paris. Instead, boom💥, I immediately returned to my daily routine and then it was trip after trip after trip. I genuinely commend influencers and ANYONE who can religiously capture and post content frequently, this stuff is exhausting.
It has been a minute. Honestly, I thought I would've posted as soon as I got back from Paris. Instead, boom💥, I returned to my daily routine and then it was trip after trip after trip. Now, nearly a year later, I am back in action(ish). I traveled so much last summer that I had to take a break. Posting one year later is longer than anticipated, but you know, life happens. 😂
I genuinely commend influencers and ANYONE who can religiously capture and post content. This stuff is exhausting. To be even more transparent, I lost sight of why I created this blog in the first place and started to lose joy in capturing my adventures. That may sound trivial, but that's when I knew I needed a break! Additionally, I couldn't keep up with posting on multiple platforms, so I stopped posting altogether. For almost a year. I guess you could call that a funk, huh? Being a professional blogger or vlogger is not the vision or purpose of epicurlite. I want to share my genuine experience, knowledge, and (some) wisdom with you all. If I lost joy, you would be able to tell, I am sure of it. Now that I've had a chance to regroup, just know that I'm back! Quite honestly, I missed writing! I have so many drafts near completion and I cannot wait to share them with you! All this to say, take breaks when you need it. 🙂
With that being said... I am sure you are here for the trip recaps and such, so let's get to it, shall we? Since my last post, I’ve gone to Miami, Jamaica, and three countries in Europe. Of course, with each trip, there were highs, lows, adventures, and more. This is what makes traveling such an exciting hobby!
I am currently working on the best way to recap my trips authentically. Some trips will solely have an itinerary, others will have food recommendations, while others will be lessons learned. Either way, stay tuned. I won’t be gone for another year (hopefully). In the meantime, I thought I’d share my favorite dishes from restaurants I visited while in Europe. P.S. I hope you’re not hungry.
Rooftop Dining at Perruche
Perruche is located in Paris's 9th arrondissement. If you've found yourself on Paris Travel TikTok, I am sure this restaurant will eventually appear on your FYP. Reservations are hard to come by, however, stay tuned for the trick I used to secure our reservation about a week before we got to Paris.
French Onion Soup in Paris
Y'all can you believe in all my years on earth I never tried French onion soup before? Granted my mom used to have packets of French onion soup in our pantry but that is incomparable 1000%. I am not a complete fan, but it was delicious and I would try again (especially when it is piping hot).
Eggs Benedict from Half Cup Cafe in London
One thing about me, when I go to brunch I usually shrimp and grits or eggs benedict. The way I see it is that if they can make my favorite dishes well, I will be back! This green eggs and ham dish from Half Cup in London is a strong contender. I highly recommend it, it passed the"yum" test! If you find yourself in London town, visit Half Cup. If I remember correctly, they do not take reservations, so I recommend you grab a coffee, latte, or whatever from their bar and go back outside to wait in line (there WILL be a line). Keep in mind their menu changes with the season, so this may not be available.
Foodie Heaven in Bologna
I said it in Bologna but I will say it again for the people who weren't there. If you've had bologna in America, just know there is no comparison. Bologna FROM Bologna is the real O.G.! As a child, I had no choice, but as an adult, you won't catch me near it! Based on my history, I was apprehensive about adding Bologna to my must-eat list, but, you know, when in Bologna, and let me tell ya, gold stars all around! 11/10
I swear after my first bite, you could see fireworks in my eyes. It was a bit dramatic for those who saw it happen in real life, but it was that good! There isn't even a specific restaurant to recommend, just try it and I guarantee it will be tasty. People in Bologna take pride in their food overall, so I am confident the bologna, bolognese, or any other local dish you try will be tasty. I cannot wait to go back. ❤️
"It's like bologna, but better!"
Elafonisi from Nabucco
Let me be the first to say, if this drink becomes the NEW Aperol Spritz, I wouldn't be surprised. This, my friends, is an Elafonisi. It's a gin cocktail with raspberry puree, lemon, and mint. It's refreshing and light (but stiff), perfect for those summer months. It honestly tastes like juice, and you will want to have more than one.
Even if you don't try the Elafonisi, the bartenders and the vibes at Nabbucco were immaculate. For 13 - 14 euros you get an apertivo and snacks. That was unexpected, but I'll take it! Located 15 minutes from Parco Sempione, it's a great location to rest your feet and people-watch.
Pasta at Vidoc in Malcesine
Now and then I say to myself, "If you don't try it, you will probably regret it". As much as I love to eat, I typically stay in my lane. When I see something that piques my interest, however, I can't help but think, "Why not?". There have been a handful of times I try something once and I am hooked. Linguine with baby octopus alla Luciana is one of them. The last time I had a baby octopus was almost 10 years ago at a Korean restaurant, so I had an idea of what was in store, but no lie, I still think about this dish. I am not brave enough to cook this at home, so guess I'll have to go back to Italy to eat so more. 🤭 It was flavorful, with a touch of spice, and the octopus was cooked perfectly. I happened to find Vidoc ristorante while walking around Malcesine's town center in Lake Garda. I later realized this was a restaurant on my list from a TikTok recommendation. So it was meant to be! I cannot wait to go back to Lake Garda to have this dish again and again!
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