Croque Monsieur

Of course I have tried a lot of delicious food here in France, but the thing that makes my senses light up is the Croque Monsieur. Yes it is just the good ol' toasted sandwich a.k.a. toastie, yet it is so simple to make. I swear even the President of France probably requests it for a snack (with the top price ingredient of course!)

Seems as the French are cool to name it Croque Monsieur...instead of the typical 'grilled toast.' Makes the sound of it more chic when ordering it at your local café or bristo. "I'll have a croque monsieur please." 

All it is is just bread, butter, cheese and ham. Grill it in the oven or a toaster and voilà a simple snack with or without a nice salad. 

There are variations of this grilled toast such as the Croque Madame which is similar but with an egg on top. 

Normally used with emmental or Gruyère cheese, but whatever cheese you want it doesn't matter. 

It's so delicious I can eat 4 of them! MMMM.

Here is a simple receipe - nevertheless you can pout whatever you want in your 'croque monsieur' 

You need:

4 slices of bread

2 slices of ham

grated cheese or 4 slices of cheese (Gruyère or chosen cheese)

butter

Griller toaster or you can use your oven, set to grill on 250 degreesC 

What to do:

1. Pre-heat the oven to 250 or your grilled toaster

2. Butter the 4 slices of bread

3. On the non-buttered side, put your slices of ham on one side of each bread

4. Put your grated/sliced cheese on top of the ham

5. Place the non-buttered side of the other piece of bread on top of the cheese and place in the oven/ grilled toaster.

6. When it looks golden remove from oven/toaster

7. Cut in half..enjoy with a salad or on it's own

Bon appétit!

High Heel Boots in Madrid

Who was the idiot who didn't bring a pair of non-heeled shoes? ME! Such a dork. I decided, while packing as to not bring any, thinking that "4 days in Madrid..I think I can handle wearing my heel boots." Considering that I didn't want to add 'another .kg in my hand carry-on bag - due t

o the strict RyanAir hand carry-on bag rules. I was stubborn...until we took off in the plane, I realised "shit we are going to walk a lot especially on uneven surfaces...should have!"

Rémy and I went on a 4 day short trip to Madrid, Spain; however ended up as 5 days (more like a bit) due to a strike on the 30th of January at the Brussel Charleroi South Airport (yes I am naming!) we had to reschedule our flight on Tuesday 31st..nevertheless it did give us another day to explore Madrid.

We departed early from Rémy's place for a 1hour and 30mins drive to Brussel's Airport - Charleroi. Got there at about 7am and had our petit déjeuner before heading to the boarding gates. RyanAir's annoying 'only 10kg, including handbag (if you're a girl) into the hand carry-on bag and then 5 metres ahead had to then re-open up my case for inspection and through the security check..dammit..PLUS I had to take my boots off for inspection as well. Left the airport at about 9:30am and touched down at Madrid Bajas International Airport at about 11:30am. We took the metro and stopped at Gran Via Station, which is close to the main 'calle' Gran Via. Wow busy and big..people everywhere and looked for our hotel - Vincci Capitol on Gran Via..wasn't far from the station - about a 5min walk. Once we found it, didn't realise there was a metro station close by - Callao. Could have stopped there if we knew.

Checked-in our hotel and was surprised that the staff member even offered us if we wanted to up-grade to a room, 'where the view is better.' 60€ extra so I decided 'yeah, why not.'

Habitación 806: Beautiful view and room was in a 360degree shape. One end was the bath, the opposite was the shower and toilet and in the middle was the bathroom vanity and then the room. The windows were placed in a semi-circle and therefore saw the view of Gran Via aka the Broadway of Madrid..we even got lollies (the substitute of chocolates) on our bed. It was nice. We were amazed with our room and the view.

Headed out to have lunch at Pans & Company - a mixture of subways and MacDonald. With our trusty Lonely Planet map of Madrid (with thanks to Rémy to organise the places to visit) and we headed out to Puerta del Sol then Place de Mayor and then afterwards to the Royal Palace, where King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia use to reside. Unfortunately cameras where prohibited so you just have to come over to see it yourself. An enormous palace and not all rooms where the same size, colour. It was very extravagant and amazing as to how the monarchy back in the days were able to afford all the luxury and extravagance of items there. Its a place to get ideas if you plan on renovating your place to something majestic as this (and of course at a cheaper price!)

Night falls in Madrid its party time. Rémy & I had tapas upon tapas with cervezas y vinos and ended up at a nightclub, which I am surprised that I can remember up to this date! Mixed drinks = huge hangover.

Saturday I spent sulking in bed, as if it was the end of the world for me. Finally got up at about 14:30 (as to much of Rémy's disgust)and headed out to a place to eat, which I was still queasy and only had a drink of coke and tea. After we took the metro Plaza de España to another part of Madrid and went to visit the Museo Reina Sofía and went to see Picasso's famous artwork "La Guernica" and his other art and sculptures...I got in trouble taking a photo, but anywhere else in the museum you could. Whoops.

On the way back to our hotel had more tapas and then went back to our posh room for a while before heading back out. We decided to have an early night..failed as we ended up leaving one of the night clubs at 3:30am and went to bed at 4am.

Sunday morning, a beautiful sunny (yet cool) day. Had a buffet breakfast at the hotel, got ready and then headed out to the metro and went to another museum - The Prado Museum. Another great place to visit while in Madrid..another huge place (like many other famous buildings in Madrid). We went there to see more art works from the famous Goya, Valézquez, Rubens and other famous artist...yup my feet were hurting. I was kicking myself for NOT bringing non-heeled shoes that whenever I saw a vacant seat I went to sit down for 5 - 10 mins before heading to the other parts of the museum. At the same time, I thought of just 'suck it up bitch,' which worked for a while then I felt the pain in my feet..again. Walking in uneven paths or cobble stones made it worst hahaha.

Sunday evening we booked a table to see a Flamenco show at Villa Rosa. Shared a bottle of rosé and had entrée or jamon before having the traditional Paella during the flamenco. The show was full of emotion but amazing. Olé! After the 1 hour show we had a 'chupito' of agwa before departing. Spent a few minutes at another bar to drink before resting it up at the hotel.

The last day we had the breakfast buffet at our hotel. Regardless it was out last day here, I gave up and brought a pair of non-heeled shoes, lucky on sale black Adidas shoes..thank gosh! My feet can now rest! We got ready and headed to Real Madrid Stadium - Estadio Santiago Bernabéu Real Madrid.

Footballer stars - Beckham, Zinedine, Rolando, Castillas just to name a few have or are currently played in one of the best teams. Saw the museum, it's history of the stadium, the team and how it is not just football but for other sports within the city.It was great to see the Barcelona F.C's rivalry team. It was a great day out, especially when it was another sunny day. Headed back to the main centre of Madrid and watched the finals of the Australian Open at a Tapas bar. One of the longest games in history, as we started watching it while getting ready and then after sight-seeing in Bernabéu, it was still going..both players Nadal and Djokovic are excellent..but the almost 6 hour game..Djokovic claimed the title...Nadal was of course annoyed he lost but still he made it to the finals.

Our last evening ended up packing for a while, had a nap before having our final 'tapas.'

We left early to catch the 7:30am flight..nevertheless the flight had a 'technical problem' we left at 9:30am and reached Charleroi Brussels at 11:30am.

Had a wonderful stay and having up-graded the room made the stay better haha. Will definitly come back for another stay....

....with comfortable shoes next time.

9th December 2011

7:15am I was woken up by my iPhone alarm of "Hello" and kept snoozing till 7:30. Got up and got ready for a buffet breakfast, at the same place I had my 'late dinner' the night before. The restaurant was almost packed, that I had to find any spot to sit for breakfast. I had a bowl of coco-pop style cereal and then had noodles, scrambled eggs, pancake drizzled with maple syrup. My second round was a banana, apricots, grapes, rumbutan (similar taste to lychee on the inside, except it's exterior is spiky) and a croissant and a drink of very sweet Grape juice. During breakfast seeing the view of the harbour it started to snow. Making it feel all 'Christmassy' was Christmas music playing….such a festive season feel :D.

Now being all so touristy, just couldn't' resist taking photos. Afterwards went up to my room to finalise my packing before checking out and waiting for the bus to Incheon Airport.

While waiting, had some time to kill with going on the internet and then went outside..um 4degrees celsius! Cold much? Didn't stay too long and ended up going back inside. 10:30am bus arrived. A 30min drive from Harbor Park Hotel to Incheon and I had 2 hours to spare before my flight. Duty Free much?

Ventured to the Alcohol & Tobacco section and brought some Camel Cigarettes for Rémy and then I went to the Chanel store. Of course it was pricey (not going to mention how much it was) but I just had to get something from there…however that store (and every other designer store) are so posh in packing your items in their respective bags…and even the receipt is packed neatly in it's 'docket envelope' It's not the stuff-it-in-a-bag no, no. Okays lets just say its just über posh!

I was feeling rather peckish had KFC for lunch. Was contemplating on traditional Korean food, however I'll be getting it in the plane so KFC won over. Tasty and then headed back downstairs for more Duty Free. One hour before my flight went to buy some O.P.I nail polish and then went to the free internet to have my quick dose of Facebook and then boarding my flight at 13:30.

Another delay because of traffic. See I told you not just bad traffic in Brisbane, but also traffic at the airport tarmac. Finally jetted off.

The usual safety protocols and lucky for me listened to it 3 times in different language - Korean, English and then French. However during the safety procedure, it seems the French version was quick while the English was long. Strange.

I am glad I have my own headphones with thanks to Dr.Dre Beatport ones :D Even the guy next to me was asking the cabin crew why he didn't have headphones and I can see the cabin crew tell him that they will hand out the head phones and that some people have their own headphones (probably in Korean, yet I just sussed out what she was saying!)

Organised 'My Music' on my entertainment system from Mariah Carey, Chris Brown, Alicia Keys, Ricky Martin to J-pop and dance. Tunes to make me dance while sitting down.

Trying to kill time I think I will either watch a movie, listen to more music and catch up on some ZZZzzzz. An eleven hour flight from Incheon - Paris, I'd probably get a pressure injury so it's time to do a pressure area care and some leg exercises and deep breathing exercise..Oo one of the perks of being a Nurse know what to do to help stop pressure injury…..XD

I find myself sitting bolt up-right and I see the cabin crew serving lunch…MMM now I wait till I get served.

Lunch time.

A bientôt.

Florida....the land of Food...no not really pt.1

Okay so not literally the land of food, Wal-mart, & Victoria Secrets, but it felt like that to me...you'll see why.
I departed Washington D.C's Reagan Airport round lunchtime, saying my final thank yous and farewells to my relatives on Saturday 28th November. Boarded my American Airlines flight to Miami (as I needed to transit there to go to Jacksonville)
About 2hour flight..I drank and snoozed a bit etc...and when it was close to Miami, I see out my window seat MIAMI..oh my gosh how beautiful it looked. It was sunny, the beach, the buildings just like the Gold Coast in Queensland, it looked amazing from 10,000ft in the air.
I wanted to take a picture, however it was the time on the plane when you needed to "turn off your cell phones and electronic devices." So all I have of it is in my memory *sigh*. I so wish I went to Miami. It would have ben awesome.....next time.

So I touchdown in Miami International Airport and then go to the next gate to board another flight to Jacksonville. I board my flight at 430pm and 1hr and 30mins I touchdown to Jacksonville International Airport.

So I get out.....through to get my baggage, while on the way there....(and I wasn't wearing my glasses) This guy comes close to me and when I looked again it was Uncle Sam..."Uncle Sam!" I say with a huge smile on my face and hugs. I was so excited...we go and get my bags and then he goes "we're going to a party! You tired?"
"Oh you didn't tell me (then I realise he did tell me via E-mail) and I am kinda tired...I may need a Red Bull!" So we stop over at a 'gas' (note I would have said petrol....lol american way lol) and a red bull, before we went to his place and got ready (in between saying hello to Auntie Lani and my cousin Samantha). Lordgene (my other cousin) was already at the party. So we all go to the party.

--- The Party ---
It was Lordgene's Best friend Nicole's sweet 16th party. Wow it was a biggest 16th party I've seen. A conference room; food and lots of people, friends/family/relatives/strangers (like me lol) and a dj....It was pretty cool but the funny thing is that the parents/families there all thought that I was 17yrs old and couldn't believe I was a nurse and was 25! Oh what compliments *smiles*


There was dancing, Pinata and the Limbo. I danced a bit (really stupid) and just sat down most of the time.















The pinata (can't spell it) was funny cause once someone whacked the paper mache the candy popped up all the li' kids (and big ones..not that I am hinting this to anyone) went to the floor grabbing as much candy as they could. It looked hilarious. Round 11pm Sam, her friend Kelcie, Uncle Sam and me went home..Ronny, Auntie Lani and Lordgene came home after. Uncle Sam and I decided to have a drink, so we went to good ol' Wal-mart (prob a 8min drive from Uncle Sam's place) for Smirnoff Vodka Passionfruit flavours and Mascato Wine.

It was good...until I got drunk..and had a hangover the next day....To be continued.....

Until Then

Adios

V x