Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Chicken Vesuvio

Tired of that boring chicken dish that you've made way too many times?! I usually despise chicken unless it has a ton of flavor so try this recipe that I fell in love with!

What you will need:
3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive, 4 chicken thighs (skin on and bone in),
salt, pepper, 1 1/2 pounds of small red-skinned potatoes (halved), 4 large garlic cloves (minced), 3/4 cup of dry white wine, 3/4 cup of chicken stock, 1 1/2 teaspoon of oregano, 1 teaspoon of thyme, optional: 1 cup of artichoke hearts (quartered), and two tablespoons of butter

Directions:
1. Heat heavy pot over medium heat and add the oil.
2. Season the chicken with salt and pepper and add the chicken to the pot.
3. Sear the chicken until golden brown and set aside. (Don't sear chicken for too long)
4. Deglaze: reduce heat to medium low and add the garlic to the empty pot. Gently saute for one minute or until aromatic. Then add the wine, salt and pepper, and stir.
5. Carefully add the potatoes to the same pot and cook until they are a shade of golden brown, stirring occasionally for about 10 minutes.
6. Add the stock, oregano, thyme, and stir.
7. Return the chicken to the pot (with potatoes)and bring to a boil. Once it is boiling, reduce heat to a simmer and cover. Simmer the chicken until it is tender. (About 40 mins).
8. Squeeze some lemon if you wish.
9. Remove the pan from the heat, add the artichokes and butter.
10. Transfer the chicken to a platter, arrange the potatoes around the chicken, pour the sauce over the chicken and voila!!

Monday, January 17, 2011

Truth Behind Title

Love three day weekends! So I took the time to revamp the look of my blog. As for those of you that might be wondering why I chose to name my blog Paris Cafe...well the truth is- I am absolutely obsessed with Paris! I have pictures of the Eiffel Tower throughout my house and dream of one day eating a croissant at a French cafe while reading with the Eiffel Tower dancing in the background. That's when I'll be complete.


Sunday, January 16, 2011

Spring Break Idea

A few have been asking me....where should I go on vacation?

Puerto Rico!!!

Things to Do:
Absolutely an amazing time! Tom and I kayaked around the outskirts of the Bermuda Triangle at night. Pretty brave, I know ;) As dusk fell, Tom and I kayaked along with about fifty others through an ecosystem that was filled with "microscopic plankton" that lights up when you touch it. I never kayaked before and lucky me had a fish fly out of the water and land in my lap! But you'll love it....very romantic!
Such a cute little shop located in OSJ that is owned by a couple-one a poet, the other a painter. This shop sells art that is reasonably priced. Here I purchased a framed picturesque view of one of the streets in Old San Juan and also purchased a hand painted mini replica of our hotel El Convento. (I adore these items.)
Just a few stores down from The Poet Passage...absolutely breathtaking art if you love butterflies.
Amazing tapas! Located in our hotel so we didn't have to walk far after our pitcher of Sangria:)
Cute place, somewhat tiny but awesome seafood. Tom and I tried oysters for the first time here and now we are addicted!
San Juan Cathedral
Where Juan Ponce De Leon's remains are housed. So much history-check it out!
El Morro Fort
Construction began in 1539 and it is here where you can see old cannons, prison cells, towers, and sentry boxes. (Used by the Spaniards as lookout posts). The Spanish Empire spent 250 years building El Morro.
Old San Juan
You can't go to Puerto Rico without going to Old San Juan. I loved it! Quaint and yummy cafes, cobblestone streets, etc.
We went to a brewery, toured a rum distillery, shopped, ate at different restaurants and cafes, and visited historic sites.

Where to Stay:
I wanted to stay here despite the fact the hotel is not located on the beach. We stayed here for about two nights and I loved this hotel. It's not up to date, but that's what gives it an old world feel and it's simply gorgeous. The small but charming pool is located outside on an upper level, the restaurants are scrumptious (Not only was the tapas place good..Patio del Nispero was delicious too)! They even had a wine and cheese event that my husband and I participated in both nights we stayed there. The location of this hotel is perfect for scoping out Old San Juan!
More modern, the restaurant Perla is beautiful...we had the best of both worlds. I knew I would miss the beach so after we toured OSJ, we needed some relaxation time! This area of Puerto Rico is comparable to Miami because the hotels are pretty close to one another, but of course much nicer. If that's not for you, perhaps the El Conquistador in Fajardo might give you more of a seclusive setting.

Try the local food...we walked to a small place across the street from our hotel. Puerto Rican food is fantastic!

Click on the colorful links...hope this helps!