The Good Life

Unless you live in a cave, you know that the much touted movie "Julie and Julia" starring Meryl Streep and Amy Adams came out last week. I haven't seen it, but I just bought the book Julie and Julia today, which I have been meaning to do since it was first published. I am eager to read it, as I just read My Life in France for book club a couple of months ago. (Fabulous book, if a little long-winded at times.) The movie is based on both books, by the way.

If you read the Washington Post, you may have noticed that yesterday's Food section featured an article on an American pastry chef, David Lebovitz, who has been living in Paris for several years and who actively blogs about eating, drinking, and living in Paris. Check out his website: http://www.davidlebovitz.com/. It is both fun and funny. Plus, he's cute.

Speaking of France, food, and European lifestyles, if you haven't read any of Peter Mayles' books, do. His first novel, A Year in Provence, is a delightful, quick read that chronicles his and his wife's first year living in the countryside in Provence. It is full of oddball characters, mouth-watering descriptions of meals, and a strong sense of what living in the south of France is actually like, including the good, the bad, and the ugly. And the very funny.

Anyway, my point is, how much fun would it be to move to a European country and be steeped in not only a fascinating culture, but a cuisine with a history that all residents are protective and proud of? I, for one, would never move back to the US, as I am one of "those" who think that the Europeans have got it made. Their way of life (generally speaking, of course) is so focused on living and enjoying and having fun. Who wouldn't want to be a part of that?

If I had to pick a country to move to and blog about its food, wine, and lifestyle, I would pick Portugal. No one really knows much about Portugal's cuisine, the language is rather...interesting (it has been described as sounding like a drunk Frenchman trying to speak Spanish), it has great, underappreciated wines, fabulous beaches in the south, and...well, that's all I know about it. Plus, my husband is half Portuguese. He doesn't speak the language either, but hey, at least he looks the part.

FYI, Portuguese wine is a great value. Next time you're shopping for wine, seek out a bottle or two from Portugal. It probably won't cost much, and I doubt it'll disappoint. Our favorite on a hot summer night is Vinho Verde. It's cheap, light, refreshing, and a little fizzy. Yum!

No recipe today. I'm going out to eat tonight and don't even want to think about preparing a meal!