Restaurant le Bercail en Avignon

It feels terribly self-indulgent to stretch out my time in Provence to so many posts.

A bit like making family and friends sit through a long drawn out slide presentation of my vacation.

But, I guess a travel blog is by definition pretty self-indulgent.

Plus, I’m enjoying remembering our wonderful trip.

I’ve told you about our island, our hotel and Avignon.
Today I’ll tell you about our favorite restaurant.

Restaurant Bercail is located on the island and sits right on the river across from Avignon.

With outdoor seating, pastel patio furniture, overflowing baskets of pansies and handsome French waiters

and views straight out of a travel brochure, it was the perfect place to enjoy a leisurely meal and pink wine.

Because it was so convenient and just a short walk from the hotel,

we tried it on our first night and were hooked.

I think we went back about four more times over our six days in Provence.

The food was wonderful and the service was authentically French
(charming with an eye roll thrown in here and there to keep us in our place.) 

 Once we discovered the goat’s cheese pizza and seasoned fries,

 that became our usual order with a bottle of rose and four glasses, thank you very much. 

  

 That pizza was absolutely divine!  Hand rolled thin crust, mozzarella cheese, goat’s cheese,

pecans, olives, olive oil and a magic drizzle of honey.  Perfection. I need to try this at home. 

They also have their own version of seasoned chili oil that we all agreed they should bottle. 

Liquid gold.  We poured it on everything.

 What do you think about goat’s cheese pizza with honey? 

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Urban Snapshots with the Samsung Galaxy S5

I’ve done a few walking tours in London and it’s one of my favorite ways to explore this city via food, transport, history, or photography.  The tour guides are eager to expose you to things you may not otherwise have noticed.  I always learn so much.  A few weeks ago, I was invited to join a Street Art London Tour of East London by Three Mobile.  This one had a twist.  They wanted me to try out and review the Samsung Galaxy S5, particularly the camera capabilities.  We posted throughout the tour to instagram and twitter using #urbanS5snapshots.  

The tour was terrific and, pardon the expression, very “hip & young.”  Obviously, the fact that I just used that phrase reinforces the fact that I'm neither.  I was the oldest in the group by several years, but was happy to keep up.  I even found myself climbing under a fence at one point.   

The guide was extremely knowledgeable in the street art scene.  (In fact, he was so cool that he asked me not to mention him in any of my social media shout outs.  I’m sure I would have been detrimental to his street cred.)  But he knew his stuff.  In just a few hours he managed to show us loads of pieces by about forty different artists, some commissioned and some rogue street art.  We saw a few of the more well-knowns, Banksy and Roa and some really interesting and beautiful stuff.

I, unfortunately, don’t know a lot about the various artists.  But, I do love the art.  Here are some of the many photos that I took with the Samsung Galaxy S5.  I did tweak them using Picasa, as I do with all of my photos, but no more than usual.  I think they turned out great, what do you think?  I’ve pointed out a few of my favorites. 

This was amazing. It was done in relief with the wall painted white and then the color removed to expose the image.

Roa is a Belgium artist from Ghent and leaves the most amazing animals all over London.

More from Roa.  His work is very distinctive.

Another favorite, I believe by a Spanish artist. 

You know I have a love affair with my Nikon D90, but it can be cumbersome to carry around a DSLR.  There are some times when I choose to leave it at home and just use my camera phone.  I was curious to see if the Galaxy offered me a better option than my current iPhone.   

I found the Samsung light and easy to use.  I really loved the large screen, much bigger than my iPhone.  I was also pretty impressed with the camera.  I’ll definitely consider changing over when my next upgrade is due.  Obviously, it will never replace my DSLR, but it’s nice to have an easier option that I can trust to give me decent photos. 

Which piece of street art is your favorite?

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I was a guest of Three Mobile for the walking tour and returned the phone afterwards.

All photos, writing and opinions are my own.   
As always, I promise to be open, honest and transparent with my readers. 
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.  

Masterful Cocktails at La Brasserie

I've always wondered if I should have been a bartender when I was younger.

I’ve heard they make great money and you can just imagine the stories.

Plus, at all future parties you can impress your friends with your mad pouring skills.

I got to get behind the bar recently to see how it actually feels to be a bartender.

Photo thanks to Melanie at Sunny in London

I met Melanie and Jess at La Brasserie for a fun evening of cocktails.

La Brasserie is in Chelsea and is London’s first all day brasserie serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.

It has the feel of the bar in that old American show “Cheers”, where everybody knows your name.

But with a distinctly Parisian twist. It was full of regulars laughing and chatting.

I stopped in for just a brief Cocktail Master Class with Alex.  

Four hours later, I was being waved out the door by a dozen new friends,

much later than I had anticipated on a school night.

But a fun time was had by all, I assure you. 

The master class is offered every Sunday night from 6 to 8pm and is fun and casual.

For only £10 you pick out the cocktail you want to try and when you’re ready,

Alex welcomes you behind the bar and walks you through the process.

It’s all completely hands on and I think I'm a natural.

Photo thanks to Jess at Love & London

I chose the Brasserie Julep which was kind of like a gin and tonic,

but made even more British with the addition of some brewed tea.

Gin, fresh lemon, mint, elderflower, earl grey tea, soda and sugar, all shaken together,

poured over crushed ice and served in the most wonderful pewter mug with a bumblebee on the side. 

Photo thanks to Jess at Love & London

Once you’re done with your creation you hold it up for a photo and cheers from your fellow patrons.

Then the best part, you get to drink it. It was very tasty,

made more so by the fact that I made it myself.

Their signature cocktail is the Brasserie Martini served in a stemless martini glass nestled in a bowl of ice with an oyster kicker on the side. I can’t wait to go back and try their food.

Luckily, we have signed a contract on our new place which is just around the corner at Sloane Square.

I absolutely love everything about it and can’t wait to get moved in.

I think La Brasserie will become a regular stop.

They also offer a lovely afternoon tea.

What's your signature cocktail?

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I was a guest of La Brasserie for the purposes of review.  All photos, writing and opinions are my own.   
As always, I promise to be open, honest and transparent with my readers. 
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.