Athens International Airport (Athens, Greece)

Here is the first post by the new addition to the blog: Kim. Enjoy!
What better way to kick off my guest blog here at the Hungry Nomad than to start where most travels start: the airport! I love airports, with their air of adventure, observing all the people wondering what exotic places they might be heading while snapping a pic or two.. Mostly though, my airport experiences are the same with the occasional little treasure. My point of departure nowadays is Athens International Airport, where you may find two such treasures.
One I’d like to share with you is Korres, a Greek store offering natural and organic beauty products which to my opinion all smell delicious and come in beautifully designed packages. I simply can’t choose what I like best about Korres: their philosophy on nature and beauty, their great design or perhaps just their delicious guava butter, fig body milk and spicy fragrances.
The other one is the Mastiha Shop selling products with mastiha, the resin of mastic trees growing only on the island of Chios. The resin has a long history of use and is believed to have many good qualities. Mastiha with its lovely distinct flavor and scent is used in tons of different products from ointments and liqueurs to sweets. My personal favorites are the little choco delights with mastiha. Mastiha is a favorite also outside Greece, I have tasted some scrumptious mastic desserts in Istanbul. So when you’re in the neighborhood, keep an eye out for mastic treats!
The Mastiha Shop can be found only at the ‘all passengers area’.  Korres stores can be found at both the ‘all passengers area’ and ‘extra-Schengen passengers area’.  The Mastiha Shop & Korres also have stores in some major international cities around the globe such as Paris and New York and can also be found at Sephora.
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Destination: Brooklyn (New York)

A trip to New York is NEVER complete without a journey over the bridge and into Brooklyn. Although there are many ways you can reach Brooklyn I recommend for those who have never walked across the Brooklyn bridge to actually take the time to do so. I absolutely loved every step across. Perhaps its my deep love for anything and everything in and around New York City but I  loved the Brooklyn bridge and it was not till after that I realized that is is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States. No visit to Brooklyn is complete with out a stop over at Grimaldi’s Pizzeria directly underneath the Brooklyn Bridge. However, do expect long line ups as it is a major tourist destination.  If you are lucky enough to visit NYC during the summer you should find out about the free Brooklyn Park outdoor film series. Grab a picnic blanket and a bottle of wine and head to the park to watch your favorite classics outdoors while looking over to the New York City skyline. Sigh. Why am I still NOT living in New York? It remains a mystery.
The construction of the Brooklyn Bridge began in 1869. It was completed and opened to the public in 1883. The first automobiles drove across the bridge in 1925, and the last elevated train crossed in 1944.

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The Metropolitan Museum of Art ( New York)

The MET: 1000 5th Ave, New York, 10028 (212) 249-8998 ‎ 

On my last trip to New York I decided to play tourist and started off with the museums. First on the list: the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  Similar to the Louvre in its collection it is truly magnificent and don’t be surprised if you end up getting lost as its massive. The building itself is set on the border of Central Park and is a beautiful work of art meriting a visit if not to the museum but just to see the architectural beauty. Try to get there early as it gets busy quite quickly and you will find yourself hovering over a crowd just to get a look at artwork.
Photos taken with my i-phone so I apologize for the quality

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Musée Rodin (Paris)

Musée Rodin, one of my most treasured places in Paris. I would go there often on sunny spring days to sit and study or read a book in the beautiful gardens. But it is not only the extensive garden that is alluring but also the museum that houses many of famous french sculptor, Auguste Rodin’s artwork. Most tourists flock to the Louvre and Musee d’Orsay (which are nothing less than a must for any lover of art). However, I highly recommend those spending more than a few days in Paris to squeeze in a few hours for the Musée Rodin. It is very accessible and you can get there very easily but taking the metro and getting off at the Varenne stop. The garden also has a small and quaint coffee shop. 
 
The Hotel Biron was Rodin’s residence from 1908 and he later donated his entire collection of sculptures to the French State on the condition that they turn the building into a musuem dedicated to his work. So folks if you are lucky enough to physically see Rodin’s masterpieces all under one roof then make sure to thank him in spirit for dedicating his work to the general public. The museum houses most of the sculptor’s artwork, including the famous ThinkerThe Kiss and The Gates of Hell

Rodin Museum: 79 Rue de Varenne, 75007 Paris, France, 01 44 18 61 10 
 
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Gran Forno Italian Bakery (Fort Lauderdale)

One thing I look most forward to on every trip to Fort Lauderdale is my daily morning trips to the local Gran Forno Bakery. It is located on the lovely Las Olas Street where many wonderful local mom & pop shops can be found. The breads are baked daily in their ovens and if you go early enough you will get your hands on warm, pillowy and delicious breads. I must admit that I have tried everything in this bakery and do love each and every one of their delights. Amongst the favorites include the ciabatta, multigrain, and walnut and raisin breads. Then on to the sweets: the chocolate, almond, ham and cheese croissants are all wonderful treats for one’s belly.  But then there is also the scones….oh the scones. How wonderfully delicious and not too sweet are the scones. (Other ‘Forno’rific delights include: custard-filled fruit tarts, lemon cakes and chocolate fudge brownies, chocolate tarts and paninis).  Next, make sure to also try the small pizzas!!! They are once again….delicious. Choices include the eggplant, tomato, mozzarella or the tomato/mozzarella pizza. I can’t resist having these for breakfast. Living only two blocks away from this little Floridian gem is both a blessing and a curse. I have no control when it comes to delicious breads and treats…. or to be more factual I have no control when it comes to the wonders of gastronomy.

Gran Forno Bakery on Urbanspoon

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Clementine’s Belgian Bistro (Gretna/New Orleans)

In our new mission to discover restaurants in the West Bank we once again headed over the bridge to try some Belgian food. This time chez Clementine’s Beligan Bistro. 

First on our ordering list was the cheese fondue and an order of our favorite Belgian beer: Framboise. Having lived in Switzerland and eating Swiss fondue at least once a week, I consider myself a fondue snob. This fondue claimed to have imported cheese and while the strong taste of Gruyere and emmenthaler cheese could not be missed I was left wondering if it was made from powdered cheese rather than real Swiss cheese. Since real  fondue has a very cheesy texture and when you dip the bread the cheese is stringy, yet this fondue was watery and did not have any real melted cheese texture to it.  Needless to say I was disappointed (8/pp for watered down cheese and bread). 


The service and decor at this restaurant were amazing. Our next order was the Blue cheese salad and goat cheese and spinach crepes along side onion soup and Belgian fries. The belgian fries were amazing and reminded me if the street fries in Brussels (make sure to order the dips). Our dishes were delicious (except for the fondue). All in all, we were left satisfied with our meal.  I won’t deny them that but it was a tad bit overpriced.  It’s a great place to go as a large party. Also the restaurant had no music so if you are looking for a loud restaurant and ambiance then don’t go here. However, if you are looking for a quiet meal sprinkled with a bit of romance than definitely make your way over to Clementine’s Belgian Bistro.

Cheese fondue

Onion soup

Crumbled blue cheese salad

Yummy belgian fries

Spinach and goat cheese crepe

Belgian Chocolate Mousse

Clementine's Belgian Bistrot on Urbanspoon
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La Boulangerie (New Orleans)

La Boulangerie: For those of us nostalgic for the days spent in Paris and knowing that walking the cobble streets and stopping for a frequent cafe, vin et cigarrette are no longer possible, La Boulangerie can help fill the void. Not only do you get to taste delicious delights that resemble most bakeries in Paris but what you also get is the Parisian attitude. Lack of service and an air of arrogance can be found at La Boulangerie along with delicious pain au chocolat, croissant et le parisien.

But back to what is really the heart of the matter: the food. Despite the service the bread, pastries and quiches are delicious and keep the customers going back for more. Try getting there early so that you can taste the freshness of the croissants that melt in your mouth. They often run out by mid-day.


Delicious Cherry Danish
Puffy, light, perfect raspberry croissant
La Boulangerie is located at: 4600 Magazine St, New Orleans, Louisiana – (504) 269-3777

La Boulangerie on Urbanspoon
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Eat and Drink at Le Fumoir in Paris (Paris, France)

What can be more amazing then sipping on a glass of white wine in the evening while staring across the street at the magnificent Louvre?  Ahhh Le Fumoir. I had the pleasure of working just a couple of blocks away and found myself on many of nights having a post-work glass(es) of wine at le Fumoir. For me there is nothing more beautiful than the louvre at night glowing under yellow lights. Having a glass of wine while taking in so much history and culture is priceless (the crowd isn’t so bad either so make sure to do some people watching). The decor inside is interesting… books line the walls giving the impression that you are dining in a library. Although I have never had a chance to eat at this fabulous spot I have seen the food they serve and it all does look delicious. I myself like to settle back for a glass of the Sancerre.
6 rue de l’amiral Coligny   75001  Paris
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