FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING . . .

As Spring approaches, birds come out of hiding, flowers begin to bloom and we see the beginning of a new year.  How quickly time flies!  Last Fall, we realized that we needed to stop muttering that sentence and do something for ourselves.  BEACON was four years old and we had never left for more than 4days in a row.  We were invited to participate as Chefs in several cooking events in Brazil.  Should we do it?  How could we leave for 2 weeks?  We would be so far away, what if something happened?  The anxiety almost outweighed the excitement to travel abroad.  But we took the leap and made the committment. 

We traveled off the normal tourist paths and saw the beautiful countryside of Tiradentes and the chilly mountains of Gramado.  We met some great people and had a fantastic time with our colleagues.  There were the organizers of the Food Festivals who treated us like royalty and the hospitable restaurant owners who loaned us their kitchens to cook in.  There was the Ribeiro family that owned a restaurant in Gramado called San Tao who made us feel like we had known them for years.  The restaurant was in a converted house that was part art studio for the mother, part restaurant for the 3 children and part home for the entire family.  The restaurant was run by all 3 siblings who divided the duties of host/server, sommelier and sushi chef.  It was wonderful to see such a family affair.

Kazuto and Vicki at Hotel La Borie

Our trip ended in the seaside town of Buzios where we relaxed in the warm sun and fantastic beaches outside of Rio de Janeiro.  We created a few dishes for the Chef, exchanged a few laughs and spent alot of time on the beach.  We were hosted by the Lindemann family at Le Relais La Borie and treated with the utmost respect and privacy.  We really got to unwind for the first time in years and it was a combination of the salt air, the wonderful staff and the beautiful surroundings that made in a memorable experience. 

So if you are ever headed that way, we definitely recommend both the Hotel La Borie in Buzios and San Tao in Gramado.  And remember, don’t let time pass you by, get out there and enjoy the adventure.

Our Special of the Day-Seared Tuna Salad with Avocado and Cucumber