Merry Christmas from Phoenix

Being in the United States of America during the end of 2010 was really special to me as it is the first time I was away from my dear family. It was strange not sharing these Christmas moments with my parents and siblings as well as not opening the traditional Santa surprises with them.

I have been lucky to first of all celebrate Christmas at Vincent on Camelback with my entire team. Not only was it a pleasure to enjoy a sumptuous French dinner but most importantly I felt surrounded by friends or should I say a family...

Secondly, and this is where luck is intervening, I have spent the Christmas weekend with my 'local family' along with some of family travelling from France. Even the provencal tradition of the 13 desserts was brought in to Arizona... I'm thankful to François & Marlies Castaing, my cousins and the Castaing PhiPhi & Co for their hospitality, making me feel in my own family: it was a home away from home !

Merry Christmas to all of you and see you next year !!!!

California - Los Angeles

How to describe the paradox of the California capital ?

Los Angeles is not only famous for its movie stars but mainly for its glittering neighborhoods such Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Bel Air, Santa Monica. Some would insist saying Los Angeles is a "dirty city" even though everybody is beautiful and showing off.

Hence Adriano and I decided to play along: we bought sunglasses and rented a Ford Mustang convertible in a stand out blue ;-)

Being Sylvestre Stallone in LA is easy if you can afford to pay ten times the price of a standard french vodka. The Grey Goose certainly changed the color of my mood the next morning...

This weekend was clearly what I can call: "leaving my american dream!"