When it is cold outside, you need some hot food to warm you from the inside, right? If you  just feel a little peckish, try this Japanese recipe for sweet & sour beef salad. The sour vinegar and hot chili flavors will awaken your appetite. The citric acid works on your tiredness, and the capsaicin in the chili also helps you to sweat and burn calories! This sweet & sour beef salad … more »

Valentine’s Day is one of those occasions that divide: you either love it or you don’t. Some people say that Valentine’s Day, as it is celebrated today, is just an invention of flower vendors. Others like to reminisce about its more romantic origins: Saint Valentine, patron of lovers. Saint Valentine of Rome lived in the third century AD. It is said that he was known for gifting couples with flowers … more »

Valentine’s Day in February, Easter in April, Mother’s Day in May … the beginning of the year is blessed with many festive occasions. You can hardly catch a breath! What if you forgot to get a present or – oops – all the shops are already closed? Hello Internet and DIY! Fortunately (?) we live in an area where 24/7 shopping online and with a credit card is possible almost … more »

This February, I am celebrating the eleventh anniversary of my love encounter with Champagne Deutz. It was at a picnic on top of Mont Pèlerin in Switzerland that my epicurean boyfriend at the time organized at the occasion of Saint Valentin. Here, surrounded by the astonishing views 700 meters above Lake Geneva, it was the first time I took a sip of this heavenly nectar. Refreshing, surprising, crisp and clear… with its distinctive … more »

Croatia is situated south of Italy and about five times bigger than Switzerland. Its coastline on the Adriatic Sea is stunning. There are 1246 islands, of which 47 are permanently inhabited. Hvar, Krk or Rab are among the better known. The capital is Zagreb and its medieval upper town, Gornji Grad, is a major tourist attraction. You can also find very interesting museums there. The museum of illusions, for example, or the museum of broken … more »

This “Pork Rolled Rice” can be a nibble for any party. Whenever I attend a party, I’m already very hungry, it’s always too long and requires a lot of patience to wait for the main meal! But I don’t want to fill myself up with crisps. I like to have something nice before the main dish. Maybe, you feel like me? Therefore, I thought I share this really easy to … more »

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, accessory designer Joanna Buchanan presents a nature-inspired collection celebrating love and her fascination for bees. The US-based designer pursues creating joyful interior accessories for the daily life and special occasions, a value she now incorporated in thoroughly curated pieces to epitomize the message of love and generosity inherent to Valentine’s Day celebration. Joanna Buchanan’s vision for luxury, color, texture and pattern relies on her … more »