Croissants, Cheese, and Chicken: My Culinary Adventure in Southern France

After spending a month here, I can confidently say that there were many things I loved about the food scene in Aix en Provence.   

What I loved about it! 

Fresh, seasonal produce everywhere: Whether I was in the heart of the city or exploring tourist sites, I never had to walk too far to find vendors selling fresh fruit, vegetables or fresh juices.  

Specialized foods: The French take their bread and cheese seriously- and so did I. From traditional white and whole grain loaves to sweet honey-flavored breads, their boulangeries as well as fromageries sold a variety in all shapes and sizes. The cheeses ranged from being pasteurized/non-pasteurized, flavored/non-flavored, garnished/non-garnished, aged/fresh. Fresh bread and cheese specially made an easy and quick lunch to fix. And then there were the olives (variety of green, black, and flavored) that could be eaten just as a snack or made into a tapenade. And though I am not much of a wine connoisseur, if you are, Aix offered several opportunities to explore their wine and cheese pairings at local stores and vineyards.  

Rotiserrie chicken: Smaller sized (than I am used to in the US at Peruvian restaurants) roast chickens, were sold at farmers' markets and were in high demand!  

Ethnic food scene in Marseille, just a train ride from Aix was a treat. I visited a few North African stores selling spices, olives and even dined at a Spanish Tapas restaurant in the city's vibrant neighborhood of Le Panier- I left Marseille wishing I had more time to explore! 

Small portion sizes: Restaurant portions were noticeably smaller than I am used to in the US - but they felt just right. Sauces were made with fresh ingredients (like pesto) which added so much more flavor to the dishes.  

And a few not-so-favorites!  

Croissants: Don't get me wrong. I enjoy a good croissant. But after five weeks of seeing (and eating) them everywhere, even the smaller chocolate filled ones, started to feel like empty calories. Sometimes, there really can be too much of a good thing!  

Viennoiseries: Patisseries here took great pride in their viennoiseries (think croissants, brioches, pain au chocolat), while I was grateful to have sampled them, they felt too rich for an everyday indulgence. By the end of it, I found myself wishing for more savory snack options at the patisseries.   

Lastly, while cooking with fresh seafood from the local markets was a joy, restaurant prepared seafood dishes were often under-seasoned. Besides salt and pepper, I hoped for more herbs and spices in my seafood.

Tacquerias in Falls Church, VA

Tacos at Taco Bamba

Ever since visiting Mexico City and experiencing its street food, we've developed a love for exploring local taquerias in our area. Fortunately, Falls Church has several great options. 

The local taquerias I discuss here all tend to have a casual diner-style setup, with a few tables and mostly tall bar stools overlooking the kitchen, where you can watch the tacos being prepared. They also primarily focus on tacos, sold individually, but also offered other Mexican staples like enchiladas, sopes, tortas, and tostadas, accompanied by a variety of dipping sauces. Some even had a few dessert options, like churros.

Tinga chicken sope and birria quesadillas,
La Tingeria

The first taqueria is Taco Bamba, a well-known spot in the Washington, DC area with multiple locations across the region. Since the Falls Church location is the closest to us, we’ve been there several times. My favorites are the tacos, sold individually for $5 each, with a variety of options like slow-roasted lamb birria (my personal favorite), spicy shrimp, shredded pork, and creative fusion flavors like butter chicken tacos. They also offer traditional breakfast items on their menu, which I have yet to try.

The second taqueria we visited was La Tingeria, also in Falls Church, VA. We tried their goat birria tacos ($3.5/piece), along with birria quesadillas ($11), which were more reasonably priced. They also offered beef birria tacos and sopes, a popular Mexican street food dish that reminded me of Venezuelan arepas—fried cornbread topped with beans, a protein of your choice (we chose tinga chicken), lettuce, and a generous amount of cheese. It was my first time trying sopes, and they were both incredibly delicious and filling. Another positive of La Tingeria is that they use halal meats. For dessert, they had churros and tres leches cake, though we haven’t had the chance to try them yet.

Mexican tacos at Wild Tacoz

Mexican pizza at Wild Tacoz

Finally, the last taqueria we visited was Wild Tacoz, which had a unique twist—it offered both Mexican and Greek tacos. Located right across from La Tingeria, this family-run spot also sells tacos by the piece, though what stood out the most were their house-made salsas, which were the best of the three places we tried. Like the other taquerias, they also served quesadillas, burritos, and even pizzas in both Mexican and Greek styles. We tried their Mexican pizza and given the crust was thinner than usual, it didn't feel as carb heavy as most pizzas.  Similar to La Tingeria, they also served halal meats. I’ve tried their tacos twice, and they were delicious. What I particularly appreciated was the generous amounts of fresh veggies in each taco. However, they were also the most expensive amongst the three, priced at $6 per taco. I also tried their version of Greek "tacos," which used pita bread instead of tortillas but had similar fillings. Their drink selection was impressive as well, featuring options like Peruvian Inca Kola and Mexican cola.

Overall, I love street food in general, and tacos, in particular. They are such a convenient and satisfying snack to enjoy any time of the day! Thankfully, Falls Church is not wanting for options!

Street tacos in Mexico City

A Taste of the world in Geneva

Cheesy crepe at Gourmandaise cafe

Our first visit to Geneva, Switzerland was a delightful surprise when it came to the diversity of cuisines, we were able to experience. Given its proximity to Austria and the Alps, I initially expected the food to lean more towards traditional European styles, similar to what we encountered during our prior trip to that region. However, Geneva's culinary scene reminded me more of Paris, which makes sense given its shared border with France. Even the airport reflects this connection, with one exit leading to the French side and another to the Swiss side, which we took.

During our week-long work trip to Geneva in the fall, we had the chance to explore the city's vibrant food scene. It was incredibly convenient to sample a variety of global cuisines—Egyptian, Turkish gyros, and African—all located close to the main street of Rue de Lausanne, not too far from Geneva Lake. Indian is often my go-to choice when traveling, and we enjoyed it on our last day of the trip at Indian bites. However, it was the African restaurants that truly surprised us and left us the most satisfied.

Eritrean platter at Hidmona

We had our first experience with Eritrean food during our visit to Geneva. The Eritrean cuisine that we tried at Hidmona reminded us of Ethiopian at Little Ethiopia restaurant. The items on the menu we included large plates with fresh injera and a variety of sides like lentils, vegetables (both cooked and fresh salads), and a variety of meats such as lamb, beef, and chicken. The service was also pretty solid.

We also had the chance to try African cuisine at Zanzibar African cuisine and lounge bar, which featured a whole fried fish served with a tomato gravy, a side of blanched spinach, and a coconut-based chicken curry with a bold cardamom flavor. The meal was accompanied by three different chutneys for tasting. The portions were generous compared to typical European servings, and while the dishes weren’t overly spicy, they were packed with the flavors of Indian spices—something I always find myself craving by the end of every meal.

Fish in tangy sauce at Zanzibar 

We also indulged in more stereotypically local flavors throughout this trip, especially for breakfast. These included the usual staples such as croissants and crepes—both savory with cheese and sweet—as well as fresh salads. And of course we made sure to return with some Swiss chocolates. 

The weather in Geneva was so beautiful that we thoroughly enjoyed exploring the city on foot. We also made a day trip to Annecy in France, just a couple of hours away. We spent most of the day in the touristy part of the city, where the food was very typical of French/Swiss cuisine, with cheese platters, baked goods, and cold meats dominating the menus. We opted for lunch at an Italian pizzeria, which was decent, but what really stood out to me were the significantly lower prices in Annecy compared to Geneva.

Geneva, in general, was pricier—both food and other expenses—especially for tourists. But, as with most places, the price came with a sense of class. I would definitely classify Geneva as a very classy city, and despite its bustling atmosphere, it had a peaceful vibe that made me feel at ease. I would love to visit again if I get the chance.