THE UNCRUISE AND THE TREVI FOUNTAIN

THE TREVI FOUNTAIN

We have all heard of the the famous Trevi Fountain in Rome.  This Fountain attracts thousands of visitors each year.  My Daughter had even been there...unfortunately...the fountain was shut down for repairs...she still got to see it... However...some tourists are not behaving themselves and are getting into fights over the perfect location of their selfies....Can you believe that?!  Shame Shame.... This fountain is breathtaking and has been around for many years.   Just to give you little background on the fountain...it was designed by architect Nicola Salvi and completed by Giuseppe Pannini in 1792....It is said you throw in a coin and you will have good luck as well as it assured your return to Italy.  So if you are going to Rome and you plan on visiting the Trevi Fountain.  Remember be courteous to others...enjoy your time there and don't panic you don't have the just the right selfie...all angles of the Fountain are sights to behold.

THE UNCRUISE
Well if you were listening to my podcast this week you heard us speaking with the Blanca-Stella Lanao of UnCruise.   You like me are probably saying what is an Uncruise?  Well let me tell you.  It is a cruise like no other.  It is a intimate ship with less than 100 guests...the ships are large yachts or expedition style boats.  They really help submerge you in the culture of the locations you are going to venture into.  They stay in the Americas....Take Alaska...you will be able to see more of the culture and experience the food of the area...even the wildlife...They have experienced tour guides...and because the amount of passengers is minimal you get a more personalized experience...and you create new found friends...a full day of touring leads to a relaxing evening on board.  Fares include all onboard meals; alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages; wellness amenities; excursions; transfers; and more. 
If you would like to get on one of these cruises...just contact me....and start experiencing your small ship adventure.

DESTINATION OF THE WEEK
Let's Talk Delaware....Colonial Sites to Coastal neighborhoods...the first state, Delaware, is a great place for a family vacation....It was originally settled by the Dutch in the 1600's...Delaware had an enormous role in shaping America's history despite its tiny size.  You can visit landmarks like Fort Delaware State Park....a Colonial War era fortress and prison.  Check out Nemours Mansion, 
which was styled after Louis the XVI's castle...
If you are into the beach...there are coastal towns such as Lewes, Rehoboth, Bethany and Dewey....each beach area has a lively neighborhood and an abundance of fairs each year....and indulge in tax-free shopping...Something for everyone in Delaware...even those into horse racing and Nascar.....check out Dover Downs....DELAWARE...Who Knew....

RECIPE OF THE WEEK

Smoked Salmon Rillettes (Serves 4) Courtesy of UNCRUISE

INGREDIENTS1 pound wild Alaskan salmon, pin bone out, skinned and cut into 1 inch strips1 TB kosher saltPinch black pepper1 TB maple syrup1 lemon, zest and juice2 TB shallot, minced5 oz creme fraiche2 TB butter, meltedSalt to taste1 loaf ciabatta bread, sliced to 1/2 inch thickness1/4 C olive oil

GARNISH
20 small parsley leaves, picked
25 oregano leaves, picked
20 sprigs frisee, picked
8 leaves radicchio, cut into rings or triangles
1/2 tsp olive oil

PROCEDURE

1. Toss the salmon with salt, pepper, and maple syrup making sure to coat the salmon completely. Place in the refrigerator to cure for 1 hour.

2. After the salmon has cured, preheat the oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit.

3. Rinse the salmon under cool water and then dry thoroughly with paper towels.

4. Place the salmon into a container and smoke with the Breville smoking gun using apple wood chips and crushed coriander seeds. Two applications of smoke each for about 15 minutes will provide an adequate and pleasant smoke aroma and flavor to the finished dish. Alternatively, you may opt to smoke the salmon using an electric smoker or on a grill.

5. After the salmon has been smoked, drizzle a little olive oil over the top to coat the salmon and place it in the oven.

6. Cook until just cooked medium rare (120) or to your liking, approximately 25-30 minutes.

7. Once the salmon is just cooked through remove it from the oven and place in the refrigerator to cool.

8. Place the chilled salmon into a kitchen aid mixer with a paddle attachment with lemon zest, shallot, lemon juice, crème fraiche, and butter. Paddle the salmon until all the ingredients are combined and the salmon is completely flaked. Season with salt to taste. Alternatively, you can mix the rillettes by hand if you do not have a stand mixer.

9. In a sauté pan heat up the olive oil over medium heat. Toast the sliced ciabatta on each side until it is golden brown. Season with salt and freshly cracked pepper to taste.

10. Assemble the dish by spooning the salmon rillettes on to the toasted ciabatta. Toss the garnishes into a bowl with the olive oil and place them on top of the salmon rillettes.

I know this recipe seems a little tough..but it can be tasty....

I hope you are enjoying my weekly podcast and you have subscribed to it for free.  If you have any travel recommendations or perhaps a tip that you think we all should know about...let me know and we can post it on my blog and we may even chat about it on my podcast.  Feel free to check out my website and let your travel dreams go wild while you surf my site.