Guess who this is?

Dinner for anyone who figures out who the guy on the left is?

and yes, Lyon was....

legendary. Nothing like good wine, good food, and good friends in a Lyonnais bouchon.

i'm lame

So between organizing an international AIDS conference, and going to weddings, I have been lame in giving you all updates. 'The Cooking Odyssey' back in the US is being happily received by television audiences, the family is doing well, and to show you how busy I am, I haven't experimented with any recipes in over a month (perhaps two).

I did eat extremely well in Paris however two weekends ago when I went for a friend's wedding. Also, I'm convinced the epicentre of the universe is Le Marais (after my village).

Please do follow our work at the 6th IAS Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention (IAS 2011) - which begins in Rome, Italy this Sunday. Lot's of exciting work being presented on ARV-based interventions (i.e. PrEP), elimination of mother-to-child-transmission, and of course - HIV cure research.

Off to Lyon this evening. At last.

I have been talking about this since I was born. I'm off to the food capital of France tonight for the experience of a lifetime. Driving there with my mate Simon-Pier and staying at a friend's place. We will hit up a bouchon bistro in the old town I reckon. Bon weekend, mes amis. And tomorrow evening, dinner with the family across the pond.

when one doesn't like lamb

the answer is goat. Had such an amazing time in mum's village for Easter. My uncle George roasted a full-size lamb on Easter Sunday. Thia Litsa cooked everything else (including a fab walnut cake). Quality time with cousins. Back in Geneva now. Here's a pic from the outcome of uncle George's efforts. Christos Anesti, and happy May day!

home sweet home

Just arrived in Athens for Easter. About to head to my mother's village outside of Kalamata for the classic roasting of lamb with my uncles, aunties, and cousins. I can't wait (abstained from meat and dairy products for 40 days, I'm going a bit nuts). Just elated to be back home. Despite people's massive troubles to simply get by given the economic climate, there's is something special about Easter in Greece after all, which provides much needed inspiration.

I'm off to the village. To roast. And take pictures (I will post). There's nothing like it in the world.

Happy Easter. And I saw a great quote in LIFO magazine by Nikos Dimou this morning which captures the Easter holiday in Greece.

‎"Με Κρίση ή χωρίς - χαρείτε την Άνοιξη και την Ανάσταση. Δεν κρατάει πολύ, είναι όπως ο έρωτας. Αλλά, όπως ο έρωτας, μεθάει και λυτρώνει." Καλό Πάσχα παιδάκια.

it's official

pilgrimage to Lyon. This Sunday.