Happy New Year from Mendenhall! I’m back this weekend from spending the most fabulous vacation in Quebec City! My best friend Andrew and I made the long journey (including flying in a blizzard) last Tuesday and spend four days exploring, eating, drinking, walking the city and doing a lot of laughing.

Some of the highlights were the most delicious grilled cheese lunch and soup at Lapin Saute (caramilized onion, bacon and 1608 cheese), drinks in the Chateau Frontenac cheese and wine bar, a five course New Years Eve dinner at Le Clocher Penché and the most extravagant New Year’s Eve celebration on the Grande Allee with ice bars, DJ Tchami,  light shows and dancing. There’s no doubt that this was one of the most amazing New Years Eve celebrations I’ve ever experienced and I’m so grateful that we took the plunge on a winter wonderland adventure.

After two weeks of vacation, I’ll be back at work tomorrow and facing reality. In preparation I’m making my annual pot of Ina Garten’s Chicken Stock. Six quarts of stock helps start the year off with excellent warm soups. Tonight, after a brisk walk with friends, we’ll be making French Bean and Vegetable Soup with Sparkling Grapefruit Mocktails. I’ll share the recipes this week.

I hope you had an amazing kick off to 2016. Cheers to another year of love, joy and progress.