#Patisserie Fleur too good to go

[stenoodie]

My Hauls from Too Good To Go App (Greater Toronto Area) - January 2023

My Hauls from Too Good To Go (Greater Toronto Area) - January 2023. #toogoodtogo #foodhauls #45surprisebags @TooGoodToGo

Screen of the Too Good Too Go app after you reserve a surprise bag Too Good To Go is a free app that you can use to purchase surprise/mystery bags of food for one third of the original price from participating bakeries, restaurants, and grocery stores.  Continue reading Untitled

[forasecondtherewedwon]

You are such an awesome writer! Could you do 56 with choni?

Thank you, Anon!! Amazingly, this is the very last Choni drabble from all those requests. It was a good one to go out on.

56. “I’m sorry, what? I keep getting lost inyour eyes.”

What did a word like ‘emancipation’ mean when you behaved in the same waysyou always had, trod the same tired halls, filled the same slot in the highschool social order? Cheryl felt like as much of a seventeen-year-old smalltown cheerleader with a murderer for a pater as she ever had while living underthe torment of her mother’s domestic reign, so when Polly came to town on anextended visit with her twins, Cheryl requested that she stay with Nana Rose inorder to give the old woman a chance to spend time with her great-grandbabies.Just like that, Cheryl was left to her own devices, free to grow, to explore,to learn, to… Paris!

This was what she’d been born for, Cheryl realized one morning, drinking anextravagantly priced coffee at the crack of dawn while first light projectedthe scalloped peaks of the neighbourhood buildings down onto the street ofcobblestones. Surely, she had been switched at birth, born the child of aFrench couple after an unfortunate twist of fate found them in Riverdale with apremature delivery. What other explanation was there for the rightness Cherylfelt throughout her being as she jaywalked in tea dresses and kitten heels, orread Les Fleurs du Mal for hours on a bench overlooking the Seine?

A month passed like one of the ‘5-6-7-8’s she used to shout at her cheersquad and Cheryl found she had perfected the glamourous ennui of the French, tromping the boulevards of le neuvième until she could reconstruct the PalaisGarnier with her eyes shut to the golden sunshine of late summer. She’d seenall the main attractions several times over and while her overwhelming preferencewas to venture out on foot just to breathe Paris in, on the days when itrained, she began to search harder for new diversions.

Which was how, one afternoon,Cheryl darted out of an almost empty boutique and sprinted for theuncomfortably cramped entryway of a little museum between cloudbursts.

The girl behind the front desk practically glared at her, glancing up from her folded-over novel as Cheryl shook the water from her coat over the rubber mat. Cheryl ignored her while she acclimatized, pulling her long red hair out from inside her coat and peering around. It was a small gallery, full of moody-looking portraits. Parfait, she thought, and approached the girl who grew less and less sullen the closer Cheryl came.

“Voulez-vous une visite guidée, mademoiselle?”

“Oui,” Cheryl accepted witha ready smile.

“English? American?” the girlenquired, smiling back now and coming out from behind the desk.

Cheryl sighed. How did they alwaysknow?

“Yes,” she admitted, feeling herheart speed up a little as the girl brushed by her, leading her into theforemost room of the gallery, “but you can give the tour in French. I’m happyto get more practice with the language.”

“Me too, with English,” shelaughed. “I study it at school.”

Her laugh, like so many things inthis city, charmed Cheryl, who found herself extending her hand toshake.

“Cheryl.”

“Toni.”

“Is that French?” she wonderedaloud, feeling too comfortable with her guide to fear giving offense.

“Really it’s Antoinette,” Toni admitted,“but using my nickname means fewer odd comments.”

“You don’t say,” Cheryl jokeddryly. “I can’t imagine why a name like Antoinette would be unpopular in Franceof all places.”

Toni laughed again.

“Viens, Cheryl. I can see from your outfit that you have remarkable taste. Ithink you will enjoy our portrait collection.”

As she was led through the rooms(which stretched deep into the building, making the narrow gallery much largerthan Cheryl has suspected), she considered her guide. Clearly, this place had amuch laxer standard for employee appearance than the Louvre, for example. Tonihad several piercings up her ear, not to mention hair the colour of some of themost beautiful pastries Cheryl had seen during her informal, self-guided tourof Paris’s bakeries and patisseries early on in her trip. Very quickly, Cherylwas devoting all of her attention to watching Toni as the rich oil paint facesof brooding 18th century aristocrats seemed to slide past.

Eventually, in the middle of aprepared speech about the woman in the painting they were currently standing infront of, Toni caught Cheryl staring and gave her a flattered sort of smile.

“I’m sorry, what?” Cheryl said with a laugh. “I keep getting lost in youreyes.”

Toni flushed, but a definiteconfidence sprang into her expression.

“Yes, the subject’s gaze isparticularly haunting,” she said, making an excuse for Cheryl’s forwardness bygesturing to the artwork. “You are not the first to comment on―”

“Jepense que tu sais ce que j’ai dit,” Cheryl challenged with a toss of her hair.

“It’s true, my English isexceptional,” Toni replied, acknowledging that she did indeed know what Cheryl’sintention had been.

“Ah, I love a girl without a shredof false modesty,” Cheryl praised. “When are you done work?”

“Now.” Toni grinned at her beforeleading her back towards the front of the gallery. “Did you eat before you camein? I could show you a place.”

“Please,” Cheryl encouraged. “I’mhere to explore.”

[mon-amour-eternel]

Hahaha, sorry, I didn't see that you replied to my ask. I am a sucker for AH marriedKlaroline shenanigans, like maybe first big newlyweds fight? Or people hitting on Klaus/Caroline and the other being jealous/surprised they still get hit on since they're clearly married and all, or maybe they're first ever holiday as a married couple? I honestly will be ecstatic with w.e you come up with. Don't feel pressured to do any one of these. Thanks

Okay, so like a week and a half later, I finally finished it! Sorry it took so long. I wanted to make it good, but it fought me the whole time. I hope you like it!

I did the second two prompts together, mostly because I am terrible at writing arguments. Also, I added puppies instead of babies, because who doesn’t like dogs?

First Christmas

When the plane landed, Caroline’s first thought wasn’t how they were going to deal with Mikael, but their dogs.

Last year, she’d only been a girlfriend and Mikael had been civil due to his thinking she was temporary. Now that she and Klaus were married, any veneer of niceness would be gone. It had been gnawing at her for weeks.

But, in that moment, she didn’t care or even think about her evil step-father-in-law. All she was thinking about was her poor, furry babies stuck in cages for twelve hours.

They were golden retrievers she’d named Jacques and Fleur to fit their Parisian surroundings. Jacques was three years old, Fleur two and a half, and they were both so energetic that she felt her worry for them was justified.

Klaus had to practically run after her, dragging their bags behind him.

It was a long process, but eventually, they were in a rental car heading to the Mikaelson home in New Orleans.

“Okay, so when we get there, the party will be just starting, and family friends will be there. Mikael won’t be mean, but once everyone leaves, then we’ll have to worry,” Klaus went over again.

“I got it. A few hours of him being civil, then a few days of him being evil until we head to Mystic Falls.” She nodded to herself, watching the road.

They talked the whole hour drive to the house, though they didn’t talk about Mikael again. Mostly just about their own house, what they were hoping to get for Christmas, and how they still had to send out thank you cards for their wedding gifts.

There was only a quick stop once they got to the French Quarter, to change into their party attire.

When they pull in, the party is in full-swing, just like he said. Last year, they’d gotten in a day later and got to miss this.

Not that year, though.

They let Jacques and Fleur out to stretch, then put them back in their cages. “Just wait until the party’s over,” Caroline whispered to them, feeling bad for cooping them up all day.

“They’ll be okay, love,” Klaus assured her.

She fretted for another moment, then allowed him to drag her to the doors.

The home was decorated beautifully like always, and Caroline made sure to tell both Esther and Rebekah that she loved it. His other siblings all congratulated them again but didn’t get the small talk act like his mother and sister.

Mikael approached them as they stood chatting, and outright ignored Klaus. He clenched his fist behind her back and ignored him back. “Caroline,” Mikael said. “Nice of you to make it.” Like she would miss Christmas with his family. She resisted the urge to roll her eyes.

“Thanks for inviting me,” she replied, trying to be nice. In reality, she couldn’t wait until they got to her mom’s house and got to be comfortable around each other again.

“Of course,” he said. “Niklaus, come with me.” He turned and didn’t wait for a response, or to see if his step-son would follow.

Klaus went, though, knowing better than to refuse him. They moved to the giant staircase obediently. She was left at the bottom of the stairs (after a kiss on the cheek and a whispered, “love you”) for the quick word from the family, then they danced.

She held him close, and he whispered in her ear promises of getting her away from his step-father. She whispered back that she would be the one getting him away, and they smiled at each other. They were still in the honeymoon phase, and she was loving it.

They were still flirting when Mikael announced it was time for dinner.

There were many tables spread out, meticulously decorated and set up by Rebekah. She was sat with his younger siblings and their guests. Kol had brought his girlfriend Davina, Rebekah had brought her friend Enzo, and Henrik had come alone.

Rebekah only pretended to like Caroline, but Kol was one of her best friends. Henrik was sixteen, and only there because he was forced to be. He didn’t go so far as to be on his phone, but he was bored out of his wits. Caroline felt a little bad for him, honestly.

She and Klaus made some small talk. Enzo immediately put himself into the conversation.

Kol said, sipping on champagne, “so, how are the dogs? Did you bring them?”

Klaus nodded with a smile. Jacques and Fleur were their babies. “Yeah, they’re out in the car right now. We’ll have to let them out soon,” he said more to her than his brother.

Enzo, his chin in his hand and his elbow on the table, asked, “what are their names?”

“Fleur and Jacques,” Caroline replied, ready to jump into a talk about her babies. She pulled out her phone and swiped through pictures of her and Klaus to get to one of their babies laying in the sun together.

Enzo made the appropriate noises. “They’re so cute! Must’ve gotten their looks from their mother,” he winked.

Klaus tensed instantly. She grabbed his hand under the table and wrapped their fingers together.

“They definitely did,” Klaus said, giving Enzo a hard look. Rebekah rolled her eyes and muttered about boys and their posturing.

Kol just laughed and made sure his usually gentle hazing was not-so-nice when it came to Enzo. He winked at Caroline when Enzo wasn’t looking. She smiled back at him, and thanked him before he and Davina left.

(“Of course, sister,” he said warmly, giving her a hug. With such a mean parent, the Mikaelson siblings had all turned out friendly and outgoing.)

After a few hours, they trudged out to the car to let the dogs out. “Why was he flirting with you, though?” Klaus complained once again, unlocking the car.

She shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m flattered, though.”

“Flattered?” Klaus scoffed, turning to raise an eyebrow at her. “So I should be flattered when Camille flirts with me?”

She narrowed her eyes at the mention of her least favorite bartender in the whole world. “Absolutely not.”

He smirked. “That’s what I thought,” his tone was smug as he let the dogs out. She rolled her eyes and bent down to pet Fleur.

                                               …:::…

A few days of tense moments, and a plane ride later, they were in Mystic Falls, Virginia.

“First stop is Mom’s house, then we can go visit your dad,” Caroline recounted for the third time. “Then Christmas Eve there, Christmas morning with mom, a day of family time, and then we’ll be back home by the 27th.”

“Love, we’ve been over this, I already know,” Klaus replied, acting annoyed. Truthfully, he loved that she was so organized.

“Okay, but do you know,” she stressed. She meant, did he know well enough that she wouldn’t have to remind him. He’d learned that long ago.

“Yes, I know,” he said, rolling his eyes.

They didn’t get much of a chance to talk anymore, as Liz Forbes’ home came into view. Liz hadn’t liked him, at first, but over the few years he’d known her, he’d grown on her. Probably because Caroline agreed to marry him. Once she’d said yes, Liz had suddenly opened right up to him. Still, he reminded himself to compliment the minor decorations she’d put up.

It was quick work, getting the dogs out of the car and getting invited in. Liz was dressed down, no badge in sight.

“Mom! Hi,” Caroline hugged her mother, leading into a greeting session. He got pulled into a hug himself.

They talked for a while, sitting in front of the tree. Caroline gushed about Paris, while Klaus just listened.

“It’s amazing, mom, you’ll have to come visit us sometime! We can go see all the sights, and you can eat the food. The food is the best part.”

He laughed. “I thought you said the boutiques and patisseries were the best part.”

She shrugged. “I like the boulangeries, too,” she said playfully.

“I’m sure you do,” he flirted. He had to go every day to get her her precious French bread.

Liz smiled at them a little less warmly than would be expected. Still, when she spoke, her tone was kind. “When are you leaving for Ansel’s?”

“Not until later,” he said. “We can stay for another hour or two before we have to go.”

“Enough time to make some cookies?” Caroline asked hopefully.

“Yeah, I think so,” Liz said, standing and beckoning her daughter to the kitchen.

It gave him a moment alone, a moment to think about the past year. He’d proposed last Christmas, and this year, he had to somehow one-up himself.

He wasn’t sure his present would be nearly as memorable as last year’s, but he knew she’d like it. It was in two parts, and he was anxious to get back home so she could get the second part.

He stretched, intent on thinking about the little puppy named Géraldine he’d gotten his wife at a later time. Now, he had to find time to wrap the painting and the jewelry he’d gotten her.

Now would be good. He’d been too tense in New Orleans, Mikael and Esther on one side, Enzo and his siblings on the other, to do much of anything. Enzo set his teeth on edge, almost as much as Mikael.

Enzo wasn’t in Mystic Falls, though. He had to remind himself of that.

He couldn’t think of the man anymore, as Fleur decided to try to eat an ornament.

“Fleur! Arrêtez!”

She stopped immediately, responding to the command in French much quicker than in English. (His thoughts briefly wandered to his future children, if he had any. Would they speak French or English? He shook his head and made himself stop.)

“Good girl,” he said, petting behind her ears. She licked his face. “Are you going to be a good girl for mommy?” He asked in a baby voice. While Jacques was an angel with both of them, Fleur was much more taken with him than Caroline.

Caroline’s head popped out from the doorway. “Are you going somewhere?”

He gave her puppy dog eyes. “Just to visit an old friend from high school…?”

She narrowed her eyes at him, skeptical. Still, she nodded. “Okay. Come here, first.”

He stood and made his way to her, Fleur at his feet. She gave him a kiss, one that he’d love to expand on later, and let him go. “Be back before we have to go,” she warned.

“Yes, ma’am,” he said, pecking her cheek. “I’ll be back soon. Love you.”

“Love you too,” she said, making his heart pound like it did every time she said those words.

Liz waved, her fingers covered in cookie dough. “See you,” she said.

“Goodbye, ladies,” he said.

He left then, wondering if Stefan would let him use his house to wrap the presents. Stefan owed him, so he was sure his old friend would.

With a plan in mind, his mind was eased. Until, that is, he started thinking about how she would react to the presents. Damn it, brain.

[florencefolly]

Honfleur is Full of Nice People

July 8, 2017

I am sitting at the table in our little home in Honfleur listening to a Rick Steves podcast, his guide talking about the Normandy invasions. I am completely overcome with emotion as I research the sites they are discussing. St. Mary Eglise from the movie The Longest Day is part of the discussion. I research the small city where the church is located and find the story of the American paratrooper who hung for hours from the steeple of the church still enough to be considered dead before being captured as a prisoner of war. I am reading the story to Robin and am so overcome that I cannot complete it. I am not ready for this. At. All. In my mind, this part of our trip will be a major educational moment for my children. I want them to see firsthand what the men who landed on the northern shore of France saw, some for the first and last time, as they fought the tyranny of Hitler’s Final Solution. I want to see it too. My freedom and the ability to even make this trip is in no small part thanks to them and their sacrifices. I pull the plug. We are not going. Not today, anyway. Instead, we will enjoy Honfleur and all its beauty. We’ll not allow the somberness of Omaha Beach and the memorial at Caen in just yet.

Just as well, the folks in Honfleur are so NICE! Why not enjoy them! So, we do. Wandering through town for a good, long walk, we end up at the top of a small hill that leads down to an old church. No longer in service, it is holding an art exhibit. The bright colors and impressionist work in stark contrast to the ancient chapel. The kids and I spend a few minutes inside with Robin opting to stand outside because her shoulders are bare and she does not have a shawl to cover them. The non-religious Jew conditioned by churches in Italy where they will issue cover to you if your shoulders or knees are exposed, standing on the sidewalk. Deeply catholic but not as hung up on this aspect as their Italian counterparts, the French do not have apostles standing by to issue tissue to cover your body parts as you enter their sanctuaries.

We spill out on to the street, where an older gentleman overhears us reviewing the interior. “Where are you from?” He inquires. “San Francisco,” I retort. No one knows where Castro Valley is in California and giving California as our domicile leads people to think we are from LA. Nope. That’s different. On a sales call to a Missouri Hospital years ago, I once told a Midwestern radiologist that I was from “The Bay Area” and spent the rest of the hours long sales call being admonished for it. “You know there is more than one ‘Bay Area’,” he scolded. Yep. I do now, dickhead.

The gentleman, Ron, is joined shortly by his wife, Jean they are lovely and generous with their time. They tell us how they often vacation here and how much it is like what London was like in the sixties. Further reinforcement for my plan to do this now while there are still fewer people on this planet. By the time Robin and I are their age, there will be another billion-plus people on this planet and I do not want to travel with them. Thank you, very much. We say our “goodbyes” and head back in to town. 

Years ago, I bought the Lovely Ms. Reuben a silver necklace from Tiffany. She wore it every day for more than five years, arguably longer. About a year ago it turned up missing. Heartbroken, she’s been searching for a replacement since. I have too. I have separated myself from the trio on purpose in the hopes that I can find it here in Honfleur. We are not separated by much, so I can see them going in and out of shops in the small village before me. I spy a jewelry shop ahead and step inside. Its portable air conditioning machine pumping out cool goodness. “Je cherche un collier d’argent pour ma femme, si vous plait,” I practice to the sales woman after reviewing it on Google Translate. The sales woman smiles and begins to point out a few examples. I think I know, I tell her but I want my wife to see it first. Out on the street, I see the trio and beckon them back. Robin tries on several and settles on the one that I thought she wanted. She, turns out, was also on the lookout and spotted the store and its delicate necklaces. The purchase dangles at her collar bones as we walk out. She is happy and so am I. During the modeling session, I sent the kids out across the street to a patisserie that had macarons that were as good as anything that we saw in Paris at half the price. I issue orders for them to buy some for themselves. They come back twice. “Which store, dad? We bought these Madelines.” Nope. Try again. They come back confused. I walk them back to the storefront, where they issue “OHHS”. Right, this one.

Moving down the street, we step into a salt store. Yes, a salt store. France has this magic stuff called Fleur de sel. It is salt, only better. In this store, staffed by Maude the salt maven from Treuville, are piles of salt in copper bowls seasoned with various herb and alternating spices. I select two. One for fish, one for “Viande” (meat). Tarragon spiced for the fish and red pepper for the meat. She complements me on my French. Flattering but I know how shitty it is, despite her insistence otherwise. My accent is decent but my vocab is less than a toddler’s.

Back at the house, we sit on the terrace playing dominoes while the kids hit the screens hard. Rani and Claire are still out. This gives Robin and I quality time with one another. We enjoy some trash talk, dominoes and French Rose under the late afternoon light. Rani returns with her youngest and joins us on the veranda for some libations and a recounting of her day. We had bought a bottle of cremant the day before and it is time to open it. It was too because the cork burst from its cage once Robin removed it, bouncing off the ceiling as she yelped. Damn good sparkly.

Dinner time is upon us and I get moving on the trappings of our earlier outing. Dorade and Stone Crab claws purchased from the Poissonnerie (Fish shop) at the wharf. The woman serving spoke zero English and we were rescued by an older fella that gruffly translated for us. “Merci, Monsieur,” I demur. “Vous en prie,” he muttered. He was helpful but annoyed.  We eat well, again, heading out for a long walk after our 9:30pm dinner in complete day light. Sunset isn’t until after 10pm at this meridian.  

In the twilight, we make our way to the water. The swallows can’t keep up with the mosquitoes. In the soft light of the evening onset and the street light of the town, they have us in their sights. We are easy picking for the blood suckers. All six of us are being chewed on tip to top. A quick carousel ride sends us running back to the house where we collapse after a full day in the sun.

[lifeless-x]

Epcot Frosty Treats

The Florida heat ensures that we are all on the lookout for refreshing, frosty beverages and treats at Disney World, and Epcot does not disappoint. The array of chill choices at Epcot is so wide, Mouseketrips is serving up a summary of the options in two versions. Here is the non-alcoholic roundup.

Starting in Future World, Starbucks fans are not going to want to forego the Fountain View. On a hot afternoon, try a frosty Midnight Mint Frappuccino; if you’ve come in the evening to watch IllumiNations, make it a S’mores Frappuccino. (Either way, be sure to get a selfie before any of the whipped cream disappears!) Teavana Shaken Iced Teas are shaking up some icy flavors with zing at the Fountain View. Choose from Pineapple Black Tea Infusion, Peach Citrus White Tea Infusion, or Strawberry Green Tea Infusion. Be sure to ask if there’s anything on their “secret menu” before making your final selection! Maybe they’ll make you a Mermaid, a Narwhal, or a Maelstrom!

Located on the walkway to Test Track from Mouse Gear’s back door, you’ll find Taste Track and Test Track Cool Wash. Many of us are in a hurry to make our Test Track FP, so may have walked right by these food and beverage options. Slow down next time – they have an impressive choice of refreshing treats here!

Taste Track (open seasonally) offers three ice cream sundae creations that you won’t find anywhere else. The Berry Explosion is vanilla ice cream layered with berries and pound Cake, topped with a mound of whipped cream, strawberry pearls, and (wait for it) … cotton candy! The Chocolaty Churro Sundae is crowned with hot fudge, whipped cream, chocolate curls … and a churro. The Taste Track Apple Pie Sundae has caramel sauce, caramel popcorn, salted caramel Pearls … and warm apple pie! Another tasty Taste Track option is a Barq’s Root Beer Ice Cream Float.

Test Track Cool Wash, across the walkway, offers frozen beverages made with Coke, Raspberry Lemonade, or Fanta Blue Raspberry.

Meanwhile, the Electric Umbrella has slushies in Fanta blue-raspberry, strawberry, and pineapple-Coconut. Or choose a healthy, chilled mixed fruit cup!

Going clockwise around the World Showcase Lagoon from World Showcase Plaza, begin at Mexico’s La Cantina de San Angel, a shaded counter service by the waters of World Showcase Lagoon. They have several refreshing and unusual choices. Paletas are traditional fruit popsicles in watermelon, mango, lime, or coconut. Or you could choose to quench your thirst with Jarritos – traditional Mexican Soda – either Pineapple, Mango, Fruit Punch, or Sidral (Apple).

Tucked behind the Stave Church at the Norway pavilion is the tantalizing Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe, with its mouth watering assortment of pastries and treats in a refrigerated case. The Norwegian Rice Cream is a refreshing rice pudding topped with strawberry sauce. There’s also the epic Troll Horn …

Americans may not realize how lucky they are to find anything made with cloudberries. In Norway, cloudberries grow only in the extreme north, in harsh frozen conditions (think Elsa’s ice castle). Norwegian chef Andreas Viestad says that in Norway, each family has its own cloudberry bush – hidden away in a northern forest. Guests who are not members of the family are blindfolded if taken to pick the luscious berries, lest they reveal the secret location to anyone else. And Disney has brought these rare and wonderful berries to Americans at Epcot! You’ll find them in the Kringla’s Troll Horn – which features cloudberry jam with whipped cream in a crispy pastry sugar-coated shell!

Just inside the China Pavilion, on the left, the Lotus Blossom Café awaits to surprise and delight your taste buds. And they offer a generous covered seating area where you can escape the sun while savoring the subtle flavor of Lychee Ice Cream – a perfect refreshment on a hot day. Other good choices at the Lotus Blossom include a mango or strawberry smoothie.

Out on the promenade, the Joy of Tea kiosk sits contentedly under its fluted roof. More ice cream delights can be found here, including the exotic Red Bean flavor – and its cousin-with-a-kick, Caramel Ginger ice cream. The Joy of Tea smoothies are (naturally!) infused with tea. Choose between the Strawberry Oolong Tea Smoothie or the Mango Green Tea Smoothie. The most unusual offering at the Joy of Tea is their Bubble Milk Tea which is made with sweetened, peach flavored black tea – with tapioca pearls bobbling around the bottom of the cup (don’t be surprised – these pearls are black, not white)! If you’re feeling a little overwhelmed rather than adventurous, choose a Dragon Well Tea to put the pieces back together again.

Next door in Germany, it’s really all about the beer. After all, it’s October all year round at Germany’s Sommerfest! You could try a fresh, cold, crisp potato salad side at the Sommerfest counter service. That’s about the closest thing they have a non-alcoholic frosty refreshment! (The apple studel with vanilla sauce is delicious – but not cooling.)

Fortunately, Italy’s Gelati stand is only steps away – with many sources of frosty (non-alcoholic) revivers. So much delicious refreshment under one unassuming Venetian pink awning. Whatever you do, don’t just walk past this awning.

The gelato can be served in a cup or a cone – or as a sandwich between two fresh chocolate chip cookies!

They also create three signature gelato sundaes – how to choose?? The Coppa Del Nonno is made with Fior Di Latte (milk flavored) gelato, chocolate gelato, cookies and cream gelato, with chocolate sauce, whipped cream, and amaretto cookies

The Coppa Amicizia is a combination of the cookies and cream, strawberry, Fior Di Latte gelati, topped with mango sauce, whipped cream, and whole raspberries.

The Coppa Delizia is the same three gelati as the Amicizia but swirled with strawberry sauce, the compulsory whipped cream, and whole strawberries.

While you’re trying to decide among those three coppas, you’ll see someone walking away from tghe Gelati counter with a Tiramisù – a cocoa-dusted cup of mascarpone cream, Savoiardi biscuits, and espresso coffee – and you’ll promptly forget all about the coppas.

If you’re flagging and in need of a pick-me-up, choose the Espresso Gelato “Affogato” with fresh Italian Espresso poured over Fior Di Latte Gelato, sprinkled with Chocolate Coffee Beans.

If you’re just thirsty, pick up some Italian Water (still or sparkling), an Aranciata (Italian orange soda), or Limonata (lemon soda), or ice tea (lemon or peach)? The most flavorful beverage is the Primavera – an inspired blending of frozen strawberry, banana, and peach nectars – not too sweet, not too tart. Bright red heaven in a cup.

But wait. The one thing you can’t leave without is the cannoli cupcake. The menu describes it as a “vanilla bean cupcake topped with a cannoli.” That is a grand understatement. The cannoli cupcake is an incredibly layered concoction of deliciousness that delights equally the eye and the tastebud. And it’s perfect for strolling – because it’s cold, cool, and in a cup! No awkwardly trying to bite off pieces of cupcake as you walk. Just elegantly spoon up some as you gaze out over the waters of the lagoon. The bottom layer is a mixture of ricotta and chocolate chips -creamy, sweet, and smooth. Next comes the cupcake layer – moist and rich. Now the ricotta icing layer – dotted with pieces of candied cherry and pineapple. Whipped cream comes now, drizzled in chocolate. And finally, the crispy mini cannoli! If you choose this, you’ll be stopped at least six times, walking along the promenade, with a “Where’d you get that??”

Like the Germany pavilion, the American Adventure is pretty much all about the beer. However, the Liberty Inn offers Frozen Coke and Frozen Fanta Cherry slushies. And outside at the Funnel Cake kiosk, you can get one of those crispy fried treats topped with vanilla ice cream.

The Kakigōri Stand (otherside known as the Kabuki Cafe) is one of the first things you’ll see as you approach the Japan pavilion from the American Adventure side. Kakigōri is Japanese shaved ice available in rainbow, strawberry, melon, cherry, or mikan (tangerine). A sweet milk topping is an option. For a healthy choice, crunch on some chilled edamame. For some guests, nothing says Epcot like an icy Kakigōri – or cold green beans! Grab a Ramune Japanese soda to wash it down.

The Tangierine Café at Morocco can tide you over refreshingly until dinner with a chilled side. Choose from tabouleh, lentil salad, marinated olives, or the fresh Tangierine couscous salad.

In France, ice cream is king of the frosty treats. L’Artisan des Glaces scoops up some unusual ice cream flavors: caramel Fleur de Sel, coffee, cinnamon (with either caramelized pecan or with caramelized apple and crumble crunch), coco-white, or milk chocolate with orange. Then, true to their name, the artisans of ice cream have dreamt up some dreamy ice cream desserts. An ice cream sandwich made with fresh macarons (the Macaron), a scoop of ice cream in a homemade brioche, pressed warm (the Croque Glacé), or the Coupe du Dimanche, served in a waffle bowl.

Inside Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie you can find a simple but delicious strawberry smoothie – the Granité à la Fraise

As though this weren’t enough, the Crepes des Chefs de France kiosk on the esplanade serves an ice cream crêpe or soft serve in a Waffle Cone.

It’s just as well that you’ll surely leave the France pavilion revived, because the UK and Canada pavilions refreshments are alcohol-based. Keep your eye out for the Mouseketrips Roundup of Refreshing Epcot Cocktails, coming soon!

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