Food & Wine

My wife and son and I attended the 200th anniversary of Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany, with BayernTrips (Ironwood, MI; 888/686-4240), which we found on the Internet. BayernTrips owners Scott and Vonia led our 12-day “Connoisseur’s Trip,” Sept. 11-22, 2010. The land cost was $2,500 per person, with single supplement $495.

After everyone in our small group arrived in Munich, we set off to visit Weihenstephan, the world’s oldest brewery. Its outdoor courtyard was the perfect spot to sample many regional beers.

With over 560 exhibitors and an average of 200,000 visitors annually, the Dijon International Gastronomic Fair features food, wines, crafts, household goods, furniture, new technology and more, with cooking demonstrations and tastings plus restaurants serving specialties.

10 a.m.-6 p.m., Nov. 1-13, 2011, at the Dijon Congrexpo (Parc des Expositions et Congres de Dijon, 3 Blvd de Champagne B.P. 67827 21078 Dijon, France; phone +03 80 77 39 00). Entry, €5.20 ($7.30) adult, €3.60 student, €2.70 child (5-12).

I took a 12-day Caribbean cruise, “Sun-Splashed Holiday,” on the Regatta of Oceania Cruises (Miami, FL; 800/531-5619), Dec. 22, 2010-Jan. 2, 2011. Sailing out of Miami, the ship called at Turks & Caicos, Dominican Republic, British Virgin Islands (Tortola), Antigua (St. John’s), Martinique and St. Croix. We didn’t get into St. Barts because the seas were too rough.

My cruises are portions of longer trips, up to two months in duration, and because this octogenarian doesn’t want to struggle with luggage or porters, he travels light — an old nylon garment bag with big zippered pockets slung on one shoulder and a carry-on nylon shoulder bag on the other.

After graduating from high school, I took my first trip to Europe without my parents or much money. I subsisted entirely on jam, baguettes and Fanta. When I returned home, my doctor declared me “chronically undernourished.” I’ve never had a jam sandwich or Fanta since.

by Sandra Scott

by Nancy Logan; Jamestown, RI

In Paris, La Rôtisserie du Beaujolais (19 quai de la Tournelle, 75005 Paris, France; phone 01 43 54 17 47), open daily till 10:15, is the “younger sibling” of the world-famous La Tour d’Argent across the street. That restaurant, noted for its pressed duck dish, has apparently passed along a duck tradition to this rather unpretentious place. A friend and I enjoyed the duck, which is prepared for two, on Sept. 24, 2010.

During a stay in Paris in May ’10, my wife, Rose, and I discovered a great little bar and restaurant called L’Insolent (164 avenue de Clichy; phone 01 42 29 46 04). It’s somewhat away from the city center and near the Clichy Métro station.