Rental Car Karma

The rental car experience in Europe is traumatic for most Americans and it is getting worse. Frequent travellers say that the best moment of your trip is when you drop off your rental car.

There are many challenges involved with renting a car and one should never laugh at another’s tragic experience as karma can be a bitch. Some of the most common challenges include:

Automatic transmissions are hard to find. Americans of a certain age grew up with a stick shift, but, it has been years since we drove with one. It is true that it is like riding a bike, you never forget, but our memories get fuzzy with age.
American young professionals are invading Europe en masse and they don’t have a clue when it comes to standard transmission. Sometimes the only automatic transmission is available in a large van, and this leads to an array of other challenges.
Roads in much of Europe were designed for Roman chariots. Needless to say, you are in trouble with an American sized car, or worse yet, that oversized van with automatic transmission.
The rules of the road are different. Speed on the autobahn and country road is governed by the size of the engine and drivers ego. The true rule is: “Neither a hitter or hittee be”.
Road signs are not in English and are just different. In the US signs will indicate direction, for example, east or west. In Europe, you have to know that Nice is towards the east and Arles is towards the west. Comprehension is a real challenge when stressed and confused behind the wheel. Your partner yelling inevitably incorrect instructions adds to trauma.
Apple Maps has made driving much easier. Using “the bitch in the box” will save your marriage. If you make a wrong turn at least you have someone else to blame. Being rerouted after a mistake is a godsend.
Parking is not just a challenge, it can be impossible. A European friend once told me: “In America you have two parking spaces for every car. In Europe we have two cars for every space.” If you find one, good luck resurrecting your parallel parking skills. If you got that oversized van, you are screwed.

Here is the story where the karma kicks in. We spent a day touring vineyards with three delightful young American ladies celebrating their 30th birthdays on a trip to Europe. They told us a hysterical rental car story. They rented the car and were handed the keys sans instructions. After loading the car, adjusting the seats and mirrors, they couldn’t get the car started. After 30 minutes, after Google and manual searches, still no luck. Somehow then, the car miraculously and mysteriously started, but they didn’t know how.

(The birthday girls)

The the girls drove to Aix where they found the address of their Airbnb, but where to park? They found a spot right in the middle of the road in front of a large stanchion. They thought it was perfect and neatly unloaded their car and walked their bags up to the apartment. Then the panic began. The stanchion was of the retractable variety and they had blocked the road. Their car was now surrounded by a dozen enraged screaming drivers. The birthday girl ran out with keys in hand to move the car, but alas she had no idea how to start it. Trying to explain to a screaming crowd of Frenchmen how she got there without knowing how to start the car got lost in translation. Finally, a calmer head prevailed and a handsome young man jumped to the rescue, started the car and relieved the traffic jam. More importantly a traumatized, crying birthday girl was relieved to enjoy the rest of her holiday.

(Susan showing one of the retractable stanchions that caused the girls difficulty)

Here is where the karma kicked in. We shouldn’t have laughed so hard. The next day we took off with our rental car. We had picked it up in Barcelona. Of course the automatic we ordered was not possible, but a stick shift should be like riding a bike. You never forget how…One caveat, bikes don’t go backwards. On day one, Susan had problems getting the car in reverse. The stick shifts we had driven were the type where you push down to get in reverse. In a parking lot of a rest area on day one, after 15 minutes of pushing and pulling she miraculously and mysteriously got the car in reverse. On day three, I am driving and the bitch in the box sends me down the wrong street. No problem, I think I can make a quick U turn. One problem, halfway through the turn, with both directions of the street blocked, I cannot get the car in reverse. Soon we have a traffic jam. I pressed and curse and still no reverse. One of the drivers blocked by us, went across the street and got a mechanic. He knew that you had to pull up on a toggle to get into reverse. Karma is a bitch.

(Susan and I with our rental car)

With all the challenges, the following ride through the lavender fields and mountains to La Bastide de Moustiers, then back down the mountains to Nice was a highlight of the trip. All made possible by the rental car. There is that old saying: You have to suffer if you want to sing the blues.

While this ramble is slightly off topic from supper clubs, I think it is hysterical. To my readers in Europe, have pity and patience with the American drivers invading your homelands. To my American readership, practice your stick shift driving skills before heading to Europe. And, no matter where you are or where you travel, remember, karma is a bitch.

If you enjoyed this blog and similar other stories/supper club lessons follow me on Facebook and Twitter and subscribe to get future blogs at www.impromptufridaynights.com/blog and check out my book Impromptu Friday Nights a Guide to Supper Clubs. Published by Morgan James Publishing and available through most channels where books are sold.

Supper Clubs Are Going Global

The supper club concept is a good fit anywhere in the world. We recently had a wonderful evening with old and new friends in Puszczykowo Poland. Our Impromptu Sunday Night combined interesting people, amazing food and engaging conversation in a perfect setting. It was the perfect supper club dinner party.

Lucien and Ela Vendome hosted the evening in their wonderful new home. Lucien and I have been friends for many years. The book, Impromptu Friday Nights- A Guide To Supper Clubs is an offshoot of a question Lucien asked me after a fun evening in Memphis years ago. He said: “Lots of people write cook books, have you ever thought about writing a book about what you and Susan do with supper clubs?” It took over twenty years, but the book published this year is the genesis of Lucien’s question. So much of what I know about food and fine dining comes from lessons learned from this friend and culinary genius.

The menu for the evening was fantastic:

Hors d’Ouevre

Tartellete aux champions (Marsala wine -cream – sage)
Chaussons a la Polonaise (Caramelized onions – Parmesan – sausage)

Salmon Saltimbocca

Pan seared – Beurre rouge – Parisian de celeriac – Melissa

Pork Medallions

Cider honey Mustard glaze – Rosemary – Caramelized apples

Pommes de Terre Anna

Butter – Chives

Roasted Root Vegetables

Citrus and chive butter

Fondant aux Chocolat

Crème Chantilly – Coulis de framboise – Melissa

For me, one of the most fun components of the evening was the preparation as it brought back so many fond memories. Lucien and I worked at Kraft years ago and had practice of:

Lucien would stop by my office at 3 pm on a Friday afternoon asking if Susan and I were in town this weekend
I would respond: “The usual suspects?”
A quick call to Susan to get clearance and the invitation chain started
Calls would go out to five couples at 4 pm. The guys were traveling the world and normal scheduling was a nightmare. But, amazingly 9 times out of 10 everyone would show up at 7 pm to enjoy a a la minute menu prepared by Lucien and myself.
The meaning of “Impromptu Friday Nights” was born and a lifetime friendships and memories created.

The good news is that the ability to recreate these events continues with the evening at Villa Vendome a perfect example.

(Lucien & Paul bringing focus to the cooking)

The group for the evening brought together old and new friends. Lucien and Ela were hosting Susan and I for the weekend. Ela and Magda have known each other years having been professors together at Poznan University. Magda’s husband Paol is a former military attaché from Denmark, enjoying retirement as much as Lucien and I. Marta is a concert pianist and professor of music who lives in nearby Puszczykowo. The group was perfectly eclectic and conversations covered a gamut of topics. It was so much fun learning about each other’s lives and adventures. As the evening went on it seemed that no one wanted it to end. Old friendships were renewed and new friendships born.

One of the beauties of Lucien and I being old friends of a certain age is that we have heard each other’s stories many times but can’t remember them. We had lots of fun retelling them to the delight of each other and new friends (we hope). Fortunately, Ela and Susan put up with hearing the stories for the thousandth time.

Wherever you live in the world, give the supper club concept a try. Whether it is in Pittsburgh or Puszczykowo the concept works. The fun we had at Villa Vendome is the perfect testimony.

Montserrat Mise En Place

The most important key to a supper club dinner party success is preparation. Catalonia is close to France and we saw a perfect example of Mise En Place during our day trip to Montserrat from Barcelona. Loosely translated, Mis En Place means: “put into place”. It is a key to meal preparation taught at culinary schools around the world and it was key to how a restaurant can feed 3 bus-loads of tourists all at once and keep everyone happy. See an earlier blog that explains Mise En Place in more detail.

Another key feeding a large group in a short period of time is having a menu designed for the occasion. The lunch menu at the restaurant in Montserrat was perfect for the occasion with:

Local breads
Cold tomato soup (Provided in a large pitcher so guest could serve themselves)
Salad platters (Lettuce, Carrot, Tomato, Cucumber & Vinaigrette)
Catalonian Cannelloni (Served hot)
Fruit salad for dessert

As the hungry group arrived from our tour of Montserrat, waiters set the table with bread, wine, salad platters and soup pitchers. Consequently, everyone could eat immediately with no lines and no delay. As our guide Borja said: “Perfecto!”. After a short time waiters came around and served the hot cannelloni that had been warmed in ovens and topped with a creamy béchamel. Again, “Perfecto!”.

The Catalonian Cannelloni is different from the more familiar Italian version. The big difference is that it uses a béchamel, or white sauce, instead of tomato sauce. Borja explained that it is a tradition to have this the day after Christmas. This makes a lot of sense as it is a dish that can be made well in advance and heated and served at the last minute. It also helps to have extra béchamel to add as you serve to avoid your dish being too dry. A problem with pasta dishes is that the pasta can act like a sponge soaking up the moisture. A last minute addition of sauce is easy and really helps the dish.

See the recipe

It never hurts to have a perfect setting. Having lunch at the vineyard with the hills of Montserrat in the background was beautiful. The picture of Susan pointing out why they are called the “Serrated Mountains”.

As we exited the restaurant the maître d’ thanked multinational group for coming and instinctively knew what nationality each guests was. How do they know? I sometimes think I wear a sign. I am an American. I remember traveling internationally in the 1980’s. It seemed that all American men wore a uniform of tan slacks and a blue blazer. Today, every nationality seems to wear jeans. I try not to be the Ugly American as we have a guy in Washington that has become the poster boy for it. He might not have invented the term, but the rest of the world thinks it of him. Now it is all a matter of guilt by association. All I can say is: this too shall pass.

After lunch we went to Oller Del Mas winery. Borja did a wonderful job explaining how the vineyard has been resurrected. The area had been been a major producer of wine before the Spanish Civil war, but the area and vineyard had fallen into disrepair. The current owners have rebuilt it resurrecting old strains of grape trying to bring the region back to historic levels. It was a wonderful afternoon and a perfect example of how Mise En Place and preparation makes things work.