Are you ever transported to a place close to home or far away simply by a wisp of a smell, scent, or a taste, of food or drink? This happens to me quite often, opening up a mental picture album along the way. A recent glass of a rose Champagne sent me back to a trip in Villefranche sur Mer.

While making pancakes this week the smells immediately brought me back to a morning long ago at my Mom’s house. Her pancakes were the best! Her cast iron griddle belonged to her Mother. 

The taste of mustard can provide many memories like this fabulous “choucroute” at Brasserie Lipp in Paris. I first discovered this dish on early trips to the Alsace region and have loved it ever since! 

The taste of a super rich chocolate sauce on this profiterole sends me to desert heaven.

The first bite of a great salad is always wondrous to me! The memory of this “Caprese Di Burrata E Pomodoro” from Bottega Napa Valley in Yountville is a standout with heirloom tomatoes, burrata cheese, “balsamic caviar” and a touch of basil oil.

Every time I visit the Bay Area I stop for a hot dog at Casper’s, a long standing family tradition. This image is my Mom finishing her hot dog, a favorite of hers, with our grandsons long ago.

Fried zucchini flowers are a rare treat and a first bite can transport me to the first time I tasted them in Arezzo italy. During a later stay in Cannes we found them at the morning Marche Forville. Marla stuffed them with a mixture of cheese and they were sublime!

Melted garlic butter must be an elixir of the Gods! The garlic butter on escargot like this one at “Aux Armes de Bruxelles” in Brussles is just fabulous! End of story!

The unique taste of marzipan in this “Princess Cake” is one of my favorites! Marla is showing the cake to my Aunt during a trip to California. Alpine Bakery in Concord makes beautiful ones!

The taste of a fine wine and a basket of great breads are a passport to so many places. This dinner was near nirvana for me at Taverna Squarcialupi in Castellina in Chianti.

My dad first got us hooked on linguica (Portuguese) sausage. I bought some the other day at Whole Foods and the first bite sent me back to this breakfast with my brother and our Mom in California!

The sweet & salty taste of shell fish transferred me back to this starter dish at “Hostaria del Vicolo” in Sciacca, Sicily.

Does gold leaf have a taste? Well not much, but it does look a little decadent on food. I’ll never forget this hors d’oeuvres at La Chevre d’Or in Eze. 

The distinctive scents of saffron, paprika, cumin, cinnamon, and white pepper, deliveries me back to a Tangine dinner at Riad Kniza in Marrakech.

My sister Patty first introduced me to scones on a visit to the island of Guernsey. She made her own scones and put rich Guernsey butter on them, a few dollops of clotted cream, and then some nice jam. Every time I have a “Cream Tea” I think of her!

I fondly remember this “meat and cheese combo” at Redd Wood in Yountville. So delish!

The scent of a fresh squeezed lemon and the first bite of fresh grilled salmon leads me back to childhood dinners at Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco. Alioto’s is a favorite and their sourdough bread is fabulous!

“Ahh…..the fruit juice and rum flavors of a great Mai Tai always puts me next to an ocean view like this one at Kimo’s in Maui.

Chocoholics will understand the quest for fabulous chocolate. On our last trip to Brussels we purchased chocolate delicacies from Pierre Marcolioni, Wittamer, Neuhaus, and Godiva, all in one day to take home in the suitcase.

The smell and taste of lemon can definitely transport us! My Mom had a wonderful lemon tree in her backyard. On some visits she would surprise us with a homemade lemon meringue pie. 

I love veal dishes like Satimbocca alla Romana or a great veal chop! This was a tasty dinner memory in Torgiano, Italy. The “Rubesco” wine from Umbria was the perfect compliment.

As a consummate pasta lover this memory of a pappardelle with a local wild boar sauce in Cortona was incredible!

The pungent aroma of “steak au poivre” is heaven! I truly love the memory of dinner at the classic Paris bistro, Allard, in the 6th.

Is there anything which can bring phenomenal memories like the aroma of fresh bread? I almost fell out of my chair when the a waiter brought over the evenings’ bread offerings at the incredible Zaranda Restaurant outside of Palma, Mallorca.

Photos: Dick Gentry. Not to be used without permission.