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"Diplomatic Visit Or Wedding Pics"? Photos Of 2 World Leaders Go Viral
03/28/24 11:46 AM
Wedding photos or a diplomatic visit? The apparent "bromance" between French President Emmanuel Macron and his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has set social media fans alight.
'Flavor wizard:' Japanese chocolatier conquers Belgium
03/25/24 11:02 AM
When Yasushi Sasaki moved from Japan to Belgium at the age of 19, he spoke not a word of French and had no clue what he would do with his life.Last month, at the age of 52, he was named Brussels' chocolatier of the year by the prestigious Gault&Millau food guide -- no small triumph in a country that considers itself the homeland of chocolate."Whenever I go home to Japan and mention Belgium, people say to me 'Ahhh.... chocolate!" Sasaki told AFP.Dubbed a "flavor wizard" by the food guide, Sasaki conducts his experiments in a little workshop behind his store, in the Brussels commune of Woluwe-Saint-Pierre."Chocolate? From the moment I chose the profession it became my whole life," he said. "It's a hobby, a job, a pleasure.""I knew nothing, I started from scratch. But I think I made the right choice."Originally from Nara, near the city of Osaka, Sasaki draws inspiration from his homeland -- but with a light touch. Not all Japanese flavours sit well with a chocolate ganache or praline."Green tea is very strong and marries very well. So does yuzu," the citrus fruit, he explained as he doled out tips to his team of young Japanese staff."Kaki and mandarin -- nope."Sasaki selects his suppliers with care. The green tea for instance comes from Kyoto, where he orders directly from a cousin who works in the sector.With cocoa prices soaring, he is also careful to control costs."We are artisans but we are also businesspeople," he said. "To keep working as artisans, we have to sell what we make."- 'My own way' -Sasaki may have learned the trade in Brussels but he does not consider himself heir to a Belgian tradition."I have my own way, my own taste," he said. "I know my strength is my own way, not copying other people."Today, Sasaki exports his creations back to his home country, where sales peak around Valentine's day, the chocolate moment of the year in Japan.As Easter draws near, he is readying for another big highlight of the chocolate calendar.Much as he is delighted to be honored by Gault&Millau, Sasaki would have one word of advice for the guidebook -- to tip off its laureates before going public, so they have time to prepare."It's a huge impact all of a sudden," said Sasaki, whose turnover suddenly jumped by 20 to 30 percent.For now, though, Sasaki has no plans to expand."I've been making chocolate for years. I'm just going to keep making good things, doing my thing," he said.
'I could kill someone': Most U.S. troops aren't getting enough sleep, report warns
03/27/24 6:56 AM
Most U.S. troops need to get more sleep. That's the big-picture takeaway from a sweeping Government Accountability Office study that found a sizable majority of service members get six or fewer hours of sleep each night -- less than the minimum of seven hours recommended by the Defense Department.
Top US News
'Devastatingly sad': Graham, Lamont and others react to Joe Lieberman's death
03/27/24 11:24 PM
Former Sen. Joe Lieberman died Wednesday afternoon in New York City, his family said. He was 82 years old.
'Humbling, and a bit worrying': Scientists fail to fully explain record global heat
03/27/24 10:00 AM
Blistering global temperatures have one NASA scientist warning: 'We could be in uncharted territory.' Others aren't so sure.
101 Freeway will see lane closures as wildlife crossing is built in Agoura Hills
03/23/24 10:00 AM
Work on the $92-million bridge, which will be done at night over a month or more, will yield the largest wildlife crossing in the world.
Latest Sports News
'I like being out of my comfort zone' – Shane Van Gisbergen on starting his NASCAR career
03/20/24 6:56 PM
Shane Van Gisbergen shared with Bob Pockrass that he is content with his decision to leave Australian Supercars to pursue a career in NASCAR.
02/17/24 10:50 PM
Here are the best reactions on social media from the historic 3-point shooting contest between Stephen Curry and Sabrina Ionescu.
'It feels really special' – Kyle Larson on winning Focused Health 250 | NASCAR on FOX
03/23/24 11:54 PM
"It feels really special" – Kyle Larson spoke on winning Focused Health 250 at Austin.