saturday, july 10, 2010 | chicago, illinois
chicago! went to work on some stories, take photos, and try some of its latest restaurants. mm came along this time - here are some faves:
- flew porter airlines for the first time - great experience - the lounge really is as awesome as they say! nice to go on a flight with an "old school" kind of feel
- first stop of a trip was publican restaurant - pictured here: spicy pork rinds
- next day, we went to explore the rick bayless empire - first at frontera grill - delicious down-to-earth mexican food. i admit, i've grown to really love mexican food, must visit mexico more often - it's not abnormal for me to crave grilled fish/shrimp tacos at random times of the day. this was a trio of ceviche - yum!
- two doors down from frontera was xoco - a quick-stop lunch spot with sandwiches, salads, and etc - as well as churros and mexican-style chocolate drinks. nothing like a dark chocolate drink to go along with fresh-fried crunchy churros!
- one of my fave hotels this year so far is the Elysian Hotel - new, totally chic, and so so beautiful. this was the lobby.
- there's no going to bean-town without visiting the giant silver bean in millenium park - great place to take photos and try some different things - can you find me in the photo? :)
- we took a bike tour of chicago with bobby's bike hike - really fun, casual bike ride through diff neighbourhoods and sights in/around chicago. this photo was taken on a bridge in lincoln park with a nice view of the skyline from the north end of chicago.
- "taste of chicago" is one of the biggest food festivals in the US - and being that we were in town for it, we decided we might as well check it out. very hot, very crowded, very expensive for medicore food - let's not try that again :)
- you can't visit chicago without having some deep dish - and we gave it another chance. last time we visited, we visited due's and had some great deep dish. this time, we tried lou malnati's and gino's east - neither were as good as i remember due's was.
- visited one of the gino's east pizza locations for a quick lunch before the bike ride - and maybe it's the fine-diner in me - but seriously? dirty graffiti and writing all over the chairs, booths, walls, and posts - not to mention really, really dark. awful experience.
- on the totaly flip side - went for a long-awaited meal at alinea - and there's a very good reason it was named the best resto in the US. this is 'suspended' bacon smoked with applewood and a touch of butterscotch/thyme.
- all 26-something courses were incredible but the finisher was dessert made ON the table for us by chef grant achatz. and honestly, how cool is it to be able to eat off the table?
last but not least, the trip ended with a trip to hot doug's. if you're looking for the craziest hot dogs, this is where to find them. lines start at 9am and the place doesn't open until 10:30am. we waited 1.5 hours - but made up for it by ordering almost every dog on the menu.
clockwise from bottom: sally vega corn dog, the elvis dog with chili, lamb pork gyros sausage, alligator sausage with fontina cheese, foie gras with sauternes duck sausage dog, the classic dog & cheese fries. worth a try at least once in your life :)
wednesday, june 16, 2010 | miami, florida
second time visiting miami and loved it just as much as i did the first time, despite spending a chunk of it on my own. here are my other fave shots/experiences from miami:
- spent the first 2 days / 1 night on fisher island, the wealthiest zip code in the USA and let me tell you, this place is swaaanky and a fun look at the way the 'other side' lives. you can only get on the island as a guest of someone who lives there or a guest of the hotel (at $400/night) - and it's only reachable by ferry. here's the beach & beach club at fisher island - looks like a caribbean paradise.
- even though it's one of the most exclusive places i've ever been, my fave part of the place is that hotel guests get a golf cart to drive around the island - see bottom left :) yes, i'm 10 years old.
- went down for a "thrillist" weekend put on by www.thrillist.com, showcasing the best, hottest & coolest of miami. stayed at the fontainebleau hotel in the northern part of miami beach - has a fun high-end retro art-deco feel - these chandeliers are worth millions!
- poolside at the fontainebleau hotel - this part of the hotel was actually in the James Bond Goldfinger film - really cool to see it then and now
- aside from the James Bond bit - the coolest part of this place is that each room has a custom imac for guests to use and connect to the internet
- took one afternoon to check out the Holocaust Memorial nearby - makes you wonder what this is doing in Miami Beach because it's a truly sobering experience juxtaposed next to all the fashion, materialism, and 'shallowness' that is miami beach
- spent a morning at Jungle Island on a vip tour - which meant interacting with animals like these lovely parrots who began to pose and peck at each other when i started clacking away :)
- if you've ever wanted to pet a kangaroo, this is the place to do it - up close these guys are actually more rodent-like than cute - and really really smelly .. but still fun to see that close
- went on an Art Deco tour with a really, really knowledgeable ex-writer - the miami beach patrol headquarters building is a classic art-deco building - it's actually meant to look like a cruise ship, fun :)
- also took a "duck tour" on the fly which ended up being a ton of fun, driving through the streets of south beach and then getting in the water to tour around the islands and see celeb's homes like p diddy's!
- checked out hakkasan restaurant at the fontainebleuau for a snack and then realized i was stepping into a sister restaurant of the famous hakkasan restaurant in london
- at first, i thought "expensive chinese food?" but after tasting these wild mushroom lettuce wraps, i thought again - so, so delicious :D oink oink.
- a ton of people recommended casa tua for dinner - so on one of my free nights, i made my way there. dining alone is always a little strange, but ended up next to a nice couple from chicago who were crazy food-lovers
- had some awesome tuna tartare, scallops, and truffle tagliatelle but oh man - this tiramisu was incredible! hint of coffee with the lightest, creamiest marscapone . .wow.
- finished my dining in miami at sushi samba - japanese, brazilian & peruvian styled tapas dishes - super trendy and super delicious without the super prices of the similar nobu
- flash-fried mini crabs from japan are the new potato chip - delicious little snacks that'll remind you of soft shell crab
wednesday, may 26, 2010 | orlando, florida & langdon hall
went down to orlando, florida for pow wow 2010 - an annual travel industry conference supporting travel in/around the u.s. - 5,000 delegates makes one serious, serious conference. lots of meetings, networking & press conferences but every night had a different event in store - theme parks were closed down just for conference delgates and so we got lots of behind-the-scenes looks. here are some shots!
- got up close and personal with some dolphins at Sea World Orlando, hung out while the trainers were
- this little guy at Sea World is a called a 'kinkajou' aka 'honey bear' - pesky little guy who's part of the raccoon family - and despite my history with raccoons, is absolutely adorable
- got a vip tour of Universal Orlando Theme Park - every kid, teenager, and adult's dream come true - because we got to skip the wait lines and try all of the roller coasters we wanted :) tried the new Simpsons ride that opened last year - really, really well done!
- next was a night at Disney's Magic Kingdom where dreams really did come true - with candy carts installed throughout the park offering buckets and tubes full of free candy
- ok, this is top, top secret stuff - as in only a handful of thousands of people have seen this. here's a look at hogwarts castle at the brand spanking, still-unopen Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando - here's a look at Hogwarts Castle at night. if you're in orlando, don't miss this! opens june 18, 2010.
- and as if it couldn't even get better - here's a look inside hogwarts castle, with lots and lots of portraits - some that even move :) incredible attraction, amazing detail, every harry potter fan's dream!
- far and away from orlando in cambridge, ontario - is Langdon Hall Inn & Spa - a stunning country home that's now one of the top resorts in canada and more recently, named as the 77th top restaurant in the world. went for dinner over the may long weekend to celebrate natalie's bday - definitely worth the trip :)
- my fave dish of the night - white asparagus with a cep/mushroom crumble with an albufera foie gras reduction sauce
wednesday, may 5, 2010 | spring fun
spring is here :) here are a few shots from what's been happening:
- gardening galore! trying to get the backyard done to grow some veggies but in the meantime, the front lawn has been attacked by dandelions
- went to the ontario science centre to check out the harry potter exhibit - here's the flying car from chamber of secrets. can't wait to head down to orlando in a week to visit universal orlando resort's new harry potter attraction!
- spent good friday easter dinner at isaac's place where chef patrick lin, exec chef of senses restaurant in toronto, hosted a 'beef night' - including these beautiful a5-grade wagyu steaks, just recently available to canada. i've had great steak (having just gotten back from a weekend in banff + alberta) and i've been known to not trim the fat from my steaks - but this stuff is unbeatable. best, steak, ever.
- marinating some strips of salmon at the same dinner - very nobu japaleno/hamachi style
- brunch has become my new favourite meal - something about spring, warm weather, and coming out of hiberation. on a whim, mm and i stopped by hoof cafe for a brunch one sunday afternoon
- here is the ridiculousness that is french toast with seared foie gras at the black hoof, topped with julienned green apple, a touch of sea salt and a cinnamon creme - genius.
sunday, mar 21, 2010 | wales
after a week in london, mm went back to toronto while i travelled to cardiff, wales for a conference - my first "business" conference! nice small city with great architecture, tons of welsh history, and really really good shopping. in any case - here are some shots in and around wales - most are a bit drab/flat but what can you do when it's always cloudy?
- cardiff castle at the end of the day - deemed as one of the nicest castles in cardiff, standing tall in the middle of the city
- the wales millenium centre (also know as the "possum") is cardiff's most iconic attracton next to its castle. the writing on the front reads, "in these stones horizons sing."
- welsh cakes! one of my fave snacks from wales - wales' version of scones - and so, so delicious - mini pancake griddles usually made with raisins and served with butter - delicious, delicious butter!
- another classic welsh sight - and food - is lamb. here in wales, sheep outnumber humans by something like 4x
- this is tintern abbey near cardiff - it was founded in 1131 but was sacked in 1536 as part of henry the viii's dissolution of the monasteries and abbeys. it's an eerie sight when you step inside - most of the structure remains but lacks windows, a ceiling that opens up to the skies.
- hay-on-wye is known as the "book cpaital of the world" because it holds more second-hand bookstores than anywhere other town - they have a bookshop for every topic - this one is for mystery books and the shop is called "murder and mayhem."
- a mine, a mine! wales was once very important industrial centre, known especially for its coal mining. here's a look inside one of the "tourist" mines - a simulation of a real mine that's located within an actual mining complex from the 1800's. we visited another mine that's actually 90 metres below ground - dark, damp, but a one-of-a-kind experience
- the town of ruthin in northern wales is known for is history - and especially its jail from the 1600's - really fascinating site - enjoyed it a lot more than i thought i would
- another attraction in wales is this town - the longest named town in the world (though it's rumoured there's a longer-named town in hawaii). this is the sign at the train station. the town, for short, is called "llanfair pg" or if you prefer the long name, "Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch"
- here's my first attempt at a long exposure waterfall photo (taken at devil's bridge) to make it look like the water's moving but not washed out. tricky balance, but lots of fun trying it - and here's the best shot - though i wish the waterfall was a bit taller for more effect.
tuesday, mar 9, 2010 | london, england
hello from cardiff, wales! before coming to wales for the 2010 travel media association of canada conference, mm and i spent a week in london. for me, having never spent more than a few hours' time in london, one week still didn't seem like enough! but i'm happy to say that i liked london a lot more than i thought i would - being overly partial and bias to paris and all :)
afternoon tea, day trips to places like oxford and windsor, a bed and breakfast stay in bray for 24 hours of 6 michelin stars, watching wicked on broadway, "minding the gap" on the tube, and even a visit to hillsong london, it was a fun time. here are some of the shots i liked the most and the experiences worth telling you about.
- tower bridge in london - which actually isn't the real 'london bridge' - is the iconical london monument. if you visit, get the lift up to the top - the stairs are real workout!
- our room (bedroom, really) of the terrace suite at the st. james' hotel london, just around the corner from the ritz. lovely, lovely hotel and definitely has my clientele for future visits to london
- the ultimate afternoon tea experience in london (and possibly the world?): tea at the ritz. the scones were perfection, the clotted cream made me feel utterly guilty, and the jams were sweet and tasty. with 17 teas to choose from, you can't go wrong. definitely beat the peninsula, hk
- from regal to obscene, this dish is the worst thing i've ever tasted - and i've tasted a lot of things. tasteless and bland is fine. but when something tastes awful enough to make me gag, it's bad. what is it? wild hare at st. john's - a restaurant known to be a little more fringe when it comes to using different kinds of meat .. needless to say, i wasn't won over. but their fish + chips did look delicious.
- made a couple day trips from london - here's one of Radcliffe Library (also known as the Bodleian Library) at Oxford .. fun little college town
- as if it needed an introduction - stonhenge. apparently, it was built sometime in 3500 BC and took something like 30 million hours ot labour ..
- last but not least, aside from my having a conference in wales, one big reason we wanted to visit london was to dine at the Fat Duck - one of the world's top restaurants - and the home of mm's favourite chef, heston blumenthal. part science, part 'dinner theatre' in the most literal sense of the term (where your meal/food is your form of entertainment) - it was definitely a one-of-a-kind experience. here's an example - for one of the seafood dishes, you're given a conch shell that hides an ipod that you're supposed to listen to while you eat the dish - to help stimulate your senses (and the dish).
- and finally, here's a new addition to the collection at home - say hello to paddington bear :)
tuesday, feb 23, 2010 | banff
the canadian rocky mountains of banff take my breath away.
this is a shot taken from mt norquay. photos can't even come close to capturing the majesty - and thrill - of standing at 8,000-something feet. read the dizzing heights of Banff for more.
'when you stand, the tall trees and mountains bow, when you speak, the fiercest of oceans is still, but i see sinners seek devotion, the lost become chosen, and i fall to my knees' - devotion
wednesday, feb 10, 2010 | st lucia & barbados
happy new year! it's been a busy one so far, but here's to another great year to you and yours:) just got back from a weekend in banff snowboarding with mm - thankfully we're both alive and in one piece! more to come soon on the amazing, amazing canadian rockies.
soon after the new year began, made my way to st lucia + barbados for a week, here are some highlights:
- i have to admit - putting my feet in the warm st lucia sand was a really great feeling
- the view by the pool at almond resorts smuggler's cove in st lucia just before sunset
- another thing i love about the caribbean . . .roti :) took a cooking class in barbados at the almond resort beach club - here's the "how to fold a roti" lesson
- swimming with turtles is way more fun than swimming with dolphins - make sure you try it sometime - just make sure you keep your toes closeby - a couple of these turtles were larger than my torso!
- took this shot on the beach outside of my hotel room in barbados, again at sunset, had a cool mood
- the reason i've fallen in love with barbados - is the town of bathsheba on the island's east coast, an easy-going seaside escape
