Category: Travel

Savannah Getaway Guide: Top Things to Eat, Drink and Do

2021 Savannah Getaway Guide

Savannah is the perfect place to see, eat and do new things if you are looking for a getaway. It’s a beautiful southern city with lots of history and charm. Below is my guide to the top things to Eat, Drink and Do in Savannah, GA as of May, 2021:

Stay:

AirBnB Studio on Broughton in the historic district – loved the location of our Airbnb! This was a Luxury Superhost AirBnB – our host Alyssa was amazing, and she provided us with a great guide to the city and gift basket! Gotta love a good gift basket! Would definitely recommend. 

Check out my first look here:

Eat:

  • “BLT” Salad at the Olde Pink House Restaurant–  I had multiple recommendations for the Olde Pink House, so when we went, I tried the “BLT” Salad (award-winning, by the way) and I can see why! The salad had fried green tomatoes, sweet applewood bacon, and black pepper thyme buttermilk dressing. So many contrasts of flavor – sweet, salty, fried, warm and cold. What an amazing combination of ingredients, along with the best fried green tomato I’ve had! Definitely visit this restaurant and get the salad when you go.
Fried Green Tomato Salad at Olde Pink House Restaurant
  • She Crab Soup at the Olde Pink House Restaurant – My boyfriend said this was the best crab soup he’d ever had! It had healthy-sized pieces of crab and was seasoned to perfection. (I’m allergic so could not partake but he loved it!)
She Crab Soup at Olde Pink House Restaurant
  • Pork Osso Busco from a.Lure – Oh my goodness. These pork shanks were fall off the bone, so tender, so juicy, so delicious. One of those dishes where you stop talking and just eat. It was served with Goat Cheese Grits, and Collard Greens. Definitely one of the top dishes we had! 
Pork Osso Busco (Pork Shank) from a.lure restaurant in Savannah, Ga
  • Fried Duck and Waffles from a.Lure I was skeptical about having fried duck, but I tried this item and was blown away! The waffle had a delicious blueberry compote and the star of the waffle was the cinnamon in the batter. The duck was absolutely delicious,  I don’t have a picture of this, but definitely add this to the list! 

Healthy Food Options: 

In the midst of all of the rich, delicious southern food, we found ourselves looking for healthy options, because it’s all about balance! We found green smoothies and other healthy options at the below restaurants:

  • Brighter Day Natural Foods Market and Deli – We came here for green smoothies and sandwiches for lunch, and it was a perfect healthy meal option. This store seemed to mainly have locals shopping there, and it was so educational just walking around and seeing all of the different types of healthy foods and supplements available. This was like Whole Foods to the next level. Cool store to visit if you are by Forsyth Park – nice place for a good healthy smoothie!
  • Art’s Cafe at the SCAD school also had tasty smoothies and sandwiches, and the ambiance was very creative with the bus as the kitchen area. They had a nice outdoor dining area, and we enjoyed our time there eating at the table outside watching the tour trolleys roll by. 

Drink:

Mojitos from Mint to Be Mojito– This place was the best- it’s a nice break from the typical Southern fare, as they specialize in Mojitos and Empanadas- perfect spot for a little drink and a bite. We ended up going there 3 times! I tried the Strawberry, Passionfruit and classic Mint Mojito and they were ALL good. The empanadas were tasty too – not too dry and the crust was flaky and delicious. We had so much fun dancing at their salsa night, where they cleared the tables and had a DJ – call them for days/hours. They also have live music on some nights. Great place!

Get your life at Mint to Be Mojito Bar in Savannah, Ga!

Play:

Plant Riverside District – This is the trendy entertainment district right by the water, and the JW Marriott hotel is at the center of it all. Inside the hotel is an impressive chrome dinosaur and there are a number of stones on display like Amethyst, etc. Gorgeous. Something interesting to see. There are a number of restaurants and rooftops in this area.

One place to stop by when you are on your way out on the town is Boabab Restaurant – This is an African-themed restaurant, but we were thinking that it’s more of a lounge where you would go to kick off your night on the town. Gorgeous African decor, including pictures and sculptures, and the menu has a nice variety of food and cocktails. I thoroughly enjoyed the ambiance – very inspiring. 

Genteel & Bard’s Savannah Dark History & Ghost Encounter Tour – was really more of an evening history walk, and there were some creepy stories told, but I wasn’t scared. More informational and entertaining than anything. I will say that I did feel some potential ghost “energy” at one point, but it didn’t spook me- just a feeling that something bad happened there. I just said a prayer and kept it moving. Good option if you are looking for something to do in the evening. 

Old Town Trolley Tours of Savannah Gave us a great lay of the land around Savannah- I always like doing trolley tours the first day when I visit a new city. The tour guides all have their own unique styles, so when you hop on and hop off, you will have a different experience. My favorite part was when we drove by the Girl Scouts building when all the Girl Scouts on the bus recited the Girl Scout Pledge “On my honor, I will try to serve God and my country – to help people at all times, and to live by the Girl Scout Law!” – that was fun! Any other Girl Scouts in the house?

Shop:

  • Savannah Bee Company – this is a fun place to shop for honey – they have a honey bar where you can taste different kinds of honey, and they also have body butters and lotions. You can also do a Mead tasting (which is a honey wine) while you are there.  I purchased the Acacia honey (my favorite from the tasting) and some fantastic body butter!
  • Paris Market  – I had so much fun shopping at the Paris Market – it’s set up like a Parisian Market and there are so many wonderful things to look at, including antiques, gifts and books. There is also a French cafe with the cutest seating area. The whole place is a vibe and one of my favorite places to shop when I was in Savannah. 
  • Spice & Tea Exchange of Savannah – as The Chef and the Baker, we had to stop by the Spice and Tea Exchange to get some cooking inspiration, and we got a few spices to take home with us. The staff was great and there was such a large variety. If you like to cook, this is a nice place to visit to switch up your spice game.

Planning Tips: 

  • Book your restaurant reservations early! As soon as you book your flight, book your restaurant reservations. The Olde Pink House is about 4-6 weeks out with reservations at the time of this writing. Luckily we were able to do a walk-in around 5pm. We wanted to visit The Grey Restaurant which is led by Black Female Chef Mashama Bailey, but they were booked as well (they are only open Thursdays through Sundays as of now, so plan accordingly) we just stopped by just to visit, and we saw her in the open kitchen, so that was cool! We were told that they do hold some seats at the bar for walk-ins.  Very cool ambiance- used to be an old segregated Greyhound Bus Station & now it has a Black female chef! Such history! What an inspiration. 
  • Savannah is a small city, and you really don’t need more than a few days there. We stayed from Monday evening through Friday afternoon, and we were ready to come back by Thursday as it’s a small town. If you plan your stay well and book your reservations in advance, you can make the most of your time there. 

Hope these tips help as you plan your trip to Savannah! Full of good eating, beautiful sights, and rich, deep history. 

Louisville Covid-cation Guide: Top Places to Eat & Things to Do During the Pandemic

Many of us feel like we need a change of scenery after dealing with COVID for about 6 months now. Although we are in the midst of a pandemic, a road trip and local vacation may be just what you need.

I went to Louisville, KY for a little getaway last weekend, and it was a nice change of pace from Chicago. It’s only a 4.5 hour drive, which makes it a great place to go to get a taste of small-town charm coming from a big city. Even though everything wasn’t open, I was able to find things to do and great places to eat. Louisville has a fantastic food scene.

Below is my summary of my trip – if you live in the midwest or if Louisville is easy for you to get to, bookmark this page for some of my top picks!

Louisville Covid-Cation (Covid-Vacation) Guide

Stay:

Air B&B in the trendy NuLu (New Louisville) neighborhood

  • The NULU location is great, as you are in the bourbon district and close to distilleries, including Angel’s Envy. There were a number of restaurants and shops within walking distance, and all of the locals were super friendly, offering advice on places to eat and things to do.

Eat:

  • Lunch at Another Place Sandwich Shop. They make scratch-made sandwiches with freshly-roasted meats and handmade breads and sauces. The food was high-quality and excellent. The staff provided some great recommendations on other places to eat.
Sandwich from Another Place Sandwich Shop in Louisville, KY
Delicious scratch-made sandwiches from Another Place Sandwich Shop in Louisville, KY
  • Please & Thank You – Cute place for coffee and tea. They had an Earl Grey tea with Rose so I had to try it and it was tasty. They claim to have the best Chocolate Chip Cookies & they were tasty. Reminded me of the Soft-Batch cookies from back in the day. They also have a walk-up window, which was nice.
Coffee cup from Please and Thank You shop in Louisville, KY
Stop by the walk-up window at Please & Thank You for some tasty coffee, tea and cookies!
  • Biscuit Belly – a must-go for breakfast. I thoroughly enjoyed my biscuit breakfast sandwich and the next time I go to Louisville, I will be sure to visit again and get another one. 
Outdoor sign for Biscuit Belly restaurant in Louisville, KY
Biscuit Belly in Louisville is a must-go breakfast spot!
  •  Dinner at Bar Vetti –  Seriously had the BEST pork chops I’ve had in my LIFE! We kept raving about it so much to the point where the chef came out and told us how he made them – they were brined and pan-fried and DELICIOUS. Definitely going back there. 

Bar Vetti had the BEST pork chop I’ve had in years! Maybe in life!

  • Lueberry – I like to get green smoothies and drink my vegetables, and Lueberry had a number of unique smoothie options, and the portion size was HUGE at 24 oz. so I really felt like I was getting a lot for my money. 

Drink:

  • Many of the distilleries were closed, but Angel’s Envy was open just a block away from where we were staying and they were offering bourbon tastings. They also had some DELICIOUS pre-mixed cocktails that you can take to-go and pour over ice. Definitely get the Henderson. 
Pre-mixed cocktail-to-go from Angel's Envy Distillery

Things to Do:

  • Art Exhibit at the 21c Hotel & Museum – Free admission – they had some very interesting pieces that kept my attention – I spent over an hour looking at all of the art – this installation had some powerful pieces that spoke to political power. Worth seeing!
  • The Kentucky Castle – This castle is located about an hour outside of Louisville and worth the drive. The castle is used as a hotel, restaurant and spa. Both the inside and outside are stunning. I had dinner here and the food is delicious. My favorite item on the menu was their short ribs and gourmet macaroni and cheese. The staff was wonderful with top-notch service. This castle is so fabulous that some members of the cast of Vanderpump Rules got married there.  Definitely add it to your list if you have the time.
The Kentucky Castle is a stunning beauty – great for a romantic night out or girls trip!
  • Steamboat Ride – There happened to be a steamboat race that weekend with the Belle of Louisville, and we enjoyed a 2-hour boat party on the deck of the boat with a great DJ. It was fun to see the big red wheel turning and ride along the river.
The Belle of Louisville Steamboat
  • Historic Old Louisville Mansion Tour – This was a guided tour where we learned about some of the old historic homes in Louisville along with the architecture. Very interesting and it’s always fun to look at historical houses. 

Shop:

  • There are cute boutique shops up and down street. I enjoyed Red Tree  – it’s a quirky, eclectic shop that sells furniture, home goods and gifts, and it is much bigger inside than it looks outside. You must go outside to the back patio to see the umbrellas and the garden- it’s truly an oasis in the city.
Decorative back patio with umbrellas
Beautiful back patio area at the Red Tree shop in Louisville, KY

Overall Impression:

Louisville is officially on the map for me as a destination to get a change of pace from Chicago. There was overwhelming amount of support for Breonna Taylor (who was from Louisville) with window signs and street art showing her love, and Black Lives Matter signage. We went during Derby week, and many times the city seemed deserted. Despite this fact, the people we encountered were incredibly friendly and wanted to help us to have a great time. Louisville definitely captured my heart – it’s a quirky city, and their saying is “Keep Louisville Weird” which means to me that there will always be something interesting to see and do.  I look forward to returning when things are more back-to-normal. I have nothing but love for Louisville! 

What I Ate in Iceland

When my friend asked if I would be interested in going to Iceland, I said “Why not?” (I read Shonda Rhimes book the Year of Yes, so I’m very open to things this year).

It’s a surprisingly short flight (only 5 hours from JFK airport in New York), it’s clean, modern, they speak English, and there are drop-dead gorgeous landscapes.

As I started my research, I kept reading that Iceland has terrible food. I will admit that I didn’t have any of the dried fish or rotten shark BUT I was able to have some food that was tasty and delicious. I will note that the food in Iceland is expensive. It seemed as if everything costs a minimum of $20. Minimum.

If you ever make your way to Reykjavik Iceland, be sure to check out these dishes and restaurants:

Breakfast/Brunch

Slippbarrin

I stayed at the Icelandair Hotel Reykjavik Marina (excellent hotel that I would HIGHLY recommend) and the breakfast and Sunday brunch were excellent. They have a fantastic variety with foods including oatmeal, flatbreads, waffles, bacon, quiche, breakfast pastries, fruit, etc.

The Sunday brunch costs about $30 USD and the breakfasts during the week are about $25. This breakfast/brunch is worth the price. We ended up going there 3 times. So good.

 

Lamb Soup:

I had some lamb & vegetable soup at Geysir Restaurant during one of the tours I went on to see a Geyser, and it was absolutely delicious. According to my tour guide, sheep live as wild animals in the mountains resulting in excellent quality meat. The soup had a light broth, had a mild in flavor, and great texture. I would highly recommend it if you like lamb. The cost was $20 and included bread and butter along with 1 free soup refill.

Lamb & vegetable soup. Fantastic!
Lamb & vegetable soup. Fantastic!

 

 

 

Ice Cream at Valdis:

As cool as it was in Reykjavik in August (Mid-50’s), Ice Cream was a popular treat.

A local suggested that we visit Valdis over by the marina, and it did not disappoint. The flavors were incredible. I had a flavor called Bailey’s & Ranill, which tasted like RumChata, and I paired that with a coffee-flavored ice cream. Best combination of all time. They also had an interesting grey-colored licorice flavor, which tasted like a black jelly bean. The shop is a little bit off the beaten path, and there seemed to be mostly locals at this shop. They also give huge portions if you wanted to share with a friend. My two scoops of Ice Cream on a cone cost me about $6 USD.

 

Seafood at Saegreiffin – The Sea Barron

 This place was so good that I forgot to take a picture. There was a line out the door that was about a 30-minute wait. They are known for their lobster soup & they offer a number of grilled fish items on skewers, and you can also get potatoes and vegetable skewers. I had the salmon skewer, and it was perfectly cooked and seasoned. After I ordered, they said that it would take another 30 minutes for the food to come out. It was worth the wait – definitely stop by here for some fresh seafood. It was also relatively inexpensive at ~$25 USD for the Salmon skewer and the potato skewer.

 

Hot Dogs at Bæjarins Beztu

This is a famous hot dog stand in Reykjavik where celebrities frequent, including Bill Clinton and most recently the Kardashians. The hot dog was tasty and had unique toppings including ketchup, a mayo sauce, sweet mustard, and fried crispy onions underneath the hot dog. The crispy onions added nice flavor and crunch – I would definitely get it again. My hot dog cost about $5 USD.

 

 

Ramen at Ramen Momo

For a change of pace, we tried a Himalayan-Tibetan restaurant with Ramen noodles. I had the chicken broth and chicken added to my noodles but found it to be bland. Be sure to ask to for it to be spicy, as my friend did and liked hers better. The chicken dumplings were ordered as a side item and those were crunchy & delicious! The space is tiny, so we got the food to-go and ate it at the hotel. The cost for the Ramen and fried dumplings was about $25 USD.

Nice change of pace
Nice change of pace

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lava Restaurant at the Blue Lagoon

The food here was good, but ridiculously overpriced. For lunch, I ordered the Cod fish with potatoes along with a beet salad, and tasted my friend’s crème brulee. The cost was about $65 USD.

 

Skyr Yogurt

The Skyr yogurt in Iceland is delicious, silky, smooth, and packs a lot of protein. In general, be sure to have any dairy products that you can – the texture really is fantastic. Almost luxurious. This yogurt is available everywhere, from hotels to convenience stores – you won’t be able to miss it. I’m going to be looking for this at Whole Foods here in the states.

Silky, luxurious yogurt
Silky, luxurious yogurt

 

 

Fast Food: Domino’s Pizza

I hate to admit it, but I ate Domino’s Pizza in Iceland. (I know. Shameful.) There was a late bus schedule at the Blue Lagoon and we got back to Reykyavik after 10pm. Little did we know that all the restaurants close around 10pm in Iceland. We ordered pizza delivery because we were tired and cold and didn’t feel like walking across town to the one restaurant that was open. Note that a small pizza in Iceland is more like a personal-pan pizza size in the US. Itty bitty. I live in Chicago so I never eat Domino’s but it was actually pretty tasty (or maybe we were just hungry). The cost for a small pizza and wings was about $25 USD.

As a side note, there is no McDonalds or Starbucks in Reykjavík. I was told that there was a McDonalds but it closed down because the prices were too high.

Reykjavik is a charming city and I hope that it can maintain it’s charm with the influx of tourists. I ate very well in Iceland & hopefully with these tips, you will too!

Við skulum borða! (Bon Appetit!)

Adventures in Hong Kong and Shanghai!

I had the amazing opportunity to visit Shanghai for work, with a little side trip to Hong Kong.

Hong Kong is a fabulous, modern and trendy city with something for everyone. I enjoyed the Soho area on Hong Kong Island with all of the trendy shops and restaurants. There is an international vibe in this area and a creative energy that reminded me of New York. I would definitely go back to Hong Kong & spend more time – maybe get some custom clothes made.

Below are some of my tips & observations in Hong Kong:

  • The Regal Kowloon Hotel in Hong Kong was a pretty good place to stay –the price was moderate at about $150/night, the rooms were clean, it was in a good location, included free WiFi, and the breakfast buffet was great! They had breakfast choices available for all cultures including American breakfast, Chinese, they had Indian food, and it was quite a spread. If you want a more glamorous hotel, the Peninsula and Langham Hotels are a staple on Kowloon. It could also be fun to try a boutique hotel on Hong Kong Island, but it won’t be cheap!

My hotel room at the Regal Kowloon Hotel
My hotel room at the Regal Kowloon Hotel in Hong Kong

  • Be sure to visit the Soho area  Soho reminded me of a mix of San Francisco (with the huge hills) and New York, with the cute shops and restaurants.  I enjoyed the Olive Greek & Mediterranean Restaurant, which had great service and delicious food. It has good reviews on Trip Advisor as well. I also spent a nice amount of time in a boutique called Goods of Desire where there is a variety of trendy Chinese-inspired gifts, clothes & jewelry.
  • The Temple Street night market is a fun experience, but don’t expect much as far as the merchandise. Like my co-worker said, it’s like visiting a huge dollar store. Still a great place to take in the sights and sounds of the city.

Temple Street Market in Hong Kong
Temple Street Market in Hong Kong

 

Egg waffles are a popular street food to try with long lines. They tasted a lot like a hot fortune cookie but in a waffle format. Not very sweet, but they seem to be all the rage. I personally could have used a little bit of vanilla ice cream and nutella – that would have taken them over the top.

Egg waffles are the thing to eat in Hong Kong!
Egg waffles are the thing to eat in Hong Kong!

 

Public transportation is a breeze! So easy and clean. There is an express train that goes from the airport to Kowloon, and a shuttle that goes straight to the Regal Kowloon Hotel.

On the train in Hong Kong. So clean and quiet.
On the train in Hong Kong. So clean and quiet

  • The Big Buddha was an interesting experience, with beautiful views and a little village full of places to shop and things to do.

Me in front of the big buddha
Me in front of the big buddha

 

Shanghai:

Shanghai has the best skyline I’ve ever seen. The city is slightly overwhelming as it’s very large and spread out with a population of 23 million people. Being from Chicago, our skyline is hard to beat, but I fell in love with the gorgeous buildings and the Shanghai pearl tower.

Shanghai's breathtaking skyline!
Shanghai’s breathtaking skyline!

Tips & Observations in Shanghai:

  • Be prepared for the toilets. They are literally a hole in the ground. It takes a little maneuvering to navigate. Keep some tissues on hand just in case you need them. There are the “western toilets” in some places, like the shopping malls, but this style is common as well.

The toilet situation in Shanghai. Get ready!
The toilet situation in Shanghai. Get ready!

  • Napkins don’t seem to be a thing in Shanghai. Many times you will get a hot towel, but that’s about it.

 

  • In the touristy areas, many of the people from other provinces haven’t seen many people from other cultures. As a black woman, I felt like a celebrity sometimes. People’s eyes would get big, they would start whispering to each other, and sometimes walk over and ask for a picture. I even caught some people sneaking pictures – acting like they were taking a selfie, but they were really taking pictures of me! It was crazy how excited they were. They said that we were “foreign beauties.” I’ll take it!

 

  • Yu Garden is a fun place to walk around and shop. The French Concession area also has some trendy little unique shops where they had unique restaurant concepts and stores with beauty products.

In the French Concession area frolicking under the umbrellas!
In the French Concession area frolicking under the umbrellas!

  • China bans Facebook and Google. You need to get a VPN before you get over there.
  • Personal space is very small in China. People get very close to you in elevators and trains, and you may be cut off while walking or pushed in a large crowd. Get ready!
  • The food in China is different than it is here in the states. The sauces are different. It’s still tasty, but just different. Chinese food every day got a little bit tiring, I will say. The thing that I appreciated coming back to the states is our wide variety of cuisines from around the world. The first thing I ate was Lou Malnati’s pizza!

Overall, this was a trip to remember – my first major international business trip. I flew business class for the first time & that’s definitely the way to go for a 15 hour flight. The fully reclining seats & lounge access are a huge bonus. Traveling truly makes you appreciate different cultures, but also reminds you of the things you take for granted (like our freedom of speech and our wonderful variety of food). So long, China! It’s been real!

IMG_3674

Foodie Finds in Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro is a beautiful city, and I enjoyed the beaches and fabulous views during my visit in August. There is good food in Rio but you have to know where to find it.

One popular dish in Brazil is a comforting, delicious meal called Feijoada. This black bean stew includes pork and meat, which provides rich flavor. Rice, mustard greens, and a cornmeal dish are served along with it, making it very hearty. I mixed all of the flavors together and it was incredibly satisfying and comforting. My friends and I had this dish at a restaurant called Boteco Belmonte in Rio. This would be a great dish to make on a cold, Chicago fall or winter day – now I just need to find a good recipe!

My friends and I enjoying Feijoada in Rio
My friends and I enjoying Feijoada in Rio

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The national cocktail is the caiprinha drink, which is mixed with cachaca (similar to rum), sugar, and lime. The best ones are found on the beach, where they are nice and sweet with a kick, and incredibly inexpensive compared to bars/hotels.

Delicious and refreshing caiprinha
Delicious and refreshing caiprinha

 

Another wonderful treat in Brazil are the corner juice bars. They make juices and smoothies and they are absolutely delicious. They offer a number of different fruits, and one of the popular flavors was Acai – which is a superfruit rich in antioxidants. I had mine blended with banana, and it can be thick enough to be served with a spoon. You can also make a bowl of it and eat it with granola to add some crunchy texture.

Delicious Acai-banana smoothie
Delicious Acai-banana smoothie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Brazil is also known for it’s steakhouses, and there is steak everywhere. Shrimp was on many of the menus as well. Being Americans, we really like having some variety in our cuisine, so we sought out a couple of other non-Brazilian restaurants that did not disappoint. I happened to find Santa Satisfacio restaurant on Yelp. As much as people/restaurants sometimes say bad things about Yelp, I really like to use it as a tool to find good restaurants, even when I’m traveling internationally. This Italian restaurant had some great reviews, and Yelp didn’t steer us wrong. The food was AMAZING. I can honestly say that it’s the best Italian food I’ve had in a long time. The salads were very creative. We had a garlic pasta alfredo dish where all of the flavors were incredibly well-balanced, and a tomato-based pasta dish as well. Highly recommended. If you happen to be visiting Rio, I would highly recommend this restaurant. It’s small and quaint with a trendy vibe and it was a participant in Restaurant week there. Check out this link to see pictures of their food.

Amazing pasta at Santa Satisfacio!
Amazing pasta at Santa Satisfacio!

 

Another great restaurant we found was in Ipanema called Via Sete. My friends and I ate there for lunch and their menu was very creative. The cocktails were great – Pictured here is a Passion Fruit cocktail and one that I made up with strawberries, lime and mint with cachaca, which is like rum. They had a nice variety from upscale sandwiches, wraps, and salads to seafood dishes. I had a delicious chicken wrap, and one of my friends had the grilled octopus which looks amazing. Check them out at TripAdvisor here:

Refreshing cocktails at Via Sete in Ipanema
Refreshing cocktails at Via Sete in Ipanema

 

Grilled Octopus at Via Sete
Grilled Octopus at Via Sete

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rio Travel Tips to Make Your Life Easier:

–      Learn some basic Portuguese. People in Rio don’t speak English like you may find in Europe. There may be only one person in a restaurant that knows English. A good way to learn is through an app called DuoLingo. It’s free and a lot of fun. You can learn a language for 5 minutes a day if you are diligent.

–       Stay in a hotel that offers beach services, including umbrella and chair set-up, towels and water. This makes your life so much easier. We stayed at the Pestana Rio Atlantica Hotel on Copacabana Beach which has these services included and it was great.

–       Go to the Spa at Belmond Copacabana Palace as soon as you land. Don’t delay. Run, don’t walk. I had an amazing massage there. The next time I go on an international trip, the Spa is going to be my first stop!

Foodie Holiday In Spain

When my friend asked me if I wanted to visit her in Europe, I immediately said yes, as I love to travel. We decided on Barcelona on Thanksgiving weekend, and the best part is that I was able to use airline miles and hotel points for a virtually free trip!

Ham, Ham everywhere!
Ham, Ham everywhere!

Barcelona is a cosmopolitan city that offers amazing food, art, history & shopping. It’s pretty easy to navigate once you understand the lay of the land. I would highly suggest getting on one of the hop-on hop off tours as soon as you arrive to get a feel for where everything is located. I stayed at the trendy DoubleTree Hotel, and enjoyed the location and the great service.

My lovely hotel - the Doubletree Alexandra Barcelona
My lovely hotel – the Doubletree Alexandra Barcelona

Lunch in Barcelona starts around 2pm and dinner starts around 8-9pm, so the eating schedule takes a little getting used to, especially when you have jet lag like I did. Between 2-4pm is siesta where people take their lunch breaks and rest. This mid-day break is taken very seriously as many stores close during this time. It’s very important to pay attention to store hours on the outside of buildings when in Barcelona, especially if it’s a small shop or boutique.

Pay attention to these signs
Pay attention to these signs

I went on a Gourmet walking tour, which was quite informative. The food that you see in Spain truly ties into their history. One pleasant surprise was the huge number of French bakeries and pastries available, as Spain was under French rule for two centuries, and the food stayed (yes!). I enjoyed getting croissants and tea as my breakfast in the morning.The first place I visited to eat was Cafe Emma, which was a bistro on Pau Claris – thoroughly enjoyed it!

Ham seemed like the national food there, and I learned that there are 2 types of ham, black hoof and white hoofed ham. The black hoofed ham is raised on the countryside and is considered to be of higher quality. It generally has less fat than ham with the white hoof. The black-hoofed pigs are fed acorns and are encouraged to run, which results in a high-quality piece of meat. I went into the La Boqueria food market, and was shocked to see ham laying there with the hooves still on them. (As Jimmy Fallon says, “ew!”). At first I was grossed out, but after learning more about it, I understood that the hooves are on them so that you can know the level of quality you are getting.

This hoof of the ham was startling at first until I learned more
This hoof of the ham was startling at first until I learned more

In Barcelona, there were a number of restaurants offering Pinxos (pronounced “peen-chos”). The idea of Pinxos is quite genius. They are basically small appetizers on top of bread with a small stick in it. You go in, get a plate, grab the food you want, and then when you are finished, the waitress/cashier will count the number of remaining sticks you have for your final price. This is great because if you just want a little snack, you could just get 2-3 pinxos for about 5-6 Euro. There were also dessert Pinxos available, which gave me some party ideas. A Pinxos restaurant concept would be great in the city of Chicago – especially in the loop where people don’t have a lot of time to devote to lunch.

Pinxos in Barcelona
Pinxos in Barcelona

As far as tapas are concerned, the restaurants in Barcelona offered many of the same tapas that you may see in American restaurants, but they taste much better. I had the best Patatas Bravas that I’ve ever had IN LIFE.

If you get tired of tapas and pinxos, there are other cuisines available in Barcelona. We stopped by Thai Barcelona for some Thai Food, and the food was good, and the ambiance was absolutely gorgeous. I will say that the food was a bit pricy – around 18 Euros for an entrée, but it was a nice experience.

Another restaurant that I enjoyed visiting was called Cornelia and Co. the ambiance was very laid back and relaxed, and the food was good (although they had small portions). Good place to go if you are dining alone. They had a good mix of cuisines, including Spanish and Italian food, and I tried this Catalan dish with bread where you rub garlic on top, drizzle olive oil and sea salt on it, then squeeze the juice of a tomato on it. Delish – although I ended up smelling like garlic for a couple of days. The woman who sat next to me in the restaurant showed me how to do it.

Catalan bread and olive oil with tomatoes, and sea salt. Delish!
Catalan bread and olive oil with tomatoes, and sea salt. Delish!

Below is a video where you can see some of my adventures. Enjoy!!

How Chicago Gourmet Helped Steal the James Beard Awards Away from NYC

I had the opportunity to interview Sam Toia, the President of the Illinois Restaurant Association during the Chicago Gourmet show, and learned that Chicago Gourmet was key to helping Chicago to host the James Beard Awards it’s 25th year (after being held in New York for the past 24 years). Impressive! So, how did that happen?

Below are my interview highlights from my chat with Sam Toia:

Sam Toia, President and CEO of the Illinois Restaurant Association and Erica Williams, Food Blogger for www.tastebuddiaries.com

Q: What has Chicago Gourmet Done for the Restaurant Industry in both Chicago and in Illinois?

A:   “We are bringing the James Beard Foundation Award ceremonies here in May, and it all started with Chicago Gourmet. It started 7 years ago, and the talent that we have in this town from Rick Bayless, to Stephanie Izard to Graham Elliot is phenomenal. We are able to showcase to the city, the state and the rest of the country that our homegrown talent is as good or better than they have in New York, San Francisco or LA. There are over 180 chefs participating in Chicago Gourmet, so just by that fact you see that every chef wants to participate in Chicago Gourmet.”

Q: How does Chicago Gourmet benefit Chicago from a Financial/Tourism standpoint? A: “The Mayor is working on getting 55 Million visitors a year to the city of Chicago by 2020, and it looks like we are closing in on 50 Million in the next year, so we’re getting close!  When people look at what city they are going to travel to, 38% look at the restaurants in that town. They may say “I want to go to Mexique, I want to go to Grace, I want to go to Stephanie Izard, Frontera…Alinea…” – so they look at the restaurants and then make the reservations to come.  The front half is business, but the back half is tourism. Chicago Gourmet shows how great the homegrown talent is here, and it’s getting bigger and better every year, and attracting more visitors. It’s great for the industry, the tax base, the restaurants, the museums, and it’s one of the cogs in the wheel to bring more people to Chicago.”

Q:  This year, Chicago Gourmet is sold out and the demand is off the charts. Do you have plans to grow it, add more days, etc.

A: Absolutely, we are always looking to grow. We will definitely sit down and go back to the table. We need more real estate. Over the weekend, we bring in about 12,000 people between the Hamburger Hop, and Saturday and Sunday at Chicago Gourmet.

Q: What big things is the Illinois Restaurant Association working on for 2015?

A:  “We are bringing the James Beard Award ceremonies here. It was 24 years in New York, and it’s the first time they are out of New York in their 25th year. The James Beard awards are like the Oscars of the food industry, so we will be working on that, and it’s the first Monday in May. We will be working on that as soon as we wrap up with Chicago Gourmet with the ChooseChicago tourism arm here in the city. We are working very diligently on the ceremony coming in May.”

Erica:  “Wow – That’s taking Chicago’s food scene to a WHOLE new level – Having the Beard’s here after 24 years in New York? How did you do that?”

Sam Toia: “There had always been rumbles about moving to San Francisco, or another city, and Mayor Emmanuel reached out and said that it would be great to have the Beard’s here, so we had great cooperation from City Hall and Choose Chicago, and we made our presentation to the Beard Foundation. With the homegrown talent here, it just made sense. San Francisco was trying to get it, and we got it before San Francisco.”

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So, there you have it. Chicago should be proud. Keep an eye on the James Beards in May – I know I will be! In the meantime, check out the delectable bites I had from our amazing homegrown talent in the best food city in the world – Chicago!:

Lemon Olive Oil Cake from Acanto
Lemon Olive Oil Cake from Acanto

Bourbon Mousse with Smoked Bourbon Sugar Bacon from the Dawson
Bourbon Mousse with Smoked Bourbon Sugar Bacon from the Dawson

 

Roasted Apple Ice Cream Taffy Apple from Mindy Segal
Roasted Apple Ice Cream Taffy Apple from Mindy Segal

 

Tasty Ethiopian from Demera Ethiopian Restaurant
Tasty Ethiopian from Demera Ethiopian Restaurant

 

Mercat a la Planxa
Mercat a la Planxa

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More of Mindy Segal's apple creations
More of Mindy Segal’s apple creations

Cheers from Chicago Gourmet 2014!
Cheers from Chicago Gourmet 2014!

Panama – A Foodie’s Paradise

I just returned from a trip to Panama and I really enjoyed my time there, although I had quite the adventure. We accidentally ended up “glamping” (glamorous camping) because we had made flight arrangements to Bocas del Toro, a Caribbean island off of Panama, not realizing that the hotels were 100% completely sold out. Bocas del Toro is a very popular international tourist destination, especially for New Years, where hotels need to be booked 3-4 months out, as the island is very small. We ended up staying two nights in Bocas and two nights in Panama City, which is much more cosmopolitan than I had anticipated.

For the Bocas portion of the trip, a cancellation opened up at the Palmar Tent Lodge, an eco-friendly tent lodge that is off the grid – using rain water for all water needs, solar power for lights, etc. The only available rooms were in dorm tents with 3 bunk beds. I had never done anything like this so I tried to embrace it, but in actuality, there was not much “glam” to the glamping. We were one with the earth. Monkeys playing in the trees, an abundance of insects, lizards, strange sounds in the night, pimped out outhouses as bathrooms, cold rain showers…it was very basic, and took a lot of getting used to. The plus side was the soothing sound of the ocean waves as I went to sleep, and the beautiful night sky where the stars where plentiful and literally shining like diamonds. We looked at the stars in awe for about 2 hours – a very memorable moment. The temperature was also nice and warm, in the upper 80’s – a welcome change from the winter cold in Chicago.

The Food:
The food in Panama was delicious all-around, especially the seafood. In Bocas, we visited a restaurant called the Pirate, and I had a delicious whitefish covered with a curry sauce, coconut rice, steamed vegetables and sweet plantains. The fish was perfectly cooked – I will note that the fish was a little on the salty side, and we experienced this at multiple restaurants, so perhaps this is the way they season it – still very tasty, especially with the sweet plantains to balance it out.

Panamanian Curried Fish with Sweet Plantains and Steamed Vegetables
Panamanian Curried Fish with Sweet Plantains and Steamed Vegetables

Bocas is also known for the very inexpensive lobster and shellfish options. I did not partake as I am allergic, but definitely good to know if you enjoy shellfish.

Many of the smaller restaurants in Bocas had a very lightly fried whitefish that was incredibly fresh and delicious. On a snorkeling trip, we stopped at an ocean restaurant oasis, where they served this fish and I also had an amazing Cuba Libre drink – Coca-Cola, Rum and fresh lime juice. Perfectly balanced and SO delicious.

During my time in Panama City, we took advantage of the many varieties of baked empanadas (meat pies) that were in various hotels and shops. The empanadas were great as a to-go snack to eat for later (i.e. on a flight). Highly recommended.

In Casco Viejo, (the Old Town section) we visited a restaurant called Casablanca, which was located in an open square. We sat outside in the evening and listened to the sounds of a live harp player. The food was delicious – once again I got seafood – a whitefish in a rich buttery sauce. I also had some plantains, which were served in these cute mini fry baskets.

Plantains in mini fry baskets.
Plantains in mini fry baskets.

Shrimp served in a pineapple
Shrimp served in a pineapple

The Casco Viejo area has a number of cute shops and restaurants, including a French Ice Cream shop called Granclement , which also makes the cones from scratch. I thoroughly enjoyed this ice cream – it was very rich and flavorful, and they had a nice variety of interesting options. I had the vanilla bean ice cream because the vanilla flavor was so strong – a refreshing treat for a warm day.

Granclement Ice Cream in Panama with homemade cone
Granclement Ice Cream in Panama with homemade cone

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Granclement Ice Cream Store in Panama
Granclement Ice Cream Store in Panama

One must get coffee in Panama, because the coffee beans are harvested in the mountains of a region in Panama called Boquette. I was told that the coffee is very good and strong (I am not a coffee enthusiast). There are also tours of the coffee farms in Boquette that are available. I didn’t get a chance to make it to this area, but if I return to Panama, I would put this on my list.

Overall, I enjoyed my trip to Panama, and would encourage anyone to visit, and experience the food and culture. Flights to Panama are relatively inexpensive from the states, and the country offers so much to do – whether you want to stay in the city, visit the mountains or take a day trip to one of the islands, there is something for everyone.

Below is a link to a video summary of my trip. Enjoy!

CLICK HERE:

http://youtu.be/UeQkr_jdFUY

Foodie Finds in London

London has the reputation for having bland and uninspired food, but If you look in the right places, there are some tasty finds worthy of the foodie taste buds.

Below were some of my favorites from my recent trip:

Wagamama – Before my trip, a few of my friends mentioned that I should visit a place called Wagamama – a very prevalent Thai food restaurant in London. It’s everywhere, and has great food. I had a delicious curry chicken dish with coconut rice. They also have several noodle dishes. The one that I had wasn’t my favorite (a little dry), but the rice dish was superb. I also had a couple of dumplings, – very tasty, along with some peach iced tea. A nice London welcome lunch. Check!

Harrod’s Food Halls– Another recommendation that I received was to visit the Harrod’s food halls. Harrod’s is a famous and fancy department store known for high-end clothing and their food halls. ( I remember an episode of Whitney and Bobby’s reality show where Whitney Houston and her daughter were shopping in the store…but I digress…) I didn’t know what to expect, but it was simply foodie paradise. The food halls are split up into rooms that specialize in certain kinds of gourmet food, and you can either buy the food to-go (or as they say in London “take-away”) or you can eat it there. I enjoyed the tea and candy room, which had so many kinds of tea that it would make your head spin, and hundreds of different chocolate delights. I purchased some of the tea in the tea room, which had loose tea, tea bags, in all kinds of flavors, and all of the tea accessories you would want. There was a room specializing in meats and seafood, which included a caviar bar. There was also a section dedicated to jams and jellies, and even a specialty salt section. They had everything, along with glittery cupcakes.

Afternoon Tea at the Capitol Hotel– Time Out London mentioned the Capitol Hotel as an excellent option for afternoon tea. Turns out that it was rated as the best value for your money for afternoon tea. Cost was 20 pounds , which included finger sandwiches (cucumber, salmon and egg), a wide selection of teas, along with a 3-tier tower of pastries and confections. The room was beautifully decorated to the point where I made mental notes for my future home. Great service. The food was good, and I found the scones to be more like a buttery, fluffy southern-style biscuit than the dry scones that we typically tend to eat in the states. I told my friend Caroline “This isn’t a scone, this is a biscuit!” They use clotted cream (much like butter) on the scones along with jam. Tasty. A must-do for a London trip.

Food Market – I visited the Borough food market on a Saturday, which was one of my favorite parts of the trip. There were food vendors selling meat and fruit for the locals to take home (much like a farmer’s market), and there was ready-to eat food that you could eat for breakfast or lunch. I had a Caribbean curry chicken dish, which was absolutely delicious. They gave big portions, and I could have easily split the dish and still been satisfied. I tried goat milk ice cream for the first time, which is supposed to be good for those that lactose intolerant. I had a strawberry flavor, and could taste the “goat” aftertaste – like goat cheese. Not bad, but I wouldn’t be rushing out to eat it. A good alternative for those that are lactose intolerant…

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The Baltic – One of my co-workers recommended that I visit the Baltic restaurant for a trendy, gourmet dinner. The food was mainly eastern-European and they had a large selection of infused vodkas. I tried one of the honey-infused vodkas, which was served in a shot glass (for sipping, not chugging). It was served warm, and had a nice, sweet aftertaste. They had several other flavors that they made in-house as well. A great place for drinks. The food was good. I had a beet salad with a very mild and smooth goat cheese, and a chicken dish, which was buttery and flavorful. The restaurant is just a couple of blocks from the Young Vic Theater (where I saw a fabulous musical), so they have some pre-fixe menus before and after the shows (early dinner or a late dinner). I’d recommend the Baltic for a nice dinner on the town.

Pret A Manger – Chicago recently opened this store in the city – straight from London. This is a good store for a quick sandwich, or soup, and they also had breakfast. I noticed that they were advertising porridge, which I did not get the chance to eat. The selections were much different than what you would see in the states. For example, they had cold sandwiches w/shrimp inside. Prawns and shrimp seemed to be a popular item in London, as I noticed prawn cocktail potato chips in the grocery stores, etc. Very interesting.

EAT – I had my first meat pie with mashed potatoes and gravy at EAT. It was a lot like a chicken pot pie – best way I can describe it. Very comforting and delicious. Highly recommended.

If you look for good food in London, you will find it. It does exist. If you find yourself heading to London, these places are good options. Bon Appetit!