Fall’in into the Big Easy

I just returned from my second trip to New Orleans in the last two months and once again I found some new yummy treasures. I could go on and on about the great spots for food, but I just want to share three “must go to spots” when you are in NOLA.

This week in NOLA was unusually warm for Fall . . . 92 degrees and high humidity as soon as I stepped off of the plane. But that didn’t stop me. Once I reached the hotel, I literally dropped my bags and sped off the block and a half to Redfish Grill on Bourbon and Canal for BB-Q Oysters and the most decadent Double Chocolate Bread Pudding with hot dark AND white chocolate ganache poured on top!! It’s so good that you have to order it 20 minutes in advance. And it is well worth the wait. This is my favorite place for bread pudding and their bb-q oysters . . . ahh they just melt in your mouth with the fresh crumbles of blue cheese.

Next on my list is just a trolley car away down St. Charles Street for $1.25. Hop off anywhere between 8th Avenue and Audobon Park (by Tulane and Loyola), walk 5 blocks over to Magazine Street and you will be surrounded by lots of quaint stores, shops, and eateries. Not to mention the beautiful homes you will see along your way.

I know I said three places, but I have to give a shout out to the ladies at Bamboo who are so friendly and the store is great too! They have everything from your favorite Votivo candles (Red Currant is the best) to spa services. The month of October they have late night manis and pedis! What more can you ask for?

Once you are done picking up some goodies stroll down to the Rum House for island time. They have rum from Barbados to New Orleans and it’s good. Oh and the food? It’s reasonably priced and it’s so yummy! Order the tacos of your choice with a side of coconut mango rice — delicious.

End your evening or day with tantalizing treats from Sucré, a sweets boutique. You can’t walk by without being intrigued by the decor of chocolate and big picture windows drawing you in. You can choose from Gelato, stuffed cupcakes, macaroons and truffles. Talk about sinful! I loved this place because of the treats of course, but also the inviting and old fashioned candy/soda shop atmosphere, with a modern twist. While I wasn’t in the mood for sweets I couldn’t leave without tasting something. As a die hard hot chocolate fan, I opted for their Extra Dark Drinking Chocolate and it tasted like a brownie in a mug. It’s 65% cacao from Venezuela. I had to snag some and bring it back to DC.

I hope you stop by these places and others that NOLA has to offer.  Support this wonderful city and enjoy the history and culture it has to offer. It is still one of my favorite places in this country.

Sunny, Sunny San Diego!

Once again, I was on the road headed to another city in late October. My third since early September. But this time I was excited because I was headed to a city I had been yearning to go to — San Diego!! Let me apologize now for a long post, but I was there for 6 days and have lots to share!

My mother joined me on this trip and flew from Chicago to meet me. We had a lot of fun exploring the city together. I was there for a conference and my days and most of my evenings were consumed with sessions, exhibiting and receptions. But we were able to squeeze in some fun, a little sightseeing and of course a bit of restaurant hopping.

Put Down your Suitcase – We stayed at the Westin Downtown, not to be confused with other Westin, which is the Gaslamp Quarter. I was not disappointed by this hotel at all, it definitely kept up the Westin/Starwood reputation. Large rooms with a nice view of the city, helpful and friendly staff, and in a good location. One of the things I liked most about this hotel was there were lots of places within the hotel where you could sit and work, have a mimosa or just relax. The hotel is also 5 blocks from the outdoor mall Horton Plaza where you can do some serious shopping. It is also 6-8 blocks from the end of the Gaslamp Quarter.

Did you say Sunday Brunch? - I have always said my favorite day of the week is Sunday and my favorite time of the day is Brunch. On our first full day, I dragged my colleague and my mother in search of a brunch that would make our mouths water. Lael’s Restaurant in the Hyatt San Diego near the convention center did not let us down. You can choose from two types and you can’t go wrong with either. For those who like the traditional breakfast/brunch – omelette stations, et al, then for approximately $25 you get that and more. The other brunch choice is $39.95 and includes the breakfast PLUS seafood, salad, desserts, pasta and more. What more can you ask for?

Gaslamp Quarter Dining – The famous Gaslamp Quarter is right across from the convention center and lined with gas lamps (of course) and a plethora of restaurants of every cuisine. It extends for about 6-8 blocks, so you will definitely get your work out in. Instead of giving details of every restaurant where we ate, I will just give the list and quick ratings for each of them.

• Dick’s Last Resort – Good for lunch, outside seating, and no frills. We had one in Chicago and they are known for being rude (that’s their thing) and just good American food. Did I mention no frills? They throw the straws at you, just an FYI.
• La Fiesta – This is Mexican cuisine and overall the food was pretty good. You can sit outside but there is a wait. The wait staff was great.
• Rama - My favorite restaurant on the trip. This is a Thai restaurant and the food was delicious! The spicy vegetable rice, the pad thai, and the grilled shrimp appetizer were great! Put this on your list for sure!
• Ghirardelli Chocolate Shop – Need I say more?

Old Town San Diego – A place of cultural history and the birthplace of Cali, Old Town is very quaint. There are tons and tons of shops and stores filled with Mexican relics, clothing, and odds and ends. A great place to get things for yourself or for those back home. We went at night so we really couldn’t see the beauty of the original “Old Town” area which looks like the inside of a history book. We had dinner at El Agave (at the start of Old Town) which has some of the most authentic Mexican food and known for their mole dishes. The food was well seasoned and very good. The portions are big enough to share. It has great ambiance and character.

Which way to the Ferry? - For a little sightseeing and $7 round trip, you can hop the 15 minute ferry to Coronado Island. Pick up the Harbor Excursion ferry and enjoy a smooth ride with the San Diego skyline behind you, over to this small island. But don’t be deceived, Coronado has a bit more to offer than those handful of restaurants and shops you see as soon as you get off the ferry. We went back for a second trip because we were told we missed the best part of the island – the famous Hotel Del Coronado. This is truly an amazing and beautiful hotel, with so much of the original finishings and structure. I immediately fell in love with the lobby. As one of the oldest hotels in the U.S. it still has the feel of the 1800s. Beware, it is a 30 minute walk from where the ferry drops you off, over to the hotel. Why did we walk you may ask? Well, the guy behind the counter at the Kentucky Fried Chicken said it was just up the street. He lied! Definitely cab it or hop the trolley tour.

While I had a great time in San Diego, I’m still disappointed that we didn’t see La Jolla, Balboa Park, or the Zoo. It was just too much to see in too little time. I truly look forward to going back, renting a convertible and driving down the coast to the beach. I hear it’s a must do!

The Land of Enchantment

After a very long flight from Baltimore with a connection in Minneapolis, I finally arrived in Albuquerque, New Mexico at 11 p.m. on a Saturday. Since I was here for a conference, there wasn’t much time to venture out and away from my many sessions. I don’t even think I went to the pool until the very last day of the meeting. The weather was great and since this was already late September, I knew it would be my last chance for sun. I didn’t get to do as much exploring as I would have liked therefore I only have a few tips and must sees and dos for this enchanting city.

Where To Lay Your Head: I stayed at the Hyatt in downtown Albuquerque and it was very nice. However, I would not recommend staying in downtown Albuquerque, there isn’t anything going on and not much to see. On the weekends, it’s like a ghost town. I heard that it’s best to stay a little further out like in Santa Fe which everyone told me is beautiful. Even if you don’t get to stay in Santa Fe, according to some of my colleagues, it is definitely a place to see while you are in New Mexico. Oh and it’s worth renting a car to help you get around. Taxis are not readily available.

Hot Spots for Shopping: For a little character and some good southwestern food, head down to Historic Old Town. There are a lot of quaint shops and galleries. There are also several displays of gorgeous and unique jewelry strewn throughout the plaza on large cloths on the ground. We arrived a little late in the evening and therefore only a few vendors were out. When you can’t shop, the next best thing is to eat. We had some great tequila and green chile (which ABQ is known for) in Old Town.

Get a little Culture: Make a point to visit the National Hispanic Cultural Center. It is truly beautiful with some of the most amazing Native American and Hispanic art I have ever seen. The staff is extremely knowledgeable and friendly, and eager to tell you all about what the museum offers. The conference had one of its events here and we had the museum to ourselves. Dinner was near a gorgeous courtyard and catered by the onsite restaurant “La Fonda del Bosque.” (On a scale of 1-10, it was a 6.5) Dancing under the stars in the courtyard was by far the best.

Grab a Bite: My last recommendation is to have dinner in Nob Hill, near the University of New Mexico, at this cute Italian restaurant — Scalo Northern Italian Grill. Being from Chicago, I am always in search for authentic and good Italian cuisine. I was pleasantly surprised at this place. From the homemade spinach ravioli to the special house Limoncello, this should be a definite stop on your trip. Grab a seat outside, some wine, and do a little people watching at the same time.

One of the activities I didn’t get a chance to do and what ABQ is especially known for is a trip in hot air balloon. An absolute must do if you can. How great it would be to fly amongst the clouds!

From Harlem to Soho – A Delicious Experience

Have you ever walked 7 miles in New York City – nonstop? Well I did, along with a girlfriend who was visiting me in DC from Chicago. She had never been to the Big Apple, so I thought what a great time to hop the train for an all day tour. If you live in the DC area and want to do a day trip to NYC, I highly suggest and warn at the same time, to take the 6:20 a.m. train and come back on the 9 p.m. or 10 p.m. train. Why do I warn you, you may ask? Well the fatigue you will feel around 3 or 4 p.m. may cause you to act crazy and disheveled. But be strong and keep pushing on, there’s still Tribeca, the Financial District and Bloomies to see!

We started our day at this cute little French cafe on West 21st, but of course I can’t remember the name. Oh, but it had great open windows and yummy waffles accompanied by a mimosa.  This was a great way to begin Saturday morning in the city.

If you are looking for good Jamaican food, the Golden Krust in Harlem is THE PLACE! My girlfriend saw it featured on the Food Network and we had to do the taste test. I have to say I really felt like I was walking into a restaurant in Negril or Mo’Bay. From the decorum to the reggae rhythms in the background, it felt like Jamaica. Oh and the patties? YUM! I can only imagine how the jerk chicken tastes. 

Hopping on the 1 train, we headed downtown to Soho for the trendy stores like H&M and Chanel, and some of the boutique stores like Wink. However, it was all about the food on this trip. We did more eating, than shopping. We happened upon some great places, like the Van Leeuwen Ice Cream truck owned by brothers Ben and Pete. This ice cream puts Coldstone Creamery and Maggie Moos to shame. Coming from me, that’s huge! Flavors like Pistachio and Hazelnut, make it hard to walk pass this creamy yellow truck with paintings of herbs depicting the flavors. It is really inviting. Then Pete tempts you with samples and its all over! I kept it simple and had a scoop of chocolate on a cone. I have NEVER had chocolate ice cream this good. Is it possible to actually taste the cocoa beans? At that point, I tried to convince Pete to drive his truck and park it in DC. I think he’s considering it.

As if that wasn’t enough, we found the famous Vosges Haut Chocolat, which is known for their extremely unique truffles made with spices like curry. With stores only in Chicago and NYC, Vosges is cute and bright with rows and rows of delicate truffles. We settled on Wink of the Rabbit (caramel), Ambrosia, and Viola. Delicious! I failed to mention that my girlfriend is a pastry chef, so it was no surprise that our trip ended up being all about the sweets!

The last stop on this delicious trip was a walk into Candyland, Dylan’s Candy Bar that is, on 3rd Ave in Manhattan. This fantasy world/candy shop is for every child, both young and old, who ever dreamed of lollipops and gum drops dancing over their heads. Owned by Dylan Lauren, daughter of Ralph Lauren, the store captures the essence of childhood with candy ranging from sweet tarts to PEZ. I think I even saw giant pixie sticks in every striped color!!! I truly felt like a game piece from the board of Candyland as I moved from one corner of the store to the next.

There is sooooo much to do in New York, that you can’t do it all in one day, let alone describe it in one post. My apologies if this post got too long for you, but when you are traveling I figure you want to know as much as you can about a specific restaurant or hot spot in that place to help you make your own informed decision about going there. Til next time, happy and safe travels.

Grand Cayman in a Weekend

In early August, I attended my 3rd wedding of the summer season and my 2nd destination wedding. Yes, I said 3rd wedding. I was extremely excited about this trip, because it was one of the many islands on my list to visit. But also, I had heard many great things about the island, especially about the snorkeling and scuba diving. My major disappointment for this entire trip, was it would only last 4 days. Since a few activities had been planned by the bride- and groom-to-be, that only left a little time for exploring. 

Oh the Places You will Stay!

As far as where to stay, 7-mile beach is a must! From the lavish Ritz Carlton to the family-friendly Marriott Grand Cayman (where I stayed), you have numerous options for hotels and resorts with great views. Just look above and you will see the breathtaking view from our room. Clear blue water and tempting sand everyday! One thing to know is the Grand Cayman is not an all-inclusive island. So if you are looking for the constant flow of rum punch and endless food stations, this is not the island for you. You will not find any hotel or resort that has this option. But don’t let this deter you from vacationing on this quaint and beautiful island.

Treats to Eat

I don’t know about you, but I generally grow tired of hotel food after day 1. I prefer to eat outside of where I am staying for a more diverse spread and yummy cuisines representing the island or city. So, after the bland breakfast buffet, I was on the hunt for something better. Just about a 8 minute walking distance from the hotel is a shopping mall that has Subway, the Body Shop, a Cigar shop and a cute cafe called Treats. I immediately fell in love after seeing the delectable cakes staring back at me from the dessert case. As soon as I walked in, it felt cozy and welcoming. The staff was great and the food was really good. I had the best turkey club sandwich I have EVER had, along with a salad! And all for $10 CI (Cayman Dollars)! You can’t beat that at all. It was so good, that I went back for breakfast the next day and was not disappointed by the mouthwatering french toast.

Sail Away with Me!

The last tidbit of information I will give you about the Caymans is you must do a catamaran or yacht. This was by far one of the best activities I did on the island. The bride-and groom-to be rented a boat for about 3 hours for the wedding guests, so we could sail, snorkel and swim with the stingrays. Fun, fun, fun!!! We had a great guide named Nick, who was from Ireland and had been living on the island for 8 years. He first took us out to a coveted spot, that only he knew about, to swim with about 6 stingray. Who by the way, were very friendly. It is a little freaky when they are all swimming underneath you, but totally cool. Oh and yes, if you kiss a stingray you will have 7 years of good luck. Lucky me!!!  

On to snorkeling. We made our way to a quiet section of the blue waters to do some snorkeling for about 45 minutes. It was a decent spot for fish eye candy, but it would have been great to see a few more. I hear there are some other spots that have plenty of fish to see. Tip: Drink lots and lots of water and I don’t mean the salt water!

Alas, it was time to bid adieu to the Caymans. I can’t wait to go back for a lengthier stay and try a new hotel. I think I would love to sink into the luxurious beach chairs at the Ritz Carlton, instead of running pass them on the beach with my mouth open in awe of their chicness. Not there is anything wrong with the Marriott Grand Cayman. The staff and were rooms were nice, but the beach chairs were a clear indication that the Ritz is TRULY on a whole other level.

Oh one last tip I promise. The ole’ mighty dollar is not so great here. The exchange rate is $1 CI=$1.25 US. I asked for CI in exchange for my $40 US and I got back $32 in CI. My suggestion is to just get CI. It makes life so much easier while you are there. Travel safely!