Vancouver, B.C.

I'm a huge fan of Vancouver, B.C. Every time I go, I like it even more. It's a beautiful city with an international feel, tons of great food and shopping, outdoor activities, and more. If you haven't had a weekend getaway to Vancouver, now is your chance. Perfect time of year to go!

It's roughly 3 hours from Seattle, depending on the border wait. You can apply for a Nexus Pass and then you zip past any long border lines.
Highlights of the trip were...

Vij's
Dinner at Vij's is always a treat and always memorable. It's always fascinating to see the line that forms before doors open. It's fun to chat with the other die-hards who sit for an hour, rain or shine, to get in. We ordered a ton of food and everything was great.

Rangoli
We hit Vij's sister restaurant the next day for lunch. It's no Vij's, but it did not disappoint either. The food was fantastic. We liked one dish so much that we ordered two to go for dinner that night. I also loaded up on spices for myself and for gifts, and some naan and rice from the refrigerated section. I cooked from Vij's cookbook that week and had my own piece of Vij's with the rice and naan. It made the homemade chicken curry that much better.

Hawksworth
We had a lovely brunch at Hawksworth. I felt like I was in Europe because of the international vibe at brunch. The food was fantastic. My husband and I also went to the Hawksworth bar one night for cocktails which we thoroughly enjoyed. Lots of great cocktail creations.

Grouse Mountain
We took the Skyride to the top of Grouse Mountain. We watched the grizzly bears, the lumberjack show and the zip-liners as they screamed and whizzed by. The kids loved it.

Granville Island
We took a water taxi to Granville Island. The kids loved the water taxi. I loved the view from the water and checking out all the cool architecture and condos. Vancouver is so pretty and I loved that vantage point.

Siegel's
We heard from Seattle's Eltana owners that Siegel's Bagels was worth checking out. I thought they were a great recommendation among all the tourist traps at the Granville Island market. I loved the bagel with black pepper cream cheese that my husband ordered. He always orders better than me. It's so annoying.

Stanley Park
You could spend days enjoying Stanley Park. There is so much to do there. There are play areas, a public pool that looks great for kids, a small water park (no water slides, just sprinklers and games), a rose garden, train ride (kinda lame), horse drawn tour, aquarium, bike path and more. We love spending time at Stanley Park.

Things we wanted to do but ran out of time:

Chinese Garden
We did not make it to the Chinese Garden but I will make sure to visit next trip. I love Seattle's Japanese Garden so I've got to see Vancouver's Chinese Garden.

Food Cart Fest
We didn't make it but I was dying to go. The Food Cart Fest ends September 2nd so hurry and go now!

We hit a few other restaurants that we read about on these lists from Vancouver Magazine and have a few more tagged for our next visit. I definitely want to hit Vij's new Railway Express when we return. Can't wait to go back.

From Vancouver Magazine... (Thanks Ali for the links!)

Best New Restaurant 2012

Vancouver Restaurant Awards 2012

Portland Induces Extreme Gluttony (and my longest post ever)

“Eventually, mercifully, the waitress pried the spoons out of our hands and took the dessert stuff away, and we were able to stumble zombielike out into the night.”  ― Bill Bryson

 

 

If only we were so lucky. We just kept eating.

 

A few months ago I went to Portland with some friends. We had a five and a half hour dinner at my friends new restaurant (more on that shortly) and went to three restaurants the next night for three rounds of dinner. It was gluttony at it's finest. It was gluttony insanity. But, we had 4 amazing dinners and 2 amazing brunches to show for it, filled with way too much Rosé and lots of laughs. And a few rounds of Journey karaoke thrown in to round out the absurdity of the night. The point is - Portland is fun, and full of great food!

 

Night of Gluttony #1

 

My friends Jen and Ken opened a new seafood-sensation restaurant called Riffle NW so that was our first stop in town. That's a lie. First stop was Clyde Common for some delicious drinks. But the most important stop was Riffle NW. I am not a writer or a reviewer so I will keep it simple... I loved it! The restaurant had such great energy, an amazing menu selection that made it impossible to decide what to order, delicious food, an open kitchen which I adore, cool decor with tricks up their sleeves, and the best cocktail of my life - the Riffle Collins with Gin, Lemon, Lime, Celery, Absinthe, Salt. So good that I had a few too many but I pulled it together until we closed down the joint.

 

The food was amazing. Highlights for me personally were the yellowtail tuna with green goddess dressing, the gnocchi with roasted tomatoes, the crab roll on a homemade brioche roll, the late night cheddar and bacon grilled cheese, and the lamb with mint sauce. Oh holy heaven, it was all so good!

Salmon carpaccio = beautiful

Crab roll = amazing!

   

 

Morning of Gluttony #1

 

We woke up the next morning and vowed never to eat again. We were so full. We sat and drank a cup of coffee for nearly two hours hoping to buy time so we'd get hungry again and could go eat. For brunch, my friend Jen recommended Irving Street Kitchen. We ordered the lemon poppy seed cake for a starter which I loooooooved and I had the best brunch dish of my life... the Moroccan poached eggs with grilled garlic rubbed toast. Amazing.

 

Night of Gluttony #2

First stop: Ox

 

Great meal, great cocktails, great fun watching the guys at the kick-ass grill.

 

Highlights were the kale salad with strawberries, fried chickpeas and feta ranch dressing, the veggie empanada and the grilled artichoke.

 

The cool grill...

Ox martini - hilarious presentation

Second stop: Biwa

 

Great fun but my least favorite of the weekend. I would order differently next time. The romen noodles with the egg looked amazing but it was recommended that we not order that since we were headed to Portland's most famous restaurant, Le Pigeon, next and needed some space in the old bellies. Highlight there was the fried kimchi and the yellowtail hamachi. My friends all loved this restaurant. Worth a trip back.

 

Third stop: Le Pigeon

 

We were so excited to get a seat at the counter because you are looking right into the kitchen. You can see every move the chefs make. That alone was fun. We started with goeduck and rabbit something or other that I didn't eat. We also ordered a hamburger as an appetizer (because that's the crazy shit people do when they eat three dinners in one night). I haven't had a burger in years, and I have been known to proclaim that "I will never eat a burger again" but come on, it's Le Pigeon. So I ate every last nibble of my quarter of a burger and the accompanying blue cheese salad. It was insanely good. I might only eat burgers there from now on. From there, the Rosé was really kicking in so I can't totally remember what entrees anyone else ordered but I got the cavatelli which was absolutely delicious. By the end, I had not even one centimeter of room left in my stomach, large intestine, small intestine, or esophagus. I did not eat the teeniest chocolate that Le Pigeon offered. I did not order a drink at the next bar. There literally... was... no... room....

I walked it off for a few minutes and I was back - vodka in one hand and a mic in the other, ready for some karoke. Man, Portland is fun!

Le Pigeon burger

Morning of Gluttony #2

 

Once again we woke up full, but not too hungover thanks to the 600lbs of food we consumed. Jen and Ken took us to one of their most favorite restaurants in Portland for brunch called Ned Ludd. I can see why. This place is fantastic. If you want to read a creative description of the restaurant, google for some reviews because I don't have the words or skills to describe it. That said, I fell in love with it. Every inch of it was cluttered with stuff but in such a sweet way. The patio and the bathroom were equally cool and different. The food was fantastic. Highlights for me were the blueberry muffin and the grilled pork and rapini dish.

 

All said and done that was worth every second, every cent, and every calorie. If you can get your butt to Portland for a food frenzy, I highly recommend it. We didn't even make it to all the restaurants we wanted to try. There are so many more great ones on our list (Pok Pok, Nostrano, Grüner, and more).

And if you are a food lover and are traveling somewhere with too many restaurants to pack in, I highly recommend the multiple dinner idea. It was so fun and delicious, and great to mix up the scenery, seating, crowd, and conversation. 
 

An Exception to the Rule

Interesting article on how to prevent (or lessen) jet lag...

"A Battle Plan for Jet Lag"

It's a hard one for me to swallow since I have a real fondness for Larry David's quote about people who wear sunglasses indoors...

"There are only two types of people who wear sunglasses indoors... blind people and assholes."

I will make an exception though for travelers hoping to avoid jet lag, just this once.

What's Not to Love?

My friends Marly and Rachel are going to Il Pellicano on the Tuscan coast. This place looks so amazing. I cannot wait to hear every last detail of the hotel, the pool, the food and more. Heaven on earth, truly.

The Coast with the Most

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From Sunset's Best in the West to Bon Appetite's The Coast with the Most.

Check out Bon Appetits's three-day travel itinerary from Seattle to Vancouver.

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Best in the West

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This is a great list from Sunset magazine to file away in your travel folder:

"25 Best Hotels in the West"

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A Family Who Flies Together, Cries Together

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Interesting article on couples who dare travel with their children....

"It's Not the Carriers, It’s the Kids"

I wouldn't be surprised if the 200 people who "recommended Mr. Barr's comment" were the passengers on my Seattle-to-Honolulu flight last February. Every last one of them would have been justified in writing that children should not be allowed on planes after being trapped with George Terpening for 6 hours.

Here's an article explaining the good 'ol days of flying with kids, and tips for traveling with little ones now...

"Are We There Yet? When Families Fly"

Christmas Gift Idea: Help the One You Love Travel in Style

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For that very special someone in your life who is impossible to buy for, consider a a piece of Rimowa luggage. They offer several different collections, colors and price ranges. I love these.

New Recipe: Vij's Zucchini Soup

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This summer we took the family for a weekend getaway to Vancouver BC, in part because my husband and I were dying to get back to Vij's. After our meal, we buzzed next door to Vij's sister restaurant, Rangoli, to buy cookbooks and spices. I bought his latest cookbook Vij's at Home which I used for the first time last night. I made Vij's Kitchen Staff Zucchini Soup. It was flavorful and delicious. I will definitely make it again but next time I will serve with basmati rice and curried cauliflower or a chickpea dish from Madhur Jaffrey to really complement the flavors. The soup almost tasted like a green vegetable curry which is why I'd love to serve it over rice. Delicious!
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Mozza at Home

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Photo credit: Under Ground Food

Mario Batali's Pizzeria Mozza serves some of the best pizza I've ever had. On my last visit I ordered a pizza called the Pizza Alla Benno with speck, pineapple, jalapeno, mozzarella and tomato sauce. It was such a great combination of flavors - spicy, salty and sweet atop their great crust and sauce.

I've been craving that pizza lately. Since I won't be getting the real deal anytime soon, I decided to re-create it. Mine was not nearly as good as Mozzas, obviously, but it was still a really great homemade pizza.


C's Pizza Alla Benno
Inspired by Pizzeria Mozza
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Pizza dough, homemade or store-bought (I use Whole Foods)
Pizza sauce, homemade or store-bought (I use Muir Glen organic sauce)
Shredded mozzarella
Mozzarella balls
Prosciutto slices
Pineapple, cut into chunks or sliced into thin rounds
Jalapeno, sliced thin

Plus flour for rolling out the dough and corn meal so it doesn't stick to your cooking surface.

Click here to reference basic directions for cooking in the oven and click here for directions cooking on the grill.

The Pink Palace

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A few things to love about The Beverly Hills Hotel...

1. The original Martinique banana leaf wallpaper made famous by the hotel. Considered to be one of the most famous wallpaper designs ever. Seen here in Nicky Hilton's kitchen nook and Brian Atwood's office. Love the look.

2. The bright green or pink and white striped beach towels from the hotel. A fun and unexpected gift for a loved one this holiday season.

3. The food at the The Fountain Coffee Shop. If you're ever in LA, swing by and pony up to the bar for a delicious breakfast or lunch. I'm partial to the Corned Beef for breakfast or the Grilled Russian for lunch. Deeeeelicious!

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Recipe of the Day: Nancy's Chopped Salad at Pizzeria Mozza

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I was in LA this weekend and was lucky enough to hit Pizzeria Mozza for lunch one day. As always, it was delicious. My husband and I love Nancy's Chopped Salad so I'm going to make it this week. Click here for the recipe via the LA Times.   .

Attention Food Lovers

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We're heading to Vancouver next weekend so I'm on the hunt for great restaurants to try for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner. We wouldn't go to Vancouver without hitting Vij's, but we need some other recommendations. Anybody have any favorites? Any great places worth stopping for lunch in Bellingham? Muchos Gracias!

Heaven on Earth

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The best travel experience I've ever had, by a landslide, was my stay at the Hotel Santa Caterina in Amalfi, Italy. My husband pulled this Letter from the Editor from Departures magazine about the hotel. Tuck this away in your travel file in case you ever have a chance to visit the Amalfi Coast. Even if you don't stay there, it would definitely be worth stopping by for the most delicious lunch and breathtaking view. The editor is right-on when he says "you will literally weep over the fried zucchini blossoms and salad caprese." It's some of the best food on earth and the place my husband and I most often daydream about.

Passion & Perspective

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I rarely read sports articles but this one caught my eye because of the photo. I finally had a chance to read it this morning and it brought tears to my eyes (especially the part about the little girl who clung to him). Worth reading...

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"In Africa, Lessons on Passion and Perspective for Kershaw"

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Holuakoa Pizza: Poached Pair, Mac Nuts, Gorgonzola and Pesto

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Before...

After...

With pesto drizzled...

My friend Tara told me about the Holuakoa Gardens & Cafe on Hawaii's Big Island. We went last year for brunch and loved it so much that I convinced (begged) the hubby to go again this year for dinner. It was a hidden gem on an island full of tourist traps and heavy fried foods. Everyone loved their meal, and I have been obsessing about mine. I got a "Pizzetta" with poached pear, Gorgonzola, and macadamia nuts with a little side salad of arugula and pesto drizzled over everything. It was so good that I was determined to re-create it. Last night I did and it was as good as I remembered. This would even make a great appetizer to serve hot or room temp the next time you have friends over.

If you want to serve with the arugula as they did, toss with a light vinaigrette and serve on the side. Sprinkle with a little of the pesto as well. Delish!


Holuakoa Pizza
Inspired by the pizzetta at Holuakoa Gardens & Cafe
Dough
Olive oil
2 pears, poached and sliced (my poaching recipe below)
Macadamia nuts, chopped small
Gorgonzola
Pesto (I bought PCC's vegan pesto because it was all they had and it was fantastic)

Place pizza stone in the oven and preheat to 500. Sprinkle a work surface, rolling pin and pizza dough with flour and roll out dough to thin pizzas. (I never worry about the shape of the pizzas. I don't know that I've ever rolled out a circle. They're usually rectangle, triangle, or a big blob - but they all taste great!) Sprinkle the bottom side of a cookie sheet with cornmeal and a little flour (to prevent the dough from sticking) and transfer rolled-out dough onto it. Brush dough with olive oil. Top with slices of pear, then sprinkle with macadamia nuts and top with Gorgonzola crumbles. Carefully remove pizza stone from oven and reduce heat to 450. Sprinkle pizza stone with cornmeal and then slide pizza onto the stone CAREFULLY. Bake for 10-15 minutes. Remove and carefully transfer to a wood cutting board to slice. Mix pesto with a bit of olive oil and then sprinkle over the pizza. Serve hot or room temp.

Cider Poached Pears

2 pears, peeled, quartered, and cored
2 cups apple cider
juice of 1/2 orange
1 cinnamon stick

Bring cider, orange juice and cinnamon stick to a light boil. Add pairs, reduce heat and simmer for roughly 15 minutes until fork tender (check after 10 minutes and then adjust time as necessary). Remove and let cool.
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As long as you're poaching pears, maybe do an extra one or two and use for dessert. Just Google a bit and find something delicious to create.

Best Curry EVER

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Photo Credit: Eat Drink Think

Sunday night I made the recipe for Vij's Family Chicken Curry from the cookbook Vij's: Elegant and Inspired Indian Cuisine. It was easily the best curry I've ever made, and outside of Vij's, possibly the best curry I've ever had. I know it's a bold statement, but I really really loved it. For some reason I was intimidated to try it but once I got going it was totally easy to make, and no surprise - it was even better then next day. Can't wait to make it again.

Let this inspire you to get your butt up to Vij's in Vancouver to try their amazing food or to order the cookbook online for a taste of it at home.

You can get the recipe online here and here. Worth noting is that the book offers helpful info about the ingredients in their recipes. For example, they explain why they call for the amount of oil that they do. I was hesitant to use the full amount, as I thought 1/2 cup to saute some onions and garlic seemed a little excessive, but they explain the importance in the book. They also explain the importance of using a cinnamon stick instead of ground cinnamon, offer explanations of all the herbs and ingredients, and provide other helpful tips for those new to Indian cooking. .

Awesome App: 8mm Vintage Camera

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I am having so much fun with this 8mm Vintage Camera app on my iPhone. It's so cool. Love it!

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Uno Spritz Per Favore

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I just read about this "terribly fashionable aperitif" in the Departures Venice issue called "THE SPRITZ" (pronounced "spreetz"). This little cocktail combines prosecco (they had me at prosecco) with a dash of sparkling water or soda and Aperol or Campari.

Departures mag says it's always served on the rocks, with a slice of orange or twist of lemon and is most authentic when finished with a stuffed green olive. Basic recipe found on the Internet here.

What a fun drink to serve at a party because of the great orange color. I'll make one and let you know what I think (or vice- versa if you get to it first! And please share if you've had one already!).

Oh to be in Venice sipping a Spritz right now instead of blogging about one. Sober blogging on a Saturday night is not nearly as fun as ordering "uno spritz per favore" from a hot Venetian waiter. I've never actually done that before but something tells me it'd be more fun.

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Skip the New Couch. Go on Vacation.

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I like articles like this one: "But Will It Make You Happy?"

We know what the obvious answer is (no, buying things won't make you happy) but it's always nice to see the research behind it, like how to reap the most happiness for your dollar. So read the article, then skip the new couch and book a vacation.