The Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm is a bed and breakfast and farm with 25 acres of lavender fields, cottonwood trees and gardens.
Harvard Square: The Charles Hotel
We recently checked into the Charles Hotel in the heart of Harvard Square for a staycation in the city.
Travel: Top 10 Things to Do in Nova Scotia
I recently had the pleasure of working with Tourism Nova Scotia and Destination Canada on their @VisitNovaScotia and @ExploreCanada campaign.
New Haven, Connecticut
24 hours in New Haven, started with breakfast, then the Yale Center for British Art, Yale University Art Gallery, Old Campus, Sterling Library and ended with tea at Claire's....
Amsterdam: The Hilton Hotel
It was raining pretty hard as soon as we arrived in Amsterdam, and it remained fairly wet and quite chilly throughout the trip. As soon as we got to The Amsterdam Hilton, made famous for John Lennon & Yoko Ono's "Bed-In-For-Peace", all we wanted to do was have a quick bite to eat and some tea. So, while we waited for our room (not the John Lennon/Yoko Ono presidential suite, alas), we dined at one of the hotel's resturants, the Half Moon Lounge. We ordered some teas and a falafel sandwich with a side of fries. How amazing was this sandwich? And the service was wonderful and unintrusive while we relaxed by the huge canal side windows. Highly recommend this hotel, which has beautiful rooms and bathrooms with gorgeous canal views and a spectacular breakfast buffet, which may make an appearance on Foodhogger, later.
Lady Marmalade + Julius Caesar Part I
On Saturday I met up with some of my girlfriends for brunch at Lady Marmalade on Queen St. in Leslieville in Toronto.
A brought her bubbly 16 month old daughter Jasmine (who you've met before from their family photo shoot last June!). Jasmine is a favourite of mine to shoot, along with Anokhi, another close friend's baby. The two of them have been shot several times by me since they've been born; see them together here. I've even photographed them before they were born, at A's baby shower and K's baby bump shoot)! So it was a real treat to see Jasmine again and capture her cheery laugh and sweet disposition (can you believe she can hold a fork and feed herself on her own?) After brunch, we went to see O in a performance of Julius Caesar at Kew Gardens. Look for that in a Part II. Since we're moving to Boston in a few months, these gatherings with my girlfriends are really important to me and I treasure them, as I do their friendships. I shall miss you guys immensely. (Pic of me holding Jasmine taken by A)
A brought her bubbly 16 month old daughter Jasmine (who you've met before from their family photo shoot last June!). Jasmine is a favourite of mine to shoot, along with Anokhi, another close friend's baby. The two of them have been shot several times by me since they've been born; see them together here. I've even photographed them before they were born, at A's baby shower and K's baby bump shoot)! So it was a real treat to see Jasmine again and capture her cheery laugh and sweet disposition (can you believe she can hold a fork and feed herself on her own?) After brunch, we went to see O in a performance of Julius Caesar at Kew Gardens. Look for that in a Part II. Since we're moving to Boston in a few months, these gatherings with my girlfriends are really important to me and I treasure them, as I do their friendships. I shall miss you guys immensely. (Pic of me holding Jasmine taken by A)
Beerfest VI
It was the annual Beerfest at our house this weekend. Beerhogger has blogged about the two breweries we toured this year: Cameron's Brewing Co., and Trafalgar Brewing Co. in Oakville. Here are some shots from both breweries.
Peter Pan
Going here for lunch again, today.
This one was taken at a friend's baby shower that was hosted there.
Weekend
Some images from a birthday-filled weekend.[gallery columns="4"]
Spice Safar
The following is a review of Spice Safar (270 Adelaide St W, Toronto). The full review can be found on Foodhogger, but here are the photographs.
The Lavender Sour and Blue Hemingway was served on a wooden trays along with a glass of sparkling water and grapefruit mousse to cleanse the palate.
The executive chef's version of bruschetta: polenta topped with cheese and garnished with pea sprouts and grated endive and sprinkled with a Spanish olive oil (imported weekly).
Chicken Satay, marinated in Malaysian chili lemongrass sauce and grilled. Finished with a soy chili coconut glaze.
Mini Burgers - 3 Dry aged ground top sirloin patties, served on in house made poppy seed buns, with a cherry tomato relish, smoked gouda cheese and a fresh thyme and truffle aioli.
The dumplings, chicken with fresh ginger - pan seared and finished with yuzu juice and soy sauce. Filled with market vegetables, sweet and Yukon gold potatoes and sesame seeds.
Tagine - braised lamb shank, market vegetables, sultana raisins, Safar-inspired Moroccan spices. Served with peach chutney and grilled flatbread.
Cheese charcuterie plate (for 2) - local artisanal cheese, served with a roasted almond and pistachio paste, seasonal fresh fruit, dried figs, in house made sour dough bread and marinated vegetables.
Later we were impressed by Flo's amazing fireshow and absinthe shots.
We'd like to thank (l-r) executive chef Matt, Jaclyn, Florian and Riyad for showing us a great time and letting us take photographs to remember the experience!
Spice Safar is an innovative, elegant and aesthetically pleasing space with a concept unique to Toronto's restaurant scene.
[gallery]
The Lavender Sour and Blue Hemingway was served on a wooden trays along with a glass of sparkling water and grapefruit mousse to cleanse the palate.
The executive chef's version of bruschetta: polenta topped with cheese and garnished with pea sprouts and grated endive and sprinkled with a Spanish olive oil (imported weekly).
Chicken Satay, marinated in Malaysian chili lemongrass sauce and grilled. Finished with a soy chili coconut glaze.
Mini Burgers - 3 Dry aged ground top sirloin patties, served on in house made poppy seed buns, with a cherry tomato relish, smoked gouda cheese and a fresh thyme and truffle aioli.
The dumplings, chicken with fresh ginger - pan seared and finished with yuzu juice and soy sauce. Filled with market vegetables, sweet and Yukon gold potatoes and sesame seeds.
Tagine - braised lamb shank, market vegetables, sultana raisins, Safar-inspired Moroccan spices. Served with peach chutney and grilled flatbread.
Cheese charcuterie plate (for 2) - local artisanal cheese, served with a roasted almond and pistachio paste, seasonal fresh fruit, dried figs, in house made sour dough bread and marinated vegetables.
Later we were impressed by Flo's amazing fireshow and absinthe shots.
We'd like to thank (l-r) executive chef Matt, Jaclyn, Florian and Riyad for showing us a great time and letting us take photographs to remember the experience!
Spice Safar is an innovative, elegant and aesthetically pleasing space with a concept unique to Toronto's restaurant scene.
[gallery]