Food and Drink

The Ultimate Toolkit for Culinary Adventurers

Posted by on Dec 29, 2010 in Food and Drink, Travel Tips | 0 comments

I never knew Bob Blumer, the superstar host of the Food Network’s The Surreal Gourmet and I had much in common (except for my secret musings that he’d have made a good love match for my travel writing friend Wandering Carol ), until I found out that he often travels with a bottle of Tabasco hot sauce.  It’s on my packing list too. For me, the best culinary adventures are all about discovery. Whether it’s a bottle of Waupoos apple cider from Prince Edward County, a spicy noodle dish at the night market in Kuala Lumpur or a luscious first-press olive oil in Spain...

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Confessions of a food smuggler

Posted by on Dec 14, 2010 in Food and Drink, Travel Tips | 1 comment

With the holidays coming up, I decided it was time to clean out my kitchen cupboards. What I found was a culinary snapshot of my year of travels. There was a tin of laver bread (seaweed) from Wales, a jar of smoked mussels from the Magdalen Islands, a chunk of rather scary-looking Cap Rond Jeune cheese from Quebec City and some still-fragrant nutmeg from Grenada. Many people come home from their trips laden with exotic home decor or other souvenir items. Me, I carry home food and booze. When I hit the streets in a foreign country, my itinerary always includes a stop at a local supermarket or...

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Do butlers equal bliss?

Posted by on Dec 1, 2010 in Destinations, Food and Drink | 2 comments

St. Regis Punta Mita With a butler in a white suit standing by to do my every bidding, I can’t help feeling like the woman in the Philadelphia Cream Cheese TV commercial who has Albert the manservant at her beck and call.  I’m at the St. Regis Punta Mita, the Riviera Nayarit location of the ultra-exclusive luxury hotel chain, founded by NYC real estate tycoon John  Jacob Astor IV. The hotel is renowned for its century-old St. Regis Butler Service, an ever-present, yet discreet service intended to fulfill every guests desire. Except instead of enjoying my...

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Countylicious is just the beginning to Prince Edward County

Posted by on Nov 10, 2009 in Destinations, Food and Drink | 0 comments

The autumn celebration and fine dining promotion “County licious” which takes place between November 4 to 29, 2009 makes for a great introduction to the local culinary ingredients of Prince Edward County. At participating restaurants such as Harvest and East and Main Bistro ( Wellington), visitors and locals alike get to sample fine dining at wallet-friendly prices. At Harvest, Chef Michael Potters serves upscale country cuisine featuring locally-sourced fare such as artisanal goat cheese from Fifth Town in an heirloom beet salad and the perennially popular Aunt Bernice’s...

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Icewine & Cycling at Niagara-on-the-Lake

Posted by on Apr 22, 2009 in Destinations, Food and Drink | 0 comments

Think you don’t like icewine? Don’t be so sure. If you stay at the Brockamour Manor, you’ll receive an invitation to visit Pillitteri Estates Winery and enjoy complimentary tastings of two award winning Icewines. Harvest of the Icewine grapes occurs when temperatures have reached -8*C or colder. When pressed,these hand picked, naturally frozen grapes yield a juice with an intense concentration of sugars, acids, flavours and aromas. My favourite is the Shiraz but it’s produced in such small quaniities it’s often not available. Next best, is a gorgeous Cabernet...

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A Taste of India – for less

Posted by on Mar 23, 2009 in Destinations, Food and Drink | 0 comments

If you’ve ever dreamed of exploring the fragrant spice gardens of Kerala or the desert cuisine of Rajastan, then 2009 might be the year for you. Although luxury culinary travel is lagging — Viking Life’s trips created by the Culinary Institute of America are on hold for 2009 — independent travelers have reason to celebrate. If there was ever a year to score a deal on travel, this is it. Take India Tourism’s “One Good Reason” campaign for example. The offer from India’s Jet Airways gets you two tickets — from New York to the foodie gateways of Mumbai and Delhi...

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