Tag Archive: Travel

Italian Language and Culture with Gian Marco Litrico

September 17, 2015

Looking to discover you inner Italian? Here is how. Gian Marco Litrico offers classes that are so much more than just learning the language. With Gian Marco you will learn how to think like an Italian, how to cook Italian dishes  and how to have an appreciation for Italian art, music, style and life. The classes are conversational and structured to be fun and informative, allowing you to progress at your own pace. The goal is... View Article

Sunshine Farm Tomato Festival

September 16, 2015

I have written about Sunshine farm before here and here and wanted to share the lovely experience we had this weekend at the much anticipated annual Tomato Festival held at their farm. Each fall Jon and Sher Alcock and their family host a tomato festival on their organic farm, opening the doors to local foodies and food enthusiasts who snap up the tickets to the sold out event. The festival is held in their front... View Article

Road trip Days 10 – 12: great find in Port Orford, dune buggying on the Oregon Dunes, Oregon’s Willamette Valley wineries

July 12, 2015

So you think there was no adventure left in me after 10 days on the road? think again. On our way down the Oregon coast we passed through the vast Oregon sand dunes. We had no time to stop there on the way down but there was no way in Timbaktoo that I was going to pass up driving a dune buggy on the magnificent dunes. We planned our drive back with another stop in Oregon... View Article

Road trip day 9 – Sonoma olive oil

July 7, 2015

Before we left San Francisco we considered going for breakfast at Foreign Cinema, a chic industrial style restaurant occupying a covered courtyard in the Mission, known for its food and the foreign films projected onto the walls. It was on several of the lists for best breakfast in San Fran. After a short debate (between a foodie and a non-foodie, it would have been a no-brainer between two foodies) we figured that it would take... View Article

Road trip day 8 – Carmel by the sea, roadside grilled artichokes and Delfina Pizzeria in San Francisco

June 30, 2015

After spending three nights at our destination we packed the hummer yet again (getting a little tired of it as we are accumulating more “stuff”) and left Paso Robles to begin our return journey home. We wanted to make it to San Francisco and spend a couple of nights there but I had a few stops in mind along the way. We did not want to repeat the nerve wrecking drive along winding cliffside Ca-1... View Article

Road trip to California – Days 6-7 – Paso Robles and Hearst Castle

June 24, 2015

Our road trip destination Paso Robles in central California is a charming town situated in zinfandel country among vineyards, lakes, historic missions and beaches nearby. There are more than 200 wineries in the Paso Robles AVA and some 50K acres under vine. We were there to attend family events so we did not explore the area as much as I would have liked and left many things to explore on another visit. The events were... View Article

Road trip – Oregon Coast Day 1

June 10, 2015

We have been talking about this road trip to Central California for some time. If you knew me you’d know that I am a planner. I research destinations, select locations, check out routes, book hotels and investigate interesting places to eat. My husband G is just the opposite. He doesn’t like to plan and would much rather wing it (“what’s there to plan, we get in the car and go”). Not that there is anything... View Article

Merida: Oliva Kitchen and Bar and Chopped Salad with Lime Vinaigrette

January 28, 2015

I have taken a liking to salads that are composed of many vegetables, all finely chopped and tossed together in a harmonious pile. They are easier to eat than a large leafy salad and the flavours blend together so nicely with the dressing, just my kind of thing. I have had one such salad recently on a side trip to Merida last week. We went there to take a cooking class at Los Dos cookings... View Article

Yucatan: Villa Verde Merida (and egg and avocado breakfast recipe)

January 26, 2015

Last week we headed west of the Mayan Riviera to Merida to explore the Gulf of Mexico side of the Yucatan Peninsula. The Yucatan Peninsula separates the Caribbean sea from the Gulf of Mexico and includes three states: Quintana Roo, Yucatan and Campeche. The Yucatan is home to the Mayan people and is distinct from the rest of Mexico by its culture and cuisine. The new double lane highway from Cancun to Merida now has... View Article

Mayan Riviera – Cooking in Cancun with Claudia and Salsa Roja Recipe

January 3, 2015

The red doors in the wall surrounding the villa swung open and we were invited into a charming courtyard dominated by a lone giant banyan tree. Lorenzo led us through the open style villa to the covered patio at the back of the house and we settled in the comfortable wicker furniture covered with colourful cushions. After a few words of introduction Lorenzo invited us to the outdoor kitchen at the end of the patio.... View Article

Spanish Champagne (Cava) – Penedes, Codorniu Cava Bodega and berries with cava-honey syrup

April 3, 2014

My culinary “must do” list while traveling in Spain included a visit to a cava bodega in Penedes. Penedes is the Spanish Cava region in Catalunya, located just outside beautiful Barcelona, easily accessible by car or by train. Cava, a.k.a. Spanish Champagne, has been produced in this region since 1872 when a local wine maker produced the first sparkling wine made in the traditional champagne method. The wine was called Spanish champagne until fairly recently when... View Article

Spain – Costa del Sol: Malaga and a towed car adventure

February 24, 2014

I hate to tell this to my Canadian friends who are experiencing minus 20℃ temperatures right now but we just came back from spending a balmy plus 20℃ degree day on the beautiful Costa del Sol on the southern Mediterranean coast of Spain. Life  sometimes is not fair:). We are staying in Puerto Bañus, the flamboyant community on the west side of Marbella (moving to Marbella tomorrow) and travelling up and down the Costa del... View Article