Where do you stand on truffles?

August is here and so is the truffle hunting season in Italy. When it comes to truffles, most people either adore them and salivate at the thought of a nice risotto or they think they smell like a musty basement. I personally cannot stand the smell or the taste, but my Cuban husband who had no idea what truffles were until he arrived in Toronto thinks truffle oil makes everything, and I mean everything, taste great so he liberally drizzles over most of his food, even the sacred Cuban black beans and rice. So when we went to Italy, of course we had to go and hunt for truffles. We were in Piemonte, one of the best regions in Italy to hunt for the precious mushrooms. Unlike most mushrooms, truffles grow underground, so you need an expert hunter or a trifolau, to help you find them. And of course they grow in dense forests so the hunt is always a dirty and exhausting venture but if you are lucky enough to find one it’s like finding gold so it’s worth every moment even if you come out of the journey full of scratches and insect bites.

Truffle hunting season starts in August and ends in January. The winter months can be very wet so be ready for lots of mud and dampness. The three regions in Italy known for truffles are Piemonte, Umbria and Tuscany. Most people include truffle hunting as a part of a food and wine tour so that you can also discover the other culinary treasures Italy has to offer. The mountains in Piemonte are dotted with wineries which produce a variety of wines including the Dolcetto. Umbria is home to the Orvietto wines, Perugina chocolates and produces some of the best olive oils. And of course Tuscany is the embodiment of Italian culture and cuisine. So if you love food Italy is the place to be, and if you are there in the fall and winter, then you may want to trek in the woods looking for truffles. But if you prefer savouring to trekking, then you will have to settle for a drizzle and a whiff.

Tell us - where do you stand on truffles? Do you love them? Or are you like me and hold your nose when someone drops the oil onto their food?

California Dreamin'

It's been a little quiet here on the Bon Vivant Travel blog, and with good reason - I was away in sunny California since Monday. I know - it's a tough life, but sometimes, you've just got to take one for the team. Now that planes, airline food and jet lag are (almost) behind me, I'm back at my post - skin a smidgen more tanned, smile a lot wider.


Those few days away were quite a whirlwind, and luckily, great food made it on the agenda. On my first night, I had the pleasure of dining at the Second City Bistro in El Segundo. I often have diner's envy when I'm eating out with others - you know, you order something, thinking it will good, and it is, but you can't help but wonder if your dining companion's meal might just be a bit tastier than yours. That wasn't a problem that night. I started with the tomato, basil and gorgonzola bisque, and that would have been worth the trip for me. It was fantastic, so much so that I ate it quickly and quietly so that the others wouldn't catch on to the tastiness of it all and ask me to, gulp, share. The rest of the meal was great too - a nicoise salad with seared rare ahi, and for dessert - sorbet! I know I've professed my love for lemon gelato, but coconut sorbet is closing in fast and might find its way to top position on the frozen treats podium.

One aspect of California's culinary scene that I wish I would have had more time for is the wine. There is a lot to explore in California's wine region, and I'm itching for a chance to explore it the next time I'm out there. But until then, I have my trusty mouse to help me soak it all in virtually. If you care to join me, grab a glass of vino and check out this link - all about the best the region has to offer. If you're already set to go, Globus might just already have the perfect itinerary for you. Their California Wine Country tour takes you to all the key spots and then some. Wine tasting and olive oil tasting? Yup - I'm there. Well, in my dreams anyway.

Summer's Big Dilemma: Cup or Cone

I don't know how the weather has been in your corner of the world lately, but in Toronto, we've been blessed with some beautiful sunshine, and it just makes me so happy. But as great as it feels to be enjoying the city and the warmth of the sun on my skin, one thing makes it even better: ice cream!

The variety of frozen treats out there is unbelievable and this season, I've been doing my best to give them all a shot. From the waffle bowls at Dairy Queen, the mint chocolate chip cones at the ice-cream parlour down the street and the chocolate dipped soft serve cones from the ice cream truck that taunts me just outside my office, I'm finding a good home for frozen products of all sorts!



There's something special about ice-cream, gelato and even popsicles, that just seems to make me feel like a big kid. It reminds me of bike rides with Dad and time spent in cottage country where a cone was the ultimate way to end the day. You know, the kind of feeling only summer vacations can inspire.

I love trying to re-live that feeling, whether it's during a weekend stroll in the city, the freezer case at the convenience store or while I'm actually on a real, no-imagination-required vacation. My favorite frozen treat vacation memory is from a few years ago in Vienna. I hadn't realized that gelato would be so popular there, but everywhere I turned, there it was, calling my name. And I answered. Several times a day.

I had a blissful affair with lemon gelato on that trip, but I can't help but think that I should expand my horizons a little the next time I travel. There are apparently a few tricks to finding good gelato, and limiting yourself to one flavour is not one of them! Have a read through this article and feel free to practice your Italian ordering technique aloud - I know that I did! Now to practice in person at the gelateria down the street...

Special Note: I happen to have quite a few extra copies of Ensemble Vacations magazine, in which our latest Bon Vivant brochure was included. I'll send a copy to anyone who emails us at vacations@ensembletravel.ca before this Friday, July 17. There's a catch though - you have to tell me what your favorite ice cream flavour is. You know, so I can try something different next time. Our legal department will also want me to throw in that this offer is valid while supplies last.

Taking to the streets

It's almost lunch time, and I'm just about to head out to meet my sweetie for greasy Friday afternoon lunch date: street meat at city hall! In about an hour, I'll be $4 poorer but my belly will be filled with sausage, fries, and maybe even some ice cream from the truck parked next to the hot-dog stand.

Street food isn't unique to Toronto though. In fact, it's probably one of the best ways to experience local food in just about any destination. Admittedly, you have to be a bit braver in some places than others, but even a walk along food stalls on a foreign street, breathing in the aromas and taking a peek at what others are eating is all part of the fun.

Well, off I go for my not-so-healthy but oh-so-tasty lunch! But I wouldn't just leave you without sharing a little something... I came across this article on the many types of street fare one can encounter in this world. So even if you aren't dashing out for a hot dog and fries, enjoy this Friday afternoon imagining what you might choose from all the weird and wonderful street menu options this world has to offer.

Vicariously Caffeinated

Poking through friends' online vacation pics is one of my favorite things to do. Especially when they travel to interesting places with quality cameras in tow! A colleague of mine who fits that bill perfectly just came back from New Zealand and was kind enough to share some of the amazing shots she took during a food tour. You can check them out on our Bon Vivant Facebook Fan Page.


The photo that caught my eye was one of a frothy cup of caffeinated delight that she labelled "Mojo's Medicine", which turns out to be the house blend found at Mojo Coffee locations in Wellington. I find myself making puppy dog eyes at my monitor as I read the description on Mojo's site: "Dr Mojo's Medicine offers you good aroma, hints of nut and chocolate, and a spicy toffee finish." Nuts... Chocolate... Toffee... Hello Wellington? I've heard you are the new heaven for coffee lovers? I've been a really good girl you know...

Not sure that my good deeds will get me all the way to New Zealand, I decided to check out the tour that included this gem of a cafe on the itinerary. Zest Food Tours can hook you up with the area's culinary wonders, and it appears that they can even one-up my caffeinated idea of heaven with their Chocolate Espresso tour. That's right - not just chocolate flavored coffee. But both chocolate and coffee.

And of course Zest has a variety of other tours - you know, for those of us that can get beyond the chocolate and coffee. So if you're a well-rounded culinary connoisseur, it might be worth a call to your travel agent to see what kind of an adventure they can cook up for you in New Zealand. And if you happen to have a good camera - you know who wants to see those photos!

Tapas Therapy

I'm feeling the post-vacation blues. Not even a month ago, I spent a week on Canada's beautiful East Coast, eating fresh lobster (with the proper technique shown to me by a very handsome Maritimer) and hunting down local delicacies. It's only been a few weeks, but I have to say - I'm ready for another vacation!

If you're feeling like me, you might want to take a minute to check out our contest. You could win a trip for two to Spain. A good reason to finally book that week off? I think so.

If you need something to tide you over a little longer, visiting a tapas bar could be a good bet. Those little bites of tastiness and some sangria always put a smile on my face. After coming across this link though, I must say that I'm tempted to actually throw my very own tapas party. However a party does imply the sharing of food, and if you've had a look at my bio, you'll see it's not something I'm very good at (yes, à la Joey from friends). Well I guess there's only one way to get over it - tapas party therapy, here I come!