What's a 14 course meal without an appetite, and a camera?

When I was invited to experience a 14-course dinner, my first thought was YES! But after I accepted, I couldn't help but wonder - could I really eat 14 different dishes? Not one to shy away from a challenge, I filed that thought way in the back of my head. However on the day of the dinner, it found it's way to the front again, and I couldn't help to try and save my appetite by only eating little bits here and there.

Click on the image to see all 14 courses.

Any sacrifices I made that day were well worthwhile, but thankfully, all of the food was perfectly portioned so that a normal human being could make room for all of it. The restaurant where I dined, Le Chique at the Azul Sensatori Hotel in Riviera Maya, Mexico, explains the concept like this:

"Our theory of small portions, just as the diversity of products and techniques is what makes a 14 courses menu into a real culinary experience in the Mayan Riviera.

Foams, bubbles, spheres, fake caviar, balloons, inverse Ravioli, cooking with Liquid Nitrogen…these are some of the forefront culinary techniques used at Le Chique through our 14 unique creations."

Intrigued? Then come along with me, bite by bite, as I show you what my taste buds experienced and my camera captured. Click here to start.

My weakness for junk food knows no borders

Every foodie has a guilty pleasure. Mine is junk food. When I’m at home, I do a good job of eating it sparingly, but when I travel, curiosity gets the best of me, and I end up in convenience stores checking out what the locals snack on when they get the munchies.

And that’s how I found myself at Wal-Mart in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Well, no, that’s a lie. I was told that it was the place to go to find good deals on a variety of tequilas, but while I was there, I was determined to find Mexican junk food.

So after picking out a $15 bottle of tequila (sadly, the $2 bottles were all sold out) and laughing at the strategically placed clip of Advil in the tequila aisle (yes, an entire aisle), I went on a junk food shopping spree.

The junk food at a Mexican Wal-Mart is not all that different from what you find in a Canadian Wal-Mart, and I won’t pretend that it’s a genuine cultural experience, but it was fun nonetheless. We have Tostitos in Canada. But do we have Flamin’ Hot Tostitos? And even if we do, surely, Flamin’ Hot must mean something different in Mexico than it does at home. And although I wouldn’t get to try it out until I got home, I couldn’t resist buying a variety of flavoured microwave popcorn packages. Even plain old popcorn sounds like an exotic treat; Mantequilla just means butter in Spanish, but it really does make it seem a lot more interesting.

Back at the hotel room, I begin indulging in my treats. Turns out the Flamin’ Hot Tostitos are appropriately named and tasty, and I’m glad to have a bottle of water nearby. The gum is really just Bubblelicious, but when you rename it Bubbaloo, it lends a whole new dimension of fun to the pink chewing gum. And my Bubu Lubu treat, which is really like a Viva Puff cookie with the marshmallow center and chocolate coating, brings a smile to my face when I look at the cute cartoon man on the packaging.

So tonight, in the comfort of my living room and thanks to the convenience of my microwave, I’ll be getting a taste of Mexico in the form of popcorn. Guilty pleasure? Yes. A little embarrassing for a food blog writer? Kind of. Tasty? You bet!

Good Morning, Gourmet

I did a really typical Canadian thing earlier this month – I went on an all-inclusive vacation to Mexico. Normally, us Canucks tend to head south for the sun, not the food, but this trip was a most pleasant exception to that rule.

Known as a “Gourmet Inclusive” resort, the El Dorado Casitas Royale by Karisma Hotels & Resorts where I stayed boasts decadent cuisine and all the inclusions that any foodie could dream of. Having drooled over the brochure for weeks in anticipation before my trip, I’m very happy to say that they didn’t disappoint!

Cheese-lover's dream come true: the spread I found in my room every afternoon.

After waiting in line for hours in various airports on the day of my arrival, it was almost surreal to step into the hotel's gorgeous lobby, be handed a glass of champagne and have my bags taken off my hands - now that’s what I call making a very tired, travelling girl feel special! And imagine how excited this Frenchie was to find an elaborate cheese plate waiting in the room. But it didn’t stop there. About an hour before dinner, a plate of chocolate covered strawberries, mini-cheesecakes, truffles and other sweet treats were delivered to my room. And then there was the room service menu.

If you're going to snack before dinner, snack well!

Pooped from my day of travel, I decided to skip the resto and order room service, which is included as part of the Gourmet Inclusive concept. I was intrigued when 20 minutes later, a delicious dinner arrived to my room. It was literally food for thought; my brain really couldn’t come up with a pressing reason to get out of bed for breakfast the next day when I could get fabulous food delivered to me. And so, the next morning, I woke up to a knock on the door, a smiling waiter, and a spread of French toast, waffles, eggs, bacon, coffee, freshly squeezed orange juice… Ok, so maybe I overdid it a little.

In-room breakfast for two. Or heaven. Haven't quite decided yet.

The next morning, (and the one after that, and after that one), started off in a similar way, only my request was more reasonable: coffee, fresh fruit and French toast, which I had quickly deemed to be my favourite. But how could I even try to resist it; a mixture of cream cheese and sliced almonds sandwiched between two slices of lightly battered bread, toasted to perfection and of course, syrup!

One morning though, I made it a special point not to indulge in room service and to save my appetite for the resort’s Kampai restaurant, where I was meeting Jeroen Hanlo, Karisma's Vice President Food & Beverage Operations for a Q&A. When I get there, he asks if he can make a recommendation – Chilaquiles. They were delish, and traditional, which is nice to see at an all-inclusive resort, where most serve up American type breakfasts that we can easily find in our own fridges.

I learn some interesting stuff from Jeroen – although his staff make it look effortless, a lot goes into preparing the food that they deem deserving of the Gourmet Inclusive label. They cook with only the freshest ingredients and even have an herb garden on the resort. And their staff must all have a passion for food. Their chefs all have impressive culinary backgrounds, and each member of the wait staff undergoes several days of in-class and in-restaurant training to ensure they provide impeccable service. And is it all worthwhile? Judging by my waiter Leo’s attentive service, his genuine smile and my plated of polished off Chilaquiles, I would say so.

In the kitchen at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel

Although I’ve lived my entire life here in Canada, I had never been to Alberta until now. I’m staying at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel to be precise, which is in my opinion, a fairy tale castle. The scenery around here isn’t the only thing that’s spectacular – all it takes is one meal at the hotel to see that the cuisine here is fit for a king. So when the chance came up to meet the hotel’s Executive Chef Martin Luthi, you can bet I jumped on it. I’m even more thrilled to learn that we’re able to bring in a camera to capture what happens behind the scenes in the kitchen while they prepare a dinner for 650 guests!

Come with us as we take a peek!



Once the filming is done, I have the opportunity to chat with the chef for a bit. I’m impressed by the fact that Chef Luthi has been with the hotel since 1974 - he’d originally planned to stay only a year to work and learn the language, but loved it and decided to stay. I can’t say that I blame him. After discussing his background for a bit, we get to one question he found to be quite unique. It was passed along by my fellow blogger and a chef-in-training, Carrie, whom I excitedly tweeted as soon as my interview was confirmed. She wondered if the Chef had any guilty pleasures – you know, something you would never guess he enjoys. Although it’s not odd at all, I find it charming to learn that Chef Luthi loves comfort food just like the rest of us. And to him, that means the rösti and veal loaf that he grew up on in Switzerland.

Since I’m a little star-stuck by the chef, I ask if there are any celebrities he was excited to cook for. I’m thrilled to learn that he loves Robin Williams as much as I do, and am wowed as he shows me photos of himself with Alec Baldwin in the hotel kitchen. But his favorite celebrity meeting wasn’t a Hollywood A-lister, it was former astronaut Eugene Cernan and I have to agree, that’s pretty darn cool.

Later on, while I sit among the group of 650 guests enjoying the evening’s meal, I have a whole new perspective on the process it took to create it. And when we get to the Intermezzo course and the ice globes filled with champagne granité are brought out, there isn’t a person in the room that isn’t amazed by the chef’s work of art.

A special thanks to Sophie Bujold who captured a great shot of the intermezzo course.

Follow your nose? Why not!

Adventures are my favorite thing. I’ve had adventures on trains – from memorable subway rides into Toronto to unforgettable train trips to Munich in cars filled with Oktoberfest revelers (Interesting note: 8am is not too early to drink beer on a train when en route to Oktoberfest). And I've had my share of culinary adventures too. Moving to Toronto from a small town in northern Ontario, is in my opinion, what has helped me develop my sense of adventure the most, and especially my adventurous palette.

It started off small – believe it or not, up until I was 19, I’d never had Greek food, and it turns out that I quite enjoy the whole concept of meat on a stick. Being in Toronto, there is no shortage of international cuisine and I quickly learned that the best way to order is not to scour the menu, but to ask the server “So what’s your favorite?”. I’m always surprised at how candidly they answer and what cool new things I experience by taking their recommendations.

My bravery is most richly rewarded when I travel abroad, and if I don’t end up liking what I ate, hey – at least it makes for a good story! A few years back, I travelled to Singapore and had a short stopover in Tokyo. Not much time to do sightseeing, but there’s always time to eat! I came across this post recently that reminded me of the great seafood I had while I was there. But there is one little bite from that trip that I will always remember: my first (and only!) taste of durian fruit. We had been warned by the tour guide that the strange, rotting smell in the markets wasn’t week-old garbage but actually durian fruit, which is considered to be a delicacy in Singapore. It’s apparently a love or hate type of thing. I was on the hate side, but there are plenty of people who enjoy it. A lot of public establishments in Southeast Asia have actually banned the durian to try and keep the peace. One man’s tasty snack is enough to make another want to gag! Yup – to some people, it smells that bad!

Even though I didn’t want a second serving, I don’t regret having tried it. It’s all part of the adventure that is this big ol’ world, and I’m ready to take it on, one mysterious fruit at a time.

Good News Friday

In my office, our boss has a little tradition he likes call "good news Friday". Today's good news falls into one of my favorite categories: photos! He recently went on a fab trip to Russia and after much poking and prodding from pretty much everyone who's been envious of his trip, he posted his photos up for us to see. Yup. Envy is definitely warranted.



Nothing gets people talking about their vacation like other people's vacation pictures, and you know, if you're already travelling vicariously through your co-workers, you might as well make it a multi-destination vacation! My second stop was a cruise along the Rhine river in Europe, where another one of my colleagues vanished to last year, and it seems that whenever she gets a little stressed, she goes back there in her imagination too. I imagine that she's been there a few times because of me! But yeah, recalling afternoons spent floating along the Rhine, watching castles and fortresses that seem to the rest on clouds, that would do it for me. And how cool would it be to have shivers run down your spine as you sail by the spot where the nymph who lived in the Lorelei rock would appear and lure fishermen to their death. But the memory she's most fond of are the spectacular vineyards along the river. Never had she seen terraced vineyards until that cruise where she watched farmers tending to their crops. No wonder she's such a fan of wines from the Rhine Region! The part of her trip that I choose to fantasize about are the cheese markets. Need I say more?


If you're keen on taking a journey through Europe's rivers yourself, well I have a Friday goodie for you - there is a super deal to be had on these, and you can check it our for yourself here. There is just one condition, which, since I have already given you the goodie, you have no obligation to meet. I need to work on that. But if for any reason, Bon Vivant should lead you to a new adventure, I would love to live vicariously through you, too. So don't be shy and share! And I promise that if you do, I'll never pick anything off your plate.

Tequila!

Tequila has inspired many great things... The 1958 one-hit-wonder by The Champs, which I will always fondly remember as the song Pee-Wee Herman danced to in hopes of saving himself from bikers in the movie Pee-Wee's Big Adventure (and I don't want to ruin the ending, but Pee-Wee rocked the dance). I'm sure it may have inspired quite a few people to get up in a Karaoke bar to sing that same song (which by the way, is an excellent pick for a reluctant signer since the only word in the song is "tequila", unless you sing dadada-da-da's to the trumpet like I do, and well, then, you're probably not so reluctant after all). But I digress.

Tequila is the word of the day here around the office though, which I must say is a bit unusual for a Thursday afternoon. It started when I finally logged on to my Twitter account, after a long outage of the site that served to point out that I am indeed starting to develop a bit of a dependence on tweeting. I couldn't help but wish I was in Mexico when I read Karisma Hotels' tweet about the Agavero Tequila Lounge at their Azul Beach Hotel. Not only does this bar offer 30 different types of tequila, but the bar top is frozen. Now how cool is that?

The Agavero Tequila Lounge at the Azul Beach Hotel, featuring a frozen bar top

Karisma Hotels offers up these tips to sip tequila like a pro:

The traditional way is to use a tall, narrow shot glass called caballito (little horse or pony). The caballito, with its narrow base and wider mouth, is said to be modeled after the original bull’s horn, from which tequila was drunk. The bottom was so it could rest on a table. It’s a perfect size and shape. Sip it so you appreciate the full bouquet and body, then eschew the lime and the salt, or drink a chaser of Sangrita, a popular non alcoholic and spicy drink made of orange and tomato juices, and keep sipping!

Since tequila wasn't on the menu for me this afternoon, I settled for the next best thing - coffee (well, in my world anyways!). But it's not really a coffee break unless you poke your head into someone's office for a quick chat. So I stopped by our editor's desk to take a peek at what is coming up in the Fall 2009 issue of Ensemble Vacations magazine. I sooooo love sneak previews! And I really hate people who don't share, so I'll let you in on one of the article topics. You guessed it - tequila! Turns out that there is quite a bit to know, and thanks to my nosiness today, I'm starting to be a bit of a connoisseur now. But I think I still need a taste test to make it official. Perhaps a little trip to Mexico is in order? And I know just the song to load on my iPod for the flight.

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!

Confessions of an Artisan Adventurer

I have a bit of a confession to make. You know the quiz I asked you to take in my last post? Well, I made up all the answers to it. Not as in, I cheated and got a fake result, but I really made up the answers that you all get to choose from. Hey - it's a job, and someone has to do it. Honestly, I kind of jumped on it - it's my weird idea of fun.

The questions themselves came from our friends at Gravitas - a very cool game that you can play around the dinner table, living room, campfire - anywhere you can gather a group of people who will take turns answering random, intriguing questions. Yup - my kind of thing!

It came as no surprise to me when my result in the quiz came up as Artisan Adventurer. I mean, I could have feigned a bit of surprise, but I was sitting alone in my office, so it would have just been a waste of an Oscar-worthy performance.

Although we do describe the Artisan Adventurer as one who likes to venture off the beaten path, forgive me for a moment as take a trip down the oh-so-travelled memory lane, and reminisce about one of the highlights of my last European vacation, and a display of typical Artisan Adventurer behavior: the hunt for the perfect cheese sandwich. Forget that I travelled through four countries, witnessed breathtaking scenery and shopped for what seemed like an entire summer wardrobe. No - the cheese sandwiches are what I will always remember. My mission at lunch time, each and every day, was very simple: scour the streets of whichever city I happened to be in to find the most tasty looking cheese sandwich. And I was never disappointed! Not only did I discover plenty of great architecture, shops and all-around cultural coolness, my efforts were always rewarded with a yummy sandwich. Once I had scarfed it all down at the very civilized sort of speed at which famished people eat, I could focus my thoughts elsewhere. Like what pastry I would hunt down to have with my afternoon coffee...

Now that I've regaled you with my wonderful tale of dairy pursuits, I'd like to know all about yours. They don't have to be about cheese, milk or anything related, but just for today, let's make it about food. Oh, who am I kidding - it's always about food!

Where does your mind wander to?

It's Friday afternoon, and when I look out the window of my downtown Toronto office to the gorgeous sunny day out there, I can't help but think about what I'm going to do when I get out there. But let's face it - Friday afternoon mind-wandering isn't just for sunny summer days. It's where your brain travels to on a regular basis, trying to figure out how you're going to spend those next two oh-so-cherished weekend days.

Chances are you're staying close to home, but sometimes, the mind wanders a bit further than that. Right now, mine is on a sunny terrace - not in Toronto, but in Naples. And there is pizza - oh yes - there is pizza. Although it's not a reality, I really do enjoy this fantasy, and some time soon, I'll actually make it there and drip tomato sauce on the crisp white linen skirt I bought at from a vendor (so I fantasize about shopping a little bit too) just to prove it was real.

If you're like me and enjoy the dreaming that leads up to an experience almost as much as the adventure itself, then you're in the right place. Bon Vivant Travel is all about inspiring those moments - you know - the ones when you lean back, take a look around and think to yourself "yup, this is the good life".

So stay tuned for some fuel for your imagination. In the meantime though - it's Friday, so why don't you have some fun? Take this fun little quiz to find out what type of a Bon Vivant you are. http://www.bonvivanttravel.ca/quiz.html