To Travel is To Live

Wow!  It's been months since I added something to this blog!  I feel so guilty now! Over the past 9 months, I've started two new IT jobs, Bryan has started one new Process Improvement job, and I began working at a chiropractic clinic doing my holistic nutrition (my real passion).  Plus, I've been super busy getting my nutrition business up and running (check it out if you're so inclined here - I focus on helping women with adrenal fatigue, chronic stress and confusing sleep, concentration, hormonal and anxiety issues overcome them with the right foods and lifestyle). With everything that's been going on in our lives, I decided it was time to celebrate! Starbelly caught my eye at least 18 months ago (I think - I'm pretty sure they've been around that long).  I've been yearning to try this place and have suggested it a few times. I never won.  :(  Finally, I bit the bullet and booked Starbelly Open Kitchen for one of our 'new job' celebrati...

Lately we haven't been visiting too many exciting restaurants; we are trying to save money, and sure, Vietnamese food is really yummy, but this has meant a reduction in our regular dining out habit.  As a holistic nutritionist , I know this is better for both my health and my waistline so I am not complaining too much. However, my fiancé recently passed his PMP certification so I figured this meant a celebration was in order.  Since I went through the studying and process of getting my CISSP a few years ago, I completely understood how exhausting and stressful writing a 4+ hour exam can be. And he got it first try!  I'm so proud of him.  I use Open Table a lot to check out what's new and to book reservations for restaurants.  I have been using this app for a few years and I was 100 points away from my 10,000 point goal so luckily River Cafe was one of the many delicious options we could choose from for his celebration.  River Cafe is one ...

Wow, am I ever behind in my blogging tasks!  Almost two months ago, we had our first dinner club installment of 2015.  Anejo has made news as one of the top restaurants in Calgary's Avenue magazine as well as through excellent word-of-mouth reviews.  Our friends Jen and Simon thankfully made the choice to take our group to this fine restaurant and I don't think anyone was disappointed! After some initial confusion over the number of people they could serve and the menu, the folks at Anejo finally settled on a maximum of 12 guests, a deposit, and a set menu.  Now, most of our group is really against a set menu and we have been known to avoid certain restaurants who try to impose this requirement upon us.  I'm not sure if we would have actually gone through with Anejo if we hadn't already secured the date and time with so many people and found out about the set menu only a little over a week before the event.  Being in Houston at the time and relying heavi...

What better way to spend the evening?  Okay, so I didn't just go dancing and have some wine - I found a lovely South American restaurant a couple of blocks from my hotel here in Houston, Texas.  Located in the Uptown area by the Galleria, within walking distance (if you dare) of the DoubleTree Hilton, the Marriot, Aloft and other hotels, is this fantastic restaurant called Tango and Malbec .  Urbanspoon rated this restaurant as one of the best in the area, and it's noted to serve authentic Uruguayan dishes. The menu is rich in veal, beef and seafood options and boasts some mouthwatering pasta dishes as well.  Every Friday and Saturday evenings, Tango and Malbec showcases some form of entertainment, from South American bands to tango dancers.  Unfortunately, I was unable to take either of these shows in on my visit, so I imagine this entertainment begins around 8:00 pm or later.  As a single diner, I was seated in the bar area, but at least I was able to s...

Along Stephen Avenue in downtown Calgary, the magic of Christmas is brought to life by the magnificent lights strung up between lamp posts and the various window displays that take you back to a time reminiscent of department store shopping and hot chocolate with friends as the snowflakes fell lightly around you.  When we decided to see A Christmas Carol for a pre-Christmas treat at theater, it only seemed fitting that dinner should preclude this event at one of the many delightful Stephen Avenue restaurants.  I've been to Catch once before and only to try oysters for the first time with a friend, years ago.  I remember a cozy atmosphere in a dark, back corner, along with some delectable oyster-sauce pairings (I still recall how yummy a raspberry flavored sauce was).  And, since then, I've only heard great reviews about the rest of the food at Catch, so we decided to spend our Christmas celebration dinner there before the play.  Catch is situated on two leve...

Bryan and I didn't make any formal plans for New Year's Eve but I thought it would still be nice to at least get out of the house for a good meal.  We haven't been for Indian food in ages, it seems, so when I found Royal Ganesha on Open Table, I thought it might be a nice place to try.  The reviews for this restaurant are all great, so I figured it seemed like a great opportunity to get back into my exploration of Calgary restaurants.  Plus, I LOVE Indian food so I was really excited to try this! Located in the west end of downtown Calgary, amid the never-ending quantity of high-rise, overpriced condo buildings, Royal Ganesha is situated within an old (presumably) home that has managed to survive fate of the bulldozer like most other buildings in the area.  Parking was very easy for us, as there was a spot on the street out front, but I am not sure whether there is other parking nearby with the lot across the street stating it's being designed into (you guessed it...

Inglewood holds a special place in my heart and I truly want each and every business that operates there to thrive.  I also hope for a different take on the traditional when I explore what this beautiful community has to offer.  Without Papers , a delightful pizza joint in the old Nectar Desserts (another past gem of this neighborhood) location, combines the area's sense of history with their unique, hand-tossed, authentic Italian-style pizzas.  The stairs creak from age and use as you climb the narrow entryway into the restaurant, where, at the top, the room opens up into one expansive, modern area.  Complete with an open kitchen and a small bar where you can watch the chef making the tasty crusts, the room exudes an airy, comforting atmosphere that makes you just want to sit back and relax while enjoying amazing food with friends and family.  Added to this ambiance is the constant showing of various films on opposing walls.  Our December evening in With...

After a brief summer hiatus, our group gathered together on the weekend for September's installment of our dinner club.  This month, Thai was chosen as the theme, and we settled on the restaurant only after we had our numbers in - Khao San Thai Kitchen on 17th Avenue SW.  When we called to make our reservation, they told us they couldn't reserve for larger than 10 due to the size (and popularity) of this small restaurant.  That's understandable as they had a line up out the door from 7pm onwards, and they probably can only seat 40-50 people, with the patio open.   Our wait staff were outstanding, with only a minor mix-up over our separate bills at the end of the evening.  With 10 people requesting more drinks, add-ons and other items at various times, often while the waitress was trying to concentrate on another task for someone else at the table, we all were very impressed that we received our orders quickly and without issues.  The staff seemed ve...

Each month, I eagerly await the next issue of Avenue magazine here in Calgary because there is always some excellent article (whether long or short) on a fairly new restaurant on the scene.  My favorite issue this year was their ranking of the top restaurants in Calgary, based upon a few different categories (Best Patio, Best Cocktail, Best for Late Night, etc.).  Topping out the Best Overall list was Alloy, a relatively hidden dining spot on 42nd Avenue SE.  For those who aren't familiar with the city, this is land of the trades and strip mall, with companies like ABB and random home or commercial services adorning the corridor.  It's not exactly a place you would expect to find a high-end restaurant.   However, I like Alloy's style:  They found a rather plain-looking building with a wrap-around parking lot, shielding patrons from the busy street.  Upon entering, you can easily forget how atypical this location is for such an establishment....