MY DAILY BREAD

I LOVE MADRID...THE LIFESTYLE IS JUST SO IDEAL

LUNCH...IS...LONG...AND IT FORCES YOU TO SIT BACK AND RELAX FOR A BIT!

CALLE DE VELAZQUEZ -- MY FAVOURITE STREET IN MADRID

MY FRIEND AND I DID PAIN QUOTIDIEN ON CALLE VELAZQUEZ TODAY FOR LUNCH...IT WAS SUCH A NICE SUNNY DAY...WE DID IT AL FRESCO

"IT LITERALLY MEANS 'DAILY BREAD'"

OKAY, OKAY, IT IS NOT EXACTLY THE MOST EXOTIC OF PLACES TO EAT...ITS AN ORGANIC BAKERY..WITH SO MANY DELECTABLE DISHES...WANT A NICE, HEALTHY MEAL? PAIN QUOTIDIEN...

FOR ME...ENSALADA DE BUFALA CON TOMATE Y RUCULA

(DRIZZLED WITH THEIR ORGANIC OLIVE OIL AND SOME PARM SHAVINGS..UFFF)

I HAD A LITTLE GLASS OF WHITE WINE WITH IT...THE BEST

FOR MY FRIEND..QUICHE LORRAINE

FOR DESSERT...MY CAFE CORTADO AND...

RASPBERRY AND BLUEBERRY TART...YES...ORGANIC AND UTTERLY DELISH

THE BEST THING ABOUT PAIN IS THAT YOU CAN FIND IT ALL OVER THE WORLD!! IF YOU ARE IN ANY OF THESE PLACES AND YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A GOOD PLACE TO GO...

...AUSTRALIA, BAHRAIN, BELGIUM, CANADA, FRANCE, GERMANY, KUWAIT, MEXICO, NETHERLANDS, QATAR, RUSSIA, SPAIN, SWITZERLAND, TURKEY, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, UNITED KINGDOM, UNITED STATES...

I TOLD YOU! NOT EXOTIC...BUT ALWAYS GOOD!

I'M LEAVING TO GO SKIING TOMORROW..GUESS WHERE! SWITZERLAND! I AM TOO EXCITED...TELL YOU ALL ABOUT IT WHEN I GET BACK

SUNNY DAYS AND TRUFFLE BIKINIS

IT WAS SUCH A SUNNY DAY IN BARCELONA!

RAMBLA CATALUNYA

THE PLAN WAS TO GO STROLL AROUND AND HAVE LUNCH AT THE BOQUERIA ON LAS RAMBLAS BUT WE DECIDED AGAINST IT...THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WOULD HAVE BEEN A LITTLE OVERWHELMING FOR THOSE OF US THAT WERE HUNGOVER...FROM DRINKING COFFEE ALL NIGHT...

INSTEAD WE WENT FOR LUNCH AT TAPAS24 TO HAVE THE GREATEST THING ON EARTH..TRUFFLE BIKINIS...

WHAT IS A BIKINI YOU ASK?

OHH LALA... IT'S A HAM AND CHEESE SANDWICH...

BUT A (JAMON DE JABUGO) AND MOZZARELLA SANDWICH...ITS DIFFERENT...SPANISH HAM ROCKS MY WORLD...

...AND THIS ONE HAS GOT GRATED BLACK TRUFFLES AND THE CRUST CUT OFF...OHH LALA..

ON THE CORNER OF STREETS PASSEIG DE GRACIA AND DIPUTACIO, THIS PLACE IS ALWAYS FULL...AND I MEAN PACKED...BUT SO WORTH IT...

THEY AREN'T ENTERING, THEY ARE WAITING

VIEW OF THE KITCHEN

PATATAS BRAVAS

ORDER THE ALCACHOFAS FRITAS (FRIED ARTICHOKES) TOO...SO GOOD

MY WALK BACK--CARRERA DE ROSELLO

TE QUIERO BARCELONA

BUENOS DIAS FROM ROOM MATE EMMA IN BARCELONA!

VIEW OF CARRER ROSSELLO FROM MY 3RD FLOOR HOTEL ROOM

THIS HOTEL IS SO CUTE MY HEAD IS EXPLODING...I EXAGGERATE...

MY ROOM

ROOM MATE EMMA IS THE NEW ADDITION TO THE ROOM MATE CHAIN, AND I MUST SAY THAT I AM QUITE IMPRESSED....I AM A BIG FAN OF SMALL BOUTIQUE HOTELS...

BIG HOTELS ARE BULLIES

OKAY, OKAY, THERE IS NO SIGN OF ROOM SERVICE THAT I CAN SEE...I AM BUMMED ABOUT THAT...BUT IF GOD CLOSES A DOOR, HE OPENS A WINDOW...

THEY SERVE BREAKFAST 'TILL NOON AND FREE WIFI! FINALLY!! A HOTEL THAT CATERS TO THE HUNGOVER! ...FROM DRINKING COFFEE ALL NIGHT OF COURSE! ;)

GREAT LATE DAY BREAKFAST BUFFET...BRIE, TORTILLA, AND FRESH TOMATO FOR PAN AMB TOMAQUET (HOW I LOOOVE TOMAQUET)

SO HERE I AM...11:30AM...ON MY COMPUTER, POST BREAKFAST WITH BBC NEWS IN THE BACKGROUND TELLING ME SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES OF J.D. SALINGER HAVING BEEN THE INVENTOR OF TEEN ANGST...

I AM SOO LOOKING FORWARD TO FOOD TRIPPING IN THE BOQUERIA FOR LUNCH...

FORTY CARROTS --NEW YORK CITY

PEOPLE! ANOTHER REASON TO GO TO BLOOMINGDALES

fortyCARROTSfrozenYOGURT

BLOOMINGDALES ON 59TH AND LEX

BURIED INSIDE THE BLOOMINGDALE'S 7TH FLOOR BEDDING DEPARTMENT, THIS TREASURE OF A RESTAURANT IS A BIT OF A PAIN IN THE ASS TO FIND, BUT ONCE YOU DO...THE MECCA OF ALL THINGS FROZEN YOGURT...YES, BETTER THAN PINK BERRY...

SO I ASKED MY NEW YORKER FRIEND IF HE KNEW ABOUT THIS PLACE..HE SAID..."I DON'T GO TO BLOOMINGDALES.." WHHAAAT?

THE GREATEST/WEIRDEST THING ABOUT FORTY CARROTS IS THAT WHEN I LOOK AROUND, EVERYONE SEEMS TO HAVE GOTTEN THEIR OWN...NO SHARING HERE.. CHUNKY PEOPLE, SKINNY PEOPLE, YOU NAME IT..AND SOMEONE SHARES THE SAME OBSERVATION!

dailyFLAVORS

SUNDAY: BLUEBERRY

MONDAY: MANGO

TUESDAY: BANANA

WEDNESDAY: STRAWBERRY

THURSDAY: PEANUT BUTTER

FRIDAY: RASPBERRY

SATURDAY: BUTTER PECAN

PERSONALLY, I LIKE THE PLAIN FLAVOR MYSELF

MISSION: TRY GETTING FOUR FLAVORS IN ONE CUP

PLAIN, TANGY FRO-YO TOPPED WITH HONEY, WHEAT GERM AND STRAWBERRIES

THE DESIGN OF THE PLACE IS NOT TOO SHABBY EITHER

JAPAWIENERS IN VANCOUVER

NOT SO LONG AGO, I WAS A STUDENT IN VANCOUVER..DORMING OF COURSE..AND I LONGED TO LIVE DOWNTOWN. I'M A CITY MOUSE. MY BROTHER HAD A LITTLE PLACE ON BURRARD STREET (one of the main streets in Downtown Vancouver) AND I WOULD GO STAY THERE AS OFTEN AS I COULD.

...I LOVELOVELOVE BURRARD STREET...

...THE UPTOWN OF DOWNTOWN...

PERFECT LOCATION....STARBUCKS...SCOTIABANK THEATRE...IGA...SUTTON PLACE WINE MERCHANT

AND

japaDOG

AWW, PLEASE READ THEIR SLOGAN?

ON BURRARD AND SMITHE

JAPADOG IS AN ASIAN TWIST TO AN AMERICAN CLASSIC...A MULTITUDE OF JAPANESE CONDIMENTS OF YOUR CHOICE ARE ADDED TO THE WIENIE...TURNING IT INTO AN INCREDIBLY WEIRD, YET UTTERLY TASTY STREET MEAL

THE MOST POPULAR HOTDOG THEY HAVE IS THE TERIMAYO...BUT MY PERSONAL FAVOURITE IS DEFINITELY THE OROSHI...BUT SEE FOR YOURSELF..

MENU

HERE WE HAVE THE OROSHI, THE TERIMAYO AND SOME CONCOCTION WITH WATERCRESS...BEATS ME...

AFTER YOU BUY YOURSELF A TERIMAYO AND A SOFTDRINK...WALK DOWN ONE BLOCK AND RIGHT ON ROBSON STREET

theVAGsteps

VERY MUCH THE LITTLE MET..YES, NEW YORK..WE HAVE ONE TOO

VANCOUVER ART GALLERY, ROBSON STREET

WE ALL KNOW THAT HOT DOG STANDS ARE STAPLES OF CITY LIVING...THERE IS NOTHING LIKE WALKING DOWN THE STREET AND GRABBING A HOTDOG ON THE GO...FOR SOME REASON, IT DOESN'T SEEM AS FATTENING WHEN YOU EAT IT ON THE STEPS OF THE VAG VIS-A-VIS VANCOUVER'S "ARTEEESTS," STUDENT'S, STREET VENDORS AND ROBSON STREET SHOPPERS...

...ENJOY YOUR WIENER...HA

GOODNIGHTFRIENDS!

MAMA SHELTER-PARIS

LE MARAIS, PARIS, 2009

" A DESIRE. A CITY. PARIS. THE WORLD CAPITAL OF TOURISM. PARIS. A PLACE OF REFUGE. EVERYONE IS WELCOME.

THE 20TH ARRONDISEMENT IS NOT ONE OF PARIS' BEST LOVED CORNERS AND YET IT IS THE HOME OF ONE OF IT'S HIPPEST SPOTS.

mamaSHELTER

paris

A FORMER CARPARK THAT HAS BEEN CONVERTED INTO A STYLISH AND INNOVATIVE NEW HOTEL, RESTAURANT AND BAR

DESIGNED BY NO OTHER THAN PHILIPPE STARCK

109 rue de bagnolet

PARIS, 75020

theNEIGHBORHOOD

SAINT BLAISE; 2Oth arrondisement

"...REBEL CHARACTER AND CITY LIFE AT A COUNTRY PACE...MAMA SHELTER:THE KEY TO A CITY. MAMA, YOUR MAMA, OUR MAMA, EVERYONE'S MAMA. THIS IS YOUR SHELTER, OUR

SHELTER. A SHELTER FOR EVERYONE.."

THE ENTIRE GROUND FLOOR IS GIVEN OVER TO THE WINING AND DINING SIDE OF THE OPERATION. THERE IS A LARGE ISLAND BAR SURROUNDED BY SOFAS

DJ DECKS ARE TUCKED IN THE CORNER (which come into play later in the night) AND THERE IS A MORE FORMAL DINING AREA WITH PREDICTABLE QUIRKY AND COLORFUL CHAIRS.

AND HOW MUCH DO WE LOVE THE CHALKBOARD FLOORS, WALLS, AND CEILINGS?

...VERY MUCH...

WHILE THE DESIGN IS VERY MUCH AT THE HEART OF THE SET UP, THE FOOD AND DRINK DON'T LAG FAR BEHIND. THE MENU IS SIMPLER THAN THE MORE CUTTING EDGE ELEMENTS ELSEWHERE WOULD SUGGEST. BUT THIS IS NO COMPLAINT AS EVERYTHING IS DONE SIMPLY BUT VERY WELL INDEED. THERE IS ALSO AN EXCITING WINELIST AND CHEESE PLATE IS PARTICULARLY EXCELLENT (well this is Paris after all). THE BARTENDERS ARE ALSO HIGHLY KNOWLEDGEABLE AND CAN MIX A KILLER COCKTAIL.

BONNUITMESAMIS!

SALT TASTING ROOM--VANCOUVER

LET'S FACE IT, VANCOUVER HAS YET TO BE COMMENDED FOR ITS FOOD TRIP POTENTIAL

CALLING FOODIES AROUND THE WORLD. DISCOVER VANCOUVER. IT'S NEXT TO SEATTLE.

saltTASTINGroom

45 BLOOD ALLEY, GASTOWN

VANCOUVER BC, CANADA

THIS IS MY FAVOURITE RESTAURANT IN ALL OF VANCOUVER. THE FIRST PLACE I TAKE FRIENDS WHO VISIT.

THE LOCATION IS NOT WHAT US VANCOUVERITES CALL WELCOMING. LOCATED IN BLOOD ALLEY, A TINY, OFF BEAT STREET IN GASTOWN (Vancouver's Soho). THE SALT TASTING ROOM IS A DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE ALL TOGETHER.

THE MENU IS SIMPLE.

GUESTS ASSEMBLE A TASTING PLATE FROM THE CHALKBOARD'S SELECTION OF

10 CHEESES

10 MEATS

10 CONDIMENTS

THE SELECTIONS CHANGE CONSTANTLY, MAKING IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO HAVE THE SAME SALT EXPERIENCE TWICE.

WHAT I DO, HOWEVER, SINCE I KNOW AS MUCH ABOUT PAIRING WINE, CHEESE, AND MEAT AS I DO ABOUT ASTROPHYSICS...I SUBMIT MYSELF TO THE OH SO TALENTED WAITSTAFF.

AND BOY DO THEY KNOW THEIR STUFF.

MENU GOOD FOR TWO

THAT THEY CHOOSE FOR YOU

BUTCHER PLATE ($15)

(3 meats + 3 condiments)

+

CHEESE MONGER PLATE ($15)

( 3 cheeses + 3 condiments)

+

WINE FLIGHT ($15)

(three 2 oz. tasters)

...or if you are visiting British Columbia for the first time...

BEST OF BC PLATE ($15)

(mix of 3 locally produced items = 3 condiments)

CLICK HERE FOR THE COMPLETE MENU

MY FAVOURITE PAIRINGS:

Ash Camembert w/ Quince (aka. Membrillo)

OR

Blue Cheese w/ Honey Comb

RESERVATIONS

IMAGES TAKEN FROM www.salttastingroom.com

GOODNIGHTFRIENDS!