The Food Savvy Tourist

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Should we deceive children - Part Deux
2007-11-20 19:08:00
This post is largely in response to a well-written comment posted for one of my earlier posts. It got me thinking. My post was about a recently hyped cookbook called 'Deceptively Delicious', in which parents are taught how to sneak in nutritious foods in various disguises into foods kids love. The author raises an important point in his comment. The book's themes suggests that children avoiding healthy foods is inevitable, and if we can't beat them, join them. But who is in charge? Is parenting the issue here?I used to teach in a large private school in Chicago last year, and nutrition was on the curriculum. Call me naive, and perhaps its because I am not a parent yet, but I was genuinely disturbed by how many students disclosed that having soda at breakfast was okay now and then, and that having McDonald's for dinner two or three times a week was no big deal. And I was not dealing with disadvantaged kids. Their parents were either professors or doctors. Overworked and ...
More About: Children , Part , Deceive

A fine wine bar in Chicago
2007-11-20 17:45:00
Most of Saturday was taken up with chores, so I really wanted to relax and unwind somewhere in Chicago . My husband had been here with friends a good few years ago, and he was impressed. So we decided to check it out.Webster's is located on a street which lends its name to this cozy and stylish nightspot. It is not pretentious at all. The clientele seem to mainly in the late 20s to 30s bracket. Most of the revelers appear to be close buddies, but this wine bar is romantic enough and couple-friendly.Get there late (I mean late; we arrived at 11:30) and you might just save yourself the $10 by parking yourself further down the street. There is some construction work going on around the bar right now, but you forget that once you're in.I just love ambient lighting, and Webster's scores big points for me in this area. The whole places buzzes with intense conversation and Brazilian music in the foreground. It is packed. As there is a (delectable) food menu, there are regular tab...
More About: Wine , Drinks , Fine

A savvy soup recipe...
2007-11-17 04:04:00
This soup recipe has got to be one of the fastest, tastiest, healthiest and simplest ones around. What I'm posting here is a variation of one I read a while ago in a magazine; it is guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser. Perfect as a starter for an intimate dinner party, or on a cold evening, or just something nutritious for the kids.Homemade Tomato and Celery Soup What you need: 1 to 2 tbsp olive oil1 lb tomatoes (halved)3 medium-sized celery sticks (coarsely sliced),1 clove garlic (thinly sliced)1 onion (coarsely chopped)1 fresh green chili pepper and 1 dried red chili pepper (this is optional, but it really enhances the flavor this is recipe without adding heat)500ml or 18 fl oz vegetable stock 2 oz spaghetti (uncooked) Freshly ground pepper Fresh or dried parsley.Serves 4.In a large saucepan, add the tomatoes, garlic, chillies and celery to the hot olive oil.Cover and cook on low for 45 minutes, periodically shaking the saucepan to mix the ingredients.Once the mixture is pulpy, pur...
More About: Recipes , Recipe , Foods , Savvy

Recipe for the perfect foolproof cookie!
2007-11-15 23:43:00
Though I love to cook and indulge in experimental cooking pretty much every week, my dishes tend to be of the savory variety. I am thinking of giving baking a try now, and am on a quest to find a recipe for a delicious oatmeal and cranberry cookie.Why oatmeal and cranberries? Well, I guess I want to feel less guilty by opting for two ingredients which are healthy and nutritious. And it helps I love both. By the way, I have recently become a huge fan of Ocean Spray's Craisins (sweetened dried cranberries). If you haven't tried it, go for it. They're high in fiber and other nutrients, and is really helping me stay off those candy bars!I went to Jewel this afternoon and bought some baking staples: all-purpose and self-rising flour, baking powder and soda, and some vanilla essence.In the past, I have used standard prepared mixes for cookies and cakes, but making cookies from scratch should be fun and healthier. Now that winter seems to be here finally, I can imagine nothing b...
More About: Recipe , Foods , Perfect , Reci , Cookie

I am so missing these foods....
2007-11-14 20:50:00
They're about to run out and I'm panicking. Judging by the battered packaging, you can tell I have been hanging on to them for dear life but there's not much left!I'm referring to some of my favorite foods I brought back with me on my last trip to England. Before I moved to Chicago two years ago, I lived in London for 11 years. Full of bittersweet memories, and fortunately, more of them sweeter rather than bitter.Two of my favorite M&S Cookies are the 'Pistachio and Almond Cookies' and 'Redcurrant Puffs'. You can almost taste the nuts jutting out of the deliciously crumbly cookie. Also, the delicateness of the dollop of redcurrant jam sitting in the middle of the exquisitely fine pastry.....aaaah.Another quintessentially British product I am missing is Whittard's Spiced Chai Tea (see picture). If you are a fan of Starbucks' Chai Latte, you'll love the convenience of brewing such a cuppa in your own home. The shops back in London are delightful treasure troves ...
More About: Foods , Missing , Missi

Should we deceive children when it comes to nutrition?
2007-11-14 17:28:00
I was on Amazon.com the other day and one of the books being heavily marketed on the home page was Jessica Seinfeld's newly released 'Deceptively Delicious'. I have not seen the physical book nor have I read any reviews, but I did see her on Ms. Seinfeld in a recent TV interview, so I got that it was about hiding the nutritious goodies in foods that children love. In other words, deceiving them to eat foods that are essential for healthy growth.I have some problems with this concept. Firstly, why should a parent have to do this? Pureed cauliflower in Mac n Cheese? This is time consuming and most parents work full-time? Secondly, are we and should we be sending the message that it's okay not to want to eat vegetables in its wholesome natural selves? Thirdly, is it right to deceive children? Once they find out, and they will, that the broccoli they hate so much is being injected into their pepperoni pizza crust, will they trust their parents about other things? Fourthly, is t...
More About: Children , Nutrition , Deceive

What is a Zartini?
2007-11-12 14:18:00
A very intriguing name indeed. I came across a certain news bite on Sunday's Chicago Tribune written by William Hagemen, which I wanted to share with you guys on this blog.A 'zartini' was a drink invented at an office party in 2003. The company was and is called the 'Z Factory' and one of its head honchos is called Cary Zartman, hence the name 'zartini' (don't quote me on this; this is my guess as to the origin of the drink's name).Before I digress further, the company have since 2003 been holding an annual competition to find a winning zartini on an annual basis. This competition had been held internally (company clients, friends etc) until this year!Visit the link below for more information. You can not only peruse past winning recipes, but also look and try out other recipes entered for previous years. Most importantly, you, the discerning drinker, can get to vote for the 2007 Zartini. The winning recipe will grace the web page in all its glory, as I'm told by the...
More About: Drinks

Fantastic views from the Sleeping Bear Dunes
2007-11-10 01:24:00
I think the photos speak for themselves. We drove about 25 miles west of Traverse City to the famous Sleeping Bear Dunes. We just followed the directions in the navigation system, and looked out keenly for a sign for the Dunes closer to our destination. Finally we came across one marked 'Scenic drive' which turned out to be a road called the 'Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive'. The amber-colored trees hugged the narrow road as we drove on, looking as if it were set on fire on a cool blue day.You pay $10 for a self-guided tour of the Sleeping Bear Dunes Lakeshore once inside the area. This is valid for about 7 days, so it's a good deal. The tour is divided into 11 or 12 vantage points, as marked on the leaflet given to you at the start of the tour. You drive through these spectacularly windy roads, and stop at the clearly marked points to photograph the stunning scenery, or simply to take it all in. We climbed a dune to be fact-to-face with stark white sands and turquoise wat...
More About: Views , Michigan , Midwest

The Wii got me!
2007-11-09 22:53:00
A couple of days ago, I acquired a 'Wii injury'. It had been a while since I played it, and my husband was bragging about his exceptional rating at tennis, so I saw a chance of improving my own and beating him by a huge advantage. I did increase my score by a meager 50 points, at the expense of wrecking my left arm. I know, it's all in the wrist movements; there is no need to wave my arms about like a madwoman! But I guess I got a bit carried away.To cut a long story short, I did not feel like writing at all. Feeling much better now, I am glad to be back at the keyboard. I'll concentrate on beating him at Scrabble instead.

Fine dining in the Old Mission Peninsula
2007-11-08 01:27:00
We just went in to grab a quick bite, but came out very impressed and satisfied.The Peninsula Grill can be found on M-37 northbound from downtown TC towards the Chateau Chantal or the Old Mission Lighthouse. There are several other eateries and a little market place adjacent to the restaurant, making it easily visible from the main road.The environment is casual and full of well-heeled locals. Their satiated faces was an indication of what we could expect. Our server was extremely gracious and recommended we try a Michigan brew called Bell's Winter White ale. Amber colored and slightly sweet, the delicious ale got us going. My entree was fresh mussels seeping in garlic and wine, fresh herbs and other such spicy juices. It was splendid! Freshly baked bread came with a butter which had a hint of maple, but I wasn't sure and didn't care as it was so tasty! My husband opted for a hearty fried whitefish sandwich which was devoured in seconds.The bill came to $35. Definitely wor...
More About: Dining , Fine

An elegant stay in Traverse City
2007-11-07 01:15:00
On Saturday, we left early to check into the much anticipated Chateau Chantal. We drove north of downtown Traverse City on M-37, and within minutes it became a beautiful scenic drive. The foliage changed, the colors were stronger, and the landscape became more rustic and peaceful. Signs indicating 'Honeycrisp Apples', or 'Maple Syrup' dotted the road as we zoomed past. The comparatively higher speed limits in Michigan meant that the windy road trip on the peninsula in the Mazda Miata became all the more thrilling.We discovered Chateau Chantal by chance. Long live Google. Both Abhijit and I wanted to stay there as soon as we finished surfing the website. It is unique in that it is a working winery with accommodation attached to it. It is located in one of the most picturesque regions of Northern Michigan. The Old Mission Peninsula is flanked by the Grand traverse Bay on other side, so you can imagine the views.The drive up to the Chateau was spectacular. A windy uphill ...
More About: Drinks , Stay , Elegant

A modest stay in Traverse City
2007-11-07 01:14:00
For our first night, we stayed at the Cherry Tree Condo Hotel. One of the main draws was the extremely off-season reasonable price - $82. TC is a very popular summer and fall destination, so it is a good idea to go just as winter season prices kick in, because you may not get a snowstorm right away, but could enjoy TC's colors at a cheaper price.The cons were that we did not get a bay-facing room, nor one with a jacuzzi. But it did have a king bed, and we were only staying the night. We had reserved a very upscale suite at another TC venue (see the other TC post) for Saturday, so it made sense for us to stay modestly on Friday, and save the best for last.After parking at the amply-spaced car park, we made our way to the reception where we were greeted politely. We were told of free drinks at an adjoining room so we decided to unload and have a taste. Also adjoining the reception was a medium-sized communal sitting room which doubled up as a library and had internet access. W...
More About: Michigan , City , Modest , Stay , Midwest

The drive to Traverse City and Fall colors
2007-11-06 23:30:00
So as I said, we planned to visit Northern Michigan last weekend, where neither of us had been before. I inaugurated the flask we had bought by filling it with some hot sweet tea for the road. Armed with other edible goodies, we hit the road at around 10 am on a sunny Friday morning.According to various fall foliage reports, the color in Michigan was tending towards peak. However, while that was evident along some of I-94 and made for a pleasant drive, leaves had started to drop. But pockets of color indicated how beautiful it must have been a week or two ago. We still loved the drive.We drove down the I-90, then down the I-94, followed by I-196 towards Grand Rapids, then moving onto US-131 and finally M-37. M-37 is not the fastest of routes, but since it went through the Manistee Forest reserve, we wanted to try it. However, there was not a lot to see, so it is best to stick to the faster US-131 on your way to Traverse City .We got there around 6 pm ET, leaving at around 10:3...
More About: Drive , Colors , Fall

Planning a trip to wine country and other affairs
2007-11-01 01:36:00
I'm looking forward to Friday and the weekend. Hubby's taken Friday off, and we're jetting off in the two-seater on a road trip to Traverse City, Michigan. We've reserved two very different types of accommodation for the two nights that we'll be there and have saved the best for last. Don't want to give the game away, but will post about it after we get back.On a separate note, I was busy collating all my documents in order to transfer a valid visa from an expired passport onto a new passport. To make matters more complicated, the visa is in my maiden name whereas my new passport reflects my married one, so I hope that that will not delay things. We're hoping to visit India this January and I am really stoked about that. Filling the forms was not fun. I am probably going into downtown Chicago tomorrow, to get this over and done with.Anyway, if you've been to Traverse City, drop me a line. It is about a 6 hour drive from where we are in Northern Illinois, and I expect...
More About: Country , Wine , Planning , Trip , Affairs

A bite by the Mississippi and a ski lodge...
2007-10-31 02:24:00
You're probably picturing New Orleans at the mention of the mighty river in the title, but I am indeed talking about the Missi ssippi in the Midwest , in Galena, northwestern Illinois to be exact.I will be totally honest and say that it's not exactly a picturesque drive towards Galena on the I-90W and the US-20, staring from the northwestern Chicago 'burbs. However, en route to the city of Galena, take the left at the junction of US-20 and IL-84 towards Hanover and then towards Winston, to get to the Chestnut Mountain Resort.This resort looks like your typical cheesy replica of a Swiss chalet resort, but it's cute enough. It is quite popular with single travelers, couples and families especially during the skiing season, as its perched high enough to make some decent skiing possible. Lodging is available and packages are offered on the website. Lessons are available too. There is a shop and rental facilities in case you forgot your gear.We were there during early Fall, and th...
More About: Lodge , Bite

Fall road trips
2007-10-26 15:36:00
Yesterday was a beautiful day for a drive, so I couldn't help noticing how pretty one of the roads near our place looked. As it winded down, the colors really struck me. I've often thought of taking of a road trip simply to gaze at Fall or 'autumn' colors as we call it in the UK. In fact, we are thinking of taking a trip next weekend, so I'll post a report on that then.Of course, the places they say are most spectacular during Fall are along the northeastern corridor comprising Vermont and New England to name but a few. Upper Michigan and Wisconsin are also pretty good for exploring if you're nearer to this area. I however would love to spend a long weekend up in Vermont during Fall, locked up in a cozy bed and breakfast somewhere with a view, in front of a roaring fire, with a glass of mulled wine.....Below is a link to a good website I found which gives excellent updates on Fall color in the popular regions of the country. If you have a story to tell about a memorable F...
More About: Road

How to guarantee a good hotel at a great price!
2007-10-23 16:41:00
In this post, I will keep it short and sweet, and try to point you in the right direction of ensuring a great hotel at a good price:Open up multiple tabs on one browser window. Enter the addresses of the popular websites on each - Expedia, Orbitz, travelocity, tripadvisor etcetera and any others that you may use to book hotels.Generate searches on each of the above websites using your criteria (the same criteria for easy comparison).Narrow down the list to the hotels you feel are going to work for you, and compare the prices/package on each tab if offered by multiple sites.Now search those hotels on Tripadvisor, and see how others have rated it.If you are happy with what you've read, go to the hotel's website itself, and check if they have the same package you want at a lower price. If so, book with the hotel itself. Otherwise, go ahead with the best-priced travel website offer.Other methods:Check the local press (travel supplements in newspapers) for any discounts.If you do not ...
More About: Hotel , Great , Price , Good , T A G

Let's exchange links and increase blog traffic!
2007-10-23 15:52:00
Note: I reserve the right to refuse links to blogs which are not appropriate or are not authoritative and engaging in look and content. Therefore, please participate only if you feel that your blog deserves a mention!To exchange links and increase traffic to your blog, follow the instructions carefully (The text was adapted from Stephanie Law's blog shown in the blogroll below):Copy from hereGet a Technorati account hereFavorite my blog by clicking hereLeave a comment on this post with your blog address (1 address only ) and I will then favorite your blog as well if appropriate. I will try to do this a.s.a.p (my Technorati nickname is mon11uk so you can check)Copy this post from and including where it says ?Copy From Here? until ?End Copy? and post in your blog. Make sure you change the link in step 1 to your own Technorati Favorites Link, which can be obtained from this Technorati page, and also change the Technorati nickname to your own in step 2 - this is important)Now add a l...
More About: Blog Traffic , Traffic , Links , Blog , Exchange

Lake Geneva
2007-10-22 21:01:00
Lake Geneva in the state of Wisconsin is about an 80 miles drive northwest of Chicago, and makes for a lovely day trip. We lucked out with the weather when we visited yesterday for the first time. The area just one block north of the lake around Main and Broad St has a number of very eclectic shops and restaurants. There is ample seating and a mini-beach in addition to picnic greens all overlooking the lake. See my post about Kilwin's confectionery, also under the 'Mid West' category.What would be your favorite day trip from where you are? Drop me a line with your suggestion.
More About: Lake , Midwest

Mouth-watering confectionery in Wisconsin....
2007-10-22 20:33:00
Yesterday being such a fabulous day, we decided to hop into the convertible, top down, and drive up to Lake Geneva in Wisconsin .Apart from the beautiful lake which I'll blog about later, we discovered a cute and extremely busy little confectionery shop on the main street called Kilwins. Decorated in a style evocative of the 1940s, the brand was actually founded in North Michigan by a couple during the late 1940s.Their selection of home-style fudge is overwhelming: dark german, maple walnut, chocolate pecan to name but a few. Beautifully wrapped chocolate gift boxes adorn one of the walls. Raspberry creams, cherry cordials, almond toffee crunch...the list goes on. Then there's the ice-cream corner. Rum-raisin, Lake Geneva mud, pumpkin seem to be some of the most requested flavors while we were there. It was very busy indeed.A pound of fudge costs about $13 but is totally worth it. The attendant packed in a couple of knives for us to cut the fudge with.We bagged a bench with a...
More About: Mouth , Midwest , Erin , Confectionery

How to score tickets to Wimbledon?
2007-10-19 02:40:00
Where you love tennis or not, this is an experience in itself. If seeking Britishness is what you're after on your next trip to Blighty, this is the place. As you may know, it takes place during June and July, and if you're lucky, you may even get a sunny day or two. No, it needn't cost an arm and a leg. Another popular misconception about London .What you have to have is a willingness to line up for a while. About 5 hours, maybe 6. Your chances are higher earlier in the tournament and on a weekday. I have managed to be at Wimbledon and see great matches for 5 years, and cannot wait to get back. If you get there really early, the box office may offer you tickets to Center court and Court No 1; otherwise just the ground pass.But don't knock the ground pass just yet - apart from Center and No 1, it offers you access to all other courts, and early in the week, you're bound to see some big names at the smaller courts. The cost is between 5 and 20 pounds, depending on the day o...
More About: Tickets , Score , Bled

When in Vienna....
2007-10-17 14:57:00
Do visit the stunning monastery in Melk, about an hour's drive west of Vienna . Ask about the Vienna Sightseeing company, who have a tour of the Wachau valley surrounding the formidable Danube.The tour takes you from your hotel (a complimentary ride) to a central point from which you board a luxury coach with the appropriate language. After driving through some grittier parts of the city and the unremarkable highway, you suddenly find yourself in stunning Austria n countryside, meandering through narrow windy roads alongside the Danube. A little later, you see vineyards and pretty cottages, while the river flows to your left. It's beautiful.What I also liked about the tour is that it stopped at a place called Spitz. from where we embarked upon an idyllic Danube cruise to Melk.If you know nothing about the monastery in Melk like me, or had simply seen pictures of it, you will be glad you came. It is grand and demure at the same time. The approach to it may be touristy and overp...

Vienna's sweet treat
2007-10-15 16:07:00
Who would have thought that a 19th century recipe for a cake would still be causing such a stir on the streets of Vienna?This August, I tasted the magic that so many people had been telling me about. "Oh so you'll be in Vienna? You have to try the Sacher Torte." I found that while this delectable treat was served at many of Vienna's restaurants and cafes, the 'original' and the version that was recommended by most was the torte served at the Hotel Sacher itself, who own the trademarked recipe (the son of the recipe's creator built this exquisite luxury hotel).This cake is more than just a chocolate cake. What is heavenly in each mouthful is the happy marriage of apricot jam and moist rich spongy chocolate. And a spoonful of sinfully creamy whipped cream helps too. If you want to taste the Sacher Torte in Vienna, I recommend you do it nowhere but the Hotel Sacher itself. When you enter the cafe, you do not see the hotel in all its grandeur, but you certainly get a sense of ...
More About: Austria , Sweet , Treat

London (west-end) tickets
2007-10-15 15:50:00
You may have all heard about the half-price ticket booth in Leicester square, London , where one can get the hottest theatre and musical tickets. While this is a great way of acquiring tickets, the show list they have tickets to on a daily basis is limited, and you do have to line up for some time, especially if the tickets you want are the same as what everybody else wants.Two tips: One, locate the theatre of the show you want to go to, and get to the box office about a few hours before the show. The attendant may tell you to come back an hour or 45 minutes before the show, but at least you can talk to him/her and gauge if there are likely to be any returns of the day (tickets from people that can't make the show after all). This method works best on a weekday.Two, if you have access to a computer, or an internet cafe nearby, log on to lastminute.com and find tickets for as low as ten pounds.Good luck.Of a list of plays and musicals in London, see the Official Guide.
More About: West , Tickets , West End , Tick