Showing posts with label hits. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hits. Show all posts
Sunday, February 8, 2015
The Weekend Gourmet Hits the Road Dallas Roadtrip Part I
Our room was spacious and featured floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Downtown Dallas. The decor was tasteful and soothing, and it featured a ton of great amenities. We enjoyed convenient in-room WiFi, an MP3 player...and even a flat-screen TV embedded in the bathroom mirror. Our stay was during the Sochi Olympics, so I was able to watch figure skating while I got ready to go out for the evening. It was a nice touch that I really liked! Before we knew it, it was time to head out for the evening.
I had given Michael tickets to see Sting and Paul Simon in concert for last Christmas, so we planned our Dallas trip around the show. We had never been to an event at the American Airlines Center, and we were quite impressed. The area around the arena is very fan-friendly, offering lots of fun restaurants and abundant parking. We even discovered that the arena offers a fabulous pre-show dinner buffet at The Chefs Table at The Audi Club. This is a great concept -- arrive an hour or so before your show, enjoy a great meal, then walk directly to your seats and enjoy the show! We met Chef Mark Mabry, who showed us to the Audi Club and explained the concept. We were blown away by the variety of food offered on the buffet, as well as the artful presentation and quality of the food served. The buffet included both hot and cold stations offering everything from carved meat to an elaborate cheese and fruit display. Add in a tropical cocktail, and our evening was off to a fantastic start!
 |
| Photo provided by American Airlines Center |
After the show, we made the short drive back to the Omni Dallas...stopping to snap some pictures of the hotels unique colorful nighttime exterior. The outside changes color every few seconds thanks to more than a million LED lights. The patterns are controlled by computer, and its great fun to watch the patterns and colors change. We made it back to our room and immediately climbed into the comfy king-size bed in our room. We slept great and woke up the next morning feeling refreshed and ready to hit the road. We had lunch reservations for Del Friscos Grille in nearby Uptown Dallas. We dropped our car with the valet and headed inside to enjoy the restaurants upscale casual food. This is just the kind of restaurant that we like: great food served in a relaxed environment! Del Friscos Grille delivered on both fronts.
We started our meal with two shared appetizers. Michael picked the creative Cheesesteak Eggrolls, and I selected the Jumbo Lump Crabcake appetizer. Both of our selections were absolutely delicious! The eggrolls were filled with classic cheesesteak ingredients, fried crisp, and served cut in half. They were served with Sweet & Spicy Chili Sauce and Honey Mustard drizzled on top. The crabcake was moist, well seasoned, and bursting with huge pieces of lump crab. It was served with a flavorful sauce on the side.
Disclosure: The Dallas Omni provided us with a complimentary stay to facilitate inclusion in this article. American Airlines Center provided our pre-show buffets, and Del Friscos Grille hosted our lunch. All opinions expressed are my own, and -- unless noted -- all photographs are copyrighted by Michael K. Garcia. They may not be copied or otherwise used without prior permission.
The Weekend Gourmet Hits the Road Sea World Aquatica San Antonio AND a Ticket Giveaway!
One of the best things about living in a tourist-friendly city like San Antonio is that it provides local residents with tons of great options for fun day trips and short staycations! Michael and I live less than 10 minutes from the Sea World/Aquatica San Antonio, which means we can get our Shamu and water park fix whenever the mood strikes. Sea World/Aquatica recently invited us to come out and spend a fun day at the park -- including enjoying a fantastic buffet lunch as part of their Dine With Shamu upgrade package. It was a blazing-hot Texas day in mid-July when we visited, but we had a great time with our friends Bekah and Matt…and their young daughter Abby.
We arrived and quickly parked our cars in the huge parking lot and walked into the park entrance. Hint: make sure to apply a goodsunblock liberally…the Texas Sun can be brutal! I am very fair-skinned and burn easily, so I used an SPF 79 sunblock and only burned on my scalp…which I somehow forgot to spray with sunblock. On that note, a cap or hat is a good idea too: it’s perfect for providing a bit of shade and protection from the Sun. We also knew it was important to stay hydrated, so our first stop was the gift shop to buy a big bottle of water to share. Face it, heat stroke can put a real damper on your fun! After this prep work, our first order of business was to see Azul, a show features a variety of diving and acrobatic performers and lots of talented animals too: dolphins, beluga whales, and colorful parrots to name a few. The show is fun and entertaining for kids...of all ages!
By the time the Azul was over, it was time for our lunch date with Shamu! We made our way to the Shamu Theater and were escorted to an area in the back thats not normally open to the general public. We were greeted by several friendly and helpful members of the Sea World staff, then shown to our poolside table. After drinking some ice water to cool off a bit, we quickly made our way over to the buffet line. The array of food was quite impressive: a fish taco bar, a wide variety of kid-friendly items like hot dogs and chicken fingers, lots of fresh fruit and a large display of colorful mini desserts. The meal is served outdoors, but the area is well shaded...and they provide lots of ice-cold drinks to help you stay cool and hydrated.
While we enjoyed our tasty food and iced tea, Shamu’s trainers were on hand to answer our questions about Shamu’s training schedule, what and how much he eats each day, etc. The trainers were very friendly and informative, then it was time to meet Shamu up close and personal. He performed a few tricks and then stopped by our table to say hello and pose for some pictures. It was such a fun treat to have the opportunity to see Shamu so close and watch him interact with his trainer.
Before we knew it, our Dine With Shamu experience was over…and we were ready to cool off some more. Penguins to the rescue! The Penguin Plaza at Sea World San Antonio is housed inside a large air-conditioned building, so we were able to cool off and enjoy the playful antics of the penguins. Talk about a win-win scenario…I ADORE penguins! We noticed the lights were out inside the climate-controlled penguin habitat, so we asked a staff member why. They told us that Sea World recreates the penguin’s natural habitat to the smallest detail, including sunrise/sunset patterns. It’s dark midday where the penguins are from, so it was dark inside in midday San Antonio too. We had to get up close to the glass to see them clearly, but they were frisky and playful!
After about an hour of watching the penguins play and swim, we headed over to the Aquatica side of the park for the remainder of our visit. This nature-themed water park has a huge wave pool, several water slides…and a large Sesame Street-themed water play area just for the little ones to enjoy. It’s perfect for cooling off, and there’s even a stingray cove!
We had a blast playing in the wave pool, riding the thrilling water slides and generally acting like big kids. Before we knew it, it was 600 and time to head home. We were tired after a busy day, but in that “we had a great time” kind of way! Sea World/Aquatica San Antonio is a fantastic day trip for families -- whether you live here in San Antonio or are planning a visit. There’s something for kids of all ages, so you’re guaranteed to have fun. We sure did!
To share the fun, Sea World/Aquatica San Antonio is going to give one of my readers a complimentary pair of tickets to Sea World/Aquatica! The tickets are good at the San Antonio location only, and they can be used until January 5, 2014. If you live nearby OR are planning a San Antonio getaway in the next few months, be sure to enter. To do so, leave me a comment letting me know what you would enjoy most about a visit to Sea World/Aquatica. Make sure to leave your e-mail address so I can find you if you’re the winner. I’ll accept entries until this Saturday 8/17 at 1159 pm CST. I will notify the winner via e-mail on Sunday. Good luck!
To share the fun, Sea World/Aquatica San Antonio is going to give one of my readers a complimentary pair of tickets to Sea World/Aquatica! The tickets are good at the San Antonio location only, and they can be used until January 5, 2014. If you live nearby OR are planning a San Antonio getaway in the next few months, be sure to enter. To do so, leave me a comment letting me know what you would enjoy most about a visit to Sea World/Aquatica. Make sure to leave your e-mail address so I can find you if you’re the winner. I’ll accept entries until this Saturday 8/17 at 1159 pm CST. I will notify the winner via e-mail on Sunday. Good luck!
Disclosure: Sea World San Antonio provided The Weekend Gourmet with a four pack of one-day park admissions to facilitate this article. All opinions expressed are mine. Some pictures were provided by Sea World.
Friday, February 6, 2015
The Weekend Gourmet Hits the Road Featuring New Yorks Upper West Side a Treat House GIVEAWAY!
Today, I’m going to spotlight one of my very favorite neighborhoods in New York: The Upper West Side (UWS). If youve never visited this part of the city, I hope youll plan at least an afternoon visit to explore the area the next time youre in New York. The UWS is a more residential part of the city, where youll see lots of gorgeous apartment buildings, strolling families, and adorable dogs. However, the area also has lots of great restaurants and cultural attractions. A few years ago, we decided to live like New Yorkers for a week and rented a studio apartment on the UWS. The apartment was located on W 85th, just a block from Central Park West and 1.5 blocks from a convenient subway station. We absolutely fell in love with the neighborhood, so we always make sure to spend time in this part of the city whenever we visit New York! During our most recent trip last month, we discovered two fantastic new places to eat…and we also visited one of our favorite bakeries.
We heard about Jacob’s Pickles online and knew we had to check it out: their motto is Southern Food, With a Twist...and they offer craft beer, house-made pickles and delicious comfort food served in a casual environment? Sounds like a perfect spot to me! We arrived and were warmly greeted and shown to our second-floor table…then the food started coming out. First up was a sampling of their house-made Pickle Jars. We tried the Sour Green Tomatoes, Sweet & Spicy Carrots, Candy Red Beets and Special Sours. All were crisp and flavorful...the perfect start to our meal. Next came fried Fried Pickle Spears with Spicy Red Mayo. The spicy and tangy combo was addictive. As we munched away contentedly, out came THE BEST mac and cheese we’ve ever had, the Mushroom Mac & Cheese. It was rich and creamy, with crunchy melted cheese and a creamy mushroom sauce containing shitake, portabella and king oyster mushrooms on top. It was served with a sampler of some of their craft beers. We would’ve been content to eat this mac and cheese all afternoon, but more food was heading our way.
Treat House makes a perfect 1-2 afternoon combo with Jacobs Pickles because of their close proximity to each other. On our way out, Jennifer gave us one of their gourmet ice cream bars to enjoy on the cab ride back to our hotel. It was a sweet ending to our fabulous visit! We walked around the neighborhood a bit more, then we grabbed a cab to head back to our hotel in Midtown.
We love the UWS so much that we headed back up a couple of days later for Sunday brunch at the recently opened second location of RedFarm. This Asian fusion restaurant’s original location is in the Village, and it’s wildly popular. After visiting this new UWS location, it was easy to see why. We loved the natural light and open feel of RedFarm and quickly decided to share some small plates and a main dish. We had heard about the Katzs Pastrami Eggroll made with Katz’s famous pastrami, so that was definitely a must try. We also selected the Crispy Duck & Crab Dumplings and the whimsical Pac Man Shrimp Dumplings. All of these dishes were delicious …and perfect for sharing. The egg roll was like a familiar egg roll that dropped by a deli on the way to the table! The crispy dumplings were light and flavorful, and the shrimp dumplings were sweet and full of shrimp.
Finally, if you’re a history lover, the American Museum of Natural History is located at Central Park West and 79th Street. The museum also includes the famous Hayden Planetarium, making this museum fun for kids and adults alike. Conveniently, there’s also a Shake Shack located directly across the street from the back side of the museum. There are several Shake Shack locations throughout New York, but this one is my personal favorite! We love to grab a Shack Burger, some cheese fries and a shake, take it to go...then sit on a bench outside to people watch while we enjoy our meal.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclosure: Jacobs Pickles, Treat House and RedFarm provided us with meals to facilitate inclusion in this article. We received no further compensation, and all opinions provided are my own. All photographs are copyrighted by Michael K. Garcia. They may not be copied or otherwise used without prior permission.
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
The Weekend Gourmet Hits the Road Dallas Roadtrip Part II
 |
| Photo courtesy of Rosewood Hotels |
We hopped on an elevator and discovered that wed been booked in one of their spacious bi-level Loft Suites. These suites features a spacious living area, a spiral staircase, loft bedroom and bathroom area, and Juliet balcony. All rooms on the property include complimentary WiFi, individual thermostats, and some of the most luxurious bed linens weve ever experienced! Other amenities offered at the property include an on-site spa, fitness center, and pool. Dining options include Starbucks and Nobu Dallas. All of these features combine to make the Rosewood Crescent the perfect home-away-from-home!
We relaxed for a bit, then it was time to get ready for dinner. We had a double feature planned: appetizers and cocktails at El Fenix, then entrees and dessert next door at sister restaurant Meso Maya. The original location of Tex-Mex chain El Fenix is located in Downtown Dallas. They invited us for margaritas and a sampling of their signature appetizers to start our evening! Their margaritas have been voted the best in Dallas for the past 3 years, and they are excellent! I had the Strawberry Margarita, while Michael opted for The Original. To go with our perfectly sweet-tart cocktails, we enjoyed two appetizers. We started with the Appetizer Combo, featuring homemade guacamole and fire-roasted queso. We followed it with the Assorted Botana Platter.
Everything was so tasty! The guacamole was creamy and perfectly seasoned, and the queso was flavorful with just enough spice. The chips were warm and crispy, and not the least bit greasy! The appetizer platter included a nice sampling of El Fenixs classic appetizers, including: Chicken Nachos with Sour Cream, Beef Fajita Quesadilla, Chicken Flauta, and Beef Flauta. These offerings paired perfectly with the margaritas and the guacamole and queso. These bites were the perfect start to our dinner! Before we knew it, it was time to walk around the corner to sister restaurant Meso Maya for the rest of our meal.
Meso Maya offers a different take on Mexican food, featuring dishes from the interior of Mexico. The flavors are quite different from Tex-Mex, but we loved all of the fabulous menu options. We started out with a duo of cocktails recommended to us: their delicious Hand-Shaken Pina Colada...and the uniquely delicious Avocado Margarita. This tasty (and very creative) margarita features fresh avocado and pineapple juice, for a creamy and tart take on the classic cocktail. We tried both a beef and a seafood entre. Ever the beef lover, Michael selected the Carne Asada, which featured a wood-fired marinated steak, homemade sweet corn tamale with crema Mexicana, queso fresco, and black beans. The steak arrived perfectly cooked, and the tamale was sweet and moist.
I selected the Enchiladas del Mar, which featured lump crab, adobo shrimp, fresh avocado, and both Chihuahua and asadero cheese. The filling was enclosed in house-made white corn tortillas and topped with a creamy roasted tomatillo sauce. The end result was earthy and rich, with a generous helping of sweet seafood. Speaking of sweet...we opted to share the Postre Sampler, which featured small portions of their house-made pastel de moras, flan de queso, and pastel de chocolate. This was the perfect way for us to try all three signature desserts.
The pastel de moras was a skillet-baked blueberry cake topped with Mexican vanilla ice cream and a blueberry drizzle; the flan de queso was creamy from the inclusion of cream cheese; and the pastel de chocolate was moist and topped with unique sweet corn ice cream. All were fabulous, and I loved being able to have a taste of three dessert selections! From there, it was back to our suite at the Rosewood Crescent...where we enjoyed sleeping in the most luxurious bed linens weve experienced at any hotel!! The next morning, I met with the hotels concierge. She and I chatted over breakfast at The Conservatory, located adjacen to the lobby. It was filled with lots of natural light, and the menu featured all sorts of yummy options to get your morning started.
We had brunch reservations later in the morning, so I opted for something light: pain au chocolate and a bowl of fresh strawberries. Both were a lightly sweet and got my day off to a great start. Afterward, I was given a tour of the property and learned more about the hotels history. Across the street from the main hotel is The Crescent Club, which hosts private events...as well as offering guests a place to enjoy lunch, dinner, or an evening cocktail in a lovely setting. Just check out this view from a 17th-story window table!
It was time to check out and head to our midday brunch, so we bid farewell to the lovely folks at the Rosewood Crescent and made our way to SMOKE for one of Dallass best weekend brunches. SMOKE features what they term "homegrown, homemade local eats" that take traditional BBQ to new, modern heights. This place was packed, with people waiting for a table while enjoying house-made mimosas. We were quickly seated and started out with some drool-worthy homemade biscuits and blackberry jam while we enjoyed our mimosas and looked over the menu. We let the chef select our menu items for us. Out first came a duo of eggs dishes: Pulled Whole Hog BBQ Eggs Benedict and Smoked Salmon & Collard Green Eggs Florentine, served with Goat Cheese Potato Cakes. Both dishes were flavorful and perfectly prepared, but I especially loved the pulled pork benedict. The smoky and tangy pulled pork worked really nicely with the richness of the poached egg and hollandaise sauce.
The next items to come out of the kitchen were a duo of hashes: Smoked Brisket Cornbread Hash with Poached Egg and Chile Rajas...and Smoked Pork and Sweet Potato Hash. The brisket hash featured a base of sweet cornbread cubes topped with a chopped brisket cake, spicy and creamy chile rajas, and a perfectly poached egg. This dish has been voted one of Dallass best brunch dishes, and its easy to see why. Its a fantastic combination of flavors and textures: smoky, sweet, spicy, and rich. The smoked pork hash married earthy sweet potatoes with a smoky bone-in pork chop, two flavors that work so well together. Creative and flavorful!
The chef ended our brunch tasting with a slice of their signature deep dish Key Lime Pie. Michael and I agreed that this is one of the very best Key Lime Pies that weve ever tasted. It was perfectly balanced between sweet and tart, and the meringue was light and fluffy compared to the usual heavy whipped cream. It was perfect for sharing...and the perfect ending to our SMOKE brunch. From there, it was time to say goodbye to Dallas...but not before stopping by to snap a picture of the bronze cattle drive statue at Pioneer Plaza in Downtown Dallas.
This grouping of statues includes numerous longhorn steers being driven by three bronze cowboys riding bronze horses. The bronze statues were created by Texan artist Robert Summers. For those planning a visit to Dallas, Pioneer Plaza is located near the Dallas Convention Center, at the corner of Young and Griffin street. This statue is quite a site to behold, and the cows look so lifelike. It makes a great photo op, as well as representing the history of the city. With that, our Dallas roadtrip was over...and it was time to head back to San Antonio. There are many Dallas-Fort Worth adventures left on our to-do list, so stay tuned for more Metroplex adventures later this year!
Disclosure: The Rosewood Crescent provided us with a complimentary overnight stay to facilitate inclusion in this article. The restaurants featured hosted our meals as well. We received no further compensation, and all opinions expressed are my own. Unless otherwise noted, all photographs are copyrighted by Michael K. Garcia. They may not be copied or otherwise used without prior approval.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)