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So you have eaten and drank your way into a semi comatose state. It’s a happy coma, but still. May I suggest a little relaxation yoga?
That’s right. After a day and night of drinking and over eating, some of the bloggers and I headed out for a little yoga. At best we were skeptical that his was, in fact, a good idea. But the moment we arrived at Indigo Yoga our tune changed. The studio is stunning. In a renovated 1874 church, the light and beauty of the space had me thinking… ok… maybe just one downward dog.
Our instructor Sacha understood our predicament instantly and suggested we take it slow. A wonderful suggestion. After some relaxing but invigorating stretching and balancing poses we ended the session with a little face massage and rest. The perfect end to a wonderful yoga session. It had some of our bloggers vowing that they were converts and willing to try it again. A big attitude adjustment from a little over an hour ago.
What do you mean you expect me to work out sober? I don’t think so.
Another big bonus, it made the drive home that afternoon much more pleasant… and I felt taller. Oh… and John broke out a beautiful bottle of wine for us to end the session with, but I’m told that most yoga doesn’t end with wine. Too bad.
So ends my adventure in Prince Edward County – but might I suggest the following blogs from bloggers who were also there?
Foodie Prints
The Gouda Life
The Lemon Kitchen
Sheltered Girl Meets World
Nice Jewish Boy
Il Tempo Giusto
Whitby Wino
A great group of bloggers with a different take on the weekend! Check them out.
“I wish I had licked her face” That’s just the kind of gems that come out of my mouth after a night of drinking. Luckily, I was in Prince Edward County so at least what I was drinking was amazing! Even if my contribution to the conversation was lacking.
Could have been worse… I could have been in ‘Bat Country’
The county is filled with wineries and a few amazing breweries as well. Our trip included a trip to Barley Days Brewery and Sandbanks Winery. It also included a stop at Waupoos Cider which I wasn’t able to attend… but not to worry, my post Friday will make sure that you can still get some information on it.
First up, Barley Days. Brewmaster Alex started us off with a tour of how things work around the brewery.
Alex actually started out at Beau’s Brewery after he finished his Masters
Then came the tastings! It may have only been 11:15 in the morning, but I had been up for hours and eaten a couple of breakfasts by then… so why not?! We tried everything from Barley Days Brown Ale (which was awesome) to their oaked lagers which were unique and effervescent. They take their lager (which they sell unoaked as well) and age it in oak barrels. It’s amazing the difference that a little oak can make!
Get in my belly. Now.
All and all a very amazing beer and super friendly people. If you are in the county you’ve got to stop by and see the crew at Barley Days!
Next up the crown jewel in our trip to Prince Edward County… Sandbanks Winery.
First off… what a beautiful winery. Bright and sunny, even on a day in March that was so windy one of our bloggers literally blew away. She didn’t go far… but still… she went. Seriously, every single wine at Sandbanks was on point. But the big achievement comes from their white wine, Dunes. That’s right… I have finally found a white wine I enjoy as much as red*
*Ok red still wins… but this one is the best white I think I’ve tried. The hunt will continue, but just as an excuse to drink more wine.
So I’m claiming this as a victory on the bucket list! I’ve found you Dunes… and I’m never letting go.
When you visit the county – and really how can you not? – you have to make it a point to stop into Sandbanks. A super friendly group of people, so willing to go out of their way to ensure you have the most amazing visit to a part of the world you can tell they love. Some how real estate listings kept ending up in my hands. I can thank John for that!
Another stellar wine from Sandbanks
What’s that? You can’t wait to go to the county to have some Sandbanks wine?? No problem… you can find it at the LCBO and at many of the better wine events in town. But if you really want to try the full spectrum you are going to have to make the trek. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed.
Yesterday I started a week of posts about my trip over the weekend to Prince Edward County. That’s right… one night in the county left me with enough stuff to fill a week’s worth of posts. Needless to say there is a lot going on in PEC. You can check out that post about my gorgeous B&B here.
I ate and drank so much over the approximately 30 hours that I was there that I actually feared that I might explode. Or at the very least crack. I swore to myself that when I returned on Sunday night I wouldn’t eat until at least Tuesday… but come Monday around 11 am I was actually rooting around my fridge on the hunt for food and was mildly annoyed that no one had made me amazing french toast with brandied banana’s like I had the day before. Reality sucks.
I’m really just peckish… I’ll have chili, nachos, rice, half a turkey burger, some cheese and a cookie
Please note I don’t normally coordinate my outfit with my hair ties… only when I’m having my picture taken
To say the food we had in the county was fantastical would be putting it mildly. From a wonderful vegan mushroom and asparagus soup at the Painted Peppercorn in Picton, to an 8 course tapas menu at Sandbanks Winery… we dined. That’s right. Dined. Or feasted. Yes… we feasted.
The tapas menu at Sandbanks was the first of its kind and special for our #indulgePEC event. Mushroom pate, quinoa and feta salad, poached pears with dark chocolate and scallops with garlic aioli – there truly is a sandbanks wine for every dish imaginable. But that’s a story for another post.
It may look like just a harmless couple of bites… until you realize this is just course one… of nine.
After a two lunches… one accidentally added to our itinerary, one much bigger than anticipated, we headed for dinner at Wellington’s culinary hot spot – East and Main. A beautiful bistro with a very talented chef. I’m sad to say that I was so full that I could do little more than eat an appetizer of lobster ravioli as my main course… and drink about 4 glasses of wine. It might not have been a full meal, but it was so delicious that I am determined to return for a full experience. Tender, house made ravioli stuffed with succulent lobster. I asked them to marry me, but when I got no response I ate them. Now we will be one.
Getting started with some drinks!
Sunday started with a wonderful breakfast at our B&B (see yesterday’s post) and moved on to some non-food related activities that somehow ended in wine. More later. It then moved to a special lunch at The Manse. A soon to be opening B&B in Picton. A gorgeous spot if I do say so myself… and I know that I don’t. In fact I think some of the bloggers may still be there… hiding away planning to live out their days in the gorgeous honeymoon sweet.
I see you Claire!!
Lunch was prepared by the Manse’s in house Chef, Chef Chris Wylie. It consisted of an amazing curried carrot soup (that I would have licked clean if I hadn’t been trying to be on my best behaviour), and an assortment of sandwiches and desserts. Featuring local ingredients like house made bacon, black river horse radish cheddar cheese and honeyed heirloom carrots – these were no mere sandwiches. The meal ended with a trio of desserts that showed off the Chef’s skill. From chocolate ‘air’ to ginger chocolate cake and to the best banana cheese cake I ever tasted. The soon to be guests of the Manse will be in good hands to be sure.
A sandwich so good, you’d step over your own mother just to get one!
For me the tour of the county was topped off with a stop at Fifth Town Artisan Cheese to sample their assortments of goat, cow and sheep’s milk cheese. Let’s just say… it is soooo worth the drive out to the factory for some fresh and simply amazing cheese. From maple chèvre to one year old goats milk cheddar, soft-ripened, brine-ripened and more, the unique and amazing side of the county is in full display at this one location.
Just pack it up… I’ll take one of everything.
They are also a very environmental outfit, with their cheese aging caves being constructed underground in order to insulate so that they can use less power. They are Canada’s only LEED certified dairy and have a wind turbine, solar panels and recycled plastics or bio plastics packaging where possible.
Even though I was ready to burst as I left… I know there are still so many more tastes to discover in the county. I look forward to finding them all!
Next up… the big show… beer and wine!
How many times can you listen to Journey’s Greatest Hits while driving from Prince Edward County to Ottawa before you get sick of it?
Trick question. You can never get sick of Journey.
I would have made a video of me singing in the car, but that would have been dangerous since I was alone in the car on my way home… and the video didn’t turn out very well.
This weekend was a food blogger get away known as Indulge PEC – set up by the amazing folks at Sandbanks Winery. Me and some fellow bloggers got to spend a night in the county becoming very well acquainted with its food, people, beers and wines. My posts this week will be dedicated to my adventure this weekend – I sincerely hope that you get a chance to get down to PEC and have an adventure of your own. Even in March it is as beautiful a place as I have ever been and it is one of the best foodie get aways I can think of.
This post I’m going to be talking about the accommodations in PEC, because when you are planning your trip there, booking a room should be one of the first things you do.
In the county most rooms you will find are in a B&B. No big hotel chains right in the county and that’s the way I like it. Keeps the charm of the towns to have large homes serve as your home away from home!
That fridge is just begging for you to put your wine and beer in it.
The blogging group was broken up into several smaller groups so that we could try a variety of B&B’s … also, though we enjoy each other’s company we aren’t at THAT level of friendship yet. Next time we’ll all crash in one room, but not this trip.
I was stationed at Magnolia Meadows in Wellington. What a gorgeous place to stay! Three of the most beautiful rooms I’ve ever seen – all with big comfy beds just waiting for you to fall into them. Guests also have their own dining room and living room to make use of.
What’s that you spy?? A coffee cake? For ME?!?! Yes please!
Bob and Isabelle who run Magnolia Meadows are some of the nicest people I’ve ever met. Only too happy to make your stay pleasurable, Isabelle offered to drive us to and from our dinner reservation so that we could have as much wine as we liked without having to cab – isn’t that sweet?!?
In addition to being some of the most hospitable hosts I’ve ever met, they can also cook! Breakfast was a thing of beauty. Although not once was I hungry while in PEC, I couldn’t help but scarf down the fruit salad and french toast with brandied bananas that Isabelle had cooked up for us Sunday morning.
Before you have any bright ideas, I’ve already asked Bob and Isabelle to adopt me. They are thinking about it. So get in line.
An amazing stay at a truly gorgeous B&B – what more could you ask for?
Up next… the food.
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Because it’s mean to mention Journey and then just leave you hanging…
I just got back from 24 hours in Sin City. I loved every second! Great weather, great drink and great food. Here is a quick recap of my more notable gastronomic adventures.
The ’Heart Attack Grill’ on Freemont Street - servers dressed as nurses and diners wore hospital gowns!
I had lunch at Fleur by Hubert Keller in Mandalay Bay. What a sunning hotel/casino. I had an Italian sandwich, with ingredients so fresh, so amazing it was like eating a memory of my trip to Italy a few years back. Seriously. One bite and I was back at this little cafe that hubs and I would frequent before dinner in Rome that over looked the Colosseum. Not only were they Italian ingredients but they were Italian ingredients the way Italians would use them. Hubs had a burger that was exactly what a hamburger should be. Simple, yet devastatingly delicious.
A taste of Italy.
Dinner was spent at Bouchon in the maze they call the Venetian. It took me asking 3 people how to get to it, but was it worth it! With world class service out done only by the food. I wish I had been a bit hungrier, so I only had my main. But I tried some of Hubby’s French Onion soup and was actually excited for him it was so tasty. Have you ever had that? You get excited knowing that someone else is about to have a foodgasim.
The bread was served as mini baguette baked together – how cute!
It was at this meal, that I had what I believe to date is the best piece of salmon I have ever had. Moist and tender, but with a bit of salted crispy topping that just made me want to melt in to a huge puddle of ‘yum’. It was on a bed of lemon Israeli couscous that I could not get enough of. One of the best meals I have ever had.
The next morning I was surprisingly hungry, so we headed to Hash House A Go-Go for what they claim was the best breakfast in Vegas. Both Adam Richman from Man vs. Food AND Dr. Phil recommended it. Who was I to say no? Honestly… it was great. HUGE portions. Which I think might have been the only downfall. There was so much food that I ate only half of my plate but haven’t been able to eat another meal in over 24 hours. But it was so tasty. Everything made from scratch – I had my first taste of biscuits and sausage gravy. Which were piled on killer mashed potatoes and served with two eggs. I foolishly got toast on the side. Man was it good though. I almost wanted to take it home with me, but I knew I couldn’t get it past air port security.
Twisted farm to table food - it was much bigger in person.
I can’t wait to go back to Vegas… every hotel has at least 3 restaurants I am dying to try and they change all the time. Have you ever been? What was your favorite food stop?
Full. Happy. Ready for bed.
As some of you may know, I’m not originally from Ottawa. I moved here, as so many do, to go to University and ended up staying. Originally I’m from a small town between Belleville and Toronto called Colborne. Among other things, this town is known for its Big Apple Theme Park.
I’m not sure if things have changed, but I still don’t vouch for those apple pies. But if you ever want to see what it would be like to climb to the top of a three story apple, this is your place!
This Friday I’m taking off for a different kind of Big Apple – New York City. I’m super excited. I’ve already planned to take a food tour of the Chelsea Market, the same tour that inspired C’est Bon Cooking food tours here in Ottawa. I’ve got dinner reservations at Colicchio and Sons, and plan to get a street meat hot dog as soon as humanly possible.
My question to you is – have you ever been to New York? Even if you haven’t, any suggestions on any food related ‘must sees’ in the city? A place I have to go? A store I must check out? A meal I must eat??
Let me know! I’m so very excited…
I’ll be back tomorrow with a super cool contest with a great prize! But until then I’ll subject you to some of my vacation photos. They aren’t all that food-centric. No one goes to Orlando for the food… or at least that’s my guess from the number of Perkins restaurants I saw.
Well foodie friends – just a heads up that I’m out of town this coming week! I’ll see you when I return with news of a great new contest and maybe some pictures of my Mickey-filled vacation.
Have a good one!
