Vacation isn't just about freedom from socks. It's about getting out of your routine and seeing things from a new perspective. It's about meeting people and making new friends. Meet my new friend – Tanqueray No. 10. He/she is a delightful companion, rarely dull and always welcome in our home.
On our last night in London we stopped in for a snack at Maze, one of the many Gordon Ramsay restaurants in a growing franchise. I think our lovely bartenderess mentioned 14 in London alone.
The food was excellent, but what I really took to was the Gin Martini. Using a vaporizer, the bartenderess spritzed ice cubes in a shaker with vermouth before adding the Tanqueray. That's when I put up my hand, and asked what exactly was going on. After an explanation, I ordered my own. The first sip tasted like a perfect oyster, and it just got better from there.
To new friends!
Showing posts with label Vacation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vacation. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
To New Friends
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Rock House
This is going to sound stupid, but I'll say it... vacations are a lot of work. Ok, stop groaning and hear me out. If you get away once a year (work trips don't count) it's a big deal. So when you decide to go, there is a lot of pressure to make it count. Come to think of it, it's a lot like New Year's Eve... you know, all the pressure to have fun in a fixed amount of time. Oddly, our vacation this year happened almost by accident. I've had a dream destination in mind for a few years and by chance a WestJet seat sale, an unexpected cheque, and a place to stay all aligned just after Christmas. I think this might be the year the karmic scale comes back into balance.
In planning this trip, I've formulated a new vacation theory – find the cheapest room at the nicest place. I'll sleep in a closet... if the closet is in a nice hotel. Also, only trust other people who have stayed there. I have to give kudos to TripAdvisor, without the ratings from other guests I wouldn't have selected the Rock House. It didn't have a single negative comment, and after staying there I can see why.
As well as being an excellent place to stay, the Rock House has an incredible restaurant. My goal on this trip was to find restaurants that featured local ingredients. So I was happy that both times we had dinner at the hotel the special was locally caught fish. On the left, seared tuna with seaweed salad and wasabi cream. On the right, mahi-mahi with mash and green beans. I forgot to get a picture of another dish – local heirloom tomatoes with buffalo mozzarella. The only gotcha was the size of the portions, easily enough for two. The first dinner we each had an entree, the next time we shared an appetizer and an entree and I was still full.
If you're in the area, I can't recommend Harbour Island and the Rock House enough. Just don't rent a golf cart... trust me.
Conch Salad
This was the best meal I had all week. It was so fresh, sweet and spicy.How fresh? When we walked around the side after lunch, a guy was standing in the water cracking the shells and pulling out live conch to order. The restaurant – Queen Conch, is located at the waters edge in simple wooden shack. When you order it takes about fifteen minutes because they make it from scratch. Onion, tomato, hot pepper, cucumber, orange and lime juice. A perfect ceviche.
Across the street is a store that sells beer and wine, perfect for killing time while you wait. There's nothing like brown bagging it beach side.
Sip Sip
When we asked for restaurant recommendations everyone, even locals, suggested Sip Sip. It drove us crazy for the first few days because it was right at the entrance to beach, but it was closed after the holidays until the end of the week. We had to wait until Thursday to try it for lunch, it's not open for dinner, and by that time the hype of everyone's comments made it seem legendary.
In fact, it is amazing. One of those places that blends in nicely with the local vibe while still feeling schmancy for the tourists. The food is ecclectic, like the customers, and it features local ingredients that change daily. We had lunch there twice and both times it was perfect. You can't beat rolling up from the beach, sandy and hungry, to find a mimosa and grilled lobster waiting for you. To make it even better, the patio at the back is perched above the beach over-looking the ocean. Can I live here?
From left to right: Grilled lobster with caesar salad, grouper sandwich with slaw, lobster quesadilla and king fish parmesan dip with pita. Not pictured – my new favourite dessert... a piña colada.
If you're not into yoga...
I've never been a huge fan of sweet, fancy blender drinks... frappuccino anyone? After dinner one night we skipped dessert and went to sit at the bar. I was looking at the drink menu, thinking about wine, when I saw it... Piña Colada... it's a drink, but it's also dessert... interesting.
That's how it happens. One minute you're not a fancy drink drinker, and the next you're eating a maraschino cherry, grinning like an idiot. Am I regressing? I don't care, a Piña Colada is better than any ice cream or molten chocolate lava poo cake I've ever had. Now I just need to learn how to make them at home!
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