Good Food and Views are Worth the Journey
Not many countries rehearse their national day celebrations down to the fireworks, but Singapore does…which makes for great viewing prior to the actual event. This year is even grander because it’s the Golden Jubilee. Thousands of people thronged the waterfront, of which I was one, to view the fireworks. I didn’t have the best location for photos but this is an idea of what the real event may look like on August 9.
Estelle by Scott Pickett ("ESP") is a fine dining, omakase-only new eatery by the guy behind the popular St. Crispin and Estelle Bistro. While the fine modern-Australian cuisine was good, we came on opening night on July 17 when the service was less than stellar and they had a quirky exhaust system. I believe they should be able to resolve these teething problems but if not, be in for a slightly longer evening than expected and wear clothes you don't mind smelling of food. Overall, I think...
There is a lot of good wine in Tuscany and I had a memorable visit to Carpineto winery this past April. The Montalcino and Montepulciano areas are home to the Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile Montepulciano, red wines that have gained prominence over the past decade. While a prior trip last year included visits to Brunello specialists Casanova di Neri and Poggio di Sotto, a visit to a large producer like Carpineto gave us a chance to try the winery's broader region products including a...
Since I'm rarely in Seattle, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to catch the meadow flowers in bloom on Mt. Rainier. The scenic Naches Peak Loop Trail was a great way to view the flowers as well as a few lakes in a relatively easy three-plus mile walk.
Mt. Rainier is around a one and a half hour drive from downtown Seattle. While I joined Evergreen Escapes for this tour to Mt. Rainier, it's actually pretty easy to do this walk on your own if you have a car. The trail is well signed and...
If you're in Seattle and craving a good steak, I think the best place to go is still the Metropolitan Grill. This is an old style steak house restaurant with plush banquette seats, a big bar and waiters in white jackets. But the main thing is that it has a wide range of steak cuts available.
I came here to celebrate my aunt's birthday with my mom and her three sisters. So being a group of five ladies, we definitely knew we'd be better off sharing our food given the large portions. One...