It's Me, KP

Gourdoughs

You knew it was coming right? When I made my pilgrimage to Austin, I had a Texas sized list of food recommendations but hands down the one place that was the most popular is Gourdoughs. Donuts. Yes, please. Austin definitely seems to be food truck central so it was no suprise these donuts can be found in a parking lot (next to some tacos called Izzoz, which are raved about from my friends the Izzo's!) 

We tried the Son of a Peach and Flying Pig. Now the photo above may not be selling you but trust me. It's damn good. And you know that I know my way around a donut. (Covered in bacon. With warm maple syrup icing.)  So I join the crowds of people who demand that you put Gourdoughs at the top of your Austin list. We will all be very, very jealous.

Lunch at Gjelina

A few years ago Amy + JC took me to Gjelina, a beautiful small restaurant in their neighborhood in Venice.  It's quite possible that I've heard Amy talk about Gjelina (and the pot de creme, but we'll get to that later...) since the first day I met her.  This theory is supported by the fact that I now talk about Gjelina since that first day they took me there.  It's a such great place.

When I was in Southern California back in February, the trip was not complete without a meal at Gjelina so I talked my friends Kellie + Linda into meeting me for lunch.  The weather was perfect to sit out on the amazing patio and share a great feast of food. 

I've been lucky to share quite a few meals there now with Amy + JC and I know that as long as they're on the menu (which does change now and then) some standards will always be ordered.  White wine and oysters, for starters, along with the two things pictured below: the butterscotch pot de creme and mushroom pizza.  

One other thing I believe I learned from Amy on the first day that I met her is that she is not a dessert person.  We do not share this characteristic... until the butterscotch pot de creme is on the menu.  One of the best things that you'll eat.  Ever.  Creamy and salty and caramely.  And why not wash it down nicely with a glass of moscato, just for extra sweetness.  I'd love to have one right now in fact, so hopping a flight to California for lunch on the Gjelina patio sounds tempting.  Join me, won't you?

Tokyo Tsukiji Fish Market

Last November after I went to Hong Kong, I had the awesome opportunity to stay with one of my best friends Chloe, who is currently living in Tokyo.  There are hundreds of photos from that trip that I still haven't even attempted to go through, but I did recently take a little walk down memory lane of my stroll through the Tsukiji Fish Market.

This is a foodie and photographer's dream combined, so as you can imagine I was in heaven.  I didn't wake up early enough to see the auction and the warehouse was pretty empty by the time I got there so I was able to take my time walking around.

I really enjoy seeing people do what they're meant to do really well, if you know what I mean.  And these amazing fisherman excel at being the best of the best in the world's biggest fish market.  It's pretty cool.

After my walk I waited over an hour (which is very typical) at one of the sushi restaurants right outside the market. I had a near death by sushi episode last April and hadn't touch a piece of sushi since.  I figured if there was any place to get back on the horse, this was it. Wasn't going to get any fresher or better than at Tsukiji.  However, I am sad to report sushi and I are still at odds.  Maybe on my next trip to Tokyo we can try to make amends once again. 

Sunshine On My Face

I escaped the cold and snow to come out to California for just a few days.  Went up to San Francisco to spend time with great friends and have some incredible - and I mean incredible - meals.  My dear friend Grace took me to see the Golden Gate Bridge for my first time EVER.  I've been to San Francisco five times but have never seen the bridge... it was such a treat.  The weather was perfect and I had an amazing time.  Can't wait to come back.

And now I'm in LA to do a little partying and a lot more eating.  Sunshine and 70* in February?  I think I really like you, California.

Hong Kong

Back in November I had the amazing opportunity to go to Hong Kong and it was an incredible trip.  I posted a lot of photos to an album on Facebook a while ago but also wanted to share a few favorites here.  Hong Kong was hands down one of my most favorite cities I've ever been to.  It sounds silly but I've never been somewhere so Asian and I completely enjoyed that.  Everything was exciting to me and I really loved the parts of the city I was able to explore.

I was only there for a couple of days but I had such a fantastic trip and would love to go back soon.  Thank you so much to all the people who made me feel welcome and my friend Jen + her husband for being my tour guides, and the terrific gals who came to my class - I loved spending time with you.  And with my homegirls Jenny + Janet from LA who happened to be there as well and brought me to the place with the best pork ever.  

Here's a little peek at my trip to Hong Kong...

EL Ideas

It should come as no surprise that I like people who are creative and even more unshocking that I like people who are creative with food.  I was in Chicago for a night last week and treated to a fantastic dinner at EL Ideas, where creativity hit the plate.  The most gorgeous of plates, in fact.  

EL Ideas is a 12 course dinner where the menu constantly changes and the chef/owner Phillip Foss brings out his imagination.  It's like we were being treated to play time in the kitchen and I was more than happy to join in.  The small restaurant holds about 16 dinner guests and everyone is encouraged to mingle (I might have eavesdropped and interrupted the girls conversation next to us - they were talking about Stumptown!), visit the kitchen, take photos, and even help plate the food.  

And the plating... that is where I was really impressed.  These were some of the most beautiful plates of food I've ever seen.  It's interesting to dine with John who is all about flavor, when often I am all about presentation.  Give me a pretty color scheme on a white plate and I begin to swoon.

My favorite dish was the chef's take on french fries and a milkshake which ended up being vanilla ice cream in potato soup.  I'm definitely one to dip my fries in my milkshakes at Shake Shack, so this creative dish was happiness in a bowl (a bowl that I wanted to lick clean like a cat, Cheshire smile at the end and all.)  The last dessert was a take on an Old Fashioned that was as light as air.

The music in the dining room was played from iTunes and consisted of a few mash-ups but mostly covers of some really fantastic songs.  I think this suited EL Ideas so nicely... the food is like covers themselves.  Something delicious and familiar remastered in a creatively fresh and new way, presented for you to enjoy.  And enjoy I did.

Crop & Create Saskatoon

Crop & Create in Saskatoon last weekend was a blast... and we got blasted with snow!  I grew up in Michigan so I'm used to Mother Nature dumping that fluffy white stuff down like powdered sugar, and we certainly got it while we were in Saskatoon.  Top that off with bone cold temps and I think we were all extra glad we had a good reason to stay inside and craft.

I did venture outside to the hotel across the street since they had Coke (it's a problem, I'm addicted) and also Nanaimo bars.  Let me say that one more time.  Nanaimo bars!  Canada's nectar of the gods.  They are amazing treats and if you ever come across one you better buy three.  One for now, one for later, and one to give to the friend who will be extremely jealous when she sees you eating it.

Along with the awesome students in my classes, I got to spend time with Dawn + Lisa - who were just as sweet as could be.  I love that I get to meet so many online friends and sitting around to talk "shop" is my favorite part of these cool events.

Registration for Crop & Create Moncton just opened tonight and you can find more info right here.  I'll also be at Markham in February and looking forward to seeing a lot of my friends from Ottawa there!

One more note - you can find me (with a giveaway!) over on Stephanie's blog and also on Julie's Adventures in Arting podcast this week.  I had a great time taping the podcast with Julie and Eileen... we talked about my new business plans, food, scrapping, blogging, and so much more.  Give it a listen.  Thank you to both of these amazing friends for hosting me today.

Laying Over

In a serious of unfortunate travel incidents and just plain bad luck, my trip out and back to Saskatoon this weekend left me sitting in the airport for much much much longer than I anticipated.  I love to travel, I love it more than anything in the world.  But I also hate to wait.  

This year has been a lesson in patience.  I continue to be reminded of that... and I think someone up there thinks I haven't quite learned my lesson yet.

J'Adore Paris!

I am back up and running after Hurricane Sandy!  I am incredibly fortunate to live in an area that was not hit hard and am keeping those who lost power, had to evacuate, etc in my thoughts.  Parts of the city were not so lucky but if you know anything about NYC it's that it is resilient.  She is a strong one.

Now onto another city I love... Paris!  I spent a few days there after my trip to Montpellier at the beginning of the month.  Literally once I arrived I became very very sick so I didn't get to explore the city anywhere near as much as I would have liked.  My last day there all I saw was my hotel room.  Ooof.  But here are a few snapshots...

My first trip to Paris was when I was a sophomore in High School.  I still remember seeing the Eiffel Tower for the first time.  We came out of the metro, turned the corner, and there it was.  It took my breath away.  I'm still transfixed by it... everything about the Eiffel Tower seems magical and romantic to me.  I think it always will.

Bluebird Chic winner posted below - I apologize for the delay!

South of France

My first trip to the South of France was an amazing one.  Thanks to my lovely friends Celine + Karine, I got to teach at the fantastic EntreArtistes event (another post to come!) and Celine was the perfect tour guide to show me around the area.  

Below are some photos that I took on our day trip to Carcassonne Castle and St. Guilhem... both were stunning and places I hope to visit again someday.

I forgot to snap a photo of the lovely Moscato I enjoyed from Celine's hometown, Montpellier.  The South of France and I, we got along very well indeed.