Travel Blog – Page 42

ART, Attractions, DESTINATIONS, Performing Arts, Restaurants & Bars, Road Trips, TRAVEL, United States

Stranded in a Frozen Dickens

March 26, 2014September 28, 2015 Jane Sadek

TRAVEL THERE: STRANDED IN A FROZEN DICKENSFEST

Galveston‘s 2013 Dickens-on-The-Strand Suffered from Chilblains!

“You can’t always get what you want!” The Rolling Stones were spot on with that one – especially when it came to this vacation. The Polar Express gypped me out of my luminaries on the Riverwalk and then followed me to the beach.

My mom used to say things like, “If you had the sense God gave a goozle,” (and I’m not exactly sure what a goozle is) but I’m sure my husband was thinking the same sort of thing as we froze our assets off, strolling down the Strand.

Important, but Chilly Anniversary

I was expecting big things from this British-flavored festival with its side order of Victorian literature. This was the fortieth Dickens-on-the-Strand and for the first time, it was a three day festival, not just an overnight flash in the pan. What I didn’t expect was London! Actually London has been warmer the few times I’ve been there. This was more like the cold, wet, windy day I’d visited Coventry Cathedral and had nothing but a thin windbreaker between me and the chill. I think that’s the coldest I’d ever been up until that day in Galveston.

Bill really does deserve the Champion Husband of the World Award – at least in the travel department. Anyone with any sense would have headed back to Dallas after our frozen stay in San Antonio, but not me. I was going to Dickens on the Strand and I had friends to see. The friends were worth it. Dickens? Not so much. The festival may have been in full swing the day before, but on it’s inaugural first Sunday, it was a ghost story, and not in a cozy Christmas Carol way.

Still, we found a cheap place to park, walked several blocks to the entrance, paid our fee and landed virtually nowhere. A few braves souls strolled the streets in their Victorian finery, but we had to decide who was dumber for showing up – us or them. A few performers mounted stages and tried to entertain the lost souls wandering the Strand, but it was cold enough out there without stopping and standing in one place. The greatest hub of activity was an area for steam-punk enthusiasts, an important factor in the popularity of the festival, but try as I may, I have very little, beyond a passing interest, in steampunk – and Bill had less than that.

When All Else Fails, Eat

We might have had an interest in chestnuts roasting on an open fire, but most of the heat seemed to be at Yaga’s Cafe. The crowded interior didn’t seem to suffer from it’s lack of an identifiable theme in the decoration or menu. The service was friendly, if not adequate, and the food adequate, if not tasty.

Lunch behind us, we explored the island by car for awhile and decided we’d certainly return, but next time, we’d rent a beachside cottage and the weather would be warmer. For dinner we drove back towards Houston to meet some Pearland friends, Jimmy and Melanie, at Pappas Seafood House. Now that was good seafood and good company. We are fortunate in our friends, even if we don’t always make the best decisions about when to visit the beach.

So, should you go to Dickens on the Strand? I might go back someday, but I’d check the weather, go on Saturday and stay somewhere besides the Beachfront Palms. Come back next week and we’ll start thinking about a new trip!

Accommodations, Restaurants & Bars, Road Trips, TRAVEL

On the Road to Galveston

March 19, 2014August 12, 2015 Jane Sadek

Friends - great excuses for road trips! — Friends – great excuses for road trips!

TRAVEL THERE: THE SOUTH TEXAS CHRISTMAS RAMBLE MOVES WEST TO GALVESTON

As usual, San Antonio served up a good time. I’d been to some of my old favorites and tried out some new things. The biggest disappointment was the Polar Express that blew in, cancelling the luminaries on the Riverwalk, which had been the impetus for my trip. My favorite new thing was the Blue Crab Salad at Boudros or maybe it was the new Briscoe Western Museum or perhaps… I’ll just have to face it. I love San Antonio. I haven’t even finished writing about the last trip and I’m ready to go again.

Breakfast at Cracker Barrel

Speaking of new things, been to the Cracker Barrel lately? Hubby loves it and in the past, I’ve tolerated it, because breakfast has never been my favorite meal. However, I discovered something new as we left San Antonio. For some reason Cracker Barrel doesn’t have it on their website and that’s a real shame, because I forgot what they called it. Regardless of it’s moniker, it’s an extraordinary frittata with egg, cheese, bacon and who knows what else, with blackberries on the side. I’m not a fan of omelettes. I don’t like scrambled eggs and I prefer my veggies to be cooked before they’re mixed with the eggs, but frittatas, I love! Also, since going on the South Beach Diet, I’ve permanently abandoned potatoes, so I don’t eat those egg casseroles with hash-browns, either. This new dish, that I’ve forgotten the name of, was right up my alley. For the rest of the trip I was suggesting Cracker Barrel for breakfast.

Stayed at The Beachfront Palms

We pulled into Galveston around three and found the Beachfront Palms without any trouble. We’d gotten an expedia deal on the room and it was a decent place to stay, but it was completely no frills and no thrills. They’d recently done a remodel, but only cosmetic fixes, no upgrade. The appliances really needed replacement. The pillows were thin and the bedspread was some sort of slick made-in-china excuse for fabric. We were there for only two nights and had other places to be, so we lived through it. (A little fact checking on the internet revealed that the Beachfront Palms is now a Red Roof Inn. It was an indie when we were there. Good luck with that.)

Our first order of Galveston business was to see Linda and Clay. In the days before I arrived on the scene, Linda was one of Bill’s best friends. Since then, he married me and she married Clay, forming a rather syrupy mutual appreciation society. Now, they’ve retired to Galveston and live in the penthouse of one of those high rise condos right on the seawall. I’ll go a couple of years without visiting and then walk back into their place -OMG!OMG!OMG! It’s like living on a cruise ship and having a balcony suite! You’re so high up that the highway, seawall and beach completely disappear and it seems you’re suspended above an endless sea. I try to play like it’s only jaw-dropping because I see it so infrequently, but if I lived there, I’d probably still wake up in the morning and say OMG!OMG!OMG!

Clary’s for Dinner

Our friends took us to Clary’s for dinner. I’ve got to be fair and tell you that they love it and everyone who works there treated us like we were the King and Queen of Dallas on a state visit to Her Royal Highness, the Holy Roman Empress of Galveston – but that didn’t take a lot of effort. Everyone who knows her, loves Linda. We just thought the food was mediocre. Linda and Clay say they eat there several nights a week, so maybe our mouths were just out of joint, but I’d have rather been at Gaido’s.

It’s always good to catch up with good friends, but we were there for Dicken’s on the Strand, so we returned to the Beachfront Palms and tucked the strange feeling bedspread under our chin, because Baby, it was cold down there.

Architecture, ART, Attractions, DESTINATIONS, Performing Arts, Restaurants & Bars, Road Trips, TRAVEL, United States

The Nutcracker – San Antonio’s Majestic Theater

March 12, 2014September 3, 2015 Jane Sadek

TRAVEL THERE: SAN ANTONIO’S MAJESTIC THEATER EARNS ITS NAME WITH A GLORIOUS NUTCRACKER

Here’s how I know Bill was bending over backwards to accommodate my wishes on our trip to San Antonio; he agreed to go to a ballet at the Majestic Theater. He played it really cool until afterwards, but then he made a post to Facebook that revealed the truth. He hadn’t been looking forward to it at all, but enjoyed it anyway.

Off to a Rough Start

We needed a bite to eat before the show, so we went to The County Line, a BBQ joint on the River, because it was close to our hotel and we were in a hurry. In our opinion, a BBQ joint is supposed to let you get a BBQ sandwich, but that only happens at lunch at The County Line. For dinner it’s a meat and two veggies kind of a place. Bill ordered a sliced brisket plate and I nibbled around the edges, but my mind was not on the brisket. WHERE WERE THE LUMINARIES?

Remember, I came to San Antonio because I wanted to see the River all dressed up for Christmas. Well, the weatherman threatened icy rain and sleet, so no luminaries were installed. The primary thing I came for didn’t happen at all.

And it was cold! And a stupid sign outside our hotel sent us an entire block out of our way. And did I mention it was cold. Bill was smart. He ignored the occasion and dressed warmly. By golly, I’d brought a special outfit for the theater and I was going to wear it, even if it killed me. Well, it didn’t kill me, but there was a danger of frostbite.

Majestic Lobby Warms up the Night

As soon as we hit the lobby, I knew we were someplace special. I had no idea of how gorgeous the theater itself was going to be, but the lobby was a knock-out.

We were on time. Our seats were good. And this had to be the most amazing theater I’d ever walked into. The pictures don’t begin to do it justice, but they’re all I have. Bill was wishing for more than his smartphone to capture the theater’s interior.

San Antonio’s Nutcracker

The Nutcracker was marvelous. I hope San Antonio will forgive me for being a bit of a Dallas snob. I assumed that a ballet by the San Antonio ballet and symphony might not stack up. It was charming with great dancers and great music. The sets and costumes were out of this world – but not quite as far out of this world as the theater. I’ll leave you with a few more shots. Hope you enjoy.

DESTINATIONS, Restaurants & Bars, Road Trips, TRAVEL, United States

Mi Tierra Restaurant and Bakery

March 5, 2014August 12, 2015 Jane Sadek

TRAVEL THERE: SAN ANTONIO’S MI TIERRA RESTAURANT & BAKERY

Delicious Tex-Mex Meal Accents a Day of San Antonio Sightseeing

On our final day in San Antonio, the plan was a tour of murals on the west side of the city. Not exactly the poshest of neighborhoods, but there’s amazing street art. We decided to drive the walking tour, which was fine for a while – but only a short while. I recommend bikes.

What’s for Lunch?

I, of course, planned several dining options, but was hoping for Mi Tierra – THE Mexican food restaurant in San Antonio. (Well, at least one of THE Mexican restaurants. Casa Rio on the River is pretty high up there, too.)

Mi Tierra has been open forever and it’s always open. I’d sort of planned on having breakfast there, but fighting the cold weather gave us a slow start, so I moved it into the lunch slot. As many times as I’ve walked by the restaurant during visits to Market Square, I’d never managed to be there when it was time for a meal, but I kept promising myself that I’d dine there someday. The patrons just looked like they were having a lot more fun than everyone else in the world.

Mi Tierra Restaurant & Bakery, Market Square, San Antonio TX — On the Patio at Mi Tierra

As if it were ordained by the gods, this time we found a parking place on the street right across from the restaurant and thanks to the cold, there was no wait. And then, we found ourselves on a patio again, but this one was a lot warmer than the previous night’s experience. And guess what? Finally! Mariachis!

I was tickled beyond pink. Almost tickled enough to have a margarita, but I’d been so good on my South Beach Diet that I passed up the opportunity, while enjoying every sip taken by the patrons around me. It was almost as good as having one myself. Well, not that good, but nice.

The whole place is a perpetual fiesta. Brightly painted murals, brightly colored pennants, brightly dyed waitress uniforms – everywhere you look is color. And everywhere you looked people were having a good time. This was a Friday lunch hour, but the attitude was definitely late Saturday afternoon.

Being the good girl I had chosen to be, I selected rotisserie chicken as my entree, but the good news was that South Beach allows you to have three bites of anything you want and a cheese and onion enchilada came on that plate. That was the best three bites of the vacation.

Bill chose the special of the day and even though I can’t remember the name of it, I know it was some kind of chicken with vegetables. He even got to eat the rice and beans.

After Lunch, the McNay Art Museum

As we sat on the patio I just happened to mention the costume exhibit at the McNay. Bill had previously confessed he really wasn’t interested in it, but he was quite interested in pleasing me, so under the influence of the cerveza, he decided we’d go. I didn’t jump up from the table and fist pump, but I was tempted.

Sure, Id love to go see the costume exhibit at the McNay.

We paid our bill, stopped to take a few pictures of the bakery case and then headed to the McNay. I’d rave about the costume exhibit, but it was over January 19th and you’d just hate me for seeing it when you didn’t get to. Once he got there, Bill was glad he’d been so agreeable.

I’ll leave you with a shot of Mi Tierra’s bakery case, but don’t fail to come back next week, we’re going to the Majestic to see the Nutcracker.

DESTINATIONS, Restaurants & Bars, Road Trips, TRAVEL, Travel Planning, United States

No Mariachis at Durty Nelly’s or Paesano’s

February 26, 2014August 12, 2015 Jane Sadek

Menu, Durty Nelly's Irish Pub, Riverwalk, San Antonio TX — Certainly not any Mariachis here!

TRAVEL THERE: NOT A MARIACHI IN SIGHT!

Warm Reunion of Friends on a Cold San Antonio Night

One hallmark of my travel planning is finding a way to squeeze in a visit with friends and family if they are anywhere along my route. San Antonio is home to one of my best buddies that I barely knew until a few years ago, even if we did meet decades ago. We’d only casually crossed paths back at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, but rediscovered one another on Classmates. Maturity gave us a whole lot more in common than we’d had as youngsters and Facebook gave us access. Since Bill and I would be in my friend’s town, we took the opportunity to meet he and his wife for dinner.

Searching for Mariachis

Who else but me would have discovered a mariachi competition that just happened to be going during a visit? And who else but me would drag relative strangers around the Riverwalk on the coldest night in San Antonio anyone could remember (but not as cold as it was going to get while I was there)?

When we first started planning the trip, I suggested to my friend that we meet at Durty Nelly’s and he agreed that it was a good idea, but then I found out about the mariachi competition and learned they’d be having a concert at Rivercenter’s Lagoon, so I upended all of our plans to include the free concert. Being the spoiled rotten kid I am, everyone acquiesced to my wishes, except the weather.

Champion that Bill is, he only grumbled a little bit about leaving our nice warm hotel room to walk along the Riverwalk to the Starbucks at the Rivercenter Lagoon to meet Clark and Linda, people he knew virtually nothing about. As soon as we entered the shopping mall I saw an information desk. They didn’t know anything about a mariachi concert, but they did know where Starbucks was. Shortly after we walked into the coffee shop, Clark and Linda joined us. Introductions abounded and everyone tried to make nice.

As we chatted one thing became very clear, no mariachis were going to play. No one with gold braided costumes came in with instruments in black cases. Proud wives, mothers, aunts and cousins were not clustering around the lagoon. In fact, the whole area was becoming quite empty. Obviously, everybody had someplace else to be. The Polar Express had struck again.

Dashing to Durty Nelly’s

So I suggested we retreat to Durty Nelly’s. I love Durty Nelly’s. It’s a not quite clean pub on the Riverwalk that has a crazy guy playing the piano. I literally could have sat there all night singing along with his goofy songs – and perhaps Clark would have enjoyed it too, but the spouses both had this “what in the hell am I doing here” look in their eye. I’ve got to give them credit, they were making the most of it they could, but I may have been the only one having a good time.

Moving on to Paesano’s

So I suggested the next item on our agenda – Paesano’s. Someone in our Sunday School Class had suggested it to Bill and Clark said it was a big favorite with them, so we headed to dinner. The wait was thirty minutes for a table inside the building, so somehow we ended up on the enclosed patio. It was a lot colder than I wanted to put up with, but after dragging these people all over the place, I wasn’t going to complain about where we sat. I’m just not sure who thought it was a good idea.

I’d fill you in on what a great restaurant Paesano’s was, but my brain got numb in the cold. My baked eggplant (the only thing I thought might be safe on my diet) was quite good, but I have no idea what everyone else had. And it was so dark, I could barely see my own dish, much less my dining companions’ faces.

Darn that weather. I’d anticipated my reunion with Clark to be a great time, with much wandering about the River. I knew all the spouses were going to get along grandly and perhaps Bill and I would be singing our way back to our room in the wee hours of the morning. Instead, Clark and Linda beat a hasty retreat home and we power-walked our way back to the hotel. (Note to self: check the weather!)

There’s one more day in San Antonio, so be sure and come back next week.

DESTINATIONS, Restaurants & Bars, Road Trips, TRAVEL, United States

Boogie Down to Budro’s Texas Bistro

February 19, 2014August 12, 2015 Jane Sadek

Coaster, Budro's Texas Bistro, Riverwalk, San Antonio, TX — Worth the chillbains!

TRAVEL THERE: BUDRO’S TEXAS BISTRO IN SAN ANTONIO

Riverwalk Restaurant with Personality, Taste and Attitude

Desiring lunch on the Riverwalk after our chilly visit to San Antonio‘s Briscoe Western Art Museum, we made our way to Budro’s Texas Bistro. Of the options I’d researched, Hubby was most interested in one requiring very little time in the cold. Though I hadn’t previously considered that particular aspect, I knew enough to know Boudro’s was close.

Navigating the River

We’d endured a breezy street-side gauntlet from our hotel, La Mansion de Rio, to the museum, so we hoped the Riverwalk would provide quick access and keep us out of the wind. As we scurried along the banks of the River, I looked longingly at familiar sites, like the entrance to La Villita, but this was not the day for lingering.

We kept our eyes peeled for Boudro’s but realized we’d missed it when we reached the branch of the River heading to Rivercenter Mall. We ducked in to the next building and asked a nice gallery owner if he could point us in the right direction. Come to find out, we hadn’t missed Budro’s by much.

Our Delightful Destination

Not only was the gallery owner familiar with Budro’s, he called choosing it for lunch “brilliant” and mentioned the gallery provided some of the restaurant’s decor. In mere seconds, with the gallery owner’s clues, we were there. And guess what, if you wanted to sit on the patio, heaters and blankets were offered to accommodate your desire. Bill and I were already frozen, so there was no way we would sit outside, but a few folks decided to brave the arctic blast. I guess it takes all kinds.

Most of the time San Antonio has very mild winters, so the most valuable real estate is right on the patio. Like most restaurants, Boudro’s doesn’t have a lot of seating inside and we were lucky to nab the last table. It was toasty warm inside and the menu promised good things.

Blue Crab Salad, Budro's Texas Bistro, Riverwalk, San Antonio TX — Not South Beach Friendly at all.

A Diet-Challenging Menu

When I say good things were on the menu, that doesn’t necessarily mean things good for people on the South Beach Diet. Pretty much everything offered looked as if it could throw me right off the Beach. Finally I found a Blue Crab Salad. It would stretch the Beach to its absolute last grain of sand, but there was talk of crabmeat, mixed greens and salsa. I figured I could have that.

OMG! Dr. Agatston, the South Beach Diet creator, would probably have a coronary, but I loved it. It was the richest, gooiest excuse for a salad I’ve run into for years. I did manage to avoid eating the tortilla bowl, but the rest of that sucker I slurped right up.

Shrimp Cocktail, Boudro's Texas Bistro, Riverwalk, San Antonio TX — Shrimp cocktail, Boudro’s Style

Hubby tries to eat healthy too and was challenged by the richness of the menu. He ended up with a shrimp cocktail. Now usually when you order shrimp cocktail, you get a parfait glass full of ice with a few shrimp on top and a side of red sauce. Obviously, that’s not what you get at Boudro’s. Bill cleaned his plate too, right down to the cucumber shrimp boat!

Overall, a Great Experience

Everything about our meal at Boudro’s was great, including the conversation of the people next to us. They were quite the travelers and listening to them select a wine was like a whirlwind round-the-world tour.

We lingered for as long as we thought we could get away with it, but knew we’d eventually have to brave the cold. We wrapped up and hot-footed it to La Mansion. The hotel was only a block and a half away, yet we still nearly froze off anything not under five layers of clothing. It was mid-day and things were getting colder rather than warmer. This did not bode well for our next adventure. I’ll tell you about that next week. In the meantime, put Boudro’s on your list for a meal whenever you’re in San Antonio. We loved it, even if Dr. Agatston didn’t.

ART, Attractions, DESTINATIONS, Museums, Road Trips, TRAVEL, United States

San Antonio’s Briscoe Western Art Museum

February 12, 2014August 12, 2015 Jane Sadek

Briscoe Western Art Museum, San Antonio TX — Tagged at The Briscoe

TRAVEL THERE: BRAVING THE COLD FOR THE BRISCOE

New Museum in San Antonio is Worth the Visit, in the Hot or the Cold

I’ve chosen to call this vacation The South Texas Christmas Ramble, but I could also call it The Great Weather Betrayal. It was chilly as we wandered around The Pearl on our first night, but the next morning, as we stepped outside our hotel, La Mansion De Rio, to walk to The Briscoe, the wind was brutal and “chilly” doesn’t begin to describe the temperature. “Frigid” is closer, but still might be a few degrees warmer than we felt.

So, of course, this is the day I’d chosen for an on-foot tour of the Riverwalk. While planning the day’s activities, I’d mapped out a pleasant route along the River, but the wind chill factor demanded we take the most direct route possible and according to my map, that was street-side.

An Interesting Side-Step

On the corner next to our hotel, was St. Mary’s Cathedral. Bill suggested we pop in and see it, but I’m not sure whether he was really interested or he just wanted to get out of the cold. Whatever the case, I’m glad we did, because it was lovely. If you’re ever anywhere in the neighborhood it is worth the stop.

As we headed back into the cold, Bill asked how far we were walking and I answered, “Three or four blocks.” I wasn’t sure, because the map wasn’t clear about it. We went three or four blocks, then turned left and had a couple more blocks. We arrived almost frostbitten.

Inside The Briscoe Museum of Western Art

This museum was on my list of non-negotiables. I’m pretty flexible when it comes to some things, but there are always a few items on each vacation that cannot be missed. This time, it was The Briscoe, a brand-spanking new museum that just opened at the end of October 2013. It’s gotten rave reviews, so I was excited.

After getting tagged with the buffalo sticker above, we were directed to the top floor and work our way back down. Stepping off the elevator we walked into the nearest gallery, which was full of religious icons from the Spanish Colonial Era. The next gallery displayed some of the most beautiful saddles and spurs I’ve ever seen. Then we wandered into a gallery of military memorabilia.

By then, Mr. Bill was ready for a little break, so we sat down in the saddle and spur gallery where headphones were provided for listening to a little Western music. I specifically remember some Woody Guthrie and Kris Kristofferson. It was an excellent way to catch your breath. Also on the third floor are scenes from the early days of Texas, recreated with artifacts and careful reconstructions of the period.

I really enjoyed the third floor, especially the saddles and spurs, but my favorite was the second floor, because that’s where the art-pedal hit the museum-medal. There was a wide variety of genres, mediums and artists, but they were all related to the west. I was particularly moved by the Native American art, beautiful representations of the West’s first inhabitants.

Downstairs is one of the famous Wells Fargo Wagons, the stagecoach that tamed the West, as well as representations of more modern Western Art. From the first floor, you can look down on a teepee gracing the floor below, but you can’t go down there.

The gift shop was lovely, but I noticed it seemed to be directed at the younger generation. Or maybe it was directed at an older generation, grandma and grandpa, but one things for sure, Santa could have loaded his sleigh right there.

It was time to get back in the cold. If you go to San Antonio, don’t you dare miss The Briscoe. Be sure to come back here next week and we’ll go to lunch on the Riverwalk.

DESTINATIONS, Restaurants & Bars, Road Trips, TRAVEL, United States

Las Canarias & the Breakfast BOOOOFAY

February 5, 2014August 12, 2015 Jane Sadek

Las Canarias Fruit and Bran Muffin Breakfast

TRAVEL THERE: BREAKFAST BOOOOFAY AT LA MANSION’S LAS CANARIAS

A Great Start to a Day in San Antonio

One of the perks of staying at Omni’s La Mansion del Rio on San Antonio‘s Riverwalk is Las Canarias. A list of its accolades would take up entirely too much word count, but I knew I wanted to eat there. I also figured with so many awards, the price for dinner would be outside Bill’s comfort zone, so we had breakfast there instead.

The Pocketbook vs. the Breakfast Buffet

As soon as we walked in, the hackles rose on Bill’s neck. There was a $20 breakfast buffet and he doesn’t like any buffet – especially not a $20 buffet for breakfast. He doesn’t think anyone can eat $20 worth of breakfast, but he’s uncommonly opposed to us making the effort to do so. I quickly asked the hostess if we could order a la carte and Bill’s hackles immediately eased.

And it tasted even better than it looks!

When the poor waiter arrived, Bill made it clear we were not having the buffet, so menus appeared. Since I was on the South Beach Diet, about all I could have was the fruit and muffin plate, but as you can see above, that was no hardship. Mr. Bill discovered the Creme Brulee French Toast. After ordering we took stock of our surroundings.

The BOOOOOFAY

We noticed pretty much everyone else entering the restaurant seemed happy enough with the buffet and then we noticed the waiter’s accent. As each table was seated, the waiter would say, “Good morning. Today we have our excellent Breakfast BOOOOOFAY.” The first time we heard it, it was slightly funny. By the time breakfast was over we were having a hard time not laughing out loud. Wanna get a grin out of Bill? Invite him to a BOOOOFAY.

A Beautiful Venue for Any Meal, but Especially Creme Brulee French Toast

The restaurant itself is lovely. White tablecloths, flickering candles and right outside, the Riverwalk. And to give them their due, the breakfast buffet did look delicious. Nonetheless we were happy with our choices. I had plenty of fruit and the muffin was so dense with goodness I was only able to get down a few bites. In fact, I had plenty left over to provide Bill with an afternoon snack of fruit and the following two mornings he had bran muffin with his coffee.

Bill’s French Toast, on the other hand, was an extraordinary meal for which words are inadequate. The look on his face, from the arrival of the plate until he slurped up the last bite, was pure nirvana. Even in the best of restaurants he’ll say things like, “I think they were too timid with the spices,” or “This was overcooked just a tad,” but while he ate his Creme Brulee French Toast, all I heard was, “MMMMMM,” “OMG, this is good,” etc., etc., etc.

Do I think you should go to Las Canarias? I certainly do. Someday I even plan to come back for dinner. I think Bill’s pocketbook could handle it, but he might have a heart attack. Maybe I should try lunch first.

DESTINATIONS, Restaurants & Bars, Road Trips, TRAVEL, United States

NAO – New World Flavors in San Antonio

January 29, 2014September 28, 2015 Jane Sadek

Mr. Bill hangin' at The Pearl — Mr. Bill hangin’ at The Pearl

TRAVEL THERE: SAN ANTONIO’S NAO WITH NEW WORLD FLAVORS

A Culinary Gem in The Pearl

In San Antonio, two of my interests converged – The Pearl and food. The Pearl is San Antonio’s premiere event venue and it was at the top of my list, but I wasn’t sure what to do there. On a weekend trip to San Antonio, the Saturday morning Farmers Market would have been a no-brainer, (In fact, if we’d stayed through the Saturday of the week we were there, we could have enjoyed their annual Tamale Festival) but we wanted to have a go at Dickens on the Strand. So I settled for having dinner at The Pearl and so we wouldn’t miss it, I put it on our first night’s agenda.

NAO and the CIA

The Pearl used to be The Pearl Brewery, but it gave up it’s brewing a long time ago. Now it’s a hip place for foodies and party people. Along with a stable, there’s some retail and residential, as well as several educational facilities, one of them being the Culinary Institute of America (CIA). As soon as I discovered one of the restaurants at The Pearl, NAO – New World Flavors, was run by the CIA, deciding which restaurant we’d visit got real easy.

As we left our hotel, La Mansion del Rio, on the way to The Pearl, Polar Express weather was making it’s approach to San Antonio, so the night was a bit chilly for strolling. After parking (something of a challenge), we made a rather crooked beeline for NAO, because it wasn’t the easiest thing to find. You might have thought our bee was a little drunk.

Entering the restaurant, I was plenty cool and so was the atmosphere. Hard surfaces dominated. Brightly striped upholstery on the banquettes was the only relief from minimalist decor. Seated in the center of the restaurant, we had a good vantage point for observation. Things were quiet, but it was Wednesday night.

What’s for Dinner?

NAO, The Pearl, San Antonio TX — Yum yum yum

New World Flavors, in the case of NAO, means novelle cuisine with a South American twist – and can you say DELICIOUS? I chose the flower-covered fish with mushrooms and heart of palm slices. Since I was trying to diet on this vacation, it seemed a safe choice. The purple stuff under the fish was potatoes, but it was just a smidge of potatoes. Bill ordered “the filet” and thought he was getting a steak. Wrong filet. But he only regretted his mistake up until the moment he took his first bite.

The entrees were so marvelous we couldn’t resist dessert. Bill even had an after-dinner cordial, something he never does. The theme of the post-entree choices was chocolate, but I don’t remember their names and I forgot to take pictures. That’s OK, there’s no way the pictures could have looked as good as everything tasted.

Of course you should go to NAO. Bill said if we lived in San Antonio we might just give up cooking and eat there every night. I wish I could tell you more about The Pearl, but it was just too brisk outside to do anything more than rush back to the car. Come by next week for breakfast.

Accommodations, Architecture, ART, DESTINATIONS, Road Trips, TRAVEL, United States

Omni’s La Mansion de Rio in San Antonio

January 22, 2014August 12, 2015 Jane Sadek

TRAVEL THERE: OMNI LA MANSION DE RIO

San Antonio Hotel with Historic Significance offers Modern Indulgence on the Riverwalk

I love swanky hotels, but usually I opt for bargains, in order to travel more frequently. Still, there are opulent hotels on my wish list and every once and a while, I get the chance to check them off. That’s what happened on this trip to San Antonio.

Thank you, Expedia

As I planned a trip to see the Riverwalk’s Christmastime luminaries, just for grins, I checked La Mansion‘s pricing on expedia. As if Santa were filling my order a little early, there was a deal I couldn’t resist. I rocketed up the stairs to beg Bill’s indulgence, but he was in a good mood, so he told me to book the deal before I even had the chance to kneel.

I’d wished for La Mansion long before it was part of the Omni chain. Unless I’m completely off, I think it used to be part of the Rosewood chain that has THE Mansion, here in Dallas. Whatever the case, I’d wander around the Riverwalk wishing that hotel was my vacation address. This time it would be.

Parking There Was Not Half the Fun

After a visit to the Witte Museum we drove to La Mansion with little to no trouble (thank you GPS), but upon arrival found a $35 hickey for valet parking. That strained our spartan ways. The staff told us we could park across the street cheaper, but that begged the whole luggage thing and the lot across the street charged for in-and-out. So we bit the bullet, ponied up for the parking and even tipped a bellhop. I think the tip may have actually caused Bill physical pain.

Luxuriating in the Splendor

Once our pocketbook quit bleeding, a look around our room excited us. La Mansion occupies a building which was a university, a long long time ago. Wood beams hold up the ceiling and rod iron balconies are just outside the French doors. Since the hotel is an Omni, the furniture, upholstery and drapes are lush. As we inspected our accommodations and tried on the luxurious robes provided, we decided we weren’t as upset about the price of parking as we thought we were going to be.

Bill whipped open his laptop to check the market and I started to unpack. Next to the TV was a lovely bottle of water and I thought, “What a nice gesture,” but thankfully I checked the hang-tag before opening it. Six bucks! So, I opened the dresser and yes, there it was the minibar and snacks. So many ways to capture extra income! At least there was free shampoo. (They didn’t have a safe in the room, though and I thought that was an oversight.)

I’m poking a little fun at the Omni, but we actually enjoyed our stay there completely. The historical building gave everything a very special touch and we did get top notch service. The bed was beyond comfortable and if the only thing we could see out of our window was the parking lot across the street, that was our fault for not choosing to pay extra for a room with a view.

The True Parking Solution

We also figured out the parking problem. See, overnight valet parking is $35, but they don’t charge you for each in and out. The overnight parking across the street is $10, and I assumed it was $10 every time – and that could get expensive quick. But across the street you aren’t charged the overnight price every time, only when you stay overnight. You can short term park much cheaper. Since short term valet parking at the Omni is only $15, that evening we recovered our car and went to dinner. When we came back, we parked across the street. The good news is the Omni never charged us the $15. Thank you Omni!

I’d Do It Again

The next morning we had breakfast in the hotel’s Las Canarias Restaurant, but I’ve already talked too much for today. The Omni La Mansion De Rio is a lovely hotel and I’m so glad we stayed there. Since the Polar Express hit while we were there, it was a little cold to traipse across the river for the privilege of working out at the Omni spa property, but we did peek in and decided it would be great if the weather was friendlier.

Do I think you should stay at Omni’s La Mansion de Rio? I have to say yes. It was a remarkable experience. The proximity to everything on the Riverwalk and the downtown area was perfect for sightseeing. We were blown away by the service. Just keep your eyes open. Who knows when expedia will have another deal! (And keep coming back, because I’ll eventually tell you about breakfast!)

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