The Savvy Tourist

Forget the Chocolate Bunny, Give Me the Chocolate Wine!

 

I was recently invited to attend a very special wine tasting event at Thornton Winery, located in the breathtaking Temecula Valley Wine Country. The warm and welcoming Thornton family had a new series of wines that they were unveiling and some of us lucky press writers were included in the fun. I say "fun" because what else could you possibly have when combining chocolate with wine?

 

I am sure the picture you have is of all of us lazy travel writers sitting around sipping wine and getting plump on chocolate. That is not what happened at all. First of all, you must understand that the chocolate is actually in the wine, not necessarily paired with it. As a matter of fact you would be amazed at what you can pair with chocolate wine. It is not just for dessert.

 

Our first tasting was Creme De Cocoa, the NEW Chocolate Lover's Wine. This wine is smooth and creamy and can be served chilled, on the rocks, or traditionally, right out of the bottle. This wine was hands down my favorite and the one I hope to see in my Easter basket instead of the chocolate bunny. I was very surprised when Thornton Winery's very own Chef Steve Pickell paired this yummy wine with a Moroccan tomato jam and a very dry, aged Jack cheese. I was even more surprised at how much I liked it together. This was a perfect example of why we must keep an open mind and leave some things to the experts.

 

Our next taste was of The Chocolate Lover's Wine. This is a deep red wine with hints of black cherry and dark chocolate. As you swirl the wine around in the glass, you can smell the sweet aroma of chocolate as though you were in a bakery. This is a more traditional style of wine, not at all creamy like the first one we tasted, but still very appetizing if you enjoy the sweeter wines. Chef Pickell paired this wine with a small tasting of smoked duck breast in his very own flavorful style. Again, I was totally amazed at how well these flavors all came together perfectly.

Our third taste was called Dark Chocolate or "Coco Rosso". I feel this wine is for a more dinstinguished palatte than mine. It is very close to a tradtional deep red wine with a hint of dark chocolate. Neither of which are my favorites, but I did notice many of my fellow tasters were quite impressed. Along with this dark chocolate wine, Chef Pickell served an Oaxacan braised short rib that literally melted in your mouth. Here is when I really appreciated his talent for pairing because the full flavors of the short rib really smoothed out the sharpness I found in the wine. Together they are quite the pair!

Our last but certainly not least wine of the day was the Chocolate Strawberry. This is a bright, refreshing wine, much lighter than the others. While still tasting the cocoa, you also experience the freshness of strawberries. I believe this will make a perfect summer dessert wine for even the most finicky of wine snobs. I must not be too far off with my opinion because our chef paired this wine with a coconut almond torte drizzled with white chocolate and raspberry cream. It really was a great ending to a great tasting.

 

For those of you that are feeling some pangs of thirst for chocolate wine and maybe some of the decadent food they were paired with, you can visit Thornton Winery and have a similar experience in their Champagne Lounge. They encourage a full tasting experience by offering specially paired food with their wine flights. John Thornton, owner of Thornton Winery, when asked which foods paired best with these wines, answered "All of them".

 

John Thornton, along with Chef Steve Pickell, and Steve Thornton, President of Thornton Winery were our three gracious hosts for our day of chocolate wine tastings. I have to say that as upscale and "old world" as Thornton Winery appears, they are just as down to earth and warm and welcoming as family.

 

So, I highly recommend to all my savvy readers to drop by and meet the Thornton family and taste their fine selections of wines. Don't forget to pick up some Creme De Cocoa for the Easter basket. 

 

The Golden Bee

Just recently I was treated to a night out at "The Bee" by my favorite USAFA kiddo. I was visiting for the weekend and was informed that we would be going out to celebrate a friend's birthday at The Golden Bee at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs. Unbeknownst to me, this was some kind of torturist birthday ritual started by our extended host family in Colorado Springs. The highlight of the evening is the massive amounts of beer you can drink in one sitting. Your favorite beer is served in "yards" and "half yards" depending upon your ability to pour it into your mouth without drowning or involving the table next to you. Drinking a yard of ale is actually a famous drinking game in pubs in the UK. I must say after watching several hours of this, it does appear to take some actual skill, although I don't expect to see it as an Olympic event any time soon.

 You can all probably guess how the drinking game ended, so I will tell you a little about "The Bee". The Golden Bee is a 19th century pub that was shipped to the US from London in pieces and later purchased  and reassembled at the request of William Thayer Tutt, Chairman of The Broadmoor. Mr. Tutt was looking to offer an authentic "English Pub" experience for his many guests visiting Colorado Springs so he purchased the pub from an English Ale company known as Whitbread.  Whitbread asked, as part of the purchase agreement, that Mr. Tutt serve their ale. And so he did.

In May of 1961, The Golden Bee opened in the lower section of the International Center of The Broadmoor.  They have since served yards and yards and yards of ale and become a favorite for locals and tourists alike. The Bee isn't just about the drinkin' though. The authentic English Pub food is a great compliment to the atmosphere and libations. That night I had the age old English favorite, Fish and Chips. The fish was very moist and flavorful while being served in what looked like an old newspaper, just the way they did it in merry ol' England. The menu also offered other traditional English fare such as Shepherd's Pie and Bangers and Mash.

 What else could you possibly want from an old English pub besides beer and food? Well, how about a fun time singing along to tunes being played by the piano man? That's right, after dinner you get a chance to sing along with the rest of the crowd from The Golden Bee song book. Luckily there are enough to go around for those of us that don't know all the words. There is tons of fun for the whole family at The Bee, but watch out for the bees buzzing about the room, one might land on you.

Unfortunately, The Bee is not very large in size. It is first come, first served and they do not take reservations. So, get there early or you will be one of those people in the lobby looking in and watching the rest of us having a grand ol' time, pub style!! The Golden Bee is located at 1 Lake Avenue in Colorado Springs, CO.

 

New Restaurant in Town

While out shopping one day, hubby and I decided we wanted to take a break and get some lunch. Of course this is always hubby's evil plan. If we are going out to shop, then we are going out to eat. We were shopping at The Menifee Marketplace in Menifee, CA. when we saw that a new BBQ restaurant was open. Well, I think everyone is always on the lookout for the next best BBQ, even the folks on the Food Network.

The BBQ Trio is located at the far northwest corner of the shopping center over by Starbucks. We walked in and the place was packed. Always a good sign, right?  I never know what I want when it comes to bbq food, but this time it didn't matter. They offer a Slider Sampler where you get one each of pulled pork, beef brisket and bbq chicken, along with a side dish. I chose the red potato salad. I am a very picky potato salad eater but I really loved theirs. It is fresh and has a hint of dill in it.

The only complaint my hubby had was that he needed more bbq sauce on his meal so they gladly gave him a side cup with more sauce. He chose the same sampler entree but instead he chose the baked beans. I am not a big bean eater, but he said they were very good.

After having such an enjoyable experience we tried again for carry out one night. I phoned the order in ahead of time. They asked what time I wanted it ready by and were happy to accommodate. When I arrived I was greeted by name and my order was ready to go. The folks at BBQ Trio are always very friendly and helpful.

The only problem I see in the future is the size of their eating area. They may have to think about expanding soon.

So, if you are looking for some good bbq, look no further. BBQ Trio is a real treat. Remember if you get it to go, ask for some extra sauce.

I wonder if I can get the recipe from them cause it sure is good!

Visit BBQ Trio at

30024 Haun Rd., Suite 150  

 Menifee, CA. 92584

(951) 672-8383

 

Savvy Updates

 
First order of business is tell all my savvy readers that I will be venturing into food and possibly wine in my savvy travel tales. It came to my attention (okay, I know I'm slow) that every time I head off for a new adventure, I usually try to find a great new place to eat (and drink). Sometimes it even seems that my travels actually revolve around all my eating and drinking.

We just had family in town for a week and every day was planned around what and where we were going to eat. That pretty much sealed the deal, so be on the lookout for my savvy adventures with food (and probably wine).

Second order of business is to make sure you check out the latest Orbitz specials and deals in the left sidebar. Great stuff that might make your summer vacation more affordable!

Last...I have updated my Travel Tips page with some wonderful new advice for packing and being safe while traveling.

 

                                                                                                         

Day Trippin' to Oak Glen

Tucked away in the mountains between Beaumont, CA. and Redlands, CA is a little tiny burb called Oak Glen. I think it is officially located in Yucaipa, CA., but it is not exactly on the beaten path. Years ago, while wining about missing the East Coast and my annual apple pickin' escapades, a friend mentioned to me that I could find some great apple orchards up in Oak Glen. So, while savvy auntie was still visiting we made this one of our day adventures.

It really is like a different world when you get to a mile high in the mountains. The rolling hills and clear blue sky that we discovered up in Oak Glen, along with the apple orchards and working cider mills were enough to take me back in time. There is a scenic route through town that leads you to each and every orchard, farm, market, restaurant and even petting zoo.

Beginning our self-tour was a stop at Riley's Farm where they feature "u-pick" apple orchards, hoedowns, tours and hayrides. They also do a schedule of civil war reenactments. If you are really adventurous they have Primitive Historical Farm Stays by reservation only.

We did not have time to stop at every single establishment, which I am sure offers some sort of unique addition to the area. (I hear the spicy peanut butter is to die for!!) There is enough to keep you busy all day, especially if you are looking for something to do with your kids. Right in the middle of the scenic route sits Oak Glen Village where there is a Curio Shop, Art Gallery, Candy Kitchen, Bakery, Leather Shop, Country Store, and Animal Park.

 

If you want to make a weekend of it, try The Sage Herb Farm where they offer Garden Getaway Weekends, along with herb classes and garden tours. There is also camping and RV accommodations in the area for you savvier tourists.

So, young or old, there is something for everyone. Experience a heart-warming meal and a slice of apple pie, then stop by one of the shops so you can take home fresh apple butter, jams, jellies and candied apples.

Don't forget to check back in the summer months when you can pick fresh raspberries!

Wine Tasting in Temecula

My originally planned trip to San Francisco got scrubbed due to an illness in the family...mine!!! The flu caught up with me and changed my plans drastically.  So, no long distance travel for my savvy little family this time, but we did find a few day trips that were quite enjoyable and close by.

Wine tasting is one of our main attractions here in the Temecula Valley, whether you are a local or a tourist, it never gets old. We are known as Southern California's Wine Country and we are quite proud of it. There are over 25 wineries tucked away in our beautiful little valley and they each have something special to offer. So, we took a day and checked out a few of them, actually just three of them to be exact.

Our day started off with lunch at The Ponte Family Estate Winery in their very quaint all-outdoor dining restaurant, The Smokehouse. The warm Autumn day could not have been more perfect for outdoor dining, but then again, that's why we live in Southern California. The service was exemplary and generous. I say it like that because not only did our waiter take great care of us, he allowed my "Savvy Aunt" to leave with all of the wine glasses on the table...and the menu...and the dessert menu...and the napkins...only kidding, she didn't take the napkins. Lunch gave us the opportunity to do a little wine tasting with our food so we didn't do any official wine tasting in the Tasting Room as much as we just enjoyed the views of the vineyard and the mountains and the beautiful countryside. We also enjoyed the gift shop with all of it's specialty items including more incredible food and wine. The Ponte Winery is one that I highly recommend to anyone whether you are in the valley for a long visit or just passing through. I for one can't wait to try their Sunday Brunch Buffet one of these days soon.

Our next stop was going to be what I thought was Van Roekel Vineyards. I have lived in the valley for over 12 years now and knew this winery existed. I saw their wine in the local grocery stores, but couldn't for the life of me find them on "winery row". I thought they had been affiliated with another winery once so we went there instead.

Maurice Car'rie Vineyard and Winery was one of the first vineyards planted here in our region back in 1968. The actual winery was founded by Budd and Maurice C. Van Roekel in 1986. Hence the affiliation I had heard of!  The Maurice Car'rie Winery is gorgeous as well as warm and inviting. Buddy and Cheri Linn are the current owners of this award winning winery known for it's sweet and fruity varieties of Chenin Blanc and Riesling, along with the traditional greats of Chardonnay and Merlot.

While my savvy hubby and savvy auntie were partaking in the wine tasting passport offered at this establishment, I did a little asking around. I found out that I wasn't losing my mind after all and the so called Van Roekel Winery is now known as La Cereza Winery, the sister winery to Maurice Car'rie. Just so happens there is a combo wine tasting passport that can be purchased so that wine lovers can sample wines at both establishments for one low price.

La Cereza Winery is also run by the Linn family and shares the talents of the same veteran winemaker, Gus Vizgirda. Both wineries have their own distinctive label, identity and wine list. La Cereza Winery has received a little bit of a face lift since being known only as Van Roekel. Although still very European, they have added some personal pizzaz with their new signature series "Girlfriends" wine and cigar products.

Maurice Car'rie and La Cereza are both on my list of places to revisit, maybe for the upcoming holidays!!

Julian, CA.

When most people think of Southern California, they think beaches and sunshine and probably movie stars. Well, we do have all that, but we have much more. Since I was raised on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, I am more used to seasonal changes and some occasional weather issues like cold temperatures and snow. That is something I kind of miss...maybe just a little. The rest of my family, except for maybe my son, thinks I am a bit mental.

The other day we took a day trip to Julian, CA. to share with my Aunt who was visiting from West Virginia. I like to visit Julian occasionally because there I can experience all four seasons. At just over 4,000 feet elevation, Julian provides a mild Summer for hiking, camping, and fishing, and a colorful backdrop for fun Fall activities.  The Winter brings the perfect wonderland for the holiday season and then Spring produces all the flowers and new nature that warms our hearts after a cold Winter.

Julian, CA. is an historic gold mining town that was founded after the Civil War. Although it is quite popular with tourists, it has remained small in general population and retains it's old world charm. The tiny town has since taken on new found fame as "Pie Town" because of The Julian Pie Company, who ships pies out by the hundreds to all over the country.

There is plenty to do in Julian for the whole family. They have shopping (my favorite), Art Galleries, historic sites, dining, wine tasting, and of course, many types of lodging. A trip to Julian makes a great day trip if you live in the area, but I think I will stay for the weekend next time I go so that I can experience all the dining options. That is very hard to do in just one day, especially when there is pie involved!!

It all started...

About 20 some years ago I did one of those impromptu trips that began by blindly opening up an atlas and pointing to a random spot on the not-so-smartly chosen page. This trip, now that I think of it, was the beginning of many adventures to come...and boy was it an adventure.

Let's just say I was very young and dumb naive at the time. We ( I was traveling with a new friend who quickly became one of those friends that will be there for life because she knows all my secrets and weaknesses) no sooner left the Denver airport after securing a rental car when we heard on the radio that a major airliner had crashed in Denver. How did we miss that? It made us a little nervous knowing how close we were to such a disaster and not being caught up in it. We were leaving the airport while everyone else was arriving for the crash and it's aftermath. It kind of made me feel like I had started my own little chain of unfortunate events. I was leaving a trail of death and destruction behind me. Okay, too dramatic?

Anyway, we continued on our journey to our destination of random choosing, Manitou Springs, CO. It is a small, quaint town about an hour south of Denver and just west of Colorado Springs. One of those places that seems quite removed from the rest of the world. The town is located right at the base of Pike's Peak. It is as though it is being protected on all sides by the strong arms of the mountain.

This was my kind of town. One of those "everyone knows your name" kind of places. The locals had been there their whole life. They thrived on the tourists that came to visit and shop in their unique stores and eat in their homestyle restaurants, and then leave. What they liked best about tourists,is that they are temporary. Even though the natives were friendly, it was their world, not ours. Many people had come to Manitou Springs over the years and decided to make it their home. Mostly because it is known as the healthiest place on earth. The combination of fresh mountain air and mineral spring waters were known to have a special healing power for the sick. Lucky for the folks in Manitou Springs, we were only here for a short time.

 It was a very cold and damp November and I very much enjoyed the crisp air while ducking in and out of the little shops that held the wares of the local artisans. There were so many wonderful things to see, most of which is from the Native American heritage that still holds it's roots in this tiny town. One of my most memorable moments was spent sitting in a little cafe by a window sipping hot apple cider while the snow lightly dusted the sidewalk. Of course, sitting on a bar stool sipping some Irish Cream in the evenings became a fast favorite too!

One thing I did learn about this part of the country is that people are much more prepared and confident in inclement weather conditions. One day we started up Pike's Peak (in our rental car) for a day of Christmas Shopping at The North Pole. I love collecting ornaments for my Christmas tree from different places so that was all I could think about that day...until we realized the roads were a sheet of ice and our little rental car was in no way prepared for this trip.(Did I mention we were young and stupid?) Not only did we stop making any progress up the mountain, we began sliding backwards down the mountain. At this point I was wishing I had purchased the extra insurance, among other things. The car did eventually stop sliding, but that didn't really improve our situation. We were stuck there to die in our rental car on a small mountain road in Colorado where no one would know to look for us. Too dramatic again?  Just as the panic was beginning to set in and we were trying to decide how to bail out of the car and let it slide down the mountain without us, a few strong young guys showed up with chains and rope and brains and walked our car back down the mountain safely. (And to think my therapist doesn't understand my fear of heights.)

I made my way back to the safe comfortable bar stool and stayed there until I thought it was safe again. Well, it turns out that was just the beginning of my harrowing driving experience in the Colorado snow. The very next day, the weather man was talking about a full on blizzard headed our way. Being as we had jobs to get back to, we thought that maybe we should cut our little adventure short and head back to the Denver airport before we couldn't get there at all.

Too late! Did I mention that this quaint little town was surrounded and protected by this nice big mountain? Well, we no sooner got out of town (just a few miles down the road) then the blizzard was already rearing it's ugly head. I started our snowy trek out on the freeway only to realize that there really weren't very many cars on the road. The ones that were out there appeared to be more prepared than I was, again! After what felt like hours of driving at 20 mph, I decided I couldn't trudge through 6 feet of snow with a rental car any longer. I pulled off at the next exit, only to find out I had arrived uninvited at the United States Air Force Academy. Believe me when I say "there are no rooms at the Inn". The guard at the gate was less than delighted with my presence and informed me that I would have to continue back from whence I came and find a hotel. Two hours and two exits later, we came upon a Sheraton and found shelter for the night. The attendant at the reservation desk was very surprised to see us as he informed us they had closed the freeway hours ago. They must have done that while I was making my way somewhere between civilization and the USAFA.

The next day, the freeway was open and the sky was clear so we headed up to Denver, once again. This time, it was so much easier driving in 6 feet of snow, behind 18-wheelers, with the sun shining on the snow and reflecting in my eyes. NOT!!!!

Upon arriving at the Denver Airport, we remembered the tragedy that we had left behind us only days before. The passing blizzard had only made matters worse at the airport and there were people camped out all over the place. Even with all those people spread out everywhere, there was a horrible somber silence due to the crash, and I wasn't sure I was ever getting on an airplane again. Of course my boss, awaiting my arrival on the East Coast had other plans! It is a wonder I ever traveled again.

Not only did I travel again, I find myself going back to Manitou Springs quite frequently these days and sharing it with my family, while one of the kids is actually attending the USAFA nearby. Little did I know back then...

This one is for you Cleo...although still my dear friend, never have I traveled with since.

Time has forgotten Bodega Bay

After one final stroll through the Town of Tiburon, we headed out north on 101 toward Petaluma. The first Petaluma exit is Petaluma Blvd. We turned off the highway there and headed west towards the coast, connecting with Bodega Ave. in the center of town. Bodega Ave. takes you on a beautiful and relaxing journey through the country all the while smelling the ocean getting closer and closer. As we drove for about 40 minutes, enjoying the scenery and peacefulness of the countryside, I started to realize I felt as though I had traveled back in time. The closer to Bodega Bay I got, the stranger things felt. That must be what Alfred Hitchcock felt like when he decided to film The Birds. A lot of this famous thriller was actually filmed in Bodega Bay and the small town of Bodega back in 1963. Believe me when I say nothing has changed since then.

While waiting for family to arrive to meet us for lunch, we had some time on our hands and decided to check out the area and walk along the harbor's edge. I expected a lot of activity considering this is July. Don't all people flock to the coastal towns for vacation in July? Well, not here. Again, I felt as if time was standing still here in Bodega Bay. There were hundreds of beautiful boats in the harbor, but no one there to use them. It was low tide and there was a beautiful expanse of beach to enjoy, but only one lone person digging for clams. There was an abandoned boat in the middle of the harbor that just gave you the feeling that everyone had disappeared and didn't care what they left behind. It was actually starting to make my skin crawl, and I knew exactly why Alfred Hitchcock picked here to film his horror movie. I am thinking that a remake is in order because nothing has changed, if anything it is creepier now!

We had lunch at a small diner located on the opposite side of the harbor. It was pretty busy, but I think it was only because there are not that many choices in town. I got the distinct feeling that they do not cater to tourists. The service wasn't that great, the flatware wasn't that clean, and the food wasn't that fresh. The clam chowder was incredible, but that is where it ended. The bill wasn't very reasonable compared to the quality of the whole experience. I felt as if they were serving food as a means of survival. Almost like everyone in this town is trapped here and has to make do with what they have available to them. I would not have been surprised had I received a "Help us" scribbled at the bottom of our receipt.

We took a few moments to drive through the actual town of Bodega as that is where the house that was used in "The Birds" is being kept as a landmark. It is only open to the public during the weekends on certain hours, so we didn't get to see inside. From what I understand this is the main attraction in town, but again, I feel like it has been forgotten and neglected like everything else in this town.

The Tale of Tiburon

Back in the day, I think the hustle and bustle of Tiburon, CA. was more than it is today. The tiny peninsula that plays host to three different communities was a very busy industrial center. The Town of Tiburon (as it became known in 1979) was the center of activity with fish packing plants, dairies, military installations, cattle ranching and the railroad. Railroad cars, locomotives and also ferry boats were built there to serve the San Francisco Bay area and beyond. Tiburon even survived Prohibition being that it's location made it very easy to sneak in alcohol from ships anchored in the bay. The Town of Tiburon is the largest of the three communities. There is also Belvedere, which was known as a subdivision for the wealthy San Franciscans who built weekend homes there, and Strawberry, which remained a dairy ranch until after World War II.
Today, Tiburon is a nice quiet place to relax and "get away from it all". There are still many buildings and establishments that have been there for many years and keep the charm of the town intact. The railroad is long gone, except for a few casual reminders like the passenger depot and the Depot Palm that had been used to mark every passenger station in the Northwestern Pacific system.
Even with tourists, the town is peaceful and the people are friendly. Many of the residents are commuters to the San Francisco area and use the ferry system to get to work. The tourists (like myself) use the ferry to spend the day in San Fran while being able to get back to peace and quiet for the night.
That was a perfect day! We grabbed a bite to eat at the coffee shop on the corner of Main Street, then waited for the ferry to arrive while exploring the downtown wharf area with camera in hand. The cost of the ferry was a little high at $9.50 per person each way, but considering you are not fighting traffic,or paying for gas, toll, and parking,I would say it was worth it. The schedule is very convenient for both commuters and tourists and the trip itself was very pleasant and relaxing. They do not waste any time either. You board the ferry and buy your ticket onboard after leaving the dock. Very simple. We walked around Fisherman's Wharf, taking in all the sights, mostly just around the Pier 39 area. We shopped (my favorite thing to do) and ate (my other favorite thing to do if I'm not shopping) and took pictures of everything and anything as usual. We ate a fantastic lunch at Pier Market Seafood Restaurant which had the best clam chowder ever and some luscious libations to go along with it. It is very difficult to decide where to eat while at Fisherman's Wharf. Everything sounds and smells so good and many menus are similar in that their specialty is seafood. Price can be a deciding factor and also ambiance (if you can call it that on a wharf). All the restaurants have their menus posted outside so you know what they offer before making a commitment.

So, with tired feet and full stomach we headed back to Tiburon at the end of the day via ferry with the sun in our faces and the cold breeze at our backs. This is July and yes, you need a jacket to be able to enjoy the ride from the outside deck. You can also take shelter inside where there is a little beverage bar for anyone needing a coffee, beer, or snack. Again, very convenient.
There are actually many different ferry services to choose from whether you are departing from Tiburon or from San Francisco. You can visit Sausalito, Angel Island, or even take a tour of Alcatraz Island. Of course, you cannot do all that in one day.
It was back to Tiburon for us, and the ferry trip gave us the opportunity for even more picture taking that we could later bore our family to tears with.

There are most certainly things to do without leaving Tiburon. There are many adorable little shops and eateries all along Main St. to explore, although a tad pricey. Everything is very unique and a little "artsy", mostly gallery and boutique type establishments. There is a strip of shops known as Ark Row, where all the shops used to be houseboats on the lagoon. They are now anchored permanently by land and a parking lot and almost resemble a movie set because of their small size.

Many people rent bikes from San Fran and ride the ferry over to Tiburon and spend a leisurely day riding along the coast of the bay and through the town. For us, it was a perfect place to relax and do whatever we wanted without the pressure of a schedule or activities list. We even took an evening stroll through town admiring the architecture, beauty and peacefulness that is the Town of Tiburon.

As if to mark this lovely spot on the map, there is a beautiful sculpture in the center of town that moves likes sails in the wind.

A toast to my 100th post!!!

I am sure you all know by now that hubby travels a lot for work. Well, his last trip found him in none other than the famous Raffles Hotel Singapore  where the legendary Singapore Sling was created around the year 1915. Apparently, people really knew how to mix a cocktail back then because this particular drink is very popular (and tasty, I was informed). It has been said that the recipe for the original Singapore Sling may have been revised slightly over the years (or perhaps just remembered incorrectly), but the Long Bar found at the Raffles Hotel makes it as close to original as they know it to be. Below you will see a picture of the recipe card used at the Long Bar for their version of the decadent drink. So, just in case your travels won't be taking you to Singapore any time soon, I am sharing this with you in hopes you will toast my 100th post here on The Savvy Tourist.

SINGAPORE SLING The Singapore Sling was created at Raffles Hotel at the turn-of-the-century by Hainanese-Chinese bartender, Mr. Ngiam Tong Boon. In the Hotel's museum, visitors may view the safe in which Mr. Ngiam locked away his precious recipe books, as well as the Sling recipe hastily jotted on a bar-chit in 1936 by a visitor to the Hotel who asked the waiter for it. Originally, the Singapore Sling was meant as a woman's drink, hence the attractive pink colour. Today, it is very definately a drink enjoyed by all, without which any visit to Raffles Hotel is incomplete. Recipe 30ml Gin 15 ml Cherry Brandy 120 ml Pineapple Juice 15 ml Lime Juice 7.5 ml Cointreau 7.5 ml Dom Benedictine 10 ml Grenadine A Dash of Angostura Bitters Garnish with a slice of Pineapple and Cherry

                                                    

 

                                                                                                                                                      

The Bubba Gump Shrimp Co

Now that our 3 hour tour had been canceled (Gilligan should be so lucky), we decided it was time to eat again so we traveled back down the road a bit into the town of Gatlinburg. Yes, you heard me correctly, we were actually in the town of Gatlinburg. There were cute little shops and restaurants and it was just so quaint. It was a little busier than I would expect for February, but I soon learned that Gatlinburg is pretty much a year round destination. There is skiing in the winter, river rapids in the summer, and festivals all year round. There is always something to do in Gatlinburg, whether it is shopping, dining, or playing.
Now, back to the eating.....one of my most memorable moments on this particular trip was the fabulous dining experience at the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Restaurant. The atmosphere was friendly and fun and the staff was very helpful since it was our first time visiting. They had wonderful recommendations, all of which I took. I started out with Jenny's She-Crab Soup: An Alabama twist to a low country favorite. It was very creamy and rich and just perfect. My main course was the "I'm Stuffed!" Shrimp: Large shrimp stuffed with crab, baked in garlic butter, and topped with Monterey Jack Cheese served with Jasmine Rice.   Of course I started the whole meal out with a Peach, Love, Rock 'n' Roll: DeKuyper Peachtree and Razzmatazz, Cointreau and Pineapple Juice and Lemon-Lime.

Needless to say, that set the mood for the rest of the day!!

 

The waiter started our experience with a few Forrest Gump trivia questions:

What was Forrest's favorite drink?

What did Forrest say to JFK when he met him?

That was my little dose of trivia and I answered them correctly....can you?

Gatlinburg here we come..........

Except for that 5 minutes into the trip we decided to stop for breakfast. We aren't exactly the world's most efficient travelers, but hey, we were hungry. We pulled into everyone's favorite southern fried restaurant, Cracker Barrel where they serve gravy as a beverage for breakfast, lunch and dinner. (They don't really, but it is a family joke so I had to throw it out there.) I have spent my fair share of time in the "South", but I never managed to be near a Cracker Barrel during eatin' time so I was pretty intrigued by "ye old homestead" ambiance that was rocking on the front porch. Just the smell of the place makes you want to live on a farm, raise your own chickens, churn your own butter, and milk your own cows.......okay, maybe not quite that bad, but it did give me a warm fuzzy feeling inside. The menu offered a lot of everything including eggs, bacon, sausage, assorted potatoes, oatmeal, biscuits and gravy, flapjacks (that's pancake to the rest of the world) and you know it......grits!!!! Now I know all you Californians out there think breakfast consists of granola and yogurt and some fancy named decaf latte, but let me tell you that you haven't lived until you have had real southern biscuits and gravy with some grits and flapjacks on the side. The coffee wouldn't be right either if it didn't come with the usual dose of good ol' southern hospitality, which loosely translated means that as soon as you get it fixed just right with equal amounts of cream and sugar, the waitress tops it off for you and you have to start all over.

After stuffing ourselves like Thanksgiving turkeys, we ventured into the gift shop. That's right, your meal is so memorable you need to pick up a souvenir to commemorate the experience. There are jellies and jams, country crafts, and homemade quilts. I could've spent all day in there, but like I mentioned before, we had bigger fish to fry and need to get out of Nashville and on our way to Gatlinburg. I am so glad we stopped though because who knows when I will see another Cracker Barrel.........