Sydney Views -- Ferry Edition

 

A visit to Sydney would not be complete without partaking in one of the city's quintessential experiences there -- a captivating ferry ride across the harbour. My cousin insisted we take a ferry to Watsons Bay, a vibrant fishing village overlooking the Sydney Harbour (a more detailed post on Watsons Bay to come). Leaving from Circular Quay, the journey across the harbour, albeit a bit bumpy, is a fun and serene one. How could it not be -- the spectacular views of the iconic Opera House and the Harbour Bridge make for a picturesque backdrop that's simply unmatched.

 

Fig Tartlets

Aside from pumpkin, figs are one of my favourite fall foods. There’s something wonderfully luxurious about fresh figs, bursting with a decadent and delicate sweetness. I made these fig tartlets, made with puff pastry and topped with pistachios, a drizzling of coconut nectar, and finished with a sprinkling of desiccated coconut. As an option, I added droplets of goat cheese on some for an extra layer of richness and tanginess. Sweet and sticky, these fig tartlets are delightfully delicious and almost too pretty to eat. Almost. But that won’t matter once you take that first gooey bite. Make these for your next party appetizer and your guests will be sure to thank you.

I Heart Nick Carter

When your favourite Backstreet Boy and a New Kid on the Block come to town, there’s only one logical thing to do: start fangirling. Not only did I see Nick Carter and Jordan Knight perform in concert in Toronto last week, but I also got to meet the blond heartthrob that has captured my heart since I was 12. The dynamic duo, otherwise known as Nick & Knight, recorded an album together and are currently touring North America.

I met Nick before the show and although I’ve met him countless times before, each experience is always wondrous. I purchased a VIP package (fittingly named I Heart Nick Carter), which included a little Q & A session with him, an item of our choice signed, a professional photo taken with him, and a selfie (or two –- I went back for greedy seconds).

There’s something about Nick that is strikingly infectious, a charm that pulls you in like a warm embrace. From the moment I met him, he couldn’t seem to stop smiling at me, in that magnetic way that makes you feel exceptionally special. He also kept telling me I was beautiful and that I looked really nice, which made me melt instantly. I was on cloud Nick and I was relishing in every moment.

The concert also did not disappoint. Nick and Knight are such talented performers, evident in a show that was exhilarating and entertaining. With slick dance moves, catchy songs (including a few BSB and New Kids throwbacks), and many satisfying pelvic thrusts, the concert was a perfect harmony of fun and seductive.

I only wish I could relive the whole experience One MoreTime (Nick & Knight reference) –- of a day enveloped with such wonderful moments that made me, if possible, Heart Nick Carter that much more.

Chicago Bound

I'm heading to Chicago tomorrow for my friend's wedding this weekend and thought I'd do a little throwback to my first time there when I visited my cousin 5 years ago. This photo was taken at The Bean and I can't wait to be back in the Windy City.

Taste of Toronto

Food, food and more food. Toronto held its first ever Taste of Toronto this past weekend and celebrated our love of food. With over 70 participating restaurants and exhibitors, the festival featured some of the city's best and most popular restaurants, food and drinks. In other words, it was true foodie heaven.

I had the pleasure of meeting celebrity chef, Mark McEwan, and it was nice to see him working the Bymark tent, making sure the orders were coming through and handing out dishes to customers. Incredibly nice and charming, he chatted us up for a few minutes before we hungrily devoured our food. I tried Bymark’s famous lobster poutine, with a generous portion of juicy lobster pieces, crispy fries, and smothered in a creamy béarnaise sauce. It was scrumptious to say the least, and one of my favourite dishes there. A bite out of my friend's fried chicken from One instantly revealed its deliciousness as well, with a nice crispy skin and a tangy chipotle BBQ sauce.

Although I wanted to try everything in sight, I had to be picky, which proved difficult for my indecisive (and hungry) self. In the end, I settled for seafood paella from Patria, Kinton’s pork ramen, Australia black truffle ricotta ravioli from Splendido as well as fresh oysters from there, and delicious deep fried octopus balls from Guu. As if that wasn’t enough, I also sampled various juices from Greenhouse Juice, Juice Matters, and Bloo, tasted several flavoured olive oils from OliveOil Emporium, and inhaled yummy chocolate spreads from Laura Secord. 

My absolute favourite from the festival though had to be something that was so simple and quite frankly, a genius concept: cheese wrapped in hardened maple syrup. From Ninutik Maple Sugar, maple syrup was poured over a tray of snow (yes, snow!) which hardened the syrup. Cubes of cheese (cheddar, gouda, and blue cheese) was then rolled in the mixture, coating it with a sweet and sticky layer. The combined flavours of sweet and salty was an explosion in your mouth -- it takes cheese to a whole other level. I'm not a fan of blue cheese on its own, but paired with the maple syrup was simply delectable. The sweetness from the syrup balanced out the sharpness of the blue cheese nicely. I'm thinking come winter, I may just have to pour maple syrup over my snow covered lawn and make these little bites of heaven for myself.

I was also lucky enough to run into the lovely Meghan Markle who plays Rachel Zane in the hit TV show Suits. As one of my girl crushes from one of my favourite shows, I was excited to meet her and she was so sweet and even more gorgeous in person.

By the end of the night, I was so insanely stuffed that I literally could not move, let only breathe. I had eaten my way around the festival, sampling everything to my heart’s (but unfortunately not my stomach’s) content. It was a great and fun experience and I hope to be back again next year.