Travelogue: Eureka Springs, Arkansas

   Traveling to Eureka Springs was such an unexpected surprise. Had it not for hubby's cousin getting married there, we probably wouldn't go ourselves.  And boy, we would have missed out experiencing the nostalgia of a  place frozen in an earlier era!  

   
  Queen Ann Mansion

    Quigley Castle

     St. Elizabeth Church

     Passion Play

     Christ of the Ozarks

     The Little Golden Gate of Arkansas

                                                                                On Me:  Marc by Marc Jacobs teal pleat dress (top version here);  Mimi di N gold bow belt  

                                                                                On Him:   Hugo Boss jeans; golf shirt 

     Main Street

     Food Scene

     Top of the Ozarks Tower

     Shopping!

Restaurant Review: Per Se NY

  Chef Thomas Keller changed me as a cook.    Cooking from the pages of his French Laundry Cookbook , he taught me to  choose only the best, sustainable and organic ingredients.  He also taught me to be patient --    that the best dishes do not come from a    box or can but from the freshest ingredients that must be simmered and  reduced for hours, strained multiple times and prepared for days.     After many, many failed attempts, we were beyond ecstatic when  we finally got a table at one of his restaurants at Per Se NY.  It was a foodie pilgrimage two years in the making, perfectly timed to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary! (Shoutout to my good friend Normie for making it happen!)    We were razzle dazzled the minute we came in -- from the very nice surprise  of having our own personalized menu, to the 16-course tasting and a visit to the kitchen,  each minute was an experience worth remembering.     In the end, after the final 12th course was served -- not counting the petite four mignardises and several  amuse bouches here and there, one thing was clear: Chef Thomas Keller changed me as a foodie.  
 

      What I liked best from the World's 6th Best: 

• Our reservation was timed perfectly at dusk so we had a nice view of Central Park as it slowly got dark.  I thought it was very romantic.
• We got a very private table, looking at everyone else and away from most of the foot traffic.
•  The caviar supplement was worth every penny! 
• The brioche is taken away even if it's only half-eaten to make sure guests always have the 'optimal' temperature for the foie gras! Yes, it's excessive and yes, you'll feel a bit guilty for such indulgence.
• The foie gras with volcanic salt is the best we've ever had. Ever!
• The steak will be my last meal before I die, given a choice.
• The private tour of the kitchen was such a nice touch.

    
     What can be improved:

• I thought the the service at Eleven Madison Park is slightly better and friendlier.
• Please serve the langoustine dish a la Le Bernardin!  
• Please make a truffle dish like Guy Savoy but don't make it a supplement.
• Please let each guest bring home the leftover mignardises and chocolate selection.   It's a one small request considering I had to give up shopping for two pairs of Louboutins to have this dinner. 

  
     Some tips:

• Forget about Open Table for reservation.  Use a concierge service or know someone that has access to one! 
• It's dressier than Eleven Madison Park or Le Bernardin.  Ladies wearing cocktail dresses will fit just right in.  
• Experiment with the foie gras.  We had ours eaten by itself, with the brioche, with the different salts,  with the brioche and salt.   Then at the end, we each picked a favorite and told our server about it.
• Ask for the salt not to be taken away and try it with the steak.  One word of caution: mind blowing!
• Research your preferred wine pairings using their own iPad app, it's fun!  I enjoyed that better than talking to the snooty sommelier. 
• If you're friendly to the servers, they will explain with much more gusto about each course and how its prepared.  It was way better than listening to their standard scripted spiel.
• Relax and enjoy the food!  I can't help but notice a few diners that night that were too stiff as if they were acting in a period drama.
• We should have waited to eat here after we've been through most of the other Michelin-starred restaurant.   Now, everywhere else we go seemed fast food-ish in comparison.   Our foodie future is doomed, and the only redemption would be to go back.

 

                                                                   On Me:  Escada LBD, tweed jacket, Trina Turk for Banana Republic clutch  

                                                                    On Him: Burberry suit, MICHAEL Michael Kors tie

 

Traveling Tales

Last week, I met a friend for sushi.
But it wasn't your everyday sushi meet-up kinda thing.

We were two friends from Manila, now living in Minnesota and Virginia,
traveling for work in Central America and North Carolina,
and meeting up in Atlanta for a quick 10-minute sushi in between our layovers.

Yes, the story of my life of constant traveling is the same story as a few
of my friends'.  And most of our conversations are around
airline status, hotel status, mile accruals and
whining for weeks on the rare occasion we don't get upgraded.

Such entitled and elitist air travelers we are sometimes.
I wish a treatment exist for a disorder such as ours.

    

 

                                                                    DRESS:  Cheta B sheath dress  

                                                                    SHOES: Prada 

                                                                    ACCESSORIES:  Michael Michael Kors black skinny belt

 

Winter in Spring

Today is supposedly the first day of spring. 

But apparently, Minnesota didn't get the memo!

Instead, we got six inches of snow two days before the 1st day of spring. 

Great.  Just great.

So until then, I will dress accordingly - scarves and boots and coat and gloves!

                                               

                                                DRESS:  Nanette Lepore red trench dress

                                                SHOES: Stuart Weitzman over-the-knee boots 

                                                ACCESSORIES:  Michael Michael Kors black skinny belt

                                               

Narciso Rodriguez for Kohls (Part 13) - Gray Colorblock

Allow me to explain my absence here...

So the past few weeks had been so busy for me.
I attended a 3-day Zumba Instructors Convention in LA and had the grandest time!
While there, I also got my license from AFAA (Aerobics & Fitness Association of America)
a day before the convention.
This meant I danced, shook my booty, wiggled, jumped
and body waved for a total of 30 hours in a span of 4 days.

But that's not the reason for my absence.  At least not all of it.

Following said partying convention , I slipped on my diet and exercise for a few days
thinking I already burned 4000 calories and deserved to slack for a bit.

Such days of slacking led me to exercise really hard the next weekend --
running for longer than usual, lifting heavier weights than usual, and dancing longer than usual.
Apparently, it was all too much for the body and my big toe suffered a minor fracture.

But who would have thought minor fracture equals MAJOR pain!
I'm wearing toe splints and was told to rest my feet for a few weeks.
No closed-toe shoes, no heels, no walking long distances, no dancing, no working out!


So until my poor little feet get well, I won't be able to take blog photos.
Glad I have a few unposted outfit photos from weeks back.   They'll have to do for now!

                                                                
                                                                 SHEATH DRESS: Narciso Rodriguez for Kohls gray colorblock sheath 
                                                                 SHOES:  Christian Louboutin 'Simple' black patent pumps 

Alaia... Maybe Someday?

When there's no more mortgage to pay and retirement accounts to fund, 

I hope to be able to own even just one Alaia dress ala Victoria Bekham.

For now, at about 3% of the Alaia price tag, this would have to do...

   

                                                                  DRESS: BCBG Alaia-esque orange dress
                                                                 SHOES:  Christian Louboutin 'Simple' nude patent pumps