viranlly

[viranlly]

7 Hours in Etihad’s First Class Suite

Let me just say right off the bat, it's not long enough.

And also, by no mean this is a review — because honestly, this flight is spectacular and I’m really not gonna get into the nitty-gritty, technical stuff (you can totally google that at your leisure).

After a whirlwind of a 10-hour, martini-filled, water-deprived stopover in London (more on that later), it’s finally time to hop into the flight that I’ve been watching over-and-over-and-over again on YouTube: the Etihad first class suite, with service to Abu Dhabi, on a Boeing 787-9.

I knew this flight was gonna be great. It’s so great it totally ruins flying (any other way) for me. 

The second I stepped on the plane and the flight attendant got a glance of my seat number, *ahem* 1A, you could see almost a mini panic as she was trying to find the first class FA to take me to my personal suite. Yes, not a pod, not a seat — a suite. Bed, dining table for two and closet space included. 

Trying not to lose my mind next to the couple who’s clearly done this before, I calmly sat down to make sure everything was okay (as if anything would go wrong). Noise cancelling earphones, check. Entertainment centre. check. Mini bar, stocked. Acqua di Parma amenity kit and faux fur throw, check, check, check. I took a decent amount of content yet I forgot to take a photo of the actual suite without me in it — amateur. I guess I’ll have to remind myself, for next time.

"This smells, tastes, and feels rich" I said to myself as I sipped the 2006 Charles Heidsieck Brut (bless pre-departure champagne) that's served alongside Arabic coffee, dates, and cold towel. I was fully living the Sex and The City 2 Movie fantasy, with less marital issues and no sheikh paying for the trip. As they're boarding the rest of the plebs plane, my assigned flight attendant went through a laundry list of preferences for the rest of the flight: dinner service, wine pairing, water (still or sparkling), level of privacy, and more importantly what champagne would I like for right after take-off — The answer, was rosé, by the way. 

She then dropped off a bag of loungewear for me to change to if I prefer, which, I absolutely needed to, since I was wearing a very London-specific Thom Browne tartan suit to dress the part with not enough room to handle every menu items we're about to devour. 

I was utterly torn, between drinking as much 2002 vintage champagne until I’m unconscious in this suite or catching up on sleep as we had a 17 hour layover in Abu Dhabi awaited us. 

As I continued to ponder, the plane took off. Never in my life I witnessed a  take off this smooth, this quite— it’s almost like the engines just whisper “let’s go girls” oh so subtly. And not three minutes after, a glistening, freshly popped, frosty bottle of Champagne Duval-Leroy Rosé Prestige showed up at my door. And this, marked the beginning of the most incredible three-hour dining experience in the sky.

A change of clothes, fresh towel, and a switch to Duval-Leroy Femme de Champagne 2002 later, the caviar service begins — A proper caviar service. With blinis en accompagnement, and of course, the mother of pearl spoon that I almost smuggled into my amenity kit. 

“Would you like some more champagne”, she asked, fully knowing we finished half a bottle within the first 15 mins of dinner. I mean, what kind of monster would say no? By the time the lobster course arrived, we’re one bottle in, and flying has never felt better. We managed to go through most to the wine list (pictured below) and honestly, this list slaps. Hard. Hard enough to piss off some somm friends. 

The Jacques Prieur was stunning, oh-so-fragrant and crisp, with balanced salinity to finish. The Pascal Jolivet was delightfully expressive with lovely, lingering mouthfeel. By the time we wanted to taste the riesling, the palate cleanser arrived, followed by the main course shortly. Yes, there’s a palate cleanser course.

Cooking tenderloin to a perfect medium rare is as hard as it is for some restaurants with fully equipped kitchen. Somehow, Etihad nails it, 30,000ft in the air — now that’s impressive. Whatever magic compartment they have in their galley, it works. For the wine, I managed to tasted all the reds and well, big surprise (not really), the Cabernet plays so elegantly with this perfectly cooked piece of meat. 

The stretchy pyjama pants were barely holding it anymore but I still had to save some room for dessert — creme brûlée with a side of Haagen Dasz ice cream, which I washed down with another glass of the ’02 Femme de Champagne. 

*Knock knock* “Would you like me to make the bed for you?” - a sentence I don’t hear enough on the ground, let alone in the sky. Honestly, It’s even more special when it’s asked on an Acqua di Parma-scented cabin. As she’s getting my bed ready, we took a little stroll around the plane to see where the rest of the people lived, and you know, stretched… I returned to a fully made bed with a side of crippling anxiety, knowing that for the rest of our journey, there’s no first class cabin on the planes — scary, I know (Kidding, Etihad’s business cabins aren’t so bad). Nothing another glass of champagne couldn’t fix at this point. So I ordered bed-side champagne to calm me down. *closed doors*

I went to bed, half-drunk, fully stuffed and extremely exhausted. The 3-hr nap I had was clearly not enough to prepare me for what’s waiting for us on the other side. But frankly, that was a very comfortable nap. The flight attendant gently nudge me to notify that it’s time for breakfast. I woke up still drunk, still full, with 90-something minute left on this flight. I couldn’t possibly eat another bite. What was supposed to be an omelette and caviar breakfast, turned into a coffee and champagne kind.

Never thought hearing “thirty minutes to landing” could make someone feel so sad, but there I was, back in my suit, sipping the last of the ’02 Femme de Champagne, not ready to leave the flight.

Thank you Etihad for the most incredible 7 hours in the sky, Michelin-star-worthy (I said what I said) dinner experience, and if you’re reading this, I’m ready for another trip on the first class suite, and hopefully on the A380 next time. 

See you in Abu Dhabi!

#Etihad #Etihad Airways #First Class #First Class Cabin #First Class Flight #World Traveller #Luxury Travel #Travel #Boeing 787 #B787 #B789 #Dreamliner #menswear #champagne #caviar #michelin star #thom browne #thombrowne #menstyle

[viranlly]

Father’s Day with Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva

With Father’s Day just around the corner *ahem* this Sunday to be exact, it’s only appropriate for me to share one my favourite ways to celebrate: a cocktail hour with dad. The key to a great cocktail hour to me is obvs. a great spirit that’s elegant yet versatile, something that can carry us from day to night.

For this year’s Father’s Day, I’ll be toasting dad with the ever-so-sophisticated Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva. A perfect sipping rum with complex yet balanced flavours made from predominantly sugar cane honeys with a touch of molasses. Aged up to 12 years in American white oak bourbon casks to add layers of flavours.

While Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva is fabulous on its own, the tasting notes make it an amazing rum for classic cocktails. On the menu for this Father’s Day are a classic daiquiri to help us cool down during the day oooor for later in the evening, is the Diplomático Reserva Old Fashioned, with maple syrup instead of simple syrup and a mix of molasses and angostura bitters to finish. However you choose to celebrate, make sure to reserve the best for last, a serving of Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva neat (or on the rocks) for us to sip and enjoy. * will add recipe in the text of the image*

Even better, it’s NOT too late to get dads, all dads -- plant dads, dog dads, cat dads included, a bottle Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva and toast the weekend with the distinguished flavours of the Heart of Rum.

#father's day #rum #diplomatico reserva #old fashioned #cocktails #daquiri

[viranlly]

Viranlly hosts Thanksgiving Dinner.

in partnership with Wines of British Columbia.

IT’S CRUNCH TIME Y’ALL!

I don’t even where time went but here we are now, just over a week before Thanksgiving. The aroma of PSL is in the crisp fall air, the days are getting shorter, and the meals we preppin’ are getting cozier each day. The holidays are upon us and so is the (grape) harvest month.

To celebrate both festivities, I’ve teamed up with the Wines of British Columbia to come up with some fun thanksgiving recipes and of course delicious BC wine pairings to go with them. I’m skipping the turkey, because let’s be honest, I don’t trust myself with a bird that size, nor that I have the space and capacity both physically and mentally to handle a turkey. I want to make sure that this holiday cooking will be as stress-free and as boozy as possible, because we all deserve that kind of holidays.

Please note that these recipes serve 4-6 people.

First thing first, it’s not a dinner party at Viranlly’s without a damn-well-put-together CHARCUTERIE AND CHEESE BOARD. Here’s the fun part about this board: there’s no recipe. The trick is you want to make sure you have a balance in flavours, textures and colours (because ya know.. aesthetic). 

THE MEAT : variety of cured meats with different flavour profiles - hot genoa salami, prosciutto, iberico ham, chorizo, and capicollo are always a great start.

THE CHEESE : make sure you have at least hard and soft cheese, everything in between never hurts either - jammy brie or camembert is a crowd pleaser, manchego is delicious, especially when you can find the truffle-y ones. Can never go wrong with parmigianio-reggiano, or a nutty pecorino. Aged cheddar and smoked gouda if you want a little funk. The possibility is honestly, endless.

THE FRUITS AND VEGGIES : grapes and olives (olives are veggies, right? I prefer unpitted Castelvetrano) are staple on my board. Seasonal fruits and veggies always add amazing flavours to the board : pears and figs in the fall, peaches and berries in the summer.

THE EVERYTHING ELSE: honey, hummus, nuts, preserves, bread, crackers, pate, and everything your heart and stomach desire.

I always love to start the night off with a bottle or two of bubbly, something really crisp, citrusy and refreshing. The Howling Bluff Faux Paw has a ton of berry notes with a just a zest of spice, perfect to be enjoyed with everything on this board. Another great bubbly is the Haywire Pink Bub, which, we consumed throughout the summer. 

The next two dishes are heavily inspired by my friends’ thanksgiving last year, with a view adjustments to meet what I have readily in my, and most kitchens.

This RADICCHIO AND SQUASH SALAD is my definition of the perfect autumn salad: rich and nutty, a hint of bitterness and lots of crunch.

THE VEGGIES: 

1 medium-sized delicata squash, sliced up to half-an-inch-thick half moons (wow that’s wordy). Toss them in olive oil, salt and pepper before hitting the 450F preheated oven for 25-35 mins, or until  fork tender. Occasionally turn your sheet tray to make sure they’re cooked evenly, and flip the squash over halfway. 

Tear up and cut one head of radicchio into quarter, soak them in ice bath for a couple minutes before assembly. 

Thinly slice one medium-sized asian pear, toss in the juice of half a lemon and season with salt and pepper. 

THE DRESSING: 

Toss half a cup (minus a handful for later) of pecan, or walnut, or hazelnuts (really, any nuts you have around -- 2 tablespoon peanut butter work too), 1 small shallot, juice of half an orange and one lemon, 1 tablespoon dijon mustard, a splash of red wine vinegar and 2 tablespoon maple syrup (or honey) into a blender. Blend together and gradually add in a 1/4 cup of olive oil until a silky consistency is achieved. Season with salt and pepper.

THE ASSEMBLY: 

Spread leftover nuts in a small sheet tray, drizzle with olive oil, salt and one tbsp maple syrup.Put them in the still-hot oven just enough to get them slightly toasty. I tend to forget about them and burn the nuts to the ground, so leave this step until the last 5-10 mins before assembly. 

Combine squash, radicchio in a big bowl, coat with dressing. Transfer to serving plate. 

Sprinkle the toasted nuts, and the asian pear allover squash and radicchio.

Shave some parmesan or piave.

Drizzle with some more olive oil and lemon juice, and crack some more black pepper.

I thought this salad can use the brightness and the blossoming freshness of the Orofino orange wine: stunning colour, burst of tropical fruits and elegant floral notes. My mouth is watering as typed this.  

This SAUSAGE AND CORNBREAD STUFFING changed the stuffing game forever. Honestly, you’d never want to eat another crusty, white bread stuffing for any holidays ever again. It’s so very indulgent, buttery, and loaded with aromatics. Crispy up top, soft and moist -- yes, moist inside.

THE CORNBREAD:

I am obsessed with the cornbread from Boulevard Kitchen and Oyster Bar. And since this recipe relies quite heavily on the cornbread, trust me, you’d want to use the best cornbread you can find. In this case, I’ve found the winner. Cut up 1 1/2 lb cornbread to 3/4″ pieces and leave them in a 350F oven for 40 mins or so until they’re dry. Don’t worry we’ll the moisture back later. Transfer cornbread to a big mixing bowl.

THE STUFFING:

Cook and a lb or so of breakfast sausage in a skillet. Break them apart with a wooden spoon and let brown about 8 minutes. Transfer sausages to a plate.

In the same skillet, leaving the sausage brown bits, add 1/4 cup of butter and cook one diced onion and two stalks of cubed up celery until softened. Add three cloves of chopped garlic and one sliced japaleno, cook for another minute or so. Add 1/2 cup of dry white wine and another 1/4 cup of butter and let the liquid evaporate. Add thyme and chopped sage.

THE ASSEMBLY:

Combine cornbread and stuffing in the mixing bowl, add 2 eggs and 1 1/2 cups of chicken stock. Stir them occasionally until cornbread absorbs most of the liquid.

Lightly butter a cast iron pan, or baking dish and transfer mixture in.

Put the pan in the 350F oven for 40-ish minutes then turn up the heat to 425F for 15-20 mins until the outside is crisp and golden brown.

The VinAmité Chanson d’Amour is quite a delightful pairing for this dish. The chardonnay in the blend gives that soft minerality while keeping the palate fresh and peachy. Another great option is  the Unsworth Pinot Noir: plum-y, dark cherry, a swift hint of earthy herbs - brings out the thyme aroma in the dish.

The last recipe is a simple, choose-your-own-adventure kind of recipe to replace the boring old sweet potato casserole. It’s a BYOB: Build Your Own Baked sweet potato bar!

THE SWEET POTATO:

Cut 4 medium-sized sweet potatoes into half and coat them in olive oil, salt and pepper. Put them cut side down on a sheet tray and into a 425F oven for 30 minutes or until they’re fork tender.

THE TOPPINGS:

The toppings, again, can honestly be anything you’re in the mood for buuut these are my three favourites:

Spicy chorizo cooked in vermouth and butter. It’s as simple as it sounds. In a skillet, heat a tablespoon or so olive oil and bloom chili flakes in it. Slice two links of spanish chorizo and toss into the chili oil. Add vermouth and butter and cook until sauce thickens. 

Spicy soy garlic tempeh. Dice one slab of tempeh (I used tempea) into 1/2 cm cubes and season with salt and pepper. In a skillet, add one table spoon of oil and add 2 cloves of chopped garlic. Toss the tempe in, and add 1 tablespoon of soy sauce, and 1 tablespoon of kecap manis. If you like the heat, add 1-2 sliced up birdseye chili. Serve with cilantro and green onion.

Lobster salad. Cut 2 lobster claws into chunks, add the juice of half a lemon and season with salt and pepper. Add 2 tablespoon of kewpie mayo, one teaspoon of honey, and mix together. Add 2 stalks of thinly sliced celery and top it off with dill. Season with salt and pepper as needed.

THE SAUCE: 

As simple as sour cream (or plain greek yoghurt), lemon juice, olive oil, grated garlic cloves, seasoned with salt and pepper.

The salad dressing leftover works well too!

THE ASSEMBLY:

Go wild ;)

The wines for this particular dish can be as playful as you want them to be buuuut I decided to go with something a bit more crisp, fruity and floral like the Tantalus Vineyard Riesling especially if you go on the lobster route. Another great option is the Bartier Bros Merlot, which, is a slightly nutty, savoury with a touch more of cherry and dark fruits. 

Hosting a holiday dinner is a pretty big job and I admit, it can get really stressful but I hope these easy-ish recipes and the wine (I know the wines work) will help you guys through. A MASSIVE thank you to the team at Legends Haul for making my grocery shopping for this dinner SO. MUCH. EASIER. 

And just another PSA that the holiday is the PERFECT time to support you local wineries and enjoy the delicious wines BC has to offer. And BC has A LOT to offer. So, explore, sip and savour your way throughout this Harvest month. Find more information about BC Harvest Month here.

#thanksgiving #cooking #homecooking #BCWine #Local wine #wineries #wine #British Columbia #BC #foodie #foodblog #bonappetitmag #radar #popular

[viranlly]

Exploring The Beautiful British Columbia

in partnership with Destination British Columbia

It’s now the first week of September. Here we are, 6 months into the ‘quarantine’ and somehow the number of cases are going up again (I’m looking and rolling my eyes at y’all party people 🙄). Most of us who are staying put are now getting even more anxious and the need to escape the city is getting real.

The good news is, there are SO MANY destinations outside of Vancouver where the outdoor space is plenty, the food is delicious, and the view is spectacular. Yes, we Vancouverites should consider ourselves very lucky. And I, was very very lucky to have got the chance to explore our own backyard a couple months back.

From a scrumptious dimsum at the award-winning Chef Tony (been craving the truffle siumai and the durian dumplings for weeks now) in Richmond, a shaky, yet beyond scenic plane ride over Howe Sound in Squamish, to five-star meals at Whistler’s most notable restaurants (Hi Alta Bistro and Il Caminetto), we did it all in a span of 5 days, and believe it or not, the furthest point of our adventure was only over 2 hours away from Downtown Vancouver.

Read the full story here or watch the highlights from the trip on my instagram here.

Happy #ExploreBC!

instagram @viranlly

Food | Travel | Vancouver

#exploreBC #British Columbia #Travel #Travelblogger #LocalTravel #covid #Travel Story #blogger #ExploreCanada #Canada

[viranlly]

The Perfect French Toast doesn’t exist...

...unless you brûlée-d the sh*t out of all sides of a whole loaf of bread.

Yes, it sounds crazy. But you do need a full loaf of unsliced Japanese milk bread to immerse yourself fully in this dessert crossover extravaganza.

Amy and I decided earlier this week that we’re gonna recreate Mandy Lee’s Pandora’s Box from her cookbook: The Art of Escapism Cooking: A Survival Story, with Intensely Good Flavors. The recipe is so visually stunning and when Mandy did a demo on her IG stories, it looked simple enough.

Little that I know, after actually eating (2 of) this Pandora’s Box, I never wanted just a regular, sliced up French toast for brunch ever again. 

The first bite of Pandora’s box is magical: lacquered crackling, slightly burnt caramel coating; soft, fragrant, Japanese milk bread that’s been soaked in a pool of egg, milk, and cinnamon (it’s a French toast after all), filled with boozy rye-vanilla custard and berry compote. So. Damn. Delicious.

This toast ideally feeds 2 people, but, the overachiever and chronic overeater in me *somehow* managed to devour this in one sitting. It’s honestly a perfect brunch show piece -- trust me, next time I’m throwing a brunch, this will be on the menu.

Full recipe here.

‘Til next time!

instagram @viranlly

Food | Recipe | Vancouver

#food #brunch #dessert #foodporn #recipe

[viranlly]

Most important meal of the day.
-
Long weekend breakfast calls for an utterly simple yet delightfully comforting croissant sammie. Fluffy, custard-y, still-kind-a-runny scrambled eggs, furikake, shaved Parm and truffle honey on a bed of perfectly flaky and buttery croissant from @nemesis.coffee @dopebakehouse 🥐 -
Hope everyone is enjoying the Victoria Day long weekend 🙆🏻‍♂️ 
#brunch #croissants #breakfast #BAreaders #bonappetitmag

#brunch #croissants #breakfast #bareaders #bonappetitmag

[viranlly]

 #VGetsAround: his own damn dining room. At this time six weeks or so ago, I was laying by the pool, tits-deep in passionfruit gimlet in a hip and happening new--ishly opened day club somewhere in the island of Bali. Little that I know, that the world was ‘bout to go on a ride. And damn, it has been one *literal* hell of a damn ride.

Here we are, in the present day, where the word ‘travel’ is now almost taboo (just ask what Anna Wintour told Adam Rapoport of Bon Appetit). Flights are cancelled, borders are closed. Bid adieu to Coachella and your festival plans this year. This is depressing even for somebody who hates crowds and usually comes up with bazillion excuses to cancel plans *ME*.

 The world, as we know it, is upside down and inside out. People losing their jobs, businesses scrambling, trying to make it one day at a time. Bars and restaurants, those who survived that is, had to make the switch to strictly delivery and take out services just to keep their doors open. Gyms are closed while my pants, on the contrary, are not able to. 

Let me just say it, I miss my friends. I miss putting on my subtly loud Thom Browne suit to sit on a crowded bar, sipping overpriced exotic martini(s), while watching people watching me. I miss the feeling of getting buzzed after polishing the 4th bottle of wine over dinner at a restaurant, where you don’t have to do the dishes after. And I miss ordering the round(s) of tequila shots I probably shouldn’t even think about. I also, deeply, miss travelling.

But until the world recovers, what can we do but our part? Stay at home, wash your hands, and support our local favourites as much as we can. The upside, if any, is the fact that our group chats have never been more lit, we do our dinners and drinks over video calls - I even find out, that you can be hungover during quarantine. Little and simple things have now become something we all admire and crave every single day.

And for the travelling part, I keep telling myself, if I can’t bring myself to the destination, Imma bring the destination to me, right here to my dining room.

In an ideal world, I would’ve been roaming the streets of Mexico City two weeks ago and stuffing myself with tacos of all kinds. For the time being, the folks at La Taqueria get me covered with their build-yo-own-taco-bar at home. If you’re in the mood for a little trip to Japan, lucky for us Vancouverites, we have plenty of amazing sushi out there: Miku for their Aburi party tray for 3, which, I finished in one seating, twice; Yuwa if you feel extra fancy, even Coast offers make-your-own sushi kit (super fun date night idea, if you’re a couple or something). Mak n Ming also does really good bento boxes too, btw!

Fancy a trip to Spain? Take a #Como2Go for your tapas, conservas, and fun tipples (G&T kit, wine and vermut too!) OR if you want something more substantial, give Paellaguys a try. While we’re in Europe, might as well bring Italy in via. Ask for Luigi, Di Beppe, and Italian Kitchen. I heard Pepino’s and Caffe La Tana are also doing amazing take out. You cannot, well, more like, should not, miss what L’abattoir is doing during this time - a rotation of fancy-esque French cooking AND their iconic pastry baskets for the weekend. And while we’re on the topic of pastry... Leave it to Beaucoup Bakery for some flaky, buttery croissants (among other stuff) to go with your morning coffee. If you’re in the mood for more comforting Quebecois-French cooking, of course, there’s St. Lawrence Restaurant. 

I don’t know bout everyone else, but I do get cravings for fried chicken from time to time (by time to time, I mean at least twice a week). This is the moment when I call up on some friends at Downlow Chicken, which just so happens to make incredible burgers. *ahem* Speaking of burgers... Transam does a pretty killer one too! And juuuust in case you’re still craving meat, Elisa Steak and the legendary Gotham are now doing steak take out (their wildly popular cheese bread is now on the take out menu - you’re welcome). 

*I sound like a hungry kid with ADHD trying to decide what’s for dinner as I’m eating my second lunch, don’t I?*

And when ordering in gets overwhelming - trust me it does. Take the opportunity to brush up your cooking skills. Your trusty friends like Bon Appetit Magazine (both Healthyish and Basically too, obvs) and The New York Times Cooking got you. Spend the time making BA’s best bolognese, Alison Roman’s ‘the stew’, or the extra comforting brown butter toffee chocolate chip cookies for a change of pace.

I truly believe that great food can help us going through this less-than-ideal time. Soon we will be able to share a meal with our friends again, and soon we don’t have to do our dishes 70 times a day again. Until then, stay at home, support your local gems, and for the love of all things that’s good and pure, wash your damn hands.

‘Til next time!

instagram @viranlly

Food | Travel | Vancouver

#travel #travelblogger #covidー19 #coronavirus #pandemic #Vancouver #Vancouver food #foodblogger #food blog #bon appetit #recipe #wellness

[viranlly]

I’m drunk in the house and I’m the house drunk.

A series | One cocktail, one outfit, one story to stir it well.

#menswear #mensfashion #fashion #cocktails #suit #dapper

[viranlly]

… i do … 

dan levy wears a thom browne grosgrain-tipped mohair tuxedo jacket and pleated skirt with wingtip boots and 4-bar socks on the series finale of shitt’s creek. 

[viranlly]

Air Canada Signature Suite - Vancouver International Airport

In the midst of the travel ban and restriction madness, we at least have something to look forward to when this turbulent clouds pass. Air Canada recently introduced the YVR chapter of their Signature Suite. It’s the crème de la créme of airport lounge, available exclusively for Air Canada Signature Class customers.

Beautifully designed by the Montreal-based Heekyung Duquette, the lounge is the ultimate pre-flight destination (cause honestly, YVR is not the most exciting when it comes to duty-free shopping 🙃). The Air Canada Signature Suite also offers the most delicious food and libations thanks to Vancouver’s notable Chef David Hawksworth, premium spirits from Diageo, and of course, champagne from Moët & Chandon.

As I arrived at the lounge, I naturally went straight to the bar (surprise!). Easing me in was a frosty flute of crisp rosé Moët & Chandon - cheerful with a full expression of flavours, exactly what I (and the rest of the world apparently) need to brighten up the mood. From the signature cocktail menu, the Mandarin Old Fashion caught my attention immediately. Made with Bulleit Bourbon, spiced rum, and smoked Mandarin: spicy, boozy, citrusy with a hint of smoke to round everything up - tasty.

On the food front, travellers have the option to indulge in the all-day buffet or a three-course fine dining experience prepared by the talented team from Hawksworth Restaurant, or both (I mean why not?).

If you ask me, there’s really nothing I love more than drinking champagne and watching fleet of 787s coming in and out of the runway to kill time while I wait for my flight. Ok fine, the 777s and A350s are mighty sexy too HA! So I honestly can’t wait to be back here when we can all finally travel safely again.

In the mean time, enjoy the pictures from the bar. Stay hydrated, and wash yo hands peeps.

‘Til next time!

instagram @viranlly

Travel | Lifestyle | Vancouver

#travel #AirCanada #Air Canada #covid-19 #air travel #AirCanadaSignatureSuite #hawksworth #yvr #Travelblog #travelblogger #Vancouverblogger #radar

[viranlly]

What To Expect When You’re Not Expecting The Outdoors in Vancouver

in partnership with Tourism Vancouver

It’s no doubt that Vancouver is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Some even named them one of the best cities to live in. Yes, I absolutely agree (I’ve been here 11 years now, somehow). I mean... what’s not to like? Fresh air, the mountains, oceans, and of course, the great outdoors that put Vancouver on the map as a global tourist destination.

But what if, you’re not even remotely interested in the outdoors? *I have to admit, I’m probably the least outdoorsy person out there (don’t @ me!)* Will Vancouver still be enjoyable if one is not planning to go to Capilano bridge or doing the Grouse Grind? 

The answer is yes.

Vancouver is also home to some of the most talented, hard-working and innovative chefs, bartenders, and restauranteurs in the game. Making it a city that’s filled with delicious eats, drinks, and exceptional coffee culture - don’t believe me? Ask Chris Morocco from Bon Appetit Magazine ;) Plus, we are blessed with the bountiful amount of fresh ingredients, whether it’s fruits, veggies, seafood particularly, and even meat.

Every January, the city also hosts the annual Dine Out Vancouver Festival, a culinary festival that invites both locals and visitors to explore and experience what Vancouver has to offer. For the 18th edition of Dine Out Vancouver this year, there will be 318 restaurants participating in this two-week-long festivity. If you’re local, this time of the year is also a fun time to play tourist in your own city - which, I do, occasionally.

While I might not know where Garibaldi lake is on the map, and I definitely don’t know where to go for the best three-day camping trip (not that I want to do that ever), I do know exactly where you should be sipping your martini and eat your world-renowned aburi sushi. You can trust me on that.

Without trying to sound like a know-it-all, here’s how, in my ideal world, I would spend a typical 48 hours in Vancouver. 

8:30 a.m - Ride Cycle Club.

Nothing like starting your morning with a loud, steamy and sweaty spin class. The playlist is always on-point; the instructors, typically with a sexy, raspy voice, definitely gets you going first thing in the morning. There’s so much joy in watching everyone move to the beat, all together. It’s an experience for sure.

10:30 a.m - #dailycortado at Revolver.

If you know me at all, Revolver is practically my morning home base. The rustic, charming, long hallway is usually filled with highly (or soon to be highly) caffeinated individuals, chatting, working, or geeking out about coffee and other stuff (anything from cameras to vintage Rolexes). The menu is simple and straight forward, with beans selection rotating daily -- hence, Revolver. Solid pour-over bar, well-executed, picture-perfect espresso-based bevies too. But this is not the place to order a skinny, two pumps vanilla, one pump hazelnut, caramel macchiato - if that’s even a thing lolz. 

11:30 a.m - Snack and fresh flowers at The Birds & The Beets.

By snack, I mean, a freshly sliced of pillowy yet perfectly crusty sourdough with butter and sea salt - as simple as that. Or do the one with their house-made preserves if you’re fancy. Should you need another jolt of caffeine, their coffee is pretty damn good too. Pick up some fresh flowers on your way out too. ALSO, come back later at night when this cute coffee shop turns into Juicebar,  a natural wine bar where all the cool kids hang out and drink magnums of pet-nat all night.

12:30 p.m - Deep-fried everything tacos at Tacofino Gastown.

It’s problematic how addicting the crispy chicken tacos at Tacofino can be. I’ve had my days when all I ate was variations of this crispy chicken taco: as a burrito, as a ‘salad’ bowl, as a taco again, and repeat. Juicy tender chicken,  pickled veggies, epazote chimichurri, drizzled with buttermilk chili crema - mouthwatering. Their fish tacos are also delicious, it’s, as a matter of fact, their claim to fame, nuff said. You can’t also say no to their nachos, with a glass (or pitcher) of margs, obvs.

2 p.m - Stroll and shop through Gastown.

Drooling over luscious house-plants and Japanese cookware at Old Faithful Shop, selecting new fragrances at Le Labo, I also might as well pick up body balm at Aesop. Oh, and of course, stopping by Roden Gray to see some Thom Browne.

4 p.m - Spritz o’clock at Di Beppe.

Get a table at the cafe to people-watch while drinking bottled, branded Aperol Spritz. It’s an afternoon well spent, you gotta wait til’ 5:30 for happy hour anyways ;)

5:30 p.m - Happy Hour at L’abattoir.

L’abattoir, hands down, has one of the most beautiful bars in the city, with one of the strongest beverage programs too. The cocktails, both original and classic, are always crafted with such passion and precision. The Avocado Gimlet particularly is now a L’abattoir and a Vancouver classic: bright, boozy and herbaceous. Their wine list is a fun one to explore. Whether you’re feeling playful and adventurous, or classic and familiar, the team will find the wine for you. Their happy hour is probably my favorite one in the city: short but sweet. Make sure you make it there 5:30 on the dot to score the highly coveted bar seat (find me in the corner of the bar). You MUST order their iconic baked Pacific oysters, covered in a mountain of foamy truffle-garlic butter. Oh! and the pan-fried sweetbreads on toast is unforgettably delicious. L’abbatoir Dine Out menu can be found here.

7 p.m - Dinner at PiDGin.

One of a few restaurants in Vancouver that figured out how to perfectly marry the east and the west. An Asian-inspired menu, by the way of French cooking, using the freshest ingredients from the Pacific North West. Every dish is always a burst of flavours: rich and indulging without being pretentious. The umami-filled Foie Gras rice bowl is one of the most drool-worthy dishes. So uniquely, and iconically Pidgin. It’s a dish that has stood the test of time and has been there since the restaurant opened its’ doors six years ago now. Their beverage program is also focused on showcasing Asian spirits and flavours: numerous Japanese whisky, craft cocktails, and an impressive sake library. Explore Pidgin six-course Dine Out menu here.

10:30 p.m - Nightcap at Botanist.

I’ve talked about Botanist a lot, and I mean, a lot. While they’re still relatively new, they managed to sky-rocket their way to the top of the restaurant scene. With their award-winning bar team and innovative bar menu, it’s no surprise that Botanist is one of the best bars in the country. Sitting at the bar, sipping Botanist martini, while geeking out about cocktails and spirits is always a fun way to end the night. Botanist martini is an ideal nightcap: boozy, velvety, and obviously tasty. It’s like a vesper that gets an elegant Fairmont makeover, with a Pacific North West influence. This year, Botanist is hosting a Punch Brunch as part of Dine Out Vancouver AND to kick off Vancouver Cocktail Week next year. So exciting!

Day 2

10 a.m - Breakfast at Nemesis.

A hip and happening coffee shop with an impressive brunch menu and delectable baked goods. Of course, the coffee is stellar, and the space is beautiful with bright lights streaming through the windows. Their brunch and pastries, however, have been stealing the show for quite some time now. If you’re in Gastown, the cauliflower hash and the steak and egg are essential. If you happen to be across the bridge, the burrata and scrambled eggs on croissant loaf and is to-die-for. Not to forget their dreamy, kinda fancy croissants (think about Reuben sandwich, strawberry cheesecake in the form of croissant kind of fancy). Oh, and both of their cookies: the insanely luscious classic chocolate chip and the updated ferrero-esque cookie sandwich are worth crossing the bridge for.

12.30 p.m - Aburi lunch at Miku.

If there’s that one place I usually take visitors for the sake of impressing them, it’s Miku. It’s probably one of the most well-known Vancouver restaurants that even Beyonce was spotted dining there. The menu is unique. The world-famous aburi sushi is iconic. And the seafood? It doesn’t get any fresher than what Miku offers. Let’s not forget the multi-million dollar waterfront view, overlooking the harbour and North Vancouver. Their sister restaurant Minami is doing a Dine Out Lunch special too, by the way.

2:30 p.m - Nap.

It’s absolutely necessary.

5:30 p.m - Dinner at Como Taperia.

Oh what an exciting time when Como finally opened its’ doors in Mount Pleasant last year! The premise? A no-fuss-no-muss Spanish tapas restaurant with vibrant food, fabulous Gin and Tonics, and unbeatable conservas list. The room has been buzzing with people since day one - until recently they placed second on Enroute Magazine Best new restaurant. Even more people are now trying to get in to Como. The foie burger is simply a must, and so is the crispy eggplant, drizzled with honey. The oxtail, pepper and frites is so tenderly delicious. They’re also doing fun happy hour starting at 4, offering free tapas- just like they do in Spain. Drink the El Bandarra vermut on tap while munching on the tapa, or make sure to check out their daily tortilla feature.

8 p.m - Cocktails at Hawksworth’s Bar.

Hawksworth is probably as swanky as a Vancouver restaurant can get. While the dining room is very much upscale and can be intimidating, the cocktail bar is lively and chic. Again, get a spot at the bar and start with the Hotel Georgia Cocktail: bright, juicy and refreshing, inspired by the historic hotel itself. If you’re feeling extra fancy, they have a ‘from the vault’ menu that features classic cocktails made with vintage, extremely rare spirits.

10:30 p.m - A burger and nightcap at Pourhouse.

Located in the charming water street, Pourhouse is a cocktail bar nestled in one of Gastown’s historic buildings. The room itself is very old-school America in the prohibition era - luxurious, charming and welcoming. The menu is fairly simple but everything is well-executed. The Pourhouse burger is particularly memorable. I’ve vouched for this burger as the best one in town over and over again - no, I don’t want to argue with anyone on this. Classic cocktails are always crafted so meticulously here: Manhattan, Boulevardier, or a cognac Sazerac. You can’t go wrong with any (or all) of them. Their Dine Out menu this year is outstanding and really showcase what the team can do in the kitchen.

Well, that’s one hell of a list for y’all. I surely hope this helps with planning your delicious next trip to Vancouver! 

Discover the full list of restaurants participating in this year’s Dine Out Vancouver Festival here!

See y’all in the 604 soon!

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… game on … thom browne football 2019. ph:  thomas mccarty + daniel arnold + cass bird + emma louise swanson

[viranlly]

Just like everyone who watch countless episodes of Sex and The City and Gossip Girl, I love the idea of brunch. Getting all glammed up with your three girlfriends (Yes, it has to be the 4 of us in our iconic looks, always) at 11AM on a Sunday, ready to wash down the martini hangover with a bottle of Ruinart is my preferred way to finish off a weekend of partying with the cast of the Avengers.

Brunch in Vancouver is a totally different story. There’s no satin Dries Van Noten jacket in sight, a pair of extremely cropped Thom Browne pants? Ya, forget about those too. It’s the land of lousy sweatshirts, sad puffer jackets and stretchy leggings, waiting in line for hours, in the rain, for a sub-par, overcooked eggs Benedict and overly starchy potatoes. 

Drinking at brunch in Vancouver is also somehow a taboo. If you decide to drink kombucha and a glass of fourteen dollar cold-pressed juice, it’s your call and I’m happy for you. I, on the other hand, have the right to life, liberty, and the third mimosa –maybe fourth.

In short, I have lost faith in brunch-ing in Vancouver. 

Until recently, I heard the news that Botanist is bringing back boozy brunch – a bougie, boozy brunch too if I may add. Start the meal with a glass of bubbly (appropriate-duh!), and pick a course from the ‘Morning Stretch’ section - relatively smaller bites to get the appetite going. Can never go wrong with the hand-cut beef tartare (smoked yolk, parm foam, caper berries and sourdough) but if it’s too early for something raw (is it ever?), the streusel-y cinnamon-y pancakes (with cream cheese glaze I can’t get enough of) and caramelized banana french toasts are there too.

To accompany those dishes, the star-studded bar team at Botanist also has come up with a series of brunch punch. What’s better than chai tea in the morning? Rum and brandy spiked chai tea! For the same reason why rye-spiked cranberry juice is better than plain cranberry juice.

Once you’re up with a little buzz, the second wave of food should be coming your way. The veal ragu with the house-made spaghettoni is delicious if you’re particularly hungry that morning. The wild mushroom risotto with piave (I just love saying the word piave, thanks Claire!), prosciutto and poached egg will also do the trick. OH! Botanist Benedict goes really well with the second glass of bubbly, by the way.

The $62 boozy, bougie brunch (two drinks, two course) might get a little heavy ( I had to skip dinner heavy) by the end of it, but everything on the menu is available a la carte - so you can pick and choose your own adventure if you will. Save this for special occasions, like Botanist-just-launched-boozy-brunch kind of occasion. 

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I love New York. I love drinking. I abso-fuck*n-lutely love drinking in New York. I love it so much I went to New York just to drink - caution: this trip is not, and I repeat, not for everybody. I mean, what’s not to love about drinking in New York?! The endless supply of bars; the attractive, charming and talented bar staffs, and let’s not forget the beyond delicious libations they serve up ‘til 3 (even 4) AM on a Monday - astounding, especially when you come from a small town where last call is 12.45, if you’re lucky. Before our trip, we agreed on the ‘one-drink-one-bar-rule’ - a rule that we slowly abandoned as the night progressed. After what felt like a 12 hour commute from YVR, I arrived in Penn Station, starved and parched. A quick change and a touch up later, I finally made it to dinner at WildAir: a hip, trendy, wine-focused Lower East Side restaurant from the boys who opened the Michelin-starred Contra. The food menu is a fairly simple: tartare, mushrooms, clams, and allegedly out-of-this-world fried squid. The wine list, on the other hand, is extensive and edgy. If you’re into the whole natural, skin-contact wine situation like we are, you’ll probably see us there again with a bottle of Susucaru, snacking on some fried squid. A couple blocks down from Wildair, is Bar Goto. A cozy Japanese bar with a MOOD AF lighting, brought to you by Kenta Goto, a Pegu club alumn. The man himself made me a plum Sazerac the last time I was in. It easily became one of those cocktails you crave over and over again. So naturally, I got one, and another one for good measure. The whisky finally kicked in. With a little buzz and a much better mood, we made it to Death and Company and put our name on the list. Wait time was about an hour and 30 mins, enough for a cocktail or two at Angel’s Share – or so we thought. It’s another 45 mins wait for us, but luckily, they have a sister bar next door that’s much less crowded, a little brighter, and slightly more peaceful. Our new friend Ryan, who’s bartending that night made me a ‘Bewitched’, a riff on Old Fashioned with grilled and spiced truffle-infused whisky, cognac, Kokuto syrup, bitters and Kaffir lime leaf. It’s as decadent as it sounds. Stunning mixture of flavour, texture, and aroma on each indulgent sip. It was on point. It’s finally time for us to get to Death and Co. Their Manhattan’s been calling my name since September last year. Everything about Death and Co’s Manhattan is perfect: the bourbon, the vermouth, the ratio, the temperature, just everything. Say what you want (I actually got into an argument on this) but this, is the best Manhattan in Manhattan. The night spiralled down the rabbit hole after the next drink, a Boulevardier - I remember we had two more cocktails there, but I can’t, for the sake of me, remember what they were. I know there was gin, somewhere, somehow. I won’t bore you with the details of our challenging journey home so let’s skip to the morning after - two bottles of Pedialyte, two advils, and a hot shower later. Our mind was focused on a bougie-ish scrambled eggs and caviar at Buvette, and so was the whole West Village apparently. “50 minutes” - the cute European host said. Other people would typically take this time to walk around, maybe get an oat-mylk latte and a croissant. Since we’re no ordinary people, and it just so happened that their sister bar ‘Pisellino’ just opened down the street (what a coincidence), we kinda had to stop by for a drink. It’s 1145, and in front of me was a full, frosty glass (and a mini carafe) of dry martini with olive and twist on the side. What a perfect West Village morning: sunny, breezy, and boozy. By the time we sat down for breakfast, I was a little buzzed, again. But nothing a plate fluffy scrambled eggs and caviar, waffle with berry compotes, croque madame, and another bottle of bubbly rosé can’t fix. We then spent the afternoon roaming around Soho, shopping for all the things we convinced ourselves we desperately needed - Hello new Thom Browne fragrance! It’s a quarter to eight, we were dressed to the nines, ready for a 10/10 night out in New York City. Our plan to have a chic pre-dinner cocktail at Polo Bar was cancelled because someone (aka me) forgot to call and make a reso, and it was packed there. We had to settle for the King Cole Bar across the street where the drinks were meh and the price tag was awfully expensive (no more $25, bland, overly spicy Red Snapper for us) - I went in purely to relive my Andy Sachs’ Harry Potter unpublished manuscript moment and nothing more. Dinner tonight was at the hyped up Korean steakhouse Cote in Flatiron. The one Michelin-starred restaurant is all about high quality meat, delectable side dishes, and impressive wine list (Their beverage director is such a star!). Here’s the thing, if you can make a hanger steak taste so succulently delicious, you’re doing something right. That’s exactly what they do at Cote. The steak (aside from the Galbi) is prepared in the simplest fashion: heat and salt, no marinade, no spices, no nothing - it was perfect. The service was impeccable, the timing of each dish was flawless. With a tummy filled with steak, scallion salad, and rice, we decided to walk our way back to the West Village - seemed crazy far, but at that point, it was necessary. We made it to Dante, who recently crowned #1 bar in the world, so naturally it was very busy. The apero-focused bar is famous for their ‘Negroni Sessions’, which is impressive and can be adventurous. From the most classic, to the most unexpected variation with tequila, banana and pineapple shrub, they do it, and they do it well. If you’re in the mood to splurge (we weren’t lol), their vintage martini is absolutely worth the $65 price tag (the Plymouth gin from ‘60s alone is drool-worthy). I, decided to go for the Olivette: a savoury, brine-y, less serious cousin of the vesper. We then visited Katana Kitten. Another bar in the village that scored a spot in this year’s 50 Best Bars, number 14 to be exact. It’s a fun (the owner Masahiro Urushido is also quite a legend), non pretentious neighbourhood bar with playful and whimsical cocktails. I obviously started with a Hinoki martini, yet another variation of the vesper, while Handika was having a slushy, boozy, crushed-icy ‘dessert’ (didn’t count as a drink, apparently). It was difficult to have just one drink here: would you skip on a yuzu-sisho daiquiri? how about a genever-based negroni with umeshu? or a calpico swizzle? Ya I don’t think so either. We had one of each, plus a another sisho G&T, and the classic highball. YOLO. For the sake of settling our argument on the best Manhattan in Manhattan, I invited Doris to join us at Employees Only across the street from Katana Kitten, conveniently. By the time we saw each other, my Manhattan was gone, and I was drinking a Monkey 47 martini yet again. That’s about all I can recall from that night. Oh wait, there was a tequila shot and another Manhattan - the end. Monday morning - not enough Pedialyte, water nor Advil in the world to bring me back to life. I, somehow, managed to meet Patrick for coffee, had a bite of a mushroom toast, and stayed alive. I made it back to the hotel just in time for a much-needed nap before check out and a trip to Williamsburg for lunch. It was rough. I kept telling myself another lie of “I’m never drinking again” for the 30 minute subway ride to Peter Luger. Peter Luger is a classic: steak (yes, another one), burger, with a side of onion, tomatoes, and fries. We then gathered enough energy to get to DUMBO for a picture of two (hundreds) before saying goodbye to each other - sad. I zipped back downtown for a meeting. A VERY EXCITING MEETING. I got the pleasure to visit the Bon Appetit test kitchen, thanks for the my lovely host Chris Morocco (Yes - we’re friends now HA!). it’s only appropriate that I wore my ‘Thirsty for Andy’ t-shirt - Andy was there, and we obvs. bonded over my OOTD. Claire was doing her ‘Gourmet Makes’, Carla was there, Molly too, Oh I also got to meet Alex Delany and Em Scultz too. It’s a casual Monday afternoon at BA test kitchen. It’s now cocktail hour and the one man I got to meet this time was the man everyone needs in their life: mister Steven Huynh himself. An instagram-turned-real-life-friend that I’ve known for 7 years. We met for the first time that night and we got along over dry martini-inspired cocktails and crudité at Thomas Keller’s TAK room (in the Hudson Yards). Sitting at the bar at TAK room feels luxurious but not intimidating. The bar team was friendly, interactive, and passionate about amaro. They even took us downstairs to check out the vintage amaro collections at their speakeasy, Bookbinder. After a snack break, we visited David Chang’s new restaurant Kawi downstairs. Steven had a pineapple rum daiquiri, I, had a ‘New Fashioned’ - a play of the classic Old Fashioned with coconut-washed Japanese whisky, sencha and bitters. It was delicious. The buzz is back on, and I felt so much better (HA!). Our next stop was The Nomad Hotel - our absolute favorite. We felt like we’re home right away, especially after a delicious Monkey 47 martini (Nobody’s counting, right?). Zanib joined us later that night for a negroni, and of course, I had to refresh my almost empty drink. Another friend Erik joined us for one more drink. Things started to get blurry real quick, I recall there was a Manhattan, a Brooklyn, a rum cocktail of some sort, fried chicken, and a Macallan 12 at one point before we’re back in the car for a nightcap at Blacktail. A tiki-focused sister bar of Dead Rabbit. We’re welcomed by a pink slushy daiquiri, and the bartender made me a delicious, stirred rum cocktail to sip on - don’t ask what it’s called. I finally tapped out and made my way back to Brooklyn. With close to zero voice, I got to Newark and flew back to Vancouver via. Denver - yes, I made a stop to Death and Co for a Sazerac-esque cocktail called the Uncanny Valley and a lobster ceviche. Here I am two weeks later, still recovering from the worst sore throat of my life, slowly getting my voice back (still can’t hit Mariah’s note tho :s). Will I do it again? ABSOLUTELY! Thanks for the amazing time New York - until next time!

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[viranlly]

I hopped off the plane on LAX with my appetite and my chambray short-suit. The weather this time in the City of Angels was, to my surprise, bearable (knowing it’s the end of August and I’m a seasoned complainer about the heat). After a two hour something flight from Bellingham (thanks Allegiant!), we cruised through the also surprisingly smooth LA traffic to DTLA.

Our crib for the week was shiny and new, ultra-chic, with multi-million dollar view of Downtown Los Angeles. LEVEL furnished living is not only strategically located in the heart of DTLA, it’s equipped with amazing amenities (pool, outdoor theatre, spacious gym with its own room for Peloton - yes, I worked out during this trip), and did I mention the view from our 29th-floor suite was spectacular?! What made this stay particularly memorable tho,was the level of hospitality we received from their all-star team: impeccable with personalities bubblier than a chilled grapefruit LaCroix!

My memory of DTLA only goes as far as a mid-May pool party on top of the ACE hotel. But this time, I really got to explore the hood - and it was lovely. Of course there are those quintessential Los Angeles institutions (HA!): celebrity Whole Foods, Sweetgreens, and Bottega Louie but I obvs. skipped the healthy-ish stuff and went straight to the important ones. Cocktail bars - surprise!

On our first night, however, I was in the mood for wine. Natural wine. Upon a little research, we stumbled upon Garçons de Café, a rustic-chic French wine bar with sizeable library of vino that includes several bottles of skin-contact and natural wines. A glass of Le p’tit Barriot Syrah was poured to start the evening: full-ish body, bursts of floral and stone-fruit with just the right amount of tannin and spices too. It would’ve been a perfect serenade-me-to-bed kind of wine but nonetheless it was delicious even to start the evening.

Before I ran out of battery, we made it to the Nomad Los Angeles and caught a second wind. The DTLA chapter offers the classic Nomad feels: luscious, velvety, old-school bank-turned-to-hotel with a touch of California sunshine. Colours, textures and prints fill the lobby bar. Photogenic and poetic. Serving up the classics from the NYC counterpart, original, some large format (cocktails for 2), and even larger format (for 3-4,‘depending on your tolerance’ they said) libations, it’s one of those places to see and be seen, to drink and to be (day) drunk. Bonus point for the attractive staffs HA!

I had to come back to the ACE just to relive my youth one more time. Surrounding myself with hype kids, who, most likely would have released more than one EPs in their early 20s, it was adorable. It terms of the menu, It was more a tequila soda with a side of overpriced cold-pressed juice for me.

Conveniently located behind our apartment, is the Broken Shaker. A rooftop pool bar with bumpin’ music and killer tiki cocktails. Fun, colourful, rum and tequila-focused menu with late-night bar bites, it’s a perfect place for a nightcap, especially when you live literally steps away!

DTLA’s sunshine, full-blast air conditioning and fluffy pillows somehow made my hangover less dreadful and more manageable. I had two options: go downstairs and check out the smoothie bar, or go downstairs, turn the corner and get shake shack. I feel like this was an obvious choice when one is in LA, but you never know, cause a lady never shack and tell 😏.

We spent the afternoon exploring the jewelry district as we made our way to the Grand Central Market. A food-enthusiast Mecca with tons of vendors that are uniquely DTLA: from eggslut to oyster bar, Filipino-inspired rice bowls to cold-pressed juice and tacos (obvs), everything is available in one, huge-ass foodhall.

Right across the street from GCM, is the staircase that leads you to the other side of DTLA. The financial district (I assume), the Broad and the Walt Disney Concert Hall. This hike (yes, I considered this steps a hike) took my breath away, literally. My out-of-breath self rejoiced when I saw the Kogi truck waiting for us at the top - worth every step. Naturally, we made a pit-stop for the infamous short rib tacos, which, hit the spot.

*intermission* We went to the Broad, saw some Basquiat and Murakami, took photos of some Koons, almost saw Kusama yada yada yada skipped the Runyon and took nap...*

Fast forward to dinner time!

Honestly one of the things that I am most excited about during this trip was our dinner at Petit Trois. The middle sister restaurant from the award-winning, celebrity chef Ludo Lefebvre (who’s also behind Trois Mec and Ludo Bird). Offering classic French cuisine meets Los Angeles strip-malls. Juxtaposition at its finest and most delicious form.

The 35-seater restaurant is bustling with people coming in and out, basting in the aroma of butter and fresh-baked bagutte. J’ador - Je’ very hungry!

Both the cocktail and wine list are well-curated to accompany the Parisian bistro-style food menu. No fuzz no muss. Tartare de boeuf, escargot that’s bathed in butter and garlic (extra baguette), steak frites, perfectly fluffy, shiny and spotless French omelette of my dream, and I cannot stress how bummed I was that we didn’t order the burger. Tres bien, parfait!

This evening turned into a whirlwind of tequila sodas and bar hopping along WeHo that I honestly can’t really recall the deets 😏 but it was the perfect Friday night, thanks to my lovely companion ❤️

I started the last day in LA with a pleasant surprise. My hangover was a no show - honestly, at this age, this is a big win. I hopped on a uber to the art district for a cute coffee meeting with an old friend Blake and his lovely wife Ashley at the newly opened Verve coffee. The property is HUGE, it might as well be a mall. They also take my morning coffee experience to the next level with their “cocktail” menu: no booze just buzz. It was very fascinating and exciting - exactly what we need back here in Vancouver.

We spent the last couple hours wandering around Abbott Kinney and Venice beach. My goodness the people here are too pretty for their own sake. Jeremy even insisted to go to muscle beach for a little pull-up session. I was just there, sipping my CBD-infused lemonade, sticking out like the sore thumb - it was hysterical.

A hop, skip and an hour nap later, I came back to Nomad for one last cocktail. Still hoping for a meet-cute with a good looking, well-dressed, fresh out of Hollywood star to happen. It did not happen.

I took my hungry self to KazuNori, the original handroll sushi bar, just couple blocks away from the Nomad. The yellowtail and the scallop were particularly stellar that night - and the sea bass sashimi was also a big winner. I don’t know if it’s an LA thing or whatever, but the couple next to me shared six pieces of handrolls. I successfully stuffed 12 rolls to myself. Oh well - it was f*ckin delicious.

With three hours of sleep, I gathered myself and started packing. We watched the sunrise on the way to LAX, half alive but fully grateful.

I absolutely can’t wait to go back to LA. I mean, I didn’t get a chance to eat KBBQ this time... so Elay, I’ll be back!

Thanks again to Allegiant! for the fabulous flight and LEVEL furnished living for the hospitality!

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[viranlly]

Ain’t no party like a paella party!

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Spicy Sweet Sambal Pork Noodle

via. Bon Appetit

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