Category: Blog (Page 14 of 30)

Cruisin’ Together: Successfully Budgeting Your Cruise

December 7, 2010 / / 0 Comments

by Chris Owen

At some point, most of us have made the ultimate faux pas of accidentally leaving the wallet at home. There is nothing quite like the sinking feeling that you get as you reach into your back-pocket (or purse) and realize that all those groceries in your cart will have to be returned to their shelves by the miserable-looking teen-aged bag-boy.

Well, I hate to break it to you, but you will have that same “sinking feeling” if you don’t properly budget for a cruise. Although cruise packages are a great deal, people tend to forget about all the things that go along with vacationing like cocktails, souvenirs, tours, etc. This is why I’m going to help you evaluate your vacation-spending habits and figure out just how fat your wallet should be when you board the ship.

While your cruise vacation is semi-all-inclusive (about 70% is covered in your cruise fare), off-the-ship activities, souvenirs, spa treatments, cocktails, and gambling are expenses you’ll want to plan for. You can go on a cruise and spend absolutely nothing extra on yourself; however, I strongly encourage you to have few bucks handy to tip the crew at the end.

So let’s begin the break-down:

An adult who drinks moderately, will want to go on a shore excursion, gambles a little bit, and wants to take advantage of some of the other premium services onboard should budget about $100 per day. Heavy drinkers, spa fanatics, obsessive internet users, and compulsive shoppers should budget a bit (or quite a bit) more.

Non-drinkers who like to spend the day relaxing on deck or on a beach within walking distance of the ship while it is in port and don’t have a lot of need for commemorative refrigerator magnets could get away with about $50 per day.

How did I figure this out? Let’s take a look at a typical day at sea/no port of call:

Begin by assuming $10 per day for gratuities. These will automatically be added to your account. You decide to have a beer while sun-bathing on deck ($5.00/drink). Before you know it, that one beer has turned into three and you’re out $15 (plus those gratuity charges, so $25). You check your email and make your Facebook friends jealous for a few minutes, and 20 minutes later, you’ve spent $7 more (35 cents/minute). A spa treatment seems like the logical next step on a lazy day! You decide to get your nails done–$20. On the way back to your room to change for dinner, you nab a  souvenir from the gift shop for the neighbor who’s watering your plants– $10. Gambling seems like a good night-cap, so you play some slots before turning in for the night–$20. But wait–all that gambling made you hungry again! You give room service a call and tip your attendant $2 for the delivery of your midnight snack. This fun-filled day leaves an $84 dent in your cash-supply. 

To be safe, it’s a good idea to leave “wiggle-room” for an extra souvenir or a pedicure to go with that manicure, so I think it’s fair to say $100 per person per day is a good estimate if your vacation routine is anything like the one I have depicted.

My point is that your on-board wad is really going to depend on what you do. If you’re content with a very low-key vacation, you could get away with just paying the tips at the end of the cruise. I wouldn’t though; it’s your vacation! It’s the small indulgences that make it memorable.

For some (me included), it’s easy to accrue a large shipboard account bill. I forget that the “all-inclusive” idea of a cruise package does not in fact include everything I desire on a vacation—and it’s a good thing! This focuses the cost-burden of the extra services only on those who use them, keeping packages reasonably priced for everyone.

If you’re still having a difficult time determining your personal budget, enlist the help of a travel agent or professional like myself. I can help you make a better estimate just by asking a few questions. It’s fun to find out how close (or not) I was when people return from their vacations.

Finally, I’ll leave you with one quick tip regarding onboard souvenir purchases: Go to the gift shop on the first day of your cruise and buy anything and everything you intend to purchase while on the ship. This will ensure that you get what you want in the correct sizes and colors. There are no FedEx deliveries via Coast Guard after that ship sets sail. When it’s out of an item, it’s out for the rest of the trip.

About Chris Owen

Chris Owen is a travel writer, blogger and agent from Orlando Florida charged with sharing frank, inside information on cruise vacations with travelers.  A graduate of Washburn University in Topeka Kansas, Chris moved to Florida after successful careers in the restaurant and newspaper business to focus singly on travel with a concentration on cruise vacations.  Certified a Master Cruise Counselor by the Cruise Lines International Association, Chris can be found via his popular cruise vacations column on Examiner.com, through his blog, ChrisCruises.net and on his long-running cruise information website, YourCruiseDream.com. 

Email Chris: Chris@YourCruiseDream.com

 

 

 

Eww Du Partie

December 3, 2010 / / 0 Comments

The holiday season is rife with nostalgia. It’s a time to remember loved ones who have moved on to greener pastures, holidays-past, and, in my case, “partying”-past. I remember one of the many times my folks came to pick me up from college for some sort of break. If you went to college, you certainly recall those “hurray-finals-are-over/pre-home-for-the-holidays” soirees that occurred throughout the dorms, frats, and dilapidated student-houses for about 3 weeks prior to departure. Ah, youth!

I’m not sure whether to blame it on weak laundry detergent or our temporarily elevated BACs from weeks of celebration, but on one of those parent pick-ups, we loaded our gear in the trunk and jumped in the car only to be greeted with “Wow, you two smell like old party.” What does this have to do with the price of eggs? Well, this morning I jumped in my car and smelled “old party”. Intrigued? I thought so.

What might be the source of this aroma you ask? Well, intern entourage-member, Abbie, and I went to Skye Wednesday night, and although my bar-tab featured just 1 Grey Goose and a few glasses of wine, apparently my lymphatic system felt it necessary to…well, do whatever it is that a lymphatic system does…via my pores. Needless to say, it brought college-memories of antics and inebriation flooding back.

I have no intention of regaling you with stories of my youth, but I must tell you that I felt pretty special sipping my martini (from a real glass—not a plastic cup) as Chef Scottie Tompkins of Skye regaled me with stories of his youth. College, keggers and frat parties don’t hold a candle to full-blown culinary apprenticeships and the ‘situations’ these boys and girls got into. The years they’ve spent building skill, knowledge, and memories could fill several volumes – pictures not included.

Scottie is one of those big, kind-of-scary Chefs, who isn’t really scary at all—that is, unless you’re a rattle snake (or Len Rueben) and he’s got a cleaver. (apparently there are pictures of this). His favorite food is pizza and when asked about the highlights of his career, Scottie says it’s the “Thank You”(s) from former interns and employees that make it all worthwhile.

Chef Tompkins has been at this business for a long time and most certainly knows his stuff. Skye is a little star in Peoria and has a vibe that is in short supply in the food and club scene: Think big band-era hits a really cool, hip Parisian bar. Supper club with added zip comes to mind, as well. Who doesn’t love a joint with great cocktails, an awesome Happy Hour and a piano bar?

We were having so much fun talking that the only thing we ate were a few macaroni bites and a shrimp or two. While tasty, it apparently wasn’t quite enough to soak up the vodka/wine combo, but I’ll tell you what – I’ll endure “odeur du old partie” anytime as long as I get to sit and swap tales with the likes of Scottie Tompkins. Thanks, Chef!!

On the Road the with Ray: Regional Sights and Bites

November 23, 2010 / / 0 Comments

by Ray Pearson

This Stop: The Copper Queen Hotel, Bisbee, AZ

I love road tripping and a recent drive from Flagstaff to Bisbee reaffirmed my nomadic yearnings. Like a rolling postcard from the 1950’s, the 450 miles from Northern to Southeastern Arizona, was fueled by the soundtrack I designed to maintain the illusion of simpler times.

 

Tourist attractions ranging from bustling and prosperous to lonely and deserted dotted the I-10. Small towns with evocative names like Two Guns, Punkin Center, Snowflake, and Tonto Basin give way to magnificent scenery of the Salt River Canyon cutting through the Apache Mountains, as I continued southward.

Comfort and Kitsch: Cement Teepees

After several hours on the road experiencing the diverse landscape of Arizona, I arrived in Bisbee. This historic mining town saw its heyday in the early 1900s when it was the largest city between St. Louis and San Francisco. Today, it is a popular pit-stop for travelers because it is the southern-most mile-high city in the United States, and only about eleven miles from the Mexican border.

Clouds Outside of Douglas, AZ

My room at the Copper Queen Hotel was furnished with antiques, had a nice view of the downtown area, but unfortunately, had a distinct cigar smoke odor. An avid non-smoker, I requested a change of room and was relocated to The John Wayne Room where the actor always stayed whenever he was in the area for filming. As I waited for dinner, I had the chance to chat with the staff and learned that ghosts inhabit the Copper Queen. One of them that they mentioned was “Howard”, an older, tall, bearded gentleman with longish hair,  and is sometimes seen wearing a black cape and dapper top hat. Imagine the eerie feeling that washed over me when I found out that he is usually accompanied by a strong cigar smoke smell! This tidbit was certainly a “dear diary” moment!

The John Wayne Room

The Ghosts of the Copper Queen Hotel is a collection of paranormal experiences by guests of the hotel spanning nearly a decade, from 1999 through 2008. I bought a copy of the book and scanned it before dinner. I learned there are two other ghosts frequently spotted wandering the halls of the hotel: a young boy, thought to have drowned in a nearby river, and a “working girl” that killed herself after being spurned by a regular customer. Surely it wasn’t the best pre-meal reading I could have done, but it was certainly entertaining.

Finally, it was time to see what wonderful bites the Copper Queen had to offer. I ordered a superbly grilled rib-eye steak, which was as juicy as gossip. The accompanying port wine reduction and mushrooms added to the succulence of the dish. The reduction was complex and flavorful—a clear indication of the high quality of the Port, while the mushrooms complimented the meat with their mellow earthiness. I was so impressed with my entrée that I had to see a dessert menu.  The bread pudding topped with a dusting of brown sugar, caramel sauce, and a full-bodied raspberry reduction caught my eye and pleased my palate.

A short walk around the steep streets of Bisbee put me in the right state for a solid night’s sleep in preparation for tomorrow’s tour of the Queen Mine. Of course, I figured one last stop at the hotel saloon couldn’t hurt either, so I bellied up to the bar for a little historical gossip and a night-cap. The discussion turned to the significance of the large painting over the bar. As it turned out, what I assumed was off-the-shelf saloon art, was actually a century-old, nearly life size, portrait of Lillie Langtry. The British stage-actress was popular around the turn of the century, when the Copper Queen was built, and legend (such a nicer word than gossip) has it that in addition to being the love interest of Edward, Prince of Wales, later to be King Edward VII, she was the lady love of Judge Roy Bean. Although they never met, the Judge named not only his saloon, but the town of Langtry, TX in her honor.

 

The Copper Queen Hotel Saloon

From the remarkably well-stocked bar, I chose to end a wonderful day with a couple of gin and tonics, in honor of Lillie Langtry. Here’s to you, Lillie.

Please join me at the next stop: San Antonio, Texas.

 

About Ray

Ray is a nationally recognized single malt Scotch expert. He recently retired after 16 years within the spirits industry, including four as Glenfiddich U.S. Ambassador. Ray currently presents educational whisky seminars and tastings for corporate events, destination management companies, and national whisky shows. He is a photographer and member of the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association.

For more articles from Ray, you can visit his blog:

whiskymeister.wordpress.com

And of course check out all of his Whisky 101 articles right here at intotheSoup.com.

Dining on a Dime: The Living Room in Chandler

November 19, 2010 / / 0 Comments

For our most recent DOD, we decided to switch up our lunch routine a bit and give happy hour a chance! Our inspiration for our selection this month actually came from our experience at TASTE Chandler a few weeks ago. There we were, wandering around the VIP tent during a torrential downpour, when we noticed a sample table that was staffed by some seriously hot dudes. We grabbed a business card and vowed to make an appearance for the great happy hour these gentlemen were boasting.

Fast-forward to a few weeks later: We finally met up for our “date” at The Living Room in Chandler. As we approached the building in the waning light of the late-afternoon sun, the bright-orange curtains made the funky joint look as though it was on fire. Inside, we were greeted by comfy-looking couches, a shelf stocked with board games, and other homey touches that made us feel as if all of our driving was for naught, and we were back at home—that is, if a bunch of unfamiliar people just happened to show up in our homes with martinis and glasses of wine.

The lively crowd noshed on snacks and enjoyed the crisp, November breeze that was blowing in through the huge, open doorways (we realized later these were actually garage doors! Pretty cool, huh?) It also happened to be a friendly crowd, because as soon as we sat down and busted out our sweaters, a man approached our table offering us jackets from the other guys in his party. We politely declined because we weren’t sure if he was being chivalrous or creepy.  Either way, that’s an offer you don’t get every day!

Always looking for a deal, we did a little research on The Living Room’s happy hour before actually making our way out to the farms and fields of Chandler. A brief search on the trusty internet revealed $5 martinis and very affordable appetizers, so we knew it would be worth the travel-time.  The ever-adventurous Julie, ordered the root beer martini, which tasted like a grown-up root beer float–YUM! Emily went for the new/old standard, a pomegranate martini which was refreshing and delivered her daily dose of antioxidants.

After a few sips of our martinis, we were ready for some snacks, so we decided on the antipasto board, which came with sliced prosciutto, salami, coppa ham, white cheddar, goat cheese, parmagiano-reggiano, roasted olives, and sliced Ciabatta bread. In addition to the antipasto, we ordered a couple of bruschetta plates to share. While all of the combinations looked tasty, there were two that we found particularly enticing: The first order was topped with apples, brie, fig jam, honey, and an Agave drizzle,   while the second batch consisted of Prosciutto, figs, Mascarpone cheese, and tomato jam.  As we stuffed our faces with our delicious appetizers, sipped our martinis, and chatted away, we completely lost track of time. Before we knew it, we had been there for about two hours!  I guess you could say it was a happy “couple of hours” for us, but we were definitely not alone. The traffic in the living room never seemed to slow-down. Clearly, this is Chandler’s “it” spot—a place to see, be seen, and maybe play some “Scene It” on those comfy couches.

Syrian Sweets Part 2: Beyond Baklava–Discovering Judge Judy, Hezbollah and More Sweet Surprises

November 17, 2010 / / 0 Comments

by Steven Shalowitz

Before, during and after my sight-seeing adventures in Aleppo, my guide, Maan, made sure I indulged in numerous sweet surprises, especially after visits to places like the Baron Hotel, a musty vestige of the city’s past, where Agatha Christie reportedly wrote parts of Murder on the Orient Express. Allepian specialties like Mamounieh–semolina sweetened with sugar and honey, topped with a dollop of soft sweet cheese, and drizzled with crushed pistachios and cinnamon was the type of treasure I was seeking. I once encountered this popular breakfast dish served with a side of savory string cheese to cut some sugar; it certainly made me rethink my morning oatmeal ritual.

Mammounieh

Then there was the baklava – a must have in Aleppo.  There are tremendous variations of this bite-sized treat; some were cigar-shaped and stuffed with nuts, while others took the shape of small crowns or birds’ nests with pistachios in the center.  However it shapes up, Baklava will always be one of my favorites.

 

“Bird’s Nest” Baklava

To wash it all down, street vendors supplied us with Sahlab, which is warm milk boiled with a thickening agent from orchid bulbs, and topped with a dash of cinnamon. Drinking milk in Aleppo seemed fitting since some argue the city’s name is wound in dairy lore. The Arabic name for Aleppo is Halab, and for milk, Haleeb. Some legends suggest that the city’s name is derived from Biblical Abraham who milked his cows in present-day Aleppo during his sojourn through the region.

 

Sahlab

As we nibbled our way through the vast Aleppo souk, sampling colorful nougats, pistachios, and candied almonds, we were drawn in by shopkeepers for glasses of ‘hospitality tea’ and Turkish coffee served by men dashing through with loaded trays of these hot beverages.   These pit-stops were as much about resting our tired feet as they were about hearing the “temptation price” for items like aged olive oil soap (an Allepian specialty) and other “new antique” chochkies. Of course, cross-cultural exchanges ensued as well.  One of the more memorable was with a 20-something fabric-seller who, between puffs of his nargilah (water pipe), and in a perfect American twang, told me how much he enjoys watching pirated Western films and loves Judge Judy “coz she’s a bitch”.

 

Coffee Seller in Aleppo Souk

After my stay in Aleppo I stopped at sweet shops throughout Syria to help propel me through the archeological sites of Apamea, Ugarit, Palmyra, Bosra, the city of Hama with its enormous old wooden water wheels, the imposing Crusader Castle of Krak des Chevaliers, and finally, Damascus, where Syrian hospitality was in full display, much to the detriment of my waistline.

On one occasion, I struck up a conversation with an IT specialist who wanted to practice his English on a microbus and insisted on treating me to ice cream at Bakdash, a Damascus institution in the heart of the Souq Al-Hamidiyya. Beneath the ubiquitous photo of the bearded Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, the server scooped up the café’s signature gummy-textured ice cream, rolled the vanilla wad in sliced pistachios, and served it with a smile.

 

Ice Cream in Bakdash

As my trip wound down, I realized that while the real Promised Land was just across the Golan Heights, I seemed to have found my own land of Milk & Honey, right here in Syria.

Back in New York, I can sample a variety of sweets like those enjoyed during my trip, thanks to the large Syrian contingent that now calls Brooklyn home and I plan to do just that. But first, I need to visit my dentist.

 

Halawat Al-Jibn

To see Steven’s blog, visit:  www.tastewithyoureyes.com.

Write to Steven at:  steven@stevenshalowitz.com

 

 

 

The Foodie’s Dilemma

November 12, 2010 / / 0 Comments

I have come to find that I have a unique relationship with food. It seems that it consumes me as much as I consume it. I spend much of my days reading about food, talking about food, filming, smelling, tasting, and blogging….about food, but you know something? I miss cooking it. 

Yep, you guessed ‘er chester – I’ve fallen into a rut. Playing (and working) at warp-speed every day has turned my shopping list into a mundane mix of pork chops, hamburger, whole chickens, pasta, and the occasional “Special Steak” on Friday. Don’t get me wrong here. Nobody in my house goes hungry (ask my interns and employees), but I feel bored and a little inadequate when I visit my chef-buddies on their home-turf…Keep reading and you’ll see what I mean.

There are those times when you need a little inspiration, a break, and a really good waiter. Zinc Bistro and Kevin (the really good waiter) gave me just that. God, I love that place. I can’t remember exactly how we stumbled upon it, but when I realized that the food was even better than the ambience, I was smitten. We stopped by on Sunday afternoon to rejuvenate “Happy Heidi” because I was totally jonesin’ for a cheese board, the Zinc Bistro Bouillabaisse, and that Crab Omelet with Truffle. Think mud-mask for the soul.

It wasn’t all just for me. We shared, but Sammie would only give up like two bites of her Macaroni Au Gratin ~ tight wad! And, although the kitchen was switching up from lunch to dinner (thus, a limited menu), they completely understood and appreciated my plight. Chef MaryBelle (hope I spelled that right) sent out those delicious dishes and made Heidi happy, indeed. Heartfelt thanks to Kevin, Cat, Chef and Zinc!

Okay, so back to my cooking slump…

After a day of filming (about food) with the likes of Chefs Jason Gunn (Village Coffee Roastery), Christopher Gross (Christopher’s & Crush Lounge), John Carver (Eddie V’s) and Armando de Hoyos (La Hacienda), there was no way in Hell that inspired cooking was NOT in my immediate future!  While lacking the energy to take on Coffee Rubbed Prime Rib, Sous Vide Loin of Lamb, Camarones al Chipotle, or Lobster Chowder, I thought a nice beef stew might be just the ticket.

On Wednesday night, Sammie and Dave hit the library, I turned on some tunes, poured a glass of hearty red, and went to play with my food. Shoulders dropped away from my ears, heart rate fell in sync with the sound of distant drums, and all was right with the world. The stew was gorgeous, the house smelled like heaven, and I felt really, really good.

We all feel that crunch around the dinner-hour, and the time that should be spent preparing it can be lost to the void of lackadaisicalness. Let’s make a pact, you and me, to prepare just one meal per week with heart, soul, inspiration and a really, really good glass of wine. On those other 6 days, I endorse inviting a chef to dinner or….go to Zinc Bistro!

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