Just us, luxury cabin and the Appalachian Mountain

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Dominated by the rocky terrain of Appalachian Mountain, New Hampshire is appropriately dubbed “the Granite State”. Of course, the nickname refers to both its landscape as well as its inhabitants’ independent spirit — a New Hampshire native general, while fighting the British in 1777, proclaimed “Live free or die.”

The state, which is the second most forested state in the nation, offers breathtaking foliage drives in fall, as well as an array of winter sports in winter. List of popular activities include: skiing, snowboarding, hiking, and ziplining, to name a few. Everything sounds great (pseudo bright voice), minus the fact that I am here in early April, its mud season.

Translation: there is nothing to do.

New England’s early April is an awkward time. With its still-in-the-melting process snow and temperature hovering between 35~50°F (2~8°C), all outdoor activities are out of question. Too little snow, too wet, too cold, too blah blah blah blah.

I had my heart set on ziplining and was devastated (in a lower “d” kind of way) to learn that the attraction is only available in the summer, starting mid-May. (o__o)ll

Despite minor disappointments, I’ve enjoyed my stay in New Hampshire. In fact, I loved it! Thanks to Eagle Mountain House, I got my vacation cabin escape. It was pure bliss!

Jackson, NH

Eagle Mt. House 1

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When it comes to Maine, there’s only lobster (and more lobster)

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Top reasons to visit Maine:

  1. Lobster
  2. Lobster Roll

Barnacle BillyBefore the trip even started, I have already compiled my list of Top-Five Lobster Shack. I was most determined to go to  Five Island Lobster Co. because I read that the place — perched on the edge of Sheepscot Bay, with no indoor seating,  is the quintessential lobster shack. As I read through reviews, I started imagining myself, in a cozy sweater, eating a 3lb lobster while overlooking the bay and watching the sun sets. Ah, perfect… that was, until I discovered that Five Island Lobster opens May 11. 

I was CRUSHED. While some may argue that “a lobster is a lobster, they all taste good,” I believe that there are “good lobster” and “just lobster.” In my quest for an authentic Maine-lobster-experience (and a place that is open), I landed in Barnacle Billy’s in Ogunquit.     Continue reading →

New England Road Trip #1: Boston, History and Best-Value Italian

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Boston, New England’s largest cosmopolitan city, has much to offer. First, it is rich in history. The 2.5-mile Freedom Trail that snakes through town ensures, most definitely, that you will not leave this city without getting a lesson on the American Revolution. Second, it is exciting. Home to the Boston Red Sox, you, if you are a Red Sox fan, will die for a chance to pay homage to Fenway Park. Supposedly the Red Sox got “cursed” after they traded pitcher Babe Ruth to the Yankees in 1920s. Nonetheless, the Red Sox exorcised “The Curse” by winning the World Series in 2004, and again in 2007. Third, it is refined. The city’s renowned universities and cultural institutions gain Boston the title of “the Athens of America.”

Gov Center, markets

With so much to do, what should I do? If you, like me, have only one day in Boston, consider devoting the day to Freedom Trail. Start from Boston Common, the oldest public park in the United States. Then walk to City Hall and grab lunch at adjoining Faneuil Market, which is the name given to all five buildings in this shopping complex (images, below). Lastly, finish your walk in the North End (aka Little Italy). Here, you can visit the Old North Church of “One if by land, two if by sea” as well as grab great Italian foods.

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New England Road Trip and Discovering the Much Romanticized Notion of Being “On the Road”

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Viva la road trip! The advent of automobile paired with highway building and cheap gas prices ($0.60 per gallon!) in the 50s meant greater mobility. One could travel great distance in a car compared to horse-drawn carriages.

The drive to go places, to search for something else is best exemplified by Jack Kerouac’s autobiographical On the Road, which captures the essence of the “Beat” sensibility. Despite the fact that Kerouac depicts the Beat generation as “so lonely, so sad, so tired, so quivering, so broken, so beat,” to be “on the road” is largely romanticized and the book portrays the American landscape as expansive and beautiful.

Credit: online image, busbank.com

Credit: online image, busbank.com

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Central Park, and of course Sarabeth’s pumpkin pancakes

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British writer Guy Beringer first used the word “brunch,” a portmanteau made from the words “breakfast” and “lunch,” in an 1895 essay, “Brunch: A Plea” (Punch Magazine). In it, Beringer argues that instead of a heavy, midday post-church meal of meat pies and other delicacies, people should opt for  a lighter meal, or brunch. By eating common breakfast foods like toasts, Beringer argues that brunch “puts you in a good temper, it makes you satisfied with yourself and your fellow beings”.

Sherry is a brunch aficionado. And in adherence to the words of Beringer, joing me at Sarabeth’s and have “everything good, plenty of it”.

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There’s always brunch: Mission Beach Cafe in San Francisco

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I think brunch is the best meal of the day and I love nothing better than waking up to a good weekend brunch. Nothing compares to the pure bliss waking up (not early but at a leisure hour of your preference), get ready (not rushed like on workdays, but at your own pace),  then head to a brunch restaurant and enjoy a hearty meal filled with both sweet and savory elements.

The word “brunch” is a portmanteau made from the words “breakfast” and “lunch.” While the origins of brunch aren’t exactly clear, we do know that a British writer named Guy Beringer first used the word in an 1895 essay, “Brunch: A Plea” (Punch Magazine). In it, Beringer argues that instead of a heavy, midday post-church meal of meat pies and other delicacies, people should opt for  a lighter meal. By eating common breakfast foods like toasts, Beringer argues that brunch “puts you in a good temper, it makes you satisfied with yourself and your fellow beings”.

America may not have invented the concept of brunch, but the immensely popular meal has become an integral part of the American cultural institution. Here’s one of my personal favorite: Mission Beach Cafe.  Continue reading →

Skydiving (taking a leap of faaaaaiiiiiith)

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WHOOOOOOOOO!!!! Let’s go SKYDIVING!

“Why,” you asked? Well,  “Why not?”

Skydiving seems like something that you must do at least once in your lifetime. Not only does it promise through-the-roof adrenaline, it also gives you a certain degree of boasting right. In fact, afterward, when my sister and I told a bartender what we accomplished, he gave us each a free shot.

19_YEAH

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Discover the Art of Tea Pairing at Tea Time

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Tea drinking is an integral part of Chinese culture. A Chinese saying names tea as one of the seven basic daily necessities, elevating tea to be among other important staples like firewood, rice, oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar. During the mid-Tang Dynasty (780 A.D.), a scholar named Lu Yu published Cha Ching or The Tea Classic. Having spent over twenty years studying the subject, Lu records his knowledge of planting, processing, tasting, and brewing tea. The monumental work, which fastidiously documents the history, place of origin, color, taste and benefits of each tea, is an unparalleled tea encyclopedia.

In comparison, tea plays a less prominent role in American society. Yet, tea-drinking offers a plethora of benefits such as fewer signs of aging and a decrease in cholesterol and blood pressure.  Thirsting for a cup of tea? Go no farther than Tea Time (downtown Palo Alto).

Tea Time _ banner

The small, quaint tea room is great for tea lovers and ideal for the subtle affair of appreciating a variety of teas and their distinctive characteristics. I come here for an introductory tea pairing course. It’s like wine pairing, different types of tea pair well with different foods. The key is to match the flavor profile of a particular tea to its complementary food flavor(s). Join me and sample your way through six courses of tea and food combinations (click HERE for the tasting menu).

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