Fab Photos Friday: Culinary Delights in Cozumel, Mexico

December 19, 2014 By Tam Warner 6 Comments

La Cocay's Garden Seating — La Cocay’s Garden Seating

Fabulous food should be part of everyone’s vacation. Good food cannot be confused with fantastic food. In Cozumel, the restaurant to go to is La Cocay. La Cocay means “dragonfly” in the Mayan language, but it’s food is distinctly Mediterranean. Here is some good news: they have enlarged their menu!

I confess that La Cocay is my favorite restaurant on the island. I love the location (3 or 4 blocks off the oceanfront, in a non-descript area) because you would never expect to find such a gem there. When my friends walked in, they said, wow, this is beautiful. I was kind of worried about this when you drove by here! No worries, Mexico has all kinds of hidden surprises!

Leslie (my roomie from Mozambique) and I

There is inside seating, which is lovely, but my favorite place is the garden seating. In August it can be a little warm, but the evening we were there wasn’t bad at all. I loved hearing my friends and their “ooooo’s” and “ahhhh’s”. La Cocay has wonderful artistry in their presentation of every dish.

We gobbled the tapas before I could photograph them!

oops. They were really, really good though!

Next up were the Phyllo Rolls…..they melted in your mouth!

Phyllo Rolls with Blackberry Cherry Sauce. Heavenly!

And my favorite salad in the world, La Cocay’s Napa Salad! Loaded with fresh vegetables, fruits and nuts,

it has to be tasted to be believed!

Leslie ordered Mahi-Mahi served with potato augratin….a culinary masterpiece, truly. I’m not a foodie, I have no idea how it was prepared, I only know it was an explosion of flavor! Kamailie and Lana enjoyed a Margharita Pizza from the wood oven. I had a bite of each….muy delicioso.

But I was waiting for the coup de gras! Chocolate Torte! I haven’t had any of their other desserts, though they look delicious. I HAVE to have my torte!

I have so many photos of our family and friends enjoying wonderful evenings at La Cocay. Once all of our kids were old enough to appreciate it, we’ve spent birthdays there (instead of at Carlos and Charlies). I hope our family will continue to enjoy La Cocay for many years to come!

A 2011 birthday celebration at La Cocay.

San Francisco – A walking food tour of North Beach & Chinatown

December 7, 2014 By Tam Warner 11 Comments

Another food tour adventure? Why yes! Thank you!

Just recently I took a fantastic tour by Chris Milano’s Foodie Adventures in San Francisco’s Mission District. The Mission, Latin Food Tour was so delicious and I loved it so much that on my next trip there I just had to take the North Beach and Chinatown Tour! It is no surprise that once again Chris dazzled us with his knowledge, charm and passion for the delectable food of San Francisco.

On this tour we sampled everything from buttery, coconut buns from the Chinese Bakery to five different types of dim sum from Delicious Dim Sum – nine stops in all. Yes, nine. We most certainly got our money’s worth and a very full belly. What a delightful way to spend the day in a city that is known world wide as one of the absolute best cities for an outstanding variety of delicious cuisine. This tour was so unique and filled with hidden treasures that I could have never created it on my own. We were fortunate to take advantage of the personal relationship Chris has developed with each of these small business proprietors. When we arrived at every one of the stops, our food was piping hot and ready for us to savor and then gobble up!

The North Beach area of San Francisco is in the Northeast area of the city and adjacent to Chinatown. The area in San Francisco’s Little Italy has historically been home to a large community of Italian Americans. There is still a large representation of Italian bakeries and restaurants, however as Chris explained, the Chinese entrepreneurial community is expanding and has taken over several of the Italian eateries and small businesses.

There were about 20 in the group of “foodie adventurers” who gleefully followed Chris as he led us through a maze of streets, an assortment of cuisines and unique locations for some absolutely incredible specialty dishes.

Take a deep breath, put on your elastic waist pants (for extra room) and join us as we go on the North Beach and Chinatown Foodie Adventure! We honestly went to so many locations it was difficult to keep it all straight in our minds. Anyone can visit the vast array of beautiful sights of San Francisco like the The Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman’s Wharf and Ghiradelli Square, but on this tour we were smack in the middle of a community, experiencing their culture on a very personal level. I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to be invited to view San Francisco on the inside, talk with the locals and share in their passion of their unique heritage. We were not in the touristy areas of these diverse culinary areas of the city. We visited the family owned, small eateries where the owners work six days a week (or more) and put their heart and soul into every bite of food.

Lovely San Francisco – My view from the 34th floor of the Grand Hyatt

The Tour Begins:

Chris Milano sharing fresh foccacia from the Italian bakery

XOX Truffles

All of the ingredients to make our decadent truffles

Chef Jean Paul making our divine truffles by hand

I wanted a ladle full of chocolate!

The finished truffles, still warm, lovingly made by hand

Mmmm Dim Sum

Chris with camera-shy Annie, owner of Delicious Dim Sum

Part of our group enjoying many different kinds of Dim Sum

A delicious roll and steamed dumpling with chili sauce

The Goldengate Fortune Cookie Factory

The Goldengate Fortune Cookie factory really touched my heart. This sweet lady makes every cookie by hand on the antique cookie press. Notice the cookie press assembly: a hose sprays the batter on the piping hot press and then the machine presses down on top to bake off the cookie. She then pulls off each cookie, inserts the fortune, then bends the still-warm cookie in to the form to make the famous fortune cookie shape.

In addition to the traditional Chinese fortunes, the owner is famous for her “adult” yet tame, versions. They are very funny! See below.

The beautiful red lanterns decorating Waverly Place in Chinatown

Tin How Temple – Built in 1852

Visiting the Tin How Temple was a very new adventure for me. We were not allowed to take photos in the temple. and as we climbed three flights of narrow stairs, the smell of incense permeated the air. In 1852 the Cantonese Clan of San Francisco built the Tin How Temple which is one of the earliest Chinese temples in the city. Inside the temple there is a shrine with offerings and hundreds of small red lanterns that hang from the ceiling. Devotees pledge money to the temple in hopes of a bright and successful New Year. I have never seen anything like it and I enjoyed the colorful experience. We were allowed to take the photo below of the urn, incense and oranges.

Red Blossom Tea Company

A sampling of orange blossom Chinese tea

We were treated to a short lecture about tea from China by the owner

Chinese tea in beautiful vessels

The lovely cannisters of tea

Blossom Bakery

Warm, buttery coconut rolls (my favorite)

Inside the bakery, men & women sit for hours playing Keno

The very popular Z & Y Restaurant

Chris is ready to share our vegetarian pancakes and beef rolls

Last Stop: Golden Boy Pizza, North Beach

Our final bite of the day was this delicious handmade pizza

A a parting gift – Chris’s favorite Chinese Candy

This was my second tour given by Chris Milano of Foodie Adventures. I love different types of food and the idea of eating and walking off the calories was very appealing to me. Not only do I get to experience the local culture, but I was guided safely through a very large city in areas I would never have ventured on my own.

Our eclectic group of enthusiastic eaters mingled and shared their personal stories throughout the afternoon. Some members of the group were locals, some were returning for a second time bringing a visitor with them. There were tourists from all over the nation and abroad learning and eating together!

I only took a bite or two of each dish, but I was still incredibly full. I would highly recommend taking ANY of the Foodie Adventures tours. They are so personal and authentic, which is not typically what you would expect from a tour in such a big city.

I plan to continue my quest to find delicious food in every city we visit. Have you found special out of the way places to eat while traveling?

Safe travels,

Suzanne

Fab Photos Friday: A Book of Christmas

December 5, 2014 By Tam Warner 20 Comments

I love making movies, books, working on photos….and I especially love making my family memory books. This year, I will be making a book for my children (they probably don’t read this so I think I am safe) about our Christmas ornaments. It occurred to me that I am the only one with the knowledge of where these precious ornaments came from! So, I want to pass it down! Here are some of the items that are going in the book:

My Grandma Nash's tree...BIG Christmas is a tradition in our family! — My Grandma Nash’s tree…BIG Christmas is a tradition in our family!

Big Christmas is a tradition that I keep.

My brother and I on Santa's lap....we did not know that Santa was our Grandfather! — My brother and I on Santa’s lap….we did not know that Santa was our Grandfather!

Christmas is all about family and loved ones, when they pass, we keep the memory of them with us on our trees. This is my dad and his best friend, Frank.

I made that construction paper garland in 3rd grade!

Miss Betty Boop is the symbol of my mother in law, Betty, who looked just like her!

My daughter's kitty ornaments, and the penguin was given to me by my niece. — My daughter’s kitty ornaments, and the penguin was given to me by my niece.

My son is a guitarist, I bought these for him as his ornaments.

This artist signed painted plate has fed Santa for over 20 years! And his reindeer too.

A Hasidic Mennorrah, an art piece I collected for them. — A Hasidic Mennorrah, an art piece I collected. I love Judaica!

My baby daughter's ornaments — My baby daughter’s ornaments

Some of our heritage in ornaments: Irish, French, British, Swiss. — Some of our heritage in ornaments: Irish, French, British, Swiss flags.

I collected all of the Pottery Barn Reindeer ornaments back in the early 90s

My husband's Christmas sock when he was a baby. I turned it into an ornament. — My husband’s Christmas sock when he was a baby. I turned it into an ornament.

Star of David with the dove of Peace. It goes toward the top of our tree!

My son's Nutcrackers! — My son’s Nutcrackers!

These beautiful Hummel angels were given to me by my biological mother.

I love collecting....the skaters are Waterford Marquis, Vixen is from a set of China from Pottery Barn, and of course, Merry and Oy Joy! — I love collecting….the skaters are Waterford Marquis, Vixen is from a set of China from Pottery Barn, and of course, Merry and Oy Joy!

My mother passed in 2013. We miss her very much.

How do you keep the memory of your holiday ornaments alive?

I love Paris in Las Vegas!

November 20, 2014 By Tam Warner 10 Comments

Mostly Wordless Wednesday….though of course I have comments! Paris is one of my favorite casinos in Las Vegas, and one I always return to. Partly for the beauty of the casino which looks like an outside Paris street, partly because the chocolate crepes are fabulous, and partly because I always seem to be lucky in the casino!

vegas 14 balloon — The famous Paris balloon

Even the restrooms are worth looking at!

Nice restroom, yes? — Nice restroom, oui?

And now for my very favorite part of Las Vegas……………WINNING!

Fun and a Tournament in Vegas

November 16, 2014 By Tam Warner 1 Comment

Next week will find me in Vegas, playing in a Video Poker tournament! I have been a video poker player for nearly 30 years, and I play seriously, but I have never been in a tournament. Well, here is my chance!

I’ve loved poker since I was a child watching the penny ante games my grandparents used to play. My parents were card players as well, and poker was an extended family activity. I grew up playing Euchre, a trump game, at lunch during high school, and with friends. Cards were a big past time where I grew up (Southern Ohio/Kentucky), but once I moved to Dallas I realized cards aren’t played everywhere. My husband, Randy, and I found a few couples to play with, but for the most part, we were not surrounded by card players.

I learned video poker on my first trip to Vegas in my early twenties. My mom and dad took my brother and I to Vegas, and at that time, it was the remnant of the old Vegas. The RAT Pack Vegas. For those who don’t know, the RAT pack consisted of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Joey Bishop, Sammie Davis Jr, and Peter Lawford. I think those are the guys, anyway. These were people that graced the covers of the movie magazines my mother was so fond of. The legends of Vegas were a large part of those stories. Mom also read a lot of biographies, and the more illicit the better. I often read these books even when I was little, learning about Marilyn Monroe and the Kennedy’s, Frank Sinatra and Eva Gardner and Mia Farrow….when the book The Godfather came out it included a lot about Vegas and the mob. I was raised on conspiracy theories about Sam Giancana, the Rat Pack, the Kennedy’s, Marilyn and Judith Campbell. And of course, the biggest star of all….Jackie O. My first trip to Vegas was like a trip to Disneyland.

At the most famous show in town....Siegfried and Roy! — At the most famous show in town….Siegfried and Roy!

Now, even people my age might not remember all of the saga and legend surrounding Vegas, and certainly our kids would have no idea. When I was in my early twenties, Vegas was still a legend….The Sands Hotel and Casino, The Desert Inn, Circus Circus, The Tropicana, The Flamingo which was started by Bugsy Segal the mobster, Caesar’s Palace…..the MGM Grand, The Frontier…..the only ones left are the Flamingo and Caesar’s Palace. At that time you could walk the strip easily….without all of the stairways and weird entrances and the skyrails….don’t get me wrong, the new Vegas is amazing. The techno and out of this world quality is truly….out of this world. But it isn’t the old Vegas….it is an entirely new city.

tam 86 caesers — Bathing in the fountains at Caesars?? No, it’s a double exposure. I love this pic of me though!

The Gambling Sisters, my Aunt Nonnie and Mom.

My mom and Aunt Nonie taught me to play video poker at the Imperial Palace. As time went on, a yearly trip formed. My mother in law, mom, cousin, and I went every year for a girl’s trip. Others joined us from time to time. Mom and Betty (mother in law) had “comps”…. free rooms, free meals…my cousin Lisa and I thought it was the coolest thing ever. Those trips were epic. I began to learn how to play video poker….the statistics of it, the math surrounding the odds. I still love to play, although there are plenty of losses to offset my winnings.

It is different now. The new Vegas is a huge, sprawling, bizarrely opulent city. Now it’s me getting comps…and pretty awesome comps at that! The year before my mother died I took her for what I knew would be her last trip….we had a suite at Paris, and she had a terrific time. Both mom and Betty are gone now. Lisa and I took our two girls for their 21st birthdays, but since then, we haven’t been out there together. I would love to start those girl’s trips back up.

Lisa and I with our daughters at the Voodoo Lounge, 2009

Ah, I love thinking about the old Vegas. But the new Vegas waits for me….and I cannot wait to play in the tournament! I’ll blog again from Planet Hollywood! Til then, wish me luck!

Fab Photos Friday: Fall has arrived…in the north!

October 31, 2014 By Tam Warner 5 Comments

I admit that I miss autumn in the north. Living in Texas, you don’t see very much color. There is something just not right about hayrides in 90 degree heat! I just returned from a trip through Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana, where the foilage is beautiful, the temperatures are cool, and the caramel apples are awesome. Enjoy!