Today is my birthday and unfortunately I am recovering from a cold so no champagne until tomorrow. However, I still feel the need to celebrate somehow so I figured I’d do a roundup of the most prolific travel experiences I had while I was 25. It was a great year where I graduated university, participated in Julia Child’s 100th birthday celebration at a local restaurant, traveled to New York and Jamaica for the first time, joined the ArtSmart Roundtable and attended the Wine Bloggers’ Conference 2013. I can’t wait to see what 26 brings!

5. Learning to Cook at Mission Hill Winery (in a professional kitchen)

Chef Matt Batey was kind enough to invite me to his last cooking class of the year at Mission Hill Winery where I learned to make cornbread, crème brûlée and crêpes with a most delicious stuffing of duck confit. It was a great time with my sister and we were able to take a one of a kind wine tour of the facility hosted by Chef Matt Batey himself.

4. Nose to Tail Toronto – A Dinning Adventure with Dad

It was my first time to Toronto and with the influence of Anthony Bourdain my dad and I chose to dine at The Black Hoof, a nose to tail restaurant that serves everything from ox tail and bone marrow to horse carpaccio and sweet breads. It was adventurous for both of us but luckily it turned out to be a delicious time and an affordable evening…which is more than I can say for number 3.

 

3. Per Se – A Foodie’s Costly Pilgrimage AKA 4 hours of food!

All of New York was amazing. It would be a shame not to mention Eataly parts 1 & 2. However, one of the most memorable foodie experiences of my life is Per Se. Last year we went to New York for my mom’s birthday and I figured it would be a good idea to take her to Per Se. When the day came for us to dine at the legendary restaurant we were more than a little tired and a wee bit hungover. So when I tried to cancel the nice lady on the end of the phone turned stern all of sudden warning me that if we canceled now it would cost us $185 per reserved seat! Needless to say we went and I am glad we did despite the fact that by the end we were prying our eyes open fighting off sleep.
But in all seriousness the food was amazing, the experience was once in a lifetime and you definitely get your money’s worth.

2.  Art Worth Traveling for in Rural Italy – My 1st ArtSmart Roundtable post!

If you’re not familiar with the ArtSmart Roundtable, we are a group of bloggers that post once a month about a designated topic/theme regarding art. We then write a post interpreting that theme in our way with our own interests and traveling experiences. It means a lot to be apart of a great group with all different backgrounds but such a profound love of and knowledge of art.

1. Cliff Jumping in Negril, Jamaica

When I look back at 25 I am most proud of stepping out of my comfort zone and off a 30 foot cliff into the jade and emerald waters of Negril, Jamaica. I was the only girl to have done so that day and the adrenaline still pumps through my veins when I think about it. I really took to the overall carefree attitude of the locals and their slang. Gimme Beer! Ire Ire Mon!

Here’s to another great year of travels with all of you at the helm!

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