We have only visited Philadelphia for about a 1/2 an hour years ago. It was to purchase cookies inside Reading Terminal Market.

When planning our road trip we all agreed that Philadelphia would be a great first stop. We were two cars, with 4 adults and 2 children on this trip and we were all in need of a getaway!

The morning of day 1 we brought Fred and settled him at my parent's house. We then hopped back in the car and started our journey!

We got an early start than our friends so we got to visit Mothership Gallery and take pictures with Greg's Bunny Jack piece that was in their show last month. We couldn't help ourselves and ended up purchasing a few more vinyl toys (some for Greg to customize and some for our personal collection). To check out Greg's other pieces visit here.

​Our friends were still driving to Philadelphia so we dropped off our luggage at the Courtyard by Marriott Downtown Philadelphia. We walked over to Reading Terminal Market and after walking around a bit we opted for the duck at Sang Kee Peking Duck.

There were two stools available and we ordered a couple of bottles of water, a Peking duck roll, duck with rice and vegetables, and duck with noodles. 

The Peking duck roll was delicious but right when I bit into it juice streamed down my chin and all over my shirt. I smelled like the duck and five spice until I finally got into our hotel room and could change.

Our entrees were both delicious and very good portions. The duck was tender and flavorful in both dishes but the noodle dish was a little strong for my taste. 

After our lunch, we both wanted a cocktail but the Courtyard is under construction and things are very disjointed. We opted to go into the Marriott next door and enjoy a drink in their lobby. 

About the time our friends checked in our rooms were ready. Greg and I were assigned a lovely suite with amazing views. Our room offered an entryway, king bed, couch and table, desk, walk-in shower, and again a great view of the city.  ​

After changing clothes the 6 of us walked towards the Liberty Bell. The children we were traveling with are both toddlers with autism so lines aren't their thing. Of course, there was a line at the Liberty Bell so we kept walking and enjoying the surrounding areas. 

For an afternoon snack, we happened upon Sweet Charlie's! I was thrilled to see rolled ice cream since I've never had it. I was completely willing to take some Lactaid and chance an upset stomach. Then as we began to order the staff asked if we wanted milk, yogurt, or the vegan option. What?? Dairy Free?? Yes!!

I ordered the dairy-free s'mores rolled ice cream with an extra torched marshmallow! The ice cream was pretty good but I will admit it was very sweet. After our ice cream, we visited the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Continuing on with the sights we walked back north to the LOVE statue. Rather than waiting in line to take a selfie, we took one from afar. 

For dinner, we decided to go casual and try somewhere new! We found our spot- The Bourse! Inside the beautiful and historic building, you will find a variety of restaurants. You can find everything from pancakes to Filipino food!

Greg and I chose the Filipino cuisine at Lalo! I chose the Long Si Log which is pork sausage, garlic rice, and a soft egg. This dish was touched on all taste buds and textures! I thoroughly enjoyed the dish. Greg ordered the Lechon Kawali which is crispy pork belly with garlic rice. I tried a bite of Greg's dish and the pork belly was nicely rendered and actually crispy. Delicious! Before leaving I couldn't help but try the vegan ice cream at Scoop DeVille. The ice cream was creamy, crunchy, and topped with salt. It was amazing!

After dinner, we walked back to our hotel but stopped at the Marriott again for drinks. While inside the lobby, there was a gala upstairs, the fire alarm went off twice, and one of the kids discovered and fell in love with escalators!

This was a great first day! Coming up next is our drive from Philadelphia to Elon University and then on to Raleigh NC.  

Leading up to Easter we had plans for the family from Colorado to visit. After a few flight delays, they finally arrived and we spent their first night in town eating handmade pasta, meatballs, and then pastries from our local bakery.

On Friday morning, we started our day in the North End of Boston. Our first stop was the Old North Church. I was slightly disappointed that it was now a fee to enter rather than just the donation. However, I understand that receiving donations aren't always reliable. Our next stop was the Copp's Hill Burying Ground. Before leaving the area we participated in a quick self-guided tour of Paul Revere's House. 

Time for refreshments! We decided to walk them the over to the oldest restaurant in Boston for oysters and cocktails. The Union Oyster House is a Boston institution. You can sit inside the classic wood bar area or hope to sit in JFK's booth inside the restaurant. 

For lunch, we all split up for a time and purchased lunch inside Quincy Market. I opted for a lobster roll (sans the brioche roll) and a nice cold bottle of water. 

We continued our walking tour and made our way through Government Center and into the Boston Commons and the Public Gardens. I patiently waited and finally snagged a picture of the Make way for Ducklings all dressed up for Easter. 

Our last stop of the day was for my cousin's husband. In our party, we had a big Cheers fan so we headed over for some pictures and gear.   ​

On Easter Sunday we spent time together, baked, and ate a lot of delicious food!

Before flying home on Monday our family had time for more sightseeing. Heading back into Boston we made a stop at Bunker Hill Monument. Our next stop was to the USS Constitution even though it was closed. We were able to take pictures, visit the museum, and check out the gift shop for unique keepsakes. Our last sightseeing stop was at the Boston Tea Party Museum.

Porscha spent the whole weekend requesting food in Chinatown so away we went. After putting our name in at the Gourmet Dumpling House we got out of the rain and ordered some bubble teas from Tea Do. 15 minutes later and we were seated inside the restaurant and ready to over order. We enjoyed soup dumplings, chicken and cabbage dumplings, Szechuan wontons, general gao's chicken, and more. Everything was delicious as usual!  ​

​This was our 4th time visiting Pabu (the previously 3 visits were 2 people selecting the Omakase). We brought out of town guests with us on this occasion and told them how this was one of our favorite restaurants in Boston. We rode up in the elevator together, were greeted right away and shown to our table. Our server Tony welcomed us enthusiastically.

When it was time to order we were going to select 4 Omakase's and 1 a la carte. Tony convinced us to do the luxury price point but have him customize it for us. Tony also convinced us to have our dishes served family style even though I objected.

We received the cheapest items on the menu, multiple dishes arriving together, and then horrible long spaces in between other dishes. For example, the first couple was 1 piece of chicken on a skewer each, and 1 potsticker each. In addition to this, our drink orders were either completely forgotten or had to be requested multiple times. A manager was supposed to come and talk to us but never did.

Finally, Tony restarted our Omakase for us however this left the a la carte guest without food. She was finally offered another selection of food and made it seem that it was complimentary however when we received the bill we were charged for her Edamame and Wagyu Nigiri. $850 dollars and 3 1/2 hours later we left completely disappointed.  This definitely will be our last visit especially considering the new Omakase competition in Boston.  ​

Our main reason for visiting NYC was to visit Mercado Little Spain! We have been fans of Jose Andres, Albert Adria, and Ferran Adria for a long time. We've also been fortunate to dine at The in Miami and most recently Enigma in Barcelona Spain.

When I heard about the opening of Mercado Little Spain I badly wanted to attend but scheduling wouldn't allow it. Finally, we were in line to enter the space. 

The staff welcomed us in with wide smiles and while not every area was open yet our visit was so worth it!

Walking around the space we read the menus, watched the chefs cook, and tried to decide how we were going to control ourselves after our big lunch. 

Our first selections were patatas bravas (potatoes with a spicy sauce and aioli), Iberico de Belotta jamon, and a coca (a flat bread type pizza). After a long wait, we also enjoyed a Vermut each (blanco) along with the most amazing Paella!

Before leaving for the night, we purchased some
churros and chocolate to enjoy back at the hotel after we walked off some of the food!

I can't even begin to tell you how badly I want to visit again and try out their newly opened restaurants as well as some of the kiosks we enjoyed!  ​

The week we were heading to NYC we tried and failed to get a reservation at Kawi by Momofuku. On Saturday, we were double checking and a table opened up for 2 at 12. It was 12 when we reserved it. After a quick call saying we were 10 minutes away, we high tailed it to the restaurant. 

After several blocks, and a couple of levels inside Hudson Yards we found the restaurant entrance. The staff welcomed us, were happy that we made it, and took our coats before showing us to our table.

What happened next can only be called a large bout of over ordering! First up were the fried cod and yuzu. This was the least impressive dish for me. If you're from the Boston area I would compare it to Kelly's Roast Beef's fried fish plate.
​ 
The next couple of dishes were the fluke and then a crab dish. The fluke was light and refreshing while the crab was rich and succulent. 

Our final three dishes were on the heavy side but we couldn't help but want to try them. The grilled short rib kimbap is a solid dish but slightly disappointing in the fact that it wasn't as flavorful as the next two dishes. The Kawibap is for the adventurous palate. Inside the rice is an omelet with candied anchovies. Accompanying the dish is a uni tray and trout roe. The combination is a bite that's also packed with unique flavors. 

Last but certainly not least is the spicy roasted rice cakes with chili jam and country ham. This dish has it all! You have the soft rice cake, the crunch of the toppings, the sweet jam, and the salty ham. I loved this dish!

​I definitely recommend a visit to Kawi and can't wait to return!  ​

Making our way back down through Hudson Yards we came across a few great finds! First was an interactive art installment, next up I fell in love with Atelier Cologne, finally a terrific art installation for photos!

We wandered around New York while making our way to The Pennsy NYC. I have been following The Cinnamon Snail and their amazing vegan goodies on Instagram and just had to visit! These were some of the most delicious vegan sweets we've tried! Highly recommend this restaurant for vegans and non-vegans alike. 

In March we planned a foodie getaway to New York City. I'm going to start with the bad news first of our weekend before sharing the good and fantastic. 

We stayed at the Distrikt Hotel NYC Tapestry Collection by Hilton. We pulled up to the Valet area and there wasn't anyone in sight. After ten minutes I went inside and spoke with the staff at the check-in desk who called for a valet. Unfortunately, there was a miscommunication and it took a further 15 minutes. Finally, we checked into the hotel but our room wasn't ready yet. Before leaving the hotel we held our bags and opted for a drink in the bar area.

The bar area was another disappointment. The tables were all dirty, the bar area was scuffed up, and after giving us our drinks the bartender sat on the floor (behind the bar) and took a phone call. Keep in mind we were sitting at the bar and could see and hear him.

Around 4 pm we came back to the hotel to go to our room and it still wasn't ready. The staff finally gave us another room that was supposed to be clean. I wish we had waited! Our room had tears and scuffs in the leather headboard, the carpet wasn't properly vacuumed, the walls were scuffed, and the bathroom light switch was hanging off the wall. 

The next day we ran into another guest who had a very similar experience to ours and gave the hotel a tougher title than I would have even said.

At check out, there wasn't a manager available and so I explained all of our grievances to a staff member. I was assured I would hear from the manager as soon as she got in but that never happened. To add insult to injury we booked this stay with a certificate and shouldn't have had taxes and fees added to our bill and yet they were on there.   

In the future, we'll be heading back to the Millennium Hilton New York One UN Plaza.

To celebrate my brother in laws birthday a group of us met up at Foxwoods Resort and Casino for some gambling, dinner, and laughs. 

In the afternoon we spent our time between the slots, roulette tables, and the bowling alley. I definitely did not win but Greg ended up winning a little more than he came with. In the High Rollers (bowling alley) we got some drinks and food and unfortunately. Whenever we are with a group for drinks or food we end up just splitting the check evenly. Lately, I have noticed an upswing in staff asking if we would like separate checks. That definitely wasn't the case at High Rollers. When others in our party asked for a separate check our server had to double check with her manager if that would be okay. 

After drinks, we gambled a bit more and made a dinner reservation at Vue 24 for 8:30 pm. A few minutes before our reservation 5 of us met up at the correct elevator and ventured upstairs. The restaurant has a casual elegance to it and we were welcomed to our table. We all ordered a starter, entree, and dessert but I'll only speak to my meal. My start was the Foie Gras. The sear on the foie gras was perfect, the french toast was a large portion, and the blueberry compote wasn't overly sweet. My entree was the Pacific Halibut. This dish was scrumptious! The fish was cooked perfectly and the charred tomato sauce along with the crab meat was an amazing combination of flavors. For dessert, I chose the bananas foster tart. The dessert was good but I was hoping for a bit more punch of passion fruit flavor. 

After dinner, we decided to make the long drive home but others stayed a bit longer to test their luck. All in all, it was a fun outing with friends and family  ​

It's not every day that you find extremely friendly and helpful staff at a counter service restaurant but that is exactly what we found at Milkbar/&Pizza. For the past 2 years, I have been a Yelp Boston Elite member. This past week was a week-long Yelp Elite event at Milkbar/&Pizza.

At Milkbar, I opted for the cereal milk ice cream. Today's option was the corn flake cereal. I went back and forth wondering if I liked it or not since it wasn't as sweet as I was hoping for. I ended up enjoying it because it did, in fact, taste like corn flake cereal milk. 

At &Pizza I ordered the spicy tomato sauce pizza with vegan cheese and fresh basil. For a beverage, I picked the mango and passion fruit craft soda. The pizza was tender considering it was a thinner crust and the toppings were flavorful. The spicy sauce is definitely on the spicier side but I loved it. The staff member helping me suggested people order half regular tomato and half spicy if they are worried it'll be too hot. 

My husband separately ordered a coffee and crack pie at Milkbar. While the crack pie is small for the price my husband said it's worth it! At &Pizza he ordered the pineapple jack pizza and thoroughly enjoyed it as well. 

With a reservation for 6 people at 6:30 pm we were running a few minutes late. We called the restaurant and said we were around the corner and would be there shortly. We were told that was fine but the table was reserved again at 9:30 pm. 

We were seated at a table just around the corner from the entrance. Our server was very friendly and gave us the whole introduction since a couple in our group hadn't been to the restaurant before. We ordered a round of drinks to start and all of them were unique and delicious. I enjoyed the Beatrix Kiddo. It was a light yet frothy tropical drink.

For food we ordered the ​Hamachi ceviche, Blackened Octopus 1 skewer pp, Baby Street Corn 2 orders, Miso Mac and Langosta, Salchipapas, Japanese Fried Chicken 2 orders, Pork Belly Katsu 2 orders, Dan Dan Noodles, Chicken "sandwich" (I can't find the actual name) 2 orders.

Salchipapas were a crowd favorite. It's a combination of french fries, small pieces of hot dog, and bonito flakes. Salty, crunchy, and flavorful! The Japanese fried chicken is another great dish. Lightly battered and topped with a brown butter miso sauce and bonito flakes. I didn't get to try a few dishes because I can't eat avocado but the failure for me was the Pork Belly Katsu. The pork belly was tender but ended up tasting of only oil. 

For dessert we all shared Fried Dough Cachangas, and the Big Fish. The fried dough is amazing although we were missing some of the miso butterscotch. The pineapple ice cream is insanely flavorful though. I didn't try any of the Big Fish but it looked like it went over pretty well!
With a reservation for 6 people at 6:30 pm we were running a few minutes late. We called the restaurant and said we were around the corner and would be there shortly. We were told that was fine but the table was reserved again at 9:30 pm. 

We were seated at a table just around the corner from the entrance. Our server was very friendly and gave us the whole introduction since a couple in our group hadn't been to the restaurant before. We ordered a round of drinks to start and all of them were unique and delicious. I enjoyed the Beatrix Kiddo. It was a light yet frothy tropical drink.

For food, we ordered the  Hamachi ceviche, Blackened Octopus 1 skewer pp, Baby Street Corn 2 orders, Miso Mac and Langosta, Salchipapas, Japanese Fried Chicken 2 orders, Pork Belly Katsu 2 orders, Dan Dan Noodles, Chicken "sandwich" (I can't find the actual name) 2 orders.

Salchipapas was a crowd favorite. It's a combination of french fries, small pieces of hot dog, and bonito flakes. Salty, crunchy, and flavorful! The Japanese fried chicken is another great dish. Lightly battered and topped with a brown butter miso sauce and bonito flakes. I didn't get to try a few dishes because I can't eat avocado but the failure for me was the Pork Belly Katsu. The pork belly was tender but ended up tasting of only oil. 

For dessert, we all shared Fried Dough Cachangas and the Big Fish. The fried dough is amazing although we were missing some of the miso butterscotch. The pineapple ice cream is insanely flavorful though. I didn't try any of the Big Fish but it looked like it went over pretty well!