For dessert we enjoyed a passionfruit mochi. The dish wasn't overly sweet which was a nice surprise. My one criticism would be I wish there was more of the sesame brittle as the crunch was needed in the dish. 

Our meal was perfectly portioned and while satisfying we also weren't overly full which was wonderful. I would suggest to the restaurant to update their website though. The website states the Omakase is 99 pp while we were charged 109 pp. 

We both agree we can't wait to come back for a third visit and enjoy the Omakase with the luxury upgrade.

Fine dining can mean different things to different people. For me I look for impeccable service, inviting atmosphere, high quality ingredients, and innovative food. 

We recently tried L'espalier in Boston to celebrate Greg's birthday. Unfortunately, the dinner was almost a complete letdown. I made a reservation noting the celebration as well as my dairy allergy. The day before our reservation we called to confirm my dairy allergy. The staff member noted our reservation and clarified that I couldn't eat any dairy (including butter and goat's milk cheese). An hour later another staff member called to confirm our reservation and our dairy allergy but didn't ask any questions this time.

We arrived on time for our reservation, checked my coat, and were shown to our table. Our waiter came over to welcome us and again asked if I could eat butter. That would be a no. We opted for a bottle of wine and the chef's tasting menu (our preference is always a chef's tasting or an Omakase). 

We easily drove up to Quebec City and checked into the Hilton Quebec City. The check-in staff was busy and when it was our turn one of the staff members went on break or left. Finally, we checked in and went up to the executive floor. Our room had a lovely view of the city! Greg went and spoke to the concierge in the executive lounge for lunch ideas. The wonderful concierge gave us a few names and after a little research, we picked one that sounded good.   ​

For dinner we had reservations at one of our favorite restaurants. Le Lapin Saute is the perfect spot for a comforting atmosphere, friendly staff, and delicious food. We started with the smoked salmon and the foie gras torchon. We cleaned the plates entirely! For our entree we ordered the Confit duck leg, braised rabbit leg, duck sausages and bacon cassoulet. For dessert we couldn't pass up the salted honey pie. 

The next morning we decided to head to the top of Montmorency Falls. Unfortunately, mother nature wouldn't cooperate with the our hopes for views. The fog wasn't great for photos but it did add some mystique to our walk. 

After our sightseeing we were pretty hungry and after we dropped the car at the hotel we ventured to 3 Brasseurs. We settled in with a couple of drinks and started our lunch with the Toulouse sausage. The Toulouse sausage comes out on a hot plate and is delicious! For entrees we decided on the fish and chips which were also very good. 

Unfortunately, our drive back home started during rush hour and so the easy ride turned into a long ride! In the end no matter how short or long of a stay we have in Quebec City it's always an enjoyable one!

Greg and I finally visited the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. While the museum is on the small side we enjoyed our visit. The architecture is breathtaking with area after area begging for photos to be taken.  The museum houses paintings by Rembrandt, Titian, and more but my favorite was the Portrait of Isabella Clara Eugenia by Frans Pourbus II. Finally, I can't forget to mention the 10 million dollar reward for the 1990 art heist. We both agree that we recommend a visit to the museum.

Earlier this year we were in London and Winnie the Pooh: Exploring a classic was on display but I never found the time to visit it. I was thrilled when I heard that the exhibit would be coming to the Museum of Fine Arts Boston! As members of the museum, we were able to get free tickets on select days in September. 

We opted for a Saturday morning visit and we're so thankful that we had tickets and that we are members. The line to purchase tickets was out the front door, down the stairs, and curved to the right of the museum. With our passes, we were welcomed right on in. The Winnie the Pooh exhibit is adorable! Kids and kids at heart will love the interactive pieces, the artwork, the toy collection, and so much more. I can't recommend a visit to the exhibit and the museum itself enough!!  ​

This summer hasn't exactly been the easiest for us. Early this year I damaged my foot without realizing it. It took me a while to get a full diagnosis but eventually found out that I broke a sesamoid bone in my foot. All summer long I was in a boot (walking cast) and this hindered my life greatly. I'm currently out of the boot but I am using a bone stimulator daily, still having doctor appointments, and not fully healed. Unfortunately, this chain of events set off my anxiety, my depression, and left my body in a lot of pain. Anyone who has been in a boot for an extended period of time will understand just how much it affects your hips, back, and leg. 

In addition to this we found out that Fred' (our shorkie) heart murmur got worse and his heart is enlarged on the left side. We had to start giving him medication, changing his treats, changing his dry food, and watching out for different signs. Next came another problem. We found out that our veterinary  clinic was under dosing him for 2 months! We were frantic, disappointed, etc. After several days of discussions we were accepting of the apologies. Our hope is that this error doesn't affect him too greatly.

On to the positives! We've dined at some new restaurants in the area, attended some fun events in Boston, and visited our family in Colorado and I'll be sharing our thoughts and pictures from all of it. 

Right now I should be packing instead of typing because....we're leaving for Ireland on Friday! Excited!! This isn't the hiking trip we originally planned thanks to my broken foot but we have a lot to look forward to and share with everyone. We'll be checking out a new hotel and the sights in Dublin, going to Belfast and walking on the Giant's Causeway, hanging in Galway and the Cliffs of Mohr, and spending a day in the Wicklow Mountains. Stay tuned for all of them fun. You can also follow along on my Instagram and Twitter.