Savor Every Byte

Category: Travels

Documenting my travels near and far!

  • San Francisco

    San Francisco

    In the summer of 2013 I had the privilege to help lead a group of students through a weeklong intensive youth leadership training held at the Presidio of San Francisco. If you get the chance to travel to San Fran, visiting the Presidio is a must! At the base of the Golden Gate Bridge, the Presidio is a park and former military base. It is almost jarring when crossing from San Francisco the city, where houses are lined up one after another, to vast green spaces with wild life and a ton of history.

    After the training my husband came out to meet me for a week in San Francisco and Napa Valley. This is a trip I have taken prior; in 2010 I did something similar with my dad. San Fran and wine country is a perfect trip for those who only have a weekend or a short period of time. We started off by exploring San Fran and I think an important detail to share is that San Francisco is pretty hot and cold in the summer. “The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco”, this quote is often attributed to Mark Twain but there isn’t much documentation on that. The quote is a bit dramatic but I will say that if you are traveling to San Fran, expect to experience many different temperatures throughout the day based on where you are and the status of the fog.

    Below are some of the things I did in San Fran (in no particular order). It is not an inclusive list of all the things you should do or places you should eat- just where I went.

    Where we ate

    Sushi Zone

    Best sushi I have ever had in my life. You must go. The place is tiny and does not take reservations so either go early and get there when they open or go late because you will wait in line.

    Brenda’s French Soul Food

    Oh ma gawd. I want to cry when I think about eating there it was so good. Service was awesome and ambiance was perfect. I think it may have been some of the best fried chicken I have ever had… drops mic. My husband got a delicious benedict with pork. Ahhhhh… take me back.

    Molinari Delicatessen

    I do a ton of researching where to eat when I am traveling. I use Yelp, Google, TV Food Maps, etc. Many top lists led me to Molinari’s and I heart Italian delis so I had to try. It was a beautiful little shop with a ton of options, we took our food to a nearby park and devoured it. My favorite was the authentic arancini.

    Buena Vista

    Because if you are in San Fran… you have to. There are a lot of better food options than the Buena Vista but make sure you at least stop by and get yourself an Irish coffee.

    Places I want to go next time: Mama’s on Washington (must be willing to wait in a two hour line),

    Things to do

    Japantown in San Francisco:

    While we were there we saw people dressed in anime costumes, a pocky eating contest, Daiso– the Japanese dollar store, and a plethora of delicious sushi. While we were visiting there was a farmer’s market going on with local vendors that was fun.

    Haight Ashbury

    This was a relaxed little neighborhood of diverse shops, restaurants, and coffee houses. AND THE WORLD’S LARGEST TIE-DYE SHIRT! This was a great place to visit in between meals when you needed to walk off your lunch. Do not leave without checking out the Piedmont Boutique .

    Chinatown

    San Francisco has the largest Chinatown outside of Asia and the oldest in North America according to their website. Great shopping, street music, and food.

    Fisherman’s Warf 

    The warf is pretty touristy… I will admit. Most likely all of the things I am sharing are touristy. Try not to eat down there… there are way better places to dine. Check on the Sea Lions on Pier 39 – the way they got there is an interesting story. Of course you need to see and EXPERIENCE Lombard Street. Then take a cable car down Embarcadero to the Ferry Building Marketplace on Sunday mornings for the farmer’s market. 

    The Bay

    If you want to go to Alcatraz, get your tickets before going as they do sell out. I can’t tell you what a good price for going there is but people were trying to sell us tickets for $100 each and it just didn’t see worth it. We did find a fishing boat that was taking people on a cruise of the bay for $15! It seemed a bit shady at first; just a guy selling tickets in front of the boat but it was legit. Find BASS-TUB down at the Fisherman’s Warf, Berth 4. I am glad we did.

    Golden Gate Bridge & Presidio

    As I stated earlier, a must! Try and dodge the fog though you can be standing right next to that bridge and not see it if the fog has rolled in.

    Muir Woods 

    As you head out of town stop by Muir Woods for either a mini or a major hike! The first part of Muir Woods is very touristy- KEEP WALKING! The trails get better and sparse with people.

    Places I haven’t gone but I hope to in the future: Exploratorium, Sausalito

    What else did I miss? What do I need to see next time I go?

     

  • Nashville

    Nashville

    Nashville

    In November of 2015 (with my husband) and January 2016 (with a group of nine girlfriends) I went down to Nashville! Here are my reflections and recommendations:

    Food

    Nashville was one of my favorite food vacations, I had some meals that I will never forget. They were delicious and generally gluttonous but I loved every damn bite:

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    Biscuit Love– This was my favorite meal I had there. It was just voted one of the top 50 new restaurants in the US by Bon Appetit mag. I had the East Nasty, a cloud like biscuit with a perfectly cooked piece of fried chicken, with a creamy sausage gravy and aged cheddar. I also had the bonuts, biscuit dough that has been fried, with a blueberry compote and an angelic mascarpone creme.

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    Hattie B’s– Nashville is known for their hot (spicy) fried chicken. How to explain hot fried chicken… it is spicy but balanced out with sweetness. We had the medium and it was plenty hot for us Minnesotans. Hattie B’s and Prince’s are the two most well known for these dishes. If you want to try at home, Bon Appétit published Hattie B’s recipe in 2014. 

    Monell’s– This was like going to your grandma’s house. Truly a special experience. The restaurant has about 5 large tables. The tables seat about twelve and you are sat with strangers. It is like a buffet but they bring the food to you- so much food. You can eat until your heart’s content. I would recommend this experience for any size group but particularly if you have a big group, it made for a very special dinner with friends.

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    Loveless Cafe– This is one of the most famous restaurants in Tennessee more for the experience than the food. I would say the food was similar to a Cracker Barrel. This dining destination is a half hour outside of Nashville. The food is good, but I think people go there for the experience. There is a giant gift shop, yard games, and gardens to wait in- and you will wait.

    Arnold’s Country Kitchen– You gotta go to Arnold’s! It is this mom and pop cafeteria that is not fancy at all. There you can get southern favorites and great hospitality. They won an America’s Classics Award from James Beard so ya know they’re legit.

    We went to the Nashville Farmer’s Market one day, it reminded me the Midtown Global Market in Minneapolis. Great food from around the world and really fun shopping for actual Nashville gifts and souvenirs (not like the cheap gift stores downtown). We mainly stayed inside because there wasn’t a whole lot going on outside (it was January) but I bet in the warmer months there is some great things outside.

    We ventured over the bridge on the East side of downtown Nashville to Mas Tacos Por Favor. It was delicious little hole in the wall with a great outdoor patio. You might get fried chickened out so Mas Tacos would be a great reprieve from the grease. Or you might not.

    Broadway- I would argue that the food down on Broadway (where all the fun bars are) is not that good and overpriced. It is essentially the tourist trap of Nashville. If you are dying to eat at the Hard Rock Cafe or Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville, eating down on Broadway is for you and this blog is likely not…

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    If you are going to eat down there, someone recommended ACME, Puckett’s Grocery, and Merchants Restaurant. For late night eats go to Robert’s Western World (pictured below) and Paradise Park (trailer park themed bar). After doing the tourist two step and drinking a few beers you are going to need some tater tots.

    Next time:

    Pancake Pantry– I did not go here but most locals talked about it. I am not sure if there is anything super special other than nostalgia and delicious pancakes?

    Have any other suggestions of where I need to go next time?

    Nightlife

    We had a blast going down to Broadway, it was bar after bar with live music and no cover charge. Every bar had a different feel, some had a lot of dancing and some were more low key.

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    Be ready, the musicians work off tips, they take breaks and will walk up to you with a tip jar. It is helpful to have ones $. The bar that seemed to have the best dancing was Tootsies, Robert’s Western World serves cheap late night food including burgers, grilled cheese, and hot dogs. Every bar has a different feel so you can get crazy or have a more low key experience. Find a rooftop deck!

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    If you want to go to some of the more famous venues: Bluebird, Ryman (Grand Ole Opry), Music City Roots we should buy tickets as they will sell out. Station Inn– is also very famous, it is in a different but fun part of town called the Gulch. While Station Inn is old, the Gulch reminded me of uptown, lots of new high-rises. Grand Ole Opry was awesome, a little spendy, and a unique experience.

    Daytime Activities

    During my first visit with my husband we rented a car that we used a lot to experience Nashville and the surrounding areas. If you think you might want to venture into the surrounding neighborhoods or some of the places below, a car might be your best bet over taxi/Uber/Lyft.

    Shopping

    One of my favorite shopping experiences was in Franklin which is a half-hour south of Nashville. Very good shopping and it was a cool town. The Battle of Franklin happened in this town so it has amazing civil war history. Apparently this is where there is a lot of country star citing are because it is a nice area. My favorite shop was the Savory Spice Shop where I bought a Nashville sampler as a souvenir.

    We checked out Hillsboro Village, everything was crazy expensive. Reece Witherspoon’s clothing store was here and nothing was under $100. There is a store in the Gulch (by Biscuit Love and Station Inn) called Two Old Hippies. Super cute, reminds me of a locally owned Urban Outfitters but Nashville style.

    Attractions

    We toured the Ryman, this was my favorite tour we took. It not only gave a nice taste of country music roots it also gave a nice history of Nashville. The base, self-guided tour was $20 and near Broadway/downtown. We also toured the Country Music Hall of Fame, this was good but I am not a country music buff. I think if you really like country music this tour is interesting. The base, self-guided tour was $25.

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    The Parthenon is one of the attractions, it is a replica of a former temple in Greece dedicated to goddess Athena.

    Gaylord Opryland Hotel and Conference Center– This is a crazy hotel that reminds me of the Mall of America with giant atriums but a hotel. Each atrium was filled with gardens, a few activities, and a lot of food. We went here in November and it was decked out for Christmas which made it very pretty.

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    We spent one afternoon at Pinewood Social. It is a nice/trendy bar/restaurant/coffee shop/bowling alley. We paid $40 an hour for unlimited bowling (there was a lot of us so it was well worth it) and just drank. We had just ordered food so we weren’t hungry but the menu looked awesome. It was a ten minute walk from downtown.

    What did I miss? What do I need to do and see next time?

     

  • The Maine Event- Part 2

    The Maine Event- Part 2

    Bar Harbor, Maine Days 3-5

    Day 3

    The next morning we headed NE to Bar Harbor and if you are not in a hurry (you are on vacation of course you are not in a hurry), take the scenic route on U.S. 1. This beautiful coastal road will take you through every quintessential small Maine town along the ocean. Take time to get out of your car do some shopping, get a few bites to eat, and take in the scenery. Some pictures from our drive:

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    The staff at the Allagash Brewery recommended getting a picnic lunch and taking a hike up to Bald Rock. There are two different ways to get to the top of Bald Rock, the first is through the main entrance of Camden State Park, and the second is through the trailhead in Lincolnville. For more detailed information: http://www.mainetrailfinder.com/trail/camden-hills-state-park-northern-trail-network/. We took the trailhead from Lincolnville that has a parking lot.

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    I would say that this hike is pretty strenuous as it is 2.5 miles completely uphill. Most of the hike is on cleared large paths but at the end it begins to get steeper. If I can do it, I have no doubt it you and the end reward is worth it! Pictures really don’t do it justice but have a look anyways. 190980_10101796452945791_1043977475_o209958_10101796450600491_1166784428_o 36582_10101796448469761_770545877_n 201414_10101796452057571_186187871_o

    We then checked into our hotel, the Best Western Acadia Park Inn. I would highly recommend this hotel. The rooms were nice, it was a short drive from Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park, and the price was very reasonable. There are many motels along state highway 3 that seemed to be vacant as it was not “tourist season” but I it would take more investigating to find out their availability.

    We settled into our hotel and then headed down to Bar Harbor for dinner. Generally I would describe the town as touristy but romantic, again we didn’t technically go at peak visiting time but there were a few cruise ships in town. We ate at Rupununi Restaurant that offered your typical Maine Fare. We chose the restaurant because we wanted to people watch on the patio. Erik had the Rueben burger with rosemary fries, I had the crab cake appetizer, sweet potato rounds, and “special sauce” green beans. It wasn’t the best meal in the world but it did the trick that night.

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    After dinner we shopped and wandered around the streets. It was another beautiful night.

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    Day 4

    The next morning we visited Acadia National Park. That day was one of the most memorable days of my life. Acadia National Park has it all, beaches, forests, lakes, cliffs, and amazing views. We had one day at the park and once we got there we realized we could have spent a week there (we hope to in the future). We drove a long Park Loop Rd and visited the Sand Beach, Beaver Dam Pond, Jordan Pond House, and basked in the views atop Cadillac Mountain. To plan your visit:http://www.nps.gov/acad/index.htm

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    That night we wanted an authentic lobster boil. Side note: neither of us really love seafood but when in Rome. I believe everyone should go to a lobster boil on the side of the highway. We had no idea what we were doing when it came to us; it reminded me of dissecting something in science class except that you eat it at the end. But it tasted great and the price was reasonable.

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    That night we wandered around Bar Harbor again, got some pizza for our second dinner at Rosalie’s Pizza, and brought a bottle of wine back to our hotel.

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    Day 5

    I had never seen a whale in the wild before our trip to Maine, and sadly I have still never seen a whale in the wild. This fact is sad, not because I deserve to see a whale in the wild or I am mad I paid a lot of money to see one and didn’t… but because our tour guides shared that normally the time we visited was prime whale viewing normally. But because of changes in water temperature (approximately 3 degrees higher that normal) the whale’s food was somewhere else changing their migration patterns.

    On a bright note, we took a glorious tour through the Bar Harbor Whale Watch Co. and saw many seals and sea birds; it was very informative and beautiful. And because we did not actually see a whale our ticket is good for another free trip for as long as we live until we see a whale on their cruise (we will be back).

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    We slowly headed back to Portland, ME after our cruise, bellied up to the bar a the Great Lost Bear again and played some cribbage.

    Day 6

    We only had a little time in the morning but we made sure not to leave without checking out the brunch at Local 188 which was suggested over and over to us by our servers in Portland. It was amazing, do not leave Portland without eating there. My husband ordered one of the best bloody mary’s I have ever had and I had a delicious mimosa. For breakfast I ordered the Caribbean corned beef hash and my husband had the biscuits and gravy. You must go there.

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    In closing, I couldn’t recommend Maine for an awesome cost-efficient honeymoon. It was truly spectacular, and if you love food and craft beer it is perfect for you! Questions? Ask away!

  • The Maine Event- Honeymoon Sept. 2012

    The Maine Event- Honeymoon Sept. 2012

    Part 1 of 3

    For our honeymoon, my husband and I traveled to Maine. Why? Maine was recommended for a cost-effective romantic retreat that could be traveled in a week’s time. Our journey definitely matched that description and created lasting memories.

    Day 1

    Our first few nights were spent in Portland, Maine (which is where we flew into). As giddy newly-weds we crashed at a cheaper motel farther in from the water but we had a car so travel wasn’t an issue. The first night we walked down by the water, it was much colder than I had expected at night for September. We had dinner at a great pub with live music and tons of beer on tap. It was a Monday so there wasn’t a lot going on.

    At Andy’s we really wanted a “Maine Experience” and asked the server what we just had to have (a common question I ask restaurant staff). We got a lobster roll with bacon and avocado, macaroni and cheese with hot dogs, and the fried poppin’ shrimp mixed with fried jalapenos. The server was awesome and gave some great suggestions of where we had to go and a synopsis of the town. Apparently the local population of Portland eats out more regularly than your average city, which makes the restaurant business a bit more competitive. It was not just building after building of touristy slop.

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    I like to do some research before I travel but while I am there I depend a lot on 3 things: recommendations, Yelp, and T.V. Food Maps. All signs pointed to The Great Lost Bear which was conveniently on our way to our hotel. The Great Lost Bear has over 60 beers on tap and a wonderful atmosphere to match. It reminded me a lot of Duluth, MN (where Erik and I met). Maine reminded me a lot of Napa but focused on beer not wine and 100% less pretentious… so nothing like Napa. But beer is everything and everywhere. Lots of micro-breweries and pubs everywhere and for someone in Minnesota who does not have access to most of these brands it was very fun. Again, we were met with hospitality which helped derive a plan for our second day in Maine.

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    Day 2

    The next morning we headed back into the “downtown” area of Portland. We walked up and down Congress Street doing a bit of shopping and drinking amazing coffee from the Speckled Ax. If you want a unique coffee experience, go there. They use the fancy machines below to produce a pour over coffee. I think just the amount of time one person spent on it made my coffee taste better.

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    There are tons of shops featuring local artists and vintage pieces to fill our morning. We didn’t eat breakfast because we were saving ourselves for something very specific that had been recommended to us several times since our arrival.

    Nosh Kitchen Bar, also on Congress Street, has everything your favorite sandwich place has but with a twist. I think I could have spent weeks conquering their menu but we came for something specific. The Apocalypse Now Burger ::DUN:: DUN:: DUNNNNN:::

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    This burger patty: beef chuck, beef brisket, pork shoulder, house-cured bacon, garlic and rosemary. Accompanied with American cheese, crispy pork belly, foie gras (if you have an opinion about that I don’t really care), mayo, and cherry jam all sitting beautifully atop a brioche bun. HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES??? The burger is 20 dollars and worth every penny (my husband and I split it).

    But wait, you cannot just have a burger. You must have fries. Not just any fries… no, no, no. Bacon dusted fries. And if you are picturing tiny bacon bits you must alter you vision. The fries are perfectly coated with a powdery happiness that tastes exactly like bacon; in general it may be witchcraft.

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    We shopped around closer to the bay while waiting for our brewery tour appointment and I had to stop at Standard Baking Co. It was mentioned in almost every blog or news story I had read before going to Portland, ME. Because I have not self-control I ordered a sweet warm brioche, a savory cheese fougasse, and a baguette. Every bite was pure happiness.

    We headed up to the Allagash Brewery, which is 15 minutes from the downtown area. I have been on a lot of brewery tours and usually I am just looking forward to the samples at the end. Allagash serves you samples at the beginning! Genius. The staff were beyond friendly and made the tour intimate vs. feeling like another number.

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    It was not quite time for dinner so we headed back down to the Portland Lobster Co. for more drinks and appetizers. I am sure this is exactly what most tourists do but the atmosphere was awesome, the view was great, and there was live music. What more could you as for?

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    For dinner, we stumbled upon a delicious dinner at Vignola Cinque Terre. Italian is a weakness of mine- I could eat it for every meal (especially breakfast). I had the Rigatoni Bolognese, which was perfect because it was chilly outside. My husband had a pizza because that is what he eats. The restaurant can be perfect for a formal dinner or you could keep it casual and eat at the bar like we did.

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    We spent the rest of the night wandering around the different piers enjoying the crisp night.

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