While I was in LA - I experience my first earthquake. Hello, how could I forget that??? I actually managed not to panic and not to get up and run outside. I was at the LA Convention Center and if you've never been there...the front of the building is glass. Running outside of my meeting room just didn't seem like a great idea. It was, in the end, somewhat uneventful.
This past weekend Jason and I went to Corpus Christi for a wedding. We decided to fly down (saving 8 hours on the road) and stayed at the Omni Bayfront, where the reception was to be held. I have a rather funny story that involves the hotel and a $70 room rate, but I don't think sharing it online is the best idea. You'll have to ask me in person.
For Corpus to be a city on the ocean, their seafood selection downtown was rather lacking. Since we decided not to rent a car, we tried to keep most food choices within walking distance. This was pretty easy except on Friday, when we were in need of a place to watch the Cowboys beat the Texans. The option, take a cab to Buffalo Wild Wing. I felt quite guilty flying all the way to Corpus to take a cab to BW3's...but I like the food and wanted to watch the game!
Saturday we walked to the Water Street Restaurant for lunch. Jason had some raw oysters and a Mesquite Grilled Shrimp Po Boy and I had...a hamburger. For the record, I've been craving a good burger since my trip to LA, so I felt finally justified. Even if I didn't eat seafood. BUT we all know I'm not a big fan of much seafood.
The wedding Saturday night was really nice. Jason attended his first full mass Catholic wedding. I had to make a potty break once. We saw the guy we sat next to on the airplane at the wedding (small world) and were entertained by a mariachi band during the reception! It was really nice to spend the weekend with some college friends that we don't see often. Of course, we all talked about how we need to get together more often. Seriously, we live 2-3 hours away and it's been over a year since we've seen these people? Well, longer for me because I didn't make their wedding! I think I need to make visiting with friends a bigger priority in my life...
Today we slept in (thank goodness) and went to lunch at the Executive Surf Club, part of the Water Street Restaurants. Jason had a Hollister Wrap and I had the quesadillas. Sounds boring, but they were made with a creamy Pepper Jack cheese...yum. For the record, if you're in Corpus this is a good live music venue.
Tonight I cooked! I threw potatoes in the microwave and browned some ground beef with a mushroom gravy. Clearly, a delicacy. Ha! I'm going to finish it off with a cup of triple chocolate ice cream. I promise, one day I'll cook real food again. Maybe when I'm cooking for two and not four...
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Travel, travel, travel
I typically don't travel for work. Ok, well not that often and it usually consists of drives to Austin. But for the last three weeks I've been a "jet setter!" I don't think I like it. I gain too much weight, don't sleep well, and by day 3 my feet want to fall off and run away.
My first trip was to Los Angeles for the NBTA convention. I was dreading this like nothing else. Mostly because I found out 5 days before I needed to leave that I was going. Overall, I did have a good time. I ate some good food and met some great people within my company that I think can teach me quite a bit. I did stay at a hotel that looked like a flashback from a 1984 beach condo, complete with the sea foam green and peach bedspread and seashell lamp...but considering I booked 5 days out for a 4,000 person conference...I did good!
Now for the details. When I arrived Saturday night I walked across the street from the hotel for dinner at Adoro Mexican Grille. I tried the Chicken & Beef Quesadillas and a glass of Clos du Bois Chardonnay. I will say that their salsa is great, the food was ok (needed a little more spice, in my opinion) and I loved the wine. Clos du Bois is one of my favorite chardonnays. Our opening reception was held at LA Live - a venue downtown that is home of the Nokia theater, where the finale of American Idol was held. All of the food was catered by Wolfgang Puck, but I was just not blown over by it.
Lunches were mostly held at the Convention Center and those usually include dry chicken in a cream sauce, rice and veggies. Nothing exciting here folks, keep reading. The closing reception was on the pool deck at the Westin Bonaventure, and again I was not blown away by the food. They served hot dogs. I'm serious. They did have other food, but hot dogs? Ok...a few of my friends bailed and went to dinner at a restaurant.
I managed my third trip to LA without seeing anything touristy...how do I keep doing that? The only "LA" thing I managed to see was the Beverly Hilton. Our company held a party there one night in the ballroom where the Golden Globes are held! As I went to the bathroom I kept thinking about two things. First, years ago an actress who played on Chicago Hope won best actress...and was in the bathroom when they announced it! Second, I kept wondering what celeb used the toiled I was using. Weird, I know, but you have to wonder - did Angelia potty here or is she too good for that? Our entertainment was a few couples from Dancing with the Stars (I'm not a fan, so I can't tell you who) and the food was selected off of previous Golden Globe menus. Lots of tofu and organic stuff. Though, the carved Organic Turkey was the best thing of the night!
I did manage to go out to eat a few times. I went with some colleagues to Morton's Steakhouse - fantastic!! I ordered the Fillet Oscar and we also ordered a sample of sides, so I had a little bit of everything. Lunch one day was California Pizza Kitchen. We have one here in Houston, but it's a little far from my house and I've managed to go one time. I must not have been overly excited. I think the best part of my lunch that day was the two cold beers I enjoyed. After standing on your feet for 3 days, sitting on the patio in the cool LA weather (in July!!) with a cold beer is excellent!
After the closing reception, I went to dinner with a few colleagues at Roy's, a Hawaiian Fusion restaurant. There is a Roy's in Austin, but I've never been. And I go to Austin quite often. A friend of mine, Selina, has suggested dinner there several times and I know why! This was fantastic. I had the Napa Cellars Chardonnay, the Boston Bibb Salad with Buttermilk Blue Cheese (oh, was this good!), and a Hibachi style Grilled Atlantic Salmon - to die for! This was by far my favorite meal.
I flew back on a Thursday and Jason left the following Tuesday for Philadelphia. He came home Friday and I left Saturday for the MPI convention in Las Vegas.
The entire MPI convention was held at the Mandalay Bay. As a meeting planner, you would have to threaten my life for me to have a conference in Vegas. Why? Well, I'd want a successful conference...not one where my attendees were either gambling or at the beach. I'm not saying much, but I will say that the Mandalay Bay has a fantastic beach. ((wink, wink))
Our opening reception was a Caesar's in their ballroom. It was crowded, but the food was good. What little bit I ate! They opened PURE nightclub for MPI guests early, so a group of colleagues decided to check it out. This is where things get fuzzy...not from drinking, but from the fact that it was 11:30pm (1:30 my time) and I'd been up since 7am...I was dead on my feet. Somehow we ended up in a VIP lounge area...with bottle service. I heard a rumor that the tab was $5000. No, I do not have type-o. That is the correct number. When you are served a large bottle of Moet Chandon, a gallon bottle of Belvedere, two bottles of wine and the setup for that...in Vegas...it gets expensive.
The next few days were filled with meals served on plates the size of my hand. I think this is how they make money - the food you are served during the convention consists of salads in a cup, panini's that are about 1" wide, greasy mini burgers on a pretzel roll and bite size desserts. When you leave you are starving, so the only option is to get a real meal in the hotel that you pay $20-30 for. Cha-ching.
Honestly, I ate two meals that were not part of the "convention meal service." One was an appetizer from House of Blues - I'm glad I did that because the line to get food at the closing reception was unreal, so I never ate. Oh, I ordered room service (Nachos) one night when I got back from an event...I was starving.
The second meal was Aureole. Those of you who watch the Next Food Network Star might be familiar with their wine bar. I think that's the only good thing there. The service was ok, but not great and the food...well, I paid twice as much for it as I did at Morton's the week before and it could not hold a candle to my Fillet Oscar. The option was a three course prix fixe menu. I started with a tomato and buffalo mozzarella salad, a duo entree of Fillet and Flatiron Steak served with potatoes and asparagus and finished with a Peanut Butter Cake and Coconut Ice Cream. It just wasn't stellar, and to be honest the crappy service was a turn off.
I can say that the best meal I had was served at our closing luncheon. The food was all fresh products local to the Salt Lake City area (the hosts) and included a Summer Greens Salad with Goat Cheese, a Lavender and Pepper Encrusted Fillet of Beef with Beehive Cheese Potato Gratin and a trio of desserts (Chocolate Mousse, Berry Macaroon and Cheesecake). I left there happy to have used my fork and my knife and not having to carry my plate while eating at the same time!
By the time I arrived back in Texas I was ready for dinner with my mom Thursday night at one of my favorite places, Chuy's. I may have travelled quite a bit, eaten at places I probably would not normally go, but nothing beats a bowl of creamy jalapeno sauce and a Chika Chika Boom Boom for dinner.
My first trip was to Los Angeles for the NBTA convention. I was dreading this like nothing else. Mostly because I found out 5 days before I needed to leave that I was going. Overall, I did have a good time. I ate some good food and met some great people within my company that I think can teach me quite a bit. I did stay at a hotel that looked like a flashback from a 1984 beach condo, complete with the sea foam green and peach bedspread and seashell lamp...but considering I booked 5 days out for a 4,000 person conference...I did good!
Now for the details. When I arrived Saturday night I walked across the street from the hotel for dinner at Adoro Mexican Grille. I tried the Chicken & Beef Quesadillas and a glass of Clos du Bois Chardonnay. I will say that their salsa is great, the food was ok (needed a little more spice, in my opinion) and I loved the wine. Clos du Bois is one of my favorite chardonnays. Our opening reception was held at LA Live - a venue downtown that is home of the Nokia theater, where the finale of American Idol was held. All of the food was catered by Wolfgang Puck, but I was just not blown over by it.
Lunches were mostly held at the Convention Center and those usually include dry chicken in a cream sauce, rice and veggies. Nothing exciting here folks, keep reading. The closing reception was on the pool deck at the Westin Bonaventure, and again I was not blown away by the food. They served hot dogs. I'm serious. They did have other food, but hot dogs? Ok...a few of my friends bailed and went to dinner at a restaurant.
I managed my third trip to LA without seeing anything touristy...how do I keep doing that? The only "LA" thing I managed to see was the Beverly Hilton. Our company held a party there one night in the ballroom where the Golden Globes are held! As I went to the bathroom I kept thinking about two things. First, years ago an actress who played on Chicago Hope won best actress...and was in the bathroom when they announced it! Second, I kept wondering what celeb used the toiled I was using. Weird, I know, but you have to wonder - did Angelia potty here or is she too good for that? Our entertainment was a few couples from Dancing with the Stars (I'm not a fan, so I can't tell you who) and the food was selected off of previous Golden Globe menus. Lots of tofu and organic stuff. Though, the carved Organic Turkey was the best thing of the night!
I did manage to go out to eat a few times. I went with some colleagues to Morton's Steakhouse - fantastic!! I ordered the Fillet Oscar and we also ordered a sample of sides, so I had a little bit of everything. Lunch one day was California Pizza Kitchen. We have one here in Houston, but it's a little far from my house and I've managed to go one time. I must not have been overly excited. I think the best part of my lunch that day was the two cold beers I enjoyed. After standing on your feet for 3 days, sitting on the patio in the cool LA weather (in July!!) with a cold beer is excellent!
After the closing reception, I went to dinner with a few colleagues at Roy's, a Hawaiian Fusion restaurant. There is a Roy's in Austin, but I've never been. And I go to Austin quite often. A friend of mine, Selina, has suggested dinner there several times and I know why! This was fantastic. I had the Napa Cellars Chardonnay, the Boston Bibb Salad with Buttermilk Blue Cheese (oh, was this good!), and a Hibachi style Grilled Atlantic Salmon - to die for! This was by far my favorite meal.
I flew back on a Thursday and Jason left the following Tuesday for Philadelphia. He came home Friday and I left Saturday for the MPI convention in Las Vegas.
The entire MPI convention was held at the Mandalay Bay. As a meeting planner, you would have to threaten my life for me to have a conference in Vegas. Why? Well, I'd want a successful conference...not one where my attendees were either gambling or at the beach. I'm not saying much, but I will say that the Mandalay Bay has a fantastic beach. ((wink, wink))
Our opening reception was a Caesar's in their ballroom. It was crowded, but the food was good. What little bit I ate! They opened PURE nightclub for MPI guests early, so a group of colleagues decided to check it out. This is where things get fuzzy...not from drinking, but from the fact that it was 11:30pm (1:30 my time) and I'd been up since 7am...I was dead on my feet. Somehow we ended up in a VIP lounge area...with bottle service. I heard a rumor that the tab was $5000. No, I do not have type-o. That is the correct number. When you are served a large bottle of Moet Chandon, a gallon bottle of Belvedere, two bottles of wine and the setup for that...in Vegas...it gets expensive.
The next few days were filled with meals served on plates the size of my hand. I think this is how they make money - the food you are served during the convention consists of salads in a cup, panini's that are about 1" wide, greasy mini burgers on a pretzel roll and bite size desserts. When you leave you are starving, so the only option is to get a real meal in the hotel that you pay $20-30 for. Cha-ching.
Honestly, I ate two meals that were not part of the "convention meal service." One was an appetizer from House of Blues - I'm glad I did that because the line to get food at the closing reception was unreal, so I never ate. Oh, I ordered room service (Nachos) one night when I got back from an event...I was starving.
The second meal was Aureole. Those of you who watch the Next Food Network Star might be familiar with their wine bar. I think that's the only good thing there. The service was ok, but not great and the food...well, I paid twice as much for it as I did at Morton's the week before and it could not hold a candle to my Fillet Oscar. The option was a three course prix fixe menu. I started with a tomato and buffalo mozzarella salad, a duo entree of Fillet and Flatiron Steak served with potatoes and asparagus and finished with a Peanut Butter Cake and Coconut Ice Cream. It just wasn't stellar, and to be honest the crappy service was a turn off.
I can say that the best meal I had was served at our closing luncheon. The food was all fresh products local to the Salt Lake City area (the hosts) and included a Summer Greens Salad with Goat Cheese, a Lavender and Pepper Encrusted Fillet of Beef with Beehive Cheese Potato Gratin and a trio of desserts (Chocolate Mousse, Berry Macaroon and Cheesecake). I left there happy to have used my fork and my knife and not having to carry my plate while eating at the same time!
By the time I arrived back in Texas I was ready for dinner with my mom Thursday night at one of my favorite places, Chuy's. I may have travelled quite a bit, eaten at places I probably would not normally go, but nothing beats a bowl of creamy jalapeno sauce and a Chika Chika Boom Boom for dinner.
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