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Legoland Discovery Centre (Toronto)

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Disclosure: I was provided tickets for my family to visit the Legoland Discovery Centre but all opinions are my own.

My family and I headed East to spend some time with family in Toronto and celebrate Canada in Ottawa. The whole time we were there, it rained. So what do you do when you have kids that need to get out and play? Head on over to the Legoland Discovery Centre in Vaughn.

The Legoland Discovery Centre is very different from the Legolands in the US. This was an indoor playground and exactly what we needed to escape the rain.

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marriott calgary airport in-terminal hotel

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When Calgary’s new international terminal opened late last year, the new Marriott In-Terminal Hotel also opened. Located between the international and domestic terminals, the hotel boasts 318 guest rooms, Fitness Centre, a swimming pool and Yakima, the hotel restaurant and bar.

Marriott Exterior

The fact that it’s located right in the airport is so convenient, especially for those early morning flights. Last month, when we headed to Cuba, our friends spent the night since our flight was at 6am. Needless to say, we totally wished we had done the same, as we were heading out the door at 3am.

Marriott Looking Out

My family and I were invited to spend the night and check out the hotel for ourselves. We jumped at the chance to have a mini staycation, especially since I had checked out the hotel during the opening and loved everything about it.

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breakfast at disney’s aulani (honolulu)

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This past February, I finally made it to Hawaii! I didn’t need a gift
for my birthday in March, just a trip with my family. We went to
Honolulu with both sets of parents and had a wonderful time. Although we
didn’t spend our ten days at Aulani, Disney’s resort in Hawaii, we did
manage to go there for breakfast.

After
taking a Disney cruise, we have become fans of  all things Disney so we
were very excited for our morning at the Character Breakfast.

The
Disney Character Breakfast takes place at Makahiki, the restaurant
located on the first floor. Our first stop was a picture with the top
mouse himself, Mickey. He took the time to shake hands with the kids and
give out hugs. We were also given enough time to take pictures with him
as a large group as well as smaller groups. The line wasn’t huge and
this one-on-one was a pleasant surprise.

Makahiki
is all about buffet dining and there was so much variety for breakfast.
They had a little kids station which was stocked with Mickey waffles
(!), scrambled eggs and tater tots.  Breakfast also included an omelet
station, smoked salmon, various meats and cheeses, loads of fruit, eggs,
pastries and dessert. There is definitely something for everyone!

We
had visits from Goofy and Minnie who took the time to come by and take
pictures. Aunty entertained with her ukelele and got the kids to
participate in a little performance around the restaurant.  It was such a
memorable day!

If
you are celebrating a birthday or anniversary, be sure to let them know
when making a reservation. In true Disney style, they really do make
you feel special.

canada beef and karisma resorts

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I first learned about the Canadian Beef Culinary Series last year, when I attended the Canada Beef & Karisma dinner at Rouge restaurant in Calgary. It was there that I sampled amazing beef dishes created by Chefs Allemeier and Rogalski and learned about Karisma resort. It was also there that I won a stay at the hotel in the Mayan Riviera, which turned out to be one of our favourite vacations (Part 1 | Part 2).

I was excited to be invited this month to the Karisma Influencer and Media event held at the new Canadian Beef Centre of Excellence which opened earlier this year in Calgary.

We were fortunate to be treated to a four course meal made by the talented chefs at Karisma Hotels featuring Canada Beef.  With Jeroen Hanlo, VP of Food & Beverage Operations at Karisma Hotels, the chefs kept us entertained and well fed all evening. 

We first toured the amazing centre – fully equipped with a consumer kitchen, commercial kitchen as well as the beef fabrication room. We learned a lot from Marty Carpenter, the Centre Director and Abe van Melle, the Centre Technical Manager.

The evening started out with a tasty bite – beef tartare with habanero aioli. The platter was beautiful arranged with flowers and the beef was served on potato chips.

Our first course was Canadian AAA Spice Rubbed Tri-Tip, Baby Beets, Blue Cheese, Chantrelle Mushroom prepared by Chef Florian Durre, Executive Chef and Elorado Royale.

Our second course was Canadian AAA Petit Tenderloin, Yucatan Sauce “Chimole” prepared by Chef Jonaten Gomez Luna, Executive Chef at La Chique.

Our main course was the Canadian AAA Aged Rib-Eye, Black Corn Truffle, Creamy Sweet Corn  with Traditional Mole and Tamarind. The rib-eye was my favourite cut, soft like butter. This course was prepared by Chef Francisco Perez, Executive Chef and Dorado Seaside Suites.

The final course was an amazing sight. The chefs prepared dessert using liquid nitrogen! The nitrogen was used to make creamy rhubarb sorbet as well as icy beads of carrot juice. This along with some coconut sponge, yogurt foam and cotton candy made for a flavourful dessert with lots of textures.

It was a fantastic evening, combining a couple of my favourite things – beef and Mexico!

banff springs hotel eats

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After a hard week of moving, I am dreaming of an escape. I loved my little getaway last month to the Banff Springs Hotel. Although I was there for work, I was able to enjoy a lot of what the beautiful hotel had to offer. Finding a place to fill your belly was an easy task with all the dining options available. There were so many places to eat, there are still a lot more places I have yet to visit. Here are the few I was able to check out.

In-Room Dining
I was exhausted my first night and in-room dining seemed the way to go. I made a great choice with the Grown-Up Mac and Cheese.  The decadent pasta contained lobster, foraged mushroom and truffled Boursin cream. It was rich and was the perfect bowl of comfort food.

Samurai Sushi Bar and Restaurant
This popular sushi restaurant located close to the spa is one you definitely want to make reservations for. I was able to get room at the sushi bar and enjoyed a couple of rolls. Definitely helped with my sushi craving.

Castle Pantry
This deli in the hotel was perfect for grabbing something quick and delicious. I had heard lots about the seafood chowder – filled with fish and shrimp. Definitely a must try. Hubby had the chili and was delighted with the meat-filled dish.

Rundle Lounge
Afternoon Tea is a must try, located on the second floor of the Rundle Lounge. It’s a great way to spend the afternoon. Read more about it here.

The restaurant is also a great place for lunch. We ordered the Lamb Donair Flatbread which had hummus, onion and was topped with yogurt. It was cheesy and delicious.  We also tried the Surf & Turf Roll, minus the bacon. The sandwich was filled with lobster, shrimp, scallops and smoked salmon – the perfect dish for seafood lovers. Served with a side of sweet potato fries, our meal was filling and delicious.

I’m looking forward to my next visit to the castle in the mountains!

willow stream spa

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Just over an hour away, is a sanctuary for any tired mamma. Located in the Banff Springs Hotel, the Willow Stream Spa is the perfect place for some R and R. Hubby and I took advantage of a kid free weekend and enjoyed some time at the spa.

With most spa services, hotel spa access is complimentary. Spa access allows you to take advantage of the 3 waterfall treatment whirlpools as well as the mineral pool and the outdoor whirlpool. Even if you don’t get a treatment, you can relax the day away in the sauna, steam room and inhalation room.

There’s even a co-ed resting lounge where you can hydrate with flavoured water and enjoy some snacks like cookies and granola bars. The granola bars are my fave and the attendant happily brought me some when I noticed they were not out. They are the best! You can even order some lunch, relaxing in your robe.

It was such a great day and a much needed break. I can’t wait until my next escape!

canada beef culinary series in mexico

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While in Mexico staying at the Generations Resort by Karisma, we were able to enjoy the Canada Beef Culinary Series. For the past year, each month had a whole week dedicated to Canadian Beef. The program highlighted a different chef from Canada coming up with some great beef creations. The dishes were then paired with a wine by an expert from Jackson Family Wines. This was such a successful collaboration that the Culinary Series is back for 2015!

While we were there in December, we were treated to food by Chef Roger Sleiman from Kelowna. while wine pairings were done by Ben Fine from Jackson Family Wine.

I enjoyed the cooking class one night while hubby and I both attended the gala dinner.  Take a look at some of the delicious dishes that we enjoyed!

Lime Marinated Canadian Inside Skirt
Watermelon, Feta, Mint, Pepitas
Spice Rubbed Canadian Top Sirloin
Cabbage and Radish Slaw, Avocado
Canadian New York Strip Steak
Corn Puree, Chimichurri

Canadian Beef Carpaccio
Arugula, Fried Capers, Parmesan, Mustard Aioli
Marinated Canadian Tri Tip
Grilled Ratatouille, Pesto
Coffee & Ancho Braised Canadian Short Rib
Mushroom Arancini
Canadian Beef Tenderloin
Anna Potato, Braised Cambray Onion
Dark Chocolate Cremeux Tart
Cream, Caramel

generations by karisma, part 2

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One of the highlights of staying at the Generations Resort by Karisma in the Mayan Riviera was the food. With the resort boasting Gourmet Inclusive, the food and the experience was amazing. We were happy to not eat from a buffet for every meal and were able to try some outstanding dishes. Here is a glimpse of some the food we enjoyed.

The only buffet at the resort was the Chef Market which was open for breakfast and lunch. Breakfast featured an omelet station and lots of continental fare to make everyone happy. The bread was amazing and the crepes were a treat. Lunch featured some great items like seafood and pasta. Salsa, guacamole and ceviche were a constant. It was delicious!

Jade was one of our favourites featuring pan-asian cuisine. We enjoyed sushi, tempura, gyozas and lots of seafood. One evening, we had the Shabu Shabu hot pot with chicken, fish, beef and shrimp and vegetables. It was a fun interactive meal!

Habb was a beautiful Mediterranean restaurant. We started  with hummus, tzatziki and pita followed by tuna carpaccio, beef kebabs, braised beef and salmon stuffed ravioli.

Wine Kitchen was another beauty with glass bottles adding to the decor. The thai mussels and the duck with lentils were my favourites while hubby and Q’s faves were the scallops and beef tenderloin.

Palms Gourmet Terrace was the restaurant by the pool open for lunch. Shrimp tacos and calamari filled our bellies while we took a break from the beach. Of course salsa and guacamole was a must at every meal!

generations by karisma, part 1

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It’s been almost a month since we spent a glorious week in Mexico, staying at the Generations Resort by Karisma in the Mayan Riviera. We actually won our stay there, winning at the Great Canadian Beef Cookout. It was such a wonderful trip that I couldn’t wait to share all the details. Everything was five star from the resort, the food (oh the food!), the activities for the kids and of course, enjoying the Canadian Beef Culinary Series. Enjoying Canadian beef in Mexico was certainly a treat!

Today’s post will set the scene. Be sure to stay tuned on Tuesdays in January for more on our trip and lots of food porn!

We were picked up from the airport and taken to the resort in a luxury SUV. The weather was hot so it was nice to be in an air conditioned vehicle on the half hour drive to the resort. We were met at the door with drinks and smiling faces. After checking in, we were introduced to our butler who took us to our room and showed us around. Our butlers were amazing! Ivan and Luiz took great care of us, ensuring that we had everything we needed. They were the best!

Our room was huge! There was lots of space and included a living room, a kitchen, a huge dining table, 2 bathrooms, a private outdoor shower and a very spacious bedroom. Although we were on the third floor, we also had an infinity pool right outside our balcony. From the second we got there, we didn’t want to leave.

Travelling with a baby can be hard with all the stuff that you need to take with you. The hotel took care of us in that department too! They had everything ready for us – a crib, a stoller, a playpen, a bottle sterilizer, a bottle warmer, a change table and even baby food.

The hotel boasts a Gourmet Inclusive Experience, meaning the restaurants and the food that they serve are amazing and definitely above par. More on that next week!

There are many pools on the grounds as well as a swim up bar. We spent a lot of time in the cabanas on the beach. Q was able to play in the sand or the ocean while Z napped. The beach butlers Ivan and Enrique ensured our cabana was ready for us to enjoy. They even had a cart that had sunscreen, newspapers, books and sand toys – you really didn’t have to bring a single thing!

I had a chance to check out the greenhouse that was located at the El Dorado Royale next door. It’s the first resort greenhouse in the region and was quite impressive at 100,000 square feet. The facility produces eight to ten tonnes of herbs, fruits and vegetables per month and distributes it to all the Karisma resorts in the region.

The Entertainment Team at the resort were amazing! The team of four – Alex, Oscar, Penelope and Carolina – were always there ready to have a good time. They quickly learned our names and spent lots of time with the kids, giving them loads of attention. Q got attached to all of them and still misses them.

There was entertainment every night. From acrobats to dancers to magicians, the performers always put on quite a show.

There was a lot for the kids to do, which I loved! The Eko Kids Club was a fun place for Q to go during the day and hang out with other kids. There was a ball pit, video games and lots of arts and crafts. Part of the club was Little Eko Chefs. The kids got to wear chef hats and aprons and were able to make something different every day. Q had fun making gazpacho, tortillas and even sushi. It was so great that they had this!

It was a great resort with amazing service. There is no question that we will go back!

karisma and canadian beef

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The holidays are done and we are back to our busy routine. School, work, extra curricular activities – it is definitely back to the grind.

We were lucky to escape in December, and oh what an escape it was! We enjoyed a week at the Generations Resort by Karisma in the Mayan Riviera while enjoying the Canadian Beef Culinary Series at the El Dorado Hotel next door. It was a wonderful week and Q keeps asking when we get to go back. If you were following along on Instagram, you know how spoiled we were while enjoying the Mexican sun. Looking forward to sharing about our trip next week for Travel Tuesday. Stay tuned!