Marché Jean-Talon – King of All Farmers’ Markets

I was awestruck by the bounty of fresh and vibrant produce at Marché Jean-Talon. The produce was beautifully displayed in several stalls under a massive tent. All of the fruits that I sampled were bursting with flavor – if only I could shop here every weekend! The perimeter of the market is also surrounded by specialty shops selling cheese, pastries, meats, and anything else your heart could desire.

So many bright colors and types of produce…and all so neatly stacked!

Even plain cauliflower looks pretty
A bell pepper fiesta!
Even the potatoes show up in colors. Purple potatoes are especially fun!
Baskets of darling little heirloom carrots
Enormous bread selection inside Boulangerie Premiére Moisson
Pâté anyone?
So many cakes and pastries, so little time.

Needless to say, I was giddy as I walked around sampling all the wonderful food at Marché Jean-Talon. I loooove this place! I also went to Marché Atwater during my visity, but it’s much smaller and more crowded with tourists than Marché Jean-Talon. [Tip: Marché Jean-Talon is further from Montreal’s downtown center, but an easy trip on the subway with its own stop.]

BITE METER: Marché Jean-Talon – 4.5 bites (out of 5)

Helicopter Ride Over Kauai

One of the best (and only) ways to see Kauai is by helicopter since over 70%(!) of the island is inaccessible by car. Kauai is the oldest of the Hawaiian islands and has the most diverse terrain. After researching various helicopter tour companies, I decided to go with Blue Hawaiian Helicopters. They’ve received lots of accolades and seemed to have the best reputation for service, experience, and safety.

B and I were fortunate enough to be seated in the front of the helicopter with the pilot. By far, the best seat in the house with open views in all directions (unlike the back row seats). FYI – you can’t reserve the front seats. The seats are assigned by the computer based on weight, and you’re more likely to sit in the front if you’re lighter.

Our ride

This is river where Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark was filmed. Many movies are filmed in Kauai, the most famous being Jurassic Park.

Waimea Canyon, ‘the Grand Canyon of the Pacific”

Picture-perfect mirror lake in the middle of a forest

Cascading waterfalls

The jagged Napali Coast (western side of the island), makes me think of folds of molten chocolate.

I especially loved flying through the narrow valleys.

The most amazing part of the flight – flying into the middle of the island and being completely surrounded by waterfalls. Our pilot performed a smooth 360 turn so we had a total panoramic view of all the falls. With almost 800 inches of rain each year, this is the wettest spot in the world!
The helicopter ride was spectacular and well-worth the $200/person. [Tip: Book online to save 10%.] I would highly recommend Blue Hawaiian Helicopters…the staff was professional, the helicopters looked new and felt safe, and the experience was mesmerizing.

BITE METER: Blue Hawaiian Helicopters – 4.5 bites (out of 5)

Train Ride from Boston to New York

B and I headed to New York for the weekend to visit our friends (thanks for being such wonderful hosts, D&N!). Maybe because I’m so used to flying around the country, I’d never thought of taking the train until B suggested it…I’ve been missing out! The train ride from Boston to New York was filled with gorgeous scenery as we passed through Connecticut and Rhode Island. It was so much more pleasant than sitting in a cramped airplane and actually took about same amount of time as flying (if you factor in time to/from airports, checking in, and security lines). The best part was that the Amtrak ticket cost half of what our plane tickets would have cost…sweet, more money to spend on food! :-9
One of the picturesque towns in Connecticut
Hello, Concrete Jungle!

Jack London Square Farmers’ Market

It was a beautiful Sunday morning, so B and I decided to check out the Jack London Square Farmers’ Market in Oakland (Ferry Plaza Farmers’ Market in SF is closed on Sundays). Similar to the Ferry Plaza, this farmers' market has tents set up along a waterfront, giving it a beautiful backdrop. There’s also a soon-to-open plaza/building for permanent local vendors.
What I liked about this market:
- Has more of a festive vibe and family-oriented atmosphere than the one in San Francisco
- The prepared food stands were excellent! My favorites were the Indian food stand (forget name, but not Sukhi’s), East & West Gourmet Afghan Food stand, and Cholita Linda’s taco stand.
- Tons of seating on the lawn and along the water with gorgeous views
- Parking was surprisingly easy

What I didn’t like about this market:
- There were only a few produce stands and the selection was slim. (Keep in mind, that I’ve been spoiled by the size and number of vendors at the Ferry Plaza for several years)
- It's relatively small and doesn't take long to cover the whole market
- They don’t proactively give out of free samples and let you try the fresh produce/food

Chicken Tikka Masala Naan Roll – my favorite eat of the day! You must come to the Indian food stand and get one. I forget their name, but make sure it’s the one with a portable tandoori oven. I was really impressed that they actually had a tandoori oven at a food stand to ensure the quality of their naan…and you can definitely taste the difference! It’s warm, soft, and a little bit crispy on the outside, but not too doughy on the inside - basically, awesome. There were many different types of naan rolls, but I chose the one filled with savory and spicy chicken tikka masala…DELISH!! [Tip: the naan rolls are large and quite filling, so I recommend sharing one if you want to eat at more than one food stand]

East & West Gourmet Afghan Food – I was smitten as soon as I tasted a sample of their spinach bolani (thin, stuffed flat-bread) topped with their garlic mint cheese spread and sweet jalapeno jelly. YUM!! I loved the interplay of the cool mint and creamy cheese with the sweet spice of the jelly, and the bolani was the perfect canvas. Of course, I had to buy some!
Cholita Linda – their mint limeade is a must! Refreshing and thirst-quenching. I also liked their spit-roasted chicken taco (the fish taco was just ok), and appreciated the side of tortilla chips with oxacan cotija cheese.
Golden Nugget Mandarins – I’ve never seen such wrinkly and bumpy oranges before. Fortunately, they taste better than they look.
Organic Strawberries – Beware of this stand! The strawberries looked beautiful when we purchased them, but went bad and molded the very next day...grrr.
BITE METER: Jack London Square Farmers’ Market – 3.5 bites (out of 5)

Other Side Trips from Sydney

Hunter Valley is the wine region about 2 hours outside Sydney. My mom’s not a big wine drinker (i.e. wino like me), so we didn’t spend that much time here. The area is magnificent, a rolling countryside filled with vineyards under the bright blue sky.
We stayed at the Sebel Kirkton Park Hotel . It’s a charming property, part Southern plantation home with its wraparound porches and part English country with its rose gardens. The rooms were small but quaint, each with a balcony looking out onto the manicured grounds. However, I would steer clear of the hotel’s restaurant, Infuzion, if you can help it. The restaurant served ridiculously overpriced mediocre food (~$20/appetizer, $30-40/main course). I had an overcooked, spongey crab soufflé for my appetizer, and sad, limp pasta dish for my main course. I didn't even want to try their dessert.


We also took a day trip to the Blue Mountains (90 minutes from Sydney). I had heard that the scenery was breathtaking, but the rain and clouds detracted from my experience. The oils from the eucalyptus trees give the mountains their “blue” haze.
The Three Sisters are one of the most famous rock formations in the Blue Mountains. Their formation is based on an Aboriginal legend.
BITE METER: Sebel Kirkton Park Hotel – 3.5 bites (out of 5)
BITE METER: Infuzion – 1.0 bites (out of 5)

Dolphins, and Sea gulls, and Camels! Oh, my!

This was probably my favorite day out of the whole trip. We had so much fun at Port Stephens and Stockton Beach. It’s about 2.5 hours from Sydney, and I highly recommend the excursion.

We started out with a boat ride at Port Stephens. Great way to enjoy the sunshine and feel the wind blowing in your hair. There were quite a few little islands with white sand beaches.

A fearless one-legged sea gull braves the sky.

About 20-30 dolphins swam right alongside our boat. I was giddy to see so many so close.

Yes, folks…there are camels in Australia!! I learn something new everyday.

Sandboarding near Stockton Beach - what a fun experience! It was absolutely beautiful here among the huge dunes of powder-like sand.

Where the sand meets the sky.

Exotic Foods of Sydney’s Asian Markets

These large, brownish-purplish crustaceans are Mud Crabs (aka: mangrove crabs), which I had the pleasure of eating a few days before.
One of the largest species of crab in the world, this Tasmanian Giant Crab was literally twice the size of my head! They average 20-30 pounds each…now that is a LOT of crab meat. I will definitely have to feast on one next time I’m in Australia.
The Kona Crab is probably the strangest looking crustacean I’ve ever seen. I wonder how it tastes…although it doesn’t look very appetizing to me.
These Mangosteens were gorgeous! Bright purple and lime green, they are my mom’s favorite fruit. The inside is white and fleshy…super sweet when eaten fresh, but they turn sour very quickly if you don’t get eat them in their prime.
I first had Rambutans during a trip to Vietnam. They are funky looking, but sweet and juicy on the inside…like a larger version of the lychee fruit.
I thought these Kiwiberries were so exotic…until I later saw them at the Whole Foods in Boston (no idea how I missed them until now)! Anyways, I had never seen them before this trip and thought they were cute. They tasted exactly like a tiny kiwi.

Creatures of the Land Down Under

We went to the Australian Reptile Park to get to know the wildlife. Not the best zoo I've been to, but it was cool to feed the kangaroos (they're greedy little creatures!)

Koalas sleep 18 hours a day…only waking up to eat. What a relaxing life!
“Whatchu talking’ about, Willis?!”
Ironically, this alligator is from the U.S.
Rock wallabies – Do you see the adorable baby in the pouch?

This would be a fun place for kids. However, if it's only adults, I'd recommend only stop by here if it was along the way to an excursion outside Sydney (it's an hour north of the city).

BITE METER: Australian Reptile Park – 3.0 bites (out of 5)

Sightseeing in Sydney

I took my mom on a trip to Australia for some quality mother-daughter time. This was the first visit for either of us, so we spent a lot of time sightseeing…and of course, eating! We mostly ate Asian cuisine because it’s my mom’s preference, and I have to say the Asian food in Sydney rivals (if not surpasses) that of most other cities outside of Asia.

Sydney Harbour Bridge
The stunning Sydney Opera House
My mom has always wanted to eat giant abalone, so we had lunch at Golden Century, one of Sydney’s top Chinese seafood restaurants. It’s pricey, but well worth it. We started off with a bowl of dried scallop soup. Then we had Mud Crab with Ginger & Scallions. I’m a huge crustacean fan and was excited about trying something new. The Mud Crab was EXCELLENT – like a cross between Dungeness crab, stone crab, and blue crab…it was large, yet the meat was succulent and sweet.
Steamed Giant Abalone – more tender and delicate than any abalone I’ve ever had. Beautifully prepared, it reminded me of thinly sliced squid, only sweeter and less chewy. I also didn’t know abalone meat could be white – all the other abalone I’ve had was smaller with a light beige colored meat. This abalone tasted totally different.
Darling Harbour
We then stopped for a “snack” at Din Tai Fung. Originated in Taiwan, Din Tai Fung is famous for their dumplings and has people lined up at their locations all over the world. The quality of their Sydney location is a bit inconsistent, although their dumplings are still superior to other restaurant’s that I’ve been to. The steamed pork dumplings (their most popular) weren’t as juicy, like it had been sitting around for a few minutes too long. However, their steamed crab and pork dumplings were SUBLIME! They were bursting with hot juice from the perfectly steamed crab and pork, and the wrapping was fine and satin-like (pictured). We had also ordered the steamed mashed red bean buns for dessert, but they forgot our order (boo!) and we had to get going.
We had dinner in Cabramatta, the predominantly Vietnamese part of town. I forget the name of the restaurant, but they’re oysters rocked! Plump and luscious with lots of flavor – cooked with black bean sauce (on right) and ginger and scallions (on left).
Recommendation: You MUST also try the pho (Vietnamese noodle soup) in Cabramatta. I had it here for lunch during another day, and it’s seriously the BEST PHO I’ve had (outside of Vietnam). Don’t get the chicken pho, go with the traditional beef pho…the broth had so many layers of rich flavor and heaping with slices of tender beef.

BITE METER: Golden Century – 4.0 bites (out of 5)
BITE METER: Din Tai Fung – 3.7 bites (out of 5)