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Once upon a time there was a city in Finland with two names. "Åbo" is the Swedish name for this city on the Finnish coast and "Turku" is the Finnish name. I was told that Åbo means "near the river" or something similar. This city is defined in part by its water – the River Aurajoki and the Baltic Sea. A journey to Åbo is an utterly amazing experience, especially when your method of transportation is a Viking Line ship. There is much to see in the oldest city in Finland,...
Stockholm is a jazzy, dashing and entirely delightful city complete with castles, museums and the romantic archipelago with its dizzying array of islands boasting an assortment of lighthouses and what seems like a million cozy red cottages. However, Sweden north of Stockholm is a treasure in itself and deserves closer inspection. Here among endless forests and vibrant meadows are hidden treasures that are the key to the heart of Sweden’s history. In a province called Gastrikland lies Årsunda Viking, a farm created with...
In 1973 I tasted my first gyro sandwich at a sidewalk café in New York City. The place was loud, bustling and we were fortunate to find seats. The gyro, made with lamb, was an exotic flavor that I had never before experienced. Years later I was able to enjoy an even tastier gyro, this time on the Greek Island of Mykonos. It was moister, with more onions, and a generous slathering of tzatziki sauce. The Mykonos gyro was better, and a lot of it had to do with the tzatziki....
“Volare…cantare…let’s fly way up to the clouds, away from the maddenin’ crowds…” With his endearing grin and caramel-coated voice, Bobby Rydell lit up the stage at the California Center for the Arts in Escondido on Friday, November 14. If the warm audience response was any indication, this smooth 66-year-old performer lit up their hearts as well. Most, like me, came to remember, and his energetic performance helped transport us back to a time that was breezy and...
How often does one get to hear three former teen idols in concert singing their hit songs? For me it has been twice. Thirty years ago I saw the Golden Boys – Frankie Avalon, Fabian and Bobby Rydell – in concert at the Circle Star Theatre in San Francisco. That night I was completely in awe of their vocal prowess. On August 3 at Pala Casino Spa & Resort it was déjà vu for me when I saw the Golden Boys in concert once more. The venue held 2,000 seats and was sold...
Sometimes it is the little touches that make the difference between a good dinner and a great dinner. The right toppings, whether on an entrée or dessert, can transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. In many homes across America, ham is a popular entrée at the Easter brunch table, however, a ham can be rather dry if not served with a sauce. In this article I have included recipes for two sauces that are my favorites. The cherry sauce has been a staple at our family...
Python skin-layered musical instruments, jujube mooncakes, and pagoda-style roofs – all this can be found in China. However, when venturing beyond the edge of the ordinary a little closer to home, I seek out the boldly eclectic Chinatown neighborhoods of San Francisco, California, or Toronto, Ontario. What is the lure of these two neighborhoods that share a common spirit? It’s the thrill of a frenzied pace of life as residents brush and jostle each other on narrow, and...
Lagom. According to my cousin Håkan, there is no English equivalent for this Swedish word. Dictionaries attempt to translate, but fall short. The word, as he explained, means something that is "just right" – having no failings whatsoever. That is how I chose to describe my recent journey to the west coast of Sweden and southern Norway. It happened on the cusp of summer – that time of the year where the parks and meadows are alive with color and there is just...
As I sat on Maui’s Ka’anapali Beach the sand felt soft and velvety. The beach air was filled with the chatter and flutter of exotic birds, and one with yellow-rimmed eyes and a yellow beak was particularly beautiful. The absence of the cry of gulls reminded me that I was far away from home because seagulls aren’t found in Hawaii. The Ka’anapali Beach Hotel (KBH), was my home while on Maui, however, I was initially considering the Sheraton because it is situated on the best snorkeling beach. But, I opted for KBH becaus...
"The best part of beauty is that which no picture can express." -- Francis Bacon Imagine sitting in a 100-year-old patio courtyard surrounded by vibrant red bougainvillea twining and twirling around static iron balconies. You look up and see a Della Robbia-style Madonna and Child plaque on a high Moorish-type wall with a thousand intricate curves. Red Spanish tile walkways show slight dips from a hundred years of footfall. Twittering birds flit to a fountain trickling small...
There is a certain allure to seafood – especially lobster. The thought that it is compactly contained in a shell and once inhabited cold, unfamiliar waters, is enticing. Discovering the succulent meat inside the vibrant red shells is like discovering a treasure. I have savored lobster from the Atlantic Seaboard to Sweden, but some of the most delicious lobsters I have ever eaten were enjoyed at Pala Casino's Oak Room. The three-pound Maine lobsters are flown in live; and...
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUnuDugGfqQ[/youtube] The luxurious Infinity Room at Pala Casino, Spa and Resort was the setting for the 2013 Fallbrook International Film Festival Gala awards dinner on April 7. In its fifth year, the festival is shining brighter than ever. A team of chefs served a lavish buffet dinner to guests then the festival honored its finest. Festival co-directors Heidi Minga and Ronald Shattuck were in attendance with their spouses Rich Minga,...
“Downtown is the heart of any town.” - Roy Moosa Every town needs someone like Roy Moosa. The owner and broker of Sun Realty since 1995, he’s also involved in volunteer groups – mainly as a leader. He heads up the Fallbrook Revitalization Council, is president of the Fallbrook Village Association, president of Fallbrook Historical Society, and president of the Fallbrook Vintage Car Club. Moosa is also an elected member of the Fallbrook Community Planning Group and serv...
As I sat on the terrace of Prague's Golden Well Hotel, high above the city, and adjacent to the Prague Castle Gardens, the air was alive with the scent of flowers. Birds, sheltered by thick leafy trees, filled the air with their varied songs. This was my first visit to Prague, and my 94-year-old mother accompanied me. As soon as I set foot on the cobblestoned streets, I felt both thrilled and at ease. It was like experiencing a dream – a masterpiece of a dream. Each...
While crossing a bridge over the Shenandoah River in West Virginia, I felt a John Denver song coming on... "Almost heaven, West Virginia, Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River..." My mother and I were traversing country roads to get a feel for the countryside – the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, as well as the yawning golden fields of the valleys. Most of our exploration was confined to Jefferson County, but we did stray across the county line once or twice. Some of the va...
Iconic. That is the only way to describe Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. The group, with their remarkably unique sound powered by Valli’s strong falsetto voice, has thrilled audiences for 57 years. I have been one of those enthusiasts since I was nine years old. That is when their #1 song “Sherry” played on my small transistor radio…over and over and over. It was 1962 and I didn’t understand the concept of #1 on the charts, but I appreciated the song and the group’s many hit songs that followed. Frankie Valli...
It is older than the Tower of London, and is as rich with history. In the town of Granada in southern Spain lies an ancient edifice called La Alhambra. The word Alhambra means “the red” (Al Hamra) in Arabic. Scholars speculate that it could have been named for its terra cotta-hued exterior. Built in Moorish style it has served as a palace, fortress and museum. Visitors can get lost in the maze of gardens, fountains, delicately carved stone lacework, and graceful white marble columns. A staff member related that Muslims...
First Class camping? Is that an oxymoron? Not at San Diego Zoo's Safari Park! Roar and Snore is an overnight experience that has evolved into a first class experience. I know about this evolution because, in 2004, I barely slept in a cramped, hot tent. There were no showers. It was billed as "primitive" camping. But, now it's a new world with larger tents and sparkling showers. Of the park's 46 tents, 10 are dubbed "Premium." One of Webster''s definitions for "premium" is, "of...
I always look forward to a lunch at Pala Mesa Resort’s Aquaterra restaurant. Nestled between craggy hills and overlooking the verdant golf course, it is a pleasant place to spend time. In fact, it’s my opinion that you don’t need to get out of town to “get out of town.” A visit to Aquaterra will make you feel like you are on vacation. Recently Aquaterra introduced a menu filled with light summery culinary creations by Chef Sean Sullivan, who is a 1998 graduate of...
Tallinn, Estonia is a cauldron of scents and sounds and colors. Peeling away the layers is like peeling an onion, all the layers are pungent and demand their own attention. Tallinn is winding cobblestone streets lined by a massive stone city wall. Tallinn is buildings with an abundance of red tile roofs. Tallinn is candlelight and the scent of wax from the many churches. Tallinn is much more… This medieval harbor town sits on the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. I...
El Jardin is a cheerful setting bathed in lilting music. El Jardin is aromatic scents. This Mexican restaurant couldn’t be more welcoming. However, the warm and congenial setting is not the only facet that makes this establishment a success. Jon Large, proprietor, is constantly looking at ways to improve upon the menu while, at the same time, leaving the successful, tried-and-true dishes alone. It is a balancing act. The creative energy that emerges from Jon, and spills...
When I watched my 93-year-old mother cradle a slick chunk of 200-year-old glacial ice in her hands – I could not fathom how she could be holding a piece of ice that had her age beat by over 100 years. In Juneau, Alaska I had many similar moments of awe after experiencing the alluring blend of mountains, glaciers, rainforests, lakes, waterfalls and bald eagles, plus a salmon hatchery, and even an onion-domed Russian Orthodox Church. Juneau, the remote capital of Alaska, is on...
In downtown Fallbrook, I discovered a treasure trove of intense flavors. At Brooktown Fusion Kitchen, where the walls are splashed with vibrant Caribbean colors, I not only felt the energy from the flavors and the colors, but I heard positive buzz from the diners, “Have you tried the avocado toast? It’s to die for.” Faro Trupiano, of Trupiano Restaurant Group, is an innovative restaurateur with more than one North San Diego County restaurant in his repertoire. His...
Italian food has always been a combination of boldness and grace. The bold nutty flavors of parmesan cheese – and the grace of the sweet and cloud-like mascarpone are just two examples of the range of flavors found on the Italian food palette. One culinary master who brings life to food with this range of flavors – swirling them on his artist’s palette – is Faro Trupiano. He established Trupiano's Italian Bistro in 2004; and it has been a success since he first opened...
John Toma, a native of Hawaii, is the owner of Z Cafe, which offers a wide variety of dishes, including Hawaiian entrées. John makes sure that the food is fresh; and even serves fresh fish seven days a week. Continuing with the tradition of fresh food, sushi has been on the menu for about a year now and is available to diners after 5 p.m. Created by Chef Moe, the sushi is artfully created, and he pays particular attention to colors, flavors, and textures. The Spicy Tuna Hand...