Inspirations.... Date Night!

Corso 32, small space but big taste

Whether you are young and single or celebrating your golden wedding anniversary, quality time with the one you love is equally important at every stage of your life.  But somewhere between career, children, family obligations and the endless list of chores, the once all-important date night can get smothered and sometimes... forgotten.

My husband and I have a unique arrangement with a blended family: his children are adults and my daughter is with us a bit more than half time.  That means that on every alternate week, we have more time to spend with one another and keep our connection strong - not to mention not having to worry about finding a babysitter, although Jenna is almost at the legal age of being left home alone!

So today, a brief shot if inspiration passed my desk in between training in my new job and conducting searches - we are going to Corso 32 next week - date night!!  And with a bit of luck on my side, presto!  We got in - YES!  This restaurant is one of the several new restaurants in Edmonton to pop up in the past three months and we have been trying irregularly to get in for the past month and a half! Probably the hottest one in town right now and with Susur Lee coming through town and raving about the place, I was afraid we'd be waiting for another month to get it!

(Check back next week to see a restaurant review)  http://corso32.com/

Hailed probably the first real Italian Restaurant in Edmonton, with rustic Italian dishes that are traditional yet in a modern setting, I can't wait to check it out.  The only problem is...what to order!  Here is the latest menu put out last week (I expect they change the menu weekly):

http://corso32.com/corso32-menu.pdf

Needless to say, don't leave it completely to your husband to plan date night - the experience is enjoyed by both so the responsibility should be equal too!  I know my husband was so pleased to get a cute text from his wife inviting him out next Tuesday!  :-)

A great motto to live by!

Our slice of Paradise

I cannot put into adequate words how special this part of Mexico is to our family. Today, I would like to briefly introduce you to Pueblo Bonito in Los Cabos, and in later blogs, highlight

the best of Cabo.

About 6 years ago I felt a need to get away for a long weekend, see something new and always wanted to experience a spa getaway. I found the Pacifica resort, by Pueblo Bonito. Pacifica and it's sister resort, Sunset Beach, are in the top five resorts and spas of Mexico, and very affordable!

http://www.pueblobonito.com/

What an amazing place. The modern architecture is fantastic, creating such a serene and romantic environment - would you believe that every wall had an opening that faced the ocean? The designer, brilliant. I liked it so much, I bought a timeshare. Every year we visit Cabo, and it was the site of our very private wedding, so it now holds an even dearer place with my husband and I. This past January, we upgraded to a Villa and can't wait to return! The winter months bring beautiful, just-perfect temperatures with the whale migration in front of you. We spent a week having breakfast on our deck overlooking the ocean, while whales performed an acrobatic show for us like clockwork. To date, it is the most relaxing place in the world for us, and as we love the culture, food and people of Mexico, the most soulful place.

The builder, Ernesto Coppel Kelly lives on site, and is commonly referred to as the Trump of Mexico. He and his wife have made it their mission to raise awareness of environmental issues as well as provide opportunities for their fellow countrymen. They pay fairly, built a community with schools, playgrounds and medical centres and provide continued education for all employees through their foundation. When you walk around, employees of this community are happy and glad to work for such a great company. That makes me feel good.

If you are considering a trip south, I highly recommend Pueblo Bonito in Cabo. You can stay in a hotel-room environment or condo-style resort at Sunset Beach, or an adults only spa retreat hotel. Watch out though, you too may fall in love with it, and end up being our villa neighbours!

K

Italy

We are off to England and Italy in June and I can't wait! In anticipation of our week in Tuscany, I have been seeking all things Italian: wine, travel books, shopping tips, food, recipes and of course, buying new cookbooks! Dinners at our house are more Italian-themed these days, including a new obsession of making fresh pasta, which both my husband and daughter love!

Cookbooks are a great way to experience a country, prepare you for your travel and get to know the culture through it's food. I have a few recommendations for those that would like to get more Dolce Vita in their everyday life!

Mario Batali is a family favorite - you can't go wrong. And although I love his Babbo cookbook (recipes from his flagship restaurant) it is laced with "hard-to-find" ingredients for Edmonton. Try his latest cookbook, Molto Gusto - this is a collection of casual and easy-to-prepare meals with a family edge.

My daughter bought me a cookbook for Mother's Day: Jamie Oliver's Italy. This is a collection of some of his favorite regional Italian meals. Simple, but using seasonal and fresh ingredients. What could possibly go wrong?

Lidia Bastianich has written a collection of Italian cookbooks, though her latest, Lidia's Italy is a James Beard Foundation Award winner. And last but not least, a classic and beautifully designed cookbook, The Silver Spoon.

Buono Appetito!

K

DO - Try Something New

I love my husband. It's as simple as that. Without getting into the details, one of the many things I love about him is his ability to allow me to enjoy life in ways I wouldn't have thought. Example: for my birthday he bought me a Vespa! Now, we enjoy driving on his motorcycle during the summer, but I guess he took it as a hint when I saw a Vespa and thought it would be cool to motor around town with less gas consumption! That was last October - a birthday girl without a motorcycle license.

May 14th, 5pm road test for motorcycle license. BARELY passed. At least, that's what the instructor told me. Accompanying that phrase were multiple "you drive too slow" comments - who knew? Lead foot in an SUV, granny on a Vespa.

Today - I am enjoying the bright red Vespa (with Union Jacks, courtesy of my British husband) and even conquered the Henday! Give it a try some sunny, warm afternoon. I know you can rent a scooter for the day (no special license required) at Top Gear on Whyte Ave for $25.

http://www.top-gear.ca/

Take a cruise down Whyte, belly up to the Harley Boys at the Elephant Pub and own the road, baby! :-)

K