Boston Public Market, Boston, MA

January 6, 2017

The Boston Public Market is the perfect place to grab dinner, a drink, or some local products or produce. Each booth and food stall had their own local spin, highlighting the best of Massachusetts and New England. Everything from desserts to drinks, local honeycomb, and marble serving slabs all perfectly displayed.

Starting with the indoor portion of the Boston Public Market, I was greeted by a local craft apple cider booth with a ‘larger than life’ apple press, designed to crush fresh, in-season apples and turn them into sweet and smooth cider or apple butter.

As I walked further and further into the gleaming, spotless market, I slowed my pace to almost a crawl, taking my time to look at all of the uniquely New England products. I spotted a few wine booths, craft beer taps, candies, and tea stands, but I was overwhelmed by the market's cheese selection! An entire corner of the market was dedicated to local cheese, with even more smaller cheese selections sprinkled throughout the other market vendor booths. Each vendor also had their own handcrafted signs further highlighting their love for local cheese.

Yes, please! I'll take the bloomy, closed blind, soft cheese. And don't forget the crackers!

After passing through the cheese selections, I moved on to the specialty hand crafted pasta booth. I spotted beet, sriracha, and wasabi flavored fresh pasta - the bold daily selections were so intriguing! I had never seen pasta flavored with such distinctive ingredients.

The fresh produce selections were also pretty impressive. I spotted some adorable tiny green-striped yellow African eggplants and vibrant purple speckled dragon tongue beans.

The home goods section of the Boston Public Market displayed stunning woodwork items, like smooth bowls garnished with a bark rim - perfect for a rustic kitchen!

Honey also caught my eye, with whole honeycomb available for purchase. Want a honey candle shaped like a petite beehive? Or honey skin products? Buzz on over to this honey-dripped booth with only local honey products.

Stepping out into the open-air Boston Public Market, this seasonal outdoor market was much more crowded and chaiotic than the indoor market. The produce was overflowing, vendors were calling out to the swarming customers, fresh oysters were being shucked into the crowd, it was quite an exciting scene.

The open air Boston Public Market is seasonal and only open from May to November. Lucky for me I was in town just before they were about to close for the season. The market is located right in the heart of Boston, very close to some of my favorite restaurants (Five Best Bites in Boston article found here), like the oldest restaurant in the US.

Planning a visit? Click here for the Boston Public Market times (indoor market), (open-air outdoor market).

2017: A New Year of Intentions

January 1, 2017

New Year's resolutions are hard to make. Coming up with a new goal that is both sustainable and practical can be a challenge! I have never been a fan of the "get 8 hours of sleep everyday" or "run a mile every morning" resolutions, and this year is no exception. While I feel like I can always improve on my fitness, wellness, and health goals, my resolution for 2017 will be a little different this year. A little more personal.

Over the summer, while watching the televised memorial for five Dallas police officers who were killed in the line of duty, I heard one particular quote that shook my world:

"Too often, we judge other groups by their worst examples while judging ourselves by our best intentions." - George W. Bush

This quote for me is two-fold, with so much meaning and self-reflection. I feel like I am already mindful of being nonjudgmental, especially when casting blanket statements over a group of people or assuming a situation that I wasn't there for. The second half of the quote, however, made me stop and reflect upon myself. Does the way I view and judge myself reflect how I am viewed by others? I feel like my viewpoint and intentions are always very supporting, caring, and loving of others. But do my actions reflect those feelings?

I have found this to be especially true when I am scrolling through social media. Sometimes I will come across a post announcing someone just got engaged, had a baby, celebrated a birthday, or achieved something great. I will usually 'like' the post and think about how happy I am for that person. But that's as far as it goes. That person will only see a 'like' from me, and even though I am so happy for that person, that is as far as my reach to that person extends. Even though on the inside I am jumping from the rooftops for them with the best of intentions, they will never know unless I reach out to actually tell them.

It is so easy to stay in the bubble of social media, I know I am guilty of it! But this year I am popping that bubble. This year, I am going to follow through with my intentions and make more of an effort to reach out to others, even if we haven't spoken in a while. Picking up the phone and telling someone you were thinking of them, you are sorry for their loss, or congratulations is so much more meaningful than a comment, 'like', or tweet. Genuine human connection is one of the greatest gifts you can give - it takes a little more effort but is so much more meaningful.

Join me in popping the bubble! Break the social media barrier and reach out to friends and loved ones, no matter how close or far away. Who's with me? 😉

I hope everyone had fun celebrating the New Year last night! Remember, our resolutions start today. Take steps everyday to achieve your goals, no matter how big or small they may be.

What's your 2017 New Year's resolution?

The two above photos are from my adventures hiking into Haleakala, the volcano on Maui, Hawaii. See more stunning volcano pictures here!

2016 Reflections at the Lantern Festival

December 30, 2016

As 2016 comes to an end, we reflect on the ups and the downs, the good and the bad, and more importantly, our hopes for the fast approaching new year. A few weeks back I attended the Lantern Festival and I couldn't think of a more symbolic way to ring in the New Year than with thousands of people gathering in the desert, releasing lanterns as symbols of their hopes, fears, wishes, and messages into the sky. The Lantern Festival was so powerful, emotional, therapeutic, and moving that it's hard to not let go of 2016's worries and feel cleansed and optimistic about the future.

2016 has been an amazing year for me. I crossed some major milestones academically, professionally, in my love life, and new career. This year I graduated from my Dietetic Internship, became a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, and am now able to give this website my full, undivided attention. This is the first time I have not been in school, worked a traditional full-time job, or have been on someone else's schedule or timeline. Right now I am completely free to fully engage in my website and pursue a new professional career as a RDN, which is an extremely exciting and freeing feeling.

Also this year, I got engaged, moved in with my fiancé Mark, and have been loving every puzzle and piece of wedding planning. Growing up, I was never the girl who dreamt of her fairytale wedding or Prince Charming. I had no idea what went into planning a wedding, such as choosing the wedding colors, dress, or venue location. Long story short, I learned a lot since our February engagement and I am excited to share with you some of my engagement survival tips and wedding planning ideas in the coming months.

With all of the excitement and ambition I have for 2017, I lit my lantern and let it fly, high into the atmosphere filled with gratitude for what I accomplished this year. And literally, like magic, as I released my lantern U2's Sky Full of Stars began to play. It was almost like the universe was saying, "Yes, 2017 will be your year!".

And I hope they are right 😉

Now it's your turn to let your lantern fly! No matter what ups and downs you had in 2016, let go of the past and set your fears, goals, and hopes into the sky. Let your stress and worries float away and start 2017 with a fresh slate full of hope and ambition!

Have a happy New Year everyone!

Top Elegant Eats of 2016

December 28, 2016

Throughout the year, Mark and I have had the pleasure of dining at some stellar restaurants. We love eating at all kinds of different places, like food trucks and hole-in-the-wall gems, but sometimes we splurge and dine at some pretty fancy places. Every time I eat somewhere noteworthy, I take a few photos and towards the end of the year I compile my Top Elegant Eats list (see last year's here). I have so much fun putting these lists together and really enjoy looking back through the photos. It almost feels like I am reliving the experience! So here there are, the Top Elegant Eats of 2016.

Top Pick for 2016: Cafe Monarch - Scottsdale, AZ

Cafe Monarch is one of the best restaurants we have ever dined. Right in our own backyard of Scottsdale, Arizona, Mark and I decided try a new restaurant while celebrating our two year anniversary. The ambiance is not stuffy or manicured. It's cozy, romantic, and inviting - which is also how I would describe their menu. Cafe Monarch serves a weekly prix fixe four course menu using locally grown, seasonal ingredients. Each dish is unique and comes with an optional wine pairing, perfectly picked by one of their Sommeliers.

I could go on and on about the food but what I thought was just as impressive was the service. The service was flawless, down to the tinniest of details. The waiters at Cafe Monarch wore secret service style earbuds and tables celebrating special occasions received a small gift jewelry box wrapped in a bow.

I cannot recommend Cafe Monarch enough, you surely will not be disappointed!

Runners-up

There are a few other noteworthy restaurants that I absolutely loved but didn't quite make it to the top spot. Some of the runner-up restaurants might appear in upcoming blog posts where I'll go in more detail about the menu, location, and overall experience - but for now, feast your eyes on some 2016 elegant eats!

Taverna Banfi - Tuscany, Italy

Cassia - Santa Monica, CA

Perch - Downtown Los Angeles, CA

Bachelorette Party Wine Tasting - Napa, CA

SUR - West Hollywood, CA

Hakkasan - London, England

Sketch - London, England

The Garden Court - San Francisco, CA

See my two posts about the Garden Court here, and here

The best way to end this 2016 restaurant round-up is with a sweet finish - dessert! And I can't think of a better dessert than a Mastro's signature warm butter cake topped with ice cream. They kindly wrote 'congratulations' around the rim because we were celebrating me becoming a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist! More on that to come.

Not every fancy restaurant has the best food and not every restaurant with the best food has to be fancy. However, it's fun to celebrate my top elegant eats while bringing in the new year.

I am excited to taste what 2017 brings!

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston, MA

December 26, 2016

Tucked away, in the most unassuming of buildings, there is a secret garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is one of the most unique and intimate museums I have ever visited. The museum intertwines art and botanical, balancing the feelings of grand and cozy. The story behind the museum begins with Isabella Gardner and her husband, who were avid art collectors. They traveled the world collecting high priced pieces like paintings, sculptures, rare books, furniture, and textiles. The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is home to over 2,500 of their unique collectable items.

I entered the museum starting with the entrance green house, walking through the gorgeous displays of flowers and foliage. I spotted some unique orchids, large purple incurved chrysanthemums, and even some cacti!

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston MA

The museum was created by Isabella after her husband's passing in the early 1900's. She established the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum as a place to honor and display the extensive art collection they had acquired together. Isabella designed every inch of this three-story museum, pulling inspiration from a 15th century Venetian Palace with a glass roof, pink garden courtyard walls, and warm intimate exhibit rooms.

Walking into the garden courtyard took my breath away. The glass ceiling, lush garden, and Italian architecture is a piece of art itself.

Isabella created this museum to not only honor her art collection but also to inspire those who enter the museum to pursue the arts themselves. Isabella and her husband's love for the arts is such a beautiful love story and this building is the creation of the love they had for each other as well as the humanities.

I could easily spend all day sitting in the courtyard, taking in the sights. The love story behind the museum is such a romantic narrative, you can't help but fall head-over-heels.

Now all that is missing in the garden is you! I've kept a spot open, will you come join me?

Planning to visit Boston's Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum? Click here for admission and locatio n information.

Five Best Bites in Boston

December 23, 2016

Boston is full of dynamite restaurants, each with their own theme, ambiance, and menu - but they all have one thing in common. Seafood! Lots and lots of seafood. Preparing for my trip to Boston, I researched where to eat, who has the best raw bar, top oysters.. and the list goes on. I am a sucker for seafood and have a special place in my heart for oysters, so I was really excited to visit Boston, dine around, then dish about my five best bites in Boston.

No Name Restaurant

No Name Restaurant is a fun place to grab a pint of Boston Lager, throw on a bib and order a delicious whole steamed lobster. Located right on the water (one pier over from where the Boston Seafood Festival took place), No Name Restaurant has been around since 1917! I discovered this place while visiting a friend who was born and raised in the Boston area and has been coming here with their family for years.

If you decide to check this place out, I highly recommend arriving early if you don't already have a reservation. I also recommend going all in and ordering the whole steamed lobster! It's by far their best menu item and you won't be disappointed. Make your reservations here.

Five Best Bites in Boston - No Name Restaurant

Select Oyster Bar

Select Oyster Bar is tucked into a charming neighborhood, far away from the hustle and bustle of the city streets. The restaurant is quite cozy and intimate but fills up quickly as guests stroll in to get their seafood fix. We ordered up the dressed Maine lobster, a bunch of oysters (yet somehow it's never enough!), and a dreamy yellowtail topped with mushrooms and cilantro flowers. This new restaurant won a few awards for being a top seafood and wine bar, and the accolades are absolutely well deserved. Everything that comes out of their downstairs kitchen is to die for!

Union Oyster House

Boston is known for its history - it seems like everywhere you turn, you are standing on or in front of some historical landmark, and the restaurants in Boston are no exception. Established in 1826, the Union Oyster House is the oldest restaurant in America! And it definitely plays the part with wooden walls, creaky stairways, and nautical harbor ambiance.

Lucky for us, the Union Oyster House also has the best clam chowder I have ever had! We also ordered up a half dozen oysters and nibbled on their house cornbread, which was delicious too. Inside the restaurant it can get crowded, I advise putting your name down early and grabbing a drink across the street at the Bell in Hand Tavern. This cozy tavern has been serving drinks since 1795 and has a great local beer selection.

The Union Oyster House is absolutely full of history, too much to babble on about in this post. Click here to learn more about the history of the restaurant, I promise it's impressive!

Five Best Bites in Boston - Union Oyster House

Myers + Chang

After a long day, a quick trip to Myers + Chang was the perfect way to end the evening. My 'party of one' was sat at the bar overlooking the chaotic wok fire kitchen. The smells from the Chinese, Taiwanese, Thai, and Vietnamese influenced kitchen had me craving fresh seafood, deep spices, and bold flavors. I ordered the Mamma Chang's pork + chive potstickers, the wok roasted muscles, and house pickled vegetables of the day (fennel, cucumbers, and jalapeños).

I watched from my seat in anticipation as the chefs prepared my order - I think I got the best seat in the restaurant! Or the worst seat depending on how hungry you are. When my bowl finally arrived, it was overflowing with perfectly cooked, tender muscles swimming in about two inches of spicy lemongrass broth. The pork potstickers were also so deliciously crispy and tender!

If you are coming on a Monday or Tuesday for date night, check out their fixed menu for two with rotating seasonal items.

Five Best Bites in Boston - Myers + Chang

Neptune Oyster

Drum roll, please.. Neptune Oyster was my absolute favorite restaurant in Boston! Unfortunately it's also all of Boston's favorite restaurant. On this random weeknight, we arrived at 5:30pm and had an hour and a half wait for a table for two! But trust me, it's absolutely worth the wait. Plus there are a few close bars, perfect for killing time while you wait for a table.

When it was finally our turn for a table, we were sat at the bar overlooking the oysters, crab claws, littleneck clams, and sea urchins. Just monitoring of course, making sure none of the live raw bar items made a run for it. We started our feast (like we always do) with a platter of oysters, shucked right in front of us while we sipped a glass of crisp sauvignon blanc. Our next course included a steamy bowl of clam chowder and crunchy yellowfin crostini with tuna tartare and citrus aioli - the perfect bites to hold us over between our oysters and entrees.

I was advised by a friend to order the seared Georges Bank scallops which came with sweet corn, smoked bacon, and a heirloom tomato vinaigrette. This dish was flavorful, salty, and textured with the meaty scallop giving the best mouthfeel! Yum. At this point, we had chatted, toasted, and casually cruised from course to course so leisurely that we soon realized we were some of the last people in the restaurant! Neptune Oyster is so cute, friendly, and delicious, we didn't even notice everyone had left - what's the rush?

This restaurant is an absolute must if you don't mind the wait and you are looking for a fresh and intimate seafood restaurant. I can't recommend this place enough!

Five Best Bites in Boston - Neptune Oyster

I am also lusting for, but didn't get to try:

Tiger Mama, Juliet, & Oleana

Of course there are so many fantastic and noteworthy restaurants in Boston, I couldn't dine at them all (although I did try). If you have any suggestions for new places in Boston to try, comment below. I would love to check it out next time I'm in town!

Afternoon Tea at the Boston Public Library

December 20, 2016

In the heart of Boston, just steps from Copley Square, the Boston Public Library hosts a spectacular display of loose leaf teas, scones, finger sandwiches, and sweet petites. Afternoon tea at the Boston Public Library is almost like being in a movie or perhaps a lovely dream where the historic architecture and ambiance is just as stunning as the menu.

Starting from the neoclassical entrance, every bit of the Boston Public Library is grand. Giving myself plenty of time to explore the library before my afternoon tea reservation, I got to slowly soak in the impressiveness of this famous Boston landmark. Walking from the courtyard to the marbled staircase leading to Bates Hall, I felt like I was passing through the whispering walls of colonial history.

Afternoon Tea at the Boston Public Library

After leaving Bates Hall, a sign labeled 'Rare Books and Prints' caught my eye. This sign lead me down long and less glamorous halls to what could possibly be the pride and joy of the Boston Public Library.

If you are following the signs, as soon as you start to feel like you have gone too far, keep going! The Rare Books and Prints archive is just further, to the left and through the glass doors.

Upon entering, you are welcomed by the smell of crisp, dehumidified, and preserved air. This very special and practically untouched section of the Boston Public Library is home to a million and a half rare books, prints, and manuscripts dating back to BC times. The most notable are five clay Babylonian tablets dating 2350 BC! Also, war letters from George Washington and Samuel Adams are kept here, but to personally get your hands on an item in this very special section of the library, you need an appointment.

Wandering back through the library's grand entrance, I arrived at The Courtyard Restaurant at the Boston Public Library just in time for my reservation for afternoon tea at the Boston Public Library.

I arrived at the Courtyard Restaurant, famished, thirsty, and in need of a caffeine buzz - luckily I was in the perfect place to indulge! I was seated at a table by the window overlooking the Boston Public Library's courtyard, then greeted with the afternoon tea menu cleverly printed between the pages of an old book.

Looking over the fixed afternoon tea menu with petite sweets and deliciously salty finger sandwiches, I selected an English Breakfast loose leaf tea to best compliment and balance the small bites I was about to devour.

After sipping on my tea for a bit, the pastry and finger sandwich tower arrived looking as gorgeous and elegant as I had imagined! I started with the warm scones, spreading each bite with a mix of apricot preserve, lemon curd, and Devonshire double cream. Mmm!

After the scones and spreads, I nibbled on a chocolate eclair, some French macaroons, and a slice of lemon poppy seed pound cake. Moving on from the sweets, I dove into the savory selections. One of my favorites was a smoked salmon on pumpernickel bread topped with salmon mousse and a caper.

I also couldn't keep my hands off of the lemony shrimp salad bite because I don't think I could go through a meal in Boston without enjoying some kind of seafood! These savory tea sandwiches did not disappoint.

I was practically licking my fingers by the end of my indulgent and delicious afternoon tea!

If you are in town, afternoon tea at the Boston Public Library should be at the top of your list. Reservations are highly recommended.

Copley Square Farmers Market, Boston, MA

October 20, 2016

The Copley Square farmers market in Boston, Massachusetts is the essence of Boston. Located right on the steps of the historic Boston Library in the middle of a bustling square where locals bump elbows in a hurry on their way to work. In the chaos and commotion of the Boston streets, this small but vibrant pop-up market stands still, selling fall’s newest finds. I arrived in Boston just in time to catch a peek of autumn’s first offerings.

For me, the fingerprints of fall start to appear, first in the weather and landscape, then in the farmers markets. There is no better announcement that fall is here than seeing the first freshly picked pumpkins and autumn vegetables make their way from the back of a farmers truck to the market vendor’s bountiful baskets. And the Copley Square farmers market was sporting their best of the season!

Copley Square Farmers Market, Boston, MA

The produce at the Copley Square farmers market were all dolled up into fabulous displays. The heaping piles of fresh produce were layered, some like towers, almost too pretty to touch!

So, what’s in season for a Massachusetts October harvest? Apples, cabbage, tomatoes, pumpkins, collard greens, broccoli, cauliflower, beets, beans, and eggplants. I spotted all of these seasonal varieties on full display, looking extra colorful and fresh.

One mushroom basket caught my eye. The sign 'chicken of the woods' was so funny I had to ask, "Are you saying mushrooms are the chicken of the woods, or is that the name of a mushroom variety?" To my surprise, the orange/yellow mushroom in the basket under the sign actually is called 'chicken of the woods'! I wonder what it would taste like when paired with chicken? Yum.

The thing about the northeastern states that makes me swoon is their pride in local food, produce, and products. I found this to be especially true when I spent a summer in Vermont; each northern state seemingly self sustained with anything and everything grown, harvested, or manufactured within a 100 mile radius. It’s a locavore's paradise. I adored the handwritten ‘local’ signs proudly displayed on all their products pulled from or created on Massachusetts land.

Some of the local Massachusetts goodies included fruit spreads, dried herbs and spices, beverages, and snacks.

A regional and seasonal favorite is the cider doughnut, usually sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar, and enjoyed with a cup of apple cider. The cider doughnut is usually only available while the apples are in harvest, which is right around October (lucky me). If you see these at a local market in the New England area, snag a box! They might not be available for long.

If you are in the Boston or Massachusetts area, would you promise me you will go to a market? Any market, not just the Copley Square farmers market. If you are lucky enough to go during the autumn harvest, grab some apples, pumpkins, and purple cauliflower - and most importantly, don't forget the apple cider doughnuts! You will have a Bostonian fall feast.

Click here for the Copley Square farmers market dates & times!

Boston Seafood Festival

October 14, 2016

On an old and worn pier stretching into the Boston Harbor, New Englanders gather once a year to celebrate the Boston Seafood Festival to dine on all things shucked, scaled, fried and fished from their salty seas. Their love for seafood runs deeper than casual affection. The famous Boston lobster, fresh oysters, New England clam chowder, and lobster rolls are some of Boston’s seafood favorites.

For this year’s Boston Seafood Festival we got a little bit of lightening and a lot a bit of rain. It was so rainy! But the clouds parted ever so often to give the seafood lovers a break from the relentless showers. However, rain or shine the seafood festival was the place to be!

And what’s a seafood festival without a good shuck? A shucking contest that is! Boston’s top shuckers, all from local restaurants, lined up to shuck-it like no one’s watching. And when the judge yelled “Ready, set, shuck!”, oyster shells went flying, the crowd started cheering and it was game on. In about 2 minutes flat, the winner emerged with 12 beautifully shucked oysters and earned bragging rights for years to come.

The food, as I am sure you can imagine, was so spectacular! Oyster farmers drove from all over to show off their freshest shellfish. I have a thing for fresh oysters – there truly is nothing quite like it! I could eat a whole platter of oysters, then easily order another round. They pair perfectly with a good bloody mary too! Ahhh.. But today I am being conservative and only ordered a few fresh varieties – a mix of oysters and littleneck clams, driven fresh from Rhode Island that morning.

We then migrated from the raw bar to all things hot and fried, feasting on battered oysters, fried into crispy goodness.

The Yankee Lobster Co. was dishing out some dynamite crab cakes; freshly fried with a perfectly moist, flakey inside. The drizzled zingy, spicy mayo set these small bites over the edge.

My absolute favorite dish at the Boston Seafood Festival was the lobster guacamole! Maybe it’s because of my Southwestern Arizona roots or the fact that these gorgeous avocados were perfectly in season, this chips and guac combo was all kinds of yummy!

After stuffing ourselves full of delicious ocean critters, we checked out the starfish and sea anemone touch pools, talked with conservationists about sustainable seafood and fishing practices, then posed for one last picture.

Yes, that's me - a pirate. Coming to seal your seafood booty!

Just as we began to leave, another wave of rain descended upon us, which made for our perfect grand exit. You definitely don’t have to wait till next year’s Boston Seafood Festival to enjoy the freshest catch – but it would be worth the wait if you did!

Interested in attending the Boston Seafood Festival next summer? Click here for info & tickets.

A previous post you might like: How to Eat an Oyster

Shopping at Harrods, London

August 25, 2016

There’s a saying that you can buy anything at Harrods - even an elephant! Harrods is by far one of the most posh and luxurious department stores in the world with floors and floors of the most exclusive and expensive luxury items money can buy. Nestled between designer boutiques in the bustling shopping district, Harrods is one of London's most fabulous attractions - with the exception of Buckingham Palace of course!

Within Harrods, there is a kind of buzzing, excited energy humming on the lower floors. Everyone is oohing and awing at the shiny things behind the glass counters. While some people were just there to window shop, others swiped credit cards for designer bags and sipped champagne while purchasing sparkly jewelry - personal shoppers in tow. For every one wandering tourist with a camera, there was about one serious shopper on a buying spree.

While exploring Harrods, I stumbled around on the Egyptian Escalators, got lost on the massive 4th floor, fell in love with some expensive fine China plates, crystal goblets, and detailed napkins, and somehow managed to make it back down to the ground floor all in one piece.

Although it is nice to look at designer bags and fancy things, I came to Harrods to explore the Food Hall, which I would say is the most exciting part of the store! And for being Harrods, one of the most exclusive department stores, you would expect the Harrods Food Hall to be equally as fabulous.

Don't worry - it is! Let's take a tour, shall we?

Harrods Food Hall

Caviar Bar, Seafood, Meat & Poultry

I entered the Harrods Food Hall and was greeted by the caviar bar which had the perfect grand entrance. I strolled past the meat section where the finest cuts were on display.

Care for some rabbit?

Or double yolk eggs? How about some pheasant eggs?

Gourmet Grocery

Moving on to the produce section of the Harrods Food Hall, each item looked like it was freshly picked from the Queen's garden. Some produce was local, some was exotic, and some I had never seen before! Every fruit, vegetable, and flower radiating perfection.

Charcuterie, Fromagerie & Traiteur

This section was filled with varieties of preserved meats and cheeses all on display. They also had pre-made 'Dinner at Harrods' items, where you could bring home beef wellington, pork and jalapeño Scotch eggs, and meat pies made from wild game!

Chocolates & Confectionary

The final room in the Food Hall was the sweetest - chocolate, chocolate, and sweets! Delicate and intricate desserts were unbelievably fine, dainty, and I am sure equally delicious.

I worked up a pretty big appetite after all the gourmet window shopping. Right next to the chocolates and confectionary section, I spotted an adorable sushi restaurant where I ordered a bite of wagyu beef and a few other tasty things. I had been dreaming of delicious wagyu after seeing it propped up on display in the meat section. And it tasted just like the wagyu display looked - absolute perfection.

As I left the Food Hall and headed back to the London streets I felt two emotions - sadness because there isn't a Harrods where I live, and relief because I know if there was one down the street, my average grocery bill would equal a mortgage payment.

But, hey! At least window shopping doesn't cost a thing 😉