Travels with Susan

Sunday, July 11, 2010

New blog - Wander With Wonder

Don't miss out on great travel stories and insights. I've started a new blog and all of my travel adventures will be highlighted there. Stop over at Wander With Wonder: Around the world or across the street.

Wander With Wonder is all about life’s “WOW” moments. Whether you travel around the world or simply across the street, there’s wonder everywhere. Finding those great places to eat, a quiet corner to sit and reflect, a hotel room that enfolds you in luxury, a destination that takes your breath away, or a coffee shop that lets you contemplate life are the moments that make traveling exciting. Come along as we Wander With Wonder…Visit http://www.wanderwithwonder.com and be sure to subscribe to keep updated on all the latest travel wonders.

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Wolfgang Puck's Spago Las Vegas: Offering an unparalleled dining experience

You can now read the article online at Wander With Wonder.

Sunday, February 7, 2010

El Pina Diablo Margarita is one wonder just around the corner

Read this entire article online at Wander With Wonder.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

London's Capital Hotel offers affordable luxury in upscale Knightsbridge

You can read the entire article online at Wander With Wonder.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Burgers and bourbon meet at Michael Mina's Bourbon Steak in Scottsdale Arizona

Read the complete article online at Wander With Wonder.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Bring Door County Coffee and Tea home for the holidays

Bring Door County Coffee and Tea home for the holidays

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Top 10 holiday champagne and cigar pairings

Top 10 holiday champagne and cigar pairings

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Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Vault 244 Bistro and Lounge serves up great gin cocktails

I would have sworn I was not a gin drinker. I always thought of it as a lighter fluid-tasting liquor that my mother-in-law mixed with tonic. Then I had a drink at Vault 244 Bistro and Lounge in Albany, Oregon that changed my mind.

I was visiting my sister in Oregon and we went for tapas and drinks at Vault 244. Looking back at it, I wondered if it had to do more with being with my sister. We giggled like school girls and had a fabulous night out. But then I realized, no, I just LOVED the bistro. It FEELS good. The big fireplace and rich leather seating is inviting. The dark wooden bar is hand-crafted. Even the tile work in the restroom is gorgeous.

But the best part is the cocktails. They are great and I learned to love gin that night thanks to bartender extraordinaire Andrew Brenneman. Vault 244 specializes in Martini cocktails and I loved the Glass Slipper, one of Andrew's personal creations on the menu. It was a beautiful pink color, almost glowing in the bar's light. The drink combines New Amsterdam gin, St. Germain elderflower liqueur (another new favorite) and a Campari splash.

Vault 244 Bistro and Lounge is a lovely gem in Albany, Oregon that now has me on the hunt for that next great gin drink.

Visit Vault 244 Bistro and Lounge at 244 1st Avenue SW in Albany, OR. Call 541-791-9511.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

A Veteran's Day tribute to my son and all those before him

This isn't your typical travel blog. Since tomorrow is Veteran's Day, this blog is dedicated to my son who is in the US Army, my husband who served in the US Air Force, my father and father-in-law who both were in the US Navy, my mom's brothers who were in the US Army, and the long line of Laniers who have been in just about every branch of the military. But mostly, it's for my son.

Obviously, we're a family deeply rooted in the military. In fact, I've looked it up and as far back as I can track it, there has never been a generation of Laniers (since the 1400s it appears) that hasn't served in the military. That's pretty amazing.

My son says he's a little embarrassed when someone comes up to him and thanks him for serving. He says that, after all, he's still only part way through his 14-month training program. He hasn't been in battle. He hasn't put his life on the line. But he's wrong. He DOES deserve that thank you. He's there training so that someone else can go put his or her life on the line today. He's sacrificing precious time away from his wife and three children to dedicate a whole lot of time and what could ultimately be his own life for very little pay and little recognition.

I'm proud to say my family has served this country in every war as well as in times of peace. I might not always agree with the wars or want the men and women to be in the midst of conflicts without clear objectives - but I'm proud of them for standing up and making a sacrifice every day.

I'm also very proud of my daughter-in-law Kamilla who, like many other military spouses, goes it alone every day. She raises their three children (Nathan, John and Zoe) by herself on an income most of us would scoff at and she does it with strength and courage.

My son may be away from home, but he is never alone. In this war, unlike some others, I think people do care (although they need to care more about our men and women who return home with little support and few jobs). But more than the country behind him, he has generations of family behind him, each one of whom would stand up and be proud of his duty, honor, and service.

And, of course, he has mom standing behind him, brushing away the tears she tries never to let him see anymore.

Thank you Private First Class Patrick Graham for your service.

Monday, November 2, 2009

Spago Las Vegas: Finding that one perfect bite

I found my one perfect bite at Wolfgang Puck's Spago Las Vegas. I recently enjoyed, as a special guest of the restaurant, a tasting menu at Spago. The entire meal was out of this world. The Executive Chef, Eric Klein, introduced himself to me at the beginning and told me he would create a great meal for me. That he did.

It was all delightful, but I'll forever remember that one magical bite. You know the one. You take a bite and you know you've never eaten anything so good your entire life -- maybe never will again. You savor it. My perfect bite was hand-rolled, homemade ricotta gnocchi served in a black truffle butter sauce.

I had six little gnocchi sitting in this butter sauce on my plate. Each one was like a soft little pillow, coated in that toasty, earthy flavor of the black truffles. I stared down at the last one remaining on the plate. I wanted it, but I wanted to linger over it. My husband made it worse when he pointed out that the chef made them just that night. They aren't on the regular menu. Chef Klein loves to cook specials - it's one of his signatures - and this was one of those.

I took a deep breath, reveling in the smell of the truffles, the ricotta, the butter. I forked it, rolled it in the butter, popped it in my mouth. I closed my eyes. With each bite, I felt the wonderful ambiance of the restaurant, tasted the flavors in my mouth, felt the chef's soul in the tender bite. I smiled, knowing my husband sat across from me, relaxed my shoulders, thinking of a great day, and downed the last of my very favorite food of all time.

One bite. One simple bite, but so many pleasures. Even if I can't get the recipe from Chef Klein or someday have him replicate that morsel for me, it will remain forever in my heart, changing my palate slightly, refining it a bit, thrilling my senses every time I think about that meal at Wolfgang Puck's Spago Las Vegas.

For your own special bite, visit Wolfgang Puck's Spago at the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace on Las Vegas Boulevard. Call 702-369-6300 or visit online at http://www.wolfgangpuck.com.