Saj's Common Kitchen is now Lebanese Cuisine and Catering - Updated 2020. I am not that familiar with Lebanese cooking. Kelowna is rather slow when it comes to ethnic cuisine to be properly established within the restaurant scene. When I was growing up in Prince George, Northern British Columbia, during the 1990's it was a completely different story. I grew up knowing the spice of a good Jamaican patty and a Jamaican close friend of the family who would show me how to dance as well as her take on a shepherd's pie. I would spend afternoons with my mom's best friend who was from Fiji and her husband from India - freshly made rôti rolled with melted butter was a treat I would ask for ...
Food / Wine Tours
Secret Food Tours London: A Taste of Britain + Video
In London decent food wasn't hard to come by but frankly memorable meals were. At least that was the case for my husband and I on our honeymoon. That is until we went on our Secret Food Tour London featuring traditional British fare in the area of Borough Market and London Bridge. See the video below: At first I figured I'd be familiar with everything offered. There would be no surprises from London. From scotch eggs and fish n' chips to cheese and bread I've seen it all. But the tour held delicious surprises and some of the best food we'd have in all of the UK during our honeymoon. Our first stop was Borough Market. A vast and mostly covered sphere of vendors selling everything from ...
Shrimp Trucks, Dives & Fine Dinning: Where to Eat Around Oahu
I am a huge fan of second, third and even tenth visits. When I find a place that meshes well with all my travel criteria I can't help but return. It's like I become fixated and want to experience everything over again. This can, at times, lead to let downs. I've been to Vegas over ten times and I admit I've had a couple not so great experiences there but 8 out of 10 ain't bad. Oahu, Hawaii has become one of my family's most favoured destinations to escape the Canadian winter. We gladly exchange Christmas trees and snow for sun, sand and seafood, not to mention a few pineapple martini's from Roy's. A photo posted by Murissa Shalapata (@wanderfulltraveler) on Dec 7, 2013 at ...
The City Tour with Vantigo San Francisco
Where do you take someone who has never been to San Francisco before? This was a question that plagued me before my most recent trip to San Francisco. My fiancé and I were veterans. We've been over seven times combined and so we have our old favourites and a long list of things to do next time we're in town. But my sister and her friend were newbies. So how were we to satisfy our list of new to-dos while also showing someone all the must-dos upon one's first trip? This trip was especially unique as it was supposed to be a bachelorette party. My fiancé and dad had plans to go out while my sister, her friend Jacob, my mom and I would do a city bar hop on our own. Plans fell through. My mom ...
Foodie Tours: Exploring Granville Island by Food
Continuing on with the theme of food tours this month, and believe me there's more to come when I hit Oahu, I have to share one of the best food tours I have ever experienced right here in Canada. Vancouver Foodie Tours. How many times have I been to Vancouver? and my subscribed readers should know I have been countless times. Yet this umpteenth time was both my first time exploring Granville Island AND taking a food tour in Vancity. Better late than never and in no other case is that clichéd saying truer. I am a big fan of DIY food tours but this time I was visiting the iconic Granville Island market. I wanted to do it right and make good use of my limited time in the city. Instead of ...
A Walking Food Tour of Downtown Kelowna
With all the local artisans, cocktail revolutionaries and new chefs creating new restaurants arriving almost monthly, Kelowna has become a place to eat, drink and be merry. Recently, Expedia.ca approached me asking for my own suggestions on where a local would eat in the heart of Kelowna. I’ve thought about doing a blog post like this before – a food tour of Kelowna with all my favourite spots, things to eat and hangout with friends but frankly the food scene changes so often there was always something new I was adding to the list. But finally I have come to a conclusion (for now). With that being said this roundup of favourites is tried, tested and true by a local of ten years – just ...
Joy Road Catering on God’s Mountain Estate
Where has the time gone? If you've subscribed to my newsletter you probably know that I am newly engaged! And little did I know what that really meant. I was never the type to plan her wedding at the age of 10 with Barbies and teddy bears strewn across my bed. Frankly, I had told people for years that I wouldn't get married. My fiancé James and I have been together for 7 years with the last 5 feeling like we were the equivalent to married. So why go through the stress of planning and family politics? But once again I am eating my words, happily I might add. To my chagrin when the question was asked and I felt the dizzying effect of life changing before my eyes I said yes and was ...
La Grande Dame: A Champagne Day in Reims, France
Things never quite work out how you planned them to be. This is especially the case while traveling. Before departing Canada I had customized our own tour of the Champagne region for 6 people. I arranged the train tickets (Paris to Reims, Reims to Epernay, Epernay to Paris) with a stop at the Veuve Clicquot champagne house, Notre Dame Cathedral and finishing off at Moët & Chandon in Epernay. With an 8:30 am departure from Paris this was just not a practical itinerary for 6 people with lunch in between. Mostly because we were so taken with the city of Reims. We began our tour of Reims by heading straight to Veuve Clicquot Champagne House. I have to admit I was a bit underwhelmed by ...
Skip the Line with Wine: A City Wonders VIP Louvre Tour {+ Video!}
I remember hearing that the Louvre only has 10% of it's collection on display in Paris. If you haven't been before it is a massive museum and would take you over a month to explore every room and see every piece. That's a daunting thought for a first timer hoping to visit the museum but don't get overwhelmed! There are ways to narrow down your visit without overdoing it. But first you have to surrender to the fact that you won't see everything you had imagined. On the other hand, you can see the pieces that have tickled your imagination in the first place. Here's how... In order to avoid the ridiculous lines and over populated rooms get a Paris Museum Pass. It was the first thing I ...
Cin Cin!: Drink Like a Venetian – Wine with Context Travel
I love wine. I visit plenty of wineries. I enjoy learning about the ancient elixir. Trying to pair it with meals is a delicious trial and error. I even enjoy photographing it. But I have to be honest. I don't know that much about it. I guess I know more than the average person because of where I live here in the Okanagan wine valley but truthfully I can barely describe with accuracy the flavours and aromas. I'm not a pro which many people tend to think when you tell them you like wine. So when I was offered the chance to tour Venice with a professional Sommelier I jumped at it. Venetian wine with Context Travel Sommelier guide?! Sounds like a dream come true! I think my ...
A Foodie’s Tour of Prince George #TakeOnPG
As a kid the best place to eat in Prince George was North 54 then called Damareno's which offered Italian food at it's finest. It was an anomaly back then and I only got to eat there once when I was eleven because it was usually where my parents escape to during date night. Today quality food is still being produced there under their new name North 54 and good food is no longer hard to come by with a well established food scene. Downtown Prince George is conveniently located within walking distance from my hotel, The Ramada Inn and from there I would walk 3-8 minutes max to each restaurant. Not only that but every meal was under $65 Canadian including minimum 2 courses and 2 glasses of ...
Venice on a Plate: A Food Tour of Venice with Walks of Italy
So much good food! Yes I am still alive after so much traveling within these past 4 weeks. From Italy and France to Northern British Columbia I have returned with many stories to tell. But I digress...my god the good food! That's how I remember Venice this time around. Shockingly that wasn't the case during my first visit where I saw the most amazing art, gorgeous architecture but had very little good food. I knew upon returning I would have to take a food tour of Venice with Walks of Italy. To do it right you must be shown around by a local passionate foodie (maybe all Italians are foodies) and thanks to Walks of Italy I was invited to do exactly that. The lay of the land was ...
West Kelowna Wineries: A Tour with Distinctly Kelowna Wine Tours {Video}
"Where are you from?" The first question asked as I sat myself in a van for nine, our chariot of sorts for the day. One couple said Arizona, another from St. John's and another from Vancouver. My sister and I? "We are from here." I explain, "being tourists in our own city for the day." The truth is, I have only lived in Kelowna for seven years now but have completely adopted it as my home. I've lived in the north of British Columbia to the south along the Canadian/US border. But I never really felt like those places were home. Then I moved to Kelowna. It's a city that keeps me guessing. It keeps me wandering and it keeps my creativity satiated. Kelowna has helped me ...
Kelowna’s Gold Medal Plates 2014: An Interview with Competing Chefs {Video}
Don't you just love adventitious meetings? When the universe and chance come together creating an unexpected opportunity resulting in something you wouldn't have otherwise been able to experience. It doesn't happen often but it did to me this past weekend while attending the Gold Medal Plates, Canadian Culinary Championships, where some of Canada's best chefs compete for gold while raising funds for Canadian Olympic athletes. This prestigious culinary event is held in Kelowna, British Columbia and has been renewed as the host city for another 5 years. Amazingly, my hometown beat out places like Whistler and Banff! Yet another reason to visit this popular wine and food region of Canada. I ...
A Piece of Paris in Canada: Learning to make Macarons with Sandrine French Pastry and Chocolate {Video}
I have been slowly fulfilling my Okanagan bucket list. I've lived in Kelowna, central Okanagan, for almost 8 years now and each year new events, restaurants, shops, wineries open up making my local must-do list longer. One popular local spot is Sandrine French Pastry and Chocolate known for their high quality Parisian-style croissants and the only location in Kelowna where you can purchase macarons. Sandrine also provides decadent gourmet chocolates, colourful French pastries, gelato and ice cream cakes. Sandrine's is an authentic French pâtisserie that is a place for you to quell your jet setting desires and sweet tooth. It's also a place where you can bring a bit of France home for dinner ...
How to Pour the Perfect Pint of Guinness: TBEX Ireland
I had heard a lot of mixed things about Guinness. My boyfriend, an avid beer drinker of Budweiser, said I wouldn't like it. I can't say I am a fan of Budweiser either. But Anthony Bourdain said it tastes like Thanksgiving in glass during his trip to Dublin. And everyone who has been to Ireland has said it tastes better in its birth country than in North America. Something to do with the Irish water? As a Guinness virgin I took off for Ireland with an open mind and I saved my first taste of the sweet stuff for the Guinness Storehouse. Conveniently TBEX was holding their kick off party there and my first rendezvous with Guinness would be one to remember. Upon entry ...
Brewery Tours with Vantigo, San Francisco
Ever wanted to take a road trip around the Bay area in a ruby red Volkswagen bus equipped with California crafted beers? I did with Erik, designated driver, guide, owner and genius behind Vantigo San Francisco tours, at the wheel. Vantigo offers city tours, oyster lunches at Hog Island's oyster farm and North Bay brewery tours just over the Golden Gate Bridge. I opted for the brewery tour since I've dragged my boyfriend on countless winery tours despite the fact that he can't stomach red wine and mildly tolerates white. Vantigo picked us up at our hotel location along with 3 other people who accompanied us on our tour that day including Lisa from Cooking with Rhubarb (I love meeting other ...
Learning to Cook in Wine Country, British Columbia
As the brown sleepy extensions of the grape vines wake up to the sounds of spring so too does The Wanderfull Traveler. Between the months of January to April I sometimes feel as though I am comatose and, like sunshine and warmth, creativity can be scarce. This spring, which has most definitely arrived with spots of warm weather growing in between the lengthy spurts of rain and wind, what, or rather who, woke me up was Executive Winery Chef Matthew Batey who kindly invited me to the final course of Cook like a Professional Series hosted at my favourite winery Mission Hill. Albeit I was nervous. I don't claim to be a chef nor have I ever worked within ...
Tenement Museum Food Tour, New York
As a Canadian, Thanksgiving is October 8th and as a family, like many North American families on Thanksgiving, we gather to share stories and of course eat. I look around the table with my grandparents, parents, my and my sister's boyfriend and I notice that none of us identify as solely Canadian. My dad descended from Ukrainians, my grandparents from Norwegians, Swedish and British immigrants, my boyfriend James is descended from Doukhobor Russians and Scottish immigrants. Our dinner table holds a varied history of both the privileged and poor but all tried/are trying to find a better life in a new and unfamiliar place. In finding a new home one often longs for the familiarities of ...
