Wine and Spirits Travel

It had been a while since I’d spent any time in the Nation’s Capital, and even longer since I’ve visited the attractions, so when my niece, Alea, began college there, I thought it was the perfect time to spend a few days with her in Washington D.C. . I took an early morning flight to Washington Reagan airport. I was picked up at the airport by a friend and colleague I hadn’t seen in a while, Julia Coney. My first stop in DC was lunch at Brasserie Beck . Julia had been here and raved about it, but it was my first time. I decided to start with a cocktail and their Pear Ginger Fizz ( Ketel One Vodka , Pear Ginger Cinnamon Shrub, Honey Syrup, Soda Water, Lemon) was as good as it sounded. We shared the Roasted Farm Beet Salad, which included sheep’s milk feta and candied walnuts, and was topped with a maple walnut vinaigrette. It was perfect for the spring-like day. Julia raved about their burgers and decided to get one with the Belgian Frites, which come with

I hope your holiday season is going as well as mine. I have been spending lots of time with family and friends. Get out the basket… We’ve all seen those standard fruit, cheese, and meat baskets passed around during the holidays and other occasions throughout the year. The cheese is simply “cheddar,” or something just as generic. I was happy to hear from Murray’s Cheese about their selections, which are anything but ordinary. They sent me The MVP: Most Valuable Player . It includes: tasty Murray’s Gruyere, tangy Humboldt Fog, mild and delicious Grazier’s Edge, and hearty Point Reye’s Bay Blue cheeses, as well as an excellent Prosciutto San Daniele and a lean Creminelli Wild Boar Salami. The Pistachio Cranberry and Olive Oil Crackers were a perfect accompaniment, and the buttery Marcona Almonds are addicting.   One of the other things I love about Murray’s Cheese is that they let you build your own basket from all these interesting ingredients. Definitely give them a tr

It was my final day at the Boyne Mountain Resort with my friends Brittany, Angela, and Kylie. We continued having a great time until the very end. After packing up our large three bedroom suite, we filled up during our final breakfast at Everett’s. I would miss the comfort and selection of this restaurant in the Main Lodge. The grounds of the Boyne Mountain Resort in Boyne Falls, Michigan are beautiful and very easy to navigate. Could imagine it is also a fun family atmosphere in the summer, but on this Sunday, we saw a lot of people coming to enjoy the winter sports for the day. We split up from that point. The younger women were going off to zip line through the snow. Angela and I were heading to the spa. The Spa, Salon & Fitness Center at Boyne Mountain is quite big and has everything you need for relaxation, as well as fitness classes and workout equipment. Angela and I were there early enough to enjoy the steam room, sauna, and whirlpools, whic

It was our second full day at Boyne Mountain Resort in Michigan and we were having a blast. I had brought along my friends Brittany and Angela, and Angela’s daughter Kylie. Boyne Mountain put up in a very spacious Salzburg Suite in the Main Lodge. It had a cozy living room, full kitchen, three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Angela and I each claimed the larger bedrooms and the (grown) girls had a lot of fun in the colorful kids room, which had two bunk beds. We once again had breakfast downstairs at Everett’s, where the buffet had a nice selection of choices and the Vanilla Bean Pancakes and French Toast, in a vanilla cinnamon custard, are amazing. From Everett’s we could also see snow-filled views of the Boyne Mountain’s Alpine Village . After breakfast we went down to the village and walked around the shops until it was time for Brittany and Kylie’s ski lessons. The Skier Services building is huge. It’s where you get equipment, register for lessons,