Hello Reader,

Welcome to Fall! It’s been a while since I’ve posted an update, but a lot has been happening since in travel, local trips and Ninja Speedi recipes.

From Mediterranean Cruise to Ontario road trips, from Toronto food crawls to making Ninja Speedi recipes at home and planning trips for the remainder of the year, there's so much to share!

So grab a cup of pumpkin-spiced coffee or tea, and let’s dive in!

Mediterranean Cruise

Revisiting Europe

As someone who hadn’t set foot in Europe since 2015, I was thrilled to embark on a press trip with Holland America. My adventure began in Athens, Greece, where I arrived a day before the cruise.

Savoring Culinary Delights in Athens

Arriving in the afternoon in Athens, I focused that time to wandering what's near the hotel t eat some local Greek food.

And at night, I dined at One Michelin Star, Soil Restaurant. I tried booking a Michelin Star restaurant right away as soon as I got my flight to Athens.

This is my first time dining alone at a Michelin Star restaurant and vlogging the entire experience.

This first day of eating was a great teaser, setting the tone for the culinary journey ahead.

Onboard Holland America Oosterdam

Next day, the anticipation was real as our press group prepared for our Aegean Sunset Cruise, where we all stayed in a beautiful Verandah Stateroom.

Onboard the Oosterdam, a ship reminiscent of old-school elegance (think Titanic) compared to the newer "theme park" cruise ships, I ate my way around the ship and tried all the dining spots including the specialty dining experiences.

Watch the full cruise Instagram Stories here.

Istanbul: A Blend of History and Gastronomy

Waking up in Istanbul with this 360 view from my balcony is amazing.

Our first port of call was Istanbul, where I took a shore excursion that led us to a Michelin-recommended seafood restaurant by the Bosphorus Strait.

The following day, I did the Best of Istanbul shore excursion, exploring the city’s iconic landmarks: the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, and the bustling Spice Market.

Mykonos: A Postcard-Perfect Paradise

Mykonos greeted us with its white-washed buildings and azure waters. Opting to explore alone than doing a shore excursion, I hopped on a seabus to Old Port Mykonos.

There, I sampled local cuisine and marveled at attractions like the Mykonos Windmills and Mykonos Castle—every corner a picture-perfect moment.

It was my first time in Mykonos so I thought it would be useful to share all my insights from this visit in the vlog.

Crete: Monasteries and Ancient Towns

In Crete, the shore excursion took us to Arkadi Monastery and Old Town Rethymnon. The rich history unfolded before us as we explored this ancient site and wandered around the old town.

Olympia: Where Legends Come Alive

Next stop: Olympia where I did the Best of Olympia shore excursion. Here, I stood on the exact spot where the Olympic torch was first lit—an awe-inspiring moment.

We visited two museums and the UNESCO heritage archeological site, even getting to run at the Ancient Olympic stadium.

Trieste: Ending The Wonderful Cruise

Our final destination for disembarkation was Trieste, Italy, where I soaked in the Italian charm before flying back to Toronto for my next adventure.

Niagara Wine Country

A Two-Day Journey Through Niagara Wine Country

When it comes to Niagara wine, most people immediately think of Niagara-on-the-Lake—and for good reason. But there’s another hidden gem in this region: the Niagara Escarpment.

I did a two day trip in the Niagara Escarpment exploring the wineries, local restaurants and attractions in this beautiful region. With over 50 wineries, it’s a must-visit for oenophiles seeking new experiences.

Stratford Foodie Day Trip

On one Friday, a group of us foodies decided to go on a day trip to Stratford, Ontario.

We only had one agenda: the Tasting Menu at Braai House, a South African restaurant. I've been here in 2020 when they first opened, but they didn't have a tasting menu back then. Plus, their menu changes as well so a lot of the dishes I had are new.

Not a lot of South African restaurants in North America, especially one specializing in Braai (South African BBQ). This spot is highly recommended!

Peterborough & the Kawarthas

On the first day of fall, I went on a weekend trip to region in Ontario I've never visited before.

I got a taste of Peterborough & the Kawarthas, exploring its culinary experiences in Millbrook, Keene, Peterborough and Bailieboro. I loved meeting the people behind the places and sharing their stories.

What an amazing and delicious time! And fall is such a beautiful time to visit this region.

Full stories and guides are linked below:

IG Vlog Story highlights: https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/17918009675707419/
Food & Drink Guide: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cx60LmRtXiW/
Fall Travel Guide: https://www.instagram.com/p/CyBZtyerxSC/

Toronto Michelin Guide

(plus Toronto local news TV appearance)

Toronto's 2nd year of Michelin Guide took place in September 27, and it was an exciting day in the Toronto food scene as the 2023 Michelin Guide Toronto was revealed.

That morning I had the immense honour of being a guest at CP24 Breakfast, Toronto's most watched morning news, to chat about the Toronto Michelin Guide and the upcoming ceremony event that night.

Though I've done virtual live news and recorded news, this is my first time being live in-studio.

And that night, I got reunited with an old friend (Michelin mascot Bibendum) and food loving friends as we celebrated some of Toronto's best restaurants that made the list.

Read my story on Toronto Michelin Guide and spots I visited here.

Toronto

I took about 1.5 months to stay local in and around Toronto to catch up with personal, home, local and road trips, and behind-the-scenes work.

I still did my usual food crawls and checking off Toronto restaurants on my list. Here are some of them:

NEWEST Food Hall

NEW Japanese-Korean Tapas Restaurant

NEW Ramen Spot (hailing from Japan!)

Unique Dessert at Caribbean Restaurant

Taste of Manila Food Festival

Recipes

At home, I've been making more Ninja Speedi recipes since that's really been the kitchen gadget I use to cook my meals nowadays. I also updated the list of accessories.