All posts tagged: dining

LILIA RESTAURANT- BROOKLYN, NEW YORK

Lilia is known to be one of the best restaurants in New York. It’s known for amazing Italian food and hard to get a reservation. I recently went and ordered a bunch of dishes off the menu to make sure I tried enough to make a fair judgement on the place, and I left feeling unimpressed. I had high expectations and it definitely didn’t live up to the hype in my humble opinion. Although nothing was bad, nothing was out of this world or mind blowing. I think it’s worth to visit if you have the chance but don’t have the highest expectations because I feel like you’ll leave a little disappointed. Anytime something is super hyped, I feel like it’s always a let down. See the dishes I ordered below. * My favorite dishes were the Squash Filled Ravioli, with Hazelnuts, Parmigiano & Sage, and the Crispy Shrimp with Parsley Aioli. Also the garlic ciabatta bread as an appetizer was delicious!

MY TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS

OAHU It can be hard to decide what island to visit when booking a trip to Hawaii. I didn’t want to miss out on anything, and finally made up my mind to visit the three main islands so I can get the full Hawaiian experience. Oahu has a more “commercialized” feel, especially in Waikiki, but still offers a good mix of island and city life. Below are my Oahu highlights: Oahu Hikes- If you enjoy hiking, there are some great scenic hikes on Oahu. Some of my favorites include: ~Lanikai Pillbox Hike: Hike right before sunrise for some breathtaking views ~Diamond Head Hike: Set on the Waikiki coastline, you’ll get to see both city and ocean views ~Koko Head Hike: 1000+ stairs — brace yourself! ~Makapu’u Tidepools: A great spot for snorkeling and swimming but can be dangerous getting to the bottom so be careful! North Shore For a completely different experience than Waikiki and Honolulu, be sure to visit North Shore, Oahu. It’s a surfer town with beautiful beaches and a “locals only” vibe. …

MY GUIDE TO MAUI, HAWAII

If I could choose to move one place in America (besides maybe New York), it would hands down be Maui, Hawaii. I had the opportunity to spend six days in Maui and was able to really explore the best the island has to offer. Below is a full break down of my MAUI MUST SEE’S: WHERE TO STAY The Four Seasons Resort Maui Wailea is one of my new obsessions. With an extensive and stunning new renovation recently unveiled at the end of 2016, the newly designed resort takes perfection to a new level. With floor to ceiling transformations of its luxury guest rooms and suites, the resort is in even a better place than ever before. The new aesthetic honors the nature and beauty of the island while still maintaining a contemporary feel. I stayed in one of their luxury suites with a beautiful garden and ocean view. With a spacious living and dining room, bathroom, bedroom and two large balconies, it really gave you the feel of being in your own private home …

DAN HOTELS ISRAEL

Dan Hotels is the most prestigious hotel chain in Israel. When planning my trip there was no question in my mind that was where I was going to stay. It is the most recognized name in the Israeli hotel industry and very well respected. The Dan Hotel Collection includes 14 hotels within Israel, all offering a unique and special experience. I got the opportunity to stay at the famous King David Hotel in Jerusalem, as well as Dan Tel Aviv. I highly recommend this exquisite hotel chain if you are planning to visit Israel. It made my trip extra special and that much more enjoyable. Thank you to the Dan Hotels team! The King David Hotel, Jerusalem One of the world’s most legendary hotels which is known for accommodating some of the world’s most important people, The King David is a landmark in the unique and fascinating city of Jerusalem. With beautiful views of the Old City, the hotel is located just a short 15 minute walk away from the Old City walls where within lies the old …

ISRAEL

Israel has a very special place in my heart. I grew up traveling to Israel during my summers off school to visit my dad’s side of the family and I have so many amazing memories that have impacted my life and helped shape who I am today. Israel is, and will forever be a part of me. I feel very connected when I go there, and I think it’s truly one of the most fascinating and beautiful places in the world. Many people I talk to don’t know anything about Israel or what it’s like. They call me “brave” when I tell them I am going, and think it’s only desert, sand dunes and war tanks. It’s crazy to think how the media has portrayed Israel, and it’s sad that the majority of people have major misconceptions of how it really is. My goal for this trip was to show Israel how I know it. If I could live anywhere in the world besides America, I would choose Israel in a heart beat. There is so much history …

GAUCHOS VILLAGE IN GLENDALE

I had such a fun night at Gauchos Village in Glendale! They had live samba dancing, and lots of food being brought out at a rapid pace. It was one of those Brazilian steakhouses that you turn a wooden block “green” if you wanted the servers to keep bringing food to your table, or “red” if you wanted them to stop. I was overwhelmed by how many different kinds of meat that were offered- it all looked so good and I wanted to try everything, but unfortunately I was way too excited and outdid myself too early in the night and got full pretty quickly. (Next time I will have a system and go in there with a strong game plan). Have a fun night out, enjoy a sangria and don’t be shy to get up and dance with the Samba dancers! Oh, and be sure to get the flan for dessert.

GUIDE TO TURKS & CAICOS

Hi!!! I’ve been away in Turks and Caicos and finally settled back in Los Angeles and catching up on the blog. I have so much content to share so it’s taking me some time to get organized. I wanted to share my experience, give you some recommendations when traveling to T&C, and share with you some of my favorite pictures. I’m also doing a Turks & Caicos Top Three feature for Haute Living, so be sure to check that out once it’s live on their site to see exclusive pictures and adventures from my trip! Turks & Caicos VLOG coming soon too… http://hauteliving.com/2015/04/travel-blogger-miss-jetsetter-explores-the-best-of-turks-and-caicos/561552/ Known for it’s pristine beaches with beautiful turquoise water and white sand, Providenciales Island in Turks & Caicos is the ultimate beach lover’s vacation destination. I stayed for nine days which is a pretty long time to be on the island, but it gave me ample time to really discover the best the island has to offer. From visiting all the luxurious resorts, dining at the top recommended restaurants, and looking into all the excursions …

CARBONE, NYC

I went to Carbone for dinner after the NBA All Star game in New York this past Sunday. My sister who lives in New York, made a reservation for Carbone a month in advance. It’s not easy to get in. I was sitting court side at the All Star Game and had to leave at half time and give up my court side seat to make it in time for our 10:15pm reservation! You might think I’m crazy to give up my court side seat, but if you know me, you know how I take food very seriously so I wasn’t going to let this reservation go to waste. During halftime, I FINALLY had the chance to meet Jay Z (which I’ve been waiting my whole life for), so I was coming off a high. I felt like my life was complete, so it made leaving the game a little easier (ha). Before talking about the food, I have to mention that our table was a foot away from Nas at Carbone. We chatted through out dinner and …

BESTIA | DTLA

I finally had the chance to eat at Bestia in Downtown LA. I’ve heard so much about this place from other foodies and seen a lot of write ups about it online, so I was really excited to finally have dinner there the other night. Everything was good, but one thing we ordered was exceptional. If you go to Bestia, you must try the Roasted Bone Marrow. It is served on top of Spinach gnocchetti, crispy breadcrumbs with aged balsamic. You scoop the marrow off the bone and mix it into the Spinach gnocchetti and it’s just off the charts…the flavor and texture together make the perfect dish . The flavor in each dish really takes this place to the next level. You could really distinguish all the different ingredients and spices everything we ordered. The menu is very unique and the presentations are innovative and creative as well. I have to head back to try their different pizzas, I heard they’re amazing. Other things we ordered: Burrata Salad, Mussels & Clams (spicy!), Cavatelli alla Norcina, Spaghetti Rustichella & the coffee & donuts for dessert.