Niagara Falls, Canada

On an overcast Thursday afternoon, Zhanna and I made the trek out to the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. The lines at the border were a breeze, and the subsequent drive was peaceful and serene. I've been to the Western side of Canada a few times and every time I enter the lovely country, I'm reminded of the beauty it encompasses. This time was no different than the others. As Zhanna and I followed the signs to the falls, we finally began to see a body of water to the right of the road. The river was calm, and I didn't think much of it until the river seemed to get choppier. Then all of a sudden, BAM! The falls seemed to appear out of nowhere! Niagara Falls is hands down one of THE most majestic, beautiful sights I've laid my eyes on. I think I might have even smacked Zhanna's arm out of excitement when I first saw it. Sorry, Zhanna! ;-)

L'Albatros: Cleveland

As soon as I stepped into L'Albatros in Cleveland, I knew it was my kind of restaurant. The French restaurant had a swanky, yet very welcoming feel to it. The decor was chic and modern, and I loved the open kitchen near the front entrance. 

A group of four of us went in for a late lunch and not a single complaint about any of the dishes. I had a really tough time making up my mind, but I eventually settled on a delicious risotto dish.

Cute little outdoor patio. 

Grilled salmon.

Risotto with shrimp.

L'Albatros is located at 11401 Bellflower Rd. in Cleveland, OH.

Lucky's Cafe: Cleveland

Prior to flying in to Cleveland where Zhanna is from, she was raving to me about a cafe that she wanted to take me to for brunch as soon as I landed. So on a Thursday morning at 11am, Zhanna and I visited Lucky's Cafe in the historic Tremont neighborhood. Tremont is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Cleveland and is home to several historic churches built in the 1800's-early 1900's. 

Cool fact: Lucky's Diner was featured on Food Network's Diners, Drive-ins and Dives!

Papa mocha and a latte.

House-Made Granola: Rolled spelt, flax seeds, rolled oats, wheat germ, sesame seeds and dried fruit served with plain yogurt, fresh fruit and honey.

Lucky's Cafe is located at 777 Starkweather Ave. in Cleveland, OH.

LagerHaus 95: Buffalo, NY

If you happen to find yourself in the West side of New York in Buffalo, a LagerHaus 95 detour is a must. This gastropub definitely hit the spot for Zhanna and me during our drive to Niagara Falls. 

Honey BBQ Tiger Shrimp: Chargrilled tiger shrimp with honey BBQ glaze and pickled apple slaw.

Beef and brie sandwich: Haus roasted top round with mixed greens, apple and red onion slaw, triple cream brie and horseradish mayonnaise pressed on brioche. Why haven't I ever thought of pairing beef with brie cheese?!

LagerHaus 95 is located at 95 Perry St. in Buffalo, NY.

Mariebelle Fine Chocolates: New York City

Seeing as how we had less than a week to explore New York City, Zhanna and I crammed a million to-do's in our schedule. One place we both really wish we could have spent more time in was SoHo. This artsy neighborhood in Lower Manhattan is filled with tons of trendy boutiques, architecture, restaurants and.....chocolate shops! I knew I couldn't come back to California without chocolate, so on a Sunday afternoon in SoHo, we tracked down one of the cutest chocolate shops I've ever been to - Mariebelle Fine Chocolates. The shop was so whimsical and colorful, I felt like I had stepped into a scene from Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. Mariebelle carries everything from gourmet chocolates to gelato to hot chocolate. After spending a good twenty minutes walking around aimlessly, I ended up purchasing the best caramel & sea salt milk chocolate I've ever tried and a few other chocolates, including one with peanut butter and another with a passion fruit filling.

Mariebelle Fine Chocolates is located 484 Broome St. in New York, NY.