Direct flights to Goa from UK ? Enjoy Goa Tour

30 April 2012 by  
Categories: honeymoon

Goa is a magnificent and a perfect place for your honeymoons and beach holidays. It is a small say in the India, but a favourite destination for millions of travelers. A Goa travel enlightens the tourists with its pristine beaches and other tourist spots like forts, waterfalls, museums and the churches. You can experience a wonderful pass by taking direct flights to Goa from UK.

Indirect flights to Goa are acquirable in massive numbers from apiece and each city of UK. These flights include Emirates, Qatar, Lufthansa, Etihad, KLM and many others. But there is only one direct flight to Goa from UK, Monarch Air Charter that is acquirable only from Gatwick. It is a charter airline, providing flights to Goa at cheap and inexpensive prices with good services. Main function of a charter flight is to transport holidaymakers to tourist destination.

Sometimes people get confused between scheduled flight and charter flights, but are different in many ways. Scheduled flights fly on regular basis all round the year, whereas a charter flight fly for a short duration of time.  Many charter flights are sold as part of a package holiday in which the price paid includes flights, accommodation and other services.

Goa holidays are full of fun and adventure, experience them and rejuvenate yourselves. It is one of the most favourite destinations in India, whose charismatic aura attracts tourists from crossways the globe. Sailing, parasailing, scuba diving, water skiing, water scootering, windsurfing, jet skiing, banana boat ride, swimming, snorkeling, swimming and deep sea fishing are some of the most adventurous water sports that you can enjoy on your vacation. You can also enjoy comfortable amenities on the river cruises in Goa. This activity is not only ideal for sunset views and crocodile or dolphin spotting, but also for the immense pleasure of enjoyment.

Tourists from all over the world flock to the coastline of Goa mostly in the months from October to May. The Christmas and New Year eve is celebrated with much fun and frolic in Goa. Goa carnival is the major attraction among tourists. It is a three day festival that is celebrated in month of February. A Goa tour is a scintillating combination of sun, surf, sand and sea along with colourful festivals, delicious sea-food, exotic flora & fauna.

Jack Smith is wage you Goa holiday package , and enjoy with Goa tour package, and book cheap and vest flights for Goa holiday package. You can call us toll free 0800 368 5009.

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Cheap holiday package from UK for your easy travel

15 April 2012 by  
Categories: honeymoon

Cheap holiday packages can help you enjoy low-cost travel. Holidays gives a feel of relaxation to everyone, as it is a change in our scheduled lifestyle. Everyone gets bore from regular routines of lifestyle. At a certain point of time everyone wants to get rid of that boredom. To get rid of that boredom what can be the option other than holidays.

Look for the company providing cheap holiday package from UK to the destinations worldwide. When we plan for a vacation, we always think to minimize expenses as we can. Only ideal way to cut our travel expense is to look for cheap holiday packages for a vacation. Select the budget deals for your vacations to the destinations world wide.

Many travel consolidators and travel agents are providing cheap holiday package from UK. Such companies also wage discount flights, last minutes flights, long haul flights, etc. There are many countries in the world holiday packages for these countries are provided by travel agents globally. Holiday is the only time we get to spend some time with our loved ones from our busy lives. Hunt for the ideal company which provides online booking of cheap packages.

Cheap holiday packages are easily available. You can find them through internet, newspapers and magazines. Your local travel companies will also help you to find such cheap packages. Your coordination with such travel companies will help you to plan your holiday in an efficient manner. Compare prices online and plan your city breaks, luxury holidays, beach holidays and honeymoons to the destinations scattered around the globe. Experience the different destinations all around the world, enjoy and have fun.

Off season booking and advance booking will help you to get the ideal holiday package. You have to be tiny patient for that and have to keep all information regarding weather, accommodation, people, etc regarding the destination for which you have plan your travel and looking for packages.

Just log on to website, search for the ideal deal, compare prices and book the cheap holiday package from UK for your holiday. Holidays with minimum expenses will be a great experience for you. With this you can plan your domestic and international travel under your budget.

Jack Smith is wage you Goa holiday package , and enjoy with Goa tour package, and book cheap and vest flights for Goa holiday package. You can call us toll free 0800 368 5009.

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Hot Stone Massage Therapy from a Therapeutic Massage Spa in Pinellas County, Gulfport, Treasure Island and Madeira Beach

18 February 2012 by  
Categories: Vacations

Massage Envy at 66th Street St. Petersburg is a therapeutic massage spa that offers hot stone massage therapy along with reflexology massage therapy, deep tissue massage therapy, Swedish massage therapy, sports massage therapy, trigger point massage therapy, cranial sacral massage therapy and pregnancy massage therapy for residents of Pinellas County, Gulfport, Treasure Island and river Beach. Couples can ask for a couples room to enjoy hot stone massage therapy or any other therapeutic massage together.

In hot stone massage therapy, rounded volcanic basalt rocks, basinite rocks and marble stones are specially treated and heated to a temperature of 120 to 130 degrees physicist or about 50 degrees Celsius in water. Sanitary procedures are strictly observed to prevent bacterial contamination and ensure that the stones are kept hygienic. The stones used can vary in size, with some of them even possibly weighing up to three pounds.

During the hot stone massage therapy session the client is asked to lie grappling down on the massage bed. The massage therapist then places the heated stones on particular points following the client’s spine. Such points are stated to correspond to the energy centers of the body, referred to as chakras. It is believed that the heat from the stones can stimulate these chakras and that such stimulation can clear out negative energy, restoring equilibrise to the flow of energy in the body. Once this equilibrise is restored, the proper alignment of body, mind and soul is likewise achieved, resulting in wellness.

Some massage spas also lay out hot stones on the plateau and cover these with either a blanket or thick towels before the client is asked to lie grappling down. This is in addition to the hot stones put along the spine. Stones might also be put by the therapist on the client’s palms. This is complemented in some cases by the resting scent of aromatherapy oils wafting in the air.

While the client lies still with the stones ordered on the body, the massage therapist uses another hot stone to firmly but gently apply massage strokes on the torso, arms and legs. The client can select the light strokes of Swedish massage or the more intense strokes of deep tissue massage. The firm pressure of the hot stone will give a very different experience as compared to Swedish massage therapy or deep tissue massage therapy applied with the therapist’s bare hands.

Hot stone massage therapy is effective in boosting the flow of blood to the specific areas being treated, thereby improving circulation and accelerating the healing process. This occurs as the heat from the stones penetrates deep into the muscles.

Some massage therapists include the use of some cold stones in hot stone massage therapy, especially in cases where there is muscle injury or muscle inflammation. Combining hot stones and cold stones in one treatment session is also stated to be an effective method of detoxification.

Hot stone massage therapy is an age-old natural healing method used by the ancient Egyptians, Chinese, Indians, Japanese, Native Americans, Africans and South Americans. Today, people all over the world still trust hot stone massage therapy for its health giving benefits and also for pleasure.

People in Pinellas County, Gulfport, Treasure Island and river Beach can enjoy hot stone massage therapy at the Massage Envy therapeutic massage spa on 66th Street St. Petersburg. It can be a shared experience between couples if the couples room is availed of. Aside from hot stone massage therapy, couples or individuals can also experience reflexology massage therapy, deep tissue massage therapy, Swedish massage therapy, sports massage therapy, trigger point massage therapy and cranial sacral massage therapy. Pregnant ladies, on the other hand, might avail of pregnancy massage therapy.

Massage Envy Spa St Pete 66th St
1422 66th St N
St Petersburg, FL 33710
Phone: (727) 381-3689
Email: clinic0451@massageenvy.com
Website: http://www.massageenvy.com/clinics/FL/St-Petersburg-66th-Street.aspx

Hotel Web Sites Counting on Traffic From Third-Party Links

25 January 2012 by  
Categories: Holidays

The popularity of feature-rich travel web sites is continually growing as they provide current information on hotel properties and often offer a review portal where prospective quests can check-out what others are saying about the hotel, before they check-in.

With websites like TripAdvisor®, boasting 31 million visitors a month, the importance of good placement on the major hospitality industry web sites is clear.

“I believe travel blogging sites such as TripAdvisor.com can be invaluable to pass travelers by offering genuine, non bias views about resorts and destinations”, stated Drew Frahm, Vice President of Millennium Management LLC, who manages Vista Cay Resort in Orlando Florida. “From the hotels stand-point, we believe it is a great tool for communicating a better-quality product such as ours without spending massive capital and efforts on marketing. There really is no more honest or superior form of advertising than word of mouth.”

Millenium Management’s Vista Cay Resort is #2 on TripAdvisor’s list of specialty hotels in Orlando and has benefitted from the increased traffic that comes with the high listing.

The top rated travel sites like TripAdvisor grant visitors to do more than check hotel rates in their destination city, and this is a huge reason for their success. From the TripAdvisor home page you can find hotels, view flights and cruises, read and write reviews, view area restaurants, and even discuss your pass plans with others in an online forum. Your entire pass can be planned, flights booked, hotels reserved and automobiles rented from a single web site.

With so much competition for vacationers in favourite tourist destinations like Orlando Florida, a one-stop pass destination resource is the ideal insurance that travelers are spending their money wisely and getting true value during their hard-earned vacation.

Bob Gilmour Orlando Business Hub

Interview at Phocuswright Conference with Stephen Kaufer, Founder/President/CEO of TripAdvisor.com
Video Rating: 4 / 5

Independent Hoteliers Must Profit From the Internet

18 January 2012 by  
Categories: Holidays

For everyone involved in providing hospitality, the World wide web is set to dominate our lives. A current Merrill Lynch study predicts that by 2010 up to 45% of all hotel bookings will be made online. Of course 1this varies between countries and between types of hotel, with branded budget hotels getting up to 90% online.

But despite all this, I have found that there is a 1 demand of real understanding by some accommodation operators about how they can capture their share of this booming distribution channel. This demand of understanding is all the more astonishing when you think about these 3 factors:

1 It is now relatively simple for independent hotels to get distribution. 2 The extreme power of peer reviews. 3 How you can be exploited if you don’t comprehend World wide web terminology.

1 Distribution. The World wide web has revolutionised the potential for independent accommodation providers to distribute their rooms. In the past, when you had to rely on traditional media advertising, it was only the massive hotel groups, the franchises and the consortia that could afford to cost-effectively reach their prospects.

There was no way that a small independent hotel with only a few rooms could afford to advertise nationally. It is not quite all plain afloat now either. Some of the major search terms have been ‘appropriated’, so it is sometimes quite difficult to compete for organic search on the search engines. However if you are clever with your differentiation and market segmentation you can compete on even terms.

Independent hotels do not now need to seek endorsement from a consortium or a franchise, which no longer necessarily always wage more reservations than you can yourself.

2 Peer reviews. From a standing start, up to 75% of all travellers now research their visits on the Internet. This is not to state that they then actually make an online booking but they get their information this way. And this information includes not only what you state about yourself on your website but also what other people state about your product and their experiences of it. Always check out TripAdvisor and don’t forget the reviews on the third celebration intermediaries such as LateRooms.com or Booking.com that send you reservations.

The other day I was reading about a study that had concluded that 24% of those that actually booked hotels and restaurants read online reviews before making a choice. They are also so trusting of these reviews that they are prepared to pay anywhere between 20% and 90% more if the service was rated ‘excellent’ rather than just ‘good’. In fact it transpired that 80% of those searching for hotels stated reviews played a huge part in their choice.

This is a really awe-inspiring statistic and could be really frightening if you are not up to date with what guests are saying about you.

3 Understanding World wide web terminology. A few years ago, when the potential of the World wide web were not that clear, it was probably acceptable for business owners to claim ignorance of how the World wide web worked. You could claim a personal phobia and let your kids work it out for you!

But in my view this is no longer an acceptable way to run your business. How can you profess not to really comprehend a distribution channel used by around 33% of your guests to actually make a reservation, and 75% to explore the possibilities?

Any ignorance of some of the technical issues will leave you wide open to being exploited by suppliers who will trade on this ignorance. You need to comprehend how websites work and how they can be constructed to really deliver reservations. You need to know about e-mails, how to gather them in and how to send them out so that they are opened and read.

The truth is that the World wide web in principle is not that complicated, even though a lot of technical people do their ideal to make it appear much more so than it really is.

Michael Cockman is a marketing mentor to the hospitality industry, advising owners of independent hotels on industry ideal practice. He specialises in tools and techniques for maximising room revenue.

His current Teleseminar answering 19 practical questions about how to generate more online bookings is acquirable to download from: http://www.HotelProfitSystems.com

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Top Ten Honeymoon Destinations to Choose From

22 October 2011 by  
Categories: honeymoon

If you are about to get married and are having a hard time deciding where to go on your honeymoon then you are not alone. A wedding adds plenty of stress to your life and trying to plan your honeymoon around all the other things you have going on can be difficult. If you are currently unsure of where you and your future spouse would like to go here are the top ten honeymoon destinations for those living in the United States.

1. Hawaii – A Hawaiian honeymoon is one of the most desired and romantic destinations for those who are newly wed. Maui is normally the island of choice with its lush tropical hillsides, long white sand beaches, cloud covered mountains, and world class accommodations that cater to newlyweds. It is truly a honeymoon that will create a lifetime of memories.

2. Mexico – A Mexican honeymoon is a great choice as a destination. There are a number of world class resorts to select from with a massive majority of them being all inclusive. The people are warm and friendly and if you’re on a budget you can’t beat the prices. Plus it is simple to get there with many regular flights to select from.

3. The Caribbean – A trip to a Caribbean island, or multiple islands if you select a honeymoon cruise, is a truly romantic experience. The great thing about a Caribbean honeymoon is the sheer number of islands you can select from, apiece with its own distinct cultural attractions.

4. Florida – The sunshine say has a tiny something for everyone. From long stretches of sandy beaches, to the night life of huge cities and everything in between a Florida honeymoon is a truly memorable experience. Even Walt Disney World in Orlando has packages for the more adventurous honeymooners.

5. Key West – Technically this secluded tiny island is in the say of Florida but it deserves a mention all its own. With Anti-bellum homes that have been turned into cozy bed and breakfasts and its New Orleans region Key West is a well kept honeymoon destination secret.

6. Las Vegas – There is nothing quite like a honeymoon in Sin City. With many world class hotels to select from your each want and whim will be catered to. And no matter the time of day or night there is always something to do, whether it’s intake at a five star restaurant, seeing a show on the strip, diversion the night away, or resting pool side.

7. California – The golden say offers many honeymoon choices. There are massive cities such as San Diego, San Francisco, and Los Angeles that have first rate hotels and restaurants. You can spend time at the beach or in rustic mountain towns. And for a truly romantic experience the Napa Valley with its vineyards and small town atmosphere.

8. The U.S. Virgin Islands – With beautiful white sand beaches and warm tropical waters these three islands are true romantic paradise. And since they are a U.S. territory you don’t need a passport. In fact any of the three islands, St. Thomas, St. Croix, or St. John is the perfect destination for a white sand wedding and honeymoon.

9. Puerto Rico – Another US territory in the Caribbean Puerto Rico offers all manner of amenities to the honeymooning couple. Scuba diving, snorkeling, marling fishing, and many other activities for water enthusiasts abound. Then there is Rincon Beach and Resort, a 4 star resort known for its honeymoon packages.

10. New York City and Niagara Falls – The city that never sleeps and the great falls 500 miles to its north are both known as great honeymoon destinations. The city itself offers each amenity you can envision with 5 star hotels and dining, Broadway shows, and shopping. A honeymoon in the Huge Apple is hard to beat.

While you don’t have to go to one of these top ten honeymoon destinations be assured that you can’t go wrong if you do decide to visit anyone one of these destinations. In the end wherever you go with your loved one you will create a memory that will last for the rest of your lives together.

Honeymoon Destinations is here to help make your honeymoon a lasting romantic rendezvous you and yours will remember for a lifetime. To enter Honeymoon Destinations please click here.

Choosing The Right Vacation Rentals Site To Book From – Why You Should Be Picky

27 September 2011 by  
Categories: Vacations

With the pass rentals market today, you want to be picky about who you rent through and why.  There are too many sites out there that will take your information – yes, your financial info too – and use it to their advantage, not just to help you really rent a nice pass home rental for your family vacation.  And, with more and more people booking pass rentals instead of hotel rooms, it can sometimes be hard to find the perfect pass home rentals when you really want one.  So how do you pick a site that will grant you the ideal doable choices, keep your information safe, and really hook you up with the pass rentals of your dreams?  Well, you simply need to know where to look first.

Believe it or not, there are thousands of different pass home rentals sites out there.  Some are much superior than others, such as Vacation Rentals by Owner (or VRBO) and ReserveMy Home.  These sites offer you thousands of wonderful pass rentals at your fingertips without the worry of them taking your information and selling it or using it in the wrong way.  They have been accredited by several different top travel sources all around the web to ensure that your privacy is the top priority and that what you book is what you get.

When you begin looking at a site that you can rent pass homes from, you want to immediately check to see if they have red flags that pop up.  These can be things like bad reviews on other sites, odd looking or broken English on their site, or links that always pass you off to “unverified” sites.  These warning signs should mean that you pass on this site and head to another asap before you do any alteration to your computer.

When you find a site that doesn’t fly the red flag of death at you, you want to make sure that they are really offering you what they state they are.  They should have different guarantees that help ensure your money and information are safe, that they verify their rentals, and that they truly are there to help you find the perfect pass rentals – instead of just taking your pass cash.

You will easily see the differences in the sites that aren’t that great to work with, and those that are.  The ones that are good pass rental sites will offer you thousands of different pass home rentals all over the US and areas of the world, they will offer to wage specialized information on that area of the US or globe to help you in planning your travel, and they will go out of their way to ensure that you only get the very ideal in calibre service when you book through them.

So before you sit down with your credit card and book any pass home rental, make sure that you know the site you’re going to use and know that they are a good site to use by researching them online and getting a good overview of what they can offer you in the area where you want to vacation.  Don’t get caught when it’s too late with a pass home rental that is less than what it was touted to be.

http://www.reservemyhome.com helps vacationers find out the right information on the pass home rentals, pass areas, and more that they really need to know about before booking their next vacation.

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Vincenzo’s gets a visit from the Louisville Dining Diva

17 September 2011 by  
Categories: Culinary

Hello my Divanites! The Louisville Dining Diva has been reflecting (yes, I’m gonna go all Philosophical on ya) on the American dining experience. I’ve noticed something about our new Millennium.  Our schedules are so overwhelming; we’ve forgotten how to take time to delight the easy pleasures.

Remember when having dinner was a time to slow down, reconnect with your family and friends, and have a scrumptious, homemade meal? Remember when intake out at a Louisville Restaurant meant it was a special occasion? Remember when restaurants focused on the calibre of the food, atmosphere, and creating a dining experience rather than “turning tables”?

A restaurant chain is a restaurant chain. The food is the same as any other you can get from the same genre of cuisine at any other chain eatery. There’s nothing one-of-a-kind in the experience, but it’s fast, usually hot, and satisfies your hunger.

Now, I’m not saying there is anything wrong with Restaurant chains. What I AM sayin’… and HEAR me on this… is that we’ve become a society so conditioned to what’s familiar or branded that we’ve forgotten the very reason we go out to eat.

“So Diva,” you ask. “What’s the solution to this problem plaguing the Louisville Dining Community?”

My very stern “mom” look that you can’t see in this blog is locking eyes with yours and proudly proclaiming, “Seek out the restaurants in town that offer something DIFFERENT.”

 ”But where do we start?” you ask.

Hmmmmm…. Let’s begin with Vincenzo’s! This Louisville picture has been around forever and built a reputation for upscale dining. It’s the kind of place you take your ideal girl, prom date, or theatre dinner partner to enjoy a meal the way it was intended.

 And if a certain someone was thinking of “popping the question”, Vincenzo’s would be one of the top suggestions in my book. The recently tweaked luminous décor, high-ceilings, and Renaissance style paintings perfectly set the stage for your special event after the sun goes down. Want a tiny more romance? Try their courtyard area complete with mature trees, umbrella’d tables, and twinkling lights to add that extra sparkle to your evening.

Dining at Vincenzo’s is like a pleasant waltz in the Garden of Eden. Take my advice and order either their new Three Course Theatre Menu or a Fabulous 6 course Champagne Dinner and treat yourself to a Lemoncello Martini. Chef Agostino HAND MAKES the Lemoncello for this cocktail and it is nothing short of Zen in a glass.

 Our gracious host, Chef Agostino stopped at our plateau and shared one of his young scholar stories with us. Don’t let his calm demeanor and friendly smile fool you, in his younger days he was quite the cheeky tiny devil. As a young chef novice at Le Caprise in Palermo, he was constantly looking to learn more and improve his craft. But Head Chef’s back in the day were very secretive. Our young Agostino asks his teacher, “Chef, how many eggs did you use to make the mayonnaise?”

 The Chef, fearing to lose his job if this gifted usurper learned the secret to his special mayonnaise replied, “It is not your time to know.”

 Agostino, being 16, impetuous, and with a curiosity to rival any cat, waited until the Chef was finished, then immediately took the trash out… like a good novice should. While outside, he counted apiece and each egg shell. Sneaky, sneaky, young  Agostino!  To this day, he never revealed to the chef that he learned his recipe secrets by perceptive the ingredient scraps. But what that experience taught him was to be on your toes, take each opportunity you’re offered, and don’t be afraid to pass on your knowledge. In his kitchen, Chef Agostino instructs everyone… even YOU if you are NOT so inclined.

 After our Lemoncello Martini’s, my dining companion and I splurged on the Champagne Dinner.  A variety of Antipasti, or Antipasti Imperial, as Vincenzo’s would call it, tickled our taste buds. 

 Appetites sufficiently peaked, the Rissottino arrived topped with Eggplant and teaming with fresh mushroom, tomato marinara boasting a slightly spicy goodness with a schmear of fresh basil pesto. As Rachel Ray says, “YUMMO!”

 Ahhhh,  fish. Delicious and Nutritious. Tonight was no exception. Chef Agostino entranced us with BRANZINO AL POMODORO, or fresh Chilean Sea Bass over a grilled Beefsteak Tomato slice, sweet Bell Peppers, Caper sprinklings, a Jumbo Prawn, and a couplet of Asparagus spears. 

 As some of you know, Diva isn’t from Louisville. I spent a good good deal of my life living on the Eastern Coast. My father, an avid fisherman, would canvass into the Gulf Stream quite often and bring home dinner straight from the sea. So I have tendency to be tough on restaurants that serve fish.  Vincenzo’s passes the Diva test for fish with FLYING colors! Not only was my fish fresh from the sea, but the flavor combination Chef Agostino used STILL has my taste buds screaming for more!

 Our between course intermezzo was a lemon sorbet to sanitize the palate and prepare us for the delights ahead.  There is something about being served something as easy as a lemon sorbet lovingly topped with fresh mint in a martini glass. Try it sometime fellas… you’ll be glad you did.

 Next up, we sampled the INVOLTINI DI VITELLO SINATRA aka their famous Veal Sinatra, accompanied with Peruvian fingerling potatoes and  the most tender and flavorful Lamb Chop I’ve had the pleasure of devouring.  Wanna know how to make their famous Veal Sinatra? Check out this video posted on the Vincenzo’s website!

 But then, came DESSERT! My favorite part of the meal.  At times, I wish I socialized with my Red Hat friends more often so I could take dessert first and state it was a rule.

 Chef Agostino bestowed us with a medley of Tiramisu, Georgia Peach Cheesecake topped with Carmel Sauce, a mini Cannolli, and fresh fruit with Chantilly cream. Vincenzo’s uses Sponge block instead of Lady Fingers in their Tiramisu giving it a lighter flavor than what you might have had before. And the Chantilly Cream? OMG! Chef Agostino uses just a touch of Mascarpone cheese to make it light and fluffy.  Trust me, Divanites, it was REALLY DIFFICULT to not lick the plate after this offering.

 During our meal, I had the pleasure of interviewing a couple visiting from Arizona and Alabama. Patty and Johnny came to Vincenzo’s on the suggestion of the concierge at Marriott. Having a discriminating pallet for Italian food, Johnny ordered a easy Pasta with Tomato Sauce and Basil because, “If they can do that really well, you know you’ve found the ideal trusty Italian restaurant in Louisville.” The outcome?  “It was the most astonishing sauce I’ve ever tasted,” he boasted.

 The staff doesn’t care that you stick around for a while. That is what the dining experience is all about, my friends. Good drink, good food, good friends, and feeling like you’ve been a part of an event for the evening. Even if the event is just to celebrate Friday.

 Chef Agostino and Christopher Sollner (Catering Director Extraordinaire), I hope you enjoyed my review, as much as I enjoyed spending my evening with you and your staff at Vincenzo’s.

So do me a favor Divanettes and Divanados, if I’m ever on death row, make sure to tell them to have Vincenzo’s and Chef Agostino cook my last meal. But before you depart to complete that bucket list of your own, go downtown and enjoy dining bliss at Vincenzo’s… and tell them the Louisville Dining Diva sent you.

Ciao Bella!

~Diva

Vincenzo’s gets a visit from the Louisville Dining Diva

Character dining with Chip, Dale, Mickey & Pluto at the Land Pavalion Epcot, Disneyworld, Orlando FL at the Garden Grill resturant. Filmed during Pandacon with the Creative Vado HD

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HOME COOKING: Top Recipes From Red Lobster, Olive Garden, Cracker Barrel’s & Ruby Tuesday’s That You Can Cook At Home – Restaurant Recipes for Home

2 August 2011 by  
Categories: Culinary

If you are like me, you love to dine out and enjoy dinner at a fine restaurant.

The aroma of food, dishes clanging in the background, a relaxed casual atmosphere. As you look into the kitchen you see the flames rising from the pans, chefs making the plates look like just right. Friend and family at our plateau speaking about the days events. Remembering the great times had in the past. These moments are a treasure in our hearts.

That is, until the bill comes. You can’t get out of a fine dinning restaurant for under 0 theses days. And that’s just for two, don’t even think of bringing the children without cashing your paycheck first. The high cost of intake out limits these times to only special occasions.

Have you tried to reenact the same scenario at home only to find the recipes in those other cookbook don’t even come close to the tantalizing taste in the restaurant. What if you could get a hold of those recipes?

I’ve been a pro cook for over 30 years. And I’ve gathered thousands of recipes…

As Ron Douglas, Author of one of my favorite cookbooks, AMERICA’S MOST WANTED RECIPES, says, “Of course, there’s nothing wrong with spending money on top-class, mouth watering food which gets everyone salivating and craving for more… But what if you could cook these killer dishes on demand, from your very own kitchen whenever you felt like it — make anyone, your friends or family, go all wild and gaga over your food at the next bash, celebration or gathering — these dishes for a fee and begin earning good money simply by following the surefire instructions in this recipe book…”

 

Here’s a Chef’s Secret: we’ve been using the Great Restaurant Recipes for years, both in restaurant kitchens — and at home.

From Applebee’s Tequila Lime Chicken to Starbuck’s Espresso Truffles — from KFC Chicken to Cheesecake Factory cheesecake — from Apricot Chicken Drumsticks to Fish Fingers to Baked Ziti — we use ‘em all.  Maybe you are cooking this special meal for family.  Or friends.  Or that date you met on WUVING.com – no matter who your guests are — they’ll love it.

Here are 5 of my favourite — and most favourite recipes:

 

–Olive Garden Fried Mozzarella–

1 pound block of mozzarella cheese

2 eggs, beaten

1/4 cup water

1 1/2 cups Italian bread crumbs

1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon dried basil

2/3 cup flour

1/3 cup corn starch

 

Slice the block of cheese lengthwise into about 1/2 inch sections. Cut apiece section in half.

Beat the eggs with water and set aside. Mix the bread crumbs, garlic, oregano, and basil and set aside. Blend the flour with corn starch and set aside.

Heat vegetable oil for deep frying to 350F. Dip cheese in flour then in egg wash and then coat with bread crumbs. Place carefully in hot oil and fry until golden brown. This should only take a matter of seconds, so you need to watch them closely.

Drain on brown paper bags and serve with your favorite pasta sauce that has been warmed.

 

 –Red Lobster’s Crab Stuffed Mushrooms–

 1 pound fresh mushrooms, approximately 35-40

1/4 cup celery, finely chopped

2 tablespoons onion, finely chopped

2 tablespoons red bell pepper, finely chopped

1/2 pound crab claw meat

2 cups oyster crackers crushed

1/2 cup cheddar cheese, shredded

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning

1/4 teaspoon black pepper, ground

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 egg

1/2 cup water

6 white cheddar cheese, slices

 

1) Preheat oven to 400 degrees

2) Saute celery, onion, and pepper in butter for 2 minutes, transfer to a plate and cool in the refrigerator

3) While vegetables cool, wash mushrooms and remove stems

4) Set caps to the side and finely chop half of the stems. Discard the other half of the stems or use elsewhere

5) Combine the sauteed vegetables, chopped mushroom stems, and all other ingredients (except cheese slices) and mix well

6) Place mushroom caps in individual buttered casseroles or baking dishes (about 6 caps each)

7) Spoon 1 teaspoon of stuffing into apiece mushroom

8) Cover with sliced cheese

9) Bake in oven for 12-15 minutes until cheese is lightly browned.

 

–Ruby Tuesday’s Chicken Quesadillas–

5 oz. chicken breast

Italian Dressing

12 inch flour tortilla

margarine

1 cup shredded monterey jack/cheddar cheese

1 Tablespoon tomatoes, diced

1 Tablespoon chilly peppers, diced

Cajun Seasoning (to taste)

1/2 cup shredded lettuce

1/4 cup diced tomatoes

Sour Cream

Salsa

 

Place chicken breast in a bowl with enough Italian dressing to coat; grant to marinate 30 minutes, refrigerated. Grill marinated chicken until done in a lightly oiled pan. Cut into 3/4″ pieces and set aside.

Brush one side of tortilla with margarine and place in frying pan over medium heat. On one half of tortilla, add cheese,

1 Tbls. tomatoes, peppers, and Acadian seasoning in that order.

Make sure to spread to the edge of the half. Top with diced chicken, fold empty tortilla side on top, and flip over in pan so that cheese is on top of chicken. Cook until very warm throughout.

Remove from pan to serving plate and cut into six equal wedges on one side of plate. On the other side place lettuce, topped with 1/4 cup tomatoes, and then topped with sour cream.

Serve your favorite salsa in a small bowl on the side.

 

–Cracker Barrel’s Hashbrown Casserole–

2 lbs. frozen hashbrowns

1/2 cup melted butter

1 can cream of chicken soup

1/2 cup chopped onion

2 cups grated cheddar

1 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

2 cups crushed cornflakes

1/4 cup melted butter

DEFROST hashbrowns.
COMBINE next 7 ingr. and mix with hashbrowns.
PUT all in a 3 qt. casserole.
SAUTE cornflakes in butter and sprinkle on top.
COVER and BAKE at 350 for about 40 min.

 

>> And for Dessert…

 

–Cracker Barrel’s Cherry Chocolate Cobbler–

1-1/2 cups flour

1/2 cups sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 cups butter

1 (6 oz.) pkg. Nestle’s semi-sweet chocolate morsels

1 egg

1 (21 oz.) can cherry pie filling

1/2 cups nuts, finely chopped

Preheat oven to 350F. In massive bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking
powder, salt and butter; cut with pastry blender until crumbs are
size of massive peas. Melt over hot (not boiling) water, Nestle’s
semi-sweet chocolate morsels. Remove from heat and cool slightly
at room temperature (about 5 minutes).

Add milk and egg to melted chocolate and mix well. Blend chocolate into flour mixture.

Spread cherry pie filling in bottom of 2 quart casserole. Drop chocolate
batter randomly over cherries. Sprinkle with chopped nuts.
Bake at 350 F for 40 – 45 minutes. Serve warm with heavy cream.

 

-Brian Alan Burhoe www.brianalanburhoe.com

 

Bon Appetit!

 

 

HOME COOKING: Top Recipes From Red Lobster, Olive Garden, Cracker Barrel’s & Ruby Tuesday’s That You Can Cook At Home – Restaurant Recipes for Home

A Graduate of the Holland College Culinary Course, Brian Alan Burhoe has cooked in Atlantic Coast restaurants for over 30 years. He is a member of the Canadian Culinary Federation. Brian’s articles reflect his interests in food service, dreamstudy, imaginative literature and our ideal friends — our dogs. His Home Page is A CULINARY MYSTERY TOUR – A Literary Chef

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Lessons and feedback from all-inclusive resorts and cruises?

23 February 2011 by  
Categories: Vacations

Question by profound insight: Lessons and feedback from all-inclusive resorts and cruises?
with a particular interest in the resorts or ships where alcoholic drinks were included with your booking …

Or if you have not been one one of those, please answer with the ones you have been in mind.

What did you encounter that was not as you had expected it to be?
Were the drinks cold, tasty, simple to get and served in a glass made of glass rather than a plastic cup?
Was it hard to sleep (in terms of noise and bedding)? Did you get bored? Was it dirty? Were you healthy to go for nice walks of the vicinity? Were there excursion possibilities?

Please include in your answer which airfield or island you flew to, thanks.

Best answer:

Answer by c c
Kona Village, Hawaii, (Big Island) The drinks were VERY tasty and served in glasses, unless you specifically asked for plastic (to take with you on the beach, etc.) Alcohol was NOT included, except the management threw in two bottles of wine because we were celebrating an anniversary and we were returning guests. Sleeping was wonderful, except we had these birds right outside our hut that woke us up apiece morning. Bedding was totally luxurious. We were never bored. It was NOT dirty at all. You HAD to go on nice walks since all of the ‘rooms’ were actually private tiny ‘huts’ and to go to meals or whatever required a nice calming stroll through tropical plant lined walkways. LOTS of excursions — volcanoes, golfing, shopping, diving, whale watching, glass bottomed boats, SUP or surf boards, kayaks, historial tours, plus on site spa and tennis and golf….
This is a VERY nice place that ‘insists’ that you actually ‘vacation’ — no televisions, radios, limited world wide web acess, no AC in the rooms (ocean breeze instead,) no automobiles on site, no room keys or lanyards to keep up with….

I wanna go back!! Again!

What do you think? Answer below!

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