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How to Book & Save with Expedia Add-on Advantage

August 1, 2018 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

Thank you Expedia for sponsoring this post. Book your travel on Expedia.ca to save with the Add-On Advantage!

Hey everyone! I’m back from my summer trip to Los Angeles and San Diego in partnership with Expedia.ca and I’m excited to share with you some travel planning tips and tricks. Have you heard of the Expedia Add-On Advantage program? It’s a way to book with ease, flexibility and savings. You can get discounted hotel rates when you add on to your existing trip and it’s exclusively for Expedia travelers. For this trip, I used the Expedia Add-on Advantage to score great savings on hotels. Read on to find out how I did it.

HOW EXPEDIA ADD-ON ADVANTAGE WORKS

Begin by shopping for your flight, car or package on Expedia.ca.
Hotel savings (of up to 50% on Expedia.ca) on select properties are instantly unlocked up until the start of your trip.
The hotel stay needs to occur within the travel dates of the flight, car or package purchase.
The hotel stay does not have to be in the same destination as the flight, car or package purchase – i.e. If a traveler books a return flight to London for three weeks, he or she can book a Paris hotel deal for that trip using the Expedia Add-On Advantage.
When you’re ready to shop, look for hotels with the Add-On badge. The discount will already be reflected in the lower price. Simply book and save.

My experience with Expedia Add-on Advantage

After booking my flight from Vancouver to Los Angeles on Expedia.ca, I didn’t book my hotel accommodations right away. This was great because Expedia Add-On Advantage lets you take the time you need to research the perfect hotel at the perfect price. However, the hotel booking needs to be made before the start of the trip because that is when the unlocked hotel discounts expire.

Just a few days before the trip, I searched for hotels in Los Angeles and San Diego and the ones that were part of the Expedia Add-on Advantage were identified with the Add-on Badge (highlighted in yellow).

With the Add-on Advantage, I received a 6% discount on our stay at America’s Best Value Inn & Suites.

For Chula Vista Inn, the discount was already reflected in the lower price.

Some highlights of the trip including trying these vegan, 3D popsicles in Santa Monica.

Visiting Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, 90210 and doing some window shopping.

Visiting LEGOLAND and embarking on a real submarine at Deep Sea Adventure.

Strolling through Balboa Park in San Diego in the evening.

It was wonderful to have incurred savings on hotel stays through the Expedia.ca Add-on Advantage. To find out more, visit Expedia.ca.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Pretty Woman Filming Locations on Rodeo Drive

July 29, 2018 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

One of my favourite Hollywood on-screen couples is Julia Roberts and Richard Gere. So when I visited Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills last week, I made it a point to visit some of the filming locations for Pretty Woman.

Regent Beverly Wilshire

The Regent Beverly Wilshire at 9500 Wilshire Boulevard (Wilshire and Rodeo Drive) is the luxurious hotel where Edward and Vivian stayed. The exterior and the lobby of the hotel were featured in the movie but the rooms were a set built at the Disney Studio in Burbank.

9500 Wilshire Blvd
Beverly Hills
CA 90212

Giorgio Beverly Hills

Giorgio Beverly Hills at 273 Rodeo Drive is the first luxury boutique to be founded on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. It is also where Vivian was able to get that stunning red cocktail dress for dinner. The Giorgio Beverly Hills brand was sold to Avon in the 80s and the store’s name was changed to Fred Hayman Beverly Hills. 273 Rodeo Drive is now a branch of Louis Vuitton, but Fred Hayman Beverly Hills has a smaller boutique nearby.

273 North Rodeo Drive
Beverly Hills
CA 90210

Donald Trump Walk of Fame Star Vandalized

July 29, 2018 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

During my trip to Los Angeles last week, I revisited Hollywood Boulevard and took a stroll along Hollywood Walk of Fame. Just outside Hollywood and Highland Center at 6803 Hollywood Boulevard was Donald’s Trump Hollywood Walk of Fame star which he received in 2007 for his reality TV series, NBC’s The Apprentice. The star has been noted to have received negative attention since Trump’s presidential campaign in 2016. As I passed by the star, I witnessed first hand the negative attention the star received as a man aggressively scuffed his shoes against the star. Here’s a photo of it as the man stood to analyze the amount of damage he did. Trump’s star certainly looked like the most damaged star along Hollywood Boulevard.

I’m putting up this post as I find it interesting (though not surprising) that a few days after I took this photo someone had taken a pickax and smashed Trump’s Walk of Fame star. Check out this video from TMZ which shows the man going to town on it. According to TMZ, no one tried to stop the man (who would approach a man swinging a pickax?) and the man later surrendered.

Some have reported this to be “copycat” attack because the star was previously damaged by a man with a sledgehammer in 2016. It was interesting to have seen Trump’s star intact for a brief moment during my trip.

BREAKING! President Trumps star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was just destroyed. We’re following up on #2NEWSAM. pic.twitter.com/qiad6yIMCn

— Ron Bird (@KUTVRon) July 25, 2018

LEGOLAND California Deep Sea Adventure [Review]

July 28, 2018 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

Earlier this month, LEGOLAND California unveiled their widely anticipated and newest attraction: Deep Sea Adventure. In this 4-minute ride, guests embark on a real 22,000-pound submarine through a 350,000-gallon aquarium where they’ll go underwater to discover a world filled with 2,000 real sea animals including sharks, rays and tropical fish. On our trip to LA/San Diego last week, my family and I had the opportunity to visit LEGOLAND and experience this latest ride at the park.

Disclosure: I visited LEGOLAND as media where my admission was complimentary. Opinions are my own.

The lineup was about a half and hour long but we were kept cool in the hot weather with some umbrellas. Closer to the entrance, the line becomes sort of a loop and in the middle is a small play area for kids to be entertained.

When we got inside, we received a “mission” delivered to us by a 3-foot-tall LEGO diver whose face, with the help of a projector screen, is animated as he gives instructions.

The mission entailed using the interactive touchscreens at each porthole inside the sub to help the LEGO minifigure dive team identify LEGO treasures like gems, pearls, gold coins and more. Guests are to match the treasure picture on the screen when they see it in the deep. You can reach one of three levels during each ride: Junior, Senior and Master Explorer.

One slightly confusing aspect of the ride is that the submarines don’t actually stop for you to get embark. You need to get onto the moving submarines and immediately descend a short flight of stairs to the seating area.

Another interesting aspect is that the submarine isn’t actually fully submerged in water. The bottom half is underwater and that is where you get to see through the portholes.

While the capacity of the submarine is 12 people, ours had just had 6 so it was quite cozy and comfortable inside. Each person has his or her own touchscreen to play the game.

As we passed through the waters, we saw different LEGO treasures. In terms of wildlife, I saw various fish and a stingray.

The admission to Deep Sea Adventure is included in your ticket to LEGOLAND. Riders under 52″ may only ride with a supervising companion at least 14 years old and 52″ tall.

Overall, we enjoyed the Deep Sea Adventure ride albeit it was too short (as always!). I would definitely recommend giving this new attraction at LEGOLAND California a try.

To find out about how to buy discount LEGOLAND California tickets, visit here.

LEGOLAND DEEP SEA ADVENTURE OVERVIEW

Length of ride: 4 minutes
Number of passengers per submarine: 12
Weight of submarine: 22,000 pounds
Tank size: 300,000 gallons
Animal species: Eventually 2,000, including Blacktip Reef Sharks, Southern and Cownose Stingrays, Blue-lined Seaperch, Bigscale Soliderfish, and Foxface Rabbitfish.
Underwater treasurers: crown, pearl, sword, portrait art, treasure chest, six gems

Reference:

Jack in the Box New Triple Cut Premium Burger

July 28, 2018 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

Last month, Jack in the Box introduced Triple Cut Premium Burgers to the menu for a limited time at participating locations. The Triple Cut Premium Burgers feature a special patty with a custom blend of three cuts of beef: sirloin, chuck and brisket. They are available in two varieties: Classic Bacon and Manchego Cheese & Lemon Aioli.

During my trip to San Diego, I stumbled upon a Jack-in-the-box and decided to give the Triple Cut Classic Bacon Burger a try. It features the tri-blend patty (sirloin, chuck and brisket), bacon, two slices of American cheese and mayo on a brioche bun. The Classic Bacon Burger is $4.99 USD on its own or $7.09 USD as a small combo.

At first bite, I found the burger to be very tasty! I can’t recall a better tasting burger in recent times that I have had at a fast food chain. The special patty certainly had lots of flavour and is much better than bland beef patties I have had from fast food restaurants. The bacon was well-executed being very crispy. The brioche bun was also very good: light, fluffy and buttery.

In terms of nutritional information, the Triple Cut Classic Bacon has 960 calories, 71 grams of fat, 1390 mg of sodium, 40 grams of carbs and 40 grams of protein.

Overall Impression

I would definitely recommend the Classic Bacon Triple Cut Premium Burger. It’s a simple burger that delivers in terms of taste and value. The blended patty is definitely worth a try. Rating: 4.5/5

How to Buy Legoland California Discount Tickets

July 27, 2018 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

If you’re planning to visit Legoland California, there is a way to save money by buying discount tickets. I recently discovered Undercovertourist.com, an authorized online seller of discount Disney tickets, Disney hotels, Universal Orlando, SeaWorld, ski vacations and more. Here’s how you can buy Legoland California discount tickets using Undercover Tourist.

Disclosure: The links below are affiliate links, which means I receive a commission if you click a link and make a purchase. While clicking these links won’t cost you any extra money, they will help us keep this site up. Thanks for the support!

Different LEGOLAND Ticket Types

If you don’t know already, LEGOLAND California consists of three ticketed portions: the regular LEGOLAND part, SEA LIFE Aquarium, and the Water Park.

There are three ticket types that I am going to be comparing: 1-Day LEGOLAND California Ticket; 1-Day LEGOLAND California & SEA LIFE Aquarium + 2nd Day Free; and 1-Day LEGOLAND California Resort Hopper + 2nd Day Free.

Price Comparison

As a point of reference, I’m going to use today’s date (July 27, 2018) to showcase the price comparisons between Undercover Tourist and the official Legoland website. Below are screenshots of the ticket prices. Scroll below for an analysis of the savings.

Undercover Tourist

LEGOLAND Official

Price Comparisons for Adult (13+)

Using Undercover Tourist, you can save between 21 % – 23% depending on the ticket type. To see the ticket pricing, you need to go to Undercover Tourist > Discount Tickets > San Diego > Legoland Calfornia

Ticket Type (Adult, 13+)	UnderCover Tourist	LEGOLAND Official	Savings ($,%)
1-Day LEGOLAND California Ticket	$86.30	$109	$22.70 (21%)
1-Day LEGOLAND California & SEA LIFE Aquarium + 2nd Day Free	$95.99	$125	$29.01 (23%)
1-Day LEGOLAND California Resort Hopper + 2nd Day Free	$100.91	$130	$29.09 (22%)

Price Comparisons for Child

Using Undercover Tourist, you can save between 21 % – 23% depending on the ticket type.

Ticket Type (Adult, 13+)	UnderCover Tourist	LEGOLAND Official	Savings ($,%)
1-Day LEGOLAND California Ticket	$81.07	$103	$21.93 (21%)
1-Day LEGOLAND California & SEA LIFE Aquarium + 2nd Day Free	$91.06	$119	$27.94 (23%)
1-Day LEGOLAND California Resort Hopper + 2nd Day Free	$95.99	$122	$26.01 (21%)

As a note, you can upgrade any ticket for the SEA LIFE Aquarium and/or the Water Park. The upgrades happen at the LEGOLAND door. For SEA Life, the upgrade at is $22 each. For the Water Park, the upgrade is $30. However, you save more if you don’t upgrade at the door and buy the appropriate ticket ahead of time.

Using Undercover Tourist will help you save around 22% for your ticket to LEGOLAND California. Hopefully, this article has helped you in saving on your next trip!

Dream Pops: Vegan, 3D Printed Ice Cream Popsicles

July 26, 2018 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

On my trip to Los Angeles, I took the opportunity to try out Dream Pops: vegan, 3D printed ice cream popsicles that have been an Instagram sensation. Starbucks was offering Dream Pops as part of a special collaboration at select locations in LA and I visited the Third Street Promenade store in Santa Monica to try them out.

Note: This post is not sponsored. This review was done anonymously.

What are Dream Pops?

Dream Pops were created out of an LA startup and they are plant-based ice cream popsicles that are made with fruit and superfoods (depends on the flavour). Geared towards the health conscious, Dream Pops are coconut-milk based and are dairy, gluten and soy free. They are under 100 calories with no artificial additives or stabilizers. Their futuristic shape comes from being made out of 3D printed molds and apparently their design has an ergonomic touch to prevent sticky fingers. In addition, their recipes were developed in collaboration with a three-star Michelin chef. Quite the story for a clean, plant-based popsicle!

Starbucks Kiosks

Inside Starbucks, a Dream Pops kiosk was set up at the back of the store. You can select the Dream Pop(s) you want and pay at the front.

Dream Pops Flavours

At the time of my visit, the following flavours were available: Berry Dreams, Chocolate Lion, Coconut Latte, and Vanilla Matcha. Priced at $3.95.

The popsicles were individually wrapped and came in colourful packages with geometric patterns on the front.

What I Tried

The Vanilla Matcha ran out so I went with two other flavours: the Berry Dreams and Coconut Latte.

To start, I quite enjoyed the creamy consistency of the pops. The Berry Dreams is essentially a fruit medley (strawberry, raspberry, passionfruit) and had a texture quite like a sorbet. It had a very nice sweet and tangy flavour. The Coconut Latte was very smooth and tasted just like a coffee with coconut milk.

Dream Pops at Starbucks

Dream Pops are now available at five Starbucks locations in the greater Los Angeles area from 2 -5 pm until Oct. 5. The five LA locations selling Dream Pops are at La Brea and 4th, Melrose and Stanley, Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade, Wilshire and Santa Monica, and San Vincente and Barrington.

Overall Impression

I general, I liked the concept and novelty behind Dream Pops as a clean, plant-based treat with a futuristic twist. It seems an ideal collaboration for Starbucks as they tap into the health-conscious market with products that are guilt-free but also have an aesthetic appeal. I enjoyed the flavours of the popsicles and would definitely love to have them again. In terms of pricing, they are a bit of a premium compared to a “cheap” popsicle due to the ingredients and unique process behind making them. Rating: 4/5

I’m LA Bound!

July 16, 2018 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

Thank you Expedia for sponsoring this post. Book your travel on Expedia.ca to save with the Add-On Advantage!

Hey everyone! This week, I’m headed for some sunshine and good times in Los Angeles for a summertime getaway in partnership with Expedia.ca. Have you heard of the Expedia Add-On Advantage program? You can get discounted hotel rates when you add on to your existing trip and it’s exclusively for Expedia travelers.

How Expedia Add-On Advantage Works

Begin by shopping for your flight, car or package on Expedia.
Hotel savings (of up to 50% on Expedia.ca) on select properties are instantly unlocked up until the start of your trip.
The hotel stay needs to occur within the travel dates of the flight, car or package purchase.
The hotel stay does not have to be in the same destination as the flight, car or package purchase – i.e. If a traveler books a return flight to London for three weeks, he or she can book a Paris hotel deal for that trip using the Expedia Add-On Advantage.
When you’re ready to shop, look for hotels with the Add-On badge. The discount will already be reflected in the lower price. Simply book and save.

I booked this trip using the Expedia Add-on Advantage and am have scored some great savings on hotels. I’m taking a hiatus from posting on the blog while I am away BUT be sure to stay tuned to my Instagram and Insta-stories to find out about my LA and San Diego adventures.

For more information on the Expedia Add-On Advantage, visit https://clvr.li/2KJLPLu

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

San Francisco’s Pier 39: Pier Market Crab Stand

July 8, 2018 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

PIER 39 is a must-visit when in San Francisco with sea lions, waterfront dining, street performers, live music, shopping and more. When you’re hungry, there are many delicious options at PIER 39 including Pier Market Seafood Restaurant that has been around since 1983. Pier Market Seafood Restaurant is family-owned and operated by the Simmons Family who also founded PIER 39. During my visit to San Francisco, I had the opportunity to dine at Pier Market Restaurant (see post here) but they also operate a crab stand which serves as take away counter. Here’s a look at the Pier Market Crab Stand.

Pier Market Crab Stand Menu

On the menu are a vareity of seafood burgers and sandwiches, deep fried seafood as well as clam chowder. Items are priced around $6-$10. They also offer soft drinks, beer and wine.

The display case features the items on the menu so you can see how the food is presented before ordering.

What We Tried

I had the fresh salmon burger ($8) where the salmon was fried perfectly. The salmon patty was crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. The fries were also nicely crispy.

My son had the hot dog meal ($6) which he enjoyed.

Service

The staff at the Pier Market Crab Stand were very friendly considering the number of impatient tourists who wanted to be served. I was impressed with their calm demeanour especially with customers whose English was limited.

Overall Impression of Pier Market Stand

I’m a fan of the food from Pier Market Seafood restaurant and the stand offers some delicious take away options if you do not want to dine in. On my next visit to SF, I’ll be sure to visit Pier Market Seafood Restaurant again or to one of their sister restaurants. Rating: 4/5

Pier Market
Address: Pier 39 Concourse, San Francisco, CA 94133, USA
Website: ‎piermarket.com/

San Francisco One Michelin Star: Al’s Place

July 8, 2018 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

When David (Pickydiners.com) and I ventured to San Francisco this past spring, we aimed to dine at some of the most interesting Michelin-starred restaurants in the Bay area. We decided on Al’s Place, a modern New American restaurant in the Mission District that has been a one Michelin star restaurant since 2016. Chef-owner Aaron London offers a seasonal, ingredient-driven menu with a vegetable focus highlighting the produce of Northern California. Here’s a look at our experience.

Note: This is not a sponsored post. None of the food nor drinks was complimentary. This review is done anonymously.

Casual Vibe

We made a reservation for an early dinner and the restaurant quickly filled up with diners. The restaurant exudes a very casual atmosphere as exemplified by the plaid-wearing servers. Al’s Place also seems like a family-friendly restaurant as I noticed many families with kids dining together.

There is also seating outside the restaurant with pretty string lights overhanging.

Al’s Place Menu

Al’s Place menu is divided into Snackles, Cold/Cool, Warm/Hot, Sides, and Limited Availability. Both à la carte and prix-fixe are offered. Many of the dishes are available as shared or as an entree.

What We Tried

We ordered one item from each of the different sections of the menu to get a “tasting” of what they offered. We also opted to not have a full meal as we would be proceeding to Asia SF for a show and three-course dinner after dining at Al’s Place.

In general, I thought the items we tried had unique flavour combinations and showcased fresh, seasonal ingredients. The dishes were beautifully presented as well.

Snack: Mushroom Broth Chawanmushi, Fuji Apple, Pistachio ($8)

The chawanmushi (Japanese egg custard) was very silky and smooth in texture while savoury in flavour. The fuji apple offered some crispy, sweet flavours while the pistachios offered a nice textural contrast.

Cold/Cool: Lightly cured trout, crispy potato, bashed turnips, bagna cauda ($18)

I loved the texture of the crispy potato while the cured trout was very flavourful.

Warm/Hot: Sunchoke Curry, black lime-cod, citrus jewels, winter jam ($20)

The seasonal curry, served with a meaty fish like black cod, has been noted to be Chef-owner London’s signature dish so it comes highly recommended. The curry was poured into the dish at tableside.

Side: Steak tartare, pickled kohlrabi, black mandarin, horseradish ($18)

Meat dishes are designated as “sides” on the menu and we went with the steak tartare. The meat was tender, flavourful though not as inventive overall as the other vegetable-focused dishes.

Service

While the food was pretty good in general, the service left much to be desired. I had dined at another one star Michelin restaurant the previous night, Aster, and received stellar service there (friendly, attentive). At Al’s Place, the service seemed aloof, brusque and overall not the kind of Michelin-quality type of service I would expect.

Overall Impression of Al’s Place

I thought the vegetable-focused items we tried at Al’s Place were creative, nicely presented and interesting. If I were to return again, I wouldn’t mind trying the prix-fixe family-style menu. The food seems Michelin quality but the service should be improved to make it a more worthy experience for diners. Rating: 3.5/5

Al’s Place
Address: 499 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA
Website: www.alsplacesf.com‎

HOW EXPEDIA ADD-ON ADVANTAGE WORKS

My experience with Expedia Add-on Advantage

Regent Beverly Wilshire

Giorgio Beverly Hills

Overall Impression

Different LEGOLAND Ticket Types

Price Comparison

LEGOLAND Official

Price Comparisons for Adult (13+)

Price Comparisons for Child

What are Dream Pops?

Starbucks Kiosks

Dream Pops Flavours

What I Tried

Dream Pops at Starbucks

Overall Impression

How Expedia Add-On Advantage Works

Pier Market Crab Stand Menu

What We Tried

Service

Overall Impression of Pier Market Stand

Casual Vibe

Al’s Place Menu

What We Tried

Snack: Mushroom Broth Chawanmushi, Fuji Apple, Pistachio ($8)

Cold/Cool: Lightly cured trout, crispy potato, bashed turnips, bagna cauda ($18)

Warm/Hot: Sunchoke Curry, black lime-cod, citrus jewels, winter jam ($20)

Side: Steak tartare, pickled kohlrabi, black mandarin, horseradish ($18)

Service

Overall Impression of Al’s Place

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