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Toronto Star
01-05-2025
- Toronto Star
Want to slurp Canada's best oysters? Food critic Amy Rosen recommends a summer vacation in this province
Canadian Travel Only in Canada is a new travel series that acts as a love letter to the bucket-list destinations and experiences in our beautiful country. Look for the Only in Canada series every week. In Malpeque Bay, the water freezes over from December to late spring. During this time, the oysters hibernate, gathered together in mesh bags, snapping their shells shut for winter, much like the island itself. (While P.E.I. welcomes visitors year-round, some businesses operate seasonally.) Come May, however, it's time to travel to Prince Edward Island — home to the country's best oysters owing to the crisp, clean, nutrient-rich water surrounding the province — and get slurping once again. The island's history of oyster fishing dates back to the traditional harvesting practices of the Mi'kmaq but gained global fame only in 1900. That's when P.E.I. oysters travelled to the Exposition Universelle, a world's fair in Paris, where they were declared the tastiest in the land. Queen Victoria was apparently a huge fan. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW There was much celebrating in Charlottetown that year, but just over a decade later the majority of the island's oysters were killed off by disease. Those that survived were from Malpeque Bay and were used to seed the rest of the island. That's why, although they may boast names like Pickle Points and Avonlea Petites, all P.E.I. oysters — sweet, pure, briny — are considered Malpeques. Oysters at the Inn at Bay Fortune. People travel to the island just to eat at the inn's restaurant, FireWorks. Al Douglas Media Tyne Valley, a tiny rural community on Malpeque Bay, with a population of around 225 and its own oyster festival every summer, is an especially delicious place to start your shellfish-themed P.E.I. tour. At Valley Pearl Oysters, you can pull up a chair at Jeff Noye's oyster bar and restaurant, which he built by hand above the oyster processing plant overlooking the sparkling bay. Here, the champion shucker will assemble trays of the freshest oysters you'll ever have, just pulled from the shallows within view. You'll want to slurp them back as fast as he can shuck them, which is very fast indeed. Elsewhere on the island, culinary tourists can follow easy-to-spot signs dotting the coastal routes — it's almost impossible to get lost. The North Cape Coastal Drive, for example, is known as the Canadian Oyster Coast, and during a leisurely drive you'll spot oysters on the roadside markers, directing you toward a shucking great road trip. Chef Michael Smith, left, shucking during Oyster Hour at the Inn at Bay Fortune. Al Douglas Media For the finest-dining take on P.E.I. oysters, you'll have to plan ahead to snag a seat. People travel to the island just to eat at FireWorks, the extremely popular restaurant at the Inn at Bay Fortune. The FireWorks Feast, a singular farm-to-table experience held nightly in the summer and fall, includes a welcome toast by chef/proprietor Michael Smith that's like a prayer to the bounty and the night. Then the Oyster Hour begins, with fresh shucked oysters, incredible ember-roasted oysters with lovage butter, hors d'oeuvres and cocktails in the garden. Your one task is leaving room for the multi-course, live-fire-cooked dinner that follows, served family-style inside. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW For a more casual (but no less delightful) setting, Brackley Bay Oyster Co. is also well worth a stop. At the small market/fishery, you can learn the history of local oysters while tasting the island's best bivalves on a plate, then visit postcard-perfect sites nearby, like Brackley Beach and Covehead Harbour Lighthouse in Prince Edward Island National Park. The patio at Brackley Bay Oyster Co. Brackley Bay Oyster Co. Back in Charlottetown, more oysters await at the city's mollusk-forward restaurants, including Claddagh Oyster House and the iconic Water Prince Corner Shop and Lobster Pound. You can enjoy even more oysters at the Gahan House, along with the craft brewery's blueberry ale. Through it all, you may squeeze countless lemon wedges, use a few shakes of hot sauce and perhaps even spoon on some mignonette sauce. But arguably the best way to eat fresh oysters on Prince Edward Island is to leave them raw, naked and unadulterated. Because when something is this pure and perfect, it needs nothing but an open mind and a big old slurp. Come for the Food Fests Taking place this summer from July 29 to Aug. 3, the Tyne Valley Oyster Festival includes the Canadian Oyster Shucking Championship, where the country's best shuckers vie to represent the country at a world competition. Happening in Charlottetown from Sept. 18 to 21, the P.E.I. International Shellfish Festival is a massive celebration under a big tent. Expect shucking championships, an international chefs' challenge, live music, drinking and dancing till late and, yes, lots of oysters. Amy Rosen is a Toronto-based food and travel writer and author of the upcoming novel ' Off Menu.' She travelled as a guest of Tourism PEI, which did not review or approve this article. Clarification – May 1, 2025 This article was updated to clarify that P.E.I. is open to tourism year-round, and not closed for winter as the previous version implied.
Forbes
28-04-2025
- Forbes
An Escape In The Vineyard
The view from the vineyard from the suites. Few places are as beautiful to walk through as a vineyard. Having a picnic or watching the sunset there can double the pleasure. However, there aren't many places you can sleep in one, unless you camp out. Entre Cielos, a small resort outside of Mendoza Argentina, provides exactly that option with cozy bed linens and running water. The name translates to between the heavens and it is an accurate moniker. I have rarely experienced a view like this. The only thing that compares would be staring at the Pacific Coast from the window at the Inn at Newport Ranch. The hotel is also home to a great wine cellar and tons of seductive paths that wind in and out of the vineyards. It also has reportedly the only Hamman, or Turkish bath, in Latin America. While Mendoza is close to nothing in the Northern Hemisphere, it is worth a trip. The resort's hamman, or Turkish bath. This region in Argentina backs up on the Andes is in the far west of the enormous country of Argentina. Flights from Buenos Aire's much-improved airports take less than an hour. This diverse region is also home to the bulk of the fine-wine production in the country. Think Malbec, but also Cabernet Sauvignon, red blends and unique whites like Semillon. Downtown Mendoza is charming, if lacking in great restaurants. Here it is always better to eat in select hotels and at the wineries. Over the past decades the Argentines have calmed down, a bit, about their driving styles so you can probably even risk renting a car. After a long flight and a connection, a vineyard suite can definitely cure whatever ills you. Entre Cielo's cozy rooms are scattered in the vineyard looking out directly at the Andes. I accidentally woke up at 6:30 am and got great pictures: so, I suggest you set your alarm. Sunrise over the Andes at Entre Cielos. The only other place I have seen—much humbler—houses in vineyards was at Gramofone Winery in the Dealu Mare in Romania. These suites are sweet at Entre Cielos. They have basket swings on the porch, lovely linens on the bed and mine had flamingo wallpaper to boot. I wish mine had had a bathtub. There is nothing like waking up in full view of one of the most gorgeous mountain ranges in the world. I could have stayed in my room all day: but there was wine to drink, food to eat and a Turkish bath experience to be had. It is rare to experience a truly classic and authentic Turkish bath experience outside of Turkey. However, Entre Cielos has really taken strides to provide the real deal: steam rooms so hot you can't imagine you can stay more than a minute, olive oil soap that helps you remove faded skin and completely serene pools. What experience would be complete without a red wine bath, based on Malbec grapes, in a claw-foot tub? The Hamman is surrounded by a meditation garden where you can also do yoga. After your scrub-a-dub-dub you will also be treated to lemon water and Turkish-style sweets. All of these may leave you too relaxed for dinner, but you will rally. The view of the pool. The hotel's restaurant Nube features an extensive wine list and free wine tasting with the sommelier around 6pm every evening. She tries to highlight a number of local wines with a focus on Mendoza. The menu, which can be order a la carte or prix fixe, pays homage to Argentina's astoundingly good grass-fed beef. It is lighter, and at the same time richer, than anything to be found stateside. Executive chef Martín Luchetti serves a number of cuts including filet. Make sure you specify how you want it cooked, as Argentines notoriously like their steak well done. The restaurant serves lot's of local dishes. Luchetti is also using a number of typically Italian products, such as Burrata cheese and bagna cauda, a butter, anchovy and garlic sauce native to Piedmonte in northern Italy. Given that reportedly 45 percent of Argentines are of Italian background it is not surprising that foods from the motherland have contributed to the depth and breadth of Argentine food. Milanesa, a fried veal cutlet, is essentially a schnitzel or Milanese as we would call it in Italy. So some of the menu items included burrata, the oozy cheese from Puglia, and a riff on the American invention the caesar salad. As always, Argentines go over the top with dessert, they say you have a separate part of your stomach for it and Nube restaurant is no exception with its tiramisu cloud surrounded by chocolate.
Forbes
19-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
From Battlefield To Dinner Table Lexington Celebrates Patriots' Day
At The Town Meeting Bistro in the Inn at Hastings Park, where history is a part of everyday. If you are in the vicinity of Boston over the next few days, you are bound to get swept up amidst a major celebration. And, no matter where you sit along today's political precipice, there's reason enough to pause in honor of the country's 250th Anniversary of the Battle of Lexington and Concord, marking the beginning of the American Revolution. Between April 17 and April 22 there are multiple events occurring along the Northeastern corridor, most specifically in Boston and surrounding towns. Being right in the thick of it, the Inn at Hastings Park has been gearing up for this week, some might say, from the moment its doors opened ten years ago. 'It's safe to say my memories of celebrating Patriots' Day with my friends and with my family since I moved to Lexington in 1982 are probably one of the reasons why I decided to buy the inn and to share this really special moment in American History with all of our guests," noted owner Trisha Pérez Kennealy recently before kicking off the week of festivities. 'Birthplace of American Liberty' is the inn's tagline, and despite it being the only Relais & Chateaux property in the vicinity--a signature many tie to a particular European style and service--the Inn at Hastings Park is distinguished as such due to its deep connection to its local and American history. It is located a stone's throw from the Battle Green where shots first rang on one historic night. From recent reenactment rehearsals in preparation for this week of events in Lexington, Mass. On the evening of April 18, 1775, Paul Revere was summoned to ride on horseback from Charlestown to Lexington--approx. 12.5 miles--to inform two leaders of the Sons of Liberty, John Hancock and Samuel Adams who were staying in Lexington, with the news that British soldiers stationed in Boston were about to march into the countryside northwest of the town. During his famous Midnight Ride, Revere alerted residents of the British military movements by shouting 'the Redcoats are coming!' In the early morning on April 19, 1775, Capt. John Parker led 77 local militiamen and faced arriving British troops. Someone -- still unknown to this day -- fired a shot, that provoked the start of the American Revolution. To honor the 250th anniversary of Revere's ride, owner/chef Perez Kennealy and Executive Chef Alissa Tsukakoshi of the inn's restaurant, Town Meeting Bistro, have hosted numerous teas, brunches, and dinners leading up to this legendary week. For Patriots' Day in particular, they've prepared a special four-course Colonial-themed feast paired with local area brews and spirits in a communal dining setting. As a nod to Paul Revere, a portrait of him on horseback is featured over the fireplace. Following the dinner guests will gather in the foyer of the Inn to receive a candle lit lantern and be guided on a 10-minute walk to the Hancock-Clark House to watch a 30-minute dramatized and theatrical reenactment as Paul Revere (and William Dawes), rode from Boston arriving in Lexington just before midnight to warn Patriot leaders John Hancock and Samuel Adams, who were staying in town, of the impending British raid. Luxurious, historic, cozy all in one, the Inn at Hastings Park is the only Relais Chateaux in the ... More Boston Vicinity. Originally from Puerto Rico, Kennealy graduated from Harvard College then earned an MBA at Harvard Business School before starting a career in finance. She worked in London as an investment banker for awhile before starting a family and making a full transition into food and hospitality, something she had always been passionate about. While still living in London, Kennealy earned a Diplôme de Cuisine & a Diplôme de Pâtisserie from Le Cordon Bleu then a few years later, she and her family decided to move back to the U.S. where they settled on Lexington, where, to her surprise, did not have a local inn. Trisha Pérez Kennealy, owner of Inn at Hastings Park. After years of restoration on the building--formerly an elderly housing community--the Inn at Hastings Park opened in 2014. Now, the Boston area's only Relais & Châteaux property, the Inn features 22 luxurious accommodations and the Town Meeting Bistro, which has become the center of this week's many celebrations. In addition to the Inn's proud ties to American History, Kennealy is proud to boast an all-women management team who focuses on culinary education and connections to local farms and artisans. They regularly teach cooking classes and host a supper club series, always shining a light on producers from the region, in addition to the region's storied history. Even before this week of festivities the inn had kicked off a series of celebrations. For example, in mid-December, they hosted a celebratory High Tea to commemorate the Boston Tea party of December 16, 1773, a seminal protest that also energized the path toward the Revolution. Amidst a fife and drum performance, the High Tea featured the same teas that were thrown over the Harbor, like Bohea tea, Congou and Souchong, as well as some Singlo and Hyson varieties. Apparently, 342 chests of tea were destroyed during the Boston Tea Party, which has an estimated value of $1.7 million in today's currency. Classic New England clam chowder is a must. At the helm of the inn's F & B program through Town Meeting Bistro, Kennealy and Chef Tsukakoshi serve traditional New England fare with a focus on New England flavors and fresh local ingredients while offering an extensive wine list and cocktail program run by mixologist Dipendra Karki. Similar to Kennealy and her path to opening the inn, Chef Tsukakoshi's was not one that led straight to the culinary world. Although she grew up in a family that appreciated good food, she studied English and creative writing first (At University of Michigan then Boston University, respectively). But it was while working as a counselor at a behavioral treatment center for adolescent girls, that a call toward culinary surfaced. Staff members took turns cooking for everyone in the dorm and when it was time for Tsukakoshi's turn, she realized she couldn't deny the growing desire to cook for people on a regular basis. With a dip into cookbooks from the 18th century, Chef Tsukakoshi presents this menu during the Patriots' Day 250th Anniversary celebration: Executive Chef, Alissa Tsukakoshi, Inn at Hastings Park. Amuse: Oyster with cranberry sumac granita Applejack Brandy, J'enwey Citrus Chamomile Tea, Citrus Oleo-Saccharum, NutmegTo Share: Thirded Bread and Cornbread Muffins with Molasses ButterAppetizer: Sunchoke Soup with Roasted Sunchokes, Bacon, herbs Downeast Original Blend Unfiltered Hard Cider, Boston, MAEntree: Braised Lamb Shank with Samp and Roasted Root Vegetables Ipswich Oatmeal Stout, Ipswich, MA Dessert: 1747 Chocolate Sugar Crusted Tart with Rum Cream Justino's Rainwater, Madeira, Portugal Although all eyes are set on this eventful week, Kennealy and Tsukakoshi will not be slowing down any time soon. They will soon start preparations for the next big anniversary: the 250th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the founding of the United States of America, on July 4, 2026.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
This historic inn in Lexington, Massachusetts, is located where the Revolutionary War began
It all started with a bang. Well, more precisely, it was a shot—the 'shot heard round the world' that began the Revolutionary War. On the night of April 18, 1775—into the early hours of the 19th—Paul Revere rode directly past the site where I stand, looking up at the Minuteman Statue illuminated by spotlights at twilight. Local historian and leader of the Footsteps of the Revolution tour Fred Silverstein knows the details so well that you would swear that he was actually there himself. 'People are surprised to learn that Revere was not 'on the opposite shore' to wait for a signal according to Longfellow,' Silverstein explains. 'He wasn't even the first rider summoned to warn Hancock and Adams in Lexington. Revere did arrive in Lexington first, having taken a shorter route with a faster horse.' Despite Longfellow's historical variations, the heart of the story is still accurate, and 250 years later, we're all still sharing the start of the Revolutionary War that took place in Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts. Just steps from the Lexington Battle Green, history is everywhere at the Inn at Hastings Park. The 22-room luxury boutique hotel, owned by Trisha Pérez Kennealy, has a front-porch view of the site of the first confrontation between the Minutemen and the British. It's so close that you can smell the gunpowder from the many reenactments. Pérez Kennealy moved to Lexington as a child, and returned to raise her own family after living in New York, Boston, and London. 'I wanted a business that was related to food,' Pérez Kennealy says. 'I have also always been passionate about Lexington's history, so opening an inn seemed a logical way to combine these two passions.' The property comprises three buildings—the Main House, the Isaac Mulliken House, named for a spirited local politician who lived there, and the Barn, which served as Mulliken's original carpentry shop. The buildings date back to the 1800s, but the Main House was home to a descendant of one of Lexington's first families who settled the town in the 1600s. 'Living in other places made me appreciate the historical significance, beauty, and sense of community that Lexington is known for,' Pérez Kennealy says. When the property came on the market in 2012, Pérez Kennealy saw it as the opportunity of a lifetime. After a nearly two-year renovation, led by her father as project manager, the historic buildings were upgraded while preserving the property's architecture, opening as an inn in 2014. 'I wanted the design of the Inn to pay tribute to the historic and architectural significance of the buildings that comprise our hotel in a contemporary way,' Pérez Kennealy says. She enlisted the help of local interior designer, Robin Gannon, to bring her vision of the property to life. All design aspects furnishings are from New England artisans and businesses, of which 80 percent are female-owned and operated. There are 26 different types of hand-painted wallpaper throughout the property, with bright colors and bold patterns, all of which honor the past but with a contemporary spin. In-room locally sourced snacks, Molton Brown bath amenities, as well as on-site massages are also available. In addition to a business background, Pérez Kennealy is also a graduate from Le Cordon Bleu Culinary School in London. Her culinary influence is felt throughout the property with craft cocktail classes, culinary weekends, and most notably, the Town Meeting Bistro, the culinary hub of the inn. Named for the Revolutionary era when town meetings were influential in New England, the bistro serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, and high tea daily, and a Champagne brunch on Sundays, with seasonal menus that showcase local farmers. (Related: It's not too early to make plans for America's 250th birthday in 2026) The Inn is situated along the Minuteman Bikeway, a 10-mile rail trail, and bikes are available for guests. History tours, like the Footsteps of the Revolution tour we took with Fred, leave from the inn. The Lexington Battle Green, Minute Man National Park, and Buckman Tavern, the gathering place for Captain Parker's militia when the British were coming, are all within walking distance of the inn. After visiting those sites, take a short drive to the Minuteman National Historic Park, which begins in the neighboring town of Lincoln, and continue into Concord, following the route of the alarm riders. Walking across the Old North Bridge, where firing began, it's easy to imagine the confrontation that took place there. 'It's important that we remember what these civilian farmers, tradesmen, and shopkeepers were willing to do,' Silverstein says. 'Some paid the ultimate price.' The Minute Man Statue there commemorates 'the shot heard round the world,' and Meriam's Corner marks where the battle became more intense. The Belfry that held the bell that summoned the militia, the Hancock-Clarke House where Samuel Adams and John Hancock stayed, and Ye Old Burying Ground can all be visited by trolley tours, walking tours, and private tours. History buffs should note that April is particularly popular for reenactments due to the anniversary, especially this year, and dates can be found on Lexington's website. Besides the Revolutionary War sites, the area is also a cradle of American literature. 'The Alcotts moved next door to the Orchard House where daughter Louisa May wrote Little Women,' Silverstein says. 'Emerson, Thoreau, Hawthorne, and Alcott then were all close neighbors.' Walden Pond, where transcendentalist Henry David Thoreau lived and wrote, is also nearby. 'The ideals that were championed in the Battle of Lexington are just as relevant today as they were 250 years ago,' Pérez Kennealy says. 'Lexington continues to be a vibrant and progressive community that is at the forefront of societal changes and movements.' Trudy Haywood Saunders is a freelance writer covering travel, history, Southern culture, food, lifestyle, and more. View her portfolio at
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Event teaches young people to save stab victims
A teenager who witnessed her friend being stabbed has praised a "reassuring" event teaching young people emergency first aid. Paramedics from South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) visited a youth event in Slough to help teenagers respond to stab wounds. The event, organised in partnership with charity Together As One, involved showing young people how to stem catastrophic bleeding and give CPR. Innat, 15, who witnessed a stabbing, said the event showed knife crime was a "really deep concern" in the area. The event came after figures from the Office of National Statistics revealed there were 50,000 incidents of knife crime reported across the UK in 2024. SCAS paramedic manager Ian Sayer said more than 2,000 incidents happened in their area last year. "Unfortunately it's something we are well versed in dealing with," he said. "On average in our region we probably deal with about four to five incidents a day involving knives, stabbings, people injured by bladed articles deliberately. "If someone's got a catastrophic bleed - it's the basics that can save that person. We can raise awareness and get people to step up and help." Innat's friend has since recovered after being stabbed and she said these skills would have been useful. "The fact I wasn't able to do anything, just stand there and watch and wait for police to arrive, it wasn't nice," she said. "If more people are aware of how dangerous it can be, I think it will help majorly. People always think they're going to be lucky, but there are concerns out there and you need to be safe." Hanan, 16, added: "It put it into perspective more. I haven't personally experienced it, I know things happen, but it depends on the situation you're in." Together As Once has operated in Slough for more than 20 years to reduce gang crime. CEO Rob Deeks said: "The perception is knife crime is a big problem and unfortunately young people have lost their lives to knife crime in recent years here in Slough, so it does weigh heavily on people's minds. "What's important is we work together as a town to keep young people safe. People on the front lines in this situation are so determined to do something." You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Knife crime first aid session held for young people 'I was lost' says mum helping knife crime victims Ex-gang member warns children about knife crime Zombie knife ban 'step in right direction' - teens Schoolchildren warned about 'pain' of knife crime South Central Ambulance Service
