Posts filed under ‘Travel’
Swellness: Olive et Gourmando
Trekking to Fashion Week in Montreal is treacherous — it’s in Old Montreal and those cobblestone roads are not easy when you’re in skyhigh heels, such as these (I am very, very fortunate I did not faceplant, let me tell you).
But what makes me oh so very thankful MFW is held in Old Montreal? I can skip (well, as much as I can skip in heels on cobblestone) over to Olive et Gourmando.
Incredibly delicious, if somewhat greasy (bet that’s what makes ‘em yummy, though) grilled sandwiches. This melty thing here is the Cuban sandwich.
To die for baked goods; the fleur de sel turtle bar (chocolate, nuts, salt, caramel) is my weakness (but then again, I’ve always had a thing for sweet and salty). I limit myself to bringing home just one each visit. And I throw in an almond croissant, too.
This time around, I tried the macaroni and cheese and it was rich, with plenty of earthy mushrooms and gooey cheese throughout, and had the perfect balance of crunchy topping (it’s served baked in a shallow cast iron pan so every bite includes some crunchy goodness). I don’t seem to have a photo of it — I know I took one but I must’ve not saved it properly as I was in a mega rush to dig into my food.
Just. Go.
Here are their hours. Word to the wise — they’re always busy. Always. Go at lunch hour and it’ll be rammed (in fact, a group of us risked missing a flight by staying in the long lineup one time…that’s how much we wanted lunch from there). This time I went at 4PM (a slow time, you would think) and there was not an empty table in sight.
Olive et Gourmando, 351 rue Saint Paul Ouest.
Exercising may lead to healthier eating
I often repeat the word “turnover” to myself when I’m out running as a reminder to aim for faster turnover (smaller steps, more of them at a faster pace). Often it works, but sometimes I just start craving apple turnovers, and in fact once ran straight to the grocery store–all sweaty in my running gear–to buy some (except they were out, drat!).
(For the most part, though, I’ll eat a fairly practical and healthy meal after a run, in case you were wondering–would feel terribly guilty to dig into something crazy fatty right afterwards–I save that for rest days so I don’t have to feel guilty, ha ha!)
In any case, a new review published in Obesity Reviews has found that working out may cause changes in your brain that lead to healthier eating. Regular exercise enhances our brain’s inhibitory control, so we’re better equipped to resist making impulsive diet choices (such as apple turnovers!).
(And that sign pictured above? One I spotted in Hong Kong this summer–and you know what I would’ve done had I had the time? Popped in for some cake. I do so heart cake!)
Gorgeous Grenada
I visited this little slice of heaven just a few weeks ago. Read more about what to see and do in Grenada on sweetspot.ca!
Swellness Sundays
(Anything I find swell. Posted on Sundays. Real scientific, I know…)
“Oh. Em. Gee. She’s straight outta an Anthropologie catalogue.”
That’s what I thought to myself when I met my latest girlcrush, the lovely Jelena in her darling pink sundress and her white-blond hair in the garden of the Belzeb aromatherapy shop in Grenada where she works. There were chickens walking and clucking their way around the herbs and flowers. The whole scene was almost too good to be true.
I’ve got bath and body products galore at home but I did pick up some fantastic lemongrass tea here, which I’ll enjoy in the pretty new cups I picked up at West Elm.
