Daniel Hotel

With daily temperatures well above 30, one would not think it is the ideal week to go touring around the country.  The heat can be tiring.  As my fiance says, “We’re Canadians. We can travel in all weather.” I agree.  However I think he was referring to colder weather.

I was having a conversation with a friend last week saying there weren’t enough well-appointed, reasonably priced boutique hotels in North America.  It seems once you mention boutique, the prices jump to at least $200+.  In Europe, it’s not the case.  Every country we travel to it is quite easy to find a design forward, reasonably priced hotel that is not going to cost you an arm and a leg to stay in.

Here is a new one I just found:  Daniel, in Vienna.  I am not staying here as I just learned about it yesterday but I would totally consider it when I return the next trip. (There is a second location in Graz (Daniel Graz), my other favourite design city that I have blogged about here and here).

Photo Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

It’s adorable right?  You have nice wooden floors, funky lighting, plants, an in-house bakery, nice looking rooms, iconic design furniture pieces.  It looks like you are walking into someone’s really nice vintage chic living room.  I wonder why this model has never quite taken off back across the Atlantic?

See you Friday….

Neni Modern Israeli Food in Vienna

I am off to Vienna tomorrow for a couple days to take my visiting guests to explore a new city.

When I travel, I am always on the look-out for interesting and new food concepts as well as flavours that I am missing/can’t get. Israeli food/middle eastern food certainly tops that list.

Neni is an Israeli restaurant with two locations, a cookbook and a catering operation (take away dips).  I love the interiors of their restaurant and their menu looks stacked with items such as shakshuka, hummus, ful, tomato salad, kibbeh, red lentil soup and pita bread. I look forward to reporting back on their breakfast next week as I plan to pay their Naschmarkt location a visit! Hummus and falafel, here I come.

Photo Sources: Neni

Fluro Beads + Japanese Donuts

There is something about these handmade beads that are speaking to me today.  Jess, from LoveLoveCollective in Brisbane, Australia makes them and I love their shape.  They remind me of little donuts! (found on Etsy)

Photo Source: 1, 2, 3

Speaking of donuts, have you heard of Hara donuts in Japan?   Do you see the similarities? These donuts are soy based and less sweet than what you would get if you bit into a Krispy Kreme, but fluffy and doughy.

Photo Source 1, 2, 3

I am off to Vienna next week for a quick jaunt, so be sure to check back on new Vienna city updates.

Even Monsters Have Stylish Supplies

Even monsters need their supplies too!

How sweet is the theme of this London based supplies/general store?  It’s been around since the 1800s and every inch of store’s consumer touch points (web + product) reflects the monster theme.

Hoxton Street Monster Supplies offers a variety of everyday home goods and edible sweets tweaked and branded for your average monster, ghost or ghoul.  I love it!  I want to buy jam that says “Old fashioned brain jam.”  Next time I am in London, I am totally visiting this place!

Fridge watch day 5: The fridge has been confirmed dead.  A new one is being ordered.  It is not healthy to live without a fridge.  That is what I have learned from this experience.

Photo Source 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Falcon Enamelware

It’s Tuesday and my fridge is still broken.  Somewhere between going to bed on Friday and waking up on Saturday my fridge decided to take a sabbatical and flake out.  Saturday to Tuesday is a long time not to have a working fridge and I am testing the limits of preservatives in food.  However, I’m a glass half full type of girl and there are some positive things to come out of this situation.  For instance, I have an excellent reason to clean out my fridge and freezer,  I have discovered a couple new cafes/restaurants in my neighbourhood to eat at and I am supporting local businesses, and I am learning about expiry dates 🙂

I would still like to have my fridge back.  Fridge, let’s never fight again.

These days, I find myself taking a strong interest in researching tableware and kitchenware materials.  Let’s talk about enamelware.  I don’t think I have ever owned a piece of enamelware, I don’t remember growing up with enamelware in my home in Toronto and I can’t say I know too much about why I would use it over stoneware, porcelain or earthenware.  Today it changes.  The British enamelware brand, Falcon, caught my attention and I decided to do some digging.  It’s interesting how something so big and popular in one country or region is almost non-existant in another.  This is not surprising but I still find it endlessly fascinating how local some brands stay, despite our increasingly connected, global economy.

Back to enamelware: Falcon makes these adorable enamel mugs, tumblers, pie sets and bake sets which are recognizable by its all white body and coloured rim.

As you can see by the date in the logo (above), this brand has been around for a long time, nearly 100 years in fact.  I surmise, part of the reason why this brand is making a “come back” is thanks to its spiffy new look from Kiwi & Pom and Morse Studio (its rebrand) and the other part may be driven by an interest in the revival of vintage or retro products mixed with its attractive minimalist, clean design.

Enamelware is made of porcelain that is fused onto steel, which helps its durability as a product.  Other beneficial properties include that it can withstand high heat and keep its colour.   Apparently enamelware was created (gotta love innovation) as a safe means to coat iron pots (the material du jour) which often left food and liquid with an iron-y, unplesant taste.

Photo Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

I think I would like to test out their pie dish and see how it compares to baking in Pyrex or a metal pan. Are there any Falcon enamelware baking fans out there? I would love to hear about your experience with this material.