Destination: Benalmadena, Spain

Destination: Benalmadena, Spain. Home to Europe's best harbour (decorated several years in a row), the Benalmadena marina is unquestionably the main attraction here. The wide cobblestone paths weaving one-storey and subterranean passages along restaurant entrances and the beautiful clear blue marina waters, respectively, are always packed with bustling locals as well as tourists.

On the higher levels, you can choose from breezy Italian restaurants and mainstream shops, while on the lower levels you can choose from less formal boutiques, Carte D'Or ice cream carts (generous portions) and open-air cafes serving either delicious crepes or traditional Spanish tapas, all the while enjoying views of the sparkling marina waters and the glamorous-looking harbour-front apartments that house the likes of Antonio Banderas. My tips: the crepes (you can get either savory crepes, such as ham and cheese, or sweet, like the delicious and well-laden chocolate) are not to be missed, and are the perfect lunch dish. If it's dinner you're after, however, Metro (a fantastic Italian restaurant and open-air bar) is the place to go.

And at nighttime, it's time to discover the roaring nightlife of Benalmadena's bar and club scene. Benalmadena has a seriously attractive nightlife, which is perhaps not surprising seeing as the Spanish only really get going at 11pm (you can even see young children going out for dinner around this time). The best place to go is called Kaleido. An innocent looking cafe by day (serving great hot and cold chocolate drinks), Kaleido transforms by night. It becomes a dark, coloured-strobe-lit dance club, complete with smoke machines and attractive, bikini-and-heels-clad table dancers. There's also a bar that runs the length of one of the walls of the club and serves fantastic cocktails. The club is actually split into two parts: the 'tame' dance club I've just described, and the blacked-out-windowed strip club for those tourists (or locals) looking to have a really good time. I have never paid a cover charge to get into Kaleido, or been carded, but I have seen it happen to other people, so unless you're a female wearing less than normal, be prepared, just in case.

If these delights can't occupy you for the entirety of your trip, you can always take a trip to Marbella, or Mijas. Both are only short car journeys away from Benalmadena, and offer a whole range of things to do. Marbella is the city of the wealthy and the beautiful (often both), and boasts designer shopping and great bars and restaurants where you can play Spot The Celebrity. Mijas, on the other hand, is a quaint and traditional Spanish town, yielding mule rides, tapas restaurants and the hidden, labyrinthine old town complete with a town square and orange trees. Either way, you'll find something to entertain and delight your sensibilities.

ASAP, I am GETTING this...

Zac Posen for Target.

My new purchase...

Zac Posen for Target tie-dye tee.

University of Redlands: The Scene

As you may or may not know, it is, for me, that time of life: when I select my institution of higher learning of choice, and head off to discover myself and become an adult, or something like that, anyway. That’s right: graduation and the beginning of college. Personally, I will be deferring my offer from Penn State University for a year (majoring in either English or Journalism), but I have found that this doesn’t seem to be the trend at all.

Most of my friends are choosing to study business, and have been ranting on at me about one school in particular - The University of Redlands in California. Now, I recently took a trip to Redlands and discovered many wonderful things, however at the time I did not visit the University. Basically, I didn’t know anything about Redlands until this point, but my friends have been filling me in quite comprehensively on why the University of Redlands is such a fantastic school for continued education (basically, what you can find here, give or take a few words: http://www.redlands.edu) and most especially, why the Inland Empire college is such a great place to get your business degree (check out http://www.redlands.edu/schoolofbusiness.asp).

All I can say is that if I were going to study business, I would pick the University of Redlands. The school itself is great, of course (it’s ranked as one of the top universities on the Forbes list), and it has a great cultural scene, especially when it comes to eateries (ah, my priorities are showing aren’t they?), which we all know are oh so crucial to a successful and prolific student career.

Firstly, there’s the Caprice Café (located on East State Street). It calls its exquisite offerings ‘French-American’ but truthfully, it’s influenced by numerous cultures and ingredients (just compare two of the appetizers: Maryland crabcake and ahi, tartar, or sashimi with avocado, yuzu tobiko and sesame-chili oil). My favourite dishes are the wild mushroom & Chevre risotto cake (appetizer) and the dry-aged bone-in ribeye with frites and Roquefort butter (entrée).

And then there’s the ‘contemporary American’ Farm Artisan Foods (22 East State Street). Truthfully, all of their dishes make my mouth water, but if I were to be forced to play favourites (and I’d have to be forced, with a knife at my throat, probably) I’d choose the mushrooms with warm polenta and brie (small plate), butternut squash risotto with roasted apple, walnut pesto and asiago (small plate), and the flourless chocolate cake with espresso ganache (dessert).
All in all, I almost wish that I were attending the University of Redlands. After all, a girl needs an excuse to eat great food. I wonder what having a business degree would be like…

Seattle: Culinary Delights

Seattle, known by many as a java central, also yields some spectacular places to eat. Next time you visit, here are the places to plug into your GPS.

1. Ivar's, Pier 54. This eatery looks quite inconspicuous from the outside; perhaps even a little risky to those who like their food, y'know, cooked, owing to the cheesy-looking open-air fish bar outside, however once you step inside you will not regret it. Inside, Ivar's is spacious, dimly-lit, and even (dare I say it) a little posh-looking. It radiates an air of opulence and relaxation, and has the atmosphere of a hotel restaurant, rather than a generic pier-front diner. The waiters are well-dressed and attentive, and you can relax with some great food while simultaneously not losing out on the 'touristy' appeal of a trip to Seattle: from behind tinted windows and a bowl of red clam chowder you can look directly out on the pier and the folks feeding the seagulls. The best dish here is one of the appetizers (although big enough for my entree), the crab and goat cheese dip (a dip of parmesan cheese and crab baked with a layer of goat cheese on top), served with baguette slices (above), and the Sparkling Cider speciality cocktail (a balanced, refreshing mix of Martinelli's, orange, and Captain Morgan's) is not to be missed either.

2. As for my favourite meal of the day, dinner, you've got to check out Sam Taste, a next-door neighbor of the Art Museum. It might appear a little pretentious at first, as it just looks like an expensive place (it isn't cheap: the ribeye is about $30) and it's often almost empty on a Saturday night as they rely on the museum for much of their custom (it closes at 5pm on a Saturday), yet the food is utterly divine, and worth every penny. The menu changes with the seasons, but there is one constant: it is always completely unique. My dish of choice was the nettle gnocchi (below). I know, I know: nettle gnocchi? I read the menu description (nettle gnocchi with sherry reduction, sweet cream, browned butter and roasted beets) and decided to take the plunge, and boy, was I glad I did! It was sheer culinary genius: melt-in-the-mouth, creamy, soft (but not fluffy) gnocchi, and so delicious that everyone in my party just had to sample it (note the hint of, how can I put this, resentment, in my tone).

Aside from the eclectic ingredients of the dishes and the tongue-twisting flavors, the service is top-notch. The waiters are extremely attentive and friendly, and are truly knowledgably about the food, and as a customer you are treated as if you are dining in a $100-per-plate Michelin-starred restaurant: between courses you are treated to little tasters, complements of the chef (on this particular visit I was treated to iced fennel before the entree, and a dark chocolate button sprinkled with raw Red Sea salt after dessert). Most impressively, the staff truly care about your opinion. On this particular visit, a homeless man entered the restaurant three times to ask for water, and one of my dinner companions was a little unnerved by this. She lightly commented on it on the generic comments card, but also heavily complimented the food and service, yet barely five minutes after the card and check were removed the manager was squatting by our table addressing our concerns. For me, that was the ultimate indication of a quality establishment.

So next time you visit Seattle, here's my radical tip for you: pass up the coffee for once, and focus on the tastebud experiences just waiting for a chance to impress you: they're surprisingly prolific, and yes, impressive.

Le Grand Monarque: The Best Restaurant in France You've Never Heard Of

Where: Etampes, France

What: Moroccan restaurant

The Scene: You know a place is good when, first of all, it's difficult to find, and secondly, it's absolutely packed when you get there. Entering Le Grand Monarque restaurant is a lot like entering a Turkish palace; the floors and walls are covered with scarlet and gold velvet brocade, while the ceilings are saved for Michelangelo-style art. They also obviously don't believe in doors around here; there are only elaborate arches and fabulously dressed waiters carrying gold gilt platters of enticing food. The restaurant is big, but it's always so busy that it seems cozy, and romantic with it, in a 1920s old-glamour kind of way.

Food/Misc.: The food is simply perfect; there is no other word for the Moroccan cuisine served here. Reasonably priced, large, and sumptuous portions make this restaurant a place you'll never leave hungry, or dissatisfied in any way. The best entree is the lamb tagine (a dish of melt-in-the-mouth-tender lamb, chickpeas and sultanas), and make sure you don't decline the bread they offer between courses: it's filling, the perfect combination of solid and fluffy in texture, and sweet, but not too sweet (I suspect it's made with spices and minimal amounts of honey, rather than sugar). For dessert, skip the menu and ask the waiter about the treats kept in the cabinet in the front of the restaurant (where the bar is, coincidentally). You can get a modest amount of house-made real Turkish Delight in the traditional rose flavour (among many others) for about $3. Cap it all off with the Moroccan tea: this is probably the highlight of the place. Your waiter will serve it to you in an elaborate golden filigree cup, poured from a matching pot at several feet above the table! (Hint: they do this to prevent the original leaves from straying into your cup, but if you pour yourself another, don't try this at home!) The tea itself is sweet and comforting (and jokingly referred to as 'marijuana tea' as everyone seems to become a lot more mellow and relaxed after drinking it!).

Entertainment/Music: The music is low-key; soft melodies play in the background, evoking images of desert oases and Egyptian marketplaces. But trust me, you'll be far too entertained by the food to pay attention to the ear candy.

Website: http://legrandmonarque91.com/

I love her.

Quail's Egg, Marilyn Minter

HELL to the YES

Kerin Rose 'Joplin' sunglasses, $280, a-morir.com

WHY are these people not famous already?

It's pretty easy to sum up Dragonette's music in three words: Escapism. Sexuality. Freedom. They've been described as The Killers fronted by Gwen Stefani (only with more spunk, in my opinion). Their music elevates my mental state (or, should I say, lowers it) to that of a self-possessed, sexual vixen, while simultaneously appealing to my sense of childish charm with the wish-fulfillment quality of the music. If the lyrics weren't so Marvellous(ly) suggestive I'd almost think them not out of place blaring from Charlie's Chocolate Factory candy-cane speaker system.So why aren't they famous yet? One can only imagine. Until they get the mainstream fame they deserve, I can only afford them a little of the coverage they deserve. 5 stars, Dragonette. Keep on crooning.

I'm a guest blogger on The Passion Project!!!

So, there is this super awesome blog called The Passion Project, whose inspiring mission statement is as follows:

"The Passion Project is our family's attempt at aligning our dreams with our reality. For one year, we will live our life strictly in the way that we wish the world was (creative, eco-friendly, healthy, compassionate, etc.), despite how idealistic or impractical it may seem.
Utopian? Maybe. Nevertheless, we are on a mission to prove that we can go against the grain, live passionately, and, in the end, attain a higher quality of life a higher quantity of happiness, while eliminating stress and debt."

Awesome or what? Anyway, they are now featuring a guest blogger every week on living Passionately, and I have had the honour of being chosen as the first ever!

Check it out: http://notesonpassion.com/2010/05/03/laura-hunter-thomas/#more-576

Sex is meaningful, like art...

Now I wish I had a boyfriend so I could get this...

Customizable stump ring, Digby & Iona.

digbyandiona.com

Accessories of the day...

Blogger turned accessory designer?

I created both of these pieces myself, and have received various compliments on each. The necklace I put together with a spare silver chain, a contemporary Pagan pendant, two silver Celtic cross beads and two amber resin beads; the bracelet is the love child of a Forever 21 cuff and a (broken) vintage chain bracelet that was given to me as a gift. Now, I'm glad I have an eye for making unique accessories for myself, but maybe etsy.com could do with my additions?...Food for thought.

Nostalgia...this shoot was so fun...