DesBarres Manor Gourmet Dining

Tomorrow morning, 9/26/09, we will interview Audrey Firth, the GM of DesBarres Manor Authentic Seacoast Resort. In preparation for the show I looked at their website. I had an instant recognition with one of my favorite gastronomic specialties; Bread Pudding!   If you have followed our show, print articles or conversations you know that I have a fondness for bread pudding. At the DesBarres Manor website I found a recipe for a savory Smoked Salmon Bread Pudding that sent my mind into cartwheels of delight.   I decided to try it for dinner tonight and it was FANTASTIC!  It was quick and easy to prepare and oh, so tasty. Rather than making individual ramekins, I baked the bread pudding in a paella dish.   I served it with a field green salad served on herb toasted slices of french bread with chick peas, julienned carrots, artichoke hearts, anise stalks and herbed chevres topped with porcini olive oil.   a chilled Italian Pinot Grisio was a perfect paring for this light, yet filling evening meal.   This recipe would be great for "covered dish" dinner or a "Sunday Brunch" In fact, I think we will have this for breakfast with a Bearnaise Sauce and a Mimosa. I'm in Heaven!!   I have included a photo of our dinner as well as posting the recipe below.   The other photo is of Sue, the Party Animal, at a recent outdoor concert. Being the true gourmand that she is, she is chowing down on Cheese Wizz, Corn Curls and Caviar on a toasted wheat cracker (that makes it healthy?). It was served with a chilled Bud Light! Now that's livin' large!!!   DesBarres Manor Atlantic Smoked Salmon Bread Pudding Serves 6 as a first course Ingredients ½ pound diced Atlantic smoked salmon 8 cups cubed bread* 2 eggs ½ cup whipping cream 2 tsp wasabi mustard 1 tsp chopped chives 1 tsp chopped fennel Salt & pepper to taste Olive oil for greasing ramekins To Prepare Combine all ingredients in a bowl until well mixed.  Divide ingredients evenly among six greased ramekins.  Bake in a pre-heated, 400° oven for 15 to 20 minutes. *DesBarres Manor Executive Chef Shaun Zwarun likes to use a light rye bread with this recipe as the flavour of the rye combines well with the smoked salmon.  An oatmeal bread or French loaf would also work well. Wine Pairing General Manager Audrey Firth enjoys a Gewurztraminer with anything smoked and recommends the Pelee Island Gewurztraminer from Ontario.  Audrey's other choice is the Pinot Gris from Argentina's J. & F. Lurton Winery.  Well-rounded, this full bodied Pinot Gris will stand up well with smoked fish.

Funjet Travel Show

President Mike Going with Kevin and Sue McCarthy of Travel Planners Radio Shows and Dennis Klautzer of KRMS/WENG

SEPTEMBER TRAVEL RADIO SHOWS

Saturday, September 19, 2009   Max Hartshorne of GoNomad.com and one of our regular contributors spoke about the Connecticut Shores and New England.   Greg Ludwig, Sales Manager for FUNJET   Carlos Canino, Director of Excellence Resorts   Michael Going, President of FUNJET   We attended a FUNJET travel show that was held in St. Louis at Renaissance Hotel.   Tom Parsons of BestFares.com, Kevin's Travel News and Sue Travel Tips are also part of the weekly show.

TRAVEL RADIO SHOW

Our September 5th travel radio show was from a previously pre-recorded show while we were in Montgomery, AL for TMS - Travel Media Showcase.  This is an annual event held at different U.S. locations and provides travel writers, photojournalists and broadcast media the opportunity to meet with 45 Tourism Representatives from the U.S., Canada and Domenican Republic.

Hotel Rip-Offs

On a recent trip we stayed at an upscale National hotel chain in a room that cost $159.00 a night. This hotel felt compelled to charge us $10.00/day for Internet service and they count it down to the second! When I tried to buy the second day of service my room was "Blocked Out" and it took three phone calls to the front desk before I could give them another $10 to check our E-Mails. The worst part about it was the fact that it wasn't even wireless Internet service!   Regal 8, Motel 6 and other budget motel/hotels offer FREE wireless Internet and their room rates run from $45 - $75, so what am I missing? It is certainly not the hotel's cost of the Internet service.   I finally asked a manager of one of these pricey hotels why they choose to charge their guests so much for Internet service. His response was.."because we can"!   They assume that most of their guests are traveling on business, with an expense account,  and their employers don't seemed to mind paying extra for Internet service.   The Manager said if enough people complained about it, they might consider lowering or eliminating these ridiculous fees. Needless to say, my campaign has begun.   In the meantime I have found that it never hurts to search for other wireless networks in the area. Sometimes you just get lucky.

UNCLAIMED BAGGAGE CENTER

Photos from our trip in September to Scottsboro, AL Unclaimed Baggage Ctr

UNCLAIMED BAGGAGE SCOTTSBORO AL

We just did a driving trip south for a Travel Conference in Montgomery AL and took a side trip to the UNCLAIMED BAGGAGE STORE.  We always find great bargains here and this time was no exception.  I bought a woman's Navy Blazer for $7.50, clothes for the grandkids for $4 and $7.50, Kevin got an IPOD for $65!!!  We bought a 4-wheeled large luggage that we needed.  Great Deals and you can check them out on the website too for Unclaimed Baggage.

TRAVEL NEWS

Southwest Airlines announced passengers could pay $10 each way and reserve a spot in the boarding line behind elite flyers and ahead of families and other travels.  The advantage would be the passenger could choose a better seat selection. Southwest recently added additional fees for pets and minors traveling alone.  Good news is there still isn't a charge for those Carry on or Extra Bags.

CHANNEL 2

CRUISE SPECIALS

Sue McCarthy "Travel Expert"

If you like my TV segments on Travel, let Channel 2 know.  Thanks.

FOX NEWS CHANNEL 2

APPEARANCE #10   Sue will be on as Channel 2's "Travel Expert", Wednesday, September 2 at 8:40am. The topic will be Cruise Specials and Repositioning Cruises. Check out www.Southwest.com - Cruises www.bestfares.com and www.carnival.com/cms/fun/earlysaver/specials   My favorites are the Mediterranean Repositioning Cruises from Barcelona to NY (NCL)or Malaga to Miami (Royal Caribbean)