Flight Centre’s Karla Fee blogs about her three favourite restaurants in Ottawa and Karla should know because she’s from O-town. From Malaysian to British pub fare to Mexican, Karla recommends Chahaya Malaysia, The Lieutenant’s Pump and Ahora.

As I sit here wondering what to blog about, I’m still thinking of what I had for lunch. It was a great meal, let me tell you. I had a big bowl of vegetarian chili, and a piece of homemade spelt bread. It was delicious. I thought to myself, I should write about some of the great places I love to eat in Ottawa. If you’re ever visiting Ottawa, there are three restaurants that I would highly recommend.

The first, and my favourite, is a tiny place called “Chahaya Malaysia”. It serves the most amazing authentic Malaysian, Indonesian and vegetarian cuisine. The owner came to Canada from Malaysia in 1985, and opened his restaurant. They serve the best, and I mean best, spring rolls. My favourite dish is called Malaysian fried noodles, (or Mee Goren). It consists of wheat noodles, bean sprouts, Chinese greens, beef, baby shrimp and tofu, sautéed with sweet soya sauce, tauco and garlic. I can’t even describe to you how good it is. They also serve an array of curried dishes, as well as many meat and vegetarian options.

My second fave is a place I frequent quite often as I live right around the corner. It’s called the Lieutenant’s Pump. It reminds me of a British Pub, with its quaint little rooms, and open brick walls; everything they make is homemade, and oh so good. I’ve lived beside it for about four years now, and I don’t think I’ve missed a weekend breakfast yet. Their menu is filled with delicious things like Eggs Parisienne (poached eggs on an English muffin with mushrooms and brie cheese) and a personal favourite — Mulligatawny Indian Curry Soup. Whether you’re going to relax on the patio with a big glass of red wine, or inside on a Friday night watching the game with a pitcher or your favourite beer, I have no doubt in my mind that this is a place you won’t forget.

The third, is a tiny little Mexican restaurant called Ahora. Ahora is a Spanish word that means Now. When I think of it, that’s when I want it, now! It’s located just steps away from the Byward Market, and is filled with Mexican charm. As you enter and go downstairs, you’re surrounded with bright colors and an atmosphere that will make you feel like you’re in Mexico. They only use fresh produce, and they have the greatest salsa bar — with everything homemade. My favourite dish is the Burrito Grande, which is a great big burrito stuffed with chicken or steak, cheese, black beans, rice, salsa gringa, lettuce, guacamole, sour cream. With a side of homemade tortilla chips and refried beans, you’re good to go. They also make a mean margarita! So, if you’re ever in the mood to be transported back to Mexico, this is the place to go.

If you’re ever in the Ottawa area, I suggest stopping by any three of these places if you’re looking for some good eats. You won’t be disappointed. Happy eating everyone!

The location of Chahaya Malaysia in Ottawa, Canada is highlighted on the Flight Centre travel map.

Looking for more information on great restaurants in Ottawa and around the world? Contact Karla Fee, an International Travel Consultant with Flight Centre based in Ottawa, Ontario at The Glebe and can be reached at 1 866 991 5584.

Flight Centre’s Nicole McDougall joins us today with a blog post about travelling New Zealand with a gluten intolerance. I had no idea how much of a challenge this was until a friend’s child was diagnosed coeliac and it has literally changed the way we plan our get togethers. In this post Nicole recommends gluten free friendly restaurants in Mount Cook, Queenstown, Arrowtown, and Auckland. Sometimes it’s difficult to figure out what to eat when travelling. This gets even more difficult when you have dietary restrictions, but with a little planning you can have a great trip and some great meals. I have an intolerance to gluten, which means I can’t have wheat, barley, rye and a variety of other related grains. This is made even more difficult since these ingredients show up in the strangest places. If you let the restaurants know ahead of time this can significantly increase the quality and variety of your meals. Here were some of my favourites: Hermitage Resort, Mount Cook They brought me a separate bread course, with individual dips and a very nicely toasted gluten free bread. The waiters were all very knowledgeable and made sure that every course was safe for me. It was also very, very delicious, everything from the breads, to the roast lamb, to the strawberry and champagne granata. Winnie’s Restaurant, Queenstown This is a laid back pub with a huge pizza menu, they make a terrific gluten-free crust and everything on the menu is clearly labeled. The crust was thin and crispy, and there was a lot of different toppings to choose from. Even my travelling companions couldn’t tell the difference. Pannikers, Arrowtown Not only was Arrowtown an adorable little town, the variety of gluten-free foods was amazing! I had gluten-free Eggs Benedict, and it was terrific. They had a huge selection of gluten-free foods, including meat pies, breads, pancakes and they could make most things on their menu gluten-free. Hammerheads, Auckland A very nice seafood restaurant, with a very thorough menu. The mains were all good, but the part I remember best was their panna cotta. It was so, so, so good! The great thing about travelling gluten free in New Zealand is that everyone seemed to understand what I was talking about, which seems to be a difficult thing to explain in North America. It was easy to come across gluten free products in cafes (I had an amazing gluten-free friand in Christchurch) grocery stores and even convenience stores carried CookieTime brand gluten-free chocolate chip cookies. Arrowtown, New Zealand is highlighted on the Flight Centre travel map. Nicole McDougall is an International Travel Consultant with Flight Centre based in Hamilton, Ontario and can be reached at 1 866 662 6421. More of Nicole’s photos can be found on Flight Centre’s Flickr channel.

So, here I sit at the new Flight Centre Ottawa store in the Glebe on Bank Street and inspiration hits me for a new blog post. How about doing a travel blog post on one of my favourite restaurants in the entire world, Haveli? Stomach now officially grumbling as I start to write this post.

Quite a few years ago when planning a business trip to Ottawa a dear friend of mine recommended (actually she insisted) I visit Haveli Indian Restaurant. Jan knows I have a passion for both making and enjoying a great curry. You know, we are all passed along food and travel recommendations but considering Jan was from India and that she stated Haveli was considered one of the top Indian restaurants in North America – well, I was sold.

The first time I went I was by myself and I quickly realized that was wishing I was sharing this experience with others. So I made it my mission to pass along Jan’s incredible recommendation. From the window looking into the tandoor where the naan rolled down the side of the ovens it browned to the incredible mix of flavours in my Thal-E-Haveli. I have been back many times since ordering specific plates such as the Chicken Tika Masala, Saag Gosht, and Beef Vindaloo but the Thal-E-Haveli is the best way to have a taste adventure.

Haveli is not a bad place to people watch and catch the odd celebrity sighting; from the Prime Minister to Bryan Adams, and I have been told the B52s. Love Shack indeed!

Always having been located in and around the Market, Haveli was previously located inside a mall which made it a little difficult to find. Now located on Clemence Street it is centrally located and easy to find. Find yourself a bit out of town? No problem because Haveli has a second location at Bells Corners in Nepean.

Ok, thinking I may need to skip tonight’s Buzz night and hit Haveli before my flight out this evening. Kidding, but next time I am in Ottawa I’m thinking I will have to insist on taking people out for some yummy curries.

Haveli’s location in the Market at 39 Clarence Street, Ottawa, Canada is highlighted on the Flight Centre travel map.

Flight Centre’s Theresa Babic travels to Seoul, Korea and reports back with unique vacations tips, culinary adventures and shopping delights.

What a diners delight to venture out into the city of Seoul, Korea looking for dishes unique to the North American palate.

My first mission was to find and devour Kimchi. I had never tried this side dish before but had heard so much about it. It is a traditional Korean pickled dish made of vegetables with varied seasonings, usually cabbage and can be very spicy. There are over 100 different varieties of Kimchi and I believe that I only managed to try 6 varieties at most.

Another unique staple to the Korean dining experience included Soju. It’s an alcohol most commonly made from rice and usually 20% proof. It tastes comparable to that of vodka but slightly sweeter. Most interesting about drinking Soju is that it is against traditional custom in Korea to fill one’s own glass. Instead, it must be filled by someone else at the table. This promotes a spirit of thoughtfulness and camaraderie.

And my most favorite dining experience included the infamous Korean Barbeque. A group of 4-6 people sit down together at a charcoal grilling station to share a feast of cooked pork, chicken or beef. I had the pleasure of trying pork accompanied by Kimchi and fern and pickled bean sprouts wrapped up in a lettuce leaf.

I would also have to say that I believe Seoul to be a shopper’s paradise. There are so many shopping malls and outdoor markets throughout the city to buy anything your heart desires. I spent most of my time in Dongdaemun Market which happens to be largest in South Korea. Dongdaemun is filled with hundreds of vendor booths selling anything you can imagine; knick knacks, souvenirs, clothing, and brand name hand bags. Also, a little bargaining is always welcomed at the booths without sticker prices on their items. My shopping experience was a success and I managed to pick up for myself two hand bags, an eel skin wallet, stainless steel chop sticks… and of course souvenir Kimchi.

So if you are looking for a dining and shopping holiday that is “off the beaten path,” I strongly encourage you to try Seoul Korea. If even you find yourself in Incheon airport for a 9 hour layover en route to another destination…. go out to eat or shop till you drop!

Seoul, Korea is highlighted on the Flight Centre travel map.

Theresa Babic is an International Travel Consultant with Flight Centre based in Oakville, Ontario and can be reached at 1 866 704 5366.

So, if you saw yesterday’s video blog post you know that the Flight Centre crew traveled to Sandals Royal Bahamian Spa Resort and Offshore Island and had a blast of a vacation… err, working holiday. What the video didn’t show was the incredible choice of restaurants offered. Surprisingly we found time away from all that hard work (there’s my tongue implanted in my cheek again) to enjoy the culinary delights the resort had to offer. So now that I’m back at the Flight Centre compound I have the opportunity to reflect on the incredible gastronomic treats we enjoyed.

Kimonos

If you’ve never had the opportunity to experience Tappanyaki then this Japanese restaurant is a must-not-miss. Why; because Kimonos includes a dinner and a show. Our chef did a great job of keeping us well fed and entertained with his humour and knife skills. I can still feel the heat of the sizzling grill and smell the incredible flavours as the food was cooked right in front of us. The great thing about Tappanyaki is even if you’re sitting at a table with people you’ve never met before the experience quickly becomes a group event and is a fantastic way to cut the ice and meet new friends.

Crystal Room Restaurant

Walking into the Crystal Room was like stepping back in time. The first thing I noticed was the incredible chandelier and a décor that would be best described as graceful; fit for royalty. I would love to say that the few of us at our table each sampled something different but truth be told we all eyed the scallops and prime rib. The seared scallops were perfectly cooked and the prime rib was complimented with a hearty baked potato and fresh vegetables. I didn’t try the chowder but was told it was incredible. After the main course I professed to our table that I don’t normally eat dessert and, if I do, I just nibble. Let’s just say that my statement was seriously doubted because every last morsel of the chocolate volcano on my plate vanished; a delectable final course to a great meal.

I wish I had the time to enjoy all nine restaurants but it just wasn’t possible in the three days we were there; thinking it’s my reason to return! I had a few other great meals which I will share in a later blog post.

If you’ve been to Sandals Royal Bahamian what culinary experience can you share?

Today we highlight the Sandals Royal Bahamian Spa Resort on the Flight Centre travel map.

Pork Confit Poutine photo by Sifu Renka

The other day I found myself sitting in the Flight Centre bat cave looking down at my grumbling stomach (sorry for the visual) and thinking ‘Boy, I’m hungry and nothing can satisfy this belly like a good ole’ roti! One of my favourite things about traveling is finding great fast eats (not fast food); walk up, place your order, grab a seat, and wait for that yummy goodness. I then thought, wouldn’t it be a neat idea to write a blog post and share three of my preferred quick lunch spots in Toronto, Canada. The idea being that when people travel to my hometown for their vacation or holiday they can enjoy some of my local haunts.

Roti

To me, there are few better lunch experiences in the world than a boneless chicken roti with a little hot sauce accompanied by a bottle of Ting. Toronto has the benefit of a large number of great roti restaurants and even thought I enjoy roti shops like Bacchus and Ghandi, I always find myself heading straight to Island Foods at one of their various locations around Toronto. Island Foods is an annual staple at The Ex (Canadian National Exhibition) with probably the longest lines in the Food Building. Perhaps it’s because my first roti experience was at their King and Dufferin location or maybe it’s their perfect combination of their dahlpouri, chicken, potatoes and sauce that keeps Island Foods near and dear to my heart.

Greek

Cheeseburger, cheeseburger, cheeseburger. Rumour has it The Danforth (or Greek Town) has one of the highest number of restaurants per kilometer in the world. A must not miss is the annual Taste of the Danforth with a million people attending the three day festival in August.

While there are many upscale Greek restaurants in the area I regularly find myself at the counter of Square Boy ordering my pork souvlaki dinner to go; no fries extra salad. It’s said there’s a place in Chicago that was the inspiration for the SNL skit Olympia Café but I’m sure it was Square Boy – ‘No Pepsi, Coke. We Switch’

Ontario Fresh

Maybe it’s because I’m a foodie, but my kids know who Jamie Kennedy is –  no not the JK who goofs on people. I’m talking about the celebrated Toronto chef who has various top restaurants and café’s around Toronto. At Gilead Café (coincidentally located on Gilead Pl), Jamie presents the freshest Ontario has to offer from plate to pint; upscale counter lunch at reasonable prices. Weekends for me often include hoping on the bike and cycling down to Gilead, enjoying a seasonal salad, a delicious sandwich and the daily poutine (pictured above); which I must say is out of this world.

If you’re standing at the counter and you spot me enjoying a tasty lunch – grab your food, pull up a chair and let’s chat. So, what counter service restaurants in your hometown are little know to visitors but cherished by the locals?

We have highlighted The Danforth (aka Greek Town) on the Flight Centre travel map.

Oh, I have been waiting for this ‘A Sense of Travel’ blog post; taste!

Good food to me conjures up great memories and can be anything from sushi to sausage on a bun. My memories of New York City include dining at Alfred Portale’s Gotham Bar and Grill and enjoying Shake Shack with buds in Madison Square Park; each experience very different yet special in its own way.

So we asked our Flight Centre consultants from around the globe to suggest foodie experiences you won’t soon forget.

El Bulli, Catalonia, Spain

Be forewarned, El Bulli gets two million requests for 8,000 seatings a year. If you get reservations be ready for an experience Restaurant (the magazine) has honoured with the title Best Restaurant in the World four times!

Ferran Adria has created a molecular gastronomy experience that teases the eye and fools the taste buds; salmon roe that explodes with carrot – because it is concentrated carrot juice modified into the shape of roe.

The French Laundry

Napa Valley is synonymous with the American wine industry and arguably its rise to the ranks of wine producing nations such as France and Italy. Nestled in Napa is a former saloon now home to one of the perennial top five Best Restaurants in the World; The French Laundry. The style is American with French influences and you can select from prix fixe tasting menus and the rumoured $995 truffle experience.

Any previous frustration getting reservations is a thing of the past. I’ll let you in on a secret from my brother-in-law but you have to promise to not tell anyone. You can now make reservations for The French Laundry at OpenTable.com.

A friend told me you are assured amazing service (choreographed platings) and suggested not missing the selection of salts; various colours from exotic locals such as Hawaiian lava beds.

These are just two restaurants and as we all know great food experiences come from what we make of them; carpaccio or a street vendor’s fare.  What great dining experiences have you had along your travels?

Today we have highlighted Yountville in the Napa Valley on the travel map.

Oh sure lying on a beach with a good book, bronzing it up, while maybe sipping a cerveza can certainly be mentally relaxing but how about a vacation that goes beyond your brain and treats your senses with lasting memories?  This is the first in a series of posts intended to tickle your senses.

We asked the well-traveled Flight Centre global consultants to suggest sensual can’t miss experiences for body, mind and soul.

Smell and taste work intimately together and sure the tongue can distinguish 5 distinct tastes but the nose can distinguish hundreds of smells. Today we honour the hardest working sense in nose business; smell. So close your eyes, smell the fragrance and… wait, please open your eyes so you can continue reading.

Tuscany

Enjoy the smells of Tuscany with a scent filled experience. Leave Pisa and travel to Casciana Terme for lunch in a wine cellar then head off to the farmhouse to start your Tuscan cooking lesson. A professional chef will teach you how to prepare delicious antipasti, pasta or soup dishes as you take in the smells that only come with cooking from scratch. To top it off, you can enjoy the fruits of your labour while enjoying the bouquet of smells that comes from the fine Italian wine you are sipping. Take away memories of sweet aromas, a full belly and a happy heart.

Gilroy Garlic Festival, Gilroy, California

The town of Gilroy, located south of San Francisco, is known as the Garlic Capital of the world and home to the annual Gilroy Garlic Festival. This is the ‘not to miss’ festival if like me you worship garlic. It is the festival to miss if you happen to come from a region called Transylvania and have the initials C.D.

Over 100,000 converge upon Christmas Hill Park for the 30 year tradition. 2009 will see the festival take place from July 24 – 26 with tickets available online or at the gate.

Be warned; ensure every traveling companion enjoys copious amounts of garlic – ‘nuff said.

So what travels have you taken where smells are still as clear in your mind today as they were the day you discovered them?

We have highlighted Tuscany in today’s map below.