Visit New York: Per Se

A few years ago I visited Per Se and had a fabulous experience.  I recently revisited, but this time, I decided to try the Vegetarian menu.

Pea Cornet

Cheese Crackers

Harry's Berries Strawberry "Gazpacho"

Hen Egg Custard

The Hen Egg Custard with black winter truffle butter was as indulgent as it sounded.  

Hawaiian Hearts of Peach Palm "Croquette"

I love heart of palm, and this croquette was so yummy!  The "tabbouleh" and fava bean hummus paired nicely with the falafel-like croquette. 

"Bread and Butter"

Zuckerman Family Farms "Terrine D'Asperges"

I'm not particularly fond of asparagus, but I did think this dish was good.  I really liked the addition of the wild ramps.

"Scotch Egg"

My fave dish was the Scotch Egg.  It was a hearty dish - the egg was enveloped in a crust of forest mushrooms, and accompanied with sugar snap peas and grilled frisee lettuces.

Marsh Hen Mill "Stradette"

This was another fave - the elegant Stradette, served with oyster crackers and celery.  I'm not a fan of celery, but I ate this entire dish up!

Summer Squash "Farcie"

This dish offered zucchini prepared in multiple ways, and I loved the complexity of textures from the caramelized artichokes and cipollini onion rings.  

"Gougere"

The Gougere with "Comte" and black winter truffles was amazing!  I could have easily eaten a number of these and been happy with only that!  

There was once again an array of desserts.  

Sugar-Baked K&J Orchards Yellow Peaches

This was my favorite dessert, particularly because of the Madagascar Vanilla Bean Ice Cream that accompanied the fruits. 

The "Coffee and Doughnuts" is such a fun dessert!

Malted Brownie

The Lime-Scented Banana was so neat!

"Mignardises"

The dining experience ends with a selection of hand-crafted bonbons.  Pro tip: You can get more than one! I got Thin Mints and Banana Miso (the banana miso was my fave of the two).

Bon Bons

If you're interested in the regular menu, these were the offerings:

Salmon Cornet

"Oysters and Pearls"

Citrus-Cured Hiramasa

Hen Egg Custard

Norwich Meadows Farm Sweet Carrots

Green-Walk Hatchery Rainbow Troud "Chaud-Froid"

Charcoal-Grilled Montauk Sea Scallop

Wolfe Ranch Quail Breast

Prime Rib of Elysian Fields Farm Lamb

Although my friend said he left hungry, I thought the food was great and the service was stellar once again.  I really enjoyed the Vegetarian menu!

Per Se
10 Columbus Cir
New York, NY 10019

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Visit Chicago: Skydeck Chicago

Mahalo to Skydeck for hosting admission.

For some of the most amazing views of Chicago, be sure to visit the Skydeck Chicago in the Willis Tower. 

Entry is timed, admitting guests in 30-minute increments, and we had the first time slot of the day.  There are two lines - one for general admission, and one for expedited entry.  The attendants were late in opening up, as the admission time came and went, but we were soon on our way.

There was only one attendant scanning tickets for both lines, and she alternated between the expedited entry and admission lines.

Expedited entry bypasses the numerous exhibits so you'll access the quickest route from the Lower Lobby Entry to the elevator that takes you to the Skydeck and the 103rd floor, and you'll also be able to bypass many of the lines.

We had General Admission, and unless you are in a big hurry or if it's during a peak time, I would stick with General Admission, and go as early as possible, as our wait times for any lines or elevators were little to none.  

Prior to accessing the elevator that takes you to the Skydeck, you'll encounter a number of fun, informative, and interactive exhibits.  

There are plenty of photo opps before you get to the elevator, which takes approximately 70 seconds to get to the 103rd floor.

We lucked out with blue skies and gorgeous weather, and we could see for miles. 

The cityscapes and seascapes were extraordinary.

We could identify iconic buildings, landmarks, and places we visited.

Crowds were minimal, I'm guessing due to the timed entry, so no one was fighting for window space to view the scenery and take photos.  

One of the highlights of Skydeck is the Ledge, which, at 1353-feet up and extending 4.3 feet out, gives you an exhilarating view of the city.  

I admit the first step gave me butterflies, as you can see right below your feet, but once you're on the Ledge, you can get remarkable views and take even more remarkable photos.

Viewing from the Ledge is timed (based on the number of people in your party) to ensure that others are not unfairly waiting a turn (there are several glass boxes, making the Ledge line move quickly).  

The Skydeck Chicago was a great attraction to visit, and is fun for all ages!  I highly recommend a visit for the most amazing view of Chicago!

Skydeck Chicago

233 S Wacker Dr

Chicago, IL 60606

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Daniel K. Inouye International Airport Cultural Gardens

When I used to work at the airport, I'd often go to the Cultural Gardens, as we would have interviews (I used to work in HR) or meetings at the conference rooms.  Prior to a recent flight out of Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, I was near the Cultural Gardens, and decided to stroll through (since the gate was way too crowded for my liking).

In the gardens are Japanese, Chinese, and Hawaiian flora, as well as lovely waterfalls and ponds full of ducks and koi.

You'll see all sorts of beautiful flowers and trees, and it's such a quaint and quiet place to wait before your flight.  There are places to sit, and it is nowhere near as crowded as the gates are.  

Learn about various plants, get in some fresh air, and watch the koi - such a nice way to relax and be away from the airport chaos.

Daniel K. Inouye International Airport Cultural Gardens
342 Rodgers Blvd

Honolulu, HI 96819

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