New contest at Travel Mammal (hint, it's a Spa giveaway)

We at Travel Mammal want you to start the new year off right.  So what are we doing about it?

Well, for starters we're giving away a very special prize.

How does one FREE 30-minute Thai Massage at Urban Nirvana Spa in downtown Toronto sound?

We thought so.  Consider it a late Christmas gift or an early Valentine's Day gift.

Here are the conditions:

• Valid for 1- year (expires December 31, 2012).
• Can be used any day of the week (including weekends).
• No obligation to buy.  
• No strings attached. 

What do you have to do to get this prize?

• Take a picture of your New Year's Eve celebration and send it to Travel Mammal on Facebook. 

It's a simple as that! 

The winner of the best, most unique NYE picture walks away with a FREE 30-minute Thai Massage courtesy Urban Nirvana Spa in downtown Toronto.

The winner will be announced January 10, 2012.

For a better idea of what Urban Nirvana is all about, check out the video below.  Good luck and we look forward to seeing your pictures!

                               

Olive Oil and the Mediterranean

When Mr. Dimitris Azemopoulos invites you to an event, you do everything possible to re-arrange schedules or even cancel any prior engagements. Sure the event itself is usually one filled with dynamism, excitement and not one to be missed!

But it goes beyond the event. After all, why do you frequent the same restaurant or even the same cafe? It's the atmosphere, people and energy in the room. Mr. Azemopoulos is one of those people that create and inspire the atmosphere. People accept his invitations because they enjoy being swept up in the energy, because they are guaranteed an evening they won't soon forget.

So when I got an invite to attend a Thursday night symposium about, of all things, olive oil and the historical influence its had throughout the Mediterranean, I cleared my schedule and went. It's not everyday I hear about the olive in a formal setting.

Held at the Royal Ontario Museum in downtown Toronto, this event was the result of four men consulting, organizing, uniting and sharing. Not surprisingly, it was the aforementioned Mr. Azemopoulos, Honorable Consul General of Greece in Toronto, who led the charge. Together with his Israeli, Italian and French counterparts, each spoke about their passion for the olive and the impact its played in their respective histories. A product that has played an important role within all Mediterranean cultures for several thousand years.

Yes it may sound a bit on the boring side to most. But after the speeches, lecture and performances, came the sampling. Greek, Israeli, French and Italian cuisine, wines and olive oils. A spread. A mean spread.

Hands were too greasy to handle a camera. Did I say greasy? I meant busy. I kept eating and drinking as usual. That's why there was only this picture I could muster from the event itself. And it was someone else who luckily took it.

Thanks for the invitation Mr. Azemopoulos. Let's do it again next year!

CRFA Show....Part 3

After eating, eating and eating s'more....too bad there weren't any s'mores at this thing.....I finally got to indulge in what I was looking for from the start: A variety of beers...with great company!

Enjoy the 3rd and final installment from this awesome show!

CRFA...Part 2!

My quest to fill my stomach with as much food and drink as I can continues.

So does my quest to find some beer.

You SAW Part 1. You SHARED Part 1. Which means you LOVED Part 1.

Check out Part 2.

2nd Commissioned Job for Lonely Planet hits 10,000 views!

Nuit Blanche is an annual art festival that takes place in several cities around the World.

Luckily, Toronto is one of them.

That being said, I pitched an idea to the good people of Lonely Planet to develop a travel doc about this nocturnal festival, and they bought into it.

Crowded streets in the middle of the night, ferris wheels in the financial district, glam wrestling and lots of coffee. Check out the vid if you haven't already. Enjoy!

My first Commissioned Work surpasses 10,000 views!

After years of developing travel videos, I was ecstatic when Lonely Planet commissioned me to produce a video about Toronto...in the cold, dead winter!

In this video, I filmed winter surfers on Lake Ontario (yes they exist..and they're epic), tried to skate for the first time in an embarrassing number of years and sampled some Poutine, one of Canada's more unique dishes.

A Winter's Day in Toronto, Bamboulis-style. Take a look my first commissioned job. 10,000 views...and counting!

Travel Mammal @ CRFA Show....Part 1

As soon as I heard about this show coming back to Toronto, it was a no-brainer. I had to go!

Called my crew, got the cameras ready and in TRUE Travel Mammal fashion, decided to hit and in many ways invade the CRFA Show.

CRFA stands for Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association and each year, everyone and anyone who’s involved in the food industry fights to get a spot on the floor, display their brand and more importantly distribute their products.

That being said, this Show is always packed with hundreds of vendors and for a guy like me, it means keeping my stomach virtually empty for as many as 2 days prior in preparation for the gluttony that ensues.

The following video takes place on Fat Tuesday. Ironic? No. Fitting? Absolutely!

This is Part 1 of 3. Unscripted, unrivaled and unleashed. Enjoy!

Chef Giacomo Pasquini @ Vertical: Young, poised and talented!

Born in Italy, Giacomo Pasquini, was surrounded by some of the freshest food in the World. Add the fact that he was raised in Senigalia, Le Marche region of Italy and one could say he was blessed to have the chance to devour some of the best food in the World.

An apprentice at 14, Giacomo worked hard, studied harder and saw his knowledge of the culinary arts grow exponentially. By the time he reached his early 20s, Giacomo became Captain of the Italian National Cooking under 21 team, winning two silver medals in the process.

By 2006, Giacomo was learning the ropes as a Sous Chef at Vertical restaurant. In 2010, he became Vertical’s Head Chef. Using the skills he learned from his Grand Parents and Mother coupled with his many years of learning and working from the best the world over, Giacomo Pasquini is one to watch in Toronto’s ultra competitive dining scene.

Chef Easton Hamilton @ La Maquette...WOW!

My crew and I walked into La Maquette to meet and film Chef Easton on a bright winter morning.

By the time we were done, we didn’t want to leave. His dishes were so delicious it’s hard to believe they’re legal. Besides the enormity and vast goodness of the meals, Chef also graciously gave us a jar of his custom-made Jerk sauce. Come BBQ season, that sauce will be put to good use and smothered over everything and anything possible.

Believe it!

Check out this video and find out what we had for breakfast that morning.

A wedding video, just for laughs

When I was told that a special kind of wedding video was in the works for a couple of close and special friends, I was excited.

When I was asked to host it, I was grateful and ready to get it done!

My buddies wanted to do something different, out of the norm. Sure, creating a wedding video isn't something new but doing it ahead of time, in a living room, without the usual boring speeches and putting a special spin on it would capture peoples' attention.

The wedding itself was in Costa Rica. The video was done in Toronto 2 months earlier.

It's funny, casual, COMPLETELY improvised and was a lot of fun to host. Of course, many thanks go out to the bride and groom for allowing me to post this video. And of course the group of people, you know who you are, who made the decision for this to get done and letting me be part of it in the first place. Lastly, my awesome camera guy and editor, Roberto who took the time to shine it up as well.

Enjoy!

Spring Snow Day in Toronto

Late March.
Unexpected and unwelcomed snow storm hits Toronto.
Many stay inside.
Not me.
I film.
I take photos.
I make a movie.
Naturally.
Enjoy!

Beck Taxi commercial

Just like Kramer had his 1-liner (these pretzels are making me thirsty), so did I.

I was fortunate enough to be cast in a Beck Taxi commercial last summer. It was a crazy hot day, 50 Celsius in the shade. Wearing a suit wasn't a pleasure in the heat but the experience was great!

An amazing staff, taking care of everything and everyone and of course a great Director in Rinaldo Boni working hard as always.

The commercial aired during the Fall and Winter of 2010 and more recently was released on YouTube. I thought to post it and let those who dont' live in the Toronto area to check it out too. Enjoy!

Travel Mammal @ Gourmet Food & Wine Expo, Toronto

If you haven't checked out my other site, Travelmammal.com, what are ya waiting for already? Travel Mammal focuses on travel and food related posts, videos and experiences. But since you're here, I'll give you a taste of what Travel Mammal is all about.

This video is from the Gourmet Food & Wine Expo in Toronto. Now, when someone tells me about an event where all sorts of food, beer and spirits, from around the World, will be under one heavenly roof, for a limited time only, it doesn't take much to convince me to attend.

The Gourmet Food and Wine Expo is definitely one of those marquis events. It made a stop in Toronto recently and thanks to a few people behind the scenes, the Travel Mammal was able to get to the center of the action, sample some of the gourmet cheeses, delicious desserts, dangerously awesome drinks and of course document my experience. The video below...you guessed it....illustrates my experience.

It was my first time at such an event so my rookie tendencies sometimes got the better of me. I have to thank Rob Librandi, Co-Director of Operations at S7 Productions for coming with me, bringing his amazing camera and sampling some of the food and wine hardware on hand. Enjoy!

Chef Mike Crockford, ORO Restaurant, Toronto

Executive Chef Mike Crockford has quietly been making a name for himself for nearly ten years. Confident, consistent with a reputation for exemplary neo-Italian cuisine, Chef Mike is turning ORO restaurant into Elm Street’s primary destination for exceptional dining.



Having spent time at North 44, Chef Mike has certainly learned from some of the best in Toronto. He’s honed his culinary magic but like any true artist, he is constantly fine tuning his creations while simultaneously exploring other exciting directions. Add a very eclectic and diverse wine list to the menu and it won’t take long to understand why Chef Mike and his truly unique dishes are the reason for his growing prominence in the Toronto dining scene.

A tribute to the late and dearly missed Luigi Spasiano

I first met Luigi in the fall of 2009. I was given the assignment of writing a review about Sorrento, at the time, a new restaurant in uptown Toronto.

After being warmly greeted by Owner Nino Cioffi, the Chef also took a couple of minutes out of his busy dinner service to shake my hand and introduce himself. Young guy, inspirational and very personable with a contagious smile and a warm personality.

I didn't know it at the time but that Chef, Luigi Spasiano, would soon turn into a dear friend of mine. It would soon go beyond a professional food critic/Executive Chef relationship, critiquing his work. It turned into a friendship. Sorrento restaurant itself turned into my go-to restaurant, time and again. My girlfriend and I would celebrate birthdays there, even took my Mom there for Mothers Day. I would recommend it to everyone who ever asked me where to go for a great meal, conversation, experience. Not only because Nino welcomed everyone in with open arms but also largely because Luigi added another element; a positive, lovable energy to the room, to the conversation. His personality and sense of humour made the evening that much more memorable, fulfilling. He complimented every room he was in.

Modest, humble, funny and incredibly talented and ambitious, Luigi Spasiano was taken from us in late 2010. Like many around the World, I was shocked and saddened to hear of the news. He was taken from us much too early. I continue to pray for his family and send my deepest condolences.

I didn't know him all that long but Luigi Spasiano made an impact everywhere he went and touched everyone he met. A young guy, he was focused on being the best he could be both professionally and personally.

Rest in peace Luigi. You are and will always be dearly missed, remembered and loved!

Executive Chef – Paul Pisa - Quinn's Steakhouse

To say that Paul Pisa knows a thing or two about preparing spectacular dishes time and again is a gross understatement.
A homegrown Toronto Chef, Paul has had a career that has certainly seen its share of ups and downs but it’s also been a career that most only dream of. Besides being the Executive Chef of Ellipsis, the now defunct Italian brunch and dinner spot on College Street, Pisa also spent time at Brasserie Aix, preparing authentic French cuisine. He’s trained under some of the most renowned Chefs in Toronto: Mark McEwan and Keith Froggett. And he’s been the personal Chef of one of Toronto’s most renowned power couples: Heather Reisman and Gerry Schwartz.

Thanks Regis

Always managed to watch a little bit of LIVE each morning before starting my day. But not on this day. Turns out, today Regis Philbin announced he was retiring. A part of me was shocked and another part of me was saddened.

Now I'm not one to grovel or even acknowledge when a big time TV star announces their retirement from a TV show. I give about as much attention to it as I do a Brett Favre retirement presser. But this is different. Regis is a legendary personality, whose down-to-earth persona and on-screen character is not only relatable but funny, in a humble way.

His career spans many years, in fact he is reportedly the Guinness World Record holder for most time on camera, 16,500 hours accumulated over his entire career...and counting. His departure from one of the most popular programs out there will not only be felt by lonely housewives across North America but also those in the industry who love watching a guy who puts his ego aside and authentically entertains the way only Regis can.

As a Broadcaster, I pay my respect to a guy who's managed to stay on the air, in some way or another since the 1960's, including 28 years as Host of a single program, LIVE. In an age where shows are dropped before you can say "cancelled", the 79 year old has withstood the test of time and of peoples' patience.

Thanks Regis!

Chef Mitchell Lipperman, 398 West

Since age 14, Toronto-born Chef Mitch Lipperman hasn’t stopped to take a breath, much less stopped working. An award-winning Chef, Mitch spent time at Rosewater, the Royal York and even Air Canada Centre learning from some of the best in the city.
When the opportunity came to work in a kosher environment, Mitch couldn’t pass up the opportunity to not only delve deeper into his Jewish roots but also bring the increasingly popular kosher-inspired menu to the dining public. The result is beautiful and artful blending a French based menu with meals prepared within the laws of kosher. Truly the best of both worlds. And only Chef Mitch can pull it off.

Chef Jason Cox, Opus Restaurant

He’s been the Executive Chef at Opus since 2001. It’s safe to say that Jason Cox has never compromised on quality since day 1. He can often be found at the St. Lawrence Market in downtown Toronto, hand-picking the freshest ingredients in order to prepare his daily delicacies. That being said, Chef Jason takes great pride in consistently creating culinary delights that coincide with the changing seasons.

His dinner menu is considered by many to be a ‘feast for the senses’. Dishes such as Quebec foie gras, Isle Verte rack of lamb and Atlantic lobster have become stuff of legend. Meanwhile, his selection of Persian caviars and fascination with Asian cuisine can often be found in a variety of his creations.

Executive Chef/Owner Sukhwant Singh -Apalla Restaurant

He may be young, actually really young in comparison to other Chefs I've interviewed (no offense guys and girls) but Executive Chef Sukhwant Singh isn’t afraid to take some risks in order to create a dish you won’t soon forget.

Dynamic, charismatic and extremely experienced, Sukhwant is proud to illustrate his years of experience; his definition of Indian contemporary has sparked the interests of not only Queen Street West locals and passerby’s but his appetizing menu has also captivated the Toronto dining scene. Curries and Tandoori dishes satisfy the senses as Chef Sukhwant consistently dedicates himself to preparing and delivering quality with each dish ordered and served.