A bathroom with two sinks and a mirror.

By on April 26, 2013

POWDERING THE NOSE

No, I’m not talking about the 1980’s lingo of enjoying some ‘nose candy’ when referring to powdering the nose. I’m referring to the one place where it can make or break an eating experience…the bathroom.

As more and more restaurants are show casing their open concept kitchens it gives the patrons a false illusion that there is nothing to hide, this is somewhat true however many fail to remember the importance of a clean stocked bathroom. What we can easily take for granted when going to a restaurant like having accessible rolls of toilet paper  can quickly turn a normal restaurant experience to one of sheer nightmare (remember the old classic Seinfeld episode where Elaine famously said “can you spare a square”). As a patron, we shouldn’t have to think of these types of details. We shouldn’t have to think about toilet paper rolls, if there’s enough paper towels, enough hand soap to be used and so on. These basic details should be a given to those responsible of the restaurant. Cleanliness of the bathroom (bathroom stalls, counters, sinks, mirrors, toilets, doors and floors) says a lot about the eatery.
As a woman if should feel confident to walk in the washroom knowing that everything is clean and kept clean throughout the service. One pet peeve that still blows my mind regarding women’s bathrooms (sorry men, I can only speak for our bathrooms) is the lack of hooks for our purses and coats. If owners just took one moment to think about where us women will have to place our purses if there are no available hooks,  I am sure they would take the whole five minutes it takes to drill 2 screws and install one. Women are left to place their purses on their laps, at the back of the toilet and god forbid the unmentionable of all places….the godforsaken floor! I don’t care how clean you say your floor is – just the mere thought of placing my purse on a bathroom floor makes me want to hurl. What’s scarier and more disturbing is the fact that thousands of women have no issues doing this practice as they also have no qualm placing that very same purse on the table after the fact. Can you start envisioning the transmittal of germs? I digress…

Many restaurants have taken the time to really set themselves apart when it comes to toiletry details. It’s amazing what some freshly scented hand soap and hand lotion can do to a patron. Having said that there is also a well thought out thought process that must go with it as you don’t want to risk offending patrons with a heavily perfumed soap that will numb your senses or god forbid have that generic foam soap that we all have experienced (most big food chains have them in their bathrooms). The smell of that foam soap is utterly disgusting to me. Aside from soap and hand lotion – what sets apart some restaurants from others is the attention to detail that us women are so appreciative too. We are talking about a smorgasbord of toiletries to use at our disposal should you want and more importantly need them. Such toiletries include hair sprays, deodorants (spray on of course), Q-tips and an array of personal hygiene products.These restaurants show that they really have put thought and attention to detail for their patrons.

So the next time you happen to use the washrooms, just take a moment to notice if the owners of the restaurant have put any thought in regards to you and your needs.

Sincerely,
FT

Friday night, I had the privilege of attending the 2024 Canadian Culinary Championships - Mystery Wine Challenge - People's Choice Award๐Ÿฅ‡๐Ÿฅ‡@greatkitchenparty
.
Congratulations to all the chefs involved in this intense competition. The chefs needed to create a dish to pair with the mystery wine. Each chef was given a tricky budget of $550 for the 250 guests. I was witnessing creativity at its best!!๐Ÿ˜‹
.
The winning dish๐Ÿฅ‡ (centered in the middle of the photo) was created by JP Dublado: Red Deer Resort and Casino, Red Deer AB
Dish: beet & soy cured albacore tuna - ponzu gel - tomato water - puffed wild rice - beet green oil
.
Amazing talent from all the chefs as they paired with the mystery wine (a 2021 Lailey Vineyard Zweigelt)๐Ÿท๐Ÿท
.
#foodblogger ##foodgram #foodcompetition #travelblogger #CCC2024 #greatkitchenparty #peopleschoice #peopleschoiceawards #underpressure #foodandwine #underbudget #onbudget #culinarycompetition #thefoodteasedrinks #thefoodteaseeats #ifwtwa1 #tmac
Planning for your BIG wedding day๐Ÿ’ and looking for something different than the traditional bachelorette party? ๐ŸŽ‰๐ŸŽ‰
.
Then you need to read my solo Montreal getaway article featured in the latest issue of @ottawawedding magazine.
. 
Special thanks to @montreal for the beautiful experiences.
.
Amongst the amazing activities:
โ— High Tea at the Ritz-Carlton ๐Ÿพ๐Ÿฅ‚
โ— Pampering at the Scandinave Spa ๐Ÿ’†๐Ÿผโ€โ™€๏ธand at Le Germain Hotel 
โ— Visiting the beautiful light show at the Botanical Gardens โš˜๏ธโœจ๏ธ
โ— Culinary experiences at the Foxy restaurant and discovering local restaurants during a food tour๐Ÿ˜‹๐Ÿ˜‹
.
Solo getaway or with a friend or two, any reason to visit and experience Montrรฉal is a good one!! ๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿค—
.
With its countless cultural activities and experiences, one can easily enjoy this beautiful city! And let's not forget their food scene... that alone is reason enough to visit!!๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜‹
.
I think it's time for you to discover, and for some, REDISCOVER Montreal! ๐Ÿคฉ๐Ÿคฉ
.
#travelblogger #foodblogger #travelgram
#mtlmoments #mtl #mtlfoodies #published #presstrip #passportready
#alwaysexploring #travellikealocal #localbusiness #ifwtwa1 #tmactravel #thefoodteasetravel #exploremontreal #touristattractions #solo #solotravel
I am very proud to share my culinary "observer" perspective regarding @lecordonbleuottawa culinary workshops in the latest issue of @luxeottawamagazine ๐Ÿ˜Š
.
Visiting my alma mater and watching the culinary workshop from a different lens reinforced the rationale as to why I pursued my culinary educationโ€ฆthe pleasure of savouring the fruits of your labour. ๐Ÿ˜‹
.
It is this journey that ignited my passion for cooking, helped hone my skills, and introduced me to a world of flavours and techniques that continue to inspire me to this day. And perhaps it will inspire you as well!๐Ÿ‘จโ€๐Ÿณ๐Ÿ‘ฉ๐Ÿผโ€๐Ÿณ
.
Check out the article and the new culinary workshops being offered. Enjoy the adventure!!๐Ÿ˜Š๐Ÿค—
.
#foodblogger #travelbloggers #foodlovers #foodgram #culinaryinstitute #workshop #lcb #lecordonbleu #lecordonbleuottawa #alwaysexploring #alwayslearning #published #luxemagazine #ifwtwa1 #tmac #tmactravel
Where's my rubber ducky ๐Ÿค๐Ÿ˜‰?! 
.
A year ago this week, I was enjoying some bath time while in @discoverdominica ๐Ÿ–๐Ÿ๐Ÿ˜
.
Dominica's lush scenery is extraordinary, and I'm grateful to have been invited to visit their beautiful island๐Ÿ˜Š๐Ÿ˜Š
.
Visiting Wotten Waven Sulphur Springs was perfect to relax and rid of some unwanted stress. And the outdoor bath surrounded by all that green landscape was simply the BEST! An unforgettable experience! ๐Ÿคฉ
.
Dominica's adventure activities - diving, snorkeling, hiking, kayaking, swimming - are just some of the many ways to enjoy this tropical island.๐Ÿคฟ๐Ÿ™‚
.
Put Dominica on your travel list. You'll love it!!โค๏ธโค๏ธ
.
#foodblogger #travelgram #travelblogger #passportready #presstrip #discoverdominica #dominica #sulphursprings #lush #bubblebath #outdoorbath #newdestination #newexperiences #tmactravel #ifwtwa1 #thefoodteasetravel #tmac #tropical #zen #wottenwavenhotsprings
What goes better together than Champagne and lobster?! Nothing, except MORE Champagne...hence the magnum of Veuve!๐Ÿพ๐Ÿฅ‚๐Ÿฆž
.
This is the definition of indulgence. ๐Ÿ˜‰
.
Why wait for special occasions?! Enjoy what makes you happy whenever the mood strikes! 
.
Carpe diem!!๐Ÿพ๐Ÿฅ‚๐Ÿ˜
.
#foodblogger #foodlovers #travelbloggers #travelgram #champagne #champagnelover #lobsters #lobsterlover #carpediem #indulgence #anyoccasion #seizetheday #lobsterdinner #splurge #thefoodteasedrinks #thefoodteaseeats #bubbles #more #moreplease #specialoccasions #anyday

Follow Us On Instagram