By The Food Tease on March 25, 2015
Almost everyone I know has been to a Cirque du Soleil production, be it in Vegas, Quebec, Toronto and even in Ottawa where I live…except for me. It is truly ironic and kismet that it took me to travel to Mexico to experience the world’s first and only production of Cirque du Soleil, which combines both culinary and performing arts to ‘engage the audience’s full five senses’!
I had no idea that I was going to be treated to Cirque du Soleil Joyà’s show till I arrived in Mexico and received my itinerary of events while I was attending the Food and Wine Festival in Cancun. This event was placed on the schedule as a bonus and what a bonus it was! For someone who has never seen this sort of production and then adding FOOD & CHAMPAGNE to the event…how can you go wrong?!
But first things first, it’s important to give you some context in regards to the show as it was simply unique and the only way I can describe it is: smell o’ vision…seriously! I will elaborate on my last comment a bit further on.
Joyà, has only been opened since November 2014 and takes residency exclusively at the Cirque du Soleil theatre in Riviera Maya. It is housed among the precious natural environment of that region.
Synopsis:
Drawing on the Mexican region’s unique history and heritage, an alchemist and his granddaughter embark on a transformative quest to uncover the secrets of life. Through their wonderfully disorienting journey they will discover a hidden gem in the mangrove, passing the poetry of love and life to future generations.
Walking around the luscious property feeling eager to see what the show was all about, I got whisked away to the VIP entrance and greeted by the beautiful and colorfully painted girls of Joyà.
Entering the theatre literally took my breath away…it was mesmorizing! Lights were dimmed and everywhere you looked, a light blue hue was giving the surroundings a very surreal effect. Now the ‘foodie’ in me was curious as what type of food I was going to be having and the calibre in which it was. Escorted to the demi round table a couple of feet away from the stage, Champagne bottles were already being chilled on the table and I for one wanted to sit down and take it all in! I was informed that we would first be having dinner, accompanied by live entertainment on the stage and then the Joyà production would commence.
You have to love it when you come to a table and a nice bottle of Bubbly is waiting for you…make that two bottles!!
As much as I enjoyed drinking the bubbles, I was anxious and looking forward to the first course…and with that said…it appeared in a smoke-like haze. Dry ice enveloped the entire first course like a magic potion was cast on the meal – very poetic! In the photo you can still see smoke coming out of the centre ‘planter’.
Smoked fish, chia goat cheese, blue crab salad, cured lberico ham, Ramonetti cheese and melon caviar
The first course was not only light and refreshing, but it also set a ‘bar’ to reach and surpass for the second course in terms of flavors and presentation. It must be noted that at this time I also had a ‘palate cleanser’ which I enjoyed…as I ate it with more Champagne…don’t judge!
The perfect ambiance: great food and great music! And to say the show hadn’t started yet!
And voilà…the second course:
Short rib with corn, seasonal vegetables, marrow topped with herb salsa and stuffed chile ancho
And yes, I polished off the plate…it was delicious! For those that love marrow – this one was one for the books. The creamy texture of the marrow balanced perfectly with the herb salsa.
Drum roll please for the dessert course…
This course took me on a palate voyage in regards to flavors and textures. The presentation of the dessert course was very fitting to the show, as the entire stage was in itself in an elaborate library-like setting with books to be seen everywhere. The desserts were presented in the ‘book’ with the genius description of each on the inside cover.
Seeing the dessert description and how each ingredient played a pivotal role in the presentation and taste was genius! Reading the description, gave me a sneak peek as to how this course was put together and the thought process behind it. Aside from the varied textures that each dessert brought – from the crunchy sugar of the crème brûlée to the soft tropical bread pudding and all the textures in between, each dessert highlighted an aspect of the Mexican gastronomy. The dark chocolate cake and the ‘Yucatecan’ lime cream tart were perfect depictions.
With a more than content tummy, I was ready to enjoy the show…and what a show it was!
When I referred to the smell o’ vision earlier on, it had to do with the picture below. The picture depicts a beautiful plant in the process of flowering…the amazing part happened when the flower actually blossomed (sorry no photos of that, as I was spell blinded!). The entire room in which we were in became completely enveloped in the most intoxicating fragrant ever! It was the perfect timing in regards to the choreography as the flower was coming to its own.
True to form (as I was told) for any Cirque du Soleil production, the acrobatics and contortionists amazed and blew my mind away.
Joyà was truly a spectacular event and I can now see why Cirque du Soleil is ranked best in the world.
Always a student and always learning😃
It helps when an interesting destination is discussed and tasty dishes are shared!✈️🍽
Big thanks to @phillydiscover for informing me on the unique attractions that Philadelphia has to offer and to @playfoodwine for their exceptional hospitality!😋
A delicious fish cake followed by the braised beef cheek and ramp gnocchi hit all the right notes. However, I couldn`t help myself from indulging on their grilled Sourdough Bread With Caramelized Butter...Ridiculously ADDICTIVE 🔥 😋😍
Looking forward to discovering new regions! 😊
#travelblogger #foodblogger #discovering #discoverphiladelphia #philadelphia #philadelphialove #play #playrestaurant #supportlocal #travelmediaca #tmac #ifwtwa1 #thefoodteaseeats #thefoodteasedrinks
Apr 20
A recipe for tasty success - this is what A Taste for Life Ottawa is all about.
Last evening, generous restaurants like @faunaottawa opened their doors to patrons who dined and donated to support people living with HIV in our communities.
What more could you ask for?! Stellar dishes while supporting a great cause!!☺️
Fresh meaty Malpeque oysters 🦪🦪 and tasty tempura mushrooms 🍄 as appetizers to a mouth-watering meat fest. Say hello to a 80 day dry aged ribeye for 2 and the tastiest duck breast I`ve ever had!!😲😋😋😍
Because those dishes weren`t indulgent enough, a basque style cheesecake had to be tasted!!😂😋
A great cause and annual tradition that I`m proud to support and be a part of! ❤️
#foodblogger #travelblogger #foodporn #tasteforlife #greatcause #hivcharity #fauna #support #supportlocal #ottawarestaurants #supportlocal #donation #aidscharity #aidsawareness #hiv #thefoodteaseeats #ifwtwa1 #tmac #travelmediaca
Apr 19
Learning about new destinations and different cultures is always a blast! 😃
Several evenings ago, I had the pleasure of being invited to the Embassy of the Czech Republic😍
Learning about their culture, their unique travel experiences, and surprisingly, how inexpensive this country is, when compared to other European destinations, is always good💰💰
To start the Czech Tourism event, guests had the pleasure to hear from Czech Republic Ambassador of Canada, Martin Tlapa.
Tasty libations and Czech dishes were enjoyed by the guests. Even though I enjoy my 🍾 bubbles, I enjoyed tasting Czech`s prized beer 😉🍻
On the bucket list to discover✈️✈️
#foodblogger #travelblogger #tourism #czech #czechrepublic #czechbeer #czechembassy #passportready #destination #solotravel #solotraveler #luxurytravel #thefoodteasedrinks #bucketlist #ifwtwa1 #travelmediaca
Apr 7
Sophistication, opulent decor, and beautiful luxury desserts - this is @delyseesottawa 🍰🍮
.
Read The Food Tease column in the Spring/Summer issue of @luxeottawamagazine on how Delysees`s Creative Director, Fred Naggar, successfully left awe-inspiring footprints in the fashion world to embark on a new adventure with his wife - the world of high-end desserts.😋🍰😍
.
Sweets for the sweets... Enjoy!
.
#foodblogger #foodporn #travelblogger #dessert #dessertsofinstagram #luxury #luxurydesserts #delysees #creativedirector #parisienne #frenchsweets #frenchdesserts #published #thefoodteaseeats #ifwtwa1 #travelmediaca #tmac
Apr 5
Happy Easter, everyone!!🐣 🐰
Enjoying my family`s Easter tradition of our colourful egg fight...I didn`t win, but there`s always next year 😉
.
#foodblogger #travelblogger #foodporn #easter #eastereggs #easterdecor #familytradition #annualtradition #europeanstyle #potofgold #familytime #thefoodteaseeats #thefoodteasetravel
Mar 31
Play golf⛳️?
Planning a wedding💍?
Enjoy live jazz 🎷🎹?
And let`s not forget, enjoy spa services💆🏼♀️and tasty dishes?😋
Then the @brookstreetott is worth experiencing!🤩
.
Whether it be for business and/or for pleasure, the @brookstreetott has you covered.
.
During my recent stay, I was informed that all guests` rooms will be renovated in the next couple of months. By September 2024, the renovation project will be completed. 🤩🤩
.
Now lets talk about the tssty dishes: veal ribeye, Beef carpaccio, tuna sushi and a tasty breakfast of poached eggs Benedict poutine...and let`s not ignore my tasty libation...an extra dirty martinis with extra olives!!🍸🍸😋😋
.
Weekend getaways are perfect for some R&R!!😊
.
#foodblogger #travelblogger #foodporn #foodpornshare #hotel #getaway #indulge #brookstreet #brookstreethotel #weekendvibes #jazzlounge #hotelexperience #beingatourist #supportlocal #thefoodteaseeats #thefoodteasedrinks #thefoodteasetravel #travelmediaca #tmac #ifwtwa1
Mar 27
I had the pleasure of experiencing @kathaottawa with their exclusive 8 course tasting menu of progressive Indian cuisine. What a treat!😍😋
.
Kathā means story in Sanskrit, and with each course, a story about the dish was shared with the guests. This interactive approach provided a cultural and personal background for each dish.
.
Everything from the scallop ceviche, the cod with chili and coriander oil to the delicious lamb chop and duck - all made for a unique cultural dining experience. 😋😋
.
Props to Chef/Owner Sarath Teegavarapu and his talented brigade on this creative endeavor!!
.
#foodblogger #travelbloggers #foodpornshare #foodphotography #blindtasting #indiancuisine #katha #progressiveindiancuisine #ottawaeats #ottawarestaurants #supportlocalbusiness #supportlocal #newexperience #ifwtwa1 #tmactravel #tmac #thefoodteaseeats #thefoodteasedrinks
Mar 5
Calling all sweet tooth lovers📣📣
.
@delyseesottawa = Decadent sweet indulgences with a luxurious vibe!!✨️✨️🍰🍮
.
Parisienne inspired desserts ✅️
Luxury vibe ✅️
Stunning tasty sweets ✅️
When all boxes are checked, a visit to @delyseesottawa at Lansdowne & @delyseestoronto is needed.🍰🍮🍾🥂
.
Chic ambiance and tasty desserts make for a sweet indulgent experience!! 😋
.
The tasty best sellers at Delysees are the following:
Hugo: Sicilian pistachio mousse
Frasier: fresh strawberries and cream🍓
Le Verdi: passion fruit cheesecake
.
Go and get your sweet tooth fix and ENJOY😊
.
#foodblogger #travelblogger #foodpornshare #foodphotography #dessertlife #desserts #dessertsofinstagram #delysees #supportlocalbusiness #ottawaeats #ottawatourism #dessertporn #luxurydesserts #frenchdessert #thefoodteaseeats #ifwtwa1 #fwt #tmac
Feb 9
Friday night, I had the privilege of attending the 2024 Canadian Culinary Championships - Mystery Wine Challenge - People`s Choice Award🥇🥇@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!!😋
.
The winning dish🥇 (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)🍷🍷
.
#foodblogger ##foodgram #foodcompetition #travelblogger #CCC2024 #greatkitchenparty #peopleschoice #peopleschoiceawards #underpressure #foodandwine #underbudget #onbudget #culinarycompetition #thefoodteasedrinks #thefoodteaseeats #ifwtwa1 #tmac
Feb 5
A classic is always a classic!🤩
.
@alssteakhouse has been serving food lovers steak, seafood, and tantalizing martinis since 1967!!! Just incredible! 🥩🍤🍸
.
As an appetizer, I must say their calamari was outstanding, and believe it or not, their portion was unlike any other eatery - there was so much!! 😮
.
And now, for the main attraction - their 14oz Rib-eye steak. The flavour of this steak was a melt-in-your-mouth gift! I couldn`t stop eating it. I forgot how delicious their steaks are. With their sides and salad with their signature garlic dressing, it was a real feast, to say the least.😋
.
I`m already looking forward to my next visit...like I said, when a classic is this tasty, any excuse to visit is a good one‼️
.
#foodblogger #foodlovers #foodgram #travelbloggers #alssteakhouse #steakhouse #steak #oldschool #oldschoolclassic #finedining #supportlocalbusiness #ottawaeats #ottawarestaurants #ribeyesteak🥩 #thefoodteaseeats #thefoodteasedrinks #ifwtwa1 #tmac #foodie #wantmore
Jan 28
Planning for your BIG wedding day💍 and looking for something different than the traditional bachelorette party? 🎉🎉
.
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:
● High Tea at the Ritz-Carlton 🍾🥂
● Pampering at the Scandinave Spa 💆🏼♀️and at Le Germain Hotel
● Visiting the beautiful light show at the Botanical Gardens ⚘️✨️
● Culinary experiences at the Foxy restaurant and discovering local restaurants during a food tour😋😋
.
Solo getaway or with a friend or two, any reason to visit and experience Montréal is a good one!! 😍🤗
.
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!!😍😋
.
I think it`s time for you to discover, and for some, REDISCOVER Montreal! 🤩🤩
.
#travelblogger #foodblogger #travelgram
#mtlmoments #mtl #mtlfoodies #published #presstrip #passportready
#alwaysexploring #travellikealocal #localbusiness #ifwtwa1 #tmactravel #thefoodteasetravel #exploremontreal #touristattractions #solo #solotravel
Jan 23
Explore and savour! 😋
.
Exploring different regions of the beautiful island of Antigua🏝🏝🐚🐚
Breathtaking panoramic views from Shirley Heights, a restored military lookout, and gun battery was such a visual treat!😍
.
Afterward, a tasty seafood lunch at the Mainbrace restaurant, located at the @copperandlumberstorehotelanu was needed. We are talking about delicious conch fritters, spicy shrimp and avocado sushi stack, and Mahi Mahi trio seafood salad - YUMMY!! 😋😋
.
And if that wasn`t enough, the view of the mind-blowing luxury yachts in front of us as we dined was simply perfect!🛳🛥🤩
.
These activities made for a great island day!🏝😊
.
#foodblogger #foodpornshare #travelgram #travelbloggers #antigua #antiguabarbuda #loveantiguabarbuda #islandlife #exploring #shirleyheights #seafoodlover #conch #yacht #yachtlife #vacationdestination #vacaymode #tmactravel #tmac #ifwtwa1 #thefoodteaseeats #thefoodteasetravel
Dec 30
The Devil made me do it! 👹😉
.
Antigua’s rich history and spectacular topography provide a variety of popular sightseeing opportunities.
.
One of those stunning sightseeing opportunities is the Devil`s Bridge. The sight and sounds of this natural wonder are something else. 👹🌊
.
Natural blowholes around the arch shoot up water and spray, caused by the Atlantic Ocean waves. Simply beautiful and capitavating and yet dangerous if too close to the blowholes.😲😍
.
#foodblogger #travelbloggers
#antiguaandbarbuda
#loveantiguabarbuda #passportready
#naturalwonders #devilsbridge #antigua #naturalphenomenon #ocean #sightseeing #mustsee #mothernature #touristattraction #thefoodteasetravel #tmactravel #tmac #ifwtwa1 #blowhole #adrenaline
Dec 24
To discover any new destination, I need to explore and experience their local dishes and eateries. 😋😋
.
Big thanks to @eat_n_lime_food_tours and to the @antiguaandbarbuda tourism board for providing me such a tasty treat!!🤗
.
Eat N Lime`s motto resonates with me so much...`We are hanging out and chilling, enjoying eachothers company with good food` - This is my happy place!😍😋
.
The delicious food tour started in Saint John, the capital of Antigua and Barbuda, at the Heritage Quay Complex, where one can easily see all the cruise ships coming in and offloading their passengers.
.
I had the pleasure of tasting these local treats during the food tour:
1) Island Bhive: shrimp fritters with garlic sauce - so delicious 😋 🦐
2) Quin Farara Liquor Store: Rum tasting and learning how to make an Antiguan Old Fashioned cocktail with their 5-year-old English Harbour Rum.🍹
3) Roti King: a very generous roti that was packed with flavour: chickpea bread, potatoes, chicken, Indian curry, turmeric, and ginger.
4) Brownies Bakery: well-known for its unique bread offerings. Fun fact: it`s also a well-known hangover dish.🍞😉Tracey Ann, our informative and engaging Eat n Lime Food Tours guide, showed us Brownies Bakery`s famous bread - cinnamon butter and cheese.
5) Patti Delight: Jamaican patties with a twist. Jamaican beef patty with bacon, cheese, tomatoes, and lettuce. More please!!😋😋
6) To wash down all this delicious food, we stopped at One Stone Ital Shack - a Jamaican rasta shop known for their fresh fruit juices. Passion fruit for the win!! Tasted amazing and truth be told, I mixed my leftover juice with some local Rum as my afternoon cocktail.🍹😉
.
I highly recommend taking part in food tours when discovering new destinations as you not only learn about the culture but also learn how food plays an integral role in the history of the specific region. Eat N Lime`s food tour was exceptional - great memories from this excursion. 😍🤗
.
#foodblogger #foodlovers #foodphotography #foodtourism #foodtour #travelbloggers
#loveantiguabarbuda #eatnlime
#antiguabarbuda #antigua #tmactravel #ifwtwa1 #thefoodteasedrinks #thefoodteaseeats #thefoodteasetravel #alwaysexploring
Dec 23
Christmas came early🎅🎁!!
.
When relaxation and disconnection are needed, The @verandahantigua Resort and Spa (an all-inclusive adults-only resort) delivers!! 🏖🩴
.
It was paradise enjoying the tropical scenery at one of the two beautiful white-sand palm-lined cove beaches that the Verandah Resort & Spa offers its guests.🏝🏖
.
Stay tuned for stunning island attractions and tasty local dishes as I share my Antiguan adventure... which may include some Rum inspiration. 🍹😋
.
#foodblogger #travelbloggers
#travelgram
#loveantiguabarbuda #antiguaandbarbuda #vacationdestination
#antigua #disconnect #vacay #vacaymode #passportready #luxelife #luxurytravel #xmastrip #familytime #memories #tmactravel #tmac #ifwtwa1 #beach #villas #allinclusive #thefoodteasetravel
Dec 22
Home cooking calls for a smoked salmon Dutch baby!!😋💕
.
This uber light yet rich at the same time meal is nothing but DELICIOUS!
.
This savoury Dutch baby with garlic butter, parmesan, and plenty of herbs can be a versatile vessel for other proteins or on its own. However, the smoked salmon and sour cream spread takes it to another level.
.
Here`s to weekend meals👩🏼🍳😋
.
#foodblogger #foodlovers #foodpornshare #travelbloggers #nomnom #homecooking #dutchbaby #cookingwithlove #decadent #smokedsalmon #wantmore #recipes #cookingathome #overthetop #ifwtwa1 #thefoodteaseeats #castiron #castironcooking
Dec 11
I am very proud to share my culinary "observer" perspective regarding @lecordonbleuottawa culinary workshops in the latest issue of @luxeottawamagazine 😊
.
Visiting my alma mater and watching the culinary workshop from a different lens reinforced the rationale as to why I pursued my culinary education…the pleasure of savouring the fruits of your labour. 😋
.
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!👨🍳👩🏼🍳
.
Check out the article and the new culinary workshops being offered. Enjoy the adventure!!😊🤗
.
#foodblogger #travelbloggers #foodlovers #foodgram #culinaryinstitute #workshop #lcb #lecordonbleu #lecordonbleuottawa #alwaysexploring #alwayslearning #published #luxemagazine #ifwtwa1 #tmac #tmactravel
Dec 1
Where`s my rubber ducky 🐤😉?!
.
A year ago this week, I was enjoying some bath time while in @discoverdominica 🏖🏝😍
.
Dominica`s lush scenery is extraordinary, and I`m grateful to have been invited to visit their beautiful island😊😊
.
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! 🤩
.
Dominica`s adventure activities - diving, snorkeling, hiking, kayaking, swimming - are just some of the many ways to enjoy this tropical island.🤿🙂
.
Put Dominica on your travel list. You`ll love it!!❤️❤️
.
#foodblogger #travelgram #travelblogger #passportready #presstrip #discoverdominica #dominica #sulphursprings #lush #bubblebath #outdoorbath #newdestination #newexperiences #tmactravel #ifwtwa1 #thefoodteasetravel #tmac #tropical #zen #wottenwavenhotsprings
Nov 15
What goes better together than Champagne and lobster?! Nothing, except MORE Champagne...hence the magnum of Veuve!🍾🥂🦞
.
This is the definition of indulgence. 😉
.
Why wait for special occasions?! Enjoy what makes you happy whenever the mood strikes!
.
Carpe diem!!🍾🥂😍
.
#foodblogger #foodlovers #travelbloggers #travelgram #champagne #champagnelover #lobsters #lobsterlover #carpediem #indulgence #anyoccasion #seizetheday #lobsterdinner #splurge #thefoodteasedrinks #thefoodteaseeats #bubbles #more #moreplease #specialoccasions #anyday
Nov 8
When you taste a meal that makes you sit back and wish you could have it more often, then you know it`s a real culinary gem! 🏅🏅
.
Special thanks to @pti_casque from @co.makerfeed and his brigade for an amazing evening out. 😍 😋
.
I was spoiled with the most amazing dishes!!
● PEI oysters for the win! Love the presentation!!🦪🦪
● Auntie Jo`s Wagyu corndogs with honey mustard...So, so tasty!! I couldn`t resist😋
● Chef`s risotto: roasted squash with Osso Bucco beef and goat cheese. So rich and insanely flavourful!!😍😍
● Osso Bucco at its best...melt-in-your-mouth tender and a sauce that makes you want to spoon it all up.😋😋
.
Always a great time eating Chef`s creations in the beautiful `Alice In Wonderland` room - my favourite!!😍
.
A must try for any occasion!!😋
.
#foodblogger #foodpornshare #foodgram #foodlovers #travelblogger #restaurant #ossobuco #risotto #oysters #chefschoice #chefsspecial #supportlocalbusiness #ottawarestaurants #ottawaeats #diningout #specialoccasions #thefoodteaseeats
Nov 3
Follow Us On Instagram
