Breakfast in Bed at Llangoed Hall

There is nothing that says vacation to me more then ordering breakfast in bed. So when I woke up to warm flakey biscuits, freshly brewed tea, local clotted cream, and all the jellies and preserves a girl could dream of… it felt like heaven on earth. 

This was honestly what I would imagine as I would sit around a table with my sister and our dolls pouring tea out of Fisher Price plastic cups! In my imagination as a child, I was in a big, comfy bed, with long flowing locks, devouring the best cakes and teas imaginable. 

So needless to say, I love taking this time in the morning to wake up, collect my thoughts, savor in the goodness of fresh baked goods, and play princess with my big squishy robe and elegant interiors. 

It’s sometimes so surreal to realize the silly things you imagined as a child can come true in your adult life. It’s times like these that you have to honor and cherish that simple, wild imagination you still have within you. Unabashedly listening to this inner voice allows you the freedom to manifest your dreams and make them a reality.

Healthy Lunch Spot in Boracay

As Boracay is a party island, it should come as no surprise that there are burger joints, pizza places, and junk food options-a-plenty to cure any hangover spell from a long night out. I however, was on a hunt for the opposite. I was craving fresh green juice, yogurt and granola, and the Philippines infamously sweet and juicy mango. 

In the bustling outdoor mall (D Mall) along the beach in Station Two, sits a small cafe with clean white settings, touches of greenery, and an extremely healthy menu. Lemon Cafe is the perfect place to grab a late breakfast or lunch before soaking up the rays on the beach. They have plenty of vegan, gluten free, and vegetarian options should this be your MO. 

We ordered the eggs benedict, tropical fruit plate, scrambled eggs, and mango yogurt parfait. We also split a green juice and banana, peanut butter smoothie that was absolutely to die for. While prices for this small cafe are definitely closer to that in the states then on the islands, this spot is an absolute go-to when craving heathy snacks, or a fresh juice before a day at the beach. 

Traditional Taiwanese Breakfast

After an insanely long day of traveling yesterday, I went NYC-Detroit-Tokyo-Taipei, I set myself up for success with the jet lag by staying up when it was day time. I arrived at my girlfriend Maggie’s beautiful townhouse in downtown Taipei and passed straight out. 

I woke refreshed, and ready for the day at 8am… not too bad for day one. As I walked into the kitchen, I began to smell an incredible mix of warm rice, soy-shallot stewed pork, and garlic sautéed greens. It was miles away from the pancakes and waffles of home, and EXACTLY what I needed to start my busy day. 

Maggie then explained to me that this stewed pork is a famous family recipe and was a staple of hers growing up. We poured the delicious secret family heirloom over a bed of rice soup aka congee, think of rice as an oatmeal consistency. We then poured a sweeter “breakfast” soy concoction over our over-medium eggs, added the hallow-stem greens and totally went to town. 

We topped it all off with small dashes of fish floss, I know it sounds insane but it's actually amazing. Think of it as an Asian version of bacon bits, only made with fish. This was the best way to kickoff my time in Taipei and a definite must try while on this amazing island. 

My Healthy Way to Start the Day

One of my favorite things about being freelance is being able to crawl out of bed, slide into my slippers and robe, heat the tea kettle, light pine-scented candles, play christmas music, and create an indulgent, seance-like breakfast for myself. 

It is by far my favorite meal of the day, as I get to take my time and craft exactly what I’m craving while making it with love, intention, and appreciation for my body, mind, and hard work in the day ahead. 

This morning I had: Greek Yogurt with a ripe banana, topped with saigon cinnamon, dried cranberries, chia seeds, shelled hemp seeds, buckwheat, and a little maple syrup. Had a small cup of berries for my morning antioxidants and ginger tea. 

I sat with my feet on my desk snacked, sipped, and fflipped through my new Conde Nast Traveler for morning inspiration and travel ideas for the year to come. Nothing can replace the 30-45 minutes I give myself every morning to wake up, feel nourished, and calm my thoughts before my crazy day ensues.

Breakfast in Dubai

Two days ago my fabulous plans to explore the islands of the Seychelles was swiftly detoured due to a huge storm over the Indian Ocean. I found myself trapped in Dubai after traveling for 17 hours from New York City. After waiting 4 hours, in a dodgy baggage claim center, I finally collected my long lost luggage and heading hopelessly to my hotel. 

Trying to make the most of this unfortunate change of plans, I have unapologetically indulged every morning in the incredible breakfast spread available at the Four Seasons in Jumeirah (where I am currently stationed).

Each morning I skip through the rows of tropical fruit, gathering the daily assortment, with a pitstop at the juice/smoothie station. Today I opted for their fresh papaya, pineapple, melon, berries, and blood orange (which I proceeded to eat like a grapefruit making a complete and chaotic mess ;)  Being a sucker for bananas & potassium, I also tried their fresh banana smoothie which was creamy and delicious. Jet-lag often leaves me feeling lazy and lethargic and I find that fresh fruit helps cleanse my system and refresh my insides.  

My eyes were then drawn to the sexy smoked salmon which of course helped me justify my mini bagel and cream cheese indulgence... all three beautiful things that must be devoured together. I then combed my way through the various meats and cheese from around the world and added them as well as local dates and figs delicately to my full plate. This combined with my tropical fruit assortment left me with a breakfast spread big enough for a family of four. However, I got to take the leftovers to go which will make for a perfect afternoon snack. 

Moral of the story is... when trapped in Dubai, make the little things count... (like the glutinous breakfast options most of the big hotels provide.) While Dubai may be lacking in culture, authenticity, and reality it does offer access to different tastes, flavors, and bites from around the world. 

Xx