Inna's Birthday Dinner at Hult's

For Inna's birthday with our family, we decided to try the well-rated Hult's restaurant in downtown Los Gatos. We have always wanted to try it since it's supposed to be run by a former Swedish Hockey player.

When we arrived at Hult's on Saturday evening, Valet parking was available for $6, but I decided to find parking nearby for free. Although Hult's was fully packed on Saturday night, we were quickly seated. Unlike Nick's Next Door, Hult's was much quieter, and we could converse without shouting.

We started our dinner by ordering 3 sangrias (2 red and 1 white) and lemonade for Vladik. The red sangria was tolerable (not even close to the exquisite sangria in El Pinton, Seville). The white wine sangria was too sweet for my liking. I don't understand why making great-tasting sangrias in the U. is tricky.

For those who don't know, here is a photo of a REAL Spanish Sangria in El Pinton, Seville:

For an appetizer, we decided to share a couple of courses, including "Octopus," "Greek Salad," and the famous "Swedish Meatballs."

There were just three Swedish meatballs, so we each got one to try. They were delicious but not nearly the same level as at Stockholm Fisk (in Stockholm, Sweden).

Vladik enjoyed the "Greek Salad," but the portion was small. All of the portions at Hult's are small.

We had a free entree (courtesy of Yelp check-in): ravioli. We each received one ravioli for the four of us.

For the entree, I ordered the highly recommended "Chicken Marsala." It was well prepared with mushrooms, but it wasn't anything special.

Inna and Vladik ordered the "Halibut, " which looked like a tastier entree.

We selected the "Creme Brulee" and "Sorbet and Berries" for dessert.

Vladik really liked his sorbet.

Hult's Report Card

Positives

• Quiet inside (can talk usually, without raising one's voice), even in a packed restaurant
• Romantic and well-decorated
• Accessible location in downtown Los Gatos
• Most of the entrees are well-prepared
• Service was relatively fast, and my water glass was quickly refilled

Negatives

• Entree prices are high for a mid-quality restaurant. I think the food quality is no better than Nick's Next Door, but at a higher price
• Sangrias are expensive and not very good
• Slow food preparation. We waited a long time for our dishes (even appetizers were slow in coming)
• Small portions (all of the portions were European-sized)
• No bread or snacks (while waiting for main courses), unlike Nick's Next Door

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Inna's Birthday Dinner at Nick's Next Door

For Inna's upcoming birthday, I made a reservation at the well-rated (but perpetually unavailable) Nick's Next Door restaurant in downtown Los Gatos.

When we arrived at Nick's on Thursday evening, we found plenty of parking on East Main Street. We arrived at a fully packed restaurant but were quickly seated. Inna thought the restaurant would be very romantic, but it was extremely loud and not particularly attractively decorated. The noise level was particularly excessive. Had it been summer, I would have preferred to sit outdoors (to minimize noise).

The dinner menu looked very interesting, with very reasonable prices for appetizers and entrees. I could understand why Nick's was so popular (excellent value). The wine list was not so impressive, as I could not find any non-Brut champagne. I would like to order some delicious house wine (like a decent Vouvray or Italian Asti - but no such luck).

To start things off, Inna and I ordered some mixed drinks. I ordered the "Spanglish" (coffee with rum, amaretto), while Inna had "Achilles Heel" (tequila & lemon juice). Inna's drink tasted similar to a Margarita, but mine, "Spanglish," tasted like dreadful medicine (Nyquil anyone?)

We started our meal with the "Salmon Poke Salad." It was delicious, and both Inna and I enjoyed it.

The "Wild Mushroom Soup with White Truffle Oil" was also deliciously prepared.

I decided to try the "Duck Confit" - an entree that was highly recommended by the waiter. It was delicious and much better than expected.

Inna decided to try the "Seared Blue Platinum Prawns" with wild mushroom risotto. While I liked the prawns, I thought my "Duck Confit" was more delicious.

For dessert, Inna was presented with a dessert with a single lit candle.

Nick's Next Door Report Card

Positives

• Entrees and Appetizers are priced very modestly
• All of the sampled dishes were expertly prepared
• Great location in downtown Los Gatos
• Fast service

Negatives

• Challenging to make dinner reservations (need 1-2 weeks of lead time)
• Very loud. It's impossible to have a normal conversation without shouting
• It is not very romantic as dinner tables are arranged close together. I could overhear all of my neighbors' conversations.
• The wine list is small and has no sweeter sparkling wines (Asti, etc.)
• Mixed drinks were not to our liking ("Spanglish" was horrible)

Despite the many negatives, I plan to return, as I enjoyed the delicious entrees. I just need to try Nick's in the summer, sit outside (and avoid mixed drinks and wines).

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Snowboarding Whistler

After many changes in travel arrangements, we settled on our Whistler Ski vacation for February 18 to 22. Since we could not book our favorite Pan Pacific Whistler Mountainside hotel for Alex's annual ski week (at Dartmouth Middle School), we made reservations in Crystal Lodge. Pan Pacific usually offers significant adventures for skiers, such as the included 2 adult Whistler/Blackcomb lift tickets for each night rented (which we unfortunately missed).

Saturday, February 18, 2017

Getting up around 5:30 a.m. on Saturday morning was difficult. We dressed quickly and ordered our UberX ride to the San Jose airport. With the heavy rain in San Jose, I was expecting long flight delays, but Alaska Airlines came through for us. Our Alaska flight #309 departed 5 minutes behind schedule at 8:05 a.m. and landed in Seattle, Washington, at 9:45 a.m. (15 minutes ahead of schedule). We were pleasantly surprised that our luggage was already there! Most other airlines have prolonged luggage delivery (requiring 30-45 minutes of additional waiting). Alaska's speed exceeded my expectations. We quickly boarded the rental car shuttle to the off-airport car rental facility.

I had made Costco reservations with Alamo for an intermediate SUV (in case of heavy snow on the way to Whistler). We picked up a few sandwiches, and I picked out a black Jeep Compass 4x4. I specifically wanted a four-wheel drive vehicle in case of bad weather and picked the Jeep instead of the Kia Sportage (which was only AWD).

The drive from Seattle to Whistler was uneventful. There was a lot of heavy traffic in downtown Seattle, and the Google Maps app on my iPhone offered many detours to avoid slowdowns (which we took). In one of the significant detours, we exited off I-5 to I-405 and unexpectedly saw a lot of beautiful lakes. I didn't realize how many nearby lakes surround Seattle. Many lakes were charming (despite the ongoing drizzle) and were completely empty (no one fishing).

The drive to Whistler took us about 5 hours, and we had a 40-minute wait at the Canadian border. We arrived in Whistler village around 4:45 p.m. (45 minutes behind my best estimates). We quickly checked into the Crystal Lodge, had Valet park our car, and then Alex and I walked to the Salomon shop in the Pan Pacific to rent our snowboarding gear. There was a long wait, but we eventually progressed and picked out our snowboards, boots, and helmets. Alex chose a 152 cm board with a goofy orientation (bindings set to 12 deg front, 9 deg back). 

I was first offered a "Taylor Swift" graphics board, which would have been a bit embarrassing to ride on (but it was the right length of 163 cm). I finally chose a 159cm board that the shop employee recommended. It served me well during my next three days of snowboarding Whistler.

We returned to our room at Crystal Lodge and tried to find a place to eat. Earl's had a two-hour wait, and Spaghetti Factory was also moving slowly. We eventually settled on La Bocca restaurant. We had a 10-minute wait there, and then we were seated. La Bocca is an eclectic restaurant with unique decorations.

We decided to share a "Beet and Goat Cheese" salad for the appetizer. It looked better than it tasted.

I ordered the "Tartufo" pizza (mushrooms, goat cheese, truffle pesto vinaigrette ), but it was mostly mediocre. 

Alex ordered the "Amante Della Carne" pizza (prosciutto, roasted sausage, herbed olives, cheddar, & tomatoes). He thought the pizza was just acceptable.

Inna had the "Mushroom Risotto". It was mildly acceptable but not as good as in most Italian restaurants. La Bocca was an excellent place for wine and beer but not Italian food. 

Usually, exceptional restaurants in Whistler are mobbed at dinner, i.e., Earl's and Quattro had two-hour-long waits. We wondered why La Bocca was not very busy - now we know :-(

After dinner, we walked around Whistler Village, noticing the many changes. Cow's Ice Cream had moved to a new location (but the ice cream was still delicious). Although Earl's Restaurant has been remodeled from previous times, it still has delicious food (with an extensive menu), Ice Hockey on TV, and cheap drinks - who could ask for anything more?

As we were exhausted from the airline flight and the long drive from Seattle, we went to bed at about 9:00 p.m. (since we had to wake up early the following day).

Sunday, February 19, 2017

After waking up at 7:00 a.m., we quickly dressed and walked to the nearby Ingrid's Village Cafe for breakfast. We ordered hot chocolate, mocha, latte, two croissants with ham & eggs, and scrambled eggs for me. We liked the breakfast and ate quickly.

We returned to our hotel to pick up our snowboards, and Inna graciously offered to help pick up our lift tickets at the travel services. She was not feeling well and decided not to ski.

Here is a video I shot with my GoPro4 Silver during my snowboarding session at Whistler:

Since the line to the Whistler gondola was long, Alex and I decided to try the singles lane (which moved a bit faster). We reached the top of Whistler's Roundhouse Lodge at about 9:40 a.m. ( a bit later than I would have liked).

The weather was overcast, with extreme winds and occasional flurries. Sometimes, it was freezing, and visibility was variable. I was wearing my Oakley sunglasses, and I wished I brought my skiing goggles (because the wind on the chairlift was freezing my head).

We started our first runs of the day, snowboarding down Upper and Lower Whiskey Jack, past Chic Pea Hut (our favorite snack eatery), and then toward the Emerald Express Quad chairlift.

After a few runs, we stopped for lunch at our favorite Chic Pea Restaurant (which is usually less crowded than Roundhouse Lodge). I had the Naan sandwich, while Alex had two slices of pizza.

Alex tired quickly and returned home on the gondola at around 1:00 p.m. while I continued runs through Nintendo Park, doing small jumps and skiing through the trees.

On the very last run of the day, I crashed, and my GoPro4 fell off. Luckily, someone noticed and yelled at me. I stopped and was handed the fallen device. I did not realize that it fell off.

Alex relaxed when I returned to Crystal Lodge, and Inna was still at her Scandinave Spa. We decided to head to Crystal's hot tub (while waiting for Inna to return). We left her a funny note: "Me in Hot Tub" ala Cookie Monster.

The hot tub was packed with many skiers from England (Yorkshire), even as far away as South Africa. Everyone praised the snow conditions at Whistler compared to Vermont and Europe. I was surprised to see so many Europeans at Whistler, given that French, Swiss, and Austrian ski resorts are nearby.

During this time, Inna was relaxing at the Scandinave Spa. She really enjoyed her time there and came back relaxed and very happy!

While Alex rested, we decided to explore the beautiful Whistler Village at night. There were lots of people walking about, music was blaring, and all the trees were lit up. It's a beautiful winter wonderland.

We made reservations for dinner at Quattro (one of our favorite Italian restaurants in Whistler) around 8:00 p.m.

For the appetizer, Inna and I shared the "Fresh Burrata" (Buffalo Mozzarella) with tomato salad. For drinks, Inna and I ordered strawberry margaritas, which were very reasonably priced (and delicious). The wine list was extensive, but I could not find something I recognized.

I ordered the highly recommended "Spaghetti Quattro" for Italians only. The spaghetti was quite delicious (and I am not usually a big fan of spaghetti).  

Inna selected the "Ravioli All'Abbacchio" (Australian lamb, Gorgonzola, ricotta).

We really enjoyed our dinner at Quattro and hope to return next time.

Monday, February 20, 2017

After waking up at 7:00 a.m., we quickly dressed and walked to the nearby Ingrid's Village Cafe for breakfast. We ordered hot chocolate, mocha, latte, two croissants with ham & eggs for Inna and Alex, and waffles with strawberries for me. We liked the homemade breakfast and ate quickly (eager to start snowboarding).

More snow was on the ground, and up to 5 inches of fresh snow was reported to have fallen. We were excited about the possibility of powder.

The gondola line was not as busy, and we quickly got up to Roundhouse Lodge at 9:00 a.m. There was plenty of fresh snow on the slopes.

We had many fun runs and eventually stopped by the Roundhouse Lodge at 11:00 a.m. for lunch. I ordered my favorite Vietnamese Pho with chicken, while Alex had two slices of pizza. 

I prefer the food variety at Roundhouse Lodge to Chic Pea, but it gets hectic during lunchtime, from 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., so it's best to go there either early or late.

We had a fantastic day of snowboarding, doing many small jumps in Nintendo Park, tree-skiing, and jumping moguls. 

Alex followed me on many runs and was keeping up with me. He even followed me into the trees, enjoying going into narrow spaces and random places!

Best Day Ever!

We had a fantastic time snowboarding under sunny blue skies, with no wind, and with 4 inches of fresh, powdery snow!

For dinner, we decided to try our favorite Earl's Restaurant. We arrived just around 5:30 p.m. and were seated quickly (usually, the wait can be 1-2 hours). Since Earl's was running a $5 special on Margaritas, both Inna and I ordered strawberry margaritas. They were small but quite delicious. Alex had the non-alcoholic Pamplemousse drink (and it was pretty lovely).

Inna and I chose the "Dynamite" sushi roll for an appetizer. 8 pieces of sushi was a mighty good deal for the money.

Inna also ordered "2 Fish Tacos" for her entree, while I ordered the "Jeera Curry" with rice and vegetables. I really liked the spicy "Jeera" curry!

Alex ordered the "Cheddar Burger," which was too big to finish. Inna and I shared the "Banana Chocolate Cake" with ice cream for dessert. It was a perfect ending to the evening meal.

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

After waking up at 7:00 a.m., we quickly dressed and walked to the nearby Ingrid's Village Cafe for breakfast. 

We ordered hot chocolate, mocha, latte, two croissants with ham & eggs, and scrambled eggs for me. We liked the breakfast and ate quickly.

Once we took the gondola to the top, we discovered the snow conditions were pretty icy. Alex's leg hurt, and little powder was left on our usual runs (Upper Whiskey Jack, Lower Whiskey Jack)  from the previous day (even in the trees).

Scraping snow on the ice was not very enjoyable on the snowboard. I worried Alex might get hurt on a jump or a fall.

We skied a few runs and then returned to the Roundhouse Lodge for hot chocolate (it was rather cold out in the morning). I prefer the Hot Chocolate prepared here - as it's freshly made and not some machine-made drink usually served to unsuspecting lemmings.

At this time, I checked in to my Facebook page and received a text from Inna, inquiring how we were doing. Since the snow conditions were unfavorable, I returned to our hotel so that Inna and I could enjoy the fabulous Scandinave Spa instead.

We skied down to the Pan Pacific hotel, where we returned our rental gear (two snowboards, boots, helmets, and rented pants) to the Salomon Ski shop. We also purchased a few slices of pizza (cheese and pepperoni) from Avalanche Pizza for Alex so he would have something to eat while we were in the spa.

We got our robes and swimsuits and picked up our Jeep Compass from the valet for our short drive to the Scandinave Spa. The spa was fantastic, and we spent four hours alternating between steam rooms, hot and cold baths, solariums (for rest), and saunas. We had a marvelous time relaxing.

We returned home at around 5:00 p.m. Alex was not very hungry, so we decided to get dinner by ourselves at either Earl's or CrepeMontagne. Since the wait for Earl's was over 45 minutes, we headed to CrepeMontagne. We were seated immediately (despite the restaurant's small size). Inna ordered a London Fog (hot tea, steamed milk, and vanilla) for drinks. I tried the Gluehwein (warm wine with brandy) since fresh Apple Cider was unavailable. I really liked Gluehwein and would be happy to drink it again!

Inna ordered the French Onion Soup and Cordon Bleu crepe (chicken breast & ham, green onions in cream sauce). I decided to try the Forestiere Cheese Fondue instead of the usual crepe.

The French Onion soup was delicious, and Inna shared it with me. I liked the Cheese Fondue, but I can't say I loved it. The cheese was delicious, and the tiny bits of bread nice, but I preferred other entrees to fondue. 

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

We packed our bags in the morning and headed for a quick breakfast at our favorite Ingrid's Village Cafe. We ordered hot chocolate, mocha, latte, two croissants with ham & eggs, and a bagel with cream cheese for me. We liked our usual breakfast and ate quickly.

We checked out of the hotel, picked up our Jeep Compass rental, and drove to Vancouver. Inna researched and discovered that we have never visited the Bloedel Conservatory in Queen Elizabeth Park. We decided to explore it and then get lunch afterward before our long drive to Seattle.

The drive to Vancouver took about 90 minutes, and we arrived at the Bloedel Conservatory around 10:30 a.m. We parked nearby and went inside. The conservatory is a circular building (not as large as I expected) but filled with tropical trees, plants, and birds.

We spent about an hour exploring the plants and taking photos of the many colorful parrots and other birds.

We headed for the nearby, highly-rated eatery called "The Fish Counter" at noon. Unlike most eateries, there were benches but no tables - odd. However, we liked the local vibe and decided to sample the menu.

There were a couple of fish & chips possibilities: Halibut, Cod, and Salmon. We decided to order the Halibut for all three of us. The freshly crusted Halibut was well prepared and delicious with fries (and much cheaper than in any typical restaurant!)

After lunch, Inna wanted desserts at the well-rated (on Yelp) Trafiq Cafe and Bakery. We ordered a few LoHalibutgs, an "Earl Grey Cake" slice, and a CHalibutMonkey dessert. They were delicious! Afterward, we returned to our car and continued our drive to Seattle.

The crossing from Canada to the U.S. was surprisingly quick. We expected to wait at least an hour, but it only took 5 minutes. Making good time, we decided to get to Seattle's downtown to see Chihuly Garden & Glass near the famous Space Needle.

Our drive did not involve much traffic, so we arrived downtown Seattle at 4:15 p.m. After parking nearby, we went inside the Chihuly Museum and saw beautiful glass sculptures.

We visited the Chihuly Garden & Glass Museum a few years ago, so nothing has changed. However, we were delighted to see these spectacular glass sculptures/

In addition, we witnessed a glass-blowing demo at 5:15 p.m. I did not realize how complicated it was to make glassware. The two glassblowers had 3 separate ovens - each set to a different temperature - and they constantly moved their glass bowl from one oven to another while rotating it. After 30 minutes of glass blowing, the team completed one small glass bowl.

At 6:00 p.m., we returned to the Seatac airport, dropping off our Jeep Compass at the Alamo Car Rental. Our return flight to San Jose was booked for 8:50 p.m. We ordered some bagels and clam chowder. Our Alaska flight departed on time, landing in San Jose a few minutes early. We ordered UberX for our journey home.

We had a fantastic (but very hectic) trip to Whistler, Vancouver, and Seattle. It was a lot of fun, and I hope to do it again.

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