RANDOM MOMENTS IN TIME by George Tsioutsioulas
Jan 28
JET SET DIARIES by George Tsioutsioulas
Jan 28
Have you ever tried to read a newspaper when your nose is too close to the fine print? Everything ends up being one big blur. Well, that pretty well sums up the last few months of the Hospitality Guide.
Sometimes you need to take a step back in order to fully see the big picture.
In the last few months, I’ve shot the show in Vegas, Nova Scotia, Montreal, Sweden, San Francisco, Okanagan Valley, DisneyWorld, Quebec, Buffalo, Toronto and Ft. Lauderdale. Did I leave anything out?? One of the perks of hosting a travel show that focuses on different aspects of the hospitality industry is that you get to experience the best aspects of whatever city you happen to be in; Rafting over massive tides in the Bay of Funday, hanging out in a $9000.00 a night suite in Vegas, taking a helicopter ride over the Niagara Falls, eating ‘body-cakes’ in Sweden, go carting through the streets of San Francisco, and getting a glimpse into the wild and wacky world of competitive eating at Buffalo’s WingFest. Ahhh good times!!
If you’ve missed any of these episodes, check them out online at www.thehospitalityguide.com.
I’m happy to report that the HG team is currently working on some big things in the near future so stay tuned. The adventure continues….
Thanks for watching,
G.
What’s next for the HG dizzle?
Oct 31
So far we’ve seen Niagara Falls from the sky, gambled our way through Las Vegas, been to Halifax to meet some of the nicest people and got acquainted with Mickey Mouse in Disney. After Disney we made our way to Quebec for a French version of the HG (don’t worry it’s not actually in French, it took a while for George Tsioutsioulas to pronounce the province name properly…don’t worry he got it by the end of the trip). If you’re hungry you have to tune into the Wing Festival episode when we crossed the border to Buffalo for a day dedicated to chicken wings. Are you obsessed with celebrities? We got a backstage pass at The Toronto International Film Festival. Two words: Brad Pitt. The HG crew’s next stop was San Francisco where we got to try some of the best crab legs in the world. Let’s not forget a weekend in Montreal and drum roll please…SWEDEN! From the ice hotel to mushroom picking the HG did it all – Swedish style of course. I can’t possibly forget The Wine Festival in the Okanagan Valley. I highly recommend starting everyday with a glass of wine – don’t forget to swirl, sniff, swoosh then swallow. And lucky George leaves the cold Toronto weather on Sunday for a week in Fort Lauderdale filled with beaches, palm trees and warm sunny weather of course. Not jealous AT ALL!
Now on a different topic. Ever since our office moved to 355 King street west I’ve realized how many different types of restaurants there are in Toronto. I’m the type of person where if I like something it’s my go to place but I think I’m turning a new leaf. Last Friday I went on a shoot with Chris, one of our camera man to a sushi bar called Blowsfish. The chef demonstrated how to make two of their most popular dishes: Black and White makimonos and tower of tuna served with crab crisps. The bartender Nishan made a Pomegranate saketini and a Mango Passion saketini. After our shoot was done, the people at Blowfish insisted Chris and I eat the dishes and drink the drinks. How can I say no? Plus it was the end of the day so a little treat wouldn’t be so bad. Everything was delicious. The sushi rolls? Never tasted ones that were that fresh. And The tower of tuna was a tower of yummy. Don’t even get me started on the drinks. I’ve already made plans to go back and I suggest anyone whose into Japanese cuisine to head over to Blowfish.
Blowfish is at 668 King Street West. Two can dine for as low as $60.
The Hospitality Guide Goes Quebecois
Aug 21
Bonjour mes amis!
Let’s talk French. Quebec City, la belle provence, is her nick name… short form for beautiful, inside and out. Quebec City-ers: Unlike what some of us may have heard about this French-dominated population, they don’t actually hate English folk!! (That’s only 
Montrealers…!) Instead they welcome you with open arms, celebration, and lots of great, great food! I’ve got 3 words for you: Maple syrup pie. If there is one thing that you should take with you from my rambling, it’s those 3 glorious words… and remember one piece is easily your sugar intake for a month! I ate the whole pie.
Quebec is celebrating its 400th anniversary this year! The city was filled with tourists, banners, horse-drawn carriages and life. An image mill - the world’s largest projection screen played across 81silos - hard to envision but trust me on this one- became the go-to place for over 5000 people every night for over 2 months now, projecting animated and real footage of the history if Quebec City in its last 400 years.
Don’t know what we would do without our fabulous tour guide Marguerita who showed us the greatest places in Quebec City to see, from restaurants to stunning views to hotels and ferry rides, she had it covered! Le Chateau Frontenac is a must-see! (Well it’s literally a ‘must-see’ because no matter where you look you can see the Chateau perched above a mountain!)It is stunning. But you might have to actually be a King if you want to stay the night at Le Chateau… Rooms vary anywhere from $200 - $6000/ night. Ballin’.
If you want to get a sense of Europe in Canada, visit QC. The narrow streets, cafés, boulangeries, shops, cobblestone roads and the overwhelming French language everywhere you turn, will truly make you scream “Vive le Quebec!”
A bientôt!
P.S. Quebec = Poutine. ‘Nough said.