Deborah McCormick – Ocean Blue WORLD

Top Winter Beauty Essentials for a Summer Glow

Must Have Beauty Essentials for a Summer Glow

There’s nothing like the summer sun to help you shed your winter skin and come gloriously out of hibernation. Here are a few essential go-to products for the warmer months ahead.

Speaking of shedding that winter skin, try Ahava Deadsea exfoliant. The product originated from the Dead Sea in Israel so you know it also has some old-world magic to it. Scoop a nickel-size amount onto your fingers then massage into every inch of your body. You’ll use a lot of product on your first round so apply amply on your arms, legs and torso for a smooth and silky finish.

Next on the list is TAN LUXE – a self-tanning serum you can use with your favorite moisturizer. Use a few drops all over (there is a Tan Luxe for the face and one for the body). Pro tip: if you apply it at night, you’ll wake up to a golden hue. No time for the beach? You’ll look like you just returned from Mexico, thanks to this tailor-made tanning product.

When you do venture out into the sun, apply protection. La Roche-Posay Anthelios 60 is non-clog poring and feels like it’s not really there. Plus, it doesn’t melt off even in the warmest weather. On that note, did you know your eyes are susceptible to sunburns too? ZEISS Vision care is the world’s leading manufacturer of precision optics and offers full-UV protection in a clear lens to protect your eyes and surrounding skin.

When it’s hot outside, you want lightweight sheer products for your face. Although it’s not new you will be hard pressed to find a make-up artist that does not swear by Mac Studio Face and Body Foundation. For the foundation you can certainly layer it for a heavier look but it has a beautiful consistency that evenly allows your skin to radiate. If you have any areas of concern you might try a little Milk Makeup Flex Concealer. Dab it under your eyes with just your finger. Remember less is more.

Do not forget your lips – they often need a lot of love and they give it also. The days are longer and the sun is stronger, which means your lips can get dry and flaky, and we all know that doesn’t bode well for lipstick. A well-kept secret the Australians — who live in the hottest climate — have been keeping from us for years is Lucas Papaw Ointment (now available on Amazon.) Put it on a few times your first day and you will immediately notice visible results. Now with lips primed and ready to go you can opt for that gorgeous must have perfect red lipstick such as ILIA “Femme Fatale” or Lancome “Sheer” to take you from day to night.

The last piece of makeup for summer fun is Pat McGrath Mascara. The brush is wonderful and the mascara will give your lashes a pop.

Enjoy summer, but remember the sun can damage too, so always apply adequate sun block before you step outside or start your beauty routine.

At Home Where the Desert Meets the Sea: Mar a Cielo, Cabo del Sol

Mar a Cielo, Cabo del Sol

The setting is one of the sunniest spots on the planet—Los Cabos, Mexico. This is the place where 350 days of sunshine is expected and idyllic 75° temperatures year-round are not uncommon.

The residences, represented by Engel & Volkers Snell Real Estate, are a crisp collection of 36 modern and beautiful vacation homes. Two-and-a-half miles of oceanfront are your constant companions. Where the desert meets the sea is also where the Gulf of California meets the Pacific Ocean. All of it, at a scenic sliver of beachfront just 35 miles from the airport and 20 minutes from storied San José del Cabo.

The entire area is springing to life as luxury hotels and resorts have poured millions into re-invigorating the area with new luxury offerings. Future plans include a beach club, the cornerstone of the many new amenities to come.

The Residences

The two-and three-bedroom homes take their inspiration from their surroundings and complement the land, sea and local culture. Yet, their modern airy feel brings everything up-to-date. Open floor plans provide plenty of space for relaxed living — and finally writing that novel you’ve been talking about. Nice corner-wrapped terraces give you a welcoming spot to take in sea breezes and some of the most spectacular sunsets you’ve ever seen.

Outdoors, indoors it all comes together here. Ocean views included. These palm-lined perches list from $1.375M to $1.725 M. It’s not every day you find a pearl along the Baja, so now is your opportunity to own at Mar a Cielo.

The Spectacular Harbin Ice Festival is the World’s Largest Winter Festival

Harbin Ice Festival is a True Winter Wonderland in China

December 24 to February 28, 2020

Harbin Ice and Snow Sculpture festival is the world’s largest winter festival featuring the most spectacular ice installations and fun activities. The extreme cold makes the arctic-like conditions perfect for elaborate ice carving. Packing for this trip will no doubt include all your thermal underwear, gloves, scarves, hats, and boots.

The festival was first celebrated in 1999 to salute the new millennium. It was such a success that the following year in 2000, Harbin Municipal Government and Harbin Cultural Tourism built another Disneyland-like park made from ice and snow. Since then, the fairytale world has grown every year. This year marks the 36^th year of the festival and it has quickly become the world’s most popular winter attraction. It’s more attended than Quebec’s Winter Carnival, Norway’s Holmenkollen Ski Festival and even Japans Sapporo snow festival. What sets this one apart is the size and scale of the sculptures and the incredible lighting.

The festival is commonly referred to as having four key ‘mosts’: the most art attractions, the most beautiful night views, the most recreational activities and the most forms of entertainment. The ice festival is constantly evolving, and each year brings a new theme, providing visitors — around 15 million annually — a totally unique experience from year to year.

In its first year the festival’s layout was designed around the idea of ‘Prosperous China and High-flying Longjiang’, with the ice carvings depicting the rapid development of the country. In 2005, the theme was ‘Friendship between China and Russia’, and all the sculptures where fashioned around typical Russian styles. In fact there were even replicas of some of Russia’s most famous architecture, such as the East Palace, and Moscow’s Red Square – all made from ice and snow.

Of course a major highlight for any visitor is to attend the winter wonderland in the evening when multicolored lights underground illuminate the sculptures, revealing a whole new colorful dimension. The contrasts of the bright and dazzling lights against the dark night sky make the works look even more spectacular.

There are also incredible activities and entertainment inside the festival. Visitors can not only experience the sculptures but enjoy walking through an ice maze, stopping at the ice bar or even an overnight at the ice hotel! If you love snow sports the festival also offers the chance to participate in activities such as ice rock-climbing, ice golf, and even ice archery. The activities are always based on the theme for the year, which by the way this year is “Ice Snow Integration, Happy to Go Together.”

So, if you are not afraid of blistering cold – this is the perfect winter wonderland for you.

Heaven Has an Address: Cielomar Rooftop at Viceroy Los Cabos

Experience Cielomar Rooftop at Viceroy Los Cabos

If you’ve every stayed at a Viceroy hotel or resort, you’ll no doubt recall an epic guest experience, a hallmark of the brand. Each hotel is a reflection of the local culture and a provides a unique guest experience. In Los Cabos, that experience began in May 2018, when the hotel first debuted. Since then, Viceroy Los Cabos has been at work making enhancements that now complete its goal to inspire travelers to create their own journey. The enhancements include the Cielomar rooftop bar and restaurant, a five-star spa and boutique shopping.

The Rooftop

Not only are travelers drawn to this high point overlooking expansive views and one-of-a-kind sunsets, but the locals have caught on too. Cielomar translates to “Sky and Sea.” The name reflects a true sense of place where a fiery sky meets cerulean blue waters. When the sun goes down, you’d be hard pressed to find a better view in all of Los Cabos. The true architectural design becomes even more detailed and transformative as day fades into night. The exquisite ambient lighting and decor also add to the entire experience, rivaled only by food that features fresh seafood, wood-fired pizza, flame-grilled fare, and innovative craft cocktails.

The menu reflects locally sourced ingredients and the freshest catches each day combined with unique Mexican panache. There is a delicious tuna poke pizza topped with grilled jalapeno, habanero-fermented Hamachi, charred corn ravioli and even bone-in rib eye for the carnivores in the family. However, the restaurant also caters to vegetarians too. The fresh black truffle, fontina cheese arugula pizza is quite a popular dish.

Not only is the food world-class, but the international wine list and selection of craft beers and spirits ensures the right accompaniment for any meal. But it is Los Cabos, and nothing is more relaxing than watching the sun go down with a signature cocktail in hand. The menu includes incredible combinations of fresh ingredients such as the “Blonde Shakerato” incorporating beer and black truffle all meticulously engineered by the head Chef Pita and his talented team.

With an enviable location nestled at the tip of the Baja Peninsula, Lost Cabos is certainly one of the sunniest spots. With around 350 days of idyllic blue sky and an average temperature of 75, you can visit in any season. Los Cabos also has a unique art and cultural hub that only adds to the vibrancy of the Viceroy. There is no lack of culinary adventure, but as a hotel guest, you might not want to eat anywhere else.

So, while looking for the perfect place to watch the sun set you have many choices. Cielomar in Los Cabos is a slice of Heaven. In fact, you might not want to leave. Fortunately, Engel & Völkers Snell Real Estate can help you find the right spot here to call your home away.

Celebrating Pumpkin Mania on National Pumpkin Day

Pumpkin Flavor Frenzy

All month long in October, pumpkins quickly become the go-to fruit; pumpkin lattes, pumpkin pie, pumpkin cheesecake, pumpkin cookies, pumpkin fries (even a pumpkin face mask). There is almost nothing a pumpkin can’t do. It’s not just about eating pumpkins, we also delight in decorating our houses and gardens with pumpkins — even carving them into jack-o’-lanterns.

It is not surprising that by October 26^th, officially #NationalPumpkinDay, we have all been driven into a sort of pumpkin frenzy. While many of us love pumpkins for their mythical relationship with Halloween, the truth is pumpkins are even more celebrated in November on Thanksgiving Day. Americans eat an estimated 50 million pumpkin pies on this day!

But, let’s learn a little something about this incredible fruit, which is a fruit and not a vegetable like many assume. It is technically a squash native to North America. The oldest evidence of pumpkin-related seeds dates back to between 7000 and 5500 BC in Mexico, and, the word pumpkin originates from the word pepon, which translates to “large melon” in Greek.

The pumpkin is such a desired fruit that the United States produces over 1.5 billion pounds of pumpkins every year, with Illinois producing more than any other state in the country. In fact, the largest pumpkin grown in the United States weighed 2,145 pounds—from a small town in Illinois—grown by Gene McMullen in 2015. However, the world’s record for the largest pumpkin ever grown was 2,323 pounds in Switzerland. They’ve retained the world record since 2014.

The amazing pumpkin is not only a delicious fruit with a slightly sweet taste, veterinarians recommend it to animals as a dietary supplement. It’s given to dogs and cats to relieve digestive issues — even fed to chickens to maintain egg production. But, the pumpkin is not only a super food for animals it is also an incredible food for good health. Packed with vitamins A, E, C and even B, pumpkins contains the important minerals calcium and magnesium.

The best part is that vitamins C and E are known to play an important role in skin health. Vitamin C is not something our body naturally produces so it is important to ensure it is a part of our everyday diet. Sounds like you should order an extra piece of pumpkin pie.

The benefits don’t stop there. While there is no single ‘superfood’ that can prevent cancer there is overwhelming evidence that eating a healthy diet will reduce the risk of cancer. And, some evidence suggests that the antioxidant properties of carotenoids, which is vitamin A and vitamin E, all of which are found in pumpkins, may protect against breast cancer.

If you don’t know how to truly celebrate the day, here’s a go-to pumpkin pie recipe. You can prepare it with an easy ready-made crust (or make your own). But a ready made crust means you only need twenty minutes of prep. Enjoy.

Pumpkin Pie

Simply blend canned pumpkin with milk, sugar, eggs and spice, then bake until the filling sets.

CRUST

1 refrigerated ready-to-bake pie crust (from a 15-oz box of 2)

FILLING

1 can 100% pure pumpkin

1 1/2 c. milk

3/4 c. sugar

2 large eggs

2 tbsp. all-purpose flour

2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg

1/4 tsp. salt

Pinch of ground cloves and ginger

DIRECTIONS

Heat oven to 350°F. Fit crust into a 9-in. pie plate. If desired, crimp or flute edges.
Put all ingredients in a large bowl and whisk, or even better beat with an electric mixer, until blended.
Pour into crust.
Bake 1 hour or until a pointed knife inserted near center comes out clean.
Remove to a wire rack and cool or refrigerate.
EAT!

A Luxe Renovation of the Storied Belmond Cadogan

A Newly Renovated Historic Gem in Chelsea: Belmond Cadogan

The former stomping grounds of socialites, writers and bohemians such as Oscar Wilde and Lillie Lantry, the Belmond Cadogan has some interesting stories to tell. It’s steeped in history dating back to 1887. Today, a four-year, $48 million dollar renovation has given the Queen Ann-style building a fashionable new look.

Photo Courtesy by luxuryrestaurantguide.com

If you’re familiar with the former building, what used to be the front entrance to Lillie Langry’s townhouse is now the hotel’s residential entrance, at 21 Point Street. The architects re-imagined the new hotel with a nod to bygone days. Wonderful contemporary art floods the walls—430 pieces of original works. Guests checking in can’t help but comment on the Simon Casson piece, which weaves a story of the Cadogan estate from its perch atop a hand-carved reception desk.

The hotel blends a storied past of deep-rooted nostalgia with a new kind of modern, understated luxury. From the front lobby, step into a garden-lined walking tour of world-class restaurants. This is London living like you always imaged it, complete with a library in your guest room, which was curated by a private bookseller. The literati set will feel right at home here.

Photo Courtesy by russellsagestudio.co.uk

Even if you don’t even leave the hotel, you can experience every British flavor under the sun. Celebrated chef Adam Handling leads the culinary direction of the Belmond Cadogan Hotel with a restaurant worthy of getting dressed up for—or if you fancy—simply break for a spot of afternoon tea in the Lounge. Chef Handling says of his kitchen moxie, “Modern, British, seasonal, sustainable; that’s the ethos that underpins my cooking. I don’t want to be the best restaurant in the world—I want to be the local’s favourite in Chelsea.” His other restaurant in London— The Frog — is also a highly regarded in the foodie world.

Most renovations are about expansion, but the Belmond Cadogan stayed small. The hotel has just 54 rooms, and 22 of them are suites. But the grounds open up ample opportunities for guests to enjoy the private 93-acre Cadogan Estate Gardens, complete with tennis courts, 300-year-old mulberry trees and beautiful sculptures.

All of this opulence is enhanced by big labels and luxury brands that dot every corner outside the hotel, including Harrods and Harvey Nichols. There are also a decent amount of boutiques, quirky galleries and artisan-run delis. So, the next time you find yourself across the pond, check-in to the heart of a true London gem.

Chopsticks Optional!

Food Fusion: Chop Suey

Today marks the annual celebration of Chop Suey. There are two theories on where the unique dish originated. The first is that it came from Taishan, a district of Guandgdong Province, where many of the first Chinese immigrants to America were from. That would explain why so many people believe the dish originated in the United States. Another theory is that Chop Suey was created in America by Chinese immigrants as a way of fusing together both styles of food. What cannot be disputed is that America has adopted Chop Suey as a national dish.

The words “Chop-Suey” mean “assorted pieces” consisting of a protein (such as chicken, fish, beef, prawns, pork or tofu) and eggs that are cooked quickly with an assortment of vegetables (usually bean sprouts, cabbage and celery). The combination is then bound in a thick starchy sauce.

When the dish was first introduced it had a sort of heyday. Almost every American had an undeniable obsession with the food. Now, that obsession is no longer as intense, but three cities in the USA are still infatuated—St Louis, Detroit and Chicago.

In St. Louis, the Golden Coin House is an old brick house which prefers cash to cards, but the reviews are indisputable. “Best Chop Suey Period!” That’s if you can handle the lack of curb appeal of the restaurant. And, if that is not enough reason to try the little hole in the wall, your wallet will barely feel a dent.

Detroit’s ongoing passion for Chop Suey will leave you wondering which is the best place to try. Red Star in Dearborn is considered a longtime favorite that many regular patrons have been visiting for over ten years. Red Star has also gained a following for its inclusive menu, which offers halal, vegetarian, and vegan options.

Then there’s MCCB Chicago, a less authentic suggestion with a modern take on Chop Suey and all the other Chinese fusion dishes you desire. The modern decor has touches of Asian motifs and the food is plated beautifully.

So, even though there’s an entire day devoted to this dish, there’s no reason you can’t indulge all year long.

The Bac Mono R is your Elusive Dream Car

Dream Car: Bac Mono R

Everyone has a dream car they envision purchasing when they win the lottery, get a big promotion or become famous, and The Bac Mono R is that car.

While Liverpool, England is not a place commonly associated with performance sports cars, it is home to the Briggs Automotive Company, which was founded only ten years ago in 2009. Briggs put themselves firmly on the map in 2011, when they released the single seater Bac Mono. Recently at the 2019 Goodwood Festival of Speed, they introduced the new Mono R version causing a frenzy of delight.

The Mono R is referred to as a “Gen2” car taking over where its predecessor left off. The Mono R is a uniquely designed, sexy and sleek race car legal for road use, but the lack of a back seat means you will not be able to drop your kids off for school in it. But that’s not why you buy one.

Photo Courtesy by theoctanecollection.com

The BAC Mono R isn’t for everyone, literally. There were only thirty cars made and the price tag is speculated at around $156,000 US dollars. However, being able to afford the mono will not be your greatest challenge. All thirty cars were sold prior to public release to private sellers who owned the previous model. A high price tag, limited edition and sexy design aren’t all that makes this car swoon-worthy. Under the carbon fiber case sits a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine (co-developed with Mountune), which produces 340bhp. In laymen’s terms, it goes pretty darn fast.

Another tweak made to the BAC Mono R is increased cylinder bore size and reduced crankshaft stroke, which earned it the title of the ‘world’s most power dense naturally aspirated, road-legal engine’. When you combine all the incredible advancements with the knowledge that the car only weighs about 1,000 pounds (just over half a tonne) and about 55pounds less than its predecessor, you quickly realize this car is a mini rocket. The car can go from 0-60mph in 2.5 seconds with a top speed of 170mph.

Naturally, the interior is customizable and carbon side panels are an option. James Bond needs one of these in his upcoming film “Shatterhand.” Here’s hoping one of the thirty new owners will provide him a loaner to save the British Empire.

Raise Your Fork High for the Avocado!

Avocados are without a doubt the greatest fruit on the planet and contain more protein and fiber than any other fruit. Fruit you say? Yes, believe it or not the avocado is considered a berry. And, July 31 is National Avocado Day – a day we can all be grateful to David Fairchild, US Department of Agriculture botanist, who introduced the fruit to the USA at the start of the 20th century.

“The avocado is a food without rival among the fruits, the veritable fruit of paradise.” –Fairchild

To understand why this day should be so celebrated, look at the avocado and its magical properties. First, the avocado is a good fat. Although high in fat, the avocado is mono-unsaturated fat, which is good for your heart – the American Heart Association concurs.

It is almost impossible to walk into any decent café that does not offer smashed avocado on toast. Not only do you get over twenty nutrients from the dish but the silky-smooth texture is delicious. Prepare it at home by adding a little chili, lime juice and drizzle some extra virgin olive oil on your avocado– smash it with a fork and smear it on toast. It is that easy and tasty.

In Los Angeles (Sherman Oaks to be precise) “Sweet Butter” café has the most incredible smashed avocado toast seasoned with a secret recipe. Should the opportunity arise, it is worth going out of your way for.

Let’s not forget a favorite dish, guacamole, which originated in Mexico where archaeologists have found evidence that avocados have been growing since 800 BC. Guacamole is best served with tortilla chips (but secretly goes with everything) and almost every American has tried it. In fact, there is empirical evidence that shows the avocado reigns supreme — 53.5 million pounds of avocados— turned into guacamole—are consumed every Super Bowl Sunday.

The avocado also enjoys a starring role in a variety of body treatments; exfoliate with avocado skin, an avocado body wrap with natural yogurt, avocado moisturizing hair treatments and the popular avocado face mask. Apparently, the properties in avocado can treat sunburns, prevent chafing and even reduce wrinkles! If you want to try a mask at home it’s as simple as mixing together raw honey, yogurt and avocado.

All of this only proves one thing – the avocado is not only the greatest fruit, but also the most versatile.

Take Off for Summer Travel Season

Summer is upon us and the warming temperatures bring out the need to wander. Here are a few bright spots that give you ample opportunity to soak up the sunshine, see more of nature and pack for a little adventure.

Charleston

This charming city is a mix of rich history, colourful architecture, fine restaurants and friendly folks. Awash in old-world charm, Charleston reveals a beautiful new discovery around every corner. Take a horse-drawn carriage past palatial homes—the unhurried pace is contagious here. Stroll along historic buildings and stop to have a superb meal on a veranda. The chefs in Charleston are repeated James Beard award winners. With culinary roots coming from the Caribbean, Europe and West Africa, there’s everything from proper fish and chips to chorizo and pumpkin pizza to be found among Charleston’s impressive dining scene.

Napa Wine Tour

While there are many sun-drenched spots to sip a chardonnay or peruse a pinot, Tamber Bey Winery, at Sundance Ranch equestrian facility in Calistoga, California is unlike all of them. The tasting room is the original barn clubhouse and you get to roam with the estate’s horses in the central courtyard. Your ticket also includes a tour of the ranch and the custom crush facility, barrel rooms and resident horses. The taster’s choice is a 2012 Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon awarded 90 points by Wine Advocate.

Sayulita, Mexico

Photo Courtesy by sayulita thecrazytourist.com

Not far from Puerto Vallarta as the parrot flies is this hipster surf town, which was formerly a sleepy fishing village in the late 1990s. Peak season, November through May, finds the tiny streets crowded with throngs of tourists drawn to the beautiful beaches, restaurants with fresh and surprisingly affordable seafood and one-of-a-kind boutiques. The main beach is a magnet for surfers of all levels and you can rent a char and umbrella for the day and watch from the sandy sidelines.

Glacier National Park

Where Canada and the United States meet is this favorite park to hikers and explorers alike. The park is packed with 700 lakes, a myriad of waterfalls and two mountain ranges spread across one million acres filled with wildlife. The area is also richly steeped in history. The Going-To-The-Sun-Road is a historic landmark and scenic 52-mile-drive through the park, offering stunning views and access to numerous hiking trails. There’s a reason Glacier National Park is called the Crown of the Continent.

Now that summer is here get out there and check a must-visit destination off your bucket list. Pro tip: keep a travel diary of the trip’s highlights and revisit it often to relive those magical memories.

Veggie Burgers Take the Plate for Healthy Deliciousness

Recently TGI Friday’s made headlines around the globe when the United States-based chain introduced Veggie Burgers that “bleed like meat.” True carnivores were naturally insulted and flocked to the restaurant to compare the vegan burger (made by now famous Beyond Meat) with its “real meat” (ground beef) counterpart. It was so successful, it’s become the quickest test-to-table menu offering in the brand’s history.

Deceptively delicious, and healthier too! Veggie burgers also beat-out beef for low saturated fat—three grams compared to 10 in a regular lean patty. So, who makes the best one? Here’s a run down of some of the most savory veggie burgers around the globe that deserve a shout out.

Starting with the fast-casual restaurant Fat Burgers—yes, you heard that right. Fat Burgers serves authentic old-style burgers in locations that your grandparents hung out at, and their veggie burgers are second to none. They key is a delicious soy, BOCA patty grilled and built-to-order served on a toasted whole-wheat bun.

Another surprise location for veggie burgers is in Australia and made by Lord Of The Fries. Not only are the burgers succulent and delicious, but the fries are incredible and freshly cut with specialty sauces. Their “Beyond Meat” burger is known as the holy grail in the plant-based industry and it is said to look and taste like a real meat patty. You be the judge.

Photo Courtesy by wholesomepatisserie.com

If you find yourself in San Francisco ROAM serves locally sourced ranch beef or house-made organic burgers. The burgers are tasty and they look like something out of a food magazine. The veggie burgers are organic and gluten-free. There’s no waste here—even food scraps and to-go ware are composted and converted into fertilizer, which is used to grow more food.

The last place worth a mention is Black Burger in New York. While the trendy location appears to be the antithesis of a vegetarian place they serve a mean veggie burger upon request for 79c more than a regular burger. The one common thread of all the veggie burger joints mentioned here is that they are not strictly vegetarian restaurants. They are groovy dives, restaurants or chains that focus on delicious “feel-good food” and also happen to make delicious vegetarian burgers.

So the moral of the story is drive your Porsche or Hummer SUV and order a Veggie Burger next time. You’ll lower your carbon footprint (cows cause greenhouse gas) and trim your waistline.

National Crepe Suzette Day

I am always surprised that one of my favorite days of the year does not receive more pomp and splendour. May 6^th is “National Crepe Suzette Day,” an entire day dedicated to celebrating one of the most delicious desserts wordwide. While the crepe originated in England, the Crepe Suzette is a French delicacy. For those of you who have been missing out on one of the greatest food indulgences ever, lets tempt your taste buds by describing this incredible dish. This crepe is made famous by its special sauce – caramelized sugar and butter, orange juice, orange liquor (Grand Marnier or orange Curacao) and cognac if you so please. When prepared at an upscale restaurant the crepe is usually made in front of customers by flambé.

On this day, or at least at some point, you should make a point to treat yourself to this delectable desert, by taking an outing to a restaurant or café that specializes is such a crepe. From our travels and our love for Crepe Suzette, we found a few spots around the globe that are Crepe-worthy.

Our first recommendation would be to try Crepe Suzette in Paris, France at “Les Frères Bretons.” The chic little bistro is not far from the Eifel Tower and was established by two brothers who come from Bretagne, a region in the west of France where the crepe originated. You will be lured in by the smell of the bistro before you see it’s little brown awning inviting you in. Possibly the most impressive revelation here is that this delicious Crepe Suzette is made with fresh local produce by the two brothers who both studied to be crepe masters (that’s a thing in France).

While eating the Crepe Suzette in Paris looking at the Eiffel Tower is a luxury that cannot be replicated, if you find yourself in New York near Union Square you might want to head to Boucherie. They add bourbon to the traditional recipe, which simply means consume it after work hours. It is without a doubt the best in the city.

Now for a discovery in the Land Down Under, tucked deep in one of Melbourne, Australia’s fascinating laneways is “AIX Café Creperie Salon.” This no-frills spot sources only fresh organic ingredients. Here, it is not just the Crepe Suzette that is amazing, but the unique atmosphere where locals sit and stand anywhere there is a spot along the tiny laneway.

So, if you love dessert, take advantage of May 6^th to scout out your local French restaurant and enjoy a Crepe Suzette. It might just become a habit.