Waiheke Island Yacht Club (WIYC) Pop-up Restaurant San Francisco

Thanks to the America’s Cup backing, restaurateur Tony Stewart, who owns Clooney and The Hamptons in Auckland, brings Waiheke Island Yacht Club pop-up restaurant to San Francisco. The restaurant is named after an island off Auckland's coast and serves Asian influenced New Zealand cuisine.



Located in Pier 29 on The Embarcadero in San Francisco

As you walk over the artificial grass and up a few steps, you are greeted by lovely host flown in from New Zealand.  From what I've read, some of the staff was flown in from NZ to give it an authentic flair. They are here for the life of the restaurant; July to the end of December.



Enjoy a California wine at the large wooden bar and relax on one of the sheepskin-covered bar stools. To view more photos of the bar and restaurant, check out the Photo Book on their website.



The décor was created by New Zealand’s Fearon Hay and he used American oak and macrocarpa, which are woods native to New Zealand and the Bay Area. Keeping it local.



First Course: Pink Hopper Prawns, crackling, watermelon, cream fraiche & avocado. 15.00

Compressed watermelon and the very light cream dressing really made this dish. Very light, full of flavor.



‘Hawkes Bay’ Cervena (venison) Tartare, oyster, radish & fresh horseradish. 16.00

Beautiful, amazing, and unique flavors



Second Course: Smoked Duck Breast, liver parfait, apricot, plum, hazelnuts & brown butter (tapioca maltodextrin). 21.00

The liver parfait, hazelnuts and brown butter made this dish my favorite. The duck was full of flavor and the perfect portion size.

Food is like artwork - just look at the presentation, colors and plate.



Free Range Pork, abalone & kombu broth, potato, pickled daikon & watercress. 20.00



Desserts and Cheese: New Zealand ‘Kikorangi Blue’, local fromages, cranberry walnut bread, quince paste & fresh honeycomb. 20.00

I'll need to return to try the sweet desserts. The fresh honeycomb and blue cheese was amazing

Le Comptoir de Foie Gras Biarritz France

Le Comptoir de Foie Gras tapas, bar and deli located on rue du Centre in the heart of the lively old-town. No indoor seating with a walk-up window for ordering drinks and tapas. Plenty of outdoor communal seating in the closed off street - perfect for a nightcap. Have some Foie gras and charcuterie at one of the stand-up tables outside while enjoying conversation with locals and tourist.



At the end of the lively street is Le Comptoir de Foie Gras - enjoy dining al fresco.



Waiting for our wine at the walk-up window at Le Comptoir de Foie Gras. In the background you can see the stand-up round tables and still very busy at 11PM at night.



If you are traveling to Biarritz, this tapas bar worth visiting. Best Foie Gras and tapas!

Wednesday Night Farmers Market on Rue des Halles Biarritz

We stumbled upon a very busy farmers market on Wednesday night at around 9:00PM that ran along rue du centre, rue champ lacombe, and rue des halles in Biarritz. Filled with hungry customers shopping after dusk on the streets near the Les Halles indoor market. Here you can pick up cheese, a new handbag, arts and crafts from near and far. I'm told it's only in summer months from 7:00PM to 11:00PM

Organized by the Association of Commercial Space halls



Different colors and flavors of cheese at the night farmers market in Biarritz, France. I've never seen green cheese or red cheese for that matter, but it was good. Ask for a taste and you'll be surprised.



Sweet white wine with chilli peppers. It was OK. I'm not much for flavored wines, but the owner was more then helpful with free tastes and the background on his flavored wines. On the other hand, the jams are fantastic.




Stop by this market for local flavor and pick up items for lunch the next day or dessert for the night.

Surf Hotel Carlina in Biarritz France

From third level at the Hotel Carlina with 19 bedrooms and 5 apartments, enjoy one of the most lovely views of the French Basque Coast in one of the most affordable beachfront resorts. We got to enjoy this every day from our very large balcony.

During Haute Saison or high season a room for 2 is about 160€ with free WiFi, fridge, large bathroom, king size bed, and a balcony.



The hotel is about 20 minute walk to the center of Biarritz, but the walk along the ocean is beautiful and flat. Enjoy the sound of the ocean and check out the surfers in the water as you stroll into town on a warm summer evening.



Vintage surf art and retro surf event posters canvas this hotel making it a museum of surfing culture.



Down a level from the lobby are several restaurants open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. At Le Surfing, located at 9 Boulevard du Prince de Galles, 64200 Biarritz, they serve American style cafe food such as burgers, club sandwiches, salads, and fish tartars.



A great feature and perfect way to keep the room beach sand free is their surfboard storage rack in the lobby. Very safe and monitored, keep your board as close to the beach as possible.



Sit on the balcony and enjoy the surfers, ocean and the sunset.



It's very easy to hire or rent a surfboard in Biarritz and you can do this right at the beach during low tide only. The tides in this area changes very quickly and dramatically and most all surf rental shops will not rent a board with an incoming tide.

Make sure to check the current Cote des Basques tide times and tide charts before going out. I was very surprised at the change from low tide to high tide. It was very dangerous getting out of the water at high tide.



Here is the same view at low tide. Notice the difference in water level between this photo and the one above.



It's very safe to walk around at night or any time in Biarritz. It's mostly families and tourist walking along with you, enjoying outdoor music or late night dinning.

Le Bar Jean Restaurant Biarritz, France

Located in the heart of Biarritz Market Hall or Les Halles de Biarritz, the Bar Jean or Le Bar Jean (English website) has been an iconic institution since the 1930ies.

With a very lively happy hour and warm Spanish atmosphere, this is the spot to be on a warm summer afternoon or after work.

It's packed so make reservations or take your time while you wait for standing space at the bar. While you are waiting, enjoy one of the many Basque wines. If you don't want wine, there is a large bowl of red sangria on the bar and a great selection of basque pintxos. I filled up on the pintxos, but still had room for a few shared dishes.


"Eating well is an art of living"

Their tapas are fresh, organic, and ingredients are from local producers/farmers. Pick up an empty plate, fill it with pintxos of your choice, then pay and find a seat or stand at the bar.



One of my favorite and highly recommended dishes: Homemade squid fritters. My friend and I were sat at a communal table next to a very friendly French/American family. We had a lovely conversation about food, travel and cycling.



After dinner we went to le comptoir du foie gras for drinks and a very lively street party. A must go for a drink and social time after eating well.

Bistro 2 Génies in Biarritz, France

Bistro 2 Génies on 10 av. de la Marne 64200 Biarritz, France is an authentic French bistro with impeccable detail to flavors and the art of food presentation. Located in the heart of Biarritz near the main beach, it's an easy walk from your hotel.

On this very late summer night, my friend and I decided on the: Starter - Main course - Dessert priced at 34€ per person which is very reasonable for Biarritz. Wine was not included, but it was very reasonably priced and we received excellent recommendations from the wife of the chef.  



After ordering our three dishes, we were greeted promptly with our wine and a complementary parmesan crème brulee dish. Beautifully light, savory dish and such a better option than bread. The dish is well framed on their blue linen tablecloths.



Starter: Foie gras de canard mi-cuit à l’armagnac, chutney de figues (supplement 2€ extra for this dish).  Genuine French fresh cuisine.  A treat to have now that it's illegal in California.

Translation: Foie Gras of Canard with Armagnac, a distinctive brandy produced in the Armagnac region in Gascony, southwest France, and fig chutney



Main course: Magret de canard à la plancha, aux poivres de Chechuan, charlottes sautées au thym

In a nutshell, this is the best duck dish I've ever had and I will fly back to Biarritz to experience these amazing flavors again and again... and again. The duck cooked to perfection with no fatty pieces. Plat de résistance!

Translation: Duck a la plancha (grilled with metal plate) with szechuan peppercorns, pot of charlotte potatoes with fried thyme.



The atmosphere is pleasingly relaxing, stylish with tasteful beauty.

" From savory to sweet, everything is made ​​from fresh ingredients from the best local producers."


This photo of Bistrot2Genies is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Dessert: le flottante aux amandes grillées, crème anglaise, caramel beurre salé

Translation: the floating roasted almonds, custard, salted butter caramel

I forgot to take a photo of the dessert. It was lovely and just perfect with our wine selection. It's nice to visit a restaurant that uses proper stemware with a heavy hand with each pour.

Aiguilles d'Entreves Traverse Italy France

Rock climbing the ridge in Italy right up from Graie Alps Aiguille d'Entrèves

Location: Valle d'Aosta / Haute Savoie, France/Italy

The views of the Tour Ronde, the south side of Mont Blanc du Tacul and the Brenva face on Mont Blanc are exceptional



One of my favorite climbs in Italy/France is the Aiguille d'Entrèves Traverse. Here we are with our guide almost to the summit at 11:30AM



We started our journey by car at 6:30AM from Chamonix, through the Mount Blanc Tunnel to our final destination in the car-park in Entrèves near Courmayeur. From Entrèves we took a series of cable cars from La Palud to Punta Helbronner.


Car Park for cable car La Palud - Italy

Transportation is expensive so bring lots of euros. One car in Mont Blanc Tunnel: one-way: €40.90, return: €51.00. The cable car ride up is 38€ round-trip per person.



We exit the cabin / cable car and start our short hike at (3470 m) to the gate.



Here is the end of the pedestrian walkway and the gate to start walking on the snow. At this point you'll need to put on your gear and rope into each other.

You need a climbing harness, rope, crampons for the snow/ice, ice axe, walking polls, backpack with layers for weather, sunglasses, sunblock, food, water and chocolate. Our guide had the more technical climbing tools.



Views are amazing in the valley and along the hike. The weather was perfect for us, too. You should be in good physical shape to do this alpine hike.



The guide we hired for 150.00€ each and was well worth it since he had all the climbing tools. It's a 1.5 hour hike on snow to the start of the climb. The approach does not normally present technical difficulties, but the glacier is crevassed and roped travel is highly recommended.



Camping overnight must be very cold - we saw about 4 to 5 tents along our hike.



Views of the valley while hiking - looking towards France



Views in the valley: Tour Ronde, Mont Blanc, Grande Capucin, Pyramid du Tacul, and Mont Maudit to the Tour Ronde and Grand Capucin



Views in the valley with tents: Tour Ronde, Mont Blanc, Grande Capucin, Pyramid du Tacul, and Mont Maudit to the Tour Ronde and Grand Capucin



Take the crest of the ridge either at the col or further left with easy scramble. Here we start the climb with our guide.



This is considered and 'easy' climb with a head for heights. I would say it is 5.7 rating and we were able to climb in our hiking boots.



Looking back at where we were climbing with an epic view of the Italian alps in the background.



Follow the ridge to the summit. There is a easy downclimb right before going back up to the summit.



From the Aiguille d'Entrèves see the "Dent du Géant" in the background.



Sitting on the ridge of the Aiguilles d'Entreves Traverse waiting for his friends



Taking a break while wait for the other climbers to continue forward... It was a busy day with lots of people on the ridge. Sometimes we had a traffic jam. Self photo of my hiking boots 



Summit of Aiguilles d'Entreves. The most interesting climbing is just before the summit where a few easy but very exposed belayed pitches,  then lead climb the tiny summit blocks.



Hiking on the side of the ridge of the Aiguilles d'Entreves.



After summit, there is the start of the belayed downclimbing



Descent down the east ridge is mostly easy, but starts with some belayed downclimbing



More photos with beautiful views of Italy and France



More photos of climbing



Photos from the Aiguilles d'Entreves



Finally we drop down on the glacier and have lunch



Typical French climbing food. I cut the bread and the meat before packing it the night before. I forgot to slice the cheese, but it's easily broken off into small pieces. Not shown is my massive bar of chocolate I purchased at the Casino market in downtown Chamonix. Chocolate bars are used in place of 'power bars' and they tasted better, too



After lunch, we start the hike back to the cable car Punta Helbronner to La Palud. Make sure you do not lose your round trip lift ticket. You don't want to pay twice.



Water break and photo time now that we can slow down. Our guide was on fire!



Hiking back



More photos while hiking back with my team mate



Cable car in view. About 1.5 hour walk back in beautiful weather. I can't wait to return and do this hike again.



Louisa (me) with the "Dent du Géant" in the background



The office to book a guide is situated in Chamonix town centre next to the church. The office is on the first floor of the "Maison de la Montagne".  Open everyday 09:00-12:00 and 15:00-18:00

You can book all tours there and meet the guides the night before your adventure.