I have come to realize that my childhood was simple and easy. Communicating and sharing weren't as easy as just clicking a button. I mean we had no computers, no tablets, no wireless phones and no handheld devices of any kind. If I needed to talk to my friend or show them my findings, I had to either pick up the phone (landline) and call them, walk about 2km to their house or depending on the proximity of their location yell out of my bedroom window! I find that people before technology appreciated the finer things in life but also appreciated communicating, sharing and staying "connected" with one another.
Today, it is totally different. We have all the tools as mentioned above and of course some new ones. I have decided that it was important for myself and for my brand to keep up with the times and stay connected with all of you. I have an established Instagram - @askfordino , Here you will find my daily routines, findings, and exceptional eats. You will also find pictures of my hobbies, lifestyle, and of course my family. Having been an avid photographer for many years and watching the internet shape the photo industry, I have always been skeptical about having my photos on the web for people to steal and call their own. I have finally decided that it was time to share my albums online for the world to see and created a Flickr account - Ask For Dino. I even opened up to the world of Twitter - @ask_for_dino. Twitter is a fun and easy way to share thoughts, quotes, and RT others with all of you. Twitter is a great tool to help me gain exposure and I have linked my Instagram account to it. I was skeptical of doing the whole Facebook thing as I have noticed that not to many people use or talk about Facebook like they use to. Like my brand, I like to be current and up to date with social media and I have decided to start my Google + page instead. Google + is an exciting way to share information, pictures, videos and content across my Google platform. I believe that social media has made it easier to connect, share and interact with all of you. I still look forward to writing my blog and sharing my life experiences on here. I believe like my quote, writing is the key to all information and knowledge, basically thinking. Please continue to share my experiences and make sure to add me to your social media platform. Dino.
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Have you ever had that feeling of wanting to express yourself but can't find the right words? Have you ever had an experience so mind blowing that you still feel it several days later? Has something ever left you speechless for days? Well my friends let me introduce you to "Greenwood Smokehouse - BBQ Done Right". The BBQ experience that will leave you mesmerized and in a food coma! I'm going to give you a little background on how I was introduced to this place. Since about late July I've been craving really good BBQ. A BBQ that leaves you satisfied, aroused and jumping for joy. I'm talking about a BBQ that is finger licking good, mouth covered in sauce and sticky goodness no napkin could clean. I started my usual search "BBQ", "BBQ Toronto", "BBQ Montreal", "Smokehouse", "Smoked ribs and brisket". Each one of my searches lead me to the same place - Greenwood Smokehouse! After looking at my watch and noticing it was already 9:30pm on a Thursday evening, I quickly decided to get in my car. Greenwood Smokehouse is located on the Danforth beside Pape subway station. It will be the only restaurant with an R2D2 BBQ waiting to great you. Upon entering Greenwood Smokehouse reminds me of my favourite backyard. It was packed with people, smoker on high and alcohol flowing like water! Oh wait, they serve water in empty alcohol bottles... Everyone seemed to be having fun and enjoying the endless amount of meat coming off the BBQ. Greenwood reminds me of the mob, people dressed in black, everyone knows their role and the customers leave happy. It doesn't take more then a couple of seconds before the aroma attaches itself to you. Like a luxury parfumerie in France, Greenwood Smokehouse is mixing the best ingredients for their special creations. Your mouth quickly waters, your hands and fingers become loose and you loosen/unbuckle your pant button. They offer inside and outside seating both with spectacular views of the smoker/BBQ and of course the succulent meat! I was skeptical about just how good their meat selection would be. After all, I've been told my pulled pork, ribs, and prime rib roast are to die for *thank you, thank you!*. After a quick look at their menu and noticing staples like pulled pork, ribs, brisket and wings, I quickly made up my mind and ordered their medium plater. The platter was nothing less the spectacular. Ribs, pulled pork, brisket, wings and two pints aka sides. They offer a small, medium and large platter each offering a larger portion than the other. The ribs were absolutely phenomenal, beautifully smoked and just the right amount of bark. Meaty, juicy and fall off the bone, these were amongst the best ribs I've ever had, and yes they covered each of my fingers with that oh so beautiful sauce. The pulled pork was on another level, no I really mean that. Beautifully tender and shredded with ease. It was so tender that it kept pulling when I grabbed it with my fork. Their house made Carolina mustard spread was just the perfect combination to tie everything together. That beautiful smokiness and with the tang from the mustard, it was a match made in heaven. The brisket, let me tell you about the brisket! The Memphis BBQ sauce and the caramelized onions were just so soft, so tender, so mouth watering that it left the biggest smile on my face. It was like I was five again and saw the ice cream truck turning the corner of my street. I had to pace myself and make sure I saved some real estate for the wings. These wings were different, they had a beautiful glow to them. Smoked goodness, with just the right amount of seasoning. Juicy and tender these chicken wings could do battle with the best in the business, and win of course! These guys aren't kidding around! Now for our sides, I opted to get the hand cut fries and double smoked beans. Oh BABY! These beans just meshed everything together. Take a bite of ribs followed by a spoonful of beans. Take a nice helping of pulled pork and mix it with beans. The sauce was thick and solid with just the right amount of jiggle, I mean it was double smoked! This was the best BBQ/Smoked food I've had in a very long time. My experience was so overwhelming that I entrusted Greenwood Smokehouse with an important dinner party of mine. One of my good friends, let me call her A and her good friend, let me call him Lin had made arrangements to come over to my condo Friday night for some of my Famous pulled pork. Guys I'm really not kidding, I have to take orders for this stuff, its so good! I mean Lin came all the way from Romania just to get a sample. After realizing that I wouldn't have my customary 10 hours of slow and low cooking time available I made some phone calls, pulled some strings, made some DM Instagrams, and even made a drive by. Greenwood Smokehouse was my right hand man, other wise known as my Consigliere for the evening. I ordered brisket and pulled pork and a box of hush puppies - gold brown balls of goodness. Instead of worrying about the party, my only concern was doing take out. I have been to restaurants before and well their dine in options are rock solid they offer sub-par take-out. Usually the big failure is the packaging. Many people use the conventional styrofoam containers and measly decorated parchment paper. To me these things are mini saunas! The meat came packaged in what I believe to be high quality plastic containers. You know those plastic ones you get when you're at the grocery store selecting olives and other antipasto? These ones are twice as thick and have a secure lid that locks everything in place. No air gets in or out and it creates what I like to call an aroma seal. These guys mean business. The hush puppies were my only concern now. I didn't see them go into the bag, which was paper! Who uses plastic, like really, those flimsy, stretchy, thin, and always torn and beat up from simple usage, bags. Greenwood uses quality paper bags, brown paper bags at that. Oh, the hush puppies, right, they were done right. A beautiful thick paper container, foil paper to keep the heat in and little vents from the cover to allow excess steam out. So simple yet GENIUS! I was very impressed with the take-out preparations. This only helped solidify my choice in Greenwood as my Consigliere. The food made the trip home, still hot, still warm, still with all the juices and of course that beautiful aroma. After a little "Yard Work" A and Lin were finally able to enjoy my beautiful creation. I was undecided on how to serve our food. I had major doubts about the bun, after all the bun is like home. It helps hold everything and everyone together. I ended up selecting an egg brioche bun with two layers of meat (bottom layer pulled pork and mustard spread / top layer brisket with Memphis BBQ sauce) which were divided by a beautifully thick slice of real Canadian aged cheddar cheese topped with a golden brown hush puppy! As per usual it was a great hit with both A and Lin. After telling them that this was not prepared by me *Sigh* and informing them on my little secret, it only helped cement Greenwood Smokehouse a spot in my Black Book. To many more "Meat-ings" and most of all that oh so important "Yard Work", Greenwood Smokehouse is not only about great food, but creating a beautiful dinner party fit for any king. Looking forward to coming back and hopefully seeing the "Dino Special" on their menu... "Come quickly, I am tasting the stars!" - Dom Pérignon Dino. Sometimes you just need to break all the rules and take a minute for yourself. You need to pull the plug, unwind from your daily routine and just relax in pure bliss. There are very few places within the world where I can actually say that time stops and literally stands still. Of course there would be the Ferrari Factory in Maranello, Italy or maybe that Super Yacht sailing the French Riviera. But no, I am talking about the one and only, The Ritz-Carlton. To me, The Ritz Carlton is like that special edition Ferrari, very exclusive and that only a select few will experience. Everything about the Ritz-Carlton screams luxury. They spare no expense and absolutely strive for excellence on every level. They treat every customer on equal grounds and make sure everyone gets to experience the luxury that is the Ritz-Carlton. I have had the luxury of spending multiple nights at different Ritz-Carlton locations around the world. Each property has their own characteristics and uniqueness. Each property embraces their culture, heritage and mystique. My favourite to date would have to be the Montreal Ritz-Carlton. Although the Paris, France location "Ritz-Paris" has been under massive and extensive renovations for the past two-three years they have finally opened reservations for mid 2016. The Ritz-Carlton chain of Hotels is among the best in the world. To some, they're the bench mark of luxury, customer service, dedication and uniqueness. They excel at making your trip, scratch that... your accommodation, one of a kind. At each and every stay, The Ritz-Carlton has gone above and beyond all of my expectations. A few examples of this, would be my annual stay in Montreal. The Ritz-Carlton hosted the Red Bull Infinity Team Party and gave us exclusive access. They also held the exclusive Bugatti Family event! On each stay they upgraded our room to a corner unit, top floor and every evening left wonderful French macaroons. What an experience it was! Another example, was right here in Toronto. On my anniversary weekend, The Ritz-Carlton surprised both my wife and I with spa dates, two lovely bottles of Clicquot Champagne and the most exquisite maple shortbread cookies ever! The Ritz-Carlton to me is like an extension of my home. No matter where I end up, the Ritz-Carlton has me covered. I can't wait to book my Paris vacation and finally enjoy the forbidden fruit and take in the air of The Avenue des Champs-Élysées. "A worldwide symbol for the finest in accommodations and service." - The Ritz-Carlton Dino. From a very young age I have been fascinated with speed. I remember my first time setting my eyes on her. She had a bright red glow to her with sleek tan lines showing off her beautiful curves. She was wearing those deep black shinny shoes that glimmer with the right amount of sun light. I would say it was love at first sight but I was a mere five years old. I would say the feeling felt more like hearing that ice cream truck turning the corner of your street and your parents giving you a two dollar bill, I was on cloud nine! I only had to hear her name once and I knew it was going to be a life long relationship - "Ferrari 308 GTS".
My first ride was nothing like my first encounter. As I opened the door the smell of the Italian leather filled my senses. The tan interior was gleaming with that oh so touch me feeling. As I sat down, fasten my seat belt and listening to my dad tell me not to make a mess, have I gone to the washroom, and spit out your gum NOW! I held my cap with fear and my stomach began to fill with butterflies. Joe, the owner, asked if I was ready. I gave Joe the ole nod and BOOM! Like the opera, this Ferrari made all the right notes. We started slow maybe 40km/h or 50km/h, then 90km/h, 110km/h, eventually I noticed the dotted white lines on the road were solid. I would have said it was as good as sex but hey, I was five. I should say it felt as good as coming home on Halloween and eating all the good candies, especially Cheetos. Ferrari to some people is like a religion. From the very moment I accepted the faith, I was apart of the "Tifosi". My love affair with the brand, the cars, the sport, the heritage will never leave me. I can still recall my first race, first hat, first model car, heck I still recall my first lego toy. My father was the one who helped develop the passion I have today. There was no better way to spend a Saturday or Sunday morning than glued to the tube watching Formula 1. Having lived through the Schumaker era and even experienced the "Kimi" effect, I have witnessed 6 championships, several feuds, and about three of four close encounters, "oh poor Alonso". In 2015 with Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Riakkonen we again have the tools in place to win another title. It is every racers dream to race for the famed team. Like I said before it's like a religion, a way of life, a family, kind of like being in the mob. Everyone has a role and they do it without question. One mix up or "mistake" and maybe you'll end up in Nascar. From Jean Alesi, Eddie Irvine, Gilles Villenevue, Michael Schumaker, Felipe Massa, Fernando Alonso, and to their current drivers Vettel and Kimi all of these people have lived their childhood dream of driving for Ferrari. With a number of new teams, cost effectiveness put in place, talent becoming scarce and the fight to become numero uno increasingly harder, many of the top teams have introduced a driver training or in Ferraris' case Scuderia Ferrari Driving Academy. From Lance Stroll to Sergio Perez, Jules Bianchi was apart of this exclusive academy. Formula 1 is a sport about money and how much you have to offer. Jules came into Formula 1 purely based on talent. He finally made the switch into F1 at the age of 23 with Marussia and Ferrari. Jules knew that he had a long ways to go given the fact that he was passed by mid field performer Force India. Jules consistently fought his way every race. Winning races would not be a priority for Jules at the moment given the fact that he was driving the least competitive car on the grid, Marussia. Top ten finishes were a mere dream at best but consistently beating back markers HRT and Caterham and for argument sakes Sauber were a reality. As Jules progressed with Marussia and subsequently Ferrari (Academy), that religion, that family aspect, that way of life shined through even stronger. With Marussia switching from Cosworth engines to Ferrari engines his drive and passion grew stronger. Beating Caterham in the constructors championship for two years running and outlasting HRT in Formula 1, Marussia looked like it would emerge from its roots and solidify their name in F1. 2014 was a very special year both for Jules and his current team Marussia. Currently sitting in 10th in the constructors and using money and upgrades smarter and wiser points no longer seemed out of the question. It was no longer about "if" they could score points it was about "when" they would score their first points! With my annual trip to the Canadian GP just around the corner, the only stop left was Monaco. I recall meeting Jules in Canada after the delight that was Monaco. You could feel that Jules was apart of the Ferrari Family. You could feel that he was going to be a star within Formula 1 in the coming years. Jules lived life how we should all experience it, happy and always smiling. He must have walked the track twice that day and with the heat I am sure he didn't want to spend another minute out there. The press, VIP, and members of the public were all at the track trying and fighting to get that split second to meet their idols. Many of the drivers are told to wait till press or media time for signatures, but not Jules. Jules was glowing, smiling and extremely grateful to sign signatures and mingle with the common folk. I still remember offering him my pen, slipping him my ticket and program and asking for his signature. I even had time to talk about the Monaco Race which made him smile even more! You could tell that Jules was apart of the Tifosi. I know that I have mentioned Monaco quiet a few times in recent paragraphs. Monaco is a track full of heritage, experience, culture and passion. It is a track where drivers find themselves, make a name for themselves, show the teams that they are indeed worth every penny that the spend on them! This year was no exception, Jules had the race of his shortened career. He drove that Marussia to the limits. He pushed for 78 laps, fought through the field and passed fellow drivers on the track. They say passing is near impossible at Monaco, given the tight turns and extreme corners of a road track. With a mere $2000 worth of upgrades, Jules extracted the impossible. A ninth place finish and two constructor points. Everyone including Jules were extremely happy and excited for their current point score. Jules brought Marussia from back markers to mid field contenders with these points and held promise for the team. We now look a few races ahead to Japan. Looking forward to next years prize money and looking at a solid ninth in the championship, Marussia were building on happy times. Japan would turn into another historic race for Marussia but this time not in their favour. With torrential downpours, sideways rain, and flood like pooling the stewards had a tough decision; to either red flag the race or end the race and offer half points. With an accident involving Adrian Sutil, the safety car deployed and yellow flags being waved tragedy was lurking around the corner. No one knows for sure or why but Jules lost control of his car, nearly missing the damaged car of Sutil, slid head first into the back of a tractor trying to remove Sutil's car. I remember watching the race and yelling at the screen saying "end the race, end the race, no one has to die!". With Sutil out and having just witnessed a black and red car zip past the screen, the race was called and red flagged. They showed the car for a split second and the driver wasn't moving. I remember watching the final results and listening to the commentators mention that the accident involved Jules Bianchi of Marussia. There was little information until about 12-14 hours later when we were told that Jules was rushed to the hospital with major head trauma. Like F1, he battled long and hard. He never gave up and like many before him his dream of becoming World Champion was cut short. Jules finally decided that enough was enough and his journey ended on July 17th, 2015. Jules had a bright future with Ex Ferrari Boss saying that Jules was next in line after Kimi's contract would expire in 2016. He was suppose to make the move to Sauber in 2015, another Ferrari partnership and sponsor. Even with all the good fortune in 2014 and even without this tragic accident Marussia still fell victim of the high pressure of F1. With three races to go Marussia folded and had to forfeit the remainder of the season. Both Caterham and Marussia made it seem that F1 was not for everyone. With the 2015 season around the corner, Marussia got a boost of confidence and was purchased based on the premise of prize money and the determination of the Team. Manor purchased the team and have made extreme successes in 2015. It is said and expressed that the only reason Manor-Marussia are on track every race is because of Jules and his ninth place finish in Monaco. Jules was a young and talented driver. He enjoyed life and worked very hard at everything he did. He came from little money and had to show or better yet prove to everyone that he was the right selection. Like I mentioned earlier, not everyone took the chance on Jules. However, many people, teams and drivers now realize the type of person he was. Marussia noticed this potential and decided to bank on it. I mean he brought little in terms of money to the team, but was in the end backed by Ferrari and the Academy. Jules would have been a champion given the chance and team. His skill, determination, and will to succeed was just to strong for anything less. I am glad to have witnessed Jules race first hand on multiple occasions. I am glad to have had the opportunity to see him in person and speak about F1, even if for a few moments. Forza Jules.... Ciao Jules..... JB17.... The Tifosi Loves you! Remember, "What's behind you doesn't matter" - Enzo Ferrari There are always those special moments that you find yourself replaying in your head over and over again. For me, one of those special moments was my beautiful and fabulous honeymoon to the French Riviera.
From seafood, to incredible sunsets, to walking the old cobblestone streets, the French Riviera was awesome! I must say that while traveling, the French atmosphere, culture and of course taste stuck with me. It’s almost like it became apart of me. There is just something about eating fresh caught seafood, sitting at a little café, staring at my beautiful wife that I just can’t describe. The smell, the atmosphere, the people and of course the FOOD just could never ever be duplicated, till a very good friend of mine mentioned Cluny. I’ll refer to my friend as Mr. T for obvious reasons. Mr. T has known me pretty much my whole life. We grew up together since we were about 6 years old. I can safely say that when he recommended this Boulangerie and Bistro, it was a MUST TRY! What better time to try Cluny than for my second year wedding anniversario. My wife and I decided to wear our Cote D’Azur attire “flaunting our Blue”. Our journey to Cluny meant a lot to us and for the entire day we reminisced about our French inspired wedding, our journeys to Quebec and Montreal and of course our fantastic trip that was the French Riviera. What better was to complete our celebration than Cluny. From the outside no one would anticipate the French décor that awaits inside. It’s like a quote from Coco Chanel “In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different”. Upon walking in you’re greeted by the wonderful smell of fresh baked bread and desserts in their Boulangerie. The bar although small is quiet, well light and full of gold. The Gold provincial mirrors line the back wall and make you feel like you’re in the hall of mirrors within Versailles. This place just won a spot within our hearts! We opted to sit on the patio with beautiful flowers and plants lining the perimeter. Over hanging lights, distressed vintage wood beams and soft French music echoed in the background. It felt like we were sitting in the gardens of Versailles. Nothing seems to match and the décor was all over the place (seems like our own residence) but this is what made it so perfect. The food was top notch and our waiter was very helpful and knowledgeable. I’ve always said a good waiter is vital for impeccable service, an inviting environment and above all overall experience. We decided on a three-course dinner (summerlicious) paired with French beer and wine. With each bite, it took us back to the Riviera. Our dinner was to die for, the seafood was fresh, our greens crisp and the beer cold. Our dessert reminded us of our late night excursion while in Nice, were we had a sweet tooth craving and found this little patisserie with the best crème broule. Cluny was hitting all the notes dead center and the pudding was delectable. While our night was coming to a close we enjoyed a beautiful French pressed coffee. Wanting to explore the grounds we decided to go on a little private tour. There is a beautiful bread table dead center of the restaurant. Two large party rooms perfect for any occasion. There is a wall of wine that is seems to go on and on. There was one place that really caught our attention and made us extremely happy, an Oyster bar with a fresh variety of oysters. None of the tables and chairs matched and each corner had their own theme. I’m not kidding when I say this place reminded us of Versailles. Our night was perfect, Cluny was amazing and I think we found our version of Versailles. Cluny took a little bit of France and brought it to Canada. In Honour of Bastille Day, “If the peasants have no bread, “let them eat cake”” – Marie Antoinette To the next culinary adventure, Dino. The sun is shinning and the sky is blue. There is no chance of rain all weekend and the wind is cool and soft. The city is busy with people sitting on terraces and partying in the streets. Many of them closed and full of festivities from Exotic Car shows to live bands anything is possible. You'll most likely make friends with just about anyone or just the same give them the old territorial glance. Champagne will be flowing non stop from the bright hours of the morning to the late hours in the night. Its like one big party that keeps on going. Montreal is home of the only Formula 1 race held in Canada and normally in North America. It brings people from all over the world together in one of Canada's best cities. Food, Drinks, Bars, Clubs, Lounges, just about anything and everything Montreal has it. The race weekend is something everyone should enjoy at least once in the life time. I am no virgin to F1 in Montreal. I've been lucky enough to attend this party for the last 15 years and let me tell you it keeps getting bigger and better. Exclusive parties, meet and greets with the drivers, Pit Garage walks, and restaurant hoping are just some of the events I partake in. Many people just don't realize how big and how popular Formula 1 is. The city turns into an exotic destination and full of exotic cars and famous people. You just never know who you will run into. The city of Montreal knows exactly what it means to host an F1 event and they realize what it means to their fans. Everyone comes together from all level of Governments and private sectors to help make this an event to remember. Many people spend the weekend on two agendas. One would be actually following Formula 1. The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is full of history and heritage. Named after the famous Canadian F1 driver Gilles Villeneuve. The track is full of straights and turns and to me is on the list as one of the hardest and demanding tracks of the year. Seating is great at any grand stand, views are all unobstructed and there is plenty of general admission areas for people who like to walk the whole track. The track is constantly under upgrades and maintenance and is the true meaning of F1. The best part of the track is the transportation to and from the city/downtown core. There is literally one way in and one way out and its by the Metro or the subway. Like I've said the city of Montreal takes great pride in hosting this event and they make sure the Metro is running smoothly and on time. There has never been an issue in all my years of attending and is part of the experience. The second agenda of the weekend would be the actual City of Montreal. There is plenty to do and see and trust me you will need all four days. Firstly lets talk about the food. Deville Dinerbar, Reuben's Deli, Schwartz, Bevo Bar + Pizzeria, Le Club Chasse et Peche, Maison Boulud Ritz-Carlton, Moishes, Les 400 Coups, La Champagnerie lets just say there are plenty of options and you will most likely need to get on the guest list ahead of time. Food is Montreal and there are some of the best restaurants in the world here. If dancing is your forte then Montreal is for you! Club Unity, Funkytown, Big in Japan Bar, and Cavalli are just some of the options you could attend for VIP parties and guest lists. The spirit of Formula 1 flows through Montreal. I believe one of the main reasons that Formula 1 succeeds in Montreal is the passion and culture that it holds. There are very few people in life that implant emotion and instill passion as much as this person. From as long as I can remember the Bitton Family are a major reason fans and people of Montreal are so crazy about F1. The Bitton family own the F1 Boutique currently situated in Old Montreal and open a few pop-up stores throughout the city during race weekend. One of their most impressive pop-up store is actually on site of the Circuit. I have become good friends with the Bitton family, especially Max. They offer the best and most exclusive product line that F1 has to offer. The whole Bitton family share the passion and culture that F1 with all customers and fans. They make shopping with them less about a transaction or sale and more about an unforgettable experience. The race is only a few weeks away and I am already planning parties, lunches, and special VIP nights. I've got all my red gear ready to go and have already told Max to save me a few new items! Don't forget when the lights turn green its mayhem for 2 hours! Forza Ferrari, Ciao Tifosi Working a full-time job can sometimes be hectic and stressful. I try to eat right, avoid any processed or fast food and eat the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables (oh YUM!). I mean… don’t get me wrong, I love pulled pork, beef brisket and the occasional slow cooked pot roast. Trying to eat healthy and stay focused felt like I was in jail. I mean, who wants to eat celery when your friends are throwing a poolside BBQ! I try to convince myself self that this miniature salad with “chicken breast” is more then enough, while your friends are eating a fully loaded double baked potato, buttery tiger shrimp, and a mouth watering filet mignon with thick cut smoked wrapped bacon. YEAH, eating healthy is easy, I JUST WONT EAT! Bouncing back and forth from nutrition charts, to food menus, and trying to eat “organic”. I just felt like I was I was spending to much of my money, time and effort. Where did I go? Where did I want to go? This is when I decided to stop and rethink for a minute. I needed to reset, I needed to regain my balance and take back my life. I recall having added Belmonte Raw on Twitter a little over a year ago when I heard they were hosting a weekend at the Shops At Don Mills Mark McEwan Grocery Store. I decided to look them up and see if they were still in business. Much to my surprise they were and they were bigger than ever. Reading their website and becoming more intrigued, I decided it was time for my wife and I to go for drive. Their (Belmonte Raw) storefront is located on Queen Street East, Toronto. It is a sophisticated setup with two large glass fridges full with fresh cold-pressed juices and organic raw smoothies. My wife and I were delighted to chat with the staff and learn more about their products. We had many questions and all were answered very professionally. Marco, (one of Belmonte’s finest) was informing us of all the benefits cold-pressed had to offer. We were talking about the “big machine” and the special technique used to extract non-pasteurized raw JUICE. Marco could see the excitement in my eyes and decided to take both my wife and I on a tour of the kitchen (the most organized and immaculately clean kitchen ever!). I don’t know if they do this with all of their customers, however, it was a special touch that made us feel comfortable in knowing that all their creations were hand made and with care and attention. I have tried many juices in the past but have always questioned their 1 – shelf life 2 – freshness 3- are they actually cold-pressed and 4 – their actual health benefits. "To me there was something prestigious about holding a Belmonte, something like holding a Starbucks in L.A." - Dino Having spent a fair bit of time my wife and I was excited to give Belmonte a try!. Let me just tell you, this was the BEST cold-pressed juice ever! The right amounts of ingredients made a world of a difference when it came to taste (this is important when drinking kale, spinach, and romaine lettuce in liquid form!) Right away the taste, combination of fruits and vegetables, the beautiful glass bottle, the benefits of the juice and the TASTE, were just overwhelming. I immediately noticed a difference and realized that this was something I could do on a weekly basis. Since my original purchase I have went back every week. My wife even decided to do a complete body “reset” and purchased a three-day juice cleanse. My wife explains to me that the cleanse woke her up. It cleared toxins, bad fluids and harmful chemicals sitting in her body. While doing the cleanse of strictly juice she did endure cravings. No not junk food cravings but food with substance like grilled chicken and vegetable proteins, very similar to the ones she was receiving with the juice. The juice cleanse relives and terminates cravings giving your digestive track a much needed break. We now have one juice a day which usually replaces our prepared lunch and will be committing to one juice cleanse a month. I have to admit that at first the juice wasn’t enough for me. I did have the same cravings as my wife but this was normal. It was my body fighting off the harsh chemicals and toxins I used to eat. After three of four days of using the juice the cravings stopped and the benefits started to kick in. I was refreshed and had a mid afternoon rebound. The benefits were just to good and to powerful to stop. I mean that pick me up, feeling satisfied, being motivated and refuelling my energy was perfect. With every company deciding to go green and telling customers to purchase bags or go paperless, I was surprised of Belmonte. I mean a beautiful durable plastic or paper bag at no cost. Complementary e-mailed receipts sent instantly at the point of purchase. But no lets get honest here, Belmonte secretly disguised their environmental program neatly into their juices. They understand that they have an excellent product and loyal client base that they offer one fresh cold-pressed bottle free of charge for every ten enjoyed bottles returned. Shh, don’t tell their customers but this is a genius idea. My only drawback or concern with Belmonte would be their price. Starting at $11.50 for the large and $7.50 for the small they are currently at the high end of the juice market. Now before people starting yelling at me I am the first person to tell people you get what you pay for, and in this case you get everything! I give Belmonte four and half cannoli out of five. I love their products and hey, you may even see me in store! Till my next review on Belmonte Raw. Ask for Dino! Black clouds, rolling thunder and the roar of 18 or so Formula 1 cars racing around grandstand 33, the famous Hairpin. Before you know it, with about 20 laps to go the drizzle begins. Fans being to pull out their team branded umbrellas, Red Bull, Ferrari, Mercedes, and YES even a few Caterham. The roar from the engines begin to get louder,almost piercing my ears. Fans begin to get quiet and the anticipation of rain looms over the track. Then BOOM! Like a firecracker, the flood gates open. Within minutes ,fans flock out of the grandstands leaving the very few die hards refusing to give in. Visibility is near nothing and that roar of engines begins to dissipate. All cars have been called into the pits and the race has been suspended. Or so I can recall.
This was the 2012 Canadian GP. Experiences like this are a once in a life time. I mean my first torrential downpour in 15 years. Who else can say they waited through a three hour downpour and watch the race end with 3 different lead changes. This is one of the best F1 memories I have. It's become apparent that over the years experiences will come and go. They will pop up when you least expect them. You have to be ready to enjoy life, at a moments notice. Whether it be on the race track, a private tour of Saint Paul de Vence, or maybe just maybe it is looking for a Christian Louboutin boutique in New York and finding his American head office! All I know is that you have to be ready and willing. From one of my favourite quotes "Live Big, Live Now" This is a new beginning for me. This is the start, the ignition, the hey start the BBQ! For over thirty years I've had the chance to experience many of life's greatnesses. I will continue to enjoy luxurious and glamorous experiences. This blog is going to be an extension of myself. It will allow people to truly understand who I am and what I stand for. I am going to continue to live up to my expectations and all of yours. After all I would expect nothing less. So if you're ready lets take this journey together. Remember, Ask for Dino! |
Ask for DINO.
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