A Side of Sweet

Beautiful Food, Travel & Design

Travel Guide for Manchester, United Kingdom

Everything you need to know to eat, drink and sleep like a royal in Manchester, UK. The best in restaurants, bars and attractions in one handy travel guide.Manchester United Kingdom Food, Restaurant & Travel Guide

At long last, I’m dropping my Manchester, United Kingdom travel guide. At over 1,800 words and a million photos, this thing is epic.

The thing is, it was easy. There’s just so much to see, do and eat in Manchester. My only regret is that our time there was too short! In true foodie form, Cynthia and I let our stomachs do the walking. … Read More »

Okinawa, Japan Travel Video!

A video diary of my trip to Okinawa, Japan. Okinawa has so many hidden gems just waiting to be discovered, including an amazing food scene!

Thank you so, so much for the amazingly positive response to my first ever travel video – Iceland!

I was so inspired by the process of creating the Iceland video I dove headfirst into some old footage from my trip to Okinawa, Japan. I hope you enjoy this short look into what I did and ate during my trip!

If you liked what you saw, head over to my YouTube channel and give the video a thumbs up. Even better – leave a comment and hit the subscribe button! Thanks so much for your support.

P.S. – Planning a trip to Okinawa? Check out these posts:… Read More »

Vegan Buddha Bowls + Green Goddess Dressing

A recipe for healthy Vegan Buddha Bowls packed with green veggies plus skip anchovies and mayo (YUCK) with a substitute Vegan Green Goddess Dressing Recipe made with avocado and olive oil!Vegan Buddha Bowls Recipe with Veggies & Brown Rice

If you’re looking for an amazing healthy lunch or dinner option – look no further than Buddha bowls. It’s a funny name, but a buddha bowl is actually just rice or other grain topped with whatever you’re in the mood for – veggies, tofu – even meat. I’ve been searching everywhere for a vegan buddha bowl recipe, but surprisingly there aren’t a lot of great choices out there.

I decided to take matters into my own hands. This buddha bowl is packed with goodness – fresh veggies, avocado, zoodles and healthy ancient grains. Another great thing about buddha bowls is the flexibility – you can swap out the ingredients based on what’s in season and what’s in your fridge. This is important if you’re trying to use up whatever is in the crisper drawer of your fridge before it goes bad. :)… Read More »

Our Palace Hotel San Francisco Staycation

Our luxurious San Francisco staycation – a review and photo tour of the iconic Palace Hotel rooms and the Pied Piper in downtown SF.
Best Downtown San Francisco Hotels - Palace Hotel Review

If there’s a place that defines luxury in San Francisco, I think it’s the Palace Hotel in downtown San Francisco. Pat and I had the chance to sneak away to the Palace Hotel last month for a romantic staycation, to celebrate our four-year wedding anniversary…. Read More »

Flying SF to Manchester with Virgin Atlantic

The start of our San Francisco to Manchester adventure flying direct with Virgin Atlantic, plus a look at Virgin’s Upper Class Cabin and SFO Clubhouse lounge.Flying Direct San Francisco to Manchester UK Virgin Atlantic

If you follow me on Instagram, you already know Cynthia from CynEats and I spent a few days in Manchester, UK earlier this summer thanks to my friends at Virgin Atlantic.

I obviously jumped at the chance to help celebrate the launch of their new direct flights from San Francisco’s SFO Airport to Manchester, United Kingdom. If there’s one thing I know about Virgin Atlantic – they know how to travel in style…. Read More »

9 Iceland Travel Tips for Planning Your Trip

Planning a trip to Iceland? There’s so much you need to know! Read on for some helpful Iceland travel tips and advice before you go.Iceland Travel Tips and Advice for Planning a Trip to Iceland

Iceland is incredible. There is so much to see, so much to absorb. The connection with nature is raw. It’s like no other place we’ve visited.

When we were planning our trip, it all felt a bit overwhelming. There is a lot of information on the internet, but it’s of variable quality and usefulness. Add to that all the unpronounceable names and…phew.

Now that we’ve come out the other side of this amazing adventure, here is some practical advice before you go.

Read on for my Iceland travel tips and Iceland video!

… Read More »