Lifestyle, Travel, Wine & Dine

Fontana at the Biltmore Hotel

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Hello again! I’m back from my mini vacation in Florida and I’m excited to share a few posts about my experience there. The first post I’ll be sharing is all about the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, Florida; a city located about 20 mins away from Miami. We visited Miami and Fort Lauderdale on this trip.

I came across the Biltmore Hotel by accident when I was looking for some nice restaurants for us to visit for lunch and dinner. I noticed Fontana, the hotel’s Italian restaurant while I was searching for restaurants on OpenTable. What first got my attention was the location and ambiance.

Fontana

Fontana specializes in Italian cuisine and offers a service for breakfast, lunch and dinner. They also offer a Sunday Brunch. The restaurant has an indoor and outdoor dining area, with a large fountain in the middle of the outdoor courtyard surrounded by palm trees. I put in a special request for a table outside and they accommodated us with a table right next to the fountain. It was so nice to enjoy a meal outside with the fountain in the background. The courtyard has a covered high ceiling and open arches that allow a cool breeze to waft in and out of the outdoor dining area.

The restaurant offers a large choice of items on their lunch menu but of course we opted for pasta, because who goes to an Italian restaurant and doesn’t try the pasta. The staff were really helpful and accommodating, allowing us to customize the dishes to our liking. For example if there is a certain type of pasta or sauce you enjoy you can mix and match off the menu.

As it was quite warm that day we decided to avoid alcoholic beverages and opted for some freshly squeezed orange juice, a Florida special. It sure lived up to the hype.

The Hotel

The Biltmore Hotel was constructed in 1926 and the building has a vintage tropical flare to it. I thought it was a spectacular property with sprawling gardens, numerous fountains and a golf course on site. The hotel premises span over 150 acres and is home to a 271 room resort. One striking feature of the Biltmore is the architecture which has Italian, Moorish and Spanish touches.

We took a walk around the hotel and got to see the pool and some of the gardens. The hotels boasts the largest hotel pool on the East Coast of the United States. This place truly is a tropical paradise. The interior of the hotel has a vintage luxury feel to it and is decorated in a classic style. I would definitely visit this place again and possibly stay there.

Although the hotel has numerous restaurants and dining options, one thing I’d love to try is the Afternoon Tea service in the hotel’s lobby.

If you’re ever in Miami then the Biltmore is definitely worth the short drive to Coral Gables.

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9 to 5, Fashion

Feminine Workwear from Femme De Carriere

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Finding well made workwear that fits has always been a challenge for me so I was especially thrilled when I came across Femme De Carriere.

If you live in Canada I’m sure you’re familiar with this brand as it’s been around many years, 35 to be exact. I was pleased to find a retailer that offered well-made work clothes that were also feminine. My biggest challenge as a working woman has been finding work clothes that look professional and feminine at the same time.

This Canadian brand was founded in Montreal and still operates as a family business. Today Femme has stores throughout Canada and is well recognized in the world of women’s fashion. What I like most about Femme is that many of their pieces are designed and made in Canada. Their lead designer Sandra Angelozzi is known for feminine designs and structured, tailored pieces that can last the test of time. I have quite a few of her dresses and business suits and I’m very impressed with the workmanship, finish and cut in these garments.

Femme De Carriere prides itself in offering women luxury pieces at affordable prices and I think the brand really lives up to this promise. Who doesn’t feel more confident going in to a business meeting or an interview in a fantastic new business suit or dress?

Here are a few of my favourite pieces.

Cream Business Suit 

I love this cream coloured business suit. I have many dark coloured suits so I was looking to add some light and variety to my collection. The blazer and skirt are sold separately so you can mix and match to your liking. I like how well structured the blazer is and the rounded colour gives it more of a feminine and unique look. Both the blazer and the skirt are designed by Sandra Angelozzi and made in Canada. The skirt and blazer also come in a baby blue.

Cream Skirt and Blouse

If blazers aren’t your thing you can also pair this skirt with this sleeves fitted top. I really like the detail down the front of this blouse as it gives it character and structure. This top also comes in baby blue if you’re not a fan of cream.

White Dress with Bow Detail

This is definitely one of my favourite dresses. The moment I saw this dress in the window I knew I had to have it. I tried it on and the rest is history. I love how figure flattering this dress is; it’s truly a well-made garment. The detail on the shoulder just gives it that extra bit of flare and glamour. This dress is another creation by Sandra and is also made in Canada. One thing I really appreciate about the clothes at Femme is the quality as these pieces really do last a long time. I can’t wait to wear this out to an event, business meeting or garden party.

If you appreciate high quality garments that are made and designed in Canada then you’ll love Femme De Carriere. You can shop their collection in-store at one of their many locations or online.