Monitoring issues with diabetics, hyperglycemia, gluten intolerance and other medical concerns are vitally important in the maintenance of good health. People are usually very good about communicating those concerns when staying at our B & B.  It has happened on occasion that people have told us about the medical condition only after the meal. As a bed & breakfast owner we pride ourselves on being able to adapt recipes or a menu for personal preference or medical conditions but the responsibility lies with the guest to disclose the information.  For those who don’t speak up- I can simply offer that it really is no imposition, but rather a service that we gladly offer.

As well, for many of us keeping watch on weight gain is a monumental ongoing battle. Diets of every flavour have been around for years including low fat, no fat, Atkins, Grapefruit Diet, South Beach, and the list goes on. By making long term lifestyle changes many have been able to lose weight and maintain an ideal weight for years through programs such as Weight Watchers or Fit-For-Life.

Going on vacation or traveling for business often causes a disruption to that balance that has been achieved or a setback in the goals that we are trying to achieve. Much like a medical condition requesting a low fat or low carbohydrate breakfast is the responsibility that need not be ignored while on holidays.

For years the Boatel has delighted visitors with its mouth-watering culinary delights including Old Fashioned Belgium Waffles and Apple Pecan Breakfast Lasagna. Guests enjoy eating something new or different that that don’t eat at home.  We have also recognized the need to offer a menu that addresses a variety of dietary restrictions such as calorie-reduce meal plans for low fat and no-fat or sodium-reduced diets. So, please don’t be shy, all you need to do is ask. Perhaps you’ll even discover a new favorite recipe.

Green Travel – 20 years ago we would not even have considered deciding on a hotel or bed and breakfast based on it’s environmentally-conscious or green initiatives however today 12% of respondents from the Tripadvisor survey stated that “eco’friendly” hotels were an important criteria.

Tripadvisor includes questions about Eco-friendly Travel Actions.
1.Participating in a hotel’s linen or towel re-use program – 71%
2.Switching off the air-conditioning or heat when leaving the hotel room – 51%
3.Select a hotel specifically for its “green” or environmentally-conscious credentials – 12%

Being an Eco-friendly accommodation is more that just saving water on towels. It’s all part of a stratey that encompasses trash removal and recycling; using environmentally-conscious products for cleaning; and of-course conserving energy and water. It’s a whole way of thinking and operating to ensure that all of our actions are friendly to the environment.

At the Boatel, our commitment is to sustainable environmental practices for ourselves, our guests and community. We applaud TRIPADVISOR for including this classification in their annual survey and for people who support Eco-friendly travel options. For more about see our blog post under Green Living.

There are lots of reasons why US travellers love Toronto but here are the top 4. Here’s what our guests had to say about Toronto.

CLEAN: “Now I know why Toronto is so clean. I walked down the street and watched as someone picked up a coffee lid that someone else dropped and put it in the garbage. No wonder this city is so clean!”.

SAFE: “We walked back from the theatre at 10:30 at night because it was such a nice night and at no time did I not feel safe walking in Toronto, you can’t say that about alot of US cities”

A WALKING CITY: “Toronto is definitely a walking city. Next time I come I am going to wear my walking shoes. I stayed at the Boatel for 5 days and parked the car and walked everywhere I wanted to go. I love it and Toronto Bed and Breakfast on a Boat is a vacationer’s dream!”

FOOD AND DRINK: “I love the multicultural feel of Toronto and the fact that you can go to Chinatown, Little Italy and Greektown for authentic food. From vegetarian burgers to upscale cuisine – Toronto has it all.”

What is your favorite things about Toronto?

A few years ago I discovered research that shows that the main ingredient in antibacterial hand and dish-washing soaps is triclosan, and that it is now showing up in not only our water supply but has also been detected in human breast milk  and also in our oceans. Alarmingly scientists have not found a way to get rid of triclosan contamination in our water sources. Because of this research we have  made a decision to remove all antibacterial soaps from the Boatel.

One of my big pet peeves is marina’s and munilipaliites that do not recycle.  I personally  refuse to put plastics, glass and cardboard in the garbage bins, put rather hold on to it only it can be properly recycyled even if it means going  out of my way to make sure it does not end up in a garbage bin. We must all lobby to ensure that our marinas support green initatives.

A few years ago we installed dispensers in the showers for shampoo and body wash (both of which dispense bio-degradable products), thereby eliminating hundreds on miniature unused soap and body location containers that end up in our landfills. I would like to see all inns and bed & breakfasts move to eliminating small bottles in favour of a friendly alternative that uses less plastic. We explain to our guests that the products we use are bio-degradable and we prefer that they use our products while they are with us, thereby educating people one guest at a time.  We continue to make every effort  to be environmentally responsible and set a  example for others to follow.

Do you have any suggestions for green living?

This is an easy recipe to make in advance for a brunch or on Christmas morning. Colorful, easy and delicious too. We make this dish the night before  and just bake it in the morning for breeakfast or brunch.This was voted one of the Best Breakfast Recipes by our guests.

Serving Size  : 4

6            english muffins
6             slices  Prosciutto
6             slices  Swiss or aged provolone cheese
6              eggs
1              cup  milk
1              tablespoon  dijon mustard
1/4          teaspoon  freshly ground pepper
pinch salt
1  1/2      cups drained canned tomatoes
1/4          cup  sugar
2              tablespoons  finely chopped red onion
1               tablespoon  red wine vinegar
1/4          cup  chopped fresh basil
salt and freshly ground pepper

Butter 7 x 11 inch casserole.

Split English Muffins and put prosciutto slices in between and arrange on the bottom of the pan.

Whisk together eggs, milk, dijon mustard, salt and pepper and pour over sandwiches. Flip a few times so that muffin absorbs the egg mixture. Cover and refrigerate overnight

In the morning turn muffins over a few times again and add cheese.

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

While it is baking make the jam. Combine the rest of the ingredients  in a small pan. Bring to a boil and then reduce to simmer,  stirring gently. Cook for about 20 minutes or until you have a jam like consistency. Serve on top of baked english muffins.

Note: I plan 2 per person, men usually want seconds.

Enjoy this wonderful breakfast recipe and please let me know if you think is ranks as one of the Best Breakfast Recipes.

Serving Size  : 4

2        cups  flour
4        teaspoons  baking powder
1/8     teaspoon  salt
1         tablespoon  sugar
1 1/2  cups  milk
2         egg — separate out yolks
2        tablespoons  butter — melted

Beat egg whites until stiff but not dry. Set aside

In a separate bowl, beat egg yolks until think and creamy continue beating adding milk.

mix dry ingredients together and add gradually beat until smooth

fold in egg whites and melted butter

add 1/2 cup batter and cook for 3 minutes (based on large round waffle maker) Quantities and timing may vary depending on waffle iron manufacturer.

Serve with fresh fruit, maple syrup and freshly whipped cream.

Enjoy

People often ask us where the other Boatels are located. We’ve done some research to find cities hosting these floating Boatels and here’s what we found.  There are a number of them available for rental throughout the United States. I have limited the search criteria to: sailboats, tug boats, trawlers or a private motor yachts. I have excluded houseboats in this list and have not included charter boat that primarily do chartering.

CANADA

Ontario

Making Waves Boatel  Toronto, Ontario

Us of course!  The Boatel is a custom 65 foot private motor yacht sleeps up to 6 guests in 3 cabins.

British Columbia

InnChanter  –  Hot Springs Cove,Tofino, British Columbia

Luxury accommodation and gourmet meals in a setting normally reserved for a tent and campfire food. InnChanter is a heritage vessel built in the 1920′s and refitted to take you back to the era of her creation. Five staterooms,  a main salon with wood burning fireplace, a library for quiet time or a rousing game of chess, a 700 square foot sundeck, and an onboard chef. A leisurely two kilometer stroll through the lush West Coast rainforest brings you to a natural hotsprings with a 10 foot waterfall which pours through a series of natural pools to the ocean.

USA 

CALFORNIA

Boat and Bed – Long Beach California

Boat & Breakfast has five boats in their fleet which remain dockside and offer easy access to local attractions
all within walking distance of the convention center and restaurant row.

California Cruisin’ Boat and Breakfast – San Diego, California

Along with accommodations on a private yacht docked at Harbor Island in San Diego Bay, guests can relax in the pool at the adjacent Sheraton Hotel; sailboats and motor yachts are also available for charters.

Boat bnb - San Diego, California

Slipaway aboard a 45 foot Hardin, moored at the secluded Shelter Cove Marina. For about the same price as a hotel room you can be sleeping on the water in San Diego’s famous America’s Cup Harbor. You are not renting a room, you are living in a fully functional sailing ship that has a long history of ocean passages. Experience
what it is really like to live at sea.

 CONNECTICUT

Enterprise Boat and Breakfast -  Mystic, Connecticut

This 48′ Gulfstar Motor Yacht offers a large stateroom aft  located on the Mystic river where the tall ships passing by will delight you. Concierge service from the Mystic Railway station, New London ferry docks, or Groton/New London airport/ to your quarters aboard Enterprise.

FLORIDA

Knot So Fast Cruises  – Lake Park, Florida

Imagine staying overnight aboard your very own private motor yacht for the night. Enjoy your Continental Breakfast out on the aft deck the next morning.  Enjoy a cruise on the Lake Worth Lagoon. This is life at a Knot II Fast. We have met the owners of Knot So Fast cruises and we are sure that Captain Brett will take good care of you.

 ILLINOIS

Windy City Sailing Chicago,Il

 Experience the soft caress of gentle breezes and gaze at the shimmering lights of Chicago while sailing underneath a canopy of stars.  Enjoy a memorable night aboard Nebula, a 2004 Beneteau 393, which is a 40 foot sloop-rig sailboat and explore what the Chicago Lakefront has to offer.

MAINE

Rachel B. Jackson Rockland, Maine

Down East Sail is primarily a sailing vessel, but the Rachel B. Jackson also offers Boat & Breakfast
Overnights. This 67-foot schooner is a reproduction of an 1890s coastal schooner. Sleep like a sailor….at least for a night or two. All Boat & Breakfast Overnights include the Sunset Sail. After returning to Southwest
Harbor and discharging the Sunset Sail passengers, you and your party have the ship to yourself. The Captain and Mate will sail you to a protected anchorage where you will spend the night in a comfortable bunk. Wake to the smell of freshly baked homemade breads, fresh fruit, and just brewed coffee. We met up with the Rachel B Jackson in 2010 as we were cruising south. She is a very lovely schooner and would be amazing to do a sunset sail.

 MASSACHUSETTS

Constitution Marina’s Bed and Breakfast Afloat – Boston, Massachusetts

With a dockside swimming pool and views of Boston’s Inner Harbor and downtown skyline, the Constitution Marina offers eight boats in their fleet providing an evening’s rest for one or two couples on a private yacht, sailboat or guests can also plan a charter.

Boston Bed & Breakfast Afloat – Boston, Massachusetts

The Golden Slipper is one of the oldest Boat Bed & Breakfast in North America.  The Golden Slipper is a traditional 38 foot Catalina Chris Craft located at Lewis Wharf, in the heart of historic Boston. The boat stays moored at the slip and you come and go as you please. This is a private party yacht accommodating up to six guests, with a continental breakfast left for you. Cruises of Boston Harbor and dinners are available upon request, during your stay. We have personally stayed on the Golden Slipper while in Boston and loved the access to downtown historic Boston. We would definately recommend this one while in Boston.

 MICHIGAN

Sea Suites Boat & Breakfast Houseboat - Saugatuck MI

This unique houseboat has 4 queen stateroom with private baths, T.V.& AC. The expansive salon includes a 50″ HD-TV, fireplace; and is open to a custom galley where a deluxe continental breakfast is served. The 105 foot open sky deck has loungers, hot tub open to the stars; and breathtaking views of the great sunsets. While not leaving the dock; we offer a quiet, relaxing get-away for adults.

 MARYLAND

Blue Goose Charters Boat and Breakfast – Baltimore, Maryland

Guests can spend a night at Baltimore Harbor on the Gatsby Goose, a 1932 32-foot Elco motorboat for two, or a trawler, most with room for four; also featured are harbor tours and two- to five-day cruises for groups up to six.

Sail The Pintita Boat and Breakfast – Baltimore, Md  

The Pintita offers overnight Boat and Breakfast accommodations out of our Fells Point marina in Baltimore Maryland. A two hour evening sail, overnight accommodations, breakfast, and non-alcoholic beverages are automatically included in all Pintita Boat and Breakfast charters.

Schooner Woodwind – Annapolis, Maryland

“Schooner Woodwind” is a 74-foot sailing yacht that departs four times daily for two hour sails. On Saturday evenings they offer a special Boat & Breakfast package to as many as four couples, from the first weekend in May to the last weekend in September. “Woodwind” was designed and built in 1993 to be a swift sailing yacht and to comfortably accommodate sleepaboard guests.

 Arban Yacht Charters  - Solomons  Md

Step aboard La Bella Vita for a unique experience that few will ever know. Taking you back to a bygone era, La Bella Vita is a classic 65 foot motor yacht with beautiful interior wood craftsmanship, offers 3 staterooms and optional charters.  All stays include accommodations for 2, a full breakfast served each morning and  hors d’ oeuvres each evening.

 MINNESOTA

Covington Inn – St Paul, MN

For 30 years the 300-ton Covington pushed barges of liquid cargo, usually petroleum, along a 1,000-mile stretch of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, setting the pace for America’s post-war economic boom. 20 years later, she was gutted, then inch by inch transformed the boat’s steely chambers into cozy rooms. In 1995, the
boat re-emerged with a new purpose, The Covington Inn with 4 staterooms.

 RHODE ISLAND

Samuel Slater Canal Boat – Central Falls, Rhode Island

Built in Cambridgeshire, England by C. T. & P. Fox expressly for the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council, the
Samuel Slater is an authentic British canal boat, 40 feet long. The Samuel Slater is located on the Blackstone River. The river runs 46 miles from Worcester to Providence. During this scenic 2 1/2 mile cruise, you’ll observe watchable wildlife, such as swans, deer, great blue herons, turtles and more. The Samuel Slater is available as a bed and breakfast for overnight stays with one double and 2 single berths. This is one that we want to visit and I love the song on the website!

 TENNESSEE

Tennessee Boat, Bed and Breakfast – Byrdstown, Tennessee

Anchors Aweigh, a 90 foot boat offers seven bedrooms, four baths and a hot tub on Dale Hollow Lake  in northern Tennessee.

We have found that people are curious about us and about our lifestyle. We are often asked about our travels and the three most commons questions are:

Q: How long does it take to get to the Bahamas?

A:  The answer is not how long it takes but long do we want to take. The trip could be done at our cruise speed in 3-4 weeks however that wouldrequire long days and not a lot of downtime. The old cliche holds true, it’s not the destination but the journey. And the journey is amazing. Every part of the trip has its own unique flavour and we continue to explore new small towns and large cities along the way.  The lighthouses along the Hudson and the castles on the hilltops are a breathtaking sight in the fall and the trip along the Hudson to New York City harbour is always exciting.  They call it the Mighty Hudson for a reason, with currents either with or against you. The dolphins greet us in Norfolk, Virginia and frolic in our bow wake.  The Carolina’s are simply charming with the pink and yellow homes along the InterCoastal Waterway (ICW) and the Southern Hospitality never fails. We take our time an meander through the winding waterway in Georgia and spot Osprey nests on-top of the channel markers while trying to escape the dreaded flies in May. In Florida we dodge naval submarines and thunder storms but once at dock we get to interact with the manatees up close. We take hundreds of pictures but my very favorite is the series I call “chasing sunsets and sunrises”. From the modest homes along the New York Canal to the mega-mansions in Florida, it’s all part of the experience of cruising. 

 Q: How do you get to the Bahamas from Toronto?

A:  Some people are surprised that we cruise the boat south. They think we just transport it over land on a truck, which would not be as much fun but it is also impossible because of our size. Mostly commonly people think we go up the St. Lawrence, however, it is a long way around to Nova Scotia and down the eastern seaboard.

The trip across Lake Ontario to Oswego New York takes 15 hours if the weather is settled. There we drop our canvas fly-bridge cover so that we can get under the bridges along the NY Canal System. We navigate through 27 locks to Troy NY and then head down the Hudson River to New York City. From NYC we either take the Delaware and Cheaspeake Bays or go straight for 35 hours from NYC to Norfolk Virginia depending on the weather. Once in Norfolk we follow the Intercoastal Waterway (ICW) to Beauford (pronounced BeauFORT), North Carolina. From there we travel along the ICW or along the coast depending on the weather to Florida, where we cross the Gulf Stream to the Bahamas.

 Q: Do you have a car and where do you park it?

A: Even though we live on a boat we still own a vehicle which we park in the parking lot across the street during the summer and store in the winter. This winter we will be going to the Carolina and taking our truck down there so we have it this winter.

Please feel free to post any other questions here.

 It wouldn’t be labour day without a mention of the CNE and the air show. As has been the custom for the last 133 years the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) or The Ex as it is affectionately known closes on Labour Day  (Sept 5) after a 18 day run. The Ex is Canada’s largest community fair that attracts about 1.3 million people each year and offers shows, entertainment, shopping, midway rides and don’t forget to stop at the food building to get some fudge from Ye Olde Fudge Pot who have been delighting visitors for 25 years. Owner Kevin Smith gave us a sample of his “Fudge-on-a-stick”. But that’s not the only thing new at the Ex this year, you can also try deep fried mars bars and deep fried cola. What’s next?

Whether you are sitting at Ontario Place, at the CNE or anywhere along the waterfront you will be captivated by the Canadian International Airshow that runs from September 3 to the 5^th with daily shows starting at 12:30.  Guests at The Boatel will be able to relax and watch the show from the boat.

If planes aren’t your thing then you can jump on board and take a tour of visiting naval ship HMCS Montreal docked at Pier 27.  Tours are being offered of this 134 meter ship Sept 2nd, 2-4pm or 6-8pm and Sept 3-5^th from 1-4pm and 6-8pm daily. Pier 27 is a  15 minute walk east of the Boatel.

The Shoppers Drug Mart® Weekend to End Women’s Cancers™ is also the weekend  to remember those lives we have lost to breast or gynaecologic cancer and a weekend to celebrate the lives we are saving. Please walk or offer you support on Sept 10/11 by donating to make a difference by creating hope for every women’s future.

Some like it Hot & Spicy and that’s why Toronto Harbourfront Centre is once  again hosting the  Hot & Spicy Food Festival from Sept 2-5. This Pan-Asian festival features cooking demonstrations and lots of tasty food to enjoy. If you prefer vegetarian cuisine then check out the Vegetarian Food Festival the following weekend (Sept 9 –11) at Harboufront Centre. Don’t forget to browse the International Marketplace such as the Yes World Boutique™ which offers unique women’s organic clothing.

September 8 to 18th you will want your camera in hand and get ready to capture 10 days of excitement with the stars on the red carpet during the Toronto International Film Festival.  TIFF ranks as among the most prestigious film festivals and is hosted each September in Toronto.

The Queen West Art Crawl (Sept 16-18) is a “weekend-long festival to celebrate and cultivate the unique  character, diversity and ethos of Queen West – a natural habitat for individual artists, arts organizations, artist run centres and businesses that promote art and culture.” The festival runs along Queen Street West from Bathurst to Roncesvalles and features 250 jury-selected artists. There are plenty of art events for crawlers of all ages, from the family-friendly Second City KidsZone, walking  tours,  to the edgy and innovative Parkdale Nightcrawl.

One of our favorite guest destinations is the Distillery District and Septemebr is a great month to visit the Distillery which is the largest collection of Victorian Industrial Architecture in North America. This 13 acre area was transformed into a pedestrian only cultural area in 2001. September 2 – 5 features the Artisans at the Distillery and Sepember 9-11 is host to the Distillery Wine Festival.  While at the distillery you might also want to plan a matinee at the World famous Cirque du Soleil Totem which is playing Wednesday through Sundays until October at the nearby Port Lands.  If you missed the Distillery artisans then you go to the Cabbagetown Festival and Riverdale Farm Fall Festival, (Sept 9-11) in the heart of Toronto’s  historic Cabbagetown district. By the way Cabbagetown got its name from the habit of its first residents growing cabbages on their front lawns and the name stuck.

Take me out to the Ball Game – Boston Red Socks, Baltimore Orioles and New York Yankees fans will be filling the streets and the Rogers Centre as Toronto plays Boston (Sept 5 -8),  Baltimore (Sept 10-11) and NY (Sept 16-18). Of course it’s a short walk from the Boatel to Rogers Centre so don’t worry about the traffic, in fact the Rogers Centre is almost in our back yard and when the Toronto Blue Jays hit a home run you can hear them cheer.  If you’re a Buffalo Bills fan then get ready for excitement as the NFL action comes to the Rogers Centre on Oct 30^th.

A tribute to great Canadian artists is highlight at the Canada’s Walk of Fame Festival (Sept 29 to Oct 2^nd) with a multitude of free and ticketed performances by Canadian artists including Burton Cummings and Chantal Kreviazuk and Comedy Night in Canada hosted by Jon Dore.

And finally, but certainly not least, the month comes to an end with the Scotiabank Nuit Blanche (French for White Night) on October 1^st. For one sleepless night experience as Toronto is transformed by hundreds of artists for Toronto’s sixth annual sunset-to-sunrise celebration of contemporary art.  You can discover art in galleries, museums and unexpected places. From a streetcar, alleyways and storefronts to churches, ponds and parks, choose from more than 130 destinations and chart your own path. One night only. All night long.

As you can see there is lots in store for our Boatel guests. Just don’t forget walking shoes.

So many of our b & b guests have asked for this favorite recipe so I have included it in our new recipe section on our blog. Enjoy and tell us how you like it.

Boatel Blueberry Punpkin Pancake Recipe

1 cup  flour sifted
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup milk
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
2 egg yolks slightly beaten
2 tablespoons  butter melted
2 egg whites stiffly beaten
1 cup  blueberries

Directions:

Beat egg whites until stiff and set aside
Sift together flour, sugar, baking powder and cinnamon.
Combine milk, egg yolks, pumpkin and butter
Add wet mixture to dry ingredients, stirring just until  flour is moistened.
Gently fold in egg white and 1 cup blueberries. Do not over mix.
Pour approximately 1/3 cup batter for each pancake  on hot griddle, flip and serve immediately