Dinner for Two at the Largest Hell’s Kitchen

California has long been known for its diverse culinary scene. But there’s one dining experience that recently made its debut in the Golden State that’s been causing quite a stir. Nestled in the heart of Valley Center, Harrah’s Resort Southern California boasts the largest Hell’s Kitchen restaurant to date, and my husband and I had the pleasure of experiencing it on a recent date night.

A jaw-dropping interior

Walking through the entrance of Hell’s Kitchen, we were immediately struck by the sophisticated and stylish decor. The restaurant exudes a modern yet cozy atmosphere with its dark wood accents, elegant lighting, and an open kitchen that allows you to catch glimpses of the culinary magic happening behind the scenes.

The wine cellar on the right as you walk in to the dining area is one of the most impressive things about this space. It’s great for pictures and the employees are always willing to take your picture inside of it – just ask!

Wine cellar at the largest Hell's Kitchen

A devilishly delicious menu

The menu is inspired and curated by Gordon Ramsay himself. From appetizers to desserts, there was an array of options to choose from. We started with the Wagyu Meatballs and Pan Seared Scallops. The Wagyu Meatballs were a delightful surprise, with their melt-in-your-mouth texture and rich, savory flavors. And the definitely were a big serving for being an appetizer! The Pan Seared Scallops, served with a perfectly balanced sauce, were a true testament to the culinary expertise of the Hell’s Kitchen team.

For our main courses, we got the Beef Wellington and Filet Mignon with a lobster tail. The Beef Wellington was incredible, encased in a perfectly flaky pastry shell and cooked to perfection. The flavors were divine, and it’s understandable why this dish is a Hell’s Kitchen signature. However, our excitement was slightly dampened when the Filet Mignon arrived. Unfortunately at Hell’s Kitchen, you cannot alter the way the items are cooked. But for a filet, I would imagine it would always be served medium-rare. This was not the case. The steak was well done and almost burnt at the ends. It was the only hiccup in an otherwise flawless dining experience.

To accompany our main dishes, we ordered a side of Wild Mushrooms and Baked Macaroni and Cheese. The wild mushrooms were magnificent. The macaroni and cheese was a comforting and indulgent treat, far surpassing our expectations. You might even be thinking to yourself “who goes to an award-winning restaurant such as this and orders mac n cheese?” Well when Gordon Ramsay himself curates the menu, you order whatever you want. And again for being a side, there was definitely a hardy helping of this dish.

Coconut 3 Ways at Hell's Kitchen

Anything but the Sticky Toffee Pudding

No visit to Hell’s Kitchen is complete without indulging in dessert. And while most would flock to the Sticky Toffee Pudding, we decided to mix it up! That isn’t to say that the Sticky Toffee Pudding is bad because that is the furthest thing from the truth. Having had Gordon Ramsay’s Sticky Toffee Pudding many times, I can tell you that it is one of the most delicious things on the menu by far.

For our meal, my husband chose the Salted Peanut Decadence and I got the Coconut 3-Ways. The desserts were a symphony of flavors and textures, ending our meal on a sweet note.

Everything we ate the largest Hell’s Kitchen

Final thoughts about the largest Hell’s Kitchen

The ambiance was captivating, the majority of the dishes were exceptional, and the service was top-notch. The staff was friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable about the menu. It’s clear that the team at Hell’s Kitchen takes pride in delivering a memorable dining experience.

While the overcooked Filet Mignon was a minor disappointment, it did not overshadow the overall enjoyment of our evening. We left with full hearts and satisfied palates. However for the price tag, we probably won’t be back any time soon since the total for all that we ate was around $310.

If you’re in the Valley Center area and looking for a dining experience that combines culinary excellence with a touch of glamour, Hell’s Kitchen at Harrah’s Resort Southern California is undoubtedly worth a visit. Don’t miss the opportunity to savor Gordon Ramsay’s creations in the heart of Southern California.


Tips to Improve Your Personal Productivity

Staying focused for a task or project can sometimes be challenging. We live in an age full of distractions! Our phone being probably the biggest culprit of our lack of focus. But hey the work still needs to get done. As such, we could all benefit from tips to help us improve our personal productivity.

Why it’s important to improve your personal productivity

When you take on any project, staying both productive and focused is key. If you don’t, you risk making mistakes or even drifting away from it entirely. So many people start out projects with the right intentions, but cannot follow them through due to a lack of focus or drive. This happens a lot with people who try to start a business or try to adopt a new habit.

It’s understandable that with a stressful schedule and plenty of anxiety, you might pause what you are doing for a while. The ones who don’t create are the ones that reach success more often. It’s up to you to make the decision on what kind of person you want to be and what kind of project you want. This kind of thinking extends to everyday life, too, so it’s worth switching your mindset somewhat. If you want sustained productivity and success in whatever you do, here are some ideas:

Tip 1: Write out each task to improve your productivity

It might sound boring to a lot of people, but this is a great idea for anyone wanting to be focused a lot more. When our ideas are exclusively in our minds, we can sometimes forget and even lose motivation. If we write out our plans and put them in front of us, they become real and we feel as though we must complete them. It may only take five minutes or so, but it can change the course of your entire day – whether you are at work or at home.

Tip 2: Remove all distractions if possible

This is easier said than done because a lot of us will not remove distractions that make us feel more comfortable. For instance, a lot of us will feel as though we need our smartphones around us a lot of the time for one reason or another. If you have a workplace or a setup where there are literally no distractions, you’ll get so much more done. Voice-cancelling headphones are great if you wish to avoid unnecessary noise. If you work glasses, it would also be wise to have the best eyeglasses in order to prevent strain and to help focus. 

Tip 3: Create mental breaks and be mindful

It’s proven that regular breaks actually help us to get more done. People often think that breaks stop us and stifle our momentum, but this isn’t true for most people. Getting back in the right head space can allow us to get so much more done because we’ll feel as though we aren’t anywhere near burnout.

Tip 4: Set achievable goals to improve your personal productivity

This point is very much like the idea of planning out. If you create achievable goals that you are able to follow through, you will get so much more done. You will feel more motivated to take particular boxes and you won’t feel as though it’s an endless cycle.

Tip 5: Switch between tasks

If you feel that taking a break may hinder your productive, try switching tasks. This can be helpful in times where you might come to a roadblock with one task. Or if you are getting to frustrated with a project. Changing gears and pursuing a different task for some time can help clear your mind. It may allow you to settle down, refocus, and come back to the original task with settled nerves or a new idea.


3 Easy Ways to Make a Nicer Home

Everyone wants their home to be as nice as possible, but sometimes things can fall by the wayside. You might’ve neglected a few areas, and your house mightn’t look as nice as you’d like it to be. Thankfully, there are multiple ways to make your home look nicer without needing to put a lot of time and effort into it.

More than a few options are quicker and easier than you’d think, and it’s well worth focusing on a few of them. If you want to have a nice bedroom, it’s worth focusing on three of these.

Ways To Make Your Home Nicer

1. Use Neutral Colours

The colors you use around your home naturally play a significant role in how it looks. If you want to make your home nicer, it’s worth considering neutral colors for most of the house. It’ll give everything a much less cluttered visual while making everything look a bit more inviting.

That doesn’t mean just sticking to neutral colours. Instead, add some other colours to some small areas to make it pop out more. You’ll end up having a more inviting home before you even know it. While that means replacing a few things, it’s more than worth it.

2. Change The Bed Linens

Speaking of replacing things, your bed linens could use a bit of an upgrade to make your bedroom much more inviting. Choosing something that looks visually appealing and works well with the rest of the room’s aesthetic is recommended. You’ll end up with a better-looking bedroom than you could’ve thought.

It could be worth considering some hotel bed linen for various reasons. Not only does it look nice, but it’ll last longer than you might’ve thought. You shouldn’t have to worry about any wear and tear or damage you’ll see with some other bed linens.

3. Go Big With Art

It’s natural to want to have some artwork around your home, but that doesn’t always mean having quite a few small pieces there. Instead, it could be better worth going with a few large pieces around your home. These act as statement pieces and could end up being much more visually appealing than you’d think.

If you’re using neutral colours, as mentioned above, you shouldn’t have a problem finding some artwork that pops out and enhances how a room looks. While you could end up spending a little bit of time finding the right artwork, it’ll be easier than you’d think.

Ways To Make Your Home Nicer: Wrapping Up

You can use multiple ways to make your home look nicer, many of which are quicker and easier than you could’ve thought. You shouldn’t have to spend a lot of time on it, and you wouldn’t even need to spend too much money on it.

Going big with art, using neutral colors, and changing the bed linens are all great ways of doing this. While you’ll still need to put the time and effort into it, it’s more than worth considering them.


Everything you need to know about Sesame Place San Diego

Everything You Need to Know About Sesame Place San Diego

When planning your next San Diego adventure, especially when you have little ones, one activity to consider is Sesame Place San Diego. This theme park is associated to SeaWorld San Diego and is located in Chula Vista at 2052 Entertainment Cir, Chula Vista, CA 91911. Some locals may recognize this is as the old Aquatica Waterpark, located right next to the North Island Credit Union Ampitheatre.

With this being a waterpark, as you can imagine during the summer time, this is a San Diego favorite! Remember to plan your trips accordingly and if you need help, be sure to check out Get Away Today.

What is the difference between Sesame Place and Sesame Street Bay of Play?

Sesame Place is located in Chula Vista and is a themed waterpark. Sesame Street Bay of Play is located inside SeaWorld San Diego and is a section of the park dedicated to all things Sesame Street.

Does it only have water rides?

No! Sesame Place has water slides, theme park style rides, parades, and shows.

Do parents need to purchase a ticket?

Yes. All guests over two years old will need to have a valid ticket for entry.

Is Sesame Place included in SeaWorld San Diego?

That depends on which ticket you purchase! There are tickets for both Sesame Place and SeaWorld combined since they are two separate parks, and then there are also tickets for just a single park. But Sesame Place is not located inside of SeaWorld San Diego. You also do not need to purchase a SeaWorld San Diego ticket before purchasing a Sesame Place ticket.

How many rides are at Sesame Place San Diego?

There are 8 family-friendly rides and 10 waterslides that are all inspired by Sesame Street.

What age is Sesame Place for?

Although it is for all ages, it is generally for kids that are 3 to 10 years old.

Are prices reasonable?

During the off-season, ticket prices are $44.99 per person. Peak season pricing is $84.99 per person. In my opinion that seems a little expensive for a waterpark that is themed solely for small children. But to each their own!

Is Sesame Street San Diego worth it?

Sesame Street San Diego is located inside of SeaWorld. At the end of the day, paying for your SeaWorld San Diego ticket also includes Sesame Street Bay of Play because it is inside of the park. Obviously it is more for families with younger kids. If you’re going to SeaWorld solely for Bay of Play, I would say it isn’t worth it. But the great thing about this situation is that if you truly don’t find it worth your time for you or your kiddos, you have all of SeaWorld left to explore!

If you are planning to make a big trip of Southern California, you have definitely picked a good spot. It is home to so many other amusement parks like Disneyland, Legoland, and Universal Studios. And Get Away Today has all the best ticket prices for each of these places. Be sure to look at all their ticket and hotel packages online!


Improve the customer experience as a money lender

Improve the Customer Experience as a Money Lender

The customer experience is vital in any industry. In fact, over 70% of consumers will stop doing business with a company if they feel the customer experience is lacking. This can be especially important for those in the finance world. Particularly the money lending sector. If people feel that you don’t have their best interests at heart or are making it more complicated than necessary to access your services, chances are, no matter how attractive your options are, they will look elsewhere. So how do you improve the customer service experience as a money lender?

Lending money to a customer

How easy is your process?

Before you do anything, you must continually test your application process and look at how your services impact others. Are potential borrowers able to access information and applications online? Do you need them to send over reams of complicated information and jump through multiple hoops? In a digital age, people expect instant gratification, which is no different when accessing loans, credit cards, or even remortgaging their homes. They want convenience, and they want it now. You need to be able to offer an easy process for applications to make your products more attractive to borrowers.

Be sure to run your tests on mobile devices. Over 90% of people use their mobile phones to make digital purchases and applications. If your process is not easy to use or isn’t compatible with a mobile device, your numbers will suffer. You can even create a money lending app to have borrowers be able to take care of their accounts, applications, and repayments all in one safe and secure place.

Review your information from client’s perspective

Most people don’t understand all of the technical jargon associated with the financial world. And you can’t expect them to – even if they are working with you. So if you don’t clearly explain things in a way they can easily understand, it doesn’t matter how easy the application process is; they will move on and check out another lender.

You need to carefully review the information you are putting out into the world. This will ensure that people looking to make credit applications understand everything involved in lending money from your organization. From APR rates to repayment terms, to default fines for late payments, how you run credit checks, and how their credit can be affected should their account become delinquent. Make sure to present all of this information in easy-to-understand terms. This will ensure that everyone can understand and go into lending with confidence.

Flexible work arrangements in customer service experience

Work on flexibility

Much like anything in the world, people’s needs are likely to change on a whim. While the premise of a loan or credit card application will likely remain the same, the reason people need to borrow money and how they can repay can change. Different circumstances can require faster access or increased loan options and additional financial products to support their changing needs. Lenders need to be aware of the economy and the factors influencing lending. You will need to be flexible in offerings and adjust your lending to meet these changes. Offering increased flexibility in products and terms can attract borrowers and help you improve the customer experience as a money lender.

Conclusion on how to improve the customer experience as a money lender

The customer experience is essential no matter what your business is. If you fail to meet customer expectations at any stage, you will likely lose some customers and damage your reputation too. It isn’t always about the money; a dent in your brand reputation can be hard to recover from, even if you do the work and make the necessary improvements. Your best course of action is to preempt anything that can negate the process for consumers and improve the customer experience before they encounter glitches or flaws in the system. Focusing on this can help you run your business better and be able to tackle problems before they happen.