Mitzie Mee - Food & Travel Blog

SAS: Upgraded – Good morning from seat 2F

by Mitzie Mee - Sanne

My flight from Stavanger left at 6:25am, and since I had checked baggage, I needed to be at the airport at least an hour before departure. The hotel breakfast didn’t open until 5, so there was only time for a soft-boiled egg and a tiny smoothie before I had to rush out the door.

I had my hopes up for breakfast in the lounge, but I’d completely forgotten that the SAS lounge in Stavanger is for international flights only, and I was just flying to Oslo. So no lounge, no croissants, and no extra coffee for me that morning, or so I thought.

Then it happened. I got upgraded! And as a little extra treat, they handed out breakfast boxes on board. Nothing fancy, but exactly what I needed: a salami and brie sandwich, yogurt with granola, and another little smoothie.

So even though the day started way too early and with a touch of hanger, it actually turned into a really nice beginning to both the day and the trip.

I know some of you are probably wondering how to score an upgrade, and while there are plenty of tips floating around—from dressing nicely to casually trying to bribe the gate agent—my experience is that it all comes down to one thing: your frequent flyer status.

I’ve been KLM Gold for a little over a year, and now that SAS is part of SkyTeam, it means my loyalty points with KLM also carry some weight when it comes to SAS upgrades.

July 1, 2025 0 comments

Seattle: Inside Passage – Amazing Cocktails

by Mitzie Mee - Sanne

When Steve and I were in Seattle, we met up with Sylvan (an old friend from Sweden) and his girlfriend for drinks at Inside Passage which is a tiny bar tucked inside another bar called Rumba.

The name, Inside Passage, refers to the famous waterway that runs between Washington and Alaska, winding through islands and icy blue inlets. Fitting, because stepping into the bar feels like diving into a surreal, underwater world. There’s a giant octopus figure hanging from the ceiling, and the whole place is dark, cozy, and wonderfully weird.

The bar isn’t very big, and getting a table can be tricky, especially on weekends, but thankfully, Sylvan had booked in advance. We were only planning to have one drink, but the menu was just too tempting, so one quickly turned into two… and then three, for some of us.

Cocktails are around $22 each, and they’re worth every dollar. One came disguised as an Amazon package, another was served in a mini rice cooker, and dry ice and LED lights seemed to be recurring themes. Inside Passage has become something of an influencer magnet (the underwater octopus ceiling kind of guarantees that), but the bar also draws a crowd of serious cocktail connoisseurs—and rightfully so, because the drinks are surprisingly good. There’s definitely substance behind the spectacle, and Inside Passage is a great place for cocktails in Seattle.

Inside Passage, 1108 Pike St, Seattle, WA 98101, United States

June 25, 2025 0 comments

Norway: An Evening in Farsund – Scallops and White Wine

by Mitzie Mee - Sanne

The other evening, AC and Kristian had me over for scallops and white wine. They live right down by the fjord, so Kristian just threw on his wetsuit and picked the scallops straight out of the water. He had also caught a small turbot with his bare hands (!), so dinner that night was pasta with scallops, turbot, and shrimp.

I watched as he cleaned the fish and shucked the scallops, and I don’t think more than 20 minutes passed from sea to skillet. Kristian had made a savory sabayon, which he poured over the pasta before topping it with the seafood. It tasted so fresh and delicious. We had a glass of Sancerre on the side, which paired perfectly with the dish. Such an amazing dinner. It still blows my mind that they have access to all that incredible seafood, right outside their front door. Just a quick dive and dinner’s sorted.

My mom collects seashells, so the first thing she said when she saw the photos I sent her was to bring some shells home.I washed and cleaned 6 shells and left them to dry on the terrace. Forgot to take them home the following day, so I guess I have to visit soon again:)

June 21, 2025 0 comments

New York City: Ghost Tour in Greenwich Village

by Mitzie Mee - Sanne

New York: Ghost Stories in Greenwich Village

Disclaimer: I was invited to join the tour by New York Ghosts.

There was rain in the air and the kind of heavy clouds that seem to hang just a little too low, as Steve and I made our way to Washington Square Park one evening in New York. We were about to join a ghost-themed walking tour through Greenwich Village, and honestly, the weather couldn’t have been more on-brand.

The tour started at 8pm under the arch at the park entrance, and just minutes in, we were already knee-deep in eerie tales about the area’s haunted past. I’ve been to Washington Square Park countless times, but I had no idea that the whole place used to be a burial ground. Over 20,000 people are supposedly buried underneath. Needless to say, it set the tone. Our guide told us that in addition to being a tour guide, she’s also a professional actor, and she was fantastic. She had a way of telling the stories that pulled you in, and made it all feel very real.

We wandered quietly through the Village, stopping in front of buildings you’d probably never notice otherwise. Places you might pass by on your way to brunch, without knowing what’s (allegedly) lurking behind closed doors. One stop was a house where Mark Twain once lived, and which many believe is still haunted. That kind of story sticks, and I know I’ll never walk by without glancing up at the windows again.

The creepiest spot on the tour? Jefferson Market Library. I’ve always thought it was such a beautiful building, but now it comes with an entirely different vibe. The story we heard there was genuinely spooky, and I don’t think I’ll ever look at that tower the same way again.

The tour lasted about an hour, which felt just right. Long enough to get a good feel for the neighborhood and hear plenty of chilling stories, but not so long that it started to drag. A lot of walking tours live or die by the guide, and ours absolutely made the experience. She was prepared, passionate, and just the right amount of theatrical. Steve and I were completely tuned in the entire time.

The tour we joined was called Hauntings & Ghouls of Greenwich Village, organized by New York Ghosts, who run ghost tours in more than 50 cities across the U.S. They offer several different routes in New York, but the Greenwich Village tour is the original and most popular—and it makes sense. The Village is steeped in history and has the perfect atmosphere for this kind of storytelling. Even if you’ve been to New York before, this is a fun and different way to see a part of the city that still manages to surprise you.

Read about the time a ghost moved into my friend Rikke’s kitchen >>

Tips if you’re thinking of booking a ghost tour in NYC

Wear good shoes
It’s not a long walk, but parts of the route are cobblestoned and the sidewalks can be uneven. Sneakers or flats are your best bet.

Check the weather
The tour is outdoors, rain or shine, so plan accordingly. If rain is in the forecast, bring an umbrella and dress a little warmer than you think you need to.

Make a dinner reservation
The tour ends right in the middle of Greenwich Village, so it’s the perfect excuse to grab a bite afterward. There are tons of great restaurants nearby, but it’s a popular area, so book ahead if you can.

Don’t forget to tip your guide
If you had a good experience, it’s customary to tip at the end of the tour. Bring cash.

My guide to Things to do in New York City >>

New York Ghost Tour - US Ghost Adventures

Thinking about going on a ghost tour in New York? Use the code MITZIE10 for 10% off when you book through New York Ghosts. A ghost tour is a fun and different way to experience the city, especially if you’re curious about the darker chapters of its history.

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June 14, 2025 0 comments

Japan – Hamamatsu Unagi Pie (eel pie)

by Mitzie Mee - Sanne

When my friend Rieko from Japan came to visit, she brought a bunch of fun gifts. Among the more exotic were a pack of Baby Foot (which hadn’t made it to Denmark yet back then), some jet-black cotton swabs (so you can see what you’re dealing with—genius!), and a box of Hamamatsu Unagi Pie.

Unagi means eel in Japanese, and yes, Unagi Pie is exactly what it sounds like: a sweet pastry made with eel. But don’t worry, it’s not a fishy pie in the traditional sense. Think buttery, flaky palmier-style pastry, crisp and caramelized, with just a touch of eel extract in the dough. Sounds strange? It is. But it also kind of works.

The ones Rieko gave me were the deluxe version with a hint of cognac. They were golden, light, and crisp with a sweet, toasty flavor. No fishiness whatsoever, which, frankly, was a relief, because very eel-flavored pastries would have been too weird. Just knowing that dried eel had been added to the dough was enough to make me proceed with caution.

What is Unagi Pie?

Unagi Pie is a regional specialty from Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture, central Japan. It was first created in the early ’60s by the local bakery Shunkado, which still makes them today.

The pies are made from a buttery, flaky dough similar to what’s used for palmiers—thin, crisp, and caramelized—with a small amount of eel extract mixed in. Some versions also include garlic or cognac. The result is a golden, oval-shaped pastry with a sweet, toasty flavor and just the tiniest hint of something savory in the background.

The eels from Lake Hamana in Hamamatsu are considered some of the best in Japan, which probably explains why someone, at some point, thought they deserved a spot in the ingredient list of a pastry.

If you ever find yourself in Hamamatsu, you can visit the Unagi Pie factory and see how it’s all made. They offer free tours, and I wouldn’t be surprised if there are samples involved, because how else are you going to convince people to try pastries made with eel?

Visit the Unagi Pie Factory’s website>

Shop Unagi (eel) Pies

Unagi (eel) Pies

$74.95

Curious to try eel pie for yourself? You don’t have to fly to Japan to get a taste. The eel pies are available online, and yes, they are just as deliciously weird as they sound. Sweet, flaky, and surprisingly addictive.

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07/01/2025 09:00 am GMT

June 13, 2025 2 comments

Cuba: A trip to Havana

by Mitzie Mee - Sanne

I’m not always the fastest, when it comes to transforming my trips into blog posts, but this post about Cuba must be an all-time slow. Are you ready?

Back in 2006 (!) I went on a short trip to Cuba. It was one of those spontaneous trips with no plans and no guidebooks, and it’s probably one of the most chaotic trips I’ve ever been on. So if you’re thinking about visiting Cuba, consider a more structured approach than mine.

My flight was delayed, so I missed my connecting flight from Paris and arrived one day late in Havana. I couldn’t get in touch with the person arranging the casa particular (homestay) I had booked, so I had to go for one of the state-owned hotels instead. It was quite an experience including bed bug bites and canned spaghetti for breakfast.

The airport ATM ate my credit card, so I spent 2 hours in the airport waiting for someone to unlock the ATM and give me my credit card back. They told me it happened all the time, especially for cards issued in USA. No apologize, just a big smile.

The first evening I went to Casa de la Musica, which is a famous salsa club in Havana. At that time, I took salsa lessons back in Sweden (no, I’m not kidding), so Casa de la Musica was something I had been looking forward to. I had a really great time there, but at some point, I dropped my camera, and the memory card fell out. Looking for a tiny memory card on a crowded dancefloor was a mission impossible, so I decided to go back the following day instead and ask the staff to look out for it.

Unfortunately, the memory card hadn’t been found, and my camera only had built-in storage for 12 photos. I went to a lot of shops in Havana, but none of them were selling memory cards, so the photos in this blog post are the only photos I have from my trip to Cuba.

One of the days, I was walking around the streets of Havana, when I was approached by what seemed like a nice, local guy. He spoke a really good English, and he told me about how hard it was for him and his wife to feed their little baby. Could I help him buy some formula? Of course I could. In the store, “some formula” turned out to be a bunch of formula and other baby stuff adding up to $300, so I realized it was a scam. I told him I would buy him two sachets, and suddenly, I wasn’t friend potential anymore.

Another day, I went to see a rum museum along with a group of Russian tourists. There were plenty of samples, so it took hours for the Russians to walk through and I’m sure some of them woke up the following day with quite a hangover.

It was really quite a trip, and it was in Havana I first started playing with the thought about writing a travel blog. It took 5 more years before I got started, and almost 10 years before I blogged about my visit to Havana. Thank you for your patience:)