On The Run: Paris and a new chapter in Toscana

This post is more of a journal entry. Something that I felt the need to write, because my heart is heavy. This past weekend completed a 2 year journey working with Beyonce. Having completed two tours with Beyonce and one with JayZ (Mrs Carter Show/On The Run), I have experienced so many incredible things, have traveled the world many times, and have gained the most incredible family. The end of the tour kind of snuck up on me, and I didn’t expect it. It wasn’t until about a year into the tour that I really started opening my eyes to how incredible my job and my life really is. I was still adjusting to being out in the real world. However, being on the road for 2 years didn’t feel like real life. It honestly felt like an extension of school.

Just like the rest of my tour family we’ve had ups and downs, amazing shows, great traveling experiences and not so good ones.. we’ve experienced heartbreak, we’ve fought, and experienced the most incredible highs one could imagine. I can’t even begin to tell you about all of the amazing people I’ve met. I’ve experienced love from so many fans and people around the globe…language barrier or not.

This post was prompted by me sitting in my Italian class this morning in Tuscany.. (yes, I moved to Tuscany.. for a little while anyway). Everyone in the class was introducing themselves to each other, and then it came my turn. People asked why I was there and what I do, etc. So I stumbled through telling them about my adventure in the past two years in broken italian.. and that is when I realized that that chapter of my life is over (for now anyway).. I haven’t accepted that yet. Yes, when one door closes another opens, and I’m excited about a new beginning, however.. I wasn’t ready for that life to end. I wasn’t ready to leave my sisters in the band.. I wasn’t ready to not wake up, go to soundcheck, play a show, etc. But what can you do? I’m so grateful to Beyonce for not only giving me the opportunity to play, but more for just bringing me together with my family. We have become a family. I’m so grateful and blessed for being able to have had that experience.. and it’s certainly not over. But you have to understand, before I joined Beyonce, I was still in school.. so this is really the first time in my life I have no strings attached to anything or anyone. It’s so freeing. It’s overwhelming. It’s exciting. It’s petrifying.

Which brings me here.. To Toscana. In my house on top of many hills.. with the most amazing view that I didn’t think existed in real life. Yet, here I am. I cook. I learn Italian. I play music. I write music.. I meet new people. It’s an amazing life. As they say here.. “prima o poi le cose belle finiscono” which means “now or later all of the beautiful things end”.
Anyway.. enough of that. I’m working on the next few episodes of the cooking show..which will air soon! I have so much love for all of the fans and friends that have followed my journey the past 2 years.. It’s not over yet.. So stay tuned!! Thank you all for your support!

P.s. To my sisters.. Rie, Katty, Crystal, Bibi, Joy, LT, Dani, Tiffany, Crissy, Montina..I love you with ALL of my heart. God blessed me with you all in my life. See you really soon.. one way or another!10685792_10202672571963194_8656351411958126434_n

Con molto amore (with much love),
Adison

Christmas in the Park with my Beycrew!

Here I am again, starting another leg (the 5th one to be exact) of the Mrs Carter Show World Tour with Beyonce. It really snuck up on me this time.. I was having such a good time with my family and my sweetheart over Thanksgiving I barely noticed I had to leave the day after. We started off in Vancouver (which is beautiful I hear.. No time to explore) then we flew into San Jose today. My spirits were lifted when I saw a Christmas fair outside of our hotel!! So we went, we ate, we stole Santa’s sleigh, and we decked the halls and it was a blast!

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See you tomorrow night San Jose!

Land of the Kiwis

I am happy to announce that Mr. Bear and I now have a new traveling buddy (thanks to my sister Katty and her hubby Keyon)… Meet Mr. Kiwi! Yahoooo! Straight from the first stop on the Mrs Carter Show Tour with Beyonce.. Auckland, New Zealand!

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And since this is Adi’s Jazz Kitchen and it’s about food and music, I had to get a picture of LT in the background eating the very delicious chicken teriyaki from catering. Speaking of catering, I have to say New Zealand takes the best catering award of the tour so far. The food has been absolutely delicious here. Everywhere I’ve gone the food was on point. What I loved most about it, is it is simply made and all of the ingredients were able to stand out on their own and really come through in the dish.

Our very first day here Rie, Jennita, and I went out to a great restaurant that we found on the “where chefs eat app”, called Coco’s.

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Coco’s is a really hip spot with a Brooklyn-ish charm that serves rustic italian food. We ended up ordering a few different entrees and antipasti and sharing family style (of course, that’s the best way to taste everything!)

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Bruschetta with mashed broadbeans, pea, mint, and faggotini (ricotta stuffed mozzarella). Bruschetta is such a great vehicle to try out new flavor combinations,. You can go the traditional route of tomatoes, a lovely olive oil, basil, etc.. or you could.. do I even dare say try making dessert bruschetta (you know, you gotta expand your nutella horizons) or even maybe try a savory sweet combination like brie cheese and semisweet chocolate chips? Any takers?

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Grilled cod over panzanella with smoked paprika aioli. I’m a total seafood junkie, especially when we’re somewhere with the clearest and prettiest blue green water I’ve ever seen. Yum. By the way, New Zealand is home to the largest mussels I’ve ever come across.. they almost scared me.

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Asparagus with Pecorino Romano, lemon, and fried garlic chips. Fried garlic friend garlic fried garlic. ESPECIALLY while on tour.. Besides garlic’s amazing health properties.. I’m 13,000 miles from my boyfriend in New York City? I don’t think he can smell me from here. 😉

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An amazing pile of homemade spaghetti… enough said.

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Last but not least, a perfectly cooked Veal Scallopine with capers. THE END of a beautiful dinner. mmm mm mmm! Go to Coco’s on K street next time you’re in Auckland!

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Also in that adventure filled day we hit up a quaint, rustic bakery and the most amazing museum!

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For those who are not Kiwis, did you know that NZ is mostly made up of volcanoes?! Don’t worry, the last one erupted 550 years ago.. So Rie and I climbed to the top of one, Mt Victoria!

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The view doesn’t get any better than that! Rie and I had to take a ferry to get over there!

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I would like to conclude this post and my first trip EVER to Auckland, New Zealand with the yummiest lamb burger I’ve ever tasted in my life:

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Thanks for such a blast New Zealand! It was so nice to meet you and experience your culture! I hope you enjoyed the Mrs Carter Show!

Much love,

Adi

PS- Melbourne, I’m comin’ for you next! 😉

Belo Horizonte Adventure!

Today was our day off in Belo Horizonte and it was such a blast! Brazil, you are such a beautiful country with amazing people! At first I didn’t think anything was going to happen outside of the hotel today, since we’re all pretty unfamiliar with Belo Horizonte, but it turned out to be a day full of adventure, thanks to our lovely tour guide, Raquel!
Let’s start at the beginning. First was the Central Market:

My mind goes into overdrive whenever I’m in a market, especially a fun one like this! There were so many colors, scents, shapes and sizes.. I wanted to try everything! (I’m not kidding, our tour guide Raquel was like “wow she really does want to eat everything doesn’t she?!”) Starting with empadas.. the perfect balanced bite of crusty dough, salty beef, and melty creamy cheese. Ah, heaven! Rie wanted to get more to bring home, they were so good! Here’s Rie, Bibi, Raquel, and myself:

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Next up was the Brazilian cachaca, explained to me by Raquel:

We chased our empadas with the sweetest pineapple I’ve ever tasted. yum!

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Not only were there lots of yummy things to eat, but there were lots of babies! Here’s Larry’s new friend:

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Our next stop on the Belo Horizonte Adventure was to hear a little bit of a very happening Brazilian pop band, Jota Quest play in the park!

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Continuing on in our music/food/adventure filled day, we stopped to enjoy acai bowls with granola and banana! Apparently the acai fruit is known in the amazon as the “viagra of the amazon”.. Little fun fact for ya.. 😉 lol!

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The best part about eating this antioxidant packed snack is the color it turns your tongue..

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After that we took a drive with Praca Do Papas in mind as our destination and took in the scenery and happened to take a roller coaster ride! (??) I mean, we drove down the steepest hill I’ve ever seen in my life. The one in the video yelling “we’re all gonna die”.. yeah, that’s me.

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Belo Horizonte, thank you for an amazing adventure packed day filled with food, music, breathtaking views, a rich culture, and lots of love. My heart goes out to you and I cannot wait to play for you all tomorrow night!
Eu amo voce!
Adi

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