Articles from this Category
February 27, 2015
Growing up in Casablanca, Bo Bendana was warned that every girl had to learn how to cook or no one will marry her. “But I don’t want to get married!” 12-year-old Bo told her mother. In spite of her resistance, Bo’s mother taught her to cook. That early introduction to savory ingredients and exotic spices […]
March 10, 2014
“You have to stop at Wall Drug,” said Kathy, my buffalo safari guide at Custer State Park. I’d just told her that my road trip in South Dakota was taking me to the Badlands the next day. “And make sure you get one of their homemade donuts – they’re legendary.” Decision made. I’ll travel just about […]
February 16, 2014
Are the unique dishes in Japan delicious….or horrible? Will the food have you clamoring for more…or send scampering to find one of Japan’s unique and weird toilets? Remember this jump rope song (okay, I know I’m dating myself!): “Apple on a stick. Makes me sick.” I have a better one: Squid on a skewer. Put […]
January 28, 2014
I was recently on assignment, recording a video in Venice Beach, California for the American Writers and Artists, Inc. The recording was about the perks I receive as a travel writer just by wearing my press badge, specifically Venice Beach ice cream. Read more about my Venice Beach ice cream extravaganza at CNN iReport, October 6, […]
January 28, 2014
It never gets old. Strolling through the narrow streets of Boston’s North End, known affectionately as “Little Italy,” is always a multi-sensory stimulating event. From the sumptuous smells of homemade pasta dishes wafting from the small restaurants, the vibrant New England-accented banter of the pedestrians, to the colorful and festive façades of the shops and […]
January 27, 2014
Move over Napa! The heart of Mexico’s wine district – the Valle de Guadalupe wineries in Baja, Mexico – is demanding critics’ attention. Off the beaten path, but rapidly gaining respect is Adobe Guadalupe – a vineyard, winery, stables, and sprawling hacienda open to tourists. It’s an easy drive from southern California or the north […]
January 27, 2014
One Tequila, Two Tequila, Three Tequila, FLOOR Move over foodie walking tours, Santa Fe’s tequila tasting is stepping in front. Top Shelf: Tequila Class & Sampling in historic downtown Santa Fe is no pub crawl. It provides thought-provoking history, tequila/food pairing, and the progression from illegal mezcal to high-quality and high-priced sipping tequila. “This is […]
January 8, 2014
Apparently, mom was right — my eyes ARE bigger than my stomach! Still, I gave it a good go as I scoffed my way through my recent trip through the Yucatán, stuffing myself with the fantastic Yucatan food. From the colonial cities of Merida, Valladolid, Izamal, San Pedro Nophat, Kanasín to the Gulf beach towns […]
November 26, 2013
Jousting knights, kings, queens, wenches, fairies, and even pirates, the Carolina Renaissance Festival is considered one of the best in America. The fair comes alive every weekend in October and November on a permanent 25-acre 16th-century theme park that Disney would be proud of. Non-stop, day-long amusements delight children and adults alike. Activities and entertainments […]
September 17, 2013
I’m on a mission to find the best Margarita in the World. First, let me disclose right up front, when it comes to alcohol, I’m a lightweight. I don’t drink very often, and when I do, it’s not very much. I have one weakness, though. Margaritas. The margarita is a Mexican cocktail consisting of tequila […]