It all began one night over a glass of prosecco, a few travel and food writers talking gnocchi. I don’t know who’s idea it was first — how about we all get together… Read More
This weekend in the New York Times travel section, there was an article on Bratislava, Slovakia. The images and descriptions of this city — just an hour from Vienna without the crowds typical… Read More
The shopping was complete — it was time to get in the kitchen. After spending a sunny Saturday morning learning about how to buy fish in Chinatown — as part of Chef Abigail… Read More
Before the writer gets to the kitchen, it was time to shop. I had signed up for Chef Abigail Hitchcock‘s always sold-out Saturday Chinatown Shop and Cook. The plan: meet in Chinatown at… Read More
One book laying around my apartment is My First New York: Early Adventures in the Big City. In essays as short as a single sentence or rolling on for several pages, artists, chefs,… Read More
This morning I woke to the first snowfall of the season in New York City. Before it turns to slush, when there’s still just a few footsteps crushed into powder, snow in the… Read More
“Don’t muddle the flavors,” executive chef Ron Stella said. “Allow the ingredients to shine”. In the library of Glenmere Mansion on a sunny, Sunday morning, I sat down with the chef to talk… Read More
Narrowing down a year’s worth of eating to 5 memorable morsels is a challenging task. Sure, I loved the teeny oyster sandwiches at the Dutch — just like most other food bloggers in… Read More
Christmas markets in Berlin. Orange trees full of glowing lights in Seville. Hidden carpet stores in Tangier. Europe is a fascinating place to be over the holidays. Over the last several years I… Read More
The holidays are a time to splurge. As temperatures start to drop in New York City, everyone seems to be talking about upcoming travel plans: where to go to enjoy the snow, and… Read More
There is a lot written about luxury, yet much of it ignores the luxury of time. It is a rare destination that allows us as travelers to find the sweet spot between the… Read More
The back of the truck was full of burlap sacks of olives. It was time to go to the mill. After participating in the hand-picking of olives in Costa Navarino, it was now… Read More
‘The tree bears more fruit when it feels threatened’ I was told, while watching a burlap sack fill with 100 pounds of electric green olives. ‘That’s why we prune the trees so severely,… Read More
‘Eat More Tripe’ chef Michele Baldacci said enthusiastically as I was getting ready to leave his Tuscan-inspired restaurant. ‘How’s that for a title?’ We had just finished an interview and tour of Locanda… Read More
I’m currently in Greece and couldn’t resist sharing a photo with my readers. Expect more posts to come (today we harvested olives, pressed them, and tasted the fresh olive oil) but for now,… Read More
People either love or hate Venice. The mere mention of the word arouses memories of romance or proclamations of how crowded Piazza San Marco can be. I’ve been there when it’s crowded, so… Read More
I blame Yeats. I was reading a collection of his poems at a sidewalk café table on a strangely warm afternoon in Dublin’s city centre, when his musings on young love distracted me… Read More
New York City can meet any food craving at any time. For me, growing up in a household with an Italian background, that craving is often Italian. I want to walk into a… Read More
I became a traveler again, faced with all a traveler’s problems. I was in the center of Dublin — the city I called home from 2008 – 2010 — and instead of a… Read More
Chef Paul McCabe looked down at my feet, making sure I was wearing correct shoes for the kitchen. ‘Those will do’ he said, motioning for me to follow him through the open kitchen… Read More
On my recent trip to Dublin I was asked by an American traveler, ‘if you had one day in Dublin, what would you do?’ We were sitting at breakfast munching on fresh-baked brown… Read More
