There’s no place like home. I’m repeating Dorothy’s famous mantra today after spending 14 of the last 16 days on the road. That’s a higher than normal ratio and not one I want to sustain. I’m not whining but it is real. Jim, on the other hand, continues to work on a project remotely. That means he’s…
One of the best things about spending a substantial amount of time in one place is developing a relationship with the food. Often, at least in our youth, that means identifying “home” with the food from our mothers’ and grandmothers’ kitchens. But after living abroad, that also means associating your new home with new tastes and…
I’ve recently experienced Ad Hoc by Thomas Keller at both the land-based Yountville restaurant and on the luxury cruise line Seabourn. The Ad Hoc concept has been a long-favorite of mine when visiting the Napa Valley but I wanted to understand how the current concepts stacked up against one another. You can read Part I:…
Last night I had the opportunity to review Ad Hoc by Thomas Keller as executed on Seabourn Quest. Yesterday I reviewed my experience at the land-based Ad Hoc in Yountville, California and also discussed the new Seabourn partnership with Thomas Keller. Much of the Ad Hoc experience appeals to the farm-to-table aesthetic that has been…
Ad Hoc by Thomas Keller has long been one of my favorite Napa Valley haunts. The casual eatery was originally designed as a temporary pop-up while Keller prepared a new casual concept but proved to be so popular that it has become a Yountville mainstay serving rotating family-style dinners five nights a week. In the…
I recently stumbled across an infographic from Bon Appetit magazine that chronicled the millennial food obsession. While I’d love to think this was a mere page filler poking fun at the generation under me, it definitely strikes a nerve when it comes to the changing times with food. While I’m sure the “spending 14 times…
As a foodie, culinary experiences are a huge part of my travel experiences. I often book food tours when I travel and enjoy seeking out different food adventures. I naturally got excited when a friend forwarded this foodie bucket list to me. A quick scan of the list informed me that I’ve already experienced most…
I think that the new Starbucks Mobile Order feature is the best thing to hit my iPhone this year. Now out of beta testing and available nationwide, this handy features resolves most of my #firstworldproblems when it comes to Starbucks for five reasons. No lines – I may have just gotten back an entire day of my…
Sometimes my sole goal in a city is to experience one taste that I’ve craved from a previous visit. On a recent visit to Istanbul, that was balik ekmek. I’d previously tried the famous fish sandwich sold under the Galata Bridge (and in other spots around Istanbul which is where I had my first taste…
I’m a sucker for a good food tour. To me, there is no better way to see a great city than to eat my way through it. And what better way to do that than with a local foodie as a guide? Barcelona was the first real stop on my Grand Mediterranean adventure and where…
Looking for something different to try on your next out of town jaunt? Perhaps you should seek out one of these Buzzfeed recommended establishments. While I don’t always put much credence into internet lists, I’ve visited several of these unique bars and each offers up a unique place to enjoy a cocktail (or three)! My…
Salty or sour. Sweet or savory. Spicy or sublime. Whatever it is, if it’s a popular local snack, I’m going to want to try it. It might come from a local market. Or it might come from the supermarket. Food stall or hawker cart? No problem. Streetside vending machine? Let me find my change. In…