In Kentucky horses are everything; except maybe for bourbon. I thought I knew enough about the legendary liquid – how to make a perfect Manhattan. But when I hit the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, an integral part of a visit to Louisville, Kentucky, my Manhattans were infinitely improved. Bourbon history is … Read more
Of all the big cities I’ve lived in so far (including both New York and London), Auckland is my favorite – hands down. Where else can you go sailing after work, stroll a beach less than an hour’s drive away (think Karekare Beach of The Piano fame) and bask in … Read more
Just opened last February, Casa Chameleon at Las Catalinas is Costa Rica’s newest boutique hotel. With 21 villas perched high atop a cliff with private plunge pools and panoramic views from every angle, guests can relax at an infinity pool where drinks are delivered via floating trays or take a … Read more
It was a warm, breezy evening and families and visitors pulled tables out onto the cobblestone street of the quaint, seaside village for a dining “mash-up” of sorts. Flickering lights danced on villas painted in hues of the burnt sun, plaza fountains gurgled nearby, and onlookers enjoyed sea views from … Read more
Having sat in the lap of luxury for most of our time spent in Marrakesh, we decided to get out on our own and rent a car. Our destination: the quiet oasis of Fez, a six and half hour drive from Marrakech, and well worth a few days. Fez is … Read more
I’m in the sleepy town of Southold on Long Island’s North Fork, an area known for its “wine trail” that includes more than 30 vineyards thriving off a sunny summer climate and temperatures cooled by ocean breezes. The North Fork is separated from the South Fork by the Peconic … Read more
Marrakesh, the ancient city in Morocco is having a renaissance. Sophisticated travelers are rediscovering the sights, sounds, and smells of this fabled city. The city is welcoming and safe and this October will see the opening of the Yves Saint Laurent Museum in the famed Majorelle Gardens featuring the work … Read more
Northern France’s industrial port city of Dunkerque is known for several things: its eponymous battle (the subject of Christopher Nolan’s current film Dunkirk), its classification as part of the quirky “Ch’ti” region (which comes with its own dialects and all), and an absolutely insane iteration of the world’s carnivals that … Read more
Tradition. Innovation. Excellence. – Since 1931, thousands of students have followed these principles at Le Cordon Bleu in London, one of the top culinary arts, wine, and management schools in the world. Located on Bloomsbury Square, the stately entrance radiates grandeur and energy, and students dressed in white aprons with … Read more
In days of old, sailors were often tattooed with swallows that symbolized love and loyalty, given that the bird chooses a mate for life and returns to the same nesting area every year. Swallow East, a seaside restaurant on the docks in Montauk, similarly uses the bird to symbolize guests … Read more
Remember when the thought of having dinner in the restaurant of your hotel wasn’t exactly exciting? Guess what? Those days are long gone. From the still-on-fire Augustine at the Beekman Hotel, to the supremely popular NoMad at the NoMad Hotel and now over the bridges and through the tunnels to … Read more
There’s a reason the landscape of the USA was described in such poetic terms by Katherine Lee in America the Beautiful. From sea to shining sea, this really is one big beautiful country. Take a few days on the open road to explore the vast wide open spaces and glorious … Read more
A Le Cordon Bleu Cooking Class Experience First, a small confession: I’m not great in the kitchen. I can make a mean apple pie (provided I use a ready-made crust), and my husband calls me the “Soup Queen” (really, I just toss things in a pot and add chicken stock), but … Read more