*With contributions by Lucille Sitra The Westin Diplomat’s expansive Hollywood, Florida resort and spa isn’t just a destination for luxury and business travelers. It’s also one of Southern Florida’s most impressive dining locations. With no less than seven unique restaurants, you won’t even have to leave the resort to satisfy … Read more
“The first and greatest of necessities is food, which is the condition of life and existence.” ~ Plato Plato’s, located in the Aspen Meadow’s Resort, immediately transports guests to a relaxed and calmer state of mind, perfectly appropriate in this hotel for ‘higher thinking.’ Exactly what does that mean? Well, … Read more
Gleaming cafe lamps anchor the white table-clothed tables at Cafe des Amis and an alto sax and tinkling piano in the background signal the jazz age feel of the place. Is it another night in Paris? No, just trendy Union Street in San Francisco. Such is the nature of our … Read more
The Hotel Jerome has been a mainstay in Aspen for over 100 years. By the 1890s, thanks to the invention of the Pullman Sleeping Car, Aspen had developed into a burgeoning destination for touring socialites, stage performers and politicians. Founded in 1889, the Hotel Jerome was one of the first … Read more
If you’re travelling to Hawaii and you haven’t heard about Merriman’s, consider this your wake up call. The owner, Peter Merriman, is one of twelve chefs who revolutionized fine dining on the Hawaiian Islands in the early 1990s by utilizing high quality, locally grown ingredients in innovative ways, a movement … Read more
The first words that come to mind when one thinks of Miami aren’t “rustic”, “patriotic” or “nostalgic”, but that’s exactly what the newest addition to the Biscayne restaurant scene is trying to change. The Federal, a self-described “modern American tavern” opened its doors in January and has already become a … Read more
Kona Inn Positioned at the water’s edge of Kailua Bay on the Big Island of Hawaii, the Kona Inn is a striking reminder of why people continue to travel to the middle of the Pacific Ocean for vacation. With an open-air dining area that allows a sea breeze to blow … Read more
In Miami’s South Beach, the Lincoln Road pedestrian mall is a nightly magnet for the tanned and the beautiful, with one phenomenal restaurant after another fronting the scenic promenade. If you’re spending a few days there, all the dining choices can easily become a quandary with a decision difficult to … Read more
There is a town situated amongst two massive volcanoes, lush mountains, rolling fields of prairie grass, extensive ranch lands, and the Pacific Ocean. When described like that Waimea may sound imaginary, but it’s not. I’ve been there, and I’ve come back to tell the tale of one of its greatest … Read more
Steak 954 is a restaurant not to be missed while staying in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. There are hardly any words to describe how delicious their menu is. With the sound and sight of the crashing ocean waves and smells of juicy steak and fresh seafood you’re bound to have a … Read more
At CVI.CHE 105 every table is full. The warehouse space in downtown Miami hums and buzzes like a beehive. Cement columns anchor stark white tables and chairs cramming the space where white paneled walls with illuminated vitrines harbor Latino-centric curios. All the more to keep you in the mood. It’s … Read more
Wow, talk about an entrance. After a breathtaking drive over the Rickenbacker Causeway out of Miami to Key Biscayne, the landmarked Rusty Pelican creates big drama. Like most restaurants hugging the water, the approach sets up expectations for a true waterfront dining experience. As one of the Florida Keys … Read more
EDGE, Steak & Bar @ The Four Seasons Hotel A Zen waterfall greets you as you pull into Miami’s Four Seasons Hotel. It’s a welcoming touch … water soothes the body and the soul especially in a tropical destination like this. Past a massive female sculpture by Bottero that leads … Read more
A lilting riff on a grand piano greets the lucky guests that enter the temple of design and culinary excellence that is Savoy. Clearly a place where deals are made and hearts are won, Savoy is one of those experiences that’s talked about. Perched on the 8th floor of … Read more
Stepping into Sky Ounasvaara, it was crystal clear that the International Style had an impact on Finland. Even a Lapland hotel set deep within the woods, high on a hill overlooking Rovaniemi, Lapland’s capital, had bought into the architectural movement which epitomizes Modernism in a big way. It was … Read more