Germans sure know how to throw a party. Fun festivals with oom-pah bands, beer, wine, sausages plus all sorts of tasty edibles — and plenty of gemütlichkeit. There really is no accurate translation for this word which describes the jolly ambience and lively spirit that is the essence of these … Read more
It’s no longer a secret: Germany is one of the great culinary destinations in Europe. Forget its old reputation for stodgy meat-and-potatoes fare. In Germany today you can eat very well indeed, from traditional regional dishes to the latest modern cuisine. This year German restaurants racked up a total of … Read more
Copenhagen. Center of the culinary universe. Wait. What? Target Noma. Number one restaurant in the world, the place that singlehandedly launched the revolution in food now known as New Nordic. Would it be any good? Could the cuisine of the chilly north, known for foraging and sea creatures actually satisfy … Read more
In the 1985 film The Trip to Bountiful, an old woman longs to return to her childhood home, a small Texas town called Bountiful. Unbeknownst to her, her memory of the place would be all that is left when she gets there, the town having been devastated by the Great … Read more
Nestled between Austria, Poland and Slovakia, the ancient kingdom of Moravia is relatively unknown and often upstaged by neighboring Bohemia and its capital city of Prague. Moravia is a treasure and arguably one of the best preserved and most historic regions of the Czech Republic. In Southern Moravia the treasures … Read more
Pennsylvania is known for rolling hills, picturesque farms, brilliant fall foliage and even a town built by chocolate. But did you know that USA Today ranked Pennsylvania number six out of the top ten states for drinking locally crafted beer? And it’s not all about beer. According to the U. … Read more
My guide, Beatrice, collects me at the Marseilles airport and we head an hour north to the village of Gordes, which is said to be between “the sky and the stones.” Technically, the village is in Provence, but Beatrice sees it differently. “I compare Gordes to New York. New York … Read more
An Intersection of Wine and History When one thinks about beverages in Germany, beer immediately comes to mind. Wine lovers will be happy to know that Germany isn’t just about beer. In fact, the State of Saxony in eastern Germany has an 850 year old wine-making history. I recently visited … Read more
The old grist mill sits tucked away on a small quiet side street in town. On one wall, faded whitewashed letters spell out Waterbury Feed Co. and the sign in the parking lot reads Hen of the Wood. But it’s not immediately clear where it is. The rush of water … Read more
In July 1863, over 170,000 soldiers converged on the small town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania in a battle that changed both the course of the Civil War and ultimately the nation. Every kid in America studied the Battle of Gettysburg in history class and memorized at least a part of President … Read more
For many years my husband and I lived in the Stuttgart area of Germany – less than two hours from the French border and Alsace. Whenever we had the chance, we’d hop in the car and head in that direction—for a day, a weekend, or even longer. We loved the … Read more
Sometimes small can be a good thing … like in smart phones, petits fours and hotels, of course. Nestled on a charming cobblestone street in historic Old City, Philadelphia, within seconds of Penn’s Landing on the riverfront and with a view of the baby blue Benjamin Franklin Bridge over the … Read more
Standing on the terrace of the Stift Goettweig monastery complex, you see the entire Wachau Valley unfolding beneath you. The Danube River wends its way through the valley where lush forests and vibrant fields lead to the river’s edge with the prized wine producing hills beyond. Just an hour’s … Read more
With the Agriturismo trend in full swing (a style of vacationing that allows travelers to sample the bounty of rural life in the Italian countryside), it makes sense that the proprietors of the Kenwood Inn and Spa would create their own version of it at an urbane Italianate farmhouse in … Read more
At the entrance to Azul in the stunning Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Miami, a dazzling white marble open kitchen catches your eye. Here is where you can observe true culinary art at work. The remarkable ambience with floor to ceiling windows showcasing the romantic Bay of Biscayne is fitting for a restaurant … Read more