Great Deal, So No Whining! If you’ve visited the Napa/Sonoma wine country lately, you’ve probably noticed that most of the wineries are now charging (sometimes hefty) tasting fees to try their wines, often standing elbow to elbow with a bus load of tourists, all jockeying for position. In scenic Healdsburg, the Mayo Family Winery has…
Is “Arkansas Upscale Travel” An Oxymoron? When I first found out that the North American Travel Journalists Association Convention was being held in Little Rock, Arkansas, I was less than thrilled — if I may write frankly. Since I cover “luxury” travel, I thought that there would be slim story pickings here. Which just goes…
Arkansas, Part 2: Deep-Fried Dill Pickles! This is a classic example of “Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it,” cuz these fatty lil’ suckers sure go great with a cold one! But if you’re looking for something a little more refined, then my favorite Little Rock dinner was at Cajun’s Wharf. It makes the perfect…
Seattle Update :: I Actually Had One Day of Gorgeous Weather! Too bad it wasn’t when I went to the Pike Place Market Cheese Festival — which was still a mob scene, rain and all! It was so crowded that I left after trying the two cheeses that I was mainly interested in–and both were…
What More Could You Ask For? Earth And Ocean & Adam Stevenson! Seattle, WA Earth and Ocean, the trendy four-star restaurant located is Seattle’s W Hotel uses all the right buzz words: “Serving New American cuisine with a focus on organic, farm-direct produce and seafood from the Pacific Northwest.” The ever-changing menu has something for…
Seattle Speakeasy :: Havana Social Club Not to be a snob, but I really didn’t expect to find one of the best “gin joints in all the towns in all the world” in Seattle, Washington, but I really LOVED the ambiance (and the drinks) at the new Havana Social Club. Their description even reads cool,…
In a space that housed Julia’s and Winterland, both which received wide culinary acclaim yet had extremely rocky soap-opera like pasts, it was a delight to dine at Cassis, hopefully the last reincarnation at the corner of Sutter & Steiner. The charming co-owners, Jerome and Stephane Meloni, had me at “Bonjour,” (although the grand-opening complimentary…