I watched out the large rectangular window and the massive television screen blaring Italian on the wall at the same time. Glancing back and forth, I could see where each frame of the movie had been filmed. The main actor would walk into the door that I had just walked through and then up the stairs to the very room I was standing in. However,
King Cakes Origin and Recipes I recently was on a trip to Lake Charles, Lousiana for Mardi Gras where I encountered the making of a King Cake! "A what, I asked?" Being from the South, you would think I would have heard of all the desserts out there but never had I heard those words before. There are some words related to food that we eat knowing
Louisiana is known for many things: music, culture, but most importantly, cuisine! The foods from Louisiana are often on the spicier side and known all around the world as "Cajun Cuisine". The history of recipes and foods of Louisiana is an interesting one. There are influences from France, Spain, Africa, and India. However, there are parts of Louisiana that offer a more soul food-like experience. Where
Authenticity in food is a very fluid concept, especially when looking for authentic food from a specific country. Authentic Italian food to the baker on the corner in Tuscany could be different to the pastry chef down the street, much less the difference in different regions of Italy. In fact, the same recipe can taste different from chef to chef and all of them will
If you would have asked me a month ago what I know about Dutch food, I would have answered in 4 words – Black licorice! Gouda cheese! Thankfully, my curiosity is always at peak level, so when the opportunity came up to get the skinny on what’s cooking in this region with Eating Amsterdam Tours, I was all over that. This specific tour, the Jordaan
Gelateria Artigianale Chez Toi Pizzo, Calabria; Italy I had only one purpose in mind on my recent visit to Pizzo. It may or may not have something to do with Italian Gelato, but I will tell you about that in a minute. Because first I want to tell you what it feels like when you walk into a southern Italian town, and you are
Photograph by PointsandTravel I was peering at him from the distorted window. His eyes smiled to his ears as I saw him wipe the sweat from his brow with the back of his wrist. He was ruggedly handsome, mid 50’s and had the roughness from years of manual labor. The lines on his face were deep and his skin tone told me he
By Cacinda Maloney Exclusive Luxury Cava and Wine Tour In Spain On the grounds of the Exclusive Luxury Cava and Wine Tour In Spain If there is one thing I love about my travels, it is the architecture that I get to see in different countries. I love to see the shape and form of places and how families live within them. I
Explore the Champagne Houses in Reims and enjoy the good life By Cacinda Maloney “Paris is Paris.” - Cacinda Maloney “Paris is always a good idea.” – Audrey Hepburn “When good Americans die, they go to Paris.” - Oscar Wilde Paris, France But sometimes, you need to get out of Paris, France and I have just the place for you to visit:
Champagne France and Its Tiny Bubbles Champagne Region By Cacinda Maloney I spotted him as he came through the stone-white door carrying a giant, sparkling tuba (sousaphone) high upon his back. He was with his friends: the saxophone and the tenor sax. They were casually walking down the street as I entered the museum of Cogevi-Collet Champagne House in the champagne region of Ay, France.
By Cacinda Maloney Benazuza, Cancun, Mexico The mysterious drink appeared at the bar, sugar cane chunks immersed in a cocktail. The bartender instructed us to “chew the sugar cane to soak up the drink!” What a fun way to “drink a cocktail”, by not actually drinking it, but chewing the juice out! When foodies go on vacation, they dream about adventures in flavor.
Academia del Padlòt at Palazzo Donati kitchen Homemade, handmade pasta Coradella – lamb’s liver with garlic Deep in the caverns of a palatial kitchen, we sang and laughed, as we tasted the flavorful homemade food, high in the hills of Mercatello sul Metauro, Italy. I heard the sounds of many languages, laughter, and songs, as I popped fava
If you have not had a chance to visit the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, then I have a treat for you. I know I have told stories about this region before. Now don’t get me wrong, I love the big four: Rome, Milan, Florence and Venice, as much as the next guy, but honestly, the crowds are getting almost too much for me to bear, and
I had no idea you guys loved your pizza so much! When I posted a photo of some pizza I had in Rome. I overwhelmingly got so many comments and "likes" on my facebook page that I decided to write about some interesting foods I have discovered in Rome. Pizza from Pizza del Teatro, Rome, Italy I was making my way to the
Amita Thai Cooking Class, Bangkok, Thailand When traveling, honestly, I never really think about taking a cooking class. I mean, I like to eat as much as the next guy, but just generally don't think of cooking it myself. Well, that all changed when the Tourism Authority of Thailand invited me to a special Thai cooking class. And I say special, because
AtlaVita Winery, Cesena, Italy Altavita Winery - The High Life of Cesena, Italy Sometimes in my life and in my travels, I meet people who are living their life to the fullest. I immediately get a sense that they know what they want and go after it. And Alessandra Giunchi of Cesena, Italy was no exception. Handsome, smart and from a family
By Cacinda Maloney Shhh! I need to let you in on a little secret! Even though I travel around the world at the drop of a hat, I know about a place that is so spectacular that even I thought about canceling my travel plans when I received the invitation to try out the newly transformed Jade Bar at Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain Resort and
Editor’s Note: Rules being rules and laws being laws, please note that you have to to be at least 18 years old to read the rest of this post. Yes silly, I know. It's because of the alcohol…. I had a wonderful opportunity to visit a winery while on my visit to the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. It still amazes me, even today, that a
Chuflay Restaurant, Portofino, Italy Shoo fly! Shoo fly! ChuFlay: A lovely restaurant in Portofino, Italy Shoo fly! Shoo fly! ChuFlay! Fly, fly away… not once did I have to shoo a fly away from here! Not here at the ChuFlay Bar and Restaurant in Portofino, Italy! Here they had fine Italian waiters in snow white uniforms to do it for me, if,
LaRune RestaurantGenoa, ItalyBW City Hotel You know a restaurant is good when you show up with a reservation and there is not a single seat available in the house. LeRune RestaurantGenoa, ItalyBW City Hotel The place was abuzz when I arrived at Le Rune, in Genoa. Italy, it is the flagship restaurant to the BW City Hotel. The downstairs was
By Cacinda Maloney Wow! Who would have ever thought of this? A place where they serve, you guessed it, CHEESE! Cheese, cheese everywhere. Cheese fries, grilled cheese sandwiches, nachos, mac and cheese, cheese fondue, and the list goes on and on! The whole concept of the little tiny eatery is to combine different types of cheeses from around the world and serve all of them,
By Cacinda Maloney The Distillery Historic District, Toronto, Canada The Distillery Historic District, Toronto, Canada The shock thundered through him like cold blood running across the floor, he couldn't believe it, as he heard the terrible news. She is gone. The grief overtook him, so much so, that he climbed up in the tower and jumped from the company well. He
Updated August 2015 Gelato in Rome Gelato in Rome Looking for the Best Gelato in Rome! We headed down Via dei Coronari knowing it was around here somewhere. We had been here before and knew we had to find it again. We were somewhere near Piazza Navona when we ended up finding it tucked in an alleyway beside a stone stairway with a secret-like entrance next
By Cacinda Maloney Apples in the countryside of Spain, Costa Brava "How many apples fell on Newton's head before he took the hint? Nature is always hinting at us. It hints over and over again. And suddenly we take the hint." Robert Frost I was zipping along on my electric bike in the countryside of Catalonia Spain between Peratallada and Pals. I
By Cacinda Maloney On my last night in Spain, the Costa Brava Tourism Board arranged for our group of travel bloggers to have tapas on a pub crawl. They wanted us to get to know the "real Espana". Tapas in Palamos, Spain Tapas are bite-sized morsels of food that range from tiny serranto ham sandwiches to prawn cones to quail eggs to amazing desserts, many on
By Cacinda Maloney Zookz - Sandwiches with an edge Zookz, Phoenix AZ So you are driving west down Camelback, the most famous street in Phoenix, Arizona and decide to check out the central area of town. Turning south onto Central, shortly after you notice this cute little sandwich shoppe that you want to check out. "Sandwiches with an Edge" it says. You
Updated August 2015 By Cacinda Maloney Petra, Jordan By Night - A Practical Guide Petra by night is an after-dark, guided excursion down the Siq to the Treasury in Jordan's famous carved city. It gets mixed reviews on the travel forums and Tripadvisor about whether or not it is worth it to go while visiting Jordan. I thought it was an amazing experience and one
Updated September 2015 By Cacinda Maloney La Boqueria Barcelona and Ramblas Barcelona Take A Tour of Boqueria Barcelona: Sweet and Salty The tour I took in Barcelona was called: Farm to Fork, La Boqueria Barcelona and Beyond. It began at the intersection of Carrer de la Boqueria and La Rambla, and was founded in the 12th century, making it one of Europe’s oldest markets. La Boqueria
By Cacinda Maloney This post is the #4 post in a series of posts regarding taking a trip to Ecuador: Post #1: Cuenca, Ecuador: Stepping Back in Time Post #2: Chordeleg: A Day Trip from Cuenca Post #3: The Markets in Cuenca, Ecuador Post #4: Ahh! The Foods of Cuenca, Ecuador We had gotten a lot of recommendations for places to eat in Cuenca. Everything
Updated August 2015 By Cacinda Maloney The Markets in Ecuador Indigenous Markets Ecuador is famous for its colorful indigenous markets. The most famous of them is in Otavalo, northwest of Quito. There are many indigenous markets in Ecuador, but Otavalo is the most well known for international visitors. Cuenca, on the other hand, has lesser known, but more local markets spread throughout the city. Map of
I wouldn't mind going here for a cup of coffee (even though I don't drink coffee!). Italy's oldest coffee house has opened its doors after restoration to its former glory. Caffe Florian first opened on San Marco Square in Venice in 1720. The hall is named after influential Venetian figures who are portrayed in the oil paintings. RECOMMENDED READING: Authentic Italian Recipes for the Soul
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