Amateur Traveler / North America

Dining at the James Beard House, New York City-A Culinary Travelers Dream

When you are a guest in someone’s home, you try to be respectful. When you’re in the distinguished James Beard’s House, you are very respectful. It was nearly 7 p.m. and we were led into a plain brownstone with a simple plaque at the entrance stating it was the James Beard House. James Beard was...

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Latest entries
Coronation Celebrations in England and Saturday Markets in France

Coronation Celebrations in England and Saturday Markets in France

In May 2023, we were in London just before King Charles’s Coronation.  The city and country were excited about the event and most were in a celebratory mood. Banners lined the streets and foods were made which King Charles liked in restaurants and pubs, like Coronation chicken which is chicken salad with yellow curry.  ...
Blendees Commixes Nutritional Flavors in San Diego

Blendees Commixes Nutritional Flavors in San Diego

Monique Roussau-Stewart grew up in Chicago and came to California the first chance she got. “I dreamed of living in California while watching The Beverly Hillbillies as a young child and moved west when the opportunity came about,” she says with a chuckle. While entrepreneurship was not the impetus for the cross-country move, it eventually...
Classic San Diego Restaurants Serving Favorite Meals

Classic San Diego Restaurants Serving Favorite Meals

There are many new and exciting restaurants in San Diego but visiting restaurants with longevity brings back memories and comfort foods. It was time to check out the renovated Hob Nob Hill Restaurant located on 1st Ave, Bankers Hill. Quite a change from its beginning 75 years ago but still serving comfy and satisfying food....
The South Meets the West at Hey Sugar! in San Diego

The South Meets the West at Hey Sugar! in San Diego

Cakes in mason jars and southern-style peach cobbler are stirring up the sweet scene in San Diego, California. Chan Buie, a Black woman business owner and veteran, is following her baking passion after retiring from the military and opening her first bakery, Hey Sugar! Her scrumptious sweet shop in Southern California sells varieties of individual cakes, lemon bars, cookies...
Cruising the Coast of California and Stopping for Good Food

Cruising the Coast of California and Stopping for Good Food

  Our road trip to Northern California started in San Diego with a list of restaurants to share meals with family and friends. First stop was Westlake Village outside of Los Angeles and we met relatives for dinner at Brent’s Deli. I recently learned about Brent’s from a former New Yorker and he was right,...
Bratwurst and Cheese in Wisconsin

Bratwurst and Cheese in Wisconsin

A short drive north of Chicago and we were in Wisconsin.  I was so impressed with the green farm lands and easy to navigate roads. I had not visited this state and was ready to eat cheese, brats and kringles. Welcome to Wisconsin! First stop in Wisconsin was in Kenosha at The Brat Stop for...
Chicago and food-just skimming the top

Chicago and food-just skimming the top

We decided to travel to Chicago and Wisconsin to use airline credit and explore the steaks, pizza and sausages which appeared to our liking. Midwest beef is worth the trip Once settled in our hotel near Chicago’s Miracle Mile, high on the list was Midwestern beef.  Gibson Bar and Steakhouse came highly recommended and it...
5 Tasty International Places to Eat in San Diego

5 Tasty International Places to Eat in San Diego

San Diego is known for coastal foods using fish and then there’s the abundance of Mexican restaurants and taco shops.  Searching around, I found five international eateries cooking up eye appealing and stick to your rib’s foods. A unique food find on Clairemont Mesa Blvd is  Perky’s, A Taste of South Africa. Graham Perkett from Durban,...
Duke Windsor’s Paintings of Juicy Burgers Inspire More Than Hunger

Duke Windsor’s Paintings of Juicy Burgers Inspire More Than Hunger

Maybe it was the Marine Corp that taught Duke Windsor the discipline to finish over 25 hand-painted still life scenes in just a few months for a recent art exhibit. Or it could have been his love of painting in his studio and treading into some unfamiliar territory. Born and raised in Texas, Windsor’s first...
Oceanside CA Things To Do: Surfing, Shopping, History and Food

Oceanside CA Things To Do: Surfing, Shopping, History and Food

World class surfing, craft beers and many outdoor activities are just a few things to enjoy in Oceanside, California. Located about 40 miles from San Diego International Airport in the North County of San Diego. It’s the perfect area to get your Southern California dreaming underway. I must admit, when I think of Oceanside, what comes to my...
More Places to Explore on the Big Island, Hawaii

More Places to Explore on the Big Island, Hawaii

Another beautiful day on the Big Island driving along the Kohala Coast to Waimea. Waimea The mid week farmers market in Waimea sells vibrant produce grown in the rich volcanic soil. I can never eat enough of the juicy tomatoes and green leaf lettuce during my visits.  Fresh from the earth is best and this...
Road Trip Discovering Arizona Cookies and New Mexico Chiles-Let's go!

Road Trip Discovering Arizona Cookies and New Mexico Chiles-Let’s go!

We packed our bags in the car and headed towards the USA Southwest region, away from our “coastal influence.”  Cookies in Arizona and New Mexico chiles were about to add spice to my adventure. Jacob Lake Inn makes the best cookies near the Grand Canyon Driving the Arizona scenic route on Highway 89A, near the...