We’re in Boston to eat, eat, eat and walk, walk, walk. But the first night, we couldn’t help dining at the recently opened Wagamama in the Quincy Market, one block from our hotel, because we discovered this great noodle house in London a few years back. Wagamama Faneuil Hall is the first US location for…
The New & Old South play nicely together at the recently renovated Charleston Grill, Charleston Place Hotel’s fine dining restaurant. Mom, sis and I were a little early for our reservation so we decided to check out the welcoming bar, wanting to listen to the mellow jazz trio over a drink (our bartender suggested some…
I just returned from a very fun and VERY Fattening Girlfriend Getaway to the port city of Charleston , S.C., where we joined Southern Foodways Alliance on its annual field trip. This year’s theme was “ Charleston, Citadel of the Lowcountry Culture and Cookery, which translates to “We deep-fry anything that moves and serve it…
Death by Chocolate Slumber Party. Available all year and definitely for the chocoholic! Book three or four of the Fox River Inn B & B’s rooms with your friends for the ultimate lady’s getaway and slumber party. Check in at the Inn in the late morning (yummy personal chocolate treats from Two Sisters in Ottawa…
We met our friends Michael and Susan at Picco last weekend. This newish place is spacious, warm and friendly with a brick and wood setting. That alone would make you want to eat there. But the food is absolutely amazing because it offers local, seasonal, ingredient-driven plates with all ingredients grown or harvested within the…
Like a lot of people, I often rely on the advice and suggestions of family and friends. So when Eric Lindsay of Los Angeles e-mailed me about his recent stay with his wife at the Viceroy Santa Monica, I asked him to send me a review. Eric is an accomplished musician and composer, and he…
I sent an “instant message” to Muffin*, my pal from college with an invite to come join me in Tiburon for a 2- Daycation. Her quick response? “I’m in.â€? A few days later I pick her up at SFO and we take the endlessly long ride from San Francisco to Tiburon. Try only 15 minutes—now…
After nearly two weeks of driving and barging through Ireland, what a delight to spend our final night at a beautiful hotel less than two miles from Dublin International Airport. With an early morning flight back home to Seattle, we wanted to be close to the airport. I wasn’t expecting anything special when we booked…
I had the pleasure of chatting with Charles (Chuck) Siegel last week, one of the world’s foremost chocolatiers. As he told me about his background of more than 20 years of creating taste-tempting chocolate confections, I could see the passion for his vocation and why he’s built a global reputation. Buying only the best cocoa…
It may be across from Chinatown and a block from Union Square shopping, but the Kimpton Hotel Group’s Triton Hotel just scooped up its “Sweet Suite” by partnering with Haagen-Dazs. The result is a room decorated in vanilla and caramel colors, covers its bed with a waffle-texture bed throw, offers chocolate-scented candles, and don’t forget…
Cafe Majestic is part of San Francisco’s longest continuously running hotel, The Hotel Majestic. In its first incarnation, dating back to 1902, the mansion was home to Milton Schmitt, a turn-of-the-century railroad magnate. Later, this elegant Edwardian served as the permanent residence for actresses Joan Fontaine and Olivia de Haviland. Numerous dignitaries have slept in…
If you love The Jetsons TV show or anything space age, you should visit The Jetsetter Lounge in Lake Worth. This hip little berg in Palm Beach County, just south of the celebrated shopping haven, Palm Beach, houses an ode to the future, with all kinds of futuristic plastic furniture. Its Website says “It’s a…