One Of My Best Meals Of 2019: Pianostrada Laboratorio di Cucina
Keep your friends close and your friends with excellent restaurant recommendations closer. Isn’t that how the saying goes?
Earlier this year when I was creating my itinerary for Croatia and the Amalfi Coast (more to come on the blog about that) when I realized that I would have just enough time in Rome to enjoy dinner before boarding the train to Naples.
Blonde Voyage's Guide To Dubrovnik
Can you believe that we are halfway through 2019? I’d shake my head in disbelief if I didn’t have a stack of magazines on my coffee table that said otherwise. In a day and age where we consume so much digital media, I find myself more and more enjoying the ritual of pouring a glass of wine, opening up Travel and Leisure or Bon Appétit and escaping my current reality. There’s something so satisfying about holding the pages in my hands and tearing out those articles or recipes that really speak to me.
Elevate Your Cocktail Game At Machine
Cocktail culture is something that not only intrigues me but is constantly evolving. Gone are the days of sipping on rum and cokes and pounding Jager-bombs, unless you still reside on a college campus or in your parent’s basement. In a world where craft cocktails are king, barflies are sipping on timeless classics like Martinis, Manhattans, and Margaritas.
An Insider's Guide To Surviving Music City Food + Wine Festival 2019
Back for its seventh year, The Music City Food and Wine Festival returns to Bicentennial Park on September 20-22, 2019. Without question, this is one of my favorite Nashville events as it shines a spotlight on the food and beverage scene in Music City. After all, there’s much more to Nashville than honky-tonks, hot chicken and hockey! This weekend-long festival is filled with culinary demonstrations, seminars, and panels along with tasting tents highlighting food, wine, spirits and beer from Music City and beyond.
Fire To Table Simplicity At Arca
“ Where should I eat in Tulum?”
Aside from asking where to say, that’s quite possibly one of the most loaded questions a traveler can ask.
Like any food enthusiast, I put in the time and did the research. However, you know you have a problem when you have more restaurants to try than meals to eat! Of course, it’s a great problem to have and only means there are return trips in my future.
Avoid The Dreaded Vending Machine Lunch And Order With Grubhub
If you work a 9-5 job, it’s likely that you are living your best cubicle life. You know what I’m talking about. That small piece of real estate where you spend all of your time when you aren’t in meetings and attempt to accomplish work despite the ringing phones and constant chatter. And did I mention you are supposed to co-exist with your co-workers at the same time? To say cube life is challenging is the understatement of the century.
Tulum's Secret Garden : Cenzontle
Does anyone else have Type-A tendencies? Waiting in lines give you absolute anxiety, you’re overly mindful almost borderline conscientious, you loathe wasting time, days are guided by serious to-do lists and you find it hard to relax? If you’re like me, you identify with almost EVERY SINGLE ONE of these items. Some people call it perfectionism, others may categorize you as a workaholic and those who aren’t so friendly may call you damn crazy. Regardless of the label or social commentary, this is me and I’ll own it.
It's Gonna Be May
To quote one of my favorite boy bands, N’Sync, “ It’s Going to May.”
Now that the NFL Draft, the St. Jude Rock ‘N’ Roll Marathon and multiple musical acts have vacated Music City, Nashvillians can take pause, breathe deeply because May will be here before we know it.
Place Your Bets On These Breakfast Spots In Tulum
Morning Rituals. It’s something we all have but it can be nice to change it up now and then. When I’m home, I’m rolling out of bed at 5:00 a.m, caffeinating with an oat milk latte and trying to pull it together before I leave for work. Sounds dreadful, right?
Follow Your Heart To The Kitchen Table
If you were to ask me where I was dining and drinking in Tulum, I would have rattled off a list of taquerias, juice bars and open-air restaurants that were on the itinerary. I never imagined that one of my top meals of 2019 would be in a restaurant nestled among the lush fronds of the jungle powered completely by solar panels.
Sunny With A Chance Of Brunch
Dear Winter,
I’m officially breaking up with you. It’s time I start seeing other seasons like spring. He gives me sunshine and flowers.
Sincerely,
Courtney
Chicago Style Pizza Arrives In Music City
Chicago.
It’s a city that has captured my heart and if it weren’t for the sub-zero temperatures and harsh winters, I’d likely move there. From the varying architectural styles, the booming food scene and I can’t forget that mid-western hospitality, Chicago really has it all. My love affair with the city started years ago and I have since made subsequent trips soaking up as much of the city as I possibly can. No trip to the Windy City is complete without some Chicago-style deep dish pizza.
Humble Table: A Night In Italy
Undoubtedly social media is a key part of our culture. It was only a few days ago when social media junkies experienced one of the most painful outages in history when Facebook and Instagram were down for over 14 hours. Did you panic? I immediately thought my account was hacked and incessantly tried to change my password. When I say incessant, I mean I tried for HOURS and to no avail failed miserably.
Exploring Nashville: Nashville Venezuela Food
In a city where whiskey and hot chicken dominate the food scene, it can be challenging to find diverse ethnic cuisine. Every food blogger in Nashville can rattle off their favorite taco spots, burger joints, and coffee shops, but how many can tell you where to score proper Venezuelan food in Music City?
Exploring Nashville: Mi Colombia
Do you ever feel like you are on auto-pilot? Simply coasting through the day with a predictable routine and making decisions with little to no thought because they have become so automatic?
I know I am guilty of it. I get in the habit of wearing the same things, going to the same restaurants, repeating the same workouts and hanging out with the same people. No judgment, but it can make for an awfully mundane existence.
Nicky's Coal Fired Guest Pizza Chef Series
While most Americans are joining gyms, Marie Kondo-ing their homes, and trying to live their “healthiest” life, I am posted up at the chef’s counter sipping wine and eating all the things. Why? Two reasons: First, life is all about balance and second, Nicky’s Coal Fired just kicked off their second annual Guest Pizza Chef Series.
Blonde Voyage Nashville's Burger Guide
We are barely a week into 2019 and I’m sure I am not the only one finding it hard to abide by these resolutions and intentions I set forth. Am I right? Undoubtedly, many Americans vowed to eat healthier, exercise more or even participate in the infamous “Banuary.”
Chef Ryan Poli's Swan Song At The Catbird Seat
In 2011, the Goldberg brothers, masterminds behind Strategic Hospitality, transformed the culinary scene in Nashville when they unveiled The Catbird Seat. Unlike any other restaurant in Music City, the Catbird Seat elevates the dining experience as guests gather around a twenty-two seat U-shaped bar and are entertained and enthralled by the stylings of the chef and his team.
A Taste Of France In The Middle Of Yountville
You may have read the title of this blog post and immediately assumed that I was going to share my experience at The French Laundry. While that is not completely farfetched, I thought I would share another French treasure that can be found in Yountville, Bistro Jeanty.
Bites and Barbecue in Austin
Making the list for travel in 2018 was Austin, Texas. This wasn’t my first trip to Texas. My college roommate was from Houston and I have visited Dallas and San Antonio with work. However, many of you may be scratching your heads and wondering why in the world would Austin make it on the list over so many other cities, especially since I live in Nashville.
Every city has that one restaurant that people whisper about with a mix of reverence and urgency. It’s on every listicle and when brought up in conversation, “You have to go” is usually the general response. In Mexico City, that place is Máximo Bistrot. Tucked into a leafy corner of Roma Norte, it’s equal parts refined dining room and neighborhood favorite, and somehow manages to feel both important and unpretentious simultaneously.