A NYC Icon: The Plaza Hotel
I was beyond excited to plan my trip to New York. Strangely enough, it's not a place that I frequently visit, even though it's a trendsetting city for the US. I knew I would have absolutely NO trouble choosing which restaurants visit, but I struggled on where to stay.
Bringing a little Napa Valley to Chicago: The French Laundry @ Next Restaurant
Even though it's been almost ten years, I remember it like it was yesterday. We were driving to Yountville, sipping champagne and exchanging stories about dishes we'd heard about and speculating on what the experience would be like. It was almost as if we were kids in school gossiping about what took place on the playground. Quite possibly the shortest 45-minute drive I've ever taken.
Finding the Sweet Spot in Chicago
Those of you who know me realize that I have quite a fondness for Chicago. Arctic freezing temperatures, inches of snow and canceled flights can't stop this girl, and yes I realize that is just December- April.
Bites in Brussels
One is unable to survive on beer, chocolate, and waffles, trust me I tried. Here are a few places you can pop into if you are craving something more on the savory side.
Bruges: The Perfect Day Trip from Brussels
Brussels is such a lovely city rich with history, gorgeous architecture and fabulous beer. But if you are itching to explore, Bruges is just a short train ride away. Bruges is capital and the largest city of the province of West Flanders. Trust me, when you arrive in Bruges you will notice the Flemish influence. The street names alone are tongue twisters having more consonants than most English words.
Can't Miss Craft Beer: Brussels Beer Project
Before the plane even touched down in Belgium, I was on a quest for the perfect Belgian beer. Other than waffles, frites, mussels and chocolate, Belgium is known for having some of the best beer in the world. I literally packed all of my clothes, well most of them, into my carry-on so I had ample room to bring back some of the finest Belgium had to offer.
First Stop: La Villa in the Sky
Seeing as we had rolled the dice and landed on Brussels, I went to work researching restaurants, breweries, chocolatiers, and waffles compiling a list of can't miss places while we were there. There was one place high on my radar, La Villa in the Sky. Not only did it have one of the best views of the city, but one of Brussels most famous chefs, Alexandre Dionisio.
Nashville to Asheville
Located just a few a hours outside of Nashville, Asheville, North Carolina needs to be added to everyone's weekend getaway list. This is easily becoming one of the top foodie destinations in the U.S. and I can easily see why. With an abundance craft breweries and ridiculous restaurants, you will not run out of things to do. I have listed a few of my favorites. Bon Appetit!
Watch Out! Wine on the Loose
After a good night's sleep and delicious vegetarian dinner, I was ready to take on Italy. Up first, a walking tour of Umbria.
Fun Fact: Umbria is the only region within Italy that does not have a coastline or borders another country.
EAT.PRAY.MOVE
Perhaps I have watched Under the Tuscan Sun one too many times or maybe it was the fact that I was craving pasta and wine. Regardless, I couldn’t stop thinking about Italy. After endless searching on the internet, I came across Eat.Pray.Move.
There's something about Amsterdam that just begs for a slow afternoon/evening and a good glass of wine. Between the flickering candlelight, crooked canal houses, and tucked away corners, the city is full of cozy wine bars that make you want to put your phone on "Do Not Disturb" and linger for hours