Weird Wednesday: In Europe, Ask for Ice
Americans who hopped across the pond to celebrate the Royal Wedding a few weeks ago were in for a few days of revelry, great food and of course, some drinks as well. While London is a great place to enjoy a gin and tonic, they do have a few quirks when it comes to their […]
Grape Destinations: Impressing a Date on a Wine Cruise
There is nothing quite as exciting as a European river cruise where passengers get to see beautiful vineyards and taste a range of gorgeous wines but for men who know nothing about wine, this can be a nerve-racking experience especially if the cruise itself was booked to impress a special someon
Ship Review: Crystal Bach
Gray skies hang over Germany’s Black Forest and there’s a hint of rain in the air, but I’ve stepped off the gangway of Crystal Bach into a world of shimmering light. Crystal Bach Rooms with a View Riverboats on Europe’s waterways are essentially limited in size by the many locks and bridges
Dish It Up: The Sky’s the Limit on Viking Ocean
Viking Ocean Cruises hit a culinary home run in the 930-passenger Viking Sky, which, like her sisters, matches the gastronomic finesse of higher-priced luxury cruise competitors. The dining experience includes numerous gratis perks such as lunch and dinnertime wine and beer, 24-hour room service, an
Grape Destinations: A Sherry Love Affair
It all started after parking the car under one of the orange trees in the historical city center of Jerez de la Frontera, in southwestern Spain. I’ve always liked wine but I hardly knew about sherry. Of course, sometimes I had a glass of dry Fino sherry as aperitif, but nothing else. I already kne
A Taste of Alaska’s Craft Distilleries
By Fran Golden Glaciers, wildlife, and adventure experiences of a lifetime aside, there’s a new way to get a taste of Alaska. Alaska’s craft distilleries are all the rage, especially in Skagway, Haines, and Juneau, three port cities of the state’s popular Inside Passage itinerary in the So
Made In China Part Three: Real Chinese Takeaway
The popular fall back response to the ‘what’s for dinner’ query is the ubiquitous “How about some Chinese?”. How can such a non-American food staple become so American? The fact that Chinese cuisine takeout is readily available in almost every suburban strip mall in the United States is
Grape Destinations: a Taste of Oregon’s Vino History
Driving through Dundee, you have to look somewhat carefully to see the history. Many of the oldest structures have been replaced by newer ones. But if you’re observant, you’ll notice a quaint little house just off of route 99. This building, built in 1840, has housed the Post Office, been ho
Grape Destinations: Park, Stay, and Wine Taste in Sonoma Plaza
Napa may have been the first California wine region to gain international recognition, but the first California grapes came from Sonoma County. In the 1820s, Franciscan monks planted vines at Mission San Francisco de Solano which still exists in the heart of the town of Sonoma. Today, Sonoma C
Grape Destinations: From Burgundy to California; My Adventure with Wine
When I was a kid, my father began an interest in wine, particularly French Bordeaux, Burgundy and California cabernets. I can remember coming home from school and seeing wooden crates sitting in our garage from places I couldn’t even pronounce. My father was starting his hobby and passion, whi
A New Menu Headlines Costa’s 70th Anniversary Celebration
Eat well. That’s the goal for future passengers aboard Costa Cruises. In honor of their 70th year cruising the world, Costa Cruises announced a new, fleetwide menu crafted by 7-time Michelin-starred chef Bruno Barbieri. The menu celebrates his more than 40 years as a culinary master from his child
3 Reasons to Take a Cruise This Mother’s Day
She helped you with your homework and tucked you in at night. Her kindness brought you soup when you were sick and cheered you on from the sidelines at games and practice. She scolded you when you did wrong and praised you when you made her proud. She will always love you unconditionally. Moms are
Next Stop Flavortown: Guy Fieri Teams With Carnival Cruise Line
There’s a new port of call aboard Carnival Horizon and it has everyone’s mouth watering. Okay, fine. Flavortown isn’t a real place, but that’s no matter for celebrity chef Guy Fieri and his new restaurant onboard the ship, Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse. Fieri, a Food Network
Grape Destinations: The Human Touch at Mendocino´s Anderson Valley
My way to Mendocino´s Anderson Valley was full of surprises. It took an almost-3-hour drive from American Canyon to get to the valley through a beautiful country road. Be aware that in those remote areas, your favorite GPS-style app doesn´t work as properly as in big cities. Yes, you guessed it, I
5 Dining Options to Try on Your Next Cruise
A great vacation captivates all the senses; touch, sight, sound, smell, and of course, taste. After a fun-filled day enjoying activities aboard the ship or exploring a port of call, most travelers have worked up quite the appetite. Cruise ships are known for sparing no expense to create a luxurious
Bionic Bartenders Are Mixing Up a Good Time for Royal Caribbean (VIDEO)
With speed, accuracy, and precision, the bartenders at Bionic Bar mix up unique cocktails for thirsty guests. How they got so good at their job aboard Royal Caribbean International ships isn’t a mystery, they were built that way. These bartenders are robots. Robots tend to conjure images of R2-D2
Grape Destinations: Growing Your Own Home Vegetable Garden & Pairing Your Meals with Great Napa Valley Wines
Living in the Napa Valley, we’re blessed with a very moderate, almost Mediterranean climate, from average winter highs of 60 degrees to lows of 40, and in the summer, we typically average highs of 82 degrees and lows of 53. While we know it’s perfect for growing world-class wine grapes (my profe
Grape Destinations: Healdsburg to Cafayate, with Malbec and Torrontes
It just takes one grape to magically transport you from one place to another, at least in your mind. That happens when you taste a wine that clicks on your memoirs. I have had several wine-related beyond-and-back moments. Recently, my latest such experience occurred while tasting one wine at Ferrari
Grape Destinations: Working the Mosel Vines
Have you ever gone to a small vineyard? Did you like their wines? I did. Over 20 years ago, I visited a small winemakers’ wine-tasting in Kröv, situated on the Mosel River. My family and I were on a week’s holiday in a bungalow park near Kröv. On the list of activities was the wine-tasting [&h
In Brief: Michelin-starred meals on MSC, and more….
Mar. 23, 2018 MSC Cruises has partnered with Michelin-starred Spanish chef Ramón Freixa. From this April, Chef Freixa will introduce exceptional main dishes and tapas across the fleet and will complete in-depth, interactive training, passing on his skill and expertise to enable all MSC Cruises’ c
