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Category: Food and Wine

Sachertorte, Schloss Mirabell and St. Nicholas Market: Sweet Secrets of Salzburg

Sachertorte has a sweet secret. In 1832, the Austrian State Chancellor challenged his kitchen staff to prepare a “dessert to impress” special guests. With the Head Chef taken to his bed, his 16-year old apprentice, Franz Sacher performed the original culinary magic creating a chocolate cake which soon gained a cult following. From the imperial court to the world stage of desserts. Here’s the original recipe. Order it in any …

How to Enjoy Dining Solo: My Top Ten Tips

This post is for the solo female traveler wishing to enjoy a meal in a restaurant while traveling on her own. This post is not for the solo female traveler trolling for a male dining companion. I’m pretty sure there are apps to make that easier so better to rely on those. Here are my top ten tips on how to enjoy the solo dining experience while traveling: Dress conservatively. …

Wok Your World with a Cooking Class!

Cooking classes are a top tier option for the solo, female senior traveler. I heartily recommend this as an easy (lots of online options) safe (read the reviews) entertaining and eye-opening way to explore the cuisine of a new country. Food preparation offers a unique and yummy peek into a national culture I took my first class on a trip to Southeast Asia, stopping in a small village for the …

Flamenco: A Passionate Collision of Art and Music

It’s not about the castanets. Before my trip to Seville, I misunderstood the art form of Flamenco. I had visions of elaborately ruffled women clicking those little plastic gizmos in a face off with brooding matador-types in mock Andalusian ecstasy. It’s not. Flamenco is an art like nothing I’ve ever experienced. It’s raucous, joyous, passionate and great entertainment. Fun fact: castanets were not part of the original flamenco dance but …

Dublin: Five Things Not to Miss

Ireland in the off-season is magical. Brisk, windy, often wet but still green and lively. Dublin is a great walking city and you can use the River Liffey as a handy navigation tool. Here are five places not to miss! Temple Bar Established in 1840, Temple Bar is one of the most famous pubs in Dublin but also because it offers over 450 different kinds of rare whiskies (Ireland’s largest collection). Easy …

Eat Here: Bairro Alto in Lisbon

There are a million things to love about Lisbon and Portugal in general. But a recent visit introduced me to the city’s interesting and largely unheralded status as a jewel in the crown of the food and wine culture. Sure, Spain in general gets the nod but Lisbon deserves to be singled out for special distinction. I love this capital city and I’d call it a major player in the …