• Entrees,  Recipes,  Travel

    Mexican done right at Café Poca Cosa

    There are some things that make me proud to claim Tucson as my hometown. The breathtaking Santa Catalina mountains. The constant sunshine. And Café Poca Cosa—almost certainly the best restaurant in the city by a desert mile. There’s no question that owner Suzana Davila’s creative, authentic and upscale Mexican cuisine (sans guacamole and sour cream) could survive thrive in any of the country’s cutthroat culinary proving grounds—from NYC to Chicago. But pleas from restauranteurs to open locations in other cities have fallen on deaf ears. Suzana—and her melt in your mouth chicken mole and moan-inducing tamale pies—are staying put in the Old Pueblo. And that makes me smile. Another thing that I…

  • Beverages,  Travel

    Like a Virgin—fed for the very first time

    I’m a pretty loyal Southwest Airlines flyer, but with the frequent-flyer program revamp and climbing fare prices, I’ve been feeling a little … restless. So when Dave and I found cheap flights for our trip to California through Virgin America, I was ready and willing to be deflowered. I thought Southwest peanuts and pretzels were the last vestiges of edible airline snacks, so imagine my excitement over Virgin’s great food and drink selection and nifty personal touch-screen ordering. Regardless of the fact that we were sipping them from plastic cups, the specialty cocktails made us feel fancy. Along with expected snack-food stand-ins, Virgin stocks natural, off-the-beaten-grocery-aisle bites and libations. Best…

  • Travel

    Chow, Bella part 2: What to eat in Tuscany

    Don’t book your tickets to Portofino just yet. There’s still two more virtual Italian food tours to go. Next stop: Tuscany. First off, let’s talk accommodations. There’s only way to stay in Tuscany, and that’s to take the agriturismo route, shacking up on a vineyard or a fattoria (a farm). We stayed at Fattoria Casa Sola outside the tiny village of San Donato in the Chianti region. Our room was an old converted farmhouse smack-dab in the middle of rolling vineyards as far as the eye can see. Not only is it breathtakingly beautiful and impossibly romantic, but you also have instant access to the best Tuscany has to offer: LOTS of…

  • Food Photography,  Travel

    Chow, Bella part 1: What to eat in Portofino

    What better way to get back to blogging than to reminisce about the food on our Italian honeymoon. Part 1: Portofino. I could describe every meal in glorious, pesto-drenched detail. Ok, let’s be real, no I can’t. That ship sailed after one too many glasses of vino. Regardless, that would do you no good—you’d just be terribly hungry and painfully jealous. Instead, being the fantastic food-obsessed tourist that I am, I sleuthed out and sampled nearly every local delicacy and regional specialty for your culinary education. So, should you ever find yourself in the Ligurian region—or Tuscany, Rome or Amalfi Coast  for that matter—you’ll know exactly how to order for…

  • Travel

    Veya

    I think I need a little Anguilla therapy session to deal with a severe case of the end-of-winter doldrums. Ahhhhh … much better. Oh, yeah, that’s nice … mmmm hmmmm …*Sigh* While we’re at it, let’s relive our amazing meal at Veya, our favorite restaurant on the island. We even got “our” table again: We ordered the fabulous chef’s tasting menu, courtesy of the talented Carrie Bogar (chef and co-owner). I had to start with a favorite of mine — the Crocus cocktail, this sweet, pineapplely, neon green concoction: First course was an island specialty (done best at Veya, of course) a silky, velvety, slightly spicy cup of pumpkin soup: If…

  • Travel

    The way to a man’s heart really is through his stomach …

    After five years of late-night, cooked-to-perfection quesadillas, being the taste-tester for countless culinary experiments and plenty of breakfasts in bed, Dave finally realized he couldn’t live another day without making an honest woman of me—and locking down a lifetime of home-cooked meals. And when it came to the proposal,  he knew he couldn’t go wrong by throwing cheese, crackers and champagne into the mix. He did it on the first day of our vacation in Anguilla—a trip full of romance, empty white sand beaches, rum punch and amazing food. I am one lucky girl. We started The Day off with something I’ve been looking foward to the entire year, since…

Buy viagra