You'd be amazed how much of Vienna, Austria you can experience in a short time! As part of a river cruise on the Danube, my husband and I had the opportunity to experience a quick stay in Vienna through an excursion tour offered by Viking River Cruises, plans we made on our own, plus a lovely overnight stay at a very unique hotel. For the first tim…

Thanks to its health benefits and delicious flavor, olive oil has never been more popular. Enjoy this podcast conversation with Tiffany Blackman of Aubocassa, makers of extra virgin premium olive oil on the island of Mallorca. Learn about their revolutionary techniques for harvesting and production and how best to use and store olive oil. And, you'…

Meet Luis, the owner of MOLTAK Kitchen Life, which provides hands-on cooking experiences (and dinner afterword) inside a centuries-old windmill in the heart of Palma Mallorca. His classes are a great way for Real Food Travelers to get to know the stories behind, and flavors of, the local cuisine. Read the article that accompanies this podcast where…

With the third of his 3-part series about travel in Peru now available on Real Food Traveler, here's a conversation that shares some of the best tips and memories from a sibling trip that included a visit to Machu Picchu. Learn more and get the links to all three articles on our site, RealFoodTraveler.com.…

Downtown Fort Wayne, Indiana is enjoying a refresh. With a revitalized riverfront area, world-renowned genealogical center, thriving arts and culture scene, bold mural walk and new places to stay, there's a lot to see and do. And their restaurant scene has been experiencing a big boost as of late. Enjoy this conversation with Johnny Perez, owner of…

Let some Paris into your life, whether you're planning on visiting or just doing some travel dreaming. Real Food Traveler Podcast host, Courtney Drake-McDonough chats with travel writer, author, and Europe Editor at RFT, Irvina Lew. They cover helpful tips for visiting Paris including essential phrases, lesser-known (and less busy) places to visit,…

Meet Richard Lomax who introduces Real Food Traveler readers and podcast listeners to his family-run collection of restaurants in Corpus Christi, Texas. Each is a completely different concept where locals and visitors love to eat. Learn more on RealFoodTraveler.com.

A lot of destinations say they have the best beaches. But only some can say it’s official. St. George island, off the gulf coast of Florida, has been enjoying that designation of “Best Beach in the U.S.” since the venerable Dr. Beach declared it so in June of 2023. Since then, the Island has been welcoming visitors to enjoy what they’ve known for y…

Beyond what the cruise lines tell you in their promotional materials, here's a glimpse into a Discovery Princess Cruise that provides been-there-figured-that-out tips from the editor of RealFoodTraveler.com, a digital, culinary travel magazine. You'll discover tips and tricks to make your time onboard and on shore more relaxing, less rushed, and wa…

There's a new distillery on the scene that's doing things differently, taking advantage of local crops (including potatoes and quinoa), emphasizing renewable energy in the process. Get to know the owner of Dune Valley Distillery in Masca, Colorado, near the famous Great Sand Dunes National Park.

Our efforts to be mindful about what we eat don't have to go out the window just because we're traveling. Sure, there's a lot of amazing food to be had out there in the world, but it IS possible to balance that with healthy eating too. Enjoy this podcast interview between Real Food Traveler's Europe Editor, Irvina Lew and Registered Dietitian Eliza…

On a recent trip to Green Bay, Wisconsin, I met Ashley Grant, owner of Bountiful Boards, a small business helping to promote and nurture small dairy farms and cheesemakers around the state. Although her shop is reason enough to go, and stock up for picnic fare, it's her own story and the stories she wants to tell about the local cheese scene that g…

Enjoy this special podcast episode with a lively conversation between Real Food Traveler's Europe Editor, Irvina Lew, and Restaurant Manager Claire Sonnet and Chef Emmanuel Pilon of Le Louis XV Alain Ducasse at the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo. Gain a good sense of what it's like to experience an exquisite meal of this standard. Read the accompanying…

Make reservations on a cruise ship and you have access to a seemingly endless supply of food included in your fare. But many cruise lines go a step further with specialty restaurants. Here are our tips for making the most out of those dining experiences.

It's one thing to commit to living a more eco-friendly life when we're at home. It's not hard to remember to take our reusable bags to the grocery store, use recyclable containers, and be more aware of where our food comes from. But does that all have to go out the window when we hit the road (or air, or sea) to travel? No, says Jimmy McDonough, Re…

What we eat impacts our personal health and that of the planet. As described in this article, I learned a great deal about the body/planet connection at a conference where one of the most impactful speakers was Jennifer Bushman. She introduced me to the concept of blue foods and the vital importance of healthy water ecosystems for food supplies acr…

Learn how to save money, time, and stress (and maybe your back too!) with these concepts and tips for packing better when you're traveling. You'll get our quick list of 11 things to keep in mind as you plan what you want to take on a trip and how to pack it within your bag(s).

There’s a lot to love about Cheyenne, Wyoming. And there are a lot of ways to discover the wide variety of things to do, places to go, and ways to experience the city. We visited with someone who has literally made it his business to know as much as possible about Cheyenne and to pass that information on to perspective visitors. See some images fro…

One of the biggest things that has come out of the global pandemic, is a rethinking of how we are spending our lives. When life feels so uncertain and we’re on edge every day, it’s only natural to start re-evaluating the what, why, how, and when of our lives. Diana Laskaris and Sue Reddel, founders of the FoodTravelist.com blog, were already thinki…

It's 2021. I mean, 2022. It may feel like the same year all over again but there are a lot of great, new things coming our way and yours with Real Food Traveler. Our publisher and managing editor tells you why, despite the state of things, she's feeling really optimistic about 2022.

On a family camping trip in California a few years ago, parents Marsh and Jan Mokhtari watched their daughters playing, ocean within reach, and had an epiphany. Despite envious careers and success, the couple wanted to do something with their lives that would make a difference, and that be a good example to their kids. That idea to do something big…

We here at Real Food Traveler certainly felt the impact of the world coming to a screeching halt when the pandemic lockdowns began across the world. We are a digital magazine that focuses on travel, afterall. Fortunately, we also cover food extensively and had no problem covering everything from the bread-baking craze to recipes for pork chops from…

What do dance, food, and travel have in common? So much! I found that out when I had the pleasure of talking to the host of PBS’s Bare Feet with Mickela Mallozzi. We discussed what it’s like to be a travel professional who currently can’t travel, why dance is so universal, and why she’s not afraid to make mistakes when she’s dancing on her TV show.…

Many people love sausage. And many have preconceived notions about what it is and what goes into it. You’ll come away from this Real Food Traveler podcast understanding more and wanting Mulay’s Sausage in a big way. Listen and find out how they’ve always managed to be ahead of their time and food/health trends and what it’s like to be a woman runni…

After a year like no other, this turning to a new year is like no other. Still carrying the fears of 2020, we head into 2021 with trepidation but also a lot of optimism. With all of that in mind, please click the link above to hear a special podcast message from Real Food Traveler’s Publisher and Managing Editor, Courtney Drake-McDonough. Click her…

It may seem too good to be true, but it’s just good and just true! A family-owned and operated Colorado company, Decadent Saint, has created a line of mixers that make it easy to play mixologist at home with some basic ingredients. They can be used to make anything from sangria to a hot toddy to an elegant sauce for cooking. Listen to this podcast …

Thanks to improved fishing practices, the old rule of only eating shellfish in months ending in “r” no longer applies. Now, you can enjoy high-quality, delicious oysters in Virginia Beach, Virginia any time of year. But in November, the famous Lynnhaven Oyster gets its own month of celebration. Enjoy this podcast conversation between Real Food Trav…

Find out what it’s like to dine at Perry’s Steakhouse and Grill, which got its start as a Houston neighborhood butcher shop. Food and travel writer, Ron Stern, talks to Managing Editor, Courtney Drake-McDonough about the vibe, the appetizer you must order, and that famous Perry’s Pork Chop that’s 7 fingers high! Read more and see pictures of the di…

When I asked Jessica McCready to tell me about Camano Island and what life is like as a local, she painted a wonderful and enticing picture. As Executive Director of the Camano Island Chamber of Commerce, playing up what’s wonderful about the island in the Pacific Northwest comes naturally. But so does telling us about some of her personal favorite…

When I heard about Chef Pacheco’s lineage in Arizona, I knew I had to meet him. I mean, nine generations all in the same area, working in the food production and preparation industry? That’s a deep-rooted knowledge of and passion for what truly is local food. As Executive Chef of LON’s, the restaurant at The Hermosa Inn, Jeremy Pacheco brings that …

On a recent trip to Park City, Utah, an historic mountain town just outside of Salt Lake City, we discovered an unlikely combination. Pie and distilled spirits. No, not served in the same vessel but definitely served side by side. Located down a set of stairs on Park City’s Main Street, behind a curtain, you enter another world. Part speakeasy, par…

“An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” “As American as Apple Pie.” “Comparing apples to apples.” The delightful fruit is part of so many sayings, our culture, and our food options. There’s a huge variety of apples out there in the world but the Gravenstein Apple is rather unique to California. After a trip […]…

No, we’re not proposing you drink your way across Santa Fe, New Mexico. Not really, anyway. But we do suggest you take advantage of the Margarita Trail program that enables you to try unique, hand-crafted Margaritas (in a very responsible way), at different restaurants and bars. Each Margarita has been conceived of to show off the personality, tast…

Old Salem, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina is this wonderful, unique slice of life (and history) that combines living history with regular, every day life! We wrote about our visit to Winston-Salem which included some time we spent in Old Salem. Learn more about the Moravian culture and the rich history in Old Salem in addition to what awaits you …

It started with some sips of whiskey around the family table. For Bev Heising, her husband, and adult kids, a simple “what if” became a thriving distillery business on an island off of the state of Washington. Listen to my conversation with Bev about the process of starting Whidbey Island Distillery, what life is like there, and what you’re in for …

You know the old saying: “Birds of a feather flock together”? It certainly applies to the great Crane Migration is one of the major animal migrations in the world. How lucky for those of us who live in the U.S. that it comes straight up through the middle of the country, giving so many of us the opportunity to experience this natural wonder. We spo…

Chef Shahin Afsharian, currently living, working and discovering the food scene in Savannah, Georgia. Whenever we visit a new place or move to a new city, part of the thrill is getting to know the restaurant scene. Imagine, then, what it’s like to be a chef who has lived all over the world, getting to know the food scene – with an insider’s perspec…

Dr. Jennifer Short of Camano Island Honey. You’ve heard of beekeepers, but have you ever met a Chief Bee Wrangler? That’s what Dr. Jennifer Short, DVM, MBA is. Camano Island Honey at Sanctuary Farms Apiary on Camano Island in the Pacific Northwest is ensuring the health, success, and purpose of bees. And she’s helping other people do it to. There h…

How do we get our food? Farmers are an enormous part of that answer. Important as the industry is, the number of farmers is dwindling. That’s where the Organic Farm School comes in. Meet Judy Feldman, Executive Director of the program. Let’s talk farming and the future. Learn more about the Organic Farm School on their website, here.…

Wisconsin is cheese country. But it isn’t about mass quantities for the masses. It’s also about the art of making it. When we visited, we met a man who has made cheese his life, building a business (and the building that houses it), while pursuing the art of cheesemaking in Door County, Wisconsin. Meet the owner of Door Artisan Cheese Company, Mike…

We’ve heard the name, of course, and even had it several times in restaurants. But we really didn’t know what it meant in terms of what the cow is like, what it means in terms of raising them and feeding them. And, since it is something of a delicacy, and more expensive than regular beef, we wanted to know how to prepare it well at home and how to …

Hot Springs is not just a name for the destination in Arkansas. It’s a vast history – geological, social, economic, and more. Recently, we got a glimpse into what a perfect day would be in Hot Springs from writer Jamie Siebrase. And we found out about the unique ingredient to be found in the beer. We found it so interesting, we called up Tom Hill, …

It’s so easy to love Carmel-by-the-Sea and Hofsas House Hotel. Photo by Courtney Drake-McDonough. In our expanded post about Carmel-by-the-Sea, we said that visiting Carmel is like coming home, even if you’ve never been there before. It’s such a charming, small-scale, safe, friendly place. Part of that feeling of “home” comes from where you call yo…

Paola Legarre, owner of Sage Creations Organic Farm in her beautiful lavender fields in Palisade, Colorado.Lavender plants have a long and storied past. They have been used for centuries for food, health and beauty purposes. And beautiful it is, in varying shades of blue, growing in mounds in vast fields.Colorado will host its annual Lavender Festi…

Devil’s Thumb Ranch is only about an hour outside of Denver, yet the Colorado ranch feels a world away. It’s the perfect place to get in touch with your inner cowboy or cowgirl (that you might not have known was lurking). You can read more about it, here. We had the opportunity to sit down with former Executive Chef Josh Bettis who, relatively new …

Typically, when one wants to have a camping experience, they need to hit the road, head to the hills or otherwise be pretty isolated from the rest of civilization. But there’s a new type of camping area, just minutes from the heart of Savannah, Georgia that allows people to get in some wilderness time (with leanings toward glamping), yet take in so…

When Lia Huber came to town on her book tour, I was so ready to meet her! I’d gotten a good start on her book, “NOURISHED: A Memoir of Food, Faith & Enduring Love (with Recipes),” and loved it. She did such a wonderful job of describing her travels, her issues and the food she experienced that I felt like I was right along with her. We met at a cof…