Baseball, beer and the 600-foot arch are a few of the famous things St. Louis is known for.  And barbeque ribs, too.  But how about gooey butter cake?  Yes, it’s a St. Louis tradition with deep roots in this midwestern city.  

Legend has it, around the year 1930, a German baker added too much sugar, butter or shortening to his cake…

San Diego is a wonderful Southern-California destination, and especially for families! And I recently discovered a venerable family-run garden/nursery that's not only a great family destination but also free to visit. Fewer than 10 miles from San Diego International Airport, City Farmers Nursery has been on its rustic property for over 45 years, started…

Tijuana has been known for less expensive flights to vacation spots in Mexico, but rather a hassle to get to the airport.  Times have changed and now an efficient way to arrive to the airport is here.

The Cross Border Xpress is a modern and easy way for boarding flights out of Tijuana without stepping foot in the city. This new border crossing is partially in…

Solvang, two hours north of Los Angeles on the central coast, has been known as “California’s Denmark” since its founding in 1911, yet modern changes are churning like a windmill. Like a page from a Hans Christian Andersen story book, thatched roof buildings and flower-bordered sidewalks line the streets to the shops and restaurants. A newer and modern direction…

Just wait until Santa’s elves show off the magnificent nine-foot tall decorated tree at the Park Hyatt Aviara in Carlsbad, just a half hour up the coast from San Diego. The human elves are busily stacking, piping and contouring gingerbread, chocolate, and sugar icicles to make the fantasy tree.  These three helpers are no ordinary assistants for Santa, they just…

Light and airy with a heavenly taste that stole my heart at the Pacific Wine and Food Classic in Newport Beach this past August 19.  Oh yes, there was plenty of wine and food, but these beauties put the event in a new dimension.



Walking over the bridge to the Newport Dunes Resort with calm blue waters underneath, I saw people laughing as they paddled…

Located an hour north of San Diego and a few minutes more than that south of Los Angeles, Temecula Valley wine country just keeps getting better, with mature vineyards and beautiful places to enjoy. On my recent visit, I was impressed by how much the area had grown since my visit 20 years ago. Upscale wineries that rival Napa and Sonoma and…

The raw fish salad poke, Hawaiians will tell you, is pronounced "po-kay," ending with an “e” and not pronounced as if its spelled poki.  With that in mind, I was ready for the annual poke competition in Waikoloa on the Big Island of Hawaii, and one of the events of the Hawai’i Island Festival.  First I had to make my way past a "royal guardsman…

Surely this is paradise, listening to a cool band while the sun sets over the pristine Carlsbad beach with cocktail in hand. Cape Rey Resort’s summer concert series is in full swing and the last Thursday of each month good vibes are belted out around the pool.  The upbeat essence of my staycation was just beginning to unfold.



I listened to my…

Ready for spring, Disneyland Resort is ready to go with 5 weeks of food, drink and culinary special events. The magic will appear in California Adventure Park with chefs, culinary demonstrations and beverage and lifestyle seminars adding even more to the guests’ interactive experiences.



Celebrity chefs Guy Fieri and Graham Elliot are just a few of the…

My dining extravaganza began with a spinning salad as dressing was poured from high above and the bowl spun in a mesmeric rotation. I tried to finish my salad until being distracted by the silver cart brought tableside and loaded with slow roasted prime rib roasts. 



Lawry’s The Prime Rib in Beverly Hills, California, opened in 1938 and has a loyal…

"Mixed-plate dining" is a term often used in Hawaii, and the meaning is interesting and has a history. Going back to the 1800’s, sugar was the top crop on the island of Maui. Whaling days were gone and immigrant workers arrived to work the plantation fields. Japanese, Korean, Chinese, and Filipinos cooked their native foods and shared them…

Mike Nelson, the hero from the old Sea Hunt TV series (1958-61), starring Lloyd Bridges, has a restaurant fittingly named in his honor in Rancho Palos Verdes, just north of Los Angeles. In the show, Nelson was a former US Navy frogman called to assist with dangerous…

Vibrant tulips, buttery coffee cakes and local wines were just the beginning as I was welcomed on board my river cruise.…