Having lived in the Washington, DC metropolitan area for over a decade, I thought I knew all the ins and out of the city – much less the food scene. A recent food tour proved me wrong about this multifaceted city. If you’ve followed my blog for awhile, you may recall I recently relocated to…
Category: Travel
Sommelier 101: Real wine lessons for real wine drinkers
Let’s face it. Wine can be intimidating. While decent wine has become more accessible of late – particularly for those of us in the New World (my European friends, consider yourselves fortunate), the world of wine is vast. That fact became even more obvious as I began studying for my Introductory Sommelier Course and Exam…
‘Somm,’ Demystified: The Court of Master Sommeliers’ Introductory Sommelier Course
Step inside the first milestone on the elite and demanding road to Master Sommelier with The CD. My heart pounded as I took the microphone. I was about to do something absolutely terrifying: I had to identify a wine from a blind tasting in front of four Master Sommeliers and over 90 fellow students. If…
Aspiring “Somm:” Studying for the Introductory Sommelier Course
A few months ago, I did something that was either a little brave or a little daft: I registered for an introductory sommelier course and exam. Three months later, I walked into a hotel ballroom, joining ninety-some well-dressed beverage professionals and took my seat. I was instantly petrified. When the lead instructor, a Master Sommelier…
Mole triumphs at Salt Lake City’s Red Iguana
Who knew Salt Lake City was a destination for Mexican food, let alone the complex and elusive molé? The city known as the home of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (AKA Mormonism) and site of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games also happens to have a Mexican restaurant so known for its unique…
An après ski happy hour at Park City’s High West
Join me for an après ski happy hour at the restaurant and saloon of Utah’s beloved distillery. It is one not to miss! Park City is one of America’s best ski towns and also home of the Sundance Film Festival each spring. With predictable influxes of visitors from around the world, investment, restaurant and retail…
Trading Ski Boots For Elegant, Organic Cuisine at Vail’s Terra Bistro
After a cold day on the slopes, pizza and beer are an obvious apres ski choice. But for those in search of fine dining in Vail, Colorado, look no further than Terra Bistro. It’s easy to be skeptical when one’s hotel recommends a restaurant, and you find that practically everyone in your hotel ends…
The Wine Drinker’s survival guide to Vail’s Big Beers Festival
Not a huge fan of beer? Love wine? Peer pressure to go to a beer festival? I recently survived – no, actually enjoyed! – Vail, Colorado’s 16th annual Big Beers, Belgians, and Barleywines Festival. Discover beers you might not expect to like! If you follow this blog, you know I’m a wine drinker. I enjoy…
Playa del Rey: Go fancy or dive at the best LA beach town you’ve never heard of
Check out both decades-old local haunts and trendy new food boutiques alike in Los Angeles’ most underrated beach town. No doubt you’ll find yourself wondering why it’s the best little beach you’ve never heard of! Thanks to Hollywood (and even the food television world), the city and county of Los Angeles capture the imaginations of…
The CD Road Trips down California’s Historic El Camino Real
How does The CD road trip? Join us for our first – food filled – drive down the historic El Camino Real (U.S. Highway 101) from San Francisco to Los Angeles. I was born to road trip. At a young age, I stayed alert and curious of my surroundings on our many family road…
The Culinary Diplomat 