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| Charleville Winery Ste. Genevieve, Missouri March 2012 |
Showing posts with label USA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label USA. Show all posts
Roving Pic: Spring Break Vineyard View
Roving Pic: A Desert Winery in Winter
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| Desert Winery Workhorse Verde Valley, Arizona December 2011 |
The grapes had long been picked. The desert air had cooled. But, despite the change in season, the winery workhorse remained in its place, guarding the bare vines and the promise of harvests to come.
Roving I Recap: Sedona Rouge - Approachable Luxury in Red Rock Country
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| Sedona Rouge |
It's convenient location on Highway 79A had me a bit worried that the road noise would travel, but checking in, I knew I had booked the right place. Our room was located near the back of the property and it was spacious and tastefully decorated with Moroccan touches. The shower was positively enormous. And the view, as in most of Sedona, was jaw-droppingly spectacular.
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| Sedona Rouge Spa Suite Room |
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| Sedona Rouge Courtyard |
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| Sedona's Stunning Red Rock Views |
Roving Pic: Lone Tree
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| Lone Tree Sedona, Arizona December 2011 Photo: Scott Clark |
Roving Pic: On the Edge
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| Private Property Jerome, Arizona December 2011 Photo: Scott Clark |
Roving Pic: Red Rocked
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| Red Giants Sedona, AZ December 2011 Photo: Scott Clark |
Roving I Finds: Southwest Savings
- Santa Fe, New Mexico: The Encantado, A wonderful retreat, nestled deep in the high desert hills. We stayed here last winter and enjoyed the setting, the amenities (in-room Casita!) and delightful details that make this place a truly indulgent escape. Book through Jetsetter.com for rates as low as $235/night for available dates through February 2012.
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| Photo: Encantado Resort |
- Sedona, Arizona: One of my favorite places in the world, so far. With its looming Red Rock giants everywhere you look, Sedona is simply breathtaking. The Four Diamond Sedona Rouge has an incredible Midweek Special through the end of the year where you can save 20% off regular rates for midweek stays. More info here.
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| Photo: Sedona Rouge |
- Austin, Texas: Travelzoo.com has a Luxe Body & Soul package at the Travaasa Austin that includes unlimited access to classes including yoga, pilates, meditation and cooking demonstrations. Book a 2-day weekday stay for $429 for dates through February 2012. Details here.
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| Photo: Travaasa Austin |
Roving I Finds: The Great Outdoors on Sale
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| The Haylofts Photo: Valde |
- Valde Haylofts, Italy: I've never heard of "glamping" but if it's anything like what this place offers, count me in. About an hour from both Milan and Zurich, high in the mountains above Chiavenna, Italy, the Haylofts are a small grouping of restored cottages from the 1700s that offer luxury and simplicity at the same time. Book through Jetsetter.com by next week for special savings on stays through February 2012.
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| Photos: Valde |
- Evergreen Lodge, Yosemite: Another Jetsetter find. Situated just outside of California's legendary Yosemite National Park, these cedar-sided cabins offer coziness and comfort after a long day of exploring the wonders of Yosemite. Prices are as low as $125/night for stays through March 2012 if you book by Sunday.
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| Photo: Evergreen Lodge |
- Tenaya Lodge, Yosemite: Also near Yosemite is Tenaya Lodge, a 4 Diamond property with lots of amenities. Travelzoo.com has a deal for 50% off rates for dates through December, bringing your per night price to as low as $129.
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| Photo: Tenaya Lodge |
- Snake River Lodge, Wyoming: And one final pick from Jetsetter - A little rustic, a little modern, Snake River Lodge is located near Grand Teton National Park and is perfectly placed for skiing. You can book dates throughout ski season for as low as $190/night.
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| Photo: Snake River Lodge |
- Bear Creek Lodge, Colorado: Book by tomorrow through Travelzoo.com to get savings of up to 40% off a one-bedroom condo at this modern Telluride ski retreat. The savings include peak ski season dates through March with rates starting at $211. More details here.
Roving I Finds: All About California
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| California Coast Photo: Jetsetter.com |
- La Jolla: La Valencia Hotel in La Jolla near San Diego has a flash sale deal on Jetsetter.com for dates through January with rates starting at $185/night.
- Sonoma Wine Country: If you're headed to wine country, Jetsetter.com has another great deal for the Applewood Inn in Guerneville. Rates begin at $110 with available dates through April 2012.
- LA: Travelzoo has a deal for the hip Mondrian on Sunset Boulevard with rates starting at $215/night through January, including weekends.
- San Francisco: Save 50% off of the 4 star Le Meridien San Francisco with this Travelzoo deal for select fall dates. The per night price could be as low as $169 if you book by tomorrow (9/23).
- Yosemite National Park: The AAA 4 Diamond Tenaya Lodge is located just 2 miles from the park's south entrance. With rates starting at $129/night, you can save up to 60% off peak season rates. Click here for more info.
- Napa Valley: The Napa Card can save you on wine tastings, spas, hotels, restaurants and more across Napa and Sonoma. You can get yours for $45 (normally $100), just in time for harvest season travel. Book by 9/23 and travel by 12/31. Learn more here.
Thanks for reading!
Roving I Finds: Sin City Savings
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| Photo: Sniqueaway.com |
- Book the 4-Star The Signature at MGM Grand for as low as $79/night on Sunday through Thursday stays through December 22nd. And it's only $40 more for weekends. Details here.
- If you're a fan of Penn & Teller's Bull$hit on Showtime, check out Travelzoo.com's deal for mezzanine tickets for their Vegas show at the Rio Hotel for as low as $45 (40% off) through November.
- On select dates through November, you can book a suite at The Palazzo at the Venetian for $129/night. More info here.
- You can secure your stay at the swanky Palms Place Hotel & Spa at SniqueAway.com for as low as $85 for a Studio Suite and $149 for a 1-Bedroom Suite. Dates are available through December but the flash sale ends next week.
- Take a break from the rigors of the Strip with a spa voucher for Planet Hollywood's Spa by Mandara. For $99 you get a 50-minute massage and two other Balinese-inspired services. Get more info and purchase here. Redeem by March 15th, 2012.
Happy Travels!
Roving I Finds: 5 Fall Finds in the USA
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| Jackson, Wyoming PHOTO: Vacationist.com |
- JACKSON, WYOMING: This one doesn't work for Labor Day but it's still worth a mention. Vacationist.com has a deal for the luxe, western-style Rusty Parrot Lodge with rates as low as $121 from October through December.
- ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI: The hip Moonrise Hotel on the Delmar Loop has a "3 is Free" Promo. If you stay Friday and Saturday night, you get Sunday night free. Perfect for a Labor Day in Lou.
- NYC: Another Travelzoo find, just in time for Fashion Week. You can nab a stay at the 4-star Bentley Hotel for only $289 any night of the week from September 9th through 30th. Book by August 14th using promo code TZOO081111.
Thanks for checking in! More tomorrow.
- VEGAS: Visit Jetsetter.com by Sunday, August 14th to save on the posh, non-smoking, casino-free Vdara Hotel and Spa. Midweek prices are as low as $93.
Roving I Recap: A Kansas City Rendezvous
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| Kansas City's Country Club Plaza Photo: Country Club Plaza |
Despite living in St. Louis, Missouri, I had never made the four-hour trek cross-state to visit Kansas City until this year.
The first visit took place in April 2011 with an amazing bunch of college seniors. My second trip was over a weekend in June to see the great Peter Gabriel in concert with the New Blood Orchestra. Both were wonderful experiences that made me realize that I should’ve ventured west sooner.
My mid-June work trip to New York City translated into a quick flight to KC. And my husband’s professional conference in mid-Missouri made for an easy drive west. And so, our two travels met on the famed Plaza on a sunny Friday afternoon in Kansas City.
Friday night began with a somewhat impromptu meeting with a fellow travel blogger and KC resident, Jenn from Jenn's Travelogue Blog. When I stumbled across her blog a month or so before, I could already tell we had a lot a common. And it turns out that we did. We met for a drink which turned into a 2+ hour conversation. Our husbands even joined us for a while. Our new friends made for a warm Kansas City welcome.
The weekend getaway continued on Saturday after a leisurely lunch at Ingredient, with me shopping on the Plaza and Scott heading to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. And as the afternoon turned to evening, we made our way to the stunning Starlight Theater where we were under the stars and under Peter Gabriel's spell from the very first note. (Click on the video below for a taste of the concert experience.)
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| Starlight Theater Kansas City, MO Photo: Thinkkc.com |
We may have only visited Kansas City because of concert tickets, but the entire weekend turned out to be one great show. And I'm already looking forward to the next one.
Web Rove of the Week: Iron Stef's St. Louis As Seen on TV
These days, with so many specialized channels, television is a major way to learn about travel destinations. My favorite travel shows focus not just on travel, but on food destinations. As you may have figured out by now, I am extremely proud of my city's strong food culture. I am therefore very pleased when some of these places are recognized on national television.
In my first guest post, about eating challenges in St. Louis, I mentioned that the show Man vs. Food had visited and attempted to take down Crown Candy Kitchen's milkshake challenge. Adam also visited a couple of other favorites in that episode... Iron Barley (Which Guy Fieri also visited... see video here) and Pappy's Smokehouse. Both are popular among locals and worth a visit (just be prepared to wait... did I mention they were popular?). Here is a video of Adam from Man Vs. Food talking about his time in the Lou. It seems he also visited Ted Drewes frozen custard... a landmark to locals for decades.
One of my most trusted television food personalities is Alton Brown. I loved his travel show Feasting on Asphalt, in which he traveled across the country on his motorcycle. When he rolled through our Neck of the woods, he stopped at Alton, IL's famous Fast Eddie's Bonair. Fast Eddie's is a lively bar with cheap and tasty food.
Alton is just a skip over the river from St. Louis. Worth the short jaunt for the Chick-on-a-stick... skewered chicken drummettes that Alton Brown claimed to be the first chicken wings he had ever actually liked! When he passed through the city of St. Louis, Alton chose to highlight our plethora of tasty donuts. Read more about our donuts here.
BBC News ran a feature last year highlighting St. Louis' beer culture. See the video here. As the home of Anheuser Busch, this has always been a beer town. But now the scene is shifting, and craft beers are taking over. Craft breweries and brew pubs have been popping up like mad the past 10 years. To keep track, check out the excellent website STL Hops, and the local beer column Hip Hops. Evan Benn, writer of the Hip Hops column, also just published a book, Brew in the Lou, that is brimming with St. Louis's beer history, present and future. Great information!
While Guy Fieri grates on me (Anthony Bourdain likened him to Poochie from the Simpsons :D), I have eaten at several of the places featured on his show, Diner's Drive-Ins and Dives, and I have to say he hasn't steered me wrong yet. When he was in St. Louis he went to Sweetie Pie's, a fantastic soul food restaurant. Check out the video:
And for dessert...local cupcake shop Jilly's Cupcakes just won Food Network's Cupcake Wars! Cool! Who doesn't like cupcakes? People say the trend is dying, but so far I haven't seen proof.
Roving Pic: Public Market Afterhours
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| Public Market Seattle, Washington July 2008 Photo: Scott Clark |
The Opera-etic and coordinated fish mongers, bundles of beautiful bouquets and fresh fruit merchants had gone home long before this picture was snapped. As we wandered the empty market aisles, remnant flower petals danced in the breeze across the cement floor. Stepping outside into the July evening, the "public market" took on a very not-so-public persona.
Special thanks to Iron Stef for her phenomenal and delicious recent guest posts! More to come from Stef herself later this week. She's truly a gem!
Web Rove of the Week: Iron Stef's Italy via St. Louis
Hi Roving Fans! I'm back for another guest post. Jealous that Julie gets to travel to Italy, I thought I'd share some of my favorite Italian delights right here in St. Louis.
This city has some strong Italian roots. The first place you will here about when you start to research Italian food in St. Louis is not a particular restaurant, but an entire Italian neighborhood, The Hill. With it's Italian flag-painted fire hydrants, The Hill is familiar to most St. Louisans as the place to go for small family Italian eateries, bakeries and grocery store. Whether you live here or are visiting, consider taking a tour! I know it's now on my list of staycation activities!
Pizza, 3 ways!
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| Photo from TheGoodPie.com |
The Good Pie is Neapolitan-style pizza; hand-tossed crust cooked in a super-hot wood pizza oven. I LOVE this pizza. And this place. Besides the delicious pizza, The Good Pie has a great beer list with craft beers that will pair well with your meal and a relaxed, fun atmosphere. The Caesar salad is phenomenal... get the extra anchovies!
Pi became famous when Barak Obama said it was his favorite pizza. The controversy? Well, Obama is from Chicago and Pi is Chicago-style pizza... giving Cubs fans yet another reason to be jealous of St. Louis :). Our Prez has great taste, though. Pi's deep dish pizzas are fantastic... I could eat the crispy-tender crust all day. Pi is located on the Delmar Loop, a fun entertainment district with shops, music venues, bars, and more. Pi also has a roving pizza truck. Find out where they are each day by following them on Twitter.
This is where I get controversial. St. Louis-Style Pizza is essentially a thin crust pizza, topped with a sweet sauce and Provel cheese, cut into squares. Why controversial? Provel is... well... an acquired taste. It's gooey, okay? It's a processed cheese developed just for thin-crust pizzas because it melts fast and isn't stringy, making for a clean, non-chin burning bite. My friend Andrew Veety wrote a very interesting research post on this processed regional favorite, if you want to learn more (I know you do!). Non-natives usually dislike Provel. I hated the stuff growing up, but now I enjoy the occasional St. Louis-style pizza for nostalgia's sake. My favorite is Faraci's in Ferguson, where I grew up. Only do take-out there. Pirrone's Pizza, also in North County, is also a favorite.
Acero is an Italian restaurant in the Maplewood (right next to the Schlafly beer Bottleworks!). It's a nice, somewhat upscale, but comfortable, little restaurant with a good wine selection and great food. Whatever you do, get the egg yolk raviolo, a large ravioli that has a whole, deliciously runny and rich egg yolk inside! My friend Kelly and I loved this so much we recreated at home.
Stellina is known for their home-made pasta and their fresh, local ingredients. They also have great sandwiches.
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| Photo by Corey Woodruff (www.coreywoodruff.com) |
Also known as "Cute Meat Guys", Mark Sanfilippo & Ben Poremba make some of the finest sausages and cured meats in the country. Mark originally did charcuterie at one of Mario Batali's restaurants, then moved back to St. Louis and started making sausage and selling it on his own. It was so popular at the local farmer's markets that they were able to open this shop. Check out this Food Blog Mafia post about Salume Beddu, and go get yourself some amazing meats. They also serve lunch!
Okay. I'm feeling better now. I mean, I still wish Julie could let me crawl into her carry-on... but I have options for getting my Italian fix here at home. Arrivederci!
Roving Pic: Golden Gate
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| Golden Gate Bridge San Francisco, CA July 2008
The splendor of walking across the Golden Gate Bridge was cut abruptly short when my photographer husband's fancy camera fell to the ground due to a faulty camera stop. This shot was taken with my trusty Canon point and shoot camera after much ado, frustration and many curse words. I think it tuned out quite well despite my "inferior" camera's capabilities. It just shows that the shot is defined by who shoots it and not by mega-pixels and apertures. The rest of our west coast tour was shot with my little Canon and they're some of my favorite photos of all.
Thanks for F-stopping by! And stay tuned later this week for another extra special guest post from Iron Stef, food blogger extraordinaire! |
Roving I Recap: Summer Nights in Soho
On a recent trip to New York for work. A co-worker friend and I found ourselves obligation free on a Wednesday night. So we quickly gave ourselves two obligations, shopping and Mexican food. With those heavy burdens upon our shoulders, we set out on the streets of splendid Soho.
Soho and I go way back. On every trip to New York, whether it has been for business or for fun, I’ve ended up there. She calls to me with her hidden big-name and little-name shop gems, hip but inviting restaurants and cafes and diverse street vendors vending lovelies that I can’t get at home.
I find it wonderful to just wander the uneven Soho sidewalks with no itinerary in hand. The discoveries will be different every time you go, but they will be yours. Whether you're a foodie, a deal finder or a trend follower, Soho is something special.
Where We Roved in Soho:
So long for now, Soho. I will certainly see you next time!
- Dos Caminos: A mighty fine fix for our Mexican food craving. This phenomenal find was a recommend from a family member (Thanks Aunt Cat!) and was a welcome oasis after a long walk in uncomfortable heels. We sat nearly on the outside patio, enjoying the warm evening air through the open doors. One blue pom margarita, several salty chips and gobs of outstanding guac later, I was a little more in love with Soho.
- The Soho Grand: While in town, we attended a media event out in the comfortably chic Soho Grand "Yard." Weathered wooden seating covered by sprawling umbrellas provided ample lounge space for the post-sunset crowd while strewn piazza lights twinkled above the relaxed scene. Complimentary beverages and new friends sealed a simply grand summer evening in Soho.
- Ideya: Gotta love late night Latin. Just down the street from the Soho Grand, Ideya is brightly decorated in Latin American hues of yellow, blue and white. Stepping inside, you could almost hear ocean waves above the city sounds. From the plantains to the pollo asado, the food was fabulous - simple, freshly prepared and somewhat spicy. But it was the creamy coconut mojito that really wowed us. I only had one, but it wasn't nearly enough!
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| Ideya, Soho Photo: Ideya |
Web Rove of the Week: Iron Stef's 4 Most Extreme St. Louis Food Challenges
I’m very lucky to be great friends with a true St. Louis celebrity, the Riverfront Times 2011 St. Louis Food Blogger of Year, “Iron Stef” aka Stephanie. She’s on a first name basis with Emeril thanks to her ingenious meatloaf cupcakes with mashed potato frosting. She knows every condiment from au jus to soy. She’s super quick with a knife, so watch out. But this Foodie also happens to be one fabulous human being.
Today, you’re in for a real treat: the first in a series of guest posts from the Iron Stef herself and she’s whipped up something special. So, read on. It’s about to get good!
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| Iron Stef Photo: Corey Woodruff coreywoodruff.com |
"Hello Roving I readers! I am totally smitten with my good friend Julie's travel blog here, so it is with honor that I am writing a series of guest posts about food in St. Louis. Whether you are visiting our fair city or already live here and are looking for fun "staycation" ideas, I am proud of St. Louis' food culture. We have lots of good places to eat, from fancy to hole-in-the wall. We have some of the best chef's in the country and we also have lots of diversity... virtually every nationality in the world is represented here. So when Julie asked me to write about the best places to eat, I just could not narrow it down to a single post. So this is the first in a series of... well, however many Julie lets me write... :)
I'm gonna start extreme. Are you a fan of the Travel Channel show Man vs. Food? Do you fancy yourself a bottomless pit or a steel-tongued superstar? Here are some food challenges in the area for when you're feeling... well... gluttonous.
1. Crown Candy Kitchen Malt Challenge. (http://crowncandykitchen.net/) Crown Candy Kitchen has been a St. Louis favorite since 1913! Located in the north side of the city, Crown Candy is famous for its delicious chocolates and ice cream malts. If you can drink 5 malts in 30 minutes, you get them for free. You also win bragging rights. This is a big feat... one that beat Adam from Man vs. Food (video here). That's right. He had a reversal.... 5 malts does not sound like a lot, but they are big malts. Even if you are not up for the challenge, I encourage you to visit this old-school eatery. I love the BLT, as well as the candies and the fudge sundae.
2. The Pointersaurus Challenge at Pointer's Pizza
Only 16 teams of 2 have won this challenge since its inception in 2001. It's no wonder... the Pointersaurus is 28" in diameter and weighs 10 pounds. Not many people can take down 5 pounds of dough, meat and cheese. If you and a friend can, though, you'll win $500!
3. The Level 25 (and up) Challenge at Pearl Cafe http://www.pearlcafestl.com/
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| Photo: Corey Woodruff coreywoodruff.com |
Pearl Cafe is located in my neck of the woods in North St. Louis Country. They have fantastic Thai and Vietnamese food, worth a visit even if you are not trying to set your insides on fire. However, if you can stand the heat, the Level 25 challenge will test you. The heat level in normal dishes ranges from 1-5. For the Level 25, 50, 75 and 100, Pearl mixes in more peppers, including ghost pepper concentrate to make you sweat. You have to start at 25 and work your way up to 100 in subsequent visits... there is no jumping straight to the top. When you beat each stage you get your picture on Pearl's Facebook page. Some friends of mine took on the 25 challenge, a visit I documented in a recent Food Blog Mafia post. They beat it, then ordered a Level 50 dish just to try. I tried a bite of the 50. My lips were on fire for a good 20 minutes. This is serious stuff. The guy who runs the challenge told us that the people who beat the Level 100 would usually be pretty out of it by the time they finished... like in an altered state! That's HOT.
4. The Archinator at Pam's Chicago Style Hot Dogs
I only recently discovered Pam's, a fun little hot dog joint on the Delmar Loop, an entertainment district that is home to lots of fun shops, restaurants, theatres and music venues. Pam's is rebellious in that the back wall displays Cub's baseball memorabilia. In a Cardinals town, this is a risky move. They make up for it by offering an array of hot dogs, gyros and crazy, heart-clogging fried desserts (Twinkies battered and deep fried, balls of cookie dough battered and deep fried, Twix bar wrapped in cookie dough battered and deep fried... !!!). The Archinator is a 22-inch beef dog, served on a whole baguette and dressed the Chicago way (bright green relish, mustard, pickled peppers, tomatoes, onions, celery salt). The Archinator CHALLENGE however, includes Chili, sauerkraut, cheese and more (see photo for full description), and a large order of fries and a soda. If you can down this you get your photo on the wall and a $20 gift certificate to come back.
So, are you up to St. Louis' extreme food challenges?"
Special thanks to Iron Stef for her delicious first guest post. She truly has the recipe for wonderful.
Roving Pic: A Grand Shot
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| Grand Canyon December 2009 Photo: Scott Clark |
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