The Culinary Canines – Fall Favorite

October 26, 2009

Edgar and Edward love to eat, especially “people” food…

While people food is not allowed that doesn’t stop them if the opportunity presents itself.
They will be sharing best recipes, party tips and food decorations tips with the “Living, Laughing and Loving Sisterhood of P.E.O Chapter GX.

Notes from the Cook and a special thanks to Rosemary Sullivan … Hilton Head Island, SC  …. for sharing what has become my favorite party dish!

For a stress free dinner party do the following:

1. prepare early in the day Sweet Potato dish …. place in pre-heated 400 degree oven and cook for 1 hour or till slices tender (for some reason it always takes longer so I give myself 1 1/2 hours….checking potatoes after an hour… if done early top with  foil to keep warm before serving.    

2. prepare marmalade early in day and warm in microwave before serving

3. prepare pork sliced tenderloin early in day …. I pan fry right before serving the room temp tenderloin slices and it is not a last minute stressful step!

4. this recipe is very easy to double for a party of 8-10

	Randy Mayor

Pecan-Crusted Pork with Red Onion Marmalade and Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Yield:  4 servings (serving size: 2 cutlets, 1/4 cup onion marmalade, and 3/4 cup sweet potatoes)

Preheat oven to 400°.

Arrange potato slices in a 13 x 9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons sugar; sprinkle liberally with chopped candied pecans and then drizzle top liberally with maple syrup. Bake at 400° for 30 minutes. Turn potatoes over; bake an additional 30 minutes or until tender. Keep warm.

Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and 2 tablespoons sugar; cook 6 minutes or until onion is tender and lightly browned, stirring frequently. Stir in water, vinegar, and ginger; bring to a boil. Cook 3 minutes, and remove from heat.

Trim fat from pork, and cut crosswise into 8 pieces. Place each piece between 2 sheets of heavy-duty plastic wrap, and flatten to 1/2-inch thickness using a meat mallet or rolling pin.

Lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup. Place 1/4 cup flour in a shallow dish. Combine 1/4 cup flour, ground pecans, and pepper in a separate shallow dish. Dredge pork in flour, shaking off excess. Dip pork in egg whites; dredge in pecan mixture, coating both sides.

Melt butter in pan coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat. Arrange pork in pan in a single layer. Cook 3 minutes on each side or until browned. Top pork with onion mixture; sprinkle with chopped pecans. Serve with sweet potatoes.

Outstanding Budget Ski Trips

October 26, 2009

Budget Ski Trips by Kimberly Thompson (Concierge.com 10/21)

Grand Targhee, Wyoming
Monarch, Colorado
Jay Peak, Vermont
Whistler Blackcomb, British Colombia
Loveland, Colorado
Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico
Alta, Utah
Cannon Mountain, New Hampshire
Alpine Meadows, California
Keystone, Colorado

GRAND TARGHEE, WYOMING
Annual snowfall: 500 inches
Vertical drop: 2,270 feet
Skiable acres: 2,100
One-day lift ticket: $69

Perfect for: Intermediates who want to experience the Tetons but don’t have the skills to tackle Jackson Hole
Why here: Snow. Powder. Fluff. The white stuff. Whatever you call it, Targhee’s got lots. When storms blow in over Idaho, they get hung up on the west side of the Tetons, unloading much of their precious cargo on this small mom-and-pop resort before moving on to Jackson Hole. Targhee is also more affordable and far less intimidating than its cousin on the other side of Teton Pass. Its terrain is mellow (some gripe that after a four-foot dump, it’s not steep enough to ski), and it’s got a friendly, potato-farmer vibe.
The highlight: While you’re here for the snow (have we mentioned that it gets a lot?), pray for one day without it: The eye-level, front-row views of Grand Teton are life list–worthy.
Sleep for cheap: The Teewinot Lodge (pictured) is the exception rather than the rule:
It’s both the nicest lodging in the area and the most affordable. This ski-in/ski-out hotel
was refurbished in 2006 in tasteful, log-cabin style; post-ski perks include pillow-top
mattresses, boot warmers, and flat-screen TVs. The Roll Outta Bed & Ride package—one night’s lodging at the Teewinot Lodge and one lift
ticket—starts at $89 per person

MONARCH, COLORADO
Annual snowfall: 350 inches
Vertical drop: 1,162 feet
Skiable acres: 800
One-day lift ticket: $54

Perfect for: Expert powder skiers—real experts, not just the ones that check off Type III on their rental forms—hungry for a snowcat adventure
Why here: Monarch is beautiful. Located in central Colorado’s San Isabel National Forest, it’s surrounded by the majestic peaks of the Sawatch Mountain Range. But you’re not here to gawk: Monarch’s snowcat terrain is some of the best in Colorado…and it’s empty. Monarch Snowcat Tours will take you on 10 to 12 runs down steeps blanketed with pure, dry, untouched Colorado powder. The cost? $250, way cheaper than heli-skiing in British Columbia. Sold? Well, you should know that without fresh snow, Monarch’s modest acreage won’t entertain for long. So check the forecast, plan a two- or three-day trip, and bring your snow-dancing shoes.
The highlight: Mirkwood Basin. It’s only a 15-minute hike from the top of the Breezeway lift, but its 130 acres of fresh snow make it feel miles from a resort.  If you’re backcountry savvy, the gates on the far side of the bowl will open up a whole new world of white.
Sleep for cheap: At first glance, the Monarch Mountain Lodge looks like the hotel from The Shining, but like the lifties, it’s always warm and friendly. The rooms try to
pass off trail maps as artwork, but there’s an indoor pool and an outdoor hot tub (speaking of shining, the latter provides some of the best star-watching in the state). One night at Monarch Mountain Lodge plus two lift tickets (one for the day of arrival and one for the next day): approximately $100 per personwww.monarchmountainlodge.com

JAY PEAK, VERMONT
Annual snowfall: 376 inches
Vertical drop: 2,153 feet
Skiable acres: 385
One-day lift ticket: $65

Perfect for: The East Coast skier who wants a break from bouncing off bulletproof steeps
Why here: Old Man Winter not only lives at Jay Peak, he skis here, too: Jay gets more snowfall than any other resort in the East—not to mention many in the West. Pity that the “Jay Cloud” comes with biting winds and frigid temperatures (Canada is, after all, only
a snowball’s throw away). But Jay’s 100 acres of trees provide respite from the weather, and you won’t be thinking about your cold toes while you’re making fresh tracks, anyway.  Those glades also make this ski hill far bigger than its official 385 acres, which is good, considering that there’s really not much else to do here. The frequent gripes about Jay’s dated base lodges and absent nightlife have been heard: New ownership plans to open a luxury hotel (as yet unnamed) here in January 2010, and a livelier selection of restaurants and bars is on the way as well. Jay is a bit harder to get to than Stowe or Mad River Glen, but that also makes it less crowded. And if you have a season pass to a different resort, flash it at the ticket window for $20 off your lift ticket.
The highlight: Après-ski at the Belfry, in nearby Montgomery, is the best place to get
your fill of frothy ale and local lore.
Sleep for cheap: Jay has more slopeside condos than you can shake a ski pole at, and they’re great for large families or groups that want to cook for themselves. For those who prefer a traditional hotel (or for someone else to do the cooking), there’s the Hotel Jay. It isn’t the Ritz, but it is steps from the lift and has a surprising reputation among gourmands for its tasty—and affordable—fare.
Four midweek nights at Hotel Jay—including breakfast, dinner, and lift tickets
(plus a free half-day on the day you arrive)—is $165 per person per night

WHISTLER BLACKCOMB, BRITISH COLUMBIA
Annual snowfall: 402 inches
Vertical drop: 5,020 feet (Whistler); 5,280 feet (Blackcomb)
Skiable acres: 4,757 (Whistler); 3,414 (Blackcomb)
One-day lift ticket: $89

Perfect for: Diehards who scoff at fair-weather skiers—Whistler’s annual 34 feet of snow don’t drop out of sunny skies
Why here: With one-day lift tickets ringing up at $89, Whistler Blackcomb isn’t exactly cheap, but it is the real deal: a vast playground of mile-high cliffs that get so much snow you can ski down them. The U.S. dollar goes farther in Canada now than it has during the recent past, and with the 2010 Winter Olympic Games coming down the pike, it’s a great time to check out the scene before the throngs—and price-gouging—hit. (You can snag significant savings with the right ski-and-stay package.) Since these peaksare massive, show up at either mountain’s mid-mountain guest satisfaction center at 11:30 am to join a free tour to get your bearings. In general, Whistler is slightly easier to handle than Blackcomb, but don’t expect much coddling there, either: Both are mountains best handled by experts.
The highlight: A ride in the new Peak 2 Peak Gondola (pictured). Spanning 2.73 miles and supported by just four towers, it’s an engineering marvel: the longest unsupported lift span in the world and, at 1,427 feet above the valley floor, the highest lift of its kind. To ramp up the fear factor, catch the glass-bottomed car.
Sleep for cheap: Perched on the mountain above Blackcomb Village, Residence Inn by Marriott’s homey, nicer-than-average ski-in/ski-out condos include full kitchens and fireplaces. There’s also a slopeside heated pool and hot tub (trust us, you’ll need it), plus free breakfast.
Three nights at the Residence Inn by Marriott and two days of skiing start at $195 per
person

LOVELAND, COLORADO
Annual snowfall: 400 inches
Vertical drop: 2,410 feet
Skiable acres: 1,365
One-day lift ticket: $56

Perfect for: Hard-charging powder-hounds who think “luxury” means free parking
Why here: Perched at the top of the Continental Divide, Loveland’s 92 trails and high-alpine bowls are usually deserted, save for a devoted Denver fan base. It’s also just an hour’s drive from the airport, which—given I-70’s weekend gridlock—could mean packing an extra day or two of skiing into your trip. So what’s the catch? For starters, Loveland has no base village, no slopeside hotels, no ski valets, and no heated sidewalks—or sidewalks, period, for that matter. And its terrain is some of Colorado’s most exposed (head-to-toe Gore-Tex is a good idea). But if you’re looking for an affordable Colorado fix or you’re on the springtime hunt for good corn (Loveland stays open until early May), you’ll fall for this locals’ favorite.
The highlight: Views of the Rockies from the 12,700-foot summit of Chair 9—they’re
worth the risk of frostbite.
Sleep for cheap: There’s no lodging at Loveland, but the quaintness of Victorian-styled Georgetown (pictured)—founded as a mining camp in 1859—makes up for the ten-minute drive to the slopes. Rooms at the Georgetown Mountain Inn are done up in rather dated mountain style, but there’s an indoor pool for the kids, and the views can’t be beat. (Watch for bighorn sheep outside your window.)
Ski-and-stay packages for the Georgetown Mountain Inn start at $156 per day for
the room and two adult lift tickets (a child’s lift ticket is an additional $20)
TAOS SKI VALLEY, NEW MEXICO
Annual snowfall: 305 inches
Vertical drop: 2,612 feet
Skiable acres: 1,294
One-day lift ticket: $66

Perfect for: Groups that include nonskiers. While the skiers test their mettle on the resort’s throat-tightening steeps, everyone else can forage for art, food, and culture in town.
Why here: Located 20 miles from one of the quaintest and most colorful tourist towns in the West, Taos Ski Valley has a unique Southwest-meets-Europe charm. Its terrain rivals that of Jackson Hole and Blackcomb; what’s more, it gets 300-plus days of sunshine a year. As for crowds, since there are no lift lines to speak of, you’ll get in so many runs that your quads will be begging for a lift down the mountain at the end of the day. One word of caution, though: Check the weather report before you come. In a lean snow year, Taos’s bony chutes are unforgiving.
The highlight: Even if you didn’t challenge the mountain, you can still join the après crowd gathered around the Hotel St. Bernard’s slopeside fire pit for a martini. Be sure to check out the 50-year-old photos…of people sitting around the fire pit.
Sleep for cheap: The rooms at Hotel Don Fernando de Taos are done in traditional Southwestern decor, punctuated by work by local artists. The hotel is located in town, and getting around is easy: There’s complimentary shuttle service to historic Taos square, and the Taos Ski Valley bus (a.k.a. the “Chile Line”) makes the 30-minute trip from your lodgings to the base an easy $1 ride. Nearby restaurants like Five Star Burger make dining out particularly affordable. Rooms at the Hotel Don Fernando de Taos start at $89; lift tickets are $66.
ALTA, UTAH
Annual snowfall: 500 inches
Vertical drop: 2,020 feet
Skiable acres: 2,200
One-day lift ticket: $64

Perfect for: Skiers who dream of schussing through waist-high powder (snowboarders remain
verboten)
Why here: Alta, with its cranky lifts, copious powder, and legendary steeps, is a classic resort that every serious skier needs to experience. And since flights into Salt Lake City are extremely affordable, it’s an easy one to check off your list. The rugged terrain of the Wasatch Range is softened considerably with 500 inches—that’s 42 feet—of snow, which is as close as any resort gets to a powder guarantee. The action fades with the setting sun (dining and nightlife options are limited), but when dawn breaks to 15 more inches of fresh, you’ll be grateful for the good night’s sleep.
The highlight: Tree skiing accessed via the Supreme Lift, just after a storm. Alta doesn’t do double-diamond designations, but if it did, these steep runs would certainly qualify.
(Beware of cliffs, especially in the trees off Challenger.)
Sleep for cheap: Nearby Salt Lake City has tons of budget-friendly hotels, but cashing in on the savings can be risky: When a big snow hits, the road that winds through Little Cottonwood Canyon to Alta is often closed. Alta’s base area has five ski-in/ski-out lodges—each with its own devoted fan base—that operate on a European program (breakfast, lunch, and dinner included). The Peruvian’s simple, wood-paneled guest rooms aren’t much to look at, but like most of the other lodges, this property has an après-ski bar, a game room, a heated outdoor pool, and a hot tub (plus a movie room and ski rental shop). And it tends to have the best deals.
Four nights at the Peruvian, three lift tickets, and three meals per day
(plus round-trip transportation to and from the airport) is $214 per person per night;
CANNON MOUNTAIN, NEW HAMPSHIRE
Annual snowfall: 160 inches
Vertical drop: 2,180 feet
Skiable acres: 178
One-day lift ticket: $64

Perfect for: Purists. Cannon is a skier’s mountain with a temperament as rugged as its
terrain.
Why here: At this unapologetically old-school, state-owned mountain (don’t call it a resort), it’s always snowing, sleeting, or raining. There are few lodging, après-ski, or dining options. And once you step off the tram, you’re on your own to find a way down what is arguably the most challenging terrain in the East. (Don’t miss Upper Cannon, a New England classic.) But therein lies Cannon’s appeal: This soulful place is about skiing, not hobnobbing. The mountain does make a few concessions to those intimidated by or unprepared for its tough rep, including a separate family area that’s tracked with groomed beginner trails. Lift tickets are two-for-one every Tuesday and Thursday throughout the season.
The highlight: A ride in Cannon’s tram. The original was built in 1938—the first in North America—at the head of Franconia Notch State Park.
Sleep for cheap: There is no ski-in/ski-out lodging at Cannon, which is just fine by its fans. (Skiing is supposed to be an outdoor sport—with views of trees, not mansions.) But a few minutes down the road, you’ll find a range of accommodations, from cozy cabins to chain hotels. For a quintessential—and affordable—New England experience, book a room at the Franconia Inn (pictured), an enchanting historic hotel complete with horse-drawn sleigh rides, cross-country skiing, gourmet dining, outdoor hot tubs, and an après-ski pub. From there, it’s a five-minute drive to the slopes.
Rates start at $115 per couple, per night, and the inn offers discount lift tickets:
$48 for weekends; $37 midweek; 603-823-5542

ALPINE MEADOWS, CALIFORNIA
Annual snowfall: 365 inches
Vertical drop: 1,802 feet
Skiable acres: 2,400
One-day lift ticket: $64

Perfect for: Spring skiers. Alpine has one of the longest seasons in the valley, often
operating well into May.
Why here: Alpine is the anti-Squaw: It shares a ridgeline with the Tahoe superstar, but it’s utterly unpretentious, and lift tickets here are some of the cheapest in the valley. It’s also gorgeous, with the area’s best views of the lake (sorry, Heavenly). While many resorts tout the “something for everyone” cliché, it happens to be true at Alpine. Experts find plenty of goods in the chutes and bowls north of the Summit Six Express: From the top, it’s a ten-minute hike to the Double Black Diamond Beaver Bowl, but trust us, it’s worth it. Intermediates love the blue cruisers off the Roundhouse quad because they can challenge themselves without being scared silly. And groups of skiers with mixed
abilities can all ride up the lift together, separate to ski different terrain, and then meet up at the bottom for another lift ride.
The highlight: Dinner at Christy Hill. It’s not Tahoe City’s most renowned restaurant, but it is one of the best. The elegant dining room is perched above the lake—be sure to catch the sunset—and prices on the no-fuss menu won’t make you want to jump overboard. (Try the pan-seared wild king salmon with cracked pepper in a cabernet demi-glace.)
Sleep for cheap: There’s not much in the way of lodging at Alpine’s base, but there are plenty of options ten minutes away in Tahoe City. If you don’t mind rustic, camp-style cabins, try the Tamarack Lodge: The price—$150 for a two-bedroom with a full kitchen, even on weekends—will help you see past the tacky comforters.
KEYSTONE, COLORADO
Annual snowfall: 230 inches
Vertical drop: 3,128 feet
Skiable acres: 3,148
One-day lift ticket: $92

Perfect for: Families. Even if Mom’s a ripper, Dad’s a beginner, and Junior’s a park rat,
they’ll all find a favorite run.
Why here: It’s all about convenience. Keystone is a self-contained village (if an ersatz one—the “mining town” theme is a little contrived), with coffee shops, restaurants, and rental shops within walking distance of the lifts and lodging. As for the skiing, Keystone’s strength is in its diversity, from fast groomers like Star Fire to the Windows, a steep, challenging glade. The kids can kick it by day in one of the nation’s best terrain parks, ride all evening on Keystone’s illuminated slopes, and then hang with their newfound friends in the plaza until curfew. That means parents—with money to burn, thanks to Keystone’s unbeatable package deals—are free to do whatever they want. Now that’s a vacation.
The highlight: Adventure Point tubing park (pictured)—a 1,000-foot drop that nears 30 degrees in parts and might be the most thrilling part of your day. (Unless, that is, you
followed your teenager into the terrain park.)
Sleep for cheap: The River Run Village’s one- to four-bedroom units—done up in standard mountain-condo decor—include a full kitchen (eating in will save you plenty), living room, dining room, and gas fireplace. And they’re close enough to the slopes that you can ski straight to the heated outdoor pool and hot tub.
Four nights of lodging at River Run Village and four lift tickets starts at $157 per person
per night. Night skiing is free the day you arrive (excluding Mondays and Tuesdays).
Keystone also throws in an Adventure Passport, which includes a free ice-skating pass and
coupons for local restaurants and activities

Ski Season Blows in Flurry of Deals in North America

October 22, 2009

Ski Season Blows in Flurry of Deals in North America  10/20/2009
Kirk Cassels – TravelAgentCentral.com’s Web Managing Editor.

A promising ski season is being kicked off byTravelImpressions who is offering value-added vacation packages for ski bunnies looking to hit the slopes in Colorado, Lake Tahoe or Utah.
The new Seize The Slopes promotion offers a free night on four-, five- or seven-night stays at select hotels.  The booking window for the promotion is Oct. 1 – 31, 2009 for travel Nov. 15, 2009 – March 31, 2010.
Seize the Slopes vacation packages include roundtrip airport/hotel transfers (except at the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe and Resort at Squaw Creek); ski lift tickets; hotel accommodations and hotel tax. The following are sample rates at participating properties offering a fourth night free when booking a four-night stay:

·        The Village At Squaw Valley (Lake Tahoe, Nevada) from $669 per person
·        The Westin Riverfront Mountain Villas (Beaver Creek, Colorado) from $949 per person
          Guests booking a five-night hotel package will receive a fifth night free at participating resorts.  Sample rates for five-night packages are as follows:
·        Sheraton Mountain Vista (Beaver Creek, Colorado) from $1,019 per person
·        Sky Hotel (Aspen, Colorado) from $1,025 per person
·        The St. Regis Deer Crest Resort (Deer Valley, Utah) from $1,079 per person
·        Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort and Spa (Beaver Creek, Colorado) from $1,149 per person
·        St. Regis Aspen Resort (Aspen, Colorado) from $1,155 per person

Select resorts are offering a seventh night free on seven-night reservations with sample rates as follows:

·        Resort At Squaw Creek (Lake Tahoe, Nevada) from $1,095 per person
·        Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa & Casino (Lake Tahoe, Nevada) from $1,265 per person 
         Airfare is available from gateways nationwide and can be easily added to the cost of the hotel package.

Gearing up for Ski Season
From early mountain openings in California to 24-hour snowmaking in Canada, ski season is blowing in to North America and several resorts are announcing deals and packages to take advantage of anticipation. After a better-than-expected turnout for the 2008-2009 holiday ski season .

Wyoming
For starters, the new Amagani Ski Club at Aman Resorts’ Amangani resort in Wyoming, with a stay of four nights or more, is offering free access to the Amangani Ski Lounge, two adult ski passes for three days of skiing, daily continental breakfast and complimentary airport transfers. The ski-in/ski-out lounge rests at the heart of the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, steps from the Bridger Gondola and complete with ski concierge, storage for ski equipment, boot dryers plenty of après amenities
In addition, travelers will receive a complimentary night at Aman’s newest U.S. resort, Amangiri, located near Lake Powell in the desert terrain of Utah’s canyon country. The hotel includes 32 suites, and private villas (available for sale or rent) are expected to be added within the year.
Colorado
Keystone mountain resort is offering travelers a guaranteed low rate on its one-
and two-bedroom condos this winter with $149 and $189 rates respectively.
This offer is valid for travel from November 6 through April 10, with the exception of December 26-31. All guests receive a complimentary Adventure Passport upon check-in, entitling them to free and discounted activities such as GPS Adventure, NASTAR Family Racing, free ice skating and more
Utah
Pay for three nights and receive four as Stein Eriksen Lodge, nestled mid-mountain at Deer Valley Resort in Utah, is offering a bonus night of luxury and free day of skiing on any three-night stay from December 5 – 18, 2009, and March 28 – April 11, 2010. The package includes Deluxe Room accommodations, daily buffet breakfast, taxes and one adult lift ticket per person to Deer Valley Resort.
Additional packages at the ski-in/ski-out resort include:
*    Bronze Ski Package, $276 per person, per night: Includes Deluxe Room accommodations, daily buffet breakfast, taxes and one adult lift ticket per person to Deer Valley      Resort. Valid from December 4 – December 17, 2009 and March 28 – April 11, 2010
*    Early Escape Package $389 per person, per night: Package includes daily breakfast, taxes and one adult lift ticket per person to Deer Valley Resort. Additional nights may be purchased. Valid Sunday through Wednesday only from January 31 – February 11, and February 21 – March 11.
British Colombia
With the 2010 Winter Olympics right around the corner, Whistler Blackcomb is ready to welcome the world with all the savings it can provide. To mark the season, the resort is offering a best price guarantee where Guests can save up to 39 percent by booking by November 15. If guests find a better deal later in the season, Whistler Blackcomb will take care of the difference.

[Kirk Cassels is TravelAgentCentral.com’s Web Managing Editor. He worked at Plum TV as Network Ticker Editor and helped launch the company's Hamptons website as Online Editor. While receiving his master’s degree in journalism at Temple University, he assisted in the creation of the school’s Multimedia Urban Reporting Lab. He also has over 10 years editing and writing experience for seven print publications.]

World’s Best Beach Food

October 19, 2009

World’s Best Beach Food
by Siobhan Adcock
Conde Nast Traveler on Concierge.com

On most beaches, the best food you’ll get is something fried, served with a side of something else fried. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, of course: to eat greasy French fries (or fried clams, or even fried dough) on the beach is human. But to eat tender grilled octopus and wash it down with a cold cerveza while digging your toes into the powdery sand of Mexico’s Pacific Coast—well, that’s divine. Our (Travel + Leisure’s) list of contenders for the world’s best beach food contains its share of classic fried goodies and seafood, as well as some less-familiar seaside delicacies, such as the traditional English breakfast preferred by Cornwall’s surfing set, cool and creamy salads served on a shady patio overlooking the north coast of Mykonos, and what may be America’s best—and definitely its largest—cheeseburger.
Whether it’s prepared in a roadside shack or a gleaming modern kitchen, this is beach food sublime enough to compete with an ocean view.

Steamed Lobsters in Maine
Fry-Up in Cornwall
Grilled Fish in Vietnam
Alcapurrias in Puerto Rico
Oysters in Brittany
Acarajes in Brazil
Fish Taco in Maui
Bacon Double Cheeseburgers in San Diego
Grilled Octopus in Mexico
Elephant Ears on the Jersey Shores
Paella in Mallorca
Mezes in Mykonos, Greece

Classic steamed lobster in Maine
The beach: Waterman’s Beach in South Thomaston, on Maine’s Midcoast

The place: Waterman’s Beach Lobster, a family-run roadside stand with picnic tables right on the
beach

The dish: Salt water–steamed lobster

 If lobster is an art form in Maine, Waterman’s Beach Lobster is its Mona Lisa: a deceptively simple classic with mysterious, seductive powers. Don’t go expecting fancy techniques or elaborate side dishes—or any dishes at all, for that matter. Your crayon-red lobster will arrive on a cardboard tray, with a bag of potato chips, a cup of melted butter, and a soft piece of bread. Period. But once you settle onto a brightly painted picnic bench and crack into one of Waterman’s huge, fresh lobsters, you won’t miss any of the accoutrements.
The lobsters are steamed over salt water (rather than boiled in a pot of fresh water), which accounts for their sweet, briny flavor. The taste is pure, unadorned Maine, as is the view: pine and spruce forests; a shell-strewn, rocky beach; a dock stacked high with lobster traps; and a glittering blue bay. Save room for ice cream or homemade rhubarb pie.

Waterman’s Beach Lobster
Waterman’s Beach Road
South Thomaston, Maine
(207) 596-7819

Gourmet breakfast fry-up in Cornwall, England
The beach: Watergate Bay in Cornwall, the surfer’s paradise of western England

The place: Fifteen Cornwall, where Jamie Oliver helps aspiring young chefs earn their stripes in the
 kitchen

The dish: A locally sourced English fry-up, with eggs, sausage, tomatoes, mushrooms, and fresh-baked
 bread
A day of surfing on Cornwall’s north coast—where the water temperature hovers around 60°F—calls for a serious prebeach fuel-up. Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver comes to the rescue, in more ways than one. His acclaimed restaurant Fifteen Cornwall, overlooking a wide, pretty beach in the heart of England’s surf country, each year gives underprivileged students true hands-on culinary training. And like many restaurants born of England’s food renaissance, Fifteen Cornwall ( http://www.fifteencornwall.co.uk/)is all about local ingredients and food products. Those fried eggs with their gorgeous, sunlight-orange yolks came from a nearby poultry farmer. The thick slices of grilled heirloom tomatoes arrived courtesy of a regional specialty-veggie grower. The succulent sausage? The foraged mushrooms? Yeah, the chef “knows a guy.” Top up your tank with some of the best coffee for miles, and you’re ready for the bracing water.
The beach is a home base for local surf kids as well as extreme water-sports aficionados from further afield—although “extreme” in this case means nothing more aggro than parasailing (this is the English countryside, not L.A.).

On the Beach
Watergate Bay , Cornwall
England
Tel: 44 1637 861 000

The original “special sauce in Phu Quoc, Vietnam
The beach: Bai Truong Beach, on breathtaking Phu Quoc island in Vietnam

The place: The Palm Tree, a sand-floor, family-run seafood shack next to the La Veranda
resort

The dish: Ca chien sot tieu, whole fish grilled in foil and served with the island’s
renowned nuoc mam fish sauce
Phu Quoc, an island off the coast of Vietnam, is famous for two things. It’s one of the most buzzed-about emerging destinations in southeast Asia (luxury hotels are swooping in as you read this). And Phu Quoc is renowned among epicures for producing some of the world’s finest peppercorns and the very best fish sauce, that briny, heady condiment ubiquitous in southeast Asian cuisines. Right in front of the La Veranda resort, you’ll find the Palm Tree, an open-air beach shack that serves up seafood about
as fast as the local fishermen catch it. The Palm Tree doesn’t have refrigeration, so preparations tend to be classic and simple. The whole fish grilled with nuoc mam and peppercorns combines the best of the island on one paper plate—add some silky sand, a view of gentle waves, and a friendly, homey atmosphere, and you’ve got something much better than a cheeseburger in paradise.

The Palm Tree
Duong Dong, Phu Quoc
Vietnam
no phone

Deep-fried heaven in San Juan, Puerto Rico
The beach: Piñones Beach, Puerto Rico

The place: Any one of a long stretch of open-air beachside stands

The dish: Alcapurrias, fritters made with crabmeat and yuca

 
Head east from San Juan along Highway 187, a scenic coastal road, and you’ll hit Piñones Beach, a favorite Sunday drive destination for locals. A bike path follows the beach under pine and palm trees, leading to a stretch of open-air kioscos where the sea air is tinged with the mouthwatering scent of onion and garlic. Alcapurrias are the beach grub to grab here: They’re made by spreading a golden paste of ground yuca onto a broad almond-tree leaf, which is then used to fold the paste around a dollop of crabmeat flavored with onion, garlic, and chiles (an alternate version is made with ground beef,  but crab is the way to go). The next step involves frying in lard, about which perhaps the less said the better. But the result is fist-sized, golden-brown, deep-fried heaven. Find the kiosco with the longer line—which means they’re making their alcapurrias fresh—and it’ll be well worth the wait. Alcapurrias are best enjoyed in the shade by the water, watching turquoise waves crash around kids playing in the surf.

Piñones Beach
Highway 187, Puerto Rico
no phone

Oysters in Brittany, France
The beach: Cancale, on the French Côte d’Émeraude

The place: The charming and friendly Bistrot la Marine, on the main street of
 St.-Quay-Portrieux, overlooking the Atlantic

The dish: Oysters pulled fresh out of La Manche

Thanks to a unique confluence of environmental blessings, oysters from the beaches of  Brittany are among the tastiest in the world. Cancale oysters, in particular, have a firm texture and a tangy bite that endear them to oyster-lovers, and at seafood bistros along the Brittany coast, each oyster costs little more than one euro, or about $1.40 by current conversion rates (a better deal than the $2 to $3 per oyster at raw bars here in the States). Oyster restaurants in Brittany tend to follow a comfortable formula: wood paneling, tile floors, walls covered with nautical bits and bobs, and a patio or sidewalk tables with a view of the harbor. Bistrot la Marine, in the little seaside town of St.-QuayPortrieux, adds its own lively touches to the formula, with retro-hipster live music on weekends and a friendly late-day bar scene. Tuck into a bowl of a dozen oysters with seasoned butter and a chilled glass of muscadet in the quiet étage upstairs overlooking the boats, with sprawling murals that depict old-school ostréiculteurs returning from a day’s sloshywork in the bay.

Bistrot la Marine
38 Quai de la République
St.-Quay-Portrieux, France
33-2-96-70-87-38

Afro-Brazilian beach cuisine in Bahia, Brazil
The beach: Itapua Beach in Salvador de Bahia

The place: Acarajé da Cira, just off Itapuan Beach

The dish: Acarajés, black-eyed pea fritters served with shrimp and hot sauces

  
The African-influenced cuisine of Brazil’s Bahia region is the source of the colorful acarajé,  a much-loved beach snack that combines seafood, spice, and a sizzling pot. The foundation of the dish is the humble black-eyed pea, mashed into a paste,  formed into a lump, and deep-fried in dendê oil. The fritter is topped with a combination of bright relishes and sauces, including caruru, an okra gumbo; vatapa, a thick, tangy sauce made with nuts, shrimp paste, and coconut milk; and your classic hot-pepper sauce.  The finishing touch—worth the extra centavos—is a handful of small, bright red, sun-dried shrimp, or camarão, whose strong, almost pungent flavor plays well with the dense,
earthy fritter and the spicy sauces. Almost everyone in Salvador has a different opinion about where to get the best acarajés, but there’s a consensus around Acarajé da Cira,  a simple outdoor kitchen in a shady square just off Itapua beach. You can watch the entire process, from forming the fritters to scooping on the sauces. But why watch when you can eat?

Acarajé da Cira
Itapua Beach
Bahia, Brazil
no phone

Fish Tacos in Maui
The beach: Big Beach in Makena, on Maui’s south shore

The place: The Jawz Tacos truck in the beach parking lot

The dish: The monstrously huge ono taco

 
The fresh, hot fish taco could be considered southern California’s greatest contribution to world culture since the birth of the motion picture industry. At the risk of offending the entire state, however, we’re nominating a fish taco from a little ways across the Pacific, in Maui. Big Beach, on the south shore in Makena, is Maui’s wildest, least-developed stretch of sand, where the sparkling, clear blue waves can get a bit rough. There are no resorts here, no lifeguards, no beach bars, and not much shade. But there is a long crescent of sand, a backdrop of green, a perfect view, and, out in the parking lot, a basic but well-organized truck called Jawz Tacos, selling civilization at its finest. Jawz offers three locally caught and equally delectable options for your fish taco: light and flaky mahi mahi (the traditionalist’s choice), pearly and firm ono (for those who like their fish a bit more buttery), and ahi (yellowfin) tuna, whose thick flake stands up nicely to the rest of the taco.  The fish is combined with freshly shredded cabbage, rice flecked with cilantro, and a zingy salsa-and-sour-cream sauce in not one but two overlapping corn tortillas—the large fish taco is as long as a woman’s forearm, and almost guaranteed to fall apart under the combined weight of the deliciousness within.  If you’re the kind of person who can eat an entire helping, you might also be the kind of person who can agree that claiming the best fish tacos are in San Diego is a little bit…safe.

Classy San Diego …. and covered in cheeseburger grease

Bacon Double Cheeseburgers in San Diego
The beach: Point Loma at Ocean Beach in San Diego

The place: Hodad’s, the legendary beach burger joint

The dish: The famous, intimidating bacon double cheeseburger

Just as any list of great beach food must include a fish taco, so must it include a tip of  the cap to the city of San Diego. San Diego produces some damn fine beach food, including the grub at Hodad’s, one block from Ocean Beach. Recently ranked no. 1 in a locals-only poll of the best burger in San Diego, Hodad’s also regularly tops lists of  the best burgers in the nation. Hodad’s fans are numerous, ferocious, and sometimes a little scary—almost as scary as the sheer vertical height of the bacon double cheeseburger. If you can get your jaws around it, you’re either a velociraptor or very determined;  in either case, congratulations. So what’s the genius of the Hodad’s burger?  Is it the bacon that’s formed into two bacon patties rather than layered on in strips, allowing even distribution of bacon-y goodness across both burger patties? Is it that you can request your burger “SAC-ed,” creating a triple threat of Swiss, American, and cheddar? Best to examine these sacred questions for yourself. But skip the busy, crowded dining room and get your burgers to go, the better to enjoy them while watching the surfers on Ocean Beach, a classic strip of California beach with swaying palms and a long pier. Hodad’s apostles suggest a dip in the ocean to clean up afterward, anyway.

Hodad’s
5010 Newport Avenue
San Diego, California
(619) 224-4623

Tendar, tart octopus in Savulita, Mexico

Grilled Octopus in Mexico
The beach: Sayulita, north of Puerto Vallarta in Nayarit, Mexico

The place: El Costeño, also known as Ruperto’s, one of the town’s original beachfront
restaurants

The dish: Grilled octopus laced with lime juice

The once-sleepy fishing pueblo of Sayulita has officially been discovered:  No spot on the Pacific Coast with surfing this good can go incognito for long.  But despite the steadily growing influx of foreign visitors and well-to-do Puerto Vallartans buying real estate, the town has retained its eccentric, laid-back vibe. There’s one of just about everybody here, from rancheros to retirees, surfer kids to San Francisco expats, drawn by the region’s world-class surf and the small-town, sand-between-the-toes beach culture that has evolved here. Sayulita’s beach is dotted with sand-floor seafood shacks, but the most established is El Costeño—also one of the friendliest spots in a welcoming town. Settle into a plastic chair in the shade of the palapa for some people-watching and blue-gazing, and order a plate of  the tender grilled octopus, charred crispy around the edges but meaty in the middle and made tart with a squeeze of lime juice. Most of the seafood here is fresh-caught, so you can’t go wrong with a simple grill-plus-citrus preparation. Wash it down with a
cold cerveza, or if you’re feeling brave, one of the bathtub-size (and shockingly cheap) margaritas.

El Costeño
Sayulita
Nayarit, Mexico
(329) 291-3045

Classic boardwalk grup on the New Jersey shore

Elephant Ears on the Jersey Shore
The beach: Beach Haven, New Jersey

The place: Crust and Crumb Bakery, a family-owned beachside institution

The dish: Elephant ears, fried dough coated in cinnamon and sugar
The old-fashioned elephant ear is classic boardwalk food: an irregular flat disk of deep-fried dough topped with butter, liberally sprinkled with
 a cinnamon-sugar mixture, and served piping hot. And Beach Haven, New Jersey, at the southern end of Long Beach Island, is classic Jersey Shore: an old-school American beach town that’s a magnet for families from Philadelphia, New York City, and all the Jersey suburbs in between. So it stands to reason that the combination of Beach Haven and elephant ear is a Proustian talisman of summertime Americana—and that’s before taking into account the tiny family-run bakery, Crust and Crumb, that’s been producing elephant ears and other baked goodies since 1987. It’s located within a Skee-Ball’s throw of the town’s low-key amusement park, Fantasy Island, and just two blocks from the wide, sandy beach. Beach Haven regulars insist that the official start of summer isn’t June 21—it’s the moment you get your first whiff of cinnamon-scented sea air on the beach near Crust and Crumb.

Crust and Crumb Bakery
Ninth Street and Bay Avenue
Beach Haven, New Jersey

A paella feast in Mallorca, Spain

Paella in Mallorca
The beach: Palma Bay, in Ciudad Jardín

The place: El Bungalow

The dish: Sumptuous seafood-studded paella

 
Despite its popularity in Mallorca, El Bungalow feels like an insiders’ secret.  It’s partly the unpretentious look of the place: With a mailbox out front, it could almost be your uncle’s ranch house…if your uncle’s house were on a quietly spectacular beach, with a terrace on the sand where you could watch the hushed advance and retreat of the Mediterranean. But the restaurant is packed every night with locals, chefs, and Mallorca scenesters, so clearly the secret is out.  El Bungalow is justly beloved for its paella—toothsome rice seasoned with paprika, saffron, and garlic and studded with gleaming mussels, shrimp, and oysters.  Book a table on the terrace for lunch or dinner, and the sea breezes from the south will stir the tantalizing scent of saffron from your paellera.

 
Mezes in Mykonos, Greece
The beach: Agios Sostis Beach on Mykonos’s north shore

The place: Kiki’s

The dish: The delectable offerings at the salad bar: tabouleh,
curried fusilli-and-chicken salad, beets in yogurt sauce, or black-eyed peas with
 parsley and olive oil
After all the good old fried-with-a-side beach food out there, it may come as a surprise (or a relief) to discover that great beach food isn’t always deep-fried, grilled, greasy, or fishy. At Kiki’s, a relaxed favorite on a tiny beach on Mykonos’s north shore, there’s no phone, no address, no sign, and no electricity. But there is that rare thing: something healthy and satisfying to eat within sight of the ocean. Put your name on the list, get a chilled bottle of wine, and cool your heels in the waves on the sheltered,  tiny beach below the restaurant while you wait for a table on the shady patio.  The place serves straightforward grilled entrées like chicken, pork chops, and seafood,  but while waiting for your main dish to come off the coals, you can help yourself  to Kiki’s excellent salad bar: bowls heaped with creamy, yogurt-coated beets; plump artichokes dipped in lemon juice; and cucumbers dressed in a deliciously light and garlicky tzatziki sauce, among other tasty dishes. But save room for whatever Kiki’s chef slammed down on the grill for you: The portions are enormous. You can’t eat healthy all day, can you?

Agios Sostis Beach
Mykonos , Cyclades
84600

Concierge.com’s insider take:
If this place sounds familiar, it’s because you’ve read about it in a travel magazine, heard a honeymooning couple raving about it at your hotel, or maybe seen it in your Greek island dreams. Kiki’s is the embodiment of laid-back Mykonos: no phone or sign, a limited menu, and only one meal (lunch) served daily. To find it, follow the road to Panormos Bay, then keep heading north to Agios Sostis beach; you’ll see cars parked on the shoulder and a trail of smoke rising from a white cube house shrouded by the gnarled branches of an ancient tree. Order a glass of chilled Greek rosé, sit on the shaded terrace overlooking a textbook white-sand beach, and help yourself to a choice of salads—perhaps artichokes with lemon, beets in yogurt sauce, or white beans with parsley and olive oil. Entrées come from the grill; the marinated pork chop, chicken thighs, and supremely tender octopus are our favorites. Kiki’s is a good choice for a windy day, since the cove (and the perfectly blue water, of course) it sits above are more protected than the southern beaches. But regardless, everyone on the island makes it to Kiki’s once during their stay—or ought to.
Closed mid-October to mid-April.

Ensemble Inspired Journey … Majestic Treasures Along the Enchanting Danube

October 16, 2009

Press Release:
WATC (Wien Adventure Travel & Cruises)
Annie Vogt, 636-579-6754
annievogt@gmail.com

 New Ensemble Inspired Journey Offers Travelers Intimate Look into Old World Europe

 Perks include concerts, tours, alfresco dinner party, and knowledge of local experts;
Couples save $300 with deposit by November 30, 2009

 St. Louis, MO, October 18, 2009 – You hear it all the time with travel deals: if it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.Well, WATC (Wien Adventure Travel & Cruises) newest
land-cruise adventure – Majestic Treasures along the Enchanting Danube – is clearly an exception to the rule.

Imagine savoring the aromas of homemade (by you!) Hungarian goulash, marveling at the brilliant display of horsemanship at a famous equestrian park, indulging in delicacies at Hungary’s most recommended restaurant, and winding down with a luxurious spa treatment at a five-star hotel? And that’s all before you depart on a seven night river cruise aboard Uniworld’s brand-new River Beatrice.

Majestic Treasures is part of Ensemble Inspired Journeys, a collection of exclusive, custom-designed vacations created by Ensemble Travel Group. WATC (Wien Adventure Travel & Cruises) is able to offer this unique experience through its affiliation with Ensemble Travel Group, an international organization of nearly 900 travel agencies in the U.S. and Canada.

“Majestic Treasure is the perfect way for travelers to intimately experience Old World Europe and its architecture, music, fine food and wine, and diverse cultures,” said Annie Vogt, Owner, WATC (Wien Adventure Travel & Cruises).

Majestic Treasures, set for June 17-27, 2010, begins in the vibrant river port of Budapest with two nights at the award-winning Kempinski Hotel Corvinus, conveniently located in the heart of Hungary’s bustling capital city. For nearly three full days guests will be treated to the insights of lifelong Budapest resident Andrea Goczo Magyar, an expert on Hungarian history, culture, and its people.

“Not only will Andrea help guests explore Budapest’s well-known sites, she’ll also take them to ‘majestic treasures’ that only a local expert would know about and have access to,” added Vogt.

After experiencing Budapest, guests then settle into their riverview staterooms aboard the intimate River Beatrice. The 160-passenger vessel becomes one’s home for the next week, with the ship navigating the world’s most enchanting river and charming villages. Complimentary highlights along the way include a performance of works by Mozart and Strauss in Vienna (Ensemble Experience), a visit to the Domane Wachau for tasting of the famous Wachau Valley Rieslings, a tour of Melk’s 900-year-old Benedictine abbey, a guided walking tour of well-preserved Salzburg, and a concert in Passau on Europe’s largest pipe organ.

“River cruising is one of the hottest products going, and to be able to offer it with such an intriguing itinerary is sure to make it special for our clients,” said Vogt.

Pricing for Majestic Treasures begins at $3,664 per person, based on double occupancy and excluding air, port charges, and government fees and taxes. In addition to the exclusive two-night program in Budapest, the price includes shipboard accommodations; all meals and entertainment; complimentary wine, beer, and soft drinks at dinner; private cocktail party and dinner al fresco; and six shore excursions with expert guides, while aboard River Beatrice. Couples can save $300 when booked and deposited with WATC (Wien Adventure Travel & Cruises) by November 30, 2009.

For more information about Majestic Treasures along the Enchanting Danube or to book the new adventure, call WATC (Wien Adventure Travel & Cruises) at 636-579-6754 or visit www.watc.us.

Jade Mountain … Anse Chastanet … St. Lucia

October 14, 2009

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