Like our port stop in Ibiza, I didn't know much about Palma before preparing for our Mediterranean cruise—I associated Mallorca with beach resorts and wasn't sure how we'd spend our 12-hour port stop there. However, I discovered that Palma is home to interesting cultural sites dating back to the 11th century, plus some tasty tapas.
Welcome to my 11th(!) annual summer blog post. Compiling these roundups has become as much of a summer tradition as eating ice cream and going the Minnesota State Fair—as the season draws to a close, it's a way to reflect and celebrate my favorite season.
The Minnesota State Fair is one of the highlights of my year. I love the crowds, the nostalgia, the food, the overload of sights and sounds. I love it so much that my ideal Minnesota State Fair day starts before 8:00 a.m., just when things are ramping up, and goes until at least 10:00 p.m., when the colorful lights and overflowing buckets of chocolate chip cookies make the fairgrounds feel like a magical place set apart from the concerns of daily life.
Getting a CSA box filled with fresh, locally grown produce each week is one of the highlights of my summer—but it can also be a little overwhelming, especially when I have a long to-do list. Meal planning is key for making the most of my CSA share, but sometimes life happens. Maybe we've just gotten back from vacation and haven't gone to the grocery store yet, or maybe it's been a busy work day and I don't have time to prepare the more ambitious dinner I originally planned.
Marseille is the second-largest city in France, and thanks to its extensive port facilities (among the largest in Europe), most Americans associate the city with industry rather than tourism. But Marseille is a popular port stop on Mediterranean cruise itineraries, and its historic churches, picturesque Panier District, and vibrant Old Port (Vieux Port) make it a pleasant place to spend the day.
When I saw Ibiza on our Norwegian Cruise Line Mediterranean itinerary, it seemed like an odd choice for a cruise port stop—isn't Ibiza mostly known as a party destination? Even worse, we were only there for an afternoon, landing at noon and departing at 7:00pm. What were we going to do, walk around and look at a bunch of closed clubs for a few hours?
Dinner theater combines dinner and a show in one fell swoop, by eating a full-service meal and then watching a theatrical production from the same seat. Chanhassen Dinner Theatres is conveniently located to Minneapolis and St. Paul, and the venue offers musicals on the main stage, plus a comedy club and concert series. Chanhassen Dinner Theatres' current main stage show is Jersey Boys: The story of Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons.
When it comes to international travel destinations, Rome looms large: the iconic arches of the Colosseum, the ornate statues of the Trevi Fountain, and the massive dome of St. Peter's Basilica. Rome is the second-most visited city in Europe (after Paris) hosting 7-10 million tourists each year—and in May 2023, that included me and Mike.
Buffets, main dining rooms, specialty restaurants: the Norwegian Epic has 13 different dining options (plus room service), and on our recent cruise, we checked out eight of them.
One of the unexpected delights of our recent Mediterranean cruise was how much I loved the food in Spain. The Twin Cities have a diverse culinary scene but only a couple of Spanish restaurants, so all...
When Mike and I go on cruises, we're not really shore excursion people. We like to explore on our own so that we can set our own pace, eat at small local restaurants, and control our own itinerary. On our recent Mediterranean cruise, we made our own plans for seven of our eight port days (plus our pre-cruise time in Rome). The only exception? The Cinque Terre.
Over the years, Mike and I have made more trips to Stillwater, Minnesota than any other destination. It's the sort of place where you can spend a satisfying few hours or an entire weekend. The hilly terrain, views of the St. Croix River, historic downtown, and Victorian-era homes make it feel a world away from our life in the suburbs—but it's less than a 45 minute drive from our home in the Twin Cities metro.
Pristine lakes, pine forests, rocky coastlines, fanciful architecture, modern design, saunas, New Nordic cuisine, salty licorice, cardamom-laced pastries—there are so many things that make Finland one of my very favorite places that I've visited.
Rolling green hillsides, dramatic coastlines, picturesque villages, historic cities, and cozy pubs: Ireland is a beloved tourist destination for many reasons, and it's one of my all-time favorite places. This is the advice I would give to a friend taking a trip to Ireland, including planning your itinerary, what to pack, and tips for driving, dining, and other practicalities. My biggest piece of advice? Just go there! Ireland is a truly special place.
I love my CSA—I've been a member of Untiedt's CSA since 2011, and the 17 week CSA season is one of highlights of my summer and fall. However, CSA membership isn't a fit for everyone—here are some questions to ask yourself to decide if joining a CSA is right for you.
Late January through mid-March is my least favorite time of year at home in Minnesota—the holidays are over and the novelty of winter activities has worn off, but it's still cold and snowy. When Mike's company announced a company-wide work week in Palm Springs, California during that time period, it seemed like the perfect opportunity for me to get away in a relatively budget-friendly way.
It's a privilege to be writing my fifth(!) annual freelance update. For those of you who are new around here, my professional life has been a winding and somewhat random journey.
Hidden entrances, secret passwords, strong drinks: once an illicit way obtain alcohol during Prohibition, a century later, speakeasies have been reimagined as stylish spaces to enjoy craft cocktails. As I mentioned in my post about the best distilleries in the Twin Cities, I am very much a cocktail person, and speakeasies appeal to my love of history and penchant for the dramatic.
I'm far from a vegetarian—I eat anything when I'm on the clock as a food writer and I love sushi—but most of my home cooking is meatless. I was initially inspired by concerns for my health and the...
After 2020 and 2021, this year's round up of the best things I ate in 2022 feels remarkably similar to my pre-pandemic existence. There are international meals from trips to Finland, Ireland, and Quebec City, plus items I got to sample at press events and while covering the Twin Cities food scene.
