Su Nido Inn (Your Nest in Ojai) has partnered with the Ojai Culinary Studio to offer an experience which combines rest & relaxation with a "taste of Ojai". This is our special Tango Diva package inspired by our friends at Tango Diva. It includes lodging at Ojai’s newest luxury Inn, the beautiful Su Nido Inn and a culinary extravaganza at the Ojai Culinary Studio just steps away from Su Nido Inn.
Ideal for friends, couples or a family. Chose from 9 luxury suites (2 one-bedroom suites or 1 two-bedroom suite – double occupancy only), each unique in its architecture and furnishings. Spend 2 nights and 3 days (value $1,000) and enjoy a culinary experience designed specifically for you. Culinary activities include: a private cooking class featuring a tasty menu of your choice, followed by dining on your creations in a relaxing private setting with candlelight, music, Ojai wines and great company. (value of $550)
This offer includes all of the above at a special rate of $1,240 plus all taxes, Sunday through Wednesday, (excluding special events & holidays) based on availability. This is a savings of $310. Five day advanced reservation required. Additional individuals may be added at a rate of $520 per couple up to a maximum of 10.
When I read Mediterranean Kitchens succinct motto, I knew I’d hit pay-dirt. As an experienced food, wine and travel writer, this has always been my fave way to travel but it takes an enormous amount of time, energy and trade contacts. Therefore, I am thrilled to give my “Good Housekeeping Gourmet Seal of Approval” to these well-organized culinary adventures—perfect for any lover of fine food & wine. Owner Lindan Toole makes sure that all the details are taken care of, so you get all of the fun and none of the hassles.
Lindan built a career based on her love of travel. She founded The Travel & Leisure Show in Toronto in 1986. Forty countries later, she started Mediterranean Kitchens, which encompasses her passions for travel, fine food and wine, and the history and culture of the Mediterranean–although rumor has it that she’s offering a new itinerary to Jordan, and maybe one to India. To keep abreast of the latest offerings, sign up for her newsletter to find out “Where’s Jordan now?”
Regardless of which tour you select the basic format is the same. Morning cooking classes and market tours, afternoons spent visiting vineyards and food producers, then burning off a few calories during walking tours to historical archaeological sites. Evenings are for enjoying fine food and wine, either out at a wonderful restaurant that Lindan discovered or perhaps a family meal in your elegant yet comfy accommodations.
I had the pleasure of joining a small group for “A Feast for the Senses” in Fes, Morocco. This tour offered a kaleidoscope of exotic markets, spices, fascinating people, flavors and shopping. All your senses will be titillated by the smells of the orange and rose water masking the muskiness of the leather tanneries, the sounds of the giggling children as they dart around the donkeys on the narrow alleyways, the bubbling pots of tajines at the outdoor stands, the rainbow of multi-colored hand-died fabrics as they’re hung out to dry on stakes like prayer shawls, and joyful shouts from the vendors of, “Welcome, my friend—no charge for just looking.”
“Home” for the week was at Dar Seffarine (www.darseffarine.com) a magnificently restored 14th century palace in the heart of the medina. The exceedingly gracious owners, Kate, a designer from Norway, and her architect husband Alaa, have spent the last three years carefully renovating the Riad, a traditional Moroccan palace with an interior garden. From touring the hidden cellar, complete with the original tile and plaster work, which Alaa just recently discovered, he’s hoping to turn it into a wine cellar and tasting room, to any of the guest rooms complete with 20 ft. ceilings, intricate hand-carved wooden shutters, antique Persian carpets, copper and glass chandeliers, luxuriating in your feather bed with fine linens Kate imported from Norway, to the 4th…or was it 5th floor, where you can relax with a good book on the stunning rooftop terrace as you take in the 360% view of the Medina, this is one home you will never want to leave. (Side Bar: I’m not the only one who was impressed by their painstaking work. The morning we were leaving, Kate came running in to tell us that she had just received a phone call from Vogue and they wanted to feature Dar Seffarine in a story!)
The first morning, our compatible group of 5 foodies met over a typical Moroccan breakfast, served to us by the “brekkie-chef” Mohammed, an adorable young man who’s infectious smile always provided the perfect eye-opener. He took such pleasure in surprising us each morning with a different yogurt smoothie concoction and making us guess what the ingredients were, (the beet-orange was a big hit) followed by an endless assortment of local market pastries, ranging from buttery croissants with homemade fig jam to flakey multi-layered pancakes similar to Indian parathas.
Later Lindan would lead us thru Fes’s labyrinth of winding alleyways to a neighboring Riad for our hands-on cooking classes led by Chef Lahcen Beqqi. Just 30 years old, Lahcen has already been the guiding force behind many of Fes’s top restaurants. It must be genetic since his mother, the “Queen of Couscous,” is the mastermind behind an annual couscous festival held near the small mountain village where she raised Lahcen and a bunch of siblings. Our hands-on classes ran the gamut from esoteric tips on using ouarka (the dough used in b’steeya,) to explaining the fascinating Jewish history behind the usage of preserved fruits and veggies. I picked up many useful tips that can translate to any cuisine, such as using a box grater for ripe tomatoes which easily leaves the skin behind, and the easiest way to get to the pomegranate seeds is underwater. While prepping artichokes for his Orange Carmelized Artichoke Hearts, Lahcen instructed us to save the thistle for drying, which he uses to flavor homemade yogurt. By the end of the week, I could turn out a mean Chicken Tajine in two versions, one sweet one with prunes, almonds and dried apricots, one savory with preserved lemons, olives and artichokes, which has since become my Go-To entertaining dish.
(Side Bar: when Lahcen learned that I was from California, he said that he had been talking to a woman from there about them possibly collaborating on his next cook-book, and, “Maybe I’ve heard of her? Her name is Alice…hmmmmm…Waters????”)
The days flew by in a whirlwind of cooking classes and shopping the souks for fresh ingredients under Lahcens expert tutelage. Outside the kitchen, we visited the famous leather tanneries, crafts markets, tile factories, ancient mosques, royal palace, and the mellah (Jewish Quarter). We left town one day for a full day tour of Volubilis, the most impressive Roman site in Morocco and Meknes, a spectacular capital with twenty gates, over fifty palaces and 45km of exterior walls. All this, and we still had plenty of time for shopping. Enthralled by the Moroccan Babouche., colorful hand-crafted shoes using the softest local leather, I bought about a dozen pair ranging from the generic beige sooper-comfy round slippers, to a jazzy hot pink and orange pair covered in sequins with turned-up toes.
The only hard part (after trying to find room in my closet for them all) is deciding which tour I want to join Lindan, my new best friend, on next year. But you’d better register fast because she purposefully keeps the groups small and intimate. To check out all the choices go to:
The Caribbean Island of Dominica has earned Benchmark designation as a Green Globe Destination for the third year in a row from the prestigious eco-tourism organization, Green Globe 21. Dominica became the first country ever to receive this designation in October 2004.
Green Globe 21 requires all of its 442 total participating operations and communities to be independently assessed and certified annually by independent auditors to ensure their compliance with Green Globe 21’s standards. The participating companies and communities must meet those standards in 9 key performance areas, such as energy consumption, solid waste production, social commitment, resource conservation, sustainability policy and more. Dominica has achieved Best Practice results in 8 of the 9 performance areas.
In addition to the national designation, five hotels on Dominica have also achieved successful benchmarking status from Green Globe 21. They include 3 Rivers Eco-Lodge, Tamarind Tree Hotel, Garraway Hotel, Fort Young Hotel and the Hummingbird Inn.
Green Globe 21 is the global Benchmarking, Certification and improvement system assisting the international travel and tourism industry to attain sustainability. Green Globe 21 provides a certification system that responds directly to the major environmental problems facing the planet, including the greenhouse effect, over-use of freshwater resources, destruction of biodiversity, production of solid and biological waste and social issues.
Developed by the World Travel & Tourism Council and established in 1994, Green Globe 21 is based on Agenda 21 and principles for sustainable development endorsed by 182 heads of state at the United Nations Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit and provides companies, communities and consumers with a path to sustainable tourism. As of 2006, there are participants on all continents and in over 50 countries worldwide. For more information about Green Globe, visit www.greenglobe21.com.
Known as “The Nature Island” and located between the French islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique in the Eastern Caribbean, the independent nation of Dominica (pronounced "Dom-in-eek-a") is the largest and most mountainous of the Windward Islands , encompassing an area of nearly 290 square miles. Of volcanic origins with mountains reaching heights of nearly 5,000 feet, rainforests that are considered among the last true oceanic rainforests in the world, more than 365 rivers, waterfalls, boiling lakes and pristine coral reefs, Dominica’s natural diversity is truly unique. Dominica is also home to the last remaining settlement of the Indigenous Peoples of the Caribbean – The Carib Indians. A place where man and nature live in harmony, adventurers and nature lovers alike will revel in the Island ’s eco-tourism options which include scuba diving, snorkeling, mountain biking, kayaking, horseback riding, nature tours, hiking/trekking, whale, dolphin and bird watching, sailing and fishing.
Dominica continues to be recognized for its attributes and sustainable tourism efforts, including being the first country in the world to receive Benchmarking designation from the prestigious eco-tourism organization Green Globe 21 and ranking as the only Caribbean destination in the top five happiest countries on earth in the Happy Planet Index (compiled by Britain ’s New Economics Foundation).
Three cheers for erotic writer Rachelle Chase! Her sumptuous Finding Derek contest unearthed a sea of GORGE yourself on gorgeous men! All wanting to be named Derek, the real world face of Rachelle’s hunky hero from Sex Lounge. The WINNER was just announced, and I think I even got a date out of the thang!
I was a celebrity judge, and let me tell you–if you are ever jet-lagged, up in the middle of the night and in need of some entertainment, I highly recommend judging such a contest. Half naked, muscle-bound glam shots?? VIDEOS?? Whew, ladies!
MORE BIG NEWS!! Rachelle’s newest erotic book, SIN CLUB, hits stores TODAY!! Brava, Rachelle!
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I started Bay Area Boot Camp yesterday, and for the next month, for 3 mornings a week, I will be hitting Crissy Field by San Francisco Bay, rain or shine, to run around with other women like a teen-ager at JV basketball practice. It is FUN, and it promises that I won’t be a statistic–one of the millions who gain 7 pounds during this festive and feast-ive holiday season.
A Thanksgiving – to – Xmas fitness program is just the ticket! I’m sure you have boot camps in your area.
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Okay, so we are looking into a big family trip for spring, and since we will be going on a very exciting tour of Egypt (thanks, Mommy!), we thought, because we are travel addicts, now where can we go on the way home that would be exciting? As if Egypt isn’t enough. We’re insane. So we got out a map and checked out Libya. Fabulous! So many ruins! A mostly uncharted destination. How FUN!
So here’s why weren’t NOT GOING:
Recent reports out of Libya are not good. It goes without saying that if you have a stamp from Israel in your passport, you won’t be let in. But how about this one–if your passport isn’t translated into Arabic, you can’t get in. According to the International Herald Tribune, "The sudden change in entry rules was revealed after planeloads of European tourists were forced to return home after touchdown in Libya." This includes travelers who are already there–many have had trouble being granted permission to leave!
Cruise ships are no exception, and many have pulled Tripoli from their itineraries because guests were told that everyone was welcomed ashore, except for Americans! Furthermore, US citizens wanting a visa to Libya must find a third-party country to issue them, and Canada is getting real tired of helping us out.
Pity, this. Because there is so much to see and do in this historic North African country. Oh well. So we’ve decided to go to Jordan instead. I will show my peeps around Petra. C’est la travel vie!
We were both healthier, leaner, and, this is BIG, so much more relaxed and downright happy. Not one complaint had passed Sis’s lips for seven whole days, which has got to be an all time record! Fitness Ridge provides an intimate, structured environment, (though privacy is never an issue since there are plenty of places to go for a little alone time) with an abundance of caring, compassionate staff that simply will not let you fail.
Good Food, Great Exercise, Superb Services and Extremely Comfy Accommodations. (Can you tell I REALLY liked it there?)
The portion controlled 3 squares a day were filling and usually very tasty — we were both full of fiber for a change, as opposed to other things! The 1200 calorie meal plan allots 300 calories for breakfast, 400 for lunch and 500 for dinner. And trust me, they had you burning off everyone of those calories during the day.
We had begun as newbies, like teary-eyed little girls when confronted with our first 9 mile hike climbing 1,000 ft in elevation, but by mid-week we were scrambling up the cliffs with the advanced group, huffing and puffing with glee. HOORAH! Hikes are a major component in their weight-loss program and again they made it most pleasurable with the spectacular backdrop of Southern Utah’s red rocks, or exploring old caves decorated with hieroglyphics, or scrambling up an old volcano. Every day offered someplace different and they always provided at least three different levels- from beginner to mountaineering. You’re coaxed to push your personal envelope and enjoying every minute of it.
After the hike, it was necessary to stretch our newly discovered muscles in the aquacise class, held in the half Olympic-sized swimming pool. I previously thought that water aerobics was for blue haired grannies…but when weighted down with all the encroutements: some funny foam noodle thingy, dumbbells, and some rubber “swim paws”- it was tougher than the kick-boxing class. Sharon, one of my fave instructors, 6 ft tall, pretty, with grown kids and a body of steel, was always bubbling with infectious enthusiasm as she cranked up the boom box, blasting out the oldies. (Though I’ve got to admit, we all cracked up when one of the guests, David, a 20 year old young man who had been there 6 months and was down 120 pounds, simply wasn’t in the mood one day and said “I’m going to get out of this pool and come over and slap the Happy right off your face!”) For our reward we’d pop in the hot tub afterwards for a few minutes of delicious bubbling, way better than a slice of apple pie! (I can’t believe my fingers just typed that!)
Lunch was at 12:45 and we began to salivate in anticipation of Chef Cameron’s (who had previously cooked at many of Wolfgang Puck’s Vegas restaurants) fresh salad bar and creamy dairy free soups and a healthy sandwich, wrap or pizza. Who would of thunk those 400 calories could actually add up to so much food?
Lectures after lunch and dinner (one does need to digest while one hydrates non-stop!) were to the point and realistic, with clear hand-outs that provided you with the tools to continue your quest at home. Sis loved that the Fitness
Ridge experts acknowledged that living a healthy life style was hard, (she can be such a baby) but our knowledgeable speakers made the challenges feel much more like a game than a nasty task.
After the lunch lecture it was back to one of the gyms for classes. Maybe fast and furious circuit training, a hip-Hop class taught by a darling “townie” boy who owned the local dance school and was also a choreographer. But the one we really loved was the Living Drums class, where you rhythmically pound the crap out of huge fitness balls for an hour. Great upper body workout and totally gets rid of all your pent-up aggressions-so much better than an hour on the couch!
The Spa at Fitness Ridge is perfection. The 55 minute strong Swedish massage was such a deal at $65, it soon became our nightly pre- beddy-bye treat. (Although you could also chose shiatsu, hot stone, reflexology, a facial, mani/pedicure, acupuncture, even a full scale hair salon, etc.)Between us we tried 5 different massage therapists and not a lemon in the bunch.
Our southwestern styled double room was perfectly pleasant with two comfy queen beds, air con, cable TV & DVD with movie rentals available, and matching sinks, so no waiting for a quick scrub.
Conclusion: Recommended for anyone who wants to shed a few (or many) pounds, has hit a trouble spot in your life and wants to getaway from it all, looking to change a few bad habits i.e. too much good food and drink with too little exercise, or just want to get in some great hiking, then Fitness Ridge should be your go-to place.
Incredible program offered at an incredible price. So go ahead, sign up today…But only if you’ve got something you want to lose!
East Coast Top Eleven: 1. Free bikes and helmets provided for exploring on your own. 2. Michelle’s excellent yogilates class where I finally discovered my “core.” 3. Chef Cameron’s lip–smacking good Salmon Burger. 4. Jane Anne’s Swedish Massage. 5. Tai Chi at sunset outside on top of a Red Mountain- simply gorgeous. 6. No shortage of fluffy, freshly laundered white towels. 7. The brand new steam and sauna which unfortunately was opening the following week-but it looked fantastic! 8. Painlessly losing 6 lbs. + 3 1/2 inches off my waistline in one week. 9. Hiking up and back to the famous” Stop Sign” for a photo op to show the nay sayers back home. 10. Free computers and an on-site coin laundry. 11. Communal group meals, good conversation had me eating much slower and “more mindfully” which is a good thing.
West Coast Top Eleven: 1. Rappelling down the cliff, led by professional mountaineering outfit. Total adrenalin rush! (They also offer zip-lining!) 2. Saturday night outing to the “Chuck-o-Rama,” an all-you –can- eat buffet with Emily, Fitness Ridge Dietician, watching to see that we didn’t go over our 500 calorie allotment. Very informative. 3. Unleashing my inner rhythm at Drum Class. 4. Scrambling straight up the mountains with Leader Larry who loved keeping our heart rates on high, and at age 70-ish, had what looked like zero body fat. 5. Water aerobics (great music) which offered a full body tone-up. 6. Chef Cam’s crispy Mediterranean pizza, made out of brown rice crust. 7. Quick and easy Chef cooking demos of recipes that we really would make at home. 8. Hitting the sheets early for some nighttime TV and falling deep asleep in five minutes or less. 9. No Starbucks or wine–which allowed me to save almost enough money for a return visit! 10. Hiking thru the Slots /Overlook to experience some of the most beautiful scenery anywhere. 11. Being surrounded for one entire week with a positive, fun “you can-do anything” happy Fitness Ridge Staff–makes all the difference in the world.
It offers a VERY P.C. menu: The food is almost all sourced from within 100 miles. All the produce is organic, as well as many of their wines. The seafood and meat are all sustainably farmed or harvested, in a most humane manner. Even their original cocktails utilize organic herbs like rosemary, mint, and tarragon, straight from their rooftop garden. And they are seriously into recycling–from their marble countertops and antique martini glasses, to donating their cooking oil to a bio-diesel plant.
Although they are very serious about doing good things…they are equally serious about offering good food at reasonable prices (only two entrees are over $20) in a very fun atmosphere! The look of the place is casual Americana chocolate brown meets snappy nautical blues…or your typical shabby/chic fish shack.
The often-changing menu tempted me with an interesting Fried Oyster and Pumpkin Salad, and the Slow Braised Lamb Shoulder looked divine at the next table. But I was very happy with my choice of Grilled Monterey Bay Sardines on their bed of roasted fennel and my perfectly undercooked sauteed sablefish (just melts in your mouth) sleeping on it’s bed of mustardy braised cabbage and chanterelles.
Next time I might just belly up to the side bar (which also has a cozy little lounge) to try the Local Fish & Chips.
P.S. The exec. chef, Michael Morrison, has a stellar background with stints at Ame, Bizou and Michael Minna’s but what I really think is cool is that his wife’s name is Girlie!
Fish & Farm, 339 Taylor St. (at Ellis), San Francisco; (415) 474-3474 or www.fishandfarmsf.com. Dinner Tues.-Sun. Starters, $8-$18; entrees, $16-$22; sides, $4-$6; desserts, $6-$7. Full bar. Reservations and credit cards accepted.
There is a time and place for everything. I recently returned from a week’s stay at a challenging “boot-camp” where I hiked, swam, and worked out non-stop, surviving on only 1200 calories a day (no coffee or wine) and was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. But it’s certainly not for whusses, gourmands, or sybaritics.
If you fall under one of these categories, then you’ll immediately want to talley ho over to Hotel Valley Ho, Scottsdale. But I’m warning you in advance–however long you’re thinking of booking a stay for, double it, because you won’t want to leave the VH Spa without trying every amazing treatment they offer. (No wonder it’s been touted as one of the World’s Top Spas.)
Granted I’m a little late to discover V.H. since it recently celebrated its 50th Birthday with an $80 million face-lift. The finished results feature old classic style with a chic new spin presented with a big serving of FUN! The gorgeous new swimming “Oh Pool” filled with attractive young “hotties” is now Scottsdale’s hippest scene. (Again, this is nothing new, since in the 60’s Valley Ho was THE meeting place for the top celebs, such as Natalie Wood, Tony Curtis, Bing Crosby, etc.
I could find nothing wrong with my big, bright glass-walled cabana room opening onto a private patio. Loved the bathroom set-up, where I could watch my big TV while luxuriating in the oversized soaking tub, partaking freely of the Red Flower Bath amenities (more about these lovelies later.)
Executive-Chef Wiley deserves every one of his numerous culinary awards for his modern interpretation of comfort foods, using only the best local seasonal ingredients. And his breakfasts ain’t too shabby either. Be sure try a side order of the addictive cheesy grits and the lighter-than-air homemade English Muffins!
The other dining choice is Trader Vic’s. And even though this Polynesian icon pairs perfectly with the V.H retro vibe, I have to admit I wasn’t looking forward to my meal there, having recently “dined” at the Trader Vic’s in San Francisco and finding everything we ordered nearly inedible. But under the expert culinary direction of Charles Wiley, this particular Trader Vics has re-blossomed. The Tidbits were tasty, the Pupu’s were a fun trip down memory lane, (Remember Crab Rangoon: sizzling Dungeness Crab Meat with Cream Cheese in a Crispy Won Ton?) and who could quibble with the steak or chicken that emerged “From Our Wood Fired Oven: Our ovens can be traced back to the Han Dynasty (206 B.C. to A.D. 20).The natural smoke and heat is derived from Pecan & Oak Woods. The meats, fowl or fresh seafood are suspended from hooks and slowly cooked, producing a unique and original flavor.”
But the piece de resistance is the superb 8,000 sq.foot VH Spa (Vitality & Health) offering many unique treatments and an impeccably trained staff.
You might want to start your health regime with a workout in the bright and airy Fitness room loaded with FreeMotion workout equipment. Even though I used to be quite the gym-rat, I wasn’t familiar with these cutting-edge machines which gave one the best workouts I’ve ever experienced…much more like working with free weights but with the safety of machines. Followed this up with a good shvitzing in the eucalyptus scented steam room. Then you might then want to relax in the immaculate locker room, sipping an herbal tea while you peruse the calorie-free Spa Menu.
However tempting the “Nose to Toes” massage sounds, you MUST first try my mind-blowing favorites. First, reserve a once- in- a -lifetime experience of having a Tibetan Yoginic Massage. “Darget”, (I’m spelling if phonetically and it rhymes with “tar-geh,”) was raised as a Tibetan Buddhist monk and has been mastering his unique form of Yoginic massage since he was seven. Words cannot adequately describe this treatment, but at dinner that night I heard others try uttering such statements as, “I swear my body left the table and I was flying around the room,’ or “I didn’t realize how much pain I’ve been burying and Darget released it all and I just cried like a baby.”
After all that flying and crying you’ll want to submit to a
Red Flower Nature Full Body Treatment Massage "Inspired by Finland’s expanse and spirit of life, this cooling treatment embraces the spirit of the icy sea, ripe anti-oxidant rich berries, powerful ions and physical elation. After cleansing with deep forest purifier, you will be scrubbed with bioactive berry white peat exfoliant to remove lifeless skin and invigorate your day. The lymphatic phytopower sea wrap increases cell turnover while a deeply relaxing Finnish massage with fresh berry oil nourishes your skin. The treatment ends with application of cloud milk cream to antioxidize and fortify. Beautiful, active, powerful, rushing, plunging and alive." I just describe it as 90 minutes of "Dying and going to Heaven!"
Note: These are the exquisite Red Flower products I mentioned before. We met the creator of these wonderful nature based products, and she simply oozed vitality and health! After many years in the industry, (She was a biggie at Shisedo) she decided to develop her own anti-oxidant line based on many organic products from Finland – and we all know how serious they take their saunas!
Actually as I finish writing this I just had a great idea. I think next year what I’ll do is book Boot-Camp and then as my reward, a whole glorious week at Valley Ho — which would be the ultimate carrot at the end of the stick.
This just came across my desk and I thought it would make a perfect present for that special foodie in your life.
Catch a Piece of Maine is a brand new venture- not only extremely tasty but most worthwhile. “For your membership where you can own a lobstertrap fished by a real maine lobsterman and recieve all the lobster caught from your trap. You may have your lobsters overnight delivered anywhere in the country, all done online. It’s similar to community supported agriculture, but you get to meet the lobsterman who is catching your lobsters. This brings the consumer as close as possible to the harvester.”
For your investment, you’ll get an exclusive piece of real Maine lobstering—you’ll get to experience the life of real lobstermen, their boats, the excitement of hauling the traps and seeing what you caught… but the without all the hard work! It ain’t cheap ($2,995), but what an opportunity. During each fishing trip, your lobsterman will record the catch from your trap. This data is retrieved when your lobsterman sells his daily catch back at the dock and will be recorded onto an online database. You will receive an online personal lobster account where you can view your trap’s performance updated every Friday afternoon. You will be able to see when your trap was checked, how much it caught, and how many lobster credits you have available for shipping. You are guaranteed at least 40 lobsters from your trap, but most traps average 50 or more.
Plus, Catch a Piece of Maine will donate 10% of the profits to the Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI), which will apply these funds to expanding its hands-on marine science program that engages 5th or 6th grade students from every town in Maine.
Check out the site for more details on how this program works and to read more about the Lobstermen-some of which are waaaay cute. Does a membership include any dating privileges? http://www.catchapieceofmaine.com
How to Find the Best Flights When to Make Travel Plans How to Travel Light The Latest TSA Rules Travel Basics to Keep You and Your Family Healthy
How to Find the Best Flights:
Find out all the different airlines that fly to your final destination and then contact the airlines directly. You can negotiate with a person, not a website, so call the airlines directly first – ask about other airport options and about if they have any specials going on at that time. Most airlines give you a 24-hour grace period for booking a tentative ticket. Then after your call, you can research other websites, and if you find a better deal, great! If not, call back within 24 hours and book your tickets with the live person.
Also, check out sites that are not part of the big 3 – Expedia, Orbitz, or Travelocity, try bookingbuddy.com or onetime.com. And, be willing to fly on days that are less busy: Tuesdays, Wednesday, and Thursdays. You will save the most money booking 7-21 days in advance.
If you have location flexibility, check out different airports. Flying to LA? Check out Long Beach, Burbank, and Santa Ana. All are very close and not as crowded as LAX.
When to Make Travel Plans:
21 days in advance is always better than 2 days in advance. Then you can take time to find the best deals including great hotel deals. If you have plenty of time, check out Travelocity, where you can put in your destination and it comes back with great hotel and flight deals – sometime they are less expensive than just the flight. But make sure you know where the hotel is. Sometimes the hotels are not in ideal locations.
If you want to get away quick and are flexible about where you want to go, check out gotoday.com or lastminute.com. These websites list last minute trips at discount prices.
If you have some flexibility in your schedule, think about travels before or after the major holidays. During the 6-day Thanksgiving travel period, the number of long-distance trips (to and from a –destination 50 miles or more away) increases by 54%, and during the Christmas/New Year’s Holiday period the number rises by 23%. It is like rush hour traffic when you travel on the busiest days of the year, you are more likely to have delayed flights, irritable airline staff, and lost luggage. Who says you can’t celebrate Christmas with grandma Mid-January? You save money on gifts and travel!
Also, think “shoulder months” this is the time where tourist locations are less busy and they want tourist, so they offer great deals. Depending what part of the world you are going to, the “shoulder months” will vary. Remember – it’s summer in Australia right now! How to Travel Light:
Rule number one; only bring what will fit in a carry-on. Period. There is no weight restriction on carry-on luggage. So be smart about what you pack, but know you can pack a lot if you do it right.
Check the weather before you pack. Do you need a raincoat or a swimsuit?
Try to avoid creating extra packing by using items that have multi-purposes and can be layered. Also, if you are traveling with your family, there is no reason for every member to bring toothpaste or hair gel – it is the holidays – learn how to share!
Bring clothes that don’t have many buttons, then you don’t have to worry about losing them. Black is back: pack black clothes and use scented scarves to dress up your outfits. Lycra, cotton blends, NO linen.
The cloth and tulle bags that are used to wrap wine as gifts are perfect to stuff your sock and intimates in. Remember, it is about saving room, so the more things you can stuff tightly together, the better.
** Transportation Security Administration Current Rules** Carry on: The following rules apply to all liquids, gels, and aerosols carried through security checkpoints.
1. All liquids, gels and aerosols must be in three-ounce or smaller containers. Larger containers that are half-full or toothpaste tubes rolled up are not allowed. Each container must be three ounces or smaller. 2. All liquids, gels and aerosols must be placed in a single, quart-size, zip-top, clear plastic bag. Gallon size bags or bags that are not zip-top such as fold-over sandwich bags are not allowed. Each traveler can use only one, quart-size, zip-top, clear plastic bag. 3. Each traveler must remove their quart-sized plastic, zip-top bag from their carry-on and place it in a bin or on the conveyor belt for X-ray screening. X-raying separately will allow TSA security officers to more easily examine the declared items.
There are exceptions for baby formula, breast milk, and other essential liquids, gels, and aerosols, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines.
Travel Basics to Keep You and Your Family Healthy:
Plastic bag with basics: Keep packed in a small plastic bag: single use eye drops, small bottle of hand sanitizer, lip balm, small sunscreen, travel size packs of motion sickness medicine, pain relief, and stomach medicine.
Color copies of identification: It is much easier to get a new passport or ID when you have copies of your originals. Carry them in all of your suitcases; I store them in the unused side pockets of my luggage.
Handy wipes: The truth is, some place you go won’t have toilet paper. So, be prepared with a small pack of handy wipes. They are also great for refreshing your hands and face when traveling.
Eye cover and ear plugs: These are great on the plane, or even on trains and buses. But they are the best when you are staying somewhere that is a bit noisy or the curtains are not very thick. You need your sleep when traveling.
When I read Mediterranean Kitchens succinct motto, I knew I’d hit pay-dirt. As an experienced food, wine and travel writer, this has always been my fave way to travel but it takes an enormous amount of time, energy and trade contacts. Therefore, I am thrilled to give my “Good Housekeeping Gourmet Seal of Approval” to these well-organized culinary adventures—perfect for any lover of fine food & wine. Owner Lindan Toole makes sure that all the details are taken care of, so you get all of the fun and none of the hassles.
“Home” for the week was at Dar Seffarine (www.darseffarine.com) a magnificently restored 14th century palace in the heart of the medina. The exceedingly gracious owners, Kate, a designer from Norway, and her architect husband Alaa, have spent the last three years carefully renovating the Riad, a traditional Moroccan palace with an interior garden. From touring the hidden cellar, complete with the original tile and plaster work, which Alaa just recently discovered, he’s hoping to turn it into a wine cellar and tasting room, to any of the guest rooms complete with 20 ft. ceilings, intricate hand-carved wooden shutters, antique Persian carpets, copper and glass chandeliers, luxuriating in your feather bed with fine linens Kate imported from Norway, to the 4th…or was it 5th floor, where you can relax with a good book on the stunning rooftop terrace as you take in the 360% view of the Medina, this is one home you will never want to leave. (Side Bar: I’m not the only one who was impressed by their painstaking work. The morning we were leaving, Kate came running in to tell us that she had just received a phone call from Vogue and they wanted to feature Dar Seffarine in a story!)
Part Two
Good Food, Great Exercise, Superb Services and Extremely Comfy Accommodations. (Can you tell I REALLY liked it there?)
I just returned from a really good dining experience at the brand new 
There is a time and place for everything. I recently returned from a week’s stay at a challenging “boot-camp” where I hiked, swam, and worked out non-stop, surviving on only 1200 calories a day (no coffee or wine) and was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. But it’s certainly not for whusses, gourmands, or sybaritics.
This just came across my desk and I thought it would make a perfect present for that special foodie in your life.
