Foodcation

Colleen & Catie’s Picks

How to Expand the Palate of Your Picky Eater

Colleen

Drinks/Appetizers – Monarch Bay Club at Monarch Beach

Take a vintage tram from the hotel to the Monarch Bay Club, where you can enjoy light appetizers and drinks, or dinner, with a beautiful ocean view.

Restaurant/Food – Cafe de Artist – Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Upscale French cuisine with Mexican inspiration.

Dessert/Sweet – The Apple Barn and Cider Mill – Sevierville, TN

Apple barn and orchard that makes a variety of delicious treats like cider, apple jams and butters, candy, fried apple pies, apple doughnuts, apple dumplings, and many more

Catie

Drinks/Appetizers – The Office

Located directly below The Aviary, The Office is an intimate speakeasy serving classically inspired cocktails, vintage spirits and small food plates.

Restaurant/Food –

Gibson’s Italia on the River – A modern steakhouse with an Italian accent.

Tufano’s Italian Vernon Park Tap – Circa-1930 spot serving homestyle Italian fare in an old-school setting with checkered tablecloths.

Dessert/Sweet – Snow Dragon Shavery & Yogurt

Cute Chicago dessert spot offering bubble tea, shaved snow, ice cream, macarons, cotton candy and donut ice cream sandwiches.

“What’s” with the “Trip Sisters”

What’s in Your Suitcase?

Carry-On Cocktail Kit

Food52.com – Starting at $48 for two tins

Travel-sized mixology kit, perfect for long flights, traveling foodies! Everything you need to upgrade a mini-bottle of booze: Choose from options like a Bloody Mary, which includes tomato mix, pickles, and rim salt, or an Old Fashioned, with cane sugar and miniature bitters. Each tin also holds a metal mixing spoon and a smart linen coaster to liven up your tray table.

What’s on your phone?

Billr Me ($2 on iOS or iPod Touch)

Advanced Bill Splitter (Free Android Version)

Simple way to split the check if you’re dining out with a group. Unlike some apps that just divide the check evenly, Billr takes into account every item ordered by each person around the table so individual tabs can be tallied.

Thrillist (iOs & Android)

Great way to find good restaurants and places to eat

What’s the tip?

Foodcation Tips

• Research destination’s local cuisine and food culture (Yelp, TripAdvisor, Urban Spoon, Refinery 29, Travel & Leisure, Travel Channel)
• Follow local Hashtags on Instagram #ChicagoFoodie #NashvilleFoodie, etc.
• Start your trip with a food tour – Or create your own food tour to save money and pick what you want (appetizers/drinks, main course, dessert)
• Learn local dining etiquette and customs
• Make reservations, when needed. If you don’t have a reservation –  
  • Be willing to sit at the bar, you can always eat there
  • Order takeout and have a picnic or take it back to your hotel
  • Investigate if the place you’re going to has an “order ahead” option on their website, so you can skip the line
• Talk to locals