Whether you've had moussaka before or this is a first time experience, you're going to LOVE this authentic moussaka recipe with it's incredible depth of flavor and luxuriously creamy bechamel sauce topping! Sun-kissed white stone buildings juxtaposed against a sea of … Continue reading →
Catamaran Resort Hotel & Oceana Coastal Kitchen
We've partnered with the Catamaran Resort Hotel & Spa to bring you this post.Above image courtesy Catamaran Resort What are your family vacation plans? If you want to stay stateside, we highly recommend San Diego as one of THE most family-friendly cities in America. … Continue reading →
San Diego’s Top 12 Family Attractions
I've teamed up with Visit San Diego to bring you this post. All opinions are entirely my own. San Diego has consistently been ranked among the top best family destinations in the United States and just this year was ranked the #1 Travel Destination in the nation by … Continue reading →
Travel Safely with Pacsafe
I received these items from PacSafe for review. All opinions are entirely my own. Whether you're traveling to a far away country or sightseeing locally, nothing can ruin an otherwise lovely trip like having your your laptop, camera, phone, money, passport or other … Continue reading →
An Evening at Ascots in Bermuda
We recently went on a couple's getaway to Bermuda and with only 5 days' time and so much we wanted to see and do, so we had to be very selective with our activities. And that included our choice of restaurants. Choosing a restaurant not only involves an investment of money … Continue reading →
Safari West: An African Adventure
A couple of weeks ago our family took a trip down to California north of the Bay area in Sonoma County. We had a few things planned on our itinerary and at the top of our list was Safari West. We had never heard of it prior to this trip but discovered it in researching … Continue reading →
A Visit To Tacoma’s Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
Welcome to the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium in Tacoma, Washington, the only combined zoo and aquarium in the Northwest! We've been to this zoo a few times, including during the Christmas season for its popular Zoo Lights exhibition, and it's a family favorite. The … Continue reading →
ONA Goes To Bermuda (Brooklyn Camera Bag Review)
I've been wanting to get a new camera bag for a while. And when it came time to take a trip to Bermuda a few weeks ago I knew I finally had to break down and get one. Up until this point I've either used a camera backpack or have simply carried my camera in my purse. … Continue reading →
A Day in St. George’s, Bermuda
If you're traveling to Bermuda, St. George's is an absolute must. Indeed, St. George's is enough reason alone to travel to Bermuda in the first place. The oldest surviving English town in the New World, St. George's is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is a historical … Continue reading →
Bermuda: A Week at The Hamilton Princess & Beach Club
We recently returned from a week in paradise. Bermuda. And during that week we were invited to stay in one of the most stunning hotels we've visited: Bermuda's premier Hamilton Princess & Beach Club, a Fairmont managed hotel. Luxury hotels are frankly a dime a … Continue reading →
Trover: The Ultimate App For Travelers
Thank you to Trover for sponsoring this post! “Nowhere else will you find such a passionate group of explorers committed to sharing what the world has to offer.” — Jason Karas, co-founder and CEO of Trover — Trover is my new favorite travel app and I want to … Continue reading →
Surfing Coronado and Family Beach Fun in San Diego
San Diego is a terrific family vacation destination. A few months ago I published several articles about our family trip to San Diego: Our visit to the San Diego Zoo and SeaWorld, our stay at the stunning San Diego Omni Hotel, and our dining experience at the Bali Hai … Continue reading →
Loews Hollywood Hotel, Los Angeles, California
Our family recently took a trip to Los Angeles and stayed at the Loews Hollywood Hotel. Located at the corner of Hollywood and Highland, its boasts views of the hills, the Hollywood sign, is just minutes from the Griffith Conservatory, Universal Studios, Madame Tussauds and … Continue reading →
An Iconic Tour of Victoria, BC
Depending on what you plan on doing there, Victoria offers fun, beauty, elegance, charm, history and adventure. A few weeks ago in early March I invited my mom to join me for a weekend getaway. Victoria is reminiscent of England in some aspects of its culture and … Continue reading →
Family Weekend in Whistler, B.C.
That's my husband in the picture. Okay, not really. But he does look pretty dang good in skis and can hold his own on the slopes! I grew up in southern Germany just a couple of hours from the German and Austrian Alps. My parents took us skiing every winter and those … Continue reading →
Breathtaking Butchart Gardens and High Tea in Victoria, BC
Last week we took a trip to beautiful Victoria, BC. I invited my mom so we could spend some quality mother-daughter time and The Butchart Gardens was at the top of our list of places to visit. Though it was early March, there were some Spring flowers already in bloom and … Continue reading →
Historic Madison, Georgia
Madison is a real treasure. We took our kids on vacation to Georgia to visit some family and Madison was one of the top destinations on our list. My husband and father-in-law are both history buffs and even though I grew up in Europe, American history has always fascinated … Continue reading →
Solvang: California’s Little Denmark
My husband and I escaped for a little couple's getaway to Southern California and on our drive up the coast we stopped at the little town of Solvang in the heart of Santa Barbara's beautiful wine country in the Santa Ynez Valley. Solvang, Danish for "sunny fields", is a … Continue reading →
Kusksu (Libyan Couscous with Spicy Beef and Vegetables)
The national dish of Libya is couscous, commonly prepared like this, with stewed beef, sweet potatoes, carrots and garbanzo beans in a spicy hararat tomato sauce. It's a warming, hearty, comfort dish featuring a delicious blend of Middle Eastern spices. Couscous is … Continue reading →
Daring Gourmet Getaways: Westin Portland, Oregon
My mom and I recently took a trip down to Portland, Oregon for a girls' weekend getaway. Choosing a hotel was an easy decision. After the great experience my husband and I had at the Westin Bellevue, I was eager to try the Westin Portland. We couldn't have picked a better … Continue reading →
Four Fun Family Attractions in Santa Barbara, California
My husband and I took a couple's trip to Los Angeles last Summer and drove up to Santa Barbara for a day while we were there. Known as the American Riviera, we instantly fell in love with it. And as wonderful as it is for a romantic getaway, Santa Barbara isn't only a place … Continue reading →
The Daring Gourmet Dines Out: Casa Guadalajara, San Diego, California
Our family had the pleasure of eating at Casa Guadalajara while on vacation in San Diego. It was a fun and delicious experience! Colorful, vibrant, lively, flavorful - four words that describe both the restaurant and its food. Come take a virtual tour of the restaurant … Continue reading →
Daring Gourmet Vacations: Sheraton Gateway Hotel, Los Angeles, CA
Our family recently took a vacation to Los Angeles and stayed a the Sheraton Gateway Hotel. Because of its great location, Sheraton Gateway served as a perfect home base for our family to access many of the LA attractions we came to see. The hotel is conveniently located … Continue reading →
Bethmännchen (German Marzipan Cookies)
An authentic German Bethmännchen recipe! Firm on the outside, chewy on the inside, and packed with marzipan, these traditional German marzipan Christmas cookies are absolutely delicious! What are Bethmännchen? One of the most famous and beloved of all German Christmas … Continue reading →
Daring Gourmet Vacations: Omni San Diego Hotel, California
Our family went on vacation to San Diego a few weeks ago and stayed at the Omni San Diego Hotel. Normally a hotel is just the place you stay while you're having fun elsewhere, but in this case, Omni San Diego was very much a highlight of our family vacation. We were so … Continue reading →
Autumn in Tacoma
No recipe today. Just a leisurely drive through Tacoma's Old Town and Stadium Districts. With some exceptionally gorgeous historic homes and other stately buildings, it's one of my favorite areas of the South Puget Sound. Here are a few pictures I took while on a drive … Continue reading →
The Daring Gourmet Dines Out: Paparazzi Ristorante, Los Angeles, California
If you like Italian cuisine and either live in Los Angeles or plan on taking a trip there, then this is a restaurant you must get to know. Currently ranked #10 best Italian restaurant in Los Angeles, Paparazzi Ristorante is a gem. Each dish uses the finest … Continue reading →
Daring Gourmet Vacations: San Diego, California (Part I)
We just got back a couple of weeks ago from our family vacation to southern California. With a rambunctious 2 and 4 year old we were a little stressed at the thought of how it would all play out. But I'm happy to report we all made it back in one piece having … Continue reading →
Daring Gourmet Getaways: Inn At The Market, Seattle, Washington
It's ranked #56 out of 100 best hotels in the world by Travel + Leisure 2014 and #3 best small city hotel in the USA. It won TripAdvisor's Travelers' Choice Awards for Top 25 Hotels in the USA, has consistently made Condé Nast's Gold List and is in the Condé Nast Platinum … Continue reading →
Seattle’s Pike Place Market: A Virtual Tour and History
We live less than an hour from Seattle and it's always been one of our favorite date night destinations. My husband and I recently took a couples overnight trip and stayed at Seattle's highly acclaimed Inn At the Market which is literally right next to Pike Place Market, … Continue reading →
Daring Gourmet Getaways: Alexis Hotel, Seattle
All pictures taken by The Daring Gourmet. (Exceptions: The two bedroom photos courtesy Alexis Hotel) Location! Location! Location! We've all seen those words slapped onto real estate flyers but they're especially applicable here. Smack dab in the heart of Seattle, … Continue reading →
Daring Gourmet Getaways: Westin Bellevue Hotel + A Day of Bellevue Food Fun
Above image courtesy of Westin Bellevue (also the swimming pool and spa pic). All other images were taken by and are copyright of The Daring Gourmet. My husband and I recently took another trip to beautiful Bellevue, Washington. This time we decided to take our 2 year … Continue reading →
Daring Gourmet Getaways: The Grand Hotel in Salem, Oregon
We recently took a family trip to Oregon to visit the Enchanted Forest theme park (click to read about our visit). We stayed overnight at the beautiful 4-star Grand Hotel in Salem. Let us take you on a virtual tour of our experience. … Continue reading →
Enchanted Forest, Salem Oregon (Back To Childhood)
We recently packed up our car, buckled in our kids, picked up my parents, and hit the road for a family trip to Salem, Oregon. Specifically to visit Enchanted Forest, a theme park that I hadn't been to since I was 2 years old. Just months after that visit my parents, … Continue reading →
Daring Gourmet Getaways: Columbia Gorge Hotel & Simon’s Cliff House, Oregon
My husband and I try to get away every quarter or so for some quality couple's time. With a 2 and 4 year-old at home, finding alone time is challenging. I know many of you can relate. But we try to make it a priority - not only for our sake, but for the sake of our kids. … Continue reading →
The Daring Gourmet Dines Out: Katie Downs Tavern & Eatery, Tacoma
Today we’re featuring Katie Downs Tavern & Eatery in Tacoma, Washington. Katie Downs is beautifully located in Tacoma's waterfront district on Ruston Way. Literally hovering over the water, Katie Downs offers views of the Olympic and Cascade mountains as well as Puget … Continue reading →
Southern-style Green Beans with Caramelized Onions and Bacon
Green beans, depending on how they're prepared, can be either just "tolerable" or they can be something that are actually enjoyable to eat. This recipe makes eating green beans a pleasure. You won't find yourself gulping them down just so you can clear your plate and pat … Continue reading →
Ultimate Pumpkin Bread (+ a Tour Through Goblin Valley!)
Halloween is approaching and while I didn't bake or cook anything "scary", I thought I'd share something with you that's nonetheless fitting for the season: Ultimate Pumpkin Bread! Whether you like or dislike pumpkin bread or may think you already have the best recipe for … Continue reading →
Roasted Tomato Herb Bread
Fresh tomatoes. Roasted until sweet. Fresh garden herbs. Combined and kneaded into yeast dough. Fresh from the oven. Fragrant and flavorful. Soft, tender, and delicately chewy. Perfectly sliceable for your deli-quality sandwiches. Better make two loaves while … Continue reading →
German Picnic Salad
Thank you to Honest Cooking and Castello for sponsoring this post! Though I do try to exercise self-control, I'm a bit of a cheese addict. Growing up in Europe with regular access to the world's best cheeses rendered me into something of a cheese snob. I can't help it. … Continue reading →