PLANNING YOUR OWN CULINARY TOUR

Of course, you can join or sign on to a scheduled or organized food tour and they are great.  However if you want to design your own or if you have specific interests here are some tips on designing and planning your own culinary tour.

HAVE A PLAN

• First have a plan on your specific goals or interests. Consider best of like best burgers, best pizza, best hot dogs, best ice cream, etc. You get the picture.
• Go online ahead time and google local food bloggers to get their picks.
• Map out your locations so you can maximize your time.
• Another way to maximize your time is to select neighborhoods
• If you want to get around by train or bus get the routes and schedules.

CONSIDER YOUR STOMACH

• On one trip I did to New Orleans I ate everything that was put in front of me and at restaurants I ordered full meals.  Believe me when I tell you, I was miserable.
• At restaurants order appetizers
• When possible order snack or tasting portions. You can tell the restaurant what you're doing and they may have or prepare a small plate for you.
• Plan your days so when necessary you can have a splurge meal and the rest are small portions.
• It's a good idea and it's fun to do a bit of walking.

HAVE FUN AND BRING BACK MEMORIES

• This is a fun way to explore a destination so make it fun.
• Ask the locals for their favorites
• Take photos of your meals, the restaurants, the staff and people you meat
• Ask the restaurant if they have a menu you can take home.
• Remember to write down the names of the dishes
• Ask how things are prepared and the origin of it.
• When available purchase those favorites and take them home with you so you can enjoy them again
• See if they have a cook book, if you're into cooking as well.

Remember to just have fun eating your way through the destination

Ja'Vonne

Our Culinary City Picks

Bonnie and I are foodies and we love to eat our way through a destination!  We find that food is a huge part of a culture and it's a great way to discover a country, city and it's people.  We also find that it's one topic people love to talk about especially when you ask about childhood favorites and tradition.  When you start a conversation with who has the best ..... there is a robust competition to share experiences and make a proclamation.

When looking at the US and answering the question "What are the best culinary cities in the US"? We picked Chicago, New Orleans and San Fransisco because of their diversity in cuisine and their creations or style offers many options.

Chicago:

• Home of the Deep Dish Pizza or the Pizza Pie.  Of course you can find pizza anywhere in the US but this is a Chicago Style Pizza.  It's thick, cooked in a cast iron skillet and then filled with toppings.  Gino's East is one of the iconic places and they make sure each bite has the same ingredients.  Take their sausage pizza, they take ground sausage and roll it out in the shape and size of the pie. Of course, you can't mention Deep Dish Pizza and not mention Pizzeria Uno.  At Pizzeria Uno, you order the pizza when you arrive and when your pizza is ready your table is ready.
• Hot Dogs and the Vienna Sausage.  There are many favorites of the city and often the subject of a great debate.  Here in Chicago, it's all about the toppings.  Shredded lettuce, sliced or diced tomato, raw onions, in some cases a slice of pickle, hot peppers and a bright green relish.  If you want to make enemies put ketchup on your hot dog.  This just isn't done in Chicago!
• Italian Beef Sandwich.  Little Italy is a must visit while you're in Chicago and getting an Italian Beef Sandwich is a must.  Thinly sliced beef, sauteed, the sandwich is topped with sauteed onions and then the entire sandwich including the bread is dipped in a beef aus jus.
• The Chop House.  Great steaks are a staple in Chicago and so is the Chop House.  Gene and Giorgetti's is the oldest steak house in Chicago.  A premium cut of beef cooked to perfection.
• Don't forget the visit the neighborhoods in Chicago, by doing so you can take a trip around the world!

New Orleans:

• New Orleans has too many delights to list in one blog. And this is why it tops the list for a culinary tour.
• Anything Cajun! These spices are heavenly and the concoctions from New Orleans Cajun country are phenomenal.  Blackened Catfish or Red fish, Crayfish Boil, Etoufee, Jambalaya, etc.
• Beignets and Cafe Dumond are synonymous! Make it your fist stop to get that Hello to New Orleans.  Fried dough covered in powered sugar and a cup of chicory coffee.
• Po'Boys - A sandwich filled with fried seafood. They're traditionally made with catfish, shrimp or oysters. Add lettuce, tomatoes and remoulade and voila a Po' Boy!

San Fransisco:

• Why we picked it:
• The Fisherman's Wharf has to be on your culinary tour.  Spend an afternoon walking through exploring and tasting the seafood from he pacific coast.  Crab legs, shrimp, fish, etc. You can have it many ways, at a sit down restaurant, to go, in a sandwich or just out of the steamer.
• Sourdough bread.  Crusty on the outside, soft on the inside and oh so good when it's fresh out of the over!
• Chowder, of course made with seafood. Anything from fish to shellfish and to make a real San Francisco treat have it in a sourdough bread bowl!
• China Town is one of the best and biggest in the US from the traditional to the fusion San Francisco's China Town is a culinary tour of its own.

When trying to come up with destinations for a culinary tour outside of the US we wanted to stay away from the obvious.  Once again we have many favorite destinations so this does not mean any other destination is slighted.

Tokyo:

• I watched an episode of Andre Zimmer's Bizarre Foods on his culinary journey through Japan.  While I have some experience with Japanese cuisine neither of us have been to Japan.  I plan on going in January and wanted to get a head start.
• Tokyo has the most restaurants that any other country with Michelin stars
• Tokyo's Fish Market Tsukiji is on the list of Top things to do in Tokyo! There are 1600 vendors, 60,000 workers and 2000 tons of seafood.  The auction for tuna is a must see.
• If you want to most bizarre or extreme visit one of Japan's Extreme Bars.  Not only can the food be bizarre like everything made with Mayonnaise but also a strange theme like a toilet decor and design.

Bangkok, Thailand

• I absolutely love Thai food. The spices and sauces are the best because of their layers of flavors and the heat. I love the heat!
• These are some of my picks for must tries:
• Tom Yom Soup - a brothy soup made with pork or chicken and spice with tiny little potent peppers
• Thai Papaya Salad - made with the freshest of ingredients, green papaya, tomatoes, chili's, shrimp, peanuts
• Chicken or Beef Sa-Tay with peanut sauce - Skewered and grilled meat with a peanut sauce that made with peanut butter, soy and other spices.
• Curry - I favor the shrimp or chicken and it's sometimes with the green curry.  Be careful some curry sauces are very spicy.
• Crispy catfish is one of my favorites.  This fish is fried so crispy ad is not greasy and the spicy green mango sauce will have you going back for more.

Ja'Vonne

Genealogical Travel - Creating Your Own Heritage Trail

Tips for Taking Genealogical Research Trips by Tony Burroughs

Before leaving

• Research card catalogs of libraries and historical societies you will visit
• Copy titles and card catalog numbers you want to research & print out
• Use Map Quest to route inner city travel
• Save Map Quest maps and routing to smart phone or computer
• Print out Map Quest maps and routing

On location

• Get personal tour of library before researching
• Keep research log on where you research, what books or films you looked at, names you searched for what you found
• Make personal contacts with reference librarians and exchange business cards
• Eat at local restaurants, not national chains

Back Home

• Download photos from camera or phone to computer
• Name or label photos
• Update genealogy charts with new found information

Recording Tools

• Note Pad
• Pen and Pencil (some facilities do not allow pens)
• Video Recorder
• Audio Recorder
• Scanner (flat bed)
• Camera

Tony Burroughs, FUGA Author, Black Roots: A Beginners Guide to Tracing the African American Family Tree

www.tonyburroughs.com

Summer Secrets - How to Save on Summer Travel

Summertime is one of the busiest travel seasons and that means peak season prices and crowds.  There are however some ways to save on your summer travels.

To save on summer airfares you'll need to know when to fly, when to buy and what they charge:

When to Fly: 

• Tuesday and Wednesday are typically the least expensive days of the week to fly.  Thursday through Sunday are typically the most expensive.
• Knowing the seasons will also help. For those destinations that celebrate four seasons the typical summer is June - August with some variations by destination.  Try traveling just outside of those dates.

When to Buy:

• I find that Tuesdays especially in the evening is the best day of the week to purchase and get the best airfares.
• The days of the last minute specials are pretty much gone, however that doesn't mean you have to book a year in advance either.  14 to 30 days prior to departure for domestic flights and 60 - 90 days prior to departure for international flights can usually give you fair pricing.

Other recommendations:

• Check the online agencies like Travelocity,  Expedia and Kayak for comparison shopping.  You can also sign up for alerts on sales for certain city pairs.
• If you can be flexible with your dates and times then you can widen your search and find the a particular airline is offering a discount.
• Clear your browser history so that you get a fresh search each time.
• Compare the extra fees:
• Southwest Airlines do not charge for the 1st and 2nd bag checked under 50lbs
• JetBlue does not charge for the 1st checked bag under 50lbs
• Frontier and Spirit Airlines charge for Carry-on's
• Some airlines baggage fees escalate at the airport so book/pay  in advance
• If you're a family try to consolidate your luggage to reduce the number of bags you're paying for

To Save on Car Rental you'll need to know when to buy and where to buy:

Car rental rates are even more confusing than airfares and the so called budget companies don't always have the best rates so check them all.  The same online agencies can be used for comparison shopping like Travelocity and Expedia.

When to Buy and Where to Buy:

• This depends on the destination.  Cities that are typically for business travelers will have lower rates on the weekend.  Cities that are typically for leisure travelers will have lower rates on the week days.
• It's also a good idea to book in advance and pay in advance.  Advance purchase or pre-paid rates are often lower and are non-refundable.
• Unless you really need a large car choose a compact care, especially if you choose a late pick up time you could get an upgraded vehicle due to available
• Airports are generally higher than suburban locations and sometimes have additional fees.  Here you're paying for convenience and you may find more options available.
• Neighborhood locations also may offer last minute special to get cars off the lot.

Other recommendations:

• A lot of travel experts will advise to save on insurance, however I don't.  Your own car insurance will cover you in most cases, however not if you're renting out of the country.  Also, if you let someone else drive they are not covered and this is a strict policy with the rental car company.
• Also, the term "Liability" can mean different things to different companies.
• Lastly, many will say your credit card company carries insurance.  Well, not all of them do and to what degree.  In my experience American Express is the only one with comprehensive coverage.
• All in all , I don't think cutting out insurance is worth the savings. That's the one time something will happen.

To save on hotel accommodations you'll need to know when to stay and where to stay:

When to stay:

• Downtown hotels that cater the the business traveler will offer special rates on the weekend when their hotel has fewer occupants.  They may also offer special packages including meals or local attractions
• Hotels and resorts in tourist destination will offer special rates during the week, which is when they have fewer occupants.

Where to Stay:

• Timeshare sales can be great.  Look in your local paper or on line for timeshare owners who are selling their time.
• Vacation rentals can be a great savings for families and because they have kitchens you will save on meals
• Budget hotels typically include free wi-fi and other amenities that the more upscale hotels don't offer.
• Some hotels offer a minimum night stay package bringing down the per night rates.
• Hotels.com is a great guide and offers discounted rates.

How to save in general:

• Groupon or Living Social offer discounts in many cities around the US.  You can buy a Groupon or Living Social coupon to local attractions for the city you are visiting.
• CityPass offers discounts to local attractions and some of them have skip the line privileges.
• Bundle where you can with the Airline, Hotel, Car Rental or purchase a package from a Travel Agency.

Happy Trails!

Ja'Vonne Harley