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Exploring the Intersection of Cuisine, Culture, and Travel.

Welcome!  I’m a food and travel writer and cruise ship enrichment lecturer.  I curate exceptional cultural, historical, and culinary information and experiences from the world’s most exciting destinations and share them with you here, and in my free monthly newsletter, Destination Curation where I do deep dives into some of the world’s most engaging cruise destinations.

I am the proud author of two award-winning books: Have Personality Disorder, Will Rule Russia: A Pocket Guide to Russian History, and Lenin Lives Next Door: Marriage, Martinis, and Mayhem in Moscow.

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Enjoy My Recent Articles

 

8 Hour GuidesEuropeTravel8 Hours in Vienna, Austria: The Best Things to Do
November 18, 2024

8 Hours in Vienna, Austria: The Best Things to Do

Curate your time in Vienna with this comprehensive guide to the Austrian capital’s rich culture, magnificent art and architecture, incomparable music, fascinating history, and delectable food
Gifts & GearHoliday Gift GivingTravel & Cruise Gear40+ Thoughtful Gift Ideas for Cruise Passengers 2024
November 12, 2024

40+ Thoughtful Gift Ideas for Cruise Passengers 2024

40+ thoughtfully curated items serve as perfect gifts for friends and loved ones embarking on a cruise, or as treat-yourself presents for your own voyage.
CuisineCuisines of the WorldEuropeHow to Make Authentic Austrian Wiener Schnitzel
November 11, 2024

How to Make Authentic Austrian Wiener Schnitzel

This is a showy dish, which can be made with almost any type of meat: many German restaurants have successfully created chicken schnitzel dishes, to entice the more healthy-conscious.
CuisineCuisines of the WorldScandinavianTravelThe Must-Try Things to Eat and Drink in Iceland
October 27, 2024

The Must-Try Things to Eat and Drink in Iceland

Iceland's culinary history is an example of human ingenuity and resilience on a remote island in the face of extreme environmental conditions. From the early Viking settlers to today's innovative…
8 Hour GuidesNorthern EuropeTravel8-Hours in Bruges, Belgium: The Perfect Itinerary
October 23, 2024

8-Hours in Bruges, Belgium: The Perfect Itinerary

A day spent in the enchanting medieval city of Bruges is a rare treat! For a small city, Bruges offers a great deal: picturesque canals, soaring Gothic architecture, rich history,…
8 Hour GuidesEuropeTravelTravel Articles8 Hours in Bergen: A Guide to Norway’s Second City
October 7, 2024

8 Hours in Bergen: A Guide to Norway’s Second City

Located in the heart of the fjords, Norway's second largest city, Bergen has so much to offer — it’s no wonder it has become one of the most popular places…
8 Hour GuidesEuropeLatviaNorthern EuropeTravel8 Hours in Captivating Riga, The Capital of Latvia
September 4, 2024

8 Hours in Captivating Riga, The Capital of Latvia

Riga's manageable size makes it ideal for a cruise visitor who has about 8 hours in which to enjoy the charms of the medieval Old Town and the elegance of…
3 skewers of corn and salmon shashlik on a wooden cutting boardCuisineEastern EuropeanCorn & Salmon Shashlik
August 3, 2024

Corn & Salmon Shashlik

And just like that, it’s August, a month when almost anything can happen, and in Russia usually does. Each year the country braces itself for “The August Curse,” the month’s…
CuisineEastern EuropeanTangy Kefir Brined Chicken Shashlik
July 10, 2024

Tangy Kefir Brined Chicken Shashlik

Shashlik is healthy with this winning combination of chicken thighs, kefir, pickle brine and spices, which gets a long marinade and then a sear over high heat.
Skewers of grilled lamb garnished with rosemary on a white platterCaucasianCuisineEastern EuropeanHow to Make Shashlik: Recipes for Juicy Meat Skewers
October 1, 2023

How to Make Shashlik: Recipes for Juicy Meat Skewers

Shashlik is not just a recipe — it’s an institution, and a very male one at that. Eastern European men rarely rush into the kitchen to prepare meals, but with shashlik,…
EuropeGreeceTravelTravel ArticlesDay Trips from Athens: Meteora, Greece’s Hidden Gem
January 28, 2023

Day Trips from Athens: Meteora, Greece’s Hidden Gem

Meteora with its stunning rock pillars, topped with monasteries dating back to the 14th century introduces different, often less explored, chapters of Greek, history, and is one of the best…
Book ReviewsCuisineEastern EuropeanPierogi: Over 50 Recipes to Create Perfect Polish Dumplings
December 30, 2022

Pierogi: Over 50 Recipes to Create Perfect Polish Dumplings

Jennifer Eremeeva reviews Pierogi: Over 50 Recipes to Create Perfect Polish Dumplings by Zuza Zak.
8 Hour GuidesEuropeTravel8 Hours in Vienna, Austria: The Best Things to Do
November 18, 2024

8 Hours in Vienna, Austria: The Best Things to Do

Curate your time in Vienna with this comprehensive guide to the Austrian capital’s rich culture, magnificent art and architecture, incomparable music, fascinating history, and delectable food
Gifts & GearHoliday Gift GivingTravel & Cruise Gear40+ Thoughtful Gift Ideas for Cruise Passengers 2024
November 12, 2024

40+ Thoughtful Gift Ideas for Cruise Passengers 2024

40+ thoughtfully curated items serve as perfect gifts for friends and loved ones embarking on a cruise, or as treat-yourself presents for your own voyage.
CuisineCuisines of the WorldEuropeHow to Make Authentic Austrian Wiener Schnitzel
November 11, 2024

How to Make Authentic Austrian Wiener Schnitzel

This is a showy dish, which can be made with almost any type of meat: many German restaurants have successfully created chicken schnitzel dishes, to entice the more healthy-conscious.