A gateway to Washington D.C. to the north, Virginia Beach to the east, and touching the James and Elizabeth Rivers, the Chesapeake Bay, and the Atlantic Ocean, Norfolk draws visitors and residents from around the country – and the world. The culinary scene is equally eclectic. While you can catch the occasional chain, more often street corners are home to mom and pop diners, chef-driven hotspots, and unique food finds from Turkish to Creole, Jamaican to European.
 

Roasted Crispy Cricket Tacos and Plantain Empanadas share the menu with traditional Jalisco favorites like Corn Sopes, Beef Barbacoa, and Cochinita Pibil. Such is the assortment of inventive dishes that have become the trademark of El Arrayán restaurant.

Pecan pie. Bananas foster. Red velvet cake. Lemon meringue pie. Doctor bird cake?!

Desserts in the South are well known for their sumptuous ingredients, bright flavors, and a dash of flare. And yet one dessert seems to stand apart—Doctor birds cake, more commonly called Hummingbird Cake.

I first heard of--and sampled--this sweet concoction a couple years ago in downtown Roanoke, Virginia. The combination of ripened bananas lapping up the sweetness of crushed pineapple gives the cake its signature sweetness, and dense yet airy texture.

Oh my, oh my. THIS is a book after my own heart. I'm talking, of course, about An Unexpected Cookbook: The Unofficial Book of Hobbit Cookery, written by Chris-Rachael Oseland.

We all know that Ireland's symbol is the shamrock, but did you also know that there's a second symbol? It's the humble, and ever so delicious leek! Legend says that St Patrick was praying with a dying woman, when she had a dream about a certain vegetable.

The Netherlands – a place of beauty and great food! But I’m guessing that you’re not familiar with the cuisine of the southern Netherlands. If you’re driving the southern Netherlands, you’ve a great culinary adventure in front of you.

One of the pure joys of travel is the food. Yes, that's right - food is a window to culture. Think about it - from the night markets of Southeast Asia to the traditional recipes of, well, any culture, what people make and eat is a product of terroir, seasons, climate, history, and more.

Every once in a while, you come across a book filled with such goodness, love, and kindness that it not only makes you smile, but reminds you of the goodness in your own life and inspires you to work harder at connecting, helping, loving.

Denmark, although small, plays a large role in the world. Why, you may ask? Well, among many things (Vikings, Brahe, HC Anderson, Kierkegaard, Kronborg Castle of Hamlet fame), the food. Oh, the food. My aunt has traveled to Denmark for many years, and always comes back with food gifts - and food stories.