Seattle Culinary Camp With Chef Tom Douglas Offers A Taste Of Washington State

by Laurel Miller on

It’s a well-known fact amongst Seattleites that the sun always comes out for the summer starting on July 4. OK, that wasn’t true two years ago but on July 5, there it was. Anyway, it’s the official start of our summer and that means it’s also the start of the eating season. For farmers market goers and lovers of the grill and al fresco dining, July is kickoff time.

Perhaps that’s why Tom Douglas, the modern father of Pacific Northwest cooking (the late James Beard being the true granddaddy of PNW cuisine), chose July for his annual Culinary Camp. The award winning chef and restaurateur behind such Seattle landmarks as Dahlia Lounge, Palace Kitchen, Lola and Serious Pie has held a five-day culinary immersion program every July for the past six years.

Locals and visitors alike will get a taste of local ingredients such as geoduck clams, Dungeness crab, blueberries, salmon, wild mushrooms and cheese in hands-on cooking classes as well as demonstrations and tastings from Douglas – currently a finalist for the James Beard Outstanding Restaurateur of the Year award.

Additional educational opportunities will be available from other respected Seattle food and drink authorities; in the past, these have included Matt Dillon of Sitka & Spruce and The Corson Building, Mark Fuller of Spring Hill/Ma’ono, and Maria Hines of Tilth and The Golden Beetle. Former visiting experts have included acclaimed chef Nancy Oakes and her husband, sausage king Bruce Aidells and noted food writers/cookbook authors Rose Levy Beranbaum and James Peterson.

This year also marks the 50th anniversary of the Space Needle, so citywide celebrations will make vitamin D-depleted Seattlites even more festive than usual. The Tom Douglas Culinary Camp will take place July 8-12 and tuition is $3,000. To learn more and reserve a spot, contact Robyn Wolfe at robynw@tomdouglas.com.

[Flickr Photo via cbcastro]

Lafayette, Louisiana, Named ‘Tastiest Town in the South’

by Jessica Festa on

Looking to plan a delicious food-focused trip? While the southern United States is well-known for its mouth-watering soul food and rich flavors, Southern Living has recently named Lafayette, Louisiana, the ‘Tastiest Town in the South.” The criteria for choosing the winner was based on how the food identified the culture, how the area’s cuisine influences the local community and tourism, an array of price points, sustainability, media buzz on local chefs and an abundance of food-related events and festivals.

Writers Senior Editor Paula Disbrowe, “Lafayette’s distinct culinary identity as the capital of Cajun country, its spicy, sausage-laden roots, and a new generation of locals devoted to preserving their heritage while putting a fresh spin on tradition have made it an incredibly satisfying place to eat.”

So, where should you go to get some of the city’s best cuisine? First there is the French Press Cafe, a trendy eatery serving dishes like smoked duck breast with sweet potato spaetzel and prime filet mignon with blue cheese, fried poached egg, caramelized onion, potato pancakes and a Cognac demi. Their signature dish is Sweet Baby Breesus – biscuits stuffed with bacon, cane syrup and fried boudin. There’s also Johnson’s Boucanière, a BBQ joint serving items like fried boudin-stuffed grilled cheese with BBQ sauce, slow-smoked beef and pork sandwiches loaded with the works and smoked brisket cooked for 13 hours.

Want to taste the flavors of Lafayette for yourself? The magazine is running a contest until April 30, 2012, where one lucky traveler can win $2,500 toward a trip to their favorite tasty town. For details and to enter, click here.

[Photo via French Press Cafe]

Rubens At The Palace Allows Guests To Be Harry Potter For The Day, Magic Wand And All

by Jessica Festa on

Do you ever wish you could be Harry Potter for the day? You know, walk around with a magic wand, wear a cloak and giant glasses, hangout at Gringotts Wizarding Bank and visit all the places the young wizard himself did? With a stay at Rubens at the Palace in London, now you can.

The luxury boutique hotel, which is located across from Buckingham Palace, is currently offering a “Harry Potter Experience” package. Guests will not only get the chance to take photos at Harry Potter movie set locations, like Platform 9 3/4, Diagon Alley and the Leaky Cauldron, Gringott’s Wizarding Bank, Victorian Leadenhall Market, and Brockdale Bridge, they’ll also get to feel just like Harry Potter himself. Package amenities include:

  • Complimentary breakfast
  • World-class accommodations
  • Three-hour Harry Potter tour in a chauffeured black cab
  • Harry Potter wand with cloak and glasses
  • Turndown service with Harry Potter cupcakes
  • Framed family photograph taken before the tour
  • Certificate of tour completion, to prove to everyone you did, indeed, visit all the set locations

Package is valid until December 31, 2012. Prices start at $965 per night, based on two adults and two children under 10 years old. Email bookrb@rchmail.com or click here to make a reservation.

New York’s Longest-Running Craft Beer Festival Takes Place This Month

by Jessica Festa on

For the past 15 years, the New York Craft Beer and Fine Food Festival (TAP New York) has been taking over Hunter Mountain in New York. On April 28 and 29, the event is back again with expectations to be the biggest festival to date.

TAP New York began as a small gathering of about 200 beer enthusiasts and a few breweries. Over the years, the occasion has grown enormously. Now, the entire Base Lodge of Hunter Mountain is needed to hold all of the attendees. Additionally, this month over 70 breweries will be representing more than 140 individual beers so you’ll be able to sample both old and new favorites.

According to TAP New York, “The resurgence of craft brewing, spawned in part by the creative brewers at Saranac and Boston Brewing, has lead to fuller bodied, flavorful brews featuring rich colors, bold flavors, and imaginative ingredients. New craft breweries are opening every year, and we’re both happy and proud to welcome them aboard.”

For those who like to nosh while drinking, this year’s food theme is Caribbean Food. Delicious cuisine and cooking demonstrations will be part of the programming. Also, a beer competition run by qualified judges will award the best breweries and individual craft beers in the state.

Tickets are $64 for Saturday, $52 for Sunday and $105 for the entire weekend. A designated driver pass is $20, regardless of date. To purchase, click here. If you would like to register your brewery for the event, click here.

Thailand Rings In The New Year With A Massive Water Fight

by Jessica Festa on




While many cultures celebrate New Year’s on December 31 and January 1, Thailand waits until April 13 to 15 to commemorate the holiday. Known as Songkran, it is traditionally very spiritual. Locals visit temples, sprinkle water on Buddha images to pay respect as well as on each other’s hands to wish them good luck. There are also cultural performances and delicious street foods to enhance the festivities. However, the annual Songkran has evolved over the years to include an all-out water fight through the city streets. Picture complete strangers hurling buckets of water at you and mercilessly shooting you with their water guns. This is Songkran.

Songkran festival dates and programming vary a bit from city to city. You can click here for full details for each region. Just remember, if you’re going to be in Thailand during Songkran, leave your electronics at home and don’t wear anything you don’t mind getting wet. Nobody is safe.

To get a better idea of what Songkran is like, check out the video above.