Travel & Eats: Traveling to Paradise (But You Have to Get There First!)

by Eileen Wacker ~

We relocated to Seoul, Korea from Connecticut when our four kids were aged three months, 17 months, four and five years old. The plane trip and associated travel were some of the toughest moments I can remember. The flight attendants shushing my kids, dropped and spilled food, other irritated passengers, a sobbing toddler when I escaped to use the bathroom, getting through security with two baby carriages, and the dreaded rousing of the jet lagged children once we landed (and still had to make it through the terminal). I think our journey was the definition of “schlep” and no one had fun.

Every summer as our vacation back to the states approached I would start to perspire and feel a sense of foreboding.  Traveling had become a “necessary evil” if we wanted to go on exotic vacations and/or visit family. But aren’t vacations supposed to be fun? Isn’t this what we save our hard earned vacation time and money for? We decided we needed to put Operation “Travel should be Fun” into effect.  Today, we live in Honolulu so we still travel long distances and continue to apply these plane travel strategies.

Operation “Traveling Should be Fun” starts with a basic premise. Going on a trip is exciting and riding on an airplane is an exciting idea to most kids. But traveling can be grueling, especially in the summer AND KIDS ARE NOT NATURALLY GOOD TRAVELERS. So as parents, we need to put a process in place to minimize chaos and add some elements of fun.

Tip One – Be in Control of Your Mindset and Mood
First you must convince yourself that staying positive is a mindset and you can do it! Oh, this is much harder than it seems and you will be tested repeatedly – the overly intrusive security agents, other passengers who seem to think the rules of waiting in line etc don’t apply, the overworked gate agent who acts as if she/he does not care about delays and missed connections, and yes, the dreaded “clueless or rude traveler” who holds up every line, can’t put their shoes back on and tries to board when they are not supposed to. And let’s not forget our children who start to complain and grumble at the first hint of inconvenience.

Don’t melt down! Something unplanned usually happens while traveling. Do not let yourself get angry and start raising your voice.  There may be more red-faced angry people at an airport in the summer than any other place on the planet. So just smile through the process and tell yourself you knew something would come up.

Tip Two – Meaningful assignments make traveling much more efficient
Give out assignments in advance and you will be surprised that your kids will complete them with enthusiasm. If your kids are too young to handle the task on their own, have them as “partner in charge” and do it with them. Here are our travel jobs:

The “plane researcher” finds the answers to these questions – Does each seat have its own electronics? Do they serve food your kids will eat? Where is everyone seated (you may decide to change things within the allotted seats). What kind of plane is it? What % of the time does this flight goes on time? www.flightstats.com is an awesome website to find the answers. If you are lucky enough to travel up in the front of the plane, are there outlets for your electronics?

The “weather checker” can help keep packing reasonable- this is a fun job that has the child report the current weather and the weather forecast expected in the next week. Also checks the typical weather during the period you will be there.  Then you can stop packing “just in case items” as you have a good weather barometer and can follow the packing rule: “When in doubt, leave it out!”

The “airport researcher” is important and becomes critical if you have connections – Where are the gates? Are they close to security? If you are connecting, will you walk to the next gate? What restaurants are there if you want to bring food on the plane? This was always important for us as we decided whether to check or use our baby carriages. They are a pain at security etc. but sometimes I needed one to physically make it across airports to make a connecting flight. Does the airport have charging stations? Many including San Francisco have them, and you can recharge the phone, ipad, ipod and other critical items that keep your family engaged.

The “electronics manager” – This person makes sure all devices are charged up and the correct chargers get packed. If you are four people with four chargers for the same device, label and bring two of them.  Also makes sure everyone has the devices packed in the backpack in a convenient spot to pull out during the security screening. My husband is in charge of this and ensures we have everything from cameras to phones to a portable DVD player with the kids’ favorite DVDs (carried in a special carrying pouch for DVDs). **And this person reminds everyone – turn your phone setting to airplane mode “ON”!

The “check in manager” – Most airlines let you print out your boarding passes in advance. This person should check the flight status on the date of travel (right up until you depart from your home) so you are following all the current news. You can also check this at www.flightstats.com as they track all departure and arrival information. Have your printed boarding passes and consider a curbside check in. Also decide the curbside plan in advance – will Dad let everyone off and then go and park the car and meet you at security? I also keep a printed itinerary and contact info for our destination in case something happens with the electronic copies. That is my job!

Tip Three – Pack Reading Materials
Every family member should have multi-media options for reading. One reading book and one other activity based book. My daughter loves mazes so she has a book of mazes; my son loves jokes so we always find the latest joke book.

We try to load one book on my kindle and they can “have a turn” reading. Can you imagine your child negotiating to read? At the moment, our 8 year old wants to read “Island of the Blue Dolphins” and our 12 year old loves the “Hunger Games” series.

Tip Four: Perfect the Art of the Carry-On
Optimize the balance between carry-on and packed luggage. Approach this as if it is a science — there is an optimal amount! For kids, the key is how many hours the items keeps them occupied. Here’s our short list:

Sample Carry-on for Mom and Dad—
Sunglasses, ipad, kindle, plastic bag with a toothbrush, foldable sundress, a few magazines, my iphone, a charger, kids’ snacks (yes we get stuck with them – goldfish, fruit snacks, graham crackers), something for work, earphones, pair of socks, travel itinerary and confirmations, and contact information, empty water bottle. I carry a separate purse as well.

Sample Carry-on for older child – (backpack) kindle & charger, ipod and earphones, change of clothes, a book each, notebook, pens and colored pencils, toothbrush and toothpaste, surfing magazine, socks, empty water bottle

Sample carry on for younger two- (in a backpack) Change of clothes, DS and games, action figures, a dinosaur, one book each, empty water bottle, socks, toothbrush, tiger stuffed animal, portable DVD player and several “Scooby Doo’s” and a “Despicable Me” DVD, empty water bottle, maze puzzle book.

Tip Five: Other Honorable Mentions
Wear sandals or flip flops as they are easy to take on and off at security (and on the flight). We see so many people wearing sneakers. Pack them in the checked suitcase unless there is a health reason to wear them.

Be nice to young mothers struggling to control their children. I was one and I massively appreciated a kind word or sympathetic smile.

Obvious but worth saying: pack as light as possible and be ready to be subjected to maddening security screenings! Also rental car companies and baggage claim waits are often mandatory on at least one leg of a journey.

In summary, summer traveling involving airline flights and airports will always be challenging but keep your positive mindset. You can do it and it’s worth it! Happy travels.

Eileen Wacker, a Harvard Business School graduate, lived and worked in seven different countries, including the United States. Wacker now resides in Honolulu, Hawaii, with her husband and four children, one of whom is a daughter adopted from China. She is the author of the new children’s book, Silent Samurai and the Magnificent Rescue, the third installment of the Mom’s Choice Award Winning Fujimini Adventure Series.

For additional information on the series, please visit www.oncekids.com .

Travel & Eats: Summer Trip Pep Talk 101

by Eileen Wacker ~

Oh the sweet anticipation…
I am a Mom with four kids aged 7 to 13 and I approach summer trips with trepidation. The end of the school year is arriving fast and summer vacations are around the corner. We save money all year and make sacrifices to ensure a summer trip is possible. We carve out precious “days off” from work and align everyone’s schedules, never an easy task given camps, events, activities and family commitments. So the stakes are as high as the expectations.

Reality sets in… and the Disney Pep Talk
My husband and I, first and foremost, abide by the “Disney Pep Talk” rule. Several years ago, we were visiting my brother’s family in California. They also have four children roughly the same age as ours so there is always lots of excitement when we get together. The night before we embarked on a Disneyland adventure, we received the equivalent of a pep talk from my brother as our elated children busily planned out departure times, the order of the rides and the foods they would eat, all in squealing, happy voices.  Dan said, “Watch the families tomorrow. They have saved endlessly and looked forward to this trip to Disney FOREVER.  But watch, inevitably many parents get stressed and yell at their kids. And this is at Disney which is probably the most fun place in the world.”  From there, my husband and I started discussing a critical parenting question: “Why do kids, at times during every vacation, refuse to have fun or be fun? Or is it us and our approach?”

Sure enough, the next day in Disney, we saw children weeping in long lines with sweaty, sunburned faces. We saw disappointed parents watching children dropping or wasting their expensive food. We saw tired, writhing kids that could not be convinced to go on a certain ride with the parents yelling, “How can you not want to go on this? It’s why we are here!”  We saw other parents shout, “We are on vacation in Disney. You should be having a great time and instead you’re complaining.” And, several parents were observed getting infuriated when their little one announced 45 minutes into a wait that he/she had to go the bathroom and could not hold it any longer. So my husband and I decided to create some strategies to enjoy vacation moments because our kids, like most kids, can act ungrateful and refuse to have fun in the most wonderful places.

We now have “Disney Pep Talk” before every vacation and use the tips below.

Seven strategies for traveling families–

1) Don’t expect kids to be grateful for all the sacrifices it takes to go on a trip. They are not going to thank you profusely or act wonderfully.  Instead, watch for the moment of wonder or the “pure joy” smile – it is these “moments” that make the trip happy and memorable. Photograph those moments and it is all you will remember later.

2) Leave a little give in the schedule. Most kids are not naturally continuous “do-ers” on a vacation. If you have an agenda packed end to end with activities, the kids will start complaining and wish to stay somewhere and just hang out. Think of your kids sweating in Washington DC, hiking from monument to monument in the blistering heat and waiting in the sun at the spy museum. All good ideas but some down time is needed for them to retain their trip enthusiasm.

3) Let each person choose one event/activity and one restaurant destination during the trip. After we select our destination (even if it is a repeat), we put out a menu of options and each child can choose one of the options or propose something else. If one child chooses swimming, we make sure we get some swimming into the vacation, whether at a hotel pool or a beach. They also get to choose one type of food that we will be sure to eat. This is a huge hit with our kids and helps us minimize complaints during the trip. Our youngest and oldest like to do very different things but each knows that their treasured turn will come.

4) Set the expectation – traveling is a nightmare. Whether by plane or car, summer vacations are filled with other people on vacation and there are inevitable delays, traffic and waiting. Have a plan for the long waits. Don’t expect the perfect trip; if everything goes swimmingly, then it is a bonus. Electronics may be your best friend during these moments.

5) Everyone has to bring a book. This is a big rule and my kids now look forward to going to the bookstore to select a special book for the trip. We have a kindle and the kids love to borrow the kindle to read.  I also give extra credit for creating and writing in a journal; they can write words or draw or both.  I give them $1 a page for quality journal writing.  It is almost certain the kids will be asked to write something about their summer when school resumes so they are getting a head start.

6) Try to pack light and smart. This is a basic but we all continue to “overpack” and drag around things we just don’t need. So now we sit down and make a list together, then make it an event. “Okay everyone bring down three pairs of pajamas”, then “everyone go get 5 shirts and one has to have a collar”, etc. And they have to carry what they pack.

7) Electronics are awesome but you need to set some ground rules about usage. The ipods, phones, ipads, DSs, and other devices are amazing and really help children stay distracted during the hectic travel challenges but they should not check out and not participate in the trip.

So, in summary, have the Disney pep talk and always take time to savor your moments of joy on the trip. Oh and make them go to the bathroom before you go anywhere. Happy travels!

Eileen Wacker, a Harvard Business School graduate, lived and worked in seven different countries, including the United States. Wacker now resides in Honolulu, Hawaii, with her husband and four children, one of whom is a daughter adopted from China. She is the author of the new children’s book , Silent Samurai and the Magnificent Rescue, the third installment of the Fujimini Adventure Series.

For further information on the series, please visit www.oncekids.com .

Travel & Eats: What is This “Duty-Free” of Which You Speak?

By Jan Ross ~

Until I went on a Caribbean cruise on the Carnival Liberty recently with a bunch of girlfriends I always thought “duty-free” was a bunch of hooey. Yes, I said hooey. Now I’ll go get out my walking stick and go get one of them new-fangled perms all the gals are talking about. And I think I might have just lost the point I was trying to make by using the word “new-fangled.”

I thought “duty-free” was just another excuse to get all those vacationers into the shops to stuff their shopping bags full of items that could be had back home for roughly the same price. Y’all? I was wrong.

This is the first cruise where I have actually gone to one of those shopping talks they have before they embark at a port. Previously, I had traveled with my husband who was about as interested in shopping as he is in packing a rabid marmoset into his suitcase. So, really? Not very interested.

I have always shopped when we were vacationing because well. I have always shopped. Do I really need to clarify? But I basically just wandered around, going where I wanted and buying what I wanted. I always ended up with nice things but I was apparently shopping the wrong way. This right here? This is the right way.

1. Duty-free is not a rip-off. “Duty” refers to a tax or fee placed on goods by local governments. Shop owners who import goods in certain areas (like the Caribbean) and sell them to buyers who are leaving their country aren’t charged a duty on these products. This allows sellers to pass the savings along to their customers, giving smart shoppers the opportunity to grab fantastic merchandise at bargain prices. So, that designer purse, watch, perfume or those precious jewels actually are a bargain. And this is precisely what you can tell your husband.

2. First, go to the shopping talks. I thought these were a silly waste of time – I already know how to shop, by God! – but I was completely wrong. I’m sure the cruise ships get some sort of kickback from the shops they recommend but, on the other hand, you are guaranteed that the gold bracelet you buy is the best price and won’t turn your wrist a lovely shade of green after you have been wearing it for a week. These shopping experts will also help you get the best price and often have freebies at the talk and coupons for more freebies at the shops. That free teeny-tiny topaz necklace may seem like a waste of time but think how much your little niece will like it for a souvenir. And you save money on souvenirs and can buy more stuff or yourself. Truly a win-win shopping situation.

3. Go to the stores they recommend. Many of these stores are chains and have locations on all the islands so if you can’t make up your mind, you can probably find something similar at the next stop. These are also the stores that depend on their cruise customers so they truly will give you a great deal.

4. Go to other stores. There are plenty of other shops on the islands – you do not have to stick to just the few they recommend. I like refrigerator magnets from every location I visit and Christmas decorations – yes, I am THAT person – so I like to browse at all kinds of stores. Tee-shirts, local cookbooks, kitschy jewelry – if you like this kind of stuff, as I do, you will do fine looking in all kinds of places. These fun purchases don’t have to expensive and beautifully made.

5. Buy that expensive item you have always wanted. My best friend marched into a Louis Vuitton store on St. Thomas and bought a beautiful and rather expensive purse. She was very, very happy with her purchase and I could not quibble because a.) she had been wanting that purse for years b.) it was for an anniversary present and c.) most important – she knew that, even though it was expensive, it was actually half the price she would pay in the States.

6. Do your research. My friend knew that Louis Vuitton purse was half price because she had done her research. If you are even considering an expensive purchase while you are in the Caribbean, do your research before you go and find out if that Hublot watch is a steal. It probably is. (I realize you have probably never heard of a Hublot watch before now. Neither had I before I wrote this article.)

7. Do even more research. Every location you visit in your travels all over the world has specialties to purchase. The Caribbean is no exception. Before you make your shopping plans, do your research about what to buy that is actually from the Caribbean. When I went to the Dominican Republic the first time, I found that the beautiful blue stone, Larimar, is actually found there. I had never heard of Larimar before I did my research but was prepared when I arrived and bought several pieces, then bought a beautiful bracelet the second time I visited. Larimar is available all over the Caribbean and is truly beautiful and unique – similar to turquoise but a lighter color – and you should think about picking up some when you are there.

8. If you love it, buy it. Even though I said above that you could probably find that item at another store at the next port, don’t count on it. If you truly love it and it’s the right price, don’t dither. You will never regret buying something you love but you will always regret not buying it.

9. Make a list. My family is thrilled when I forget that I already bought them a present and then proceed to buy them another one at another location. And then wait? Did I buy them one yet? And proceed to buy yet another one. If you are buying for a number of people, make a list … even if you are buying for yourself. Believe me, I have experienced the shopping frenzy after which you get back to your stateroom and realize you already bought a silver bracelet at the last port almost exactly like the one you just purchased. Oh. THAT’S why it looked so familiar!

10. Get a business card. Many of the stores have a web site so, if you ignored my above advice about buying what you want, you might be able to get it online.

Now, go shopping! And remember what Dolly says “Money is like manure; it’s no good unless you spread it around!”

About the author: Jan Ross is a freelance writer and travel blogger at: http://www.wanderlustwonder.com/ . When she is not writing or traveling, she is shopping.

Travel & Eats: Five Tips to Packing for a Multi-Climate Trip

By Jan Ross ~

The hardest trip I have ever taken was when we spent a few days in San Francisco in the spring and then flew to Hawaii. San Francisco was very cold, especially at Fisherman’s Wharf where we were staying, and Hawaii, of course, was very warm. I had to plan everything from a very, very cold ferry trip to Alcatraz in San Francisco to a very, very warm trip to the Pearl Harbor Memorial in Oahu. What to take? What to wear? How to keep up my fabulous fashionable image but not pay a fee for an overpacked suitcase? Here’s how.

1. Get over yourself. Although, of course, you always want to look completely fabulous, this does not mean you must have a completely different ensemble for every single day. I am the last person to advocate taking 2-3 pieces in 2 colors and switching them around – please. We do have an image to uphold. However, you always want to pack a LBD, a nice pair of black pants (I recommend Norma Kamali from Walmart; the jersey pants are great for travel and very inexpensive. You can even rinse them out in the sink!) and a nice black wrap or cardigan. It’s OK to wear the same sweater, t-shirt, or jeans several times. Nobody will notice, believe me.

2. Jewelry. Nobody will notice you are wearing that LBD almost every night if you wear different jewelry or wear it with or without your cardigan or wrap. Statement necklaces are very stylish and inexpensive right now and a great way to change up your outfits. Alternate that LBD with your black pants and a cute top every night and that’s all you need to pack.

3. Layer. That cute black cardigan you’re going to wear over a dress one night will layer nicely with a long sleeve t-shirt and jeans. You can even add a pair of silky long underwear if it’s really chilly. The real secret to managing in a variety of climates is layering. If you are going to tuck anything else into your suitcase, make it another comfortable and colorful t-shirt from Old Navy or Gap. They are versatile and can be dressed up or down.

4. About that long underwear. If you don’t have a pair of silky Cuddleduds, you need one. They are great to wear under your clothes when it’s really cold, but you can also wear the top as a long sleeve t-shirt and the entire set to lounge around your hotel room or stateroom. No pajamas necessary!

5. Shoes. Yes, you have five pairs of completely darling red shoes but this is not the time to display them. I hate to tell you how many pairs of sandals I took on my first cruise. A different color for every outfit and we had to step around them all week in our tiny stateroom. Find a cute pair of dressy black sandals for evening, comfortable flats to wear on the plane (Old Navy has great cheap and comfortable flats) and possibly out touring (if they are very comfortable), and tennis shoes to wear when you are going to be doing a lot of walking. That’s all I took for two weeks in Europe a couple months ago and I was absolutely fine.

Coco Chanel said to stop at the mirror on your way out the door and take off one piece of jewelry. Less is more. The same idea applies to your suitcase. Pack it, then take out a couple of pieces. You probably won’t need them. And if you do? I guarantee there will be shopping just about anyplace you go. This is precisely how I ended up with a darling flowered dress from Hawaii and a hooded sweatshirt from San Francisco. Not having anything to wear is the perfect excuse to shop. Like we really need one.

Jan Ross is a travel writer who has visited a variety of climates and learned to pack economically while still looking fabulous. She maintains a travel blog at: http://www.wanderlustwonder.com/.

Travel & Eats: Add New Tastes from the Middle East for a Fragrant Easter Meal

Golden Cookies, Earthy Cumin and Tart Sumac  Flavor Traditional Lebanese Family Recipes from “Taste of Beirut” chef Joumana Accad

With memories of her beloved “Teta”  (Grandmother in Lebanese) filling her senses as she bakes delicate cookies and stuffs chicken with a fragrant spice blend, food blogger and Lebanese chef, Joumana Accad, creates an Easter feast and family history lesson in the same meal.   A traditional Lebanese Easter meal includes:

Moghrabiyeh(Lebanese couscous with lamb shanks and chicken)

Kibbehpie (Meat and bulgur pie stuffed with minced meat, spices and pine nuts) served with a yogurt and cucumber sauce

Spiced rice with minced lamb and spices served with a roasted (free-range) chicken and garnished with toasted almonds, pine nuts and pistachios.

Stuffed greens with lamb chops(similar to stuffed grape leaves with minced meat and rice) served with a yogurt sauce

Lamb in yogurt sauceserved over rice and toasted vermicelli (ancient dish)

Baby eggplants stuffed with minced meat, onion and spices and served with a yogurt sauce and some rice

Kibbehin a citrus sauce (traditional dish from Beirut and all the major coastal cities), served over rice and toasted vermicelli

Joumana has a passion for her native dishes and the family memories they evoke. This Easter Joumana will once again be making and sharing Ma’mouls, a traditional Lebanese cookie for Easter.  These special cookies are made with semolina flour and flavored with rose water and orange blossom water and stuffed with dates, pistachios or almonds or walnuts. The cookies are round with a slight conical shape to represent both the crown that Christ wore on the cross and the sponge that was given to him when he asked for water.

“This cookie is my absolute favorite,” says Joumana. “I learned to cook watching my grandmother in the kitchen. Today when I make these cookies I always feel she is beside me. When I serve them I like to share stories with my own children about growing up in Beirut.” For Joumana, each dish reminds her of her family and brings back childhood memories of family celebrations.

Joumana brings this love of family cooking to home cooks across the U.S. through her website and blog, TasteofBeirut.com.   This Easter you can bring the savory and sweet flavors of Lebanon to your family table with this delicious dessert.

Semolina cookies with date (Ma’amoul)

We knew Easter was coming when my Teta (grandmother) was busy in the kitchen making these. Hers were unbelievably soft and crumbly and filled with the luscious and buttery date paste. She also made round ones with almonds and walnuts.   I would sneak in and grab some when no one was looking. …I yearned for those for years, never daring to make them. Then, a few years ago, my mother started making them for Easter and shipping us a tin from Beirut.  Now I feel it is my turn to carry on the tradition.

These are not hard to make and their preparation can be spread out over several days. One day to make the dough, the following day to shape the kaak. They keep for weeks in a tin and can be frozen. I was told that their shape is a representation of Jesus’ crown  and the stones thrown at Him . My grandmother would delicately pinch each cookie  as a final touch, as this was to show the thorns on His crown. I have skipped this step however, mainly because I could not find the special implement to do it called malkat. Another way to make them is to use a special wooden mold called a taba’, found in middle-eastern stores. This process is faster and simply requires oiling the mold a bit with a spray such as Baker’s Joy every so often to ease unmolding of the dough.

Stuffing:

Directions:

1. Mix the semolina and cream of wheat (farina) and sugar to obtain a homogenous mixture.  Add the melted butter and mix again very well. Add the milk, orange blossom water, rose water.
2. Mix well and leave to rest for a few hours or overnight. Some recipes call for adding 1/2 teaspoon of dried yeast to the mixture which can be dissolved in the milk. I have omitted yeast in mine. Also, one can add a teaspoon of mahlab if the taste is something one fancies in these pastries.
3. Knead the dough for a few minutes by hand or in a mixer with the paddle attachment until the dough feels smooth, shiny, and easy to shape into logs.
4. On a marble or granite counter place a large sheet of wax paper. Place a fistful of dough on it and put another piece of wax paper on top of it. With a rolling pin, flatten the dough and shape it into a long rectangle.
5. Take a piece of date paste and knead it to loosen it. You can add up to 8 tablespoons of butter to the date paste to make it more malleable using the food processor.  Form it into a 1/3 in.  rope and place the rope directly on the dough. Using the wax paper, roll the log enclosing the date paste. A marble or granite counter is helpful here.
6. Roll out the log on the marble counter and roll it with the bottom of your wrist back and forth until it thins out to your liking. Cut the rope into individual cookies, each about 4 inches long.
7. Place the cookies on a parchment-lined cookie sheet and bake in a preheated 325F oven till the cookies are light gold  and the dough feels dry. Cool the cookies and keep in a tin for 2 weeks or more. They can also be frozen for about one month. This recipe will yield at least 50 cookies.

NOTE:

You can use the wooden mold if you are pressed for time, because it is faster to shape them this way. Simply prepare small balls of dough on the counter.  Taking  one at a time, use your thumb to carve out a deep hole in each ball. Place a smaller piece of date paste in the hole and close the opening while rolling it on the counter to make sure it is nicely smoothed out. Place the stuffed cookie in the mold, press gently and unmold by tapping it on the cookie sheet. Bake for about 15-20 minutes in a 325F oven till golden and dry. Sprinkle with powdered sugar if you want.

To create Joumana’s Lebanese Easter feast, the recipes are posted on her website, www.TasteofBeirut.com, through the following links:

About Joumana Accad

Joumana Accad was born in Beirut, Lebanon. She left the Middle East in 1975 and began an international journey. She moved to Paris in the mid-70s where she finished her formal education, returned briefly to Beirut before moving to the United States in 1979. Widowed at a young age, Joumana moved to Dallas, Texas in 1987, remarried and raised two children. She couldn’t resist the call of cooking and she entered the Pastry Arts program at El Centro College in Dallas.  Upon graduation, Joumana became a pastry chef for a German restaurant, worked as a caterer, and sold her decorated cookies and cakes.  Whole Foods Markets asked her to teach classes on Lebanese cuisine at several of their local markets. Today she runs the popular food blog www.tasteofbeirut.comwhere she explores the cuisine of the Levant as well as the Middle East.

Travel & Eats: Advantages Of Staying In Boutique Hotels

By Gen Wright ~

Boutique  hotels, also referred to as lifestyle or design hotels, are designed and furnished in a stylish manner to accommodate guests in every available means of luxury. These are typically non-chain-affiliated hotels that feature an intimate setting loaded with impeccable amenities.

Originally, this term was popularized in North America and the United Kingdom, but now most countries around the world use this term to refer to these intimate, luxurious hotels.

Perhaps one of the most amazing things about this type of hotel is that it provides personalized accommodation and services. Although boutique hotels are smaller than mainstream accommodations, if you are searching for accommodations that utilize a personal approach, these are the perfect hotels for you.

Other unique characteristics of boutique hotels include the size of the accommodation, personalized services, intimate atmosphere, and luxurious privacy. Unlike other hotels, guests are greeted by their first names. This act adds to the intimate atmosphere that boutique hotels offer. Furthermore, this also makes the stay of their guests more pleasant. In fact, it makes them feel as if they are just in their own homes.

Another enticing feature of a designer hotel is the fact that the management does not actually wait on the requests of their guests, but rather anticipate their needs. As such, everything that a guest needs is well provided for in a boutique hotel. More than anything else, guests are treated in such a way that they would never want to leave the place at all.

What is amazing about these boutiques is that you don’t really have to go to the suburbs to find one. In fact, you can easily locate one in the larger cities such as London and New York. However, the majority of these hotels are still found in the rural areas. Basically, boutiques are for those who want to spend more time in their rooms and would like to have personal service at their disposal. Thus, this may not be a very suitable option for those who are traveling on business since they cannot truly appreciate the beauty and grandeur of staying in such plush accommodations.

Although staying in one may be more expensive than a stay in a conventional chain hotel , the price that you pay is certainly worth the service that you get. After all, it is not very often that you get to enjoy a lovely weekend away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Moreover, every now and then, everyone deserves to pamper themselves and enjoy the great services that boutique hotels provide. So, if you are tired of the typical whitewashed hotel rooms, you should try a boutique hotel and experience one of the best getaways of your life.

Travel & Eats: The Mira ~ Hong Kong

Design Hotels™ is delighted to announce its first member hotel in Hong Kong, The Mira Hong Kong (www.designhotels.com/the_mira). The partnership comes at an exciting time as the hotel is also celebrating its first birthday.

Overlooking the banyan trees and hedge mazes of Kowloon Park in Tsimshatsui, one of Hong Kong’s boutique-lined shopping districts, The Mira is an award-winning urban retreat. Its 492 rooms, including 56 suites, are classified as green, red and silver, and are furnished with handpicked fabrics and design features, including the Egg chair by Arne Jacobsen. The hotel has six distinct dining and bar establishments, including COCO, a coffee and chocolate lounge, and Yamm, a Japanese-infused international buffet.

New Chef and New Rooftop Garden Lounge
As part of the birthday celebrations, The Mira is opening Vibes, its new al fresco terrace lounge, and welcomes a new chef to its modern European restaurant, WHISK. William Girard, former chef at Al Mahara, the Burj Al Arab Dubai’s fine dining restaurant, will be unveiling his new menu this week. It showcases Girard’s signature French cuisine, including fresh produce from his home region in the French Pyrenees.

Chef William Girard says: “My cooking is contemporary French: it has classical roots with an Asian twist. I pay particular attention to the product by not mixing more than three flavours in a dish. Real cooking is the product of simplicity, the star of a dish is always its ingredients.”

Located on the fifth floor of The Mira, WHISK offers many different dining environments, making it a unique setting for a business lunch, a chic Sunday brunch with a twist, or even a post-party nightcap. Its features include a wine bar, dining lounge with casual seating and mezzanine area overlooking the hotel’s Chinese restaurant with lush views of Kowloon Park. Opening out from the restaurant is Vibes, an al fresco garden concept lounge with lotus-shaped open fires, running waterways, bamboo groves and private cabanas. This exclusive haven in the city is the ideal venue for brunch, breezy afternoon teas, after dinner drinks and makes the perfect party playground.

The Mira’s Design
Charles Allem, a Miami-based interior architect, was inspired by Hong Kong’s expansive skyline in the design of The Mira’s interior. Together with Colin Cowie, lifestyle guru, they have created an interior of sparkling lights, metallic globes, innovative artwork and experimental sculptures, creating a memorable experience for each guest. Cowie is known for designing a variety of extremely high profile events, including Oprah Winfrey’s 50th birthday party and Elton John’s AIDS foundation Oscar Party. Allem has also taken inspiration from Hong Kong’s natural environment and historical architecture, shown in the striking emerald and platinum colour schemes.

Allem says: “Each facet of this exquisite diamond, set in the heart of Hong Kong, is designed to fascinate and mesmerise. My vision has been to leave an indelible mark on the mind, body and soul.”

Spa and Special Events
Surrounded by stylish circular chill-out daybeds, the 25-metre pool area in the MiraSpa provides a chic place to mingle. The vast 1,700 m² spa also offers experience showers, waterbed floatation lounges and a nail bar.

For events, the Ballroom on the 18th floor, designed by Colin Cowie, offers over 20 colour and event themes for a variety of occasions. It also features 18 custom made chandeliers with over 20 tons of hand-cut Czech crystals.

For more information, check out www.designhotels.com/the_mira.