Stephen Travels

And he's ready to take you with him.

Raw Bay by Slapfish, Indianapolis

Daily Bread

Alligator nuggets? Asparagus wine? Tomato sorbet? Llama cutlets? Oryx steak? Beetroot gnocchi? Why not? You’re in a new place, so go beyond the familiar and treat your taste buds to a party at a great restaurant. I’ll take you there.

I’ve never classified myself as a “foodie,” a rather pretentious term people assign themselves if they know the difference between a yam and a sweet potato. On the other hand, I’ve never been able to understand people who eat just for sustenance and don’t particularly care what they consume, especially when they’re on vacation. I attribute this bafflement to my Italian heritage, where food is so integral to all other aspects of life that it’s unimaginable to me how anyone cannot relish a delectable meal, no matter what else they’re doing.

If you’re in Vienna, why are you patronizing Starbucks? And why are you searching for a McDonald’s in Buenos Aires? You shouldn’t be.

Now, we all have our limitations. You won’t ever catch me sampling roasted scorpions on a skewer. But if I never tried something new, I wouldn’t know I actually love whale steak, like conch fritters, loathe vegemite, and found haggis to be a savory and tasty delight, nowhere near as revolting as any non-Scot assumes it to be.

These are some of my favorite culinary experiences. Whether it’s gelato so delicious you could easily ingest a gallon in one sitting, a mouthwatering lunch prepared by students at a culinary institute, or a phenomenal brunch or dinner in an atmospheric restaurant that I can only hope will remain in business for eternity, this is where you should be eating.