Five Travel Food Trends Worth Watching

 

1. Fermented Foods

Move over sriracha, vinegar is taking its place as the preferred condiment on the dining table. This trend goes way deeper than a jar of kimchi or bottle of balsamic, as I now see popular chefs experiment with fermenting their own vinegars and bitters and even pickling their own garden vegetables.

Expect a lot more house made vinegars, fermented vegetables you never thought you’d find pickled, and vinegar and food pairings at dinner. The chefs to watch more closely for this trend include James Beard nominee, Jonathon Sawyer and past winner of the Food Network’s “Chopped,” Giorgio Rapicavoli.

2. Savory Desserts

Diners are making a conscious move away from sugar, which is causing chefs to get a little more creative with desserts. After dinner, expect to experience more bitter, sour, and salty flavors instead of sweet. Think pastries filled with olives, spiced apples, bitter orange slices, black pepper panna cotta, polenta cakes, and berries drizzled in flavor infused balsamic vinegar. There’s a real movement to incorporate and balance all five-taste profiles into the flavor of a dessert and the creativity on display knows no bounds.

3. Herbal Spirits

Craft beer might have been king in 2014, but that’s quickly changing to small batch, hand crafted spirits regionally made with local ingredients. I think we’ll start seeing more simple cocktails infused and garnished with a spring of rosemary or thyme and restaurants with small batch copper distillers in place of breweries.

4. Bugs

Yes, you read that correctly – bugs. What’s a pretty popular snack in Asian countries is making its way to the USA. Fortunately, it’s in a bit more Americanized and palatable preparation. In fact, you might not even notice it. Crickets and other quick-to-multiply bugs are coveted as an inexpensive and sustainable source of protein. Where you’ll start seeing them pop up is as an alternative gluten free baking flour.

5. From Bacon To Bits

I didn’t think it was possible to get bored with bacon, but it seems chefs are venturing off to use other, odder, yet still edible, parts of the pig including ears, tails, cheeks, and head. You’ve got to give chefs credit for not wanting to waste a single ounce of meat. If it’s done correctly, it won’t look weird or bizarre, and it will still taste like bacon. I recently tried pork head in Scotland, and it tasted like pulled pork barbecue.

What are some food trends you’ve seen lately?

10 Travel Etiquette Tips

In honor of USA Today’s “Frequent fliers, attendants share stories of rude travelers,” I thought I’d share some of my own travel etiquette tips. Feel free to add yours in the comments section.

1. Don’t Hog Seats in the Boarding Area

Planes are full, airports are busy, space is tight on board and in the gate area.  Be kind and leave the seat next to you open so someone else can sit there.  Too often I see people placing their luggage or newspapers on empty seats, even as the boarding area fills up and other passengers are left standing.

2. Board With Your Zone

This one is plain and simple.  Airlines assign boarding order for a reason, and it helps if everyone can just follow the rules.  In many cases, people who board first paid for the privilege, so it’s only fair to honor it.

3. Use the Space Under the Seat In Front of You

Perhaps the greatest stress a frequent traveler faces is the risk of having to check a bag because the overhead bins are full.  Many times I’ve seen the bins packed with small purses, backpacks, and other items that could easily fit under the seat. You’ll have easier access to your items, your fellow passengers will appreciate having space for larger carry-ons, and we’ll all avoid flight delays caused by last minute checked bags.

4. Check Before You Recline

Anyone who has ever flown has encountered the frustration of the person in front of you reclining the seat into your space. Yes, you have a right to recline, but wouldn’t it be nice to look behind you before you do it?  Give that traveler behind you who is working on a computer a chance to close his laptop before your seat crushes it.

5. Let People In Front of You Off the Plane First

The plane pulls up to the gate and every person on board wants to be the first off the plane.  Clearly that can’t happen, and we are a civilized society, so a simple rule will help keep people from being trampled upon arrival.  If you are standing in the aisle, make sure the people in the row in front of you have a chance to exit before you start walking forward.  Most people follow it, but every so often there’s a renegade who apparently didn’t receive the memo. Now you have.

6. Middle Seats Get the Armrest

I don’t know anyone who likes to sit in a middle seat, do you?  Let’s give those unlucky travelers a break and at least let them use both armrests.  If you’re seated at the window or the aisle, I think you can survive with the one armrest that’s dedicated to you.

7. Don’t Slam the Hotel Room Door

Once the business traveler survives the stressful flight experience, she is almost home-free when she gets to the hotel.  But there’s one big thing that can ruin a hotel stay:  noise.  Few hotels are soundproofed enough to keep loud noises from penetrating the sanctum of your room, and the worst offender here is the slamming door.  When you enter and exit your room, why not close it gently?

8. Keep the Volume Down 

Continuing with noise-in-the-hotel theme, loud TVs and phone conversations can also drive your neighbors crazy.  It’s easy to feel like you are safe and sound in your room and forget that sound travels.  Especially late at night, turn it down so others can make the best of their precious hours of sleep.

9. Wait for the Next Elevator

Perhaps one of the most controversial issues of our time – should people in the elevator push the “door open” button?  Or should new arrivals just forego the closing doors and wait?  My vote is for the latter. Just be patient, wait a few minutes for the next car to come.  Hopefully others will do the same for you as the doors are about to close and whisk you away.

10. Walk on the Left, Stand on the Right

Every moving sidewalk I’ve ever seen in an airport has signs that say exactly that.  So why do so many people straddle the entire width with their luggage, and just stand there like a lump of coal?  Frequent travelers are busy and every minute counts, so why not step aside and let them get by you?  And for you busy travelers whizzing by on the left – watch your rolling suitcases so you don’t club people as you whisk by.

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Travel Tips for the Solo Female Adventurer

 

Traveling alone doesn’t have to seem lonely. Personally, my solo travel jaunts have always been very fulfilling experiences, where I’ve learned a great deal about myself. Nothing gives you quite the same chance at self-discovery as travel, and when you’re setting off by yourself that opportunity doubles. Solo travel does mean that you’ll be facing every little bump and challenge by yourself, but relying on your own ingenuity also means realizing how capable you really are! Keep these tips in mind to help you discover your best self on the road.

Have a Plan

While it’s not necessary to fully map out every minute of your travel vacation, it is good to know your basic itinerary in advance. Make sure you know important data like flight info, your hotel address and phone number, and any emergency contact information beforehand, and that you have access to one or more copies of it. Keep the information in your phone. Print a copy and keep it with your important documents. Being prepared now helps avoid complications later.
For added support and security, give a copy of your itinerary and contact information to a loved one at home and check in regularly by phone or email.

Don’t Panic When the Plan Changes

Trains will be late. Your suitcase will break open. You will get lost and be wholly unable to find your hotel in the maze of unfamiliar streets. It’s okay. Complications and chaos are a natural part of travel. Even though solo travel means less baggage to manage and less people to corral, it won’t fully eliminate the risk. The difference between a travel horror story and an exciting adventure to share later is all in your willingness to adapt in the moment and your attitude in hindsight.
Take a deep breath, find somewhere to sit and think (preferably with WiFi access) and come up with a new plan. You’ll get there when you get there and it will still be enjoyable.

Remain Open to New Opportunities

One of the best parts of traveling alone is that you don’t have to stick to the itinerary if a better opportunity comes along. With no one to coordinate plans, you’re free to change them! This can be as simple as deciding which activity to pursue in the moment, checking out of a hotel early, or even staying later if you’re having too great a time to leave! Just make sure to adjust your itinerary’s important information and to let anyone who might be expecting you know about your change of plans.

Always Carry Important Documents

Always, always, always carry your emergency documents hidden somewhere on you. Hidden travel wallets are perfect for this purpose. I also keep a photo of my passport on my phone and in my email, just in case.
Include identification (your passport or a photocopy), emergency cash or a credit card (make sure it will be compatible with local currency or ATMs), and contact information for the hotel where you are staying, as well for anyone who you might be checking in with regularly. This will not only help you in case of a minor trouble (pointing at an address is much easier than trying to speak a foreign language if you end up lost) but can also be used to keep your loved ones informed in case of an emergency such as unplanned hospitalization.


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10 Travel Tips for a Season Traveling

1. Airline Food. If you request a kosher meal you will probably be served before the other passengers. This may get you some grudging looks from the other passengers but at least it will give you time to actually eat something before the flight attendant comes back to take your tray. In addition some airlines offer a children’s menu. This is good to know just in case your son or daughter isn’t a great fan of steam leeks. It is a lesson I wish I had in advance and it particularly sinks in when the child in the next seat over is munching on chicken tenders rather than the aforementioned creamed leeks on your child’s tray (sorry girls).
2. Claim and Recheck Baggage. Much to my dismay, I learned upon my return to the United States that I needed to claim and recheck my luggage before I could make my connecting flight. If you don’t know this, then you don’t know to build an extra hour into the time you need to make your connecting flight and end up rushing about the terminal like a fool.
3. Travel Light. You may be able to expedite your entrance and departure from the airport by forgoing the use of checked baggage and using a carry-on only. In addition to the hassle of checking bags twice as mentioned in number 2, you save loads of time otherwise spent standing about the luggage carousel in the herd with the other travel beasts of burden, while you await the appearance of your luggage (which looks just like every other piece of luggage) then fighting your way to the front of the line before it disappears through to baggage handlers port of no return before your eyes.
4. Show Me the Money. Rather than exchanging for local currency before you begin your journey, you may wish to stop at an ATM in your network when you arrive for some walking around money. Large financial institutions get a better exchange rate than an individual can secure.
5. Protect Your Documentation. Scan copies of all your passports and travel documents. Then save them to a USB compatible storage device. I put mine on a lanyard around my neck. Wherever you put yours make sure it isn’t the same place as your passport. One of the things that make this so important is the brisk market for stolen travel documents. This is not a day in which you can easily explain how you indentification became involved in the commitment of some fraud on soil that is not your native home.
6. Share the Plan. Register with the U.S. State Department. This will provide a way for you to be contacted should there be a family emergency while you’re away. However, advise your family of what constitutes an emergency you should be contacted about. It may be callus but I tell my family, unless it is something I can do something about from 2,000 miles away don’t tell me until I get home. Another benefit of this service is that it provides a way for you to contact family if you encounter an emergency someone at home can help with while you are abroad. Plus, it’s free. I’m a big fan of free.
7. Are You Really in Good Hands? Advise your medical insurance providers that you will be traveling out of the country. You may need to purchase riders or supplemental coverage to protect you while you travel. There are also some quality policies you can purchase from independent providers who specialize in this type of protection.
8. Reach Out and Be Touched. Arrange for your airlines to email, text message (international travel cell phone required in some cases), call you with changes in your flight arrangements. This could have saved me several hours worried waiting when terrorists bombed a nearby airport on my trip.
9. Drink Bottled Water When Traveling. Request bottled beverages if you are not sure of the source of the water. Read this for more information on advices on water consumption.
10. Relax. You might as well. You’re traveling in a foreign country and your fate is in the hands of people you’ve never met before. There is absolutely nothing you can do about it so you might as well enjoy it. Life is about the journey, after all.


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Making Flying a Breeze

Essential Guide to Airport Security Regulations & Airline Baggage

 

Don't let the challenges of air travel and airport security scare you away from vacationing in the world's most spectacular spots. With Travel Sense, you'll have the right guidance to ease your way through airport security lines — often the most time-consuming part of your journey — and on the way to your destination.
This is a simplified guide to airline baggage and airport security regulation will help you pack without fear for your next big trip. Below, you'll find the airport security regulations that you'll need to know when checking your luggage and airline carry-on baggage. Also, be sure that you and your travel agent check for the most updated information for your airline as well as the Travel Security Administration (TSA).
This is the easy formula for airline carry-on baggage established by TSA that mandates that you can only carry liquids, aerosols and gels in three-ounce containers, which should be safely kept inside a one-quart, plastic zip-top bag. This includes common items such as toothpaste, shampoo and food. You should be aware that airline carry-on baggage extends to gift or special items including lotions, creams, scented oils, liquid soaps, perfumes and even snow globes.

Be Aware of What Not to Bring in Your Checked Baggage and in Carry-On Baggage

Along with your personal items, you are also permitted to bring corkscrews, cigar cutters, common lighters, nail cutters, safety razors and travel-sized or blunt scissors in your carry on baggage. If you are carrying any types of martial arts weapons or tools — ax, crowbar, hammer, drill pliers, saw, etc — you'll have to pack them in your checked bags. If you pack any sharp objects in your checked suitcase, wrap them to ensure safety for the baggage handlers and transportation security officers. To learn more, read TravelSense's guide or visit www.TSA.gov for the official list of prohibited items.
To prevent unintentional short-circuiting and fires, there is a limit for packing loose lithium batteries, which are commonly used in digital cameras, cell phones, PDAs and laptop computers. For your checked airline baggage, batteries must be installed in the electronic device. You are limited to 8 grams (100-watt hours) of lithium batteries in your carry-on baggage, and they must be properly protected in original packaging or a protective case.
The transportation security officer at the airport may deem certain items too dangerous to permit through the checkpoint. Be aware that the list of permitted and prohibited items will be updated as necessary.

Pack Smart & Spend Less Time in Airport Security Lines

Your travel agent will know the different airline security regulations, but for more airlines, the maximize size of your airline carry on baggage is 45 linear inches. Save yourself from extra hassles by checking anything larger and try to pack your carry on baggage as light as possible. Know that if you have a full bag, your personal items may spill out for everyone to see when the airport security officer unzips it. For both your checked and carry on baggage, try to organize its contents, so that everything is easy to see in a brief glance.
When possible, keep from overstuffing your checked suitcase to avoid additional airline baggage fees. When traveling over the holidays, ship your gifts ahead of time instead of packing them. If you insist on bringing gifts, consider wrapping them after you arrive at your destination. For travelers who still make use of a non-digital camera, don't pack film in your checked luggage, because the screening equipment will damage it. It's better if you can keep undeveloped film and cameras in your carry on baggage.
Travel Sense is here with helpful advice, destination information and tools to help you prepare for your next vacation. Within a few clicks, you can create and print your own packing list, which is customized to your travel destination, activities, weather and accommodations.
For more information on airport check-in and documents for getting through airport security check points, read our Airport Security Regulations guide.



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