Personal Favorites

I take my work seriously. But that doesn't mean I don't sometimes fall in love with some of the subjects I'm asked to research. Among my most pleasant discoveries...

10 Favorite Restaurants in Atlanta

  1. Park 75 at The Four Seasons
  2. 10 Degrees South
  3. Vingenzo's
  4. The Iberian Pig
  5. Taqueria del Sol
  6. Miller Union
  7. Sotto Sotto
  8. Bocado
  9. Truva
  10. 5 Seasons Brewing

10 Favorite Restaurants Outside Atlanta

  1. Manolo Caracol cocina con amor, Panama City, Panama
  2. The Cliff, St. James, Barbados
  3. The Africa Cafe, Cape Town, South Africa
  4. Cafe de la Paix, Paris, France
  5. Bourbon House, New Orleans, LA
  6. Thirty-Two, Biloxi, MS
  7. Theatercafeen, Oslo, Norway
  8. Cottonwood, Truckee, CA
  9. Norma's on the Terrace, Kingston, Jamaica
  10. In & Out Burger, West Coast, USA

10 Favorite Hotels in the U.S.A.

  1. The Umstead, Cary, NC
  2. Ballantyne Resort, Charlotte, NC
  3. Marina Inn at Grande Dunes, Myrtle Beach, SC
  4. The Ritz-Carlton, Downtown Atlanta, GA
  5. The Inn on the Alameda, Santa Fe, NM
  6. The Greystone Inn, Lake Toxaway, NC
  7. The Escala Lodges at The Canyons, Park City, UT
  8. Fearrington House, Pittsboro, NC
  9. Barton Hill, Lewiston, NY
  10. Crestwood Inn, Spa & Resort, Blowing Rock, NC

10 Favorite Hotels Outside the U.S.A.

  1. Gamboa Rainforest Resort on the Panama Canal, Panama
  2. Melrose Arch Hotel, Johannesburg, South Africa
  3. GLO, Helsinki, Finland
  4. Quinta Las Acacias, Guanajuato, Mexico
  5. L'Hostellerie des Trois Tilleuls, St-Marc-sur-Richelieu, Québec, Canada
  6. Radisson SAS Strand Hotel, Stockholm, Sweden
  7. Tamarind Cove Hotel, Barbados
  8. Queen's Landing, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada
  9. Ngala Private Game Reserve, Kruger National Park, South Africa
  10. Hotel Heritage, Cognac, France

10 Favorite Spas in the U.S.A.

  1. Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa & Casino, North Lake Tahoe, CA
  2. Spa at The Umstead, Cary, NC
  3. Siena Hotel, Spa & Casino, Reno, NV
  4. The Lodge & Spa at Callaway Gardens, Pine Mountain, GA
  5. Spa at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, FL
  6. The Spa at Ballantyne Resort, Charlotte, NC
  7. Spa & Bath House at Flat Creek Lodge, Swainsboro, GA
  8. Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa, Birmingham, AL
  9. Jazmin Spa, Decatur, GA
  10. Fabu Face Spa, Decatur, GA

10 Favorite Adventures

  1. Exploring any winery or distillery
  2. Safari in Ngala Private Game Reserve, South Africa
  3. Zip-Line Canopy Tour at Historic Banning Mills, Whitesburg, GA
  4. Hang Gliding near Chattanooga, TN
  5. Whirlpool Jet ride in Niagara River, Niagara Falls, NY & Ontario
  6. Kayaking in the Panama Canal
  7. Truffle Hunting in Umbria, Italy
  8. Crabbing in Apalachicola, FL
  9. Harvesting agave in Tequila, Mexico
  10. Shooting sporting clays at River Bend Sportsman's Resort, Fingerville, SC

Favorite Cocktail

Martini made according to the original recipe (circa 1885), to which I was introduced by Robert Hess:

1 oz. Plymouth* gin
1 oz. Martini & Rossi* sweet vermouth
1 dash orange bitters

Stir with ice (don't shake this drink!) and strain into a stemmed cocktail glass. Garnish with a cherry.

*NOTE: In this recipe, brand is important. Plymouth gin is most like the style of gin that would have been available in 1885. Martini & Rossi sweet vermouth also offers the most authentic flavor.

New discoveries may inspire changes. Check back!