I had the pleasure of visiting Fat Dragon in north Austin over the past weekend, and the decision is final: Fat Dragon is the best Chinese food in Austin. Best known for their array of delicious dumplings, the Fat Dragon menu is several pages long and packed with delicious entrees. Fat Dragon is more of a hole-in-the-wall type place, tucked in an unassuming shopping center off 183 and Spicewood Springs in NW Austin. It's well worth the drive despite being about 20 minutes north of … [Read more...]
Eat Like a Local with a Santa Barbara Food Tour
Last weekend, I hopped on a plane to Southern California to visit one of my very best friends in her current city of Santa Barbara. Located about an hour and a half north of Los Angeles, Santa Barbara is the definition of an idyllic California beach town. Surrounded by the Santa Ynez Mountains on one side and the glittering Pacific Ocean on the other, Santa Barbara is full of picture-perfect views in every direction. While we only had two short days together to explore Santa Barbara, I wanted to … [Read more...]
Where to Find the Best Beignets in New Orleans
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The best beignets in New Orleans can be found at a few locations throughout the city. Whether you go to the iconic Cafe du Monde or a more contemporary location such as Cafe Beignet, you are sure to fall in love with the sugary treats. Whenever I mention a trip to New Orleans is on the horizon, one of the comments I always get is, "Eat a beignet for me!" (trust me, I ate enough for BOTH of us...). Beignets -- airy, sweet, fried doughnuts covered in powdered sugar -- have come to be synonymous … [Read more...]
A Weekend in New York with The Evelyn Hotel
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Last summer, my best friend and I decided to plan a weekend trip together. She had been living in Boston for several months and I was in Austin, so we came up with the brilliant idea to meet in New York City for a girls’ weekend away as a chill bachelorette party two weeks before my wedding. To be honest, New York was never really a city on my radar. It seemed dirty and overly populated and way too expensive, and I just wasn’t super interested in visiting. But once the suggestion of going to … [Read more...]
Day Trip from Austin: Spicewood in the Texas Hill Country
Whether you're just visiting the area or are an Austin local, a day trip from Austin to the Hill Country is a great escape from the city. Travel just 20 minutes west of downtown and you will find yourself among rolling green hills and an increasingly rural setting lined with lakes, rivers, and BBQ restaurants. While Austin is growing at a rapid pace, it is still fairly easy to travel off the beaten path and discover lesser-known towns, restaurants, and other hidden gems located just a few … [Read more...]