Our first getaway after moving to NYC - a two hour drive away to Woodstock, a little town among the catskills mountains most famous for its 60’s namesake music festival, and along came the hippie culture. We stayed in a cozy little artist cottage by the stream, where all you can hear are the waters gushing through the cold winds. 

If you want to fall asleep to the stereo lullaby of frog croaks while watching the spectacle of fireflies competing with stars, this is the place. - Nin, Owner

Read More

La Vineria de Gualterio Bolivar - American Food & Wine Magazine published a list of 20 new restaurants in the world that offer ‘a unique and exciting experience on the planet’, among which La Vineria is one.

Taste comes from memory -   gourmet shift towards “naturalistic” to places like forests, sea, hills, mountains and aromas that remind these places.

“My kitchen is mutating into a naturalism - brutalism. As a leitmotif, or search for arming the menus, the chef dives into the emotional memory, memories of places where he or travel, music (also a musician), he says: “I live with it since I have memory,” literature, and above all the products (quality, seasonality, freshness) - Chef Digilio

Chef Alejandro Digilio, is a whimsical character, eyes filled with excitement, dancing, singing, sharing his cute stories, AND preparing dish after dish that was cutting-edge culinary best. Oh and by the way I was honored to be a guest in his private celebration for the restaurant’s 4th anniversary.

Plating the next few dishes

Read More

If you are gastronomically inclined and want to do one thing in Latin America, then it is to experience food in a closed door restaurant.

Closed Door dining places are very popular in Buenos Aires - it’s basically dining at a chef’s home and having an intimate dinner party with a few, who are all seated family style. BsAs was all about meeting people and experiencing the city through them. Something we should do a lot more often!

Casa Mun

In these times, many people yearn to connect and feel a sense of community.  At Casa Mun, our goal is to foster a sense of community among people who love food. We provide an adventure to be shared with friends (both old and new) in the tradition of Asian families…an experience that will nourish the body, mind and spirit. - Mun

Chef Mun prepares a 4-course dinner that ranges from Japanese, Korean, Chinese and Californian cuisine in this tiny kitchen.

Read More

Buenos Aires is less about must-see architecture and more about experiencing the culture, so pick neighborhoods to catch interesting glimpses and be a part of the city OR take these two semi-private tours that will let you discover the magic of BsAs with a little guidance.

Buenos Aires explodes with street art as vibrant as the city — started in 2001 when the rest of the world’s craze for graffiti died, and started as a way of self-expression and a dialogue between young artists.

Graffitimundo was the biggest highlight of our trip;  a five hour bike tour to explore the streets and to gain an unique perspective of urban artists. An artist himself, comes along to walk you through the work, giving you insights behind political art and stories about the cultural phenomenon and creative collaborations of artists that are still working together to create a beautiful and inspiring BsAs.

Credit: Graffitimundo

Read More

BsAs is a place for foodies, creatives and the night owls. Welcome to an unpretentious city, alternative street fashion and happy ‘portenos’ (that’s what they are called) leading a bohemian lifestyle.

Argentina has its economics so favorable for the rest of the countries to just pack and pitch tents there. Especially Buenos Aires, the largest city in S. America after Sao Paulo, is a haven for expats who would like to live a dream life in a hip city. Well, who wouldn’t, with a city full of artistic territory and a wallet full of moolah, I would just move there as well.

An overnight flight from DC took us there and with no time difference, there was no jet lag and we were able to use our 6 days to the fullest. We stayed in Palermo, a fashionable barrio full of design shops, urban bars and street culture.

To Snooze

Fierro Hotel

Read More

I was urged to post about the food scene in DC after listening to out-of-townees who remember DC for stuffy steakhouses and jumbo pizza slices. There is a steady boom of restaurants serving creative cuisine in the trendy neighborhoods: 14th St corridor, U st, Mt.Vernon and H st NE, and here is a list of my favorite NEW places::

Rogue24 - an underground tasting menu experience of modern cuisine with Chef RJ Cooper, where you feel like you are dining in the kitchen among the food scientists crafting the plates with tongs and syringes.

Read More

The gloriousness of Istanbul starts here. Bosphorus, Bebek and the Black Sea.

After you are done with all the must-sees on your list, its time to chill and take in the view and explore the seaside.

Sumahan on the Water

A fabulous property in the Asian side, on the banks of the Bosphorus, neighbors to other luxurious villas and restaurants. A design hotel with 20 rooms with a priceless view of the city on the European side and wait until the sun goes down to be dazzled by the bridge dancing infront of you with its light installations.

Read More

Istanbul - a city spanned across two continents and history dating back to the  Byzantine - Ottoman Empire has interestingly bagged the title “World’s Hippest City” and also can be called as the Islamic city that knows how to party!

Boutique-y Beyoglu

The House Hotel in the buzzling Galatasaray neighborhood amidst the extremely steep streets, is a charming four-story mansion built in the 1890’s. The original name of the building was “Appartement Zenovitch” and it has been entirely renovated in 2010 by Autoban.

Read More

Jumbled between the ruins, historical monuments, a lake, a deer park; an arty village has also claimed the address, Hauz Khas village dates back to the 13th century namesake reservoir and a complex that still stands amidst the indie culture developing around it.

Know where to go to taste a little creativity in the capital city!

Stay at ‘Home’

Amarya Haveli

Read More

Of virgin white cotton bales and pristine blue icy waters, Ladakh is an interesting juxtaposition of calm landscapes, brazen beauty and uneven terrains.

Part 2 of my Ladakh experience. Read Part 1 here.

Roadtrips to Nubra Valley and Pangong Lake

If you would like to touch the roof of the world, here is your chance, head to the Nubra Valley…

Read More