A wholesome kitchen

In each place I stay, I find inspiration for my own fantasy nest. When I arrived at Ben and Loren's house in San Diego, Ben professed, "We're kitchen people," with a laugh. The ingredients and tools for home-cooked meals are organized and accessible, an open invitation to nourish. Wholesome indeed.

Yay beer!

At Food Front, Hillsdale, Portland, OR. Heavenly. 

Good Luck, Rochester

What more can you ask for when coming to a new town than a hearty meal made with the best local ingredients? The restaurant Good Luck in Rochester, NY delivers on all fronts, dishing up familiar but remarkable food with rustic flare.  

Each element of the meals seemed carefully considered and then served in large portions meant for sharing. The burger is enough to feed a family alone. The atmosphere is casual and bubbly, and the decor suggests the farm table concept with a good dose of fun. I left happy and satisfied, wondering what other gems Rochester has to offer.

Get some Good Luck at 50 Anderson Ave. in Rochester, NY. Ask your waiter how the restaurant got its name.

http://www.restaurantgoodluck.com/

Everywhere has something

Ever heard of Wilkes-Berre? Neither had I, and I was fully prepared to write it off as a do-nothing town near a third-rate city with nothing to offer other than a place to rest my head. But as I left my hotel, resigned to finding some sort of fast-food breakfast and get out of Dodge, I found that a bustling farmer's market had popped up over night.

The Wilke-Berre Farmer's Market is full of cheap, fresh produce, vibrant vendors, and has a live entertainment schedule all summer. I ended up spending the morning wandering the stalls and meeting lots of friendly people (with Pickle's help).

Instead of departing Wikes-Berre with a grumbly tummy, I had a locally farmed breakfast and a dose of understanding that sometimes just a little patience is needed before a place will reveal itself. Visit http://www.wilkes-barre.pa.us/farmersm.php for the Wilkes-Berre, PA Farmer's Market and live entertainment schedule.