Category: Travel
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I am Indiana Jones…er Colorado Jones, at least
While most of you have discovered my blog because of cooking, I was a travel writer long before anyone called me “chef.” Because I have an insatiable thirst for adventure. One of my favorite places in all the world is a little town in Colorado called Glenwood Springs, perched at the west end of a…
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Big Creek Cave Falls…the EASY way!
I’ve been exploring the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas since I was 19. There’s no place on earth like it…ancient mountains, thundering waterfalls, pristine rivers, deep and mysterious caves. After after 30 or so trips there, one might start to think that one had explored it all. But recently I became intrigued by an image I…
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Burning Man 2013: Part 1
And now it’s time…the main event. Burning Man. This was my 5th “Burn” and the more often I get asked, “What is Burning Man?” the more at a loss for words I am. When you ask that question to one of the 65,000+ “Burners,” you’ll get 65,000+ different answers. “It’s an art festival.” “It’s the…
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Burning Man 2013, The Pilgrimage: Part 3
So as you know, I’ve been back from Burning Man for nearly a week, but my travel schedule during that time got so hectic I had to stop blogging. I came home to a broken air conditioner, miscellaneous plumbing crises, and a catering event, so I’m JUST now starting to come up for air and…
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Burning Man 2013: The Pilgrimage, part 2
Day 3 of our pilgrimage to Burning Man, and since Ross hadn’t laid eyes on the Grand Canyon since he was a little kid, I decide it will be well worth the hour and a half drive from Flagstaff to show it to him the BenStarr way. I have to say that when it comes…
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Burning Man 2013: The Pilgrimage, part 1
It begins. My annual pilgrimage to Burning Man. I’ll explain more about Burning Man in a later blog, because right now, it’s about the journey there. And boy, was I ready to be on the road. The last month has been nothing but frantic preparation for Burning Man. Way more than normal. In the past…
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Guest Post: Ecuador!
One of my delightful fans, Alyssa, leads a very interesting life. She left the comfort and familiarity of her home and country, and moved to a far-flung coastal village in Ecuador to help people less fortunate than herself…and she’s had many adventures along the way. I originally began interacting with Alyssa when she commented on…
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MasterChef 4 recap: (S4E16)
(WARNING: This blog contains the crazed ravings of a MasterChef season 2 survivor who has no inside knowledge of how this season was produced. Everything in this blog should be considered opinion and nothing else.) Before I begin, I need to address a MasterChef issue that’s been flying around the TV gossip websites today. These…
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Kangaroo Loin with Mushroom Sauce
**PLEASE NOTE** A video on how to make this dish is located at the bottom of this recipe! Yes, yes…you’re shocked and a bit disgusted that I’ve posted a kangaroo recipe. Folks…kangaroo is the venison of Australia. It’s their most common game meat. It jumps into the road in the middle of the night and…
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Foraging for Morels in Arkansas
Anyone who classifies themselves as a “foodie” knows about morels. These miraculous mushrooms are the most coveted table fungus on the planet, rivaling the reputations of even the black and white truffles of southern Europe. However, unlike truffles, which CAN be cultivated and dependably harvested, the morel has resisted ALL attempts at cultivation. Every…