Maine is one of my favorite places to visit – especially in the Fall.  The amazing scenery, changing foliage and delicious food are just a few reasons that make this special place well worth the visit.  Lobster Rolls are a must when you visit this part of the country and on a recent visit, I had the opportunity to taste a variety of these delicious sandwiches.  If you find yourself in the area, some of my favorite spots are Red’s Eats, Sea Basket and Billy’s Chowder House.

This Maine Lobster Roll recipe couldn’t be easier – be sure to use the freshest lobster you can find and toasting the roll is a must!

Makes 2 rolls

Ingredients

Directions

Every time I go to Napa Valley I feel like I’ve reached one of the most beautiful spots on earth.  My senses come alive – the smells, the tastes (oh, the tastes), the views, the sounds (or lack thereof) – no wonder people never leave this place!

There is so much to explore that each visit reveals new surprises and hidden treasures.  Above all, the people throughout Napa Valley are what make it such an amazing place.

During a recent trip I spent the majority of my time between Yountville and St. Helena – this post contains a small sample of the many photos I took.

I ate so much that I could have easily filled an entire post with photos of food from some great spots including Redd, Ad Hoc, Mustards, Bouchon Bakery and Bottega (sorry, no French Laundry this time) – instead, I decided to share some of the less flashy, but more inspirational photos from the trip.

To me, these photos represent the real Napa Valley and celebrate the hard work and dedication of local artisans and farmers.

In fact, I continue to be amazed by the commitment throughout Napa Valley to support these local farmers and artisans – it’s inspiring and a reminder that eating locally means eating seasonally – a concept that the restaurants throughout the valley truly understand.

As you can see, there is much to behold in Napa Valley and something special about every season – in my mind, it’s always a good time of year to visit the valley!

So, where do you go to find inspiration?

On a recent trip to Milwaukee I had the opportunity to swing by one of my favorite places in the city – Usinger’s Sausage Company.  This family business has been devoted to the craft of sausage making for over 100 years and it definitely shows.  Not only is there a huge assortment of old world sausage (and other treats including their delicious bacon), but the quality is exceptional.  The above photo is a very small sample of my purchase which included – Spicy Italian Sausage, Bratwurst, Bacon, Chicken Apple Sausage and Summer Sausage.  I’m stocking up for the summer cookouts!

What are your favorite types of sausage and where do you buy them?

While traveling through Argentina, I had the opportunity to visit the popular Puerto de Frutos market in the Tigre Delta – about 45 minutes outside of Buenos Aires.  While the market primarily sold handmade crafts from locals living on the surrounding islands, it also had an impressive bounty from local farmers.  It was great to see fresh, in-season fruits and vegetables at this time of the year.  I thought you might enjoy a few images from my visit – by the way, the prices you see in the photos are in Argentine pesos, not US dollars!

Raisin Brioche Pastries

It was time for me to escape the cold weather of Chicago and head south – way south.  Actually, so far south that I’m currently traveling and eating my way through Buenos Aires.  What an amazing city!  I’ve been really impressed with the culinary scene which is heavily influenced not only by the surrounding countries, but also Spain and Italy.  I thought you might be interested in seeing some of the delicious eats I’ve been enjoying over the last few days – some of these will serve as inspiration for upcoming posts over the next few months.

Freshly Baked Bread

As you can imagine, the variety, quality and amount of meats and cheeses is outstanding!

Charcuterie Platter

Empanadas are at the top of my cooking list when I get home.  I’ve had several since I’ve been here – sweet or savory, these are delicious!

Ham & Cheese, Beef and Chicken Empanadas

I have to throw in some fruit and vegetables once in awhile – I can’t live on pastries, meat and cheese (or can I?)!

Farmers Market Stand

Stay tuned – I’m still eating and taking photos, so there will be more to come soon!

Photos from a Holland, MI farmers market: