Apple picking in Northern Virginia is almost as fun as pumpkin picking in Northern Virginia. Fortunately, at many of the farms on this personally-vetted list, you can do both! Even the people who live in the area don’t always know that Virginia is a state known for its incredible depth and variety of apples. NPR […]
small town america
At This Charming Paw Paw Festival in Maryland, America’s “Secret Fruit” Shines
Momentum is growing behind a beautiful Paw Paw Festival that takes place at a 25-acre homestead in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Frederick, Maryland– an event that’s fast becoming one of the DMV area’s best-kept secrets in the realm of local food. Organized by permaculturist and landscape designer Michael Judd of Ecologia […]
The Little Lost Kitchen: A Gorgeous Pop-up in Maine
Every spring for the last ~12 years, I have been dutifully sending a postcard The Lost Kitchen in Freedom, Maine, in hopes of being randomly selected for one of their coveted dinner reservations, which are chosen through a lottery system of snail mail that they pull out of a bag. It’s an enduringly guirky system, […]
Easy Chestnut Hummus (Yes, Chestnut Hummus!)
This easy recipe for chestnut hummus combines cooked chestnuts with olive oil, garlic, tahini, lemon and spices to make a lovely, velvety, bean-free hummus. I first became aware that chestnut hummus was “a thing” when I attended a permaculture-focused paw paw festival that espoused the power of growing and cooking with native fruit and nut […]
The 8 Best Breakfast & Brunch Spots in Alexandria, Virginia
The best breakfast + brunch spots in Alexandria, Virginia reflect the locavore foodie ethos of this charming historic city. Whether you’re looking for a fancy new age restaurant, a healthy option, or a traditional greasy spoon, Alexandria can provide it– especially if you know where to look. Fortunately, like all of our bespoke restaurant guides, […]
An Insider’s Guide to Kennebunkport, Maine
Once known merely as the dreamy backdrop of the Bush family compound, Kennebunkport, Maine is a tiny New England town on the state’s rocky southern coast– the perfect place to have a quintessential New England beach experience. Today, however, Kennebunkport also has a hotel and restaurant scene that makes it a world-class summer travel destination. […]
The 10 Best Restaurants on Martha’s Vineyard (+ Other Lovely Foodie Things to Do There)
Don your Black Dog T-shirt, take a sunset stroll on the beach, lick your melting ice cream, purchase flowers on the side of the road, and indulge in great seafood; Martha’s Vineyard is a quintessential summer destination in New England, and with good reason! Along with Cape Cod, Nantucket, the Hamptons, and Kennebunkport, Maine, Martha’s […]
Homemade Cherry Blossom Sugar Cubes
These homemade, heart-shaped cherry blossom sugar cubes are super easy to make– simply mix one cup of sugar, a teaspoon of water, and whatever edible flower petals you like into a wet-sand mixture that you can press into a candy mold. Then, let the mixture dry in molds overnight to set the sugar and voilà– […]
9 Beautiful Places to Stay in Kennebunkport, Maine
If you’re looking for a gorgeous place to stay in Kennebunkport, Maine, then look no further. This insider’s guide to the best places to stay in Kennebunkport– whether you’re looking for a resort hotel, glamourous camping, or a cute little BnB– has something for everyone seeking a unique stay in one of America’s most enduringly […]
The 6 Best Lobster Rolls in Kennebunkport, Maine
Searching for the “best” lobster roll in Kennebunkport, Maine, is sort of like searching for the “best” grain of sand on any of the beautiful local beaches: it’s hard to find one that’s better than the rest. This is because there are so many great options! As we wrote in our Insider’s Guide to Kennebunkport, […]