Category: Wandering Traveler

Guadalajara’s Gifts to the World

Starting in 2010, I’ve been writing about Guadalajara since my first visit with the great Fortaleza tequila when it was a small cult brand and, as founder/distiller Guillermo Sauza tells me, I was one of the first people writing about them. Every time I’m consulting in or on a press trip in the Highlands or Lowlands of Tequila, I get at least a night or two in GDL… and I’ve been smitten with it as the underrated second biggest city in Mexico. Its restaurants, bars, culture and people is the “real” Mexico on so many levels. I’ve been impressed by its steady growth in range and depth over the 15 years I’ve been visiting and working at distilleries where I consult in Arandas. Read on… Read more →

8 Standout Baltimore Restaurants

Baltimore is Charm City for a reason: it’s deep hospitality and diversity, its rich history that plays out in architecture to waterside views, classic seafood houses and craft distilleries. I’ve been writing about Baltimore since my first visit in 2016 and haven’t written a dining update since then. As I visited and researched twice in 2024 to speak at a major drink conference and do research, here are my 8 top Baltimore spots to dine now, along with my latest bar recommends here: Read more →

Chicago Eats: 10 Standout Restaurants Now

I’ve been covering “the Windy City” via articles since 2009, but researching and digging deep in Chicago since 2000. Chi-town is one of the U.S.’ greatest culinary cities, a broad, deep metropolis of roughly 10 million, with over 2.5 million in Chicago proper. In addition to my recent 10 bars article at Distiller Magazine, here I cover 10 of Chicago’s newer standout restaurants I visited this past year: Read more →