Cross-country Meat Fest, Day 2 – Juicy Lucy’s in Glenwood Springs, CO

We said our goodbyes to Vegas early in the morning, armed with Starbucks Doubleshots and early morning adrenaline. The I-15N leaving Las Vegas was a calm, desolate stretch of highway, a stark contrast to the hoards of sinners ferrying between Los Angeles and Las Vegas a day earlier. As we crossed into a 30-mile section of Arizona, the flat desert terrain rose steeply as we curved around majestic red rock formations. We wouldn’t see flat land for the rest of the day.

Cross-country Meat Fest, Day 1 – The Mad Greek in Baker, California

Whatever illusions of grandeur I had about driving from Los Angeles to New York were quashed quickly. But admittedly it was one of the best travel experiences of my life. Not once did I need to stop at a hotel, and through pure determination that only a food lover can have, I managed to eat great dinners each night. I present to you the first in a five-part series on my cross-country drive across America, with meat. First stop, Baker, California.

A Fine Dining Farewell: Saam at the Bazaar

When I first arrived here in 2002, a fresh-faced college student full of awe at the vastness of Los Angeles, food was the last thing on my mind. Up to that point, the fanciest meal that I had ever had was at a local steakhouse in South Bend, Indiana. It was a great steak in my 18-year-old opinion, cooked to a perfect well done and doused in plenty of A1 sauce.

Seafood Explosion: San Pedro Fish Market

If first impressions are everything, then San Pedro Fish Market may not have lasted more than the 50 years it has been in business. There’s a lot to be turned off by at first glance: the overwhelming crowds, long lines, a pervasive smell of raw fish, high prices, and pigeons and seagulls stalking your every move, waiting to pickpocket your shrimp at an unsuspecting moment. But, oh the food!

Restaurants I won’t find in NYC: La Casita Mexicana

I can’t blame New Yorkers for being a big fail on authenticity, but the thought of shredded beef tacos on flour tortillas has only served to increase my appreciation for great Mexican food. As part of my 20 Things to Do, I resolved to eat the O.G. Mexican before I left, and that meant a trip to La Casita Mexicana.

Polka Polish: Falling in love with white people food

My hometown of South Bend, Indiana had a strong Polish community and heritage, though as a precocious Asian American in a mostly white town, I was completely oblivious to this fact. (What can I say, all you white people look alike.) The extent of my Polish cultural knowledge was that 1) there was something called Dyngus Day where a lot of white people ate sausage, and 2) Polish food royally sucked, based on a wedding reception I attended many years ago.

Da Ping Huo: Fiery Sichuan off the beaten path

Introducing the first of what I hope to be many posts by my friend and fellow traveler Trevor Throntveit, an all-around adventurer and lover of all things Asian that attracts women and trouble wherever he goes. Oh, and he’s an excellent writer. Hear him wax poetic on the elegance of a 12-course Sichuan dinner in Hong Kong.

It’s not a scam: getting the most out of discount airline ticketers

When shopping for international flights, some of the best deals can be found on discount travel websites such as Vayama or Best Travel Store. But as third party agents, there is always some apprehension as to whether or not it’s “safe” to do so. If you Google either or, the suggested search terms include “scam” and “complaints.” It’s easy to get scared off.

Trazzler for Travelers

I recently joined an online travel community called Trazzler, a collection of user-submitted write-ups of trips and destinations around the world. The style is geared toward travelers, not tourists — the places and activities, along with the writing style, are meant to inspire, not dictate. Join the community and you can submit your own trips, too.