Between checking on my restaurants, doing nationwide promo for Family Food Fight and going on family vacations, I've racked up my fair share of frequent flier miles this summer. We even went to Israel with the whole family for my son, Jonas, and nephew's bar mitzvah. While I'm so grateful to be able to explore different cities and countries, I know traveling can be hectic and stressful. However, I've found that there's a certain rhythm to traveling and I want to share a few tips to help you find your groove!
Wherever you're going, you need to pack. Trust me, the quality of the luggage you use will have a huge impact on your travels. I pack in this Lipault Paris Carry On for most, if not all, of my trips. As you can see in the photo above, we brought two to Israel, one in black and one in mustard! The Lipault carry on is lightweight and rolls smoothly. So if you're trekking through the streets of Tel Aviv or the mile long terminals in JFK, it will glide right beside you. I'm proud to say that after countless uses, my Lipault Carry On still looks great! If you plan to dive into your wanderlust spirit, it's worth investing in a solid carry on like this one.
While your luggage will store all of your clothes and accessories, you might need an extra bag for food. If you're going on a long trip, I suggest packing some sandwiches or snacks in a small cooler bag like this Ice Ice Baby bag. Our flight from LA to Tel Aviv was more than 16 hours long. My cooler bag saved my life and my appetite!
Whether you're going on a long flight or bus ride, you might need to bring reinforcements to be as comfy as possible. I'm obsessed with this Trtl Pillow. It's a sleeker alternative to the larger, traditional neck pillows. Despite it's smaller size and weight, it's super relaxing and keeps you from having a bobble head when you need to catch some z's. If light sensitivity keeps you from falling asleep, you should check out this Slip for Beauty Sleep sleep mask! It's made of pure silk and blocks out all light. Not to mention, how chic is this pink marble print?!
Don't go on an adventure without a good book! You can whip it out on a flight or at the beach. I even read when I'm floating around in the sea. If you're looking for a good book, check out my memoir, Cooking As Fast As I Can.
My last bit of advice to you is to go with the flow. You can make the most detailed of itineraries, show up hrs early for your flight and still have things go wrong. It's okay. We've had plenty of mishaps traveling with this huge crew to Israel. But we've had even more good times and fun memories.
From watching my son and nephew perform an important rite of passage, to surprising my mother in law with her own bat mitzvah and repelling down a crater in Beereshit, this trip was one for the books! So take a deep breath and remember things don't always go according to plan. Sometimes that's a recipe for an unforgettable adventure!
Over the past week on CORA-ntine Cuisine, I got to reunite with several friends that Nicole and I have made over the years. Our incredible guests included Maria Shriver, Sheila E, Debi Mazar, Chef Gabriele Corcos, Chef Karen Akunowicz and the Shirley Temple King! Many of the guests spoke of the importance of taking care of your health and eating foods that boost your immune system.
Hey y'all! This past week was one for the books. Not only did we celebrate Greek Easter, but it was also my son Caje's birthday! I got to chat with some incredible special guests including Cameron Mathis, David Burtka, Scott Evans, Chef Andrew Zimmern and superstar film director Tate Taylor! I'm going to share a few of my favorite recipes from last week and fill you in on some of the topics we discussed.
I've had so much fun on CORA-ntine Cuisine this past week. I got to chat with several special guests including Chef Ingrid Hofffman, Chef Dominique Crenn, Cake Wars host Jonathan Bennet and my partners at the Little Kitchen Academy, Felicity and Brian Curin. There's been one common theme in all of my chats so far and that theme is positivity.