For 70 years Pink’s has been a family operated hot dog stand in Los Angeles, California. This special hot dog stand began in 1939, when many Americans were struggling and good food was expensive. Pink’s prided themselves on providing fantastic hot dogs that anyone could afford. They have a variety of options to, and special chili that is well known all around the country to day.

In the 1940s Paul Pink bought a small building for his hot dog business, and it stands there today as the place thousands of Americans visit daily. The hot dogs come with any toppings you choose, such as chili, onions, and mustard, and cost only $2.95. Even their massive 10 inch hot dogs cost less than $4! Mostly everything is under $6. Technically from an economic stand point, these amazing chili dogs are a better “value” than they were in the late 30s. Not a lot of mom and pop restaurants can say that they survived 70 years in a growing city, but Pink’s has thanks to the great service.

Everyone eats at Pink’s, especially if they are local residents. Travelers are always in line here to get a whiff or taste of the delectable hot dogs that Pink’s serves up fresh. When eating here you might get lucky and see a famous celebrity eating here too – even the wealthy adore this place! Some celebrities knew of Pink’s way before either was famous, yet they keep coming back to visit and meet fans while eating! So not only do you get a $2.95 hot dog, but you get an opportunity to meet your favorite stars if they are eating there!

Of course, Pink’s isn’t just a restaurant. Any foodie will know that visiting Pink’s is like visiting a small food museum, a relic of the past and how good food service can do so much for the owners and the community. Since lines are often extremely long, people find themselves conversing with those in line with them over the delicious food. Some people actually bring food to eat while waiting in line! It’s an adventure more than anything, and definitely something to see while in Los Angeles on vacation.

Taking a short yet cheap vacation to visit Pink’s is definitely worth the time and money. To say that you have dined at Pink’s is like saying you ate at the Holy Grail of hot dog stands. It’s THAT famous! If you can’t be in Los Angeles there are a few other locations that are now Pink’s stands. They are still family owned, but just spread out a bit more! These can be found at Hollywood Park Studio, Bell Gardens Bicycle Club Casino, The Greek Theater, and the famous Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas. If you want legendary food, at a rock bottom price, Pink’s is the place to visit while in California!

San Francisco is a city of culture, lively neighborhoods, shopping malls, and beautiful year round weather. There is an estimated population of nearly 1 million people, making San Francisco the 12th most populated city in the country. The San Francisco Bay area actually has over 7 million residents. That’s more than the state of New Mexico has in the entire state! This city is more than people though, because there are tons of delicious eateries – one being Ike’s Place, a creative sandwich shop.

Ike’s Place was opened in 2007, so it is still a fairly new establishment. The owner wanted to create a fabulous sandwich shop made with fine ingredients and a friendly atmosphere. The shop opened on Halloween that year, and has been packed every day since opening. Word of mouth quickly spread, and the shop now has several awards and well over 1,000 reviews on the online review center, YELP!

What else makes Ike’s Place so unique? The bread you order your sandwich on is made fresh to order. Most shops and franchises bake the bread late at night or before the store opens in the AM. Even worse, some stores don’t even bake their bread, they receive it in shipments so its already a few days old when you receive it.

Ike’s Place is unlike other sandwich shops in the United States. Subway and Quizno’s have limited options, while Ike’s has endless choices for every taste bud and picky eater out there. Meat lovers, vegetarians, and even vegans can find something delectable at this San Fran eatery. It’s so popular (only 2 years in the making!) that it was featured on Man vs. Food!

So what can you get on your sandwiches here? Well to begin with, you can choose from nearly every meat. Turkey, chicken, ham, beef, and steak slices, fish, and shrimp! These meats come prepared in a variety of ways whether it’s grilled, roasted, baked, broiled, or steamed. You can get thick slices or thin slices, or in between slices. The cheese options are a gourmet cheese lovers heaven – and there are plenty of those. Cheddar, gouda, American, pepper jack, swiss, and plenty more where those came from. In fact, there are over 100 pre-designed combinations of sandwiches such as the Ex-Boyfriend, and plenty of other combos you can make yourself!

For vegheads, Ike’s Place is a smorgasbord of delicious vegan meats made from tofu and vegetables. There are vegan beef patties, chicken patties, and more. You can even choose from soy cheese and every vegetable under the sun. The best part is that the vegan dishes are no more expensive than the regular meat loaded ones! It’s a win win for every one!

Ike’s Place is definitely worth visiting if you are in San Francisco for a vacation, or even if you want to take a vacation just to eat there! With all of the options available, it is definitely a culinary delight.

The Cheese Trail is roughly 280 miles or about 450 kilometers. Aside from cheese, you will definitely enjoy the colors of the foliage. Here’s how you should go about it:

Plymouth Notch
Calvin Coolidge was born in Plymouth Notch in 1872, and this will be your starting point. The whole village is declared a historic site by the state. You can also see the house of John Coolidge where he administered the oath of office to his son who took the presidency after the death of President Harding. You can grab some candy and toys from the general store in the 1920’s home of the Collidge.

Plymouth
Look for the Frog City Cheese at the cheese factory of the Coolidge. The Plymouth cheese is known to use the old recipe from the old books of the Coolidge making them very creamy and very moist. You can call it the old-fashioned cheese with the cheesemakers using 50-year old equipment to turn cow’s milk to cheese that will age for 4 to about 24 months.

East Warren
After Plymouth, drive north following the Route 100 to the East Warren. You will find the Three Shepherds of the Mad River Valley along the Roxbury Mountain Road. The local cheese maker uses sheep’s and cow’s milk to give their clients the best feta. They also have varieties like the hard Montagne and the soft cheese Cosmos. They also offer cheese-making courses in certain months of the year. Enjoy the view while you picnic with cheese, fruits, and fresh breads.

Middlebury
Drive carefully on the hairpins of Lincoln Gap as you go down the Champlain Valley. Go north on Route 7 and you will head straight to Middlebury. Check out the Storm Café near Otter Creek. There is also the craft center where you can shop for some souvenirs.

Shelburne Farms
The Shelburne Farms makes one of the best cheddars in Vermont. The old home turned into a education and agricultural center can show guests the art of cheddaring— slabs of cheese put on top of another to press out the whey. You can also take a guided tour of the farm or stay overnight at the Inn.

While at the farm, make sure to visit the Shelburne Museum which houses a vast collection of artifacts of Native Americans and folk art. You will be impressed with the old carriages, toys, and paintings from the early 19th century.

Milton
From the Shelburne Farms you will pass by Burlington where you can see a big aquarium representing the animal life in Lake Champlain. You can then head to Milton about 15 miles from Burlington. Here, cheese producers use cow and sheep milk to make 9 varieties of cheese. Go for the creamy Blue Moon and other varieties ranging from aged, rind style, and soft cheeses.

Highgate
Visit the Green Mountain Blue Cheese and see how they make cheeses the low-tech way. Handmade equipment help them produce the Boucher Blue, tangy gorgonzola, and Swiss-style cheese. You can ask the store owner for the details of their products, but if she is not around, you can pick your cheese and just leave the fee on top of their fridge.

Websterville
You will go through I-89 and drive by Barre where you can take the Rock Ages tour, a display of skill as workers separate 25 tons of granite using torches and explosives. You can end the Cheese Trail at Websterville at the Vermont Butter and Cheese Company. Here, they make use of milk supplied by local farms and make the best chevre. They also produce mascarpone and butter using the milk from their herds.

Here is a helpful map for your road trip http://www.vtcheese.com/cheesetrail.htm

Located in the fairly quaint town of Yountvile, the French Laundry is quite secluded and private. Many fine diners enjoy this change of pace, as most quality restaurants are located in large, densely populated towns. The building itself is also something to be admired. Originally built as a saloon in the early 1900’s, this all-stone building is extremely beautiful, and has not seen any major renovations, so its originality is intact.

As far as food goes, the French Laundry usually offers a prix fixe, or fixed-price, meal, as well as a tasting menu. These fixed-price meals usually include several courses and offer quite a variety of different tastes and cooking styles. There are also seasonal meals available at certain times of the year, as well as the occasional chef’s special. All of the food is absolutely delicious, and many critics enjoy the variety of foods and the fun multi-course meals offered.

For people planning parties, business conferences, wedding receptions, etc., the French Laundry does offer private dining. For a price, you can rent out the entire restaurant for your own use. There is an in-house planning team as well that will help you plan every aspect of your get-together, from the food and wine, all the way down to the placemats. If you don’t want to reserve the whole restaurant, you can rent a private room, which can comfortably seat up to 10 guests. If you’re planning an event at a different location, the French Laundry team can bring the fine dining experience to you with their catering service.

New York is a popular travel destination for many reasons. There’s the sights, the sounds, and most importantly, the food. New York is a mecca for foodies worldwide, and for good reason: as America’s densest city, you’ll be able to find ANYTHING on the streets of New York. Thai, Italian, French, Japanese, you name it, New York’s got it. Of course, New York is also famous for American classics like hot dogs, pizza, and yes, even steak. When one thinks of steak in New York, only one name comes to mind: Peter Luger. Amazingly enough, Peter Luger has been serving great steaks since it’s inception in 1887! Famous for it’s signature porterhouse, quality is so important that members of the family still personally select the beef every morning – and only the best will do. Peter Luger’s steakhouse has gotten so much press that it’s now a destination steakhouse.

There are two Peter Luger’s locations, located in Brooklyn and Great Neck, both serving the same signature porterhouse. That’s not to say that the porterhouse is the only thing that Peter Luger’s has, they serve all the usual suspects: all sorts of prime age meat, lamb chops, fish, and amazing sides such as their classic caeser salad, german potatoes, and creamed spinach. It’s just that the porterhouse is THE menu item to get. The porterhouse comes out with a beautiful char, and the pool of butter and blood on the bottom is signature Peter Luger. The waiters also know their routine, handily serving the meat onto your plate and drizzing the pool juices onto your meat, with such precision that it’s evident these waiters have been doing this for ages. Is the porterhouse all hype? Well, the proof is in the pudding, and Peter Luger’s pudding is fantastic – it is a world famous porterhouse, and for good reason!

If you find yourself in New York and are craving a steak, be sure to give Peter Luger’s a try.

When people think of Hawaii, they often think of the beautiful beaches, the great landscape, and the fantastic people. However, central to Hawaiian culture is cuisine. The people of Hawaii love food, whether it’s a simple plate lunch or an extravagant luau. They have created many delicious dishes that they can truly call their own, like poke, a raw dish featuring cubed tuna, and lau lau, a pork and butterfish creation steamed in taro leaf. While you’re in Hawaii, you’d be doing yourself a disservice not checking out your fantastic food options. While you’re in Hawaii, here’s some places you should check out, both large and small, fine dining and not.

Waiola’s – A must go to location; practically a destination. Get shave ice (do not say shaved ice unless you want to be berated senselessly) with ice cream on the bottom after you’ve spent a day out on the beach or hiking Diamond Head and are really hot. They also serve beer, if shave ice and beer is your thing.

Dukes – Popular place right on Waikiki beach for breakfast. Very relaxed and laid back, the definition of Hawaii. Goes well with a hangover.

Ryan’s Bar and Grill – This is a great casual spot for appetizers and drinks as a way to start your night. The crab artichoke dip is delicious, but incredibly rich; it feels like it must take a year off your life (but so worth it). Ryan’s Bar and Grill is located in Ward Center.

Tokkuri-Tei or Izakaya Nonbei – Fantastic local izakaya’s that are really showing off some of Hawaii’s rich heritage through delicious Japanese small dishes. Izakaya is traditionally a Japanese afterwork spot for drinking and eating, so these are good places to load up on the sake and beer while you pick at some really tasty and traditional Japanese food.

Kaka’ako Kitchen – Casual gourmet type of place, serving actual quality dishes in fast food format. Also located in Ward Center.

Mai Tai Bar in Ala Moana Shopping Center – You’ll find a surprising amount of locals here at night, and it gets way crowded. Live Hawaiian or Reggae music, pretty cheap drinks, and you can go there immediately after shopping.

Of course, if you must…

Luau – You will need to do this one night, just to get the full Hawaiian experience. Various hotels have them – it’s a big Hawaiian banquet, typically with a hula show. Typically a must do at least once for a traveler, you’ll never find a local at one of these. Except, that is, to work them.

Vietnamese food can be divided into three distinct regional styles. The northern style of cuisine is the most traditional, and uses less ingredients and has a more simple taste and feel. Southern cuisine has much more French and Chinese influence, and southern cuisine has a broader range of flavors. The central part of Vietnam focuses on smaller dishes, and as a whole uses much more spices than the North or the South.

Pho is a dish that is popular in all parts of Vietnam, and contrary to western traditions, is usually had at breakfast. Essentially a beef noodle soup, pho features rice noodles, assorted beef parts, fresh herbs and spices, and an enticing beef broth. The broth is what really separates one bowl of pho from the next, and each restaurant hoards it’s recipe as they very well should. However, pho is just the of the Vietnamese noodle iceberg.

Bun bo hue is a defining dish of central Vietnamese cuisine. It’s broth consists of beef and pork bones, simmered down for long amounts of time. A much bolder soup than pho, it’s characterized by distinct notes of lemon grass and lime. It’s quite spicy and is usually served with a thick round noodle. Definitely a favorite amongst locals and those craving a bolder, spicier flavor.

If you travel to the north, you should definitely try some cha ca thanh long. This dish, which came from Hanoi, is a fish dish with intense flavors of tumeric and dill. The fish is covered with tumeric and dill, cooked, and then placed on a hot skillet with onions. The smells as the hot skillet sautees the onions is truly remarkable, and the combination of flavors is amazing, especially when combined with a great fish sauce.

Of course, rice is a staple of most asian nations, and Vietnam is no exception. Com tam is the standard rish dish for Vietnamese people. Simply a prefix, com tam means “broken jasmine rice” and is served with a variety of items, as well as fish sauce, sliced cucumber, tomatoes, and lettuce. It is often served with grilled pork, beef, or chicken, shredded pork (bi), and a fried fish cake (cha tom). The Vietnamese equivalent to meat and potatoes.

Finally, there is the beloved banh mi. A creation of Vietnam’s cultured history, banh mi is a Vietnamese sandwich with distinct French influences. It uses Vietnamese ingredients such as pickled carrots and daikon radish, fish sauce, and Vietnamese sliced pork. It also uses French ingredients like a French roll, headcheese, and liver pate. Consumed by many because it’s often quite cheap, the Vietnamese sandwich makes a great snack at any time.

This is just a small sample of Vietnamese cuisine. Be adventurous and try new things, and you’ll definitely be rewarded.

I’ve always enjoyed visiting Singapore. With its great shopping malls, delicious hawker delicacies and, my favorite favorite, Night Safari Zoo, you can name a thousand and one reasons to visit the beautiful city state whenever you drop by South-East Asia. Now, with the news that Singapore’s very own Marina Bay Sands Resort and Casino has hired six of the world’s more talented chefs to head its dining outlets, there are even more reasons to plan your trip to Singapore when the resort opens next year. With chefs like Daniel Boulud – whose restaurant was awarded no less than 3 prestigious Michelin stars – as well as 2 American chefs namely Mario Batali (based in New York) and Wolfgang Puck. They are quickly joined by other gourmet gurus such as Santi Santamaria, Guy Savoy and Tetsuya Wakuda.

So far the people in charge have kept mum about the restaurants that will be opened, save for Boulud’s. He hinted that he will be in charge of a bistro of sorts specializing in French cuisine. The outlet will feature contemporary decor and will be able to seat 120 patrons comfortably.

The Marina Bay Sands Resort and Casino will feature the first casino on the island. On top of that, the resort will also include 2500-room luxury hotel. 1.3 million square feet will be allocated for meeting and conventions, boasting a ballroom said to be the biggest in Asia. Those who are artistically-inclined will be pleased to hear that two theater will be built at the resort with “The Lion King” being the first production to open in September 2010. Shoppers will also delight in the 300-odd stores set to wow the jet-setting crowd with brand names like Louis Vuitton and Prada. An attraction not to be missed is the Sands SkyPark, which is essentially a platform of greenery measuring 1200 feet in length. Besides being able to enjoy the breathtaking view of the city, visitors can also dine at the world-class restaurants, swim at the infinity pools or just plain relax in the calming ambiance.

One of the most common digestive problems being diagnosed today is that of gluten. Gluten is a protein found in wheat and grains. It is found in practically every loaf of bread and every grain of flour. Actually the entire population to some extent is gluten intolerant; however here are some unfortunate people that have serious reactions to it in any sort of substantial portion. Common symptoms of gluten toxin are headaches, abdominal pain, diarrhea or other flu-like symptoms. There’s actually a quite serious condition known in America as Celiac disease that actually causes the body to temporarily lower its immunity to several viruses.

Living on a gluten free diet can either be one of the hardest and most frustrating regimes to stick with or it can be an exciting adventure into a largely undiscovered culinary world. However even veteran Gluten-free dieters can have a nightmare of a time trying to eat while on the go or traveling. Luckily with a little effort, planning and homework you don’t have to give up travel to stick t your diet and enjoy traveling to the fullest. Here are some quick tips to help you maintain a gluten free diet while traveling.  

Before leaving on your trip try posting in a gluten free message board there are dozens available online that could really help you not only with your travel problems, but can give you a lot of useful tricks and tips for maintaining and actually enjoying your gluten free diet.

You should try to call the airport or train depot you’ll be traveling and simply ask them if you can bring your gluten free snacks on your luggage with you. Some will allow it and others wont. You’ll never know unless you ask. Heck even if they say no it’s unlikely they’ll take it away if sneak a few crackers on the plane! If however you are traveling aboard make sure to check the local import laws to make sure you aren’t violating any rules by bringing foreign foods into the country.

One great way to avoid any dietary problems is to find a hotel that offers kitchenettes in the rooms. This way in a pinch you can always fix yourself something gluten free and tasty, without the hassle of finding vending machine that with gluten free options.

Following your gluten free required diet while on the go doesn’t have to be frustrating or difficult. After the first few trips, you’ll begin to get the hang of the preparation and planning and might even find a few hidden secrets to eating good and gluten free as well.