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Author Archives Susan Manlin Katzman

BEST LITTLE ROCK RESTAURANTS

  One of Kat Robinson’s business cards states that she is a writer, storyteller and idea generator. Another says that she serves as Communications Manager of Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism. I am sure Kat owns even more cards, because it’s hard to sum up the career of this creative, talented woman on two […]

Posted 16 August 2013 § ARKANSAS § BOOKS § DESSERTS § LITTLE ROCK § RESTAURANTS § TRAVEL ‡ Comments Off on BEST LITTLE ROCK RESTAURANTS °

Ten Secrets to Enjoying Secrets Huatulco

Brochures tout the suites, pools, restaurants, beach and spa of Secrets Huatulco, an all-inclusive resort in Huatulco, Mexico, but previews don’t/can’t paint the whole picture. As we’ve happily been there, done that, we are supplementing the marketing information with our own ten little secrets to getting the most from a Secrets vacation. Read on: 1. […]

Posted 05 August 2013 § ACCOMMODATIONS § HUATULCO § MEXICO § RESORTS § TRAVEL ‡ Comments Off on Ten Secrets to Enjoying Secrets Huatulco ° Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

PINEAPPLE SHRIMP FROM EL CAMARON GIGANTE

Take a poll and most people familiar with Mexico’s Bahías de Huatulco (a tourist development on the Pacific Coast of the state of Oaxaca) will say Maguey Bay sports the most popular beach. On weekends, particularly, the beach fills with playful locals as well as vacationers who to come to swim, sun, snorkel, relax and […]

Posted 31 July 2013 § HUATULCO § MEXICO § RECIPES § RESTAURANTS ‡ Comments Off on PINEAPPLE SHRIMP FROM EL CAMARON GIGANTE ° Tagged: , , , , , ,

World’s Best Carrot Cake

“Sweet” is not an adjective I would apply to Dolores Roux. “Energetic,” “outspoken,” “generous” seem more fitting descriptors. Yet, sweet is a word inseparable from Dolores as she owns and runs the well-loved Dolores’ Sweet Shoppe in Apalachicola, Florida. Located in the heart of downtown, the shop occupies a white frame house that was built […]

Posted 18 July 2013 § APALACHICOLA § DESSERTS § FLORIDA § RECIPES § RESTAURANTS § TRAVEL ‡ Comments Off on World’s Best Carrot Cake °

SPA, BELGIUM

WHAT TO DO In the beginning (in a wooded valley of the Ardennes mountain chain in what is today eastern Belgium) water sprang forth from the earth. The   water produced in the cluster of springs was far from ordinary. People believed it to be imbued with healing powers. Soon a village formed around the […]

Posted 12 July 2013 § ACCOMMODATIONS § BELGIUM § RESTAURANTS § SPA § SPAS § TRAVEL ‡ Comments Off on SPA, BELGIUM °

RED WINE SANGRIA

  One sip is worth a thousand words. Nothing more to say. SWEET LEISURE SANGRIA Yield: 4 to 6 servings. 1 large orange, sliced 1 large lemon, sliced 1/4 to 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1/4 cup water 750ml bottle or about 4 cups dry red wine (“value” wine will do—no need for the big-buck stuff) […]

Posted 02 July 2013 § BEVERAGES § COCKTAILS § RECIPES ‡ Comments Off on RED WINE SANGRIA °

SAXON HOTEL and recipes for MUSHROOM SAUCE, AVOCADO SALSA AND TOMATO GINGER CHUTNEY

What do Bill Clinton, Justin Bieber, Oprah Winfrey and Mick Jager have in common? All stayed at the Saxon Hotel in Johannesburg and for good reason. The one-of-a-kind property epitomizes luxury, security, service and quite pizzazzy comfort. The Saxon claims a pedigreed location, sequestered in the city’s upscale Sandhurst neighborhood. Grand estates, each and every […]

Posted 21 June 2013 § ACCOMMODATIONS § AFRICA § CONDIMENTS § ENTREES § JOHANNESBURG § RECIPES § RESTAURANTS § SANDWICHES § SAUCES § SIDE DISHES § SOUTH AFRICA ‡ Comments Off on SAXON HOTEL and recipes for MUSHROOM SAUCE, AVOCADO SALSA AND TOMATO GINGER CHUTNEY °

Johnny Cash Museum

“It was a long time coming.” The construction started in 2011 and slowly continued “one piece at a time.” But “cry cry cry” no more. As of May 30, 2013, one can “walk the line” straight to 119 Third Avenue South in Nashville, Tennessee, and pay tribute to “the man in black,” because The Johnny […]

Posted 31 May 2013 § NASHVILLE § TENNESSEE § TRAVEL ‡ Comments Off on Johnny Cash Museum °

TEQUILA BAR AND INFUSIONS

The name is quite a mouthful—JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa. And the resort is quite a place, offering something above and beyond other JW Marriotts. It’s not the size that makes it so special, although this JW Marriott is the world’s largest, sitting on an area covering 600 acres. And it’s […]

Posted 26 May 2013 § ACCOMMODATIONS § BEVERAGES § DRINKS § RESORTS § SAN ANTONIO § TEXAS § TRAVEL ‡ Comments Off on TEQUILA BAR AND INFUSIONS °

COOMBS HOUSE INN and QUICHE

Connoisseurs consider the Coombs House Inn  one of the best B & Bs in all of Florida and I know why. Her name is Lynn Wilson. Lynn, an architectural interior designer and decorator, discovered the house that would become the inn when vacationing in Apalachicola, Florida, in 1978. At that time, the mansion was uninhabited, boarded […]

Posted 20 May 2013 § ACCOMMODATIONS § APALACHICOLA § BREAKFAST § BRUNCH § FLORIDA ‡ Comments Off on COOMBS HOUSE INN and QUICHE ° Tagged: , , , ,