One of the highlights of traveling is trying new foods. In Oxnard, California, we tried a whole new cuisine at Moqueca, as neither of us had eaten Brazilian food before. Specifically, Moqueca serves capixaba cuisine, the food of Brazil’s state of Espirito Santo on the coast of Brazil’s southeast region.
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in U.S. Long Cuts. We are merging U.S. Long Cuts with Midwest Wanderer, adding a “Beyond the Midwest” menu option. Read more
Exploring downtown areas is one of my favorite things to do in a small town. This past fall, while we were on the Franklin County, Iowa, Harvest Tour, we had an opportunity to check out downtown Hampton, the Franklin County seat. Hampton’s town square, anchored by a stately old courthouse, is surrounded by small, independent shops and cafes, where you are often greeted by the shop owners themselves. Read more
If I was allowed only one snack food for the rest of my life, I would choose cheese popcorn, gourmet style. I can’t pass up a specialty popcorn store without going in for at least a small bag, so I was thrilled to find Chicagoland Popcorn in Merrillville, Indiana. Read more
Being the candy lover that I am, you would think I’d know about a huge candy company only an hour away from where I live, in an area I frequent often. However, even though Albanese has been making candy since 1983, I only discovered the company this year. Albanese Candy produces high-quality chocolates in their Merrillville, Indiana, factory, as well as award-winning gummi candies. You can buy all of their candies in the outlet store adjacent to the factory.
It was a little chilly on the evening we dined at the Waterside Restaurant. However, we had been in California for several days and had yet to dine alfresco, so we requested patio seating. We wanted to experience the full ambiance of dining seaside before we started traveling inland, and the Waterside Restaurant & Wine Bar was the place to do it. The view of the fishing boats docked in the Channel Islands Harbor, the sound of lapping waves and the aroma of salty sea air was the perfect setting. Our host seated us adjacent to the fire pit and set an overhead heater next to our table to ensure we’d stay warm enough while we dined. That thoughtful gesture was the beginning of a lovely dining experience.
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in U.S. Long Cuts. We are merging U.S. Long Cuts with Midwest Wanderer, adding a “Beyond the Midwest” menu option. Read more
The last stop on our tour of the Villages of Van Buren was the Bentonsport historic district, first developed by Mormon craftsmen as they migrated west along the Mormon trail in the mid-1800s. Steamboats no longer ply the nearby Des Moines River, but the historic district is still bustling. Refurbished buildings are now home to galleries, a candy shop, and a haunted bed and breakfast. Read more
