Why Netflix’s Masala y Maiz in Mexico City Fails Spectacularly as a Fine Dining Experience

Why Netflix’s Masala y Maiz in Mexico City Fails Spectacularly as a Fine Dining Experience

I was so excited to try Masala Y Maiz for my birthday dinner in Mexico City this August. The chefs were featured in Netflix’s documentary series Chef’s Table, and I was excited to try their fusion food. The story of overcoming corruption and graft in CDMX was inspiring, and I was feeling good about supporting their business. Unfortunately, our experience here was extraordinarily disappointing. While it is clear that the chef-owners of MyM care deeply about the wellbeing of their…

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Visiting Casa Azul: The Frida Kahlo Museum Every Art Lover Must See in Mexico City

Visiting Casa Azul: The Frida Kahlo Museum Every Art Lover Must See in Mexico City

The Frida Kahlo Museum, or Casa Azul, is a must-visit stop for any art lover in Mexico City. It’s a bit out of the way in the Coyoacan neighborhood, but the excursion is worth the effort, especially if you come here on a Saturday when the Artist Bazaar is going on in San Angel. Tickets to the Museum are sold in advance, and they do sell out, so I highly recommend purchasing well before your trip. If you are going…

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Esquina Comun Review: Exclusive Rooftop Dining in Mexico City

Esquina Comun Review: Exclusive Rooftop Dining in Mexico City

When I think about our dinner at Esquina Comun in Mexico City this past August, 2025, a smile always comes to my face. This was easily the best meal we had on our second visit to Mexico City, and I would not hesitate to recommend booking here. First, Esquina Comun has a very exclusive, secret vibe. There is no sign on the door, and you enter through what looks like an abandoned cafeteria. In the back, there is a spiral…

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Asador Bastian’s Bar: Chicago’s Best Kept Secret

Asador Bastian’s Bar: Chicago’s Best Kept Secret

There have been about a thousand articles about Chicago’s most unique steakhouse, Asador Bastian, a steakhouse that has even made it’s way onto the World’s 101 best steak restaurant list (currently the highest rated steak restaurant in Chicago at number 13). Even I published my glowing review of our incredible dinner there just last year. What people don’t know, however, is that you can come here, even without a reservation, on most nights. Because of its popularity, Asador Bastian’s dining…

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Why The Historic Hotel Cleveland Is the Ideal Downtown Stay in One of America’s Most Underrated Comeback Cities

Why The Historic Hotel Cleveland Is the Ideal Downtown Stay in One of America’s Most Underrated Comeback Cities

People don’t typically think of rust-belt cities as travel destinations, but Cleveland shouldn’t be overlooked. It’s got a world class art museum (that’s free!), a huge zoo, and the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame to name just a handful of attractions that make it a city worth visiting. That doesn’t even cover the start of it – to make it a truly unique and exciting destination, you can check out the foodie mecca of West Side Market, and the…

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Rosewood Little Dix Bay Review: A Luxe Virgin Gorda Hideaway With Exceptional Perks and Minor Quirks

Rosewood Little Dix Bay Review: A Luxe Virgin Gorda Hideaway With Exceptional Perks and Minor Quirks

Staying at my first Rosewood group resort was a bucket list trip for sure. They are very expensive, and ultra high-end, but when their Black Friday deals came around in 2024, I jumped on the opportunity to get 30% off our entire stay, plus $100 resort credit and free breakfast every day. I honestly never thought I’d be able to afford a trip here even for just a couples getaway, but this deal allowed me to bring the teens as…

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World Class and Wonderfully Free: Visiting the Cleveland Museum of Art

World Class and Wonderfully Free: Visiting the Cleveland Museum of Art

We first visited the Cleveland Museum of Art a few years ago, when we started on our Caravaggio hunting journey. We went for the singular purpose of viewing their Caravaggio piece – the epic “Martyrdom of St. Andrew”. You can check out our Caravaggio painting search status here. Also check out our new not-for-profit venture, The Baroque Art Accessibility Consortium, where you can find cool itineraries for various museums around the world, and fun facts about different baroque artists and…

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The Best Dinner In Virgin Gorda: Why Coco Maya Is Worth The Hype

The Best Dinner In Virgin Gorda: Why Coco Maya Is Worth The Hype

If you’re looking for the absolute best meal and dinner experience on Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands, look no further than Coco Maya. I had read some reviews, and folks at the resort recommended this place, but I typically have relatively low expectations for restaurants at the top of popular “best-of” lists. Coco Maya is a huge exception to this rule, and you should not hesitate to book dinner here. You do need reservations, so make sure you take care…

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Why the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame is Worth the Trip to Cleveland

Why the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame is Worth the Trip to Cleveland

No trip to Cleveland would be complete without a visit to the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame. In fact, many come to Cleveland as a pilgrimage to these hallowed grounds, and you’d be hard pressed to find more music artifacts in one place, anywhere. We visited with our family in late June of 2025. On our second visit here, we were amazed at how the exhibits change somewhat regularly, marveled at some of the newer movies you could watch,…

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A Different Kind of Fine Dining: The Loyalist, Chicago, Delivers Michelin Quality Without the Michelin Price Tag

A Different Kind of Fine Dining: The Loyalist, Chicago, Delivers Michelin Quality Without the Michelin Price Tag

In between all of this luxury travel, I’ve been trying to save some money at home, and one of the best ways I’ve found to do that and STILL be able to enjoy Michelin-level extraordinary food, is check out the bars and companion restaurants to the real deal. This is a review of The Loyalist, which is three-star Michelin Smyth’s baby basement bar brother. Definitely click here for my ode to Smyth, which was easily one of the best meals…

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