Recapping 2023
Bookmark these favorite eats, sips, and stays of the year.
It’s that time of year again… the days of 2023 are dwindling and it’s time for a reflection on the past 11.5 months.
This year was busy, but no busier than years’ past – yet for some reason, it felt like it flashed by twice as quickly. I’ve spoken to many folks about this and they agree that in our post-pandemic life, time is literally flying, or perhaps, it’s just coincidental timing as the old adage goes: with each passing year, time appears to speed up.
At any rate, I can’t believe it’s time to summarize my year once again. Similar to 2022, it surely wasn’t easy to narrow down my favorite eats, sips, and stays of the year, but I wanted to challenge myself to really give you a short list that could inspire your 2024 travels. So, without further ado here are my picks of the year, from destination to favorite meal.
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Destination of the year: Alsace
I visited this stunning region in northeast France for their wine route’s 70th anniversary (it’s the oldest wine route in the world), only to learn that there’s so much more to explore. Nature enthusiasts, historians, foodies – there’s something here for everyone. Some of the wineries date back to the 1500s and the vines surround the medieval villages that they’re located in. Though I visited in the summer and found it a gorgeous warm-weather getaway, winemakers have been posting snowy snaps from the start of winter that have it appearing as a charming and cozy retreat. Its capital city, Strasbourg is also the Christmas Capital of the world with enduring artisan markets and streets that define “decking the halls.”
Runner up: Santa Margherita Ligure
Having grown up in Bermuda, I’m pretty picky when it comes to coastal destinations. But the Italian Riviera’s shades of cerulean as a backdrop to la dolce vita lifestyle, well, I was swooned. There’s just something about the color palette here that has you feeling as if you’re in a movie – the pastel facades against the cloudless sky, the tangerine of Aperol next to bright basil pesto, stony beaches housing leather-hued locals in their dark speedos. Every turn warranted a photo. While Portofino was certainly overrun by tourists, Santa Margherita Ligure felt more local and welcoming, even at the enotecas that barely spoke English. My family and I stayed at an Airbnb here for three nights and we felt assimilated to the small town by the time we left (oh, and we all agreed that we could have stayed much longer).
Hotel of the year: Nizuc, Cancun, Mexico
If you would have told me that all three of my favorite resorts this year would have been in Mexico, I wouldn’t have believed you. Especially my top pick as a Cancun resort. Maybe that’s why I loved Nizuc so much – it contrasted the stereotype of Cancun’s trashy spring break trip so much that at times I didn’t even know where I was! The luxury resort and spa celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2023, and I was lucky enough to experience it at the beginning of the year. The resort is only 15 minutes from Cancun International Airport but it's on the whitest sands I’ve seen in the region and a placid bay which means no seaweed build up that the area is notorious for. I spent most of my time in the pools though – both the infinity edge pool with a swim-up bar and my personal plunge. The resort is serene, private and feels like many different areas all within its compound. The contemporary design and presence of water is soothing as it blends into nature and brings you back to the destination before it blew up as a tourist zone. (Nizuc, a Mayan word, was actually the original name for the region of Cancun, and I love how the resort recognized this).
Contenders: Rosewood Mayakoba & Viceroy Los Cabos
Also, last year, I published this newsletter before a last minute trip that came up at the end of December to Blackberry Mountain in Walland, Tennessee – their new treehouses amidst their mountaintop oasis deserve an honorable mention.
Experience of the year: Antarctica
I chose to award this title to Antarctica (instead of the destination of the year) because everything about the White Continent was an experience. From sailing through the Drake Passage, to waking up to 1000-foot icebergs, kayaking through glaciers, setting foot on my seventh continent, observing the goofy yet graceful penguins, it was continuous action that presented the region as more than a destination, it’s a journey that’s experiential, tangible and witnessed in such a unique way in comparison to any other place on earth.
Contenders:
Sipping nine-year aged Veuve Clicquot from their Cellar in the Sea in the Aland Islands.
Attending my first Patriots and Bruins game – there’s just something about cheering for the home team with tens of thousands of strangers feeling like your closest friends.
Meal of the year: Tarte Flambée
For all the multi-course meals I indulged in this year, it was a humble dinner of an Alsatian specialty that stood out. It was my first night in the region and our group bonded over the simple thin crusted, pizza-like presentation of fromage blanc, thinly sliced onion and lardon. Paired with Alsatian sparkling wine, Cremant, the humble meal was instantly elevated and a reminder of how the best culinary moments are often presented without white table-cloths or ingredients you can’t pronounce.
Contenders: Grade A5 Striploin, Kagoshima Prefecture at Grill 23 in Boston & Veal Milanese at Rosso Brera in Milan.
Cocktail of the year: Dirty martini at Il Sereno, Lake Como
Perfectly chilled and briny. Here’s an excerpt from the moment, which I wrote about for MICHELIN:
Nemesio, assistant bar manager, wasted no time before proudly presenting aperitivo menus and even though we all studied the pages intently — unique concoctions like Un Insolito Spritz with ape rose, pear and rosemary shrub, pear distillate, and extra dry Prosecco, or Ennergo with Rivo Gin, Strega Alberti, liquid berries, fresh lime and kombucha — we opted for a classic. Cocktail martinis all around. “Very excellent choice,” Nemesio said, beaming at our seemingly basic order. “It’s a cocktail with much history here.” We could taste his passion upon first sip as we all exclaimed it’s one of the best-made martinis we’ve ever had.
Contenders: Coral Rojo (Clase Azul Mezcal Durango with beet reduction, citrus mix and black volcanic salt) at Clase Azul La Terraza Los Cabos & the House Martini strained through oysters for a distinct texture and savoriness at The Restaurant at North Block in Yountville, California.
Noteworthy Discoveries
Through all the outstanding and memorable experiences, here are 11 random things, from wine to lessons learned, that I uncovered on my travels:
A finger lime is nicknamed caviar lemon for its beads of citrus it produces.
Gewurztraminer can age quite gracefully as discovered by sipping a 1993 Gustave Lorentz.
I rediscovered my partiality to west coast oysters and Hog Island Creek’s delectable Hogwash mignonette.
These clutches from Carina Company are inspired by the Italian Mediterranean with plenty of whimsical sayings that double as conversation starters.
On the topic of bags, Metier crafts stately styles in all shapes and sizes (purses, briefcases, weekenders) for men and women.
Wear more sparkles, color, or things that make people stop and stare.
Don’t put off the girls, guys, friends or family trip – take it and enjoy every waking moment.
The world’s longest bar is in Shelbyville, Tennessee.
Fly fishing is extraordinarily meditative and also an arm workout.
Not every trip needs to be a whirlwind, multi-night stay; take more day trips.
Penguins are a sea bird; they spend most of their life in the water except for the two-to-three weeks they spend onshore to mate (during October to early December) and molt (March to April).
Favorite articles:
Travel:
Middle-Aged Millennials Are Low-Key Out-Spending Boomers on Luxury Travel
High Seas: Why Private Yacht Bookings Are Becoming Increasingly Popular
Web Hosts: From Cryptocurrency to NFTs, Hotels Are Opening Their Doors to the New Digital Landscape
Food & Beverage:
The Duck Brigade Behind a Farmer’s Plentiful Rice Harvest
Sommelier Aldo Sohm Shares Tips for Serving Wine in the Sun and Combatting Hangovers
Think You Know Sauvignon Blanc? Try Aging It
Preserving Napa’s Heritage Vineyards – Gagnon-Kennedy
How MICHELIN Guide Chefs are Making Magic with Lemons and Champagne