Sherman's Travel

When we asked readers to recommend restaurants so delectable they’re worth a plane trip for our Mohegan Sun SunWine Fest giveaway last month, we received dozens of mouth-watering responses. The winner, Kevin OMaley, suggested two restaurants: Blue Ginger in Massachusetts and Morimoto Napa in California. Below are some additional restaurants, from the shores of New England down to the Gulf Shores. Check out our readers’ comments on the restaurants and let us know if you’d travel to any of these! Read more

The gourmet food truck fad has taken cities across the country (dumplings and waffles in New York; solar-powered organic fare in Los Angeles; fine BBQ in San Diego) and the latest in the meals-on-wheels trend, the first hotel food truck courtesy of The Setai South Beach. The aptly dubbed Beach Trailer debuted in late December and serves the bathing masses along the South Beach sands. The Setai’s own Chef Werly creates a menu full of light, high-quality lunch items like ceviche, wagyu hot dogs, salmon burgers, and fresh sushi, not to mention a selection of specialty drinks, champagnes, and wines. The truck is parked beachside daily, from 11.30am to 5pm. Menu items range from $14 to $30.

Though the InterContinental New York Times Square actually opened July 12, the ribbon cutting ceremony last week – keynoted by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg – officially heralded this new property as one of the greenest in the city. As part of its bid for LEED certification, the hotel employed sustainable building materials and recycled three quarters of its construction waste. More visibly, there are green roofs on the 4th and 7th floors as well as a lobby-level garden, but guests are not permitted out onto these areas.

The 36-story, 607-room hotel is the largest built in New York in the past 10 years; all but the top two floors are currently open (they’re still perfecting that two-story Presidential Suite). The eponymous Times Square is actually a couple of blocks from the InterContinental, and the hotel straddles the Hells Kitchen neighborhood. This works to InterContinental’s advantage, however: A quirk in zoning laws caps most buildings in that neighborhood at seven stories, so the upper floors of the hotel boast killer views of western Manhattan. Some corner suites can even see all the way north to Central Park.

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It was only a few years ago that our our noses turned up (and stomachs too) at the thought of dining in a hotel restaurant. Lucky for all, the tables have turned as empty seats are now filled with guests who flock to make hotel dining reservations and to experience the celebrity chefs and talent. With hotel chefs ranking high among the best amenties, which stays (you may ask) also come with great dining? We’ve found a few to whet your appetite:

In the two years that Chef Jennifer Carroll, chef du cuisine for the 10 Arts Bistro and Lounge by Eric Ripert, was brought to the The Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia, she has already attracted a solid fanbase. A Philadelphia native, Chef Jennifer’s claim to fame may be as a Top Chef fiinalist last season, but now she’s known and celebrated at 10 Arts Bistro for her 5-course dinner menu and wine pairing. Dish highlights, which always feature seasonal and organic ingredients, include braised pork belly with melon and herb salad; coriander-encrusted Hiramasa with grilled ramps and lime oil; and spring vegetables in dill sauce—which will leave you scraping your plate for more. Guests looking for an other-worldly and gastronomical experience will do well to book the Dine and Unwind package. Promising something of a triple-threat: fabulous city sights, an exquisite hotel stay, and a memorable dining experience the package includes a 5-course dinner for two at 10 Arts and a continental breakfast led by Chef Jennifer. Prices start at $369 per night, exclusive of tax and hotel fee. Rate is based on double occupancy. Reservations are based upon availability and must be made in advance. For more information and to reserve this package, please call (215) 523-8000 or visit www.ritzcarlton.com/Philadelphia.

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Situated on the banks of the Potomac River in Maryland’s National Harbor, the 300-acre Gaylord National Resort is great choice for a fun-filled family stay just minutes from our nation’s capital. The year-old resort features a soaring 18-story glass-enclosed atrium housing all you need to keep the little ones entertained: There’s a 24-meter lap pool with a gorgeous sun-deck, meandering tropical garden pathways past babbling streams, and an awesome 60-foot-high water fountain. (Kids will squeal with delight as it changes color in spectacular displays; fountain shows last 15 minutes and take place each night from 6-9 pm.) Outdoors along the resort’s mile-long waterfront are numerous public artworks with a kid-centered appeal, from interactive Read more

If you’ve watched Gordon Ramsay‘s cutthroat competition show Hell’s Kitchen, currently in its fifth season on Fox, you know the celebrity chef has a knack for pissing people off. Last summer, a public falling out between Ramsay – the only three-Michelin-star chef in London – and his protégé Marcus Wareing prompted The Berkeley hotel to change the name of its Ramsay-affiliated restaurant Pétrus. Now called Marcus Wareing at The Berkeley, the restaurant may have lost its association with Ramsay and gained a rather unoriginal name, but the fact that nothing else has changed – not the chef, his team, the elegant simplicity of the deep purple décor and circle motif, nor its two-Michelin-star rating – means that it still ranks as one of London’s top dining spots. Expect modern European cuisine with dishes like poached Scottish lobster with braised trotters and vanilla butter and roasted Cumbrian lamb with green olives, fennel, and smoked lamb bacon. Pétrus, meanwhile, is due to reopen (minus chef Wareing, of course) in a new, as yet undisclosed, London location later this year.

Visit our London Travel Guide for more London restaurant recommendations!