Utah Travel Tips from Kait Miller, Blogger of Real Food Gypsy

Kait Miller is the blogger of Real Food Gypsy. Originally from North Carolina, she now calls Salt Lake City home. Kait reveals the hiking trails to go for, where to head for lunch, and why you should steer clear of the Great Salt Lake.

Photo: Real Food Gypsy

What should travellers know about Utah before heading there?

In the summer, bring a jacket! It’s hot during the day, but it’s dry heat. At night it cools down a lot and there’s no humidity. It’s like the desert, so definitely bring the jacket.

What do you feel defines the cuisine in Utah?

Utah is unique. Since it’s in the West and close to California, Arizona, and New Mexico, you may think that the cuisine is Southwestern. At least that’s what we thought when we found out we were moving here three years ago. We were so wrong! Utah is a lot like the South, where I’m originally from (North Carolina). It’s traditional American-inspired food and you can find diners and burger joints all over. What’s also unique is that there are a ton of Italian and pizza restaurants.

What is the one local dish you feel travellers can’t leave Utah without trying?

This is easy! Hands down the beef stroganoff from The Copper Onion. The noodles are handmade, the beef is from Snake River Farms in Wyoming, and the sauce is incredible. Everything is locally sourced and it shines in every dish, especially this one.

I’ll also say fry sauce. It’s not a dish, but a condiment. Utah is known for it, and it just tastes better here.

The Copper Onion. Photo: Real Food Gypsy

What about your favourite restaurants?

I have several favourite spots, most happen to be in Park City or Salt Lake. The Copper Onion for their burger and stroganoff, HSL for their pork shank and general tso’s cauliflower, Publik for their delicious coffee and thick toast, Fletcher’s for their salmon, Alamexo for their chicken enchiladas, Harvest for a delicious breakfast, and Pizza Nono for the best wood-fired pizza in the city.

Photo: Real Food Gypsy

HSL. Photo: Real Food Gypsy

Name some tourist traps travellers should avoid in Utah

Yes – the Great Salt Lake! It is the most underwhelming thing you could do. It stinks and it’s just really sad to look at. A complete waste of time.

Describe the perfect way to explore Utah

I would start in Salt Lake City and adventure through the canyons and mountains. There are beautiful hikes in Cottonwood and Millcreek Canyons. A few of the prettiest places to hike are Lake Blanche, Bell Canyon’s Waterfall, Cecret Lake, White Pine Lake, and Albion Basin to see the wildflowers. You may even see a moose or two! Then escape to Park City to experience Main Street or some world-class skiing. On your way to Southern Utah, stop by Fifth Water Hot Springs in Provo. After you’ve exhausted Northern Utah, head down and explore the National Parks. Moab, Zion, and Bryce Canyon will take your breath away. There is nothing like it.

Name one best kept secret of Utah

Fifth Water Hot Springs in Provo. It is absolutely stunning in rain, snow, or shine, sunrise or sunset. It’s a fun experience.

What about your favourite spot for a weekend getaway in Utah?

Park City! We love escaping there. It doesn’t matter if it’s during ski-season or summer time, there’s always a ton of outdoor activities going on. They have amazing restaurants on Main Street and all the resorts have farm-to-table dining. It feels like a vacation and it’s only a 30 minute drive from Salt Lake.

Photo: Real Food Gypsy

What should travellers bring home with them from Utah?

Honey! We are known as the Bee State and there is local honey everywhere. Creamed cinnamon, raspberry, blueberry, you name it. It’s incredible.

WHERE TO EAT IN UTAH

The Copper Onion

Where: 111 East Broadway #170, Salt Lake City, UT 84111, USA

For: Beef stroganoff

HSL Restaurant

Where: 418 E 200 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84111, USA

For: Viewspork shank and general tso’s cauliflower

Publik Coffee Roasters

Where: 975 S W Temple, Salt Lake City, UT 84101, USA

For: Coffee and thick toast

Fletcher’s Park City

Where: 562 Main St, Park City, UT 84060, USA

For: Salmon

Alamexo

Where: 268 State St #110, Salt Lake City, UT 84111, USA

For: Chicken enchiladas

Great Harvest Bread Bakery

Where: 140 N 400 W, St George, UT 84770, USA (and more)

For: Breakfast

Pizza Nono

Where: 925 East 900 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84105, USA

For: Pizza

WHERE TO GO IN UTAH

Cottonwood Canyon

Where: Cottonwood Heights, Utah, USA

For: Hiking

Millcreek Canyon

Where: 3800 Millcreek Canyon Rd, Salt Lake City, UT 84124, USA

For: Hiking

Lake Blanche

Where: Lake Blanche Trail, Salt Lake City, UT 84121, USA

For: Hiking

Moab National Park

Where: Moab National Park, Utah, USA

For: National parks

Zion National Park

Where: Zion National Park, Utah, USA

For: National parks

Bryce Canyon National Park

Where: Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah, USA

For: National parks

Fifth Water Hot Springs

Where: Diamond Fork Rd, Springville, UT 84663, USA

For: Hiking

Park City

Where: Park City, Utah, USA

For: Skiing

Paris Travel Tips from Lindsey Tramuta, Parisian Journalist

Conversations with Locals

Having lived in Paris for more than a decade, ailurophile Lindsey Tramuta is well-versed in the ins and outs of the city and chronicles her Parisian life on her blog. She is a writer for Condé Nast Traveler, Bon Appétit, and The New York Times. Lindsey talks about why you should skip Chartier, where to get the best pastries in Paris, and about the museum you can’t miss.

Photo: Joann Pai

What do you feel defines Parisian cuisine?

Parisian cuisine today isn’t hemmed in by Escoffier, heritage or ethnocentrism but rather an openness to outside influences and cultures. The food scene has never been so refreshingly diverse.

What is the one local dish you feel travellers can’t leave Paris without trying?

As a pastry fanatic, I’m keen to cite a handful of exquisite desserts or treats. The chocolate and pistachio escargot from Du Pain et Des Idées, the Lily Valley from Carl Marletti, the ricotta cheesecake with seasonal fruit from Acide which is also available at Fou de Pâtisserie, the Ispahan croissant from Pierre Hermé, sablés from Bontemps Pâtisserie. As you can see, it’s impossible to narrow the selection to just one speciality!

Bontemps Pâtisserie. Photo: Lindsey Tramuta

What about your favourite restaurants?

Many of them are concentrated on the east side of town – Tannat, Le 52, Anahi, Le Richer, Café Méricourt, La Fontaine de Belleville. But I do have a few favourites elsewhere – Kitchen Ter(re) on the left bank and Balagan near the Tuileries Gardens to name a couple.

Café Méricourt. Photo: Lindsey Tramuta

Kitchen Ter(re). Photo: Lindsey Tramuta

Name one Parisian dining etiquette most travellers miss

Making a concerted effort to speak French, at least greeting restaurant staff in French. It isn’t all that difficult to show them you’re trying your best.

What is one travel tip you would give to travellers heading to Paris?

Go beyond the obvious. My book dives into so many other neighbourhoods that are worth exploring.

Name one best kept secret of Paris

The Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature. It’s in all the guidebooks and yet it never seems to earn the attention it deserves. It’s unusual, for one – it’s the hunting and nature museum. On top of that, it feels like a cabinet of animal curiosities. It’s fascinating!

What do you feel are the most common misconceptions about Paris?

There are two – that it’s a city that never changes and that Parisians are unfriendly. I’ve had plenty of chilly service in London and New York!

Photo: Lindsey Tramuta

Name some tourist traps travellers should avoid in Paris

Please please please stay away from Chartier off the Grands Boulevards. Go to Bouillon Pigalle instead. Chartier has terrible quality food, comically poor service, but because it’s an institution, it still gets traction.

What’s your favourite day trip to take from the city?

I love going to Chantilly for the day, walking around the gardens and visiting the Château.

What should travellers bring home with them from Paris?

Something French! The new gourmet food hall from Printemps department store, called Printemps Du Goût, offers a selection of 100% French products so you can be sure to take home something, whether it’s caramelised hazelnuts from the south of France or a small jar of regional honey, truly unique.

WHERE TO EAT IN PARIS

Du Pain et Des Idées

Where: 34 Rue Yves Toudic, 75010 Paris, France

For: Chocolate and pistachio escargots

Acide Macaron

Where: 24 Rue des Moines, 75017 Paris, France

For: Ricotta cheesecakes with seasonal fruit

Carl Marletti

Where: 51 Rue Censier, 75005 Paris, France

For: The Lily Valley cake

Pierre Hermé

Where: 72 Rue Bonaparte, 75006 Paris, France (and others)

For: Ispahan croissants

Bontemps Pâtisserie

Where: 57 Rue de Bretagne, 75003 Paris, France

For: Sablés

Tannat

Where: 119 Avenue Parmentier, 75011 Paris, France

For: French fusion food

Le 52

Where: 52 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis, 75010 Paris, France

For: Tradtional french food

Anahi

Where: 49 Rue Volta, 75003 Paris, France

For: Argentinian food

Le Richer

Where: 2 Rue Richer, 75009 Paris, France

For: Bistro food

Café Méricourt

Where: 22 Rue de la Folie Méricourt, 75011 Paris, France

For: Brunch

La Fontaine de Belleville

Where: 31-33 Rue Juliette Dodu, 75010 Paris, France

For: Breakfast

Kitchen Ter(re)

Where: 26 Boulevard Saint-Germain, 75005 Paris, France

For: Set menus

Balagan

Where: 9 Rue d’Alger, 75001 Paris, France

For: Shakshuka

Bouillon Pigalle

Where: 22 Boulevard de Clichy, 75018 Paris, France

For: French food

WHERE TO GO IN PARIS

Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature

Where: 62 Rue des Archives, 75003 Paris, France

For: Museums

Printemps Du Goût

Where: 21-25 Cours de Vincennes, 75020 Paris, France

For: Local French products

Oahu Travel Tips from Katherine Lou, Blogger of Wander Hour

Conversations with Locals

Cali girl Katherine Lou is the blogger of Wander Hour, and has called Hawaii home since five years ago. Katherine divulges where to go for poke, Oahu’s snorkelling spots, and why you should not miss out on Oahu’s Chinatown.

Photo: Wander Hour

What do you feel defines Hawaiian cuisine?

Native Hawaiian cuisine differs from local cuisine in Hawaii. Therefore, I feel there are many things that define the cuisine of Hawaii. When I think of native Hawaiian food, I think of kalua (pig) and poi (taro) amongst many other things. The type of food that you find in a traditional luau is more in tune with Hawaiian cuisine. Even better, family parties here serve some of the best native Hawaiian food and they put so much love in their dishes!

When I think of local food, which is entirely different from the native cuisine, I think of the melting pot of different cultures that contribute to it. There are strong Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese, etc. influences in the local cuisine here. Overall, both native and local food are delicious. Most places are big in using local ingredients, so very often, the food is fresh – especially the fish!

What is the one local dish you feel travellers can’t leave Oahu without trying?

You cannot leave Hawaii without eating fresh poke, shave ice, and haupia (coconut pudding)!

What about your favourite restaurants?

My current favourites would be Maguro for their spicy ahi poke, Marukame for their fresh udon, ARVO for their cute coffee and aesthetics, and Helena’s for the Hawaiian food. At Helena’s, I love their pipikaula which is a type of dried beef and their haupia. For shave ice, I love Waiola.

Waiola Shave Ice. Photo: Wander Hour

Name some tourist traps travellers should avoid in Oahu

There aren’t many to speak of, but don’t spend your entire week in Waikiki. It has its charms but venture out! There’s so much more to see!

What is the one activity travellers should do in Oahu?

When you go to Honolulu (in Oahu), put aside some time to hike the many trails!

Photo: Wander Hour

What about the best spot to catch the sunset?

The best place to catch the sunset in Hawaii would be from the North Shore, which is about an hour’s drive from Honolulu. If you’re in Honolulu though, Ala Moana Beach Park might be a good place!

Where are some of your favourite snorkelling spots?

When the water is calm during the summers, Shark’s Cove in North Shore is a good place to snorkel! Hanauma Bay is also good! Always be aware of your safety even if it’s summer. A lot of visitors and locals underestimate the power of Mother Nature! That said, I wouldn’t recommend snorkelling at North Shore around winter time. During winter, the North Shore gets some of the biggest waves and lots of surfing competitions happen around this time.

Photo: Wander Hour

Name one best kept secret of Oahu

The best kept secret would be Chinatown! Tourists normally don’t head to Chinatown in Honolulu but you can find some of the best restaurants there like Maguro which is my favourite place for poke, The Pig & The Lady, Livestock Tavern, and Lucky Belly. There are also cute boutiques, bars, and coffee shops in Chinatown!

Lobster roll at Livestock Tavern. Photo: Wander Hour

Lucky Belly. Photo: Wander Hour

Describe the perfect day trip

If you’re staying on the island, a perfect day trip would be driving east from Honolulu and around the island, and stopping at one of the many beaches. Continue towards North Shore and stop by the shrimp trucks such as Giovanni’s, then head back down to Honolulu.

If you’re feeling real adventurous, hop on a plane to Maui! Just a short 40 minute flight to Kahului from Honolulu, you can rent a car and drive around the island. My favourite stops would be Ululani’s for their shave ice. Drive up to Haleakala which is out of this world – it literally looks like Mars! If you leave early enough, check out the waterfalls on the Road to Hana. The whole drive can take about 6 hours back and forth depending on how many stops you make!