There are certain realities we all must face. Things like the inevitability of the Christmas shopping season or the fact that a bakery-hopping trip to Paris may not be in the budget this year. Thankfully, there's now a way to feel as though you're in Paris -- all with the simple touch of a few buttons on your iphone. More

If you're looking for a trip that is a little more offbeat than the usual wine-tasting circuit, consider heading to a distillery for a whiskey tour. Saveur has rounded up four destinations with distilleries open to the public, from an Iowa rye distillery famous for its illegal operations during Prohibition to a team of creative California distillers that experiments with ingredients like foie gras and crab. More

During my recent trip to Turkey, I spent a day at the Istanbul Culinary Institute. At the outset, my intention was to share some stories and photographs with you, and encourage you to check it out the next time you're in Istanbul. Then yesterday, when I was thinking about why I started this website, something more meaningful came to my mind, and as I sorted through the photographs and the ideas I'd jotted down in my notebook that day, it became clear.

The most spirited images I had were the ones that showed how joyful this process is of learning to cook. The class was intimate, barely ten students, all women. There was laughter and focus. I even saw one little tear fall. More

Q: In two weeks I'll be embarking on a four-day cross-country train ride to visit family. I'm excited for the ride, but totally unimpressed with Amtrak's menu (and prices!). I've decided to be self-sufficient with regard to my meals, but I'm a little stumped. I'll have no fridge and no access to a microwave; everything has to go in my carry-on bag so it can't be too heavy; and I prefer to eat whole, nutritious foods, so pop-tarts and power bars are out.

I'd love to hear some ideas that go beyond jerky and trail mix. Help?

Sent by Brande More

The stick-shaped Spanish doughnuts called churros are often sold by street vendors. Better yet, they are sometimes served with hot chocolate. But the ultimate in combining their cinnamony, sugary sweetness with cocoa is by serving churros with warm, thick, dipping chocolate! More

Most kitchen linens are small, lightweight, and widely varied. Which makes them an often inexpensive and easy item to bring back home from travels. Here are some unique pieces that are decidedly of their place: More

Heat wave got you down? How about a trip somewhere much, much cooler? McMurdo Station is the main scientific base in Antarctica, and they are hiring chefs. Interested? Want to see the Craigslist ad? (But do be warned that Jell-O wrestling is specifically forbidden at McMurdo. If that seems like a non sequitur, then you just need to read the whole story.) More

With the recent closing of our shuttle program, it may - sadly - be much longer than we ever imagined before the US makes a trip to Mars. Yet earthlings will eventually make the trip. Would you imagine that, after funding, the feasibility of it all comes down to food? But wait, astronaut food is pretty much all figured out, right? It's freeze-dried, prepackaged, and reconstituted in space. But what about on a trip to Mars? The round trip would take about three years. This is where food - long-term sustenance for the crew - comes in as the issue when considering a mission to Mars: More

The soft tones, natural patina, and simple designs of Belgian interiors are appealing for all rooms of the house. But we find that Belgian influence particularly attractive for the kitchen, where the hustle and bustle is what's busy, not the kitchen's design: More

Their name means "little beaks" and it's easy to see why. This diminutive and sharply-tapered variety of chili pepper is one of the stars of the Spanish table. Have you ever tried them? More