The culinary scene in Boulder is growing. If Frasca Food and Wine and Pizzeria Locale are any indication, its also thriving. A New York food writer checks in.BOULDER, Colorado – They say there are more PhDs per capita in Boulder, Colorado than anywhere else in the United States. They also say that smart people like good restaurants. After doing a little math (counting on fingers motion) and talking with some Boulderite friends of

Jason Gibb is one lucky man. When hes not tending to his olive trees, the founder of Nudo (maker of olive oil, purveyor of fine foods, organizer of tree adoptions) roots around Italy sleuthing and tasting the best the country has to offer (which is pretty damn incredible). He recounts his journey to discovery the history of the almond nougat torrone.SICILY – Ive been obsessed with food all my life. It began with learning to c

In a country rich with restaurants and meals worth singing about, theres one in particular thats an extra special slice of food heaven. Fathom founder Pavia Rosati has a favorite place to go, to eat, to relax — and especially to eat. This is it. Sea views included.MARINA DEL CANTONE, Amalfi Coast – Thanksgiving may be the ultimate feast day in the United States, but the meal Im always most grateful for is any one I have at Lo Sco

Look beyond the hotel buffet for beachside bistros, food trucks, and makeshift luncheonettes serving the best local fare on Mauis scenic road to Hana.MAUI, HAWAII – Hana is one of the last undeveloped areas of Maui. The destination itself has been somewhat eclipsed by the Road to Hana, which has the most breathtaking waterfalls and exquisite coastlines of all the islands. Most tourists brave its 50 miles of hairpin turns and one-lane bridge

NEW ORLEANS – Mardi Gras is back. You might say the festival comes around every year like clockwork. You might be right, if your clockwork allows for the same party to fall on a different day depending on that old devil moon.To help guide you through the Madness of It All with Your Dignity Intact, here are our favorite bars in New Orleans. (P.S. We dont care what you do with your dignity if you dont.)FATHOMS FIVE FAVORITE NOLA BARSBar

Ali Rickards is a doyenne of the Tracy Anderson fitness empire. But it’s not all taut abs and leg lifts for her: We sent her on assignment to Montreal for the Stella Artois beer competition. Hey, its a tough job, but someones got to drink it. And as we enter spring break season, we pause to remind our readers that traveling for the beer can, in fact, be a noble pursuit. MONTREAL – Beermaker Stella Artois hosts an annual Draught Ma

Who are the people in your neighborhood? Thats what we set out to find with our new column, Local Natives. First up, Joshua Boissy, co-owner and director of operations for the wildly popular Williamsburg oyster bar Maison Premiere.We love every aspect of this lively joint, which is inspired by the parlors of Paris and the saloons of the Big Easy: the Belle Epoque references, glistening bivalves, and Delta blues sounds. It comes as 

Brooklyn is a city that inspires passionate debate (who you callin a fighter?), especially when it comes to food. Or more precisely, the debate between Old Brooklyn (immigrants and classics) and New Brooklyn (hipsters and foodies). Back in 2013, we asked our pal Josh Ozersky, Brooklynite and dearly missed food journalist, to weigh in on his favorite places to find the old in the new. True to form, Fathom editorial director Jeralyn Gerba dis

The last time we checked in with Sharon Salt, she was posing for fake wedding photos outside Shanghai. Shes been living in Buenos Aires for a few months, which has been enough time to master the local art of drinking yerba mate.BUENOS AIRES – You cant live in Buenos Aires for more than a week or two without having, or at least hearing about, mate. Drinking mate is a popular social pastime here, whether its in the parks during summer or to k

Even when traveling 3,000 miles for business, the right cup of tea can bring you home. Fathom contributor Joanna Williams brews a little story.PHILADELPHIA – I am not the kind of person who needs a pot of coffee in the morning. Coffee caffeine gives me anxiety, and, to be honest, Im a high-energy human who doesnt need an extra boost.What I do need from time to time, however, is a good cup of tea. I became a lover of chai on a trip to Istanb

NEW ORLEANS – Every day spent on vacation in the Big Easy is a day where, as Times-Picayune writer Chris Rose once penned, stomach and attitude reach a state of grace. Its particularly meaningful to me, as New Orleans is the city where I experienced my very first oyster a decade ago — standing at a raw bar on Iberville next to a family from Mississippi who suggested that I order a dozen to get a taste for them. As is the routine

PARIS – Not in the mood for yet another romantic dinner for two? Traveling solo and tired of watching the waiter clear away the table setting across from you? Maybe you’re hell-bent on practicing French and feel much more fluent after some Bordeaux? Whatever your reasons, dining at the bar certainly has its perks. Should you find yourself in the City of Lights, hungry for food, wine, and strangers, swap that seat in the salle for a sto

The last time we checked in with Nudo olive oil founder Jason Gibb, he was looking for Sicilys best desserts. This time, hes on a quest to see how — and if! — he can combine two of his favorite ingredients, olive oil and chocolate.THE MARCHE, Italy – Like many modern adventures, it started with a Tweet. Jason, ever thought of making chocolate olive oil?I might have dodged answering had the question not come from Will Torrent, an

As far as Fathom founder Pavia Rosati is concerned, food doesnt get much better than Don Alfonso on the Amalfi Coast. This is her story of a love affair with food.SANT AGATA SUI DUE GOLFI, Italy – A few years ago, I flew to Italy to have dinner with a man who was trying to impress me. (It made sense at the time.) He was a handsome musician and sommelier from Tuscany, the sort of gourmet who thought nothing of driving five hours for the righ

In the heart of New Yorks Westchester County sits Bedford Post Inn, a beautiful eight-room cottage located in bucolic Bedford. Innkeepers Russell Herandez, Carey Lowell, and Richard Gere (yes, that one!) had laid-back sophistication in mind when creating the weekend retreat. For the last three years, thats meant having executive chef Jeremy McMillan at the helm of The Farmhouse, the inns destination restaurant, and The Barn, the casual

Fathom has teamed up with Qantas, the premier Australian airline, to show you all the reasons why your next trip should take you Down Under. No, its not too far. Yes, its easier than you think.And now for the final installment of the adventures of Alvie and Joey, four animated shorts about two friends who go on holiday and have very different experiences. Watch what happens when they try to order something good for lunch.Poor Alvie. A tough

LONDON – Englishmen, start your burgers. Shake Shack, the American burger sensation that began as a casual food project in New York City less than a decade ago, is opening on Friday in Covent Garden. I sampled a burger the other day (okay: I devoured three in 20 minutes, along with cheese fries and two frozen custards). Theyre delicious. If youre a Londoner reading this, you should just go reserve your place in line right now, because

Fathom editorial director Jeralyn Gerba traveled around Italy with her tiny plastic gelato spoon and landed at her old Florentine favorite, Vivoli.FLORENCE – When is a scoop of gelato more than just a scoop of gelato? When its made from a prized, third-generation, so-secret-its-not-even-written-down Florentine recipe in which the only ingredients are milk, eggs, sugar, and dairy adoration. This is what I tasted for myself at Vivol

A tour of Italian milkshakes, biscotti, tortes, and brioche — its enough to make our sugar-coated hearts pitter-patter with joy (and, perhaps, cardiovascular distress). The last time we saw third-generation gelato maker Silvana Vivoli, of the esteemed Vivoli gelateria in Florence, she taught us how to spot authentic gelato. This time, shes taking us on a tour of her favorite local sweet spots. And if you cant make it to Florence, Vivo

NAPA AND SONOMA COUNTIES, California – Would anyone care for a class of wine? Heres a drinking tour of the valleys.Scribe2300 Napa Rd., Sonoma; +1-707-939-1858The Scene: Sonoma Valley views will try to sweep you off your feet. Best to anchor yourself at the rustic picnic table outside the original hacienda for the entire afternoon.The Sip: Pinot noir Carneros.The Snack: Cheese and a bit of charcuterie from nearby Vella Cheese