Greetings, seasoned readers! In today’s issue:

• Food as a destination

• Your example three-night food trip to New Orleans

• Bonus expert tip from Tapestry’s First Diva, Karen

• Eat, Pray, Love by train

Food as a Destination

Immerse yourself in the local flavor

How can you think about Italy without imagining mounds of pasta? New Orleans and its Cajun feasts? Or Japan’s impossibly fresh sushi? Food’s just as much about a country’s culture as its landmarks and history.

And, as many of us are aware, it's also about a lot of temptations that are best enjoyed in moderation.

But here’s the good news: unless your doctor advises against it, you don’t have to miss a bite. It just takes some self-care, common sense, and a little planning ahead when a big meal is on the menu.

Mindfulness doesn’t mean missing out

Have that Nutella crepe on the Left Bank. Indulge in a pizza in Napoli. Celebrate the local tastes and aromas! You'll also want to:

• Choose whole, fresh food. Take advantage of the bountiful fresh produce offered in your destination and any local dishes using whole grains and/or beans. For dessert, top a bowl of berries or exotic fruit with a topping that’s offered there, like coconut, Crème Chantilly or Zabaglione.

• Enjoy fresh fish and seafood as a healthy option to meat. Often, indigenous spices and farm-to-table produce elevate the meal.

• Pick your splurge meals. If fettuccine Alfredo is a must-have from its eponymous restaurant in Rome, do it. It’s one meal. And chances are, you’re walking more. That helps. Vacations are to be enjoyed, including the food you can’t get back home. Just be mindful at your other meals that day.

• Limit portion size. In many places throughout the world, servings are modest. Regardless, pay attention to when you start to feel satisfied. Eat slowly. It takes about 20 minutes after eating to know how full you really are.

• Snack healthfully. Grab some nuts or fruit. Sip on a cappuccino. Carry a protein bar. You can even have a gelato; it's made from milk, not cream.

• Stay hydrated!

Eat like a local: street food

Street food often represents the best of regional specialties. My most recent favorite was the intriguing selection at Borough Market in London. Located near the foot of the London Bridge near the Tate Modern, this vibrant market is a great stop for lunch and shopping.

For other ideas, visit:

• Best Cuisine in the World: 39 Top Countries

• 10 Street Food in Italy You Should Never Miss During Your Visit

• Best Paris Street Foods, Besides Crêpes

• Best Things to Eat in Every Country

Enjoy the tastes of your travels at home

There’s little as delightful as having an iconic meal in the country or region where it was born. While you can’t duplicate sitting in a Viennese cafe and savoring every bite of authentic goulash, you can recreate the meal at home. Check out the Food Atlas for ideas. And speaking of goulash…

• Authentic Austrian Beef Goulash

• Gambas al Ajillo Tapas (Shrimp in Garlic Sauce)

• One-Pot African Peanut Stew

Your Three-Night Food Itinerary in New Orleans

New Orleans is perhaps the best food destination in America. While there’s no shortage of recommendations for eating in the Big Easy, we’ve curated this food tour just for you. Start with this list and adapt as the aromas tempt you!

We’ve also created this Stacklist of everything below, along with more details and links to map locations.

Get Ready

This three-night itinerary keeps you within the French Quarter as long as you’re staying in the Quarter or on its border. We highly recommend this for walkability and safety.

Day 1: Arrive (and eat)

• Arrive at Louis Armstrong International (MSY) in the afternoon. Get a car to your hotel in the French Quarter.

• An Uber ride from MSY to the French Quarter takes just under half an hour and may cost about $40 depending on the time of day, traffic, etc.

• For your first dinner, head to Napoleon House to have a gumbo, jambalaya, or muffaletta to get your New Orleans adventure going.

• Thirsty and still ready to explore? Walk five minutes to Pat O’Brien’s. Though a bit touristy, it’s a classic spot for drinks and live jazz on the patio. Try a Sazerac, the signature drink of New Orleans. But save some energy for tomorrow!

Day 2: Explore

• Grab some coffee at your hotel or nearby, then take a stroll through the Quarter.

• Make your way to Killer Poboys for lunch and find a sandwich variety you’ve never seen before. Whiskey grilled cheese, anyone?

• Ready for a New Orleans-style distraction? Right next door is the Museum of Death. (Hence the restaurant’s name!)

• Explore the Quarter on your own or book a 90-minute roundtrip ride through the city. Just get a $3 Jazzy Pass and catch the St. Charles line street car at the corner of St. Charles Avenue and Common Street.

• Dinnertime! Irene’s was opened by a baby boomer from Sicily in 1993 and merges the best of Creole and Italian cuisine.

Day 3: Experience

• Take your time waking up. Then make your way to the legendary Cafe Dumond in the morning for their coffee and beignets. While you’re there, explore Jackson Square, the center of the Quarter, with street performers, art, and boutiques.

• Hear that surprisingly loud foghorn? That’s your ride. Board the Steamboat Natchez just a few steps away at 11 am and enjoy a river tour of the city. You’ll be treated to live jazz music, a narrated tour, and a delicious creole prix fixe lunch. Be sure to reserve in advance!

• There’s plenty more to see in the Quarter, so take a stroll or a nap back at your hotel, depending on how you feel.

• Time for dinner at Sylvain, named after the first opera in the city. You won’t be disappointed by the Southern fare and creative drinks.

Pro tip from Karen, Tapestry’s official First Diva, pictured below: “Never eat beignets when wearing dark colors”

Day 4: Laissez les bons temps rouler (for a few more hours)

• A must-see, must-try restaurant is Brennan’s, famous since 1946 for its breakfast. Enjoy it while you check on your flight and start planning your next trip to the Big Easy.

• Make your way back to the airport to catch your flight home. If you still have the appetite, the NOLA experience doesn’t have to end here.

• Louis Armstrong airport has more restaurants than it knows what to do with. Explore the terminal with a Bloody Mary in hand! If you’re still hungry (or want to indulge even if you aren’t) stop by Moisant Market (concourse B) for a Muffaletta from the inventors of the iconic sandwich, Central Grocery.

Eat, Pray, and Love by Train

Bonus itinerary! What better way to use food as a destination than traveling through the flavors of Eat, Pray, Love? The folks over at Trainline have put together a train itinerary for you!

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