We ate really well in Tanzania. Every lodge or camp we stayed in had local, delicious, fresh food aplenty, and though I ate a ton, I felt lighter when I got home. My pants even fit better! Really, aside from lots of wine and the Pringles we found at the Serengeti Gate, the eating was very clean. My plan was to replicate it when I got home, but it was snowing and I got sick for three weeks so. . . delivery pizza happened more often than it should have.

Now that it is beautiful out and I am feeling better, I am once again thinking of the food in Tanzania and our lunch on our last day in Arusha at Swahili Canteen. Located in a modern shopping area full of ex-pats, Swahili Canteen is a sweet little place for family-style dining, with a communal table as well as outdoor seating. Prior to lunch we had time to browse the shops, and then we all came back together for a feast made by the beautiful chef, Agnes.

 

Swahili Canteen

Swahili Canteen, Arusha

Lunch was served family style, and Agnes brought out plate after plate, coconut beef, chicken, fresh avocado.

avocado

Everything was simple and elegant and bright. I loved the plates we ate from.

metal plate

 

Tanzanian Salad

I also loved this cucumber, tomato, and onion salad, which was fresh, crunchy, and had a kick. I could easily eat it every night. The spinach salad was equally as delicious.

spinach salad

Beans and lentils were a common part of our meals in Tanzania, and I loved them every time, mixed in with some rice and salad. It’s really kind of the perfect meal.

beans

Piri Piri

And I can’t forget the Piri Piri, a spicy pepper sauce that was also often served with our meals. I love spice, and all of the separate dishes lent themselves to a dollop of this delicious condiment. I have already Googled the recipe and plan on making it to top grilled chicken and veggies.

lunch at Swahili Canteen

Look at this plate! Flatbread, lentils, cabbage, rice, spinach, avocado, Piri Piri. . .this might be one of the most delicious and beautiful plates of food I have ever eaten, no exaggerations. I just wanted to keep eating. Agnes was an incredible hostess and chef, and this last stop on our Tanzania journey was one of the highlights.

Don’t fret. . . there’s more Tanzania to come, including two gorgeous lodges and a game drive. It’s hard to condense the trip of a lifetime into just a few posts.

Happy Friday!

Tags: Africa, Arusha, Food, safari, Tanzania, Travel, travel blog

Sicily has been a dream trip of mine forever. It just looks like such a beautiful, rustic place with amazing coastline, culture, and of course food and wine. If I did book a trip to Sicily, the Planeta Estate would most definitely be part of my itinerary.

Planeta Rose

I have been a fan of Planeta wines since first sip of their Nero d’Avola , so I was very excited last week to discover their rosé. It was a cold, dreary, end-of-winter day when I wandered into Cambridge Wine & Spirits for a couple of gifts, when I was greeted with these beautiful bottles of pink wine, open for tasting.

A blend of 50% Syrah and 50% of Sicily’s beloved Nero d’Avola, this wine is fun and flirty in color, a blushing pink that lends itself to a beautiful tablescape with fresh peonies and a lunch spread of charcuterie, crudités, and quiche. The wine is light and refreshing with strawberry and mineral notes and nice acidity. I am sure that it pairs perfectly with Sicily’s fresh fish and local vegetables, and I can imagine myself sipping it in a lounge chair under the Sicilian sun.

For now, Sicily is at the top of my travel bucket list, and Planeta rosé is in my glass to tide me over.

What are your dream trips? Have you cracked open the rosé yet?

Tags: Planeta, rose wine, Sicilian wine, Sicily, Spring wine, wine

Spring has finally sprung, and when the sun is shining, flowers are blooming, and the blue sea is sparkling, there is no better time to be in New England. There are so many day and weekend trips to take within three hours from Boston, and we satisfying our New England wanderlust with a few trips this season. This past weekend we had the chance to spend time in Newport with great friends in an amazing seaside house. Here are just a few favorite photos from a weekend in Newport.

Newport Sunset

Sunset in Newport on a clear, chilly Spring night

Eastons Beach Newport

 Dunking the toes in the Atlantic for the first time this season, at Easton’s Beach in Newport

 

weekend in Newport

Al fresco drinks at a beautiful Newport home

making fudge

Fudge and saltwater taffy in one of Newport’s adorable shops

 

saltwater taffy

anchor decor

Nautical touches everywhere – I am obsessed with coastal/nautical style and could outfit myself and my home solely from stores in Newport.

 

41 North

A beautiful “man cave” and gorgeous views at 41 North – click here for a recap of one of my past 41 North visits

41 North   Thames Street Newport

As I mentioned above, the shopping in Newport is really great, and Thames Street is a fun wander, with its lovely shops and old New England architecture. I love classic New England, and Newport is one of those places that embodies this. Our friends introduced us to a new-to-us oyster bar, which I will be sharing in another post. Our next coastal New England getaway is Mystic. I haven’t been since I was little and would love any recommendations!

Newport, RI

Tags: getaway, Newport, Rhode Island, spring, Travel, weekend

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