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Mattie Bamman

Mattie John Bamman is a culinary-travel author and freelance writer focused on Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, South Africa, and Cascadia. He lives in Portland, Oregon, where he has coauthored 10 books on culinary travel and is a strong proponent of the local poetry scene. Catch up with him on his wine blog or his website.

Eight Ways to Beat Jet Lag in London

Thanks to free museums and stunning architecture, London is frequently the first stop for many travelers going to Europe. This means that London is also where many travelers face jet lag. Thankfully, this dynamic city offers plenty of fun and surprising activities to keep you awake, from climbing to the top of its O2 Arena …

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The Extended Layover: Get More Out of Your Travels

For years, I flew from point A to point B without even thinking about the cities in which I had layovers. In Europe, I had stopovers in London, Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, and more, and I never really thought about the fact that these cities’ magnificent sights and cultures lay just outside the airport walls. Then …

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10 Ways to Beat Jet Lag in Amsterdam

Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport is one of the busiest airports in Europe, and I’ve often found myself fighting a case of jet lag when arriving in Amsterdam at the beginning my European travels. From experience, here is a list of tips for beating jet lag in Amsterdam that take into consideration the city’s unique style, sights, …

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Santorini Roasted Lamb Recipe: Eating Greek with the Ravenous Traveler

  As if Greek food alone weren’t enough of a reason to visit Greece, 2013 is the Year of Gastronomy on the island of Santorini, where the Selene Restaurant  offers cooking classes to ravenous travelers. With the recent economic and political turmoil driving down prices and keeping less-adventurous travelers away, this is the perfect year …

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Goulash Soup Recipe: Eating Hungarian with The Ravenous Traveler

Hungarian cuisine merges flavorful spices, such as paprika, with hearty stews and meat dishes, and a trip to Hungary wouldn’t be complete without sampling one of the country’s national dishes, Goulash Soup. Perhaps surprisingly, a lot of controversy surrounds goulash, and the definition of goulash changes depending on which Eastern European country you’re in. To …

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The Ravenous Traveler’s Wine Tasting Guide to Barolo, Piedmont, Italy

  Like all great wine regions, the wine region surrounding the towns of Barolo and Barbaresco in Piedmont, Italy, has its own story. Piedmont is famous for its Barbaresco and Barolo wines, and they are considered by many to be the absolute elite of the elite Italian wines. As a result, the wine region can …

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Easter Dinner in Southern Italy

This Easter, Doctor Silvestro Silvestori has invited us to join him and his family in Lecce, Puglia for Easter Dinner. The owner of  The Awaiting Table cooking school, Silvestro teaches hungry travelers all about the traditional cuisine of the Salento peninsula in the Puglia region, aka the heel of the Italian boot. I came across The …

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Fondue, I Do: A Romance in the Swiss Tradition

More than just delicious melted cheese, fondue offers the intoxicating aroma of wine and kirsch and the intimate experience of literally sharing a meal. Throw in dreamy views of Switzerland’s iconic Alps, and you’ve got a romantic getaway you’ll never forget. To really knock the socks off the one you love this Valentine’s Day, take …

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