Go Fish {With Costas Spiliadis}

[trip style = staycation + weekend getaway]

{Editor's Note: Did you see that we're listed as one of 12 travel blogs in North America in Expedia's Discover Your Summer Escape campaign? See our recent press here.}

One thing that excites me about summer travel is the food, specially outdoor cooking. There's fewer joys in the world than preparing and eating a fresh meal by way of a clambake, fish fry or BBQ under a starry sky. Full stop.

Recently I covered the three-day Uncork'd epicurean event in Vegas and attended "how to select the best fish" at Estiatorio Milos, helmed by celeb chef Costas Spiliadis. With four highly successful Greek restaurants worldwide and a respectable 30 years in restau biz, he demonstrated the fine art of "fishing at the market" while fandangling the fresh catch from his chilled display. Here are his tips---perf for your next summer clambake:

How To Select The Best Fish At The Market {With Costas Spiliadis}

• Go local - Find out what's local for the ultimate freshness.
• Seasonality - Don't try to find salmon in February. Go with what's in season.
• Freshness - Look at the fish's eyes for clarity and general composition. Take a whiff; if it smells fishy, toss it back.
• BFFs - Build a relationship with your fish supplier to get the inside track.

{Outdoor patio of Estiatorio Milos at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas}

[Photos by @tripstyler]

IMG_FRI :: Rock 'n Rails

[trip style = luxury + sightseeing]

{Editor's Note :: Next week is a double-whammy for the TS crew, Monday is a Canadian National Holiday, and the rest of the week we'll be trip styling in a secret location abroad---more details on this in the next few weeks---with potentially spotty wifi and a full schedule. Look for updates on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and catch us back in action on Monday, May 28th.}

This week I had the privilege of taking the road less traveled aboard the Rocky Mountaineer, named by National Geographic as one of the world's greatest trips {our full report coming in a few weeks}. Inching through the Canadian Rockies at speeds ranging from 10 to 50km/h, I savored a side of Canada that's wild, explored by few and ruled by the mighty grizzly bear.

More IMG_FRI Handsome Coffee LA SEA-ttle Tokyo JAL Business Class A Cinque Terre Adventure Conquering Phoenix’s Camelback Mountain

[photos by @tripstyler]

Vegas, Uncork'd

[trip style = sun + weekend getaway + wine tasting]

Last weekend I was in Vegas covering the Bon Appetit-sponsored Vegas Uncork’d, a food and wine festival with a mouthful of gourmet chefs strutting their stuff on the red carpet and the white plate. {See my 'full report' in Fodor’s}

My schedule was filled to the brim with wine tastings led by Master Sommeliers {there are only 160 in the world}, gala events with 2500 gastr-oeno-philes and a food truck noshdown showcasing Vegas’ local side. My camera was my weekend’s +1, and my notepad was my BFF.

Chatting with mixology mavens at a cocktail competition in the Bellagio {where guests got as tipsy as the fountains}, I learned people both traveled to Sin City for the event, or found out about it after booking their trip, and decided to attend. If you’re into food and wine, the four-day Uncork’d foodie fest is an ideal sun ‘n sip trip-style combo. Think of it like an “investigative report” on Vegas’ gourmet side---a side that’s beckoning a new type of Glitter Gulch'er who may not even gamble a penny, but go all-in for gourmet.

And one of the newest chefs on the block {<---double entendre} is Gordon Ramsay, who at the launch of his only steakhouse in North America, Gordon Ramsay Steak, called Vegas’s food competition “fierce”, noting that he wasn’t about to “Put {his} balls on the line with fine dining”...unless he was certain he could do it well. Judging from his past success, I’d say he’s got a #$*$@!-good chance {in his words}. His iPad menus will help too.

{above + below, the Grand Tasting}

The 411

• The event, in its sixth year, is expected to take place next year on Mother’s Day Weekend.
• Tickets for individual events start around $75, they can also be purchased as a VIP package.
• Here's a taste of this year's schedule.

PS - Bon Appetit is at it again in September for a three-day foodie fiesta in the farm-to-table-obsessed Portland, where mixology is akin to celebrity.

Travel Beauty :: Nicole's Picks

[trip style = any]

{Want more travel beauty? Get your fill the third Wednesday of every month. Lauren, our travel beauty expert, is already whipping up her next concoction post!}

This month we asked our very own Jetset Jingles editor, Nicole {pictured above in Dubai's Souk Madinat Jumeirah Market} about her travel beauty faves. Read about her exotic picks below!

TS: You're stranded on a deserted island and get to have one makeup product, one skincare product and one body care product with you---what would those be? Nicole: The one makeup product I can't leave home without is Lancome's Maquicomplet Concealer, which covers absolutely everything and is super creamy so your skin looks naturally smooth. Even on a desert island, I'd want to look that flawless! As far as a skincare product, I'd have to say my Phytomer Rosee Visage Cleansing Toner, which makes me feel so fresh and clean. My favorite everyday body care product is Aveeno Positively Nourishing Calming Body Lotion in Vanilla Chamomile---it's soothing for dry skin and has a very light scent.

TS: What is your travel beauty routine when flying? Nicole: I tend to not wear much makeup on flights and stick to a touch of Korres Zea Mays Blush in Peach, MAC Eyeshadow in Arena, Diorshow Mascara and Aveeno Essential Moisture Lip Conditioner with SPF 15. Each of those products are light, natural-looking and don't irritate my skin. I can't board a plane without a travel-sized hand lotion to keep my hands moisturized, and my favorite is L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream. I also need a bottle of water, and if it's a long flight, a sleep mask.

TS: When on vacation, what is your skincare and haircare routine? Nicole: I don't deviate from my normal skin and haircare routine, I just bring everything I need in smaller-sized, travel-friendly containers. I feel and look my best when I have everything with me that I usually use. I don't leave home without my Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel, Phytomer Toner, Dermalogica Solar Defense For Sensitive Skin with SPF 30 {for day} and Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream {for night}. I don't always love the brands of haircare that the hotels provide, so I take my Alterna Bamboo Shine On-The-Go Travel Kit.

TS: Any cool beauty purchases that you've discovered on your travels around the globe? Nicole: My sister spent her honeymoon in the Maldives and brought me back an incredible body lotion from the hotel spa {pictured above} called Angsana Pure Gold Body Lotion. It's lightweight with flecks of gold that add the perfect amount of shimmer. I love wearing it on a night out! I also love the Kajal Kohl Eyeliner I found in Dubai---it lasts longer than anything I've ever tried.

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More Travel Beauty In-Flight Beauty Masks Q&A With OPI’s Founder {Nail Tips For Travel} Heather’s On-The-Road Beauty Must-Haves On-The-Go Teeth Cleaning St. Tropez’ Celebrity Tanning Expert’s Self-Tanning Secrets  Q & A With Dr. Murad

[photos via nicole as well as sourced online]

Tech Tuesday :: Stitchagram

[trip style = any]

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Some people accent their home's design with travel finds from around the world. Done wrong {or with too many finds}, it can be suuuuuuper tacky; done right, it can be tasteful. Before I'd really figured out my design aesthetic, I went through a major Paris decor season. At one point---my lowest point on the design scale---I think my friends counted 17 Eiffel Tower pillows, statues and other chotchkies in my 700sf condo {in my self-defense it was the first city I conquered solo}. Those days are gone, but my love for m-i-n-i-m-a-l-l-y working travel photos and other worldwide finds into home decor is here to stay.

Enter the kill-100-birds-with-one-stone method: Stitchtagram, a DC-based company that transposes your Instagram snaps onto snazzy pillows. Now you and I can sleep on the Eiffel Tower, the Serengeti or that summer camping trip---or just display them on the couch. Think of the conversation-starting potential.

Pillows start at $64usd and are shipped globally.

PS - For more Instagram ideas check out these canvas wall prints we featured in December.

More Tech Tuesday Hotel Tonight Adds Canada Eh Pic Frames {aka – photo collages} Tingo “Money Back” Hotel Search ‘n Book Instagram For Android How To Make Animated Travel Photos Phoneography Google Traveler Tricks

[photos via stitchtagram]