There is nothing quite like a visit to New York City in the fall. Central Park is alive with color, the air is brisk but not too cold, and there are countless classic restaurants that evoke that October state of mind. And, not to mention a bevy of new options such as Tony Fortuna's T Bar, Alfred Portale's Sartiano's, Jonathan Morr's BondST at Hudson Yards and The Tin Building by Jean-Georges, a new food hall extravaganza at The Seaport.

Recently, we packed up the kids and took a trip to Charleston, SouthCarolina. We have always heard about the culinary fanfare, the southern charm and of course, the gracious hospitality, so we finally decided to see it all for ourselves. Truth be told, we feel like we only just scratched the surface and cannot wait to return. Here are a few of our must-see stops if you happen to find yourself in this darling town. 

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For us, one of the best parts of traveling is the food we enjoy along the way. Earlier this summer, our family took a trip to Italy. Every bite was a celebration of local flavors prepared with high-quality, seasonal ingredients and presented simply and elegantly. In this month’s newsletter, we’re sharing a classic recipe for Pesto Genevese inspired by our trip, plus three different ways to use it.

The casual nature of summer entertaining and dining al fresco makes the simplest foods feel festive and occasion worthy. Today we’re sharing a July 4th menu that is classic, full of flavor and fun to make – especially together. Let us know if you give it a try and check out a tutorial of the Almond Cake today on @mzakarian on Instagram. Happy cooking!