The other day, while relaxing in SkyMall Monday headquarters, I was about to enjoy a juicy hamburger with some french fries when an alarm went off in my brain. I realized that a burger and fries was not a very nutritious meal. Here I am, trying to get in shape for my wedding and I’m denying my body what it really needs. I immediately put the burger down and thought about what I could do differently to ensure that I was eating healthier. This hamburger situation was dire and needed to be corrected. I had to take better care of myself and treat my body with more respect. That’s when it hit me. I had to turn to some real nutrition experts to fix this mealtime dilemma. Surely SkyMall could teach me to eat better. And thanks to our favorite catalog, I ended up having a healthy meal. What did I eat? That very same hamburger and french fries…smothered in Protein Ketchup!

Read the entire SkyMall Monday post on Gadling.

I’ve been thinking a lot about hotel breakfast buffets lately. I plan to write an elaborate love letter to them in the near future, for they are glorious. In the interim, I just want to say that breakfast buffets are the best part of the hotel experience. No matter how ugly the bedspread is, how thin the walls are and how grimy the bathroom looks, all sins are forgiven when I enter the breakfast buffet.

This isn’t about the Eggo waffles offered at a Holiday Inn Express. That’s an insult to the breakfast buffet. I’m talking about proper hotel breakfast buffets that stretch as far as a football field and tempt you to use multiple plates. It’s a wonderful thing to see all of those carbs, fats and almost ripe fruits laid out before you. I love it all. Even the cereals. Usually with a copy of USA Today. Call me tacky. I don’t care.

I want to hear your thoughts on the ethereal experience that is the breakfast buffet. Vote in the poll and, as always, expound in the comments. Don’t be shy. This is a safe space.

The Northeast is (once again) blanketed in snow. In New York City, this has been one of the snowier winters in recent memory. Not surprisingly, my Twitter feed has been littered with 140 character complaints about the cold, the snow and the slush. Why does winter get a bum rap? It doesn’t take that much effort to enjoy this season. Here are five ways to make the best of winter.

1. Go Outside
Experience your own hometown while it’s covered in snow and under gray skies. It’s easy to take beautiful pictures on lovely spring days. Try to find the wonder when things look their bleakest.

2. Head to the Mountains
Skiers and snowboarders love this weather. Don’t enjoy throwing yourself down a mountain? Try snowshoeing. It’s essentially winter hiking and it’s an amazing workout. Or, just take advantage of the après-ski scene with a few beverages and a dip in the hot tub.

3. Be Productive
Simply hate the cold and snow too much to go outside? Take advantage of that by being productive inside. Edit those summer trip photos that you’ve neglected. Read those guidebooks that you bought for your upcoming trips. Heck, book and plan some of those trips! If you’re going to stay inside and avoid winter, you might as well have something to show for it when the thaw arrives.

4. Cook
Nothing warms up a home like a hot oven (except for maybe a furnace or a fireplace). You know all of those foods that you’ve loved during your trips? Try to recreate those dishes in your own kitchen. No matter what the wind chill is, a bowl of homemade pho is sure to warm you up and remind you of that trip to Vietnam.

5. Enjoy Being Home
Summer will surely bring road trips, weekend getaways and more destination weddings than your bank account would care to discuss. Use winter to recharge your batteries and reacquaint yourself with your own bed. There’s nothing wrong with being home for a stretch. Your friends have probably missed you…and your homemade pho.

How do you get through winter? Share your snowy tips in the comments.

I’m off to Charleston, SC to make my way to the 28th Annual Lowcountry Oyster Festival. It’s been more than 10 years since I was last in Charleston and I’m excited to see how it’s changed. Mostly, though, I’m excited for seafood. Coastal South Carolina is home to some of the best shellfish I’ve ever had and I’m craving all that shrimpy, oystery goodness.

I’m also excited to get back on the road for the longest road trip I’ve taken in a while. There are sure to be snacks, dirty bathroom breaks and butt cheeks falling asleep during all those hours on the road.

I’ll be making some stops along the way. Have any suggestions for things to see and do along I-95? Any restaurant recommendations in Charleston? Drop me a line in the comments. And if you live in or around Charleston, we should meet up! Send me a note and we can connect when I arrive.

For people traveling the world in search of culture, adventure and, in a philosophical sense, themselves, it’s probably discouraging to see so many signs of American consumerism all across the globe. Virtually anywhere you go, you’re bound to see American restaurant chains serving variations on the “classics.” Is that a bad thing? Should we be avoiding these establishments in favor of eating only in local restaurants? I’ve been giving this topic a lot of thought lately and don’t profess to have the answers to all of these questions. Like most travel conundrums, this one comes down to personal preference. So, how do I feel about American chains overseas? My travel experiences will make that pretty clear.

Read the rest of Should You Eat At American Chains When You Travel? on Gadling.

Food and travel are so tightly intertwined that it’s next to impossible to discuss one without mentioning the other. People take photos of their food on trips (I know I do), plan vacations around restaurants they want to visit and fall in love with places because of one amazing meal. So, on a recent trip to Philadelphia, I found the lure of the Philly cheesesteak simply too strong to resist. However, just eating a cheesesteak wasn’t enough for me. I wanted to know why the cheesesteak was such an integral part of Philly culture. I mean, it’s a sandwich. What’s the big deal, right? To try to understand why Philadelphia’s culinary legacy is tucked inside a roll, I worked the lunch rush at Dalassandro’s Steaks & Hoagies to learn about the city’s relationship with its eponymous sandwich.

Was I able to master the art of making a Philly cheesesteak ? You’ll have to watch the premiere episode of Mike in the Middle to find out (Hint: neatly wrapping hot sandwiches is harder than it looks). Lucky for you, the video is below. You can also check out some pictures from my sandwich shenanigans here.

I’m heading down to Charleston, SC later this week on a good ol’ fashioned road trip for a Cruze-arati shoot. It’s been a while since I did a multi-day road trip (I’ll be stopping along the way rather than plowing through to Charleston in one shot). Unlike trips involving flights, my road trip preparation is less about what to pack and more about what to eat. Road trip snacking is essential and one’s choice of foods-on-the-go is as personal as one’s preference in mates.

You could go the chips route (this includes, as far as I’m concerned, potato chips, tortilla chips, pretzels and anything else that is savory, crunchy and bagged with a lot of air). Others prefer candy, cookies or any type of sweets. For some, road trips are the perfect excuse to justify eating fast food (if you think I’m not going to Chick-Fil-A while I’m down south than you don’t know me very well).

I’ll be traveling with an assortment of snacks. Pretzel M&Ms have quickly moved into my “Essentials” category when packing for a road trip. I’m also a fan of trail mix and dried mango, which I’ve mentioned previously when discussing snacking. And, of course, I’ll be enjoying a Chicken Biscuit for breakfast at the aforementioned Chick-Fil-A at some point (and possibly this new Spicy Chicken Biscuit that I’ve been hearing about).

But I want to know what you think. Pick your poison in the poll below. If you don’t see your favorite road trip snack listed, I’d love to hear you shout your preferences proudly in the comments. You might even inspire me to try something new on this upcoming trip.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

In a SkyMall Monday post over on Gadling last month, I asked readers to vote for the best baking pan in the SkyMall catalog. The Edge Baking Pan won in a landslide. I agreed to try it out, though I was skeptical. Well, as you can see from the video above, Calvin the Garden Yeti whipped up a mean batch of brownies* and convinced me that the Edge Baking Pan is one of the greatest inventions of out time (it’s better than a Banana Guard).

Enjoy the video, check out all of the photos from the baking session and please read the post on Gadling.

* Actually, my girlfriend, Jordana, was the master baker behind the amazing brownies.

Ever had İskender kebab? It’s a fabulous dish native to Bursa, Turkey, and I may just be in love with it. So much so, that I wrote it a letter. A love letter.

I know we only recently met, but, well, I love you. Whoa, whoa, don’t freak out. I’m sure you get this a lot. I mean, you’re pretty lovable. Turkish delight might be more famous (and have better PR people), but you’re my own personal Turkish treasure. Don’t get freaked out. I just really enjoyed our time together and wanted to let you know why I think you’re the best-tasting, least-known Turkish food out there.

Read the rest of my proclamation of love to that glistening meat on Gadling.

Seeing where food comes from can be both an educational and harrowing experience. When you travel, tours of fish markets, breweries and other stops in the consumption chain make for amazing learning opportunities.

Tsukiji Fish Market was a highlight of my trip to Japan. Checking out Brooklyn Brewery just over the bridge from where I live was a great afternoon. Seeing how food and drink go from raw ingredients to our plates is not just great for travel memories, it’s also worth knowing for your own health.

What foods and drinks have you seen from beginning to end in your travels? Share your experiences in the comments.