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food

Does Online Sharing Diminish Real Life Experiences?

When we travel, we love to share our experiences. Whether via blog posts, tweets, Facebook status updates or photo sharing apps, broadcasting experiences – particularly those involving travel and food – has become as much a part of life as, well, life itself. But is that a good thing? Does constantly live-sharing experiences diminish the experiences themselves? Watching this video for the new Evernote Food app left me feeling a bit overwhelmed by social media.

Don’t get me wrong; I share photos of my meals and tweet about my travels as much, if not more, than the next guy. I’m guilty of this. But something about this video – and the app itself – has me feeling that we might have reached a tipping point in social media.

Read the entire post on Gadling.

SkyMall Monday: The Drib

An awful lot of attention is being paid these days to the dangers of texting and driving. Heck, even Oprah has a No Phone Zone pledge on her website. If Oprah’s covering it, it must be big. However, there’s a much more pressing issue facing drivers that is often overlooked. It destroys lives. It tears apart families. It creates awkward situations. I’m referring, of course, to food spills caused by driving while eating (DWE). SkyMall Monday is the only media outlet drawing attention to this critical issue. In our hectic work-a-day lives, the car is the last bastion of solitude, privacy and ambiance needed to enjoy a quality meal. Whether it’s a fast food hamburger, a shepherd’s pie or a steaming hot bowl of ramen, there’s simply no food that isn’t perfect for eating in the car. But what happens when that a-hole in front of you stops short and forces you to slam on the breaks? Your skirt steak quickly becomes steak on your skirt. You can’t go to work like that. That’s why you need to protect yourself and your loved ones who do your laundry. SkyMall understands how serious DWE is and answered America’s cry for help. From now on, when you’re considering DWE, be sure you also have The Drib.

Read the entire SkyMall Monday post on The Drib over at Gadling.

An Open Love Letter to İskender Kebab

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.

Travel Tip #86: Cook Your Own Meals

It may be nice to visit fabulous restaurants and intriguing food stalls, but there’s nothing more delicious than meal that you cook yourself with local ingredients. Stroll through the markets, shop at bazaars and get your hands dirty in the kitchen. If you’re not comfortable with knives and raw meat, find a cooking class in your destination and learn to cook like a local.

There’s nothing wrong with splurging on a few nice meals, but you’ll never forget the dish you whipped up yourself with fresh, foreign (to you) ingredients.