Dripping in history, enclosed by dreamy medieval walls & boasting quite possibly the best food scene in Tuscany, lovely Lucca might be one of the most underrated cities in Italy. Many tourists flee to nearby Pisa missing the charm of its endearing next-door neighbor. Lucky for the Lucchesi, its streets are almost never overrun by foreigners.

Did I say best food scene in Tuscany? Bold statement, I know, but Lucca is well known for its traditional cuisine. Ingredients like local honey, farro & wild boar are in abundance & should definitely be paired with a red Montecarlo di Lucca or white Colline Lucchesi wine for good measure.

Follow along for some of my favorite stops & get a taste of all the great things Lucca has to offer.

Oh the many gastronomical treasures that can be found in the city of love. From specially fattened duck liver (foie gras) to perfectly flaky croissants, there is something for all foodies here.

The restaurant options can be somewhat overwhelming, though. I mean it’s Paris we are talking about. It’s hard not to have high expectations. So, it doesn’t hurt to be prepared ahead of time with a foodie agenda – yes, a foodie agenda. There’s no shame in the game. I was fortunate to visit last spring for the first time and had a list of “must eats” ready pre-departure thanks to Lonely Planet.

Whatever you do, don’t rush anything. The true Parisian experience is to live like a local. Walk around town with a fresh baguette in hand. Sit at a cafe, watch the people stroll by & lose track of the time. Drink wine & lots of it.

Alexa, play la vie en rose by Edith Piaf.*

Spain. Looking back it seems like a dream, but the afternoon siestas, colorful buildings & streets lined in orange trees were, in fact, real. If you are thinking about where to go on your next vacation, let me stop you there. España is the place to be.

Like most things in my life, my vacations are typically centered around food, and Spain was no exception. What was on my list of must-eats? Rioja (for starters), spanish olives, jamon, manchego…shall I continue? Needless to say, Spain did not disappoint in the food category. In fact, some of the best food we had was in the capital city, Madrid.

Although I wish I could say that I just stumbled upon these places, I did a lot of foodie research pre-departure. In fact, Lonely Planet became my best friend during the months preceding our trip. But, the preparation was half the fun. And now, I share with you my list of “must eats” for your next trip to Madrid.