Author: Emily Gautreaux

Fall Travel Destinations to Consider

The weather gets brisker, the leaves change color, and the crowds get thinner; that’s right, there’s generally no better time to travel than the autumnal months of October and November and with this expertly researched and curated article from Travel + Leisure, you can take the guesswork out of your next end-of-the-year trip. Keep reading for some great fall travel ideas.

Boston, Massachusetts

For some, New England is the end-all-be-all of the fall season, so what better place to travel than Boston. If visiting this pinnacle of American history in October or November, you luckily miss the cold, biting winter winds that are just around the corner, leaving you with more time to spend in the vibrant and rich community of Massachusetts’ finest.

Take some time for yourself and truly enrich yourself with America’s legacy, the Founding Fathers, and notable locations you’ve otherwise only heard tales of in History class textbooks and encyclopedia volumes by embarking on the notorious Freedom Trail. Though, October is famously a very busy month for the city of Boston, as the Boston Marathon, the annual Fall Pumpkin Float in the Boston Common Frog Pond, and the world’s largest two-day rowing event, the Head of the Charles Regatta all take place within weeks of each other.

If you’re looking for somewhere to stay that’s equal parts quaint, luxurious, and nearby to the more popular spectacles, then you could do much worse than booking your stay at Back Bay’s Mandarin Oriental. Alternatively, you can get an excellent, once-in-a-lifetime view of both the skyline and harbor if you’re staying at The Envoy and looking off its rooftop. However, if you’re more in the mood for a boutique, then you should look into staying at Beacon Hill’s Whitney Hotel, North End’s The Boxer, Seaport’s YOTEL Boston, or Hastings Park’s The Inn. Though, no matter where you stay, there’s always planned excitement around every city block so be sure to book quickly and often this autumn season.

Maui, Hawaii

It’s not a typo; Hawaii is honestly a no-brainer in the non summer months, as the temperature is more pleasant than the rest of the United States and the crowds are less touristy as well, which is always a plus. Maui sees an influx of tourism during the summer months and holiday season, so many miss out on the warm and dry October-November season, leaving it ripe for the picking so to speak.

Check out the nightlife scene and world-class restaurants found in the historic whaling town of Lahaina if you’re staying in West Maui. Speaking of West Maui accommodations, the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua is a much sought-after venue for the out-of-towner as it houses six restaurants, a luxurious spa, and two complete golf courses on its campus. Additionally, along 40 acres of Kaanapali Beach is the notorious Hyatt Regency Maui and further down the coast is the Kaanapali Beach, which is receiving guests once again, having just undergone a striking renovation.

In South Maui, many guests reportedly enjoy staying at the beachfront luxury suites from the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea or the Grand Wailea for its variety of pools, available water-based, ocean activities, and on-site waterslide. Though, if you’re seeking privacy, then look no further than the popular and new Hana-Maui Resort with oceanfront bungalows, sandy beaches, and private lanais for you and your traveling companions. Again, no matter the location, once you’re in Maui and not squeezing between families making the most out of their summer vacation, you’ll find the true meaning of happiness in the blissful, autumnal months.

Travel + Leisure’s fall travel list goes on to suggest a visit to New Orleans, Louisiana; Providence, Rhode Island; Greater Palm Springs, California; Charlottesville, Virginia; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Cooperstown, New York;  the island of Aruba; and the country of France,

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BCF Awards Second Round of Grants through Bayou Recovery Fund

Residents in the Houma-Thibodaux area recently received another round of donations through the Bayou Recovery Fund thanks to the Bayou Community Foundation, according to Houma Today.

One week following Hurricane Ida making landfall at Port Fourchon and leaving a detrimental amount of damage in its wake, the Thibodaux-based foundation known as the Bayou Community Foundation for Hurricane Ida Relief has received thousands of donations from all over, resulting in the funding of nearly $1.8 million in grants since September 5, 2021.

Now, it was recently announced that the Bayou Community Foundation has approved a second round of grants and additional funding to be distributed to nonprofits in the affected areas. Officially, nearly $1.3 million in donations will be distributed to Houma and Thibodaux area residents recovering from the Category 4 storm and an additional $1.29 million will be distributed to 17 nonprofits in Terrebonne, Lafourche, and Grand Isle.

The Bayou Community Foundation’s president, Henry Lafont, said the following in a news release regarding the second round of donations and grants being approved for distribution: “Thanks to the compassion and generosity of individual and corporate donors around the country, Bayou Community Foundation has been able to act swiftly and effectively over the past five weeks to fund programs that are filling the most urgent needs of our residents like food, water, and essential supplies. Our local nonprofits are doing amazing work to help the suffering among us.”

Since September 5th, the funds that have been disbursed to nonprofits have helped the workers and volunteers distribute hot meals, nonperishable food items, water, gasoline, clothing, hygiene supplies, cleaning instruments and agents, and much more to residents affected by the storm. In addition to the supplies stemming from the funds, the donations have also helped to secure and provide temporary housing, classroom supplies, educational equipment, and medical programs to the Southeastern Louisiana residents.

When addressing the longevity of such donations, Lafont went on to say, “we know this is just the beginning, though,” Lafont said. “As we turn the corner from relief to recovery, the Bayou Recovery Fund is positioned to help address longer-term needs in Lafourche, Terrebonne and Grand Isle like the housing crisis we now face and the mental health needs that we expect to come.”

In the future, the Bayou Community Fund is looking to raise an additional $10 million for storm recovery efforts. All donations gifted to the Fund are tax-deductible and are used to fund emergency grants to local nonprofits providing direct, critical relief, recovery, and rebuilding services in the aftermath of the hurricane to those most affected in the Bayou Region. Previously, on September 15, 2021- just a week after the fund was initiated, $449,000 in Bayou Recovery Fund Grants were awarded.

As of this second round of grants being announced to several agencies and nonprofits across southeastern Louisiana, several have commented on the announced grants such as the Executive Director of the Lafourche Education Foundation, Paula Rome, who said the following in response to the planned $100,000 grant along with the Terrebonne Foundation for Academic Excellence: “with this grant, LEF will be able to help our Lafourche schools that were hardest hit by Hurricane Ida replenish much-needed classroom supplies and equipment for our teachers and students across the parish.”

Similarly, Bob Stewart, Ph.D, Vice President of Friends of Grand Isle said of his organization’s grant, “this grant from the Bayou Community Foundation provides critical relief to our first responders who have so selflessly served Grand Isle in the wake of Hurricane Ida. The Friends of Grand Isle are committed to providing financial relief to our residents and businesses to build a stronger Grand Isle.”

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Fall Sweet Potato Dishes

Sweet potatoes are as unique as vegetables can be due to the fact that they have the dual benefit of being both a filling, savory side dish, and a satisfying, sweetened dessert all at the same time. Naturally, a single ingredient as versatile as this lends itself to a plethora of recipe options, and the fine culinary experts for Food52 have the perfect list of over three dozen sweet potato recipes to make your fall that much sweeter.

After reviewing this list, you’ll be sure to find the ideal recipe for the next time you’d like to incorporate the hearty, colorful vegetables into your breakfast, lunch, or dinner. From yogurt and nachos to frosted cake and hash browns, there’s little that sweet potatoes can’t do.

Sweet Potatoes Roasted In Coconut Oil

If your next dish is in need of a bite-sized, spectacularly simple snack, then this sheet tray recipe for 1-inch pieces of sweet potatoes is the perfect answer! While the original recipe only utilizes coconut oil, salt, and pepper when tossing the sweet potatoes, you’re encouraged to add some herby greatness to the mix. Try out adding some cumin, chili powder, and cayenne if you want it to have some kick or some grated orange zest, cinnamon, and maple syrup if you want to really accentuate the sugary flavor notes of your side dish. Any way you make it, the texture will be pitch-perfect if timed correctly in the 400° F oven.

Brown Butter-Roasted Sweet Potatoes With Arugula And Bacon

The savory trifecta of brown sugar, bacon, and sweet potatoes is on full display in this savory and sweet side dish that is sure to be popular at any autumnal buffet table. Collaborating brilliantly alongside the original flavor profile of the sweet potato’s savoriness is this recipe’s bacon strips, arugula, thyme, and sage. Similarly, the tossing of brown sugar atop the sweet potatoes before they touch a roasting pan is a brilliant move that saves the iconic sweetness that the main ingredient has come to be known for. It all results in a delicious cavalcade of herbs, protein, and sweet flavor that cannot and will not be beaten.

Sweet Potato Waffles, Sweet Or Savory

The brilliance of this recipe is that you get to choose the side of the sweet potato that you’re in the mood for: savory or sweet. These waffles break from the autumnal tradition of pumpkin spiced waffles and allow you to experiment a little bit in the kitchen as you may decide that they’re best served with cranberries, turkey, avocado, runny egg, or sausages instead of your standard maple syrup.

Fudgy Sweet Potato Brownies

It’s true that sometimes you just want to give in completely and allow your sweet potato to be a dessert, and there’s nothing wrong with that thanks to this recipe that dives into that arena head first. Sweet potatoes are the base of this brownie recipe alongside cocoa powder, semisweet chocolate chips, espresso powder, and your other standard brownie ingredients, resulting in a delicious assortment of sweetness both from the potato and chocolate at its core.

Whole Grain Sweet Potato Muffins

This is the perfect recipe for anyone wanting to get back to basics and be mindful about their health, as these whole-grain muffins rest on the subtle, flavorful laurels of the sweet potato itself. Accompanied by some aromatic spicessuch as cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg, you can rest assured that these muffins will absolutely smell autumnal, and because they’re backed with whole-wheat flour, you’ll be happy to know that they’re not of the “hockey puck” texture consistency.

In the (likely) event that you read this recipe list and rush to buy a large number of sweet potatoes in bulk, be sure that you’re up-to-date on the best-storing practices for keeping these titans of culinary versatility fresher longer thanks to Food52.

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Terrebonne Parish Sees Double Garbage and Debris pickup in wake of Hurricane Ida

Exactly a month after Terrebonne Parish suffered historic levels of loss due to Hurricane Ida, it was reported by HoumaToday that more than 7,000 tons of household garbage has been picked up across the parish– nearly double the standard amount during that time frame.

This enormous increase in garbage pickup equates to an extraordinary amount of added workload and man-hours put in by sanitation employees who were also citizens of the parish and thus impacted by Hurricane Ida alongside the citizens whose garbage they picked up. The employees that work for Terrebonne Parish’s sanitation contractor, Pelican Waste, faced various challenges in housing, transportation, and other storm-related issues since the Category 4 storm’s August 29 landfall.

The solid waste director of Terrebonne Parish, Clay Naquin, told Parish Council members at the September 29 council meeting that his department “tried everything they could” to get Pelican Waste employees back into the parish following the storm so that cleanup could begin. The “everything” Naquin referred to included providing power generators, temporary housing, and three square meals a day whenever possible to his workers.

Once they were back in the parish, collection crews from multiple contractors went out across the parish to pick up as much commercial, mixed, and debris garbage that they could, despite delays faced along the way. Naquin urged the public’s adherence to FEMA guidelines that indicate how debris should be stored and stacked at the curbside. Similarly, collection crews follow FEMA protocols when it comes to debris collection, and their garbage trucks are usually followed by teams ensuring that such protocols are being followed.

Because of the increase in debris pickup this past month, adhering to FEMA guidelines at both the waste management and resident level is of utmost importance, according to Naquin. He told council members, “if we don’t follow the protocol that FEMA puts out there, we have a chance of losing funding. can tell you right now, we’re probably pushing $6 million-plus in our debris collection, and if we don’t follow this, we have a chance of losing everything.”

Outside of the routine garage pickup, many Terrebonne Parish residents have been bringing their garbage and debris to the parish’s designated drop-off sites. Having citizens haul their own debris and garbage to these sites significantly lessens the workload placed on individual garbage collecting crews. As of the September 29 Terrebonne Parish Council meeting, Naquin reported that 121 tons of vegetation, 2,822 tons of mixed debris, and 5,378 tons of commercial mixed debris have been dropped off at these designated locations.

Naquin also emphasized that a parish-hired contractor, DRC, had picked up 674,167 cubic yards of storm debris across a total of 12,140 loads. He then provided a figure that was given by Governor John Bel Edwards in a recent news conference in which he stated that the state picked up 1 million cubic yards of debris on all state roads affected by the hurricane. Naquin compared this to DRC’s average of 35,000 cubic yards of debris picked up daily, saying “I’m giving those numbers just to show you that this crew, DRC is out there, really working.”

In addition to accruing significant amounts of debris in the wake of Hurricane Ida, Terrebonne Parish saw about 85% of its signage become lost or damaged during the storm. Out of these 17,500 signs, about 5% have been restored and reset, and parish public works director David Rome assured the council that the department is prioritizing signs at the top of the restoration list, due to civil and transportation importance. The restoration list of signs to be reset sees stop signs, followed by street name signs, then yield, and speed limit signs in that sequential order.

Little by little, the various departments and agencies across Terrebonne Parish are putting in the man-hours and effort necessary to help the area “bounce back” from a detrimental storm season, thus offering a small glimmer of hope in these turbulent times.

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Top US Cities to Book a Food Tour in this Fall

When you live in the same town or city year after year, it’s not uncommon to develop a routine when it comes to going out to restaurants. It starts with that list of places to eat getting progressively smaller and it ends in only a small handful of menu items being considered each time you visit. When this happens, it’s the perfect opportunity to take a vacation to engage in one of the more culinary-inspiring activities possible, the food tour, and thanks to Travel + Leisure’s collection of the country’s Top Food Tours for the 2021 Fall Season, your palette is soon to be deliciously expanded.

The typical food tour brings together the best elements of travel and cuisine because when you’re far away from home, you often are more likely to release your inhibitions and try new dishes that you never would in your hometown or own kitchen. Additionally, food and culture are oftentimes closely related, so when you book a food tour, you allowyour palette to explore new tastes and textures that you might not otherwise experience, and because you’re often being led by a food tour guide, you can safely trust that you’re in the right hands.

So whether you’re looking to book a food tour to discover a new “genre” of restaurant, favorite dish, or an intriguing new recipe to add to your cooking repertoire, be sure to consider the following food tours offered in the American cities below.

Los Angeles, California

The iconic city has attracted its fair share of press, celebrities, and notoriety over the past century, but in that time it’s also drawn in culinary artists from around the world. Experience a sampling of the best international dishes that the LA Farmers’ Market has to offer by booking a “Melting Pot Food Tour,” where you can choose from a wide selection of culinary experiences. Melting Pot offers its customers the chance to choose their own culinary destiny, as they offer experiences that examine Thai Town, East LA’s Latin cuisine, and even the historic Old Pasadena. Though, one of the stand-out experiences of their available tours is booking the opportunity to dine with the Dona Juana family as part of the La Española Meats VIP Tour. On this tour, attendees are heralded by a family that is the first and last name of all Spanish cheeses, charcuterie, small plates, drinks, and imported specialties. The best part of this tour is that it ends with a lunch on a patio where you enjoy paella, tapas, and homemade churros, thus acting as the cherry on top of a perfect culinary experience.

Savannah, Georgia

Two particular food tours do an outstanding job at inundating someone with the lush history and charming spectacle often associated with Savannah. First is “The First Squares” tour offered by Savannah Taste Experience in which participants stop along six different restaurants and food boutiques to enjoy gourmet dishes and learn the history of the city’s relationship to food as you visit an authentic pub, a British Pie Shop, and an award-winning honey store. Additionally, Southern Flavors Savannah offers a three-hour excursion into the world of sweets with “The Dessert Tour.” Be sure not to book this one too close to the previous, as you’ll be swept away with the ambiance and sweetness of downtown Savannah as you collect and savor various southern delicacies ranging from creamy-textured pralines to delightfully simple and rich coffee cake amid an unforgettable setting.

Other notable entries on Travel + Leisure’s list are the “Taste of New Orleans Food Tour, Tours By Locals” in New Orleans, Louisiana; “Best of New York Food Tour by Sarah Funky” in New York City, and “Little Havana Food Tours” in Miami, Florida.

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Best Colorado Small Towns to Visit

There is one state in the United States of America that is beautiful year-round, so while many make sure to visit in the winter for its ski slopes or the summer for its hiking trails, the “Centennial State” is still worth the trip in Autumn and Spring, especially if you’re visiting a small town. These lesser-known towns of Colorado are becoming more popular (by word of mouth) due to the lack of crowds at the hot springs, top-of-the-line ski lodges, and hiking trails that are off the beaten path. So check out Travel + Leisure’s article detailing the “10 Best Small Towns in Colorado” for the next time you’re looking to reconnect with peace, quiet, and quaint experiences.

Before diving into the article, it should be advised that due to local regulations, travel restrictions, and COVID-19 surges, it is suggested that travelers properly research all local guidelines and CDC recommendations in order to keep themselves and those they care about as safe and responsible as possible in these unprecedented times.

Silverton, Colorado

Located along a rather remote portion of Colorado’s western San Juan Mountains lies the statutory town of Silverton. The town originated from mining claims made during the final years of Colorado’s Pike’s Peak Gold Rush, and ever since then, Silverton has attracted its fair share of animals, citizens, and adventures. One of the stand-out experiences to take advantage of in Silverton can be enjoyed year-round, as it’s the reason the town is a National Historic Landmark. Silverton is home to the scenic byway US 550, which has also been known as the “Million Dollar Highway” for over a century due to its breath-taking views of the San Juan Mountains that can only be seen from its roads. The Highway is a part of the larger San Juan Skyway, which is a 236-mile road that winds through the San Juan portion of the Rocky Mountains allowing visitors to connect with diverse mountain towns and major landmark attractions along the way.

Outside of the gorgeous views that can be seen from the road, Silverton offers those in the town to participate in canoeing, wildlife watching, paragliding, river rafting, touring gold mines, stargazing, mushroom hunting, and an unforgettable adventure called the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Train, and those are just the summer events! In the winter months, the town can be the perfect place to engage in snowmobiling, snowkiting, hockey, snowshoeing, ice skating, and all sorts of sledding. Consider staying in Silverton the next time you’re feeling adventurous because there are few other places in the United States where you can visit an actual 19th-century ghost town.

Steamboat Springs, Colorado

With a name as charmingly warm as Steamboat Springs, you’ll feel comforted and right-at-home in the authentic mountain town that’s brimming with western hospitality. This town offers its residents and visitors authentic experiences such as relaxing in hot springs, fishing for flies or trout along the Yampa River or at Steamboat Lake, and seeing gorgeous nature sights by way of the town’s famous hiking, biking, and walking trails. There’s plenty of engaging activities to take advantage of whether you find yourself visiting in the summer or winter, but don’t rule out the fall visit, as the changing colors of the fall foliage are quite beautiful in this town, and you can view them from the best perspective of all by booking an ariel “foliage flight” from the Zephyr Helicopter Company or a hot-air-balloon ride from Wild West Balloon Adventures.

The other towns can be further explored via Travel + Leisure’s full list, which includes the following stand-outs:

  • Pagosa Springs, Colorado
  • Carbondale, Colorado
  • Estes Park, Colorado
  • Snowmass Village, Colorado
  • Manitou Springs, Colorado
  • Crested Butte, Colorado
  • Paonia, Colorado
  • Salida, Colorado

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