What’s your job? What do you love about it?
I’m a full time foodie! I travel 100,000 miles each year for 100 great local meals around the world. I worked in theater production for a number of years but my true passion has always been food and travel. I created Foodie International in 2010 and 200,000 miles later, food and travel writing has become a career. Check out Elyse’s website Foodie International http://foodieinternational.com/
Why do you like Invite For A Bite?
As someone who travels the world constantly in search of great local meals, it’s always more fun to share that wonderful culinary experience with someone else. I love the idea that I can meet up with fellow foodies on a global scale.
What have you invited people to on Invite For A Bite?
A few upcoming foodie adventures! In the next month I’m heading to San Sebastian, Spain for a pintxos (Basque tapas) crawl, Addis Ababa for great Ethiopian cuisine and my other home base of Tuscany where I spend four months each year.
What’s the most unusual thing you’ve ever eaten?
I’m willing to try everything at least once! I’ve eaten scorpions in Beijing, sea cucumber in Tokyo, guinea pig in Lima, whale in Reykjavik, reindeer carpaccio in Moscow, pig face on a Tuscan farm, kitfo (raw ground beef) in Addis Ababa, kangaroo in Sydney and a bacon milkshake in New York City.
What’s your guiltiest food pleasure?
I’m a sucker for Cool Ranch Doritos.
Which women, living now or in the past, would you invite to an ifab dinner party?
I’d love to sit down and share a fabulous meal with Hilary Clinton, J.K. Rowling, Tori Amos and Cindy Sherman.
Where are you from, and when you’re traveling what food from your country do you miss the most?
I live in New York City and a tiny village in Southern Tuscany. When I’m away from Italy too long I crave spaghetti carbonara and fresh salsciccia. When I’m away from New York too long I crave Shake Shack cheeseburgers. I have to say that I don’t “miss” any food because every day is such an incredible culinary adventure. I never know what I’ll discover and fall in love with next.
Name a country you’ve visited whose food you love. What not-to-be-missed dish should people eat there?
There are so many! I’ve eaten my way through nearly 60 countries. My favorite foodie destinations are: Italy (duh!), Turkey for fried anchovies, kokoreç, döner kebap, and some of the best breakfasts ever. Japan for mind-blowing sushi, okonomiyaki, chicken skin yakitori and pork belly ramen.
If you could be in one place right now, where would it be? Why?
I’m so happy to be exactly where I am – in New York City, in transit between Costa Rica and San Sebastian, Spain. Here in New York I have the flavors of the world at my fingertips. However, I’m so excited to travel to San Sebastian in two weeks. The town is a foodie Mecca, the seat of Western cuisine. It’s at the top of my culinary bucket list.
Nosy, we know, but what are you having for dinner tonight?
I’m heading to a friend’s birthday party at a New York restaurant that serves both Italian and Cuban cuisine so I’ll have to decide when I arrive, but I do know that multiple mojitos will most definitely be involved!
What about YOU dear reader? What food from your country do you miss when you’re on the road?
Is a bacon milkshake as revolting as it sounds? Or is it ‘strangely delicious’?
I’m afraid the bacon milkshake wasn’t as good as I wanted it to be! The first thing that came to mind when I took a sip was “uncomfortable breakfast smoothie.” I had such high hopes!!
Sounds revolting to me! Great website Elyse – I see from it you are off to the TBU conference in Umbria. I’ll be there too so might see you then! Lucy
Looking forward to seeing you there Lucy!
Excellent, lovely ifab women getting together!
@Elyse ‘uncomfortable breakfast smoothie’. Sounds like you’re being generous. That could almost pass as ‘the great British understatement’