What made you want to become an editor? Was there a singular moment?
What excites me most about the culinary world are the stories behind the ingredients, people, and places that make that world possible. Having the opportunity to highlight an unknown region for how it contributes to the world of food is one of the greatest honors of my life. I can’t say there was ever any one moment, but I do know there’s nothing in the world that I’d rather be doing.
Tell us about a unique retail experience you experienced while traveling, and how was it reflective of the neighborhood?
The Nishiki Market in Kyoto, Japan. It’s the oldest shopping market I’ve ever experienced, established in 1310 as a wholesale fish market and is the foundation of Kyoto's culinary heritage. Here you’ll experience more than 400 years of culinary development through flavors, sights, sounds, etc. With more than 150 shops on a narrow block of streets, there’s something to learn and cherish at every corner.
What was the most unexpected memento you put in your suitcase home from a recent trip?
I took a trip to Maine for my anniversary, and one thing you can expect to see plenty of when visiting Maine in the summer is blueberries. I must've seen dozens of blueberry stands, boxes of them at every store we visited, and sign after sign advertising blueberry picking. Unexpectedly, I discovered that blueberry wine exists! As it turns out, it’s absolutely delicious, and so unique to Maine.
Markets are perfect reflections of a destination. What’s the most vibrant shopping market you’ve been to?
The Central de Abasto market in Mexico City was one of the most incredible shopping experiences I’ve ever had in my entire life. It’s Mexico City’s main wholesale market, and a meeting point for producers, wholesalers, retailers, and consumers from across the country, handling fruits, vegetables, meat, flowers, and more. It's one of the biggest markets in the world spanning over 800 acres. You certainly can’t experience it all in one day. But every time I’m in Mexico City, I’m sure to visit and check out a new parcel.
...and what’s the diamond in the rough gift you would recommend to find there?
If you’re looking to give someone the gift of trying something they’ve never tried or even ever seen before, this is the place! I bought some dried banana powder on my last trip that I still dream about. The flavor was unlike anything I’ve ever tasted. You’d also be able to source a hand-carved Molcajete made of volcanic rock that will last generations to come.
What’s the thing you do you NOT need to pack when traveling? (because you’d rather pick up the local version!)
I never bring a book when traveling. It’s so common for people to bring reading material when they travel. I’ve found that, by not traveling with reading material, I always end up making a local bookstore an immediate part of my travel itinerary. I credit this habit of mine with why I have such an extensive and diverse set of bookshelves at home.
Tell us about a story when you won at gifting a loved one with something you picked up while traveling?
I once brought a special hybrid of honey back from a trip to Colombia for my boyfriend. It had this incredible cherry blossom, stone fruit, but with a hint of citrus flavor, that I incorporated into countless desserts for him. He’s got a sweet tooth, so watching him savor this very unique honey that you can only get in Colombia still warms my heart.
You get to keep one object on your desk from a trip you took. What is it?
I got these beautiful wax candles in Mérida, Mexico while driving through the Yucatan on an extended holiday. [The maker] had been making them by hand for more than 40 years. I’d never done a cross-country drive outside of the United States before, so these candles remind me of a new kind of solo-travel experience that’s now become a big part of how I enjoy vacationing. Plus, the candles are stunning!
R FINDS is much more than the world’s most diverse hotel gift shop. What is your favorite item that you curated for it and the story behind it?
I’ve curated a lot of great discoveries like my favorite aprons from across the globe which are for sale in the R FINDS shop now, but we’re working on an original product for Renaissance that will feature 3 of my favorite finds - Mānoa Honey and Mead (Hawai’i), Edisto Raw Low Country Honey (Charleston) and Local Chicago Honey. Check back in February 2025 to discover what all the buzz will be about.