During a lovely outdoor meal at Almirante Pech in Playa del Carmen, on a trendy strip of 5th Ave. near our hotel, one of the many dishes we ordered to share was a roasted corn salad. It was simple and delicious; vibrant in color and flavor. We loved that salad so much that I jotted the ingredients down so I could recreate it at home. Last week I made my version alongside grilled fish tacos–a perfect summer meal–and we quickly devoured it just as we had in Playa. I love drawing inspiration from our travels or from a great restaurant meal and bringing it home into my own kitchen. And this one is about as easy as recipes get.
Roasted Corn Salad
2 ears fresh corn, husked and grilled until charred
2 handfuls of heirloom cherry tomatoes, quartered
1/4 cup finely diced red onion
1-2 tablespoons of chopped fresh cilantro
1/3 cup of grated Edam cheese (if you can’t find Edam, substitute another salty cheese like cojita or feta)
Optional: 1/2 serrano pepper, finely diced
Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl. Toss well to combine.
While I was packing for our week in the sunny Riviera Maya, I got to thinking about the things I always take on a trip no matter where we go. So as I unloaded my bags last weekend, I documented those 12 travel essentials…
1. Maps
Whenever possible, I try to find destination-specific guidebooks and city maps to help us get around. For Mexico, I lucked out by coming across Map Chick’s extensive collection of travel maps, which came complete with restaurant and sightseeing tips. They were great in supplementing all the nuggets I gathered from blogger friends, but most helpful in identifying streets as we drove and walked and biked around.
2. Travel Journal
I never leave home without a Moleskin journal and Sharpie pen for noting our favorite places, meals, and sights. Sometimes many days of adventure can blend together afterward, but a journal helps me remember the little things that I experienced along the way or things I want to try once back home.
3. Passport
An obvious necessity for travel abroad and a memento in of itself. I love seeing my pages fill up with stamps from our adventures all over the world.
4. A Good Book
My husband has converted to a Kindle, but I still love the feel of a real paperback in my hands. I always pick up something new right before vacation and dig in the moment we hit the air. Vacation is often the only time I make time to truly sit down and enjoy a good book, so I really savor those quiet moments during travel or on the beach when I immerse myself in a good read. Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald was completely engrossing.
5. Mini Jambox
Our friends brought a mini Jawbone Bluetooth speaker on our trip last fall to Greece (such a smart buy), and we picked one up before heading to Mexico. Nice design, great quality sound, and super portable, it’s insanely easy to slip into your carry-on and perfect for playing tunes from your iPhone in your hotel room or on the beach.
6. Sunglasses
Another obvious need. I’m loyal to Ray-Ban sunglasses and switch between classic wayfarers and equally classic aviators.
7. CamerasPhotographs are the very best kind of souvenir. A love of photography runs in our family–a passion I picked up from my dad and a skill I have honed with the help of my father-in-law. I always take my DSLR (not shown) and 1-2 lenses, but a polaroid-style camera is my new favorite essential for the instant gratification of fun, pocket-sized snaps.
8. Scarf
Versatility is key when traveling. An airy scarf doubles as a blanket on the plane and a wrap for cool evenings at dinner. I love the fringe tassels and gauzy linen of this Love Quotes scarf.
9. Refreshing SprayPacking Caudalie’s Beauty Elixir is really a travel ritual at this point. A spritz of this is the best way to refresh after a long flight or at the end of a full day of exploration, plus it doubles as a toner in my pared-down morning routine. It comes in a travel-sized version.
10. Sunscreen
I love this super-gentle, organic SPF 30 face sunscreen from Coola, and at 1.7 oz, it fits into my carry-on toiletry bag. It was the first and only thing I put on my face for six days in Mexico.
11. Healthy Snacks
I like to pack a few snacks for travel or in between meals. KIND bars are a favorite, as are dried Turkish apricots, and raw almonds.
12. Headphones
Headphones are a must, and I go as minimalistic as can be with a basic Apple pair. Noise-cancelling options are great and other versions may produce better sound, but to me the most important aspect is that they hardly take up any space in my carry-on. I try to put together a travel playlist and download some new music from Spotify on my iPhone before we go–music can really bring your trip to life. Quick tip: If you’ll be renting a car, be sure to bring an auxiliary cable so you can connect your phone and listen to your music instead of being confined to local radio stations!
And not pictured: An open mind. Perhaps the No.1 travel essential. Be curious not fearful. See, do, taste things you can’t anywhere else. Savor the moment, get out of your comfort zone, and have fun!
Hello, hello! After a perfect week soaking up sunshine, savoring beach time, and sipping tropical juices in Mexico, I’m feeling so very refreshed and ready to tackle a bunch of projects around the house, some major efforts at work, and get refocused here on the blog. And of course, our recent adventure means beach packing tips and peeks inside not one, but two gorgeous hotels all coming soon. In the meantime, I wanted to share one of my favorite light recipes for summer as we kick off June!
Cooking in parchment paper (or en papillote in French) is one of my favorite techniques. In addition to being downright easy (despite the fancy name), it’s a dish that is both impressive and rustic-looking. This Ginger-Soy Fish with Spinach and Mushrooms is as simple as layering the ingredients in the middle of parchment paper, then folding and sealing the packets really well to lock in the steam. The result is a moist, tender piece of fish packed with lots of flavor. The best part? It’s ready in just 10 minutes. In the summer, I also love substituting the parchment for aluminum foil and cooking the packets directly on the grill—these Scallops Steamed in Foil are an all-time favorite dish of mine.
Ginger-Soy Fish Steamed with Spinach & Mushrooms
2-6 oz. pieces of cod
2 handfuls of fresh spinach
1 handful of oyster or shitake mushrooms
2 pieces of parchment paper, about 16-inches wide each
1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon sesame oil
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
2 teaspoons of fresh minced garlic
2 teaspoons of fresh minced ginger
A dash of red pepper flakes
1 egg white
A couple very thin slices of lime, for serving
A couple thinly sliced basil leaves, for serving
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Season the fish with salt and pepper. Whisk together the soy sauce, honey, sesame oil, rice vinegar, garlic and ginger. Cut the parchment paper, then fold the left and right sides of each piece of paper toward the center and crease well, leaving room in the middle for the ingredients. In the center of each piece of parchment, place a handful of spinach then the fish on top, and scatter the mushrooms around the edges. Pour the sauce over each serving size. Sprinkle with red pepper flakes. Fold the sides of each parchment in toward the center so they overlap slightly, then fold the top and bottom edges toward the center. Brush a little of the egg white under the top and bottom edges to help them seal shut. Transfer the packets to a baking sheet and bake 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and let sit 30 seconds, then open the pouches. Serve with lime slices and basil leaves on top.
