Travel Tips - Carry-on Bag Essentials

With Valentine’s Day occurring over President’s Day Weekend this year, I know a lot of folks are taking advantage of the long weekend to head out of town. I thought it would be a good opportunity to share some of my best travel tips. When I was working for Nestlé Professional, I was traveling 80% of the time. That’s right – 4 out of 5 days a week, I was on the road. At the same time, my now husband and I were dating long distance, so many of my weekends were spent in NYC instead of my own apartment. I had one stretch where over the course of seven weeks I was only in my apartment for 5 nights. Rent seemed like a bit of a waste, but it was still nice to have a home base. After many missed flights, long delays and lost luggage, I have developed a list of carry-on bag essentials. I used to try not to check a bag, but during the winter with bulky sweaters or for trips over 4 days, checking a bag just makes life easier. Below is my list of the essentials that always go with me in my carry-on.

A Suit
Anyone who has had their luggage lost knows the feeling – the panic that sets in when the bags stop coming out of the mystery chute or tunnel, and everyone else from the flight has their bags – the sudden realization that your checked bag has not made the trip with you. Well, I have had that happen often enough that my #1 carry-on rule is to always pack my suit for the next day, whether it’s a swim suit or a business suit. It’s not fun to arrive at your destination and have to spend the next several hours acquiring the clothing you need for the activities you had planned instead of doing those activities. Technically, this category also includes pajamas, a toothbrush and a clean pair of underwear, but you get the idea.

iPad
Clearly, this iPad has been well-loved and used! The iPad really is a beautiful invention for travel. On it, I can access whichever book I’m currently reading through the Kindle App, watch movies I purchased on itunes, listen to my music, make notes for future posts on my notepad, and check my email, search the internet or catch up on social media when there is wifi available. Now, with Delta Studio, I can even watch movies and TV shows for free streaming directly to my device. This is my go-to gadget for air travel entertainment.

Chargers +  Headphones
What value does that amazing iPad have if the battery is dead? None. Also, I don’t think my seat mates would appreciate me listening to music or watching a movie without headphones, so headphones, cell phone and iPad chargers always ride with me.

Refillable Water Bottle
This one saves me $2.50 per flight. The recycled air on those airplanes can get so dry that I always find myself needing more liquid than the standard beverage service. Most airports now have those amazing water bottle filling stations right by the water fountains, so I will never have to be parched on a flight again. (Note: the water that comes out of the bathroom sinks on airplanes is not for drinking, even if your water bottle has a built in filter like my bobble below.)

Snack/Meal
Theoretically, if you’re flying first class, you won’t have to worry about this one, but I have been stuck on the tarmac for hours at a time enough times that I will not board an airplane without some sort of sustenance. Sometimes I bring a snack from home; sometimes I buy lunch after getting through airport security; but I will always make sure to have something to eat with me on the plane.

Hand Sanitizer
This one is a biggie during cold and flu season. I even go the extra mile sometimes and bring anti-viral wipes. I may look like the crazy lady Lysol-wiping down my whole seating area, but there are so many people on and off of those airplanes everyday and so many germs going around that I think the precaution is worth it.

Make-up Bag + Hair Brush
See “A Suit” above. Plus, in the event I have to run to a meeting straight from the airport, I have the opportunity to touch up either on the plane or in an airport restroom before heading out.

Jewelry or Valuables
This one is just not worth leaving to chance. I always keep my valuables and jewelry for the trip with me in a case with dividers that keeps the necklaces from tangling when it gets jostled around in my bag.

Those are my must-haves for my carry-on. What are yours? Did I miss anything that you wouldn’t travel without?

Smoked Whole Fish

This past weekend, I was lucky enough to travel to Amelia Island for my "beachlorette" weekend. When I'm at the beach, I try to eat as much fresh, local and sustainably caught seafood as possible. As with most meats, fish is more flavorful, more tender and retains more moisture when cooked on the bone. One of my favorite ways to enhance these benefits is to grill or smoke fish whole. This super simple preparation looks impressive on the table and really tastes amazing. It also requires surprisingly little effort...unless you catch the fish yourself. If you buy the fish from a market, you can ask them to clean and gut the fish, leaving the head, tail and skin on, and to score it. If you catch the fish yourself, you're on your own for those steps. I used Pompano, which is a wonderful fish for smoking. It is an oily fish, but that is actually makes it perfect for smoking. It is unlikely to dry out, and the flavor of the smoke balances the flavor of the fish beautifully. If you don't have access to Pompano, another one of my favorites to prepare this way is Branzino. For this preparation, I used a charcoal grill and wood chips. Follow the instructions and use whichever preparation is recommended for the equipment you have.


Serves 6-8

Smoked Whole Pompano

• 3 cups hickory chips
• 3 medium Pompano, cleaned, gutted and scored (approximately 6 lbs)
• olive oil
• salt and pepper
• 1 large lemon, sliced
• 1 large onion, sliced into rounds

Cover wood chips in water and soak for at least 30 minutes. Start the grill. 

Rinse the fish in cold water and pat dry inside and out. Place fish on grill-safe pan. Rub salt, pepper and olive oil over outside and inside of each fish. 

Slide at least one slice each of lemon and onion into the inside of the fish. Add more if it will fit. 

Once charcoal is ashed over and hot, drain wood chips. Layer 2 cups of drained wood chips on top of the hot coals. Replace grill rack and place grill-pan on rack. If you put it off direct heat, increase cooking time by approximately 5 minutes. Cover the grill and seal to contain smoke. Allow to smoke for 10 to 12 minutes. Remove pan and rack. Add remaining wood chips on top of coals. Flip fish to cook on other side. 

Cook for an additional 10 to 12 minutes, or until fish is white and flaky. Top with additional lemon slices and serve.

Day Trip to Wine Country

One of my favorite things about summer is vacation. Every summer since finishing school, I have pined for a summer break. Unfortunately, the world of adulthood and responsibility doesn't allow me two to three months off work. So, even without an actual day off work, I like to create mini weekend vacations. Day trips can be such a great cost savings, and I still get the full effect of an escape from the city without the hassle of a flight or packing. 

No matter where you are, there are so many great day trip options just a short drive away. One of our favorite trips out of New York City is to the wine country on the North Fork of Long Island. It's absolutely amazing that such a gorgeous setting is just a couple of hours outside of this major metropolis. This past weekend, we went to pick up our wine club shipment from Sparkling Pointe, one of my favorite North Fork Wineries. Sparkling Pointe specializes in, no surprise, sparkling wines. They have delicious tastings in a really beautiful tasting room, but when the weather is nice, you can sit outside and enjoy views of the vineyards. We were blessed with just such a weekend.

Instead of packing a lunch for this trip, we decided to explore once we got there. The area is filled with small organic farms with road side stands, so we figured we could find something delicious to eat. We stumbled on award winning goat cheese. The goat cheese at Catapano Dairy Farm won the award for best fresh goat cheese from the American Cheese Society, and it truly lived up to its reputation. It was smooth and creamy, almost like a cream cheese. They give free samples of the cheese, and, of course, once we tried it, we had to buy some. We snacked on cheese and crackers and watched the goats watch us.

It was such a great escape from the city. We started planning our next trip back when we were on the car ride home.

Working from "Home"

For Memorial Day Weekend, I was lucky enough to get to travel to Atlanta for a whole week. I'm an Atlantan, born and raised, and my parents and exceptionally large extended family still live there. Every time I visit is another adventure and trip down memory lane.

This particular trip focused around wedding planning and seeing my friends from business school...and Mexican food. Though New York is filled with amazing authentic cuisine from all over the world, it is almost impossible to find really good Mexican food. I'm completely spoiled from my years living in LA, so whenever I'm out of New York, I go for Mexican food. I just love salty sweet margaritas and fresh taco salads with creamy avocados, not to mention the ever-popular chips and salsa. This time I went a little nuts. I managed to have this delicious cuisine every single day: two separate trips to Tin Lizzy's, No Mas Cantina for a friend's rehearsal dinner, Chuey's for lunch and Pure Taqueria for margaritas and tacos.

One major perk of working in Atlanta is the backyard of my parents' house. The live on a lake! While it is way to early in the season to go swimming, I was able to snag a few minutes sitting on the dock enjoying the view. And of course I took over my parents' dining room table for my temporary office. Though I love Astoria and the view of 21st Avenue at my normal work-from-home desk, the lake view is the clear winner.

Day One

So far, so good. Day one includes breakfast of grapefruit juice, an Ezekiel Cinnamon Raisin English Muffin with Organic Crunchy Peanut Butter, fresh strawberries and the requisite cup of coffee. Not sure what to make for dinner, but I'm leaning towards a vegetarian day today.

I'm hoping it will be warm enough for a short run today, (I'm a total wuss about running in the cold!) and I'm looking forward to trivia with my cousins tonight! I've really got to book that flight to Japan. It's at $1,104 right now, but I just keep hoping it'll go down a bit.