Deaverdura

Deaverdura is thee must visit spot y'all. It's super authentic, unfussy yet hip, absolutely delicious Puerto Rican food. The sauces pictured are mayo ketchup, cilantro, and house hot w papaya. Get after it here, and bring the kids! 

Lil airbnb round up below - it was lovely and the boys are cute!

we travel with Ryders crib, these are just some early morning snuggles.

New Orleans, Louisiana

Back in early June I ventured to one of my favorite cities in the south for a dear friends bachelorette party  - which we named (#) the Summit of Free Spirits. I had not been to New Orleans since a girls trip in 2011 (!!), so it was really nice to return and soak it all in again. 

How badly do you want to dive headfirst into that plate of Beignets / that Sazerac / those broiled oysters topped with crab right now? The food in this city is something special. We had a lot of NOLA first timers and I was excited to re-visit some of the French Quarter musts with them like Hotel Monteleone's Carousel Bar, Pat O'Brien's courtyard, Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop Bar and Cafe Du Monde. We hit up terrific restaurants as to be expected and visited some new neighborhoods that I hadn't been to. Here's the rundown: 

Brunch at The Ruby Slipper | Creative southern breakfast fare served in a lively cafe. My dish pictured is The Costa Rican - gallo pinto (slow cooked black beans and rice) over a warm tomato salsa, two fried eggs, spicy chorizo sausage, avocado + crispy plantains.

Dinner at Borgne | Coastal Louisiana Seafood from renowned Chef John Besh. My entrée pictured is the Angel Hair Pontchartrain - creamy shellfish broth, oysters, shrimp, garlic + bottarga. Other girls loved the Crispy Frog Legs over rice vermicelli and herb nuoc cham.

Drinks in The Warehouse District @ Lucy's Retired Surfers Bar and the brand new Ace Hotel rooftop pool bar Alto. We sipped Chica Chica Boom's (in the plastic pineapple pictured, so fun!) made with with rum, aperol, pineapple, orange, grapefruit and honey. I really enjoyed wandering the Warehouse District, it was refreshing to get out of the touristy French Quarter for bit and explore a low key but hip residential neighborhood.

Dinner at Bourbon House | Andd back to the heart of the French Quarter for some proper Creole fine dining on Bourbon Street. My incredible meal pictured: Charbroiled Oysters on the half shell in a creole bordelaise butter with jumbo lump crab meat and Gulf Redfish with new potatoes, balsamic glazed red onion + lemon beurre blanc topped with crawfish. 

Ghost Walking Tour in the French Q | On what was my second night and some others third night, this was the perfect low key group activity. It was easy for us to join a tour on a whim. Our guide was animated and knowledgeable; you learn a lot about NOLA history and the ghost stories are legit! Highly recommend.

Confederacy of Cruisers 9th Ward Bike Tour | I recommend this experience above the Ghost Tour if you had limited time. After cruising through the neighborhoods that were flooded under 10 feet of water during Hurricane Katrina, I am a changed person. Too see it all up close - the devastation and loss, the spirit and the rebuilding, and the adorable shotgun houses that still remain really made an impression. Photos here.

Be sure to check out my US Travel Page where you can find more NOLA Recommendations!

Besito | Chestnut Hill

Besito translates to "little kiss" and at this small chain of authentic Mexican restaurants newest Chestnut Hill location, there is no lack of love. You taste it in the beautifully presented cuisine, you feel it from the eager-to-please waitstaff who greet you in Spanish, and you embrace it all around you in the culture rich atmosphere.

I love Mexican food. I wanted it all - tortilla soup, tableside guacamole, not to mention a number of sensational sounding appetizers. In an effort to reel it in, we decided on the ceviche del dia featuring fresh shrimp, avocado and mango, served with crispy tortilla and plantain chips. I sipped on a Cucumber Jalapeno Margarita, which nicely balanced the elements of cool and refreshing with a pinch of heat. 

Entrees showcased incredible, wide ranging and well developed flavors. The Filet de Res ($28) has a serious wow factor. Marinated in Negro Modelo, the butterflied steak is cooked a perfect medium and comes presented on a wide, circular cast iron skillet surrounded by a rich chipoltle sauce, balanced by quernado salsa, queso Chihuahua, queso fresco, nopales (cactus) and sweet plantains.

The Salmon Manchamantales ($23) is roasted and served with plantains in a pineapple pico de gallo. Besito's manchamantales mole is excellent. This earthy, complex sauce is certainly rivaling the mole we ate in Tulum, Mexico not too long ago! Additionally, black beans and rice studded with pepitas come with the entrees, served in little cauldrons for the table to share.

For dessert the delicious Tres Leches Cake is a must. The dense sponge cake is soaked in three kinds of milk: evaporated, condensed, and placed atop a sweet, heavy cream. I sipped a smokey Mezcal while Bob enjoyed a spicy Mexican Hot Chocolate.  

At the end of the meal you are presented with parting gifts - crispy Churros and tiny little Mexican Worry Dolls. Traditionally you tell all your worries to the doll and place it under your pillow before bed, in the morning you wake up worry free.



Besito is a true testament to the owners deeply rooted passion, stemming from years of travel to Mexico. You can also visit them in Huntington, New York, Roslyn, New York, West Hartford, Connecticut, and in Burlington, Massachusetts at The Burlington Mall.

Besito Mexican Restaurant

Mall at Chestnut Hill

199 Boylston Street

Chestnut Hill, MA 02467

*this meal was complimentary - all opinions are my own*