spain

“I’m not even Spanish,” says a freckly Vermonter in a flat accent that hints of world travel. “But I speak the language fluently and I understand the culture very well.” Seamus Mullen knows a bit about the food too, having run some of New York City's best Spanish restaurants, including the award winning Tertulia in Greenwich Village. With travel on our minds, he had to reach out to Mullen, who has spent a lot of his young life living out of suitcases. He shared some of his top memories.  

Through November 30, you can enter to win a trip for two to Rioja, the world’s most famous Tempranillo-producing wine region. Vibrant Rioja will award a second prize of a Rioja Wine Dinner, including a $250 gift certificate, as well as over a dozen runner-up prizes of Rioja gift packs throughout the month. Enter here!

Timon Balloo’s restaurant experiences reflect his diverse background. Born to Chinese and Trinidadian parents, the chef has been a part of some of the country’s most recognized establishments. After stints at Azul and SUSHISAMBA park, Balloo helped open the much-acclaimed hotspot Sugarcane Raw Bar Grill in Miami in 2010. He recently returned from cooking on a European cruise and wrote about his experiences for us.