‘Bucket List’ Survives Gimmicks
By David Germain

Facing terminal illness, we all should get to experience a no-costs-barred world tour to do everything we ever wanted.

By Sylvie Bigar

Chicken may be our natural feathered comfort food but quail is leaner than duck and so much tastier than its bigger relations.

Michael Anthony, executive chef at Gramercy Tavern, began cooking quail at Daniel. “At the time, we had boned-out birds from D’Artagnan, and Daniel’s technique was tremendous,” he said. “We stuffed them with foie gras and peaches or figs. They are an excellent choice because they are not too gamy.” In fact, “the quails I came across later in my career were often too lean and lacked the kind of flavor profile I was looking for,” he added. “So I enlisted the help of Sylvia Pryzant at Four Story Hill Farm in Pennsylvania, and with a local farmer, we developed the breed of Coturnix quail we use now.”

A Rhapsody for the Former Yugoslavia

By Rory Winston

Ignorance, historical amnesia, skewed perspective — the indispensable travel companions while on route through Central Europe. No, this is not a plea for buttressing the already bad reputation Americans have when it comes to history and global awareness. Nevertheless, there’s no better way to enjoy all that comprises the former Yugoslavia than by relishing the present rather than succumbing to misinterpretations of its muddled past.

By Christy Lemire

“Charlie Wilson’s War,” a crisp, biting satire that confidently mixes sex and politics, glides along so smartly and smoothly, it makes you wonder how it’s possible that director Mike Nichols and writer Aaron Sorkin never teamed up before.

Bohemia Gets a Posh Makeover

Prague has long been known as a haven for budget travelers trying to escape Europe’s pricier cities. Lately, though, the picturesque Bohemian capital has been attracting visitors that are more likely to stay at one of a slew of new five–star hotels and dine at some of the continent’s finest restaurants. – Alysha Brown

The holiday season is over but the chilly winter nights remain. Keep up the cheer by dining out and cozying up next to a toasty, warm fireplace.
—Kerri Fortune

By Sarah Showfety

Paris is well known for its upscale magasins and luxe boutiques. But just outside the highway encircling the city rests a different kind of shopping adventure: The world’s largest flea market. A far cry from the chic stores of rue Vieille du Temple, Les Marches aux Puces de Saint-Ouen span nearly 17 acres and attract an estimated 200,000 visitors every week. Formed in 1885, when Parisian rag and bone men who sifted through discarded items at night were banished beyond the city walls, Les Puces have expanded into 15 individual markets.

St. Lucia is finally stepping up to the luxury-vacation-spot plate. A handful of
independent high-end properties are now accepting reservations, and big names like Westin and Ritz-Carlton will open their doors in the near future.

By Sascha Brodsky

One of the best Asian restaurants in New York may not be Nobu, that perennial celebrity dining spot, but a Vietnamese place nearby. Mai House is owned by the same people as Nobu and gets less attention but its decisive flavors and warm atmosphere deserve more acclaim.

By Elissa Gilbert

We set out from the island of Caye Caulker in Belize in our small boat, turning off the motor and poling slowly through the mangroves. At first we saw manatees, those ungainly mermaids, simply as distant gray lumps. But finally one chose to swim to our side and hung there beside us, only its nostrils poking above the water. We stayed until our guide insisted we leave to go snorkel with stingrays and nurse sharks; a dolphin swam ahead of us leading the way. Such is a morning in Belize.