Alpine Lake Resort is located in Terra Alta and features a few different dining spaces. Laker's Lounge, soon to be Hull's Pub, is a the sports bar-esque spot that I haven't had a chance to try yet. The Laurel Dining Room, soon to be La Tavola Restaurant, is the primary dining space, I believe. Finally, the Evergreene Dining Room is more of their event space, which is where I enjoyed a special Easter brunch. The Evergreene dining room is through the lodge front entrance and up the steps. It has views of the lake and the 10th hole of their golf course. I was seated a bit back from the windows, so I didn't see much of the view. The menu included: Honey Baked Ham, Oven Roasted Chicken Breast, Homemade Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Green Beans, Honey Glazed Carrots, Salad & Rolls and Assorted Desserts. I got a little bit of everything to try. My favorites were the honey glazed carrots. Have you been? Grade: B

Because I am an absolutely insane person, I decided with the several hours of free time I had before my flight out of California that I would hop on over to Disneyland Park.



Disneyland is the original theme park created by Walt Disney, opening in 1955 in Anaheim, California. It’s smaller than Disney World but still charming -- and with plenty of food.



Mint Julep Bar - I stopped here for some pillowy, powdery Mickey-shaped beignets.



Cafe Orleans - Here, I had a monte cristo, which is a deep-fried sandwich of ham, turkey, and cheese dusted with powdered sugar and served with berry sauce.



I also had a fun lemonade with a gummy worm inside.



Edelweiss Snacks - A cheesy garlic pretzel bread that is pull-apart and delicious.



Churros - There are a bunch of different churro stands, but I went to the one near Sleeping Beauty's Castle so try the strawberry sugar



AND chocolate marshmallow dipping sauce.



I was really full by this time, but just one more stop.



Little Red Wagon - Corndog, which is a staple featuring a crispy, hand-dipped corn dog.



My very last stop was at the Candy Palace for churro toffee.





Have you ever been?

On my last cruise, I was able to visit Mexico for the first time. Ensenada is a seaport town about 80 miles south of San Diego. It's a top Baja California destination and is known for La Bufadora, one of the world's largest marine blowholes.



We had a full day to explore Ensenada, so I started with a foodie tour.



We began at Mercado Negro, which is a seafood market.



Did you know that the fish taco was created in Ensenada?



Mariscos El Norteno - Shrimp Taco: The srimp taco was served with cabbage and many different salsas: sour cream, mayo, jalapeno, chili de arbol + water, chili de arbol + oil, habanero. Rick Bayless recommends this place.



Next up was a drink: Mezcal.



Mitos Mezcaleria & Restaurante - Here we had shots of mezcal, a margarita with mezal, a grasshopper and marlin.



Mezcal means any spirit distilled from the agave plant.



A margarita made with mezcal instead of tequila made it a bit smokier and a little more complex tasting. This was unique.



Chapulines are tasoted grasshoppers and are crunchy, salty and that's about it. Not bad paired with the margarita, to be honest.



Finally, marlin is a big-game fish and is often cooked with tomatoes, onions and peppers. It is popular here.



Next up was churros.



Cafe La Churreria - these were fresh and fried right in front of us.

Tacos Lidia & Bar el Zarape - these fresh tacos still use the authentic batter. It's fried until light, airy and crisp.



We ended with some shots of tequila.



Tequilera Doña Engracias - this tequila tasting house offered 5-6 pours.



Have you ever been?

The local Guadalajara restaurants were fast-growing and then had a bit of an implosion. So the Barboursville Guadalajara is no more, but I did get a chance to check it out before it closed. The Tanyard Station location leaned into a “modern Mexican” or fusion-style approach rather than strictly traditional fare. It opened in September 2024 as part of a small regional group owned by Sergio Lugo-Mata, who already had a following from other locations. The menu included a range of categories such as tacos, burritos, quesadillas, enchiladas, and combination plates with sides like rice and beans. Specific items listed include birria tacos, carne asada tacos, burritos filled with meats like chicken, steak, or carnitas, and fajitas served with peppers, onions, and tortillas. Additional offerings include seafood dishes like shrimp plates, chicken-based entrées (such as pollo fundido), soups, and house specials like chilaquiles and chimichangas. I ordered "Mom's Mole," which featured shredded chicken, rice, lettuce, cheese and sour cream. Mole is a complex Mexican sauce with a layered, savory-sweet-spiced flavor profile. I think this fit the bill, but I would love even more depth. Grade: B

At Pittsburgh International Airport, the outpost of Wigle Whiskey operates as a full-service bar and restaurant located post-security in Concourse A. Wigle, founded in 2011 as the first distillery in Pittsburgh since Prohibition, produces its spirits from regionally sourced grains and draws its name from Philip Wigle, a figure associated with the 1790s Whiskey Rebellion in Western Pennsylvania. The airport location serves a menu of cocktails made with Wigle’s house spirits, along with beer, cider, and a range of food items including breakfast dishes, flatbreads, and sandwiches. I was here for breakfast and had a perfecfly serviceable bacon, egg & cheese sandwich with home fries. The sandwich came on a standard bun with a folded egg, melted cheese and couple strips of bacon, while the home fries were cubed and griddled with light browning on the edges, served as a straightforward, no-frills side typical of airport breakfast menus. Grade: B