When Work Is Fun

I am so blessed to do the the two things I love most in the world for a living! Cook & Travel! Based out of New York a corporate chef by day and a personal chef by all the other time. I work and play with the best of them in some of the hottest spots on the globe! Just a few paths I cross
Dayana Mendoza Miss Universe 2008, Riyo Mori Miss Universe 2007, Tara Conner Miss USA 2007, Sean Puffy Combs, Usher and Janet J

EVEN MORE SPORTS AROUND THE WORLD

MORE SPORTS AROUND THE WORLD

SPORTS AROUND THE WORLD

The Domestic Case!!

Recently some friends accused me of being biased against domestic adventures. Honestly I can be and do prefer international exploits but I have had many adventures throughout the U.S.A. some of my favorite are the strippers in NY. Black Pride in L.A. and cruising in Miami! Hey What can I say?

TIPS OF THE WEEK

"Tips of the week" part 2 0f 3

Great the plane has landed and you are ready to begin the trip of a life time! First things first before you left home you did your research and learned your passport number by heart. You read the travel page on the airline website to know what was going to be required and by whom. Naturalized citizens, aliens and green cards all have their own specific requirements. You went to the bank and made envelopes or little piles of money. Your tourist card or entry fees should be set aside in small bills. Your cab fare should be set side and very definitely in small exact bills. This is one of the first crtitical mistakes new travelers makes "do not assume that people will have change". Even if they do have change they are not likely to give it to you because there is a greater likelihood that you will just give them the larger bill and they will make money on the deal. Along wth the cab fare set aside a note to yourself with the cross streets of the location you are going, be sure to note any special landmarks or instructions to help them find the place. LOCATIONS ABROAD DO NOT USE FULL STREET ADDRESSES similar to what we are accustomed to in the U.S. AN ABSOLUTE MUST is to agree on a SPECIFIC price BEFORE getting in the cab B E F O R E I said! Remember you are in a foreign country and the law as you know it and expect do not exist they have their own culture and law. If you do not speak the language, you can almost guarantee the law will not be tilted in your favor. A fairly reasonable assumption is that it is not in your favor to exchange money at the airport. Food, beverage and everything else including exchanging money at the airport is tilted against you. The rate maybe 34.5 nationally but the airport will only give you 31 or 32.

Once you have arrived at your lodging the first thing to do is reconfirm your arrangements with the manager. Make sure you are all in agreement on the length of your stay and the rate you agreed to pay. Once in the room make sure everything is working or in good condition. Some managers have been known to charge guests for broken lamps, chairs and tables that were broke years ago. The next item, check out the safe and separate your passport, tickets and any credit cards and identification not needed. Well- what exactly is needed. Your passport is not, never walk around with your passport unless traveling in a communist state. Before leaving home you should have made copies of your passport. THe copy and your dirvers/ non drivers ID are sufficient. Remember an American Passport is one of the most prized and sought after documents in the world. I have known several people who have given their passports to the police and never received them back. Ask the maids and hotel workers who has the best exchange rates in the neighborhood. They are a good source because they often need to change American money they receive as tips. You can always ask the desk clerks but they are not necessarily as strong of an information source as the general help. Calculate what your expectations are for the next three days and exchange 5% above that amount of money. If you exchange 3 or 4 days worth at a time it better limits excess foreign money to bring back home and if an emergency occurs you will have one less thing to worry about exiting the country. You can always exchange the money for American money at the airport but will take a signifiant loss. Now that you are ready to get out and about. Walk around the area during day light and establish markers for getting back to your hotel later after partying. Tryto locate and introduce yourself to the "expat community". This is a group of Americans who now make their home in the local area. They can be a wealth of knowledge and resources. THIS DOES NOT MEAN you can just blanketedly trust them. You can ask questions about the local scene, where and where not to go and why! I have personally had some bad experiences with expats but by and far I have had thousands more good experiences. Basic common sense should always dictate. Never wear expensive designer goods and flash large sums of money. If they are expensive to you they are 10 times as glamorous and expensive to locals who have little access to owning them and you are asking to be robbed or mugged. Many of the people admire your presence, they envy the fact you had the opportunity and money to come to their country. Many of them can and will never have the resources to get a visa or money to travel out of their country. Basically you can be the poorest person in America who barely scrapped up enough money for the trip but to them you must be wealthy and have money because you did make the trip. People view situations from their own point of reference not necessarily the real point.

I should not have to say this but for those who don't know. Trade proof your room before having company. Lock up anything of value, small enough to easily be slipped into a pocket or scooped up. Don't line up all of your sneakers in plain view because it only invites numerous requests for a pair because if you have 10 pair you must be able to give a pair away, what the hell you are rich!

For the dumbest of you kids out there you NEVER - EVER -NO NOT EVER do you share your safe key or combination with anyone. Many a kids have left their safe key laying around while having trade and gagged after they checked and found their safe empty, a pair shoes or glasses missing. Hopefully you are practicing this at home and know to do it on vacation. Listen to the undertones, I know the old adage that she is just saying that because she is trying to block me from having him, well part that maybe the case but the fact that he stole her laptop and car keys is real and bears consisderation. It doesn't mean that he steals from everyone but it does mean he may steal from everyone and bears watching. Always have dates on your terms and place. If you do not fluently speak the language and know the area do not go anyplace with them. Too many people have been lured to the country or bario and robbed, stripped naked and left on the highway gagging not to mention naked! In part three we will deal with corrupt police, the bars and what else there is to do other than getting your fuck on!

TIP OF THE WEEK "RESEARCH"

Part one of three

Everything can be said about "research and preparation" for a good safe and fun adventure. Of course there are the basics. Why are you going, where to go and when to go? As simple as these basics seem I can tell you tons of stories about those who didn't lift a finger to learn anything about the place they were going both domestically and internationally. WHY ARE YOU GOING seems simple enough but a lot deeper than most think. Consider these options: is the trip a weekend getaway, business, vacation, escape from trouble, get my fuck on or my friends said I should check it out.

Why these all seem the same to the novice, the savvy traveler understands how a successful trip is impacted differently by these circumstances. On weekends I sneak away for a "get my fuck on" that is just what it is, I am not focused on seeing a lot of friends and hanging out. I am concentrated on getting in the city solo, finding the right one and getting my swerve on -strictly. No Souvenirs, one lightly packed bag, no explanations and the cheapest ticket as possible.

When I go "on vacation" I lay out at the beach, party and the bars and sip on beer at the local people watching spots. I may or may not get my swerve on and I bring souvenirs back. The cost of the ticket can range from low to moderate because I have certain dates and times in mind.

THE POINT! Be clear and honest about "What Success will look like at the end of the trip for you?" If you want to have a successful "get your fuck on" and you like it dark or toasted why the hell would you got to Moscow. The Snow capital of the world. Ask around , use the web, checkout the travel sites and research if the destination is going to offer what you are looking for.

Successful trips require thoughtful consideration on budget and local currency. I once met a brother in Santo Domingo who was the biggest pain in the ass and wanted to know why people didn't want to be around him. "Simply" he was on a trip he could not afford. The one time we went out to eat as a group, he complained about where we ate because of the prices, he ordered the cheapest & smallest dish on the menu and then ate off of everyone else's plate. He had the audacity to pull out coins to pay his bill and complained after we expected him to contribute to the tip. Everyone knows how much money they have before they buy their ticket so why go someplace that you can not have a comfortable & affordable time. Plan your activities accordingly. If you go with friends it is a fact that you will be in a situation to be offered a drink or meal and you should plan on being able to offer one in turn. Food cost are relative to the food experience if you plan on eating deli meat, bread and water you entire trip do not put yourself in situations with people who have budgeted for restaurants and 1 or 2 fine dinning events. There are numerous blogs that give real time updates and budgeting tips on every thing from the cost of hookers to the price of a local brew. Do your research.

Recently two young brothers (want to be high rollers) raised all hell with a friend (a hotel manager) because they thought they were getting a five star palatial hotel suite for $70.00 USD a night. "It is not what I expected" well asshole just what were you expecting because you made your reservation online where there are numerous pictures showing exactly what the rooms look like and all of the pertinent information. $70.00 USD is what it is and what it is not is a suite at the Waldorf.

THE POINT! Do your research, look at the pictures on the websites, check with other people or friends who have stayed there. Be sure you understand what lodging means in other cultures. Most of the Caribbean, Europe and Africa have a concept known as apart-hotels that are basically small efficiency apartments that are rented out as budget to moderate level hotel options. There are the traditional hotels that Americans are accustomed to but you need to realize you are looking for this option when booking your selection. Each has its advantages but most notably are the cost, amenities and status is more important than budget and cultural experience then choose the hotel option. If you want to experience living in a local neighborhood, preparing some of your own meals and you don't need 24 hour room service then consider apart-hotels they are safe, clean and very economical. It is also important for the novice to check on different websites several times beginning 2 weeks before leaving on your trip to get an impression of how the exchange rate is trending so you will have an idea how far your money may go. Pay for as many things before hand as possible. It is much easier to make claims or get credits for services that you paid for from the states than it is actually in a foreign country if a problems should arise. Want to practice, select a place you have never been but would like to go and try to answer these basic questions: Why do you want to go there? When are the high and low seasons? Which airline is the main service provider for the destination? What is the currency and how does it compare to USD (united states dollars).

MEMORIES OF PANAMA

PEEPS AROUND THE GLOBE

TRAVELERS TIP OF THE WEEK

"Travelers tip of the week" is a forum style discussion on topics and questions I receive from readers, friends, haters and the likes regarding a wide range of topics. In the premiere tip I have decided to open a basic honest discussion regarding what was supposed to be a read by a friend. Only the friend had no clue he had the right person for the challenge!
The conversation started around what our plans for the summer were and quickly moved in the direction of the persons disgust for people who spend all of their hard earned dollars to go to foreign places just for sex. Needless to say this enraged me on several levels. Firstly, is this what a so called friend really thought of me as a broke brother flying to another country just for a sexual tryst. Secondly, that I don't have the resources to afford my adventures whatever or where ever they may be and finally the lack of culture and sophistication of someone I had actually considered a worldly person. Just another example of our acquaintances who spend all their money and efforts on designer clothing and apparel. The latest in high fashion footwear and the likes yet lack the knowledge of the origins of the goods. You may look like a million but have the sophistication and culture of a maggot. (oops get off the soap box bitch!)
Lets jump right into this drama, WE NOW LIVE IN A GLOBAL SOCIETY and have been for a very long time. People need to wake up and understand that there is so much more in the world other than "down south", Cali and fried chicken. My home base of New York is a prime example of how many languages, cultures and foods that can now be found in the major cities of the US. It is impossible to realistically live in the USA and not encounter any host of foreign languages in our children's schools, at the office and while searching through thousands of new, different and exciting products in the bodegas, artisan markets and specialty stores. Hell, what ever happened to the simple cup of coffee, I think it is some place behind the lattes and double espressos.

Success in America is now defined by one's ability to actively live in a global community. I am a successful Executive Chef and much of that success has been earned because of my citizenship in the world at large not just of the USA or Brooklyn. My culinary repertoire and skills have taken a huge economic & financial boost because of my abilities in international cookery. I have invested in myself to be able to afford to explore the world. My conversational knowledge of 3 languages and very importantly my ability to speak English correctly has helped make it affordable. My personal palate has expanded to feel equally stuffed with a plate of collard greens and BBQ chicken as I am with Arroz con Pollo and Christmas Pudding. I can travel up and down the tube in London with the same precision I travel the tap tap in Haiti or the qua qua in DR. I can calculate money in pounds, peso's, CFA and euro's almost as fast as I can count dollars. I like to think of myself as a cultured and learned brother who has visited the equator on opposite sides of the world, swam in 3 different oceans and understands why wearing shorts in public in the US is so different from wearing shorts in public in the major cities of the world! (for those of you who don't know, it is culturally incorrect and instantly identifies you as a tourist or of the lower social class)

It is so exciting to see different political processes and climates other than our so called "democracy." It is very dramatic to see a person beat down or stoned for stealing something, the police/ military will eventually come to take the person to the clinic or to be buried. To learn that many cultures squat instead of sitting (really difficult to use the shiny rock, leaf or paper afterwards) It is confusing to see not men & women walking down the street holding hands but only men and men because it is against the law for women to expose flesh or touch men other than their immediate families in public. I like visiting friends who live in different parts of the world because there are so many very beautiful people with stories and experiences to share.

The beaches, parties and fiestas are off the hook to say the least. ABSOLUTELY the sex is hot and straight up off the chain but that's after a day of doing so many other things. For me personally I enjoy other cultures, foods and camaraderie with friends new and old all over the world. Since I have the means to do it why not. I can relate to the people who made $00.30 an hour to make my Phat Farm jeans or $00.40 an hour to make my Air Force One's or Prada sneakers. Some where in my heart I probably also understand why they risk their loves to cross the ocean on a rickety raft so their children can go to school free of charge.

I open the discussion to your opinions and thoughts? Come on don't be bashful.

Much to do about nothing new!

In a recent episode back on "The El Conde" I was pleasantly surprised that very little has changed.

Everyone still meets and greets at Paco's as the central watering hole. The prices are up slightly but the atmosphere and the staff are the same. The exchange rate remained around 34 the entire week. The curfew is still in effect so not much going on week nights after midnight. There is an entirely new cast of bougerones on the set in all varieties, sizes and colors. Most notably are how young they are these days. The old busted ones are still hanging around as well. Francisco is barred from Paco's for pimping young shoe shine boys to tourists and causing a big brawl when he stole $4000 RD from a Jamiacan who threatened to turn the place out. Silvio is strung out on drugs and looks really bad. Raoul is looking better than ever! Softer than ever but all the same hot. Tony Salami is still on the set if you eat that sort of thing! Alejandro still not in good graces after being outed for the thief he is looks horrible.

There were a number of tourists, travelers and ex pats on the scene. Interesting was the large number of people who have moved to Santo Domingo. Clearly a large number of them need to come back home to the states. Why would you move to a foreign country to live in a squatters tent in an abandoned building smelling and looking fierce in public. Others in this tired new bohemian breed have fabulous rented apartments but no food in their homes. Am I missing the point why are they living poorer than the poorest people in a foreign country? They seem to meet on a daily basis to play cards, yes cards as in bid whist not dominoes at Paco's. The ha ha is the dominicans are whispering about how they buy 1 soda and sip on it all day while playing cards. We are not going to even begin to talk about the kidz running out owing months of rent and fleeing back to the states. All I can say is beware if your good judy calls and says she is moving back to the states and needs a place to crash for a few. Do yoursef a favor and tell her to sleep on the beach where she is!

I must mention some of the Ex pats I admire most for hanging in there and going strong. Anthony is still operating the Camillo Apartments and despite the whiners the palce is still amongst the favorites of seasoned and experienced travelers to Santo Domingo. The apartment hotel features 6 modestly furnished apartments- livingroom, kitchen, bath with microwave, free intenational telephonne and internet access. Maid service everyday except Sunday. There is no fee for visitors. Centrally located in the heart of a thriving residential neighborhood next to stores and local businesses, Close enogh but far enough away from all the action on "The Conde". My favorite feature is rolling up to my own apartment building without having to be scrutinized by a doorman or security person. Anthony is knowledgeable of American and Dominican cultures and eager to share information and tips to make your trip better.

Hotel Venezia is still open but charging a hefty $500 RD for day visitors and $1000 Rd for night visitors. The higher end Mecure and Hodelpa Caribe Hotels are open and still costly options for those of you seeking high end options. JDs is still open but charging $250 RD per person to get in which explains why there was only 12 people in there on Saturday night. A new spot called Eucalyptus was packed and nice located rightoff the Conde down from Bar Friends which was also open empty but open. The newest hot spot is free yep absolutely free, Parque Duarte is all the rage and a hell of a lot of fairy dust if get my drift. Basically it was nice to have a few old dates and see some old friends in firey hot weather in the beginning of July.

The Meat Market

Somehow in Brooklyn when we say fresh it doesn't mean this fresh! The village meat market hack it skin it, drain it and throw it on the spit for dinner. Goat goat and more goat, not much else going on in this Muslim Village.

ISLE DE GOREE "SLAVE MANSION"

The very emotional and thought provoking Isle De Goree, the slave island, home of the infamous "Maison Esclave", the slave house where so many passed through the door of "No Return".

Wall Street has nothing on these village stock brokers deciding the days commodity rates for the all important currency of goats out in the village central market. So much to learn and do in village life!

The Village Center

Kmart move over because they are having a big sale in Dakar right in the village central market!

DAKAR, SENEGAL

Yeah, I know its a year late but better late than never! My maiden voyage to the motherland was all that I thought it would be. Breath taking, emotional, confusing, passionate and fantastic. The people were rich, beautiful and animated. They quickly proved to me the need to get over the fantasy & beauty of it all and realize that to them my pilgrimage to the homeland was an American thing that black "Americans" go through; to them at best just more Yankee bucks to be earned, taken or swindled by any means necessary. Absolutely there were many genuine and endearing people but the overwhelming characters were the the street hustlers hawking their cheap Chinese made goods, much like the cheap wares you buy on Canal Street. There were so many people wanting to talk about visas and getting married. I didn't get a feel for the real Africa until getting out of the city and into the rural areas and villages. Once in a village the confused baffled sense of what to do or where to start set in and I felt like a kid separated from my mother the first time in a huge grocery store. I was not sure whether to run, cry or just sit and roll up into a ball. The first village drama was how to use the bathroom after riding 6 hours in the bush. Well seems simple enough until you pull open the door and realize that the African bathroom is a whole in the ground that one squats over, right before trying to figure out what to do about flushing, wiping and forget about washing hands or hand because it is a Muslim country. You are only supposed to use your left hand for cleaning and wiping and the right hand for eating and touching, but of course I knew this because of my trip research. Dinner was interesting, still not sure of what it was but it was dead, well cooked and mixed with rice that we all ate in a big circle on the floor out of the same pot only with our right hands and only after I ate first as the guest of honor. So what, I was scared as hell and worried about dying from eating who knows what that they got from who knows where! We ate and drank some kind of homemade drink and talked in to the night and then all of a sudden all of the women were gone and then the elders and then there were just a few men left and lets just say, I will be going back for the late night antics in November! I finally got to sleep under the hot and arid African moonlight feeling very peaceful!