Kate has always loved good food, travel and adventure. From a young age her parents, Joyce and John McAloon took the family on Holidays to beautiful places where they had delicious food. Kate's parents loved to entertain and travel so it's only natural that she does too. Her mother was a wonderful cook who could taste something once and make it again. Kate has the same talent and has created many delicious dishes inspired from her travels. Kate travels whenever she has a break in her busy cooking life and loves to try new foods wherever she goes. Take a look at some of Kate's favorite Restaurants, Hotels, Shops and more in Kate's Favorite Picks. One of Kate's favorite trips to Europe started in Paris { photos }, with her good friend and photographer, the late, Nancy Hollander. (Nancy took all the photos in France and Italy including the food photos on the recipe page.) After a few days in "The City of Lights" they moved on down to the South of France for six weeks in Villefranche Sur Mer { photos }. From there it was on to Portofino, Italy where they stayed at Hotel Eden and had great meals at Hotel Splendido { photos } and Splendido Mare. They had a magical time on the Riviera eating their way along the coast, cooking delicious meals, shopping in fresh open-air markets and meeting wonderful people including Count Pier Braschi, (Ambassador to San Marino and Colombia) his delightful wife, Countess Nubia Braschi (whom Kate met at the pool because of the "Red Hat" { photos } and their lovely daughter, Contessa Francesca Grumina Braschi { photos }. The Mediterranean trip was very special and full of delightful and memorable dining adventures. One of the most spectacular dining experiences was in the Medieval Village of Eze perched high above the glistening Mediterranean Sea and Cap Ferrat at the world famous Chateau Chevre d'Or Restaurant. The 5 course meal was thoroughly delicious and paired with beautiful French wines, including a glass of Chateau d'Yquem served with dessert to top off the evening. A brilliant memory, to say the least that has inspire several new dishes for Kate to share with her clients and friends back home. Kate and fellow Chef, Rabia Nabahani headed to Bermuda to celebrate their birthdays and to attended the yearly Bermuda Gourmet Getaway. They met Chef Bobby Flay and several other "Guest Chefs" at the event and had a great time sampling the culinary delights of Bermuda. They stayed at Ariel Sands Hotel, owned by Michael Douglas's family and enjoyed the famous "Pink Sandy Beaches" and a few "Dark and Stormy" Rum Cocktails. A good time was had by all! Yet on another escapade to Europe, Kate was off on another wonderful trip to Zurich and Bern, Switzerland visiting friends. While in Bern, she stayed at the Hotel Bellevue Palace, where she dined on Swiss fare and did a bit of shopping along the beautiful cobble stone streets of Switzerland's capitol city { photos }. The next destination on this trip was Venice, Italy. In Venice, she stayed at the Hotel Monaco and Grand Canal and dined on some of Venice's many seafood delights at the rooftop restaurant in the Hotel Danieli and sipped heavenly Bellini's at Harry's Bar, This is where the cocktail was invented (Bellini's, Champagne and fresh White Peach Nectar) { photos }. She especially enjoyed dining "al fresco" after a grand tour in a Gondolier { photos } on the terrace restaurant canal side at Hotel Marconi. Kate says "Life is way too short not to enjoy all the many splendors the world has to offer along the way!"