Serbia was interesting. We spent three days in Belgrade late last fall, and by the time I was starting to appreciate it, it was time to leave. From a tourist standpoint, there is a lot of interesting architecture. Belgrade is also rich in history. I highly recommend the Museum of Yugoslav History (Tito Museum) for a quick primer.

Now, about the food. Serbian food tends to be rich and hearty. I loved the lamb stew at Restoran Sindjelic, a super traditional joint.

Every morning, I had to get a cherry pastry and cappuccino from the simple and delightful Roggenart cafe. I also enjoyed Communale, an Italian bistro and bar on the water.

Clearly, three days wasn't enough to fully explore Belgrade. My short takeaway? If you ever find yourself there, you can't go wrong with hearty food.

I recently spent some time in Slovenia, and fell completely in love. To be honest, I knew very little about the country prior to a few years ago, when Brandon and I met and befriended a couple from Slovenia while vacationing in Croatia. They told us about the natural wonders and amazing wineries, and we were sold. Fast forward a few years later (plus a baby), and we were finally there. 

Ljubljana, the capitol city where we began, is really one of the most beautiful cities I've ever seen. The sights outside Ljubljana, though, make Slovenia a truly unique destination.

Lake Bled is absolutely beautiful...it reminds me of Lake George in upstate New York. Nearby Vintgar Gorge is so jaw-droppingly gorgeous. The hike around the gorge is probably the most beautiful I've ever been on. The Soca River has an amazing color and is stunning on a clear day.

Lake Bled is famous for cream cake. Available only in that area of Slovenia, it is light, fluffy, and delicious. It was perfect with a glass of Slovenian sparkling wine.

On our way home from Lake Bled, we had a delightful dinner at Villa Podvin, a charming restaurant and B and B. We had several courses, but the standout was the scallop dish, prepared with black truffle, parsley root soup, raspberries, and green beans. Yum.

The Goriska Brda wine region was one of my favorites. It is full of very small, family wineries, most of which are also B and Bs. It's also extremely close to Italy, and you can definitely feel and taste that influence in the area. I thought Stekar was one of the best wineries in the area.

The Goriska region also boasts the country's best restaurants. We were lucky enough to get a reservation at Hisa Franko in nearby Kobarid. Chef Ana Ros (of Netflix's Chef's Table) did not disappoint. It definitely has a spot on my Top 10 list. We had a nine course lunch. There were cheese lollipops to start, followed by two compliments of the kitchen, utilizing mussels and caviar...not a bad way to start. The langoustine with watermelon, pumpkin gnocchi with black truffle and calf's brain (more delicious than it sounds), and pork with green beans were my favorites.

Then, of course, there's the food in Ljublijana. Galena Trznica, or the open air market, sells the freshest fruits and veggies, as well as meats, cheeses, and anything else you could possible want. On Fridays only, there is the incredible Odprta Kunha food market. Translated to Open Kitchen, it's where restaurants set up shop and showcase a few of their best dishes in an outdoor kitchen, along with great local wines. I loved the traditional Slovenian pancakes, the pastries, the pork (prepared in a 

Caja China box), and the trout sashimi served with beans.

Slovenia was absolutely one of the best travel recommendations I've ever received. I'll never skip over that part of Europe again.