Papaya Playa, Tulum comes up trumps.....

I was beginning to think the America's would never jump on board after my final attempt at 'earth to Salvador' fell on deaf ears, but fear not, we have a breakthrough! After a week of wondering whether Papaya Playa in Tulum www.papayaplayaproject.com would be interested I received an email and a very enthusiastic one at that. Having visited Tulum a few years back and experienced the Mexican hospitality, great restaurants and amazing streetfood I really did feel like it was here I wanted to send the final 8th book and it really has made my day now I've heard back from them. Hopefully this book will get lovingly picked up by someone who will then go and enjoy seafood taco's and a cold corona whilst watching the Gulf of Mexico crash against the powder sand shores.

Calling on Salvador

It seemed relatively easy to entice Europe, Asia, Africa and Australasia on board therefore I am stumped as to why I have hit a stumbling block with the Americas. Firstly there was San Francisco, a laid back culinary city whose love of clam chowder and sourdough had me licking my lips from the moment I stepped off the plane, but nothing. After persevering I moved onto LA, slightly more tricky with choices seemingly reserved for either high end chain hotels or budget motels, still nothing though. Ah ha, I shall move further south and into tropical climes I thought, Mexico and Tulum was to be my next attempt. Once again nothing as was the case with Lima and Cusco. Now I am hanging my hopes on the carnival town of Salvador in the north of Brazil. There's still time for one of the above to come back to me, afterall maybe the hot tropical heat has sent them delirious or they have been temporarily abducted by aliens. Surely it can't be because they don't want to be a part of it.....could it?

Come on the Americas, you're my only missing link!

Coffee Daze

A balmy summer's afternoon in Melbourne with coffee, cake, sushi and steak at every turn. In a city so diverse it's no surprise that around every corner the scent of freshly cooked food and ground coffee beans wrap their arms around you and draw you in. Fast forward a few hours and you're tumbling back out, smiling, content and heading for the nearest cold beer and an evening of fun!

The Nunnery in Melbourne www.nunnery.com.au is just one of the hotels taking part in Our Travelling Cookbook and they are perfectly positioned in Fitzroy to explore the many bars and restauants down Brunswick Street and Lygon. 

So, do you know of anyone who wants to add a delight from Down Under to the book? 

Waiting on America

So Villa Rivercat in Goa and Paje by Night in Zanzibar are the latest 2 hotels to join forces with Our Travelling Cookbook, all I need now is the USA and South Amercia who are both proving rather elusive! I'm still grafting away though and hopefully my determination will pay off and they'll give in!

Initially I'd said the 10th August was going to be the official launch date, however with the above delay in contacting the America's and the later season in Goa meaning Villa Rivercat won't be open for business until September I'm going to postpone the launch. Early September it will be so keep your eyes peeled. There's a couple of other things up my sleeve too which may very well increase this blogs viewing numbers and hopefully make the Cookbook more of a success.

So, sit back, wait for the next update and spread the word my Cookbookers!