This is the final day of the Atlantic City Food & Wine Festival (www.atlanticcitynj.com/foodandwine.aspx). So far, I’ve met and spoken with Tom Colicchio (from Top Chef), watched Emeril Lagasse give an intimate cooking class, strolled through the food expo packed with vendors and saw Guy Fieri signing books. The four-day festival has been a nonstop, food celebrity extravaganza. Today, I’m off to a House of Blues brunch hosed by Duff Goldman from Ace of Cakes. The festival has been held at four different hotels, Harrah’s, Bally’s, Caesar’s and Showboat.

I am in the home stretch with my fourth book. This week it goes to the publisher for good, then the copy editor. I can't wait to finish and see it in print in the fall. I have just returned from Cleveland, where the North American Travel Journalists Association annual meeting was held. I am on the advisory board, so lots to chat with members about, esp. regarding the new TravelWorld International Magazine format.