A Paradise for Mind, Body, and the Planet

Casa Cayuco, a tropical escape in Bocas del Toro, Panama combines wellness and sustainable tourism while helping an indigenous community By Jill Dutton ​ The British gentleman, Julian, and I are the first guests awake, each sipping a steaming cup of locally grown, small-batch coffee at the open-air lodge at Casa Cayuco, an eco-adventure lodge on…

Mississippi’s Off-Bottom Aquaculture Brings Oysters Fresh from Sea to Table

Global Plates: The People We Meet, The Food They Eat Who: Mike ArguellesWhat: Off-bottom oystersWhere: Biloxi, MississippiRecipe: Oyster Soup Captain Mike Arguelles met me at the docks in Biloxi, Mississippi. His scruffy beard and happy eyes said it all: this is a practical, get-the-job-done oyster farmer who delights in telling funny tales. Arguelles had agreed…

Damiana Liqueur: Herbal Aphrodisiac or Urban Legend?

Before departing on a recent trip to La Paz, Mexico, I heard about a mythical spirit called damiana liqueur.Always interested in herbal remedies and tinctures, I was eager to taste and learn more about this liqueur made from the damiana plant that grows well in Baja California Sur’s desert climate. It’s said that the damiana…