Mama Lucias

    Abstract The 16th in a continuing series of research reports based on twice-yearly surveys of the most affluent 10% of U.S. households, this survey was designed to answer 7 important questions about marketing to the affluent and luxury consumers: Should you be concerned about the prevalence of the concepts of "stealth wealth" and "luxury shame"? What is the "new normal" and will the affluent return to pre-recession levels of spending? Which segments of the affluent have been reducing/deferring expenditures, which segments will do so over the next 12 months, and which segments are not cutting back? What are the spending plans for December holiday gifts? Which of 8 major expenditures do the...

As it is often the case, when one has experienced a cruise vacation, it then becomes a way of life and the preferred way to vacation. I think it speaks volumes that so many people have taken more than one cruise. If you ask a first time cruise vacationer if he'd do it again, the answer is always an affirmative! So why are cruises such a big hit? I think of cruises as floating hotels that move from place to place leaving you with not a care in the world. All your needs are met in terms of accommodation, food and entertainment. Unlike unsavory airplane food, the cruise ship variety is excellent. On a cruise ship, you will never go hungry as they offer you a myriad of options. In traditional...

script type="text/javascript"> We all have heard the adage, “big surprises come in small sizes.” This description certainly fits the bill while describing the picturesque Luxembourg City. Don’t go by its rather humble size. Fly to this alluring capital of Grand Duchy and get a first-hand experience of a great vacation destination. Although small in size, this capital metropolis of Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is quite big on surprises. A Bookingwiz provides flight to the Luxembourg City and you’ll be delighted by what you see. Lush green river valleys, more than hundred bridges, and beautifully juxtaposition of the old and the new, Luxembourg City is all this and more. Start a day...

The Maryland Terrapins is the common name associated with the University of Maryland campus located in College Park, Maryland. While many similar collegiate programs have mascots and nicknames that reference fast and strong creatures like bears and tigers the University of Maryland has college sports fans scratching their heads as a to why a big time college athletic program would liken their squads to the qualities of turtles. The specific turtle that the University of Maryland boasts as its proud mascot is known as the diamondback terrapin. While this particular species occupies the many swamps along coastal Massachusetts down through Florida they are especially plentiful in the Maryland area. So...

The last grimy, slippery bar of restroom soap may have disappeared from the American gas station. Even small independent service stations, perhaps in an attempt to keep soap scum build up on the edges of their sinks to a minimum, seem to have adopted soap dispensers for their customers' hand washing use. But there's another reason for the widespread proliferation of soap dispensers in public establishments; they are very helpful in stopping the spread of germs. Restaurants, in particular, are sensitive to problems resulting from poor employee hygiene, and soap dispensers eliminate the possible contamination which could have, in the past, resulted from sharing a single bar of soap. And homeowners...

Virginia Beach is perhaps one of the most popular vacation destinations in the Mid-Atlantic region. With several miles of sandy beach, a lively nightlife in the Oceanfront and Town Center districts, and numerous points of interest, Virginia Beach attracts visitors from all over the world. Its temperate year-round climate, coupled with proximity to Washington, DC and a simple route via the Eastern Shore to New York City and Philadelphia, also make Virginia Beach an ideal place to live. Whether you are in the military preparing to transfer to any of the area bases, or a young professional looking to work in the various industries popular in the region, Virginia Beach offers a diverse selection of...

People are always on the lookout for those secret romantic getaways - those hidden, beautiful spots that haven't yet been discovered by the masses. One such place is Zihuatanejo, a small, artsy village set on a picture-perfect bay on Mexico's southern Pacific coast, about 140 miles north of Acapulco. Zihuatanejo was a sleepy fishing village right up until the 1970s, and while art galleries, ceramics shops, and upscale restaurants have moved in, the town still retains its quaint charm, from its stone streets to authentic local architecture. Activities in town range from excellent sport fishing to sailing, beach combing, water sports of all kinds, and golfing. There are only a handful of hotels in...

Pizza delivery is a high competition industry and it takes some special marketing to make yours a success. If you are looking to create a fast food pizza delivery monopoly, you will need some top notch and original ideas. This article will get you started with some ideas that you can incorporate into the pizza delivery business. 1. Offer a better deal. Some of the top pizza delivery services offer great deals and freebies. A 2 for 1 deal, free chips and dessert or a free soda with a personal pizza are just a couple of ideas of how you can offer a better deal than the competition. Find out what they are giving away and make yours better. The last thing you want to do is just copy, so consider other...

Best selling novels and tell-alls stay on the bestseller list for weeks if they are really good or topical. Most new books disappear from the public eye in days. The exceptions are cookbooks. A good cookbook can keep its buzz for years. Some cookbooks are treated like family heirlooms and get passed from generation to generation. The Art of Pizza Making by Dominick A. Deangelis has been around since 1991 and it shows no signs of slowing down. People who bought it, or were lucky enough to get it as a gift, a month or so ago have tried the methods and the recipes and now cannot wait to write their review on Amazon. Maybe the Art of Pizza Making is working its way into heirloom status. Almost everybody...

The world's very best pizza is made in wood-fired, open flame, brick pizza ovens. These ovens get much hotter than your home stove ever will, and hotter than the regular steel pizza ovens you see in most pizza shops. Not many restaurants have these special open-flame ovens but if you are eating out and have a pizza that is so good it knocks your socks off be sure to ask the cook about his oven. If not many restaurants have these ovens then you can be sure that the number of homes that can cook a pizza the right way can probably be counted on your hand. Well, that has all changed. A company called Villaware has come out with something it calls the PizzaGrill BBQ Pizza Maker. The Pizza Maker consists...

I can be very picky when it comes to pizza. I've worked in so many pizzerias that it isn't even funny. Because of this I've had a lifelong quest of trying to make the best pizza at home. If you've ever made pizza at home, you know that it can be a challenge. But there are some things you can do to make better pizza for yourself or for your family. Whether you want to make a thin crust pizza or a thick crust pizza, it all comes down to the quality of the dough. The pizzerias that I worked in that had the best pizza always made their dough from scratch. The pizzerias that used frozen dough never tasted as good. Try making your pizza dough the same day that you're going to cook it. The dough is the...

Although consumers know that those huge pizza chains don't make the best pizza in town, it is simply easier to order from them because they have made a name for themselves both on a local as well as a national level. As a matter of fact, they are even famous on an international level! It isn't necessary to try to remember the name of the pizza place they want to order from because everyone in literally every developed country around the world recognizes Domino's, Pizza Hut, Papa John's and Little Ceasars. The point is, those chains got where they are by saturating the market with advertising. They started small in the areas where they began and branched out from there. In today's market there are...

  The Taj Holiday Village, The perfect combination of modern elegance and timeless hospitality, this complex of terracotta- roofed cottages takes it inspiration from Portuguese – Goan design. Set amidst acres of palm- fringed landscaped gardens, quests will discover relaxation that is truly a world apart.   Accomodation Accommodation includes 140 air – conditioned villas comprising of independent one bedroom villas, two bedroom interconnected units, three and four bedroom units and even a six and eight bedroom block for larger groups.   Taj Holiday Village comprises of picturesque Cottages and fragrant gardens that lend an air of rustic simplicity to the surroundings.   The newly renovated...

While throwing your child a birthday party is high on any parents list, most people don't want to spend a fortune for the celebration. Depending on the time of year and your budget, there are some great options for the location of the party (other than your home). If you do decide to throw a party outside your home, be sure to include your child in the location decision. If the child is young, you may want to bring them to the location prior to the party so that they can get comfortable and excited about the upcoming event. Most kids look forwarding to opening their presents at the end of their party. So whatever option you choose, make sure you set aside a special place where all the party goers...

Arby's may not strike up the same kind of glamorous and nostalgic imagery that a more ubiquitous fast food chain like McDonald's does. But that doesn't mean that Arby's food isn't great, and it doesn't mean that it isn't popular. Arby's has continued to grow since its founding in 1964 and is currenty owned by the Wendy's/Arby Group. That's right, the same company that runs Wendy's also runs Arby's. But Arby's markets itself towards a somewhat more adult and sophisticated market, people concerned with both taste and health. Of course Arby's also has its share of tempting greasy enticements, but their menu does have some balance and incorporates healthy options. I personally stay away from their...

Setting up a restaurant and planning its layout is a totally different ballgame than that of setting up your home dining room. While the latter has just one table and a limited number of diners, the former has numerous dining tables to cater for as well as it has to cater to the tastes and sensibilities of a much larger group of people. It is a challenge you can well take on, however, if you have done your homework well. This is the place where all your clients are going to spend their time. The immediate impact on entering has to be fabulous, as the saying goes “The first impression is the last impression”. So start working on it right away. Start with the setting of the dining tables. They...

If you're just starting a restaurant, finding a reliable supplier of restaurant equipment and materials is critical to the success of your business.  If you're not careful, you could spend more on supplies than is necessary.  To control your expenditure and still get great deals on restaurant supplies, here are tips you can use: Buy in bulk Buying in bulk may seem intimidating but it will save you a lot of money in the long run.  Some of the best restaurant supplies deals you'll find are those that are offered through bulk purchases.  If you become a regular buyer, you might even get huge loyalty discounts. Purchase only supplies with the NSF sticker NSF stands for the National Sanitation...

When it comes to starting a restaurant, design, layout and theme can be crucial to its success. You want a comfortable, welcoming atmosphere but you also have to think practically. Just because you are in love with a certain type of window treatment that doesn't mean that it's durable enough to be used in a busy eating establishment. Your basic concept is what you will build upon. Do you want an atmosphere more akin to a family dining room or do you want a more upscale ambiance? The age of your target audience is also an important consideration. While a family restaurant will have to be durable and sturdy, a hangout for a young adult crowd has different demands as does a buffet-style layout. Be sure...

FAMILY-STYLE dining is the latest trend now a days but Dining out with children is normally not as relaxing as it was before you had kids, still there are tips you can take to make the dining experiencea bit more pleasant. Teach Table manners:  Introducing proper table manners at home goes a long way to making meals in restaurants a more relaxing experience for the whole family. Encourage children to use proper utensils at home so that they become familiar with their uses. Tell children how you expect them to behave before you enter the restaurant. Expose children at an early age to dining out and using manners in public. Encourage children to experience, experiment and enjoy new foods...

Denver is the capital city of Colorado. The South Platte River flows through it. It is the 24th most populous city around the US. It was founded in the year 1858. This used to be a mining town then. But now it has been turned into a great business center and a tourists spot as well. If you are in a mood to go out for your honeymoon then Denver can be a great option for you. You will definitely love this city of Denver as there are so many things out here. There are many parks out here in Denver. You will definitely enjoy while sitting in these parks. Many RV parks are also available and you will just have to hire an RV for yourself. It is indeed a very good idea to hire an RV since in this case you...

Nothing on the TV, again? Bored with staying in? Then why not see what the town of Chelmsford has to offer you? You might be surprised! Based only 40 miles from London in the heart of Essex and with great transport access, Chelmsford is a great place to catch the latest films, experience local theatre and dance, or enjoy live music at some superb venues. Covering the whole entertainment spectrum from international musical superstars all the way through to the traditional pantomime, the town of Chelmsford in Essex has something for all ages and tastes. Chelmsford Theatre Chelmsford is fortunate to have two excellent theatres in the town, the Civic Theatre and the Cramphorn Theatre. Both provide a...

Search Engine Optimization is often tough to become successful when dealing with hyper-local businesses. For starters, many of these companies' websites are not designed or maintained directly by the business themselves - frequently, these small to mid sized organizations enlist the services of an Internet Yellow Pages (IYP) company to create and manage their website. While they may have access to change content in these cases, it is common for IYPs to only allow access to certain fields within a site, and not the entire HTML/CSS back-end. Complicating things further is the lack of a true geographic focus with many of these businesses. Say, for example, a family restaurant is located in Schererville...

The people in Italy and Portugal have truly perfected roasted vegetables and as a diabetic it would be a great idea to cook your vegetables as they do. For example they will slice their potatoes, peppers, squash, tomatoes, onions and place them in an oven proof dish. Sprinkle the vegetables with a little bit of olive oil or even balsamic vinaigrette (toss) bake 350 degrees for about 25 minutes. Grill your meat and these vegetables will be ready when you are and they are fabulous. The Italian Pizza can made into a diabetic friendly recipe by using the multigrain wraps for the crust, add lean cooked beef. Saute mushrooms, thin sliced tomatoes and onions until tender. Add the beef and vegetables to the...

New York City, aka the city that never sleeps, fondly known as the Big Apple, is home to approximately eight million people with the population still expected to rise in the years to come. New York City is touted as the centre of the world maybe because each part of the globe has left an indelible mark in this place. From food to works of art to cultural exhibits to tourist attractions, whatever it is you want your senses to take pleasure in, New York City most probably has it. Hotels Choosing where to stay is one of the most common problems that visitors encounter when setting foot on foreign land. In New York City, however, you need not worry that you won’t be provided with the kind of...

Aurora, Colorado, the city of the "Dawn", is a bustling metropolis just outside of Denver. Beautiful and tranquil, even the name brings scenic images to the mind. If you're going to Aurora on business, you might want to book a couple of extra days. If you're going for vacation, you have the right idea. Why? Because Aurora has more attractions, amusements and overall fun places than you'll ever have time to visit! Compared to many cities, Aurora is somewhat small, stretching across a mere 142 square miles. However, this "town" has its proverbial fingers in the cooking pots of the world. Have you ever wanted to taste true exotic cuisine, but haven't been able to take a trip overseas? Did you...

Today was my last day at the Ideal Language School. My teacher Estela and I had a very interesting conversation about Mexican culture, the church, and relationships between men and women. It appears Mexico is a culture in flux, where things are changing slowly but surely. The church has lost much of its grip on people and many things have become more liberal, but deep down it is still a religious and conservative country. My instruction finished at 11 am and everyone went on break. The language school provided a little snack called "chilaquiles" (tortillas with salsa, cheese and sour cream) and a young student from Japan was celebrating her birthday. The school had gotten her a cake, the staff sang...

A tag line is a short, catchy, memorable phrase that creates a distinctive brand identity, and the best of them communicates your brand's Unique Value Proposition (UVP) to your target market. Your UVP is the unique service or knowledge you supply that makes your business stand out from your competitors. Each communication you make to your customer must say to them, 'buy this product, and you will get this specific benefit'. If you can't express your UVP, it can be guaranteed your clients won't be able to, either. Two examples of tag lines that communicate strong UVPs are: Econo Lodge hotel chain - "Spend a night, not a fortune." Mars candy company - "Melts in your mouth, not in your hands." The best...

Italy has long been a popular tourist destination. It has a fascinating history and a lot of western culture can be traced back to this country that is shaped a bit like a boot. This is the home of the Roman Empire and for Catholics around the world is where the head of their church spends most of his time. Italy has long been considered a romantic destination with places like Venice being the ideal honeymoon location. No visit to Europe will be complete unless you have spent a bit of time in Italy. Most visitors to Italy will want to spend a bit of time in Rome. This is home to 16% of the world's artistic treasures and this is a truly impressive figure when you consider how much art there is in the...

How often all of us have ogled hungrily at the pizza due to its lavish choice of toppings? It's true, that how well a pizza can fulfill your cravings depends on the quality of toppings used on it. The kind of toppings also defines the time included in preparing a pizza. They can make it a one-dish wonder or something that is barely consumable. A mouth watering pizza with tangy toppings coupled with a glass of wine like Chianti can be perfect dish for a rainy night. For the more vibrant, beer with pizza is a zestier dish. The choice of pizza toppings can be as varied as the taste buds of the different family members. The simplest toppings are tomato and cheese for young children who have not yet...

You trudge through the cafeteria line, not quite sure what dubious culinary delight will await you further down. The smells that saunter toward your nose are varied and difficult to dissect. Then suddenly you get a peek. Oh joy, it's pizza! But wait! Where exactly did it come from? No, don't try to look through the kitchen doors. Let's peer into the depths of history to see where pizza was born. The origin of pizza is a long and winding trail, and in order to simplify it, we will look at it like a family tree. Where do you think pizza was born - Italy? Well, you are only half right. The great-grandparent of pizza is the flat bread, and that can be traced back to the Stone Age. This great-grandparent...

Pizza is a truly wonderful food, with the combination of foods that everyone loves; cheese, tomato sauce, the toppings of you choice, all presented in the best possible way. However, if you want the genuine taste of real Italian pizza then you will need to use a real pizza oven. There is no one who wouldn't jump at this opportunity except for one minor problem: pizza ovens are incredibly expensive. The stone built, wood fired oven can cost more than $2000, so this crushes most people's dreams of having their own authentic pizza over in their home. However, there is an alternative. Second hand and used pizza ovens can be found with a little bit of luck, getting you closer to that dream of the perfect...

Pizza is an Italian dish that came into existence in the 16th century. The pizza was also called as Pizza Margherita after the name of Italian Queen Margherita as she was a true lover of pizza. Pizza in short is a round bread often covered with tomato sauce and cheese. Other toppings depend on place, culture and taste.  It can be made nutritious depending upon the use of toppings. There are different varieties of pizza present all over world. Italian pizza generally made up of tomato, garlic, oregano and extra virgin olive oil. It is cooked in a wood-fired oven, giving pizza a unique taste. American pizza is very similar to Italians. It has a thick crust, topping of cheese and perhaps pepperoni...

A traditionally cooked Italian pizza is truly one of the most fantastic things in the world, with all the toppings you love combined with cheese and tomato sauce on top of a base that is just crispy enough. In order to get the right texture and subtle flavors f traditional Italian pizza you will have to use a traditional Italian pizza oven, or something close. While these can be very expensive, you will have several different choices that will affect the pizzas that you make. Read on to learn more and make up your mind. Traditional oven The traditional Italian oven is the most expensive to buy, as it is made out of stone and uses a wood fuel. If you do find these ovens for sale they will typically...

Boring meals can come alive with new recipes. Or you can try a completely different one, for a change. Or they can be tucked away in your collection for a special meal in the future. Two or more ingredients makes a recipe. But some are so involved, you wish you never began cooking them. The ingredients go on forever. Some are as easy as stirring two ingredients together, and others require a lot of concentration, coordination, and even some imagination if you do not have the proper cookware. A lot of serious cooks have certain ingredients that they always have on hand. It is actually the flavor of many dishes they prepare. It could be a certain kind of onion, or other vegetables, certain herbs or...

When most people think of the Australia, they think of the iconic Sydney Opera House, or perhaps the Harbour Bridge or even cuddly koalas and kangaroos. But in addition to beautiful buildings, landscape and an abundance of unique wildlife and plants, Sydney offers a variety of international cuisine that has caused even some of the world's best chefs to take off their chef coats and see what is happening in the ethnically diverse kitchens down under. In the inner west neighborhood of Haberfield, known for its great Italian patisseries and restaurants, locals and visitors arrive early in the morning for some of the best coffee and croissants in the city. It is not uncommon to arrive early just as the...

A little known fact about Tuscan cuisine is that the French learned how to cook from their Tuscan counterparts when it was imported by Catherine de' Medici into the court of Henry II. The Tuscan style of cooking is richly flavoured and wholesome. Here is a guide to the Tuscan food and drink. The extreme simplicity of Tuscan cuisine is its strongest strength, as the flavours that emerge during the cooking process are vibrant and pure. Seasoning and sauces are used sparingly, mostly relying on staples like wine and olive oil. Tuscan olive oil is considered to be one of the best in the world, and there are a number of gradients available. The gradients are directly pertinent to acidity, and the acidity...

Italy is truly a feast for the senses for the average European traveler. An Italy itinerary will connect a person with the joy and passion of life – whether that is an authentic pasta and wine Italian meal in Milan, high fashion in Rome, beautiful architecture and history in Florence, or a romantic walk by the canals of Venice. For the average person with two weeks of time available to see Italy, it can be a challenge to see as much as possible during this time. Thus, one must be organized and plan ahead to have an effective travel itinerary. As an experienced traveler in Italy, I recommend the following action-packed and interesting itinerary so you can enjoy the best of Italy during your two...