International fusion cuisine has arrived along the Tegernsee Lake with the opening of Euro-Asian restaurant Laulenzi in the Hotel Bachmair Weissach, Wiesseer Strasse 1, Weissach, Germany (map).

The 150-year-old Bachmair Weissach, a member of Design Hotels™, has just completed an extensive renovation.

The unusual namesake of the new fusion restaurant was a kitchen-hand known as Laurenzi, who worked at Bachmair inn when it first opened. In 1862 the young man set sail for the Far East in order to acquaint himself with the many mysteries of the Orient, both in terms of cuisine and women.

The lothario proved to be such a hit with the local female population that his departure from the Hong Kong harbor was accompanied by many longing calls of “Laulenzi, Laulenzi”.

Back in his homeland, Laurenzi’s culinary discoveries were committed to paper and then quickly forgotten. Fast forward 150 years and the newly discovered travel journal has provided the inspiration for executive chef Frank Mollenhauer’s fusion menu at Laulenzi restaurant.

The European-Asian fusion menu features such dishes as grilled scallops with enoki mushrooms served with a candied grapefruit and asparagus salad and sweet spring rolls with mango coulis and chili-raspberry sorbet.

Chef Mollenhauer has previously worked at Michelin starred restaurants including Restaurant Lakme in Aachen, Germany and Chateaux Neercanne in Maastricht, Netherlands.

(Photo courtesy of Design Hotels)

The Scots have their scotch; Italians, their wine; Russians, their vodka.

In America, we’ve got our bourbon. Known as “America’s Native Spirit”, it’s the only alcohol that is a distinctive product of the United States.

Some 95 percent of this corn-based, caramel colored sipping icon is distilled, aged and bottled right in Kentucky’s bourbon country. It’s big business for the Bluegrass State — and a good reason for a Road Trips Foodie to gas up the car and go.

There isn’t just one bourbon trail, of course: there are two.

The legendary Kentucky Bourbon Trail meanders through the heart of bourbon country so you can stop in six of the state’s distilleries including Maker’s Mark, Jim Beam and Woodford Reserve. You’ll see the bourbon making process, view the facilities and sample the stuff on an after-tour bourbon tasting.

Headed back to the city? Once you’re done with your tour of bourbon country, the Urban Bourbon Trail in Louisville should be your next stop. The trail consists of “the world’s best bourbon bars”, all of which must serve at least 50 different kinds of bourbon and hold at least one bourbon-related event each month. Many even specialize in bourbon-related food dishes.

For more information on visiting Kentucky, go online.

(Photo courtesy of the Kentucky Department of Travel and Tourism)

More than 20 different restaurants are expected for the annual Polish Fest to be held June 15, 16 and 17, 2012, on the Summerfest grounds of Henry W. Maier Festival Park, 200 North Harbor Drive, Milwaukee, Wisconsin (map).

This is your chance, Road Trips Foodies to sample Klement’s Polish sausage, pierogis (meat, cheese or potato), placki ziemniaczane (potato pancakes), bigos (hunter’s stew), zupa grzybowa (mushroom soup), p?czkis (raspberry or prune), chru?ciki (deep-fried pastry) and zapiekanki (open-faced pizza bread sandwiches) — all without the cost of a transAtlantic airfare.

There’s a bonus for Road Trips Foodies 21 and older. Vodka and Spirits Tastings will be held at 8 p.m. June 15; 2, 5 and 8 p.m. June 16, and 2 and 5 p.m. June 17. For $12, participants can sample several Polish vodkas, meads and liqueurs.

This foodie event is for all the families whose kids don’t know where milk comes from.

Dairy Day takes place June 2, 2012, in the Historic Park at Burritt on the Mountain, Huntsville, Alabama (map).

Visitors can churn butter, enjoy a cool glass of milk with cookies, crank an ice cream churn, learn about blacksmithing and try their milking technique on Boxy (a fortunately faux cow).

There’ll also be real goats and real cows in the barnyard.

Burritt’s Historic Park interprets the past by showcasing aspects of farm life from the 19th century. Living history interpreters, dressed in period clothing, recreate the diversity of farm life allowing visitors of all ages to become involved through lively conversation, demonstrations and hands-on activities.

(Photo courtesy of Burritt on the Mountain)

Finland is one country that knows its beer (and, yes, your Road Trips Foodie speaks from personal experience).

Those of you traveling to northern Europe this summer will have several opportunities to taste the beers and other brews of Finnish and Scandinavian small and independent brewers at four festivals.

The fests promise more than 30 different brands of beer and cider to choose among, plus a beer quiz, music and (of course) food.

Cities hosting Beer Festivals are Turku (June 14 through 16, 2012), Lahti (June 28 through 30, 2012) and Helsinki (July 26 through 28, 2012, and August 23 through 25, 2012).

There’s more information online, but it’s all in Finnish!

Special to Road Trips for Foodies
by the Indiana Department of Tourism

Start your journey in Carmel’s Arts and Design District, a scenic old-town shopping area packed with boutiques and galleries. Nearby is Pizzology, where chef and restaurateur Neal Brown cooks up delicious wood-fired pizzas the Neapolitan way. Farther east in Fishers, railroad-themed Nickel Plate Bar and Grill serves a perfect version of breaded pork tenderloin, the quintessential Indiana dish, while Peterson’s pampers with sophisticated offerings including Maine lobster and Kobe-style pork tenderloin.

Head south from Hamilton County to Indianapolis and the quirky Broad Ripple neighborhood, home to vintage shops, busy nightclubs and a variety of great eateries. The Belgian-inspired Brugge Brasserie and the French-inspired Petite Chou both offer a delicious taste of Europe. South of Broad Ripple near downtown, handcrafted meats are the focus at Goose the Market and Smoking Goose Meatery. In the downtown Massachusetts Avenue district, known simply as Mass Ave, The Best Chocolate in Town artisanal shop and top restaurants such as R Bistro and Black Market rub shoulders with fantastic boutiques. South of Monument Circle, the tour continues at Tastings wine bar and the century-old St. Elmo Steak House, where the signature dish is a memorably spicy shrimp cocktail. Duos Food Truck dishes up inventive seasonal cuisine at their mobile kitchen: Log on to check out their menu, then line up at one of their daily locations.

The trail winds west to Plainfield where a house ale from Three Pints Brewpub is sure to quench a thirst. Farther west in Danville, Bread Basket Café and Bakery’s mouth-watering offerings include fresh-baked breads, from-scratch soups and decadent desserts.

• Goose the Market: With its gourmet deli and wine cellar, this neighborhood gathering place—and regional foodie mecca—offers a little taste of Europe in the heart of Indianapolis.
  
  

  For a quick bite, try the deli’s famous Batali sandwich, with lettuce, jalapeño peppers and Italian meats. Or head down narrow stairs to the popular (and usually packed) wine cellar restaurant Enoteca. Snag a seat at a communal table (built from 100-year-old reclaimed barn wood) and order one of the delicious cheese and charcuterie plates or house-made terrines. A chalkboard lists an ever-changing selection of wines, served by the glass, quartino (a quarter of a liter) or bottle, and a small selection of beers. Knowledgeable, friendly servers offer wine suggestions based on preferences and pairings–perhaps a bold, fruity French Elicio 2009 or a sweet, mild Austrian Biokult Gruner Veltliner 2008. It’s a perfect place to try something new.

• Smoking Goose Meatery: This old-school butcher shop carries high-quality meats that are hard to find elsewhere in the city.
  
  

  Handcrafted meat products from Smoking Goose Meatery can now be found on the menus of almost every high-end restaurant in Indianapolis. Tucked away in a primarily commercial district, this recent offshoot of Goose the Market is the hub of the company’s commercial distribution. But it also welcomes walk-in customers who can choose from a chalkboard menu of nearly three dozen sausages, salumi, smoked meats and larder meats, such as hard-to-find duck leg confit. Favorites include applewood-smoked bacon, garlic sausage and black-truffle bologna, all perfectly seasoned, juicy and delicious. If tasting is an option but transporting raw meat home isn’t, head across the street to locally owned Flat 12 Bierwerks, where you can wash down Smoking Goose protein plates with ales.

• R Bistro: James Beard nominee chef Regina Mehallick dishes contemporary American cuisine infused with international flavors at her industrial-chic restaurant.
  
  

  Located in a former caster factory, the contemporary decor reflects the artsy neighborhood: corrugated metal bar, stainless-steel dining tables, blonde wood, exposed-brick walls, pendant lighting and funky paintings. But it’s the food that really makes this bistro stand out. Using primarily locally sourced ingredients and products, the eclectic lunch menu changes seasonally and the dinner menu changes weekly. Salads are fresh, mixing interesting ingredients such as bok choy, fruits and herbs. One of several tasty lunch options is a flavorful applewood-smoked bacon, watercress, avocado and sweet-tangy tomato chutney panini. Desserts include melt-in-your mouth buttermilk pie, oh-so-amazing sticky-toffee pudding and a steamed spice cake drizzled in caramel sauce and topped with fresh whipped cream—legendary.

• St. Elmo Steak House: The signature steaks and incendiary shrimp cocktail pass the test of time with flying colors at this century-old Indianapolis landmark.
  
  

  Since 1902, this has been the quintessential see-and-be-seen restaurant; visitors and locals keep the place packed every night of the week. The cavernous digs house a noisy, bustling bar scene; a series of dining rooms; the largest wine cellar in Indiana; and a tuxedoed waitstaff who deliver exemplary old-school service. The legendary shrimp cocktail—jumbo shrimp drenched in sinus-searing cocktail sauce—is literally breathtaking. (Diners who don’t love horseradish should stick to salad.) A short menu of steaks, chops and seafood includes tender melting ribeye and outstanding filet mignon—juicy and perfectly cooked to medium-well. Be forewarned: At upwards of $50 per person for dinner, the dining experience at this historic destination is pricey.

• Tastings: Inside the wine bar at the luxurious Conrad hotel, swanky “vending machines” serve generous tasting portions of more than 100 wines.
  
  

  Wine-savvy patrons wander among wine “vending machines,” organized by category or region, and use a prepaid debit card to dispense a tasting: a great way to try that mysterious Merlot, compare Rieslings, or refine your wine palate, all for just a few dollars a taste. Portions are generous, and the selection of over 100 wines is constantly changing. The restaurant offers a full menu, and its servers can suggest the perfect food pairing for a favorite wine. Try the roasted red pepper hummus served with warm pita triangles or the artichoke-caponata salad—a fantastic combination of romaine, arugula, finely chopped artichokes, tomatoes, capers and fresh mozzarella drizzled with a tangy balsamic reduction.

• The Best Chocolate in Town: This artisanal chocolate shop offers mouthwatering sweets, many with unexpected flavor combinations.
  
  

  Often featured on dessert menus at the city’s best restaurants, all of the scrumptious chocolates are made from scratch at this artisanal chocolate shop, which has been juried into the exclusive Indiana Artisan program. The truffles are simply divine, with innovative and unexpected flavors such as blackberry, port and fig, rosemary, wasabi ginger, honey lavender, Gorgonzola and Sun King Wee Mac (named for a local beer). The caramels are dense and smooth but not too chewy, covered in chocolate and topped with sea salt. Other favorites include the chocolate-covered toffee (melt-in-your-mouth delicious), turtles, bonbons and chocolate bars.

• Black Market
  This gourmet eatery in the funky Mass Ave district features Midwestern comfort food with global twists.
  

  Though one of the newest in the city, this high-end restaurant is already making its mark. The industrial-chic decor features exposed brick walls and heavy black pendant lights. An enormous, rustic communal table is the centerpiece with additional seating at several booths against the walls. The menu changes daily, but one constant is the appetizer pickle plate, including anything from pickled blueberries to pickled parsnips. Another appetizer favorite is the Asian-inspired duck buns. Feeling especially daring? Then choose bone marrow, often hard to find on Midwestern menus. Entree options vary from satisfying down-home shrimp and grits to a hearty platter of sauerkraut and sausage. Campfire shortbread, essentially a gourmet s’more, is delicious, as is the incredible bread pudding topped with passion fruit caramel sauce.

• Petite Chou: This Parisian-style bistro and Champagne bar offers upscale French classics in a friendly neighborhood atmosphere.
  
  

  Plenty of seasonal, outdoor seating, both kid- and dog-friendly, welcomes at this busy French-inspired neighborhood bistro offering a wide range of appetizers, salads and soups. French classics—crepes, tartines (open-faced sandwiches on toasted country bread), and croque sandwiches (traditional French grilled ham and cheese sandwiches)—are highlights. The crepe with potato and goat cheese—stuffed with tangy goat cheese, perfectly roasted red potatoes and creamy wild mushrooms—delivers a savory blend of flavors in each bite. The croque monsieur, with Smoking Goose ham, béchamel sauce, Dijon mayo and Gruyère cheese on thick bread, bests its Parisian rivals. Chocolate pots de crème, a teacup of thick chocolate mousse topped with whipped cream, is a deliciously sweet ending. Très bon!

• Brugge Brasserie: This casual brewpub offers Belgian favorites like mitrailettes, steamed mussels and enormous paper cones of delicious fries.
  
  

  Among the many microbreweries in Indianapolis, Brugge Brasserie is unique for its Belgian-inspired menu. Don’t be put off by the warehouse-like exterior. The interior is cozy and warm, and the bronze-topped tables have special cutouts to hold the paper cones of fries. Start by sampling beers, such as potent Tripel de Ripple and sweet-and-sour Harvey. Afterward, choose from a menu of favorites such as fries (with more than a dozen dipping sauces), steamed Prince Edward Island mussels (in a classic Belgian sauce), crêpes and mitrailettes (Belgian version of submarine sandwiches). The real fun, though, is sampling the L’Enorme cone of fries, which stands more than a foot tall and comes with interesting sauces like fresh herb pesto, horseradish, hot curry and garlic aioli.

• Duos Food Truck: Duos’ gourmet meals-on-wheels are driven by an evolving lineup of sandwiches, soups and salads to please both meat eaters and vegetarians.
  
  

  With a motto of serving Slow Food Fast, this food truck is on a roll; customers log on and line up to check out the menu. Owners and chefs Becky Hostetter and John Garnier constantly create small, diverse selections of upscale sandwiches, salads, soups and desserts—often ethnically inspired—that suit meat eaters, vegetarians and vegans. The menu changes weekly and is noted online and via an on-site chalkboard. Soups, like hearty and delicious vegan lentil with Swiss chard, are tasty. So are the vegetarian broccoli-feta pie and a traditional lamb gyro entree. Save room for dessert: The carrot cake and triple-chocolate brownie are memorable enough to be served in any restaurant in town.

• Three Pints Brewpub: A relative newcomer, this microbrewery offers a small selection of brews and casual American pub fare.
  
  

  Competition continues to hop, as Three Pints Brewpub has joined the ever-increasing number of microbreweries in the region. Find this gathering spot set back from the road in a one-story, brick-frame building. The décor, understated and casual, is accented with a number of flat-screen TVs. Beer offerings include a small selection of house brews, such as Beatnik Blonde, McClearen’s Scottish Ale and Yoshi’s Nectar, in addition to guest beers and domestic beers in bottles. The menu features classic American pub fare like nachos, mozzarella sticks, burgers and tenderloins. Try the Big One burger, topped with caramelized onions and cheddar cheese on a buttery brioche roll, or hickory-smoked pulled-pork sandwich, slow cooked and served on a brioche roll.

• Bread Basket Café and Bakery: This small-town bakery and café serves up scrumptious meals while selling cakes, pies and unforgettable fresh-baked bread.
  
  

  The small restaurant, in a renovated house on a quiet side street, is known for its chicken salad made from grilled chicken breast, dried cranberries, pecans and blue cheese. Go for breakfast, and it’s love at first bite with cinnamon-roll French toast: One giant cinnamon roll sliced horizontally into three pieces and given the French toast treatment. Slathered with cream cheese icing and syrup, it’s a decadent treat. Enjoy hearty biscuits smothered in sausage gravy or a wonderful, creamy peanut butter pie. Carry-out baked goods, including pies, large and small cakes, and fresh-baked bread are available. Honey-oat bread, perfect for sandwiches, has just the right touch of sweetness.

• Pizzology Pizzeria and Pub: Pizza gets a gourmet makeover at this family-friendly Carmel eatery owned by one of Indy’s top chefs.
  
  

  Tucked in a strip mall, a classy small dining room, standard sports bar-pub area and casual screened porch provide settings to please all types of diners. The menu features starters, pastas, Neapolitan-style pizzas made with authentic high-quality Italian ingredients and a nice selection of Italian vinos. All pizzas get fired in an 800-degree wood-burning oven, are 13 inches, and cut into six thin-crusted wedges. Creations are available two ways — rossa (with tomato sauce) or bianca (no sauce) — or patrons can build their own with toppings like farm-fresh eggs and Roman artichoke (extra cost per topping). A generous three-scoop serving of vanilla gelato with whole blueberries or tangerine sorbet is easily shared for dessert.

• Nickel Plate Bar and Grill: The star of this railroad-theme neighborhood restaurant is the breaded pork tenderloin sandwich, a Hoosier classic.
  
  

  Located in downtown Fishers, the Nickel Plate Bar and Grill takes its name from the Nickel Plate Railroad that used to run through this area. It opened as a saloon in the 1880s, and the exposed brick walls and archways add a historical touch to this neighborhood gathering spot. The motif continues on the menu, with burgers named after railroads. But, as one of several restaurants along Hamilton County’s Tenderloin Trail, it’s no surprise that the star here is the enormous breaded pork tenderloin sandwich, possibly one of the best incarnations of this classic Hoosier dish. The pork is pounded out flat, breaded with a secret spice blend and fried in canola oil, resulting in crispy edges and a juicy, tender interior.

• Peterson’s: This upper-echelon, adults-only eatery offers great chops, steaks and seafood in a classy, relaxing atmosphere.
  
  

  Locally owned and operated, Peterson’s has been garnering rave reviews since opening in 1999. Prepare to be pampered with friendly, attentive service and attention to detail. The menu includes exquisitely tender wet-aged steaks, succulent, fork-tender Kobe-style pork tenderloin, and fresh seafood flown in daily. An inch-thick corn cake and a sauce of roasted tomato and goat cheese tops slices of the Kurobuta pork tenderloin, skillfully plated around a mound of wilted arugula. Sides are a la carte and big enough to share: Don’t miss the signature mashed potatoes—a creamy mélange of roasted wild mushrooms, shallots and garlic. An extensive wine list provides plenty of opportunities for perfect pairings. Dinner for two is pricey but guaranteed to impress.

There’s an on-line recipe book for Classic Tastes: Central Indiana.

This is one of six Indiana food trails.

(Photo courtesy of Goose the Market)

Special to Road Trips for Foodies
While there are those who eagerly jump at the opportunity to “Super-Size Me,” these chefs have instead decided to scale down and focus on the mini versions of their all-time favorite dishes.

Who wants to wait in line for a beefy burger, when satisfying a hankerin’ for robust flavors needn’t increase the waistline? Sweet or savory, these mini items allow you to indulge while ensuring a bitchin’ bikini bod—just in time for summer.

There’s no shortage of zing in New Orleans, Louisiana, this summer: Ralph Brennan Restaurant Group’s Michael Gottlieb at Red Fish Grill, New Orleans, Louisiana, delivers plenty with mini Crawfish Sliders served alongside fresh-off-the-boat Crab Claws. An unconventional dessert of Red Beans and Rice Pudding with mini Honey Butter Cornbread Muffins will satisfy your craving for Creole, and kick any ordinary chocolate cake’s “bootay.”

Stop in for some of Great Aunt Patty’s cookin’ style at Bayou Bakery, Arlington, Virginia, where chef David Guas serves up fresh mini Market Fruit Pies— crisp on the outside and oozy filling within. These single serving pies may be strawberry, may be peach — whatever chef finds in the crate.

Chef Chris Jakubiec of Plume at The Jefferson, Washington, D.C., enhances Tea Time with deliciously delicate mini Cinnamon Rolls — infused with sweet cinnamon goodness, inevitably satisfying summer’s sweet and spicy cravings.

You can take the boy outta’ NOLA but you can’t take NOLA outta’ the boy. This summer, chef Lee Richardson of Ashley’s at the Capital Hotel brings a Louisiana favorite to Little Rock, Arkansas, infusing fresh Ground Beef with Cajun spices to create a deep fried, deliciously crumbly, mini Natchitoches Meat Pie.

At PS7 in Washington, D.C., the mini Pull Apart Pork Sticky Buns optimally balance sweet and savory to create the best of both worlds. Chef Peter Smith marries a light and fluffy flavorful bun with slow cooked, soulfully prepared pork rillettes. For a treat on the sweeter side, indulge in Lil’ Sumpin’, cute compilation of delicious pint size desserts: Dreamsicle; Caramel Popcorn dipped in Chocolate; and Key Lime Pie bites are among the extensive selection.

A trip to the bar at PassionFish restaurant in Reston, Virginia, will have you “sippin’ and a slidin’” with your three choices of mini sliders by chef Chris Clime: Lobster Rolls, Crabcake Sandwiches, and Cheeseburgers. Each topped with a carefully crafted choice of condiments, these snacks are anything but small in flavor.

The veggie man strikes again, bringing mini-versions of seasonal selections fresh from the garden. Clifton Inn’s very own chef Tucker Yoder satisfies his vegan fan base by proving great taste comes in small packages in Charlottesville, Virginia.

(Photo courtesy of simoneink, llc)

Driving through Pennsylvania, Road Trips Foodies? Add a new trail to your itinerary.

Discover the Susquehanna Ale Trail (the first one in the Keystone State) and its stories at seven breweries, brewpubs and craft brew outlets.

Taste the best microbrews in central Pennsylvania ranging from pale ales to stouts, and everything in between.

The trail was created by the York County Convention & Visitors Bureau earlier this year as a way for beer enthusiasts to explore the many breweries and related attractions around the region with one simple guide.

Participating establishments provide tours, tastings, educational opportunities and a look behind the scenes at the brewing process and craft beer industry.

The Susquehanna Ale Trail is a self-guided tour experience that allows visitors to explore at their own pace.

Included are:
Bube’s Brewery, 102 North Market Street, Mount Joy, Pennsylvania (map)

Good Dog Taproom, 57 West Market Street, York, Pennsylvania (map)

Lancaster Brewing Company, 302 North Plum Street, Lancaster, Pennsylvania (map)

Mr. Steve’s Homebrew & Wine Supply, 2944 Whiteford Road, York, Pennsylvania (map)

Mudhook Brewing Company, 34 Cherry Lane, York, Pennsylvania (map)

Stoudt’s Brewing Company, 2800 North Reading Road, Adamstown, Pennsylvania (map)

Tröegs Brewing Company, 200 East Hersheypark Drive, Hershey, Pennsylvania (map)

Here’s a journey for true tea aficionados: the Tea & Horse Caravan Road Trip next offered by WildChina from September 12 through 21, 2012.

It’s a small group (8-16 people) 10-day expedition led by Jeff Fuchs, the first westerner to have ever traveled the entire 5,000-kilometer (3,100-mile) historic route.

The trip travels an ancient caravan road linking the fertile region of Yunnan and Sichuan with the arid landscapes of the Tibetan Plateau that gives a chance to sample teas at their origin as well as look at the road’s impact on ethnic minority villagers.

It begins in China’s far southwest, in subtropical Xishuangbanna, the original source of all tea, before heading north to a former trading post, Shaxi, and then further north to Lijiang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and, finally, ending in the mountainous Tibetan region of “Shangri-La.”

Along the way, there are hikes through tea tree forests, tea ceremonies and opportunities to converse with traders and villagers.

(Photo courtesy of WildChina)

Heading across the pond to take in the Olympics this summer, Road Trips Foodies?

What better way to celebrate the London 2012 Summer Olympics than by raising a gold “metal” martini in toast to the athletes.

The Lanesborough, a luxury hotel at Hyde Park Corner, Knightsbridge, London, England, will be offering a gold “ring” to each thirsty, game-supporting guest. The new, limited-time “Gold Metal Martini” cocktail will be served up in a chilled crystal glass with a pure gold powdered rim in the hotel’s Library Bar.

The Gold Metal Martini boasts a sophisticated look but is simple to create, says its creator, Alexandre Caujolle, Food and Beverage Director at The Lanesborough.

The ingredients? Gin or vodka plus a touch of vermouth garnished with gold powder. (You do know, of course, that gold does not change the taste of the drink because it is biologically inert?)

The Gold Metal Martini will be available for order leading up to, and through the games starting next month.

(Photo courtesy of the Library Bar at the Lanesborough)