Chatting with Cat Cora About Wonderful Hotels & A Perfect Glass of Wine

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So often our experience traveling revolves around a country’s food and new, unexpected, foreign flavors. Iron Chef Cat Cora begins a new adventure as co-host of Bravo’s “Around the World in 80 Plates,”which premiered last week and follows 12 chefs across 40 days and 10 countries as they compete to win. Lovers of travel and food will salivate over not only the dishes prepared, but the beautifully shot destinations including Argentina, China, England, Uruguay, Italy, Morocco, Spain, and France.

On a personal note, I thank Cat Cora for the best airport lunch I’ve ever had, at her restaurant in Terminal 2 at San Francisco International Airport. I actually arrived at the airport early to enjoy the wait and lunch. Along with two other restaurants, Cora is the author of three successful cookbooks, has a cookware line, line of gourmet olive oils and tapenades, and is a mother to four children.
Given her background and the whirlwind filming of “Around the World in 80 Plates,” Cora knows travel. She has also cemented her role as an international fighter for hunger relief and food education, as she founded Chefs for Humanity after the 2004 tsunami tragedy in Indonesia.

Tell me about 2 or 3 of the most wonderful hotels you’ve stayed at in your life and why you love them so much.

The Grand Hotel Majestic in the heart of Bologna is very classic and opulent and the views are just so beautiful. It is so close to the Italian trattorias serving bolognese sauces, tortellini and white truffle salads.

The Four Seasons Resort Marrakechwas so exotic with a 50-foot black granite pool and the moon shining above us as we were sipping champagne and nibbling on dates and almonds under the palm trees in the desert. It is wonderful.

Costa Navorino, a Starwood Resort, is in the Peloponnese area of Greece and is right on the sea with Greek cuisine that surpasses every expectation with lovely Greek wines. The rooms as well as the spa are top-rated.

After visiting 10 countries during the show, what is a favorite spot you visited during filming?

Chiang Mai, Thailand. I already loved Thailand but the people, food and culture of Chiang Mai was lovely and exceeded my expectations. I would go back again in a heartbeat.

You have your own collection of wines called Coranation. What has been a destination around the world where you’ve enjoyed a perfect glass of wine?

Santorini, Greece has one of the most perfect glasses of white wine in the world. A glass of Assyrtiko wine is made from one of Greece’s noble white grapes.

Annie Fitzsimmons is a freelance travel and hotel writer based in Manhattan. Connect with her annie.