Self Promotion – I suck at it!  While I’ve been blogging for more than a year now, I haven’t quite gotten used to saying “hey, look over here, I’m a traveler with stories to tell and photos to share”.  I’m more comfortable in the background soaking up information than standing in the spotlight but this blogging thing continues to change who I think I am and what I can do.  First off, it takes a small village (or at least it feels that way) to promote a blog when you work full time as I do.  I’ve been fortunate that tomorrow is the third interview I’ve done in the past month to introduce myself, PhilaTravelGirl, and my blog, Flying By The Seat of My Points, to others.
Thank you to those who have given me the opportunity – The PhilaTravelGirl Interviews can be found here:
Darius of Million Mile Secrets for including me in the Interview series
Charles of McCool’s Travel for my 5 Minutes here
 Johnny Jet for my Travel Style interview
So if you are a new reader , welcome!  I’m a Philly Girl who loves to travel and having worked in Corporate Travel and Finance for over twenty years, I have a deep knowledge of the business travel industry as well as the leisure market that is a bit different and leads to my unique perspective. Travel to Disney, London, Paris, Safari, Australia, cruises, spas, etc.?  I’ve been the go to travel person for friends, colleagues and people I’ve met along the way for years so why not share that with others?  So miles & points gets me to a destination, then I get to explore the art, the food, the culture and everything else that opens my eyes to the world. How cool is that?
My Top 5 Posts
My top posts are a mix of points, art, photography and fun.
My Travel Savings Strategy: Simple, Silly and Smart
Aer Lingus Review: Boston to Dublin Business Class using 50k Avios
Paris: More than Graffiti, the Street Art Walking Tour
Flying From Philly: The British Airways Lounge at PHL, a boutique space
6 Â Photo Tips for the Art of Nature (NatGeo Seminar)
To celebrate the three interviews, I thought I’d share a few of my addictions with readers.  Long time readers know I’m addicted to cookies and dessert and  I’ve now revealed the Nordstrom shoe addiction.
NOTE: CONTEST IS OVER – YOU CAN STILL COMMENT WITH YOUR FAVORITE FOODS TO SHARE WITH OTHERS
The Prizes:
One reader will win a box of Hope’s Cookies (I bring them on all of my flights)
Two readers will each win one $25Â Nordstrom gift card (start your own shoe obsession)
My Soapbox:
If you want to help promote my blog by being part of my small village, please do so – tell your friends by sharing a post or two (or ten!) on your favorite social media outlet. Â Find a post to read and comment. Follow me on Twitter or Instagram. Sign up for notification of blog posts. Â Follow Me, Like Me, Tweet Me, Retweet Me! Stumble, Tumblr or Reddit, etc. Pin this, that or the other! You won’t win anything by doing any of this (no additional entries), but your good deed for the day will add to your travel karma. OK, self promotion all done!
I hope you will return and follow my adventures. Â If you are a one and done contest entry only person and you don’t like my content or photos to follow, no worries, I’m sure you will find a travel blog that works for you – thanks for visiting today!
How to Enter:
What I hate with contests is having to do this, that and the other. How many newsletters do I get now? So I won’t make you do what I won’t do. Â This is simple, answer the question “In your town, what is your favorite food/dessert – the must have for visitors – and where can we find it?” with a comment below so that I (and readers) can seek it out when we visit. Â Easy enough! Example: I would say “Philadelphia Cheesesteak – Jim’s on South Street is a must” or “The Sour Cherry, Sea Salted, Chocolate Chip Cookie at Metropolitan Bakery in Reading Terminal – wow!”
Comments will be accepted until midnight EST on Saturday, September 27, 2014. Use your real first name below  – no screen names please.
One comment/entry per person. The first comment is your entry, additional comments will not count.
The Small Print:
This is open to Continental U.S. residents over 18 years old. Void where prohibited. (Sorry UK and International friends). Â A valid email address must be entered and will be used for notification purposes only – it will not be shared. Â One comment/entry per person, additional comments will not count toward prizes.
Prizes are valued up to $25. Â Using a random number, winners will be chosen and notified on Sunday, September 28th. Â Winner has 24 hours to respond with required information to send prize. Â Once the prizes have been accepted, I will post a comment with the names of the winners.
Good Luck Everyone!
42 thoughts on “The PhilaTravelGirl Interviews with my Top 5 Posts”
My favorite dessert in Philly that I tell every visitor to go to? FEDERAL DONUTS!!! #winwinwin
One of the perks of living in Los Angeles is it’s a mixed soup bowl of cultures. We get the “latest trend” in food culture from around the world. One of such place is Taiwanese shaved ice. My favorite places so far is Blockheads Shavery located in Sawtelle/West LA. Try delicious black sesame shaved ice topped with mochi, mangoes, and strawberries!
I am on the road full time but my original home is Trinidad and my favorite dessert there has to be the black forest cake. Real black forest and not the fake stuff. The real stuff soaks the cherries in Brandy before putting them in rich delicious chocolate cake 🙂 Too die for!
If you’re ever in Tampa go to Brocato’s Sandwiches and have a cuban sandwich with a deviled crab on the side. You’ll thank me in heaven after the heart attack 🙂
While I wouldn’t advise wasting hours of a New York City visit in line for a Cronut, there is something for everyone at Dominique Ansel Bakery in Soho. I love the Chocolate Chip Cookie Shot!
Kentucky HotBrown and Kentucky Blue Mondays!!
Best dessert in SF is the morning bun at Tartinr Bakery in the mission! So good
When in Indianapolis, you MUST stop in to St. Elmo’s Steakhouse downtown and get their world famous Shrimp Cocktail. Every celebrity & professional athlete stops in to get it when in town, and it’s been featured on tv’s ‘Parks and Recreation’. It’s that good!
When in Wilmington, Del. you need to try the gourmet pizza from Pizza by Elizabeth’s. It is one of Joe Biden’s favorite spots when he spends a weekend at home.
As a Philadelphia favorite, I would add chocolates from John and Kira’s for their rich flavor and partnering with local schools.
If you’re ever in Waterloo, Iowa the very best pork tenderloin sandwich in the universe is at the Wishbone restaurant. It delicious, tender and keeps you coing back. Mom and Pop thats been in business well over 50 years!
First time reader from your guest post with Darius, look forward to reading more!
Picking a favorite food in New Orleans is really hard but since I’m also a carb lover, I would have say beignets from Cafe du Monde on the River. Only go to the original location on Decatur street!
Cherry pie from Michigan! Anywhere in Traverse City.
When summering in Northern Michigan our favorite local food is pasties – a Cornish meat pie that miners would take into the mines for a meal. When living in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia my favorite meal is the barbecued half chickens that all fundraising organizations sell on Saturday. So good.
If you come to Irvine, CA, the best dessert you can find the BJ’s new S’more Pizookie it is legendary!
Uprising Muffins in DC. Right in front of the Shaw Metro stop.
In Austin Texas, you MUST go to Uchi and you MUST get the Shag Roll.
Pizza, The Market, Birmingham, MI
Man, I love so many things in my town. I’ll tell you you really need to try Ted Drewes Frozen Custard in St. Louis – two locations both in South City, one on Grand and one on Chippewa. Also, it’s a hidden gem, but my favorite pizza place is Pizzeria Tivoli, also South City on Kingshighway.
not many places to eat in our small town of fleming island but we go to BB’s in jax and they have the best chocolateganache peanut cake….wow
In Tampa, Florida we are KNOWN for our Cuban sandwiches! A favorite around town is Carmine’s and Playboy named Hugo’s on Howard the best Cuban in the country! Another great would be The Columbia Restaurant. Started in 1905, this is the oldest restaurant in Florida and the oldest Spanish restaurant in the entire United States. My pick is the 1905 salad, Cuban sandwich, Spanish bean soup, pork, yellow rice, or flan! The Columbia is the all-around must see in Tampa! Visit the Ybor City location and explore all of our famous historic district!
(duplicate entry, didn’t count in contest) I also want to add in Washington DC definitely make a point to stop at Founding Farmers or Potbelly’s. Founding Farmers is a farm-to-table restaurant that is completely self-sustaining and makes amazing food. It is featured on the TV show Bones under a different name as their favorite restaurant! Try the Fried Green Tomatoes and Apple & Onion Jam Flatbread.
Potbelly’s is a sandwich place if you only have a few minutes to pick something up. The best sandwich there is The Wreck or for something light try the TKY. Make sure to get hot peppers on half of your sandwich (unless you LOVE spicy! Then get them on the whole thing!). Wash it all down with an oreo and banana milkshake!
In Nashville, the best food truck in town is the Grilled Cheeserie. They do delicious gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches. They post their location for the day on Twitter 🙂
Columbus Ohio. If you are here you have to go to Thurmans and order a Thurmanator. You won’t be disappointed, and hopefully you don’t have to wait 2 hours for it.
In DC, you have to go with the French pastry selection at Cafe La Ruche in Georgetown–far be it for me to choose which one!
In Houston, I enjoy the baklava at Fadi’s on Westheimer and Dunvale. Their baklava is sweet, but not too sweet. Perfect dessert!
Favorite place in Minneapolis is west of city in Maple Plain at McGarrys. You have to try the scottish eggs and spicy pulled pork sandwich, to die for. The portions are huge.
In Sacramento, Bamboo dessert drinks are delicious. Thanks.
Don’t miss the Brussels sprout tacos at Pub Republic in Petaluma, CA!
Chocolate glazed donuts from the Westhampton Bakery in Richmond, Va….OMG!!!!
Murphy’s Steakhouse in Bartlesville, OK!!!
When visiting the Dallas metroplex, be sure to save room for some delicious waffles and crepes with fresh fruit and ice cream at the “Sweet Mix”. My favorite is the Romeo and Juliet.
I live in New Orleans so let’s see lol! I love going to Sucre for all desserts on Magazine Street
Marcello Ristorante is great for Italian food in Seattle!
The best dessert in Murrieta, California is Julian Apple Pie. You can find it in local grocery stores and it’s the best apple pie ever
I’ve moved around a lot, but am still kind of based out of Little
Rock. When I’m in town, I often head to Izzy’s for tamales!
Franklin Fountain in Philly! To be honest it is a bit of a tourist trap but I love it. The ice cream is delicious and the atmosphere within is an authentic, 1950-esque parlor.
When visiting Detroit, a must have for any visitor is a classic coney dog and fries from Lafayette Coney Island in downtown Detroit. It’s been family owned and operated since 1917 and you never know you you will run into at any time of day or night – a local politician, college student or visiting celebrity!
(late entry after deadline) In Montgomery, Tx my favorite place is Phil’s Roadhouse & Grill. They have the best Apple Walnut salad! Their Grilled Salmon has a fantastic dill sauce, and they make a great steak too! Don’t forget the fried pickles for an appetizer.
P.S. I loved meeting you at #BlogElevated!!
Thanks to all who entered – I’m excited to try all of these yummy foods around the U.S.! The winners were contacted on Sunday and have responded so I can announce that Kenin won the Hope’s Cookies, Grant and Justin each won a $25 Nordstrom Gift Card.
There were a few duplicate entries and late entries that I didn’t approve but will do now so that they can share their favorite foods.
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