“I wanted to stay away from a traditional steakhouse that can get expensive quickly,” explains Conant. He knows he is catering to a broad audience. Some are hotel guests, getting a peek at life that takes its cues from nature. Others are locals who arrive to celebrate that life, the milestones and the moments in between.He caters to all, and so offers those more compelling and expensive cuts of meat with approachable, affordable pastas that sing at the table. He wants you to not only break bread together but also share — share a steak, even — or indulge in your own.

Chef Scott Conant has been fortunate enough to spend time in this amazing part of the world with his family. The allure, he says, is the culture, the food, and the people. “Some of the best food I have had in my life has been in the state of Oaxaca,” he exclaims. “The city is stunning. Walking through the markets, you get an instant snapshot of pre-Spanish influences in the grilled meats and local delicacies, like chapulines and tranchulas. Then to visit the churches and see that European influence creates an interesting juxtaposition that gave me a whole new perspective of Mexico overall. Oaxaca made me want to jump in a car and drive around the whole country to experience more of it.”

Franciacorta is home to more than 100 wineries that produce sparkling wines. Summer days in the region are typically warm and sunny with cooler nights, providing the ideal conditions for grapes to ripen while preserving the acidity of the fruit. This means Franciacorta producers can add less sugar at bottling and still reap a well-rounded texture. In contrast, the region of Champagne is chillier, which gives its taste more minerality.

You can imagine Ruth Almén taking a deep breath and closing her eyes as she speaks. Alzheimer’s is a painful subject to tackle, and there is no happy ending. But she approaches it from a place of acceptance, understanding, and hope. She has worked with seniors in the field of age-related brain disorders for more than 12 years. Most people who really enjoy their jobs say things like “I love the people I work with.” In Almén’s case, most of her patients will never even remember her name. Still, she feels “lucky” to be able to help them and their families.

Almén explains that a lot of what she does is with the caregivers, getting them on the phone to work through details and provide community resources, as well as facilitating support groups and presenting to the community. She also creates special programs for patients. Most recently, she instituted a yoga class at the center for those with multiple sclerosis.