Welcome to Tasted and Traveled

Hi there, and welcome! I’m so glad you’ve found your way here.

I was born in Puerto Rico, but for the past 35 years I’ve made my home in Indiana. Along the way, I’ve been fortunate to travel to 29 countries (and counting), and in every place I go, I’m drawn to the same things: the food, the traditions, and the rhythms of everyday life. For me, the best way to understand a culture is to taste it — to linger over a meal, explore a local market, or learn a recipe that carries a story.

Outside of my travels, I’ve always found joy in the kitchen. Even while balancing a demanding corporate career, I carved out time to play with flavors and even spent four years as a personal chef. Cooking, much like traveling, is my way of connecting with people and preserving memories.

Now, I’m entering a new chapter as an empty nester mom of a college freshman — which means more time to explore, to write, and to look back on the adventures that have shaped me.

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What You’ll Find Here

This blog is part travel guide, part food diary, and part personal journal. It’s a place where I can share the trips that left an impression — whether they happened last month or a few years ago — and gather them into stories that I (and hopefully you!) can revisit.

Some of the journeys I’ll write about are series — like a week along Italy’s Amalfi Coast (too much beauty for just one post!) or my son’s graduation trip through Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, and Iceland. Others will stand alone, like the unforgettable day I spent walking the Normandy beaches, or the magical visit to Mont St. Michel.

Think of this space like a scrapbook: some pages are fresh, others are treasured memories, but all of them are filled with the flavors, places, and moments that continue to inspire me.

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Join Me on the Journey

Whether you’re here looking for travel inspiration, food recommendations, cultural stories, or just a friendly perspective from someone who loves to wander, I’m so glad you’re here.

Subscribe to my newsletter so you don’t miss the next adventure, and let’s keep tasting and traveling together.

Here’s to the journey ✈️🥂

— Monica