About Me
A re-introduction.
It’s been over a year of Food & Travel with Courtney Jill, and what a year it has been! I have thoroughly enjoyed this writing project; sharing city guides, food recommendations, and natural wines with you has been such a bright spot for me over the past year. There are a lot of new faces here (yay!), so I thought it was time to re-introduce myself.
Why food & travel?
The two go hand-in-hand. I believe eating new foods in new places is the perfect impetus for travel; seeking out local dishes in small restaurants is the best way to truly get to know a new place. From chargrilled sardines in a fado bar in Lisbon to fresh tomato bruschetta in Ischia to warm pain au chocolate in a French bakery in Cassis, the smallest moments centered around local foods have given me the most glowing travel memories. The relationship between food and travel is an exciting and enlightening one, and I want to share my finds with you!
Of all the places you’ve been, what is your favorite?
That is an impossible question to answer! My favorite city is Rome… but I return to NYC over and over again. France has a special place in my heart because I did my study abroad there. I do tend to fall in love with almost every new place I visit, but those are my top three.
What is your travel style?
Definitely off-the-beaten-path! I love traveling to small cities or little-known destinations and finding unique experiences or hidden gem restaurants. If I’m traveling to larger cities, I tend to look for restaurants or sights that locals frequent or interesting tours that give me insight to less famous aspects of the place. Also slow! I’d rather spend lots of time in one city and really get to know it than a little time in dozens and not fully experience those places.
What are your favorite travel tips?
I have so many! You can read some in previous blog posts, or book me as your travel advisor to get access to all of them. However, my favorite and most simple travel tip which I employ on my own trips is to walk everywhere. Walk to and from activities or wander aimlessly. The more you walk, the more you get to know a new place.
What is your favorite thing about travel?
Trying new foods?! Seeing sights in person that I’ve only read about my whole life? Experiencing new cultures and letting my worldview be broadened by them! Meeting amazing people… It’s all of the above.
Who is Courtney Jill?
I am a lifelong wanderer, photographer and writer, always plotting an adventure to somewhere new and off-the-beaten-path. From living in France after college in order to study painting to walking the Camino de Santiago in Spain to planning solo travel to Paris to booking group trips for friends in Europe and all over the world, my passion for travel has only grown over the years.
This led me to work as a travel advisor! Each destination is so unique and deserves someone who is passionate about planning and research to find the hidden gems that make a trip memorable. That person is me! After many years of personal travel and booking trips for friends, becoming a travel advisor with Fora was the perfect fit for my talents.
I came to this line of work quite organically. I have formal training in Fine Art and Writing, and I also have an extensive background in the hospitality industry. I have worked in cafes in the Pacific Northwest and the American South. I also have a bit of formal wine training. Over the years, my experience and growth in the food industry naturally led to writing about food. And my passion for traveling the world led to writing about and advising travel.
What do you do when you’re not traveling?
So many things! I tend to collect hobbies. One of my favorite hobbies is reading; it’s a way to travel without leaving home. Another is cooking!
Where do you want to travel to next?
Paris! It’s been too long since I’ve wandered those beautiful streets. Greece is pretty high on my travel bucket list as is Mexico City.
Thanks for subscribing to Food & Travel with Courtney Jill. I look forward to many more conversations about new destinations and must-try foods in the coming year.
As always, you can drop me a message or leave a comment below if you want to chat more!