And we’re back in New York City this week with Samantha Marshall!

Enjoy the trip!

Hello Sam! Tell us a bit about  yourself, what makes you a Buzzhopper?
I sort of stumbled into it by virtue of the fact that I have a large network of international and globetrotting friends and we’re always talking about the best places to go and see in cities we live and have visited. I come from a long line of itinerant ancestors – my grandfather worked for the Nizam of Hyderabad – and have been traveling and living abroad since I was a child, beginning with frequent trips to the UK to visit family, my parents are English but I was born and mostly raised in Canada. As a teenager I began visiting my father in Hong Kong and Bangkok, where he worked in the toy industry, and it was at that point I decided to become a journalist in Southeast Asia. I have since “settled” between New York and Miami Beach, although my current profession as a ghostwriter requires me to travel to LA, Milan, Beijing… you get the idea.
So “ food you eat, not look at” is one of your Vibes… what does that mean to you?
I must have been a peasant in many of my past lives because there is nothing I enjoy more than good, hearty “peasant food” – food you eat and not look at, especially in places like France and Italy, but also in the Deep South. It’s the simplest ingredients and recipes that make the best meals, even if they originated from poor people creatively trying to stretch out their meat budget, which may also be why I love side dishes like Yorkshire pud and bread sauce. Give me a family-run restaurant in the countryside with la mamma in the kitchen stirring the sauce, and a jug of local table wine. That’s my idea of heaven.

I hate pretension in general. Whenever possible when I travel, I try to do what the ordinary locals do. That’s also why I love exploring markets for everything from cheeses and charcuterie to baby clothes for my partner’s new granddaughter.
What kind of things makes you say “this is a Buzzhopper place?”
When it’s an experience that really captures the feeling of the city or region. Authenticity and spontaneity are key. No hipsters, beard douches or package tourists please – just good people enjoying the atmosphere as they eat, shop and play.

What’s your favourite tip from another Buzzhopper so far?
I have followed Melinda Chan Butts’s suggestions slavishly for over 20yrs, across several regions and currently I have two faves I can’t decide between – both are in the downtown shopping and residential area of Porta Venezia . For a quick cheap and cheerful lunch, I love Trattoria Sabbioneda da Romolo  a third generation establishment, and the current owners are avid H.O.G.s. (Harley Davidson fans) The husband toiling in the open kitchen looks like an Italian version of Hulk Hogan. But don’t let his looks fool you. He is an artist, and his handmade ravioli with walnuts and gorgonzola in sage and brown butter sauces are to die for. Then I discovered Azzurra Grill –
which is minutes away from Melinda’s home and it’s so good, I’m going to write up my own tip on this neighbourhood gem. Stay tuned.

What would you say to  people discovering/using the site for the first time?
The recommendations are reliable. Unlike other travel and restaurant review sites, there is no one with a stake in the success or failure of the places being talked about. The write ups are curated by like-minded and experienced people who truly know what is good. You can connect with them depending on your own lifestyle interests and preferences. No need to second guess anyone’s motives.

Who do you nominate for the next buzzhopper spotlight? Sara Mitterhofer in Milano, a smart, sassy and fun 20-something year old I met through Buzzhopper… parties, handbag shops, hidden cocktail bars and truffle bars, Sara knows them all.

Thanks Sam!
Make sure you check out her Buzzhopper profile for more about her… and some awesome tips of course!