New Mexico native Zora O’Neill shares her appreciation for the Land of Enchantment, from exploring Acoma Pueblo, the 12th century Native American settlement built upon a 367-foot mesa, to watching hundreds of hot-air balloons take flight during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. O’Neill offers a variety of trip strategies such as the American Indian Heritage Tour and a itinerary devoted to Mesas and Mountaintops. Her understanding of the remarkable history and culture of the region also shines through as she guides travelers to sites like the D.H. Lawrence ranch and to the many ceremonial dances throughout the state. From enjoying the range of flavors present in “Santa Fean” cuisine to driving through red rock canyons on the Jemez Mountain Trail, Moon Santa Fe, Taos, and Albuquerque gives travelers the tools they need to create a more personal and memorable experience.
Zora has been in the kitchen since she was 3, and has the bacon-fat burns to prove it. But she really taught herself to cook in her early 20s during grad school, and that skill has proved far more useful than anything else she learned at the time.
When Zora moved to New York City (from New Mexico via New Jersey, Indiana, the Netherlands and Egypt) in 1998, she chose where to live based on the 24-hour produce stands in lovely Astoria, Queens. Inspired by her borough's diverse foodstuffs, she started the supper club Roving Gastronome in 2001, and later developed Sunday Night Dinner with Tamara Reynolds, which was the inspiration for their cookbook, Forking Fantastic!: Put the Party back in Dinner Party.
In her work as a guidebook author for Rough Guides, Moon and Lonely Planet, Zora also picks up new flavors on the road. She pays special attention to street carts, produce markets, and local culinary specialties, and the finds wind up in her guidebooks, as well as on her home table.
Zora writes about her cooking and travels on the blog Roving Gastronome (www.rovinggastronome.com).
