Meet the Editor: Ben Leventhal
Maderas Beach, San Juan Del Sur. Surfing, Day Two.
Hometown: New York, NY
Occupation: Executive Editor, TheFeast.com.
Favorite destinations: Amagansett, Aspen, San Juan Del Sur, Tel Aviv, Tribeca.
Dying to visit: Antarctica.
Bizarre travel rituals: Immediately upon arrival, always free the internet cable from whatever ridiculous holder or stand is anchoring it to the desk.
In-flight relaxation regime: Booze.
Always in carry-on: I keep a folder on my desk labeled "Flight Reading." Those absurdly long New Yorker stories about the economics of banana farming, for example. Ostensibly important white papers. I always take that. Plus, 11" Macbook Air.
Concierge or DIY? DIY.
See it all or take it easy? Take it easy.
Drive or be driven? It really depends. But I'll go with drive.
Travel hero: I always remember hearing about my older sister's travels growing up, especially to Africa. I guess Bourdain, too. Dude gets around.
Weirdest thing seen on travels: It's not weird, per se. But I'm always amazed at how prevalent the honor system is outside the U.S.
Best hotel amenity: An overabundance of towels; related: heated towel rack; also, actual, physical room keys.
Everywhere I go, I check out the place that locals are currently calling a "speakeasy." Also, the local coffee shop.
I dream about my meal at: Epic meals for me are always about the company, so I'll say our house in Amagansett, a place where the lobster pasta flows like wine (and the wine flows like ... wine).
When I arrive in a new place, I learn the lay of the land by buying and studying maps ahead of time.
I always bring home matchbooks, cards, things with local graphic design elements; airport stuffed animals (for my girlfriend).
I travel for the diversion.