The Empty Nest Kitchen

Travel Beyond the Guidebook with Beth Schillaci

• Christine Van Bloem • Season 1 • Episode 16

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Christine Van Bloem:

Well, hey and welcome back, guys. I am so thrilled to have one of the people I have known for the very longest time here in Fred Rock my friend and the fabulous podcaster for Travel Beyond the Guidebook, Beth Schillaci. Hey, Beth!

Beth Schillaci:

Hey, how are you? Thanks for having me on.

Christine Van Bloem:

Oh my gosh, of course. So Beth was just saying it feels so awkward being on this side of the microphone because she has such a great little podcast. It's so cool. And she does the interviewing, right?

Beth Schillaci:

Yeah. I mean, I'm either interviewing or just sort of spouting, spouting off, off my notes.

Christine Van Bloem:

You know, well, I'll get into it, but one of my favorite episodes that you did was like the, the quirky little roadside things. It makes me think of, we both grew up in Central PA, so Roadside America. Do you remember Roadside America?

Beth Schillaci:

I do. And it saddens me that it's not, it's not open. I remember the last time we went to New York it, I don't think it was open anymore. So,

Christine Van Bloem:

Yeah, it's not. Every time we go back and forth to either Jersey or the city, we always slink up the back way because it's just, it goes right by Trader Joe's and Camp Hill and it's much more pleasant and it's just many fewer tolls and it always makes me a little sad that it closed. But it, it made me think of that one episode that you had done about all the little rose tide attractions. So. Tell everybody a little about what Travel Beyond the Guidebook is.

Beth Schillaci:

It sounds so NPR when you say that. I love it.

Christine Van Bloem:

Ha ha

Beth Schillaci:

It, what is it? It, it's, it was my way of coping with my daughter going to college. If we're going to be honest and, and, you know, we are, but it, it's blossomed into something else. I'm such a believer of when you travel You need to find what you're passionate about, even when you're in a different location. And whether that's being a little nerdy I loved anything themed, whether it's a roadside attraction, there's a dinosaur out front, I'm probably going to stop.

Christine Van Bloem:

Ha ha!

Beth Schillaci:

I'm, I'm just really into thinking, you know, people should pursue their passion, even when on vacation. You know, you can see videos of influencers and all these, you know, And, and we, we did, we went to Paris last year. We did the Louvre cause you have to do the Louvre. But watching all these influencers like outside doing their thing. And, and I have mad respect for them because they are working their tails off. They are looking great in the rain. I was looking like a drowned rat. But you know, I just. We did the Louvre, but then there were so many other things that were so much more in line with our personalities that we sought out. And that's really what this, the podcast and once I redo the website will, will be about is sort of just finding that, that passion and that interest when you're on vacation and doing your thing. Like don't, don't be bogged down by other people's opinions of it. I do focus a lot on theme parks and. Roadside attractions and nostalgic things just because that's where my interest lies. So, you know, but, but we, I'm trying to find other people who have other interests too. So that, you know, you get a little inspiration out there.

Christine Van Bloem:

love that. And, and I love that you're so honest about when your daughter, because you have one child, you have your amazing, incredible, oh my gosh, so cool daughter who I have such a mom crush on. but you have one daughter and she went off to college and she's a little further away, about seven hours, I think. So it was a big adjustment for you, right?

Beth Schillaci:

Yeah. Like having one child, you go from 60 to zero like that, like. You know, there was no, there was no second, second bird in the nest to, to sort of put attention to. Our poor dog, we drove her crazy, but Ember, Ember got all the attention, but yeah, it was, it was really just sort of hit me hard and like, what do I do, do now? Kind of thing, but you know, and it took a semester probably for me to sort of figure out that, You know, how things

Christine Van Bloem:

Oh, I think you did it pretty quickly.

Beth Schillaci:

Well, thank you for that. Maybe I hit it better than I thought.

Christine Van Bloem:

mean, listen, whenever they go off, and I did have the second kid to kind of, you know, get us used to the feeling. But I remember you, I remember just admiring you so much because it felt like you were really like understanding what she was doing and you knew it would be an adjustment for you. But you seemed, I mean you really seemed like you handled it pretty darn well. Yeah,

Beth Schillaci:

it was, there was a lot of. Like just what's next? Do I, and, and we were, you know, as you know, and I don't want to get into it, but we had some family emergencies going on with my husband's family at that time too. So we had, there was a lot of just a lot of things up in the air, just of what it, so a lot of it was just me keeping busy with that stuff. But it took me a while just like personally, like, you know, you You have to remember who, what your interests were. And that sort of took me a while. I was like, what, what did I do? What did I do before? And, you know, what do I want to do now? So but it, it did, it took a semester and then you get sort of used to having your your time and, and they, they come back and yeah, and you're, you have to, you have to relearn it all again and, and stuff, but yeah, it's, it's, it's fun. And this is something that. Sort of brought, you know, came out of, of that. I had free, more time to do and you know, I, here I am.

Christine Van Bloem:

Well, you have always loved to travel. Like, it has always been a thing for you. And I know you are a big Disney fan. I know you love that. Let's talk about from the Empty Nester perspective. From your travels and where you're going and where you're choosing to spend your time. So, I know you went to Paris last year. You've gone to China, right? You've done The road trips around the U. S.

Beth Schillaci:

Yeah. I mean, I, I mean, those trips are all, they've all been with with Julia, but I will say traveling with someone, an older kid is, is very different as you know. So it is sort of traveling, but yeah, I mean, we've, Paris was the most recent. China was five years now which was an incredible trip. Yeah, it was right before the pandemic we were there.

Christine Van Bloem:

Ugh.

Beth Schillaci:

It was crazy. Yeah, we've been back to Disney a few times now just the two of us. And I gotta tell ya, it's a vibe, and I like it. It's, it's just a different,

Christine Van Bloem:

love to hear that.

Beth Schillaci:

you just do it, you do things different, you know. It's, it's, it's a different pace you, you know. Prioritize different things. So yeah, I mean, it's, it's been an adjustment, but it, it's also it's also fun, you know, different things. And my daughter's in Cincinnati, so it's been a whole nother place to explore and, you know, check things out. And we have favorite things to do and places to go there. So we've been, I've been sharing some of those. So yeah, It's just a different, different thing. And I don't know. It's, it's been, it's been fun, but it has been, it has been different. And I don't, I don't know where we'll head next, but

Christine Van Bloem:

Well, I mean, I remember somebody saying once, you wouldn't want them to stay home. You want your kids to grow, and you want them to blossom. And because of that, you have to handle it, right? You have to handle it, and you have to develop yourself beyond that. So, I'm with you there. you do some quirky things. You have some quirky places on your podcast. Tell me what's, what's been the most interesting from a, from a quirky perspective.

Beth Schillaci:

that we've actually visited or just researched.

Christine Van Bloem:

I, I'll take either.

Beth Schillaci:

We, locally, We went to, as two grown adults do, we went to Dinoland in Virginia, right outside of Winchester, Virginia. And it is. Americana roadside attraction at its finest. And then we found, and I don't remember the name of it. I, I'm not publishing the address, but we found a place and you can find it on Google, but it's actually a residence. that has, I don't know, half a dozen muffler men in the yard. So we pulled up, there was another

Christine Van Bloem:

a muffler man?

Beth Schillaci:

Okay. So a muffler man, you've seen them. You may have seen them in like a Paul Bunyan format, but it's a huge fiberglass statue of a man. A lot of roadside attractions. A lot of businesses still have them. They have one that had a, This place had one that had a gross, was holding a grocery bag. But usually you see'em, either they're actually holding a muffler or they're holding a ax like a Paul bunion, and they're from 19. 50s, I want to say. I always get 50s and 60s when they started. I'm confused. But this household, this family has just collected them and painted like they're in great shape, but they're in, in someone's yard. And thankfully there was another group sort of pulled in so we didn't feel as weird. So we just pulled in and walked around their yard a little bit. No one yelled at us. So

Christine Van Bloem:

That's

Beth Schillaci:

but

Christine Van Bloem:

Okay, well,

Beth Schillaci:

crazy.

Christine Van Bloem:

if you're gonna have giant statues in your front yard, right?

Beth Schillaci:

I mean, and it's, it's not like, you know, we had already determined if it was down like one of those, like winding tree lined roads, we were like, we're not going to do it. Like, we're not going to go check it out, but it's, it's a long a road. So you can just go down the road, not pulling in the driveway and, and see. But yeah, that, that's probably the craziest roadside attractions we've done lately.

Christine Van Bloem:

I love that. Have you ever gone to Bucky's?

Beth Schillaci:

Yes. Yes. We Oh,

Christine Van Bloem:

never been. I have a picture of my brother wearing like a Bucky's like

Beth Schillaci:

Oh, Onesie? Yes. Yeah, I Okay. I mean, I'm not I'm not the foodiest of foodies. Like, I, I like simple food, but I like it done right. I mean, we've, we've had some meals out, you and I. But I was like, I had heard Eddie, everything about Buc ee's and, and I was like, no way. No, there's no way. So we were drove from Cincinnati to Orlando in December. And that was like, We were passing by, at the time, the world's largest Buc ee's. And I was like, well, we're stopping. So we stopped, we grabbed a lot of food, went outside, ate it. I'm gonna tell you, it's good food. Like, Julia has, she says all the time, she goes what's she say? Gas station fudge has no business being this good. It was good. The bris like, John's a bris John's a barbecue guy. Like he knows, and he had the brisket sandwich and he's like, it's one of the best he's, he's had. Like it, it really is. It's an experience. And the food was, was really good. You know, it, I was surprised. So you definitely need to go check one out. Cause I need your opinion on it. I,

Christine Van Bloem:

do you, why do you think Bucky's has all of a sudden developed this huge cult following?

Beth Schillaci:

I think the expansion, because they were only really, they started in Texas, and they were only sort of in that area, but I think coming into Florida, where there's so many people traveling in and out of, especially via car, and now they're, they're everywhere, you know, not everywhere, but they're a lot, I think our closest one will be Roanoke is one being built, so they're, I think the, yeah, so I think the expansion is really what has really, It's made people go there more often and, and then people, you know, sharing it on social media and stuff. But I, I did not believe the hype until I went. There's that.

Christine Van Bloem:

that is so funny. Well, and I have to tell you, and add this to your list, I actually love Roanoke. I know it's a funny thing. We stopped there on our way to Asheville last summer and I found an old bank that was converted into a hotel and it had, I mean, it had copper doors. It was, it was really beautifully done. The rooms weren't. big, but they were really nice. They were nicely appointed. And there was a, I mean, we stayed right in downtown Roanoke. It's not like it's a big place. And there was a restaurant at the hotel. And you know, I'm a little like, Hmm, I'm always a little were wary of that. It was fantastic. It was so good. Our server was phenomenal. The cocktails were delicious. So it was, I mean, I really. Enjoyed the whole thing. So now I really want to go back again so I can go to a Buc ee's. I kid you not.

Beth Schillaci:

There you go. I'm telling you, once, I don't know if it's open or not, but it, it's, it's, it's, it's Yeah, so we, we stopped once on the way down and then twice on our drive home from Florida because there were, we wanted to get other things and we wanted more of certain things. So, so yeah, it,

Christine Van Bloem:

yeah, that's so good. All right. So what, what has been your most fun podcast that you've recorded so far?

Beth Schillaci:

I mean, beside this one let's see.

Christine Van Bloem:

You're too good to me, but you always have been. No, but what's something like that maybe surprised you before, you know, you thought it would be one thing and then when you did the research and you really dug into it, you were like, Oh, not what I was expecting.

Beth Schillaci:

Yeah, I, I did in October a few like haunted, haunted and abandoned episodes. And. That was really some of the research there like how many hotels were, which we know this because we live in Frederick, Civil War capital of the world

Christine Van Bloem:

Oh

Beth Schillaci:

we, we know places that were used as hospitals, but the amount of hotels that were used as hospitals and are therefore haunted, it, it was just interesting sort of what people, you know, the history behind some of these places road trip food and just sort of the, the history of, of that was interesting. I don't know. I'm such a research dork that I really just, anytime I can get into anything, I, I do. And that's, I've always been this way. I've always looked at like, look stuff up and I'm somewhere and I'm, you know, Googling like the background of a place. So this just was like the extension of, I should probably share this cause people are too busy and have no interest in doing the research that I do. So let me put it out there for you.

Christine Van Bloem:

Yeah, I love it. I think it, I think it's so great because there's always something new. And I have recently, and when I say recently, I mean, just the past year or two, become a fan of the road trip. I really, John and I have really kind of figured out our groove with the two of us. So we're in the Mini Cooper. You know, taken the East Coast, mostly, by storm. And I, I love listening because I like hearing the little tidbits. And, I mean, can you imagine doing this all pre internet?

Beth Schillaci:

Well, we, I mean, we did. I mean, our families did. We just didn't, we didn't know. We weren't in charge.

Christine Van Bloem:

I mean, pull out those paper maps. We were not in charge.

Beth Schillaci:

I mean, I remember my parents, like it's, it's funny. Cause my husband's family's from the Rochester, New York area. So we drive up there a lot and we always go by signs for Watkins Glen and the Seneca Lake area and stuff. And like, I remember my parents and I taking a road trip and vacation up there. I'm just like, How, how did they find all this stuff? Like, how did they know that was a thing? Because we do, we have so many resources and, and I mean, you used to have to know how to read a map. No one reads a map now.

Christine Van Bloem:

Oh my gosh. Yeah. Oh my gosh. Yeah. I, you know what I'm really, I'm really good at road signs. In college, my friend Vicki and I, she was great at maps and I was great at road signs. And I know that sounds so silly, but in 1988, that was an important thing.

Beth Schillaci:

It was, I mean, look, you could, you could survive on Amazing Race because you, you can do that.

Christine Van Bloem:

Yeah, I don't know about that, but thanks. Alright, so what do you have coming up for us?

Beth Schillaci:

up. Well, I'm. I'm bringing in my daughter, the expert. We are getting ready to record Taylor Swift locations in New York city. We have 13, 13

Christine Van Bloem:

Love it.

Beth Schillaci:

locations that are based from

Christine Van Bloem:

Ah ha ha ha. I get it. I get it!

Beth Schillaci:

it. Yeah. I have that. I have a Cincinnati episode. Just had an interview this morning with someone sharing their trip to Norway and Scandinavia which is sort of a, a bucket list trip for a lot of people. So Yeah, I'm trying to schedule a city insider for Sydney, Australia. So I'm hoping I can get that connection hooked up, but yeah, so it's, it, it's fun. I'm just trying to find people and then research. I have some speakeasies and themed bar little history and ones to check out. if you're into pop culture. So yeah, keep a little something for everyone, I think. I'm trying.

Christine Van Bloem:

love it. My sister in law found a speakeasy in, of all places, Rehoboth, Delaware. And it was, you know, kind of a casual, not super casual, but it was not a fancy restaurant at all. I mean, we were doing shots with the waiter at the, it was girls weekend. It was Van Bloem Family Girls Weekend and it was epic. I recommend it for everyone. But in the back of it was kind of the speakeasy and I'll never forget they they handed us the menus And when we opened them they lit up and we all lost our damn minds We all went bananas for it and I mean I got some drink called a Wonka's Golden Egg and I I don't even know so speakeasies. I am all in

Beth Schillaci:

there you go. Yeah, it's, it's between ones that are hidden and ones that aren't. And then the themes that people put onto their bars, whether you're looking for Star Wars or Tiki Bar, Tiki Bars, you, you name it, it's out there.

Christine Van Bloem:

Yeah! Oh, it's so good. It's so good. I love, you know, I have really embraced finding the quirkier stuff and the cooler stuff. So, having someone like you doing the legwork for me is so great. I love that.

Beth Schillaci:

I mean, like I said, I, I do, I love doing the research. The other thing I've been getting into, I haven't done an episode or anything yet is I'm obsessed with movie locations, like where they've been filmed. So I've been doing a

Christine Van Bloem:

Oh, you are?

Beth Schillaci:

and yeah, I, I, I. You know, it would be better if I was in the Civil War history, where we live, but the things I'm interested in, we're not really known for it in this area. But yeah, the,

Christine Van Bloem:

All we have around here is Blair Witch Project.

Beth Schillaci:

yeah, and I haven't been over to the, but I don't feel, I don't feel right walking through a cemetery for that either, so but like, you know, I've been researching

Christine Van Bloem:

I

Beth Schillaci:

of, I've been researching, you know, the, the road trip route from vacation, you know, that classic. So yeah, I've, I'm hoping to get some more information and get that either on the, the site or or Episode depending on how much I find. But yeah, I mean, it's it's finding that when we were in Atlanta, we, you know, sort of drove through some areas that we knew were were different Avenger movies were were filmed. So which drove by like, it's over there. That's there. So yeah, it's If it's pop culture or themed, I'm probably gonna track it down. And if anyone ever has ideas, please. I, you know, I am not traveling full time at all. These are life's responsibilities, keep, but I'm researching and if anyone has, you know, ideas or stuff, I'm, I'm all ears for sure.

Christine Van Bloem:

Oh, I love that. And, and I do have to say, I actually love Atlanta. I just, I mean, it's way too hot for me. I swear, I cannot go one street further south than where I live. Because my life is one eternal hot flash. But, I love Atlanta. They have a really fantastic food scene. I mean, their traffic is a nightmare. But It's, it's such a cool place. It's such a cool, I just love it there.

Beth Schillaci:

Yeah, we didn't spend enough. We sort of were in and out. We did stop in the Center for Puppetry down there, which If you are in Atlanta, you must go. The Jim Henson collection is just

Christine Van Bloem:

Oh,

Beth Schillaci:

all your old friends right there. Just it's walk around. There's Big Bird and Elmo and, and then the Fraggles and then dark crit like stuff from our childhood. And yeah, it's. It's an incredible museum. Just tucked away there in the city.

Christine Van Bloem:

I am such a Muppet lover. We did not do a lot of things together as a family growing up, but I remember it was like Saturday nights at seven o'clock and we would all watch the Muppets. Have you ever gone to the Museum of TV and Radio in New York?

Beth Schillaci:

No, that we, I didn't know there was one. Where in New York is that?

Christine Van Bloem:

Well. Oh, gosh, I don't know. It's not, I mean, it's like hidden and they have, I, and I mean, I went there a hundred years ago when, when we lived there and I remember my brother Todd came to visit and my husband, John, I don't know if we were married then he said, I'm going to take him to the Museum of TV and Radio. Let's go there. I was like, all right, that's fine. And they have every television program that was ever on. Every single one. And then you could, and remember this is before streaming and all that, so you would request something. You could watch anything. So it's John, my brother, and me. And John requests the moon landing. So he's watching the moon landing. Todd watches the David Letterman episode where the camera turns 360 degrees over the course of the hour. And I watch the Muppets.

Beth Schillaci:

There you go. You, you, you were the right one.

Christine Van Bloem:

I love a Muppet. I love a Muppet! I love it!

Beth Schillaci:

Have you ever heard this concept of people like, pick movies and they're like, replace every character with a Muppet, except for keep one human like that's, that's like one of our favorite things to do.

Christine Van Bloem:

Okay, I just saw somebody because I scroll too much. Somebody said, I want to see a Muppet Pride and Prejudice. And I'm like, yes. One thousand percent I want to see that. It's not Christmas if you don't watch a Muppet Christmas Carol, right? I mean, that's required.

Beth Schillaci:

And, and for the Disney fan, Disney Park fans, if you go to Hollywood Studios and you do not do Muppet Vision 3D, you're not a Disney fan. I'm sorry. It's just how it is. You gotta do the, you gotta do the movie. Yes. It is a 3D movie.

Christine Van Bloem:

What is it?

Beth Schillaci:

It's, it's, it's, it's like 10, 15 minutes of a little Muppets being Muppets story, but it's, it's 3D. And so Fozzie's trying to throw a pie at you and you know, it's all there. It's great. Plus it's air conditioned. So if you're hot, you got to go in.

Christine Van Bloem:

Fozzie. I like in the Muppet Christmas Carol that instead of Fezziwig, he's Fozziwig. And I have always likened myself to that character. So Fozzie Bear always speaks to me.

Beth Schillaci:

There you go. I mean, he's great. They're all great. I love them. I love them. They're, they're too much fun.

Christine Van Bloem:

I love it. That's awesome. Oh, that is so cool. Any, any other little places, any little things that you're recommending for this summer Nester?

Beth Schillaci:

for the Empty Nester, I mean, I'm, you know, we, we've already, We're not really doing a summer vacation, which I'm realizing that's great for the travel, travel podcaster to not travel.

Christine Van Bloem:

Well, you travel a lot.

Beth Schillaci:

yeah, I mean, and that's the thing. Like I, I'm all about the staycation too. When I say travel, like travel can be an hour from your home. Like literally the dinosaur land was an, is an hour from our house. The fact that we had not been there before was tragic. You know, when we're,

Christine Van Bloem:

Yeah.

Beth Schillaci:

you know, I would say if I know people, there's some people that like to go up to Niagara or, or upstate New York, or I'm sorry, not upstate Western. I'm, I'm learning my New York state. directions. But like if you're in the Rochester, New York area they have this strong museum of play. I know it sounds like a kid's museum. It's not. It is so nostalgic, such cool old, if you're into video games and video game history, there's so much there. You know, and these aren't, you know, These aren't places that you have to stay, but if you're like heading up the Niagara or you're up in the Finger Lakes, like, it's a day trip. It's a stop in, spend some hours there. You know, just find somewhere close by that maybe you haven't been. Just, I think that's the biggest thing as we get, as the kids go and grow. And, and it's. That we don't stay stagnant. Like, be a tourist in your own, you know, neighborhood. Be a tourist down the street from you. I, I think that's the, the biggest thing is, is you don't have to go on huge trips. Like, find something that you're into and, and go do. I'm sad right now. We had spinners. Have you guys been the, had you been the spinners?

Christine Van Bloem:

Oh, yeah.

Beth Schillaci:

Yeah, well they're, they're moving so they're closed right now. Like, that's such a little, like, arcade and old pinball machines. Like, go find an old arcade in your neighborhood if you did that growing up. Like, just go unapologetically do something you did as a kid and, and don't worry what, someone's judging you or anything. You know, just, you know. I hate when people are like, Oh, I can't do that. It's like, why not? Just go do it. Like be authentic, be geeky, be whatever you need to be.

Christine Van Bloem:

Yeah. Yeah, you know where we're going this summer.

Beth Schillaci:

You're going to Maine, right?

Christine Van Bloem:

We're going to Maine, but we're taking the kids to Maine because that way we can spend a little time with them and all of that. But John wants to stop at Emily Dickinson's house. I think it's in Western Mass and I'm like, heck yeah! Now does that mean I have to find a place to stay and I have to look up all the details to make sure it's open on a Monday? Or yes, yes, that is exactly what that means. Bye! I'm willing to do it. And then I'm like, well, if we're going to be in Western Mass, maybe we come down like the way you're saying and kind of go through that way. I got to get back to go to school cause I'm a school girl now. But yeah, I'm, I'm excited to try little things.

Beth Schillaci:

What I think, I think another thing for. For people that are listening to this one is like find your local food trail. Like in the summer, a lot of places, a lot of states and stuff have their like ice cream trails or I think someplace in Pennsylvania has like a charcuterie trail or something. I don't, I don't know. So, like,, find a passport that you, local passport that you can just visit places and knock off in the summer. Like, it doesn't have to be a huge, huge thing. Like, find those, find those food trails, man. I'm all about that,

Christine Van Bloem:

Yeah! Maryland has an ice cream trail. I know PA, I think I've heard of that charcuterie trail. I bet it goes through Lebanon with like Lebanon bologna and stuff, right? Which is fantastic! Lebanon sweet bologna? Oh my gosh, it's like I'm 13 again. But PA also, Southern PA has a potato chip trail.

Beth Schillaci:

Oh, okay. I didn't know that.

Christine Van Bloem:

So, or I think they have, yeah, because I don't know if you have ever heard of Hartley's potato chips. They are, I think they're like truly central Pennsylvania, like right in the middle. And it's a white bag with red lettering, Hartley's. And this is the funniest story. So my mother dies, we're having the baby, Burial and it's just a couple of people that have come because it's in the middle of nowhere. And we look and my uncle is like in cab of his truck and he's like And we're like what's going on because we were all you know, we missed my mom, of course But we were all in a really okay place with everything He was like, oh whenever you're up here, you got to get the Hartley's potato chips and we're like what? I think they actually cook them in lard. Don't quote me on that You But we all try the potato chips. I swear, Beth, we go out and we have the requisite lunch. And then we go find a place. We go on a search. Right after the funeral. My mother is in the ground for moments, right? And we are searching for Hartley's potato chips. And they are fantastic. They're the best potato chip you'll ever have. You can get them on Amazon. But like, we can't even get them here. And we're only two hours from there.

Beth Schillaci:

100 percent approved of that

Christine Van Bloem:

A hundred percent.

Beth Schillaci:

She would have

Christine Van Bloem:

A hundred

Beth Schillaci:

100%. Yep. Yep. Yep.

Christine Van Bloem:

You're so right. She's probably just irritated that she couldn't go. You know,

Beth Schillaci:

Yes. If you would have, the only better thing you could have done was go on a peep hunt. Like,

Christine Van Bloem:

yes

Beth Schillaci:

pick a peep.

Christine Van Bloem:

Those are made in PA. I should go. I should go pour a peep out for my mom You got Beth knows this because this is the most ridiculous thing my mom was so addicted to peeps and not just peeps, but like stale peeps like The chewier the older they were and there was a time that I went into the basement And once they started making them year round And It was, she was like an addict, right? She was totally an addict. You could see her, you know, jonesing for it. And there, I know there were more than 50 boxes of open peeps in the basement. The most ridiculous thing ever. And bless her heart, I mean, that was her vice, right? The woman stopped smoking after 30 years. She didn't drink, but man, did she love a peep. I think they're

Beth Schillaci:

Every time.

Christine Van Bloem:

right?

Beth Schillaci:

I think so. Every time I see them, I think about your mom. Every single

Christine Van Bloem:

Oh, you're so sweet.

Beth Schillaci:

always

Christine Van Bloem:

Me too. I tell you, at the store, I see them and I'm like, Oh, maybe I should get a peep. And I'm like, No, they're terrible! They're not terrible. But they're just, they're a little sweet. And she was right. If they're stale, and they're really chewy, that's, I mean, that's a delicious peep. So clever! Oh my gosh, they would because that sugar would caramelize. Oh, you get an extra layer of flavor on that. That gum, Beth, that's fantastic.

Beth Schillaci:

See, you can take the two PA girls out of PA, but you can't take

Christine Van Bloem:

PA never

Beth Schillaci:

Your kid never leaves us.

Christine Van Bloem:

never does. We were having a conversation. I think it was last weekend about squirrel pot pie and you're like, I've never had that, but I grew up on that stuff. Like I grew up on all. Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Oh, no, because they would go squirrel hunting and it's never hunting, it's hunting, right? They would go squirrel hunting and I mean, if you're going to go hunting, you're going to have to eat what you bring back because otherwise you're, it's, you know, and my, my grandfather was, he was from the mountains, all right? And so was my grandma. And it's like, oh yeah, I had squirrel pot pie like all the time I've eaten. Pheasant. It sounds so posh. It's not when your dad's bringing it back from a field, right? You gotta pick around the shot. The Trout. I remember going what were we hunting for? Dove hunting? That sounds so awful now that I think about it. I took like Teen Beet or Tiger Beet and Pringles and Iced Tea. Well, I mean Pringles, right? Going hunting. There was nothing. And then I stepped into a, I don't know what a big group of quail are called. But they're little, so you can't see them. And I got in the middle and I, I'm telling you, hundreds of quail rose up around me and I was like, this is the worst hobby ever. I don't like it. I was the oldest, right? So I got my hunting license and my ears pierced on the same day when I was 12 because I was the oldest. P. A., baby. P. A. Love P. A.

Beth Schillaci:

How is it that we, okay fun fact is we met here in Frederick. We went to the same, we went to the same high school, not at the same time. I went with your brother,

Christine Van Bloem:

Yeah.

Beth Schillaci:

but it just cracks me up because

Christine Van Bloem:

I think he went with both my brothers.

Beth Schillaci:

did I? I think maybe.

Christine Van Bloem:

Yeah.

Beth Schillaci:

I just think it's funny that we both basically grew up in the same area, but had very different experiences.

Christine Van Bloem:

my gosh, yeah. Oh my gosh. Yours was, you were posh compared

Beth Schillaci:

I don't know. I don't know about

Christine Van Bloem:

I know, that tells you a lot about my upbringing, right? It was, I mean, it was a little down and dirty, but I,

Beth Schillaci:

My uncle was a hunter. My dad was not. So that's. Oh, that was not something.

Christine Van Bloem:

used to shoot BB guns in the basement. My dad had like a fake deer in the backyard that he would use his bow and arrows to shoot. And I remember like he missed because I don't think he was that good. But he tried, you know, he tried really hard. And like a lady, you know, In the house behind us brought his arrow back. And I'm like, and I'm just thinking about if that happened today, right? If I went in my backyard and found an arrow, but PA. Gotta love it, man. I

Beth Schillaci:

it was fine.

Christine Van Bloem:

I loved it. I loved it. I was happy to leave, but I loved it. I love where we live now. So, we're lucky girls. All right, so what day of the week do you release new episodes?

Beth Schillaci:

New episodes come out on Saturdays like super early, like 3 a. m. So you can, you can wake up to it.

Christine Van Bloem:

I do the same thing. That's so funny. And this is called, again, Travel Beyond the Guidebook, and it's, it really is great. It's such a great podcast. I'm so into it, Beth. And I'm, I'm so grateful for you to come and do this. I know it's hard being on the other side of the microphone.

Beth Schillaci:

You make it easy. It's been

Christine Van Bloem:

Oh, stop. All right. I have one more question for you before I let you go. What are you eating now?

Beth Schillaci:

am I eating

Christine Van Bloem:

Yeah, like what's your thing right now? What are you What are you into? What are you having for dinner?

Beth Schillaci:

I, that's a great question. Okay. So here's a funny, funny thing that I just discovered out of all grocery stores are local Weiss,

Christine Van Bloem:

Oh.

Beth Schillaci:

which, you know, PA grocery store, which I, which I

Christine Van Bloem:

Lighting.

Beth Schillaci:

which I do not ever shop at, but I needed milk. And I went through, I don't know what prompted me to go down the Italian food aisle, but they had these chocolate chip cookies that you get in a bag in the grocery store in Italy. And they're like, basically the, I'm going to say they're like the Italian Chips Ahoy. They're, they're like a teardrop. So they're that consistency, but they're like a teardrop shaped, but they're not too sweet. overly sweet. They're like, they're like European sweet, which is the perfect kind of sweet. So I grabbed a bag of those off the shelf so fast, brought them home. Everyone in the house was like, what, wait, how did you get those? I'm like, they were at the Weiss. So they were really good. We're down, so I have to go get more. So I think that's the thing I'm into is, is those chocolate chip cookies right now is probably my, my big thing. My big, my big find right

Christine Van Bloem:

I love that! Yeah, that's the thing. You gotta find your big find.

Beth Schillaci:

Yep. Yep. That's because we spend too much time in international grocery

Christine Van Bloem:

Yes, it's the best part of going on a trip. I don't care where you are. It's the best part going to a local grocery store. If you're in North Carolina or Texas or New York or Massachusetts, it doesn't matter. Go into the local grocery store. It's the way to go.

Beth Schillaci:

Yes. It's always a good time.

Christine Van Bloem:

It's always a good time. All right, so catch new episodes of Travel Beyond the Guidebook with my buddy Beth Schillaci. Every Saturday you can catch a new episode. You can of course go and check out a couple of the past episodes. They're super fun. And Beth, thank you so much for doing this. I really appreciate you.

Beth Schillaci:

my pleasure. Thanks for having me.

Christine Van Bloem:

Ah, of course. And everyone, you remember, there are always awesome cooking classes at EmptyNestKitchen. com. And of course, I'll see you in the kitchen.