Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
N.Y. chef treasures island of Pantelleria
The author of “Real Food Heals: Eat to Feel Younger and Stronger Every Day” (Avery, $35), Seamus Mullen was also a finalist on Food Network’s “The Next Iron Chef.” Based in Brooklyn, N.Y., Mullen has been able to marry his love of cooking and traveling by pairing up with DuVine Cycling + Adventure Co.’s Chef on Wheels tours through Italy.
An edited version of our conversation follows.
Q: What is your favorite vacation destination?
A: For outdoor water activities, I love going back to Hawaii. I just got back from a quick trip to the Mani Peninsula (in Greece). It was an incredibly wild and beautiful part of the world with rugged, untamed, severe cliffs falling away to hidden coves and undiscovered beaches. I would go back in a heartbeat.
Q: What untapped destination should people know about?
A: Pantelleria. It’s a small island off the coast of Tunisia that’s actually considered part of Sicily. It’s a remarkable, remote and wild island in the middle of the Mediterranean. The landscape is unlike any other, and the waters are as pristine as they get. Sicily, in general, is an amazing and often overlooked part of Italy. I (recently) got back from a week of cycling with DuVine Cycling + Adventure Co. through the southeast of Sicily, and it’s the realdeal Italian experience. Cycling through this destination is an incredible way to see the culture. It has some of the most amazing food and landscapes I’ve ever experienced.
Q: What was the first trip you took as a child?
A: Car camping trip through the United Kingdom. I remember the flight being awful on a cheap charter plane. But once we got to London, I was so excited to explore and see so many new things. We drove from London to the Lake District in Scotland, stopping and camping along the way. I remember it raining for most of the trip, but I didn’t care. I was so excited to be in a foreign place.
Q: What’s the most important thing you’ve learned from your travels?
A: To be curious, to ask questions, to smile, to make an effort. Even if I don’t speak the language, showing an interest in local culture, local cuisine and local history goes a long way in making friends.
Q: Where are your favorite weekend getaways?
A: If I were to say one place, close to New York City that can easily be reached in a weekend, I would say my home state of Vermont. It’s well worth the drive. I was just there last weekend, and in 45 minutes I saw a moose, a bear and tons of deer. It’s still a wild and beautiful place.
Q: What would be your dream trip?
A: I would really love to do an around-the-world trip by motorcycle. Many years ago, I spent six months riding my motorcycle and camping from San Francisco to Panama and back. It was an amazing experience, traveling slowly, drinking it all in. If I found a magical place that I loved, I would stay for a while without the pressure of having to get to the next place. I would love to travel through Europe, Africa, South America, Asia and then back to the States by motorcycle.
Q: What is your best or worst vacation memory?
A: My worst vacation memory? Probably when my motorcycle broke down in Acapulco, and I had to spend a week there trying to get spare parts shipped from the U.S. The city was once a great tourist destination that now has not aged well. My best memory? So many, but a favorite was cooking a huge Italian feast on the island of Pantelleria.