Construction Maison

Operating a bed-and-breakfast out of an 1890s- era country home in tiny Salem, SC, wasn’t exactly on Julie and Jeff Pierce’s radar in 2004. Yes, she recalls that on their honeymoon, she had mentioned to her new husband that doing so was “my dream job.” But during the nine years the Midwest natives (Ohio for her, Michigan for him) lived in Fort Myers, Fla., and ran physical therapy and yoga practices , a B&B seemed just that: an in-the-future dream. But after visiting friends in the South Carolina Upcountry and enjoying the area’s hiking trails, lakes and waterfalls, the outdoors- loving couple decided to sell their businesses and move there. “We had no deep roots in Florida,” she says, “and we thought we’d maybe build a house on Lake Keowee, get a Jet Ski.” That all changed the day they visited Sunrise Farm , a local B&B since 1991. “Jeff saw in a real estate magazine that it was for sale,” Julie says. “We came just to look at it; Jeff thought it was just a look, ...

Italy is known for some of the best foods in the world. It's home to some of the greatest bread, pasta, gelato, and wine, as we all know, but there are a lot of other delicious dishes that are lesser known, yet equally amazing. This past summer I got the wonderful opportunity to study abroad in Italy, making my way around several parts of the country and trying a ton of amazing foods that honestly, I now wish I would've eaten more of. You simply have  to visit Italy at least once in your life — I insist. I understand that the number of food options can be overwhelming and you might be unsure what to eat in Italy. So, the following is a list that my fellow Spoon members and I have put together for you on 50 of the foods that you absolutely must try there (although, I'd certainly advise you try more if you can). 1. Tomatoes Tomatoes ( pomodori ) are a huge part of Italian food culture , as they're the backbone of the most terrific sauces, soups, salads, and more. The mos...