Meet your Real Food Traveler Magazine Editors:
Each of our editors has an area of expertise and special interest they bring to their many contributions to our digital food and travel magazine. Get to know them!
Publisher, Managing Editor, Podcast Host
Courtney Drake-McDonough, an award-winning writer, editor, and photographer based in Denver, Colorado, is the Publisher and Managing Editor for RealFoodTraveler.com. She is passionate about the food world and loves writing about all aspects of it. In addition to running RFT, Courtney writes for a wide variety of magazines, newspapers, and websites and is the editor of two other blogs, InGoodTasteDenver.com, a news and reviews site covering restaurants, theater, movies, and travel in Colorado. Courtney is also a contributor to SheBuysTravel.com.
Real Food Traveler Editors
Yvette Cardozo, Ski & Dive Editor, Veteran travel and adventure writer, is the winner of multiple awards for Real Food Traveler articles from the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW), the largest and most prestigious professional association for travel writers in North America. Yvette didn’t even see snow until she was 25. That’s because she grew up in snow-free, frost-free South Miami Beach. In fact, she says, “When I finally got to see frost for the first time at age 13, I thought it was mold all over the cars. (Some of us were more sheltered than others).”
She finally got into skiing at age 30 and claims she has “probably the world’s most exhaustive collection of ‘dumb Florida gal discovers snow’ stories” in the world. That includes her first heli-ski trip when someone gently pointed out to her that maybe it was time to retire the novice ski angle. Yvette now lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, Bill Hirsch, 30 minutes from the nearest slopes and she skis at least once a week during the season. She’s also done several multi-day snowmobile trips and once did an eight-day dogsled trip above the Arctic Circle where she drove her own dog team. Look for Yvette to bring RFT readers exciting ski stories (that often include a food angle) and fabulous photos. Additionally, Yvette has been diving for 40 years and is a certified scuba diver. Most recently, she did some freshwater diving in Mexico’s spectacular underwater tunnels (called cenotes).
Suzanne Corbett, Food History Editor, Award-winning writer, editor, and media producer. Suzanne comes with a long resume that includes being the author of several noted cookbooks, including The Gilded Table: Recipe and Table History from the Campbell House (2015 Donning Publishing); and Pushcarts & Stalls: The Soulard Market History Cookbook (1999 Palmerston & Reed Publishing). Suzanne also writes for News Magazine Network, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, StLSportsPage.com, AAA Traveler and Journey Magazines. Most recently, Suzanne’s RFT story, “Winston-Salem’s Morovian Cookies and The Moravian Cookie Trail,” won first place (Gold Award) from the Missouri Professional Communicators, an Affiliate of the National Federation of Press Woman. Suzanne has been a frequent guest on KMOX and FoodTalkSTL radio and has served as the host and producer of Hot Plates that aired on KSLG 1030AM. She has been a food historian/living history foodways interpreter at Jefferson National Expansion Memorial /National Parks.
Her awards are numerous, including two Telly Awards, a Davey Award, the Missouri Media Award (from the Department of Agriculture Missouri Wine and Grape Program) and the Quest Award from the National Federation of Press Women’s Missouri affiliate, which recognizes individuals whose work reflects an enduring quest for the highest standards of professional ethics and excellence. Other awards include Gold, Silver, and Bronze Awards from the North American Travel Journalists Mark Twain Awards; 32 first place awards, including food and travel categories, from the Midwest Travel Writers Association writers contest; and the Mississippi Travel Writer of the Year (2013) Award from the Missouri Professional Communicators/National Federation of Press Women.
Carole Jacobs, Health, Fitness and Spa Editor. Based in California’s Eastern Sierra, Carole is former 20-year senior editor/food-nutrition editor and founding travel editor at Shape magazine; former 10-year editor at Travelgirl and the author of 14 books on women’s travel, health, fitness and food with major New York publishers. A longtime member of the Society of American Travel Writers and the American Society of Journalists and Authors, Carole’s freelance work has appeared in hundreds of publications. She is currently a contributing author at Bindu Trips, a travel website covering the world.
Irvina Lew, Europe Editor, is an author and award-winning culinary travel writer who savors traveling the world, especially to western European countries to which she has returned, regularly, since she studied at The Sorbonne, at age 19. Irvina is a member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors, the Society of American Travel Writers and an alumnus of Travel Classics. Her freelance features have been published in dozens of national and regional publications. The Long Island-based widow is a former French, Spanish and ESL teacher, mom to three daughters, grandmère to Emma Lov and abuelita to Sage. Her mission is to meet new people, sip wonderful wines, sup memorable meals, stay in haute hotels, and spa in splendiferous wellness retreats. Follow her @sipsupstayspa.
Elizabeth “Libby” Margolis Pineo, East Coast Editor. Libby knows her way around a tasting menu. She’s attended countless wine, sake, and beer tastings and she loves all things brunchy and boozy. She’s mashed ripe Tuscan figs into her mouth straight from the tree, ordered Poutine well past midnight in Montreal, and will eat the skin of just about any roasted anima. In addition to being a food and travel writer, Libby imports a line of cozy and stylish shawls from Italy – “Italian Warmth for Maine Winters.” She is also founder and editor of EpicuriousTravelers.com which she created to showcase her published work and ongoing adventures.
Jimmy McDonough is co-owner of RealFoodTraveler.com and the Eco-Friendly Food, Travel & Adventure Editor. He has written about travel, dining, arts and culture for a variety of outlets. A lifelong nature lover, Jimmy is a Colorado native who craves being outdoors at every opportunity. Hiking, camping, and simply being still amid the wonder of a forest, desert, or an ocean, is his happy place. In his decades of travel, Jimmy has seen the accelerating damage of modern society on the natural world and realized his personal choices matter. He is determined to reduce his negative impact on the planet’s ecosystems and societies and shares useful information and experiences to help RFT readers make eco-friendly travel choices.
Ron Stern, Hospitality Editor. Known as The Global Gumshoe, Ron is a 23-year international food and travel photojournalist. Ron is passionate about all aspects of the hospitality industry including food, beverage, lodging, travel, tourism, and recreation. Ron’s articles have appeared in hundreds of publications both in print and online. These include The Epoch Times, Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, Sun-Sentinel, Baltimore Sun, San Diego Union-Tribune, Yahoo News, PBS, Mobil Travel Guides, and MSN. Magazines include Shape, Cruise, AAA Motorist, and Canadian Traveler, to name a few. He is a frequent public speaker both in the U.S. and Canada. He has presented his tourism and photography to thousands of travelers at venues such as The National Restaurant Association, colleges, libraries, tourism offices, REI, and Whole Foods. Ron’s love of food and travel has taken him all over the world. Whether interviewing a Michelin-Star Chef, reviewing a luxury hotel, or capturing great images, he is proud to be a part of Real Food Traveler.
