Realfoodtraveler.com has been named Best Website by the Western Chapter of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW), the largest and most prestigious professional organization for travel and food writers.

RFT Founder and Editor-in-Chief Bobbie Hasselbring was honored with a Gold Award (first place) certificate and a check recently at the 2015 Western Chapter Writing Awards held in Branson, Missouri.

The judge wrote about realfoodtraveler.com, “While reviewing the site, I found myself drawn deeper and deeper into it. I’m not a foodie, but realfoodtraveler.com focuses on travel through the lens of local food, and I found both the in-depth food writing and the travel writing showcased the writers’ command of their subject matter – and taught me new things.”

Hasselbring, as well as her food/travel website realfoodtravler.com, aren’t strangers to writing awards. The veteran travel/food/profile writer was honored in both 2013 and 2011 with a Northern Lights Award, the highest award given to U.S. writers by Canada Media Marketplace and the Canada Tourism Commission. Those honors came from stories written for www.realfoodtraveler.com, “Eastern Townships, Quebec: For the Love of Lavender” and “A Chinese Food Marathon in Richmond, BC.” In 2013, she won the Food Day Canada Culinary Award for Best Written Work in Any Medium with the story, “A Taste of the Garden,” which appeared on realfoodtravele.com. In 2012, she was recognized with the Travel Media Award by the Saskatchewan Excellence in Tourism Awards  for a series of RFT stories she wrote. She’s also received writing awards from the Oregon Governor’s Office, the American Heart Association, and the RX Club.

Last year, RFT Ski & Dive Editor Yvette Cardozo won a Western Chapter SATW award for her tongue-in-cheek review of travel underwear that appeared on realfoodtraveler.com.

SATW’s Western Chapter chose realfoodtraveler.com Best Food and Travel Website.

Hasselbring says of her most recent Best Website Award from SATW, “All of us at realfoodtraveler.com, including a number of other award-winning writers, strive to create stories that engage our readers and make people want to travel the world exploring interesting regional foods. This honor by the Society of American Travel Writers recognizes that effort we put into realfoodtraveler.com. We’re honored and delighted with this latest award.”