School
Northwestern University
Expertise
Hyperlocal Foodie Itineraries, Slow Experiential Travel, Athletic Adventures
- Desiree has traveled to 37 countries and road-tripped across 36 U.S. states, including the complete Route 66 and the Great Mississippi River Road.
- Her most memorable meals are Smalahove, a Norwegian roasted sheep's head farmyard feast; an endless buffet of home-cooked Thai soul food at a rural monastery two hours from Chiang Mai; slurping raw seafood cóctels in a shack somewhere outside of Mexico City; and octopus curry under a Zanzibar sunset zigged with orange and zagged with purple.
- Vivid memories of summiting Mount Kilimanjaro at 5,892 meters high, trekking the Annapurna Circuit in the Nepali Himalayas, running the Berlin Marathon in 3 hours and 52 minutes, finishing the Great Wall Marathon in one piece, and cycling across Vietnam's Sapa mountains are still a sensational adrenaline rush.
Experience
Desiree is a travel and food lifestyle writer, a passionate Singapore native with a heart wrapped around Chicago's cosmopolitan practicality and a soul steeped in the sweet life of Rome and Lazio. She writes for Channel News Asia — the region's major multinational news channel. She also covered the chapters on nightlife, fashion, wellness, and walking tours in "Louis Vuitton City Guide: Singapore," among other global publications and books. She also originated launch content for new properties by the W Hotels, The St. Regis Hotels, and Sheraton, and contextualizes marketing copy for international hotel groups. She has seen Bruce Springsteen in 44 cities across three continents, covering selected shows. Desiree leads foodabouts in Katong-Joo Chiat, Singapore's most delicious neighborhood, and speaks enough Italian to make friends everywhere, and eat everything, in the Bel Paese.
Education
Desiree graduated from The Medill School Of Journalism at Northwestern University, specializing in magazine writing and editing.
Islands content is created by a team of veteran writers and editors passionate about travel. Outside experts with deep field knowledge sometimes inform our work with additional context and perspectives by way of exclusive commentary. Our goal is to offer readers well-rounded and diverse articles that inform, entertain, and inspire.
Our editors consistently review and update articles to ensure they're providing current, relevant, and useful information. Complete information on our editorial process is available here.
-
Route 66 winds through Texas, where you can visit the biggest city in the Panhandle for gorgeous canyon views, a fun amusement park, and massive steaks.
Read More
