Porch & Press

Nora Haddad

Food & Travel Correspondent

Nora Haddad serves as the Food & Travel Correspondent for Porch & Press, covering the beats of Pantry & Table, Travel & Towns, and Gardens & Gatherings. Her reporting focuses on the deep-rooted connections between regional foodways, agricultural stories, and community hospitality. By exploring everything from small-town bakeries to coastal fishing villages, she captures the unique flavor of a location through its people and their tables. Her work offers readers a thoughtful look at the intersection of travel, culinary traditions, and a curated lifestyle.

Expertise

Culinary TraditionsHospitalityRegional FoodwaysTravel JournalismAgricultural Stories

Coverage Areas

Pantry & Table
Travel & Towns
Gardens & Gatherings

Latest Articles

A person finding peace and restoration by gardening, offering an antidote to digital burnout and screen fatigue.
Gardens & Gatherings

2027 Garden Trends: An Antidote to Digital Burnout

A quiet revolution is blooming.

Sep 4, 2026 · 3 min read

A lush backyard garden filled with native plants, attracting butterflies and birds, demonstrating a healthy local ecosystem.
Gardens & Gatherings

Naturalist gardens bloom as biodiversity efforts gain traction

Native oak trees alone cradle over 500 species of caterpillars, a vibrant nursery compared to the mere 5 species hosted by popular Asian ginkgo trees, according to Audubon .

Sep 2, 2026 · 4 min read

A vibrant permaculture garden showcasing abundant edible plants, a rainwater harvesting system, and natural integration, designed for homeowners seeking sustainable food production.
Gardens & Gatherings

What is Permaculture Design for Homeowners?

Your backyard garden can become a perpetual food machine, catching and storing the sun's energy to feed your family year-round with minimal intervention.

Aug 29, 2026 · 4 min read

A beautifully landscaped front yard in autumn with colorful flowers, pumpkins, and fall foliage, showcasing enhanced curb appeal.
Gardens & Gatherings

Top Fall Landscaping Ideas for Curb Appeal & Cozy Outdoor Spaces

HGTV experts showcase landscaping and facade makeovers, proving that even small changes dramatically transform a home's curb appeal.

Aug 26, 2026 · 4 min read

Diverse tourists engage with a historical marker during a civil rights heritage walking tour in a revitalized urban setting.
Travel & Towns

US cities launch civil rights heritage tours, eye economic impact

On August 21, Atlantic City released an eight-minute video for the Fannie Lou Hamer Digital Driving Tour, a new effort to revitalize a city whose tourism GDP has dropped below 80% of its 2001 level, a

Aug 24, 2026 · 4 min read

A warm, inviting scene in a South Louisiana kitchen with a diverse group of people sharing a meal featuring both Cajun and Creole dishes.
Pantry & Table

Cajun & Creole Cuisine: Understanding Overlap & Heritage

In rural south Louisiana, many people of African descent identify as Creole yet align their culinary traditions with what is commonly labeled Cajun food, blurring a widely accepted distinction.

Aug 22, 2026 · 4 min read

Scenic view of Kotor Bay, Montenegro, showcasing historic architecture, the sparkling Adriatic Sea, and a vibrant sunset over the mountains.
Travel & Towns

Top Balkan Destinations for 2026 Travel Under $150

For a mere $40 a day, travelers can explore Montenegro's stunning coastlines and historic towns, a stark contrast to the escalating prices of its Mediterranean neighbors.

Aug 20, 2026 · 4 min read

Panoramic view of verdant, terraced rice paddies in Pu Luong Nature Reserve, Vietnam, with mist and traditional stilt houses.
Travel & Towns

Top 10 Best Places to Visit in Vietnam in 2026

By 2026, Vietnam's Pu Luong Nature Reserve is projected to welcome more international visitors than Ha Long City's land-based attractions (Vietnam Tourism Board Projections).

Aug 19, 2026 · 7 min read

A vibrant Maharashtrian marketplace with colorful spices and a chef selecting ingredients, showcasing the unique flavor science of the region's cuisine.
Pantry & Table

What is Maharashtra culinary heritage's unique flavor science?

Forget what is commonly known about combining flavors: Maharashtrian cuisine often achieves its distinct tastes by avoiding ingredients that share too many flavor compounds.

Aug 16, 2026 · 3 min read

A vibrant New England beach town bustling with tourists during a late summer tourism surge, with shops and harbor visible.
Travel & Towns

New England beach towns see tourism surge late summer

In September 2023, hotel occupancy rates in coastal New England towns soared to 95%, a 20% increase over the five-year average for that month, according to the New England Tourism Board.

Aug 14, 2026 · 3 min read

Contrasting scenes of global tourism: a grounded airplane in a heatwave versus a vibrant city celebrating a major event.
Travel & Towns

Global Tourism Faces Regional Declines, But Events Drive Localized 2026 Booms

In June 2026, an intense European heatwave grounded over 140 flights and delayed thousands more, heralding a new era of climate-driven travel disruption.

Aug 7, 2026 · 4 min read

A tranquil, minimalist garden featuring clean lines, sparse planting, and a reflective water feature, embodying peaceful simplicity.
Gardens & Gatherings

Meditative garden design emphasizes minimalism for tranquility

Jennifer Garner's poolside retreat, stripped of bulky furniture and excessive accessories, offers a masterclass in pared-back design.

Aug 2, 2026 · 3 min read

Ancient Japanese temple ruins at dawn with a vibrant local festival procession starting in the foreground, highlighting Japan's historical and cultural duality.
Travel & Towns

Japan's Ancient History & Local Festivals' Enduring Charm

Japan's ancient capitals, Asuka-Fujiwara, are poised for UNESCO World Heritage inscription, marking a pivotal moment for the nation's historical recognition, Breaking Travel News reports.

Jul 31, 2026 · 2 min read

A vibrant factory garden with green plants and seating areas, located next to the New Balance Flimby factory for employees.
Gardens & Gatherings

New Balance unveils first UK factory garden for Flimby workers

At its Flimby factory in the UK, where over 300,000 pairs of shoes are crafted annually, New Balance has just unveiled its first-ever garden, exclusively for its 300-odd employees.

Jul 30, 2026 · 3 min read

A diverse spread of regional American barbecue dishes, including smoky meats and distinct sauces, presented on a rustic wooden table.
Pantry & Table

What Are Regional American Barbecue Styles and Ingredients?

In Kansas City, a single serving of barbecue sauce can contain 14 grams of sugar, creating a distinct sweetness that contrasts sharply with Eastern North Carolina's thin, peppery, vinegar-based sauce.

Jul 15, 2026 · 4 min read

A backpacker enjoying a healthy, homemade meal in a scenic mountain campsite, highlighting the joy of outdoor cooking.
Pantry & Table

Top 4 Best Backpacking Meals for Outdoor Adventures

A single commercial backpacking meal can cost as much as $12.

Jul 14, 2026 · 5 min read

A golden retriever and its owner relax at an outdoor cafe in a European city, surrounded by other happy dogs and patrons.
Travel & Towns

10 Top Dog-Friendly Travel Destinations Worldwide

In Paris, over 80% of restaurants welcome dogs indoors.

Jul 10, 2026 · 7 min read

Scenic view of the Catskills mountains with a blend of rustic and modern elements, representing the region's evolving travel and dining experiences.
Travel & Towns

How to Plan Your First Catskills Trip: Hotels, Dining, and More

In the heart of the Catskills, a 'hot dog tiki bar' has opened in New Paltz, signaling a surprising culinary evolution far beyond traditional mountain fare.

Jul 3, 2026 · 4 min read

A desolate city street during a severe heatwave, with a sparsely utilized cooling center sign visible, highlighting the inconsistent access to relief.
Travel & Towns

US Braces for Extreme Heat, Cooling Centers Inconsistent

Heat index values are projected to exceed a dangerous 106 degrees Fahrenheit across parts of the central and eastern United States this week, triggering immediate heat advisories, according to WRAL .

Jun 28, 2026 · 4 min read

A European city street under intense heatwave conditions, with high temperatures displayed on a thermometer and people seeking refuge from the oppressive sun.
Travel & Towns

Beyond Cooling Centers: Heatwaves Demand Long-Term Prevention

In European cities like Brussels, Amsterdam, and Geneva, smaller museums now close rooms or limit access as interior temperatures climb to 30C.

Jun 28, 2026 · 3 min read