Raised in Houston and now living in Los Angeles, actress Erica Dasher is the star of ABC Family’s new series “Jane by Design.” A graduate of the University of Southern California, Dasher also is the producer of the upcoming documentary “Speak Easy.” Of her first childhood trip (to Tucson, Ariz.), Dasher said, “I still have an affinity for the desert and cacti.”
Q: What is your favorite vacation destination?
A: Paris. It’s intoxicating — the history, the architecture, the coffee. … Art students stand in the street sketching their surroundings, because everything is a masterpiece! It’s a wonderful city to get lost in. I recently traveled there on my own and discovered so much just by wandering the streets. The Musee Gustave Moreau was probably one of coolest finds. Moreau’s home was converted into a small museum that houses his work. It’s warm and quiet and his work is haunting.
Q: To someone who was going there for the first time, what would you recommend they do during their visit?
A: Grab a chocolate gelato and walk through the Jardin des Tuileries. Then go to Angelina’s for some hot chocolate.
Q: Where are your favorite weekend getaways?
A. Every summer, I would visit my best friend at her home on Martha’s Vineyard. She has a beautiful place nestled in Vineyard Haven that overlooks the water. One weekend, we picked raspberries from a local farm and then made our own raspberry scones from scratch. Well, she did most of the work. She’s a very talented baker. I did most of the eating.
Q: What are your favorite hotels?
A: I really enjoyed the Crosby Street Hotel (firmdalehotels.com/new-york/crosby-street-hotel in New York. There are pictures of puppies all over the elevators. I also love the Trump Soho (trumpsohohotel.com in New York. They have Nespresso machines in the rooms and bathtubs next to floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the city. Also, they give you chocolate-covered strawberries upon arrival. Coffee and chocolate seems to be a theme here.
Q: What are your five favorite cities?
A: New York, Paris, New Orleans, Austin (Texas) and I will leave the fifth spot open.
Q: Where would you like to go that you have never been?
A: I’ve never been to London, and I’m dying to go. I want to see Shakespeare’s Globe, the Royal Opera House and Piccadilly Circus.
Q: What would be your dream trip?
A. When I was younger, my mother and I used to watch “Only You” and fantasize about taking a trip to Italy and driving down the Amalfi Coast. One day!
Q: What are your favorite restaurants?
A: In Crown Heights, N.Y., Barboncino (barboncinopizza.com. In Los Angeles, Osteria Mozza (osteriamozza.com/LA/home.cfm — Italian from the man who does it best, Mario Batali. Also in Los Angeles, I like BLD (bldrestaurant.com. Also, cookies at Tiff’s Treats (tiffstreats.com in Austin.
Q: What is your best and/or worst vacation memory?
A: I wrapped the season of my first show under the Eiffel Tower. Best Memory. Let’s leave it at that.
For more from the reporter, visit jaehakim.com.
