Bites from the Road

Nick & Toni’s, East Hampton, NYC

After the hostess seated us in one of the restaurant's inviting indoor dining rooms, she returned with a sprinkle of sparkling confetti and a cheerful "Happy Birthday." It was a thoughtful touch that quietly alerted everyone who served us—from the person refilling our water glasses to the busboys—that we were celebrating a special occasion. As we settled in, we nibbled on crisply fried, paper-thin zucchini chips ($23) while sipping a delicious rosé from the restaurant's spotlight wine list. We chose the Domaine de la Bastide Bandol 2023, a grenache-cinsault blend featured under "Age Worthy Rosé" ($100). Next, we shared a delightful house-made campanelle with duck ragù and fava beans, finished [...]

By |2026-07-18T08:59:11-04:00July 18th, 2026|Bites from the Road, USA, USA Restaurants, USA Travel|0 Comments
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Bostwick’s Chowder House, East Hampton, NYC

When I'm in the Hamptons, we often stop at Bostwick's Chowder House on Route 27, Montauk Highway. It's a laid-back seafood spot with a casual outdoor patio, where meals arrive in plastic baskets lined with red-and-white checked paper, complete with disposable cups and utensils—a big part of its casual charm. I've always gotten their lobster rolls. In fact, when I wrote about it back in 2013, it was just $17.50; today it's closer to $40. Fortunately, I've already enjoyed a few excellent lobster rolls this summer, including some at Yacht Club and Rowayton Seafood. This visit, I tried the beer-battered fresh cod ($22.95). It was outstanding. The cod was fresh, [...]

By |2026-06-15T10:27:29-04:00July 16th, 2026|Bites from the Road, USA Restaurants|0 Comments
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Birthday Celebration at Rowayton Seafood, Rowayton, CT

After a relaxing morning walking along Compo Beach with my friend in Westport, we headed to the farmers' market before continuing on to Rowayton for a birthday lunch at Rowayton Seafood, a restaurant I hadn't visited in decades but remembered for its hospitality and fresh seafood. It was every bit as good as I remembered! We sat on the sunlit porch and started with cocktails. I had a refreshing Aperol Spritz while my dining partner sipped a Bloody Mary ($17 each). We shared the lump crab cake ($27), which I appreciated because it was mostly the crustacean, topped with red cabbage-jalapeño slaw and remoulade sauce. My friend enjoyed the Caesar [...]

By |2026-06-07T10:51:24-04:00July 10th, 2026|Bites from the Road, USA, USA Restaurants, USA Travel|0 Comments
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Brunch at Faubourg, Montclair, NJ + Art In Bloom, Montclair Art Museum

One chilly, rainy Sunday recently, I headed by train to Montclair to visit friends, have brunch and see the Montclair Art Museum, where my friend exhibited during their annual Art in Bloom, the museum’s nationally celebrated biennial exhibition, where contemporary floral designers create fresh interpretations inspired by works on view throughout the museum. We first spent a lovely afternoon having brunch at Faubourg, the go-to spot in Montclair, according to the friendly folks I met on the train. Lucky for me, it was jazz Sunday, although one of my friends would have preferred classical. Two of us opted for the bargain-priced $43 prix-fixe menu, including our Bloody Mary, a breakfast [...]

By |2026-05-31T19:21:41-04:00June 26th, 2026|Bites from the Road, USA, USA Restaurants, USA Travel|0 Comments
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Elizabeth Blau’s Honey Salt, Las Vegas, Nevada

When Dames dine together, abundance comes naturally—plates circulate, glasses stay filled and conversation flows easily.  At the annual Les Dames d'Escoffier International (LDEI)  conference in Las Vegas, that spirit was unmistakable during an evening at Elizabeth Blau’s welcoming Honey Salt, just 20 minutes off the Strip. In her keynote, Blau distilled mentorship to its essentials: visibility, leading by example and challenging the status quo. She truly embodies that philosophy. Throughout our evening at Honey Salt, her hospitality set the tone as dishes arrived generously—many sent out gratis by Blau herself—encouraging us to sample widely from her approachable, ingredient-driven menu. What followed was a lively, communal meal. We shared nearly every [...]

By |2026-05-20T16:55:04-04:00May 22nd, 2026|Bites from the Road, USA, USA Restaurants, USA Travel|Comments Off on Elizabeth Blau’s Honey Salt, Las Vegas, Nevada
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Scenic Drive to The River Palm Terrace for a Birthday Dinner, Edgewater, NJ

My floormate described the breathtaking city views we'd see as we drove to Edgewater, New Jersey, to The River Palm Terrace, one of the state’s best steakhouses, with valet parking. The cityscape fully matched her description. After we were seated upstairs at the cozy, old-school restaurant, I handed out party goodies to let everyone know we were celebrating a birthday. Interestingly, every—yes, every—table around us was also celebrating. Clearly, the River Palm Terrace is the place people come for special occasions. It's quite lively. Our staff was very attentive. We sipped a Rosso di Montalcino, Castello Banfi, Tuscany ($78), as we shared everything, starting with the crisp iceberg wedge ($17) [...]

By |2026-05-19T07:17:52-04:00May 8th, 2026|Bites from the Road, NYC Restaurant Reviews, USA, USA Restaurants|0 Comments
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Valencia Food Truck, Connecticut

Backyard bliss in Norwalk, where a wedding reception that felt like a warm hug — made even better by the Valencia food truck parked just up the hill from the party area. Guests lined up (more than once) for crisp-edged arepas — handmade Venezuelan corn cakes fried to golden perfection, then stuffed with pernil (slow-roasted pork), carne mechada (tender shredded beef), or The Zach (crispy chicken kissed with honey). I didn't overlook the empanadas: flaky pockets of joy filled with chicken tamarillo, beef picadillo, or the surprising standout that I chose — curried cauliflower and ricotta. Love was in the air. So was the smell of garlic and cumin.  

By |2025-11-01T09:59:47-04:00November 25th, 2025|Bites from the Road, USA, USA Travel|0 Comments
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Esh, Fairfield, Connecticut

There’s something undeniably warm about walking into Esh, Fairfield’s vibrant new nod to modern Mediterranean. Maybe it’s the open wood-burning oven flickering in the corner, or the low hum of conversation drifting over candlelit tables. Or maybe it’s just that, from the moment you arrive, you feel welcomed—not as a customer, but as a guest. The Mezze Quintet ($35) was a standout starter, with smooth, flavorful dips and extra flatbread ($9) that arrived warm and puffed from the oven—worth the extra order. We sampled all five dips that included hummus, tzatziki, spicy feta, baba ghanoush and labneh. Next were the golden and bright Crispy Artichokes ($18), balanced by capers and [...]

By |2025-11-01T09:59:31-04:00November 22nd, 2025|Bites from the Road, USA, USA Restaurants, USA Travel|0 Comments
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Midway Mercantile Restaurant, Midway, Utah

Deciding at the last minute to go out and celebrate the kids' 12th anniversary, we opted for a local spot, Midway Mercantile, a New American Cuisine restaurant near their home. We started with their fun Mercantile Cracker Jacks, a popcorn treat with peanuts, scented with Chinese Five Spice powder ($6) and their delicate cornflour-dusted calamari with a sriracha-roasted yellow pepper aioli ($16), each a fun start. We sopped up every drop of the flavorful sauce. We sipped their sparkling rosé, Hubert Meyer France NV ($26) I sampled the shrimp & grits, their flavorful wild shrimp in creamy sauce over yellow corn grits topped with southern greens ($34); one had their [...]

By |2025-11-01T09:58:31-04:00November 16th, 2025|Bites from the Road, USA, USA Restaurants, USA Travel|0 Comments
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Eating in Den Haag (The Hague), The Netherlands

While visiting the Netherlands this time, I learned that it's not a lunch culture, so most restaurants we encountered after visiting the Escher Museum were only counters. I wanted to sit, so we kept looking until we ended up at Vascobelo. We shared a delicious Croque Madam (€ +2), which is a croque monsieur (€ 10.95) with cheese, ham and bechamel sauce on toasted bread — topped with a fried egg. We also shared fries. I stopped in at Cafe Pomegranate for a morning pastry (€ 4) and bubbly water, as I had coffee in my room that overlooked the Prins Hendrikplein. I wanted to sit at a sunny table [...]

By |2025-11-01T09:58:38-04:00November 11th, 2025|World, World Restaurants, World Travel|0 Comments
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Restaurant Putaine, Rotterdam, The Netherlands + International Greeters

During my visit to the Netherlands, I took a day trip to Rotterdam, the country’s second-largest city. This modern Dutch city had only been a pass-through for me while driving to The Hague, so I was eager to explore it further. Much of Rotterdam was bombed during World War II, resulting in a contemporary urban landscape following its reconstruction. Knowing about the non-profit organization Big Apple Greeters, which offers free private walking tours of New York City, I contacted the international greeters' Netherlands chapter and arranged a tour in Rotterdam with David Young from Rotterdam Greeters. After an enjoyable morning walking the streets and taking a boat taxi along the Nieuwe [...]

By |2026-03-02T10:05:11-05:00November 8th, 2025|Big Apple Greeter, Bites from the Road, World, World Restaurants, World Travel|0 Comments
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Edinburgh Area Eating2: Rabble, Amber at The Scotch Whiskey Experience, Ochiltree’s Cafe

During our time in Edinburgh on our Ex.As expats in New York, our first overseas trip was packed with a jam-packed itinerary filled with lots of good eating. This post is the second of two focusing on our culinary adventures in Scotland. On our first food tour, we stopped by Rabble—a hip bar and restaurant replete with ten stylish boutique hotel rooms—for a slow-cooked pulled pork Scotch egg that most of us enjoyed. We then drooled over the gooey smoked cheddar mac and cheese that they served to our group's vegetarian (£5.95). Definitely worth the stop! During our time in Scotland, we made sure to indulge in Scotch tastings. One [...]

By |2025-11-01T09:58:07-04:00November 2nd, 2025|World, World Restaurants, World Travel|0 Comments
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Edinburgh Area Eating #1: Number One, Greyfriars Bobby’s Bar, Singh Street

The morning the rest of our group was to arrive in Edinburgh for our first Ex.Expats of New York overseas trip, two of us stopped at the Singh Street Cafe—located near our hotel, across the street from the short holes at Bruntsfield Links—for a breakfast naan, one with egg (£8.50) and one with bacon and egg (£10.50). Tasty. We stopped in at Greyfriers Bobby after a too-short visit to the National Museum of Scotland. There never seems to be enough time to see everything you want when traveling. In addition to the food, I liked how this traditional pub checked patrons out at the front register, where you tell what [...]

By |2025-10-23T07:17:01-04:00October 23rd, 2025|World, World Restaurants, World Travel|0 Comments
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Pub Stop at The Islay Inn, Glasgow, Scotland

Off to Glasgow, we decided one day and jumped on the train for a quick red. Once we arrived, we walked around the city and decided to look for a pub for lunch. After visiting a couple of pubs that only served drinks with no food, a bartender directed us to the Islay Inn down the street. At the Islay Inn, we ordered pints—one of us had a Tennent's for £5.30, while the other opted for a Harviestoun Schihal for £6.30. We then enjoyed their Wednesday special, which included soup and a huge sandwich for £8.50. One of us had a cheese and tomato sandwich, while the other two had [...]

By |2025-10-02T09:20:38-04:00October 13th, 2025|World, World Restaurants, World Travel|0 Comments
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Cafe Amarcord, Beacon, NY + Bannerman Island

We met in Beacon (NY) for a birthday lunch at Cafe Amarcord, a friendly, casual Italian restaurant on Main Street, before taking a barge to Bannerman Island for a cruise to Bannerman Castle and Pollepel Island and a walking tour.  We started with cocktails, with some sipping the Hugo Sprintz ($25) made with St. Germain, while others drank a Paper Plane ($15), a cocktail we've featured, while nibbling their fresh bread dipped into a tomato oil relish.  We shared the decadently creamy stracciatella cheese (made by combining shredded fresh mozzarella and cream) with Vesuvio tomatoes ($18). And, their smoked trout and endive salad ($15) with radicchio, Jerusalem artichokes and batons of [...]

By |2025-09-21T13:01:00-04:00September 13th, 2025|USA, USA Restaurants|0 Comments
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Lunch Combo at Mai Tai, Orange, CT

When I hear "Mai Tai," I think of the Hawaiian tiki rum drink, not the Thai restaurant where I met friends for lunch in a strip mall in Orange, CT. The restaurant's name made more sense when I noticed that half of their signs spelled it as "Maitai." We lucked out, as they were offering a lunch special that was too good to pass up. It's available from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, ranging from $16.95 to $20.95, depending on your choice of protein. The portions were generous, providing more food than any of us could finish. Protein options included chicken, tofu, pork, beef, seafood, shrimp, and [...]

By |2025-08-11T08:02:22-04:00August 21st, 2025|USA, USA Restaurants, USA Travel|0 Comments
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Milford Connecticut Lunches: Monty’s River Grille & Citrus Restaurant

Situated overlooking the Housatonic River, Monty’s River Grille is located within the Great River Golf Club. We stopped there for lunch one day while visiting friends in Connecticut. We enjoyed the views from the outdoor terrace location while sipping our cocktails. I sipped an Aperol spritz ($14), while one companion had a Tito's and soda ($12), and the other opted for a non-alcoholic strawberry limeade ($6). Two of us tried their eponymous salad, featuring green apple cubes, shaved butternut squash, and crumbled candied pecans in a fig-balsamic vinaigrette over a packed bowl of lettuce ($18); one dining partner opted for crispy chicken (+$6), I topped it with their grilled salmon (+$10) [...]

By |2025-08-10T07:06:47-04:00August 10th, 2025|Bites from the Road, USA, USA Restaurants|0 Comments
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Garden Café, The Newt, Bruton, United Kingdom

One day while at the Edible London culinary adventure created by members of London Les Dames, we divided into two Country Tours groups, I chose The Newt in Somerset, a working estate with acres of  gardens, woodland, farmland and cider orchards. After  exploring the grounds, we headed to the café for a communal lunch. On the table already was their sourdough bread made with apple waste, topped with hangop with garden veggies. Hangop is strained yogurt, literally meaning 'hang up' that we had watched Cheesemaker, Margaretha Van Dam, make at her creamery alongside the railway tracks. Our main dish was the spiced roasted whole cauliflower with fermented leaves, English grown [...]

By |2025-06-28T09:31:50-04:00June 23rd, 2025|World, World Restaurants, World Travel|0 Comments
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Caractère Restaurant, Notting Hill, London

We divided into two groups, mine heading to Kew Gardens, then all met up again for dinner at Chef Emily Roux and husband Diego Ferrari's Caractère Restaurant. It's a former pub now one of "The Best Restaurants in Notting Hill" that's about to receive their first (well-deserved) Michelin star. Lucky us. We began with three creative passed bites, with the fish bone cracker topped with eel and furikake getting the most raves. The other two included a smoked cod roe tartelette with piment d’Espelette and a charcoal tea pie with soy and smoked whisky. Once we were seated, I dove into the crusty bread on the table. Heavenly crust! Then [...]

By |2025-05-27T07:04:45-04:00June 21st, 2025|World, World Restaurants, World Travel|0 Comments
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High Tea at The Veranda, Goring Hotel, London

Upon arriving at Heathrow Airport, I proceeded to the "Arrivals" lounge, where I met my friend who was also attending the Edible London culinary adventure put on by members of London Les Dames d'Escoffier. We checked into our hotel and began walking toward The Goring to join some other Dames for Afternoon Tea to enjoy an elegant afternoon overlooking the garden from their veranda. Our attentive server started us off with their seasonal amuse-bouche of savory pea tartlets filled with goat curry and pistachios, and an unusually refreshing welcome drink made with apple juice, non-alcoholic gin, apricot syrup and elderflower.  Two of us ordered the Bollinger Afternoon Tea, which included [...]

By |2025-06-01T06:57:54-04:00June 15th, 2025|World, World Restaurants|0 Comments
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