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Azul Restaurant, Mediterranean + Asian = Innovation
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Azul Restaurant, Mediterranean + Asian = Innovation

Foodie Interviews, Other happenings, USA Restaurants

Azul Restaurant, Mediterranean + Asian = Innovation

While in Miami last week for the South Beach Wine & Food Festival, I slipped across the causeway for a sampling of the creative cuisine of Clay Conley (a Todd English protégé) at Azul at the Mandarin Oriental hotel. Fine dining with service the way it should be - there when you need it, but not hovering. Don't let his boyish charm fool you, Clay Conley's mature talent comes through in each of his unpretentious dishes where he adds an Asian twist to Mediterranean flavors. Two of my favorite combinations included a delicate braised veal shank ravioli with caramelized onions, Parmesan cheese and black truffle butter. I opted to top [...]

By Bonnie Tandy Leblang|2017-09-01T16:48:49-04:00March 3rd, 2008|Foodie Interviews, Other happenings, USA Restaurants|0 Comments

Tropical Mango Gazpacho from The Palms Chef Gerd Richter

Located on 30th Street in Miami Beach (FL), the more tranquil north side of South Beach, The Palms hotel was just far enough from the South Beach Wine and Food Festival — held on the beach from 10th Street to 14th Street — to walk-off some of the incredible delicacies I consumed during the festivities. The Palms, a family-owned hotel, is getting a facelift. They're in the midst of adding a spa (Who isn't?) and upgrading their rooms. I wanted to share with you this unusual soup I sampled at the hotel. From the name you'd think it would be sweet, but it's not. Instead the acidity of the [...]

By Bonnie Tandy Leblang|2017-08-31T16:21:05-04:00February 28th, 2008|Recipes, Starters, USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments

Selous Game Reserve + Selous Riverside Camp’s Chef Fadhil Kondo Mangala’s Peppery Pumpkin Soup

Wanting to take a short (4-day) safari during my recent trip to Africa, I was instructed to “Skip the Serengeti and head to the Selous”. Three times larger than the Serengeti and twice the size of Belgium, the Selous is the largest protected game reserve on the African continent. Instead of being in a jeep all day, our safari experience included both a river ride and a walking safari as well. I listened and was glad I did. We arrived at the Selous Riverside Safari Camp after a 5 1/2-hour Land Cruiser ride from Dar es Salaam, mostly on unpaved roads. The camp is located on the banks of the [...]

By Bonnie Tandy Leblang|2017-08-31T16:21:05-04:00February 13th, 2008|USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments

Dubai (UAE) Dune Bashing

When I agreed to go on a desert dinner safari to a Bedouin campsite outside Dubai (UAE), I hadn’t a clue that I was getting myself an into adrenaline-pumping ride that would make Disney’s Space Mountain seem like a merry-go-round. “Eat early so you won’t lose your lunch,” advised Mustafa, our 23-year-old city guide. That should have tipped me off. So should have the Lama Desert Tours website advisory “The tour is not recommended to heart patients (or those) with neck and back problems.” In spite of these warnings, I cluelessly climbed into the front seat of the Toyota Land Cruiser. We stopped just short of the desert at a [...]

By Bonnie Tandy Leblang|2017-08-31T16:21:05-04:00February 12th, 2008|USA Restaurants, xyz misc|2 Comments

Out of Africa, Back to Reality

Just back from my trip to Africa — Tanzania actually — with a 36-hour stopover in Dubai (UAE). I discovered the secret to a true vacation; get unwired. Seriously. Two plus weeks without mail — e, voice and snail — is a real getaway. I recommend it to one and all. I hadn’t taken a two-week vacation since biking around Peloponneses and Zakynthos in Greece back in (gulp) 1985. What a difference that second week makes to unwinding. Even more so doing it unplugged. I’m not the only one who stays wired. At Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain in Arizona recently, almost every other person lounged by the pool working on [...]

By Bonnie Tandy Leblang|2017-08-31T16:21:05-04:00February 6th, 2008|USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments

Arts & Ideas’ New Haven Holiday Season Restaurant Tours

New Haven Restaurant Tours: Devotees of the International Festival of Arts & Ideas’ popular food tours can indulge themselves in two tours offered during the holiday period. Vino, Saffron y Sofrito: Flavors of Spain and Latin America will take place on Saturday, Dec. 8th at 1:30 p.m. This tour begins with a wine tasting at The Wine Thief at 181 Crown Street and then moves on to chef Luis Bollo’s creations at Ibiza, 39 High Street, noted by Zagat for its “absolutely wonderful old world service and new world recreation of elegant Spanish cuisine.” The tour ends at Pacifico, 220 College St., where chef Rafael Palomino will share some of [...]

By Bonnie Tandy Leblang|2017-08-31T16:21:06-04:00November 7th, 2007|Other happenings, USA Restaurants, xyz misc|2 Comments

Atlanta’s Watershed with Scott Peacock
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Atlanta’s Watershed with Scott Peacock

USA Restaurants, xyz misc

Atlanta’s Watershed with Scott Peacock

Last time I headed to Atlanta, the answer from my food buddies as to where I should eat was Scott Peacock’s Watershed. First time down West Ponce De Leon, we drove right past the gas-station turned casual-with-personality restaurant. Once finally inside, the hostess greeted us as if we were guests in her home. Then, while we were trying to decide what to select, Chef Scott Peacock came by the table to welcome us and suggested he send out their Creamy Stone Ground Shrimp Grits with Pullman Plank. The grits arrived as a spread for the accompanying thick piece of toasted bread. ‘Unusual way to serve grits,’ I thought, but we [...]

By Bonnie Tandy Leblang|2017-08-31T16:21:07-04:00October 24th, 2007|USA Restaurants, xyz misc|2 Comments

Hot Dog, Chicago Style

Just back from a Beef Seminar in Chicago where—after touring the Vienna Beef Factory—the other food writers and I were served a lunch of deli meats, prepared chilis and the classic Chicago Hot Dog. Not being a hot dog lover (mainly because they repeat on me), at first I didn’t put one on my plate, but felt I should go with the flow—or beef I should say—and taste test the dog, the Chicago way. That’s an all-beef dog (Vienna of course) on a steamed poppyseed bun topped with yellow mustard (no Dijon allowed), chopped fresh onions, tomato wedges, bright green (almost psychedelic) relish, a kosher-style pickle spear, a couple of [...]

By Bonnie Tandy Leblang|2017-08-31T16:21:09-04:00September 30th, 2007|USA Restaurants, xyz misc|2 Comments