Bites from the Road

Inka Grill, Cusco, Peru

While in Cusco, we visited Inka Grill, part of the Cusco restaurant group, for a light bite. The meal wasn't the best place I ate in Cusco but was mighty good compared to what we'd been served at Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT) chosen restaurants — the tour I was on. Inka Grill, which is ideally located center of town at the Plaza de Arma, offered free Wifi and had an international menu. The friend I was traveling with was in a burger mood, so we ordered that along with some fries (~$10.75). We shared that and the perfectly cooked langostinos in a white and black quinoa wrapper accompanied by a spicy passion [...]

By |2017-09-01T15:25:37-04:00March 14th, 2017|Bites from the Road, World Restaurants, World Travel, xyz misc|0 Comments
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La Mar, Miraflores, Lima, Peru

Before heading to Peru this winter, I — like a typical food professional — researched restaurants where I wanted to dine. Word had it that the country has some of the best in the world. The Latin American's 50 Best Restaurants for 2016 lists Andrés Rodríguez's La Mar as the 12th best, featuring ceviche along with fresh, sustainable Peruvian fare. I went there to lunch one day, going a bit late to try to avoid the crowds since it's a "no res" place. Wrong. There were lines out the door, yet the friendly hostess explained for two, we'd only have a 30 minute wait. With drinks offered while we anticipated [...]

By |2017-09-01T17:12:30-04:00March 4th, 2017|Bites from the Road, World, World Restaurants, World Travel|0 Comments
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Olamaie, Downtown, Austin, TX

When heading to Austin recently, I emailed my friend Cathy Cochran-Lewis asking for suggestions of where to eat. One of her suggestions was Olamaie, near the UT campus. "Really amazing food with Southern flair. This is where we hosted an Emeril dinner last fall and he loved the restaurant. The two chefs have been named Top 10 Best New Chefs and the restaurant also has made the James Beard list. People kill for their biscuits." How could I resist? I knew we were in for a treat as I looked over the menu and discussed it with our server. While trying to decide what to order, we sipped on a [...]

By |2017-09-01T17:13:23-04:00February 17th, 2017|USA Restaurants|1 Comment
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Kisco River Eatery, Mount Kisco, NY

I'm a mom first. So when my friend asked me to come try her son's latest restaurant, I headed north to Mount Kisco to dine at Bobby Epstein’s newest restaurant, Kisco River Eatery. I was so glad I did. (Bobby is also the owner of Muscoot Tavern in Katonah.) I began with an icy cosmo ($10), served up in a martini glass along with their fabulous appetizers. I'm a big fan of apps, often preferring to have only those and skip the entree as the starters are so much more creative. Kisco River's didn't disappoint. They included a white truffle flatbread topped with spinach, provolone and ricotta ($9); a stack [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:18:59-04:00February 2nd, 2017|USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments
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Burgers & Bourbon, Park City, UT

After a stop at Park City's new Escape Room, we were in the mood for a burger and fries, so we headed up the mountain to Montage Deer Valley resort's newest restaurant, Burgers & Bourbon. We were quite hungry after working together to figure out how to get out of the ingenious room where we were locked in! Think Indiana Jones meets the games on Survivor and you'll begin to understand this fun way to spend time with friends in Park City. Once we got to Montage, I couldn't resist a bourbon cocktail. The double barreled cocktail ($17) hit the spot with its blend of High West Double Rye, High [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:18:59-04:00January 29th, 2017|USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments
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Amsterdam Foodie Guide

The Dutch aren’t exactly known for their cuisine. I’ve heard many tourists complain, and have read many articles expressing displeasure in the Amsterdam food scene. Most of these travelers came for a few weeks, stumbled into random cafés, tried a few extreme examples of local foods and left in utter disappointment. When compared to countries like Italy or France, where every café serves phenomenal food ensuring, without a doubt, that you can pick a restaurant at random and avoid disappointment… sure, the Netherlands doesn’t really compare. But there is quality food in Amsterdam! The difference is, you have to know where to go and what to eat. It’s imperative to [...]

By |2017-10-22T12:29:00-04:00January 25th, 2017|Bites from the Road, World Restaurants, World Travel|0 Comments
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Guero’s Taco Bar, Austin, Texas

We had a very early reservation at Emmer & Rye — which I later learned was mentioned in Kate Krader's "The 19 Very Best Dishes of 2016" — but had just arrived at South Congress Street in Austin. Wanting to continue to wander in and out of the funky stores, we decided not to rush off to dinner. We stopped in at Blackmail (1202 S Congress), a shop that warmed this New Yorker's heart as they sold only black. Once the shops closed, we opted for Mexican food at Guero's taco bar. I head heard from locals that it was a down and dirty touristy Tex-Mex place with good margies. [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:19:00-04:00January 19th, 2017|USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments
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Franklin’s Barbecue, Austin, TX

Our first day in Austin we headed to the famous BBQ joint where the lines are legendary. Word has it that Obama was the only person to ever cut the long lines at Franklin's where the wait is often 3 to 4 hours. We lucked out and only waited 1 1/2 — sort of like waiting for New Haven's Pepe's Pizza — you do it once just for the experience, while getting to know the stories of your fellow line-waiters. As you're waiting, one of the staff warns you of what offerings might be gone by the time you get to the front of the line. That staff person promised [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:19:00-04:00December 31st, 2016|USA Restaurants, xyz misc|1 Comment
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Halifax at the W, Hoboken, New Jersey

I had planned to visit Halifax at the W hotel in Hoboken for brunch recently when I learned that the PATH train had suspended service on weekends until sometime in December. Plan B moved into action on a Friday night when I headed there for their riverside views Manhattan's skyline instead. Executive Chef Seadon Shouse handed us a special tasting menu he had created that included his latest fall offerings. This is one passionate chef, who explained how he house-made most all of the ingredients in the dishes he had selected. We started with a glass of Lambrusco Reggiano, Donelli, Emilia-Romagna Italy, NV ($56, per bottle) to accompany chef's signature [...]

By |2017-09-01T16:56:08-04:00October 30th, 2016|USA Restaurants|0 Comments
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XIX Nineteen – Hyatt At The Bellevue, Philadelphia

I knew I'd be in Philadelphia attending my friends' wedding at the Atrium of the Curtis Center, so I checked around with the food publicists to see who handled Philly and whether there was a place I could review. Bingo! That's how I ended up on the nineteenth floor of the Hyatt At The Bellevue for lunch the day after the amazing nuptials celebration. The dome-shaped room with magnificent views of the city of brotherly love is pretty much as it was when built in 1904, although it was renovated with warm tones in 2006. We were told to be careful about what we discussed as the dome effect allows [...]

By |2017-08-31T15:05:47-04:00June 29th, 2016|USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments
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Shell & Bones, New Haven, CT

I returned to New Haven for a bridal shower, and wanted to stop in at the new Shell & Bones that opened after I moved away. We had a 7 pm reservation, arrived 15 minutes early - and weren't seated until about quarter to 8 and that's with knowing both the owner and the chef. An auspicious beginning. We started with a couple of things from the bar menu that the Dan the owner, had described to us while we were waiting for our table. I'd recommend the smoked trout spread with chopped fennel, radishes and cucumbers served ($8) with toast points. Instead of the dried fruit and nuts that [...]

By |2017-08-31T15:40:18-04:00May 27th, 2016|USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments
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Bidwell, Union Market, Washington DC

When I mentioned to a New York City restaurant publicist that I was heading to DC for the weekend, she said I must try Bidwell, Chef John Mooney’s responsibly sourced restaurant at Union Market. Bidwell's actually offers roof to table cuisine, as much of the produce served at the restaurant comes their own crop of fruit and vegetables grown in planters on the roof. They also butcher own meat. As their guest, we were able to sample many of their offerings, starting with their most unusual sushi-grade tuna nachos. That contained chunks of tuna nestled into guacamole atop tempura battered kale chips with a soupçon of spicy chipotle mayo. Not [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:19:00-04:00May 18th, 2016|USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments
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Big City Tavern, Ft. Lauderdale, FL

While visiting a friend in the Fl Lauderdale area, I accepted an invite to try the new menu at Big City Tavern. I am so glad I did. With our cocktails, we indulged in their a few starters. Do try the unusual Asian honey-glazed chicken wings ($12.50). What's not to like about truffle parmesan hand-cut French fries? ($10.50)   And, so that we could sample more than one pizza variety, we asked for half Margherita (San Marzano sauce, fresh basil, mozzarella $15) and half Salsicce (with sausage, $16) all covered in fresh arugula (+$3.75). Not NY pizza, but still good. Even better are the entrees we sampled. The rich and [...]

By |2017-08-31T15:42:28-04:00April 21st, 2016|USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments
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Driftwood, Nautilus Hotel, Miami Beach

When I arrived at the Driftwood Room inside the new Nautilus South Beach Hotel, the chef — Alex Guarnaschelli — was actually there at a table with some business associates. That wasn't surprising as  the day I was invited to stop by for lunch was during the South Beach Food and Wine Festival where Alex was a participant. Her menu is described as "cuisine of South France with a Miami palate;" her offerings though were pretty ordinary. What was lovely was sitting outside on the patio by the pool and the friendly service. We started with a couple of the restaurant's "for the table" offerings along with our cocktails ($15). [...]

By |2017-08-31T15:42:28-04:00April 7th, 2016|USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments
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Winemaking Cooperative of Carpi and Sorbara, A Visit

Before heading to the winery Cooperative of Carpi and Sorbara, I met with representatives of Lambrusco for a wonderful meal at Clorofilla Wine & Restaurant (via Vittorio Veneto n.2 Carpi, Italy), where we had about a dozen choices of their fizzy wines. The majority of Lambrusco (meaning wild grape) is produced in Italy's culinary mecca, the Emilia Romagna region where I was visiting. Lambrusco can be either a refreshingly fizzy slightly sweet or a dry wine. Because of that fizz and its acidity, Lambrusco is traditionally served with salumi, sausages and rich meat pasta sauces that the region is also famous for. We happily sampled all of those pairs during lunch. [...]

By |2017-09-01T16:55:51-04:00March 25th, 2016|Food & Drinks, World, World Restaurants, World Travel|0 Comments
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Talde, Miami Beach, FL

While in Miami Beach for the South Beach food and wine festival (#SOBEWFF), I stayed at the Thomson Miami Beach and was invited to sample their new restaurant Talde operated by the same team that has Talde Brooklyn, Talde Jersey City, Thistle Hill Tavern, and Pork Slope. Lucky us, creative chef Dale Talde was in house that day. I liked this high-energy tavern-like restaurant with innovative twists on Asian food so much better than my Brooklyn experience. I'd suggest starting with the not-too-sweet plum basil margarita, made with house-made plum-basil syrup, El Jimador silver and Triple Sec, garnished with Thai basil ($12). Do try the nod to the NYC pretzel [...]

By |2017-08-31T15:42:28-04:00March 20th, 2016|USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments
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The Continental, Miami Beach, FL

Stephen Starr's The Continental, on Miami Beach, has a vintage-feel with a brunch menu not to be missed. It's also a fun place to just grab a drink. I had both recently when at the SOBE Food & Wine Festival (#SOBEWFF). As a Moscow mule fan, I had to start with the bright red dragonfruit one containing a smidgen of that fruit puree in a regular drink. Refreshing for sure ($14). Before our eggs — with our cocktails — we sampled their light and flavorful Vietnamese summer roll filled with shrimp, "crab" sticks, broken rice noodles and herbs and accompanied by a peanut sauce ($14). I'd recommend that over their [...]

By |2017-08-31T15:42:29-04:00March 18th, 2016|USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments
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Monari Federzoni, a Visit

Those who've been to Italy know that their balsamic vinegar is not just for dressing salads. This fall I was invited to visit Monari Federzoni in the Emilia-Romagna region. They’re the oldest Italian company making balsamic vinegar, doing so for over 100 years, since 1912. The company says it’s their family’s love for the land and their tradition that are the secrets behind their carefully crafted balsamic vinegar That real balsamico is made only in the Emilia Romagna region around the towns of Modena and Reggio and given an IGP (Protected Geographical Indication). That’s the Italian government’s denomination of protected origin. It's a guarantee that what you’re eating is a local Italian specialty; [...]

By |2017-09-01T16:55:44-04:00February 26th, 2016|Bites from the Road, Food & Drinks, World, World Travel|0 Comments
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The Cookery, Dobbs Ferry, NY

The publicist had been after me for a long time to take a train ride north to Dobbs Ferry to try David DiBari's cooking. I finally made the trip. Sadly Dave wasn’t there, as he was at his year-old wood-fired pizza restaurant The Parlor, nearby. His staff, though, took great care of us helping to navigate the menu to be sure we sampled Dave's specialties. I had learned that the chef was the youngest Westchester to earn an “Excellent" rating in the New York Times. From my research, I learned The Cookery had become synonymous for the osso buco and the meatballs, voted the best in the area by Westchester [...]

By |2017-09-01T16:55:34-04:00February 24th, 2016|USA Restaurants|0 Comments
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The Cottage, Westport, CT

Brian Lewis recently opened The Cottage, a 44-seat restaurant (formerly The Farm), across the Boston Post Road from The Westport Country Playhouse. Like his former place The Elm, Brian considers the restaurant a modern American one, featuring changing seasonal menus that spotlight regional local farmers and artisans. His creative dishes show off his skill at highlighting the flavors and textures of individual ingredients adding a soupçon of the culture of Italy, Spain, France, Japan and/or New England. I was invited to sample his cooking recently. Brian made us small plates of practically the entire menu! (If you'd also like to have a tasting menu, all you need to do is [...]

By |2017-09-01T16:55:27-04:00February 9th, 2016|USA Restaurants|0 Comments
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