Bites from the Road

Claire’s Corner Copia, New Haven

My dear friend Claire Criscuolo called one weekend morning when I was packing to move asking me to meet downtown New Haven at her eponymous vegetarian restaurant — now in its 39th year — for breakfast. How could I resist? Lucky me and two other of Claire's girlfriends as we sampled lots of her organic, vegetarian, homemade breakfast offerings. I selected my favorite huevos rancheros ($11.50) that included organic eggs, corn chips, housemade refried pinto beans, caramelized onions and guacamole — that Claire said is made fresh twice a day. And of course salsa, made from her recipe that hasn't changed since she opened! Claire wanted their whole-grain vegan pancakes (three [...]

By |2017-08-31T15:40:18-04:00January 29th, 2015|USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments
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Lyttelton Truffle Menu, Stafford Hotel, London

Tucked into London’s upscale St. James neighbourhood, The Stafford London hotel (16-18 Saint James's Place) is featuring a truffle tasting menu at its Lyttelton restaurant through Thursday, February 19th for £85 (~$125) per person. Executive Chef Carlos Martinez delivers a menu that compliments the luxurious comfort of this five-star, history rich hotel as he continues his quest for a Michelin Star. Named after former residents Lady and Lord Lyttelton, the restaurant is decorated with the understated elegance embodied by the aristocratic family’s best known descendent, Princess Diana. We started with cocktails from the equally historic American Bar and proceeded to tuck in to the amuse bouche of mushroom jelly and [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:19:08-04:00January 28th, 2015|Bites from the Road, USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments
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BestWorldYet, Pizza in Naples

We visited Naples twice on our Amalfi Coast Journey; once for a night on the way there, as well as an impromptu pizza-stop on the way back. There are plenty of pizza places to choose from in Naples, but there's one that was recommended by all of the locals as the best pizza in Naples. L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele Via Cesare Sersale, 1 / 3 80139 Napoli Like many of the pizzerias in Naples, Da Michele's is a family run spot with traditional methods, resulting in that perfectly chewy pizza crust Naples is known for, that have been passed down for generations. The history of this sacred, Neapolitan Pizza temple [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:19:08-04:00January 15th, 2015|Bites from the Road, USA Restaurants, xyz misc|1 Comment
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BestWorldYet, South African Winelands

BestWorldYet.com is an inspiring new travel blog that will bring back memories — and make you envious for sure — as you follow Andrea Butler and BiteoftheBest.com’s Bryan Leblang as they backpack around the world. Here’s part of Andrea and Bryan's post on South African Winelands to whet your appetite. Click to see the complete post on BestWorldYet.com; click here to follow BestWorldYet on Twitter. - bonnie Follow @BonnieBOTB   Just a short drive east from Cape Town and you are suddenly surrounded by the beautiful gardens and rolling vineyards of one of the country’s premier wine regions. On our way to Franschhoek (our final destination), we stopped in the [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:19:08-04:00January 7th, 2015|USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments
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BestWorldYet.com, Paris Chocolate Walk

Remember when you were young – or adventurous enough — to backpack though Europe? BestWorldYet.com is an inspiring new travel blog that will bring back memories — and make you envious for sure — as you follow Andrea Butler and BiteoftheBest.com's Bryan Leblang as they backpack around the world. From fine dining and entertainment in bustling cities, to hiking and thrill seeking in remote jungles...the blog may just inspire — or provide you with some tips for — your next adventure… Here's a sample of their Paris Chocolate Walk post to whet your appetite. - bonnie Follow @BonnieBOTB   Paris Chocolate Walk For those who love eating chocolate… especially as [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:19:09-04:00December 23rd, 2014|Bites from the Road, USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments
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The Central Restaurant & Bar in York, Maine

What to do when visiting relatives who have a friend who just opened his restaurant? Visit it of course, which is why I stopped in recently at The Central Restaurant & Bar in York, Maine. Because they wanted me to write about it, we sampled much more than if I were just dining. And for full disclosure, we paid for everything. Be sure to try some of their small plates. The flavorful Vietnamese garlic wings ($7) are only the flat wing, without the meaty drums (my favorite part). Their fried Scotch eggs (three for $8) use quail ones, wrapped with Italian sweet sausage and rolled in Panko crumbs, served with [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:19:09-04:00December 2nd, 2014|USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments
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Usine Gastro Cafe, Bangkok, Thailand

Escaping the chaos of touristy Khao San Road, I ventured to Bangkok's predominantly-Thai residential neighborhood, Ratchathewi, to stay with an expat friend living in the city. It was there in the minimalist and modern Usine Gastro Cafe that I enjoyed one of my favorite meals in all of Thailand, coincidentally it was also my last meal before leaving Asia. We shared three dishes, all incorporating traditional Thai ingredients. The soft shell crab salad for 250 baht ($7.83) was a delectable way to start the meal. The crispy crab sat upon a mix of fresh cilantro, roasted peanuts, carrots, diced chillies and onions. We shared two main courses, Larb Woon Sen [...]

By |2017-10-24T07:39:01-04:00November 21st, 2014|World, World Restaurants, World Travel|0 Comments
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Porgu Tallinn, Estonia

It's not everyday I can go to hell for dinner, but Porgu, which literally translates to "hell" in Estonian is worth the trip to Tallinn's underworld. The inventive menu drew us to this cave-like cellar adorned with wrought iron chandeliers and blood red walls. Contrary to the name, the service is both attentive and prompt, the food delightfully decadent. Starting with the unassuming baked pork ribs "snack" ($7.90 euro/ $10.38), a portion arrived that could have been the main meal. If Porgu is hell, their ribs are heaven -- coated in a spicy, slightly sweet glaze and topped with minced garlic, chillies and parsley. In between bites, we sipped a [...]

By |2017-10-24T07:34:58-04:00October 29th, 2014|World, World Restaurants|0 Comments
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Whispers Restaurant, Spring Lake, NJ

The Chateau Inn in Spring Lake (NJ) where we were staying offered a mid-week special that included a $60 gift certificate to one of a few restaurants in the area. That's how we ended up at Whispers, a restaurant in the Hewitt-Welington Hotel with NYC prices. But  — with that coupon and being allowed to BYO  wine — it became reasonable. The "crostini" served as our amuse-bouche was topped with an unusual homemade hummus with the taste of the sweet corn added. Just wish the bread hadn't been soft. Our fresh arugula salad included shaved sweet onion, candied pecans, crumbled goat cheese all in a lemon-thyme vinaigrette ($12). My favorite [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:19:10-04:00October 6th, 2014|USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments
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Trei, Kep, Cambodia

Growing in popularity, the small nation of Cambodia has become a desirable stop for both bucket-list travelers visiting Angkor Wat and backpackers searching for a beachside paradise to rival Thailand. This hidden gem is a surprising destination for some of the tastiest crab. Reading about the must-eat crab in our guidebook, my travel companion and I ventured to Kep, small fishing village,a two hour drive from the coastal hub city Sihanoukville. The crab market there is a row of rustic clapboard eateries on stilts lining the water. We wandered into Trei, one of the more charming huts with a shady table overlooking the water and a cool sea breeze. Their [...]

By |2017-10-24T07:40:00-04:00October 3rd, 2014|World, World Restaurants, World Travel|0 Comments
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Cafe Artiste, Dinner with Cosimo, Spring Lake, NJ – CLOSED

We had no clue that the town of Spring Lake (NJ) would have little to no food offerings Sunday evening at a reasonable Manhattan dining time. So when we heard some noise on a side street off Third Avenue, we followed that and tripped over Cafe Artiste, which we'd later find out was a "Dinner with Cosimo." "Could we just order salad?" "Chicken scarpariello? You'll love it." We said, just the salads would be fine, as it was  late and we had lost our hunger. That salad — topped with sauteed peppers and fresh Parmigiano Reggiano cheese  — was quite good in a light flavorful vinaigrette. It felt like we [...]

By |2018-09-08T16:39:29-04:00September 24th, 2014|USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments
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Banana Festival, Port of Hueneme, CA

Go Bananas’ on the scenic grounds of the Port of Hueneme (105 East Port Hueneme Road) during the Banana Festival, Saturday, September 27, 2014 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The free festival provides a fun-filled day to learn about the journey of the banana and the interworking of the Port. Festival highlights include delicious food and banana treats, live music, interactive displays, recipe contests, arts & crafts, kid’s activities, port tours and more. Vendors offer authentic tacos,  savory barbecue, Thai noodles, local brews and special banana treats including banana splits, banana smoothies and chocolate dipped bananas. Local bands will provide entertainment. Get a glimpse into how the Port works [...]

By |2017-09-01T14:49:57-04:00September 14th, 2014|USA Travel, xyz misc|0 Comments
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Folks Klub ALA, Riga, Latvia

Ask Riga's locals where they prefer to dine in touristy Old Town and they will point you in the direction of Folks Klub ALA (. The subterranean gastropub proved to be the ideal spot to savor a traditional meal and libations, all in a cozy cellar atmosphere with live folk music. Meat and potatoes are staples in Baltic cuisine, but there was plenty of variety beyond those dishes for our group of 10 hungry backpackers. I enjoyed the filling pearl barley risotto with bits of pork in a cream sauce for only 3.20 Euro ($4.29), a smoky and hearty comfort dish over tart cranberry sauce. A Swede at the table [...]

By |2017-10-24T07:42:35-04:00September 11th, 2014|World, World Restaurants, World Travel|0 Comments
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Philadelphia City Center District Restaurant Week September 2014

Philadelphia City Center District Restaurant Week runs Sunday, September 7 through Friday, September 12 and Sunday, September 14 through Friday, September 19, 2014. It will be featuring a variety of restaurants and offering three-course dinners for $35 per person and three-course lunches for $20. For additional information, click here.

By |2017-09-01T17:43:57-04:00September 4th, 2014|USA Restaurants|0 Comments
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La Plage, Wading River, Long Island, NY

With La Plage was walking distance from where we were staying at the beach, we stopped by more than once. This alfresco white-tablecloth restaurant with unusual combinations of fresh foods is worth trying if you're in the area. I ordered a japapeño margarita from their libation menu, purportedly made with jalapeño tequila, fresh squeezed lime juice ($13) and an unnecessary splash of premade sour mix. They first served it sans the spicy tequila, but when remade was fine. That mistake was my only issue with the restaurant. One night we each had a couple of apps or salads making a light summer meal. I'd recommend any of these including a [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:19:10-04:00August 20th, 2014|USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments
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