Bites from the Road

Bostwicks on the Harbor, East Hampton, NYC

I satisfied my craving for a lobster roll with a sunset meal at Bostwick on the Harbor, sister to Bostwick's Chowder House on route 27 Montauk Highway. This upscale version served food on plates, not paper, offered live music in the parking lot while we waited for our hand-held buzzer to beep. No reservations! For apps, some shared the North Fork steamers cooked in white wine and butter ($29) while I had their hearts of romaine Caesar salad($14). The evening's specials included flavorful linguine with clam sauce with whole and chopped clams, lobster chunks and bay scallops topped with microgreens and minced parsley ($30). The crispy, tender Long Island duck [...]

By |2021-09-12T09:10:31-04:00September 3rd, 2021|USA, USA Restaurants|0 Comments
Read More

Den Haag Dining, The Netherlands

I recently spent a week with the part of my family living in The Netherlands. Hadn't seen them since the world closed down last March. I decided to share the two restaurants in their hood, one where we had brunch, the other my farewell dinner. At Kaafi, we stopped for brunch after a morning at one of the many playgrounds in this kid-friendly city. The service at this specialty coffee and brunch bar was over-the-top friendly. Both egg dishes were good (10.90 € each). Their silky french omelette comes filled with brie, rolled in butter and served on seeded sourdough bread. Our other choice had creamy scrambled Cheddar eggs, with [...]

By |2021-08-27T13:00:00-04:00August 26th, 2021|World, World Restaurants|1 Comment
Read More

Savannah Dining, Georgia: The Grey, Big Bon Bodega, Ardsley Station

Some Dames (members of Les Dames d'Escoffier) headed to Savannah for our first in-person Board of Director's meeting since the start of the pandemic. Of course, we had to check out the dining scene. Our first meal together was at The Grey, the modern Southern restaurant located in the refurbished 1938 Art Deco Greyhound bus terminal. We had their four-course prix fixe ($65) menu with the standout being their cucumber gazpacho sporting a decadent pile of blue crab. So good, we wanted to lick the bowl! The Grey 109 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd Savannah, GA 31401 912-662-5999 thegreyrestaurant.com A trip to fellow Dame Kay Heriage's Big Bon Bodega is [...]

By |2021-07-26T07:21:09-04:00July 25th, 2021|Bites from the Road, USA Restaurants|0 Comments
Read More

A Nicole Cocktail at The Polo Club Lounge, Windsor Court Hotel, New Orleans

Before heading to dinner in the French Quarter, we stopped into the elegant Windsor Court hotel for a drink at the Polo Club Lounge, reminiscent of a private English club. The friendly bartender recommended their Nicole ($15) specialty cocktail made with vodka, Lillet Blanc and elderflower syrup served up in a martini glass garnished with an orchid. Yummy. Polo Club Lounge Windsor Court Hotel 300 Gravier St, New Orleans, LA 70130 (504) 522-1992

By |2021-05-08T07:31:02-04:00May 27th, 2021|USA Restaurants|0 Comments
Read More

New Orleans Dives and Other Eating: Bevi, Coops, Gracious Cafè and Bakery

After checking into our hotel, we headed with friends to Bevi's for crawfish ($5.49 / pound, boiled). We quickly grabbed one of the outside picnic tables so we'd have a place to eat after we got our order. To enjoy these spiny lobsters, just break off the tail, suck out the inners from the body then enjoy the tiny tail. Fun! Bevi Seafood 236 N Carrollton Ave New Orleans, Coops offers Cajun grub and a snarky bartender who told us to call her Miss Laura. She also told us what to order! Their Bayou-blend seasoned fried chicken is not to be missed. It came accompanied by coleslaw and some rabbit [...]

By |2021-06-02T07:38:37-04:00May 25th, 2021|Bites from the Road, USA Restaurants|0 Comments
Read More

New Orleans Upscale Dining: Commanders Palace, GW Fins and Sylvain

This is part one of a sampling of my eating orgy during my recent trip to The Big Easy. What follows are some of my most flavorful dishes from my upscale dining in New Orleans. Favorites from Sylvain — where we dined with Beth D'Addono (the current president of Les Dames d'Escoffier New Orleans) — were:  my classic Sazerac cocktail made with rye whiskey and bitters, both Peychaud's and Angostura, in an Herbsaint rinsed glass ($11); the marinated beet salad with local citrus, pumpkin seeds and coconut milk farm cheese ($11); and the cast-iron cornbread served with a spicy Three Brother cane syrup butter ($7). Sylvain French Quarter 625 Chartres [...]

By |2021-05-23T08:07:04-04:00May 21st, 2021|USA, USA Restaurants|0 Comments
Read More

Ironwood, Laguna Hills, California

Since it was my last night in California, we lingered over dinner at Ironwood in Laguna Hills longer than usual. We sat outside in a tent with enough heaters that I took my sweater off. We sipped on our lush Tuscan Bocelli Sangiovese $41) as we nibbled our appetizer. The meat on the BBQ ribs was so tender it fell off as I picked up a bone. The coleslaw contained Granny Smiths and almonds ($16). Learning that we were splitting the goat cheese salad ($9), the kitchen served it that way and then offered to also do so with the Double R Ranch ribeye steak ($41). That steak, cooked exactly [...]

By |2021-01-31T18:45:36-05:00January 24th, 2021|USA Restaurants|0 Comments
Read More

Ola Mexican Kitchen, Long Beach, California

I met a NY friend who moved to California when I visited recently. We met halfway at Ola Mexican Kitchen in Long Beach and sat outside with the Pacific Ocean as a backdrop. She recommended the Skinny Margarita ($12) made with Sauza Blue fresh lime juice, agave and a splash of club soda. We sipped a couple of those while catching up and nibbling warm tortilla chips dipped in their fresh salsa. For dinner, we each had tacos (two $14, three $17) in their soft handmade tortillas. My favorite was filled with a thick strip of lightly battered and fried rockfish topped with cotija cheese, chile-lime aioli and tequila citrus [...]

By |2020-12-12T16:04:58-05:00January 15th, 2021|USA Restaurants|0 Comments
Read More

Bridge Group Hits the Road to Baxter’s, Hyannis, MA

Playing bridge with friends has been a savior during COVID. I currently play multiple times a week with these friends instead of only occasionally. One of my groups decided to take a road trip to our friend's home on the Cape. Was beyond a treat to be together, play, shop, laugh, sing, prepare meals and play bridge. No cards involved, we each played on our devices sitting near each other on opposite couches. Almost every time I've vacationed on the Cape since the 70s, I've stopped at Baxter's — a casual eatery built over the water — for fried fish. The vegetarian in our group tried the fried mozzarella sticks [...]

By |2020-10-26T13:28:09-04:00October 25th, 2020|USA Restaurants|0 Comments
Read More

My Last Meal as the World Closed: Esszimmer, Salzburg, Austria

(Obviously, written before COVID-19 quarantine)  Little did I know when Andrea Kaiblinger and I were emailing about my reservation at her Michelin-starred restaurant Esszimmer in Salzburg (Austria) that my friends Scot, Ed and I would be their last customers before the government instructed them to shut down. Andrea welcomed us warmly as we arrived at her comfortably elegant restaurant.  Andrea, who works with her husband Andreas, mentioned that they had been operating for 16 years. "How many years have you had the Michelin star?" "Sixteen," she responded with a big smile filling her face.   I've always found lunch an affordable way to dine at Michelin-starred restaurants. That also gives [...]

By |2020-09-30T17:16:43-04:00September 24th, 2020|World, World Restaurants|0 Comments
Read More

Dim Sum in Hong Kong, Classic vs New-Age, A World of Difference

Dim Sum in Hong Kong comes in many forms, from the traditional with waitresses pushing carts that you simply point to what you want to much more contemporary with offerings filled with French classics like ratatouille and foie gras. We experienced both in our 36 hours discovering this modern city. Our first was at Maxime's Palace Dim Sum in Hong Kong City Hall that had been recommended to us by an ex-pat. It's reminiscent of Jing Fong restaurant in New York's Chinatown with Chinese-speaking uniformed waitresses pushing the carts past the white tablecloths tables in a huge room with windows next to the Hong Kong harbor. Like in NYC, you [...]

By |2020-01-27T07:55:58-05:00March 7th, 2020|World Restaurants, World Travel|0 Comments
Read More

Lunch at Galae Restaurant After Chatting with Phra KK, a Buddist Monk

Our local guides Chintana Suwawan and her husband Poj from Window of Thailand introduced us to the Thai culture, Buddhist life and Lanna traditions before we boarded a bus to explore the city.  Our group of 12 on a Global Palate Adventures trip visited Temples of Chiang Mai and then chat with Phra KK, a Buddist Monk (a highlight of my time in Thailand!) about his life and Buddhism. Afterward, we drove to a restaurant located amidst their lush flower gardens. Since the outdoor space at Galae Restaurant was full, we ate inside with our group served family-style. Like at most other meals in Thailand, we ate chicken satay and Pad [...]

By |2020-01-24T08:09:15-05:00March 3rd, 2020|World, World Restaurants|0 Comments
Read More

Surfside lunch at Splashes at Surf & Sand Hotel, Laguna Beach, CA

Some dear friends from LA offered to drive down to Laguna Beach to meet me for lunch while I was out in California visiting my son Eric's family.  My daughter-in-law Casey recommended Splashes at the Surf & Sand Hotel as the restaurant is right on the beach with views of the Pacific waves hitting the shore. That and I had read that Executive Chef, Ron Fougeray served up fresh seaside cuisine. While waiting for our lunch, we nibbled their fresh bread and homemade yummy sun-dried tomato and olive tapenade spread, being careful not to ruin our appetite by finishing it. My friends started with the rich tableside lobster bisque ($18). [...]

By |2020-01-02T17:06:03-05:00February 29th, 2020|Bites from the Road, USA Restaurants|0 Comments
Read More

River Market Restaurant Chiang Mai Dinner with Global Palette Adventures, Thailand

The River Market Restaurant, overlooking the Iron Bridge, is just a quick walk towards the Ping River from Le Meridian Hotel where our group was staying. That's where we had our welcoming dinner with our group attending the Global Palette Adventures Chiang Mai trip. The restaurant serves substantial portions of Thai food at reasonable prices great for sharing. Our host Lowell ordered lots of apps for the dozen of us to share that included tender skewered chicken satay (4 for 185 THB*) with sliced cucumbers and a peanut sauce with just a bit of spice. The least exciting was the coriander-crusted seared tuna with green mango som tam with chive [...]

By |2020-02-25T12:53:21-05:00February 21st, 2020|World, World Restaurants, World Travel|0 Comments
Read More

Portuguese Lunch at Fishbone Kitchen & Bar, Laguna Beach, California

After spending time at the Laguna Beach playground with my grandkids, we walked up the street to  Fishbone Kitchen & Bar, a Portuguese seafood restaurant, for lunch. My daughter-in-law asked if the boquerones from the pesticos (appetizer-size little snacks) bar menu was possibly available, as it was one of her favorites. The waitress checked, returning with a plate filled with the pickled anchovies ($12) with tortilla chips and pickled jalapeños. Do not miss this yummy and unusual combo! While waiting for the boquerones, I tried their pineapple jalapeño caipirinha ($13) that needed a bit of a kick and my son tried their Margie ($13) with El Jimador tequila, Cointreau and fresh [...]

By |2020-02-16T16:20:59-05:00February 9th, 2020|Bites from the Road, USA Restaurants|0 Comments
Read More

My Friend’s Place, Pickett’s Village Bar, Maplewood, NJ

Maplewood is only a 30-minute ride from Penn Station on the express train. That's where my friend's restaurant Pickett's Village Bar is located. It opened in May 2019 almost one year after her husband Jim Pickett passed away. Heidi Hovland owns it along with Doug and Beth Sasfai, Brinton Brosius and Ashlee Anthony. They opened the restaurant in honor of his memory and the way he lived his life: "with heartfelt appreciation for how connecting over a drink or a meal brings people closer together and how these connections make life, and all of us in it, better." Pickett's has 24 beers on tap, plus lots more bottles and cans. [...]

By |2020-02-05T19:56:35-05:00February 5th, 2020|Bites from the Road, USA, USA Restaurants|0 Comments
Read More

A Few Southern California Breakfasts From Our Sisters Trip (3) – Sambos

[Continued from A Few Southern California Breakfasts From Our Sisters Trip (2)] Our last breakfast on the trip was at Sambos a family-owned restaurant offering classic fare to start the day. We sat outside across from the beach at the Pacific for our last meal of this trip, as after our meal we were off to the airport, heading home.  One sister had the garden omelet ($14.85). I indulged in their special Huevos Rancheros Special made with poached eggs, layered fried corn tortillas, black beans, cheese and chorizo all topped with salsa and guacamole ($15.50). That was a meal that satiated me for the first leg of my flights home. [...]

By |2020-02-18T15:39:39-05:00January 12th, 2020|Bites from the Road, USA, USA Restaurants|0 Comments
Read More

A Few Southern California Breakfasts From Our Sisters Trip (2)- Bob’s Well Bread Bakery

[Continued from A Few Southern California Breakfasts From Our Sisters Trip (1)] Another day when driving from SLO to Santa Barbara, we stopped at Bob's Well Bread Bakery known for his hand-made artisanal bread. Good bread is something New Yorkers are quite used to, an anomaly in Southern California Proprietor/Boulanger Bob Oswaks was serving that day at this gas station turned bakery. We arrived mid-morning at this order-at-the-counter cafe/bakery and sadly many of the pastries including the Kouign-Amann ($5) that I had read about were sold out. The current cardamom scone ($4) was how I like it, not overly sweet. Also available are sandwiches such as hummus and veggies on [...]

By |2020-02-18T15:39:28-05:00January 12th, 2020|Bites from the Road, USA, USA Restaurants|0 Comments
Read More

A Few Southern California Breakfasts From Our Sisters Trip (1) – Kreuzberg

On our sisters' trip to California recently, we stopped at a few interesting places for breakfast that I wanted to share. In San Louis Obispo (SLO), we let my grand-nephew Kailer, who is attending Cal Poly, select Kreuzberg California on Higuera for breakfast day. It's a local art-adorned hangout serving house-roasted delicious coffee and small bites. One grand-nephew indulged in their Belgian waffle with fruit, maple syrup and dusted with confectioners' sugar ($9). [Continued on A Few Southern California Breakfasts From Our Sisters Trip (2) and (3)] I'd recommend each of these breakfast places mentioned in the three posts if you're in Southern California.   Kreuzberg California 685 Higuera St, [...]

By |2020-02-18T15:38:15-05:00January 12th, 2020|Bites from the Road, USA, USA Restaurants, USA Travel|0 Comments
Read More

Margot Cafe & Bar, East Nashville, Tennessee

While at the Les Dames d'Escoffier International conference in Nashville, a group of us dined at Margot Cafe & Bar, an inviting restaurant said to have precipitated the gentrification of East Nashville. We were seated in the quiet upstairs making it more conducive to conversation. Our shared apps included the house-made potato chips served with aioli ($5) and small nuggets of corn coated okra with a remoulade sauce, sprinkled with scallions ($12). One friend who loved chicken livers ordered that appetizer batter-fried served with contrasting textured other goodies (fresh apple slices, radishes and pickled onions) in a mustard vinaigrette ($13) and a salad of local lettuces with shaved fennel and gorgonzola [...]

By |2019-11-26T10:22:07-05:00December 27th, 2019|Bites from the Road, USA Restaurants|0 Comments
Read More
Copyright 2012 - 2021 BiteOfTheBest | All Rights Reserved
Toggle Sliding Bar Area
Go to Top