www.kristraveler.com » Restaurants

Favorite Restaurant in St. Michael’s, MD

Wed, 07 Apr 2010 13:14:17 +0000

Photo Credit: Jason Pier

From the outside it looked like one of the best restaurants in town, so we had to go inside and check it out.

208 Talbot in St Michaels, Maryland, is an elegant little restaurant perfect for any occasion: a romantic dinner with your loved one, family gatherings or even a happy hour with friends.

Prices seemed fair for the ambience and food/service you get – it was certainly not too expensive, especially considering that food was simply exquisite, and service impecable. So much so that even after a couple of years this restaurant still lies in the back of my mind whenever I think about St Michaels or Chesapeake Bay

Favorite Restaurant in St. Michael’s, MD is a post from: www.kristraveler.com

This post was submitted by Kris.

Buenos Aires: places to have lunch

Thu, 01 Apr 2010 19:04:16 +0000

That I love to visit new restaurants all of you already know, so I could had to tell about three fantastic restaurants that we went in Buenos! I will start with one that a lot of followers on twitter told me about: the famous Café Tortoni! This is the oldest cafe BAs and it is a real charm that the gorgeous original environment is all well kept! For all of you that are planning to go there, prepare yourselves for a little wait because it is very famous and a queue at your door is a constant (and the people in the line are not exactly beautiful and look all like typical tourists, but do not give up…)… I highly recommend eating the Churros dessert with lots of “dulce de leche”: absolutely fantastic! I think that it is better to visit Café Tortoni on those rainy days because the place hás no outdoors sitting. If you’re lucky you can even catch a tango show there! (It was not my case… So sad!)

If the day is beautiful and sunny, don’t even think twice and run to the Croque Madame located at the Avenida Del Libertador… What a beautiful and charming place! There you will also find beautiful stylish people! We had to wait about 30 minutes, but the place is so beautiful and it was such a nice area that we didn’t even realize that it took so long! The place is so incredible that I forgot that I was in Buenos Aires and could only think of Paris! Perfect for a nice lunch around a beautiful garden full of trees… It has some delicious sandwiches, but we decided to take the risk and ordered a saffron risotto with a Woki Meat that was just amazing (already tried to repeat the recipe at home and it was really good…)! Since I am a big fan of desserts, I asked for a scoop of ice cream from Persicco (better than the famous Freddo…)!

Another place we loved was the Cabaña Las Lilas… No doubt it was the best parrilla that we ate in Argentina (somewhat ironic, because the restaurant is part of the same group of Rubayat here in Sao Paulo… and the owner of it, for those that are already “wondering”, is not Argentinean nor Brazillian, he is Spanish…)! The food is exceptional, the price compared with the Rubayat in Sao Paulo is almost a bargain and the view of Puerto Madero is simply spectacular! Ask a really cold Quilmes and eat a lot without hurry… The wait is usually about 40 minutes, but it is super worth it. We eat many soufle potatoes (fantastic and hyper crispy) with salad and Vacio (na amazing meat cut)! If you like meat, think twice before asking for the plates alone beacuse they are huge (you can definitely share!)… Be sure to ask for coffee or tea (which by the way is really good) just to eat the famous Rubayat selection of cookies, truffles and other delicious little sweets!

Original post in Portuguese.

About the author:

Camila Penteado Cilento graduated in Business Administration in 2005 and works in the financial market (“the job that pays the rent”)… But the real “Cami”, as she is called by her closest friends, hasn’t found her dream job yet, but she just knows that her real passion is the aesthetics that she finds in fashion, in architecture, in gourmet, and in visual arts. In 2008, she finally had her dream come true and moved to New York City, where she learned that to feel alive you have to run after your dreams! In the end of 2008, she started a blog called “I am leaving today” (http://iamleaving2day.blogspot.com), where she writes about all the discoveries made when she was living her dream for real. While blogging she realized that writing is one of the best ways to communicate her ideas to the world and by doing this she has the opportunity to talk to people that are as far as they are close. Stay tuned…

Buenos Aires: places to have lunch is a post from: www.kristraveler.com

This post was submitted by Camila Penteado Cilento.

2010 Restaurant Week in São Paulo

Marcelo K. — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:07:54 +0000

If you are heading to São Paulo in early March 2010, make sure you do not miss the São Paulo Restaurant Week 2010. It starts on March 1st and runs until March 14th. Check the link below and do not forget to make reservations, especially on weekends.

Link: 2010 São Paulo Restaurant Week

Favorite Restaurants:

- Arabia
- Boa Bistrô
- Consulado Mineiro
- Obá Restaurante
- Pitanga

These are just to name a few of the participating restaurants – several offer a great environment and food, so you may want to take advantage of the Restaurant Week’s prices.
Click here to download the 2010 SP Restaurant Week Guide

2010 Restaurant Week in São Paulo is a post from: www.kristraveler.com

This post was submitted by Marcelo K..

Eat, See & Do: Favorites in Maui, Hawaii

admin — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:49:00 +0000

This is not the first post about Hawaii, as it is one of our favorite destinations. Though what makes this a special post is that it is authored by one of our readers who’s been living in Oahu for many years and knows Hawaii like the palm of his hand. I can personally say he has excellent taste and all his recommendations have been way above the highest expectations. And better yet – many of the venues recommended won’t be the typical touristic place, the tips are from a true Hawaii insider.

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Eat, See & Do: Favorites in Maui, Hawaii

By Eric for kristraveler.com

EAT

· Favorite little restaurant (by far):

Mala Ocean Tavern (137 Front Street, Lahaina (808) 667-9394)

It’s a little hole-in-the-wall literally on the water. Best breakfast and sunset dinner you can have on Maui. Owner uses all local, organic

ingredients with which to make magic. There are only about 6 or 7 tables outside on the waterfront, so call ahead and reserve a spot.

· Other cool places:

Lahaina Grill (127 Lahainaluna Road, Lahaina, (808) 667-5117)

On Lahainaluna Road, just 20 yds from Front Street. For years acclaimed as best restaurant on Maui – fun, busy though a bit pricey.

Gerard’s (174 Lahainaluna Road, Lahaina, (808) 661-8939)

Also on Lahainaluna Road – quiet, most romantic spot in an old mansion. Exquisite French cuisine. Dinner only – very quiet, romantic.

Mai Tai Lounge – on the water on Front Street

Longhi’s – an old classic Lahaina place. Great steaks, great wine bar.

· Favorite Friday/ Saturday dinner place:

Hali’imaile General Store (900 Haliimaile Roadm, Makawao, (808) 572-2666) – Incredible food, fun atmosphere, on the way to upcountry Maui

SEE, SHOP & DO

· Favorite places to stroll:

Front Street, Lahaina

· Favorite place to stroll along the beach:

Kaanapali Beach – Lots of little shops at Whaler’s Village, cool restaurants along the beach path

· Favorite places to explore:

Pa’ia Town – On North Shore of Maui. Pa’ia is an old plantation town-turned-hippie-surfer-artist town. Lots of art galleries, funky places to visit and to eat. My Favorite in Paia is Flatbread Company (89 Hana Highway, Paia, HI 96779, (808) 579-8989)

Makawao Town (just upcountry from Pa’ia) – Old Cowboy town – only 2 – 3 blocks long. Lots of little art galleries, boutiques; cool weather & fresh air. Very close to Haliimaile General Store

Big Beach – if you have time, this is on Maui’s South / Southwest shore. Incredible beach – and like the name says, it’s big – and feels like old Hawaii.

Kapalua Resort Golf Course – on the North Shore of Maui, world-class course where Mercedes Open is held every year

· Must do:

Drive up to top of Haleakala Crater: Ideally, leave at 4:00 am to arrive in time for sunrise from the top. Top elevation: 10,023 ft. So take warm clothes. For the most adventurous, you can try a bike ride down Haleakala – a 30-mile, all-downhill bike ride – wheeeee! Requires an early start; locals get upset because bikes block traffic – so you may or may not like that part.

Whale Watching: We like the tour that goes on the large (25-person) Zodiac – we’ve gone on Ultimate Whale Watch. Very cool – zodiac boat makes it possible to get “up close and personal” with whales. The whales approach you (boats are restricted from approaching the whales, but if they drift toward you it’s ok)

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About the Author:

Eric is an architect, born and raised in Brazil but lives in Hawaii. Avid traveler and former hotel executive – so very picky about his accommodations.

Favorite thing to do on a trip: photograph the experience so he can share it with others who may not be able to get there.

Eat, See & Do: Favorites in Maui, Hawaii is a post from: www.kristraveler.com

Best Pizza in NY

David H. — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 03:31:44 +0000

By far the best pizza in New York, Don Giovanni’s in Hell’s Kitchen. Here’s the link to their uptown location: http://www.dongiovanni-ny.com/uptown_location.htm Well worth the visit! Best Pizza in NY is a post from: www.kristraveler.com This post was submitted by David H.. Related posts:Favorite Restaurant in St. Michael’s, MD Buenos Aires: places to have lunch 2010 Restaurant Week in São Paulo Eat, See & [...]

Best Pizza in NY is a post from: www.kristraveler.com

Eating Like the President

admin — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 02:36:44 +0000

Where would you eat if you were a very important person…. hummm, let’s say the president of the US…. and could choose anywhere from the fanciest table to a chili bowl joint in DC?

Here are some places the Obama himself has been to for you to feel inspired…

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Dear Mr. President

by Todd Kliman | Washingtonian | July 1st, 2009 | Link to Original Post

So far, so good on your dining-out choices. Here are ten other places you should try.

Congratulations on the good judgment you’ve shown in your first few months. Not your economic plan—your dining-out judgment.

Some critics in the press have suggested that you’re playing a kind of culinary politics with your eating-out excursions. They point to the fact that you followed up date-night dinners with Michelle at Equinox and Citronelle—temples of fine dining—by swinging by Ben’s Chili Bowl (with DC mayor Adrian Fenty) for a chili dog and Ray’s Hell-Burger (with VP Joe Biden) for a hamburger. That’s the same high/low approach you took when you lived in Chicago: Your date-night restaurant was the elegant Spiaggia, with its vistas of Lake Michigan. But the place you went most often was MacArthur’s, a soul-food cafeteria where a plate of chicken with two sides costs $6.99.

like to think that your sensibilities are my sensibilities—a love of eating out at the extremes of the dining spectrum. And so, in that spirit, I’ve come up with ten of my favorite spots you really ought to try.

Komi. The most personal, the most soulful, the most distinctive restaurant in DC. Can you set aside your BlackBerry for three hours? Dinner is a lingering affair. From the mezzethakia, which starts a meal and takes at least an hour, to the communal-style final course, where you’ll be tearing the crisped meat off a baby goat or baby pig, the cares of Washington will seem a million miles away.

Palena. Frank Ruta might be the most technically proficient local chef who’s in his kitchen every day. His soups and pastas are very good, and his charcuterie will open your eyes to the small miracle of cured meats. As great as Ruta’s brand of French-Italian cuisine can be, maybe the greatest thing about it is that you come out of the place talking not about the chef but about how good simple cooking can be.

Vidalia. You’ve professed your love for Southern cooking, and this subterranean roost does soulful refinement as well as anyone in the country. Start with a perfect mint julep, load up on the cornbread in the stellar breadbasket, and then settle back and enjoy the imaginative preparations of country staples such as shrimp and grits and crabcakes. If you don’t have room for the killer lemon chess pie, ask for a doggy bag.

Four Sisters. This is one of the oldest Vietnamese restaurants around, newly relocated to the Merrifield section of Falls Church. I don’t think there’s an area restaurant that’s more beautiful, more delicious, or more inexpensive. An order of the marvelous shrimp toast, the juicy lacquered quail with blood-orange segments, the mushroom-filled rice crepes, and a Vietnamese coffee—and all that carping by the Republicans will be like water under the bridge.

Ravi Kabob House and Ravi Kabob II and III. Here’s the other reason to head into Virginia: It’s got the area’s best and most varied ethnic eating. The kebabs—marinated 18 hours and tended with great devotion over a charcoal flame—are superlative: as juicy and tender as any grilled slab at a big-ticket steakhouse. Go for lunch, and take Joe with you. But beware: If the right-wingers could light into you for chowing on a gourmet burger at Ray’s, just think what they’ll do to you for eating at a Pakistani restaurant.

Pete’s New Haven Style Apizza. Everyone knows you like pizza, and I know your favorite spot in Chicago is a thin-crust place. I think you’ll fall hard for Pete’s, which is serving the area’s best pizza. Big, crispy thin-crust pies with a balance of sauce, cheese, and topping. Take the girls and get the Sorbillo’s Original (a glorious turnover) and the clam pie, which is better than the one at Manhattan’s legendary Lombardi’s.

Poste. In a dining landscape ruled by chefs with bigger names and splashier dining rooms, this DC brasserie doesn’t receive nearly as much chatter as it deserves. The chef, Rob Weland, is the kind of kitchen talent whose confidence never crosses the line into showing off, and his Americanized bistro cooking, built on a foundation of top-notch ingredients—including herbs from his garden out back—is consistent and creative.

La Caraqueña. You got some flak over your handshake with Hugo Chávez, so coming to this Venezuelan-Bolivian restaurant would amount to a tweaking of those critics. But it also would mean a great afternoon of cheap eating. The sopa de mani (peanut soup), the fried arepas, and the salteñas are all superb.

Volt. This restored townhouse in historic Frederick is the best restaurant in the Maryland suburbs—elegant and unfussy American cooking in an atmosphere as cool as it is serene.

Faryab. Remember when you addressed the Muslim world and said we weren’t at war with Islam? Think about what you might achieve by dropping by this Afghan cafe for aushak (scallion-filled dumplings topped with a tomato-based meat sauce and spattered with yogurt), kadu (sweetened pumpkin), and mantu (dumplings with meat sauce and yogurt). You’ll be reassuring the Afghanis of your sincerity—all by having a delicious and inexpensive dinner.

This appeared in the July, 2009 issue of The Washingtonian.

Eating Like the President is a post from: www.kristraveler.com

NYC Restaurant: Blue Ribbon Bakery

admin — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 14:50:52 +0000

Yesterday I was making a short list of places you cannot miss in NYC and I had completely forgotten about this fantastic restaurant! How could I have forgotten about it?! Though I still have such great memories of this place and thank goodness I remembered about it today (hahaha)… Blue Ribbon Bakery offers one of the tastiest brunches in the city and is perfectly located between Soho and the West Village … It’s the perfect place to go in one of those sunny afternoons that demand you to take a nice walk around Soho! The breads are absolutely wonderful: do not miss them because they are baked in a brick oven that is 135 years! The truth is that the restaurant was only created because of this oven that was found abandoned: after a nice renovation, the restaurant opened in 98, and since then the superb oven never stopped working… Simply amazing!

Blue Ribbon Bakery
33 Downing Street
212.337.0404

Original post in Portuguese:

http://iamleaving2day.blogspot.com/2010/01/nyc-restaurant-blue-ribbon-bakery.html

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About the author:

NYC Restaurant: Blue Ribbon Bakery is a post from: www.kristraveler.com

NY Winter Restaurant Week 2010

admin — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 04:10:17 +0000

I always like to remind people of this event because there is no better week in the year than this one to go out to eat! Every year in late January NY hosts the Winter Restaurant Week: many, many great restaurants of the city participate in this event that offers a selected menu with three courses (appetizer, main course and dessert) at a more affordable price (Lunch on $ 24.07 and Dinner $ 35)!

My first recommendation is that you make reservations now, because for sure you are not going to be the only one that will have the bright idea of facing the cold harsh winter to go out and take advantage of the Restaurant Week! (the site of the event provides an on-line reservation service for some restaurants)

This time I decided to do something different – besides reminding you about the Restaurant Week, I thought of recommending 10 restaurants (all of them are usually super expensive and exquisite, so if you didn’t have the courage to check them out yet, this is your chance)! Remember that not all participating restaurants offer both lunch and dinner, so check the website to be sure!

The Restaurant Week runs from January 25 until February 7 (excluding Saturdays and participation on Sunday is optional, check before booking!)! Another point to make note, I recommended that you check the restaurant’s dress attire as well.

Here are some recommendations (that I have never commented about in the blog before) to take advantage of Restaurant Week (I promise to write individual posts about these restaurants throughout the year!)

   1. 21 Club (21 W. 52nd Street between Fifth & Sixth Avenues – 212.582.7200): Have you ever wondered what those cute little jockeys are doing outside this beautiful townhouse in Midtown?? This restaurant offers a traditional American food that is absolutely amazing…
   2. Aquavit (65 East 55th Street between Park & Madison – 212.307.7311): This restaurant offers one of the most delicious Scandinavian food in town!
   3. Aureole (One Bryant Park, 135 W. 42nd Street, corner of Sixth Avenue – 212.319.1660): Contemporary food, always delicious! Just moved to this new address (before they were on the Upper East Side) and I heard that the new site is a charm, right in front of Bryant Park …
   4. Bond St (6 Bond Street – 212.777.2500): For those who want a fun place full of beautiful people combined with a sensational Japanese food, this is the place!
   5. Butter Restaurant (415 Lafayette Street between Astor Place & East 4th Street – 212.253.2828): Another extremely trendy restaurant that always have a long waiting list … The décor is very surreal!

6. Del Posto Restaurant (85 Tenth Avenue, between W15th & W16th Streets – 212.497.8090): For those who like "big scenes", this Mario Batali restaurant is ideal! The Italian food is very good … Always crowded and fashionable!
7. Jojo (160 E. 64th Street between Lexington & Third Avenues – 212.223.5656): Never miss an opportunity to have dinner in one of Jean Georges restaurants, renowned French chef… That is it!
8. Le Cirque (151 East 58th Street between Lexington & 3rd Avenues – 212-644-0202): Extremely luxurious… Very traditional french cuisine that is worth checking!
9. The Modern (9 West 53rd Street between 5th & 6th Avenues – 212.333.1220): This is the last french call, this restaurant is located inside the MOMA overlooking the sculpture garden of the museum! You have to try…
10. The River Café (One Water Street, Brooklyn – 718.522.5200): A classic NY restaurant: you are never going to believe the view that this restaurant has to Manhattan … As for the food, I don’t remember, the view has overshadowed everything else!

For more ideas of restaurants, visit their website! Several that I have already indicated in the blog including Matsuri, the August, the Fig & Olive, among others, are participating!

Original post in Portuguese:

http://iamleaving2day.blogspot.com/2010/01/nyc-winter-restaurant-week-2501-ate-702.html

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About the author:

Camila Penteado Cilento graduated in Business Administration in 2005 and works in the financial market ("the job that pays the rent")… But the real "Cami", as she is called by her closest friends, hasn’t found her dream job yet, but she just knows that her real passion is the aesthetics that she finds in fashion, in architecture, in gourmet, and in visual arts. In 2008, she finally had her dream come true and moved to New York City, where she learned that to feel alive you have to run after your dreams! In the end of 2008, she started a blog called "I am leaving today" (http://iamleaving2day.blogspot.com), where she writes about all the discoveries made when she was living her dream for real. While blogging she realized that writing is one of the best ways to communicate her ideas to the world and by doing this she has the opportunity to talk to people that are as far as they are close. Stay tuned…

NY Winter Restaurant Week 2010 is a post from: www.kristraveler.com

NYC Restaurant: Mary’s Fish Camp (still searching for the perfect Lobster Roll…)

admin — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 03:39:53 +0000

Those that have been following my blog for some time already know that I absolutely love “Lobster Rolls”… My favorite one is from a super charming restaurant in West Village called “Pearl Oyster Bar“! I already talked on and on about this restaurant in the iamleaving2day blog but I promise that my next post will be about Pearl!

Anyway, since I am trying to keep my blog in synchrony with Kristraveler, I am going to start backwards and start with a post about “Mary’s Fish Camp“, another little restaurant in West Village that serves a similar “Lobster Roll”…

This is not going to be my last time talking about my love for “Lobster Rolls”, so for those of you that have never eaten this delicacy, let me start explaining what this plate is all about – a lobster sandwich that is served in a hot dog bun, generally with french fries on the side. It is absolutely fantastic and I am fanatic for them… We don’t have them in Brazil, so every time that I have the chance to eat them, I feel that I am in heaven!

Mary’s Fish Camp is located only few blocks away from Pearl Oyster Bar and have few things in common: they don’t accept reservations and serve delicious “Lobster Rolls’! I think that the main difference between the two is the place itself: I prefer Pearl’s environment (but that is only my preference, of course…) because in my opinion it is more charming and the place is always surrounded by nice music… To be honest, when I first went to Mary’s I was a little mystified, but I have to admit that the Lobster Roll was just as good as Pearl’s, including the fries that were as thin and crispy as the ones from my all time favorite. What I did not like was the music that was louder but maybe I was just not lucky on that day… The restaurant was opened by a former employee from Pearl, which maybe explains the similarity of the dishes served. The next time that the waitlist is too long at Pearl, you know where to go…

I bet that now you wondering and wanting to know more about Pearl Oyster Bar, right? Well, stay tuned…

Mary’s Fish Camp
64 Charles Street
646.486.2185

Original post in Portuguese:

http://iamleaving2day.blogspot.com/2010/01/nyc-restaurant-marys-fish-camp.html

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About the author:

NYC Restaurant: Mary’s Fish Camp (still searching for the perfect Lobster Roll…) is a post from: www.kristraveler.com

NYC Restaurant: Tartine

admin — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 05:00:33 +0000

With this first post we are just launching “Cami’s Corner” as part of our new ‘Guest Blogger’ page.

‘Cami’s Corner’ is a section authored by a friend from college that lived in NYC for a year, but certainly got to know more places than the average resident, given her passion for the city and eagerness to discover new places. She now lives in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and occasionally may share her best secrets in her hometown with us as well, so keep checking for new posts!

Happy reading and please share your comments with us!!

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NYC Restaurant: Tartine

By Cami for kristraveler.com

During my last visit to New York City, I could not resist going to this very charming French bistro located in my favorite neighborhood, the West Village! Tartine offers amazingly good French food, and thus has made it to my top 10 NYC restaurant discoveries of 2009! It is quite a small place located in one of the most charming corners of West 4th Street.

If you are going with your friends for a night out, do have in mind that they do not sell any alcoholic beverages. Nonetheless, they have a “BYOB” policy (“bring your own bottle”) which still allows you to enjoy a nice drink with your meal. (I always forget this important detail and then have to run to the closest liquor store to get a bottle of wine while everyone is waiting for me at the table…) They serve a delicious brunch during the weekend: I absolutely love their “Eggs Norvegienne” that comes with roasted potatoes! If you are going there during the summer and the weather is nice, take advantage of their outdoor seating!

Tartine
253 W. 11th St.,corner with West 4th Street.
212.229.2611

*This post is also published in portuguese. To go to the original link, click on:

http://iamleaving2day.blogspot.com/2009/11/nyc-restaurant-tartine.html

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About the author:

NYC Restaurant: Tartine is a post from: www.kristraveler.com