Bites from the Road

Heavenly Visit to Lodge at Woodloch, Hawley, PA

It was the trip that almost didn't happen. Three times. First, I was injured; second, one of us had COVID. I can't recall the third. I do, though, recall arriving at Woodloch when a staff swarm greeted us, took our luggage to storage until our rooms were ready and immediately escorted us in to register. We then were seated for lunch in the dining room, where we'd consume all our meals. Friendly, welcoming and attentive service is what we found in the dining room. Guests wore casual, active workout clothes or terry robes for breakfast yet dressed for dinner. We only needed reservations for dinner. We squeezed a four-night trip [...]

By |2023-06-19T21:32:47-04:00June 14th, 2023|Bites from the Road, USA Restaurants, USA Travel|0 Comments
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Mediterraneo Restaurant, Greenwich, CT

While visiting my friends' new Greenwich home, we went to dinner on Greenwich Avenue one evening at Mediterraneo. This friendly, warm restaurant combined the tastes of the sea and Italy. Their breads and fresh hummus satiated us as we discussed what we'd have. We started by sharing their tasty appetizers that included steamed P.E.I. mussels in a rich red curry cream ($17), grilled squid with shaved fennel, radishes and cherry tomatoes ($17), crispy crab stuffed artichoke bottoms with tarragon-lemon aioli ($19) and grilled Spanish octopus with smoked chorizo sofrito and diced potatoes ($21). Next, we shared the black squid ink linguine with shrimp and roasted tomatoes topped with lemon breadcrumbs [...]

By |2023-05-07T07:12:06-04:00May 9th, 2023|Bites from the Road, USA Restaurants, USA Travel|0 Comments
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Wine Bar George, Disney Springs, Florida

I was dining with Pam Parks, my Disney publicist from the past, who still works for them as a writer of their cookbooks. Her latest Delicious Disney: Walt Disney World: Recipes & Stories from The Most Magical Place on Earth recently published. George Miliotes, Master Sommelier, happened to be at his namesake Wine Bar George when we lunched there recently.  The wine bar offers more than 140 wines by the glass, bottle and — for the pricey ones — by the ounce! The bar has received many accolades, being awarded the Best Micro Wine List in the World 2019, Best By-the-Glass Wine List With Coravin® in North America and Honored by [...]

By |2023-04-07T09:11:33-04:00April 7th, 2023|Bites from the Road, USA, USA Restaurants, USA Travel|0 Comments
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Rusty’s Seafood & Oyster Bar, Port Canaveral, Florida

One afternoon on a drive to Cocoa Beach, we ended up at a little dive on the water with one of the happiest, friendliest staff I've ever encountered. Even the owner, Rusty, was smiling as he bussed the tables — something, we were told, he frequently did. Rusty's Seafood & Oyster Bar is a dockside seafood restaurant where people come to watch Cape Canaveral launches.  I sampled their Moscow mule — the vodka-ginger beer mixture traditionally served in a copper mug; my dining partner tried Rusty's Relaxer with light and dark rum, banana liqueur, blackberry brandy and orange-pineapple juice. We ordered their smoked fish dip ($10) to accompany that. The [...]

By |2023-03-18T09:19:39-04:00April 1st, 2023|Bites from the Road, USA Restaurants|2 Comments
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Morimoto Asia + Frontera Cocina, Disney Springs, Orlando, Florida

We headed over to Disney Springs to dine a few times while I was in Orlando, as there were more than 60 options to eat, including 25 table-service restaurants. I must be getting old, as I found the noise level at dinner at these restaurants deafening. Not surprisingly, Morimoto's drinks lean toward Asian, with two of our cocktails made with Japanese whisky and sake. I sampled their Old Fashioned ($18) made with Suntory Toki whisky ($18), while another tried the sake sangria topped with fresh Asian pears and apples. Their Mai Tai is more traditional ($18), made with Cruzan coconut rum and a floater of Appleton estate rum. Don't miss [...]

By |2023-03-24T08:09:10-04:00March 26th, 2023|Bites from the Road, USA Travel|0 Comments
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A Meal at Arca Worthy of a Visit, Tulum, Mexico

We were supposed to be six at the upscale Arca restaurant from executive chef and owner Jose Luis Hinostroza. This farm-to-table Tulum restaurant opened in 2015, offering open-fire cooking of small plates intended to be shared. Their food represents the flora and fauna of the area. With six, we would have experienced many more dishes. One of our group became ill, and three others opted to stay in their hotel room with him. (He's fine now!)  So the two of us only had room for a  couple of the chef's creative dishes.  I started with their mezcal El Solar cocktail ($7.75), which wasn't too sweet. I'd recommend.  We couldn't resist [...]

By |2022-12-27T08:06:17-05:00January 31st, 2023|World, World Restaurants|0 Comments
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The Beach Club Kanan, Tulum, Mexico

My friend had been in Tulum all week in preparation for her son's wedding. She stayed on the beach at the Ahau, yet ate lunch at The Beach Club Kanan daily. I joined her for lunch the afternoon of the Welcome Drinks and Dinner party. Each day, she ordered the same dish for lunch, their simple shrimp with a white rice garnish and a choice of three sauces. The Kanan offered a garlic mojo, a devil sauce and a garlicky guajillo sauce. We wanted all three, as she did each day. Kenten Marin, their executive chef, had to come from the kitchen to meet us. "Who would order all three [...]

By |2023-01-28T11:15:34-05:00January 23rd, 2023|Bites from the Road, World Restaurants, World Travel|0 Comments
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Toucan Sur Mer, Ixelles, Brussels, Belgium

During my Thanksgiving visit across the pond, we dined with friends at Toucan Sur Mer, a renowned fish restaurant in Brussels' Ixelles neighborhood. What's remarkable about this friendly fish restaurant is their velvety Soupe de Poissons de Roche (14,00 €), a classic French soup similar to Nice's bouillabaisse. It came with grated Emmenthal cheese and rouille, a Provençal variation on aïoli, the traditional accompaniment with bouillabaisse. Don't miss. Other good selections are their oysters  (2.50 € each) and the salmon tartare a la Japonaise (19.50 €) with grainy mustard. Four of us chose their fish & chips (24 €), crunchy fish pieces with a small salad, tartar sauce and a big [...]

By |2023-01-14T15:27:03-05:00January 14th, 2023|Bites from the Road, World, World Restaurants, World Travel|0 Comments
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Cafe Pomegranate, Zeeheldenkwartier, Den Haag, The Netherlands

We ventured out in the rain for brunch to a new women-owned cafe around the corner. It's a family affair, owned by a mom and her daughters who moved to Den Haag from Australia. The smoothie with bananas, mango and lots of cinnamon was a hit with my granddaughter, as were her ricotta pancakes (11.5 €) with Nutella mascarpone, roasted walnuts and fresh berries. Also tasty are the spicy scramble (12.5 €) with burrata, chorizo and arugula, the eggs benny with bacon and asparagus (14.5 €) and a side of parmesan asparagus (4 €). The cafe offers housemade pastries and a local bakery's pan chocolate and fruit tarts. I recommend [...]

By |2023-01-15T11:59:00-05:00January 5th, 2023|World, World Restaurants, World Travel|0 Comments
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Dame Bonnie Tandy Leblang Collection at The Boyd Hospitality & Culinary Library

(With excerpts from the speech given at the library's opening.) My interest in everything culinary started as soon as I could hold a wooden spoon.   I began collecting food-related stuff early and continued most of my life. That extensive collection included cookbooks, menus, pamphlets, booklets, other food/nutrition-related books – and memorabilia, like the My*T*Fine pudding package sporting an image of Howdy Doody!   I even went the food route with my education, studying and getting degrees in food science and nutrition and becoming a Registered Dietitian. When I was getting ready to sell my cookbook-lined Connecticut home and move to Manhattan, I tried to find a home for my extensive library. Most [...]

By |2023-01-02T14:00:48-05:00December 31st, 2022|Big Apple Life, Bites from the Road, NYC Best Bites, Rambling, USA, USA Restaurants, USA Travel|2 Comments
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An Institution: Mother’s Restaurant, New Orleans, LA

Mother's Restaurant has been a breakfast institution since 1938 across the street from Hotel Fontenot, where we were staying. I had heard many legends about this cafeteria-style joint that always draws crowds. Mothers serves Breakfast all day. One morning, we decided to join the long line outside the door to try it. The line moves quickly, as once inside the door, you are handed a menu, then queue up to order and pay before you head into one of the large dining rooms to find a table receipt in hand. Once at the table, your server gathers the proof of purchase and serves your food. Although not attractively presented, the [...]

By |2022-10-20T10:27:19-04:00November 21st, 2022|Bites from the Road, USA, USA Restaurants|2 Comments
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Building Hope, Changing Lives: Cafè Reconcile, New Orleans, LA

The best food on this New Orleans trip? Cafè Reconcile. It's a lunch-only service restaurant with Southern foods cooked and served by at-risk youth in job training. Cafè Reconcile builds hope while changing lives. Everything we ate was delicious. We ended up there because of its proximity — across the street — to the SoFAB Museum, where we had headed after the opening of the John & Bonnie Boyd Hospitality & Culinary Library, where my book collection is now housed. Portions are enormous; the prices the opposite with delicious food. The chicken and andouille gumbo ($4) danced in my mouth! That cup s0 satisfied, so I couldn't finish the hearty [...]

By |2022-11-20T14:24:31-05:00November 15th, 2022|Bites from the Road, USA Restaurants, USA Travel|0 Comments
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Lunch at Kofradia – Itsas Etxea, San Sebastian, Spain

With our final meal of our San Sebastian trip being that night, we had a light lunch at Kofradia, a fisherman's house offering fresh fish caught nearby in Basque Country. We sipped the Viña Zorzal Rosado ($16€), a Garnacha rosé. We were in sticker shock at that price, which is for a bottle, not a glass! For lunch we ate the Thon blanc marinée avec jus de tomatoes et des olives. That's freshly marinated white tuna with ripe tomatoes and manzanilla olives (14€). We sopped up every drop with their crusty bread. Perfection. Had to smile at the presentation of the bill in an anchovy can! I highly recommend a [...]

By |2022-11-20T17:38:00-05:00November 10th, 2022|Bites from the Road, World, World Restaurants|0 Comments
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Lunch at Ongi Etorri, Saint Jean De Luz, France

On our way to France for the day, we stopped to attend the unique Alarde parade in the charming medieval town of Hondarribia (Spain), where everyone in the city celebrates by dressing in red and white. Afterward, we stopped for lunch in Saint Jean De Luz, where we tripped across the Ongi Etorri cafe. We were thrilled we did. Two had the pot of mussels (15 €), and others ordered the 3-course menu (19.50 €). My friend began with the green salad with fried camembert and grilled sardines with fries. I delighted in eating the sweet piquillo red peppers stuffed with a delicate cod mousse, followed by an unremarkable chicken [...]

By |2022-11-01T09:45:59-04:00November 4th, 2022|World, World Restaurants, World Travel|2 Comments
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Bilbao, Spain: Restaurant Markina

Our front desk clerk recommended a darling little cafe not far from Hotel Míro in Bilbao, where we were staying. Markina is a friendly café with attentive service. We started with a bottle of rosé (20 €) while perusing the menu. We were still shocked that a bottle cost what a glass did in New York. We arrived just in time to get a seat, as the restaurant completely filled up.  Everything was delicious. Their rich burrata, made in Bilbao, comes accompanied by eggplant and tomato chutney (15.50 €). We ordered bread (2.80 €) for that and to dip into the garlicky oil from the grilled Galician razor clams (15.50 [...]

By |2022-11-01T09:59:36-04:00October 30th, 2022|Bites from the Road, World, World Restaurants|0 Comments
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San Sebastián: The Pintxos Tour

Pintxos are early evening snacks traditionally served at bars in the Basque country of northern Spain. They're enjoyed along with cider, beer or wine while standing at a table — if you can grab one. During a recent Global Palate Adventure, I sampled many pintxos in Old Town, San Sebastian. I've yet to find one I didn't like. First, don't miss sampling Spain's indigenous Jamon Iberico, the cured meat from pigs mainly fed acorns. ZaporeJai, C. de San Jerónimo, 21.  I'd recommend any pintxos at La Mejillonera c/del Puerot, 5. Their fresh calamari was crispy; the potatoes bravo tasty, although I'd have preferred less of the sauces. The succulent steamed mussels [...]

By |2022-11-01T09:54:19-04:00October 25th, 2022|World, World Restaurants|0 Comments
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My Favorite Basque Pintxos: The Gilda

The Gilda — a Basque-style tapa often served on a skewer — is one of the oldest pintxos in San Sebastian. The newly opened Bar Casa Vallés (Reyes Catolicos Kalea, 10, 20006 Donostia, Gipuzkoa, Spain) first served it in the '40s, named after the American film Gilda. It's a little bit spicy, a little salty, just like the Spanish-descended actress Rita Hayworth's character in the movie.  Jon, our local tour guide on a trip with Global Palate Adventures, took us to his social club, where his family and numerous others could entertain by either hiring a chef or preparing their food in the large kitchen. Jon introduced us to this pintxo, instructing [...]

By |2022-10-20T08:59:46-04:00October 20th, 2022|Recipes, Starters, World|0 Comments
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Michelin 1-star Nerua at Guggenheim Bilboa Museum, Bilboa, Spain

The Basque country is a must-do for anyone who loves food. My first stop was in Bilboa (Spain) to visit the Guggenheim Museum. Afterward, we headed next door to Nerua, a Michelin one-star restaurant offering local Basque cuisine. We opted for the reasonably priced 85 € multi-course tasting menu with their 35 € wine pairing beautifully described by our attentive server, Asier Llona. Our first delicacies were the labor-intense amuse-bouche: A small glass of tomato-water clear gazpacho and three pintxos on a ceramic bench plate. One was a bread croquette filled with bonito, another a mini quail egg topped with langoustine foam and then the Cricket. That's the name they [...]

By |2022-10-20T08:51:43-04:00October 12th, 2022|Bites from the Road, USA Restaurants, World, World Restaurants, World Travel|2 Comments
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Dinner at Novo on the Creek in San Luis Obispo, California

It was my last meal in California in late summer before waking at dawn to head back east from San Luis Obispo. We opted for creekside dining in the heart of downtown San Luis Obispo at Novo, serving locally sourced, wholesome, and globally inspired food. We started with a bottle of their Zuccardi Malbec (reasonably priced at $38). We had decided to mainly have sharing plates as that's what's most interesting at Novo. Friends told us not to miss their salmon bisque ($10) with the recipe from Robin's, their sister restaurant in Cambria, CA. We ordered one small "poco" bowl and three spoons to share the rich broth with huge chunks of salmon. [...]

By |2022-10-09T09:51:20-04:00October 5th, 2022|Bites from the Road, USA Restaurants, USA Travel|0 Comments
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Breakfast at Blue Sky on the Bay, Morro Bay, CA

It was one of my last days on the beautiful Central Coast of California. My sister and I had decided to drive up to Morro Bay for brunch. She frequented Blue Sky, located waterside along the Embarcadero, that offers an all-day breakfast with friendly service and beautiful views of Morro Rock and Estero Bay. She had a veggie scramble ($18.99) with tomato, spinach, red onion, mushrooms, black olives and cheese topped with avocado slices and served with a toasted English muffin and fresh fruit. I'm a sucker for huevos rancheros. This version topped corn tortillas with poached eggs, refried beans and ranchero sauce, then served up a side of guac [...]

By |2022-10-02T09:08:26-04:00October 1st, 2022|Bites from the Road, USA, USA Restaurants|0 Comments
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