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rshorens

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Everything posted by rshorens

  1. "If you can provide a little further info about geography, reasons and priority we can help narrow things down for you"
  2. I don't want to offend any purists out there, but I am a former New Yorker transplanted to northern California who is returning for a visit in early November. My husband and I crave a traditional New York steakhouse. We've heard raves about Peter Lugar's, but we need to limit ourselves to Manhattan. We definitely wish to avoid glitz and tourists and are looking for excellent flavor, quality and value as well as local ambience. Any suggestions? Thanks! Roz
  3. Thanks, Meander. I will look forward to any suggestions you have about Granada. The small towns we will visit include Arcos de la Frontera, Grazalema, Ronda, Olvera, Sentenil, Zahara, and El Bosque. We will be in Spain April 12-23, ending up in Barcelona for 4 days Best regards, Roz
  4. We are going to Andalucia for a week in mid-April and would like suggestions for restaurants in Sevilla, Granada, and the "pueblos blancos" enroute, including Ronda. We are looking for lively restaurants serving local specialities with good value patronized by local people rather than touristy ones. Thanks, Roz
  5. Thanks for the suggestions! I tried to get a reservation at The Tasting Room (which looks fabulous) but unfortunately they're booked. We have opted for dinner at a place called Rust en Vrede instead, which also has a tasting menu and was recommended to us by someone at our hotel. Has anyone eaten there before? I didn't see it mentioned in any of the other forum discussions, which hopefully isn't a bad sign! We will have lunch at Bread & Wine. For Cape Town, I have reserved dinner at Savoy Cabbage, which seems to be quite popular. I was looking at Five Flies, but I was reading mixed reviews. I would appreciate any recent opinions on meals there. I also might try Codfather for seafood - I read good things elsewhere on the forum. Does anyone have any recommendations for places to try braai, and also to try different types of African food? I was reading about a place called Africa Cafe, but it looks quite touristy. We want to make sure we try a lot of local specialities, and we of course want to balance some of our more upmarket meals with visits to more casual, local spots. Thanks again!
  6. I would appreciate any suggestions for restaurants in Stellenbosch and Franshoek areas of South Africa for an upcoming trip at the end of February. We are a young couple looking for good local food, excellent value, and a fun,enjoyable setting. Thanks for your help! Roz
  7. Ouch! Maybe I should have worded my request as, "where can a couple have a decent meal on February 14 DESPITE Valentine's Day"? Roz
  8. Restaurants do not need to be kosher
  9. We will be in Israel in late March-early April and will have free time in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. We'd appreciate suggestions on restaurants in both cities which feature fresh ingredients and local specialties at a moderate price, preferably not touristy. Thanks! Roz
  10. Do restaurants in London escalate their prices for Valentine's Day dinners? We're looking for a restaurant that won't bust the budget for a young couple seeking excellent food in a pleasant restaurant in central London. Any suggestions to this eternal question? Thanks! Roz
  11. I didn't get to Jangada but my daughter, who is a good judge of restaurants, ate there last January with a friend and they loved the food- it was a good option if you've already had enough steak and want some variety. Good value, too and good service. Have a great time in BA and drink a lot of Malbec. Best regards, Roz
  12. I'm back from South America(Buenos Aires and Patagonia) and had a fantastic time. Thanks to all for their recommendations on restaurants in Buenos Aires. I was really glad to have the lowdown on parrillas, otherwise I would have naively followed the suggestions of friends and acquaintances to go to Cabana las Lilas, Casa Cruz, Patagonia Sur, etc. Here's a brief summary of our dining exploits: Lunch at bustling Desnivel in San Telmo on a Sunday afternoon-had to wait awhile for a table but it was fun people-watching. Had bife de lomo, papas fritas, ensalada completa for a very reasonable price. We went to the tail end of the free New Years' Eve symphony concert at the Obelisco, then walked back toward our hotel in Microcentro and luckily got a table at El Establo on Paraguay 489. This parrilla was one of the few restaurants open and was crowded, mainly with locals. The bife de chorizo was huge; I also had cured ham with the sweetest honeydew melon I have ever tasted. After an amazing breakfast buffet at the Park Tower the next day, we flew to Bariloche to start our Patagonia tour. Best places we found to eat included: In Bariloche: El Boliche de Alberto(the original one on Villegas 347)- the man who grills the meat takes your meat order. Portions were huge. We had asado(ribs) and chorizo. Excellent house wine. The bill for the 3 of us was 67 pesos(about US$7.50 each) In El Chalten, a small town catering to trekkers and climbers, we ate 2 nights in a row at Fuegia Bistro on Av. San Martin. We had puree of carrot soup, bife de chorizo with incredible oven-roasted potatoes and fresh vegetables, Patagonian lamb rib chops served with mashed sweet potatoes and roasted vegetables, ensalada completa, ice cream made from Calafate berries, Trapiche Malbec and Sauvignon Blanc. This tiny bistro had a lovely atmosphere and friendly servers. Definitely a find! In El Calafate, El Tablita on Coronel Rosales 28 was a popular and lively asador/parrilla. We were lucky to get a table without a reservation at 8:30 PM; people were still coming to eat and waiting for tables when we left. Here we had mixed lamb grill, lomo, mashed pumpkin and potatoes, ensalada completa, malbec and the bill came to 121 pesos(US$13 per person) In Puerto Natales, Chile, we chose Restaurant Ultima Esperanza on Eberhard 354. Finally a chance for seafood! I had delicious and very fresh small scallops with king crab sauce, while my husband and daughter had abadejo( translated as pollock or cod). In Punta Arenas, Chile, we tried Damiana Elena, on O'Higgins 694,a small restaurant in an unassuming old building. The interior was delightful, with beautiful antiques and lovely china. The food was outstanding- we had canneloni filled with incredibly sweet centolla(King crab), corvina(sea bass) with olive salsa, avocado salad, pureed spinach, Valle del Maule Misiones de Rengo Sauviognon Blanc,fresh strawberries with cream, and a zabaglione-like dessert with blackberries. We were happy to find that we were the only tourists that night-all the other customers were locals. One woman arrived in a full-length mink coat(despite its being summer, it was a little chilly). In Ushuaia, we would recommend 2 restaurants. One casual place in a small cottage, Bodegon Fueguino on Av. San Martin 859, didn't take reservations. It was bustling and had a great variety of meat and fish selections. We enjoyed the brochette made with chicken, bacon, and lamb; abadejo(cod) with blue cheese sauce; grilled lamb with mashed pumpkin and papas fritas, washed down with local dark draft Beagle beer. Kaupe, an intimate fine restaurant on a hill overlooking the harbor and mountains, was our splurge. Our party of 5 had carpaccio of veal, ensalada caprese, king crab and spinach chowder, "natural" cold king crab(I'm a purist), merluza(sea bass) with sage and lemon, merluza with vegetables cooked en papillote, with a Lagarde Viognier. Desserts included Marquise, lemon ice cream with raspberry coulis, and crepe. Including tip, this wonderful meal cost US$33 per person. Back in Buenos Aires, we were able to eat at Don Julio in Palermo Soho for lunch and La Brigada in San Telmo for dinner. The steaks at both parrillas were excellent. La Brigada was a little more upscale, more expensive( US$16 rather than US$8 per person) and had more tourists but was conveniently located, since we walked 2 blocks down Estados Unidos to Bar Sur, where we finally went to a tango show. We liked the intimate size of Bar Sur and got to toast the owner and all the musicians celebrating the 40th anniversary of Bar Sur. We didn't have time to eat at La Cabrera or Jangada(a restaurant specializing in river fish) but our daughter, who is staying in Buenos Aires for 3 more weeks, had great meals at both these places. I appreciate all the advice of egullet members on this thread and look forward to returning next year! Roz
  13. Has anyone been to Campo Bravo in Las Canitas? How far is this barrio from the Park Tower hotel, how good is the restaurant, and am I likely to be able to get a radio cab there and back on New Year's Eve??? Saltshaker, where is your restaurant? I didn't read the restaurant review you all are alluding to, and wish you much success! Should I even dare to think about going now? I don't want to be trampled by all the New Yorkers!! Thanks for all your advice! Roz P.S. My daughter ate in El Desnivel and had the best steak of her life!
  14. Wow, I looked at your tour and am very impressed that you are running in these places! I have a knee problem and just hope that I can hike to some of the amazing places we will be at. Your company is an extremely good deal, too- I can't believe the price you are paying. We are going with Tucan Travel from Bariloche to Ushuaia on the apparently very popular path. We have had to buy international and domestic airfare ourselves and pay for transfers and most meals, as well as our 3 nights in Buenos Aires. I wish I had known about the company from Santa Monica you are using. In any event, we may not have had much choice, having just signed up for our trip Nov. 28 We arrive Dec. 31 and thus are trying to decide where to eat on New Year's Eve, as well as 2 nights at the end of our tour, Jan 17 and 18.I have looked up all the restaurants mentioned iin this egullet thread using www.guiaoleo.com.ar/detail.php?ID= and filling in the numbers of the individual restaurants. As usual, it is interesting reading in Spanish the variation in customer ratings for food, service, ambiance, etc. One thing this egullet thread has done is steered me away from high end places like Las Cabanas las Lilas and Patagonia Sur. I am leaning toward Don Julio or El Trapiche in San Telmo versus Parilla 1880 in Palermo for New Year's Eve, based on ratings and where might be a good neighborhood for New Year's. I wish I could ask a Porteno how New Year's is celebrated in Buenos Aires. Of course, since we will have been up for 48 hours after the international flight from San Francisco via Houston, I don't know how long we'll last! Have a great trip and maybe we'll run into each other! Buon viaggio Roz
  15. Salute! I am coming rather late to this discussion, having planned a last minute trip to Patagonia with my husband to meet up with our backpacking daughter. We'll meet in Buenos Aires on Dec. 31 and was wondering whether we could just wander around looking for a parilla or we would have to book a table at a big New year's Eve dinner(I try to avoid the latter but then I'm not really upbeat on New Year;s anyway). I had to laugh when I read this thread because Las Cabanas des Lilas merits a chapter in the "1001 Things to Do Before You Die" book, but it also was recommended as 'my favorite restaurant" by a young woman who works in the hair salon I go to in Santa Cruz, CA. In any event, I would welcome any suggestions anyone has on how to enjoy the night in Buenos Aires, including a good steak and considering the neighborhood location for the most local "flavor" Roz
  16. I just returned from Turkey Oct. 1- was in Istanbul 5 days, Izmir, then on gulet boat from Marmaris to Antalya for 12 days. The palamut(bonito), sea bream, red mullet, and sea bass were all very good. I very much enjoyed staying in the Sultanamet district (Arcadia hotel on hill overlooking the Blue Mosque). I enjoyed walking in the Begolu district but I would not want to stay there. Some restaurants we would recommend: Daruzziyafe for lunch outdoors near the Sulimaniye Mosque- traditional Turkish food in peaceful courtyard Fishmekan along the Bosporus, Arnavutkoy Cadddesi 60- upscale local fish restaurant beyond the Bosporus bridge-get there by cab. Yesil Ev Kabasakal Cad. No. 5 near Blue Mosque-traditional Turkish food for lunch and dinner- when we ate lunch outside there next to the classic marble fountain, they were playing Piazzola argentinian Tango music on their sound system- when the call to prayer resounded from the mosques on both sides of the garden, alternating with the tango music, you really felt you were someplace unique!! Outdoor cafe Konyali in the Topkapi Palace overlooking the water Aleko'Nun Yeri Deniz Park Restaurant, Daire Sokak No. 9 Yenikoy(along the Bosporus, half way to the Black sea- we got there by way of a cruise along the Bosporus) best fish-good view of all the tankers and mysterious fast speedboats heading to and from the Black Sea Bahce Restaurant, Anit Mezar Karsisi No. 31, Antalya-excellent food, specializing in grilled meats and mezzes from eastern interior Turkey- plus an atmosphere reminding me of Rick's place from the movie Casablanca, only this restaurant was outdoors We went to Hamdi near the Spice market in Istanbul- food was good but we didn't have a reservation and they didn't seem very welcoming. We had difficulty ordering and explaining some allergies my husband had. Probably would have been better going with someone who spoke Turkish Most exciting atmosphere- the Kumkapi district-several blocks of outdoor restaurants specializing in fish-strolling Turkish musicians, lots of festive lights,people walking by selling all sorts of things, lots of Istanbul locals. Excellent small shrimp and sardines for mezzes. Some interesting desserts we had- candied quince with vanilla ice cream; baked pumpkin with whipped cream and chopped walnuts. Loved Turkey!! Roz
  17. I just read the New York Times from today, 4/27, online, and there was an article announcing that the owners of Ugelsich's are retiring and closing the restaurant. I did eat at Peristyle, so I'm glad I got the chance to do that but am bummed out because Ugelsich's is one of the places I missed on my trip to NO last year. How are people in NO coping with this news? Roz Here is the link: (I hope I did the link right- otherwise just copy and paste the address starting with www and ending with th
  18. Welcome, Poppy! I will look out for your new book. Best, Roz
  19. Thanks, amyknyc, I did see that article and printed it up. But I always trust egulleteers when it comes to up to the moment food reviews! Cheers, Roz
  20. I am going to Istanbul in mid-September and would like an update on any old favorites or new restaurants for dinner. I am staying in the old historic district. Thanks! Roz
  21. Sounds like a wonderful trip! I'm leaving Thursday for a cruise sponsored by the Metropolitan Museum of Art- we go to Split and Dubrovnick but will not have time for explorations on our own. Your posting makes me think I'll have to return on my own! Roz
  22. The Ginger Rogers has lots of fresh mint, gin, seltzer or 7-up, and lemon juice and is mildlysweet(I think)- very refreshing! I can go through those fast. The Perfect pear comes in a martini glass- I'm not so sure about that one- suspect pear liquor and vodka- it's more sweet and has more alcohol that the Ginger Rogers. We usually get one of each and share! They have many other delicious mixed drinks. Salute! Roz
  23. I would recommend the bar at Absynthe, a restaurant on Hayes Street, for food and drink. The bar area is very attractive and lively, with both bar and table seating. You can order any amount of food or drinks in either place. The specialty cocktails are wonderful(my favorites are the Ginger Rogers and the Perfect pear); the wines by the glass are usually excellent in quality, variety and value; the cheese plates are delicious and come with fresh or dried fruit; the French onion soup is the best in San Francisco; the regular menu is very good and always includes some type of duck confit; a wide range of oysters is available; etc. There is usually an interesting crowd of people in the bar area. Also, they have superb bread and butter(a must in my book!). It is definitely fun to eat there if you are alone. Amphora, the wine store affiliated with Absynthe, is located just next door and offers a 10% discount if you buy a bottle of any of the wines featured by the glass in the restaurant. Bon appetit! Roz
  24. Melissa's comment on "the casualness of the dress of the customers" made me smile..when we visited NO for the first time in April, Galatoire's downstairs was our first meal. We had just dropped our bags off at our hotel in the Quarter, then walked into the restaurant. My husband was wearing a sport jacket, although we were unaware of any dress code. After sitting down at the table, we gave our drink order, and while waiting, my husband took off his jacket and put it on the back of his chair. Within a second, a staff member asked my husband to put his jacket back on. We were taken aback until we realized that there was a serious dress code enforced here! Quite a change from northern California! Roz
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