When visiting a new city for the first time, any foodie’s first question is, “Where do I eat?” I rely on cross-referencing friends’ recommendations with Trip Advisor and Yelp so I ensure I go to places locals would eat and not the easy, middle of the road places that happen to be popular. My first…
Category: Restaurants
Farmstead at Longmeadow Ranch: Reliably wonderful Napa Valley farm to table
You know you’ve found a favorite restaurant when you can eat there twice within a week, and the second meal is even better than the first. That’s how I feel about Farmstead at Longmeadow Ranch, a Napa Valley restaurant that is a must for anyone traveling through the area, no matter how short your stay….
Pasta Fresca Barkia: The best of Italian cuisine and Greek hospitality in Mykonos
Greek cuisine is fantastic. Whether you prefer surf or turf, meat or vegetarian food, Greek cuisine has something for everyone. Yet in the Mediterranean food wars (I made that up), Italian food wins the global battle. I would argue that no other cuisine has such is represented by more restaurants or appears on more menus…
Mykonos: Know Before You Go
Mykonos. The Greek isle has quite the reputation as a luxury party destination. Does it live up to the hype? The island can offer a wide range of experiences, depending on your preferences. Looking to party like European royalty? Mykonos has you covered. Relaxation or a romantic retreat? Check. An action-packed LGBT-friendly getaway? Check. Looking…
The Talisman: A magical expat nook in southwestern Nairobi
The omnipresent developing world traffic of Nairobi, Kenya can’t stop expats from flocking to The Talisman, an eclectic, cozy gastropub for international culinary fusion or cocktails with friends. I joined that set for a night during my trip to Kenya, and the restaurant didn’t disappoint for food and atmosphere. For those of you who haven’t…
The quintessential high tea experience at London’s Hotel Café Royal
There is perhaps no dining experience more quintessentially British than a proper high tea. And when one has so many fine tea rooms to choose from, how does one do so? Discover how here! A truly great high tea experience has been on my bucket list since my first trip to London 15 years ago….
Restaurant de La Tour: The perfect Parisian meal at the perfect moment
Today, the CD takes a much-needed reset at a small neighborhood restaurant in the City of Light (and City of Culinary Treasures). If you have visited Paris, you likely walked around the infamous Tour Eiffel in the city’s Left Bank and 15th Arrondissement. If you did so, you likely noticed quite the assortment of tourist-oriented…
Waterbar: When you want (to pay for) a fantastic meal with your view
San Francisco is the most expensive U.S. city in terms of housing, as well as one of the most expensive to visit. Its famed food scene comes with a price tag. The good news is that while you’re going to pay quite a bit for your average meal, upgrading to a truly memorable meal isn’t…
Flour and Water: A culinary bucket list experience in SFO
Ever tried a pasta tasting menu? Neither had I, before I tried the summer pasta tasting menu with wine pairing at San Francisco’s Flour and Water. Not your typical Italian joint, Flour and Water’s exquisite menus for omnivores and vegetarians alike. The experience is worth the investment. Chef Thomas McNaughton wows patrons with regularly changing…
Meriwether’s: Portland, Oregon’s original farm-to-table restaurant
Taste the farm without leaving Portland’s city limits at Meriwether’s, Portland’s first – and still fabulous – true farm to table restaurant. The farm-to-table concept is no longer just a hot trend in the food world. It’s now so well-integrated into the mainstream restaurant industry that it almost seems commonplace. Yet Meriwether’s literally brought the…
The Culinary Diplomat 