When fine dining becomes a memorable and entertaining experience worth savoring and you feel that you aren’t simply a number at a table begging to be turned over to the next reservation, that’s when the bill is worth every penny. When foods you would just as soon avoid become bites you can’t get enough of,…
Category: Restaurants
Shiraz: An Iranian feast in Muscat
When a country is right across a narrow gulf from another, it is reasonable to assume the two countries’ cuisine should influence one another’s. In Oman, Iranian (or Persian) food is not as visible as one might expect, but Omani food certainly benefits from a history of Persian/Iranian trade and culture. During my visit to…
50th Post: Mumtaz Mahal, sumptuous Indian in Oman
Welcome to the 50th post of The Culinary Diplomat! Thank you to all of you – friends, family, or the fellow bloggers from Word Press – for checking us out, following this blog, and offering feedback. Thank you to my two CD Ambassadors (guest bloggers)! To the rest of you, please consider submitting a guest…
The Iskender kabob and Ala Turka: A Turkish discovery in Oman
Turkish food is high on my list of favorite national cuisines. I am a sucker for mezze (small hot and cold appetizers, though I make meals out of them), but a good kabob or pide is a solid bet. Yet it took a trip to Oman to try a special kabob I’d yet to discover:…
The best – and most expensive – lunch I ever ate: Le Parc at Les Crayeres, Reims
Imagine eating lunch in a museum dedicated to food. The walls and soft pastel furnishings have the regal feel of a palace. The food is presented as a series of exquisite courses, each a work of art; each outdoing one another. The atmosphere in the dining room is one of pure reverence, silence as each…
The best (restaurant) Indian I ever ate
The best restaurants tend to be those recommended by locals. For a foreigner, I think it’s safe to say that a recommendation from a native who happens to be an expat or immigrant to your own home country is an even better bet. I call this the restaurant that is the best of both worlds:…
Eating Thai…Or a version of Asian in Bolivia
If you’re a foodie, frequent traveler and tend to have longer stays in a particular city, at some point, your objective might shift from “let’s try good local food” to “let’s try something different.” Perhaps you’re sick of your limited choices and just want anything you haven’t already tried. Perhaps you don’t like native dishes….
Rendezvous: Continental flavors meet the Andes in La Paz
I’d like to share with you another restaurant that embodies the spirit of The Culinary Diplomat. Rendezvous in La Paz, Bolivia brings the techniques and flavors of continental Europe and North Africa to one of the more insular capital cities of South America. While most people will never make the trek to Bolivia, I found…
The best plat I ever ate: Parisian seared foie gras ravioletti
It is a rare moment in life when you experience something so spectacular you know you’re going to remember the rest of your life. Whether it’s people, a natural wonder, a concert, a work of art, or food, you typically know soon that the moment will remain with you for years – if not a…
LIMO – creative nikkei fusion in Cusco
Nikkei is a Peruvian term for Japanese-Peruvian fusion. Peruvian harvest staples – such as corvina (bass), prawns, corn, potatoes, avocado, and tropical fruit – meet Japanese cooking styles. Typical nikkei fare includes tiraditos – basically Peruvian sashimi – in addition to sushi rolls that incorporate Peruvian ingredients, corn and potato causas topped with fresh seafood,…
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