Fantastic Turkish Food

As the intersection between Asia and Europe, Istanbul offers a plethora of world class dining options. There are really a ton of choices, most fantastic, but I am just going to discuss 2 restaurants for now….

Lebiderya is a challenge to find, but well worth the hunt! Tucked down a tiny ally way and on the roof of a 6 (or so) story building, Lebiderya offers a vibrant local hot spot with sweeping views of the old city. Keep in mind that you can still smoke in Turkey and if the weather is not conducive to having the windows open, then it can be a little annoying. While the food is great, it is not extraordinary. It is well priced and a worthy effort for a nice evening with locals and a view. http://www.lebiderya.com/lebiderya/eng/1_2_index.html

You can walk the social district after dinner and enjoy hookah and tea at a café while people watching. Really bad picture, but this is me in front of Lebiderya...a thrill to find!

Amedros Café is on the Sultanahmet side of the city and has FANTASTIC food. If you plan on dinner, then a reservation is strongly recommended, but you can easily pop in for lunch without a wait. It too is a lively atmosphere with primarily travelers eating. It offers very authentic and very delicious Ottoman cuisine. Do make the effort to find it if you are in Istanbul. http://www.amedroscafe.com/

NOW, if you can't make it to Turkey any time soon and need a little Turkish fix, then Cafe Istanbul in Plano really does a great job too!!

Chronicles of One Lobster Feast

One of the great American experiences is Maine Lobster!

Succulent, juicy, buttery, mmm mmm good LOBSTER!

I am making a Lobster bisque for dinner tonight…though it will NOT be anywhere near fresh yummy New England Lobster bisque, it reminds me of one of my favorite family dinners… at the Lobster Dock in Boothbay Harbor, Maine.

Interupting the feast for a photo...

My sister-in-law Laura with a bounty of clams!

Michael with his beastly LOBSTER!

Mom & I and....believe or not, Maine Root Beer....

Lobster Bobs.

OHHHHHH what a feast!

Xian Part 2 - Dumplings

My first Chinese dumplings were the best! A friend who once lived in New York told me where to go...not sure if I found the exact place she was referring to, but I did find at a great little hole in the wall that rocked. The line was out the door and down the sidewalk - always a good sign! For some reason, I can’t seem to find great dumplings in Dallas, so I have to go places to get that dumpling fix – tragic I know!!

Rice was not grown in the Xian region, so the local population relied on wheat and wheat flour products including dumplings, steamed breads and noodles. THE place to go is 'the legendary' DEFACHANG one of the oldest and most popular of Xiann’s dumpling houses. The restaurant specializes in handmade steamed, boiled, fried, and baked dumplings with over 100 different fillings. I only tried 19 delicous varieties– I guess I will have to go back a few times to see which is the best!

OH, and the friend who told me about the dumpling place in NYC, also went to China with me! She is thinking that a trip back to this restaurant is in order too...great minds!

The Perpetual Souvenir

When traveling, I find that cooking classes are a great way to get to know a piece of a culture and have something to take back with you that can be shared over and over again.

Now there are full blown cooking schools and then there are simple ½ day classes as well as variations in between. All are beneficial and fun, it just depends on how much of your travel time you want to devote to this one aspect of the travel experience.

Some popular cuisines for cookery schools are French, Tuscan and Thai, but really any where you go has something unique to offer.


All four of the following are excellent schools offered by Orient Express hotels.

Tuscany -
http://www.villasanmichele.com/web/ovil/cookery_courses.jsp

England -
http://www.orient-express.com/web/olem/olem_c5a_introduction.jsp

San Miguel -
http://www.sazon.com/web/osaz/osaz_a2a_home.jsp

Venice -
http://www.hotelcipriani.com/web/ocip/ocip_c7d_cookery_classes.jsp

Each of these schools offer both shorter and longer, more involved classes. There really is something for everyone – including children.

I also love the classes offered at the Mandarin Oriental in Chiang Mai: http://www.mandarinoriental.com/chiangmai/leisure/culinary/ .

It is a fairy tale hotel beyond description and the classes are fantastic.

Local restaurants will also typically provide ½ day courses. Want to learn how to make the best BBQ in St. Louis or the best bread in Provence? Every destination has a culinary gift to offer. Restaurant based classes are great too because you will usually walk to the local market with the chef, learn about the local ingredients while shopping, then return to the restaurant to prepare a meal. And then of course, the best part, you get to eat!

Wherever your travels take you, consider a cooking class as a part of your experience. It is a souvenir that you can share with your friends and family over and over again.

Bon Appetite!

The BEST Dog Ever!

The thought of a hot dog doesn’t really thrill me…what exactly is in it anyway?

Despite the mystery, a great dog is to be savored and thanks to a friend from Kansas City, I think I have found the BEST. Or at least my choice for best…

Poipu is where we find this unlikely champion. Tucked back in a tourist shopping center on the South end of Kauai is the Puka Dog stand. The sweet buns are lightly toasted from the inside (too much to explain here..), you can choose from a Polish or Veggie dog, choose your level of heat, choose your fruity island relish and finally the mustard ( I liked the Lilikoi the best, maybe because it is the most Hawaiian) and voila ! Bliss ! The combination of flavors is perfect. I hope you get to enjoy one soon.

www.pukadog.com

At Home in London

The choice of luxury accommodations in London is as varied as the choice of cheeses at Whole Foods and selecting either requires assistance, or at least some familiarity.

As in any major city, some luxury hotels are large and grand while others are intimate and homelike. The Lanesborough or the Dorchester stand out as the Grande Dame icons of cosmopolitan London, but a delightful home away from home is The Goring. It offers every luxury and convenience expected of a 5 star hotel along with warmth and some quirky English touches that endear you to the hotel. (Ask any staffer about Baaahhbara. )

On a recent visit to London, I was privileged to call The Goring 'home' and it truly felt like home. The doorman and concierge greeted me by name as I came and went. The living room is comfortable with the fire burning and sofas clustered for easy conversation. The private gardens off the solarium are beautifully kept and complete with fine sculptures and tranquil sitting spaces.

I don't know about you, but when I go to England, I want an English experience through and through. So many hotels these days are updating to a very modern/European look, but I very much appreciate Jeremy Goring's commitment to all things English. He is very proud of The Goring (and rightfully so) and delighted to share it. I was privileged to have dinner with Jeremy during my stay at the Goring and it really made me appreciate the hotel even more. His great-grandfather, OR Goring, opened the hotel on March 1, 1910 and Jeremy counts it a great honor to carry on the traditions and hospitality of his family. (He has quite the resume too.)
The dinning room itself is sophisticated and crisp, but it is still grounded in English heritage. The English Executive Chef Derek Quelch has revived English cooking and has bought back many famous, and sometimes forgotten, English dishes. Eggs Drumkilbo, once a favorite of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, has been revived for all guests to enjoy and the Lobster Omelet is great as is the traditional Sunday roast with potatoes and all the Yorkshire Pudding and trimmings you could imagine.


I hope you will have the chance to call The Goring home sometime – it IS unique among London hotels.

http://www.goringhotel.co.uk/