Surprisingly enough, I didn't gain. I've figured out the perfect way to eat what you want and maintain....walk ten miles a day. That's all. That's all you have to do to eat everything and anything and not have to worry about the scale.
I don't generally consider myself a foodie. I'd rather spend
my money on clothes rather than cuisine. However, there's nothing that's ever been wrong with my taste. So restaurants are no exception. Top restaurant recos below, courtesy of friends, mates, comrades and misc hip and trendy travel guides.
London Town
Hawksmoor
Top reco from BBFF Katy. Different than anyother legitimate steakhouse (Ruth Chris need not apply) I've ever been to, which impressed me. You order steaks by the gram, which of course was completely Greek to both Chris and me. Damn metric system. I know what a 4, 6, 8, 10 and even a 12 ounce steak looks like. 650 grams? No idea. We asked our waitress to translate, which of course resulted in us over ordering, but eh? At least it was good. The night we were there, they had approx 5 different cuts from select farms. All listed on a chalkboard w/available gram weight. Once they run out of a particular cut and size, the item is crossed out on the chalkboard. It's like a marketplace. Which was suiting considering it was completely filled with bankers.
I had a cut of steak I don't remember ever having before in the states: Chateaubriand. Delish. It tasted like a fatty filet mignon. Respectively that is. How could you go wrong?
BKB
Gracious host Kim made a lunch resi here and reco-ed the burger. Yum. We were able to sit outside and watch London's SoHo world go by. Our waiter was impeccably gay, Irish and fab.
Rivington Grill Shoreditch
Gracious host #2 Annie sent us here for a proper English fry. I was a bit too hungover to stomach the blood pudding, but did try it, and it wasn't bad. Unfortunately, my stomach was too queasy to separate the mental picture of what it was from the taste. Should probably try again with a clear mind and heart. Also enjoyed the free wifi. Password: R1v1ngt0nGr1ll.
* * * *
Paris
We mostly stayed close to St Germain for our meals since that's where our AMAZING & LOVELY hotel (more on that later) was situated. We used
Access Paris
exclusively for our recos, and they did not disappoint. Highly reco that travel book as well.
Le Telegraphe
This was our first good meal in Paris, and well received. We were just so excited to be eating well....finally. We were able to sit in the courtyard, and the staff was surprisingly accommodating even though we showed up about 10 minutes before lunch was over.
My quail eggs in a nest of carrots
Leeks and scallops
Can you see the flame? Creme Brulee.
I don't really remember what this dessert was other than delicious. Think it was a deconstructed tiramisu.
Le Petit Vatel
I failed in the picture department here. This was by far the best meal I had in Paris. A tiny, tiny little restaurant w/only 16 settings, La Petit Vatel is run by two people. A cook and a waitress, who I believe is the owner. She was so sweet to us. Even though the place is as big as my living room, the menu extensive. Written on a chalk board that changes daily, our lovely waitress/the owner so graciously translated everything...EVERYTHING. We're talking about 20-25 items at least.
I ordered the lamb (among other things). I typically don't prefer lamb. I find it game-y. But I figured, if I'm going to order lamb anywhere, it should be France. Turns out....when lamb is prepared correctly, it's not game-y. It's absolutely delicious. Auds ordered the veal, which they stuffed with some cheese, and again - not a huge veal fan, but this...this was amazing. Regardless of what the link above says, reservations are accepted, and if Michelin wasn't so stuffy with their ambiance and white glove requirements, this restaurant would surely make the cut.
Au St-Severin
This is just a wine bar, but they get big ups b/c they served us the best cheese in France, which in turn......is the best cheese in the World! We had the waiter write it down for us. Will have to get the Santa Monica Whole Foods to start carrying this (if they don't already).
Roma!
Without a concierge in our rental apt, we almost exclusively used Lonely Planet's iphone app. Reco.
Roma Sparita
Bourdain's famous "Restaurant X", and Roma's best Cacio e Pepe. Tony didn't want to ruin the restaurant with tourists by revealing the name on his show, but his producers so conveniently listed the name and address on the Travel Channel's website. Bourdain also failed. Every American in there was a referral from the show. Regardless, the staff was amazing. In fact, it sounded as if they appreciated the show's buzz. Not that I think they had a problem filling tables before. The waiter told us that on a Saturday night, they go through 200-300 orders of the Cacio e Pepe. Everything else? 60.
The famous cacio e pepe with fried parmesan bowl.
Don't remember what this was. A breaded olive w/some sort of meat. Regardless, it tasted like a corn dog, and I heart it.
Yum, yum, yum.
Carpaccio was pretty much ordered everywhere in Italy.
Don't remember what this was, but our waiter told us it was the "cacio e pepe" of desserts. And he was correct.
Babette
A Lonely Planet "around me" find. So good we came here twice. The second time b/c the
Praline di risotto alla crema di formaggio, erbe aromatiche e cuore di bufala (Croquettes of cream-cheese risotto with aromatic herbs and a heart of buffalo mozzarella) wasn't avail the first time we came. On Sunday the markets are closed so they weren't able to get the right kind of cheese for the dish. Again, staff was amazing. So sweet, and so nice to us. I'm missing pictures of the two best apps on the menu (we know b/c over the course of two dinners, we pretty much ordered them all):
Flan di Carciofi su Fonduta di Parmigiano (Artichokes flan on a parmisan cheese fondue) & the
Sfoglie di Soufflé con Crema di Asparagi su Fonduta di Parmigiano (Soufflé sheets with an asparagus cream on a parmisan-cheese fondue).
The famous risotto croquettes
A treat from the chef. You could smell the summer truffles in it.
This was described to us a mix b/t cheesecake and creme brulee. Um, yes, we'll take two of these.
Cacio E Pepe
Around me find, Lonely Planet. No pics. However....the best Spaghetti alla Carbonara - ever. You know when you taste something you've tasted a million times before, and it dawns on you - oh...THIS is how it's suppose to taste? Carbonara! Will be chasing this one for awhile. Was never a big fan of the dish, always felt it was too heavy with mayonnaise, but ordered it b/c it was the house favorite, and
it changed my life.
Praga!
Surprisingly, didn't have a bad meal in Prague. Wasn't sure if I was going to be able to stomach down home Czech cooking, but everything was delish.
Restaurant Le Papillon
The restaurant was located in our hotel, a member of The Leading Small Hotels of the World. Food, usual gourmet suspects. Didn't order the chicken, but both Tafty and Davey remarked it was the *best* chicken they ever had. Which is a lot to say about chicken. What was most notable was the sommelier. I've.....never had a better one. And I'm a Michelin chaser. His decantering was a pure education. Literally, we all stopped our conversation and just watched, taking copious mental notes. And the product? A full body explosion. Even Tafty was impressed, and he's a bit of snob when it comes to wine (which I of course heart).
My tartar stack
The best chicken
Misc Prague Meals
A slideshow, b/c I'm tired and lazy right now, of everything else we ate in Prague. Enjoy.
