View of Mandalay from the Hotel Yadanarbon’s rooftop

It’s only about 445 miles north of Yangon (but, in case you’re wondering, if you’re going roughly 25 mph on a train, that’ll take you about 16+ hours). When we arrived on the overnight train around 9am, completely and utterly exhausted, we found scores of people at the train station, all hounding us to hire them to carry our bags, give us a ride – you name it, they’d do it. Our hotel was just a five-minute walk away, but it seemed like an eternity as we painstakingly got our bearings and did our best to avoid the very pushy peddlers at the train station. It was actually a bit of a shock to us since we’d just discussed how we’d found Yangon to be decidedly un-pushy, so we were caught off guard by the insistence and assertiveness of the people in Mandalay (at least at the train station).

Main train station in Mandalay

Despite our very first impression, we both came to adore Mandalay, its people and its history. Mandalay, now a city of about 1.5 million, is the second largest city in Myanmar (behind Yangon) but is seen by tourists as skip-able – or, at the very most – an easy jumping off point for more “beautiful” scenery. However, it was last the royal capital of Myanmar and has a history in its dirt roads that many miss.

The city was founded around 1857 by King Mindon, who made the new royal capital at the foot of Mandalay Hill, quite literally moving the capital from nearby Amarapura — using elephants to move the royal palace, what a Burmese thing to do. Mandalay served as the last royal Burmese capital for 26 years before losing independence to the British in 1885. Despite falling to the British, the city continued to be the hub of Burmese culture and education, even today being considered the capital of Burmese culture.

We spent our first day exploring the city, including the inner, walled and moated city of a monastery and the pagoda on Mandalay Hill (a friendly local and his 7-year-old son insisted we climb in the backseat of his car and he drove us to the top of the hill in time to catch the sunset when we couldn’t find a taxi).

Mandalay Palace

An unsightly, polluted river, juxtaposed right next to the beautiful monastery

Golden Palace Monastery (Shwenandaw Kyaung)

Mandalay Hill

Apart from our experience at the train station when we first arrived, we found the people of Mandalay to be exceptionally friendly (a trait becoming quite familiar in Myanmar), hardworking and extremely religious, with the countless Buddhist pagodas we visited always filled with pious worshippers. Like smaller cities generally do, Mandalay offered a better view of normal life than we gathered in Yangon, perhaps simply because, in Yangon, our heads were spinning just from stepping outside of our hotel room with the many people, cars and stray dogs that were hurrying on past. In Mandalay, you could witness young boys playing soccer on the road’s dirt shoulder or catch a glimpse of a teenage couple zooming by on a motorbike – and you could do it with a (slightly) lesser chance of getting run over by another speeding motorbike.

Mandalay Hill

Mandalay Hill

Take a look at the guide below for where to eat, drink and sleep while in Mandalay, then be on the lookout for more detailed posts about the city’s surrounding area and its most popular attractions: Mandalay Palace and a tour of three former royal capitals.

EAT

Although we found the prices to be a few dollars higher than in Yangon, the restaurants in Mandalay were nonetheless much cheaper than in other worldwide tourist destinations. Our favorite meal to date in Myanmar was at Super 81 (No. 582 81^st Street, between 38^th + 39^th Streets), a two-story restaurant very near the ever-popular Moustache Brothers show. A favorite of tourists, we noticed many groups of Burmese in the restaurant, too, and, whether it’s a tourist trap or not, who cares as long as the food is delicious and the prices are (somewhat) low!? I tried the spicy coconut curry with chicken for 6,000 kyat (about $6) and Jeffrey ordered the Kechin Clay Pot with chicken (6,000 kyat). While the coconut curry was delicious, Jeffrey’s Kechin dish is probably the best thing we’ve tasted in months – it comes in a clay pot and is more of a soup than a stew and wasn’t heavy, rather light and very flavorful. It has fresh herbs and tasty lemongrass – it’s very spicy but so mouthwateringly good that we couldn’t stop eating it and wanted to go back the next night to order it again.

Super 81–ahhh, I want to go back!

DRINK

You can find the ubiquitous Myanmar Beer just about anywhere, but we’d suggest ending your day with the cold, refreshing beer as you watch the sun go down on the world’s longest teak bridge. U Bein Bridge, about 15 minutes south of Mandalay, is one of the top tourist destinations in Myanmar. The old, wooden bridge spans across the Taungthaman Lake near Amarapura and is especially charming at sunset. Many vendors have set up at the bridge’s entrance, but, if you’re still in the market for souvenirs (or even a popsicle), you’re in luck. You can rent a boat for 10,000 kyat and sail under the bridge, but if you’re going to Inle Lake, I’d suggest just staying on land for this excursion. The restaurants don’t have names, but there’s one that sticks out into the lake with the best views of the bridge and the brilliantly colored boats, so how about taking in the Burmese sunset here with a Myanmar Beer in hand as the temperature cools (to a cool 89 degrees)?

Colorful boats on the lake near U Bein Bridge

Enjoying a refreshing (& HUGE!) coconut juice with a beautiful view of U Bein Bridge!

SLEEP

Our hotel, Hotel Yadanarbon (No. 125, 31^st Street, between 76^th + 77^th Streets) was a good bit bigger than our hotel in Yangon but seemed to share many traits, including toiletry brands and breakfast options.

Hotel Yadanarbon

It boasted another rooftop restaurant, and, although it served mostly Western foods, it was a welcome retreat to enjoy a cold juice after a day of sightseeing. The internet also seemed to work far better on the rooftop than in our hotel room, but maybe that was just my imagination. Speaking of internet, it was weaker than our Yangon hotel’s, but still useable. The hotel rooms were quite large and offered all the amenities needed for a pleasant stay – including coffee!! – and, its souvenir shop was vast, filled with jewelry, tapestries and wood carvings, and very reasonably priced. If you’re not looking for a resort experience but rather a place to lay your head in a good location, the Hotel Yadanarbon is a great choice.

BOTTOM LINE: We really enjoyed our few days’ stay in Mandalay and would definitely visit again. The city shows a different side of Burmese life that we didn’t experience anywhere else in the country (Yangon, like most countries’ largest cities, is too big to actually experience every day local life + Bagan and Inle Lake are way too commercialized/tourist-driven).

Check out more of our photos around Mandalay below:

The post Let’s Go: Mandalay, Myanmar first appeared on Weekend Blitz.

But, when we ventured away from the private pool and quiet oasis of our villa, the rest of the W always had a lot going on and plenty to experience. There was always a lively party, plenty of Balinese culture to take in and rum drinks overflowing by the pool – no matter what time of day or night. Much of the crowd was always gathered at one of the two on-site restaurants, so this post will cover all the details and our experience at both dining options.

ON-SITE RESTAURANTS OVERVIEW

The W Bali has two on-site restaurants: Starfish Bloo and FIRE. There’s also a handful of bars (the Woobar, the Ice Bar, the Chill Bar…), but the only two kitchens that serve breakfast are Starfish Bloo and FIRE.

Both Starfish Bloo and FIRE are indoor/outdoor, so the experience can either be a more casual outdoor meal or a bit fancier indoors. Either way, the views are phenomenal and the music is bumpin’ with the W soundtrack.

The Starfish Bloo restaurant serves Pan-Asian cuisine with a more stylish vibe. The decor is a bit fancier than FIRE’s — with huge, round wooden booths that weren’t so great great for privacy but did add to the quirky, hip-ness of the W (as if that needed any additions). Starfish Bloo serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.

FIRE is more grill-centric and meat-centric, a nice coupling to Starfish Bloo’s seafood focus. The atmosphere is a bit more casual. What FIRE lacks in decor (compared with Starfish Bloo), it makes up for in flavor. Every dish we tried from the grill was fresh and flavor-packed.

STARFISH BLOO DINNER

Our first experience at either of the two restaurants was at Starfish Bloo, where we headed just after check-in for a late dinner. We were fighting days and days of jetlag, but wanted to stay awake long enough to enjoy a Balinese meal and take in some of the hotel.

The tasting menu is 450 rup = $40 USD. We were able to split one tasting menu because we weren’t too hungry– we’d each had about 4 too many airplane “breakfasts” at 3am. As part of the tasting menu, we tried the ASINON BOGOR (a Balinese tuna “sambal matah”), the AYAM BETUTU “GILLMONUK” (an awesome curry chicken spice dish) and the SEMUR DAGING SAPI (coconut milk beef). Our waitress was helpful in suggesting dishes and we really enjoyed our first taste of Balinese food.

We soon realized how quickly the food adds up– even when splitting! The tasting menu provided the perfect amount of food to split and we were glad to try three dishes right off the bat. Our waitress also kindly brought us a mango sorbet to finish — what a delightful surprise! Our first sample of  Bali’s food was a success. You just have make the decision to have the “we’re on vacation” mindset so your jaw doesn’t drop at every. single. price. at the W.

As far as drinks go, we weren’t too surprised to find that they were way too sugary and weak — all for about $15/drink. Dually noted. And, again, you’ve got to get that vacation mindset before you go around pinching pennies at the W.

Dinner with a side of jet lag (yikes!)

FIRE BREAKFAST

Next up, we chose FIRE as our first breakfast experience. Before ordering, we confirmed that, with the Platinum Amenity, anything — buffet or a la carte (or both) — is included. Jackpot.

So, when in Rome, right? We first sized up the buffet and, although we usually skip the buffet and order from a la carte, this is, quite possibly, the only buffet that I’ve ever deemed worthy of going back for seconds. I mean… this place knows how to cook up a delectable buffet: there was a huge selection of cured meats and fruit. Then, we saw the Indonesian food area with vegetable curry and sausage dishes. Next, we found the Indian food area, THEN the make-your-own-omelette area and FINALLY the pastry area.

That just covered the buffet — the a la carte menu offered even more delicacies, including seared foie gras. Yes, we’ll have some of that, too.

Delicious foie gras for breakfast…yes, please

Each dish we tried tasted better than the last– and, the servers were at our table often to offer us freshly squeezed juice and cappuccinos with a “W” dripped on top in chocolate. The fantastic service and the never-ending options had me contemplating staying at the breakfast table for our entire time in Bali. This, my friends, is the definition of vacation.

STARFISH BLOO BREAKFAST

The next day, to be fair, we had our breakfast at Starfish Bloo. Starfish Bloo is a bit more elite and only serves villa and suite guests at breakfast. I guess breakfast is usually included in those rates and they just send you here? We sat outside with a view of the ocean and were promptly offered coffees and freshly squeezed juices. We again opted for the buffet– another illustrious, never-ending buffet but this one didn’t quite fit our tastes as much as FIRE did. There were many more seafood and Asian options and, frankly, I’m just not super pumped about have sushi before 9am. Let me make it clear that this buffet was not worse, it just wasn’t what I would prefer as much as someone else might.

Dim Sum

Outdoor breakfast at Starfish Bloo to start our day

Apart from the typical continental breakfast, the buffet also had a dim sum station, a sushi station and then the standard pancake, french toast…American options. Although everything was delicious and very fancy, FIRE was the clear breakfast winner in my book because it had so many unusual and delicious options (like Indian and Indonesian choices) that I couldn’t get at an American hotel.

As a side note, it was interesting to note the price of alcohol (extremely, extremely expensive) vs. the price of sushi — they had sashimi tuna and snapper sitting out at the buffet. Although (slightly) tempting, we opted to skip the Vanilla Bellini at 220K = $20USD!

BOTTOM LINE: Although we tried nearby local restaurants, the variety of options available at the W restaurants was unmatched. Although the hotel restaurants were a little pricy (such is life at hotel restaurants), they were tasty and delicious, which is more than I can say for the majority of on-site restaurants in many other hotels. Plus, the free breakfast buffets could not have been better.

The post W Retreat & Spa Bali Seminyak – Bali, Indonesia – Hotel Review Part 2 first appeared on Weekend Blitz.

Eager to jump on Restaurant Week early, we made reservations at Circa 1886—a restaurant we’ve always wanted to try.

Deriving its name from the construction of the Wentworth Mansion that it shares a property with, the restaurant is housed in a great historic building with lots of character.

The first thing I noticed is that Circa 1886 is much more formal than I imagined. Plenty of men were wearing blazers and ties, but you’d be fine in nice slacks and a button-down shirt. There are several dining areas and even a private dining room for larger parties.

We started out with a cocktail drink each. I tried the 1886 OLD FASHIONED, with Maker’s Mark, simple syrup, bitters, muddled cherry and orange. It was good, though it wasn’t strong. And sweeter than most old fashioned’s.

McCown’s LIQUID SUNSHINE was about like it sounds: gin and deliciousness. A fruity drink that only a girl could get by with ordering.

In my opinion, the telltale sign a Restaurant Week menu will be a quality one is that they only offer a 3-course prix-fixe menu for the duration of the promotion.  Husk and Circa 1886 are two I’ve visited that share this philosophy. No a la carte choices here. The restaurants that offer a small Restaurant Week selection in addition to the normal menu often given you the cheapest, least desirable options.

The 3-COURSE PRIX-FIXE MENU was $40 + an extra $25 for the wine pairings which I recommend. The first item that came out was a CAULIFLOWER SOUP with watercress oil. Right out of the gate, we were loving Circa 1886. Besides being a delicious, rich, creamy soup like she-crab, it was still surprising light. I wouldn’t ordinarily order a cauliflower soup, but I’m glad I tried this one. It was a bit reminiscent of a light potato soup (without the bacon).

For my first course, I had the CORN HOT/COLD, which arrived at the table with a warm Smoked Corn Custard topped with Red Pepper Caviar and Cilantro, all sitting on a bed of Chili Powder and Corn Dust (whatever that is). The server then poured the Chilled John’s Island Corn Soup around the custard. I found this to be a tasty combination, but a rather “haute cuisine” dish… Meaning it was needlessly complicated for a dish that wasn’t amazing. Not to mention, portion size was on the smaller end.

McCown’s starter, the TOMATO, was undoubtedly the better of the two. Technically called a “Tomato Sourdough Bread Pudding,” it was more of a layered tart/pastry stuffed with local Wadmalaw tomatoes and cheese and topped with pesto. It turned out to be very flaky and crispy on the outside (which is why I was thinking tart/pastry), but very dense and moist on the inside. Think: the best tomato pie you’ve ever laid your fork on. Along with the pastry, there was also a shooter of some sort: it tasted like vinegar mixed with tomatoes and spices (in a good way). It went with the pastry well and, if you like bloody mary’s, I’d bet you’d like this shooter. I would hope that just describing the ingredients made this dish sound as amazing as we found it to be, but let me say that I don’t think I’ve ever tasted a bad combination of flaky pastry bread, melted cheese and pesto before in my life—simply delicious.

For the main course (listed on the menu simply by the type of meat) McCown’s BEEF, arrived looking absolutely mouth-watering. The two pieces of meat were set atop a Parsnip Puree and topped with a Sauce Bordelaise, which tasted like some type of sweet carrot-cream sauce. Cooked to perfection, Chef Marc Collins knows what he’s doing. Surprisingly, the portion size was large and very filling.

As for my main course, I tried the ANTELOPE, which was a much smaller portion than the beef. Our server recommended this dish and said that antelope is Chef Collins’ gig: although he changes his menu often, some dish with antelope is always there. As you can guess, this was my first time trying antelope and I was surprised that it is a very lean meat– not gamey at all. In fact, I found the flavor to be much milder than even the beef! The antelope was accompanied with green beans, sweet potatoes, and mushrooms.

For dessert, we tried the WHITE ESPRESSO CRÈME BRÛLÉE, a lot like the classic dish everyone’s tried, but with a small hint of coffee. Pretty good but also pretty standard — not too different at all. A very safe and delicious choice.

The real star of the dessert menu, though, was the STRAWBERRIES N’ CREAM SOUFFLÉ. The server brought it out to the table as soon as it was finished cooking – it was almost still baking. I can’t say enough good things about this dessert. It was light, fluffy and the best souffle I’ve ever tasted. Pieces of strawberries were mixed into the dish, delivering a very fresh-tasting strawberry taste- not the artificial fruit taste we’d all recognize immediately.

As for the wine pairings, the tawny port/creme brulee and prosecco/strawberry souffle were by far the best.

BOTTOM LINE: Circa 1886 has everything you should expect from a high-caliber, haute-cuisine restaurant–expertly planned and executed dishes coupled with very professional service. Its only downside is that it’s “off-the-beaten-path” location can at times make it feel a little quiet and the atmosphere a bit stuffy.

The post Circa 1886 – Restaurant Review – Charleston, South Carolina first appeared on Weekend Blitz.

Oak is, allegedly, a Charleston staple. You won’t hear this from everyone, however.

Oak is part of the Indigo Road group of restaurants, along with the likes of O-Ku, the Macintosh, etc., and, with a track record like that (all of these restaurants, we’ve tried and loved), how could Oak be bad? In fact, Oak was the first restaurant in the Indigo Road, so surely it’s fantastic?

I made the reservation this time, and Oak is never easy to just glide into last minute. About a week out, we had to settle for a reservation close to 9pm. Jeffrey didn’t know where we were headed when we left home and, though I tried to get him not to, he insisted on wearing jeans. Because jeans are definitely not kosher at Hall’s Chophouse (a similar steakhouse), I was worried we might be underdressed. As it turned out, almost every man in the restaurant that night was wearing jeans — so, no worries.

Oak is located on Broad street in an older, narrow store front. I’m sure it used to be a home at some point in the past 200 + years. One perk is that they offer valet parking. You can usually find a nearby spot on the street, but it’s helpful because all garages are relatively far away. Although… why you wouldn’t want to get some exercise walking around downtown Charleston is beyond me.

We checked in with the hostess and were escorted to the second tier of seating, above the bar. There’s not really a bad spot in the restaurant thanks to the floor-to-ceiling, two-story glass windows. The second tier of seating is more like a balcony, not leaving you excluded from the atmosphere of the downstairs with the added plus of views of Broad Street.

Our server was very attentive, professional and courteous. Everything you’re looking for at a restaurant at this price point.

We started with the STEAK TAR TAR and it was likely the best I’ve ever had. Egg on top, aioli on the bottom and completed with shredded parmesan cheese. Salty, fresh and great. The oily crostini chips really bring out some flavor. The freshly ground beef was delicious.

Next up, the FOIE GRAS was positively decadent with bread, crab, nuts and foie gras. A little lean but very juicy and plump. Maybe not force fed!? Almost like a syrupy bread pudding, the bread was so rich.

We both tried the FILET and the steaks were, of course, delicious. Although side dishes and apps… and atmosphere… make a restaurant, the steak is clearly the selling point of a good steakhouse. I think I’d still opt for a Hall’s steak over an Oak steak.

Let’s stop here and talk about the TRUFFLE FRIES. They are the BEST of all time. They beats Halls. And Leaf. Rich and soaked in truffle, you’ll never appreciate another french fry quite as much. Even the fries at Rue de Jean that I dream about (they’re fried in duck fat and heavenly when coupled with Rue’s homemade dijon) don’t compare to these truffle fries.

We couldn’t decide on just one side, so… what with the froi gras, truffle fries and more, why not go with MAC AND CHEESE WITH BACON. But seriously. This side was so salty but also very good. Still didn’t compare to the truffle fries. Next time, I’d just get two orders of the fries.

BOTTOM LINE:  Oak is one of the fine steakhouses that usually defines a city. Our problem is that Charleston has two of these steakhouses. The good news is that they both have their place. For more intimate dinners (think small groups or a romantic night out), Oak is the clear winner. For larger groups and a more boisterous, lively atmosphere, Hall’s Chophouse is your place.

The post Oak Steakhouse Restaurant Review – Charleston, South Carolina first appeared on Weekend Blitz.

Ok, so, admittedly, we looked forward to dinner all day long because it was a good excuse to get out of the freezing cold. We pulled up Urbanspoon and found that Le Hobbit Bistro was a good mix of everything we were looking for: good French food, a walkable location, a lively atmosphere, not too cheap and not super expensive. We made reservations but when we arrived we noticed that we probably didn’t need them.

We walked from our hotel to the restaurant. While very walkable, it was outside of the walled city and a decent ways up Saint-Jean. Although Urbanspoon qualifies it as “late night,” we noticed that it was only open until 10pm on the Monday that we visited. Maybe it’s just late night on the weekends.

The restaurant is pretty fancy with seating for around 20 people – so it’s got a romantic, intimate feeling. Even though the restaurant had plenty of open tables, they led us to a table with a “réservée” sign on the table – I guess to give the impression of status?

As far as the menu goes, it seems like they listed quite a bit of repeats. Nearly all of the bistro menu repeated its items under other sections of the menu. Why? It seems more logical to list each dish only once. And, while it did have French dishes on the menu, it was definitely more bistro-style and less French-bistro-style.

We started with the TARTARE DE CANARD ET QUINOA ($13 CAD). Can you even eat raw duck?! Well, we Jeffrey did, served with hand-cut waffle fries on a rustic stone plate. I couldn’t bring myself to try this very adventurous dish. Although we didn’t see any quinoa, Jeffrey really enjoyed the duck, saying it was refreshing and cold, but super salty with a nice spice and strong aftertaste. It was served with onions and pickles.

TARTARE DE CANARD ET QUINOA

Next, we tried the SOUP À L’OIGNON GRATINÉE ($8 CAD), a very traditional and very thick layer of swiss cheese with a loaf of thick, moist bread over a tasty broth with thick slices of onion. Overall, it was a fantastic attempt at a classicly French dish.

SOUP À L’OIGNON GRATINÉE

He hadn’t enough enough of the raw meat, so Jeffrey ordered the TARTARE DE FILET MIGNON DE BŒUF ET ŒUF DE CAILLE ($22 CAD) as his entree. I’ll take his word for it that it was very similar to the duck. Same sauce, onion/pickle mix and flavors- just different meat. Both options were delicious, but it’s a bit much to get both as an app/entree combo. The tartar came along with great fries that gave shoestring potatoes a new meaning because they were so thin. They were much lighter than any other fry we tried in Quebec – maybe the oil was changed more often? The ketchup had a nice spice, too — sweeter than normal ketchup. Maybe it was made in-house?

TARTARE DE FILET MIGNON DE BŒUF ET ŒUF DE CAILLE

I tried my luck with the cooked duck and tried the CANARD CONFIT ($21 CAD) as my entree. It was standard duck confit (one of my favorite dishes), although maybe a little dryer than normal. Still, even being a little dry, I really enjoyed the dish and would order it again. The duck was served with a side of asparagus and freshly made scalloped potatoes with a strong flavor of nutmeg. I could tell that these potatoes were made from scratch and it made all the difference in the world.

CONFIT

BOTTOM LINE: If you’re looking for a romantic date night in Quebec City, head to Le Hobbit Bistro for an intimate setting. And, if you’re in the mood for raw meat, they’ve got everything but sushi.

The post Le Hobbit Bistro Review – Québec City, Canada first appeared on Weekend Blitz.

The Macintosh is one of Charleston’s highest-rated restaurants on Urbanspoon. Coming in with a 90% rating, you’d expect the food to be good.

The good news is: you’ll be right. It may very well get my vote for the best dinner in Charleston. At the very least, it’s secured a top-three rank. And, in 2012, it earned a nomination from Bon Appetit magazine as one of the 50 Best New Restaurants in America.

Located on Upper King, the big glass doors showcase the inside from the street, but, when we first walked in, we were surprised at the casual dress of most of the other diners. Lots of shorts, blue jeans, etc. for what we had assumed was a pretty fancy place. A good thing to note: you don’t want to be TOO dressed up.

We had a drink at the bar while we waited on our table (we made reservations, and they tend to book up fast). The bar is long and wide, taking up the first half of the restaurant. A great place to sit while waiting on a table, and the only place with street views.

And, trust me, you’ll be waiting. We waited for a while even at 8:45 p.m. on a Thursday. People love this place.

I tried the MEXI-TAL FIZZ ($10), which was really good and very spicy, with habenero chili juice, Campari, OJ, elderflower, prosecco & Espolon Tequila. It wasn’t sweet at all, and I was pretty sure Jeff was going to steal it from me — but the dark pink, grapefruit color from the Campari and the fact that it comes in a martini glass kept him from taking it as his own. Luckily.

MEXI-TAL FIZZ ($10)

He tried THE BUFFALO JELLY ($10) with Buffalo Trace Bourbon, orange marmalade, orange bitters, and vermouth cherries. I found it to be very bitter, similar to an old-fashioned, but not quite. Not the drink for me, but he liked it (just not as much as he liked mine).

THE BUFFALO JELLY ($10)

While at the bar, we noticed the “uniform” of all the waiters and bartenders. And by uniform, I mean matching Brooks Brothers shirts. Fratty. I’m just glad Jeff didn’t choose that shirt out of his own closet for that night.

Once seated, I have nothing but great things to say about our server. He was very friendly (but not too much), and knew an impressive amount about each dish. Really great service, which made our experience all-the-more fantastic.

Another note about atmosphere: I’d liken it to Husk, but a little less formal. In fact, it’s more of a younger, hipper Hall’s Chophouse, with customers who are a bit less stuffy and a little more fun. But still willing to dish out $30 per entree.

For our first appetizer, we tried the SALAD OF HOUSE CURED LONZINO ($12), a house-made cured pork loin with a great smoky flavor that’s pretty strong. The sweet peaches mellowed out the salty, cured pork loin. All-in-all, a very tasty dish made from the freshest of ingredients.

SALAD OF HOUSE CURED LONZINO ($12)

Next up, we tried the HOUSE MADE RICOTTA GNUDI ($12). Again, homemade, and similar to gnocchi, but instead of being made with potatoes, this stuff’s made with ricotta cheese. It’s steamed, so it’s very light, especially when compared to the much more dense gnocchi we’re all familiar with. Served over chorizo, English peas, cherry tomatoes and aged Sherry vinegar, it almost looked like Shepard’s Pie, but this stuff is much better than what you’re expecting. Just try it for yourself.

HOUSE MADE RICOTTA GNUDI ($12)

For our entrees, Jeff tried the GLAZED CONFIT PORK SHOULDER ($26), which was excessively rich, but the portion size was the perfect amount. It comes with a side of field peas, frisee and Sea Island red peas (which have a great, thick molasses-style bacon sorghum jus) and fennel marmalade, adding to the richness and great, dense flavor of the dish. It came out piping hot, and was very good.

GLAZED CONFIT PORK SHOULDER ($26)

The pork, though, couldn’t compare to the 7 oz. GRILLED DECKLE ($32). Our server explained what cut of meat this was: one of the two parts of a rib-eye steak, but it’s the part that’s typically overlooked because it has a pretty large strip of fat and some connective tissue. Sounds gross, but it turns out this cut has made a comeback recently, prized for it’s flavor. We agreed it is the best steak we’ve had in ages. It was served with a thick Romesco sauce and a side of roasted caper berries, warm fingerling potatoes and Ambrose Farms’ kale salad. It was so amazing I just couldn’t stop eating.

7 oz. GRILLED DECKLE ($32)

What is deckle anyway?

If there’s anything bad to say about The Macintosh, it’s the DESSERT. It’s by far not the best. What we tried was two way-too-thick slices of what tasted like a very dense wheat bread, with an icing in the middle topped with fruit. We ended up just eating the fruit. But, really, we may have just eaten a little too much of our entrees to enjoy dessert, regardless of how tasty it was or wasn’t.

BOTTOM LINE: The Macintosh really is a cut above the rest. Head Chef Jeremiah Bacon’s fine attention to detail on each component of every dish puts it in the category of the best in Charleston. It’s a more casual Hall’s Chophouse with cuisine more similar to Husk. And the best part? You can try The Macintosh without breaking the bank: we can confirm that the $10 burgers are really good.

The post The Macintosh Restaurant Review – Charleston, South Carolina first appeared on Weekend Blitz.

While staying in Snowmass, CO, we caught the free shuttle bus from the “downtown” area of Snowmass to Aspen one evening. More about the free shuttle at the end of this post.

Because our stay in Aspen was very short – only a couple of hours – and it was a freezing cold January night, we decided to do some quick research and pick a restaurant near the shuttle bus stop and one with some atmosphere. After a search on Urban Spoon, we headed just down the road to La Palapa, advertised as an authentic Mexican food joint.

Because we’re from SC, we wanted to try some Mexican food in the southwestern US (Colorado counts, right?). It has a reputation for being a bit spicier and a bit more authentic. We were pleasantly surprised with La Palapa.

The place was pretty busy with a lively atmosphere on the Saturday night we visited. Of course, we had to try the obligatory margarita…

Then, as our starter we went with the ceviche de pescado, the special that night. We first tried ceviche in Costa Rica and, consequently, always compare ceviche to the Costa Rican one…which hasn’t yet been beaten. La Palapa’s ceviche was good but needed more sauce. The helping was large with a healthy portion of fish.

For our main course, we split three tacos (ranging from $1.79 – $3.79 each). We sampled the carnitas, barbacoa & picadillo (made with ground beef) tacos. The tacos were made with small corn tortillas then filled to the brim with fresh, piping hot meat (pork, beef and more beef), then smothered in diced onions and sauces. All three were quite flavorful, but our favorite was the picadillo taco. The tacos came with a side of rice and beans…pretty typical.

Our plate overflowing with tacos and more tacos.

After dinner, we briefly explored Aspen, then headed back to take our 30-minute free shuttle ride back to Snowmass. While Snowmass was our main destination for the weekend, it was fun to take a quick (very quick!) side trip to Aspen for the night. The only disappointing thing was that, even on a Saturday, the town was a bit dead and the restaurant had the liveliest atmosphere. Almost no one was outside roaming around… But it sort of suited us just fine because just looking at the picture below of snow piled up on the side of the streets makes this Charlestonian shiver in my boots (that I wear for looks only, not for warmth)!

Free shuttle between Snowmass & Aspen

Aspen…about as cold as it looks.

BOTTOM LINE: La Palapa was a tasty & authentic-seeming Mexican restaurant to pop into while in Aspen. The margaritas and tacos were flavorful… All-in-all, though, if you’ve been to any other “authentic Mexican restaurant” before, you’re not going to see anything different here.

The post La Palapa – Aspen, Colorado – Restaurant Review first appeared on Weekend Blitz.

Voted “Best New Restaurant in America” by Bon Appetit in 2011, Husk is one of the most talked-about restaurants in the city–it has been for a few years now and continues to be immensely popular.

After hearing mixed reviews from our friends (“You better like pork before you go in there…” and “I know everyone loves it, but I didn’t…”), I was admittedly skeptical that my high expectations may not be met.

Located next door to the restaurant in a carriage house, we arrived early to check out the bar atmosphere.  When we walked in, we immediately stepped back in time – almost. The rustic-yet-chic décor was inviting, and we sat at the bar surrounded by rustic wooden walls. From what we heard, they distill some of their own bourbon in the barrels sitting around the room. Jeffrey tried the FIRE IN THE ORCHARD which was like a traditional old-fashioned that Husk put its own twist on by adding smoked apple juice, Applejack brandy and a few pickled jalapeño to garnish the glass and add a heat-packed punch. As a result, the last few sips were unbearably hot but definitely worth getting again.

The hostess will call over at the bar when your table is ready, so just make sure when you check in so they know where find to you.

The main restaurant, which was obviously recently converted from a single family home, was packed and lively. The server reminded us that the restaurant changes its menu daily as its a farm-to-table restaurant, collecting most of its ingredients from local farms–we didn’t need any reminding as there’s a giant chalkboard listing the origins of all the food.

For the first course, we tried the increasingly popular SOUTHERN FRIED CHICKEN SKINS with collard green marmalade and Husk’s own hot sauce. It was a 10-year-old’s dream. The skin is always the best part! Who would have thought that I would ever be allowed – even encouraged – to eat only the fatty skin with no meat?!

NOTE: That’s another thing about Husk. You have to be willing to throw caution to the wind and try things out of the box. Foods coupled that you never would have imagined before- a place where unhealthy options reign supreme.

We also tried the SHRIMP AND GRITS with tomato braised peppers and onions, charred scallions and soft poached farm egg. This was pretty good—the poached egg was a unique touch for an otherwise ordinary Charleston dish.

The first entrée (more aptly referred to as “Supper” on the menu) we tasted was the CORNMEAL DUSTED N.C. CATFISH with smokey field peas and pole beans, sun gold tomato gravy and chow chow. Lightly fried to perfection, the moist piece of fish had a great texture complements of the tasty cornmeal breading.

The HERITAGE PORK, cider braised cabbage, baby sweet potatoes and bourbon demi-glaze was another hit. The pork had a crisp, sweet edge/outside, but fell apart almost just by looking at it.

After a rather heavy meal (probably should have skipped the fried chicken skins) we ordered one of the lighter sounding desserts, the BUTTERMILK PANNA COTTA. Overall it was OK, just not really my style–the citrus mixed in made the dish taste a bit too tart. However, the light custard-like panna cotta had a subtle flavor of mint that made it very refreshing.

In hindsight, we should have just ordered two OATMEAL PIEs with Anson Mills oatmeal cookie crust, brown sugar custard, fudge sauce and salted caramel ice cream. Our sever described it as a “large, grown-up oatmeal cookie” which was only partially correct as he left out the descriptor “fricken amazing.” Thankfully, the portion size wasn’t overwhelming either.

BOTTOM LINE: So did Husk meet our expectations? More like they took our expectations, shoved them back in our faces, telling us we didn’t set the bar high enough and then delivered on a whole other level. Well done sir, well done.

The post Husk – Charleston, South Carolina – Restaurant Review first appeared on Weekend Blitz.

1110 Vermont Ave. NW, Washington, D.C.
American
$$$

Jeffrey and I were in DC recently and happened to stay just around the corner from Lincoln. After doing some quick research on Urban Spoon, we decided on the Lincoln because of its close proximity to our hotel and its good reviews (92%!).

When we walked in, true to its name, there were penny’s inside the floor. Pretty cool touch for a restaurant that takes its name from the President whose face is on the penny. The restaurant had a laid-back atmosphere with plenty of people, but it didn’t seem crowded at all. And, it’s not too nice — it wasn’t quiet and you don’t have to dress up — but it’s not your typical cheap eats. In fact, it’s not cheap. If you’re looking for a good, casual place to eat on a Saturday night, this is your spot.

The signature drinks aren’t bad either, with plenty of choices. Jeff tried the LINCOLN SOUR ($11), not too sweet but far from strong on bourbon. It was rather lemon-y. He’d get it again.

We started with a few small plates, including a cheese plate called THE PANTRY ($12 for 2 choices, $18 for 4 choices). We chose the black and blue cheese, which didn’t have a very strong flavor but was fresh and good. We paired the black and blue with prosciutto and duck breast. The duck breast was surprisingly delicious, even though it didn’t look too much like the duck I’m used to.  Finally, the bread, jelly, mustard and pickles that were included on the side were typical, but who can mess up pickles?

THE PANTRY

As far as food, there’s plenty of tasty American options here, too. We split the SLOW BRAISED SHORT RIBS ($14), which were served in a cool mini pan. The generous hunk of beef was served over potatoes and mushrooms in a semi-bland sauce. The horseradish topping brings it all together and adds plenty of flavor.

SLOW BRAISED SHORT RIBS ($14)

The real star of the evening, however, was the SEASONAL RISOTTO ($12). It’s all you could ever want in a risotto:  creamy and rich. It was complimented perfectly with charred, sweet grapes – a bit strange but delicious – and candied shallots.

SEASONAL RISOTTO ($12)

BOTTOM LINE: If you’re headed to DC and don’t want to spend all your money on Saturday night’s dinner, head to Lincoln. You’ll find a taste of DC without the mega-expensive bill at the end. And, don’t forget to try to risotto!

The post Lincoln Restaurant Review – Washington, D.C. first appeared on Weekend Blitz.

1631 Rue Sainte-Catherine Ouest, Montréal, QC
Bistro, American
$$

Having heard about those restaurants that deliver entire meals in the dark, we decided to check out Montreal’s local venue, O’Noir.  It added a lot of extra excitement to the night’s dinner, and we both looked forward to the experience all day, discussing what we thought it’d be like.

Reviews stated that the food was, at best, average, but what you’re really going for is the experience. Although going to a restaurant for something other than food is…well, strange, we remained excited about the “activity.”

You don’t just stumble upon this restaurant; in keeping with the theme, the black sign is barely noticeable on the street, and the windows are covered with black curtains — so, an unsuspecting passer-by wouldn’t give the place a second look. But, I guess it advertises itself—after all, we found it.

Not quite knowing what to expect or what to do, we walked into the very dimly lit “waiting room” – purgatory, if you will – and greeted the hostess, who had us put our valuables in a free locker and showed us the menu and specials so we could place our order before heading into darkness. We decided to do one THREE-COURSE MEAL ($41)  – with all three “surprise” dishes, and one TWO-COURSE MEAL ($34) of something we had chosen and were expecting.

As soon as we’d finished ordering, our waiter met us in the waiting area wearing all black and sunglasses. We formed a train with our hands on each others’ shoulders and he led us to our table. Even if you’re expecting the darkness, the complete and utter blackness is an experience that you just can’t fully imagine until you’re actually in the moment. We weaved around tables, never touching anything but I completely lost all sense of direction very shortly into our walk.

We were seated side-by-side at a table and the waiter joined our hands together so we could get a sense of space.  Sitting side-by-side made a lot of sense given you’re relying solely on talking for communication. It would have been so hard to sit across the table. The saying that you can’t see your hand in front of your eyes couldn’t have been more true. My eyes were playing tricks on me as they continued to try to adjust to the darkness, but could never quite get there. Jeffrey felt around and found that he was seated next to a wall. We heard people around us, but how many people? How close were they? Was the restaurant full? Empty? How big was the restaurant? It really made you aware of how much information you were lacking from not being able to see.

And, you know how your eyes eventually begin to adjust to the darkness and you can start seeing shadows…a little bit? Not here. It was pitch black dark the whole time.

The bread was in front of each of our place mats. Jeffrey attempted to spread butter with his knife, but quickly switched to the dipping method to find, on the next bite, that he had eaten all the butter (he says he should have just spit it out…no one would have known).

The waiter soon brought us our glasses of red wine (which I immediately regretted ordering once I understood the high possibility of spilling…I could barely bring my glass to my lips!) and our starters. I ordered the EGGPLANT, TOMATO, GOAT CHEESE AND CAVIAR and Jeff got the surprise. It was SO hard to eat—we switched over to using our hands and didn’t look back. All I could really taste was tomato, but maybe that’s because Jeff reached over and said he ONLY tasted a huge clump of goat cheese. There was a little bit of something the consistency of hummus—maybe the eggplant. Who really knows?

Jeff’s surprise starter was pretty spicy. He thought it was some type of shredded pork or beef – like cold BBQ, served with lettuce and what seemed like a lot of black pepper. When I tasted a bite, I knew it was raw because it sort of chewy, but we were confused because we agreed it didn’t taste like any kind of fish. When the waiter said it was beef tartar, it all added up.

I’ll stop here and talk about the absolute necessity to use our hands instead of silverware. I know you’re thinking that, while a little harder, it’d still be possible to use forks or spoons, but, no. It’s just not. For example, the first – and last – three attempts at using my fork left me with no food in my mouth, some food on my cheek and most of the food in my lap. Hands it is… Plus, it gave us another sense to use to try to figure out what the heck we were eating.

As time went on, we did begin to develop a sense of our surroundings. The only people I had ever seen before were Jeffrey and our waiter. So, I had a good mental image of them, but, for everyone else you hear, you just develop an image in your head of what the restaurant’s atmosphere probably looks like. You also get a feeling for the room, how big it is, etc…half way through our dinner, they would sit another table behind us or to our right, completely turning my impression of the restaurant upside down.

Our entrées came out almost immediately after we finished our starters. I ordered the special, LAMB SHANK, with potatoes and cauliflower. The potatoes and vegetables were totally average. The lamb shank was slow cooked and the meat just fell off the bone. Luckily, because, when I first got it I tried to cut into the meat with my fork and knife and that is, quite frankly, impossible. I again reverted to two-years-old and used my fingers – easy to determine what I was eating (by consistency) and the only real way to transport the food into my mouth without spilling it everywhere.

The surprise entrée tasted like “fish sticks,” but with pork and BBQ sauce. Essentially, our guess was correct. The waiter confirmed it. They were served with mashed cauliflower, which we guessed were mashed potatoes – so, it turns out mashed cauliflowers are a healthier option and this experience confirms you literally can’t tell the difference. Steamed carrots and celery completed the dish – easy to guess and you can recognize the horrible taste of celery even in the dark. Steaming it makes it extra stringy and hard to eat—and just as unpalatable as raw celery.

Soon into our dinner, the band started playing – a band is a perfect combination with a dark restaurant because your sense of sound and appreciation of music is immediately increased. Another factor we didn’t even consider before going into the restaurant was that it might be pretty loud. Everyone gets louder and louder without sight– you’re more dependent on it. Think about it, in a group, how do you know if your have the groups attention when story telling, etc. if you can’t make eye contact?

We split the dessert, which we agreed from the start was some type of lemon custard with pieces of mint. Wrong. It turns out the flavors were strawberry and mango? I’m still shocked at this one…

After we finished, we were still feeling just a bit uneasy with all the darkness and didn’t linger around to enjoy the atmosphere. We were led out by our waiter in the same fashion that we were led in – and left in the waiting room to collect our valuables and pay the hostess. We learned that all of the waiters and waitresses are 70 to 100 percent visually impaired, which is, I think, is a perfect opportunity for these waiters to help others literally walk in their shoes for a night. Jeffrey adds (cheesy pun ahead):  This experience really opened my eyes to their plight. Zing.

BOTTOM LINE: First off, if you’ve never been to an eat-in-the-dark restaurant: GO–it’s a worthwhile experience! But be warned that we left hungry and the experience is so quick. Because we ordered ahead of time, they bring it out disconcertingly fast—no way is it cooked to order. It’s pretty expensive for what you get, but, just remember that you’re paying for the experience and not necessarily the food. Being in a new city, it was fun and exciting to have a new experience, too.

Caution, cheesy pun ahead: You’ll likely go once or twice and then not again for the foreseeable future.

The post O’Noir Restaurant Review – Montreal, Québec first appeared on Weekend Blitz.