Slovenia Sea Salt

by Neil Woodburn on

The genetic difference between ordinary table salt and very expensive, gourmet sea salt is apparently .01%. And yet, the cost is 100 times more expensive and the taste 1000 times more sublime.

Much of the world’s best sea salt comes from the Brittany area of France. There are some exceptions, however, but none as surprising to me as Slovenia.

According to a recent article in the New York Times, the Secovlje Salina Nature Park on the Adriatic coast is home to 700 years of salt making heritage and produces some of Europe’s finest salts.

One needn’t travel all the way to the park to harvest the salt, however. Simply stop by Piranske Soline in central Ljubljana. The store specializes in salt and salt related products and nothing else. Just imagine how good it must be to have an entire store dedicated to just one product. And, I simply love their little slogan; “Salt is the sea that could not return to the sky.” Yum!

Pancake Memories

by Jamie Rhein on

With Pancake Week finally here, I didn’t want it to pass by without mentioning the best pancakes I have ever had. They will forever be one of my high point dining experiences when I backpacked through Europe. Granted, when I backpacked through Europe any meal that wasn’t bread and cheese was a highlight, but the pancakes at The Pancake Bakery in Amsterdam are more than just batter that is poured on a griddle then slathered in butter and soaked in syrup. They are more than the potato pancakes that are my preference.

The Pancake Bakery versions are glorious concoctions that can be either savory or sweet. The menu seems as long as a fine wine list. Be prepared; it can take awhile to make a decision. To help you find the flavor you’re looking for, the international section is a good place to start. Greek? Mexican? Egyptian? Indian? If you have a sweet tooth, chocolate is good. Add some zip by making it chocolate liqueur. Or, add rum–I think that’s what I did. Since the Pancake Bakery is just a few doors down from Anne Frank’s house, it’s easy to combine great eats with one of the places in the world not to be missed if you happen to be traveling in that direction.

Since I was there the restaurant has expanded but it is still in its original location at Prinsengracht 191 in a 17th century warehouse on one of the canals. The pancake in the photo is the Caprese Pancake, a savory selection topped with pesto, tomato and mozzarella.

Discover New Restaurants with the Wheel of Food

by Justin Glow on

Having trouble picking a place to go to lunch, or looking to discover a random restaurant wherever you may be visiting? Check out the Wheel of Food, a Flash-powered, Wheel of Fortune-style utility that pulls it’s data from Yahoo! Local and puts the decision making in the hands of fate. Simply put in your area code (or the area code of your next travel destination) and give the wheel a spin. I’ve already got a few restaurants lined up for my upcoming trip to Chicago, and I learned about some new ones in my hometown.

The wheel isn’t limited to restaurants; you can also spin it for bars, nightclubs, or menu-specific restaurants, like vegetarian or pizza. Simple idea executed beautifully. This is definitely getting a bookmark!

[via a.wholelottanothing.org]

Detour Worth Making: New York’s Burp Castle

by Willy Volk on

Though I live in South Florida, I have friends in New York City. Next time I’m there, I’m going to insist we visit the inelegantly-named but beautifully-decorated Burp Castle. With its friendly vibe, cozy atmosphere, and soothing music, the self-ordained Temple of Beer Worship sports a fantastic beer selection (9 taps; 80 bottles). Despite its clunky moniker, the Burp Castle is is not a frat-boy bar where they belt out Creed. Rather, it’s a low-key destination for enjoying fine conversation — and even finer beers. There’s even a sign discouraging patrons from getting unruly.

Located at 41 East 7th Street, the Burp Castle features amazingly detailed murals of beer-brewing monks worshiping what they love most: finely-crafted beer. Surrounded by beautiful wenches, the monks enjoy the fruits of their labor while being bitten by sharks, hiding in barrels, teetering on ships at sea, doing their taxes, and other decidedly un-monk-ish activities. Nevertheless, it appears that the whole thing works well, as the reviews of the Burp Castle are as warm as the hues of the murals.

[Photo: Scott Beale / Laughing Squid]

Best Hot Chocolate in Paris

by Neil Woodburn on

Last week I posted about my love for quality hot chocolate and the very best places to find a steaming mug in New York City according to New York Magazine.

By coincidence, the LA Times has just published a similar article on where to find the best hot chocolate in Paris. Hmmm….. if there is anything better than a mug of hot chocolate on the cold streets of New York, it would have to be a mug of hot chocolate on the cold streets of Pairs.

Of course, the French call it chocolat chaud and they’ve been serving it for more than 200 years. Naturally, since it is France, they turn up their noses at the thought of making it with powder and rely instead upon real chocolate and real milk or cream. A glass of cold water is often served as an accompaniment to balance out the richness of so much chocolate.

According to Elliott Hester, the author of the article, the very best place in the French capital to indulge is Angelina at 226 Rue de Rivoli. Other favorites include Dalloyau (serving since 1802) and Les Deux Magots, an old favorite haunt of Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir, according to Hester.

Yum! Anyone want to join me on a New York/Paris hot chocolate run?