I know, I know…it’s the New Year and we’ve all given up eating, right? While Adrienne keeps us focused on those slim summer suits we want
to wear, I’m going to continue to revel in the joys of eating for just a bit longer. While dining on my own boring
turkey sandwich today I came across Francois Thomazeau’s handy guide to Paris bistros, and I couldn’t help but get
swept away. It’s another cold, slushy day here in the northeast, so it was very easy to get lost in the moment…and
now I’m dreaming of outdoor dining at some quaint Parisian bistro on a warm spring day. The Authentic Bistros of
Paris will help travelers distinguish the very best of the bunch. Each of the 51 bistros profiled in this book were
selected for their regional dishes and locally-grown wines that are native to the owners’ home province. Besides their
fabulous cuisine, these bistros also offer diners perfect Parisian atmosphere, with either antique or modern decor that
compliments and adds to an all around superb dining experience. Bon Appetit!
Koji Osakaya Restaurants
Sushi is something I’ve REALLY started to get hip
(yes hip) to over the past year so I’m always looking for good restaurant recommendations, even if they’re all the way
in Tokyo or Kyoto. However, it is to our advantage that the Koji Osakaya
Restaurants serve the kind of Japanese food you’d expect to find in Japan and are scattered around the Portland,
Oregon area. Other locations also include one in Gresham, OR and Seattle, WA. So you don’t have to go far. Aside from
the obvious sushi selections other tasty menu items include noodle dishes (for those that wish to play it safe)
Yakiniku, and Veggie Tempura. Even though I’ve never eaten at these particular spots I’d certainly give them a try if I
were in the area and thought to point the restaurant out to those who already are. Click here for location information.
D.C.’s Dukem Ethiopia Restaurant
Since I’ll be spending a short weekend in D.C. two weeks from now, I thought I’d search for a dining experience that is new for both my father and myself. The Dukem Restaurant immediately sold itself as being that experience. I’ve eaten at several Zagat rated places, but never an Ethiopian one with a RAVING Zagat review! Not that I base my attendance at any place solely off reviews, but a number of recent great ones from CNN, USA Today, AOL CityGuide and numerous newspapers doesn’t hurt. Apparently Dukem has achieved local and national acclaim for exceptional cuisine and popular entertainment. Dinner shows run from 6PM – 9PM on a pretty regular basis and the atmosphere is elegant while being relaxed. As far as the food is concerned, Dukem Restaurant has a complete menu with dishes like sambusa, kitfo, tibs, kornis, alicha, and the fish and vegetarian combo which is only served during fasting season. Looks very, very promising. I can’t wait to dig in!
Dukem Ethiopian Restaurant is located at 1114-1118 U St. & 12th St NW, Washington D.C. 20009
Media, PA
Just checking in from Philly — I made it here in no
time, since I left NY early enough to avoid the rain and holiday traffic. My pals are scattered throughout the suburbs
of Philly so we’ve been driving around quite a bit. Last night we went out in Media, a quaint town with a historic main street dotted with restaurants and
shops. We went to Fellini’s Cafe Trattoria for dinner. The place was packed,
but we had a reso and were seated right away even though we were running late. I noticed several other trendy
restaurants along the street that were not as crowded, so I knew my friend had picked a dining experience that was sure
to please. And it did…The fresh bruchetta was already on the table as we sat, so we opened our own bottle of wine and
dug in. We devoured the huge calamari appetizer and enjoyed our generous size entrees. Great service, delicious
homemade food and an excellent value. (Check out their Opera Night
every Monday with live music.) After dinner we slipped across the street to Sligo, an Irish pub with plenty of seating
in the back where we met up with more friends and enjoyed the holiday atmosphere. There was no time to explore the
shops, of course, but my friend raves about the unique array of boutiques. Her favorite is Earth & State, which carries gifts made by over 200 artists from around the
world. There is a local theater for the performing arts too. Here’s a walking tour of Media that explains the history of the
district. A great place to check out if you happen to be west of Philly anytime soon.
NJ Wineries
I’ve been meaning to mention this New
York Times article about New
Jersey wineries that came out right before Christmas. NJ may not have a state slogan or the best beaches for surfing…but they’ve got some
excellent offerings in the wine department that should not be overlooked. The Garden State Wine Growers Association offers an impressive selection of wine trails to explore. Several of the routes they recommend include a stop at the one NJ
winery I’ve been to: Cream Ridge Winery, which was recently
named Winery of the Year 2005. I visited the winery a few years ago to pick up some bottles of their award winning
cherry dessert wine, Ciliegia Amabile to give as gifts to
family members. We are not related to the friendly folks at Cream Ridge, but just had to purchase some bottles of the
yummy wine that bears our family name and "tastes like cherry pie". One book I can suggest for more info is
Discovering
New Jersey Wineries by Kevin Atticks, an informative guide to several wineries in the state. The book is a little
dated now, but still worth checking out. (Kevin is an old college friend of mine so I’ll mention that he’s also written
books on the wines of Lake
Erie and Maryland
too :)