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Food and Dining
Worldwide Reviews |
| VANCOUVER, B.C. | |
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OUEST
2881 Granville Street Vancouver, BC Canada V6H 3J4 (604)738-8938 |
Chef David Hawksworth comes home to Vancouver after 8 years in Europe working with some of
the most talented chefs at many of the UK’s leading restaurants. His apprenticeship in
Europe began at Marco Pierre White’s restaurant The Canteen in Chelsea Harbour. White was
the first and youngest chef in the UK to be awarded three Michelin Stars. The Canteen was
one of the first of the larger style fine dining rooms to open in London.
Chef David Hawksworth serves up a menu that combines traditional French recipes with the best of the West Coast. To compliment, a carefully chosen wine list offers some rare and sought after vintages including a great selection of half bottles. Highly Recommended! |
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CIN CIN
1154 Robson Street Vancouver, BC Canada V6E 1B5 (604)688-7338 |
Located on Robson Street, the city’s busiest and most fashionable shopping district,
CinCin’s warm Mediterranean inspired décor with arched windows and high ceilings
invites diners to relax, enjoy fine food & wine and to absorb the ambiance. As well
as seating in the main dining room, CinCin’s bar accommodates up to 30 and the
pretty, outdoor terrace is heated and used well into the fall.
Chef Romy Prasad offers a menu that features classic Italian dishes, combined with strong French and Mediterranean influences. Dishes are prepared in CinCin’s wood-fired rotisserie and grill, and the menu focuses on seasonal variety and fresh local produce. An extensive wine list offers a variety of Old and New World Wines with thousands of bottles being housed in The Wine Room, which caters for parties of up to 30. This award winning restaurant has been established for over a decade. Recent accolades include the following: The Birks Silver Spoon Award - Concierge’s Choice for Best Restaurant in Vancouver, as well as Wine Spectator ‘Award of Excellence’ 97,98, 99 & 2000. Highly Recommended! |
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Rome, Italy |
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ENOTECA CUL DE SAC
Piazza Pasquino (Piazza Navona), 73 00186 Rome tel 06/68801094 |
A fantastic little find near the Piazza Navona! With over 1,500 wines and sparklers this
wine bar/restaurant is a must stop when in Rome. The wine list is extensive and well-priced.
But then again, who needs a list, you can just point to one of the hundreds of bottles
lining the walls. They have great sliced meats so start off with some delicious proscuitto.
The food is more enoteca fare but we had dinner there and left very satisfied. Try
the stuffed grape leaves or sample some of the home made Italian dishes. The selection of
Italian regional cheeses and cured meats is vast, and the soups, pastas, and salads have
homemade appeal. Especially refreshing are the international dishes: hummus, Greek salad,
and various pâtés that can be difficult to find in these parts.
They also have a large selection of wines by the glass so you can experiment with several outstanding selections - since there are plenty to choose from. Prices are very reasonable, moderate. Quarters are tight, both inside and at the tables outside on the small piazza, but once you've snagged a seat and begin sipping the wine and sampling the food, you realize it's worth it. Highly Recommended! |
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ARA PACIS LA CAPRICCIOSA
Largo dei Lombardi, 8 00186 Rome tel 066878636 www.arapacisrestaurant.it |
The Arapacis Restaurant is located in the historical center of Rome very close
to the Spanish steps. It was constructed in the 1937 and originaly named:
“La Capricciosa”. It has open-air as well as in-restaurant dining. The Piazza
is buzzing with activity adding to the good feel of the experience.
Located in a very distinctive and charming little square. The Restaurant has delicious Italian cusine including some delicious pastas, fresh fish and variety of sea food dishes. They are probably best know for their outstanding Italian style pizza prepared in their wood burning oven. They have a very good wine list specializing in Italian wines. It's not hard to find a well-priced wine to compliment your meal. Recommended. |
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FELICE A TESTACCIO
Via Mastro Giorgio, 29 Tel: 06 57 468 00 www.feliceatestaccio.com |
This genuine and traditional trattoria style restaurant located in the Testaccio district
is as authentic as it gets. Outstanding food and always packed with locals - which is a very good sign.
So yes, you need to book in advance (esp. at night), and yes you need to arrive on time, and yes it
is very good.
With its opaque windows, brick walls and wooden tables, this neighborhood restaurant has an authentic turn of the century atmosphere. The charming owners, Franco and Flavio, are happy to share a host of anecdotes and information on the restaurant and its fine cuisine, which showcases specialities from Rome and the Lazio region. The tiramisu has the reputation of being one of the best anywhere. Next time in Rome, make a reservation and enjoy! Closed in August and on Sundays. Recommended. |
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SAN FRANCISCO, CA. |
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RISTORANTE BACCO
37 Diamond St. (at 24th Street) San Francisco (415) 282-4969 |
When you pull back the printed curtain at the door of Bacco, you enter into a
decidedly Italian world. You can smell it in the air, you can see it in the ceramic
platters on the walls, and you can hear it from the waiters as they flit around the
room and charm diners.
Since it opened in 1993, it's been a consistent winner, serving solid and delicious food created by chef-owner Vincenzo Cucco. It also doesn't hurt that on Monday through Thursday night you can get an excellent three-course meal for $23. On our visit we started with a very good version of Caesar salad topped with croutons, flakes of cheese and a creamy garlic-spiked dressing. Other choices of starters include a soup or a house-made beet fettuccine with pancetta, leeks and cream sauce. As in Italy, the meal is served at a leisurely pace. Waits between courses may be a little longer than at some other restaurants, but the customers -- a mix of established families seeing their children off to colleges, new families (one taking their 3-week-old baby out for her first restaurant visit) and friends catching up with one another's lives -- don't seem to be in an eat- and-run mood anyway. In all, Bacco is a top neighborhood Italian restaurant, and truly offers a meal to savor. Recommended. |
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SPAIN |
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Irreductibles
de la Font 38 43770 Gratalops 988-262-373 www.irreductibles.org |
A fabulous restaurant that is co-owned by Rene Barbier's son and daughter-in-law, Sarah Perez (who is
also the winemaker for Clos Martinet). It is
located next to Clos Figueras in the charming town of Gratalops. The views are fantastic
of the terraced Priorat vineyards. The food is regional and quite good and the wine
list has incredible Spanish wines heavy on the Priorat. A must if you can make it here!
Highly Recommended. |
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La Vi-zzeria
c/. Sant Marcel 10, Falset, Tarragona 43730, Spain 977-831-379 www.lavi-zzeria.com |
A nice restaurant in the small town of Falset. Just steps away from the only
hotel in town - Hotel Sport.
La Vi-zzeria offers a good dining experience in a regional setting. The restaurant is stylishly
furnished. The menu has been described as "modern rustic" and draws
its inspiration from local and regional specialities as well as the vast international experience of
the master chef. They also have a wood burning stove to do really good "Spanish" pizzas for those
who long for home - but these are topped with local goodies like jambon, peppers, and the like.
Located in the medieval town of Falset, set within the Tarragona countryside, the region is famous for its viniculture and outstanding natural beauty. The 'bodega' in La Vi-zzeria stocks a good range of the Piorat and Montsant vintages to suit all budgets. Recommended. |
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Meson Castellano 2,39
Antonio Machado, 39 47320 Tudela de Duero 983-520-239 |
The Tudela de Duero 239 restaurant features some of the most outstanding cuisine that be found
in the Valladolid region. Seasonal vegetables and traditional plates are prepared as if you were
in someone's home. Everything is fresh, clean and delicious.
We visited this outstanding restaurant as the guest of Mariano García (pictured at right) - the world renowned former wine maker at Vega Sicila and founder and winemaker at Bodegas Mauro. It was and is fabulous! A must if you can get here! Highly Recommended. |
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Els Tres Porquets (the 3 pigs)
Rambla del poblenou, 165 08018 Barcelona 933 00 87 50 |
A great out-of-the-way tapa's restaurant with outstanding local cuisine - specializing in seafood.
Named after the 3 brothers who run the restaurant by their parents who run a great restaurant in Barcelona
as well. Daily menu is written on a black board for you to discuss with the waiter to find what tickles
your fancy. They have some of the best iberian acorn-feed jambon you'll find anywhere and great cheeses.
You must try the razor clams and the tiny baby eels - served like a bowl linguine (pasta with eyes) that is incredible. A fantastic wine list with some of the best Spanish wines and champagnes in Barcelona. A small, locals type place, that is really good. Highly Recommended. |
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South Africa |
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Baia Seafood Restaurant
Upstairs at the Victoria Wharf, V&A Waterfront Cape Town 021 421-0935 http://baiarestaurant.co.za |
We loved this restaurant. Good South African wine list and a very good seafood menu and a great vibe.
Try the Ceasar Salad and you'll be surprized - in a really good way.
Set in a prime spot at the Victoria Wharf, Baía (pronounced Ba-hia and meaning the Bay) enjoys spectacular panoramic harbour and ocean views. It has a cocktail bar, interior dining areas and covered outside dining areas spread across four terraces. The relaxing interior reflects the beauty of Table Bay in the wave-like mosaics and pale blues and mauve colours. Baía specializes in the finest seafood from around southern Africa, the finest poultry, beef and venison and a renowned wine-list with rare Cape vintage wines and imported liqueur selection – and has earned the reputation as the place to indulge in the best seafood platter in the Cape. Patricio Cumaio, chef de cuisine, believes in using only the finest ingredients. He created the fare at Baía, with a menu inspired by a combination of fine continental cuisine and Portuguese colonial traditions. One of the legendary house specialties tempts diners with a bouillabaisse, French influence or a cataplana with a Portuguese influence, a veritable feast of prawns, langoustines, mussels, calamari and linefish. Highly Recommended |
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Moyo
R310 Lynedoch Road, Spier Stellenbosch 27 21 809 1133 http://www.moyo.co.za |
A great place, full of atmosphere! They claim to be all about "modern sophisticated African" and
by that they mean updated versions of traditional African foods in a very neat setting with
music and other fun things going on. Don't eat for hours before you go because there is such a
huge selection of tasty food to choose from! This is a great place to bring a big
crowd.
The atmosphere and design of the restaurant are just very cool, laid out rather like a huge camp site. African dancers and musicians move around the camp all evening. You can join in if you want and even have your face painted too. Yes, it is a bit staged, but it’s not Disneyland; just chill out and enjoy it. The food is served in an enormous tent and is all on a help yourself buffet. There is a huge choice of dishes, all of them delicious. The only problem is trying too many of them! Some of the previous reviews say the food was awful, but everything we tried was excellent. Service was fine, much better than in pretentious places like Franschoek. There are tables in the tent and in small covered areas outside, but our advice is to book a tree house. These are close to the action, you get a good view of everything and it’s not as noisy or smoky as in the main area. The Spiers estate itself is worth a visit too. If you are staying in Stellenbosch, we would definitely recommend going to Moyo. Recommended |
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Black Marlin
Off of M4 Simon's Town, Cape Town +27 (21) 786 1621 http://www.blackmarlin.co.za/ |
Black Marlin is nestled unobtrusively on one of the most scenic coastlines in the Cape, en-route to Cape Point
and it is the perfect setting for an idyllic luncheon meal. It is near Simon's Town, Cape Town.
One of the best things about this restaurant is simply the views you get driving to it. If you're on
your way to the Cape of Good Hope - you need to stop here for lunch!
During "whale season", you can enjoy your meal while watching whales sidling along the coastline. Established as a restaurant since the mid 1960's, the Black Marlin has earned a reputation for its seafood, award-winning wine list, attentive service and incredible views. The Black Marlin offers an extensive menu with the main emphasis on seafood, complimented by other choices of fine contemporary cuisine. House specialities include Cape Rock lobster, Seafood platters, oysters and mussels. Through the many years of providing top quality fresh seafood and impeccable service to the locals and foreign tourists, this restaurant has become world-famous for its views. Recommended |
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Reuben's Restaurant and Bar
No 19 Huguenot Street, Franchoek, Franschhoek, 7690 021 876 3772 http://reubens.co.za/ |
Franschhoek's first signature restaurant – it is a sophisticated brasserie, in a modern and tasteful setting. The décor is minimalist,
the food an exciting combination of flavors and as one might expect (Reuben's partners are Marc Kent and Tim Rands of
Boekenhoutskloof–one of the top wineries in Franschhoek and indeed South Africa), the wine list is extensive.
Reuben Riffel, having been Executive Chef at another Franschhoek restaurant, Monneaux, left South Africa to gain experience in Europe. He returned, to open the eponymously named restaurant, in 2003. With its bar counter made from the wing of an old DC10 airplane, the "Gooney Bar" provides a place to meet friends and enjoy a drink, before moving to your table. The restaurant itself is open and airy, providing a lively but elegant atmosphere during dinner. The varied menu features dishes such as salmon fish cakes, steak and frites with sauce béarnaise, chilli salted squid and Szechwan duck pie to name but a few. Additionally, a large selection of daily specials are displayed on a chalk board. In 2004, Reuben's won 'Chef of the year' and 'Restaurant of the year' in South African Eat Out magazine's Johnnie Walker Awards. Recommended |
