Duke's (Parioli)

I love going to Duke's in the Summer since I love their outside garden area. Duke's is obviously, from the name, not an Italian restaurant. It started off originally with California cuisine, and more recently transformed into an International restaurant. I find the menu to have remained pretty much as it was before, with the addition of an international dish here and there. They have an extensive cocktail list, and the ones I've tried are really good. It's a good place for an aperitivo or as an after dinner hangout, as the bar is quite popular. I tend to go to Duke's for the food. The menu changes depending on the season, but their classic dishes can be found year round. Appetizers include sushi, ceviche made with watermelon, sweet potatoes, and swordfish, nice salads, while main courses include Indian spiced chicken, bacon wrapped tenderloin steak, pineapple marinated swordfish. They have two or three pasta dishes, and even though they are good, I prefer to have pasta elsewhere. Dessert is something I can't resist, and my favorite is the chocolate freakout, which is a Valrhona chocolate mousse cake served with chopped hazelnuts and chocolate sauce. Duke's has an extensive wine list, which includes, Californian, Australian, Chilean, and of course Italian wines. Great place to consider when one wants a break from Italian cuisine.  www.dukes.it

Ondanomala Restaurant (Fregene)

If you are not familiar with it, Ondanomola is a stabilimento (beach)-bar-aperitivo spot-restaurant-tavola calda. Four years ago they started a restaurant in the evening, which was not very well known but slowly picked up since their value for money was better than the Fregene average. I went several times the summer it opened but, after learning that the nice man who was running it was not running it anymore, I wasn't in a hurry to go back. For some reason we ended up there a few weeks ago for dinner, and while there were some disappointments, overall, we ended up satisfied.

We ordered a bunch of their appetizers which included cooked and raw seafood to share for the table and then continued with a dish they called fish soup. In reality this wonderful dish was more than a fish soup, it was more a seafood extravaganza in a seafood broth. I can explain it away but I think the photo will speak louder.

This dish was for four adults and included shrimp, scampi (langoustine), mussels, clams, crayfish (astice), and two whole fish.

 So, on the food front, very good. We had a lovely Lugana wine from Lombardia area to accompany the meal. We were all stuffed by the time we were done with the "soup", but happily stuffed. We were expecting a killer end to the evening, considering the amount of seafood we were presented with, but were blown away when we paid 35 euros a head. Note: Usually in Fregene a 50 euro a head dinner for an average meal (drinks included) is standard.

Now the bad. We arrived with two hungry kids (ages 2 and 5) and we ordered for them immediately in order to get their food as soon as possible. The service was strange, the waiters seemed to be confused and we had to ask several times for the kids pasta. Our starters started coming out, even though we made it clear that we wanted the kids to be served first. After all, it was about 10pm, and way past their dinner time. My baby saw the raw stuff come out, and tried to reach for something to eat and was very angry when I took it away from him. I was doing it for his own good, but obviously he didn't understand, and so this led to a mini melt down. This in turn set me off, and I had a go at the waiter, stressing that I asked not to be served before the kids get their pasta. Long story short, the kids got their pasta at 10.30 pm !! For some this would automatically cancel out the place. I think I would probably not go there again with a hungry baby, but may give the place a second chance considering the good food and value for money.

If you are in Fregene, give the place a try, and leave me a comment about your experience.

Eataly (Rome)

I've heard about Eataly for a while, but had no idea exactly what is was. I knew it comes from Torino, and that there was a branch in NYC. So since I was in the neighborhood and had heard that it just opened, my husband and I decided to make a stop to check out what the buzz was about. It was fairly early (10.30) when we went in, but around lunch time when we came out! What can I say....Eataly can be best described as a luxury food emporium. It is exactly what Rome needed, a place where you can not only buy, but eat, good, organic food. There are themed restaurants, fish, pizza, meat, pasta, sandwiches, piadine, desserts, ice cream, you name it. There is a wonderful wine section, where you can find so many different wines from all over Italy. There is a library dedicated to food and every food and wine book you can imagine. The cheese, oh the cheese, lovely cheese from all over, not only Italy. On this trip we managed to get some wine, cheese, prosciutto, bread, pasta, bottled organic tomato sauce, and yogurt, all very good. No, it is not cheap, but organic and high quality food usually isn't. They have wine courses, cooking courses, and dinners with famous chefs, which can be bought online at www.roma.eataly.it. Not to be missed, especially for a quick bite or an after work aperitivo! 

Hummingbird Bakery (London)

I know that the cupcake craze is getting a little old in most parts of the world, but unfortunately it is really hard to find a decent cupcake in Rome. So, yes I did indulge by getting myself a cupcake sampler from Hummingbird bakery when I was in London. My sampler included some flavors that I have not tried before like tiramisu, carrot cake, and panettone. I have to say that although they were interesting, I do prefer the traditional red velvet cupcake, and vanilla sponge chocolate frosting combo the best. Hummingbird bakery can be found on Portabello Road (original store), South Kensington, Soho, and Spitalfields.

Astrid & Gaston (Madrid)

This could possibly be one of the yummiest meals I have ever had. It was that good!

My colleague and I decided to splurge since it is our second week in Madrid, and we had heard so much about this place.

It all started off with an incredible pisco sour that was out of this world. What followed was a 7 course experience that was worth every penny (and we are talking loads of pennies)!

The atmosphere is posh, and service is highly attentive.

We started with an amuse bouch, that I didn't take a picture of since I was too busy digging in! It was a corn cake with shrimp and beans in a spiced tomato sauce.

Our tasting menu started with the ceviche of squid, shrimp, mussels, and sea bass in black lime marinade, with bits of crunchy corn

 It was followed by this marinated salmon in a orange ponzu sauce

 then came a mashed potato cake with crab

 risotto with shrimp

 black cod

slow cooked braised ribs

 maracuya sorbet with pisco sour foam

 chocolate tempura with a lemon grass sorbet

The cost of this tasting menu is 72 euros (18% VAT not included)
Water 3 euro
Pisco sour 12 euros
glass of white wine 6 euros

Although the restaurant is posh, they don't seem to have a strict dress code. I did see some jeans and tennis shoes, owever, most diners were dressed smartly.

Juana la loca (Madrid)

The above and below are raviolis of scamorza with bacon, and eggplant. Zucchini rolls with cod.

This is the civito

chivito up close

soft shell crab with fish eggs and some sort of mayo

chocolate biscocho with praline ice cream 

My colleagues and I wanted to try something new, and we thought that a pinxos (small sized portions) restaurant might be nice to try out. I read loads of reviews of this place and it seemed like it is not the usual tapas place but a little more sophisticated. Booking is a must. The place seems small but there is a back room, where we were seated. Service is good. The food was good. We had about 4 pinxos a person, wine, dessert, and water. The cuenta was about 36 a head, which is pricey for pinxos but a great deal for the amount of food we ate. It is located in La Latina which is in the centro and there are lots of restaurants and bars around.

Sudestada (Madrid)

I discovered this place back in 2009 and have to pass by at least once every time I am in Madrid. The food is a mix of Thai, Indian, Vietnamese, and their signature caipirina is pretty damn good too! We usually get the set menu which is made up of 3 starters, 4 main courses, and dessert which you order off the menu. My favourites are the lettuce wrapped spring roll and the red curry . 43 euros a person not including drinks. Reservations a must.

Holy chocolate orgasm !!

I had the most amazing pistachio ice cream last night at this Milan chocolate hot spot! This place is dessert heaven, all things chocolate. If its ice cream you're after, you pick your flavors, and before they scoop it on the cone they run the cone under the chocolate fountain of your choice (dark or white) and then top it off with the ice cream. What you are left with is an amazing chocolaty cone to devour, after the ice cream is gone. I am already planning a repeat trip before I go back home to Rome!!!!

www.cioccolatitaliani.it 

Heart attack on a plate

I was in Madrid recently and as usual that means going out to dinner and enjoying the many delicious items the city has to offer. Among those items is this fried egg and bacon on top of french fries, hence the title of this post!

I have to admit it is delicious and you can get this in many traditional Madrid restaurants.

I also had drinks in plaza Santa Ana where there are many outdoor bars and places to eat. Just off the plaza I spotted an American style bakery with cupcakes, didn't have a chance to try it out though!

Let them eat cake!

I am trying to find a cake for my baby's upcoming birthday. My first instinct was to go to an American style bakery and see what they had to offer. I have to say that while I did like the types of cake decoration that they had to offer, I found their price for a birthday cake a bit exaggerated. My other option was a good Italian bakery, where I could either get a millefoglio or pan di spagna and some sort of cream cake. They would decorate the cake, but instead of it being multi layer, it would be a large rectangle. The price is about 40% less than the first bakery. I did sample the chocolate fudge cake at bakery no.1, and while it was good, I make a better chocolate fudge cake. The sponge was a bit on the dry side, and the icing was not smooth. I guess I should go back to bakery no.2 and try some of their cakes and then make a decision.
Stay tuned....