Fondue, Hot Chocolate, and Sausage in Zurich?

17 Wednesday Oct 2012

Posted by mrsselfish in Europe, Food & Drinks, Zurich

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Fondue, Hot Chocolate, Le Dézaley, Raclette Stube, Sausage, Sprüngli, Sternen Grill, Switzerland, Truffe, Zurich

Mr. Selfish and I have a difference of opinion on certain types of food. While I love fondue and hot chocolate, he can do without both. However, when we came to Zurich, Switzerland, I knew that we would have to try the specialties of the region, so I forced him to eat fondue and drink hot chocolate. Yes, I know – it’s a horrible existence for Mr. Selfish.

We tried two fondue places. Through these two places, we gleamed a few things about Swiss fondue. First, the Swiss don’t serve many veggies with their cheese fondue. The options were either bread and potatoes, tomatoes, or pickles. Second, cheese fondue is quite filling. Third, the best part of the fondue is the hardened cheese at the bottom of the pot. It takes some scraping but it’s completely worth it. Fourth, the Swiss don’t serve chocolate fondue for dessert. Surprising, I know.

The first fondue restaurant we tried was Raclette Stube, which was a small little restaurant serving only fondue. Raclette Stube was very delicious and, as we learned later, very well-priced. We also enjoyed the ambiance of the small restaurant.

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Sightseeing in Munich’s City Center

14 Sunday Oct 2012

Posted by mrsselfish in Europe, Food & Drinks, Germany

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City Center, Englischen Garten, English Gardens, Germany, Marienplatz, Munich, Odeonsplatz, Peterskirche, Rathaus, St. Peter's Church, Viktualienmarkt

Even aside from Oktoberfest, Munich was a lovely city. Mr. Selfish and I enjoyed sightseeing in its city center. We typically started at Marienplatz, which contains the epic looking Rathaus (city hall).

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Oktoberfest in Munich

13 Saturday Oct 2012

Posted by mrsselfish in Europe, Food & Drinks, Germany

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Germany, Munich, Oktoberfest

Mr. Selfish and I made plans to be in Munich during Oktoberfest. We didn’t really know much about Oktoberfest – other than that there was lots of beer drinking.

We learned that Oktoberfest originally celebrated the marriage of Prince Ludwig to Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen, which was on October 12, 1810. Today, Oktoberfest continues as an annual 16-day Bavarian festival beginning in late September through early October.

Oktoberfest is celebrated on Theresa’s meadows, which is about a 20 minute subway ride away from city center. I didn’t realize that there would be roller coaster rides, a ferris wheel, and tons of other rides. However, the most festive aspect of Oktoberfest is that about half of the population is dressed in traditional Bavarian clothing.

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The Market and Food in Vienna

10 Wednesday Oct 2012

Posted by mrsselfish in Europe, Food & Drinks, Vienna

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Austria, Chimney cake, Doner Kebab, Goulash, Market, Schnitzel, Vienna

Mr. Selfish and I visited Vienna, Austria for two days. The first thing we did was go to the Naschmarkt, which is Vienna’s largest outdoor market. The market had a great deal of fresh veggies, dried fruits, and spices. Mr. Selfish and I bought some dried erdbeere (strawberries) to munch on. There was also a lot of falafel and doner kebab stands.

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Edinburgh Food – Haggis and More

03 Wednesday Oct 2012

Posted by mrsselfish in Edinburgh, Europe, Food & Drinks, United Kingdom

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Afternoon Tea, Balmoral, Chipper, Deep-Fried, Edinburgh, Food & Drinks, Haggis, Mars Bars, Oink

Mr. Selfish and I had heard horror stories about haggis, so we knew that we had to try it. Haggis is the national dish of Scotland. It is prepared from sheep’s parts (heart, liver and lungs) and minced with onion, oatmeal, suet, spices, and salt. Although traditionally it is encased in the animal’s stomach, it is now typically encased in sausage casing.

We first tried Haggis at Nicholson’s, a traditional Scottish pub, located in Haymarket. It was served traditionally here – with neeps and tatties (mashed turnip and potatoes). It was quite yummy. We also got the sausage and mash in case we didn’t like the haggis. Fortunately, we enjoyed both.

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Hello Paris!

30 Sunday Sep 2012

Posted by mrsselfish in Accommodations, Europe, Food & Drinks, France, Paris

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Confit de Canard, Duck Confit, Montmartre, Paris, Sacre Coeur

Mr. Selfish and I arrived in the City of Lights last night. We are staying here for a glorious six weeks. Although our apartment in Montmarte is quite small, we have two balconies and one of them has a wonderful view of the Sacre Coeur. We moved in as the sun was setting…

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Flashback Friday – Adjusting to the Elevation in Cusco

28 Friday Sep 2012

Posted by mrsselfish in Flashback, Food & Drinks, South America

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Chocolate, Cusco, Machu Picchu, Peru

Mr. Selfish and I visited Machu Picchu in September 2011. Because Machu Picchu is at about 8,000 feet elevation, it is recommended that visitors acclimate to the elevation in Cusco, Peru prior to visiting Machu Picchu. Cusco’s elevation is approximately 10,000 feet. We therefore stayed in Cusco for the recommended three days prior to venturing to Machu Picchu.

Cusco is a lovely town in which to take it easy and learn to acclimate to the elevation. You can just walk around and enjoy the beautiful architecture. There is also a market selling a variety of goods and different types of foods. Moreover, the ladies in their bowler hats and llamas were quite charming.

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Searching for the Best Curry in London

27 Thursday Sep 2012

Posted by mrsselfish in Europe, Food & Drinks, London, Searching for the Best . . ., United Kingdom

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Curry, Dishoom, Food, Indian, Lahore Kebab House, London, Mooli's, Rasa, Tayyab's, The Monsoon

Mr. Selfish and I enjoy a good curry. Unfortunately, we didn’t have enough time to stop in India on this trip. We decided to search for the ultimate curry in the next best location – London.

1. Lahore Kebab House is a restaurant off of Brick Lane, and no, it is not just a kebab house. My little cousin, Mr. Selfish, and I had samosas for an appetizer and then enjoyed the Bindi Lamb and the Chicken Tikki Masala as our entrees. The spiciness was just right but I typically like my curry to be a little on the spicier side. The naan was also perfectly cooked, and they even let us into the kitchen to show us how the naan was cooked.

Verdict: The best naan I’ve had yet, and the bindi lamb was spiced just right.

Score: 8.5

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Scones in London

24 Monday Sep 2012

Posted by mrsselfish in Europe, Food & Drinks, London, United Kingdom

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Bea's of Bloomsbury, Hotel Chocolat, London, Scones, The Muffin Man, Yumchaa

Mr. Selfish and I went on a hunt for delicious scones in London. In the States, I always think of scones as overly sweet and dense. However, in London, they are as they should be – flaky and delicate. Unlike biscuits, which are made with animal fat or shortening, scones rely on cold butter for their texture.

Mr. Selfish and I have enjoyed many cream teas in order to rejuvenate in the afternoon. Cream tea consists of combination of scones, clotted cream, and jam. Therefore, the key to eating the scones is to lather them in clotted cream and jam. Mmmmm…here are some of our favorite scones in London:

1. Yumchaa – We tried three different scones here – (1) date, fig, and pistachio, (2) smoked cheddar and chive, and (3) feta cheese and olive. Although the savory scones were different, I preferred the traditional sweet one. I like Yumchaa scones because they have a different more crumbly texture than the other scones we sampled in London. Also, they toast the scones in a panini maker. Another bonus is that Yumchaa has an extensive tea selection. Mr. Selfish and I tried the Chelsea Chai and the Chilli Chilli Bang Bang. Both were delicious and the flavor was just right – not overwhelming.

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Flashback Friday – The Best of Brussels

21 Friday Sep 2012

Posted by mrsselfish in Europe, Flashback, Food & Drinks

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Beer, Brussels, Chocolate, Fries, Liege Waffles

In May 2010, Mr. Selfish and I went to Brussels with our two good friends, Mike and Tini. We didn’t spend that long in Brussels to really take it in, but here are my thoughts on what is the best of Brussels:

1. Chocolate – It’s everywhere, and the quality is amazing. I guess the standards in the U.S. concerning cacao content being lax are true. The chocolate in Brussels was rich and dark – just the way I like it. Plus, the hot chocolate is pure melted chocolate – not that horrible powder stuff.

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Flashback Friday – Eating a Beating Snake Heart

14 Friday Sep 2012

Posted by mrsselfish in Asia, Flashback, Food & Drinks, Vietnam

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Beating Heart, Hanoi, Snake, Vietnam

Mr. Selfish and I did a “homeland honeymoon,” which means we went to Hong Kong and Vietnam. While we were in Hanoi, we decided to try snake. We hired a driver to take us to a restaurant in the village where they serve snake.

The restaurant had an outdoor courtyard that was lovely. We were relaxing a bit when they brought out a snake and started playing with it. After a couple of minutes, the negotiation for the price started. Once we settled on the price, they got to business!

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Carded for Caffrey’s

08 Saturday Sep 2012

Posted by mrsselfish in Europe, Food & Drinks, London, United Kingdom

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Caffrey's, London, O'Neill's

As I’ve mentioned previously, I spent the summer of 2000 in the UK. During that time, I enjoyed many a pints of an Irish ale called Caffrey’s. I came back to the States and started looking for it immediately. I enjoyed a couple of pints of Caffrey’s at the Green Leafe, which is a bar on William & Mary’s campus.

Unfortunately, in 2001, Coors acquired the rights to distribute Caffrey’s in the States and decided to cease its distribution. Apparently, Coors thought Caffrey’s would interfere with its marketing of Killian’s, its other Irish ale.

After finding out that Caffrey’s was still sold in the UK, Mr. Selfish and I knew we had to track down pints of what had become mythical Irish ale to me. We discovered that Caffrey’s was sold at O’Neill’s, which is an Irish themed pub and restaurant chain. The atmosphere is a little too polished for my tastes, but I didn’t care much since I wanted my Caffrey’s.

Outside of O’Neill’s, a bouncer was checking people for identification. Mr. Selfish managed to walked in, but the bouncer stopped me and asked for identification. Apparently, I look like I’m 17 years-old, since the drinking age in England is 18.

In any case, I got to enjoy my Caffrey’s and it was as caramel-y and delicious as I remembered. We only have a week left in London so I need to enjoy a few more pints before we leave!

Ireland’s Fine Eats – Part 2

03 Monday Sep 2012

Posted by mrsselfish in Dublin, Europe, Food & Drinks, Ireland, United Kingdom

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Ireland

This post is a continuation of my review of Ireland’s Fine Eats. I previously reviewed three restaurants from Galway, Dingle, and Waterford.

Ireland Trip Report

Ireland Overview
Driving in Ireland
Castles, Castles, and more Castles
Kylemore and Connemara
The Cliffs of Insanity!
The Loop Around the Dingle Peninsula
Searching for the Best Guinness in Dublin
6 Hotels in 7 Nights! Part 1
6 Hotels in 7 Nights! Part 2
Ireland’s Fine Eats – Part 1
Ireland’s Fine Eats – Part 2

Now, we will focus on three restaurants from Dublin. I must say that the restaurants in Dublin are far superior to the other restaurants we visited in Ireland.

4. Pearl Brasserie in Dublin – Our friend recommended this restaurant to us, and so when we happened upon it during our first night in Dublin, we decided to give it a go.

The Summer Madness menu, which included 2 courses for 22 euros, was a great deal, so I ordered the Crispy Egg (with Asparagus, Truffle Mayonnaise, Black Pudding Fritter) and the Pork Belly (cooked with Teriyaki, Pak-Choi, Carrot Pickle, Onion Rings). Both courses were delicious. I particularly enjoyed the Crispy Egg, which was still a little runny once you broke through the deep-fried deliciousness. Nom nom.

Mr. Selfish ordered the Squab Pigeon Rossini – Cooked Two Ways, which included Black Truffle Mousseline and Pan Fried Duck Foie Gras for 30 euros. Having only eaten pigeon once before and being disappointed, Mr. Selfish found this pigeon to be well-cooked and quite delicious.

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Ireland’s Fine Eats – Part 1

30 Thursday Aug 2012

Posted by mrsselfish in Europe, Food & Drinks, Ireland, United Kingdom

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Ireland

During our first night in Ireland, Mr. Selfish and I inquired at a local pub for traditional “Irish” food. The bar man informed us that there was no such thing. Nevertheless, we did manage to find Irish food but we also ate plenty of other types of food, including Indian, and Nepalese.

Ireland Trip Report

Ireland Overview
Driving in Ireland
Castles, Castles, and more Castles
Kylemore and Connemara
The Cliffs of Insanity!
The Loop Around the Dingle Peninsula
Searching for the Best Guinness in Dublin
6 Hotels in 7 Nights! Part 1
6 Hotels in 7 Nights! Part 2
Ireland’s Fine Eats – Part 1
Ireland’s Fine Eats – Part 2

This post will explore the foods we ate while exploring the Irish countryside – particularly in Galway, Dingle, and Waterford. The second post will focus on the food in Dublin.

1. The Galleon in Galway – This quaint little restaurant was located in the beachy Salthill area. We arrived as the sun was setting, and it was lovely.

While in line to be seated, the gentleman in front of us told us that the chowder and the fish and chips were the best. We took his advice and ordered both, which were delicious as he led us to believe. We also ordered the Irish lamb stew, but unfortunately, it was disappointing. The ambiance was nice, and two out of three dishes were good.

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Searching for the Best Guinness in Dublin

24 Friday Aug 2012

Posted by mrsselfish in Europe, Food & Drinks, Ireland, Searching for the Best . . ., United Kingdom

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Food & Drinks, Ireland

For our singular whole day in Dublin, Mr. Selfish and I decided to find the best pint of Guinness in Dublin. It was all for the sake of science!

Ireland Trip Report

Ireland Overview
Driving in Ireland
Castles, Castles, and more Castles
Kylemore and Connemara
The Cliffs of Insanity!
The Loop Around the Dingle Peninsula
Searching for the Best Guinness in Dublin
6 Hotels in 7 Nights! Part 1
6 Hotels in 7 Nights! Part 2
Ireland’s Fine Eats – Part 1
Ireland’s Fine Eats – Part 2

In search of the perfect “black stuff,” we drank pints at six locations: (1) Guinness Storehouse, (2) The Stag’s Head, (3) Grogans, (4) The Palace Bar, (5) Davey Byrne’s, and (6) Kehoe’s. We were looking for a consistent and creamy flavor in our pints of Guinness, and ambiance of the pub is also a consideration. We used a ten-point scale rating system, one being the lowest and ten being the highest.

1. We started at Gravity Bar, which is the bar at the top of the Guinness Storehouse with the 360 views of Dublin. Admission to the Storehouse was 16.50 euros per person, but if you buy the tickets online, it is only 14.85 euros.

Although the public is not allowed to tour the brewery, the Storehouse is a self-guided tour through six floors concerning all things Guinness. Mr. Selfish and I have been on several brewery tours, and they are all pretty much the same. The Storehouse was actually quite interesting because it provided a brief overview of the brewing process but also went into depth about the history, marketing, and branding of Guinness.