Chef Normand Laprise is a local treasure. Think Trotter, Boulud, Keller and Waters all rolled into one, but with a very distinctive French Canadian accent. He comes from the old school approach, nurturing his young chefs to go on to greatness (see Martin Picard at Au Pied de Cochon), and his menus feature produce and … Continued
Located in Miraflores, El Mercado is chef Rafael Osterling’s lively, upbeat cebicheria where there’s so much more than just citrus-soaked fresh fish. Reminding me of La Mar, just down the road, start off with a maracuya (passionfruit) pisco sour, then jump into one of the half-dozen ceviches, all kissed with fresh lime, served with giant … Continued
Creative, seasonally-driven menu in the coolest part of town, directly across street from Copper & Kings Distillery (also worth a tour and visit). Great mint juleps but even better cured meats and vegetable-heavy menu. Butchertown Grocery 1076 E. Washington St., Louisville, KY 40206; (502) 5742-8315
What Brooklyn is to New York City, Shoreditch is certainly the same to London. Located on the Eastern side of the city, this area is full of cool shops and restaurants, including The Clove Club, located in the old Shoreditch Town Hall. The menu is pretty casual, and so is the crowd. Expect wild game … Continued
Power breakfast. Power lunch. Impress your out-of-town friends with a bold call for brunch. You will, admittedly, be dining with a fair amount of tourists, (you are, after all, next to The Ritz, along busy Piccadilly near the Green Park Tube stop). Dinner was less impressive, so stick to daytime excursions here, and try not … Continued
I don’t usually get excited about Italian food in London, but Bocca is in such a great neighborhood, near several Tube stops (Leicester Square is closest), there’s a good chance you’ll be in the area. One of my other favorites – Barrafina – is just a few blocks away. Sit at the enormous counter and … Continued
Lauded as one of Esquire magazine’s Best New Restaurants, Proof on Main in downtown Louisville’s 21c Museum Hotel serves up locally-sourced, contemporary southern fare in a chic, artistic setting. Feel free to roam around the lobby/gallery, open 24 hrs. to the public; stop into the restaurant for a fantastic Old Fashioned, and some seriously intense, southern-inflected … Continued
You can eat it for breakfast, lunch or dinner, and while the recipe will change slightly (with or without collards in the middle, delicata or butternut squash) the basic dish is pretty much intact: steamed sweet corn tamal, sour cream-infused scrambled eggs, sofrito of tomato, onions and banana peppers. Sound good? Trust me, it’s Something … Continued
It’s not like I’m choosing sides in a NYC bagel war, or somehow claiming to know which joint in L.A.’s Thai Town makes the best khao soi, but when you start ranking fried chicken, I know the haters are waiting in the wings, so to speak, ready to pounce. Although I’m not sure I’m going … Continued
Marugame Monzo’s menu of fresh, handmade udons ranges from traditional, such as their kitsune udon, to more innovative offerings, like their miso carbonara udon and udon gratin. Located in the Little Japan section of Downtown L.A., you can see your udon prepared directly in front of you, through a giant glass window into the kitchen. … Continued
From the Boka Restaurant Group (Boka, Girl & the Goat, GT Fish, etc.) the company’s first Japanese concept is a stunner. Up until I went, there were only a handful of sushi restaurants in Chicago I would even recommend (Katsu, Mirai, Juno), but add Momotaro to this list. Not only is the fish sliced expertly, … Continued