Tag: review

Summer Restaurant Week at Aureole

Restaurant week is an opportunity to sample new cuisines, broaden culinary palates or simply get into higher end restaurants without breaking the bank. 
 
I visited Aureole in midtown Manhattan for a weekday lunch.  The restaurant wasn’t too crowded but it’s always good to make reservations in advance.  A new element to restaurant week is the ability to have a meal with or without dessert (difference in price is $26 vs. $32 for lunch.) 

Best Brunch in Christchurch

Brunch. I’m not the biggest fan of Maths, but the sum of breakfast + lunch is an equation everyone should get acquainted with. Brunch is the socially acceptable way to get away with two meals in one and to drink bubbles with eggs and hollandaise sauce – Winning. And quite frankly, my experience in the past few weeks has revealed that Christchurch City has many Brunch haunts worth a visit (or two.) Here are some top picks.

Raspberry Bostock At Five Points Artisan Bakeshop

A bostock is the pastry you didn’t know you needed in your life. Another genius approach to day-old bread and an alternative to an eggy French toast, a traditional bostock is a slice of brioche topped with frangipane and almonds. It’s good for breakfast. Or dessert. Or instead of pretty much any of your more sensible meals.

Enchanting Charleston

I decided to head down south to the city of Charleston, South Carolina.  Flight times come in just under 2 hours (2 hours out and 1.5 hours back!) Having never been to Charleston, I chose to stay downtown in the historic district to be close to landmark locations on my list of places to see.

I learned a few things on my trip to the Palmetto City.  First and foremost, Charleston is a city that forces you to make a lot of decisions.  Shall I get another order of Shrimp and Grits?  I already tried She Crab Soup, but should I get another bowl.  Do I spend a day on a boat in the harbor or walking around taking pictures and visiting historical landmarks around town?  An afternoon on the beach or marshland?  Fishing or Kayaking?

Nashville’s Warm Weather Treats

As Nashville finally welcomes the spring weather, we now have an excuse to venture outside for picnics at the park and weekend strolls down 12South. And as the temperatures skyrocket, I’ve already started to crave cool treats to replace my winter staples of steaming lattes and hot slices of pie.

It just so happens that Nashville is home to a number of excellent dessert shops, any of which will exceed your expectations for warm weather goodies. Take a look at the list below, and if you don’t see your favorite, share your recommendation in the comments section below!

Jackalope Brewing Company

There’s no stopping the craft beer craze that has sprung up these past couple of years, but then, why would you want to? Nashville has over fifteen small breweries that provide the area with a broad selection of beer options. Yazoo, Black Abbey, and Jackalope are just a few of the widely known breweries that can be spotted at one of the twelve beer festivals scheduled for 2016. In Nashville, we listen to more than country music, and we drink more than Bud Light.

Bartaco 12 South

Come for the food, stay for the atmosphere. At least, that’s what I’m telling myself after finally venturing to 12 South’s hotspot, bartaco. Only open since October, the restaurant has already made a name for itself with its fresh drinks and tasty food. Though it has multiple locations across the South and Northeast, our very own Nashville location somehow feels one of a kind.

Now that we have finally welcomed the warmer weather, the restaurant has opened its massive garage-style doors in celebration. You can take advantage of the lounge seating under the warm spring sun or simply enjoy the occasional breeze from the indoor tables.

Nashville’s Hot Chicken

Hot chicken is a must-try Nashville specialty. Today, there are over two dozen restaurants in the city that serve the dish, and chefs throughout Atlanta, New York, Chicago, and Australia have created their own “Nashville-style” chicken. KFC has even jumped on the hot chicken train. This January, the fast food chain began selling “Nashville Hot Chicken” and “Nashville Hot Tenders” in its U.S. locations. Although many natives refuse the quick substitute, it is said by the company to be highly successful. While restaurants have their own spin on the local favorite, hot chicken is essentially fried chicken with a cayenne pepper paste served with pickle chips on top and white bread on the bottom.

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