ramblings of a Seattle travel, food and photography hound
One of the recommended places to have breakfast in Rotorua is the Lime Caffeteria, only a few blocks from the Rotorua Museum. The interior is sleek, slightly retro. There is an upscale ambience but not stuffy. The wait staff is very friendly, helpful when you have questions. The coffee here is stellar, served in a... Continue Reading →
We stopped for lunch in Tairua, a popular resort town with surfing, fishing and diving recreational opportunities. The commercial district is small with a few shops, galleries, an i-Site center and places to eat. We walked past several restaurants before deciding on The Pepe, which serves basic cafe fare: burgers, sandwiches, fried fish, salads, and... Continue Reading →
Another business forced to close its doors after the September quake was Copenhagen Bakery located in the PriceWaterhouseCoopers Centre (now demolished). Known for its famous pies and pastries, it relocated to the Bishopdale neighborhood of Christchurch where it enjoys as much popularity as before. After a visit to the nearby Willowbank Wildlife Reserve, we went... Continue Reading →
The September 2010 earthquake forced the closure of many businesses in Christchurch, many of them for good. This is one of the unfortunate consequences of natural disasters. Imagine how much more magnified the problem was for businesses in Fukushima. Samurai Bowl was a Japanese restaurant with a popular following, especially among Japanese students studying here.... Continue Reading →
Two years ago, when we stayed at the WorldMark in Bend, the receptionist recommended a pub in nearby Redmond called Diego's Spirited Kitchen, serving fare with a Mexican twist. The waiter at Diego's back then suggested the flatiron steak, one of their most popular dishes. That turned out to be an excellent choice. On our... Continue Reading →
As we neared Las Cruces, the Mesilla valley came into view. Here is where the famous Hatch chiles are grown. No journey along I-25 in this area would be complete without a stopover at the "chile capital of the world." The Hatch chiles are prized for their flavor and heat, a pronouncement that many New... Continue Reading →
After a day at the balloon fiesta, we were ready for dinner. Close to our hotel was the legendary Mary and Tito's, purveyor of what many foodies regard as one of the best places to have New Mexican food and a 2010 winner of the James Beard “America’s Classic” award. The accolades don't stop there as... Continue Reading →
For dinner, we headed over to Saigon Restaurant and ordered bún (☆☆½). It would have been a very good version if the noodles had been drained adequately after being removed from hot water. The result was a pool of water at the bottom of the bowl that diluted the nuoc cham that we like to pour over... Continue Reading →
I was on a quest for the great green chile cheeseburger in New Mexico. Blake's Lotaburger is pretty good, even if it is a fast-food chain, but the patty was thin. 5 Star Burgers fell short, primarily because the beef was too lean and therefore pebbly in texture. A great burger starts with ground beef... Continue Reading →
Having been disappointed by Café Pascual yesterday morning, we looked for somewhere else to have breakfast. Within a stone's throw of Pascual was a restaurant that is part of the Hotel St. Francis—Tabla de los Santos. Chef Estevan Garcia has impressed quite a few people with his takes on New Mexican cooking. Our burrito with eggs and... Continue Reading →
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