#we went out for tapas so i had sangria and a cocktail and then the bar gave me a free glass of cava

[helianskies]

🎵🎶 ¡¡Cumpleaños feliz, cumpleaños feliz, te deseamos todos cumpleaños feliz!! 🎶🎵 🎉🎉🎁🎁🎈🎈🎊🎊🎂🍰🧁🥧🍭🍬🍫

Espero que tengas un gran día hoy y cuando lo celebres ¡y que lo disfrutes mucho!, te lo mereces 😊💕💕

ive only now just found the proper time to sit and respond im so sorry ahhhh, i had an exam this morning so after my bday i had to pht my phone aside,, pero mil gracias amiga, tuve un día fenomenal y bebì tanta sangría y piña colada para celebrar jeje~ 💖🥳🍹

[kat-feinated]

My favorite Denver restaurants

How was your week?

My week included being invited to have a threesome with two of my work clients, who are both meth addicts and lost custody of their child due to said meth addiction.

My boss asked me to send the text to her and just replied “FOR GOD SAKE” and I feel like that’s the perfect summary of my year.

Speaking of meth, we finally finished watching “Tiger King” this week. I know I know, that show is so one month ago. But I have a lot of thoughts that I need to share with the world.

1. Did anyone else find Joe really sympathetic and felt bad for him? Yes, I know he’s unstable and probably killed animals and stuff but I found him...endearing!? 

2. Doc Antle is the creepiest ever ever ever. 

3. Jeff Lowe sucks. And his wife is way too young for him. And THE WHOLE THING WITH THE NANNY I JUST CAN’T.

4. The guy with no legs whose name I can’t remember was my favorite character. And just seems so normal. How did he end up there!?

5. I’m proud of Saff for standing up for Joe in the aftershow...everyone else just sold him down the river!

6. Howard Baskin. Howard Baskin singing. Howard Baskin’s wedding photos with Carole Baskin. The show is worth watching just for Howard Baskin.

7. Do I think Carole murdered her husband and fed him to a tiger? Yes. Would I still hang out with her in a heartbeat? ABSOLUTELY.

8. I’m extremely mad that I didn’t come up with “hey all you cool cats and kittens”. And now it’s already over-used.

Do you miss eating at restaurants as much as I do? (Probably not because you’re probably a normal person who has friends and other hobbies). I miss restaurants so much it HURTS. I miss looking up menus and deciding what I’m going to order days before I go. I miss people-watching and commenting on everyone else’s food. I miss kind servers bringing me baskets of bread and drinks that I didn’t make. I MISS RESTAURANTS YOU GUYS.

So, while I’m eagerly waiting for restaurants to start re-opening, I thought it would be fun to share my very favorite places to eat in Denver. Share this list with your favorite Denver local! Or better yet, come visit Denver and try these spots out (and invite me!!). 

Cuba Cuba: This was the first restaurant I tried in Denver, because it’s across the street from our old apartment. It’s located in an adorable blue bungalow but is surprisingly spacious on the inside. For drinks, order their house made mojitos or a pina colada. For appetizers, order the plantain chips with guacamole and garlic sauce (YUM) or the empanadas. Everything I’ve eaten there for dinner has been delicious, but I especially love the coconut shrimp and the chimichurri steak.

Perfect for: a date night or girls’ night where you feel like getting a little dressed up (but you’d be fine going there dressed more casually).

Rioja: This is my mom’s favorite Denver restaurant, and she insists we go every single time she’s in town. It’s located in Larimer Square, the cutest and most charming street in downtown Denver. It’s a bunch of old Victorian buildings that have been converted into restaurants and shops, and the street is decorated with twinkly lights and Colorado state flags so it’s a great spot to get a touristy picture when you visit.

The menu changes constantly, so it’s hard to recommend exactly what to order, but you can’t go wrong with the pasta dishes. They are known for their artichoke tortelloni and it’s honestly the best pasta I’ve ever eaten in my life. Last time we also ordered the tagliatelle and clams which was fantastic. For starters, order the smoked pear and raclette if it’s available-so yummy.

Also, Rioja makes all their bread in house, and it’s probably our favorite part of the restaurant. Waiters literally come around with a giant tray of bread and I always try every single type. The lavender sourdough and rosemary biscuit are life-changing.

Perfect for: when your parents come visit (and pay!) or a special occasion like an anniversary or birthday dinner. It is on the pricey side.

Work & Class: This is probably the Denver restaurant I’ve eaten at the most. Located in the very hip Five Points neighborhood, Work & Class is always busy and does not take reservations, so I would recommend going on a random weeknight vs. a Friday or Saturday. If you do go on the weekend, plan on an hour plus wait-the good news is you’re surrounded by bars and breweries to help pass the time.

Work & Class is a South American/American fusion restaurant, and everything is served tapas (small plates) style, so go with someone you are cool sharing with. They have fabulous in-house cocktails which change seasonally, so definitely order one while you peruse the menu. It’s hard to make food recommendations since I’ve probably tried everything on the menu and have never been disappointed, but some of my favorites include: the lamb, the empanadas, the mac & cheese, and any of their vegetable side dishes.

Perfect for: your group of friends who you’re comfortable sharing with (eating off of each other’s plates!).

Mercantile Dining & Provisions: This is another spot that my mom insists on visiting every time she comes to Denver. It’s located in Union Station in downtown Denver, which is itself a great spot to visit. It’s an old train station (that is still a working train station) but also home to a hotel, an ice cream parlor, a bookshop, a florist, and every other small adorable business you can imagine.

Mercantile serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner (I’ve had all 3 there), but my mom and I have created what we believe is the perfect system for dining there. We always go on the day she is leaving town, since she can take the train from Union Station to the Denver Airport after our meal. We try to go around 11am, and we order a raspberry muffin. My mom doesn’t even like muffins, but these are no ordinary muffins-not too sweet, perfectly fluffy, moist (I’M SORRY) -just sheer perfection. After sitting and people watching for about an hour, we then order a short rib sandwich around noon, as soon as they start serving their lunch menu (it gets quite busy at this time). SO GOOD. SO TASTY. Plus, the restaurant itself is so cute-it looks like Joanna Gaines designed the perfect black-and-white chic modern farmhouse.

Perfect for: brunch/lunch after a morning exploring downtown Denver, or a quick bite before catching the train to the airport.

Lowdown Brewery: Is it cheating that this is actually a brewery and not a restaurant? I say it counts because they make all their food in house. I don’t always love going to the popular breweries around Denver because they’re usually packed. I’ve never seen Lowdown packed and in my opinion it’s the best brewery in Denver in terms of food and ambience-and the beer is good too!

Not only do they make and sell their own beers, but their menu always features a seasonally rotating list of Colorado beers as well. They have a lot of IPA’s (which I despise but everyone else seems to love). I’ve tried their blood orange wheat, selfish (pale ale), and their blackberry sour and have enjoyed all three. In terms of food, you can’t go wrong with any of their pizzas, salads, or sandwiches, but I personally can’t get enough of their beer cheese dip (served with broccoli, apple slices, and soft pretzel bites-I’M DROOLING).

Perfect for: sitting out on their patio with friends in the warm weather. Bring your dog!

El Five: El Five has one of the coolest views of downtown Denver, not to mention delicious food and drinks and great service. Their sangria is the best I’ve ever tasted, but they have tons of great cocktail, beer and wine choices if that’s not your thing (but also what is wrong with you). For appetizers, try the spreads of the med-a platter of house made pita, hummus, and veggies. For their traditional tapas, I’ve tried and enjoyed the patatas bravas, the shrimp & calamari, and the goat cheese croquettes. Then, of course, you must try their paella. I’ve tried both the Valencian (made with rabbit confit!) and the seafood and would recommend either. Be prepared to log roll out of the restaurant when you’re finished because you will have gained 100 pounds.

Perfect for: a festive date night, dinner with your parents, drinks with your girlfriends-just be prepared for an expensive bill.

Stowaway: I’ve only been to Stowaway once, right before the shelter in place order started, but I’ve been dreaming about it ever since. First of all, it is tucked into the cutest former warehouse-turned-hipster-coffee shop/brunch spot, complete with exposed pipes and red brick walls. I AM HERE FOR IT.

We went on a Sunday morning with some friends who warned us to expect a bit of a wait. Fortunately, the Denver Central Market is just a few blocks away so we were able to enjoy some cocktails and/or coffee while we waited.

When we finally got in, I ordered the Colorful Colorado (an egg dish) because of the 8 million reviews I’d read ahead of time that told me I must order this dish or live a life of unending misery and regret (ok, that might be a slight exaggeration but it was something along those lines). I also split the fruit toast with Joshua because I have to order something sweet and something savory when I go to brunch (I know I have a problem, just leave me alone). Both were so freaking good. I can’t wait to go back soon and try everything on their menu (or more likely, order the same two dishes over and over again).

Perfect for: brunch with your favorite hipster friend.

Linger: This is the one restaurant on my list that I love more for the location/ambience than for the food, though the food is certainly tasty. Linger is located in my favorite neighborhood in Denver (LoHi or Lower Highlands) and the building it’s in USED TO BE A MORTUARY. Like, WHERE DEAD PEOPLE WOULD BE SENT AFTER THEY DIED. I personally find this so cool, and if this freaks you out, you would never know except that I just told you (sorry). It’s very airy inside with cozy mood lighting and exposed brick walls. This is another place that does small plates and they’re all globally-inspired street food dishes-the menu is literally divided by continent (i.e. Asia, Africa). For drinks, order the turmeric mule. For eating, you really can’t go wrong, but some dishes I’ve enjoyed include: the bao buns, the impossible burger persian sliders, the tuna tostadas, and the potato masala dosa. Skip dessert because right around the corner you’ll find Little Man Ice Cream-one of my favorite ice cream spots in the city.

Perfect for: a first date/date night, a girls’ night, or a summer brunch on their rooftop bar.

Snooze: Full disclosure-Snooze is a chain and is not just located in Denver; they have locations across Colorado and in a few other states including Texas and California. That being said, I just have to include it on my list because I believe it is completely worth the hype.

Because there is always a long wait (I’m talking 2 hours sometimes), we always go on a Monday morning when there’s a federal holiday that other people don’t get off, such as Columbus Day. Don’t kid yourself-there will still be a wait, but it will hopefully be closer to one hour. Plus, they give out free coffee while you wait!

I don’t even like pancakes, but I always order the pancakes here. ORDER THE DAMN PANCAKES PEOPLE. You can even get a pancake flight where you can sample three different types of pancakes (I highly recommend the blueberry danish pancakes and the sweet potato pancakes). If I’m in a savory mood, I’ll order the breakfast tacos with a side of one pancake.

Perfect for: brunch with your friend, brunch with family or anyone with kids, brunch with your arch nemesis, brunch with anyone.

Hopefully this list made you excited to go back to restaurants again in the future, instead of depressed! And please send me your best restaurant recommendations! These conversations are what I live for.

[nogreatillusion]

In January, I was quiet. I took a lot of walks around Savannah's historic district, listened to podcasts, remembered to breathe. I drank orange tea and went bowling.  Savannah in January is crisp, but never truly cold. It's brisk and sunny, and it never freezes. The fountains continue to run and the people walk around with their coats unbuttoned.

In February, I surprised Ben with a weekend at Disney World. We bought wildly overpriced mouse ears and grinned like mad the entire time, even when Ben was vomiting uncontrollably into a trash can. I felt eight years old and thrilled again, waving at all the princesses as the parade went by. The next week, a man ran a red light and totaled our only car. Ben was shaken but fine. I learned a lot in the process of searching for and buying another. One evening we went out to the beach with lanterns and and a bottle of wine. The shore was covered in thick foam and we walked until the light faded.

In March, I mostly struggled. My health issues were worsening. I visited the doctor, but felt lost and unheard. In the afternoons, I walked down to the river and watched the boats go by. I strolled the cobblestone streets in my beat-up black flats. On St. Patrick's Day, two people swore at me while I was doing my job, and I swore to myself I'd get out of customer service as soon as possible. I was exhausted.

In April, Sam and Julia came to visit. We took them to the beach where we drank boxed wine while floating in the waves, and went out for Mexican food. I pretended not to be ill, but I knew something was terribly wrong, although I assumed it was a bad spell of IBS. Shortly after they left, I was diagnosed with and treated for c. difficile, a brutal and potentially deadly infection. I thought more than once that I really might die. In May, mostly recovered, we spent a weekend in New York, visiting friends and celebrating five years together. We picnicked in Central Park, and had our picture taken in DUMBO by the river. It was cloudy, and on our last morning Lily, and Ben, and I all got soaked trying to reach a restaurant for brunch in Cobble Hill. We took shelter in a charming bookstore, new since we left the city, and I twisted my wet hair up under Ben's baseball cap, acutely aware of how everything goes on whether you're there or not. In June, we went to baseball games and Forsyth park. Emma came for a visit -- we talked about men and texting and watched too much Southern Charm Savannah. Ben and I visited St. Augustine, Florida, where we spent two nights sleeping on a beautiful, docked sailboat and drank the best cocktails I have ever tasted at an enormous vodka distillery. Florida is hot as hell in June, but the sunsets are rose-colored and beautiful. 

In July, I got promoted to the first job where I've ever felt comfortable and mostly content. I stopped dreading going to work, for the most part, which felt like a miracle and a triumph. Back in New York, we attended the wedding of two dear friends, accompanied by one of the most awe-inspiring storms I have ever witnessed. We drove through a flood to reach their reception where the skies immediately cleared into a rainbow, like in a movie.

In August, we went back to Orlando, accompanied by our friend Marthur, for Ben's birthday. We went out for tapas, rode water slides, and spent an entire afternoon drinking champagne, cracking jokes, and swimming in the hotel pool. Later, I celebrated my bachelorette weekend on Tybee Island with 5 friends who generously flew to Georgia for me. We wore silly sunglasses, soaked in the sunshine, and swam in the ocean. I got stung by a jellyfish so badly, every local who saw the sting in the weeks after proclaimed it the worst one they'd ever seen. Four months later, there is still a faint scar, of which I am oddly proud.

In September, evacuating from a hurricane that never hit, we drove all the way to Charlottesville, Virginia, with my wedding dress draped across the backseat of the car, and crashed on an air mattress at Kay's apartment. I was approaching near-panic levels of wedding-related anxiety, but the hours spent in the car and the weekend away calmed me. We were married on the second to last Sunday in September, at the prettiest horse farm in central New York. It was everything I dreamed it would be, except considerably hotter. We danced all night long in front of an enormous fan, and in the morning we flew to New York, and then Paris. There we ate in cafes and wandered cathedrals and read books by the Seine. I've never been happier. 

In October, we flew from Paris to Barcelona, where I celebrated my 31st birthday exploring the labyrinthine streets of the gothic quarter. We bought chocolates and cheeses at the open air market, went to see a traditional flamenco performance, and drank our weight in sangria. I wore a beautiful turquoise necklace that I bought at an antique market in Paris. I tried to figure out how we could move to Spain.

In November, we settled back into real life. We cooked a marvelous Thanksgiving feast, bought a Christmas tree, and decked every room in the house with twinkle lights. We hung a pine wreath on the red front door and burned balsam-scented candles. I visited Nashville for work, but didn't see as much of it as I would have liked. 

In December, we wrote thank you notes and drank hot cocoa. We visited our local cat cafe. We talked a lot about the future. We spent our first Christmas away from our families. Ben is also my family now. We're a small family, but a good one.

Now we are here, in a cabin in the middle of the woods, somewhere between Covington and Macon. It’s quite possibly the most tranquil place I have ever been. We watched the sunrise from the bedroom. I’m drinking jasmine tea and wearing a heavy sweater. There are cinnamon buns in the oven and tapestries on the walls. We’re halfway through a puzzle, spread out over the floor of the loft. Yesterday we listened to every Beach House album and then every Pure Bathing Culture album and I fell asleep on the sofa before nine, with the Cocteau Twins singing in my dreams.

Ben teases, saying he’s optimistic that we’ll stay awake until midnight tonight, and I laugh because it doesn’t really matter at all.

[vacationsoup]

New Post has been published on https://vacationsoup.com/el-puerto-authentic-spanish-tapas-bar-and-restaurant-in-bristol/

El Puerto - Authentic Spanish Tapas Bar and Restaurant in Bristol

  Housed in one of Bristol’s historic Harbourside Buildings on Princes Street, you will find this super independently owned Spanish Tapas Restaurant which first opened back in 2002.

As you walk into the restaurant the rustic tiled floor, beamed ceilings, whitewashed walls, Spanish music and lively atmosphere, gives a very authentic Spanish feel.  There is a nice choice of tables from cosy intimate corners for a romantic meal for two through to large tables for bigger parties or groups.  Join them on Sunday evenings for live flamenco dancing, live Spanish music and traditional paella from 7.30 pm.

We visited in July with a couple of friends from out of town who were in Bristol for a Salsa dancing event.  I suggested El Puerto as I have visited there many times over the years, always enjoyed the food and I hadn’t been there for at least a year or so.

The reservation was made for 8pm, when we arrived our friends were already enjoying a drink at the bar.  We were shown to our table by a jolly fellow and our orders taken shortly afterwards.  One of our friends had indicated he was looking to eat something fairly substantial so I suggest one of the main meals (fish, steak or mixed grill etc) but upon viewing the menu he also decided there was such a good choice of Tapas we should share a variety of these (a very good decision in my eyes).

Tapas dishes range from £4 - £7 each and in my opinion are good value for money,  they are large enough that 3 per person is more than enough for even the hungriest of us,  10 or 12 between a group of four give a really varied selection.  A separate gluten free menu and vegetarian options are also available. There is also a fairly large wine list, a very good selection of Spanish beers and of course Sangria.  See their full Menu.

We ordered an array of dishes, including – Chorizo a la plancha (grilled chorizo sausage), Pollo Ajillo (chicken in garlic & white wine sauce), Costillas Crujientes (crispy pork ribs), Chuletitas de cordero (Lamb Chops marinated in garlic), Espeto de Sardinas (Sardines cooked over charcoal), Pescaditos (Whirebait), Patatas Bravas & Patatas Ali Oli (deep fried potatoes with spicy tomato sauce and with garlic mayonnaise), Abondigas (meatballs in tomato sauce), to name but a few (my mouth is seriously watering just writing these !)   We were also served bread with aioli and olives while our tapas was being prepared.

The dishes were brought to the table freshly as they were prepared, a few at a time, which in my opinion is ideal as none get the chance to go cold whilst eating and makes for an extended period of chatting whilst eating and drinking.  I opted for a bottle of wine recommended by the waiter and the boys had Estrella, both were going down very well.

After we finished the tapas only two of us decided that we had just enough space to fit one of the mouth-watering homemade desserts on offer.  I went for the El Puerto Strawberry Mess (their take on an Eton Mess with Fresh Strawberries, Organic Cream, Ice Cream & Meringue) which was absolutely delightful.

To summarise our night out El Peurto was fantastic – good company in pleasant surroundings, lovely atmosphere, scrumptious food, nice cold beers and friendly attentive service.

El Puerto has changed management a few times over the years, the new owner “Kani” took over just a few months ago and is keeping up the reputation of being Bristol’s #1 Spanish Tapas Restaurant.

57 Prince Street, Bristol BS1 4QH - 01179 256014 – 01179 279279 – email info@el-puerto.co.uk

Parking is available right opposite in The Grove car park - £3 from 6pm – midnight

Thanks for reading, we hope you enjoy the content

If you are looking for Holiday Accommodation for larger groups, look us up, we have great self-catering accommodation.  www.buryhillfarmbristol.com

You may also be interested in the following – Great places to eat in Bristol

Revolucion de Cuba - A Rum Bar and Restaurant

Family Owned Authentic Italian Restuarant

Aluna - A trendy cocktail bar, serving funky food

[abiteofnat]

THE SUBWAY CAN’T STOP ME FROM HAVIN A GOOD TIME...

Even though my “sea legs” are a little shaky when I’m a billion feet underground and shuttling through the space-time continuum. I love public transit and rely on it to live my life, but the NYC subway is it’s own Narnia of transport. After my family left me for the rats in NYC I was to backpack between Brooklyn and the Upper East Side where two of my best and most beautiful friends recently moved to, each of them very different people and therefore providing me with a week of amazing, diverse experiences and quality #bff time. While I panicked about not having enough to do to keep us occupied I quickly realized I am naive and that NYC is definitely not lacking in things to do, anytime, ever. AND THEY DON’T LACK THINGS TO EAT! 

The first couple days were spent with a dear pal Sophia, my crossfit queen and wine connoisseur, and her boyfriend in Brooklyn where the bagels were plenty and we ate a lot of them. Bagel World is where you can find the famous Rainbow Bagel which I believe is an egg bagel with some food coloring stirred in, and with a little plain cream cheese smeared on there it’s the perfect #hangoverhelper and puts a smile on your face. The best thing about NYC bagel delis is the fact they have TUBS of cream cheese for your choosing, and you better believe there are a half a dozen flavors minimum that make the salty & sweet or savory & salty or sweet & sweet conundrum all the harder to decide. I’m a fan of a salty bagel and a sweet cream cheese, i.e. sea salt bagels with strawberry cream cheese (which I tried at Pick A Bagel -pictured below- later on that week) but that rainbow bagel realllyyyy swooned me. And, being a dumbo with caffeine-free brain, I forgot to take pics and just consumed it out of pure glee. May it live on forever in my heart.

I also went to a bombfreaking.com bagel place in the Financial District while Soph was off doing important things, and lemme tell you I absolutely adore that area of Manhattan. While it does feel very “Wolf of Wall Street” and everyone is a business person rushing around under these tall, gray buildings it’s also near the water and feels like a whole new city of it’s own. There are a ton of tiny cafes and coffee shops, bars and mini patios, and a shocking amount of flower shops. I wouldn’t make it a destination area itself but if you’re checking out the One World Trade Center (which is entirely worth seeing, it’s humbling and very breathtaking) you could walk over for a snack and a think. My find of the day was Leo’s Bagels, where I got a poppyseed and chive cream cheese bagel that blew my fucking mind. This bagel was the essential NYC bagel, broiled to chewy perfection and toasted to a golden brown and then SMOTHERED WITH CHIVE CREAM CHEESE THAT I COULD EAT WITH A SPOON FOREVER. I read a book, “The Couple Next Door”, and noshed on my bagel while watching the rain fall on the brick streets crowded with people running underneath newspapers to protect their fancy hair. It was pretty damn perfect. 

Outside of bagels, we checked out where to get sangria pitchers and talk about the trials of millennial living which lead us to Barraca, a picture-perfect corner spot in a bustling part of Greenwich. Their happy hour menu was poppin’ and we ordered pitchers of multiple types of sangria, garlic-marinated olives, pan con tomate, and expected menu items such as patatas bravas that were deep fried and topped with a glorious aioli, and then threw in some manchego cheese with grilled toast and jam. It was tasty little bites of tapas classes in a rustic yet modern setting, great people watching, and ideal lounge-forever-and-drink vibes. 

We were quite content here and should you want a casual, 5-hour European meal this is your place! Plus Greenwich is a mecca of little bars and late night restaurants, walk a little far to the Meat Packing District to the clubs and fancy pants bars, and the world is your $15 cocktail. Voila! 

The last leg of my trip was spent with my oldest and most vegan friend Lolo who went above and beyond to show me an authentic day in the life of her and her huge, beautiful friend group which led us to some pretty cool and totally veggie-friendly spots. Lolo being the wonder she is also let me stop for bagels at any moment and for that she wins an award seeing as she doesn’t even eat bagels! And I’m so indecisive with them! 

One of the first places we went to was the food court in The Plaza as it’s a staple for her and I had never been. We woke up ~hella~ early with the world on a Saturday to scamper to Central Park and sit in line for 5 hours to get Shakespeare in the Park tickets for A Midsummer Night’s Dream, as it’s free Broadway theater that is packed every single night of the summer, and after scoring four beautiful tickets our eyes were glazed over and my stomach was screaming “FUCK THE ARTS I NEED FOOD”. So we headed to The Plaza, went underneath the elite hotel section to the similarly elite yet casual eatery, and I was shell shocked. I don’t know what I expected, but this food court felt like the most glorious spread of gourmet foods offered to raggedy people like us in baseball caps and tennis shoes. 

Lolo led me to the coffee that to this minute of my life is still the best iced coffee I’ve ever had, and with a splash of almond milk and simple syrup I couldn’t quite believe that coffee from a French stand in a food court was changing my entire life. It’s called Epicerie Boulud, and you should go N O W. 

We also stopped and got sushi from the sushi stand which would be a running trend of the weekend (little did I know). One of the things I love about my girl is she is an avid sushi fan even though it’s just veggies and rice all wrapped up because she’s meat free, and I can eat sushi for ever single meal without turning into an actual piece of tuna and be happy. It was VERY VERY good sushi, and the men making it were so happy to be rolling up some rolls for the line of people sitting along the prep station and watching. Nothing like live theater, no matter what kind it is. 

After this meal we went to Central Park with some goodies from Whole Foods and picnicked until the show started, and my oh MY free Shakespeare was remarkable. The set, the costumes, alllllll of it was so extra and not to mention you’re watching it in the middle of Central Park with Manhattan lighting up all around you! 

The last meal spent in NYC was at ~drum roll please~ Chelsea Market, a spot I had never gotten to and was so eager to see. IT DID NOT DISAPPOINT! Within this old, brick + steel building there are a billion little shops and curiosity stalls, one at which I bought an ancient postcard of Lady Liberty that I’m obsessed with. This was also the first trip I went out on the river to see Lady Liberty and I think I fell in love a little bit. That statue made me so damn emotional and I kind of can’t wait to go back and wander Ellis Island for a bit. Plus, the boat had a bar on board, and who doesn’t love a Blue Moon while cruising on the Hudson?

At the Chelsea Market we went to Lolo’s favorite place which is called Beyond Sushi and it’s completely vegan and grassy sushi + other sides that SHOOK ME. TO THE CORE. First off, the rice was purple. Second of all, the side of kimchi was so good that I ate it like salad all on it’s own and almost forgot to eat the other aspects of my meal. Try any and all things on the menu; it is all so fresh and delicately made that you don’t even realize there’s no fish/dairy/animal product in them. I’m the first to scoff at sushi that’s devoid of the most insane amount of tobiko/ahi tuna/octopus, but this was legitimately crunch and full of flavor and a remarkable balance of flavor. 

Yep. It’s unreal. Yep. See those test tubes of sauce? The plum sauce is best on EVERYTHING. HOW HELPFUL IS THAT. 

Right next door to Beyond Sushi is Pineapple Express, the glorious spot where the nicest woman in the world stayed open to make me one of the Insta-famous pineapples filled with pineapple soft serve and topped with fresh fruit, coconut shavings, and an umbrella. Also vegan, this makes the most luscious dessert to end a salty meal with and is perfect for sharing as long as you don’t mind accidental spoon wars. O.M.G. it was so good! And tip this woman well, she loves her job makin’ pretty fruits. 

WOWZA AM I RIGHT? Although the Chelsea Market closes relatively early, it is so worth going for a bite to eat and a wander about. You never know what treasures you’re going to find! 

Thanks for reading through my NYC adventures, I promise I also have fun Chicago spots to try and that I’m not leaving annyyy time soon. Ok? Ok. 

Until next time, Happy Eating!

-Natalie

[foodtravelanddrinks]

Just put it in your mouth was the advice I received from some guys from Jersey.  See Iceland is infamous for this fermented shark. Some people say just put in your mouth and swallow. Others say you have to chew it to get the full experience. Me, I say hold your nose because it is funky. 

Fermented shark isn’t the only interesting meat I found in Iceland. I remember when I was a kid  we would joke about eating horse meat. We would say Jack in the Box served horse meat. If you ate a burger from there, eww you are eating horse meat. Well I must say horse meat was pretty damn good.

While on food tour we went to a cheese shop called Burid. The cheese was good but the most interesting thing there was the cured meats. I had the horse meat there. Everyone in the group was scared to try it. But hey why not. To me the horse meat was the most tender out of the lamb and the duck. It reminded me of beef jerky in flavor. It was so soft and tender. It wasn’t like any meat I have ever had. It makes me wonder why we eat cow but not horse.

Horse might have been the most unusual thing I had there, but I had other things too! I had cute little puffin bird and mink whale. They were prepared well. I actually didn’t know what they were at the time of eating them. Tapas Barinn. If you are adventurous, they have an adventure for you.  If you like to play it safe, well they have lots of options too.

Puffin

Salmon

Mink whale

Grilled Lmab

Sangria and water

Lobster tailss

Like I said everything wasn’t scary. I had lobster bisque, lamb stew, rye bread ice cream, flavorful cheeses, good seafood, and awesome deserts. Something I had for the first time there was lamb hotdogs. It had fried onions and the ketchup that had apples in it (tomatoes too but the apples replaced sugar). You know something is good when there is a long line. The line was long in Reykjavik and at the airport for these hotdogs. But don’t take my word for it, try it for yourself.

  I even had great cocktails. I stumble upon cool bar. The bar was called The Loftid.  They had a huge chalk board with  crazy names on it. Come to find they create new drinks every week and put the names on the board.  I tried different versions of Brennivín.  Really cool bar.  I always attract weirdos. In this case the bar drunk. Although I will not deny accepting his drinks, he was crazy as hell. First thing he asked was, “have you ever made love to a Viking”? Nope, don’t believe I have. But I will take that drink. I wasn’t the only person he felt to engage. Some other folks weren’t too friendly, and the bar fight began. Well not a fight, but a tussle. Very entertaining.

There is a place called Apotek that I  really want to try next time. I actually had dessert there but not a full meal. The decorum in there was pretty cool. Oh well, next time. But on the next trip I wont have the shark but I will try the kangaroo. Why do they sell kangaroo in Iceland, I don’t know. But I will put it in my mouth.

https://www.facebook.com/svartakaffid

http://www.tapas.is/en/

http://www.saegreifinn.is/en/matsedillinn/

Iceland : Just put it in your mouth! Just put it in your mouth was the advice I received from some guys from Jersey.  See Iceland is infamous for this fermented shark.

[jetsetsaby]

Barcelona, Spain

On our trip to Spain, we spent 6 Days, 5 Nights in Barcelona. 2 of those nights we were at the W Hotel in Barceloneta Beach & 3 Nights were at the H10 Metropolitan in Plaza Catalunya (a more central area of the city). This amount of time allowed for a lot of leisure and a less “packed” itinerary. One of these days included a half-day day trip to Girona, Spain. 

The Hola BCN card is definitely worth it if you plan on using the metro and other public transportation trains besides the Renfe train. Validate this at any metro station by putting in your validation code on your voucher. Additionally, we used the Aerobus (a separate ticket) for our trip back to the airport. Main pick up location is at Pl. Catalunya, where they have buses continually running throughout the day. Took us about 30-40 mins once we got on to the airport.

Points of Interest: 

Talk a walk down Passeig De Gracia (Barcelona’s Rodeo Drive), on this walk you can visit Casa Battlo & Casa Mila (I’d recommend buying both these tickets in advance)

El Nacional- a trendy “Eataly” type place to visit while in this area. Check out the inside & maybe grab a drink. I don’t really recommend eating there as the food is touristy and disappointing.

Mercado de La Boqueria

EL QUIM!!! Note the exclamation marks!!!

Bar Pinotxo- we did not get to try this, but it’s a highly recommended place to visit. The owner has cooked and run this place for 50+ years and is still there everyday. 

Buy a mixed Jamon & Cheese cone. We bought ours from Mas. 

El Born- a cute spanish hipster area with great restaurants worth checking out for casual tapa hopping. If you turn the right corners, you might find some great streets worth taking a few IG worth pictures due to the various string lights hung across the alleyways. 

Gothic Quarter- Very old neighborhood full of charm. Oldest part of the city and the “OG” Barcelona neighborhood. Fun fact: the original Barcelona consisted of the Gothic Quarter, Born and Raval neighborhoods. The rest were expansions beyond the original city walls thereafter. For instance, Barceloneta is man made!

Montjuïc Magic Fountain- was a beautiful show (~1 Hr); get there in advance at least a half hour to get a good spot as it gets very crowded! The best view is by the 4 massive pillars of Palau Nacional.

Montijuic Castle- we did not visit here due to the weather, but it is supposed to have a great city/beach view of Barcelona.

Arc De Triomf & Ciutadella Park

These two are very close to one another, so I’d visit them in tandem. Arc de Triomf would be a quick visit just to view the architecture, whereas Cituadella Park requires some walking through the park. The area with the lake/fountain is pretty nice.

Mt. Tibidabo- was pretty complicated to travel here.. and the expectation vs. reality was not impressive. We could have gone on a bad day, so if you’re still up for it & have the time I’d still give it a try.

Near Tibidabo is a rooftop bar called Mirablau which supposedly offers great views of Barcelona. We unfortunately were unable to go here as it seemed complicated to get there as well (nor did we really feel compelled to go because of the disappointing view we saw at Tibidabo already).

Expectation vs Reality- WHERE IS THE OCEANNN?! (also rained the day before, so not sure why it was so overcast/hazy)

Park Guell- the park is pretty huge, I’d say you’d spend a good 2 hours here walking around if you want to explore the whole thing. If you’re planning to visit the inside of the Park, buy tickets in advance. There are multiple entrance points around the park in which you can see the center portion that is only available by purchasing a ticket.

Sagrada Famila- Obviously.. *buy tickets in advance*

Across the ticket entrance is a park where you can get some pretty cool shots of the Sagrada.

Visit Ayre Hotel Rosellon- for this amazing shot of the Sagrada Familia. Just buy a drink in the hotel lobby & head up to the 6th floor.

Restaurants:

Most restaurants have bar seating where you just stand behind the stools and wait till the customers are done dinning. Then you can sit down and eat. We usually waited <30 min.

El Quim in La Boqueria- *MUST GO* we went here 3x 

FYI- their tapas portions are not small, they’re more like regular portion sizes so just keep that in mind when you order

RECOMMENDATIONS:

Fried eggs with Prawns in Cava sauce-  *Must Try*

Most people get the Fried Eggs with Baby Squid, but we both liked the prawns version better

Oxtail Risotto- DELICIOUS

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

Scallops with Miso

Oxtail “Quim’s Syle” - Basically Galbi Jjim Spanish style. Darren really liked. Large portion though - be warned!

Halibut Ceviche

Potatoes w/ Aioli Sauce “Patatas Bravas” - was good and is a frequently ordered tapa everywhere, but as a general rule of thumb, I’d save the stomach food for the other items on their menu

Ciudad Condal- *Another Must* we went here 2x

We ate at a rival place called Cerveceria Catalana. Most of their tapas were the same so when we did a side-by-side comparison of what we ate, we unanimously concluded that Ciudad was better. Tapas were more consistent and the ingredients were fresher (the bread especially, which makes a huge difference).

RECOMMENDATIONS:

Smoked Salmon with Langostino Montadito- *my personal favorite*

Huevos Cabrearos- *Darren’s Favorite* (not on the menu, must ask for it, can also for a half portion if you want to try many things)

Beef Tenderloin

Stir Fried Mushrooms (ask for the mixed mushrooms - comes with chantarelles and all kinds of delicious mushrooms)

Squid with Asparagus and Langostino Montadito

La Mar Salada- (Barceloneta Area)

We only had paella once in Barcelona, but this paella was pretty delicious. The flavors were well-balanced and it had the perfect amount of crispness (”soccarat”) to the bottom layer of the rice. FYI- with most paella places, you must order at least 2 portions and prices are listed per portion.

Cera 23

Did some tapa hopping on our last night and ended up here, Darren & I shared the beef cheek dish which was pretty amazing. So tender... mmmm mmm.

Tapeo

Last spot of our tapa hopping 7€ 1/2L of Sangria!!

Slow Cooked Iberico Pork Ribs

Skirt Steak with Chimichurri

Viana

This place was rated #1 on TripAdvisor and therefore seems to be catered a lot towards tourists. It is also a little on the pricier side, however the food was still pretty good. I’d recommend you make a reservation in advance if you plan to go here.

We ordered:

Prawn & White Fish Ceviche

Burrata Cheese with Tomatoes & Guacamole

Galician Octopus

Steak Special

Blackberry Mojito- pretty delicious drink they’re known for

Places we did not try, but was on our list were Arume (for small portion paella sizes), La Luna & Teoric.

Nightlife:

Barcelona nightlife starts and ends super late. Most clubs start getting more lively around 1 AM and will close at 6 AM.

Razzmatazz - our personal favorite. There are 5 rooms each with different genres of music. If you get bored just go to another! 

Entrance in club was 17€, which includes one cocktail or two beers

We came here at 3 AM, and there was still a line to get in. The line moves fairly quickly though. 

Barceloneta Area

Opium, Shoko, Pacha

All three are literally right next to each other, perfect for ultimate club hopping.

https://barcelonaparties.com/ to get on the guestlist for these clubs, however you have to arrive before 12 AM (no drink ticket included). If you arrive later, your entrance ticket will come with 1 or 2 drink tickets. For Shoko, we were able to find a promoter who let us skip the line. 

Opium- (preferred this club more than Shoko as it was more spacious)  Electro, RNB, Hip Hop however we found it more to be more like hits. It’s the most spacious out of the three Barceloneta clubs and therefore we had a better time there than at Shoko where there was some elbow bumping. 

Shoko- Electro, RNB, Hip Hop also found it more to be more like hits

Pacha- did not go here, however it looked pretty busy as well; RNB, Hip Hop club

Based on the two clubs we visited, people were not dressed as nicely as what the dress code states online. We saw many people in the club in t-shirts and shorts.

W Hotel

Finding a taxi after leaving this area can be a pain outside of the hotel, so depending on where you are staying or going, I’d recommend walking alongside the beach and catching a bicycle ride and asking if they can take you closer towards inside the city. Feel free to haggle. If you’re going to a club in Barceloneta, we hustled a bike ride for 10€ instead of 20. hehehe

Compared to Opium & Shoko, there were definitely people dressed more sophisticated here.

Also, these close earlier than other places (3AM), so I’d go here first on a night out. Serves as a good pre-game before the other bigger clubs. 

Eclipse @ the W Hotel- more of an inside lounge on the 26th floor of the hotel. There are two sides, one playing electro & the other hits.

Wet Deck @ the W Hotel- this was not open when we were there, but apparently they have great summer parties that overlook the beach.

6.2018

[thevlist]

#TheVListTravels : A Boozy Weekend in Harlem.

This past weekend, I went to New York, to visit with my friends. I usually stay in Brooklyn, but this time I stayed in Harlem with my best friend, Rashaun. Her place is super cute and just steps away from Saint Nicholas Park. It’s been years since I really spent any time in Harlem ( I would usually only go to Harlem to eat). So this was almost a totally new experience for me... the landscape was much different from what I remember. Some of the establishments I would frequent were still there, but a lot things were new or at least new to me. Nonetheless, I had a marvelous time because, I spent most of the weekend drinking. Let me just say, drinking in your late twenties is totally different than your early twenties. I knew this before but now I KNOW this without a shadow of a doubt. It is a confirmed FACT. My body was like "Bitch?! Who do you think you are?? We aren't about that life anymore! You tried it!” Needless to say, I may have over indulged. If you follow me on Instagram, than you’ve already seen some my Harlem experience on my IG story.  At any rate, below is a quick recap of my New York weekend. Make sure you check TheVListTV for video highlights.

I started off  my NY weekend, walking around Chelsea then Greenwich Village. I stumbled upon this awesome little tapas spot, called Barraca. They had an awesome lunch special for $18 and $6 sangrias. Rashaun and I definitely got a bit tipsy. The food was really good too! I didn’t expect to get such a large serving but I was pleasantly surprised. I needed my friend to help me finish everything.

Friday night I was able to meet up for drinks with one my really good friends, Brian. We went to Harlem Nights but after spotting one of the biggest cockroaches ever at the bar we left. We ended up at Harlem Tavern, which was a complete BLAST! The food, the drinks, the music, everything was on point. I had some Hennessy cocktail, that set my night off. It was sooooo good! I was definitely dancing in my seat after that drink lol. My only complaint about Harlem Tavern is, it was super loud. We had to basically yell to hear each other. Next time I’m in Harlem...I’m definitely going back to Harlem Tavern.

Saturday we spent most of the day at brunch. We first went to Lido Harlem, BUT the wait was too long for me. So we ended up at Streetbird Rotisserie, just to be disappointed by the menu. I ordered red velvet chicken and waffles and it was NOTHING like what I expected or wanted. I had to send it back. I felt a little bad, but it wasn’t what I expected. My friends had the same issue with their food. Since none of us were satisfied with our food...the manager comped our bill and gave us complimentary mimosas (and that was start). We decided to go BACK to Lido, which had the BEST berry french toast and peach bellinis. If I had exercised some patience, we would’ve had been there in time for the unlimited mimosas brunch. Lesson learned. If you plan on visiting Harlem, make sure you check out Lido for brunch on Saturday or Sunday. After brunch we went to Polished for mani/pedis. Polished is such a calm and relaxing salon, and shop manager has the R&B playlist. 

Sunday was chill day. Mainly because I spent most recovering from Saturday. I was suppose to meet up with my other friends, Deandra and Audrey, but that just didn’t happen. I don’t think we got out the house until 8 or 9 o’clock at night. We went to Harlem Public, a super cool and cheap dive bar. They have two different sides...one side is like a dive bar and the other has more of a restaurant vibe. The food was delicious and cheap.  I don’t typically drink beer, but whatever ale I ordered was really good. You can order drinks in two different sizes. I got the smaller size, but it felt like a huge drink for me.

Make sure you follow me on Instagram and subscribe to my YouTube channel, TheVListTV. 

Until Next Time...

-TVL