The place for dried fruits: Ayoub’s. Ok it’s not a restaurant but you have to try this place! I have never seen such a display of dried fruit and nuts...

A neighborhood find: Bar Susu. Located at the juncture of East and West Vancouver, it’s a bit off the tourist routes which makes it all the more appealing. How best...

It’s also a bottle shop: Dachi. Insider recommendation…helps when your daughter lives here! While the menu isn’t extensive and constantly changes due to what’s available, explore it with friends. Also...

New experience: Block Kitchen + Bar. How to describe the cuisine? How about New Asian. What do I mean? If you know bao it usually arrives with the filling inside...

Breakfast: Crust Bakery. Can’t pass on a pastry from a good bakery and this place didn’t disappoint so give it a try. When I arrived just after their morning opening...

Pays to have local knowledge: Nūba Kitsilano. Dinner with friends and relatives yields…too much food! Since it comes from the kitchen faster than it’s possible to keep up with what’s...

Tapas: ¿CÓMO? Taperia Small plates, as expected, and all very Spanish. Best of the night? The tortilla Española. Great place to try a different drink…Porto, Vermut, and sangria are all...

Brewery off the beaten path: Wildeye Brewing. Another find only possible with inside knowledge since it’s nowhere near the downtown core. Expect typical bar food and come hungry…the portions are...

Should be on your A list: Ubuntu Canteen. How to describe the food…locally sourced doesn’t do it justice. While it is that, the unique pairings of flavors makes for an...

Seafood in a city of seafood: Fiskmarkadurinn (The Fish Market). The facade doesn’t hint at the modern dining spaces within. Came highly recommended and the food did not disappoint.  The...

A hot dog in Iceland, really? Baejarins Beztu Pylsur. Not your average dog…this one is made mostly of lamb with a bit of beef and pork added to round it...

One of many bakeries: Sandholt. Upcale, light and airy space with too many choices! Breads, pastries, coffee, espresso and a larder as well. Eat in or takeaway. @sandholtreykjavik Visit website...

Typical Icelandic: Café Loki. Very nice spot for dinner across the street from the Hallgrímskirkja. Think fish in various forms…some common and some not, with a bit of lamb thrown...

Takeaway: Gao Fresh. Our Airbnb was close by so why not have a bit of Vietnamese? It’s a small place with a walk up counter. There are a few tables...

A must visit in Munich: Dallmayr Delicatessen. A Deli…like no other, with restaurants and bar which date from 1700. It has been in this location since 1870. Where to start?...

Find this place: Klimenti’s Restaurant. Tucked away near the Deutsches Museum it offers Mediterranean cuisine with a modern twist so if you are looking for a break from the wurst...

Beer garden: Görreshof Wirtshaus. Recommended by a friend, this restaurant is in the Josephsplatz area so it’s not in the usual tourist areas downtown. Classic menu of Bavarian dishes including...

How can a pizza be this big? L’Osteria Bar Italiana am Gasteig. Since there were 3 of us we asked how big the pizza was so we’d know how many...

Another unexpected find: Wild Mountain. This is another example of an unexpected dining experience in a small town. It’s about an hour drive from Victoria BC and more than well...

Wait till you taste what’s inside: Wind Cries Mary. In the downtown core on an unassuming corner but once inside you’ll know this is a special place. The plates are...

Italian/Japanese fusion and a place to share food: Kissa Tanto. Since our first visit shortly after it opened in 2016 its become a real star…see the recent article NYT…the second...

Mexican on Granville Island: Alimentaria Mexicana. Not sure how large the Mexican food scene is in Vancouver but despite this being in one of the major tourist spots the food...

Off the tourist path: Les Faux Bourgeois Bistro. As I’ve mentioned in previous post, our daughter lives in Vancouver so we get to experience more of the local culture than...

Did anyone mention coffee: Sunflower Cafe. Nice little cafe serving coffee and bakery items on the way to Whistler or, for the more adventurous, you can see The Chief from...

On the way to Whistler: Salted Vine. This is a must visit…in the growing city of Squamish which is about halfway between Vancouver and Whistler. Who would have believed this...

As named…this is a shed: WaterShed Grill. Actually located just north of Squamish in Brackendale BC it’s right on the Squamish river which makes for great views…and when in season,...

More coffee: Small Victory. There are several locations of this provider of coffee and baked goods in VAN; this one is in South Grandville. The bakery has both sweet and...

Chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate: Läderach. You can’t go to Zurich and not try the chocolate, even if you don’t like it…..which I can’t image…shops of the incredible stuff abound...

Vegan bakery: BRED. This is one of those places that shows you what can be done if you know how to do it….100% plant based bakery. While I didn’t try everything,...

Hard to get a table: Elements. This place can be hard to score a table and there can be waits of 1 to 2 hours on a busy weekend. We...

Always good: Cactus Club Cafe. One of multiple locations in BC this one is on Coal Harbor right beside the Olympic Flame. It’s a nice spot to drop by for...

This is a must visit: Salt Spring Island Cheese. It’s all about goat milk cheese and the experience should not be missed….even if you think you don’t like goat milk....

It’s not ice cream: Salt Spring Soft Serve. Cute little spot for a break from the hot weather and….it’s in a mini airstream trailer! The choices are vegan soft serve….made...

Wine tasting with a Cuban beat: Salt Spring Vineyards. One of several wineries on the Island who use local fruit to make their wines. I was intrigued by that fact...

Is it really in a tree? Tree House Cafe. No…..it’s not up in a tree but the space surrounds a very large plum tree nonetheless. Great place for breakfast, lunch...

In the old telephone company building: House Piccolo. A small place but at the same time, very comfortable. It’s been in existence since the early 90s which is a testament...

Espresso in a shipping container: The Perch. Under tress and in a small park, it looked interesting, so we gave it a try. As usual…my choice was a mocha. While...

Gotta be there on Saturday: Saturday Market. People and food everywhere but it is a must visit while on the Island. Local baked goods, food from Chinese to artisanal breads,...

Nice little spot: Burger Bar 537. All things burger…including lamb which is locally sourced and available in limited quantities. So, I had to give one a try. It arrived on...

Waiting for the ferry: Tsawwassen Quay Market. What else would you have waiting for a ferry?…..ice cream of course! Multiple flavors and other options available for purchase. My choice….salted caramel...

Local Bar: Biercraft. Another place you won’t find unless you have local knowledge. There are 3 locations in Vancouver; this one is on Commercial Drive (“The Drive”) and is obviously...

Local knowledge: Via Tevere. Visiting with our daughter who is a Vancouver “local” and she recommended we give this place a try…it did not disappoint. The pizzas are cooked in...

Local recommendation: Barrica 94 Wine Bar. We asked for a restaurant that served local food and this place, located in the Bellavista area near our hotel, seemed like a good...

Dinner with friends: Ambrosia Bistro. The chef has gotten a number of awards, including top 50 restaurants in South America, and she is considered a food star in this part...

Gelato on a hot day: Il Maestrale. Located in the Bellevista area of Santiago they offer more than a dozen flavors…perfect place to stop on a beautiful summer day. Visit...

Not a restaurant but a Santiago gem: Aubrey Hotel. With only 15 rooms you feel like you are staying in your own home. The “public” spaces are plentiful….more than any...

A delightful spot: Remota Patagonia Lodge. Fortunate to have attended a meeting in this absolutely beautiful part of the world. Puerto Natales is a small place and the number of...

Group experience: De Patio. I dined as part of a large group….we had the entire restaurant….so, as I’ve discussed before, I hesitate to be too critical since the menu was...

Inside the Marriott: Akun Lounge & Bar. Beautiful space for a quick bite and glass of wine. The pictures also show the Executive Lounge which has an interesting way to...

A favorite place: Alta Bistro. Described as modern French, the menu, while limited, had very interesting choices. The wine list is extensive….one of the most extensive I’ve seen in Whistler....

You gotta try this place: Peaked Pies. This is the original…the other location is on Denman in Vancouver..so that’s an option if you can’t make it to Whistler. The pies...

Italian: Centro. Located in the West End on Denman Street, it opened a couple of months ago. Described as modern Italian, the space is a bit retro…..think mid century modern....

Not so sure: Green Moustache. Why am I not so sure? Maybe it has to do with my choice to eat vegan after riding 78 miles and 7000 vertical feet...

Ice cream anyone? La Casa Gelato. 2nd day of our bike ride to Vancouver and this place is just off the official route….so we had to stop. They claim 238...

Breakfast anyone: Fuel + Forest. Problem with this place isn’t the food…it is very good…..but finding it. The address takes you to a large building with a number of retail shops...

Chocolate: XOCO. Artisanal chocolates made with real passion by a mother and son team. The space is small but the offerings are numerous and as best I could tell….nothing here...

Room with a view: Sea to Sky Eatery. If you’re here, it’s worth a try if you need a bite to eat. Typical menu with soups, burgers and crepes. If...

This is the place for breakfast: Fergies. Off the beaten path….actually located in Brackendale which is about a 15 to 20 minute drive north of Squamish and a few kilometers...

Gotta try this bakery: Purebread. Not sure why I haven’t posted on this before since it is one of our go to places. It’s worth a visit just to ogle...

Trying to find a bar: The Keg. The holiday….Boxing Day…had the bars at Whistler packed and we finally stumbled on this place for a quick drink and to get out...

Convenient to x country skiing: Brandywine. Located in the ski hut at the Whistler Olympic Park it’s a great place for a hearty soup or sandwich after a few kilometers...

Coffee spot: Zephyr Cafe. Eclectic space in the heart if downtown. In addition to coffee and espresso they have soups, burgers, wraps and rice bowls. The coffee and espresso were...

Hole in the wall bakery: Golden Crust. I’m familiar with the offerings of this small bakery because they have a stand at the Whistler farmers market during summer months. Their...

Nice place for a beer: Howe Sound Brewing. Great space for a beer, wine, cider or cocktail before dinner and if you have too much…sleep it off in the adjoining...

Gala dinner: Palm Courtyard. What a place for a dinner for 100! Located at the Park Hyatt, the space is right on the Red Sea with an incredible view of...

Quick trip to do some teaching: Reyhana. Located in the Ritz Carlton we had breakfast, lunch and dinner here since it was the site for the congress. The food was...

Brunch on the way home: Seasons In The Park. Drop dead views of the Vancouver skyline with Grouse and Cypress mountains in the distance. It’s other claim to fame is...

Comfort food: Burgoo. One of almost a half dozen locations in the greater Vancouver area this one is located in the Point Grey district. Very similar but in a smaller...

Looking for breakfast on Granville Island: Terra Breads. Located in the northern part of The Market, this is one of four locations in the greater Vancouver area. Their strength seems...

Another great spot downtown: Nightingale. Brought to you by the same chef at Hawksworth……voted best restaurant in Vancouver several times in the past. I will need to make a return...

Gelato fix that opened this summer: Umaluma. Local knowledge wins again……you’d not know of this place unless you happened upon it while walking east on Pender in Chinatown and stumbled...

Quick trip north with lunch in the West End: Kingyo Izakaya. I love the announcement of your arrival and departure in izakayas and this place is no exception. On Denman...

Ok…..I didn’t go to Copenhagen but had to get this on the blog: Lakrids. These things are AMAZING! Don’t tell me you don’t like licorice until you try one….problem is,...

Near the Duomo: Cocopazzo. Recommended by friends…who dined with us this visit. Located east and a moderate walk from the Duomo, it’s in a bit of a less touristy area...

Food court and market: Rinascente. High end department store with a food court, market and restaurants on the 7th floor. Although not sampled, the place to visit is the rooftop...

You gotta stop for a rest after a morning in the museum: Calicantus. Located inside the Sforzesco castle it is a nice stop for a coffee and light snack. I’ll...

Not a restaurant: Hotel Giulia Milan. Part of a small chain of boutique hotels located mostly in Europe but with one property in New York. I add it here so...

Another option in Brera: il Cestino. Also recommended by our hotel staff. Corner space and a great place to watch the world go by while having a bit of Italian...

Brunch: Marchesi. Started in 1824, we visited one of the three current sites, this one near the Duomo and in the upscale Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II shopping area above Prada....

Recommended by the hotel: Osteria di Brera. Our best food experience in Milan. It was fashion week so most places were busy but since Italians tend to eat late, tables...

Nice spot on the lake for gelato: Daniel’s. Not a typical name for an Italian bar and restaurant but the location is indeed Italian as are the offerings. From the...

One more dinner for the masses: Piccolo Lago. Located near Stresa on Lago Mergozzo it’s a venue to definitely consider for a large group. The chef has two-Michelin-stars but it...

Another dinner for 100: Ristorante Verbano. On the beautiful Isola dei Pescatori in the middle of Lago Maggiore in northern Italy. The food was good but once again the location...

Dinner for 100: Schloss Laufen. Even though the dinner here was for a large party and the food was only so so, the location is drop dead gorgeous. Located at...

More pastry options: Konditorei-Café Weissenbeck. Tucked away in the town of Dachau you’ll find this gem. It’s in an unusual area for a bakery….surrounded by office complexes and warehouses. Not...

Very popular place in the old city: Zeughauskeller. The story goes that the building was built in 1487 and originally housed an armory but in 1929 it was converted to...

Off to Switzerland with a stop at: Chedi Andermatt. If you’re looking for drop dead gorgeous then this will fit the bill. Part of a multi year “upgrade” to this small...

A must visit for us when we are in Munich: zum Spöckmeier. We have to visit this place every few years since it was a place Suzan’s Oma (grandmother) would...

Lovely hotel, restaurant and brewery: Kapplerbräu. Like many European breweries this place goes back several centuries….1561 to be exact. It’s a bit of a hike….about 30 miles NW of Munich...

Pike Place Market on steroids: Viktualienmarkt. Beer gardens, wine and cheese shops, seafood, flowers, vegetables, fruits…you name it…..it can be found here and that has been so for over 2...

One of the many locations of this bakery and café chain: Rischart. This location is worth a visit not only for the pastries and other offerings but mainly for the...

Where to start? House Moser Not a restaurant and you can’t visit but this is the definition of the Bavarian experience…stay with relatives and eat like a local. Think wurst...

Carbo loading: Lupo. Close to my hotel and on the edge of Yaletown. I wanted some Italian pasta before my ride to Whistler so this seemed like a good choice....

Quick lunch: Bistro Verde. In the Pacific Center Nordstrom and close to my daughter’s office so we decided to give it a try. Nice space with a separate street entrance...

Dinner following a tour of the city: Yu Lou Dong A chain of 4 restaurants; the original apparently in business since 1904.  When asked what type of food you like...

Lunch near the hotel: Geng Shi Ji. I think this was the best meal that I had this time in China. Typical of most restaurants here, they are bigger inside...

Dinner for 100: Wyndham Hotel I was in China doing some teaching and as is very typical, a dinner for the attendees and faculty is a requirement. I have to...

Probably the most impressive breakfast buffet I’ve seen: Wyndham Cafe Where to start….the serving line, in total, is almost 3/4 of a city block! It has everything one could want…fruit...

Not in a city and not a restaurant: Korean Air As mentioned in the post on Asiana, my intent was to compare bibimbap from both Korean carriers. This version was...

Not in a city and not a restaurant: Asiana Airlines Decided to compare the bibimbap served on the 2 national airlines of Korea on my way to and from Changsha...