NICE, France – (Please note that since the publication of this article, Restaurant JAN and chef Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen have received their first Michelin star.) Can someone explain to me the criteria Michelin uses to award stars? This is obviously, in Europe at least, the reference which distinguishes an excellent restaurant from a…
Das Stue, a 5-star hotel in Berlin, Germany, has great character, a serious modern attitude, and a Michelin-starred restaurant run by Paco Perez.
MARSEILLE, France – The restaurant industry is not immune to the “flavor of the day” and its effects. We see them in the worlds of art, design, architecture, and even writing. The temptation for restaurants to follow the latest fad isn’t limited to restaurant décor and trendy cocktails, but can creep into the menu, as well,…
MARSEILLE, France – La Poule Noire’s excellence comes in large part from its consistency. Unlike more gaudy competitors, this establishment, run by Paté Franck and his wife Sophie, never wavers in its ability to offer simple, affordable seasonal cuisine in a neat and tidy restaurant. Diners always know they can expect a quality dining experience…
BERLIN, Germany – Treating myself to a 5-star hotel in Berlin is always something that’s akin to the opposite of an adventure. I want my experience at luxury hotels to be filled with certainty, assurance and sureties. That’s not what happened at the Regent… but this time around it was for the best. The Regent…
It’s fashionable these days to go “off the beaten path”, “travel like a local” or “look beneath the surface”. However, each city has its classics that tourists can’t miss: it would be a shame to visit Paris without taking a look at the Eiffel Tower, or go to Mexico City without tasting a taco. So…
When I travel, I spend most of my time taste-testing restaurants and visiting different – sometimes famous, sometimes less so – places that serve local food to a local crowd. However, every once in a while I stumble upon a restaurant that’s located in a hotel. Knowing which are the Best Hotel Restaurants is important. These…
Basel is cute as a button–this small town on the borders of Switzerland, France and Germany has one of the highest museum-per-capita rates in the world. It’s also an oft-overlooked destination for Swiss holidays. Basel restaurants are a great simile for the city itself. Switzerland’s gastronomic scene is on the rise, and the Swiss’ obsession…
PARIS, France – Eating in Paris is not an easy task. There are hundreds of wonderful establishments scattered around the city. Certain neighborhoods have it better than others do. There are clichés and tourist traps everywhere. And then, there are young chefs working their tails off to offer inventive food at a fair price. I…
ROME, Italy – The Italian capital is an important place for world gastronomy. Eating in quality restaurants in Rome should be an imperative. Unfortunately what is served in the center of the city could be considered an insult to the country’s culinary tradition. To really visit Rome, you have to take the bus or walk…
