Good Eats in Prague: U Hrocha

You may not be a big sausage fan, but in Prague YOU WILL BE! With a side of horseradish, onions, and mustard. 

I was lucky enough to get a solid recommendation for a Prague pub from a friend who once lived in the Czech Republic. U Hrocha is a place you CANNOT MISS. I say this because I believe this place to be the true Prague experience.

There were not a lot of tourists here (I looked rather conspicuous pulling out my camera and snapping away). But it's exactly the kind of homey, small, hole-in-the-wall that every tourist wants to find.

Pass the paprika, please!

The group of men on the left were getting incredibly drunk. Of course they noticed me taking photos and asked me to come over for a shot. Never one to refuse free alcohol, I sat with these "jolly" men for 45 minutes, hearing tales of their lives and places they have lived. 

 The shot I had was the one on the far left, Becherovka, which has a sweet, herby/cinnamon-y sort of flavor. IT'S REAL GOOD! Apparently, it's the national drink of the Czech Republic.

This was one of the highlights of my trip! If you go to Prague, don't skip this little gem. 

Address:

U Hrocha

Thunovská 10

118 00 Praha 1

Czech Republic

My Favorite Food in Portland: Coffee (And Other Recommendations)

I am a coffee addict. I am that person who is grumpy/hates the world/thinks everyone should probably die before I get my coffee. Portland pleased me (and the eradication of my grumpiness) with its coffee choices! This was my favorite "food" in PDX. As most of us know, the Pacific Northwest was one of the first in the country to adopt italian style coffee, which I would gladly call an art form. If the coffee is brunt or the foam too bubbly, then it's shit. Portland understands the delicate play between coffee and milk, and it's hard to go wrong with the plethora of coffee shops found here.

My two favorites were the famed Stumptown Coffee and the less-famed Barista.

Besides coffee, brunch seems to be a HUGE thing in Portland. Two spots that I had a delightful breakfast/brunch at were:

23 Hoyt: If you're into a modern space with yummy grapefruit mimosas, do go here! 

Got to meet up with my friend Alexa, who I met in London! It's crazy how paths can cross.

Stepping Stone: With the slogan "You Eat Here Because We Let You," this is the perfect place for a good atmosphere. Oh, and oversized food, like my biscuit below...

 And Lainey's "Mancake."  

And lastly, for dinner, there's Pok Pok. Recommeded by, um, EVERYBODY, Pok Pok really is just that good (for those that love Thai food).

We also went to quite a few places with fresh juice/salads/teas/vegetables/vegan entrees--but you already knew that Portland has a bunch of hippies, right? So I don't have to get into that anyway.

But whatever you do, don't forget to get some coffee while you are in Portland! 

Portland: Blue Star Donuts, the 'Superior' Donut Shop

Hello all! Back from Portland, sifting through my photos, and thought I'd share an easy piece of advice before diving into heavy travel posts.

So, before I went to Portland, most everyone told me to go to Voodoo donuts. Obviously, Voodoo has quite the following with it's creative, quirky ideas. However, when I got into Portland, all the locals steered me in another direction. "Voodoo is a tourist trap," they said. "If you want a really excellent donut, go to Blue Star."

The dude at the counter told us, "We don't rag on Voodoo too much because their shitty donuts bring us business." Cheeky.

Now, I can't compare the two, since I never went to Voodoo, but I can tell you this:

The buttermilk old fashion donut from Blue Star is the best donut I have ever had in my entire life. Simple in its execution, divine in its delivery of taste. It is perfect.

There are other options, of course (I also got the green tea).

But WHATEVER YOU DO, GET THE BUTTERMILK. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, GET THE BUTTERMILK!!!!

Okay, I'm calming down now. Here's the site for Blue Star, check em out!

More Portland posts will be filling this space soon!

New Orleans: Some of the Best Food You Will Ever Have

I can confidently say that food in New Orleans is some of the best grub I have had in this country. I knew I had to showcase the real star of the city, the damn good food!! Here I've listed my favorite spots (really picked by Laura). 

1. Napoleon House

Get your ass here immediately. This was the best food I had all trip. Order the red beans & rice, get a Pimms cup, and sit in the courtyard. If you're extra hungry, also get the muffaletta. YUMMMM. I DEVOURED this meal! 

2. PJ's Coffee

Great coffee chain in New Orleans. They get that foam just right (I'm picky about foam!). 

3. Po-Boys (Multiple Spots in the City) 

I didn't really understand what a po boy was until I had one in New Orleans. Oh my gosh! Such warm, gooey, roast-beefy goodness!! You can also go for shrimp, among other options. I went to a place far out of the city center, called Chateau Market, which looked like a gas station pit-stop. It was fantastic. I'm sure you can get plenty of po boys closer to the center!

4. Atchafalaya 

I'm showcasing this place for it's cute ambiance and Bloody Mary bar (genius!). I also tried alligator sausage here--yeah, you heard right. This restaurant is located uptown and good for brunch (expect a wait, though).

5. Port of Call

Delicious, amazing, HUGE burgers with a baked potato on the side. Ha! I thought to myself, "there's no way I can finish all that!" I did. I will not feel shame for it. This restaurant is located in the Frenchmen area.

6. Homemade Grits

 Get any Southerner to make you grits. Thanks, Laura!

7. Dooky Chase

I was running out of time and knew there was a Dooky Chase located in the airpot--it was the perfect "last meal." I got red beans & rice (again) and fried chicken. Verdict: Napoleon House's red beans is better, but the fried chicken at Dooky is so worth it. And how perfect that you can grab a piece right before catching your plane! 

I ate at other places too, but these places you just can't miss. And yeah, I'm pretty sure I had to be rolled through security onto my plane. Currently back to detoxing my body with California food!! Forgot to mention that I picked up a drive-thru daiquiri one of the nights, but we won't discuss that debauchery...

What New Orleans food/restaurant do you love? 

San Diego Eateries: Sea & Smoke

It was the parents' 37th wedding anniversary last week, and so I chose the venue for them. Sea & Smoke had good ratings, so I decided to check out this swanky joint in North San Diego. I'm sure glad I did...

First of all, goooooood beer selection (which has become necessary for every San Diego restaurant).

Sitting on the patio is a total win for this place, which happened to have live music playing outside (on a Wednesday!).

Oh yeah, and the food is pretty spectacular. The winner of the night was the meat and cheese board, which I forgot to take a picture of because I was TOO BUSY EATING. Whatever you do, order the truffle salami! I did remember to take a picture of the main dishes, which were still fantastic:

 Mac & Cheese

 Salmon

 Jidori Chicken (the winner of the main dish battle)

Johnny Cash says "Get your ass over here!" But really. Get your ass over there. And whatever you do, order up the meat and cheese board a.s.a.p.

Sea & Smoke
2690 Via De La Valle 
Del Mar, CA 92014

San Diego Eateries: Claire's on Cedros

Look at the french toast. GIVE into the french toast! 

Recently I've been getting out my front door more often in an attempt to:

1. Realize there are many unseen parts of San Diego and that I don't "know it all."
2. Play with my new camera which I am having immense fun with (I'll post about the camera later).

On that note...Yesterday, I went to brunch with Rachel, who has been a solid brunch friend of mine for a decade (yep, I can now count friendships by decades...ahhh!). We went to a place in North San Diego County, called Claire's on Cedros.

I will say, I always laugh at the "using jars as drinking glasses" trend. It's now part of the checklist for being trendy...but can we get over this trend yet?? I digress...

 I ordered a cappuccino, which was as BIG AS MY HEAD. The cappuccino was more of a latte, but wasn't bad at all. And I really can't complain about being served coffee that is head sized:

Claire's is definitely worth a visit because the french toast is delicious (order with a side of thick bacon) and the ambiance is not overdone (except for the jars).

Claire's also sells fresh jam, yummy cookies, and to-die-for deserts on the side (note the pumpkin cheesecake below). 

After brunch, Rachel and I were in the mood to go to antique stores and plant nurseries (I think we might be turning 50 next year?).

I think the man who owned the nursery thought I was a little insane snapping a photo of every plant I could. What he didn't know was that I was getting major camera practice in (I still have MUCH to learn).

If you're in the Solana Beach/San Diego area, Claire's is a great place to brunch before strolling down the street to antique markets. You'll also be a hop away from the ocean. Not bad for a Sunday afternoon!

Claire's on Cedros
246 N Cedros Ave
Solana Beach, CA 92075