Buona Caccia

Eataly is an indoor Italian market/restaurant/cooking school/wine shop/all around fun place to hang out. It's located at 200 5th Avenue (at 23rd) in NYC and has, in just one visit, become one of my new favorite places to spend time in Manhattan when I find myself with a bit of spare time on my travels there.
When I went in December, I entered through a fairly small door on 23rd Street that lead into what turned out to be a huge open space humming with 100's of people perusing the markets filled with gorgeous fruits and veggies, mozzeralla cheese, pasta, rice and fresh baked breads, buying coffee and gelato, and sitting at tables or standing at long wooden counters after ordering from one of the dozen or so restaurants that are housed in this fascinating space. The goal of Eataly is to "challenge the idea that quality products are accessible only to a select few"

It's fun just to wander through and look and get caught up in the crowd of people and the buzz of the markets, but if you can find a table or space at a counter and have time for a meal or a snack, it's also fabulous for the solo diner (I can't image that you'd be alone for long.) As I said, I've only been to Eataly once - but you'd better believe I'll be back!

Eataly
200 5th Avenue
NYC, NY

Faves: TBD

Tin Fish Anyone?

In San Diego, right across the street from the convention center, there's a great little outdoor cafe called the Tin Fish. It's on a little tree-covered boulevard practically in the middle of the street just as you head into the Gaslamp District. You can smell the fish frying all day and I promise you, if you ever have one of their fish tacos, you'll be spoiled for life. The place is always busy and it takes a while to get through the line to order your food - so don't go if you're in a hurry. But it's served fresh and hot and well worth the wait if you do! It's a great spot to sit outside in the beautiful San Diego weather and enjoy great food (They do also have some tables indoors)
I'm lucky because there's A Tin Fish located here in Minneapolis too - There are also locations in other CA cities, WA, FL and IN - Try it, I know you'll like it!

Menu
Burgers, chicken, soups and of course seafood (fried or grilled options)

My Faves: Fried fish tacos and fish and chips
Note: This restaurant sits right in the shadow of PetCo Park, so if there's a Padres game it will be especially busy.

The Tin Fish
170 6th Avenue
San Diego, CA

Table by the Window

I just had dinner at a delightful restaurant in Montreal. It's located on the cobble stone street of Rue St Paul, just on the edge of Old (Vieux) Montreal which is a great area to wander and poke into antique shops, boutiques and other novelty shops (Although things close fairly early - many by 6:00pm - It's still fun to window-shop.)

The cozy bistro, Les Pyrenees, specializes in cuisine from that part of the world (North of Spain and South of France.) I had cod, perfectly seasoned and pan-seared over a bed of wheat risotto with sun-dried tomatoes while my two colleagues enjoyed a fish stew loaded with mussels, squid, shrimp and vegetables,and a pasta with red sauce and chorizo. All were delicious and portions were large. There were some good choices of wine by the glass and deserts looked tempting - although we were too full from the great dinner to partake.
A short walk back to our convention center hotel made it a perfect evening.

Oh and by the way, while I happened to be out with colleagues on this occassion, I did see a woman tucked into one of the comfy corner tables dining alone and thought, "I would definitely feel comfortable eating here alone," and I probably will if I ever make it back to Montreal and don't have the company of clients or colleagues.

Menu: Bistro Fare from the Pyrenees
My Faves: The cod, zuchinni cake and the ambience
Special note: Although not as crowded as the bistro right next door, don't let that fool you. Pyrenees is worth a stop.

Les Pyrenees Restaurant
320 Rue St-Paul Ouest (Quartier des Arts)
Vieux Montreal, Quebec H2Y 2A3
514-842-5566

Thai One On

I just returned from a business trip to Chicago and realized that I haven't yet mentioned one of my favorite restaurants that I go to regularly when I'm in town. It's a Thai restaurant called Dao Thai Restaurant and Noodle Palace just east of Michigan Avenue on Ohio.
They have terrific food and service, but if you go to the website, you'll see one of my favorite features of this restaurant - a row of tables down the center aisle that just have pads as seats with an opening for your legs. I break my own usual pattern of eating at the bar when alone to sit at one of those.

Dao Thai Restaurant and Noodle Palace
230 East Ohio Street
Chicago, Il 60611

My faves:
Pad Thai with extra tofu (fried) and peanuts and the Crab Rangoon Wantons

A Taste of the Middle East

Who would have thought that I would have some of the best Baba Ghannouge ever at a restaurant on a little side street in Baltimore?!
Lebanese Taverna is a small east coast chain and although I've never been to any of the others, this one in Baltimore's East Harbor neighborhood has fast become one of my favorite spots to eat when here for work. I sat at the bar where they had full-service and although the bartender was busy (it was a Saturday night) he was attentive and gave me his (good) opinions on some of the dishes.
For something a little different than the hundreds of touristy seafood restaurants in the inner harbor area - I recommend a little middle-east respite.

Menu:
Yummy middle east dishes
Moderate pricing
Full service in/at the bar
My faves: The Baba Ghannouge and the friendly and helpful service

Lebanese Taverna
719 S. President Street, Baltimore, MD 21202 (410) 244-5533
Located on the corner of S. President and Lancaster Streets in the newly developed Harbor East!

Chain Gang in Vegas

I just got back from several days in Las Vegas for a conference and I thought I'd post a couple of restaurants that are located right on the strip that offer the comfort of familiarity. Let's face it, just because you're in a place with fabulous restaurants, sometimes you just want to stick with something simple and something you know ... and for me one night while I was there, the perfect meal was an order of lettuce wraps and a glass of wine at PF Changs ... :>)

- PF Chang's at Alladin/Planet Hollywood (ph)
- Rain Forest Cafe at The MGM Grand
- Hard Rock Cafe in The Showcase Mall (next to MGM Grand)
- Outback Steakhouse at The Coke Bottle
- Maggianos Little Italy at The Fashion Place Mall

As Easy As ABC

The ABC Carpet and Home Store in the Union Square neighborhood downtown Manhattan is one of my favorite places to hang out if I have a little bit of time to kill. From the outside, the store looks unremarkable but once through the door you feel like Dorothy stepping into Oz. Brightly-colored oriental rugs and crystal chandeliers of various size and height hang from the tall, six story ceilings in a feast for the eyes. The open construction, and separate shops spaces give the whole space the feel of an upscale, indoor bazaar. Each shop is filled to the brim with eclectic and beautiful housewares, textiles, rugs and more from all around the world. One-of-a-kind shops like ABC Carpet and Home are just one of the many things that I love about New York. At any given moment you can step through any seemingly ordinary door and you may just get to feel like you spent a few minutes somewhere over the rainbow.

The ABC Home and Carpet Store
881 and 888 Broadway
Hours: Mon-Sat: 10-7, Sun: 11-6:30
ABC Store