ChrisB's Profile
Tipping at Restaurants in Spain
Theresa, I totally agree with your post and would take it a step farther. Unlike in the US, in Spain, meal time is an important ritual. Notice how other diners passing by your table will wish you a "buen provecho."
In Spain, the servers take your orders and serve the food. They don't want to be in the way of the intimacy that you are sharing with your fellow diners. In the US, we want the servers to be continually asking us "how is everything?" "are you all set?" and pouring us water after each sip is taken from the glass--or clearing plates before everyone has finished eating. That definitely wouldn't fly in Spain.
Durham, NH - Pre-hockey
Looking for somewhere to go for dinner before the UNH game on Friday night. Not looking for anything in particular--just somewhere that serves beer and can accommodate our group of 5 adults and 6 young kids. Thanks...
Visiting Portsmouth, NH
Been there three times. Definite thumbs up. Very casual/eclectic atmosphere. The menu is basically their take on street frood from around the world--but cooked by a real chef.
Nice alternative to most of the other choices in Portsmouth.
First Maine Shrimp of the season
Just split a 5 gallon bucket (28 pounds) with a couple of my neighbors. Cost was $50. Fisherman is located in Rye, NH.
http://rimrackfish.com/
Curing Jamon Serrano/Prosciutto
Anyone ever make their own jamon serrano/prosciutto at home or know of any good sites where I can do some research? Thanks...
Dublin Pre-Theatre
Heading to the Abbey Theatre on a weeknight just before Christmas and looking for a reasonably priced pre-theatre dinner. So far it's between Chapter One and Pichet. Any preferences? Or maybe other suggestions? Thanks, Chris...
One dinner in Portsmouth
Dennis, I'm jealous that you're doing the Seacoast Half. I tried to register a couple of weeks ago, and was surprised that it was already full.
I don't know of any great places for pasta in the area. I haven't been to Radici since they opened, but there's always people in there, so I think that would be a good choice for the night before the race.
Pesce Blue is gone. There's a new restaurant there, but I can't remember the name and don't know anything about it.
Black Trumpet is by far my favorite restaurant in the area. Very cool/laid back atmosphere upstairs. But if you're really focused on carbo loading, I think it's a wasted meal (and money).
Have a great meal, and a great race!
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Pesce Blue
103 Congress Street, Portsmouth, NH 03801
Is there any good food in the Azores?
If you don't get any responses here, check out the Anthony Bourdain episode on the Azores. It looked pretty good to me!
Poll: one dinner in Portsmouth, too many great reviews on this board!
I haven't been to the River House. Of all the rest of those, I think Massimo's (haven't been there in a while) is the only one where you'd have to dress up a bit. Nice shorts and flip-flops are definitely ok in all the rest.
Black Trumpet would be my choice on that list. Upstairs at the bar is a little more casual and you don't need reservations. But it's still the same menu and similar service.
If you don't want to spend that much money, go to 106. The menu is nowhere near as creative as Black Trumpet, but everything is prepared really well and it's a fun place.
Surf Restaurant - Portsmouth, NH (or Nashua)
Anyone been to the Surf Restaurant in Portsmouth yet? I just looked at their website and it looks like there's also one in Nashua.
Thinking of going tonight and wondering how it is. Thanks...
Cafe Mediterraneo, Portsmouth, NH
And people love that place. I don't get it. Granted, I haven't been there in quite a few years.
Garde Manger - Montreal
We'll be in Montreal the last weekend in May. My kids (6 and 4) have been watching "Chuck's Day Off" and they think he is the coolest guy in the world.
Any recent reviews on Garde Manger?
Would there be any issues bringing children there? They'll eat everything, I'm just wondering if it's ok to bring kids there.
I can't find a menu, so I'm wondering how pricey it really is?
And most important...what are the chances that we'll actually get to see Chuck?
Thanks....
Estella, Navarra
Going to be spending a day/night in Estella with my wife and two young children. Any recommendations? We're open to anything good.
I read something online in the Let's Go about "gorrin de Estella"--roast piggy. Any ideas where we might be able to find some? Thanks...
106 Kitchen & Bar - Portsmouth, NH
I've been to this place about six times since they opened a year or so ago. I keep fearing that the next visit will be a disaster. But so far, each trip has been great.
It's a cool space with excellent food, excellent service, and very reasonable prices.
We've always had our kids in tow. They usually tuck us away in an alcove--which is great for us, and great for the kidless diners. KIds menu actually has some real food on it, and is a great deal for what they serve.
The steak frite is excellent. So nice to go to a restaurant that actually cooks a steak the way you ask for it rather then letting it cook for an extra minute.
The tuna sandwich is excellent, the fried fish, the mussels, the desserts. Everything that we've eaten there so far has really been very very good.
Anyway, my strong endorsement.
Chris
http://www.106kitchen.com/
Pesce Blue Closed
Bummer. I kept trying to call them yesterday and was getting a fast busy.
Rube-ish question about ordering in San Sebastian....
I guess I'm a bit of a whimp, but I always ask the bar man/woman for whatever it is that I want. If I don' t know the name (majority of the time) then I just point and say "uno de estos" (one of these). If they want me to grab it myself, then they'll say to, usually "cojelo."
When I'm ready to leave said bar, I say "me cobras por favor" (charge me). Sometimes you'll get asked what you had, and you just tell them, for example, 2 canas (draft beers), 2 tintos, and 4 pintxos.
My laid back advice...don't get too hung up on feeling like you have to check off every bar on your list. You can walk into the crappiest bar in the entire Basque Country and you'll still get a room temperature slice of tortilla that will be delicious. Just look into the bars and see what food they have. You'll know from the doorway how good the place is.
What exactly closes during the week of Easter?
I'm going to bump this because I'd also like to know the answer. My guess is that everything will be shut down on Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Not sure about the rest of the week.
Turkish food in Newmarket, NH
That sounds excellent. I'm looking forward to checking it out.
There is a gas station just up the road from there--on the right side of 108 when headed toward Durham. They had awesome stuffed grape leaves and falafel in a cooler. But the last time I drove by, the sign made me think that the place may have changed hands. Hoping not...
Cider Houses - San Sebastian area
I haven't been, but I'm hoping to hit a sidreria in April. I they pretty much all close after the last weekend of April.
A friend of mine from the San Sebastian area sent me the below link. It definitely isn't touristy. In fact, one step outside of San Sebastian or Bilbao and the few tourists that you see will be Spanish, or maybe French Basque.
The traditional meal is a tortilla de bacalao (salt cod omelet) and chuleton (Flintstones portion steak), washed down with lots of cider.
http://www.sidrerias.ws/
Restaurants in San Sebastian for us and a 9-year old on Monday and Tuesday?
Hi there. I don't know any specific places in San Sebastian to recommend. However, I've been there a handful of times on day trips from Bilbao.
Kids definitely go to the bars. We've had our kids in tow lots of times in the bars in San Sebastian and Bilbao. They've always found it entertaining, since we rarely spend more than a half hour in each bar.
Both are great cities to walk around--especially in the old parts. And the Basque Country of France is also beautiful.
If you're not looking for some specific fancy place, then for mid-day meals during the week, I recommend checking out the menus del dia in the various restaurants. They'll all have a handwritten menu posted at the door. You'll find plenty of great three course lunches (including wine, but not coffee) for cheap.
Also, I think the pintxo bars in the old part of Bilbao (siete calles) are totally under rated.
Stratham, NH, Grinders?
I've only been there twice, but I recommend "Valerio's." Very nice woman who owns the place and she uses quality ingredients.
http://www.valerioskitchen.com/
Montreal this Weekend - Neighborhood/Chowish Restos
My wife and I will be in Montreal this weekend with the in-laws and our two young kids (who eat most everything). I've been reading this board all morning and think I have quite a few options for higher end stuff and ethnic. But what about more moderately priced neighborhood places? Looking for bistros/Frenchy or maybe somewhere that serves more Québécois? Thanks!
Looking for a post-wedding brunch place in Portsmouth, help!!
We've found that Ri-Ra's is a good crowd pleaser for the out of towners. Plus you'd have the options of breakfasty or lunchy stuff. And can choose between coffe, tea, and beer.
Just not sure if they'd accommodate such a large group.
Or what about The Common Man? Real New-Englandy...
Boudin in Southern NH?
They usually have boudin at the Market Basket here in Stratham. I forget who makes it. I tried it once, and really didn't care for it, but maybe that's just because I'm not used to the French Canadian variety.
The one at Karl's Sausage (like everything there) is really good.
You can get...I forget the brand now...maybe Galtee black pudding at a lot of the Irish "Shoppes" (like the one in Portsmouth). But...it's only if you're really desperate. Lots of sodium and lots of additives.
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Market Basket
RR 1, Rockland, ME 04841
Ireland national dish
I'll pretty much second everything that Theresa said about Ireland. Although I've been going there for 15 years and I don't think I've ever seen coddle...
Ireland is more about the quality of the ingredients than the actual dishes. In recent years there's been a trend for the higher-end places to really concentrate on getting the best ingredients and cooking in (I think) more of a French style, or at least improving on traditional Irish recipes.
Definitely get black (and white) pudding, sausages, rashers, brown bread (always served with some of the best butter in the world), smoked salmon (not as salty as NY lox).
The best bacon and cabbage is awesome, but more often than not, I'm dissappointed with it and the blandness of "parsley sauce."
If you see a pub advertising a "carvery lunch," go for it. Nothing culinarily overwhelming, but very typical and real Irish comfort food. I highly recommend it paired with a pint of Guinness.
If you're hungry after a night at the pub, go to a chipper and get chips with salt and vinegar.
Lunch along Rte 101 or 95 in NH - Exeter to Portsmouth
If you're looking for a good Italian sub, check out Valeria's in Stratham (three minutes north of exit 11 off 101). I think she and her husband are both Italian-American. Husband is from NJ and they lived there for a long time. I may be biased as it's where I'm from, but I think the NJ style subs are the best. She uses really good meats and pretty good bread.
Typical Dress Code in Coastal Maine
I'm with Morganna. At least in seacoast NH, Kittery, South Berwick, York, Ogunquit, shorts and flip-flops (and a nice T-shirt or polo) are the way to go. I guess we don't go to the really high end places. But I think that khakis would be more out of place than shorts--for lunch or dinner.
CSA around Exeter
Check out the seacoast growers' site: http://www.seacoastgrowers.org/
If it doesn't say anything on there, I'd just ask around at one of the upcoming farmers' markets.
Polish or African in Dublin
Any recommendations for either a Polish or African (maybe Nigerian?) restaurant in Dublin? I figure with all the immigrants, there has to be some good ones. Not looking for anything fancy. Thanks...
food in Rioja region
Big thumbs up on Calle Laurel in Logrono. Expect lots of people on the street (I think it is closed off to traffic) and lots of fun. Haven't been there in over five years, but remember all the restaurants had very reasonably priced menus del dia.
