Cabo San Lucas and area

A week in Cabo (two nights on Pacific side at Pueblo Bonito Pacifica, lovely, quiet, isolated), five on Sea of Cortez side near San Jose del Cabo at Westin Resort and Spa -- great place, but you'll want to make sure you have a car) resulted in a handful of good meals:

Aire: The poolside restaurant at the Pacifia. It was late, we were tired and had gotten lost on way from airport, and we just wanted a quiet and casual dinner. Aire lived up to the resort's claims of having fresh, high-quality ingredients, with an outdoor kitchen/grill and gas-lit heaters to warm us as we listened to the surf. Shrimp quesadilla, chicken quesadilla, both with freshly made guacamole. And excellent margaritas on the rocks. Much better than I expect from hotel food.

Mi Casa in Cabo San Lucas: Other reviewers on Chowhound have discussed Mi Casa, and when we first tried to go we were turned away because we didn't have reservations. The hostess recommended a nearby restaurant, O Mole Mio, and gave us a card for free drinks there. We wish we had ignored her advice; the menu was limited (apparently geared toward someone's idea of what American tourists might like), the tortilla soup was just okay, and the steak fajitas were lackluster.

But based on reviews, I still wanted to try Mi Casa so we made a reservation later in the week and were delighted with our dinner. Try the mixed seafood platter for two to share; the fish was fresh, the flavors and sauces distinct. Plus it was hilarious listening to the mariachi band playing American pop tunes.

Miguel's in Todo Santos: The sign says "Best Chili Rellenos," and I can't disagree. They were out of lobster by the time we stopped for lunch, but the shrimp chili rellenos to die for.

Buzzards, near San Jose del Cabo -- sort of. You take a dirt road from town but hit pavement before long, passing turnoffs and rotaries for the marina and a resort or two, passing through Pueblo La Playa. Mostly you pass desert scrub and an occasional cow into the road. And then appears the sea and a tiny hamlet with Buzzards, an outdoor cafe and bar. I stopped here the first time while heading for the East Cape Road (a misnomer; it's dirt, and be careful what you're driving) because I wanted to see more of the non-tourist Sea of Cortez and its great beaches, whales just offshore, isolation, etc.). Buzzards is just before the start of the East Cape Road. Excellent fresh fish tacos (I think the fish was dorado). I went back the next day with companions who enjoyed it just as much, and we shared a delectable appetizer of coconut shrimp.

Nancy's, in Cabo Pulmo. This is way off the beaten path, and it requires a detour about midway up the highway between San Jose del Cabo and La Paz.. It also requires a spirit of adventure, because the only way to get here is to drive down a long dirt road -- I'm guessing about eight miles or so, maybe a little shorter, with quite a few rocks. This gets you to the upper part of the East Cape Road, and the only people around Cabo Pulmo were serious divers and adventurers (because there is a coral reef here). Everything is solar powered; you are truly off the grid. And here is Nancy's, with pots and pans hanging from the ceiling, a stove in the middle of the room, and great reviews. They even have cooking classes on occasion. It's part of a B&B. My wife had lobster fajitas, I had a lobster relleno. You have to really, really want to go here to wind up here, and I suspect this is further from civilization than 99 percent of Cabo visitors ever get. But we sure liked it, and the overall experience was our most memorable of the trip.

stevedc in Mexico

Cabo San Lucas and area

A week in Cabo (two nights on Pacific side at Pueblo Bonito Pacifica, lovely, quiet, isolated), five on Sea of Cortez side near San Jose del Cabo at Westin Resort and Spa -- great place, but you'll want to make sure you have a car) resulted in a handful of good meals:

Aire: The poolside restaurant at the Pacifia. It was late, we were tired and had gotten lost on way from airport, and we just wanted a quiet and casual dinner. Aire lived up to the resort's claims of having fresh, high-quality ingredients, with an outdoor kitchen/grill and gas-lit heaters to warm us as we listened to the surf. Shrimp quesadilla, chicken quesadilla, both with freshly made guacamole. And excellent margaritas on the rocks. Much better than I expect from hotel food.

Mi Casa in Caco San Lucas: Other reviewers on Chowhound have discussed Mi Casa, and when we first tried to go we were turned away because we didn't have reservations. The hostess recommended a nearby restaurant, O Mole Mio, and gave us a card for free drinks there. We wish we had ignored her advice; the menu was limited (apparently geared toward someone's idea of what American tourists might like), the tortilla soup was just okay, and the steak fajitas were lackluster.

But based on reviews, I still wanted to try Mi Casa so we made a reservation later in the week and were delighted with our dinner. Try the mixed seafood platter for two to share; the fish was fresh, the flavors and sauces distinct. Plus it was hilarious listening to the mariachi band playing American pop tunes.

Miguel's in Todo Santos: The sign says "Best Chili Rellenos," and I can't disagree. They were out of lobster by the time we stopped for lunch, but the shrimp chili rellenos to die for.

Buzzards, near San Jose del Cabo -- sort of. You take a dirt road from town but hit pavement before long, passing turnoffs and rotaries for the marina and a resort or two, passing through Pueblo La Playa. Mostly you pass desert scrub and an occasional cow into the road. And then appears the sea and a tiny hamlet with Buzzards, an outdoor cafe and bar. I stopped here the first time while heading for the East Cape Road (a misnomer; it's dirt, and be careful what you're driving) because I wanted to see more of the non-tourist Sea of Cortez and its great beaches, whales just offshore, isolation, etc.). Buzzards is just before the start of the East Cape Road. Excellent fresh fish tacos (I think the fish was dorado). I went back the next day with companions who enjoyed it just as much, and we shared a delectable appetizer of coconut shrimp.

Nancy's, in Cabo Pulmo. This is way off the beaten path, and it requires a detour about midway up the highway between San Jose del Cabo and La Paz.. It also requires a spirit of adventure, because the only way to get here is to drive down a long dirt road -- I'm guessing about eight miles or so, maybe a little shorter, with quite a few rocks. This gets you to the upper part of the East Cape Road, and the only people around Cabo Pulmo were serious divers and adventurers (because there is a coral reef here). Everything is solar powered; you are truly off the grid. And here is Nancy's, with pots and pans hanging from the ceiling, a stove in the middle of the room, and great reviews. They even have cooking classes on occasion. It's part of a B&B. My wife had lobster fajitas, I had a lobster relleno. You have to really, really want to go here to wind up here, and I suspect this is further from civilization than 99 percent of Cabo visitors ever get. But we sure liked it, and the overall experience was our most memorable of the trip.

stevedc in Mexico

Casual business dinner for 25 people

We're looking for a place in D.C. to hold a dinner gathering with about 20-plus people on a Monday night in April. The purpose is mostly social; this is a dinner gathering for people who will have arrived in advance of meetings the next day. Perfect traits would include a reasonable decibel level so we can talk; the ability to sit together (a long table?); good food (but of course) and service, and a moderately-priced menu. Extra points for easy location (downtown DC, Dupont Circle, West End/GW, Woodley Park, etc., or close-in Arlington). This is a group that meets in smart locations across the country and is well-traveled, and we want them to enjoy themselves and have a good dinner. But we don't want to break the bank, either. Suggestions?

stevedc in Washington DC & Baltimore Area

Travel story about Chowhound

This was the main travel section story today in Cleveland's Plain Dealer:

http://www.cleveland.com/travel/index.ssf/2009/03/chowhoundcom_message_boards_fu.html

Thanks to one and all for your help!

stevedc in Site Talk

Best idea ever - moved from General Chowhounding board

Ruth, I'm finishing the travel/Chowhound story (it will run March 8) and am including you. I have a final question. Could you e-mail me (skoff@plaind.com)?

stevedc in Home Cooking

Chowhound newspaper story

MMRuth, I have a follow-up question for the story, which will be published March 8. Could you shoot me an e-mail or call my office at 202-662-8930? Thanks.

Stephen Koff, Washington Bureau Chief, The Plain Dealer: skoff@plaind.com

stevedc in Site Talk

Chowhound newspaper story

Bob, my travel piece on Chowhound will be out a week from Sunday but an editor has a question concerning what you told me. If you'll give me an e-mail address or else call me at my office (202-662-8930), we can take care of it in, oh, 30 seconds. Thanks.

Stephen Koff, Washington Bureau Chief, The Plain Dealer: skoff@plaind.com

stevedc in Site Talk

Chowhound newspaper story

I'm a newspaper reporter (Cleveland Plain Dealer) who uses Chowhound boards for
personal tips when traveling with my family. I've been delighted with great "finds" (courtesy of chowhounds like you) all over the place -- local restaurants and treats, from San Diego to Louisiana to Maryland's Eastern Shore -- that I would not have found in the tour books. Sounds like a decent Travel section story, yes? My editors agree.

I'll be sharing my experiences in my newspaper's Travel section soon. But I'd like to hear from others first. Do you use Chowhound boards when planning vacations or business trips, in order to get restaurant or other advice from the locals? Have interesting experiences (good, bad) or advice?

At the risk of being overwhelmed with your e-mail, I'd like to hear about it (please write "Chowhound" in the subject line). Or just respond to this thread and I'll keep watching. Thanks!

Stephen Koff, Washington Bureau Chief, The Plain Dealer: skoff@plaind.com

stevedc in Site Talk

Richmond for VCU parents & student

Thanks to all. We went to pick up our son for Winter break yesterday and thought we'd stop for barbecue before leaving town, but when we drove by Kuba Kuba a few blocks from campus, the appearance alone was so appealing that we had to stop. I had the Chicken Pineapple Sandwich, as did my son (along with a Nehi orange soda), and my wife had the Tortilla Con Langostino (an omelette with crawfish -- delicious). As a former Tampa Bay resident, I appreciate good tostones (fried, sweet plantains) and Kuba Kuba's satisfied. For dessert, we shared a large piece of Tres Leches cake. Wonderful. Can't wait to try all the other recommendations.

stevedc in General South Archive

Richmond for VCU parents & student

With a son at VCU, we find ourselves in Richmond a few times each semester. It's usually only for a couple of hours or a drop-off or pickup -- we live near DC, so this is not a major trip -- but it's nice to take him out. Plus sometimes we have time to kill between VCU events. We're looking for two things, perhaps separately:

* Richmond institutions, the kinds of places no one should leave Richmond without visiting. These could be dives, ice cream parlors, chili parlors, donut parlors -- Richmond's equaivalent of, say, the potato donut place in Charlottesville, or Ben's Chili Bowl in DC, or Graeter's Ice Cream in Cincincinnati.

* Restaurants not terribly far from VCU with moderate prices and good food. We have found a place on Main in the Fan where we had a terrific breakfast; sorry, don't remember the name. It was in a brick building that had been renovated, had an upstairs, and was across the street from a funky-looking place with what appeared to be Japanese lettering.

We found a so-so sports bar/restaurant also on Main. The pizza parlor down in Shockhoe Bottom (that triangle spit of land) was good, And we've tried Thai and cajun in Carytown. (We found a fantastic chocolate store in that retro-looking shopping plaza on Cary Street.)

What else should we try? On a couple of other trips, we wound up eating at Tara Thai and Famous Dave's -- places we like, but we can drive half-a-mile from home and go to those, so it's not an adventure.

All tips appreciated!

stevedc in General South Archive

Las Vegas side trips/day trips & chow

Thanks for the tips. I spent a lot of time in Vegas (and the desert in Arizona as well) when I was younger so I know about the heat. (Try a Washington, D.C. summer. Now that's oppressive!) I had forgotten about Valley of Fire State Park. Great idea. Thanks again!

stevedc in Southwest

Las Vegas side trips/day trips & chow

Coming to Las Vegas in mid-June with our 18-year-old son. There are penty of recommendations for genuine (or as close to it as we can get), moderate or inexpensive restaurants on the Southwest board, so thanks to all you Vegas Chowhounds. But here's a new question:

We're staying on the Strip but will have a car and plan to make several day trips, probably to Hoover Dam, the petroglyphs at Red Rocks, and might even drive up to southern Utah for a day. Can anyone recommend casual restaurants in -- or en route to -- these areas?

Any other side trips worth making (besides the Grand Canyon, where we've already spent a lot of time)? Thanks!

stevedc in Southwest

Where'd my Pinellas Park BBQ place go?

John, thanks for the reply. It was Park Blvd. I don't remember the cross street. I remember that as you entered, there was an area for takeout (and often people standing around there and in the area out front waiting for their orders). You could see and smell the barbecue slowly roasting. That was the "front" of the restaurant, and you'd head to the right of that for seating.

Based on the replies -- and my inability to spot it when driving through last year -- it's probably gone. But I'll check out Da Sesta's, which sounds good. Thanks!

stevedc in Florida

Where'd my Pinellas Park BBQ place go?

We lived in St. Pete until 1992 and had a favorite barbecue place on or just off of Park Street in Pinellas Park. Our kids were young and we could get food that pleased them, enjoy very good barbecue chicken, even get a beer. I don't remember the name. But I was back in the area last year and could not find it, leaving me to believe that it had closed. Since I'm going back for a short visit, I thought I'd ask Chowhound posters: Do you have any idea of the place I'm talking about? I don't think it was Sonny's but it had a similar look. Maybe I'm just confused and it really was Sonny's.

While I'm there, I hope to stop in some of my other old haunts, including Ringside Cafe; the pizza/pasta place on Central Avenue where it ends at Treasure Island (it used to have great shrimp pizza); Crabby Bill's (sure it's touristy, but I remember if fondly). I know they're still around.

stevedc in Florida

Gainesville recommendations?

Newberry BBQ, as several others have mentioned, is a great choice. My son and I visited UF last year and when checking out colleges and took the advice of other Chowhound posters. The evening drive (not far, but rural) was pleasant and Newberry is a cute town. More importantly, Newberry BBQ was terrific -- the real thing without pretense, but not a dive, either, and the quality was high. Where we live -- Washington, D.C. -- it's hard to find that without going to a chain.

stevedc in Florida