Where in the World?

Erica and I ate at a fabulous restaurant tonight called Uchi. The chef at Uchi prepares gourmet sushi, sashimi, and several hot and cold Japanese dishes, the likes of which I’ve never experienced before. The dishes were inventive, creative, artistic and had a blend of flavors that were simply divine. Our waitress was very knowledgeable, professional and key to the wonderful time we spent exploring and tasting items from the rich menu.

We ordered a number of dishes that were brought to the table one at a time to be shared. It made for a rich and varied dining experience. I supplemented the meal with a cold sake called Otokoyama. Otokoyama is light and very smooth with a hint of banana. This was my first time trying cold sake. I’ll probably never try hot sake again. The cold was that much better.

The menu can be found on the Uchi website. We tried the following dishes:

• Brie tempura ringo – Lightly fried brie with apple chutney and sweet potatoe chips (Incredible combination of flavors and the cheese was to die for.)
• Avo bake – Creamy baked tiger shrimp and krab, served in an avocado (One of our favorites for the night. It was slightly spicy and the avocado was warm. Very different.)
• Spider sushi roll – Softshell crab, flying fish roe, Japanese cucumber and white soybean paper. (Crispy and soft at the same time with a slightly spicy sauce.)
• Shag – Tempura fried bond roll with salmon and squid ink sumiso sauce (We also loved this one. Crunchy on the outside and softer on the inside. The squid ink sauce was really good. I can’t explain the taste though.)
• Sunomono -A variety of seaweeds, Japanese cucumber, and radish sprouts in ponzu. (Fantastic, light and invigorating.)
• Shrimp tempura – lightly batter tiger shrimp. (These were fried to perfection and melted in the mouth.)
• Peanut butter semi freddo – with apple miso sorbet and ringo crisps. (The sorbet was light, sweet and addictive.)
• Valrhona chocolat and wasabi fondant – with pistachio ice cream and orange tuile. (The chocolate was unbelievably rich and the pistachio ice cream was perfect, not too sweet and just the right creaminess.)

Uchi was a fantastic find and I have added it to my all time favorite restaurant list. I’ll be eating here again next time I’m in Austin.

Michael

After a lazy morning, we ate lunch at North by Northwest near The Arboretum area of NW Austin. We then headed down to Zilker Park. This is a wonderful place full of paths for walking, jogging and bike riding. There are many open spaces combined with forests and streams. Our first stop was the Zilker Botanical Garden where we browsed around a cactus and succulent plant show while a light rain shower fell.Afterwards we walked around the Austin native plant area and drifted towards the Oriental Garden. It was quite lovely, peaceful and full of different textures. Many of the ponds had carp that were over two feet long! We walked back up the small hill towards our car.

Our next stop was Congress Ave. which was a short drive down Barton Springs Road. I was in need of a latte and late afternoon snack. During our coffee, my sister and youngest nephew who were also in Austin called asking if we would like to go for a canoe ride near Barton Springs Pool. This was a fantastic idea. Erica and I rented a canoe. My sister and nephew rented one person kayaks. We paddled together down Barton Springs to Town Lake (the Colorado River) and east towards the Congress Avenue Bridge.

After paddling about 25 minutes we turned around because thunderstorms seemed imminent. Before we got back to Barton Springs, the rain had begun albeit slowly at first. As we paddled quickly we were able to watch many turtles diving for the deep as we glided by. We also saw many ducks and geese along the way. By the time we got back to the rental place, the rains were torrential and we were soaked completely before we got back to the car.

After a change of clothes, Erica and I went to Satay for a Thai dinner. The food was fantastic. I really recommend this restaurant. We drove to back to the Congress Ave. Bridge to watch the bats. Unfortunately the bats didn’t really get going until close to 9:00 p.m. We could only see a few hundred at a time flying at breakneck speeds under the bridge. Typically, in summer you can see about 1.5 million of them flying up and out around sunset. Tonight was not one of those nights. It was still fun though.

Michael

Sunday was my last night in New York City. We started our evening with a wonderful dinner at Hell’s Kitchen. It’s labeled as a progressive Mexican restaurant and is located at 679 Ninth Ave. The food was fantastic!For a starter we tried the guacamole with fresh homemade crispy guajillo corn tortillas. Hmmmm! The tortillas were really crispy with a little salt and the guacamole had just the right amount of “bite” to it. We were also served some flat corn bread triangles with a spicy black bean dip. Very good!

For the main course, I ordered the grilled shrimp with serrano sauce, sweet plantain and guacamole. The combination of spicy and sweet was perfectly balanced. I ate until I was stuffed. Erica ordered the pan seared halibut with grilled chayote, sweet plantain puree, and salsa verde. Very good!

The Hell’s Kitchen area of New York City is rich with culture, history, shops and restaurants. I really recommend walking the area, exploring the nooks and crannies plus enjoying the fantastic variety of food that is offered. We walked around for a couple of hours in the evening just absorbing the flurry of activity that seems to never stop in this incredible city.

Michael

No matter where you go, there you are. – unknown

Without new experiences, something inside of us sleeps. The sleeper must awaken. – Frank Herbert

For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move. – Robert Louis Stevenson

Of all the places I’ve been, I had not been to New York City until today. I’m traveling with Erica, who is very familiar with the city. So, it’s really nice to have a tour guide.

After an okay Thai dinner at Pam Real Thai, we went to a comedy show at Carolines. Tonight’s headliner was Tracy Morgan. The club was quite small and intimate and Tracy had many funny moments.

I had always wanted to walk around Time Square, so after the show we took a leisurely stroll along Broadway. There was an incredible number of people out tonight. In fact, at times, it was wall to wall people. But, it was not an issue as one of my favorite pastimes is people watching. New York is truly a melting pot of diverse cultures. It reminds me of London in many ways. The lights around Time Square were dazzling and constantly changing.

I enjoyed exploring many of the stores as we walked back to The Belvedere, our hotel. I noticed that there are Starbucks about every 2 or 3 blocks. I have never seen so many of them in one place as I did today walking around a 10 block area from our hotel. Wow!

Michael

One of the many things that make me very happy is Thai food. So, wherever I travel I seek out and taste test Thai restaurants. It’s a thankless job, but I suck it up and perform to expectations every time

Last night, we found a great Thai restaurant in the Soho area of London tonight. Busaba Eathai is located on Wardour Street. This restaurant has great reviews on Zagat.com. It was a short 10 minute walk from the Picadilly Circus tube station.

There was a long line waiting to get in as we approached Busaba. I asked the door attendant how long we would have to wait and he said only 15 minutes. I was surprised, but we were seated almost exactly 15 minutes later. A waiter handed us a menu while we were outside so that we could order as soon as we were seated. It was a great system that seemed to ensure a steady flow of people in and out of the restaurant.

The seating was communal which meant we sat with a bunch of people we didn’t know. It simply didn’t matter. The restaurant was quite loud, very busy and full of people having a really good time.

Now to the most important part; the food. We ordered pad thai, prawns in chile sauce with basil, a green curry with chicken and basil, and an order of coconut rice. The food was simply fantastic. I typically don’t eat the curry dishes, but this one was incredible. I think it was the basil. The prawns had just the right amount of “bite” and a wonderful flavor heavy with basil. The pad thai was light and quite tasty. If you have never tried coconut rice, I highly recommend it. The subtle flavor is a great compliment to any Thai dish.

Overall, we give this restaurant a 5 star. If you are ever in London, I seriously recommend this restaurant.

Have a great day!

Michael

Our last day in Scotland was spent in Edinburgh. It was a day of fulfilling curiosities and exploring places we didn’t see on the first day there. After another bus ride we exited onto Princes St. near Edinburgh Castle. A short walk brought us to the The National Gallery of Scotland. We spent a couple of hours touring the gallery rooms. It was a wonderful time in an impressive museum.As we walked up to the Royal Mile again, we decided to explore one of the closes (alleyways). Once at the top of the steep set of steps, we happened upon the The Writer’s Museum. The museum has displays devoted to Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson. It was quite interesting and I highly recommend it.

From Lady Stair’s Close, we walked onto the Royal Mile and turned east. We wanted to explore St. Giles Cathedral. Surprisingly, we found many hidden gems here. They have an enormous pipe organ that stands almost 40 feet high and cost 1M British Pounds (almost $2M U.S. at today’s exchange rates). It is shaped like a sailing boat with sails and a deck and was very impressive. Another curious artifact in the church was a document (one of seven) dated from 1638 that in summary discusses separation of church and state. It also makes it clear to the king at the time (King Charles I) that he didn’t have the right to tell the people how they should worship. Seven copies were signed and delivered to major cities all over Scotland. According to one of the guides, this document was used by Thomas Jefferson to craft the Declaration of Independence. Fascinating! I need to do some more research into this area.

After St. Giles, we viewed a 3D “documentary” in the Loch Ness Discovery Center. I was left wanting much more at the end, but at least we tried. Exploring is all about trying new things and seeing what you like.

We ate lunch at Deacon Brodie’s. Apparently Mr. Brodie led a double life in the 18th century; a skilled woodworker during the day and burglar at night. It is thought that he was Robert Louis Stevenson’s inspiration for the book, Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde. He was eventually caught, found guilty and executed in the late 1700’s. We ate in what was once his woodworking shop.

Next stop was the Brass Rubbing Center where we all took a break from walking and did a rubbing. It was fun to do, but much harder than it looks. The Center has many choices in a variety of sizes to choose from. It’s fun for the whole family.

Nearing the end of our day, we had our requisite latte and scone. Another short walk took us to the end of The Royal Mile and the Scottish Parliament building which was surprisingly modern in the midst of all the historical buildings located in the old town section of Edinburgh. A long walk back up the hill to Edinburgh Castle and a steep climb down to the bus stop ended our tour of Scotland.

I love to explore which is fueled by a hefty dose of curiosity. The best way for me is to pick a general direction and wander into things. That was our final day in Scotland and it was fitting end to a wonderful trip.

Michael

My sister, mother, dad and I woke up at 4:45 a.m. to get ready to drive to St. Andrews which is about 50 miles north of where we were staying in Scotland. We were all supporting his dream of playing the Old Course at St. Andrews. So, we packed up and headed north arriving in St. Andrews at 6:15 a.m. After my dad signed up on the singles waiting list, we headed over to the restaurant to get some quick breakfast.While we were there, my dad’s name was called three times, so he initially missed out on starting his round. After another short wait, he and 3 others were joined to form a foursome. The weather cleared, the sun came out, and the newly formed teamed started their play.

It was fantastic to see my dad start and then successfully complete a dream that he has had for many years. I think that it is important when someone is knocking on a dream, that everyone, especially family, should help in fulfilling it. When these opportunities and synchronicities fall into place, the only road to take is the one that leads to the dream.

The rest of the morning and early afternoon was joyfully spent walking in the ruins of St. Andrews Castle, St. Andrews Cathedral and the church of St. Rule. For the afternoon we spent the time touring the Kingdom of Fife along the northern coast of the Firth of Forth. We visited the lovely coastal villages of Crail, Anstruther, Pittenweem and St. Monans. I highly recommend The Honey Pot in Crail for some wonderful pastries, coffee and sandwiches.

Overall, a fantastic day with dreams fulfilled and lots of sightseeing.

Michael

One of my favorite things to do is try different foods and go to new restaurants. It brings out the explorer/adventurer in me. Sometimes I will try new places without getting any recommendations. But really, it’s the joy of discovering new tastes and flavor combinations that I find quite appealing. The world we live in has an almost infinite variety of foods and food combinations to savor or sample. I have a long way to go before I experience all of them.

In the past I was quite rigid in my food preferences, but over the years as I have traveled extensively, my palette has expanded. I very rarely go somewhere that I can’t find something that I like or would like to try. It really is a sense of freedom to not have to stick to a particular food all the time.

Tonight’s dinner in Leipzig was at a very nice restaurant called Escados Steak House. It’s located on the southern end of the town center in the basement of the Deutsche Bank building. I highly recommend it. The food quality is excellent as is the service. The atmosphere is cozy and casual. I had some tapas dishes; shrimp, croquettes more shrimp in conjunction with a nice wine and garlic bread. Oh, did I mention I like shrimp or prawns. As I was with some colleagues from work, the evening was filled with some good stories and lots of laughter. Great combination; friends, good food, laughter, and drinks.

Michael

I ate at a wonderful seafood only restaurant in Helsinki, Finland tonight called Fishmarket. The creativity of the chef was amazing. Three of us had the 5 course meal. Salmon with avocado, bouillabaisse, cod with octopus, cheese, and banana with peanut. A nice white wine complimented our meal.

I’m always amazed at the creativity of chefs that can combine flavors and textures that I would never have thought to bring together. It really is art!

Trying new food dishes is a great way to open ourselves to trying new things. The point is not whether you like it or not, but that you stretched and tried something new. You’ll be surprised at what you will find appealing. I think it’s important to consistently do things that are uncomfortable, new or unique. As we keep ourselves comfortable with change, we tend to grow internally and widen our palette of experience.

So get out of the house, try something new and possibly discover new passions to pursue and enjoy.

Michael

I’m in Leipzig, Germany today. One of the many things that makes me happy is to try the local food wherever I go. I’m continually fascinated by the seemingly infinite variety of choices, tastes, combinations and culture that comprise local cuisine.

Leipzig is average size city in eastern Germany. The people here are very nice and laid back. There are a large number of restaurants and shops in the city center area. I really love how most European cities are designed to support a large amount of walking. It’s quite different than the majority of U.S. cities where driving is the main mode of access.

After taking a walk, we stopped at Coffe Braum to try some of the local dishes. Each of us picked different entrees. I must say the starter of potato soup with sausage was excellent. The main course for each of us was quite tasty. The food had a lot of subtle flavors that combined quite well.

It’s important for our growth to continually try new things. See my post on teaching old dogs new tricks. You don’t have to go out of the country to do this. Go to a different area of the city you live in. Try a restaurant you haven’t tried before. It doesn’t really matter whether you end up liking it or not. The point is that you are stepping out of your daily routine, opening your perspective to new things and generating a little bit of adventure in your life.

Have a great day!

Michael