Timothy Rudon asked:


Food has through history played a role in the way the world functions. Kings and Emperors used to pride themselves on their kitchens and exotic food made by the world’s best chefs had the same value as treasures.

A glance into the two volume compilation “The Cambridge World History of Food” shows how mankind developed exotic tastes how spices were traded like gold, and more. The volumes are standard references world –wide for social scientists, economists, nutritionists, and gourmets. A website www.foodtimeline.org/ has a wonderful time line of food which shows that fish, egges, and mushrooms were eaten as early as before 17,000 BCE and that bread, beer, and soup was in the diet as far back as 10000 BCE.

The modern world too runs on its stomach and world wide restaurants compete to gain the status of “best restaurant.” If a restaurant is listed by S Pellegrino in its list of “ the world’s 50 Best Restaurants,” then its like wining an honor and prize. The list each year is complied by Nespresso World’s 50 Best Academy consisting of food writers, critics, publishers, and commentators from all over the world.

So if you are a gourmet and world traveler here are a few restaurants you may wish to try the 2007 list included:

1. El Bulli in Spain chosen as the World’s Best Restaurant in Europe.

2. The Fat Duck in UK which was the Chefs Choice.

3. Pierre Gagnaire in France.

4. The French Laundry in the US adjudged the Best in the Americas.

5. Tetsuya’s in Australia adjudged the best in Australasia.

6. Bras in France.

7. Mugaritz in Spain.

8. Le Louis XV in Monaco.

9. Per Se in the US.

10. Arzak in Spain.

11. El Celler deCan Roca in Spain.

12. Gamero Rosso in Italy.

It’s all about quality reaching new heights. Detailed information on the best restaurants in the world and past lists can be viewed at www.theworlds50best.com/index.html . Chefs and food critics and aficionados from all over the world congregate to London for the awards functions each year. In a global world more and more people are expanding their minds and trying out the cuisine of other cultures and nations.

The World Wide Web is replete with information on cuisine, cooking, wine, and dining choices and trends. So if you want to be trendy and know how to eat what, which wine to select, and more then open your mind to new experiences and educate yourself in every direction using the knowledge highway the internet has become.

Deb Brown asked:


Do you like one kind of restaurant or do you enjoy several? I’m not one to go to fancy restaurants; I’m more of a casual person. I don’t like dressing just to go out to eat.

Well, things changed recently, when I had to do a restaurant review for a magazine. It was a casual fine dining type of restaurant. Not casual enough for jeans, but not dressy enough for a dress. Even though you didn’t have to really dress up, the atmosphere and service was first class. There were people to hold the door and your chair. If you got up to visit the restroom, someone magically appeared to refold your napkin. Can you believe that? My water glass never was anywhere near empty. My silverware was even replaced between courses.

The lights were low, the candles were lit and the table cloths were real cloths. It was such a delight to experience something a little different. The chef even came around to speak with the guest, to see how everything was.

I don’t think it was because they knew I was doing a restaurant review. I watched the staff and they were as attentive to everyone in the restaurant as they were to my table. The food was beautifully plated and politely served. Our server even raked the bread crumbs off the table cloth between the entrée and the dessert. Coffee was served after dinner and we felt like we could sit there as long as we wanted to. No rushing in this special restaurant. I think I’ve bee won over to the nicer side of fine dining.

 

Joe Cline asked:


Going for the best Sunday brunch in Austin

Every Sunday from 10:00 in the morning, until 2:30 in the afternoon, enjoy a great brunch for less than sixteen dollars. Top it off with Mimosa or a Bloody Mary for a dollar and fifty and your Sunday is almost done. If you want to while away the day, stay on for a little more grooving and start your Sunday evening with great cocktails and fine wine. Happy hour starts from 3:30 until 6:30 in this great spot which just won the Favorite Sunday Brunch accolade from the Austin Chronicle. Consistently, this place has been garnering restaurant poll awards from the Readers’ Sunday Brunch to the Readers’ Favorites in 2008, to the Best of Austin Awards and Critics Best Bar Snack in 2007.

That’s Moonshine Patio Bar and Grill for you, right at the corner of Red River and 3rd Street in downtown Austin. Just take note where you parked your car, as the menu is bound to make you forget everything else.

The best of Moonshine

Moonshine Patio Bar and Grill combines the best of classic American dishes with big city contemporary tastes. There’s the Beer Battered Asparagus and their own original Moonshine Corn Dog Shrimp. Texan favorites like Buffalo Meatloaf and Texas Flat Iron Steak complement the impressive menu. For the belly-conscious, they can go for lighter fare like the Indigo Spinach Salad or the Chicken Artichoke BLT. For a filling lunch, go for the Chicken Fried Steak with its creamy gravy or the Pecan Crusted Catfish in brown butter sauce.

With your martini or lemonade, you stay over till dinner and find the entrees equally enchanting. The Broiled Rainbow Trout and the Flat Iron Steak are popular choices. For a great finish to a wonderful meal, why not try these desserts – the Skillet Apple Pie with maple ice cream, or the Peanut Butter Mousse Pie?

The bar list is also a stunner, as cocktails are served with budget appetizers. Your martini is the Ruby Slipper and your margarita is the Silver Moon along with a range of mimosas and bloody marys.

Spending the whole day, starting off from the great Sunday brunch to the afternoon entrees and on to happy hour, time simply flies at the Moonshine Patio Bar and Grill.

Getting there and loving it

The area used to be called the Waterloo Compound, with its buildings replete with history. Pecan trees overhang a veranda and the limestone patio as diners traverse the walkways enroute to Moonshine.

Getting there is simple: from interstate 35, you take the first exit, Cesar Chavez, going downtown and turning right on Red River. The Moonshine Patio Bar and Grill is straight ahead then. If you’re coming from MOPAC, you take the 1st Street Exit heading for downtown and turning left this time on Red River.

Moonshine Patio Bar and Grill at 303 Red River in Austin is open all days of the week from 11:00 in the morning on weekdays and Saturdays, and earlier at 10:00 on Sundays. Sunday brunch is available from 10 to 2:30. For advanced booking, call 512-2368806 or email them at

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Sarah Martin asked:

Located on the ground floor of San Diego’s luxurious W Hotel sits Rice, the W’s signature contemporary restaurant. With a unique and **** environment, Rice offers globally contemporary cuisine, with dishes from all around the world brought together in a delicious fusion of gourmet eats.

One of San Diego’s newest, most innovative restaurants, the ambiance is polished and sleek, with soft, minimalist accents set off by plush, private booths divided by billowing gauze curtains. Rich, warm hues of browns and reds nicely complement the candlelit banquette-style seating arrangement.

Eclectic and urban, Rice offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily with brunch on Saturdays and Sundays.

On Wednesdays, swing by Rice for an enchanting evening of jazz that perfectly balances the sumptuous Pacific cuisine the menu boasts. Already the recipient of numerous glowing San Diego restaurant reviews; Rice gracefully complements the W Hotel, the perfect new addition to the W family.

Menu highlights include a variety of options layered with fresh, brilliant flavors. Try the tempura fried calamari, the Caesar salad adorned with Spanish white anchovies or the Cuban sandwich garnished with black Moroccan olive oil. Other typical entrée accompaniments range from baby artichokes to fingerling potatoes.

Noteworthy appetizers included on the menu are delicacies such as Seared Sea Scallops, Twice Baked Cheddar Souffle, Wild Mushroom Potato Risotto, Ahi Tuna with pear compote, Beef Carpaccio, and Potato Gnocchi. After one of these incredible starters, choose from the Organic Baby Greens, Honey Glazed Hamachi, Lemon Marinated Crab Salad, or the Bartlett Pear Salad.

Rice’s scrumptious specialty dishes include: the Kobe Short Ribs cooked in a demi glaze and served with hickory smoked mashed potatoes, shallots, baby carrots, and oyster mushrooms; the pan seared encrusted California Sea Bass served with leeks, bok choy, and a coconut lemongrass marinade, and the Flourless Chocolate Cake with a peanut butter center accented with fresh whipped cream, a chocolate cigar, and a fresh spring of mint.

Enjoy any of these entrees with a glass of wine from Rice’s diverse and intoxicating wine list, offering vintages from Italy, Austria, France, Chile, New Zealand, and of course, the California coastline. If a celebration is in order, select from a spectacular list of bubbles and sparkling wine, including various Brut Roses.

Rice also offers a medley of decadent desserts, not limited to Dulce de Leche Cheesecake, Midnight Seduction Chocolate Cake, Kahlua Bread Pudding, a seasonal sorbet, and artisan homemade ice cream.

With a menu so diverse and savory, Rice easily takes its place on San Diego Restaurant’s list of amazing, highly recommended places to visit to experience an unforgettable meal.

The W Hotel is also home to Magnet, the ideal backdrop for tantalizing cocktails, mellow, modern beats, and an intimate, luxurious bar environment. Enjoy a full service bar as well as an array of delectable appetizers, such as the Baja Style Seafood Cocktail or the Grilled Beef Skewers.

Magnet’s specialty libations include the Blueberry Mojito and the Albino Cosmopolitan-each guaranteed to pair perfectly with the overall indulgent, lush ambiance floating throughout the air.

Rice is happy to take your reservation at (619) 398-3082 and bridge the gap from the ordinary to a delectable, sinful dining experience.

Antonia Parelli asked:

As one of the most multi-cultural cities in the world, Sydney, Australia offers an array of fine dining options that will accommodate even the most divergent of palates. Pleasing ambiance, great service, and delectable bites of perfection can be found on any block and represent fine cuisine from all over the world.

Are your taste buds tingling in anticipation of a taste of Thai? Yok Yor is calling your name. Consistently rated one of the best overall restaurants in Sydney, Yok Yor delivers the goods time and again, redefining spice and giving traditional Thai food an edge. With a romantic atmosphere and attentive wait staff, what more could you ask for? Recommended signature dish: Fried Barramundi.

If you’re in the mood for Greek, you can’t go wrong with Nostos. The menu offers a large selection of traditional Greek fare, and the knowledgeable and friendly wait staff will ensure you leave satisfied. Known for subtle, fresh tasting food, Nostos is perpetually perched at the top of restaurant review lists. Stop in on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday and you’ll get the added bonus of live music. Recommended signature dish: Keftedes (Greek meatballs in feta dip)

Tetsuya’s offers the best of two worlds. Japanese flavors are enhanced with classic French cooking techniques, directed by Chef Tetsuya, who is known for his innovative approach to food and the wide variety of an ever-changing menu. He uses fresh, seasonal foods to create unforgettable dishes that wow customers and keep them coming back for more. Recommended signature dish: Confit of Tasmanian Ocean Trout.

Sweet tooth? Don’t pass up the opportunity to indulge in the tastiest of treats at La Renaissance Patisserie. Serving up generous portions of French cuisine and delicate pastries, La Renaissance Patisserie has been a favorite of tourists and Sydney residents for years. For something truly decadent, check out the catering menu. You can order an assortment of desserts for parties and get a nibble of every variety. Recommended signature dish: Black Forest Cake.

Another notable French restaurant is La Pelican. Housed in a smallish sandstone structure, La Pelican has a cozy, old world feel. Large groups are accommodated in the inviting courtyard at the back of the building, and private rooms are available for small parties. The chef gladly adjusts dishes for customers with special dietary restrictions, and customer requests are always greeted with a smile. Recommended signature dish: Lamb.

Times on the Park is hands down the number one place to go for a good steak. Not only are the steaks tender and flavorful, but customers also get to dine while looking out at the lovely view of Hyde Park. Add in the superior wine selection and friendly staff and Times on the Park is a serious contender for the best restaurant in Sydney list. Recommended signature dish: Chateaubriand Wagyu Aged Steak.

In all, fine dining restaurants in Sydney maintain a high standard. Keep an open mind and try out all the cuisines Sydney has to offer–your taste buds will thank you.

Clint Jhonson asked:

Toronto has plenty to offer to all its visitors; even if you are just passing through this city, you will be able to discover amazing tourist attractions. This city has a Restaurant Toronto for almost every food lover regardless of his/her age. For instance, parents and children may find the perfect opportunity to eat together at one of the restaurants that are to be found in this city and which are quite famous in the whole world. In order for you to choose the best Toronto Restaurant, you may use the restaurant review sites; these sites will contain all the restaurants that are to be found in this city together with the necessary information about each of them.

These sites are to be used in order to help you make your mind because the search is to be narrowed; by using the lists you will save some time and you will also be able to take a closer look to the prices and location of each of the Toronto restaurants. The choices are to be reviewed in order for you to pick the wanted restaurant; by using the sites, you will be able to choose a restaurant that you are going to enjoy but if you experience a hard time when trying to narrow down your choice, you may stick to your initial and more familiar choices that you have experienced before.

There is plenty of time for you to go and search for the perfect Restaurant Toronto but you have to be aware that you are going to stick to a particular budget. This budget is to be determined before going to a particular restaurant but you can also experience great dining times even on a tight budget. You may also decide to choose a new restaurant in Toronto and you may not stick to ordering the same menu over and over when in different restaurants; on the contrary, you may try a new menu and you may even ask for the server’s advice in order to choose the most popular menu without having to worry that you are not going to enjoy it. For instance, if you want some wine when in a Toronto Restaurant, you may ask the server for specific wine recommendations in order for you to ensure and enjoy a great pairing.

The Toronto area is likely to come along with plenty of offers when it comes to visiting different restaurants; actually, the city is well known for its major restaurants that are particularly packed during summertime. The tourist traffic is likely to be combined with different local people who are looking for the constant entertainment. The nightlife of this city is also one of the major interests when it comes to visiting this city because this exciting lifestyle actually makes the front of the entire bustling center of entertainment and activity.

There are several dining experiences that this city may offer to every tourist who is in the area; for instance, one of the most popular restaurants is the family type one because this Toronto Restaurant can come along with various sectors that are reserved for the adult people. Almost every restaurant will come along with a special view and if you are looking for a special menu, you can check the national influences on every menu in order to find something that appeal to you.

You should not stay away from the chain restaurants because these restaurants are also likely to come along with exquisite menus; unique atmosphere is to be found in every Restaurant Toronto; you may even enjoy a live performance that may be scheduled at some of these restaurants. The festive atmosphere is to be found in almost every Toronto Restaurant and you may enjoy this opportunity in order to find out more about the Canadian cuisine; the down home atmosphere can thus be combined in order to reflect the entire national style.

Toronto is actually a great place for you to dine and you may use every occasion you have in order to combine the special scenery with the tasty experiences. Every Toronto Restaurant is likely to enjoy a quite brisk business because it is designed in order to face all the demands coming from its clients.

Toronto is well known for its delicious and hearty food; any description about this city will involve mentioning its amazing restaurants; the city will invariably remind you of exquisite experiences and delectable dishes because every restaurant in this city is likely to be versatile enough in order to attract all the potential clients. Offering delicacies is the main thing when it comes to the Toronto restaurants and these delicacies are used in order to transform your future dining experience into a memorable and pleasant one.