beetrock

Among the many Brooklyn middle-eastern take out heavens, this one stands the ground of its own. A tiny seating space accommodates about 10 to 15 customers right alongside the kitchen, giving the place a homey feel. I usually go with a simple green salad – presence of artichokes and fresh feta making it a special. D and I took my parents there, and while everyone went with lam and chicken I opted for a tuna wrap. Despite the generic name, my meal didn’t disappoint – the fish was spiced and flavorful and my first course of lentil soup warm and tasty enough to put our whole family in a good mood. Our sprits, further lifted by two bottles of wine purchased at the nearby Smith and Vine, called for a finishing touch of baklava. The place is BYOB which makes it not only a delightful, but also a cheap eat.

Address:
283 Smith St.
Brooklyn, NY 11231
Map

I have to say that nothing warms up your pallet after two weeks of liquid foods, like a bowl of delicious gnocchi. And if it’s Noodle Pudding-made it’s bound to be tasty. Italian dishes to one heart’s content plus good, well-priced wine, followed by well chosen dessert – who could ask for more? Not me! D and I shared an appetizer of smoked mozzarella and grilled artichokes, which was also a great treat for my toothless mouth starved for flavor. Read more…

I manage to visit, apparently one of the hottest venues in Budapest, twice in one weekend. Meet Artemovsk 38 – a Ukrainian stone barge in former life – now a restaurant, bar, concert space, and dance hall all in one rusted body. On Friday we went to see a show of a gipsy musician –Mitsoura. Her shrill voice and accompanying blurry hippie-times style video made me feel stoned almost immediately, but overall the concert was impressive. On Saturday, we returned for a work party. The good part about A38 is that it’s enormous in size. This, of course, prevents the waters of Danube from moving it in any which direction, so even those weak of stomach when at sea will be fine.

Big props to Lonely Planet for having this place on the list of Budapest cheap eats. My new all time favorite chow paradise is well hidden on one of Pest’s tiny streets. I had an entire pot of Mushroom Goulash - quite possibly the best soup ever, only to be compared to my mom’s borsch, and a salad, which I wasn’t so impressed with. But who cares about leafy greens when you can have hearty soups and other delicacies delivered to the table in cute pots and pans?

Last century’s city of working-class immigrants from Western Europe, Saint Louis still prides itself on having some of the country’s best old-world Italian restaurants. Cunetto on the Hill, Saint Louis’s oldest Italian-American neighborhood, doesn’t call itself a “house of pasta” out of sheer grandeur. The palace of pasta, more likely, the place serves simple and delicious Italian pasta favorites. My asparagus linguini in cream sauce was an absolute winner, and the portion lasted for another meal. The minestrone soup was also tasty and, reportedly, so was the restaurant’s attempt at a healthy meal – a dish of baked bass.

Address
5453 Magnolia Ave
St Louis, MO 63139
Map

D’s sister Lisa, one of my favorite Saint Louisians and definitely my most favorite mom, took us to this place in St Loui’s newly restored Lafayette Square. The city’s oldest historic district, with some houses and mansions dating back to the Civil War, Lafayette Square is a tour guide’s delight by day, and by night a hang out spot for herds of enlightened city dwellers. Read more…

As a self-claimed snooty beer lover, I have been snubbing Budweiser for years of living in the US. So the brewery tour to me was an event of pure investigative significance. Who knew that at the end of the tour two beer samples would be offered to us for free! Impatient, we listened the guide’s shrill remarks on the factory’s origins and magnificence.

Taken over from a small Saint Louis operation by a German immigrant Eberhard Anheuser around 1852, the plant roots the rise of Anheuser-Busch – now the world’s third largest beer brewer. Anheuser’s son in law, Adolphus Busch, soon joined the business and the two decided to christen their beer “Budweiser” because it was well-pronounced by Germans and native English speakers alike. Read more…

Pride of Saint Louis, Ted Drews is the self-made god of unique upside-down custards. The concretes, as they are also known, are made so thick that the cup can easily turned upside-down without spilling a precious drop of ice cream. Fascinating indeed, especially since this is always demonstrated by the staff before they hand you the cup. In the winter, Ted Drews sells Christmas trees, making this year-round ice cream/tree business an ongoing Saint Louis tradition. My Tart Cherry concrete beat D’s Dutchman on all accounts!

Address
6726 Chippewa
St. Louis, MO 63109
Map