Irati

(Barcelona, SPAIN) — Our final culinary adventure found us wandering the twisty alleyways of the Gothic quarter, window-shopping on our way to a place called Irati. Guidebooks proclaimed the restaurant to be a feast for the senses, an endless parade of toothpick-speared tapas that you must compete against others to acquire. After nearly a week of rubbing shoulders with fellow tourists, we were ready for a little relaxation in the back of the house...

Cal Pep

(Barcelona, SPAIN) — According to most of the travel guides and websites, if you’re looking for an authentic dining experience in Barcelona, you should look no further than Cal Pep. Unfortunately, they do not take reservations for “front of the house” and instead you must get there before they open, then take your place in line. We arrived on another gorgeous, sunny weekday for lunch and stood behind perhaps twenty people, waiting for the doors to open...

4 Gats

(Barcelona, SPAIN) — After a decadent and unusual Christmas dinner the day before in Barcelona, we were looking for something a bit more down to earth. We found Els Quatre Gats, aka 4 Gats, while looking for some place to have lunch. A bar, brewery, and restaurant...what’s not to love? We made reservations via email, then after a leisurely stroll through the Gothic quarter on a brilliantly sunny morning, we sought lunch in a dark interior...

The Best and Worst of 2011

Every January, we look back at the previous year to remember the peaks and valleys of our culinary adventures together. Thankfully, last year was filled with mostly positive experiences. There were a few duds, to be sure, but overall we chose our eateries wisely. Not including our year-end trip to Spain (the reviews for which will be posted in 2012), here are our picks for Best and Worst of 2011...

Restaurant Moo

(Barcelona, SPAIN) — Our annual Christmas tradition is to travel. We’ve been to Rome, Phoenix, and Paris the last few years and although we try to limit our overseas excursions to every other year, we felt compelled to explore a new region this year: Spain. Barcelona, with its seaside location, design-minded vibe, and foodie cred (El Bulli, anyone?), seemed ideal. Weeks before we left, we pored over many restaurant reviews and top ten lists before making reservations for some dinners ahead of time. First up? Restaurante Moo at Hotel Omm (cute, yes?). We left our hotel on a sunny, upper 50’s late afternoon and made a series of zigzags on our stroll to Christmas dinner...

Happy New Year!

Just a quick note to wish everyone a peaceful and productive 2012. Juliet and I have recently returned from a holiday vacation in Barcelona, Spain. Rest assured, we are working diligently on a parcel package of reviews from our culinary adventures overseas. Stay tuned!

Restaurant Eugene

(Atlanta, GA) — For our final dinner in Atlanta, we decided to try one of Linton Hopkins’ restaurants. But which one? We wanted to dine at Holeman & Finch Public House, but it doesn’t take reservations, being more tavern style. Standing around, waiting for a table with the inlaws didn’t sound particularly appetizing. Right next door is the more upscale Restaurant Eugene and they were more than willing to accommodate a party of four. We knew we’d be in for a wild ride, but we had no idea what surprises were in store...

Fat Matt's

(Atlanta, GA) — Just south of Buckhead is a rib shack known as Fat Matt’s. It’s not much to look at from the outside, just a small restaurant across the street from a church and down the road from a series of run-down gentleman’s clubs. If you were passing through, you might miss it. We, on the other hand, sought it out for lunch...

Flip

(Atlanta, GA) — Ever since watching Richard Blais kick ass on Top Chef All-Stars, we’ve yearned to dine at one of his Flip Burger Boutique locations, of which there are three: Buckhead, Midtown Atlanta, and Birmingham. Juliet has had the opportunity to work with Chef Blais and to eat at his restaurant before, but when we decided to hit Atlanta for Thanksgiving, Flip made the list. With Jack and Lori in tow, we caught the complimentary hotel shuttle to lunch on a sunny, unseasonably warm November day...

North Pond

(Chicago, IL) — It has been a long time coming, but we are finally headed back to Bruce Sherman’s North Pond. With a long weekend in Chicago, we are able to corral two friends—we shall call them the Hoodies—for dinner. The drive to the North Pond Nature Sanctuary, just up the way from Lincoln Park, is a beautiful, glimmery parade past well-appointed homes and windswept treescapes. A valet takes our car and we stroll the short way through the park to see what’s for supper...