On a Thursday during Hispanic Heritage Month, by pure coincidence I happened to be in the Melrose section of the Bronx, a neighborhood in New York City where 70% of the population claims Hispanic and Latino heritage. What an appropriate time and place to seek out a Latino restaurant for lunch. There’s an abundance of them, but I landed at Seis Vecinos. Read about it >
The historic core of Bruges, Belgium, one of the best preserved medieval cities in Europe, throbs with tourists throughout the day. I was still confronting packed restaurants and cafés, waffle and chocolate shops, even at the southern edges of the core. But then I spied a romantic waterside castle, with outdoor tables that didn’t seem overly populated. The umbrellas indicated food service, so I crossed a little bridge and was soon enjoying a tasty lunch at Minnewater Castle along the Lake of Love. Read about it >
I was on the hunt for a casual lunch spot. Like cartoon waves of aroma floating in the air, the appetite-stirring smell of freshly made pizza lured me to the Pizza BX restaurant across the street from my hotel in Porto, Portugal, Infante Sagres. Upon close inspection of the various pies, however, I was disappointed—they looked soggy and unremarkable. However, the rest of the menu proved to be much more appealing and rewarding. Read about it >
I had spent an unseasonably cold spring morning wandering around Bloemenmarkt, Amsterdam’s famed floating flower market, and Begijnhof, the lovely medieval courtyard surrounded by historic buildings, including Begijnhof Chapel (1660s), one of only two wooden buildings remaining in the center of the city. Now it was time to warm up indoors for lunch. And I found the perfect place at Café Morlang, just a couple of canals away. Read more >
Literally steps away from Port Zante, the terminal that attracts countless cruise ships every year to the Caribbean island of St. Kitts, you would expect Ballahoo to be overrun with megaship devotees with massive appetites. But, because so many passengers never make it past Port Zante’s duty-free shops and restaurants run by Chinese and Indian immigrants and don’t venture into the island’s capital city, this terrific restaurant practically ensures that you won’t be sitting next to people from your hometown, pressed for time and anxious to get back to their ship. All of that is great for you: You’ll be able to easily select a desirable table and enjoy a laid-back, delicious local meal with a view and without a crowd. Read more >
With more than 1,000 restaurants to choose from in Amsterdam, ranging from Argentinean steak houses to Indonesian takeaway joints to traditional Dutch establishments, you’re never at a loss to satisfy any particular craving. Those located along the city’s famous canals, of course, boast the more charming setting. But even if you can’t get to enjoy the views at the often limited outdoor seating, you’ll still be satisfied with the fine meal you’ll be served at your indoor table. Villa Zeezicht is one of those lovely canal-side restaurants with a delicious menu that ultimately makes it irrelevant where you’re sitting. Read more >
As soon as I discovered that the New England Culinary Institute in Montpelier, Vermont, operated a restaurant downtown, I knew exactly where I was going to have lunch. Just a short and charming walk from the campus, NECI on Main serves as a working laboratory for the students who may very well become tomorrow’s master chefs. Taught the mantras of organic, sustainable, and seasonal foods, NECI students channel what they learn in the classroom and on field trips to local farms into works of art on a plate. Don’t feel apprehensive about their relative inexperience — these students are serious about what they produce and how it’s presented. Judging by the meal I enjoyed, they’ll graduate with honors. Read more >
The symbiotic relationship between wine and the city of Mendoza, Argentina, simply cannot be overstated — a connection that made itself abundantly clear to me when I stepped off the plane in Mendoza, exited the terminal, and caught sight of a vineyard on the grounds of the airport. To really absorb it all, I headed off to sample some of the region’s best varietals and blends at a few of the hundreds of wineries around town, including Finca Decero, where a gorgeous setting and a fantastic meal awaited me. Read more >
Stephen Travels 