~ 4 Amazing Restaurants ~
1 ~ Wedholms Fisk ~ Stockholm, Sweden -As travelers we must treat ourselves to an amazing meal along the way, a four or five star experience that we would never do at home. And for me Wedholms Fisk could not have been a better choice. This was one of the most expensive meals I have ever had and it was worth every krona. One of the most amazing things about travel when it comes to the cuisine of the country you’re visiting is the ‘I have never tried that..’ moments. For me the entire menu was ‘I’ve never tried that..’ until now Starting with caviar with fried butter toast and once I got past the point of it being fish eggs I really enjoyed them and fried toast is a perfect match.
In addition to the caviar (which was the most expensive dish I’d have) I also enjoyed the Hummer Salad – it is a lobster salad with quail eggs, another delicacy I have never had. And once I was finished enjoying the eggs of two different animals it on the the main course and I needed a steak. I know it is not the most traditional meal but after I eggs I needed some beef the Handcrafted Norrøna Matjessill – you can either have it with a fillet or mutton herring. It was amazing I don’t even know where to begin, just have it if you ever make your to Stockholm, the filet was cooked to absolute perfection that along with the South African Cabernet and the flaming strawberries I had for dessert made bankruptcy worth it. Every meal that followed was from a $1 menu. https://wedholmsfisk.se/en
2 ~ Barak Resturant ~ Budapest, Hungary – on my final night in Budapest years ago I have my last supper at Barakar Restaurant. On this I’d start at the bar and the cocktail selection was a menu of ‘something for everyone’ no matter what your taste. And alcohol around the world is not the watered down alcohol we drink here in the US. I had the two East Fizz (Green Tea infused Ketel & Lemon juice/Citromlé, Tokyo Lemonade) and that was plenty, for now. The menu had foods, animals I’d never eaten as well as many I have just prepared in ways I never knew possible. I started with the cantaloupe soup and the Brittany Blue Lobster both of which were amazing. They also offer French Rabbit but I wasn’t up to being that adventurous tonight.
For my entree I was adventurous and had Hungarian Wild Boar and it was an animal that surprised me because I loved it, strong bold flavor and so easy to cut. With a mom from the south I have had every part of every animal from pig, hog and cow but this was the first for wild boar. That is another amazing thing about travel is seeing foods on a menu you never imagined. Wild boar on a menu in Budapest. And I am sure when you think of fine wines, the vineyards of Hungary don’t come to mind, well they should. I had a Cabernet from Villany and it paired perfectly with my wild boar. And I topped of the night with an apple, apricot tofu. So if you are ever in Budapest and are craving wild boar and rabbit you must have at least one meal at Baraka. http://barakarestaurant.hu
3 ~ Dubra-Put ~ Zagreb, Croatia – when I visited years ago I went to Dubra-Put, authentic Croatian food at its best. I started at the wine bar and talked with some of the locals. It was the usual ‘where are you from, why did you decide to visit, how do you like Zagreb etc, etc… ‘what have you seen, done, liked or didn’t like’ just small talk. Once the hostess came to take me to my table, the man asked if I would join them ‘We’d be honored if you would sit at our table’ one of the gentlemen said, ‘excuse me.’ ‘You came all the way from Boston.’ before I could answer they were telling the hostess to add another chair to their table. ‘I teared up, a complete stranger telling me ‘he’d be honored’ if I sat at their table, the unexpected and unscripted.
I started with the marinated scallops with cucumber, tomato and beluga lentils which are similar to caviar well whatever they’re similar to, the dish was incredible. The moment was amazing and we talked of every possible topic (no politics or religion). What life was like in our respective countries, likes and dislikes. Even our football teams, it was perfect. For my main course I had to have Croatian beefsteak, plain as always and a perfect medium I was in heaven. The table was a covered with side dishes among them was Swiss chard and potato dalmatian style (it also called Blitva), a dish native to Croatia. Rocket leaf, potato and french fries – it was a perfect evening. The wine flowed, and it was a feast, a dinner I will always remember. And for desert it felt like he had ordered one of each because the table was covered in them. Of all of them my favorite was Le Louis XV Madagascar 67,4% single origin chocolate (chocolate made from cocoa beans sourced from one specific region) crunchy hazelnut almond biscuit Foie Gras ice cream. I attempted to hand my credit card to help pay for dinner but it was quickly handed back to me. ‘Thank you all for making this journey even more and the honor was mine.’ http://www.dubravkin-put.com/
4 ~ Panchita Sazon Criolla ~ Lima, Peru – Comida Criolla is the term used for traditional Peruvian food. As I would enjoy during my journey the food is a mixture Aji de gallina (spicy chicken stew), lomo saltado (stir-fry beef), chupe (fish stew) anticuchos (marinated beef heart), something I don’t think I have ever seen on a menu in all my years of travel. The menu was a combination of authentic and contemporary Peruvian dishes. And for the first time I honestly did not know what to try because the menu was so diverse and I knew it was going to be a challenge, but I rose to it.. The appetizers offered everything from stir fry beef to chicken thighs. Deep fried pork to tamales. I started with ‘Papas Rellenas.’ It is minced beef inside fried mash potato dough and served with huancaina sauce and sarza criolla – WOW, WOW, WOW!!! I loved it. That along with the Alitas Crocantes a La Criolla, crunchy wings coated with Peruvian rocoto, BBQ sauce and chalaca this meal was off to a great start.
The grilled appetizers offered everything from Creole blood sausage, calf grilled kidney and beef heart and I must say it piqued my interest and I decided to try it and almost threw it up. I don’t know if it were the taste or the fact it was a heart, I was disgusted d by it. Now it was on to the entrees where I had my choice of fried guinea pig, whole baby chicken to crunchy ham hock. And as bigger adventurer as I am with food I must say I took a semi-conservative route and tried ‘hen’ something I’d always wanted to try but no one ever made it for me until tonight, hen ravioli in a hen broth with potato and noodles and I liked it but didn’t love and for a side I enjoyed fried bananas. Of all the South/Central American cuisine I have had I think Peruvian food has been the most challenging it is not the dish itself but the way it is prepared and the ingredients that go with it. I enjoyed all I had and I will eat it again but not as soon as some of the others. But if you ever visit Lima and want an authentic Peruvian meal with some twenty-first century thrown in Panchita is a place you must have dinner. http://panchita.pe/
5 ~ Mlynec Restaurant ~ Prague, Czech Republic ~ At one point I knew I was going to have dinner that was a total disappoint (as we have all experienced). It doesn’t matter what city you are in you will ultimately dine at a restaurant(s) that are total disappointments. On my second visit to Prague I found just that. It was my third night and I decided to treat myself to some fine dining and the hotel suggested Mlynec. It was one of the most beautiful restaurants I’d ever been in sitting on the River Danube with views of the Charles Bridge. After a few drinks at the bar I was escorted to my table. One thing I’ve noticed in all my years of travel. When I am the only black man in a restaurant I am either seated in the center of the restaurant for all to see or in the corner for no one to see. On this night I was on full display.
I decided to start with the beetroot gazpacho with strawberries and basil, a perfect way to start the feast (at least that’s what I thought.) ‘I believe I ordered a bowl.’ [supsystic-gallery id=185 position=center]
‘Yes Mr. Foster that is a bowl.’ ‘Where’s the rest of it, this is more like a taste, I get more out of a can of Campell’s chicken noodle.’ He actually laughed at that. So being a fellow server knowing what he was going through and not to make a scene I had my cup of soup disguised as bowl. I decided to give one more appetizer a try, to see if get more than the soup. The Prague ham sounded like a good choice it was a combination of apple, horseradish, radishes, creamy Czech cheese. [supsystic-gallery id=184 position=center]
All I could do was stare at it, I even lifted the bowl to see if there was more underneath. ‘Is there a Burger King, Wendy’s, KFC or McDonald’s in the area. My server laughed, ‘Mr. Foster if I were I’d be asking the same question, the concept of the restaurant is to offer traditional Czech dishes with a contemporary style.’ ‘My friend I’m going to take care of you because you’ve been so wonderful and I am server in Boston. I deal with asshole customers like myself constantly. I will take my check. A glass of wine a cup of soup and slice of ham came to $58. He was quite understanding and told me I was not the first person and you won’t be the last.’ We shook hands and I was off to find a Burger King. https://www.mlynec.cz/en/
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Well if you are ever in any of these cities and want to enjoy true fine dining the first four will keep you smiling and the fifth will give you a frown. But whatever you choose when you are in any given city make sure treat yourself to a fine dining experience and for a few hours just sit back and enjoy.
As always thanks for reading
AGF