Chicago takes its Mexican food very seriously. Expectations are high, and justifiably so in the city that has arguably done more to put authentic Mexican cuisine on the U.S. map than just about any other. Mercadito (“little market”) definitely has the proper pedigree to play in this culinary sandbox. Chef-owner … Read more
Enter BAR HENRY and for a moment you may feel like you’ve stepped back in time. As we settled into our plush red velvet chairs that were rescued from the Plaza Hotel’s recent expansive renovation, I felt like I’d discovered a New York secret. A quick glance at the … Read more
Jugatsu-ya In a dialogue with world class Japanese chef, Shinichiro Takagi, at the International Luxury Lifestyle Forum held in Kanazawa City in February, 2010, Alain Ducasse, the French cuisine master, remarked that “a chef is one who shares.” This is the ultimate lesson that Takagi embodies and brings forth at … Read more
I keep mental lists of my favorite places in the world, and Hoku’s at the Kahala Hotel & Resort happens to be on one. Perhaps Hoku’s belongs on the list of food so good you might cry, or of romantic sunsets and breathtaking ocean views to dine by, or … Read more
Palermo is probably best known for its open-air craft market that fills the historic neighborhood streets every weekend. Yet one who chooses to visit this fashionable art district in the evening hours will find it is also home to an endless number of bars, nightclubs, and restaurants. On … Read more
La Llavor dels Orígens is a fun place to eat good, honest, fresh food for a reasonable price in Barcelona. The menu comes in three languages—Catalan, Spanish, and English (sometimes with quirky translations!). It also shows a photo of each dish, with a description of the ingredients (very helpful … Read more
Café Organico What better way to shower your beach-going-body with the utmost affection and appreciation than by feeding it the freshest, best quality organic ingredients? Serving up delicious gourmet vegetarian (mostly vegan) dishes and fresh juices, Café Organico has become a staple in the quaint fishing village of Montezuma, Costa … Read more
The Squire was struck by the ornate shell chandeliers gracing the dining room of Michy’s, Michelle Bernstein’s cozy, haunt on Biscayne Boulevard and soon learned that the whimsical lighting fixtures were made of Florida sand dollars. Such is the unexpected nature of this self-professed “gourmet neighborhood restaurant” where the eclectic … Read more
RED, The Steakhouse You have to be curious about a restaurant called RED … what comes to my mind is Russia, Diana Vreeland, Valentines hearts and high fashion lipstick, all associated in one way or another with the dramatic color. But allow me a gratuitous thought or two, well, yeah, … Read more
Soleá – The W Hotel’s Unwavering Perfection Soleá … even the name spurs your imagination. Could it mean something about the sun or perhaps as there is an accent on the “a” maybe an obscure Spanish verb that has something to do with using the sun to achieve a … Read more
de la Cava Lights, camera, action! The Squire recently took you backstage for a glimpse of culinary theater in New York City, courtesy of the Bocuse D’Or. Now imagine flipping the coin and sitting in the front row of the orchestra in Santo Domingo. Such is the feeling when … Read more
Greece is the Word B. Restaurant A massive red and black contemporary sculpture lures you into the expansive outdoor lounge and café that is the entrée to B., the restaurant. Through the interior portal a warm greige wall and 2 vertical columns punctuate a circular ceiling that covers this … Read more
Wineport Lodge & The Ice House Even in today’s fast paced world rampant with media hype, everyone still loves a rebirth, and I’m not talking religion. Upon arriving at The Wineport Lodge in Glasson, County Westmeath, all I could think was that I wished it was summer and we were … Read more
Weasel Coffee and Bowls of Pho I landed in Saigon a few minutes past midnight exhausted and wired but excited to be in Vietnam, a country that had occupied my imagination for decades. I’d had just enough time at Narita airport to pick up a liter of Yamazaki Single … Read more
Eating in New York City Daniel Hype in New York often trumps reality. No place on earth can brainwash people into thinking that the show, the art, the exhibit, the performance, or…the food is better than what you sense. It’s like Harpo Marx and Richard Pryor said: “Who you … Read more