Restaurants to Check Out *Journal Bookring*

Registered by tnkbl of Walnut Creek, California USA on 8/16/2004
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15 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by tnkbl from Walnut Creek, California USA on Monday, August 16, 2004
I don't know if anyone has done this before, but I thought it might be a fun idea. This is a "Do It Yourself Restaurant Guide." My hope is for it to travel around the world, and bookring participants can introduce their favorite restaurants to each other.

The idea is simple: when you receive the journal, choose a restaurant (or two) near your home that you love and would like to share with us. Each page in the journal is designed to record one restaurant, so fill in a page-- or two, as long as there are enough pages for everyone. At the same time, post a journal entry with the same information, so that everyone can see it. In the end, we will all have a journal record of great restaurants all over the world, and can refer to it when we travel!

All I ask is that you choose a restaurant that is unique to your area, avoiding chain restaurants that many people might already be familiar with.

I have removed the section dividers from the journal, since they won't pertain to us, so just use the next available page regardless of the restaurant's geopraphic location or cuisine. (There is also a handy page at the back of the book with pockets!)

PM me with shipping preferences if you're interested in participating!

Journal Entry 2 by tnkbl from Walnut Creek, California USA on Monday, August 23, 2004
Here is the latest mailing order (updated December 28, 2004):

JDT (CA)
Antof9 (CO)
your-book-fairy (NY)

Nik-The-Stik (Canada)
jessibud (Canada)

miss-gonewest (Australia)
felicia-fairy (Australia)
mundoo (Australia)
quizzical (Australia)
newk (Australia)

silentmiaouw (Switzerland)
Brujula (France)
Kanapoutz (France)
maupi (Netherlands)
elhamisabel (Germany)
apapsa (Greece)
caffcaff (UK)

Ramya (NJ)
Ixion (RI)
CuriousityKT (NH)
nicole4 (IL)
mrsjones (OH)
HallieK (TX)
may-eve (OR)

home: tnkbl (CA)

Journal Entry 3 by tnkbl from Walnut Creek, California USA on Tuesday, August 31, 2004
I ended up at my first restaurant introduction a bit serendipitously this past weekend. I had some others in mind originally, but I enjoyed my experience here so much that I thought I should share it. It is in Napa, which is not exactly local to me, but it isn't far either (about 35 miles), and I think it would be a good choice for those visiting, because so many people go to Napa for a day trip from San Francisco.

BF and I drove up to Napa on Saturday becuase he was meeting some people at the local Democrats club to do some volunteer training. We had gotten a late start, and they were late too, so he was not done until almost 4:00 in the afternoon. We decided to head over to Copia (Napa's Center for Wine, Food, and the Arts) anyway, even though we knew it closed at 5:00. When we arrived, we found out that admission was free after 4:00. Talk about karma!

So we wandered around the center for a little bit, and I released a foodie book while I was there (which was journalled the very next day!), and decided to see if there was any availability for dinner in the restaurant. There was.

So here is what I have filled in in the journal:

Date: August 28, 2004
Restaurant Name: Julia's Kitchen
Cuisine: Californian
Address: Copia, 500 First St. Napa, CA 94559
Phone: (707) 265-5700 www.copia.org
Hours: 11:30-3:00, 5:30-9:30
Closed on Tuesdays
Overall Rating: 8
Price Range: $$$
Must Order Items: anything made with vegetables or fruit picked fresh from Copia's "edible garden." Make sure you leave room for dessert!
What to Avoid: nothing...
Comments: If you're visiting Napa, save a few hours in the afternoon to visit Copia, then stay for dinner. Named for the late Julia Child, the restaurant is a bit pricey, but worth it for the ambience, service, and cuisine. Take advantage of California's specialty: its fresh produce!

Journal Entry 4 by tnkbl from Walnut Creek, California USA on Tuesday, August 31, 2004
I put this in the mail for JDT today. I am very excited to hear about restaurants all over the world, and I hope this journal makes it all the way back home safely. Good luck, journal!


Journal Entry 5 by JDT from Pleasanton, California USA on Wednesday, September 1, 2004
Ooh - what a wonderful little book - and creative idea!
I'll give this some thought - and, of course, a bit of delicious "research" , then journal again!
Thanks, tnkbl!

Journal Entry 6 by JDT from Pleasanton, California USA on Friday, September 10, 2004
I love this little book, this bookring concept, and the wonderful travels planned.

* Railroad Cafe - esp. for breakfast lovers - both creative & comfort food
2041 Railroad Ave. Livermore, CA (925)447-0235
Daily: 7:00 AM - 2:00 PM - breakfast & Lunch

Suggestions: - Potato Pancake/ Ham - $7.95
(generous grilled potato pancake, topped with a scramble of eggs, ham, tomatoes, spinach, jack & cheddar cheese. Served with cinnamon toast.
- Strawberry & Banana Combo - $8.75
(2 Swedish pancakes w/ lemon curd, 1 cheese blintz with strawberries & cream, half apricot cristo (Canadian bacon, turkey, swiss cheese topped w/ Ahwahnee Creamed Bananas
*Go for the creative, skip the ordinary.
Lunch is good, too - but breakfast is my favorite.

Cash only, no espresso drinks, no reservations - coffee outside on busy weekends.
The genuine article; locals from ranchers to families to Livermore Lab scientists - a surprising find in a nondescript shopping center.
Bonus: next door to In Between Stitches - a great quilting and fabric shop.

* Wente Vineyards Restaurant - for a special occasion for 2 or a group of friends
Wine country/California/fresh seasonal menu
5050 Arroyo Road, Livermore, CA 94550
(925)456-2450
**wentevineyards.com - for info and photos
Dinner - 5:00 - 9:30 daily
Sunday Brunch - 10:30 - 2:30; Lunch M- Sat 11;30 - 2:30
expensive - but worth it for a special treat
Try any seasonal dinner specials - appetizers/soups/salads - $6.95 - 10
Entrees - $20.25 - 36 (try the double-cut pork chop!)
Wine Spectator & Zagats top awards
(haven't tried Sunday brunch or lunch recently - but beautiful setting (vineyards, garden, golf course) during the day as well)

A feast for the senses - in the setting (vineyards, gardens, Sparkling Wine Cellars), open, beautiful architecture
Understated elegance, special, comfortable

* Puccini & Pinetti
Low-key, downtown location, neighborhood feel Italian restaurant and bar
129 Ellis (at Cyril Magnin) San Francisco
(415)392-5500
Happy Hour - M-F - 4-6:00 - $3wine/beer/appetizers
Lunch 11:30-3:3- - M-Sat
Dinner 5:00-10:00(weekends til 11) opens Sun at 4)

Mid-range prices - any risotto or pasta specials ($10-15), chicken breast (14.75), veal picatta (17.95) with spinach and garlic mashed potatoes.
Save room for a cappuccino or dessert

Festive, fun, colorful, noisy, happening atmosphere
"great food and service without the attitude)
(easy walk from Powell St. BART station or Union Square)

** Or check out Kuleto's (Italian in Villa Florence Hotel) 221 Powell St - 11:30 - 11:00 - for more class, calm, comfort (415)397-7720

Sending on to Antof9 - as soon as I have an address.
Thanks again, tnkbl!

Journal Entry 7 by JDT from Pleasanton, California USA on Tuesday, September 14, 2004
Mailed to Antof9 today!
Enjoy the book and the required research!

Journal Entry 8 by Antof9 from Lakewood, Colorado USA on Sunday, September 26, 2004
Hey gang! This book came on Friday (the 24th), just in time for a trip into the mountains on Saturday! I'll journal about it in the next couple of days :) How fun to be "forced" to enjoy some local restaurants!

tnkbl -- your handwriting is SO neat that I thought your first entry was the sample provided by the printer!

JDT -- I've *BEEN* to Wente Vineyards! My sister bought our wine rack there! What a trip! My favorite from their shop was their Olive Tapenade. I ate an awful lot of that with pretzel sticks :)

edit: I'm changing the picture for this entry to a GORGEOUS pic of the Aspen trees "turning". I took this while we were out off-roading. This is one of the highlights of Colorado, and many visitors come here expressly to see the "fall color". I can't believe this absolutely gorgeous pic is from a cheap camera on my phone!

Journal Entry 9 by Antof9 from Lakewood, Colorado USA on Thursday, December 2, 2004
OK -- I know you all think I fell off the face of the planet, and so my first journal entry must include an apology to tnkbl for keeping this book so long. I have 2 defenses: one, I probably shouldn't have signed up for a "restaurant critiquing" bookring during a season when we're saving pennies and hardly ever going out!, and two, I'm lazy. So my utmost apologies for not doing my journal entries (even after we had actually been to some restaurants) on time. We'll get this to your-book-fairy in time for Christmas, anyway! I'll be writing my journal entries tonight and tomorrow, and get it in the mail by the weekend. Now, where are those receipts?

The picture attached to this entry is from the menu of the first place. I think the waitress thought I was nuts, taking this picture :)

Journal Entry 10 by Antof9 from Lakewood, Colorado USA on Thursday, December 2, 2004

Journal Entry 11 by Antof9 from Lakewood, Colorado USA on Thursday, December 2, 2004
(NOT in the journal, but I wanted to share the pic!)
Date: September 24, 2004
Restaurant Name: Starbucks
Cuisine: Coffee
Address: Dillon, Colorado

Why? Because it's a "Brew with a view"! Before leaving the mountains, we stopped at the Starbucks in Dillon, which is in a little strip mall, nothing spectacular, everybody's been to one, blah blah blah. Right? Wrong! Who would have thought that this little bitty Starbucks at the end of a strip mall would have the best view of any we'd seen yet?! They have a little outdoor patio, and I strongly recommend taking in the sites with a cuppa from this great location.

We made a bunch of postcards out of this picture, and sent them to other coffee/mountain fans. Hope you like the pic!

Journal Entry 12 by Antof9 from Lakewood, Colorado USA on Thursday, December 2, 2004

Journal Entry 13 by Antof9 from Lakewood, Colorado USA on Thursday, December 2, 2004
Hacienda Colorado, Lakewood, Colorado

Date: November 18, 2004
Cuisine: Mexican
Address: 5056 S Wadsworth Boulevard, Lakewood, Colorado
Phone: 303 932-0272
Hours: Sun-Thurs 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM, Fri/Sat until 10:00 PM
Overall Rating: 10
Price Range: $$
Must Order Items: Poblano de Pollo, Steak-changa, Frijoles a la charra, ANY Margarita!
What to Avoid: We haven't found it yet!
Comments: There are two types of places to eat good Mexican food -- 1. a great restaurant, and 2. a hole-in-the-wall. This is the former! We have taken every visitor we've had to this place (and that's a lot), and most want to go back a 2nd time! We took our most recent houseguests, and weren't disappointed :) They have more than 100 Tequilas on their menu, and great chips and salsa (you can taste the fresh cilantro in the salsa -- always a good sign!). The waitstaff works in teams, so you are never looking around for your waiter.

I should add that the most recent friends we took brought their 3 year old daughter. It's actually a great place for kids, as it has an open, warehouse-y feel, so it's ok to be noisy :)

Come to Denver, I'll take you there!

On to your-book-fairy as soon as I get an addy. Thanks again for doing this ring, tnkbl -- it's actually a VERY fun idea! I hope you didn't think my delay meant I didn't like it or thought it a bad idea. On the contrary! If I'd had more funds, I'd have about 10 more entries!

Journal Entry 14 by Antof9 from Lakewood, Colorado USA on Monday, December 6, 2004
I have your-book-fairy's addy, and it's heading out to NY today. Enjoy some yummy meals, your-book-fairy!

Journal Entry 15 by your-book-fairy from South Orange, New Jersey USA on Tuesday, December 14, 2004
Just got this one in the mail today and am looking forward to heading out to a good meal sometime soon! When I first saw this book in a store I wondered what kind of obsessive compulsive you'd have to be to maintain it by yourself, mostly because I know I'd make three entries, get distracted by a bright shiny object, and never write in it again. But this is great -- I've already emailed my dad in Denver to recommend Hacienda Colorado!

Oh, and I also had to laugh -- I had previously read Antof9's comment about how neat tnkbl's handwriting is, and STILL I thought that first page was a sample provided by the printer. Man, you've got some nice penmanship! Anyway, thanks to all of you who got the book this far, I'll plan to send it back out after taking it with me on a new year's eve trip to Florida.

Journal Entry 16 by your-book-fairy from South Orange, New Jersey USA on Saturday, February 19, 2005
Well, I thought I'd get one more restaurant in here for valentine's day, but this year I ended up just settling in at home rather than going out somewhere fancy (I'm 6 months pregnant and probably nesting...). So here are my two, and then I'll be sending this off to Nik-The-Stik on Monday.

-----------------
Date: January 1, 2005
Restaurant Name: Phillippi Creek Village
Cuisine: Seafood
Address: 5353 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL. www.creekseafood.com
Phone: 941-925-4444
Hours: 11:30-10
Overall Rating: 9
Price Range: $$$
Must Order Items: Any of the fresh seafood, the king crab legs and stone crab claws were excellent, nothing here has ever disappointed.
What to Avoid: It's just not worth it to go somewhere like this and order the burgers or chicken sandwich.
Comments: My boyfriend's family has been going here for 15+ years and it's now where I always ask to go where I visit; sitting on the outdoor deck is great, especially when it's cold up in NYC where I live. I only rated it $$$ because the Market Price seafood can end up pretty steep, but the regular entrees are $10-$15.

---------------------------
Date: January 19, 2005
Restaurant Name: Hi-Life Restaurant & Lounge
Cuisine: a little of everything
Address: 1340 1st Avenue (@ 72nd street), NY NY 10021
Phone: (212) 249-3600
Hours: M-W 11:30-11:00, Th-Sat 11:30-1:30
Closed on Sundays, maybe. A local guidebook says it is, but I'm not totally sure
Overall Rating: 9
Price Range: $$
Must Order Items: I can't even begin to name what to order or avoid at this retro-themed restaurant and lounge. I went with a large group to celebrate my master's degree and among us we ordered steak, mussells, sushi, lobster bisque, pork chops, baked clams, salmon, big (huge) salads, and more, and everyone loved their food. I'm usually wary of places that offer such a wide variety of food, but they pull it off with good service and a comfortable but hip atmosphere.

Journal Entry 17 by Nik-The-Stik from London, Ontario Canada on Saturday, March 19, 2005
Just received this & am anxious to be put it to good use :)

It's so cute &classy looking - what a great little concept!! Thanks for sending it out, and I will journal again when I have made some yummy headway with it! :)

Journal Entry 18 by Nik-The-Stik from London, Ontario Canada on Tuesday, May 3, 2005
This will be traveling to jessibud today.

I apologise profusely for holding this journal up!! I really had great intentions of completing it, as it is really such a wonderful concept!! But I can see that life at the moment is just not going to allow it, unfortunately! I wish it well on its future journies!!

Thanks for including me :)

Journal Entry 19 by jessibud from Toronto, Ontario Canada on Thursday, May 5, 2005
This little book arrived in my mailbox today and what perfect timing! I am awaiting the arrival of out-of-town overnight guests, at any moment! I plan to take them out to dinner tonight (since I am far too lazy to attempt to cook a meal, considering my friend is such a gourmet cook, herself!). I will make tonight's dinner my first entry and then, try to add a few more. I will try to have it on its way soon.


Journal Entry 20 by jessibud from Toronto, Ontario Canada on Tuesday, May 10, 2005
Well, the time just got away from me! We did go out to dinner the night I received this book. The restaurant is called Sierra and in order not to repeat my entire entry that I wrote up, I will say that I had the fettuccini alfredo with tiger shrimp and a HUGE (too huge!) portion from the amazing salad bar! I never got around to having the soup I really wanted (carrot ginger; it is EXCELLENT at this restaurant!) And, sadly, I never made it to dessert, either. That happens to me alot...:-(


Some day, I will go to a restaurant and have dessert first! I'm a grown-up now, I can do that, right? ;-)

In fact, maybe my next entry will be a dessert one....


Journal Entry 21 by jessibud from Toronto, Ontario Canada on Saturday, May 28, 2005
Wow, I hadn't realized how much time had passed! I will journal this last one and then send it on its way.

And yes, this one IS a dessert place, :-) My kind of place!

One of my favourite new hang-outs is this little ice cream joint, called Hollywood Gelato (http://www.yummybaguette.com/magasin.php-id=52.htm). Gelato, by the way, is Italian ice cream that is milk-based as opposed to being cream-based. They told me more, when I asked, but to be honest, I can't remember what they said. All I know is that it is DELICIOUS!!

The shop is located on a trendy street in central Toronto, on the corner. They have some seats inside and tables and chairs outside, as well, in front of and around the side of the shop. Out front is their crazy mascot, a mounted, stuffed duck on a bicycle, his legs perpetually pedalling. I have no idea *why* but it's a great landmark to look for when you are telling someone for the first time, what to look for, when meeting there, lol


Hollywood Gelato sells baked goods such as muffins, tarts, biscotti, crumbles, danish, etc, as well as a variety of coffees, hot chocolates and fruit smoothies. But their specialty is the gelato. You can get it in a cup, or in a sugar or waffle cone. A small (2 scoops) costs $2.95, a medium (3 scoops), $3.95, and a large (4), $4.95. Sugar cones are 30 cents more and waffle cones are 55 cents extra. I usually go for the cup or sugar cone and I always have a small. I also always try 2 new tasters before making my decision... ;-)

Here is a partial list of some of their popular flavours: creme caramel, rocky road, MARS, Tahitian vanilla, key lime, peanut butter and chocolate, hazelnut, double-chocolate walnut, raspberry, mint chocolate chip, cappucino, coconut, and more that I can't think of at the moment. My favourite is pb and chocolate with MARS or hazelnut. The raspberry ice is also outstanding.


A totally unrelated but fun bit of trivia is this: Hollywood Gelato has the coolest, funkiest, classiest bathroom ever! Hard to describe except to say that it does not feel like a public washroom! There is a little wrought iron corner shelf (they keep kleenex and extra rolls of toilet paper on it) and I have twice (on separate occasions) released a book there. Neither has been journalled as caught so I can only hope that they were not thrown out...


I also chose Hollywood Gelato as the place where I met 2 local bookcrossers for the first time: Ri, last summer and, more recently, Bookgirrl, both of whom I remain in touch with to this day!

And if YOU come to Toronto, I will take you there, as well.

:-)


Journal Entry 22 by miss-gonewest from Perth City, Western Australia Australia on Sunday, June 19, 2005
Thanks so much! This little journal arrived safely all the way from Canada - how exciting!

And what a great excuse to go out for dinner... I have nothing planned but will happily do a ring around and see if I can get myself a dinner date so I can do a review.

I'll be back as soon as I have lined something up and had a wonderful feast.

Thanks to tknbl for starting this up.


Update 27th Aug: Goodness me! I have JUST realised I still have this book. I am SO very sorry!!! I promise to write up my reviews today and I will also PM next in line so I can get this off in the post this week (I am going overseas next week).

TKNBL - sorry to hold up your ring. To those behind me, sorry for the delay!!!

Edit: 4th October. Unfortunately I didn't have time to write my reviews (due to life & stuff) and posted this off to felicia-fairy so as not to hold it up any longer... However it seems to be mia between me and her. We are investigating its whereabouts and hope to find it soon.

Journal Entry 23 by emmafiles from Murrumba Downs, Queensland Australia on Monday, October 31, 2005
Hi - I received this one today with International Postage stamps on it. Could explain the mia?
Anyway - it is safe and sound and with me.
Went to a fantastic restaurant yesterday so I'm ready to begin!

Journal Entry 24 by emmafiles from Murrumba Downs, Queensland Australia on Saturday, November 19, 2005
Yes - i still have this journal but I'm still using it - I've definately gone beyond the normal 2 or 3 entries - hope that's ok!
Have had by birthday and a few other special occasions since the book arrived so have used it a lot, will get it moving again within the next fortnight.

Journal Entry 25 by emmafiles from Murrumba Downs, Queensland Australia on Wednesday, December 7, 2005
Ok - I'm finally done!
I have reviewed quite a few restaurants and now this book is on the way to mundoo.

Journal Entry 26 by emmafiles from Murrumba Downs, Queensland Australia on Friday, January 13, 2006
I'm a terrible person!

I just found this on my desk whilst finally attacking the post-Christmas pile up of cards and bills and last years calendars and assorted other mess.

It's all wrapped up and ready to send to Mundoo and I promise I am walking down to the postbox TODAY to get it away!

Journal Entry 27 by Mundoo from Hindmarsh Island, South Australia Australia on Monday, February 6, 2006
Arrived today. I am really looking forward to participating in this journal.

Journal Entry 28 by Mundoo from Hindmarsh Island, South Australia Australia on Friday, February 24, 2006
January 2006
Woks 2 Eat
Asian Noodle Bar
9 Cadell Street, Goolwa. South Australia

We went here for my grand-daughter Lakita's birthday. She choose where we went.

A typical 'Australianised' interpretation of asian food. Pleasant to eat but a fraction pricy for me normally.

There were 3 children and 2 adults in our party.
Lakita - the birthday girl
Jordan
Samara

and April, who is a friend of the family and myself. My daughter (the children's mother) and my partner David were away fighting a bushfire - they are both members of the local volunteer fire service.



Edited on 5th Mar. 2006 to note that Woks 2 Eat closed its doors during the last week.

Journal Entry 29 by Mundoo from Hindmarsh Island, South Australia Australia on Friday, February 24, 2006
Lakita the birthday girl. She ordered Beef and cashew nuts.

Journal Entry 30 by Mundoo from Hindmarsh Island, South Australia Australia on Friday, February 24, 2006
Jordan ordered wedges and sour cream.

Journal Entry 31 by Mundoo from Hindmarsh Island, South Australia Australia on Friday, February 24, 2006
Samara had Salt and Pepper Squid.

Journal Entry 32 by Mundoo from Hindmarsh Island, South Australia Australia on Friday, February 24, 2006
April and myself had Thai Beef Salad

Journal Entry 33 by Mundoo from Hindmarsh Island, South Australia Australia on Friday, February 24, 2006
We enjoyed our night out for Lakita's 12th birthday.

Journal Entry 34 by Mundoo from Hindmarsh Island, South Australia Australia on Sunday, February 26, 2006
Boca Bellas
Randell Road, Hindmarsh Island, Australia
Local foods and Australian cuisine
Price range medium for this area, cheap for Australia

This is my 'local' restaurant and is situated on Hindmarsh Island where I live. Considering that there is one shop, one Tavern, one boat chandlers, one marina, one telephone box and one post box on Hindmarsh Island it is interesting that a restaurant exists here at all. They are situated in the middle of the island well away from the other facilities I have just mentioned.

Boca Bellas has been open just over 12 months and has established an excellent reputation for innovative Australian food at reasonable prices. They also have a local produce store where you can buy locally-produced virgin olive oil at very reasonable prices, local jams and craft work.

This is more a cafe than a restaurant and I often stop here for a coffee and cake. The cakes are always supreme and decantent.

Anyway today's meal I had was fettucine and Goolwa cockles in a white wine/cream sauce.

This was a medium sized bowl of fettucine with a generous amount of cockles in their shells (which open when cooked) and a light sauce that didn't overpower the cockles. On top was shaved parmesan cheese. I sprinkled course-ground black pepper corns on top and tucked in. This dish was deceptive! Although the bowl wasn't full to the rim I staggered to the end being very full.

A lovely dish for a luncheon.

I finished with a cappucinno and had no room for a dessert or cake.


Journal Entry 35 by Mundoo from Hindmarsh Island, South Australia Australia on Saturday, March 4, 2006
Cafe 61
Yilki, South Australia

We went here for a St. John's Ambulance regional dinner. My partner David is a St. John's Cadet Superintenant and instructor.

Was a fixed price menu. $A19 each

Choices were:

Main Course -
2 piece crumbed butterfish and chips with salad and tartare sauce

or

Roast Beef with red wine gravy and horseradish cream, roast potatoes and vegetables

or

Chicken Snitzel with mushroom sauce, chips and salad

Dessert

Steamed chocolate pudding smothered in a rich chocolate sauce with vanilla ice cream,

or

Citrus tart served with double cream and raspberry coulis.

Complimentary hot rolls and butter were served first.

I had the Chicken snitzel. This was a large breast fillet of chicken crumbed thickly. The chips were hot and fresh and the salad was in a separate bowl and consisted of 'designer lettuce', bean sprouts, cucumber and capsicum and had no dressing. Actually even a lemon wedge to squeeze would have made this salad great instead of okay. The servings on this dish were huge.

For dessert I had the citrus tart. That was glorious!! The pastry was home-made and just crumbly enough and the tart was 'tart' and lemony and rich and coupled with the thick cream and coulis was perfect.

David had the Roast beef and it was a generous serve of thinly sliced pieces of roast beef and a range of roast vegetables. He also had the Citrus tart.

A nice meal and worth the price.

Journal Entry 36 by Mundoo from Hindmarsh Island, South Australia Australia on Monday, March 6, 2006
Goolwa Hotel
Cadell Street, Goolwa. South Australia
Dining Room
Australian cuisine

Went there on a Monday night. There was the full al-la-carte range on the blackboard as well as the $A7.50 3 main course specials board.

All meals have full access to the 'all you can eat' salad and vegetable bar.

I went with the 'specials' board.

Choices were:
Battered butterfish and chips
Roast Pork
Beef Goulash


I had the Roast Pork. It came with several slices of roast pork, a roast potato, gravy and some crackling.

From the salad/veg bars I got more roast potatoes, roast pumpkin, some cauliflower/broccoli bake, corn and peas as well as some apple sauce. The salad bar had over a dozen choices of salad ranging from, mushroom salad, cheese and carrot, greek salad, potato salad with mustard seeds, beetroot, garden salad, curried egg salad, coleslaw, pineapple and coconut salad, melon and catalope slices etc.

As usual the meal from the Goolwa Hotel was of high quality and served promptly. The staff are always friendly and the owners of the Hotel are always on hand to make sure everything is alright.


Journal Entry 37 by Mundoo from Hindmarsh Island, South Australia Australia on Sunday, March 12, 2006
Cafe Lime
Goolwa Tce, Goolwa, South Australia
Regional Produce

Cafe Lime is another restaurant/cafe in my local area that specialises in making food from local produce. Everything is made on the premises and the menu changes with the produce available. They also have meals packaged for the 'take-home' market. This cafe has been voted twice in the Barista's coffee challenge as having the best coffee in the region.

The pies have always appealed to me here as they are always home-made and out of the ordinary. The choice I had was a Rabbit Pie and it had a lovely pastry with big chunks of tender rabbit meat in a light gravy/sauce. There was a home-made chutney on the side with a small side-plate of salad. This was a deep, small pie and extremely filling. I enjoyed this pie right to the last bite.




Journal Entry 38 by Mundoo at By Mail in per Post, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases on Monday, March 13, 2006

Released 18 yrs ago (3/13/2006 UTC) at By Mail in per Post, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

Sent to Quizzical.
Eat well.

Journal Entry 39 by quizzical from Adelaide, South Australia Australia on Thursday, March 16, 2006
I've been eating out as often as possible in anticipation of this Bookring finally reaching me. It's always good to do a bit of research. I'm looking forward to adding to the entries.

Mundoo - I had lovely meal at Cafe 61 when I stayed at Encounter Bay in January. Another pub I really enjoyed down your way was the Royal Family at Port Elliot. We ate outside in the Beer Garden on a beautiful balmy evening. I had Coorong mullet which is a favourite of mine, and I remember being surprised at how extensive the menu was for a pub.

I might even get the chance to visit a couple of the restaurants reviewed when I go to the US in May. I've found one of them listed in my guide to San Francisco - and some of the others may also fit in to my itinerary.

Journal Entry 40 by quizzical from Adelaide, South Australia Australia on Thursday, March 23, 2006
Chefs of Tandoori
259-269 Unley Rd
Malvern Sth Australia
Ph (08) 8373 5055
www.chefsoftandoori.com.au

I love Indian food and this is one of my favourite restaurants. The service is always good, and the food is fantastic. It is fully licensed but they don't mind if you BYO. Corkage is $7. Typical main course prices range from $14 - $20.

The decor is authentically Indian with beautiful wall hangings and muted lighting. In true Aussie sporting style an autographed Indian hockey team shirt and stick adorn one of the walls.

My latest visit here was last Saturday, 18th March. One of our group, Janet, eats here often and is treated like a treasured guest. She always has lamb palak and aloo gobhi, so naturally this would be her recommendation. I prefer to share dishes, but as there was only three of us I decided to order the non-vegetarian thaali which was supposed to be three dishes - butter chicken (to die for), beef korma and prawn malabari curry, served with the usual accompaniments of rice, naan, pappadums and raita. I was delighted to find tandoori chicken had also been added to my order.

All in all a great night. Fabulous company and great food. What could be better?




Journal Entry 41 by quizzical from Adelaide, South Australia Australia on Saturday, March 25, 2006
Cafe Palazzo
180 O'Connell St
North Adelaide
South Australia 5006
08 8239 1199

This is typical of the many cafe style restaurants in Adelaide. You take your seat, order at the counter and wait for your meal to be brought to the table. The service, like the surroundings, is casual and friendly. The menu has a fair number of fish, chicken and meat dishes along with the pasta, pizza and risotto you expect to find in this type of restaurant.

I took a group of teenagers here so wedges and pizza were the go. One of the boys had a chicken dish with a tomato and chilli sauce which looked quite nice, and was certainly eaten with gusto. I had barramundi in a lemon and chilli sauce served on a bed of potatoes, tomatoes and baby spinach. It was beautiful. The barra was cooked to perfection - sometimes I find barramundi is overcooked and dry. The serving was quite substantial and next time I will opt for the entree sized serving.

This is a great place for a quick, casual meal for a family or small group of people. It is also a good place to enjoy a coffee after a movie at the Picadilly Cinema across the road.


Journal Entry 42 by quizzical from Adelaide, South Australia Australia on Monday, March 27, 2006
The Daniel O'Connell
Tynte St, North Adelaide
South Australia
Pub Style


The Daniel O'Connell is an "Irish Pub" near O'Connell St in North Adelaide, a "trendy" street full of pubs and restaurants.I find it a bit dark and dingy inside, but we sat outside under the verandah.

This was a girly Sunday lunch and none of us was really hungry. I shared a chicken wrap and hoed into the beer battered chips. The menu included burgers, salt and pepper squid,caesar salad, pasta and steak (I think). The food was tasty and filling and the staff were quite happy to accommodate special requests.

After we'd finished lunch and had a couple of wines we wandered around to The Wellington Hotel. It was like something out of Monty Python or Black Adder. A group of strangely attired men enjoying a drink under the verandah informed us they were Morris Men. They then proceeded to entertain us with Morris Dancing, an old English custom from the Cotswalds. Bells jangling around their legs,they waved white handkerchiefs and tapped sticks as they danced to an accordion. I could see the inspiration for the python fish slapping skit...
I have their phone number if you want them to perform.

Journal Entry 43 by quizzical from Adelaide, South Australia Australia on Sunday, April 2, 2006
Rundle Spices Noodle Bar and Restaurant
Rundle Street
Adelaide
Asian Style

It was 8.45 pm, we'd been to the Wine Centre, and we were hungry. We were also a group of seven, which is a lot to fit in. The restaurant looked full, but we asked anyway and were shown to a room upstairs. It was spartan, but a table was quickly set and drinks and menus produced.

We started off with spring rolls and vegetarian Vietnamese cold rolls. Unfortunately the sauce the cold rolls came with was oyster sauce, and while I enjoyed it, it didn't sit so well with the vegetarians.

Main meals all looked appetising and my crispy barramundi with chilli sauce was delicious. I tried some octopus from someone else's plate, and when they weren't looking I took another bit. Mmmm. Very tasty.

The vegetarian dishes were pronounced most satisfactory, but I didn't manage the taste test.

Despite the fact that two other large groups arrived at about the same time as
we did the service was unobtrusive and efficient. Cost? A very reasonable $28 each.

Rundle Street in Adelaide's East End is chock-a-block full of restaurants and cafes, most of which offer quick meals to customers who walk in off the street. It's a great place for visitors to Adelaide looking for a bite to eat. And during our wonderful Festival and its Fringe, the East End is one of THE places to be.

Journal Entry 44 by quizzical from Adelaide, South Australia Australia on Monday, April 17, 2006
Raj on Taj
13-23 Unley Rd
Parkside
(Adelaide, South Australia)
Ph 08 8272 3377

It was a beautiful balmy evening and our group of twelve women celebrating something - I forget what- met up on the verandah at Raj on Taj.

More delicious Indian food. We ordered individually but shared our meals so we tried for a selection of hot and mild dishes, and tried to include lamb, beef, chicken , fish and vegetarian selections, All the favourites were on the menu, and there was an interesting specials board from which one of our group ordered a tantalising curried squid dish.
Corkage was $4 for BYO wines so we hotfooted across the road to the bottleshop as the need arose.
Opinion was unanimous that the food was great and the company fantastic, but divided on whether or not the food was as good as Chefs of Tandoori. My opinion? Depends on what you like, but I found the curries a little more delicately flavoured than at Chefs.

Price? Very reasonable. $14.50 each for food, plus another $6 for the wine.

Journal Entry 45 by quizzical from Adelaide, South Australia Australia on Monday, April 17, 2006
The Citadel 5453
187 Main North Rd
Clare
South Australia
Ph 8842 1453

The Clare Valley is a beautiful wine area about an hour and a half's drive from Adelaide. A weekend staying in one of the many bed and breakfasts here, visiting some of the wineries and playing a round of golf at the Clare Golf Course would be my recommendation for any visitor to South Australia.

Over Easter however, I did none of these things.

Staying with a friend in an old house on her family property we participated in a great Australian country tradition - an Easter Race Meeting.

The weather was perfect, the wines flowed freely, the company was good and the horses didn't let me down. I ended the day a few dollars up in the betting ring. Can't understand why I wasn't invited to participate in the "Fashions of the Field" Parade though.

Breakfast the next day was at a very civilised 11.00 am at The Citadel Restaurant in Clare, named for its earlier existence as the Salvation Army meeting hall. We were a bit late for the early morning rush and too early for the lunchtime crowd, so when we rejected the entirely satisfactory menu and started to create our own variations both the waitress and the chef were happy to oblige.

I ordered what turned out to be a very filling meal; scrambled eggs on toast with tomato, salmon and spinach. Others at the table had panckes with maple syrup, eggs accompnied by ham, bacon, camembert cheese and mushrooms in various permutations.

We whetted our appetite with a glass of champagne each from the bottle we had brought with us.

By the time we left the lunchtime rush had started and our cups of coffee and pots of tea were a little slow to arrive.

In summary, friendly and obliging service, good food, and a reasonable $16 each.

P.S. Mrs Newk comes from Clare and next Easter we think she and Newk should join us.

Journal Entry 46 by quizzical from Adelaide, South Australia Australia on Saturday, April 22, 2006
Eros Ouzeri
277 Rundle St
Adelaide Sth Australia
Ph (08) 8223 4022
Traditional Greek with modern flavours

This is definitely one of my favourite reastaurants. There is a good "feel" to both the indoor and al fresco dining areas and the service is unobtrusively efficient. I have never had a bad meal here.

Newk, Mrs Newk and I visited Eros after seeing a movie at the nearby Nova Cinema. The Newks hadn't eaten here before, and as Newk is the next recipient of this journal I am looking forward to reading his critique of this restaurant when I hand the journal over to him next week.

The tempting menu changes frequently but is always mouth watering. There is an interesting array of appetisers and entrees including a variety of fresh homemade dips,haloumi cheese, goat's cheese souffle, quail, prawns and calamari. We gave the starters a miss on this occasion and ordered main course only.

I enjoyed a beautiful pan seared salmon fillet with a cheese pie and spinach. Newk ordered calamari and Mrs Newk had something meaty with what looked like lots of green vegies. Vegies were a bit light on with my dish so I ordered a traditional Greek salad as an accompaniment.

I didn't look at the wine list as we let Newk order the wine, but on past visits here I have found the wine list to be quite extensive and complementary to the menu.

We sat chatting about the movie for quite a while after we had finished our dessert and coffee. Our used plates were quietly cleared and our emptied bottle of water was replaced as other patrons left. There was no pressure on us to leave until we were ready.

All in all, a highly recommended experience.

COST: Entrees about $15, Mains about $25, Desserts about $10

Journal Entry 47 by quizzical from Adelaide, South Australia Australia on Sunday, June 11, 2006
I have just returned from 4 weeks in the US.

Culture Shock!

Americans look like us, speak English (sort of), so you'd think they'd be like us.

Nup. Customs and terminology differ.

A US entree isn't an appetiser at the beginning of a meal. It's a main course!
And the "server" asks if you want soup or salad with it! And it is enormous.

And tipping. It's a good thing I'm a human calculator. Apparently one tips about 18% of the pre-tax bill....In Aus we only tip if we want to, i.e. for exceptional service. And there's no such thing as a pre-tax amount on your bill.

Had a great time though.

Will pass this book on to newk when he gets back from Thailand.

Journal Entry 48 by newk from Adelaide, South Australia Australia on Thursday, June 28, 2007
MMM

I have been back from Thailand for about a year now!

And quick note to Quizzical: I have put the milk back in the fridge tonight.

HELLO to you all! Having been unable to drag the actual book from Quizzical's grasp I managed to get the BCID just before setting off England, where if I am lucky and the plane is not late and we don't get lost on the way etc etc, I will make *part* of the Unconvention.

Photographs and notes from there and other visitations around the UK to follow...fingers and toes crossed.

And then I'll bring it (well the BCID and the invisible book) back to OZ for a little more cavorting.

And somewhere in all that I have to sit down and read all the journal entries. So far only a quick scan as I rush around chucking stuff, mostly books, in a suitcase.

(PS I have a couple of Quizzical's books that I have kept a bit too long, so *maybe* I am just as bad...but I doubt it.)

But I am not sure if it is ever all right to keep a book ring book that long. Sorry that is a slightly in joke and a very long story.

Journal Entry 49 by newk from Adelaide, South Australia Australia on Saturday, September 8, 2007
Thought I better get onto this. I have lots of places and here is the first. Not much date order here by the way. PS big hint to quizzical. I have the bcid but still no book.
Regattas is a restaurant in the Adelaide Convention Centre. We have made it a bit of a place for family celebrations because they do food really and more important cater well to the children.
Also there is a lot of space for them to run around outside when they get bored, which they often do.

Journal Entry 50 by newk from Adelaide, South Australia Australia on Saturday, September 8, 2007
A view from the front. The Torrens lake. Made by building a weir on the "mighty" Torrens River which runs through Adelaide. I am not sure that I stood still enough but you get the drift I am sure.

Journal Entry 51 by newk from Adelaide, South Australia Australia on Saturday, September 8, 2007
Nearby is the Adelaide Festival Centre

Journal Entry 52 by newk from Adelaide, South Australia Australia on Saturday, September 8, 2007
A 2007 award winner for "Modern Australian" food. Whatever that is

Journal Entry 53 by newk from Adelaide, South Australia Australia on Saturday, September 8, 2007
They started off with oyster shots. My father was brave enough to try one

Journal Entry 54 by newk from Adelaide, South Australia Australia on Saturday, September 8, 2007
The extended family. We were the only people there. We later learnt that they only opened because we booked. The typw of service that makes us go back.

Journal Entry 55 by newk from Adelaide, South Australia Australia on Saturday, September 8, 2007
An example of "Modern Australian Food"

Journal Entry 56 by newk from Adelaide, South Australia Australia on Saturday, September 8, 2007
They even made me a birthday treat

Journal Entry 57 by newk from Adelaide, South Australia Australia on Saturday, September 8, 2007
Another view

Journal Entry 58 by newk from Adelaide, South Australia Australia on Sunday, September 9, 2007
Here is a link:

click here


Journal Entry 59 by newk from Adelaide, South Australia Australia on Monday, November 19, 2007
I do still have it. I also have several places to write up, but upon consideration don't need the book to do so.
Hence the book will soon resume its travels.

Hello to all of you

Journal Entry 60 by newk from Adelaide, South Australia Australia on Friday, November 23, 2007
space

Journal Entry 61 by newk from Adelaide, South Australia Australia on Friday, November 23, 2007
space for later review

Journal Entry 62 by newk from Adelaide, South Australia Australia on Friday, November 23, 2007
space

Journal Entry 63 by newk from Adelaide, South Australia Australia on Friday, November 23, 2007
space

Journal Entry 64 by newk from Adelaide, South Australia Australia on Friday, November 23, 2007
posted to next in line two days ago at prospect po

Journal Entry 65 by over-the-moon from Lausanne, Vaud Switzerland on Tuesday, November 27, 2007
well, I am going to enjoying munching through this one! Will try to do it quickly and get it speeding on its way! Thank you newk.

Journal Entry 66 by over-the-moon from Lausanne, Vaud Switzerland on Wednesday, December 5, 2007
First, I must apologize for my dreadful handwriting: years of using a keyboard have ruined what my teachers already despaired over, 50 years ago.
I'll make several entries, with some extras for photos, and still have one restaurant to visit tonight which may merit a recommendation.

Here goes.

1) La Gare, place de la Gare 2, 1096 Cully
website
Tel. 021/799 2124
Closed Sat lunch, all Sun, Mon lunch
range: $$-$$$
A strange place, one half lorry-drivers' café, then a gourmet restaurant on the other side of a glass screen, with 1900s décor. A good alternative to Cully's other posh restaurants, le Raisin and le Major-Davel (Cully has a spring jazz festival and many performers such as James Carter and DeeDee Bridgewater stay at Le Raisin).

The lunch menu is good value, or try the perch fillets, a local speciality.
Excellent hot foie gras.
Gastronomic menu at 69 francs: see photos
Here, the fish course: coquilles st-jacques (scallops) and something in a sesame-seed crust (my son ate it and doesn't know what it was!)

Journal Entry 67 by over-the-moon from Lausanne, Vaud Switzerland on Wednesday, December 5, 2007
La Gare, Cully
The meat course (sorry it's a bit blurry, 'twas my son took the photo)
(that's potato on top of the steak)

Journal Entry 68 by over-the-moon from Lausanne, Vaud Switzerland on Wednesday, December 5, 2007
La Gare, Cully, dessert: a chocolate soufflé with cream, all swathed in spun sugar

Journal Entry 69 by over-the-moon from Lausanne, Vaud Switzerland on Wednesday, December 5, 2007
L'Avenir
Boulevard de Grancy 32,1006 Lausanne
Tel. 021/616 46 51
Closed Sat lunch, all Sun
website
Price range: $$
I've been going here for years; it used to belong to a truculent Italian with a ponytail from Pisa, called Ivo: he has now retired. In his day, the place was quite shabby but people like Prince Albert of Monaco still came for the pasta. It has been taken over by a young French chef who revamped the décor and added a new freshness to the menu (it changes all the time and is vaguely connected with astrological signs), but along with the restaurant he bought Ivo's pasta sauce recipes which are all made to order, and they advise you as to the most suitable sauce for each shape of pasta. The best is Penne à la vodka (which has bits of ham in the sauce), or, if you have a cold, spaghetti alla disgraziata - so hot and garlicky that it sends steam out of your nostrils. There is no longer the same atmosphere as when Ivo and his wife were throwing saucepans at each other, but if you want a good Italian meal in Lausanne, this is the place.

*edited: I have to modify this a bit. I was talking about the pasta sauces with my boss's son last night. He reckons that they are not half as good as when Ivo ruled the roost. You can hand over recipes, but not the know-how and experience, I suppose. And horror of horrors, they no longer do the Disgraziata sauce. Oh well, they do still have the Puttanesca (with black olives). And they are still doing a roaring trade, so must still be good. What you haven't had, you can't miss.

Journal Entry 70 by over-the-moon from Lausanne, Vaud Switzerland on Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Café de Grancy
Avenue du Rond-Point, 1006 Lausanne
Tel. 021/616 86 66
Open to midnight, to 1am at weekend; closed Tues
Price range: $-$$
website
A former brasserie, now restaurant-café-internet café, furnished with tatty old velvet sofas, 1960s type formica coffee tables and wooden chairs with celebrities' names on the backrest. Children's play corner, bookshelf (with many bookcrossing books)! On the downside, lousy acoustics, you can hardly hear your companions talking on the other side of the table. Very laid-back.
Tables outside on the terrace, but they are quickly nabbed.
Young, inventive, creative cuisine, changing according to whatever they buy in the market. Wednesday night is fondue night, Sunday brunch (excellent).
I may have some photos somewhere (will post later).

Journal Entry 71 by over-the-moon from Lausanne, Vaud Switzerland on Thursday, December 6, 2007
Café Berra
CH 1871 Choëx-Monthey
website
Closed Mon, Tues
Tel. 024 471 05 03
Price range $$-$$$
Up on the hillside overlooking Monthey, an old chalet completely renovated by the new owners; all rustic wood inside, combined with bonsais, zen gardens, etc.
Delicious food using hitherto unheard of spices such as Tasmanian pepper (in the crème brûlée). We had a set menu, I will post photos and descriptions: unfortunately I didn't have my wits about me when we had the starter which was shrimps in coconut sauce (I had just come out of a winetasting, and forgot to take a photo). The atmosphere was quite relaxed and we felt perfectly comfortable mopping up the delicious sauce with our bread. But there are pics of everything else I ate, as well as an extra dessert that my neighbour at table shared with us all.

Later: my photos were dreadful. Obviously I overdid the winetasting. As I don't like using the flash I set the camera on 400 ASA and all the pics are grainy. I have thrown out most of them.
Here is a survivor: the red snapper fillets on risotto with asparagus and a reduction of parsley.

Journal Entry 72 by over-the-moon from Lausanne, Vaud Switzerland on Thursday, December 6, 2007
and here is the meat course. The thing that looks like a maggot is a "crosne" * (will have to look that up in a dictionary). There was a truffle sauce, the steak was as tender as butter, it was topped with mushrooms, and a slice of "rösti", something like hash browns, was served separately.

Sorry, the dessert pics didn't work out. I had the crème brûlée with Tasmanian pepper; it was served on a piece of black slate, with a rambutan still in its prickly shell, and a small pot of yoghurt icecream, with an almond wafer, and a little heap of white pebbles to complete the Japanese garden look. Another choice was apple and almond clafoutis, also with rambutan and icecream, and there was a white chocolate mousse with exotic fruit but no one at my table had that so I don't know what it looked like (but it was apparently out of this world).

* crosne is variously Japanese artichoke, Chinese artichoke, knotroot or chorogi, Stachys affinis. They are tubers with a delicate taste but horribly fiddly to prepare.

Journal Entry 73 by over-the-moon from Lausanne, Vaud Switzerland on Tuesday, December 11, 2007
book now winging its way towards Brujula in France

Image: Addresses erased with photoshop

Journal Entry 74 by Brujula from Valenciennes, Nord-Pas-de-Calais France on Tuesday, December 18, 2007
This book arrived in the mail yesterday, in an envelope covered with beautiful stamps. Many thanks, silentmiaouw!

I think I'll keep the journal till after the holiday period, and I'll put some spanish, french and german adresses in it!

Journal Entry 75 by Brujula from Valenciennes, Nord-Pas-de-Calais France on Friday, September 19, 2008
Gosh, I can't believe I've kept this journal so long. I'm ashamed of myself...
So... Let's start with the reviews!

Posit Arenys:
A nice restaurant in the port of Arenys, between the fisherman's port and the leisure port.
It serves seafood, fish, and traditional catalan cuisine.
The food is very good, the service too. It is not inexpensive, but worth it.
Must order: seafood. Fideuà, Arròs negre. Calamars a la romana.
www.posit.es for the adress of the other restaurants by the same chain in Barcelona.
phone number: 937921245
adress: zona port, 08350 Arenys de Mar (Spain)

Journal Entry 76 by Brujula from Valenciennes, Nord-Pas-de-Calais France on Friday, September 19, 2008
Terracotta
www.terracotarestaurant.com
Cuina de mercat (cuisine de marché)
Carrer Gran, 64
08310 Argentona (Spain)
937560457.
A small reaturant near Barcelona, very friendly. The menu changes according to the season and to which fresh products can be found in the market.
Everything is very original and delicious.
Don't miss the old bakery nearby (in the same street), with great bread and "coques" (and cookies...)

Journal Entry 77 by Brujula from Valenciennes, Nord-Pas-de-Calais France on Friday, September 19, 2008
O nabo de lugo (www.onabodelugo.com)
Galician, Spanish cuisine. Seafood. Tapas (you can eat at the counter, or sitting at a table downstairs, or in the restaurant upstairs)
carrer Pau Clarís 169
08037 Barcelona (Spain)
932153047
Closed on Sundays.
Must order: Vieiras, empanadillas, empanada, percebes.
Ribeiro wine. Vino turbio.

Price varies according to what you order. Some seafood is very expensive (percebes). There is a menu at noon at a reasonable price. The restaurant upstairs is more pricey than the counter.
A must visit in Barcelona if you like seafood, or to eat very good tapas.

Journal Entry 78 by Brujula from Valenciennes, Nord-Pas-de-Calais France on Friday, September 19, 2008
Asador de Aranda (Frare Blanc)
avda Tibidabo 30
08022 Barcelona
934170115
Must order: cordero asado o a la parrilla.
Menú de la casa (chorizo, morcilla de arroz, salad, spanish cured ham, and lamb)

The restaurant is in a beautiful house of the 19th century on the slopes of Tibidabo, that is really worth visiting (pictures on www.asadordearanda.com)

Journal Entry 79 by Brujula from Valenciennes, Nord-Pas-de-Calais France on Friday, September 19, 2008
Hausbrauerei Feierling (www.feierling.de)
Gerberau 46
79098 Freiburg
0761 243480
A brewery in the heart of Freiburg im Breisgau, near Augustiner Platz, with a nice Biergarten in spring and summer.
The Hausbrauerei is nice and cozy. Excellent beer, German cuisine, with two or three specials everyday, and a menu rather inexpensive.
Everything I've ever had there was excellent!

Journal Entry 80 by Brujula from Valenciennes, Nord-Pas-de-Calais France on Friday, September 19, 2008
Casa Fonda Europa
Traditional catalan cuisine
carrer Anselm Clavé 1
08402 Granollers
938700312

I rate this one 10 out of 10!
Everything is good, and there is something for every taste here.
Traditional catalan cuisine, or more original things.
Everything is wonderfully well cooked. The service is excellent, unobstrusive, fast....
And the prices are really reasonable! (when we went, we paid the bottle of wine at exactly the same prize we would have paid at the supermarket!!! which is really unbelievable in Europe!)
Menu is in several languages, and well translated.
Granollers is a midsized town near Barcelona.

Journal Entry 81 by Brujula from Valenciennes, Nord-Pas-de-Calais France on Friday, September 19, 2008
And now, as soon as I get to a post office, I will mail this to Kanapoutz, who probably has forgotten all about this ring!

Sorry for keeping this so long, and for taking so much time to put my favourite restaurants in!

Journal Entry 82 by Brujula from Valenciennes, Nord-Pas-de-Calais France on Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Kanapoutz doesn't wish to receive this bookring anymore, so I'm trying maupi now!

Journal Entry 83 by Brujula at on Thursday, October 23, 2008

Released 15 yrs ago (10/23/2008 UTC) at

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Mailed to elhamisabel this afternoon.

Journal Entry 84 by elhamisabel from Frankfurt am Main, Hessen Germany on Monday, October 27, 2008
Hey there,

this little lovely book is with me now. I got it from the mail box and went straight to a restaurant to meet fellow BCers. All of us 5 present fell in love with it.
I'll keep it for a few months and then pass it on. First of all, I'll make an entry about tonight's restaurant (probably tomorrow).

Journal Entry 85 by elhamisabel from Frankfurt am Main, Hessen Germany on Thursday, April 16, 2009
Oops! I am so sorry! I was sure I had already sent it on its way to the next bookcrosser. *shame*
And I notice I've not journaled any restaurants.

I'll do that now and then contact the next person.

Sorry!

Journal Entry 86 by elhamisabel from Frankfurt am Main, Hessen Germany on Thursday, April 16, 2009
Die Kuh die lacht (The laughing cow)

Date: 27.10.2008
Cuisine: burger
Address: Schillerstraße 28, 60313 Frankfurt, Germany
Phone: 069-27290171
Website: www.diekuhdielacht.com (also in English)
Hours: Mon-Sat: 11-11, Sun/Holidays: 12-9
$$

Comment:
There is a good reason why Die Kuh die lacht has been rated the best restaurant in Frankfurt the previous year. All produce (including the meat) is organic and from farmers around Frankfurt. Add to that the fact that the food is delicious you have a near to perfect concept. And it works. It's always busy and while during the week you don't need to book a table, it is highly recommended if you want to eat there at the weekend, especially with a group of people. I've been there several times, you order at the bar, chose burger, sides, toppings and so on and within 10 minutes you get a great meal. It's not as cheap as in a chain fast food place but then it is farbetter than those.

Journal Entry 87 by elhamisabel from Frankfurt am Main, Hessen Germany on Thursday, April 16, 2009
Mosebach

Date: 11.11.2008
Cuisine: local
Address: Sandweg 29, 60316 Frankfurt, Germany
Phone: 069-4930396
Hours: daily 5-11
$$

Comment:
This is a place frequented mostly by locals. It serves many different local beers and schnapses, and very traditional, yet also modern (local) dishes.
It's one of the places BCers in Frankfurt meet at. Whenever we yearn for big and tasty schnitzels, we decide on Mosebach. Also the very famous local Grüne Soße (green sauce), is highly recommended.

Journal Entry 88 by elhamisabel from Frankfurt am Main, Hessen Germany on Thursday, April 16, 2009
Hacienda

Date: 03.01.2009
Cuisine: Mexican
Address: Rheingaustraße 152, 65203 Wiesbaden, Germany
Phone: 0611-601434
Hours: Mon-Fri: 5-11, Sat: 4-11, Sun/Holidays: 12-11
$$

Comment:
The food was very delicious. We were a group of 8 and we liked almost everything except for the salads which seemed to take ages to arrive only to be nearly frozen. Apparently they prepare (parts of) those hours earlier. Not recommendable. But the Mexican food was really fantastic.

Journal Entry 89 by elhamisabel from Frankfurt am Main, Hessen Germany on Thursday, April 16, 2009
Pielok

Date: 26.01.2009
Cuisine: local
Address: Jordanstraße 3, 60486 Frankfurt, Germany
Phone: 069-776468
Hours: Mon-Fri: 11.30-3 & 5.30-12, Sat: 5-12, Sun/Holidays: closed
$$

Comment:
The restaurant is a favourite among locals and tourists (even though it is not anywhere near anything touristy - so I guess the Asian and US-American visitors must have read about it in some guide) alike and the wines and beers a good. Food is nice and traditional and the daily specials (such as the smoked salmon with brokoli and fetuchini in a horseradish sauce that I had) are very good.

Journal Entry 90 by elhamisabel from Frankfurt am Main, Hessen Germany on Sunday, April 19, 2009
Swagat

Date: 31.01.2009
Cuisine: Indian/Italian
Address: Kaiserstraße 41, 60329 Frankfurt, Germany
Phone: 069-27227836
Hours: Mon-Sat: 12.30-11.30, Sun/Holidays: closed except when there is a fair in town
$$

Comment:
The food is good, the service as well. Beware, though, the Italian food is a bit too spicey for Italian food. But then, this is a (Northern) Indian family owning the business.

Journal Entry 91 by elhamisabel from Frankfurt am Main, Hessen Germany on Sunday, April 19, 2009
Dulce

Date: 02.04.2009
Cuisine: ice cream, chocolate, cakes
Address: Kaiserstraße 14, 60311 Frankfurt/MyZEil (shopping centre, ground floor), 60313 Frankfurt, Germany
Website: www.dulce-chocolate.com
Hours: Mon-Sat: 10-8, Sun/Holidays: 12-8 (Kaiserstraße); Mon-Sat: 9-10, Sun/Holidays: 12-10 (MyZeil)
$

Comment:
This is a icecream/chocolaterie place. You should definitely try the ice cream sobets and ice cream on freshly made hot waffles. Also the ice cream shakes, the filled chocolates and and and. In short, everything.
It's a small chain with 4 branches (out of 6) in Frankfurt but once you've eaten there, you wan to go back. ;-))

Journal Entry 92 by elhamisabel from Frankfurt am Main, Hessen Germany on Tuesday, April 21, 2009
I sent it to apapsa this morning.

Journal Entry 93 by apapsa from Athens - Αθήνα, Attica Greece on Monday, May 4, 2009
Thank you very much elhamisabel for sending me the journal, it really is beautiful. I have to say that when I joined I didn't realize that this was a printed journal, I thought it was handmade. I really like the idea!

I have already decided on 3 restaurants here in Athens and I'm thinking about another one. I will start visiting them very soon!

Journal Entry 94 by apapsa from Athens - Αθήνα, Attica Greece on Saturday, July 18, 2009
Salero

Date: 11 July 2009
Cuisine: Spanish
Address: 51 Valtetsiou str, Exarheia, Athens, Greece
Phone: 210 3813358
Hours: 10:00 AM - 2:00 AM
Overall Rating: 8
Price Range: $$
Must Order Items: Patatas bravas, tortilla, mushrooms with aioli, grilled chorizo, chickpeas with spinach, grilled bread with aioli and jamon, olives. All these are served as tapas. If, like me, you avoid drinking alcohol for some reason, you must order the non-alcoholic Mojito! Very refreshing! I've had 3! (Although I would expect them to charge it less than 5 euros.)

Comments: The menu is not exclusively spanish -mainly the tapas are. The main courses what I would call are "progressive" greek cuisine. But the decoration, the music and the general feel is that of a spanish restaurant. They also serve the spanish beer "Estrella". The stuff is very nice and they are always helping us with anything we might need (turn down or up the air conditioning, accommodate us in any table we choose, and they were especially helpful that day when our friends had their six months old daughter.).

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