Good Eats in Aruba

The restaurants in Oranjestaad is very diverse. They have everything from Indian, to Dutch, to Spanish, and even Chinese. There are also several Italian places on the island and in the city. The first night we were there we ate at Casa Tua which is an Italian place that specializes in brick oven pizza. Being a New Yorker, I am very particular about my pizza, but this was actually really tasty. Not at all like NY slices, but the crust was good and the ingredients were fresh and good. We had a caesar salad and a caprese salad to start and then shared the pizza with pancetta, arugula, and goat cheese. It was yummy. We also had a carafe of chianti. Honestly, I really liked the vibe of Casa Tua. It was open and had high ceilings and you could sit out on the terrace if you wanted. The staff were all young women and they were really nice and helpful. The service was nothing special, but they were super friendly which is all I wanted. Read more

Muy Caliente!

While in Philly staying at the Downtown Marriott, a group of friends and I wandered down 13th street in order find a fun place for dinner. The bright lights and music drew us in and as we entered El Vez we knew we were in for an experience. The brightly decorated modern Mexican restaurant is a mix of retro sixties diner and modern fun house. Since we had to wait for a table we decided to head to the bar and grab a drink. It was here that I found The Perfect Mojito - A Guava Mojito. The bartender with the dark spiky hair made me one of the BEST mojitos I have ever tasted in my life. Though I had another very good one later in the evening, this first one was so good I am not sure if it could be duplicated. Made with 10 Cane Rum, Bacardi Limon, Pink Guava Puree, Lime and Mint it is exactly as mojito’s should be; light and refreshing! My friends tried the El Vez Margarita (your class Margarita) and the Frozen Blood Orange Margarita. For Margarita fans the Frozen Blood Orange is the better choice as it combines gold tequila, triple sec, and fresh blood orange puree. The final cocktail chosen by our group was the Mexipolitan. A twist on a Cosmopolitan, it combines Jose Cuervo Classico, Cointreau, fresh lime juice, and a splash of cranberry in a martini glass.

We were set on drinks and headed to our table. It was a gold shag carpet covered circular booth with more than enough room for 5 adults with hips! Our server Alicia was friendly and outgoing without being overly chatty and shared the specials of the night. El Vez is known for its guacamole and has 9 varieties that they make fresh tableside. Not feeling very adventurous we stuck with classic El Vez Original with tomatoes, onions, cilantro, jalapeños and limes. The guacamole, like my Guava mojito, was AMAZING. So far El Vez was setting the bar for Modern Mexican restaurants in my book.  Read more

In Search of the Perfect Mojito

Anyone that reads my restaurant reviews knows I am a BIG Mojito fan and it is usually my drink of choice while traveling. On this particular trip to San Juan Puerto Rico, I have tried a Mojito at every dinner in search of the best San Juan has to offer. The hotel lounges and restaurants I visited were quite disappointing. They often did not use enough mint or lime or in some cases used some odd tasting Mojito mix instead of fresh lime juice to make the Mojito. I was beginning to believe that I was destined to have horrible Mojitos this entire trip until a friend suggested a Cuban restaurant in Condado called Yerba Buena. We decided to head there for dinner one Friday night in a last attempt to find me a great Mojito. Leave it to the Cuban restaurant to get it right!

With a diverse menu of traditional Puerto Rican cuisine mixed with Cuban dishes the restaurant provided a great dinner. The appetizers are generous though the main courses are a little smaller than expected. The salmon in a passion fruit glaze served with rice and beans was excellent. Unfortunately they were out of the desserts we were interested in trying and we ended up just settling for cappuccinos to end our meal.

Guests can accompany the live band with maracas that are placed on every table. The music makes you want to get up and dance and the atmosphere is light and fun. From the smiling faces seen at every table we could easily tell that we weren’t the only people having a great time.

The restaurant is perfect for any group traveling and the tables outside include chairs that slide/swing making you feel like you are sitting on a porch during a get together with friends and family. For groups of more than 4, I would call ahead to make sure that you have a table. It is not the largest restaurant but it has a great atmosphere that reminds you why you go on vacation. For Mojito fans you will get a great meal to go with that perfect Mojito!

Yerba Buena
Ave. Ashford #1350
Condado, Puerto Rico 00907
787-721-5700
www.yerbabuenapr.com

Escape to Brazil but stay in New York

When I visited Rio last year I ate at a churrascaria chain called Porcao. I was so excited when they opened a location in New York on Park Avenue. This carnivores dream is not just about the food as the atmosphere and service also set it apart. I have dined at dinner several times and on this occasion stopped by to make sure that the service was similar at lunch. We were welcomed and seated in the airy dining area and offered the option of the Executive Lunch which consists of selecting a specific meat (salmon, chicken or beef) and the buffet or to have the Rodizio. Of course we went with the Rodizio!

What is the Rodizio you ask? Tender cuts of meat, poultry, seafood, pork, and lamb are served on skewers to your table. This continues throughout your meal with different choices and cuts of meat such as skirt steak, turkey wrapped in bacon, filet mignon, and sirloin offered. You are given a small coaster that you turn to let the waiters with the skewers know if you are still being served. Green means “Keep it Coming”. Red indicates “I am too full or don’t want anything for now” Read more

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