Adour Alain Ducasse

Had the pleasure of dining at Adour Alain Ducasse at the St. Regis in New York last night. The dining room is intimate and elegant. The meal and service were fantastic from start to finish. We started with a cucumber granite amuse bouche to cleanse the palate. For an appetizer, we had the Tender Ricotta Gnocchi with wild mushrooms, sauteed lettuce and crispy proscuitto and the Sweetbread "Meuniere," Egg Purse with wild mushrooms and brioche. The gnocchi was so light and airy. The sweetbread was tender and flavorful. For entrees, we had the Roasted Atlantic Halibut with razor clams, calamari and a green vegetable condiment (above pic) and the Grenadin of Milk Fed Veal with carrot contrast, "Laitue Farcie," and veal jus. The halibut was cooked perfectly and the sauce was divine. The veal would have been better if it was more rare, but overall it was tasty. We ended the evening with the Contemporary Exotic Vacherin (mango marmalade, coconut, and passionfruit emulsion), which was refreshing and tart with a hint of sweetness. We also had complimentary macaroons and chocolates, which were a nice touch. There is no recession special here so I would highly recommend Adour for a special occasion or if you just have plenty of cash to burn. To make a reservation: http://www.adour-stregis.com/

Forget Maine Lobster

Hotel Suyapa in Las Penitas, Nicaragua not only offers a gorgeous view of the Pacific Ocean, it also serves one of the best grilled lobster I have ever tasted (and I have eaten more than my fair share of lobster). For less than $10, you can eat barefoot on the beach while watching the sunset. Start your meal off with a frozen Macua, a refreshing Nicaraguan cocktail made from Flor de Cana aged white rum, guava nectar, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, and orange juice. The food, the view, the drinks, and the few, if any, tourists -- what could be better? To find Hotel Suyapa: http://www.suyapabeach.com

Don't Forget the Lamb in Argentina!

With all the talk about the beef in Argentina, don't miss out on the lamb. One of our best meals in Patagonia was cooked over a fire pit in the parking lot of our hotel in Puerto Piramides (a town famous for viewing the southern right whales). After waiting patiently for two hours, the rancher finally said the magic words, "it's ready." It was worth the wait! The lamb was succulent, juicy and fell off the bone. A bottle of Malbec and Patagonian lamb hit the spot. To taste this for yourself, head over to the parking lot of Hosteria Paradise. For more info: http://www.hosteriaparadise.com.ar/