Greece: Mykonos, Catari

Location:

Aghia Anna | Old Port, Mykonos Town 84600, Greece

www.catari.gr

What a delightful and delicious find! After our sunset meal, and some window shopping and exploring of the island, we searched for dinner. Coming upon Catari and it's adorable outdoor seating and pretty lights made it an easy choice for a pizza dinner. Enough of gyros and fries, I say. As everything else in Greece, it was pricey, but the service, atmosphere and chilli flakes from home-grown chillis on a delicious pizza pie made for a wonderful evening.

Greece: Mykonos, Petinos

Location:

Platys Gialos Beach, 84600, PO Box 116, Mykonos, Greece

www.petinosbeach.gr/mykonos_restaurant

You have to do dinner and a dance show in Greece. We went to one in Petinos at the Blue Myth restaurant. There was singing, high-kicks, fire tricks and table lifting (with teeth!). They even pulled me onto the dance floor several times, once while I was still in my chair!

The food was good too, but it was mostly about the entertainment. Oh, and a good greek dance isn't complete without some plate breaking! OPA!

Greece: Greek Wine

What is it about wine that we love so, most especially on vacation? I don't recall having too much Greek wine before this trip and was excited to try a few. Afterall, Greece has been producing wine since ancient times, having first been prescribed for health and as disinfectants for wounds.

While this particular bottle, with its sedimentary sludge at the bottom, wasn't very tasty, it was absolutely savoured while watching the sunset in Mykonos.

Do you have a favourite Greek wine you can recommend?

April: Art To Inspiration

This month's Art to Inspiration comes from an artist named Pakayla Rae Biehn whose work is entitled:

2 Year, 264 Days and This Morning.

Is it bad to have immediately thought of food when I saw this image? Perhaps I was hungry or perhaps it's because I ate too much Mexican food in San Diego where I just returned from, for this is what it brought to mind.  In texture, in colour and with the use of negative and positive space.

To join Art to Inspiration, click here. February and March's Art To Inspiration posts!

Greece: Athens, Petros Grill House

Location:

28 Kidathineon, Athens, Greece

 After a long day of exploring first the Acropolis, then the Ancient Agora, then the theatre of Dionysus, it was time for: SOUVLAKI!!! YEAAAAH!!!

And beer. Bonus!

Greece: Athens: After the Agora

After seeing the entire Ancient Agora, it was time for lunch! We wanted a cafe that wasn't touristy. Alas, they all were, so in the end, we came back to this one because the view could not be beat.

The name of it? Anyone read Greek? Let me know. The service was quick and efficient and the iced coffee was heavenly after the longest walk. The baklava? Tell me you don't want a bit of that, right now?

Greece: Athens, Breakfast: Makriyianni 3

Location:

Makriyianni 3, Athens

Nile Guide

It's time for breakfast + the Acropolis! 

Who knew we'd have a view of the Acropolis from our breakfast nook situated on Makriyianni street?

Splendid. As was the sandwich and croissant. Greek coffee is going to take me some time getting used to though.

Great little cafe/deli, with a fantastic vantage point of the Acropolis. I'm happy to see the Nile Guide agrees!

Greece: Athens, Tzitzikas kai Mermigas

Location:

Mitropoleos 12, Athens 10563, Greece

tzitzikas-mermigkas.gr

MAP

As soon as we arrived in Athens, we were starving and decided to check out the Plaka district. We asked a group of cops at the corner (we did wonder why there were cops hanging around in that area) for a recommendation of tasty and authentic fare that would be casual but not "fast food". They directed us around the corner and down a street. We were skeptical, and unsure if we'd know where it was, but then we found it easily as it was the only restaurant on a side street that had light spilling out onto the street, cheerful patrons and the delicious smell of seafood.

The BEST. I finally found the name and map to the restaurant, with a little bit of sleuthing on Google Maps! I don't know how to pronounce it, but if you're ever in the Syntagma Square area of Athens, GO THERE!

We had red wine, Mythos greek beer, a giant Greek Tzitzikas (just found out that it means salad) which is my favourite type of salad and a giant fried seafood basket. 

Amazing service, and INCREDIBLE food!! Sigh..to eat those olives once again. 

Frugal Fare #7: New York City: Angela'S Rock N Roll Deli

Location:

1428 6th Ave, New York, NY

Sometimes you just want simple bacon, eggs n' toast for breakfast. Add pototoes in the mix and I'm in heaven.

For $6?

Can't beat that.

I love NYC. 

New York City: Magnolia Bakery

Location:

1240 6 Avenue, New York, NY

magnoliabakery.com

You knew it was coming (if you follow me on Instagram, that is). There are several locations of Magnolia in NYC, and although I never made it to the original location in West Village, this one at Bloomingdale's wasn't too shabby.

Have you been? The cupcakes are divine - the red velvet cupcake was mighty tasty. 

New York City: Bice

Location:

7 East 54th Street, New York, NY

bicenewyork.com

Upon the recommendation from our hotel, Bice was the venue for dinner one evening when we met up with some friends. If you're looking for classy Northern Italian fare, with house-made pasta, meticulous service at a high price point, look no further than Bice. 

New York City: Bread

Location:

20 Spring Street, New York, NY

orderbreadsoho.com

We celebrated N's cousin's birthday with her friend at Bread in Soho. Great venue for brunch and, well, bread.

A very cosy spot that was fully jam packed. The service was excellent as were all the dishes. They even threw in a tiramisu cake on the house. 

New York City: Dos Caminos

Location:

825 3rd Avenue

New York, NY 10022

www.doscaminos.com

Came highly recommended. Didn't know it was a chain. And for someone who spent more than 8 hours at the Met without eating anything, I was, to say the least, starving. The service was top knotch, and because we said we were incredibly hungry they brought out everything in literally 10 minutes. 

The rice and beans were unlimited, and we (mostly me) had about 5-6 refills. 

The fish dish was spicy just as I ordered, just wonderful. Ah, to have it once more. 

New York City: Brooklyn Diner

Location:

212 West 57th Street  New York, NY

www.brooklyndiner.com/menu.htm

On our way to the hotel in NYC, we passed by the Brooklyn Diner and immediately decided to try it out sometime. Turned out our hotel was only a few blocks from it, so we walked back for lunch. The place was packed with what looked like business men with heavy mid-sections. After seeing the menu, then our dishes, it was easy to know why. The portions are massive, quite like their prices. $18 for a sandwich? Um. Okay. Tourist trap, likely.

I chose their "famous tuna sandwich", mainly for the Ezekiel bread which I've always wanted to try. 

N got the turkey sandwich, which was basically Thanksgiving dinner in a sandwich. 

The tuna sandwich was greasy, yes, but good. Ezekiel bread was delicious, although covered in butter, taking away it's health factor. The fries were perfect. I don't eat turkey, but the mashed potatoes and gravy were divine. 

It's easy to see why this place is so popular, but if I were to eat here everyday, the Ezekiel bread won't help none.