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USA Archives — A TO ZA’ATAR

Category Archives: USA

Today we welcome a collaborative post from a talented contributor. Enjoy, C.  Buying a home is a massive commitment that requires spending a lot of money at once and then spending dedicated funds every month for fifteen to thirty years. It’s one of the most significant financial decisions the average person will make in their lifetimes, so it must be decided with good planning. If you want to buy a home and be confident that you’re ready, these are some of the financial plans to lay out first. Create Two Different Savings Unless you are eligible for specific grants, the average cost of a down payment for a home is 20% of the cost of the home. In recent years, home prices have skyrocketed to new heights, so you must be able to save as much money as possible. To do this, set aside two savings accounts, one for your…

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Crown Jewel menu

Heading up on a glorious summer day to see my sister in Portland, I was more than happy to let her make the decisions about where we would eat and drink (even if my last visit ended up being a rather interesting story).  To start my brief visit to town (literally, 24 hours), my sister wisely booked us a reservation at Crown Jewel, a twee preppy cute restaurant located on Great Diamond Island, roughly 30-minutes on the ferry from downtown Portland.  As my sister described Crown Jewel, it was a Lily Pulitzer dress come to life.  Off the boat, and a slight walk up the hill is the small-ish Crown Jewel (think 25-30 covers, max).  The pink and green tones of the interior, along with a quirky sharing concept menu and a great cocktail line up make this is a fantastic way to spend a summer afternoon (as well as…

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Like the Type A planner that I am, I had done my usual amount of research for my recent visit to Boston and had a list of no less than 11 restaurants and bars I was interested in.  (Spoiler alert: I did not make it to all of them.)  Saltie Girl had come up on a few different websites I used, and as a solo traveler/diner for my first day, the restaurant seemed like the best fit for my needs.  As the venue doesn’t take reservations, I decided to play to my strengths (i.e., waking up super early when traveling from Dubai to the East Coast and dining alone).  I planned my arrival at 11:30 when Saltie Girl opened, and there was already a small queue.  Once the doors opened, there was barely a seat left, so I’m glad I got there when I did.  Visitors should be prepared to…

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Today we welcome a collaborative post from a talented contributor.  Enjoy, C.  If you’re soon to be visiting Miami, you’re probably super excited for this adventure.  However, you shouldn’t just show up to Miami without knowing a few crucial things first.  Below, we’ll talk about what you should know before you arrive so you can have the very best time. Enjoy! If You’re Going Out – Go Out Late Many people visit Miami for the nightlife, but it’s important to note that many clubs don’t open till after midnight.  If you’re there before that, there certainly won’t be much of a crowd or an atmosphere.  DJs often don’t go on till 3 am, so make sure you have an afternoon siesta and ensure you’re ready to stay up until the early hours. Don’t Be Fooled By the Tiny Coffees The coffees are tiny but mighty.  You might not think one is…

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With one night in the Boston area on our agenda, we reached out to fellow DINKs Lexi and Matt to see if a) they wanted to meet up and b) what their recommendations were.  After a few ideas were shared, we ended on Tasting Counter, which is a particular favorite of one of our favorite couples.   A nine-course meal at a 20 seat venue — what more could I ask for?  Even before our arrival, I was impressed by the restaurant.  On the website, the venue states, “Purchase Tickets Online & Leave Your Wallet At Home.”  The idea that you’ve already paid for everything (food, drinks, and tip) and can simply show up and eat is a great one.  I realize diners in Dubai would most likely scoff at having to do everything in advance (I heard just last night from another chef who was troubled by cancellations), however, as…

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After a very disappointing visit to next door Hugo’s (who have the same owners), we stopped the following evening at Eventide Oyster Co., one of the premiere and most well-known restaurants in Portland, Maine.  My sister knows the deal, and even with a wait time of 90 minutes (be assured that during peak season this will probably be the case, if not longer), knew our dinner would be worth the wait.  Fortunately for us, my sister, an excellent hostess, suggested a quick walk over to one of Portland’s many bars, and we enjoyed a pre-dinner cocktail at Portland Hunt + Alpine Club (another establishment well worth stopping by).  There are no reservations taken at Eventide, but the wait staff take phone details and will text you when your table is almost ready.  We timed it perfectly and, after some bar snacks and cocktails, waited less than 5 minutes for our…

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Initially, Hugo’s had my interest piqued at ‘blind tasting,’ a farm to table concept, a James Beard pedigree, and recommendations from some palates that I more than trust.  Basically, everything I could hope for in a night out.  Unfortunately, after our arrival, the meal quickly and irrevocably went downhill. So, what does it take for me to leave a restaurant?  Like, actually get up an walk out? Honestly, I can’t remember the last time I left a restaurant before the meal was finished.  Especially during a tasting menu.  So, what does it take and how bad is it that I can easily convince the entire party to do follow suit?  Let’s get into it, shall we… Not clean tables.  Upon sitting down, we realized that our places at the table were rather sticky.  Like, distracting and to the point that our glasses had to be wedged off the table every time…

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Wolfgang Puck might be one of the only celebrity chefs not to have a restaurant in Dubai, but A to Za’tar goes global with this excellent review from Lindsay Rogers (who you might remember from one of her last dinners in Abu Dhabi).  Guest posts are always welcome (especially if they make me incredibly hungry like below). DETAILS: Saturday brunch 11:30am – 3:00pm 575 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC Dim Sum Tasting Menu 5 tastes for $40 8 tastes for $56 (perfect for 2 people) A La Carte tastes $9 Bloody Marys – $12 (classic, which in DC means an Old Bay http://www.oldbay.com/ salted rim and Sichuan, with a chili salt rim) We had: Dim Sum Tasting Menu, 8 tastes for $56 Prosecco – $12 Atlas Lager Draft – $8 (local beer) Overview If you’re looking for an old-school dim sum experience with staff pushing carts bearing bamboo steamer baskets…

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So, I found myself with a day entirely on my own.  As someone who is fairly meticulous about word counts, loads of laundry, and future planning of all varieties, a day without any real schedule is a luxury.  After accomplishing my goal of driving from Indianapolis to Chicago, I first opted for a trip to Target (!), then a haircut and color (!!) and finally, decided to treat myself to lunch.  After a quick walk around adorable downtown Wheaton, IL (on a Monday, unfortunately, when not everything was open), I decided to give The Cellar Bistro a shot. At the recommendation of the waitress, I opted for the Honeydew martini (made with the fresh juice of the melon – yum). For a starter, who was I to pass up a bacon wrapped date?  For an order of six ($14USD), the bacon wrapped dates were topped with bleu cheese and contained…

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