A TO ZA’ATAR

September 8, 2015 by annbenjamin 0

Zuma: A Must Visit in the Capital

When sending off a colleague earlier this week, we asked her where she wanted to go and she only had two requests: Hakkasan or Zuma. Either is a fine choice, but I think Zuma was ultimately the better selection for a group (for reasons I’ll go into below). Reservations? I didn’t make them, but we were seated easily at a circular 8 top. Given how crowded the restaurant was on a Sunday night, I would say that reservations are essential. Ambiance? Zuma is modern cool. From the moment you walk up to the fancy entrance (located between the Rosewood Hotel and the Galleria), you realize this is a very unique space. The open concept kitchen, oversized bar and attractive staff add to one of the best spots in the city. It is such a popular place among my employer that we ran into two other independent groups of people I work…

September 7, 2015 by annbenjamin 0

Netherlands

Zeezout: Divine Lunch in Rotterdam.

You might be noticing a trend here, but on Hubs’ and I recent trip to the Netherlands this summer, we fell into a great habit of having a busy morning and then treating ourselves to a long, indulgent lunch (the best kind of holiday!). After wandering far and wide across a rather cold Rotterdam, we found ourselves with a healthy appetite. Reservations? Walk up and hope the restaurant is open. In our case, they open for a 2 hour window at lunch. We were two of four patrons for the first hour and then others joined, creating a friendly atmosphere. Ambiance? Charming and well appointed. Seating was very intimate (close), but as lunch was not crowded, this was not an issue. I’m sure the street we were on becomes busier, however, at the time we were in town, it was quite quiet. Additionally, in warmer weather, it would be lovely…

September 6, 2015 by annbenjamin 0

Food Blog Challenge

30 Day Food Blog Challenge.

I couldn’t find any, so I made a 30 Day Food Blog Challenge of my own! Feel free to share or take the challenge yourself. I also have it saved as a Pin, if that’s easier.

30 day food blog challenge A to Za'atar blogging challenge food blog food blog challenge foodie challenge

September 3, 2015 by annbenjamin 0

Bucharest

L’Atelier: A Treat in Bucharest.

After we did a dine in at home, at the recommendation of one of the chefs, my traveling companion and I made the decision for our last night in Bucharest to dine at L’Atelier, an upscale dining option attached to the Hotel Epoque. Reservations? Given we made the decision to go later in the trip, we did not call ahead – fortunately for us, we decided to dine early and being seated was not an option. I would have loved to try the bar opposite the restaurant, but my friend doesn’t drink – so we went straight to be seated. Ambiance? Charming! The main dining room is directly off of the lobby on the ground floor, and with plenty of windows, you get a bird’s eye view as to the comings and goings of the patrons of the hotel (in our case there was a wedding on which caused an…

September 2, 2015 by annbenjamin 0

Reykjavík

What’s the Dill?

Hubs and I were lucky enough to travel to Iceland this summer and after a small amount of research I knew Dill would be on our list. Reservation? Easy peasy lemon squeezy. Online reservation that was confirmed quickly. Given how far out in advance we made the booking, I believe we were granted the best seats in the house (practically on top of the open space kitchen). Ambiance? Not exactly what I was expecting…in a good way. The one room restaurant is located off of the main street in Reykjavik. Hubs and I walked from our AirBnb (silly me, I had every intention of wearing something nicer than jeans and a nice sweater, but it was just too cold and my trusty Loubouts remained packed). We were greeted and our jackets were taken. Seated at the bar was different than sitting at one of the small tables, but I liked…