Happy 2010 from Bangkok!
Friday, January 1st, 2010Happy New Year to everyone! I hope you all had a great start to the new year that will continue throughout. We spent the big night watching the fireworks in Bangkok and reflecting on 2009. The last year has been filled with so many new experiences and memories. As we start getting ready to return to the US and “normal” life, we thought we’d make some lists to recap. We’ll be posting a few more more, but let’s start with food.
Top 10 Best Meals
What makes a memorable meal? It’s certainly about the food, but there are all the other elements of atmosphere, service, and sometimes just the surprise of finding the perfect place in an unlikely spot.
10. Hay’s – Christchurch, NZ: With all the sheep in this country, they know how to do lamb right.
9. Ritzy Gritz – Kiama, Australia: I am completely convinced that there is no worthwhile Mexican food outside of California (and you shouldn’t bother ordering it), but this place was the exception that proved the rule.
8. The View Point – Phi Phi Island, Thailand: It’s not much more than a beach hut, but when the owner tells you “I make, you like,” believe her.
7. Quantas First Class Lounge – Sydney Airport: After 6 weeks of only Asian and Indian food, I had the best cheeseburger ever.
6. Simos – Santorini, Greece: We went back to this place night after night just to try more things on the menu.
5. Roadside stand – Near the Pyramids, Giza, Egypt: An amazing falafel sandwich and it cost 18 cents.
4. Ganter Brewery – Freiburg, Germany: A huge helping of roasted beef, pork and sausage with a side of potato dumplings and a frosty beer. Ahhhh.
3. Typica Quarta Feira – Evora, Portugal: I panicked a little when the waiter said “here you don’t get to choose.” I changed my mind after the first course of the daily special arrived at our table.
2. Tapas Bars – Logrono, Spain: It took us a few tries to figure out how to do a tapas crawl properly, but this town convinced me that mushroom weren’t evil.
1. Peshawri – Mumbai, India: Our dinner cost more than double the price of our hotel room for the night, but it was truly a memorable ending to our time in India.
Bottom 5 Meals
5. Kebab in Luxor, Egypt – Thought it was a steak, but turned out to be liver on a stick.
4. Chicken Sandwich at BK, Phuket Airport, Thailand – When in Thailand, stick to Thai food.
3. Fajitas in Ireland – Should have known better. See #9 above.
2. Tie: Falafel in Adelaide, Australia or Kebab in Dublin – When done right, these sandwiches can be fantastic. When done wrong, they are toxic.
1. Raw hamburger in Bordeaux, France – came with a side order of food poisoning.
Top and bottom 3 Food Countries
We based these decisions on the general quality of food, tastiness of local dishes, level of service, and price throughout the country. There are exceptions, of course.
Best:
Italy
Thailand
Greece – this one might be controversial, but what’s not to like about fresh salads, roasted meat, and great yogurt & honey?
Worst
Croatia – The food isn’t terrible, but just so bland and boring.
England (does not apply to London)
Egypt – The only way I can think to describe it is like bad Turkish food.
Hope you are enjoying something yummy for the holiday!
halftime