Dining at the Guggenheim

We had planned to have lunch at the Guggenheim Bistro but they didn't have any tables available. Instead, we had lunch at the cafe.

For €12, you got a salad, entree, roll and a glass of wine. Options were:

Grilled hake (merluza)--this was delicious. The fish was well prepared and so moist. It was hard to believe this came from a cafe.

Lamb terrine.

Pasta with tomatoes and mushroom. My sister thought the pasta was a little gummy.

There were no tables available so we had to eat standing at counters and I would've much preferred to have lunch at the Bistro. The Bistro  had a  €25.40 (+10% IVA) menu that included 3 courses, homemade bread and wine or water. Next time, we'll make reservations at 3 pm, tour the museum afterwards, then see the Fire Fountain in the evening. The museum closes at 8 pm every day, except Mondays when the museum is closed.




2012 10 14

Thursday Night Dinner

Here's tonight's menu:

Bruschetta Con Gamberoni--Topped with Grilled Marinated Jumbo Prawns, Spicy Red Pepper-Saffron Aioli, Warm Herb Salsa and Organic Greens served with 2010 Whitehall Lane Sauvignon Blanc from Napa Valley. The saffron aioli was amazing and paired so well with the grilled prawn.

 

Pezze Della Nonna--Pasta Folds Filled with Organic Spinach and a Trio of Cheeses Baked in a Garlic Balsamella and Pomodoro Sauces Topped with Parmigiano-Reggiano served with 2007 Benziger Syrah from the North Coast

Braciola Di Carne Alla Chianti--Slow Cooked Center Cut Short Rib Garnished with a "Sweet Pea" Risotto and Roasted Organic Mushrooms in a Chianti Reduction Sauce served with 2009 Alexander Valley Vineyards "Redemption" Zinfandel from Dry Creek Valley. I love Flavor's pasta and risotto and we got both tonight. The risotto was al dente and flavorful.

Bomba Di Bianco E Nera--Italian Style Ice Cream Float with Homemade Vanilla and Chocolate Gelato Topped with Espresso, Chantilly Cream, Bittersweet Chocolate and Almonds served with 2010 Ceretto Moscato d'Asti from Piemonte, Italia

2012 10 18

Pilgrimage to Foodie Mecca

We just returned from a pilgrimage to the foodie mecca--San  Sebastian and the Basque region. For 7 days, we toured the towns and villages that make up the Basque region in the Western Pyrenees, spanning the borders of Spain and France.

We flew into Bilbao, Spain. After picking up a rental car at the airport, we checked into the Hotel Sirimiri near the Old Town. It was conveniently located near the tram station and just a 5-10 minute walk to the Old Town. Plus, parking was free. It was nothing fancy but the room was clean , the bathroom modern and the towels large and thick--my criteria for a good hotel.

The tram station was located just a block away. Purchase a ticket for €1.40 (1 euro = $1.30) at the machine inside the building, validate the ticket at another machine outside the door and board the tram. 

We got off at the Guggenheim Museum. Designed by Canadian-American architect Frank Gehry and opened in 1997, this transformed Bilbao from an industrial city into a vacation destination.

Made of limestone and titanium, the museum sits on the Nervion River.

Outside the Guggenheim are several sculptures. This is a 30-foot tall spider called "Maman"--Louise Bouregeois' depiction of her mother who was a weaver.

42-foot tall "Puppy" clad in plants and flowers--designed by Jeff Koons.

"Fog Sculpture" that billows up from below--occurs every hour on the hour.

The other outdoor sculpture that is worth seeing is "Fire Fountain." We didn't get to see it because we left the museum too early--it plays every few minutes from 7:30-8:30 pm. 

The entrance fee to the museum is €13. The exhibits are nothing exciting but it's worth the entry fee to see the inside of the museum. 



2012 10 07

Hoi An, Vietnam

Hoi An is another UNESCO World Heritage Site and it is cute as a button. The Old Town is a well-preserved example of a trading port of the 15th-19th century.

 

 

 

Japanese Covered Bridge

 

 

2008 01 02

Ha Long Bay

We took a day cruise on Ha Long Bay and although it was hazy, it was still beautiful. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site and islands of limestone karsts rise out of the bay. It's an easy day trip from Hanoi but you can also spend a few nights on a boat cruising around the bay.

 

2008 01 05

Ice Cream in Vietnam

After 2 weeks in Vietnam, we were ecstatic to find ice cream. Just by luck, there was an ice cream parlour that had all-you-can-eat ice cream on the first Friday of the month from 7-11 pm for $3.50.

There were lots of flavors and there were also toppings, including liquor. The scoops were small, but most of us were able to eat 10-12 scoops. My husband on the other hand had 27 scoops.

2008 01 04

Cha Ca La Vong

We had heard about Cha Ca La Vong on Andrew Zimmern's Bizarre Foods. It's a restaurant that is over 100 years old and serves just one dish--cha ca la vong. It's a fish dish that is cooked at the table and is amazingly delicious. Four years later and I still dream about it.

 

 

Noodles, greens (including dill), shrimp paste and peanuts are delivered to your table.

 

Next came the fish in a pan that was set over a flame. It's flavored with turmeric.

 

Add noodles, greens, shrimp paste and peanuts to your bowl and spoon some fish with sauce over it. Delicious!

2008 01 03