Lebanese Taverna - Dining in Bethesda, Maryland

Lebanese Taverna 

7141 Arlington Rd
Bethesda, MD 20814
(301) 951-8681

http://www.lebanesetaverna.com/lebanese-restaurant-bethesda-md.html

This is more than just a restaurant, this is an inspiring story about the Abi-Najm Family, and the American Dream come true.

When I think about 1976, I think of a couple of things like;
Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak forming the Apple Computer Company, 

and The United States Bicentennial (200th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence).

But across the Atlantic in the Mediterranean sea, the Lebanese civil war has just began, resulting in a mass exodus of almost one million people from Lebanon.

"Tanios and Marie Abi-Najm along with their five young children, immigrated to the United States in 1976. 

In the middle of the night, the family boarded a cargo ship to escape the Civil War in Lebanon bringing only what they could carry. The final destination was Arlington, Virginia where other family members had already been living."

With dedication, family values and hard work, three years later; Welcome to Lebanese Taverna.

Now, I'm not here to give you a history lesson, but I'm always curious of how things came about and thought I'd pass it on to you, my readers.

Anyways, there's the prologue to this blog, and I hope you enjoyed that little piece of information. 

... Moving on.

It was the eve of my 31st birthday, Mallette and I have just gotten back home. Not long after, we hopped back in the car with her parents and headed to Bethesda for dinner.

Upon approach, Arlington road really caught my attention. With pretty lights adorning the trees along the road, and cute little stores displaying Christmas decorations, this place seems like it came out of a fairy tale book, especially during this time of year. 

As we drove past the restaurant to find parking at the library across the road, Lebanese Taverna surely stood out amongst the beauty of this gorgeous row of shops with it's large welcoming entrance on the corner, framed with street plants and down-lights, with a big backlit sign above it, as well as another identical sign along side of the building.

This restaurant sets it tone with a large, welcoming contemporary wooden door which opens through to the host counter, with a hanging curtain divider and a little waiting area. 

As you walk through the dining room, you will see booth seating along the wall on the far side with gorgeous low-hanging crystal chandeliers above them, tables for larger groups in the center with a long sofa bench diving up the space, and smaller tables along the window next to curtains draping down from the high ceiling.  

A work of art in interior design, the huge dining room is broken up into sections with the smart use of dim focal lighting, display shelves, low-hanging designer chandeliers and ceiling patterns. Bringing intimacy, coziness and a sense of privacy for patrons on each table. 

We took our seat by the window and studied their comprehensive menu, and after some guidance and recommendations from our lovely waiter, we ordered:

Chef's Platter - Sampling of hommus, baba ghanoush, tabouleh, lebneh, grape leaf, falafel, fatayer spinach, kibbeh, and m'saka.

Mouzat - Slow cooked lamb shank with artichoke, potato, tomato, and lamb reduction.

Grilled Lamb - Sliced American Lamb loin with three herb sauce, grilled vegetables, and potatoes.

Chicken Farrouj - roasted and deboned half freebird chicken with grilled vegetables, and potatoes.

The Chef's platter was amazing. The hommus was freshly made and had a great texture, the stuffed grape leaves was flavorful and the M'saka was exquisite. At this point, I was very impressed with their stuffed grape leaves, as too many times stuffed grape leaves can appear to be imbalanced with too much leaf and not enough stuffing. Also, too many times does the olive oil and/or lemon juice over powers this dish, but not these ones, these were perfect.

The Baba ghanoush was absolutely great but the lebneh was surprisingly divine. I don't really pay too much attention to lebneh, but this was an exception. 

Lebneh, put simply, is just strained yoghurt. While still retaining the original flavor of the yoghurt, whey is strained out which then gives it a thicker consistency. 

What makes this particular Lebneh divine is that they've managed to hold on to the creaminess of the yoghurt, and kept the tartiness at bay which is often not the case with other lebnehs I've had in the past. 

Couple this with their warm pita bread = bliss.

However, with all those praises, I did find the falafel and kibbeh to be slightly on the dry side, but that might just be a matter of personal preference. Apart from that, everything else was good.

We shared this dish between the four of us. It was the perfect starter.

For Entreé, Mallette and I shared the Mouzat. In hindsight, we made the right choice, because the portion was quite large.

This lamb shank was slow cooked to perfection and soaked in jus, the meat literally melted off the bone. (I mean, will you look at the photo!) The artichoke gave a nice depth to the flavors in this dish, along side with the potatoes, but I did find the tomatoes to be slightly out of place, again, might just be a matter of personal preference. 

I didn't get a chance to try the other dishes, but they all looked amazing, especially the Lamb (see second photo below):

The service here was also top tier. Very professional but at the same time light hearted and friendly. There was zero hesitation when it comes to answering questions about recommendations and suggestions which is a good insight to how well staff are trained here.

In conclusion, for anything from romantic couples, families and/or big gathering of friends, Lebanese Taverna will meet your every criteria. 

With six Restaurant and four café locations across Virginia, Washington DC and Maryland, there's no reason why you shouldn't stumble upon this wonderful, family-owned, local chain of restaurants. 

Enjoy Mediterranean food made with passion, served in a contemporary space by one of the first families to introduce Lebanese cuisine in the US; Since 1979!

"My family and I have come a long way since opening the original Lebanese Taverna in 1979. We look at the hard work that has brought the business into its present existence and know that it was worth every effort. Each night my children are still greeting old friends and welcoming new ones into the restaurants where they grew up and shared their lives. 

Lebanese Taverna has come to symbolize the realization of dreams and the rewards of dedication for us. Good food is enjoyed in good company. 

What I wish to say to you is; thank you and welcome to my home" Tanios Abi-Najm

Everything about this place is inspiring, thanks Lebanese Taverna for sharing your passion with us.

The Brixton - Dining and Drinking in Chicago

The Brixton

5420 N Clark Steet

Chicago, IL, 60640
(773) 961-7358

http://www.thebrixtonchicago.com

Strong cocktails, a good selection of craft beers and gastronomic food,
all housed in a young, trendy and inviting space.

Located in Andersonville, the second LGBT neighborhood to Boystown in Chicago, The Brixton is dubbed as 'Andersonville's gathering place for creative American fare, libations, and community', - and so it's true.

The main dining room, located on the ground level has tin-pressed high ceiling, incandescent lighting, exposed brick walls and metallic chairs and stools giving it a real industrial feel to the place which compliments the bar, booth and table seating.

Otherwise, lounges are located upstairs with a fireplace and a pool table, with mis-matched furniture and dim lighting, making it the perfect place to hideaway after a long day at the office or a cold winters night.
Summer time? See you in the patio!

We started off the night with these yummy appetizers; 

Poutine - with oxtail, Cheddar curd and gravy, 

Pate - Chicken liver, blackberry jam, cornichon and dijon, and 

Mussels - with grilled lemon, Anisette, shellfish butter and ciabatta bread.

The Poutine was great, (the oxtail that really made this dish) and the Pate was good, but nothing too much out of the ordinary here.
The Mussels, though, was the highlight of the appetizers. 

The mussels displayed an amazing balance in flavors. I particularly loved the combination of the grilled lemon and Anisette. It was quite different at first, but once you let that taste sink in, it was pretty genius. It kept the acidity of the lemon from overpowering the mussels and gave it a refreshing hint and aroma (thanks to the alkalinity from the anisette), allowing other flavors to come though. 

Next, for our main course, we had:

Brixton Burger - with applewood bacon, hooks cheddar between a brioche bun served with a house pickle, and

Short Rib Ragout - with white bean, celery root, roasted garlic, topped with crispy kale and a poached egg on grilled ciabatta bread. 

The Brixton burger is what this place is apparently known for, so we already know how good it'll be, and it was great. 

However, I took the adventurous path and ordered the Ragout, the result? Mind-blowing. 

I secretly love and adore crispy kale. So to see my dish covered by it, I was in heaven. 

The short rib was so tender that it melted away with the soft poached egg, and the well toasted ciabatta kept a strong foundation for all of this, with the rest of the greens doing their part to add color and balance taste to this dish.
The combined taste was amazing, but don't leave it too long, this dish was meant to be eaten straight away - an obstacle I face on a regular basis as I love taking pictures of food.

The prices aren't so bad as well.
With the appetizers being $9 for the Pate, $12 for the Poutine, and $15 for the mussels, and
the main courses being $13 for the Brixton burger and $20 for the short rib Ragout -
for the service, produce and ambiance, the bill wasn't bad at all. 

..Oh, and of course, the Cocktails! Holy moly were they strong!

We ordered:

Sid Malicious - Malort, Bombay gin, lemon, orgeat, egg white. ($10)
Mule skinner blues - Flor de Cana rum, berries, mint, lime, Falernum, ginger beer. ($10)
Guns of Brixton - Sombra mezcal, Luxardo Marischino, green chartruese, lime. ($12)

With catchy names like these, remember, these are not for the faint heart - these bad boys pack a punch and had me smelling like an alcoholic for the rest of the night (I admit, I had the Sid Malicious and the Guns of Brixton, one after another, plus I'm a lightweight but I swear they were potent!).
In saying that, they were really nice cocktails.

For a neighborhood bar, they sure raised the stakes with top shelf spirits and quality ingredients, plus having a good mixologist at helm - The Brixton is definitely here to stay.

In conclusion, this is a place were you'd want to stumble upon if you're in Andersonville. 

It's chill, it's gastronomic and it has great vibes.

For an upscaled neighborhood spot, this place is really something special.

Flying Saucer Draught Emporium - Drinking in Kansas City

Flying Saucer Draught Emporium

101 East 13th St.
Kansas City, MO 64106
(816) 221-1900
http://www.beerknurd.com/stores/kansascity/

.. wow!
I don't even know where to start!

So, there's 200 beers to choose from, with over 74 on tap!
If you're a member of the UFO club, when get through the whole beer menu you'll earn a personalized saucer to be displayed proudly on the wall or ceiling!

What's good? Get a beer flight!


We arrived here just after dark from a jam packed day starting with a quick bite at Joe's BBQ Kansas City, then a stroll through the World War I museum. A break for coffee at Thou Mayest (a Kansas City local specialty coffee roaster), and an iconic $5 Manhattan at Pierponts in Union Station.

Located near the Power and Light district. There's plenty of entertainment around - From restaurants and bars, down to shopping and live music.

We each had a beer flight designed by our most friendliest bartender.
I asked to have a combo of brews, as broad of a selection as possible.
This resulted in a Strongbow cider, Hofbrau Hefe Weizen, Tallgrass buffalo sweat oatmeal stout, Green flash hop head red, and a Bells 2 hearted IPA.
.. how's that for variety!

Aside from setting us up and pouring our drinks, she also explained to us what the tasting notes were for each of our drinks, and which ones were her favorite. A very important element for a craft beer bar is a knowledgable and passionate bartender - and the flying saucer scores another point.

The atmosphere was great. It's cosy, friendly, busy and passionate. Being a Gastropub, it meets every criteria, but with extremely reasonable prices - which is another point scored by the flying saucer.

There are events held here on a regular basis, every week showcasing one rare beer on tap. A $3 local beer night, Trivia night, and Brewery night where a certain brewery showcases their beer along with giveaway collectable glassware as incentive for patrons to trying out their brew.

So, If you're ever around the district (which you will if you're in Kansas), make sure to check out the Flying Saucer Draught Emporium.
Sure they have another 16 locations across the US, but Kansas City is where the breweries (and microbreweries) are booming, with over 21 craft brewers and counting.

Therefore, if it's anywhere you wanted to take your beer palette on a journey, it's here in Kansas City.

The Majestic steakhouse - Dining in Kansas City

The Majestic
931 Broadway Blvd
Kansas City, MO 64105
816-221-1888

http://www.majestickc.com

After a beer flight at the Flying Saucer Draught Emporium, we quickly rushed here in hope to make the last call for dining that night.

Operating out of The Fitzpatrick Saloon Building, an old Kansas City Saloon dating back further than 1923 -

Upon entry we were greeted by a nice little jazz quartet tucked in the corner right by the front window. They jammed the night away opposite a mural adorned with the greatest figures to come out of Kansas City titled 'From Kansas city to… Fame', with the likes of Walt Disney, Count Basie, Charlie Parker, and Ernest Hemmingway who graced this proud painting.  

Further on.

Our waiter was kind enough to take us in and reassured us that we had all the time in the world to enjoy our dinner - Kansas City locals are very nice people.

Here's the honest part,
I seriously cannot remember for my life what we ordered. See, after the beer flight we had at the Flying Saucer Draught Emporium and the $5 Manhattan at Pierponts, I guess I was quite tipsy by the time we got here.

But, knowing myself and Tara, I think for drinks we ordered another Manhattan, and for the main course we had a USDA dry-aged KC Strip and a USDA dry-aged Rib Eye, with sides of mash, four cheese Mac and Cheese, steamed asparagus, and the soup of the day which came as an appetizer.

Like every top class restaurant, we had an amazing bread basket to call in our appetite. The soup of the day was also spectacular, (if only I remembered what it was..) and the main course was perfectly cooked and came out in perfect timing.

My steak was nothing short of extraordinary, tender and flavorful like how a KC strip should be.
Besides being dry-aged locally and cooked to perfection, where else in the world could you experience a USDA dry-aged KC Strip like in Kansas City?
..and why would you not? It's the ultimate culinary home field advantage, and I'm blessed to have experienced this.

I'd also like to point out the four Cheese Mac and Cheese as well. It was simply incredible. I could only wish we took on this side dish seriously in Australia, because here in the US, Mac and Cheese has become an art form with every chef showing off their own take on it.

Besides the incredible food and service, you'll also notice the antique 40-foot long bar (circa 1900's from New Orleans) with 245 different kinds of spirits on the shelves, and probably the same amount of wines by the bottle from the menu (I gave up counting.. there was a lot).

There's also another dining room in the basement which used to be an actual speakeasy during prohibition (now known as the Jazz Club) with a small stage equipped with a baby grand piano for jazz combos, if you want live music to be your main attention here at the Majestic.
Otherwise, the ground level dining room will serve you well if you're here to experience the food above anything else (ha ha, pun intended).
There's also a private cigar and whiskey club (called the Pendergast club) up stairs as well, which I don't know much about to be honest.

The Majestic steakhouse is a must visit if you want to experience what Kansas City has mastered; Culinary and Jazz culture.

It's classy, it's historic and it embodies everything that's amazing about Kansas City.

Put quite simply, it's Majestic.

__________

Footnote,
For music history buffs:
Apart from New Orleans, Chicago, St. Louis, Pittsburgh and New York City - Kansas City is also known as one of the most popular 'Cradles of Jazz'.
Rich in history as the crossroads of the United States, many musicians gathered here in Kansas City during their transcontinental transit and henceforth came together, jammed and revolutionized the genre with their combined backgrounds in Blues, Bebop and Big Band which eventually became the unique 'Kansas City Style Jazz'. A hard-swinging, bluesy transition style influenced by the popular styles at the time.

The Majestic hosts Kansas City's best Jazz bands pretty much every day of the week, so be sure to check out their calendar on their website, http://www.majestickc.com/upcoming-shows/ 

Mizu sushi house - Dining in Orland Park, Illinois.

Mizu sushi house

9664 West 131st Street,
Orland Park, IL 60462
http://www.mizusushihousepalospark.com

Sushi with a flair.

This suburban sushi restaurant located in Palos park/Orland park area is a little gem. To break the norm and light up suburbia (pun intended), Mizu has a very unique way of plating up their sushi; with bouquets of silk flowers on your plate and flashing LED lights to compliment the nightclub-like ambiance.

The sashimi is cut extra thick and is always extra fresh. One thing I do love about America is that they generally use Alaskan salmon, which is very soft in texture and subtle in flavor. So when it's cut thick and fresh, it literally falls apart in your mouth. (It also soaks up the wasabi and soy sauce real well, if you love that extra kick like I do.)

In saying that, there's really nothing too special about their menu, nothing you won't see at other sushi restaurants anyway, but the presentation is out of this world, and we always appreciate that over the mundane.

For a suburban sushi restaurant, this place is ticking all the boxes.

If anything, I rate this place the best place to get salmon sashimi in Orland Park.

Joe's Kansas City BBQ (Formerly known as Oklahoma Joe's) - Dining inKansas City

Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que
3002 West 47th Avenue,
Kansas City, Kansas 66103
(913) 722-3366
http://www.joeskc.com

I had no idea what Oklahoma Joe's was until my good friend Tara, told me about it as we were picking up our order at the counter.
Before then I thought we were just picking up some food at a busy service station right by her place.

You see, President Barack Obama ordered $1,400 worth of takeout here and shipped it out on Air Force One (like a boss), 

and every year since 2004, Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que has been the Zagat #1 Rated barbecue restaurant in Kansas City. 

The Daily Meal website and USA Today both named Oklahoma Joe’s Kansas City's ribs "America's Best Ribs".

Then in 2009, Anthony Bourdain named this place as one of “Thirteen Places to Eat Before You Die” in an article for Men’s Health magazine.

..What kinda rock was I living under?!

I've been in Kansas City for about two hours after I broke into my friends house, parked my luggage in the guest room and had a nap on the couch with her dog.

It was only a few minutes later after she arrived home that she suggested we go grab some food. 

She told me that she had put in an order for pick up at this place right around the corner, so off we went, driving to this gas station called Shamrock at an intersection on West 47th Avenue, near Roeland park were she lived. 

To my surprise, the gas station was very busy.
There were plenty of cars parked on the lot, a few of them pumping gas, and the rest I had no idea why they were there until I started to smell an amazing aroma of BBQ smoke which filled the air, overpowering the smell of gasoline you normally would smell at a gas station.

We walked around the corner of the building revealing the entrance into Joe's, and it became apparent that this place is extremely popular judging by the long line of people waiting inside which snaked around the convenience store part of the service station - a very odd setting for a world class BBQ restaurant.

You could literally grab some spare spark plugs and anti-freeze while you wait for your ribs to arrive. 

Without hesitation, Tara headed straight for the pick up counter and got our food within 5 minutes of being there. 

(A tip if you don't want to wait in line - call in your order and pick it up as 'to go'.)

Arriving back home, Tara went through all the items that she had ordered for us; 

a full slab of ribs, the all famous Z-Man sandwich, BBQ beans, and fries - This is happening!

...Insert line break here, while I drool over this sweet memory.

The ribs, oh my goodness, the ribs couldn't wait to fall off the bone. The smokey flavors combined with the complexity of the baste (or the rub) and whatever they used to smoke it with was just out of this world. If you could taste BBQ heaven, this was it. 

The BBQ beans, wow! Who would've thought beans could be this amazing! It has definitely ruined my life knowing that I'll never find beans like this again.

Don't even get me started on the Z-Man sandwich. 

What a wonderful way to present slow smoked beef brisket and have it party with melted Provolone and onion rings between a kaiser roll IN YOUR MOUTH!

Even the next day, the ribs still tasted amazing - I seriously believe that this might be the best BBQ ribs on planet earth, 

and for the price? 

$21.99 for a full slab. God bless America!

Operating out of a gas station, this place was no less than extraordinary. 

It was here that I fell in love with Kansas City.

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/news/business/biz-columns-blogs/cityscape/article1310928.html#storylink=cpy

Architectural boat tour - Things to do in Chicago.

Chicago, Illinois is home to 2.7 million residents, along with 9.5 million others who live in Chicagoland, which refers to the greater metropolitan area making Chicago the third most populous city in the united states of America (after New York City and Los Angeles).

So, needless to say there are plenty of things to do in Chicago.

One in particular I'd like to write about is the Architectural boat tour which runs along the Chicago river and interprets more than 50 buildings.

This spectacular tour takes you on a journey through time from how this city was founded and became Americas most prominant crossroad and transport hub.
How the city resurrected and earned it's nickname as the 'Second City' after the great Chicago fire which happened in 1871 and leveled Chicago for over 3.3 square miles as architects from around the world rushed to Chicago to push boundaries and pioneered techniques in construction that set new heights in science and design. (pun intended)

There are plenty of companies who run this tour that usually goes on for 90 minutes, and costs about $40 per person, which isn't cheap but in my opinion totally worth it.

What you get out of it is a higher appreciation for Chicago, its history and its geniuses behind the artful redesign of this city that will stick with you as long as you stay here.

It's a relaxing boat cruise along the Chicago river which snakes through the city, allowing you to see more of it in detail in less time and effort, and if it's a beautiful day out then you can soak up some sun with cocktails in hand while expanding your knowledge - that's my kind of classroom!

I did this boat cruise very early into my visit, and even three months later I'm still finding myself appreciating the little details I've learnt of the different buildings and structures as I past them.

This tour starts up at spring and runs through the year until the river freezes, which is around about late December or early January. The best part is that these tours are lectured by volunteers, which means they have genuine passion for this city and its history, and aren't shy to show it off and impress visitors.

You'll learn about the rise of steel frame constructed buildings from the 1880's (also known as 'Chicago School' or 'Commercial style'), and frame tubes from the 1940's (also known as 'Chicago Second School') which allowed skyscrapers to reach new heights.
How having the (now compulsory) riverwalk changed the demand of real estate along the river that were once believed to be of lesser value, and
to how Chicago became the master and mecca for architects from all around the world.

If you're an architectural buff, you'll be pleased to hear names such as Louis Sullivan, Bertrand Goldberg, Graham, Anderson, Probst & White, and of course, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe being thrown around during the 90 minute lecture as you pass iconic buildings such as the Willis Tower, Navy Pier, Wrigley Building, Tribune Tower, Merchandise Mart, Lyric Opera, 333 W. Wacker, Marina City and many, many more.

Witness and learn how these architects went crazy with the gothic revival styles such as Neo Gothical, Neo Classical, Greek Revival, all the way to Art Deco and Modernism, pushing the limits then believed wasn't plausible.

So, enjoy the company, enjoy the ride, and enjoy taking pictures of these amazing structures from a view point which showcases Chicago at its finest.

You haven't been to Chicago until you've been on an architectural boat cruise!



(I also highly recommend First Lady Cruises which is ran by The Chicago Architecture Foundation who can be located at 112 East Wacker Drive, right underneath the bridge that leads to N. Michigan avenue.)

Sushi Dokku - Dining in Chicago.

SUSHI DOKKU
823 West Randolph Street
Chicago, Illinois 60607
Email: info@sushidokku.com
Phone: +1 312 455 8238
Fax: +1 312 455 8237
http://www.sushidokku.com
*Winner of the Michelin bib gourmand Chicago in 2014*


I had the opportunity to experience this restaurant in the first few days of being new to Chicago.

Tucked away in near west side near university village (UIC), more well known as 'Little Italy', we stumbled upon this place by accident.

The original plan was to try out a restaurant called 'Girl and the goat', but we couldn't get a reservation which suited our time so we ended up walking down the street and stumbled upon Sushi Dokku.

Walking through the door, I was taken by the brightly lit sushi bar on one side and the dark rows of dining tables on the other. In Japanese fashion, everything was set out to be uniformed and simplistic, a balance of form and function. In other words - Zen.

We sat at the bar right by the cooking stations. To make things easy, we all ordered the same dishes - the special of the day 'Clam ramen'.

Everything in this dish is well balanced. The broth was intense enough to cut through the rest of the ingredients but also allowing all the different tastes to shine through - a characteristic I highly regard when it comes to ramen as the flavors can quickly become muddled together if not layered correctly. The ramen noodles was also cooked to perfection.

The best part was seeing the chef cook it in front of us. We saw how meticulous he was with his measurements and timing, the layering of the ingredients and the final presentation as he personally served it to us.

I'll definitely be back to try their Nigiri, Sashimi and Maki rolls. I'm also impressed by their Sake menu which is always a great indicator of an outstanding purveyor.

This was a quick visit so we kept it simple and light, as the guys had a marathon to run the next day.

I highly recommend Sushi Dokku if you're after the next generation modern style Japanese cuisine.

Getting there:
Simply hop on a Green line or a Pink line CTA 'L' train and get off at Morgan-Lake, then walk three blocks towards N Green St on Randolph and it'll be right on the corner, you can't miss this little gem.

Hub 51 - Dining in Chicago.

Hub 51
51 W Hubbard
Chicago, IL 60654
312-828-0051
http://www.hub51chicago.com


Located in River north a few blocks down from the magnificent mile, Hub 51 is the suit and tie version of your regular American bar types, but with the familiarities like sport on the flat screens, craft beer on tap and seats by the bar.
Dubbed the 'eclectic American restaurant', Hub 51 boasts a fine menu with well curated ingredients. From the appetizers and the entrees, all the way to the drinks menu which cleverly targets the majority of Hub 51's clientele which are mostly trendy young professionals and business people.

So, after thoroughly reading through the menu, we decided to order salad.

We realized that this could be frowned upon, ordering a salad, especially at a venue like this, but our waiter was extremely excited for us to try it - quite the opposite of what we were expecting his reaction would be.

We ordered the Sonoma salad and the Asian chicken salad.

The Sonoma salad included baby spinach, grapefruit, avocado, walnuts, sunflower sprouts and seeds, dried cranberries and mustard vinaigrette. We also added grilled salmon which made this salad extra spectacular.

The asian chicken salad included peanuts, lemongrass, kaffir lime and red onion. The chicken is prepared southeast asian style, which means that it's grounded then cooked so that it absorbs the scent of the herbs and juices in the salad to create an explosion of flavors once it hits your palette. 

I was thoroughly impressed by these salads which is a great indicator of an outstanding chef, and I can't wait to see how the entrees are like upon my next visit.

The service was also top notch and the venue was trendy, relaxing and comfortable which suits everyone from singles, couples and groups.

I highly recommend Hub 51 if you're looking for a trendy bar with quality food and service.

On the train from Kansas City (free writing)

I arrived at Union station in Kansas City at 7am this morning. The line for Chicago was already long, with more people adding up as the minutes went by. 

We only boarded the train at 8am, almost 20 minutes behind schedule.

I fell asleep for the first hour or so after becoming comfortable in my seat. How could you not, they were basically reclining chairs. 

Missouri came by fast, along with the first stop for a quick cigarette break. Not for me though, I needed a coffee.

I regret not grabbing a Parisi coffee at Union station, and also not grabbing breakfast in the dining car on the train, so the hell am I going to miss out on lunch!

I got up off my seat, picked up my bag and headed for the dining cart. Disappointed, I saw no patrons. 

Asked the lovely gentleman, clearly from Chicago by the way he spoke, he directed me down stairs to this lonely little dark corner canteen with an impressive menu printed on an A3 sheet of paper - I had no idea you could reheat so many items.

I ordered a Hebrew National hotdog, 100% kosher, with sweet relish and mayonnaise. A cup of coffee with half and half, and a bottle of water. 

She packed up my order neatly in a cardboard box, I gave her my money then walked up to the lounge car to enjoy the scenery. The sides and ceiling of this car were all glass, allowing a vast amount of natural light to beam through, the perfect dining experience especially with the seats facing out wards.

A country man [from Fort Maddison, Iowa] and his son is sitting behind me, talking to an amish couple about gaming [hunting], the labour market and how someone should come up with a country song about a red barn, because everyone likes a red barn. 

However, his knowledge about this land is impressive. He's a well travelled man. He loves pointing out the scenery to us, explaining the geography and the history behind the towns, plains and ridges as we passed them.

There's a few Amish people on this train. Some with young families and some traveling with relatives and partners. Most would do a double take on me. 
Wait till start talking, yep, I'm the funny looking man that also sounds funny, trying to get home to Chicago.

P.s. I highly recommend traveling via rail in America. It's cheap, convenient and you get a chance to relax and take in the lovely scenery. It's a great way to meet people too. 

Washington DC and Kansas City in 5 minutes

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

I had the opportunity to experience my first Thanksgiving ever with the most awesome bunch of people on this earth in a beautiful town called Kansas City.
I absolutely loved Kansas City, everything from the food, the people and its industries, which includes world-class-specialty-grade coffee roasters and craft beer breweries.
Not to mention the amazing restaurants, jazz bars and cafés - this place is my idea of paradise.


Also, I spent my birthday weekend in the capital, Washington DC with the most amazing Mallette (whom you've probably read about before in my previous blog entry 'Why Diabetes?') which was absolutely wonderful.
Fun filled with amazing scenery, great food, good coffee, and fun activities like salsa dancing, ice skating and intense games of chess, also including a cute puppy and an espresso machine.

But, instead of words, let me give you a quick preview of my Birthday weekend and Thanksgiving via a YouTube video montage.
Enjoy!

Land of the free

It's two degrees Celsius outside, I'll be seeing Jason Mraz at 8pm, but before then I'll be having dinner with my cousin at this amazing restaurant called Mercadito on Kinzie street, a couple of blocks away from the famous North Michigan Avenue, aka the Magnificent Mile.

I'm actually inside Ghirardelli Chocolate Company having one of the best hot chocolates I've ever experienced. 

I'm happy. I can't explain this feeling, but it feels like I'm at ease. I'm rested. I'm stable. 

Everything makes me smile. Everytime the wind blows and I'm freezing my ass off, I chuckle. When I see a yellow school bus drive pass, I imagine having children of my own. 

Even when I hear the train announcements, I feel as if I'm heading home.

Now don't get me wrong, I love Australia, a lot.
I gave Australia everything in my twenty-five years of service there. I've worked so hard for the land that's girt by sea, and I still have so much more to give. I've had great experiences there, and I've had bad experiences there - Just like anywhere.

It's just that at this very moment, in the land of the free, I'm at ease - my mind, body and soul. 

I don't wake up in physical pain anymore from working so hard to keep the bills paid and the Australian tax office happy. I'm not stressed all the time wondering how I'm going to take my business into the next level so I can stay of top of my game to satisfy my staff and customers, and I'm not caught up in the rat race for once. 

For once, I can be a twenty-something year old, (even though I just turned thirty-one) and I feel like I have so much to catch up on.

So as you could already tell, America is my escape - and it's tempting to just keep running.

I have family here. I have friends here, but most importantly, I have a clean slate here.
I'm a different person here. I'm someone whom I've always wanted to be; relaxed, disciplined, and motivated to build something new. 

Although as romantic as everything may sound, I still have huge responsibilities back in Australia, 

but let me live my fantasy for another two months. 

My feet will touch the ground again soon.

With love and respect.

It all started in Chicago

Chicago is a beautiful city rich in history, diversity and culture.
The people are friendly, the restaurants are world class and the infrastructure is incredible.
It's been a month already and I still have plenty to do and see.

My family in Illinois, even though most aren't blood related to me, have taken care of me like their own child/brother/cousin and friend. Never in my life have I felt so loved and welcomed.

The other pieces of my heart that beats further north across the great lakes - Toronto and Mississauga.
I feel an incredible bond towards the North. I'm absolutely head over heels in love with everything up there. From the Tim Hortons to the loonies and toonies.
Rachel, her gorgeous sister and most beautiful mum took me in like family, and their friends made me felt like I've always grew up with them. Since I've been back in Chicago, I always think about them all the time. It makes me feel loved.

The rest of my soul is spread across the US, with beautiful people like Tara who took me on an amazing journey in Kansas City through all the things I'm passionate about; coffee, food and music.
And her wonderful family who've organized for me my first ever Thanksgiving, and taking me to my first NFL game. It was an experience I'd never forget.

Mallette and her gorgeous parents, having me over to celebrate my 31st birthday in Washington DC. Taking me around town, dancing and ice skating. We even finished a chess game we had started in Sydney at this gorgeous coffee shop in Chevy Chase - It was all so perfect. Although, the greatest birthday gift of all was Mrs. Asmuth's counsel and guidance in which made me the Realtor I am today - Forever grateful.

...and of course spending the week before christmas with Chris and Bunge down in New Orleans, they reminded me of what it means to love what you do and live life with passion. But most importantly, being able to keep a promise Chris and I made together when our paths met in Sydney was something so magical.

Thank you.
I love every one of you with all my heart.


So, besides being a tourist, visitor and researcher here, I've discovered that there's more to this journey;

I grew up with very little family - my childhood was a bit of a mess to be honest.
But, I feel like I've been given a second chance to redo this 'family' thing. This gift that I've received is more valuable than anything I could ever wish for. I didn't even realize how important this missing piece of my life was until I landed here - fallen into the arms of these amazing people I will forever call family.
I now have brothers and sisters - I have everything here that I missed out on as a kid.
I've found a missing link in my life I never knew was broken until now.
Never in my life have I been so welcomed, accepted and embraced - For once, I feel whole.

I'm forever grateful to have this opportunity to rediscover myself.

... And it all started in Chicago.

Update:
As of May 2015, I've since travelled back to Bangkok and found my sister - meeting her for the first time after 20 years at a surprise birthday dinner we've had planned for our dad nonetheless!

We always knew about each other, but through changing circumstances of my life I had completely lost contact with my dad, which meant I lost her too. It wasn't until a few years ago after I opened up my café that my dad found me again through my website and contact me via email.
...I guess he never stopped searching.

Fourteen hours of flight time - Hello Dubai!

That must've been the longest plane ride I've taken so far. Fourteen hours straight. I normally go as far as Bangkok, but this time I had another five hours added on top. 

Luckily, I had two seats to myself in the brand new, most gorgeous A380 thanks to Emirates airlines, and since I'm only a little guy, I had all the space to sleep and move around as I pleased. 

So here I am at Dubai Airport. Yes, I took the long way 'round to get to Chicago, but I'm glad I chose my connecting flight here because this place makes a great stop over. Apart from being an amazing airport in general, it also allowed me the chance to take a break and adjust to a new timeline and without question, I hunted down a place to have my first coffee. Judging by their espresso machine and the person behind it, I chose a place called Giraffe. 

The coffee itself isn't bad per se, but the winner here was the organic fruit and nuts bowl; with Greek yoghurt, almonds and pistachios for breakfast. For some reason, fruit always taste better overseas. 

In saying that, the water here tastes and smells funny. Filtered water is bearable, but tap water has a really odd smell to it. Hmm..

I have a hotel room waiting for me on the way back so I won't write too much about Dubai airport this time 'round. 

So,

Thirty minutes till my flight to O'Hare airport in Chicago now. I've regulated my water consumption well, and got myself some cold and flu tablets for the flight. Hopefully I won't be sneezing every fifteen minutes this time. 

Another fourteen hours ahead. 

Onwards! 

Finally here. Hello Chicago!

Wow - what a plane ride!

Believe it or not, I had the whole row to myself. I could literally lay down and have a proper nap in economy class! I mean, the first leg of the journey had me having two seats to myself, and I thought that was lucky, but this is something else. Emirates airlines, you're pretty amazing. 

So, I'm here! After thirty four hours of being in transit, but I loved every second of it. 

Reunited with my cousin again after five years and it felt like we never left.

First stop was an epic meal at a Chinese restaurant in Chicago's Chinatown square. What I couldn't get my head around was how cheap it was. The meal we had came to just under fifty dollars. If we had the equivalent in Sydney, we would've paid a minimum of eighty dollars. Easily.

Arrived at my cousins house, hung out with the family, had a well needed shower and as a night cap I brewed some Nicaraguan coffee through an Aeropress - Already it feels like home.

I survived the protest in Bangkok

It was monday morning on the thirteenth of January.

Bangkok was her usual self; streets bustling with pedestrians, vendors and traffic of all sorts.

However, there was something different in the air today. Salary men and women were nowhere to be seen, and people had a different pace. They weren't rushing to get anywhere, instead, they were on a pilgrimage. 

The steady march of the people who've slowly occupied the streets, along with the determination in their eyes was a telltale that something big was going to happen. 

My girlfriend and I caught the sky train just after breakfast. The cabin was already populated with commuters as we entered, with more squeezing on at every stop.

With this influx of commuters, eventually the shade of the cabin was hued with a common theme; a spectrum of red, white and blue, which came in the form of clothing, flags and fashion accessories. 

Once in a while people would smile at each other, followed by an affirming nod. There was this sense of pride that filled the air, a togetherness that's usually seen at ball games. It made us feel safe, even though we knew things could change in an instant. 

As the sky train transited closer to Siam Square, you could start to make out the faint sounds of what appears to be whistles, which is not uncommon in Bangkok, but today seems to be more than a few being blown at a time. 

As we approached, the faint noise of whistles gathered and became a muted roar, like a rolling thunder continuously greeting the oncoming storm. 

The cabin doors opened, and with haste we were awakened with hundreds, if not thousands of whistles being blown in unison. The deafening noise compounded as one big sound wave which crashed through the cabin. 

The sheer volume alone occupied every remaining air space inside - It drowned our regrets and filled up our spirits to support the people of Thailand. 

It was a welcoming to the family I'll never forget. 

We were now at the epicenter of the protest - It was Shut Down Bangkok Day. 

Unlike what you imagine protests would be, this particular uprising was attended mostly by families, with many coming from the provinces. They booked out coaches with the very little money they had left, shared it between the community and supported each other so they could travel to the capital city and take control of the future of their country. For many, this was their first time in Bangkok. 

Because of this, they resorted to living in tents mostly around the main roads and parks, ultimately occupying the areas and transformed them into villages.

In an act of kindness, people donated food and water. Trucks of supplies driven by civilians were transported around Bangkok to all the different protest sites, feeding millions of protestors. It became a well orchestrated operation with big companies involved, but acted in anonymity as protection of their goodwill towards their stakeholders. Nonetheless, we knew who they were, and they were helping the country get back on its feet, despite risking a drop in their share prices if the investors ever found out.

The top tier hospitals of Thailand also set up mobile clinics and embedded them into the protest sites to look after the health and well being of all those who were protesting, irrevalent of which side they were supporting.
You could literally go in for a health check up, and even pick up your prescription at these tents conveniently between protesting. They also had trauma wards ready, with paramedics scattered through the crowds making sure a fast response could be attained in times of emergency. Otherwise, they were treating the occasional minor flesh wound caused by common outdoor activities, or the few people that suffered from dehydration.

Also, big stages were setup all around Bangkok to mark the centre of each protest site. They were so well constructed that Thailand's top musicians and entertainers booked them in between political speeches to organize concerts of a life time.

The only real issue at this point for Bangkokians and tourists was transportation. Unless you lived or worked conveniently near a BTS line, getting around was challenging, especially with most of the main arterial roads closed off or occupied by the protesters. However, we witnessed many private coach drivers running services as reinforcements to the government bus services, everything from twelve seater vans to utility vehicles rigged with bench seats crawled through the streets making sure people had sufficient transportation options. It was almost a protest movement in itself.

We were lucky to have stayed in an area called Pratunam. Which was conveniently located on the inner cloister of the Siam Square area, about a radius of five kilometres. In that radius, we had two protest sites at walking distance.

The best part was seeing all the street stalls flourish. It was easier than ever to navigate the steets safely, grab a bite to eat and do some gift shopping whilst experiencing an important part of Thai history being written in front of your eyes. 

Attended by millions from all walks of life and social classes, The 2014 Shutdown Bangkok - Restart Thailand wasn't just a protest. It was a celebration of love for the kingdom of Thailand.

This cultural call to arms is evidence of why Thailand has remained unoccupied since the beginning of modern world history. 

Power to the people.

Long live the king. 

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