Choupier Chronicles: 4-Star Foodie Gems (in Europe) on Grad Student Budget

Per friends' requests, documenting all foodie hidden gems unearthed in major cities in Europe, plus other useful travel info (FREE WiFi, bathrooms, etc...)
This is where locals (students, policemen, hipsters, working professionals) eat.

Yes, 4-Star food for the price of a grad student budget!

Travel Global; Eat (& Act) Local!

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Special thanks to every gracious local and fixer who offered incredible insights into these special spots in their corners of the world!
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We'll keep updating this list; so check back often...

And if you have any local tips to share with us travel enthusiasts and accidental tourists, do send them to choupierblog@gmail.com. We'll spread this wealth of local knowledge to everyone, no matter which corner of the world you're in!!

Table of Content

Presented below, in order:

Europe:
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Hamburg, Germany

Cologne, Germany
NRW travel tips
Essen, Germany
Düsseldorf, Germany
Aachen, Germany
Waltrop, Germany

Stuttgart, Germany

Dresden, Germany
Silesian Region (Germany/Poland/Czech Republic)
Görlitz, Germany
Hainewalde, Germany
Zittau, Germany

Brussels, Belgium

Paris, France

Stockholm, Sweden

Den Haag (The Hague), Netherlands

Prague, Czech Repulic

Vienna, Austria

Bratislava, Slovakia

Copenhagen, Denmark

Porto, Portugal

Venice, Italy
Burano, Italy

Asia
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Singapore

Taiwan

Special Most Popular Requests:

Boston, USA section for new student/visitor orientation

Cooking/Recipe tips--food for the mind

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Hamburg, Germany

1. Eiscafe Siebenhüner

Paul Sorge Straße 140

22455 Hamburg

Schippelsweg U-Bahn stop, U2 Red. Note sometimes U2 red stops only at Niendorf Markt--2 stops short. Ensure you're on Niendorf Nord train.

Best Ice Cream (home made ingredients, real cream)
Get out of the U-Bahn stop, look around and spot where the crowd/line is.

This ice cream corner is packed with locals, and cute kids! Nothing brightens your heart when you see countless happy little faces all around you--can't start them early enough.

They close in winter times. Home made pastry is divine, to go with your ice cream!

2. Thai Oase (Oasis) Karaoke Bar
Große Freiheit 38/40
22767 Hamburg

St Pauli U-Bahn stop, U3 Yellow; or Reeperbahn S-Bahn stop
http://www.thaioase-hamburg.de/

Situated at the end of the most famous Große Freiheit street (where Beatles started), this is the place expats, and all the bachelor and bachelorette parties end up. Oh yeah, this is also at the heart of Reeperbahn, the sin strip of Hamburg; everything goes here!

Though dinky and small, the drinks are cheap and everybody sings along with you--every song! And it's NON-SMOKING inside. So yes, this is the place you can feel safe (and don't have to wash your chic clothing the next day), while belting out every radio, one-hit-wonder songs you've ever heard, with perfect strangers!

And all of a sudden, you've got a FAMILY on foreign soil, safe and sound!

3. Luicella's Ice Cream

Detlev Bremer Str. 46

20359 Hamburg

St Pauli U-Bahn stop, U3 Yellow

https://luicellas.wordpress.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/luicellas-hamburg

Special thanks to vivacious local fixer Alina, we actually found another great piece of heaven, hidden away in the famous sin strip Reeperbahn!

Only 2 blocks away from St Pauli U-Bahn stop, simply follow the ever present crowd of locals and kids.

Now there's another reason to visit Reeperbahn during the day light!

4. Köz Urfa Turkish Restaurant
Paul Nevermannplatz 2-4
22765 Altona-Hamburg
Altona S-Bahn stop (merely 100 meter away by the big parking lot)

http://kozurfa.de/

So you've finally realized real Hamburgers (seriously, that's what locals from Hamburg are called) hang out at Altona, a bustling former Danish town next to Hamburg!
And guess where the "best German food" crowd in Altona is?

Yep! They can be found chowing away at this Turkish establishment that's always packed, round the hour! Portions are incredibly generous for our 12 euros or about (for two people rule)--and the food is fabulous!

Interior decor feels like a "cheap" but yet "classy" fast foodish Las Vegas Turkish joint.
Be sure to go through the hidden tunnel (filled with "romantic tables for two"), while you search for the bathrooms--serenaded with special "nature's audio"--definitely helps your release, aah, into the wild...

This place would put 90% of Vegas restaurants out of business!

Special recommendation: get the grilled lamb (feeds two) for 12 euros (half the portion, 10 times the price in Vegas)! Best meat outside of Istanbul...

5. Delikatessen des Meeres
Colonnaden 104
20354 Hamburg

Stephansplatz U-Bahn stop, U1 Blue
http://www.yelp.com/biz/fischfeinkost-delikatessen-des-meeres-hamburg

Nestled at the end of the Colonnaden pedestrian walkway, if you enter from Junfernstieg, is our super fixer Jan's latest (May 2015) discovery: a cheapest (6 euros) seafood, high-end, one dish only, every day, hole in the wall, lunch heaven.

You'll be eating among all the suits. And everyone pays the same price, for the same dish--which changes daily.

Quantity? Checked!
Quality? Checked!
Price? Better than any student eats!

Give it to those Swedes (thanks a billion, Jan!), who really know how to hunt down any seafood paradise, while paying pocket change for the pleasure!

Cologne, Germany:

Habibi Falafel Schawarma
Zülpicher Straße 28, 50674 Köln
http://www.habibi-koeln.de/

Best Falafel in town, poetic atmosphere, individually seasoned juicy meat--unlike those toilet paper dried up cuts from other Döner joints.
FREE all you can drink tea.
Right outside Off Broadway movie theatre (one of very few English original, German subtitled kinos in Cologne).
Bonus: best looking unpretentious grad student, professionals hang out. You'll spend as much time drooling over the crowd as your food.

Bastian's Bakery
Auf dem Berlich 3-5, 50667 Köln
www.bastians-baecker.de
Neumarkt tram stop (#1, #7, #9, #16, #18)

Deep past Aldi (most successful supermarket, like a mini Costco) and Globetrotter (for all you outdoor or REI groupies), hides this incredible gem.

The moment you enter, that ambiance and wave of nonstop locals, swallows you whole.
You know that feeling; you're exactly where you should be!

Special Mention: MarmoKirschKuchen (chocolate cherry cake), 3rd from left and that single slice left standing, next to it. Straight to orgasmic heaven!!
Yep, all ladies who have tried it, reacted with "that" look... dudes, you know what to do now...

**** Cool Street Alert! By darkness... ****

Aachener Strasse

If there is an "it" night spot, Aachener street is the coolest badass in Cologne: chic, oozing with confidence, and good-looking unpretentious crowd.

By nighfall, if you wanna spot easy-on-the-eye students, professionals, they are all chilling around the short strip of restaurants, cafes, or ice cream parlors just past Rudolfplatz. Anchoring the action, is Theatre Bauturm, which pumps the heart beat into its tentacles of an all-star line up; eateries of stunning proportion--quality, that is. You won't find any tourists around here!

Beef Brothers

Aachener Straße 12, 50674 Köln

Rudolfplatz tram stop (#1, #7, #12, #15 )

Before you head into the jungle of chic and hip, and drool yourself silly, here's the best burger joint that effortlessly beats EVERY burger hut you'll ever find in America, where eating chemicals (drenched with even more chemicals, and grease), is a way of life.

And a heart warming meal here costs you barely 7 euros! Fresh, lean, and mean.

Options! Choice of burger size: easy tapas (100g) vs regular (180g)--size of a fist. Meat is fresh, grilled past medium; fries (also choice of small vs normal) is tossed into your bucket within seconds of coming out of the oil and seasoning--no stale or over fried tree barks of steel here.

Now, the secret weapon: da SAUCE!

Home made sauce (none of that off the shelf cans/bottles):
Curryketchup, Fig Mustard, Aioli, Basil Pesto.

Plus home made special coleslaw (dump that !#@ onto an XXL exotic plate, you're looking at a $40 plate).

You don't get such simple yet creative authenticity, in any 4-star hotels!

Oh, did we say any burgers AND fries cost about 7 euros again?

Food this good, fresh, and creative, at THAT price, is why we follow the locals!

--- Special thanks to sparkling local fixer Marleen for the tip!

Sumo

Aachener Straße 17, 50674 Köln

Rudolfplatz tram stop (#1, #7, #12, #15 )

Crossing the street, a little down, is this authentic Japanese restaurant.
Good news: chef, staff, are all Japanese!
This means you're experiencing real Japanese touch everywhere, including the food! There are many fake "Japanese" restaurants, uh, PROFIT centers, run by Chinese or any Asian, who specializes cooking for the "foreigners". They are evil! Stay away! You're better off buying a real German bread and eat a fresh pineapple...

No, you can't eat that ship, but you can eat this...

A serviceable bowl of ramen in America or Asia; but a "top notch" bowl in Europe (where the one eye man, is king).

Another tip: wanna impress the HELL out of the Japanese staff? (No, don't speak any weird imitation Japanese, or hum any songs from Spirited Away; unless you've lived in Japan before.)
Ask for: Shi-chi-mi (7 flavor chili pepper). Only level 7 yoda, sushi chefs, or real Japanese businessmen pour that !#$!# on their noodles (only in noodle soup)!
They'll be so stunned, ask you where you stay in Japan, and quickly bring you those little white boiling hand towels for you to wipe that smirk (or sweat) off your face.

Oh, by the way, another great thing about this place, HUGE real pictures on your menu!

It's like reading architectural plans for your order. Now you can't blame anyone else for mistaking chicken for beef, or sea weed...

Pizzeria La Rustica
Kalker Haupstr. 66, 51103 Köln

Kalk Post tram stop (#1, #9)

Wanna get someone who keeps saying, "I remember when I was .... in Italy, that pizza is absolutely !#!@..." to SHUT UP already?
Here's the place to do it!

Beloved by all students in Cologne (complete strangers literally told me to try this place), this unassuming joint really is as close to being in Italy (Sicilian chefs, in fact) as you'll get.

The key: a real oven

Oh, I ordered 2 "personal" size pizzas, at 5 euros each, just to try one more (the chef favorite La Rustica, and 4 cheeses). Guess how 10 euros fed me?

I finished the pizzas (2 personal size that is), in 3 meals--lunch, dinner, and Spanish supper at 2am. This is like ordering a filet mignon for the price of French Fries, and they toss in a lobster for free, like they toss in free napkins! Criminal!
You can feed a group of 5 easily, with 2 personal pizzas; a few more euros, you feed the entire city of San Francisco!

--- Super special thanks to our super fixer Marleen, who simply does not miss!

Osman Bey Resto
Chlodwigplatz 16, 50678 Köln

Chlodwigplatz tram stop (#15, #16)

Great lentil soup (creamier than Izmir Kebap Haus at Düsseldorf).

Izmir has more working class feel and ingredients less "refined" or "processed".

But this place is buzzing with all the grilling you'll ever want.

Better bread than Izmir's. 10~15% more expensive for a more "middle-class" feel. Almost as good as Izmir, which gives you that raw virtuosity (like eating off a boat feel). While Osman gave you that restaurant next to the river feel in its offerings.

Tadim Damak
Venloer Str 383, 50825 Köln

Venloer Str/Gürtel tram stop (#3, #4)

Soup with so much texture to bite into? Yes!

Open 24 *7? Yes!!

Linsensuppe (lentil soup): see the texture?

Gusto Italiano Feinkost (Delicacies)

Chlodwigplatz tram stop (#15, #16)

Gourmet shop? Yes.
Pretentious? Kinda.
Awesome inexpensive (5~8 euros) 4 star lunch menu only locals know about? ABSOLUTELY!!

Shop owners are from Naples; so all kinds of pasta you'll ever find on BOTH sides of the single sheet lunch menu (till 3pm).

You do have to stand to eat though (so don't expect to come here to sit and chill after a full wanderlust. But I promise you, it's worth every euro and minute of your time!)

Bonus: you can heat up anything on the display to add to your lunch, and use that box to carry your leftovers later--yes, big portion alert!

Mercato Deluxe

Päffgen Brauerei Restaurant

http://www.paeffgen-koelsch.de/
U-Bahn #3, 4, 5, 12, 15 Friesenplatz Stop

Wanna see where the locals hang out and eat, on weeknights?
Happy hours?
Wee hours?

This place is always overflowing with locals, from opening to closing.
More than 100 years of history, original dishes.
Plus the freshest self brewed beer (I'm clueless about this, but the locals stake their reputation and their first borns; and lectured me how not to order what kind of beer, in different parts of Germany.)

Who am I to argue?

It's like calling champagne a carbonated drink in France, or add ice cubes to your wine; they'll stone you to death--and take your iPhones...

Still not clear? Same as calling all Americans cowboys, or all Asians "from Japan"...

All dishes are special and authentic (no drama); plus ambiance is a huge draw.
You instantly get sucked into the most authentic "local-ness"--nothing pretentious, just meat and potato kinda cool!

One of the top delicacies: blood sausage, apple, mash potato, and of course, the out of this world (except in real German restaurants) sauerkraut!

Oh, by the way, this dish is called "Himmel un Äd“ mit Flönz" (Heaven and Earth with "black pudding"--the blood sausage.)
Heaven is the apple, while Earth is the potato.
Angel? That's you!

Woosch (Real good German fast food, but home made sauce)

Brüsseler Straße 43

50674 Köln

Tired of that curry wurst sauce that looks like some chemical glue from the bathroom?

The sauce here is home made; like a stew.

Ni Hao Imbiss (Ni Hao Canteen)

Brüsseler Straße 44

50674 Köln

Simple honest student eatery with every dish pictured. Very popular and home made.

Bonus: the Thai "fast food" resto "Kua Thai" next door is super popular, always crowded. Simple no frill cheap Thai food. Ask for the English menu and you'll see every dish in picture!

Il Gelato di Ferigo Ice Cream
Goltsteinstr. 32
50968 Köln
http://www.ilgelato.de/
U-Bahn #16 Schönhauser Str. Stop

Famed to be the best Ice Cream in Cologne, Il Gelato is really just a little past the southern edge in the neighborhood of Bayenthal. But easily reachable with tram #16. It's a small bit of excursion, but the river Rhein is just along the ride and it feels like you're going towards a park--so well worth the scenic hunt to that neighborhood. You do see locals come in droves in their cars for a quick pit stop, or serious enthusiasts arriving in their too-tight-for-comfort Tour de France biking gear; but what a finish line!

If you just need a quick fix doing your Dom and museum thing around the main train station, Marco Polo Ice Cream right on the Alter Markt (in the square when you come up from Rathaus U-Bahn stop, 200 meters south of Dom), is more than serviceable--and reasonably priced.

Other worth-a-visit's if you're staying a few more days:

Off Broadway movie theatre
(Several English or originals with German subtitled films)
Zülpicher Straße 24, 20674 Köln
http://www.off-broadway.de/
U-Bahn #9, 12, 15 Zülpicher Platz Stop

Metropolis movie theatre
(several English or originals with German subtitled films)
Ebertplatz 19, 50668 Köln
http://metropolis-koeln.de/
U-Bahn #12, 15, 16, 18 Ebertplatz Stop

Jameson Distillery Pub
(Warm Cool Expats hangout: Karaoke Wednesdays, weekends; football most weeknights; great spot for Champions League games--international crowds).
Friesenstraße 30, 50670 Köln
http://www.jamesondistillerypub.com/
U-Bahn #3, 4, 5, 12, 15 Friesenplatz Stop

* We interrupt this growing foodie list for a special NRW travel tip with train passes....

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Special Travel Tip on NRW Train Passes:

One of the many options to travel in the NRW (Nordrhein-Westfalen) region is that day pass (SchönerTag NRW Ticket), valid till 3am next morning. You can pretty much hop as far west to Venlo (a Dutch gateway into Netherlands) while running around in Düsseldorf, Cologne, Essen, etc... to no end.

It's best to take regionals, instead of S-Bahn, because S-Bahn covers 5 times more stops (hence doubling your travel time); unless you need to get to one of those harder to reach areas.

In case you weren't sure the difference: U-Bahn is like metro, every few hundred meters, blocks; S-Bahn is regional, going from neighborhood to neighborhood, or towns. Sort of like the difference between one night stands, and each current potential boy/girl friend candidates; more lead time invested, but likely higher long-term benefits or returns, instead of instant you-know (wait, you better be at least 18 to read that... else, click cnn.com).

Cologne 24 hour card, is a GREAT buy, as it essentially gives you "2 days"--allowing you to straddle 2 days; instead of those daily passes that expires that same night at 3am, which means you can only use it for same day travel. For example, start the ticket at 2pm (say, when you first arrived in Cologne, or tired of walking all day), you can use that same pass the next day till 1:59pm again!
You can choose the effective start time (else, it defaults to your current time) at those cool red/blue ticket machines.
By the way, I love those machines! They speak multiple languages, and even take foreign non-chip credit cards (if more than €10). And they even let you print out time tables, train info/platforms, reflecting latest delays, changes.
It's a freaking New York Stock Exchange! If it starts showing live sporting events, I'm stealing those to furnish my bathrooms.

If staying more than 2 days, get the weekly pass for Cologne. Which starts Mondays, through Sunday.

Oh, one more bonus: once you have a Cologne weekly pass, you can buy those little 3.5 euro AnschlusTicket (connection) tickets.
Yes, this means you can travel between Cologne and big neighboring cities like Düsseldorf at 20% of the cost (14 euros saving one way)!!

Why Düsseldorf?
Largest Japanese population city, outside of Japan; which means all the Ramen and yakitori (grilled anything, like Octopus, Mackerel) you'll drool yourself silly, once you're sick of your currywurst and meats--in the cold wet miserable winter...

Consider yourself warned!

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Essen, Germany:

Plückthun Eiscafe (Ice Cream)
Byfanger Straße 2, 45257 Essen
http://plueckthun-eiscafe.de/
S9 Essen-Kupferdreh Stop (from Cologne towards Essen)

If you're feeling very adventurous and are a crazy aficionado of puriest CREAMIEST possible ice cream you'll ever taste, this is how you feel like a travel journalist heading to the middle of nowhere, kinda.

As you get off the S-Bahn stop, there's a small farmer's market greeting you, streets filled with pharmacies extending from there, and it's merely 100 meters away near a junction. So worth a little walking around to see what a German small town feels like.

Multiple favors that you don't normally see in a touristy shop, including sour cream, or chilli! Told you, you better be a real foodie and love CREAMS!

Speaking of which, seems Germanic Tribe Descendants (GTD's) are very susceptible to CreamMeRitis. May be it's directly linked to BeerMeToNoEnd birth defects most of these proud precision species had experienced growing up. It's like Le Cheese to the French. You give any GTD's anything creamy, they are ready to rebuild your car engine, your house (with solar panels), and bake your next birthday cake. Sch-trange....

Düsseldorf, Germany:

1. Izmir Kebap Haus
Worringer Platz 3
40210 Düsseldorf
http://www.yelp.com/biz/izmir-kebab-house-d%C3%BCsseldorf-2

Best lentil soup and anything grilled outside Istanbul!
And it's 24*7!

By the way, if you wanna be a real local, try the zungensuppe (yeah, it's tongue soup). 2, 3 am on a week day, weekends at 5am, watch every table. This is what you see everyone has as the starter, or their main meal, after a tireless thankless day.

Be sure to add and drizzle the chilli (like all other locals); I added the roasted chilli pepper to "show them up"--it's like picking the biggest bully in prison and beat him up to announce your presence, like Stallone, or Schwarzengger. Be sure to order/speak with a great Hollywood slurred accent, in German, or Austrian, or Rambo/Rocky esque. That should teach them...

Lastly, if you have the power (or girls, work your charm), get them to press the bread (like panini); now you're just kicking the chef or the grill master's butts, and Chuck Norris them into submission. This is how you wipe off that "why are you here" look from the locals, waiters, and turn them into your informants--in prison.

Bonus:
Just outside the Düsseldorf main train station (take a right turn coming out of station, 500 meters away at next tram stop Worringer); great when you just arrive from a starving train ride.

Did we say it's 24*7?

2. Takumi Ramen Restaurant
Immermannstrasse 28, 40210 Düsseldorf

Opposite Hotel Nikko are a quite a few Japanese restaurants, including this noodle house.
It's not a high recommendation (from me) if you already had real ramen in Asian countries, or even in America. But it is a great band-aid in the wintry months in Europe: hot noodle ramen soup with prompt fast service or bar counter.
It is always crowded. And packed with Asian family, and intellectuals.
But may be if you're an alcoholic, that little bottle from the mini bar may feel like the oasis (of ramen) when you're in Germany.

Oh, did you know Düsseldorf has the highest Japanese population in Europe?

Aachen, Germany

Eis Cafe Del Negro (ice cream cafe)

Jakobstraße 73

52064 Aachen

http://www.eiscafedelnegro.de/

Say what? You miss Italy?
Here's the ice cream to cure all your sorrows!
Like you never left...

--- Special thanks to a special tip from Lucia (an authentic Italian who doesn't need her hands to show her passion... for everything real)!

Waltrop, Germany
Manufactum Mothership (home base)

For less than 10 Euros, you get to sample the local delicacies (all around Germany)!! Yes, you read that right: less than 10 euros for dishes that rivals the best 4 star restaurants that charge 50 euros--for half the quality!

For example, this special rib (meat falling off bone, when your fork touches it) dish...

Leiterle (ribbs in dialect), Ofengemüse (oven veggies)

Oh, I walked over to the bread/cheese/condiments from the world bakery 10 meters away, and got the Blue Stilton cheese (from England) to go with potato, oven veggies, and its original apple hazel nuts special sauce...

It's like discovering your neighbor just paid 500 euros for his seat, while you paid 15 euros and got a free drink...

Stealing effortless quality from the rich; heavenly!

Stuttgart, Germany

Stuttgarter Staffele

* if you're used to all kinds of exotic spices, these 2 might be a bit uninspiring. But check off this box as Swabian is very hip and down to earth...

Special thanks to Sarah, a bubbly true local, for sharing!

Dresden, Germany:

Pfund Molkerei
Bautzner Straße 79, 01099 Dresden, Germany
Pulsnitzer Stop, Tram #11

Yes, absolute tourist trap! A cheese and dairy store that has surprisingly decent ice cream (sorbet) upstairs--in an unassuming setting.
But if you love Grand Budapest Hotel's filming locations, this is the shop (Mendl's pastry in film) that you must visit ONCE. Like Statue of Liberty or Eiffel Tower.

Schloss Albrechtsberg (Albert's Castle)

Bautzner Straße 130

01099 Dresden

Germany
Elbschlösser Stop, Tram #11
http://www.schloss-albrechtsberg.de

Continuing onwards on the best tram (#11) in Dresden, you'll get into the wooded area (feel like a super rich neighborhood). EXCEPT: you get to walk up the Great Gatsby castle!

Prussian prince Albert built this for his second wife (yeah, the younger one who by law, cannot live close to court due to her "status"). The hidden gem is the back of this castle, where you can pack a great lunch picnic, and simply sit in "your" back yard to enjoy,

The View:

And who knows, Leo may walk out in his white Gatsby suit and sit next to you...

Special Note: 2 more castles right around castle Albrecht.

A more touristy castle (Lingnerschloss) is immediately next door, where it's more public and you can sit down to order food/drink, to enjoy the same view.

The final 3rd castle (Eckberg, have to get back to main road and re-enter after 50 meters up the main Bautzner Strasse) is more a oasis hotel get-away feel. It's more like checking out a hotel.

But with tulips!

Kunsthof Passage
Görlitzer Straße 21-25
01099 Dresden
Germany
(Two entrances: one from the Alaunstraße, up from Louisenstraße; or enter from the Görlitzer Straße side)

If you walk through this door #1, you'll get into a hide away (a nice vegetarian resto Lila Soßa, in the middle, shops), and end up running into this waterfall facade:

Special Note: Louisen Straße, Görlitze Straße is the happening bar area.

Kantine No. 2 Burgers
Görlitzer Str. 2
01099 Dresden
Tram #13, Görlitzer Straße Stop

A surprising gourmet burger joint, with the best value you'll find in any restaurant. You don't need a fortune to eat the best!

Especially the 3 cheese halloumi (drei-käse-hoch) burger, a must try!

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Special Wanderlust Mention:

Silesian Region, home of 13 Nobel Prize winners, starting from Görlitz
Sitting on top of Germany/Poland/Czech Republic corner.

If you're adventurous for day excursions, picnics; or are just in hopeless love with Grand Budapest Hotel the movie and its film locations, you can buy a regional day pass that allows you to travel to the surrounding towns (where the neglected castles are), such as Görlitz--see below....

Görlitz, Germany

This is a small town with Grand Budapest Hotel film locations (Such as interior lobby, and the old hotel "Arabian baths" where Jude Law met the older Zero, played by F Murray Abraham).

More importantly, this town (most eastern town in Germany) has stunning history: sitting on top of the corner of Poland, Czec Republic, and Germany.

All you have to do, is to walk across a little bridge, and you're all of a sudden, in Poland!

Yes, this bridge

So you can walk all around and step back-n-forth between Poland and Germany by crossing this 50 meter bridge!

Here's the exterior of the Gorlitzer Warenhaus (used in the film Grand Budapest Hotel). Its interior is Grand Budapest Hotel's lobby in the film. Sorry for the ice cream, can't help it..

This interior was a glitzy department store, now being renovated again.

Görlitz Stadhalle, the Old hotel "Arabian baths" where Jude Law met the older Zero, played by F Murray Abraham:

Hainewalde, Germany

As you find your way to this town nearby, you will find the castle Hainewalde, which is the castle that an old dead Tilda Swinton lived in. Ralph Fiennes and Zero (lobby boy) were staring at this when they came to pay respect:

This is a very remote suburb area that you'll pretty much find yourself all alone!
So pack your lunch, and just sit on the benches in its front yard. There are tours for this castle weekends, but rest of the time, just serious cyclists who came here to chill, and pure absolute silence... nature, and you!

Zittau, Germany

On your way back to Görlitz, you'll pass by this little town. Peaceful, and many little shops to ponder...

There was even a "way over the top" Vietnamese/Chinese restaurant (Mekong) along the edge ring (northeast 2 o'clock region) of the city, a renovated old mansion--it's like encountering a movie set "courtesan's house" or some pleasure mansion with all its decorations...

Note: I am NOT endorsing the food here (it's serviceable for a quick late lunch). But imagine you're going to "Paris" in Las Vegas, or just need a quick bite in the afternoon. The ambiance is a love-it-or-hate-it kinda "WTF, how did this get here?" a mixed emotion, cheesy Wes Anderson sort of way... Oh, it's like finding a McDonald's on top of mount Everest, after you exhaust yourself to get to "edge of the world"... then "it" happens upon you...

Along the way in this Silesian region stretch, you'll see many people packing up for bike rides (on the train), or camping, picnics. It's a little bit of a "Lake Tahoe" and small Yosemite feel to it. An outdoor nature area, as you ride the train from Görlitz down to Zittau.

Brussels, Belgium:

1. Noordzee Mer du Nord seafood stand
Rue Sainte-Catherine 45, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium

Fresh seafood shop that doubles as a standing room (literally, no seats) only street eatery. Great for a quick tapas style lunch, afternoon or even cool dinner.

Paris, France:

1. Happy Nouilles (Noodles)
95 Rue Beaubourg, 75003 Paris

Arts et Métiers metro stop (line #3, #11)
http://happynouilles.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/happy-nouilles-paris

Best hand-made (right in front of you) noodle soup in Paris, for 6 euros!
Yes, locals jam this place into a sardine sauna at lunch time--so come early or late to minimize that lunch crowd.

If that bowl of noodle soup is served in a 4-star hotel, you're paying 40 euros with its Michelin stars. It's a must visit come winter/autumn in Paris. Or summer, if you just love the purity of food!

2. La Crêperie Bretonne
56 Rue du Montparnasse
75014 Paris

Edgar Quinet metro stop (line #6)
http://www.yelp.com/biz/la-cr%C3%AAperie-bretonne-paris-3

If you couldn't get over to the Brittany area of France, where real crêpes are, the next best thing, is to be buried in all these creperies by Edgar Quinet (Montparnasse area) metro stop, here in Paris.

But which one?

The locals (yeah, those who actually live here and eat these "tourist crepes") have reached a verdict: Le Crêpe Bretonne is the reigning champion (May 2015)!

Run by your favorite uncle and aunt's best friends, they are warm and sincere. The selection matches their down to earth attitude (minimal English still) and it's always a bargain in Paris! No need to hit your head on those travel guide arrogant tourist traps...

3. E. Dehillerin Kitchen Specialty
18-20 Rue Coquillière
75001 Paris

Les Halles metro stop (line #4)
http://eshop.e-dehillerin.fr/

Just finished your iron chef classes and don't know where to go to feel all empowered?
Why not invest in the local economy by emptying your entire discretionary income (for the year) right here?
I know I know, I should not send you to a tourist trap that strokes your iron chef ego!
But, the selection is indeed, incroyable!

And it's all laid out, old fashioned and hardware style, like a bazaar!
So it is really worth a peek, if you're a hopeless foodie.
Amateur chefs all around the world (and local chefs) do come here and buy their tools; so it really is worth your while!

Stockholm, Sweden (traveller must-knows):

Expresso House:
4-star hotel ambiance Starbucks with FREE Wifi, bathrooms.

Did we say, FREE?
You'll know what we mean, when you realize you even have to pay 2 euros for using a toilet inside a restaurant--yes, the restaurant's very own bathrooms for its own customers! It's like your mom and dad charging you $20 for a glass of water when you visit them!

Kajsas Fisk:
best fish soup (for less than 10 euro, vs other simple meals at 20+ euros around the city)

http://kajsasfisk.se/kajsas-fisk-home-of-the-world-famous-fish-soup/

It's better than 90% of the bouillabaisse in south of France, where they charge you 40 euros.
Like a concentration camp soup line, people line up for this fish soup at 3pm, where you can add all the veggie you want, and take all the bread you want.
Oh, did we say you can bring your empty bowl back, for 2nd helping, for FREE!!

Size of bowl: same as those that hold your miso ramen in any respectable Japanese noodle soup place.

This place is the top survival secret to maintaining your foodie image, without paying 4 Seasons prices for your every meal. They close at 5pm; don't do dinners.

Den Haag (The Hague), Netherlands

OK, Dutch are famous for being cheap (origin of the phrase "going Dutch") and having no culinary history nor identity. But it also means you can taste other cultures' preserved transplants easier. Like eBay, it has everything!
There are hidden gems here--in case you need to go to the criminal court to prosecute international criminals, defend yourself, or merely as a spectator.
Here, you focus more on ingredients...

And seafood is inexpensive, if you avoid tourist and local traps.

Simonis in de Stad
Corner of Gedempte Gracht and Bezemstraat

Coming from Central train station and walk towards city center, it's the very first corner (along Gedempte Gracht) that begins your Chinatown quarter.
Mysteriously, they hang endless red lanterns overhead, all around the blocks for easier marking. I thought it was Den Haag's "red light" district--but more elegantly decorated, except this time, my drool is genuine.

Simonis is merely a seafood corner market stall, selling whatever fresh catch of the day. OR: they fry whatever's there for the locals; everything!!!

Basically, you've just become a "cave man". Or: super sexy girl eating with your delicate fingers.

Here, you order chunks of fried fish filet for... wait for it... 3 fresh fish filets for 5 euros!!! And each fish filet is at least 15cm long.
Correct, that's 5 euros TOTAL, for those 3 fresh filets.
Each would have cost $15 in a restaurant--and they would drown in butter and get sprayed with some fake herbes de Provence, garnished with lemon.

They fry these big filets and you buy them like bagels--and the locals buzz around this corner at lunch time, or pretty much since they open at 11:30am.

Tip: like many of you smart dudes/dudettes at sushi buffet places (you tactically discard the rice part of the sushi while avoiding waiters' scrutiny by hiding the rice somewhere, or smear it into your wasabi sauce), here you can simply STRIP that fried "casing" outside the filet, without guilt, and eat those chunks of filets! The casing is actually very nice with spices, but too much to chow them all.

Of course, you can share among yourselves those 3 fish filets (did I say it's 5 euros TOTAL?) or take home one of those 3.5 euro filet--size of your forearm. NO kidding, it's about 40 cm long filet at 3.5 euro. I know, it's robbery!

--- Sincere thanks to Nelly (Bordeaux foodie) for letting us know about this spot.

Le Bistro de la Place
Plaats 27, 2513 AD Den Haag
http://bistrotdelaplace.nl/

Authentic French (country)
OK, now that you've just fed your entire family and new hostel friends with that 3.5 euro fresh 40cm fish filet from Simonis, you can splurge just a little.
Situated right by the central pond (Hofvijver), this seems like a pretentious snobby French you-can't-touch-this hell hole; but you'd be WRONG!

It's actually a home away from home, operated by the friendly French crew from Lyon. It's also supposed to be the best French resto in Den Haag.

And guess what? You get FREE WATER!!! The moment you sit down, that familiar carafe d'eau comes right to you. You'll appreciate this when you get enough of those "we don't serve tap water, you must get a bottle water" restaurants all around.

But wait, there's more: weekends, the mic is on and you get live bistro French (or Sinatra, Jazz) music with live piano. The expats are all around you, with romantic couples enjoying the candles and its ambiance.

And me, this is what I love (outside of all the Frenchie posters, great home country food); classic French actresses pictures, even in men's bathroom:

For the tourists in us: yeah, this is where you can try that escargot dish without the waiter laughing at you through their snobby body language.

The choucroute is honest, and Pieds de Cochon authentic enough for you to order--just to impress the staff. This way, you can ask them to pronounce "hot chocolate" and laugh back at their accents... nah, all the staff are super friendly and like your favorite cousins. Outside Paris, you actually find the French as warm and hospitable as, the Californians! So, don't be mean!

But ask them to pronounce "THe Hot Chocolate!" whenever you get bored.

Con:

It's still a little over-priced, and crowded by local elites (but true foodies).
Given its great ambiance and you're in Netherlands, it's worth your Fri/Sat night. Since the staff will NOT close until you had your fun. That is huge in a town that closes at 10pm, while you party and sing till 2am.

Prague, Czech Repulic

Café Louvre

Národní 22

110 00 Praha 1

Czech Republic

http://www.cafelouvre.cz/

I know I know, it's a tourist trap--more than 100 years now. But the ambiance is worth it alone!
An old intellectual hang out, including Einstein. And the pastry is pretty good.
What better way to feel like you're in the movie set of Grand Budapest Hotel (Wes Anderson's best yet!)

Oh, and Czech humor:

Vienna, Austria:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Special Travel Note:

As usual, ALWAYS get a weekly pass if you stay more than 2 days.
The cost is often 2 daily pass (Tageskarte) plus one or two euros...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cafe Central
Corner Herrengasse / Strauchgasse
1010 Vienna
U3 station Herrengasse
http://www.palaisevents.at/en/cafecentral.html

This is pretty much the gold standard of tea room cafe spots.
Tourists mecca, but boy, it's worth it!

One of those places you'll have to visit once in your life!

Figlmüller
Wollzeile 5, 1010 Vienna
http://www.figlmueller.at/en/
(be sure to go to the original location, not the newer one close by).

Best Schnitzel you'll ever have in your life!
And if you get that potato with feldsalat, you're in absolute heaven!

There are places you have to visit once in a life time, this restaurant, is one of them!

Tip: order an extra to go for your train trip out of Vienna and eat it during lunch ride. The entire train wagon will murder you with envy...

'Zum Roten Bären
Berggasse 39, 1090 Wien
Tram D, Schlickgasse Stop

A super warm (OK, candles everywhere) local hang out in Vienna. Perfect way to relax (just around the corner), after a taxing brain overloading day at the Freud museum.

Food is exquisite (including gaming types); like pheasants, with fennels--fphantastik!

Patrons are Austrian good-looking student/young professionals; that means natural with minimal makeups--no Cleopatra here.
A place you wanna chill and have your home made dinner every Thursday night, or happy hours everyday!
Oh, did we say its music is cool mesmerizing night jazz, soul, everything that gets you in the mood, before, you know?

Ra'mien
Gumpendorferstraße 9, 1060 Wien
http://www.ramien.at
U2 Museumsquartier Station, bus 57A also runs along Gumpendorferstraße

Did someone say "Chinese Vapiano"?
Food is authentic and ambiance is brighter and spacier than Vapiano. Plus you can't find more white people mastering chopsticks, even teenagers.
In these cold wet days, nothing warms you right up like a steaming bowl of noodle soup.

Oh, did we say the noodles are hand-made and "cut" on the spot?

Cafe Kafka
Capistrangasse 8, 1060 Wien
U2 Museumsquartier Station

Hiding in one of the little side streets, this is where you go "charge" everything electronic, use bathroom, free Wifi, and act intellectual ish.
Yes, almost every normal (90cm) seating width along the wall bench, boasts its own outlet!

--- special thanks to tip from Chiara

Komolka fabric store
Mariahilfer Straße 58, 1070 Wien
U3 Neubaugasse Station
http://www.komolka.at/

Just down the fashionable shopping strip Mariahilfer is where you hunt down designer fabrics that just got in from European fashion weeks.

This is the fabrics that couture design houses, young designers will use to "custom make" a dress that costs more than your car.
Stunning selections on ground level, and high-end (only 90 euros per meter) fabrics from Milano. You can make yourself a dress for bare bone costs.

Somehow, looking fabulous for a few hundred euros with your own dress, using the EXACT same materials, beats paying 30,000 euros at Paris.

Trzesnewski

Dorotheergasse 1, 1010 Wien

U1, 3 Stephansplatz Station

www.trzesniewski.at

Hiding in this tourists infested doomed Dom area, is this surprising local hangout.

If you're elbowing all the Viennese old grandpas and grandmas for a spot to eat, it's got to be GUTE!!!

This is a quick "on the way" pick you upper. Only one euro a piece (touristy cheap).

Quick tip: the bacon with egg (Speck mit Ei) is a must, and a few spicy ones. The rest, try at your own risk...

Julius Meinl snobby supermarket
Graben 19, 1010 Wien
http://www.meinlamgraben.at
U1, 3 Stephansplatz

OK, I added that word "snobby". But you've got to love a supermarket, cafe, eatery all in one; which showcases ALL possible snobby European edible goodies you can possibly find under one roof.
Some items are even reasonably prized!

Perfect for restocking supplies right in the heart of tourists nest.

Still not convinced?

Fine! How about: FREE bathroom, WC, Toilets?
2 Glorious levels!

Did we say all foods are labeled with a country flag (where they are from) next to their prices?
Are you regretting not paying enough attention during your Olympic opening ceremony now? What better way to start learning all your country flags right here!

Special Note: NO Chinese flag...

Joseph Brot bakery
Landstraßer Hauptstraße 4, 1030 Wien
U3, 4 Landstraßer Station
http://www.joseph.co.at/

Another pretentious bakery that looks like a museum? Yes!

Great breads that locals eat and savor? You BetCHA!

Oh, and you can have your pretentious brunch there, among the real locals!

--- special thanks to tip from Magdalena, a super chic local fixer

Greissler Ice Cream

Gashaus Schöne Perle Restaurant

Aming Dim Sum Profi

Rechte Wienzeile 47, 1050 Wien

U4 Kettenbrückengasse Station

Easiest authentic (and spicy) Asian little eatery you'll ever find in Vienna; step out of Kettenbrückengasse station and it stares right back at you!

Careful! You've got to cross that 3 lane street like that old frog crossing the streets video game! Cars go about 50 km/hour without looking at you!

Hand made noodles on the spot? Of course!
Great for a miserable cold wet winter; spicy beef noodle soup--yes, you'll need to wipe your face afterwards!

Philipp Maly
Seilergasse 3, 1010 Wien
U1, 3 Stephansplatz

This is a HIDDEN GEM!!!
For all you discerning euro colorful REAL men out there, who love colors, elegance, styles, and fashion--not just black and brown.
No longer are you shopping next to the kids section in the basement, or the top level, where people returned their dirty dishes. You are the VIP here!

The ONLY all men store (no women) you'll ever find here in Vienna.
And it's fabulous! All the latest, chic'est, coolest, brightest, warmest, enough'est men wear!

And it's got a LEVEL 2!

Bratislava, Slovakia:

Most simply take a day trip from Vienna to this hidden gem.
Round trip ticket costs only 16 euros (can return 4 days later), with hourly city shuttle trains between Vienna Main Train station (leaving 16th minute past each hour) and Bratislava (returning at 37th minute after each hour). Barely one hour trip. This same ticket also allows you to ride public transports for free at Bratislava on your travel day. You can buy this ticket at machines around Vienna Train stations.

Koun Ice Cream

Copenhagen, Denmark:

Paludan Cafe
Fiolstræde 10, 1171 København, Denmark
http://paludan-cafe.dk/

Eating in a library? A bookstore like ambiance that makes your brunch far more enriching!

And healthy!

--- special thanks to tip from Charlotte (a happy local from the happiest country)

Porto, Portugal:

Porto is the soulful, elegant city on the similar latitude as Barcelona; this is your San Francisco, Florence, Boston, Dresden, Hamburg, Lyon, Thesaloniki type of "small" city--your favorite "friend" who does not scream "look at me!" 24*7 . It is a "Thursday": charming, engaging, chic, substantive, friendly. Versus your "Friday/Saturday" of NYC, Istanbul, Los Angeles. Big ass cities that show off money, power, rats, homelessness, and its proudest city essence: aroma from trash, urine, and anything dirty scattered all over.

So enjoy it like you would SF, or Florence: an easy-going, chill and wander around kinda "substance town"--it's got everything you ever want in a European city, without the stench and crowd.

Oh, it also has a fancy new airport that flies several times daily, to every major European city (like Frankfurt, Zurich).

And producer of Port wine! But you already knew that...

Soares dos Reis Museum
Rua D. Manuel II 44, 4050-342 Porto, Portugal
www.museusoaresdosreis.pt

This is the quintessential Isabella Gardner Museum experience; understated and yet invigorates your soul, to no end:

Being the first national museum in Portugal (correct, not just Porto, in the entire Portugal), it is the yoda of museums in Portugal. Imagine meeting da dude who teaches Bruce Lee!

Unlike eating a burger bigger than your head (like the Louvre, the Met), you can relax at your pace, and take in all its offerings in a lazy afternoon.

--- special thanks to local fixer Little Castle, who transforms old art back to life!

Mercado Bom Sucesso
Praça do Bom Sucesso 132,
4200-132 Porto, Portugal
http://mercadobomsucesso.com/

Another shopping food court? Not quite.
Like a "tapas from different parts of Portugal" daily convention, this "food court" is where you sample individual local dishes from different parts of Portugal.

And take some delicacies home as it's a Mercado after all...

By the way, its outside looks very unassuming and easy to miss, so follow the hungry locals...

Teatro Hotel

Rua Sá da Bandeira 84,

4000-427 Porto, Portugal

www.hotelteatro.pt

Bathroom break? (Of course, it's free!)

This snobby fancy hotel, transformed from an old theatre, is worth a sniff and poke. Very 19th Century!

Oops, sorry, that was the snobby part; here's the "theatre" part:

And surrounded by displays of actual costumes:

Art and history to check out? Checked.

Bathroom to use in downtown location? Checked.

Free? CHECKED!

Venice, Italy:

Special Note:

Following our usual rule: if you're staying at least 2 days, you're always better off buying the weekly (7 days pass). This is called the ACTV water bus (vaporetto), tickets available easily at most major stops.

Suso Gelatoteca
Calle De La Bissa 5453A
30124 Venezia, Italy
www.gelatovenezia.it

Yep, it's a tourist mecca, and you can easily spot it with the longest line right there.
But boy, you've got to try it once!

Aqua & Mais
Campiello dei Meloni
30125 Venezia, Italy

All you do is walk? Hungry and thirsty? Hangry?
Here's the perfect tapas window for you!

Al Vecio Marangon
Dorsoduro 1220 Campiello Pietre,
(1210 Calle Toletta)
30123 Venice

Nestling in the middle of Dorsoduro neighborhood, is this unpretentious, tiny, we-don't-take-reservations restaurant. Filled with locals waiting their turn; you know the rest...

Dal Mas Pasticceria
Lista di Spagna 149 150/A
30121 Venezia, Italy
http://www.dalmaspasticceria.com/

Desiring something sweet, like the real canoli, when you roll into or out of Venice train station?
A few minutes down the street (turn left when leaving Santa Lucia train station), you can act out your Godfather scenes...

Burano (NOT Murano)

Caution: Burano (the island you wanna go) is NOT Murano!!
What's the deal?
Burano is where all those colorful houses you will go crazy with your camera with (despite you also get those images from googling "Murano"--which has the glass museum)
Water bus #12 takes you there, after about one hour's ride...

Gelateria e Prodotti tipici "dai Fradei"
(Gelato & Local Products, by Fradei)
Middle of Via Baldassarre Galuppi, next to Laguna Bar

What better way to take a break on this sun soaked island, fantasy colors all around, with a sugar and ice cream boost?

Bonus: all kinds of local snacks hung all around you...

Singapore:

If you're the type who enjoys sauna 24*7, because summer means sipping wine on the dock, in 5C sun, this is paradise for you!
Oh, and anything edible, savory and spicy... plus shopping...

Locals do prefer sweating and eating their "fast foods" in hawker centers, where best dishes reside.
And cheap! And, featured on travel programs...

Special Note:

Wanna look like a Singaporean?
Carry little packets of tissue papers.

You'll be wiping off anything wet, oozing from every part of your body--places where you did not realize sweating is even possible!

Beware: if you see a small packet of tissue papers on the table, it means it is RESERVED by whoever (the locals, really) was there first.

DO NOT enjoy that as a courtesy local gifts.
Else, Singapore NoChewingGum police will hunt you down and flog you publicly.

Obviously, these tissue papers can be purchased in some of these stalls.

--- Special heart felt thanks to Iggy Super Fixer for furnishing and hunting down all these special foodie spots for us! His prowess is world wide indeed!

Tiong Bahru Market Lor Mee (Stew Noodle)
Tiong Bahru Market Food Court
#02-80
83 Seng Poh Rd, Singapore 168898

The Search is over: if there is only ONE DISH you wanna try in Singapore, this is it!

Nowhere else in the world will you find such taste...

No franchise, no pretense, same stall--only a few generations of hard-working locals, who REFUSE TO TAKE TIPS!

For merely a few Singapore dollars (2 euros) and no more, you are officially in paradise.
Nowhere else in the world would you find such savory (yes, umami, sweet, sour, salty, spicy), trapped in one little bowl of heavenly delight!

By the way, Tiong Bahru Market is the real locals' secret gem; no tourists here. Hidden generations (stall to stall) history.

All you have to do, is take a spin, and watch the long lines that marks the best stalls--in the middle of "off-peak" hours.

If you're the adventurous type, and die hard foodie, you wish you'd be buried here...

Xiang Ji Lor Mee (Fragrance Memory Stew Noodle)
Old Airport Road Food Center
#01-81
51 Old Airport Road, Singapore 390051

2nd Best Lor Mee in Singapore
You pick whatever ingredients you fancy; even fish roe!

Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice

Maxwell Food Center

Taiwan:

Good news: typical of all these Asian countries, eating, is a national sport, AND it is 24*7!!

Let's repeat: YOU can eat anywhere, anytime you want!
90% of the shops lining the streets, are food stores!

Knowing WHERE to eat, is what separates the "Phd's" from mere high school dropouts--your self worth drops to below freezing, among friends. This is a culture that wakes up at 4am, driving 2 hours, just for a special bowl of noodle soup, every ingredients made fresh daily, for the first lucky 100 customers--sold out by 7am. So if you're not into eating, you're just taking up space, in life...

Bad News: with profit as the primary goal, you might run into unscrupulous operators. So following the main crowd, going with long established places, is a good starting point. But, even these, might be exposed on any given news broadcast.
So, really, you'll just have to accept fate and roll the dice.

Li Ren (Leezen, 里仁) Organic (有機) Stores https://www.leezen.com.tw/

This most popular organic store in Taiwan, is like Starbucks but organic. Many food items in there are solid, like organic flours from Finland, etc...
Bonus: many stores come with a food stall. So you can eat healthy and safe.

Special Note:

to google its locations, English doesn't seem to work too well. So put in "里仁有機" (which means Li Ren Organic) and you should get all the stores around you.

"有機" is pronouced "Yo Ji" (have organic). But "Ji" also sounds exactly like chicken (same tone). So if you're struggling remembering how to say "organic", it's HAVE CHICKEN!!

(for those devious ones: "chicken" is also slang for prostitute. So don't be asking any taxi driver or folks in suspicious corners where to find "have chicken" places. You might end up in some compromising special places...

Carrefour (家樂福) http://www.carrefour.com.tw/

This one needs no introduction; except... (wait for the drum roll)... it's OPEN 24*7!!

Yes, that means, it's open on SUNDAYs and you can waltz in there, buy shampoo, or a bag of Farine de Blé flour to make crazy crêpes, at 3am!

Take that, Frenchies!!

Bad news: dairies (yogurts, cheeses) are not exactly the real Carrefour you find back in Europe. But wine selection is almost half as good--but expensive.

For the American comrades, this super store, is like a Target with a built in supermarket. Or a slicker version Wal-mart.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

With so many new requests, we have started a
Boston Orientation List

Special Distinction:

Sapporo Ramen
Porter Exchange at Porter Square (red line T stop)
1815 Massachusetts Ave,
Cambridge MA02140

Best noodle soup: Spicy Miso Ramen

Boston musts:

1. Shanghai Gate
best Chinese food in Boston

http://shanghaigateboston.com/

be sure to try:
a. P4 “Pork in Tofu Wrapper”--spring rolls non-oily, in steamed soup,
b. C1 “Paradise Mountain Chicken” —stir fry chicken nuggets with chili
c. A8 “Wild Veg and Bean Curd” — special flavored 5 spiced tofu with a special veggie minced

This will show you what real Chinese food is like; not those chemicals drenched in deep fried oil, that you find in all those Chinese “profit centers” all over the world

2. Boston Public Market
brand new real “farmers’ market”

https://bostonpublicmarket.org/

3. Pho Pasteur
must be the Chinatown location: best Chinatown restaurant (Vietnamese). Beef (#12) noodle soup from that Pho is what tourists around the world came to taste

http://www.yelp.com/biz/pho-pasteur-boston

4. Penang
2nd best resto in Chinatown (Malaysian/Singaporean); more date-ready, better ambiance. Spicy and exotic

http://www.yelp.com/biz/penang-boston

5. Shabu Zen
best winter food, Shabu Shabu: or if you wanna drink lots of healthy broth

http://www.yelp.com/biz/shabu-zen-boston

6. Anna's Taqueria
a chain, but wins best Mexican in Boston all the time: student favorite--quick, tasty and cheap

http://www.yelp.com/biz/annas-taqueria-brookline

7. El Oriental de Cuba
best cuban food, sandwich, etc..

http://www.yelp.com/biz/el-oriental-de-cuba-jamaica-plain

8. City Girl
every thing is good

http://www.yelp.com/biz/city-girl-cafe-cambridge

9. Trident Cafe
great to hang out, books, food, etc... while busy on Newbury Street

http://www.yelp.com/biz/trident-booksellers-and-cafe-boston#query:City%20Girl%20Cafe

10. Panjabi Dhaba
best Indian food in Cambridge, meet all the yogis

http://www.yelp.com/biz/punjabi-dhaba-cambridge#query:panjabi%20dhaba

11. John Harvard’s
must try as a tourist, unique atmosphere

http://www.yelp.com/biz/john-harvards-brew-house-cambridge

12. The Burren
more hanging, music, etc...

http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-burren-somerville

13. Grafton
euro sports/great food/drinks

http://www.yelp.com/biz/grafton-street-cambridge

14. Dumpling Cafe
best soup-filled dumplings

http://www.yelp.com/biz/dumpling-cafe-boston

15. Minuteman Library Network
http://www.mln.lib.ma.us/

This is not Boston Public Library, it’s better.

Best selection of everything intellectual, for FREE!
Brand new DVD's, books, and "office-like" pods to work in.
You can order DVD/Books delivered to your nearest branch for pick up.
Best locations: Cambridge, Wellesley, Newton, Brookline main

Free for anyone showing proof of residence in Massachusetts. Because of its eResources (like Hoopla, IndieFlix) that you could watch movies on-line (for free), you can even sign up as a “Massachusetts resident” despite only visiting as a tourist.
Simply go into any branch, get a post card mailed to your local chosen address (yes a friend would do), then walk in with that mailed post card, passport, and sign up. Say you’re here for a “project” or something… Guess what? You can now access all electronic resources, anywhere in the world, for FREE!

Cooking/Recipe tips; food for the mind

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Buckwheat Crêpes

As typical for the Brittany area (Bretagne, northwest of France, which is holyland if you like crêpes), crêpes are made from buckwheat, which is a healthier version (except you put tons of butter anyway--so you pick your own poison. Don't worry, you'll likely die of an accident anyway).

Often, crêpe nights begin with a salty version (hams, mushrooms, sausages), filled with all kinds of cheeses (mozzarella, gorgonzola, pecorino ramona, etc... anything you fancy), or any meats or even grilled fish, salmon, if you are foodie level #3.

The "2nd" or dessert crêpe after the salty ones, can have fillings like banana with EXTRA Nutella.
Or my personal favorite: all the best pretentious snobby ice creams you can find as "toppings"!

Recipe

Here's a good starting point to get the ratio for your crêpe batter/mix, simply adjust as you gain more experiences:

Flour: 1 cup, same as 8 oz
Milk: 1 cup, same as 8 oz, 1% or nonfat preferred
Eggs: 2
Butter: 22 grams
You can melt butter into the mix, though it's not that critical.
For health nuts, greasing your pans with butter--using paper towel (the French swear by this; as unknown chemicals from paper towels improve your taste by 1000%)

Ingredients:

Buckwheat Flour

If you cannot find buckwheat flour (usually found in health bio markets), you can grind buckwheats into powder (just like the good old days!)

In Germany, it's called Buchweizenmehl (Mehl is flour)

Those lucky enough to be trapped in France, flours to try:
Sarrazin (buck wheat flour)
Blé noir (Farine = Flour)

Great Brands:
Francine — buy Sarrasin
Reflets de France — buy Farine blé noir
Maïzena (not as famous)

Butter

Get a snobby, annoyingly expensive French butter, wherever you can find it.
It's critical to "coat" your crêpes (basically grease the pan) with "great" butter, as you're basically drowning the crêpes in it.

Else, Irish butter Kerrygold is a good safe bet.

Scones

Flour:                 1 cup, = 8 oz (all purpose OK)
Brown Sugar:      1/4 cup, = 50 grams, 1.75 oz
Baking Powder:   3 teaspoon, = 14 grams
Salt:                   1/8 teaspoon, = 0.7 grams
Butter:               3 tablespoon, = 42 grams

Chocolate/Currants: enough for fun

Yogurt drink:       1/2 cup, = 120 grams,
                           enough to "paste" mixture

* Special Note (for health):

avoiding the typical curse of American "too sweet" 25 gram sugar (100% of daily allowable sugar intake) in every cup dairy/juice, a great brand is Siggi's (Icelandic Scandinavian healthy unprocessed you-know-what)...
It's better to postpone diabetes, so that you can die of something more adventurous and glamorous--on the road...

Egg:           one
Milk:          1/2 cup, = 4 oz, = 115 grams

1. Mix the dry, mesh cold butter into small pieces to bind the dry into crumbs
2. Pour in yogurt drink (any fancy flavor, like blueberry) to turn into paste
3. Shape however individual ones, then baste with egg/milk mixture for top brown color snobby look
4. Bake 400F (200C) for 19 min, or lightly brown on top

Choupier Chronicles

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

4-Star Foodie Gems (in Europe) on Grad Student Budget

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Cooking/Recipe tips; food for the mind

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