Eddie Ashworth went to Indian Springs with me back in our high school days. We caught up again right after we both finished law school. I was at the Justice Department, making the transition from paralegal to trial attorney. (I worked full time and went to law school at night.) Eddie got a job in DC with Charles Morgan, Jr., the civil rights attorney who … Continue reading Midway BBQ, Katy, Texas
I recently came into some biltong from friends who were very dubious about it. (Give it to John. He’ll eat anything.) Actually, there was no call for alarm. Biltong is just a South African dried meat. Its name comes from the Dutch words Bil (buttocks) and tong (tongue) which, I grant you, is potentially off-putting. Biltong has more moisture than beef jerky, and thus is much more … Continue reading Biltong Soup Recipe
We had an evening flight out of San Juan on New Year’s Eve, and, after some morning beach time, headed over to Old San Juan for some more touring and lunch. We had toured part of the old fortifications, Castillo San Felipe del Morro, earlier, and now went to the Castillo San Cristobal section. The two actually form one continuous fortification connected by tunnels, and … Continue reading Bari, San Juan, Puerto Rico
We went to the Ropa Viejo Grill on our last night in San Juan. It was right down the street from our hotel, and we passed it on our way to Oceano and Orozco, as well as at other times. As you can see, it has a large dining area open to the air. There often was a pretty good jazz saxophonist busking out … Continue reading Ropa Vieja, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Bill’s has closed. It used to be a huge enterprise, with a convention center and a daunting buffet. It was the go-to place for my Wilson relatives, the Griffins, some of the loveliest people you’d ever want to meet. (We Tanner’s, the other loveliest people you’d ever want to meet — or at least Nancy and Liza are — preferred Parker’s, but we don’t talk about … Continue reading Bill’s Barbecue, Wilson, North Carolina, has Closed
As I mentioned in previous posts, Nancy and I stayed in Condado. It’s an area of high rise hotels and good restaurants, many of which I had researched in advance. La Joya is a pretty new place within 100 yards of our hotel. I had not researched it and didn’t pay a lot of attention until I walked by and saw a large object out … Continue reading La Joya, San Juan, Puerto Rico
After my heroic breakfast and a lovely lunch at Princesa Gastrobar in Old San Juan, we decided to try the upscale and highly regarded Mario Pagán back in Condado. Again, it was only a few blocks from our hotel, and almost lost among a gaggle of other restaurants, all with brassier signage. Mario Pagán is not at all brassy. It is sleek, elegant, and subdued. … Continue reading Mario Pagán, San Juan, Puerto Rico
This is a sensational place. I wish I had gone when I was hungry. Our hotel offered a complimentary continental breakfast which consisted of (1) a bowl of oatmeal, (2) a plate of fruit, (3) yogurt and fruit, (4) 4 pastries. Each. That’s a lot of food, so I skipped the yogurt. Still, there I was at Princesa Gastrobar, not really hungry even though it … Continue reading Princesa Gastrobar, San Juan, Puerto Rico
On our first night in San Juan, following a delightful lunch at Oceano, Nancy and I went to Orozco’s for dinner. It’s in the Condado, steps from our hotel. We ordered something light — snapper with a criollo sauce with arroz con gandulas (rice and pigeon peas, mixed) and a salad for me; and, for Nancy, grouper in garlic sauce with arroz y habicheulas (rice … Continue reading Orozco’s, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Nancy and I took a flight to San Juan early on December 26, and arrived well before our room was ready. We dropped our coats and suitcases, and strolled around the Condado area, where we were staying. We decided to give Oceano a try for lunch while we waited. Good choice. Oceano is in a modernist three story building right on the beach. It’s all … Continue reading Oceano, San Juan, Puerto Rico
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