Travel By Jury

TravelByJury.com Takes a Mini-Break

Admin of TBJ — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 12:30:46 +0000

gone travelin’

TravelByJury.com is taking a sabbatical for a few months, but don’t worry, we’ll tweet some archives now and then and randomly post on our Facebook page, so we’ll see you on the interwebz elsewhere!

Until we meet again – happy trails to you!

Filed under: Site News Tagged: hiatus, site news

Great Eat: Kona Grill, Houston, TX

Admin of TBJ — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 12:57:21 +0000

You’re in the big city of Houston – the fourth largest in the United States – and you’ve battled the outrageous traffic, you’ve gone to a show at the Alley Theater, you’ve browsed the collection at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, you’ve trolled the endless art galleries in the Art District, you’ve ambled through Discovery Green park, and you’ve likely eaten some barbecue (that wasn’t on par with that you’d find in the Carolinas, of course) and had your photo taken with an Astro or a Rocket. Now you’re hungry. Or you’ve decided to head to the Galleria area of town, home to the gigantic piece of consumerism (the 9th largest mall in the US!), the Galleria Shopping Center. You’re in luck, because the Galleria hosts the Kona Grill, a U.S. chain restaurant, yes, but there are only 23 locations, so it’s somewhat exclusive – I’d never been to one before and it was a great experience. There’s an authentic Asian ambiance, with bamboo plants and an open sushi bar. The Kona Grill serves pasta and pizza, but you’re really in for a treat if you try their club sandwich, for instance, which havarti cheese and is served on ciabatta bread. You can get Japanese beers here, which go perfect with a tofu miso soup starter or a sashimi flight. The ceviche wasn’t the best I’d ever had, but the use of fun plates makes up for it a little. The desert menu is most tempting, and there are so many rolls – vegetarian, crab, shrimp, chicken – to chose from that you might get overwhelmed. If you’re looking for something different and good, but still easy to find in the Houston area, then the Kona Grill is your best betG

Filed under: Great Eats, North America Tagged: Alley Theater, art galleries, Asian food, Astros, bamboo plants, ceviche, chicken, club sandwich, Discovery Green Park, Galleria Houston, great eat, Houston, Japanese beer, Kona Grill, miso soup, Museum of Natural Science Houston, Rockets, rolls, sashimi flight, shrimp rolls, sushi, Texas, tofu, TX, US, vegetarian rolls

Great Eat: Il Fornello, London

Admin of TBJ — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 12:19:10 +0000

If you’re poking around Russell Square (the British Museum area) of London and it’s cold and you are in desperate need of warmth, you need to go to Il Fornello (150 Southampton Row, known for being open even on holidays). Not only are the owners and wait staff Italian (there is a lone Spaniard, but he speaks beautiful Italian), but they exude the “eat! be merry!” Italian attitude that is hard to muster on a chilly London evening. I had some of the best spaghetti bolognese I’ve ever had there, and the waiter was the nice and friendly and sent my garlic bread (I didn’t want cheese) back twice without me saying anything about it. The ladies eating near me – Italian ex-pats – tucked in on the Scalloppine al Marsala and Costolette d’Agnello alla Griglia, and we all agreed that the tiramisu was divine. Il Fornello is a great place to meet friends or make new ones – the atmosphere is homey and worn, but in a good sort of way. They have cheeses and antipasti dishes that would satisfy meat lovers and vegetarians, and their Italian fair is traditionally and resolutely Italian; the beers and waters selection are even imported from Italy. Next time you’re looking for Italian food in London (for a decent cost), consider Il Fornello – you won’t be disappointed.

Filed under: Europe, Great Eats Tagged: 150 Southampton Row, antipasti, British Museum, cheese, Costolette d'Agnello alla Griglia, friendly folk, garlic bread, good eats near Russell Square, good prices, great eat, Il Fornello, Italian beer, Italian food, London, Russell Square, Scalloppine al Marsala, spaghetti bolognese, UK, vegetarian dishes, wine

Cardiff, Wales, UK

Admin of TBJ — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 12:05:48 +0000

There aren’t many negative things you could say about Cardiff, the capital of Wales; it’s a very walkable, friendly city, with small neighborhoods branching out of its city center that deserve exploration on their own. If you go to Cardiff, be prepared to drink some Brains, the local beer and thus sponsor of the (very, very popular) local Rugby team. The colors are red and green, so dress accordingly. Cardiff is a city of malls – often linked by pedestrian-only streets, like Queen’s Road – with zillions of shops that offer everything from great eats to rare books to the world’s oldest record store, Spiller’s. You can’t miss the city’s castle, which has an rich history and pretty fascinating museum (the gift store/coffee shop also sells international stamps, if you’re looking to send a postcard). While the folks in Cardiff are proud of their Welsh history and every sign is in Welsh and English, you can get around without speaking much Welsh, though a “hello” or “thank you” is much appreciated. Cardiff’s bus system is simple to navigate, so getting from, say, the city center to Mermaid Quay, is as easy as one-pound-seventy (please use exact change). Mermaid Quay, situated on Cardiff Bay, is home to many shops and such that have a bit less unique charm than their city counterparts, but you can do all sorts of outdoorsy stuff in the Bay in the warmer months (a trip in mid-February was pretty cold and damp, but hey, it’s the UK). The “Oval,” where the old Norwegian Church is located (look for Roald Dahl Plass under the pedestrian footbridge if you’re a fan) is also a major Dr. WHO fan site. A walk in beautiful Bute Park is a must, and you can see the River Taff as well as walk along the famed Taff Trail, which extends from the Millennium Center to the Breacon Beacons Park. Also, if you’re walking, it’s about a half hour walk from Cardiff’s city center to the “ancient village” of Llandaff, which has since been incorporated into Cardiff but is a little hamlet of its own right, with a magnificent ancient cathedral and lovely little pubs. Cardiff was hard to leave, as is much of the UK – next time you’re there, go down south and see what the capital of Wales is all about.

Filed under: Europe Tagged: Arcades, Brains beer, Breacon Beacons, Bute Park, Cardiff, Cardiff Bay, Cardiff bus, Cardiff Castle, Cardiff rugby, Dr. WHO, Europe, friendly folk, Great Britain, Llandaff, Mermaid Quay, Millennium Center, Norwegian Church, Queen's Road, River Taff, Roald Dahl Plass, Shiller's Records, Taff Trail, UK, Wales, walkable

Great Eat: Simply Thai, Louisville, KY

Admin of TBJ — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 13:34:08 +0000

As a native Louisvillian, I have paid tribute to great eats of the area such as Kashmir, Seviche, and Harvest. But somewhere in the middle of all that great eat melee a very VERY great eat got lost: Simply Thai of Louisville. Located in the trendy St. Matthews area (we do have Mellow Mushroom if you’re not feeling too adventurous), Simply Thai is – and take it from someone who spent a month eating home-cooked Chinese food in China – the only place in Louisville to get tofu just right. Their pineapple fried rice with raisins and tofu? To die for. Their pad thai? Out of this world. The “appetizer” spring rolls – tofu, shrimp, chicken; however you want ‘em – are full portion size, and they will serve you the aforementioned pineapple fried rice dishes in a pineapple in their “to go” presentation, by the way – you do not want to miss this place. All of their curries are awesome and they are simply a local pleasure – go and eat there now! You must!

Filed under: Great Eats, North America Tagged: asian food Louisville, Asian fusion, fresh vegetables, good eats louisville, great eat, Kentucky, Louisville, Mellow Mushroom, pad thai, Pineapple Fried Rice, raisins and tofu, shrimp spring rolls, Simply Thai, St. Matthews, tofu, US, USA, vegetarian spring rolls

Great Eat: KOTO, Hanoi, Vietnam

Admin of TBJ — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 13:14:15 +0000

A colleague of mine, when he learned I would be visiting Hanoi, Vietnam, immediately told me: “You must eat at KOTO. It is right by the Temple of Literature. It is wonderful.” Indeed – my companion and I, for about $30, had a couple of Tiger beers, an entree, and a dessert each for dinner (the website doesn’t note dinner, but they’re open, I promise). KOTO’s deal is not only its delicious food – my companion had a lemongrass chicken dish that was simply delightful, served in a bath of marinade and next to a pillar of rice with some saffron artistically arranged; I had the tofu, presented like a flower, with rice – but also its excellent staff. Hanoi’s (59 Van Mieu Street, Dong Da District) staff is made up of trainees in the restaurant’s overall program – “Know One Teach One” – which accepts disadvantaged or impoverished youth into a vocational training organization that teaches them English, service and business skills, and living skills. The folks at KOTO couldn’t be kinder, the atmosphere of the restaurant couldn’t be more soothing and pleasant (it’s an oasis of calm in buzzing Hanoi) and the food could not have been better. I chugged down a banana lassie – yogurt, soy milk and banana, blended with ice – on our way out and dropped a donation, which you could do to – if only you went to KOTO! You can even take a cooking class there if you’re so inspired. So it is decidedly so: “You must eat at KOTO.”

Our entrees at KOTO

Filed under: Asia, Great Eats Tagged: Asia, banana lassie, calm atmosphere, community outreach, dessert, Dong Da District Hanoi, English, friendly folk, great eat, great food, Hanoi, Know One Teach One, KOTO, KOTO Hanoi, KOTO VIetnam, lemongrass chicken, rice, saffron, Tiger beer, tofu, Vietnam

Great Eat: Dillon’s, Boston, MA

Admin of TBJ — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 13:13:39 +0000

Walking down Boylston Street near the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, I noticed a little cozy restaurant poking out between the T line and a fire house. Dillon’s Restaurant and Bar of Boston revealed itself to be quite a find. We got a tall table in the back of the restaurant near a roaring fire, a welcome retreat at the beginning of January in Boston. We fell for the honey popcorn appetizer and coveted our neighbors’ mac-n-cheese app, made of penne, gruyere, goat cheese, and crème fraiche – not your average mac. Dillon’s is quite the gastropub – our vegetarian companion was able to find comfort in the tomato bisque soup of the day and a hearty cheese pizza, fire-cooked with hand-tossed crust. I tackled half of a Ko-Jack burger, which was 8oz of hefty beef with Cajun spices and gorgonzola cheese. Though tempted by the Butternut Fried Dough (roasted butternut squash, vanilla ice cream, crushed pecans, and powered sugar), we settled on a Brownie Sundae and soaked in the chatty atmosphere, where photos of old Beantown (Dillon’s was a firehouse at one point) mingle with locally crafted beers. Invite yourself into Dillon’s next time your in downtown Boston – you’ll sure to find something you like.

Filed under: Great Eats, North America Tagged: Boston, Boylston Street Dillon's Boston, brownie sundae, Butternut Fried Dough, Cajun spices, craft beers, crème fraiche, crushed pecans, Dillon's of Boston, Dillon's Restaurant and Bar, fire roasted pizza, goat cheese, gorgonzola cheese, great eat, Gruyère, hand-tossed pizza, historic, honey popcorn, Ko-Jack burger, local beer, local brews, locally crafted beers, mac-n-cheese, Massachusetts, old fire house, penne, powered sugar, roasted butternut squash, tomato bisque, vanilla ice cream

2013′s TravelByJury.com Valentine: Hue, Vietnam

Admin of TBJ — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 13:09:10 +0000

Thiên Mụ Pagoda, Hue, Vietnam

This year’s travel love note goes out to the lovely city of Hue, Vietnam. Humming happily by the Perfume River, Hue (pronounced “Wh-ay”) remains one of the most fascinating and friendly places I’ve ever visited. Hue, in August, is HOT, like sweat all the time hot, but I liked it. A visit to Hue means that you’ll be practicing the crossing-the-street skills you earned in Hanoi, or any other part of Vietnam (or more rural parts of China) – steady as you go, make eye contact, don’t run. Hue is third (following Hanoi and Saigon) in terms of motorbike volume. There are so many fascinating aspects to Hue – it is the old imperial city of Vietnam, so there’s the obligatory visit to the Emperor’s Purple Palace and the Citadel. You can easily walk the city, but if you get too hot or tired you can always have a friendly haggle with a taxi driver – I personally felt the cyclos were exploitative, so I dodged those. As one juror posted earlier here on TravelByJury.com, the Imperial Tombs – especially the Ming Mang tomb – are not to be missed and can be arranged to suit a variety of travel needs – you can go by boat, by car, by bike – whatever! Visiting the pagodas are also a treat – the Thien Mu Pagoda is a symbol of Hue, and easily reached by bus, taxi, or motorbike. It’s the tallest in Vietnam, but also very symbolic of the Buddhist presence in Hue; this is the pagoda that hosted the monks who emmollated themselves in protest of occupied Vietnam in 1963. I personally enjoyed the Tu Hieu pagoda, where I witnessed Buddhist monks chanting in a serene forest; Tu Hieu is also known as Thich Nhat Hanh’s first place of study, and it’s a truly serene experience. Similarly awesome is the Temple of Literature, which contains so many steeles, Buddhas, and gazing pools that a visitor could easily become entranced there for hours. Of course, right up the street from the Temple of Literature is the Ho Chi Minh Museum, which you should definitley check out, ’cause Uncle Ho was a fascinating guy. The mausoleaum is optional (he didn’t want the Stalin treatment) but non-optional is stopping by the Healing the Wounded Heart Shop, which not only serves divine teas and desserts but also sells beautiful handcrafts. The proceeds go toward heart surgeries for the poor in Vietnam. To keep your visit soulful, don’t skip out on eating a FABULOUS meal at KOTO, a restaurant that trains and educates its staff, who are previously underpriveleged youth, in the arts of business, cooking, service industry training, and, of course, learning English. Of course, you’ll find plenty of great eats in Hue – just walk in and enjoy the obligatory lime juice:) Hue is one of my favorite places on Earth, and I send this Valentine out for all travelers, hoping that they get to experience this gem of a destination with as much joy as I did. Hip Hip Hurrah for Hue!

Filed under: Asia Tagged: Asia, Buddhism, Buddhist monastery, Buddhist war protest, Citadel, crossing the street, Emperor's tombs Hue, fresh fish, fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, friendly folk, getting around Hue, great eats, Hanoi, Healing the Wounded Heart Shop, Ho Chi Minh Museum, Hue, Imperial Palace, KOTO, lime juice, Ming Mang Tomb, motorbikes, pagodas, Perfume River, Purple Palace, steeles, Temple of Literature, Thich Nhat Hanh, Thien Mu Pagoda, Tu Hieu, Vietnam

Great Eat: The Citizen Public House & Oyster Bar, Boston, MA

Admin of TBJ — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 13:07:47 +0000

Oh little slice of heaven on Boylston Street, I’m so glad I found you! Closer to the residential area near Fenway Park in Boston is a small gastropub called The Citizen Public House & Oyster Bar (or “the Citizen” if you will) that you should definitely visit next time you’re in Beantown. Charming, small, with a bar that circles not only very friendly bartenders but also a clear view of the fresh seafood you’re about to eat (or you can tuck in to the sumptuous booths), this pub is a great new eatery for the Fenway/Kenmore area. The chalkboard specials – butternut squash soup, anyone? – reflect local and seasonal ingredients, and the mains – while pretty heavy on the meat (duck, ribs, steak, tuna) – are exquisite. And the apparently roast whole pigs, so thus the pub’s mascot and logo is a pig. The Citizen pumps a mean soundtrack while good times are had over board servings of artisinal cheese and pork, the cocktails are fun and heady. Of course I have to talk about the oysters – DIVINE. Large, shucked right in front of you, and served with some house-made horseradish concoction that had me drooling. Non-carnivores will revel in the creative salads and inventive sides, like polenta fries. You’ve got to check this place out; it’s one of Boston’s many MANY great eats.

Filed under: Great Eats, North America, Uncategorized Tagged: bar, Boston, butternut squash soup, cheese boards, cocktails, daily specials, duck, Fenway, fresh seafood, friendly folk, great eat, Kenmore, local meat, MA, Massachusetts, meat boards, oysters, polenta fries, ribs, salads, seasonal vegetables, steak, tuna, United States

Great Eat: Early Girl Eatery, Asheville, NC

Admin of TBJ — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 12:50:25 +0000

Decorated with local art – including some impressive customer scribbles on the brown paper tablecloths – the Early Girl Eatery is one of the best brunch spots in Asheville, NC, a city no stranger to good eats (Tupelo Honey? Laughing Seed? Havana? Barley’s? Oh, decisions). But the Early Girl is worth a visit if for no other reason than their food is organic, local, delicious, and there’s something on the menu for everyone. The care these folks put into simple recipies like granola/yogurt/fruit is delightful, and they remain loyal to the farms and Southern charm around their clients to provide all sorts of deep south staples (grits, fluffy homemade biscuits, bacon, eggs) next to inventive quiches (duck?), sandwiches (fancy some grilled catfish?) and vegan-friendly items (the tofu scramble looked pretty awesome). The brightly lit, open and sunny little restaurant is conveniently located near downtown – in the Cat’s Alley – and the staff are friendly as can be. The decor changes as the Early Girl features new local artists, there are vegan, gluten-free, and low fat/low carb options – ANYONE can eat here, so if you’re driving through Asheville with a crowd, this is your spot. And you’re always sure to find locally-made jelly on your table and a smiling person to walk you through the joint’s delicious menu. Eat here. You will love it.

Filed under: Great Eats, North America Tagged: Asheville, bacon, biscuts, brunch, duck, Early Girl Eatery, family friendly, friendly folk, gluten-free, great eat, grits, local farms, local food, local greens, local jelly, local meat, meat and 3, NC, organic chocolate milk, organic food, pan fried catfish, quiche, vegan, vegan tofu scramble