The Talking Suitcase

Cruise & Curated Travel Specialist

Foodie

El Ventall Restaurant – Experience the Gourmet Side of Blanes, Spain

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El Ventall Restaurant Review 1

El Ventall Restaurant in Blanes

During our time in Spain, we toured the Northeastern coastline along the Mediterranean which is named Costa Brava for it’s rugged landscape.  Over the coming weeks I will share our experiences at the seven family friendly restaurants we dined at during our travels.

Join me in our quest to experience Costa Brava through food…

Let’s start our culinary journey with the Southern most village of Costa Brava, Blanes. El Ventall Restaurant is conveniently located between Blanes and Lloret de Mar, serving high quality food using seasonal, local ingredients.

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What We Ate At Moon Palace Resorts Cancun {& Why You Will Want to Eat There Too}

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Moon Palace Resorts Food
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When people talk about all-inclusive resorts,  food is always on top of the list.  We love to eat and a good meal, especially one that is included with your stay,  is a priority when planning a vacation.

We had plenty of food to choose from staying at the Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort.  A variety of cuisine is available – from hotdogs to fish to steak. You can eat Asian, Mexican, seafood or lounge poolside.  Whether you’re traveling with a picky eater or a foodie, there is no shortage of restaurant options.

When planning our trip to a new area,  one of the first items on our list is to determine where we should eat.  I want to know other travelers experiences with a  restaurant before I go.  Granted, I’ve been spoiled and dined at some fabulous restaurants, so I am a bit finicky when it comes to food.  However, knowing what others think of a restaurant is a good indicator of the food quality, ambiance and wait staff.

Some of the restaurants at Moon Palace are definitely better than others. We preferred La Trattoria at the Golf Villas, Caribeno in Moon Grand and the Brazilian Steakhouse in Nizuc.

Moon Palace Food La Trattoria

Our favorite meal was at La Trattoria on the last evening of our trip.  A card with our last name was waiting on our table which gave a special touch to the evening.  We were offered a cheese cart, delicious bread that was still warm from the oven, a dessert cart to die for, a palate cleansing treat between courses and fabulous wine.  Everything about the meal was exceptional.  Every time I thought the meal couldn’t get any better – they arrived with another course.

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Our Experience with American Girl Food in DC

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American Girl Food at the Bistro in DC
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Last week I shared about our trip to the American Girl Tyson’s Corner store in DC. One of the things we did during our trip was eat at the American Girl Bistro for a late lunch.

My experience was different than many others. I read (and was told) rave reviews about the bistro. Atmosphere is awesome, food is fantastic. Well, they had the atmosphere part right.

We were pretty disappointed in the food and service. It all started with us having to wait 25 minutes after our reservation time. Mind you our reservation was at 2:30, so we were STARVING!  So after waiting almost 30 minutes we finally get a table.   Only to wait another 7 for someone to come to the table to take drink orders.

Okay, maybe they were super busy or I just shouldn’t have high service standards.  BUT, I was still optimistic at this point…

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Best European Cities for Foodies

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Best European Cities for Foodies

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I thought it would be fun to share a post from Sophie on the best European cities for foodies. She’s traveled through Europe and gives her take on the incredible cities that can satisfy the foodie pallet.  I’m just getting ready to start traveling Europe, so this post is as much for me as it is for all of you 🙂

Traveling through Europe can be a whirlwind of places, sites and meals, but sometimes its the meals that we remember the most. For a foodie, travel is the best way to really get to know a place, its culture and most importantly, its people. Some European cities are much easier to eat your way through, sampling and nibbling as you go, with new food discoveries always on the horizon.

Use this guide to plan out your next trip to Europe, choosing among the best European cities for foodies. Each destination is a combination of convenience and the best food coming out of the kitchens of each chef.

Barcelona

Any foodie, or anyone that enjoys a good meal, that has ever been to Barcelona knows why this European city has made the list. Spain in general is a great place for foodies to explore new tastes and fresh flavor combinations that are conveniently served up in small portions, but Barcelona is the best city in all of Spain to do this. Dining out is a highly prioritized tradition among the locals, so every restaurant is competing to put out their best every day in order to keep up with a very demanding clientele. The Sarria district is best for adventurous foodies, for fresh seafood and traditional Catalan dishes head towards the city’s beaches, where the catch is brought in daily.

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Suggestions for Travel Food

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Suggestions for Travel Food

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I’m always on the hunt to find new suggestions for travel food.  Traveling can be expensive enough without the added expense of over-priced food.  Not only does flying and driving all increase your food budget, but airport food and fast food restaurants are full of salt and fat – completely unhealthy.

Deciding what type of foods to pack will be determined by when you’re traveling, how long you’re traveling, and how you will be traveling.  Will you be traveling during dinner?  Flying or driving?  Do you need snacks?

I remember flying to Disney World with my parents last year.  Our flight didn’t take off until about 4:30 (which meant arriving at the airport at 3pm), so I knew the kids would be starving even though the flight was only 1.5 hours.  I packed subs, chip, and a cookie for each of us.  I’d asked my Mom if they wanted me to pack extra for them, but they declined stating they would eat once we arrived.

BIG Mistake

Just before the plane took off, a huge storm passed through.  Lightning and pouring rain meant that we were stuck sitting on the runway for about 45 minutes.  My parents (and other passengers) were sure envious of our dinner on the plane!

How I Pack Travel Food:

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