Paris - All Around the Eiffel Tower

While the Eiffel Tower may be crowded, full of tourists and souvenir hawkers, it remains an absolute must see in my book. Up close the elegant metalwork of the tower is powerful. And the surrounding gardens offer peaceful green spaces that balance out the crush of visitors. I didn't go up, but I wouldn't be opposed to doing so in the future. But I would make sure to plan to visit at a slower (does that even exist?) time.

Choosing a restaurant around the Eiffel Tower can be a daunting task. I ended up at Cafe Constant, a charming corner spot just a few streets away. I found it recommended frequently for its lunch prix fixe meal. I enjoyed three beautiful courses for just €18. A cold ham roulade with salad as an appetizer, crisp roasted chicken with homemade chips for the main, and a gorgeous arrangement of meringues, fruit, and custard for dessert. Run by a Michelin star chef, it's a popular spot that doesn't take reservations. I hit it at the after lunch sweet spot, when most of the crowds had cleared out. It was a lovely lunch and felt like the perfect pairing to my Eiffel Tower visit.

Paris - Oysters & Churches

I spent a few days wandering in and around the Saint-Germain-des-Prés neighborhood in Paris. I had two fantastic meals plus some extraordinary sweets. Oysters were at the top of my Paris eats wishlist and, after some research, I chose Huîtrerie Régis to make it happen.

It's a tiny spot, six tables inside and a few more on the street. I arrived right after opening, around noon, and the restaurant was almost empty, just one table of three. Reviews indicate it fills up fast during prime time, so definitely come early. The menu is an exercise in minimalism, all oysters, fresh as can be. Sometimes shrimp and sea urchin are available as well, but they're essentially garnish. According to Paris by Mouth, the oysters are shipped in daily from Marennes-Oléron, a famous oyster cultivation region on the Western coast of France.

It  was my first meal of the day and my eyes were certainly bigger than my stomach. I ordered a tasting platter of six Fines de Claires and six Spéciale de Claires, plus six enormous pink shrimp. I wanted to try everything! The oysters were truly the very best I have tasted, though, admittedly, my oyster oeuvre is sadly limited. I slightly preferred the Spéciale de Claires, which were plumper and sweeter than the briny, more mineral Fines. But both were excellent. I took mine plain or with a spritz of lemon, forgoing the classic mignonette.

Unnecessary, but also delicious was the sesame studded bread with salted butter. And shrimp, too. On any other day the shrimp would have been the star of the show but in my refusal to waste any food, they left me overstuffed.

Huîtrerie Régis is tucked away on a small side street off of Boulevard Saint-Germain, just a few blocks from my next destination, the Church of Saint-Sulpice. The church provided the perfect respite for my overextended stomach. Though cool, dark, and peaceful, it is very much a working church with a staff and active worshipers. It's a crumbly old building, much in need of renovations, but with an intriguing, tangible sense of history. An interesting contrast to the bustling square outside. Full of tourists, students, nannies and their charges, business people on their lunch breaks-- a great spot for people watching.

Snapshots from Spain - Sunset at Las Setas + La Azotea

Along with visiting local markets one of my favorite things to do when traveling is to get a bird's eye view of a new city. In Barcelona there's the Columbus Monument or the hillside fort of Montjuïc, in Venice you can ride up to the top of the Campanile at San Giorgio Maggiore, and in London you can splurge on The Eye or hike up Primrose Hill. In Sevilla you've got two great options. One, if you'd like to take the historical route, is to climb up to the top of La Giralda, the tower at Sevilla Cathedral. Or you can visit the Metropol Parasol!

Popularly known as Las Setas de la Encarnación, or Las Setas (The Mushrooms) for short, the Metropol Parasol is one of the largest wooden structures in the world. Construction of Las Setas was fairly divisive amongst Sevillanos. Many consider the modern architecture an eyesore, not to mention a waste of millions of euros in construction costs. But as an outsider, I enjoyed the interplay of the waffle-y structure with the surrounding multi-storied traditional Spanish Buildings. During the day, the six "mushrooms" provide shade from the scorching Andalusian sun, then, when the sun sets, the structure adds texture and light to the night sky.

Snapshots from Spain - Tapas at Las Teresas

After a long day traipsing around Sevilla it was so nice to have a place like Las Teresas just steps from my guesthouse. Full of history, ambiance, and some of the best Jamón in the city, Las Teresas is a tapas bar that could only exist in Spain. The restaurant is a bit hidden among the maze of alleys to the north of Seville Cathedral, in Barrio Santa Cruz. It's the kind of authentic spot you always hope to discover when exploring a new city.

FarmBloomington / Redux

Every other year or so I end up back at FarmBloomington. The food is pretty spendy, making it more of a special occasion spot. And since it's not my favorite big budget restaurant (Uptown and Samira usually come first and second) I don't make it there very often. It's usually the fries that bring me back. The addictively garlick-y, slightly spicy, perfectly crunchy, "famous" french fries.

 The occasion was Katy's birthday, the objective was those fancy fries and some even fancier drinks. Well, mission accomplished. To drink I ordered a Jack Rose, made with applejack and housemade grenadine. It was strong. Perhaps a little too strong for an alcohol wimp like me to enjoy. Also on the table was an Aviation for Katy (Plymouth Gin, Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur, Lemon Juice, Creme de Violette) and I have no clue what Jessica ordered, I think she liked it?

Venice - Libreria Acqua Alta + Trattoria Alla Madonna

Here's the thing, Venice is a small island, but I still think its easier to get lost than it is to find your way to a planned destination. Even when you're following a map. Travelling by vaporetto is much simpler. The Grand Canal carves in and around Venice's biggest hits, laying out the city. So it was funny when I stumbled, on foot, onto Libreria Acqua Alta the first time. I just turned a corner and there it was.

London - A Bucket List of British Comfort Food

Among the items on my London culinary bucket list were fish and chips, a scotch egg, sticky toffee pudding, and pie. But not sweet pie. British pie, full of meat and gravy, accompanied by mashed potatoes in some shape or form. Well, done, done, and done. Katy and I ate our fair share of British comfort food during our visit. And we started with pie.

Barcelona - Kiosko Universal + Cacao Sampaka

I arrived in Barcelona around 9 am local time. Too early to to check into my hotel, I dropped off my luggage and headed straight to La Boqueria. I wandered around for a bit, still in a post-travel daze, snapping photos as I tried to decide where to eat. I'm not ashamed to admit that I got a little lost  I bypassed El Quim and the famous Pinotxo Bar for a seafood specialist, Kiosko Universal.