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Friday, August 22, 2014

OMBU TAPAS BAR AND COCKTAILS - PALMA DE MALLORCA

OMBU TAPAS BAR AND COCKTAILS
PALMA DE MALLORCA

OMBU TAPAS BAR AND COCKTAILS
PLAZA DE LA REINA
5 PALMA
+34 971 214 387
www. ombupalma.com
 After trying Paella in Palma we were disappointed and headed up the road to find some traditional Tapas.  We had actually eaten at a restaurant that was at same location as Ombu several years ago.  Ombu was packed on the outside patio so we were taken inside.  Service was ok and food was good.  Liked the food and would not hesitate to return.

OMBU TAPAS BAR AND COCKTAILS

OMBU IN PALMA DE MALLORCA
ON A NICE DAY EVERYONE SITS OUTDOORS
GREAT OPEN KITCHEN WITH REALLY GOOD STAFF
SMALL BAR AT OMBU
WHAT IS OMBU?
WE WERE HERE FOR TRADITIONAL TAPAS
LOTS OF CHOICES AT OMBU
A LITTLE VINO WITH MY TAPAS
ANCHOVY
SHRIMP 
RABBIT RIBS WITH GARLIC MAYO
SMALL FRIED FISH WITH SHERRY MAYO PRESENTATION
SMALL FRIED FISH
SEABREAM SASHIMI
SMALL CRISPY PRAWNS
CRUNCHY AND SALTY LITTLE CRUSTACEANS 



RESTAURANT LA BIONDA - PALMA DE MALLORCA

RESTAURANT LA BIONDA
PLAZA MAJOR 3 BAJOS
07001 PALMA DE MALLORCA
MAJORCA, SPAIN
971 712 594 Phone

Restaurant La Bionda is a tourist trap.  Lousy food and not worth the visit.  We went to La Bionda because it was located in a nice square and there was outdoor seating.  Also wanted to have Paella in Spain.  Warning:  When you see pretty pictures of Paella posted in front of a restaurant in Palma, avoid it.  Turns out we found the same Paella menu at dozens of restaurants here.  Restaurants post the photos and use the same Paella menu.  Pictures look great but our Paella here sucked.  Really terrible.  Would never go back.  In fact, we paid the tab and found another restaurant to eat at after we left this dump.  The restaurant said free Wi-Fi so we asked how to use it.  The waiter took my phone and gave it to a guy who ran off with it and started punching in stuff.  I got up and grabbed the phone and said "no thanks".   Besides the Paella we had a Tapas Sampler.  It sucked too although the meatballs weren't bad.  

RESTAURANT LA BIONDA

NICE PLAZA IN PALMA
RESTAURANT LA BIONDA IS LOCATED AT END OF PLAZA
WE LIKED THE LOOK OF OUTDOOR SEATING SO WE WENT IN FOR PAELLA
WHEN YOU SEE PHOTOS LIKE THIS IN PALMA - RUN!
PAELLA MENU USED BY DOZENS OF RESTAURANTS IN PALMA
PAELLA LOOKS INCREDIBLE BUT BEWARE!
YOUR PAELLA WILL LOOK NOTHING LIKE THE PHOTOS

LA BIONDA TAPAS MENU
HOT DAY MEANT HAVING SOME COOL WHITE WINE FOR LUNCH 
BREAD, OLIVES AND WINE WAS A GOOD START
THIS PAELLA SUCKED
TAPA SAMPLER WAS BAD TOO














Thursday, August 21, 2014

RESTAURANT LA MONTGOLFIERE HENRI GERACI - MONACO

RESTAURANT LA MONTGOLFIERE HENRI GERACI
MONACO

RESTAURANT LA MONTGOLFIERE HENRI GERACI
16, RUE BASSE, 98000 MONACO
+377 97 98 61 59 Phone
hgeraci@libello.com

We were strolling through the streets of Monaco on a warm summer day.  As we turned down a long and narrow walkway we saw tables in front of a small restaurant and wanted to sit down.  I looked at the menu and it was in French.  As I approached the door a woman greeted me with a smile.  I looked at her and said "is the food good here".  She laughed at me and sad "of course".  The confidence in her laugh told me she was serious and that the food was good.  Something about her and the restaurant just clicked with a positive vibe.  Turns out this was the chefs wife named Fabienne.  She ran the front of the house while Henri worked the kitchen.  I ordered a glass of wine looked at the menu board outside near our table.  I really don't remember seeing a menu.  We asked questions of Fabienne and she answered us in English.  Somehow we ended up ordering a few plates to try.  I was not into eating meat so we kept everything seafood and it turned out to be one of the best meals of our trip to Europe.  This meal was lights out fantastic.  Everything was super fresh and full of flavor.  There were no heavy sauces and the taste of the fresh seafood shined.  Amazing.  I remember each bite of the Cod was followed by Wow and Amazing!  The fish melted in your mouth.  Pure heavenly flavor too.  Both of our Calamari dishes shined.  I enjoyed them both but the Grilled Calamari really hit the spot.  Fresh, light and flavorful.  The fresh raw Tuna was every bit as good as what we are lucky to enjoy in Hawaii.  Reminded me of home and I was in Monaco.  The entire family loved this meal.  We were all smiles and happy when we left.  During the next week in Europe we always wished we could go back to La Montgolfiere.  We were lucky to have time to talk with Henri and his wife.  They made us feel so special and really seemed to enjoy sharing their food with us.  Turns out Henri knows a famous chef in Hawaii who got his start in Monaco.  I want to return to Monaco because it is beautiful.  If I do, my first stop will be this restaurant.  I loved the place!!!!
TASTE OF HAWAII FAVORITE

RESTAURANT LA MONTGOLFIERE HENRI GERACI

STROLLING THROUGH THE STREETS OF MONACO ON A WARM SUMMER DAY
RESTAURANT LA MONTGOLFIEVE HENRI GERACI IN MONACO IS FANTASTIC!
I WANTED TO ORDER ONE OF EVERYTHING BUT WE SETTLED ON FOUR ITEMS
WELCOME TO WHAT HAS TO BE ONE OF MONACO'S FINEST RESTAURANTS
INSIDE DINING ROOM - WE OPTED TO SIT OUTSIDE AND PEOPLE WATCH
LOVED THE FRONT OF THIS RESTAURANT - MADE YOU FEEL AT HOME
LOVED THE FLOWERS OUT FRONT TOO
SOMETIMES YOU NEED TO SLOW DOWN AND JUST TAKE IN THE BEAUTY OF LIFE
SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL
HENRI'S WIFE FABIENNE MADE US FEEL LIKE HONORED GUESTS AND TOOK GREAT CARE OF US
PIZZA LIKE APPETIZER WAS A HIT WITH MY DAUGHTER.  SHE ATE TWO PLATES OF THESE
A LITTLE WHITE WINE ON A WARM SUMMER DAY IN MONACO
SAT OUTSIDE AND WATCHED THE WORLD GO BY
CALAMARI SALAD
BLACK COD
GRILLED CALAMARI
FRESH TUNA
COFFEE CREME BRULEE
WE ALL LOVED THE FRESH STRAWBERRIES
HONORED TO MEET HENRI GERACI AND HIS LOVELY WIFE FABIENNE.
SO HUMBLE AND SO NICE.  WHAT A GREAT DAY IN MONACO!