A recent study trip with Avinet’s “corporate mother”, Asplan Viak, took me to Berlin in the company of about 60 merry colleagues. Following a similar experience in Turin, Italy, last year my expectations were split. Happy, as always, when thinking of the opportunity to enjoy evenings out in good company – but at the same time fearing the quality of the food which usually suffers greatly when traveling in groups.
My doubts were however put to shame and I had some of the most enjoyable evenings out in a European city ever accompanied by good, solid German food. My thanks go out to Pål, chairman of the board of Avinet (and on other occasions excellent drinking pal), for urging me to come along. (more…)
During my three trips to Iceland I’ve had an exceptional dinner at Sjávarkjallarinn every time. The name means sea food cellar which is an excellent description of what we’re dealing with.
The restaurant is located in a dimly lit cellar in downtown Reykjavik and is fitted with a modern yet comfortable interior design. The food is excellent and the event-meal Excotic Menu is a safe choice for the pallate although painful on the wallet!
Tractor driver chatting up woman from old Zetor-tractor at one of Zetor’s characteristic pub tables.
After visiting Helsinki’s tractor pub Zetor, named after the Czech tractor brand popular during the Cold War, my interest for Leningrad Cowboys came to life again after years of slumber. The pub, owned by Aki Kaurismaki, was decorated with Zetors fitted with a bar counter so you could sit on or around the tractors enjoying your beer. Almost like home.
My first meeting with Leningrad Cowboys was through Kaurismakis 1989 cult film, Leningrad Cowboys go America (which I didn’t see until 1996). I was immediately intrigued by the pack of strange characters, the lack of continuous dialog and their highly original and irregular interpretations of rock’n roll music!
As with so many things, the contrasts are what makes the band ingenious. The cooperation between the Cowboys and the Alexandrov Red Army choir see to it that contrast is in plenty! Together they do covers such as “California Girls”, “Happy together” and balalaika renditions of “Sweet Home Alabama”, “Knocking on Heavens door” and “Stairway to Heaven”.
Great stuff!
Portuguese cuisine can be variable when it comes to quality but more often than not the neglect is on the consumers part if he finds himself landed in a poor restaurant. Quality is everywhere, just waiting to be explored.
Barrio Altos many gems include the restaurante O Faio, an excellent although a bit touristy restaurant with nightly Fado entertainment in doses suitable for non-hardcore Fado fans.
The restaurant boasts many excellent dishes among which you’ll find grilled Porco Preto sausages and chops, queijo da serra and excellent bacalhau.
You may have to suffer the company of a few white-sneaker-wearing Americans tourists by the table next to yours – but remember that they are likely to dislike you just as much as you dislike them. Go for it.
