Rovinj, Croatia; Calisona Longo Lucia Restaurant, Vegetarian Pizza

552210 Rovinj-Rovigno, Croatia, Trg na mostu 4 – Piazza del Ponte 4, tel. 00385 – 52 – 815 313

Overall Restaurant Rating: 4.25 / 5 stars:  A very pleasant pizza lunch in Rovinj.   

 
Atmosphere Rating: 4.5 / 5 stars:  We sat on the patio under a canopy and two huge wooden patio umbrellas on a lovely plaza in the Portofino-like town of Rovinj, Croatia.  What more could anyone ask for?

Service Rating: 3.5 / 5 stars:  Very laid back in a good way.  In no way harsh or aggressive as some servers have been in Pula.  We stood and waited abit before they cleared some tables and sat us.  Then once we ordered, a group of 6 Italians came and the waited asked if we could move from our larger table of 4 to another further back and we obliged.

I asked for tap water and they brought me those itsy bitsy glass bottle waters.  I returned it and asked for a cappuccino instead and they were fine with that. Until what arrived was essentially espresso in those tiny espresso cups with a drop of milk.  So I asked for more hot milk (I can’t take strong stuff).  They had no problem bringing that over.

   
Value Rating: 4.5/ 5 stars:  I think in Canadian dollars, so the 45 Kuna or (/5.5) $8 a pizza (we shared because we overate the night before when we ordered one each), a 15 Kuna ($2.80 green salad with a few slices of tomatoes and onions), a 15 Kuna ( $2.80 coke), and a 8 Kuna Capacino ($1.30) and a total bill of 81 Kuna ($16) for two, what  a bargain!    

Main Rating, Vegetarian Pizza, 4.25 / 5 stars:  Excellent pizza.  The Vegetarian Pizza had zucchini, abit of red peppers, abit of mushrooms, great crust, made in an authentic wood burning

Granada, Spain, La Hacienda Alhambra Restaurante Cafe Copas, Paella, Fish, Melon

Granada, Spain, La Hacienda Alhambra Restaurante Cafe Copas in Plaza Nuovo,  Fish

Overall Food Rating:  2.5-3 / 5 stars:  The Paella was okay. The fish was dry and the salad was undressed. Remind me never to eat in a tourist square again.

Atmosphere Rating: 4.5 / 5: Dining outdoors with cool mist blowing to cool you off after a day of Alhambra walking in the middle of Piazza Nuovo...nice!

Service Rating: 2.5 / 5 stars:  They were nice.  There is a but:  I asked if the fish was grilled?  Yes she says, it is fried.  We ask if the paella is chicken?  No she says, it is fish.  The paella includes seafood, and pieces of chicken and beef. 

   

Value Rating: 2.5 / 5 stars:  For $12.5 Euros, it is not expensive per se, but this 3 course meal offers the least value I have had in Spain so far due mostly due to the lack of quality in the fish and salad.

 

Appetizer/Starter Rating:  Paella, 3.5 / 5 stars: It was acceptable, but the hostel cook did a better paella!  I tasted some pieces of rice still not fully cooked, although most of it was fine. 

  

Main Rating:  Fish, 1.5 / 5 stars: The fish was dried and noticeably thawed from frozen.  I love fish, but I did not even finish this.   The salad tasted bitter and unwashed.  The only thing that was fresh on the plate was the french fries!

 

Dessert Rating:  Melon, 3/5 stars:  As a dessert, this melon, normally served with "Jamon" or in Italian, "Prochutto", is refreshing after a full meal.  I think resaturant meals should offer something a little more than what you can make at home.  So as a dessert, they could of done a little more.

Granada, Spain; Oasis Kitchen, Seafood and Chicken Paella

Granada, Spain; Oasis Backpackers Hostel Kitchen, Seafood and Chicken Paella

Overall Food Rating: 4.5 / 5 stars:  After a long day of travel (7 hours of flight, change of plane in Montreal, 2 hours of bus) I will admit that I could eat anything.  This amazing Seafood and Chicken Paella by Rudy was an unexpected delicious surprise when I checked into this Oasis. 



He cooked this big pan of paella in the courtyard...I wish I got there early to learn his culinary secrets!  I would love to know how he created this!

 

Atmosphere Rating: 3.5 / 5:  Casual interior courtyard seating.

 

Service Rating: N/A stars: Rudy serves you all you can eat and the rest you help yourself !

 

Value Rating: 5 / 5 stars: At $5 Euros for all I can eat paella and a deliciously dressed salad with citrus, onions and tomatoes, Rudy's expertise in cooking impresses me! Rudy is French...need I say more? The French know their food!

Ronda, Spain; McDonald's by the Tourist Office, Espresso con Leche turned "Ice Latte"

Ronda, Spain; McDonald's by the Tourist Office, Espresso con Leche turned "Ice Latte "

Coffee Rating: "Espresso con Leche", 5 / 5 stars:  It is so hot in Spain, I'm dying for an ice coffee. So I ask the Malaga RENFE McDonalds for ice coffee.  None.  So I see they have "cafe" which is not American watery coffee but espresso.  So I ask for "espresson con leche", a cup of ice with a lid and straw, and there you have it, my own "Ice Latte"!  At $1.1 Euros, what a bargain!  Granted, both in Malaga and in Ronda, one cup does not satisfy me (read: typical North American need for large portions) and I order two "Espresson con leche" 's both times!  Calorie note:  the espresso is so lovely very little added sugar is required, if any. Yummy!

Malaga, Spain; McDonald's at the Malaga-RENFE Train Station, Caprese Salad

Malaga, Spain; McDonald's at the Malaga-RENFE Train Station, Explanada de la Estacion, Caprese Salad

Overall Food Rating: 3.5 / 5 stars:  If North American McDonalds rate 3/5 or below, and Italian McDonalds, especially the one in Rome, rates 4/5 or higher, then this Spanish one is somewhere in between at 3.5/5.  They don't have the desserts here as they do in Rome!

Atmosphere Rating: 3.5 / 5: Generic McDonalds!  

Service Rating: 5 / 5 stars: Awesome!  My limited Spanish and their limited English did not deter them to suggest how I might achieve an ice coffee!

Value Rating: 3 / 5 stars: At 4.84 Euros for the salad, I can have Bresola, essentially a huge portion of beef carpaccio with fresh parmesan slivers, rocket, drizzled in olive oil and lemon, all for 2.9 Euros, the Caprese Salad is not a great deal!  However, the espresson con leche, along with a cup of ice, a lid and straw, is a nice deal for make it yourself ice latte!

Main Rating: Caprese Salad, 3.5 / 5 stars:   A good overall healthyish choice.  I love Caprese salads, having been hooked on them in Italy.  The buffalo bocconcini mozzarella is not quite there, but hey, this is a McDonald's!  Feeling lucky this is even a choice, I still devour it!  A full day of travel makes one famished.

 

Toronto, Wildfire Steakhouse & Wine Bar, Mousse inside Chocolate Dome

Dessert Rating: Chocolate Mousse Dome, 4.5 / 5 stars:

Break open the chocolate dome to find some chocolate mousse. It was delicious!

Toronto, Wildfire Steakhouse & Wine Bar, New York Cheezecake

Dessert Rating: New York Cheezecake, 4 / 5 stars:

Unfortunately for my friends, dining with me also means giving up a taste of your dessert! Sharon generously let me share a taste of the creamy cheezecake. The gooseberry on top was a nice aesthetic touch. To be honest, I think none of the desserts could disappoint because they were all equally attentive to quality, taste and generous in portion.