Going to Paris or Rome?  We have built up quite a list of places to try in both places and are adding more and more all the time.  We are finding the cheapest happy hours, most interesting and budget conscious restaurants and a lot more worthwhile tips that will save you time and money.  Don’t be afraid of crazy phone bills for using data roaming because we are tagging all the free WiFi spots we can find.  If you do not have the Foursquare app yet download it now and friend iKangaroo.

Angels & Demons, Dan Brown’s book about a plot to destroy the Vatican, has been made into an international blockbuster movie starring Tom Hanks.  For over 10 years tourists in Rome have been supplementing their guidebooks with this story that features six of Rome’s most famous sites including the Vatican, Pantheon, Piazza Navona and numerous artworks by Bernini, one of Rome’s most famous artists.  Even if you are not a fan of or familiar with the book the explanations of the sites themselves provide a through overview of Rome at a fraction of the cost of a tour guide or book.

The story is about a secret society called the Illuminati that have reemerged after plotting for centuries to annihilate the Catholic Church.  The yarn winds through the streets of Rome as Harvard Professor Robert Langdon races to find a mega bomb planted somewhere in the Vatican by following a secret path called the Path of Illumination which is marked by some of Bernini’s greatest masterpieces.  Besides being a good story, Angels & Demons is a chance to visit some of Rome’s less famous churches and learn more about Catholic symbolism.

For only $2.99 on the iTunes Store you can download this app that provides all the history of the people and places while recommending some of Rome’s best gelato, pizza and restaurants that are nearby to each point of interest.  To save you the pain of a ridiculous bill for data charges we have provided an offline map in the app but we also recommend just grabbing a free paper map in Rome.

Have fun, enjoy your tour and please don’t hesitate to drop us a line to let us know what you think.

The short answer: NO.

When visiting Naples and the rest of the South of Italy you can do better things with your time and money than traveling to Capri to see the Blue Grotto (Grotta Azzurra), especially if  that is your sole intention for visiting Capri .  Yes, this Roman Emperor private swimming hole has breathtaking and unexpected color, but you will be ferried in and out so quickly that you will not have any time to soak it in.  The 11€50 admission charge buys a short and cramped boat trip through a cave that while beautiful is simply a waste of money.

Capri has a breathtaking coastline and cliffs that for centuries have been admired and for a short time during the reign of Tiberius (AD 17-34) feared ( he used to like to toss people down to the jagged shore.)  Today, Capri still attracts emperors of sorts as evidenced by the private ships like Limitless (owned by Victoria Secrets boss Leslie Wexner) that commonly circle the island.  No, there was no Adriana Lima sightings, unfortunately.

If you still decide to visit, knock yourself out.  I recommend giving the Blue Grotto a miss, but you will still see some very comparable caves and water colors on your tour around the island.

Here is an idea of the base costs for a day trip from Naples:

• Ferry:  €11-18 each way
• Boat trip around island (Blue Grotto not included): €14
• Admission to Blue Grotto: €11,50
• Total: minimum €47,50 per person or 8 pizzas at Sorbillos in Naples
• Food is about 2x to 3x more expensive than in Naples
• Limitless purchase price when you get yacht rich, more than $100,000,000
• Cost of renting a yacht like the Limitless $500,000 weekly

So, Capri is not a budget destination but now you something to look forward when you strike it yacht rich.

Stonehenge was high on my list of things to see and I am satisfied with the experience, but I did not have expectations of 30 meter high stones that I would be able to walk freely around and through.  In fact, the highest stone is about 7.5 meters (25 ft) and the monument is roped off so the closest that one can get it about 25 meters (100 or so feet) from the stones.  The £6.50 admission fee (included with most tours) includes an audio guide that does its best to put whatever guesses the experts have about the artifact into context.

Stonehenge is a good experience and recommended for Druids, major history enthusiasts with great imaginations who are not looking for concrete rock solid answers, and people with some time to kill in London who are looking to see the beautiful English countryside.  It is not recommended for people who have limited time in London, people who will be disappointed with only 25ft high stones, and all others who have used the words ‘underwhelming’, ‘overrated’ or ‘boring’ to describe the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Parthenon, Tower of London and or the Roman Forum.

How to get there:

Train is an option but the logistics are a bit complicated.  Probably the easiest way to see the Hanging Rocks is to go with one of the numerous tour companies.  There are a number of tours that either swing by Stonehenge after Windsor Castle and before Bath (approx £65) or go directly there and back (£25 and includes admission).  No matter how you try to do it you are looking at a minimum of 6 hours to get there, see it, and get back.

Salmon and mussel starter from L'Amie Jean

By Sarah— Living in a great city like Paris we often receive the questions:  where do you recommend us going to eat?  which are your favorite places?  Looking back on the last two years and all the delicious meals we’ve eaten, sublime wine we’ve sipped and fantastic atmospheres we’ve enjoyed we have acquired quite a lengthy list of worthwhile places. So here we have our favorites, not necessarily the best in all of Paris, but definitely the locations we frequent.  This list is composed of  the places we have found to be the most interesting, most consistent and best value for the Euro that we have experienced… so far.

After no more ado, here are our Paris favorites arranged from most to least expensive.

L’Amie Jean: Not overly expensive but not cheap either, this little French bistro delivers a quality and authentic dining experience.  The chef Stephane Jego subscribes to idea that haute cusine does not have to be a budget breaker.  The menu focuses on traditional French cooking but Stephane dishes it out in a new and inventive way.  If you are looking for good French food with an interesting twist, we highly recommend this place. Expect the bill to tally around €120 (for two) with a decent bottle of wine and after dinner drinks. A reservation is required.

Monjul: A meal here will run around €110 for two including wine, but the Asian + French fusion warrants the price. This is one of my favorite restaurants not only because I have enjoyed many meals here but because of the, “this is the best meal ever!” comments that our guests make.  My only complaint is that they change their menu infrequently so I tend not to back as often as I would like to. Each dish is unique and interesting in ways even a hardened foodie will find interesting,  with such delectable treats as the silly sounding, yet scrumptious, porky-snacky they have so many things right that they do not need to change their menu often. Recommendations necessary.

Le Comptoir de Relais: Classic sidewalk cafe in the heart of Sant Germain des Pris, which is an area that is great for people watching and relaxing.  Perfect for an afternoon of eating traditional French pates, cheeses and meats while enjoying one of Paris’ most famous neighborhoods without the hefty price-tags of the more famous Cafés just down the street.

Au Sergent Recruteur: All you can eat: Mid-priced classic French country cooking (and a lot of it). We were a bit hesitant to go here the first time, but it was a fun experience. If you have a good group of people and like to not worry about running up the bill with wine then we fully recommend this rustic food barn reminiscent of what you might expect to find in the French countryside after a long carriage ride in the 19th Century.  The food is hearty and plentiful meal starts with a huge basket of fresh veggies and a tasty vinaigrette.  That segways into an all-you-can-eat smorgasbord board of meats, salamis and pates. Wait!  There’s more!  Then there is the main course which is followed by a board of cheeses.  Oh, did I mention that limitless wine is included?  Sure you will be hard pressed to find a Frenchman in here but this place is perfect for getting a good meal and not worrying about running up the bill as the cost is €47 per person without any “surprises” at the end.  Reservations should be made but you can often get a table without.

Bacon and chevre salad from Chez Gladine runs less than €8

Chez Gladine: Cheap, Basque, Lively. In Buttes aux Cailles, this off-the-beaten tourist-path bistro is at maximum capacity every night with French students.  If you arrive any later than 8:00 be prepared for a 30 plus minute wait outside.  But don’t worry, push your way to the bar and order a bottle of wine or beer and enjoy the party outside.  Even though it seems chaotic the staff is friendly (they do speak enough English to put your name on the list and make recommendations), yet efficient at handling the volume of people.  The food is good and basic and there is a lot of dishes so you can’t go wrong. The salads are huge, the duck is delish, and the gateaux basque is sweet.  Don’t be intimidated by the wait or the chaos.  Chez Gladine is a great experience.

Le Pot de Terre: Cheap, French, Touristic. If you are a foodie – don’t bother with this place; however, if you in the mood for decent food without a hefty price tag, then give it a shot. This is a no fuss, no muss restaurant that some would consider very touristy but there are also always a lot of French customers as well.   We always leave satisfied. No reservations necessary.

Au’Petit Grec: Cheap as it can be, Creperie,  Standing room only. On Rue Mouffetard, you can’t miss Au’Petit Grec because it almost always has a line even if the other adjacent creperies are vacant of even a single customer.  The most interesting crepe place we have found which serves up the French staple with a Greek twist.  I like to get here at least once every two weeks for Friday night dinner.  My favorites are the tarama, feta, olives with tomato and lettuce, the bolognese, and the savoyarde. All around good and copious food.

]]> http://ikangaroo.com/2010/04/22/paris-a-locals-food-picks/feed/ 0 http://ikangaroo.com/2010/02/12/history-of-valentines-day/ http://ikangaroo.com/2010/02/12/history-of-valentines-day/#comments Fri, 12 Feb 2010 11:23:45 +0000 Chris http://ikangaroo.com/?p=2221

]]> http://ikangaroo.com/2010/02/12/history-of-valentines-day/feed/ 0 http://ikangaroo.com/2010/02/01/new-orleans-best-crawfish-places/ http://ikangaroo.com/2010/02/01/new-orleans-best-crawfish-places/#comments Mon, 01 Feb 2010 07:00:55 +0000 Chris http://ikangaroo.com/2008/03/18/new-orleans-best-crawfish-places/ 2012 Update by Dylan O’Donnell- New Orleans

Every day is a festival in Louisiana.  Literally.  The soulful, sultry Bayou State in the southern U.S. boasts of more than 400 festivals annually.  And just as Carnival (January 6^th-Ash Wednesday) winds down it’s time for another season: crawfish season! Known as crayfish outside of the linguistically-dynamic borders of Louisiana, these freshwater crustaceans are at their best from March until June.  Similar to an American Barbecue, the people of southern Louisiana typically eat these tasty “mudbugs” at a crawfish boil: a large social gathering often in someone’s backyard where live crawfish are boiled in massive pots full of heavily spiced water, usually with garlic, cayenne, lemons, salt and pepper.  In fact, Louisiana produces 90% of the crawfish in the world, 70% of which is consumed in the state.  Popular items to boil along with the crawfish include sausage, potatoes, mushrooms, artichokes, and whole garlic.  Once done boiling and soaking, this cornucopia of spicy delectables is poured out onto a large table covered in newspaper, and finally covered in a last round of freshly-squeezed lemon juice.  Then its time to “belly up” to the table and chow down.

Although the meat inside the tail of the crawfish is the real prize, it is quite common, encouraged in fact, to suck the spiced juices from the head as well.  So if you find your self lucky enough to end up in a backyard in southern Louisiana elbow to elbow with locals, staring down at a pile of bright red crawdads and someone asks if you “suck the head after pinching the tail”, don’t be offended, they’re just being nice.

For travelers to New Orleans without the luxury of a local contact, here are 6 places to grab some  boiled crawfish and one place to try if you can’t make it to the Big Easy.  And remember, crawfish go great with a cold pilsner, amber-bodied beer, or chilled Sauvignon Blanc.

1. Lucy’s Retired Surfers’ Bar: Located in the Warehouse District, this spot has long been a favorite happy hour spot for the working crowd, especially on Friday’s. During crawfish season Lucy’s does a boil every Sunday from 4:00 until they’re gone.
2. Yo Mama’s Bar and Grill: Just off Bourbon St. Yo Mama’s has a lot going for it: cheaper beer, great hamburgers, close to Bourbon, 60 + varieties of Tequila…and of course, crawfish. They do a boil during the season from Friday to Sunday starting at 12:30 until about 7:00.
3. Acme Oyster House: The NOLA classic serves up boiled crawfish everyday while they are in season.
4. Franky and Johnny’s: Located in the Uptown area of the city (up the river from the French Quarter) this is where the locals go for award-winning boiled crawfish when they’re not cooking them at home. Their solid menu features other New Orleans favorites like po-boys, muffulettas and homemade bread pudding. This place epitomizes the neighborhood bar and boasts a classic jukebox that only plays 45s. Dancing allowed.
5. Big Fisherman Seafood: Sells boiled crawfish by the pound for you to take away. Prices vary each season for a variety of reasons, but will generally fall between $3.50-$4.50/lb. Because the peeling, pinching and sucking motions necessary do not lend themselves to eating “on the go”, try the bar across the street (next).
6. Rouses Supermarkets: Based out of the city of Thibodaux, Louisiana, in the heart of Cajun country, is Rouses Supermarket with locations all over southern Louisiana and Mississippi. They sell hot, boiled crawfish by the pound everyday from 11am-7pm, and at a price that will beat any sit-down joint. However, their beautiful, brand-new store in downtown New Orleans (701 Baronne St) has several areas to sit down and eat your crawfish. Don’t forget cold beer though.
7. Recommended! Deanie’s French Quarter: The original in Bucktown has been a New Orleans favorite for decades. Now they have opened up a brand new location in the French Quarter that serves up delicious seafood including a spicy and succulent crawfish boil.
8. Now for those of you who are not able to make it to New Orleans you can try Pappadeaux. This seafood kitchen has a few locations throughout the USA, which have a crawfish boil a couple of times weekly. Check their website www.Papadeaux.com for locations and days of the week.

Enjoy this video of how to eat the crawdaddies!

For those of you that are not able to make it to NOLA for the Crawfish season make sure you check out the great activities including a Running with the Bulls in the French Quarter put on my NOLA Bulls.  Check out their link here.

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