Which are the best restaurants, spas, and travel destinations? At the end of 2016, I am rating the following (in order of best to worst) based on my personal experience.
Restaurants
Even though Michelin has not rated it, Mama's Fish House on Maui is our favorite restaurant worldwide. Mama's Fish House combines an authentic Hawaiian atmosphere with exceptional cooking and a magnificent tropical setting (overlooking Maui's North Shore, near the famous Ho'okipa Beach) to create an unforgettable dining experience using only the freshest fish caught on Maui.
Dishes
Pizzeria
We have had pizza everywhere in the United States (New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Portland, etc.), France, Italy, Spain, Austria, Netherlands, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, etc. So far, our favorite pizza restaurant is Keste Pizza in Greenwich Village and Eataly in New York City. An excellent, small pizza restaurant had the most fantastic pizza in Paris - but I cannot recall its name. I heard that the absolute world's best pizza is to be found in Naples, Italy - but I have not been there yet.
Our favorite gelateria was in Bologna, Italy. We also tried many exceptional gelaterias in Florence, Siena, Lake Como, Venice, and Lucca.
Spas
Our favorite spas have been in Baden-Baden, Germany, but we've also heard of exceptional spas in Austria (which we have not tried yet).
My favorite book for 2016 is The Wright Brothers by David McCullough. I did not realize the magnitude of the work the brothers accomplished. I also enjoyed reading Now - The Physics of Time by Richard Mueller.
Even though Michelin has not rated it, Mama's Fish House on Maui is our favorite restaurant worldwide. Mama's Fish House combines an authentic Hawaiian atmosphere with exceptional cooking and a magnificent tropical setting (overlooking Maui's North Shore, near the famous Ho'okipa Beach) to create an unforgettable dining experience using only the freshest fish caught on Maui.
- Mama's Fish House, Maui, Hawaii
- Manresa, Los Gatos, CA (3 Michelin Stars)
- The Plumed Horse, Saratoga, CA (1 Michelin Star)
- Lagoon Restaurant by Jean Georges, St. Regis, Bora-Bora, French Polynesia
- Solbar, Calistoga, CA (1 Michelin Star)
- Gary Danko, San Francisco, CA (1 Michelin Star)
- Weinstube Baldreit, Baden-Baden, Germany
- Plachutta, Vienna, Austria
- Humuhumunukunuku'apua, Maui Hawaii
- La Foret, San Jose, CA (Michelin Rated)
- Bouchon, Napa, CA (Michelin Rated)
- Eataly, WTC, New York City (and Munich)
Dishes
- Apple Strudel: Cafe Demel, Vienna, Austria
- Bread: "Country Bread," Tartine Bakery, San Francisco, CA
- Cakes: Cafe Demel, Vienna, Austria
- Croissants: "Pistachio Croissants", Thes Comptoirs Richard, Metz, France
- Flammkuchen: Weinstube Baldreit, Baden-Baden, Germany
- Gelato: Bella Gelateria, Vancouver, Canada
- Gnocchi: Osteria Nonna Gina, Siena, Italy
- Opah, Mama's Fish House, Maui, Hawaii
- Pancakes: "Lemon Ricotta Pancakes," Solbar, Calistoga
- Patisserie: Gerard Mulot Patisserie, Paris, France
- Pizza: "Keste #1", Keste Pizza, Greenwich Village, New York City
- Sandwiches: Small World Sandwich Shop, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Tafelspitz: Plachutta, Vienna, Austria
- Tapas: El Pinton, Seville, Spain
Pizzeria
We have had pizza everywhere in the United States (New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Portland, etc.), France, Italy, Spain, Austria, Netherlands, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, etc. So far, our favorite pizza restaurant is Keste Pizza in Greenwich Village and Eataly in New York City. An excellent, small pizza restaurant had the most fantastic pizza in Paris - but I cannot recall its name. I heard that the absolute world's best pizza is to be found in Naples, Italy - but I have not been there yet.
- Keste Pizza, Greenwich Village, New York City (Keste #1)
- Eataly, WTC, New York City ("Capricciosa" pizza)
- Juliana's Pizza, Brooklyn, New York City (#1 Special)
- Pizza My Heart, Los Gatos, CA (especially "Manresa" only available on Sundays)
Our favorite gelateria was in Bologna, Italy. We also tried many exceptional gelaterias in Florence, Siena, Lake Como, Venice, and Lucca.
- Gelato in Bologna, Italy (near Piazza Maggiore)
- Gelato in Florence, Siena, Lake Como, Venice, Lucca (Italy)
- Bella Gelateria, Vancouver, BC
- Grom, New York City (also in Florence and Siena)
- Eataly, New York City (and Munich)
- Lappert's Ice Cream, Maui, Hawaii
Spas
Our favorite spas have been in Baden-Baden, Germany, but we've also heard of exceptional spas in Austria (which we have not tried yet).
- Aquadome, Langenfeld, Austria
- Friedrichsbad Therme, Baden-Baden, Germany
- Caracalla Therme, Baden-Baden, Germany
- Alpentherme Gastein, Bad Hofgastein, Austria
- Miri-Miri Spa by Clarens, St. Regis, Bora-Bora
- Solage, Calistoga, CA
- Scandinave Spa, Whistler, Canada
- Tabacon, Costa Rica
- Indian Springs, Calistoga, CA
My favorite book for 2016 is The Wright Brothers by David McCullough. I did not realize the magnitude of the work the brothers accomplished. I also enjoyed reading Now - The Physics of Time by Richard Mueller.
- The Wright Brothers by David McCullough
- Now - The Physics of Time by Richard Mueller
- When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
- Highest Duty: My Search for What Really Matters by Chesley Sullenberger
- Growing Up in Moscow: Memories of a Soviet Girlhood by Cathy Young
- American Road Trip by Ilya Ilf, Evgeny Petrov
- Championship Tennis by Frank Giampaolo
- Thank You for Being Late: An Optimist's Guide To Thriving In The Age of Accelerations by Thomas Friedman
Rock Albums (2016)
There were not that many rock albums that I really liked in 2016, but "WALLS," "Blues of Desperation," and "Heavy Entertainment Show" were my favorites.
My favorite rock concert was Elton John's Made in England Tour at Tacoma Dome. It was my first Rock concert and a truly fantastic experience. I have been to his other concerts, i.e., the Red Piano in Las Vegas, but they did not have the same atmosphere and intensity.
My favorite opera is Carmen by Georges Bizet, due to the fantastic music and dramatic story. I am also partial to Puccini, especially Madame Butterfly.
Musical Theater
My favorite musical is Chicago (most recently seen at Ambassador Theater on Broadway), but I am a massive fan of Kander & Ebb musicals (including Cabaret). I like Cole Porter's musicals (Anything Goes, Kiss Me Kate!) and George Gershwin's (Crazy for You) most.
Theater (Drama & Comedy)
I am incredibly partial to William Shakespeare's dramas, especially Hamlet, Macbeth, and King Lear. Having seen them long ago, I don't have any exposure to more recent productions.
Hiking Trails
Half-Dome was the longest, most challenging hike I have done. It has fantastic overlooks of Yosemite Valley. However, the other hikes in Silver Falls State Park in Oregon are also great.
Ski Resorts
My favorite place to ski and snowboard is Whistler, near Vancouver, British Columbia. Whistler usually has great snow with minimal elevation gain, excellent, inexpensive restaurants, and a tremendous youthful vibe (with many other nearby activities such as tubing, ice skating, dog sledding, cross-country skiing, & snowmobiling). It's also has a fabulous Scandinave Spa!
There were not that many rock albums that I really liked in 2016, but "WALLS," "Blues of Desperation," and "Heavy Entertainment Show" were my favorites.
- "WALLS" by Kings of Leon (especially Waste a Moment)
- "Blues of Desperation" by Joe Bonamassa (especially Drive & No Good Place for the Lonely)
- "Heavy Entertainment Show" by Robbie Williams (especially Party Like a Russian)
- "Cleopatra" by The Lumineers (especially Ophelia)
- "I Still Do" by Eric Clapton
- "25" by Adele
- "Squad Goals" by Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox
- "PMJ and Chill" by Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox
- "Stranger to Stranger" by Paul Simon
- "Wonderful Crazy Night" by Elton John
- "Nobody but Me" by Michael Buble
My favorite rock concert was Elton John's Made in England Tour at Tacoma Dome. It was my first Rock concert and a truly fantastic experience. I have been to his other concerts, i.e., the Red Piano in Las Vegas, but they did not have the same atmosphere and intensity.
- Elton John's Made in England Tour, Tacoma Dome, Washington on 9/9/1995
- Leonard Cohen, HP Pavilion, San Jose, 11/7/2012.
- The History of the Eagles, HP Pavilion, San Jose, 1/29/2013
- Postmodern Jukebox, The Warfield, San Francisco, 12/13/2015
- Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Harrah's Hotel and Casino, 5/30/2015
- The Gipsy Kings, Mountain Winery, 8/27/2014.
- Carlos Santana, Shoreline Amphitheater, 2002
My favorite opera is Carmen by Georges Bizet, due to the fantastic music and dramatic story. I am also partial to Puccini, especially Madame Butterfly.
- Carmen, Houston Grand Opera
- Madame Butterfly, Houston Grand Opera, 1993
- Marriage of Figaro, San Francisco Opera, 6/21/15
- Barber of Seville, San Francisco Opera, 11/23/13
- La Traviata, Houston Grand Opera
- Don Giovanni, San Francisco Opera
- La Boheme, San Francisco Opera, 11/22/14
- The Magic Flute, San Francisco Opera
- Lucia de Lammermoor, Houston Grand Opera
- Elektra, Houston Grand Opera
- Salome, Houston Grand Opera
Musical Theater
My favorite musical is Chicago (most recently seen at Ambassador Theater on Broadway), but I am a massive fan of Kander & Ebb musicals (including Cabaret). I like Cole Porter's musicals (Anything Goes, Kiss Me Kate!) and George Gershwin's (Crazy for You) most.
- Chicago, Ambassador Theater, Broadway, New York City 12/18/2016.
- Fiddler on the Roof, Broadway Theater, New York City, 12/23/2016
- Cabaret, Orpheum Theater, San Francisco
- Anything Goes, Golden Gate Theater, San Francisco, 1/19/2013
- Grease, Orpheum Theater, San Francisco
- Monty Python's Spamalot, Orpheum, San Francisco
- Kiss Me Kate, Orpheum, San Francisco
- Saturday Night Fever, Orpheum, San Francisco
- Showboat, War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco, 6/13/2014
- 42nd Street, Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London, 7/15/2017
- Mary Poppins, Orpheum, San Francisco, 5/12/2013
- Mamma Mia, Orpheum, San Francisco
- Phantom of the Opera, Orpheum, San Francisco, 8/21/2015
- The Book of Mormon, San Francisco, 1/7/2014
- Cats, Neil Simon Theater, New York City, 12/24/2016
- The Lion King, Orpheum, San Francisco
- Les Miserables, Orpheum, San Francisco
- Hello Dolly!, Orpheum, San Francisco
- Mathilda, Orpheum, San Francisco, 7/23/2015
- Fosse, San Jose Center for the Performing Arts
- Annie, Portland, Oregon
Theater (Drama & Comedy)
I am incredibly partial to William Shakespeare's dramas, especially Hamlet, Macbeth, and King Lear. Having seen them long ago, I don't have any exposure to more recent productions.
- Emma, TheatreWorks, Palo Alto, 12/4/2015
- Les Liaisons Dangereuses, New York City, 12/22/2016
- Disgraced, Berkeley Rep, Berkeley, 12/12/2015
- Cyrano, TheatreWorks, Mountain View, 4/24/2016
- Outside Mullingar, TheatreWorks, Palo Alto, 10/7/2016
- The Hard Problem, Geary Theater, San Francisco, 10/19/2016
- Daddy Longs Legs, Lucie Stern Theater, Palo Alto, 12/3/2016
- Oleanna, Houston, 1992
Hiking Trails
Half-Dome was the longest, most challenging hike I have done. It has fantastic overlooks of Yosemite Valley. However, the other hikes in Silver Falls State Park in Oregon are also great.
- Half-Dome, Yosemite, CA
- Silver Falls State Park, Oregon
- Dipsea Trail, Sausalito, CA
- Big Basin Redwoods, Boulder Creek, CA
- Castle Rock State Park, CA
- Mt. Shasta, CA
- Point Lobos Natural Reserve, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
- Lassen Volcanic National Park, Mineral, CA
- Huddart County Park, Woodside, CA
Ski Resorts
My favorite place to ski and snowboard is Whistler, near Vancouver, British Columbia. Whistler usually has great snow with minimal elevation gain, excellent, inexpensive restaurants, and a tremendous youthful vibe (with many other nearby activities such as tubing, ice skating, dog sledding, cross-country skiing, & snowmobiling). It's also has a fabulous Scandinave Spa!
- Whistler/Blackcomb, BC, Canada (best resort)
- Mount Hood Meadows, Mt. Hood, Oregon
- Squaw Valley, Lake Tahoe, CA
- Mt. Bachelor, Oregon
- Kirkwood, Lake Tahoe, CA
- Heavenly, South Lake Tahoe
- Mt. Rose, East Lake Tahoe, NV
- Sierra-at-Tahoe, Lake Tahoe, CA
- Sugar Bowl, Lake Tahoe, CA (closest resort)
- Northstar, Lake Tahoe
0 comments:
Post a Comment