I’d be remiss if I did not write about the Time Out Market in Lisbon. My friends and I did not know what to see or do in Lisbon, so we had a bike guide to take us on a tour. I am glad we did because our bike guide, who looked like The Rock, was amazing! He took us all around Lisbon, brought us cool spots to drink, and most importantly brought us to the amazing Time Out Market.

When I walked into the Time Out Market, I was immediately overwhelmed. There were so many vendors, and they all were serving fresh, local Portuguese cuisine. There was everything from croquettes, to seafood, to steak, to bars, to pizza, you name a food, they probably had it. Some of the chefs at these vendors had Michelin stars as well. Everything looked unreal, so I was going to try to hit as many of the vendors as I possibly could. All the food was incredible, but the one item I will always remember was the Prego Yuppie sandwich from O Prego da Peixaria.

O Prego da Peixaria serves the “Prego” which is the national steak sandwich of Portugal. In fact, it is the city’s first place dedicated to the sandwich. The Yuppie, which I got, had sirloin with basil mayonnaise, cheddar cheese, and bacon. This sandwich was heavenly. The steak was juicy, tender, and flavorful, the cheddar cheese brought a kick to the sandwich, the bacon was thick and juicy, and the basil mayo provided more of a savory flavor. In addition, the roll was soft and fresh. This sandwich had everything going for it, I was the happiest guy in the market eating this thing.

Takeaways: The Time Out Market in Lisbon has tons of outstanding food to offer. I could’ve stayed there all day, and eaten until I was in a food coma. The Prego Yuppie was a meat eaters dream, and one of the best sandwiches I have ever had. I would HIGHLY recommend this market to any foodie.

Score: 9.3 

Interlaken, Switzerland is known as the adventure capital of Switzerland. There are many amazing things to do while in Interlaken, and eating at Stadthaus should be on your “must do” list. Obviously skiing in the alps, or skydiving is much more memorable, but in terms of food, this is one of the top spots in the village. Located in the old part of Interlaken, Stadthaus serves up traditional Swiss alpine cuisine.

To be blunt, Stadthaus had one of the best menus I have ever seen. Almost everything on the menu looked fantastic. It was a struggle to pick one meal, but two things were a lock. The first was the fondue to share. Next up, we ordered a German pint of beer (Interlaken is in the German-speaking part of Switzerland). Both the fondue and beer were terrific. The fondue was savory, rich, and had a little bite to it. The beer was refreshing and huge. This meal was off to a great start.

If you’ve read some of my other blogs, a common theme is that I like to order multiple dishes to split with my friends. Since this menu had so many amazing choices, it made sense to keep that theme going…we ordered the wienerschnitzel and the alpine rösti.

The wienerschnitzel consisted of a fried Swiss veal escalope with cranberry chutney sauce and fries on the side. The wienerschnitzel was delicious, as it was crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside. This thin piece of veal had enough flavor to eat without a sauce, but the cranberry paired very well with it. The fries weren’t notable, but were nice to have.

The alpine rösti consisted of hash browns, with bacon, and a fried egg topped with melted gruyère cheese. This dish caught our eye from the very beginning. I love every ingredient in this dish. I eagerly awaited the alpine rösti to arrive at our table. The main thing I remember about the alpine rösti was that it had a lot of crunch. You got a crunch from bacon and hash browns in every bite. It paired nicely with the soft, savory egg and cheese on top. The taste, however, was a little underwhelming. I still enjoyed this a lot, but I’d try another dish next time.

Takeaways: Stadthaus has one of the best menus I’ve seen in my life. I wish I could’ve tried more dishes when I was there. The dessert menu also looked amazing. The food itself was very good. The fondue and the wienerschnitzel were the winners, and I had the largest pint of beer in my life here. The alpine rösti was good, but I’d like to try some of their other traditional items next time.

Score: 8.9/10

Maria Catita is a bustling, popular restaurant serving up traditional Portuguese fare in the Santa Maria Maior area of Lisbon. Going there on a Saturday night, we knew we’d be waiting for a while, however the staff was extremely accommodating. They got the party going for us early that night by giving us two huge Sangria pitchers to help with our wait. After an hour or so, we were at the table ready for a Portuguese feast. 

My friend and I decided to share 2 local staples: the seafood and lobster cataplana with rice for two, and the Bitoque Maria Catita Style. To be honest, I didn’t really know what our dishes would be like, even after our informative waiter did his best to explain them. He just said both of these were good, so we rolled with it. The lobster and seafood cataplana was similar to paella due to the fact that it was like a seafood stew. It was in a red sauce, and was packed with seafood including shrimp, lobster, mussels, and more. It was a great bang for your buck. The seafood was tender and tasty, and went well over a bed of rice. I’d totally get this again if I came back, but damn it was a lot of food, and I don’t say that often!

The next dish we got was the Bitoque Maria Catita style. It wasn’t a huge steak, but I’ll tell you what, it was tender, juicy, and flavorful. There was never a dull bite. The presentation of the steak was excellent with perfect char marks on the top. This came with a cream sauce on the side, but you didn’t even need to add it. I would take the bistecca alla Fiorentina any day of the week, but I still enjoyed this steak.  

Takeaways: Maria Catita provided us with a true Portuguese meal. It was well worth the wait, and the awesome reviews were legit about the quality of the restaurant. The servers were full of personality and matched our energy all night (we were the last ones in the restaurant, as we usually are wherever we eat). The seafood and  lobster Cataplana was the winner, but the steak was also very good. They make a mean sangria here, and have an extensive wine list.

Score: 8.6/10

*cataplana is the cookware used to cook the seafood in

Located in the fabulous Brugge also known as “The Venice of Belgium”, Books and Brunch is a cant miss breakfast and lunch spot. Their motto (on their menu) is that “eating and reading are two pleasures that combine admirably”, and they could not be more spot-on. Hence the name, the inside of the restaurant is lined with shelves full of books in many different languages. Many of the other patrons took to reading while they were enjoying their breakfast. There is a real mellow vibe to Books and Brunch, meaning you will have a nice, peaceful meal. Anyways enough about the cool atmosphere… the food was fantastic.

As I did at many other restaurants, I found that the best way to experience a menu is to split two or more dishes with my friends. This is what I did at Books and Brunch. They had an attractive menu full of fresh, local ingredients. The first thing we got were fresh waffles because we were in Belgium, and you’d be crazy not to order a waffle when in Belgium. After some deliberation, the next item we ordered was a build your own omelette with bacon, cheese, and herbs . 

The belgian waffles were incredible. Our waffles were loaded with thick strips of bacon, banana slices, whipped cream, and topped with powdered sugar. There was the perfect mix of sweet and savory going on. The waffles were crisp on the outside edges, and soft on the inside. When you cut into them, you got that crunch. This was some of the better waffles I had eaten in a long time.

The next thing we got was the build your own omelette. The presentation of the dish was very nice. The omelette was a perfect circle cut in half with herbs on top. It was served over toast. This was a great omelette. It was nothing crazy, but it was everything I could’ve wanted in a bacon and cheese omelette. It was tasty and filled me up, couldn’t ask for more than that!

Takeaways: Books and Brunch is a quaint breakfast and lunch spot that should definitely be on the list if you are in Brugge, Belgium. The servers were very welcoming, and our food came out quick. The waffles were the winner of the meal which was to be expected as we were in Belgium. I’ll also add that the fresh orange juice was fantastic. We left Books and Brunch satisfied with smiles on our faces. That’s when you know you’ve had a good meal. Great spot overall.

Score: 9.0/10

Bistro Richelieu, located in the 1st arrondissement of Paris, is an exceptional restaurant to enjoy a classic French meal. As French onion soup enthusiast, I was real excited to eat here as Bistrot Richelieu had a high “soup” rating on the many “top French onion soup in Paris” lists I looked at. I knew we were in for a great meal because our Uber driver told us that we picked a terrific restaurant on the way there. It’s safe to say our expectations were high. 

To start off, we got a nice French red wine to pair with the “homemade onion soup au gratin”. The soup was delicious. It had melted cheese on the top that was crispy on the sides… which you had to break with your spoon. The cheese wasn’t melted around the rim of the bowl, but they didn’t skimp out on the cheese. The broth of the soup was savory, and paired well with the sharpness of the cheese on each bite. 

Now we weren’t going to go to Paris without trying escargot. None of us had tried it before, but we wanted to get out of our “food” comfort zone. The escargot was served with a greenish liquid sauce. I didn’t know what to expect, but the sauce was delicious, and made the snail taste really good. It’s safe to say that I am now a fan of escargot.

For the main course, I went with the classic French duck breast with an orange sauce and a side of potatoes. As a fan of duck, I had high hopes for this dish, and it didn’t disappoint. The duck was tender and packed with flavor. It was seasoned very well. Each bite got better. The potatoes on the side were soft and flavorful. I would get this again if I went back to Bistrot Richelieu.

Takeaways: I think we all had high expectations going into this meal. Bistrot Richelieu delivered a masterclass and fulfilled our hopes. The escargot and French onion soup were both winners, and the French duck breast was the cherry on top. I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone in Paris, and it was one of the more memorable meals I had in Europe.

Score: 9.5/10l

La Libera is a restaurant near Parco Sempione in Milan, serving up traditional Lombard meat and fish dishes in cozy dining rooms. As we walked past this restaurant, it looked bustling, and had good reviews. We decided to give it a go. After learning there was a 15-20 minute wait, the staff immediately offered us a spot nice at the bar while we waited. We enjoyed some traditional Compari Spritz’s, and soon enough we were escorted to our table.

After we were seated, a server delivered a massive bread basket. This amount of bread could have singlehandedly filled us up before we even ordered, but we came for the Milanese cuisine, so took it easy on the bread.

For primi piatti, we ordered a two pasta combo. We split the “pappardelle di grano saraceno al ragù di vitello” or buckwheat pappardelle with a veal ragu and the “spaghetti al cacio e pepe con profumo di limone” or spaghetti with pepper and cheese with a lemon scent. The buckwheat pappardelle was a bit different than the other pastas I have had in Italy simply because it was made from a different grain. The pasta was still great because it was so fresh, and I’d say the bitter/nutty flavor of the buckwheat went really well with the tender veal ragu. The cacio e pepe was also very good, and I appreciated the twist of the lemon flavor. Sure, Rome is the home of cacio e pepe and you’ll find the best ones there, but this cacio e pepe certainly didn’t disappoint. The sauce was creamy yet light, and the tang of the cheese, kick of the pepper, and zest from the lemon all paired really well with each other. We really enjoyed both pastas.

So Milan is known for its Cotoletta alla Milanese (veal cutlet) and Risotto Alla Milanese. We were on a mission to try these dishes while in Milan. So for the Secondi piatti, we ordered both. The cotoletta alla milanese is essentially a Wiener schnitzel, which the Italians actually take credit for inventing. The veal cutlet was crispy on the outside, yet it was light. The veal itself was tender, and tasty. I was really impressed with the cotoletta alla milanese and would definitely get it again. The saffron risotto was good, but I don’t know if I would order it again. I was surprised at first because the risotto was hard, and had a crunch to it. This was different than the risotto I have had back in the States, as it is normally soft and fully cooked. I still liked it, it was just not what I expected. The saffron was good, and a little sweet. I am not a fan of saffron, so the flavor was not necessarily in my wheelhouse, but if you like saffron I’m sure you will highly enjoy this dish. 

Takeaways: All we were seeking was to try traditional Milanese cuisine in Milan and La Libera hit the spot. The two pastas in the beginning were different, and really tasty. I loved the cotoletta alla milanese, and would get it again in a heartbeat. I was not the biggest fan of the risotto alla milanese, but I’d be willing to try it again somewhere else. Overall, I would recommend La Libera to anyone who is trying to try traditional Milanese cuisine.

Score: 7.9/10

Known as “The Culinary Capital of Italy”, Bologna has no shortage of amazing food. Bologna is the capital of the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy which produces parmigiano-reggiano, balsamic vinaigrette, and prosciutto di parma. It is really hard to find a bad meal in Bologna, as there is just so much good food. My introduction to the Bologna culinary scene was visiting Salumeria Simoni for aperitivos. This restaurant is located on one of the small, lively streets of Bologna. Salumeria Simoni was nothing short of amazing. 

We ordered two samplers here. One was a parmesan sampler, which included three different aged parmesans with balsamic vinaigrette from Modena on top, and the second sampler was a meat and cheese plate (which I will get to later). The parmigiano sampler was fantastic. The three different parmigiano options were cut into cubes and separated, making them really easy to eat. The parmigiano-reggiano’s were aged 18 months, 24 months, and 36 months. Each parmesan had a different flavor profile and texture. My favorite was the 24 month aged parmigiano because it had a bit of a “crunch” to it, and a bold flavor. This was the most authentic parmigiano-reggiano I’ve ever had. All three cheeses were delicious, and I would’ve eaten 3 more samplers if I had time to stay at Simoni all afternoon. 

The meat and cheese platter was heaven on a plate. Everything was locally made. The plate included a bit of mortadella (another specialty of the region), prosciutto crudo, salami, this pinkish spread which we had no idea what is was, but very good nonetheless, parmigiano with modena balsamic on it, two different local cheeses, and finally squacquerone cheese. I discovered squacquerone here, and it was one of the best cheeses I have ever had. It is a rich, spreadable cheese that is a little sweet and tangy (now that I am back in America, I have not been able to find it!). If you go to the Emilia-Romagna region, this is a must get.

Salumeria Simoni was so good, we went back another time to get another meat and cheese platter. The platter we got was a little different as it had sun-dried tomatoes and an additional meat which was a local type of salami (salame rosa). This was just as good as the first time we went. 

In addition, the bread cubes served at the table were really tasty. You did not need any olive oil or balsamic to dress up this bread. 

Takeaways: Literally anything on this menu is excellent. You cannot go wrong at Salumeria Simoni. It was a great introduction to the Bologna food scene for me. We would’ve ordered more food if we weren’t doing a culinary tour of the city. I highly recommend this place for anyone who goes to Bologna.

Score: 9.5/10 

As you walk into the walled city of Siena in Italy, you will be amazed by the architecture and natural beauty. The home of the world famous Palio, Siena simply doesn’t disappoint. After walking through a gate within the wall, the first street my friend and I hit was Via Camollia. What struck us was the amount of “hole-in-the-wall-like” restaurants that all looked amazing. We found our match in Prosciutteria Al Peccatore, a small prosciutteria filled with locals. Not a lick of English was spoken here, filled with locals . . . we knew we hit the right spot.

To start off, we got a prosciutto and burrata plate. I kid you not, my friend and I still talk about this prosciutto to this day. It was simply incredible. The prosciutto itself was reddish pink with white marbling. It had just the right amount of salt flavor, and it fell apart with a gentle touch. Then there was a pepper crust on the outside. This is what put it over the top. I had never had a prosciutto with a pepper crust (like this). It was reminiscent of the pepper crust on a barbeque brisket. The pepper, along with the salty flavor, was a match made in heaven. I didn’t even mention the burrata yet! This was also really, really good. It was a soft, rich burrata that paired really well with the prosciutto. This was, by far, the best prosciutto and burrata I have ever had.

Next, I got a lasagna. The prosciutto and burrata were going to be impossible to top, however I still had high hopes for the lasagna. This was my first lasagna in Italy. It was delicious. The top of the lasagna was firm from being baked a long time, and there was grease running from the bottom of it (that’s good stuff!). The middle layers were soft, and packed with flavor. It had everything you’d expect from a good meat lasagna. It was very satisfying, but I’d try something else next time.

Takeaways: Prosciutteria Al Peccatore is a delicious and affordable restaurant. The prosciutto and burrata dish was unforgettable, and I will savor that dish for the rest of time. That would single-handedly bring me back here. The lasagna was very good as well, but it was not the main attraction. I would highly recommend this to anyone who is in Siena. 

Score: 7.9/10

La Tavernetta 29 da Tony e Andrea is an welcoming restaurant in the Trastevere area of Rome. There is indoor, and outdoor seating here. I recommend sitting inside (if you can get a table) because the interior has an intimate, lively atmosphere. If you get lucky, as we did, you will get a table inside and the owner/chef Tony will come out and personally deliver some dishes to your table (well, he did for us!). The food is fantastic, and literally everything looked delicious coming out of the kitchen.

One of the Roman staples is the Cacio e Pepe pasta dish. Naturally, this was going to be one of the dishes that we ordered (ok, we ordered 2 of them). This dish came on an oval platter-like dish and with a healthy serving of pasta. The rigatoni pasta was lightly kissed in this amazing pecorino cheese sauce with black pepper. Although I added some parmesan to the pasta, it did not need it (it’s just a auto pilot thing I do). Cacio e Pepe is a simplistic dish, yet at La Tavernetta 29 da Tony e Andrea, it was flavor-packed. The tang of the pecorino cheese sauce was delicious, and the black pepper added a little kick. This was truly one of the best pastas I’ve ever had, and it is a must-get dish here.

In addition to the pasta, we ordered a chicken with peppers dish and the chicken parmesan. Both of these dishes were sizzling as they were delivered to the table. The owner Tony also brought us a platter of crispy cut potatoes (on the house) to complement our meal. The chicken and pepper dish was packed with flavor. The chicken was falling off the bone and covered in a light red sauce. The peppers were not spicy; they were just incredibly juicy. I really enjoyed this dish. It was a large portion, that can definitely be shared. The other dish we got was the chicken parmesan. Now chicken parm is typically an American-Italian meal, but we still wanted to try it here. It kind of looked like a pizza on the circular platter it was served on with bubbling cheese with dollops of red sauce on top. It was oven baked, and had a char on the perimeter of the cheese. The chicken was tender, and the dish itself was packed with flavor. In my opinion, it was a little too heavy on the cheese, but we consumed it just fine. Although I liked the chicken parmesan, you can find it stateside, so go for the other dishes. I would recommend getting the steak instead of the chicken parmesan because it looked unbelievable. You could hear the sizzle of the steak from yards away when it was being brought out of the kitchen. 

Takeaways: La Tavernetta 29 da Tony e Andrea is a can’t miss spot in the Trastevere region of Rome. They say the two crown jewels of Italian food are in Bologna and Rome, so more often than not, you will find a good restaurant in Rome. However, if you are able to get a reservation here, you will not be disappointed. The pasta dishes are off the charts, and the secondi piatti is very good as well. In addition to the great food, their service is of top quality. Chef Tony was one of the most gracious and gregarious people we met on our trip to Rome. This would, no doubt, be the first restaurant I would go back to when/if I visited Rome again.

Score: 8.8/10