Friday, August 17, 2012

Most Visited Them Parks

World's most-visited theme parks

By Suzanne Rowan Kelleher | Travel+Leisure – Wed, Aug 8, 2012 4:45 PM EDT
Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World (Photo: tcwmatt | Flickr)

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Four decades after opening, the Magic Kingdom is still the world’s No. 1 most popular theme park, working its pixie-dust charm on more than 17 million annual visitors.

But Mickey Mouse has some competition. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, which opened in the summer of 2010, single-handedly carried Islands of Adventure into the world's top 10. Theme parks in Asia are growing even faster.  
The takeaway? If you build it, they will come—especially if you spend a boatload of money and create an experience that's, to use the industry's favorite buzzword, immersive. The latest and greatest new theme-park attractions are designed to pull us right into the story, whether we're engaging in an epic robot battle, soaking up the retro cars culture along Route 66, or downing pints of butterbeer with Hogwarts students.

Get the scoop on which other attractions and events are drawing crowds to the world’s most-visited theme parks.


1) Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World, FL

Annual Visitors: 17,142,000

In 2011, more than 17 million people visited the world's favorite theme park, eager for photos by iconic Cinderella's castle and a turn on rides like Pirates of the Caribbean and Splash Mountain. “It is what people think about when they think of Disney World,” explains Deb Wills, founder of AllEars.Net. A Disney character parade cuts through the park and heads down Main Street, USA, every afternoon, and a fireworks spectacular lights up the sky many nights. The makeover of Fantasyland is the big news for 2012.


Disneyland Park (Photo: Greg Balfour Evans / Alamy)2) Disneyland Park, Anaheim, CA

Annual Visitors: 16,140,000

Disney's original theme park, opened in 1955, comes in a close second to its significantly larger counterpart in Orlando. Disneyland can boast about some of Walt's best original rides as well as the newly revamped Disney California Adventure next door—all the more reason to book an Anaheim vacation.




Tokyo Disneyland (Photo: 2011 Disney Enterprises, Inc.)3) Tokyo Disneyland

Annual Visitors: 13,996,000

Though closed for a full month in 2011 following the tsunami, the 126-acre Japanese Disneyland still managed to pull in 14 million visitors. “It was a little bit surprising how strong this park did in the face of literal disaster,” says Robert Niles of Theme Park Insider. But maybe locals needed that Disney magic more than ever.





Tokyo Disney Sea (Photo: 2011 Disney Enterprises, Inc.)4) Tokyo Disney Sea

Annual Visitors: 11,930,000

Attendance dropped 6 percent at Disney's unique marine-themed park, whose seven themed areas are replicas of some of the world's most scenic ports of call. Like Tokyo Disneyland, it was closed for a month in 2011 following Japan's earthquake and tsunami.





Disneyland Paris (Photo: Marcos Veiga / Alamy)5) Disneyland, Disneyland Paris

Annual Visitors: 10,990,000

Europe's most popular theme park had a respectable 5 percent attendance bump amid a Continental recession. The park is heralding its 20th anniversary in 2012 with an elaborate nighttime light-and-sound show, a new carnival-style parade, and a meet-and-greet character train.










Epcot, Walt Disney World (Photo: Songquan Deng / Alamy)6) Epcot, Walt Disney World, FL

Annual Visitors: 10,825,000

Disney's futuristic- and international-themed park fell one position last year as its attendance flatlined at 10.8 million visitors. Expect a surge in numbers when the feverishly anticipated major renovation of Test Track is completed this fall. Other top attractions include Soarin' and Mission: SPACE.











Animal Kingdom, Walt Disney World (Photo: M. Timothy O'Keefe / Alamy)7) Animal Kingdom, Walt Disney World, FL

Annual Visitors: 9,783,000

This 500-acre homage to Africa is by far the largest of all Disney theme parks, re-creating a lush jungle area and savanna that is home to 1,700 animals from 250 species. The Expedition Everest coaster and Kilimanjaro Safaris often attract the biggest crowds.





Hollywood Studios, Walt Disney World (Photo: M. Jeremy Pembrey / Alamy)8) Hollywood Studios, Walt Disney World, FL

Annual Visitors: 9,699,000

Disney's entertainment-themed park claimed the No. 8 spot for the second year running. Much of the credit goes to favorite thrill rides Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, not to mention stunt-filled shows like “Lights, Motors, Action!”





Universal Studios Japan (Photo: Photo Japan / Alamy)9) Universal Studios Japan, Osaka

Annual Visitors: 8,500,000

A chockablock calendar of 10th-anniversary events in 2011 helped secure the No. 9 spot for Universal's Japanese park, which mixes the best elements from its Orlando and Hollywood counterparts and features crowd-pleasing rides (Jaws) and shows (“Shrek's 4-D Adventure”). Watch for attendance to skyrocket when the Wizarding World of Harry Potter opens in 2014.


Islands of Adventure (Photo: stephen searle / Alamy)10) Islands of Adventure, Universal Orlando, FL

Annual Visitors: 7,674,000

Catapulting ahead of Disney California Adventure and into the top 10 for the first time has given Universal execs newfound bragging rights. And with an expansion of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in the works, don't expect attendance to slacken anytime soon.

See more of the World's Most-Visited Theme Parks
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Thursday, August 16, 2012

Retreat To New Delhi, India

Find Tranquility on a Retreat to New Delhi, India with Deepak Chopra

By Yahoo! & American Express Travel | Insider Escapes – Tue, Jul 24, 2012 4:20 PM EDT
Find tranquility with meditation in the Lodi Gardens, yoga in the foothills of the Himalayas at Rishikesh, and much more.




“The video shown above provided by Yahoo!. The following itinerary provided by American Express Travel.”

Where to Stay
Where you decide to spend the night in New Delhi depends on your itinerary, your budget, and the amenities most important to your vacation. There are lots of different hotels in New Delhi, ranging from the posh and expensive to the small and modest, and you will have to decide if you prefer to stay in a chain hotel or in an independent establishment.
South and Central New Delhi are considered the ideal locations for a pleasant vacation or business visit. Both areas are well-kept and relatively safe, with significant access to shops, tourist destinations, and historical landmarks. South New Delhi is a popular choice because the airport is located here. You'll have easy access to shopping malls, restaurants, and public transportation. Central New Delhi is a downtown district with larger, more expensive hotels.
If you are looking for a quieter place to stay, and if you don't mind hiring a car service or finding other means of transportation, North New Delhi is also an option. This is where most of the suburban neighborhoods are located, as well as Delhi University. You'll find budget hotels, most of which belong to chains, and a more serene environment. This is ideal if the hustle and bustle of downtown activity turns you off.

What to See
New Delhi is a gorgeous city with plenty of historical landmarks, tourist destinations, and intriguing architecture. Delve into India's rich history with a visit to the walled city of Old Delhi. Lal Qila, widely known as the Red Fort, was originally built as the residence of the Mughal Emperors in the 17th century. Wander through the winding streets to take in the shopping in Old Delhi, which boasts entire streets devoted to the sale of a particular item, whether silver, fabric, or leather.
Explore the lush and manicured Lodi Gardens, Deepak Chopra's favorite spot to meditate. On your way to the 1930s Bengali Market, the oldest market in New Delhi which offers some of the city's best street food and desserts, wander past the monumental India Gate, which commemorates those who died in World War I and in Afghanistan in 1919.
Take in Humayun's Tomb, a UNESCO World Heritage site built in the 16th century as a monument to the Mughal Emperor, Humayun. Escape the hustle and bustle of vibrant Delhi for the foothills of the Himalayas: Rishikesh is one of India's most spiritual destinations, the birthplace of yoga.
Where to Eat
Enjoy a long, relaxing lunch at Chor Bizarre (Hotel Broadway, 4/15A, Asaf Ali Road, 91 11 4366 3600), a name that translates roughly as thieves market. The restaurant serves delectable North Indian cuisine in a quirky setting with nostalgic décor, kitschy details, and vintage furnishings. Or, after a day exploring the ancient streets of Old Delhi, unwind over dinner at Moti Mahal (Bahadur Shah Zafar Rd 011 23273011), a landmark in the city's culinary history. Set up shortly after independence in 1947, it claims to have introduced such famous Indian cuisine as tandoori chicken and burra kebabs.
And you won't want to leave New Delhi without experiencing Bukhara (Diplomatic Enclave, Sadar Patel Marg, 91 11 26112233), a festive and luxurious North Indian restaurant at the ITC Maurya.



What excites you most about traveling to India?

342 people have answered this question

14%
8%
14%
17%
10%
37%
Its inherent spirituality as the birthplace of yoga and meditation. The history of its cities, temples, and tombs.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?
DRAG

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Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Were Healthiest People Live

Secrets of the World's Healthiest People
By Lisa Collier Cool
Aug 10, 2012
You’ve heard of disease “hot spots,” but did you know that there are also “cold spots” where rates of chronic illnesses like heart disease, diabetes, depression, and cancer are very low? Making their exceptional good health particularly amazing, people who live in disease “cold spots” often have genetic or environmental factors that should put them at higher—not lower—risk for these illnesses.
Studies of places around the world where chronic diseases are rare reveal some surprisingly simple habits that can help you live an unusually long, healthy life. Here’s a look at some intriguing discoveries about the world’s healthiest people, made by integrative medicine physician Daphne Miller, MD, author of “The Jungle Effect.”
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Copper Canyon, Mexico: A Cold Spot for Diabetes

Although rates of type 2 diabetes are soaring at an alarming rate in Mexico—and the U.S.—this lifestyle-related disease is almost unknown among the more than 50,000 Tarahumara Indians who live in Copper Canyon. Yet the Tarahumara Indians are close genetic relatives of the Pima Indians of the US, who have the highest rates of type 2 in the world.
Surprisingly, the Tarahumara Indians eat a high-carb diet, but it’s based on unrefined carbs, such as hand-ground tortillas, beans, and corn. Dr. Miller reports that this combination of foods appears to lower the glycemic index of the carbs, while herbs and spices in the tribe’s diet—including cinnamon, cloves, parsley, garlic, and mustard greens—also have beneficial effects on blood sugar. In addition, the Tarahumara lead a traditional lifestyle, which includes plenty of exercise, also helping explain their resistance to diabetes, despite genes that predispose them to develop it.

Cameroon, West Africa: A Cold Spot for Cancer

In the West African village of Ntui, both colon cancer and other bowel disorders are rare. One key reason is that the villagers’ diet is high in fiber and low in meat, the most protective eating plan. A recent study by the World Cancer Research Fund and American Institute for Cancer Research reported that if we ate more fiber—and less red meat—more than 64,000 cases of cancer cases would be prevented each year.
As I recently reported, a study of more than 400,000 people linked a high-fiber diet to longer life, as well as reduced risk for fatal cardiovascular disease, infections, and respiratory disorders. The researchers found that fiber from whole grains, such as barley, buckwheat, oats, whole wheat, quinoa, rye, brown or wild rice, and amaranth, was the most beneficial.
West African villagers, like Icelanders, also eat fermented foods, which provide “good” bacteria (probiotics) that improve bowel health and improve immune system functioning. Fermented foods in the African diet include relishes, pickled foods, fermented corn and millet, and yogurt.
Ask the Expert: Chemotherapy Side Effects

Iceland: A Cold Spot for Depression

Despite long hours of darkness for much of the year—thought to be a contributing factor to high rates of depression in some Nordic countries—people in Iceland reportedly have the world’s lowest rate of depression. Among the factors that protect them is a diet that’s extremely high in omege-3 fatty acids.
Icelanders eat large amounts of fish (one of the best sources of Omega-3), along with lamb that grazes on moss rich in Omega-3, wild game, such as birds that feed on fish. One of the largest randomized clinical studies of Omega-3 supplements ever conducted reported that they are effective at improving symptoms of major depression in people who do not have anxiety disorders, compared to a placebo.
Some of the more unusual foods of Iceland include:
  • Harkl—putrified shark that is buried for months before being served
  • Sklyr—a fermented form of yogurt
  • Svio—halved singed sheep’s head
  • Hrutspungar—pressed and pickled lamb testicles
  • Lamb ofel—a mix of internal organs including liver, kidney, brains and intestines
Depression Warning Signs You Shouldn't Ignore

    Crete: A Cold Spot for Heart Disease

    A landmark 40-year study launched in 1958 found that of the seven European countries studied, men who enjoyed the best bealth and longevity lived in 11 villages in the island of Crete, which is the birthplace of the heart-protective Mediterranean diet.
    But which foods make this diet so beneficial? Extra virgin olive oil contains powerful antioxidants that combat free radical damage, while Omega-3 rich seafood has an anti-clotting effect. Most people don’t realize that blood clots (not just blockages in the arteries) are the cause of heart attacks.
    Cretans also eat rusks—a type of high-fiber stone-ground bread, often dipped in wine or olive oil and vinegar—wild greens packed with micronutrients, legumes, and for dessert, yogurt drizzled with honey. Dr. Miller believes that it’s the combination of all of these healthy foods, and very limited amounts of red meat, that explain why the Mediterranean diet is so good for the heart.
    ——————————
    Get the information you need to improve your health and wellness on Healthline.com.
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    Tuesday, August 14, 2012

    20 Best Restaurants In America

    20 Best Restaurants in America

    By The Daily Meal | Shine's Spring Travel Guide – Tue, Feb 28, 2012 6:10 PM EST
    Great dining all over the nationGreat dining all over the nationWhat factors make any given restaurant that much better than another? In a country with so many great eating places to choose from, seeking out the best ones can be a daunting feat and could quite possibly inspire blood-boiling debate. Just how good is that cozy neighborhood spot with the best spaghetti and meatballs you've ever had? What about that impossible-to-get-into sushi bar that serves 20 perfectly executed courses to a handful of lucky diners every night? And who's to say the best restaurant in America isn't a barbecue place so incredible that both visitors and locals are willing to wait in line for three hours for sliced brisket and ribs? Bearing this in mind, we offer The Daily Meal's list of the 101 Best Restaurants in America for 2012.

    Click here to see The Daily Meal's 101 Best Restaurants in America 2012

    This is our second annual attempt to acknowledge and rank the multitude of great restaurants, on every level, with which our country is blessed, and it should be noted that while a third of last year's restaurants fell off, 68 of the places that made the cut last year also secured a spot in 2012. That turnover made room for a considerable handful of new, fresh places and familiar spots that didn't show up in 2011.

    Click here to see 15 Food Jingles You'll Never Forget

    The list includes all kinds of restaurants - there are pizza places (such as Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana in New Haven, Conn., and Pizzeria Bianco in Phoenix), taco joints (like La Taqueria in San Francisco) and a handful of real down-home spots serving up food without frills (like Ben's Chili Bowl in Washington, D.C., and Arthur Bryant's in Kansas City, Mo.). Right beside those more casual eateries are fine dining restaurants that are constantly bringing innovation to the culinary scene, and ones that stand as iconic beacons of light that have guided the industry for decades. It appears that The New York Times' revered dining section would agree with this philosophy, given Pete Wells' review of Shake Shack.

    Click here to see the Best American Restaurants Across the Country

    You may question the final results ("Katz's Deli is better than Next?"), and wonder aloud how on earth one restaurant made the list when it's so clear to you that another one that didn't is much more deserving ("Ben's Chili Bowl made it but Meadowood didn't?"). But given the nature of the content being ranked, with restaurants and dining experiences as subjective as they are, it would be surprising if there weren't some disagreements. Please do let us know what you think we've missed or misranked, though. We'll publish a follow-up with your comments and opinions - and, hey, if you turn us on to some great places we've somehow missed, so much the better. There's always next year.


    CochonCochon#20 Cochon, New Orleans

    A serious cult favorite since it opened in 2006, Cochon is the domain of pork-loving chef Donald Link, proprietor of the popular Herbsaint and winner of a James Beard Award for his cookbook Real Cajun. Inspired by Cajun and Creole culinary traditions, Link serves dishes like shrimp étouffée and Louisiana cochon (roast pig) with turnips, cabbage, and cracklins', as well as such non-porcine delights as fried alligator with chile garlic aïoli and rabbit with dumplings. Things are still on fire at this Nola hot spot - chef Stephen Stryjewski won a 2011 James Beard Award for Best Chef in the South. cochonrestaurant.com


    DanielDaniel#19 Daniel, New York City

    This very grown-up restaurant on Manhattan's Upper East Side maintains standards of service and cuisine - French haute cuisine, very much an endangered species today - that hark back to an earlier era. But the cooking is up-to-date and really, really good. It's so good in fact, that President Obama is a regular of sorts - he held a $15,000 (per person) fundraiser in January and has already visited again since then. danielnyc.com


    Peter LugerPeter Luger#18 Peter Luger, Brooklyn, NY

    Peter Luger is a New York classic - an institution even. Serving steak since 1887, the restaurant presents a simple menu. Single steak, steak for two, steak for three, or steak for four. In other words, how many people are you going with? OK, so there's a little more selection than that, but the point here is high-quality, expertly prepared beef, along with the famous house sauce, sliced tomato and onion salad, and of course, the celebrated thick-cut bacon appetizer. Many imitators, one original. peterluger.com


    ABC KitchenABC Kitchen#17 ABC Kitchen, New York City

    ABC Kitchen, a trendy New York City restaurant, is a celebration of the best ingredients that each season has to offer, all served in the classically elegant style that Jean-Georges is widely known for. Market-fresh dishes, like roasted kabocha squash toast with fresh ricotta and apple cider vinegar, stand alongside Vongerichten mainstays like pretzel-crusted calamari. The décor is fresh, with an utterly cool urban sophistication that pairs perfectly with the style of the home furnishings store it's connected to, ABC Carpet and Home. The restaurant was awarded the recognition of Best New Restaurant by the James Beard Foundation in 2011. abckitchennyc.com


    Jean GeorgesJean Georges#16 Jean Georges, New York City

    Jean-Georges Vongerichten is one of the few chefs in New York City with the distinction of four stars from The New York Times. At his eponymous restaurant in the Trump International Hotel and Tower, his classic French technique bridges old and new worlds, eschews heavy sauces, and embraces the spice and flavors of Asian cuisine. jean-georges.com


    Franklin BarbecueFranklin Barbecue#15 Franklin Barbecue, Austin, Texas

    By 10 a.m. on a Friday there will be more than 90 people in line at this modest new establishment. The 90 people who show in the next half hour wait in vain a waitress will tell them that there's just no barbecue left. So it goes at Franklin, where Aaron Franklin serves some of the best of Texas' greatest culinary claim to fame. The brisket, with its peppery exterior, falls apart as you pick it up. The turkey is what presidentially pardoned birds aspire to. The sausage snaps loudly when you slice it, juice splashing out and up... You've heard the buzz. It's not hype. It really is that good. franklinbarbecue.com


    BabboBabbo#14 Babbo, New York City

    While Mario Batali certainly made headlines this year, Babbo stayed a New York essential. What can you say about this place that hasn't already been said? The pasta! That pork chop! Mario Batali is a genius! Rock music in a fine dining restaurant? Brilliant! At this longtime darling of the critics, after almost 14 years, you're still at the mercy of the reservation gods if you want to get in - buona fortuna. babbonyc.com


    Blue Hill at Stone BarnsBlue Hill at Stone Barns#13 Blue Hill at Stone Barns, Pocantico Hills, N.Y.

    High-profile organo-loca-sustainavore Dan Barber has found the perfect home at Blue Hill at Stone Barns, a beautiful restaurant in a bucolic but hardworking setting on a year-round farm and educational center. Most of what you eat here will be grown, raised, and/or processed on the property, and Barber's modern American food is full of color and flavor. www.bluehillfarm.com


    Pok PokPok Pok#12 Pok Pok, Portland, Ore.

    When Andy Ricker opened Pok Pok in 2008, he took the Pacific Northwest (and many of the nation's most devoted eaters) by storm with his uniquely refined approach to Southeast Asian street food. In fact, his Vietnamese-inspired chicken wings and boldly flavored array of house specialties are in such hot demand that Ricker opened a location dedicated specifically to wings in New York City this year. To top it off, the James Beard Foundation named Ricker the best chef in the Northwest in 2011. www.pokpokpdx.com


    L'Atelier de Joël RobuchonL'Atelier de Joël Robuchon#11 L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon, New York City

    Multi-Michelin-starred chef Joël Robuchon's swanky restaurant in the Four Seasons Hotel offers peaceful solace amidst the noise and bustle of midtown Manhattan. A sleek, minimalist interior is the backdrop for executive chef Xavier Boyer's classical, French-inspired menu. (The beef and foie gras burgers with caramelized bell peppers are a must.) www.fourseasons.com/newyork


    CitronelleCitronelle#10 Citronelle, Washington, D.C.

    With his Santa Claus build, amiable nature, and obvious passion for his métier, Michel Richard sometimes looks like the happiest chef alive as he leans over a plate at Citronelle that holds one of his imaginative, brilliantly executed specialties, smiling and putting on the finishing touches - a sight you can witness through the glass wall that encloses his sparkling kitchen at this D.C. classic. Though Richard's other spots, Central and Meatballs, have gotten a lot of play in the last year, Citronelle remains a D.C. star. citronelledc.com


    Gramercy TavernGramercy Tavern#9 Gramercy Tavern, New York City

    Gramercy Tavern is among the finest of the new wave of classic American restaurants. With Danny Meyer running the show and Michael Anthony taking control in the kitchen, the restaurant continues to excel at serving refined American cuisine without pretension. Anthony has become known for his simply prepared fish dishes in particular, such as sea bass with spaghetti squash, walnuts, and sherry sauce. And let's not forget that this is the restaurant that helped to jumpstart Tom Colicchio's career; he was a founding partner with Meyer before eventually leaving to open his collection of Craft restaurants. gramercytavern.com


    Momofuku SsämMomofuku Ssäm#8 Momofuku Ssäm, New York City

    Meals at this East Village hot spot wowed former New York Times critic Frank Bruni into a praise-filled three-star review in 2008, and no wonder. Chang's food offers bold, Asian-inspired flavors - like his duckaholic lunch and popular bo ssäm dinner (slow-cooked pork shoulder, oysters, rice, kimchee, and sauces to be wrapped in bibb lettuce leaves). David Chang continues to be the culinary cool kid. With Lucky Peach (his new magazine) and lots of buzz around Momofuku Milk Bar's Christina Tosi, he has definitely done something right. momofuku.com


    Per Se Per Se #7 Per Se, New York City

    This elegant dining room overlooking Central Park in the Time Warner Center remains a must-have experience in New York, even for Sam Sifton, who chose the restaurant for his final review as The New York Times' restaurant critic last year - giving it four stars. Per Se upholds the standards set by Thomas Keller at the French Laundry, winning a James Beard Award in 2011 for Outstanding Service and being named the 10th best restaurant in the world in this past year by Restaurant Magazine. perseny.com



    Osteria MozzaOsteria Mozza#6 Osteria Mozza, Los Angeles

    Nancy Silverton, whose La Brea Bakery changed the game for artisanal bread in America, teams up here with New York-based Italian-food moguls Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich in this lively urban restaurant, complete with a mozzarella bar, unusual pasta (calf's brain ravioli, spaghetti with marinated white anchovies), and main dishes ranging from sea trout with lentils to grilled pancetta-wrapped quail. In 2011, Mozza pastry chef Dahlia Narvaez was named a James Beard Award finalist. osteriamozza.com


    French LaundryFrench Laundry#5 French Laundry, Yountville, Calif.

    How did a chef whose innovative restaurant in Manhattan failed and who headed west to cook in a downtown L.A. hotel suddenly emerge in the Napa Valley to create a restaurant to rival the great three-star establishments of rural France? Hard work and outsize talent, most probably. Taking over what had been a good but far simpler restaurant, chef Thomas Keller approached contemporary American food with classical technique, and his French Laundry established new standards for fine dining in this country. In 2012, Keller and the French Laundry received a coveted AAA Five Diamond Award, just another honor to add to the pile. frenchlaundry.com


    Eleven Madison ParkEleven Madison Park#4 Eleven Madison Park, New York City

    Like many of the finest things in life, Eleven Madison Park is a restaurant that seems to get better with age. Although it opened to much fanfare and subsequent acclaim in 1998, Danny Meyer's hiring of Swiss-born Daniel Humm to helm the kitchen in 2006 elevated the place to the level of the finest restaurants in the country. Humm - who has won such plaudits for the restaurant as four stars from The New York Times, three from Michelin, and a number 24 ranking on last year's Restaurant Magazine list of the world's 50 best restaurants - bought Eleven Madison from Meyer last year, in partnership with his front-of-house counterpart, Will Guidara, so standards aren't likely to fall. elevenmadisonpark.com


    Chez PanisseChez Panisse#3 Chez Panisse, Berkeley, Calif.

    Celebrating 40 years in business and still going strong, Chez Panisse was instrumental in changing the American food scene; before this restaurant, practically nobody in America served only fresh local foods and wrote menus daily, according to the season. Alice Waters, an organic-living pioneer, is also the founder of The Edible Schoolyard, a foundation that is bringing healthy breakfasts and lunches to schools across the nation. It has become fashionable to criticize this culinary icon as irrelevant or pretentious, but the truth is that her restaurant's food is still superb, both in the one-menu-a-night downstairs restaurant and the lively, diversified upstairs Café. chezpanisse.com



    AlineaAlinea#2 Alinea, Chicago

    There's little question that Grant Achatz, whose training includes stints with Charlie Trotter, Thomas Keller, and Ferran Adrià, deserves the title of America's most creative chef. The menu at his Alinea sounds deceptively simple (bass with black pepper, vanilla, and lemon), but what shows up on the plate is absolutely original and almost always dazzlingly good. However, there are rumors going around that he and partner Nick Kokonas have plans to make some major changes to the Alinea concept, now that they've successfully launched two new ventures, Next and The Aviary. alinea-restaurant.com


    Le BernardinLe Bernardin#1 Le Bernardin, New York City

    Think Le Bernardin and you think accolades: Michelin, The New York Times, James Beard Foundation. Is it a little stuffy? Sure… But with a super sleek renovation recently completed and a lengthy new lease, this iconic restaurant isn't going anywhere. And if cooking fish well is an art, then chef Eric Ripert is a Michelangelo; his contemporary French touch has led some to call his creations the world's best seafood. le-bernardin.com

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    Monday, August 13, 2012

    Tricks Restaurant Use

    Tricks Restaurants Use to Get You to Spend More Money

    By Sarah B. Weir, Yahoo! blogger | Financially Fit – Tue, Aug 7, 2012 4:09 PM EDT
    Tricks of the tradeTricks of the trade"Would you like sparkling, flat, or tap?" asks your server at the quaint bistro where you are treating your in-laws. Cringe. "You feel like a schmuck if you order tap water for the table," says Lily P. who worked for more than five years as a waitress in Northampton, Massachusetts. "It's 'Ye Olde Water Trick.' Sometimes the restaurant even leaves a pricey bottle of mineral water on the table. The customer opens it, and, boom, it goes on the tab."
    Related: Best Steaks in the United States
    Hard selling bottled water for a mark up 200% or more is of one of the many techniques restaurants use to separate customers from their paychecks. Going out to eat is inherently a luxury but at least you want to get your money's worth. Here are some tips to help you get the best value:
    Soft drinks, coffee, and tea. Non-alcoholic beverages have a huge mark-up because they are mainly made of water. Why do you think your server keeps asking the kids if they want another large soda or lemonade? Fancy coffee drinks like cappuccino or espresso are often double the price of a regular coffee but don't cost much more to make.
    Do's and Don'ts: A Cheat Sheet on Tipping
    Wine. Expect to pay at least a 200% mark up for wine (and often much more). A single glass of wine is usually priced at or above the wholesale cost of an entire bottle. The quality of the wines sold by the bottle also tends to be better so if your party is going to drink more than four glasses total that's a better way to go. However, wine consultant Randy Caparoso says avoid the second cheapest bottle on the list. It's likely to have the biggest bump up in price since people don't want to look like a miser buying the least expensive bottle.
    Pasta. If you are a craving a bowl of noodles you might want to consider eating them at home. A box of pasta costs $1.99 and serves four to six. A bowl of pasta at a restaurant can cost anywhere from $8 -$18 on average and more if you are eating somewhere really fancy. Although you have to factor in a few dollars for the sauce, the mark up is significant no matter what the ingredients.
    Pizza. Pizza dough is made of flour and water. Add a little tomato sauce and cheese and you are still talking cents on the dollar. Pizza is delicious and fun to eat, but not a great value-especially if it's a single menu item priced high at an upscale restaurant with other options.
    Daily special. Omelet? Stew? Pasta? Beware of "special" soups, stews, and fillings. They may be comprised of leftover ingredients that didn't sell yesterday and are about to go bad.
    Add-ons. Many restaurants train their employees to "up-sell" which means to get the customer to buy more than he or she intended to. Let's say you go to your favorite Mexican restaurant planning on ordering a burrito and a beer. After a head spinning litany of enthusiastic suggestions from the server, you end up ordering the shrimp quesadilla appetizer, a couple of margaritas with premium tequila, table side guacamole, a trio of salsas, the special fish tacos instead of a chicken burrito, and a passion fruit flan for dessert. Looking at the bill, you might feel like a sucker--unless your server "downsold" you --suggested conspiratorially that you order that margarita with house tequila because "you can't taste the liquor anyway."
    Holidays. Avoid dining out on big days like Mother's Day and Valentine's Day. The set menu will be wildly overpriced and the service rushed. Take mom or your date out on the day before or after.
    Menu design. Boxes, colors, and photos draw the eye to the item they feature. Don't be fooled, its usually the most profitable dish on the menu. Beware flowery descriptions as well: a Cornell Study found that customers are nearly one third more likely to purchase something with a creative name or long description.
    Overly friendly servers. When did the trend of "Hi, my name is....and I'm your server tonight" begin? When some smart person realized that would make them more money. Research shows that customers leave higher tips when their server crouches beside the table, introduces themselves, touches them lightly, or writes a personal note or draws a smiley face on the bill.
    What happens in a restaurant feels intimate and homey and appeals to our most basic need, to eat. But don't think of the staff as family, it's a business, and a tough one at that--more than half fail in their first three years. As restaurateur Joe Bastianich writes in his tell-all memoir 'Restaurant Man', the number one  goal is not to be your friend but  to "extract as much money as you can."
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