the dude of food – Page 8 – THE DUDE OF FOOD

Great People in Donostia / San Sebastian – Bar Desy

When in Donostia / San Sebastian you will find many options of good restaurants, but not many small ones that match the greatness of Bar Desy. You can start your day there with a coffee and tapas or end your day there with a drink and tapas. Bar Desy is a father and son operation and is one great place to eat and meet locals. Bar Desy offers a well rounded variety of tapas both hot and cold from various fish items to meatballs.

The cod cheeks were pretty good and would make a great sandwich. Actually everything was really good but the fresh cod fillets, cod cheeks, squid with lemon, white wine and fresh bread were my favorite things besides the generous hospitality.

These guys take great care of their customers. Located at Ronda 4, a couple blocks back from the surf beach and a couple blocks over from the river. Bar Desy is a great place to get to know the tapas deal. The staff is as great as is the food.
Thank you very much Bar Desy family.

Bar Desy can be found on Facebook or by clicking on the photo or links.

“Wait until they discover Il Barroccio, in Florence.” the Dude of Food.

It’s true what they say about Il Barroccio on Trip Advisor and elsewhere on the internet. It is just a matter of time before folks will discover and be flocking to Il Barroccio . They are located just around the corner from a huge crowded plaza and under a jail window that once was home to Niccolo Machiavelli and is an easily found hidden gem.

On my first visit the Dude of Food asked to try “the homemade noodles wrestling with soft chunks of wild boar in a seriously delicious sauce”, please. I went back 3 or 4 times during my visit as these folks were good people and the place was great.

The boar sauce pasta dish looked unbelievable as it made it’s way over to my table. It truly tasted even better than it looked! My taste buds were over joyed. I followed the delicious pasta with a bath of decadent Tuscan red wine.

Photo of wine cart from inside restaurant.

Giovanni and Roberto are top notch folks and Il Barroccio offers food to match. If you are in town, the Dude of Food highly recommends any foodie to go here.

Motto grazie Il Barroccio.

San Gusme’s best restaurant – Sira e Remino in Tuscany.

The Dude of Food recently visited the gorgeous Tuscan region of Italy. Luckily, my aunt and uncle were in the area and invited me stay at their rented villa for a couple nights. The place happened to be a short walk from the cool old Italian village called San Gusme. In this village you will find one of the world’s finest culinary dreams come true. A place called Sira e Remino.

The restaurant’s sign which says Sira e Remino un cult, is exactly the kind of cult I need to join. Their place is located within the small old village walls and is absolutely awesome. The greeting and hospitality were warm and genuine. Our party of 7 were shown to the ‘Frank Sinatra room’ in the back away from the local soccer club filled bar. The local team was loudly rooting for a national team.

Our group began this heavenly experience with lots of wine followed by salads, anti pasta, then more wine followed by pasta and incredible sizzling meat trays. There wasn’t a thing that wasn’t perfect about this entire place, staff and meal. The prices were far from greedy. The quality and portions were ultimately generous. This meal will be remembered for life.

Thank you Sira e Remino. Now I’m thinking I should get a job here just to be close to your quality food.

“Favorite Pizzeria in Firenze” says the Dude of Food

If you happen to be visiting the incredible city of Florence, Italy and are hungry for a piece of pizza then get yourself over to Pizzeria del Duomo next to the Duomo church. This is the place! The staff is hospitable, they make great food and have tables out front in the plaza to sit and enjoy your slices. Be sure to try the meatball pizza. I love this place and went to visit daily. Motto grazie.

Volterra, Italy: History and fine Tuscan dining at Restaurante Enoteca del Duca

Restaurante Enoteca del Duca Volterra, ITALY

Opening just in time for 7 hungry tourists walking by to enjoy lunch, we lucky visitors were led to the back patio garden of this place, by a friendly staff member, to enjoy a warm spring day and some Tuscan lunch. After some refreshing wine the group chose a number of various items that can be seen above. All were incredible tasting. If you are unsure which place to eat while visiting Volterra then decide to eat at Restaurante Enoteca del Duca. Luckily, The Dude of Food and friends chose to go here and it was one of the best decisions ever!

Motto bene! Grazie.

When in Florence the Dude of Food loves Bar Porta Al Prato.

Seen from the street, Bar Porta Al Prato looks like this corner building. Sitting quietly, this recently opened culinary beauty awaits your entrance, offering everything one could desire once you make your way through the doors and into the soul of this gem. I went daily.

Bar Porta Al Prato in Firenze offers both a great indoor environment or a huge patio out back to enjoy. The staff here are awesome, extremely helpful, talented, generous and fun besides offering many delicious and thoughtfully prepared Tuscan dishes.

Their menu offers everything from pizza and gelato to pasta and fine wine and everything in between. What a great way to spend quality time dining with your family, friends or team while in Florence.

The delicious wine comes from local vineyards that produce some excellent flavors. The homemade gelato is delicious and kid approved. (see photo below)

Thank you Bar Porta Al Prato for everything. The Dude of Food thinks you guys are doing a great job. Keep up the awesome hospitality and great food. They can also be found on Facebook by searching Bar Samus Porta. Grazie.

Johnny’s Off License Store, Rome for beer.

Located at Via Veio, 4, near the San Giovanni metro station in Rome is the greatest beer and wine store around. The staff at Johnny’s OFF LICENSE are super knowing about the processes and tastes of their products and offer an awesome selection, especially beers.

You can drink on the streets in Rome, so you go in and buy yourself a coldie and simply enjoy it out front while talking with other beer professors. Much local knowledge can be learned from respectable folks at these street meetings, i.e. restaurant recommendations, train and bus info, etc.

These guys at Johnny’s OFF LICENSE are a hospitable bunch and even gave me a beer book to read while traveling. (3 Sheets to the Wind, Pete Brown). Johnny is a good dude and you certainly should go by and say hello. Thank you guys for your hospitality.

This place is a must if you are tired of feeling like a tourist at the hotel. Tell Johnny that the Dude of Food sent you. Enjoy.

The Dude of Food enjoyed Habana Cafe, ROME

One of the things that happens to the Dude of Food when he walks all over Rome is he begins to work up an appetite.

On my way to the Pantheon I stopped at the Habana Cafe and had a delicious and very affordable lunch.

Located on Via del Pastini 120, around the corner from the Pantheon, you can get a great lunch, served by a cool staff for less than $15 euros. I sat outside and enjoyed the historical ambiance as I ate anti pasta, spaghetti carbonara and sipped a beer.

www.habanaroma.com

There are other options in the immediate area but this place is certainly worth checking. Bon Appetit. Grazie Habana Roma.

Try Aldo Restaurant – Vatican City, Italy

The first place to eat that the Dude of Food came across after exiting the Vatican City museum is this sidewalk cafe called ALDO.

After much walking, I was ready to sit down and have some nutritious authentic Italian lunch and the Aldo Restaurant provided it for me. The thoughtful staff, cool service and really good food left me feeling blessed and content and the meal was very reasonably priced. It was awesome to sit under the shadow of the Vatican and enjoy the grace of the Lord and be blessed with a deliciously preparred meal.

“I would eat here all the time, if I was the Pope” exclaimed the Dude of Food.

Motto grazie Aldo.

The Dude of Food likes Georges Burgers in Santa Monica

http://georgesburgersla.com/

You are on the Westside. The traffic is a bitch. The air is not as hot as the valley that you escaped from. It’s overcast and you don’t surf anyways. There is no parking by the beach. It’s a mess all over. The Dude of Food knows the best thing you can do is go get some food at Georges Burgers on Lincoln Blvd and head back home. Georges Burgers is located at 3101 Lincoln Blvd in Santa Monica, CA 90405

The George’s t-shirt I have has been to Europe at least twice if not 3 times.

Don’t be one of those idiots that eats in your car and then opens the door and leaves your trash on the ground.

You can call in your request ahead at 310-452-0445

They serve breakfast all day too!

Thank you George’s Burgers.