Saturday, July 8, 2023

Seattle - To Eat 06July23 (Pike Place Chowder, Cinque Terre, Yard House)

USA - Seattle To Do
USA - Seattle To Eat

Seattle - To Eat

 Pike Place Chowder

A classic must, must, MUST when in Seattle.

Ordered On:
06July23
4 chowders Sampler USD19.95
The Stars by ranking
No1 New England Clam Chowder
No2 The Changing market special with crab, lobster and clams
A high 2 or close swap is the Crab, Oyster & Chorizo Chowder.
The vegetarian Lime & Coconut Chowder was a total miss.
Captain's Roll USD21.95
*Its pretty okay but not worth it I felt. The Lobster Roll was even more pricey at a monsterous USD34.95. For value lobster rolls, probably Luke's Lobster. For a good take on a lobster roll would probably be at Burgers and Lobsters. (Prices would have probably increased much by then)
Total USD50 with Tip
Food 4.5/5
Value 4.5/5 only for the chowder sampler!
Service n/a
Ambience 3/5

Living up to its accolades. The best chowder had to date. Go for the value sampler. It may look small but it is incredibly filling. Beats out clam chowders by famous Boudin in San Francisco, as edges out better clam chowders at Fog Harbor's restaurant.
Click here for Pike Place Chowder

Cinque Terre
Happy Hour Deals 50% off Lounge Food
Mon-Sun 3-630pm & 9pm-Close

Most dishes are priced at about the 20USD Range. The mains at regular price by portion serving is about the same as the lounge items when at Half Price.

Orderd On:
06July23

Total USD46/Pax for FOOD only
Food 3/5
(In totality. Some of the recommended dishes were pretty good,
but some were complete misses.)
Value 3/5
(and that's having lounge food at 50% to share. It may score a little higher but the portions are small..)
Service 4/5
*Excellent and super attentive to our big group*
Ambience 3/5

Lounge item stand out dishes were the grilled octopus, american waygu beef carpaccio, Oysters and Tiramissu were on point. The Frutto di Mare has potential but some of the mussels were on the brink of turning and sourded the experience. The grille doctopus was really well done but the best had still goes to the one prepared at Duck and Waffle London.

The 50% off is a great offer especially to share a variety of items but portions are small and light. For great Italian value eats, the popular joint is La Conchiglia in Milan, a must go when in a group and fantastic for sharing! Note their ciesta timings!
Click here for ABBA location of Cinque Terre

Yard House
(Recommended by others)

Ordered On:
07July23
Food 3.5/5
Value 3.5/5
Service 4/5
Ambience 3/5

An all American sports bar dining with a little something for everyone.
- What's great is that there's all sorts of eats.
- Food worked out to be about USD22 Per pax after taxes.
- The table tablet is able to split bills individually and everyone can pay on their own with no hassle at all.

Most had the burgers were on point with their flavor profiles but the fries were not as crispy and could have faired much better. Their tri flavored garlic, lime and sriracha Aioli's were on pint thou. If looking for rice, note that mostly its quinoa.
Best fries still with Grill'd from Australia and best burger still with Peal's Deluxe.
Click here for ABBA location of Yard House

Posted by at No comments:
Labels:

Tuesday, July 4, 2023

Thailand - Bangkok - To Do Brang Krachao, Iconsiam (29June23-02June23)

ABBATip
- Travelling around via Taxi
Always run by the meter.
There is a THB50 surcharge from the airport and max of THB20 per large luggage. When getting a ticket, the additional pricing are stated at the bottom of the ticket. Taking the highway has additional charges for the tolls respectively. Where we were heading, the first toll was THB25 followed by THB50.
From airport the hotel, he wanted to charge a flat THB600 all in, but the total bill via meter worked out to be just past THB400++

- Grab works great but due congestion in city there might be some


Brang Krachao
The Green Lung Of Bangkok

A short, pleasant river crossing followed by leisure cycling Bangkok style. There are several cafes and other nature learning establishments to checkout at Brang Krachao.

For the experience of taking a river transport from Wat Khlong Toei Nok Pier across the Chao Phraya River. Seems that sheltered rides are THB40/round trip with open top at THB20. It brings you across directly to M-Bike Rental to rent bikes for the whole day or for 2hrs in our case.
To get back, you can request the shop to call for the boatman. The ticket after payment just has the phone number to ring and the number of pax you ordered for.
The bicycles are probably 3.5/5 condition in terms of breaking quality and tightness of parts. Check your bikes before pushing off. Its more of by the road kind of cycling until one reaches the botanic gardens where paths aren't really demarcated and a real free and easy exploratory adventure. 2hours was about just right for our visit.

There are great local dining options located just outside of the pier to cater to the local prices and great eats.
 
Iconsiam
High end, floating market and street trinkets in a fully air-conditioned area. Prices aren't street food cheap, but for the convenience, cleanliness, huge street eat dining options, its an excellent, beat-the-heat location to explore this beautiful basement food court. All the usual classics imaginable and taste good.
THB60 each
THB200/serving
THB200 for a choice mix
THB280
THB280
THB180
All that was ordered went for about THB1900/ about SGD69. Not cheap but paying for the ancillaries for an all in one location.
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: ,

Sunday, June 25, 2023

Milan - To Do (24-25June23 San Siro Stadium, Santuario di San Bernardino alle Ossa- Ossuary)

Milan - To Stay
Milan - To Do
Milan - To Eat

Milan - To Do
 Click here to see our ABBA Travel Facebook page
 Follow us on Instagram @ABBATRAVELS #ABBATRAVEL

San Siro or A.K.A AC Milan Football Stadium


There's an official merchandise and souvenir shop located from gate14. There's also a museum tour available but did not go for that. One of the iconic football stadiums that fans will visit like Camp Nou in Barcelona.
Click here for ABBA location of San Siro Stadium

Santuario di San Bernardino alle Ossa
A quaint church is located a short walk 10min walk from Duomo Milan. It is best known for its ossuary Ossuary (Ossuaries- chambers for storing human bones). After entering the church, there is an unassuming simple door passage to the right.

A little history, In 1210, when an adjacent cemetery ran out of space, a room was built to hold bones. A church was attached in 1269. Renovated in 1679, it was destroyed by a fire in 1712.
Mile stone in life in the main hall. A quaint setup.
*Taken on 09May25*
*Taken 09May25*
The other Ossuary 'bone crypt' seen was in Rome, Santa Maria Immacolata a Via Veneto Church (Capuchin Crypt but no PHOTOGRAPHY Allowed)
Posted by at No comments:
Labels:

Milan - To Eat 22-25June23 (La Conchiglia)

Milan - To Stay
Milan - To Do
Milan - To Eat

Milan - To Eat
 Click here to see our ABBA Travel Facebook page
 Follow us on Instagram @ABBATRAVELS #ABBATRAVEL

La Conchiglia
Ristorante La Conchiglia
Where everyone goes! 
Opens daily 11-3pm
6pm-12am

Unassuming Exterior
This is just the front section. The back section probably about twice the capacity.
New location, new joint that everyone seems to gravitate towards.
Great space, air-conditioned, value and simple prices that is perfect for sharing!
Note the ciesta timings like most places. Closed from 3pm-6pm.
Kitchen closes at 1430hrs and all must be out by 3pm so take note!
ABBATIP:
- There is a 2Euro table linen surcharge ONLY For EVENING service.
- Limited English at the restaurant but can get by. They are very flexible with custom orders as it seems. E.g. swapping of rice for pasta choices and requesting a white wine sauce. 
Click here for ABBA location of La ConchigliA rough estimate of prices as of Jun23

- Lobster pasta €15max (Pastas are all generally around the 10Euro range and the clam shells seafood one have been amazing)
- Florentina for 2 €35 (Best Florentina Steak still goes to Zazas.)
- Small side €3.50 each
- Pizzas €6.50-7.50range and HUGE. Its even larger that the face of the plate and worth. Their options are hugely extensive.
- Fried stuff all about €14max (The fried squid dishes were a miss. Avoid)
- Dessert all at a simple pricing of €4.50 (The Tiramisu is the sure winner. The ice-creams were a little too sweet and the Creme Brulee custard wasn't set.)
Nice with big group setting and perfect for sharing.

Ordered On:
22-24June23
Linguine La Conchiglia (Crab, loster, scampi, prawns) 15Euro
Portions are huge and the Pasta doesn't feel overly heavy that you'd leave the generous portions of pasta on the place. Table side bread and spicy and plain olive oil were both a welcoming starter to the carb heavy meal.
Tiramisu 4.50Euro
*Light, delectable and a classic must order. Will try other dessert the next time round.*
Flat Water 1.50Euro
*Frutto Di Mare pasta and Risotto. Both excellent. The Risotto is very filling and another excellent for sharing.* 
*Pizzas are huge! Larger than the plate itself and always a crowd please*
*Special shout out to the squid ink pasta! Great flavor and not just a coloring*
*Vongole with request of white wine sauce done on demand.*
*Including a dessert each, For sharing and paid only 18.80Euro Each*
Ordered On:
07May25
*Still feeding large groups and in large portions. Fed everyone with some order of Wine, Fanta and 20Euros each with tip.*
Ambience 3/5
*Nothing special but its fantastic for big groups to visit to order to share.*
Food 4/5
Service 3.5/5
Value 4.5/5
Considering its 10years since the last lobster pasta place and prices here are even cheaper compared to that. Its a great value location to get a standing ovation, repeated visits as it turns out over there days!

Click here to check out reminisce over original joint, La Locanda that everyone heads to for Lobster Pasta!
Click here for ABBA location of La Conchiglia
Posted by at No comments:
Labels:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)