Restaurant Casa Ardeleana @ Cluj Napoca, Transilvania - Romania

Cluj Napoca, Romania, heart of Transylvania: a wonderful city, where many students, Romanians, Hungarians, gypsies and many others from different nationalities live friendly together, and together they create an unique cultural life. This city, beautiful in this architecture, and full of traditions, will be in 2015 European Youth Capital and no other European Culture Capital candidate, to establish his important role in the all East Europe.

So, what could be better to begin our experiences in Cluj with a very traditional restaurant? We were glad to be invited from Gabriel in his Casa Ardeleana, a place that he manage now from 6 years, and try his speciality: the Bogracs, cooked out and then served to the guests. Casa Ardeleana means literally Transylvania House and this is the feeling we had when we entered at this restaurant, that is based in Bulevardul 21 Decembrie 1989 n. 5, inside the Sora Mall, in the city center of Cluj Napoca. We could not image to see this enviroment, below a commercial complex, as we could have the feeling to be inside a huge house of a big family, decorated and furnished with many traditional objects, that make this place first of all, a place to see as a little ethnographic museum.

Welcomed from the staff with a shot of Tuica, traditional and very strong plum distillate, we could talk and see Gabriel cooking outside the Bogracs and explaining us all ingredients and the way of preparing this old and traditional meal, that he serve every wednesday, after 7 pm.. Bogracs in fact mean Hungarian cooking pot used normally outside, above an open fire. He said us that it need 6 hours of cooking and all the vegetables inside melt, and become, together with many different spices, a very tasty sauce, where will be cooked 4 different kind of meat such kid, roe, pig and calf. At the end potatoes are added and served in also traditional plates, beside a different pickles vegetables, used to cut the heaviness of the dish taste.

And as you can image from the pictures this plate was a mix of fragrances and taste, that make of every morsel a complete and we can say dynamic experience, that change any time and is enriched from many different shades. Together with the plate we get the also typical and surprising red wine Feteasca Neagra, produced in many Romanian and Moldavian areas.

The restaurant offers many dishes from Romanian and Hungarian tradition sometime even influenced from Slavic and Serbian cuisine.There is also a good choice for main courses vegetarian, but there is no choice for vegan palates.
Satisfied we left the place with a good memory, and we remember the tables and the chairs, our favorite Casa Ardealasca pieces of furniture.

www.casaardeleana.com www.facebook.com/pages/Restaurant-Casa-Ardeleana

TC Kitchen @ Ubon Ratchathani Thailand

TC Kitchen is easy to locate as it is right near Laithong Hotel, it is in the background.

TC Kitchen is a restaurant but you can also of course get an ice cold beverage as well. Most foreigners spend their time sitting out the front chatting and watching Ubon life go by.

Inside there is a pool table if you are up for a game.

TC Kitchen does a big selection of food that you can take home if you like, such as these pies. There are many different types and are very good (I have had a few!).

My favourite are the pasties. These are cheese pasties and I am not a big fan of these. I really like the beef and pork pasties.

Fresh and frozen bread is also available.

But on this day I was there to try the new TC Burger. A new menu is on the way and the burger is going to be on the menu.


The burger smelt good while it was sizzling away.



The burger was huge in itself and with the salad and fries it was a big meal. And I am not being biased but bloody delicious as well. I didn’t put any sauce on it, it wasn’t needed.

Well I suppose my plate says it all.
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Peppers Bakery and Coffe Shop @ Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand

Peppers Bakery and Coffee shop has had a bit of a face lift. The owner John, extended the bakery by taking over the shop next door and also decided to change the old layout.

The new counter looks great and talking to John the instillation went perfectly. He has not found a thing to complain about and only has praise for the cabinet maker.

My coffee being made.

My coffee, and it was very good and I really had to enjoy it as I have been told to stop drinking coffee as I have peptic ulcers. So as I write this I am going through withdrawals.

My breakfast arrived, Eggs Benedict. I like the all the breakfast menu at Peppers but this dish is my favourite.

I left with a full belly and even had to have a little nap after arriving home.
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Pratunam Park Hotel @ Bagkok, Thailand

This is the Pratunam Park Hotel in Bangkok.
I chose this hotel after looking through many reviews on Agoda and also Trip Advisor.
It is funny reading reviews as everybody has different expectations and standards. The reception area is very nice and the staff for the entire stay have been fantastic and very helpful. I have been able to speak English with most of them. A few are a little weak in English but there are also others who can speak and understand English well. The dining room was spotless. I was surprised when we came home from shopping in the evening and Gluay had bought some somtam. The doorman informed us that we could eat the somtam and deep fried chicken and pork in the dining room. I was a little perplexed at first but then speaking to the Room Manager, Miss Ornuma. She that was fine and to use the plates and cutlery. So we sat in the restaurant with another family nearby who were doing the exact same thing, but eating much more western style food. When I read the reviews there were less than enthusiastic reviews about the breakfast. My breakfast came with the room as would most others who eat breakfast. What do people expect? I will take pictures tomorrow of the breakfast but there was toast, cereal, some Thai dishes, fried eggs, small sausages, ham and a few other things as well as cakes. I think these people are thinking they are staying in one of the 5 star hotels.
I booked a deluxe room and it is large and absolutely spotless. No smell that some people had complained about in some reviews. I booked a non smoking room and there was not a hint of a mouldy smell some had said. The bath has been a huge winner for me. I have had many baths to help sooth aching muscles after walking and walking through the markets and shopping centres all so close by. The water pressure is excellent. The hotel is in a great location for me. Off the main busy road but just a few minutes’ walk to the wholesale markets, Pantip Plaza, Pratunam Fashion Mall and so many more great shopping places. It doesn’t take long in a taxi to get to Silom or other places and the BTS is a ten minute walk at the most. Quiet, so quiet up here on the 11th floor. I have not heard the toot of a car horn or revving engine of a tuk-tuk. I will definitely be staying here again and do recommend it for anyone wanting to stay in the Pratunam area. Also the Room Manager Miss Ornuma told me that they will be renovating all the rooms starting in October. The rooms do have old décor but my room is spotlessly clean. If you have any questions then email her at ptnpark@loxinfo.co.th or go the their website http://pratunamparkhotel.com/. Brunty
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Khrung Restaurant @ Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand

A little while back we ventured over to Khrung Thep Restaurant here in Ubon Ratchathani. I have blogged on this plenty of times as we really like the food there and is excellent value for money. If you want to see pictures of the quality food click on this link as the pictures below are from my iPhone and crap.

Nong Ja and Benjawan were trying to be ghosts and scare me.

Ja thought this was so much fun but was having trouble getting the gist of it.

I had a good laugh at Ja pulling weird faces trying to be scary though.

Above is not Khrung Thep Restaurant, but an all you can eat Korean BBQ as Thais call them. It is in the soi that runs parallel to Big C and is always busy. I like this much more than MK that I blogged on the other week.

Nong Ja loves the conveyor belt set up, a bit like Sushi Train restaurants and is a nice novelty for here in Ubon.

Ja loves to help, you tell her the dish to grab and she will grab it, but she also grabs many things you don’t want as she enjoys taking the plates off the conveyor belt.

And this is what you start out with, a piece of pork fat to grease the plate, coat in a layer of fat.

With the stock in the base, you place the vegetables to cook, while the meat or seafood goes onto the plate.

All the meats are sliced thin and cook pretty quickly, Thais love these places as they can eat a truckload of food. I am always bemused at the restaurants that have different prices for people who weigh over a certain weight (Yes, they exist here) as the tiny Thai girls eat more than any big person such as myself.

I cannot remember how much chicken liver I ate, it was delicious and also many prawns as well. The girls got their 129 baht worth for sure.

Another night, at another restaurant in Ubon Ratchathani Thailand.
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Lily Restaurant @ Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand

Maybe you’ve been out to Huai Wang Nong, a man-made pond just  east of Ubon Ratchathani airport.  Not long ago it was mostly deserted but now it is home to an ever increasing number of restaurants, resorts and homes.
Lily On The Pond
One of the newest eateries is Lily Restaurant and Bar. A prodigal daughter of Ubon and her Swedish husband return to Isaan after 20 years away. Most of the time was spent in Phuket but they also lived in Sweden for a few years.

Looking out from Lily

As part of their new life back in Ubon Ratchathani they decided to open a business out at Huai Wang Nong. The decision to use a new restaurant as the foundation anchoring them at home was easy, as they had operated an shop while in Phuket.
They named the new restaurant, Lily, for no reason other than they like the name. I further gave it the name, Lily On The Pond.  It is a small quiet place that has the privilege of being near the water each and every day.
What’s on the menu?

View from table at Lily

The offerings on the menu at Lily are mostly Thai dishes. However, there are several westerner selections as well. Lily Restaurant might be the only place you can find Swedish meatballs in Ubon. Along with the meatballs you can also find Fish & Chips, Cordon Bleu, Steaks and an assortment of salads.

Lily Fish & Chips

The promise the proprietors will make to you is you will get good food at a reasonable price. The environment will be clean and pleasant. You can enjoy the view of the pond while you enjoy your lunch or dinner with your companions.
Lily Restaurant in Ubon is open daily from 11:00 to 23:00. It is small open air structure, nicely decorated. There are tables outside as well if you prefer.

Sweet looking bar at Lily

There is no public transportation that runs at Huai Wang Nong so when you drop by Lily you will need your own transportation or get a taxi or tuk tuk. Two songtaew lines run close but walking would be required.
I have eaten there several times and always enjoyed my meals. You should go enjoy a lunch or dinner there soon. Try out the menu and say hello to welcome some new Ubon Ratchathani residents.
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