The highlight was the food.
(click restaurant name or point of interest)
Since my last report I have been in India, Cabo San Lucas, San Francisco and Los Angeles. India was by far the most stimulating in every way. For two weeks, I ate with gusto, and had only one non-veg meal. The highlight was the food in Ahmedabad. Right in and adjoining our hotel (House of MG) were 2 really tasty restaurants — next door an open kitchen with a gazebo-like structure serving glorified street food (puri, yogurt, spicy eggplant, lassi, etc.), and on the roof a more refined open-air experience. Of course we were lucky to be invited to several delicious home-cooked meals; had plenty of “bed tea” in fancy hotels (served at the Imperial in Delhi with 2 mini madeleines), a great Thai meal at the Oberoi in Calcutta, plenty of huge crispy cashews, all sorts of spicy crunchies both sweet and salty. What a wonderful place!!
Cabo San Lucas is becoming way too developed. Even the last standing older place (the Twin Dolphins) will be razed shortly to make room for another “resort” with golf, higher rise buildings etc. The breakfast churros and the Saturday night roast pig were delicious, as were the fish or shrimp tacos at Rosy. Otherwise avocados from the grocery store were the best.
The glories of California are really the farmers’ markets–the Ferry Building market in San Francisco and many others. Satsuma tangerines, Meyer lemons, Recchiuti caramel sauce, Dungeness crabs, baby artichokes, cheeses from Cowgirl Creamery, all sorts of breads, salad greens, dried fruits — more than one can even imagine. While Kansas City groceries have certainly improved with the arrival of Whole Foods, nothing can compare with the bounty of California.
As for restaurants, LA’s Angelini Osteria offered an excellent mushroom risotto, and the hamburger and fries at the Four Seasons were pretty near a perfect supper. I cannot fit into my clothes. Better order up some larger ones at Asiatica!