Impact Fusion

Albany, New York’s state capital touts one of New York’s best restaurants, Jack’s Oyster House. Not far from the capital building and within walking distance of most of the better hotels Albany offers its thousands of visitors each week.

Jack’s is a venerable, old-school seafood and chop house that was established during the early 20th century. It still remains vibrant, unique and not corporate owned. The exterior and its old-fashioned signage will automatically draw you inside. Once inside you’ll realize you stumbled into one of the city’s most beloved dining establishments and is not only the favorite of the capitol’s politicians who frequent Jack’s for lunch, but for their lobbyist as well. A special table is reserved for the Governor for when he stops in, which is often.

Business people, professionals, tourists, and locals all patronage Jack’s, keeping the place all a buzz for lunch and for dinner. Tables are packed with groups of friends, families, politicians and colleagues all out for a great meal, a celebration or for a great night of fun.

Surprisingly, the menu features an extensive raw bar, but they also have a huge selection of grilled and baked seafood, steaks and pork chops. Jack is definitely known for its Surf-n-Turf for its dinner entrees, but for lunch, they offer a lighter fare consisting of a variety of sandwiches, salads and pastas.

Chef Luc Pasquier came on board over 2 years ago and his menu expanded to include a more contemporary cuisine, but still keeps it rooted in the classic American dishes that makes everyone return again and again.

In Los Angeles, one of my favorite restaurants is Versailles, which offers quality Cuban food –  terrific garlic chicken, plantains, black beans and rice.  If I were in Miami, though, I know I’d have to find some of the most authentic Cuban food possible in the United States by taking a trip to Little Havana.  There you’ll find a landmark shopping plaza called La Camaronera Fish Market.  You’ll be served the freshest seafood on the face of the planet, although be forewarned.  This is not a fine dining experience.  There’s just a counter, not even chairs.

To order, all you need do is point at the food on display and, in moments it seems, it’s on your plate.  Add lemons, some tarter sauce, maybe a little cocktail sauce, and you’re ready to go to have one of the best fish dining experiences you’ve ever had.  There’s also homemade hot sauce for those with hearty stomachs.  You can get any fresher fish than if you caught it yourself and prepared it at the dock.  There’s fish soup, seafood and rice.  You certainly won’t find another place that has such fresh Florida salt water lobster. There’s a dish, too, known as Pan con Minuta.  This is a de-boned fish, headless, in an egg/flour batter mix, that’s deep fried, then topped off with some diced onions and a bit of tarter sauce.  Amazing stuff.  Try the breaded lobster chunks here, too.

Miami locals have been coming to this spot in Little Havana Miami for decades, ever since 1974, but it’s been a seafood market almost a decade longer.  If you want a complete Miami vacation, check out a nice place to stay, and then head for some of the best and certainly freshest fish you’ve ever tried.  The other attractions — from the Miami Science Museum, to the Venetian Pools, to the Coral Castle– will all wait!

I’m halfway through my stay in Dubai and my wallet feels it more than I do. I’ve had a great experience so far and I haven’t done to much other than hang out at my hotel, eat at the great restaurants Dubai has, go shopping at the Mall of the Emirates and I might just check out the Madinat Complex tomorrow to see that indoor ski place I’ve heard about so much.

My hotel was great, the pool was marvelous, plus, I was upgraded to the higher floors and the room was spacious and larger than the standard room I was in. I don’t know why I was bumped up, but it sure made my stay even better! There were lots of small things that made the difference about my hotel, for example, I returned from the beach and an employee who I haven’t even met called me by name and bid me a good evening! Another example was yesterday, I was watching television, and there was a knock at the door and it was room service wanting to know if I would like a complimentary beach towel for my next trip to the beach. The bathroom tub was marble and the countertops too, I think I was told the marble came from Aswan, a place I just traveled to before Dubai!

I ordered room service for dinner the other night, a Lobster Thermador, Margharita Pizza, Caesar salad and for desert a Creme Brulee, oh and a bottle of bubbly. The dinner was superb. Afterwards I went swimming at the tub!

Tomorrow I plan to make a kill and the gold souk and really make my wallet feel it, but my friends will feel 24 karat gold on their necks, fingers and wrists, plus my own ankle, neck and wrists will look fabulous with gold dangling from anywhere I can think of.

Joey had waited for the night he could finally take his son, Joey Junior, to the opera. Opera had always been an extremely important aspect of the family’s life and most often on the weekends one of the greats could be heard throughout the house. Taking your child to their first opera was considered to be a major milestone in their life and also something of an initiation. While Italian opera was almost always everyone’s favorite, Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony happened to be being performed by the local professional orchestra, and instead of waiting for one of the Italian greats, Joey decided this would be a perfectly fine introduction for Joey Junior. However, one thing he insisted on was that they first enjoy dinner in one of their favorite Italian restaurants.

Joey always enjoyed the shrimp scampi and Joey Junior always had the spaghetti and meatballs. That night, however, Joey Junior decided he would try something special for this monumental evening and he ordered the linguini with clam sauce. He wasn’t sure about his decision though it sounded sophisticated and he felt a sense of that when he ordered it. Joey had a nice glass of Chianti with his shrimp and Joey Junior drank Dr. Pepper.

When the entrees arrived, Joey Junior was a little hesitant because the clams were still in their little shells in the glistening wine sauce. He wasn’t quite sure what he should do, but wanted to play it cool. Meanwhile Joey, who loved his scampi, didn’t hesitate with his plate, and almost completely missed Joey Junior’s hesitation. The subtle difference was that Joey was well aware that Joey Junior always had his fork in his mouth before the rest of the family. He patiently reassured his son that he was going to enjoy this meal and took on the first clam himself to demonstrate. Joey Junior did enjoy his dinner and was amazed by Beethoven, properly taking his place as one of the family’s opera lovers.

Maui Travel allows vacationers to experience exotic foods that will please the most cultivated of tastes.  The island offers a fusion of cuisine from all over the world, from Asian fare that includes Korean and Chinese influences to European classical dishes that takes cues from favorite French dishes. 

Hawaii boasts some of the best known chefs known to foodies.  They provide a fantastic chance to experience the greatest of the Asian influenced cooking out there.  These chefs typically use produce from locally grown farms, allowing their customers to experience the fresh and flavorful dishes. 

For instance, Pacific Rim cuisine blends European and Asian cooking techniques and flavors with seafood and spices to provide incredible artistic food presentations.  Thai restaurants possess a combination of Chinese and French cuisine.  Among their most popular ingredients Thai restaurants use to concoct delicate sauces are peanuts and coconut milk. 

Other Asian influences on Hawaii include Japanese and Chinese cooking.  The former often serves its food in dishes that are divided, which allow a customer to sample many meals in one.  Chinese restaurants also offer a unique part of the Hawaiin food culture through such dishes as green onion and sweet red pork, pork chops and gravy, noodle soup with green onion, and macaroni salad.

The most experienced palates have a chance to discover new flavors in cuisine through a Maui vacation.  Restaurants popular among locals are Sam Sato’s and Kitada’s Kau Kau Corner in Wailuku Mill yard and Makawao respectively.  These restaurants give tourists the chance to the experience the best food that Maui has to offer. 

There are culinary delights for every taste and every budget on Maui.  It is warm and vibrant place, an atmosphere reflected in the dining options available to tourists.  While you may come for the ocean, the beach, or the surfing, its cuisine will leave in indelible mark upon you.

The banks along the Singapore River have provided the country with the economic means and support that has been successful for hundreds of years.  Even back in the days as a humble village making a living in the fishing industry, the waters have always provided for the citizens.  The fishing industry gave way to the import and export trade industry and the seaport began the transformation that has led it to its current state.  Now, hawkers sell their food, merchants sell their textiles and artists sell their works.

Clarke Quay is an area along the river that has become quite a hot spot, whether it be for the weekend flea markets and open air wet markets, to the Singapore restaurant and club scene.  This small section of the city has it all.  Evidence along the river and in Clarke Quay, of the vast diversity of culture and the long and rich history is found on every corner.  This was an area of commerce and trade by the end of the nineteenth century and today the buzz of live and the many activities have made this district a major tourist attraction as well.

Vendors and business owners from many other Asian countries, as well as those from Europe, have set up shop on the Quay.  For a night out the Quay offers everything from the shopping malls, to the wine bars and trendy clubs, to traditional hawker stands and river boat rides.  The market places offer a bit of the old with the new, as pushcarts and boutique shops sit along side the many Italian, Chinese and Mediterranean restaurants.  One is able to find art studios offering classes in everything from painting to pewter sculpture.  Or, if one is so inclined one may take a go at the only reverse bungee jumping center in Singapore.  For those desiring a not so daring adventure, a simple tri-shaw ride through the area is a pleasant way to experience the scenery and the history that surrounds the Clarke Quay.