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Old style brunch in the middle of Tribeca. From time to time we forget about counting calories! Square diner

One of the most important things when travelling is to make sure you know something about the local language.

First of all, there is a practical reason to state this. This is because we all need to feel ready to handle an unexpected situation or ask for help to some locals if we need it. Usually, we memorize some common sentences to make us understandable in the languages that are most different from ours. For example, when we went to Japan we carried all the time a little notebook with some Japanese idioms in it to use them in case some local did not understand English. It proved to be very useful, especially when travelling around by public transport!

However, there is also a cultural motive to learn a little bit of the country’s local tongue before travelling: to enjoy your trip better. Language is meant to unite people and express national feelings that may have their origin in historical events. Knowing about a country’s way of speech is necessary to understand its tradition and culture. For instance, there are some words in each language that are impossible to translate and that can tell a lot about the people that use them.

Paris

This topic came up when we visited Paris and we met some local friends. They explained us the meaning of some French words they were unable to translate directly. This is the case of “l’esprit de l’escalier” -referring to the ability a person has to be witty in his answers but when it’s too late- or “faire du lèche-vitrine” -its literal translation is ‘to lick the window’ but it means ‘to go window-shopping’-.

As we’ve seen, French culture is rich in this curious phenomenon. That is why if you are planning a trip to France in you early future, we recommend you to learn some French. Learn it fast or just write down some words and phrases and take them with you!

Go ahead in most bars and restaurants in Brussels but will all be surrounded by touristy. But it is Brussels and weekends only tourists. In fact, until our European parliamentarians seem to do more tourists than anything else, but that would get into politics and we are for these cabbages and also for Brussels.

Our top recommendation for dinner is the classic Chez Leon with mussels and fries and eat the Da Piero in his quiet terrace and then give a good account of a few Belgian mojitos on the deck of the Zebra Bar

But if you want a healthy option here’s a good list. As always each and every one of them have personally tested. On the Way Away planner for Brussels route, you go indicating where to go, in what order and how to reach the site. In our Smart Route you go all these places indicating also for breakfast, lunch or dinner, everyone just at the right time so that you square with the itinerary!

For breakfast in Brussels abound coffee chains, such as well put that almost look life. You have the Paul, with good coffee and better croissant, but the best bread sandwiches (from 3.75 €). On the Boulevard Anspach with the Rue de L’Eveque Bisschops, you have a good central Paul. The other alternative is Le Pan Quotidian. In the Rue Antoine Dansaert find one, decorated as your dream kitchen, with one long wooden table from which you will not want to lift.

To drink a beer on a lively terrace, any time you can go to the Jardin des Fontaines Olives, right in the Marche au Charbon. From € 1.90 draft beer from € 2.60 or the bottled. For if it is full you have the bar right next Llanes or Au Soleil, the two also friendly and nice terraces.

Another area with good environment is the Plaza de Santa Catalina, with several bars with terraces beneath a large pine. The beer is just as cold in all but our favorite is the original Onthaal for their hammocks. Furthermore, in this square you will find a kind of bar-seafood or “tapas bar” as they call them led by Spanish. Ask for the “duos” by 13 or 15 € (tapas combining two of shrimp, octopus or squid) or “triple” with three options (21 €). I chuparéis fingers! But beware that only open for lunch and closed on Sundays.

If you eat when caught by the elevator of Louise, you can go to Point Chute, a burger with a nice terrace in the square below. The burgers are huge (from € 11.20) but you can also order a bagel for € 8.50.

For the “sweet tooth” have some bad news … The famous waffles have entered into a price war that has made € 1 but much worse than that you can take at home. Now, to prove that it is not … Next to the Manneken Pis have a couple of them, but I can not recommend one before the other because they both know like that … Of course, since you are there if you love chocolate and you carry a wallet full of banknotes, come into the Godiva chocolate shop opposite. The “strawberry cone” (€ 5.50), chocolate dipped strawberries, is not to forget. Or the “chocolixir” that will cost you not drink them in a St. Hilari …

If you have been late and you have pressed the stomach to hunger and greasy snacks, a lifeguard can be a kind of locally owned fast food on the street Fritland Henri Maus, under the big Platz. Ask in the bar and sit on a table of its banks. And since you ask of the Mitraillette atravéis (€ 4.50), a baguette with meat, onions, salad, salsa and chips …!

Restaurant Chez Leon in Brussels
Rue des Bouchers 18

Formule Leon (moules avec frites) 14,90€
Croquettes de Crevettes 13,95€
Steak tartar (americain) 17,95€

Well yes, we know. It’s the worst of the tourist streets of Brussels, that of the “butchers”. That says it all. Full of tight and maitre blowflies terraces that will persecute to the hotel with the letter of your restaurant. But if you want to try some mussels and fries, go to Chez Leon. It would be comparable to the King of the Prawns in Barcelona, famous among local restaurant for twenty years and prostituted by tourists since. But with a difference. They all eat shrimp, the tourists and we, in restaurants and at home, so there are hundreds of better places than the Rey de la Gamba to eat a good meal. But in Belgium the only ones to ask avec frites mussels in restaurants are on duty turistoides. So if you want to take them and the good, to the rue des Bouchers and sit at Chez Leon (a good recommendation to avoid the tourist hubbub is sitting on the cross street).

If you only take one of the table mussels, go to Leon formula, a kind of menu that includes classic mussels (moules speciales), fries and a beer for € 14.60. If you are more than one, ask “les Cocottes” ration of 800 grams (Leon formula are 500gr), with “frites à volonté” (All potatoes want). You’ll have more than enough. In this case, you can still opt for the classic (€ 22.55) or stop being purists thinking “what is the best or the most traditional?” And ask for more sauce you fancy because after dip it be you who potatoes and bread!Attention that sometimes the classics may surprise some of the flavor of “céleri” … a kind of pickle! Forewarned is forearmed …

For snacks, you can always try the shrimp croquettes typical super (crevettes croquettes) or tomatoes stuffed with prawns, which for some have come to a place of tourists! And if in the group have to always hating mussels, we can recommend the steak tartare (filet americain). A special little more matted than it serve for our lands, but also tasty and a good deal!

Of course, where you will be nailed in beer. Make them the idea and forget to look at the price, so not what you say. But forget about sophistication and do not go out of Maes beer, the cheapest of the letter.

Restaurants More recommended restaurants in Brussels

Restaurants Other recommended restaurants in Belgium

In Brussels costs a little separated from so many tourists, so much as seek all end up with touristy restaurants everywhere. But at least you can feel that there are places where you mix with local people. And that’s what happens in every bar in the Place Saint Gery. In the upper crossing Rue Van Praet, the terraces are mixed together. We recommend taking a spectacular “Belgian mojito” at the Zebra, first-facing terrace and sun bursting on weekends. As sure to fall more than one, before you fill you recommend good belly and a fantastic option is the Da Piero.

In the bottom of the square, around the market that fills the middle, you will find this Italian from outside does not look great, but its inner terrace is to forget for a while that you are in the capital of Europe. We recommend the spaghetti bolognese, adopted as a national dish by the Belgians, and parmigiana pizza.

Restaurants More recommended restaurants in Brussels

Restaurants Other recommended restaurants in Belgium

None. So clear. And I guess one will be good. But dinner alongside two hundred tourists it’s not done for us. Want to know what the locals really do? For some (not all, of course, or even most) are opting for the “canning” in the street. That is, buy a pack of beer cans in the supermarket because in a bar is stealing the kidney that can cost you a pittance of cane, and the Nyhavn to take it all zipping around. And in Rome, do as the Romans do, so I suggest you take a can of supermarket cold and give you a ride. Normally in these sites what you do is sit and watch those passing. Well here is the opposite. You’re walking and you’re looking at those sitting.

Copenhague

Restaurants More recommended restaurants in Copenhaguen

Restaurants Other recommended restaurants in Denmark

 

National Market Curitiba

One of the mandatory stops in Curitiba (and, if we were to listen to all the guides, now in any city in the world) is the National Market. If you go to there, take advantage to go at lunchtime. You can choose from several options, from Mister Dea buffet (menu R $ 12.50) to Thai Box. But our favorite Japanese Fujii. To be in Brazil and a daily market, salmon and tuna give the trick.

Restaurants More recommended restaurants in Curitiba

Restaurants Other recommended restaurants in Brazil

L’Etoile du Berger, rue de la montagne Sainte Genevieve 42
Best book by phone (0143263887)

Pain Vin Fromage, 3 rue Geoffroy l’Angevin
Essential to book by phone (tel January 42 74 07 52)

Located in the Latin Quarter is not easy to hit a place where you eat well even if surrounded by tourists. And on top on that site you can try fondue meat or cheese is of note. And to top it off if they have a menu for € 16 with first and second, going to bingo. Even the background music accompanying and just why you’d end up asking if you listen to it removed.

If you go to menu, to first ask the onion soup, but you do not like! It is delicious with melting cheese and croutons. And second the pepper steak or duck confit. But what worth are the two fondues. If you are two ask for one of each. The cheese is a little strong but very good. The bread, however, is the day before but the trick is to ask for more bread that is perfect desktop. The flesh is very good, but the sauces are not anything special. If you ask needless fondue request a first because they are abundant (accompanied with a really good triangular chips and some salad), although it is a shame not to try the onion soup …

Menu € 16
Onion soup € 6
Savoyarde Fondue (cheese) 16 €
Fondue Bourguignonne € 18
Chocolate Fondue for Two € 16
(although not as good as the other dishes)
Bottle 500ml house wine € 12
Wine Bottle Bordeux € 18

And if you are on the other side of the Seine, just behind the Centre Pompidou, you can not miss the Pain Vin Fromage! In the small rue Geoffroy l’Angevin have this lovely restaurant that, although most of the tables are in a sort of cellar without windows, you will feel very comfortable in addition to eating a blast!

Cheese fondue for 15 €, meat (Burgundian) from 16.50 € and raclette from 13.50 to € 19.50, but our recommendation is to try the first!

Restaurants More recommended restaurants in Paris

Restaurants Other recommended restaurants in France

Restaurante Dom Mario

Risotto de polvo (octopus) 85 R $ (for two)
Mignon al molho with gorgonzola R $ 85 (for two)

If you look at all the tour guides Brazil, appear to have been copied because the Dom Mario appears the first in almost every list. And to top it off, it’s also the number 1 on TripAdvisor. So we had to try it. And so we can talk about it. And therefore do not recommend it unless you may have that typical day where you do not mind paying a lot or pay more than it’s worth something.

It’s good, there is no doubt. But it is also expensive. And considering where we are. If you are of those who do not like complicated dishes, and you have the perfect excuse because at Dom Mario, setting aside a couple of recipes, the rest always put a special touch, not too much but just enough to be original (passion fruit sauce, coconut milk, etc …). If you want to have dinner watching the sea, you have another excuse, that’s definitive. The Dom Mario is the most hidden restaurant in Vila do Abraáo. It’s at the end of one of the streets leading from the promenade to the sea.

So, if it’s fine dining, take a good flashlight, walk along the beach to the south and outisde Sagu mini resort. Overlooking the sea, is the best that you can eat in Ilha Grande, in his restaurant Toscanelli. But only on the weekends and always when you do not mind dining alone because few come here …

Risotto com camaráo 31 R$
Farfalle al pesto 31 R$

Ilha Grande

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Restaurants Other recommended restaurants in Brazil

The Pips, rue de la Montagne Sainte Geneviève
Le petit cafe, rue Descartes 6
L’Etoile du Berger, rue de la montagne Sainte Genevieve 42

If you go to the Pantheon to see the most famous Parisian dead, from there you can go down to the Latin Quarter. On the right you will go to stop the rue Mouffetard, equally crowded with tourists and restaurants. On the left will lower down the rue de la Montagne, also full of restaurants, just turistoides but maybe a little less and eat better reputation for good. If you’re hungry the best is The Pips, right on the little square that intersects with the rue discards. French home restaurant with good atmosphere. If you fancy a fondue further down, you have L’Etoile du Berger.

If you simply want to take a break and have a coffee in the corner opposite The Pips have Le Petit Café, with covered terrace for smoking and cocktail happy hour from 17.30 to 19.30h. Not the cutest coffee Paris but at least here you will hear French in more than one table.

And if you’re after something sweet, walk a little further and you will come to rue Monge. On the right at number 14 have the famous Kayser boulangerie! The croissant is the best around Paris and the Viennese chocolate, chocolate chip bread (1.3 €), is to take the suitcase full home …

Restaurants More recommended restaurants in Paris

Restaurants Other recommended restaurants in France