WATERFRONT BED & BREAKFAST, Broome - Western Australia

Broome that fascinating pearling port on the western edge of the continent has its very own vagaries "foodwise' which you will discover if you spend a few days enjoying its beautiful beaches and surrounds.
So to ensure you get off to a good start for the day, whilst you learn about 'Broome Time' and places to eat, make sure you stay at a hostelry where a good breakfast is on offer.
Gary Tuck of the Waterfront, is host and chef for some scrumptious Broome Breakfasts by the pool, which include fresh fruits, cereals, yoghurt, homemade bread,croissants, pancakes, muffins, locally made jam, tea and punger coffee. Eat as much as you want and then head out to enjoy the white sands, azure seas and blue skies of Broome.
By the way, Gary's able assistant is "Wally the wonder Parrot"!

10 Demco Drive, Waterfront Estate, Broome, Western Australia www.broomebb.com.au

THE MODERN, New York, USA

A bite in the Big Apple is not cheap so when in doubt check out the Museums. I found The Modern at the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) a good choice for lunch. With its separate street-level entrance on West Fifty-third Street it allows diners to enjoy the restaurant and bar beyond Museum hours.

The Modern is a fine dining restaurant offering original Alsatian inspired cuisine in the Dining room which overlooks the Sculpture Garden or, there is the more casual Bar Room dinning area which is good for lunch. Here I enjoyed a small cassoulet of tongue (which I know has a limited audience) and seafood fare.

The meals were pleasantly presented and the portions a manageable size instead of the usual American pyramid of food. Wine may be ordered from an extensive international list, by the glass if preferred.
Price: US$15-50
Address: 9 West 53rd Street, New York, NY 10019
Rating: ***

GRAND TIER RESTAURANT, New York, USA

You need a ticket for the Opera to dine here which makes for an expensive meal, plus a reservation as it opens just 2 hours before performances.

Nicely situated over looking a green thoroughfare, the restaurant has a pleasant ambience which suits its glamorously garbed clientele.

The menu is rather old fashioned but you are able to order several entrees for a light meal before a performance (or during intermission), rather than a heavy main meal, so I combined a Cauliflower Cappuccino soup and a vegetarian tempura entrée with a glass of chilled Californian chardonnay. The wine list was adequate if unexciting. Whilst not exactly cutting edge food, it was nicely presented and enjoyable and of course speed was of the essence from the service personnel.
Price: US$17-80
Address: Lincoln Centre, W 64th St. at Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY
Rating: ***

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BELGIAN BEER CAFÉ, Melbourne Australia

Affectionately known as ‘Mussels’, this bustling café, European in style and service has a friendly and informed wait personnel. For afficionados it offers generous pots of steaming, fresh mussels, with plenty of fresh bread for dunking into delicious juices. Try their classic white wine with chopped shallots, parsley and butter mariniere, or provencal with chopped tomatoes sautéed in olive oil with garlic and parsley. For a change enjoy a Spicy Thai style Pot – mussels cooked in coconut milk flavoured with lemongrass, garlic and fresh chilli or grilled mussels Florentine. Checking with my neighbouring table of 30 something business lunchers, eating well presented tarragon chicken, beef carbonnade (a stew from Flanders flavoured with bacon, onions and simmered in beer) and peppered steak, on the quality of their fare, they proclaimed all to be thoroughly enjoyable and recommended it. The wine list is extensive and in spots expensive (i.e. Tasmanian wines) and of course there is an interesting selection of boutique beers to enjoy.
Scooter/Wheelchair friendly
Prices: $20 -$50 (AUD)
Address: 557 St. Kilda Road, Melbourne 3004
Rating: ***

THE ALGONQUIN, New York City USA

In addition to its reputation for good food The Algonquin possessed a unique personality in George the most urbane maitre d’hotel who ever collected first editions. George could tell you anything from the correct way to pronounce Alcibiades to the precise amount of Allium with which to kineticise a salad. (Tribal Tales). More latterly, April 2006, I can recommended Breakfast at this noted inn – from their healthy Granola, fresh berry and yoghurt parfait, to hearty Canadian bacon and eggs, and that ever popular heart stopper, Eggs Benedict, it's all cooked to order, with very fresh ingredients plus drinkable American coffee by way of a novel change!
By New York Standards
Prices are reasonable $12 – 30 (US)
Address 59 W 44th St, between 5th and 6th Avenues
Rating ***

CANLIS RESTAURANT, Seattle USA

A Seattle classic serving quintesessential North American cuisine for over 55 years in a stunning position perched above the beautiful lake Union. The hospitable Canlis family and staff (who stay with them for decades) offer an haute-moderne cuisine with menu specialities such as Canlis Prawns, Or King Salmon Gravlax and Caviar, with Riesling and Granny Smith Apple Gelee or rare Pan Fried Tuna with delicate Ginger Sauce. To compliment any meal there is a wine list featuring 1,500 selections. Like all good things there is a price tag plus tip to consider:
Prices range from $32 -65 (US)
Address: Queen Anne,
2576 Aurora Ave.N. at Sixth Aven. N.
Rating ***

WHITE DOG CAFÉ, Philadelphia USA

This amiable inner city restaurant is handy to know about if you find yourself in Philly sometime. Owned by Julie Wicks, described by my hosts as a ‘do gooder’/networker in food and urban issues, and a bit of a mystic, it’s conservatively casual in its style and menu choices which obviously suits the clientele many of whom are attached to the University. I tried their Thai style soup – thickish in consistency with a touch of bite and many veg. Whilst it was tasty it certainly bore no relationship to the traditional Thai soups of the Asian region. Their local fish baked Plaky St Peters had a crust of crab,shrimp and toasted almonds. Firm of flesh and positive in flavour it went well with a local light red wine.
Prices ranged from $12 – 35 (US)
Address 3420 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA
Rating ***

OCEANAIRE SEAFOOD ROOM, Seattle USA

Is part of a Minneapolis based seafood chain which offers a daily changing selection of the freshest seafood around.
The restaurant has a décor inspired by a 1930’s oceanliner and offers 30 different types of seafood. Portions are large but foodwise everything is shipshape. Try the large, steaming and favourably pink steamed crabs served with melted butter if you don’t mind using hands as culinary aids and napkins as bibs. For more refined eaters there are chopped fresh crab cocktails and delicious crab cakes. Indulge in Chef Davis’ Grand Shellfish Platter and icy dome of oysters on the half shell, Dungeness and king crab, mussels and shrimps, with relevant dipping sauces!
Prices: $16.95 -$74.95 (US)
Address: Downtown, 1700 Seventh Ave. at Olive, Seattle
Rating***