El Maven freaking awesome places

Maven: La Maven
Area: Porto

MERCADO DO BOLHAO
Where do I start..

El Maven in Salas de Los Infantes (Burgos) eats Turrón

Maven: Inés Sanz y Fernando Renes Sr.
Area: Salas de Los Infantes

If you happen to be in this part of the world around Christmas do not miss this unexpected gem, finger licking Turrón Blando @ Pastelería Los Infantes, Salas de los Infantes (yes, they do have almond trees in Burgos)

I got the flowery pic here

El Maven eats Traditional Basque Cuisine

Maven: Irantzu Idirin & Inazio Escudero 
Area: Atxuri, Bilbao

"Real deal" Traditional Basque Cuisine and some oddities like Venison Stew or Sweetbread @ Restaurante Miren Itziar

I got the pic here
more on Sweetbread

El Maven drinks Decaf Coffee

Maven: Ruth Lazkoz
Area: Bilbao


"Bilbao drinks decaf and tries to refrain from the accompanying croissant" @ Bochoco

El Maven in New York grabs a beer looking at Yoshitomo Nara's "drunk scribbles"

Maven: Angel Mateo Charris
Area: Alphabet City


Picture this, Nara is getting drunk, so much, he ends up being arrested... but before that, he covers the walls of your bar with his drawings @ Niagara

 

more on the story here

El Maven in Australia eats Chocolates

Maven: Angel Mateo Charris
Area: New South Wales

Craving for Chocolate and Art Deco in Australia?? they have what you need @ The Paragon, Katoomba

El Maven in Murcia eats Lemon Tree Leaves

Maven: Paqui and Gonzalo Sicre
Area: Murcia

"One of the best places in Murcia to eat veggies and where I lost my Paparajote Virginity" @ La Pequeña Taberna

People quite like it

El Maven in New York eats meat

Maven: La Maven
Area: Upper East Side
A Carnivore's Wonderland since 1840, the finest and freshest USDA prime dry-aged steaks, roasts, specialty meats, and gourmet products that "money can buy" @ Lobels' of New York

El Maven In Los Angeles eats "Vintage"

Maven: Janet Owen Driggs
Area: Downtown Los Angeles

This place deserves a longer entry because it's one of the reasons that made me start this blog. In October 2009 I was told to visit this Cafeteria, a unique vestige of Downtown LA Golden Era. The food was so stuck in the past that it seemed a period recreation curated by the Met (apparently Ray Bradbury loved their chicken enchiladas) but the place... the place was unforgettable and I was so grateful Maven Janet told me to go there!! They are closed for restoration but promising to open their doors again @ Clifton's Cafeteria

 Old photos I got here

 

Cute review about the place as I experienced it here 

The yellow moon with the tiny owl is a scream

 

This Redwood Forest is full of hilarious details Boo-Boo

El Maven in Shanghai eats Xiǎolóngbāo soup

Maven: Kuan Huang
Area: Old Shanghai

"Three treasures and one of them is Algae" dried Shrimp, tiny bits of Green Onions and hǎidài (海带), or Kelp Soup @ Lao Shanghai Sanxian Xiao Huntun

El Maven in Shanghai eats Pork Dumplings

Maven: Kuan Huang
Area: Shanghai

"In opinion of our very foodie Maven you can get the best Pan Fried Pork Bun or Sheng Jian Bao"@ 小杨生煎馆 Yang’s Fry Dumpling

 

I got the first pic here
and the second one here

El Maven in Valencia eats Bocadillos

Maven: Miguel Muñiz
Area: Valencia

"Another round of Huge Sandwiches (Bocadillos) and a good example of the endangered Spanish tradition of welcome tapas for free...all that, in an old fashion Bodega" @ La Pascuala

more photos here

El Maven in NY eats Italian-American Heroes

Maven: La Maven
Area: Manhattan Little Italy

"This "more is more" sandwich looks crazy but it's goooood...and Yes! We want Modena Vinegar on our" Salami, Soppressata, Prosciutto, Roasted Red Peppers, Provolone, Oil and Vinegar on an Italian Hero (that's the name given to Italian Deli Sandwiches in NYC since 1930) @ Alleva

I got the pic here
more on Hero Tradition

El Maven In New York eats Dim-Sum

Maven: Sandy Pei & Peter Rudolph 
Area: Chinatown

"Monoglutamate Monosodium Artistry and Best Website ever" Chinese tapas or Dim-sum @ Golden Unicorn

I got the pics here

El Maven In Paris eats Chocolate

Maven: El Maven
Area: Paris Montmartre

"Aussi Beau que Bon" Chocolates, Teas & Marzipans @ A la Mère de Famille 

Encore plus sur Le Paris Chocolatier

El Maven In New York eats Meat

Maven: La Maven
Area: Flatiron
"They have been raising New York's Cholesterol since 1929"  Pastrami Reuben Sandwich @ Eisenberg's

I got the pic here

El Maven in New York eats Meat

Maven: La Maven
Area: Brooklyn Williamsburg 
 
"I am going vegan farewell meal #1" Cheeseburger @ Dumont

 I got the pic here

El Maven in New York eats Meat

Maven: La Maven
Area: East Village

"Slight chance this poultry and goat came from some East Village Indoor Farm" delicious Taco and Burrito @ Zaragoza

This pic and many more here

El Maven In New York eats Meat

Maven: Celeste Gordon
Area: Harlem

"Paradoxically exotic and homelike" Senegalese Lamb Mafe @ African kine

 I got the pic here

El Maven in New York eats Meat

Maven: Kayoko Suzuki-Lange
Area: Midtown

"Ever satisfying deep fried" Kurobuta Pork Tonkatsu @ Katsu-Hama

 

I got the pic here

El Maven in New York "Window Shops" Drama Books

Maven: La Maven
Area: Manhattan Hell's Kitchen

"Latest Updates on Stanislavski's System anyone???" Books @ The Drama Book Shop

El Maven in New York "Window Shops" Olde Books

Maven: La Maven
Area: Manhattan Midtown

"Bring your H₁ antihistamines" Americana, Modern first editions, Old books, Maps & Prints @ Argosy

 I got the pic here

El Maven in Slovenia eats Potato Dumplings

Maven: Miha Presker
Area: Ljubljana, Slovenia

"How would you say Potato Dumpling in Slovenian???" žlikrofi @ Gostilna Sokol Ljubljana

 more on the thing

El Maven in London eats English Breakfast With an Italian Touch

Maven: Ruth Lazkoz
Area: London East End

"1900 Art Nouveau in Working Class London"" one of the best Breakfasts in town @ Pellici's

more pics

El Maven in London eats Turkish Food

Maven: Ruth Lazkoz
Area: far away but worth it

"Turkish Charcoal Grill delight" Ocakbasi @ Mangal II

I got the pic here

El Maven in London eats Beigels

 Maven: Ruth Lazkoz
Area: London East End

"Yeap, That's how a real Eastender would name them" Beigels @ Beigel Bake Brick Lane Bakery

 A "ravenous" blogger elaborating about the differences between a Bagel and a Beigel

El Maven in New York Drinks Sake

Maven: The Ghost of Christmas Past
Area: Manhattan East Village

"Tokyo style Goth ゴス Sake Bar" as unique as it sounds Hot & Cold Sake @ Decibel

I got the pic here