Your unusual dish of everything.
10 Romantic Restaurants in the U.S. – Part VIII
VIII. Spiaggia
Spiaggia
As Chicago’s only four-star Italian restaurant as rated by the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Magazine, Spiaggia offers an unparalleled fine dining experience. Chef/Partner Tony Mantuano, James Beard 2005 Best Chef Midwest and his team deliver world-class Italian cuisine . Nominated for Outstanding Service in the U.S. by the James Beard Foundation in 2005 and awarded by Zagat as “Chicago’s Top Italian Restaurant”, Spiaggia offers an inventive wine selection and a spectacular view from a dramatic dining room. The dining rooms feature handsome dark wood wainscoting and carefully selected art pieces. The light is soft , glows a little and is very welcoming. The servers are efficient and well seasoned. La Spiaggia’s culinary individuality includes the dedication to serving the finest and freshest foods available, creating seasonal menus and a passion for high level consistency.
The most recent Zagat survey called its “interesting, flavorful” fare a “guaranteed-great” “special night out” and it was selected to the “Top Ten at the Jersey Shore” in 2002, 2003 & 2006 by The Artful Diner. On his Website, he called La Spiaggia “particularly special, as it is an eatery to which I would gladly return during any season of the year.”
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Experiment creat de cercetătorii români, transportat pe Staţia Spaţială Internaţională
about 11 months ago - No comments
Un experiment realizat de cercetătorii români va fi transportat pe Staţia Spaţială Internaţională (ISS) la ultimul zbor al navetei spaţiale Discovery, programat pentru 24 februarie, a declarat directorul general al Agenţiei Spaţiale Române (ROSA), Marius-Ioan Piso, citat de Mediafax.
Experiment creat de cercetătorii români, transportat pe Staţia Spaţială Internaţională
Experimentul românesc a fost realizat de Institutul de Ştiinţe Spaţiale din Bucureşti.
“Creşterea şi Supravieţuirea Fungilor Coloraţi în Spaţiu” (CFA-A) este un experiment ce are ca scop determinarea efectelor pe care le are microgravitaţia şi radiaţiile cosmice asupra creşterii şi supravieţuirii speciilor de fungi, potrivit site-ului rosa.ro.
Potrivit lui Piso, experimentul a fost coordonat de Dumitru Haşegan, de la Institutul de Ştiinţe Spaţiale din Bucureşti (ESA). El a plecat deja la centrul spaţial Kennedy de la Cape Canaveral (Florida, SUA), pentru a pregăti experimentul.
La începutul lui ianuarie, NASA a anunţat că a reuşit să remedieze problema fisurilor din rezervorul extern al navetei Discovery şi că intenţionează să o lanseze spre Staţia Spaţială Internaţională (ISS) pe 24 februarie. John Shannon, responsabilul programului de lansare a navetei Discovery (misiunea NASA STS-133), dădea atunci asigurări că a fost rezolvată problema fisurilor din rezervorul extern al Discovery, care a ţinut la sol naveta încă de la începutul lui noiembrie. Modificările tehnice urmau să fie încheiate până pe 23 ianuarie.
Lansarea navetei Discovery a fost amânată de mai multe ori, începând din noiembrie 2010, din cauza unei scurgeri de hidrogen în timpul umplerii cu combustibil a rezervorului extern.
Acesta este ultimul zbor pentru Discovery şi, totodată, al 39-lea pentru navetă, cea mai veche din flota spaţială a NASA.
Aceasta este, de asemenea, penultima lansare a unei navete americane, înainte de retragerea lor din circulaţie şi trimiterea la un muzeu tehnic.
Ultimul zbor al unei navete americane va fi efectuat, în principiu, de Endeavour, cel mai devreme în aprilie.
Morgellons Disease
about 1 year ago - No comments
Morgellons disease is a mysterious skin disorder characterized by disfiguring sores and crawling sensations on and under the skin. Although Morgellons disease isn’t widely recognized as a medical diagnosis, experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are investigating reports of the condition, which they refer to as unexplained dermopathy.
Morgellons Disease
If you suspect that you have Morgellons disease, you may have many questions about the condition. Here’s what you need to know about Morgellons disease, including practical tips for managing your signs and symptoms.
What are the signs and symptoms of Morgellons disease?
People who have Morgellons disease report the following signs and symptoms:
- Skin rashes or sores that can cause intense itching
- Crawling sensations on and under the skin, often compared to insects moving, stinging or biting
- Fibers, threads or black stringy material in and on the skin
- Severe fatigue
- Inability to concentrate and short-term memory loss
- Behavioral changes
- Joint pain
- Vision changes
Morgellons disease shares characteristics with various recognized conditions, including Lyme disease, liver or kidney disease, schizophrenia, drug or alcohol abuse, and a mental illness involving false beliefs about infestation by parasites (delusional parasitosis).
How widespread is Morgellons disease?
Reports of Morgellons disease have been made in every state in the United States and 15 countries around the world. Most reported cases are clustered in California, Texas and Florida.
What do researchers know about Morgellons disease?
Beyond anecdotal reports, researchers know little about Morgellons disease. The CDC reports no known causes of Morgellons disease and no successful treatment for the condition. Whether Morgellons disease is contagious remains a mystery.
How controversial is Morgellons disease?
Current attitudes toward Morgellons disease fall into various categories:
- Some health professionals believe that Morgellons disease is a specific condition that needs to be confirmed by future research.
- Some health professionals believe that signs and symptoms of Morgellons disease are caused by another condition, often mental illness.
- Other health professionals don’t acknowledge Morgellons disease or are reserving judgment until more is known about the condition.
Some people who suspect Morgellons disease claim they’ve been ignored, criticized as delusional or dismissed as fakers. In contrast, some doctors say that people who report signs and symptoms of Morgellons disease typically resist other explanations for their condition.
How can you cope with the signs and symptoms of Morgellons disease?
The signs and symptoms linked to Morgellons disease can be distressing. Even though health professionals disagree about the nature of the condition, you deserve compassionate treatment. While research continues, take positive steps to manage your signs and symptoms.
- Establish a caring health care team. Find a doctor who acknowledges your concerns and does a thorough examination. Since Morgellons disease often requires frequent follow-up visits, a local health care team may be most convenient.
- Be patient. Your doctor will likely look for known conditions that point to evidence-based treatments before considering a diagnosis of Morgellons disease.
- Keep an open mind. Consider various causes for your signs and symptoms, and follow your doctor’s recommendations for treatment — which may include long-term mental health therapy.
- Seek treatment for other conditions. Get treatment for anxiety, depression or any other condition that affects your thinking, moods or behavior.
- Keep track of the latest news about Morgellons disease. Supplement the information you find online with articles published in peer-reviewed medical journals. Remember that some sources are more reputable than are others.
Preţul benzinei a luat foc la sfârşit de an
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Carburanţii s-au scumpit de trei ori în doar zece zile, iar de Anul Nou ni se pregătesc noi majorări, astfel că benzina cea mai ieftină va depăşi 5 lei/litru.
Preţul benzinei a luat foc la sfârşit de an
Preţul carburanţilor a crescut chiar şi de trei ori în mai puţin de două săptămâni. În prezent, cel mai ieftin sortiment de benzină a ajuns la un pas de pragul istoric de 5 lei/litru. Practic, până la finele anului, dacă se menţine trendul actual de scumpire, cea mai ieftină benzină comercializată în staţiile Petrom, cel mai mare operator de pe piaţă, ar putea depăşi acest nivel.
Mai mult, accizele la produsele petroliere vor creşte din nou la începutul anului viitor, potrivit unui proiect de modificare al Codului Fiscal, ceea ce va aduce noi scumpiri.
Cum se explică majorările
“Dolarul s-a întărit faţă de leu, astfel încât, chiar dacă valoarea petrolului ar fi rămas la fel, preţul carburanţilor tot ar fi crescut“, ne-a declarat Claudiu Cazacu, analist la casa de brokeraj X-Trade Brokers. Potrivit acestuia, tendinţa de scumpire a carburanţilor va continua pe termen scurt, deoarece petrolul se află pe un trend ascendent.
În staţiile Petrom, cel mai mic preţ al benzinei este de 4,82 lei/litru, pentru sortimentul Premium fără Plumb 95. Asta după ce compania a aplicat două scumpiri consecutive de câte 7 bani/litru, pe 3 şi pe 7 decembrie.
În staţiile Rompetrol, însă, cea mai ieftină benzină, Efix 95, costă deja 4,98 lei/litru, majorările fiind aplicate pe 4 şi 7 decembrie. La Lukoil, un litru de Electroluk 95 costă 4,91 lei.
Acestea sunt preţurile de referinţă, în staţii variind cu plus/ minus 5%.
La motorină, Petrom a majorat de trei ori preţurile de la începutul lunii, ultima dată ieri, cu 5 bani pe litru. Astfel, cel mai ieftin sortiment costă acum 4,71 lei/litru. Companiile petroliere susţin că preţurile carburanţilor se bazează pe creşterea cotaţiilor internaţionale ale carburanţilor, de precierea leului în raport cu dolarul, dar sunt influenţate şi de competiţia de pe piaţă.
Maps from 1942 of the never-was Nazi invasion of North America
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These diagrams from the March 2, 1942 issue of Life detailed the Nazi invasion of America shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Check out such alternate reality battles like the bombing of Detroit and invasion of Norfolk, Virginia.
These maps were created as a follow-up to an article about an American defeat in WWII by pioneering science fiction author Philip Wylie, who wrote the proto-superhero novel Gladiator
. These maps were made in the early days of US involvement in World War II, so there was a sense that this invasion was a real possibility. You can read more about these maps at Ptak Science Books
.
Dezvăluirile WikiLeaks conduc la primul proces, intentat de familia jurnalistului spaniol ucis la Bagdad
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Familia cameramanului spaniol ucis de forţele americane în Bagdad a lansat ceea ce pare a fi prima acţiune legală care foloseşte, ca probe, documentele publicate de WikiLeaks. Jose Couso a murit, în 2003, împreună cu un cameraman al Reuters atunci când un obuz tras de un tanc american a lovit camera lor de hotel, un loc trecut de Pentagon pe lista celor sigure pentru jurnalişti.
Jose Couso
Familia jurnalistului ucis a cerut o anchetă în acest caz, bănuind că guvernul spaniol s-a pus de acord cu cel american pentru a evita acuzaţiile la adresa trupelor americane, scrie Christian Science Monitor, citat de Newser.com.
“Deşi suntem atenţi la a prezenta sincerele noastre regrete faţă de moartea tragică a lui Couso, în culise am făcut tot posibilul ca aceste acuzaţii să dispară, ajutaţi de sistemul judiciar spaniol”, a scris ambasadorul american în Spania într-o notă din 2007, făcută publică de WikiLeaks.
O lună mai târziu, acesta i-a spus secretarului american de stat, Condoleezza Rice, că guvernul spaniol “a fost de ajutor în încercarea de a muşamaliza cazul”. Informaţia a provocat furie în Spania. Analiştii prevăd că acţiunea legală a familiei Couso este prima dintre cele care vor urma după dezvăluirile WikiLeaks.
Hidden flavours of Paris
about 1 year ago - No comments
The secret patisserie – Gérard Mulot
Gérard Mulot is a splendid patisserie and traiteur in St-Germain. You can’t miss it – just look for the white awnings and the imposing towers of macarons in the window – but you’ll smell it before you see it. The scent of melted butter wafts dwn the block. Inside, the first thing that hits you in colour: jewel-bright strawberries on fruit tars and patisserie boxes in pistachio, lemon and Gérard Mulot’s signature pink.
Eiffel Tower
It’s not far from the Jardin du Luxembourg, so you can pick up all you need for a picnic. A sunny day in St-Germain with treats from Gérard Mulot – life doesn’t get any better.
- Jeremy Lee, head chef of London’s Blueprint Cafe
The secret bar – La Cagnotte de Belleville
La Cagnotte de Belleville (13 Rue Jean-Baptiste Dumay, 75020) is extremely scruffy but perfectly Parisian. Open from 7am to 2am, La Cagnotte is a true neighbourhood bar. You get workmen grabbing a lightning-quick espresso and mums with prams in the mornings, and artists and musicians with all the time in the world eking out their café au lait, pastis or panaché (shandy)in the day. Later, the crowd gets very hip as people chatter, dream, smoke and drink to loud music – a lot of rock, and The Stones, The Smiths and The Velvet Underground. Over it all can be heard (owner) Charlie’s laughter; a huge bark that starts as quickly as it ends.
- Trish Deseine, food writer and cook
The secret cheese shop – Fromagerie Trotté
Fromagerie Trotté (97 Rue St Antoine, 75004) is a tiny little shop in the Marais. Two people can barely stand side by side in there, but thatj’s part of its quirky charm. The owner, Pascal Trotté, sells a very personal selection of artisan cheeses, stacked on shelves lining both sides of the narrow space. He specialises in goat’s cheese – the scent hits you the moment you open the door. You get lots of locals popping in for a small piece of cheese for lunch, as well as people from much further afield who come because they know about cheese. The shop may be tiny, but there’s a cellar on site: Trotté is an expert affineur (a specialist in maturing and ripening).
- Sheila Dillon, present of BBC Radio 4’s The Food Programme
The secret restaurant – Benoit
I’ve been eating at Benoit for 25 years. It’s an old brasserie in Les Halles, open for nearly a century. The portions and the quality were, and still are, phenomenal. They always slap big hunks of pâté down on the table with the bread. The puddings at Benoit are classics (oeufs à la neige – meringues floating in vanilla custard – and crème brûlée): traditional, yes, but when they’re done properly, as they are at Benoit, they’re very hard to beat.
It’s a beautiful room – I love the intricate mosaic floor and brass rails. My last visit was in January this year. I still have the snails, and this time I followed them with a little ragoût of cockscombs, kidneys and veal sweetbreads: stunning.
- Michel Roux Jr, chef-patron of London restaurant Le Gavroche
The secret cafe – Café Cambronne
Café Cambronne (5 Place Cambronne, 75015) is a typical Parisian cafe. There are very few reservations – it’s not that kind of place. It’s mostly walk-ins and regulars. There are only ever two or three waiters serving the whole cafe, running around looking after everyone. I love the hectic feel, with clattering of pans and shouting emanating from the open kitchen. It’s quite a moody spot, with its dark green walls and burgundy leather seats. A long bar runs down one side of the cafe, where old men with their hats pulleddown sit, day in and day out, sipping their beer.
I love the Toulouse sausages with lentils, the snails and the classic, well-dressed bistro salads. The steaks are outstanding, and a giant, well-aged rump steak with sauce au poivre is very good value. In the summer, the terrace is a great spot to sit in the evening, when the Place Cambronne is lit up with fairy lights.
- Lee Bennett, head chef at Le Pont de la Tour in London
The secret market – Rue Mouffetard
Rue Mouffetard in the 5th arrondissement is home to the best street market in Paris. If you’re looking for ‘old Paris’ – that romantic ideal of cobbled streets and bustling markets – this is the place to go. You know you’re on the right track when you start to smell roast chicken, as the scent filters through all the twisting little streets. When you get to the market, you realise why – the chicken guy has maybe 50 chickens roasting on his spits.
It’s very working class, definitely not a destination market like le Rungis. You’ll see housewives and chefs from the nearby restaurants shopping for the day’s ingredients. It’s also very regional - farmers come to the city from all over and sell their produce on different stalls. There’s a little bar à vin on the street, called Le Verre à Pied, where you can stop for an apéritif and a piece of charcuterie.
- Anthony Demetre, head chef and co-owner of Arbutus and Wild Honey
10 Romantic Restaurants in the U.S. – Part VII
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VII. One if by Land, Two if by Sea
One if by Land, Two if by Sea
Although there are dozens of restaurants in New York City that are prime locations for romance, this charming lower Manhattan jewel turns up on almost everyone’s list. Chef Samuel Freund relies on area farmers to supply him with fresh ingredients for his prix fixe dinners and chef’s tastings. Check out our interview with Sam Freund to see even more reasons to check it out.
“Definitely a special place for special occassions. It was expensive, but we came on a bloomspot deal which made it much more economical.
Many people have raved about the beef wellington and it is hands down, the best in NYC.
However every dish aside from the wellington was also executed perfectly”- said a customer.
10 Romantic Restaurants in the U.S. – Part VI
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VI. Fleur de Lys Restaurant
Fleur de Lys
Fleur de Lys in San Francisco, California, along with its sister restaurant in Las Vegas, Nevada, are two of the premier French restaurants in the United States. Chef Hubert Keller has transformed Fleur de Lys into what is perhaps the most romantic restaurant in San Francisco. Despite a devastating fire in 2001, the restaurant bounced back into a more spectacular and opulent eatery than before, and it is a culinary destination for lovers throughout the Bay area. Make it a weekend trip, head to Fleur de Lys and then take a car to Sonoma to make it a weekend you will never forget.
10 Romantic Restaurants in the U.S. – Part V
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V. Everest Restaurant
Everest
Everest is a New-French restaurant in Chicago, located on the 40th floor of One Financial Place. It is owned by Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, but the executive chef Jean Joho has exclusive creative control. The decor is evocative of an aristocratic French club, circa the 1920s, with large tables adorned with white linen. Artful touches are in an art-deco style, further evoking the 1920s feel, enhanced by the pseudo-leopard print carpet. The restaurant’s tables are decorated with bronze statues by artist Ivo Soldini, while paintings by Adam Siegel and sculptures by Virginio Ferrari adorn the dining room. The extensive wine list offers more than 1,700 selections, and it has won international acclaim from The New York Times, Saveur, USA Today, Wine Spectator and Decanter, among others, for its depth and the largest selection of Alsace wines in the world.
10 Romantic Restaurants in the U.S. – Part IV
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IV. Dovetail
Dovetail
The name of owner-chef John Fraser’s restaurant is no accident: everything about the restaurant integrates fluidly. The warm space, painted in dulcet tones and quieted by carpeting, coddles visitors—including the occasional celebrity diner—from the moment they arrive. Fraser’s cooking philosophy of focusing on ingredients and seasonality was influenced by traveling through France and Spain, and his creativity provides a fine foil for his classical technique. Appetizers are beautifully plated—a salad composed of slices of Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, Manchego cheese and Serrano ham resembles a savory still life.
Entrées are on the hearty side, and tableside presentations are not uncommon. A cheese cart and Armagnac cart further enhance the experience. Amanda Reed oversees a wide-ranging selection of American and European wines and an impressive collection of sherries. Service is attentive and knowledgeable without hovering.
