SB -

In the event you're still around and checking the board, I just wanted to reassure you there is nothing wrong with "going back to your New York roots" and eating Chinese food in Italy. Confessing my own preferences, I've discovered probably the most wonderful Greek restaurant in the world, called The Onasis (for the family). It's run by two Greek brothers and a cousin (and one of their wives), and is more than just Greek food - it's absolutely superb Greek cuisine. With an ice cold anisette for dessert; well, life doesn't get much better, does it?

You can find this treasure in Unterschleisheim, Germany, by the way - a northern 'burb of Munich.

Anyone else out there have an odd find like that to report? Great Italian restaurant in Hong Kong, maybe?

Intl Doc

actually the best italian i've ever eaten outside of my husbands mom's cooking was at a restaurant in Hawaii. It was in Waikiki by the Ohana Waikiki Tower hotel. Called Trattoria-- they have the best tortellini alfredo and desserts that i've ever eaten. In Minnesota we have Buca's and Maggianos but even they don't compare to this Hawaiian Jem.. So when in Hawaii eat Italian.

I'm not a big ethnic food person b/c of stomach and fear of reverse peristalsis. Sorry that was my grown up. When I was in Hong Kong and Kowloon with my husband on his business trip i was left alone for 14 hours daily for 2 weeks. The hotel is a 5 star and I cannot remember its name. It's on the Kowloon side of the harbor facing Hong Kong and upon entering the entire back was completely glass. There was sort of a shopping area attached which connected to a walkway on the canal. If any of you can name the hotel I would be able to sleep. Well, because it was business and the vendors really desired my husbands business they flourished me with a stretch Mercedes limosene(sp)at my disposal. Like I can relate to that lifestyle. I sat a football field behind him and he had to pull over b/c i got sick. I then sat in the front seat with him. He was horrified. it was such fun as he became my driver and took me to such wonderful shopping places like the Stanley Market. He wanted to take me to all these fabulous restaurants, but the smells I encountered and sights that accompanied these smells brought my appetite to its all time low. All I can say is Thank Goodness for MC Donald's walking distance from the hotel. That is all i could stomach and it tasted a bit strange (hated to think the meat was anything but cow). When ex returned from his day he expected me to join him in these fancy fancy long long dinners that lasted well into the wee hours. WEll that lasted for 2 nights. This is the best place to visit if you are with someone you really love. I could not even score any jewelry. I cannot believe it took me 30 years. So for 2 weeks I lived on Quarter Pounders, fries, and the fresh fruit that was the best ever that was served in the mornings. This hotel had house boys for each few rooms and he would run my bath and turn my bed down with flowers and chocolate. I could live this way.....This is a spectacular place for exploration and sightseeing. Being an amateur photographer, it ranks as #1 for pictures even to this day. Trip was Sept 1984.

Then we ventured to Macau and into China to meet other vendors. Well I knew this was going to do me in and it did. We ate with all these important people and I sat there ever so cute and perky and they brought all of this Chinese food and the first platter was piled high with what looked like pig penises in white sauce. Well, needless to say, I sprang up and went directly to the dessert display and ordered there and persuaded another woman to sit with me separated from the rest. Im so pleased that in Macau you could purchase perscription medications over the counter and I did and it saved my life. They made us get in single file and gave us a number and we loaded this bus. Tears began flowing due to car sickness and riding in back of the bus. They stopped at a commune in the farming district with all these starving babies - I took 10 valium and told them to lock me in. They did and I finally made it back to Macau and to the jet boat back to Kowloon. I'll never forget until I see the pics.
I wanted those babies to protect and love them. Babies, young children and animals are my weakness.

I also encountered toilets like Sam did somewhere. There was a place for each foot and a hole in the middle; well I didn't know how to manuver and keep my clothes dry so it took my husband and a friend to help me pee! WE laughed throughout the trip, but being with a group helps when you are not with a soul mate or very good friend. Sorry to have rambled. I lost almost 12 pounds on this trip.

M

There is a great restaurant in Sault Ste. Marie in Canada called the Docks that has fabulous cappellini. I would go to Canada just for that.