Joséphine, Barcelona (restaurant)

Located in an upscale neighborhood on Pau Claris, Joséphine delivers atmosphere from a bygone age, complete with live music, fine food, and a great bar.

Joséphine, located on Pau Claris, Barcelona, Spain.

Joséphine, located on Pau Claris, Barcelona, Spain.

Seating inside and out provides options for all. I took a seat inside for supper one evening.

Dining room at Joséphine, Barcelona, Spain.

Dining room at Joséphine, Barcelona, Spain.

Tasty and well-presented food arrives thanks to a friendly staff. I tried a special of the night, which was a tenderloin served atop hot coals with artichokes and peppers:

Tenderloin atop hot coals at Joséphine, Barcelona, Spain.

Tenderloin atop hot coals at Joséphine, Barcelona, Spain.

This dish was excellent because the coals stayed hot for quite a while, enabling me to let the meat cook to exactly my style. Of course, dessert was a must. Take a look at this chocolate cake and ice-cream:

Chocolate cake with ice cream at Joséphine, Barcelona, Spain.

Chocolate cake with ice cream at Joséphine, Barcelona, Spain.

As sometimes happens, I was too busy eating and talking to photograph the starter salads, one Caesar, one mixed, both fresh, crispy, and delicious. Had a few cocktails after the meal while enjoying a woman singer who provided entertainment. And the people watching here is another bonus. A great experience while visiting Barcelona.

Amuse Bistro, Aruba (video visit)

Doin’ Time With Dan visits Amuse Bistro (again). We enjoyed a great meal last night and had the good fortune to capture most of it on video. Take a look:

As you can see, Amuse gets it all right. Those wonderful dishes were served by a great staff of professionals who know their way around both the food and the wine. Don’t hesitate to ask them about a specific plate or what type of wine would go well with your order. Amuse Bistro is now one of my regular stops when I’m in Aruba.

Stella’s Southern Bistro

Simpsonville, South Carolina is a great little town with a restaurant I’ve come to appreciate recently. Stella’s Southern Bistro is exactly what the name implies, a bistro with southern flair. For example, during a recent meal there, I began with a pulled pork spring roll. Check this monster out:

In true southern style, it came with a piece of crispy pork belly, slaw, and corn chowder. Wow! Then there were some inventive entrees, including this rolletini style concoction which featured spicy sausage wrapped in duck leg with a fried quail in the center. The photo doesn’t do the taste justice, but here it is:

That’s going all out and it really was tasty and something different, which is very difficult to do in the age of celebrity chefs and exotic fare at your fingertips. Of course, there are some regular items on the menu for those with a less adventurous palette, but why hold back? Go for it! And don’t forget dessert, such as this sorbet with fresh fruit:

Or, if you want to ramp up the calories, try this custard atop chocolate goodness toting marshmallows to boot!

There you have it, a wonderful meal with fantastic service, honest prices, and delicious food. Did I mention there’s also a bar? More than that, you can’t find, so don’t waste your time. Give Stella’s a try when you’re in the area. I did, and I’ll be back.