Luna Mexican Kitchen, San Jose, CA

If you're going to be in San Jose for an evening, I would highly recommend this little neighborhood spot for dinner (or brunch). On SJ's "Alameda", it seems to be ideally situated for this neighborhood, and others as well.

We decided to hit up this new spot before a San Jose Earthquakes match, and boy were we glad we did. I'm not sure there was a better way to kick of the night. Ole!

To start, it's a great little building with a to-go window ("para llavar") out front. Seating out there for waiting on the tables too. An indoor seating area, plus full bar... and a lovely outdoor patio, with shade and cooling to accommodate the outside temps on most any night.

We decided to get some drinks, and instead of the 20-30 minute seating wait, we were shwon a table before our first sips could start working. Fine by us.

We went all in for their guacamole to start... and then something never seen before by yours truly for the main course...

Who doesn't enjoy food served in a molcajete?!

For dinner, we were drawn to the backside, 2nd page of their menu, filled with an item listed as "Parradillas". These appeared to be large, multi-person serving vessels for all kinds of meats or veggies. They had me at "meat vessel".

We went for the moderately-priced fajita-style version - which came with both chicken and steak, guac, sides, and rice+beans too.  Hay ca-rumba, I'm gonna be full.

I think this big box on the bottom keeps the food hot... or just keeps it at the right height to kep grabbing more cooked meats. Either way, I'm good.

If you don't like what you eat off the parradilla, it's pretty much your own fault. I mean, you ordered the proteins, and you put it all together yourself. So, get after it! Get in their and make yourself a little taco. In this case, I don't mind doing the work for my dinner, it's fun.

Should you go? Well, I'd say - Venga! Venga! Venga!!! I haven't found a place like this one yet in my time in San Jose. They seem to have their formula down and it's a good one. Food, drinks, service, atmosphere, and a little Latin flare... plus the parradillas.

Now, I don't link websites too often, but theirs includes much better everything than this blog post - pics, menus, etc. Check it out - https://www.lunamexicankitchen.com/

Shanghai Foods, Shanghai, China

I thought I'd throw down some of the tasty eats and treats had in Shanghai. Some of it is pretty normal fare, some, not so much. Take a look and let me know what you think...

(some I ate, some I didn't)

Hotel breakfast buffet:

 

Starbucks is comforting to find...

Spicy!!!

Chips...

Ahhh, German beer...

More spicy!!!

Pot Stickers and Soup Dumplings...

Quite possibly the most perfect single scoop of ice cream/gelato I have ever eaten...

It's so humid in Shanghai in the summer this chilled bowl began beading up with sweat droplets as soon as it was placed at the table.

Parkyard Hotel and Preferred Hotels & Resorts

On a recent trip to Shanghai, we were nicely placed into a hotel that appears to belong to a "small" family hotel group. From what I can tell, the Parkyard Hotel, belongs to a trade group known as Preferred Hotels & Resorts. They have preferred properties around the globe, and major offices in Chicago, IL and Newport Beach, CA.

I was able to page through one of their "lookbooks" in the hotel room and thought I would share some properties that reminded me of friends & family (I get whistful on international trips, I guess).

See if you can pick out your own 'hood, visited countries, or perhaps a new destination idea...

As we seem to now recommend purchasing experiences over things, I can't recommend travel to international (or local) destinations enough. Get out there.