Lisbon

It is certainly not hard to eat well in this town and we did at the Pestana Palace, but since that goes without saying, it does not really justify an entry.

Pinóquio (Praça dos Restauradores, 79-80, tel: 21 346 51 06) is at the more affordable end of the scale and offers fine (very fresh) traditional Portuguese fare. We enjoyed prawns baked in salt, grilled in butter with garlic, codfish... and passed on dessert. An excellent recommendation from Luis Antunes.

Helsinki

Not long after Ulises's post about tapas in Helsinki, another interesting find was made just around the corner from Mecca (where Ulises ate), just off the Esplanade.

OlO has a busy restaurant at Kasarmikatu 44 (see http://www.olo-ravintola.fi) and in the case that is full a quiet bar a few doors down (where the food is the same). Quality and presentation of a high standard. Notable was the grilled whitefish with rocket and rice-shaped pasta. Small but complementary wine list.

Bangsar Baru

Yesterday, I decided to explore Bangsar. I took the subway until there and I found a lively atmosphere and real night market. Colors, flavours and lot of local people shopping and wandering around. A good mix of modernity and tradition. I discover an Indian restaurant that I like to report.

• Sri Nirwana Maju. 43 Jalan Telawi 3. Bangsar Baru. 59100 Kuala Lumpur. Tel +600322878445. Traditional Indian food served on banana leaves. It has a fabulous dry mutton curry (hot) and a decent selection of vegetarian dishes. Also, the Ayam Masala (chicken) get a winner position in this list. An added plus is that although it is Bangsar, what is nice is that they still serve the traditional way, i.e. via stainless steel pails.

Firenze

In Italy always one expects not to be disappointed by food but get the right place is somewaht more complicated. If you are in Firenze just to make a choise is difficult: too many places. We spend 3 days and we found four places to be reported, being 3 of them restaurants. Also, coming here is a chance to explore Chianti wines, a must. For about 25€ you can get a reasonable bottle.

• Antico Noe'. Volta di San Piero 6/4. 50122 Firenze. Tel + 390552340838. This very small and original Osteria offers a selection of traditional food (il mangiare di una volta). Portions are large and very interesting. For example, an exquisite salad of Mozzarella with white truffle and jam. The list of wine is complete and interesting. Make your reservation as the place get full easily. Next door they offer a great selection of Panini.
• Mastrociliegia. Via M. Palmieri 30/R. 50122 Firenze, Tel +39055293372. This pizzeria and ristorante offer traditional dishes. It is very close to the turistic circuits but keeps a local flavour. We tried a pasta dish called Capello served with asparragus, gorgonzola and white truffle. They have a wooden oven for pizza.
• Gustavino. Via de la Condotta 37/R. 50100 Firenze. Tel +39 055239806. A taste of italian nouvelle cusine. They present themselve as: Enoteca con cucina. They have their own wines --very good ones-- portions are small but it worth trying the combinations. Presentation is perfect. The place combines modernity and tradition. You can find them at Gustavino.