Even my Lyft driver didn’t know about the Hollywood Cars Museum in Las Vegas, which is just a short drive from the strip. This little-known museum has a host of vehicles from TV and movies, as well as a room filled with cars and costumes once owned by Liberace.
A batmobile at the Hollywood Cars Museum in Las Vegas. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
You’ll find cars from “The Hangover,” “RoboCop,” “The Dukes of Hazzard,” and the Flintstones movie, among many others. They even have a DeLorean from Back to the Future. If you’re a movie fan or enjoy specialty and vintage cars, this is a must see.
An actual lifeboat used in the Tom Hanks film “Captain Phillips.” Photo by Melanie Votaw.A car made for the Flintstones movie. Photo by Melanie Votaw.A DeLorean from “Back to the Future.” Photo by Melanie Votaw.A rhinestone car owned by Liberace. Photo by Melanie Votaw.One of Liberace’s costumes also on display at the Hollywood Cars Museum in Las Vegas. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
If you truly need a break from the insanity of the Las Vegas strip, take a short drive to Springs Reserve, which is a peaceful oasis in the middle of all the chaos of the city. The 180-acre preserve contains gardens that attract all sorts of birds, including hummingbirds (usually Anna’s hummingbirds), and it includes an enclosed butterfly exhibit, as well as a Boomtown 1905 exhibit that’s a recreation of a Las Vegas street from that era.
It’s a wonderful place to get some fresh air and be in nature without venturing too far from the famous Vegas commercialism. I highly recommend it to help you decompress after a night at the casino. Take a look at images from my visit.
A female Anna’s hummingbird at Springs Reserve in Las Vegas. Photo by Melanie Votaw.A cactus at Springs Reserve in Las Vegas. Photo by Melanie Votaw.Flowers at Spring Reserve in Las Vegas. Photo by Melanie VotawA butterfly at Spring Reserve in Las Vegas. Photo by Melanie Votaw
Balmoral Castle News! According to The Royal Butler, King Charles has decided to allow the public to visit the interior of Balmoral Castle for the first time. It’s located in Aberdeenshire, Scotland and will cost more than $100 to visit both the castle and the gardens.
Venice may be on the verge of joining Old Jerusalem, the Everglades, and Vienna on the List of World Heritage in Danger. The city is at risk due to over-tourism and climate change.
Global Entry will raise its price for a five-year membership from $100 to $120 as of October 1, 2024.
Airplane in airport. Photo by cegoh.
United Airlines has some good news for a change. It has unveiled a tool within its app that allows wheelchair users to determine if a particular flight can accommodate their specific mobility device’s dimensions. This is a great precedent that other airlines should (and probably will) emulate.
American Airlines will now allow passengers to bring their pet and a carry-on bag on board for $150. In the past, passengers with a pet couldn’t also store a bag in the overhead bins.
Jet Blue changed its bag fees again! Now, if you wait to pay for your checked bag within 24 hours of your flight, you will pay more if that flight is during “peak times” – i.e., $50 for your first bag and $70 for your second.
Jet Blue, Spirit, and Frontier Airlines are cutting some of their routes to and from Florida.
Be sure to look up occasionally at the Museum of the American Revolution. There are exhibits over your head, such as this one of a Patriot working to rip down the statue of King George III in New York.
Philadelphia’s Museum of the American Revolution opened in the spring 2017, focusing on the movement and the war that resulted in the United States. Considering that some people didn’t recognize the Declaration of Independence July 4th when National Public Radio tweeted it 140 characters at a time, this museum is needed! I hope those who are unfamiliar with our country’s history will visit it.
One of the exhibits in the Museum of the American Revolution chronicles the difficulty of agreeing on a seal for the new United States. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
My visit started with a 15-minute orientation film called “Revolution,” which brought my patriotic spirit right up to the surface. You’re immediately reminded that the United States began as a result of resistance and defiance of oppressive leadership.
There are other short films throughout the facility, including one about the Indians’ role in the fighting. Called “People of the Standing Stone/The Oneida Nation, the War of Independence and the Making of America,” the film (narrated by Kevin Costner and directed by Ric Burns) tells us about the little-known contributions of Indians, some of whom fought with the Patriots and some of whom chose to fight on the side of the British.
The museum is full of quotes from figures of revolutionary times. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
My favorite film was “Washington’s War Tent,” which ends with the raising of a screen so that we see his actual tent. It’s amazingly well-preserved and quite moving to see it. In the film, we learn about its journey from the days of the war to today.
I was happy to see that the museum discussed the irony of the words “all men are created equal,” considering our early treatment of Africans and Indians. Many slaves at the time hoped those words would mean freedom for them, but it was a long time before that freedom would become a reality.
Exhibits include a life-size replica privateer ship, a life-size reproduction of the Boston Liberty Tree, where the revolution was first debated, original and reproduction artifacts, and models depicting scenes from various events. The main galleries cover the rumblings of the American revolution from 1760-1775, the darkest period of the war during 1776-1778, the final years of the war from 1778-1783, and the establishment of the new nation.
Among the artifacts is a continental dollar. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
The museum is a bit smaller than I expected. Of course, any museum must capsulize such a complex and years-long series of events, so much had to be left out. There was a noticeable absence, for example, of Alexander Hamilton, which was surprising considering the recent interest in his legacy.
The museum also pays tribute to the women who participated in the Revolution. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
Nevertheless, the museum is well done and an important educational tool for students and adults who need a refresher course. It also provides information about some of the players who are usually left out of our textbooks.
A depiction of a brawl in Harvard Yard. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
My friend and I were wandering around Lisbon one day and stumbled upon a beautiful Italian restaurant called La Mafia se Sienta a la Mesa. We couldn’t have made a better choice for lunch.
The interior of La Mafia in Lisbon. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
The decor was lovely, the service was stellar, and the menu was inventive. Imagine my shock to find out that La Mafia is a chain of restaurants in various parts of Europe. But this isn’t a chain like you’d expect to find in the U.S. It’s much better quality – not deserving of a Michelin star, but very enjoyable.
Diverse rosa (rosso diverso) drink at La Mafia. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
I started my meal with diverse rosso, a cocktail of red wine and lime soda topped with citrus foam. I have tried to duplicate this at home but with no luck. I’m not sure how they make it, but it’s light, delicious, and refreshing – perfect for lunch, especially if it’s hot outside.
I then had a pasta dish with a Bolognese sauce with mustard, orange, and arugula. This flavor combination was unexpected, and the pasta was cooked to perfection.
My delicious dish at La Mafia. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
Other inventive dishes include:
Pork carpaccio with foie gras flakes, lemon juice, and olive oil
Melted provolone with pesto, tomatoes, and pistachios
Iberian pork with lime gremolata, spices, sweet potatoes, caramelized chives, and arugula pesto
Rotondi di cioccolato recheado com rabo de boi – Recheada beef tail and bochecha dough with ground meat toffee in sweet potato parmentier
Quadrati of scamorza, figo and nduja with arugula pesto – massa with Scamorza recheio (smoked queijo), figos e Nduja (spicy chouriço cream), Grana Padano DOP and molho arugula pesto with tomato in pó
The extensive menu also contains pizzas, seafood, meats, and desserts, including mascarpone gelato. But my friend and I opted to skip dessert, only to succumb a short walk from La Mafia when we stumbled upon another European chain, L’Eclair. My friend had discovered this pastry shop in other cities and was delighted to find out they have a location in Lisbon.
L’Eclair pastry shop in Lisbon. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
The eclairs are gorgeous, and the number of favors practically rivals Baskin Robbins. I had a passion fruit cream confection that melted in my mouth. Highly recommended!
Some of the selections at L’Eclair. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
Lisbon’s La Mafia is in a central location on Avenida Deque de Avila, and L’Eclair is just a short jaunt away on the same avenue.
New restaurants appear in Northern New Jersey all the time. However, some are just run of the mill eateries serving the same tired dishes that have been served for ages, while a few others are serving food of exceptional quality, rivaling Michelin-starred establishments around the world in inventiveness and ingredient quality.
The 87 Sussex Restaurant in Jersey City is an absolute stunner – modern and upbeat.
On entry, the fully stocked bar is to your right and covered by a softly glowing gold painted ceiling. The handsome street level dining area is to your left, featuring cozy leather dining chairs in blue, backed with caramel. The wall is also a gorgeous blue and caramel-colored marble that leads upstairs to a second level dining area, overlooking the ground level with a sweeping architectural balcony.
Images on the wall at 87 Sussex. Photo by Manos Angelakis.
Tables are draped in white cloth with a small bouquet of blossoms, echoing the three photographs of women with flower headdresses that hang on the back wall. Service is presented in blue-tipped white plates and gold-colored flatware. Exquisite details tie all design features into one pleasing package. Even in the bathrooms, the well-designed décor continues.
Executive Chef Bryan Walter. Photo by Manos Angelakis.
Overseeing this elegant establishment is Chef Brian Walter. He has an affable disposition and is a passionate advocate for good food. He was classically trained in the French style, having served a two-year internship in France before moving on to New York’s French Culinary Institute.
He became a stagiaire (apprentice) under master chefs Mario Batali, Luc Pasquier, and Daniel Or. He also refined his craft at legendary Sirio Maccioni’s Le Cirque. Chef Brian’s work has been recognized by the James Beard Foundation, of which he is an honorary member.
Frog legs at 87 Sussex. Photo by Manos Angelakis.
The eclectic appetizer menu, with its humorous titles, belies the complex ingredients and artistry that go into each dish. For instance, Hoppin Poppers are crispy frog leg drumsticks with a Korean BBQ glaze handsomely presented on-point sitting on spicy daikon pickle spears. They were succulent and tasty and presented in a non-threatening way so that the usual “ick” factor of the ingredient is overshadowed by its excellence.
This in a nutshell is Chef Brian’s mission – to introduce exotic ingredients and dress them in an appealing way. We watched the delight in the eyes of the diners even before taking their first bite, so it seems he is achieving his goal.
Escargot Wontons at 87 Sussex. Photo by Manos Angelakis.
Another example of this effect is Escargot Wontons. The escargot are not served in the traditional snail shell but in a crispy wonton mantle with a black garlic marmalade and sprinkled with an herb crumble. The escargot flavor and texture is still there but without the task of having to remove the tasty critters from their homes.
Oyster & Pearls at 87 Sussex. Photo by Manos Angelakis.
The Oyster & Pearls is a beautiful presentation of three oysters sitting on a bed of salt, draped with tapioca mignonette pearls, and topped with Royal Ostrea Caviar. It was a feast for the eyes and a gift to the palate. The joy of a beautiful presentation enhances the experience of eating a distinctive dish, and Chef Brian is an artist as well as a consummate chef.
Black Tie Scallops at 87 Sussex. Photo by Manos Angelakis.
Black Tie Scallops is another offering only made possible by a master French trained chef. Its complex layering of Diver Scallops with sliced black truffles tied together with poached spinach and encased in puff pastry and served with warm Veal jus was as delicious as it was amazing to behold.
Foie Gras Torchon at 87 Sussex. Photo by Manos Angelakis.
For me, there were no words to describe the Foie Gras Torchon. We always order foie gras when it’s offered on a menu, and it’s always delicious. But Chef Brian’s version served with Sauternes gelée and fresh cherries in a spiced port molasses sauce is in a class all by itself. I soaked up every bit of the sauce with the micro-greens decorating the Torchon. If you are a Foie Gras lover as we are, do not miss this one.
Before we get to the entrées, we want to say a word about the wait staff, which we found to be efficient, friendly, and knowledgeable about the dishes. They delivered each dish to tables with an explanation of ingredients and preparation. The staff was professionally trained in the European fashion of service, which is the mark of a restaurant that cares about their clientele and the food that they serve.
They were attentive without being intrusive and handsomely uniformed in blue-checkered shirts with caramel-colored elbow patches and matching caramel-colored vests accented by colorful ties. The dark blue aprons wrapped around their waists were in the traditional French bistro style.
Lobster and Sea Bass Cannelloni at 87 Sussex. Photo by Manos Angelakis.
The entrées cover a variety of dishes from innovative to traditional French and American offerings. Barbara’s favorite was Lobster & Mediterranean Sea Bass Cannelloni. The dish was presented with rolled green dandelion pasta pancakes filled with branzino & fennel mousseline, topped with butter-poached lobster and a large seared diver scallop, accented with tiny baby Brussels sprouts. Beautiful to behold, it was light yet flavorful with a bit of a kick.
Braised Short Ribs at 87 Sussex. Photo by Manos Angelakis.
The Braised Short Ribs were set on a bed of white sweet potato mousseline with Chinese long beans draped around the base. The dish was composed in the traditional French manner and a bit on the heavy side for me, although a wonderful meal for a cold winter night.
Coq au Vin at 87 Sussex. Photo by Manos Angelakis.
The Coq Au Vin was an exceptional French classic. Taking a forkful, I closed my eyes and for a moment saw myself sitting at La Cupole in Paris 55 years ago, having Coq au Vin and a couple glasses of Beaujolais.
Passion Fruit Trifle at 87 Sussex. Photo by Manos Angelakis.
Desserts are large and meant to be shared. The Passion Fruit Trifle was a perfect ending to our meal. I am not normally a fan of passion fruit, but again, this version was truly delicious. With a lemon poppy cake base, passion fruit curd, and topped with a thick layer of freshly made whipped cream, accented by raspberries and blackberries, it was light, flavorful, and decadent without being overly sweet.
For an even lighter selection, there was house-made sorbet with fresh berries, and for the chocoholic, there was a Chocolate Turtle Cake consisting of dark chocolate mousse, devil’s cake, salted caramel, and toasted walnuts that our attentive waiter, Alex, said is to die for.
The restaurant had a soft opening on Valentine’s Day, and Chef Brian is still experimenting with his offerings. But the restaurant was full on for our visit just by word of mouth. There are a few details yet to be ironed out, such as the excessive noise level and the less than perfect espresso from a machine that needs recalibrating. But Chef Brian assured us that they are working to remedy these minor issues, hopefully before the formal opening.
The official opening is scheduled for May 24th, but if you want to get the experience of this extraordinary restaurant before the rush, visit early in the week now, even before the spring menu goes into effect.
A portion of this meal was complimentary, but as always, we are dedicated to providing an honest assessment of our experience. See our Disclosures for more information.
Southwest Airlines is planning to start its first red-eye flights within the next couple of years.
Istanbul Airport has been named the best airport in the world for the fourth time in a row.
United Airlines now allows you to combine your MileagePlus miles together with as many as five people! Hopefully, other airlines will follow suit. Speaking of United, the FAA has increased its oversight of the airline because it has had a few too many safety incidents.
Four Seasons is launching yacht cruises on a 14-deck luxury vessel in 2026. Itineraries will include the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, and the Greek Islands.
Newark Liberty Airport’s Terminal A has received a 5-star rating. The only other U.S. airports to get such a high rating are LaGuardia’s Terminal B and Houston’s William P. Hobby Airport.
TSA PreCheck has added more airlines to its program: Air Premia, Air Tahiti Nui, Air Transat, Bahamasair, BermudAir, Iberia, La Compagnie, and New Pacific Airlines join Norse Atlantic Airways, Lynx Air, Starlux Airlines, and Fiji Airways that were added in December.
Ecuador is experiencing gang violence that saddens me a great deal, as it’s one of my favorite countries in the world. The country’s youngest mayor and her advisor were murdered the last week of March.
The ultra-modern, 5-star Capitol Hotel Tokyu is located in the trendy Akasaka area of central Tokyo, not far from the Imperial Palace. The locale couldn’t be more convenient. There’s a subway station just under it where several Metro lines converge, so you can take an elevator or escalator from the subway to the hotel.
My room at Capitol Hotel Tokyu. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
I loved the Capitol’s sleek 21st century décor, but the hotel itself has quite a history. About 50 years ago when it was in a different building at the same location, the Beatles stayed there. The building was completely rebuilt in 2010 – a project that took four years. It was designed by architect Kengo Kuma, who has also designed the stadium for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Capitol Tokyu is a large property with 251 rooms (including 13 suites), three restaurants, a bar, a pastry boutique, five banquet facilities, small meeting rooms, private dining rooms, an indoor swimming pool, fitness center, spa, and gardens.
A beautiful cherry blossom ikebana display in the lobby of the Capitol Hotel Tokyu. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
Even though the décor is very modern and high tech, the style is still true to Japan. The impressive lobby included a huge cherry blossom ikebana display and a kimono-clad woman playing a traditional musical instrument from afternoon to evening. Of course, as is common in Japan, there are flower arrangements everywhere.
A musician in the Capitol Hotel Tokyu lobby. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
Shoji paper screen dividers are also in every guest room. In my Deluxe King room, the divider separated the bedroom from the bathroom. At 500 square feet, the room was spacious, especially by Japanese standards, which have tended to mean smaller rooms than in the west. My Deluxe King included a desk and a chaise, a large bathroom, and an unusual amount of closet space.
Sliding room dividers in my room at Capitol Hotel Tokyu. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
Larger rooms are available as well from the Premier rooms and Club rooms to the suites. The Garden Suite on the 5th floor overlooks the historic Hie Shrine.
The bathroom in my room at Capitol Hotel Tokyu. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
What I loved most about my room, though, was the panoramic window with a button-operated shade and separate button-operated curtains. My view was of the Tokyo skyline, but the hotel also has some gardens on the property that can be seen from some rooms. I got a view of the gardens from the Origami restaurant the next morning, which made for a particularly peaceful breakfast.
Origami Restaurant breakfast. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
The breakfast, by the way, was a relatively small but fine buffet, while my eggs were made to order and brought to my table by the wait staff. Origami is open for all-day dining and has a pastry boutique that’s been famous for its butter-free banana bread since 1963. If you want to buy the folks back home an unusual edible gift, check out the boutique’s Gâteau Noir, which is a charcoal black cake with chestnuts and adzuki beans, made using bamboo charcoal.
My room’s closet at Capitol Hotel Tokyu. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
Origami is a great choice for lunch or dinner if you want a break from Japanese cuisine because it serves eclectic dishes like T-bone steak, clam chowder, jambalaya, fettuccine alfredo, and banana custard pie.
The Capitol’s main restaurant, however, is the Japanese Suiren, which serves teppan-yaki, sushi, kaiseki with traditional tea ceremonies, and a popular tempura station. Star Hill serves the four major areas of Chinese cuisine and includes a weekend buffet with 110 types of dishes.
Capitol Hotel Tokyu robe and slippers. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
There’s also an additional bar on the fourth floor, aptly called The Capitol Bar, open from 4:00 to midnight and with its own elevator. When I was there, the hotel was still serving cherry blossom-flavored specialty drinks at the bar and during afternoon tea. (Note that cigar smokers are welcome in this bar.)
A meeting room at Capitol Hotel Tokyu with a crib for babies. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
Capitol has a variety of meeting rooms, including several ballrooms, but what impressed me most was that one of the small meeting rooms I saw contained a crib. I’ve never seen this in a hotel anywhere in the world. It seems that Japan is more progressive about helping parents manage their lives between home and work. Not surprisingly, the hotel is also a popular place for weddings and wedding receptions.
I would happily stay at The Capitol Hotel Tokyu again when in Tokyo. Its 5-star status is well-earned from the helpfulness of the staff to the facilities, food, and accommodations.
The author received a complimentary stay at this hotel, but we are dedicated to providing unbiased reviews based on our experience. See our Disclosures page for more information.
After the fire in 2019, Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris will reopen on December 8, 2024.
Galapagos Islands entry fees are increasing as of August 1, 2024. They haven’t increased these fees since 1998, so I think they’re entitled to double them. They will go from $100 (approximately 92 Euros) to $200 (approximately 184 Euros).
The Galapagos Islands. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
Bulgaria and Romania join the list of Schengen countries in Europe on March 31, 2024. Croatia’s prices reportedly went up when it became a Schengen country, and it adopted the Euro as its currency. We’ll have to see what happens to the prices in Bulgaria and Romania, but it should make it easier for travelers to go there from other Schengen countries. While both countries are already in the European Union, they don’t use the Euro, and as for now, there are no plans for that to change. Some people worry that this will spell over-tourism for the region, however.
Passport stamps may be on their way out. In November, the European Union will roll out an automated process that will eliminate stamps, and visas will use facial recognition and/or fingerprints. This will sadden those of us who are accustomed to the stamps and used them for bragging rights and reminiscing.
Passport stamps. (Stock photo.)
Planning to climb Mount Fuji? Japan is now going to limit the number of climbers to 4,000 total per day, and the climbers will be charged about $13.50 each.
A Boeing whistle-blower who talked about his concerns over safety and quality control was found dead on March 9th from what’s being called a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Hmmm… (I will say no more except condolences to his family.)
Joke seen on Facebook: “Whenever one door closes, another opens.” -Boeing
Speaking of Boeing, the FAA is now investigating another plane that flew from San Francisco to Oregon with a missing external panel. This is all becoming quite disturbing, which is probably why the CEO and several other executives are reportedly stepping down.
The interior of an airplane. (Stock photo).
Washington Dulles Airport was the most punctual airport during the month of February.
Wild rabbits are proving very destructive on the lawn of Esplanade des Invalides in Paris. They’ve been digging tunnels and chewing electrical cables and garden hoses. Estimates are that the damage amounts to more than 350,000 Euros. Some people advocate euthanizing them, while protesters are upset at the thought and want the bunnies to be left alone.
The AirBnb ban on indoor security cameras goes into effect April 30, 2024. Hallelujah!
Beach with sunbeds. (Stock photo.)
Want to hang out on a beach in Greece this year? In another move to curb the overcrowding that’s plaguing so many destinations, Greecewill restrict the number of sunbeds on its beaches starting this spring.
After its merger with Spirit Airlines fell through, JetBlue has decided to cut down on its flights. It will go from 34 flights from LAX to 24 daily, and over the course of the year, it will also phase out flights to Kansas City, Bogota, Quito, Lima, and certain routes from Fort Lauderdale, as well as its flights between New York and Detroit.
At a recent major wine event in New York City promoting Barolo and Barbaresco wines and general tourism to Piedmont, Italy, I heard a rumor that one of the best and most influential Italian chefs, Davide Scabin, will be opening a new venue. His last renowned restaurant Combal.zero (pronounced Combal Dot Zero) closed in 2020 because of the pandemic, and the culinary world has been much poorer for its absence.
I first met Davide Scabin, owner and top toque of Combal.Zero in 2005, during a press visit to Torino (Turin) prior to the 2006 Olympics. In my mind, he still stands as a gigantic figure in the Italian gastronomic landscape. I consider him to be one of the most innovative Italian chefs and a pioneer who started a new chapter in the modern Italian culinary scene.
We then returned in 2010 and 2016, and his dishes never stopped amazing us.
Combal.Zero Deconstructed Spaghetti Margherita. Photo by Manos Angelakis.
Chef Scabin’s philosophy has been concept cuisine or the restaurant as theater.
After tasting his food, we thought he was an extremely talented chef, steeped in modern cooking without forgetting his own culinary roots. His kitchen became famous for merging traditional Piemontese flavors with highly eccentric cooking techniques.
Combal.Zero’s food was not only exceptional, but also beautifully plated. Photo by Manos Angelakis.
He took apart ingredients to reassemble them in unusual ways, e.g. deconstructed pizzas, cybereggs, etc. He found his way into a kitchen in 1994, when he decided to embrace his passion for great food and opened his first trattoria in Almese, Turin. He called it Combal.
He has been focused on traditional trattoria dishes, always favoring regional and seasonal ingredients. His reinterpretation of regional classics started to attract the attention of gastronomes from all over Europe. As his trattoria space started to feel small for his increasing clientele, he opened a restaurant within the Castello di Rivoli in 2000, which he called Combal.Zero.
In this new kitchen, he felt free to experiment with different ingredients, food textures, and methods of cooking with spectacular results.
Combal.Zero Crocchette di baccalà mantecato chips di patata violetta insalata. Photo by Manos Angelakis.
Over the years, Combal.Zero gained international recognition, countless accolades and awards, and was ranked 18 on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list. Davide was crowned by Time Magazine as “one of the ten chefs around the world that will change your life.”
Combal.Zero has also been awarded Gambero Rosso’s Three Forks, further proof of the passion Scabin exhibited in his cooking. The restaurant was awarded two Michelin stars but lost one in 2015, after which Italian food lovers posted their outrage on social media, considering this an insult to this very creative and popular chef.
Combal.Zero was located in the Piazza Mafalda di Savoia, inside the Rivoli building, which is now a contemporary art museum. You could select from three tasting menus: Creative, Classic, or Territorial, or you could order à la carte elements from each menu, or you could order the micropiatti of the lounge that were highlights of his most successful creations. The wine list was extensive with exceptional vintages from around the world.
Combal.Zero Octopus and Scallop Dish. Photo by Manos Angelakis.
There were nine of us at the table. One didn’t eat fish or veal, and another was allergic to garlic (what a tragedy in Italy!) But the efficiently attentive dining room staff took these limitations in stride. After a visit to the museum, we arrived fairly early to an almost empty restaurant. By the time we were halfway through the meal, the 50-table room was full and humming. Altogether, including the course substitutes for those who couldn’t eat fish, veal, or garlic, we saw and tasted 14 courses.
Combal.Zero Cyberegg. Photo by Manos Angelakis.
Here are some of the most interesting and/or impressive dishes:
Cybereggs with caviar.
His Deconstructed Spaghetti Margherita (an elegant composition of black and white noodle sheets, tomato sauce, anchovies, basil, fermented black garlic, and chili oil) was a culinary delight!
Foie Gras Ganache with Passionfruit Gelatin.
Fried Quail Egg on Potato Chips with a Light Peanut Sauce.
Combal.Zero Tonno di Coniglio. Photo by Manos Angelakis.
Tonno di Coniglio con Verdure e Salsa Brusca Astigiana.
The above were the highlights, but everything was exceptional!
The wines were selected to complement each course and were all Italian, except for champagne at the end.
Combal.Zero Vegetables with Maraschino Cherry. Photo by Manos Angelakis.
We spent more than five hours at Combal.Zero, three tasting the menu and two talking with Chef Scabin who had an extremely interesting story to tell about his life and philosophy. I hope the rumors are true and that he opens a new restaurant because all that talent should not be allowed to disappear.
She comes in a tiny package but with a huge voice. Pretty as a picture and full of good humor, Emmy and Tony Award-winner Kristin Chenoweth was in top form strutting her stuff on the NJPAC (New Jersey Performing Arts Center) stage during her recent appearance.
Chenoweth is perhaps best known for her dazzling performance as Glinda the Good Witch in Broadway’s long-running hit show Wicked. Previously, she had wowed critics and the theater-going audience during her breakout role in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.
I also fondly remember her in the short-lived TV series, Pushing Daisies, which earned her an Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Her comedic acting talents, along with the creative staging and visual design concepts, made this unusual fairytale memorable, and I was sorry to see it go after only two seasons.
Kristin Chenoweth at NJPAC. Photo by Manos Angelakis.
A classically trained singer, Chenoweth has a huge vocal range, allowing her to perform classical operettas in addition to her pop and showtune repertoire.
At the NJPAC performance, she delighted the audience when she stepped on stage wearing a black sequined mini-dress replete with long sleeves that engulfed her in feathers. Her sparkling microphone and matching stiletto shoes completed her outfit.
She immediately burst into the 1962 song, “I’m a Woman,” followed by Leslie Gore’s 1963 “You Don’t Own Me.” She toned down the “Woman’s Month” rhetoric with “The Way We Were” made famous in the eponymous 1973 movie by Barbara Streisand. Then, with a twinkle in her eye, she belted out the 1935 “Zing Went the Strings of My Heart,” which brought the house down.
Kristin Chenoweth at NJPAC. Photo by Manos Angelakis.
Chenoweth was accompanied on stage by her longtime associate, Mary-Mitchell Campbell, on the piano, along with an ensemble of talented musicians. Campbell is well-known as a conductor, music director, orchestrator, composer, and arranger. Also on stage were two backup singers who were worthy of star billing on their own.
After “Zing,” Chenoweth explained to the audience that she was working with famous composer Stephen Schwartz on a new production entitled The Queen of Versailles, which will have a pre-Broadway world premiere in Boston this summer.
Stephen Schwartz at NJPAC. Photo by Manos Angelakis.
She then surprised the audience by inviting him to join her on stage to accompany her as she sang “Caviar Dreams,” a song from the production that had never been sung before in public. To thunderous applause, Schwartz took the piano from Mary-Mitchell Campbell to accompany Chenoweth before returning to his seat in the audience.
Schwartz not only wrote the music and lyrics for Wicked, but he also wrote the music and lyrics for blockbuster hits such as Godspell and Pippin, along with many more Broadway productions, Disney films, and operas. He has been inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. His awards include three Oscars, four Grammys, an honorary Tony, a Golden Globe, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Kristin Chenoweth at NJPAC with Mary-Mitchell Campbell, one of her backup singers, and her drummer. Photo by Manos Angelakis.
The NJPAC performance hall is an engineering wonder with full-view seating from any of its tiers or boxes. It has true tonal sound quality and a talented and creative lighting crew, which is so necessary on a large stage bereft of design elements.
There was one song that required staging, and that was the Hanukah song that Chenoweth has made her own. The audience responded by waving their lit-up cell phones, turning the huge space into a festival of lights.
Of course, Chenoweth could not leave the stage without performing her signature song, “Popular,” from Wicked. It was as moving as when I first heard her sing it so many years ago on Broadway when that show was all the rage. Her rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” famously sung by Judy Garland in the 1938 film The Wizard of Oz, was as good as it gets short of the original, which lives in the hearts of all who love the movie.
Kristin Chenoweth at NJPAC. Photo by Manos Angelakis.
The only negative aspect of the evening was that there was a torrential downpour all day long that did not abate before, during, or after the performance. It made getting to Newark, New Jersey and back home again a driver’s tour de force. Roads were flooded, and between the fog and rain, it was a nightmare.
But Chenoweth’s loyal, devoted fans were not deterred. Dripping shoes, coats, and umbrellas notwithstanding, the theater was packed with good-natured, albeit wet, fans cheering on their star. It was a testament to her popularity and fan affection.
