Frida, Warsaw. Guacamole, fajita, pollo en mole.

I've seen the movie, I've read the book - a couple of times. The book tells better stories than the movie, the movie has one great soundtrack and Salma, playing smoothed out, a bit too pretty, but still convincing Frida. From time to time I go back to one or the other and afterwards I always have this thing for mexican cuisine.
This time was different. It's been a couple of months since I last saw the movie or read the book, my mexican cuisine phase was long over.  AND I still felt guilty because of the churros I had then. The plan was to end a nice walk in the old town with a quick espresso at Blikle's summer garden. Frida restaurant was just on the other side of the street and I believe I got somehow hypnotized, since I got up from the table and crossed the street without a moment of hesitation. It's not that there's something wrong with Blikles. It was something wrong with me, never being to Frida restaurant yet. And I felt I had to fix it right that moment.

Chair in the summer garden. Comfy and of the right height, which is so important when you eat - I hate eating with my stomach squished by sitting on chairs that are too high or by tables that are too small. 

Guacamole and nachos. Ripe and fresh, simply accurate.

If you order fajita, your tortillas come in a special pot that keeps them warm.

And your fajita might look like this.

And that's my pollo en mole. I liked the sauce better than the meat - a bit too tough. The sauce is a bit hot, but that's what you expect from mexican cuisine, right?

Well, that's a first here:) It's just that I found it so cute I couldn't help photographing it at the time, and now I can't help putting it here;-) Now you know what takes us girls so much time in the ladies' room:) 

Bread and Butter.

Fresh, crispy, tasty. 
I chose the place from all the cafe-gardens in Zlote Tarasy because of its simple, scandinavian-like decor. The staff was friendly, the weather was nice:). 
They have an interesting selection of fruit and herbal teas.
I guess some might be put off by the prices - about PLN 16-17 for a trout sandwich. 

Bread.

Nothing beats a slice of bread with butter. 
Correction.
Nothing beats a slice of home-made bread, straight from the oven.
For a video-recipe click here. Try it, it's easy. 

Medzilaborce, Slovakia. Eurohotel. Good old knedliczki with meat goulash.

It's a sentimental thing. Reminds me of holidays with my parents - we used to go to Czech Republic and Slovakia a lot when I was in my early "teens". 
The reason I found myself in Medzilaborce was the Andy Warhol Museum and that it was quite close to Bieszczady. Sometimes you just have to get off a horse:) 
Well this is not and art-dedicated blog, and I'm not an art expert, so I will not say a word about Andy Warhol:). De gustibus non est disputandum, that's what my father taught me quite early in my childhood and I stick to that.
So, about the knedliczki - delicious. Aaaand so cheap... I don't even remember what it was exactly for knedliczki, but enough to say that we paid like 20 euros for a full meal for two with drinks and starters (including a bottle of white table wine from Slovakia). 

Dwor Kombornia. Fine wines and Italian cuisine.

Thats a very nice place you've already seen here before. After my two-week retreat to Bieszczady in March on my way to the always busy capital I decided to prolongue my come back trip  for one more day. Not more than 70 km away from Kulbaka I turned left from the road nr 9 and after 5 minute ride on small local roads there it was. It's such a beautiful and quiet place. The weather was nice, one of those warm March evenings, so it was a treat for the whole body (a walk in the garden, a delicious late lunch and supper, and another guilty pleasure of mine - a face massage at the SPA. Oh well, I deserve it! Don't I..?)

So here it is. For the last couple of years I've been cheating on my favourite red wine with the white. Actually it's been so long that I guess now I'm in a regular relationship with the second. And Kombornia has one nice wine selection. 

That's the one you've already seen here, it was so good I had to have it again.

Don David Torrontes

Argentina

And this one was recommended by the waiter.

AOC Chateauneuf-du-Pape

Domaine Tour Saint Michel

2009

Grenache Blanc 50%, Clairette 50%

Parker gave it an 88, I give it my personal 100.

It's soft, round and delicate.

Well, I know, I'm starting to get boring with my beef carpaccio addiction.

Scallops on a mint guacamole with Prosciutto di Parma.

Prosciutto e melone

Easter at Kulbaka, Strzebowiska.

Delicious Easter breakfast at Kulbaka - fresh ecological eggs, savoury sour rye soup, delicate cold-meats and traditional vegetable salad. Marta knows how to please the palate:)

And my mom is my yeast-cakes master.