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- Berlin Wall could be history
- Worst American restaurants in Europe
- Gallery: Amazing desert photographs taken by paraglider
- Delta teases us with 'shower' that beats jet lag
- Island hopping in Sydney Harbour
- Haute still hot: Asia’s 10 best restaurants named
| Posted: 01 Mar 2013 07:27 AM PST "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" Publicly delivered from West Berlin to then Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev in June 1987, that brazen call came to symbolize the high point of Ronald Reagan's presidency, and the beginning of the end of the barrier that separated East and West Berlin. The Wall did eventually come down -- or at least most of it did. Large sections, however, have not just remained standing, they've become a tourist attraction. More on CNN: Insider Guide: Best of Berlin The East Side Gallery, a 1.3-kilometer length of the Wall covered with colorful murals and graffiti recalling the politics, tension and human sacrifice of the Cold War era, reportedly attracts 800,000 visitors a year. As with other extant pieces of the Wall, the gallery's artwork has been created by artists from around the world. Finishing Reagan's work?Many in rapidly gentrifying Berlin, however, see the remnants of the Wall as both a physical and spiritual impediment to modernization. As reported this week by the Guardian, these include a development group called Living Bauhaus, which plans to construct a 63-meter-high (206 feet) office and residential tower near the East Side Gallery. Sections of the Wall would be demolished to make room for the new construction, while the aesthetics of those parts left standing would be imperiled, according to protestors. "All the paintings have become a symbol of freedom in Berlin and Europe," said French artist Thierry Noir, according to the Guardian report. "This is a unique opportunity to preserve a large section of what was once a death strip. If you remove the sections, you're destroying the authenticity of this place." Noir's paintings cover sections of the Wall slated for removal. Further demolition of the Wall nevertheless appears inevitable. Local politicians say the current developers have a legal right to tear down the Wall. Is the Berlin Wall history, art or an obstacle to progress? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.      |
| Worst American restaurants in Europe Posted: 01 Mar 2013 02:02 AM PST Americans have been ruining foreign cuisine for years. One need look no further than the local Mexican stand to find a soggy taco or the corner delivery joint to find a disk of bread that only mildly resembles pizza. But we're not the only ones. Whether for pure kitsch value, mockery or a lazy plan to attract expats, Europe is littered with American-themed restaurants. Also on CNN: Best American restaurants in Europe Anyone wanting a taste of the States would be better off searching for a fast food joint than one of these spots. You wouldn't think it'd be hard to replicate basic American food like pancakes, pie or cheeseburgers. These places that prove this oh so wrong. 1. American Dream (Paris)
This American Dream is a food lover's nightmare. For €39.50 (US$52), you can order the gut-wrenching Cheeseburger Tower: six beef patties with cheddar cheese, onion rings and chili con carne. The fries taste stale and the shakes are sweet to the point of undrinkable. The menu full of overpriced blandness is served on dishes made to look like paper plates. We get it. American food is often rightly mocked for being oversized, dripping in grease or just plain tasteless. But to make an entire restaurant out of the joke isn't funny. The only redeeming thing about American Dream is the giant jukebox, which rotates 1980s hits. The American Dream can mean a lot of things, but surely it never meant paying €11 (US$14.40) for a Heineken. 21 rue Daunou, Paris; +33 01 42 60 99 89; www.american-dream.fr 2. Sixties Diner (Berlin)The only thing American about this restaurant in Mitte is its wall-to-wall mural painted with old Hollywood stars. The rest of the place is about as authentic as a pair of black market Levi's. The evident version of a fun, American diner here is a place that's whisper-quiet and buzzing under burnt-out fluorescent lights. The pancakes are gummy and flavorless. The meat is somehow both dry and fatty. And while former East Berliners have never been known for their exceptional friendliness, the servers' bad attitudes here rival even the surliest of American counter chefs. They're doing you a favor, if they ever get around to taking your order. Try deviating from the menu with a request like a side of bacon and your server is likely to throw down her menu pad and roll her eyes in frustration. If you want to try your luck, order the bottomless filter coffee and pray for a second cup. Just don't expect to get your water refilled. 11 Oranienburger Strasse, Berlin; +49 30 285 99 041; www.sixtiesdiner.de 3. Star 'n' Bars (Monaco)
But that's about all it has. A recent remodel robbed any former character, making the interior look like any McDonald's in the States, but with blinding neon lights and tacky sports memorabilia. The new menu has replaced real meat with processed patties, in true fast food style. With a parking lot full of Ferraris and Maybachs, this weirdly misplaced establishment also dishes up superbly bland Tex Mex. The outdoor terrace is usually packed with smokers, giving onlookers a misty view to the yachts while choking down recooked fries. Service is mind-numbingly slow and you can expect to pay for the location. Masochists will be happy to learn they've opened an outpost in Abu Dhabi. 6 quai Antoine, Monaco; +377 97 97 95 95; www.starsnbars.com 4. Roadhouse (London)Something about using the term "roadhouse" outside of the States feels wrong. London's Covent Garden example proves no exception. Despite live music, DJs and all-night food in a city that shuts down at 11 p.m., Roadhouse can't get its act together. A limited menu offers inflated prices for boring fried fixings. Roadhouse attracts a steady stream of loud hen and stag parties, and boasts free "flair" entertainment with drinks, which means a bartender in a leather vest will add a flourish to the pour -- that's about as exciting as this place gets. In evening hours expect to pay a cover fee and have to talk your way past a power-tripping bouncer who enjoys making people wait and judges patrons based on their collar height. 35 The Piazza, London; +44 20 7240 6001; www.roadhouse.co.uk 5. HD Diner (Paris)
Decorated from head-to-toe in pink and turquoise, HD is like a bad 1950s TV comedy come to life. A gutted jukebox plays oldies without a break. Servers try in vain to plaster on fake smiles. Expect long waits, even when the place is empty. The menu is short. Breakfast means undercooked eggs, watery juice and pancakes with the consistency of a scone. Lunch equates to the most average burger in town: tepid and crumbly, served on a massive bun that's all bread and no bite. Mushy French fries need a good helping of salt, and milkshakes are thin. The veggie burger is, amazingly, just a hash brown on a roll. American-style cheesecake tastes straight out of the freezer. Bon appetit! 25 rue Francisque Gay, Paris, +33 01 43 29 67 07; www.happydaysdiner.com It's not all bad. Here are the best American restaurants in Europe.    |
| Gallery: Amazing desert photographs taken by paraglider Posted: 28 Feb 2013 10:00 PM PST Of all the bizarre hobbies out there, National Geographic photographer George Steinmetz's is probably the most obscure. And glorious. Steinmetz, 56, has spent the last 15 years paragliding over the world's most arid regions. The most stunning of his desert photographs have been gathered for his latest book, "Desert Air," which is as much a collection of spectacular landscape photography as it is a persuasive argument to take up motorized paragliding. Experimental aircraft
He takes solo trips in a parachute-like glider powered by a motor built into a backpack. As it's considered an experimental aircraft in most countries, including the United States, an operating license isn't required. The paraglider travels at only one speed -- 48 kilometers (30 miles) per hour -- and allows the photographer an unrestricted view that wouldn't be possible from other types of aircraft. It also allows him to steer in whatever direction he wants by shifting weight and pulling on lines attached to the glider. "It's not a particularly easy way to get a picture," says Steinmetz, with a laugh. But the results are -- as you can see -- amazing. Serendipitous findsUsually taking three trips a year for six weeks each -- he covered 27 of the world's most arid regions for "Desert Air" -- Steinmetz says that his favorite moments come when he flies above scenes he didn't expect to find. "You come across these serendipitous moments -- really beautiful scenes," he says. "On a trip in Bolivia, I photographed two traveling cars that were being mirrored in a lake. It felt like I was flying over heaven." His favorite photographs are the ones that are the most difficult to get. Once, trying to photograph an lake in Bolivia, he found himself crashing into birds taking flight beneath him. ExplorationsTo minimize weight, Steinmetz carries as little as possible on each trip -- just a camera, radio, gloves and perhaps a water bottle. "The whole philosophy is minimalist -- the more you have with you, the less you can do," he says. "It's rock climbing in that way. At some point safety becomes dangerous." For Steinmetz, the glider represents a sort of divining rod, leading him to beautiful places that have never been documented before. "One of the things I've learned is that the world is much more extraordinary than we can possibly imagine -- there's this false perception that everything's been seen and everything's been done," says Steinmetz. "But 90 percent is just showing up and just looking around. That's what this book is -- it's what I've done for 15 years." More on CNN: A year in the life of a travel photographer    |
| Delta teases us with 'shower' that beats jet lag Posted: 28 Feb 2013 08:51 PM PST
The shower is a concept product created by Delta specifically for TED, allowing conference guests to hop in for a light shower and wash away their jet lag after punching in a few details about their travels. "Research by Oxford neuroscience professor Russell Foster shows that bathing in light can alter natural circadian rhythms to help people recover from jet lag," according to Delta's signage. "The photon shower by Delta puts this research into practice." More on CNN: Can a website help you prevent jet lag? The scienceThe shower is based on research that found circadian desynchronosis -- aka jet lag -- occurs after the body rapidly shifts through multiple time zones. "Our brains contain a master clock that coordinates the circadian rhythms of our body's many systems," according to Delta. "The symptoms of jet lag occur because the body gets off schedule, not only because of the day/night pattern of its new location, but with itself. This is where light comes into play." Foster and his team reportedly discovered a photoreceptor in the eye that senses light, but isn't used for vision. Called a "photosensitive retinal ganglion cell," it responds strongly to blue light with a wavelength of 480 nanometers and is responsible for regulating our master clock. "By targeting this receptor, we can reset our master clock faster," says Delta of the research. "The faster our internal clock is reset, the faster we recover from jetlag." Sadly, the chamber isn't going into airports any time soon -- it was designed purely for exhibition at TED. Given the interest in the concept chamber, it's likely only a matter of time before we're all bathing in photon lights post-flight. Is Delta onto something? Would you pay to take a light shower to beat your jet lag? Share your thoughts in the comments box below.    |
| Island hopping in Sydney Harbour Posted: 28 Feb 2013 05:57 PM PST The best way to absorb Sydney's criminally fascinating history and culture without missing out on its great weather? Hop a ferry to one of its harbor islands. Cockatoo Island, Goat Island and Fort Denison are all within sight of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and a short ferry ride from the main terminal at Circular Quay. Cockatoo IslandDon't expect to see any of the sulfur crested squawkers the island was named after –- they've long ago flown off to the 'burbs. Cockatoo Island has been off limits to the public since Sydney was founded and opened to visitors only in 2005.
Between 1850 and 1870 the Fitzroy dock was built by convicts to service shipping and in 1900 Cockatoo Island became the New South Wales Government Shipyard; the prisoners were moved elsewhere some years before. The dockyard closed in 1992. In other countries with such prime real estate and fabulous views of the city -- including the famed harbor and its bridge -- the government might have bulldozed the buildings and covered it in multi-million dollar apartments. But Australia is a young country that cherishes its historic sites. UNESCO agrees. It added the island to its World Heritage list in 2010. While there aren't any holiday condos, you can stay in some of the heritage houses on the island or go "glamping" in one of the many pre-erected tents –- all you have to bring is a torch, sleeping bag and pillow. Light sleepers be warned. Between the ferries, helicopters, planes and boat traffic it isn't the quietest spot for a good night's rest. The facilities and view are beautiful though. A covered kitchen area with barbecues and microwaves is available. There's also a shower block -- something the convicts would have given a limb for.
Entry to the island is free and there are both guided and self-guided tours and free kids discovery books on both the shipbuilding and convict history. Ferries depart frequently from Circular Quay, but check times for return ferries, which run less regularly. If you do miss one and have to wait, there's a small café near the ferry dock. A short walk away is the Island Bar. Constructed from recycled shipping containers, serving cocktails and wood fired pizzas, it's a mellow place to watch the sun go down on the harbor. More on CNN: How to see the best of Sydney in a week Goat Island
What started as a stone quarry became the perfect place to store explosives. While you can go freestyle on Cockatoo Island, you have to book to visit Goat Island through Cadmans Cottage on George Street at The Rocks, or through a Sydney boat tour operator –- these will often include more than one island visit if you want to make a whole day of it. Goat Island and Fort Denison are part of Sydney Harbour National Park. The government has put together some excellent guided tours, which point out the local wildlife, as well as bringing alive the history of the island. This naturally includes convicts kept in vile conditions, but also provides insight into the lives of the soldiers who watched over them. It was fitting that all 771 episodes of the popular Sydney TV series "Water Rats" was filmed on Goat Island from 1996-2001, given one of the first water police stations in Sydney can be found here. A tour of Goat Island is both fascinating and good exercise. If you haven't any fat to walk off, we suggest opting for a "convicts, lunch and bubbles tour" to balance out any calories you might burn on the steep inclines. More on CNN: Best beaches in Sydney Fort Denison
Fort Denison is a spectacular place for lunch. Across from the Opera House, right in front of the bridge, this tiny island has an excellent restaurant. Not outrageously expensive, the food is good and the view sublime. If it's busy with groups, the marquee interior can make it feel a bit like you're crashing someone's wedding, but it's well worth the trip. Reservations are essential, book online here. The restaurant is open only from 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. It's ironic that you can chow down so comfortably on the island -- known as Pinchgut in the early days -- as, you guessed it, convicts being punished here were fed slender rations of bread and water. Completed in 1857, the iconic sandstone Martello Tower is the only one of its kind in Australia. Today Fort Denison operates as a harbor navigation facility -- with automated tide gauge, foghorn, beacon and channel markers -- and as a museum, along with the restaurant. Fort Denison is a five-minute boat ride across the harbor from wharfs at Circular Quay, Luna Park, Kirribilli, Woolloomooloo, Cremorne Point and Elizabeth Bay. For more info, visit the official Fort Denison website. Still in the mood for island hopping? Other Sydney Harbour islands include the perfect picnic islands of Shark, Clark and Rodd. There's also Bare Island, built to spare Sydney from a "back door attack" and the naval heritage site, Garden Island. More on CNN: Insider guide: Best of Sydney    |
| Haute still hot: Asia’s 10 best restaurants named Posted: 28 Feb 2013 02:00 PM PST A roar of applause erupted as Japanese chef Yoshihiro Narisawa was crowned the S. Pellegrino Best Restaurant in Asia at the inaugural Asia's 50 Best Restaurants awards ceremony, held on Monday in Singapore. After receiving the prize, Narisawa stood on stage and bowed deeply for several seconds, a sign of gratitude and respect in Japanese culture. The list is compiled from votes cast for restaurants around the world by The Diners Club World 50 Best Restaurants Academy, which is comprised of 900 influential chefs, food critics and industry professionals. The Asia's 50 Best Restaurants awards program is the first to focus on a single region, but William Drew of organizing body William Reed Business Media hinted that other localized awards could be soon to follow. "It's fair to say that, as we did with Asia, we are assessing other regions in detail in order to ascertain whether further regional awards are viable," he says. Those in the highest rankings on the Asia's 50 Best list are likely to secure a spot on the World's 50 Best Restaurants list, which will be announced on April 29 in London. Here's a look at the top 10 in Asia. For the full list of 50, click here. 1. Narisawa (Tokyo)
Since then, the Tokyo restaurant has rated among the highest of Asian restaurants in the annual world rankings. Owner and chef Yoshihiro Narisawa spent nine years cooking in Europe's tops kitchens, working under star chefs Joel Robuchon and Paul Bocuse, before returning to Japan to open his own restaurant. The contemporary French cuisine he serves at Narisawa takes in the influence of his experience abroad and reflects his philosophy of bringing nature to the plate -- sometimes quite literally. A dish called Richard's Soil, served in late autumn, consists solely of burdock root sautéed with the soil clinging to it, pureed with spring water from Shinshu in Nagano Prefecture. 2-6-15 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo; +81 (3) 5785 0799; www.narisawa-yoshihiro.com More on CNN: Haute cuisine's natural man 2. Ryugin (Tokyo)
Each year, young chefs from around the world vie for a chance to apprentice at his three Michelin-starred restaurant, Ryugin, in Tokyo's Roppongi district. The Kagawa native applies traditional and modern techniques to Japanese kaiseki, resulting in innovative dishes, such as grilled sea bream covered in a crispy coating of puffed rice and served with sea urchin and "virgin" oysters from Hiroshima. Admired for his highly scientific, precise approach to cooking, Yamamoto received major accolades from his peers in the form of this year's Chef's Choice award at the Asia's 50 Best Restaurants event. 1/F Side Roppongi Bldg., 7-17-24 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo; +81 (0) 3 3423-8006; www.nihonryori-ryugin.com More on CNN: So, what do three Michelin stars really taste like? 3. Nahm (Bangkok)
Although skeptics were initially wary when he launched a second branch in Bangkok three years ago, the Australian-born chef has won over Thai locals with his exquisite attention to detail, top ingredients and authenticity. Meals typically kick off with a sweet and sour tom-yum-tini, which packs a spicy punch, and inventive canapés of pineapple topped with candied pork. Metropolitan Hotel, South Sathorn Road, Bangkok; +66 (0)2 625 3388; www.metropolitan.bangkok.como.bz More on CNN: Best Bangkok high-end Thai restaurants 4. Amber (Hong Kong)
Ekkebus imports top ingredients from around the world while emphasizing the importance of sustainable agriculture and fishing practices. Signature dishes include lobster gelee topped with Hokkaido sea urchin and a dressing of sherry and cevennes onion with creme fraiche, and Yamagata pork belly with stuffed morel mushrooms. Ekkebus's success at Amber has led to expansion. In April, he plans to open a second restaurant in Shanghai. 15 Queens Road, 7/F, The Landmark, Central, Hong Kong;+852 2132 0066; www.amberhongkong.com More on CNN: Hong Kong's best gourmet restaurant 5. Restaurant Andre (Singapore)
Chiang left his native Taiwan at age 15 to train in Europe under modernist cuisine masters Pierre Gagnaire, Joel Robuchon and Michel Troisgros, whose influence can be felt in the Mediterranean-infected contemporary French cuisine Chiang creates at Andre. Critics rave about his Deconstructed Snickers bar, a mix of chocolate, caramel, nougat and nuts, which he reinvents every year for his menu. 41 Bukit Pasoh Road, Singapore;+65 6534 8880; Restaurantandre.com More on CNN: How Singapore became Asia's culinary capital 6. 8 ½ Otto E Mezzo Bombana (Hong Kong)
The fact that it was awarded three stars in the 2012 Michelin Guide -- the only Italian restaurant outside of Italy to gain the guide's highest accolade -- hasn't helped matters. Umberto Bombana has gained a reputation for his homemade pastas, which are given the fine dining treatment with ingredients such as lobster and bottarga, and luxe versions of Italian classics, such as mushroom risotto, served with braised veal cheek and veal fillet. Shop 202, Alexandra House, 18 Chater Road, Central, Hong Kong; +852 2537 8859; www.ottoemezzobombana.com More on CNN: Otto e Mezzo: Best place to eat white truffles in Hong Kong 7. Mr. and Mrs. Bund (Shanghai)
Famous for his witty plays on haute cuisine, Pairet has gained a loyal following with his Picnic Chicken, served cold with garlicky aioli; and foie gras light crumble, a fluffy mousse of paté topped with a crunchy topping of candied fruit and nuts. As for the restaurant, diners perch on oversized Alice in Wonderland chairs as a disco ball spins overhead. Bund 18, 6/F, 18 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu, near Nanjing Dong Lu, Shanghai; +86 (0)21 6323 9898; Mmbund.com 8. Ultraviolet (Shanghai)
With only 10 seats, surrounded by 360-degree video screens, surround-sound speakers and high-tech overhead lighting, Ultraviolet aims to deliver a multi-sensory dining experience. Pairet's take on fish and chips, a deep-fried caperberry stuffed with anchovy, is paired with images of a stormy London day, complete with sounds of thunder, before a projection of the British flag lights up the table. The location is secret, diners need to book a seat at Shanghai's Ultraviolet by Paul Pairet via its official website. More on CNN: Multi-sensory dining sizzles in Shanghai 9. Iggy's (Singapore)
The food is modern international -- a mix of Asian and European influences -- that reflects owner Ignatius Chang's Catholic tastes. The wagyu beef tongue, slow-cooked and served with yuzu-infused mustard and avocado mousse, gleans inspiration from Japan, while the nasi lemak (fish mousse topped with rice and pandan foam) veers closer to home. The Regent Singapore, #03-00, 1 Cuscaden Road, Singapore; +65 6732 2234; www.iggys.com.sg More on CNN: Singapore's 5 best gourmet eateries: Iggy's still tops 10. Gaggan (Bangkok)
The evocatively named Lost Jewel is a melt-in-your-mouth morsel of morel mushroom stuffed with green peas, while Yoghurt is a sphere of yogurt flavored with cumin and Indian black salt, encapsulated in a membrane-like gel. 68/1 Soi Langsuan off Ploenchit Road, Bangkok; +66 (0)2 652 1700; www.eatatgaggan.com More on CNN: Gaggan: Indian cuisine at molecular levels Want to see the full Asia's 50 Best Restaurants list? Click here.    |
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