By Lakshmi:
We’ve driven by the Baltimore Museum of Art many times, but this time decided to take the time out to explore what we discovered to be a hidden gem! From ancient Syrian mosaics to impressionist paintings to the work of Warhol, this museum surprises you at every corner. Here’s a tiny sampling of what we saw! PS. The added bonus? There is no fee to enter and there are beautiful outdoor spaces as well! Here’s a link to learn more about the Baltimore Museum of Art
By Rohan:
Walking down King Street is a great way to end your day in Charleston, South Carolina. Littered with everything from mom-and-pop souvenir shops to huge fashion icons like J. Crew, Urban Outfitters, and Forever 21, this charming cobblestone road is definitely a shopper’s paradise.
The food isn’t half bad either. Every cuisine can be found walking up and down one of Charleston’s most hopping streets. And with street performers at every intersection, we highly encourage eating outside to soak in some local culture. Basil is a Thai Restaurant that’s only a stone’s throw away from the historic Charleston Place Hotel. The facade resembles an Americana-era diner, with bright neon lights reflecting off shiny silver surfaces. I walked into Basil with tempered expectations, since I am not the biggest fan of Thai food.
The experience was excellent from start to finish. Our waiter was incredibly charming, serving every course with a smile and recommending some delicious vegetarian options on the menu. We recommend trying their spring rolls, the ultimate South Asian comfort food. If you have a large group, we encourage tasting their coconut soup, served in a large steel kettle nice and hot.
The Pad Kee Mao I had was delicious. Thick egg noodles soaked with succulent curry and topped with sautéed veggies was just what the doctor ordered after a day of walking around the historic antebellum city. Consumer beware: this dish is incredibly spicy. But the wait staff at Basil is glad to tame the dish down for those who don’t want that extra kick.
And how could we forget dessert? Half of the reason Global Affair was founded was to celebrate the greatest course of the meal. Fried green tea ice cream with a drizzle of strawberry sauce. Every bite of this Asian staple with a southern flare is absolutely heavenly. It is a little pricey, but it is well worth the money. Your sweet tooth will thank you for it.
We highly recommend trying Basil. They have several locations in South Carolina, but dining outdoors in this cobblestone shopping haven is a unique and relaxing experience. Let us know what you think in the comments below.
Make sure to visit their extremely well-designed website at http://eatatbasil.com/
By Rohan:
One of our favorite things to do when we travel is look for places where locals gather to enjoy a delightful conversation, a beautiful view, or a delicious meal. It is immensely satisfying to know that you have found a hidden gem or a regional hot spot in a place that is often overrun by tourists. In upscale Newport, Rhode Island, we stumbled across such a place, and it provided us a scrumptious meal that was both unique and satisfying. We found the Salvation Cafe.
From a first glance, the Salvation Cafe looks like nothing special. It is a small restaurant with a red Japanese-style facade resembling a pagoda. Upon entering and taking a look at the menu, we came to realize that this is no ordinary cafe. The menu crosses cultures, everything from the coast of India to the heart of Thailand to even the mountains of Peru are available for you to sample at the Salvation Cafe. For vegetarians, Salvation makes sure that we have plenty of options and that our food tastes just as good as the food prepared for the carnivores in the house.
I had a Peruvian dish, one that consisted of thick corn pancakes layered with fresh sautéed vegetables. The dish was served with an avocado ragout that resembled a spicy guacamole, as well as a black bean paste for those who want their protein fix. The meal was absolutely delicious, with authentic flavors and spices allowing for it to stand out in my mind as one of my favorite dishes of recent times.
a global affair 