steak – the suite life of travel

Passing cattle farms along the hilly landscape of Muskingum County, I approached Terra Cotta Vineyards in New Concord, Ohio. The long gravel drive boasted beautiful full grapevines that would soon be ready for harvest. It was an early Saturday afternoon, the calm before the storm as a large crowd was expected for the winery’s popular weekend cook outs with a selection of strip steak, marinated pork or salmon cooked over the grill.

The winery, owned by Donna and Paul Roberts, was first established in 1996 sitting in the midst of fifty-six acres. With an environment similar to the European wine regions, the Roberts family found the perfect terrior to grow quality grapes that can sustain the cold Ohio winters.

Entering the rustic winery, the light woods of poplar accented by the terra cotta walls were overshadowed by the gorgeous open, cathedral ceiling. The tasting table was to my left where I decided to try a few samples which included the Chambourcin, Steuben, Baco Noir, Catawba and the Terra Rosa.

I ordered a glass of the Terra Rosa and took a seat on the back porch to admire the dramatic valley views and rolling hills. I learned that beneath the beautiful green landscape was red clay soil and the region is known for its beautiful clay ceramics. In addition to their daughter, Alysia’s pottery, it was how the Roberts’ family came up with the name of the winery, Terra Cotta Vineyards.

So while I am enjoying the panoramic view and the delicious wine, I think about the upcoming harvest. While so many factors have an impact on the quality of the wine, all of the preparation and maintenance over the spring and summer will be important. But in the end, everything is about the harvest.

I would be interested in hearing about your visit to Terra Cotta Vineyards, if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below. Do you have a favorite wine or another Ohio wine suggestions? I would be happy to learn more about the Ohio wine industry and look forward to your message and recommendations. Wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Terra Cotta Vineyards
2285 Rix Mills Road
New Concord, OH 43702
Telephone: 740 872 3791

Please refer to the winery’s website for the most up-to-date information such as hours of operation.

Where to Stay:

Hotel Garland
150 Garland Way
New Concord, OH 43762
Telephone: 855 462 9255

Where to Eat:

Theo’s Restaurant
632 Wheeling Avenue
Cambridge, OH 43725
Telephone: 740 432 3787

Looking for authentic home cooking, we stopped at Theo’s Restaurant for lunch and ordered burgers and fries. The service was excellent and so was the food!

While riding the trolley throughout the town of San Juan, Puerto Rico, I noticed the restaurant Raices, which had been recommended by the hotel concierge. I decided to stop here after my walk along Constitution Avenue, hoping it would be open for lunch. I was looking forward to trying more delicious, traditional Puerto Rican cuisine.

As I approached the restaurant, the door was open, so I walked in, not realizing that I was interrupting a staff meeting. They kindly informed me that they would be open in a few minutes, so I took a place at the bench outside to wait.

Soon after, I was greeted by a lovely young lady wearing a white dress and a white head wrapping, a traditional Puerto Rican costume. I had worked up an appetite with a few hours of walking the Old Town, so she promptly seated me and took my drink order. I was so excited to order the pina colada and even more so when it had arrived in a tin cup, helping the drink to stay frozen.

Looking around the restaurant, I enjoyed the beautiful artwork of traditional island color and local scenes. The picturesque paintings were framed with window shutters to look as though I was looking into Puerto Rican homes or looking outdoors onto pastures and fields.

I asked my server for a recommendation and he reviewed the restaurant’s house specialties. There were too many fabulous options such as a mahi mahi, creole style stuffed with shrimp in garlic sauce or muslitos campstres which is pork country-style drumsticks in fricassee sauce. There was also a surf and turf option listed on the menu, which looked absolutely delicious.

I decided to order the skirt steak with a chimichurri sauce, which came with a side of mashed green plantains enough to feed two people. The steak was so tender it melted in my mouth and had a buttery flavor while the chimichurri sauce gave it a wonderful flavor of garlic and oregano. I asked if they had any hot sauce and the server brought me over a small dish. With all of the amazing spices, this has to be one of the best hot sauces I had ever eaten. It had a nice kick but not too hot that I could not enjoy my food. I asked if there was any way that I could order it from their store in the back, but it was a new recipe of the chef and was not yet available. I learned that I would be able to order it on their website soon, but until then I would have to call them to request it.

The history of Raices (roots) is quite an interesting one. The restaurant and store is based on the root principles of the Puerto Rican cooking and its flagship restaurant first opened in the town of Caguas in 2002. It became so popular that it now has three locations throughout the island…Caguas, Old San Juan and Hato Rey.

The owners take great pride in the history and culture of Puerto Rico. I loved the unique atmosphere of the restaurant and the period costumes. The 1940’s style wardrobe of the servers and their impeccable service are just as much a delight as the extraordinary food prepared here. A visit to Raices is guaranteed to have you leaving the restaurant satisfied and wanting to come back for more.

When you travel do you like to try new foods at the location you are visiting? What has been your most memorable dining experience? I would love to hear your story, so kindly leave a message in the comments section below. Many thanks for reading about our afternoon lunch at Raices! Wishing you many Happy Travels!

Where to Eat:

Raices Restaurant
#315 Recinte Sur Street
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Telephone: 787 289 2121