Dr. Culture Approved

THE PREEMINENT "BEST OF" LIST

FOR ROAD WARRIORS AND RECREATIONAL TRAVELERS

BEST HOTEL TREATMENT GIVEN TO DR. CULTURE TRAVEL TEAM:

Westin Hotel Bridgestreet, Huntsville AL Ms Gosia Sullivan and her staff are just simply the best - anywhere. Have never seen a more cohesive group of hotel professionals --Candice Calloway and others have made our seminars smooth and flawless--and nooooo,I don't get price break on rooms!

BEST BARTENDER:

Penny -- Schlesinger’s Chop House, Port Warwick-Newport News, VA
Charming, A Babe, Lovely -- Really Knows How to Shake A Shaker

VERY, VERY, VERY CLOSE SECOND PLACE:

Nick -- at DC Coast Restaurant, Washington, DC
skillful, knowledgeable, introduced me to Hanger One Vodka -- How Does He Do That Layer of Ice Chards in a Martini?

BEST MARTINI:

Grey Goose or Kettle One-Straight Up, Q-Tip Swab of Vermouth, Tabasco Soaked Spanish Olive (With Pit) The Barn -- Steve Elliot, Bartender, Wellington, FL

Trump Vodka with a glance at Vermouth bottle; Mar a Lago, Palm Beach, FL

BEST VIEW FOR MARTINI DRINKING

Ritz Carlton, Battery Park, New York City, The Rise Bar, 14th Floor Terrace (Overlooking Statue of Liberty -- Mrs. Culture made me include this...)

BEST BLOODY MARY

CLUB 2080, Barry Bowman, Bartender

WORST MARTINI EXPERIENCE

W Hotel, Washington DC, POV Bar. From beginning -- with the to-cool-for-you hip and tres chic bar staff to the drink itself (how do you mess up Grey Goose martini, straight up, no vermouth, two olives?) -- this was a complete let down. When Mrs. Culture and I showed up for a drink, staffer #1 asked if we had reservations. No, I explained, just walking in to enjoy the exquisite night time view of DC. She handed me off to staffer#2 who asked the same thing, then walked over to another staffer (#3) who also asked if I had reservations, and of course, I said no and I was escorted to another staffer (4) who then took us to the original staffer and they both huddled over the computer to determine if there was any way to seat us as a "walk-in" in the nearly-deserted POV bar. We were finally guided to our table and tried to enjoy the night time view of the White House but our seats were so low (you know the type--where your knees touch your chin) we could only look at the massive handrail blocking our view. Nearly 15 minutes later I finally stopped a waitress and told her we were ready to order. (Remember the bar was a ghost town). Mrs. Culture wanted an Absolute Citroen Cosmo -- "sorry, we don't have flavored vodka" was the interjection. (Huh? I had a flavored vodka martini at a Bait Shop bar in Fayetteville, North Carolina!) Can't get it at the W in DC? When the martinis arrived I was speechless -- they weren't in a martini glass. This was a cheap champagne fountain style saucer-like retro champagne glass from the Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers days. What's worse, when I pulled out the two toothpick skewered olives (which towered over the vodka) the glass was nearly empty! Cost $15. Knowing I will never go back? Priceless.

BEST VIEW WITH GUMBO AND BEER:

Steelhead Diner, Seattle Washington (Go for the corner window table but bar is OK!)

BEST HOTEL DEAL:

(Still)--The Paradores -- Spain

Ritz Carlton, Singapore

Four Seasons, Bangkok

SIMPLY THE COOLEST HOTEL #1:

Marques de Riscal, El Ciego, Spain

SIMPLY THE COOLEST HOTEL #2:

Raffles Hotel, Singapore

BEST AIRLINE BAD IDEA:

NW Airlines -- Allowing Seeing Eye Pig In First Class (Coach is OK....)

BEST WORST IDEA FOR AIRLINE:

Hooters Airline

La Cigale Gourmet Restaurant, Del Rey, Florida