Michael Ruhlman

2 weeks ago | ruhlman.substack.com | Michael Ruhlman

San Sebastian is known as one of Spain’s gastronomic hubs, and the center of its culinary tradition, what makes the town unique, are its pintxos bars. Pintxos are to Basque country what tapas are to the rest of Spain. Pronounced PEEN-chōs, these are small dishes—often served on skewers, or pintxos—to enjoy with your Rioja, cervesa, or cider (sidra is one of the local specialties, always poured from on high and drunk quickly). By all means, try the cider.

3 weeks ago | ruhlman.substack.com | Michael Ruhlman

The world’s great art museums are countless: In NYC, the Met and MoMA; The Louvre in Paris; London has multiple museums in the extraordinary category; ditto Washington, DC. Smaller but exceptional: my beloved Cleveland Museum of Art. And we have our own personal favorite, Musée D’Orsay in Paris, an all but perfect museum. Built in the Orsay train station to house art for the Universal Exhibition of 1900, it was, some have said, a modernist work of art in its own right.

3 weeks ago | ruhlman.substack.com | Michael Ruhlman

One of the great travel maxims we know is this: the places that are hardest to get to are often the very best because of it. A perfect example in the US is Martha’s Vineyard. It was such and idyllic island when I lived there, I never wanted to leave—gorgeous empty winters, paradise summers, surrounded by gorgeous coasts and beaches. But build a bridge there allowing easy access for cars, and the place would be transformed for the worst.

1 month ago | ruhlman.substack.com | Michael Ruhlman

I’ve been to Dingle, Ireland, six times, as Ann has long taught at an annual writers’ workshop here. Some people say they won’t go to the same place twice—there are too many new places to see. My father was like that. He never watched a movie twice either. Me, I love to return to the same place, if it’s as unique and fine as Dingle. But Ann figured the perfect compromise: we’d fly first to a new part of Ireland for us, Donegal, the very northwesternmost county.

1 month ago | ruhlman.substack.com | Michael Ruhlman

Greenwich Village, from 5th Avenue all the way over to Washington St in the West Village, is one of the most restaurant dense areas in the world. There are so many great restaurants, I don’t think anyone could visit every one of them. And I’m talking destination Village restaurants, not the likes of Mamoun’s or ubiquitous pizza joints. Places like Dame and Lord, Dante, Tokyo Record Bar, Minetta Tavern (and those are just on MacDougal St. alone).