Okay, I've been doing the Christmas sushi for a number of years now. But this year completely topped any sushi of years past. Seriously, I have *never* had sushi as good as the sushi I had at Kikugawa tonight.
Salmon just like butter. Tuna as perfect as perfect can be. And then tuna that was more perfect, as the "super white tuna" had this undertone of *vanilla* to it that was just divine.
And then, unagi that *melted* in my mouth.
I'm serious. Best. Sushi. Ever. And warm sweet sake. And just yum...
Now I go to roll over and watch the new Dr Who.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Hell's Kitchen
To my friends who are Hell's Kitchen fans (the Mpls restaurant, not the myriad of other places):
If you have not been to the new location and have not had their dinner menu, Go. Immediately. Seriously, I love it all even more than I could have possibly loved the last place.
We went at 6 last night with no reservation, were seated immediately, had a fantastic and unusual cocktail (I had the Love Letter) and dinner was as delightfully divine and decadent as their breakfast and lunch have been in the past. And they're also available.
Everything I have ever had here has been made of awesome. The only thing I wish is that their eggs were a smidge more cooked.
Not to mention, there's parking right there that you take to the basement where it is and it's all curvy and labyrinth like in there and the decor makes me squee.
When I talk about Rudy's or Christopher's from Camberville as restaurants that I truly miss? If ever I move from Minneapolis, Hell's Kitchen will be that place I talk about from here.
If you have not been to the new location and have not had their dinner menu, Go. Immediately. Seriously, I love it all even more than I could have possibly loved the last place.
We went at 6 last night with no reservation, were seated immediately, had a fantastic and unusual cocktail (I had the Love Letter) and dinner was as delightfully divine and decadent as their breakfast and lunch have been in the past. And they're also available.
Everything I have ever had here has been made of awesome. The only thing I wish is that their eggs were a smidge more cooked.
Not to mention, there's parking right there that you take to the basement where it is and it's all curvy and labyrinth like in there and the decor makes me squee.
When I talk about Rudy's or Christopher's from Camberville as restaurants that I truly miss? If ever I move from Minneapolis, Hell's Kitchen will be that place I talk about from here.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
On the road: Snippets from St Augustine
Anyway, then to lunch. I ate at what is perhaps the most schwanky place in town according to my mom, 95 Cordova at the Casa Monica. Really damned good crab cakes they were. And delightful decor.
***
Headed towards the inter coastal area then, and had a pomegranate martini at the Tini Martini Bar and spent time relaxing and reading a book. That sadly wasn't so phenomenal as to be worth what I paid for it, but I relaxed for a while outside with a drink and that was okay.
***
Parents also took me to a delightful little restaurant called Raintree. I had a northern atlantic salmon that was cooked to absolute perfection, and split a bottle of white wine with them. Definitely, if you ever make it to this cute little town this is a bistro not to miss.
***
Headed towards the inter coastal area then, and had a pomegranate martini at the Tini Martini Bar and spent time relaxing and reading a book. That sadly wasn't so phenomenal as to be worth what I paid for it, but I relaxed for a while outside with a drink and that was okay.
***
Parents also took me to a delightful little restaurant called Raintree. I had a northern atlantic salmon that was cooked to absolute perfection, and split a bottle of white wine with them. Definitely, if you ever make it to this cute little town this is a bistro not to miss.
Monday, November 24, 2008
In Short
Friday night was a date night with PiC. I introduced him to the thai place around the corner from me, Vinh Loi. Noticed for the first time on their menu that they have listed for the cream cheese wontons that they are "6 wontons of awesome" or something like that. I giggled so much I insisted that we have them for an appetizer. Nummy mock duck pad thai for me, and green curry for him. And some really good hot jasmine tea because I was cold cold with a side of cold.
ETA: Sadly, they haven't seemed to have been open yet since the new year. I hope they haven't completely closed. That would be sad. I liked them.
ETA: Sadly, they haven't seemed to have been open yet since the new year. I hope they haven't completely closed. That would be sad. I liked them.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Rapid fire reviews
Masa - Upscale Mexican on Nicollet Ave downtown, in one of the Target buildings. I had lunch here with GM a while back. If you can imagine mexican food being done in a light fashion, this would be the place for it. I found it delightfully refreshing for lunch, and I highly recommend it. I'll probably try their dinner sometime in the not too terribly distant future as well as I'm on a mexican food kick lately. But as it's upscale, it's a bit on the pricey side. If you're looking for large portions (and not as light), you're better off going further down Nicollet to Pancho Villa.
Musashi - Had lunch here with EK a while back as well. Ignore the fact that Musashi was a swordsman and not a sumo wrestler. Just don't pay attention to their logo. :) The lunch here was a fabulous chicken teriyaki bento box. It's not crowded for lunch, and it's right by my work. Also came with pickled things, hot little crab cake like things, a maki roll... Probably something else I'm forgetting. Also pricey for lunch, but MMMMMM bento. :)
barrio - I'd been excited about a potential tequila bar, even if it was downtown. Unfortunately I was focused more on the concept of the tequila and not so much on the bar. This place is definitely a bar in attitude, even if they're trying to up the quality of the bar food. And they do have a lovely selection of tequila. It was just over noisy and crowded with work folks (mostly Target since it's right across the street it seems) at happy hour to be enjoyable. I was very sad about that. The hunt for a Rudy's like place continues.
Jade - Went here for PiC's birthday, located in Midtown Global Market. I think in part my opinion of this place was clouded by the fact that I was feeling like utter crap. I wasn't particularly impressed though. And my kung pao chicken tasted a distinct taste of off. He got to have lobster and sushi though, so that was a win for him. Maybe trying again in the future, but it's not going to be at the top of my list.
Alas, not all restaurants will be hits. I think next time eating out though is going to be Hell's Kitchen in the new location for dinner. :) They've moved to the old space where Rossi's used to be, and I'm hoping that means there's a ton more room, so easier to get in and YUMMY yummy food to boot with fun boozes.
Musashi - Had lunch here with EK a while back as well. Ignore the fact that Musashi was a swordsman and not a sumo wrestler. Just don't pay attention to their logo. :) The lunch here was a fabulous chicken teriyaki bento box. It's not crowded for lunch, and it's right by my work. Also came with pickled things, hot little crab cake like things, a maki roll... Probably something else I'm forgetting. Also pricey for lunch, but MMMMMM bento. :)
barrio - I'd been excited about a potential tequila bar, even if it was downtown. Unfortunately I was focused more on the concept of the tequila and not so much on the bar. This place is definitely a bar in attitude, even if they're trying to up the quality of the bar food. And they do have a lovely selection of tequila. It was just over noisy and crowded with work folks (mostly Target since it's right across the street it seems) at happy hour to be enjoyable. I was very sad about that. The hunt for a Rudy's like place continues.
Jade - Went here for PiC's birthday, located in Midtown Global Market. I think in part my opinion of this place was clouded by the fact that I was feeling like utter crap. I wasn't particularly impressed though. And my kung pao chicken tasted a distinct taste of off. He got to have lobster and sushi though, so that was a win for him. Maybe trying again in the future, but it's not going to be at the top of my list.
Alas, not all restaurants will be hits. I think next time eating out though is going to be Hell's Kitchen in the new location for dinner. :) They've moved to the old space where Rossi's used to be, and I'm hoping that means there's a ton more room, so easier to get in and YUMMY yummy food to boot with fun boozes.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Khyber Pass
Tonight, I headed to Khyber Pass as I knew it was open and still have to clean my kitchen to cook and I've been trying to get there. Rugs everywhere, on the walls, on the ceiling, nice music piped in as well but not too loud, and the feel of the place was very light and airy even with all the rugs everywhere.
The meal started with half of a whole wheat pita and their cilantro/walnut chutney. Tangy and complex. I loved it.
Then they brought me my meal, a vegetarian platter with a spinach curry and a small curried potato next to each other on a bed of basmati rice, with a tomato and cucumber salad on the side. The spinach was cooked whole and texture wise like any other curry, but the flavorings were definitely not Indian. The potato reminded me of something my mom would make from childhood, but I couldn't quite place it. It was like a vague hint of a memory. Both were quite tasty and unique though.
Unfortunately, I think one of their key ingredients in their curries is yogurt, though not always listed out. I only have the way that my body is reacting to the food that I ate to point to that suspicion, unless I have an allergy or intolerance I don't know about.
So while I positively loved the food here, and would recommend it to anyone else, I'm not sure I'll be returning any time soon. ETA: I did go back, and had something without yogurt. And it didn't make me sick. I think it was just that one ingredient.
The meal started with half of a whole wheat pita and their cilantro/walnut chutney. Tangy and complex. I loved it.
Then they brought me my meal, a vegetarian platter with a spinach curry and a small curried potato next to each other on a bed of basmati rice, with a tomato and cucumber salad on the side. The spinach was cooked whole and texture wise like any other curry, but the flavorings were definitely not Indian. The potato reminded me of something my mom would make from childhood, but I couldn't quite place it. It was like a vague hint of a memory. Both were quite tasty and unique though.
Unfortunately, I think one of their key ingredients in their curries is yogurt, though not always listed out. I only have the way that my body is reacting to the food that I ate to point to that suspicion, unless I have an allergy or intolerance I don't know about.
So while I positively loved the food here, and would recommend it to anyone else, I'm not sure I'll be returning any time soon. ETA: I did go back, and had something without yogurt. And it didn't make me sick. I think it was just that one ingredient.
Gardens of Salonica
Thursday, dinner was had at Gardens of Salonica in NE Minneapolis. Wrought iron and earth toned art decorates this lovely little spot. It's a little noisy, but still mostly enjoyable.
Our waiter we think had had a bit to drink. He was spilling things, forgetting things, and we did witness him drink a glass of wine at the bar.
But the food was quite delightful. I had a chicken souvlaki, tzatziki sauce on the side. It was cooked and spiced rather exactly and I enjoyed it. The tzatziki even had a bit of a spicy tang to it that was unusual and lovely.
PiC had the lamb souvlaki and seemed to enjoy his as much as I enjoyed mine. He also had the octapodi and loved it as well. To my eyes it looked a bit odd, complete with the suckers, but so long as he enjoyed it who am I to judge? :)
Dessert was one very small fig that had been braised in a port wine reduction. A simple bit of joy to end the meal. Mmmmmmmm fig.
This will definitely be a place for repeat business.
Our waiter we think had had a bit to drink. He was spilling things, forgetting things, and we did witness him drink a glass of wine at the bar.
But the food was quite delightful. I had a chicken souvlaki, tzatziki sauce on the side. It was cooked and spiced rather exactly and I enjoyed it. The tzatziki even had a bit of a spicy tang to it that was unusual and lovely.
PiC had the lamb souvlaki and seemed to enjoy his as much as I enjoyed mine. He also had the octapodi and loved it as well. To my eyes it looked a bit odd, complete with the suckers, but so long as he enjoyed it who am I to judge? :)
Dessert was one very small fig that had been braised in a port wine reduction. A simple bit of joy to end the meal. Mmmmmmmm fig.
This will definitely be a place for repeat business.
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