PiC went out last Thursday as well to a Persian style restaurant on the south side of town called Shiraz.
It's clear that this sort of restaurant does not get a whole lot of traction in this section of town. Which is a shame. They've changed their menu and style slightly apparently to be more of a "steakhouse" style, though they do still have a whole section of Persian entrees. They just make sure there are steaks as well. Makes sense when they're competing with the Sports Bar next door.
Not surprising, PiC and I went straight for the Persian dishes. We started off with dolmeh, which had an unexpected tomato sauce on top. Dolmeh in Persian cuisine are served warm, unlike Greek where they tend to be cold. However, I could see why they wanted the extra acid of the tomatoes to balance the beef on the interior. Over all, the flavors were well balanced.
For myself, I got a cornish game hen (Joojeh) kabob with the barberry rice. I had never had Cornish game hen, and was surprised how the texture seemed slightly different from chicken. I'm not sure that I could put it into words, but it was cooked just to tenderness and still had a slight charring on the outside tips to add that fresh grilled flavor.
PiC was greatly disappointed that they no longer had the Fensenjan on the menu, it's a chicken stew simmered in pomegranate and with walnuts. He did however order the Ghormeh Sabzy, a filet mignon and red bean stew with lime and herbs. This isn't just a little bit of herbs. This is herbs on the order that it looked like a green dish. And the sour cherry rice. Regardless, we had to remind ourselves to stop eating. PiC had left overs for two lunches and the prices were quite reasonable.
I think that if I had to choose for Persian restaurants, if I want a greater variety of Persian, I'd go to Caspian, but do think that the food at Shiraz is better flavored. I was much happier with the overall balance here than I was at Caspian.
Accompaniments were perfectly acceptable martinis.
Monday, July 12, 2010
First Course
I apologize for the break in posts here since January. I went on a particularly restrictive elimination diet to figure out what I should and should not eat for a few months. The results were conclusive, if not fixing EVERY health problem I have, but I call it a win. In the mean time, I hadn't been going to very many new restaurants. But there are a handful now that I have been to and have not posted about yet. But will.
My personal cross to bear is that for the most part I have to avoid tomatoes. Being of Italian descent (among other things) this is particularly sucky. But it does inform where I tend to go. As does my intense need to avoid artificial sweeteners and flavors, be those HFCS or aspartame, or even MSG.
It means that my focus on restaurants has shifted a little, and I mostly focus on ones that tend towards making their own entrees from fresh ingredients and are less likely to use those sorts of short cuts. Not always, but I do try.
I go out to eat less, but I would like to think that the quality of restaurant that I'm going to is elevating as a result.
In any case. The actual review.
Tonight I biked on down to a local restaurant hidden near my local Kowalski's - First Course. I have immediately put this restaurant into the "why have I taken this LONG to find this place?" category. It is a cute french-american bistro style restaurant. The outside seating is plenty, though I went at the bright part of the evening so opted to sit inside with my book in the relatively dark interior.
I started off my evening with an Argentinian Malbec whose name I have sadly forgotten. If you haven't tried a Malbec for a red wine, you should. This is the current "hip" grape, passing by any Cab, Merlot, or Shiraz, especially for a summer red. It is slightly acidic but not harsh with the tannins. And it ends up with a full enough body but not enough to weigh you down.
As I was eating alone, I did not have any appetizers. I did note however that they had a $4 calamari tapas. Since PiC is a calamari *addict*, noting that I was certain I would at least have to come back here to try that with him.
Instead, I asked for the specials, and though they all sounded lovely I decided I wanted a entree that would challenge me. I went with the butternut squash with gorgonzola cream sauce, sweet potato strings, rainbow chard, and julienned vegetables. Understand that I *hate* blue cheese. I hate the feel, I hate the quality of the sharpness, I hate the way that it always feels out of balance with whatever else is in the meal. Gorgonzola is only one of many blue cheeses that I dislike.
And I loved my meal. Had to convince myself not to lick the plate loved my meal. The balance made the blue cheese subtle but strong enough to stand up to the other flavors of the meal, and it all danced across my tongue. It made me wish I had not snarfed the fantastic crusty bread that came as the appetizer as I would have used that to sop up more of the sauce.
To balance my meal, I had a glass of '05 Three Saints Chardonnay on the recommendation of the waiter. Chardonnay is also one of those wines that I drink occasionally but rarely enjoy. For this particular meal I thought it had enough body to compliment my meal, with the acidity cutting through some of the cream. It would be brassy if served at the wrong temperature, but here it was a lovely compliment.
To end my meal, I went with what I am required to go with if I have the option - I tried their creme brulee. With a sugar crust that was caramelized but not burnt, a rare treat in this town I have found, and an exceptionally smooth custard underneath, again I had to fight with myself not to lick the dish. The custard and caramel flavoring was especially lovely with their bold strawberry sliced on top.
I can guarantee that I will be back at this restaurant, only a few blocks from my house. I can bike to it and have a mostly lovely coast home on the way back.
My personal cross to bear is that for the most part I have to avoid tomatoes. Being of Italian descent (among other things) this is particularly sucky. But it does inform where I tend to go. As does my intense need to avoid artificial sweeteners and flavors, be those HFCS or aspartame, or even MSG.
It means that my focus on restaurants has shifted a little, and I mostly focus on ones that tend towards making their own entrees from fresh ingredients and are less likely to use those sorts of short cuts. Not always, but I do try.
I go out to eat less, but I would like to think that the quality of restaurant that I'm going to is elevating as a result.
In any case. The actual review.
Tonight I biked on down to a local restaurant hidden near my local Kowalski's - First Course. I have immediately put this restaurant into the "why have I taken this LONG to find this place?" category. It is a cute french-american bistro style restaurant. The outside seating is plenty, though I went at the bright part of the evening so opted to sit inside with my book in the relatively dark interior.
I started off my evening with an Argentinian Malbec whose name I have sadly forgotten. If you haven't tried a Malbec for a red wine, you should. This is the current "hip" grape, passing by any Cab, Merlot, or Shiraz, especially for a summer red. It is slightly acidic but not harsh with the tannins. And it ends up with a full enough body but not enough to weigh you down.
As I was eating alone, I did not have any appetizers. I did note however that they had a $4 calamari tapas. Since PiC is a calamari *addict*, noting that I was certain I would at least have to come back here to try that with him.
Instead, I asked for the specials, and though they all sounded lovely I decided I wanted a entree that would challenge me. I went with the butternut squash with gorgonzola cream sauce, sweet potato strings, rainbow chard, and julienned vegetables. Understand that I *hate* blue cheese. I hate the feel, I hate the quality of the sharpness, I hate the way that it always feels out of balance with whatever else is in the meal. Gorgonzola is only one of many blue cheeses that I dislike.
And I loved my meal. Had to convince myself not to lick the plate loved my meal. The balance made the blue cheese subtle but strong enough to stand up to the other flavors of the meal, and it all danced across my tongue. It made me wish I had not snarfed the fantastic crusty bread that came as the appetizer as I would have used that to sop up more of the sauce.
To balance my meal, I had a glass of '05 Three Saints Chardonnay on the recommendation of the waiter. Chardonnay is also one of those wines that I drink occasionally but rarely enjoy. For this particular meal I thought it had enough body to compliment my meal, with the acidity cutting through some of the cream. It would be brassy if served at the wrong temperature, but here it was a lovely compliment.
To end my meal, I went with what I am required to go with if I have the option - I tried their creme brulee. With a sugar crust that was caramelized but not burnt, a rare treat in this town I have found, and an exceptionally smooth custard underneath, again I had to fight with myself not to lick the dish. The custard and caramel flavoring was especially lovely with their bold strawberry sliced on top.
I can guarantee that I will be back at this restaurant, only a few blocks from my house. I can bike to it and have a mostly lovely coast home on the way back.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Travelling: North Shore Restaurants
Fourth of July weekend, OSO, PiC, and myself went and rented a "cabin" on the North Shore. It was more like a house, but it was quiet, and ours for the weekend and for the most part we weren't bothered.
Mostly, in order to save on money as well, we cooked in the kitchen. But for one day, we drove into Grand Marais and messed around, ate at a couple of places, and generally enjoyed ourselves taking pictures.
Lunch was at Sven and Ole's pizza. Now anyone who has lived in Minnesota, and probably parts of Wisconsin and the UP as well have seen the bumper stickers for Sven and Ole's. This is the best advertising in the world for them because I remembered them, and decided that I wanted to see what was so good that people had permanently tacked these bright yellow stickers to their cars. It was well worth the attempt. I will put it in as some the better pizza I've had in Minnesota. It's not the floppy thin crust perfection that is a proper NY style pizza. But it was just a little bit bready. The quality of the sauce, cheese, and toppings (sausage and mushroom for us) all seemed to be pretty gosh durned good, dontcha know. And I'm fairly certain that should I find my way back to this cute little shore town in Minnesota that I will be having pizza here again. Also, the beers were very reasonably priced at $3.75 for a bottle in general. Though I imagine the lambics were more.
We picked up donuts at the World's Best Donuts for later because the pizza had filled us up greatly. They also turned out to be really good donuts. You have to get there early enough to get the right variety. When they run out, they run out.
We spent much of the rest of the afternoon wandering around town until it came to dinner time. Like going into an honest to god Ben Franklin store to pick up bug bite cream and conditioner.
Dinner time rolled around and we found our way to the Angry Trout. PiC is a fish fanatic in general, and had heard good things about this place from one of his friends before. We went in and found out that it was a place devoted to sustainable fishing and locavore foods. Right up our alley. The fish that they were serving were two of their typical three that come straight from Lake Superior, and we decided that even though they had other things on the menu, we needed to try their local fishes.
PiC got the grilled halibut and wild rice dish. OSO got the grilled trout and pesto pasta. And I got the fried trout and fries so I could have local fish 'n chips. Everything came with ginormous salads, and there were a bevy of salad dressings that we tried with them. The fish tasted like it had just been lifted from the water. Out of all the sides, I think we agreed that the pesto pasta was definitely the best, though they were all quite good. I was also surprised by how light the fish tasted even though it had been fried. I like the delicate touch they take with it there.
I can no longer remember PiC's beer, which was from Wisconsin, but I do know that OSO also had a Minnestalgia wine, which is local and usually fruited. I think hers was the raspberry mead. I got a glass of the Alexis Bailey Seyval Blanc. Both are on the sweeter side, but they were styles we were looking for that day and definitely enjoyed.
And we left there incredibly full. Definitely will also remember the Angry Trout for when we return to that area.
Mostly, in order to save on money as well, we cooked in the kitchen. But for one day, we drove into Grand Marais and messed around, ate at a couple of places, and generally enjoyed ourselves taking pictures.
Lunch was at Sven and Ole's pizza. Now anyone who has lived in Minnesota, and probably parts of Wisconsin and the UP as well have seen the bumper stickers for Sven and Ole's. This is the best advertising in the world for them because I remembered them, and decided that I wanted to see what was so good that people had permanently tacked these bright yellow stickers to their cars. It was well worth the attempt. I will put it in as some the better pizza I've had in Minnesota. It's not the floppy thin crust perfection that is a proper NY style pizza. But it was just a little bit bready. The quality of the sauce, cheese, and toppings (sausage and mushroom for us) all seemed to be pretty gosh durned good, dontcha know. And I'm fairly certain that should I find my way back to this cute little shore town in Minnesota that I will be having pizza here again. Also, the beers were very reasonably priced at $3.75 for a bottle in general. Though I imagine the lambics were more.
We picked up donuts at the World's Best Donuts for later because the pizza had filled us up greatly. They also turned out to be really good donuts. You have to get there early enough to get the right variety. When they run out, they run out.
We spent much of the rest of the afternoon wandering around town until it came to dinner time. Like going into an honest to god Ben Franklin store to pick up bug bite cream and conditioner.
Dinner time rolled around and we found our way to the Angry Trout. PiC is a fish fanatic in general, and had heard good things about this place from one of his friends before. We went in and found out that it was a place devoted to sustainable fishing and locavore foods. Right up our alley. The fish that they were serving were two of their typical three that come straight from Lake Superior, and we decided that even though they had other things on the menu, we needed to try their local fishes.
PiC got the grilled halibut and wild rice dish. OSO got the grilled trout and pesto pasta. And I got the fried trout and fries so I could have local fish 'n chips. Everything came with ginormous salads, and there were a bevy of salad dressings that we tried with them. The fish tasted like it had just been lifted from the water. Out of all the sides, I think we agreed that the pesto pasta was definitely the best, though they were all quite good. I was also surprised by how light the fish tasted even though it had been fried. I like the delicate touch they take with it there.
I can no longer remember PiC's beer, which was from Wisconsin, but I do know that OSO also had a Minnestalgia wine, which is local and usually fruited. I think hers was the raspberry mead. I got a glass of the Alexis Bailey Seyval Blanc. Both are on the sweeter side, but they were styles we were looking for that day and definitely enjoyed.
And we left there incredibly full. Definitely will also remember the Angry Trout for when we return to that area.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Brasa Premium Rotisserie
OSO had her birthday recently, and she had also decided to start with a gluten free diet. In looking for a restaurant that would cater to her new dietary restriction, she also expressed a desire for southern style food for her birthday. Couple that with a desire to move towards local and organic food, we came up with Brasa as the destination for PiC and myself to take her out to. St Paul edition.
First, make sure you have their sangria. OSO and I split a pitcher of the sangria and were both pleasantly happy with the flavor and alcohol content.
We decided that for dinner we would go with family style eating, so we got 1/4 pound of the braised beef and 1/2 pound of the slow roasted pork. The pork was nice, but we were in LOVE with the braised beef. The BBQ sauce was definitely worth the red meat, and had we the chance to do it again, we would have switched the proportions.
We went with a side of the cheesy grits, which is apparently an old time favorite of both of them, and the fried green plantains. PiC also had himself a side of the collards and smoked turkey, because he has a thing for the bitter leafy greens. The two at least that OSO and I had were perfect in their starchy goodness, not oily for the plantains and definitely smooth with the slight grit of cheesy grits.
We skipped the dessert for having something at home for her that was gluten free. But all in all OSO declared it her favorite restaurant in the Twin Cities, and it is added to our rotation.
First, make sure you have their sangria. OSO and I split a pitcher of the sangria and were both pleasantly happy with the flavor and alcohol content.
We decided that for dinner we would go with family style eating, so we got 1/4 pound of the braised beef and 1/2 pound of the slow roasted pork. The pork was nice, but we were in LOVE with the braised beef. The BBQ sauce was definitely worth the red meat, and had we the chance to do it again, we would have switched the proportions.
We went with a side of the cheesy grits, which is apparently an old time favorite of both of them, and the fried green plantains. PiC also had himself a side of the collards and smoked turkey, because he has a thing for the bitter leafy greens. The two at least that OSO and I had were perfect in their starchy goodness, not oily for the plantains and definitely smooth with the slight grit of cheesy grits.
We skipped the dessert for having something at home for her that was gluten free. But all in all OSO declared it her favorite restaurant in the Twin Cities, and it is added to our rotation.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Merlin's Rest
So tonight I was on my own for dinner, and already out at 6:30, so I decided it was time for me to try a pub I had heard had did scotch tasting. So I was down Lake St and stopped in to Merlin's Rest for the first time.
I walked in and had an immediate sense that it was the sort of pub I've been looking for. The decor was homey; there was an older gentleman with a long but well trimmed bushy white bead and a fisherman's hat; it smelled of beer, fried food, and malt vinegar. And there was a table right up front for me to sit at. I got excited.
After 10 minutes waiting for someone to hand me a menu though, I started to become a bit cautious. To be fair, I think that the poor waitress was the only one working tonight. But I have to say that the lack of service in general over the course of the evening really put a damper on my enjoyment of the establishment.
But I didn't walk out again, and I finally had a menu, and a scotch menu (14 pages of scotch....). I ordered a Deerstalker 12, light herbal flavors, a little bit of burn, just enough to make the smoke a little harsh, but it was enjoyable enough.
And I ordered my vegetarian Cornish Pasty. This sounded like the perfect thing for a winter night. And I had never run across a Vegetarian Pasty. Excellent! So I waited. and an amount of time I thought was generally appropriate later, my pasty arrived with a mushroom gravy and very flaky looking pastry cover. I cut into it, and the pastry was a little bit soggy. Truly, it's the sort that seems to happen when one microwaves a pastry. I bit in, and the flavors were lovely. It was even better with the gravy, and it all balanced the scotch beautifully. It was really disappointing to have something that I knew could be spectacular, and have it just miss the mark.
Then I waited.
And waited.
And really, a person shouldn't have to wait 30 minutes with their dishes piled up before the waitress comes back to ask if there's anything else I'll be having. Which, I still would have gone for pie if it had only been a 15 minute wait. But by that time, I was irritated and just wanted to pay and go home.
I'll certainly try the place again, but next time with company so that I might not notice the delay in service quite as much. It is the sort of pub one could sit in for hours. I just would rather choose to and keep paying for stuff rather than be sitting there bored and waiting for the check.
I walked in and had an immediate sense that it was the sort of pub I've been looking for. The decor was homey; there was an older gentleman with a long but well trimmed bushy white bead and a fisherman's hat; it smelled of beer, fried food, and malt vinegar. And there was a table right up front for me to sit at. I got excited.
After 10 minutes waiting for someone to hand me a menu though, I started to become a bit cautious. To be fair, I think that the poor waitress was the only one working tonight. But I have to say that the lack of service in general over the course of the evening really put a damper on my enjoyment of the establishment.
But I didn't walk out again, and I finally had a menu, and a scotch menu (14 pages of scotch....). I ordered a Deerstalker 12, light herbal flavors, a little bit of burn, just enough to make the smoke a little harsh, but it was enjoyable enough.
And I ordered my vegetarian Cornish Pasty. This sounded like the perfect thing for a winter night. And I had never run across a Vegetarian Pasty. Excellent! So I waited. and an amount of time I thought was generally appropriate later, my pasty arrived with a mushroom gravy and very flaky looking pastry cover. I cut into it, and the pastry was a little bit soggy. Truly, it's the sort that seems to happen when one microwaves a pastry. I bit in, and the flavors were lovely. It was even better with the gravy, and it all balanced the scotch beautifully. It was really disappointing to have something that I knew could be spectacular, and have it just miss the mark.
Then I waited.
And waited.
And really, a person shouldn't have to wait 30 minutes with their dishes piled up before the waitress comes back to ask if there's anything else I'll be having. Which, I still would have gone for pie if it had only been a 15 minute wait. But by that time, I was irritated and just wanted to pay and go home.
I'll certainly try the place again, but next time with company so that I might not notice the delay in service quite as much. It is the sort of pub one could sit in for hours. I just would rather choose to and keep paying for stuff rather than be sitting there bored and waiting for the check.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Neighborhood Round Up
Since moving in with PiC and OSO in August, my old beloved Eat Street haunts are a little far for me to be eating at on anything regarding a frequent basis. This would be the main reason for radio silence for some time. Out to eat is frequently only on date nights, and otherwise we’re eating at home. And I got out of the habit of writing when we did.
However, we do have an entire new neighborhood of restaurants that are relatively nearby that we have been able to check out. In almost 6 months, we’ve hit almost all of them multiple times; it leaves me a little bit wanting to branch out and experience a new neighborhood, but really we have a good enough variety that we don’t have to go far to get most types of food that we want if we’re feeling lazy.
Ba-gu
Here we have our local sushi restaurant. OSO and I decided this last Friday that we just didn’t want to bother with the last minute grocery run, so when PiC walked in the door post we swooped him up and walked over to Ba-gu, a fairly small sushi and Thai restaurant nearby. Now granted, I haven’t had a chance to try any of the thai offerings at this restaurant. But we have had the sushi. And let me say, having sushi within walking distance is a delight.
They don’t have the flair of a place like Fuji-ya. But they do have really good quality fresh sushi, and some of the best unagi I’ve had in town. The service is quick and efficient, and on a Friday night in January, it was actually rather quiet in there at 5:30. I hope this place stays open, but apparently they’re used to business being slow in January.
We split the Pirate Platter, which would be one of the illustrious sushi boats. Plenty of sushi for three that left us just a little hungry for one of the specialty rolls: the Three Wise Guys maki, made of salmon, tuna and yellowtail and topped with tempura flakes. And an unagi dessert sushi.
Bottles of wine are $15 on Friday and Saturday, happy hour till 5:30 on Sunday through Wednesday.
Pumphouse Creamery
This is a small ice cream shop dedicated to making ice cream using local and organic ingredients, preferably both. Their offerings vary a bit through the course of a year. We highly enjoyed their pumpkin ice cream this fall, as well as a brandy soaked cherry and chocolate ice cream. They aren’t Izzy’s, which will always be my favorite, but it’s walking distance from my house, really really good, and did I mention tasty?
Turtle Bread
I know that some people like this place, but I don’t get it. Their food has been sub-par in my opinion, with the breads and pastries tasting extra yeasty and the cakes being extra cold/frozen. I was sadly disappointed with their red velvet cupcake. The one thing that I’ve enjoyed that I got here was the slice of quiche I got when running late for dinner for myself, but even then I prefer my own quiches.
L’Ecosse
That would be the French word for Scotland. It’s Scottish food. With a French twist. It really is as odd as it sounds. It’s not bad for a brunch place if you have nothing else to do that day. I have not liked anything there that was meat based, from the little sausages to the patties. But it may be that I’m not a fan of Scottish food. However, their French toast is fantastic, and a reason that I will continue to go there on occasion. I hear they also serve beignets, but you have to get there while they still have them because they sometimes run out and there’s only so many platters of them they make in a day. The décor is sparse; and they use the Papyrus font for their wording which honestly I don’t want to forgive (being a font geek as well; it makes me a little sad). I will say that while I’ll still go there though, it is not one I would return to once I leave this neighborhood.
Adrian’s Tavern
This is exactly the little hole in a wall sort of tavern that it looks like from the outside. However, their food is *cheap* and it’s relatively tasty. I had a perfect grilled cheese sandwich here the day that PiC and OSO went with me to it. They have Delerium beers on tap sometimes and according to PiC this is a good thing. Burgers, fries, your standard pub fare. But a great little deal when you’re running through.
Sovereign Grounds
Standard independent coffee house, but with an apparently right-leaning bent from what I could tell when I went in the one time. I got my chai, and it was a standard Oregon chai, and my blueberry muffin tasted stale. It was a big disappointment, and I have not been back, for all that the chair was comfy. It’s a shame, I like going to indie coffee houses.
Pepitos
Perhaps this is the place that I have frequented most since moving to this neighborhood. I remember when the three of us first went here together, OSO was enquiring about what kind of glass the 64 oz margarita they had on the menu. The waitress said “Usually people share those, as it’s a pitcher.” OSO quipped back, “I just see it as a challenge.” Very clearly not serious, but amusing nonetheless.
Really good queso dip and for a little more you can have it served with fried wheat tortillas that are a little less crunchy than your standard corn chips. Highly recommend that. Also you are offered a choice on salsa – mild or hot. That is a nice change from the Minnesota mild that often gets served around here.
Good standard Tex-Mex, the reason to come here has more to do with the variety (and relative cheapness) of their varieties of tequila and happy hour. Really good house margaritas, for instance. And I can get a really good grilled vegetable burrito at a good price too with huge portions. And sometimes I prefer the Americanized version of Mexican food anyway.
It’s a very comfortable restaurant. And as far as I can tell, it has a great deal with the second run movie theatre right next to it, with discounts on dinner or drinks if you go to the movie. And you can bring your margarita with you if you want. That does not suck.
Bonus post: Fat Lorenzo’s
This would be the pizza/pasta shop that delivers to us that is not one of the major chains. Not really within walking distance, though we may start biking there when the weather gets better. And OMG is this food good. Mind you, it is called Fat Lorenzo’s for a reason. The portions are huge, and I think OSO and I will take to splitting one of their entrees in order to cut down on leftovers in the house. I love it, I don’t eat it too often because loving it that much might be bad for my waistline. At least until I get to biking there for dinner.
However, we do have an entire new neighborhood of restaurants that are relatively nearby that we have been able to check out. In almost 6 months, we’ve hit almost all of them multiple times; it leaves me a little bit wanting to branch out and experience a new neighborhood, but really we have a good enough variety that we don’t have to go far to get most types of food that we want if we’re feeling lazy.
Ba-gu
Here we have our local sushi restaurant. OSO and I decided this last Friday that we just didn’t want to bother with the last minute grocery run, so when PiC walked in the door post we swooped him up and walked over to Ba-gu, a fairly small sushi and Thai restaurant nearby. Now granted, I haven’t had a chance to try any of the thai offerings at this restaurant. But we have had the sushi. And let me say, having sushi within walking distance is a delight.
They don’t have the flair of a place like Fuji-ya. But they do have really good quality fresh sushi, and some of the best unagi I’ve had in town. The service is quick and efficient, and on a Friday night in January, it was actually rather quiet in there at 5:30. I hope this place stays open, but apparently they’re used to business being slow in January.
We split the Pirate Platter, which would be one of the illustrious sushi boats. Plenty of sushi for three that left us just a little hungry for one of the specialty rolls: the Three Wise Guys maki, made of salmon, tuna and yellowtail and topped with tempura flakes. And an unagi dessert sushi.
Bottles of wine are $15 on Friday and Saturday, happy hour till 5:30 on Sunday through Wednesday.
Pumphouse Creamery
This is a small ice cream shop dedicated to making ice cream using local and organic ingredients, preferably both. Their offerings vary a bit through the course of a year. We highly enjoyed their pumpkin ice cream this fall, as well as a brandy soaked cherry and chocolate ice cream. They aren’t Izzy’s, which will always be my favorite, but it’s walking distance from my house, really really good, and did I mention tasty?
Turtle Bread
I know that some people like this place, but I don’t get it. Their food has been sub-par in my opinion, with the breads and pastries tasting extra yeasty and the cakes being extra cold/frozen. I was sadly disappointed with their red velvet cupcake. The one thing that I’ve enjoyed that I got here was the slice of quiche I got when running late for dinner for myself, but even then I prefer my own quiches.
L’Ecosse
That would be the French word for Scotland. It’s Scottish food. With a French twist. It really is as odd as it sounds. It’s not bad for a brunch place if you have nothing else to do that day. I have not liked anything there that was meat based, from the little sausages to the patties. But it may be that I’m not a fan of Scottish food. However, their French toast is fantastic, and a reason that I will continue to go there on occasion. I hear they also serve beignets, but you have to get there while they still have them because they sometimes run out and there’s only so many platters of them they make in a day. The décor is sparse; and they use the Papyrus font for their wording which honestly I don’t want to forgive (being a font geek as well; it makes me a little sad). I will say that while I’ll still go there though, it is not one I would return to once I leave this neighborhood.
Adrian’s Tavern
This is exactly the little hole in a wall sort of tavern that it looks like from the outside. However, their food is *cheap* and it’s relatively tasty. I had a perfect grilled cheese sandwich here the day that PiC and OSO went with me to it. They have Delerium beers on tap sometimes and according to PiC this is a good thing. Burgers, fries, your standard pub fare. But a great little deal when you’re running through.
Sovereign Grounds
Standard independent coffee house, but with an apparently right-leaning bent from what I could tell when I went in the one time. I got my chai, and it was a standard Oregon chai, and my blueberry muffin tasted stale. It was a big disappointment, and I have not been back, for all that the chair was comfy. It’s a shame, I like going to indie coffee houses.
Pepitos
Perhaps this is the place that I have frequented most since moving to this neighborhood. I remember when the three of us first went here together, OSO was enquiring about what kind of glass the 64 oz margarita they had on the menu. The waitress said “Usually people share those, as it’s a pitcher.” OSO quipped back, “I just see it as a challenge.” Very clearly not serious, but amusing nonetheless.
Really good queso dip and for a little more you can have it served with fried wheat tortillas that are a little less crunchy than your standard corn chips. Highly recommend that. Also you are offered a choice on salsa – mild or hot. That is a nice change from the Minnesota mild that often gets served around here.
Good standard Tex-Mex, the reason to come here has more to do with the variety (and relative cheapness) of their varieties of tequila and happy hour. Really good house margaritas, for instance. And I can get a really good grilled vegetable burrito at a good price too with huge portions. And sometimes I prefer the Americanized version of Mexican food anyway.
It’s a very comfortable restaurant. And as far as I can tell, it has a great deal with the second run movie theatre right next to it, with discounts on dinner or drinks if you go to the movie. And you can bring your margarita with you if you want. That does not suck.
Bonus post: Fat Lorenzo’s
This would be the pizza/pasta shop that delivers to us that is not one of the major chains. Not really within walking distance, though we may start biking there when the weather gets better. And OMG is this food good. Mind you, it is called Fat Lorenzo’s for a reason. The portions are huge, and I think OSO and I will take to splitting one of their entrees in order to cut down on leftovers in the house. I love it, I don’t eat it too often because loving it that much might be bad for my waistline. At least until I get to biking there for dinner.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Nye's Polonaise
So I started the blog, and then life got super busy. To the point where I'm not going out to eat all that much, but there are a few reviews that I probably should get in here, so I'm going to take a few days to do that. This blog will possibly also shift to some of the dishes we're cooking at home because we're starting to experiment there as well.
In any case. Date night! PiC and I went out this last Monday to a new to us restaurant, but one that has been around for forever. Nye's Polonaise in Nordeast has been around since 1950, but with the fantastic Kramarczuk's nearby, we'd never headed here previously. This will not be a mistake I continue.
You walk in, and it's this dark, fully wood paneled bar. They have the cutest sparkly gold covered vinyl curvy booths. There's stained glass everywhere and some neon... And it if *very* clear that this place is close to its 1950s roots. My understanding is that it's packed on Fridays and Saturdays with polka fans and hipsters.
Seriously, I walked in and fell in love with this place. It is *adorable*.
And then we ordered. We started with a spinach artichoke dip that was served with garlic pita chips. Okay, not so much with the authentic experience, but it was *good*. We were hungry, so it was devoured pretty quickly. I also had a cosmopolitan, and it was one of the rare places that do them right: with gin instead of vodka.
You can tell that by this point, I'm still looking around with this big grin on my face proclaiming how much I am in love with the adorableness of this restaurant. I mean, it has a neon sign saying it's a POLKA LOUNGE (and is on Fridays). I sent a pic to my Elder Brother just because I know of his fondness for polka.
Anyway, dinner arrived and it was this ginormous platter called the Polonaise Platter. There was absolutely no need for us to order an appetizer. Between this and the loaf of onion bread, and the pickled things they just gave him, we were stuffed with leftovers.
Let me just say that the pierogies were among some of the best I've ever had. They served us three of them, and before we had realized that they were three KINDS of pierogies, I had already inhaled the potato pierogie. I felt bad because it was *just like grandma's* used to be, and I could have been able to show him what it was that I remembered from my visits to Detroit as a kid. Ah well.
The other two were a prune, which was quite sweet and surprisingly good, and a sauerkraut pierogie which.... Okay, I hate sauerkraut. Hate hate hate. It's made with cabbage and vinegar and is evil and I hate it. Or at least I thought. Because this stuff, this is different than German kraut which is raw. No, this is a cooked kraut and mellower.... and... Well there was a bunch of it on the spare ribs and that was just as tasty as it would have been without the kraut.
The kielbasa was good and polishy. And sausagey. The potato dumpling was the size of a softball, and had a smaller sausage hiding in it as well. And my biggest surprise: I tried a golabki. And I liked it. See previous comment about hating cabbage. But if you drench it with enough sauce, and meat and rice, it's not bad at all.
This place totally touches my retro heart. The food tastes authentic to me, for as much as I could have it having been vegetarian while my grandma was alive. Eat, drink, and loosen your belt indeed. This is not the sort of place for a person on a diet, but my god, this is a fabulous example of eastern european cuisine done well.
In any case. Date night! PiC and I went out this last Monday to a new to us restaurant, but one that has been around for forever. Nye's Polonaise in Nordeast has been around since 1950, but with the fantastic Kramarczuk's nearby, we'd never headed here previously. This will not be a mistake I continue.
You walk in, and it's this dark, fully wood paneled bar. They have the cutest sparkly gold covered vinyl curvy booths. There's stained glass everywhere and some neon... And it if *very* clear that this place is close to its 1950s roots. My understanding is that it's packed on Fridays and Saturdays with polka fans and hipsters.
Seriously, I walked in and fell in love with this place. It is *adorable*.
And then we ordered. We started with a spinach artichoke dip that was served with garlic pita chips. Okay, not so much with the authentic experience, but it was *good*. We were hungry, so it was devoured pretty quickly. I also had a cosmopolitan, and it was one of the rare places that do them right: with gin instead of vodka.
You can tell that by this point, I'm still looking around with this big grin on my face proclaiming how much I am in love with the adorableness of this restaurant. I mean, it has a neon sign saying it's a POLKA LOUNGE (and is on Fridays). I sent a pic to my Elder Brother just because I know of his fondness for polka.
Anyway, dinner arrived and it was this ginormous platter called the Polonaise Platter. There was absolutely no need for us to order an appetizer. Between this and the loaf of onion bread, and the pickled things they just gave him, we were stuffed with leftovers.
Let me just say that the pierogies were among some of the best I've ever had. They served us three of them, and before we had realized that they were three KINDS of pierogies, I had already inhaled the potato pierogie. I felt bad because it was *just like grandma's* used to be, and I could have been able to show him what it was that I remembered from my visits to Detroit as a kid. Ah well.
The other two were a prune, which was quite sweet and surprisingly good, and a sauerkraut pierogie which.... Okay, I hate sauerkraut. Hate hate hate. It's made with cabbage and vinegar and is evil and I hate it. Or at least I thought. Because this stuff, this is different than German kraut which is raw. No, this is a cooked kraut and mellower.... and... Well there was a bunch of it on the spare ribs and that was just as tasty as it would have been without the kraut.
The kielbasa was good and polishy. And sausagey. The potato dumpling was the size of a softball, and had a smaller sausage hiding in it as well. And my biggest surprise: I tried a golabki. And I liked it. See previous comment about hating cabbage. But if you drench it with enough sauce, and meat and rice, it's not bad at all.
This place totally touches my retro heart. The food tastes authentic to me, for as much as I could have it having been vegetarian while my grandma was alive. Eat, drink, and loosen your belt indeed. This is not the sort of place for a person on a diet, but my god, this is a fabulous example of eastern european cuisine done well.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Victor's 1959 Cafe
If you have never eaten at Victor's 1959 Cafe before, you are missing out on a treat of South Minneapolis. Especially now, you can celebrate Obama's lifting of travel restrictions on the island nation by finding your way to Grand and 38th street where this restaurant hides (I mention because I always miss it when I'm the one driving).
Inside it's not just Che memorabilia. Every which way possible, there is a table crammed into a corner or alcove. Then there is graffiti *everywhere* encouraged by the owners, and you can be entertained reading everything in the multitude of languages there from the typical Joanie loves Chachie commentary to illustrations saying "I am a Dude" to spanish love poems to the yuca.
I will admit, I'm typically here for breakfast, so I don't have my experience with the lunch or dinner menus. It is simple but very tasty food featuring a plethora of plantains and yuca and black beans on the cuban side. They also have options for the more americanized palate. Yesterday I treated myself to the sweet plantain omelette with creole sauce (like a cross between a salsa and a cocktail sauce really). PiC enjoyed his Basque Scrambler featuring chorizo, veggies and ham.
Both of us reveled in the excellent guava jam that they serve with their toast. Me, I'm also a fan of their cuban toast, which I think is bread that has been buttered and then cooked on a griddle. Like grilled cheese without the cheese.
Also, the mimosas are quite nice. Yesterday I started with a raspberry lemonade mimosa that was exceptionally refreshing, and a nice change from the run of the mill orange.
Breakfast is served all day, and their dinner menu is quite extensive as well, with a rotating beer and wine menu.
Inside it's not just Che memorabilia. Every which way possible, there is a table crammed into a corner or alcove. Then there is graffiti *everywhere* encouraged by the owners, and you can be entertained reading everything in the multitude of languages there from the typical Joanie loves Chachie commentary to illustrations saying "I am a Dude" to spanish love poems to the yuca.
I will admit, I'm typically here for breakfast, so I don't have my experience with the lunch or dinner menus. It is simple but very tasty food featuring a plethora of plantains and yuca and black beans on the cuban side. They also have options for the more americanized palate. Yesterday I treated myself to the sweet plantain omelette with creole sauce (like a cross between a salsa and a cocktail sauce really). PiC enjoyed his Basque Scrambler featuring chorizo, veggies and ham.
Both of us reveled in the excellent guava jam that they serve with their toast. Me, I'm also a fan of their cuban toast, which I think is bread that has been buttered and then cooked on a griddle. Like grilled cheese without the cheese.
Also, the mimosas are quite nice. Yesterday I started with a raspberry lemonade mimosa that was exceptionally refreshing, and a nice change from the run of the mill orange.
Breakfast is served all day, and their dinner menu is quite extensive as well, with a rotating beer and wine menu.
Travelling: Smalley's BBQ - Stillwater, MN
While on a day of wine tasting through vineyards in Minnesota, PiC and I stumbled across a rather interesting restaurant. Smalley's BBQ is a Pirate themed bar/eating establishment. It was at the end of the strip, I was ready to gnaw PiC's arm off, and I didn't want to walk all the way back to the bistro we had considered while looking for a particular cafe.
Now I have to admit, I was dubious. They claimed a "Caribbean theme" to their food but they didn't do much in the way of actual Caribbean style food as I have come to understand it. With the Pirate stuff everywhere, and the large collection of Rum options on the back of the menu, I was expecting something rather run of the mill.
We both ordered sandwiches, me the pulled pork, he the jerk chicken. They arrived stamped with a jolly rogers seared into the bun.
And then I bit in.
That was so much better than I was expecting. The BBQ flavors were bold, yet not overpowering. Smoky, but oddly for me not unpleasantly so. And the BBQ blended well with the jerk flavoring if you want to add that as well. They also came with a choice of sides and I went with a sweet potato and pork side that carried that same theme through.
PiC's jerk chicken was just as enjoyable, but the biggest hit was his chosen side of the curried and grilled vegetables. Crisp yet cooked and with just enough of the curry flavoring to know that it was there without overpowering the succulence of the fresh veggies.
And an amusing pirate theme to boot. The place could use at least one more waitress it seemed, but otherwise I would go there again. At least after I'd tried several other restaurants in Stillwater. :)
Now I have to admit, I was dubious. They claimed a "Caribbean theme" to their food but they didn't do much in the way of actual Caribbean style food as I have come to understand it. With the Pirate stuff everywhere, and the large collection of Rum options on the back of the menu, I was expecting something rather run of the mill.
We both ordered sandwiches, me the pulled pork, he the jerk chicken. They arrived stamped with a jolly rogers seared into the bun.
And then I bit in.
That was so much better than I was expecting. The BBQ flavors were bold, yet not overpowering. Smoky, but oddly for me not unpleasantly so. And the BBQ blended well with the jerk flavoring if you want to add that as well. They also came with a choice of sides and I went with a sweet potato and pork side that carried that same theme through.
PiC's jerk chicken was just as enjoyable, but the biggest hit was his chosen side of the curried and grilled vegetables. Crisp yet cooked and with just enough of the curry flavoring to know that it was there without overpowering the succulence of the fresh veggies.
And an amusing pirate theme to boot. The place could use at least one more waitress it seemed, but otherwise I would go there again. At least after I'd tried several other restaurants in Stillwater. :)
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Mairin's Table
Tucked away in a little corner of Northeast, is this little bistro that serves a "Morrocan/American cuisine". So ok, we were not going to expect a completely mono-authentic culinary experience here. But really, I'm okay with that.
We sat down and already the interior looked lush. Not too many tables, but I get the feeling that is on purpose so they can take the proper care with the food. Our waitress was incredibly knowledgeable about everything on the menu we asked about, and I settled on a Spanish wine made from a grape I had never tried before, Herencia Antica's Tempranillo. It was a pleasantly full red wine, similar in many ways to a Pinot Noir, though with a distinctly Spanish flair to it. Not sure I could describe it any other way.
We started with an appetizer of the hummus. I'm always intrigued by a place's expression of the simple hummus. This one I believe was a little lighter on the garlic than I usually get, but higher on the lemon, and still very refreshing and delightful. The pita comes warm, and the hummus is especially delicious on the tomatoes, I'm told by PiC.
Entree's are at the medium range, expect to pay $15-20. However, they are huge. It is completely reasonable to split the meal in half and it is plenty for both parties. There's a charge for splitting, but it is worth it.
We ordered a Tagine of Lamb with Figs. This had a perfectly balanced spiciness with the sweetness of the figs, and the color of both was so close if I wasn't paying attention I wouldn't know whether I was getting meat or fruit until I had bitten down. If the flavor is too spicy for you, you can add the buttermilk harissa which comes off to the side, but otherwise I'll admit I was at a loss as to what this would be used for and didn't feel it had much flavor.
Dessert was baklava made with almonds. Sometimes baklava can be overpowering. It was a not too sweet, incredibly light way to end our meal.
Other options for meals that they had here include Chicken Marsala, or Stroganoff. So you can bring the less adventurous here and still have an incredible meal.
We sat down and already the interior looked lush. Not too many tables, but I get the feeling that is on purpose so they can take the proper care with the food. Our waitress was incredibly knowledgeable about everything on the menu we asked about, and I settled on a Spanish wine made from a grape I had never tried before, Herencia Antica's Tempranillo. It was a pleasantly full red wine, similar in many ways to a Pinot Noir, though with a distinctly Spanish flair to it. Not sure I could describe it any other way.
We started with an appetizer of the hummus. I'm always intrigued by a place's expression of the simple hummus. This one I believe was a little lighter on the garlic than I usually get, but higher on the lemon, and still very refreshing and delightful. The pita comes warm, and the hummus is especially delicious on the tomatoes, I'm told by PiC.
Entree's are at the medium range, expect to pay $15-20. However, they are huge. It is completely reasonable to split the meal in half and it is plenty for both parties. There's a charge for splitting, but it is worth it.
We ordered a Tagine of Lamb with Figs. This had a perfectly balanced spiciness with the sweetness of the figs, and the color of both was so close if I wasn't paying attention I wouldn't know whether I was getting meat or fruit until I had bitten down. If the flavor is too spicy for you, you can add the buttermilk harissa which comes off to the side, but otherwise I'll admit I was at a loss as to what this would be used for and didn't feel it had much flavor.
Dessert was baklava made with almonds. Sometimes baklava can be overpowering. It was a not too sweet, incredibly light way to end our meal.
Other options for meals that they had here include Chicken Marsala, or Stroganoff. So you can bring the less adventurous here and still have an incredible meal.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
St Petersburg Restaurant and Vodka Bar
So, PiC is out of town for the weekend, and I had been looking for something to do. XG emails me out of the blue and says, hey, I know you're always super busy, but I feel like chatting, you feel like some sort of food thing some time? Amazingly, I have a free weekend, and lo, she suggests that she has an Entertainment book, and have I heard of a place called St Petersburg?
HAVE I? Last time I ate here was with PiC and OSO when OSO got her job last June. So I get a chance to go again and write the review that was sorely lacking.
I had forgotten the fact that the people who show up here really dress up. Because, you see, this seems to be the central gathering place of the entire Twin Cities Russian community. The wait staff barely speaks English. The food is amazing. And after a while, while we're in the midst of our meal, the band gets up on stage, speaking only in Russian, and there's entertainment and scads of people dancing. I think my favorite part was XG thinking there must be some sort of function going on, and I had to tell her, No, that's just what this place is LIKE on a Saturday night. :)
As for the food.... We started with a vodka flight each. Her the Polish flight, me the Russian flight. Out of the six vodkas I tried, I have to say that Belvedere really was my favorite, though the Stoli Gold was not bad. The others just didn't have the smoothness that those two did. :)
We completely forgot to trade tastes of dishes. At least I had had enough vodka that I wasn't thinking of that when it came time. My classic stroganoff was delightful however, and blended very nicely with the mashed potatoes that came with it. A cosmo for me and two more shots of Belvedere for XG later, and we enjoyed ourselves a tasty tasty cheesecake. Even though we'd ordered the blintzes. It was still fine; I think the waiter had a hard enough time understanding us. :)
Love that place. And I also know that I like Polish vodkas over Russian. At least tonight I did. :)
HAVE I? Last time I ate here was with PiC and OSO when OSO got her job last June. So I get a chance to go again and write the review that was sorely lacking.
I had forgotten the fact that the people who show up here really dress up. Because, you see, this seems to be the central gathering place of the entire Twin Cities Russian community. The wait staff barely speaks English. The food is amazing. And after a while, while we're in the midst of our meal, the band gets up on stage, speaking only in Russian, and there's entertainment and scads of people dancing. I think my favorite part was XG thinking there must be some sort of function going on, and I had to tell her, No, that's just what this place is LIKE on a Saturday night. :)
As for the food.... We started with a vodka flight each. Her the Polish flight, me the Russian flight. Out of the six vodkas I tried, I have to say that Belvedere really was my favorite, though the Stoli Gold was not bad. The others just didn't have the smoothness that those two did. :)
We completely forgot to trade tastes of dishes. At least I had had enough vodka that I wasn't thinking of that when it came time. My classic stroganoff was delightful however, and blended very nicely with the mashed potatoes that came with it. A cosmo for me and two more shots of Belvedere for XG later, and we enjoyed ourselves a tasty tasty cheesecake. Even though we'd ordered the blintzes. It was still fine; I think the waiter had a hard enough time understanding us. :)
Love that place. And I also know that I like Polish vodkas over Russian. At least tonight I did. :)
Uptown Diner
This place is one of my favorite places to go to when I'm up stupid early on a Saturday morning. I bring myself and a book and sit in a back corner.
There is a lovely 50's kitsch feel to the place. The food is good old fashioned diner food and the portions are in general HUGE. Even the half portions of their breakfast home specialties are good for two meals. In particular I like their treatment of the hashbrowns, though they do need additions of salt and pepper.
I've also enjoyed their wraps when I've been there on the rare lunch occasion. But I will admit my favorite thing to order when I get there is their biscuits and gravy. It's a very homestyle breakfast for me. And the eggs that come with it are always perfect for me.
It gets super crowded when it's time for regular brunch time. A tip, there WILL be a wait if the parking lot is full. The parking lot holds just about the number of people that can fit there.
There is a lovely 50's kitsch feel to the place. The food is good old fashioned diner food and the portions are in general HUGE. Even the half portions of their breakfast home specialties are good for two meals. In particular I like their treatment of the hashbrowns, though they do need additions of salt and pepper.
I've also enjoyed their wraps when I've been there on the rare lunch occasion. But I will admit my favorite thing to order when I get there is their biscuits and gravy. It's a very homestyle breakfast for me. And the eggs that come with it are always perfect for me.
It gets super crowded when it's time for regular brunch time. A tip, there WILL be a wait if the parking lot is full. The parking lot holds just about the number of people that can fit there.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Ecopolitan
So lately, I've been stressed, and my food choices have reflected that. Lots of comfort foods, eating at home instead of going out, multitasking while I eat. Today PiC and I decided that what needed to happen was some good healthy eating.
So we headed down the street to Ecopolitan. Now, I had never managed to eat there, even when I was a vegetarian. But the idea of a raw foods vegetarian restaurant intrigued me to no end. And I always was thinking, you know, I should try that place as I drove past it, over and over. Let me say up front that it will definitely be a place I return to, and any skepticism about it has been assuaged now that I've actually been in for a meal. And I will refrain from quotes around the food descriptions, as they were fine on their own.
It's very much a house inside, looking like many an apartment in Uptown. And the decor is definitely of the rustic/reuse style, but it suits a place that charges a modest fee for take away containers.
First juice. Because if you're going to this place, you need to try at least one of their juices. This is no jamba juice. I ordered the Ginger Lemonade; it was uplifting and refreshing, a citrus drink with a definite tasty kick.
PiC went with a Coconut Supreme from the smoothie section, coconut mixed with dates and mint and cinnamon. I am not a coconut fan, but his report was that he loved it, and it was rather filling if one wanted something for on the go.
Dinner for me was the pasta with macadamia alfredo sauce. There were marinated mushrooms, pine nuts, and a few herbs mixed in the an alfredo sauce made from not only macadamia nuts but cashews as well, and all of this was topped a zucchini pasta and a bed of greens. I will admit the alfredo sauce was lacking in a little bit of salt to really make the flavor pop, but the texture was amazing, and the flavor was not bad, just not wow.
PiC's meal consisted of a spinach soup and a lasagna made from vegetables and nuts. There was many yummy noises coming from his side of the table, though I did not manage to try any of it. I did try the flax seed cracker that FoodieK had recommended. The balsamic reduction on top of that was incredible.
Afterwards, I feel full, but amazingly... lighter. And more awake. I think that their restaurant succeeded in what they aimed to do. I will be back.
So we headed down the street to Ecopolitan. Now, I had never managed to eat there, even when I was a vegetarian. But the idea of a raw foods vegetarian restaurant intrigued me to no end. And I always was thinking, you know, I should try that place as I drove past it, over and over. Let me say up front that it will definitely be a place I return to, and any skepticism about it has been assuaged now that I've actually been in for a meal. And I will refrain from quotes around the food descriptions, as they were fine on their own.
It's very much a house inside, looking like many an apartment in Uptown. And the decor is definitely of the rustic/reuse style, but it suits a place that charges a modest fee for take away containers.
First juice. Because if you're going to this place, you need to try at least one of their juices. This is no jamba juice. I ordered the Ginger Lemonade; it was uplifting and refreshing, a citrus drink with a definite tasty kick.
PiC went with a Coconut Supreme from the smoothie section, coconut mixed with dates and mint and cinnamon. I am not a coconut fan, but his report was that he loved it, and it was rather filling if one wanted something for on the go.
Dinner for me was the pasta with macadamia alfredo sauce. There were marinated mushrooms, pine nuts, and a few herbs mixed in the an alfredo sauce made from not only macadamia nuts but cashews as well, and all of this was topped a zucchini pasta and a bed of greens. I will admit the alfredo sauce was lacking in a little bit of salt to really make the flavor pop, but the texture was amazing, and the flavor was not bad, just not wow.
PiC's meal consisted of a spinach soup and a lasagna made from vegetables and nuts. There was many yummy noises coming from his side of the table, though I did not manage to try any of it. I did try the flax seed cracker that FoodieK had recommended. The balsamic reduction on top of that was incredible.
Afterwards, I feel full, but amazingly... lighter. And more awake. I think that their restaurant succeeded in what they aimed to do. I will be back.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Eat Street Round Up
Eat Street in Minneapolis has a lot of restaurants. Generally, it's Nicollet Street from about 13th or so down to behind the Lake Street KMart. There's a wide variety of cuisines, though by far the most popular is Vietnamese from what I can tell. Which is a little frustrating, because of all the various cuisines out there, I just haven't gotten behind Vietnamese as much as the others.
The offshoot is that many of the options here are pretty darned good and not too expensive. Unless it's one of the expensive restaurants. This means that I eat out a fair bit. I *love* living near Eat Street, but honestly it does not do fabulously for my wallet.
I've already covered a couple of the restaurants on this stretch, but I want to have a quick run down of the others, including ones that I eat at a fair bit, or have in the past. So in order of approximately cross street....
Ichiban - Japanese steak house that is essentially right across from the Hyatt and what I see as the beginning of Eat Street and the end of downtown. I used to eat all the time here with X, because not only is it teppanyaki and all the yumminess that is there, but you also have the option of Sushi Buffet.
When I first started eating meat, sushi was my second attempt for integration. I fell in love, though like a lover you spend too much time with I got very tired of it. And this was the place I was taken to try it for the first time.
I got very sick of this place.
Though I would go back for the teppanyaki, the sushi is passable, but just one step above supermarket sushi I have found. The pluses are that the sushi comes around on little boats on a water track, and everyone picks and chooses. I find this highly entertaining.
It's actually a great idea for someone to try all sorts of different kinds of sushi without paying a crazy amount for all the different nigiri and maki. It's also a fabulous idea if you're with someone who would otherwise eat $75 worth of sushi.
I stopped going there mostly because for as regular as X and I were, we weren't treated very well. In fact it seemed like they got tired of seeing us there, which doesn't make sense if you ask me. Maybe they thought he ate too much.
I did go with CK and a bunch of people for the teppanyaki experience though and that was a blast. Tasty food, artfully prepared right in front of you with flair.
New India/India House - Indeed, I tried this place originally because it is kitty corner to Ichiban and I just desperately didn't want sushi that night, but X insisted that's what he wanted. So we ate separately. It was an odd relationship. I'm not even sure what the place is called now, it was one name and the other but I can't remember the order.
The main benefits of this place are in order: 1) Location near me, 2) Space within, and uh.... No really, that's it. It's a standard enough Indian restaurant, but I cannot think of a single thing that makes this place stand out. The food is ok enough and when I got that curry craving, it means I don't have to go way the heck out there.
But they don't deliver 10 blocks away. I would order takeout from this place way more often if they had delivery that came to my house. And it would be good enough for that. I miss Indian delivery in this town. It is very sad; Indian is one of my favoritest cuisines ever.
Bali - In the space that was formerly held by Safari. Now it's a cute little Indonesian restaurant.
Indonesian seems to be on the spicy side of life. Their drinks have very cutesy names but are tasty (I had a Karma Sutra), and the wait staff seem to be a bit slow (Actually, I remember the bartender/waiter being from Fuji-Ya once upon a time, that might explain it).
The food however, YUM!! I had the Ayam Bakar, which is chicken in this sweetish yet spicy sauce, and I think PiC had Daging Rendang, a slow cooked beef in coconut milk an spices. We were both all Oh Wow about not only our meals, but each other's meals too. And I know it's on our list to go back; hopefully it will last longer than Safari did.
Pings - I know that some people really like Pings when it comes to Chinese food. They do deliver, and when it's a cold Minnesota night, that can be a plus. But my impression of this place was that it was a standard tun of the mill Chinese restaurant that has been Americanized in its flavors. I just wasn't impressed.
Gangchen - This is sort of a Pan-Asian restaurant it seems. At least I got Thai when PiC got Chinese, and I know that there's Tibetan and Vietnamese on there as well. It has a little bit of a retro look to it, I'm surprised it only opened in 2007.
I like to think of this place as good place to go when we can't make up our minds. The food is reasonably priced and all done fairly decently. And they have *momo*. Ok, it might not be yak momo, but it does make me happy.
Las Ranas - I'm not even sure what to say here. They got my order wrong; I wanted an enchilada and got a quesadilla. Which shouldn't be a big deal because, hello, both tortilla with cheese inside, but... I know that PiC likes it here for a cheap Mexican breakfast, and it certainly does have price going for it. The one time I've eaten here though I got a little ill. I'm not thrilled about going back.
Evergreen - Comfort food right across the alley. It's situated in the basement of a building, and serves up tasty Taiwanese cuisine. Which is like mainland China, but with more seafood options.
The thing is, this is *the* place in the Twin Cities that I've found for the fake meats as well. Not just Mock Duck, but Mock Chicken, Mock Pork, Mock Beef, and I think even Mock Shrimp. And they do it *well*. On top of that, they are very respectful for the vegan crowd and their vegan food is cooked on separate surfaces than the omnivore food. When you're vegan, this is a heaven sent because meat contamination can make you *ill* after not eating it for a while.
I love this place. And if I'm going for Chinese, this is the place I will most likely go on Eat Street.
Spyhouse Coffee - My neighborhood coffee shop. This place was here before they went and opened Bad Waitress. I really love this as a coffee shop, and it coddles my eclectic tastes in... most things. Including music. And I love their chai. I am much more likely to go here than the Bad Waitress, frankly.
Pho Hoa - Living in the space that used to hold Relax, and before that, Yummy. This is actually a Vietnamese chain restaurant from California and the Phillipines. I will admit - I don't like soup, so the allure of pho is lost on me. Their broken rice dishes aren't bad, and I like their hot tea, and they are cheap, so I eat here on a semi-regular basis, being between me and other restaurants in that direction.
Seafood Palace - See the review for Ping's and Jade, though without the delivery of Ping's. Not impressed. It's just passable and I can eat here if someone else wants to.
Pho 79 - I will admit this is one of the better Vietnamese places I've gone, though I was only there with PiC, and OSO once. I remember being more distracted by conversation than noticing the food however. I know people who have been going here for years though because they love it so.
It's possible that it's just the Vietnamese flavor palatte being lost on me.
Pancho Villa - If I'm wanting walking distance Mexican, this is the place that I tend to go. It has fun art all over the walls, two for one house margaritas that are *tasty* in the early evening, and large platters of authentic food for cheap. They also have the best flan I've ever had.
Not to mention if I'm wanting a higher shelf tequila, they do not charge an arm and a leg for it, like barrio downtown does. I eat here probably once every couple weeks or so. It looks a little... cheesy from the outside, but seriously, this is my favorite of the three Mexican restaurants that are right there. It is the only one that serves alcohol, so if you're wanting a cantina sort of feel, this would be the place for it.
Taco Morelos - This used to be my favorite of the three Mexican restaurants. The decor is certainly the cutest. And they have an awesome veggie quesadilla with many many veggies. Thing is, they stopped serving alcohol. Not really sure why. Still, it's really good food, I just don't make it there quiet so often anymore.
Little Tijuana's - Often called Little T's. Open super late, and good if what you want is a GINORMOUS plate of nachos for not expensive. Actually, most of their plates are large for the price. And the food is okay. Definitely a youth vibe to the place later in the evening.
Usually punk rock playing, and they give tootsie rolls instead of mints at the end of the meal. They also have the chocolate chimichanga. So while it's not exactly what I would call authentic Mexican, it has its place for the cravings.
Black Forest - It has been a very long time since I've eaten here, but I remember the spaetzle was over cooked. I really didn't have a desire to come back here again after that. I'm told that I need to be brought to some place with better German food, that it does exist. .
Rainbow - Chinese that I came to Eat Street for when I lived elsewhere in South Minneapolis. I have a definite fondness for this place. And as far as Chinese goes for Eat Street, probably the best I've had on here save for Evergreen. They also have a pomegranate martini and some very soothing decor that I love returning here. It's like an old friend when I come back.
Java - Middle-eastern; all I remember of the food here is that it's very oily. It's been around forever, and I know that PiC loves the hibiscus drink that he can get here. I'm wondering if my experience was colored by the fact that the first time I ate here, I was with X, and the second time I had food from here I was incredibly ill before the food got there and I found it unappetizing.
The thing I remember most though is that PiC and I have VERY different wants when we're sick: he wants to cook the sick out with spicy. I want starch and bland and nothing that will rock the boat of my delicate system. So his bringing this to me while I'm ill... Sweet for sure, but just not the right answer for me. I should poke him to go here again.
Pho Tau Bay - Hidden behind the Kmart on Lake Street, this was the first Vietnamese I ever went to. The prices are incredible, the menu extensive, and it's been voted the best Vietnamese in the Twin Cities at least once. You should listen to them. It's good, and the fact that it doesn't stir me is really what makes me think that I just am not a big fan of the Vietnamese food and that the flaw is with me and not with the restaurant.
The offshoot is that many of the options here are pretty darned good and not too expensive. Unless it's one of the expensive restaurants. This means that I eat out a fair bit. I *love* living near Eat Street, but honestly it does not do fabulously for my wallet.
I've already covered a couple of the restaurants on this stretch, but I want to have a quick run down of the others, including ones that I eat at a fair bit, or have in the past. So in order of approximately cross street....
Ichiban - Japanese steak house that is essentially right across from the Hyatt and what I see as the beginning of Eat Street and the end of downtown. I used to eat all the time here with X, because not only is it teppanyaki and all the yumminess that is there, but you also have the option of Sushi Buffet.
When I first started eating meat, sushi was my second attempt for integration. I fell in love, though like a lover you spend too much time with I got very tired of it. And this was the place I was taken to try it for the first time.
I got very sick of this place.
Though I would go back for the teppanyaki, the sushi is passable, but just one step above supermarket sushi I have found. The pluses are that the sushi comes around on little boats on a water track, and everyone picks and chooses. I find this highly entertaining.
It's actually a great idea for someone to try all sorts of different kinds of sushi without paying a crazy amount for all the different nigiri and maki. It's also a fabulous idea if you're with someone who would otherwise eat $75 worth of sushi.
I stopped going there mostly because for as regular as X and I were, we weren't treated very well. In fact it seemed like they got tired of seeing us there, which doesn't make sense if you ask me. Maybe they thought he ate too much.
I did go with CK and a bunch of people for the teppanyaki experience though and that was a blast. Tasty food, artfully prepared right in front of you with flair.
New India/India House - Indeed, I tried this place originally because it is kitty corner to Ichiban and I just desperately didn't want sushi that night, but X insisted that's what he wanted. So we ate separately. It was an odd relationship. I'm not even sure what the place is called now, it was one name and the other but I can't remember the order.
The main benefits of this place are in order: 1) Location near me, 2) Space within, and uh.... No really, that's it. It's a standard enough Indian restaurant, but I cannot think of a single thing that makes this place stand out. The food is ok enough and when I got that curry craving, it means I don't have to go way the heck out there.
But they don't deliver 10 blocks away. I would order takeout from this place way more often if they had delivery that came to my house. And it would be good enough for that. I miss Indian delivery in this town. It is very sad; Indian is one of my favoritest cuisines ever.
Bali - In the space that was formerly held by Safari. Now it's a cute little Indonesian restaurant.
Indonesian seems to be on the spicy side of life. Their drinks have very cutesy names but are tasty (I had a Karma Sutra), and the wait staff seem to be a bit slow (Actually, I remember the bartender/waiter being from Fuji-Ya once upon a time, that might explain it).
The food however, YUM!! I had the Ayam Bakar, which is chicken in this sweetish yet spicy sauce, and I think PiC had Daging Rendang, a slow cooked beef in coconut milk an spices. We were both all Oh Wow about not only our meals, but each other's meals too. And I know it's on our list to go back; hopefully it will last longer than Safari did.
Pings - I know that some people really like Pings when it comes to Chinese food. They do deliver, and when it's a cold Minnesota night, that can be a plus. But my impression of this place was that it was a standard tun of the mill Chinese restaurant that has been Americanized in its flavors. I just wasn't impressed.
Gangchen - This is sort of a Pan-Asian restaurant it seems. At least I got Thai when PiC got Chinese, and I know that there's Tibetan and Vietnamese on there as well. It has a little bit of a retro look to it, I'm surprised it only opened in 2007.
I like to think of this place as good place to go when we can't make up our minds. The food is reasonably priced and all done fairly decently. And they have *momo*. Ok, it might not be yak momo, but it does make me happy.
Las Ranas - I'm not even sure what to say here. They got my order wrong; I wanted an enchilada and got a quesadilla. Which shouldn't be a big deal because, hello, both tortilla with cheese inside, but... I know that PiC likes it here for a cheap Mexican breakfast, and it certainly does have price going for it. The one time I've eaten here though I got a little ill. I'm not thrilled about going back.
Evergreen - Comfort food right across the alley. It's situated in the basement of a building, and serves up tasty Taiwanese cuisine. Which is like mainland China, but with more seafood options.
The thing is, this is *the* place in the Twin Cities that I've found for the fake meats as well. Not just Mock Duck, but Mock Chicken, Mock Pork, Mock Beef, and I think even Mock Shrimp. And they do it *well*. On top of that, they are very respectful for the vegan crowd and their vegan food is cooked on separate surfaces than the omnivore food. When you're vegan, this is a heaven sent because meat contamination can make you *ill* after not eating it for a while.
I love this place. And if I'm going for Chinese, this is the place I will most likely go on Eat Street.
Spyhouse Coffee - My neighborhood coffee shop. This place was here before they went and opened Bad Waitress. I really love this as a coffee shop, and it coddles my eclectic tastes in... most things. Including music. And I love their chai. I am much more likely to go here than the Bad Waitress, frankly.
Pho Hoa - Living in the space that used to hold Relax, and before that, Yummy. This is actually a Vietnamese chain restaurant from California and the Phillipines. I will admit - I don't like soup, so the allure of pho is lost on me. Their broken rice dishes aren't bad, and I like their hot tea, and they are cheap, so I eat here on a semi-regular basis, being between me and other restaurants in that direction.
Seafood Palace - See the review for Ping's and Jade, though without the delivery of Ping's. Not impressed. It's just passable and I can eat here if someone else wants to.
Pho 79 - I will admit this is one of the better Vietnamese places I've gone, though I was only there with PiC, and OSO once. I remember being more distracted by conversation than noticing the food however. I know people who have been going here for years though because they love it so.
It's possible that it's just the Vietnamese flavor palatte being lost on me.
Pancho Villa - If I'm wanting walking distance Mexican, this is the place that I tend to go. It has fun art all over the walls, two for one house margaritas that are *tasty* in the early evening, and large platters of authentic food for cheap. They also have the best flan I've ever had.
Not to mention if I'm wanting a higher shelf tequila, they do not charge an arm and a leg for it, like barrio downtown does. I eat here probably once every couple weeks or so. It looks a little... cheesy from the outside, but seriously, this is my favorite of the three Mexican restaurants that are right there. It is the only one that serves alcohol, so if you're wanting a cantina sort of feel, this would be the place for it.
Taco Morelos - This used to be my favorite of the three Mexican restaurants. The decor is certainly the cutest. And they have an awesome veggie quesadilla with many many veggies. Thing is, they stopped serving alcohol. Not really sure why. Still, it's really good food, I just don't make it there quiet so often anymore.
Little Tijuana's - Often called Little T's. Open super late, and good if what you want is a GINORMOUS plate of nachos for not expensive. Actually, most of their plates are large for the price. And the food is okay. Definitely a youth vibe to the place later in the evening.
Usually punk rock playing, and they give tootsie rolls instead of mints at the end of the meal. They also have the chocolate chimichanga. So while it's not exactly what I would call authentic Mexican, it has its place for the cravings.
Black Forest - It has been a very long time since I've eaten here, but I remember the spaetzle was over cooked. I really didn't have a desire to come back here again after that. I'm told that I need to be brought to some place with better German food, that it does exist. .
Rainbow - Chinese that I came to Eat Street for when I lived elsewhere in South Minneapolis. I have a definite fondness for this place. And as far as Chinese goes for Eat Street, probably the best I've had on here save for Evergreen. They also have a pomegranate martini and some very soothing decor that I love returning here. It's like an old friend when I come back.
Java - Middle-eastern; all I remember of the food here is that it's very oily. It's been around forever, and I know that PiC loves the hibiscus drink that he can get here. I'm wondering if my experience was colored by the fact that the first time I ate here, I was with X, and the second time I had food from here I was incredibly ill before the food got there and I found it unappetizing.
The thing I remember most though is that PiC and I have VERY different wants when we're sick: he wants to cook the sick out with spicy. I want starch and bland and nothing that will rock the boat of my delicate system. So his bringing this to me while I'm ill... Sweet for sure, but just not the right answer for me. I should poke him to go here again.
Pho Tau Bay - Hidden behind the Kmart on Lake Street, this was the first Vietnamese I ever went to. The prices are incredible, the menu extensive, and it's been voted the best Vietnamese in the Twin Cities at least once. You should listen to them. It's good, and the fact that it doesn't stir me is really what makes me think that I just am not a big fan of the Vietnamese food and that the flaw is with me and not with the restaurant.
Monday, February 2, 2009
French Meadow Cafe
One of my favorite restaurants, and is relatively close to me, is French Meadow Bakery and Cafe. This is a restaurant that loves to cook with organic ingredients and especially to support local farmers. They have gluten free, vegan, and kosher parve foods all available.
Every meal starts with a basket of a variety of their breads, the perfect appetizer for a bakery.
Some meals that I have had here:
Bison with mashed potatoes - where I was won over to bison as a most delightful upgrade from beef
Sweet corn arepas - vegan, but not lacking in flavor
Quiche - which is absurdly tall and served with salad for breakfast, a definite win
Butternut squash gnocchi - lighter than the traditional potato gnocchi
I can't really say there was anything I've been disappointed with there. My experience with the wait staff has been varied when it came to their suggestions of a wine selection, but mostly the wait staff is knowledgeable.
Also, their deserts are incredible. Especially the chocolate flourless torte. They're decadent enough though that I suggest if you go with someone you split them. Because they're not to be missed, but best to have in moderation.
If you're there for breakfast or lunch, orders are taken at the counter and signs handed out for when the food is delivered. For dinner, starting at 5, French Meadow behaves as a traditional sit down restaurant. Weekend morning brunch gets rather packed by 10am.
Every meal starts with a basket of a variety of their breads, the perfect appetizer for a bakery.
Some meals that I have had here:
I can't really say there was anything I've been disappointed with there. My experience with the wait staff has been varied when it came to their suggestions of a wine selection, but mostly the wait staff is knowledgeable.
Also, their deserts are incredible. Especially the chocolate flourless torte. They're decadent enough though that I suggest if you go with someone you split them. Because they're not to be missed, but best to have in moderation.
If you're there for breakfast or lunch, orders are taken at the counter and signs handed out for when the food is delivered. For dinner, starting at 5, French Meadow behaves as a traditional sit down restaurant. Weekend morning brunch gets rather packed by 10am.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Welcome to my Journal, You're beautiful forever
Hello and welcome to my foodie journal. See, I just started it today. However, I have a whole bunch of reviews of Twin Cities restaurants before this, however, they were previously on another journal.
So if they're short, that's more the style of that journal. But they have my recommendations both for and against for the last year+ of trying all sorts of new things.
There are definitely some restaurants that I have eaten at and missed in my reviews. That will change. In the coming days, especially when I don't manage to make it to anywhere new or interesting, I will be attempting to write down reviews that I missed writing. I think I remember most of the restaurants I have tried. :)
What you need to remember, however, is that *all* food is ethnic. Food is steeped in its culture and sprinkled with our expectations.
Mange.
So if they're short, that's more the style of that journal. But they have my recommendations both for and against for the last year+ of trying all sorts of new things.
There are definitely some restaurants that I have eaten at and missed in my reviews. That will change. In the coming days, especially when I don't manage to make it to anywhere new or interesting, I will be attempting to write down reviews that I missed writing. I think I remember most of the restaurants I have tried. :)
What you need to remember, however, is that *all* food is ethnic. Food is steeped in its culture and sprinkled with our expectations.
Mange.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Nala Pak
Friday night I said to PiC that I wanted to go out to eat, but I wanted to definitely go out to eat somewhere that is not in my immediate neighborhood. To be honest, I'm a little tired of my neighborhood at the moment, and was wanting something... Well if not quite different, then just not here. I also wanted booze, and I wanted to do anything but think about work.
His suggestion was that we drive up to Columbia Heights and try out Nala Pak, one of the vegetarian Indian restaurants in town. Perfect, says I, and we toodle on up Central to the restaurant. And what do you know, there's a Large Liquor Store right next to it. :)
Sit down, look around, and at the menu, and there were three huge wins: 1) There were South Indian dishes on the menu, 2) there were large Indian families in the restaurant, and 3) they had sparkling wine by the glass.
I order my standby, a palak paneer, and a glass of said sparkling wine. PiC goes for the dosai that's stuffed with cauliflower. And I soooooo pegged what he was going to get because he'd never had dosai and it wasn't stuffed with potatoes. :)
OMG the palak paneer was incredible. Creamy, yet not over processed, and it was Palak AND Paneer. As in they took up about equal halves of the dish. So often palak paneer ends up being a green puree with a few lonely cheese cubes tossed in. Not only that, but the paneer was so clearly Fresh. Oh, I wish this place were not so far from my apartment. I'd be eating here weekly in no time.
Also, I had Joy when seeing the bottle of sparkling wine Pop in back. I knew my wine was coming. It was kinda pedestrian, but I'm not going to complain too much about that when it was only $5/glass or so. It was lovely enough and it was fizzy and I was satisfied.
The dosai was like this ginormous crepe made with lentils instead of wheat flour. Very thin, but I swear it was 18 inches across or something like that, and filed with curry. He was as happy with his dosai as I was with my palak paneer.
And an interesting conversation ensued. We talked about how I seem to get a limited number of dishes, but I go to a wide variety of restaurants. I just have the things that I like in those cuisines. Where as he is a more adventurous type, trying that which he hasn't seen on a menu anywhere else.
What we came to realize though through our conversation is that we have very different ways of "testing" a restaurant. He will judge a place by what he's never had before. Is it unique and interesting and well balanced. I, on the other hand, prefer to judge a place on my favorite dishes. For instance, I can compare this palak paneer to that one and judge them on their subtle differences in character. Thing is, so far we have hardly *ever* gone to the same restaurant twice. And so I haven't had the "okay, I've tested this, and I know they won't make me sick, now let's try something completely different" sort of experience that much with him.
Yet. :)
His suggestion was that we drive up to Columbia Heights and try out Nala Pak, one of the vegetarian Indian restaurants in town. Perfect, says I, and we toodle on up Central to the restaurant. And what do you know, there's a Large Liquor Store right next to it. :)
Sit down, look around, and at the menu, and there were three huge wins: 1) There were South Indian dishes on the menu, 2) there were large Indian families in the restaurant, and 3) they had sparkling wine by the glass.
I order my standby, a palak paneer, and a glass of said sparkling wine. PiC goes for the dosai that's stuffed with cauliflower. And I soooooo pegged what he was going to get because he'd never had dosai and it wasn't stuffed with potatoes. :)
OMG the palak paneer was incredible. Creamy, yet not over processed, and it was Palak AND Paneer. As in they took up about equal halves of the dish. So often palak paneer ends up being a green puree with a few lonely cheese cubes tossed in. Not only that, but the paneer was so clearly Fresh. Oh, I wish this place were not so far from my apartment. I'd be eating here weekly in no time.
Also, I had Joy when seeing the bottle of sparkling wine Pop in back. I knew my wine was coming. It was kinda pedestrian, but I'm not going to complain too much about that when it was only $5/glass or so. It was lovely enough and it was fizzy and I was satisfied.
The dosai was like this ginormous crepe made with lentils instead of wheat flour. Very thin, but I swear it was 18 inches across or something like that, and filed with curry. He was as happy with his dosai as I was with my palak paneer.
And an interesting conversation ensued. We talked about how I seem to get a limited number of dishes, but I go to a wide variety of restaurants. I just have the things that I like in those cuisines. Where as he is a more adventurous type, trying that which he hasn't seen on a menu anywhere else.
What we came to realize though through our conversation is that we have very different ways of "testing" a restaurant. He will judge a place by what he's never had before. Is it unique and interesting and well balanced. I, on the other hand, prefer to judge a place on my favorite dishes. For instance, I can compare this palak paneer to that one and judge them on their subtle differences in character. Thing is, so far we have hardly *ever* gone to the same restaurant twice. And so I haven't had the "okay, I've tested this, and I know they won't make me sick, now let's try something completely different" sort of experience that much with him.
Yet. :)
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Barbette
Started off the new year going to a new restaurant for dinner. Tonight PiC and I headed to Barbette, and all I can say is what the hell took me so long to go there?
Delightful french bistro feel to is, complete with the french sounding music etc. $4 bubbly wine for their happy hour, and tried a bit of his white winter wheat beer (a hefeweizen). Another beer that I like; I believe that he's corrupting me.
Dinner was two appetizers, a seared scallops in a molasses vinaigrette, and a small salad with it that was refreshing and lovely. With dried cherries in it. :) Second appetizer was fondue. YAY I got my fondue fix. :) They served it with baguette, green apples, and mushrooms. I went after the apple, he the mushroom and split the bread. All quite delightful.
Dinner was ended with a panna cotta that had a blueberry/balsamic coulis. Smooth, sensual, exploding with tangy blueberry flavor it was a fantastic end.
Delightful french bistro feel to is, complete with the french sounding music etc. $4 bubbly wine for their happy hour, and tried a bit of his white winter wheat beer (a hefeweizen). Another beer that I like; I believe that he's corrupting me.
Dinner was two appetizers, a seared scallops in a molasses vinaigrette, and a small salad with it that was refreshing and lovely. With dried cherries in it. :) Second appetizer was fondue. YAY I got my fondue fix. :) They served it with baguette, green apples, and mushrooms. I went after the apple, he the mushroom and split the bread. All quite delightful.
Dinner was ended with a panna cotta that had a blueberry/balsamic coulis. Smooth, sensual, exploding with tangy blueberry flavor it was a fantastic end.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Kikugawa - Christmas Edition
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.
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 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.
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