Last weekend was my birthday! Well, we were already planning a trip down to the gulf-ish area, so we decided to tie it into my birthday as well. We started our trip in Baton Rogue to see my aunt, she made us some fantastic gumbo for our arrival, then loaded me down with bacon for breakfast. Then we headed down to New Orleans.
It had been about 7-8 years since either of us had been there. So we were pretty damn excited to be able to carry adult beverages down the sidewalk.
St. Lawrence Bar & Restaurant--Our first meal in New Orleans was chosen out of convenient location to the Aquarium. On the edge of the French Quarter (on N. Peters), we were drawn to it because it smelled like garlic. It ended up being a really great lunch! It was a little late so they were out of about 1/4 the menu while prepping for dinner, but there were still plenty of delicious sounding things to choose from. I had a crawfish "lobster" roll: sweet and spicy crawfish in a lite mayo dressing with celery and a tiny bit of red onion on a buttered hot dog bun. Louis had the fried oyster bahn mi po'boy: basically a po'boy with pickled radishes and carrots. And the hand cut fries, well, any good french fry can win over my heart. I also had their (incredibly strong) daiquiri of the day--pumpkin pie daiquiri. Yeah, you read that right.
Cafe Amelie--Go here. Just do it! We chose this as my birthday dinner because the menu sounded good and it was about a block from our hotel. But, seriously, GO HERE! We couldn't decide what we wanted, so we got several appetizers to share. Satsuma chili glazed shrimp, shrimp and grits, and Cajun poutine. Oh! the cajun poutine--crispy oven roasted gold potatoes loaded with asiago and cochon (a highly seasoned roasted pork). Absolutely order the Cajun poutine!!! They make a really great tomato bisque as well (a little on the salty side, but I still ate every drop). For dessert we had the doberge cake of the day; it was a creamy 9 layer cake with strawberry cheesecake mousse. And I cant forget about the cocktails! They are a little on the expensive side, but worth it. Order any of the house cocktails--you will not be disappointed. (Reservations suggested, especially if weather doesn't permit courtyard seating. We just hung out and had a drink, we had no where to go.)
Stanley--Right on Jackson Square at the corner of St Ann and Chartres overlooking St. Louis Catherdral, this is at the "institution" level of dining. A place everyone seems to go. And for good reason. We were there on a Sunday... after church hours. But since there were only two of us and we were willing to sit at the bar or table (we got a table), we only had to wait about 20 minutes. Enough time to walk around the square and look at the art for sale displayed along all the fence lines. I had the Breaux Bridge Benedict; the eggs could have poached about 30-45 seconds longer for my taste, but the homemade boudin and hollandaise more than made up for that. Louis had the benedict po'boy that also looked divine. (There is an upscale sister restaurant called Stella... just needed to throw that in there.)
French Market Restaurant--The Central Grocery is closed on Sundays and Mondays. That was a huge bummer. This was just down the street so we assumed they had to have good muffalettas. Wrong. Don't order the Italian muffaletta here. The crawfish fritters were really good, so maybe we if we had ordered something else it would have been good, but the oily, hamburger bun muffaletta and frozen french fries were a gigantic let down.
Felix's--Chargrilled oysters. That is why you should go here. Fresh shucked oysters cooked over an open flame with parmesan, breadcrumbs, and butter. The crawfish etouffe and seafood gumbo are also really good. The roux for the gumbo was way darker than I am used to, and I make my roux pretty dark, so that is saying something. It threw me off at first, but the more I ate, the more sense it made. It's simple Louisiana food done right, what more could ask for?
The last day we made an obligatory stop at Cafe du Monde. It was Monday morning so it was only half full. I know it is the big place everyone goes. But let me just say that I've tried quite a few other beignets and I've had some that are as good, but none that have been better. (If you know of a place with beignets that surpass Cafe du Monde, please let me know!)
I feel I should mention a daiquiri that I had as well. Most people know of the 24 hour to go daiquiri stands in New Orleans. After Felix's, we walked down Bourbon St. to get back to our hotel on the other side of the French Quarter and decided we needed drinks to go. We stopped at one of the places that has a wall of frozen drink machines. (And they offer samples, so that was fun.) I settled on a thing called the Cajun Storm. It is dark rum, 151 rum, brandy, and grain alcohol (with some unknown fruit juices and sugar). And it is delicious. It is also a bargain at less than $9 for ~20oz.
Showing posts with label Eat Here. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Eat Here. Show all posts
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Monday, November 18, 2013
Rendezvous
I'm not entirely sure where the last two months have gone. It was early September now it is only 10 days until Thanksgiving. Some crazy stuff went down in my life the last 8 weeks, all good mind you. I attended my first music convention/festival/awards show, The Americana Festival (AMAs). The following week I took a rather bizarre, but good, trip to Raleigh, NC for the IMBA conference and awards show (International Bluegrass Music Association.) My gym had a HUGE high level Brazilian Jiu Jitsu tournament, and we moved to a swanky new location. I busted my ass getting some amazing costumes together (Dany [blue tunic] and Jorah from Game of Thrones and Richard Harrow and Angela Darmody from Boardwalk Empire) for our first con, Wizard World Nashville. That was incredible! And I went to the CMA awards... that was the strangest, most uncomfortable live show I've ever attended.
Oh, and did I mention that next Tuesday I will be an aunt?!?! Utter insanity.
Being so busy, we've gotten into some serious food ruts. Stir fry is a staple. Chili, salads, tacos, roasted winter squash soup, and too much [delicious] take out often make regular appearances as well. Food ruts make me reminisce hard. Lately, I've been dreaming about sushi. But not just any sushi, we get American style sushi every few weeks here. This sushi is more authentic and so freakin' fresh is might just come back to life if you drop some water on it.
Rendezvous Sushi Cafe in West Bay, Roatan, Honduras is a tiny little place that is part sushi bar part art shop perched on the side of a hill. It is owned by an American and his French-Canadian wife. There are seats for about 10-15 people, so you have to make a reservation. Even if you end up being the only people, you need them. Don't plan for a quick meal, and bring plenty of cash. They have a menu with stuff that they usually have, but I recommend asking what is fresh and local. Those fishes will be the most delicious and won't be listed on the menu. One thing that they almost always have, but isn't listed is local tuna quickly seared with a sesame crust. Definitely order that.
This past year, many restaurants on Roatan started serving up lion fish, a species that is invasive and has been attempting to wreak havoc on the local reefs. They've been doing a pretty good job of disrupting several species, but local divers and fisherman have banded together with special licensing to hunt these suckers. One of my top priorities of vacation was to eat lionfish. The first dish we had at Rendezvous was lion fish sashimi. It was so light and delicate with a sweet, mild flavor; the translucent flesh melts in your mouth. A light sprinkle of sesame seeds and a quick dip in soy made it perfection.
We ate quite a bit that night. I remember a conch something, it wasn't one that is on the menu, but the spicy conch that they regularly have is fantastic. The other stand out dish we had (which we ordered seconds of) was local marlin. It was super fresh, so it wasn't funky or oily (which can happen with marlin). It was meaty and assertive, similar to mahi mahi, and was dressed with a spicy sauce which complimented the heartiness well and didn't overpower the fish.
The wakame salad is always good, as is the coconut ginger soup. Order the house juice if they have it, it's wonderful. And all of the desserts are home made. There may not be a huge selection, especially if you are there in the summer which is low season, but you will not be disappointed in any dessert you order. Her fruit tarts are incredible, so it the chocolate cake. Last time, we had a key lime semifreddo that was perfect for a warm night with only the gentlest of breezes.
It was a last minute decision to go there 5 or 6 years ago, and has become one of the restaurants we absolutely have to go to now.
Oh, and did I mention that next Tuesday I will be an aunt?!?! Utter insanity.
Being so busy, we've gotten into some serious food ruts. Stir fry is a staple. Chili, salads, tacos, roasted winter squash soup, and too much [delicious] take out often make regular appearances as well. Food ruts make me reminisce hard. Lately, I've been dreaming about sushi. But not just any sushi, we get American style sushi every few weeks here. This sushi is more authentic and so freakin' fresh is might just come back to life if you drop some water on it.
Rendezvous Sushi Cafe in West Bay, Roatan, Honduras is a tiny little place that is part sushi bar part art shop perched on the side of a hill. It is owned by an American and his French-Canadian wife. There are seats for about 10-15 people, so you have to make a reservation. Even if you end up being the only people, you need them. Don't plan for a quick meal, and bring plenty of cash. They have a menu with stuff that they usually have, but I recommend asking what is fresh and local. Those fishes will be the most delicious and won't be listed on the menu. One thing that they almost always have, but isn't listed is local tuna quickly seared with a sesame crust. Definitely order that.
 |
| That's a lion fish, if you didn't know. |
This past year, many restaurants on Roatan started serving up lion fish, a species that is invasive and has been attempting to wreak havoc on the local reefs. They've been doing a pretty good job of disrupting several species, but local divers and fisherman have banded together with special licensing to hunt these suckers. One of my top priorities of vacation was to eat lionfish. The first dish we had at Rendezvous was lion fish sashimi. It was so light and delicate with a sweet, mild flavor; the translucent flesh melts in your mouth. A light sprinkle of sesame seeds and a quick dip in soy made it perfection.
We ate quite a bit that night. I remember a conch something, it wasn't one that is on the menu, but the spicy conch that they regularly have is fantastic. The other stand out dish we had (which we ordered seconds of) was local marlin. It was super fresh, so it wasn't funky or oily (which can happen with marlin). It was meaty and assertive, similar to mahi mahi, and was dressed with a spicy sauce which complimented the heartiness well and didn't overpower the fish.
The wakame salad is always good, as is the coconut ginger soup. Order the house juice if they have it, it's wonderful. And all of the desserts are home made. There may not be a huge selection, especially if you are there in the summer which is low season, but you will not be disappointed in any dessert you order. Her fruit tarts are incredible, so it the chocolate cake. Last time, we had a key lime semifreddo that was perfect for a warm night with only the gentlest of breezes.
It was a last minute decision to go there 5 or 6 years ago, and has become one of the restaurants we absolutely have to go to now.
Monday, July 22, 2013
Roatan Oasis
I started a new job last week. So far I love it, but it has a lot more lulls than the unnecessarily stressful environment of the grocery store. Today, is rainy and dreary and uniquely lovely, but I can't keep my mind from wandering back to Roatan. I keep reminiscing about the water, the sand, the people, and the food.
We were bummed when we found out Tong's was closed for the month due to ownership change. The plan had been to eat there two nights. So that was two nights we had to fill. We asked our dive instructor of the week (and trusted local connection) where we should eat. The first recommendation out of his mouth was, "Oasis!"
It is a little difficult to find, especially at night, because many of the cab drivers don't know where it is, because it is fairly new and it is technically in some people's house, but it was worth the hassle! It is probably the most hipster joint on the island. This place would have fit in perfectly to Nashville, except that everyone was tan and music was not the main topic of conversation.
The menu is based on what is available (in a very sensible manner, no pretension.) When they are out of something, they are out. No excuses made, some dishes are just that popular. That was the case with the Szechuan pork (which we were all eyeing) the night we were there. But that is ok, they had Szechuan chicken and it was absolutely delicious. We also had a lentil, goat cheese, caramelized onion bake with jalapeno tomato jam that was heavenly! Soon, I will attempt to recreate the light, souffle-like bake. (They always have at least one vegetarian option, and will make vegan dishes when given prior notice.)
The atmosphere, like most island restaurants, is very relaxed. Borderline too relaxed which leads to slow (though not unpleasant) service. You learn to deal with that quickly though. It sucks when you are hungry (which were very much so), but we ordered the house-made olive tapenade on garlic crostini to tide us over.... And then we ordered it again.
If you find yourself on the Caribbean island of Roatan, definitely make it a point to stop in at Oasis. The setting is lovely, the portions are just the right size, and it is some of the most reasonably price food you could ask for.
We were bummed when we found out Tong's was closed for the month due to ownership change. The plan had been to eat there two nights. So that was two nights we had to fill. We asked our dive instructor of the week (and trusted local connection) where we should eat. The first recommendation out of his mouth was, "Oasis!"
It is a little difficult to find, especially at night, because many of the cab drivers don't know where it is, because it is fairly new and it is technically in some people's house, but it was worth the hassle! It is probably the most hipster joint on the island. This place would have fit in perfectly to Nashville, except that everyone was tan and music was not the main topic of conversation.
The menu is based on what is available (in a very sensible manner, no pretension.) When they are out of something, they are out. No excuses made, some dishes are just that popular. That was the case with the Szechuan pork (which we were all eyeing) the night we were there. But that is ok, they had Szechuan chicken and it was absolutely delicious. We also had a lentil, goat cheese, caramelized onion bake with jalapeno tomato jam that was heavenly! Soon, I will attempt to recreate the light, souffle-like bake. (They always have at least one vegetarian option, and will make vegan dishes when given prior notice.)
The atmosphere, like most island restaurants, is very relaxed. Borderline too relaxed which leads to slow (though not unpleasant) service. You learn to deal with that quickly though. It sucks when you are hungry (which were very much so), but we ordered the house-made olive tapenade on garlic crostini to tide us over.... And then we ordered it again.
If you find yourself on the Caribbean island of Roatan, definitely make it a point to stop in at Oasis. The setting is lovely, the portions are just the right size, and it is some of the most reasonably price food you could ask for.
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Roast Chicken and Black Bean Baleada
(Apologies for the blog neglect.)
Early in June I made my long awaited return vacation to Roatan, Honduras. It had been three years (two full summers!) since I had been on my beloved island. This trip was extra special because I got to share it with my dad and Louis. Damn, 4+ years of marriage and this was our first real vacation together! I was so nervous he wouldn't be as infatuated with it as I am. By the fourth day though, he was using the phrase, "The next time we come..." My heart nearly flew out of my chest!
In all the years we've been staying in West Bay, we had never tried Celeste's. It is literally just up the ally from the hotel we stay at, a 2 minute walk, but it just never happened. This year I was determined to go and eat a lobster baleada. Baleadas are sort of a free form burrito with a thick, fluffy flour tortilla. Traditionally, they are filled with refried red beans, scrambled eggs, and cheese, some times with ham, chicken, etc. They are probably the most iconic dish of Honduras, and some restaurants are elevating the humble food with fresher and more gourmet ingredients more suitable for lunch or dinner.
That lobster baleada was incredible. Fresh lobster and homemade tortilla. I'm not sure how to sell that better.
I don't have access to such tortillas here in Tennessee, and at the moment I don't have time to experiment with making my own. So regular tortillas have to substitute. You can make a good baleada with store bought tortillas at home, but it won't be the same, so clearly, you just have to go to Honduras at some point.
Roast Chicken & Black Bean Baleada
1/2 C diced onion
1/2 C diced green bell pepper
1/2 C diced (fresh) tomato
1 15oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
~1 1/4 C shredded, roast chicken
1 tsp minced garlic
1/2 tsp cumin
2 tsp chopped cliantro
4 large flour tortillas
1 Tbsp salted butter
1 C shredded monterey jack cheese
salt and pepper to taste
In a little oil over medium heat, saute onion and bell pepper for 5-7 minutes, until tender. Add tomato, chicken, garlic, black beans, and cumin. Cook for ~5 minutes, just to heat through, really. Salt and pepper to taste. Toss in cilantro just before filling and serving.
Melt butter with a little oil over medium heat on a griddle or large skillet. Griddle tortillas for about 2 minutes, until they get some color and just barely start to crisp around the edges. Fill each tortilla with 1/4 of the filling, top with cheese, fold over, and serve.
Serves 4. Top with sour cream (or crema), cilantro, and hot sauce, if you like.
Early in June I made my long awaited return vacation to Roatan, Honduras. It had been three years (two full summers!) since I had been on my beloved island. This trip was extra special because I got to share it with my dad and Louis. Damn, 4+ years of marriage and this was our first real vacation together! I was so nervous he wouldn't be as infatuated with it as I am. By the fourth day though, he was using the phrase, "The next time we come..." My heart nearly flew out of my chest!
In all the years we've been staying in West Bay, we had never tried Celeste's. It is literally just up the ally from the hotel we stay at, a 2 minute walk, but it just never happened. This year I was determined to go and eat a lobster baleada. Baleadas are sort of a free form burrito with a thick, fluffy flour tortilla. Traditionally, they are filled with refried red beans, scrambled eggs, and cheese, some times with ham, chicken, etc. They are probably the most iconic dish of Honduras, and some restaurants are elevating the humble food with fresher and more gourmet ingredients more suitable for lunch or dinner.
That lobster baleada was incredible. Fresh lobster and homemade tortilla. I'm not sure how to sell that better.
I don't have access to such tortillas here in Tennessee, and at the moment I don't have time to experiment with making my own. So regular tortillas have to substitute. You can make a good baleada with store bought tortillas at home, but it won't be the same, so clearly, you just have to go to Honduras at some point.
1/2 C diced onion
1/2 C diced green bell pepper
1/2 C diced (fresh) tomato
1 15oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
~1 1/4 C shredded, roast chicken
1 tsp minced garlic
1/2 tsp cumin
2 tsp chopped cliantro
4 large flour tortillas
1 Tbsp salted butter
1 C shredded monterey jack cheese
salt and pepper to taste
In a little oil over medium heat, saute onion and bell pepper for 5-7 minutes, until tender. Add tomato, chicken, garlic, black beans, and cumin. Cook for ~5 minutes, just to heat through, really. Salt and pepper to taste. Toss in cilantro just before filling and serving.
Melt butter with a little oil over medium heat on a griddle or large skillet. Griddle tortillas for about 2 minutes, until they get some color and just barely start to crisp around the edges. Fill each tortilla with 1/4 of the filling, top with cheese, fold over, and serve.
Serves 4. Top with sour cream (or crema), cilantro, and hot sauce, if you like.
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
The Lobster Debate
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They were Maine lobster tails. Now, you may think I am crazy, but my opinion holds true, Maine lobster is not my favorite. I have a few friends that are probably swooning with mental agony at this point. Don't get me wrong, I won't say no to any lobster, but if I have my choice, I won't choose Maine. I'll pick spiny every single time.
Spiny (or rock) lobster is the Caribbean species. They don't have the claws like the cold water variety, but their tails are usually larger compared to body size. The meat is a little firmer and less sweet. That may seem like a draw back to you, but I love the flavor that is more similar to shrimp. Unfortunately, spiny lobster tends to be much more expensive here.
My rock love could probably be contributed to my first trip to Roatan, Honduras. As soon as we got in the cab at the airport, our driver told us that lobster season had just opened the previous week. I ate lobster at every given opportunity. It was this trip in--holy shit!--2006, that my mom and I discovered fried lobster bites at Bite On The Beach. Perfect, tender chunks of fresh spiny lobster in a tempura batter with an incredible house-made remoulade... to say my mouth is watering right now would be an understatement. They do not always appear on the menu, but in our experience you can always request them.
It has been two years since I last visited my beloved island that feels so much like home. But we already have our plane tickets for next summer! 186 days. To be honest, the mere thought of returning to familiar, smiling, (and incredibly tan) faces and heedlessly slipping beneath the clear, blue, warm water is all that gets me through some days.
Monday, August 20, 2012
Wild Flours
A few weeks ago, I was tempted to pause in the middle of human traffic jam by the promise of free bread. I have passed by the Wild Flours (also check out their FB page) booth at the Saturday market every weekend of the summer so far, but never stopped to browse their goods. Well, that was a mistake on my part because they offer some incredibly delicious things. Now, I can't get enough. It is a physical feat to restrain myself from buying everything they have on Saturday mornings.
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This lovely group of ladies, and maybe some behind the scenes men, I have no idea, have been in operation for a little over a year now selling their delectable baked goods at several local Murfreesboro venues. Soon, they will be getting their very own store front, which means that I will have easy access to muffins and cinnamon rolls... not the best thing for my future, but great for them!
Oh, and did I mention these crazy bitches grind their own wheat and cornmeal? Seriously. I love food, but that is a labor of love. Pun FULLY intended. It makes a difference too. The goods have a softness to them that I don't think I could recreate even sifting the highest quality of store bought flour. Everything is organic and all their products are sweetened with honey, not sugar. I absolutely adore that, because I love the unique florally sweetness honey adds to food. And it is better for your body than processed white sugar blah blah blah whatever.
If you don't live withing driving distance of Murfreesboro, TN. I suggest you email them and see if you can sweet talk them into a mail order.
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Alfresco's Crawfish & Andouille Ravioli
I love Alfresco's pasta. Is there a word stronger than love? Because, really, that is how I feel about these pasta artists. I was first introduced to this company a few years ago at the Franklin's Farmers' Market. Last year, when I started frequenting the Murfreesboro Saturday Market, I was so happy to see they had a little booth there as well.
The product list is larger than you may expect from an artisan company. There are seasonal offerings, gluten free pasta (which I do not believe in, but whatever... I'll share my feeling on that subject at a later time), and they strive to use as-local-as-possible ingredients. Quality is their focus and I have yet to eat anything less than spectacular from them. I am not entirely sure if they ship, but the people I have met from the company are really nice and it never hurts to ask!
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Alfresco's Crawfish & Andouille Ravioli w/ Cajun Cream Sauce and Shrimp
1/2 lb crawfish and andouille ravioli*
1 tsp bacon fat (or olive oil)
1/2 C chopped andouille sausage
1/4 lb peeled and deveined shrimp, tossed in salt and pepper (I used a 56/60 count)
1 C diced tomatoes (canned or fresh, peeled if fresh)
1 clove garlic, minced
~ 1/2 C half and half
1/4 tsp dried thyme
dash of Tabasco
In salted boiling water, cook ravioli for about 3 minutes. (This is will not cook them all the way through.) Drain.
Heat bacon fat over medium heat in a non stick skillet. Saute sausage until the edges start to brown. Add tomatoes and garlic. Cook for ~2 minutes, stirring constantly.
Add thyme, Tabasco, and half and half. Bring to a simmer and cook ~3 minutes. Toss in shrimp and ravioli. When shrimp are done, the ravioli should be done too.
Serves 2.
*You may have noticed in the picture that there are only three ravioli on the plate and 1/2 lb doesn't seem like much. Yes, I could eat an entire 1/2 lb by myself, but these babies are little pricey. Also, they are huge (the size of my palm), so really, three is good... I always hear you don't need to much of a good thing.
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The product list is larger than you may expect from an artisan company. There are seasonal offerings, gluten free pasta (which I do not believe in, but whatever... I'll share my feeling on that subject at a later time), and they strive to use as-local-as-possible ingredients. Quality is their focus and I have yet to eat anything less than spectacular from them. I am not entirely sure if they ship, but the people I have met from the company are really nice and it never hurts to ask!
Alfresco's Crawfish & Andouille Ravioli w/ Cajun Cream Sauce and Shrimp
1/2 lb crawfish and andouille ravioli*
1 tsp bacon fat (or olive oil)
1/2 C chopped andouille sausage
1/4 lb peeled and deveined shrimp, tossed in salt and pepper (I used a 56/60 count)
1 C diced tomatoes (canned or fresh, peeled if fresh)
1 clove garlic, minced
~ 1/2 C half and half
1/4 tsp dried thyme
dash of Tabasco
In salted boiling water, cook ravioli for about 3 minutes. (This is will not cook them all the way through.) Drain.
Heat bacon fat over medium heat in a non stick skillet. Saute sausage until the edges start to brown. Add tomatoes and garlic. Cook for ~2 minutes, stirring constantly.
Add thyme, Tabasco, and half and half. Bring to a simmer and cook ~3 minutes. Toss in shrimp and ravioli. When shrimp are done, the ravioli should be done too.
Serves 2.
*You may have noticed in the picture that there are only three ravioli on the plate and 1/2 lb doesn't seem like much. Yes, I could eat an entire 1/2 lb by myself, but these babies are little pricey. Also, they are huge (the size of my palm), so really, three is good... I always hear you don't need to much of a good thing.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Crabs by the Dozen
Last Monday was the last day of mini-Maryland vacation. Our friends and hosts ordered a shit-ton of crabs from a little hole in the wall place near their home. If you would like to know what a "shit-ton" of crabs is, it is 8 dozen. Yes, 96 crabs. There were only 5 of us eating them, but we ran through a solid half.
While it is a labor intensive meal, it is so worth it! Cover the table with cardboard and trash bags, and start breaking down crabs. The meat is insanely sweet and succulent. The heavy Old Bay seasoning that the crustaceans are cooked with coats your hands so you get some with every bit of meat. And I was introduced to dipping the crab into straight white vinegar. It was one of those elusive "ah-ha!" moments. The tangy vinegar is the perfect balancing compliment to the sweet shellfish.
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| 4 Dozen Heavenly Dead Things |
While it is a labor intensive meal, it is so worth it! Cover the table with cardboard and trash bags, and start breaking down crabs. The meat is insanely sweet and succulent. The heavy Old Bay seasoning that the crustaceans are cooked with coats your hands so you get some with every bit of meat. And I was introduced to dipping the crab into straight white vinegar. It was one of those elusive "ah-ha!" moments. The tangy vinegar is the perfect balancing compliment to the sweet shellfish.
 |
| Destroyed |
1351 Odenton Rd.--Odenton, MD
(410) 672-1272
Thursday, October 20, 2011
M & S Grill--Baltimore, MD
Around here, we don't have any venues of the McCormick & Schmicks apparent steak house empire. Before heading to the Baltimore Aquarium, we had lunch in the harbor area of the city. We arrived just as everyone (including the scientists at the convention center) were heading out. It made things a little more difficult because we were in a new city. Most of the places around seemed to be chains of that fast-food limbo variety, you know... it is technically fast food but the quality is infinitely high than McDonald's.
Not wanting to walk too far from the pier area, we settled on M&S Grill (Pratt St.). The patio seating was packed because the day was gorgeous and more people seemed eager to be seated inside. Lots of people is generally a good sign. Now that I have done some research, I know the M&S has locations nationwide. But I also know that the menus vary by region and even between locations in the same city (with a few consistent staples). All under the parent umbrella, but distinctly different restaurants committed to high quality steaks and seafood at reasonable prices. I admire that.
We started with the Maryland crab soup. The soup itself was ok. Absolutely nothing special. It tasted like a good quality canned soup. But it was loaded with fresh crab: sweet, tender, beautiful crab meat. The amount of gorgeous crab kind of made up for the mediocre soup.
Louis had the rustic vegetable pasta with shrimp. The squashes and tomatoes were incredibly fresh and the pasta was cooked properly (something which is often overlooked). The sauce was a light, wine, tomato basil sauce, but thin, so it didn't stick well to the dish very well and they didn't provide bread to sop it up. He would have asked for bread, but our waitress was mysteriously absent through the entire meal. Apparently crappy service is not the norm because when we told our friends who live in the area, they were rather shocked.
I had the Prince Edward Island mussels. It is an appetizer, but after the soup, it was the perfect size for one as a meal. They were in a traditional wine and tomato broth with garlic--fresh, raw garlic grated over the top. Obviously, I loved that. Bread does come with this so I could soak up the delicious broth.
Not wanting to walk too far from the pier area, we settled on M&S Grill (Pratt St.). The patio seating was packed because the day was gorgeous and more people seemed eager to be seated inside. Lots of people is generally a good sign. Now that I have done some research, I know the M&S has locations nationwide. But I also know that the menus vary by region and even between locations in the same city (with a few consistent staples). All under the parent umbrella, but distinctly different restaurants committed to high quality steaks and seafood at reasonable prices. I admire that.
We started with the Maryland crab soup. The soup itself was ok. Absolutely nothing special. It tasted like a good quality canned soup. But it was loaded with fresh crab: sweet, tender, beautiful crab meat. The amount of gorgeous crab kind of made up for the mediocre soup.
I had the Prince Edward Island mussels. It is an appetizer, but after the soup, it was the perfect size for one as a meal. They were in a traditional wine and tomato broth with garlic--fresh, raw garlic grated over the top. Obviously, I loved that. Bread does come with this so I could soak up the delicious broth.
201 E. Pratt Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
Baltimore, MD 21202
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Maryland Renaissance Festival
If you have ventured into the depths of a Renaissance festival you have most like seen a scene similar to this:
Maryland is special type of Renaissance festival. It has a huge attendance, is filled with beautiful, permanent structures (as opposed to tents), and offers a rather unusual selection of food. There are the old stand-bys of fish and chips, scotch eggs, turkey legs, sweet roasted nuts, and shepard's pie. I found out the hard way that the shepard's pie is terrible. Odd, considering it smelled good and is really easy to make in such a setting. The scotch eggs and roast nuts are wonderful. And I assume the roast turkey legs are good: they sell them by the thousands, the skin is brown and rendered, and the meat looks rich and juicy. On the rarer side, you can buy fresh shucked oysters on the half shell, crab cakes, and various other fresh seafood offerings. Additionally, there is a wide selection of seasonal and local ales, meades, and wines.
Probably one of the most unique items available is the crab pretzel. Yes, you read that correctly. It is a soft pretzel (sans salt) topped with a slightly spicy crab mixture covered in melted cheddar and monterrey jack cheese. I don't care about the old Italian taboo of no cheese with seafood, this is delicious. Another great crab dish available is the Maryland crab soup in a bread bowl. There isn't huge amount of crab meat, but the broth is laced with the rich, sweet, briney flavor of crab. It is actually a surprisingly tasty soup and not just by faire food standards... by any standards. The huge chunks of veggies are cooked to perfection in the spicy broth which is balanced by the fluffy, doughy white bread bowl.
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| Crab Pretzel |
I am told the Steak on a Stake is always great, tender and perfectly seasoned. Get to the stall early for first pick of doneness, but they do prepare them continuously through the day. The line may be veeeeery long, though--pickings could be slim. Also, the pork pockets are supposed to be good. The tea and coffee booth makes peasant fry bread which smells like heaven. Fried dough.... hard to go wrong. And you can choose from sweet or savory toppings.
There is only one weekend left in this year's run; if you are in the Annapolis/Baltimore/DC area try to make it out. Bonus for this weekend is that it is the jousting tournament which means lots and lots of lance passes.... LOTS of them. So go see my father-in-law and the rest of my adopted, extended family in the list!
AND for your re-direct: some pumpkinspiration at STA!!!
Thursday, September 29, 2011
The Clay Pit
I have an Indian restaurant near me again! Maybe a little too near. It is only about 3 minutes from house. I've been getting food from the Clay Pit for years (when I lived in Murfreesboro before,) but I was a good, solid 10 minutes away so that prevented me from overdosing on vindaloo. In the last month and half I think we've gotten food from there three times. That is rather unheard of for us (unless we are talking about Blue Coast Burrito).
I should probably explain why we always get take out from the Clay Pit and don't actually dine-in. The place is clean but with the old tables, old chairs, and odd red tube lighting gives the impression that everything is coated is a thin film of grease. (NOT true though!) It is the red lighting that really gets me. At night, it casts a rather off-putting hue over the dining room. Also, we don't often treat ourselves to take out and it is so close, so why not relax at home with a delicious curry?
Let's start with my absolute favorite dish on the menu: chicken vindaloo. This is the best vindaloo I've had. It is the perfect balance of spice, acidity, and tomato-y sweetness with tender chunks of meat.
The samosa chaat is probably the hubs' favorite thing. It is the traditional Indian savory pastry filled with spiced potatoes and sweet green peas smothered in a spicy chick pea sauce and cool yogurt.
The last time, we tried the alu palak. The potatoes are simmered in a mild, smooth, spinach sauce. From what I can tell, palak is essentially the same as saag (saagwala). The differences are minor regional variations in technique and spices. (If someone knows better than me, I would love to know!)
And don't forget the naan. The garlic naan is fantastic! Soft, chewy, slightly crusty from the tandoori. Oh, did I mention that The Clay Pit uses authentic tandoori ovens? Smack in the middle of the open kitchen. Seeing those and the aromatic smell of cumin and garlic lingering in the air, I knew the food was going to be delicious the first time I set foot in the place.
I should probably explain why we always get take out from the Clay Pit and don't actually dine-in. The place is clean but with the old tables, old chairs, and odd red tube lighting gives the impression that everything is coated is a thin film of grease. (NOT true though!) It is the red lighting that really gets me. At night, it casts a rather off-putting hue over the dining room. Also, we don't often treat ourselves to take out and it is so close, so why not relax at home with a delicious curry?
Let's start with my absolute favorite dish on the menu: chicken vindaloo. This is the best vindaloo I've had. It is the perfect balance of spice, acidity, and tomato-y sweetness with tender chunks of meat.
And don't forget the naan. The garlic naan is fantastic! Soft, chewy, slightly crusty from the tandoori. Oh, did I mention that The Clay Pit uses authentic tandoori ovens? Smack in the middle of the open kitchen. Seeing those and the aromatic smell of cumin and garlic lingering in the air, I knew the food was going to be delicious the first time I set foot in the place.
1813 Memorial Blvd.
Murfreesboro, TN 37129
615-904-6262
(Buffet-Dine in-Carry out-Catering)
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Gloria's Korean Kitchen
Shortly before I moved to North Carolina in March, Gloria's Korean Kitchen opened in Cool Springs (Franklin, TN). I was sad that I didn't have a chance to try it before leaving. So that was the first place we went when Louis finally made it back to Tennessee. Yeah, I know I am a bit late on the timing of this post, I apologize.
I would love to tell you that I am well versed in Korean food, but I am not. At all. This was the first time I'd ever had it. Well, not true... I had a really disgutsing kim chi once. I will say that I have seen more than my fair share of Korean food specials on TV and I've been kind of fantasizing about the cuisine for a while.
The meal began with "sides". I found that a bit odd. There were two plates with little tastings of kim chi, soy cucumbers, seaweed salad, sweet daikon radish, and cole slaw. The kim chi was fantastic: sweet, sour, spicy, not overly fermented, soft but not mushy with a slight bit of cabbage-y crunch left. The soy cucumbers were my favorite. They were lightly pickled in soy and rice vinegar with whole cloves of garlic. The sweet daikon was also lightly pickled in rice vinegar, but they were still crisp and crunchy. The flavor of the seaweed salad was good, the texture was a little like that of soggy nori, so I wasn't the biggest fan. And the coleslaw was just regular old coleslaw, nothing special and not to my liking.
Our official appetizers were the yaki mandu (fried dumplings with beef) and ssam (lettuce wraps.) The yaki mandu were really delicious, the meat was seasoned with coriander and Chinese five-spice. Tender juicy filling in a crispy wonton skin, there are few things better. But be careful, they were scorchingly hot! We chose the chicken for ssam filling meat. It came with sauteed mushrooms, soy dressed cabbage, cucumber garlic soy sauce (the liquid form the soy cucumbers I suspect...), and a spicy miso sauce to stuff inside the leaves of bib lettuce. It was good but over salted (to an almost unacceptable level) and didn't come with enough lettuce leaves. Also, we were not given plates so we were dripping sauces all over the table.
For entrees, we ordered the glass noodles that had a soy glaze and beef, jjampong (seafood noodle soup), dolsot bipimbap with spicy pork (hot bowl with rice and an egg), and daeji bulgogi (spicy pork shoulder grill.) The soy glaze on the the glass noodles was really tasty, sweet and a little spicy. However, as the dish cooled down while eating the noodles became a slightly gummy which, for me, is always unappetizing. The jjampong was... interesting. It had an overwhelming odor of cooked shellfish. And the broth was pretty strongly flavored of seafood. I adore seafood, but this was even too much for me. The noodles were delicious though. Cooked in the broth they absorbed just enough of spicy seafoodiness. The most disappointing thing was the seafood itself, unfortunately. WAY too many chunks of krab (yes.... krab with a k, not real crab) that were disgustingly mushy. The shrimp, squid and mussels were, I assume, frozen and in extremely limited numbers inside my bowl. This soup would have been better if the protein had been skipped altogether leaving only noodles and some veg.
The bipimbap and bulgogi were fantastic though! One of the characteristics of the rice hot bowl is the crispy bits of rice on the bottom. Steamed rice is placed into a baking hot stone bowl and topped with veggies, meat or tofu, and a sunny side up egg. The egg yolk creates a gooey, yummy sauce for the dish. As you eat and stir up your food, the hot bowl continues to cook the rice to crunchy, chewy goodness that is totally unique. So you know, when they say "spicy pork" they mean it. You have the option of ordering a less spicy version, but if you go for it all the way (like my dad), be prepared. It is mouthwateringly delicious, but lip numbingly spicy. Louis had the daeji bulgogi with the spicy pork shoulder; this cut is available only for the "grill". He asked for medium heat and I think that is a great level. Its warm and spicy, but not to the point where you can't finish the food. The heat builds pleasantly and wont blow out your taste buds. This pork is wonderful. Ultra tender, flavorful, and served on a bed of soft, sweet onions with rice on the side
I realize that this may not have been the most authentic of first experiences with Korean food. Yet, I don't think the menu has been "overly Americanized" as some people seem to think. To me, it seems, Chef Gloria (who I met and is an incredibly sweet person), has taken the traditional classics that will appeal most to her largely suburban clientele. (Why should she up food costs by expanding a menu with items that won't sell to appease some jaded assholes?) Overall, I really enjoyed the meal. I know what is awesome, and what I should probably avoid. The bipimbap is definitely on my "to eat" list for the next visit. (I am still a little jealous that I didn't order it....)
I would love to tell you that I am well versed in Korean food, but I am not. At all. This was the first time I'd ever had it. Well, not true... I had a really disgutsing kim chi once. I will say that I have seen more than my fair share of Korean food specials on TV and I've been kind of fantasizing about the cuisine for a while.
The meal began with "sides". I found that a bit odd. There were two plates with little tastings of kim chi, soy cucumbers, seaweed salad, sweet daikon radish, and cole slaw. The kim chi was fantastic: sweet, sour, spicy, not overly fermented, soft but not mushy with a slight bit of cabbage-y crunch left. The soy cucumbers were my favorite. They were lightly pickled in soy and rice vinegar with whole cloves of garlic. The sweet daikon was also lightly pickled in rice vinegar, but they were still crisp and crunchy. The flavor of the seaweed salad was good, the texture was a little like that of soggy nori, so I wasn't the biggest fan. And the coleslaw was just regular old coleslaw, nothing special and not to my liking.
Our official appetizers were the yaki mandu (fried dumplings with beef) and ssam (lettuce wraps.) The yaki mandu were really delicious, the meat was seasoned with coriander and Chinese five-spice. Tender juicy filling in a crispy wonton skin, there are few things better. But be careful, they were scorchingly hot! We chose the chicken for ssam filling meat. It came with sauteed mushrooms, soy dressed cabbage, cucumber garlic soy sauce (the liquid form the soy cucumbers I suspect...), and a spicy miso sauce to stuff inside the leaves of bib lettuce. It was good but over salted (to an almost unacceptable level) and didn't come with enough lettuce leaves. Also, we were not given plates so we were dripping sauces all over the table.
The bipimbap and bulgogi were fantastic though! One of the characteristics of the rice hot bowl is the crispy bits of rice on the bottom. Steamed rice is placed into a baking hot stone bowl and topped with veggies, meat or tofu, and a sunny side up egg. The egg yolk creates a gooey, yummy sauce for the dish. As you eat and stir up your food, the hot bowl continues to cook the rice to crunchy, chewy goodness that is totally unique. So you know, when they say "spicy pork" they mean it. You have the option of ordering a less spicy version, but if you go for it all the way (like my dad), be prepared. It is mouthwateringly delicious, but lip numbingly spicy. Louis had the daeji bulgogi with the spicy pork shoulder; this cut is available only for the "grill". He asked for medium heat and I think that is a great level. Its warm and spicy, but not to the point where you can't finish the food. The heat builds pleasantly and wont blow out your taste buds. This pork is wonderful. Ultra tender, flavorful, and served on a bed of soft, sweet onions with rice on the side
I realize that this may not have been the most authentic of first experiences with Korean food. Yet, I don't think the menu has been "overly Americanized" as some people seem to think. To me, it seems, Chef Gloria (who I met and is an incredibly sweet person), has taken the traditional classics that will appeal most to her largely suburban clientele. (Why should she up food costs by expanding a menu with items that won't sell to appease some jaded assholes?) Overall, I really enjoyed the meal. I know what is awesome, and what I should probably avoid. The bipimbap is definitely on my "to eat" list for the next visit. (I am still a little jealous that I didn't order it....)
9100-A Carothers Pkwy, Suite 108
Franklin, TN 37067
615-778-1778
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
The Past Few Weeks and Fried Butter
I must have been crazy thinking that things with the house would only take a couple of weeks. A month later and I am still working every day on various things with very little down time. While the days are more consistent now, we are still dealing with little things like getting our new computer all proper. (I really wish we had the other computer still.... But it is lost and most likely destroyed by the side of some road on Camp Lejeune.)
One of our breaks from the house included the Wilson County Fair. Which is apparently a crazy awesome place and has won several awards for being so kick ass. We watched pig races; I was excited about the redneck-ness surrounding this event but it was one of the cutest damn things I have ever seen. Piglets and mini pot belly pigs racing for cheese doodles? Yes please. The "art" of crawling was also brought to my attention; it is an oddly addictive spectator sport.
Now, I don't know about the county fairs around you but in the Southeast and Midwest, fried butter has been boasted as this year's most unique fair-treat. Naturally, that was the first food we hunted down. I was picturing some tempura-ed stick of butter. I was hoping it would be a little hunk of butter wrapped in pizza dough and fried, like fried dough buttered from the inside. In actuality it was a mere tablespoon of butter, dipped in funnel cake batter and deep fried. It was too much, as I thought it would be, but I can say that it happened in my life.
Then we had to move onto real food. And what better to soak up the coating of butter in your mouth than pork? BBQ pulled pork to be exact. We are in Tennessee so there was no shortage of BBQ trucks. Burr's BBQ is the one we ended up at. Mostly because we got turned around and didn't know where we were on the map. But there was good sized line which is always a good sign and if anything it was operated by the Vietnam Vet chapter of Lebanon. They are usually good people and do some awesome charity work. It ended up being some of the best pulled pork I've ever had. Not too saucy, just enough to hold it together. A little sweet, a touch spicy, and perfectly smokey, tender, melt-in-your-mouth meaty shreds of pork shoulder on the traditional soft white bun. (The sides were ok, nothing special, a little subpar. But it was out of a truck and they were focusing on the proteins, I'd expect the sides to be much better from the restaurant location. )
One of our breaks from the house included the Wilson County Fair. Which is apparently a crazy awesome place and has won several awards for being so kick ass. We watched pig races; I was excited about the redneck-ness surrounding this event but it was one of the cutest damn things I have ever seen. Piglets and mini pot belly pigs racing for cheese doodles? Yes please. The "art" of crawling was also brought to my attention; it is an oddly addictive spectator sport.
Now, I don't know about the county fairs around you but in the Southeast and Midwest, fried butter has been boasted as this year's most unique fair-treat. Naturally, that was the first food we hunted down. I was picturing some tempura-ed stick of butter. I was hoping it would be a little hunk of butter wrapped in pizza dough and fried, like fried dough buttered from the inside. In actuality it was a mere tablespoon of butter, dipped in funnel cake batter and deep fried. It was too much, as I thought it would be, but I can say that it happened in my life.
512 N. Cumberland St.
Lebanon, TN 37087
615-443-4222
I seriously suggest checking these guys out and maybe have them cater your next backyard party. Maybe those Labor Day cookouts coming up?
And for your cuteness viewing pleasure: mini pot belly pigs racing... well, sporadically making their way around the little track.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Indochine
So I've had a shit-awesome day (that is my new ironic description for days like today.) I spent the bulk of my morning painfully sifting through the just-downloaded David Bowie discography. I condensed 10 GB to about 4. There was so much unusable and non-working crap that tagged onto that download. But it's done, and I feel accomplished. Just as I was finishing, I noticed it getting warmer in the house. The AC broke. It is 100 deg F outside..... awesome. My plan was to change the air filters anyway today, so I went out to buy those. (And was assured that the AC did non break due to lack of changing filters, this house is just shite.) As I left Home Depot, I noticed a cart a little to close to my car. Yeah, some ass hole soccer mom/dejected Marine wife (I saw her as I entered the store) let her cart slam into car when there was one of those drop off lanes 10 ft away. I got home, and it was 80 deg F in the house. (It is 83 now....) I was told someone would come fix it today. Then, right after I hung up with our fucktard property manager telling me someone would be out to fix it today, the hubs tells me they just called him saying it would be tomorrow. So, thank you Century 21 American Properties (located on Lejeune Blvd.) for reminding me of why I am so happy to be moving away from this place.
The best part of my day was the leftovers I had for lunch; what was left of my dinner from Saturday night. Two weekends ago we tried to get into this restaurant we've been meaning to try for over a year now. At 7, the wait was 1.5 hours, so we went elsewhere. This past weekend it was too hot for our kayaking plans, so we went to the Fort Fisher Aquarium and then back to the restaurant. We got there early this time (a little before 6, but we still had to wait 20 minutes.) I suggest you make reservations, and actually speak to a hostess. There is a good chance your reservations will be lost if you do not insist on confirmation with the name of the person who took your request and/or you speak to an old Asian lady. This happened to us.
Indochine is about 5 minutes outside downtown Wilmington, but is often more crowded than the downtown joints. Its wonderfully, tacky-lavish decor is the result of the owner's lifetime collecting habits of Southeast Asian nick-knacks. And the outdoor eating area is a gorgeous courtyard with little pagodas over each table. Marketed as a Vietnamese and Thai place, the menu includes a huge variety of dishes. The menu really has too much. The sushi section, Chinese dishes, and few Indian creations need to be cut out completely, if you ask me.
Our service was decent, but a bit lack-luster. I don't want a server to be overbearing, but I like a little presence and warmth from the people handling my food. We ordered goi cuon (Vietnamese spring rolls) with shrimp as an appetizer. They were fresh, and tasty. The rice noodles and rice paper were the perfect texture and with just the right amount of cilantro and mint. As a personal preference, I would have liked more carrot and cucumber for more crunch. Also, the plum sauce was more of a peanut and plum sauce combo, still delicious though. I really wish I had tried it with mango instead of shrimp. The sweetness of the shrimp was lovely and I think the mango would have been even better.
I attempted to order a White Tiger, a sake-triple sec-lychee drink, but the server brought a Tiger beer instead which Louis decided to drink, so, um, make sure your order is heard correctly. Louis ordered a Naga Knock Out, a rum punch/mai tai thing. I really liked it, Louis wasn't crazy about it, so I drank it. It is a knock out, it is a strong drink wrapped in a pink girly package.
Louis ordered pork Pad Thai. I've had a lot of pad thai... none of it good. It's been dry, gummy, too salty, flavorless, and not actually pad thai. But this was fantastic. Great balance of flavors, egg evenly distributed, pork tender, the sauce stuck to the rice noodles in just the right way... I was almost jealous I didn't order it.
Except that I wasn't terribly jealous because I ordered the Pho Bac. This was one of the revelatory dishes in my life. The clear broth was so clean yet complex. The rice noodles were perfect, slightly chewy but tender with a bit of cilantro and lots of scallions mixed in. There were soft, thin slices of beef poached in the broth. And it was served with a plate of goodies: minty Thai basil, sriracha, bean sprouts. With my first bite, I started to giggle. I unceremoniously curled over my bowl; chop sticks in one hand, spoon in the other. I gobbled and slurped my way into soup nirvana. At one point the owner came over, she asked how everything was. With noodles hanging from my mouth, I just laughed a little and then sucked the noodles into my mouth the way your parents told you not to. She smiled widely at my enjoyment. That was enough for her.
The best part of my day was the leftovers I had for lunch; what was left of my dinner from Saturday night. Two weekends ago we tried to get into this restaurant we've been meaning to try for over a year now. At 7, the wait was 1.5 hours, so we went elsewhere. This past weekend it was too hot for our kayaking plans, so we went to the Fort Fisher Aquarium and then back to the restaurant. We got there early this time (a little before 6, but we still had to wait 20 minutes.) I suggest you make reservations, and actually speak to a hostess. There is a good chance your reservations will be lost if you do not insist on confirmation with the name of the person who took your request and/or you speak to an old Asian lady. This happened to us.
Indochine is about 5 minutes outside downtown Wilmington, but is often more crowded than the downtown joints. Its wonderfully, tacky-lavish decor is the result of the owner's lifetime collecting habits of Southeast Asian nick-knacks. And the outdoor eating area is a gorgeous courtyard with little pagodas over each table. Marketed as a Vietnamese and Thai place, the menu includes a huge variety of dishes. The menu really has too much. The sushi section, Chinese dishes, and few Indian creations need to be cut out completely, if you ask me.
Our service was decent, but a bit lack-luster. I don't want a server to be overbearing, but I like a little presence and warmth from the people handling my food. We ordered goi cuon (Vietnamese spring rolls) with shrimp as an appetizer. They were fresh, and tasty. The rice noodles and rice paper were the perfect texture and with just the right amount of cilantro and mint. As a personal preference, I would have liked more carrot and cucumber for more crunch. Also, the plum sauce was more of a peanut and plum sauce combo, still delicious though. I really wish I had tried it with mango instead of shrimp. The sweetness of the shrimp was lovely and I think the mango would have been even better.
I attempted to order a White Tiger, a sake-triple sec-lychee drink, but the server brought a Tiger beer instead which Louis decided to drink, so, um, make sure your order is heard correctly. Louis ordered a Naga Knock Out, a rum punch/mai tai thing. I really liked it, Louis wasn't crazy about it, so I drank it. It is a knock out, it is a strong drink wrapped in a pink girly package.
Louis ordered pork Pad Thai. I've had a lot of pad thai... none of it good. It's been dry, gummy, too salty, flavorless, and not actually pad thai. But this was fantastic. Great balance of flavors, egg evenly distributed, pork tender, the sauce stuck to the rice noodles in just the right way... I was almost jealous I didn't order it.
Except that I wasn't terribly jealous because I ordered the Pho Bac. This was one of the revelatory dishes in my life. The clear broth was so clean yet complex. The rice noodles were perfect, slightly chewy but tender with a bit of cilantro and lots of scallions mixed in. There were soft, thin slices of beef poached in the broth. And it was served with a plate of goodies: minty Thai basil, sriracha, bean sprouts. With my first bite, I started to giggle. I unceremoniously curled over my bowl; chop sticks in one hand, spoon in the other. I gobbled and slurped my way into soup nirvana. At one point the owner came over, she asked how everything was. With noodles hanging from my mouth, I just laughed a little and then sucked the noodles into my mouth the way your parents told you not to. She smiled widely at my enjoyment. That was enough for her.
Indochine
7 Wayne Dr.
Wilmington, NC 28403
910-251-9229
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Front Street Brewery
Yesterday was so lovely in Eastern NC. The winds have shifted and the wildfire smoke is being carried more inland. We took our final trip (while living in NC at least) down to Wilmington yesterday. We ate lunch at Front Street Brewery. Well, it was more of a mid-afternoon snack feast. I love this place. It is located on Front St (go figure...) in the beautiful downtown area. This micro-brewery is fitted into an old row building with pressed tin ceilings and dark, old hardwood. The way you picture a turn of the [last] century bar to look. The front left portion houses the brewery where they brew their four standards: River City Raspberry Wheat, Coastal Kolsch, Port City IPA, and Dram Tree Scottish Ale. In addition to the standards, they carry a wide variety of bottled beers, have a full bar, and have rotating seasonal brews created by the FSB brew masters (generally 2-3 varieties).
These are two of the seasonal brews for Spring/Summer 2011. On the left is the Triple Play which is a Belgian style tripel. For a light (in color) beer, it is rich and smooth with very little hops, just enough the balance the flavors. All varieties except this have the option of a pint, but this brew approaches 10% ABV. Even with the high alcohol content (as far as beer goes) it goes down easy... maybe a little too easy. I really enjoyed this refreshing break from my usual dark beers. The other beer pictured above is El Hefe, a hefenweizen . This wheat beer is light and crisp with hints of spice and citrus. Almost no hops, it is incredibly smooth with a hint of sweetness.
And I couldn't resist a dark because I love Scottish ales. This is my second favorite Scottish ale (the first being from Bosco's.) Dark and rich, the Dram Tree Scottish Ale is smokey with caramelized notes of coffee and chocolate.
The menu is a pretty standard selection for a bar/pub. Burgers and sandwiches, fried goodies, and classics like fish and chips and shepard's pie. Every once in a while they'll throw in a Gulf/Coastal favorite like jambalaya or gumbo. I know their burgers are wraps are fantastic; the FSB Pita Wrap with portabellas is my favorite sandwich here.
Every day from 3-6 pm and then after 10 pm, about half of the appetizers are half price. Perfect for relaxing with a beer and just enjoying the afternoon. We sort of indulged in our app selections, but it was so good. We started with the crab dip (not half price but a really good deal at about $10.) Normally this is a fairly heavy dish and I was surprised at how light it was! It was almost fluffy, I kid you not. Fresh shreds of crab run through the creamy, cheesy concoction and the parmesan dusted pita points are soft and lightly toasted, like the best pita from a great Greek restaurant. I could have eaten the whole thing by my self, but it is a great option for sharing.
The buffalo chicken tenders are cooked perfectly without too much breading and the sauce isn't too greasy or spicy. Really really good, but not quite as special as the other items we ordered. But if you fancy yourself a chicken tender connoisseur, you will not be disappointed.
Oh, and these beauties. I hate these things. They are too good. Deadly good, in fact. Beer nuggets. See how terrible they are? I'm not writing full sentences! Fried hunks of beer dough rolled around in garlic butter and served with marinara. Damn you FSB for creating these! I really really hate you because I love these so much. I wanted to cry when I ate the first one because it was so fucking delicious!
I highly recommend Front Street Brewery if you find yourself wandering around the Wilmington area. It is fun, casual, relaxed, ironically family friendly (up until the night life kicks ups later in the evening). Great food and great beer, what more do you need? Maybe some beer to go? They offer several options for at home enjoyment from half kegs to 64 oz jugs (that are refillable!)
The menu is a pretty standard selection for a bar/pub. Burgers and sandwiches, fried goodies, and classics like fish and chips and shepard's pie. Every once in a while they'll throw in a Gulf/Coastal favorite like jambalaya or gumbo. I know their burgers are wraps are fantastic; the FSB Pita Wrap with portabellas is my favorite sandwich here.
I highly recommend Front Street Brewery if you find yourself wandering around the Wilmington area. It is fun, casual, relaxed, ironically family friendly (up until the night life kicks ups later in the evening). Great food and great beer, what more do you need? Maybe some beer to go? They offer several options for at home enjoyment from half kegs to 64 oz jugs (that are refillable!)
9 N. Front St.
Wilmington, NC 28401
910-251-1935
Monday, June 6, 2011
Church Street Pub and Deli
I hope everyone had a weekend that was as awesome as mine! We spent Saturday at the beach. My "secret" fee-free parking area in Emerald Isle has been taken over by fat, middle-aged men who want to charge $10 for parking so we just kept driving down the island until we got to Indian Beach and I spotted a public access lot. It ended up being way better than Emerald Isle because there are less drunk Marines, it is less crowded in general, and everyone pretty much kept to themselves. Quiet, peaceful, relaxing, sunny and breezy!
Other brief recap: One of the stray cats around here adopted us; he is in love with Louis! We saw X-Men: First Class; awesome, go see it. We grilled fresh shrimp one night and ribeyes the other. Because of grilling the first night, the backyard was set on fire. Yup, sometimes 24 hours isn't enough for the charcoal to completely burn down and cool off. Don't throw those coals into a pile of dry pine needles. Our new cat is the one who warned us, so it was taken care of very fast. But still.... backyard on fire.
Alright, so before we made it over to the island, we stopped at our favorite deli, Church Street Deli. This place is hands down my favorite sandwich shop ever. They make simple, uncomplicated, high quality sandwiches, wraps, soups and sides. They use all natural Pepperidge Farm breads and Boar's Head meats and cheeses which are sliced on site. I don't mind that those are purchased. The ingredients are fresh and the adorable building with its lovely kitschy decor is spotlessly clean.
Everything I've had here is fantastic, but on the weekends, they make amazing shrimp salad from fresh, whole, local shrimp. It varies week to week but it always has a very light mayo based dressing which is usually flavored with dill. This past weekend, it was just that with lettuce and incredibly fresh tomato in a sundried tomato wrap. (Not the cutest thing to eat on the beach though...)
Louis normally gets the same thing: Shon's Close the Menu Turkey Sandwich. It is thick-cut turkey, muenster, lettuce, cucumber, tomato, and ranch on lightly toasted whole wheat bread. 
If you find yourself in the Swansboro, NC area I strongly urge you to get lunch here! Pick it up on your way to the beach and then stop by on your way back to grab a beer at the attached pub with a fantastic beer selection. (The super sweet older waitress can pour a mean Guinness.) Obviously, this plan depends on where you live/are staying. But whatever, make plans to eat here even if it is a little bit out of your way.
Other brief recap: One of the stray cats around here adopted us; he is in love with Louis! We saw X-Men: First Class; awesome, go see it. We grilled fresh shrimp one night and ribeyes the other. Because of grilling the first night, the backyard was set on fire. Yup, sometimes 24 hours isn't enough for the charcoal to completely burn down and cool off. Don't throw those coals into a pile of dry pine needles. Our new cat is the one who warned us, so it was taken care of very fast. But still.... backyard on fire.
Alright, so before we made it over to the island, we stopped at our favorite deli, Church Street Deli. This place is hands down my favorite sandwich shop ever. They make simple, uncomplicated, high quality sandwiches, wraps, soups and sides. They use all natural Pepperidge Farm breads and Boar's Head meats and cheeses which are sliced on site. I don't mind that those are purchased. The ingredients are fresh and the adorable building with its lovely kitschy decor is spotlessly clean.
Church Street Pub and Deli
105 West Church Street
Swansboro, NC 28584
(910) 326-7572
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Duck's Grille and Bar (Swansboro, NC)
During the deployment, some of the wives/girlfriends of 1/8 Marines started a Facebook group that was intended for support and camaraderie. It ended up being a one big bitch fight and forum for discussing dresses and dinner plans for homecoming weekend. I must say, overall, it was pretty amusing. (Admittedly, I was a little upset when it got shut down because some of those asinine girls couldn't follow the retardedly simple rules of, like, not disclosing your Marine's exact location.) Duck's is one of the restaraunts that kept popping up in mention for romantic plans.
A month or so before I moved back to Tennessee last year, Duck's opened a location in downtown Swansboro. (Original location in Jacksonville, NC.) A couple weekends ago was the first chance we had to go. It is on the second floor of a dock side building overlooking the White Oak River filled with yachts, recreational skiffs, and fishing boats. Once you make it through the lack luster, vacant feeling, attempting to be upscale, 80s dining room you make it to the oddly carpeted deck, but the view is incredible!
I had the Hong Kong tuna. Normally I stay away from Asian dishes at non-Asian restaurants, but I had a couple beers at the adorable little pub up the street from Duck's before dinner so I was not thinking quite clearly. The properly seasoned tuna was an amazing medium-rare, the wilted garlic baby spinach was enjoyable, and the ginger soy broth was lovely. The "sticky rice" on the other hand was the more the consistency of porridge; it was gross to say the least. When the dish arrived (in a disconcertingly prompt fashion) it was luke warm. I love cold tuna and cold wilted salads, but this was obviously intended to be served hot. 
We split the New York cheesecake for dessert. It was a good cheesecake, but not a NY cheesecake. Also it was drizzled with... wait for it..... Hersey's syrup. Yeah, way to go. The oddest thing of the evening, was our service. The waitress was really nice and attentive. Yet, this is the setting that you would like to sit back and relax, enjoying good food for a couple hours. We were in and out in just under 45 minutes. Maybe they are trying to hide the fact that the food is subpar with the in and out, chain restaurant-like service.
I wouldn't tell you not to eat here, but I won't be dining here again. The food isn't terrible, it is just unmemorable. The views are the best thing Duck's has to offer. After writing this review I am getting more upset than I was when I was at the restaurant. This location has all the potential in the world with a fabulous fish market less than a mile away and I know that fantastic local produce is available. Also, the decor... the bones are there; I can't think of a single excuse for the terrible design. The menu doesn't even need to be changed; the execution just needs to be perfected. (Maybe the original Jacksonville local has done that; it has been open for quite a while. So, at this point, I would not apply this review to that location.)
Actually, you know what? Don't eat here. Let it go under and make the space available for a quality restaurant with a chef that has the drive and ambition to create something spectacular.
A month or so before I moved back to Tennessee last year, Duck's opened a location in downtown Swansboro. (Original location in Jacksonville, NC.) A couple weekends ago was the first chance we had to go. It is on the second floor of a dock side building overlooking the White Oak River filled with yachts, recreational skiffs, and fishing boats. Once you make it through the lack luster, vacant feeling, attempting to be upscale, 80s dining room you make it to the oddly carpeted deck, but the view is incredible!
We ordered calamari to start. After ordering, we heard the group next to us complaining about the texture. With a half empty bottle of wine on their table, I could tell they were simply trying to sound intelligent concerning their food. Their assesment of the calamari was that the breading and marinara were perfect but the calamari was overdone and chewy. Now, maybe they had a completely different plate than we did, but our calamari was cooked to perfection. While the breading was in the correct proportion, there could have been more flavor to it and it definitely could have been crisper. And the marinara... well, it was the quality of a good jarred sauce.
Louis had the applewood bacon wrapped sea scallops. Again, cooked very well. The bacon was crisp and the scallops were tender. The scallops were huge, but that didn't play their favor. The flavor was too diffused through the meat so the bacon flavor dominated in a rather extreme sort of way. Also, they were served with an absolutley gratuitous ramekin of gag-inducing clarified butter. The green beans were delicious though.
I wouldn't tell you not to eat here, but I won't be dining here again. The food isn't terrible, it is just unmemorable. The views are the best thing Duck's has to offer. After writing this review I am getting more upset than I was when I was at the restaurant. This location has all the potential in the world with a fabulous fish market less than a mile away and I know that fantastic local produce is available. Also, the decor... the bones are there; I can't think of a single excuse for the terrible design. The menu doesn't even need to be changed; the execution just needs to be perfected. (Maybe the original Jacksonville local has done that; it has been open for quite a while. So, at this point, I would not apply this review to that location.)
Actually, you know what? Don't eat here. Let it go under and make the space available for a quality restaurant with a chef that has the drive and ambition to create something spectacular.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Wild Iris
I feel terrible that it has literally taken me two months to get to this post! Wild Iris must be done justice, though, so I couldn't just slap something together. It was Valentine's Day, well, the day before. V-day is generally known to me as my parents' anniversary. I guess they felt bad for me dealing with the beginnings of what has turned into an absolute nightmare and the fact that Louis was still in Afghanistan so they forced me to go with them. I'm really not joking about the forced part. I didn't want to go, I wanted to stay home and work. When we got there the hostess almost had a fit because three people showed up for a reservation for two. The place was packed (it's not a very big place) but the man who ended up being our waited glanced at the schedule and quickly rearranged a couple things. So, first thing's first, make reservations.
Upset as I was, the first bite of food sent all my problems away for the night. The salad was literally the best salad that I have ever had. It's funny that the menu refers to it as the "baby arugula" salad. It is so much more! It had pecan crusted roasted beets, sage goat cheese, bourbon figs, and a Tabasco sorghum vinaigrette. It sounds like everything would compete against the other elements, but the flavor profiles are similar enough with the basic theme of sweet, salty, savory so it all works together. The vinaigrette is very light; it almost disappears. There is just enough to bridge the elements with the fresh, peppery lettuce. The pecan crusted beets are one if the best things I have ever eaten. If you don't think you like beets, these will change your mind.
My dad ordered the antipasto platter. This is something that could have gone very boring, but just reading the description, you know it's going to be something special.
For the entree, my mom had the scallops with roasted garlic gnocchi. It sounds like a strange combination but it was delicious. The super soft gnocchi somehow go perfectly with the diver scallops. The menu said there was a mushroom broth, but it was more like a ragout. It is to die for either way! My dad had the cashew crusted salmon with butternut squash ravioli, fig jam, and a chimichurri salad. Again, things that sound odd together, but work in a way that can't fully be explained. Normally, I am not a huge fan of nut crusts. They can be scorched and bitter and often the texture just isn't right. Wild Iris can go ahead and crust their entire menu with nuts for all I care because they have perfected it! (I don't have pictures because the lighting in the restaurant is limited and I was getting frustrated of just getting totally unusable crap worse than the antipasto pic, lol! Also, we all wanted to eat.)
I had the herb crusted tuna with spaghetti squash rollatini stuffed with portabellos, broccolini and ricotta salata with roasted red pepper and black truffle buerre blanc. The tuna was not actually herb crusted; at least, not at all what I would ever consider to be herb crusted. It was well seasoned and cooked to a perfect medium-rare. Those two things are the most important elements of good tuna anyway. The flavors in the rollatini were wonderfully balanced. However, it was a little over salted. The sauce.... yeah, that's a lick your plate kind of sauce.
Dessert is not something I usually order out, but when you go to a nice place.... You have to do it. The menu was pretty standard: creme brule, chocolate torte, cheesecake, blah blah blah, boring. Then our waiter mentioned the last dessert. Banana Pudding Cheesecake. Yes please! It sounded too good to turn down. The crust is vanilla wafers and bananas are pureed into the cheese base. Fresh whip cream and caramel sauce finish it off. Decadent and heavenly. *Sigh*
Upset as I was, the first bite of food sent all my problems away for the night. The salad was literally the best salad that I have ever had. It's funny that the menu refers to it as the "baby arugula" salad. It is so much more! It had pecan crusted roasted beets, sage goat cheese, bourbon figs, and a Tabasco sorghum vinaigrette. It sounds like everything would compete against the other elements, but the flavor profiles are similar enough with the basic theme of sweet, salty, savory so it all works together. The vinaigrette is very light; it almost disappears. There is just enough to bridge the elements with the fresh, peppery lettuce. The pecan crusted beets are one if the best things I have ever eaten. If you don't think you like beets, these will change your mind.
"Prosciutto wrapped Asparagus, Salami Boursin Cheese Roulades, Country Olives,
Sundried Tomato Relish, Manchego, Caper Berries"
The salami is an artisan sausage. The creamy, herby boursin cheese is homemade as is the beautifully sweet and tangy sundried tomato relish. The caper berries are giant. Literally. And there was a tiny surprise on the side of the plate. White anchovies. Wow. I can't say these are for everyone, but they are so amazing! Briny, fishy goodness that automatically makes you think of the Mediterranean.
I had the herb crusted tuna with spaghetti squash rollatini stuffed with portabellos, broccolini and ricotta salata with roasted red pepper and black truffle buerre blanc. The tuna was not actually herb crusted; at least, not at all what I would ever consider to be herb crusted. It was well seasoned and cooked to a perfect medium-rare. Those two things are the most important elements of good tuna anyway. The flavors in the rollatini were wonderfully balanced. However, it was a little over salted. The sauce.... yeah, that's a lick your plate kind of sauce.
127 Franklin Road
Brentwood, TN
615-370-0871
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Caprice Bistro
It's time for the food highlight of last weekend's trip to Wilmington! Louis and I are still dreaming of the food. Caprice Bistro. A tiny little French restaurant in the heart of downtown with a sofa lounge, of all things, on the second floor. We did not go to the sofa bar, but I really want to on a future trip! You are probably thinking, French... oh, it's probably stuffy and expensive. Wrong. The chef/owner Thierry Moity was born in France and knows exactly what a bistro should be: understated and relaxed with an air of elegance. The food is beautiful and has options for every price range.
We started with the escargot. The sweet, tender snails were swimming in the most delightful broth I can possibly imagine. Roquefort cream with garlic, I believe there was a touch of tomato paste and a pinch of thyme. Whatever it was, it was exquisite. So good, that if they had forgotten to put the snails in, I wouldn't have cared. Despite calling it a "cream", it is light and the flavor doesn't overpower the mild escargot. Make sure you save the bread they bring first for this sauce! I would have picked up the bowl and licked it if that were acceptable.
For the entree, Louis had the Crepe aux Fromage. It is a huge crepe stuffed with fresh baby spinach, swiss, gruyere, goat cheese, and parmesan. Yes it is cheesy, but oddly, not too cheesy. There is just enough spinach to cut through the quartet of cheeses (though, you can't see that in the picture.) And the crepe: perfect, thin but fluffy, evenly cooked without a single brown spot... I don't even know how that is accomplished!
My dinner was the Mussles Bruxelles. Giant Prince Edward Island mussles in a beer cream with mustard, parsley, and bacon. If I have a complaint of this dish, it is that the mussles were too large. When mussles get larger, it is harder to properly clean them and grit or a bit of the tough beard (attachment mussle) can be left. I only had one slightly gritty mussle in the pile; the rest were meaty and sweet and lovely. Oh, and it should have been served with a hunk of baguette. I ate all the mussles, then sat there slurping the broth. Absolutely delicious. I considered asking for a to go box for the extra broth.
Nevermind the fact that we were getting full, on to dessert! We split the chocolate mousse. I like mousse, but I thought it sounded a little boring for dessert. However, it was the dessert we could agree on. I was SO wrong about boring! The menu doesn't tell you that it is a chocolate trio: white, milk, and dark. I guess they want to surprise you. They also surprise you with the presentation. Usually mousse is in a container of some sort, often because they may not have been made properly and it might fall. Moiry boldy serves his like ice cream scoops. We couldn't decide which was our favorite; the consesus was which ever you are eating at the time is the best. All I can say is "heaven"!
We started with the escargot. The sweet, tender snails were swimming in the most delightful broth I can possibly imagine. Roquefort cream with garlic, I believe there was a touch of tomato paste and a pinch of thyme. Whatever it was, it was exquisite. So good, that if they had forgotten to put the snails in, I wouldn't have cared. Despite calling it a "cream", it is light and the flavor doesn't overpower the mild escargot. Make sure you save the bread they bring first for this sauce! I would have picked up the bowl and licked it if that were acceptable.
The next time you are in Wilmington, please try Caprice Bistro! There is something for everyone, even you non-adventerous, picky eaters (I swear!)
10 Market St.
Wilmington, NC
910-815-0810
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