The Husband recently brought home the latest issue of Minnesota Monthly with the Top 10 BBQ places splashed across it's cover. We thought they were going to focus mostly on the restaurants in the Twin Cities, but much to our surprise, it was mostly out-state restaurants. Also, much to our dismay, our favorite BBQ joint, Market BBQ, didn't even get a notable mention. Alas! Alas!
As we were happily googling the location of said top 10, one in our neck of the woods appeared. Louie's Bucket of Bones. It just so happened that we would be driving by Ironton over the Forth of July Weekend. About lunch time.
This restaurant, according to the article in MN Monthly, established in 2002. Not a large establishment by any stretch of the imagination (I think the building used to be a gas station in days gone by) it holds about four tables inside and four outside during nice weather.
Louie's has a small menu featuring pork, chicken, beef, jo-jo's, and homemade Texas toast. The Husband and I split a plate of St. Louis Ribs and fried chicken, with jo-jo's and the toast. The ribs were outstanding - succulent, tender and just enough sauce to make them sing. The husband prefers to add his own sauce, but I think even he agreed they were still pretty darn good. The Texas toast was outstanding - thick, soft and delicious. Perfect to mop up the bits of rib sauce. The fried chicken - eh. It was dry and slightly overcooked.
Our only complaint was with the owner's obsession with telling people how to eat their food. Upon arriving, we received a tutorial on her spice rub and a complete walk through of her menu. Umm, every indie restaurant has their own special spice rub, I don't need to sniff a tub of it and I'm perfectly capable of reading the menu and picking out my ribs. That in and of itself would have been fine, but after we were served (well after we were served), she came bustling over and assaulted our jo-jo's for Jo-Jo 101. Which was basically: cut the large wedge french fry down the middle, slather it with sour cream then pour her special sauce over that. Neither the Husband or I particularly cared for the 'special sauce' and I like it even less to have my food handled by someone else after it's been sitting in front of me.
Still, the ribs were indeed outstanding. We'd go back just for ribs and the Texas toast (and the jo-jo's if we're left alone).
Showing posts with label restaurants. Show all posts
Showing posts with label restaurants. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Friday, April 30, 2010
Independence, MO - Road Trip!
The Husband and I headed south last weekend for a fun filled adventure in Independence, MO. What took us to Independence you ask?
The MN Twins played the KC Royals!
This was the highlight of the trip. The Husband saw them first at the NEW Target Field, then we went south and saw them again. I was amazed at how many Minnesotans made the trip, but from the Twin Cities it's only a 6 hour drive (10 hours for us from Duluth).
It was a good game - windy, cool, rainy, 12 innings. Yes, this is what we call a good game. Though I get very annoyed at extra innings (I was also cold by the 8th) and persuaded the Husband to take us to a sports bar to watch the end of the game.
Saturday we visited the Harry S. Truman presidential museum, the Vail Mansion, and went to the game.
Sunday we visited the Overland Park Arboretum, walked around historic downtown Independence, and toured the Briggs-Waggoner Mansion. The Briggs-Waggoner Mansion was right next to the beginning of the Santa Fe Wagon Trail.
Overland Park Arboretum
The Briggs-Waggoner Mansion
No mention of the food? Nope. It was seriously unremarkable. We hit a pizza place that had some of the blandest pizza I've every had and a KC BBQ place which was noted in one of my cooking magazines that left us underwhelmed. On our return drive home we hit the Twin Cities right at dinner time and the Husband wanted good BBQ so we went to our favorite place - Market Barbecue. Seriously, we drove from Kansas City to Mpls to have good BBQ. We've been going here for 20 years. If you're in the Twin Cities (Minneapolis specifically) this is hands down the best BBQ in the area.
The MN Twins played the KC Royals!
This was the highlight of the trip. The Husband saw them first at the NEW Target Field, then we went south and saw them again. I was amazed at how many Minnesotans made the trip, but from the Twin Cities it's only a 6 hour drive (10 hours for us from Duluth).
It was a good game - windy, cool, rainy, 12 innings. Yes, this is what we call a good game. Though I get very annoyed at extra innings (I was also cold by the 8th) and persuaded the Husband to take us to a sports bar to watch the end of the game.
Saturday we visited the Harry S. Truman presidential museum, the Vail Mansion, and went to the game.
Sunday we visited the Overland Park Arboretum, walked around historic downtown Independence, and toured the Briggs-Waggoner Mansion. The Briggs-Waggoner Mansion was right next to the beginning of the Santa Fe Wagon Trail.
Overland Park Arboretum
The Briggs-Waggoner MansionNo mention of the food? Nope. It was seriously unremarkable. We hit a pizza place that had some of the blandest pizza I've every had and a KC BBQ place which was noted in one of my cooking magazines that left us underwhelmed. On our return drive home we hit the Twin Cities right at dinner time and the Husband wanted good BBQ so we went to our favorite place - Market Barbecue. Seriously, we drove from Kansas City to Mpls to have good BBQ. We've been going here for 20 years. If you're in the Twin Cities (Minneapolis specifically) this is hands down the best BBQ in the area.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Restarant Review: Surabhi
Surabhi Indian Cuisine is located in Bloomington, MN (Twin Cities) at 517 West 98th Street. It's in a small strip mall which was initially a bit of an adventure to find. My sister-in-law recommended the place and spoke highly of the fact that it represented Southern Indian food.
So it was that my friend and I made our annual pilgrimage to Minicon over Easter weekend (a local scifi convention) and we like to start the weekend with lunch on Fridays at a new place. We've done Indian, Afghan, Chinese, American...at least that's what I can remember over 15 years of attending.
First hint that it might be good - a huge party of Indians had just departed, like twenty guys. Inside, half the patrons were Indians. If these folks are eating here, they must be on to something.
Second hint, it was fairly busy for 1:30 in the afternoon. If a buffet is dead by 1:00, there might be concerns. But no, people were still coming in.
I don't recall if they had an option of ordering off the menu, but we went right for the buffet. An acceptable selection of options - both for carnivores and vegetarians. I was delighted they had my favorite Saag Paneer/Palak Paneer (creamed spinach with homemade cheese cubes. Yes. I'm weird.). Have to have the naan, and the basmati rice, and the little donut holes in syrup...now I'm full. I did try something that looked like a little white flying saucer with coconut milk but it really didn't grab my fancy.
I'm not sure anything more that pop and water were an option for drinks. Usually I order a Mango Lassi or Darjeeling tea, but nary a tea cup to be seen.
The decor is not much to get excited about; it was a bit dowdy. The signs over the buffet to take as much food as you wanted, but to please not waste was on the odd side. I'd go next door to Bakers Square for pie and tea if I wanted to linger and chat with my dining companion.
Still. Recommended. Buffet - $10.00.
So it was that my friend and I made our annual pilgrimage to Minicon over Easter weekend (a local scifi convention) and we like to start the weekend with lunch on Fridays at a new place. We've done Indian, Afghan, Chinese, American...at least that's what I can remember over 15 years of attending.
First hint that it might be good - a huge party of Indians had just departed, like twenty guys. Inside, half the patrons were Indians. If these folks are eating here, they must be on to something.
Second hint, it was fairly busy for 1:30 in the afternoon. If a buffet is dead by 1:00, there might be concerns. But no, people were still coming in.
I don't recall if they had an option of ordering off the menu, but we went right for the buffet. An acceptable selection of options - both for carnivores and vegetarians. I was delighted they had my favorite Saag Paneer/Palak Paneer (creamed spinach with homemade cheese cubes. Yes. I'm weird.). Have to have the naan, and the basmati rice, and the little donut holes in syrup...now I'm full. I did try something that looked like a little white flying saucer with coconut milk but it really didn't grab my fancy.
I'm not sure anything more that pop and water were an option for drinks. Usually I order a Mango Lassi or Darjeeling tea, but nary a tea cup to be seen.
The decor is not much to get excited about; it was a bit dowdy. The signs over the buffet to take as much food as you wanted, but to please not waste was on the odd side. I'd go next door to Bakers Square for pie and tea if I wanted to linger and chat with my dining companion.
Still. Recommended. Buffet - $10.00.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Restaurant Review: Hanabi, Duluth, MN
Dudes. I am so totally discombobulated from these past two weeks I don’t know if I’m coming or going. Mondays are supposed to be my recipe review day but I honestly can’t remember the last new recipe I made. Why? You might inquire? Well, the Husband came back unexpectedly from Kuwait due to the passing of his mother. In between hospital visits, I made a run to the Cities for a Michael Buble concert (to be reviewed shortly) and my yearly science fiction convention (also to be reviewed shortly). I’ve been knitting mittens like a fiend (easy to do while waiting at the hospital) and reading.
But first, how about a restaurant review? It’s been a while since I’ve posted about good places to eat.
Hanabi, Duluth, MN
Japanese/Sushi
Menu
Hanabi’s opened just a couple months ago to good reviews. Owned and operated by some folks from New York who decided the Mpls/St. Paul sushi scene was saturated, they chose Duluth. I am so glad they did! A friend and I met here for lunch a while back - lucky me! - it’s within walking distance of my office. 11:30 was the appointed meeting hour and we were seated immediately. By noon, the place was comfortably full.
Beautiful mahogany woodwork is softly light with overhead lighting. A liquor bar is on the end closest to the street, complete with a monster plasma TV. Detraction IMO. The sushi bar is along the brick wall toward the back and in between are the tables and booths. I thought the place was warm if not a bit austere. Some modern art on the walls would have spruced up the plain green walls and added just a splash of color.
My friend and I each ordered green tea (a must in my opinion if eating sushi) and miso soup ($2.50/bowl). Much to my surprise it was yellow miso, not brown as I am accustomed to. Much more mild. I think I still prefer the brown.
We then shared:
Hanabi roll ($15) Shrimp tempura roll topped with fresh scallop, king crab meat and three different kinds of caviar. Seriously, this was heaven on a plate.
Uni ($8) two pieces comprised of rice wrapped in seaweed, topped with sea urchin and a quail egg. Not for everyone.
Kampyo roll ($4) cooked sweet squash. A nice simple sushi roll to counter the complex flavors above.
Prices are comparable to what I would find in the Cities (comparing to Midori’s Floating World, Origami, Tampopo, Kigigaua’s, and Fugi Ya’s). A bit pricey for a Duluth lunch - $42.00 total when all was said and done.
Excellent flavors and presentation; service was so so (waitress seemed to be new or not very experienced yet), good atmosphere. Reservations aren’t necessary for lunch, but will need them on Friday and Saturday nights.
But first, how about a restaurant review? It’s been a while since I’ve posted about good places to eat.
Hanabi, Duluth, MN
Japanese/Sushi
Menu
Hanabi’s opened just a couple months ago to good reviews. Owned and operated by some folks from New York who decided the Mpls/St. Paul sushi scene was saturated, they chose Duluth. I am so glad they did! A friend and I met here for lunch a while back - lucky me! - it’s within walking distance of my office. 11:30 was the appointed meeting hour and we were seated immediately. By noon, the place was comfortably full.
Beautiful mahogany woodwork is softly light with overhead lighting. A liquor bar is on the end closest to the street, complete with a monster plasma TV. Detraction IMO. The sushi bar is along the brick wall toward the back and in between are the tables and booths. I thought the place was warm if not a bit austere. Some modern art on the walls would have spruced up the plain green walls and added just a splash of color.
My friend and I each ordered green tea (a must in my opinion if eating sushi) and miso soup ($2.50/bowl). Much to my surprise it was yellow miso, not brown as I am accustomed to. Much more mild. I think I still prefer the brown.
We then shared:
Hanabi roll ($15) Shrimp tempura roll topped with fresh scallop, king crab meat and three different kinds of caviar. Seriously, this was heaven on a plate.
Uni ($8) two pieces comprised of rice wrapped in seaweed, topped with sea urchin and a quail egg. Not for everyone.
Kampyo roll ($4) cooked sweet squash. A nice simple sushi roll to counter the complex flavors above.
Prices are comparable to what I would find in the Cities (comparing to Midori’s Floating World, Origami, Tampopo, Kigigaua’s, and Fugi Ya’s). A bit pricey for a Duluth lunch - $42.00 total when all was said and done.
Excellent flavors and presentation; service was so so (waitress seemed to be new or not very experienced yet), good atmosphere. Reservations aren’t necessary for lunch, but will need them on Friday and Saturday nights.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Texas 6/09
Last week the Husband and I spent a week in central Texas enjoying the sights of the "Hill Country", melting a bit in the heat, and staying cool in a couple of caverns. This was my first trip to Texas; the Husband has spent time at San Angelo AFB when he was full time military waaayyy back in about '87-'88. If you were to ask him though, he would say that doesn't count.
Was it hot? you ask? YOU BETCHA! According to our gracious hosts Neil and Dee at the San Gabriel Bed and Breakfast, central Texas is currently experiencing their third hottest summer on record. By 10:00a, it would be 85*. By noon thermometers were hitting 95* easy. By 2:00p in the afternoon it would be a toasty 100* to 105*. We were in Austin one day when they hit a record setting 105*. If you could stay in the shade, it honestly wasn't that bad. At least I didn't think so. Still, I sprayed copious amounts of sunscreen on my pale Minnesota skin just to be safe.
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I'll break the trip down into a couple of postings otherwise this will get a bit long.
Sunday we made our way from Killeen, TX (a short 35 minute commuter flight from Dallas-Fort Worth) to Georgetown, TX. When we were deciding what to do and where to go, we decided that Georgetown seemed centrally located and had several nice B&B's to choose from. I picked The San Gabriel House because it was across the street from a private collage which I thought would make for a nice place to walk around in the evenings.
Dee made what I consider to be a perfect breakfast: fruit, egg of some kind, small side of meat and scone or English muffin. I didn't go away hungry and I wasn't overfed! Each morning before breakfast - which we liked to have at 9:00 so we weren't rushed, we ARE on vacation after all - a carafe of hot water with cream and tea would be set in the "common" area upstairs for us. So we could get dressed and read the paper and just hang out before going downstairs for a formal breakfast.
Out of all the B&B's which we've stayed at (which I think is five now), I have to say this one was my absolute favorite. I felt very comfortable just hanging out, I loved breakfast and the tea service, it was a beautiful home, and we had the place to ourselves! It helped that we were there mid-week.
So Monday was supposed to be a more laid back, hang-out, kinda day to recover from traveling. We decided to visit a local vineyard that touted a small bistro - can't get much more mellow than that, right? Alas, upon arriving, we discovered they were closed on Mondays. Plans quickly changed, we found a taco stand in the next town for some lunch then headed to Longhorn Cavern State Park because being underground seemed to be the Right Thing To Do.
This was a neat cave that dated back to the 1930's and had a CCC history. A guided tour lasted about 1 1/2 hours and it certainly didn't seem that long. And they didn't disappoint - partway through they did the whole plunge the group into darkness bit (and it is amazing just HOW dark the absence of light really is).
On our way back to Georgetown, we swung by Buchannan Dam but really couldn't get a good view of it. It is one of the only arch style dams left in the States and they don't make them this way anymore because they are so incredibly labor intensive.
Dinner was kept simple because by this point we were hot and tired. We kept it local both in location and style and went to the County Seat Restaurant. Basic cafe/diner food in a restored historic building. I will say though, my Southern Style Chicken was excellent (sides weren't) and the peach pie was YUM-MEE!
Next post: Austin, TX
Was it hot? you ask? YOU BETCHA! According to our gracious hosts Neil and Dee at the San Gabriel Bed and Breakfast, central Texas is currently experiencing their third hottest summer on record. By 10:00a, it would be 85*. By noon thermometers were hitting 95* easy. By 2:00p in the afternoon it would be a toasty 100* to 105*. We were in Austin one day when they hit a record setting 105*. If you could stay in the shade, it honestly wasn't that bad. At least I didn't think so. Still, I sprayed copious amounts of sunscreen on my pale Minnesota skin just to be safe.
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I'll break the trip down into a couple of postings otherwise this will get a bit long.
Sunday we made our way from Killeen, TX (a short 35 minute commuter flight from Dallas-Fort Worth) to Georgetown, TX. When we were deciding what to do and where to go, we decided that Georgetown seemed centrally located and had several nice B&B's to choose from. I picked The San Gabriel House because it was across the street from a private collage which I thought would make for a nice place to walk around in the evenings.
Dee made what I consider to be a perfect breakfast: fruit, egg of some kind, small side of meat and scone or English muffin. I didn't go away hungry and I wasn't overfed! Each morning before breakfast - which we liked to have at 9:00 so we weren't rushed, we ARE on vacation after all - a carafe of hot water with cream and tea would be set in the "common" area upstairs for us. So we could get dressed and read the paper and just hang out before going downstairs for a formal breakfast.
Out of all the B&B's which we've stayed at (which I think is five now), I have to say this one was my absolute favorite. I felt very comfortable just hanging out, I loved breakfast and the tea service, it was a beautiful home, and we had the place to ourselves! It helped that we were there mid-week.
So Monday was supposed to be a more laid back, hang-out, kinda day to recover from traveling. We decided to visit a local vineyard that touted a small bistro - can't get much more mellow than that, right? Alas, upon arriving, we discovered they were closed on Mondays. Plans quickly changed, we found a taco stand in the next town for some lunch then headed to Longhorn Cavern State Park because being underground seemed to be the Right Thing To Do.
This was a neat cave that dated back to the 1930's and had a CCC history. A guided tour lasted about 1 1/2 hours and it certainly didn't seem that long. And they didn't disappoint - partway through they did the whole plunge the group into darkness bit (and it is amazing just HOW dark the absence of light really is).
On our way back to Georgetown, we swung by Buchannan Dam but really couldn't get a good view of it. It is one of the only arch style dams left in the States and they don't make them this way anymore because they are so incredibly labor intensive.
Dinner was kept simple because by this point we were hot and tired. We kept it local both in location and style and went to the County Seat Restaurant. Basic cafe/diner food in a restored historic building. I will say though, my Southern Style Chicken was excellent (sides weren't) and the peach pie was YUM-MEE!
Next post: Austin, TX
Monday, March 23, 2009
Edisto Island, S. Carolina!
The Husband and I slipped away for a quick vacation last week. We actually started planning this trip last October and it was our intent to go to Mexico but the plane tickets were outrageously prohibitive so we ended up in S. Carolina, a place neither one of us has been too. When we left Duluth it was -8*. When we arrived in SC, it was about 50* and overcast. Ahhh....
Edisto Island is about an hour south of Charleston and two hours north of Savannah, GA. Two of its sides meet the ocean, and the other two (three?) are defined by a river and an inter coastal waterway. When we picked this resort (Wyndham Ocean View) we thought we would be closer to Charleston than we were, but wiggling around those rivers made it farther out than we thought. Still, after spending a week in the "low country" we have no complaints!
After a dreadfully long day of two plane flights (at least the connecting flight was the one that was an hour late) and one car rental (we rented a Toyota Prius for you curious minds) we arrived at the resort at 9:00p on Friday. Enough time to check in, put the groceries away and chill for a while before bed.
Our unit - a one bedroom with a kitchen.
The "Village"
Part of the grounds
We ate here on our drive in: the Enterprise Pavilion. The Husband had crab cakes and I had a seafood platter with oysters, shrimp, founder and scallops. Yum!
The Husband was fighting a head cold, and with back to back trips for him (he had two weeks annual training for Nat. Guards the week before we left) combined with our long travel day, we were couch mushrooms on Saturday - venturing out only to eat dinner and to check out the dolphin beach. We were lucky! Dolphins!
Really, it is a dolphin!
Exploring
Dinner was at the Dockside, a local place where the waitstaff seemed to be on a first name basis with most of the customers. Also delicious! I had another seafood platter (I liked the variety) and the Husband had softshell crab. Oh my! His was super good - and a bit odd for us northern folk. To be eating the WHOLE crab was cool and weird at the same time. We'll be coming back to this particular dish later in the trip.
I'll post about the rest of our adventures in the coming days - we went to Savannah, GA, toured the States only Tea Plantation, went to Charleston, and explored Edisto Island. Lots to talk about!
Edisto Island is about an hour south of Charleston and two hours north of Savannah, GA. Two of its sides meet the ocean, and the other two (three?) are defined by a river and an inter coastal waterway. When we picked this resort (Wyndham Ocean View) we thought we would be closer to Charleston than we were, but wiggling around those rivers made it farther out than we thought. Still, after spending a week in the "low country" we have no complaints!
After a dreadfully long day of two plane flights (at least the connecting flight was the one that was an hour late) and one car rental (we rented a Toyota Prius for you curious minds) we arrived at the resort at 9:00p on Friday. Enough time to check in, put the groceries away and chill for a while before bed.
Our unit - a one bedroom with a kitchen.
The "Village"
Part of the grounds
We ate here on our drive in: the Enterprise Pavilion. The Husband had crab cakes and I had a seafood platter with oysters, shrimp, founder and scallops. Yum!
The Husband was fighting a head cold, and with back to back trips for him (he had two weeks annual training for Nat. Guards the week before we left) combined with our long travel day, we were couch mushrooms on Saturday - venturing out only to eat dinner and to check out the dolphin beach. We were lucky! Dolphins!
Really, it is a dolphin!
Exploring
Dinner was at the Dockside, a local place where the waitstaff seemed to be on a first name basis with most of the customers. Also delicious! I had another seafood platter (I liked the variety) and the Husband had softshell crab. Oh my! His was super good - and a bit odd for us northern folk. To be eating the WHOLE crab was cool and weird at the same time. We'll be coming back to this particular dish later in the trip.
I'll post about the rest of our adventures in the coming days - we went to Savannah, GA, toured the States only Tea Plantation, went to Charleston, and explored Edisto Island. Lots to talk about!
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
The Lighthouse, Knife River, MN
The Husband and I didn't have any set plans for Valentines Day, we're pretty low key people and prefer to avoid the obnoxious restaurant mark-ups, lines, and bustle that tend to accompany this day.
Instead, we found ourselves taking a leisurely drive through the country north of Duluth as we wound our way to The Lighthouse Restaurant. The speedy way to get there would be to buzz up Hwy 61, but that isn't as much fun; or to putter up old Hwy 61 along Lake Superior, but we do that a fair amount already.
Now my Folks have already tried The Lighthouse out, and spoke favorably to its ambiance and menu. We arrived at about 1:30p - a bit after any lunch rush, and found the restaurant pleasantly busy but by no means packed. It was a seat yourself time of day and we picked a spot out of the overly bright windows but where we could still see the gas fireplace.
This is a family run business, and there were only two waitstaff on for the afternoon. Nobody seemed to be in a rush, it was so very pleasant. I *thought* I ordered a Veggie Sandwich with no cucumbers with a cup of clam chowder, and The Husband ordered a BLT with a bowl of the same soup. What I actually got was the Veggie Rice Burger with a side of fries. I'm still not sure how she got Veggie burger from Veggie Sandwich no cucumbers. Still, I wasn't disappointed as the Veggie Burger was very good. A combination of wild rice and sweet potato (I think, I couldn't really identify the filling), it was very tasty served on a butter bun with lettuce and tomato. I think the Husband liked his BLT, he ate all of it and some of my fries.
Like I said, it was very pleasant. My only complaint was that they did need one more waitstaff. It was just busy enough with the two that it took a very, very long time to get our bill. It's hard to sit and wait when your drinks are empty.
Would we go again? You bet!
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Valentini's Italian Restaurant, Duluth, MN
My folks took the Husband and I out for a combination New Year's Eve dinner and an early birthday dinner for me. We selected Valentini's because we could get an early reservation at the last minute and because we have not tried them out yet.
I made the reservation the day before New Years Eve, and then I had to call back and change the reservation to an earlier time. The hostess was very accommodating and they had space available at 5:00p.
We arrived on time and were immediately seated. The interior is a very lovely open floor plan with lots of windows over looking the Lake and the Lakewalk Surgery Center. For those of you familiar with Duluth, this was an existing building adjacent to the Rose Garden parking lot that has been extensively renovated. It was a combination of booths along the wall and tables over the rest of the floor. A large fireplace adorns one end of the room, and a somewhat open kitchen is on the other. We were seated in a booth in a corner which gave us a nice view of the whole room - our only complaint was the chill coming off the window.
For our "starters" (not appetizers) we were served warmed rustic bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. I selected a bottle of Est! Est! Est! white wine (I am totally blanking the name) that was very good for the four of us to share. Three of us had salads - I didn't think there was anything special about it but the Mother liked the "house" dressing (I think it was a bottled variety). The Husband ordered a Tomato Bisque Soup that was quite good.
They offered a specialty menu for New Year's Eve: I selected Prawns in a Spinach Garlic sauce over a rice pilaf; the parents both had Shrimp Linguine; the Husband had a steak with mashed potatoes.
The dishes all tasted very good, and in the case of mine and the Husband's dish, were served with a side of steamed baby carrots (should have been quartered) and green beans. I felt my prawns were on the small side for what we paid for the dish - in other words, I have bought larger ones at my local meat market. The Mother felt the 5 shrimp on her pasta was a paltry amount and something set her tummy off for several hours after dinner. The Husband's steak was done to satisfaction and the Father enjoyed his dish.
I would like to try Valentini's again under normal circumstances. For the most part I enjoyed my dining experience, but I would like to sample something from their regular menu.
I made the reservation the day before New Years Eve, and then I had to call back and change the reservation to an earlier time. The hostess was very accommodating and they had space available at 5:00p.
We arrived on time and were immediately seated. The interior is a very lovely open floor plan with lots of windows over looking the Lake and the Lakewalk Surgery Center. For those of you familiar with Duluth, this was an existing building adjacent to the Rose Garden parking lot that has been extensively renovated. It was a combination of booths along the wall and tables over the rest of the floor. A large fireplace adorns one end of the room, and a somewhat open kitchen is on the other. We were seated in a booth in a corner which gave us a nice view of the whole room - our only complaint was the chill coming off the window.
For our "starters" (not appetizers) we were served warmed rustic bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. I selected a bottle of Est! Est! Est! white wine (I am totally blanking the name) that was very good for the four of us to share. Three of us had salads - I didn't think there was anything special about it but the Mother liked the "house" dressing (I think it was a bottled variety). The Husband ordered a Tomato Bisque Soup that was quite good.
They offered a specialty menu for New Year's Eve: I selected Prawns in a Spinach Garlic sauce over a rice pilaf; the parents both had Shrimp Linguine; the Husband had a steak with mashed potatoes.
The dishes all tasted very good, and in the case of mine and the Husband's dish, were served with a side of steamed baby carrots (should have been quartered) and green beans. I felt my prawns were on the small side for what we paid for the dish - in other words, I have bought larger ones at my local meat market. The Mother felt the 5 shrimp on her pasta was a paltry amount and something set her tummy off for several hours after dinner. The Husband's steak was done to satisfaction and the Father enjoyed his dish.
I would like to try Valentini's again under normal circumstances. For the most part I enjoyed my dining experience, but I would like to sample something from their regular menu.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Bangkok Royal Thai Restaurant, Duluth, MN
10/16/10 - Editing to add Bangkok Royal restaurant has regretably gone out of business. If you want Thai food in Duluth, I strongly recommened Thai Kratong in Canal Park (S. Lake Ave).
It was a dark and stormy day. The rain was coming down in cold sheets of stinging pellets and the clouds hung heavy in the sky. So when the lunch invite came across e-mail, there was no hesitation in saying YES! And the negotiations began...
We agreed to try the new Thai restaurant: Bangkok Royal. Not certain it was even open, we knew we could walk across the parking lot for Bridgeman’s Friday fish fry as a backup. We knew it was in the location of the former Saigon Café back behind Bridgeman’s in the Village Mall -for those of you from the area.
The interior has had a facelift and a bit of a renovation. The decor is simple: white linens, simple pictures from Thailand, long drapes in the windows, with one end of the room elevated to accommodate floor tables and cushions. Overall appearance was one of elegance. Did we make a mistake in coming for lunch?
We were given a single sheet of heavy stock paper for the lunch menu and the waitress explained that with our lunch order we would get either one fried spring roll or one fresh spring roll and we were left to figure out the menu. At first glance my apprehension grew - I knew what Phad Thai was (and it has peanut butter and peanuts in it), but it took explaining from the waitress to figure out the rest. Ahh! Not so difficult after all - for example, “With Ginger” explains the base of the dish, and you can then choose between chicken, pork, or beef.
I picked Phad Cee Eow (“pad cee oo”) with chicken - wide rice noodles stir fried with vegetables in a dark soy bean sauce. My dining companion chose “with basil - chicken”: stir fried with house roasted chili sauce, vegetables, bamboo shoots and topped with basil. Beverages were one coffee and one tea.
The spring rolls came first - piping hot, lightly fried with a tangy sauce on the side. The main dishes were delicious. The Phad Cee Eow was flavorful and saucy, perfect “comfort food” for a rainy day. The Basil Chicken was bright and crisp - the vegetables being yellow peppers, thinly sliced sweet potatoes, bamboo shoots and bean sprouts (I think....). The chicken in both dishes was thinly sliced white meat and cooked to perfection. Even with sharing dishes, there was enough to take home for lunches.
Lunch prices ranged from $9.95 to about $13.95. I grabbed a menu to take with and dinner prices start at $13.95. Would I go again? Yes.
After I got back to the office, I told another co-worker about Bangkok Royal, and it sounded like he was going to try it out later that evening. I will have to get his thoughts.
It was a dark and stormy day. The rain was coming down in cold sheets of stinging pellets and the clouds hung heavy in the sky. So when the lunch invite came across e-mail, there was no hesitation in saying YES! And the negotiations began...
We agreed to try the new Thai restaurant: Bangkok Royal. Not certain it was even open, we knew we could walk across the parking lot for Bridgeman’s Friday fish fry as a backup. We knew it was in the location of the former Saigon Café back behind Bridgeman’s in the Village Mall -for those of you from the area.
The interior has had a facelift and a bit of a renovation. The decor is simple: white linens, simple pictures from Thailand, long drapes in the windows, with one end of the room elevated to accommodate floor tables and cushions. Overall appearance was one of elegance. Did we make a mistake in coming for lunch?
We were given a single sheet of heavy stock paper for the lunch menu and the waitress explained that with our lunch order we would get either one fried spring roll or one fresh spring roll and we were left to figure out the menu. At first glance my apprehension grew - I knew what Phad Thai was (and it has peanut butter and peanuts in it), but it took explaining from the waitress to figure out the rest. Ahh! Not so difficult after all - for example, “With Ginger” explains the base of the dish, and you can then choose between chicken, pork, or beef.
I picked Phad Cee Eow (“pad cee oo”) with chicken - wide rice noodles stir fried with vegetables in a dark soy bean sauce. My dining companion chose “with basil - chicken”: stir fried with house roasted chili sauce, vegetables, bamboo shoots and topped with basil. Beverages were one coffee and one tea.
The spring rolls came first - piping hot, lightly fried with a tangy sauce on the side. The main dishes were delicious. The Phad Cee Eow was flavorful and saucy, perfect “comfort food” for a rainy day. The Basil Chicken was bright and crisp - the vegetables being yellow peppers, thinly sliced sweet potatoes, bamboo shoots and bean sprouts (I think....). The chicken in both dishes was thinly sliced white meat and cooked to perfection. Even with sharing dishes, there was enough to take home for lunches.
Lunch prices ranged from $9.95 to about $13.95. I grabbed a menu to take with and dinner prices start at $13.95. Would I go again? Yes.
After I got back to the office, I told another co-worker about Bangkok Royal, and it sounded like he was going to try it out later that evening. I will have to get his thoughts.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Ledge Rock Grille - revisited
The Parents treated the Husband and myself to dinner at the Ledge Rock Grille, Larsmont Cottages - just south of Two Harbors, MN - last Friday night. I noted our first visit back in June 08 here.
Our first experience in June was outstanding, and so it was with delighted anticipation that we returned on a brisk fall evening. Unfortunately, our expectations were sadly disappointed for this return visit. The ambiance was still just as fun, with the open kitchen at one end and big windows at the other, but it was the food which, somewhere in the intervening months, took a downward slide.
The Husband ordered the Spicy Chicken Flatbread.
The Mom ordered Baked Seafood Cannelloni
The Dad had a steak off of the "Hawaiian" menu (it was Tiki party week)
I had Parmesan Crusted Stuffed Portobello with flatbread.
We shared an appetizer of fancy fried onion wedges and Dad had some rather tasteless French Onion soup.
The menu seemed to be lacking...something. There were only 4 steak items - and this includes the Hawaiian menu. The Steak Kabob appetizer, Hickory Scented Filet Mignon ($34.00!), steak and onion flatbread and the "Hawaiian" dish Dad ordered (which was a "hanger" steak, aka flank steak). Three of the "Wood-fired" specialties were, as we came to realize when the Husband ordered his dish, merely 10" pizzas. Prices ranged from reasonable to outrageous with no middle ground. I certainly do not mind a small menu, but there needs to be a reasonable range of dishes and prices.
Dad was underwhelmed with his dish. We were all shocked that the two choices of steak were either the filet mignon or a hanger steak. Talk about two ends of the spectrum. The Husbands "wood-fired" Spicy Chicken Flatbread was merely a pizza: bits of diced chicken with some melted cheese and - this is funny - 4 whole cherry tomatoes neatly spaced around it. Visually laughable.
Mom's seafood dish was good, if not a bit rich as it was smothered in a cream sauce. I did enjoy my Portobello mushroom but I didn't need 8 wedges of flatbread. Some sauteed veggies or a wild rice pilaf would have been a better side.
The best part of the visit (other than just being out with good company) was their wild rice bread with lingonberry butter. Oh my. Served warm, the sweet butter melts delightfully over the nutty bread. I could have ate a couple baskets of that alone with some cheese and wine. Mmmm...
So it is with regret I am reporting back that Ledge Rock Grille did not stand up to the quality of our spring visit. Sadly, we probably won't go back for a while now.
Our first experience in June was outstanding, and so it was with delighted anticipation that we returned on a brisk fall evening. Unfortunately, our expectations were sadly disappointed for this return visit. The ambiance was still just as fun, with the open kitchen at one end and big windows at the other, but it was the food which, somewhere in the intervening months, took a downward slide.
The Husband ordered the Spicy Chicken Flatbread.
The Mom ordered Baked Seafood Cannelloni
The Dad had a steak off of the "Hawaiian" menu (it was Tiki party week)
I had Parmesan Crusted Stuffed Portobello with flatbread.
We shared an appetizer of fancy fried onion wedges and Dad had some rather tasteless French Onion soup.
The menu seemed to be lacking...something. There were only 4 steak items - and this includes the Hawaiian menu. The Steak Kabob appetizer, Hickory Scented Filet Mignon ($34.00!), steak and onion flatbread and the "Hawaiian" dish Dad ordered (which was a "hanger" steak, aka flank steak). Three of the "Wood-fired" specialties were, as we came to realize when the Husband ordered his dish, merely 10" pizzas. Prices ranged from reasonable to outrageous with no middle ground. I certainly do not mind a small menu, but there needs to be a reasonable range of dishes and prices.
Dad was underwhelmed with his dish. We were all shocked that the two choices of steak were either the filet mignon or a hanger steak. Talk about two ends of the spectrum. The Husbands "wood-fired" Spicy Chicken Flatbread was merely a pizza: bits of diced chicken with some melted cheese and - this is funny - 4 whole cherry tomatoes neatly spaced around it. Visually laughable.
Mom's seafood dish was good, if not a bit rich as it was smothered in a cream sauce. I did enjoy my Portobello mushroom but I didn't need 8 wedges of flatbread. Some sauteed veggies or a wild rice pilaf would have been a better side.
The best part of the visit (other than just being out with good company) was their wild rice bread with lingonberry butter. Oh my. Served warm, the sweet butter melts delightfully over the nutty bread. I could have ate a couple baskets of that alone with some cheese and wine. Mmmm...
So it is with regret I am reporting back that Ledge Rock Grille did not stand up to the quality of our spring visit. Sadly, we probably won't go back for a while now.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Ledge Rock Grill, Larsmont Cottages, MN
Ledge Rock Grill is an outstanding restaurant, located 30 minutes north of Duluth or about 10 minutes south of Two Harbors, MN. You walk into a medium sized dining room with a view of the cottages and lake overlooking a little outdoor patio and fire pit that people were clustered around making s'mores. It was a bit windy and cold and they looked so cozy clustered around the flames. An open kitchen was opposite the windows so you could watch the kitchen staff cook. In the middle of the room, off to the side was a beautiful gas fireplace. It felt more like someones home than a restaurant.
We started with salads and I found mine so-so. Bright and crisp mixed greens with hard little cherry tomatoes, canned mushrooms and canned asparagus hearts - not canned in a bad way, but I knew they came out of a can. Three of us had the citrus vinaigrette with white truffle oil, 1 had french dressing. I wouldn't pay for a salad from here again as it is not their strong suit.
For the entrees:
I had the "special" - halibut over saffron infused orzo with roasted asparagus. Fantastic. Absolutely fantastic.
The Husband had the duck and ordered it medium rare at the suggestion of the waitress. He thought it was very good.
The Mother had the breaded walleye in an aioli sauce. It was very light and tasty with no hint of grease. I think she thought the sauce overwhelmed the walleye but that's a good think in my opinion.
The Father had the sirloin and he said it was the most tender he had ever had.
Desert was very good. The Father and the Husband shared a hot fudge brownie sundae, the Mother had the White Russian Tiramasu and I had a creme brule "flight" - a sampling of pomegranate, mango and vanilla. The mango and vanilla came out tops, the pomegranate was good, but not my favorite.
Group consensus - excellent. I liked the energy of Ledge Rock Grille, from the open view on each end, the fireplace, families - there were (well behaved) kids present from little tykes to 10yos - people having a good time, the kitchen doing their thing, people around the fire outside...people getting together and enjoying themselves over a good meal.
I highly recommend Ledge Rock Grill for any special occasion dining experience.
Price ~ $$$
We started with salads and I found mine so-so. Bright and crisp mixed greens with hard little cherry tomatoes, canned mushrooms and canned asparagus hearts - not canned in a bad way, but I knew they came out of a can. Three of us had the citrus vinaigrette with white truffle oil, 1 had french dressing. I wouldn't pay for a salad from here again as it is not their strong suit.
For the entrees:
I had the "special" - halibut over saffron infused orzo with roasted asparagus. Fantastic. Absolutely fantastic.
The Husband had the duck and ordered it medium rare at the suggestion of the waitress. He thought it was very good.
The Mother had the breaded walleye in an aioli sauce. It was very light and tasty with no hint of grease. I think she thought the sauce overwhelmed the walleye but that's a good think in my opinion.
The Father had the sirloin and he said it was the most tender he had ever had.
Desert was very good. The Father and the Husband shared a hot fudge brownie sundae, the Mother had the White Russian Tiramasu and I had a creme brule "flight" - a sampling of pomegranate, mango and vanilla. The mango and vanilla came out tops, the pomegranate was good, but not my favorite.
Group consensus - excellent. I liked the energy of Ledge Rock Grille, from the open view on each end, the fireplace, families - there were (well behaved) kids present from little tykes to 10yos - people having a good time, the kitchen doing their thing, people around the fire outside...people getting together and enjoying themselves over a good meal.
I highly recommend Ledge Rock Grill for any special occasion dining experience.
Price ~ $$$
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
LeBistro, Superior, WI
It was a cold and snowy evening in April (yes, snow in April) which led to a game of contract rummy, jazz at the ‘Toga and dinner at LeBistro with the Parents. This time we were smart and made reservations ahead of time. The last time we tried to eat on a Saturday in early spring we were turned away because we did not have a reservation (at 5:00p; with an empty restaurant).
We were seated immediately in a somewhat sparsely populated dining area and got a nice window view. We accepted the waiters suggestion of a Vouveray wine which was really good. Three of us ordered caesar salads and one ordered the traditional house. I was pleased to see the house salad was a mixture of leafy greens and not iceburg lettuce. The caesar salad was perfectly seasoned and my greens were not drowning in dressing.
I had halibut in a raspberry sauce with poblano peppers, the Husband had veal ribs, the Mother had the sirloin with blackend shrimp (way overspiced) and the Father had the shrimp scampi. Everything was cooked perfectly - my halibut was moist and juicy, the shrimp were firm and succulent, the steak cook to request. I had just two critisims: I found the plating was pretty basic - meat/veggie/potato in a nice ring on the plate - and the Mother’s “blackened” shrimp was basically a crust of way too spicy chili powder. A light dredging and then a quick sear on the grill would have made for a much better shrimp.
We declined desert, the entree’s, bread and salad were plenty.
I would eat here again, but probably for lunch. While the food was good and the waitstaff attentive, the plating was pretty basic for the prices we were paying. Good food, but nothing stellar.
We were seated immediately in a somewhat sparsely populated dining area and got a nice window view. We accepted the waiters suggestion of a Vouveray wine which was really good. Three of us ordered caesar salads and one ordered the traditional house. I was pleased to see the house salad was a mixture of leafy greens and not iceburg lettuce. The caesar salad was perfectly seasoned and my greens were not drowning in dressing.
I had halibut in a raspberry sauce with poblano peppers, the Husband had veal ribs, the Mother had the sirloin with blackend shrimp (way overspiced) and the Father had the shrimp scampi. Everything was cooked perfectly - my halibut was moist and juicy, the shrimp were firm and succulent, the steak cook to request. I had just two critisims: I found the plating was pretty basic - meat/veggie/potato in a nice ring on the plate - and the Mother’s “blackened” shrimp was basically a crust of way too spicy chili powder. A light dredging and then a quick sear on the grill would have made for a much better shrimp.
We declined desert, the entree’s, bread and salad were plenty.
I would eat here again, but probably for lunch. While the food was good and the waitstaff attentive, the plating was pretty basic for the prices we were paying. Good food, but nothing stellar.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Mesa Grill, Las Vegas, Ceasars Palace
This is the last of the Las Vegas restaurant reviews, and in my opinion, one of the best. I'll be posting my usual Monday recipe review later this week as I'm hopefully going to be off hiking on the Superior Hiking trail this Memorial Day weekend.
I have wanted to visit Bobby Flays Mesa Grill since I walked by it last year. When I peeked at the menu the first time, I thought it was going to be one of these kind of things: $$$$, but much to my delight it was well within the "common persons" price range.
Mesa Grill is located in Caesar's Palace Casino, within walking distance from our resort. It was our last day in Vegas and everyone knew I wanted to go here for at least one meal. The Folks and the Brother met us at our resort and we loaded the bags into the car after checking out. We didn't have to be to the airport until 3:00p and we all agreed lunch at Mesa was just the thing.
Well...it wasn't quite lunch as they serve brunch on Sundays, but hey, I'm eating at Mesa Grill! I'll take whatever menu they put in front of me! Oh delight of delights!
After ordering a variety of drinks that included Cactus Pear Ice Tea and some fancy margaritas, our meal started with a brunch bread basket. It was a variety of cornbreads...and...other tasty pastry things.
Then came the serious business of ordering. We settled on:
I had the NEW MEXICAN SPICED PORK TENDERLOIN SANDWICH with Grilled Red Onion, Arugula
Ancho-Chile Mayonnaise and Southwestern Fries. This was a room temp sandwich. The pork was thinly sliced and stacked nicely in the bun. The flavors were subtle, yet tangy and bright. Very good.
The Father and the Brother ordered MESA BURGER; Double Cheddar Cheese,Grilled Vidalia Onion and Horseradish Mustard on a House Roll with Southwestern Fries. This was huge and required the use of forks and knives.
The Husband had the BARBEQUED LAMB COBB SALAD with Avocado, Tomato, Cabrales Blue Cheese and Buttermilk Dressing. We swapped plates partway through - I just love sharing!
The Mother ordered the GRILLED MAHI MAHI with Roasted Pineapple-Cascabel Chile Sauce
and Caramelized Pineapple-Green Onion Salsa. She had the chili sauce on the side and I used it as dipping for my fries.
Would we eat here again? YOU BET! The waitstaff were friendly and prompt (they did ask the Husband to remove his baseball cap...I guess they do maintain a modicum of standards for a Vegas restaurant), the food was excellent, and most importantly, it was reasonably priced! We all had a blast and when I make it back down, I am going to make a beeline back to Mesa Grill!
I have wanted to visit Bobby Flays Mesa Grill since I walked by it last year. When I peeked at the menu the first time, I thought it was going to be one of these kind of things: $$$$, but much to my delight it was well within the "common persons" price range.
Mesa Grill is located in Caesar's Palace Casino, within walking distance from our resort. It was our last day in Vegas and everyone knew I wanted to go here for at least one meal. The Folks and the Brother met us at our resort and we loaded the bags into the car after checking out. We didn't have to be to the airport until 3:00p and we all agreed lunch at Mesa was just the thing.
Well...it wasn't quite lunch as they serve brunch on Sundays, but hey, I'm eating at Mesa Grill! I'll take whatever menu they put in front of me! Oh delight of delights!
After ordering a variety of drinks that included Cactus Pear Ice Tea and some fancy margaritas, our meal started with a brunch bread basket. It was a variety of cornbreads...and...other tasty pastry things.
Then came the serious business of ordering. We settled on:
I had the NEW MEXICAN SPICED PORK TENDERLOIN SANDWICH with Grilled Red Onion, Arugula
Ancho-Chile Mayonnaise and Southwestern Fries. This was a room temp sandwich. The pork was thinly sliced and stacked nicely in the bun. The flavors were subtle, yet tangy and bright. Very good.
The Father and the Brother ordered MESA BURGER; Double Cheddar Cheese,Grilled Vidalia Onion and Horseradish Mustard on a House Roll with Southwestern Fries. This was huge and required the use of forks and knives.
The Husband had the BARBEQUED LAMB COBB SALAD with Avocado, Tomato, Cabrales Blue Cheese and Buttermilk Dressing. We swapped plates partway through - I just love sharing!
The Mother ordered the GRILLED MAHI MAHI with Roasted Pineapple-Cascabel Chile Sauce
and Caramelized Pineapple-Green Onion Salsa. She had the chili sauce on the side and I used it as dipping for my fries.
Would we eat here again? YOU BET! The waitstaff were friendly and prompt (they did ask the Husband to remove his baseball cap...I guess they do maintain a modicum of standards for a Vegas restaurant), the food was excellent, and most importantly, it was reasonably priced! We all had a blast and when I make it back down, I am going to make a beeline back to Mesa Grill!
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Trattoria de Lupo, Las Vegas, Mandalay Bay
Just in case you are just tuning in, I've been working my way through the restaurants I visited in April in Vegas when I was there for K4's wedding.
I considered this one a bonus restaurant! Trattoria Del Lupo by Wolfgang Puck was the only place that would accommodate my sisters Wedding dinner with 30 guests. Even though we were "on the floor" with the other diners, the waitstaff was absolutely incredible. You didn't even notice that you were at a table with 10 other people they were so smooth and well orchestrated.
I couldn't even begin to tell you what everyone had, but I can assure you, nobody was disappointed with their meal. The evening's meal started out with drinks and we shared a bottle of Chianti with Charrisa and Chad from Phoenix - a former co-worker of my sisters.
The table was then served warm baguettes sticks - which were good if you liked sticks of dried bread - But then! came the real bread - a warmed baguette with a choice of olive tapenade or whipped butter. I will admit, the waitstaff had to bring more.
I ordered linguine with clams and the Husband thinks he had the veal marsala. The sauce on my linguine was light yet covered everything in a most satisfactory manner. The clams were a nice size and I could taste a hint of the sea with the wine notes in the background. I couldn't tell you what the Bride and Groom had as they were at a different table. What I do know is everyone was very pleased with their dish. A couple people ordered a salad, but this was one of those times when it would have just been too much food.
I would dearly love to re-visit here again.
I considered this one a bonus restaurant! Trattoria Del Lupo by Wolfgang Puck was the only place that would accommodate my sisters Wedding dinner with 30 guests. Even though we were "on the floor" with the other diners, the waitstaff was absolutely incredible. You didn't even notice that you were at a table with 10 other people they were so smooth and well orchestrated.
I couldn't even begin to tell you what everyone had, but I can assure you, nobody was disappointed with their meal. The evening's meal started out with drinks and we shared a bottle of Chianti with Charrisa and Chad from Phoenix - a former co-worker of my sisters.
The table was then served warm baguettes sticks - which were good if you liked sticks of dried bread - But then! came the real bread - a warmed baguette with a choice of olive tapenade or whipped butter. I will admit, the waitstaff had to bring more.
I ordered linguine with clams and the Husband thinks he had the veal marsala. The sauce on my linguine was light yet covered everything in a most satisfactory manner. The clams were a nice size and I could taste a hint of the sea with the wine notes in the background. I couldn't tell you what the Bride and Groom had as they were at a different table. What I do know is everyone was very pleased with their dish. A couple people ordered a salad, but this was one of those times when it would have just been too much food.
I would dearly love to re-visit here again.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Penazzi's, Las Vegas, Harrah's
Penazzi Oyster Bar Harrah’s
It was wedding day in Vegas, and we needed a light lunch to tide us over till supper time. We didn’t want to walk to far as we still had to shower and change. We wandered across the street to the Mirage, but the restaurants that grabbed our fancy initially were only open for dinner. There was a New York Deli, but Kosher deli food didn’t grab our fancy.
We mosied back across the street and I knew of a place in Harrah’s casino that had grabbed my interest on my previous visit, but because of the squeamish factor of K4 and her allergies, we did not go there. The Husband, however, has no allergies and is not squeamish and was in fact, very intrigued. When we were in Mobile Al in 2005, we discovered we loved oysters and clams and mussels...all cooked mind you! And have recently been experimenting with making them at home.
So it was we ended up at Penazzi’s. It was a cool place - upscale, yet homey. The menu’s were the placemats. Very convenient. If you sit at the counter like we did, you can watch the chefs prepare the meals and talk to them. There are tables for a traditional sit-down meal.
For starters we ordered ½ dozen fried Malpeque oysters. Oh my god. These were huge! If you are familiar with the Japanese tempura style of cooking, this is how they were prepared. Absolutely fantastic. We then shared the Tequila Lime Shrimp with a black bean and corn salad. Again, delicious. Tangy, sweet, and cooked just right.
To conclude the meal the Husband had to try an O-shooter. Yes, an oyster shooter. He chose the Tequilia Lime shooter: a blue point oyster, tequila, jalapeno and mango. I really wish I had thought to take a picture! The whole thing comes in a 3 oz shot glass...I thought it looked alien and slimy. The gal sitting down the counter from us exclaimed out loud that it looked...slimy. The Husband decided he would take this in steps and first reduced the amount of liquid in the glass. Then he was able to toss the oyster back...except that he didn’t just let it slide down he chewed it! Lesson #1. Don’t. Chew. The. Oyster. When all was said and done, he was glad he tried it, but wouldn’t ask for seconds.
If I make it back to Vegas, and if Harrah’s is still standing (I heard they are slated for demo and re-building), I will go back here.
It was wedding day in Vegas, and we needed a light lunch to tide us over till supper time. We didn’t want to walk to far as we still had to shower and change. We wandered across the street to the Mirage, but the restaurants that grabbed our fancy initially were only open for dinner. There was a New York Deli, but Kosher deli food didn’t grab our fancy.
We mosied back across the street and I knew of a place in Harrah’s casino that had grabbed my interest on my previous visit, but because of the squeamish factor of K4 and her allergies, we did not go there. The Husband, however, has no allergies and is not squeamish and was in fact, very intrigued. When we were in Mobile Al in 2005, we discovered we loved oysters and clams and mussels...all cooked mind you! And have recently been experimenting with making them at home.
So it was we ended up at Penazzi’s. It was a cool place - upscale, yet homey. The menu’s were the placemats. Very convenient. If you sit at the counter like we did, you can watch the chefs prepare the meals and talk to them. There are tables for a traditional sit-down meal.
For starters we ordered ½ dozen fried Malpeque oysters. Oh my god. These were huge! If you are familiar with the Japanese tempura style of cooking, this is how they were prepared. Absolutely fantastic. We then shared the Tequila Lime Shrimp with a black bean and corn salad. Again, delicious. Tangy, sweet, and cooked just right.
To conclude the meal the Husband had to try an O-shooter. Yes, an oyster shooter. He chose the Tequilia Lime shooter: a blue point oyster, tequila, jalapeno and mango. I really wish I had thought to take a picture! The whole thing comes in a 3 oz shot glass...I thought it looked alien and slimy. The gal sitting down the counter from us exclaimed out loud that it looked...slimy. The Husband decided he would take this in steps and first reduced the amount of liquid in the glass. Then he was able to toss the oyster back...except that he didn’t just let it slide down he chewed it! Lesson #1. Don’t. Chew. The. Oyster. When all was said and done, he was glad he tried it, but wouldn’t ask for seconds.
If I make it back to Vegas, and if Harrah’s is still standing (I heard they are slated for demo and re-building), I will go back here.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Diego, Las Vegas, MGM
Continuing with my restaurant review from my recent travels to Las Vegas, this was the next place which we visited that warranted a blog page. The Husband and I met up with the parents for dinner before going to see Cirque de Solils KA performance. I had seen the name of this establishment in the Las Vegas what's-where book and it intrigued me. When I found that KA and Diego were in the same casino it seemed only logical to go.
Diego is a upscale Mexican restaurant and I am going to say this was probably the best place we ate dinner. I say dinner because we had brunch at Mesa Grill, otherwise it would have been a tie!
We arrived at 5:30p and were seated immediately. Water quickly arrived and our drink order taken. The waiter showed up and ran through the specials for the evening and informed us the chips and salsa samples would soon be on the table. These were no ordinary chips or salsas. Fresh, bright, all the salsas teased the tongue.
But, we had a meal to order!
I ordered: Sea Bass a la Veracruzana
Green Olive, Caper, and Tomato Crusted Chilean Sea Bass Medallions with a Veracruz Butter
The Father had:Camaron a la Diabla
Grilled Epazote and Cilantro Marinated Gulf Shrimp with Spinach, Tomato, Corn and Fiery Red Chile Salsa and a Roasted Corn Budin
The Husband had: Cochinita Pibil
Yucatecan Style Braised Pork Marinated in Achiote and Orange, Slow Cooked in Banana Leaves with Poblano Rajas, Black Beans, Pickled Red Onions, Habanero Salsa.
The Mother was not feeling well and had tea.
Everything was delicious, very nicely plated and the perfect amount. Except the Father thought he should have had one more shrimp to make it a truly satisfying meal. I would eat here again just to order the guacamole - it's prepped right at the table to taste! How cool is that? I had a margarita on the rocks that was so tangy and smooth I honestly didn't want to ruin it with a second. And the waiter was funny, attentive, and informative - a good waiter really makes for a great dining experience and he was tops.
Diegos is a meal worth splurging for.
Diego is a upscale Mexican restaurant and I am going to say this was probably the best place we ate dinner. I say dinner because we had brunch at Mesa Grill, otherwise it would have been a tie!
We arrived at 5:30p and were seated immediately. Water quickly arrived and our drink order taken. The waiter showed up and ran through the specials for the evening and informed us the chips and salsa samples would soon be on the table. These were no ordinary chips or salsas. Fresh, bright, all the salsas teased the tongue.
But, we had a meal to order!
I ordered: Sea Bass a la Veracruzana
Green Olive, Caper, and Tomato Crusted Chilean Sea Bass Medallions with a Veracruz Butter
The Father had:Camaron a la Diabla
Grilled Epazote and Cilantro Marinated Gulf Shrimp with Spinach, Tomato, Corn and Fiery Red Chile Salsa and a Roasted Corn Budin
The Husband had: Cochinita Pibil
Yucatecan Style Braised Pork Marinated in Achiote and Orange, Slow Cooked in Banana Leaves with Poblano Rajas, Black Beans, Pickled Red Onions, Habanero Salsa.
The Mother was not feeling well and had tea.
Everything was delicious, very nicely plated and the perfect amount. Except the Father thought he should have had one more shrimp to make it a truly satisfying meal. I would eat here again just to order the guacamole - it's prepped right at the table to taste! How cool is that? I had a margarita on the rocks that was so tangy and smooth I honestly didn't want to ruin it with a second. And the waiter was funny, attentive, and informative - a good waiter really makes for a great dining experience and he was tops.
Diegos is a meal worth splurging for.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Nine Fine Irishmen, Las Vegas, NYNY
I was going through my Las Vegas pictures when I realized I had not blogged about my dining adventures. How remiss! Dining at really good restaurants was part of the highlights of this trip. The Husband and I would eat breakfast at our resort (we had a full kitchen), lunch would be someplace on the light side or again, at our resort and dinner was the splurge.
I'll highlight some of the notables over the next couple of weeks, starting with Nine Fine Irishmen in NYNY.
This is modeled after a traditional Irish pub as one might find in NY city or perhaps even the Emerald Isle herself. This evening we met up with K2 and fiancee, her future in-laws and my folks. I suggested Nine Fine Irishmen thinking we would all be able to pick something off the menu. What I didn't realize is that it was perhaps a bit on the pricey side for some of our dining companions. But then, everything edible in Vegas is on the pricey side.
Let's see if I can remember what we all ordered:
The Husband and I shared a plate of calamari with the table, then split the Bangers and Mash.
K4 and fiancee split the potstickers (I think, I couldn't find them on the menu but I could have sworn that's what they had).
My folks split the Fish and Chips.
Fiancees folks split a burger (I think...again, it might have been Fish and Chips).
Splitting a plate is almost a given in Vegas. Not only are the meals pricey, but there is soooo much food that it would be impossible to eat it in one sitting. We found this to be especially so at the Cheesecake Factory. The portions there were just obscene. Very tasty, but huge.
Anyway, back to Nine Fine Irishmen. The food was very good. The calamari was done perfectly with two accompanying sauces that were both tangy and bright. The Bangers and Mash were well plated and delicious. The sausages not overly spicy or greasy and the baby red potatoes were perfectly mashed. We did eat outside - it would have been a bit nicer if we hadn't been in the shade in the evening with a slight wind blowing. It was a tich chilly. The service was less than stellar. We seemed to be an inconvenience to the waitress and given we were a party of 8 on what appeared to be a somewhat slow evening, she could have been a bit more attentive. She got her automatic 18% gratuity and we left it at that.
I think the Hubby and I both thought this would be a neat place to return to and dine inside.
I'll highlight some of the notables over the next couple of weeks, starting with Nine Fine Irishmen in NYNY. This is modeled after a traditional Irish pub as one might find in NY city or perhaps even the Emerald Isle herself. This evening we met up with K2 and fiancee, her future in-laws and my folks. I suggested Nine Fine Irishmen thinking we would all be able to pick something off the menu. What I didn't realize is that it was perhaps a bit on the pricey side for some of our dining companions. But then, everything edible in Vegas is on the pricey side.
Let's see if I can remember what we all ordered:
The Husband and I shared a plate of calamari with the table, then split the Bangers and Mash.
K4 and fiancee split the potstickers (I think, I couldn't find them on the menu but I could have sworn that's what they had).
My folks split the Fish and Chips.
Fiancees folks split a burger (I think...again, it might have been Fish and Chips).
Splitting a plate is almost a given in Vegas. Not only are the meals pricey, but there is soooo much food that it would be impossible to eat it in one sitting. We found this to be especially so at the Cheesecake Factory. The portions there were just obscene. Very tasty, but huge.
Anyway, back to Nine Fine Irishmen. The food was very good. The calamari was done perfectly with two accompanying sauces that were both tangy and bright. The Bangers and Mash were well plated and delicious. The sausages not overly spicy or greasy and the baby red potatoes were perfectly mashed. We did eat outside - it would have been a bit nicer if we hadn't been in the shade in the evening with a slight wind blowing. It was a tich chilly. The service was less than stellar. We seemed to be an inconvenience to the waitress and given we were a party of 8 on what appeared to be a somewhat slow evening, she could have been a bit more attentive. She got her automatic 18% gratuity and we left it at that.
I think the Hubby and I both thought this would be a neat place to return to and dine inside.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Rice Paper, Mpls, MN in Linden Hills
It’s been quite a while since I’ve done a restaurant review. I guess I haven’t been eating out at too many new places of late. The Husbands work schedule probably is what’s dictating that, he has Wednesdays and Thursdays off, I have Saturday and Sundays off, plus he works till 8:00p two nights a week.But as usual I digress! I was down in the Cities for an intensive yoga workshop two weekends ago and an acquaintance and I, plus a very lovely gal he knew from Madison, went out for dinner together. It was great being able to talk yoga and philosophy and explore how we all approach teaching in different ways.
Rice Paper, an Asian Fusian restaurant, was recommended to us by a local. I think we decided to go there because it was close to the studio and we wouldn’t have to drive so far to return to our respective abodes. This is a very small, intimate restaurant that does some hoppin’ business! It’s tucked into this quaint neighborhood called Linden Hills, not far from Lake Calhoun and Harriet. All the storefronts are from days gone by and it’s an eclectic mix of shops and restaurants. There was a tea house that I stole a peek into as we walked back to the car. Had I had two functioning brain cells I would have recommended tea after dinner, but I think we were all pooped from the workshop.
My acquaintance and I ordered the Pad Thai - he with chicken, I with the tofu puffs. Our dining companion ordered some spring rolls, served with a peanut sauce. I had to decline the peanut sauce as I just don’t do peanuts or peanut butter. Still, the rolls were fresh and bright tasting. I think she ordered the Lunar Clay Pot - steamed tofu with pea pods, black mushrooms and slivered carrots in a fresh ginger sauce served over jasmine rice.
The waitstaff was helpful and friendly, though our waitress neglected to bring the green tea for our third dining companion as ordered. The food arrived to order (mine without peanuts). I don’t eat enough Vietnamese or Asian food to really know what is what, so I was a bit surprised when I dug in and found my choice to be a cold dish. I was hoping for warm Pad Thai. Everything tasted very fresh, the flavors bright and crisp across the tounge and, well, I ate everything.
We all felt it was a good restaurant but I think our opinions were somewhat muted as what we all really wanted was Indian food. I would recommend Rice Paper to anyone who would like to step out at bit. Prices were very reasonable, I did not go away hungry, and I would go back again.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Midi's Restaurant
Before the Parental Units departed for warmer climes, the Husband and I decided it would be a nice bon voyage! to go out for an evening of Jazz at the ‘Toga and dinner afterwards. Inspiration struck and I remembered Midi’s was now open at the Fitger’s complex and most of the first month bugs should have been worked out.
http://www.midirestaurant.net/
We arrived in a very happy state at about 6:30p on a Saturday evening. The place was busy, but by no means packed. It had been remodeled during its transition, but the remodel seemed to have forgotten the carpet – it was frayed in several obvious spots (the pass through) and showed its age. But we were not here to critique the carpet as much as those frayed spots fascinated us.
Midi’s is owned by the same people who own the Winzer Stubbe in Hudson, WI, which I reviewed here. When I heard they were opening a restaurant up here, I was hoping for a German one, but alas, they decided to go with a Mediterranean theme and offer a German menu a couple nights a week. Saturday must have been one of those nights, lucky me!
While we were deciding, our appetites were whetted with a lovely selection of what looked and tasted like homemade rustic bread served with whipped butter and hummus. Nothing annoys me so much than to have those little metallic butter packages plunked down on the table only to find them still frozen. This butter was presented in a small ramkins at room temperature and perfect for spreading. The hummus was creamy, smooth and in no way garlicky.
The Mother had the rouladen, served with spatzel and red cabbage. I picked the Jagerschnitzel (breaded pork cutlet pounded thin) also served with spatzel and red cabbage. The two gentlemen chose prime rib. The two German dishes were very tasty (really, I would have been very happy with just a big plate of spatzel…). My pork cutlet was a tich on the dry side, but again, I was in a very happy state and didn’t mind. The spatzel was fantastic. They must do a quick pan sauté after it comes out of the water or maybe it’s fried to start with. What ever they do is delicious. Reports from the prime rib side of the table were complementary, though the Father would have preferred his cut a bit thicker.
We concluded dinner by sharing a crème brule (melted sugar was a bit thick and bitter, but the crème underneath delicious) and crepes served with ice cream and berry topping.
Prices ranged from $13.00 for my plate to $18.00 for the prime rib. $4.00 for the brule and $5.00 for the crepes.
The wait staff was prompt, polite and attentive throughout the entire meal.
For a lovely evening out with simple ambiance and good food, I would recommend Midi’s.
http://www.midirestaurant.net/
We arrived in a very happy state at about 6:30p on a Saturday evening. The place was busy, but by no means packed. It had been remodeled during its transition, but the remodel seemed to have forgotten the carpet – it was frayed in several obvious spots (the pass through) and showed its age. But we were not here to critique the carpet as much as those frayed spots fascinated us.
Midi’s is owned by the same people who own the Winzer Stubbe in Hudson, WI, which I reviewed here. When I heard they were opening a restaurant up here, I was hoping for a German one, but alas, they decided to go with a Mediterranean theme and offer a German menu a couple nights a week. Saturday must have been one of those nights, lucky me!
While we were deciding, our appetites were whetted with a lovely selection of what looked and tasted like homemade rustic bread served with whipped butter and hummus. Nothing annoys me so much than to have those little metallic butter packages plunked down on the table only to find them still frozen. This butter was presented in a small ramkins at room temperature and perfect for spreading. The hummus was creamy, smooth and in no way garlicky.
The Mother had the rouladen, served with spatzel and red cabbage. I picked the Jagerschnitzel (breaded pork cutlet pounded thin) also served with spatzel and red cabbage. The two gentlemen chose prime rib. The two German dishes were very tasty (really, I would have been very happy with just a big plate of spatzel…). My pork cutlet was a tich on the dry side, but again, I was in a very happy state and didn’t mind. The spatzel was fantastic. They must do a quick pan sauté after it comes out of the water or maybe it’s fried to start with. What ever they do is delicious. Reports from the prime rib side of the table were complementary, though the Father would have preferred his cut a bit thicker.
We concluded dinner by sharing a crème brule (melted sugar was a bit thick and bitter, but the crème underneath delicious) and crepes served with ice cream and berry topping.
Prices ranged from $13.00 for my plate to $18.00 for the prime rib. $4.00 for the brule and $5.00 for the crepes.
The wait staff was prompt, polite and attentive throughout the entire meal.
For a lovely evening out with simple ambiance and good food, I would recommend Midi’s.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Weekend Get-Away - Mpls/St. Paul
Currently the Hubby's in the Twin Cities training for three weeks (one week down, two to go) and he discovered he had a free weekend. A phone call later, I found myself leaving work early on Friday, dropping the Hounds off at Pookie Prison (in their minds) and heading south for a weekend getaway.
Because of the time I rolled in, we stayed close to the hotel for dinner, frequenting an old favorite - Davanni's - for dinner. Whole wheat garlic cheese bread and a traditional crusted pizza topped with pepperoni, green pepper, mushrooms and pineapple. Nothing too notable there.
For the first time in what seemed like a month, Saturday was clear, sunny, and without rain. We took advantage of this beautiful fall day and started out on Grand Ave in St. Paul. We scored a free parking spot at Victoria Crossing and walked down to Penzey's where I picked up a package of Cassia Cinnamon, Ground Allspice, and Sweet Curry Powder. Lunch was at the Wild Onion - pulled pork sandwich with fries for me, southwestern chicken sandwich with fruit for him. Afterward we made our way to Northern Brewer where he picked up some homebrew supplies.
Como Conservatory was on our loose agenda, but first we stopped at Izzy's on Marshall. The Hubby's seen the Bobby Flay episode of Throwdown at Izzy's (Izzy's won), but he's never been there. We shared a a scoop of cranberry cheesecake in a waffle cone with a chocolate almond soy "Izzy" on top. Yum!
Our timing was off to tour the somewhat recently renovated (in the last 4 years) conservatory, as they were closing at 3:00p for Zoo Boo. We were there at 2:50p. Disappointing, but we took advantage of the day and walked around Como Lake instead. Afterwards, feeling a bit tired, we found refreshment at a neat little coffee shop right off of Como called the Java Train.
We aren't fancy drink people - I had an ice tea and he had a root beer and we shared a apple scone. Afterwards, we took a drive along the Mississippi from Marshall St up to the U of MN, and back down on the Mpls side. Beautiful drive. Since we were in the my sister's neighborhood, we popped in to say hi and to see how big the nephew has gotten since I saw him in Sept.
The Hubby picked out a local brewpub for dinner: Herkimer Pub and Brewery, Lyndale Ave, Mpls. We shared a "Sky Pilot Kellerbier" and a sampler platter: crabcakes, sweet potato fries, chicken quesadillas, and buffalo wings. The beer and food were good, the ambiance amiable (modern meets working class), the waitress...umm...well, I've had warmer receptions from a vending machine. Barely perfunctory.
We concluded our evening somewhere on Bryant between 35th and 36th street at Gigi's, where we shared a very bright key lime torte and a couple of fresh fruit, hand made, spritzers. This was a neat little restaurant/cafe, made all the more delightful by being able to sit outside after a absolutely fantastic fall day.
Sunday found us with a little bit of time before I needed to depart so we popped up to Minnehaha Parkway (not the falls) and took a walk along an absolutely love stretch of the creek. Huge cottonwoods, silver maples and oaks lined the creek, all decked out in their fall colors, with the gorgeous large homes as a backdrop. Sadly, by mid afternoon I was on my way North again to retrieve the pups from their "vacation" and to run a few mundane errands before the new week started.
Because of the time I rolled in, we stayed close to the hotel for dinner, frequenting an old favorite - Davanni's - for dinner. Whole wheat garlic cheese bread and a traditional crusted pizza topped with pepperoni, green pepper, mushrooms and pineapple. Nothing too notable there.
For the first time in what seemed like a month, Saturday was clear, sunny, and without rain. We took advantage of this beautiful fall day and started out on Grand Ave in St. Paul. We scored a free parking spot at Victoria Crossing and walked down to Penzey's where I picked up a package of Cassia Cinnamon, Ground Allspice, and Sweet Curry Powder. Lunch was at the Wild Onion - pulled pork sandwich with fries for me, southwestern chicken sandwich with fruit for him. Afterward we made our way to Northern Brewer where he picked up some homebrew supplies.
Como Conservatory was on our loose agenda, but first we stopped at Izzy's on Marshall. The Hubby's seen the Bobby Flay episode of Throwdown at Izzy's (Izzy's won), but he's never been there. We shared a a scoop of cranberry cheesecake in a waffle cone with a chocolate almond soy "Izzy" on top. Yum!
Our timing was off to tour the somewhat recently renovated (in the last 4 years) conservatory, as they were closing at 3:00p for Zoo Boo. We were there at 2:50p. Disappointing, but we took advantage of the day and walked around Como Lake instead. Afterwards, feeling a bit tired, we found refreshment at a neat little coffee shop right off of Como called the Java Train.
We aren't fancy drink people - I had an ice tea and he had a root beer and we shared a apple scone. Afterwards, we took a drive along the Mississippi from Marshall St up to the U of MN, and back down on the Mpls side. Beautiful drive. Since we were in the my sister's neighborhood, we popped in to say hi and to see how big the nephew has gotten since I saw him in Sept.
The Hubby picked out a local brewpub for dinner: Herkimer Pub and Brewery, Lyndale Ave, Mpls. We shared a "Sky Pilot Kellerbier" and a sampler platter: crabcakes, sweet potato fries, chicken quesadillas, and buffalo wings. The beer and food were good, the ambiance amiable (modern meets working class), the waitress...umm...well, I've had warmer receptions from a vending machine. Barely perfunctory.
We concluded our evening somewhere on Bryant between 35th and 36th street at Gigi's, where we shared a very bright key lime torte and a couple of fresh fruit, hand made, spritzers. This was a neat little restaurant/cafe, made all the more delightful by being able to sit outside after a absolutely fantastic fall day.Sunday found us with a little bit of time before I needed to depart so we popped up to Minnehaha Parkway (not the falls) and took a walk along an absolutely love stretch of the creek. Huge cottonwoods, silver maples and oaks lined the creek, all decked out in their fall colors, with the gorgeous large homes as a backdrop. Sadly, by mid afternoon I was on my way North again to retrieve the pups from their "vacation" and to run a few mundane errands before the new week started.
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