Since we canceled cable last year, my husband and I have found plenty of fabulous material to consume our television watching time via Netflix. I have been particularly fond of finding documentaries or series featuring chefs in the past year. Here are some of my favorites:
Spinning Plates
For Grace
Chef's Table
The Mind of a Chef
And if you are a oenophile, here is another you might enjoy:
Somm
Some other fun or interesting food shows:
The Great Food Truck Race
Cooked
Sunday, March 13, 2016
Top Questions...
It's always interesting to hear someone's reaction when they hear I write a food blog. Here are some answers to some of the most common questions:
What's your favorite restaurant?
This is a trick question! As I say when working with students and teacher - it depends! It depends on the type of cuisine, my mood, the people with whom I am dining, and so many other factors. However, if I am forced to name my top 5 from the 2014 list, here it is:
Ngon Bistro
Alma
Brasa
Heartland
Pizzeria Lola
How do you decide which places to try? or How did you hear about...?
I began with the 2014 Best 50 Restaurants list from the Mpls. St. Paul Magazine. However, I also follow a few different local culinary blogs/sites such as Heavy Table and Minneapolis Eater.
Do you get paid to do this?
I wish!!! I receive an occasional shout out on Twitter but I am doing this for fun. However, it certainly would be much easier on the budget if I were to be paid. Then again, I might feel a certain obligation to write my review in a particular way so this way there is no bias.
Is there anyplace you have really hated?
No. There are certainly places that have been disappointing but I haven't absolutely hated any one place.
The biggest request...
So where should I go for my next meal out...?
Again, it depends. I now have my list ready on my phone in case I receive a request. And, I am constantly adding to my list as restaurants open, close or change concepts.
What's your favorite restaurant?
This is a trick question! As I say when working with students and teacher - it depends! It depends on the type of cuisine, my mood, the people with whom I am dining, and so many other factors. However, if I am forced to name my top 5 from the 2014 list, here it is:
Ngon Bistro
Alma
Brasa
Heartland
Pizzeria Lola
How do you decide which places to try? or How did you hear about...?
I began with the 2014 Best 50 Restaurants list from the Mpls. St. Paul Magazine. However, I also follow a few different local culinary blogs/sites such as Heavy Table and Minneapolis Eater.
Do you get paid to do this?
I wish!!! I receive an occasional shout out on Twitter but I am doing this for fun. However, it certainly would be much easier on the budget if I were to be paid. Then again, I might feel a certain obligation to write my review in a particular way so this way there is no bias.
Is there anyplace you have really hated?
No. There are certainly places that have been disappointing but I haven't absolutely hated any one place.
The biggest request...
So where should I go for my next meal out...?
Again, it depends. I now have my list ready on my phone in case I receive a request. And, I am constantly adding to my list as restaurants open, close or change concepts.
Long overdue...
Yes, I tend to have library books long overdue since I am a teacher. However, this time I am long overdue for a post on this blog. I have been feeling frustrated that I haven't had time (or let's be honest - made the time) to keep up with this blog. And, I am frustrated I wasn't able to complete my original goal of trying all 50 top restaurants (according to Mpls St. Paul Magazine) in one year. By nature, I am an "Achiever" according to my StrengthsFinder so admitting defeat is not something that comes easy to me. Thus, I have chosen to shift my focus just slightly for this blog. I will continue to pursue to the top 50 restaurants in the Twin Cities (and of course there have been two new lists published since I originally began this journey - check out the latest one here: 50 Best Restuarants). However, I will also post about other food related adventures, articles and musings. My hope is to continue to write, have fun and enjoy engaging in conversations about the culinary scene in the Twin Cities. We are lucky to have such talent in this area and I look forward to continuing my original journey as well as pursue new culinary adventures!
Thursday, July 30, 2015
Uptown Steakhouse
Kevin and I tried Burch Steakhouse and Pizza Bar on a rainy Friday evening. I had been there previously with some friends to try out the pizza bar in the basement. The food at the pizza bar was fabulous but the noise was almost unbearable. This time, we sat upstairs in the steakhouse portion of the restaurant. I had heard great reviews of the restaurant and was eager to try a few dishes.
The Snow crab cakes with spicy mayo and beet slaw were flavorful and well balanced.
The Snow crab cakes with spicy mayo and beet slaw were flavorful and well balanced.
We also ordered the Roasted carrots with thyme and chevre. The carrots lacked flavor and were quite limp.
We had heard from several people that we had to order one of their dumpling dishes so we chose the Lobster spaetzle with caraway and mint. It tasted as though the lobster was just added at the end and no other lobster flavor was infused throughout the dish. The caraway and mint didn't seem to add any flavor to the dish, either.
Kevin ordered the Grilled pork tenderloin with cannellini beans, pickled shallots and fried oysters. He enjoyed the dish but didn't think it stood out from any other pork tenderloin dishes he tried at other restaurants.
For my main entree, I chose the Blackened Alaskan halibut with spinach, caramelized onions and lemon. It was flavorful but nothing I would go back for in the future.
We were hoping the desserts would help us overlook the inconsistencies of the previous dishes. We opted for the cream puffs and a lemon tart but unfortunately, neither dish was worth trying again.
I know many people have told me how much they enjoy Burch but I do not think the same after my experience. I did enjoy my previous experience at the pizza bar and would recommend that, but just be prepared to shout at your dinner guests the entire evening!
Tuesday, July 28, 2015
North Loop Italian Hot Spot
I have been to Bar La Grassa several times in the past few years and I was fortunate to have another great experience back in May. Our experience began with a white bean salad amuse-bouche. Even though I typically don't enjoy the texture of beans, I found this dish to be full of flavor and worth taking more than one bite!
The variety of bruschettas they offer are interesting so we chose the Charred Red Onion with Goat Cheese Bruschetta. It has the sweetness of the charred red onion with the smooth taste of the goat cheese, which blended well together on the bread that had the perfect texture without being too crunchy.
I really enjoy trying a little bit of a lot of different things when dining out so we chose a few items off the menu for our main entrees. However, what I really enjoy is that they offer small portions of their pasta. I appreciate this option because it helps both in controlling portions as well as allowing a table to share a variety of dishes. I have always been fond of the Silk Hankerchiefs with Basil Pesto. The fresh pasta is so much different than a typical pasta dish and worth every calorie!
Kevin chose the Smoked Spaghetti Alla Chitarra with Brown Butter and Lobster. The server told us they smoke the flour they use to make the spaghetti, which gives the smoky flavor and a richness that is so different from the richness you may experience from a sauce. The umami flavor was pronounced without being overwhelming. I recommend this dish for its complexity as well as creativity in preparation.
We added a side dish of Broccolini in Prosciutto Brodo. It was very rich and was a bit too smothered in the brodo, but certainly enjoyable for a few bites.
We couldn't pass up dessert after looking at the menu so I ordered the Salted Caramel Crespelle. The blend of the sweet and salty was the perfect ending to this Italian meal.
The meal was complete after we received two small sweet treats at the end of the meal. They consisted of chocolate and sea salt and were another example of how Bar La Grassa handles service so well and treats everyone as though they are the only guest. I can't wait to go back!
Uptown French Bistro
I hadn't been to Barbette for quite a few years and certainly not since the current chef (who has since moved to a new adventure) was the head of the kitchen. I was pleasantly surprised and look forward to going back, especially for another date night with my husband.
We ordered the steamed mussels as an appetizer and they did not disappoint. The simplicity of the white wine, lemon and garlic made the mussels shine and the bread helped soak up the deliciousness of the light sauce at the end.
For my main course, I chose the Fresh Orecchiette Pasta which included pistachio pesto, peas, tasso and parmesan. It had the perfect blend of richness with the fresh flavors of early spring. I also enjoyed the seasonal Brussels sprouts they added to the dish. I would highly recommend their seasonal orecchiette pasta dish.
We ordered the steamed mussels as an appetizer and they did not disappoint. The simplicity of the white wine, lemon and garlic made the mussels shine and the bread helped soak up the deliciousness of the light sauce at the end.
For my main course, I chose the Fresh Orecchiette Pasta which included pistachio pesto, peas, tasso and parmesan. It had the perfect blend of richness with the fresh flavors of early spring. I also enjoyed the seasonal Brussels sprouts they added to the dish. I would highly recommend their seasonal orecchiette pasta dish.
Kevin chose the seasonal risotto, which was rich but yet offset by the fresh vegetables on top.
For dessert, I chose the Vanilla Beignets which were as fabulous as I expected at a French bistro. The addition of the cinnamon chocolate sauce and ginger graham cracker ice cream made them stand out from the typical beignets. Since I don't see beignets on a lot of menus, I would highly recommend ordering this dish for dessert.
Kevin chose the Roasted Apple Tartlet and it was presented in a different style than what you would typically expect. I appreciated the smaller portions of apple pieces which gave it a different texture than larger pieces of apple. The almond streusel on the bottom was a great diversion from the usual apple tart dessert.
This is a place that you can go for brunch, lunch, dinner, late night dinner or even a glass of wine and dessert. I would highly recommend Barbette and I look forward to returning soon!
Sunday, March 22, 2015
Highly Awarded Southwest Minneapolis Pizza
I am so pleased I asked my husband, Kevin, at the last minute on an early Saturday evening to go out for pizza at Pizzeria Lola. It exceeded my expectations. As we walked in the door, I was so grateful we were early for dinner since there was already a wait at 5:00. The hostesses were very friendly, took our name, and informed us that while we waited a server would come around and take our drink order. Then, they would just add it to our dinner bill so there was no need to mess with two different payments and tracking him down quickly to pay a bill before being seated. What a great way to handle the long lines of guests waiting! We were quickly greeted while standing by the bar and our drink order was placed. Just as we received our drinks, our table was ready and the transition was smooth. They have no buzzers so the hostesses had to keep track of everyone and they did a fine job of finding us and showing us to our table.
The superb service continued as our server Leah, introduced herself, greeted us by name and told us we were sitting at the highest prime number table in the restaurant! It was a great start to a wonderful meal.
I was truly hoping they would have Brussels sprouts as their seasonal vegetable and they did not disappoint! It was served with bite-size pieces of butternut squash, pearl onions and a generous amount of freshly shaved cheese on top. I loved all the burnt, crisp pieces of Brussels sprouts leaves along with the larger parts of the sprouts.
I opted for the The Iowan pizza. It consisted of ricotta, mozzarella, garlic confit, La Quercia prosciutto and arugula. The smooth and creamy texture of the ricotta was nicely balanced by the slight peppery taste of the arugula. The prosciutto gave just the right amount of saltiness which rounded out the entire pie. This is a great choice, especially if you prefer white pizzas but without a heavy cream sauce added.
Kevin opted for the special pizza of the evening which had the base of a Margherita pizza but they added 'Nduja salami and Peppdew peppers. Kevin thought it had the right amount of heat, delicious flavor, but could be too spicy for some. The crust was cooked wonderfully and had the right consistency to balance the flavors as well as tone down the spice. Again, it definitely had some kick to it!
We had to have dessert so we were deciding between their house made soft serve ice cream and trying to decide how to order it. Leah guided us perfectly by suggesting we order two of the DIY ice cream sandwiches, one with the vanilla with olive oil and fleur de sel and the other with mint topped with chocolate covered cocoa nibs. The ice cream came in the old fashioned tulip cups and the warm chocolate chip cookies were served on the side. We both preferred the vanilla with the olive oil and fleur de sel. It was a perfect blend between the creaminess of the ice cream and the smooth flavors of the olive oil. It was almost more savory than sweet. This was nothing like a Dairy Queen soft serve!
I highly recommend you try Pizzeria Lola as your next pizza outing. It will spoil you for what it means to have a high quality pizza for a reasonable price. And, if you are with friends or family, it is worth sharing a dessert! The service was outstanding and made the entire experience completely enjoyable despite the large crowds growing by the minute as we were dining.
And, for a little fun, they have a photo booth in the back you can check out and they post the pictures all along the wall by the bar. This is easily a place to take the entire family with choices for everyone. Just be prepared to wait...for a table but also for the deliciousness that will not leave your mind any time soon!
Pizzeria Lola
The superb service continued as our server Leah, introduced herself, greeted us by name and told us we were sitting at the highest prime number table in the restaurant! It was a great start to a wonderful meal.
I was truly hoping they would have Brussels sprouts as their seasonal vegetable and they did not disappoint! It was served with bite-size pieces of butternut squash, pearl onions and a generous amount of freshly shaved cheese on top. I loved all the burnt, crisp pieces of Brussels sprouts leaves along with the larger parts of the sprouts.
I opted for the The Iowan pizza. It consisted of ricotta, mozzarella, garlic confit, La Quercia prosciutto and arugula. The smooth and creamy texture of the ricotta was nicely balanced by the slight peppery taste of the arugula. The prosciutto gave just the right amount of saltiness which rounded out the entire pie. This is a great choice, especially if you prefer white pizzas but without a heavy cream sauce added.
Kevin opted for the special pizza of the evening which had the base of a Margherita pizza but they added 'Nduja salami and Peppdew peppers. Kevin thought it had the right amount of heat, delicious flavor, but could be too spicy for some. The crust was cooked wonderfully and had the right consistency to balance the flavors as well as tone down the spice. Again, it definitely had some kick to it!
We had to have dessert so we were deciding between their house made soft serve ice cream and trying to decide how to order it. Leah guided us perfectly by suggesting we order two of the DIY ice cream sandwiches, one with the vanilla with olive oil and fleur de sel and the other with mint topped with chocolate covered cocoa nibs. The ice cream came in the old fashioned tulip cups and the warm chocolate chip cookies were served on the side. We both preferred the vanilla with the olive oil and fleur de sel. It was a perfect blend between the creaminess of the ice cream and the smooth flavors of the olive oil. It was almost more savory than sweet. This was nothing like a Dairy Queen soft serve!
I highly recommend you try Pizzeria Lola as your next pizza outing. It will spoil you for what it means to have a high quality pizza for a reasonable price. And, if you are with friends or family, it is worth sharing a dessert! The service was outstanding and made the entire experience completely enjoyable despite the large crowds growing by the minute as we were dining.
And, for a little fun, they have a photo booth in the back you can check out and they post the pictures all along the wall by the bar. This is easily a place to take the entire family with choices for everyone. Just be prepared to wait...for a table but also for the deliciousness that will not leave your mind any time soon!
Pizzeria Lola
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