Greetings from lovely Austin, TX.
Came for a long weekend on our continuing research on warm places we might want to live. General verdict on the city is that it's pretty nice, lots of new building going on, clean, nice people. Weather for us has been pretty good, it was in the upper 80's for the last couple of days, today is low 60's. It can get really hot in the summer from what we hear.
Some restaraunt reviews:
On Wednesday, we had lunch at Iron Cactus on 6th St. Awesome. I had Steak Colorado Enchiladas, J had the Acapulco. We may return before we go home. 9/10
Wednesday evening, we went to Bess Bistro. Ambiance and location are great, food was good, service was a little off. 7.5/10. The Artichoke hearts and spinach appetizer was fantastic. J really liked her seafood risotto, I thought the steak frites were OK, but not spectactular. Prices were OK.
Thursday, we had lunch at Jo's on 2nd St. Awesome. I had a pulled pork sanwich, and J and I shared Frito Pie. Very well done, friendly service. Outside seating needs to be a little cleaner (or bussed mor quickly), as we made close aquaintence with a number of birds finishing off someone else's Frito Pie. 8/10 (9/10 without birds).
Friday night, we went to Louie's 106. Had some build up, as they've won awards from Wine Spectator, and the place looked really nice. Inside, the ambiance is great. Classy place, nice bar, open kitchen. Unfortunately, the rest of the experience was quite lacking. Our server had no interest in being there. We had to ask her what the specials were, I was served a warm (like warmer than room temp) glass of wine, and she was generally inattentive. The food, likewise, was dissapointing. My Ceasar salad was good. J had Veal Risotto. She liked the risotto, but the veal was not of the quality the price made us expect. I had a 16 oz ribeye, which wasnt' bad, it just wasn't the $36 steak I was expecting. It was also overcooked (I asked for medium rare, I got medium to medium well). Since we could see into the kitchen, it was clear my steak was sitting under heater for several minutes while the risotto finished. Wine by the glass list unimpressive, and the general wine list was quite overpriced, in my opinion. 6/10.
Today is touristy stuff, then going to an art/food thing tonight. Back to the grindstone on Monday.
Showing posts with label Food and Drink. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Food and Drink. Show all posts
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Saturday, December 27, 2008
New Orleans
Spent a week in New Orleans earlier this month. What a fantastic city. The French Quarter and Frenchmen street are much like my neighborhood in Baltimore (well, Fells Point, which is near me), just a larger scale.
A great mix of interesting history, interesting things to see, and fantastic food and drink. We skipped hitting Bourbon Street (a couple of beers at the oldest bar in the US), and instead focused on the incredible food scene.
We arrived, late, on Wednesday the 10th. We sucked it up, and went to Emeril's.
You go to Emeril's with high expectations. Seriously high. I mean, it's Emeril's. Expectations, dare I say it, exceeded. Service was fantastic, the place is very cool, and the food was outstanding. The stand out was the sausage. If you go to New Orleans, go here.
On the 11th, it snowed. In Louisiana. We wandered to Mother's for lunch, apparently this is one of the places to get a po' boy. Eh. It was OK, but it was a seriously cool place. Ambiance counts for something.
We took a cooking class given by Frank Brigsten, of Brigsten's. Very cool experience, and we met the owner of NOLA brewing.
We ate a couple of meals at a little place called Eat. Fantastic, brunch and lunch.
Saturday was spend on a holiday house tour in the Garden District, where we had a fantastic lunch at a place I can not remember.. it was on Magazine St, and I could find it again.
Saturday night was the Bombay Club, on the recommendation of a dude we met in a mall. Quite nice place, and the food was very impressive.
We also ate at NOLA, Emeril's place in the Quarter. The only dissapointing meal, mostly because the service was off. The food was quite good.
On Monday, it was K Paul's. If you don't go here when in town, you are really missing out. Outstanding food, outstanding service, and it's the home of the original New Orleans Chef.
We saved the best for last, however. Herbsaint was incredible, one of the best meals I've ever had.
I don't have much other commentary. The people in this city are incredibly friendly, the food is awesome, everywhere, and the rebuilding is still happening. I will go back.
A great mix of interesting history, interesting things to see, and fantastic food and drink. We skipped hitting Bourbon Street (a couple of beers at the oldest bar in the US), and instead focused on the incredible food scene.
We arrived, late, on Wednesday the 10th. We sucked it up, and went to Emeril's.
You go to Emeril's with high expectations. Seriously high. I mean, it's Emeril's. Expectations, dare I say it, exceeded. Service was fantastic, the place is very cool, and the food was outstanding. The stand out was the sausage. If you go to New Orleans, go here.
On the 11th, it snowed. In Louisiana. We wandered to Mother's for lunch, apparently this is one of the places to get a po' boy. Eh. It was OK, but it was a seriously cool place. Ambiance counts for something.
We took a cooking class given by Frank Brigsten, of Brigsten's. Very cool experience, and we met the owner of NOLA brewing.
We ate a couple of meals at a little place called Eat. Fantastic, brunch and lunch.
Saturday was spend on a holiday house tour in the Garden District, where we had a fantastic lunch at a place I can not remember.. it was on Magazine St, and I could find it again.
Saturday night was the Bombay Club, on the recommendation of a dude we met in a mall. Quite nice place, and the food was very impressive.
We also ate at NOLA, Emeril's place in the Quarter. The only dissapointing meal, mostly because the service was off. The food was quite good.
On Monday, it was K Paul's. If you don't go here when in town, you are really missing out. Outstanding food, outstanding service, and it's the home of the original New Orleans Chef.
We saved the best for last, however. Herbsaint was incredible, one of the best meals I've ever had.
I don't have much other commentary. The people in this city are incredibly friendly, the food is awesome, everywhere, and the rebuilding is still happening. I will go back.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Fin and Theater
Went to Fin last night. Dissapointing.
Service was eager, but not on point. Little things, like the menu being misprinted (the last thing on the menu had the last line of the description cut off (how does that happen and no one notice for this long?), and the waiter didn't know what the full description was.
I had a ceasar salad that wasn't as good as the one I make at home with store bought croutons and bottled dressing. (The description is "with toasted garlic croutons and shaved parmesean", it had croutons out of a box and grated parmasean that might have also been mass produced). J had crabcakes that she described as 'adequate'; I had rack of lamb that was pretty good, but not spectacular. Waiter forgot about my glass of wine (twice), but they didn't charge me for it. Finished it off with a stawberry shortcake that was very good.
Ambiance is fanstastic. The space is really cool, especially the bar area.
Service: 4/10
Food: 7/10
Ambiance: 9/10
Overall: 6.5/10. Return trip doubtful. There are too many places in town that are just better.
Then went to see "Legally Blonde".
I'm a 235 pound powerlifter who's favorite band is Slayer. It bordered on torture. However, for light mindless entertainment, it was better than television. The UPS guy steals the show.
Service was eager, but not on point. Little things, like the menu being misprinted (the last thing on the menu had the last line of the description cut off (how does that happen and no one notice for this long?), and the waiter didn't know what the full description was.
I had a ceasar salad that wasn't as good as the one I make at home with store bought croutons and bottled dressing. (The description is "with toasted garlic croutons and shaved parmesean", it had croutons out of a box and grated parmasean that might have also been mass produced). J had crabcakes that she described as 'adequate'; I had rack of lamb that was pretty good, but not spectacular. Waiter forgot about my glass of wine (twice), but they didn't charge me for it. Finished it off with a stawberry shortcake that was very good.
Ambiance is fanstastic. The space is really cool, especially the bar area.
Service: 4/10
Food: 7/10
Ambiance: 9/10
Overall: 6.5/10. Return trip doubtful. There are too many places in town that are just better.
Then went to see "Legally Blonde".
I'm a 235 pound powerlifter who's favorite band is Slayer. It bordered on torture. However, for light mindless entertainment, it was better than television. The UPS guy steals the show.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Pizza
I hear over and over that Pasta Mista is the greatest pizza, ever.
I tried out a couple of slices last night. I don't see what all the fuss is about. They did have a couple of specialty pies I want to try.
I tried out a couple of slices last night. I don't see what all the fuss is about. They did have a couple of specialty pies I want to try.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Restaurant Week!
I was out of town for most of this week, which was Restaurant Week in Baltimore. Too bad, we love this week where we get out and sample places we haven't been, or revisit our favorites.
Last night, J and I went with our neighbors, D and R, to Sotto Sopra.
Very good.
The first course was nothing to write home about - I had the Proscuitto de Parma, J and R had grilled romaine, and D had the soup of the day (which she liked quite a bit). The entrees were all hits, though. J and I both had the Agnolotti di Vitello (veal stuffed pasta), which was fantastic. D had the red snapper, which she raved about, and R had the Veal Scallopini. We had a fantasic wine (recommended by our server).
I would go 8 out of 10. This is a great spot, a boisterous space, attentive service, and great food.
Last night, J and I went with our neighbors, D and R, to Sotto Sopra.
Very good.
The first course was nothing to write home about - I had the Proscuitto de Parma, J and R had grilled romaine, and D had the soup of the day (which she liked quite a bit). The entrees were all hits, though. J and I both had the Agnolotti di Vitello (veal stuffed pasta), which was fantastic. D had the red snapper, which she raved about, and R had the Veal Scallopini. We had a fantasic wine (recommended by our server).
I would go 8 out of 10. This is a great spot, a boisterous space, attentive service, and great food.
Friday, November 9, 2007
Thursday is the new Friday
Had a late afternoon meeting with our financial advisor (the lovely and talented Miss T), then, since we were over at Harbor East, we planned dinner at Pazo with K and her man A.
Fantastic, as usual. One to many martinis, and one to many bottles of wine. Food was awesome. Both couples got the Classic Table for Two. Everything was better than expected, but the empanadas really stood out.
Fantastic, as usual. One to many martinis, and one to many bottles of wine. Food was awesome. Both couples got the Classic Table for Two. Everything was better than expected, but the empanadas really stood out.
Sunday, August 5, 2007
Lebanese Taverna
This week was restaurant week in Baltimore. Unfortunately, we were only able to take advantage of it one night - Saturday - at Lebanese Taverna.
Other than at the Prime Rib, our restaurant week experiences in the past have been positive. Always freshly made, just like you ordered off the menu, often things we wouldn't otherwise try.
Lebanese Taverna was a bit of a dissapointment. As an appetizer, had Shrimp Arak, which tasted to me like thawed shrimp out of a bag, cooked with butter. OK, but not fantastic. J had grape leaves, which had obviously been pre made and pre plated (the plate was ice cold), and just weren't very good. We both chose Sharhat Ghanam (sliced grilled lamb), which was very much like what you would get at a banquet where they make 200 at a time. It was OK, but not great. The house wine (red or white) was OK, but I don't even know what it was.
Dessert was Creme Caramel, which was good.
Service was dissapointing, through little fault of the waiter. He had too many tables, and was struggling to keep up, even when most were ordering off the fixed menu. The building is cool - the bar area is really cool, but the room is way too loud and a bit cramped. It was also not as clean as I like to see.
Given all the raves we've heard, we are going to give them another chance at some point, but based on our experience last night, there are lots of much better places to go, and life is too short.
Overall: Food - 5 out of 10, Service - 6 out of 10, Ambiance - 7 out of 10.
Other than at the Prime Rib, our restaurant week experiences in the past have been positive. Always freshly made, just like you ordered off the menu, often things we wouldn't otherwise try.
Lebanese Taverna was a bit of a dissapointment. As an appetizer, had Shrimp Arak, which tasted to me like thawed shrimp out of a bag, cooked with butter. OK, but not fantastic. J had grape leaves, which had obviously been pre made and pre plated (the plate was ice cold), and just weren't very good. We both chose Sharhat Ghanam (sliced grilled lamb), which was very much like what you would get at a banquet where they make 200 at a time. It was OK, but not great. The house wine (red or white) was OK, but I don't even know what it was.
Dessert was Creme Caramel, which was good.
Service was dissapointing, through little fault of the waiter. He had too many tables, and was struggling to keep up, even when most were ordering off the fixed menu. The building is cool - the bar area is really cool, but the room is way too loud and a bit cramped. It was also not as clean as I like to see.
Given all the raves we've heard, we are going to give them another chance at some point, but based on our experience last night, there are lots of much better places to go, and life is too short.
Overall: Food - 5 out of 10, Service - 6 out of 10, Ambiance - 7 out of 10.
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Bad Wine
In showing wine is indeed a matter of individual taste... I bought a bottle of Luzon Verde, an organic red, on the advice of a local wine merchant, who thought my wife, who likes sweeter whites (and not much on the red side) would like it.
Blech. It tasted like grape juice with some sort of rancid citrus juice poured in. Really sickening sweet, with no real reason to drink it. J agreed - so down the drain it went.
I searched for a link to the wine or winemaker, and this is one of the many praises I found.
Either I'm a totally unsophisticated boor (which is entirely possible), or it just shows how fickle wine drinkers can be.
Blech. It tasted like grape juice with some sort of rancid citrus juice poured in. Really sickening sweet, with no real reason to drink it. J agreed - so down the drain it went.
I searched for a link to the wine or winemaker, and this is one of the many praises I found.
Either I'm a totally unsophisticated boor (which is entirely possible), or it just shows how fickle wine drinkers can be.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Altering your diet DOES work!
In spite of this report coming out of the University of California.
This is one of the gems in the story:
How about we wake up and realise that anyone telling you this stuff is probably trying to sell you something (like surgery or drugs). Your doctor doesn't make any money if you figure out how to eat well.
This kind of thing really does drive me a bit nuts. Let me give you a couple of bits of clarification, brought to you by the Groovy Uncle Pauly School of Common Freaking Sense (tm).
1) Diets do not fail. People fail at diets
2) Long term health is directly related to the development of long term habits.
So if you go on a diet for 3 months, drop 20 pounds, and then 3 months later you are heavier than you were when you started, you screwed up. Not the diet.
Buried in the story is this:
And if you are physically unable to do those things, figure out a way to change that. Quit coming up with excuses, and find what you can do that works.
This is one of the gems in the story:
Dr Mann said: "We decided to dig up and analyse every study that followed people on diets for two to five years. We concluded most of them would have been better off not going on the diet at all.So a safe and effective means of fighting obesity is What? Invasive surgery that removes 80% of an internal organ?!?! Maybe some drugs?? How about we quit giving those folks credit for having such an incredible lack of willpower that they had to have a doctor make it physically impossible for them to overeat instead of actually eating less. (And they still never get svelte!)
"Their weight would have been pretty much the same, and their bodies would not suffer the wear and tear from losing weight and gaining it all back.
"The benefits of dieting are simply too small and the potential harms of dieting are too large for it to be recommended as a safe and effective treatment for obesity."
How about we wake up and realise that anyone telling you this stuff is probably trying to sell you something (like surgery or drugs). Your doctor doesn't make any money if you figure out how to eat well.
This kind of thing really does drive me a bit nuts. Let me give you a couple of bits of clarification, brought to you by the Groovy Uncle Pauly School of Common Freaking Sense (tm).
1) Diets do not fail. People fail at diets
2) Long term health is directly related to the development of long term habits.
So if you go on a diet for 3 months, drop 20 pounds, and then 3 months later you are heavier than you were when you started, you screwed up. Not the diet.
Buried in the story is this:
Last night, British experts said that fad diets do not work and that the key to maintaining a healthy weight is making gradual, long-term changes.This really isn't that tough to understand. Eat less food, move a little more. Go to Precision Nutrition, buy the package, read it, and implement it. Get on a bike, go for a walk, join a gym.
Dr Beckie Lang, of the Association for the Study of Obesity, said: "Maintaining a healthy weight isn't about going on a diet and coming off a diet when you reach your target weight. It is about adopting skills that change your eating habits for life."
And if you are physically unable to do those things, figure out a way to change that. Quit coming up with excuses, and find what you can do that works.
Sunday, April 8, 2007
Man Laws
I've always thought that people who drink Miller Lite shouldn't get to make man laws, because it's not really a manly beer. Maybe Bud or Miller Highlife, but honestly, it takes a man's man to put down some Spaten Optimator
Dan the Bar Man makes an even more salient point about people with facelifts and wigs developing man laws, along with a very effective photo comparison.
Dan the Bar Man makes an even more salient point about people with facelifts and wigs developing man laws, along with a very effective photo comparison.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Monday, January 1, 2007
Happy New Year!
We did more than we usually do, and it was a heck of a lot of fun. I'm not one for crowds and the whole New Year's Eve thing - been there, done that, I'll leave it to the youngsters now. But we did want to have a nice dinner, and spend some time with friends, so out we went.
First, we got gussied up and went to dinner at Charleston. Now, I'm not Spamwise, but I do want to give you a run down of what I had and what it was like.
I had 'The Season' tasting menu, with wine pairings. $150. (Mrs. Stagg had 'The Sea'.)
It's like a spoonful of soup and 3 ounces of bubbly. What I found interesting is they were fantastic together.
My first Foie Gras. WOW. The wine with the food was like an explosion of flavor (all good).
Again, the wine and the salad were just perfect
Duck medium rare, again, the wine was perfect. Interestingly, neither the wine or the duck blew me away on their own, but together, fantastic.
Again, outstanding. I loved both the lamb and the wine on their own.
Decadent.
I'm usually not particularly expirimental with my food - I'm a Ceasar Salad, Rare Tuna, Steak eating kinda guy. I rarely eat duck, and had never eaten rabbit or Foie Gras. Cindy Wolfe makes being a little experimental with food fun and nearly risk free, helping folks like me open up to new things.
9.5 out of 10.
Afterwards we came home, walked the dog, and went to K's house for a little more food and drink with friends. Then to Gecko's, where I ran into two old friends, folks I hadn't seen in years. We planned to either go back to K's or back home to see the fireworks at midnight, but stayed - we were just having to much fun with everyone else. The bar wasn't too crowded, yet lively enough to make it a heck of a lot of fun.
Off to my parents' today for some of mom's cookin' and football.
First, we got gussied up and went to dinner at Charleston. Now, I'm not Spamwise, but I do want to give you a run down of what I had and what it was like.
I had 'The Season' tasting menu, with wine pairings. $150. (Mrs. Stagg had 'The Sea'.)
Amuse Bouche
Green Lentil Soup with Gamebird Stock
Champagne, Pommery "Brut Royal" NV
It's like a spoonful of soup and 3 ounces of bubbly. What I found interesting is they were fantastic together.
First Course
Phesant and Rabbit Terrine with Torchon of Foie Gras, Roasted Walnuts
Vouvray Moellus "Le Mont" Gaston Huet 1997
My first Foie Gras. WOW. The wine with the food was like an explosion of flavor (all good).
Second Course
Grilled Hearts of Romaine with a Reggiano Tuile and Sweet Garlic
Trebbiano d'Abruzzo, Marram "Anima" 2004
Again, the wine and the salad were just perfect
Third Course
Pan Roasted Duck Breast with Root Vegatables, 50 year old Balsamico
Rioja, Valsacro 2001
Duck medium rare, again, the wine was perfect. Interestingly, neither the wine or the duck blew me away on their own, but together, fantastic.
Fourth Course
Frilled Lamb Rack Chop with Prot Wine Reduction, Pommes Puree, Black Truffle
Zinfandel, Surh Luchtel 2004
Again, outstanding. I loved both the lamb and the wine on their own.
Dessert
Chocolate Trio: Chololate Baked Alaska, Bloor Orange Tart, Chololate-Caramel Creme Brulee
Banyuls M Chapoutier 2004
Decadent.
I'm usually not particularly expirimental with my food - I'm a Ceasar Salad, Rare Tuna, Steak eating kinda guy. I rarely eat duck, and had never eaten rabbit or Foie Gras. Cindy Wolfe makes being a little experimental with food fun and nearly risk free, helping folks like me open up to new things.
9.5 out of 10.
Afterwards we came home, walked the dog, and went to K's house for a little more food and drink with friends. Then to Gecko's, where I ran into two old friends, folks I hadn't seen in years. We planned to either go back to K's or back home to see the fireworks at midnight, but stayed - we were just having to much fun with everyone else. The bar wasn't too crowded, yet lively enough to make it a heck of a lot of fun.
Off to my parents' today for some of mom's cookin' and football.
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