It has been a while since I have posted anything, but I have been taking notes of my experiences. In this blog I will run down 12 of the smaller places I have eaten over the past few months. Some of them are chains, but they are very good ones that I would recommend and go to again. This post will not take the form of the others as the descriptions will be brief for each restaurant experience.
1. Firehouse Subs in Cape Girardeau, MO on July 4, 2015 --- This place is delicious and helps raise money for a good cause. I had the Smokehouse Beef & Cheddar Brisket and it was fantastic.
2. Broadway Biergarten in Cape Girardeau, MO on July 8, 2015 --- You can never go wrong with this place. I have been here many times and always have multiple very good craft beers in flight sample sizes. The food options are limited, but whether you get the wings, waffle fries, or Bavarian pretzel, you will not be disappointed. I highly recommend Biergarten and extra cheese if you get the pretzel!
3. Tony's Donuts in Hazelwood, MO on July 12, 2015 --- Everyone enjoys fresh bakery items from time to time and this place is great. No matter what you get any time of the day, it will be fresh.
4. Airways Cafe in Dexter, MO on July 15, 2015 --- This place is a local favorite for everyone. I'm sure if you're reading this you have probably been here and probably enjoyed it. If not, you need to. Whether eating breakfast or lunch, the food makes you feel as if you never left the house. If I could suggest one thing to anyone going here, it would be to save room for the peanut butter pie. It is absolutely exceptional. I like it better without the chocolate drizzle, but maybe I'm the only one who likes the flavor of peanut butter better than the flavor of chocolate.
5. Hokkaido Japanese Restuarant in Florissant, MO on July 23, 2015 --- This is a buffet restaurant. However, they also have a station with someone making fresh sushi and another station with raw foods you can get grilled right in front of you. This is the only Japanese buffet I have ever been to, but I would definitely go here again because I liked so much more than any Chinese buffet I have ever come across.
6. Dexter Bar-B-Que in Dexter, MO on August 3, 2015 --- Dexter BBQ is always a good choice for any night out to dinner. I usually get the same thing every time because it is so delicious: pork steak, baked beans, and potato salad. Whatever you decide to order, it is sure to be delicious!
7. Doozle's Frozen Custard in Florissant, MO on August 8, 2015 --- Frozen custard is not really the best thing for you, but it always tastes great! I ordered the Very Berry Sundae, which comes with strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries. If you're in the area and need a fix, go to Doozle's.
8. Buffalo Wild Wings in Sikeston, MO on September 13, 2015 --- The best thing about this place is the consistency. You always know what to expect when you order here because it's going to be the same thing at every location. My favorite sauce is Asian Zing paired with a beer that has some hops.
9. Penny's Diner in Dexter, MO on September 20, 2015 --- You know exactly what to expect when you come to Penny's: slow service, fresh homestyle food, and terrible coffee. The food is great, especially if you get breakfast, but I recommend doing as I did on this trip and bring your own coffee.
10. Peking Chinese Restaurant in Dexter, MO on September 25, 2015 --- I've had probably everything on the menu at some point and it is all good. Non-buffet Chinese food is always the way to go. My favorites are the items with some spice to them like the Kung Pao Chicken and Curry Chicken. Be sure to try the Spring Rolls as well. They are fantastic.
11. Which Wich in St. Louis, MO on October 4, 2015 --- Which Wich is my favorite place to get sub sandwiches. On this visit I had a 7" hot Chicken Parm on white with mozzarella, pickles, black olives, garlic, salt, and pepper. It was amazing. You'll have to go for yourself to see all the different types of sandwiches they offer!
12. Robbie D's in Dexter, MO on October 7, 2015 --- Sometimes I can be a creature of habit. At Robbie D's, I always order the same thing: a 1/4 lb. cheeseburger with fries. But you can't blame me because Robbie D's has the best burgers in Dexter and the only reason a lot of people ever go there is when they're craving a good burger! I also usually order the okra appetizer, which is the best you can get in Dexter as well. On this visit I chose to drink Captain & Coke instead of beer. The only problem I have with Robbie D's is their limited beer selection, but I understand they have to cater to their usual customers so I can't really blame them for only carrying crappy beer that tastes like dirty water. I might be the only person to ever go in there who enjoys good craft beers.
All of these places are great and I would recommend them to anyone, depending on what they were in the mood for. If you haven't tried one of them, please do, then let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Wednesday, November 25, 2015
Tuesday, September 22, 2015
Crabb & Co. - Wappapello, MO
Date of dining experience: July 3, 2015
Place: Crabb & Company
Location: 8815 Missouri T in Wappapello, MO
Appetizer 1: Stuffed Mushrooms ($7) - A Crabb original; fresh mushrooms stuffed with a cream cheese and bacon center.
Appetizer 2: Fried Okra ($6 full order) - Lightly battered, just like grandma's. And they aren't kidding! It is one of the top two places for okra in the area, with the other being River Ridge Winery.
Entree: Smoked Pork Steak ($14) - Approx. 2 lbs. of thick-sliced, hand-rubbed smoked shoulder. And it came with sides! This pork steak is probably tied with the one at Dexter BBQ for second best in the area. I'd still have to say that the best pork steak in the area is from Strawberry's, but only if you actually go there to get it.
Sides (the ones I ordered): Roasted Fresh Broccoli and Homemade BBQ Baked Beans - both delicious! You can't go wrong with some roasted broccoli and homemade baked beans are always good.
Sides (the ones Audry ordered, which I tasted): Homemade Potato Chips and Baked Macaroni & Cheese. The chips were pretty typical, but the macaroni was great! You could definitely tell it was baked and you could definitely tell it was homemade.
Wine: With the appetizers and before the meal I had a glass of Woodbridge Pinot Grigio and a glass of Woodbridge Chardonnay ($4.50 each for 8 oz. servings) - This is a reasonable price, but just keep in mind that it is Woodbridge. Don't expect it to be absolutely delicious as it's meant more to compliment the food.
Beer: With my meal I had a Schlafly Hefeweizen ($3.50) - It was a pretty good beer at a reasonable price.
Desserts: You can't go wrong with any of the desserts here because they are all made by Carmel Dare. Seriously, nothing is bad. If you want to take a look at some of Carmel's work, check out Carmel's Creations. I know she has a Facebook page and I'm sure she has a website also.
The atmosphere at Crabb & Co. is great. It feels kind of like the old Weekender's Fish House did. The only "bad" thing is that the alcohol selection is pretty limited and their Indian Hills wine selections are very overpriced (they want $6 for 6 oz. servings). But they do offer more of a variety than a lot of other restaurants in the area, so I'm not really going to complain. And if they can get $1 per oz. for Indian Hills because it is a local winery, soak up the profits!
Hmm, I mentioned four area restaurants (still open for business) in this post that I have not yet written about. I'll have to remedy that. But I digress...
Overall, Crabb & Co. is definitely worth the trip. The people are super friendly. One of the owners is a principal at Puxico and employs a lot of Puxico High School students. In fact, Indian Hills Winery (which also closes for the winter) is owned by Puxico teachers (I'm pretty sure they're both teachers), if that information might help you be able to pay $1 per oz. for Indian Hills wine (because it is vastly superior to Woodbridge).
Everyone should go check out Crabb & Co., but you better hurry because it does close down for the winter. When you do get a chance to make the trip, let me know what you think. Enjoy!
Place: Crabb & Company
Location: 8815 Missouri T in Wappapello, MO
Appetizer 1: Stuffed Mushrooms ($7) - A Crabb original; fresh mushrooms stuffed with a cream cheese and bacon center.
Appetizer 2: Fried Okra ($6 full order) - Lightly battered, just like grandma's. And they aren't kidding! It is one of the top two places for okra in the area, with the other being River Ridge Winery.
Entree: Smoked Pork Steak ($14) - Approx. 2 lbs. of thick-sliced, hand-rubbed smoked shoulder. And it came with sides! This pork steak is probably tied with the one at Dexter BBQ for second best in the area. I'd still have to say that the best pork steak in the area is from Strawberry's, but only if you actually go there to get it.
Sides (the ones I ordered): Roasted Fresh Broccoli and Homemade BBQ Baked Beans - both delicious! You can't go wrong with some roasted broccoli and homemade baked beans are always good.
Sides (the ones Audry ordered, which I tasted): Homemade Potato Chips and Baked Macaroni & Cheese. The chips were pretty typical, but the macaroni was great! You could definitely tell it was baked and you could definitely tell it was homemade.
Wine: With the appetizers and before the meal I had a glass of Woodbridge Pinot Grigio and a glass of Woodbridge Chardonnay ($4.50 each for 8 oz. servings) - This is a reasonable price, but just keep in mind that it is Woodbridge. Don't expect it to be absolutely delicious as it's meant more to compliment the food.
Beer: With my meal I had a Schlafly Hefeweizen ($3.50) - It was a pretty good beer at a reasonable price.
Desserts: You can't go wrong with any of the desserts here because they are all made by Carmel Dare. Seriously, nothing is bad. If you want to take a look at some of Carmel's work, check out Carmel's Creations. I know she has a Facebook page and I'm sure she has a website also.
The atmosphere at Crabb & Co. is great. It feels kind of like the old Weekender's Fish House did. The only "bad" thing is that the alcohol selection is pretty limited and their Indian Hills wine selections are very overpriced (they want $6 for 6 oz. servings). But they do offer more of a variety than a lot of other restaurants in the area, so I'm not really going to complain. And if they can get $1 per oz. for Indian Hills because it is a local winery, soak up the profits!
Hmm, I mentioned four area restaurants (still open for business) in this post that I have not yet written about. I'll have to remedy that. But I digress...
Overall, Crabb & Co. is definitely worth the trip. The people are super friendly. One of the owners is a principal at Puxico and employs a lot of Puxico High School students. In fact, Indian Hills Winery (which also closes for the winter) is owned by Puxico teachers (I'm pretty sure they're both teachers), if that information might help you be able to pay $1 per oz. for Indian Hills wine (because it is vastly superior to Woodbridge).
Everyone should go check out Crabb & Co., but you better hurry because it does close down for the winter. When you do get a chance to make the trip, let me know what you think. Enjoy!
Sunday, September 20, 2015
Wonton King - St. Louis, MO
Date of dining experience: June 27, 2015
Place: Wonton King
Location: 8116 Olive Blvd. in St. Louis, MO
Before my good friend Leo had to board his flight to Phoenix, we decided to enjoy one more meal together. What better way than having another authentic Asian food experience.
According to Yelp, Wonton King has the best Dim Sum in the St. Louis area.
Dim Sum is a style of Cantonese cuisine prepared as small bite-sized portions of food traditionally served in small steamer baskets or on small plates.
Drink: Jasmine Tea - this is AMAZING! If you only go to this restaurant to have the tea, it's worth it.
There were entirely too many dishes on our table to remember or take note of what all we tried (much like with the Korean Banchan), but I'll list some of my favorites!
We started with the special for the day, which was a large plate of perfectly seasoned steamed mussels. The sticky rice was delicious, and so were a few different types of beef rolls (like the siopao), shrimp wraps (like the taro puff), the spare ribs, and the egg tart. The Chinese broccoli here was better than at Wei Hong, but I think it was due to it having more sauce to counter the bitter taste. We ended the meal with a type of honey-sweetened tofu that was very tasty.
Absolute Favorite: Shark Fin. DELICIOUS! I believe the shark fin is prepared as siomai, which is an open-wrapped steamed dumpling.
Least Favorite: Chicken Feet. Though this is a traditional Chinese dish, I couldn't bring myself to try it. I did eat here a second time a month later and tried it: there is hardly any meat, but what a great experience!
Note: Dim Sum is available during the week, but only off a menu at certain restaurants. However, Wonton King serves it in the full traditional style every day of the week from 11;00 AM to 3:00 PM.
I've been to Wonton King for Dim Sum four times now and I can't wait to go back again!
If you have never had Dim Sum, you should! And you should have it at Wonton King. You will NOT be disappointed. Try it for yourself and let me know what you think! Enjoy!!!
Place: Wonton King
Location: 8116 Olive Blvd. in St. Louis, MO
Before my good friend Leo had to board his flight to Phoenix, we decided to enjoy one more meal together. What better way than having another authentic Asian food experience.
According to Yelp, Wonton King has the best Dim Sum in the St. Louis area.
Dim Sum is a style of Cantonese cuisine prepared as small bite-sized portions of food traditionally served in small steamer baskets or on small plates.
Drink: Jasmine Tea - this is AMAZING! If you only go to this restaurant to have the tea, it's worth it.
There were entirely too many dishes on our table to remember or take note of what all we tried (much like with the Korean Banchan), but I'll list some of my favorites!
We started with the special for the day, which was a large plate of perfectly seasoned steamed mussels. The sticky rice was delicious, and so were a few different types of beef rolls (like the siopao), shrimp wraps (like the taro puff), the spare ribs, and the egg tart. The Chinese broccoli here was better than at Wei Hong, but I think it was due to it having more sauce to counter the bitter taste. We ended the meal with a type of honey-sweetened tofu that was very tasty.
Absolute Favorite: Shark Fin. DELICIOUS! I believe the shark fin is prepared as siomai, which is an open-wrapped steamed dumpling.
Least Favorite: Chicken Feet. Though this is a traditional Chinese dish, I couldn't bring myself to try it. I did eat here a second time a month later and tried it: there is hardly any meat, but what a great experience!
Note: Dim Sum is available during the week, but only off a menu at certain restaurants. However, Wonton King serves it in the full traditional style every day of the week from 11;00 AM to 3:00 PM.
I've been to Wonton King for Dim Sum four times now and I can't wait to go back again!
If you have never had Dim Sum, you should! And you should have it at Wonton King. You will NOT be disappointed. Try it for yourself and let me know what you think! Enjoy!!!
Wei Hong - St. Louis, MO
Date of dining experience: June 26, 2015
Place: Wei Hong Seafood Restaurant
Location: 7740 Olive Blvd. in University City, MO
This place was a much better alternative to Marley's. :-)
Leo and I wanted to enjoy some more traditional Asian food, and this was the perfect place!
Vegetable: Chinese Broccoli ($8) - with oyster sauce. Chinese broccoli is similar to American broccoli, but has a slightly bitter taste up front. The oyster sauce really helps curb the bitterness.
Meats: Leo and I split a couple meat dishes. There was a delicious pork plate ($10) and a steamed whole fish. (Yes, it still had the tail, head, and bones.) The pork was fantastic, but the fish was remarkable! I never realized how much of the fish flavor you lose when it is prepared, prepackaged, and then frozen before you ever buy it!
Apparently some people really enjoy eating the eyeballs of whole steamed fish, but I couldn't bring myself to try it. If you end up trying it, please let me know how it was.
I recommend everyone try a whole steamed fish at least once, just watch out for those bones! Enjoy!
Place: Wei Hong Seafood Restaurant
Location: 7740 Olive Blvd. in University City, MO
This place was a much better alternative to Marley's. :-)
Leo and I wanted to enjoy some more traditional Asian food, and this was the perfect place!
Vegetable: Chinese Broccoli ($8) - with oyster sauce. Chinese broccoli is similar to American broccoli, but has a slightly bitter taste up front. The oyster sauce really helps curb the bitterness.
Meats: Leo and I split a couple meat dishes. There was a delicious pork plate ($10) and a steamed whole fish. (Yes, it still had the tail, head, and bones.) The pork was fantastic, but the fish was remarkable! I never realized how much of the fish flavor you lose when it is prepared, prepackaged, and then frozen before you ever buy it!
Apparently some people really enjoy eating the eyeballs of whole steamed fish, but I couldn't bring myself to try it. If you end up trying it, please let me know how it was.
I recommend everyone try a whole steamed fish at least once, just watch out for those bones! Enjoy!
Marley's - St. Louis, MO
Date of dining experience: June 26, 2015
Place: Marley's Bar & Grill
Location: 500 S. Florissant Rd. in Ferguson, MO
This is my first truly negative post...
After my two weeks at a workshop in St. Louis this summer, I went to Marley's with a few friends. The only reason we went to Marley's is because Ferguson Brewing Company had burned down just a week before. Upon entering, everything smelled terrible and appeared dirty. Some of the tables were even a little sticky.
A few in our group ordered food and when it arrived I was glad I did not order anything. All of the food on the menu was heavy bar food and most of it was fried. When the orders arrived, the food appeared to be drenched with oil and grease. I don't know how they ate that junk, but I know it would have made me sick to my stomach.
My friend Leo seemed to be feeling the same way as I was, so we each had one beer while enjoying some friendly conversation and then went off to find some real food.
Beer: Big Wave Golden Ale by Kona Brewing Company (ABV: 4.4% --- IBU: 5)
Despite being served by our waitress, who appeared as if she was either high or drunk and hadn't taken a shower in a few days, this beer tasted great. This golden ale was just the right mix of hop and Belgian goodness to make a bad situation slightly tolerable, briefly.
I do not recommend this place, even if Ferguson Brewing Co. is still closed down. I think I remember seeing a sign for a wine bar near there. That would definitely be a better place to go.
If you do end up going to Marley's... Enjoy?
Place: Marley's Bar & Grill
Location: 500 S. Florissant Rd. in Ferguson, MO
This is my first truly negative post...
After my two weeks at a workshop in St. Louis this summer, I went to Marley's with a few friends. The only reason we went to Marley's is because Ferguson Brewing Company had burned down just a week before. Upon entering, everything smelled terrible and appeared dirty. Some of the tables were even a little sticky.
A few in our group ordered food and when it arrived I was glad I did not order anything. All of the food on the menu was heavy bar food and most of it was fried. When the orders arrived, the food appeared to be drenched with oil and grease. I don't know how they ate that junk, but I know it would have made me sick to my stomach.
My friend Leo seemed to be feeling the same way as I was, so we each had one beer while enjoying some friendly conversation and then went off to find some real food.
Beer: Big Wave Golden Ale by Kona Brewing Company (ABV: 4.4% --- IBU: 5)
Despite being served by our waitress, who appeared as if she was either high or drunk and hadn't taken a shower in a few days, this beer tasted great. This golden ale was just the right mix of hop and Belgian goodness to make a bad situation slightly tolerable, briefly.
I do not recommend this place, even if Ferguson Brewing Co. is still closed down. I think I remember seeing a sign for a wine bar near there. That would definitely be a better place to go.
If you do end up going to Marley's... Enjoy?
PW Pizza - St. Louis, MO
Date of dining experience: June 24, 2015
Place: PW Pizza
Location: 2017 Chouteau Ave. in St. Louis, MO
PW Pizza has hosts monthly "beer dinners" where different breweries are featured. Their beers are featured with chef creations to make a wonderfully delicious coursed meal. This particular beer dinner featured the St. Louis brewery 4 Hands. The total price, including gratuity, is only $35. And it is definitely worth every penny. Some beers that you might not try on your own just explode with flavor when paired with the right food items. A pitcher of each beer is brought to each table with each course, but that's not all you get! If you run out, you can simply go to the front and they will refill the pitcher for you at no extra charge!
The only bad thing for those of us not living in the St. Louis area is that the beer dinners are always on Wednesdays. :-(
1st Course: Bruschetta - basil, red onion, tomato, cucumber, lime juice, feta, and avocado dressing.
Beer Pairing: 4 Hands Single Speed Blonde (5% ABV)
2nd Course: Bacon Green Apple Pizza - original crust with feta, green onion, toasted almonds, and cilantro cream.
Beer Pairing: 4 Hands Divided Sky Rye IPA (6.5% ABV)
3rd Course: Prime Rib Pizza - original crust with brie, potato, rosemary, and garlic olive oil.
Beer Pairing: 4 Hands Reprise Centennial Red (6% ABV)
Final Course: S'Mores Pizza - honey wheat crust with cinnamon.
Beer Pairing: 4 Hands Cast Iron Oatmeal Brown (5.5% ABV)
I highly recommend beer dinners and PW Pizza would be a great place to start! They have it figured out and I can't wait to go back, no matter what brewery they are featuring!
The next three PW Pizza beer dinners are:
Wednesday, September 30th - featuring New Holland Brewery
Wednesday, October 21st - featuring Schlafly Brewery
Wednesday, November 18th - featuring Six Mile Bridge Brewery
You DEFINITELY need to check this out and let me know what you think! Enjoy!!
Place: PW Pizza
Location: 2017 Chouteau Ave. in St. Louis, MO
PW Pizza has hosts monthly "beer dinners" where different breweries are featured. Their beers are featured with chef creations to make a wonderfully delicious coursed meal. This particular beer dinner featured the St. Louis brewery 4 Hands. The total price, including gratuity, is only $35. And it is definitely worth every penny. Some beers that you might not try on your own just explode with flavor when paired with the right food items. A pitcher of each beer is brought to each table with each course, but that's not all you get! If you run out, you can simply go to the front and they will refill the pitcher for you at no extra charge!
The only bad thing for those of us not living in the St. Louis area is that the beer dinners are always on Wednesdays. :-(
1st Course: Bruschetta - basil, red onion, tomato, cucumber, lime juice, feta, and avocado dressing.
Beer Pairing: 4 Hands Single Speed Blonde (5% ABV)
2nd Course: Bacon Green Apple Pizza - original crust with feta, green onion, toasted almonds, and cilantro cream.
Beer Pairing: 4 Hands Divided Sky Rye IPA (6.5% ABV)
3rd Course: Prime Rib Pizza - original crust with brie, potato, rosemary, and garlic olive oil.
Beer Pairing: 4 Hands Reprise Centennial Red (6% ABV)
Final Course: S'Mores Pizza - honey wheat crust with cinnamon.
Beer Pairing: 4 Hands Cast Iron Oatmeal Brown (5.5% ABV)
I highly recommend beer dinners and PW Pizza would be a great place to start! They have it figured out and I can't wait to go back, no matter what brewery they are featuring!
The next three PW Pizza beer dinners are:
Wednesday, September 30th - featuring New Holland Brewery
Wednesday, October 21st - featuring Schlafly Brewery
Wednesday, November 18th - featuring Six Mile Bridge Brewery
You DEFINITELY need to check this out and let me know what you think! Enjoy!!
Einstein Brothers - St. Louis, MO
Date of dining experience: June 24, 2015
Place: Einstein Bros. Bagels
Location: On the campus of the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
Lunch: Nova Lox & Bagel - You can never go wrong with some smoked salmon, cream cheese, and capers on a bagel! Delicious!
Drink: Coffee. There is just something about Einstein Bros. that makes me order coffee every time I go there, but it's always fresh and tasty!
Okay, so this is technically a chain restaurant, but if you haven't experienced Einstein Bros. yet, you should. You won't regret it. Enjoy!
Place: Einstein Bros. Bagels
Location: On the campus of the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
Lunch: Nova Lox & Bagel - You can never go wrong with some smoked salmon, cream cheese, and capers on a bagel! Delicious!
Drink: Coffee. There is just something about Einstein Bros. that makes me order coffee every time I go there, but it's always fresh and tasty!
Okay, so this is technically a chain restaurant, but if you haven't experienced Einstein Bros. yet, you should. You won't regret it. Enjoy!
Mai Lee - St. Louis, MO
Date of dining experience: June 23, 2015
Place: Mai Lee
Location: 8396 Musick Memorial Dr. in Brentwood, MO
Leo and I always went here together during my time in St. Louis this summer. We tried some more authentic dishes. Mai Lee is sort of an Asian fusion restaurant, offering items from multiple different Asian countries.
Cold Appetizer: Goi Cuon ($4) - Two spring rolls with shrimp and pork. This is one of my favorites appetizers at any place that sells them and they are absolutely delicious!
Hot Appetizer: Cha Gio ($5) - Two crispy egg rolls served with assorted greens, pork, and fish sauce. This dish was also delicious and I loved the fish sauce. I even dipped my goi cuon in it. But beware, it has a very pungent smell.
Soup: Pho Tai ($9) - Rice noodles with medium rare beef. This was absolutely delicious as well. In case you haven't figured it out yet, there isn't much I don't like and I'm willing to try anything at least twice!
Plate: Com Dac Biet ($11) - Crushed rice with egg cake, shredded pork, pork chop, and fried egg. I have never had anything like this before, but I liked it! I hope I get the chance to go back here soon to try more new dishes and experience more foods I've never tasted before.
Wine: Kendall Jackson Chardonnay ($24) - Tropical flavors of mango, papaya, and pineapple with a hint of toasted oak as a finish. This is pretty overpriced, but all restaurants have to make a profit. If you want to drink wine at grocery store prices, order take-out and go home. :-)
This place is really nice and clean on the inside. If you are wanting to branch out a little, but don't want to stray too far from "Americanized" places, this is the place for you to try!
Let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Place: Mai Lee
Location: 8396 Musick Memorial Dr. in Brentwood, MO
Leo and I always went here together during my time in St. Louis this summer. We tried some more authentic dishes. Mai Lee is sort of an Asian fusion restaurant, offering items from multiple different Asian countries.
Cold Appetizer: Goi Cuon ($4) - Two spring rolls with shrimp and pork. This is one of my favorites appetizers at any place that sells them and they are absolutely delicious!
Hot Appetizer: Cha Gio ($5) - Two crispy egg rolls served with assorted greens, pork, and fish sauce. This dish was also delicious and I loved the fish sauce. I even dipped my goi cuon in it. But beware, it has a very pungent smell.
Soup: Pho Tai ($9) - Rice noodles with medium rare beef. This was absolutely delicious as well. In case you haven't figured it out yet, there isn't much I don't like and I'm willing to try anything at least twice!
Plate: Com Dac Biet ($11) - Crushed rice with egg cake, shredded pork, pork chop, and fried egg. I have never had anything like this before, but I liked it! I hope I get the chance to go back here soon to try more new dishes and experience more foods I've never tasted before.
Wine: Kendall Jackson Chardonnay ($24) - Tropical flavors of mango, papaya, and pineapple with a hint of toasted oak as a finish. This is pretty overpriced, but all restaurants have to make a profit. If you want to drink wine at grocery store prices, order take-out and go home. :-)
This place is really nice and clean on the inside. If you are wanting to branch out a little, but don't want to stray too far from "Americanized" places, this is the place for you to try!
Let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Seoul Garden - St. Louis, MO
Date of dining experience: June 22, 2015
Place: Seoul Garden Korean Restaurant
Location: 10678 St. Charles Rock Rd. in St. Ann, MO
My friend Leo and I went to try this place because the Yelp reviews said it was a very traditional Korean restaurant.
Meal: Leo and I split a traditional Korean beef dish and a delicious soup that you add other stuff into as you wish. The beef was seasoned very well and came out still sizzling. My favorite soup addition was the sprouts.
Banchan (side dishes): Korean meals are family-style. With every main dish automatically comes many different small bowls of side dishes, including a Korean egg custard, marinated sliced lotus root, kimchi, and many others!
Drink: Good old Coke from a can.
This place is definitely worth a try, it for no other reason than the experience of eating at a traditional Korean restaurant. I can't wait to go back with Audry so I can share the experience with her.
Caution: As Leo and I were talking, he mentioned to stay away from "all you can eat" at places like this. The food is not always as fresh and you end up getting less for your money.
Try this place out and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Place: Seoul Garden Korean Restaurant
Location: 10678 St. Charles Rock Rd. in St. Ann, MO
My friend Leo and I went to try this place because the Yelp reviews said it was a very traditional Korean restaurant.
Meal: Leo and I split a traditional Korean beef dish and a delicious soup that you add other stuff into as you wish. The beef was seasoned very well and came out still sizzling. My favorite soup addition was the sprouts.
Banchan (side dishes): Korean meals are family-style. With every main dish automatically comes many different small bowls of side dishes, including a Korean egg custard, marinated sliced lotus root, kimchi, and many others!
Drink: Good old Coke from a can.
This place is definitely worth a try, it for no other reason than the experience of eating at a traditional Korean restaurant. I can't wait to go back with Audry so I can share the experience with her.
Caution: As Leo and I were talking, he mentioned to stay away from "all you can eat" at places like this. The food is not always as fresh and you end up getting less for your money.
Try this place out and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Yummy Grill - St. Louis, MO
Date of dining experience: June 22, 2015
Place: Yummy Grill
Location: 8322 Lackland Rd. in St. Louis, MO
Appetizer: Fried Mushroom Caps. This was not what I ordered, but was still pretty tasty.
Lunch: burger and fries. The fries were perfect and the burger was honestly one of the best I've had in a while.
There is not much to write about here. I almost did not eat at this place because it was lunch time on a week day and I was the only customer. It did take a very long time to get my food, but it was all very fresh and very hot when it arrived. This is definitely a true cook-to-order local restaurant. The prices are great and the food is good, just be prepared to wait!
Try it out if you're in the area and have a little while before you'll be hungry. Enjoy!
Place: Yummy Grill
Location: 8322 Lackland Rd. in St. Louis, MO
Appetizer: Fried Mushroom Caps. This was not what I ordered, but was still pretty tasty.
Lunch: burger and fries. The fries were perfect and the burger was honestly one of the best I've had in a while.
There is not much to write about here. I almost did not eat at this place because it was lunch time on a week day and I was the only customer. It did take a very long time to get my food, but it was all very fresh and very hot when it arrived. This is definitely a true cook-to-order local restaurant. The prices are great and the food is good, just be prepared to wait!
Try it out if you're in the area and have a little while before you'll be hungry. Enjoy!
Thursday, July 9, 2015
Schlafly Bottleworks - St. Louis, MO
Date of dining experience: June 21, 2015
Place: Schlafly Bottleworks
Location: 7260 Southwest Ave. in Maplewood, MO (at Manchester)
Appetizer: Smoked Trout Spread ($10.50) - cream cheese, smoked trout, and pita chips. This dish was not quite what I was expecting, but it was still okay. It had a very strong flavor, but the pita chips helped to offset the spread.
Entree: Grilled Rainbow Trout ($17) - Troutdale Farms rainbow trout, griddled red potatoes, hericot vert, and grilled lemon butter. This dish was also not quite what I was expecting, but in the opposite way. It was very bland, almost with no flavor. However, the griddled red potatoes were good.
Beer: Sampler tray (6 brews)
1. Pale Ale (ABV: 4.4% - IBU: 25) --- Pale Ale is a smooth, balanced, copper-colored session beer with mildly spiced flavor and aroma from the East Kent Goldings hops. The bready, light caramel malt compliments the hint of fruitiness contributed by the London Ale yeast.
2. Hefeweizen (ABV: 4.1% - IBU: 16) --- Hefeweizen is a light, unfiltered wheat beer, often served with a wedge of lemon. Made with thirty percent American winter wheat, it is balanced with sweet golden malted barley and Tettnang hops from Oregon that evoke a hint of spice.
3. Kolsch (ABV:4.8% - IBU: 25) --- Kolsch is a classic golden ale that uses a centuries old yeast strain sourced from a famous Kolsch brewer in Koln, Germany. Fermented at 62 degrees, then cold conditioned, it has the delicate fruity aroma of an ale with the crisp, clean finish of a lager.
4. Dry Hopped APA (ABV: 5.9% - IBU: 50) --- Dry Hopped American Pale Ale (APA) is charged with American hops to create a bold, aromatic ale. Assertive hop flavor joins the pine/citrus aroma characteristic of American hops to balance the full body provided by North American malts.
5. Oatmeal Stout (ABV: 5.7% - IBU:40) --- Oatmeal Stout is a super-dark ale. This classic British-style beer features roasted barley and oatmeal, lending aromatic coffee and raisin notes. This medium-bodied stout is built on a base of North American malted barley and oats for smoothness and sweetness.
6. Raspberry Hefeweizen (seasonal) rotating option. --- This is the same as the regular Hefeweizen with pureed raspberries added during the primary fermentation process.
The service was okay and the atmosphere was great, but the overall experience was just okay at best. It was a slight disappointment because I had three other people with me that I had been telling how awesome this place was. I have eaten here once before and it was extremely good that time. This time it was not. I will go back here again to see which one of my experiences was more the norm.
My fear is that Schlafly is becoming so popular that they are creating more of their products more quickly and the quality of everything is suffering because of it.
Try this place out for yourself and let me know what your experience is like. Enjoy!
Place: Schlafly Bottleworks
Location: 7260 Southwest Ave. in Maplewood, MO (at Manchester)
Appetizer: Smoked Trout Spread ($10.50) - cream cheese, smoked trout, and pita chips. This dish was not quite what I was expecting, but it was still okay. It had a very strong flavor, but the pita chips helped to offset the spread.
Entree: Grilled Rainbow Trout ($17) - Troutdale Farms rainbow trout, griddled red potatoes, hericot vert, and grilled lemon butter. This dish was also not quite what I was expecting, but in the opposite way. It was very bland, almost with no flavor. However, the griddled red potatoes were good.
Beer: Sampler tray (6 brews)
1. Pale Ale (ABV: 4.4% - IBU: 25) --- Pale Ale is a smooth, balanced, copper-colored session beer with mildly spiced flavor and aroma from the East Kent Goldings hops. The bready, light caramel malt compliments the hint of fruitiness contributed by the London Ale yeast.
2. Hefeweizen (ABV: 4.1% - IBU: 16) --- Hefeweizen is a light, unfiltered wheat beer, often served with a wedge of lemon. Made with thirty percent American winter wheat, it is balanced with sweet golden malted barley and Tettnang hops from Oregon that evoke a hint of spice.
3. Kolsch (ABV:4.8% - IBU: 25) --- Kolsch is a classic golden ale that uses a centuries old yeast strain sourced from a famous Kolsch brewer in Koln, Germany. Fermented at 62 degrees, then cold conditioned, it has the delicate fruity aroma of an ale with the crisp, clean finish of a lager.
4. Dry Hopped APA (ABV: 5.9% - IBU: 50) --- Dry Hopped American Pale Ale (APA) is charged with American hops to create a bold, aromatic ale. Assertive hop flavor joins the pine/citrus aroma characteristic of American hops to balance the full body provided by North American malts.
5. Oatmeal Stout (ABV: 5.7% - IBU:40) --- Oatmeal Stout is a super-dark ale. This classic British-style beer features roasted barley and oatmeal, lending aromatic coffee and raisin notes. This medium-bodied stout is built on a base of North American malted barley and oats for smoothness and sweetness.
6. Raspberry Hefeweizen (seasonal) rotating option. --- This is the same as the regular Hefeweizen with pureed raspberries added during the primary fermentation process.
The service was okay and the atmosphere was great, but the overall experience was just okay at best. It was a slight disappointment because I had three other people with me that I had been telling how awesome this place was. I have eaten here once before and it was extremely good that time. This time it was not. I will go back here again to see which one of my experiences was more the norm.
My fear is that Schlafly is becoming so popular that they are creating more of their products more quickly and the quality of everything is suffering because of it.
Try this place out for yourself and let me know what your experience is like. Enjoy!
Nobu's - St. Louis, MO
Date of dining experience: June 20, 2015
Place: Nobu's Japanese Restaurant
Location: 8643 Olive Blvd. in St. Louis, MO
Soup: Miso ($1.75) - absolutely delicious!
Sushi: four different rolls. Check out the website for pictures of some of the rolls offered.
1. St. Louis Roll ($6.70) - tuna, cucumber, avocado, and masago. There may have been pickled radish as well.
2. Spicy Tuna Roll ($5) - spicy tuna and cucumber.
3. Rainbow Roll ($15) - tuna, salmon, red snapper, and white tuna on a California Roll (which is crab, cucumber, avocado, and masago).
4. Spider Roll ($15) - soft shell crab, cucumber, avocado, masago, and spicy mayo.
Entree: Sashimi Moriawase ($35) - Raw tuna, yellowtail, jumbo clam, fluke, salmon, shrimp, and sea urchin, served with shredded radish and rice. All of these are typical sashimi fishes, except the sea urchin, and all amazingly delectable! The sea urchin is a little different. The flavor is kind of "dirty," for lack of a better descriptor. It is also not a solid meat, but it's hard to describe. You'll just have to try it for yourself.
Sake: two varieties, one hot and one cold.
1. Hot Sake ($8.50 large size) - very good, but definitely a strong alcohol flavor. I learned that it is customary to refill the cups of others and not your own (someone will return the deed).
2. Cold Sake (premium) - Junmai Nigori ($15 large size) - also good, but not as good as the hot sake. This sake does have a slightly cloudy look and sweeter taste, so more people may like this one better.
For those of you that know me, you know I love sushi and sashimi. I thought every one of these items was amazing, but not everyone will. If you taste something you don't like, just eat some rice and you'll live. It won't kill you, and what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger.
Note: Nobu's is little more pricey than most other Japanese restaurants, but well worth it (in my opinion). Some of their fishes are flown in directly from Japan and they never use frozen fillets. They prepare their sushi only from live fish and clams delivered by a Chicago supplier 3-4 times a week, so you know it's going to be fresh. The website states that if they don't receive live fish, they won't serve it in their restaurant.
The atmosphere is fantastic, all the workers are actually Japanese, and the service was great. Try this place out for yourself and let me know what you think! (They do have non-sushi and non-sashimi items on the menu as well.) I will definitely be back for more sushi and sashimi.
Enjoy!
Place: Nobu's Japanese Restaurant
Location: 8643 Olive Blvd. in St. Louis, MO
Soup: Miso ($1.75) - absolutely delicious!
Sushi: four different rolls. Check out the website for pictures of some of the rolls offered.
1. St. Louis Roll ($6.70) - tuna, cucumber, avocado, and masago. There may have been pickled radish as well.
2. Spicy Tuna Roll ($5) - spicy tuna and cucumber.
3. Rainbow Roll ($15) - tuna, salmon, red snapper, and white tuna on a California Roll (which is crab, cucumber, avocado, and masago).
4. Spider Roll ($15) - soft shell crab, cucumber, avocado, masago, and spicy mayo.
Entree: Sashimi Moriawase ($35) - Raw tuna, yellowtail, jumbo clam, fluke, salmon, shrimp, and sea urchin, served with shredded radish and rice. All of these are typical sashimi fishes, except the sea urchin, and all amazingly delectable! The sea urchin is a little different. The flavor is kind of "dirty," for lack of a better descriptor. It is also not a solid meat, but it's hard to describe. You'll just have to try it for yourself.
Sake: two varieties, one hot and one cold.
1. Hot Sake ($8.50 large size) - very good, but definitely a strong alcohol flavor. I learned that it is customary to refill the cups of others and not your own (someone will return the deed).
2. Cold Sake (premium) - Junmai Nigori ($15 large size) - also good, but not as good as the hot sake. This sake does have a slightly cloudy look and sweeter taste, so more people may like this one better.
For those of you that know me, you know I love sushi and sashimi. I thought every one of these items was amazing, but not everyone will. If you taste something you don't like, just eat some rice and you'll live. It won't kill you, and what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger.
Note: Nobu's is little more pricey than most other Japanese restaurants, but well worth it (in my opinion). Some of their fishes are flown in directly from Japan and they never use frozen fillets. They prepare their sushi only from live fish and clams delivered by a Chicago supplier 3-4 times a week, so you know it's going to be fresh. The website states that if they don't receive live fish, they won't serve it in their restaurant.
The atmosphere is fantastic, all the workers are actually Japanese, and the service was great. Try this place out for yourself and let me know what you think! (They do have non-sushi and non-sashimi items on the menu as well.) I will definitely be back for more sushi and sashimi.
Enjoy!
Coffee Cartel - St. Louis, MO
Date of dining experience: June 20, 2015
Place: Coffee Cartel
Location: #2 Maryland Plaza in St. Louis, MO (at Maryland and Euclid in the Central West End)
Coffee: Thai Iced Coffee = amazing! They serve an amazing Thai coffee. I've only ever had Thai coffee this good in Vietnamese restaurants.
All I had here was the coffee, but it is an amazing place! They are open 24 hours and their menu includes food (sandwiches and bakery items), coffee drinks, espresso drinks, liqueur drinks, ice creams, shakes, malts, smoothies, fountain drinks, bottled drinks, and award-winning frappes.
On top of that, they have WiFi, cool paintings from local artists on the walls for sale, outdoor patio seating, and a back room with a pool table. You can also borrow board games and card games from the counter by giving them your ID while you use the game.
I highly recommend visiting Coffee Cartel, even if all you get is a coffee. You won't be disappointed. Try it out and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Place: Coffee Cartel
Location: #2 Maryland Plaza in St. Louis, MO (at Maryland and Euclid in the Central West End)
Coffee: Thai Iced Coffee = amazing! They serve an amazing Thai coffee. I've only ever had Thai coffee this good in Vietnamese restaurants.
All I had here was the coffee, but it is an amazing place! They are open 24 hours and their menu includes food (sandwiches and bakery items), coffee drinks, espresso drinks, liqueur drinks, ice creams, shakes, malts, smoothies, fountain drinks, bottled drinks, and award-winning frappes.
On top of that, they have WiFi, cool paintings from local artists on the walls for sale, outdoor patio seating, and a back room with a pool table. You can also borrow board games and card games from the counter by giving them your ID while you use the game.
I highly recommend visiting Coffee Cartel, even if all you get is a coffee. You won't be disappointed. Try it out and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Olympia - St. Louis, MO
Date of dining experience: June 20, 2015
Place: Olympia Kebob House & Taverna (Greek)
Location: 1543 McCausland Ave. in St. Louis, MO
Salad: Greek ($5 small) - Crisp lettuce tossed with tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, and onions, topped with Greek olives, feta cheese, and house-made Greek dressing. I would have to say this is probably the best Greek salad I've ever eaten. The house-made Greek dressing is absolutely perfect.
Entree: Deluxe Gyro ($9.50) - A mixture of lean ground beef and lamb, vertically boiled on a rotisserie, thinly sliced and served on pita bread with onions, tomatoes, shredded lettuce, feta cheese, and tzatziki sauce. A gyro is always a good choice an any restaurant that offers one.
Beer: Mythos (from Greece). This beer is light and crisp. It is similar to a Heineken, but with a better flavor. It was the perfect starter beverage for a hot day!
Wine: Santorini (from Greece). This dry white wine is also very light. It complimented the flavors of both the salad and gyro very well.
I have said this in a previous post, but this is my favorite place if I'm in the mood for Greek food. No other Greek restaurant that I've been to can compare to the quality of Olympia. The server was great and the atmosphere is always nice. On this particular visit I sat outside on the patio. It was a hot day with a light breeze; perfect for outdoor dining.
My favorite dish at Olympia is probably the Dolmades, so I highly recommend that someone at your table order this so you can try it!
Try this place out for yourself and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Place: Olympia Kebob House & Taverna (Greek)
Location: 1543 McCausland Ave. in St. Louis, MO
Salad: Greek ($5 small) - Crisp lettuce tossed with tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, and onions, topped with Greek olives, feta cheese, and house-made Greek dressing. I would have to say this is probably the best Greek salad I've ever eaten. The house-made Greek dressing is absolutely perfect.
Entree: Deluxe Gyro ($9.50) - A mixture of lean ground beef and lamb, vertically boiled on a rotisserie, thinly sliced and served on pita bread with onions, tomatoes, shredded lettuce, feta cheese, and tzatziki sauce. A gyro is always a good choice an any restaurant that offers one.
Beer: Mythos (from Greece). This beer is light and crisp. It is similar to a Heineken, but with a better flavor. It was the perfect starter beverage for a hot day!
Wine: Santorini (from Greece). This dry white wine is also very light. It complimented the flavors of both the salad and gyro very well.
I have said this in a previous post, but this is my favorite place if I'm in the mood for Greek food. No other Greek restaurant that I've been to can compare to the quality of Olympia. The server was great and the atmosphere is always nice. On this particular visit I sat outside on the patio. It was a hot day with a light breeze; perfect for outdoor dining.
My favorite dish at Olympia is probably the Dolmades, so I highly recommend that someone at your table order this so you can try it!
Try this place out for yourself and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Square One Brewery - St. Louis, MO
Date of dining experience: June 19, 2015
Place: Square One Brewery & Distillery
Location: 1727 Park Ave. in St. Louis, MO
Appetizer: Scotch Egg ($5) - A hard boiled egg wrapped in house-made pork sausage, deep fried and served with Pale Ale mustard. Depending on where you go, this might be called a Scottish Egg. Either way, they are always delicious every time. It's the perfect starter while you wait on your entree.
Entree: Bavarian Weizen Chicken ($16) - Airline chicken breast, pan roasted with fresh herbs, finished with Bavarian Weizen beer and served with garlic mashed potatoes and vegetables. And the word that comes to mind is "awesome." You can never go wrong with some chicken at a pub.
Beers: Sampler Plank (4 beers, 5 oz. each)
1. Helles Lager (ABV: 5.5% - IBU: 28) - One of the most popular beers on draft in Bavaria, a Helles is a pale or golden lager. This beer, although related to the Pilsner (which looks similar), accentuates the malt profile with a nice balance of hop flavor and aroma.
2. Wohldbrau (ABV: 3.75% - IBU: 7) - Named in honor of the head brewer, David Wohldmann, and completely created by him, this hazy straw colored ale is a classic Berliner Weisse. From it's dry and tart flavor, one can see why they are the Champagne of the north. They offer it straight (which is the way I had it), or you can ask your server for house-created syrups to add for a touch of fruit and hint of sweetness. --- A Berliner Weisse is always going to be a "sour" type of beer.
3. Belgian Spicy Blonde (ABV: 4.5% - IBU: 15) - This is a twist on the traditional Belgian Wit, an unfiltered wheat beer. Unlike the European version, the Spicy Blonde features the combination of lemon grass and ginger both in the flavor and aroma.
4. Irish Red (ABV: 6% - IBU: 28) - Brewed in collaboration with Six Mile Bridge Brewery, this medium-bodied, dark copper ale was brewed with clover honey, added in the kettle. It finishes with a hint of hop bitterness and a smooth mouthfeel. --- This one is probably my favorite of the four brews I tried.
Square One is pretty good and definitely worth a visit, especially if you are into craft beers or local restaurants. This is not my favorite brewery in St. Louis, but the atmosphere is very nice. They even have an outdoor courtyard for seating on nicer days. The bartenders were all very personable and answered all of my questions with seeming annoyed. I would go back here again, but it will probably never become my "go-to" restaurant.
Try it out for yourself and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Place: Square One Brewery & Distillery
Location: 1727 Park Ave. in St. Louis, MO
Appetizer: Scotch Egg ($5) - A hard boiled egg wrapped in house-made pork sausage, deep fried and served with Pale Ale mustard. Depending on where you go, this might be called a Scottish Egg. Either way, they are always delicious every time. It's the perfect starter while you wait on your entree.
Entree: Bavarian Weizen Chicken ($16) - Airline chicken breast, pan roasted with fresh herbs, finished with Bavarian Weizen beer and served with garlic mashed potatoes and vegetables. And the word that comes to mind is "awesome." You can never go wrong with some chicken at a pub.
Beers: Sampler Plank (4 beers, 5 oz. each)
1. Helles Lager (ABV: 5.5% - IBU: 28) - One of the most popular beers on draft in Bavaria, a Helles is a pale or golden lager. This beer, although related to the Pilsner (which looks similar), accentuates the malt profile with a nice balance of hop flavor and aroma.
2. Wohldbrau (ABV: 3.75% - IBU: 7) - Named in honor of the head brewer, David Wohldmann, and completely created by him, this hazy straw colored ale is a classic Berliner Weisse. From it's dry and tart flavor, one can see why they are the Champagne of the north. They offer it straight (which is the way I had it), or you can ask your server for house-created syrups to add for a touch of fruit and hint of sweetness. --- A Berliner Weisse is always going to be a "sour" type of beer.
3. Belgian Spicy Blonde (ABV: 4.5% - IBU: 15) - This is a twist on the traditional Belgian Wit, an unfiltered wheat beer. Unlike the European version, the Spicy Blonde features the combination of lemon grass and ginger both in the flavor and aroma.
4. Irish Red (ABV: 6% - IBU: 28) - Brewed in collaboration with Six Mile Bridge Brewery, this medium-bodied, dark copper ale was brewed with clover honey, added in the kettle. It finishes with a hint of hop bitterness and a smooth mouthfeel. --- This one is probably my favorite of the four brews I tried.
Square One is pretty good and definitely worth a visit, especially if you are into craft beers or local restaurants. This is not my favorite brewery in St. Louis, but the atmosphere is very nice. They even have an outdoor courtyard for seating on nicer days. The bartenders were all very personable and answered all of my questions with seeming annoyed. I would go back here again, but it will probably never become my "go-to" restaurant.
Try it out for yourself and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Four Hands Brewery - St. Louis, MO
Date of dining experience: June 18, 2015
Place: 4 Hands Brewing Co.
Location: 1220 S. 8th St. in St. Louis, MO
Entree: Juicy Lucy ($10) - Chihuahua cheese-stuffed Missouri grass-fed beef patty, lettuce, tomato, pickle, onion, mayo, and ketchup on a house beer bun. This was an extremely good burger. The beer bun alone is worth trying it, but the cheese-stuffed patty doesn't hurt either!
Beers: Three brews (one pint, two samples) - all equally delicious.
1. Single Speed Ale ($5 for 16 oz) - American blonde ale with Jasmine (ABV: 5%)
2. Vigilante ($3 for 5 oz) - amber ale with Kolsch yeast and lime zest (ABV: 5%)
3. Opus ($3 for 5 oz) - saison brewed with tea and zest (ABV: 5%)
Four Hands is amazing and definitely one of my very favorite breweries. All of their products are delicious and high quality. The bartenders are very friendly and personable. The atmosphere is wonderful and clean, with a giant glass wall that allows you to see all of their tanks in the back.
Give this place a try and let me know what you think. You won't be disappointed! Enjoy!
Place: 4 Hands Brewing Co.
Location: 1220 S. 8th St. in St. Louis, MO
Entree: Juicy Lucy ($10) - Chihuahua cheese-stuffed Missouri grass-fed beef patty, lettuce, tomato, pickle, onion, mayo, and ketchup on a house beer bun. This was an extremely good burger. The beer bun alone is worth trying it, but the cheese-stuffed patty doesn't hurt either!
Beers: Three brews (one pint, two samples) - all equally delicious.
1. Single Speed Ale ($5 for 16 oz) - American blonde ale with Jasmine (ABV: 5%)
2. Vigilante ($3 for 5 oz) - amber ale with Kolsch yeast and lime zest (ABV: 5%)
3. Opus ($3 for 5 oz) - saison brewed with tea and zest (ABV: 5%)
Four Hands is amazing and definitely one of my very favorite breweries. All of their products are delicious and high quality. The bartenders are very friendly and personable. The atmosphere is wonderful and clean, with a giant glass wall that allows you to see all of their tanks in the back.
Give this place a try and let me know what you think. You won't be disappointed! Enjoy!
Tuesday, July 7, 2015
Kirkwood Station Brewery - St. Louis, MO
Date of dining experience: June 17, 2015
Place: Kirkwood Station Brewing Co.
Location: 105 E. Jefferson in Kirkwood, MO
Appetizer: Famous Brew Master's Beer Cheese Soup ($4 cup) - A combination of their Sugar Creek Lager with real cheddar and monterey jack cheeses, perfectly blended with pureed vegetables and spices, then topped with their original pretzel croutons. This was absolutely delicious and a must-try if you ever eat here!
Entree: Bourbon Chicken ($16) - Grilled chicken glazed with a sweet Tennessee bourbon sauce and served with a baked potato and chef's fresh vegetables. This was a great meal and really went well with most of the beer options on the table.
Beers: Sampler Platter (10 different brews).
1. Grass Cutter - Cream Ale (ABV: 4.5%)
2. Sugar Creek - Lager (ABV: 4.2% - IBU: 9)
3. Blackberry Wheat - very light blackberry finish (ABV: 4.8% - IBU: 11)
4. Belgian Witte - unfiltered wheat beer (ABV: 4.8%)
5. Marzen - a German style amber lager also known as Oktoberfest (ABV: 4.6% - IBU: 23)
6. Midnight Train - a dark German lager also known as a Schwarzbier (black beer). This is a very light and easy-to-drink style of lager, so don't let the color fool you! (ABV: 4.8% - IBU: 23)
7. Big 5-Oh - a Belgian style saison/farmhouse ale (ABV: 7.8% - IBU: 28)
8. Oatmeal Stout - a very dark ale; much better than the one at Granite City (ABV: 6.2% - IBU: 50) --- This brew has a higher IBU than most Oatmeal Stouts, but you really can't tell by the taste.
9. Rye APA - an American style Pale Ale (ABV: 4.8% - IBU: 45)
10. IPA - an American style India Pale Ale (ABV: 6.3% - IBU: 65)
Of all these beer samples, I'd have to say my favorites were probably the Big 5-Oh, Marzen, and Rye APA, though the Midnight Train was also pretty tasty. My least favorite was definitely the Sugar Creek Lager; it's just a bland American light lager. The weirdest of these was the Blackberry Wheat, with an initial taste of a regular dark wheat beer, a slight bitterness in the middle, and just a hint of blackberry flavor on the finish/aftertaste.
My only complaint about Kirkwood Station is that the service was extremely slow, but it was also packed so I can't really complain that much. The service was great. My waitress was really nice and very apologetic when the kitchen got behind. The atmosphere was also very good, exactly what you would expect from a microbrewery.
Overall this was a fantastic meal with some pretty good brews. I'd say it's definitely worth at least one visit! Give it a try and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Place: Kirkwood Station Brewing Co.
Location: 105 E. Jefferson in Kirkwood, MO
Appetizer: Famous Brew Master's Beer Cheese Soup ($4 cup) - A combination of their Sugar Creek Lager with real cheddar and monterey jack cheeses, perfectly blended with pureed vegetables and spices, then topped with their original pretzel croutons. This was absolutely delicious and a must-try if you ever eat here!
Entree: Bourbon Chicken ($16) - Grilled chicken glazed with a sweet Tennessee bourbon sauce and served with a baked potato and chef's fresh vegetables. This was a great meal and really went well with most of the beer options on the table.
Beers: Sampler Platter (10 different brews).
1. Grass Cutter - Cream Ale (ABV: 4.5%)
2. Sugar Creek - Lager (ABV: 4.2% - IBU: 9)
3. Blackberry Wheat - very light blackberry finish (ABV: 4.8% - IBU: 11)
4. Belgian Witte - unfiltered wheat beer (ABV: 4.8%)
5. Marzen - a German style amber lager also known as Oktoberfest (ABV: 4.6% - IBU: 23)
6. Midnight Train - a dark German lager also known as a Schwarzbier (black beer). This is a very light and easy-to-drink style of lager, so don't let the color fool you! (ABV: 4.8% - IBU: 23)
7. Big 5-Oh - a Belgian style saison/farmhouse ale (ABV: 7.8% - IBU: 28)
8. Oatmeal Stout - a very dark ale; much better than the one at Granite City (ABV: 6.2% - IBU: 50) --- This brew has a higher IBU than most Oatmeal Stouts, but you really can't tell by the taste.
9. Rye APA - an American style Pale Ale (ABV: 4.8% - IBU: 45)
10. IPA - an American style India Pale Ale (ABV: 6.3% - IBU: 65)
Of all these beer samples, I'd have to say my favorites were probably the Big 5-Oh, Marzen, and Rye APA, though the Midnight Train was also pretty tasty. My least favorite was definitely the Sugar Creek Lager; it's just a bland American light lager. The weirdest of these was the Blackberry Wheat, with an initial taste of a regular dark wheat beer, a slight bitterness in the middle, and just a hint of blackberry flavor on the finish/aftertaste.
My only complaint about Kirkwood Station is that the service was extremely slow, but it was also packed so I can't really complain that much. The service was great. My waitress was really nice and very apologetic when the kitchen got behind. The atmosphere was also very good, exactly what you would expect from a microbrewery.
Overall this was a fantastic meal with some pretty good brews. I'd say it's definitely worth at least one visit! Give it a try and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Granite City Brewery - St. Louis, MO
Date of dining experience: June 16, 2015
Place: Granite City Food & Brewery
Location: 11411 Olive St. in Creve Coeur, MO (West Oaks Shopping Center)
Entree: Grilled Salmon Oscar ($20) - Atlantic salmon topped with steamed asparagus, lump crab, and hollandaise. Accompanied with broccoli and wild rice. This dish was absolutely delicious! I will be going back to this restaurant just so Audry can try it. The salmon was perfectly grilled, the broccoli was perfectly steamed, the asparagus was perfectly sauteed, and then it was topped off with lump crab and hollandaise! Wow!
Beer Sampler: Eight small samples of beer for only $5! For the price, you can't beat it! Unfortunately, all of the beer tasted pretty watery. But I hear that Granite City brews the beer for all of their restaurants in a central location and ships the beer to the restaurants for fermentation. That shipping process really hurts the beer.
1. The Northern - Pale Golden American Lager (ABV: 4.5%)
2. The Bennie - Deep Garnet German Bock (ABV: 5.5%)
3. The Two Pull - Amber German/Bock/American Lager blend (ABV: 4.5%) --- This is a half & half glass of The Northern and The Bennie. Honestly, it's better than either of the two alone. It was devised by a guest and became a regular on the menu.
4. The Duke - Copper Pale Ale (ABV: 5.2% - IBU: 59) --- Overall, this was decent.
5. Batch 1000 - Light Copper Double India Pale Ale (ABV: 8% - IBU: 76) --- Again, this was decent. But it was nowhere near as strong of a hop flavor as one would normally expect with it being a double IPA and having a 76 IBU.
6. Broad Axe Stout - Opaque Black Oatmeal Stout (ABV: 5%) --- This stout was nowhere near was stout should be. I'd say this is definitely the "Bud Light" of craft stout brews.
7. Irish Red (seasonal) - a little weak for my taste.
8. Belgian Golden Ale (seasonal) - two different bartenders told me that this was a very strong ale, and it is. However, when you add in the "watered down" factor, this one was the only of the eight that I actually thought tasted decent. This was definitely my favorite of the eight beer samples. I'm just glad I didn't order a full glass of any of them!
The atmosphere and service are both great. Overall, I'd go back here again at least one more time. But, honestly, there are much better places to get good craft beer in the St. Louis area.
Try this place out for yourself and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Place: Granite City Food & Brewery
Location: 11411 Olive St. in Creve Coeur, MO (West Oaks Shopping Center)
Entree: Grilled Salmon Oscar ($20) - Atlantic salmon topped with steamed asparagus, lump crab, and hollandaise. Accompanied with broccoli and wild rice. This dish was absolutely delicious! I will be going back to this restaurant just so Audry can try it. The salmon was perfectly grilled, the broccoli was perfectly steamed, the asparagus was perfectly sauteed, and then it was topped off with lump crab and hollandaise! Wow!
Beer Sampler: Eight small samples of beer for only $5! For the price, you can't beat it! Unfortunately, all of the beer tasted pretty watery. But I hear that Granite City brews the beer for all of their restaurants in a central location and ships the beer to the restaurants for fermentation. That shipping process really hurts the beer.
1. The Northern - Pale Golden American Lager (ABV: 4.5%)
2. The Bennie - Deep Garnet German Bock (ABV: 5.5%)
3. The Two Pull - Amber German/Bock/American Lager blend (ABV: 4.5%) --- This is a half & half glass of The Northern and The Bennie. Honestly, it's better than either of the two alone. It was devised by a guest and became a regular on the menu.
4. The Duke - Copper Pale Ale (ABV: 5.2% - IBU: 59) --- Overall, this was decent.
5. Batch 1000 - Light Copper Double India Pale Ale (ABV: 8% - IBU: 76) --- Again, this was decent. But it was nowhere near as strong of a hop flavor as one would normally expect with it being a double IPA and having a 76 IBU.
6. Broad Axe Stout - Opaque Black Oatmeal Stout (ABV: 5%) --- This stout was nowhere near was stout should be. I'd say this is definitely the "Bud Light" of craft stout brews.
7. Irish Red (seasonal) - a little weak for my taste.
8. Belgian Golden Ale (seasonal) - two different bartenders told me that this was a very strong ale, and it is. However, when you add in the "watered down" factor, this one was the only of the eight that I actually thought tasted decent. This was definitely my favorite of the eight beer samples. I'm just glad I didn't order a full glass of any of them!
The atmosphere and service are both great. Overall, I'd go back here again at least one more time. But, honestly, there are much better places to get good craft beer in the St. Louis area.
Try this place out for yourself and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Breakaway Cafe - St. Louis, MO
Date of dining experience: June 16, 2015
Place: Breakaway Cafe
Location: 8418 Natural Bridge Rd. in St. Louis, MO
This was probably my simplest meal ever. I usually have water with my coffee, beer, and/or wine, but this time all I had to drink was water! :-)
Lunch: Chicken Parmesan Sandwich ($8) - broiled white meat chicken dipped in marinara sauce and topped with provel cheese, served on a toasted bun with choice of french fries, cole slaw, pasta salad, or cottage cheese (I chose french fries). This was absolutely delicious. It was a very nice sandwich version of the dinner plate everyone loves. The french fries were also perfect, not too soggy or overcooked. If you order this, just be careful! It can be a little messy. You will definitely need multiple napkins and don't forget to lean over your plate to save your shirt some embarrassment the rest of the day. :-)
The restaurant was packed, so service was a little slow, but still tolerable. I highly recommend Breakaway Cafe if you are in need of a quick lunch and are in the UMSL area.
Try it out and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Place: Breakaway Cafe
Location: 8418 Natural Bridge Rd. in St. Louis, MO
This was probably my simplest meal ever. I usually have water with my coffee, beer, and/or wine, but this time all I had to drink was water! :-)
Lunch: Chicken Parmesan Sandwich ($8) - broiled white meat chicken dipped in marinara sauce and topped with provel cheese, served on a toasted bun with choice of french fries, cole slaw, pasta salad, or cottage cheese (I chose french fries). This was absolutely delicious. It was a very nice sandwich version of the dinner plate everyone loves. The french fries were also perfect, not too soggy or overcooked. If you order this, just be careful! It can be a little messy. You will definitely need multiple napkins and don't forget to lean over your plate to save your shirt some embarrassment the rest of the day. :-)
The restaurant was packed, so service was a little slow, but still tolerable. I highly recommend Breakaway Cafe if you are in need of a quick lunch and are in the UMSL area.
Try it out and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Rich & Charlie's - St. Louis, MO
Date of dining experience: June 15, 2015
Place: Rich & Charlie's Italian Restaurant
Location: 4487 Lemay Ferry Road in St. Louis, MO
Bread: This was typical Italian restaurant starter food; nothing special.
Salad: Unlimited Rich & Charlie's Famous Salad - with purchase of any pizza, pasta, or sandwich. Again, typical Italian restaurant salad. This salad was also nothing special, though it did have a nice amount of cheese. ($5.50)
Entree: Tortellini ($14) - Meat filled, in cream sauce with mushrooms, peas, and parmigiano cheese. This was fantastic. I mean, it is a pretty typical dish, but it was delicious.
Additional pasta taste: Pasta con Broccoli ($14 - but I didn't pay for it) - cream sauce with mushrooms, broccoli, and a touch of tomato. This is usually my go-to for pasta because broccoli is my favorite vegetable. After tasting this dish, I'm really glad I had the tortellini. It was very bland and the "touch of tomato" seemed to have been forgotten.
Wine (starter): House Sauvignon Blanc. This delicious white is always a good choice, with or without food, especially in the summer. It is very light; not very filling at all.
Wine (entree): House Chianti. This delicious red is also always a good choice, especially with Italian food or in the winter. It seems to warm the body and add to the "comfort food" factor of pasta.
Rich & Charlie's has three locations in the St. Louis area, but I wouldn't consider it a chain restaurant. The atmosphere is great and service is typically very good.
If you're in the area and in the mood for some nicely priced Italian, check it out and let me know what you think. Enjoy!
Place: Rich & Charlie's Italian Restaurant
Location: 4487 Lemay Ferry Road in St. Louis, MO
Bread: This was typical Italian restaurant starter food; nothing special.
Salad: Unlimited Rich & Charlie's Famous Salad - with purchase of any pizza, pasta, or sandwich. Again, typical Italian restaurant salad. This salad was also nothing special, though it did have a nice amount of cheese. ($5.50)
Entree: Tortellini ($14) - Meat filled, in cream sauce with mushrooms, peas, and parmigiano cheese. This was fantastic. I mean, it is a pretty typical dish, but it was delicious.
Additional pasta taste: Pasta con Broccoli ($14 - but I didn't pay for it) - cream sauce with mushrooms, broccoli, and a touch of tomato. This is usually my go-to for pasta because broccoli is my favorite vegetable. After tasting this dish, I'm really glad I had the tortellini. It was very bland and the "touch of tomato" seemed to have been forgotten.
Wine (starter): House Sauvignon Blanc. This delicious white is always a good choice, with or without food, especially in the summer. It is very light; not very filling at all.
Wine (entree): House Chianti. This delicious red is also always a good choice, especially with Italian food or in the winter. It seems to warm the body and add to the "comfort food" factor of pasta.
Rich & Charlie's has three locations in the St. Louis area, but I wouldn't consider it a chain restaurant. The atmosphere is great and service is typically very good.
If you're in the area and in the mood for some nicely priced Italian, check it out and let me know what you think. Enjoy!
Spiro's - St. Louis, MO
Date of dining experience: June 15, 2015
Place: Spiro's North (Greek)
Location: 8406 Natural Bridge Road in St. Louis, MO
Greek Salad: absolutely fantastic with everything you expect from a Greek salad. The ingredients were mixed and chopped on a cart at the table. ($3 with luncheon)
Entree: Combination - small portions of each of the three main Greek dishes listed and described below. ($9)
1. Mousaka - Layers of potatoes, eggplant, baby zucchini, and ground chuck, chopped with a light bechamel sauce. Mousaka is always delicious, but a little on the heavy side due to the potatoes.
2. Pastichio - Layers of long macaronie and ground chuck, topped with a light bechamel sauce. This is always a good choice. To get an idea, think of a macaroni Hamburger Helper made lasagna-style.
3. Dolmades - Seasoned ground chuck and rice wrapped in grape leaves and topped with egg-lemon sauce. This is by far my favorite of the three. For those of you who don't like eggs, there is no actual egg or egg flavor. The only flavor you get from the sauce is delicious lemon.
Greek Coffee: amazing! You have to wait a little bit for it, but it is fantastic coffee that needs no additives. At $4 it is a little on the pricey side, but well worth it at least once. One word of advice: do not drink the very last little bit of coffee in the pot they bring to the table. The pot will fill the little cup they give you about two and a half times. After that, don't drink anymore. I didn't know this the first time I had Greek coffee and ended up with a mouthful of coffee grounds. Not a good experience.
The atmosphere is very quiet and perfect for conversation. The waiter was amazing. He seemed to genuinely love his job and was very polite and appreciative.
This place is definitely worth a try if you are in the UMSL area and need a quick lunch. But if you want the best Greek experience possible in St. Louis, I would have to recommend going to Olympia (which I will write about very soon).
Try this place out and let me know what you think. The prices are perfect for a great, low-cost lunch. Enjoy!
Place: Spiro's North (Greek)
Location: 8406 Natural Bridge Road in St. Louis, MO
Greek Salad: absolutely fantastic with everything you expect from a Greek salad. The ingredients were mixed and chopped on a cart at the table. ($3 with luncheon)
Entree: Combination - small portions of each of the three main Greek dishes listed and described below. ($9)
1. Mousaka - Layers of potatoes, eggplant, baby zucchini, and ground chuck, chopped with a light bechamel sauce. Mousaka is always delicious, but a little on the heavy side due to the potatoes.
2. Pastichio - Layers of long macaronie and ground chuck, topped with a light bechamel sauce. This is always a good choice. To get an idea, think of a macaroni Hamburger Helper made lasagna-style.
3. Dolmades - Seasoned ground chuck and rice wrapped in grape leaves and topped with egg-lemon sauce. This is by far my favorite of the three. For those of you who don't like eggs, there is no actual egg or egg flavor. The only flavor you get from the sauce is delicious lemon.
Greek Coffee: amazing! You have to wait a little bit for it, but it is fantastic coffee that needs no additives. At $4 it is a little on the pricey side, but well worth it at least once. One word of advice: do not drink the very last little bit of coffee in the pot they bring to the table. The pot will fill the little cup they give you about two and a half times. After that, don't drink anymore. I didn't know this the first time I had Greek coffee and ended up with a mouthful of coffee grounds. Not a good experience.
The atmosphere is very quiet and perfect for conversation. The waiter was amazing. He seemed to genuinely love his job and was very polite and appreciative.
This place is definitely worth a try if you are in the UMSL area and need a quick lunch. But if you want the best Greek experience possible in St. Louis, I would have to recommend going to Olympia (which I will write about very soon).
Try this place out and let me know what you think. The prices are perfect for a great, low-cost lunch. Enjoy!
DOUBLE POST: Epic Pizza & International Tap House - St. Louis, MO
Date of dining experience: June 14, 2015
Place 1: Epic Pizza and Subs
Place 2: International Tap House (iTAP) - Soulard
Location 1: 1711A S. 9th St. in St. Louis, MO
Location 2: 1711 S. 9th St. in St. Louis, MO
Yes, these are two different places, two very different places. They happen to be next door to each other in the same building, sharing a bathroom at the back.
A little background: Epic Pizza and Subs pretty much only sells food. International Tap House definitely only sells beer. You can place your order and pay for it at the counter of Epic Pizza and they will deliver it to your table next door at iTAP. Yes, seriously. I know, right?! It's completely amazing and more places should do this type of thing. iTAP does have four locations. This particular location is the one in Soulard (in case you look it up online). This iTAP offers 44 rotating draft beer options. Some of the other locations have more and some have less, but all four locations boast literally hundreds of bottled beer options from around the world.
Pizza: 14" Margherita ($16) - tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, basil, and sliced tomatoes. Absolutely mind-blowing pizza. Not only is the best Margherita pizza I've ever had, Epic Pizza has the best pizza of anywhere I've ever had, period. The crust is absolutely perfect: not too thick, not too thin, not too greasy, etc. Delicious!
Draft Beers (at iTAP):
1. Schlafly Summer Lager - German-style Helles (ABV: 4.5% - IBU: 17) - only available April through August. For those that don't know, Schlafly is a St. Louis brewery.
2. Unibroue Blanche de Chambly - Belgian (Witbier) White Ale (ABV: 5% - IBU: 10) - Blanche de Chambly made the #10 spot on the Wine Enthusiast list of the Top 25 Beers of 2014. Blanche de Chambly has earned 22 medals and awards, with the most recent medal being the silver in 2011 at the World Beer Championship held at the Chicago Beverage Testing Institute. Blanche de Chambly was the first refermented white beer brewed according to Belgian tradition in North America.
Unibroue is located in Canada and is probably my favorite brewery. My #1 favorite beer is their La Fin du Monde. The Blanche de Chambly is very similar to La Fin du Monde and was described to me as being the "little brother." They are very close, but you can definitely taste the differences in ABV and IBUs.
*FYI (for comparison): La Fin du Monde is a Triple-style Golden Ale (ABV: 9% - IBU: 19). To this date, La Fin du Monde has earned more medals and awards, including some of the world's highest honors, than any other Canadian beer. La Fin du Monde has earned 30 medals and awards, with the most recent being the bronze in 2011 at the Denver International Beer Competition, the gold in 2011 at the Mondial de la Biere (World of Beer) in Montreal, and the platine (platinum) in 2011 at the World Beer Championship held at the Chicago Beverage Testing Institute.*
I digress... (sorry about that, I got a little excited for a minute).
The atmosphere at iTAP is absolutely fantastic and the bartenders work their way around to the tables for orders as well. It's a lot easier to do that at iTAP because all they sell is beer. The person who delivers your pizza is from Epic Pizza, but getting your pizza delivered is the last you'll see of them.
These two places are a must-try in the St. Louis area. I recommend trying them both at the same time! The best pizza ever and hundreds of beer options... yeah, it sounds like the best night ever.
Give these places a try for yourself and let me know what you think. I guarantee you will not be disappointed. Enjoy!
Place 1: Epic Pizza and Subs
Place 2: International Tap House (iTAP) - Soulard
Location 1: 1711A S. 9th St. in St. Louis, MO
Location 2: 1711 S. 9th St. in St. Louis, MO
Yes, these are two different places, two very different places. They happen to be next door to each other in the same building, sharing a bathroom at the back.
A little background: Epic Pizza and Subs pretty much only sells food. International Tap House definitely only sells beer. You can place your order and pay for it at the counter of Epic Pizza and they will deliver it to your table next door at iTAP. Yes, seriously. I know, right?! It's completely amazing and more places should do this type of thing. iTAP does have four locations. This particular location is the one in Soulard (in case you look it up online). This iTAP offers 44 rotating draft beer options. Some of the other locations have more and some have less, but all four locations boast literally hundreds of bottled beer options from around the world.
Pizza: 14" Margherita ($16) - tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, basil, and sliced tomatoes. Absolutely mind-blowing pizza. Not only is the best Margherita pizza I've ever had, Epic Pizza has the best pizza of anywhere I've ever had, period. The crust is absolutely perfect: not too thick, not too thin, not too greasy, etc. Delicious!
Draft Beers (at iTAP):
1. Schlafly Summer Lager - German-style Helles (ABV: 4.5% - IBU: 17) - only available April through August. For those that don't know, Schlafly is a St. Louis brewery.
2. Unibroue Blanche de Chambly - Belgian (Witbier) White Ale (ABV: 5% - IBU: 10) - Blanche de Chambly made the #10 spot on the Wine Enthusiast list of the Top 25 Beers of 2014. Blanche de Chambly has earned 22 medals and awards, with the most recent medal being the silver in 2011 at the World Beer Championship held at the Chicago Beverage Testing Institute. Blanche de Chambly was the first refermented white beer brewed according to Belgian tradition in North America.
Unibroue is located in Canada and is probably my favorite brewery. My #1 favorite beer is their La Fin du Monde. The Blanche de Chambly is very similar to La Fin du Monde and was described to me as being the "little brother." They are very close, but you can definitely taste the differences in ABV and IBUs.
*FYI (for comparison): La Fin du Monde is a Triple-style Golden Ale (ABV: 9% - IBU: 19). To this date, La Fin du Monde has earned more medals and awards, including some of the world's highest honors, than any other Canadian beer. La Fin du Monde has earned 30 medals and awards, with the most recent being the bronze in 2011 at the Denver International Beer Competition, the gold in 2011 at the Mondial de la Biere (World of Beer) in Montreal, and the platine (platinum) in 2011 at the World Beer Championship held at the Chicago Beverage Testing Institute.*
I digress... (sorry about that, I got a little excited for a minute).
The atmosphere at iTAP is absolutely fantastic and the bartenders work their way around to the tables for orders as well. It's a lot easier to do that at iTAP because all they sell is beer. The person who delivers your pizza is from Epic Pizza, but getting your pizza delivered is the last you'll see of them.
These two places are a must-try in the St. Louis area. I recommend trying them both at the same time! The best pizza ever and hundreds of beer options... yeah, it sounds like the best night ever.
Give these places a try for yourself and let me know what you think. I guarantee you will not be disappointed. Enjoy!
Picasso - Champaign, IL
Date of dining experience: June 13, 2015
Place: V.Picasso Wine Bar & Restaurant
Location: 122 N. Neil St. in Champaign, IL
Appetizer: Prairie Fruits Farm soft cheese ($5) - served with Hopscotch bread, roasted charred grape jam, olive tapenade, and Hank's Honey from Willow Creek Farm. I love cheese! This was no exception. My favorite cheeses are usually the soft ones; the softer the better. The bread was also fantastic, but my favorite accompaniment was the honey. I know, it sounded a little weird to me at first as well. But it was all deliciousness. :-)
Entree: Pan Roasted Duck Breast ($23) - served with sweet corn risotto, brandied black berries, spinach, and a Willow Creek Farm 6 minute farm egg. This duck was prepared perfectly. Every bite was fantastic and all the flavors combined extremely well.
Wines: The best thing about this wine bar is that they have small "tasting" sizes.
1. Scarpetta Pinot Grigio 2013 from Fruili, Italy. ($4 taste size) - delicious!
2. Foris Pinot Gris 2013 from Rogue Valley, Oregon ($3 taste size) - also very good, but not quite as good as the Scarpetta.
Coffee: AMAZING! I ordered the French Press ($3). They brought a small, French press to the table still soaking up the flavor of the freshly ground coffee beans. This was by far the best coffee I've ever had at a restaurant.
The atmosphere of this restaurant was excellent, but the service was lacking. The waiter appeared to have just rolled out of bed, perhaps shaved in the car on the way to work (he missed a few spots), may have either been extremely hungover or high on some type of drug, and seemed to ignore the table a few times. However, don't let that discourage you from going to Picasso. I saw many other waiters and waitresses doing a great job. Plus this place has wine on tap. Yes, on tap. It is cheaper to ship in kegs than bottles and apparently keeps longer because it is not exposed to the open air.
Try this place out for yourself and let me know what you think. Enjoy!
Place: V.Picasso Wine Bar & Restaurant
Location: 122 N. Neil St. in Champaign, IL
Appetizer: Prairie Fruits Farm soft cheese ($5) - served with Hopscotch bread, roasted charred grape jam, olive tapenade, and Hank's Honey from Willow Creek Farm. I love cheese! This was no exception. My favorite cheeses are usually the soft ones; the softer the better. The bread was also fantastic, but my favorite accompaniment was the honey. I know, it sounded a little weird to me at first as well. But it was all deliciousness. :-)
Entree: Pan Roasted Duck Breast ($23) - served with sweet corn risotto, brandied black berries, spinach, and a Willow Creek Farm 6 minute farm egg. This duck was prepared perfectly. Every bite was fantastic and all the flavors combined extremely well.
Wines: The best thing about this wine bar is that they have small "tasting" sizes.
1. Scarpetta Pinot Grigio 2013 from Fruili, Italy. ($4 taste size) - delicious!
2. Foris Pinot Gris 2013 from Rogue Valley, Oregon ($3 taste size) - also very good, but not quite as good as the Scarpetta.
Coffee: AMAZING! I ordered the French Press ($3). They brought a small, French press to the table still soaking up the flavor of the freshly ground coffee beans. This was by far the best coffee I've ever had at a restaurant.
The atmosphere of this restaurant was excellent, but the service was lacking. The waiter appeared to have just rolled out of bed, perhaps shaved in the car on the way to work (he missed a few spots), may have either been extremely hungover or high on some type of drug, and seemed to ignore the table a few times. However, don't let that discourage you from going to Picasso. I saw many other waiters and waitresses doing a great job. Plus this place has wine on tap. Yes, on tap. It is cheaper to ship in kegs than bottles and apparently keeps longer because it is not exposed to the open air.
Try this place out for yourself and let me know what you think. Enjoy!
Global Gourmet - Carbondale, IL
Date of dining experience: June 11, 2015
Place: Global Gourmet
Location: 102 E. Jackson St. in Carbondale, IL
Appetizer: Smoked Salmon ($11) - cucumbers, red onion, capers, dill sauce, and crackers. This is always a fantastic choice for an appetizer! I love my fishes and good salmon makes the Top 10. This is the first time I've had this dish with cucumbers and was hesitant. Surprisingly, the flavor actually adds to the complexity of each bite and accentuates the flavor of both the dill sauce and salmon.
Salad: Caprese Salad ($8) - fresh mozzarella, tomato, basil, and balsamic syrup. This is also always a fantastic choice! The basil and balsamic flavors really "pop" and enhance the flavors of the mozzarella and tomato. My only complaint for every restaurant at which I have had Caprese salad is that there never seems to be enough basil. It's not that I want a lot more basil, I just like for things to be proportionate. It always seems like there is an extra piece of both tomato and mozzarella that don't have a piece of basil. In order to get the full experience, you have to be stingy with your basil on at least two pieces. It wouldn't be that hard to put out the same number of pieces of basil as there is tomato.
Entree: Syrian Aleppo Pepper Chicken ($17) - grilled kebabs of free range chicken marinated in yogurt with Aleppo pepper, garlic, and lemon. I was skeptical of this dish at first, but the owner highly recommended it. And he was right, it is absolutely delicious!
Wines:
1. Picpoul Caves de Pomerols from France, Languedoc. This was a very nice, light starter wine similar to a Pinot Grigio.
2. Muscadet Domaine du Fief aux Dames from France, Listrac. This wine went very well with both the appetizer and Caprese salad. This is also a nice white, but more like a Sauvignon Blanc.
3. Blend (Merlot 80%/Cab 20%) - Chateau le Manceau from France, Bordeaux. This lighter Merlot-style dry red had the perfect amount of Cab-style "bite" to compliment the pepper chicken extremely well.
Dessert: Amazing coffee! And the coffee went well with the rum-based pecan pie I ordered and the blueberry creme brulee my wife, Audry, ordered. Both were delicious desserts, but we were expecting the creme brulee to be bluberry-infused. It really just had about six whole blueberries somewhere in the mix. Still, very delicious.
I feel it is important to note that Audry and I do not usually split our orders, so I usually write about just my own experience. However, for this particular restaurant, she really wanted the smoked salmon and Caprese salad. So, in order to get a taste of everything, we only ordered one entree and split all of the items.
Global Gourmet is a hidden gem. It is definitely the best restaurant/wine bar in Carbondale, but I'd venture to say it's the best in all of southern Illinois. The atmosphere is wonderful and the service could not have been better. The owner was sitting at the bar near our table and we talked for quite a while. It was a pleasure to hear about his past and how Global Gourmet started. The head chef also came over to our table and talked a lot about the foods. It was a great experience, and we found out she was a teacher before going to culinary school (Audry and I are both teachers, in case you didn't know that already).
If you ever find yourself in Carbondale, I highly suggest checking out Global Gourmet. You won't be disappointed. If you do visit, let me know what you think about it! Enjoy!
Place: Global Gourmet
Location: 102 E. Jackson St. in Carbondale, IL
Appetizer: Smoked Salmon ($11) - cucumbers, red onion, capers, dill sauce, and crackers. This is always a fantastic choice for an appetizer! I love my fishes and good salmon makes the Top 10. This is the first time I've had this dish with cucumbers and was hesitant. Surprisingly, the flavor actually adds to the complexity of each bite and accentuates the flavor of both the dill sauce and salmon.
Salad: Caprese Salad ($8) - fresh mozzarella, tomato, basil, and balsamic syrup. This is also always a fantastic choice! The basil and balsamic flavors really "pop" and enhance the flavors of the mozzarella and tomato. My only complaint for every restaurant at which I have had Caprese salad is that there never seems to be enough basil. It's not that I want a lot more basil, I just like for things to be proportionate. It always seems like there is an extra piece of both tomato and mozzarella that don't have a piece of basil. In order to get the full experience, you have to be stingy with your basil on at least two pieces. It wouldn't be that hard to put out the same number of pieces of basil as there is tomato.
Entree: Syrian Aleppo Pepper Chicken ($17) - grilled kebabs of free range chicken marinated in yogurt with Aleppo pepper, garlic, and lemon. I was skeptical of this dish at first, but the owner highly recommended it. And he was right, it is absolutely delicious!
Wines:
1. Picpoul Caves de Pomerols from France, Languedoc. This was a very nice, light starter wine similar to a Pinot Grigio.
2. Muscadet Domaine du Fief aux Dames from France, Listrac. This wine went very well with both the appetizer and Caprese salad. This is also a nice white, but more like a Sauvignon Blanc.
3. Blend (Merlot 80%/Cab 20%) - Chateau le Manceau from France, Bordeaux. This lighter Merlot-style dry red had the perfect amount of Cab-style "bite" to compliment the pepper chicken extremely well.
Dessert: Amazing coffee! And the coffee went well with the rum-based pecan pie I ordered and the blueberry creme brulee my wife, Audry, ordered. Both were delicious desserts, but we were expecting the creme brulee to be bluberry-infused. It really just had about six whole blueberries somewhere in the mix. Still, very delicious.
I feel it is important to note that Audry and I do not usually split our orders, so I usually write about just my own experience. However, for this particular restaurant, she really wanted the smoked salmon and Caprese salad. So, in order to get a taste of everything, we only ordered one entree and split all of the items.
Global Gourmet is a hidden gem. It is definitely the best restaurant/wine bar in Carbondale, but I'd venture to say it's the best in all of southern Illinois. The atmosphere is wonderful and the service could not have been better. The owner was sitting at the bar near our table and we talked for quite a while. It was a pleasure to hear about his past and how Global Gourmet started. The head chef also came over to our table and talked a lot about the foods. It was a great experience, and we found out she was a teacher before going to culinary school (Audry and I are both teachers, in case you didn't know that already).
If you ever find yourself in Carbondale, I highly suggest checking out Global Gourmet. You won't be disappointed. If you do visit, let me know what you think about it! Enjoy!
Monday, July 6, 2015
Chevy's - St. Louis, MO
Date of dining experience: June 6, 2015
Place: Chevy's Fresh Mex
Location: 12466 Tesson Ferry in St. Louis, MO
Okay - Chevy's is technically a chain, but a very small one. However, my meal was so delicious I decided to put it in the blog.
Starter: Chips and Salsa, like any Mexican restaurant - sort of. The chips light and crisp, on the verge of perfect. The salsa was fresh and you could still taste the cilantro. If you know anything about me, you know I love cilantro!
Meal: Combo Fajita Burrito - fresh grilled chicken, slow-roasted carnitas, and steak with Fresh Mex rice, beans a la charra, cheese, and the famous fire-roasted salsa, all stuffed into a warm four tortilla. This was absolutely fantastic. It is probable that I only think this is the best burrito I've ever had because it contained the salsa with the fresh cilantro in it. Possible, but I don't care because it was delicious!
The atmosphere is typical of a Mexican restaurant. The only bad thing about this visit was the waitress. I'm not sure if she was new or just in a hurry, but she was kind of pushy and frantic. Other than that, this place was great!
Try it out for yourself and let me know what you think. Enjoy!
Place: Chevy's Fresh Mex
Location: 12466 Tesson Ferry in St. Louis, MO
Okay - Chevy's is technically a chain, but a very small one. However, my meal was so delicious I decided to put it in the blog.
Starter: Chips and Salsa, like any Mexican restaurant - sort of. The chips light and crisp, on the verge of perfect. The salsa was fresh and you could still taste the cilantro. If you know anything about me, you know I love cilantro!
Meal: Combo Fajita Burrito - fresh grilled chicken, slow-roasted carnitas, and steak with Fresh Mex rice, beans a la charra, cheese, and the famous fire-roasted salsa, all stuffed into a warm four tortilla. This was absolutely fantastic. It is probable that I only think this is the best burrito I've ever had because it contained the salsa with the fresh cilantro in it. Possible, but I don't care because it was delicious!
The atmosphere is typical of a Mexican restaurant. The only bad thing about this visit was the waitress. I'm not sure if she was new or just in a hurry, but she was kind of pushy and frantic. Other than that, this place was great!
Try it out for yourself and let me know what you think. Enjoy!
Jeni's - St. Louis, MO
Date of dining experience: June 6, 2015
Place: Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams
Location: 389 N. Euclid Ave. in St. Louis, MO
Ice Cream: three flavors (small size).
Flavor 1: Wildberry Lavender - pulverized blackcurrants, cream, grass-grazed milk, lavender, and orange. You can definitely taste the lavender in this ice cream and it is wonderful!
Flavor 2: Red Raspberry Sorbet - red raspberries pulverized with sugar. As simple and classic as they come. Perfect in a glass of champagne or with a poached peach. This was nothing short of amazing and the raspberry flavor will punch you in the face! Definitely my favorite, and it mixes so well with both the other flavors!
Flavor 3: Lemon Frozen Yogurt - lemon juice, biodynamic yogurt, cream, and grass-grazed Ohio milk. Always Jeni's favorite. And this was my second favorite, but everything is so delicious is hard to choose! Definitely a strong lemon flavor, but not so much that it makes you pucker up. This one mixed great with both the other flavors to give you a raspberry lemonade flavor or lemon lavender.
I have only had three flavors, but I would say that Jeni's is the best ice cream I've ever had. And all three of these flavors go very well together in the same bite! The counter service is amazing and very fast. They will even let you sample any of the flavors you would like! The atmosphere is very open, bright, and very clean (which is always a plus)!
I had my ice creams in a cup, but they do make their own waffle cones as well. And their waffle cones are also the best ones I've ever had. They stick a piece of a waffle cone in each cup of ice cream, but feel free to try your ice cream in an actual waffle cone!
If you're in the mood for a sweet treat, look no further than Jeni's! You won't be disappointed. Try it out and let me know what you think (and which flavors you try)! Enjoy!
Place: Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams
Location: 389 N. Euclid Ave. in St. Louis, MO
Ice Cream: three flavors (small size).
Flavor 1: Wildberry Lavender - pulverized blackcurrants, cream, grass-grazed milk, lavender, and orange. You can definitely taste the lavender in this ice cream and it is wonderful!
Flavor 2: Red Raspberry Sorbet - red raspberries pulverized with sugar. As simple and classic as they come. Perfect in a glass of champagne or with a poached peach. This was nothing short of amazing and the raspberry flavor will punch you in the face! Definitely my favorite, and it mixes so well with both the other flavors!
Flavor 3: Lemon Frozen Yogurt - lemon juice, biodynamic yogurt, cream, and grass-grazed Ohio milk. Always Jeni's favorite. And this was my second favorite, but everything is so delicious is hard to choose! Definitely a strong lemon flavor, but not so much that it makes you pucker up. This one mixed great with both the other flavors to give you a raspberry lemonade flavor or lemon lavender.
I have only had three flavors, but I would say that Jeni's is the best ice cream I've ever had. And all three of these flavors go very well together in the same bite! The counter service is amazing and very fast. They will even let you sample any of the flavors you would like! The atmosphere is very open, bright, and very clean (which is always a plus)!
I had my ice creams in a cup, but they do make their own waffle cones as well. And their waffle cones are also the best ones I've ever had. They stick a piece of a waffle cone in each cup of ice cream, but feel free to try your ice cream in an actual waffle cone!
If you're in the mood for a sweet treat, look no further than Jeni's! You won't be disappointed. Try it out and let me know what you think (and which flavors you try)! Enjoy!
Herbie's Vintage '72 - St. Louis, MO
Date of dining experience: June 6, 2015
Place: Herbie's Vintage '72
Location: 405 North Euclid Avenue in St. Louis, MO
Brunch: Eggs Madison Benedict - with salmon and capers, served with roasted potatoes. This dish was absolutely delicious! I love some salmon with my eggs in the morning, especially with capers in the mix! However, there could have been more capers for my taste. Still, worth trying if you're ever in the area for brunch. ($12)
Coffee: regular coffee with brunch. Yeah, the coffee was terrible. I still drank it because it was the only coffee around, but it was not good. It tasted very old, which is highly possible since most of the people there were drinking either a mimosa or bloody mary.
Herbie's is definitely a place you should try. The atmosphere is amazing and they have a small stage area inside. There is a lot more to Herbie's than just brunch, and I can't wait to try it out for dinner.
The service was okay, but it seemed as if they were short-staffed on this particular visit. Someone must have called in that day. They do have live entertainment in the evenings (most of the time), but not for brunch on Saturdays.
Try this place out and let me know if the coffee is good when you visit! Enjoy!
Place: Herbie's Vintage '72
Location: 405 North Euclid Avenue in St. Louis, MO
Brunch: Eggs Madison Benedict - with salmon and capers, served with roasted potatoes. This dish was absolutely delicious! I love some salmon with my eggs in the morning, especially with capers in the mix! However, there could have been more capers for my taste. Still, worth trying if you're ever in the area for brunch. ($12)
Coffee: regular coffee with brunch. Yeah, the coffee was terrible. I still drank it because it was the only coffee around, but it was not good. It tasted very old, which is highly possible since most of the people there were drinking either a mimosa or bloody mary.
Herbie's is definitely a place you should try. The atmosphere is amazing and they have a small stage area inside. There is a lot more to Herbie's than just brunch, and I can't wait to try it out for dinner.
The service was okay, but it seemed as if they were short-staffed on this particular visit. Someone must have called in that day. They do have live entertainment in the evenings (most of the time), but not for brunch on Saturdays.
Try this place out and let me know if the coffee is good when you visit! Enjoy!
Baileys' Chocolate Bar - St. Louis, MO
Date of dining experience: June 5, 2015
Place: Baileys' Chocolate Bar
Location: 1915 Park in St. Louis, MO
Appetizer: Mixed Olives - Kalamata, Spanish, Black. The olives went very well with the cheese board. ($4)
Cheese Board: Served with Fresh House-Made Breads, Fruits, and Nuts. ($15 total)
Cheese 1: Gjetost (goat) from Norway - Taste of Nuts, Caramel, and a Hint of Sweet.
Cheese 2: Brie (cow) from France - The Classic.
Cheese 3: Port Salut (cow) from France - Mild, Very Soft, and Creamy.
You should know by now that I love cheese, especially good cheese (which are usually imported). There is nothing better than a good cheese with some bread, nuts, fruit, and olives. It really is the perfect appetizer OR dessert, even if you don't have alcohol with it!
Coffee Martini: Warm Espresso ($9). This was absolutely delicious, but it is a martini so if you try it be prepared for a strong flavor mix of coffee and alcohol. Their coffee martini description: "Our martinis are made only from the highest quality vodkas, liqueurs, homemade ice creams, and sorbets. We use no fillers and add nothing to water them down. True to tradition, many are strong. If this is not to your taste, please let your server know in advance and we will do our best to adjust."
Coffee (regular): Fair Trade Organic French Roast ($3 - bottomless). This was some of the best French Roast coffee I've ever had. Maybe it was because it was late, or maybe due to the martini before it, but this was delicious. I'm usually more of a medium-body, Columbia-style coffee drinker, but I would order this again if I ever find myself back at Baileys' Chocolate Bar.
This place is great, and not all of their items are chocolate-related (though they do have a fair amount of chocolate-based items). My server was absolutely amazing and extremely personable (which seems to be a rare quality in a server)! The atmosphere is very intimate and dimly-lit, but they do also have patio seating outside. This would be a great place to go on a date or night out, especially if you just went there for appetizers to start the night or drinks to end the night!
I doubt you'll be disappointed in Baileys' Chocolate Bar. Try it out and let me know! Enjoy!
Place: Baileys' Chocolate Bar
Location: 1915 Park in St. Louis, MO
Appetizer: Mixed Olives - Kalamata, Spanish, Black. The olives went very well with the cheese board. ($4)
Cheese Board: Served with Fresh House-Made Breads, Fruits, and Nuts. ($15 total)
Cheese 1: Gjetost (goat) from Norway - Taste of Nuts, Caramel, and a Hint of Sweet.
Cheese 2: Brie (cow) from France - The Classic.
Cheese 3: Port Salut (cow) from France - Mild, Very Soft, and Creamy.
You should know by now that I love cheese, especially good cheese (which are usually imported). There is nothing better than a good cheese with some bread, nuts, fruit, and olives. It really is the perfect appetizer OR dessert, even if you don't have alcohol with it!
Coffee Martini: Warm Espresso ($9). This was absolutely delicious, but it is a martini so if you try it be prepared for a strong flavor mix of coffee and alcohol. Their coffee martini description: "Our martinis are made only from the highest quality vodkas, liqueurs, homemade ice creams, and sorbets. We use no fillers and add nothing to water them down. True to tradition, many are strong. If this is not to your taste, please let your server know in advance and we will do our best to adjust."
Coffee (regular): Fair Trade Organic French Roast ($3 - bottomless). This was some of the best French Roast coffee I've ever had. Maybe it was because it was late, or maybe due to the martini before it, but this was delicious. I'm usually more of a medium-body, Columbia-style coffee drinker, but I would order this again if I ever find myself back at Baileys' Chocolate Bar.
This place is great, and not all of their items are chocolate-related (though they do have a fair amount of chocolate-based items). My server was absolutely amazing and extremely personable (which seems to be a rare quality in a server)! The atmosphere is very intimate and dimly-lit, but they do also have patio seating outside. This would be a great place to go on a date or night out, especially if you just went there for appetizers to start the night or drinks to end the night!
I doubt you'll be disappointed in Baileys' Chocolate Bar. Try it out and let me know! Enjoy!
Thursday, June 11, 2015
Eleven Eleven Mississippi - St. Louis, MO
Date of dining experience: June 5, 2015
Place: eleven eleven Mississippi
Location: 1111 Mississippi in St. Louis, MO
Antipasti board: Choice of two cheeses with fig jam, tomato chutney, dried fruits, & nuts. My cheeses were Mobay (goat and sheep's milk, mild and creamy) and J&B Everton (mild cow's milk, alpine style). This dish was amazing! Every bite was fantastic, whether pairing a cheese with the jam or chutney, dried fruit or nuts, or a combination. The wine our sommelier paired with the board was perfect. ($14)
Entree: Crispy Troutdale Farm Trout - toasted orzo, broccoli, fried spinach, & ginger agrodolce. Everything about this dish was great, except the trout. Trout is a "dirty" fish (like catfish) and pretty bland if not seasoned or at least splashed with lemon. The beer I had with the entree did make all the flavors come together nicely, especially the fried spinach. ($24)
Wine: 2013 Vinchio Vaglio Serra Arneis, Roero, Piedmonte, Italy. This white wine was absolutely perfect. To give you an idea of the flavor, I would place it between a Pinot Grigio and a Chardonnay. If you ever order it, be careful! It goes down very smoothly and very quickly! ($36 bottle)
Beer: Unibroue La Fin du Monde from Canada. At $8 per bottle, this place is a little more pricey than most places that offer this delicious beverage. However, this is my favorite beer. I ordered it because I knew it would make the dirty, bland trout taste so much better.
The service and atmosphere are both fantastic. I will go back to this restaurant, but I think I'm finally done with ordering dirty fish entrees. There is a grilled lamb entree on the menu that I will probably try next time. If for no other reason, it's always nice to go somewhere with a sommelier on staff to pair the perfect wine with your meal, and this restaurant has three sommeliers on staff.
Give this place a try and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Place: eleven eleven Mississippi
Location: 1111 Mississippi in St. Louis, MO
Antipasti board: Choice of two cheeses with fig jam, tomato chutney, dried fruits, & nuts. My cheeses were Mobay (goat and sheep's milk, mild and creamy) and J&B Everton (mild cow's milk, alpine style). This dish was amazing! Every bite was fantastic, whether pairing a cheese with the jam or chutney, dried fruit or nuts, or a combination. The wine our sommelier paired with the board was perfect. ($14)
Entree: Crispy Troutdale Farm Trout - toasted orzo, broccoli, fried spinach, & ginger agrodolce. Everything about this dish was great, except the trout. Trout is a "dirty" fish (like catfish) and pretty bland if not seasoned or at least splashed with lemon. The beer I had with the entree did make all the flavors come together nicely, especially the fried spinach. ($24)
Wine: 2013 Vinchio Vaglio Serra Arneis, Roero, Piedmonte, Italy. This white wine was absolutely perfect. To give you an idea of the flavor, I would place it between a Pinot Grigio and a Chardonnay. If you ever order it, be careful! It goes down very smoothly and very quickly! ($36 bottle)
Beer: Unibroue La Fin du Monde from Canada. At $8 per bottle, this place is a little more pricey than most places that offer this delicious beverage. However, this is my favorite beer. I ordered it because I knew it would make the dirty, bland trout taste so much better.
The service and atmosphere are both fantastic. I will go back to this restaurant, but I think I'm finally done with ordering dirty fish entrees. There is a grilled lamb entree on the menu that I will probably try next time. If for no other reason, it's always nice to go somewhere with a sommelier on staff to pair the perfect wine with your meal, and this restaurant has three sommeliers on staff.
Give this place a try and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Thursday, June 4, 2015
Dhafer's - Dexter, MO
Date of dining experience: June 4, 2015
Place: Dhafer's Mediterranean Steakhouse
Location: 117 S. Locust St. in Dexter, MO
Bread: Perfect, fresh, warm rolls straight to your table from the oven. Always a delight.
Appetizer: Caprese Salad - slices of tomato, fresh mozzarella, and basil leaves with a balsamic drizzle over everything. This was my first time having this dish, and all I could say was WOW! Eating a piece of a roll between bites will help prepare your mouth for the wonderful flavor explosion all over again with each taste! (around $8)
Entree: Tuna - prepared rare with choice of potato and a vegetable (usually green beans). I always order roasted reds as my potato because Dhafer prepares them very well with a flavorful lemon sauce. I had the green beans tonight, which are also perfectly prepared with a great flavor, but I sometimes like to mix things up and order broccoli instead. The tuna can technically be cooked however you wish, but for the best flavor you want it to be rare. Dhafer tops his tuna with a balsamic glaze and wasabi seeds, adding to the flavor in the best possible way. I can boldly say, without hesitation, that Dhafer prepares the best tuna I have ever eaten. ($17)
White wine with appetizer: Pinot Grigio (2 glasses at $4 each) with appetizer and roasted red potatoes with lemon sauce. Though both varieties of Chardonnay they offer are great, I wanted something a little lighter to start my meal. The Pinot Grigio is very aromatic and has a lovely taste.
Red wine with entree: Merlot (1 glass at $4) with the green beans and tuna. A dry red will always bring out the bold flavors of tuna, wasabi seeds, and anything with a balsamic glaze (or any kind of steak if that's what you're having). The Cabernet Sauvignon they offer is also good, but I can't wait to try the tuna with the Pinot Noir they are adding to the wine list.
The service is wonderful every time I go to Dhafer's. Christina is one of the best servers south of St. Louis, and definitely the best I've ever had anywhere in Dexter. The atmosphere is also delightful. Dhafer's has just reopened after renovations and looks amazing. They offer a great fine dining experience with amazing prices for the quality of food and service received. And the music is never overbearing, whether from the speakers or live.
Along with the renovations, new items were added to the regular menu. Let me tell you, some of them are more than fantastic. They are also in the process of revamping their wine and beer list. When it is finished you will always be able to find the perfect beverage to accompany your meal.
I truly believe that Dhafer's is the best restaurant in the area, not just the best in Dexter. If I had to make a list of my Top 10 favorite restaurants on the eastern half of Missouri south of St. Louis, Dhafer's would come in at #2. (The #1 spot would be held by the fine dining restaurant Celebrations in Cape Girardeau, MO.)
After he prepares your food, Dhafer (owner and chef) comes around and personally makes sure that everything is perfect. Dhafer's wife Melissa makes all of the desserts, and none of them are short of delicious! With a cup of coffee paired with amazing items like peanut butter pie (my favorite), you can always end your meal with a smile.
Though Lambert's in Sikeston, MO or Strawberry's in Holcomb, MO are pretty good if you are in the mood for the kinds of food they offer, I think Dhafer's is the restaurant in southeast MO that people should be driving long distances to experience.
Try it out for yourself and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Place: Dhafer's Mediterranean Steakhouse
Location: 117 S. Locust St. in Dexter, MO
Bread: Perfect, fresh, warm rolls straight to your table from the oven. Always a delight.
Appetizer: Caprese Salad - slices of tomato, fresh mozzarella, and basil leaves with a balsamic drizzle over everything. This was my first time having this dish, and all I could say was WOW! Eating a piece of a roll between bites will help prepare your mouth for the wonderful flavor explosion all over again with each taste! (around $8)
Entree: Tuna - prepared rare with choice of potato and a vegetable (usually green beans). I always order roasted reds as my potato because Dhafer prepares them very well with a flavorful lemon sauce. I had the green beans tonight, which are also perfectly prepared with a great flavor, but I sometimes like to mix things up and order broccoli instead. The tuna can technically be cooked however you wish, but for the best flavor you want it to be rare. Dhafer tops his tuna with a balsamic glaze and wasabi seeds, adding to the flavor in the best possible way. I can boldly say, without hesitation, that Dhafer prepares the best tuna I have ever eaten. ($17)
White wine with appetizer: Pinot Grigio (2 glasses at $4 each) with appetizer and roasted red potatoes with lemon sauce. Though both varieties of Chardonnay they offer are great, I wanted something a little lighter to start my meal. The Pinot Grigio is very aromatic and has a lovely taste.
Red wine with entree: Merlot (1 glass at $4) with the green beans and tuna. A dry red will always bring out the bold flavors of tuna, wasabi seeds, and anything with a balsamic glaze (or any kind of steak if that's what you're having). The Cabernet Sauvignon they offer is also good, but I can't wait to try the tuna with the Pinot Noir they are adding to the wine list.
The service is wonderful every time I go to Dhafer's. Christina is one of the best servers south of St. Louis, and definitely the best I've ever had anywhere in Dexter. The atmosphere is also delightful. Dhafer's has just reopened after renovations and looks amazing. They offer a great fine dining experience with amazing prices for the quality of food and service received. And the music is never overbearing, whether from the speakers or live.
Along with the renovations, new items were added to the regular menu. Let me tell you, some of them are more than fantastic. They are also in the process of revamping their wine and beer list. When it is finished you will always be able to find the perfect beverage to accompany your meal.
I truly believe that Dhafer's is the best restaurant in the area, not just the best in Dexter. If I had to make a list of my Top 10 favorite restaurants on the eastern half of Missouri south of St. Louis, Dhafer's would come in at #2. (The #1 spot would be held by the fine dining restaurant Celebrations in Cape Girardeau, MO.)
After he prepares your food, Dhafer (owner and chef) comes around and personally makes sure that everything is perfect. Dhafer's wife Melissa makes all of the desserts, and none of them are short of delicious! With a cup of coffee paired with amazing items like peanut butter pie (my favorite), you can always end your meal with a smile.
Though Lambert's in Sikeston, MO or Strawberry's in Holcomb, MO are pretty good if you are in the mood for the kinds of food they offer, I think Dhafer's is the restaurant in southeast MO that people should be driving long distances to experience.
Try it out for yourself and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Monday, June 1, 2015
Celtic Crossing - Memphis, TN
Date of dining experience: May 31, 2015
Place: Celtic Crossing Irish Pub and Restaurant
Location: 903 S. Cooper St. in Memphis, TN
Starter 1: Scottish Eggs - age old recipe of sausage handcrafted around fresh, hardboiled eggs, served with thinly sliced potatoes and a Guinness dijon dipping sauce. Very tasty! The Guinness sauce was the best part. Though they are bigger here, Scarecrow in St. Louis, MO has a similar dish called Scotch Eggs that I think taste better. ($9 for four)
Starter 2: Galway Bay Mussels - steaming hot bowl of mussels sauteed in garlic, white wine, fresh herbs, and cream. These mussels were very good, but definitely not the best I have eaten. The soup they came in was delicious, but after biting into my second piece of broken shell I had to stop eating it. ($9)
Drinks: Mimosa. Honestly, not very good and overpriced. Perhaps I am just spoiled after trying the mimosa at Winslow's Home in St. Louis, MO (where they used fresh-squeezed orange juice). You can try both places for yourself and see if you disagree. ($6)
The atmosphere at Celtic Crossing was great, complete with live Irish music by the duo Jim & Larkin (guitar/mandolin & violin, respectively). However, the service was terrible. My waitress was training a new waitress, but she didn't need to be. Multiple items were forgotten and she had to be reminded. For one of the items, a Magner's Irish Cider, I just told her not to worry about getting it for me.
Overall, Celtic Crossing is worth a visit. Let me know what you think. Enjoy!
Place: Celtic Crossing Irish Pub and Restaurant
Location: 903 S. Cooper St. in Memphis, TN
Starter 1: Scottish Eggs - age old recipe of sausage handcrafted around fresh, hardboiled eggs, served with thinly sliced potatoes and a Guinness dijon dipping sauce. Very tasty! The Guinness sauce was the best part. Though they are bigger here, Scarecrow in St. Louis, MO has a similar dish called Scotch Eggs that I think taste better. ($9 for four)
Starter 2: Galway Bay Mussels - steaming hot bowl of mussels sauteed in garlic, white wine, fresh herbs, and cream. These mussels were very good, but definitely not the best I have eaten. The soup they came in was delicious, but after biting into my second piece of broken shell I had to stop eating it. ($9)
Drinks: Mimosa. Honestly, not very good and overpriced. Perhaps I am just spoiled after trying the mimosa at Winslow's Home in St. Louis, MO (where they used fresh-squeezed orange juice). You can try both places for yourself and see if you disagree. ($6)
The atmosphere at Celtic Crossing was great, complete with live Irish music by the duo Jim & Larkin (guitar/mandolin & violin, respectively). However, the service was terrible. My waitress was training a new waitress, but she didn't need to be. Multiple items were forgotten and she had to be reminded. For one of the items, a Magner's Irish Cider, I just told her not to worry about getting it for me.
Overall, Celtic Crossing is worth a visit. Let me know what you think. Enjoy!
The Flying Saucer - Memphis, TN
After an early dinner at The Majestic Grille, I walked around Beale Street for a while. While watching the street performers, I couldn't resist having a Rock Me Baby signature cocktail from B.B. King's Blues Club. It wasn't that great. When finished with Beale Street, I walked over to Havana Mix Cigar Emporium for a nice cigar and a glass of Jameson on the rocks. The two went very nicely together. While there, I met B.B. King's nephew (and Al King's son), Albert King, Jr. It was nice to hear him play a little blues on the guitar before heading to the next stop...
Date of dining experience: May 30, 2015
Place: The Flying Saucer Draught Emporium
Location: 130 Peabody Place in Memphis, TN
Appetizer: French fries with bacon and melted cheese. This was delicious and absolutely what I wanted at the time. ($8)
Entree: Build-Your-Own Pizza - basil, diced tomatoes, and roasted garlic (because they were out of cilantro). This version of a Margherita Pizza was delicious! The Flying Saucer is now my second favorite pizza place, right behind Epic Pizza (St. Louis, MO), and moving ahead of Lou Malnati's Pizzeria (Chicago, IL), Shakespeare's Pizza (Columbia, MO), and Casey's Pizza (gas station). The crust was absolutely fantastic, giving off a homemade look, light flour texture, and great baguette-type flavor, all while not being too chewy and thick. ($11)
Beers: Flight Paddle with Hofbrau Maibock, Spaten Franziskaner, Yuengling Lager, and Woodchuck Pear Cider. All of these beers were delicious in their own way. The best part about The Flying Saucer is that they have more than 70 different draft beers to choose from, which is more than any of the International Tap House locations in St. Louis, MO! However, all of the International Tap House locations offer many more bottled beer varieties from around the world than The Flying Saucer does.
The bar staff was great and the atmosphere was wonderful. After a few games of pool and a great time, I was sad to say goodbye to such an establishment.
Next time you're in Memphis, go there. You won't be disappointed. Enjoy!
Date of dining experience: May 30, 2015
Place: The Flying Saucer Draught Emporium
Location: 130 Peabody Place in Memphis, TN
Appetizer: French fries with bacon and melted cheese. This was delicious and absolutely what I wanted at the time. ($8)
Entree: Build-Your-Own Pizza - basil, diced tomatoes, and roasted garlic (because they were out of cilantro). This version of a Margherita Pizza was delicious! The Flying Saucer is now my second favorite pizza place, right behind Epic Pizza (St. Louis, MO), and moving ahead of Lou Malnati's Pizzeria (Chicago, IL), Shakespeare's Pizza (Columbia, MO), and Casey's Pizza (gas station). The crust was absolutely fantastic, giving off a homemade look, light flour texture, and great baguette-type flavor, all while not being too chewy and thick. ($11)
Beers: Flight Paddle with Hofbrau Maibock, Spaten Franziskaner, Yuengling Lager, and Woodchuck Pear Cider. All of these beers were delicious in their own way. The best part about The Flying Saucer is that they have more than 70 different draft beers to choose from, which is more than any of the International Tap House locations in St. Louis, MO! However, all of the International Tap House locations offer many more bottled beer varieties from around the world than The Flying Saucer does.
The bar staff was great and the atmosphere was wonderful. After a few games of pool and a great time, I was sad to say goodbye to such an establishment.
Next time you're in Memphis, go there. You won't be disappointed. Enjoy!
The Majestic - Memphis, TN
After visiting Burke's Book Store, which is 140 years old, I had an early dinner...
Date of dining experience: May 30, 2015
Place: The Majestic Grille
Location: 145 S. Main St. in Memphis, TN
Appetizer: House Smoked Salmon - served chilled, with red onions, capers, crostini, horseradish, & creole mustard. This was a very good starter. Though it was not the best I have ever had, it was probably the largest piece of salmon on an appetizer dish I've ever seen. Capers and smoked salmon go together so perfectly with each flavor complimenting the other. Both the horseradish and creole mustard were more mild than expected. To me, they were the perfect amount of spicy for this dish. They complimented the salmon and capers very well, both individually and mixed together. ($10)
Entree: Seared Tuna - served rare, with sesame ginger sauce, stir-fried green beans, & jasmine rice. My favorite part of this entree was the green beans. The flavor of the sauce on the green beans made the entire plate worthwhile. The sesame ginger, mixed with the stir-fry, on top of the jasmine rice, was amazing. This dish overall was very good and nicely priced ($24), but the tuna was not as good as Dhafer's Mediterranean Steakhouse in Dexter, MO.
Side/Dessert: I ordered a side of sugar-glazed carrots with my meal, but they were so sweet that I waited until afterward and had them for dessert. They were fantastic, but way too sweet to eat as part of a meal.
Draught Beer: High Cotton Brewing Scottish Ale. This Memphis brewery is making some fantastic products, and this one was delicious. It was exactly what I wanted to go with the appetizer. I highly recommend it to all craft beer drinkers. ($5)
Wine with dinner: Pinot Noir, California, 2013. This smooth, dry red went perfectly with the entree, allowing the flavor of the tuna to really pop. Regretfully, I do not remember the brand. ($8 glass)
Wine after dinner: Ponga Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand, 2013. This wonderfully aromatic, delicious dry white is now at the top of my list of favorite white wines. ($10 glass)
I really like The Majestic. The atmosphere is great. The building used to be a theater and still has that old-time feel to it. This was the first time I have eaten there, and I cannot wait to go back. When The Orpheum Theatre is showing a Broadway musical, The Majestic Grille has a special Pre-Theatre menu that I cannot wait to try!
Try it out for yourself and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Date of dining experience: May 30, 2015
Place: The Majestic Grille
Location: 145 S. Main St. in Memphis, TN
Appetizer: House Smoked Salmon - served chilled, with red onions, capers, crostini, horseradish, & creole mustard. This was a very good starter. Though it was not the best I have ever had, it was probably the largest piece of salmon on an appetizer dish I've ever seen. Capers and smoked salmon go together so perfectly with each flavor complimenting the other. Both the horseradish and creole mustard were more mild than expected. To me, they were the perfect amount of spicy for this dish. They complimented the salmon and capers very well, both individually and mixed together. ($10)
Entree: Seared Tuna - served rare, with sesame ginger sauce, stir-fried green beans, & jasmine rice. My favorite part of this entree was the green beans. The flavor of the sauce on the green beans made the entire plate worthwhile. The sesame ginger, mixed with the stir-fry, on top of the jasmine rice, was amazing. This dish overall was very good and nicely priced ($24), but the tuna was not as good as Dhafer's Mediterranean Steakhouse in Dexter, MO.
Side/Dessert: I ordered a side of sugar-glazed carrots with my meal, but they were so sweet that I waited until afterward and had them for dessert. They were fantastic, but way too sweet to eat as part of a meal.
Draught Beer: High Cotton Brewing Scottish Ale. This Memphis brewery is making some fantastic products, and this one was delicious. It was exactly what I wanted to go with the appetizer. I highly recommend it to all craft beer drinkers. ($5)
Wine with dinner: Pinot Noir, California, 2013. This smooth, dry red went perfectly with the entree, allowing the flavor of the tuna to really pop. Regretfully, I do not remember the brand. ($8 glass)
Wine after dinner: Ponga Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand, 2013. This wonderfully aromatic, delicious dry white is now at the top of my list of favorite white wines. ($10 glass)
I really like The Majestic. The atmosphere is great. The building used to be a theater and still has that old-time feel to it. This was the first time I have eaten there, and I cannot wait to go back. When The Orpheum Theatre is showing a Broadway musical, The Majestic Grille has a special Pre-Theatre menu that I cannot wait to try!
Try it out for yourself and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
bluefin - Memphis, TN
On my way to see Jerry Seinfeld at The Orpheum Theatre...
Date of dining experience: May 29, 2015
Place: bluefin edge cuisine - sushi lounge
Location: 135 S. Main St. in Memphis, TN
Starter: Fresh Scallops - with warm truffle butter, scallions, & mushroom salt. These scallops melt in your mouth and are absolutely amazing. This is the second time I've eaten at this restaurant and this dish was perfect both times. ($14)
Entree 1: Sashimi Assortment - 5 kinds of fish, 15 pieces: salmon, walu, big eye tuna, octopus, & snapper. I love sashimi, especially at bluefin. The fish is so delicate and perfect. The flavor of each kind is wonderful alone, but equally fantastic dipped in soy sauce. The soy sauce here is perfect as well, which for me means not too salty. If you want a little spice you can add wasabi to your soy, but I prefer not to. Salmon and tuna are typical of most places and always delicious. The snapper and walu were perfectly smooth. The octopus was not quite as soft. Octopus is firmer and tougher, similar to chicken gizzards but with better taste and texture. The tentacles had been cut off, but be prepared for the meat closer to the tentacle area to be firmer and tougher than the rest. There were thin slices of lime on the octopus, which really gave it a great flavor. ($23)
Entree 2: Grindhouse Specialty Roll - shrimp tempura, cream cheese, avocado, & basil, topped with smoked salmon, spicy mayo, and eel sauce. This restaurant has the best sushi I think I've ever had, and this particular roll is absolutely delightful. A tiny little bit of each piece dipped in soy sauce adds the perfect amount of salty to the flavor combination. ($11)
Dessert: Local Blueberry Creme Brule and Tempura Banana (with vanilla ice cream, coconut milk, and brown butter). The creme brule was not what I was expecting. It was basically a regular creme brule with a few blueberries throughout. I was expecting more blueberry flavor, but it was still delicious. The fried banana was very good and the coconut milk added a great flavor. The coffee served with dessert was also very good.
Wine: Conundrum 2013. This is a semi-dry white and always a good, middle-of-the-road choice. Though delicious, it was a little overpriced at bluefin ($48) compared to other restaurants. If I could go back and do it again, I probably would have order something a little more dry to go with the sashimi.
The atmosphere and service at bluefin are great. Halfway through the meal, a small jazz combo added nicely to the experience when they started playing in the lobby area. Upon leaving, I noticed the musicians were very young. They were playing very well for appearing to be young high school students.
I highly recommend bluefin to everyone, especially if you love good sushi and sashimi! I believe this place is becoming my go-to restaurant in Memphis, and it's much less messy than barbecue!
Give it a try the next time you're in Memphis and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Date of dining experience: May 29, 2015
Place: bluefin edge cuisine - sushi lounge
Location: 135 S. Main St. in Memphis, TN
Starter: Fresh Scallops - with warm truffle butter, scallions, & mushroom salt. These scallops melt in your mouth and are absolutely amazing. This is the second time I've eaten at this restaurant and this dish was perfect both times. ($14)
Entree 1: Sashimi Assortment - 5 kinds of fish, 15 pieces: salmon, walu, big eye tuna, octopus, & snapper. I love sashimi, especially at bluefin. The fish is so delicate and perfect. The flavor of each kind is wonderful alone, but equally fantastic dipped in soy sauce. The soy sauce here is perfect as well, which for me means not too salty. If you want a little spice you can add wasabi to your soy, but I prefer not to. Salmon and tuna are typical of most places and always delicious. The snapper and walu were perfectly smooth. The octopus was not quite as soft. Octopus is firmer and tougher, similar to chicken gizzards but with better taste and texture. The tentacles had been cut off, but be prepared for the meat closer to the tentacle area to be firmer and tougher than the rest. There were thin slices of lime on the octopus, which really gave it a great flavor. ($23)
Entree 2: Grindhouse Specialty Roll - shrimp tempura, cream cheese, avocado, & basil, topped with smoked salmon, spicy mayo, and eel sauce. This restaurant has the best sushi I think I've ever had, and this particular roll is absolutely delightful. A tiny little bit of each piece dipped in soy sauce adds the perfect amount of salty to the flavor combination. ($11)
Dessert: Local Blueberry Creme Brule and Tempura Banana (with vanilla ice cream, coconut milk, and brown butter). The creme brule was not what I was expecting. It was basically a regular creme brule with a few blueberries throughout. I was expecting more blueberry flavor, but it was still delicious. The fried banana was very good and the coconut milk added a great flavor. The coffee served with dessert was also very good.
Wine: Conundrum 2013. This is a semi-dry white and always a good, middle-of-the-road choice. Though delicious, it was a little overpriced at bluefin ($48) compared to other restaurants. If I could go back and do it again, I probably would have order something a little more dry to go with the sashimi.
The atmosphere and service at bluefin are great. Halfway through the meal, a small jazz combo added nicely to the experience when they started playing in the lobby area. Upon leaving, I noticed the musicians were very young. They were playing very well for appearing to be young high school students.
I highly recommend bluefin to everyone, especially if you love good sushi and sashimi! I believe this place is becoming my go-to restaurant in Memphis, and it's much less messy than barbecue!
Give it a try the next time you're in Memphis and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Friday, May 29, 2015
El Cabrito - Dexter, MO
Date of dining experience: May 28, 2015
Place: El Cabrito Mexican Restaurant (no, they don't serve goat)
Location: 208 W. Bus. Hwy. 60 in Dexter, MO
Starter: Chips and salsa! The salsa here is awesome. Every time I go I can taste the fresh cilantro in it. Order a cheese dip and add to the deliciousness. Order Guacamole El Cabrito and make it a party! Your server will make the guacamole dip fresh at your table. The server that makes the best guacamole dip is named Chuy (pronounced chewy). Ask for him and you won't be disappointed!
Entree: Camarones ala Diabla (I think this translates to shrimp deviled wing) with chicken added - shrimp and chicken sauteed in spicy ranchero sauce served with rice and beans. I chose this dish because I had never had it before. It is something new and fresh, something different pretty much just for the purpose of this blog. I have eaten here many times and, like most people, fell into a slump of ordering the same two or three things all the time. This dish was fantastic and was the perfect amount of spicy for me. I know some people that would swear this was too spicy to even touch.
Drinks: Full bar service available with drink specials like crazy! They have fantastic margaritas, on the rocks or frozen (lime or strawberry). They also have Dos Equis Amber on draft and from 5:00-close you can get 32 oz. for just $4!
El Cabrito is owned and operated by a local family that everyone loves. As far as atmosphere and service, it's your typical Mexican restaurant. Most of the people in town have eaten at this restaurant. If you haven't, you should. You won't be disappointed. Enjoy!
Place: El Cabrito Mexican Restaurant (no, they don't serve goat)
Location: 208 W. Bus. Hwy. 60 in Dexter, MO
Starter: Chips and salsa! The salsa here is awesome. Every time I go I can taste the fresh cilantro in it. Order a cheese dip and add to the deliciousness. Order Guacamole El Cabrito and make it a party! Your server will make the guacamole dip fresh at your table. The server that makes the best guacamole dip is named Chuy (pronounced chewy). Ask for him and you won't be disappointed!
Entree: Camarones ala Diabla (I think this translates to shrimp deviled wing) with chicken added - shrimp and chicken sauteed in spicy ranchero sauce served with rice and beans. I chose this dish because I had never had it before. It is something new and fresh, something different pretty much just for the purpose of this blog. I have eaten here many times and, like most people, fell into a slump of ordering the same two or three things all the time. This dish was fantastic and was the perfect amount of spicy for me. I know some people that would swear this was too spicy to even touch.
Drinks: Full bar service available with drink specials like crazy! They have fantastic margaritas, on the rocks or frozen (lime or strawberry). They also have Dos Equis Amber on draft and from 5:00-close you can get 32 oz. for just $4!
El Cabrito is owned and operated by a local family that everyone loves. As far as atmosphere and service, it's your typical Mexican restaurant. Most of the people in town have eaten at this restaurant. If you haven't, you should. You won't be disappointed. Enjoy!
Winslow's Home - St. Louis, MO
Date of dining experience: May 24, 2015
Place: Winslow's Home (cafe, coffee shop, and store)
Location: 7213 Delmar in St. Louis, MO
Coffee: Yes! Winslow's has amazing coffee, and it's free refills. You help yourself to all the freshly ground, delicious coffee you can handle. If you aren't into coffee, they also have amazing Mimosas.
Entree: Smoked Salmon Hash - sweet potatoes, pickled red onion, spinach, sunny up eggs, and, of course, smoked salmon! Delicious! The flavors of each of these is great alone, but mix them all together and it is truly a flavor explosion in your mouth with each and every bite! This entree was so good the first time I went that I ordered it the second time as well! ($12)
Dessert: Goat Cheese Cookie - amazing! This cookie caught my eye because I love goat cheese. I was a little disappointed with the first bite because it just tasted like a regular, sweet cookie. But as you swallow and for a while afterward there is a definite goat cheese flavor. It was absolutely amazing, you'll have to try one for yourself! Like any good coffee shop, Winslow's has a bakery counter with a plethora of choices. They have everything from cookies to macaroons and flour-less chocolate cake to peanut butter tarts.
Store: Winslow's has almost everything! They sell books, kitchen gadgets, grilling tools, ice cream, take-home meals, cheeses, whole bean coffee, beers, sodas, etc. Both times I've been I bought a bag of coffee to take home so I could still taste the experience. And for sodas, wow! The first time I went I bought a Boylan Root Beer. It turned out to be the best Root Beer I've ever had! When I went back, I bought two 4-packs of it and a Boylan Black Cherry to try later. It turns out that is the best Black Cheery soda I've ever had as well!
Both times I have eaten here it has been for Sunday Brunch. It has not disappointed either time, though Sunday is the one day of the week that they use a limited menu. Fun fact about Winslow's is that it was featured in The New York Times when they wrote an article about what to do in St. Louis if you only had 36 hours in the city. The atmosphere of Winslow's is great. Whether sitting inside watching the busy street or sitting outside hearing the sounds of the city, it feels as if time is moving slower where you are sitting than in the rest of the city. You probably won't want to leave.
Try this place the next time you're in St. Louis and let me know what you think about it. You won't be disappointed! Enjoy!
Place: Winslow's Home (cafe, coffee shop, and store)
Location: 7213 Delmar in St. Louis, MO
Coffee: Yes! Winslow's has amazing coffee, and it's free refills. You help yourself to all the freshly ground, delicious coffee you can handle. If you aren't into coffee, they also have amazing Mimosas.
Entree: Smoked Salmon Hash - sweet potatoes, pickled red onion, spinach, sunny up eggs, and, of course, smoked salmon! Delicious! The flavors of each of these is great alone, but mix them all together and it is truly a flavor explosion in your mouth with each and every bite! This entree was so good the first time I went that I ordered it the second time as well! ($12)
Dessert: Goat Cheese Cookie - amazing! This cookie caught my eye because I love goat cheese. I was a little disappointed with the first bite because it just tasted like a regular, sweet cookie. But as you swallow and for a while afterward there is a definite goat cheese flavor. It was absolutely amazing, you'll have to try one for yourself! Like any good coffee shop, Winslow's has a bakery counter with a plethora of choices. They have everything from cookies to macaroons and flour-less chocolate cake to peanut butter tarts.
Store: Winslow's has almost everything! They sell books, kitchen gadgets, grilling tools, ice cream, take-home meals, cheeses, whole bean coffee, beers, sodas, etc. Both times I've been I bought a bag of coffee to take home so I could still taste the experience. And for sodas, wow! The first time I went I bought a Boylan Root Beer. It turned out to be the best Root Beer I've ever had! When I went back, I bought two 4-packs of it and a Boylan Black Cherry to try later. It turns out that is the best Black Cheery soda I've ever had as well!
Both times I have eaten here it has been for Sunday Brunch. It has not disappointed either time, though Sunday is the one day of the week that they use a limited menu. Fun fact about Winslow's is that it was featured in The New York Times when they wrote an article about what to do in St. Louis if you only had 36 hours in the city. The atmosphere of Winslow's is great. Whether sitting inside watching the busy street or sitting outside hearing the sounds of the city, it feels as if time is moving slower where you are sitting than in the rest of the city. You probably won't want to leave.
Try this place the next time you're in St. Louis and let me know what you think about it. You won't be disappointed! Enjoy!
Pho8 - Cape Girardeau, MO
Date of dining experience: May 22, 2015
Place: Pho 8 (pronounced fuh + eight) Vietnamese Restaurant
Location: 3036 William St. in Cape Girardeau, MO - next door to Best Buy.
Small plate (appetizer): Goi Cuon (spring rolls) - vermicelli rice noodles and fresh vegetables rolled in rice paper; served with house sauce. Choice of pulled chicken, vegetarian, or shrimp. This is probably my favorite appetizer ever (from any Vietnamese restaurant). The house sauce is amazing, but does have bits of peanuts sprinkled on top (for those of you who are allergic). I have tried both the chicken and the shrimp, and I think I prefer the chicken. Comes with cilantro on the side, which really makes the flavor pop. The order comes with two, but the only downside is they have to be the same kind. ($5)
Entree: Pork co'm (rice) bowl - steamed jasmine rice, fresh Vietnamese slaw, and crushed peanuts. Choice of grilled beef, pork, chicken, tofu, vegetarian, or shrimp. This entree is so good with the pork, I've ordered it both times I eaten here. This dish also comes with some cilantro on the side, just adding to the deliciousness of the meal. ($7)
Wine: I have not ordered anything alcoholic at this restaurant, but they do have a couple types of beer and a few varieties of wine. I have tasted both their Pinot Grigio and Cabernet Sauvignon. They are both very good.
Sweets: Vietnamese coffee and banana bread pudding. The exciting part about this is the Vietnamese coffee! I had one the first time I ate here, and had two the second time! They place the coffee in front of you while it is still steeping. When it is finished steeping, you stir the hot coffee and the cream together until blended, then pour it over a glass of ice. I usually like hot, black coffee, but this Vietnamese coffee is wonderful. This is the only type of sweeter coffee I can say for certain that I like, and one of only two types of iced coffee I can say for certain that I like (the other being an unflavored Caffe Latte from Starbucks). The banana bread pudding was good,but nothing special. It is exactly what the name suggests - bread pudding made with bananas (not banana bread, real banana pieces).
I highly recommend Pho8 to everyone! I love Vietnamese food, and this place has amazing prices for the quality of food provided. To top it all off, this is, without a doubt, the absolute cleanest Vietnamese restaurant I've ever been to. You'll love it!
Give it a try and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Place: Pho 8 (pronounced fuh + eight) Vietnamese Restaurant
Location: 3036 William St. in Cape Girardeau, MO - next door to Best Buy.
Small plate (appetizer): Goi Cuon (spring rolls) - vermicelli rice noodles and fresh vegetables rolled in rice paper; served with house sauce. Choice of pulled chicken, vegetarian, or shrimp. This is probably my favorite appetizer ever (from any Vietnamese restaurant). The house sauce is amazing, but does have bits of peanuts sprinkled on top (for those of you who are allergic). I have tried both the chicken and the shrimp, and I think I prefer the chicken. Comes with cilantro on the side, which really makes the flavor pop. The order comes with two, but the only downside is they have to be the same kind. ($5)
Entree: Pork co'm (rice) bowl - steamed jasmine rice, fresh Vietnamese slaw, and crushed peanuts. Choice of grilled beef, pork, chicken, tofu, vegetarian, or shrimp. This entree is so good with the pork, I've ordered it both times I eaten here. This dish also comes with some cilantro on the side, just adding to the deliciousness of the meal. ($7)
Wine: I have not ordered anything alcoholic at this restaurant, but they do have a couple types of beer and a few varieties of wine. I have tasted both their Pinot Grigio and Cabernet Sauvignon. They are both very good.
Sweets: Vietnamese coffee and banana bread pudding. The exciting part about this is the Vietnamese coffee! I had one the first time I ate here, and had two the second time! They place the coffee in front of you while it is still steeping. When it is finished steeping, you stir the hot coffee and the cream together until blended, then pour it over a glass of ice. I usually like hot, black coffee, but this Vietnamese coffee is wonderful. This is the only type of sweeter coffee I can say for certain that I like, and one of only two types of iced coffee I can say for certain that I like (the other being an unflavored Caffe Latte from Starbucks). The banana bread pudding was good,but nothing special. It is exactly what the name suggests - bread pudding made with bananas (not banana bread, real banana pieces).
I highly recommend Pho8 to everyone! I love Vietnamese food, and this place has amazing prices for the quality of food provided. To top it all off, this is, without a doubt, the absolute cleanest Vietnamese restaurant I've ever been to. You'll love it!
Give it a try and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Thursday, May 28, 2015
Morina's - Dexter, MO
Date of dining experience: May 20, 2015
Place: Morina's Italian Restaurant
Location: 903 W. Bus. Hwy. 60 in Dexter, MO - next door to Aaron's.
Bread: House rolls with dipping oil. Though usually fresh, they are always seemingly dry inside. They do have a very good mix of spices and seasonings on them.
Salad: Tossed salad with house Italian dressing - fresh mixed lettuce topped with onions, tomatoes, and croutons. The house Italian dressing is creamy (similar to French dressing), not an Italian vinaigrette like I was expecting. Still, very good salad with fresh ingredients and very good dressing. ($3)
Entree: Chicken Tortellini Modo Mio - tomatoes, broccoli, and garlic sauteed in a white wine sauce, served over tortellini pasta with chicken. This is one of my favorite dishes at Morina's. I alternate between the modo mio (my way) and alla panna (with cream). They are both delicious. ($11)
Dessert: Tiramisu with a decaf coffee. Both the tiramisu and coffee are just "okay." For my taste, their tiramisu has too much chocolate sauce and not enough rum soaked into the ladyfingers. ($6)
Wine: Bell'agio Chianti 2013 in the traditional straw-covered bottle (known as a fiasco). This is one of the top five (maybe top three) Chiantis I have ever tried. It is also priced very reasonably at $25 (from Morina's). You cannot get this wine anywhere else in town, which one of the reasons I hate living in Dexter. If you could find this vintage in a store it would only cost between $11 and $14, depending on where you bought it.
Morina's has a great atmosphere. In my experience, there are usually only three or four tables being used at any given time. This leads to better service. I would hate to eat there when the place was packed because they only ever seem to have one server working at a time. The music is not too loud, but sometimes I wish it was more authentic Italian music. After all, the family is here from Italy.
My favorite thing about Morina's is that they always give appropriate portions. It is never too much food. Most places in America like to pile plates with food. This is why I absolutely hate the concept of buffet restaurants. There is no need to overeat. Overeating is why most Americans are overweight. That and the fact Americans don't eat salads, vegetables, and fruits like they should. We just pile our plates with potatoes, pastas, and red meats. In most of the rest of the world people eat smaller meal portions than Americans, and definitely more greens, vegetables, and fruits.
At Morina's, the prices are extremely low for the quality of food you receive. I highly recommend this place for any meal. This is a great place to take the family or go on a date.
Try it out and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Place: Morina's Italian Restaurant
Location: 903 W. Bus. Hwy. 60 in Dexter, MO - next door to Aaron's.
Bread: House rolls with dipping oil. Though usually fresh, they are always seemingly dry inside. They do have a very good mix of spices and seasonings on them.
Salad: Tossed salad with house Italian dressing - fresh mixed lettuce topped with onions, tomatoes, and croutons. The house Italian dressing is creamy (similar to French dressing), not an Italian vinaigrette like I was expecting. Still, very good salad with fresh ingredients and very good dressing. ($3)
Entree: Chicken Tortellini Modo Mio - tomatoes, broccoli, and garlic sauteed in a white wine sauce, served over tortellini pasta with chicken. This is one of my favorite dishes at Morina's. I alternate between the modo mio (my way) and alla panna (with cream). They are both delicious. ($11)
Dessert: Tiramisu with a decaf coffee. Both the tiramisu and coffee are just "okay." For my taste, their tiramisu has too much chocolate sauce and not enough rum soaked into the ladyfingers. ($6)
Wine: Bell'agio Chianti 2013 in the traditional straw-covered bottle (known as a fiasco). This is one of the top five (maybe top three) Chiantis I have ever tried. It is also priced very reasonably at $25 (from Morina's). You cannot get this wine anywhere else in town, which one of the reasons I hate living in Dexter. If you could find this vintage in a store it would only cost between $11 and $14, depending on where you bought it.
Morina's has a great atmosphere. In my experience, there are usually only three or four tables being used at any given time. This leads to better service. I would hate to eat there when the place was packed because they only ever seem to have one server working at a time. The music is not too loud, but sometimes I wish it was more authentic Italian music. After all, the family is here from Italy.
My favorite thing about Morina's is that they always give appropriate portions. It is never too much food. Most places in America like to pile plates with food. This is why I absolutely hate the concept of buffet restaurants. There is no need to overeat. Overeating is why most Americans are overweight. That and the fact Americans don't eat salads, vegetables, and fruits like they should. We just pile our plates with potatoes, pastas, and red meats. In most of the rest of the world people eat smaller meal portions than Americans, and definitely more greens, vegetables, and fruits.
At Morina's, the prices are extremely low for the quality of food you receive. I highly recommend this place for any meal. This is a great place to take the family or go on a date.
Try it out and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Ciao - Cape Girardeau, MO
Date of dining experience: May 16, 2015
Place: Ciao ristorante + enoteca (restaurant and wine shop)
Location: 1650 N. Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau, MO - located in the lobby of the Banterra Bank building.
Bread: A basket of mixed ciabattas and baguettes with dipping oil. Always warm, fresh, and delicious! I just wish they would put more pepper in their oil (and maybe a tiny pinch of salt).
Bread: A basket of mixed ciabattas and baguettes with dipping oil. Always warm, fresh, and delicious! I just wish they would put more pepper in their oil (and maybe a tiny pinch of salt).
Antipasti (appetizers): Carpaccio of Beef - thinly sliced rare beef topped with arugula and lemon aioli. This dish also comes with capers on top and served with crostini. It is absolutely amazing. ($10)
Secondi Piatti (main dishes): Branzino alla Siciliana (Sicilian sea bass) - pan-roasted filet of sea bass with tomatoes, capers, and fresh herbs served with seasonal vegetables and polenta. You can never go wrong with sea bass, but this one just melts in your mouth. ($22)
Dessert: Tiramisu with a regular coffee. This place has the second best tiramisu I've ever had and the best coffee I've ever had at a restaurant (that wasn't also a coffee shop).
(Note: so far, the best tiramisu I've ever had was from a place called Brave New Restaurant in Little Rock, AR. I may never make it back there to give the place it's own blog entry.)
Vino (wine): My table started with a bottle from the "Champagne & Italian Sparkling" list because this was my Master's graduation celebration. We had a bottle of the Prosecco Adami Treviso and it was wonderful. ($34) --- With dinner, we had a bottle of the Chardonnay le Bruniche from the "Bianchi" (whites) list. It too was wonderful and went very well with the sea bass.
Ciao has a wonderful atmosphere. The first time I went there the music was a little too loud, but this time it was perfect. Both times the service was fantastic (and I had different servers each time). As with any place like this, your bill will depend on the amount and type of alcohol you select. However, this place has very reasonable prices for the service, atmosphere, and quality of food they provide.
I highly recommend this restaurant if you are having a date night or just want to go somewhere because you don't get out much. There is no dress code and reservations are not required, but I still like to wear a dress shirt and make reservations (just in case they get busy).
Try it out and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Introduction
A number of my friends and coworkers talk to me about
food and ask about different places to eat. I love talking to them, finding out
their interests, offering suggestions, and seeing what they think about my
suggestions afterward.
I have eaten a lot of amazing places in the past year,
but as time goes on some details are forgotten. Since I have some free time now
that I am finished with my Master’s degree, I have decided to write about my
dining experiences.
To serve as a starting point, my first entry after this
introduction will be about my dining experience immediately following the commencement
for my Master’s degree. It is important to note that I am a teacher, not a trained
food critic.
Monday, May 25, 2015
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