Date of dining experience: March 19, 2016
Place: Shogun Japanese Restaurant
Location: 289 S. Broadview St. in Cape Girardeau, MO
Soup: Onion Soup - comes free with a Teppanyaki Dinner and is very good!
Salad: House Salad - comes free with a Teppanyaki Dinner. I don't what the house-made dressing is that they use, but it is one of my all-time favorite salad dressings! Even with the gritty texture, it works!
Sushi: Audry and I split a Dragon Roll and a Rainbow Roll. The Dragon Roll is one of my favorites. You can never go wrong with shrimp tempura, avocado, and cucumber! The Rainbow Roll is also delicious. A little bit of tuna, salmon, and sea bass mixed with cucumber always makes for a great time!
Meal: Hibachi Shrimp & Chicken - served with fried rice and grilled vegetables, all made right before your eyes! Those of you who know me, know I love some good Asian cuisine. Though this is not quite authentic Japanese, it sure makes for a good time and fantastic meal!
Dessert: I did not have any dessert, but Audry had the Green Tea Ice Cream ($2.50) and tells me it is the most wonderful ice cream.
Beers: Sapporo and Tsing Tao ($4 each) - Tsing Tao is tastes very similar to a Heineken and Sapporo is kind of between a Budweiser and a Budweiser Black Crown, so both are pretty standard beers.
Eating at a Japanese grill is a great experience, especially if you have children! It's especially fun if you get a chef that is a really good showman. Try this place out and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Monday, March 21, 2016
Zola - State College, PA
Date of dining experience: March 15, 2016
Place: Zola Kitchen & Wine Bar
Location: 324 W. College Ave. in State College, PA
Appetizer: Oysters! It was dollar oyster night, so Audry and I decided to partake. It was the first time either of us had eaten oysters, and we both loved them!
Wine with appetizer: A nice glass of 2014, Horse Heaven Hills, Columbia Crest Sauvignon Blanc from Washington that went very well with the oysters. Slightly overpriced at $13, but still nice.
Entree: Arctic Char - served with nasturtium vinaigrette, pickled black radish, and parsnip puree. This was my first time having Arctic char and it is now my second favorite fish (next to sea bass). Arctic char is a cold-water fish related to salmon, but is white, flaky, and smooth like a sea bass. Audry and I split this as our entree because we both wanted to have room for dessert.
Wine with entree: A great bottle of 2013, Alsace, Pierre Sparr Pinot Blanc from France, which neither of us have ever had before. It was priced reasonably at $36 and was very good. On the wine spectrum, I would place it between a Sauvignon Blanc and a Chardonnay. So, obviously, it went very well with a white fish dish.
Audry's Dessert: White Chocolate Mousse - with vanilla meringue crumbles, shaved bittersweet chocolate, and fresh berries. It was great. Just typing the description makes me want to try it again!
My Dessert: Creme Brulee - honey lavendar. Yes, honey lavendar. Close your eyes and imagine smelling fresh lavendar. Now, add that tantalizing smell to a creme brulee and brush a touch of honey into the mix. Yeah, you can almost taste it. It was wonderful!
If you're ever in the State College area, or staying the night on your way to somewhere else, you have to try this place! Be sure to call ahead and make some reservations, just in case they are busy. If you ever get a chance to try it, let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Place: Zola Kitchen & Wine Bar
Location: 324 W. College Ave. in State College, PA
Appetizer: Oysters! It was dollar oyster night, so Audry and I decided to partake. It was the first time either of us had eaten oysters, and we both loved them!
Wine with appetizer: A nice glass of 2014, Horse Heaven Hills, Columbia Crest Sauvignon Blanc from Washington that went very well with the oysters. Slightly overpriced at $13, but still nice.
Entree: Arctic Char - served with nasturtium vinaigrette, pickled black radish, and parsnip puree. This was my first time having Arctic char and it is now my second favorite fish (next to sea bass). Arctic char is a cold-water fish related to salmon, but is white, flaky, and smooth like a sea bass. Audry and I split this as our entree because we both wanted to have room for dessert.
Wine with entree: A great bottle of 2013, Alsace, Pierre Sparr Pinot Blanc from France, which neither of us have ever had before. It was priced reasonably at $36 and was very good. On the wine spectrum, I would place it between a Sauvignon Blanc and a Chardonnay. So, obviously, it went very well with a white fish dish.
Audry's Dessert: White Chocolate Mousse - with vanilla meringue crumbles, shaved bittersweet chocolate, and fresh berries. It was great. Just typing the description makes me want to try it again!
My Dessert: Creme Brulee - honey lavendar. Yes, honey lavendar. Close your eyes and imagine smelling fresh lavendar. Now, add that tantalizing smell to a creme brulee and brush a touch of honey into the mix. Yeah, you can almost taste it. It was wonderful!
If you're ever in the State College area, or staying the night on your way to somewhere else, you have to try this place! Be sure to call ahead and make some reservations, just in case they are busy. If you ever get a chance to try it, let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Otto's - State College, PA
Date of dining experience: March 15, 2016
Place: Otto's Pub and Brewery
Location: 2235 N. Atherton St. in State College, PA
Meal: Margherita Pizza - My favorite pizza! An Italian classic featuring house-made San Marzano pizza sauce and fresh mozzarella, dressed with basil and extra virgin olive oil. It could have used a little extra basil, but it was still delicious!
Audry's Meal: Mac'n'Cheese - This is not your typical macaroni! Fasta radiatori pasta with Amish sharp and smoked cheddar cheeses, bacon, and heavy cream, topped with seasoned bread crumbs. She added broccoli, which I thought was a very nice touch. Again, another dish dubbed delicious!
Desserts: I had the peanut butter pie and Audry had the key lime pie. Both were completely house-made and both were the absolute best I have ever eaten! It's hard to find someone to make a good key lime pie, and this one was perfect - I just wish I could have shared it with you. The peanut butter pie had bits of Nutter Butter cookies on top, but it didn't need them to make it the best. I was blown away when I tried it. I never thought I would taste anything that beat out both Dhafer's and Airways Cafe's takes on the ever-amazing peanut butter pie, but I did!
Beers: Audry and I split some sampler platters. Below are the beers we tasted. Most of them are about average for a young brewing company, similar to Schlafly.
1. Spruce Creek Lager - ABV 4.7%
2. Apricot Wheat - ABV 4.7% --- This one was Audry's favorite of them all.
3. Red Mo - ABV 5.0%
4. Black Mo Stout - ABV 5.1%
5. Mt. Nittany Pale Ale - 5.0%
6. Jolly Roger Imperial Stout - ABV 10.4%
7. Keewaydin Hard Cider - ABV 5.5%
8. Night Owl Coffee Stout - ABV 6.8%
9. Pennsylvania Appel Tripel Ale - ABV 7.0% - You'd think this one would be my favorite because it is a tripel, but it wasn't!
10. Winter Warmer - ABV 7.2% - This one was my favorite of them all. Unfortunately, I may never get to have it again because the Winter Warmer seasonal changes every year. This year's is a strong ale brewed with Belgian candi syrup and cherries, fermented with a yeast from a famous Belgian brewery.
11. Schwarzbier - ABV 4.6%
If you're ever in the State College area, or are driving through Pennsylvania on your way to somewhere else, try this place out! If you ever do, let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Place: Otto's Pub and Brewery
Location: 2235 N. Atherton St. in State College, PA
Meal: Margherita Pizza - My favorite pizza! An Italian classic featuring house-made San Marzano pizza sauce and fresh mozzarella, dressed with basil and extra virgin olive oil. It could have used a little extra basil, but it was still delicious!
Audry's Meal: Mac'n'Cheese - This is not your typical macaroni! Fasta radiatori pasta with Amish sharp and smoked cheddar cheeses, bacon, and heavy cream, topped with seasoned bread crumbs. She added broccoli, which I thought was a very nice touch. Again, another dish dubbed delicious!
Desserts: I had the peanut butter pie and Audry had the key lime pie. Both were completely house-made and both were the absolute best I have ever eaten! It's hard to find someone to make a good key lime pie, and this one was perfect - I just wish I could have shared it with you. The peanut butter pie had bits of Nutter Butter cookies on top, but it didn't need them to make it the best. I was blown away when I tried it. I never thought I would taste anything that beat out both Dhafer's and Airways Cafe's takes on the ever-amazing peanut butter pie, but I did!
Beers: Audry and I split some sampler platters. Below are the beers we tasted. Most of them are about average for a young brewing company, similar to Schlafly.
1. Spruce Creek Lager - ABV 4.7%
2. Apricot Wheat - ABV 4.7% --- This one was Audry's favorite of them all.
3. Red Mo - ABV 5.0%
4. Black Mo Stout - ABV 5.1%
5. Mt. Nittany Pale Ale - 5.0%
6. Jolly Roger Imperial Stout - ABV 10.4%
7. Keewaydin Hard Cider - ABV 5.5%
8. Night Owl Coffee Stout - ABV 6.8%
9. Pennsylvania Appel Tripel Ale - ABV 7.0% - You'd think this one would be my favorite because it is a tripel, but it wasn't!
10. Winter Warmer - ABV 7.2% - This one was my favorite of them all. Unfortunately, I may never get to have it again because the Winter Warmer seasonal changes every year. This year's is a strong ale brewed with Belgian candi syrup and cherries, fermented with a yeast from a famous Belgian brewery.
11. Schwarzbier - ABV 4.6%
If you're ever in the State College area, or are driving through Pennsylvania on your way to somewhere else, try this place out! If you ever do, let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Sunday, March 6, 2016
saffron - Cape Girardeau, MO
Date of dining experience: March 4, 2016
Place: Bistro Saffron
Location: 1610 N. Kingshighway #101 in Cape Girardeau, MO
Salad: House salad with house-made miso dressing. This dressing but very good, but a little different from other miso dressings.
Soup: Miso soup. A very good soup, but a little different from other traditional miso soups I have had at Japanese restaurants.
Spider Roll: Tempura fried soft-shell crab, asparagus, mayo, masago, and sesame. Very good and it comes with 11 or so pieces, but be sure to order another roll with it (unless you are sharing it) so that your taste buds don't get tired of the same flavors over and over.
St. Louis Roll: Tuna, avocado, oshinko, masago, and scallions. This is probably one of my very favorite sushi rolls. This comes with 6 pieces and will not wear out your taste buds as quickly because it doesn't contain mayo.
Dessert: Fried bananas with brown sugar. I love bananas, but even after this dessert I'm not sure how I feel about them being fried. I usually prefer my bananas firmer and a little green because they are a little more tart. I really don't care for softer, ripe bananas that are more yellow with brown spots on the peel. This dessert was okay with coffee, but I don't think I'll be ordering it again.
Jasmine Tea: Very good hot tea that pairs well with any Asian dining experience. This is my absolute favorite tea.
Coffee: The French press coffee is very good. It was pretty chilly in the restaurant, so I started and ended my meal with a cup of coffee.
I love sushi and Saffron is pretty good place to get it, at least in the immediate area. And you can never go wrong some hot jasmine tea. Try this place out for yourself and let me know what you think about it. Enjoy!
Place: Bistro Saffron
Location: 1610 N. Kingshighway #101 in Cape Girardeau, MO
Salad: House salad with house-made miso dressing. This dressing but very good, but a little different from other miso dressings.
Soup: Miso soup. A very good soup, but a little different from other traditional miso soups I have had at Japanese restaurants.
Spider Roll: Tempura fried soft-shell crab, asparagus, mayo, masago, and sesame. Very good and it comes with 11 or so pieces, but be sure to order another roll with it (unless you are sharing it) so that your taste buds don't get tired of the same flavors over and over.
St. Louis Roll: Tuna, avocado, oshinko, masago, and scallions. This is probably one of my very favorite sushi rolls. This comes with 6 pieces and will not wear out your taste buds as quickly because it doesn't contain mayo.
Dessert: Fried bananas with brown sugar. I love bananas, but even after this dessert I'm not sure how I feel about them being fried. I usually prefer my bananas firmer and a little green because they are a little more tart. I really don't care for softer, ripe bananas that are more yellow with brown spots on the peel. This dessert was okay with coffee, but I don't think I'll be ordering it again.
Jasmine Tea: Very good hot tea that pairs well with any Asian dining experience. This is my absolute favorite tea.
Coffee: The French press coffee is very good. It was pretty chilly in the restaurant, so I started and ended my meal with a cup of coffee.
I love sushi and Saffron is pretty good place to get it, at least in the immediate area. And you can never go wrong some hot jasmine tea. Try this place out for yourself and let me know what you think about it. Enjoy!
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