Tastes, Treats, and Travels

Shrijdershuis

2013-06-13T07:51:00.002-07:00

When we were exploring Bruges, we wanted to stop for beer and waffles for lunch. We stopped at a restaurant fairly close to the Markt but away from the mail square. The hubby started out with a Delirium Tremens, which was very bitter to me but up to bar with him. I decided on a Vlaskop draft, which was fresh, light, and fruity, exactly my taste.

The waffles were alright... Light, airy, and sweet, but they were not the authentic Liege waffles with the carmelized sugar that I was hoping for. Luckily, I was able to find this later in the day in a hole in a wall shop.

For Ron's second beer, he had a Leffe, which was fruitier yet a golden amber color.

While we enjoyed our drinks, we were struck by the rude service and likely wouldn't go back if in Bruges again.

Bruges, Belgium

2013-06-13T05:46:00.000-07:00

One of the places the hubby and I visited during our trip to Europe this year was Bruges, Belgium. I had been enticed by the old charm and simplicity that I heard about, so we decided to visit for a day and see what it was like. I was excited to have the delicious liege waffles that I loved in Brussels during my study abroad, and this was definitely one of the highlights of the trip. As there is not a large agenda for Bruges, we spent the day strolling and photographing the city. Here are a few of my pictures.

London, England

2013-06-13T05:43:00.001-07:00

This May, the hubby and I decided to join our friend Jess from college in visiting my friend Kerrie, who is getting her doctorate in archaeology in London. We had a great time, spending our first day wondering around the city, from Buckingham Palace through St. James Park toWestminster, to Big Ben along South Bank all the way to Tower Bridge, then back past the Tower of London through the City, ending around Covent Garden. It was a lot of walking, lots of stopping at pubs, and lots of good fun. Our second day, we went to Covent Gardent to do some shopping, then walked around Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, and Soho. We next went to tea at the Waldorf Hilton, then explored the British Museum briefly before stopping at another pub and having dinner. We left the next day to take separate side trips, then met up for a day at the end of the trip. After the hubby and I spent the morning strolling Portobello Road Market, we all decided to check out the roses at Regent's Park, then stopped for schwarma around Edgware Road. We returned to see more of the British Museum and spent the evening casually wandering between pubs and dinner. It was a much needed trip with fabulous friends, and here are a few of my pictures!

Big Ben

The British Museum

Buckingham Palace

Leadenhall Market in the City of London, filmed in Harry Potter

National Gallery

Piccadilly Circus

St. Paul's Cathedral and the Millenium Bridge

St. Paul's

St. James Park

View from St. James Park

Buckingham from St. James Park

The Eye

St. James Park

Tower Bridge

Tower of London

Trafalgar Square

Portobello Road Market

Regent's Park

De Spiegel

2013-06-13T05:34:00.002-07:00

During our last afternoon in Amsterdam, the hubby and I stopped at another restaurant a few blocks from Leidseplein, De Spiegel. We were able to sit outside and both ordered the Steen Brugge, a light beer. The hubby ordered the tripel, which was less fruity than my wheat version.

We were on the hunt to have another pancake as good as the one we had at Cafe D'Oude Wester, so I ordered a pancake with cheese. To my disappointment, the gruyere was sliced and not shredded, and while it wasn't bad, it wasn't nearly as creamy and gourmet tasting as I had hoped.

We also decided to order a plate of tapas to split, which included cheese fingers, olives, loempa (spring rolls), and bitterballen. The cheese fingers were amazingly creamy and fried to a crisp golden perfection. The spring rolls included beef and were a bit richer than others I have had in the past, but the flavors mixed well with the sweet chili sauce. The bitterballen had a strong taste of chicken gravy, which was very tasty. It wasn't as creamy as the past bitterballen we tried, but still delicious.

The meal was good, although not the best food we've ever had. A good option, though, for our last meal in Amsterdam!

Amsterdam, Netherlands

2013-06-12T16:10:00.002-07:00

I had never been to Amsterdam but have heard that it is the second Paris. Since it was fairly easy to get to by train from London, the hubby and I decided to spend about three days there. We were lucky enough to have a very sunny first day, and while we enjoyed the canals, the beautiful flower market, and the delicious cheese, it did not capture my heart the same way Paris does. Nevertheless, it definitely has a unique beauty. We spent our first day walking around the canals through the Jordaan, visiting Westerkerk, exploring Bloemenmarkt (the flower market) and eating traditional Dutch food. On our second day (a rainy day), we attempted to catch a free lunchtime concert at Concertgebouw, although did not get there early enough to make it in. We spent the afternoon checking out the Van Gogh museum, then wandered around the Red Light district. On our third day, we visited some of the old buildings at Nieuw Kerk and returned to some of our favorite sites. I think that we could have made the trip for two days and had time to do everything we wanted, but it was nice to have a more laid back approach. Here are a few of our pictures.

Pantry

2013-06-12T13:41:00.004-07:00

After a long, rainy day in Amsterdam, the hubby and I craved authentic Dutch food, so we stopped at a place near Leidseplein, Pantry. We were seated in the restaurant, which had an old, rustic feel, and were provided our drink order (an Amstel for my hubby, an iced tea for me).

We decided to try one of the most recommended dishes by all the guidebooks: bitterballen. This was delicious and unlike anything I'd had before. They were fried balls of mixed beef and potato, tasting incredibly creamy and cheesy. The spicy mustard provided the perfect tang of flavor.

For my main meal, I chose the split pea soup, as it was so incredible the day before. This pea soup was served pureed, with slices of smoked sausage, a slice of deli meat, and two slices of rye. I'm not the biggest fan of rye, so that wasn't my favorite, but the soup was tasty. The sausage would have been better had it been diced up more so the flavor could have been captured in every bite.

For the hubby's main course, he chose a traditional Dutch meal, stamppot. Stamppot is a mixture of mashed potatoes, kale, and bacon, and the hubby's was served with smoked sausage. While he really liked the smoked sausage, the dish was a little too rustic tasting for us. The beef broth, the kale, and the seasonings were very earthy and traditional, and just weren't our cup of tea. However, the service was great and we were pleased to get a more typical Dutch meal in such a touristy area of Amsterdam!

Cafe D'Oude Wester

2013-06-12T13:34:00.000-07:00

Our first day in Amsterdam, the hubby and I stopped at a small street cafe next to Westerker, Cafe D'Oude Wester. We sat outside and were greeted by a kind, friendly server, who brought us glasses of white wine as we perused the menu. I wanted a light lunch, so I decided to try "erwtensoep"(split pea soup), a Dutch specialty. My soup was amazing, with a strong flavor of thyme, chunks of carrots and peas, and a slice of freshly cooked bread to dip inside.

The hubby decided to try a pancake, another Amsterdam speciality. The pancake he chose was topped with cheese and mushroom, and was served like a pizza, yet with the texture of a crepe. The cheese, a gruyere, was creamy and added a rich flavor, with the mushrooms adding a tasty earthiness. The meal was a perfect afternoon snack to energize us for a day of walking along the beautiful canals.

Lokkedize

2013-06-12T13:31:00.000-07:00

On our European vacation, we took a train to Bruges in the evening, arriving without having any dinner. We walked around our hotel until we found a romantic looking restaurant: Lokkedize. We sat down and ordered a beer, with me choosing a Lambic Framboise, a raspberry Belgian beer. I really enjoyed the way the tanginess of the raspberry mixed with the bubbly beer. Our server even gave us small bits of cheese, salami, and cheese to munch on... Lovely touch.

The hubby really wanted a big meal, while I wasn't really hungry, so he ordered a lamb schwarma. Schwarma? Not quite. It was a pita filled with ground lamb (a lot of ground lamb) with vegetables on the size. I really liked the sweet, chargrilled corn and found the lamb to be ok, and the hubby didn't hate it, but was not impressed by the lack of accoutrement.

While the atmosphere was nice, the music played was really odd, and despite confirming that they took credit card prior to ordering, the owner chastized Ron for not paying in cash. Other than that, the service was good and the beer was tasty.

Princess Louise

2013-06-12T13:30:00.001-07:00

One of my favorite pubs we visited in London was a unique place near Holborn: Princess Louise. The decor was very formal, with lots of rich wood and gold tones.

To drink, the selection was a bit small, with Samuel Smith varietals. Jess and I chose the cider reserve, while the hubby and Kerrie got the Taddy Lager. The lager was rich in flavor but a bit too bitter for my taste, while the cider was crisp and dry, just how I like it! The bartender also let me try a sample of the organic wheat beer, which was tasty and somewhat fruity, but not as good as fhe cider in my opinion.

We had a great time and loved that the room was full of small nooks and private corners. It was the best setting for our last night in a great city with great friends!

Balfour

2013-06-12T13:30:00.000-07:00

After Kerrie took us on a tour of her campus, she decided to take us to one of her favorite restaurants in Bloomsbury, Balfour. We were seated after just a few minutes of a wait at a table for four in the cozy Italian restaurant. We ordered a bottle of the house red and decided to split an order of the bruschetta. The bruschetta was served on one large piece of crostini with fresh, diced tomatoes, a pesto drizzle, and salad on the side. A classic dish prepared just right.

As my entree, I could not help but order the gnocchi. It was baked in a tomato sauce with abundant cheese, a few diced tomatoes, and a light pesto drizzle. This was some of the best gnocchi I've ever had... Creamy, flavorful, and soft... It really did melt in my mouth.

Kerrie ordered the spaghetti carbonara, which was very creamy. The ham flavors were integrated through the whole dish, and unlike carbonaras I have had before, the pasta wasn't too sticky.

Jess and the hubby both ordered pizzas. They came covered in toppings, with perfectly crispy crust.

This was the perfect restaurant for a great, intimate meal with friends!

Tea at the Waldorf Hilton

2013-06-12T13:29:00.000-07:00

When I studied abroad, one quintessential English tradition that I never participated in was high tea. When Kerrie found a Groupon for tea for four at the Waldorf Hilton near Covent Garden, we jumped all over for it. We arrived just in time for our 2:00 reservation and were seated in the ornate room, then quickly served pink champagne. The champagne was the perfect combination of dry and sweet and provided the perfect sparkling beverage to match our pastries as we chose our tea.

We were served a three layer platter of a variety of pastries, scones, and sandwiches. My favorite pastry was the lemon poppyseed cake topped with blueberry, while the chocolate-mint cookie and strawberry macaron were also tasty.

We each were provided with 5 sandwiches: tomato, egg salad, smoked salmon, cucumber, and ham. I preferred the vegetarian options, specifically the classic cucumber sandwich and pesto egg salad.

The scones were the best part for mw. The dense plain and raisin scones were warm, and the fresh strawberry jam and clotted cream were amazing. Clotted cream is one of the things I miss most about London, as it tastes like a smooth mixture of butter and whip cream.

For my tea, I chose the rooibos orange cinnamon tea, which was flavorful and sweetened by the adorable brown sugar cubes. We were each served adorable, plentiful pots of our tea, and the while experience was a lovely, formal break in the afternoon.

Mai Thai

2013-06-12T13:28:00.003-07:00

After a long day of walking in Amsterdam, the hubby and I were hungry for a nice, energy-providing meal. We stopped at a place near Leipseplein, Mai Thai. We were served quickly and provided with our drink orders, a Heineken for myself and an Amstel for the hubby, as well as amazing crisps that had a light flavor yet the texture of styrofoam. They tasted amazing dipped in the sweet chili sauce.

For my entree, I ordered the Kai Pad Bai Kaprow, a spicy chicken dish served with basil. The dish was plentiful and well seasoned, served with green beans and pepper rings. While the dish did not come with rice, my side order was enormous and not even close to finished at the end of my meal.

The hubby decided to order the Pad Thai, which was incredibly flavorful and seasoned to his spiciness specifications. The meals were large, service was good, and we left incredibly satisfied.

Al Arez Cafe and Juice Bar

2013-06-08T16:19:00.001-07:00

One of my favorite parts of living abroad was the delicious Lebanese food in my old neighborhood. So when we went back to London, I had to take my friends to Edgware Road for schwarma.

We found a sit down place, Al Arez, and decided to try it out. Jess ordered a feta salad to start, which was incredible. The feta was the creaminess I've ever had and the saltiness of the olives perfectly complimented the fresh tomatoes and lettuce. Perfectly delicious!

For Jess and my entrees, we both chose the chicken schwarma, while the hubby and Kerrie chose the mixed schwarma with chicken and lamb. The schwarma came wrapped tightly in white paper, but contained all the amazing flavors: onion, tomato, and garlicky tzatziki sauce. Incredible!

For dessert, I couldn't help but order the baklava. Boy, was I glad I did! The bite-sized portions were light and airy, with a savory center of nuts and honey. It was so good that Jess placed a second order!

This was probably the best meal I had on our whole trip. Everything had authentic flavors at very reasonable prices. Definitely worth the 7 year wait!

My Old Dutch

2013-06-08T16:13:00.000-07:00

On our last night in London, we decide to stop by one of Kerrie's favorite crepe places: My Old Dutch. Immediately, I was impressed by the beer selection at this small casual restaurant. I chose a mango beer, which I had never had before and loved. Kerrie tried the peach beer, which was much for flavorful and bold than others I have had in the past, and Jess tried the strawberry, which was sweeter than i prefer. The hubby stayed away from the fruity beers and chose a Leffe, a traditional Belgian beer that he was happy with.

For our meal, we decided to split a few crepes. Thank goodness we did, as they were huge! The first was a mediterranean pancake with sun dried tomatoes, artichoke hearts, olives, and cheese. The flavors were good, although the olives were a bit scarce.

We also split a "my old dutch" pancake, which included bacon, ham, chicken, corn, pepper, mushroom, and cheese. The toppings were abundant and very savory.

For dessert, we of course split a nutella pancake. As you can expect, it was fabulous. Creamy nutella, powdered sugar, and a soft, warm crepe.., how can you go wrong?

We all left very full, and I was glad we split a few crepes, as more would have been too much. However, my favorite part was the beer selection: well done!

Sushi Hiroba

2013-06-04T16:32:00.001-07:00

On our first day in London, I was still full at dinner from lunch and was craving something light. The hubby really wanted sushi, so we found a place near Covent Garden, Sushi Hiroba.

We were seated in the back at a small table in the colorful restaurant, and we realized the prices were very low, guessing the portion sizes were small. The hubby and I decided to split the sweet chili chicken and three two-piece sushi rolls: the dynamite roll, the veggie roll, and the French Kiss roll.

The sweet chili chicken was tasty and sweet, served with broccoli for decoration. It had a flavor similar to General Tso's chicken.

The sushi rolls all tasted fresh and were very full bites. The dynamite roll was pretty tasty, complete with shrimp, cucumber, avocado, teriyaki sauce, house mayonnaise, battered tempura onion, and fish roe.

The French Kiss was similar, although filled with crab. Both were perfectly complimented with the mayonnaise and teriyaki.

However, the pumpkin and sweet potato-filled veggie roll was overwhelmed by the parsley with which it was rolled.

The meal, complete with the hubby's Coke, was only £17. We left satisfied but not overly stuffed. A great end to a great day!

Ye Old Cock

2013-06-04T16:29:00.002-07:00

After a day full of walking, Jess, Kerrie, the hubby, and I stopped for a drink at a local pub, Ye Old Cock. The pub had the perfect pub feel and a wide variety of drinks. I could not help but get my favorite drink from when I studied abroad: Magner's hard cider in draft form. It was exactly how I remembered: dry, crisp, and bubbly. I tried a sip of Jess's Rekorderlig wild berry cider, a Swedish beverage that was summery and fruity. The hubby tried a bitter draft cask-aged ale but could not remember the name (blog fail!). It was a great stop near St. Paul's to rest our feet and take a nice break.

Anchor Bankside

2013-06-04T16:28:00.000-07:00

On our first day on a much-anticipated trip to London to visit my friend Kerrie (who is studying for her doctorate abroad) with our friend Jess, we spent the morning walking from Buckingham Palace to Westminster, to Parliament, and along the South Bank all the way to Tower Bridge. We stopped at a nearby pub to get lunch.

Sunday roast

Fish and chips

Kerrie had never had Sunday Roast, and the hubby wanted to try traditional fish and chips, so they ordered just that. Kerrie was very satisfied, and the hubby's fish was crisp an golden. The chips (fries) were just typical, but the malt vinegar was a nice touch.


Chicken sandwich


Shrimp scampi

Jess opted for the chicken sandwich, which she loved, while I got the scampi, breaded shrimp served with tartar sauce and chips. The scampi was juicy and delicious, and the tartar sauce added the perfect creamy accent.

Pimm's

Kopparberg cider

I ordered a Kopparberg cider, which was a bit sweet for my taste, but also tried Kerrie's Pimms, a gin-based drink mixed with Sprite, mint, cucumber, and fruit. The drink was a great, light cocktail and the aroma of strawberry and mint was delightful. We sat outside chatting at a crowded table on a gorgeous, warm sunny day and had a lovely quintessential London experience for a catch-up with friends!

Rocky River Brewing Company

2013-05-17T16:17:00.001-07:00

To celebrate only having 100 days left of internship, my coworkers and I decided to go to Rocky River Brewing Company for drinks and dinner. We arrived at 7:30 and were able to be seated on the patio. The restaurant had a very pub-like feel, with the brewing barrels on display and lots of dark wood.

I decided to try a blueberry beer, which was fantastic (the middle one pictured above). The beer was just the right amount of hoppiness, with a subtle fruity tone. Excellent for a nice warm evening!

For an appetizer, Jared placed an order of portobello artichoke dip for us to share. It was topped with fresh tomatoes and tasted very creamy with warm crispy tortilla chips.

For my meal, I ordered the salmon burger, which was served on a sun dried tomato brioche bun with lemon dill aioli, lettuce, and tomato. The burger was pretty typical, although the aioli was the perfect compliment and the bun was a unique twist. It was served with beer battered fries, which were flavorful and well seasoned.

Jared ordered the blackened tuna steak sandwich, which was served with a sun dried tomato aioli. He seemed pretty happy with his meal.

Holly chose the eldorado enchiritos, served with dirty rice and black beans and including chorizo, chicken, and cheese in a sun dried tomato tortilla. Her meal was topped with cheese, peppers, and onions, and she was very satisfied.

Katie, after much deliberation, decided on the cod tacos, which she also enjoyed. We all really enjoyed our beer, food, and company, and we were able to enjoy it all at a leisurely pace. I can't wait to go back!

Lemon Grass

2013-05-14T15:11:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, I had my graduate school graduation. The hubby decided to make reservations at Lemon Grass on Madison in Hyde Park, Cincinnati: one of my favorite Thai restaurants. We arrived shortly before our reservation time, yet were seated immediately. I ordered a glass of Estancia chardonnay, which was oaky and refreshing, while the hubby ordered a light Thai beer. Our families joined us after just a few minutes and we put in our order.

I got my usual order: swimming angel, which includes spinach, broccoli, and chicken served covered in peanut sauce. It was as amazing as I had remembered, served to my spiciness specifications, the sauce sweet yet spicy, not overly peanutty, and lighter than most peanut sauces. I consciously made the effort to save enough for leftovers, although it was quite difficult.

The hubby also ordered his usual: green curry with shrimp. The green curry was unique and complex, and the spiciness was full of flavor.

The rest of our family members really enjoyed their meals as well, with my brother describing his as "perfect." We were given multiple servings of rice and our waters were refilled regularly. It was a great place to celebrate with a fairly large group, and I cannot wait to go back!

Europa Bistro

2013-05-07T12:59:00.001-07:00

The hubby and I were in Cincinnati this past weekend for a wedding and a baby shower, so we made plans with some of our good friends to meet up for Sunday brunch. I found a place in Covington that took reservations for groups, Europa Bistro, so we headed there. We had to pay for parking, but were able to park easily in the garage, while our friends parked across the street. We were seated immediately when we arrived and enjoyed the colorful decor and fun artwork posted on the wall for sale. Our waiter was a bit formal, and the tone was set even further when Chef Nicola came around to meet us and introduce himself. However, the menu looked delicious.

The hubby decided to order the enticing Uova alla Cincinnatus, which included poached eggs over goetta on toasted filone bread, served with a side of fruit and roasted potatoes and topped with hollandaise sauce. The meal was delicious, with the combination being the perfect brunch food. The eggs were a bit less runny than I'd expect, but the goetta was tasty and flavorful.

I opted for The Greek, a vegetarian entree of sliced pita topped with scrambled eggs mixed with spinach, feta, tomatoes, and kalamata olives, served with the same roasted potatoes and fruit. The roasted potatoes were typical, although good, and the fruit was juicy and fresh. The entree was rich and buttery, tasting more elegant than I would have expected and full of flavor. The pita was even more flavorful than I expected, and it was exceptionally soft and delicate. The only complaint that I had were the full kalamata olives added a little too much of a kick, and I feel like the salty nature could have been toned down had they been sliced. Other than that, the serving size was huge, and I had enough leftovers for later in the day.

Other friends had the Nutella Tosto Francese, a nutella French toast that was reportedly tasty, as well as the Omelette Alla Contadina, which was filled with eggplant, artichoke, roasted red pepper, provolone, and mozzarella. Everyone was satisfied with the food, but our table was a bit smushed when two musicians began playing right next to us. While the music was good, a little bit more space would have been nice. In general, though, the menu was unique, the food was tasty, and the prices were reasonable. Even the coffee was bold and flavorful. A good was to warm up a rainy Sunday!

Happy Dog

2013-05-07T12:47:00.002-07:00

One of my coworkers' going away party was at the Happy Dog in the Cleveland Gordon Square District. The hubby and I decided to join. Our group was joining in the basement, and it had a typical bar feel with several arcade games. A few of us sat at a pub table and viewed the menu, designing our own dogs before putting our order at the bar. Since our group was so large and there was only one bartender taking the orders, there was a wait to put in the orders, but once we placed it, the food arrived quickly.

The hubby ordered the regular all beef hot dog with chipotle ketchup, sriracha hot sauce, sport peppers, chorizo chili, cheddar cheese, and a sunny side up fried egg. His hot dog was obviously very savory and spicy, with loads of toppings melding together nicely. I wouldn't have been able to handle the whole thing, though, as it was definitely heavy.

I decided to try the vegan sausage dog with sun dried tomato tapenade, garlic escarole, brie cheese, sauteed onions, black truffle honey mustard, and fruit loops (hey why not?). The vegan sausage was delicious, actually tasting like a nongreasier version of the pork delight, with lots of spiciness. I wished the brie cheese had been melted over the dog, as I feel like this would have given the spiciness a complementary creaminess. I also was suprised by how much of the sun dried tomato tapenade was on my dog. I felt like this sweet flavor overwhelmed the rest of the toppings so that I wasn't able to taste some of the others (specifically the black truffle honey mustard, which I had been so excited about). And the fruit loops? They just added a nice crunchiness!

My friend Katie also ordered the vegan dog, topped with black truffle honey mustard, sauteed onions, roma tomatoes, alien relish, cucumbers, and brie, and she really enjoyed hers as well.

All in all, the hot dogs were delicious and at $5 a pop with as many toppings as you want, a great deal. There was a decent beer selection, and you could order tots or fries with a variety of sauces as well. I feel like I simply ordered wrong, and surprisingly, it wasn't even the fruit loops ;). Next time I may go with one of the pre-made combinations listed on the table!

Banana Blossom Thai Cuisine

2013-04-21T17:05:00.003-07:00

My friend Jessica was in town this weekend, and so we wanted to go out to dinner. I didn't think to make reservations in advance and unfortunately, several of the restaurants we tried in Tremont had an hour plus wait, so I looked on Urbanspoon to see what was close by with good reviews, and we came across Banana Blossom Thai Cuisine in Ohio City. We called and they said they would hold a table for us.

We got to the restaurant quickly, which was a bit isolated from the rest of the Ohio City restaurants and appeared to be a hole in the wall. However, once we walked inside, I was very satisfied with our choice. The decor was modern and Asian, with bright orange walls, and the restaurant was small with a delectable aroma. We were seated immediately and given our menus. I ordered a glass of the house white, which was sweet, fruity, but not overly sugary. The hubby ordered a Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold beer, which I loved. It was golden, as the name suggested, and slightly hoppy, but not too bitter. Jess got a Thai beer, which was very light but somewhat flavorful. We decided to split an order of crab rangoon as our appetizer while we waited for our entrees.

The crab rangoon was amazing. The servings were small and rectangular, which I had never seen before, but they were perfectly crunchy. not overly fried, and full of sweet creamy crab goodness. The duck sauce was the perfect sweet accompaniment and I wished that there was much more!

For his entree, my husband ordered his favorite Thai dish: green curry. He was not asked what level he wanted to order it at, so he wished it was a bit more spicy (always orders a 10). but loved the flavor. It was one of the best green curries that I have ever had, with delicious crispy vegetables, tender shrimp. and the exceptional sauce.

Jess and I both decided to order the spicy pad thai, one of the entrees that had the best reviews online, which was served with shrimp and chicken. Wow.... that was the best Thai dish I have ever had! The portions were huge, and I had enough for a full dinner the next night. The spicy flavor was absolutely perfect, coating every inch of the noodles and vegetables, and the peanut flavor was subtle but noticeable. Even the tofu, which I usually hate, was cooked well, tender and not too chewy. I loved it!

I was so glad that the other restaurants were so busy that night, and was extremely satisfied with our tasty meal and great service. I cannot wait to go back to Banana Blossum and recommend that everyone go immediately for the great Thai food!

Eddie n Eddie Burgers

2013-04-16T12:59:00.001-07:00

My friend Evan came to visit this weekend and I wanted to go somewhere new but have a tasty meal. My friend Holly had been raving about a burger she had at Eddie n Eddie Burgers in Lakewood, so Evan and I decided to go. We had been shopping in the afternoon and went a bit early, between 5 and 6, and were seated at a table for 2 immediately. The restaurant itself was very casual, with a bar in the center. We were greeted promptly and given our drink orders. As we perused the menu, many of the burgers looked good, as did the brussel sprout salad. I decided to try the EnE burger, recommended by Holly, with waffle fries, hile Evan decided on the Kentuckyaki burger with the potato croquettes.

Kentuckyaki burger and croquettes

Evan's Kentuckyaki burger was served with grilled pineapple, bacon, and bourbon-infused teryaki sauce. The burger was sweet and richly flavored due to the bacon. She ordered it perfectly well, and it arrived slightly pink in the center. I thought it was tasty, and Evan liked it, but she preferred my burger. The croquettes were delicious. Sage-flavored mashed potatoes were fried and served in a sweet honey. It was an excellent, creative, homestyle side.

EnE burger

The EnE burger was incredible. My medium well burger was cooked through perfectly and was moist without being too greasy. The burger was served with a melted slice of gruyere cheese, sauteed onions and earthy portabello mushrooms, and drizzled with fresh herb aioli. Due to the toppings, the burger was huge, and I had half left for lunch the next day. The combination of flavors tasted unlike any I've had before, but also seemed natural. The waffle fries were crisp and salty, although fairly typical. The only downside to the night was the pickles... something must have gone terribly wrong in that pickle jar, as my pickle and half of Evan's tasted atrocious. Didn't know you could mess that up, but with the deliciousness of the burgers, I was able to see past it. They were some of the best burgers I've ever had!

Flying Fig

2013-03-31T14:33:00.000-07:00

The hubby and I decided to go on a nice brunch date to celebrate Easter, so we decided to head to one of the farm-to-table restaurants I have been wanting to go for months: The Flying Fig in Ohio City. We were able to get reservations at 12:15 two days before, and drove over that morning (with parking very close by).

We were seated in a small room inside the contemporary eclectic restaurant. The tables had mason jars filled with brown Easter grass and jelly beans for the holidays, and we were provided with the brunch menu. As we perused the menu, the hubby ordered a bloody mary, while I chose the bellini.

My bellini was dry and tasty. The sparking wine was plentiful, while the peach flavor was very subtle until the end of the drink. The hubby's bloody mary was spicy and well seasoned. I have never really been a bloody mary fan, but I found myself continuing to sip his drink. We both thought it was very well done. Our waitress brought us a bread basket (what a lovely suprise at brunch!) complimented by a light whipped butter and apple butter. The bread was airy and slightly crispy, and the apple butter was amazing.

For my entree, I chose the biscuits and gravy. The description sounded amazing... cheddar scones topped with New Creations Farm sausage, sage onion gravy, and scrambled eggs, with roasted red skin potatoes on the side. The biscuits were soft and crumbly, and the gravy had a lovely wine-esque flavor to it. It wasn't overly thick, as some gravy can be, and the sausage bites were thick and flavorful.

The hubby was enticed by several meal options, but finally decided on a newer offering: the breakfast sandwich. On a brioche bun was pork belly, apricot chutney, goat cheese, an overeasy egg, and watercress, with red skin potatoes on the side. I had a bite, and while pork belly is not my favorite, I found the apricot chutney to be perfectly sweet. The hubby loved it, described it as "warm and comforting decadence," enjoying how the broken egg balanced the crispy texture of the pork belly.

We had a wonderful Easter brunch at the Flying Fig with friendly service. While our order was misplaced while we were there, causing a slight delay in our food, we felt that it still was served to us in a timely fashion and our server was so apologetic that we felt it was no problem. I have been wanting to try out Flying Fig for dinner as well, and now I plan to definitely return!

Peking Restaurant

2013-03-17T12:19:00.000-07:00

I love lazy Fridays! After a long week, nothing beats takeout, so this week, I decided to pick up carry-out from Peking Restaurant in Lakewood on my way home from work.
I placed an order for broccoli and chicken and the combo platter for Szechuan shrimp, specifying extra spicy. The order was ready true to form in 20 minutes. While I saw a sign on the door stating that you could get a free 2 liter of coke with a $15 purchase, I was not offered this promo, even though I spent $16. I might have been able to get it if I had asked, though I no longer drink soft drinks so declined to make it into an issue.

The broccoli with chicken included the typical variety of vegetables and included plentiful chicken. However, the sauce was very mild and a bit flavorless.

Chicken and Broccoli

The Szechuan shrimp was a bit more flavorful, but very mild and not spicy at all, despite my asking specifically for this. The shrimp in the dish was a bit sparse, but the pork fried rice was tasty, as was the egg roll that came with the entree.

Szechuan Shrimp

While nothing was really bad, nothing really blew me away. Due to the lack of flavor and spice, I probably wouldn't go back, although I'd recommend it for someone with much more mild tastes.