River City Food and Wine

River City Supper Club #5

2009-07-12T10:38:00.014-04:00

River City Supper Club # 5. B and G hosted the event this time and took us on an Asian journey. The table and place settings were beautiful.

We were greeted with Thai tea. Very refreshing.

We then made our way to the back patio to sip 2006 Domaine Seguin Pouilly Fume while the first course was being prepared.

The first course was Vietnam-influenced with two types of Spring rolls and a fish cake.

Paired with a 2008 Pigmentum Malbec Rose from France.

The second course was also inspired by Vietnam – Mussels with lemongrass.

Paired with a 2007 Domaine de Saint-Antoine Rose from France.

The third course shifted us to Korea with Maeun-tang, a fish and seafood spicy soup with mushrooms. No picture available, unfortunately. The soup was paired with a 2007 Les Champs des Plantes Pouilly Fume and a 2008 Fritsch Windspiel Riesling from Austria.

The main course was also from Korea and featured Bulgogi – a marinated beef lettuce wrap

And Japchae – a mushroom and beef noodle dish.

The wine pairing was a 2007 Syrah from the Collines Rhodaniennes region of France.

And last to satisfy our sweet tooth – Chinese inspired Mandarin orange ice cream with sesame brittle.

What an abundance of delicious food and flavors. I had never had a Korean dish before or Thai tea. The wine choices were well thought out, tasty, and refreshing. We took our time with dinner and conversed a great deal (I have to say that discussing the merits of Weird Al Yankovic was a low point, however).

Thank you B and G for a wonderful evening!

Tastebuds American Bistro - Delicious as Always

2009-07-11T11:37:00.005-04:00

After a very long and busy week at work for both of us, we headed over to River City Cellars for the free Friday wine tasting. They had a kick-ass/delicious line up. Check out their notes:

Pampano 2008 Rueda: Grassy scents mesh with exotic aromas of guava and citrus pith in this aromatic but dry white wine made from Verdejo and Viura grapes in central Spain.

Fritsch 2008 Riesling: Our latest discovery from the talented Austrian winemaker, Karl Fritsch, this very dry, very fresh Riesling has lots of peach skin and orange aromas.

Bouland 2007 Morgon Vieilles Vignes: Plushly textured and rich with cassis and berried flavors, this fabulous red from the Morgon cru of Beaujolais is one of the best examples of the Gamay grape that I've ever encountered.

Vercesi del Castellazzo 2007 Oltrepo Pavese Rosso "Pezzalunga": Located in the rolling hills of the Oltrepo Pavese district of Lombardy in northern Italy, the Vercesi del Castellazzo produces several wines including this elegant, medium-bodied dry red made from an assemblage of Barbera, Bonarda, Uva Rara, Pinot Nero and Cabernet Sauvignon. Silky in texture, this complex red offers aromas that remind one of cinnamon and dried cherries.

Tintero 2007 Moscato d'Asti: Grown on a steep hillside vineyard in the Piedmont region of Italy, this exuberantly perfumed, delicately sweet sparkling wine has aromas that recall nectarines and various white flowers.

We bought the Pezzalunga and the Fritsch Riesling. Yummy!!

After the tasting we took care of a few cats for friends who are in London this week (wistful sigh). And then, instead of heading for a grocery store, we headed home and walked to Tastebuds American Bistro.

The menu offered a plethora of lip smacking, droll-inducing goodness. To give us more time to decide we ordered a glass of 2007 Urban Uco Sauvignon Blanc from Argentina. Very citrusy and grapefruity. Initially refreshing, but one glass was enough.

We then ordered a 2007 Montirius Cotes du Rhone to enjoy with dinner. Soft on the palate with light spice.

Everything we ordered to eat was fantastic! First up were a couple of small plates to share - Imaginative and flavorful.

Duck Leek Spring Rolls

and Pork Adobo Taco with Roasted Corn and Black Bean Salsa

We then had the Traditional Cheese Pizza. Very basic, but very good - especially the cheese (an abundant amount) and the crust. My hubby is extremely picky about pizza crust and he raved about this one. Crispy on the bottom. The edges were more puffy and just slightly chewy. He described it as a flattened baguette and this was a very good thing.

A most excellent experience, as always.

More Treasures South of the James

2009-07-11T10:41:00.004-04:00

Once again we visited the South of the James Market. Yay for us. Our new edible treasures included:

Bison flank steak from Edmonds Farm
Garlic and onions from Fertile Crescent Farm
White corn and white potatoes from Pleitez Produce
Cherokee tomatoes from (I forgot, please forgive me)
Green beans from Walnut Hill Farm
Iced coffee from Blanchards Coffee Company
Hot tea from Koralee Coffee
Maple sticky bun and chocolate chip cookies from Country Side Bakery (these guys also carry blue eggs)

And, of course, a few colorful snaps to view…

Marshall Street Cafe and First Fridays

2009-07-06T19:17:00.006-04:00

We finally made it to Marshall Street Cafe for dinner. We had always been intrigued by the corner spot and were thrilled that it was non-smoking. The space was much tinier than expected - a nice looking bar, a few tables, and a corner band set up for jazz later in the evening (another reason to return).

The menu offered appetizers, salads, sandwiches, and entrees with price ranges from $7 - $15. The wine list was hand-written and small and we had to ask for a list by the bottle. But we did find a 2006 Gouguenheim Cabernet for $18.

We ordered Philly cheese steaks with fries - one with onions and peppers (for me), one without the veggies (for hubby). The food was basic, yet nicely prepared and completely satisfying.

As we ate, others wandered in to grab seats for the jazz (every Friday beginning at 9 PM). We liked the neighborhood atmosphere and the vibe. And dinner with a bottle of wine and tip was less than $50. Oh, yes!

And then we strolled Broad to gaze at art and listen to music. On the art side we liked Scott Phillips at the Schindler Satellite Gallery as well as The After Life: A Skull Exhibition at Quirk Gallery. The music front featured Hazeltone (Marshall Tucker meets The Rolling Stones) in front of Metro Sound and Music. What fun. I'll leave you with a few night snaps...

Tomato Stealin' SOB

2009-07-05T17:32:00.002-04:00

We were growing some beautiful tomatoes in our back yard. The first time ever that we were going to have a decent harvest. The tomatoes were still green - not yet turned. And someone took them. This was not the work of a four-legged critter.

Bastard.

Vino Market - New Wine Shop

2009-07-04T10:43:00.003-04:00

Vino Market opened up a couple of months ago off of Robious Road near the 288 interchange. They have a great selection and offer free tastings every Friday. Hunter and Dave are very welcoming and extremely knowledgeable. They also carry a good selection of cheeses and meats. Sign up for their email list at the web site.

I know this is a welcome addition to the area. Check them out!

SOJ on FOJ

2009-07-04T10:20:00.004-04:00

We made it to the South of the James Market again this week. And brought home the following:

Huge, sweet blackberries (Pleitez Produce)
Red leaf lettuce (Victory Farms)
Onions (a producer from Hanover - did not catch the name)
Cheese stuffed coffee cake (Bread for the People)
Iced coffee (Blanchard's Coffee)
Tart cherry pie (Simply Southern Pies)

Corn and tomatoes are beginning to appear. And more peaches are available. Faith Farm is offering whole, half, and quarter cow shares for next Spring.

Check out a few more photos - including the incredible garlic, stalk and all.

Happy 4th of July Northside!

2009-07-03T10:30:00.006-04:00

I hope you enjoy the patriotic display.

Stir Crazy

2009-07-03T10:00:00.006-04:00

There's a lot to be said for Stir Crazy, the Northside coffee spot - walking distance from my house, Rostov's coffee, featured artist (check out the quilts currently on display - truly amazing!), a lounge area in the back, meeting space, dinner now being served with a selection of wine and beer, etc., etc.

On the flip side the prices are high for morning fare. We went for breakfast this morning. A medium mocha, medium latte, a bacon and egg biscuit, and a sausage and egg biscuit - $15. And while we really liked the coffee, the biscuits were not wonderful (very dry, pre-made). We would have ordered bagel sandwiches, but they were almost $5 a piece if one wanted bacon or sausage. I did like the fact that we were served our coffee drinks in mugs since we were dining in.

I know that this is a favorite Northside spot for many residents. And I'm glad we have local businesses in the area. Unfortunately, it's tough to make this place a regular daytime habit. Maybe we should check out dinner one evening - the prices seem more in line with some of the wine bars in the area.

I did see on the website that Stir Crazy is having a contest to rename the place. Could this mean other changes are on the way??

The Tea House at Lewis Ginter

2009-06-28T15:42:00.004-04:00

Friends gave us a couple of day passes to Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens. We decided to visit today. Although a tad humid, the sun was not cruel and most of the children relegated themselves to the small water fountain play area. We encountered a plethora of bees, butterflies, lotus flowers, roses, etc. I hope you enjoy the slide show below:

For lunch we dined at the The Tea House run by Meriwether Godsey. I've always appreciated the iris-patterned carpet and the tables today also sported irises. We arrived just before noon to a sparsely populated dining room (a few more came in as we ate) and ordered champagne cocktails (the traditional kind with brandy, bitters, and a sugar cube).

The menu offered an eclectic variety of sanwiches, salads, and heartier fare. We both took a risk and ordered something that we would normally not select. My hubby took a chance on Crook’s Corner Shrimp & Grits - stone ground grits with cheddar & Tabasco topped with large shrimp sautéed with bacon, mushrooms, scallions roasted tomato & garlic. Unfortunately, all of the ingredients except for the veggies and shrimp competed with each other for the top dog prize. Too rich, too bacony (unusual for either of us to say anything has too much bacon), too tabasco hot, too cheesy, and way too much grease/oil. The presentation was not pretty either.

My order, on the other hand, was absolutely stunning in both taste and presentation. I had Shrimp Toasts with Sambal - sliced baguette topped with avocado cream, spicy mango sambal, & chilled shrimp. The dish was served with my choice of side and I chose the watermelon and feta salad. What an excellent choice! This was a fantastic summertime dish that popped with color and flavor.

Thus, my question is this - How can a restaurant get one item bang on and beyond, yet fail miserably at another? Because this was The Tea House prices were in the $12-13 range. Not inexpensive for lunch. Perhaps sticking to salads and sandwiches (typical "tea room" fare) might be the key.

More Fun And Produce South of the James

2009-06-27T12:33:00.005-04:00

This morning's jaunt to the South of the James Market was fun and busy. I forgot to pick up extra cash, so we had to forego coffee and breakfast (Thistledowne Farm had some awesome looking chocolate croissants - C'est la vie). This time we scarfed up the following:

Wax beans (we really like these beans!)
Red leaf lettuce
Red spring onions
Peaches
Patty pan squash (the guy offering these had a great recipe pitch - slice horizontally, brush with olive oil, sprinkle with garlic powder, salt, and pepper, and then grill; we will be grilling on Sunday!)

Here are a few photos from today:

Garlic Bread

2009-06-27T11:14:00.001-04:00

Twice this week I have made garlic bread – the first, a downscale version; the second, a more gourmet version. Both knocked our socks off. The key ingredient was the super fresh garlic from Fertile Crescent Farm that I picked up at the South of the James Farmers Market last Saturday. The garlic was so much easier to peel and exuded that oh-so-delicious garlickyness. Here are my garlic bread variations…

Garlic Bread – Variation One

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Mince two cloves of garlic and then mash them to a paste-like consistency. Add the garlic and a pinch of salt to 2 tablespoons of softened unsalted butter. Mix well. Spread garlic mixture over 6 slices of Italian-style bread (for this version, I picked up my already sliced bread from Food Lion). Sprinkle dried oregano over the bread slices. Sprinkle grated Romano cheese over the bread slices. Place the bread in a baking pan with a rack (I like to get air between the bottom of the bread and the baking pan). Bake for 5-7 minutes or until the edges are golden brown. Yummy, yummy.

Garlic Bread – Variation Two

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Mince two cloves of garlic and then mash them to a paste-like consistency. Add the garlic and a pinch of salt to 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil and mix to combine. Brush the garlic mixture over 6 slices of Italian-style bread (for this version, I picked up the bread from The Fresh Market and asked the bakery to slice it for me). Place a thin slice of fresh mozzarella on top of each bread slice. Sprinkle the mozzarella with dried oregano. Place the bread in a baking pan with a rack (I like to get air between the bottom of the bread and the baking pan). Bake for 5-7 minutes or until the edges are golden brown. Delightful.

Whether downhome or upscale, it’s all good!

A Trip to New India

2009-06-21T12:55:00.003-04:00

On Friday we went to New India on Lakeside for dinner. Our friend really likes Indian food and has raved about this spot in particular. Since we had a decent Indian food experience in London, we decided to continue our culinary journey.

I have to admit that the outside of the place did not look very inviting. In fact as we approached the building we wondered if it was open. The small sign on the door did indicate open. We were a tad early. As we entered, the dining space was completely empty. No wait staff could be seen. We peeked around the corner and from the kitchen the owner waved and warmly invited us to a table. As we waited for our friend, we were presented with papadum along with tamarind chutney and mint chutney. The flatbread was okay – plain and grainy. The tamarind chutney had a sweet spicy flavor which I liked a lot. The mint chutney was hot, which surprised us.

Upon the arrival of our friend we read over the extensive menu. Very tough to decide. Our friend ordered Lamb Vindaloo ((boneless lamb in a hot and tangy sauce with potatoes and a touch of vinegar) and Garlic Naan. I was torn between the Tandoori Chicken and the Chicken Tikka Masala. The owner explained that the tandoori dish was dry and the tikka masala dish had a sauce. I was not quite sure what he meant, but I ordered the Chicken Tikka Masala (marinated in spiced yogurt, cooked in mildly spiced tomato, onion gravy, and creamy sauce). I also ordered Garlic Naan. Both my friend and I asked for medium hotness. My husband ordered Tandoori Chicken Tikka (boneless chicken marinated in yogurt sauce with special herbs and spices and grilled in tandoor). And he decided to try the Peshawari Naan (stuffed with sugar, raisins, and coconut).

Our friend devoured the Vindaloo with exclamations of satisfaction interjected throughout the meal. The tandoori arrived on a sizzling platter which reminded us of fajitas. And dry meant no type of sauce at all (which suited my hubby), but this did not mean devoid of flavor. The chicken breasts had been marinated and exuded deliciousness. My spouse was also impressed at how sweet and tasty the near-raw veggies (onion, cabbage, and green peppers) were. The tandoor was piled high with meat and veggies. We took almost half of the chicken home with us. He also enjoyed the naan. It held just the right amount of sweetness without being overpowering. He could not detect any coconut, however.

My dish presented itself in a cute metal bowl containing boneless chicken and a lot of sauce along with a side dish of basmati rice. What a wonderful blending of tomato/onion, creaminess, and spicy hotness. I appreciated the complexity of flavors. And the Garlic Naan – I could have sat there and eaten this flatbread all night.

I have to admit that we continue to be Indian food novices. We definitely do not have a discerning or sophisticated palate, but we do know if we like a thing or not. We enjoyed New India and plan to return to try other dishes.

New India
5516 Lakeside Ave.
Richmond, VA 23228
804-266-1170
Eat In or Take Out
Non-Smoking

South of the James Market

2009-06-20T15:10:00.005-04:00

It's happening and everybody is doing it (even at 8 AM it's tough finding a parking space). The vendors (veggie or otherwise) present everything with pride. Today hubby and I bought:

Fresh garlic

Oakleaf lettuce

Fennel

Wax beans

Potatoes

Feta

Blanchard's iced coffee (way too hot for the hot stuff!)

Lavender cheesecake (and shamelessly devoured it for breakfast)

We drooled over everything else (especially the barbeque!). Here are a few vendor links:

The Cracked Egg Bakery

Lovers Retreat Farm

Blanchard's Coffee

Victory Farms

And the link to The Market Umbrella.

And a few pictures to tempt the few of you that have not experienced the market. See you next time.

Comfort Food - South of the Border Style

2009-06-14T14:12:00.005-04:00

Yesterday we were heading over to The Wine Cellar to peruse their offerings. Did you know that John from Anything Wine works there now? Go see him (or any of the rest of their helpful staff).

Anyhoo, we decided to try Chicken Fiesta for lunch. I know, don't rag on me too much. This place has been open for quite a while and everyone has raved about them. Well, we finally made it. The counter person warmly greeted us and since we had not been there before, she had us try a fried yucca while we reviewed the menu. Mmmmm, such crisp, starchy goodness. It was served with a mayo/mustard/garlic sauce (I liked the sauce, hubby did not, but did like the yucca).

I ordered the 1/4 Charcoal Roasted Chicken (dark meat) with rice and fried yucca and had a bottle of Jarritos pineapple soda. The soda was a bit too artificial-tasting for me, but the chicken was comfort food at its best - plain roasted with a crispy skin. I also enjoyed the yellow rice and did I mention how good the fried yucca was??? The chicken also came with a small container of very hot green sauce. Our couterperson made sure we did not mistake it for guacamole as some patrons have done.

My husband tried the Chicken Sandwich with fried yucca. Roasted white meat chicken with your choice of toppings including peppers and onions served on a sub roll. Hubby said that the next time he orders it, he will have it plain to let the chicken shine through.

We were well pleased and even more pleased when we learned that Chicken Fiesta will be opening another roost on Broad in the near future. Yee Haa!

It Suxx Not

2009-06-14T09:34:00.004-04:00

During our obligatory trip to TN to visit family we ran across this wine and had to try it.

Full-bodied and bold without the awful jamminess of some South Australia Shiraz. The only thing that did suck was the price - $23.50. A bit steep for regular purchasing.

River City Supper Club #4 - A Drug Dose

2009-06-14T07:10:00.003-04:00

On Friday, I renewed my addiction to Tarrant's Cafe and the other members of our club began their induction into intoxication. I rediscovered or learned quite a few things that evening:

Never work out so hard the morning of Supper Club that you throw your back out and miss the food drugs altogether (sorry G, better luck next time).
Tarrant's menu is incredibly varied and mouth-watering. Everyone in our party changed his/her mind 5 times before we ordered (and not because the wait staff was slow - Julia took care great of us).
The garlic knots are still to-die-for (everyone had this opinion except my hubby who is so very picky about bread - this is one of his few flaws).
All entrees come with soup or salad; a vanishing practice in this day and age.
Whitehall Lane Vineyards Napa produces an incredibly delicious Sauvignon Blanc and Tarrant's carries it at a very decent price.
Tarrant's continues to carry Jean-Luc Colombo Cotes du Rhone Les Abeilles Rouge at a tasty price and continues to feature a special wine (Ravenswood Petite Syrah on this night) not on the regular wine list.
I confirmed with Julia - our lovely, beaming waitress - that screwcap wines are much harder to open that those with a regular cork.
The fish entrees were particularly good and the side of barely basil risotto was a bit of creamy ecstasy.
Alas, the bread pudding has coconut in it, much to my dismay since I absolutely detest the stuff (but to the future delight of G. since he received the the dish via carryout box).
And I am hopelessly inept at remembering to carry my camera along to the restaurant to document our wonderful experience.

Tarant's - still our drug of choice.

A Letter of Thanks to My Aunt and Uncle

2009-06-13T07:28:00.004-04:00

Dear Aunt and Uncle,

Thank you ever so much for living vicariously and treating your daughter, her husband, myself, and my hubby to dinner even if you were not able to attend. We decided to go to Can Can, which you have enjoyed in the past. We began with cocktails and a Salumi Plate (Cured and Fresh Sausages, Jambon de Bayonne, Cornichons, and Whole Grain Mustard) along with bread and butter. We ordered a bottle of 2006 Brouilly to enjoy with dinner. A very nice Beaujolais that your son-in-law praised. Your daughter took a sip and declared that she might could drink it, thus, my most wonderful aunt, you may be able to try it, too!

For dinner we all ordered items that we could not or did not readily prepare at home:

Roast Lamb Loin and Braised Lamb Shoulder with Sautéed Mustard Greens, Rosemary Potatoes, Fava Beans, and Lamb Jus

Salmon au Poivre with Zucchini Puree, Roasted Baby Zucchini, Patty Pan Squash, and Roasted Tomatoes

Roasted Monkfish with Jambon de Bayonne, Peppers, Fennel, Crushed Potatoes, Haricot Vert, and Smoked Paprika Broth

Pancetta Wrapped Trout with Melted Red Onion, Black Radish, and Baby White Turnip

We ended the meal with Apple Babka (Sweet Yeast Bread soaked in Apple Syrup, Apple Butterscotch Ice Cream , and Apple Fritter) for dessert.

Afterwards, we retired to our house to converse over cognac that we had brought over from our trip to London. What great conversation about food, wine, liqueurs, house remodeling, Virginia wine, children, pets, sleeping late, etc.

What a fantastic evening! Next time we hope you can accompany us.

Your ever grateful niece.

A Favorite Italian

2009-06-02T19:15:00.003-04:00

Vietti Nebbiolo. Wow!

River City Supper Club #3

2009-06-02T18:58:00.007-04:00

Mommy and Daddy Gourmet hosted the latest episode of River City Supper Club. You can read about it here. Let me say that all of the food was delish! I really liked the olive and homemade ricotta cheese torte and the bacon, quince paste, and goat cheese on crackers (great melding of strong flavors!). And all of us drooled over the ceviche!

Once again, a great time was enjoyed by all members. I wanted to post a few more tasty pictures of our evening.

Massive London Post

2009-05-28T18:04:00.058-04:00

London was cool (or massive in the current vernacular). The more I reflect on our trip, the better it seems. I have to admit that London was not a pretty city. Too much of the old and new juxtaposed without any real plan. Impressive and quite large buildings, such as St. Paul’s, swallowed up by more modern structures. The Thames fascinated and confirmed the meaning of mud larker. I appreciated the Underground, the boat service along the Thames, and the trains out of Waterloo. While not exactly cheap, the frequency and ease of use was well worth the price for any visitor. The parks were very dog friendly (dogs can be unleashed to run and play) and a joy to wander about. We, of course, visited most of the major must-see tourist attractions and enjoyed each one. And while we visited for 8 days, we could have easily stayed for another 8 days.

Here is a brief slide show of some of our trip pictures:

And now a day-by-day synopsis with food and wine commentary. We had no time before our trip to really research restaurant options, thus, we stumbled upon our places (some good, some less desirable).

Day 1 – arrival. We have booked the smallest studio apartment (flat) ever. On the 4th floor with no lift. It was clean, the shower had lots of hot water, and it was relatively cheap and located a block from the northwest corner of Kensington Gardens and half a block from two major Tube lines. We walked over the gardens and immediately saw happy, happy free range dogs with their masters strolling nearby. We needed lunch and chanced upon The Orangery at Kensington Palace. As soon as we walked in we hoped for a spare table (the center sweets table looked divine with cakes and meringues and all sorts of other delectables). We were nicely accommodated and ordered pots of tea and Lavender and Orange-scented Chicken with cashews and a side salad. We discovered that most salads contained rocket (arugula) and everywhere we had it, the leaves were fresh and very tasty. We, unfortunately, did not have room for dessert and we did not get another chance to go back.

The rest of the afternoon we strolled in the extensive gardens and park checking out the Prince Albert Memorial, Victoria and Albert Hall, Princess Diana Memorial Fountain, and Hyde Park. We then walked about Bayswater (this area is very crowded with tourist shops and people – beware of pick pockets, but otherwise safe) looking at restaurants. We espied a large variety from pubs to Chinese Halal. We decided on The Gold Mine which was a Chinese restaurant sporting lovely lacquered ducks and ribs in the window. The Peking duck was heavenly! Tender meat and crispy skin. Mmmmmm!

Day 2 – Rain and wind. We broke out our rain coats and umbrellas. Patisserie Valerie was located a couple of blocks away and displayed lovely looking pastries. We ordered hazelnut cream croissants and Illy coffee for take away. For the rest of the week if we had anything for breakfast it was from this fabulous shop – the pear puff and nata (or custard tart) were just as delicious and decadent. If travelling in the area any time soon you will be pleased to know that Patisserie Valerie maintains locations across London.

We walked through Kensington Gardens and along the southern part of Hyde Park over to Wellington Plaza and the intriguing New Zealand War Memorial, then headed to Buckingham Palace and the requisite nod to the Queen (or at least her red-garbed guard). And onward to Westminster Abbey (to visit later in the week) and Parliament. Protesters who later staged a sit in on the street were currently on the lawn protesting the treatment of Tamils in Sri Lanka. After hearing the tolling of noon from Big Ben and marveling at the sun that popped out (called a bright spell across the pond), we hopped on the London Eye for the 30 minute breath taking view of London. After the ride we walked up to Trafalgar Square and looked for lunch. We popped into Brasserie Roux and had a lovely traditional French lunch of duck confit. If you go here make sure you check out the enormous painting of Rooster Wellington located in an alcove of the restaurant. A true to style British uniformed big wig with the head of a rooster. Very cheeky, indeed! This was the last good French restaurant we ate at while in London.

After lunch we wound our way to Piccadilly Circus and the tourist chaos. Way too many people. As we threaded through the streets we happened upon Chinatown and a local pop band performing a sound check for a concert later in the evening. We wondered onto Oxford Street and ended up at Carnaby Street. At Regent Street we popped into Liberty of London for giggles and made our way to their Champagne and Oyster bar. Veuve Clicquot was the featured bubbly, but they also offered a Kent English Rose sparkling. We decided to try one of each. The Kent sparkler surprised us – very decent and fruit forward. We were at least happy to have tried it. The Clicquot, of course, was delightful in its yeasty headiness.

Back up Oxford Street and a long hike amongst shoppers towards our temporary abode. Shops both massive and tiny line both sides of the street. Most of the major department stores boosted a champagne bar. Back in our neighborhood we stopped at a pub called The Swan for traditional English fare – fish and chips, bangers and mash, cider, and Fuller’s London Pride (a real ale). The grub probably qualified as comfort food for natives. For us, it was decent, but no wow factor. This pub apparently way back when was the last stop of prisoners to get “one for the road” before being trotted off toward Tyburn gallows (near present day Marble Arch) to be hung.

A couple of other pub notes - The menus at every pub were the same. Little to no variation. Everyone came to drink. And if one could not find a space inside to sit (or even stand), one simply took the libation to the sidewalk or spilled out onto the street to refresh oneself.

Day 3 – It’s Saturday and we were staying not too far from Notting Hill and Portobello Road. We headed over to the street market. The street was closed and the market stretched for at least a mile and a half and offered all manner of items – antiques (with lots of antique shops as well), produce, new wares, street food, and retro/vintage/flea finds. Lots of people – both local and tourist. We could not resist the churros and chocolate.

In the afternoon we headed over to the Victoria and Albert Museum to have tea in the cafeteria. What a place! I had never seen a cafeteria so over the top! (Yes, the tea was good, too.) We quickly made the rounds of the museum proper after tea. The silver, stained glass, and iron galleries were quite nice. I also liked the large sculpture hall with several Rodins that he had actually donated while he was still alive. If you go be sure not to miss the casting galleries where life-size replicas of Trajan’s Column, David, and medieval tombs are displayed.

Museum browsing was thirsty work and as we exited Victoria and Albert upon closing, we wandered into the Knightsbridge area and found Bunch of Grapes just begging us to come in, order an inexpensive bottle of bubbly (Lindauer Rose), sit a while, and watch the bartenders and imbibers.

After our respite we saluted the Prince Albert Memorial again and headed back to Bayswater. Tonight we decided to try Neo-Indian (my term) and dined at Urban Turban. This place had a great vibe and featured tapas-style Indian-influenced dishes. We tried a variety of items - ‘Gun powder’ prawns with spring onion, herb chutney; Half tandoori chicken with makhani sauce; Chicken tikka with a green sauce; Red onion & coriander naan; and Cumin Pulao rice. I had not experienced any of these dishes before and I was thrilled with the variety of tastes. I particularly liked the chicken tikka. My hubby thought the tandoori chicken was the best.

After dinner we dropped by a small organic grocer and purchased one-scoop cups of Roskilly’s Clotted Cream Vanilla ice cream from Cornwall.

Day 4 – Needed to buy Tube passes (not cheap, but very convenient) and ventured to the Tower of London – a must see tourist destination with the Crown Jewels, the ravens, Traitor’s Gate, and all of the Towers. While we were there we spotted signs in the restrooms proclaiming that the site had won the “Loo of the Year Award,” and we saw a special exhibit of the armor of Henry VIII from athletic youth to portly head of church and state. The cafeteria at the Tower of London was the best we experienced. We both have hot-out-of-the-oven carved turkey breast sandwiches and fries (they called them fries here – must be the tourists!). The sandwiches came with your choice of condiments from spicy brown mustard to cranberry sauce.

After the Tower we walked to Tower Bridge crossed the Thames. We then double-backed to pay homage to The Monument commemorating the Great Fire of London of 1666. As we made our way over to the Covent Garden area to find a spot for dinner, we continued to marvel at the pubs where patrons would spill out onto the streets with drink in hand.

We also passed by Twinings

And then we stopped by Le Café du Jardin for dinner. We had had a glass of Alsatian Pinot Blanc. Ordered a lovely Gigondas and enjoyed starters of Vichyssoise and Warm salad of ham hock with a soft poached free range egg. All very good. Unfortunately, the main courses featured extremely cheap cuts of meat (Sautéed entrecote steak with green peppercorn and cognac sauce) or days old fish (Rare grilled tuna on tomato and cucumber salad with spinach pesto). How utterly disappointing! We did manage to end on an up note, however. We did not order dessert, but we did see a 1972 Armagnac on the after dinner menu and ordered it. How utterly lovely! The vanilla aroma abounded and the liquid was smooth on the tongue and down the throat. We had tasted a 1972 Armagnac in Paris a while back and we spent the last of our evening in a bit of a reverie.

Day 5 – We traversed back to Westminster Abbey for a proper tour. Alas, no picture-taking allowed inside, but the audio tour narrated by Jeremy Irons kept me enthralled. After the tour we trudged onwards to St Paul’s Cathedral and stopped by Balls Brother Carey Lane for refreshments (Pim’s Cup and Champagne) and a light lunch (Plowman’s meal of cold roasted beef and ham, cheese, and brown bread).

And then a whirlwind tour of St Paul’s with a mad dash up to the dome and onto the roof. Please note that there is no way to choose St. Paul’s over Westminster Abbey or vice versa. Both are extraordinary and amaze the senses in different ways. We also stopped by Temple Church since we were in the neighborhood.

We had tickets to the comedic version of The 39 Steps at the Criterion Theatre in Piccadilly Circus this night. And unfortunately, we decided to eat at another French place, Chez Gerard before the show. And tonight we discovered that a lot of places in the area charge a “cover charge” which includes bread or nibbles or water. Not a big deal, but very different than the States. Gerard offered olives, anchovy butter, and mixed nuts as well as bread. And we ordered a very nice Mercurey. I passed on ordering beef (based on the previous evening’s experience) and had the roast chicken with pomme frites. Edible, but Can Can has much better frites. These were just fries. My hubby ordered the baked haddock. Once again, this fish was not fresh. We did not go to another French restaurant while in London.

The play was very funny and put us in a much better mood at the end of the evening.

Day 6 – We took the train out of Waterloo and headed down to Hampton Court to see where Henry VIII etc. lived. What a lovely place. Lots of rooms from Henry VIII’s time period and William and Mary’s era. Lots of gardens. Wonderful kitchens. And an honest-to-god hedge maze. The cafeteria offered neon green mushy peas which my spouse liked. I stuck to the chicken pie and mash.

Back in London we relaxed in at the Knight’s Bar at Simpson’s with champagne cocktails.

And then on to Soho to find somewhere not French for dinner. We ended up at Bertorelli’s. Italian with a very modern, chic feel. We ordered a Vino Nobile Montepulciano and then buffalo mozzarella, peeled plum tomato and basil salad. The mozzarella did not disappoint with the firm outside and creamy curds inside. I then went with pasta with classic Bolognese sauce and hubby a chicken and tagliatelle dish. Very good. We ended the evening with espressos accompanied with sambuca and amaretto. We discovered later that this restaurant was part of the Chez Gerard group. This part of the business served much better food.

Day 7 – Greenwich. We took the Thames River Boat Service to the Royal Observatory. Grey, cloudy day. Not a bright spell on the horizon. But somehow fitting for a river outing in England. The Observatory sat atop a hill and was free to the public. After touring we wandered about town looking at nautical shops and touristy things. We stopped by Green Village for lunch; a Turkish restaurant featuring Turkish/English cuisine (reminded us of Greek restaurants here). Old, outdated décor with edible food, but nothing fancy – except for the Turkish coffee. Strong and sweet with the requisite sludge at the bottom.

After disembarking from the boat we headed for the National Gallery to visit the “must-see” art (Rembrandt, Van Gogh, etc.) and to indulge in a spot of tea with scones, clotted cream, and the best strawberry jam (Peyton and Byrne brand) I have ever tasted.

After our bit of culture and tea, we headed to Harrod’s to gawk at the bustling shoppers and drool at the various food halls. Unfortunately pictures were not allowed inside the vast department store. We talked about eating at one of the various bars (deli, meat, seafood, etc.), but none of the stools had backs and we wanted a quieter, more serene experience. We trudged back out to the street and began walking. Lo and behold Harvey Nicols was right next door. Now, the only think I knew about Harvey Nick’s was that Patsy and Edina from Absolutely Fabulous talked about eating lunch there. A separate elevator went up to the 5th floor restaurant. We looked at the menu, liked what we saw, stopped worrying about what we were wearing, ignored the better dressed folks getting into the elevator to be seen at the bar, and entered the sleek white restaurant and the welcoming staff. Kir Royals helped us shake off the city and settle into a delightful evening. We then chose two half bottles of wine to enjoy for the remainder of the evening – a Saint-Emilion and a Crozes Hermitage. As appetizers we had Wild garlic soup, warm potato salad and Greek salad with barrel aged feta cheese, cucumber sorbet and sesame toast. Fantastic! I was so overwhelmed, I forgot to take more pictures! For entrees I ordered Roasted chicken breast, fricassée of confit leg, sweetcorn and spring onions. Hubby went for a special Welsh beef filet. Oh my god, the filet was huge and extremely lean and definitely medium-rare. So good. The taste had an ever so slight gamey or field taste – in between a beef filet that one would find stateside and a very tender Bison steak. Lovely and enormous. We ended the evening by sharing a 64% Manjari chocolate fondant, pecan and maple syrup ice cream.

Clicquot Display Before Entering 5th Floor Restaurant

Day 8 – The British Museum. Definitely a must-see destination. We spent most of our last day here exploring all of the ancient treasures. For lunch we dined at the sky-lit restaurant. We ordered a Cotes du Rhone, Watercress and Nettle Cream Soup, Lemon Butter Linguini with Radicchio and Parmesan, and Venison Curry (special) with Rice. All good, but the Venison Curry was phenomenal!

Venison Curry

Late in the afternoon we left the museum and wandered Oxford Street. We had decided to try Spanish tapas near our temporary neighborhood for our last night at a place called El Pirata Detapas. We arrived and all of the tables were full. The host apologized and offered us a table in the basement. We had made no reservations and readily said yes. He was so apologetic we thought saying yes might have been a mistake. But no, it was quiet before other reservationless diners arrived and it gave us a wonderful view of Pata Negra – the real stuff not available in the States. Alas, it cost a pretty pence, thus, we did not partake. We ordered a bottle of Spanish red - altun reserva 2003, tempranillo, Rioja. And then we tackled the menu - bread & aioli, mixed leaf; manchego cheese, pine nut & beetroot; selection of iberian cured meats; prawns in olive oil, garlic & chilli; six hours roasted pork belly, red wine pear & parsnip puree; fried new potatoes with mojo picon sauce. We loved all of it except the potatoes. And we just did not like the sauce for the potatoes. Others would find it wonderful. Great flavors and a great waiter from Spain. We did not want the evening to end and ordered Courvoisier and coffee as well as vanilla ice cream & PX (Pedro Ximénez) sherry. A wonderful dining experience to cap off our brilliantly massive experience.

Pata Negra

Day 9 – Before heading to Heathrow, we grabbed pastries and coffees at Patisserie Valerie and plopped down on a bench in Kensington Gardens to admire the free range dogs one last time.

Cheerio!

10 Things I Learned in London

2009-05-21T18:57:00.004-04:00

My hubby and I travelled to London and had a massive time. While tootling around I learned a few things:

1. Otard cognac is heavenly.

2. The churches charge admission and the museums are free.

3. Kent makes a sparking wine that is decent to imbibe.

4. I was able to cross the street without getting run over.

5. I never had to wait more than 5 minutes for a train in any Tube station.

6. The color of mushy peas is neon green.

7. A rocket salad is really an arugula salad (and quite tasty!).

8. French restaurants around the theatre district have questionable food, but delicious wine and spirits.

9. Almost all of the pubs feature the same food menu.

10. The Victoria and Albert Museum sports the grandest-looking cafeteria I have ever seen.

More to come...

Krispy Kreme and Herbs Galore

2009-04-26T09:28:00.005-04:00

Before embarking to Maymont for Herbs Galore we breakfasted (or sugared up) at the sign of the double K. I love this place! Watching the doughy blobs converyer belt their way through proofing, rising, frying, and glazing continues to fascinate my wee brain. And then the hot fried goodness encased in way too sweet icing is killer (sadly, in more ways than one). My hubby also likes the apple-cinamon filled confections. Somehow given a choice between a hot or cold doughnut, I will choose the hot one every time. Yummy, yummy!

And then we picked up a few herbs at Maymont including a flight of thyme - orange blosson, lime, and lemon -

barbeque rosemary -

purple ruffled basil -

Valentino basil -

Six Burner Experience

2009-04-25T11:20:00.003-04:00

We visited Six Burner this past week. To our delight Carol Covell greeted us with her lovely jazz vocals. We occupied the last available table and settled in to eat at one of our favorite spots. We chose our wine - Cabernet, 06, Wall Cellars, Napa, CA, $32. Full-bodied and lovely to drink. We then ordered a $3 snack of Shrimp Hushpuppies. These were extremely dense, lacking either salt or sugar, and not a shrimp was in sight. A bit disappointing compared to the food generally served. We will not order these again.

For entrees we ordered jumbo lump crab cakes, creamy polenta, pickled slaw, corn sauce, $25 and rockfish, salsify puree, baby bok choy, trumpet mushrooms, miso broth, $23. Once again the crab cakes seemed a bit bland, but the polenta and the pickled slaw were fantastic. These items were meant to be eaten together - the sum turned out to be definitely more than just the addition of the parts. Let's call it food synergy and leave it at that. The rockfish had an incredibly flavorful and crispy pan sear. The bok choy and salsify increased the dining satisfaction.

We finished with Rostov's coffee. Mmmm!

Slightly Out of the Ordinary Burgers

2009-04-19T16:44:00.000-04:00

Slightly Out of the Ordinary Burgers

With the arrival of warmer weather eating outside and grilling are at the forefront. We grilled these tasty burgers over the weekend.

1 lb. lean ground beef
¼ cup onion, minced
1 tablespoon capers, chopped
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
Fresh ground pepper, to taste
Salt, to taste
4 slices of cheese
4 strips of bacon, cooked

Place beef, onion, capers, oregano, vinegar, pepper, and salt in medium bowl. Using your hands, mix the ingredients until fully incorporated throughout the meat. Set in the refrigerator for about an hour. Divide the mixture into four patties. Grill over charcoal grill to desired doneness. Add slice of cheese right before pulling off of the grill, letting the cheese melt slightly. Place burger on buns and top with bacon.

I used capers stored in salt instead of vinegar and added some Hawaiian Kilauea salt to the mixture. My cheese of choice was smoked provolone.