Functional Art on the Terzo Piano Terrace

With an understated elegance and a clean, neutral palette, Terzo Piano gives new meaning to the idea of beautiful dining.  Located in the new modern wing of the Art Institute of Chicago,  the restaurant offers upscale cuisine with a stylish twist.   Boasting huge glass picture windows,  chic, geometric chairs and tables accented with subtle shades of  white, taupe and silver, Terzo Piano reflects the style and sophistication of its modern Italian menu.  If its warm enough, a table on  the terrace with a sweeping vista of Millennium Park supplies the ultimate setting for a lovely meal.

Focused on organic, local and sustainable food, the menu provides both healthy and innovative dishes. On a recent visit for my mother’s birthday, I sampled the roasted pepper frittata on brioche  with house made lemon ricotta, accompanied by a zesty mesclun salad. All the flavors were fresh and well seasoned. My mother opted for the  Uno, Due, Tre burgers, a creative assortment of lamb. shrimp and  beef mini burgers served with house made fries. My mom was pleased, especially with the perfectly cooked lamb burger. The portions aren’t big but sized more for a light, rather than belt-loosening lunch. The seasonal  dinner menu includes mussel and shrimp stew, hangar steak and hand-crafted butternut squash ravioli.  Prices swing toward the high end, with main course lunch ranging from $16-$24 and $45 deal  for a three course dinner.

Uno, Due, Tre burgers at Terzo Piano

Terzo Piano

159 E. Monroe

Chicago, IL  60603

(312) 443-8650

Photos by Rosalind Cummings-Yeates

Look! A round chimichanga

It took me less than 24 hours to find the weak spot in iPhone’s GPS app,  Co-Pilot.

Sure, it could tell me there was a Mexican restaurant in Kennesaw, Georgia. It could talk me there turn-by-turn off the interstate. But it couldn’t give me a clue as to whether this was the same-old authentic menu I’m heartily sick of seeing in Mexican restaurants. (Pssst, Uptake: we need an iPhone app!)

So my husband and I cautiously followed Lee’s disembodied voice to Los Reyes Mexican Restaurant and sat in the parking lot a few minutes assessing the situation. We finally agreed it looked more like a steakhouse from the outside, so odds were good we had stumbled on an original instead of an authentic.

We were greeted with a colorful interior complimented by sombreros nailed the wall (ought-oh … sure sign of THAT menu) but with big-screen TVs tuned to ESPN scattered around, and clowns and magicians walking among the tables to entertain the kids. The signboard announced open mic hours, so perhaps we were safe after all.

What the hell. We asked for a table for two.

Looking good

After that mutual decision, our opinions on the next 45 minutes diverge wildly. My husband — who has the memory capacity of a dandelion puff — swears it was a new-to-us menu because he saw salmon dishes. I’m telling you it was our authentic menu with the numbers scrambled from their usual order. They even had the same pictures. But it’s a moot point because the recipes may have been the same, but the interpretation was much different. Take, for instance, the salsa.

Tabasco = good memories

Last decade, my brother lived with us and the power of siblings was far greater than the pull of adulthood. We would get silly in the middle of the night by breaking out the blender, filling it with Chi-Chi’s salsa, jalapenos, pepper from the shaker and Tabasco sauce. We’d then set this pureed nightmare on the floor next to a glass of water and a bowl of chips. First one to reach for the water lost.

Los Reyes’ salsa brought back those fond memories. I only wished I’d had a cold that night because I’m sure I would have appreciated the help opening my sinuses.

On the other hand, my steak burrito was a great piece of beef surrounded by wonderful refried beans and wrapped in soft tortilla …  ruined by someone pouring tomato soup over the top of it. My husband thought the chimichanga was just fine, in between his continued protests that we were NOT stuck in an ordering deja vu loop. It was round instead of oblong, I’ll give you that.

And then the bill arrived, chock-full of delightful mistakes like “Los Reyes Mexicane Cuisine” and “please pay At the server” with a gratuity guideline printed at the bottom. So I ask you: authentic or original?

Los Reyes Mexican Cuisine

126 N. Morningside Dr.

Cartersville, GA 30120

(770) 387-0406

Photography: Julie Sturgeon , nromagna (Flickr)

Stella's Dining Room

As a food junkie, I can be very particular about the restaurants I frequent and the type of food I order. For example, I never order seafood unless I’m at the beach, I only order pasta at an Italian restaurant and I’ve never ordered a pizza from a convenience store. However, recently I had to compromise on one of my peeves, as I visited a low country seafood restaurant in Upstate South Carolina called Stella’s Southern Bistro. After I continually heard rave reviews about the Charleston-style restaurant, I finally visited the Greenville restaurant for dinner.

Although they serve lunch, Stella’s is most popular for their dinner menu. At dinner, the Greenville restaurant dims their lights to give it a more romantic ambiance. If you’re visiting on a weekday night, you usually won’t have a problem sitting right down, however, you’ll want to make a reservation on Saturday or Sunday night. Once inside, you’ll find a small bar that is great for watching college football and enjoying a drink while you wait for your table. The rest of the restaurant includes the primary dining area that includes both tables and booths and a private dining area, which can be used for corporate events or wedding rehearsals.

Unlike the nature of many restaurants, especially in the United States, Stella’s Southern Bistro focuses on providing unique dining experiences for guests. From the time you’re greeted until the time you walk through the doors, the staff shows special attention to each guest, making it more like a dining experience and less like a quick meal. Although I don’t always start out with an appetizer, I decided that I couldn’t pass up on some of the starter dishes that sounded so good and which weren’t offered at other Greenville local restaurants. The sampler is the best choice, as it offers a small offering of Stella’s favorite appetizers, including pimiento cheese, fried green tomatoes and pickled okra.

Stella’s dinner menu changes seasonally, but offers many seafood favorites, as well as items that are special to the low country of South Carolina. When it comes to Stella’s main dishes, you can’t go wrong with the crab cakes or shrimp and grits. On special evenings, Stella’s offers a crab cake and shrimp and grits combination platter that offers the best of both worlds. A couple dishes unique to the Greenville restaurant is the Roast Stuffed Carolina Quail and the Honey Ginger Glazed Duck Breast.

Seafood plate at Stella's Southern Bistro

You really can’t go wrong with anything you order. I recommend giving yourself at least an hour and a half, if not two hours, to get the full experience at Stella’s. Take your time at this gem of a Greenville restaurant by indulging in their appetizer, dessert and wine menu. You may need to be carted away at the end of your meal because you’ve eaten too much and you’ll probably need to do double your exercise routine, but it’ll be more than worth it.

Stella’s Southern Bistro
684-C Fairview Road
Simpsonville, SC 29680
(864) 757-1212

Photos courtesy of Stella’s.

I could make them myself – I have a great recipe.  An incredible and authentic recipe.  But as it is with anything, making good enchiladas from scratch is a seriously time-intensive activity.  Between the chopping, the layering and the baking, you’re looking at a few hours work.  And to make my favorite enchilada sauce (canned just won’t do)?  Well, once you blend together the cream, lemon and spices, it’s best to let the sauce sit overnight in the fridge and hope that you can stand the wait.

I can’t wait that long.  On a day like today, I shouldn’t have to wait that long.  I want enchiladas now.

If I were back in Decatur, Georgia, I could get some enchiladas and right quick at that.  I could simply head down to Taqueria del Sol and get in line.  I wouldn’t have to wait that long for my fix.  Despite there always being a queue at the door (TSL is an order at the cash register and then find a table kind of joint), it moves fairly quickly.  And then I could feast on some fantastic chicken enchiladas in a lemon cream sauce that would simultaneously fill and warm me up.

But instead, I will have to settle for dreaming.  Or else get to cooking – perhaps a little pepper and cilantro chopping would take the chill off.

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Taqueria del Sol
359 West Ponce de Leon
Decatur, GA 30030
Tel:  404.377.7668

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Photo courtesy of erin.kkr.

One of the best things about Germany is the concept of the gasthaus, or guest house.  These small restaurant/hotels litter the countryside here in Deutschland and I haven’t been in a bad one yet.

The guest house is a little hard to describe.  One probably instantly thinks of something like a small hotel.  But really, gasthaeuser are almost a combination of the common British pub, a small country bed and breakfast and a cafe/restaurant.  The townsfolk usually head to their local for a pint or two of bier after a long day.  Germans afflicted with wanderlust stay in small guest houses as they travel the countryside.  And, of course, if you want a good, hearty German meal, they are a great bet, too.

Guest houses operate under the assumption that the patron is a guest – and whatever needs to be done, a guest should be made to feel at home.

My village of Bedesbach has an excellent example of the guesthouse – the Gasthaus Born.  Owned and operated by the Born family for decades, they truly make every person who walks through the door feel welcome.  They have a few rooms for overnight guests but most people in our neck of the woods come to Gasthaus Born to enjoy a drink or a meal in peace.

And I’m not kidding about the peace bit.  See the photo above.  That would be my son deciding to rest his weary body on the floor while my husband and I were trying to finish our meal (a cordon bleu schnitzel for him, some schweinemedallions in a wine sauce for me – both super yummy). We were about to get up and leave half our food and most of our drinks – the equivalent of a crime in Germany – to take him home to his bed.  But instead, Frau Born, the gasthaus matriarch, shooed us back to our seats, put a pillow under Chet’s head and brought us another round.  I don’t think you can be made to feel any more at home than that.

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Gasthaus Born
Ringstrasse 14
66885 Bedesbach
Germany
Tel:  (49) 06381 3137

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Photo courtesy of Kayt Sukel.

Zaxby's serves unusual sides

Here’s an odd confession for you: I’ve always wanted to stop at a Zaxby’s. And if I had a self-preserving bone in my body, I’d say it’s because I once interviewed their executives for an article about improving drive-thru times and was impressed with their knowledge and friendliness.

But no. It’s because I am attracted to the name Zaxby. It reminds me of the coolest signature in Congress, Senator Saxby Chambliss. Say it a few times, let it roll off your tongue, try out a few foreign accents with it. Suddenly, you’re in the mood to call up the queen mum for tea and crumpets, aren’t you?

Which has nothing to do with the cartoon rooster logo at this fast-casual chicken chain, but I thought I should try to explain the quirkiness that made me pull the SUV into their parking lot somewhere along I-75 in Lake City, Florida. It’s OK … my husband didn’t quite follow the logic, either.

But he did appreciate the poster of John Wayne hanging in the entrance lobby when we walked in. He may not get me on the Saxby Chambliss thing, but he does hero worship John Wayne, so at this point, the restaurant was earning two thumbs up from us and we hadn’t even seen the menu.

Zaxby's attracts a range of diners

That turned out to be surprise #2. I kinda figured they had fried chicken and French fries on the menu, but the stereotypical sides of beans and rice or corn on the cob were MIA. Instead, they had celery sticks, Texas garlic toast and cheese bites (a.k.a. mozzarella sticks as we know them back home). The decor was a cross between the humor of  a Jimmy John’s and the down-home touches of a country western steakhouse.

I was in love, and they hadn’t even fried my chicken fingers order yet. They came out moist, plump and well worth the $5.49 price tag. My husband, once he tore his gaze away from the Duke, said he’d order the wings again, too. High praise coming from a man who thinks Hooters is the end all, be all of the wing industry.

The register receipt says Zaxby’s mission is to “consistently create encore experiences that enrich lives one person at a time.”  Well, that might be a bit lofty goal for a counter-service restaurant, but darned if they didn’t give us something to smile about for the next few hours. It was definitely more comfortable than tea with royalty –  and something tells me even Mr. Zaxby … I mean, Saxby, Chambliss would agree.

Zaxby’s

2640 US Highway 90 West

Lake City, Florida 32055

(386) 755-6770

Photography: Julie Sturgeon

Black Angus, wow that’s a blast from the past. We used to go there when I was a kid. We even went there the night I graduated from high-school. Our friends always made fun of us because we called it Stuart Anderson’s like we knew him or something.

The reason we went back this time was for a solid meal after being in the hospital all day at my dad’s bedside. We needed a meal we felt was going to sustain us and this was the place to go.

My mom got the Prime Rib, med rare, because that’s how she rolls. I tried the New York strip, because I don’t like prime rib at all; it’s way too fatty for me.

It seems like the prices are a little steep, but then it’s a lot of food. The New York Strip is $21.99, but that includes 2 sides. The sides to choose from are two types of salad, three kids of potatoes, soup and sweet potato fries.  There is also veggies and stuff, but I didn’t order any so I can’t remember what they are.

The Prime Rib comes in 3 different weights, 1/2, 3/4 and 1 pound slabs. My mom said it was delicious. Though she’s had better, it was still pretty darn good.

The New York Strip is well flavored and was cooked to the right temperature 2 out of 3 times.

Yes, we’ve eaten there at least 3 maybe 4 times in the past month, probably more. Honestly, we’ll probably eat there again before this visit is done and gladly so.

Stuart Anderson’s Black Angus

44690 Valley Central Way
Lancaster, Ca 93534

(661)-942-5225

Photo 1, 2

Turkey Day!

There are lots of reasons you might not eat a home-cooked Thanksgiving meal. Here are a couple I can think of off the top of my head:
1. You aren’t able to make it home to family
2. You burned your home-cooked meal
3. You hate the idea of cooking for a large group of people
4. You had a traumatic experience with a turkey in your childhood and so hate the Thanksgiving meal

Regardless of your reason, feel fortunate that you live in the Bay Area where plenty of restaurants are remaining open to fix you the traditional feast you are missing at home or to bring you sumptuous fair with nary a bit of turkey, cranberry or stuffing in sight.

OpenTable is a great resource for seeing which restaurants are open and whether they are serving a traditional meal or not. Here are a couple that caught my eye:

Home Restaurant and Bar: This place is known for tasty comfort food, so my guess is they will tackle a Thankgsiving feast “like mama used to” with ease. Located on Market in San Francisco’s Castro, they are serving up a 3-Course menu for $40/adult and $20/child.

The Girl and the Fig: Sonoma is such a lovely setting in November and the Girl and The Fig is my favorite restaurant in the area. Plus, Bon Appétit names them one of their Top Ten Thanksgiving Restaurants! They are serving a 3-course menu with optional wine pairing at $50/adult and $20/kid.

Ame: Okay, so I haven’t been here. But, they are just serving their regular menu and get great reviews on Yelp. So, it could be perfect for those of you who have had traumatic turkey experiences and prefer sake and miso to tryptophan. They are located in the St. Regis hotel in San Francisco’s SOMA district.

If you are eating out for Thanksgiving then make your reservation soon! Have a happy holiday…gobble gobble!

Photos Credits to: Alison Osborne (big-ass wild turkey I came across in Guatemala)

Homemade pasta makes your mouth water

It’s a sad fact of life: My husband will never be as crazy about an escape to Hollywood, Florida, as I am. The second he stepped off the plane, he began sweating — and then he walked outside to meet me pulling up to the curb. He opened the door, threw his bag in the back seat and started right in on the topic nearest and dearest to his heart.

“I forgot about the damn humidity down here.” Hi to you, too, honey.

Pre-vacation he talked about sitting under a beach umbrella with me (as long as he was wearing his t-shirt and slathered in Bullfrog sunscreen, of course), listening to my iPod beach tunes and reading a book. After he arrived, he hung out in the bedroom at the Manta Ray Inn, right underneath the air conditioning unit, with said book. I was shocked when he actually ventured out onto the sand while the sun was still in the sky to bring me a bottle of water from the fridge on the last day.

But at 5 p.m. every night, he did a Jekyll and Hyde turn-around. There’s nothing like dinner to change my man’s attitude for the better — and I’m well-endowed with a list of restaurants to tempt him even further into a good mood.

My most successful recommendation: Mama Mia Italian Ristorante.

He wasn’t impressed when we first walked into the linen tablecloth atmosphere — perhaps he felt underdressed in his shorts and hiking sandals, but I’m more willing to bet he was calculating how to get out of there in time to shoot over to the AT&T store to buy an iPhone, since I’d caved a few hours before on our onging discussion. He certainly didn’t take my hint when I told him he’d be all kinds of sorry for ordering the salad appetizer instead of the pasta fagioli. He was only mildly impressed with the soft garlic rolls that appeared in the middle of our table, which was fine with me.

Garlic and my husband is a stinky combination.

Picture perfect lasagna

But he sure focused the second the waiter set that steaming bowl of soup in front of me and I began whimpering in delight. Any whimpering at the table (unless it involves black beans, which he has learned to tune out) is like a four-alarm bell for this man to gravitate his spoon my way. He declared it the best pasta fagioli he’d ever tasted (all two bowls he’s had in his lifetime) and then tried to talk me into sharing.

Ha. Ha. Eat your salad.

So he was primed and waiting for the homemade lasagna to arrive, when he began to do some whimpering of his own. Halfway through the meal, he even grabbed a forkful of my dish — cheese ravioli tossed in a truffle butter sauce, a rich combination he previously always wrinkled his nose at — and declared Mama Mia one of the best Italian restaurants he’d ever visited.

So imagine his curiosity when I casually mentioned another upscale Italian restaurant on the beach I’d discovered earlier this year. “I just can’t decide which is better,” I sighed. Unfortunately, we were on our last evening in Hollywood, so he’ll have to return for a comparison. The sun, sand and ocean may not be his big draw, but for homemade pasta, he’ll gladly endure that damn humidity.

Beautiful -- but it's not Mama Mia's pasta

Mama Mia Italian Ristorante
www.miagrill.com
1818 S. Young Circle
Hollywood, Florida 33020
(954) 923-0555

Photography: Julie Sturgeon