Mr. M and I met another couple at Little Ollie's in Cherry Creek for dinner last night. Having lived in Denver for 5 years, I had never patronized this restaurant, though it has always received good reviews. I guess I'd always lumped it in the category containing the likes of P.F. Chang's - just a gussied-up version of Panda Express or the Super China Buffet. I imagined sweet and sour pork, bright pink and dripping with a sticky, cloyingly sweet syrup. General Tso's chicken, with a half-inch layer of spongy batter clinging to the meat. Fried wontons and egg rolls, the likes of which would never be seen in an Asian country. I always maintained that I could get real Chinese food that is twice as good and half the price over on the west side of town off Federal, so why should I pay so much for the privilege of eating Chinese food in Cherry Creek?
But, seeing as how friends are more important than my personal Chinese-food prejudices and snobbery, we arrived at Little Ollie's with only a surprisingly short tirade about the above dying on my lips.
We were immediately seated (on a Saturday night at 7pm) at a table in the outer dining room area. The large windows were all open, giving it a feel of an outdoor patio. The evening was beautiful and cool, and we enjoyed the blooming flower boxes hanging outside right next to the table. While we were perusing the menu, Mr. M reminisced to our companions his introduction (upon marrying me) to REAL Chinese food, chicken feet and all, which I'm sure much improved the appetites of our dining companions. Good times, good times.
We split 3 entrees between the 4 of us - the Yushan beef, vegetable lo-mein, and Ollie's shrimp. The first two were okay - nothing terrible but nothing terrific or memorable, the beef beating out the noodles by a hair. The third, however, was surprisingly good and made me rethink a few of my ingrained-from-birth tendencies to avoid these places like the plague. It was an excellent combination of flavors and also artfully arranged. Even better was that we ran just a little over $10 per person for the food. Not bad for Cherry Creek, especially for a table in the pleasant outer dining area, and very good for our new pocketbook-conscious goals.
I don't know if I'll ever really develop a taste for this new genre of food. I can't really call it Chinese, but I could call it "Chinese for the broader palate." It seems quite popular, as Ollie's and PF Chang's seem packed every night. For me, it will always be a completely separate entity from the food I truly love, but at least I think I'm beginning to appreciate it for what it is.
Bottom line: Good atmosphere and relatively inexpensive for its neighborhood. Food overall just okay, but some dishes at Little Ollie's may just surprise us.
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Zucchini, Zucchini, Zucchini
At this point, I don't know what to do about my zucchini plant. I turn my back for a day or two, and all of a sudden I have enough zucchini to fill the bed of a pickup truck. What to do, what to do...
My beloved sister, knowing my plight, emailed me this fantastic zucchini bread recipe as soon as she saw it. It's not your typical zucchini bread - I was drooling just reading the list of ingredients that included crystallized ginger, poppy seeds, and curry powder, of all things! I made a batch today, adjusting it a little for altitude (less sugar, less leavening, higher temp, more liquid), and baking them in my new silicone bread pans. The result was fantastic - much more interesting and unique than your typical zucchini bread. Would definitely make this again, and might soon given my overly fertile zucchini plant.
I also made a chocolate zucchini cake, which was good also. Very moist. Nothing earth-shattering, but definitely a good way to use up some extra zucchini.
I fed both to friends, coworkers, and Mr. M with good response. My only complaint is that I still have too much zucchini!!!!
My beloved sister, knowing my plight, emailed me this fantastic zucchini bread recipe as soon as she saw it. It's not your typical zucchini bread - I was drooling just reading the list of ingredients that included crystallized ginger, poppy seeds, and curry powder, of all things! I made a batch today, adjusting it a little for altitude (less sugar, less leavening, higher temp, more liquid), and baking them in my new silicone bread pans. The result was fantastic - much more interesting and unique than your typical zucchini bread. Would definitely make this again, and might soon given my overly fertile zucchini plant.
I also made a chocolate zucchini cake, which was good also. Very moist. Nothing earth-shattering, but definitely a good way to use up some extra zucchini.
I fed both to friends, coworkers, and Mr. M with good response. My only complaint is that I still have too much zucchini!!!!
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Addendum - Jerk Chicken Pasta
A follow-up to my July 19th post about jerk chicken:
I made another batch with my leftover marinade from the other day, sending Mr. M out to grill the chicken. I asked him to bring back the marinade after he got the meat on the grill.
I sauteed some sweet onions until caramelized, then added some sliced red bell pepper. To this I added the leftover marinade and simmered for awhile before adding a smidge (okay, a bit more than a smidge) of heavy cream that I had leftover from all my ice-cream making exploits. I sliced the grilled chicken breast and layered it with the sauce over whole wheat pasta. Quick, easy, and very good, especially with a full-bodied white wine...
I made another batch with my leftover marinade from the other day, sending Mr. M out to grill the chicken. I asked him to bring back the marinade after he got the meat on the grill.
I sauteed some sweet onions until caramelized, then added some sliced red bell pepper. To this I added the leftover marinade and simmered for awhile before adding a smidge (okay, a bit more than a smidge) of heavy cream that I had leftover from all my ice-cream making exploits. I sliced the grilled chicken breast and layered it with the sauce over whole wheat pasta. Quick, easy, and very good, especially with a full-bodied white wine...
Car-camping cooking
Mr. M and I decided to take a 4 day weekend and enjoy some of the best that Colorado's got to offer. As you might gather, summer is my favorite season here, and the mountains in the summer is the stuff of dreams.
We decided to camp at a tiny campground (10 sites) called Lost Lake off of Kebler Pass near Crested Butte. We arrived around noon on Friday, taking the next-to-last spot for the weekend. The campground is adjacent to Lost Lake Slough, and it's one of the prettiest picturesque spots around. The size of the campground also means it's nice and quiet, essential for enjoying the lake and the surrounding conifer and aspen forest. As it was just the week after the Crested Butte Wildflower festival, the blooms still blanketed the alpine meadows. And by night, you would never imagine the sky having so many stars.
I've lived in CO for a good many years but still haven't been backpacking - only car camping. Besides having to dig your own toilet, a task which I am keen to avoid, I also have no desire to eat freeze-dried beef stroganoff paired with vintage giardia-laden stream water for dinner. Because when we camp, I refuse to suffer culinary or alcoholic deprivation. Why ruin a perfect setting with a less-than-perfect meal?
One of our favorite things to cook is, of course, chili. We have a large iron skillet that we heat directly on the grate over the blazing campfires that Mr. M so skillfully creates. It's nothing fancy - chopped onions, ground beef, canned kidney beans, canned corn, tomatoes - but the mountain air and smoky campfire must be the secret ingredient, because nothing ever tastes so good. And though we drink ice-cold Corona that's been chilling in the cooler while we set up camp in the warm afternoon, our chili dinner is accompanied by a big flavorful Italian red - sooo good as the evenings turn crisp and cool. Who ever said camping was "roughin' it"? It doesn't have to be!
On another note, if you ever camp here, you can take a short 3-mile loop around the lake (Three Lakes Trail) and see such vistas as these:
We decided to camp at a tiny campground (10 sites) called Lost Lake off of Kebler Pass near Crested Butte. We arrived around noon on Friday, taking the next-to-last spot for the weekend. The campground is adjacent to Lost Lake Slough, and it's one of the prettiest picturesque spots around. The size of the campground also means it's nice and quiet, essential for enjoying the lake and the surrounding conifer and aspen forest. As it was just the week after the Crested Butte Wildflower festival, the blooms still blanketed the alpine meadows. And by night, you would never imagine the sky having so many stars.
I've lived in CO for a good many years but still haven't been backpacking - only car camping. Besides having to dig your own toilet, a task which I am keen to avoid, I also have no desire to eat freeze-dried beef stroganoff paired with vintage giardia-laden stream water for dinner. Because when we camp, I refuse to suffer culinary or alcoholic deprivation. Why ruin a perfect setting with a less-than-perfect meal?
One of our favorite things to cook is, of course, chili. We have a large iron skillet that we heat directly on the grate over the blazing campfires that Mr. M so skillfully creates. It's nothing fancy - chopped onions, ground beef, canned kidney beans, canned corn, tomatoes - but the mountain air and smoky campfire must be the secret ingredient, because nothing ever tastes so good. And though we drink ice-cold Corona that's been chilling in the cooler while we set up camp in the warm afternoon, our chili dinner is accompanied by a big flavorful Italian red - sooo good as the evenings turn crisp and cool. Who ever said camping was "roughin' it"? It doesn't have to be!
On another note, if you ever camp here, you can take a short 3-mile loop around the lake (Three Lakes Trail) and see such vistas as these:
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Jerk Chicken Salad
Walking down Platte a few months ago after a particularly large pie at Proto's, my nose led me to a non-descript storefront a few doors down. Intriguing and tantalizing aromas wafted out the door as a steady stream of customers came and went. Peering curiously in the screen door of the establishment, I watched and listened as people smelled, tasted, and discussed the contents of the hundreds of glass jars on shelves lining the walls. I had discovered Savory Spice Shop.
Savory Spice Shop grinds their spices fresh each week, you can smell/taste anything you want before you buy it (you get to try a lot of new things too - like yummy grains of paradise!), and you can buy as little as you need for any given recipe. The conventional wisdom says that your entire spice cabinet should be thrown out and replaced yearly to maintain the flavors. Embarrassing to admit, but I have some rarely used spices in the back of the cupboard that I've had for ages. All that to say, I appreciate that I can buy small amounts of freshly ground or whole spices - just what I need so that they don't collect dust while taking up space in my kitchen.
The other great thing about the Savory Spice Shop is all of the seasoning blends that they have compiled and offer for sale. There are a plethora of dry rubs, seasonings, dressings, marinades - even some flavored cheese sprinkles (I know, sounds gross, but tastes good!) for tossing over popcorn. These are reasonably priced, and again - you can smell and taste to your heart's content - there are tons of them. The staff are enthusiastic and knowledgeable, and they'll tell you how to use what you buy if you need a tip. These mixes make cooking super quick and easy, which is nice for us busy folk.
On a recent trip to the shop, I got to talking with one of the employees about the Jamaican Jerk Seasoning (I love spicy food); she was raving about it! I took the jar off the shelf, unscrewed the lid, and leaned in for a whiff. Too late, the employee warned me just to take a gentle sniff. Instead, I got 2 lungfuls of airborne Habanero pepper that caused my respiratory system to rebel. From the label:
When I recovered from my sneezing/coughing fit, I took another gentle whiff. It smelled soooo good. I bought a small bag, which conveniently came with the recipe for the marinade:
Supposedly, it is good for chicken, pork, shrimp, ribs, or steak. I went for the classic and used chicken breast, which I put into the marinade first thing in the morning. That evening, I grilled them outside, the surface caramelizing into little bits of rich, yummy goodness, the inside remaining juicy and tender. I sliced and served them over salad greens with a plain vinaigrette, my favorite part being the little end bits that were slightly charred and where the flavor was concentrated. Dinner was ready in less than 15 minutes. Healthy, fast, and packed full of heat and flavor. I might put the leftovers on a sandwich, or over pasta. Hell, it's even good eaten with fingers right out of the fridge.
Maybe I'll be forced to go to Jamaica now to see if my version is authentic. You gotta do what you gotta do, you know.
Savory Spice Shop grinds their spices fresh each week, you can smell/taste anything you want before you buy it (you get to try a lot of new things too - like yummy grains of paradise!), and you can buy as little as you need for any given recipe. The conventional wisdom says that your entire spice cabinet should be thrown out and replaced yearly to maintain the flavors. Embarrassing to admit, but I have some rarely used spices in the back of the cupboard that I've had for ages. All that to say, I appreciate that I can buy small amounts of freshly ground or whole spices - just what I need so that they don't collect dust while taking up space in my kitchen.
The other great thing about the Savory Spice Shop is all of the seasoning blends that they have compiled and offer for sale. There are a plethora of dry rubs, seasonings, dressings, marinades - even some flavored cheese sprinkles (I know, sounds gross, but tastes good!) for tossing over popcorn. These are reasonably priced, and again - you can smell and taste to your heart's content - there are tons of them. The staff are enthusiastic and knowledgeable, and they'll tell you how to use what you buy if you need a tip. These mixes make cooking super quick and easy, which is nice for us busy folk.
On a recent trip to the shop, I got to talking with one of the employees about the Jamaican Jerk Seasoning (I love spicy food); she was raving about it! I took the jar off the shelf, unscrewed the lid, and leaned in for a whiff. Too late, the employee warned me just to take a gentle sniff. Instead, I got 2 lungfuls of airborne Habanero pepper that caused my respiratory system to rebel. From the label:
We meticulously hand mix this spicy blend from toasted minced onion, salt, garlic, sugar, allspice, thyme, chives, black pepper, nutmeg, Saigon cinnamon, sage and habanero. Please note that the ground habanero chiles in this blend register around 250,000 scoville heat units, which is 10 times hotter than a jalapeno. This is why we only put 3/4 of an ounce into our 13 1/2 lb. batch!
When I recovered from my sneezing/coughing fit, I took another gentle whiff. It smelled soooo good. I bought a small bag, which conveniently came with the recipe for the marinade:
To serve 4 to 6; mix 6-9 tbsp. jerk spice with 3 tbsp. olive oil, 3 tbsp. soy sauce, 6 tbsp cider vinegar, 6 tbsp. orange juice and 4 tbsp. lime juice. Pour over your meat of choice and marinate 4 to 12 hours. (Makes enough for 2-3 lbs. of meat.) For a spicier version, use more jerk spice with the same amount of liquids. If you’re in a time crunch, skip the marinating process and just brush the liquid mixture on and grill. It will still be great, but nothing will beat marinating overnight.
Supposedly, it is good for chicken, pork, shrimp, ribs, or steak. I went for the classic and used chicken breast, which I put into the marinade first thing in the morning. That evening, I grilled them outside, the surface caramelizing into little bits of rich, yummy goodness, the inside remaining juicy and tender. I sliced and served them over salad greens with a plain vinaigrette, my favorite part being the little end bits that were slightly charred and where the flavor was concentrated. Dinner was ready in less than 15 minutes. Healthy, fast, and packed full of heat and flavor. I might put the leftovers on a sandwich, or over pasta. Hell, it's even good eaten with fingers right out of the fridge.
Maybe I'll be forced to go to Jamaica now to see if my version is authentic. You gotta do what you gotta do, you know.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
A bend in the road
Mr. M and I decided to take a close look at our finances last night. Never a good idea. As you might gather from our recent travel and eating extravaganzas, we were not exactly following the budget that we had proposed a year ago.
We have also experienced a significant amount of spontaneous clothes shrinking in our house lately, especially of waistbands. (What's up with that? Are your clothes doing that too, or is it just us?)
In light of these two dilemmas (as well as the fact that we would like to properly furnish our house that we moved into over a year ago), we have made a commitment to curb our out-of-control spending habits and quit eating out 8 times a week. A serious commitment for a food-lover such as myself. Can I do it? Only time will tell. But in the meantime, you may see more recipes than restaurant reviews on this site. I'll let you know how it goes. If I start to slip, it's up to you to save me...
We have also experienced a significant amount of spontaneous clothes shrinking in our house lately, especially of waistbands. (What's up with that? Are your clothes doing that too, or is it just us?)
In light of these two dilemmas (as well as the fact that we would like to properly furnish our house that we moved into over a year ago), we have made a commitment to curb our out-of-control spending habits and quit eating out 8 times a week. A serious commitment for a food-lover such as myself. Can I do it? Only time will tell. But in the meantime, you may see more recipes than restaurant reviews on this site. I'll let you know how it goes. If I start to slip, it's up to you to save me...
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Noodle salad and strawberry ice cream
Tonight, we had tickets to see The Neville Brothers at the Gardens again. I bought a creamy Cambozola cheese for our picnic, then decided to make a cold soba noodle salad. Soba noodles are great - they cook in 4-5 minutes, are good for you, and are great for a picnic.
While I boiled the noodles, I julienned some zucchini from our garden (it's coming out our ears now about this time in the summer), chopped some red bell pepper and red and green onions. I ran the cooked noodles under cold water, then dressed them with a mixture of soy sauce, rice vinegar, sugar, and sesame oil. I added the chopped veggies and put it in the fridge to chill before the picnic, next to the bottle of Chablis (Domaine du Chardonnay) I'd bought a few weeks ago from Little Raven and had been saving.
While at the store that morning, strawberries were on sale, so I bought a whole bunch and decided to make a special treat for Mr. M. He LOVES strawberry ice cream, so I decided to try this Epicurious recipe out with my new ice cream maker. I made up the custard and pureed the strawberries and left them to chill in the fridge while we went to the concert.
We enjoyed our dinner, immensely enjoyed our wine, especially with the accompaniment of some great tunes. When we got home, I put the ice cream in the machine to freeze, and 30 minutes later we were enjoying a very tasty summer treat! After a few hours in the freezer, it was even better, and Mr. M hasn't stopped eating it since. He sneaks a spoonful every time he passes through the kitchen!! The lemon adds a lot to brighten up the flavor of the berries. You might just have to buy an ice cream machine just for this...
While I boiled the noodles, I julienned some zucchini from our garden (it's coming out our ears now about this time in the summer), chopped some red bell pepper and red and green onions. I ran the cooked noodles under cold water, then dressed them with a mixture of soy sauce, rice vinegar, sugar, and sesame oil. I added the chopped veggies and put it in the fridge to chill before the picnic, next to the bottle of Chablis (Domaine du Chardonnay) I'd bought a few weeks ago from Little Raven and had been saving.
While at the store that morning, strawberries were on sale, so I bought a whole bunch and decided to make a special treat for Mr. M. He LOVES strawberry ice cream, so I decided to try this Epicurious recipe out with my new ice cream maker. I made up the custard and pureed the strawberries and left them to chill in the fridge while we went to the concert.
We enjoyed our dinner, immensely enjoyed our wine, especially with the accompaniment of some great tunes. When we got home, I put the ice cream in the machine to freeze, and 30 minutes later we were enjoying a very tasty summer treat! After a few hours in the freezer, it was even better, and Mr. M hasn't stopped eating it since. He sneaks a spoonful every time he passes through the kitchen!! The lemon adds a lot to brighten up the flavor of the berries. You might just have to buy an ice cream machine just for this...
Saturday, July 14, 2007
What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas...(except the extra pounds)
As much as I am in love with Mr. M, sometimes it's really fun to go on a GIRLS vacation. I did something very good for my soul this week and went to Vegas with an old girlfriend of mine. We've lived in different cities for over 6 years now, and it's sometimes many, many months between our visits. We decided to go to Vegas not because we are gamblers (I think we gambled one coin during our visit - can't remember if it was a nickel or a quarter...and we lost!), but mostly because the hotels and flights were affordable and it wasn't that far away. Let me tell you though, the weather in Vegas in July is NOT ideal. Just in case you were wondering. As I was walking up the Strip sightseeing, I kept remembering the views from last weekend's hike in Beaver Creek. A little different from the scenery I was seeing in Vegas, if you can imagine. Where else can you see half-dressed, drunk people carrying around foot-long margaritas stumbling up and down the street? Anyway, here are some pics; I'll only show you the tasteful ones.
We had a great time, exploring the hotels on the Strip while sipping daiquiris, doing some shopping (Ann Taylor, White House Black Market) and window shopping (Jimmy Choo, Manolo Blahnik), sitting by the pool, people watching, and just having some great heart-to-hearts. But yes, you want to hear about the meals!! Okay, okay...
Now, Vegas is famous for having a restaurant by just about every celebrity chef you can think of. You can get any food, especially if you're willing to pay any price. Overall, I found that (good) food costs about twice what I would normally pay. But I definitely had some great eats.
We were staying at the MGM Grand, so the first night we arrived we went to Fiamma (of SoHo fame), in the hotel itself. My friend wasn't that hungry, but somehow I convinced her to share a 3 course meal with me - she'll never trust me again! We started with a Kobe beef arancine appetizer with a tomato coulis...to die for! We had two pastas, both of which were superb - a fusilli with proscuitto and peas in a creamy sauce, and a gnocchi with huge bits of lobster claw meat. Finally, we had a sauteed branzino, very fresh and delicate. I drank a Cortese white wine from Piemonte. Total bill was $160 for the two of us - pricey, but good eats.
The next day, we didn't leave our comfy bed until mid-morning, so it was lunchtime before we were looking for a snack. We walked up to the Paris and went to Mon Ami Gabi, a cute litte French bistro that makes you feel a million miles away from Vegas (in a good way!) We sat inside in the room overlooking the patio and the Strip, and it was a cool, relaxing place for lunch. The waiter recommended the Quiche Lorraine, which was fantastic - creamy, flavorful, with a hint of nutmeg and some caramelized onions - very nice. We split the bananas foster crepe for dessert - some decadent caramel sauce on that baby... Affordable place with great atmosphere.
We were looking to save some cash that night, so we went to Noodles at the Bellagio. I am generally suspicious of Asian noodle houses that sell dishes for $16. I am used to paying about 1/4 of that price. But as a dinner option, it was one of the least expensive places to go. We ordered the spicy thai shrimp noodle soup, which was actually really good! Total comfort food for me - it hit the spot. We split some spicy fried flat rice noodles as well that were pretty good. Overall, very affordable and good food (though you can get the same thing for $4-$5 in any major city). We watched a few "performances" of the Bellagio fountains on our way out, including a dramatic choreograph of "Con Te Partiro" by Andrea Bocelli that had the woman next to me sobbing in tears. Hmm. Weird. But definitely the best free show in Vegas.
The next day, we made it all the way to the Venetian for breakfast (okay, brunch), to partake of Bouchon, a Thomas Keller (of French Laundry fame) restaurant. It too is a classic French bistro located in the Venezia tower - a bit out of the way, and thus quite nice with a more private feel. Breakfast today, we decided, would be sugar. The pastries were amazing - we had a chocolate-almond croissant (with good quality, dark chocolate baked inside and drizzled on top) and a strawberry croissant (excellent, yummy, perfect, divine). My friend had the sourdough waffles, quite good, and I had the french toast. The french toast was more of a dessert than a breakfast - a custardy, rich, bread-pudding of sorts with thinly sliced apples that somehow tasted more "apple-y" than any apples I'd ever had. If I'm ever back in Vegas, I mean to go back for the corned beef hash, which our waiter said was also one of their specialties. Overall affordable and very good.
As we had tickets to see the Cirque du Soleil show "Ka" that evening, we decided to pass over Bartolotta in order to take advantage of the early-bird fixed price menu at none other than Daniel Boulud Brasserie. Boulud's restaurant is located in the Wynn (the nicest hotel on the Strip that I visited), and our table overlooked a beautiful water feature outside. Their three course menu, available before 8pm, is a reasonably priced $48. We drank a nice, plummy Cotes du Rhone. I had a pate appetizer with housemade pickles, which was good, and the DB burger with black truffles, foie gras, and shortribs, which was over-the-top fantastic, bursting with rich, earthy flavors. My friend had the duck confit with lentils. For dessert, we had housemade ice creams, the coffee flavor being my favorite. Would totally go back again.
Before we left the next day, we lunched at 'wichcraft, Tom Colicchio's (of Craft fame) down-to-earth, informal sandwich shop. I had a roasted turkey sandwich (warm) with avocado, bacon, and thick mayo - it was one of the best sandwiches I'd had in a long time. My friend had a cold chicken salad sandwich which she said was a bit disapointingly dry and looked like it had been premade. Stick with the hot sandwiches or paninis - they looked wonderful. Nine bucks seemed steep to pay for just a sandwich, but I suppose it's Vegas after all.
Now I'm home, a few pounds heavier, but with some great memories. Girlfriend - where are we going next??????
We had a great time, exploring the hotels on the Strip while sipping daiquiris, doing some shopping (Ann Taylor, White House Black Market) and window shopping (Jimmy Choo, Manolo Blahnik), sitting by the pool, people watching, and just having some great heart-to-hearts. But yes, you want to hear about the meals!! Okay, okay...
Now, Vegas is famous for having a restaurant by just about every celebrity chef you can think of. You can get any food, especially if you're willing to pay any price. Overall, I found that (good) food costs about twice what I would normally pay. But I definitely had some great eats.
We were staying at the MGM Grand, so the first night we arrived we went to Fiamma (of SoHo fame), in the hotel itself. My friend wasn't that hungry, but somehow I convinced her to share a 3 course meal with me - she'll never trust me again! We started with a Kobe beef arancine appetizer with a tomato coulis...to die for! We had two pastas, both of which were superb - a fusilli with proscuitto and peas in a creamy sauce, and a gnocchi with huge bits of lobster claw meat. Finally, we had a sauteed branzino, very fresh and delicate. I drank a Cortese white wine from Piemonte. Total bill was $160 for the two of us - pricey, but good eats.
The next day, we didn't leave our comfy bed until mid-morning, so it was lunchtime before we were looking for a snack. We walked up to the Paris and went to Mon Ami Gabi, a cute litte French bistro that makes you feel a million miles away from Vegas (in a good way!) We sat inside in the room overlooking the patio and the Strip, and it was a cool, relaxing place for lunch. The waiter recommended the Quiche Lorraine, which was fantastic - creamy, flavorful, with a hint of nutmeg and some caramelized onions - very nice. We split the bananas foster crepe for dessert - some decadent caramel sauce on that baby... Affordable place with great atmosphere.
We were looking to save some cash that night, so we went to Noodles at the Bellagio. I am generally suspicious of Asian noodle houses that sell dishes for $16. I am used to paying about 1/4 of that price. But as a dinner option, it was one of the least expensive places to go. We ordered the spicy thai shrimp noodle soup, which was actually really good! Total comfort food for me - it hit the spot. We split some spicy fried flat rice noodles as well that were pretty good. Overall, very affordable and good food (though you can get the same thing for $4-$5 in any major city). We watched a few "performances" of the Bellagio fountains on our way out, including a dramatic choreograph of "Con Te Partiro" by Andrea Bocelli that had the woman next to me sobbing in tears. Hmm. Weird. But definitely the best free show in Vegas.
The next day, we made it all the way to the Venetian for breakfast (okay, brunch), to partake of Bouchon, a Thomas Keller (of French Laundry fame) restaurant. It too is a classic French bistro located in the Venezia tower - a bit out of the way, and thus quite nice with a more private feel. Breakfast today, we decided, would be sugar. The pastries were amazing - we had a chocolate-almond croissant (with good quality, dark chocolate baked inside and drizzled on top) and a strawberry croissant (excellent, yummy, perfect, divine). My friend had the sourdough waffles, quite good, and I had the french toast. The french toast was more of a dessert than a breakfast - a custardy, rich, bread-pudding of sorts with thinly sliced apples that somehow tasted more "apple-y" than any apples I'd ever had. If I'm ever back in Vegas, I mean to go back for the corned beef hash, which our waiter said was also one of their specialties. Overall affordable and very good.
As we had tickets to see the Cirque du Soleil show "Ka" that evening, we decided to pass over Bartolotta in order to take advantage of the early-bird fixed price menu at none other than Daniel Boulud Brasserie. Boulud's restaurant is located in the Wynn (the nicest hotel on the Strip that I visited), and our table overlooked a beautiful water feature outside. Their three course menu, available before 8pm, is a reasonably priced $48. We drank a nice, plummy Cotes du Rhone. I had a pate appetizer with housemade pickles, which was good, and the DB burger with black truffles, foie gras, and shortribs, which was over-the-top fantastic, bursting with rich, earthy flavors. My friend had the duck confit with lentils. For dessert, we had housemade ice creams, the coffee flavor being my favorite. Would totally go back again.
Before we left the next day, we lunched at 'wichcraft, Tom Colicchio's (of Craft fame) down-to-earth, informal sandwich shop. I had a roasted turkey sandwich (warm) with avocado, bacon, and thick mayo - it was one of the best sandwiches I'd had in a long time. My friend had a cold chicken salad sandwich which she said was a bit disapointingly dry and looked like it had been premade. Stick with the hot sandwiches or paninis - they looked wonderful. Nine bucks seemed steep to pay for just a sandwich, but I suppose it's Vegas after all.
Now I'm home, a few pounds heavier, but with some great memories. Girlfriend - where are we going next??????
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Goin' to the mountains and I'm, gonna get ma-a-arried...
We spent four days in Beaver Creek this past weekend for a friend's wedding. My friend, the bride, is wonderful - she's beautiful and smart, has fabulous taste and deep friendships, and, of course, has class to the max. The entire weekend was planned impeccably, and it was more fun than I'd had in a long time.
For me, the weekend was a great balance of classy social functions (like the rehearsal dinner, the welcome cocktail party, and the wedding itself), good conversations with old friends and new, a nice marriage getaway trip, and time by myself. I ended up alone on a 16 mile hike (unintentionally, honestly - the result of poor planning) one day, but I thoroughly enjoyed it, as these were some of the views I saw along the way to Turquoise Lake:
The lake was not exactly turquoise, but I was the only soul there, and the hike was truly beautiful. The trail leaves from the Beaver Creek Village, and I'd definitely recommend it. It took me about 7 hours at a leisurely pace, including stops to eat lunch, take beautiful photos, and just drink in the scenery.
But anyway, this is a food blog after all, and I should stop talking about hikes. We ate (and drank) quite well while we were there, most of it prearranged as part of the wedding festivities. The few meals we had on our own were overall mediocre except for the affordably priced All-American meal we had at Larkburger in Edwards, consisting of a cheeseburger, fries, and a milkshake. Yum - sometimes you just can't beat a meal like that! Larkburger, like any good Colorado mountain restaurant, is into sustainability and all that - so you can feel good about eating there, even as your arteries are clogging. If that's not enough, where else can you find truffle-parmesan fries (thin-cut, just lightly scented and not overpowering), Tillamook cheddar or truffle aioli available to dress up your burger, and huge, thick, yummy milkshakes in a modernly designed restaurant with no sign of Ronald McDonald or the Hamburglar? Exactly. I knew you'd see my point. Edwards seems to have more (and better) dining options than Avon. Next time we're up there, I'd like to try Dish and Fiestas.
Of note, the wedding was held at Beano's Cabin - a gorgeous venue on Beaver Creek Mountain that is usually accessible only by foot, horseback, or sleigh (in winter). The wedding guests were taken up in resort shuttles and milled around on the lawn drinking cocktails waiting for everyone to arrive. The ceremony was held outside, with the majestic mountain bearing witness to their vows. Following the ceremony, we lingered outside socializing as waiters came around bearing really tasty hors d'oeuvres and libations. Eventually, we were seated inside against the floor-to-ceiling windows for a wonderfully prepared four course meal, including a very noteworthy scallop appetizer. I was very impressed by their ability to prepare food so well for a large crowd - especially seafood! I would love to try the restaurant sometime in the winter. And the sleigh-ride would just be a bonus.
Congratulations to the newly married couple! We look forward to many years of happy eating and drinking with you.
For me, the weekend was a great balance of classy social functions (like the rehearsal dinner, the welcome cocktail party, and the wedding itself), good conversations with old friends and new, a nice marriage getaway trip, and time by myself. I ended up alone on a 16 mile hike (unintentionally, honestly - the result of poor planning) one day, but I thoroughly enjoyed it, as these were some of the views I saw along the way to Turquoise Lake:
The lake was not exactly turquoise, but I was the only soul there, and the hike was truly beautiful. The trail leaves from the Beaver Creek Village, and I'd definitely recommend it. It took me about 7 hours at a leisurely pace, including stops to eat lunch, take beautiful photos, and just drink in the scenery.
But anyway, this is a food blog after all, and I should stop talking about hikes. We ate (and drank) quite well while we were there, most of it prearranged as part of the wedding festivities. The few meals we had on our own were overall mediocre except for the affordably priced All-American meal we had at Larkburger in Edwards, consisting of a cheeseburger, fries, and a milkshake. Yum - sometimes you just can't beat a meal like that! Larkburger, like any good Colorado mountain restaurant, is into sustainability and all that - so you can feel good about eating there, even as your arteries are clogging. If that's not enough, where else can you find truffle-parmesan fries (thin-cut, just lightly scented and not overpowering), Tillamook cheddar or truffle aioli available to dress up your burger, and huge, thick, yummy milkshakes in a modernly designed restaurant with no sign of Ronald McDonald or the Hamburglar? Exactly. I knew you'd see my point. Edwards seems to have more (and better) dining options than Avon. Next time we're up there, I'd like to try Dish and Fiestas.
Of note, the wedding was held at Beano's Cabin - a gorgeous venue on Beaver Creek Mountain that is usually accessible only by foot, horseback, or sleigh (in winter). The wedding guests were taken up in resort shuttles and milled around on the lawn drinking cocktails waiting for everyone to arrive. The ceremony was held outside, with the majestic mountain bearing witness to their vows. Following the ceremony, we lingered outside socializing as waiters came around bearing really tasty hors d'oeuvres and libations. Eventually, we were seated inside against the floor-to-ceiling windows for a wonderfully prepared four course meal, including a very noteworthy scallop appetizer. I was very impressed by their ability to prepare food so well for a large crowd - especially seafood! I would love to try the restaurant sometime in the winter. And the sleigh-ride would just be a bonus.
Congratulations to the newly married couple! We look forward to many years of happy eating and drinking with you.
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Vanilla Fro-Yo
With some homemade Greek-style yogurt that I am now so fond of, as well as the help of my trusty new ice-cream maker, I made some vanilla frozen yogurt the other day. I used Heidi Swanson's recipe that she posted, taken from David Lebovitz's new cookbook Perfect Scoop. Yum. It's more guilt-free than Haagen Dazs, though I'm not sure how much healthier it really is, since I made the yogurt from whole milk. She's right though - the tanginess of the yogurt gives it such a great flavor! I also used a bit less sugar than was called for, and it tasted fine. We topped it with some fresh, plump blueberries and had ourselves quite a tasty snack.
Summer is in full swing here in Colorado, and just having suffered through a few 100-degree days makes me want to buy a copy of Perfect Scoop and make each recipe one by one.
Summer is in full swing here in Colorado, and just having suffered through a few 100-degree days makes me want to buy a copy of Perfect Scoop and make each recipe one by one.
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Summer!!!
The past few days have been a sweltering 100 degrees in Denver, forcing even the most hard-core outdoorsmen inside in the afternoons. The ends of the day, though - those blessed mornings and evenings - are still perfect. We had a lovely Sunday brunch at Bistro Vendome under the shade of an umbrella on their beautiful outdoor patio. We've also had some lovely evening walks at Wash Park.
Monday night, we went to Sushi Den, for what better thing to eat in the heat of summer than sushi? The cool slabs of fresh fish on rice make a light meal, one that doesn't weigh you down. (Plus, it's fun to imagine that you are close to the ocean!) Afterwards, we went over to Bonnie Brae Ice Cream - a place that used to be a regular hang-out for us when we lived in the neighborhood. I had a scoop of Toasted Almond - chock full of whole nuts. Mr. M had his usual Strawberry. We ran into some friends and took a seat outside in the warm summer air. We chatted and caught up while their kids managed to get ice cream all over themselves (did any of it get in their tummies?)
I don't know about you, but there is something about eating an ice-cream cone outside on a summer evening that makes me giddy with happiness.
Monday night, we went to Sushi Den, for what better thing to eat in the heat of summer than sushi? The cool slabs of fresh fish on rice make a light meal, one that doesn't weigh you down. (Plus, it's fun to imagine that you are close to the ocean!) Afterwards, we went over to Bonnie Brae Ice Cream - a place that used to be a regular hang-out for us when we lived in the neighborhood. I had a scoop of Toasted Almond - chock full of whole nuts. Mr. M had his usual Strawberry. We ran into some friends and took a seat outside in the warm summer air. We chatted and caught up while their kids managed to get ice cream all over themselves (did any of it get in their tummies?)
I don't know about you, but there is something about eating an ice-cream cone outside on a summer evening that makes me giddy with happiness.
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