Month: July 2016

Grille 29 – Birmingham, AL

I have really started enjoying brunch on Sunday afternoons. This time I wanted to try Grille 29.

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One of the reasons this place made the list was their $3 mimosas. You can’t have brunch without a mimosa. If you are interested in something a little more salty and spicy they do offer a gourmet Bloody Mary. There was so much going on with this drink (including the Cajun shrimp) there was no need for a second one.

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They had fresh made deviled eggs that were perfect for sharing. They had a dill taste along with hints of truffle oil. They were topped with a crispy piece of prosciutto. That little crunch added a nice touch.

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They had many different options to choose from on the brunch menu. I had to try the Grand Marnier French toast. The bread was cooked perfectly – two large pieces of Texas toast that were crispy around the edges and soft in the center. The Grand Marnier anglaise came on the side so I could dip each piece of toast as I took a bite. I knew this dish was going to be sweet so I made sure my side item was the red roasted potatoes. This added a necessary flavor balance to my meal.

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If you are in the mood for brunch then Grille 29 is the place for you. Visit their website at: http://www.grille29.com/

Enjoy!

T

Carbone – Las Vegas, NV

If you have been to New York City then you have probably heard of Carbone – an Italian restaurant serving up delicious pasta. Well Carbone has a restaurant inside the Aria Hotel in Las Vegas.

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Their menu is large but each dish is meant to be shared family style. While looking over the menu, the server will bring the table an assortment of breads (everything from garlic bread to pizza bread), fresh sliced pepperoni, chopped cauliflower marinated in a vinegar sauce, and fresh-cut parmesan cheese. The options are enough to fill you up if you are not careful.

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Their homemade minestrone soup sounded good, even though it was almost 115 degrees outside. When the soup was presented, a bowl with all the pasta and vegetables was placed in front of me; then my server poured the broth into the bowl. It was a great way to keep the broth hot before getting to the table.

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The table shared two pasta dishes. The first was a vodka sauce penne. According to our server, this was one of their most popular pasta dishes. The sauce was very cream and had a generous helping of grated parmesan cheese on top. What I wasn’t expecting was the heat. There were a few crushed red chili flakes in the sauce that gave each bite a kick.

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The second dish was the lobster mac and cheese, because who doesn’t love mac and cheese; throw in lobster and you have a party going on in your mouth. The cheese sauce was extremely rich and creamy. The added texture from the large chunks of lobster helped break up the cheese overload.

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The table decided just to stick with two pastas because the dessert cart was calling our names. Each dessert was a beautiful presentation of editable art.

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The carrot cake had a spiral design on the outside and the cream cheese icing was layered between each slice.

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The chocolate cake topped with ice cream was heavenly. If you are a chocolate lover then this dessert is a must.

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No Italian meal would be complete without cheesecake. They made a lemon cheesecake that was sweet and tart with a refreshing after-taste. The desserts were large enough to share and allows for everyone to get a taste of everything.

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If you are hungry for Italian while in Sin City, make reservations for Carbone. Check out their menu at www.aria.com/restaurants

Enjoy!

T

Rock’N Fish – Manhattan Beach, CA

A picture perfect visit to California has to include watching the sun set over the Pacific Ocean while enjoying a wonderful meal. That is exactly the experience I received when I visited Rock’N Fish in Manhattan Beach.

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This place was clearly a hot spot because as soon as I walked in I saw lines of people at the bar and every table was full. I was so glad to have a reservation. My table was upstairs, away from the big crowds; there was a cool balcony that let me look down at the restaurant below.

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It was recommended that I try the coconut crusted Mahi sliders. These sliders were so good. The Mahi was light and flaky and it paired well with the crunchy sweet breading. There was only a hint of coconut so it was not over-powering. The mango slaw that was on top of the fish was perfect. I could have eaten that just by itself. It also added an additional sweet taste to each bite.

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For my main dish I went for the seared wild Ahi tuna. It came with Jasmine rice and Szechuan green beans. The combination of flavors had those Asian influences that I enjoyed tremendously. The tuna was cooked to perfection keeping the inside pink but a grilled outer layer. It was served with a red wine sauce that was great to dip the tuna in.

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I made sure that I saved enough room for dessert. I was told that their sticky toffee pudding was a must have. It came out nice and warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. It was the perfect ending to the meal. It was also the perfect size for sharing.

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If you are in Manhattan Beach and you want some awesome seafood, check them out. www.rocknfishrestaurants.com

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 Enjoy!

T

 

Tin Roof Bistro – Manhattan Beach, CA

While visiting Manhattan Beach, California, I made the mistake of not making dinner reservations ahead of time. Naturally I panicked a little because I was hungry. Not far from the hotel was Tin Roof Bistro. I decided to take my chances and see if they had a table. To my astonishment they did!

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Tin Roof Bistro is a rustic looking restaurant that had a very intimate feel.

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Their menu was eclectic; there was seafood to wood fire pizzas. I decided to start with a spicy tuna spring roll. I expected to get a crunchy, traditional spring roll but this was far from that. The spicy tuna – which was so fresh it melted in my mouth – came mixed with fresh chopped vegetables and wrapped in rice paper. The rolls came with a wasabi ginger sauce for dipping and it was fantastic. This appetizer was a cross between a salad and a sushi roll. It was a fresh combination of ingredients.

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I was having a hard time deciding on my main dish. It was a tossup between the wine braised beef short ribs or the pan seared sea scallops. Since I was at the beach I decided to go for the scallops. The other reason was because the scallops came with a creamy parmesan risotto.

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Only 3 scallops came with the dish but they were huge. They were very tender; I did not need a knife to cut them. The sear on them from cooking added the right amount of saltiness to each bite. The risotto was to die for! It could easily stand on its own. It was not overly creamy, which sometimes can happen with risotto. It was the perfect portion size.

I recommend checking out Tin Roof Bistro at www.tinroofbistro.com. I will definitely be back so that I can try the short ribs.

Enjoy!

T

Edgar’s Bakery – Birmingham, AL

Located a few doors down from Bellini’s Ristorante is Edgar’s Bakery, a perfect stop to get dessert. I decided to get something to go, but they have several tables set up so you could enjoy a fresh dessert there.

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There are so many choices – cupcakes, cinnamon rolls, petit fours, danishes, bear claws – whatever your heart desires. They even have full cakes that you can take with you for a special occasion.

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I went for an assortment of petit fours. These are my favorite dessert. They are small bites that allow you to try several unique flavors. In my box I got chocolate, vanilla, caramel, strawberry, and red velvet.

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Once I got in the car I ended up trying a red velvet. Two bites and I was done, the perfect dessert. It’s the right amount of sweetness without feeling like you have overindulged. These are also the perfect treat because they stay fresh for a couple of days.

So if you have a sweet tooth or something to celebrate make sure you go to Edgar’s Bakery. They have several locations around town so there is bound to be one near you. www.edgarsbakery.com

Enjoy!

T

 

Bellini’s Ristorante – Birmingham, AL

I am always looking for new Italian restaurants. I was told that I had to try Bellini’s Ristorante for their take on Italian food.

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When I went in I felt like I was transformed to a family home with a large wine collection. Built into the walls were wonderful wine racks that I wish I had at home.

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The wait staff was extremely friendly and very attentive. I had to start off with a traditional Bellini since it is the namesake of the restaurant. They used fresh peach puree that was noticeable as soon as I took a sip.

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I started off with their homemade soup of the day – Italian wedding soup. The broth was tastey with one large homemade meatball rather than smaller ones. It paired well with the homemade bread they served.

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The appetizer that was a must try was the meatball arancini. I have tried many different versions of arancinis, however, this was like nothing I have ever had before.

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This arancini is a meatball covered in a pesto risotto, then coated with panko breadcrumbs and fried. It was delicious. The meat was moist and light and the risotto was cooked perfectly.

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For my main course I got the Ricotta Gnocchi.

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I was expecting traditional gnocchi but this was completely different. They made a homemade gnocchi but then stuffed it with ricotta cheese. It was a like a gnocchi ravioli for a simpler description. It was severed with a sausage Bolognese sauce that was also delicious. It was like an Italian chili and I could have eaten an entire bowl.

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If you are hungry for Italian but want something that has a unique twist then check out Bellini’s: http://www.ourbellinis.com/

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Enjoy!

T

Gray’s – Franklin, TN

Located on Main Street in downtown Franklin you will see a neon sign that says Gray’s. Thanks to a wonderful bar staff I got a history lesson on the building. It has over 120 years of history. Backs in the 1920s Gray’s was a pharmacy that served the local community. Prior to that in the late 1890s the building was actually a furniture store. And now in the 21st century it is a two-story restaurant.

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I sat upstairs at the bar and was able to look out the windows to the main street below. The bartenders were true mixologists, creating all the cocktails with fresh ingredients. I tried the Fox Hollow which contained Ginger Syrup, lemon juice, bitter, and apple butter. It was the apple butter that intrigued me. I have never seen this ingredient outside of a breakfast menu. This was the most interesting cocktail I ever had. It had a strong apple flavor clearly coming from the apple butter. This drink was served cold, but I could see this actually served hot in a mug, like a cider, in the winter.

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I was a little hungry and wanted to try the bacon wrapped figs. I do not see figs on a menu very often and certainly not wrapped in bacon; what doesn’t taste better with bacon! They came out sizzling on a cast iron dish. They smelled so good but I had to wait till they cooled down a little. When I finally got to try them I was astonished at how sweet the figs were. Somehow when they cooked them the sweetness was enhanced and it blended perfectly with the goat cheese what was stuffed inside. The bacon surrounding the figs was crispy and salty. The combination of salty and sweet flavors created the perfect pair. These bacon wrapped figs were so good that I ended up eating them all and not sharing.

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I was just at Gray’s for a short visit but they have a full menu that I want to go back and try. Check them out at: www.graysonmain.com

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Enjoy!

T

 

Caffe Nonna – Nashville, TN

Tucked away in a neighborhood outside of Nashville is a little Italian restaurant called Caffe Nonna. Parking could be problematic since they only have a few spots in front. Be prepared to look for some street parking.

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I went for lunch and luckily I got there early enough that I did not have to wait for a table. They are small inside so there could be a wait on the weekends.

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To start, I shared an appetizer of Mediterranean cheese sticks. These intrigued me because they were not typical fried cheese sticks that you would find at a bar. These were feta and pesto wrapped in phyllo dough and served with tomatoes, olives, capers, and lots of garlic. The dough added crunch but all the flavor came from the saltiness of the feta and the herby flavor from the pesto. I am glad I shared them because they were filling.

I love soups so I had to try theirs. I got a small cup of their homemade white bean soup. It had Swiss chard, pesto, and parmesan cheese in it. The Swiss chard was the flavor that I thought popped out in the soup and it paired nicely with the creaminess of the beans.

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Although I was getting full I ended up ordering their chicken salad sandwich. They use huge chunks of fresh chicken mixed with grapes and walnuts and just a hint of fresh basil. The walnuts added a nice crunch to each bite while the grapes contributed the perfect amount of sweetness to the salad. It came on a big hoagie roll but this salad could have easily been enjoyed without the bread.

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If you are in the neighborhood check out Caffe Nonna at: http://www.caffenonna.com/

Enjoy!

T