Month: October 2021

Kickin’ Chicken – Lakewood, CO

Driving around just outside of Denver, I passed a small restaurant that caught my attention. Their sign read Kickin’ Chicken and their mascot was a chicken dressed up like a ninja. Their parking lot was packed, so I figured it must be good. I decided to check them out for lunch.

When I went inside there was a long line of people to order. That gave me time to look over their menu. They only serve four types of chicken dishes and a couple of sides. That kept it simple to choose from. You order at the counter. If you were going to eat there, they bring the order to you. If not, you get a takeout bag.

I chose to try the chicken tenders. I was able to select two dipping sauces for my chicken. I went with the kickin’ sauce and the sweet chili. They cook the chicken to order, so when it came to the table it was piping hot. I was stunned at how big the chicken tenders were. They could easily be shared.

The breading was extra crispy, and it helped keep the chicken juicy. The kickin’ sauce was like a BBQ sauce. It was not spicy like I thought it would be. The sweet chili sauce had all the heat. The sweetness hit first and them I got the punch of heat from the chilis.

My tenders also came with a side dish. I chose the Mexican street corn. It was not on the cob, so it made it easier to eat. It had a nice tangy taste from the mayo and Mexican crema. The corn itself added the sweetness. They sprinkled Cotija cheese on top and a dash of cayenne pepper. The pepper did not add any heat. It was just for color. The cheese also added to the tangy flavor. It was a great side dish. It also was a pretty big portion which could have been easily shared.

The chicken was amazing at Kickin’ Chicken. I can understand why they were constantly busy while I was there. They are a great place to go for lunch.

Check them out at www.kickinchickenrestaurant.com

Enjoy!

T

Kyoto Ramen – Denver, CO

I was traveling through Denver recently and was trying to figure out where to get some lunch. I came across Kyoto Ramen. They looked pretty busy. I had not had fresh ramen in a long while, so I decided to check them out.

They had a couple of ramens to choose from; I went after the chicken, with an extra side of ramen noodles. It might just be me, but I like extra noodles in my broth.

They used grilled chicken. It was laid put beautifully in the bowl along with bamboo shoots, kikurage mushrooms, green onions, bean sprouts, seaweed, corn, and a hard-boiled egg.

I could not decide how I should start eating. Do I eat each section separately or mix it all up? I ate a few pieces of chicken to start with; it was seasoned perfectly with a sweet and salty taste. After that I mixed up all the ingredients. The bamboo shoots and bean sprouts added a little crunch. The seaweed added additional saltiness. The mushrooms did not have a lot of flavor, but they did add some extra texture.

The corn was a nice touch. It added a sweetness to the salty broth. I added the extra noodles to the broth a little at a time. They soaked up some of the flavor from the broth. It was filling. I saved the cut up hard boiled egg till the end. I cut it up into smaller pieces and ate it along with the noodles.

The bowl of ramen ended up being a huge lunch for me. It is hard to believe that all those ingredients put together could make me so full. I definitely left Kyoto Ramen satisfied. They did have a few other items on the menu besides ramen. I would want to try a Poke bowl the next time I am in Denver.

Check out their website at www.KyotoRamendenver.com

Enjoy!

T

Fame Supper Club – Chicago, IL

I was very excited to be invited to the friends and family opening of a brand-new restaurant in Chicago called Fame Supper Club.

This is a beautiful, high-end restaurant with live music, awesome cocktails, and exquisite food. The ambiance was glitzy with a dash of romance.

We were greeted with a welcome cocktail. It was the Fame 75 that is found on the menu. It was a blend of gin, champagne, simple syrup, and lemon juice. I am not a fan of gin but the way this cocktail was prepared, the flavor of the gin was minimized. It was a refreshing drink and a great was to relax and look over the menu.

I started off ordering the Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice. This was fresh ahi tuna that was blended up to a smooth spread and placed on top of fried crispy rice. This acted almost like a cracker. The sprinkled the tuna with sesame seeds and then drizzled with sriracha aioli and serrano chili hoisin sauce. The tuna was soft and with the sauces the tuna had a big kick. The heat did not last too long, it was the right amount to keep me going back for more. These were the perfect bite size portions that made them easy to eat and quite addicting.

I ordered another cocktail from the very attentive bartender. This time I got a classic Dirty Martini with bleu cheese olives. The martini itself was strong but smooth. The bleu cheese that was stuffed in the olives was creamy and a great snack.

Out next was the Lobster Bisque. The creamy bisque was loaded with tender lobster meat and lump crab meat. I was so surprised to get both. They also had corn, sweet peppers, and scallions throughout. They finished it off with a lobster oil drizzled on top. There was nice sweetness to this bisque. There was a generous amount of lobster and crab, which is not normally found in other bisques.  The lobster oil gave the bisque a richer taste than the traditional sherry that is drizzled over lobster bisque. I really enjoyed the chef’s interpretation.

The last thing that came out was the Truffle Parmesan Fries. These were hand cut fries that were tossed in white truffle oil and parmesan cheese. They served a confit garlic aioli on the side for dipping. The fries were nice and crispy. The truffle oil gave the fries an earthy taste. The garlic aioli was a great dipping sauce that added a slight tanginess. This paired well wit the saltiness of the fries and parmesan cheese.

There was one last cocktail that I had to try before the end of the evening, No Flash Photography. The base of this drink was tequila along with ancho chile liqueur, passionfruit puree, agave, and fresh lime juice. Then for an added treat, the bartender lit the drink on fire. He sprinkled cinnamon on top of the flame, and it created sparks. It was one of the coolest drinks I have ever seen getting made.

The cinnamon even left a ring on the bar.

This was a very strong drink because of the tequila. The passionfruit shined through and added a sweet and sour taste. The hint of cinnamon flavor helped make this cocktail almost like a dessert.

Fame was a fantastic experience. The atmosphere was fun and lively. It is the perfect place to go on a date or hang out with friends. They also have a club upstairs that I did not get a chance to check out but I definitely will next time. I cannot wait to go back and visit again.

Check them out at www.fameinchicago.com

Enjoy!

T