Author: gatorgirl.outoftheswamp@gmail.com

AG – Atlanta, GA

I was visiting Atlanta for work and I got invited out to a dinner at AG inside the Ritz Carlton in downtown Atlanta.

Luckily since there was such a large party, we got a private room all to ourselves. It was decorated almost like an old fashion parlor with hunter green plaid wall paper. The shelves were filled with liquor bottles. All that was missing were the cigars.

     

While the group looked over the menu the waiter brought out these delicious biscuits. They were loaded with cheddar cheese and bacon pieces. They were still warm. The cheese made the biscuit creamy and the bacon added crunch and saltiness.

They served a honey butter along side the biscuits. It melted as soon as I spread it over the warm dough. It had an amazing sweet taste that complemented the saltiness of the biscuit.

I started off the meal with the She Crab soup. It paired perfectly with the biscuits as well. The creamy based soup was loaded with crab claw meat that had a sweetness to it. They drizzled sherry around the top of the soup. It added a rich taste to the soup, plus there was a hint of Old Bay throughout.

     

I had a hard choice when it came to picking my entree. The steaks looked and smelled wonderful. The salmon looked extremely fresh. I went for the Saint Jacques Scallops. The four jumbo scallops were pan seared and covered in a tangerine red wine reduction. The scallops were placed on top of leek and Reggiano risotto.

The scallops were soft and tender. They had a creamy texture to them. The risotto was amazing. It was extremely creamy and it was not too rich even though it had all that cheese. It was a good pairing with the scallops.

Since I was there with a large group of people, all the sides were ordered to be shared around the table.

(1) Truffle Fries – these has an earthy flavor to them

(2) Mashed Potatoes – these were smooth and creamy potatoes that had a hint of the cream they used to whip them up.

(3) Asparagus – these were grilled up with a slight smoky taste.

(4) Mac & Cheese – a homemade classic full of cheese and a crispy layer of cheese on top.

(5) Brussels Sprouts – these were crispy from cooking and had a wonderful sweet taste to them, not bitter at all.

There was so much food the entire table was full. So unfortunately there was no room for dessert. I would for sure come back even if it was just for something sweet. You should check them out at www.ritzcarlton.com

I would recommend a reservation because they got really crowded.

Enjoy!

T

 

Park Bar – Atlanta, GA

Several years ago when I visited Atlanta for the SEC championship basketball game I checked out a place called Park Bar. So when I recently went back I was excited to get to go back. It was just like I remembered when I walked up and saw the green awnings.

What I had forgotten about Park Bar is their huge selection of bourbons and whiskeys.

     

I decided to go for an old fashion with 1792 bourbon. The bartender made it perfectly. It was smooth and had a garnish of a cherry.

To start out, we ordered the Savannah Spuds for the group to share. These were NOT typical loaded potato skins. These potatoes were loaded with a soft melted cheese sauce (almost like a queso). On top was a giant pile of pulled pork BBQ. The sauce they used was sweet and it complemented the saltiness of the cheese.

They had several burgers to choose from. I went for The Cumberland. This burger was covered with a bourbon-bacon jam and melted brie cheese. The burger was extremely juicy. The ground beef was so fresh it fell apart as I took a bite. The bacon-jam added both a sweet and salty element. The brie cheese was super creamy and complemented the taste of the jam. This was the best burger I have had in a long time. It came with some grilled asparagus but after eating that burger the asparagus was an afterthought.

By the look of the crowd, Park Bar is tremendously popular in Atlanta. Check them out at www.parkbaratlanta.com They are worth a stop by.

Enjoy!

T

Bangkok Tokyo – Bradenton, FL

There was this little whole in the wall place I found that served up a combination of Chinese, Japanese, and Thai dishes – Bangkok Tokyo Restaurant.

It was the perfect place to pop in to grab some lunch with a group of people. We were greeted right away when we walked in. The staff was extremely attentive, always making sure we had everything we needed.

     

I started off with the ginger salad. It has become a staple when I go to an Asian restaurant. This salad was huge compared to the typical salad. Their ginger dressing was great, full of minced ginger that gave both a sweet and tart taste.

We got the pan fried dumplings to share with the table. The dumplings were prepared perfectly with the outside crispy but still soft enough to bite in to. The meaty filling was tender and full of savory flavor. The dumplings tasted great on their own and they were even better when I dipped them into the soy sauce that came with it. The soy sauce had a slight sweet taste.

For my main dish I ordered the Pad Kee Muo (Drunken Noodles). These were a wide, flat rice noodle, scrambled egg, onion, carrots, and bell pepper. I also got it with chicken. It was cooked in a Thai chili sauce.

The sauce was not too spicy, it added a subtle kick. The vegetables added crunch to the dish. The chicken was tender and cut into perfect size pieces. The rice noodles took on the full flavor of the sauce. This is one of the reasons I love rice noodles in Asian dishes.

The table also ordered a shrimp and crab fried rice. The rice was great, full of salty flavors. The shrimp and crab were great add-ons to the rice but not as good as with beef or pork.

When beef and pork are cooked in fried rice, they help add additional flavor, probably from the oils that come out during cooking.

I really enjoyed everything I ate at Bangkok Tokyo. Not only was the food good, it was reasonably priced and came out fast. I would definitely make another visit.  You should check them out at www.bangkoktokyoonline.com

Enjoy!

T

Firefly – Las Vegas, NV

There is a wonderful tapas restaurant that I found off the strip during my last trip to Vegas. I had not eaten any tapas since my trip to Barcelona, so I was excited to try Firefly.

The restaurant was not that crowded yet when I arrived. I knew I was there early. The décor of the restaurant was a great blend and red and black, with some Spanish inspired artwork.

     

I had gotten there right when happy hour started, which I was thrilled about. They had a whole happy hour menu filled with cocktails and tapas.

I looked over the menu, my very cheerful waiter brought me some fresh bread and their homemade butter spread. This butter had almonds and honey throughout. The butter’s texture was smooth; the almonds were very fine within. The honey gave a sweet taste that was perfect on the fresh bread. I would love to have this butter on a warm toasted bagel.

While I chomped on the bread, I ordered a sangria. I could not eat tapas without a sangria. I started off with the sparkling version.

This sangria was extremely sweet. The bubbles from the wine added a little pop. They included a nice assortment of fresh fruit. This was the perfect drink to have when my first tapas came out.

The ham and cheese croquetas were filled with Serrano ham and Manchego cheese. A tomato aioli was drizzled on top. It reminded me of exactly what I would get in Barcelona.

The breading on the outside was very crispy. I had to slice into them so they could cool off a little. The inside was loaded with chunks of ham. The cheese made the entire bite creamy. The ham added a salty, meaty taste. They were a great starter and complemented the sweet sangria.

The next tapas that came out were the dates. These tender dates had their seed removed and replaced with an almond. This added great crunch when I took a bite.

Each date was wrapped in crispy bacon. The saltiness from the bacon complemented the sweet BBQ like sauce that was poured over the dates. They sprinkled blue cheese on top for added tanginess. This entire dish had wonderful savory notes.

It was time for another sangria. This time I tried the red. This one was slightly dryer compared to the other. I knew this would pair well with the last tapas dish, the Albondigas.

Albondigas are meatballs, that were covered in a Sherry tomato sauce along with a few roasted red peppers.

The meatballs were soft, moist, and tender. They had great flavor because of the sauce. The shaved parmesan cheese on top was an added treat.

Happy hour was a lot of fun at Firefly. I would go back to try all the other tapas on their regular menu. Check them out at www.fireflylv.com

Enjoy!

T

 

Yong Kang Street – Las Vegas, NV

Las Vegas really is the city that never sleeps. After seeing a late night show I was hungry. However, I was not quite sure what I was hungry for. As I traveled between Bally’s and The Paris Hotel I came across Yong Kang Street. This is a Chinese/Taiwanese restaurant that was nestled between shops that had the façade of a Paris street.

They were extremely crowded that late at night. I was really excited when I saw the dim sum carts moving around the restaurant. I could not wait to select a few things.

The Lo Mai Gai (sticky rice) was the first thing I pointed to. It had been years since I got to enjoy sticky rice. This rice is steamed in a lotus leaf. What makes the rice sticky is the actual type of rice used. It is glutinous rice that becomes very sticky when cooked.

I unwrapped the lotus leaf like wrapping paper on a Christmas present. The hot steam poured out very quickly. This type of rice is really easy to eat with chopsticks, so if there are folks out there that normally find chopsticks a challenge this is the dish for you.

The rice had a wonderful sweet taste. The saltiness came from the chopped up pieces of Chinese sausage that was cooked inside the rice. The flavor combinations were perfect together and a great start to the meal.

The next item I pulled off the dim sum cart was the Siu Mai. This is another type of Chinese dumpling that is a traditional dim sum dish. It is “open face” were part of the filling is exposed. I got the pork Siu Mai. The chopped up pork also had chopped up pieces of shrimp. They are then topped with a little salmon roe. When I took a bite there was a great, savory taste from the pork. The shrimp added a little extra texture. The wrapper did not add any flavor, it just help everything together.

A dim sum meal would not be complete without some steamed pork dumplings (or pot stickers). The pork filling was very tender and different from the filling in the Siu Mai. They mixed in some extra spices that had a slight peppery taste. The dumpling taste even better when dipped in the sweet soy sauce that comes with it.

Now all of these dishes sounded like a lot of food but they were all small bites that were perfect for sharing. I wanted one more thing for myself. I had to get the Hong Kong Wonton Soup. This is not your typical local Chinese restaurant wonton soup. What I love about Hong Kong style is in addition to the actual won ton dumplings, the chicken broth is loaded with noodles, fresh shrimp, bok choy, broccoli, and mushrooms.

The bok choy added crunch and the mushrooms added an earthy taste. The won tons were very tender and had lemongrass accents. This created an extremely fresh taste. The shrimp added more protein. The noodles had to be eaten with chopsticks because they were so long. They also soaked up the flavor of the broth. It is an extremely filling soup.

Yong Kang Street was an amazing find inside The Paris Hotel and Casino. I never expected to find this authentic Chinese / Taiwanese restaurant in-between French pastry shops. I loved this place. I wanted to go back in order to try some other dishes and to get more sticky rice!

Check them out at www.yongkangstreet.com

Enjoy!

T

Canter’s – Las Vegas, NV

There are a variety of restaurants in Las Vegas up and down the strip. Anything you could possibly want from sushi or tacos. I passed Canter’s near The LINQ and decided to check them out.

Canter’s is a classic New York style delicatessen. They make their own bagels, breads, and pastries in their bakery right there at the restaurant. They also ship in all their meats directly from New York.

    

I started off with a bowl of matzo ball soup. This homemade chicken broth was loaded with chopped up carrots and celery. They included two large matzo balls.

The matzo balls were slightly firm on the outside to help keep their shape but they were soft and tender when I cut into them. They had a slight salty taste. I loved how it paired with the heartiness of the vegetables in the soup. It was very comforting.

I was excited to try the potato knish. They actually ship these in from New York. The pastry was stuffed with mashed potatoes and sautéed onions. The pastry was slightly crispy and really thick. It had a slight sweet taste to it. The potatoes and onions had a savory flavor. They were the perfect combination. There was also a side of their house made deli mustard. I tried one bite with the mustard but I preferred it without anything. I enjoyed the savory taste alone.

I ordered one of their hand-carved sandwiches. I got a Reuben with the pastrami. The pastrami was piled high with melted Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and Russian dressing. They served all of this on their homemade rye bread.

The grilled the bread so it had a great crunch when I took a bite of the sandwich. The Russian dressing was extremely creamy and it cut down on the sour taste of the sauerkraut. The pastrami was astounding. It was tender and had the perfect amount of pepper around the edges. It was not as salty as other pastrami I have had. This was the perfect combination of ingredients to make a satisfying and filling sandwich.

The sandwich also came with a side. I went for the macaroni salad. This homemade salad was extremely creamy. The noodles were perfectly cooked, not too soft or hard. They chopped up celery into small pieces that added a surprise crunch. There was an overall sweetness too. It was the perfect pairing with the sandwich.

This deli was a great find in Las Vegas. They really know what they are doing. They have a long history out West. The main location can still be found in Los Angeles on Fairfax Avenue.

Check them out at www.canterslv.com

Enjoy!

T

Avondale Common House – Birmingham, AL

I have written about Avondale Common House before. When I was back in Birmingham I knew I wanted to make another visit.

As always I sat at the bar. The service there is top notch. It was great to see the same bar staff from my last visit.

     

I started off with a strawberry smash. This was a newer drink on the menu. They used gin with fresh strawberries and mint with a splash of sprite. The strawberries were the star of this cocktail. They were muddled so that the flavor was released. This helped hide the taste of the gin. Toward the bottom of the drink the hint of mint shined through.

What I remembered from my previous visit was that the Kung Pao cauliflower was fantastic. I ordered them again because it was good for sharing. The cauliflower was cut into small pieces which were breaded and deep fried. The have the perfect crispy texture. They were covered in the Kung Pao sauce which is where the heat came from. The sauce added a salty taste to the dish as well. There were chopped up cashews mixed in with the cauliflower that I forgot about; they added crunch and not a whole lot of extra flavor.

For my main course I ordered the shrimp and grits. My bartender said it was one of their most popular dishes. The grits were creamy, cheesy, and slightly salty. They piled on the shrimp and andouille sausage and then covered in a creamy sauce. What I was not expecting was the fried egg on top. I took the egg off and ate it separately.

The shrimp had a great grilled taste to them. The sausage had a wonderful savory taste. The shrimp and sausage tasted great on their own but paired extremely well when eaten with the creamy grits.

I am glad I got to make another visit to Avondale Common House. They were just as good as I remembered. Visit them at www.avondalecommonhouse.com

    

Enjoy!

T

Avondale Brewing Company – Birmingham, AL

Just down the street from Avondale Common House in Birmingham is a brewery by the name of Avondale Brewing Company.

They are located in a cool old building that had many uses over the last 100 years.

They are a full blown craft brewery that has a huge menu to choose from. They have everything from IPA’s to high gravity tripels.

     

I always enjoy visiting the brewery. It is a great place to hang out with friends. I enjoyed a glass of their Mill at White. It was light with a hoppy taste.

They do not serve food but on the weekends they sometimes have food trucks that park out back where they have seating and an amphitheater for live music.

Avondale Brewing Company has several of their beers in restaurants and other bars all over Birmingham. However, I find it the most enjoyable to have it at the source.

If you enjoy beer, you definitely should check out Avondale Brewery. www.avondalebrewing.com

Enjoy!

T

Wheat + Water – Bradenton, FL

I was getting together with my cousin in Florida for dinner. She left it up to me to pick the place. I found an Italian restaurant called Wheat + Water. It was tucked away in a shopping center in Bradenton.

We were greeted so warmly when we walked in. It was like walking into a family home. As soon as we sat down the waiter brought over some fresh made bread. It was hot which was perfect because I could add butter and it melted into every inch of the bread. There was a crunchy crust and the inside was soft. It was ideal to snack on as I looked over the menu.

I ordered a sangria because they make it homemade. It was red wine based. There were several spices mixed in with the fresh fruit. The flavor reminded me of a mulled wine, just chilled.

We started off with two appetizers for the table. The first were the Risotto Bites. They blended risotto with Italian sausage, sweet peppers, and Pomodoro sauce. Then they are breaded and fried up. They were presented in a paper cone which was fun. It made passing them around the table much easier.

They were very crispy on the outside but when I cut into them the cheese oozed out. The sausage added a savory element. The peppers did add a slight sweetness that balanced out the saltiness from the cheese.

The other appetizer we ordered was the meatballs. This plate was huge. Unless you were making this dish your entire meal, it was definitely meant to be shared. These homemade meatballs were a blend of ground beef, veal, and Italian sausage. They were covered in a Pomodoro sauce. They included huge slices of garlic bread and enormous dollops of fresh Ricotta cheese.

The meatballs were full of flavor. Even with their size the meat was moist and tender. The bite was great just with the sauce however, when I added a little of the creamy Ricotta cheese it took the taste and texture to a new level. The garlic bread was perfect for scooping up the extra sauce and cheese. I could not let anything go to waste.

For my dinner I ordered the Sacchetti all’ Vodka. These were little dumpling like pasta that were filled with Ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, and Pecorino Romano cheese. They were then tossed with a vodka tomato cream sauce. There was crispy pancetta mixed throughout the sauce.

The salty cheese blend poured out of the pasta as I cut in. Since the sauce was slightly sweet it helped tone down the overall saltiness. Because of all the cheese in the pasta and the creamy sauce, this dish was rich. Had I not ordered any appetizers I probably would have been able to eat more. Nevertheless the food would not go to waste; I got a to-go-box so I could enjoy for lunch the next day.

My cousin ordered a small pizza. It was a thin crust with tons of pepperoni and sausage. I made sure to at least have a small slice so I could write about it. The pizza dough was slightly sweet. I could taste the smoky flavor because of the wood fire oven. The pepperoni was crispy and the sausage was full of herbs.

I am glad I got to pick the place for dinner since I got to try something new. You should check them out at http://wheatpluswater.com/

Enjoy!

T

 

 

 

 

Urban Pops – Hoover, AL

With the temperatures rising outside, the best way to cool off is with a popsicle. Urban Pops satisfies with an assortment of homemade popsicles. They offer creamy and juice styles. They are made fresh and it’s possible they will be sold out of a flavor when you visit because of their popularity.

     

     

I visited them on three separate occasions so  I could try three different flavors.

For my first visit I went for the Cookies and Cream.

The ice cream was super creamy. The flavor of Oreo was throughout the ice cream.

They also included a full size Oreo cookie in the middle. It was like dunking the cookie in an ice cold glass of milk.

On my second visit I went for one of their juice popsicles, Strawberry.

There was a great sweetness and there were fresh slices of strawberries throughout. This version was extremely refreshing.

For my third visit I chose the Banana Pudding.

The ice cream was even creamier than the cookies and cream. The banana flavor was exactly what you would find in an actually banana pudding dessert.

They even included full size vanilla wafers in the pop.

They really captured the essences of the dessert.

There are so many more flavors I want to try. This place is great. The owners are extremely friendly. They really remember their customers as soon as you walk in. Definitely check them out either at their shop or find out where their food truck will be.

http://urbanpopsbham2.wixsite.com/pops

Enjoy!

T