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

Piece – Chicago, IL

When visiting Chicago, I asked some locals where they like to go for pizza. It was suggested I check out Piece. They offer woodfire pizza and a large selection of beers. So, if locals like this place, I thought I should check them out.

Piece is a great place to go to watch sports. There are tv’s all over the restaurant. There is also a great amount of natural lighting that make the restaurant nice and bright.

I could smell the pizza as soon as I walked in. I was getting so hungry. Knowing it would take a little longer to get the pizza, I made sure to place my order right away.

While I waited for the pizza, I also got the goat cheese starter. The fresh goat cheese was baked in the homemade marinara sauce and a drizzle of olive oil and oregano. They served butter toasted French bread on the side.  I spread the creamy goat cheese on the bread and then put on a layer of the marinara sauce. The cheese had a tangy taste to it, which is very different from the taste of mozzarella. The marinara sauce had a great flavor from the oregano that was added in. The bread added a nice crunch and was the perfect vehicle to eat this dish.

My pepperoni pizza came out just as I was finishing the goat cheese. It was perfect timing. This pizza was a lot larger than I was expecting. I ordered a medium that was supposed to serve 2-3 people. This pizza could easily serve 4-5 people.

The crust was not too thick and not to thin. It was just right and had an awesome crispness to it from the oven. There were a few scorch marks on it that added a slight smoky taste. The pepperoni was also crispy form the oven. The saltiness from the cheese and pepperoni complemented the sweetness from the crust.

Piece was indeed a great place for pizza. It is not far from a train stop so it is easy to get to and from the location. If you are in the Chicago area, check them out. Visit their website at www.piecechicago.com

Enjoy!

T

Denino’s Pizzeria – Brick, NJ

If you are looking for some good Italian food that is quick, Denino’s Pizzeria is the perfect place. All the locals are visiting this restaurant.

Thy have a couple of items that are always my go too. The arancini is one of the best (outside of Brooklyn). They are jumbo in size. The middle is loaded with meat and peas and filled with extra cheese. When you slice it open the cheese starts to pour out. I covered it wit the homemade pasta sauce that came on the side. The sauce blended with the cheese which made each bite more filling. You can eat this as a meal, but it is also great to share this dish as well.

The meatball sub is also a great lunch item. I did not eat the whole thing, but I did try some of the meatball itself. The meatball was dense with the meat blend they used.  They did not use too much of the filler like breadcrumbs. The seasoning in the meat was savory, which paired well with the tanginess from the pasta sauce. Each bite was moist from the meat and sauce combo.

For my main dish I ordered the chicken piccata. This is not on their regular menu. This was a special day because chicken piccata is one of my favorite dishes. They cooked two large chicken breasts in an awesome lemon butter sauce. They put in a ton of capers and onions for extra flavor. They also included artichokes. These were a nice addition that I have never had before. The chicken was tender and moist. The artichokes added texture and an extra tangy taste along with the capers. All of this was on a pile of spaghetti. The portion was huge and could easily be shared. Or take it home for lunch the next day.

Denino’s is a great go to place for Italian. They have a great menu of staple dishes plus they always have a few specials. Check them out at www.deninosbricknj.com

Enjoy!

T