Today is National Peking Duck Day! Go out and enjoy some today!
Enjoy!
T
Galley and Garden – Birmingham, AL
I found another wonderful place to have Sunday brunch. Galley and Garden is a quaint old house that has been converted into a restaurant. It is located in the 5 Points District of Birmingham. There is no parking lot so you will need to valet park but it is convenient.
The old house was very cute. When you walk through the front door you enter the foyer where the hostess will greet you. I was seated in one of the room to the left of the entryway. I pictured this room as the old dining room of the house. The space was open and not packed with tables. There was a beautiful bar set up along the center wall to make all the excellent brunch cocktails.
My table was the closest to the kitchen. In the remodel of the house, they added big glass windows so you can watch the chefs do their magic.
Brunch could not start properly without a mimosa. The orange juice that was used was fresh and sweet. It paired well with the brut champagne they used.
Their brunch menu had several traditional items plus as assortment of specialty dishes. What caught my eye was the Braised Hereford Short Rib Benedict. The chef took something that felt familiar and added his unique flair to the dish. I just had to try it.
This dish came with two poached eggs on top of short ribs and a fresh made buttermilk biscuit. The hollandaise sauce was drizzled on top over the eggs. Also decorating the plate was an andouille potato hash.
To start breaking down each component, the biscuit was fantastic. It was fluffy and light. I enjoyed when the yolk from the egg and the hollandaise sauce covered the biscuit. It made the taste become creamy and rich. The egg itself was cooked perfectly. The whites were completely cooked which I prefer. Having this served over a biscuit verses an English muffin is my new favorite way to eat this. I wish more restaurants would serve it this way. The soft texture of each bite is better than the hard texture of the English muffin.
The short rib was amazing! The meat was perfect just by itself. It had a juicy, salty flavor with a few crispy edges. When combined with the eggs, biscuit, and sauce the taste became hearty. The meat was not overwhelmed with the flavor of the egg yolk or sauce. Each component worked together. The saltiness of the short rib was softened by the yolk and sauce and the biscuit brought in a sweet taste.
I have not forgotten about the potatoes that came on the side. I really liked how the skin of the potato was crispy. They were slightly peppery with the seasoning that the chef used. I added a little extra flavor by dipping the potato in the left over hollandaise sauce that I had. This was not a traditional hash; it was more just roasted potatoes with a ton of flavor.
For a fun time at brunch with great service and delicious food, then Galley and Garden will be perfect. For warmer days, they have great outdoor seating. Check out their menu at http://www.galleyandgarden.com/. Some of the items will change based on what the chef is felling. However, the Braised Hereford Short Rib Benedict is a staple of the menu.
Enjoy!
T
Victoria Gastro Pub – Columbia, MD
Located about 30 minutes outside of Baltimore is the city of Columbia, Maryland. I was excited to be invited out to dinner at Victoria Gastro Pub. This restaurant is a hot spot. It was packed on the inside so thank goodness we had reservations.
They are known for the large selection of beers, so if you are a beer drinker then this is the perfect place. I went for a Moscow Mule. That seems to be a good go to drink for me.
There were so many great choices on the menu. They are known for their mushroom burger and their duck fat fries. I was not hungry for a burger but the fries were a definite yes. I have started seeing a trend that newer restaurants are serving duck fat fries. These were served in a bucket and were great for sharing. They came with a garlic aioli and were covered in a truffle sea salt. There was added earthy flavor in these fries, plus they had great crunch.
Since I was in Maryland I needed to get a crab cake. Victoria’s has a lemon basil lump crab cake served with a sweet corn and mustard sauce.
The crab cake was all crab, no breading or fillers at all. The crab meat was sweet and tender. The lemon added a freshness to the taste. The crab cake sat upon the sweet corn. This was not quite a creamed corn, but it tasted like one. There were whole kernels of corn sautéed in a creamy sweet sauce. I wish I had a spoon to be able to scoop up all the sauce. I did use one of their homemade biscuits to soak up the sauce. The biscuit itself was sweet.
The portions at Victoria’s are perfect. It is the right amount of food so that you do not feel like you overate. I am definitely planning on coming back to try some of the other items on the menu. The thought of the Duck Fat Poutine Fries makes me hungry all over again. Get hungry yourself by visiting their website at http://victoriagastropub.com/
Enjoy!
T
Happy New Year 2017
National Bacon Day
Today is National Bacon Day! So whether it’s for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or just a snack, enjoy your bacon today!
#NationalBaconDay
Enjoy!
T
Home 231 – Harrisburg, PA
Traveling through the streets of downtown Harrisburg I came across a quaint little restaurant on North Street called Home 231. The restaurant is small, so I would recommend that you have a reservation. This restaurant is a farm to table concept so the menu will change based on what ingredients the chef will have available.
On a cold winter evening, it was fitting that they had mulled wine on the menu. It was a blend of red wine, cinnamon, and brandy all warmed up. Just the smell of the wine felt like the holidays. I could taste the spices as soon as it touched my lips. There were even slices of apple in it for a treat.
We started off with some appetizers for the table. The jalapeno and avocado hummus sounded great to start with. It came with an assortment of vegetables: raw carrots, roasted mushrooms and peppers, and picked onion, tomato, and cauliflower. Layering the hummus with the vegetables onto the baguette was the best way to enjoy all the flavors. The hummus was not spicy even with the jalapeno in it. The heat was probably balanced out because of the avocado.
They had Reuben arancini on the menu that caught my attention. I was intrigued by what these would be like since I love Italian arancini. They took Arborio rice and stuffed it with finely chopped corned beef and Swiss cheese. Then they rolled each rice ball in breadcrumbs and fried them till golden brown. The arancini were topped with sauerkraut and the special 231 sauce.
The rice ball was delicious on its own, crispy on the outside and soft and cheesy on the inside. The sauerkraut had a slight sour kick and paired well with the special sauce, which was their homemade version of Thousand Island dressing. When each component was combined the flavor was enhanced. They were like little corned beef sandwiches.
For my dinner, I went with the chef’s special of maple glazed salmon. The salmon had this wondrous crispy skin that was sweet because of the glaze. Normally I do not like to eat the skin of fish, but the way the chef prepared this, I could not help but eat all of it. The salmon was flakey and paired well with the maple. I would not have expected that.
Accompanying the salmon were roasted potatoes and cubes of super crispy bacon. The bacon was amazing and added so much flavor to the potatoes. There was a pesto and maple glaze drizzled on the outside of the plate. I took the potatoes and dipped them in the sauce to add even more flavor. Having flavors of bacon and maple on these potatoes were reminiscent of what I would expect at breakfast.
Although I was stuffed from dinner I still needed to try one of their homemade desserts. I went for the homemade donuts. They were rolled into balls (like donut holes) and covered in cinnamon and sugar. They were crispy on the outside but super soft and moist inside.
They came with three sauces on the side for dipping: a chocolate ganache, a vanilla crème anglaise, and caramel. I tried all three on different bites of donut. My favorite sauce was the caramel because I thought it went best with the cinnamon and sugar.
If you are wanting a romantic dinner for two or a fun group dinner then Home 231 will be perfect. Make sure you go with an appetite because everything on the menu sounds wonderful. Check out their menu at http://www.home231.com/
Enjoy!
T
Merry Christmas
Cotton – Monroe, LA
I love watching Chopped on the Food Network. Whether I am watching it on a plane or at home after a long day of work, seeing the chefs create wonderful and unique dishes is inspiring. So I was thrilled to learn that a Chopped Champion has a restaurant in Monroe, Louisiana. Chef Cory Bahr opened a wonderful place called Cotton.
The restaurant is in a beautifully restored building in downtown Monroe. There are elegant wooden tables, brick walls, and pictures of Louisiana’s rich history decorating the walls. When I walked in I knew I was going to experience something really special.
I started off with a Moscow mule while I looked over the menu. They made a great one with all fresh ingredients, and of course a copper mug!
There were two appetizers that were ordered for the table. The deviled eggs were one of their specialties. They were served with Louisiana caviar on top and placed upon a dill pickle. That caviar added extra saltiness to the egg that I have never had before. It was the perfect food teaser.
Out next was the duck fat fries. These fries were addicting. The duck fat actually makes the fries crispier than traditional fries. I also noticed that they do not seem to feel greasy as other fries. Topping them off with salt was the perfect accompaniment. For me, duck fries do not need ketchup. These came with a wonderful truffle aioli but I still liked them plain.
For dinner I ordered the chef’s special for the night. It was a white fish, similar to a red snapper, and came on top of a risotto and drizzled with a tomato sauce. It was a beautiful presentation on the plate. The fish was flakey and seasoned well. The tomato sauce was more like a broth. Dipping the fish in the sauce added a sweetness to the fish.
The risotto was creamy and had the right amount of garlic mixed in. It did not have the texture of traditional Italian risotto. It reminded me more of a couscous. It was the perfect complement to the fish.
Dessert was a must try. Keeping with the southern feel, their desserts were served in mason jars. We ordered two for the table to share: chocolate mousse and caramel apple pie.
They were layered in the jar for a pretty presentation. I would dip my spoon in making sure to go through each layer, this way I would get each component. One person could easily eat a whole jar but it was much more fun to share.
If you want to check out a unique restaurant of a Chopped Champion, then head to Cotton. Make sure you have reservations, because they get busy. You will not be disappointed. Check out their menu at www.restaurantcotton.com Check back often because it changes based on ingredients available to the chef.
Enjoy!
T
The Froghead Grill – Clinton, MS
Located near Mississippi’s state capital of Jackson is the city of Clinton. When you exit the highway for Clinton, you will see an array of chain restaurants but off in the distance you will see a green sign for The Froghead Grill.
It’s a local casual dining restaurant that specializes in Cajun food.
They have a cute theme with frog decorations all over the place. Plus they have their own little pet frogs in tanks. At first I thought they were fake until one of them jumped and scared me.
I asked some diners who were leaving as I walked in what was good here. They said anything with crawfish. So when I glanced at the menu and saw Crawfish Étouffée, I knew this would be my lunch.
It was a nice size portion for lunch. It was a bowl of white rice topped with Étouffée sauce, loaded with crawfish tails and mushrooms. It had a nice salty flavor. The rice helped balance it out so that the dish was not too salty. The pieces of garlic bread on the side was a nice touch. I enjoyed that so much I wish I had a few more slices.
For an added treat, all their drinks come in their collector!
So if you want a quick lunch that is full of flavor, check out The Froghead Grill. There menu can be found at www.thefrogheadgrill.com
Enjoy!
T
Cotton Blues – Hattiesburg, MS
In the southern portion of the state of Mississippi sits the city of Hattiesburg. It was founded in 1882 and has the nickname “The Hub City”. That came about at the turn of the century because the city was a major railroad intersection (www.hattiesburg.org). It is also home to the University of Southern Mississippi.
There are several highly rated restaurants throughout the city. After checking out several menus online, some friends and I decided to try Cotton Blues. They use fresh ingredients and try to source as much as they can locally. After reading over the menu choices, I had a great feeling that I was going to have a unique dining experience.
When you walk up to their front door they are celebrating everything cotton. Their monogram “B” on the building is filled with cotton buds just like you would find on the plant in fall.
They kept the theme going throughout the restaurant. There were cotton wreaths on the wall and cotton on every table.
The restaurant was beautiful. There were reclaimed wood tables and farm doors in the bar area. It made me feel like I was eating in someone’s farmhouse kitchen.
Although I had looked at the menu on their website I still ended up changing my mind on what to order for dinner when I was physically holding the menu. They had so many wonderful choices, it was a hard decision. At one point I just had to put the menu down so I would not change my mind again.
While we waited to order dinner, we started off with some cocktails. Since we were in “The Hub City” I went for the Hub City Mule. They use citron vodka mixed with ginger beer and fresh lime. It was very refreshing and served in a copper cup which I am convinced makes the drink taste better.
For an appetizer, the table decided on the corn and crab dip. It was fresh corn sautéed in a creamy sweet sauce. Then they put a generous portion of lump crab meat on top. It was served with tortilla chips which was the perfect way to scoop up the corn and crab mixture. I loved how sweet this dish was. I could not stop eating it.
Also for the table the waitress brought out some bread, which included homemade cornbread. This cornbread was sweet and buttery. There was no need to put anything on it. For the white bread, there were three spread options, butter, a lima bean puree (it was like hummus but made from lima beans), and a liquid that I was not familiar with. The waitress described it as pot juice – the liquid that was used to cook all the veggies, like collard green. It was loaded with flavor and had a tangy taste. It could have passed for a bouillabaisse.
For dinner I went for the citrus lobster pasta. They had me at lobster! They use fettuccine pasta noodles, Maine lobster, cherry tomatoes, and fresh basil. They tossed all that in a creamy citrus Alfredo sauce. The sauce was extremely creamy and the flavor was fresh with the citrus accents. The lobster was tender and tasted marvelous with the cream sauce too. It was an extremely generous portion of food that could have been shared by two people.
Now all of us at the table were full but we knew we had to try at least one dessert. They do greet you with their assortment of desserts at the front door.
The perfect dessert to share was the skillet chocolate chip cookie. The cookie came out so warm and gooey. The melted chocolate chips were in every bite. They also put a giant scoop of vanilla ice cream on top, so when it melted it acted as a sauce for the cookie. It was a fantastic ending to the meal.
If you are planning a trip to Hattiesburg put Cotton Blues on your list. If you go for dinner or just for dessert you will not be disappointed. Check them out at www.cottonblues.com
Enjoy!
T