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
Robata Steakhouse – Clermont, FL
There is a stupendous Japanese steakhouse call Robata located in Clermont, Florida. I have been to this restaurant multiple times over the year. I have tweeted about them before but after another big family dinner there, I decided I needed to finally write about them on my blog.
With all my visits, Robata is always consistent in their flavor and quality of the food they serve. Their hibachi chefs always prepare flavorful entrees with a fun show. So it was the perfect option to take the family to celebrate my grandmother’s 90th birthday.
Since this was a celebration, I went for a little change in my hibachi dinner. I ordered the chicken and scallops. I knew it would be a lot of food but I figured I could always get a to-go box.
As with all hibachi meals, I started off with the salad with ginger dressing. My salad had extra dressing, which made me really happy because I LOVE this dressing!
Out next was the soup. They do not have a traditional miso soup; it is more like a chicken soup with chopped up mushrooms. The unique aspect of their soup is they sprinkle fried onions straws on top that added extra flavor to the broth.
It was fun to watch the chef cook the fried rice and noodles. He made it look easy the way he cracked the eggs on the spatula.
I forgot how hot that grill was until I saw how fast the egg cooked.
The butter and sauces they use on both the rice and noodles was delicious. I could have just eaten bowls of these two items all night. I wish I could make my fried rice taste like this at home.
Another favorite part of the hibachi meal is the grilled shrimp.
The way these shrimp are cooked on the hot grill to create a crispy edge is something I can never find anywhere else. When I dip them in the ginger dipping sauce the flavor just seems to get even more robust.
If all of this wasn’t enough food, now comes the sautéed fresh vegetables – zucchini, onions, broccoli, and mushrooms. All chopped up and cooked in a combination of butter and soy sauce. They really are unique and delicious. Again, I wish my vegetables tasted like this at home.
Now was time for the main dish – the chicken and scallops.
The teriyaki sauce that the chef put on the chicken was sweet with just a hint of salty. The chicken was tender pieces of white meat. The scallops were seared perfectly, keeping the edges crispy but the scallop itself moist. The added flavor came when I dipped them in the Yum-Yum sauce.
I really was stuffed but dessert came out. It was their version of fried ice cream. Sweet vanilla ice cream was covered with tempura batter and deep fried. Then it was topped off with whipped cream and a strawberry drizzle. It was heavenly and to me it tasted exactly like birthday cake.
So if you have a big group of people and you want to have a fun, entertaining dinner then head over to Robata Steakhouse. Check out their menu at www.robatasteakhouse.com
Enjoy!
T
Galaxy Diner – Bridgeport, CT
Located on Main Street in Bridgeport, Connecticut is Galaxy Diner. You cannot miss it, with the classic diner look on the outside. When I pulled up the parking lot was almost full. Luckily there was one spot left in the back of the parking lot. With the temperature rapidly dropping outside I was looking forward to getting some warm comfort food.
As I expected from a diner, the menu was large. It was hard to determine what to get. I decided to go with one of their daily specials – Yankee Pot Roast. The sound of that made my mouth water.
The dinner started off with a cup of their homemade matzo ball soup. It was a nice salty chicken broth with a giant matzo ball. The matzo ball itself was light which was great because it did not fill me up to fast.
Next out was a really nice garden salad. I ordered blue cheese dressing which I could tell was homemade because of the huge chucks of blue cheese. I needed to cut it up with a knife.
Finally my pot roast came out. They gave a very generous portion on the plate. The meat was so tender I could pull it apart with my fork. Smothered on top was a great brown gravy. It was the right amount of added saltiness to the meat. To accompany the pot roast were potato pancakes. These potato pancakes were very different from what I was expecting. They reminded me more of hash browns. They were great to use up the leftover gravy.
For the vegetable I went for the cucumber salad for something different. It was a fresh taste of dill – similar to pickles.
This meal was so filling that I ended up not having room for any dessert. So if you are looking for some classic comfort food on a cold winter day, stop by Galaxy Diner. Visit their website at www.galaxydinerbridgeport.com
Enjoy!
T
Luna’s BBQ – Hanceville, AL
Forty-Five minutes north of Birmingham, Alabama is the small town of Hanceville. I had passed through when I went to visit The Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament founded by Mother Mary Angelica. After spending a few hours at the shrine, I had worked up an appetite.
As I was heading back toward the highway, I noticed a sign for Luna’s BBQ and thought that would be a perfect place to stop. Considering the parking lot was full of cars, I figured this was a good choice.
The staff was extremely welcoming as soon as I walked through the door. The smell of BBQ filled the restaurant.
They had a pretty big menu, that had lots of non-BBQ dishes to choose from.
I went for the smoked turkey plate. It automatically came with baked beans and I got to choose two more sides. I went for the baked potato and the coleslaw.
I really enjoyed their turkey. Other restaurants usually serve their turkey in slices. Luna’s pulls apart their turkey (like you would see with pulled pork) and they chop it up. Not only did it make the turkey easier to eat, but it allowed the white Alabama BBQ sauce to coat the meat. It was delicious. The sauce was wonderful and toward the end I actually added some of their traditional BBQ sauce to the meat as well. It was a flavor explosion. The two sauces together were a perfect combination.
The baked beans were sweet. I liked how they added green peppers and onions to it. This added extra flavor to the beans. Their coleslaw was prepared my favorite way – finely chopped and sweet. It is the perfect accompaniment to BBQ. And you can never go wrong with a big baked potato loaded with butter.
I had worked up an appetite and Luna’s definitely helped satisfy my hunger. If you are in the area or just driving through, make sure you stop by Luna’s for some awesome BBQ and friendly service. Visit their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/LunasBBQ/
Enjoy!
T
Happy Thanksgiving
Rock N’ Fish – Manhattan Beach, CA
Well I promised myself if I was ever able to visit Manhattan Beach, California again I would head back to Rock N’ Fish.
I was glad I got there in time to see the sunset. It was so beautiful to see the sun fade into the Pacific Ocean. This visit I was able to sit on their outside patio. It was the perfect weather for it too, not too hot and not to cold.
Instead of ordering an appetizer and a main dish I went for an appetizer and a salad. Their portions are pretty large so I knew I would be satisfied with just this.
I started with the jumbo coconut prawns. The prawns were covered with panko breadcrumbs and shredded coconut. The coconut had a subtle flavor that was not overpowering with sweetness. The prawns came with a pineapple dipping sauce that complemented the coconut. Also included on the plate was a side of slaw. It had an Asian flare to it with a sesame dressing. This slaw would have been great just by itself.
I was excited to try the shrimp and avocado Louie salad. It was a wonderful chopped salad tossed in a Louie dressing. On top were slices of fresh, creamy avocado, tomatoes, olives, and a hard-boiled egg. The shrimp decorated the side of the plate. They did not have any dressing on them so I asked for some cocktail sauce on the side and ate the shrimp with that. The Louie dressing was sweet and was great with the salty flavor from the olives. The salad was huge so it was the perfect meal.
I cannot recommend Rock N’ Fish enough. I was so glad that I got to visit them for a second time. For great flavors and fresh ingredients check them out at www.rocknfishmb.com
Enjoy!
T
Bolton’s Spicy Chicken & Fish – Nashville, TN
I was visiting Nashville again and I had a craving for hot chicken. I wanted to go to a place I had not tried before. Bolton’s popped up on my list. They have been cooking up their hot chicken since 1999.
I went for the breast quarter plate. I went lite mild heat on the chicken because I was not sure of the intensity. I also got a choice of two sides, which they had tons to choose from. I went with the mac n’ cheese and the green beans. Both are the perfect pairing with hot chicken.
The chicken had great crunch on the outside and the meat was juicy on the inside. When I took my first bite I could feel the heat on my lips. This is why I went with the lite mild heat, it was just enough without going overboard.
After eating several more bites the tingle from the heat calmed down. It was the first time I actually got use to the heat. Next time I visit I think I will be able to step up my heat level.
The mac n’ cheese was creamy and that helped calm some of the heat from the chicken. The green beans added a nice salty element to the dish.
I definitely want to go back to Bolton’s because they also have fish on the menu. I would love to see if they could make a hot fish for me to try.
Add Bolton’s to your hot chicken check list. Visit their website at www.boltonsspicy.com
Enjoy!
T