Gator Girl – Out of the Swamp

When I was told that Wasabi Juan’s makes sushi burritos I was intrigued by the concept. A combination of sushi and Mexican food is something that I have never seen in all of my travels.

Their menu is written on a big chalkboard wall. I read over all the options of tacos and burritos. Everything sounded good so I had a hard time deciding what to try. To make the decision easier I went for two items that were noted as being fan favorites.

I started with their 4:20 nachos. These were not any ordinary nachos. These were made with Doritos topped with spicy tuna (raw just like in sushi) and avocado then smothered in spicy mayo and unagi sauce. These were very addicting nachos. I would have never thought Doritos covered in sushi ingredients would taste so good. They were a little messy to eat but worth it. The cheesy Doritos flavor mixed well with the spicy tuna and avocado. The mayo and unagi sauce added a creamy element that balanced out the nachos.

I ordered the Rainbow Burrito to accompany the nachos. This burrito came with spicy tune, salmon, crab, avocado, and cucumber. All of these ingredients were wrapped up in a rice wrapper. It really was a giant sushi roll. The tuna and salmon were fresh. I loved the crunch that the cucumber gave each bite. I added a little wasabi to the soy sauce that was included and drizzled it over the burrito. I wanted a little extra kick.

This was a fun new way to eat sushi. I would recommend everyone visiting Birmingham to check out Wasabi Juan’s. They are located in the Avondale area.

Check them out at: www.wasabijuan.com

Enjoy!

T

If you have been following my blog then you have noticed that I love Sunday brunch. I was looking for new place to try and Village Tavern popped up on my list. When I researched them I noticed they have several locations around the country. Just taking a quick glance at their menu U saw a couple of things I wanted to try, so I made a reservation.

The inside of Village Tavern was beautiful. It reminded me of a fancy ski lodge, high ceilings with wood beams and huge rustic chandeliers. The kitchen was open to the seating area so I could watch all the action.

To start off brunch, I ordered the baked brie for the table. It sounded like it would be great to share. It came with French bread, almonds, sliced apples, and dried fruits. It was a beautiful presentation on the plate when it came out. The brie was still bubbling so I had to wait a few minutes before I could dig in. The brie was extremely creamy with a salty finish. It was fun mixing the cheese with the different fruit options. My favorite pairing was the brie with the dried apricots; the saltiness of the cheese complemented the sweetness of the apricot.

I wanted to try something unique for my main dish. I went for the Crab Cake Benedict – which was exactly like a traditional eggs benedict but with a crab cake added. I am usually not a big eggs benedict fan because I feel it is kind of bland; however, I really liked this combination. Adding the crab cake created a new dimension to this classic dish. I really liked the texture that the crab gave the egg and it tasted great with the hollandaise sauce. The crab cake by itself was good too and I noticed that they have this as a separate menu item so I would recommend this.

I also got to try their homemade Belgian Waffle. I did not get anything fancy on it, just butter and whip cream. The waffle had a nice crispy edge and the inside was soft, just the wat I like it. I could tell they used a buttermilk batter. I find that the flavor of the buttermilk pairs well with pure maple syrup.

If you are hungry for brunch I would recommend Village Tavern. Visit their website to see if they have a location near you.

 www.villagetavern.com

Enjoy!

T

I learned about a special brunch at the Birmingham Museum of Art that only happens the first Sunday of every month. It’s a really popular experience and it took me two months to be able to get a reservation. When I was finally able to get in I was extremely excited.

Walking into the museum I was greeted with the sound of live music. The piano echoed throughout. It really added to the ambiance and enhanced the brunch experience.

This brunch was buffet style with a carving station, a made-to-order omelet station, fresh fruits and breads, an assortment of hot dishes, and a full collection of fresh desserts. It all looked delicious that it was hard to determine exactly where to start.

After walking all the options I decided to start with waffles. On one half I poured on the warm maple syrup, keeping it very traditional. The other half I covered with the fresh chopped strawberries and Chantilly Cream.

They had shrimp and grits that I noticed was extremely popular. I saw them refill that section twice. I knew I had to try this dish. The shrimp had wonderful flavor and the grits were cheesy. The grits were really addicting. I ended up going back for seconds on the grits.

Their carving station had amazingly tender and juicy roast beef. They also had shredded lamb. I am not a fan of lamb and I usually just avoid it. However, I was told that I needed to try the way they prepare it. It was remarkably similar to a pulled pork. It did not have that normal gamey taste. It was more of a smoky flavor that I enjoyed.

They had several options of cakes, pies, and cheesecakes to choose from for dessert. It went for the caramel cheesecake. It was so creamy and not too sweet. It was a great ending to brunch.

If you are looking for a unique brunch experience in Birmingham, then make plans for Oscar’s. Look far enough in advance because they fill up quickly. Their menu will also change each month so to see what they will be serving go to www.artsbma.org

Enjoy!

T