Madame La Bouffe and I were heading back home from Oklahoma, and had to spend the night in Talullha, Louisiana before proceeding on our way. After a night of not much sleeping at a Super 8, we wanted to get a good breakfast before leaving, so we wouldn't be crabby and waspish. The breakfast buffet at the hotel was nothing special, and we wanted something heartier. So we asked the lady at the check-out desk for suggestions. She recommended the Country Pride Restaurant, a spot that truckers haunted for the all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet. Madame La Bouffe declared that truck stop food was generally very good, so we decided to try it out.
After we were seated comfortably at a clean table at the restaurant, our waitress poured us some delicious, rich decaf, and told us to help ourselves at the buffet. We each snatched a plate and wandered over to the food. There was some really hearty, yummy looking food steaming under the infrared lamps; good food like breakfast casserole, biscuits and gravy, scrambled eggs, grits, French toast, fruit, and pancakes. I helped myself to three pancakes, and drizzled the stack with a ladle-ful of maple syrup, which was contained in a large vat, piping hot. Madame La Bouffe also made an excellent breakfast, and after our plates were filled, we sat down and ate. My pancakes were very good; fluffy, flavorful, and golden. I soaked my bites of pancake with the pool of maple syrup, and I can tell you, I can't remember enjoying breakfast in a restaurant more. Madame La Bouffe's only complaint was that her eggs were rather cooler than she liked, but I glossed over this one, and went back to my delicious food.
The atmosphere was very masculine, with lots of men everywhere, eating, drinking coffee, and talking about their trucks. It wasn't overly loud, though, and the service was ideal. Tami always made us laugh, and was always checking on us to see if we needed anything. I felt rather pampered.
If you happen to be staying at a hotel on 65 South Highway, stop by Country Pride Restaurant, and I'm sure you'll be satisfied by the hearty, tasty food and good service.
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Friday, November 23, 2012
El Maguey
Madame La Bouffe and I were looking for a good lunch spot on Black Friday in Oklahoma, which was a little hard, because some of the good spots were closed. We were originally planning to eat lunch at a Lebanese restaurant that is called (get this!) La Roma Pizzeria, but, being a family-run business, it too was closed. So as we drove about, we stumbled upon a Mexican eatery called El Maguey. Madame La Bouffe and I both love Mexican food, and we were too hungry to go to even further lengths to find a good restaurant. So we parked and went inside.
We were led to a clean table by a nice waiter, and we chose our drinks and food. We were first served hot tortilla chips that came with really tasty salsa and guacamole. The salsa was a step away from most salsas, which are chunky. This one was smooth and deep red, and had a seriously spicy flavor. The guacamole was very good, but not spectacular. It was, to me, pretty much just average but still delectable when perched atop a crispy chip. As I sat, contentedly slurping my beverage, munching my chips, and debating what to order, my eyes fell upon a certain component of the menu. It was a rather plain dish, to be sure, but still looked so yummy that I felt I had to get it. This "wonderful food" was really just a cheese quesadilla and Mexican rice, but I have such a large fondness for each of these two dishes that I couldn't resist. Madame La Bouffe chose the Tacos El Maguey (you get a choice of meat), and after we ordered, we sat and talked and looked around. The atmosphere was very average for a restaurant, with lots of people talking, waiters bustling around, and the smell of food in the air. It wasn't overly loud, and the plants and antique clay pots sitting around added a nice touch. There were lots of colorful pictures on the walls, and the feel was of nice, cheery chatter.
When our food arrived, we whiffed the fragrance for literally a second, then dove right in. I, of course, had to put habanero hot sauce and a big dollop of guacamole on top of my quesadilla, and after I had finished topping it, I cut off a big bite and began to eat. The tortilla, a plain flour one, was very average for a quesadilla but was nicely crisp and chewy. The cheese was creamy and melty, and tasted rather like American cheese. In a nutshell, my quesadilla was normal and good, just not remarkable. The rice I liked. It was fluffy and toothsome, and I really enjoyed eating it. My meal, a plate of classic Mexican staples, was good, but nothing to write home about.
Our waiter was nice and was always calling us us "amigas," which means "friends" in Spanish. Specifically, it means friends that are girls ("amigos" means friends that are boys), but I don't need to give you a language lesson. All I'm trying to say is that the service was very good indeed, and that you can be sure that if you ever dine at El Maguey, you will always be treated with respect.
So if you happen to be in Sand Springs, Oklahoma, pop into El Maguey, and I surely hope you'll eat good and feel good after you eat good!
We were led to a clean table by a nice waiter, and we chose our drinks and food. We were first served hot tortilla chips that came with really tasty salsa and guacamole. The salsa was a step away from most salsas, which are chunky. This one was smooth and deep red, and had a seriously spicy flavor. The guacamole was very good, but not spectacular. It was, to me, pretty much just average but still delectable when perched atop a crispy chip. As I sat, contentedly slurping my beverage, munching my chips, and debating what to order, my eyes fell upon a certain component of the menu. It was a rather plain dish, to be sure, but still looked so yummy that I felt I had to get it. This "wonderful food" was really just a cheese quesadilla and Mexican rice, but I have such a large fondness for each of these two dishes that I couldn't resist. Madame La Bouffe chose the Tacos El Maguey (you get a choice of meat), and after we ordered, we sat and talked and looked around. The atmosphere was very average for a restaurant, with lots of people talking, waiters bustling around, and the smell of food in the air. It wasn't overly loud, and the plants and antique clay pots sitting around added a nice touch. There were lots of colorful pictures on the walls, and the feel was of nice, cheery chatter.
When our food arrived, we whiffed the fragrance for literally a second, then dove right in. I, of course, had to put habanero hot sauce and a big dollop of guacamole on top of my quesadilla, and after I had finished topping it, I cut off a big bite and began to eat. The tortilla, a plain flour one, was very average for a quesadilla but was nicely crisp and chewy. The cheese was creamy and melty, and tasted rather like American cheese. In a nutshell, my quesadilla was normal and good, just not remarkable. The rice I liked. It was fluffy and toothsome, and I really enjoyed eating it. My meal, a plate of classic Mexican staples, was good, but nothing to write home about.
Our waiter was nice and was always calling us us "amigas," which means "friends" in Spanish. Specifically, it means friends that are girls ("amigos" means friends that are boys), but I don't need to give you a language lesson. All I'm trying to say is that the service was very good indeed, and that you can be sure that if you ever dine at El Maguey, you will always be treated with respect.
So if you happen to be in Sand Springs, Oklahoma, pop into El Maguey, and I surely hope you'll eat good and feel good after you eat good!
Thursday, November 22, 2012
A Thanksgiving Greeting
Bonjour, my faithful readers and a very happy Thanksgiving to you! Since Thanksgiving is a time for family as well as food, I'm not going to be eating in a restaurant dining room, but in my relative's. I hope you have a wonderful evening gorging on your turkey, gravy, cranberry sauce, stuffing, potatoes, pie, etc., and I'll be back at my laptop tomorrow reviewing a delicious Mexican restaurant, right here in Sand Springs, Oklahoma. Have a happy Thanksgiving and, most importantly, happy eating!
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
The (Not So) Snack-y Bar (aka: The Snack Bar)
As Madame La Bouffe and I were heading out of Austin after visiting our cousins, we both got seriously peckish, and trooped rather listlessly around S. Congress St. to find a good restaurant that served brunch or late breakfast. All the lunch-y places didn't open until 11:30 or so, and the coffee shops we passed just had, of course, coffee and pastries and such truck, which we thought wouldn't stick to our ribs very long since we had a hard day of driving to Oklahoma ahead of us. We walked some more and came across a spot called the Snack Bar. Of course, given the title, I thought that the "snacks" wouldn't keep us full. They would be just snacks, after all. But then I saw a menu, and forgot my we-would-be-hungry-in-an-hour-if-we-ate-here mantra. It certainly looked pretty hearty to me, and the breakfast looked delicious. Madame La Bouffe insisted that, "We need get the food to go, because it takes all day to get to Tulsa, and the sooner we get on the road the better." I was cool with that. As long as I got to get something off that yummy menu.
As we waited for my food (I had picked the Spiced French Toast), Madame La Bouffe and I sat on high stools and looked at our surroundings. The place had a very open feel to it, both mentally and physically, and there were lots of bright colors all over, making you feel very welcome. The staff member who waited on me was very nice and let me take long moments to look at the menu. He didn't just pop up like some restaurant staff do, shove a styrofoam box at me, and grunt, "Here's your food." He was very polite about it and handed it to me with a smile.
After we were comfortably cruising down the highway, I opened the box, seized my fork, cut a big triangle off a corner of a piece of the French toast, and crammed it hungrily into my mouth. The toast, being sourdough, was very puffy, fluffy, and light; not at all the dense, floppy squares you sometimes get at some not-so-good brunch spot. It was very nicely flavored with cinnamon and other spices and was very crisp and golden on the outside. Drizzled with a good glug of maple syrup, it was pure bliss. It was also served with a few pieces of fresh fruit (plump purple grapes, toothsome pineapple, and super juicy orange segments), which added a fresh, delicious touch.
So if you happen to be in Austin on S. Congress and you're feeling hungry, go to The Snack Bar, and I'm sure you'll be as happy as I. The French Toast was great and you can choose your own bread. Besides sourdough, there is banana bread, multi-grain, cranberry-rasin wheat, or sweet sorghum to choose from as well, so if you don't care for sourdough, you can have a choice of other delicious breads. It also has good coffee and lunch, so if you come at noon and not at 11 like I did, you don't have to eat breakfast food if you don't want to. The Snack Bar has my eternal approval, and if you want some really memorable French Toast, I recommend you stop by.
As we waited for my food (I had picked the Spiced French Toast), Madame La Bouffe and I sat on high stools and looked at our surroundings. The place had a very open feel to it, both mentally and physically, and there were lots of bright colors all over, making you feel very welcome. The staff member who waited on me was very nice and let me take long moments to look at the menu. He didn't just pop up like some restaurant staff do, shove a styrofoam box at me, and grunt, "Here's your food." He was very polite about it and handed it to me with a smile.
After we were comfortably cruising down the highway, I opened the box, seized my fork, cut a big triangle off a corner of a piece of the French toast, and crammed it hungrily into my mouth. The toast, being sourdough, was very puffy, fluffy, and light; not at all the dense, floppy squares you sometimes get at some not-so-good brunch spot. It was very nicely flavored with cinnamon and other spices and was very crisp and golden on the outside. Drizzled with a good glug of maple syrup, it was pure bliss. It was also served with a few pieces of fresh fruit (plump purple grapes, toothsome pineapple, and super juicy orange segments), which added a fresh, delicious touch.
So if you happen to be in Austin on S. Congress and you're feeling hungry, go to The Snack Bar, and I'm sure you'll be as happy as I. The French Toast was great and you can choose your own bread. Besides sourdough, there is banana bread, multi-grain, cranberry-rasin wheat, or sweet sorghum to choose from as well, so if you don't care for sourdough, you can have a choice of other delicious breads. It also has good coffee and lunch, so if you come at noon and not at 11 like I did, you don't have to eat breakfast food if you don't want to. The Snack Bar has my eternal approval, and if you want some really memorable French Toast, I recommend you stop by.
Monday, November 19, 2012
Enoteca
Madame La Bouffe and I left Houston and drove to Austin to see a few relatives and see some sights. I had a very nice morning of long walks and semolina seed toast, and after that exceptional interlude, Madame La Bouffe and I wandered toward downtown, popping into the little shops and admiring the scenery. Around lunchtime we got hungry and paused our sightseeing at an attractive Italian restaurant called Enoteca. We were led to a table by our waitress, Susan, and given our drinks and menus. Since we were so peckish, we decided to get an appetizer to take the edge off our hunger. We decided on the Parmesan French fries, and after a thought, we decided to get garlic ones too. They came to us soon after, contained in cute paper cones, served with some white garlic sauce that smelled absolutely delicious. We both snatched a handful of each kind and dunked them in the sauce. Cosi delizioso! The fries were super golden and crisp, and the inside was soft and pleasantly mealy. It was rather hard to distinguish the two flavors; both tasted sort of alike once dipped in the aioli, but I didn't stop to ponder this. This was the perfect way to begin the meal.
Next we had the main course. I got a pizza margarhita, while Madame La Bouffe savored a hearty minestrone-like soup and a salad, which had two cute little crab cakes sitting upon the plate, and a good mess of greens in the center. My pizza was really fabulous. The crust (handle) was shatteringly crisp, golden, and crunchy, and the topped portion of it was paper thin yet super flavorful. This pizza, unlike most pizza margarhita I've eaten, put real tomatoes on the crust instead of sauce, a nicer, fresher swap. The mozzarella was very good, too, with deep creamy flavor and nice chew-ability. The basil that was embedded atop the pizza was still green and fresh, a step away from some pizza margarhita, upon which the basil was black and blown out. This was one of the best New-York style pizzas I've ever eaten.
We certainly didn't want to go without dessert, and the waitress provided us with a grand cast of them. I debated for a while, finally deciding on the Italian cream cake. A delicious concoction of moist nut cake layered with cream cheese icing and covered in a shaggy coating of shredded coconut, this showstopper of a cake won me right over. When it came, I seized my dessert fork and dove right in. The cake was really good, if a bit dryer than traditional, but still exceedingly addictive. After this wonderful meal, we could do nothing but linger over our crumb-y dessert plates and drinks, and, of course, pay the 100 dollars (It seems very expensive, but it was totally worth it!).
My verdict? Enoteca is an absolutely amazing place to eat, and if you happen to be in Austin, I highly suggest you stop by. The service was very good, and deserves high marks, and the atmosphere was one of peaceful chatter. It's not so much a place for young children, being rather grownup-y, but it's a very good place, I presume, for dates or special dinners.
Next we had the main course. I got a pizza margarhita, while Madame La Bouffe savored a hearty minestrone-like soup and a salad, which had two cute little crab cakes sitting upon the plate, and a good mess of greens in the center. My pizza was really fabulous. The crust (handle) was shatteringly crisp, golden, and crunchy, and the topped portion of it was paper thin yet super flavorful. This pizza, unlike most pizza margarhita I've eaten, put real tomatoes on the crust instead of sauce, a nicer, fresher swap. The mozzarella was very good, too, with deep creamy flavor and nice chew-ability. The basil that was embedded atop the pizza was still green and fresh, a step away from some pizza margarhita, upon which the basil was black and blown out. This was one of the best New-York style pizzas I've ever eaten.
We certainly didn't want to go without dessert, and the waitress provided us with a grand cast of them. I debated for a while, finally deciding on the Italian cream cake. A delicious concoction of moist nut cake layered with cream cheese icing and covered in a shaggy coating of shredded coconut, this showstopper of a cake won me right over. When it came, I seized my dessert fork and dove right in. The cake was really good, if a bit dryer than traditional, but still exceedingly addictive. After this wonderful meal, we could do nothing but linger over our crumb-y dessert plates and drinks, and, of course, pay the 100 dollars (It seems very expensive, but it was totally worth it!).
My verdict? Enoteca is an absolutely amazing place to eat, and if you happen to be in Austin, I highly suggest you stop by. The service was very good, and deserves high marks, and the atmosphere was one of peaceful chatter. It's not so much a place for young children, being rather grownup-y, but it's a very good place, I presume, for dates or special dinners.
Sunday, November 18, 2012
A Slice (No pun intended) of Heaven
After a delicious meal at Teo, Madame La Bouffe and I decided to eat our dessert at the legendary House of Pies in the upscale Westhiemer neighborhood. We went inside, and were immediately enveloped in the buttery warmth of the place. After we sat down at a booth and received our drinks, we got our spectacular menus. Fruit pies, meringue pies, cream pies, specialty pies..... the list of bliss was endless! I finally decided on the coconut cream pie, and Madame La Bouffe got the coconut meringue pie. We sat, looking around at the old-fashioned diner style room, our minds on our pie.
Finally heaven came, in the form of two fourths of white fluffy wonderfulness. We brandished our forks and stuffed our faces. My pie was absolutely fantastic, with a flaky crust; a rich, sweet, creamy, coconut-y filling; and a gigantic swab of fluffy whipped cream. It was so huge that I couldn't finish it, but I did get a slice of lemon icebox pie (for breakfast the next morning!).
Our pies were very reasonably priced, and we also got some really delicious decaf to go with our dessert.
House of Pies is an absolutely amazing place to eat, and apart from delectable pie, it also has breakfast, lunch, and dinner! If this diner was in your neighborhood, it would be all you need. Shoo, Burger King! Scat, Waffle House! I'll be back, House of Pies!
Finally heaven came, in the form of two fourths of white fluffy wonderfulness. We brandished our forks and stuffed our faces. My pie was absolutely fantastic, with a flaky crust; a rich, sweet, creamy, coconut-y filling; and a gigantic swab of fluffy whipped cream. It was so huge that I couldn't finish it, but I did get a slice of lemon icebox pie (for breakfast the next morning!).
Our pies were very reasonably priced, and we also got some really delicious decaf to go with our dessert.
House of Pies is an absolutely amazing place to eat, and apart from delectable pie, it also has breakfast, lunch, and dinner! If this diner was in your neighborhood, it would be all you need. Shoo, Burger King! Scat, Waffle House! I'll be back, House of Pies!
Teotihuacan
After an eventful day exploring Houston's wonderful sights, Madame La Bouffe and I decided that a good, hearty Latino dinner would cap the day off right. Our local friend told us about a restaurant called Teotihuacan, which is across the street from the bus that takes you to Mexico (The Tornado). All this meant, I reasoned, that the food must be very authentic. So Madame La Bouffe and I drove through Houston until we found our spot.
We were shown to a table by a Spanish waitress, given our drinks and menus, and left to choose our food. The food was definitely authentic, and everything looked so good, I had a hard time choosing. Finally I decided on the fried shrimp and French fries, which are not very traditional, but looked so good that I couldn't resist. Madame La Bouffe chose the enchiladas verdes, and we got a shrimp quesadilla as an appetizer. Our food came so quickly, I thought they had made it in advance! But it certainly didn't taste old! My shrimp was piping hot, shatteringly crisp, crunchy, and toothsome, and the shrimp itself was very tender and cooked perfectly. The fries were crisp on the outside, and fluffy on the inside, a combo I have begun to look for in a good fry. The ketchup that came with them was called "fancy" tomato ketchup, but it was really nothing to write home about. The quesadilla was really fabulous, with crisp flour tortilla folded around gooey Monterey Jack, poblanos, and tiny tender shrimp. It came served with some "pico de gallo" which, to me, was just some minced tomato and cilantro. Nevertheless it was very good. The guacamole was really awesome. It seemed so simple, but was so spicy and wonderful, my hand holding my fork came swooping in every few moments to snitch a forkful. This was one of the best Mexican meals I'd ever had!
The habitual atmosphere here is one of loud, cheery raucousness, and if you like that kind of place, you'll be pleased. Bring your kids, too, because Teo is very family friendly as well.
If you happen to be in Houston, I highly recommend stopping by Teo for a meal, and I think you'll really be satisfied. And should you get bored of being in Texas, hop onto The Tornado, and go to Mexico! Teotihuacan, mi amore tu!
We were shown to a table by a Spanish waitress, given our drinks and menus, and left to choose our food. The food was definitely authentic, and everything looked so good, I had a hard time choosing. Finally I decided on the fried shrimp and French fries, which are not very traditional, but looked so good that I couldn't resist. Madame La Bouffe chose the enchiladas verdes, and we got a shrimp quesadilla as an appetizer. Our food came so quickly, I thought they had made it in advance! But it certainly didn't taste old! My shrimp was piping hot, shatteringly crisp, crunchy, and toothsome, and the shrimp itself was very tender and cooked perfectly. The fries were crisp on the outside, and fluffy on the inside, a combo I have begun to look for in a good fry. The ketchup that came with them was called "fancy" tomato ketchup, but it was really nothing to write home about. The quesadilla was really fabulous, with crisp flour tortilla folded around gooey Monterey Jack, poblanos, and tiny tender shrimp. It came served with some "pico de gallo" which, to me, was just some minced tomato and cilantro. Nevertheless it was very good. The guacamole was really awesome. It seemed so simple, but was so spicy and wonderful, my hand holding my fork came swooping in every few moments to snitch a forkful. This was one of the best Mexican meals I'd ever had!
The habitual atmosphere here is one of loud, cheery raucousness, and if you like that kind of place, you'll be pleased. Bring your kids, too, because Teo is very family friendly as well.
If you happen to be in Houston, I highly recommend stopping by Teo for a meal, and I think you'll really be satisfied. And should you get bored of being in Texas, hop onto The Tornado, and go to Mexico! Teotihuacan, mi amore tu!
Friday, November 16, 2012
Lunch at The Cheese Company
As I was heading out of New Orleans on my way to Houston, I decided to stop someplace to get a quick bite of lunch. I made my way down Prytania St., looking for a nice spot. Crepe Nanou? No, only open at dinner. La Thai? Madame La Bouffe isn't really impressed by that, so no. Then, I came across St. James Cheese Company. I sometimes haunted the place for the delicious cheese, but that was all I'd bought there before now. I knew it had sandwiches and salads and such truck, so I decided, since there was no where else, to stop by and consume something before I got stuck on the road with a McDonalds or other nasty chain restaurant.
I went inside, took a good look at the sandwich menu and chose my food. I decided on a classic grilled cheese, with potato chips and pears as sides. I chose my table, was graciously given a drink by the staff, and sat down to wait for my sandwich. I was't bored at all, though. I had a grand time looking at all the foreign cheeses (and tasting a couple as well!) There were also countless little jars of jams in interesting flavors sitting on a shelf, delicious-sounding flavors like fig and grape. There was also a good selection of delectable-looking crackers next to the jams, a basket of plump baguettes, and a whole case of cured meats next to the cheeses. I ended up buying some prosciutto, and Kaila, the member of staff I talked to most, sliced a gigantic pig leg on the meat slicer and let me watch. "I always say thank you to something like this-" Kaila gestured at the leg- "before I slice it, because it gave its life so we could enjoy prosciutto." A memorable quote.
My sandwich came after a bit, and I dove in immediately. This was, I decided, one of the best grilled cheeses I'd ever eaten, which is saying something, because I've eaten so many. The bread was multigrain and had lots of tasty seeds in it that broke up with thrilling crunches when I bit. The cheese was very melty and creamy, but still a pleasantly sharp cheddar. The chips were addictive, and very sweet and crispy. The pears were not creamy, but not completely hard, either. All in all, a delicious meal.
St. James is a great place to bring the girls (or guys) for a really yummy meal, and if you have kids, I recommend the meal I had, grilled cheese with chips and fruit, called the Mini Moo on the menu. St. James has my eternal approval. But that's enough New Orleans for now. Let us travel out West, and eat at even more great spots. Au revoir!
I went inside, took a good look at the sandwich menu and chose my food. I decided on a classic grilled cheese, with potato chips and pears as sides. I chose my table, was graciously given a drink by the staff, and sat down to wait for my sandwich. I was't bored at all, though. I had a grand time looking at all the foreign cheeses (and tasting a couple as well!) There were also countless little jars of jams in interesting flavors sitting on a shelf, delicious-sounding flavors like fig and grape. There was also a good selection of delectable-looking crackers next to the jams, a basket of plump baguettes, and a whole case of cured meats next to the cheeses. I ended up buying some prosciutto, and Kaila, the member of staff I talked to most, sliced a gigantic pig leg on the meat slicer and let me watch. "I always say thank you to something like this-" Kaila gestured at the leg- "before I slice it, because it gave its life so we could enjoy prosciutto." A memorable quote.
My sandwich came after a bit, and I dove in immediately. This was, I decided, one of the best grilled cheeses I'd ever eaten, which is saying something, because I've eaten so many. The bread was multigrain and had lots of tasty seeds in it that broke up with thrilling crunches when I bit. The cheese was very melty and creamy, but still a pleasantly sharp cheddar. The chips were addictive, and very sweet and crispy. The pears were not creamy, but not completely hard, either. All in all, a delicious meal.
St. James is a great place to bring the girls (or guys) for a really yummy meal, and if you have kids, I recommend the meal I had, grilled cheese with chips and fruit, called the Mini Moo on the menu. St. James has my eternal approval. But that's enough New Orleans for now. Let us travel out West, and eat at even more great spots. Au revoir!
Monday, November 12, 2012
A Nice Little Change of Pace
Bon Jour, my faithful readers: I am sorry to say that on Friday, I will be going on a road trip with Madame La Bouffe and you will not get your regular reviews on New Orleans's restaurants.
However, you will be getting regular reviews on Texas's and Oaklahoma's restaurants! It's time for a little change of pace, and I'm going to be branching out a little more from just local spots. See you on Friday!
However, you will be getting regular reviews on Texas's and Oaklahoma's restaurants! It's time for a little change of pace, and I'm going to be branching out a little more from just local spots. See you on Friday!
Saturday, November 10, 2012
The Fox and Hound
Today I went to Fox and Hound, a joint in Elmwood, around lunchtime. I was planning to see a movie at AMC, but I got hungry waiting for my 1:40 showtime. So I came across this spot, and decided to try it out.
I was shown to a table by a couple of waitresses, who seemed very happy to see me. I got my drink and menu, chose my food, and contented myself in looking around at my surroundings. Fox and Hound is actually a sports bar, and there was a TV screen wherever I looked on the wall. It was a spacious restaurant with a very large bar, the kind of place you'd go to watch the Saints (hopefully) clobber the visiting team. So if you're looking for a nice, pretty spot to dine, this may not be the place for you. Anyway, I got my food, which was a quesadilla with lots of stuff inside it. Cheese, beans, bacon, and chipotles were stuffed in the tortilla, which was rather stale and crunchy. The fillings were not spectacular, just average. Another complaint was that the fillings were placed inside the tortilla in uneven dollops, so I got a big mouthful of bacon in one bite and a big mouthful of beans in the other. I wasn't expecting amazing food, so I just ate quietly and steadily as not to insult the staff.
I also had some French fries with my meal, which were very good. They were nicely crispy on the outside, and fluffy on the inside. Eaten with a good blob of ketchup, they were just fine. The salsa that came with my quesadilla was very good, too, if a little watery. The sour cream just tasted like it had been dumped out of the Daisy brand container, which is how sour cream should taste.
The service was good, too. My waitress, Nicole, was very sweet and pretty, and took good care of me.
My verdict? Fox and Hound is a fine place to go to watch the game and have a beer, but as a restaurant, it stumbles a bit. So if you have no where else to go, come to Fox and Hound, and the hearty food will fill you right up!
I was shown to a table by a couple of waitresses, who seemed very happy to see me. I got my drink and menu, chose my food, and contented myself in looking around at my surroundings. Fox and Hound is actually a sports bar, and there was a TV screen wherever I looked on the wall. It was a spacious restaurant with a very large bar, the kind of place you'd go to watch the Saints (hopefully) clobber the visiting team. So if you're looking for a nice, pretty spot to dine, this may not be the place for you. Anyway, I got my food, which was a quesadilla with lots of stuff inside it. Cheese, beans, bacon, and chipotles were stuffed in the tortilla, which was rather stale and crunchy. The fillings were not spectacular, just average. Another complaint was that the fillings were placed inside the tortilla in uneven dollops, so I got a big mouthful of bacon in one bite and a big mouthful of beans in the other. I wasn't expecting amazing food, so I just ate quietly and steadily as not to insult the staff.
I also had some French fries with my meal, which were very good. They were nicely crispy on the outside, and fluffy on the inside. Eaten with a good blob of ketchup, they were just fine. The salsa that came with my quesadilla was very good, too, if a little watery. The sour cream just tasted like it had been dumped out of the Daisy brand container, which is how sour cream should taste.
The service was good, too. My waitress, Nicole, was very sweet and pretty, and took good care of me.
My verdict? Fox and Hound is a fine place to go to watch the game and have a beer, but as a restaurant, it stumbles a bit. So if you have no where else to go, come to Fox and Hound, and the hearty food will fill you right up!
Eatin' Happy at Ancora
Friday night I was looking for a good place to eat dinner and came across a fairly new pizzeria called Ancora. Located on Freret St., this Italian eatery got high reviews in a Gambit restaurant guide, so I decided to give it a try. I drove to the place, was led to a table by a cheerful waitress, and received my drink and a menu. I was satisfied so far.
I decided to begin my meal like any other respectable Italian does, with antipasti. This means "before pasta" in Italian, and is a real classic. Oops! Did I say antipasti? I meant antipizza, because that's what they call it here! I was stunned when the waitress presented me with the platter. There were the most delicious things in there, all in little sections, and it was so beautifully presented that I was left speechless. There were tons of delectable little bites on the plate. There were marinated olives; homemade spicy pickles; a cute little meatball dappled with a fresh, vivid marinara sauce; a fried mozzarella and rice ball; paper-thin slices of cured Italian meats; a curious, sweet, jammy, fruit-like substance with millet seeds; light and creamy ricotta bruschettas with tapenade; and last but certainly not least, roasted shrimp with breadcrumbs. Talk about heaven on earth!
Next was the pizza course. I chose the "pizza margharita," which is a combo I really love. Mozzarella, basil, and tomato sauce. Sounds plain but at Ancora it was divine. The pizzas at Ancora are cooked in an 850 degree pizza oven, which means they take only about 90 seconds to cook. My grumbling stomach soon found love as I dove into the fantastic pizza. The crust (handle) was wonderfully puffy, chewy, and slightly but pleasantly burnt, and the topped portion was amazingly thin and flavorful. The sauce was as good as it was in the antipizza, and the melting blobs of mozzarella and fresh basil topped the whole thing off.
The service was great, too, and I was really happy when I left. The atmosphere was a tad loud, but that might have just been the screeching toddler at the neighboring table.
My verdict? Ancora is simply a divine place to dine, and I hope you'll be as happy as I was. I give this spot at least five stars, and, I'm happy to say, so does Madame La Bouffe!
I decided to begin my meal like any other respectable Italian does, with antipasti. This means "before pasta" in Italian, and is a real classic. Oops! Did I say antipasti? I meant antipizza, because that's what they call it here! I was stunned when the waitress presented me with the platter. There were the most delicious things in there, all in little sections, and it was so beautifully presented that I was left speechless. There were tons of delectable little bites on the plate. There were marinated olives; homemade spicy pickles; a cute little meatball dappled with a fresh, vivid marinara sauce; a fried mozzarella and rice ball; paper-thin slices of cured Italian meats; a curious, sweet, jammy, fruit-like substance with millet seeds; light and creamy ricotta bruschettas with tapenade; and last but certainly not least, roasted shrimp with breadcrumbs. Talk about heaven on earth!
Next was the pizza course. I chose the "pizza margharita," which is a combo I really love. Mozzarella, basil, and tomato sauce. Sounds plain but at Ancora it was divine. The pizzas at Ancora are cooked in an 850 degree pizza oven, which means they take only about 90 seconds to cook. My grumbling stomach soon found love as I dove into the fantastic pizza. The crust (handle) was wonderfully puffy, chewy, and slightly but pleasantly burnt, and the topped portion was amazingly thin and flavorful. The sauce was as good as it was in the antipizza, and the melting blobs of mozzarella and fresh basil topped the whole thing off.
The service was great, too, and I was really happy when I left. The atmosphere was a tad loud, but that might have just been the screeching toddler at the neighboring table.
My verdict? Ancora is simply a divine place to dine, and I hope you'll be as happy as I was. I give this spot at least five stars, and, I'm happy to say, so does Madame La Bouffe!
Friday, November 2, 2012
The Tapas Adventure
Tonight, I decided to go to a Spanish restaurant called Barcelona Tapas for dinner, having heard great things about it from Madame La Bouffe. I've always liked the idea of tapas; the idea of lots of small plates, rather than one or two big plates, but have never tried it out. I also bet you folks reading might be wanting a change of cuisine, and what better way to wake up tired palates then with tapas? I've found out lots of great things about this yummy tapas spot, so let me fill you in.
I was welcomed warmly by a sweet member of the staff and led to a clean table. I got some ice water and ordered my food. To take the edge off my appetite, I got a basket of hot, crusty, sweet rolls and aioli to spread on them. This was one of my favorite parts of the dinner. It tasted so wonderfully fresh, and I ate a whole roll by myself.
Next I got the Spanish tortilla, one of my favorite Spanish dishes. For all you folks who don't know, Spanish tortilla isn't really a tortilla at all. It's really an omelet with potatoes, and at Barcelona it was amazing. The egg was fluffy and hearty and dense, and the potato was super soft and spicy. All in all, a delectable beginning to the meal. Next I got an especially wonderful dish. It was slightly like Italian bruschetta, but very different all the same. It was the usual Caprese combo with balsamic vinegar, but on super crisp toast. It was the most delicious bruschetta I've ever eaten. Next was the seafood course. I tasted some garlic shrimp in a flavorful butter sauce and a couple of scallops in a tomato-y sauce. Both were breathtaking in their own way. The shrimp came to me still bubbling rapidly in a hot little dish, cooking in the sauce. The scallops did as well, and I thought the presentation was great.
Next I tasted some gazpacho. I really didn't know what to make of this dish. It had so many interesting and tasty flavors all melded together, and was perfectly smooth, a step away from a usual gazpacho, which is rather chunky. Then I had a couple of French fries with some more of that killer aioli, and I downed those in a blink.
I got the dessert menu and began debating between the French creme brûlée and the Catalan creme brûlée. My waitress recommended the latter, and I was more than happy to oblige. It came to me about fifty seconds after I ordered it, and I dug right in. It was infused with lemon and cinnamon, and the top was crispy and delicious. The custard with smooth, thick, and luscious, and I personally think it was the most wonderful dessert I've ever eaten.
The service was wonderful, too. All my waitresses were sweet and kind, and took very good care of us.
My verdict? This is an absolutely spectacular restaurant, and you should definitely give it a try. Muy Bueno!
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