Although quiet on a Wednesday evening, Sakura is still the most pleasant Japanese dining in town. There were a few tableside grills with clever chefs entertaining hungry guests with their flaming tricks. In the new autumn coolness, the bursts of heat felt inviting.
I didn't have time for the works at the grill tonight, so I was meeting a friend at the sushi bar. I arrived first and was promptly greeted by a friendly bartender who disappointed me with my first request for saki. How can a Japanese restaurant be out of saki? I made a quick recovery with a Cosmopolitan, perhaps not too adventurous, but delicious despite it's popularity.
I am still a relative novice at sushi. I know a few rolls that I like. My tendency is to stick to what I know is good. The problem with that is that you never get anything new. The first time a friend ordered seaweed salad for me, I was skeptical. Now I love it and want to get it every time, which I did tonight. It did not disappoint. Although I had never ordered the Spring Roll in this restaurant, its ingredients were all familiar. It was quite tasty. Then I ordered something more random: Una Don. The English hint was eel on rice. I expected more rolls, but this came in a bowl. It was hot and savory. The sushi chef was very artistic.
One plus about sushi is that it is easier not to over eat. I hate that stuffed to the gills unpleasantness.
Nice job. I'll definitely be back. There is still so much to explore on that menu.
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Sweet Memories
My home town is about to collectively gain weight. Our town has recently rushed out to enjoy the dual openings of Rita's Italian Ice and Cold Stone Creamery. Tonight I took my kids to Cold Stone. All my steely healthful resolve evaporated when those perky teenagers offered me a free taste test. What could that hurt?
Do you remember that Seinfeld episode where the frozen yogurt wasn't really fat free and everyone who was scarfing it up gained weight? This ice cream I had tonight was too good to be true. They claim it is sugar free, made with Splenda. It was cake batter flavor and it tasted just like the beaters I got to lick if I was one of the lucky ones. As one of four kids, to get one of the two batter beaters was quite a coup. That victory was sweet. The ice cream I had tonight tasted just like that delicious memory. Could it really be sugar free? Certainly the chocolate chips and graham crackers that I had added in weren't sugar free. So I probably shouldn't have it too often. It sure took some of the sting out of that gastronomic memory.
Do you remember that Seinfeld episode where the frozen yogurt wasn't really fat free and everyone who was scarfing it up gained weight? This ice cream I had tonight was too good to be true. They claim it is sugar free, made with Splenda. It was cake batter flavor and it tasted just like the beaters I got to lick if I was one of the lucky ones. As one of four kids, to get one of the two batter beaters was quite a coup. That victory was sweet. The ice cream I had tonight tasted just like that delicious memory. Could it really be sugar free? Certainly the chocolate chips and graham crackers that I had added in weren't sugar free. So I probably shouldn't have it too often. It sure took some of the sting out of that gastronomic memory.
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Vegas Restaurants
What restaurants have you been to in Vegas? With this new job as roving restaurant reporter, I think I should spend a week or two there just eating and writing about it.
One of my favorite dining experiences in Vegas was at Aureole in the Mandalay Bay resort. This was a year ago, so to be honest, I don't remember what I ordered. I remember two things. One, I was with this really hot guy, an old flame from high school. What a cutie - and with a great job to boot! The other was the wine selection.
The wine list at Aureole is electronic. They give you a book size computer with a stylus and you can review their wines in a variety of ways: type of grape, region, price, vintner, menu suggestions. You had a wealth of information at your fingertips. That wasn't even the coolest part.
The restaurant's wine collection was stored in a white Lucite tower that was lit from within. The tower, enclosed in glass, but in sight of the entire dining area, was accessible by a series of ropes and pulleys. Once you made your wine selection, your server would hook themselves up to the ropes and pull themselves up to the bin with you selection. The wine was holstered and brought down with the server.
I suppose in a city with as many exquisite dining experiences as Vegas, a restaurateur has to find a way to stand out. Here it is a year later and I remember the Aureole well. It is an excellent place to drink wine if you are a novice like me or an expert who craves all that information about the wine.
Bottom's up!
One of my favorite dining experiences in Vegas was at Aureole in the Mandalay Bay resort. This was a year ago, so to be honest, I don't remember what I ordered. I remember two things. One, I was with this really hot guy, an old flame from high school. What a cutie - and with a great job to boot! The other was the wine selection.
The wine list at Aureole is electronic. They give you a book size computer with a stylus and you can review their wines in a variety of ways: type of grape, region, price, vintner, menu suggestions. You had a wealth of information at your fingertips. That wasn't even the coolest part.
The restaurant's wine collection was stored in a white Lucite tower that was lit from within. The tower, enclosed in glass, but in sight of the entire dining area, was accessible by a series of ropes and pulleys. Once you made your wine selection, your server would hook themselves up to the ropes and pull themselves up to the bin with you selection. The wine was holstered and brought down with the server.
I suppose in a city with as many exquisite dining experiences as Vegas, a restaurateur has to find a way to stand out. Here it is a year later and I remember the Aureole well. It is an excellent place to drink wine if you are a novice like me or an expert who craves all that information about the wine.
Bottom's up!
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Wacky Waiter
I love enthusiastic waitstaff.
Tonight I ate at the DuClaws in Bowie, Maryland. Although I am not an official member of their club, my sister & her husband are. So I often join them on new beer release nights. Now I confess I am also not a huge beer fan, but I do like to try new things. So I find the festivities of new beer night to be enjoyable. It is more fun when the staff seems to be enjoying themselves too.
I was sure they were tonight. The new release was a sweet, dark beer called “Twisted Kilt.” As we walked in, we saw a waiter, who I will call Wallace, wearing an authentic kilt. He was bold enough to have painted his face a savage blue. I immediately thought of a folk song I know about Scottsmen and their kilts, but was trying not to be a lecherous divorcee.
Our waitress also seemed to be from the British Isles, a blonde named Molly. She was just the right amount of friendly and casual without being too personal or chatty. Her accent indicated that her possible Irish heritage came via New York. I'll go to a restaurant with bad food for friendly service, but not vice versa. Fortunately for me, both were good tonight. The high alcohol content didn't hurt either.
It turns out that William Wallace was our “food runner” tonight. When I was a waitress, I carried my own food. This is a newer trend. Of course, we had to comment on the individulatiy of his work attire this evening. Bravehart indicated that he was a bit apprehensive about the face paint since he wasn't working in the bar where face paint is apparently more acceptable. However, he reasoned, since he wasn't an official waiter, just a food runner, he thought he might get away with it. My brother-in-law suggested that if Management hassled him, he should just yell out, “Freedom!” When questioned further, he did hint that he hadn't gone the last mile with the true Scottsman kilt-wearing traditions. I for one was disappointed, but I suppose in a restaurant that was for the best.
I don't know if I'd recognize him without the kilt or the blue face. I'll let you know on the next beer release night.
Oh, and I had the crabcakes. They were quite good, big lumps of meat and not too breaded. I liked the Misfit Red better than either the Kangaroo Love or the Twisted Kilt. I've always had a soft spot for misfits.
Tonight I ate at the DuClaws in Bowie, Maryland. Although I am not an official member of their club, my sister & her husband are. So I often join them on new beer release nights. Now I confess I am also not a huge beer fan, but I do like to try new things. So I find the festivities of new beer night to be enjoyable. It is more fun when the staff seems to be enjoying themselves too.
I was sure they were tonight. The new release was a sweet, dark beer called “Twisted Kilt.” As we walked in, we saw a waiter, who I will call Wallace, wearing an authentic kilt. He was bold enough to have painted his face a savage blue. I immediately thought of a folk song I know about Scottsmen and their kilts, but was trying not to be a lecherous divorcee.
Our waitress also seemed to be from the British Isles, a blonde named Molly. She was just the right amount of friendly and casual without being too personal or chatty. Her accent indicated that her possible Irish heritage came via New York. I'll go to a restaurant with bad food for friendly service, but not vice versa. Fortunately for me, both were good tonight. The high alcohol content didn't hurt either.
It turns out that William Wallace was our “food runner” tonight. When I was a waitress, I carried my own food. This is a newer trend. Of course, we had to comment on the individulatiy of his work attire this evening. Bravehart indicated that he was a bit apprehensive about the face paint since he wasn't working in the bar where face paint is apparently more acceptable. However, he reasoned, since he wasn't an official waiter, just a food runner, he thought he might get away with it. My brother-in-law suggested that if Management hassled him, he should just yell out, “Freedom!” When questioned further, he did hint that he hadn't gone the last mile with the true Scottsman kilt-wearing traditions. I for one was disappointed, but I suppose in a restaurant that was for the best.
I don't know if I'd recognize him without the kilt or the blue face. I'll let you know on the next beer release night.
Oh, and I had the crabcakes. They were quite good, big lumps of meat and not too breaded. I liked the Misfit Red better than either the Kangaroo Love or the Twisted Kilt. I've always had a soft spot for misfits.
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
What's on the walls?
Restaurant décor can make a big difference in your dining experience. I love it when the décor is intriguing. I have been in several where I get up and browse around just to see more of the artwork on the walls. TJ Elliott’s offers just such a collection.
Contrasting with the bold Tuscan gold, deep greens and reds is a collection of framed black and white photos. They appear to be family photos. Some of the more recent ones contain pictures of faces I recognize of the owner and his brother. Some of the older ones have a man who looks like Jimmy who must be Jimmy’s father. There is a family grouping of a grandma and proud parents with a little girl in her bridal First Holy Communion dress and veil. Another photo shows several Italian fellas around a restaurant table, Lucky Strikes butts cramming the table ashtrays after a long business lunch. A photo of two men by a gasoline pump show us how unbelievable cheap our fuel used to be. I had to get up and look closer.
Next time you’re in, stroll down the long wall and enjoy these photos. Are you amazed at the gas price in that picture too?
Contrasting with the bold Tuscan gold, deep greens and reds is a collection of framed black and white photos. They appear to be family photos. Some of the more recent ones contain pictures of faces I recognize of the owner and his brother. Some of the older ones have a man who looks like Jimmy who must be Jimmy’s father. There is a family grouping of a grandma and proud parents with a little girl in her bridal First Holy Communion dress and veil. Another photo shows several Italian fellas around a restaurant table, Lucky Strikes butts cramming the table ashtrays after a long business lunch. A photo of two men by a gasoline pump show us how unbelievable cheap our fuel used to be. I had to get up and look closer.
Next time you’re in, stroll down the long wall and enjoy these photos. Are you amazed at the gas price in that picture too?
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