Saturday, September 20, 2008

KITTICHAI - New York City (SoHo)

Kittichai is located on the 1st level of the Thompson Hotel in the ever trendy SoHo area of one of the greatest cities in the world.

This incredible eatery
is a very modern, sophisticated space of wood, water & orchids. The dining room surrounds a square reflection pool of floating orchids. Individual orchid blooms are suspended above the pool. The subtle and artistic lighting add a beautiful elegant touch.

My friends, Julie and Raja, and I selected the 9 course tasting menu.

Our feast included:

  • fishcakes with cucumber & red onion chutney;

  • “Meing” tuna tartare served in limestone tartlets with peanuts, ginger, lime and a sweet chili sauce;

  • Northern Thai beef salad with very thin slices of very lean beef, Chinese long beans and roasted sticky rice powder;

  • crispy whole fish resting in a very light ginger curry sauce;

  • a salad of pan-seared hake dtom yum and Shanghai shoots and basil;

  • sautéed gai-lan in lemon grass and chicken stock with garlic and ginger (baby bok choy, orange peppers and tomatoes);

  • sliced grilled chicken breast rubbed with bird eye chili and Chinese long beans and cilantro;

  • pineapple braised short ribs with a delicate green curry sauce, Thai eggplant and sweet basil. This delicacy was served over fluffy steamed jasmine rice.

Finally for dessert, we had a flourless Valrhona chocolate cake wrapped in a banana leaf with a fresh cream & vanilla bean mousse. Our second dessert was the banana spring rolls – a translucent spring roll dough wrapped around bananas with cored out centers filled with chocolate and nuts – complete with a dollop of burnt honey ice cream and dusted with course granules of brunt sugar.

One word – SPECTACULAR !

The restaurant offers a full menu and bar, as well as, another tasting menu with 13 courses. The extremely friendly & accommodating staff were invisibly perfect from the moment we entered the restaurant! At $69 per person, the tasting menu is a wonderful way to experience the magic coming from the kitchen of Kittichai.


Mmm, Mmm, Mmm...

www.kittichairestaurant.com

$$$
+++++


$ 10
$$ 20
$$$ 30
$$$$ 40+

Staff
+ Stop bothering me!
++ Anyone here?
+++ Stopped when in the area.
++++ As needed and friendly.
+++++ Invisibly perfect!

Overall
✦ “One visit too many!”
✦✦ “Convince me!”
✦✦✦ “I’ll be back!”
✦✦✦✦ “Same table next week!”

Friday, September 19, 2008

THE COFFEE SHOP & BAR – New York City (Union Square)

The Coffee Shop is a classic American diner with a Brazilian twist. This loud, bright diner serves a sprinkling of expected diner fare but the focus is on Brazilian cuisine. It is open 23 hours per day for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Julie and I had spent most of the day walking and window shopping our way through on the the greatest cities. We needed a break; I remembered a recommendation from friends and found ourselves with a short wait for a table at Coffee Shop in Union Square.

It was only appropriate we start our lunch with caiprinhas – the classic Brazilian concoction of rum & lime. We decided to order several dishes and share. We started with the chilled carrot and ginger soup. We actually had 2 orders of the Pao de Queijo; the bite size pieces of Romano cheese bread gently baked to a delicate crusty outside and a slightly undercooked gooey center. These were truly cheesy puffs of heaven!

Pastels de Cameron were mouthwatering Bahian dumplings filled with tidbits of shrimp, celery & onion. The “centerpiece” of our lunch was the Sopa de Peixe Bahia – seafood chowder with a very light, fresh tomato seafood stock. The large soap bowl had a mound of carrots, tomatoes, green peppers, grilled tuna, shrimp, crab, skin-on white potatoes, corn, celery, cilantro and garlic. These al dente tidbits were swimming in a delicate tomato fish stock. Yumm!

Go for the incredible, reasonably priced Brazilian food & the eye candy! The elevated noise level makes conversation both with your dining companion and wait staff can be challenging.


Mmm... Mmm...

$$
++++


$ 10
$$ 20
$$$ 30
$$$$ 40+

Staff
+ Stop bothering me!
++ Anyone here?
+++ Stopped when in the area.
++++ As needed and friendly.
+++++ Invisibly perfect!

Overall
✦ “One visit too many!”
✦✦ “Convince me!”
✦✦✦ “I’ll be back!”
✦✦✦✦ “Same table next week!”

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

CAFE OLIVER - Minneapolis

Cafe Oliver recently took over Acadia Cafe's former space near downtown. Cafe Oliver has a lot of charm for a small neighborhood cafe - exposed brick, high ceilings, lots of seating, a small stage, and works of local artists on the walls. The menu is fairly short featuring salads, sandwiches, sweets and fair trade coffee. You will also find a nice list of fair trade wines by the glass and bottle. On Sundays & Mondays, bottles of wine are half priced!

Neil and I needed a late dinner so we chose the "new kid on the block." We started off with chips 'n salsa, described as "homemade salsa with the crispiest chips". The homemade salsa tasted very similar to bottled Pace & tortilla chips that were a day beyond crispy.

I had the turkey club sandwich on grilled Tuscan bread. The 2 slices of turkey had the texture of pressed turkey breast, the 2 translucent slices of bacon missed their mark, the slice of Swiss cheese was too small for the bread, and finally it needed more of the herbed mayo. Very disappointing. A handful of crumbled BBQ kettle potato chips came with the sandwich. BBQ chips... why? This was an odd match.

When the music is playing, it provides a nice background to conversation. While we were eating, there were 2 periods of 5-7 minutes of no music. I found this to be odd during our 1 hour visit.

Cafe Oliver has potential. Until the sandwiches become something to brag about, I recommend stopping at Jimmy John's (across the street) for your sandwich where you get 3 times the meat and fixings for about $6. Take your sandwich over to Cafe Oliver's and uncork a good wine at a great price!

$
++++
✦✦

$ 10
$$ 20
$$$ 30
$$$$ 40+

Staff
+ Stop bothering me!
++ Anyone here?
+++ Stopped when in the area.
++++ As needed and friendly.
+++++ Invisibly perfect!

Overall
✦ “One visit too many!”
✦✦ “Convince me!”
✦✦✦ “I’ll be back!”
✦✦✦✦ “Same table next week!”

Saturday, September 13, 2008

ALAMBRES MEXICAN GRILL - San Diego

Alambres Mexican Grill has a comfortable little space along Fifth Avenue in the Gaslamp Quarter - a restored Victorian Historic area in downtown San Diego.

David & I needed a break from our walking tour and settled into a sidewalk table for some libations and nibbles. Joseph immediately appeared and told us that the Saturday Happy Hour specials were mojitos and margaritas for $4. Sign us up!


We order a round of mojitos... not stopping with one. We arrived at the start of Happy Hour so Joseph was both the waiter and bartender. He made the best mojitos I've have had in a very long time - the perfect blend of rum, mint, lime & sugar.


A cheese quesadilla arrived between rounds of our mojitos - a warm, slightly crispy tortilla filled with gooey cheese. Not wanting to stop with the quesadilla, we ordered the nachos. Joseph returned with a platter and a mound of homemade chips, melted cheese, onions and beans. The nachos were accompanied by a quartet of salsas - pico de gallo, tomatillo, mole and, my favorite, a wonderfully smoky chipotle.


Aah, the ideal ingredients for a relaxing afternoon break - mojitos, a good friend, sidewalk eye candy & sunny skies of San Diego!

Mmm, Mmm...

http://www.alambres.net/

$$
++++


$ 10
$$ 20
$$$ 30
$$$$ 40+

Staff
+ Stop bothering me!
++ Anyone here?
+++ Stopped when in the area.
++++ As needed and friendly.
+++++ Invisibly perfect!

Overall
✦ “One visit too many!”
✦✦ “Convince me!”
✦✦✦ “I’ll be back!”
✦✦✦✦ “Same table next week!”

Friday, September 12, 2008

HASH HOUSE A GO GO - San Diego

Hash House a Go Go is in the Hillcrest area of San Diego. This was my friend, David's first trip to San Diego. During the flight, we created a list of dining must-do's. Hash House was on the list.

According to the Hash House menu, they present "twisted farm food." Very true! The 'farm house' or dining area is a funky collection of iron chairs, galvanized steel chair rails, various sized tables topped with tiny bouquets of wheat shafts, and an odd assortment of farm memorabilia. Hash House also offers fresh juices and strong coffee to accompany your feast. Try the expresso - delizioso!

Past dining experiences at Hash House reminded me that I wouldn't leave the least bit hungry. The over-sized portions can be as intimidating as the platters the breakfast is served on. David and I split the House Hash of chunks of roasted chicken, onions, asparagus, potatoes, bits of garlic and rosemary - an amazing combination of flavor! The hash also comes with 2 eggs and a fluffy biscuit. A bit of butter on the biscuit is simple perfection! Our side of cinnamon wheat toast melted in our mouths.

The staff is very friendly and quick to suggest a favorite if you're are undecided. The low ceilings significantly increase the noise level. You will have a hard time hearing your dining companion. Go for the food, energy and people watching; you can always chat later... Remember to bring a huge appetite.

Mmm, Mmm...

http://www.hashhouseagogo.com/

$$
++++


$ 10
$$ 20
$$$ 30
$$$$ 40+

Staff
+ Stop bothering me!
++ Anyone here?
+++ Stopped when in the area.
++++ As needed and friendly.
+++++ Invisibly perfect!

Overall
✦ “One visit too many!”
✦✦ “Convince me!”
✦✦✦ “I’ll be back!”
✦✦✦✦ “Same table next week!”

Sunday, September 07, 2008

AROMA KITCHEN & WINEBAR - New York City - Bowery area

Aroma Kitchen & Winebar is a small, relaxed restaurant with seating for approximately 26 including the intimate bar area. Those diners fortunate to get seat will be treated to an incredible meal of very fresh ingredients delivering intense flavors throughout their dining experience. The long narrow space of color, high ceilings and dark woods create a very comfortable ambiance. You will be surprised how quickly 2 hours will disappear. This evening my dear friend, Sean, and I were treated to the soothing sounds of Daniel; he is a superb acoustic guitar player from Argentina. His rhythms were the perfect background with volume allowing conversation without yelling!

We ordered from their Sunday evening 3-course Prix Fixe menu. For $29, that's right, $29, you can choose from 5 appetizers, 5 entrees and 3 desserts. For an additional $8, you can enjoy a glass of house red or white with your meal. I began with the Caesar salad - a generous serving of greens, croutons, parmigiano reggiano, anchovy, & a very smooth Caesar dressing (homemade, of course). This satisfying starter was topped with a poached egg. The egg provided a delicate balance to the anchovy draped across the top of the salad.

My entree was the Whole Wheat Penne with roasted artichokes. The organic pasta was perfectly cooked, accompanied by cherry tomatoes and toasted pine nuts. This bowl of heaven was lightly tossed in a pureed artichoke sauce of artichokes, onion, celery and thyme. All of this goodness was dusted with fresh grated parmigiano reggiano.

For dessert, Sean & I, ordered the Gianduja Panna Cotta and Vanilla Bread Pudding. The lighter-than-air panna cotta was delicately flavored with Italian chocolate and hazelnuts resting on a bed of lightly sweetened graham cracker crumbs nestled next to a dollop of decadently smooth hazelnut gelato (nocciola gelato).

The vanilla bread pudding was a sinful blend of Italian bread, golden raisins, and a very smooth warm chocolate sauce drizzled over the plate. You have the option of dipping your bites of sin in the very fresh vanilla bean ice cream (correctly referred to as stracciatella gelato) with bits of chocolate chips. We could not decide which was our favorite. Make it easy; order both!

The very visible & friendly owners, Alexandra & Vito, move among the tables ensuring all their guests have a memorable evening. This neighborhood gem was named to the "Sexiest Wine Lists of NY" in January '08 and CitySearch's "Best Romantic Bar" in '06.

Mmm, Mmm, Mmm...

http://www.aromanyc.com

$$
++++


$ 10
$$ 20
$$$ 30
$$$$ 40+

Staff
+ Stop bothering me!
++ Anyone here?
+++ Stopped when in the area.
++++ As needed and friendly.
+++++ Invisibly perfect!

Overall
✦ “One visit too many!”
✦✦ “Convince me!”
✦✦✦ “I’ll be back!”
✦✦✦✦ “Same table next week!”