bettyjoan

Monday night: Shrimp and grits casserole, from Cooking Light magazine. Very tasty that night (though the shrimp were a bit overcooked), but not so great leftover. Too bad, since the recipe resulted in about 4-6 servings. Ah, well, live and learn. Tuesday night: Whole wheat rigatoni with homemade morel alfredo sauce. YUMMMMMM. Creamy, mushroomy goodness!

Got into the morels last night--they had been sitting in a paper bag since Sunday, and aside from a slimy or dry shroom here and there, they held up pretty well. First I sauteed some shallots in olive oil, then I added a stick of butter and the chopped morels and continued to saute. The smell in the kitchen was amazing! Once the mushrooms were done, I added a cup of heavy cream, some freshly grated parmesan cheese, and some salt and pepper. I tossed it with some whole wheat rigatoni, and voila! Dinner! And a really yummy one at that! And hooray, I had enough for lunch leftovers! Morels make me use lots of exclamation points. Too bad they're only a once-in-a-while treat.

I'm not sure exactly how quality varies from location to location, mostly since I can only easily walk to 2-3 of them, but my extensive research does show that taking one's Five Guys to-go (even if you're only commuting a short distance) is vastly inferior to eating in. The fries are particularly unappetizing when allowed to sit in the bag and steam/soak up grease for more than a moment or two. Yet I keep going back...mmm, grease...

Last night was a pork chili verde from Cooking light magazine--sliced pork tenderloin dusted with cornmeal and ancho powder, sauteed, then simmered with tomatillos, jalapenos, chicken broth, cilantro, green onions, tequila, and salt. Could have used some beans, not only to thicken it up, but also to counter the VERY bright flavors and high acidity. Still pretty tasty, and definitely a more refreshing, summery alternative to red chili.

I can't tell you how disappointed I am that I cannot be there--I really wanted to attend one more big DR.com event before the big move. Alas, my boyfriend and sister are graduating from law school that day--and I suppose I should be happy for them, grumble grumble. I had such a good time at my first event (the Wagyu tasting), so I would encourage all "newbies" to consider attending the picnic and getting to know the fine folks who contribute to this wonderful community. I hope you all have fun!

Oops, forgot to note the website: http://www.tacklebox-dc.com/

As for hours, they said 11 AM to 11 PM on weekdays, 11 AM to 2 AM on weekends. They don't have their liquor license yet, but I believe they're trying to get one. In terms of parking, it's Georgetown, so I imagine it's pretty much a nightmare--but I don't own a car, so I wasn't really keyed in to that part of the equation. And yes, they have lobster rolls on the menu, served with fries for $19. They also have to-go "lobster pots" that include Maine lobster, mussels, clams, corn, sausage, potatoes, and various and sundry other seasonings for $40 per person--the idea is that you add water and steam them at home. Next time, I'm trying some of their wood-grilled fish (even though it will be tough to stray from the delicious fried stuff) with hush puppies--droooool.

I got some lovely asparagus and morels as well, in addition to some shockingly beautiful tomatoes, fresh eggs, chocolate milk, a buffalo ribeye steak, and a mini apple pie. I love springtime at the market!

Much to our pleasant surprise, we walked by The Tackle Box yesterday and discovered that it was their grand opening! We were there around 4 or 4:30, and there was plenty of staff on hand--including Chef Seaver. For $13, you can get a "Maine Meal" that includes a fish, two sides, and a sauce. I opted for fried clams, mac 'n cheese, and grilled asparagus, and I decided to try the lemon garlic aioli (even though I don't usually put a lot of sauce on my seafood). The clams were huge and tasty, and the breading added great flavor without being heavy or overwhelming. The mac 'n cheese was just average and could have used a little more cheese and seasoning. The grilled asparagus were awesome--they had a wonderful char, and they were crisp but tender. The aioli was nice, but, true to form, I didn't use much of it. Boyfriend had the fried oysters, braised greens, and french fries, and he went with the tartar sauce. The oysters were big and juicy and bursting with flavor (I actually preferred them to my clams), and the greens were salty and delicious. The fries were seasoned well, though I would have preferred them to be a bit crisper. I didn't try the tartar, but it was gone by the end of the meal, so it must have been good. The place is really casual, with big communal picnic tables and paper/plastic plates and forks. The quality of ingredients was apparent, and I thought the quantity of food was pretty good for the money (for example, I think boyfriend got about 8-10 oysters with his meal, and I got 5 really nice stalks of asparagus with mine). We asked about their hours, and it looks like they'll be open till 2 AM on the weekends--freakin' smart, considering the lack of GOOD late-night dining in this city. We'll definitely be back--there's plenty of variety on the menu, so there were many things I didn't get to try that I would like to. I think this place is going to be crazy busy once the word gets out!

Friday night: Sushi Taro. We were going to go to Makoto, but after reading a lot of inconsistent things, we decided that all we really wanted was good ol' reliable raw fish, so we stuck close to home. Good call--the fish was the freshest and most delicious it's ever been. Saturday late afternoon/early evening: The Tackle Box. We were shopping in Georgetown when we moseyed past Hook and noticed it's less expensive, more casual (but still focused on sustainable seafood) baby brother. Turned out it was the grand opening! I had fried clams, grilled asparagus, mac and cheese, and a glass of yummy lemonade. VERY tasty, and reasonably priced! Everyone, including Chef Seaver, seemed to be really excited and well-spirited about the new venture. Hope it's successful!

Thanks for the sauce tips! As for which whole wheat pasta I used, I really have no idea--probably store brand, or whatever was cheapest (boyfriend went to the store for me, since I only realized at dinner time that I had no pasta on hand). To be honest, if the pasta isn't homemade, it all tastes about the same to me. I can't think of any reason for whole wheat pasta to be mushy other than VAST overcooking--usually, I have a hard time cooking it enough to take the bite out of it. When I move to Atlanta and get my shiny new Kitchen-Aid mixer, it's ON--I can't wait to start experimenting with homemade pasta.

Monday night: Experimented with poaching eggs and then frying them (an idea I got from the blog of the Marriott corporate chef). It worked alright, though my poaching method (wrapping the eggs in plastic wrap and then dunking them) could use some refinement. I served them over asparagus roasted in salt, pepper, and olive oil--delicious, first I've had this season. Wednesday night: Asian chicken thighs (marinated in soy sauce, honey, ginger, sesame oil, garlic, and black pepper) with a spicy, minted cucumber salad (marinated in seasoned rice wine vinegar, serrano peppers, shallots, sesame oil, ground red pepper, honey, salt, and fresh mint). Even though I had to settle for the indoor grill pan instead of an outdoor bbq, it was a delicious meal--spicy, but refreshing. Yum. I adapted it from a recipe in Cooking Light magazine. Thursday night: Whole wheat spaghetti with a Firehook French loaf and homemade marinara sauce (onions, garlic, a bunch of dried herbs, balsamic vinegar, chicken stock, and crushed tomatoes). This was the first time I attempted my own sauce, and it turned out really nice (albeit a bit thin, though I think it will thicken up as it sits). I froze about half of it for later use--it will work really well with eggplant parm, or I could brown some meat and turn it into a bolognese.

Going to Makoto tonight, after hearing that it was not to be missed. Has anyone been recently?

Monday night (and this morning): Frittata with roasted asparagus, caramelized onions, canadian bacon, and gruyere. I really wanted some mushrooms in there, but boyfriend does not like, so I sauteed them and ate them on the side. Tonight: Eggplant parmesan. Though, I use more mozzarella than parmesan, so I suppose I should call it eggplant mozzarella. In any case, cheesy veggie goodness.

As my office's resident food fiend, I have been tasked with a rather sizeable mission--to find a good restaurant in Las Vegas for about 70 people, with a price point of less than $50 per person (excluding alcohol). The conference is in August, and the participants are all staying at the Monte Carlo, so it would have to be walkable or cab-able from there. Any thoughts?

Friday night: We were supposed to go to Proof with some out of town guests, but there was an emergency and they cancelled their trip. We decided to cancel the reservation and return for my birthday (sadly, on my salary, Proof is a special occasion place). Boyfriend wanted to try Ray's the Steaks, since I raved about my dinner there a couple of weeks ago. Crab bisque was AMAZING, scallops were great, hanger steak was everything I hoped for and more. Apps, steaks, and dessert (and two beers for boyfriend), and we got out for less than $90, including a 20%+ tip. I love this place. Sunday afternoon: Grill from Ipanema. Boyfriend and I are learning Portuguese, so he wanted to try out the food. The Coxinha de Galinha ("Brazilian croquette stuffed with chicken and cheese, lightly breaded and fried, served with a spicy sauce on the side") were awesome, and the feijoada was good, but the Passaro Preto ("Crispy fried chicken pieces on the bone marinated in olive oil, garlic, and basil, served with rice, black beans, collard greens, and farofa") was the star of the show.

Boyfriend and I journeyed to Georgetown to try this place on Sunday morning, and we were pleasantly surprised. The 15-minute wait passed quickly, since I was gawking at the beautiful baked goods and spreads available for purchase. I will say, the layout of the space is HORRIBLE for waiting (which happens regularly, I'd imagine), though it's probably better when the weather is nice and folks can congregate outside. We sat at a two-top instead of at the communal table, which was nice and private but didn't provide enough space for the amount of food and beverages we wanted to order (we were hungry little piggies)! We started with the bread basket, and all of the varieties were good, but the baguette was superb--crusty outside, soft inside, and delicious on its own OR with the various spreads (praline was the best, drooooooool). We took about half the bread home, so hopefully it will survive for a day or two and be tasty when it's toasted. We also got omelettes--I opted for the ham and gruyere, and boyfriend chose the asparagus and goat cheese. Both were incredibly light and fluffy--do the organic eggs have something to do with that? Both cheeses were of very high quality, but I actually liked the asparagus and goat cheese combo the best (and, conveniently, boyfriend preferred the ham and gruyere). The vinaigrette on the accompanying greens was quite tasty as well. Coffee was good and service was just fine. The breakfast was more expensive than some, but we left stuffed and with bread to take home for later. We noticed a lot of trouble with seating at the communal table--for example, parties would leave and the hostess would retrieve the next group in line, only to find that people had shifted in the meantime--so that could use some tweaking. I noticed they had an organic challah bread (only available on Fridays, I believe)--I'll definitely return to try that!

Finally, FINALLY, I got to experience the magical wonderment that is Ray's the Steaks! It's rare (pun intended) that a restaurant can live up to the level of hype that surrounds this place, but in my book, RTS absolutely does. I would like to go back, oh, now-ish. We arrived and were seated right at 5 PM when they opened--having been prepared for the minimalist decor, I wasn't as jarred by it as some first-timers have been. My group of 4 opted for a lovely and reasonably priced bottle of shiraz, and we decided to go with soups for appetizers--two crab bisques and two onion soups. The former was delicious--creamy and sweet, but also with some nice acidity, and LOADED with crabmeat. The latter was good, though a little less cheesy than I would prefer--BUT, the pieces of beefy goodness in the broth more than made up for that! Two of my gal pals ordered filets, and they had great char to them. I ordered the cajun ribeye, which was cooked PERFECTLY (rare) and had amazing flavor. It was covered in sauteed garlic, which I was hesitant about at first, but it was so mellow and tender that it was a great compliment to the spice. The favorite cut of the night was the hanger steak--amazing! Now I understand why people talk about it like they do. The creamed spinach was one of the better versions I've had, and the mashed potatoes were also yummy. For dessert, we had milk chocolate mousse (droooooool) and key lime pie. Now, I make a pretty mean key lime pie myself. But the crust on the RTS version? Unbelievable. With all of that food, two bottles of wine, and tip, it worked out to about $60 per person. SOOOOO incredibly reasonable, especially when you consider that we all departed with leftovers (which I, in a drunken haze, left under my chair at the bar we visited after dinner--for shame, I know, but at least a friend recovered the container and enjoyed the spoils the next day). Can't wait for my next visit!

Finally made it to Palena on Friday night with the boyfriend, who knew that I wanted to eat there before moving and suggested it for our date night. We arrived at around 6:30 and were seated immediately in the cafe. Ordering drinks was easy (beer for boyfriend, chenin blanc for me), but food represented a much harder decision! As much as we were tempted to order from the main restaurant menu, we decided to stick with the cafe fare and then come back at a later date and sit in the dining room. Boyfriend ordered the burger (rare), I ordered the black grouper (with potatoes, veggies, and a lemon sauce), and we split the fry plate. The burger was tasty, and the bun was the best I've ever had, but unfortunately the meat came out closer to medium. Based on it being overcooked, boyfriend ranked the burger an 8 out of 10. Still pretty high marks--I can only imagine how good it would be if it was a little less done. The grouper was delicious and very light. And the fry plate? Oh. My. GAWD. The classic french fries were wonderfully crispy on the outside, yet still tender on the inside. The onion rings had the perfect thin coating, and the dauphine (spelling?) potatoes were unlike anything I've ever had before. I didn't know what to think of the fried lemon slices at first, but they were really refreshing and unique. Dessert was cannoli and the cookie platter. The former was very good, but the latter was just divine. Do they make them all in-house? Every item on the plate was delectable, but if I had to pick a favorite, it would be a tie between the caramel (texture and flavor were divine) and the brittle (I think it was almond). Yummy in my tummy. My biggest complaint about the evening is that I felt we were being rushed out. I know the cafe is busy, and maybe the brusqueness was just our server's style, but it was a little unpleasant to feel like the clock was ticking. Next time I'll make sure to do better on my part to request a more leisurely experience. Other than that, though, Palena was a hit--I hope to return before my departure.

You're not the only one watching, but you very well might be if they keep showing crappy episodes like that! Erik's plating was, in fact, a disaster. However, I don't know if that merited his removal more than, say, Zoi's whining about not wanting to make pasta salad (and then producing a crappy one). I understand that pasta salad ain't haute cuisine--but it also ain't hard to make well. Heck, my 86-year-old grandmother makes about the tastiest version I've ever had. Anytime a Top Chef contestant goes down the "I'm too good to make ______" road, I get reeeeeeeally turned off. The quality of the guest judges is still pretty darn good (though Bayless was giving off a creep-tastic vibe), and I'll keep watching for Ted Allen, if nothing else. Love him!

FINALLY, after months of begging, my sister and boyfriend joined me for dinner at Colorado Kitchen tonight--it was the first visit for all of us. We were immediately charmed by the retro feel of the restaurant. Loved the vintage salt and pepper shakers! The soup of the day (of which we were immediately provided a sample) was shellfish chowder, and it was fantastically flavorful (so much so that my sister ordered a bowl). We also started with an order of goat cheese fritters, which were served with big fat delicious asparagus. Yum! Sister went for the fricasseed chicken leg with mushrooms and herbs, which was tender and tasty. Boyfriend had the pork chop, which was served with potato rosti and an AMAZING cranberry-granny smith chutney. I would buy that stuff in bulk--and the chop itself was beautifully cooked. I had the roasted chicken with green beans and mashed potatoes, which was good (and had a nice crust) but paled in comparison to the rest of the food. We each got a dessert--the baked apple thingy was good, the "King Ding" (Chef's take on a ding dong) was great, and the sweet potato pie was spectacular. Prices were reasonable, service was excellent, and a good time was had by all. In fact, boyfriend and I even signed up for the April 1 "Bangers and Beer" event. I also love the "adopt a soldier" concept--as a person who serves veterans for a living, I applaud the effort to bring a little bit of the comfort of home to our men and women overseas. Too bad I only got to experience this place two months before my move--darn me and my hesitation. Anyway, we really enjoyed ourselves, and we'll definitely be back!

My first suggestion would be Watershed, ESPECIALLY if the day you're in Atlanta happens to be a Tuesday (which is when they have fried chicken). If you like Mexican food, Taqueria del Sol is also good. Both restaurants are on Ponce de Leon (they're right across the street from each other, actually), in downtown Decatur, just a short drive from Emory. Hope that helps! Watershed: http://www.watershedrestaurant.com/ Taqueria del Sol: http://www.taqueriadelsol.com/

During my recent cooking frenzy, I pre-froze a bunch of chicken legs and thighs (in individual portions) with diced tomatoes, lemon juice, capers, salt, pepper, and a little bit of oil. Last night, I popped two servings in the oven at 400 degrees, and after about 50 minutes (and a few moments in the broiler), I had tender, juicy chicken with a light sauce and a great crispy skin. Way better than "Let's Dish"--I'll have to find more of these freeze-ahead meals for the future!

I absolutely LOVED this week's "Into the Fire" episode. Sure, it was somewhat predictable--but I thought it was hilarious. I was literally clapping my hands and giggling like an amused toddler. And I had NO idea that Eric Ripert was going to make an appearance--swoon! Most importantly, this episode proved to me, once and for all, that there's no frickin' way I could ever be a chef.

During the past week or two, I've been in a cooking frenzy--in addition to the previously mentioned lamb burgers and black bean chili, dinners have included turkey and roasted red pepper meatloaf (really good), smoky corn chowder (amazing), and sausage with red peppers and onions (better the second day). I also pre-froze some individual servings of chicken quarters with a lemon, caper, and tomato sauce--I haven't cooked any of the servings yet, but hopefully it will end up being a better alternative to Let's Dish-type stuff. Last night? I was hormonal and tired of the kitchen. Papa John's has never tasted so good...