Back to it....

I have been on hiatus after having a fabulous meal in New York City in March.  I had every intention of blogging about my experience at 11 Madison Park, but I could not figure out how to start writing about that experience.  I arrived for lunch on a Friday afternoon and was dining solo.  I decided since I was going all out with the 3 course lunch, I decided to go with the wine pairings as well.  I quickly found out that this dining experience would be like no other I have had.  First the menu was simply a selection of ingredients.  You pick which ones you want and let them know of any allergies and they create your course around that ingredient.  I went with carrot, chicken, and chocolate.  In addition they had various amuses to start with which were delectable!  I really can't do justice to the food so I will simply post some pictures of the items that arrived at my table.



Beet Lollipop - Mmmm!!!

Carrot Course



Chicken

  

Chocolate
























2nd Dessert






After dessert, the manager came over to my table and asked me if she could show me the kitchen!  Of course!!  I was taken back to the kitchen and saw the huge number of people they had back there preparing the wonderful meal.  Then someone came over and made me a final cocktail to send me off.  Not sure what all it had in it, but it was frozen with dry ice.  At one point I said "well, this probably isn't very foodie of me, but this reminds me of pop rocks."  Turned out it WAS pop rocks.  Wild!

So ended a fabulous meal at a fabulous restaurant.  I found out that Eleven Madison Park was named Outstanding Restaurant USA 2011 by the James Beard Foundation.  This is similar to the Oscars for the foodie world.  Well deserved!

Black Sea Restaurant

We went to a Turkish restaurant today and it turns out they bill themselves as the "First Turkish Restaurant in Minnesota."  Black Sea Restaurant is a small, hole in the wall restaurant located near Hamline University.  We walked in between 1:30 - 2:00 and it was packed.  We had to wait about 10 minutes for a table.  Of course it only holds 23 people and that may have included staff.  It was well worth the short wait. 

We started with a hummus plate served with very warm pita chips.  The hummus was very good and tasted very fresh.  We each ordered a pita sandwich or gyro.  I chose chicken and the hubby picked a combination gyro that had lamb, chicken, and beef.  They came out fairly quickly.  The sandwiches were good - the meat was nicely seasoned, the lettuce was crisp, and the onions were powerful.  There may have been a light dressing on the sandwiches but nothing real strong.  Just a good, solid gyro.

The restaurant itself was decorated with pictures from Turkey and various cultural items.  They also sold some small souvenirs like rings, cups and saucers, and beads.  The restaurant was clean and well kept.  I think they do great business from what it seemed like when we were there. 

Happy Eating!

Heartland Restaurant & Farm Direct Market

Reservations for One (RFO) and I had dinner at Heartland Restaurant and Farm Direct Market last night.  It was a great dinner and evening.  The chef, Lenny Russo, has done great things with his new space and direction he has taken with the restaurant and adjoining market.  We arrived a few minutes early which gave us the opportunity to walk around the space.  The restaurant is in an old building with lots of brick and an open atrium up through the middle of the building.  We were seated in the dining room, but the bar is very inviting and would be a great place to go back for a drink or dinner in the bar.  The kitchen is visible to one side of the establishment and there are a few tables right by the kitchen.  I would assume this is where they would do a chef's table.

We were seated promptly and greeted by a server who was well-knowledgeable and very helpful.  I started out with a glass of Malbec while RFO enjoyed a cup of hot tea - Evening in Missoula herbal blend.  We then perused the menu which was full of many options for us.  Heartland features two prix-fixe menus each night.  One is vegetarian and one is not.  The value for the three course meal is too good to pass up with the regular priced plates.  Though the regular plates sounded delicious! 

We both chose the "Flora" (vegetarian) prix-fixe menu.  We had a choice of bread to start with - I chose the wheat roll with green peppercorns.  The green peppercorns gave just a hint of spice occasionally.  The bread was very chewy and dense.  We were served an amuse bouche that was a small puff pastry with a creamy, yummy goodness inside topped with a beet green. 

The appetizer was a wonderful caramelized onion galette, goat cheese mousse, upland cress with a pear vinaigrette.  The crust of the tart was flaky and paired well with the onions.  I think we both would have been happy to have another serving of the galette.

The second course was a mushroom themed ravioli entree.  The dish arrived with three large but thin raviolis filled with hedgehog mushrooms in a hazelnut cream.  The three raviolis were then in a mushroom broth served with fried chantrelle mushrooms.  Historically I am not a mushroom person, but I've determined that it's all in the preparation.  Mushrooms on pizza...I can pass on those.  Mushrooms fixed by Lenny Russo...sign me up!  The only downside was the relatively small portion of ravioli we received.  Though after eating our next course we both were satiated.

The dessert was a presentation of various forms of chocolate.  There was what appeared to be a scoop of vanilla ice cream, but instead it was white chocolate.  There was also a chocolate truffle torte along with other chocolate tastings.  Excellent!

After dinner we went into the market that Heartland runs to see what they had over there.  It was filled with a number of local products, soups/sauces made on the premises, and a full counter of cheeses and meats to purchase for home.  They also have a deli style menu for eating on the premises.  The prices were a bit steep but given the local flavor of the items, the cost did not surprise me too much.

Definitely worth a visit to Heartland!

Happy Eating!

Kona Grill

Always looking for new restaurants, we tried Kona Grill this weekend.  The restaurant has been described as Asian Fusion...though really, what restaurant isn't labeled that these days.  Seems to be an overused name.  Anyway, this restaurant actually did seem to be a good fusion of Asian dishes as well as American fare. 

The restaurant is very large and upon entering you either go to the right into the bar area or to the left where the dining area is located.  Many restaurants have trended toward an "open kitchen."  I liked the look that Kona Grill went with which was a semi-open kitchen.  There was a wall with high windows that allowed us to see into the kitchen, but not hear and smell all that was happening.  The far left wall had the sushi bar and some pretty cool modern looking lighting.  The overall feel of the restaurant was similar to one that you'd find in Las Vegas.

We were seated in a booth and quickly perused the menu.  We went with starters of miso soup and edamame.  Edamame is a new found treat that we enjoy sharing.  They usually are served with a nice coating of salt, sometimes a sauce/glaze and always hot.  Kona's version was nicely salted.  The miso soup was a tasty treat of tofu, seaweed, scallions, and broth.  Yes...I used "tasty treat" in a sentence containing tofu and seaweed.  Again, another new found treat. 

For the main entree, we shared a Truffled Steak Flatbread.  In reality it was a pizza because they had run out of their flatbread and wouldn't have it until Monday.  The pizza was fine.  The description on the menu was grilled steak, mozzarella and danish bleu cheese, baby arugula, gourmet mushrooms, caramelized red onion, and white truffle oil.  The hubby who recognizes all things truffle did not taste any of the truffle oil.  The bleu cheese was recognizable though and not overpowering.  The steak was listed first in the description, but I would say it was limited in use.  There were a lot of "gourmet mushrooms" though - that perhaps were used in place of the steak.  The caramelized red onions were very good and added a nice sweet taste to the flatbread/pizza.  Overall the pizza was good, though not quite what I expected.

Kona Grill was good, though a bit on the pricey side.  $2.55 for a glass of Diet Coke is unreasonable.  All in all it was a good experience.  Though with so many other restaurants to try, I doubt we'll make it back to Kona Grill anytime soon.

Happy Eating!

Asian Bowl

Imagine my surprise when the hubby suggested a new asian restaurant for dinner and it was a two table, mainly carry out restaurant.  I gave it a try even though there was no restroom for public use and I was counting on it after a long commute.

Asian Bowl was a very pleasant surprise.  It's a small store front that specializes mainly in carryout or delivery.  It is a family run restaurant and we had multiple people ask us how we were doing and if we were enjoying our meal.  The service was impeccable!

I ordered the Kung Pao Chicken dinner entree which was served with brown rice, one egg roll, and two cream cheese puffs.  The hubby went with a similar order except with tofu instead of chicken.  Both of our entrees were delivered very hot and fresh.  My Kung Pao was on the mild spice side which was exactly what I wanted.  The chicken pieces were very good, tender and well seasoned.  The rice was fresh and the egg roll was steaming hot.  The cream cheese puffs were fine - I don't normally get them so I didn't have a point of comparison.

This is a nice addition in the area and we will be trying them again!  I wish them the best of luck as they try to make a go of this operation.

Happy Eating!

Mendoberri & The Olive Grove Olive Oil Company

I took a much needed "mental health day" and enjoyed a day of rest and relaxation.  This also included lunch at a relatively new restaurant called Mendoberri. 

The space that Mendoberri occupies is in a nice little housing, business, shopping area that has a fun vibe to it.  The area is more than a strip mall, but not a huge shopping complex.  We arrived and entered the restaurant to a sign that clearly stated that lunch was counter service while dinner is a seated experience.  I appreciated the clear instructions.  I hate going to restaurants and not knowing what you should do - wait to be seated, seat yourself, etc. 

The counter had a refrigerated case that highlighted their offerings as well as sides that could go with salads or sandwiches.  Behind the counter was a wood burning stove which I was ready to crawl inside due to the bitter cold temps outside!  The hubby was ready to order immediately and ordered the grilled ham and cheese sandwich.  I panicked and went with a salad I saw in the case - the Beetie Salad.  We both ordered water.  We took our number and had our choice of a number of empty tables.  (We did arrive early, so I am not commenting on a lack of a lunch crowd.)

We chose a spot not far from a fireplace, but unfortunately not close enough to take advantage of it.  Quite frankly the tables were awkwardly arranged as only one table could take full advantage of the fireplace.  I would have angled the tables differently so more than one table could have some warmth.

The space itself is very large - it appears to be several store fronts all in one, so I suppose if they find their business isn't doing as well as they would like they could sell off sections.  The seating is in an L-shaped format with a private dining room in the back.  There is a large bar area after the lunch counter and staging area.  The restrooms are around the side of the bar but awkwardly laid out in that if someone opens the door people walking by can see more than they would likely care to see.  The ceilings are very tall.  The interior is a light/ lime green color that is pretty soothing and relaxing.  The art work was fine, nothing too remarkable.

Onto the food...

It seemed that we had to wait an inordinate amount of time for our relatively simple lunches.  They arrived after awhile and we had to ask for glasses of water.  Not clear instructions there if we were to get it ourselves or if it would be brought to us with our meal.  Anyway, the food arrived and the hubby was by far the winner!  Of course his meal was hot - a bonus on a frigid day.  The ham and cheese was nicely grilled and served with a side salad of mixed greens with a nice dressing.  The only odd thing about the salad was the addition of one rather large sun-dried tomato chunk. 

My salad was ok.  It was a spinach salad with "slow roasted Chioggia beets", goat cheese and a shallot-balsamic vinaigrette.  Nothing remarkable about the salad.  Occasionally I got a very salty taste which seemed an odd pairing with the beets and cheese.  A crunch factor was definitely missing in this salad.  While beets, goat cheese, and candied walnuts can be "overdone" on menus, there is a purpose for those walnuts!  I missed the crunch.  Additionally for $7.50 a slice of bread with the salad would have been nice. 

The experience was fine.  I wouldn't rush back, but if in the area I would give it a second chance.  It reminded me a bit of the Pairings restaurant.  If Mendoberri's doesn't make it, I think Pairings could take it over and do well.

The highlight of the visit was an after lunch trip over to The Olive Grove Olive Oil Company.  This store is across the "street" from Mendoberri.  If you like olive oil and balsamic vinegar, this is the store to visit!  We walked into the store and were greeted by a friendly, knowledgeable employee who explained how the store worked.  We basically went around and tasted different oils and vinegars and then created our own "sample box" of 4 different kinds.  (I also picked up some nice olive oil based bath products.)  Mendoberri may get another chance mainly because we'll be back at The Olive Grove at some point in the near future.

Happy Eating!

In Season

We tried the new restaurant, In Season, the other night.  The concept is unique and well done.  The menu revolves around what is "in season" at that particular time.  The winter inspiration included such items as butternut squash, clementines, grapefruit, root vegetables, monkfish, oxtail, sunchokes (which is another name for Jerusalem artichokes), and sweet potato. 

Due to the popularity of the restaurant, getting a reservation was a bit of a challenge.  We ended up with a late reservation, so we were definitely hungry when we arrived.  We were seated near the front of the restaurant.  I was concerned at first that we would be cold where we were seated.  However, a nice, heavy tapestry blocked the diners from the opening front door.  The restaurant was decorated with artwork on the walls and small votive candles on the tables.  The table was a nice dark wood and the chairs were very comfortable with a soft cushion seat. 

I ordered a glass of Malbec to start.  We were brought a basket of tasty bread from Rustica Bakery.  The butter stole the show with the honey, lemon, sea salt combination.  Nothing super powerful, but just nicely done and paired well with the crispy bread from Rustica. 

I started with a Butternut Squash soup with Manchego Cheese and Pumpkinseed Oil.  The soup was as I expected...excellent!  The Manchego Cheese added a nice smooth melty center.  Mmmm....  The hubby started with a mixed micro greens salad with olive oil, sherry vinegar, and Parmesan.  He enjoyed the salad as well - the micro greens provided a nice peppery taste to the salad.

My main entree was the Amish Chicken Breast with risotto, sunchokes, and mushrooms.  The sunchokes were a nice semi-sweet crunch.  The risotto was not as creamy as I typically like, but then again it did not seem as heavy either.  The chicken was fall of the bone tender.  Unfortunately I did not get a lot of taste from the chicken.  I think it could have used a little salt.  The hubby went with the Spiced Oxtail wit Creamy Polenta, Kale, and Crisp Serrano.  He seemed to really enjoy the combination.  The oxtail was very tender and had a bit of a kick to it. 

We finished off the evening with dessert.  The hubby went with the small cheese plate.  This was served with 4 different types of cheeses.  The servings were very generous and we wondered what the large plate would have been  like.  I chose to go with the Espresso Semi-Freddo Terrine with "Toblerone" Sauce.  It was topped with cocoa nibs that gave a crunch with each bite.  The Toblerone Sauce was a great tasting chocolate sauce - definitely the highlight of the dish.

We both enjoyed the evening and the restaurant.  While the emphasis on using what's in season is admirable and makes sense, it also makes for a rather limited menu.  This might be a restaurant that is good to get to 4 times a year.  Next up...Spring!

Happy Eating!