Uncategorized – Page 15

Maïs Arepas (CBD, New Orleans, LA)

Posted on September 12, 2014 by chefsgirl

What I usually love about New Orleans is the intermingling of flavors, but what I love about Maïs Arepas is actually the opposite. I love the authenticity of everything. One cuisine we don’t see much of around here is Colombian. I haven’t been to Colombia nor do I claim to know the cuisine very well, but what I do know is that I want more…

The Bar.

Magarita!

Empanadas Caleñas. Colombian-style yellow cornmeal pies. Shredded beef. Sofrito & Papa criolla. Aji Valluno.

Open Sesame!

Arepa Sampler. Trio of mini Arepas: Shredded skirt steak with Hogao valluno/Pulled pork with Aji & cotija cheese/Shredded Chicken with avocado & green peppers

Maiz de la Rueda. Grilled maïs on the cob. Spicy butter. Aioli. Cotija Cheese.

Marinera Arepas. Grilled jumbo shrimp. Citrus Creole slaw. Avocado. Pink Sauce.

I am trying to find words to describe the delight in each bite I had that day and I’m at a loss for words. Honestly, the pictures say it for me…But in case it hasn’t caught your eye yet, the arepas (pronounced: a-ray-pahs) are cornmeal-based pita-like bread that is stuffed with flavorful Columbian seasoned meats like braised pork, juicy beef, or even shrimp. There’s a variety to choose from! The corn was probably THE best corn I’ve had…seasoned so well. So buttery…And lastly, the empanadas were cornmeal-crusted, which was refreshing and very similar to the arepas.

What I love about Maïs Arepas is the attention to plating, that you don’t typically see in more rustic-style foods. Normally, the food speaks for itself, but here, everything from the plating, the smells, and the flavors spoke to you.

Rating: 5/5 spoons!

Bradley’s Fine Diner (The Heights, Houston, TX)

Posted on September 11, 2014 by chefsgirl

At my first visit to Bradley’s, “The Chef” and I didn’t realize that Bradley’s Fine Diner was a play on “fine dining” so we were a bit underdressed. (Click here for our first Bradley’s experience!) Fortunately, the setting is actually more casual to business casual than “fancy” or “cocktail”. It was at this visit that the waiter told us that Bradley’s Fine Diner was a play on fine dining. Haha for some reason, I didn’t catch on at first, but now I get it! Honestly, I could care less about dress or decor. I come for the food!

It was Restaurant Week in Houston so there were some options to choose from on their tasting menu…

Bradley’s Caesar. Whole leaf romaine. Parmesan. Croutons.

Popcorn Shrimp. Watermelon. Cilantro. Chili-lime aioli.

Pan Roasted Trout. Corn relish. Cherry tomatoes. Brown Butter Caper Sauce.

Yankee Pot Roast. Garlic Mashed potatoes. Roasted baby carrots. Buttered breadcrumbs.

Chocolate Banana Cake. Chocolate Cookie crumble. Salted Caramel Ice Cream.

Bradley’s Butterscotch Pudding. Brown Sugar Rosemary Cookie.

Yum. What else can I say? Everything was presented beautifully and well-composed. The flavors were on point. From the tasting menu that we ordered, my favorites were the Popcorn Shrimp, the Pot Roast, and the Butterscotch Pudding. Being a Southern girl and coming from a place where seafood is exorbitant and prepared just “a bit” differently, I’d have to say that the fish was a little under-seasoned for my taste but is probably great for West Coast palates. Down South, we tend to “blacken” our fish and it could be overwhelming for milder palates, but Bradley’s fish was a more delicate and refined dish. Still, very good! “The Chef” ordered one dessert and I ordered another so we’d have a variety, but I really wish we ordered two of the Butterscotch Puddings. It was surprisingly delightful…and I wish I didn’t have to share it!

What can I say? I’ve been here twice and I’ve enjoyed every bite! Why are you still here? Set your reservation tonight!

Rating: 4/5 spoons

Common Bond Cafe & Bakery (Montrose, Houston, TX)

Posted on September 5, 2014 by chefsgirl

During a mini trip to Houston to move my last few belongings back to New Orleans, a friend had recommended Common Bond for “the best croissants”. I did a little research and found that the chefs and staff at Common Bond all have extensive training from the top restaurants and culinary schools from around the country as well as experience in Europe. Looks like a pretty accomplished staff and it’s very evident…

Pastry display.

Macarons.

Americano.

Cappacino.

Soft Scramble. Daily veg.

Homemade Sausage, Egg, and Pork Sandwich.

From top to bottom there was something so refined about every menu item. It was pretty busy, but service was still great! I loved the soft scramble. It was very delicate so I would recommend adding a sandwich to make the meal a little heartier. I really liked the almond croissant (not pictured). It was light flavored with amaretto and wasn’t too sweet. Unfortunately, I’m leaving Houston so I won’t be able to frequent Common Bond as often as I’d like, but I’ll definitely be back.

Rating: 4/5 spoons

Baru Tapas Bistro (Uptown, New Orleans, LA)

Posted on September 2, 2014 by chefsgirl

I’ve been wanting to try Baru for sometime now, but it’s always been closed when I’m craving tapas (on Sundays). Well, I finally made it to Baru and I have to admit that I’m a bit sad…sad that I haven’t been here sooner!

It’s a small restaurant with outdoor seating on Magazine St. Perfect on a “cool” evening in New Orleans…

Margarita. Tequila Reposado. Grand Marnier. Agave. Lime Juice. Guiajillo Salt.

Tequenos. Phyllo Stuffed Mozzarella Fingers. Sucro Sauce.

Guacabello. Grilled Portobello. Avocado. Tortilla.

Empanadas de Caraota. Cornmeal Pies. Black beans. Kale. Chihuahua Cheese. Cabbage. Aji.

Ostras Fritas. Cornmeal Crusted Oysters. Cilantro Aioli. Carmelized Onions.

Chuzoes de Entrana. Grilled Skirt Steak. Chimichurri. Bollo.

What a great meal! The meal started off with probably the best margarita I’ve ever had. I am no alchie, at least I don’t think I am, but I can handle my liquor, and this margarita had great flavor and a great kick. I thought I’d at least get an opportunity to try the Sangria, but didn’t get that chance…

Tapas are perfect for meals when you just want a little bit of everything and that’s just what Baru did and they did it so well! My favorites had to be the Tequeños (cheese sticks), Empanadas, and the Steak. My only disappointment would be the Guacobellos, which were lacking a bit of salt and may have been a bit too lime-y for my taste. But considering how delicious all the other dishes were, I can’t wait to come back! Wonderfully crafted cocktails and delicious tapas!

Rating: 4/5 spoons

The American Sector (Warehouse District, New Orleans, LA)

Posted on September 1, 2014 by chefsgirl

I’ve been to American Sector quite a few times, but this day in particular, “The Chef” and I visited the The National WWII Museum in New Orleans and American Sector is just around the corner! It has a modernized old diner feel, which is perfect for an afternoon bite after exploring the museum. We were there for happy hour so we got a few bites off the menu as well a few main entrees…

Happy Hour: BBQ Sliders. Pulled Pork BBQ. Fried Onion Strings.

Meat Pie. Ground Beef. Trinity. Spicy Mayo.

Excuse the blurry photo..I just wanted it in my mouth already!

Notice the flaky dough..Love it! Meat pie…basically an empanada and you know I feel about empanadas!

5 Spiced Braised Pork Belly Ramen. Noodles. Bok Choy.

Smoked Sea Scallops. Baby beets. Market Greens. Cane Syrup.

Overall, it was a great mid-day stop! Great small bites, however, I was slightly disappointed by the size of the scallop in the salad. The ramen was a little too deep and dark in broth flavor for my taste. My favorites had to be the Pork Belly sliders and the empanadas (of course!). There’s something about small bites that tickles my tastes buds and the hominess of the dish didn’t hurt!

I would definitely recommend visiting for lunch or dinner as the main dishes are pretty good. The American Sector is very kid friendly and have a good selection of some tasty-looking ice cream shakes.

Other notable dishes: Fried Gulf Oyster Salad, Gulf Shrimp Po-boy

Rating: 3/5 spoons

Ba Chi Canteen (Audubon, New Orleans, LA)

Posted on August 31, 2014 by chefsgirl

Tan Dinh is an authentic Vietnamese restaurant located on the Westbank of New Orleans…it’s menu includes a wide variety of items ranging from pho, BBQ pork with vermicelli noodles, to one of my favorites, the Lemongrass Chicken with rice. With their growing popularity reaching out to those who live across the river, they’ve finally opened Ba Chi Canteen, however, their menu is a bit more eclectic and draws from Thai, Indian, Chinese, and Vietnamese influences. I’m not usually a fan of “fusion” or blending of cultural flavors but Ba Chi has got it right!

Bacos: Coconut Curry Chicken w/ Basil Aioli & Sweet Potato.

Curry Beef Stew w/ Roti Bread.

Roti Quesadillas. Pulled Pork. Kim Chi Guac. Thai Chili tomatilla.

Special: Lemongrass & Basil Pork Lettuce Wrap.

Garlic Butter Chicken Wings.

So the Chef and I love to order and create our own little tasting menus, but little did we know that the portion sizes were quite large. My favorite was the Roti Quesadillas, which was a special but should be a permanent item on the menu! What makes this different from a typical quesadilla is the buttery and flaky roti in place of the normally grilled tortilla. Buttery. Savory. Crispy! I’m drooling just thinking about it! My next favorite was the Curry Stew with Roti. Clearly, I have a thing for roti!

I was very surprised that Tan Dinh, an authentic Vietnamese restaurant, would consider branching off with a modernized asian fusion restaurant, but they did it and they did it well!

If you’re looking for great asian flavors and want to try something new, I definitely recommend Ba Chi Canteen.

Rating: 4/5 spoons

Cure (Uptown, New Orleans, LA)

Posted on August 21, 2014 by chefsgirl

There are so many times “The Chef” gets off of work late and we have no idea where to get dinner. There are tons of food trucks, but they usually only stay out late on weekends or are inconsistent with where they’re located. We’ve found our “Cure” for late night dinner…

The Bar.

Green Hill. Washed Rind Cow. Georgia. Sweet Grass Dairy. Chiriboga. Raw Cow Blue. Germany. Obere Muhle Co-operative Dairy. Cabot. Clothbound Cheddar. Vermont. Cave-Aged.

The Curewich. Fried Eggs. Cheddar. Braised Bacon. Weiss Guys Roll.

Duck Liver Pate. Sungold Cherry Tomato Vanilla Jam. Butter Toasted Panko. Micro Salad.

It’s modern, sophisticated, and has great food options for late night eating, bar bites, etc. How can you say “No” to a Curewich?? It’s packed with a perfectly cooked, pan-fried egg, smokey bacon, and melty cheese. One bite into this and it oozes with delicious, egg yolk that could be sopped up as a sauce to combine all the flavors in this simple-but-not sandwich. This is late night dining with flare!

The cocktails are elegantly mixed and have the right amount of kick needed after a long day at work!

Rating: 4.5/5 spoons

Super Star Asian (Southwest Denver)

Posted on August 21, 2014 by chefsgirl

Have you ever had Dim Sum? What is it? Well, dim sum is a Cantonese cuisine, which consists of small, steamed dumplings that are commonly served during breakfast or lunch time. These delicious dumplings are then pushed out by waitresses on small carts to you so that you can pick and choose which dishes you would like. I’ve had my fair share of dim sum so here are a few of my favorites…

Being an area with such a small asian community, I was quite surprised at how great Colorado dim sum can be! Definitely “Super Star” dim sum!! Great flavor steamed to perfection.

Must orders are Xiu Mai, Har Cao, Tofu skin, Steamed Rice, and Rice noodles with BBQ pork. Honestly, I just pick what looks good, when it comes around. Not pictured is the Chinese Broccoli with oyster sauce. Gotta have some green!

Rating: 4/5 spoons

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Category Archives: Uncategorized

Maïs Arepas (CBD, New Orleans, LA)

Bradley’s Fine Diner (The Heights, Houston, TX)

Common Bond Cafe & Bakery (Montrose, Houston, TX)

Baru Tapas Bistro (Uptown, New Orleans, LA)

The American Sector (Warehouse District, New Orleans, LA)

Ba Chi Canteen (Audubon, New Orleans, LA)

Cure (Uptown, New Orleans, LA)

Super Star Asian (Southwest Denver)

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