Uncategorized – Page 16

Larkburger (Northglenn, Colorado)

Posted on August 20, 2014 by chefsgirl

I’m always craving a burger…there’s just something about that bite of juicy beef and a side of fries. While I was in Denver, I just had to find a place and came across Larkburger. They advocate natural ingredients, natural operations, and natural packaging. For a quick service burger joint, I was surprised at the quality…

Larkburger. 1/3 lb certified angus beef. Lettuce. Tomato. Onion. Pickle. House Sauce. Cheddar.

Truffle Burger. 1/3 lb certified angus beef. Lettuce. Tomato. Onion. Pickle. Truffle aioli

Truffle & Parmesan Fries. Hand cut fries. Grated Parmesan. Italian parsley. Truffle Oil.

The food is great and they’re all natural so that’s a plus! The burgers aren’t your big, hearty burger size, but they are perfect for lunch. I think I can handle two if I was really hungry, but I can eat a lot so order accordingly. The fries were delicious and had to be my favorite part with the perfect amount of salt, parmesan, and of course, truffle oil.

If you’re looking for a quick and tasty burger, Larkburger is where it’s at! I’d definitely return, especially for those fries! We were at the Northglenn location, but I’m sure their other restaurants are consistent. Enjoy!

Rating: 3.5/5 spoons!

Snooze (Boulder, Colorado)

Posted on August 9, 2014 by chefsgirl

Boulder, Colorado is a nice little college town with a cute, but modernized hominess. If I were to live in Colorado, Boulder would be the place. It doesn’t have the hustle and bustle of the big city, but it’s not quite suburbia either. Let’s not forget to mention being so close to this gem…

Black Coffee.

Chilaquiles Benedict. Barbacoa beef. Ranchero sauced Tortillas. Melted Cheese. Poached Cage Free Eggs. Roasted Poblano Holandaise. Pico de Gallo. Cotija Cheese.

Gyros Benny. Griddled Feta. Herb Bread Pudding topped with Braised Lamb. Poached Cage Free Eggs. Cream Cheese Hollondaise. Tomato and Cucumber Salad.

Pineapple Upside Down Pancake. Buttermilk pancake. Carmelized Pineapple Chunks. Housemade Vanilla Crème Anglaise. Cinnamon Butter.

There was a bit of a wait, but it’s worth it. We waited about 30 minutes, and we were seated promptly. Enough about that, now onto the food! The “Benny’s” were a great interpretation off the original eggs benedict. “The Chef” and I ordered the Chilaquiles and the Gyros Bennies. I was so surprised at the creativity that they brought to the plate. “It’s like a Mexican chef and Greek chef got together and had a benedict throwdown and these two new beautiful morsels were born.” I quoted “The Chef” since I can’t take credit for his beautiful words!

Normally, an eggs benedict would consist of a poached egg on top of an English muffin, but no. Snooze had to “hit the snooze” on that old time clock. The Chilaquiles surprised me with the corn tortilla as the carb and the Gyros Benny was laid on top of a bread pudding. Who would have thought of that?! They also perfected the “art of hollandaise” and incorporated a unique flavor to each Benny. My only disappointment was in the hashbrown. It was a bit too dense, in my opinion, but it left room in my tummy for the deliciousness around it!

I cannot forget to mention the pancake. THE. BEST. PANCAKE. EVER. It was dense, but light and I felt I was eating the best cake of my life. I’m not exaggerating. Others have recommended the Blueberry Danish Pancakes, but I couldn’t room another bite…until next time!

Considering Snooze is a local chain in the city, it holds the restaurant title for best brunch with originality and character. Next time, I’ll come in starving so that I could eat a feast!

Rating: 4.5/5 spoons

Rioja (LoDo, Denver, Colorado)

Posted on August 8, 2014 by chefsgirl

Rioja…a blend of Spanish, French, Italian influences, and the recognition from the James Beard Foundation. I was unaware of what this meant before I met “The Chef”, but I quickly learned that only the best of the best are awarded with the James Beard Award. Chef Jennifer Jasinski was awarded with Best Chef of the Southwest in 2013.

It’s not often I get to visit Colorado, so why not try the best of the best?! So, how did Rioja measure up to this recognition?

Goat Cheese Biscuit. Seasoned Flatbread. Lavender Sourdough. Loved the lavender sourdough. Perfect note of lavender paired with sourdough!

Pre-meal Rosé.

Chardonnay. Bodegas Dinastia Vivanco, Rioja.

Amuse bouche: Pork belly bite.

Fresh Bacon. Pork belly. Cardamom. Curried Garbanzo Bean Pureé.

Duck Confit Flatbread. Lemon Pistachio Pesto. Gorgonzola Dolce. Cherries. Port Pickled Red Onion.

Beet Gnocchi. Strawberries. Hon-shimeji Mushrooms. Walnuts. Tarragon. Horseradish-fromage blanc.

Pacchetti. Rapini Mousse filled Saffron Pasta. Heirloom Tomato. Italian Sausage. Burrata. Basil.

Artichoke Tortelloni. Artichoke Mousse. White truffle brodo. Queso de Mano. Chervil.

Seared Sea Scallops. Arugula Risotto. Baby turnips. Artichoke. Saffron-lemon Puree.

Beignets. Sweet Goat Cheese. Black Mission Fig Filled Pastries. Ruby Port Wine Reduction.

Hand made ice creams. Left to right: Apricot Ice cream. Tangerine Sorbet. Cognac Ice Cream. Lace Cookie Plate.

Candied Mint.

**Keep in mind that “The Chef” and I like to order various menu items and create our own tasting menus so some of the dishes were split in two by the chefs in the kitchen. That’s why the portions appear a bit small, but each small bite was bursting with deliciousness.

I know this sounds super cliché, but the entire meal was like an orchestrated musical. There was never a moment that I felt I was waiting for my food. It’s almost magical how they organized it. Those who are not in the industry don’t realize how difficult food service can be and I can understand why when restaurants like Rioja make it look so easy.

Now, onto the food…

They catered to exactly towards my palate! Delicate, light, and bursting with flavor. I had so many favorites. The amuse bouche was scrumptious and I could eat a bowlful! My favorite pasta was Chef Jen’s signature pasta, the Artichoke Tortelloni. Next, would be the Fresh Bacon dish. It sat on top of a savory Curried Garbanzo Bean Pureé. Lastly, the sweets deserve some mentioning especially since my hometown is the home of the beignets (New Orleans)! The beignets were delicious and complimented the ice cream and sorbet dishes well. My favorite ice cream was the Cognac. “The Chef” jokes that I’m an alchie, but you can’t blame me for having great taste!

From top to bottom, Rioja excelled in great service, food orchestration, and flavorful execution. I can’t wait til I visit Denver again to try brunch at Rioja!

Rating: 5/5 spoons

Biker Jim’s Gourmet Dogs (Five Points, Denver, Colorado)

Posted on August 7, 2014 by chefsgirl

The Chef” and I have tried so many restaurants in New Orleans, but we’ve made a goal to do more traveling..first stop, Denver, Colorado!

Colfax St. and the State Capital.

Scenic View on the way to Vail, Colorado.

———————————————————————————————————————-

Larimer Square is one of the main attractions of the city. Not too far down the road is Biker Jim’s! We read great reviews and even saw that Anthony Bourdain had endorsed these delicious dogs. The schedule was packed, but “The Chef” and I decided to fit it a quick bite a few hours before dinnertime…

Great selection of dogs, especially game dogs: Veal, antelope, pheasant, rattlesnake…

Duck Cilantro Dog topped Coney Island style. Rich, meaty New Jersey style chili. Diced onions. Yellow mustard.

Rattlesnake & Pheasant Dog topped with Biker Jim’s Classic. Cream cheese. Carmelized Onions.

Great quality dogs! My favorite of the two had to be the Rattlesnake and Pheasant. I’m not the biggest fan of game meat, but this dog had great flavor. I wish we could’ve tried more, but we will definitely return next time. I’d love to see some snow this winter! We don’t get much in NOLA!

Pho Noi Viet (Garden District, New Orleans, LA)

Posted on August 7, 2014 by chefsgirl

Vietnamese food has been popping up all over the city…and it’s no wonder! The food is always refreshing, tasty, and great for those on a budget. I’ve been skeptical of the new wave of Vietnamese restaurants, and you can’t blame me since that’s where my roots lay. Nothing can compare to mama’s homemade meal, but I’m very surprised at what Pho Noi Viet had to offer…

Goi Cuon. Spring rolls.

Jasmine Tea (left). Chystanthemum Tea (right).

Com Thit Nuong. Rice with Grilled Pork.

Pho Tai Chin. Rare Beef & brisket.

Everything was great! I love the hominess of the food especially with the rice dish with grilled pork. There’s a hominess that’s difficult to describe, but reminds me of my mom’s cooking. I really enjoyed the iced green tea…floral and refreshing. I really wouldn’t mind getting one to go right about now! The menu is very simplified and they lack Bo Vien (meatballs), which is a staple in the Pho industry, but other than that, service was awesome and the food was delicious!

Regardless of the limited menu and the lack of meatballs, those are minor when looking at the overall and I will definitely come back to try out other menu items!

Rating: 3.5/5 spoons

Peche Seafood Grill (Warehouse District, New Orleans, LA)

Posted on July 31, 2014 by chefsgirl

Peche has recently been honored with the James Beard Award and it’s all thanks to Chef Ryan Prewitt, Chef of the South. I’m not going to lie, when Peche opened, I wasn’t very impressed with the menu…very simple and nothing stood out to me. I’ve heard good things from friends so I decided to give it a shot…

The feel is very “Nautical” as I described it to my friend. It’s almost like you’re dining beneath a pier…a really nice one. Dress is very casual and comfortable…especially for an award-winning restaurant, but I love that!

Now onto the food!

Gulf Oysters.

Massachusetts, Island Creek Oysters.

These oysters were a bit smaller and more briney than the Gulf oysters. The strange thing is that I remember the gulf oysters tasting JUST like this many years ago. Maybe the gulf waters have changed…

I prefer the gulf oysters…large, plump, and refreshing. “The Chef” preferred the Massachusetts oysters for the brininess

Shrimp + Fontina Croquettes.

Fried Brussel Sprouts with Chili Vinegar.

Crab + Jalapeno Capellini.

Fish Sticks with LA31 beer batter.

Crab Claws with Chili Vinegar.

Shrimp + Corn Bisque.

Grilled Skirt Steak with Salsa Verde.

For a seafood restaurant, this steak was probably better than any other steakhouses in the city.

Meyer Lemon Pudding Cake. Vanilla Mascapone. Macerated Blueberries

WOW…I am a little upset that I didn’t try Peche earlier. The simplicity of the menu is just what I love, but was so skeptical about in the beginning. Every dish was well-executed and it’s very difficult the rank them by favorites. I will say that the fish sticks were the best fish sticks I’ve ever had! Everything from the moistness of the fish to the crisp of the batter. There’s only so much that words can describe so you’ll just have to try Peche for yourself.

Make sure to make your weekend reservations in advance. Ever since the James Beard award recognition, reservations are filling up quick!

Rating: 5/5 spoons (6 if I could!)

Salu Bistro and Bar (Garden District, New Orleans, LA)

Posted on July 30, 2014 by chefsgirl

Magazine is my go-to hangout spot whether to visit the coffee shops, boutique shopping, or to pick-up a quick bite. It’s no wonder I chose Salu to meet with my cousin, who is staying in town for school, to catch up on family and life. I walked in and it was bumpin’! We opted to sit outside since there was nice weather…

It takes two to Salu!

Mussels: Pesto.

Can’t eat mussels without frites!

Two Run Farms Skirt Steak. Asparagus. Spicy Onion Crisps. Wild Mushroom Cream.

Crab Cakes.

Calamari. Jalapeno. Spicy Tomato Sauce. Roasted Peppers.

Wild Mushroom Empanadas. Goat Cheese. Roasted Pepper Vinaigrette. Parmesan.

I love small plates. It allows you to have a little bit of everything without overwhelming your palate and Salu offers that and executes well! The mussels are a must! Classic is always delicious, but my cousin and I ordered the Pesto for something a little different. My favorite dish had to be the empanadas…It’s my weakness. If I see it on the menu, I’ll most likely order it. These empanadas were the perfect texture…crispy outside with a chewy dough bite. Some places tend to have a thick and dry dough, but these were perfect, inside and out!

Salu is a great place to meet up with friends. It’s not as family friendly and I would recommend eating outdoors on a busy day. It tends to echo indoors and can get really loud.

Rating: 4/5 spoons

Velvet Cactus (Lakeview, New Orleans, LA)

Posted on July 22, 2014 by chefsgirl

When I think of New Orleans or even Louisiana food, Mexican is the last cuisine I’d think of. I spent a few years in Texas and have fallen in love with Mexican food. I was a bit sad that there is a lack of it here in NOLA, until I found Velvet Cactus. I was on my way home from the City Park and stumbled across this unique restaurant/art gallery…

Decor.

Chips & Dip.

Smoked Pork Tamales. Seasoned corn mase. Smoked pork mixed with peppers. Steamed corn husk. Ranchero sauce.

SlimRITA Frozen. 100 calorie frozen margarita.

Shrimp and chicken enchiladas. Refried beans.

Chipotle Cheese Grits and 1/2 Steak Enchilada.

My favorites were the smoked pork tamales and the cheese grits. The tamales were stuffed with meat…hearty and delicious! The cheese grits were to die for! I’d eat it with the enchiladas, dip some nachos in it, pour it on top of my fajitas…haha just kidding, but I’d have some with every bite of my meal.

Cons: I had the SlimRita and it was too sweet. Next time, I’ll opt for the iced margarita.

Overall, the meal was good and the closest I’ve found to good Mexican food in the city. As far as authenticity goes, it’s more of a Tex-Mex, but I know I’ll come back when I’m craving Mexican! Tex-Mex is generally what you get throughout the U.S.. Now if you want true Mexican, you’ll have to go closer to the border of Mexico, but I prefer to drive to Lakeview for now!

Rating: 3/5 spoons

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ChefsGirl

Category Archives: Uncategorized

Larkburger (Northglenn, Colorado)

Snooze (Boulder, Colorado)

Rioja (LoDo, Denver, Colorado)

Biker Jim’s Gourmet Dogs (Five Points, Denver, Colorado)

Pho Noi Viet (Garden District, New Orleans, LA)

Peche Seafood Grill (Warehouse District, New Orleans, LA)

Salu Bistro and Bar (Garden District, New Orleans, LA)

Velvet Cactus (Lakeview, New Orleans, LA)

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