Restaurant Reviews – Page 3

GW Fins (French Quarter, New Orleans, LA)

Posted on February 18, 2015 by chefsgirlnola@gmail.com

GW Fins is easily one of the top 10 restaurants in New Orleans. It’s classic French meets sophisticated Cajun and even has a hint of Asian influences. Despite it’s location right off of Bourbon St. , it’s far from being a tourist trap…

Delicious GW Fins biscuits. They’re tiny and about 2″ wide and so delicious..

Shrimp Remoulade. Chilled Louisiana shrimp. Roasted Red Peppers. Fried Green tomato.

Blue Crab Potstickers. Country Ham. Creamy Pea Shoot Butter.

Barbeque Shrimp. Deglazed with Abita Amber. Crispy spoonbread.

Lobster Dumplings. Fennel. Tomato concasse. Lobster butter.

Fish and Etouffee. Special of the day.

Although everything was super delicious, as usual, the most notable thing here has to be the bite-sized, sweet, buttery biscuits. As for the menu, Chef Tenney Flynn consistently puts out classic French-Cajun seafood dishes. Each of his dishes consist of fresh seafood and the menu changes every day depending on availability and what’s in season. I’m a creature of habit and I use to ALWAYS order his Diver Sea Scallops and Mushroom risotto. It’s delicious! The scallops are extra large and juicy and the risotto is permeating with flavor. More recently, I’ve been loving the change-up and have been loving the Lobster Dumplings and Blue Crab Potstickers, which are appetizers that are almost always on the menu. The Shrimp Remoulade was so fresh! The Fish of the Day with etouffee was a bit bland, but the etouffee was flavorful and balanced the fish well. I would have preferred a dash more flavor/salt, but I believe this dish would be perfect for Northern or Western palates who aren’t used to the *bang* or saltiness that we are adapted to down South.

G.W. Fins is among my top ten favorite restaurants in the city. I would recommend G.W. Fins to anyone visiting New Orleans. It’s perfect for the seafood lover, but there are a couple poultry or beef dishes for non-seafood eaters (Sorry vegetarians/vegans, this isn’t the best city to visit. It’s not very accommodating for your diets, but they are some out there!) . The food and atmosphere is a perfect mesh of fine dining meets New Orleans casual, which is why I love this place. It’s upscale dining without being too fancy schmancy!

Rating: 5/5 spoons

Ad Hoc (Napa County, Yountville, CA)

Posted on December 2, 2014 by chefsgirlnola@gmail.com

While in San Francisco, we decided to drive to Napa and of course, the main goal was to eat at la creme de la creme! Among them is Ad Hoc, a Thomas Keller establishment. Thomas Keller is a world-renowned chef with 3 Michelin Stars for The French Laundry (review coming soon). Now, The French Laundry requires a reservation at least two months in advance for a 9-course tasting menu and we were able to get a reservation! More about that later…

As for Ad Hoc, imagine Thomas Keller’s refined palate but family-style. It’s great for a casual dinner and reservations can be made a couple days in advance or even on the day depending on how many people are in your party. We had a group of 4 and easily booked a reservation 1 day in advance.

The menu that day did not sound as exciting at first glance, but what came out far surpassed what you could imagine being on that plate…

Bread and Butter.

Roasted Beet Salad. Mizuna. Tatsoi. Crispy TFL sunchokes. K&J orchards satsumas. Winter Radishes. Sesame Dressing.

Every element of this dish was well-thought out and very reminiscent of the beet Salad of Hawaiian Hearts of Palm from The French Laundry, but more wholesome and hearty. The beets were sweet and perfectly roasted.

(+) Crispy Pork Belly & Clams. Red Miso. Ginger.

Unlike TFL, there’s a prix fixe menu, but with add ons. At TFL you have the choice to substitute for an upgraded menu item at a significant cost. “No substitutions here! We only do add-ons at Ad Hoc!”, said our waiter. There were definitely asian tones to this menu and it was executed so perfectly. The pork belly was perfectly crisped on the outside and the miso sauce was so well-refined that it even had some exquisite French influences, hence the clams. The Meyer lemon zests added a sweet, lemony citrus burst of flavor that really can only be understood if you’ve had Meyer lemons.

We actually ordered two of these…it was that good…

Kung Pao Chicken. Charred Cabbage. Minuet Onions. Blistered Broccolini. Scallion rice. Pickled TFL peppers.

We hear Kung Pao Chicken all too often from small and even commercial Chinese restaurants. This was not your ordinary Kung Pao Chicken. Imagine a rotisserie chicken roasted to perfection to the point where white meat become dark meat. It was the juiciest and more flavorful rotisserie chicken I have ever eaten. I had no idea chicken could reach this point of perfection. As for the Scallion rice, I couldn’t have enough. It was savory and meshed so well with the Kung Pao Chicken. Perfection.

Vella Cheese Company’s Mezzo Secco. “Looney Bin” Crackers. Marshall’s Farm Honey.

Wow.Who’s genius mind said that I will choose this particular honey to go with this specific cheese and place it on this cracker and it will make the perfect bite? I really want to order some Marshall’s Farm Honey. I’ve never had a more rich and flavorful honey.

Apple Cake. Walnut Caramel.

Now, down to the final dish. Apple Cake. Sounds so plain, but how does this little slice of cake pack so much flavor? The outside crisp was perfect. It ranks probably one of the best cakes I’ve ever eaten. It had the perfect amount of toastiness and sweetness and was smoothed out with the creamy, rich whipped cream. Our friends felt it could use some ice cream, but I felt the whipped cream balanced it out quite nicely.

It’s all a food lover could ever dream and hope for. Thomas Keller definitely has your mouth watering with every bite and doesn’t leave you feeling overstuffed or unsatiated. You leave well-nourished…

If your travels revolve around food, this is a destination that cannot be missed. As simple as the menu may sound, you’re in for a surprise as each dish is brought out and then enters your mouth. Enjoy!

Rating: 5/5 spoons

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Upcoming Posts:

The French Laundry

Crab House @ Pier 39

San Tung

Ignatius Eatery (Magazine St., New Orleans, LA)

Posted on October 31, 2014 by chefsgirl

It’s the weekend and there’s nothing I look forward to more than weekend brunch. Call me a fatty! Ignatius Eatery is a very homey brunch restaurant on Magazine St. It’s the perfect blend of Southern cooking meets breakfast. Quite a few years ago, this spot was a coffee house called Rue De La Course. It’s where I spent my undergraduate days studying. It brought back so many memories…coffee, school, and what I thought at the time was the worst stress I’ve ever felt. Now, Ignatius has taken what I remembered to be this little coffee shop and revamped those old memories into a different kind of hangout spot…

Shrimp Remoulade Salad. Shrimp. Cucumbers. Grape Tomatoes.

Poche’s Pork and Jalapeno Boudin. Creole mustard.

Creole Seafood Gumbo.

Corn and Crab Bisque.

Crab Omelette. 3 egg omelette. Creole Cream Cheese. Local crab meat. Stone ground grits. Fresh fruit.

Tons of crabmeat!

Not pictured above, but the restaurant even kept Rue De La Course’s old coffee mugs, which I thought was a really nice touch. Years ago, this place was filled with college kids intensely studying for their next big test, but now I see a different crowd…middle-aged folks, retirees, and couples like “The Chef” and I.

It’s homey, but the food is refined. I really loved the omelette dish, because it had tons of crabmeat! The grits were cheesy and delicious. The Shrimp and Remoulade Salad is also a great choice and it went so well with the gumbo. I was slightly disappointed with my Corn & Crab bisque, since it wasn’t thickened like I expect chowder to be. It probably needed to be reduced down a bit more…

Overall, everything was the perfect mix of South Louisiana meets brunch. I would love to come back to try the Dinner menu.

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.

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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!

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

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ChefsGirl

Tag Archives: Restaurant Reviews

GW Fins (French Quarter, New Orleans, LA)

Ad Hoc (Napa County, Yountville, CA)

Ignatius Eatery (Magazine St., New Orleans, LA)

Snooze (Boulder, Colorado)

Rioja (LoDo, Denver, Colorado)

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

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

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

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