Well Blogosphere, admittedly, I took a little break from blogging the latter part of the year. But I'm back and as we enter 2011, I do so with retrospect. What was the absolute best meal I ate in 2010? What meal had the flavor I could live off of the rest of my life, eat every night of the week?
Well the best food I ate in 2010 (and quite possibly my life) was in August during my first ever trip to Boston. First of all, I fell in love with this town. If you have not been, put it on your Bucket List and go in 2011. Go this summer.
Summer in Boston is magical, an escape from the oppressive humidity of the Southeast. A friendly little town that is home to quite honestly the best tomatoes I have ever tasted in my entire life! And if you've never been to Italy and may not have the funds to plan to go in your lifetime, go to the North End of Boston. It's about as authentic as you can get and what a history lesson! (Little secret: The tourists will lead you to Mike's Pastry Shop. The line will be out the door and up the block. Don't Go! The Tourists are WRONG! Go where the locals go...Maria's Pastry. I didn't even think I liked cannoli, but on my last day in Boston decided I had to have one since I was in Boston's Italy. Literally the best pastry I have ever had in my entire life. (And I've eaten pastry all through Paris.)
Now to the best meal I have ever had in my entire life. The sad part, the part where I am about to let you down...I do not remember the name of the restaurant! If I were in Boston, I could walk you to it right away, I have a great memory that way. It was 2 blocks from our hotel, to the right, and had sidewalk seating. It started with an 'S'. That is all I know. But my meal. Well WOW! Flavor Explosion! A beautiful piece of a white fish on a bed of the best medley of summer vegetables I have ever come across in my life. Tomatoes, lima beans, corn, fresh herbs, all popping in your mouth in a way you never thought vegetables could taste. Everyone at my table tried my plate and wished they had ordered it.
The rest of the trip I sought after a similar meal...a friend of mine had recommended us to his buddy's place in the North End, Lucca. They actually had a similar entree as a special. It was close if not identical to the first, but not quite the same (though I highly recommend Lucca for both atmosphere and food). Maybe it was just the magic of my first night in Boston matched with some of the most intense flavors I've tasted, but next time in Boston, I am marching straight to that restaurant and eating until I forget my name.
Happy New Year to all! New posts to come!
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Saturday, November 6, 2010
The Flying Biscuit Cafe, Raleigh NC
First of all, let me say, anywhere that you can get a Blue Moon and a plate of homemade biscuits at noon on a Saturday, is okay by me. And that place is The Flying Biscuit Cafe.
My sister and I wandered into The Flying Biscuit Cafe last Saturday. We were drawn in by the amount of people we saw eating at the sidewalk tables, and when we saw beer bottles next to their omelets, we knew it was just the kind of place we were in the mood for.
When you walk in, the place is colorfully painted with a mix of large family tables, four tops, and two person bar tables, or you can saddle up to the bar, should you care to grab a beverage while waiting for your table. We chose to wait for our table outside and people watch (the day before Halloween was quite entertaining).
Once you place your order, they bring you a plate of the fluffiest homemade biscuits I've ever seen, but even more amazing than the fact that they mastered the art of biscuits, they served them with cranberry butter! I had never had cranberry butter, but if I had a jar at home, it would go on everything. Delightful!
They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner all day and we decided to split several things, but what sticks out in my mind that I must share with you....Love Cakes. It's an entree, but we ordered the appetizer portion, Side of Love. I'll warn you, when it comes to the table it does not look very appetizing (it's comprised of black beans, tomatillo salsa, sour cream, feta and a few other things). But honey, remember when your Momma told you not to judge a book by it's cover? Well, as always, she was right. This is an amazing combinations of flavor and we actually abandoned the other dishes we ordered to sop up the remnants of this dish.
The Flying Biscuit Cafe is a great place to bring a family or to go with friends. It's a great atmosphere for all crowds and perfect for those meals when someone wants to go to lunch and the other wants to go to breakfast. No matter who you bring, bring your appetite!
My sister and I wandered into The Flying Biscuit Cafe last Saturday. We were drawn in by the amount of people we saw eating at the sidewalk tables, and when we saw beer bottles next to their omelets, we knew it was just the kind of place we were in the mood for.
When you walk in, the place is colorfully painted with a mix of large family tables, four tops, and two person bar tables, or you can saddle up to the bar, should you care to grab a beverage while waiting for your table. We chose to wait for our table outside and people watch (the day before Halloween was quite entertaining).
Once you place your order, they bring you a plate of the fluffiest homemade biscuits I've ever seen, but even more amazing than the fact that they mastered the art of biscuits, they served them with cranberry butter! I had never had cranberry butter, but if I had a jar at home, it would go on everything. Delightful!
They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner all day and we decided to split several things, but what sticks out in my mind that I must share with you....Love Cakes. It's an entree, but we ordered the appetizer portion, Side of Love. I'll warn you, when it comes to the table it does not look very appetizing (it's comprised of black beans, tomatillo salsa, sour cream, feta and a few other things). But honey, remember when your Momma told you not to judge a book by it's cover? Well, as always, she was right. This is an amazing combinations of flavor and we actually abandoned the other dishes we ordered to sop up the remnants of this dish.
The Flying Biscuit Cafe is a great place to bring a family or to go with friends. It's a great atmosphere for all crowds and perfect for those meals when someone wants to go to lunch and the other wants to go to breakfast. No matter who you bring, bring your appetite!
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Wren, Beaufort SC
Oh Beaufort, SC, what a charming town you are! A beautiful mix of restaurants and shops, running along a river, where life seems to move slow as molasses, and it should. As soon as you step onto the sidewalk of Beaufort, all stress and anxiety just swoosh out of you and a mellow feeling overtakes you. When I'm there I just want to sit on a front porch, drink lemonade, and smile at the neighbors.
The mellow feeling follows you into Wren, a great restaurant for lunch or dinner. When you walk in, you find a mix of long tables as well as some smaller ones and an eclectic collection of chairs. There is a nice long bar to eat at (my preferred seating when dining alone). Now, when you go, just remember I told you this is a slow-moving town (and I mean this with the utmost respect...we hurry along too much these days), and with that, you may be looking forward to a long and leisurely meal. And wow, the food is worth it!
I often utilize Wren for catering orders and I love that no matter if I order the same thing each time, it is just a bit different every time it comes. Their sandwiches are amazing and funnily enough the vegetarian one is the one that disappears the quickest, even at a table full of carnivores. It's a tomato mozzarella sandwich, that can only be described as an explosion of summer in your mouth. It's tomato, mozzarella, pesto, and what I believe may be some type of vinaigrette dressing. I can't quite figure out how they make it to replicate it at home, but perhaps that's part of the reason Wren has intoxicated me and has me driving out of my way to eat lunch in Beaufort. But it may just be Beaufort.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
The Distillery, Savannah GA
Oh Savannah, glorious little town. You could make a vacation of eating through this town and the fact that you are allowed to carry a drink around with you in a plastic cup anywhere you go definitetly adds to the charm.
I wandered into The Distillery for dinner tonight. It's a cool little place with a great atmosphere and the biggest bonus, it's across the street from my hotel. So on rainy nights, cold nights, or "these shoes are killing me" nights (such as tonight), instead of walking a few blocks down to City Market or the riverfront, I head over to The Distillery.
You walk in and get the feeling of a neighborhood bar in Boston or a pub in England. Not because it's dark and damp, b/c it's not, but b/c it's the kind of place you go with your friends for a good beer and some good food and to pass the hours. It's lit just right and a mixture of brick walls and beautiful dark woods. The tv's play black and white movies, Charlie Chaplin era, though tonight The Three Stooges were on with a Halloween episode. The only other thing they will show on tv is Sports (Allelulia), so don't bring your crowd there for an American Idol night or to see who the latest cheesy Bachelor will propose to and never marry, they simply won't play it.
The beer, well, they boast over 100 different craft beers, and well, that is what they have. You will not find a Bud Light in the place, but go ahead, be adventurous. The staff won't steer you wrong. Plenty of Liquor (hey, it is called The Distillery) and a fair selection of wine are available for those of you who don't care for our hoppy friend.
Food....Must, Must, Must have the Cream of Crab Soup! Yum. I had the Black Bean Burger...those of you afraid of the vegetarian options are missing out on this one. It's a spicy little surprise and so delightful you may not even notice there was not a cow on your plate.
I feel I'm not doing this place justice. Walking in is like releasing a bottled feeling of friendship. This is what a neighborhood bar should be, and if in Savannah with friends, go, have a beer, and don't be surprised when you look at the clock and hours have passed you by.
I wandered into The Distillery for dinner tonight. It's a cool little place with a great atmosphere and the biggest bonus, it's across the street from my hotel. So on rainy nights, cold nights, or "these shoes are killing me" nights (such as tonight), instead of walking a few blocks down to City Market or the riverfront, I head over to The Distillery.
You walk in and get the feeling of a neighborhood bar in Boston or a pub in England. Not because it's dark and damp, b/c it's not, but b/c it's the kind of place you go with your friends for a good beer and some good food and to pass the hours. It's lit just right and a mixture of brick walls and beautiful dark woods. The tv's play black and white movies, Charlie Chaplin era, though tonight The Three Stooges were on with a Halloween episode. The only other thing they will show on tv is Sports (Allelulia), so don't bring your crowd there for an American Idol night or to see who the latest cheesy Bachelor will propose to and never marry, they simply won't play it.
The beer, well, they boast over 100 different craft beers, and well, that is what they have. You will not find a Bud Light in the place, but go ahead, be adventurous. The staff won't steer you wrong. Plenty of Liquor (hey, it is called The Distillery) and a fair selection of wine are available for those of you who don't care for our hoppy friend.
Food....Must, Must, Must have the Cream of Crab Soup! Yum. I had the Black Bean Burger...those of you afraid of the vegetarian options are missing out on this one. It's a spicy little surprise and so delightful you may not even notice there was not a cow on your plate.
I feel I'm not doing this place justice. Walking in is like releasing a bottled feeling of friendship. This is what a neighborhood bar should be, and if in Savannah with friends, go, have a beer, and don't be surprised when you look at the clock and hours have passed you by.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Fresh House Restaurant, Locust NC
Well, until last week I did not even know there was a Locust, NC, let alone a Fresh House Restaurant. Thank goodness for a lunch appointment that landed me there.
When you walk in you're greeted by a wave of nostalgia for a time before your time and given a taste of what Cracker Barrel may have been had it remained local and not established itself at every other exit on the highway.
You walk into a quaint general store stocked up with Old School Authentic Antique Foods made just down the road in Albemarle NC (got to love a place that keeps it local!). They offer everything from old fashioned cookie mix, to licorice whips...and something I didn't quite understand, chocolate babies. Don't have time to stay for lunch? They sell homemade ice cream and baked goods in the store.
The restaurant is a collection of rooms and a real treat in southern cuisine. After dinner at a friend's house a couple weeks ago, I have become hopelessly addicted to Grilled Pimento Cheese Sandwiches. Oh wow, did they ever deliver on my newest indulgence! As if they already knew I was a girl that loved a little kick in her food, they added jalapenos! What a delight, though for those who don't care for the extra sizzle, they do offer it without the jalapenos. I had to pair it with macaroni and cheese (when I eat down-home southern I go all in).
Should you ever find yourself anywhere near Locust, NC go to Fresh House. It would be a crime to your tastebuds to not.
When you walk in you're greeted by a wave of nostalgia for a time before your time and given a taste of what Cracker Barrel may have been had it remained local and not established itself at every other exit on the highway.
You walk into a quaint general store stocked up with Old School Authentic Antique Foods made just down the road in Albemarle NC (got to love a place that keeps it local!). They offer everything from old fashioned cookie mix, to licorice whips...and something I didn't quite understand, chocolate babies. Don't have time to stay for lunch? They sell homemade ice cream and baked goods in the store.
The restaurant is a collection of rooms and a real treat in southern cuisine. After dinner at a friend's house a couple weeks ago, I have become hopelessly addicted to Grilled Pimento Cheese Sandwiches. Oh wow, did they ever deliver on my newest indulgence! As if they already knew I was a girl that loved a little kick in her food, they added jalapenos! What a delight, though for those who don't care for the extra sizzle, they do offer it without the jalapenos. I had to pair it with macaroni and cheese (when I eat down-home southern I go all in).
Should you ever find yourself anywhere near Locust, NC go to Fresh House. It would be a crime to your tastebuds to not.
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