Silly Goose Grand Opening

Last night, I went to the grand opening of the Silly Goose, the new bar at the corner of Peabody and Main (in Swig’s old spot). It looks like it will be a pretty cool bar to hang out in, with a total variety of clientele and fun people. An impressive spread of liquors adorns the back wall of the bar, and cozy couches are situated in the back. There is a large bookcase with lots of options for reading, plus two computers with internet access…. Just in case you need to check the Facebook relationship status of the guy (or girl) you have been talking to all night!

For the opening party, they had drink specials and, of course, free food. While the spread was pretty good, it wasn’t really reflective of their menu. I was hoping to get idea of what their food was really like, as I heard the flatbreads and paninis were very good.

For the food… On the cold side of things, they had several cheeses with some salami alongside a veggie tray. In the warmers, they had some standard fare – chicken quesadillas, chicken pizza, mini hot dogs, meatballs, and other random breaded items. The stand-out was the chicken cordon blue – chicken wrapped around ham and cheese, then breaded with some sort of cream included. Yum! For dessert was standard cheesecake – regular, cherry, and chocolate swirl… I am not sure where it was from though. Maybe Costco?

A sampling of the food, if you can see it:

Sissy came by after awhile for a drink. They were passing out champagne to toast the opening, but ran out of glasses. Here is a picture of us with champagne pint glasses. Cheers!

Overall, I was a little disappointed in the food (only because it was not their menu), and I wish they had had wine specials, too. BUT, nice beer specials, champagne and an overall GREAT way to kick off a new bar! I look forward to going back there soon.

3 Course Feast

Sunday night, Mom, Sissy, and I volunteered at the 3 Course Feast, a fundraiser for United Cerebral Palsy (UCP). This is the even formerly known as the Great Chef’s Tasting. This year, they pushed it back several months, kept only the best restaurants, removed live music but added chef demonstrations, and most importantly, greatly increased the price. I ran across the opportunity to volunteer, so not only was I helping a worthy cause, we got to stay at the event after our shift was over!

The way it worked was each restaurant was serving a small portion of either an appetizer, an entrée, or a dessert. After you tasted all of them, you voted once in each category. The winner won the Silver Spatula Award.

Even from just reading the “menu,” you could tell the chefs had really brought their A game. This was definitely confirmed after tasting ALL of the dishes (and even going back for seconds at many places).

Appetizers
Patrick and Deni from the Majestic Grille came with one of my favorites of the night – Thai Tuna Wontons with a ginger drizzle. The smoothness of the tuna, the crunchiness of the wonton, and the spiciness of the ginger combined for a perfect two bite finger food.

Another great appetizer was the BBQ shrimp from Chef Kelly at Restaurant Iris. A classic dish from New Orleans cuisine, it has just the right mount of flavor and spiciness.

The other standout was the winter corn chowder with smoked bay scallops and truffle pop corn from Chez Philippe. At first glance, it did not look as thick as a normal chowder, so I thought I would not like it or it would taste watered down. However, it turned out to be quite a refreshing soup, with the full corn flavor without being too heavy!

The appetizer winner was the New Zealand lamb lollipops from the Tennessean. I can’t talk about those too much, however because we got the last one and had to share it with three people. While very tasty and tender, I did not get quite enough to pass full judgment.

The final dishes to round out the category were Oxtail soup with gnocchi from Ciao Bella (gnocchi were good, but the soup was a bit too vegetable-y), and slow poached veal from Equestria (different kind of prep than I have had before, but the meat needed a bit more flavor).

Entrees
I have not been to Grill 83 in quite some time, but will definitely be going back after tasting their Moroccan Lamb Ragout with Orzo Pasta. With pearled onions (?), perfectly tender lamb, and served over rice, it was a delicious succulent (with a hint of sweet) combination!

Chef John Bragg from Circa was there with his pork tenderloin. It was stuffed with prunes, which gave a nice sweet flavor to the “salty meat.” I have never been disappointed with any of his food in the past, and enjoyed it once again with his perfectly cooked pork.

Karen Carrier from numerous restaurants (including The Beauty Shop and Do) served a crispy chorizo steak sandwich and a warm winter vegetable salad. It sounds simple, but the chorizo was beautifully prepared, and combined with the crunch of the Italian bread and the sweet flavor of the lemon aioli, it made you want to go back for another.

A place I have never been is Café Toscana, but it is now towards the top of list, due to their dessert (see below) and their pork tenderloin, stuffed with sausage and spinach. The pork was tender and juicy, and the sausage was a nice complement, bringing a bit of spice and a slightly tougher texture.

Also serving entrees were Erling Jensen with shrimp with white bean casolette (I DEFINITELY need to go there soon, it was deliciously creamy and chunky at the same time), Jarrets with saffron and seafood risotto (each risotto individually shaped in small mold, topped with a shrimp AND scallop), Bluefin with big eye tuna (very fresh with a creamy texture), and Orleans on Front with crawfish etouffee (it was okay, but I am hard to please, as I am quite spoiled with Cajun food).

Rounding out the entrée category were two types of sliders. Napa Café served a short rib slider that had tender and flavorful meat. McEwan’s on Monroe served a duck confit slider with an amazing BBQ-ish type sauce.

Desserts
Café Toscana brought a unique (in addition to being absolutely delicious) dessert, so my vote ultimately went to them. An Italian spumino, made with three layers of mousse (berry, vanilla, and pistachio), was served in mini-cups, making for a fruity and airy-light way to finish a meal.

A very close second was the white chocolate bread pudding from Felicia Suzanne’s. Creamy sauce, with soaked bread, and topped with homemade whipped cream, each bite was sinfully rich (without being overdone) and warming. One serving was definitely not enough for the three of us to share.

Completing the dessert category was a torte trio from Bari, consisting of lemon mascarpone, apple semolina, and chocolate hazelnut (these were okay, not bad but not my favorites), and a Holiday Inn offering of chocolate covered strawberries (good, but overpowering on the chocolate), cherries jubilee (good, but not a fan of the dish in general, so it is hard to judge), and bananas foster (ok, but have had better). As a bonus, Chez Philippe served their end-of-meal treats, which are always perfect little bites of sweetness.

Drinks and Wrap-Up
A.S. Barboro was sampling all the Sam Adams beer varieties. I tried the White Ale, a seasonal brew somewhere between a light lager and wheat, which I really enjoyed. Southwestern Distributors was serving Red Diamond wine, of which I tried the Cab and the Shiraz. The Cab was very good at first sip, but not as flavorful as the Shiraz after a comparison tasting.

Also serving drinks were High Point Coffee, DBI Beverages (Coors Light), Pepsi Americas, Victor L Robilio Inc (pomegranate martinis), and D. Canale (assorted beers).

Overall, it was a great even with wonderful food! Although a bit pricey at $65, it is just about worth it with the high quality and variety of chefs, drinks, and demonstrations! Plus, it all goes to a great cause!

Mollie Fontaine's

Sissy and I went to Mollie Fontaine’s for the first time on Saturday night. After laying on the couch all day, badly hungover from too much beer at the Red Hot Chili Peppers tribute band the night before, we wanted to go somewhere new and a little more low-key than party-central.

We got there about 8:00, and the place was packed. After walking around and not finding a table, we found the host, who was extremely nice and worked diligently on finding us somewhere to sit. After he discovered the smaller tables would not be getting up too soon, he found us a side bar to sit at.

Although it took our server a bit longer to greet us, once he did, he was very nice and helpful (for the first part of our meal, at least). He mentioned the kitchen was backed up, so he brought us a complementary cheese tray with two types of cheese (one a smoked brie, the other a mild whitish cheese with nuts), spiced pecans, olives, some sort of delicious fruity marmalade, and crackers. It was quite a large portion, definitely a good value and high quality for your money.

Wine is a bit expensive by the glass if you want something other than a merlot or grenache, but they also have some relatively reasonable beers as well.

All the food is served as small plates. After much discussion over the menu, we decided to try three different dishes. First was the macaroni and cheese, as we had read about it in a previous review. It was made with fontina and gruyere cheeses (the menu said bacon, but we didn't see any). The crusty, just broiled, bits on the top were the best part. If you like mac and cheese, this is a definitely a dish to try. You can really taste the individual (and higher end) cheeses in the dish.

Next up, was the fish club, with avocado, greens, tomatoes, bacon, onions, and marmalade. The combination of flavors and textures was just right, especially with the smokiness of the bacon and sweetness of the tomato and marmalade.

The third plate was the garlic shrimp, with sherry, olive oil, and bread. The shrimp were tasty, and the sherry in the sauce was a perfect sweeter addition to the garlic flavor, particularly for dipping bread afterwards!

To satisfy our sweet tooth, we ordered Ricki’s Toasted Brioche Sandwiches after our server greatly talked it up. It was as bit disappointing, as we were expecting a “chocolate genache on challah,” as he described. It seems to basically be melted chocolate on toast. Almost any chocolate is good though, even if the combination of a dish is not the best.

Overall, it was a great experience. The service started off really great, and they even let us move to a real table when one became available. However, once the place started to get a bit more crowded, the staff seemed much busier and less attentive. Overall, I would definitely recommend this place for food and drinks before going out to ht the bars. It is a great date and group place, the atmosphere takes you out of the typical Memphis experience, and the food is unique and tasty!

Capriccio Part #2

Having previously studied the menu, we knew we wanted one steak dish, one seafood dish, and one something-a-bit-“game-ier” dish. All the dishes are served a-la-carte, which was a bit disappointing considering the price of the meat items. After discussion with our server, we decided on just two sides as he said they were quite large.

Chazzy ordered “Capriccio’s Signature 24oz Bone-In Prime Rib Eye Steak. Served as a slab of meat on a large plate, it looked plain, but had delicious flavor and texture. Minimally marinated and spiced, the true steak flavor was the constant delight in the dish.

I, being the biggest seafood lover, ordered the bacon-wrapped scallops. Four large scallops were served, encircled by a piece of bacon, and topped with some chopped herbs. The scallops were perfectly cooked, with a hint of oil or butter, and they were very moist throughout. While the bacon flavor did much to enhance the dish, I think the actual piece of bacon was almost unnecessary. However, this WAS one of my two favorite dishes, due to the meshing of the different tastes.

Sissy went with the 15oz Colorado Lamb Chops. Served in a tower of FIVE chops, it was a filling and moist meat dish. It was lightly flavored with cracked pepper and some kind of chopped herbs. The only thing I would do differently is to order it cooked medium next time instead of medium rare.

The first side was sautéed wild mushrooms. Tender, yet plump, the marinade seemed to be a mix of balsamic vinegar, maybe some soy. Delicious. The second was the Risotto Del Giorno (the risotto of the day that particular night was olive). Creamy, with just the right amount of salt flavor from the olives, it was a nice texture compliment to both the thickness of the beef and the smoothness of the scallops. I will also say the sides were huge portions and some of the best “values” on the menu. They are very easily shared with several people.

Finally came the desserts. Having already had much of the menu at a previous trivia night, we chose our favorite – the Georgia peach bread pudding soufflé with a liquored dipping sauce. It is truly amazing. Chunks of warm peaches give a subtle fruit flavor that is no too overpoweringly sweat. The creamy and fluffy topping was slightly browned to perfection, helping to create a fully textured bite with every forkful.

We were also looking for something chocolate, so our server told us to trust him. And boy, were we glad we did. He brought us a chocolate explosion from the deli. With layers of mousse, cake, fudge, and whipped cream, then wrapped in a thin chocolate sheet and topped with a strawberry, it should satisfy every chocolate-lover’s sweet tooth.

Overall, we had a great time. With no limitations on ordering, we were able to try a little bit of everything, the way EVERY dining experience should be. Leftover mushrooms and risotto were a perfect snack the next day, even cold, and the lamb made a great addition to a lunch salad at work. I would definitely recommend this place to friends for the good food. My recommendation (if you prefer seafood at least) for a complete meal: Tuna tartare, bacon-wrapped scallops, the wild mushrooms, and the soufflé! You won’t be sorry!

Capriccio Grill, Part 1

For our second celebration of trivia wins, Sissy, Chazzy, and me decided on a dinner at the Capriccio Grill. Lucky for us, money was not really an object, since all our food was to be purchased with gift cards. This allowed us to order much more than we normally would! Since we did eat so much, I will probably split this review into several posts so I write about it all.

Capriccio Grill is an interesting restaurant in itself. The dishes are of such high quality and excellent flavor, yet the ambience of the place does not really match the level of the food. The lights are bright and not dimmed, the décor is fairly plain, and the restaurant is very open. We were even seated in a typical booth…. However, even with this contradiction in “niceness” and atmosphere, we had a great time and had some amazing food. And after a brief wait at the beginning for our server to greet us, the service was quick, attentive, and very courteous.

First, we ordered wine. I was very (pleasantly) surprised to see a wide variety on the menu, including a very affordable, drinkable $25 pinot noir. We also placed appetizer and soup orders at the same time. After much discussion, we decided on two seafood dishes, one beef dish, and two bowls (rather than cups) of the soup.

The ahi tuna tartare ended up being one of our favorite dishes. With chunks of tuna (rather than the usually smaller pieces), the flavor really came through and paired perfectly with the smoothness of the avocado and the spiciness of the shichimi pepper. The bread points were not needed and actually took away from the combination of flavors.

The porcini crusted beef carpaccio was a bit of a surprise. Rather than very very thinly sliced beef, it was a bit thicker and more of a typical “roast beef” flavor and texture when eaten by itself. However, a bite that also included the arugula and whatever the “green things” were on the plate brought a deeper immersion of the beef flavor.

The seafood tower can be designed in several different ways. There are options of 4 or 5 different seafoods and then you can specify how many portions of each. We decided on the lump crabmeat and the clams. While the clams were a bit on the expensive side (and only one per person), they tasted extremely fresh and delicious. They were the perfect texture, temperature, and flavor. The lump crabmeat portions were huge by comparison. Tender and flaky, a touch of lemon helped bring out the perfect bite of crab.

The lobster bisque is “served tableside.” A bowl is set on the table with cold lobster meat and bit of a creamy substance. The server pours the hot soup on top, creating the swirled soup. (Note for those who order it: wait a few minuets after the presentation to let the lobster heat up a bit.) The soup was rich and creamy, with gravy-bisque type flavor. The lobster was chunky and plentiful (although you can never have TOO much lobster), creating a nice balance of smooth and chewy textures.

The gazpacho was one of the better ones I have tasted. The pureed tomatoes were left with just the right amount of chunk, and the pieces of cucumber in the soup were still nice and crisp.

After the soups, our server mentioned our food would still be a few minutes, so he brought us a caprese salad on the house. (Note to restaurant managers: while not necessary, this simple gesture is a great way to instill loyalty and really facilitate a great customer experience.) With just the right amount of basil, thick slices of mozzarella, and delicious swirls of balsamic vinegar across the bottom, this “salad” was a refreshing middle course before the entrees.

So far, so good…. Well REALLY good!! Stay tuned for entrees and dessert!!

Inauguration Day Cookies and Silly Goose

In honor of Inauguration Day, I decided to make cookies for trivia last night. Since I was short on time, I took the easy way out and used Break-and-Bake. Quite honestly, these are just as good (and in some cases, better) than regular cookies made from scratch. Of course I had no icing or frosting at home, so I attempted to make O's on the cookies (for Obama, of course!) out of chocolate chips. They turned out.... okay looking... But they were still delicious!

After trivia, we decided to check out the new Silly Goose bar at the corner of Peabody and Main. It was the first night it was open, so I expected a chill, fairly empty place. However, it was packed. The word had obviously gotten out. They have done a few renovations to the old Swig, including removing a constricting wall. It was originally billed as a "neighborhood bar," but the crowd and atmosphere was definitely more hip than I expected.

The bar was fully stocked with liquor, along with a few draught beer and wine options. I did not get to try any food, but I did glance at the menu and see a few others' plates. It leans towards a cafe-type menu - with flatbreads, paninis, salads, and soups. From what I saw, the food looks really good and nice-sized portions for reasonable prices. I will try to eat there soon for a review. Jury is still out on the place in general, since it was a random Tuesday night, but I will at least go again to get a better idea of what it will be like.

Review on Capriccio still to come!

Apple Gillette

Wednesday at the Corner Bar trivia, our server from dinner night at Chez Philippe, Timothy, came out to say hello. He was one of the best servers we have ever had. He even told us to make some of the dishes! (Although he mentioned some were “easy”, then went into long and complicated [to me] instructions.)

While chatting, I mentioned that I LOVED the Apple Gillette that we previously had for dessert. Not 15 minutes later, Timothy surprised us with the dish and several forks and spoons. The picture below is from our Chez Philippe dinner; it may be a little dark and off-colored, because I didn’t want to use a flash.

The first time we had it, we did not try the first bite correctly. In order to make it last as long as possible, we had all taken a tiny nibble of a corner. It was basically a bite of pastry dough.

This dessert is meant to be eaten in complete bites, incorporating each part of the dish – the flaky pastry layers, the gooey apple, the caramel syrup, and the ice cream on top. A complete bite yields multiple flavors and textures, incorporating the sweetness of the ice cream and tartness of the apple, along with the slight crunch of the pastry and the smoothness of the syrup.

We were not disappointed! I think it was gone in about 5.5 minutes. It was so good in fact, that I think Sissy even licked the plate clean (even though she will say I helped her with that, it is NOT true)!

Dinner tonight at Capriccio Grill, the other restaurant in the Peabody, to celebrate more trivia wins. Look for a review to come soon!

Costco and the Chicken Bake

I am a member of Costco. Aside from buying toilet paper, paper towels, carrots, and celery in bulk, a big reason for this is “lunchtime at Costco.” This is when they set up stations throughout the grocery section and give out free samples. On a good day, you can truly eat enough bites to make a meal. One day I got lucky and found 4 types of pizza, ravioli, chips and salsa, pita and hummus, two different kinds of cheeses, lasagna, yogurt, and ice cream bars (and I actually think there was more).

I usually run into SOMEONE I know who inevitably makes fun of me eating lots of free food, but, hey, I have a reputation to uphold!

While this past Wednesday’s trip with Chad was not quite as good (but not as lame as last Wed), I really enjoyed the spinach lasagna and Lean Cuisines they were sampling. With only two or three other bites, we were still hungry after perusing the store. So, it was off to the food counter.

I think Costco is the only place in Memphis where you can get a ¼ pound hotdog AND a drink for 1.50. They also have turkey wraps, large slices of pizza, and chicken Caesar salads at very reasonable prices. They were out of wraps, so Chad decided on the last menu item – the chicken bake. While the picture showed a large pastry-looking object, cut in half with cheese and chicken appetizingly oozing out, nothing quite prepared us for what we were served.

Chad was handed a Styrofoam plate with a huge (seriously, almost a foot long) plain looking pastry. [No picture yet, but I will try to get one next time.] While the first glance did not yield the same temptation as the picture, the first bite revealed the true nature of the dish. Deliciously cheesy, with chunks of juicy chicken, there were also small pieces of bacon mixed throughout. After my first bite, I mentioned that I thought it needed some sort of sauce, like a marinara. It did come with a Caesar dip, which ended up being the perfect compliment, bringing a more complex flavor to the dish.

After tasting this chicken bake, I am excited to try some of their other dishes (and save a buck at the same time)!

SMA Meeting at Sole and The Drowsy Chaperone

Last week, when Chad and I bought tickets for the Orpheum, we decided we would grab dinner before the show. Not two hours later, I received an email from the South Main Association announcing a meeting that same evening… with free drinks and hors d'ouevres! Having joined the SMA during a late summer Trolley Tour specifically for these types of benefits, we decided to forego an actual dinner and check out the SMA event. On top of the “freeness” of the event, it was also at the new restaurant in the Westin, Sole. I have been wanting to check it out anyway, so this was a perfect way to test (or taste) the waters!

We arrived right at 6 when the networking was scheduled to start. After the obligatory check-in and name tagging, we grabbed a glass of red wine. I did not catch the name of it, since we were trying to hurry to grab a seat. It was a good table wine… not too deep, but not too fruity either.

About halfway through the first glass of wine, they started to bring food out. Expecting bite-sized appetizers that you could pile on a small plate, I was surprised to see pretentious (though not necessarily in a bad way) individual servings of food with only napkins on which to eat.

The menu was comprised of (the list is from a sheet of paper that was on the table):

Shrimp Lollipops
Oyster on the Half Shell
Tuna Tartare Spoons
Corn Bisque Cappuccino
Tender Brochette
Calamari

First placed on the hors d’ouevres table were the top three items on the list. The tuna was really a seared tuna (rather than a tartare) and was served in about a 1 x 1 inch square on an individual spoon, topped with a sweet and spicy sauce, ginger, and cilantro. Although the tuna itself was seared just right, the ginger was a little overpowering for such a small portion. Overall though, the flavors and textures did meld together for a tasty bite that left you wanting another.

The shrimp lollipops were obviously freshly fried and served with an orange-colored, slightly spiced dipping sauce. The breading was crisp on the outside and deliciously mushy (almost cheese-like) on the inside. It was a bit too much breading for a single piece of shrimp though, so I think I ended up peeling some off.

The oysters were topped with a citrusy-type light sauce with a slight onion undertone. The first platter was overpowering on the onions, but subsequent platters were considerably better. The oysters seemed a bit small (are they out of season?), but overall a great salty treat.

The next table rush was when they brought out the tender brochette. Served on skewers with a creamy gouda fondue, they were tender and full of flavor. Next, individual bowls of corn bisque were brought to the table 3-at-at-time. Of course I am quick, so I grabbed a bowl off the first tray. Deliciously creamy with chunks of corn, it was somehow light and frothy on top.

The final dish was the most surprising presentation. Fried calamari rings were served on top of a dipping sauce (similar to that of the shrimp) in (what looked like) port wine glasses with small forks. For typical tasting calamari, the presentation was a bit over-the-top.

Overall, the food was good. The corn bisque (for flavor and uniqueness) and the brochette (for flavor and appropriate presentation) were by far my favorites, followed by the tuna. I would have liked the calamari and shrimp a bit more in a different presentation. After returning for seconds, thirds, fourths, etc, it was time to head to the Orpheum. Unfortunately, we had to miss most of the speakers because of the show’s start time. But I did hear a lot of good info was given out.

As an fairly unknown show, we were not sure what to expect with the The Drowsy Chaperone. But it was a delightful mix of humor, satire, songs, and shocking statements. Seamlessly integrating the past and present, it almost played as a mockumentary for everything that is a typical old-time Broadway musical.

The lead actor was fabulous as a lonely man obsessed with musical theatre. Eating his snack on stage, making fun of the audience for not getting their own intermission, was only one of his memorable scenes. I would definitely recommend this show to anyone who wants an entertaining evening filled with laughter.

Saturday Recap

The day started off with me just being lazy and laying around, but then I dragged myself out of bed so I could work out before going to watch the Titans game. I knew it would be another long day of drinking (and hopefully eating), so intense cardio was the first thing on the agenda.

We went to Calhoun’s Sports Bar and Grill to watch the game in HD on one of their NINE TVs. Calhoun’s is one of the best places to watch sports in the city, but be prepared for the smoky smell in your hair and clothes when you leave. It is also not the best place to eat if you try to eat healthy, like me… But you cannot beat it for satellite TV, the best bartenders and service in the city, and a fun time with friends.

The bar was crowded, but we were lucky enough to scrounge up some stools to sit at the back rail. Three and half hours, two Diet Cokes, and two Miller Lites later (yes, only 2 – it was still early…), we left disappointed, sad, and hopeful for next season. A change of clothes, food, and a night out drinking were definitely in order.

Sissy and I were craving sushi, so we decided on Blue Fin for dinner. She even had a coupon for $15 off dinner, so that was definitely a bonus. Of course, I tried to call for a reservation, but they only take them 2 hours in advance. Since we wanted to go in about 45 minutes, we had to just show up and hope for a short wait.

30 minutes was our quote time. Not bad I suppose, for 8:00 on a Saturday night. Since we were pretty hungry, we decided to order a beer and a seaweed salad at the bar while we waited. At $7, the seaweed salad may at first look expensive on the menu. However, when it arrives (fairly quickly), you can see why it is a bit pricey. It comes a deep bowl with a heap of cucumbers on the bottom. The seaweed itself is plentiful and fresh. It is marinated in just the right amount of sweet & salty ponzu sauce. Although I know I could eat the entire thing by myself, it is a great dish to be shared if eating as an appetizer.

Once seated at the table, we quickly decided on the sushi dinner entrée as one of our options. For the second, we were deciding between a second sushi dinner, a red snapper, beef tenderloin, and seared tuna. I remember seeing someone order the tuna last time I ate there, so we finally settled on that dish. Our server mentioned the sushi chefs were backed up and asked if it was okay that the tuna came out first. We okay’ed this option, as we were still hungry. However, had we not been sharing, there could have been an issue with the timing of food.

When the tuna arrived, I will honestly say I thought there had been a mistake. It came on a long skinny plate with 6 pieces of tuna, already cut and seared. There was a stack of 4 eggplant slices and a small mound of greens on the side. For $26, I would have expected a bit larger dish.

The tuna was good, yet very typical. There was a “spicy lemon soy” on the side with roasted cashews. It was more of a thick, fruity-tasting sauce – not at all what I expected from the description, but it was excellent when combined with the thick, slightly grilled texture of the tuna.

The sides were definitely the stand-out of this dish. The grilled eggplant was tender, with the true flavor shining through. The warm mustard greens were sautéed to perfection and retained just the right amount of the original bitterness that you would expect.

This dish was consumed fairly quickly, as we were very hungry by time, plus the dish was small, even by sharing comparisons. We then had to wait a bit for the sushi to come. Again, we were basically eating in courses since we were sharing, but the timing seemed to be off for the night.

When the sushi dinner came, we were pleasantly surprised to see that it looked big enough to actually share. While we both love sushi and could eat probably two helpings each, we were able to briefly satisfy our sushi craving.

The shrimp tempura roll was one of the better-tasting ones I have had. Only the shrimp were fried, rather than the entire roll, which really allows you to taste the rice, seaweed, and shrimp individually and combined in flavor. There was also a second kind of fish, providing a softer texture against the crispiness of the tempura, which only heightened the combination of flavors and textures.

Four pieces of nigiri lined the long side of the plate – one each of shrimp, tuna, yellowtail, and salmon. Twelve pieces of sashimi were piled up on the short side – 3 each of tuna, yellowtail, salmon, and octopus. Sissy and I cut each piece of nigiri in half to share and tried one each of the fish sashimi.

My favorite sashimi was confirmed once again in the selection of yellowtail. There is something about the soft, melt-in-your-mouth texture, with the slight fishy taste that I cannot get enough of. The octopus was nice and chewy, the salmon was butter-like and fatty (in the good way), and the tuna was… well, tuna. We divided up the remaining up pieces and savored our last bites of our favorites.

After a stop by the Saucer for a few beers, some pool, and socializing, we decided we wanted dessert. Sissy had never had the skillet cookie from Kooky Canuck (formerly Big Foot Lodge), so that is where we decided to go. Although we were seated quickly, it did take a while for our order to come out. We were eventually told that they were making them all fresh, so we did not mind too much.




When it did arrive, we were not disappointed. The cookie was obviously made-when –ordered and not just reheated in a microwave or stove. It has just the right amount of half-cooked cookie in the middle, surrounded by just-right-cooked on the outside. Topped with ice cream and chocolate bars, a full bite even included melted chocolate chips on the bottom. It was the perfect sweet treat to a good night, even if the Titans did lose.

New Year's Day Night

Not to be outdone by the drinking on New Year's Day, Mom invited us over for a New Year's / Belated Chanukah dinner. Cooking was in full effect when we arrived, but Sissy and I brought our own contributions as well.

Traditional New Year's Day foods are a must for me, so I brought some collard greens (for luck) and black-eyed peas (for wealth). I wasn't sure how to cook them, so I basically just heated them up on the stove. Any recipes for the future are greatly appreciated!

Pork is also a known New Year's Day food, although I am not sure why. To try something a bit different, Mom made us ham-wrapped asparagus. Now this is an easy & cheaper alternative to something like prosciutto, and it was especially good with a little bit of lemon squeezed on. I would definitely make these for a party in the future, but might add something to hold it together, like a cream cheese (lemon-flavored, even).

For the actual meal, we had baked salmon, cooked with wine, balsamic vinegar, mushrooms, tomatoes, capers, and a few spritzes of olive oil. Perfectly cooked, flaked with a fork, it was rich & delicious.

To celebrate Chanukah, Mom also made latkes from scratch. According to the Wikipedia entry, latkes are tradition on this holiday because “the oil for cooking the latkes is reminiscent of the oil from the Hanukkah story that kept the Second Temple of ancient Israel lit with a long-lasting flame that is celebrated as a miracle. “

We used a mixture of regular & sweet potatoes, which gives them a sweeter flavor than using regular only. We did cheat a little, because we tried to bake them, rather than fry them. There was a bit of olive oil sprayed on though. Although very tasty, they were a little “mushy” because of the baking. Next time, I would possibly slow-cook them longer, then flash broil at the end to achieve the crispy outside texture.

After dinner were two dessert treats, one planned and one surprised. Mom and Sissy had taken a chocolate cooking class and learned to make truffles. For our special dinner, Mom handmade an assortment of plain and liqueur-flavored chocolate truffles, blissfully rolled in crushed oreos or cocoa powder. She had even made labels so we could tell them all apart. Among the Chambourd, Grand Marnier, and plain options, my favorite were the Kahlua flavored ones. They brought something a little extra milky and creamy to the bitterness of dark chocolate.

For the surprise, Sissy had brought back our favorite kind of cake from New Orleans, doberge from Gambino’s. Made of layers upon layers of yellow cake with chocolate pudding in between each, it is topped by a unique hardened fudgy layer of chocolate. We eat it whenever we can get our hands on it.

After presents and coffee with Baily’s, Kahlua, and/or Godiva liqueur, we said our goodnights and thank you’s and headed home for our first night’s sleep of the new year.

New Year's Day

There are three things I must do on New Year's Day:

• First, Be Lazy - This was accomplished by lying on the couch and watching movies all afternoon.
  


• Second, Watch Football - Now, I admit that movies got in the way a little, but thank goodness for live streaming internet, gamecast, and auto-refreshed scores.
  


• Third, and most importantly, Have Celebratory (and Curing) Drinks - Sissy and I started off the day celebrating with mimosas. Yes, we used the cheap champagne in mini-bottles, but does it really matter when you are nursing a hangover and mixing it? And yes, notice the "light" OJ. Since I knew it was going to be a long day of consumption, I decided to save even a few calories where possible.

My recipe: Keep it simple. Take any kind of tall skinny glass and fill about 2/3rds full with champagne. Top it off with the orange juice of your choice. My recommendation is not to use a concentrate. (Of course, you can switch the ratio if you like OJ more than champagne....) No need to even stir. Cheers and drink up!

Next up was Drink # 2 - Bloody Mary's.

This is finally the point where the hangover started to subside. As you can see, we did not take the easy way out and use a mix.

My recipe for Bloody Mary's is a bit more complicated than mimosas. Take a pint glass and pour in a shot of vodka (more, of course, if your hangover is REALLY bad!). Add a few drops of tabasco and a couple shakes of pepper. Next, pour in about a tablespoon of what I consider the key ingredient, Worcestershire sauce. Taste and adjust as necessary. Mix and top with green olives AND a stalk of celery. Hangover cure extraordinaire!

Laziness, football, and good drinks - a perfect morning and afternoon to kick-off 2009! Happy New Year!