Hill Country BBQ

December 11, 2010

Hill Country BBQ

30 West 26th St

New York, NY 10010

The Setup: My mom, sister and I went to NYC for the weekend to visit my brother and sister-in-law, who live there. Some of my cousins came up for the day too, so we decided to have a nice lunch before setting out to see the sights. We had a total of 9 people for lunch on a Saturday, and my sister-in-law Kate found a place called Hill Country BBQ for us to try.

The Experience: Walking into Hill Country BBQ, the first thing I noticed was how big the space was. Most of the restaurants I've been to in NYC (actually - almost everything in NYC in general!) is usually small and a little cramped, but Hill Country had two levels, and there was plenty of open space on both. Hill Country dubs themselves as a "BBQ Market", based on the popular meat markets in Texas. Basically, the menu they give you is a small card that you take up to the counter when you're ready to order. They check off the items you order as they serve your food, and then you get your card back, which becomes your bill. They serve all of their meat by the pound, and then wrap it in butcher paper which gives it a more authentic meat market feel.

The Food: After looking over the menu carefully, I decided to get one of their specials - the "Longhorn Brisket Chomp". This includes 1/3lb. of lean brisket, an 8 oz side, corn bread and a drink. All of the side dishes sounded delicious (sweet potato bourbon mash, chipotle deviled eggs, and mac n cheese just to name a few), but I decided to go with the white shoepeg corn pudding. At just $12, the "Chomp" was definitely a great deal! The portions were so big that there was no way I could finish everything. I really enjoyed the brisket, which was dry rubbed and sliced super thin, which made it fall-apart tender. The meat is served dry, but each table has squeeze bottles of BBQ sauce so you can add as much or as little as you like. The one disappointing thing about my meal -- and really, it's just a small thing -- was the cinnamon butter they served with the cornbread. It had way too much cinnamon and it overpowered the bread. Other than that, I enjoyed the food. I won't go so far as to say it was the best BBQ I've ever had, but I would probably agree with a lot of previous reviews, which say that Hill Country is the best BBQ in the city.

The Verdict: B+ For the most part, I really enjoyed my meal at Hill Country BBQ, but there was nothing about it that stood out as being particularly special. I think a big part of the charm of Hill Country is the atmosphere, so if I go back, I'll definitely make sure to go on an evening when they have live music so I can fully immerse myself in the environment!

Tinto

March 12, 2010

Tinto

114 S. 20th St.

Philadelphia, PA

The Setup: Greg and I were visiting Philadelphia for the weekend and decided to treat ourselves to a nice dinner. After searching the Zagat guide and checking menus online for nearly 2 hours, we finally decided on Tinto, which is one of the restaurants owned by the newest Iron Chef, Jose Garces.

The Experience: By the time we decided to have dinner at Tinto on a Friday night, it was already around 10PM the night before. Luckily we were able to secure a reservation for 9:30 PM which worked out perfectly since we had plans earlier in the evening. The restaurant was only a few blocks from our hotel which was convenient, and once we arrived we were taken to our table right away. After browsing the menu online, Greg and I came ready with questions, and our waitress didn't let us down. She was able to give us a description of all of the cheeses on the menu and explain to us some of the dishes we were unfamiliar with.

The Food: Greg and I are living on a somewhat tight budget while we're both back in school, so it was really a treat for us to splurge on this dinner. We were both glad that we did, though, because the food was amazing! Tinto is a tapas restaurant so their menu consists of a wide variety of small plates. The waitress informed us that a full meal usually consists of 3-4plates each. We decided to order a little bit at a time and share our plates rather than order 3 plates each. Greg started his meal with a Johnny Walker scotch ($10) and I started with the signature Tinto sangria ($8). The first plates we ordered were the cheese mixto ($15) and the serrano ham wrapped figs ($5). The cheese plate came out with 3 different cheeses and was served with bread. Our waitress informed us that the cheeses were chosen by the Chef and aren't necessarily always the same cheeses with every mixto order. On our plate, there was a bleu cheese, a mild unpasteurized sheep's milk cheese and a creamy goat cheese. The cheeses were a nice accompaniment to the serrano wrapped figs, which were both salty and sweet.

For our next plates, we decided on the braised shortrib sandwich ($10) and the spanish octopus ($10). All I can say about both of these dishes is WoW! The shortrib sandwich was served with bacon, asparagus, and a celery root aioli and was a whole new, completely gourmet take on the sandwich. The shortribs were so tender they almost melted in your mouth. And speaking of tender, the spanish octopus didn't even require a knife. It was served with a lemon powder on the side which I have never seen before, but it was really good.

By this time, Greg and I were starting to get full, but the menu is full of such enticing items that we had to try just one more: prawns served with chorizo, grape tomatoes and some chili powder on the side ($12). Although the prawns were tasty, the chorizo made them a bit too salty for my taste. The lemon aioli did cut the saltiness of the dish, but for me it just didn't compare to our previous plates.

Being a pastry chef in training, I couldn't leave without at least looking at the dessert menu, although I promise you I had no intention of actually ordering from it.....until I saw the olive oil and orange blossom custard ($8). Next week just happens to be custard week in my baking class so I told myself I was doing research, and Greg and I decided to split a dessert. The custard was served with an orange blossom gelee and an almond tuile, and it was definitely one of the top 5 best desserts I've ever eaten. The custard was rich and creamy, and the crunchy almond tuile added a nice texture. It was a nice dessert to share since it was so rich.

The Verdict: A++ This meal makes me understand just why Chef Jose Garces won the next Iron Chef competition. All of the dishes on the menu are well thought out and were presented beautifully. Even though the plates and portions are small, you can choose items like the sandwiches and the skewers to round out your meal and accompany some of the lighter dishes. If you're in the mood to be a little more adventurous with your meal, choose the Chef's Tasting option for just $55.00. This will get you 4 plates of the Chef's choice, although the menu is not completely set in stone. If you have any food allergies or just an item you really don't like, they will tailor the Chef's Tasting to accommodate your needs. Next time you're in Philadelphia, Tinto is definitely a must-try restaurant!

Le Jeune Chef

August 26, 2009

Le Jeune Chef

One College Ave.

Williamsport, PA 17701

The Setup: Just about a month ago, Greg and I packed up and moved to Central Pennsylvania. Greg has been going to school in Pennsylvania for a few years, but for me, having never lived outside of Akron, Ohio, this was a huge change! I decided it was time to take a big step in my life and go back to school for something I should have gone for the first time: Baking and Pastry Arts! The school I'm attending, Pennsylvania College of Technology, has a student run restaurant called Le Jeune Chef, which I will get to do some cooking in later in my schooling. Greg and I decided to try it out for dinner to see what I had in store for me in the next 2 years!

The Experience: I made a 6:30 reservation on a Wednesday night, just to be safe, although the reservation wasn't completely necessary. School having just started the week before and it being a weeknight, there were plenty of open tables. The matrie d' showed us to our table, pulled out my chair for me and even draped the napkin across my lap - very fancy! I don't go to many restaurants like that so it was a nice treat. Although the restaurant has a formal setting, it wasn't at all pretentious. The restaurant staff is made up of hospitality students so they are being taught the proper way to do things, while the atmosphere is still light and welcoming.

The Food: Le Jeune Chef has a diverse menu that changes monthly, and they always offer a prix fixe menu where you can choose one appetizer, one entree and one dessert for about $32.00. Greg and I both opted for this option. Before our appetizers came out, we were a given a "gift from the chef" of a skewer filled with 3 types of olives and pepper jack cheese, served with a peach chutney. It was delicious! We were also served rolls with butter and olive oil. For my prix fixe dinner, I chose an appetizer of sun dried tomato and olive tapenade stuffed tomato with goat cheese croutons. My entree choice was grilled rack of lamb with mushroom confit, mashed red potatoes and seasonal veggies. For dessert I went with a fruit soup with homemade graham crackers and a free form cheesecake. To sum all of this up in one word: DELICIOUS! I was completely impressed and blown away by each course and it made me even more excited to get in the kitchen and start creating my own dessert menu. The appetizer was light yet still hearty, and my lamb was cooked to perfection. The only complaint I had about my fruit soup was that it was a bit on the bitter side, but the graham crackers and cheesecake were delicious.

For Greg's meal, he chose an appetizer of sweet breads with apples, walnuts and pork belly over a bed of red cabbage and leeks. His entree was the blackened catfish fillet with crab creole sauce, corn fritters and seasonal veggies. For his dessert he went with the chocolate crepes. His meal was delicious as well (trust me, I definitely sampled all of it)! The sweetbreads paired nicely with the sweet apples and the red cabbage, and his catfish was spicy and well cooked. Do I even need to say anything about the chocolate crepes?? I think they speak for themselves! Just imagine a light, fluffy crepe filled with chocolate mouse and topped with fresh raspberries. SO GOOD! His dessert was the better of the two.

The Verdict: A++ I can't say enough about how impressed I was with Le Jeune Chef. I went in expecting an average meal being cooked by culinary students in training, and what I was served far exceeded my expectations. Nothing about our meal suggested it was cooked and served by anything less than professionals who knew exactly what they were doing. The best thing about Le Jeune Chef: Since the menu changes every month, you'll want to keep coming back to try all of the new creations!

My Top 5 Budget-Friendly Meals in Akron, Ohio

With the economy in its current state and people pinching their pennies more than ever, I thought it would be nice to compile a list of some delicious, budget friendly meals right here in Akron, Ohio. I have lived in Akron my whole life and there are truly a lot of great restaurants here so when I had to pick a top 5 it was harder than I expected! After some thinking, however, I was finally able to narrow it down. So here it is -- My Top 5 Budget Friendly Meals in Akron.

5. Pad Thai

3545 Brookwall Dr.

 Akron, OH 44333

For a mere $11.00, you get a heaping helping of their signature pad thai. The pad thai consists of rice noodles stir-fried with egg, chicken, shrimp and peanuts. If you like it a little spicy, just let them know and they'll adjust the heat to your liking. The best part about the pad thai is the generous portion you get. I've never been able to finish it in one sitting so there is always enough for lunch the next day (2 meals for the price of 1)! It is truly delicious and Greg and I like to order take-out from here at least once a month!

4. New Era Restaurant

10 Massillon Rd.

Akron, OH 44312

New Era is a gem of a restaurant located in the Ellet area of Akron. I love this one not only because it's budget friendly, but also because it has an emotional connection for me. My Grandfather loved this restaurant and he introduced me to their famous chicken paprikash. At an almost unbelievable price of $8.50, their paprikash includes tender chicken seasoned perfectly and served with the best dumplings I know of. It also includes dessert! You can choose between homemade apple or cheese strudel (I go for apple)!

3. Luigi's Restaurant

105 N. Main St.

Akron, OH 44308

If you live in Akron, you've probably been to Luigi's -- and more than likely, you've been there at lunchtime, at dinnertime, and even at 2:30 in the morning after a night out with your friends. Luigi's is an Akron staple for great Italian food. Their prices are always great, but if you go at lunchtime they're even better. Easily accessible for those who work in Downtown Akron, it's great whether you want to eat in or carry out. For $4.15 you get an Italian tossed salad with cheese, and when they say "with cheese" they really mean it! You can also get the baked rigatoni which is just the right size for a lunch portion for only $4.95! You really can't beat that deal for that quality of food.

2. Louie's

739 E. Glenwood Ave.

Akron, OH 44310

This is one of my favorites because it's less than 5 minutes away from my job. If I go out for lunch, I go to Louie's. Louie's is a small but comfortable restaurant boasting "Akron's Best Burger". For a starter, every table gets a basket of popcorn to munch on while you wait for your food (You can't get more budget-friendly than free)! If you're up for a big lunch, you can get an award winning Louie Burger for $6.29. If you're like me and like a lighter lunch, the Go Greek Salad is the right choice for the same $6.29. It comes with a ton of kalamata olives and feta cheese and is served with warm, buttery pita bread. If you opt for the light lunch, just stop by Louie's for dinner! The prices are the same and you're sure to have a hefty enough appetite for an award winning burger by then!

1. Lockview

207 S. Main St.

Akron, OH 44308

The Lockview is my favorite music venue/bar turned restaurant! Formerly the Lime Spider, the Lockview now offers a great menu, while still keeping their extensive beer list. I like to start out with the homemade tortilla chips with parmesan, goat cheese and cheddar dip for $5.00 followed by my favorite of their gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches - the mozarella, sun dried tomato and pesto grilled cheese for just $6.00. The atmosphere is great, and depending on which night you decide to go you might still catch a great live performance or jam to some music on the rooftop patio!

These are my top 5 budget friendly meals in Akron...what are yours???

Salsa Brava

March 16, 2009

Salsa Brava

2220 E. Rt. 66

Flagstaff, AZ 86004

The Setup: Greg and I recently took a mini-vacation to Arizona. We spent most of our time in Phoenix, but ventured up to the Grand Canyon for one day. After spending the afternoon walking around at the Canyon, we had worked up a good appetite as we drove back to our hotel in Flagstaff.  About a mile from our hotel, we passed Salsa Brava and almost simultaneously spoke up that we should turn around and check it out. The parking lot was packed which, for us, was a sign that Salsa Brava was definitely going to be our dinner destination!

The Experience: Situated on historic Route 66 in Flagstaff, Arizona, Salsa Brava is an unassuming Mexican restaurant surrounded by a string of cheap motels. Upon entering the restaurant we saw a big poster of the Food Network's Guy Fieri, and a stencil on the wall reading "Guy Ate Here". We had stumbled upon one of Guy's "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives" destinations! There was a small line at the door but we were quickly seated at a table near the kitchen. There were quite a few large parties having dinner--all of whom seemed to be returning customers--which again reenforced that we were at the right place. 

 

The Food: Most Mexican restaurants start you off with free chips and salsa. Most, however, do NOT start you off with free chips and a salsa bar! That's right, a salsa bar! When your server brings out your chips, they also bring out a few empty bowls and direct you to their salsa bar where they have about 7 different types of salsa, all for your enjoyment. The salsas are all homemade, fresh, and are rated based upon their degree of heat. Our favorite was the pineapple habenero, with the mild and the tomatillo coming in closely behind. 

For our drinks, Greg went with a Mexican beer called Bohemia ($3.50) and I had a Sangria ($6.00).

For dinner, Greg had the special (pictured above) which consisted of 3 soft corn tortilla tacos with your choice of meat (he picked carne asada steak). This was served with rice and beans on the side ($9.50). The size of the tacos led Greg to believe he would be left hungry, but at the end he could barely finish. 

I decided on the lobster and shrimp enchiladas. Sounds delicious, right? It was! If you like seafood then you definitely shouldn't pass up this dish. 2 good sized enchiladas topped with a cilantro cream sauce and served with rice and beans on the side. I also had trouble finishing! 

The Verdict: A Overall, Greg and I really enjoyed Salsa Brava. The packed parking lot, the unexpected fame from the Food Network, and of course the salsa bar all helped to make our quick-pick for dinner a huge success. The only thing that was unfortunate about the experience was that our hotel room didn't have a mini-fridge, so we were forced to leave our leftovers behind!

Momocho

January 30, 2009

Momocho

1835 Fulton Rd.

Cleveland, OH 44113

The Setup: Our good friends Jason and Liz were headed to Playhouse Square in Cleveland to see Cheech and Chong perform, and they had decided to do dinner at Momocho before the show. Hoping we could join them for the evening, we checked out Momocho's website and tried to get tickets for the show. Unfortunately, we weren't able to make it to the show but after seeing Momocho's menu online, we definitely still tagged along for dinner!

The Experience: Momocho is a modern Mexican restaurant located in the beautiful Ohio City neighborhood of Cleveland, OH. Our reservation was at 6:00 PM which, luckily, still gave us 30 minutes to take advantage of happy hour! During happy hour, the traditional margarita and all of the taquitos are half off!

The decor in Momocho can best be described as beautifully intriguing. Lucha libre masks hang from the walls along with beautiful chandeliers, and each table is adorned with one of the prayer candles that also line the restaurant shelves. 

The Food: To start off the evening, Greg, Jason and I opted to take advantage of the half price traditional margarita which is served on the rocks. This only set us back $4.00 each. Liz decided to go with her favorite from her last visit - the cactus flower margarita for $7.50. 

The theme of our evening turned out to be grazing on food, so we ordered little by little as the mood stuck us. Our waiter brought out fresh, warm tortilla chips served with tomatillo salsa and pico de gallo, but from looking at the menu at home, we already had our hearts set on the guacamole sampler! For just $18.00, you get 3 good sized portions of any of their 6 varieties of guacamole! We decided on the goat cheese with tomato and poblano, the garlic confit with bleu cheese and chili verde, and lastly the blue crab with pickled corn and chipotle. Although they were all delicious and we needed many refills of our chips, the bleu cheese guac. was my absolute favorite! It was creamy and rich and the bleu cheese gave it just enough of a kick at the end to leave you wanting more!

After we started on the guacamole, we decided to order some taquitos to share before happy hour was over! We decided on the grilled flatiron steak with a honey-chipotle sauce ($7), and also the slow roasted duck with an ancho chile sauce ($7.75). These were both served with warm corn tortillas so that you could build your own taquito. Although they were both great, I was partial to the roasted duck! 

By this point in the game, the boys were both on their second margarita and although we had all pretty much reached capacity, we also really wanted to try some of the entrees that Momocho has to offer. We decided to get 2 entrees and share them between the four of us. The first one was the seared sea scallops with hominy croquettes and a jalapeno creamed corn ($19.50) and the second was the pork with a mole sauce and tamale dumplings ($18.00). The pork was served with a side of rice and more corn tortillas, and had the perfect blend of spices and a hint of sweetness from the mole sauce. As for the scallops, they were perfect! Definitely the best scallops I've ever had. The hominy croquettes were also great -- think hushpuppies -- and had a spicy dipping sauce. Rounding out the scallop dish was the creamed corn which had a great texture from pairing the creamy sauce with whole kernals of corn. 

As if this huge spread wasn't enough to fill us up, our eyes won out over our stomachs and we ended up ordering 2 desserts! 

We couldn't pass up their specialty dessert - the Mexican fried ice cream, which was a huge ball of ice cream with 4 spoons so we could all dig in! Greg and I also ordered a vanilla bean flan to go which we promptly ate upon our arrival home! Both desserts were amazing, although I have a special place in my heart (or should I say my stomach?) for a good flan!

The Verdict: A++ Our experience at Momocho was perfect from the start. Our waiter was great and let us order as we went along which was a really nice way to experience a little bit of everything they had to offer. From the creative and unique guacamole choices to the perfectly spicy entrees, to the desserts that cooled your mouth down afterwards -- there isn't one thing I would change about any of the food we ate that night. I highly recommend Momocho to anyone who loves Mexican food but might be bored with the same old chain restaurant grub. You definitely won't be disappointed! Just make sure to call ahead for a reservation, and if your schedule allows it, make it during happy hour so you can enjoy the benefit of half price margaritas and taquitos! **Insider's Tip** - Celebrating a birthday?? Let your waiter know! At the end of your meal you'll get a complementary fried ice cream, complete with a sparkler on top, and minus a cheesy rendition of the happy birthday song! Is there a better way to ring in another year??

Russo's

December 31, 2008

Russo's Restaurant

4895 State Rd.

Peninsula, OH 44264

The Setup: It was New Year's Eve and my boyfriend and I had decided to keep it low key this year. A nice dinner, some bowling and maybe a drink at a local dive bar. The only problem was that it was already after 2:00 pm and we didn't have a reservation yet! We decided on Russo's, called up a few friends, and luckily we were able to get a table for 4 at 6:00 PM. 

The Experience: Russo's is a restaurant which specializes in  Cajun and Italian foods. Don't like things too spicy? (Neither do I!) No worries - the menu is diverse enough to offer something for everyone. Greg, Stephen, Mike and I arrived at 6:00 and were taken to our table right away. They had a good crowd, which in my book usually equals good food! We were surprised to find out once we had been seated that they weren't offering their full menu that night, but a smaller, pricier New Years Eve menu. Did we let that stop us? No way! 

The Food: Since it was New Year's Eve, most of us decided to start our night off with a drink. I had a class of Pinot Grigio ($7.00), Greg had a Johnny Walker Black ($7.00) and Mike had Crown ($6.00). Stephen stuck with a soda since he was DD for the night. Next were the appetizers: Not knowing exactly what he was ordering, Mike braved the Steak Tartare on Baguette Croutons ($15.99). If you're not into raw meat this is definitely not the dish for you! Although it was prepared and presented beautifully, it was somewhat lacking in flavor. That's not to say it was a bad dish, it just needed a bit more seasoning. The appetizer I settled on was the Coriander and Fennel Crusted Big-Eye Tuna on Grilled Crostini with Garlic Aioli and Tapande ($13.99). Wow! This dish had flavor as big as its name! It was definitely the high point of the evening. I think that if they had added even one of the components of this dish to the tartare, it would have escalated that dish to a home run as well. The portions on both of these appetizers were definitely enough to share, although Mike and I kept them mostly for ourselves!

As for the main courses, Mike moved from the tartare to the Roasted Stuffed Cornish Game Hen ($24.99) which was stuffed with Italian sausage and an apple, chestnut and currant dressing. Mike really enjoyed this main course and cleaned his plate! Greg decided to take advantage of the restaurant's specialty and ordered the Cajun Sampler ($27.99). This included a mix of shrimp creole, jambalaya, catfish and collard greens, just to name a few! Not only did Greg say his meal was delicious and spicy, the portions were so big that he was able to take home some leftovers (which he demolished the next day)! Stephen decided he couldn't pass up the Grilled American Kobe Sirloin with Scalloped Potatoes and Leeks, Oyster and Shitake Mushrooms and Horseradish Oil ($35.99). We each tried a piece of the steak which was so tender it almost didn't require a knife! He was definitely satisfied with his choice. Lastly was my choice and, trying to stay somewhat on a budget I decided to go with a salad for my main course - Haricot Vert and Cherry Tomato Salad with Kalamata Olives, Hard Cooked Quail Egg and Roasted Red Peppers in a Red Wine Vinaigrette ($10.99). Although the salad looked beautiful and had it's good points, it was definitely the one disappointment of the evening and I was left wishing I had sprung for the Moussaka. The main problem with the salad was that the shallots were so overpowering and the rest of the ingredients such as the olives and roasted peppers were so scarce that I was left tasting onion all evening and feeling not quite satisfied. 

Verdict: A. My salad aside, our dinner at Russo's was very good, and I think the tuna appetizer alone was enough to warrant an A grade. Our overall experience at the restaurant was wonderful and ended up being the perfect prelude to our night of bowling! If you're worried about the prices, keep in mind that this was a special menu and the regular menu has plenty of items for under $20.00. And although the regular menu doesn't include most of the items we had on New Year's, they do have an extensive menu that you can view online, so you should be able to find something comparable. And for those of you who can stomach the spice, this is one of the only places I know around Peninsula/Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio to get good, authentic Cajun food. Try it and I promise you won't be disappointed! **Insider's Tip** Having a party? Ask for Russo's party room! The room is called the Treme Room, named after a New Orleans neighborhood, and holds up to 20 people. 

(Photo courtesy of www.russoskitchen.com)