I recently met a new foodie friend, L. Like me, L will eat just about anything and loves trying out new restaurants. And she's also a really nice person so yeah!
We met at Eddie V's for a drink. The bar was relatively busy but, alas, not one age appropriate single boy to flirt with. God I wish this bar was more of a 30/40 something scene. They make a mean manhattan, I love manhattans and I love to get my flirt after a few. But, no worries, we were only here from one and L and I got to know each other a bit better. I found out that not only is she a fellow foodie but a scotch lover as well. Oh, this will be fun.
We then headed over to NOSH, which was recently converted from the old Aurora space. I had been to Aurora. It was very quiet and pretty, in soft muted tones. The food was good and very fancy and very, very expensive. NOSH is a very different restaurant from Aurora. Gone were the soft, muted tones. Now, a Blue Dog painting is hanging on the wall. There's a smallish wooden bar where a flat screen TV shows a live feed from the kitchen. And, there were people there. Lots, and lots of people. It was bustling on this Friday night. Very glad we made reservations.
We looked over the menu, trying to figure out what to order. We each had multiple appetizers we wanted to try so, we decided to have an appetizer dinner. I tried to write about all the appetizers we had, but it was just too much. So here's what we ate, which reads like a foodie wish list: foie gras, miso glazed port ribs, escargot classic, falafel, crispy oysters with spinach, tarragon cream, and sherry vinegar, and ahi tartare. All very good, especially the falafel and foie gras.
Service was good, not great. Felt as if he wasn't 100% confident in the wine menu. He definitely did not want us to try the beef cigars which we inquired about multiple times and he always suggested something else instead. Wonder if Leslie Brenner's recent review where she called them "underseasoned" had them reworking them. In Brenner's review, she mentioned her feeling that at Aurora Chef Avner had "Avs" and "Av-Nots". Well, apparently the table behind us was an Av because I saw the Chef fawning over them multiple times. Us, Not so much, or at all actually. But that's okay. I don't need to be fawned over to like a place. I'm here for the food and it was good enough to make me want to come back again. Should probably check out a few entrees and need to check out there lunch since it's down the street ffrom the office.
At some point during our appetizer tour, I heard the unmistakeable sound of glass breaking. I looked down and saw L's wine glass on the floor in pieces and her red wine covering a Gucci purse. Then I hear L say, "you knocked my wine glass off the table with your purse." Apparently, the woman joining the table next to us had done just that. Now, if I had done that (and I have) my response would have been (while on my hands and knees mopping up the wine from the floor), "OMG, OMG, OMG. I'm so very, very sorry. I'm such a klutz. Please, please, please let me buy you a glass of wine to make up for my bull in a china shop behavior. I'm so so sorry. Please, can I buy you a dessert? I'm so mortified. Please forgive me. What can I do to make this up to you?" Instead, a blank stare and not even a single "sorry". In fact, she barely seemed concerned that her cloth Gucci was now covered in red wine or that she was wearing a completely ivory outfit and there was potential for red wine stains. Maybe all the filler and botox in her face made her physically unable to express any emotion about her party foul, maybe her Gucci is scotchguarded, maybe, unlike me, she can wear an ivory outfit and not get stuff on it. Who knows. But where I come from (you know, planet Earth), I apologize if I knock over someone's wine glass, especially when it is completely my fault. It was odd and rude.
The restaurant didn't handle it much better either. I saw our server frantically pull his manager aside and ask what to do. L's broken glass was quickly removed from the floow and a new glass was quickly put on our table and filled again from our bottle. And that was it, no mention of the incident, as if it didn't happen. Fiddle lee dee. Again, odd.
We got out of there, with all of those appetizers and a bottle of wine for about $60 each. Could never do that at Aurora. Of course, next time, I'll avoid the woman with the Gucci purse.
We finished up about 9 and weren't quite ready to go home so we decided to head to Tei-An for just one last dish. I haven't eaten at Tei-An before so I was happy to check it out. We split a bowl of ramen and I am so going back there. It was just so good. So warm and flavorful, perfect for a cold night. Now that winter is finally coming upon us, I see myself trying out a lot of dishes there.
Great night with a great new foodie friend. Can't wait for our next adventure, especially if there's scotch involved.
Cheers!
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Saturday, November 6, 2010
La Duni
Went to La Duni on McKinney this morning for a birthday brunch. They don't take reservations so our party of 11 was a challenge but we did not wait very long for our table.
I go to La Duni on Oak Lawn quite a bit since it's down the street from my office. Service is always a bit spotty but the food is always spot on. I seem to order the same thing when I go there -- the pollo con palmitas. Grilled chicken breast, hearts of palm, avocado, sliced tomatoes, and pickled onions (my favorite). It's good and good for you. Loves it.
I hadn't been for brunch in awhile. Began with a bellini. Very refreshing but glad I didn't get another one. Would have spent the rest of this beautiful day sleeping it off if I had.
Everyone ordered and our meals all showed up at random times. Two here, two there. Some of us had to start eating before others had their food or it would get cold.
But once the food arrived, everyone seemed pretty happy. I ordered the breakfast tacos. Scrambled eggs, tomatoes, scallions, with black beans and potatoes, served with corn tortillas. La Duni's scrambled eggs are so good. Really soft and flavorful. I think they may be made with crack. Could not stop eating. Potatoes were fantastic as well.
We ran into a few glitches in paying out our bill. They offered to do separate tabs which was greatly appreciated because, well, none of us ever have any cash. One of our tablemates didn't get her bill until well after everyone else had paid out. Another had put down a 20 and was told twice that she had only put in 2 5s. They charged the one person who did not eat and who only had soda water, $2.25 for a glass of soda. But whatever. L had a good birthday. That's all we can ask.
Cheers!
I go to La Duni on Oak Lawn quite a bit since it's down the street from my office. Service is always a bit spotty but the food is always spot on. I seem to order the same thing when I go there -- the pollo con palmitas. Grilled chicken breast, hearts of palm, avocado, sliced tomatoes, and pickled onions (my favorite). It's good and good for you. Loves it.
I hadn't been for brunch in awhile. Began with a bellini. Very refreshing but glad I didn't get another one. Would have spent the rest of this beautiful day sleeping it off if I had.
Everyone ordered and our meals all showed up at random times. Two here, two there. Some of us had to start eating before others had their food or it would get cold.
But once the food arrived, everyone seemed pretty happy. I ordered the breakfast tacos. Scrambled eggs, tomatoes, scallions, with black beans and potatoes, served with corn tortillas. La Duni's scrambled eggs are so good. Really soft and flavorful. I think they may be made with crack. Could not stop eating. Potatoes were fantastic as well.
We ran into a few glitches in paying out our bill. They offered to do separate tabs which was greatly appreciated because, well, none of us ever have any cash. One of our tablemates didn't get her bill until well after everyone else had paid out. Another had put down a 20 and was told twice that she had only put in 2 5s. They charged the one person who did not eat and who only had soda water, $2.25 for a glass of soda. But whatever. L had a good birthday. That's all we can ask.
Cheers!
Friday, November 5, 2010
Vickery Park
I declared Friday Franziskaner Friday because, well, it was Friday and I wanted to drink beer and, when I drink beer lately, it tends to be Franziskaner. I prefer the dunkle but the hef works just fine.
We decided to go to Vickery Park. It had been awhile since I had been there to drink and even longer since I had been there to eat. I've always liked this bar, especially since the smoking ban has stopped me from reaking of cigarette smoke when I leave. It's a little different from the usual Henderson places. A little dirty and rough around the edges -- like Henderson used to be before everyone discovered it.
Ordered my Franziskaner. I was denied my opportunity for the perfect pour because I was, alas, handed a warm glass. The former bartender in me is a bit obsessed with pouring my Franziskaner myself with a perfect one inch head. Alas, I need a cool glass to get it right. So had to settle for just a little more foam. Oh well. They had a strangely named beer on tap -- Two Dead Guys. I asked the bartender, so, what does a beer that's namd Two Dead Guys taste like? He responded with a taste. It's a very strong ale and I'll describe it this way - drinking it is like seeing a crime scene involving 2 dead guys. You don't want to look (taste) but you keep doing it anyway.
I ordered the mussels. It was just a half order and I'm glad that's what I ordered because it was as big as my head (and if you know me, you know I have a freakishly large noggin). The mussels were in a ginger lime cream sauce that was just delicious. After I finished the mussels (and I ate everyone save the one that hadn't opened), I started dipping my frites in the sauce (I liked that better than the srirracha ketchup that they give you. I like srirracha (try throwing some srirracha in with some brussel sprouts, delish), but I like regular old Heinz 57 more). The frites were good but not great. I think the fry oil hadn't been changed in quite some time.
C had the salmon which she loved. Served with grilled asparagus and tomatoes, it was the healthy choice of the night. I can always rely on C for that.
I've been to VP for brunch, which VP has received high praise for, and have been unimpressed. But a lot of people declare it to be good, so maybe I just picked wrong or something. Will have to go back and see. Oh, and Tuesdays are half priced food night. Think those mussels will taste even better at half price! ;)
Funny, although I no longer smell like cigarette smoke after going there, a couple of hours inside at the bar has made me smell like, well, bar food. Good bar food, but I still need to take a shower. Odd. And grrrr, I just got my hair done (yeah, bangs are back) and now my hair stinks. So much for keeping the locks hairdresser perfect for Saturday.
Cheers!
We decided to go to Vickery Park. It had been awhile since I had been there to drink and even longer since I had been there to eat. I've always liked this bar, especially since the smoking ban has stopped me from reaking of cigarette smoke when I leave. It's a little different from the usual Henderson places. A little dirty and rough around the edges -- like Henderson used to be before everyone discovered it.
Ordered my Franziskaner. I was denied my opportunity for the perfect pour because I was, alas, handed a warm glass. The former bartender in me is a bit obsessed with pouring my Franziskaner myself with a perfect one inch head. Alas, I need a cool glass to get it right. So had to settle for just a little more foam. Oh well. They had a strangely named beer on tap -- Two Dead Guys. I asked the bartender, so, what does a beer that's namd Two Dead Guys taste like? He responded with a taste. It's a very strong ale and I'll describe it this way - drinking it is like seeing a crime scene involving 2 dead guys. You don't want to look (taste) but you keep doing it anyway.
I ordered the mussels. It was just a half order and I'm glad that's what I ordered because it was as big as my head (and if you know me, you know I have a freakishly large noggin). The mussels were in a ginger lime cream sauce that was just delicious. After I finished the mussels (and I ate everyone save the one that hadn't opened), I started dipping my frites in the sauce (I liked that better than the srirracha ketchup that they give you. I like srirracha (try throwing some srirracha in with some brussel sprouts, delish), but I like regular old Heinz 57 more). The frites were good but not great. I think the fry oil hadn't been changed in quite some time.
C had the salmon which she loved. Served with grilled asparagus and tomatoes, it was the healthy choice of the night. I can always rely on C for that.
I've been to VP for brunch, which VP has received high praise for, and have been unimpressed. But a lot of people declare it to be good, so maybe I just picked wrong or something. Will have to go back and see. Oh, and Tuesdays are half priced food night. Think those mussels will taste even better at half price! ;)
Funny, although I no longer smell like cigarette smoke after going there, a couple of hours inside at the bar has made me smell like, well, bar food. Good bar food, but I still need to take a shower. Odd. And grrrr, I just got my hair done (yeah, bangs are back) and now my hair stinks. So much for keeping the locks hairdresser perfect for Saturday.
Cheers!
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