Easy Lunching

It's always an interesting challenge to find a lunch spot that's quiet, inexpensive, and convenient for whomever you're meeting up with that day. This time my friend and I chose Kitchen 67, an offshoot of Brann's Steakhouse, that opened up on East Beltline near the Knapp Corner area. We chose it mostly because of its location and because neither of us had ever been there.

I don't really have much to say, to be honest. I was in the mood for a burger, and probably just should have ordered that, but I was feeling some strong willpower that day and ordered a Sizzle Bowl with Portobella mushrooms (pan fried noodles, green and red peppers, and my mushrooms with an Asian-style sauce over the top). My friend was smarter and ordered the Bleu & Bacon Burger. I stared dreamily at her meal the whole time I was eating mine. Don't get me wrong, mine was good. (The green peppers were a lot strong, so I picked them out and that made it better.) It just wasn't a juicy burger with bacon, bleu cheese, Cajun mayo, toasted bun, and fries with whiskey BBQ sauce...

The service was good, the booth comfortable, and since we were eating a late lunch, it was really quiet in there. Not necessarily a place I'd go for dinner since the atmosphere is pretty casual, but a pretty perfect place for a lunch with co-workers or friends. There are iPads in the booths so you can listen to music, use social networking site (if you seriously can't eat a meal without first tweeting about it), or read the news. Kind of cool, except that I was there for lunch with my friend, not lunch with technology.

Overall, it was a good experience, reasonably priced (my noodles were $8.99 and I can make them into 2 meals), and a fun place to try for something new. Probably won't be a must-do place, but convenient for days when my willpower is lower and burgers are sounding good again. :) Let me know what you think if you go!

six.one.six during Restaurant Week 2013

So, as I mentioned in one of my previous posts, the desire to neither gain 15 lbs nor spend $500 this year during Restaurant Week made for a sharply paired-down list of places to go. Add laziness to the equation and you can see why we made it to only one restaurant this year, versus the eight from last year! The good news is, it was one we hadn't been to before!

Inside six.one.six (courtesy of Tripadvisor.com, I can't take pics like this)

six.one.six, located in the Marriot hotel downtown, reminded me a lot of Cygnus 27 on the 27th floor of the Amway Grand Hotel. The decor, menu style and selection, level of service, and prices all seemed remarkably similar. One advantage that Cygnus has is the view, however. Whereas six.one.six is located on the first floor of the Marriot (squirreled away and really not well-signed: we had almost given up our lost wandering to track someone down to ask when we found it), Cygnus has the wonderful high view of the downtown area, the river, and the sunset if you time your dinner just right. Anyways, let's talk about food.

For starters, I ordered the Sweet Corn chowder, made with local corn. DH ordered the smoked lake trout terrine (basically chilled fish layered with spiced cream cheese). My soup was very creamy with the sweetness of the corn offset by just a hint of cayenne pepper. On the top were a few sprigs of clover, adding another hint of sweetness as well as some crunch. The smoked fish was awesome! It was served with little dipping splotches of mustard, capers, and some crostini. I found that the mustard and capers overwhelmed the flavor of the fish, so I just ate a few bites of the fish by itself and let that flavor work it's magic.

Entrees were pappardelle pasta with heirloom cherry tomatoes, olive oil, and parmesan cheese for me, double pork chop for DH. His was served with green beans and shoestring parsnips (?) as well as cornbread muffin that was a cross between traditional cornbread and Yorkshire pudding, which is super light and airy. I tried a couple bites of his things (all really tasty) but was very focused on my pasta! The tomatoes were astonishingly sweet and full of that flavor that only in-season local tomatoes have. (For all the tomato lovers out there, you KNOW what flavor I'm talking about!) The pasta tasted freshly made, perfectly cooked to al dente, and the olive oil was flavorful but not too heavily applied.

Dessert though, was where six.one.six really shined! I just noticed today that the dessert DH had was voted best dessert by mLive! I'd believe it (see the picture below, you'll see what I mean.)

Blueberry almond cake (courtesy of mLive because again, I can't take pics like this)

The almond cake was dense, slightly sweet, and believe me, the perfect foil for the explosion of wild blueberry flavor! Of course, the vanilla gelato on top just made it all better, as well as adding another texture and temperature to the mix. I ordered the Honey Peach gelato, also delectable (especially the tiny flower-shaped shortbread cookie on top) but honestly, I think my spoon spent more time dipping into the blueberry dessert than in my own bowl.

For wine, I ordered a red blend, even though white would have gone best with everything I ordered. I'd love to give you details, but I don't remember exactly where it was from or much about it except that I was in the mood for red and it totally worked!

All in all, we loved our meal and the service. The restaurant week menu was nicely varied and of course, ended on a high note! Looking over the regular menu, I don't think I'd be willing to pay the prices that six.one.six charges except as a special occasion (or expense account, of course). As they were setting up for breakfast the next day, that I probably would pay for! ($15, included all kinds of tasty-sounding treats!)

Where did you go? Anything spectacular stand out?

A terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad meal

So this happened a few months ago, but it took me this long to cool down enough to write about. And to be honest, whenever I think about it I still get steamed. I'll try to be fair and polite though.

Whenever my co-workers and I have to work on Saturday, we order in lunch. We've noticed it makes the day go more quickly, allows us to try new places, and makes it so we don't have to pack a lunch for an extra day of the week.

Sheshco Grill, in the Celebration Cinema North plaza, had been open for a few months and we all felt in the mood for Mediterranean food. Once the order was called in, I said I would go pick up the 5 orders for everyone and then we could eat lunch.

When I walked in, I saw that it wasn't very busy (2 tables), which gave me some time to look around as I waited for my order to finish up. I loved the decor, loved the number of booths, and the location was, of course, convenient.

After waiting an extra 15 minutes after the time they told me it would be ready (no biggie, I and most other people have worked in the food industry, we know how these things go), there were still only 4 tables, with 3 people working the front. They seemed to do a lot of hurrying back and forth fixing orders that they had messed up or bringing items they had forgotten. ( For example, one gentleman pointed out that the entree he was served wasn't what he ordered. The waiter didn't seem to think this was much of a problem but offered to bring him an extra salad to make up for it. Uh, doesn't really fix the original problem...This should have clued me in.)  Despite the lack of people, over 5 minutes of those 15 were spent waiting for the person who took my order to confirm that the whole order was there. Okaaaay.

After paying and getting my order, I quickly scurried out to my car and tried to get back as quickly as possible, since I was much later than I had told everyone to expect. Once there, we started distributing orders and realized that half of my order and the whole order of one of my coworkers was missing. After it had been "double checked". Ok, so now I will call and inquire about that.

They were very nice on the phone and said they would deliver the missing pieces of the order to us immediately. I gave the address and a contact number in case they had questions or trouble finding our location. And then we waited.

and waited....

and waited...

for an hour. No phone call, no food, nothing but crickets chirping and stomachs growling. So I called back a second time. This time I was told that "Well, we got busy. So we didn't have time to bring it to you."

I'm sorry, what? *speechless here *

So, they mess up my order, don't make it right, and don't even bother to call to tell us they're not going to make it right! Because I knew whoever answered the phone probably didn't have any part of the decision to not deliver the order, I asked to speak to the manager. I got a bored-sounding woman on the phone who reiterated that, "We were just too busy. You can come pick up the food if you still want it though."

How about no. I DON'T want cold food that's been sitting on a counter for over an hour, and even if I did, I'M AT WORK. (Of course, I didn't say this because I was raised to be polite and not shriek when I'm angry.) She then generously offered to refund me my money for the missing food. Wow, thanks. Thank you for not making me pay for food we didn't get. Now what are you going to do about the fact that I'm still hungry and my co-worker is really hungry since she hasn't eaten lunch? Anything? Nope, nothing, just a grudging apology.

I took my refund and fumed for the rest of the day. And apparently I'm not done yet.

So if you still want to go, I'd just recommend double-checking your order before you leave or let the waiter leave the table. I'd recommend Zeytin Turkish restaurant in Ada or Le Kabob Restaurant if you'd rather have a GOOD Mediterranean dining experience. (I've also heard good things about Shiraz Grille but haven't been there personally.)

Best Mexican Food

And inexpensive too- how often does THAT happen?!

We have another couple who are adventurous eaters like us and always on the hunt for cheap, authentic food. Friends of friends know the owners/operators of La Huasteca and suggested it for our dinner out. Ahhhh, I love good Mexican food...

So the location is sketchy, I'm not going to lie. Sandwiched between a tattoo parlor and a pizza place with a temporary sign, it's easy to miss. Trust me when I say you don't want to drive by this door! A couple perks of this location, however, are that the rent is cheap, therefore the food will be cheaper; and there is parking in the back, which is always a worry for someone who can't parallel park to save her life.

So, the food, which is what we really care about. I had never tried tamales before, but decided for less than $3, I would decide if I liked them or not. I ordered a spicy pork as well as a chicken tamale. Additionally (in case I didn't like them, and also because I'm a pig) I ordered sopes, which are about the size of a large man's palm, have a thick meal crust, and are filled with deliciousness like slow-cooked meat, crunchy fresh onions, cilantro, and served with sauces to top as you will. Ooooh, oooh, can't forget the guacamole! Oh my goodness, people! Made to order and I'm pretty sure hand smashed, because it wasn't that freakishly smooth like it had been pureed 3 days ago, but instead had some various sizes of avocado chunks, fresh cilantro, and the perfect blend of flavors so that nothing overpowered anything else. Seriously, some of the best guac I've ever had, and by far better than anything I make! (Good enough I ate a whole order by myself, but let's not talk about that.)

DH ordered the carne asada, although I have to admit I didn't notice too much of it as I was inhaling my new love, tamales. I did notice it was a lot of food, all looked good, and he gave me his grilled onions, which were awesome. But whatever, let's talk about these tamales. So, served a la carte, wrapped in the corn husk, nothing else. Perfect simplicity of spiced corn meal, kept moist from the husk, shrouding shredded meat that was nicely spiced and super tender. I especially loved the spicy pork one. The sopes were really good as well, the variety of flavors and textures making me one happy kid. One of my favorite parts of Mexican food is the crunch of peppers, onions, and fresh cilantro against the creaminess of sauces and texture of slow-roasted meat. It all just comes together so well!

La Huasteca also makes their own horchata. AKA dessert in a glass. I've decided that's one of my favorite drinks, nice and cinnamon-ey.

I've subsequently tried the Mexican style tacos: 2 corn tortillas, doubled up to absorb all the yummy meat juices, topped with your choice of meat, (trust me, do the barbacoa!), onions, and cilantro. That's it. And it's a beautiful thing.

So you have some recommendations now if you go. If you're lazy like me, you can also call and have them deliver. Give them some time though, this is a small operation and sometimes it takes a bit before they can get away and get your food to you. Either way, eating in, taking out, or ordering for delivery, you'll most likely get full on less than $10.

Enjoy!

Christmas for Food Lovers

Restaurant Week in Grand Rapids is here! Similar to last year, restaurants all over and around the city have created special menus featuring local products (meats, cheeses, produce, etc) that are available for 10 days. Although probably best for my budget and waistline (both of which I'm supposed to be monitoring closely these days), I can't help but wish that this was a month-long or even summer-long event. *sigh*

 Here's the site: Restaurant Week Information

Unlike previous years, I won't be eating out every day of Restaurant Week, for the reasons listed above. (I hate being an adult sometimes!) However, I have created my short list of where I'd like to go whenever we do venture out in the next few days. For each one we visit, I'll then do a posting of our experience, food choices, and all the yummy details. And I do realize I have some catching up to do. As summer winds down and work also slows a bit, I am hoping to fill you in on all of our new favorite places. (And there are some seriously good ones!!!!)

So, my wishlist list for Restaurant Week, in alphabetical order and with links to their websites:

Aryana Restaurant and Bar
Bistro Chloe Elan
CitySen Lounge
Grove
The Landing (new owners and new style)
Licari's Sicilian Pizza Kitchen

Reserve Wine & Food
six.one.six
Tre Cugini
Watermark Grill
Zeytin Turkish Restaurant (an old favorite but I never get sick of it!)
 

I'll keep you all posted on our outings. Because I can't go out all 10 days, please feel free to leave a comment and let everyone know the details of where you've been during this blissful holiday-like eating extravaganza! Afiyet olsun!

California Living - and Eating

So we visited Santa Cruz, CA last week and omg, the food!! Avocados are in season there (or close to it anyways) and I am surprised I didn't come back green from all of them that I ate! (So cheap, so yummy.) While we didn't eat out as much as I normally do on a vacation (hard to eat out much when you don't get off the balcony), we did have some memorable meals.

Less than a quarter mile from our beach house was a local Mexican restaurant, Taqueria Michoacan. Outrageously delicious chicken mole (nice savory cinnamon flavor), fresh tortillas, and they didn't skimp on the guacamole! Chris' burrito was daydream-worthy, and the chicken flautas were flavorful, crispy, and served with lots of sour cream and guacamole. Delicious! I think we'd be on a first-name basis with the owners if we lived there. (On an unrelated note, the guy ahead of us in line there had a loud kid who got our attention. When I turned to look at Chris to convey my annoyance, I happened to see the man's sandaled feet. Um, nail polish really should only be on women. Especially that shade of red. Now, wondered if kids did it, but then why wouldn't he cover it up by wearing different shoes? We saw him a couple nights later at the beach, and it was still there. He just likes his toes painted, apparently. Oh my.)

ANYWAYS, sorry to get sidetracked there. We also drove past a BBQ place on our way to Monterey. Cole's BBQ owners are genius- they do the cooking/smoking in an open grill right next to the road, which results in that lovely meat smell wafting over all passing traffic. Great way to lure people in! HUGE portions of chicken, pork loin, ribs, and pretty much any other meat you could want, along with some seasoned french fries. We were able to eat outside that day in the sunshine, surrounded by the smell of grilling meat and the ocean. One of the best outdoor meals I've ever had!

In Monterey, our kayak instructor recommended a deli that smokes their own meats and makes a lot of their own soups and salads from scratch. (Reminds me of Alley Cat...sad face.) She did warn us that the owners and staff can be a bit surly, but that the pulled pork sandwich and the view of the harbor makes it totally worth it all! Well, she was right on both accounts. Whew, they refused to be charmed at Bayview Deli! It appeared that dogs melt their hearts a little (another customer had a dog and that actually got a smile!) but smiles, kindness, manners, and money didn't seem to budge the frowns. However, that was one delicious sandwich! There was some kind of sauce with savory spices in it on top of the meat, but they didn't ruin it by adding any thing else. Just the meat, sauce and bun. Absolutely divine! (And good portion sizes!) And the view was pretty perfect- it's located on the Coast Guard wharf, so you get lots of ocean views and noise from the sea lions. Very pretty!

Last and best, we dressed up and went to Shadowbrook for our last night in California. It's located on a hill, accessible only by walking down through the gardens (complete with waterfalls, lights, and many, many stairs) or a specialized cable car.  Once in the restaurant, it is a warren of rooms, levels, windows, and open spaces, with plants, strings of lights, and a variety of decorations that remind one of fine dining in the past. Very easy to get lost in that labyrinth, but also a very unique restaurant because of it.

So, the delicious food... We started with an appetizer of shrimp and avocado crostini. Crostini triangles covered in herbed goat cheese, topped with mashed avocado and a layer of lime-marinated grilled shrimp on top of that with a cream-based sauce drizzled over everything. Oh my. So many good textures and flavors going on there! The bread that was brought was hot and crusty (and plentiful, thank goodness).

For entrees, I ordered the sea scallops with lobster-infused mashed potatoes and creamed spinach. The four scallops were probably three inches in diameter and perfectly cooked! They surrounded the mound of potatoes that covered the layer of spinach. The cream sauce was just the right amount; enough to get a little bit in every bite, but the food wasn't drowning in it. The spinach was a nice flavor to complement the scallops. A local Sauvignon Blanc paired perfectly, the acidity helping to cut the richness of the food.

Chris ordered the Filet Mignon and Truffle Gnocchi. I think his also had a few sides, but my attention was solely on that gnocchi! It was topped with fresh steamed asparagus and some goat cheese. The crunch of the asparagus, creaminess of the cheese, and richness of the gnocchi made for one of the best dishes I've ever tasted! (He told me his steak was good too, but who cared about that when there was gnocchi on the table?!) One thing I loved was that it didn't have a sauce on top to cover up the flavors. I've never had gnocchi without a sauce, but this made me a believer. It also would be harder to cover up sub par gnocchi without a sauce, so we were able to tell immediately that this was quality stuff. Fluffy little pillows of flavor. Mmmmmmmmmm. A rich Cabernet Sauvignon with soft tannins complemented the steak (and was pretty darn good on its own, as I found out when he wasn't looking).

Every meal I have in California is so fresh, pretty to look at, and so amazing tasting, is it any wonder I want to move there? What would be your ideal meal?

www.taqueriamichoacan.net
www.shadowbrook-capitola.com

Ethnic Food Suggestions, Part 4 - Ethiopian

I've never really mastered chopsticks, as hard as I try. A Korean friend (ooh, there's another post I should do, Korean food!) lent me the children's training chopsticks, which are hinged together, and that's about the level I'm at. So why not take utinsels out of the equation all together? Hence, Ethiopian food becomes an appealing option.

Ethiopian

There are a couple options for Ethiopian in GR, although I've only been to one. Sometimes when you fall in love with a place, you don't feel the need to branch out and try other options. That's how I feel about GoJo's in East Town (421 Norwood Ave SE, right behind Wolfgang's). As just an added plus, there's even parking! They are closed on Sunday and Monday, just be aware of that. The place is run by a husband and wife team, and Sam is about the greatest guy ever. He's happy to answer any questions, make recommendations, and he goes above and beyond for customer service. He remembered me from a visit months before and made me a special handmade tea bag so I could have Ethiopian tea at home! (More on the tea further down- amazing stuff!)

So, what to order. I personally love everything I eat there, so the lunch buffet is what I usually go for. This is probably the only place I like collard greens, but Sam's are pretty exceptional. Spicy and flavorful but not too spicy that your lips go numb or anything. Any food item ending in "watt" is a thick stew-like dish. If you order traditional dishes (and really, what's the point of going to an Ethiopian restaurant and NOT getting a traditional dish), food items will usually come atop a plate-size pancake-type of bread called injerra. Do be aware that injerra expands as it's digested, so if you feel full, you're going to feel a whole lot fuller in an hour or so! I always have to get an extra order of injerra on the side, as I'm not quite as adept at using it as a utinsel as other people. The beef stew (tibbs watt) is really flavorful and tender, and goes well with some of the vegetable sides, as well as the fava beans (bakela) or mixed spiced vegetables (atkilt alicha). Really though, you'll find what you like through trial and error, which is easiest with the buffet or a combo platter.

The Ethiopian tea is a MUST! It became so popular that it is now sold as leaves for you to brew at home as well. Sweet, a little spicy, and the perfect thing for chilly days!

I wasn't joking about lack of silverware either. It's available upon request, but really, try pinching the injerra bread between your thumb and forefinger to make a little pincer, and pick up the vegetables and meat that way. It's fun, takes you back to childhood, and...mostly it's just fun.

If you're planning ahead (which I rarely do), I highly suggest the sweet potato pie! Available in a small size (for 2-3 people) or a full size, this is one amazing pie! You do have to call ahead to preorder the pie though. Just so you know.

So give GoJo's a try and then I want to hear about it! Or invite me along...