double_Windsor's Profile
No Mi Casa: the real scoop on Cabo eating.
A great post that I wish I had before my recent trip. Ediths was a joke, the 'Office' smelled like a latrine and I think the Mi Casa 'maragritas' were made with limeade. We did have nice meals at La Fonda, Mocambos and Nik-San.
Clive, Iowa
I would second Dish, Waterfront, Cool Basil, and The Tavern.
I haven't been, but I hear good things about Phat Chefs - silly name, but serious food I’m told. The restaurant is hidden in a small strip center just south of 235 on the west side of 50th St.
If he's willing to travel as far as Urban Grill he might consider heading a little further North on 86th to the very new Torroco Italian Grill (4810 NW 86th St Urbandale). The new restaurant is owned by the chef/owner of Sage – a James Beard nominee and Golden Clog award winner (“Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places”) ;). Sage is worth a stop if he can manage it. I see singles eating at the bar several times a week.
Call ahead and you can arrange take-out from Taki, a Japanese restaurant at 2601 86th St. Des Moines sushi should help him truly appreciate what you have back in L.A. Rumor has it that the owners recently sold to some Minneapolis buyers so the service and execution may be in a transitional state.
pork confit
I just checked. It can be refrigerated for up to 3 weeks and frozen for up to 4 months.
MSP Catering?
Sorry to hear that - although, it doesn't surprise me. I'm really impressed by how quickly they caught on. When we booked them a little over a year ago few had heard of them, they had never worked an event at our venue, and I felt like I was taking a bit of a risk.
Fast forward 6-8 months and it’s a totally different story. Heidi mentioned the day before the event that ever since they were written up in Minnesota Monthly the phone has been ringing off the hook.
My biased opinion is that it’s worth the trouble. Our guests are still raving about the food. It tasted great, it looked great, and they brought a virtual army of capable staff to keep things running smoothly.
pork confit
I'll check when I get home, but I seem to remember Ruhlman (Charcuterie) writing it can last for an impressive amount of time when submerged in the fat - certainly more than a week...
in search of the perfect blender
Which Braun model did you have, and what was the problem?
We recently acquired the Braun MX2050 "PowerMax" jug blender (525-Watt 58-oz). So far so good...
Des Moines brunch and party time?
1. Dos Rios is cavernous. No problem there.
2. Lucca may have room for 15 in the back (near the bathrooms), but the restaurant is much more suited to groups of 4 or less. I would call ahead to confirm.
3. Star Bar can easily cobble together tables to seat 15. If brunch is about chow, I would vote La Mie - with the recent expansion they may be able to accommodate 15. If brunch is more about hangover recovery, stick with Star Bar.
If your group likes to party, and you need 2am drunk pizza, make sure to stop at Big Tomato.
Xmas in Des Moines
Vietnamese: A Dong (Downtown)
Japanese/Sushi: Zen (Downtown) or Taki (Urbandale)
Thai: Cool Basil (Clive)
Chinese: Cafe Su (W. Des Moines)
Wedding Wine
Thanks Mike. I was really on the fence with the Sangiovese and that was the little push I needed to drop it. I agree it may not be representative of most Sangiovese, but I do think its a fun wine for $14. That said, I think its just a tad big for the food and nature of the evening. However, I really would like to offer a red other than the Pinot Noir. Any specific recs?
Wedding Wine
I appreciate the thoughtful replies. While the close attention to food is appreciated the logistics of the evening and the size of the group (with wide-ranging tastes) will make intentional food-wine pairings difficult to pull off. At the moment, I’m considering the following:
Schramsberg Brut
A yet to be determined Riesling
Morgan’s ‘Highland’ Chardonnay
Acacia’s ‘California’ Pinot Noir
Cosentinos’s California Sangiovese
Thanks again for the inspiration.
Party Beer
1.Fig & Roasted Shallot Tapenade with Crostini
2. Mixed Nuts: Ginger-scented pecans, curried macadamias, sweet-and-spicy almonds
3. Cheese plate with fruit and sliced baguette
4. Latkes with sour cream, lox, apple sauce & caviar
5. Wild Mushroom & Gruyere Crostini
6. Apple & Gorgonzola mini-turnovers
7. Grilled Vegetable Platter with a balsamic reduction
8. Mashed Potato Bar
9. Pork Tenderloin with herbs served with dried cherry & sage marmalade
10. Chocolate cake with ginger mouse and chocolate ganache frosting.
Party Beer
Looking for 3 food friendly beers to offer at a Dec. wedding reception. Assume the audience has wide ranging tastes. I would like to stay under $20 for 12 bottles. Nothing so small that I wouldn't be able to find it in Minneapolis. Thanks!
Wedding Wine
Hi all,
I have a wedding coming up, and I'm looking for some help to round out the wine offering.
The format is heavy hors d'oeuvres, i.e. no sit down meal. We'll be serving:
Spiced nuts
Cheese & olive plate
Gorgonzola & apple turnovers
Potato Latkes, served with creme fraiche, caviar, and lox
Roasted fig & shallot tapenade on crostini
Roasted Vegetables drizzled with a Balsamic reduction
Roasted Pork Loin with herbs, served with dried cherry-sage marmalade.
Smashed Potato "bar"
Chocolate sour cream cake with ginger mouse and chocolate ganache frosting.
I have a few wines picked out already, but I would enjoy hearing your thoughts. I would like to keep the price under $20 a bottle. We’re only offering wine and beer with an emphasis on wine. I’m really looking for special, food friendly wines that won’t wear you out after a glass, or two, or three…
MSP Catering?
I've booked Chowgirls for my wedding, and they do subscribe to the local/organic thing. I'll have a review out by late December.
MSP -- Dinner for 50?
Full bar is not a requirement, but availability of wine and beer certainly is.
MSP -- Dinner for 50?
Leaning toward chowish. I say the group is loud in the sense that they tend to burst into song and attempt multiple (lively) conversations simultaneously. Its almost like living in a musical...
MSP -- Dinner for 50?
Chino is too loud. I guess I need to see the space at Forepaugh's. They described it as two large rooms connected by an arched doorway. I was hoping to get everyone in the same space. Its also a bit of a trek for the people coming from the SW burbs.
MSP -- Dinner for 50?
I've been away from Minneapolis for 4 years (toiling in the Chow Hell that is Des Moines) and need some help finding a nice spot for a big loud group. I keep hearing about all the great neighborhood places sprouting up in S. Minneapolis, but I'm hopelessly out-of-touch. Thanks for your help!
Parameters:
Privacy (i.e. a private room, or restaurant buy-out).
Average ticket with tax & tip less than $60/person, or ~$3k buy-out.
Located (ideally) S, SW, W of downtown.
I'm currently considering: Solera (2nd floor)
On the radar: Signature Cafe, Local ('The Hollow'?), and 112 Eatery
I've eliminated: JP's (Cellar Room), Brits (long-room), Chino Latino (downstairs), and Forepaugh's (upstairs)
DSM -- Azalea
Azalea (4th & Walnut): http://www.azaleadsm.com/
Dined at Azalea a few weeks back. This place, along with Zen (the sushi place next door), are the latest from the dudes behind Bistro 43 and StarBar. Reviewers have not exaggerated how well executed the interior is. It’s like a really big fancy-pants loft: exposed beams, high ceilings and concrete pillars contrasted by luxurious fabrics, hardwood details, and soft lighting. The finishes are nice, but the differentiated seating areas are the best design feature(s).
I tasted the following:
Bacon wrapped Quail w/ cornbread stuffing
Tuna Tataki
Artichoke and goat cheese ‘Spring Roll’
Salad of bitter greens w/ grilled figs, pistachios, and goat cheese:
Lamb w/ olive anchovy vinaigrette, grilled artichokes, and Anna potatoes
Cheese Cake laced with Blue Cheese
Overall, a wonderful addition to the high-end rotation. Service was competent. In typical DSM fashion, execution was a bit sloppy, but may have been a function of our Tuesday night visit.
-----
Azalea
400 Walnut, Des Moines, IA
La Mie Restaurant & Bakery -- Des Moines, Iowa
I was in for brunch this Sunday and was introduced to the new format...anyone know how long they've been trying this (i.e. help yourself to drip coffee, water, yogurt, pastry)? I imagine they had good intentions, but I'm not sure this did anything to improve Sunday service levels. In addition, the quiche was down substantially in size from my last reading. To me, the immoderate depth (+3") and silky consistency is what made this place really special. Here's to hoping it was just a bad slice!
One Des Moines Lunch
I'm pretty sure 801 stopped serving lunch 2-3 years ago...
I'm flabbergasted by the sushi recommendations. Why not showcase a protein that didn't need to travel +2,000 mi to reach your plate...
A Tenderloin sandwich with a diameter equal to the plate on which it is served seems a much better ambassador of Iowa cuisine than flash frozen fish.
Dining choices Des Moines
Sage is consistently good...and you'll pay for it. The wine list is very focused and the mark-up is more than reasonable.
Do to the format (prix fixe), Lucca can be hit or miss, but the 'scene' has unquestionably more energy than Sage.
I've never had a pleasant experience at Cafe Di Scala, but it maintains a pretty strong fan club.
Best restaurant in Des Moines?
My top 10 in no particular order:
1. Sage: When I’m in the mood for an over-the-top 3-4 hour multi-course meal this is the place. I fervently believe this is one of the few places in town that could survive in a major metro area. The atmosphere is very intimate. The menu is a sort of modern American/French fusion that is somewhat seasonal (I wish Andrew would mix it up a little more often). The wine list is good, the food is great, and the service is exceptional.
2. Lucca: This is the hot new(ish) place riding high on the prix-fixe menu trend. Food is modern Italian in the loosest sense. The interior is minimalist chic and the atmosphere is as close to a “scene” as can be found in DSM. I almost struggle to recommend this because the food has been somewhat inconsistent. Given the quick menu turnover and what I can only imagine to be economic considerations (prices are very reasonable) – some of the courses are not very well thought-out and some have been nearly inedible. The wait staff is above average and the wine list is serviceable. Despite my hesitations, the cheese course always sends me out the door with a smile on my face.
3. Dish: Best when you’re in the mood for a cocktail party with friends, but no one wants to host. The place serves up a Midwestern take on tapas with a pseudo wine bar. The small plates are fairly inventive and the wine list is good (though not nearly as comprehensive as you would guess). Service has been problematic. It can be very difficult to score a table or even floor space on a Friday or Saturday evening.
4. Le Mie: Best Breakfast in town…period. When fully stocked, the pastry case is food porn on a grand scale. Located in a non-descript strip-mall; this is the place for coffee and croissant any day of the week. The interior is the love-child of an industrial warehouse and Ikea show-room. The full brunch menu (excellent) is available on Sunday. I think you can score a slice of the wicked quiche all week (3-4in deep; velvet consistency).
5. Big Tomato: Best late night pizza. The venue is like a walk-in glory hole. The staff is composed of highly tattooed folks who excel at producing pizza and angst. The topping combinations are delightfully absurd (my last involved crushed nacho cheese Doritos).
6. Continental & Star Bar: Toss up between these two for the “gastro-pub” title. Star Bar (and its patio) have the edge if it’s sunny out.
7. 801 Steak & Chop: The best of the local steakhouses and one of the better expense account venues in town. Very aggressive wine list. Mature & competent staff.
8. B-Bops: My favorite fast-food-sin.
9. Cool Basil: My favorite cheap Thai place.
10. Flying Mango (already mentioned): When I crave barbeque, and lacked the foresight to get something on the smoker, this is the place. Very friendly folks.
Notable mentions: Centro (brick oven pizza), Bistro Montage (French bistro fare), The B&B (gastro-pub), Latin King (Italian-American), and Snookies (malts and ice-cream).
…I think Café de Scala is crap.
That should keep you busy.
