bishopsbitter's Profile
Another TC's sojourn begins.
Nye's Polonaise room tonight for some drinks, herring and ribs. Very nice and unique space. the bartender (Dan, I think, although I am not good remembering names) was definitely in the mold. The Polish beer beginning with "OK" was excellent, and the herring was good, if not exceptional. The ribs and sauerkraut I took home were OK, maybe needed a gravy or beet juice or something to moisten it up. I would not rave about them although the potato was very nicely done. The decor and ambience was lovely though.
Another TC's sojourn begins.
A couple of new reports.
Breakfast at the New Uptown Diner. About 4 State Troppers parked there augered well, and indeed the place felt urban in a good way. Breakfast and service were both fine. Sourdough toast was actually NOT limp and Viagra-deprived. A plus. The eggs still were problematic in terms of the delicate balance between yolks that are runny and warm, and those which (along with adjacent white) are cold and embryonic.
Stopped in at the Monte Carlo. The only customer in the ballgame lull. A lovely bar of course with some very nice looking bourbons and other stuff (port appeared a strong suit as well).
I don't really like eating out on holidays: the staff are almost always in a foul mood, and it somehow yields immediate bad karma. Here they :"almost" managed to put on a game face, but not quite. I had a shrimp cocktail. Nothing special, but quite OK. One has to remember the shrimp boats dock quite a ways downriver. It was fine. Obviously a lot of drop-ins, and an equal number of regulars. The regulars look like they have their drinks purveyed "just so" which is nice to see. I had planned to segue on to Nye's (first visit) but they were closed in deference to the Holiday, unfortunately.
So I am back at the hotel with "New Hong Kong Wok's" finest delivery. I should mention this place. their deliver is excellent. They seem to use good ingredients. Things arrive hot, and clean, and fresh. For you basic "chinese takeout:" in Roseville, you can't go too far wrong. It's not in any way special, but it has rarely disappointed in any significant way. 2216 H West County Road D Roseville 55112 651 633 6727.
Proper English Breakfast in MSP?
I guess O'Donovan's does Irish Breakfast (including black & white pudding) for $14.75. Heinz beans "compris."
cheese plates in St Paul or Minneapolis
Buster's on 28th does a pretty good cheese plate. Good selection of craft beers and wines. When I was there it was pretty much hard cheese (albeit good) however, no ripe runny stuff.
Proper English Breakfast in MSP?
I thought of Merlin's but their menu is not posted online for some reason. Might be worth checking. At least on Britain's National Day (St. George's Day) looks like they do the full British Monty. http://merlinsrest.com/2012/04/18/merlins-rest-st-georges-day-celebration-april-22-23/
Another TC's sojourn begins.
Sounds like bummer is the mot juste. Doggone. Plan was to score an early lunch there and call it a late breakfast. The Pickle place across the tracks did not look so enticing so just headed back to the cities. At the Village Pub on St Anthony scored a half decent poutine (!) so not a total loss. The Village Pub does steady trade suggesting something / someone at the helm knows what they are doing. Their menu is more expansive and interesting (witness poutine) than average. Seem to purvey strong drinks, in mass quantities, to old-school clientele. (i.e. old guys shifting the Martinis long before the sun even sniffs a yard arm) http://www.stanthonyvillagepub.com/ Had the poutine been made with brown (rather thanturkey- cream) gravy, this might have been even more noteworthy.
Another TC's sojourn begins.
Made it to Pepin, but the Harbor View had not opened when I was there (open 1145: I was there @ 1015 ). Pretty spot. Unfortunately they did not have a posted menu so not sure what specialty I missed. I suspect some sort of fish obviously. Very relaxing little town. It's been decades (literally) since I was there: ditto Red Wing which has hugely increased in size since my last visit.
Another TC's sojourn begins.
Thanks I will flip a coin "N or S) and try one of the suggestions. Thanks!
Another TC's sojourn begins.
I was just curious if anyone might suggest a chowhound destination [restaurant or food stand] for tomorrow (Mem Weekend Sunday) within about 200 to 250 mile radius of TC's. I fancy a day excursion tomorrow with food as a focus. I thought of smoked fish in Grand Marais already (done that) fancy something a bit different.
Another TC's sojourn begins.
A brief visit tonight to Barley John;s in New Brighton for their "cask [ale] Wednesday."
Holy slop Batman, just awful, Like a 1960's battered wife I keep going back for more brewpub experiences, expecting a different result. Yes it is brown, yes it will get you drunk (if you don't get sick first, which seems more likely) but other than that it's not beer, just awful tasting wort that's been allowed to ferment. Argh. Sherlock's Home is missed all the more poignantly. Brewing is an art and a science, but most brewpubs practise it as a pastime, or, more precisely, a junior high school chemistry experiment.
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Another TC's sojourn begins.
A subsequent visit to the Finnish Bistro was a disappointment. The Finnish Classic Breakfast was thrown onto the plate like a proverbial dog's dinner and tasted stale and nowhere near as good. (I was there right at opening time and got the impression they weren't ready.) In the hospitality industry consistency is the key. I think these days it's lack of that that is the rule rather than the exception. "OK and consistent" is, to me, 1,000,000's better than brilliant one day, awful the next.
Another TC's sojourn begins.
Someone told me (since I posted originally) it was owned by the same people as Manny's. I thought as much when I heard that. just as Manny;s impersonates a Chicago or NYC steakhouse so, I thought (and seem to have confirmed) "Salut" may be fairly inauthentic. I wonder what Chez Colette (still there I think at the sofitel) is like these days. It was really good all those years ago, when I could compare it to the real France from very recent experience. They also had a No-Holds-Barred white glove Louis XV (I think it was) high-end French place in those days (1982-3).
Another TC's sojourn begins.
Thanks. I passed the 5-8 by the airport so probably have to make the comparison with their rendition at some stage. I also spotted a brasserie place just south of 50th and France which (I am a sucker for brasserie style going back to Chez Collette @ the Sofitel 30 years ago!) "looked" authentic. "Oysters and shellfish" are a weakness. (On France ave after all :-) )
Another TC's sojourn begins.
I am not going to revive the old thread, but am back in the TC's for some more months, with time to check out new places. (Old Thread http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/675630).
i have already had quite good luck at Finnish Bistro on Como ave in St. Paul. Their traditional Finnish breakfast (photo attached) absolutely hit the spot. I have been known to expound that I could eat smoked fish for breakfast daily in perpetuity, and it's quite true. I think I have Nordic blood (my last name is I think derived from the Danish common surname Laerke).
Finnish Bistro was a nice experience. Although the klutzy way you have to order coffee from Dunn Bros I didn't like so much.
Also thanks to the young gent making coffee I have formulated a new inviolate rule. If I am standing on line, and a waitperson starts mouthing off to his friend about how cheap customers are about leaving tips . . . forget about getting even a penny tip. What a jerk!
I think you'll agree, that's one GOOD LOOKING breakfast.
Across the street the day before the Colossal Cafe was good but their egg-cooking skills let them down. (Once again, woefully undercooked whites and yolk.) And the wonderful bread was spoiled by having butter pre-applied and toasted. Would have so much preferred it dry and butter patties. Not horrible though and a beautiful quiet urban setting bar none.
Also had my first Jucy Lucy at Matt's Bar. (After 30 years off and on in the TC's . . . it was time.) A classic place no doubt, but the "Jucy" did not spark my juices at all. In spite of dire warnings of 7th degree burns when I bit into it a wimpy premature ejaculation of watery not-very-flavorful cheese puttered out. It was rescued by my election for raw onions but otherwise I think I will stick with cheeseburguer cheeseburguer.
Busters on 28th I enjoyed for their serious approach to beer. With even one cask ale on offer. The food was heavily fry-o-latere-ed but their artisan cheese plate was really good.
I liked it. I seem to be "on a roll" as nowhere so far (just back in town a week) has been really poor.
More reports to follow. thanks for reading.
bb
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Interesting Find for Spices and indian Masala blends in Stafford
I don't know. incidentally I did not note a comprehensive selection (A-Z) of base spices (particularly commonly available ones seemed absent). He seems to stock mainly his own recipe blends and exotic spices for the most part. Oh and rice of course also. Got an excellent large bag of basmati again at very reasonable cost. It is certainly an interesting business model. I'd be interested in anything you find out from the owner if you drop in. I amde some vegetarian "tiffin" today with his chana masala and various of his dals. Photo attached.
Interesting Find for Spices and indian Masala blends in Stafford
The other thing I forgot to mention is that the prices are very reasonable. I think this may be the original (he said 5 years here) before that 2 years operating out of his ho
me, and the outlet at the "London Sizzler" mini-mall @ Hillcroft an outgrowth. I am not sure but the fact the owner was in Stafford and not there on a Saturday is the tip off. . Not sure.
Interesting Find for Spices and indian Masala blends in Stafford
On the recommendation of an Indian my wife works with I checked out Chandrika Masala in Stafford.
This turned out to be a unique kind of enterprise tucked away at the back of an industrial office style "mini mall" on Murphy Road.
This is worth checking out. It is not in any way your standard indo-Pak type of place. It focuses on spices, spice blends (masalas) to the owner's own recipes, flour, dals and medicinal spices also. (The medicinal ones were totally unknown to me: things I truly had never heard of.)
I went on a Saturday morning and found an indian family shopping there (it is a very small space) and visiting on the provided sofa (this is clearly a place where you stop by for a while and catch up on local gossip).
If you shop in the likes of HEB international section you'll know the Parampara cooked masalas.
These ones are just the dry spice combinations so they need to be cooked and then the ingredients added. But a great time saver and all the spice measuring is done for you with these authentic masalas.
The owner was there and willing (in fact keen) to share any info needed.
He let me smell some of his turmeric and it was as potent as most you get in spice jars is impotent. The arome leapt into and assaulted your nostrils.
I used his rogan josh masala and the result was very good. I am trying some of the dal ones today. Clearly this is aimed at genuine Indian cooks, not "throw together a curry" but actually you'd throw together a better curry with these masalas I think than any known curry powder(!). But don't expect to get other ingredients. This is all about the dry spices (flour & dal) and nothing else.
A unique shop though well worth checking out. Check hours however. It's located around the back although there is a sign on Murphy Road for the mall with its name on.
http://www.chandrikamasala.com/
Matagorda crawfish & Cajun
Made a reconnoitre trip yesterday (aware it would be almost certainly closed on Easter). Didn't leave a lot the wiser. After crossing the Intracoastal Waterway bridge, one of the houses on the right had a large mobile crawfish boil trailer parked outside, and there was a Repka's temporary banner on the building itself. It wasn't completely clear whether the enterprise is based there, or somehow operates out of the mobile trailer. All in all, not much the wiser. But I guess the Repka's brand is in situ, just not sure if it's in that building (which appears more residential) or somewhere else.
Best Restaurant Not in a Major Texas City - Texas
It's the smoked trout I remember too!!!
[HOU] Bayview Duck Restaurant, Bacliff - Short Report
Brings a new definition to "earning a day's pay."
[HOU] Bayview Duck Restaurant, Bacliff - Short Report
Like NYC firefighters, coal miners are a breed apart. I grew up among miners and ex miners with a staggering variety of missing digits, hacking coughs, bent backs and otehr ailments. At pubs and clubs (many clubs run by miners' unions) they always wanted lots of drink and lots of good times (dancing etc.) by way of antitidote to work I think. Some of the conditions in those "wet mines" (all Northumberland mines pretty near the coast) just atrocious at times from what I gather from my cousin who was a miner.
[HOU] Bayview Duck Restaurant, Bacliff - Short Report
My grandmother lived in Sunderland. Of course know of Vaux Brewery. Having a lot of my family who were miners I know exactly (although not from personal experience) what you are talking about. A hell of a way to earn a living. Collieries, miners' baths, pit heaps and so on were the landscape of my youth.
[HOU] Bayview Duck Restaurant, Bacliff - Short Report
North of Newcastle (Northumberland county). Home to Brown Ale. As a boy well remember the actual Newcastle Brewery replete with dray horses (and their copious "left-overs") and the other odor . . . of malting barley. I have a US friend who feels of Ireland the way you do of the UK. As though "separated at birth" and really Irish. England has become too surveillance/police state for me in the past 20 years. Their speed cameras everywhere (even in the most quaint and picturesque of villages: a total eyesore) and Draconian rules and reg's are just too much. But their beer . . . . well, occasionally I can overlook the rules and reg's for a pint.
[HOU] Bayview Duck Restaurant, Bacliff - Short Report
No, too old to divert into hospitality at this stage, but it was fun to grow up (age 7-14) in a pub. Right up to the time he died my dad used to chastise me for stealing his beer "you thought I'd never notice!" well maybe I sneaked a wee drop now and again. That's when I developed a taste for cask ales! Mmmmm could murder a pint or six right now. Feast have that streak of "insanity" and "mania" necessary for any really decent restaurant. I think it makes it a really hard go for the people who run it (far easier to coast or open an Olive Garden franchise) but the people at Feast (and I reckon the Bayview Duck too) as yet have not "settled down" to "blahdom" and that is a great and wonderful thing.
[HOU] Bayview Duck Restaurant, Bacliff - Short Report
I have and I must say the experience sticks in my mind (in a GOOD way for a change) so something was right. I may have written a review way back in the threads here. http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/586908 Yes they do do standard American stuff too. But the"landlord" is the genuine article. And (like myself) from a publican family background.
[HOU] Bayview Duck Restaurant, Bacliff - Short Report
Well, it has taken me until now to get back here. Finally yesterday I made the (2 hour each way) trip for a looksee.
First impression was positive, a cozy, welcoming (and eclectically-decorated) interior with a bar on the left. Once my eyes adjusted to the light I selected a seat farther down as the bar is quite long (I’d guess about 12 seats) and I could imagine good for spirited conversation when busy.
The owner (behind the bar) introduced himself as Alec and I reciprocated. A pint of Guinness was ordered along with a Scotch Egg (menu is quite short but most bases are covered http://thebayviewduck.com/menu.html ). I did ask the owner as I ordered “Served cold I assume?” but I don’t think he heard me. Sure enough the Scotch Egg (ref: other Quests for cold Scotch Eggs and Ploughman’s in these annals) came freshly cooked and hot. That was the bad news, but the good news was that it was tasty. The sausage coating was just of the right thickness and seasoning. Had I had a bit more time I would let it cool down and I think it would have been a very tasty S.E. A little tub of Colman’s Mustard accompanied. I had a brief conversation about Ploughman’s and the owner told me he’d tried it but in order to offer premium (and there can be no other choice) cheeses, the price was too high to encourage much turnover.
The room is full of nooks and crannies and lots of books, and decorative touches. A gentleman sits on guard outside the restrooms, wearing a Noggin the Nog helmet, and I guess if you engage him in conversation (he is a dummy after all) you know you’ve “had enough.”
On a rainy day there was a clear regulars group showed up after a while. I was a little disappointed in the Guinness as 16 oz glasses are in effect and it didn’t completely hit the spot taste-wise (perhaps not enough G drinkers here).
I was particularly impressed by some images from space of the southern UK (where the owner comes from originally) donated (I gather) by a regular from NASA. Unfortunately no-one else was eating that I could sneak a look at other dishes but one thing I had my eye on was the Chip Buttie “Only for the British!” Hard to resist as a chip buttie is difficult and arcane science: to my mind has to use SALTED butter, and the chips put on there at a suitable temperature to melt it for the most part, but not completely. Then slather on more salt, vinegar, and maybe a soupçon of H.P.. Mmmmm, now I write it out I wish I had tried it!!
All in all, a pleasant (but scant) couple of hours. Were it not for the geographical incompatibilities this is a place I would definitely come back to. I will definitely drop in if in the vicinity nonetheless.
As I mentioned to the landlord I think this pretty much completes my visiting the main UK pub players in the metroplex. This one is well above average in terms of warmth of welcome and authenticity.
Thanks for reading.
bb
Cho Saigon - closed
Since I live 50 miles west of Hwy 6, this place (about 1 mile west of Hwy 6 on Westheimer) was a favorite. So far as I know it was the westernmost authentic Chinese/Vietnamese market in Houston (and therefore the closest one for me).
They did live crab & crawfish which were good to be able to get and reasonably cheap. Also canned staples for oriental food.
I was sorry to drive by last week and see it has closed down. The 99 Ranch in Sugar Land is probably now the closest for me. .
Cho Saigon - closed
16203 Westheimer
Red Lion check-in
Checked in here again Sunday. Their "traditional roast" (choice of lamb or beef [clearly lamb the one to go for!] and perfect Yorkshire Puddings looked excellent although I had something else in the appetizer line [pretty good vegetable samosas --- sadly they cancelled off the menu my favorite: ahi tuna "bites"].)
I thought it was funny that of the five people at the bar we were all either English or Scottish Numerous other tables were English, Scots, Irish also. To some extent the Red Lion is the de facto "expat UK Club" of Houston. Although not an oil man myself, clearly the global nature of oil & gas explains the phenomenon of well-heeled younger men/women---but mainly men---from the UK seeking tastes of home.
Again, doing brisk trade in early hours. Also one thing worth metnioning is they have pretty good waitresses and bartenders who don't change weekly. They are actually good at their jobs here.
Prices still a tad high but the Guinness was well kept and tasty. Wish Katy/Sugar Land could offer something similar to cut down the milage. But "dream on bb."
