ogiovetti's Profile
Memorial Day Weekend in Charleston
Thanks so much for the feedback! With off times, what would you suggest? Do Charlestonians tend to eat earlier or later at dinner time? And what would be best for places like C4B and Two Boroughs that are first-come, first-served?
Meritage vs Heartland
It's been months since I started this thread and subsequently went to MSP, but I have to stay that dinner still sticks with me. I couldn't have asked for a better experience, from (pumpkin) soup to (no) nuts. I forget the cocktail I had, too, but damn was it tasty.
Memorial Day Weekend in Charleston
I'm going to be in Charleston for Memorial Day weekend, covering the Spoleto Festival, which will keep me at the Gaillard Theater (my crash pad is about a mile away on Spring Street). I'm getting in on Friday night and leaving early Monday morning, which gives me two solid days of eating. I'm looking for some places to eat that will give me an experience unique to Charleston (I'm from New York so I'm not especially interested in things like Italian or Asian cuisine unless there's some wildly exciting thing going on). I won't have a car.
I was thinking of doing breakfasts at Bakehouse (which I know was originally affiliated with Baked in Brooklyn, but I'm not huge on breakfast so I'm just looking for a quick fuel-up) and Eli's Table and then balancing lunches and dinners between Cru Cafe, Closed 4 Business, FIG and Two Boroughs Larder. Does that seem like a well-rounded culinary tour of the area? Am I missing anything that would be a sin to ignore? And would y'all recommend reservations for all of the above places, or are there some where I can walk in without issue?
Also, on the non-food side, I'm wondering what I shouldn't miss in that general area to get a full taste of the Charleston experience. As I'm writing about Spoleto I want to get a genuine flavor for what Charleston itself is like as part of the article.
Also also, I'll be taking the train in (I know… but plane prices are stupid right now and I have a free travel voucher for Amtrak) and, as mentioned above, won't have a car. Are there normally cabs around the station that can take me over to my hotel?
Thanks in advance!
Meritage vs Heartland
Hello all! So I wound up going with Meritage last night and really was happy with my choice. We exchanged a few back and forth e-mails about to make sure that the dishes I had been eying were safe for my peanut and hazelnut allergies, and when I was seated my waiter immediately checked in with me (without my bringing it up specifically to him). I noticed even on my check that the items I ordered were entered into the computer as "nut allergy." Chef Klein even came to our table to make sure I was all set, and while I don't have almond allergies, they skipped the quince cake that normally comes with the cardamom duck because it uses almond flour and weren't sure they could guarantee it may not have come into contact with other nuts. That earned big points in my book.
The pumpkin soup was deliciously nourishing, well-seasoned and really interestingly balanced by the gingerbread croutons. I'm a slut for duck and their dish was spot on, reminding me of the duck and cabbage dishes I ate in Prague and Austria. My dining partner had the same and was equally enamored of it. It's not exactly what I would call French brasserie fare (but I should say I have no professional kitchen leanings), but that's totally fine by me. Also by picking Meritage, I was able to park my rental car and then walk over to the opera I was reviewing from there, so I could have a few cocktails without worrying about driving. I really liked their selection here and had the Nor'Easter, one of those drinks that goes down so easy and then hits you when you stand up.
We wrapped up with dessert; my colleague had the panna cotta and apple beignets, one of which I stole and it was like a piping hot apple cider mini donut. I went with one of their smaller options, the salted caramel ice cream pop. Covered in dark chocolate, it tasted exactly like a gourmet Snickers bar. I developed my nut allergies in my early 20s so I know what I've been missing (Nutella! Reese's!) and it made me giddy to have an allergy-friendly Snickers. Like, ridiculously giddy.
Our waiter was friendly and knowledgeable and made sure I made my 7:30 curtain (something more waiters in New York's Lincoln Center area could stand to learn), and the price tag was a bit high but totally worth it. It reminded me in atmosphere of New York's Balthazar or Pastis, but the menu was much more interesting beyond French standards so I definitely felt like I got something special and unique that I wouldn't necessarily find here.
After the opera, I had a reservation fro WA Frost but went to the opera's after party with a colleague at the company to speak a bit more as I had just squeaked into the Ordway at 7:29 pm, and by the time we parted ways it was just a few hours before my flight and, not wanting to chance driving more around a city I'd never been to before or driving while increasingly sleepy, I just went back to the airport, took a quick catnap in my car and then flew back home. But I've totally fallen in love with the Twin Cities so hopefully I'll have reason to go back and eat more (oh and review more music…but also eat).
Thanks again for all your passionate insight!
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Meritage
410 Saint Peter St, Saint Paul, MN 55102
Meritage vs Heartland
I noticed that WA Frost only takes reservations until 10:30, does the bar also serve food until 1 or does the kitchen close down?
Meritage vs Heartland
Agreed. It's easy to sound very parochial when one lives in New York (for good reason—we do have some good eats), but it's always galvanizing when I scour the boards for recommendations when I travel and find people just as passionate about their food.
Meritage vs Heartland
Oh bother, Ngon sounds AMAZING. Perhaps I should try that over Meritage?
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Meritage
410 Saint Peter St, Saint Paul, MN 55102
Meritage vs Heartland
A very good point. I didn't meant to slam Heartland or its reputation (especially as I've never been there), totally not their fault that I can't enjoy hazelnuts just as it's no Thai restaurant's fault that I can't eat peanuts or mushrooms. But as TDQ noted, and being the neurotic, Woody Allen-ish Jew that I am, I'd probably get so wrapped up in vigilance that I won't enjoy the nice meal. Glad to know that I'll still do well with Meritage!
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Meritage
410 Saint Peter St, Saint Paul, MN 55102
Meritage vs Heartland
I hate to see a good restaurant stained as well, but from my standpoint, being that they have a lot of hazelnuts on their menu and since they can kill me, I just don't want to take that chance (especially in a city I don't know). It's also going to be a Saturday night during prime dining hours, so I know grilling a waiter or chef on their kitchen practices and potential for contamination or hidden ingredients is not going to be easily done in that sort of setting. Though I am hugely thankful to Chowhound for having all this information—the boards may have saved me from Epi hell!
Meritage vs Heartland
PS: Because I'm just in St. Paul for the night and because I have an event that will last until around 11 and because my flight home is at 5am the next morning, I did decide to just forgo a hotel room and made a reservation for a late-night bite at Happy Gnome before I head to the airport. Hooray for extended kitchen hours!
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Happy Gnome
498 Selby Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55102
Meritage vs Heartland
Thanks for all the feedback, everyone! Sadly, after reading about jfoods's experience at Heartland (http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/668523), and being that I also suffer from several nut allergies, I think I'm going to err on the side of caution and go to Meritage. I can always get the cassoulet there if I feel like cholesterol needs to be raised.
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Meritage
410 Saint Peter St, Saint Paul, MN 55102
Meritage vs Heartland
I'm going to be in St. Paul for a night next month and sadly have to choose only one place to get dinner (arriving at 4pm and leaving at 5am the next morning, so it's a VERY brief stopover). I've been combing the boards here and examining menus and have it down to Heartland or Meritage. I'm from New York so I have a lot of great options here and am looking for something that'll be special to St. Paul (and have food allergies that preclude me from most SE Asian food).
The cardamom-glazed duck and harvest pumpkin soup at Meritage look amazing, however I'm also intrigued by Heartland's menu. I realize it'll be more of a crapshoot there as the menu changes daily, and it seems like they use a lot of hazelnuts (to which I have a severe allergy), but options like their Midwestern Cassoulet and Smoked Lamb Chops look really good.
Anyone have an opinion between the two?
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Meritage
410 Saint Peter St, Saint Paul, MN 55102
Berlin - East or DDR Holdover Restaurants?
I've been to Berlin a few times and have had amazing dining experiences there, but I'm wondering if there are any specific restaurants that have survived the fall of the wall on the Eastern side? Any holdovers from the DDR days? Any price range or meal (cafe/restaurant/biergarden) is fair game for me, I know a lot has changed in the last 20 years, but am interested to see what, if anything, has remained (besides the currywurst stand, I know that place has been there forevs).
Health-Conscious Deluscious?
I'm looking to send a dozen or so cookies/baked goods to someone as a holiday present, like a box set from Deluscious or Sprinkles. Catch is, they're extremely health conscious (I think they avoid gluten…they once made me chickpea flour cookies). Is there an alternative that's tasty and would let us send over a little gift box?
Green Tea Mochi Cookies?
I'm leaving Los Angeles to return to my hometown of New York, which I'm completely psyched about except for one thing: leaving behind the bakery in Little Tokyo that makes these killer green tea mochi cookies. I've scoured the boards and the rest of the interwebs and can't find any information as to how I would replicate these bad boys at home. Anyone have a mochi cookie recipe or any idea how I can bake with mochi?
Ta in advance.
California Wine Party
I'm obsessed with their $5 bottles of Franc Merlot and my friendly TJ's has sold their last bottle. Anyone know of an online retailer? Google is failing me.
Okonomiyaki in LA?
That's just what I was told by all of the Okophiles in St. Mark's...Far be it from me to pass judgement on the city that birthed the US sushi craze.
Okonomiyaki in LA?
Recent NY to LA transplant. Where can I get the good okonomiyaki? I refuse to believe they don't make it here, as others have told me.
Ararac?
Anyone know where in LA or online I could find a bottle of ararac (Syrian/Middle Eastern liqueur)? Do they even still MAKE ararac?
Kitchen Organization Article?
I remember over the summer reading an article on Chow with different ways to organize your kitchen (DIY shelves, etc.). Anyone remember where this was or have the exact link? I've been searching for an hour and am coming up empty.
Help Me Impress My Boss....
My boss usually orders for lunch meetings from Colony Cafe or Clementine...he likes good food and he likes to impress clients (or at least put our best foot forward with them). He's looking for some new restaurants in the Colony/Clementine vein (someone that can do catering or have a good off-the-menu order) that can reach us in Santa Monica (on Olympic near Centinela). Anyone have any suggestions?
Gnocchi for Potato Allergies?
You and Miss Needle just made my day...Nigella and Jacques Pepin! Zot!
Gnocchi for Potato Allergies?
I was diagnosed with a severe allergy to potatoes about six months ago. I've done without french fries, I've eschewed pierogi, even the good Jewish girl in me has broken off from latkes. What I can't stand is losing out on gnocchi. Anyone have any "gnocchi" recipes that don't use potatoes--eg: squash, etc.? If so, please spill.
Thanks!
Anyone have experience with Syrian cooking?
My grandmother used to make the most amazing sfiha (Syrian pizzas) and I've been trying to come up with a recipe that closely captures hers. It's somewhat similar to keema naan in Indian cooking, however the issue that I've been coming up against is the meat that goes on top of the dough. It should be pretty light, not greasy or heavy, and definitely should not just be one patty stretched across the dough. Anyone here make sfiha? Anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks!
Olivia
