chefsofee's Profile
Shaboo in April, what to expect?
We have reservations at Shaboo at the end of April. We are wondering if anyone has been there recently and what we can expect. We are adventurous eaters and love omakase style dining. There is apparently "no menu", which does not intimidate, but rather excites us, but we're just wondering if anyone has had a recent experience here.
Nice Surprise in a "Right Off the Interstate" Wasteland
Hey Brawny, meant no offense with the wasteland reference. My hometown is in KY after all, so I have an affinity for the south. I was referring mainly to almost all "just off the interstate" type places...consisting mostly of fast food or chains and that would be any interstate...any region of the country.
Metairie or is it worth the trip downtown?
Thanks everyone. I did end up going to Crazy Johnnie's. It was late, I didn't want to spend $50 RT on a cab downtown. There was a group of inebreiated partiers on the deck but I just wove my way between them to the door.
I sat at the bar and as one poster recommended ordered the giant dipping shrimp. It wasdelicious, but would probably have been better as an appetizer to share. As an entree for one it was EXTREMELY rich (there must have been a whole stick of butter in that bowl) and EXTREMELY messy. Don't get me wrong, it had some nice spice and the shrimp were cooked perfectly. I just ended up wishing I had gotten a steak (the one the guy ordered sitting next to me looked fab!).
Thanks again!
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Crazy Johnnie's Cafe & Bar
3520 18th St, Metairie, LA 70002
Nice Surprise in a "Right Off the Interstate" Wasteland
Flew into Knoxville and commenced my drive to Kingport where I had business the next day. Needing dinner I plugged a safe choice chain into my GPS that was on my way. Luckily, off the same exit, I spotted Puleo's Grille. Ignorning my GPS' pleas to make a u-turn, I pulled into the parking lot. I'll admit to some skeptism at this point. The restaurant's facade is rather "ruby tuesday/applebee-ish".
My favorite thing to do when dining alone while traveling on business is to sit at the bar. I was greeted by a friendly bartender going by the name Rick who helped me choose my entree, a citrus grilled chicken. My special request to sub the sweet potatoes for the regular mashed was no problem. I started with a house salad, which had some nice touches in the form of grated cheese and sliced almonds. The cukes were also deseeded. My chicken was nicely grilled and juicy. The citrus glaze was subtle, not cloying. A side of broccoli and baby carrots still had some nice crunch. The sweet potatoes...oh my...I think I might dream of that side dish. Not overly sweet with a nice spice and kissed with butter.
The menu had some great eclectic choices. Spotting the entrees of neighboring barstools (one steak and one lasagna) I would conclude if they tasted as good as they looked...then they were winners as well.! I had a nice view of the kitchen from my seat. I saw lots of attention to detail, including the chef as the pass taking painstaking care to wipe the rim of the plates before sending them out.
A manager (owner maybe?) came by to ask about my meal and service. A nice touch indeed. I'm wondering if my scheduled will put me back in the Straberry Plains area for lunch tomorrow?
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Puleo's Grille
7224 Region Ln, Knoxville, TN 37914
Metairie or is it worth the trip downtown?
Hello Hounds,
Tomorrow I'm flying to NO for one night on business. I'm staying in Metairie, since that is where my meeting is the next morning, then flying out straight away after it's over. Being a typical CH, I'm checking out my dinner options. It's Sunday, I don't arrive until 6:30. Are there decent places in Metairie where a foodie could get a taste of what NO has to offer? Or, checking out mapquest, it looks easy enough to get downtown. I would be dining alone, which is no problem, just want to make sure it's safe enough for a solo female at night. What about parking? If you do think downtown is doable, any suggestions? I'm wanting creole, southern or the like.
All this considering...the late hour, etc., am I better off finding someplace near Metairie?
Hope I haven't rambled too much...and looking forward to what you might come up with!
Thanks so much!!!!
The best luau on Maui?
I'm in Maui now (*sigh*)!! Having done both OLL (2007) and Feast at Lele (just this past Wednesday night). I'd definately go back to Lele over OLL. The food and drinks were MUCH better. I liked that DH and I got our own table (front row!). Tableside service that was awesome, our drinks would have just an inch left and they'd be back asking what we wanted next. Suggested wine pairings for the courses were helpful. I actually thought even the show at Lele was better, but that might be because I had a better view.
MAUI CULINARY TOUR
Has anyone participated in a farm tour/dinner with this company? The dinner option is rather expensive, but looks like fun/yummy/eductional. Would love to hear of any personal experiences. We leave Sunday 3-28 for Maui!
http://www.mauiculinarytours.com/
Montreal for the Weekend
Headed from Maine to Montreal for a break next weekend. Looking for one nice evening out at a restaurant fit for foodies. Also interested in poutine, where's the best to be had? We'll have a car, but it will likely stay parked at our hotel (Le Square Phillips). Is Chinatown food worth a visit? Thanks for any suggestions and we'll post reviews when we get back!
For Central NYers: Greens and Beans Recipe?
Looking for an authentic Italian Greens and Beans recipe that will be close to the delicious dish I always order when traveling for business in the Syracuse area. Thanks!!!!
Lunch Near Beth Israel Hospital?
Thanks for all the replies. We ended up going to Chinatown since it was on our way to South Station to catch the bus home. We went to Xinh Xinh for some pho. I had their sate beef pho, which was delicious and very spicy (perfect for a cold winter day). My husband had the clay pot special. Combination of chicken, beef, and shrimp with broccoli, snow peas, baby corn, straw mushrooms with sizzling rice on the bottom. Mixed with the sauce it was yummy!!
Lunch Near Beth Israel Hospital?
Any chow suggestions for lunch near BIDMC? We're adventurous eaters and price not really a concern. Thanks for any help!
Seagrass Bistro; Yarmouth, Maine
My husband and I went to Seagrass Bistro this evening to celebrate our birthdays (we're lucky to have birthdays one day apart, it makes for fun celebrating).
We had 6:30 reservations and were seated immediately. We each ordered a glass of Prosecco to enjoy while perusing the menu. According to the menu the restaurant uses local whenever possible and their menu is geared towards what is seasonal and available. The menu is divided between first course, salad, and entrees.
For our first course I ordered a mushroom leek tart. It was a crisp and tender puff pastry topped with creamy leeks, mushroom saute, and lemony flat leaf parsley. It was delicious. The star of the first course was my husband's scallop. It was pan seared and presented on roasted salsify and caramelized shallots. The scallop was perfectly opaque and the flavors blended beautifully.
For salads, I ordered the grilled romaine hearts with clementines and shaved parmesan. The tender romaine was charred ever so slight and paired nicely with sweet clementines and salty parmesan. It was dressed simply with olive oil. My husband scored again with the pan seared fois gras with poached pears, cranberries, greens dressed with cider vinaigrette. This was just sublime. The fois gras received barely a sear and melted in your mouth!
My husband ordered the honey glazed pork tendorloin with baked apples and a mashed winter squash. The pork had intense flavor from the roasted honey glaze with the meat remaining juicy and tender. I had the rosemary crusted beef tenderloin with a potato gratin and wilted greens. My 1 1/2 inch thick cut was perfectly cooked to my requested medium rare. I wished I had a spoon for the burgundy reduction.
We were celebrating, so, of course we had room for dessert. Again, my husband hit it it out of the ballbark by ordering the coconut cake. It was a popover sized individual cake that according to our waitress was made with coconut milk. It was moist, dense, and rich with coconut flavor topped with a vanilla glaze and toasted coconut. My chocolate pot de creme did not disappoint either.
Service was attentive without being pretentious and the courses were paced nicely. We stopped briefly at the open kitchen to compliment the chef. I think we may become regulars!
Foodie weekend in Portland, ME - what should I hit next time?
Wow, such a pretentious reply about Seagrass...have you ever eaten there? Distinctive dining is not just relagated to Portland.
Need Suggestions for Christmas (Madrid) and New Years (Barcelona)
Butterfly, "hopping" definately won't bother me. We are a "40-something" couple, will we feel out of place? :)
Need Suggestions for Christmas (Madrid) and New Years (Barcelona)
Hey Martha!
Where are you from? We are only 2...so we'd definately be outnumbered! ;) Please feel free to share any information from your friend! Thanks!
Need Suggestions for Christmas (Madrid) and New Years (Barcelona)
We have our reservations at Set Portes! They were wonderful to deal with via email.
Need Suggestions for Christmas (Madrid) and New Years (Barcelona)
I love the 12 grapes thing! I can imagine we'll be doing every New Years from now on! :)
Need Suggestions for Christmas (Madrid) and New Years (Barcelona)
Corndog,
Set Portes LOOKS FANTASTIC. Love their menu! I have an email to them on the way. Will let you all know what I hear!
Need Suggestions for Christmas (Madrid) and New Years (Barcelona)
Quick question if you don't mind Kath! Of the 3 (Mario, Laura, and Alicia) are there any advantages of one or the other in terms of location in your opinion? I had read about Mario, too! They have a pretty cool website too.
I wish we were staying until the 6th. We actually leave on the 2nd. Now that I have the accomodation finally square away I am more relaxed and getting REALLY excited about our trip!!
Thanks always for your help!
Need Suggestions for Christmas (Madrid) and New Years (Barcelona)
Kath,
Thanks! We are very excited. All of you have been so much help.
It's been very hectic for the past few days trying to find a place to stay in Madrid. We have an apartment booked in the Born area of Barcelona. All the apartments in Madrid had restrictions regarding minimum nights to stay. So, we booked a hotel called Room Mate Alicia, do you know anything about it? It looks fine and central, but would love anyone else's take on it. We could also stay at a loft at the Hotel Plaza Mayor (with kitchen, etc.).
Need Suggestions for Christmas (Madrid) and New Years (Barcelona)
I have reservations on Christmas Day at Botin! WooohoooO!
Need Suggestions for Christmas (Madrid) and New Years (Barcelona)
Thanks guys! You have all been SO helpful. Looks like the apartment I wanted on Almendro is a no-go. So now I am working on one on Conde de Romanones. Looks like we won't starve on Christmas Day ;) I just can't tell you how much I have appreciated your suggestions.
I sent an email to Botin. It looks intriguing! I'll let you know what I hear back!
Need Suggestions for Christmas (Madrid) and New Years (Barcelona)
Kath and Butterfly,
Thanks for all your suggestions. Looks like we have an apartment booked in Madrid (still working on Barcelona). It is on Calle del Almendro. It is very close to Cava Baja. I was looking at the following places: Posada de la Villa, El Schotis, Taberna los Lucio or Taberna Tempranillo. Do you think any of them would be open on Christmas Day? Any opinions on them?
Need Suggestions for Christmas (Madrid) and New Years (Barcelona)
In Madrid, I have been looking at apartments in the Austrian Quarter. In Barcelona, we'll likely be in the El Born area or the Gothic Quarter. Any suggestions are appreciated, restaurants or markets (since we have a kitchen). It doesn't have to be fancy, since we'll have other evenings to dine out. Thanks for your help!
Need Suggestions for Christmas (Madrid) and New Years (Barcelona)
Hello!
We just booked our trip to Spain. We will arrive in Madrid on Christmas Day. I understand most things will be shut down due to the holiday and that any restaurants that will be open will be booked ahead. That is why I am asking now...any suggestions for where we can get some dinner on Christmas Day in Madrid and New Year's Day in Barcelona? We are adventurous eaters...so nothing really off limits. Thanks for any help!
Greensboro Lunch Ideas?
Open to all ideas. Location is not that critical. Since moving to Maine, I miss southern-style cooking. Shrimp and grits, fried oysters, crab, etc...price not so much an issue either. Thanks!
Greensboro Lunch Ideas?
Hello!
I haven't seen my brother, his wife, and my sister in over a year. A baby shower is bringing us all together, just for the weekend. My brother is staying at a hotel near the airport in Greensboro. Any great ideas for a fun lunch spot for the 4 of us?
Palm Coast/St. Augustine Suggestions?
Hello!
I am traveling and staying in the Palm Coast area from Maine next week for a conference. I am arriving a day early and have some "on my own" time. Looking for dinner suggestions in the Palm Coast area for a Wednesday evening and a lunch spot in St. Augustine for Thursday. I like just about anything and am looking for a single-diner friendly place.
Thanks!
STARFISH GRILL--BRUNSWICK, MAINE
The restaurant lost their lease. The owner of the building was the pest control company next door and they decided to expand. Previously, the restaurant's website reported they were looking for new space. I notice, now, the website is gone, which doesn't seem like good news. I hated to see this place go as Brunswick seems short on really great gourmet restaurants.
Mama Roux's MAJOR DISAPPOINTMENT
I was so looking forward to my breakfast this morning in Cromwell. I figured it was a sure hit based on all the positive press on Chowhound. The place was hopping, but I managed to secure a small table after about a 10 minute wait. Mama scored with her menu with all kinds of inventive breakfast dishes. As a born and bred Southerner, though, I had my heart set on biscuits and gravy, so I placed my order. Service was fine and the coffee was very good. I couldn't have been more disappointed in my food, however. The plate had one small biscuit that was extremely tough (took several rocking, sawing motions with my fork to cut into a bite-sized piece). The gravy was thin and had "broken" (looked curdled). I could not find fault in the home fries. My over-easy eggs were also fine. The table next to me also seemed to have issues with their breakfast (overcooked eggs and cold potatoes) and had it sent back. Sorry to be a vote of dissension for a popular spot.
