Mediumgoof's Profile
Bham - Red Pearl Dec 2011 Chowdown
Great write-up; I'm drooling and bummed we missed it! Definitely want to sign up for the next one.
What homemade edible thing do you most commonly gift?
The usual cookie mixes (though I often throw in rosemary shortbread for a semi-savory alternative) jams, quick bread. Had luck with bourbon-fig preserves but didn't get to them this year. Also Kentucky Bourbon Spike a while back and maybe again this year:
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Kentucky-Eggnog-Spike-102341
And dog biscuits for all the pooches on the street!
Need Recommendations for Birthday Dinner - Birmingham Area
Oh, and Rojo's also a possibility if you're going on the cheaper end. I think they often close off their second room.
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Rojo
2921 Highland Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35205
Need Recommendations for Birthday Dinner - Birmingham Area
Jannae, I'm pretty sure Dodiyos has a couple of different banquet room options, and it's got a broad menu in terms of options and prices.
I think a lot of the places in town that do private dining tend to be spendy, as a friend who recently planned a birthday found. She ended up with the quasi-Mexican place at Five Points South, but the food (meh) was tertiary to the drinks and karaoke for her.
On the cheaper end, Cantina and Fish Market may have private room options, too, but I'm not sure. And good drink options -- margaritas at Cantina or bottles of wine for the table at FM both seem budget festive to me.
Anyone know if J. Clyde can close off some of their warren of rooms?
Birmingham - Royal Reds?
Apparently once a year I post about RRs, so here's another update -- got some tonight at Fish Market, head on, and they were really good: sweet, salty, almost more like crab legs than shrimp. (The previous batch I had was good, but I felt like not worth the hype.) As suggested by the fishmonger, I did a sort of saute/steam in butter, olive oil, garlic and wine. The heads made a really good broth -- Dax, maybe they wouldn't be good for standalone stock, but for sopping up from the bottom of the bowl with bread, they were awesome. They were I think $9/lb and he said he usually keeps them in stock because his girlfriend loves them.
What to Feed my Finicky Five-year Old?
I think getting him involved would be fun! Some ideas:
--Smoothies: let him pick from a variety of fresh/frozen fruits and put them in the blender (which you will run, obviously). Most kids like berries. Add yogurt, milk, heck, even ice cream.
--If you can, find some of those Japanese rice molds. You press rice into them while still warm to make shapes. My 5-year-old LOVES his molds and will dip them in almost anything.
--I agree with the other posters that anything like pizza or quesadillas where he can control the ingredients would be good. What about panini or even something fun like waffle sandwiches? (bread in the waffle maker).
--Meatballs!
--Can you go to a you-pick farm or a community garden or a farmer's market? Even picky kids will sometimes try veggies if they pick them themselves. Same with eggs -- he might be into making/eating eggs if he can meet the chickens. My son loves cracking and scrambling eggs.
--Breakfast foods are usually pretty safe. Pancakes/waffles for dinner are good.
--Like others said, gadgets might be good. Or anything that involves rolling dough, squeezing something from a pastry bag, decorating. Then it's more like crafts than cooking.
--If all else fails, you can always make old-fashioned popcorn, homemade fruit popsicles or even just cookies. At least you'll be doing something together, and they're better than chips.
--Remember that sometimes it just helps to keep various components separate. My son (who luckily isn't picky!) is much more comfortable with food when the items are separate and identifiable, rather than mixed together.
Good luck!
Fig barbecue sauce?
Years ago someone gave me a jar of fig barbecue sauce that was absolutely delicious (especially on grilled pork tenderloin). Our neighbors' fig trees are now ready to pick and I'd love to replicate that sauce. It wasn't super spicy, but had a little heat to it and wasn't overly sweet. Anyone have a recipe? Thanks!
Birmingham - Best Hotdogs for cooking at home? Butchers?
Boutwell Farms sells yummy "cowdogs," "pork dogs" and a mix of both at Pepper Place. Or at least they did last summer -- I haven't checked lately. Which reminds me, I think I have a last package in the freezer and this weekend would be the right time to use them up!
Best Thing I Ate All Week, March 6-13
Deepfried, you've piqued my curiosity with the bean pie! What was it like? Is it sweet? Bean pies were part of a subplot on Weeds and apparently they're a traditional Nation of Islam dish, which would fit with the pork-free restaurant.
Hot and Hot -- first visit
Dax, I'm pretty sure it was two scallops, two shrimp. Granted, they were quite large, and the replacement scallops were enormous. It wouldn't keep me from going back because the overall experience and meal were so good. And the venison, on the other hand, was almost too huge a portion. I didn''t finish it and still couldn't handle dessert, and I'm a hearty eater (though the appetizers were on the heavy side). I do think it's funny that the only seafood dish on this fish-focused restaurant was the weakest link!
I wonder, also, whether a place of that caliber would mind if I just did two appetizers so I could have room for dessert? I've done this a mid-range restaurants, of course, but has anyone tried it somewhere like H&H? Especially since it seems that more and more often the appetizers present more exciting options.
Hot and Hot -- first visit
Hey, guys, thought I'd share a wonderful dinner Friday night at Hot and Hot Fish Club. It was our first trip there, and I have to say, I was pretty wowed. Since I love reading these myself to know what to try, here's a short review:
Husband and I had 8:30 reservations, which we felt pretty luck about since we called on Wednesday. A bit worried as on first entry the restaurant smelled, well, funky -- perhaps too much ammonia in the cleaner? For a place famous for fresh seafood, it made me a little nervous. I tend to be a bit too sensitive about such things, but my husband noticed it too. Fortunately, when we were seated in the inner room -- the same room as the open kitchen but not at the chef's counter -- it wasn't noticeable.
The service was excellent, as others have said. Our waiter, (who was almost identical in voice and manner to a friend of ours) was very friendly and ebullient. Lots of telling us we made the best choices -- which I suspect he says to all the diners! We started with the charcuterie plate and the sweetbreads on McEwan's grits. OMG, the sweetbreads were spectacular, I think the best thing I ate all night. Bit of confusion on the charcuterie plate -- the runner who brought it and the waiter identified some of the vegetable items differently. No biggie. The pork rillettes were incredible -- not salty at all, very meaty without being greasy. Husband loved the duck mortadella (not my favorite); the head cheese was rich and smooth and yummy; and the fois gras torchon was out of this world. The veal tongue, on the other hand, was awfully chewy. Kind of thickly sliced, too -- wonder if that could have saved it. The lardo consisted of two tiny, fried bits, pretty forgettable, to be honest. The pickled cherries, on the other hand, were amazing! One note on the charcuterie -- it comes with some yummy, oily, cibatta toasts that are delicious but might overpower some of the items. The regular french bread in the bread basket was a better option for some, so ask for some if you go that route.
Mains: I went for the breaded venison chop with roasted venison leg, root vegetable gratin, collard greens and red wine jus. The waiter said it was delicious IF not overcooked, and suggested medium rare. I said sure, and it was quite rare, which was fine because I generally like my meat bloody. It was also very, very tender, mild and delicous -- the leg especially. I was afraid the chop would be chewy and it wasn't; the first couple of bites seemed a bit salty but then that passed. The collards were thinly shredded, barely cooked and were spectacular, especially in the jus. The gratin -- I think rutabega and celery root -- was sweet and not too heavy with cream.
Husband had the scallop and royal red shrimp risotto. The head-on shrimp were nice, but there were only two, which seemed a bit skimpy. The scallops were overpoweringly salty. We're not usually sender-backers, but when the waiter asked how everything was, we pointed out the saltiness and he immediately apologized and asked if if was OK if, instead of replacing the entire dish, he just had the kitchen sear off a couple more scallops. Which came out, even fatter and juicier than the first, in a few minutes. They were still quite salty (I thought dry pack scallops are supposed to be less so?) but not as acridly so. And we were very impressed with the way it was handled.
Unfortunately, we were so full and tired, we decided to skip dessert, but next time I want to try the doughnuts! All in all an excellent meal with a few home runs and a great, relaxed atmosphere.
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Hot and Hot Fish Club
2180 11th Ct S, Birmingham, AL 35205
Birmingham -- Mr. Chen's
Just got back from trip No. 3 to Mr. Chen's and, well, yum. Soup buns seemed yummier than last time, though perhaps just hotter and fresher. Tried the sauteed pea leaves for the first time and they were unbelievably good. Granted, I've never had them anywhere, so they may not be the best, but they are so crisp and fresh and sweet and green. Watched my husband put away a plate of the crispy salted oysters. I, like Dax, found them too "oyster-y;" just a little too pungent and thick in the middle, though I'm pretty finicky about oysters. The batter, though, is astonishingly good -- salty, spicy and so light. Might have to try something else crispy-salty on the menu. Almost tried the house tofu -- anyone tried that one? The only bad news was there was about a 20 minute wait at 7:15 on Saturday night! Hope the place doesn't become a victim of its own success.
Your tried and true Cook's illustrated Best recipes.
What a great thread! Thanks for all the advice -- been meaning to try several of the general faves, including Chicken Tikka Masala and Beef Strogonoff. I'm adding brown sugar cookies to the list (maybe even tonight).
My picks from the magazine:
lime cheesecake bars
butternut squash risotto
From the Cook's Bible:
buttermilk waffles
The fast pizza method, which makes pizza doable on a weeknight (although the crust is better if it rises longer). The no-cook sauce is fantastic and the concept -- brush crust with herb-infused olive oil, sprinkle with salt, add sauce and bake about 7 minutes before adding anything heavy like cheese -- makes for a beautifully crispy, chewy, bubbly crust.
The Yellow Farmhouse Cookbook (not America's Test Kitchen, but Chris Kimball solo) has a great thick garlicky mustard viniagrette that's designed to top fat wedges of quick-steamed cabbage and will convince skeptics that cooked cabbage is delicious.
On the other hand, I think it was their strawberry ice cream that I did not like.
Birmingham - Royal Reds?
A year after your original query, and now Publix (at least the one on Montclair Road) is carrying Royal Reds. I just bought two pounds for the freezer -- I've never had them before and am curious. Any recipe suggestions? I read that they cook faster than other shrimp and shouldn't be salted because they're salted when frozen. BTW, the woman working the fish counter said they didn't used to carry them much but have had a lot of requests so are ordering them more.
Birmingham - Sitar now open (Indian)
We did takeout last night. Yum. Got what we usually get from Taj for comparison. The bengan bartha (which we got mild and was a little too mild) was excellent, a bit more tomato-y and with more warm spices. The sag paneer was delicious; we got medium and it had just a little bite and plenty of cheese cubes. All in all, I'd say the flavors were more subtle than Taj, which lately has tended to be so spicy on those two dishes that you can't taste much. I also thought the naan was excellent. Bonus: order came with pappadums, mint sauce and chutney. Drawback: came with plain rice rather than pilaf.
Birmingham Restaurants -- Specific Meals
I can't argue with anyone else's suggestions here, but just make a couple of additions. Yes, the trout's excellent at Chez FonFon, although I always seem to end up with the moules frites or hamburger. The crabcake (same mentioned at Bottega and Highlands and offered only on Thursday, I think) is also to die for. And the country pate...
Wish I could say I ate at some of the top-notch places often enough to have favorites, but the fritto misto at Highlands is so light and crisp it's revelatory. At Bottega, we always get the carpaccio, and I once had a rabbit papardelle there I still think about.
Haven't settled on a favorite pizza at Bettola yet but love any with proscuitto or fior de latte.
No mention of Cafe Dupont yet, but the fried oysters there are spectacular.
Birmingham Better DIning w/children
Chez FonFon wasn't on your list, but we've taken our now 3-year-old here a few times and see kids there almost every time we go. The patio out back is perfect. As others have said, some of Birmingham's best chefs not only have kids themselves but have spoken out about our chicken finger culture when it comes to children. I'd just call to make a reservation and tell the manager you plan to bring your well-behaved kids and whether they have any suggestions/policy. I imagine they'd be very welcoming and could suggest the best time and put you in an appropriate table (like a quiet corner, or one where they can watch the kitchen).
Go for it! If we don't teach 'em to eat right and behave properly, how will they learn?
Birmingham Chocolate
Angel Cakes in Mountain Brook makes their own chocolates ... or made, since I heard they might have closed recently, if anyone can confirm that.
2 days in Birmingham
Hope it's not too late for this! Pinotboy covered the waterfront, but for a parent's perspective: Surin West is quite child-friendly (our 3-year-old loves it) especially earlier in the evening; late on weekends there can be a bit of a squeeze for tables. Pancake House is a kid favorite for breakfast. We also love Chez Fon-Fon, the bistro-style sibling to Highland Bar and Grill -- the key is to go by early and ask for a table on the back patio. There are only a few tables out there, and the kids can entertain themselves on the boules court if they get squirmy.
It's a short drive or longish walk up Highland Ave., but we also like Rojo, which is a pubby restaurant that's very kid friendly. There's an American menu and a Mexican-style one; you seat yourself and order at the counter so you can get your food pretty fast (always helps with toddlers!); and there's a playground in the park across the street. It's good for lunch/brunch on weekends, which I think starts at 11 a.m.
Breakfast in Birmingham
Funny, as I read your post I kept thinking "V. Richards is the only place that comes close, but what a strange place to recommend." And then look at all the other posts! It's in the neighborhood so often ends up being the default. Their cheese grits are by far the best I've ever had and the French toast is excellent. Just had croissants and pain au chocolat from there this morning...yum! They put Neuske's on the BLT, so I bet it comes with breakfast, too.
For another option that's more of a sit-down place, the cafe attached to the Little Professor bookstore in Homewood has an excellent brunch, but I've only been once. And Rojo on Highland Ave. has yummy breakfast burritos, huevos, etc., but they don't open until late. Have you tried Chez Lulu?
Anyone tried the new breakfast at Silvertron?
Birmingham: Banh Mi mania
Big Daddy, thanks to your tip, we tried Saigon Noodle House for takeout this week. Very pleased -- and haven't even tasted the banh mi yet. Dax is right, the summer rolls (I got the shrimp) are great and very generous. Had the bun with fried pork spring roll, which is going to be a summer staple: cool noodles, a fresh sweet/spicy/vinegary dressing, chopped cucumbers and lettuce, and crispy spring rolls. I'll definitely ask for extra pickled carrots next time. Thought the pho broth was better than Pho Que Hong's; a little on the sweet side, but not so heavy on the star anise.
An added benefit: the two women behind the counter were super-friendly (maybe because we mentioned the recommendation?). They told my husband to microwave the pho broth when he got home and goaded him into an avocado tapioca smoothie. It was quite sweet and not particularly avocado-y, although definitely green, with huge, deep purple tapioca bubbles. It was very rich and creamy, but I think I'd try mango or guanabana (soursop) next time.
