jamiski's Profile
Recommendations for Good Seafood in Norfolk VA?
I don't have an answer but I have the same question -anyone?
Best Wolfgang Puck Restaurant?
I cannot say enough good things about Cut. We had a near perfect experience there earlier this year. We like food that is a little more straight-forward, and it suited us perfectly.
Palazzo/Venetian Eats
We thought First Food was great too. One of our more reasonably priced meals on our last trip and the food was really good. Had a great bartender too, which never hurts.
No corkage fee restaurants in Des Moines??
I believe Django is no fee every day.
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Django Restaurant
210 10th Street, Des Moines, IA 50309
Best restaurant in Des Moines?
Anyone have a report about Baru 66? It sounds amazing per the newspaper writers but I haven't heard anything from an actual person.
Near Four Seasons?
I didn't link that address; I have no idea where it came from.
South City Kitchen looks wonderful. We're from Iowa so southern food is definitely on the list. Veni Vidi Vici also looks delicious. We'll be cab-reliant, but don't really mind venturing out.
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Veni Vidi Vici
41 Fourteenth Street, Atlanta, GA 30309
Near Four Seasons?
Never been to Atlanta and have a long wedding weekend coming in September. What sort of close breakfast and dinner options do we have? I think we have dinner figured out, but we aren't sure if the hotel is in a neighborhood where we can walk to other restaurants. Or if there are any worth walking to. We were thinking about BLT Steak for a lunch and that's about all we have for ideas at this point.
Do you have a favorite cheesecake at the Cheesecake Factory?
I love the key lime and the lemon raspberry. I definitely want to try the red velvet. The godiva chocolate is good too, as is the seasonal pumpkin.
Cost Plus World Market and great food buys?
The lacey cookies with chocolate in the middle are awesome.
48 hours in Des Moines: Where should I eat?
I second all of Bob's suggestions. I had a fantastic meal at Sbrocco recently. I love 801 for a classic steakhouse meal. Centro is always good and makes great efforts to use local, seasonal ingredients.
This is not high-end, but I have to give a nod to my favorite lunch spot: Tasty Taco's. There are a few of them around town and the flour tacos are pretty much a Des Moines institution. Another great place for lunch is the South Union Cafe, which is next door to Centro and has the same owners. Homemade bread and soups, hard to go wrong.
If you are staying in the western suburbs, there are primarily chains in that part of town. Downtown and East Village are pretty much locally-owned places. One of my favorite west-side spots is Cosi Cucina in Clive for Italian. I haven't been in a couple months, but Phat Chefs in West Des Moines has also been very good. Again, lots of local ingredients.
801 is great for a high-end steakhouse, but the Big Steer in Altoona has awesome steaks. There is nothing remotely fancy about, but that's kind of its charm. No frills, just good food and perfectly cooked steaks.
Dinner in Des Moines?
A couple thoughts:
A good steak: The Big Steer: Casual steakhouse with great quality beef and reasonable prices, located right off I-80 just outside of Des Moines in Altoona. And I do mean casual; the kitsch makes it entertaining.
BBQ: Jethro's is overall pretty good and has a nice atmosphere. Some unique menu items, and it's just a few blocks away from the interstate.
http://www.jethrosdesmoines.com/
Woody's: Also in the Drake neighborhood. A little more standard BBQ menu. Jethro's is a more fun atmosphere.
Casual: Star Bar has good food and is pretty laidback. Small plates, burgers, sandwiches. Nice place for a good quick bite.
http://www.starbardsm.com
Dinner in Des Moines?
What's your travel route so we don't direct you too far off your path?
Please Help this LA Hound avoid a Chain Steak
We were in Chicago a couple weeks ago and had dinner at Primehouse and it was amazing. South-side filet was very good, but the 55-day aged ribeye was incredible. After hearing lots of raves about the crabcake appetizer, we tried that as well and I haven't stopped thinking about it since. Overall a great meal, and it was a busy friday night and they still offered a tour of the salt room.
Cuisine at Home--thoughts on subscribing?
I love it! The recipes are awesome, and I feel like I learn a lot from it. I keep all my issues too.
"Dirty" recipes that are crowd pleasers
My friends who have been transplanted to Iowa are consistently amazed/puzzled/frightened at what we do with casseroles here. :)
Best food finds at Costco? [old]
I can't remember the brand. The chicken breasts come in clear packaging with red and blue lettering. Unfortunately I remember even less about the whole chickens.
And I live in Iowa - hopefully that is helpful where my memory is not!
Best food finds at Costco? [old]
I have to agree about the chicken. We have absolutely loved all the red meat, fish, and shellfish we have purchased at Costco. However, the chicken just hasn't been as good. We have tried the whole chicken duo pack and the two-to-a-pack chicken breasts. It really lacks flavor and seems to cook up on the dry side.
"Dirty" recipes that are crowd pleasers
That sounds pretty good (tasty, not health-wise, ha!). I might have to give this one a go with the Easter ham this year.
"Dirty" recipes that are crowd pleasers
I left out my childhood favorite in my earlier post. I think the "recipe" came out of a cookbook my mom had in high school. They are sandwiches called Bacon Big Boys. You take a hoagie bun, top it with two hot dogs and a slice of american cheese. You then wrap the hoagie with a strip or two of bacon, secured with toothpicks, and bake them until the bacon is crispy. I haven't had one since I was probably 12, but I've been tempted to recreate them.
I also can't forget the little cocktail smokies cooked in a 50/50 mix of ketchup and grape jelly, though I also like to sub mustard for the ketchup.
At Christmas we always make Ritz cracker peanut butter sandwiches and dip them in a blend of chocolate bark and chips.
I'm trying to remember one of my aunt's veggie casseroles that is topped with crushed Chicken in a Biscuit crackers. I want to say it was carrots, but I'm not sure. Every Christmas at the grandparents we have hashbrown potato casserole that you make with cream of chicken, sour cream, and cheddar cheese, and topped with crushed cornflakes and butter.
I swear no one cooks like this outside the Midwest!
"Dirty" recipes that are crowd pleasers
My family has so many of these recipes.
The Velveeta dip - half loaf Velveeta, can of Campbell's cheddar cheese soup, and a can of Rotel, melted up and served with Fritos. The cheese soup keeps the Velveeta from congealing.
Shrimp spread - spread cream cheese on a platter, top with cocktail sauce and those little tiny salad shrimp. Scoop up with Wheat Thins.
White trash cookies - Melt white almond bark with some peanut butter, Add Rice Krispies, broken pretzel sticks, and salted peanuts. Drop onto wax paper and refrigerate. These are actually pretty awesome.
I could add pages to this thread - I love it!
Des Moines brunch and party time?
Did you like your previous visit to Centro? The same owners opened a new casual French place in the Hotel Fort Des Moines (downtown) called Django, it's worth a visit.
http://www.djangodesmoines.com/
I've heard that The Radish in Grimes has a good Sunday brunch. Grimes is a close suburb and the restaurant is easy to find. We haven't tried the brunch but have had great dinners there.
If you are looking for a very "Iowa" experience for a meat and potatoes dinner, The Big Steer in Altoona is pretty much awesome. Over the top decor down to the giant steer in front of the place, but the steaks have to be the best in the area. Reasonably priced as well, especially considering the portions.
Mason City- steaks
Everyone in that area is crazy about the Northwest. I ate there once, but I wasn't a big fan of red meat at the time so I can't say much about the experience. I just remember it being kind of a dive (in a good way) and insanely busy.
Cheddars Casual Cafe
Chicken fingers and battered shrimp are both awesome. I know, how can fried food not be good, but these really are. The little croissants with honey butter can be ordered as a side, which I find very addictive. I love that there are lots of side options beyond french fries. The lunch combos are good and really inexpensive. The BF likes the pot roast, though I don't know if it's that good or just something that I never make.
Best Chinese in Des Moines
They actually do have a Chinese menu as well. :) The Vietnamese food is my preference there (love the noodles), but the Chinese dishes have been very good. And it's run by a nice family, which is always a bonus.
Best Chinese in Des Moines
Have you tried Saigon Cafe on 86th? I haven't been for awhile but I always thought it was great. That place in Waukee is good - I think it's called Shanghai. It's strip mall Chinese but it's very good and at least they have some options beyond kung pao chicken and mongolian beef. Jade Garden in Ankeny has really good egg rolls.
Your favorite cocktail party snacks
Sounds odd, but seedless grapes (red or green) covered in bleu cheese and rolled in chopped pistachios are heaven. And a perfect single bite that pairs nicely with wine or cocktails.
This might be too heavy for your party, but I do empandas with a couple different chicken fillings for parties and people go crazy for them.
dsm - Gateway Market on Bon Apetit top 10 list
Great lunch spot. I love the chicken pesto sandwich, and the roast beef is pretty good too. I haven't been very adventurous with the menu. I really like the flavor of the potato pepper jack soup. The consistency is pretty light for a potato cheese soup. And there's a basket of sliced foccacia on the counter, which is awesome.
Too much pulled pork - HELP!!!
Not sure this will help get rid of that much, but I LOVE eggrolls with BBQ filling. Pulled BBQ pork, maybe a little cheese, wrapped and fried in a wrapper - so good! Dipped in a little spicy ranch I'm hungry just thinking about it.
My other thoughts -quesadillas, top a bbq-ranch salad, some carnita tacos, make an asian bourbon sauce and serve with some rice or noodles, slice into a lo mein, or toss into a stir fry. Unless you have like 30 people in your immediate family I would keep those freezer bags handy, but I think you can definitely get some meals out of it now.
Paula Deen Cookbooks
I like both of these too. Those gooey butter cakes are just out of control awesome. I've used many of the salad, side, and seafood recipes. I also have her book that's just desserts and it's not that great. My mom has one that's titled celebrations or entertaining, something like that. It's been out at least a couple years and is awesome.
Nebraska & Iowa - close to Interstate 80
Hmm, I thought they were open for lunch on Saturday but I could be mistaken. But I am usually by there during the week so who knows. The owner is incredibly nice. And when we've bought whole beef tenderloins and ribeyes he's cut them up for no extra charge, which is a godsend considering my butchering skills.
