midwesthound's Profile
Telluride Food Scene
Just checked back into this string since we're heading to Telluride for film fest next week. Elyssa, did you like your spots? Didn't realize you booked at Hongas but hopefully you enjoyed it better than we did.
We'll be sticking with Rustico and Cosmos for better/bit more expensive more serious meals and Cocina de Luz and a thai spot on the west side of town whose name I always forget but which is surprisingly good.
Between the Covers is my pref for coffee over Steaming Bean hands down. There really aren't other options aside from those two that are coffee house places.
Unless anyone there recently can advise on places new in the last 10 months worth trying?
Best Denver Wine Stores/Bordeaux Futures?
What are Denver 'hounds favorite spots for high-quality French wines and futures? Most cities have 1-3 stores that really rise above the others for wine knowledge, chateaux relationships and value. Thanks!
Brief review of Dino
The food has gotten much more unpredictable. Portion sizes and quality.
Anyone been to Redwood Wine Bar in Bethesda?
We went for dinner earlier this week. Group of 4 adults and 1 teen. So we were able to try quite a few things, only some of which I'll remember for this post but I'll do my best. Have to post more quickly after a visit! Also some thoughts on the blog/soft open idea--first that.
Like everyone else, we were told when seated that it was a "soft open" but also that the point was they were "very interested in gathering input and feedback." Our waiter seemed very sincere about this and we also noted that it was explicitly written on the menu too. In retrospect, we really appreciated their idea of a soft open but think these guys could have really thought this through better in two respects, maybe 3:
1. If you're going to say you really want input/feedback, then follow through. After the initial statement by our waiter, he never raised it again and noone else on the staff ever asked how things went. There wasn't even a form to fill out. So have to call into question how much they really value customer input to get things more in line.
2. Soft opens work best with a screened group as opposed to the public at large. I think Enology, for example, got this right by setting up their soft open over email, using blogs to their advantage btw. The participants were very motivated and they really got and used input. Is the point of the soft open to begin ringing the cash registers asap without getting too much flack? Or is really to work out kinks?
3. We were not told by anyone not to blog or review but, if that really happened as someone posted, it's outrageous and not smart of the staff. Besides the value of buzz, you want people to feel comfortable talking and doing what they normally do. Have great food and a great experience and the blogs and talk will take care of themselves.
FOOD
Overall decent but with the expected significant number of issues. Some of these will no doubt be worked out (and we'll try it again) but others made us worry about the overall plan.
Among other things, we had mussels, a salad (forget the specific kind), whatever the special soup was (our friend’s son had that) and the soft shell crab as starters. The mussels were pretty disappointing for one simple reason: cooked at way too high a temp for too long. Whatever sauce was on them had been nearly obliterated and the mussels were dried out. The salad was okay—nothing memorable. The crab was probably the best starter at our table but was pretty small given the season so the flavor of the shell/skin was much more dominant than crab meat. Nice presentation though. A bit worried the place may end up being more about presentation than great food.
For mains, a pork chop was the standout. Thick, juicy and well cooked with a corn based crust. Everyone tried it and enjoyed it. Our friends ordered the special whole striped bass and all agreed it was average and, similar to the mussels, probably fired a bit too long. The steak, a locally sourced, grass-fed cut, was cooked properly and tasty. The waiter pointed out the accompanying sauce as a highlight (served in a small white ceramic pitcher on the plate) but I’d have sworn it was out of a bottle. Lighter colored than A1 but very reminiscent of another grocery brand whose name escapes me… Finally, we ordered a side of macaroni and cheese. Everyone at the table was a sucker for a good mac&cheese. Disappointingly basic at $8. Simple elbow macaroni in a little butter and lightly cheesed with some bread crumbs on top and baked. Compare to Central—different world altogether. We also had a pinot noir which the waiter (not sure they have a sommelier?) recommended. It was fine but, like a lot of the other things, not really special in any way. We didn’t order dessert since the dinner didn’t wow us but, next door, there’s a very cute Argentinian gelato place where the gelato was surprisingly good.
SERVICE
The service was a mixed bag. Our waiter was very charming but the kitchen clearly wasn’t helping him. We waited an inordinately long time for the starters and then the mains came out before we were half done with appetizers. He was very apologetic—sensed it probably wasn’t his fault.
We’ll be very curious to see what others think as Redwood gets its kitchen and service up to snuff. We’ll go back and try once more in a few weeks. It has potential but my biggest concern is really that this place is in over its head. It’s a huge and impressively designed space. They have to be paying a fortune in rent and staff. They’ll need large crowds willing to pay high prices (our bill came to nearly $450 with one of the least expensive bottles of wine) and, if the food doesn’t get better in design (not just the cooking temp challenges, which are easier to fix), portion and ingredients, it’ll be tough going.
Telluride Food Scene
That's it on the grocery store--thanks Deb.
Though have to weigh in a bit on the list. One person's opinion but, to me, it's more a list of most everything available (at least a high percentage of the places since Telluride is so small) versus a shorter list of the ones that really stand out.
For example, I'd have to agree with the previous imcneal on Baked in Telluride. We haven't found it to be "dirty" over the years but it is dark and pretty bare bones. More important--this is CH after all--we think it pretty mediocre even by Telluride standards. Guess the pizza and baked goods could be called "ok" but can't imagine saying it's great for all three meals.
Also, I have to call out Honga and disagree strongly with that recc. Honga has been in Telluride for many years and, just two or three years ago, moved from a side street to a much bigger location right on main street. They're trying to manufacture a scene big on trendy creativity but we found the result (went twice last year and again this year) to be hugely disappointing. Overly complicated food that really detracted from the flavors, high prices (yes, by Telluride standards) and wait staff with attitude. We won't go back
Telluride Food Scene
Elyssa--I travel to Telluride every fall for one of the festivals and would want to add a couple of places to your list. In town, both Rustico (Italian) and Cocina de Luz (Mexican) are worth visiting. Rustico is the best Italian in the town (admittedly not much competition); we go every time we're there. And, Cocina just has honest and tasty Mexican though they've expanded their space and increased prices some in the last few years.
Artemis: There actually is a larger, sort-of-like a hybrid WF/Trader Joes type grocery in Telluride. The quality isn't as consistently high as WF but probably at Trader Joes level without bring private label. Didn't see it mentioned except for the passing reference to one possibly in Mountain Village. If you take the gondola up to and past Mountain Village, to the last possible stop, you'll get out right in front of it. Can't remember the name but, after coming to Telluride for a long time, I was surprised to find a store of that size and quality in a town so small. Prices are better than the two small places in town; many of the locals shop there.
Almond cookies at T&S bakery at Farmers' Market?
On a recent business trip to LA, I "discovered" the farmers market on Fairfax downtown and loved it. Every city should have one.
I bought a few delicious almond cookies from Tbilisi & Yerevan (T&S) bakery that I've been searching everywhere online for to find a recipe. The cookies are relatively small, very thin and contain no flour. As best I can tell, the main and perhaps only ingredients were egg whites, sugar and almonds. I've tried calling them at the number listed online but never get an answer.
Does anyone else know these cookies and can help point me to a recipe for them somewhere?
Thank you!
Hairy Crab in Shanghai
Hi everyone,
We're in Shanghai for the first time in several years this week for the womens' world cup and have a pretty specific question we're hoping someone can help with. We've been all through the boards already doing research for this trip (xlb at jjtb today was fantastic--we'll likely do 2 or 3 times while here!) and headed to Xiao Nan Guo tonight.
Hairy Crab. We've read that this is one of several things to make sure to try when here in Autumn but then someone here at our hotel said it's still too early (which we're hoping isn't true since we're only here until October 1st).
Where would hounds recommend going for this? price isn't important. neither is decor/atmosphere. most interested in the best food (of course!).
And, is it really too early? If so, not worth getting?
Thank you.
MW Hound
Help in Bethesda?
interesting. looks like the search engine isn't too reliable. searching on Bethesda in the DC board or all of chowhound doesn't produce consistent results. Thanks for the tips--much appreciated.
Help in Bethesda?
only 3 or 4 strings came up when I searched and none from this board so most of the content was about non Bethesda topics and chain steak houses.
Help in Bethesda?
We're travelling in to the area this weekend for a conference in MD and will be based in Bethesda near the main commercial strips. We'll have a car also. Surprised to see not one listing on Chowhound about Bethesda--thought there were quite a few eateries there? Anyway, we're hoping to get some help on the best places to target. Any ethnicity is fine, pref for local places over national chains but more focused on the best food. Can be moderate or higher end. Walking distance from the main commercial area would be great but not at all required. Thank you!!
What do Chowhounds do for a living (besides eat of course)?
Mgmt consultant. Travel pretty extensively internationally. Have for years--hence, CH!
Help in Quebec City--Cafe du Monde & Poisson D'Avril?
Replying to my own post in case useful to others. We ended up heading up to QC this weekend and learned the following:
Cafe du Monde--very turistic with mediocre food in all respects. It is by the water and offers some nice views.
Monte Cristo @ Chateaux Bonne Entente Hotel--good but unexceptional. We had a dinner and Sunday brunch here. Chef is somewhat heralded but coudn't really verify other than the fact that her book was for sale in the gift shop. The food is good but tries a bit too hard to be creative. Brunch was better than the dinner. Service very friendly but not particularly attentive or professional.
Panache--hands down the best that we experienced. Beautiful converted stone warehouse with rough hewn beams overhead and delicious food.
Help in Quebec City--Cafe du Monde & Poisson D'Avril?
We`re heading to QC this coming week and are hoping to get some advice on the not-to-miss restaurants (regional cuisine and just great food with price and decor/view less important). There doesn`t seem to be a string on this for QC in the past two years.
Two places recommended to us are in the subject line above. Are they worthwhile? Any Quebecois hounds out there with a top-10 list? Any help welcome--thank you!!
Best PDX Oysters and Higgins Question
Hi, we're going to be travelling out to PDX in a few weeks and have gotten some great advice on places from this board already. We've so far booked at Murata and Higgins since we love sushi and thoughtful local/NW cuisine. I'm curious to know if anyone can answer two specific questions to help us round out our plans:
1. Where to go for Portand's best oysters? I've read the posting about Alberta Street Oyster Bar but they seem inconclusive. We're most interested in quality and, to a somewhat lesser extent, variety. Not price sensitive.
2. Would Higgins be described as higher end from an atmosphere perspective? Or is it more a basic, paper table cloth kind of place but with great, inventive food? I learned they serve a salmon dish almost every night (we love fresh wild salmon), using Alaskan King early in the season (April/early May) until the Oregon run supports all-Oregon King in summer? Is that as good?
Many thanks.
