review: reprioritizing life…

Sea Urchin-Caviar, Le Bernardin Le Bernardin, a friend and I concluded, is one of those restaurants that, despite it’s acclaim and fame, one doesn’t necessarily crave or clamour for. It’s one of those restaurants that, when you are there, you wonder why you haven’t thought of it more fondly, and more often. A meal at […]

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review: reprioritizing life…

Sea Urchin-Caviar, Le Bernardin Le Bernardin, a friend and I concluded, is one of those restaurants that, despite it’s acclaim and fame, one doesn’t necessarily crave or clamour for. It’s one of those restaurants that, when you are there, you wonder why you haven’t thought of it more fondly, and more often. A meal at […]

Continue

review: bait and tackle…

Antipasto: “Porri Selvatici” “There are no baby eels,” our server solemnly announced. I was crestfallen. But, only for a second. Good, that meant that I could order the “Fegatini di Pescatrice,” monkfish liver, as an antipasto. Or, did I want the “Fritti” – crispy halibut cheek? But it’s ramp season, and there was an entire […]

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review: bait and tackle…

Antipasto: “Porri Selvatici” “There are no baby eels,” our server solemnly announced. I was crestfallen. But, only for a second. Good, that meant that I could order the “Fegatini di Pescatrice,” monkfish liver, as an antipasto. Or, did I want the “Fritti” – crispy halibut cheek? But it’s ramp season, and there was an entire […]

Continue

review: a yawn revisited…

“Les Herbes” Last March, I heeled up to the counter at “McRobuchon” at The Four Seasons in New York and had myself one expensive yawn. At least, that’s how I characterized it in a blog post. But, that was a sensationalistically broad-stroked summary. If you read that post, you’ll see that L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon […]

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review: a yawn revisited…

“Les Herbes” Last March, I heeled up to the counter at “McRobuchon” at The Four Seasons in New York and had myself one expensive yawn. At least, that’s how I characterized it in a blog post. But, that was a sensationalistically broad-stroked summary. If you read that post, you’ll see that L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon […]

Continue

review: as good as it gets…

Jean Georges My fingers weren’t nimble enough. Failing reservations at momofuku ko, I was forced to fall back on my Plan B. Thank goodness I had a Plan B. Given all the trials and tribulations that Jean Georges seems to have undergone according to the various online food fora in the past half year, I […]

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review: as good as it gets…

Jean Georges My fingers weren’t nimble enough. Failing reservations at momofuku ko, I was forced to fall back on my Plan B. Thank goodness I had a Plan B. Given all the trials and tribulations that Jean Georges seems to have undergone according to the various online food fora in the past half year, I […]

Continue

review: collective swoon…

Over the past couple of years, I’ve witnessed married women, single women, young girls, gay men, grandmothers, and pets *swoon* at the sight, mention, thought, hint of Johnny Iuzzini. And, it’s usually accompanied by one collective and synchronized *eye roll* from husbands, boyfriends, and granddads (and me) nearby. Johnny Iuzzini Photos courtesy of Johnny Iuzzini […]

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review: collective swoon…

Over the past couple of years, I’ve witnessed married women, single women, young girls, gay men, grandmothers, and pets *swoon* at the sight, mention, thought, hint of Johnny Iuzzini. And, it’s usually accompanied by one collective and synchronized *eye roll* from husbands, boyfriends, and granddads (and me) nearby. Johnny Iuzzini Photos courtesy of Johnny Iuzzini […]

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review: the beautiful life…

Coppa-Crusted Rabbit Loin La Belle Vie I first enjoyed Chef Tim McKee’s cooking at Solera in Minneapolis in late 2004. I remember being astounded by his finessed flavors and innovative twists on Spanish tapas. I kept the menu from that meal and I recently dug it out to see what I had eaten. Even now, […]

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review: the beautiful life…

Coppa-Crusted Rabbit Loin La Belle Vie I first enjoyed Chef Tim McKee’s cooking at Solera in Minneapolis in late 2004. I remember being astounded by his finessed flavors and innovative twists on Spanish tapas. I kept the menu from that meal and I recently dug it out to see what I had eaten. Even now, […]

Continue

the twin city triplets…

This past Monday (March 24, 2008), three Minneapolis chefs were nominated for the James Beard Foundation’s Award for “Best Chef Midwest.” I am lucky to say that I ate at all three of their restaurants on a recent, butt-bitingly frosty visit to the Twin Cities. How’s that for foresight? Despite all good intentions to write about that […]

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the twin city triplets…

This past Monday (March 24, 2008), three Minneapolis chefs were nominated for the James Beard Foundation’s Award for “Best Chef Midwest.” I am lucky to say that I ate at all three of their restaurants on a recent, butt-bitingly frosty visit to the Twin Cities. How’s that for foresight? Despite all good intentions to write about that […]

Continue

review: a reunion at life…

Amuse Bouche: Brandade and Local Tomato Jam You know the gnocchi are good when the woman sitting next to you turns to her husband and says to him, “These gnocchi are nothing like yours! These are actually very good!!” And, all this time, she thought she hated gnocchi. To kick off my birthday weekend in […]

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review: a reunion at life…

Amuse Bouche: Brandade and Local Tomato Jam You know the gnocchi are good when the woman sitting next to you turns to her husband and says to him, “These gnocchi are nothing like yours! These are actually very good!!” And, all this time, she thought she hated gnocchi. To kick off my birthday weekend in […]

Continue

review: the wickedly good hour…

“Hush & Wonder” The Violet Hour I am a neophyte to wine. I’m even more green to cocktails. Believe it or not, I took my first (serious) sip of a cocktail about eight months ago. It was at Tailor. It is called The Crumble. It was very enjoyable. It is no longer (as of posting […]

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review: the wickedly good hour…

“Hush & Wonder” The Violet Hour I am a neophyte to wine. I’m even more green to cocktails. Believe it or not, I took my first (serious) sip of a cocktail about eight months ago. It was at Tailor. It is called The Crumble. It was very enjoyable. It is no longer (as of posting […]

Continue

review: hot diggity doug’s…

My friends and I were expecting a large meal at Avenues later that evening, so among the three of us (one being pregnant), we tried to be responsible and ordered 5 dogs (yet we still managed to hit a tacqueria on our way back) (You can see pictures of and read more about my lunch […]

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review: hot diggity doug’s…

My friends and I were expecting a large meal at Avenues later that evening, so among the three of us (one being pregnant), we tried to be responsible and ordered 5 dogs (yet we still managed to hit a tacqueria on our way back) (You can see pictures of and read more about my lunch […]

Continue