Restaurants – Savor Every Byte

Bar La Grassa

I have been waiting for my opportunity to eat at BLG for too long. When you ask people in the Twin Cities where to get a really good meal BLG is always offered as a suggestion. This is not a surprise given that the Executive Chef and owner is a James Beard award winner. My sister and I share a birthday (exactly five years apart) and it served as the perfect occasion for a fabulous meal. Thankfully my mom did a lot of research online on what we HAD to have and ordered from there.

The menu is big but the descriptions are brief, everything looks good. I worked at three different Italian restaurants during college and AmeriCorps so I think I may have a leg up on deciphering the menu. I would definitely recommend ordering many dishes and sharing everything, but that is my suggestion for every restaurant. Most of the pasta can be ordered as a small or large order; get the small and try more of the menu. Everything we had was rich so sharing was essential as to not feel overwhelmed.

We started the meal with two bruschettas: the Roasted Shishito Peppers with Chocolate Tepenade and the Gorrgonzola Picante with Peperonata. And both were amazing. The chocolate added a lot of depth to the Shishito bruchetta. The Peperonata was roasted perfectly adding a lot of flavor.

Our second course consisted the Seared Sea Scallops with Black Trumpet Mushrooms, the ‘Nduja Egg Raviolo (recommended by the server), and the Smoked Spaghetti alla Chitarra with Brown Butter and Lobster.

They were all delicious but the ‘Nduja Egg Raviolo was the clear winner for that course … ALWAYS ask your server what to get. The yoke runs out of the filled fresh pasta and mixes with the spicy chili oil.

The third round was my favorite: Gnocchi with Cauliflower and Orange, Mushroom and Taleggio Agnolotti (also recommended the by the server), and the St. Louis Pork Ribs. HOLY CA-MOLY. All three dishes were knock outs!

I had to get the Gnocchi after this review from City Pages. I echo everything they say, I was nervous the dish would taste too strong of orange and it wasn’t the case. It was perfect.

The Agnolotti were little pockets of happiness each bite was rich and worth remembering.

The ribs were tender and some of the best tasting meat I have ever had.

I thought we had hit the crescendo of the meal, I thought the best was behind us. I WAS WRONG! The Salted Butter and Caramel Crespelle was heaven on earth. I wanted to crawl into the fetal position and lick the plate.

Going to Bar La Grassa? I would say, don’t leave without having the crespelle, the gnocchi, and the ribs.

Check it out!

800 North Washington Ave.

Minneapolis, MN 55401

612.333.3837

March 17, 2014

The Maine Event- Part 2

Bar Harbor, Maine Days 3-5

Day 3

The next morning we headed NE to Bar Harbor and if you are not in a hurry (you are on vacation of course you are not in a hurry), take the scenic route on U.S. 1. This beautiful coastal road will take you through every quintessential small Maine town along the ocean. Take time to get out of your car do some shopping, get a few bites to eat, and take in the scenery. Some pictures from our drive:

The staff at the Allagash Brewery recommended getting a picnic lunch and taking a hike up to Bald Rock. There are two different ways to get to the top of Bald Rock, the first is through the main entrance of Camden State Park, and the second is through the trailhead in Lincolnville. For more detailed information: http://www.mainetrailfinder.com/trail/camden-hills-state-park-northern-trail-network/. We took the trailhead from Lincolnville that has a parking lot.

I would say that this hike is pretty strenuous as it is 2.5 miles completely uphill. Most of the hike is on cleared large paths but at the end it begins to get steeper. If I can do it, I have no doubt it you and the end reward is worth it! Pictures really don’t do it justice but have a look anyways.

We then checked into our hotel, the Best Western Acadia Park Inn. I would highly recommend this hotel. The rooms were nice, it was a short drive from Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park, and the price was very reasonable. There are many motels along state highway 3 that seemed to be vacant as it was not “tourist season” but I it would take more investigating to find out their availability.

We settled into our hotel and then headed down to Bar Harbor for dinner. Generally I would describe the town as touristy but romantic, again we didn’t technically go at peak visiting time but there were a few cruise ships in town. We ate at Rupununi Restaurant that offered your typical Maine Fare. We chose the restaurant because we wanted to people watch on the patio. Erik had the Rueben burger with rosemary fries, I had the crab cake appetizer, sweet potato rounds, and “special sauce” green beans. It wasn’t the best meal in the world but it did the trick that night.

After dinner we shopped and wandered around the streets. It was another beautiful night.

Day 4

The next morning we visited Acadia National Park. That day was one of the most memorable days of my life. Acadia National Park has it all, beaches, forests, lakes, cliffs, and amazing views. We had one day at the park and once we got there we realized we could have spent a week there (we hope to in the future). We drove a long Park Loop Rd and visited the Sand Beach, Beaver Dam Pond, Jordan Pond House, and basked in the views atop Cadillac Mountain. To plan your visit:http://www.nps.gov/acad/index.htm

That night we wanted an authentic lobster boil. Side note: neither of us really love seafood but when in Rome. I believe everyone should go to a lobster boil on the side of the highway. We had no idea what we were doing when it came to us; it reminded me of dissecting something in science class except that you eat it at the end. But it tasted great and the price was reasonable.

That night we wandered around Bar Harbor again, got some pizza for our second dinner at Rosalie’s Pizza, and brought a bottle of wine back to our hotel.

Day 5

I had never seen a whale in the wild before our trip to Maine, and sadly I have still never seen a whale in the wild. This fact is sad, not because I deserve to see a whale in the wild or I am mad I paid a lot of money to see one and didn’t… but because our tour guides shared that normally the time we visited was prime whale viewing normally. But because of changes in water temperature (approximately 3 degrees higher that normal) the whale’s food was somewhere else changing their migration patterns.

On a bright note, we took a glorious tour through the Bar Harbor Whale Watch Co. and saw many seals and sea birds; it was very informative and beautiful. And because we did not actually see a whale our ticket is good for another free trip for as long as we live until we see a whale on their cruise (we will be back).

We slowly headed back to Portland, ME after our cruise, bellied up to the bar a the Great Lost Bear again and played some cribbage.

Day 6

We only had a little time in the morning but we made sure not to leave without checking out the brunch at Local 188 which was suggested over and over to us by our servers in Portland. It was amazing, do not leave Portland without eating there. My husband ordered one of the best bloody mary’s I have ever had and I had a delicious mimosa. For breakfast I ordered the Caribbean corned beef hash and my husband had the biscuits and gravy. You must go there.

In closing, I couldn’t recommend Maine for an awesome cost-efficient honeymoon. It was truly spectacular, and if you love food and craft beer it is perfect for you! Questions? Ask away!

January 19, 2014

The Maine Event- Honeymoon Sept. 2012

Part 1 of 3

For our honeymoon, my husband and I traveled to Maine. Why? Maine was recommended for a cost-effective romantic retreat that could be traveled in a week’s time. Our journey definitely matched that description and created lasting memories.

Day 1

Our first few nights were spent in Portland, Maine (which is where we flew into). As giddy newly-weds we crashed at a cheaper motel farther in from the water but we had a car so travel wasn’t an issue. The first night we walked down by the water, it was much colder than I had expected at night for September. We had dinner at a great pub with live music and tons of beer on tap. It was a Monday so there wasn’t a lot going on.

At Andy’s we really wanted a “Maine Experience” and asked the server what we just had to have (a common question I ask restaurant staff). We got a lobster roll with bacon and avocado, macaroni and cheese with hot dogs, and the fried poppin’ shrimp mixed with fried jalapenos. The server was awesome and gave some great suggestions of where we had to go and a synopsis of the town. Apparently the local population of Portland eats out more regularly than your average city, which makes the restaurant business a bit more competitive. It was not just building after building of touristy slop.

I like to do some research before I travel but while I am there I depend a lot on 3 things: recommendations, Yelp, and T.V. Food Maps. All signs pointed to The Great Lost Bear which was conveniently on our way to our hotel. The Great Lost Bear has over 60 beers on tap and a wonderful atmosphere to match. It reminded me a lot of Duluth, MN (where Erik and I met). Maine reminded me a lot of Napa but focused on beer not wine and 100% less pretentious… so nothing like Napa. But beer is everything and everywhere. Lots of micro-breweries and pubs everywhere and for someone in Minnesota who does not have access to most of these brands it was very fun. Again, we were met with hospitality which helped derive a plan for our second day in Maine.

Day 2

The next morning we headed back into the “downtown” area of Portland. We walked up and down Congress Street doing a bit of shopping and drinking amazing coffee from the Speckled Ax. If you want a unique coffee experience, go there. They use the fancy machines below to produce a pour over coffee. I think just the amount of time one person spent on it made my coffee taste better.

There are tons of shops featuring local artists and vintage pieces to fill our morning. We didn’t eat breakfast because we were saving ourselves for something very specific that had been recommended to us several times since our arrival.

Nosh Kitchen Bar, also on Congress Street, has everything your favorite sandwich place has but with a twist. I think I could have spent weeks conquering their menu but we came for something specific. The Apocalypse Now Burger ::DUN:: DUN:: DUNNNNN:::

This burger patty: beef chuck, beef brisket, pork shoulder, house-cured bacon, garlic and rosemary. Accompanied with American cheese, crispy pork belly, foie gras (if you have an opinion about that I don’t really care), mayo, and cherry jam all sitting beautifully atop a brioche bun. HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES??? The burger is 20 dollars and worth every penny (my husband and I split it).

But wait, you cannot just have a burger. You must have fries. Not just any fries… no, no, no. Bacon dusted fries. And if you are picturing tiny bacon bits you must alter you vision. The fries are perfectly coated with a powdery happiness that tastes exactly like bacon; in general it may be witchcraft.

We shopped around closer to the bay while waiting for our brewery tour appointment and I had to stop at Standard Baking Co. It was mentioned in almost every blog or news story I had read before going to Portland, ME. Because I have not self-control I ordered a sweet warm brioche, a savory cheese fougasse, and a baguette. Every bite was pure happiness.

We headed up to the Allagash Brewery, which is 15 minutes from the downtown area. I have been on a lot of brewery tours and usually I am just looking forward to the samples at the end. Allagash serves you samples at the beginning! Genius. The staff were beyond friendly and made the tour intimate vs. feeling like another number.

It was not quite time for dinner so we headed back down to the Portland Lobster Co. for more drinks and appetizers. I am sure this is exactly what most tourists do but the atmosphere was awesome, the view was great, and there was live music. What more could you as for?

For dinner, we stumbled upon a delicious dinner at Vignola Cinque Terre. Italian is a weakness of mine- I could eat it for every meal (especially breakfast). I had the Rigatoni Bolognese, which was perfect because it was chilly outside. My husband had a pizza because that is what he eats. The restaurant can be perfect for a formal dinner or you could keep it casual and eat at the bar like we did.

We spent the rest of the night wandering around the different piers enjoying the crisp night.

November 22, 2013

Butcher and the Boar

It would make sense that my first food blog is on my favorite restaurant, Butcher and the Boar. My life was first changed by this restaurant August of 2012 when I dined with three work friends. I have this category for the best restaurants that I eat at; I call them “remember every bite” restaurants. Butcher and the Boar is the poster child for a “remember every bite” restaurant.

While I didn’t document my first visit extensively, I do have this photo I took with my phone:

In this photo you see the ‘Smoked Beef Long Rib’, which I believe, is one of the two items you should not leave Butcher and the Boar without trying. It is a big shank of tender meat to be shared amongst the group.

Speaking of group, that is how I would suggest eating at this restaurant. Bring a group of friends who love to try different dishes and share. I watched a couple eat next to us and they ordered many items so they could try something from the various categories. They could hardly make a dent but had a ton of leftovers.

Before we jump too far into the menu, I’m thirsty. Let’s talk beverages. I am not a whisky person normally; I am not even a hard alcohol lover. It doesn’t matter though; you need to try some of their signature cocktails. Again, order a round a share it with everyone around the table. If you are a whisky lover, try a sampling of the large menu of bourbons.

On to the menu… Starters! The first visit, we started with the ‘Stuffed Jalapenos’, which have peanut butter in them. Weirdly delicious. On the second visit, we started with the ‘Duck Carnitas’ salad. It is smaller but a perfect first bite.

The courses tend to move from left to right but I focused both visits on the ‘Sausage’, ‘Meats’ and ‘Sides’ categories. I am sure their seafood is amazing but that is not why I visit Butcher and the Boar. THE NUMBER ONE ITEM YOU HAVE TO GET IS (drum roll) the ‘Berkshire Pork & Cheddar’. For both visits it was everyone’s favorite hands down (including me). I think there is a witch doctor in the back casting spells on the Berkshire. On the second visit we ordered the ‘For the Table’ sausage sampler, it included the ‘Wild Boar Hot Link’, the ‘Berkshire Pork & Cheddar’ and the ‘Texas Beef Link’… nom nom nom.

SAVE THE BERKSHIRE FOR LAST!

To the main course, like I mentioned previously I highly recommend the ‘Smoked Beef Long Rib’ being one of the items you order. That is not to take away from the scrumptious ‘Double Cut Berkshire Pork Chop’. It was smoky and flavorful, and reminded me of ham.

On the side, on the sides! You will have a difficult time choosing, pick your favorites and then try something out of your comfort zone. In the two times I have been there I tried the ‘Cheesy Corn Grits’, ‘Blackened Cauliflower’, ‘Cedar Planked Mushrooms’, ‘Red Hot Brussels Sprouts’, ‘Skillet Cornbread’ and the ‘Sour Cream-Chive Mash’. I never felt wronged. Out of this list I would suggest the ‘Cheesy White Corn Grits’ the grits were very smooth and not grainy, it was like having the best mashed potatoes ever.

I don’t care how full you are. Get some dessert! The first time we had a liquid cocktail dessert, it felt right at the moment but after tasting the ‘Chocolate Diablo Pudding’ I can admit not having dessert my first visit was a mistake 🙂

Check out Butcher and the Boar