Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Central 214, our 2nd restaurant week reservation!

What a great night!  Another tasty restaurant week to fill up our bellies with ups and downs.  We think it was great because of the people we had with us that night, great conversation, met new friends, chatted it up with old friends, laughed a lot, and ate everything up.


When we walked in we noticed a dimly lit orange color bar, a brightly lit open kitchen, and some comfortable sofas if you needed to wait a bit for your reservation.  The sofas we have to say were extremely comfortable!

As we looked through the menu we started out with a cocktail.  We ordered one of their specials, it had lemon, honey, passion fruit, and a liqueur which we do not recall what it was.  The drink looks beautiful but very very strong, we remember telling the waiter we wanted the drink to be light, but we got the opposite. One of our friends waited for her drink and never received it until we ate all of our appetizers, that was disappointing.  We almost tasted the whole menu that night!  Sadly, some of the entrees on the menu were sold out or was changed, and we got one of our orders wrong.


Here comes our appetizers!
The scotch egg sounded like a wonderful idea but it was not as great as the menu made it seem.  To be honest it just seemed like a regular hard boiled egg with a crust.  We found it under seasoned, over-cooked and probably wouldn't order it again. We left wondering what all the fuss was about when people raved about it.

The dinosaur kale on the other hand was delicious!  This totally surprised us and caught us off guard amongst the appetizers.  The kale was seasoned well, very tender, and the garlic flavor really came through.  The ricotta gave it some creaminess, the artichoke added to texture to the dish, the watermelon radish just tied the dish together.  This was much better than we expected after reading the description on the menu.

The Israeli melon with chorizo and manchego cheese was pretty awesome in its own right.    The melon was super honey sweet and juicy, the chorizo was just the right amount of saltiness and gave the dish a savory touch, and the manchego cheese was nutty and rich.  This was very a bright and refreshing highlight to our meal.

The star...Wagyu Carpaccio.  OMG YUM!  The beef literally melts in your mouth.  The duck egg was smooth and soft, when you dip the beef into the broken yoke, it was like a butter sauce coating the delicate silky beef.  The watercress was kind of in the way, but it gave the dish some texture and peppery notes, but to be honest the beef was so delicate, we could have done without it.



Our entrees were beautiful.  We would've tried the duck too but our waiter got the order wrong..unfortunately =(
The bavette steak was cooked to perfection.  The steak was moist, tender, and seasoned with just salt and pepper.  Very simple preparation but cooked to perfection.  The mash potatoes were rich and velvety, and the shaved fennel added texture and a brightness to the beef.  Overall a solid dish of meat and potatoes.

The red fish was delicate, fresh, and exquisite.  Also a very simple preparation, nicely seared fish with some herbs and the capers gave it a briny saltiness which we love.  The capers definitely added points for the fish.  The sauteed spinach was also cooked well, and not overcooked and mushy.

The handmade trompetti was the big entree surprise for the table, colorful and sensational in your mouth.  Even though it was a vegetarian dish, the pasta was surprisingly flavorful.  The pesto coated the pasta evenly, very fresh and bright.  The goat cheese and the mushrooms gave the pasta a very earthy and rich tone, they basically substituted the meat in the dish.  We all thought it would have been much better with some type of meat or seafood, but it was still delicious and nothing was left on the plate.

The slow cooked goat brisket was pretty tasty.  To be honest some parts of it was lacking a little bit of fat, its either that, or they just did not handle the cooking temperature correctly and they just got dried out.  We couldn't tell because it was coated with their sweet BBQ sauce.  The parts where there is some fat left was moist and tender, but the part without the fat was kind of dry.  The avocado slaw was tangy and creamy from the avocado, and the corn bread was actually not bad, still had some moisture to it.


DESSERTS MMMMMMMMMMM!
Unfortunately they ran out of the honey lemon cake, but luckily they substituted it with a delicate flan.  The flan was one of the best we have had. The flan had a good egg flavor, delicate, and soft.  The caramel and the pecan added texture and sweetness.  The caramel was not so thick that it stuck to your fork, but light and smoothly covered the flan.  The garnish was little champagne grapes which were tasty and helped cut the richness.  This dessert was YUM!

The chocolate cake was a beauty.  We have no idea why they called it a ugly pug chocolate cake.  This was very rich and kind of hard to eat after a big meal.  It was good, but compared to the flan, it did not compare.  But the cake was moist, and if you really like chocolate cake, you would like this.  The chocolate cake was coated with a thin chocolate shell and covered with Chantilly cream. The cake was very dense and almost an adult version of a Hostess Ding Dong.

Last but not least, the green tomato pie.  A very interesting dessert if you ask us.  Have you ever had a green tomato pie?  Definitely worth a try.  This kind of tasted like a regular green apple pie if you had your eyes closed and didn't look at the menu.  The chevre ice-cream was also pretty good.  A light way to end because it was sweet and tart, which didn't make it feel too heavy to eat.

Overall the food was tasty, the ambiance was nice, decor was pretty, but the service was not great at all.  They got our orders wrong, ran out of several things, and at the end of the day, our checks were incorrect and the waiter looked pissed off...you would think you would get better service for a high end restaurant in a high end hotel,  but we were wrong.  We would rate this place a 6/10 for bad service, good food, interesting menu, and nice trendy environment.

Central 214
5300 E Mockingbird Ln
Dallas, TX 75201

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

The Landmark, Restaurant Week 2012

Welcome to Restaurant Week.  We have been anticipating this special week of 3 course meals at fancy restaurants for a while now.  We were anxious to share this special event with special people.  We brought two along with us this time!  Our foodie motto is, sharing is caring =)

We were welcomed by their extensive wine selection, beautiful lighting, and a simple table setting.

We almost tried their whole menu.  The only thing we didn't get to try was their pan seared striped bass and their watermelon salad.  We got a snap shot of their special summer cocktails for you all to enjoy.  As we waited eagerly for our food we nibbled on some of their dinner rolls.  Our favorite was their rosemary dinner roll with creamy butter.  We must mention that their service was not as great as we were expecting for such a nice place for restaurant week.  We had to ask for the dinner rolls which should have been brought over automatically but we waited and waited, until we got impatient and just asked for it. Even for a restaurant week event, the place wasn't even close to being at capacity. 

We started our with some cocktails and a complimentary amuse-bouche which was made from pureed chilled peaches.  This was a very clean and sweet concoction.  Then comes our starters!
We forgot to get a picture of the ceasar salad.  But it was well made and our favorite part, the Parmesan crisp...we simply loved the cheesy saltiness.  

The scallops were seared perfectly.  They were caramelized, sweet, and tender.  The pearl couscous was actually a great pair against the star scallop.  The eggplant was a pretty garnish but didn't add much to the dish flavor wise. 

The crispy quail was our favorite. The quail was fried to perfection, crispy and a bit sticky on the outside because of the kumquat marmalade, and moist and oozing with quail juice on the inside.  The kumquat marmalade kept the dish light and made you want to eat some more.  The quail paired wonderfully with the quinoa and peas.  The quinoa and peas gave the dish a textural contrast.
Our entrees were all DELICIOUS!

The lamb was excellent.  You can tell the lamb was of a higher grade quality.  It had the good lamb flavor that all true lamb lovers love.  The lamb was cooked right, pink on the inside.  We didn't care much for the white bean ragu though, it kind of got lost and totally played second fiddle when compared to the lamb. 

The pork belly pasta was to die for!  The fattiness and plump pork belly went really well with the pasta.  The freshness and earthiness of the mushrooms, basil, and sage rounded up the whole plate.  The dish as a whole meshed really well together.  We didn't let the sauce go to waste...we soaked our rosemary dinner roll in the sauce...DROOL!  This was one sexy dish.

The short ribs was also very tasty.  The cherry demi glaze kept the dish light and cut through the richness, this is just another great sweet and savory pairing.  We did yearn for a bit more fattiness in the short ribs though.  The mash potatoes were buttery, velvety, and smooth with a wonderful shallot flavor.  We wished we had the mash potatoes with our lamb.  The carrots were the fresh yellow and orange petites   

Our desserts...outstanding!

The peach napoleon was awesome!  The peaches were fresh, sweet, and still retained some of its crisp.  The phyllo dough was a great change from the ordinary puff pastry you would expect.  The phyllo dough made the peaches shine because its not covered by all the pastry.  The burnt honey chevre actually gave the sweetness of the dish some savory and creaminess.  

The banana creme brulee was our favorite.  The top was brittle and cracked open to the touch.  The inside was silky banana heaven!  You can tell its full of pureed banana and not the fake banana flavoring.

The strawberry tower with Godiva chocolate cake was delightful.  The chocolate wasn't too sweet, it was just right.  The coconut mousse has bits of shaved coconuts in there and combines well with the strawberry sauce and chocolate cake.  The strawberry sauce gave the dessert some tartness and cut through the sweetness.  

Overall the meal was delicious from start to finish.  We were a little disappointed with the service considering this is a high end restaurant which comes with a higher price tag but overall we had a wonderful time!  We would rate this restaurant a 7.5/10 for its quality of ingredients, flavor, preparation and atmosphere.

The Landmark
3051 Oak Lawn Ave
DallasTX 75219

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Swan Oyster Depot, a casual, no-frills joint for seafood lovers

Our trip to California was driven by Anthony Bourdain's recommendations.  Swan Oyster was our top pick of them all.  If you want exceptionally fresh seafood...COME HERE!  To be honest, this place is simple...just really fresh seafood, they have a great raw bar selection.  Tip:  Remember to bring CASH and expect a long wait or you can do it like us and take it to go.


We didn't make it here on our first day of arrival because they close at 5:30pm but because they are always so packed and they do plan on leaving on time, they start kicking people out with a complimentary tall glass of beer at around 5pm.  You have to understand this restaurant is literally a narrow alley, there are only around 10 stool seats inside.  But...we actually really loved our plan because we got to have 2 great people join us for our feast...I am talking our last meal, breakfast, which was a fantastic seafood feast, picnic style!  The warm hospitality, friendly people, and the happy faces you see at Swan Oyster Depot is unmistakable.  We were greeted with a complimentary freshly cracked crab claw...MmMmMmMm =)  You can truly feel they LOVE their job, which makes you feel really good as a customer to know that they love serving you and they adore what they are doing.  


We ordered 3 different type of raw oysters (super plump and juicy), shucked sweet crab meat (very convenient when you are eating picnic style and we watched them shuck them), and a scrumptious seafood salad packed with crab meat and shrimp.  
Our star and what we truly came for was this crab head filled with crab brains...OMG drool!  It has a very rich, buttery, and ocean saltiness to it that is unmistakable and irreplaceable.  When you dip your sourdough bread into this pool of golden goodness...seriously you will be speechless.  We all were!

Overall this place was mouthwatering.  The freshness and quality of the seafood was fantastic, the price was reasonable, and the hospitality was welcoming.  Other than the wait and their odd hours of operation, we really didn't find anything to complain about.  We would give this place a 9/10 and we would definitely come here again if we go to San Francisco.  This place is truly a foodie landmark, in a city full of foodie landmarks.

Swan Oyster Depot
1517 Polk St
(between California St & Sacramento St) 
San FranciscoCA 94109

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Bolsa, an ever changing menu full of surprises!

Brunch...this is what we do in Dallas.  Just thinking about the brunch we had the other day makes us drool.  Bolsa is a very cool place, very modern, laid-back atmosphere, and a bit unique.
When the weather is cool, it is actually pretty nice to sit outside on their patio for brunch, but it is very hot in Texas right now, so we were very happy we got seated inside where its cooler and has AC.  Usually when you come here, expect a wait, there usually is a line and limited parking.  Remember they do not take reservations and they do not seat incomplete parties.  We got lucky this time though, no wait, and got great parking!  

Bolsa's menu changes every time we come and so does their drink menu.  Their menu changes with seasonal ingredients.  Meaning you can always expect a different variety of bruschetta tastings, you just don't know what you are going to be getting on it.  They do have a limited menu selection for both their drink and food though.  
We came here for brunch because we have been craving their Bruschetta tasting for the longest time.  Oh my, this was satisfying and pretty!  This time the combination was sweet tomato with buratta cheese and basil, then cantaloupe, white bean chorizo, and smoke salmon with creme fraiche and pickled onions on top.  We liked the tomato the most (the tomatoes were super juicy and sweet), then its the salmon (its just good smoked salmon), following the chorizo (the white bean and chorizo combo was interesting), and lastly the cantaloupe (its just very clean but the cantaloupe was nothing too special). This was delicious though, fantastic start!

For our entrees we ordered the braised Berkshire pork shoulder and their steak and egg sandwich.  
The steak and egg sandwich had Texas skirt, padron peppers, onions, fontina cheese, fried egg & siracha aioli.  This was very savory...YUM!  The ciabatta bread was soft yet chewy, perfect for soaking up all the soft egg yoke and steak juice.  The pickled peppers gave the sandwich a good crunch texture and help cut through the richness.  The steak was tender and dripping with steak juice.  Once you pick up the sandwich, you are not going to want to put it down.  The sandwich also came with a nicely dressed cranberry almond salad and freshly cut potato chips.  The chips were awesome!  The chips were paper thin and super crispy.

The pork shoulder was heavenly!  Our mouth has been watering for more ever since.  They changed it up a bit, the menu says that it was suppose to come with pickled cabbage, but instead they made it with purple corn chowder this time.  Oh...this was way more surprising and much better a combination than the pickled cabbage!  The purple corn was crisp, fresh, and sugar sweet!  The sauce was rich and melted with the meat.  The meat was perfectly cooked, pulls apart but still has a bite.  And do I still need to rant about the egg?   Look at the picture...its beautiful!  If you get a bite with the egg, the meat, corn, and sauce...you will feel like you are in paradise.  

The brunch was amazing this time.  We were really lucky, like I said no wait, got great parking, and the food was just gratifying.  Normally we would give this place a 6.5 just because of the limited menu and the service is just okay but today it really deserves a 7.5/10 for taste, ingredients, and no wait in line.  

Bolsa
614 West Davis
Dallas, TX, 75208

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Lobster rolls are good, ok to skip the rest, Sea Breeze Fish Market

We think about this place when we crave lobster rolls or grilled smelts (which they did not have this time).  This place has everything from crab cakes, mussels, sandwiches, to take home seafood goodies.


They do serve alcohol if you are in need of a booze.  This time when we went, we couldn't help but notice the giant scallops you can buy from their fish market offerings.  The atmosphere is is very relaxing and comfortable.  We love this spot for a casual seafood lunch.  If you are just in need of some fresh seafood to take to go, this place can also help with that.  I have to warn you though its not the most affordable selection but the seafood does look fresh and the quality is probably better than what you can get at Whole Foods.  


We started out with their seafood salad.  We loved it.  The salad had all the ingredients we both love.  A generous portion of crab meat and big shrimps dressed with a creamy mayo base sauce, hearts of palm, briny capers, sweet tomatoes, purple cabbage, and crisp mix lettuce.  The vinaigrette was snappy and cool, very refreshing on a hot summer day.  The seafood was very fresh.  Everything about this salad was delicious and definitely a great way to start.  
Our main entrees was of course the Lobster Roll with hush puppies and our choice of their potato salad and rice pilaf, and their Avocado Shrimp BLT with fries and herb spaghetti squash.  

The Lobster Roll was filled with luscious lobster meat in the buttery crisp roll on the out side and soft on the inside roll.  Unfortunately the sides were lacking in flavor and incomparable to the goodness of the lobster roll.  The rice was not a rice pilaf.  It was dry, flavorless, and not worth eating. It tastes like Uncle Ben's brown minute rice. The potato salad was bland and not the creamy or smooth texture you would like.  On the other hand, the hush puppies were excellent!  They were loose yet crunchy but soft inside, very nicely done.

The Shrimp BLT was okay.  Shrimp was fresh, bacon was crispy, and avocado was creamy as it should be.  The ciabatta roll was good but the sandwich as a whole was missing something to pull it all together.  We added some tarter sauce to give it some richness and flavor.  The fries were well made, not too oily, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.  The spaghetti squash was buttery, the feel of it in your mouth was good, a different kind of crisp but still under seasoned.  

Overall the meal definitely had its misses.  We found many of their sides lacking in flavor and the quality of ingredients (especially the rice) is not up to par.  On the other hand if you are coming for the Lobster Roll, we highly recommend, but everything else was just okay or left on the plate for us.  We would give this place a 5 out of 10.  

Sea Breeze Fish Market
LakeSide Market Center
4017 Preston Rd, Ste 530

PlanoTX 75093