The Holy Grail of Bloody Marys (and it's not Ike's)

A favorite restaurant of ours in Minneapolis is Ike's Food and Cocktails.  Their pre-game brunch is just the ticket ahead of a Twins or a Vikings game, but that's not even their best.  Their best is their bloody mary, which is a meal in a cup:

While this concoction is absolutely the best bloody mary in the Twin Cities, unfortunately it can't hold a candle to this:

Yes, that is really a cocktail that is being sold (by Sobelman's in Milwaukee), and yes, it is garnished with a fried chicken.  A full fried chicken.  

Which naturally makes me "think" of this:

Sorry, Ike's, I love you, but you got some work to do...

Republic Chophouse Review - Go There When the Green Bay Packers Don't

After a really long week, my wife and I went to Republic Chophouse for an early Friday dinner to relax, reconnect, and talk about the week past.  We really enjoy Republic and feel it is clearly Green Bay's nicest steak restaurant.

Since it was the Friday night of the deer opener weekend and nearly half of the population was headed for the woods, we felt we should be able to get in without any kind of reservation.  Judging by the open parking lot we spied upon our arrival, we liked our chances.

We were greeted by the cheerful maitre d, who informed us there would be about an hour wait for a table.  Peering beyond him into the dining room, we noticed empty table after empty table.  None of them were filled. 

Figuring there must be a big party coming in that just had not arrived yet, we accepted the offer to sit at a table in the bar, which was comfortable, but loud.  The bar location also afforded a great view of the front door, and as our evening progressed, the large party we envisioned never materialized.  We talked about it through dinner, and wondered what the heck was going on.

About an hour after our arrival, I noticed Packers linebacker (and our neighbor five doors down) A.J. Hawk and his family head toward the front door from the dining room. 

Really?  Nobody could sit in an ample dining room because a Packer and his family were eating there?  While we had an OK dinner, did we really have to sit in the bar because of that?

Evidently, in Green Bay, where the team is royalty, the answer is yes.

Chives Restaurant, Green Bay's Finest - Kitchen Table Review

My wife and I recently had dinner at Chives Restaurant - one of Green Bay's finest.  We leveraged a gift certificate that my team had given me for Christmas, and took advantage of Chives' "kitchen table" experience. 

And what an experience it was.  

Basically chef sets you up in a corner of the kitchen (next to his cook books as you can see in the picture) and then proceeds to feed you course after course of small bites. 

For this evening, we were presented with the following: 

• An oyster trio, featuring one raw, one baked with a smoked cheese base, and one fried with a pepper sauce. 
• A plate of poached asparagus in a light lemon sauce and fresh goat cheese. 
• Freshly caught whitefish (from the chef himself!) that were poached perfectly
• An incredibly well prepared seared scallop course with parsnip puree
• A grilled chipotle beef tenderloin with an accompany of French fried blue onion
• Bananas Foster, with homemade cinnamon ice cream 

The dishes were creative yet delicious, complex yet tasty, casual yet formal, all at the same time.  The dinner could not have been any better.  And for someone like me that has never been in a professional kitchen in the middle of service (beyond what I've viewed on Hell's Kitchen), it was as much a learning experience as it was gastronomic nirvana. 

Hat's off to owner/chef J.R. and the rest of the crew.  Our chef's table experience at Chives could not have been any better.  It has our highest endorsement.

Restaurant Reivew - Lotus Asian Restaurant, Green Bay

I love Thai food.  More than that, I LOVE Pad Thai.  The only problem is that a Pad Thai recipe is a lot like a Bloody Mary recipe - when it is good it is outstanding, but when it is bad (which is more often than not), the disappointment lessens a nice time out. 

When I was here in Green Bay on my own last fall, I ordered take-out Thai from a local restaurant (which will remain nameless), and the Pad Thai I received was nearly inedible.  I began to wonder if Green Bay had a good solution for Thai food, when I happened to drive past the Lotus Asian Restaurant off of Military Avenue. After cajoling my wife for a couple of weeks (she's not a fan of very spicy food), I finally got her to agree to go there to dinner with me last night.  Judging by other reviews I've read on the place, I held out hope that this would be my Thai restaurant solution in Green Bay. 

We started with an order of Thai Spicy Wings, which were the prefect combination of spice, heat, crunch, and flavor.  Just these alone were worth the trip, but for me the true test was ahead.  Fortunately, the Pad Thai more than passed the test - it was outstanding.  Not the best I ever had, but easily in the top five.  Just a great mix of spice, heat, and a hint of sweet.  I also ordered the Pad Prik Khing, a spicy green bean dish, which was done perfectly, with the green beans retaining some crunch, while making my nose run due to the spicy heat.  My wife ordered a traditional Chinese meal of Cashew Chicken which was also very, very good. 

Portions were large (we came home with two containers that will be at more than one more meal for two), and the service, while a touch slow, could not have been more friendly.  It felt great to be in a place with such welcoming, happy, and friendly folks.  The restaurant itself is a touch small, but well appointed, complete with a small bar and flat screen TVs for the sports fan.  Also, they do deliver, so that's an option as well. 

Overall, it was a really nice evening out, and will likely be added to our restaurant rotation.     

Bistro on Broadway Restaurant Review

Over the weekend we ate at the recently opened Bistro on Broadway in De Pere.  What a nice little place!  Ambiance is that of a foodie-wine bar, with limited but cozy seating.  The only wrinkle was that the music overhead was a bad match – while I like Stevie Ray Vaughn a ton, he really didn’t fit the atmosphere. 

They offer a full bar, and their wine list is small, but has some good options at an OK, if not a slightly spendy price.  But the real winner for the evening was the food.  My wife had a pressed chicken breast in a rosemary cream sauce, while I had a perfectly done strip steak with steamed broccoli and rosemary potatoes.  Portions were generous without being ridiculous, and were priced appropriately.  Service was a tad slow, likely due to the laid-back nature of the place. 

Overall, we had a very enjoyable experience, and will definitely be headed back.  It reminded us both of our favorite foodie restaurant from home – Terra Waconia.  We’re still making our rounds in the Green Bay area, but for us this clearly was the area’s second best dining experience. 

Well done, Bistro on Broadway.  We’ll see you soon.

Brett Favre's Steakhouse Restaurant Review

Last night we attended Brett Favre's Steakhouse here in Green Bay.  It kind of aspires to be a top steakhouse (waiters in the white coats, meat choices presented on carts, etc.) but is kind of a cheaper version.  For example, the dining room lamps don't fit the room, the steaks are all USDA Choice, the wine list (even the reserve list) lacks vintage information, etc. 

That being said, we had an enjoyable dinner.  I started with a mediocre French onion soup (the onions were undercooked), moved to a tasty bone-in ribeye, accompanied by some very good mushrooms and creamed spinach.  My wife enjoyed a good New York strip. 

I'm ordinarily not a dessert person, but our waiter went on about their pasty chef and how he cranks fresh stuff out every day, and my better half was sold on a sweet even before the waiter's pitch, so we ended up sharing a piece of the carrot cake.  If you go to this restaurant, absolutely save room for dessert.  It was, by far, the best part of the meal.  The cake was incredible - moist, with the perfect mix of golden raisins, coconut, and carrots, and an outstanding cream cheese frosting.  It was probably the best piece of carrot cake I've eaten.  Outstanding. 

Just because it's been talked about so much lately, we close with a gratuitous  photo of Brett Favre's meat.  

I'm not sure what the big deal is...

Terra Waconia - Wine Dinner Review

Last week we attended Terra Waconia's first Wine Dinner. Chef Craig's focus was on really letting the fresh, locally grown food carry the day, so seasonings and sauces were held back a touch to let food itself really show through. Tracy developed the wine pairings, and overall things were a home run.

Here's a review of the dinner:

1st Course - Tomme chesse with olives, honey, and almonds paired with Eric Bordelet organic cider. While we didn't expect to see a cider with a wine dinner, the sparkling start worked very well with the sweetness of the honey and salty olives.

2nd Course - Chicken heart, mellon and veggies paired with Blue Cove Viognier. The Viognier was just OK at its coldest and alone, but once warmed a bit and taken with the chicken it worked better than I thought it would. I'm not a big organ guy at all, but the fresh heart was surprisingly tasty.

3rd Course - Crios Rose of Malbec paired with a fresh vegetable plate. The Rose was clearly the wine surprise of the night. A great bottle to have while sitting on the deck on a summer night. Outstanding.

4th Course - Domaine de Font Sane Cotes du Ventoux paired with lamb ribs. On this course, Craig completely knocked it out of the park. Simply the best lamb I've ever eaten, and by a long, long shot. Literally pick up the bone and gnaw on it good.

5th Course - Bodegas Olivares Monastrell "Altos de la Hoya," paired with beef tenderloin. Chef Craig solicited some groans from the room when, in introducing this dish, described that he actually met the cows we'd be enjoying, but folks, that's where food comes from. The meat was fork-tender, done perfectly and the wine big enough to really compliment the wonderful red meat.

6th Course - Broadbent Rainwater Madeira paired with fig tart with blue cheese ice cream. When I saw this one on the bill of fare, I figured this would be the one course that would not appeal to me. I couldn't have been more wrong. We'd tasted the Madeira previously, and thoroughly enjoyed it so I knew I'd be OK there. But figs? Blue cheese ice cream? Well, count me among the converted. The fig tart was incredible, and the ice cream obscenely rich and flavorful. You wouldn't want to eat much more than a tablespoon, but those bites are really outstanding.

Overall, it was an superb inaugural wine dinner for our favorite restaurant. We can't wait for the next one.

Terra Waconia - Another Fantastic Night

I know I gush a lot about this restaurant, but Terra Waconia is not a unique restaurant. My wife and I headed there last week for some conversation and some outstanding cooking. We weren't disappointed in any way.

First, we were thrilled to try a new addition from Parely Lake winery, a very tasty Frontenac Gris. We started the dinner with the requisite order of mussels, and were fortunate enough to have the co-owner/chef poke his head out and promise to "kick the order up a notch." Consider that pitch hit out of the park. The broth was equal parts richness and spice that made for an incredible start. We then moved onto entrees - mine being fabulous pan fried walleye served over a bed of pureed parsnip, while my wife had an expertly prepared chicken with mashed potatoes and grilled carrots that were painfully good.

As we enjoyed our meal and conversation, the table next to us posed a riddle to anyone in earshot. Multiple tables participated in tossing out answers, and your faithful scribe landed upon the right answer. A new and similarly constructed riddle was floated, and I happened to be the first to derive the answer to that as well. Our neighbors at the next table congratulated us on the answers, and demanded to buy us dessert as a reward. Despite protests (and, yeah, we didn't protest too hard - we're talking about dessert here) our new friends placed an order for us, paid their bill and left.

My wife and I continued our conversation, and the evening slowed down, which afforded chef Craig to come out again to talk. His passion for what is being done at Terra Waconia is clear, as evidenced in a story he told about a local strawberry grower and the different varietals of berry that were available. He later escaped to the kitchen and came back with a sample of two such varietals, and we were amazed at the distinct differences between the fruits. The picture shows the tasting presentation (post taste), along with our delicious creme brulee reward.

Simply another great evening at this fabulous restaurant - great locally grown and passionately prepared food, delicious locally grown wine, hearty conversation (either at your table or with others), and personalized service that is a rarity. Go see Tracy, Craig, and crew.

Restaurant Review - Terra Waconia (with Help from Parley Lake Winery)

After a long and energizing day, Vera and I needed some quiet time to talk, and immediately going to Terra Waconia for dinner became the obvious choice. We happened to pick a great night to go, on a number of different reasons.

We started out with the usual order of mussels, which continue to just be incredible. For entrees, I had a beef fillet that was so tender and so well prepared that I was able to cut it with my fork. Seriously. Despite my incredible meal, Vera actually out-ordered me as she had a buffalo steak that was so flavorful that it rivaled the best steaks we’ve eaten. It was so good, she confessed late in the meal, that if there weren’t people around she would have picked up the bone and started gnawing on it. Despite the big meal, Vera still had a sweet tooth, so things got topped off with warm apple bread pudding in caramel sauce and homemade ice cream that tasted as good as it sounds. Kudos to the team – dinner was outstanding.

As we lazily continued our conversation, we ended up being the last table in the restaurant. A couple of tables away, one of the owners/chef was meeting with a local winery, Parley Lake, and was conducting some barrel testing for future wine list inclusion and a possible wine dinner. Since things were quiet, the owners asked if we wanted to join them and the owners of Parley Lake for our opinions on their barrel tasting. Wow!

We eagerly joined the table, enjoyed some really incredible wine, and as you can see by the photo, had some great conversation about wine making, food pairing, and life in general. We’ve not been to Parley Lake yet, but guarantee that we’ll be there when their season opens later in the year. Overall, for a random Wednesday night, we had just a wonderful and special night.

We’re very lucky to have such a great restaurant (and winery!) in Waconia.  Even if it was not in our back yard, it is worth the drive.  Especially on a random Wednesday night.

Best Place for Twins Pre-Game Meal - Ike's Food and Cocktails

Prior to heading to our first game at Target Field, Vera and I stopped off at Ike's Food and Cocktails in downtown Minneapolis for their famous pre-game brunch. We started out with their requisite Bloody Mary, which is a meal in itself. It comes garnished with shrimp, cheese, beef stick, celery, pickle, onion, black olive, green olive, green bean, lime, and pepperoncini. The drink was spicy and tasty, and the beer chaser was a great accompaniment.

The brunch starts with a caramel roll that, according to the menu, is "as big as your head." As you can see by the picture, they don't exaggerate. The next course includes eggs made to order, pancakes, hash browns, sausage, bacon, and toast. All are delicious, and brought to your table by a smiling waitress that will continue to bring it out until you tell her to stop. Topped with a fresh-baked and still hot mini cookie served with the bill, and we had easily had consumed both breakfast and lunch (and maybe even a good chunk of dinner) prior to the first pitch.

All in, breakfast and drinks cost us less than $60. Fun atmosphere, great people, and close location to both the Dome and Target Field make Ike's Food and Cocktails a perfect place for a pre-game load up.

Carnegie Deli and Death by Reuben

I stopped by the renowned Carnegie Deli yesterday for lunch - my first time at this New York landmark. I just love deli food, and getting into a Reuben from a place with such a long-standing reputation had me waiting with gastronomic desire.

That’s when the waiter brought this:

I tried to add something to the picture (via the pickle) to offer up some prospective of its size. The picture still doesn’t do it justice.  This sandwich covered a platter, and was piled about four inches high. It was Reuben enough for Charles Barkley and four of his fat buddies.

Despite its girth, I gave a run at it. I made it to just beyond the halfway point when I finally had to utter a Roberto Duran-like “no mas,” which was kind of foreshadowing, as that is exactly what my brain was telling my body in its quest for a nap at about 2:30.

At $22 for this monster, I still feel like I was ripping them off.

Terra Waconia Restaurant Review

While we were quite saddened by the demise of The Green Room, we were heartened to hear that the restaurant would soon reopen as "Terra Waconia," and would retain much of the staff and menu favorites that we've come to love.

We stopped in last Friday, and immediately noticed a number of subtle changes in room decor that really added to the ambiance of the place. The room just felt more warm.

We were put off a little that printed menus don't exist - the only accounting for the bill of fare was a chalkboard behind the bar. It was nice to see some old favorites (Brussels sprouts and mussels were just two examples), but were really put off that a seafood dish wasn't available. Hello - it's a Friday night during Lent, and there's a reason why McDonalds is running all of those Fillet-o-Fish ads. Because of this, we actually got our coats back on and headed for the door.

Prior to leaving, my wife stopped by to tell the waitress the reason behind our departure. She immediately sped over and apologized for no letting us know about the sole special, and that got us to remove our coats and sit back down.

My wife started with the fig salad and I did the mussels, and both were wonderful. The sole was indeed special, and the entire evening turned out to be a good one.

While they still appear to have some bugs to work out, it was nice to get back to getting a great meal in Waconia. We will continue our support, and wish them well.

The Green Room Waconia Restaurant Review - Belgian Beer Dinner

Last week my wife and I attended the special Belgian beer dinner held at The Green Room, our favorite local restaurant here in Waconia. For those that have not been out here for lunch or dinner, you are missing out on a fabulous restaurant. The chef is incredibly talented, the menu diverse, the wine list functional, and the service top notch. This is a Minneapolis quality restaurant in little Waconia, and we're so lucky to have this jewel in our back yard.

Every month or so the restaurant does a wine dinner - a multi-course dinner accompanied by a specific wine for that course. We've attended a number of those dinners, and have been thrilled at the new food and wines which were introduced to us there. So when they announced a Belgian beer dinner, we knew this had to be something special. Consider this menu:

• A fresh oyster, chilled and served with a Belgian that drank a lot like champagne (I'd offer more information, but this was an add by the chef and was not on their menu)


• Chareruterie - wonderful European sausage and mixed cheeses served with a Kwak beer


• Smoked trout and endive served with Tripel Karmeliet - outstanding trout that was almost hurt-yourself good


• Mussels and French Fries, a Belgian staple, served with a Koningshoeven Dubbel


• Wild Boar stew that was off the charts, served with a St. Feuillien Brune


• A finish with a fresh made chocolate waffle with a wonderful raspberry Framboise Lambic from Lindeman's
  

This was a simply amazing meal - worthy of the finest of restaurants in the largest cities. 6 courses, complete with drinks, for $54 a person.

And, oh did I fail to mention that included 2 Belgian beer glasses?

This easily was our best restaurant meal in 2009. Next time you are anywhere near Waconia, Minnesota you absolutely owe it to yourself to visit The Green Room. Incredible.