Eat Here: Coco Pazzo Cafe, Chicago

From the website - Try sitting outside and enjoy the neighborhood ambiance.

Last week I was in Chicago attending the American Library Association's "Annual Conference".  26,000 librarians, vendors and others converged on Chicago.  No surprise, a lot of Tweets, FaceBook and blog posts revolved around food.  Chicago has a long tradition of foods from everywhere you can imagine.

The Modigliani inspired murals high above head are just a small part of the ambiance.

Classic Cookbook: The French Laundry Cookbook

After reading Michael Ruhlman's book, "The Soul of a Chef; The Search For Perfection" I was so taken by the part about Thomas Keller's French Laundry restaurant, I had to check it out. Rulhman was the writer behind the book for The French Laundry Cookbook.  The restaurant itself is a legendary place in Yountville, CA, in the Napa Valley, the end of many a pilgrimage for foodies.   It is definitely on my bucket list.  The story is great.  I was moved to buy the French Laundry Cookbook; it's wonderful.  The French Laundry website is crisp, clean and makes me want for a little more, just as I imagine the restaurant to be. Check it out HERE.

Michael Ruhlman's website is amazing as well.  Please, go to it and become as enamored with it as I am.  It has just the right balance of commercial "buy my stuff" website content and good old fashioned "this is how to do this".  I heartily recommend his books - they are written from a unique perspective of a really well balanced writer as well as a CIA trained chef.  Go to the library and check them out!
 

Let's Do Lunch: Merchant's, Nashville

At lunch, ask to sit in the downstairs.

I had lunch today with my boss and a client in downtown Nashville.  Merchant's restaurant is one of those old Nashville institutions that you have to try.  I've snagged a few pics below for flavor (the one above is mine).  All of them are from the website. The menu is worth a try.  I had a special pulled pork BBQ with 'Bama WHite Sauce.  And LORD, it was good.

Here's some history from the website and a few photos. Do yourself a favor and give it a try when you are in Nashville.  401 Broadway.

I sat in the booth all the way at the front. It's an awesome view.

Merchant’s Restaurant opened in 1988 in the old Merchant’s Hotel, which was constructed in 1892. The original structure was a three-story building built circa 1870 which housed a pharmacy on the 1st floor, a hardware manufacturing company on the 2nd floor, and a wholesale drug company on the 3rd floor that was famous for producing the alcohol and opium based “Blood Medicine” which can still be seen advertised on the brick walls today. The Merchant’s Hotel in 1892 offered the European Plan which was 25 cents a day for lodging and another 25 cents for a meal. Each room had a bed and a fireplace, and privacy was not guaranteed.

Many notable Nashville legends stayed at the old Merchant’s Hotel, including Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, Porter Waggoner, Little Jimmy Dickens, and Roy Acuff to name a few. When you walk through the building you can see the vestiges of the original hotel rooms with fireplaces. Downstairs original marble counters and tile are still maintained and every effort has been made to hold on to the unique history and architecture of this renowned Nashville establishment.

Favorite Places: The Blue Hour, Portland, OR

I found some images on I saved from a visit to the Blue Hour in Portland, OR.  Wonderful place. Fresh crowd. Amazing food. Nice cocktails. Energetic.  Apparently it gets kudos from locals and the national press alike....

The Most Sophisticated & Contemporary Food in Town. - Gourmet Magazine

Bluehour means different things to different people.
In French literature it describes any time of day of heightened emotion.
In Portland it has come to mean a great place to dine.

Houston Eats: The Grove

I am in Houston on business this week and am lucky enough to be close to one of my favorite restaurants: The Grove.



The Grove is right across the driveway from the Houston Hilton and really close to the convention center. It is located on the South end of Houston’s12-acre urban park, Discovery Green.  The Grove is the definitive see-and-be-seen culinary hotspot in Houston’s urban core and has redefined downtown dining since opening in January 2008.

The architecture is the "other star" besides the food.  Architecturally stunning. Very mid-century modern. Plopped down smack dab in the middle of this beautiful park setting. It's pretty awesome.  I love this building. 




The Grove - Interior

 




I could convert this thing into a house in a heartbeat.










The grilled skirt steak... in a word? Succulent.  And can you tell me where in the world you can get world class food for a $15 entree?  Really? I've ordered it four times in the past.  I first had it with fries smothered in chili, but now, it is more traditionally served with Chiliquiles! I love it.





Grilled Skirt Steak with Chilaquiles!

  
If you find yourself in Houston, give it a try. You will not be disappointed. The staff is friendly. The drinks are stiff and well made. The scenery, including the clientele is pretty nice. It's definitely a repeat performance.

Let's Eat There Again: R+D Kitchen, Dallas

Photo Courtesy: Hillstone Restaurant Group

I recently had lunch with a colleague in Dallas.  I live in the area but I don't get there much because I am always on the road. So when the chance to have lunch came up I made a reservation at a favorite: R+D Kitchen in University Park at Preston Center. Part of the Hillstone Restaurant Group with siblings in Newport Beach and Santa Monica, this local hot spot is really great for watching the "ladies who lunch".

Reservations are a must, even at lunch unless you want to sit at the bar.

Carnitas Sandwich

The food is great. Reasonably priced and served by a staff that constantly uses your name; but it's not in a weird or cloying way.  You feel like they really want you to have a good meal and a good time. They make you feel like is is not all about "turning" your table so they can get someone else in it.

Newporter Salad

I had the Newporter Salad.  Delicious.  Fresh spinach with melt-in-your-mouth grilled chicken (still slightly warm), with shaved parmigiano reggiano, cashews and sweet red pepper julienne.  All served in a champagne vinaigrette - really nice.  My compadre had the Carnitas Sandwich which looked REALLY good too.

Interior

So if you are visiting Dallas, or are a resident, make a reservation.  Ask for a booth on the top tier.  Its awesome.  Really!

Eats On The Road: Amuse Restaurant at Le Meridien, Philadelphia

I was recently in Philadelphia working at a conference. Everyone who has attended a conference knows that food is sometimes troublesome around a convention center.  I lucked out.  Within a 2 block walk was the lovely Le Méridien Philadelphia.

The restaurant, Amuse, was really nice with a great color scheme, attentive staff and a memorable menu.

A toasty hot, French baguette served with lavender scented French butter was almost a meal in itself. Now I understand the whole "French butter" thing.  Really.  It's different.

Loving the interior. Serene, but not stark. The staff never made you feel like they wanted to "turn" the table.  I went back three times. I'll go back again.

My seat was on the banquette nearest the window.  Best seat in the house.  Love this hotel.

Restaurant Favorite: Bar Americain, NY

I had the good fortune to have dinner at Bobby Flay's Bar Americain in New York City when I attended BEA (Book Expo America) last year.  It was a perfectly wonderful meal. My old friend SueE and I broke tradition and eschewed Ruth's Chris which has always been our staple when we get together.  I am happy we did.  Sue was a bit late and I opted for a martini and some oysters on the half shell with a chipolte mignonette. It was so good, had she been any later I might have had another half dozen.

 I had the blackened ribeye and duck fries as an entree, but I think I could easily have had a few appetizers and another martini and called it an evening.  Dessert?  No thanks... any oysters left?