Pasture -- Restaurant Review

So, as I say on my Review Page, I will only comment on my most stellar dining experiences, this one I have struggled with what to do. Therefore, I am going to keep this short and sweet. The food is why I am sitting here, typing right now. The food was outstanding. That is all I can comment on at this time. My service was not up-to-par, at all. Jason Alley, Chef of Comfort and Pasture, is extremely talented. I found that to be true when I visited February 11, 2012. Wonder if his talent in the kitchen could have been translated to the service at my table that night. ;)

Enough on that. He asked me to email him my story. I did. I have yet to hear anything back. So, that brings me to being accessible to the public. Pasture's website is not up-and-running yet. They do not update Facebook or Twitter very often, either. So how does the public relate here? I am not sure why they are not updating these "free" social networking outlets when their pay-to-use website is not available. I was asked to email my story. I did. I have not heard as much as a "Thank you for your feedback." Odd to me, but the food holds its own.

That night we ordered quite a few of the "small plates." Now, do not think you are going to get a full-sized entree here. It is a Southern small plates concept. I think it works well. I love small plates/tapas. I have raved about that concept before. The menu is separated into three parts; Snacks, Cold and Hot sections. Here's what we indulged in...

Deviled eggs with truffle and salmon roe. Damn! I could never make an egg like that. Absolutely sexy. Can an egg be sexy? Sure it can. Okay, I can start dinner off like this! We then enjoyed barcat oysters, fried so tenderly and cooked just enough. They were served with a celery root slaw. Take a bite of both, and you know this is gonna be good! Next was the braised beef brisket (hello! Gotta do it. Always.) with grits and diced turnips. The brisket was delicately tender and flavorful. Do not confuse this with the regular Texas brisket. It has a different vision, but that vision was spot-on. Upon reading up on Pasture and getting a couple of suggestions, the brussel sprouts kept coming up. So, we ordered them. Eh, they were good. Not as I expected with all the reviews. I felt they could definitely be done in a home kitchen. The crunch of the pecans was perfect with them, though. So, yes, we did the pork belly, too. Yum. The black vinegar was amazing with it. A perfect balance with the apple turnip puree. I finished with the steak tartare with jalapeno, chili ketchup and a beautiful quail egg yolk on top. Stunning. I loved the green onion and the slight spice that it was mixed with. My husband wasn't a fan, but it may have been too sophisticated for him.

Cocktails were average, and I tried a few. But the "Pulaksi" whiskey shot with a pickle juice chaser was totally distinctive! Place was crowded and loud, but it's a new, hip restaurant on a Saturday night. Duh. No pictures. Just commenting on the food. That's it. It was damn good food for me to write this. Going to have to go again and maybe I will update this. For now, don't send your mama.

C'est Le Vin -- Restaurant Review

C'est Le Vin, simply translated to "it is the wine" or "this is the wine," located in the historic Shockoe Bottom of Richmond, Virginia, is preparing for a few changes, folks. I got the opportunity to preview those changes on Friday, February 10, 2012 at their Valentine's Day prequel. They are changing over to a more tapas-based menu with the help of their consulting chef, Jannequin Bennett. I really, really enjoyed my time at C'est Le Vin, not only for the food, but for its cute little boutique-style wine shop/art gallery/restaurant. I like the fact that they are set up for whatever mood you may be wearing that day. If you want to sit at a table and consult with a business partner and need a table to spread your paperwork out, you can do that. If you want to plop your butt down on a couch with your two best girlfriends to discuss an upcoming wedding or maybe even a divorce (?), you can do that, too! If you want to pull up a bar-stool-type-seat and meet that woman who you have been exchanging emails with for a month through match.com, you can. If you want a window seat because you and your wife are celebrating that twenty-year anniversary, it is there! It's great! The staff was wonderful, as well. They were very attentive. They seemed comfortable. When a staff seems comfortable, it usually means they are. That only means it is probably a great place to work, especially when you are in the restaurant business. Think about it. When you have come across a high-stressed waitstaff, it affects your mood at your meal, as well. When the staff is comfortable and happy, you are comfortable and happy. I was definitely comfortable...and happy!

Window Seat -- See the Farmer's Market?

Window Seat

So, we had four different wine tasting stations. I like stations. It makes it easier to go at your own pace, whether that is fast or slow. They chose some really good wines to go with the food that night. I was impressed. I was impressed with the wine bottle prices, as well. Very reasonable! I was also really dazzled with the food, my friends. Everything was spot-on. They have not officially changed their menu on their website yet, but I can tell you what I sampled!

First, I apologize for not taking pictures of the food. I wasn't there to stop the server to snap with my blackberry. Check out www.richmond.com's slideshow for food pics HERE. Each wine tasting station had their olives with lemon & orange and their spiced almonds available. These would be considered their "snacks" part of the menu. As for their soup sampling, we enjoyed the beet gazpacho with a goat cheese mousse and celery. This was served chilled. I am not a fan of beets, but I was a fan of this! The color was an absolute vibrant magenta. Gorgeous. Their Bacalao salad is salt cod with peppers, tomatoes, olives and parsley. This salt cod was divine. I had some salt cod about two weeks prior at another, unmentioned restaurant and it was some of the worst restaurant food I had ever had, so I was skeptical when I heard this was going to be served. This was tender and had just enough saltiness to know it was salt cod, but was not so overpowering that you puckered. Perfect! We also sampled poquillo peppers with herbs and pinenuts. This was served on a small crostini, but I am not sure if this is how it is exactly served for the full menu tapa. It was just a small amount of sweet heat. When they started preparing the shrimp with garlic sauce, the aromas that came out of that kitchen were like o.m.g. Anyone who consumes food, loves the smell of garlic cooking away and I just could not wait! The shrimp was tender and the garlic butter sauce that was served on top was just right. Just enough garlic and just enough richness from the butter to make you look around for more. We also sampled a pork belly that was served over a white bean puree. I kept overhearing people think it was mashed potatoes, so the seasoning was comforting!

For dessert, a goat cheese cheesecake! Ummm, my adoration for goat cheese is beyond belief. Add that to a cheesecake and I am in orgasmic heaven!! They also served a tres leche cake sample.

Everything was great, y'all. I can't think of a better way to gab over a bottle of wine. And you know there are just certain foods and certain places that SCREAM a bottle of wine. C'est Le Vin is this place. Tapas are perfect for a bottle of wine. So is Shockoe. What a conversational piece in itself.

Check them out. They also do "Wine Down Fridays" on the 1st and 3rd Fridays. 8-10 pm. Very excited to visit again!

The Roosevelt -- Restaurant Review

The Roosevelt, located at 623 N. 25th Street in Richmond, VA, and nestled in one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city, is definitely a new Richmond restaurant you should check out, people. Now, we went for Sunday Brunch, and good gravy! This Southern Charm is sure to impress. Go whole hog, y'all!

The Roosevelt is co-owned by Kendra Feather and Chef, Lee Gregory (no relation to me). When you walk in, you immediately feel like you have walked into a southern, quaint room. Yes, I said room. You can definitely throw a rock in this place. I think there are about 12-14 tables in this plantation-like establishment. My husband loved the old-time photography that adorns the walls. He instantly became very ecstatic about giving me a "Virginia history lesson" as we sat there that Sunday afternoon. I, being from Texas and quite frankly never being interested in history, actually did listen. With full ears, too. For me, the black chandelier, over the bar area, kept catching my eye as it solidified the whole ambiance of this fabulous restaurant. The walls are lined with wooden booths with throw pillows for table seating. The other side of the tables have simple wooden chairs. There is also seating nestled in the middle of the wall-lined tables. The bar probably had about 10 seats, as well.

So, we ordered our drinks. Me, a Bacon Vodka Bloody Mary and my husband, coffee. Yes, that is right. B-A-C-O-N Vodka. House-made Bacon Vodka, at that! Now, I am NO fan of bloody marys that make you feel as if you are sipping soup through a straw. This cocktail was perfect! It was blameless, actually. So blameless that my husband pushed the coffee aside to order one himself.

So, we looked over the menu and I ordered the fried chicken thigh (I am a thigh girl in more ways than one) with cast iron potatoes, a slow cooked egg and sausage gravy. I also had to order the side of cornbread with the vanilla butter. Of course! Misplaced Texan is the name here! ;) My husband ordered the fried oyster omelet with a bacon hollandaise.

As we waited for our food, that is where the history lesson was professed and after the quick teaching from my husband, I began to people watch. The couple next to us were talking about how they were getting married and moving in with each other in May. I think. It was odd. They mostly talked about the fact they both knew they needed a washer and dryer. And this was where I shook my head. You ready for it? She spoke of her laundry skills, or something of the sort, and then he actually proceeded to say, "Yeah, it'll be nice to have you around." Oh my. That was all I could eavesdrop in on that one! I was there for the food, not to hear some man say some crap like that to some young girl. Ha!

Additionally, one of the tables that lined the middle of the room was a four-top, and it was sat with 2 young couples. I swear one of the young men at that table was having a 20 minute food-gasm over the bacon. Wow! He was in total ecstasy. Eyes closed, head leaned back and all. Damn, Chef Gregory! I hadn't even indulged in any of the food yet, and I was seeing eyes roll in the back of some blonde, yuppie dude's head in the middle of your restaurant as he professed his love for your bacon...to another dude. OK, maybe we should just go back to the history lesson? But in all reality, that is Richmond. There are all walks of life, and whether it is washers & dryers or bacon...to each his own.

Now, back to the food. Unfortunately, my husband had to change his order because they ran out of oysters that day. That kind of broke my heart, too. I was excited to steal one off his plate and then still be able to eat my fried chicken thigh on my own plate! Best of both my favorite worlds! Reluctantly, my husband changed his order to the Brunch special for that day; potato, mushroom, sausage hash with two slow cooked eggs and topped with a salsa verde. Soon after, our food arrived and yes, I had to stare for a bit. Stunning! My egg was staring at me with pure allurement. I couldn't wait.

We dined and damn, that was some scrumptious stuff, I tell ya! As my Oklahoman Grandpa would say, "That's some good grazin'!" My fried chicken thigh was like "O.M.G." Moist and the crispiness and lightness of the fried crust was phenomenal! The potatoes were seasoned well and I was happy for that. The gravy was a little more runny for this Texan (wasn't made for a fork by any means at all), so in the back of my mind, I knew I had that cornbread to try and sop up what was left at the end.

My husband's dish was wonderful. He did feel like it was a little skimpy for him, being all manly and such, and it was different in size than mine, but he enjoyed every last bite.

Now, for the cornbread. Sorry. It was dry. Maybe if it was warmed up it would have been a little more moist, but I couldn't even sop up the gravy due to the dryness/crumbling. The vanilla butter tasted like frosting. It was an interesting combination. I might have enjoyed it a little more had it not been so dry, but I just might be a picky Texan.

Since my husband was left with a hankerin' for a tad bit more, we ordered the coffee cake at the end of our meal. Wonderful! No dryness there. Super moist and a perfect wrap up to an almost flawless experience. I was only going to have a bite, but a bite turned into just a few more. 

I encourage you to go! For real. If it is for dinner, you better make reservations. They take them by phone only (804.658.1935), and it's best to do so after 4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday.

We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and cannot wait to head there for dinner soon! Love me some southern food! I felt the food was greatly priced and they even had humor while ringing it up... Thank you, Kendra and Lee for a remarkable Richmond restaurant. I know 2012 will be great for you!

Lady N'awlins Cajun Cafe -- Restaurant Review

So, I love southern food. I love Texan food...and I love all the Louisiana food that always found its way across the border when I grew up in Texas. When I heard there was a Louisiana-style restaurant in Richmond, Virginia, I made it my mission to make it there as soon as I became able to move around better. On our first "date" out again, after our accident, you bet this is where I chose. Lady N'awlins, located at 2329 West Main Street, claims to have the best cajun food 1,004 miles north of the French Quarter. They have an adequate menu with the classic cajun fare, as well as daily specials. They are on Facebook and you can find them HERE. Their menu is also listed on their Facebook page and that is HERE. We visited Lady N'awlins on Saturday, November 12, 2011. Yes, I am a little slow at getting this up, but I asked everyone to bear with me as I deal with my injury right now.  So, I do apologize. We were seated promptly and immediately I noticed the official Crystal hot sauce on the table. Woo hoo! Lookin' good. Atmosphere was quaint, as one would expect in the Fan District. Music was definitely present. I expected to walk in to a place filled with jazz, but they had a mix of music playing. The back room looked a little better suited for the dinner crowd, but we sat in a booth, across from the bar. For our early dinner, that was just fine with us. Our service was decent. Nothing overly ardent, but we were a couple, eating dinner, enjoying a beer and some wine. I wouldn't expect her to be. 

Ok, to the good stuff. We decided on the Oysters Rockefeller for an appetizer.

The oysters really came out cooked perfectly. I do not appreciate shriveled up oysters at all, but these were still plump and burst in your mouth. For those of you who know me, oysters are my favorite food of all time. So, yes, I can be picky. I'll get to my one "pick" in a moment... Ok, I am pretty sure these had cream cheese on them, which added a nice texture and creaminess to the dish. The bacon was crunchy, but not overcooked. They really were good and easy to slurp on down. Ok, here's my pickiness...they spritzed the oysters with lemon juice before going out or maybe they were cooked in lemon juice. Either way, not a fan of the kitchen adding lemon juice to my oysters. In my personal opinion, lemon and bacon don't go well together. Oysters and bacon? Yes! Oysters and lemon? Absolutely! Oysters, cream cheese, bacon and lemon? Nope. Not for me. I tried to "drain" the excess liquid off of them, but the lemon was still pretty dominant. Overall, great, tasty dish. Wish they would have left the lemon up to the guests, but hey...I can't complain too much when the oysters really were spot on!

Ok, so my husband ordered the fried oysters entree. You can see that below. His sides were the house salad and the jalapeno hush puppies.

He really enjoyed everything. His salad was fresh and crisp. Now, I adore cocktail sauce, but a lot of restaurants just don't get it when it comes to preparing cocktail sauce. This was nicely done. Horseradish (and enough of it) is key, and they didn't disappoint! 

Ok, People, these hushpuppies are AMAZING! Loved them! I ordered them, as well, with my meal and when slathered in their side of butter, oh yeah, baby! I could have devoured a plate of them alone! Creditably done, my friends!!! Now, for his oysters...like I said, he really enjoyed them. I tasted one and I could really taste something of the sort of...well water maybe? I am not sure if they soak them in water and I am just not used to the water down there or what it was. But it definitely had a non-fresh-water taste to them. For these, no, i don't think I could have eaten a full plate of them. They didn't taste like the sea or salty. They tasted like city water to me.

Lastly, I ordered the duck breast with a side of those killer hushpuppies and red beans and rice. 

Y'all already know how I adore the hushpuppies and I will say I adored the red beans and rice just as much. It was a great ratio of rice to beans. It had a slight spiciness and the beans were tender! Great stuff here, I tell ya! When I ordered the duck, the server asked, "Is medium-rare okay?" I affirmed, "Absolutely," but as you can see from the picture, it was not medium rare. Duck really should be served medium rare, but this duck was really delish, despite the slight overdone temperature and was seasoned well. The aioli was creamy, smooth and complimented the duck adequately. 

A definite recommend from me. I will definitely go back. They have Po Boys and gator bites that I want to give a whirl, too. Also, Sunday nights? 50 cent/shell Raw Oyster Night! Raw oysters are my favorite preparation for oysters and definitely am going to try them next time I go (My husband doesn't enjoy the raw variety of oysters, so I opted out of ordering them this time). $5 bowls of Gumbo on Tuesdays until 11 p.m. and $5 Po Boys (shrimp, oyster, crawfish tail, gator, cajun roast beef, smoked sausage or catfish!) on Mondays!!! I make a pretty good gumbo (check out my recipe HERE), but I am always wanting to try others' just to "see." ;) 

So, geaux check 'em out, y'all! Good stuff, I say. Good stuff, here, in the RIC!