Margie’s Candies
Where? Margie’s Candies (Bucktown, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America) Map Menu
When? Sunday December 1, 2024
Who? Me
Food Style? Ice Cream
I have a six hour layover in Chicago so I’ve run out of the airport to go to this world famous ice cream parlor. Unfortunately since I’m by myself, I can’t truly gorge on Margie’s most well known creations, like The Royal George (25 scoops of ice cream) and The World’s Largest Terrapin (15 scoops of ice cream). If you finish the Royal George alone (first of all it's $95.95USD, and second of all, it's not just the ice cream, there's whole cones, whipped cream, cherries, nuts, and additional toppings you can choose from), you get a free box of terrapins - the terrapins here refer to the chocolate and caramel-coated pecans, shaped like the animal it's named after. I'm imagining that they're similar to the New Orleans pralines. Instead, because I am no longer a 20 year old with unlimited metabolism, I’m going for a single Terrapin Sundae, one of the classics.
Dessert
Terrapin Sundae: Two scoops of ice cream (vanilla, pistachio) covered with butterscotch, a side order of fudge, topped with a turtle
Unsurprisingly, this is far too sweet and so I’m glad that I limited myself to just the two scoops. The terrapin chocolate quality is terrible, as is the fudge and the ice cream is basically just that disgusting sugary trash kind as well. There's no creaminess, there's no balance, there's no complexity to the flavour. This is not good. I even have beef with the shell-shaped bowl, because it’s not stable enough to dig into the ice cream on the side. I cut my losses and leave. The novelty is not worth it and I’m going to go get some pizza to take back to the airport.
PS: the pizza was also bad.
Posted by Jeremy at 3:10pm on Thursday October 23, 2025 :: 0 comments :: 
The Blind Goat
Where? The Blind Goat (Spring Valley Village, Houston, Texas, United States of America) Map Menu
When? Saturday April 6, 2024
Who? Alfie, David, Carmen and Nancy
Food Style? Vietnamese
Today's restaurant is particularly special. I've been an avid viewer of the US version of MasterChef, and in Season Three (which originally aired in 2012), a blind Vietnamese woman named Christine Ha won the grand prize. Her journey through the show was phenomenal and inspiring, as we saw her overcome obstacle after obstacle, in spite of her disability. She had spoken about her heritage, about losing her mother to cancer when she was only 14 years old, and those resonated strongly with me. After MasterChef, she continued to make TV appearances and published a cookbook, and in 2018, she opened The Blind Goat in Houston, a reference to her disability and her zodiac sign. So now that I'm here, I have to try her restaurant and her food. As we're perusing the menu, I notice someone sitting by the bar working on the laptop and though I can't clearly see her face, I'm about 90% sure it's Chef Christine. I desperately want to say hi, but I'm not sure how to approach the situation; however, our server comes to my aid and brings Chef Christine over to have a few words with us and take some photos. I'm over the moon with the chance to meet her, and not just because the Great American Solar Eclipse is happening in a few days.
Appetiser
Sticky Wings: Six wings with fish sauce glaze, garlic, lime, Thai chili, Vietnamese herbs
The wings are true to their name and have that gooey, sweet and sticky feel to them like a great Texan barbeque. The fried shallots give some great crunch on top of the batter and the sauce has some hints of fish sauce with some classic Vietnamese flavours. It's a great fusion dish, with elements from both cuisines clearly tastable.
Mains
Dodge the Beef: Sliced hanger steak tossed in a sweet and savoury sauce, caramelised onions, cherry tomatoes, a pat of pork pâté, baguette bread and a fried egg all served on a cast-iron sizzler plate
A Vietnamese take on brunch, this looks so appetising. That steak is juicy and I love pâté and bread, it’s so rich and delicious. The onions are sweet and balance the richness of the pâté really well. It’s hearty and filling, and kinda of reminds me of a deconstructed banh mi on a hot plate. I feel like pâté is an ingredient so crucial to an authentic banh mi, but is often omitted in favour of butter and mayo.
Dessert
Rubbish Apple a la Mode: Christine's famous pie praised by Gordon Ramsay, but with a Vietnamese twist - star anise, ginger and lemongrass
The story behind this one is that during one of the MasterChef challenges, the contestants were tasked with baking an apple pie in an hour. Christine was so flustered during the bake that by the time she finished, she was in tears at her poor effort, and called her creation “rubbish”. Chef Gordon Ramsay took a knife and scratched the pastry crust, showing how well baked it was. As he cut in, the knife could be heard cutting through a fully cooked pastry. She had produced something delicious and perfect, and now this Rubbish Apple Pie is here for us to enjoy. It doesn't really look like the one she made on the show though. It looks more like a crumble and the apples are very caramelised, but well balanced. Hints of cinnamon come through, and that vanilla ice cream helps to cool the warm pie.
Really good, soulful food with that Vietnamese flair evident in the cooking. It was a joy to talk to Chef Christine and try her food, and she deserves every success coming her way.
Posted by Jeremy at 9:54pm on Wednesday October 22, 2025 :: 0 comments ::
Mahony's
Where? Mahony's (French Quarter, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America) Map Menu
When? Sunday December 29, 2019
Who? Me
Food Style? PoBoys
My final meal in New Orleans is at Mahony's, another restaurant in the French Quarter famous for its poboys. A few doors down from Killer PoBoys, this joint is more traditional in its flavours, with fillings like fried shrimp, fried oyster, alligator sausage and roast beef. I've gone for the fried shrimp with full dressing.
Mains
Fried Shrimp PoBoy with lettuce, tomato, pickles and mayo
The shrimp is crispy and tasty, and there's a lot of it. This is a very generous portion. It's really the hero of the poboy, and all the other additions are nice accompaniments that highlight the protein. The pickles give that hit of acidity and the mayonnaise gives that delicious creaminess without overpowering all the other flavours. A few shakes of tobasco and this sends me to cloud nine. A bottle of root beer to wash it all down - perfection. Thanks, NOLA, what a fantastic time.
Posted by Jeremy at 9:53pm on Friday January 3, 2020 :: 0 comments ::
The Court of Two Sisters
Where? The Court of Two Sisters (French Quarter, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America) Map Menu
When? Saturday December 28, 2019
Who? Me
Food Style? Upscale Creole
For my final night in NOLA, I'm boujie af and fine dining with the Reveillon Menu at the very famous Court of Two Sisters. This is a very upscale restaurant in the French Quarter near Jackson Square, and the inside is beautiful and impressive. I'm here at opening time and it's practically empty; I made a reservation yesterday, since the restaurant was at capacity when I wanted to dine here.
Reveillon is a French word that means “awakening” and it refers to a long dinner usually held on Christmas Eve or New Years Eve. Participation usually requires staying up past midnight, since people would come home to eat after midnight mass. This style of dinner is commonly celebrated in the French Quarter in New Orleans, but at more conventional dining hours.
First Course
Turtle Soup au Sherry with lemon and parsley
This is very interesting. It reminds me of the tortilla soup I used to get from Viva Mexico, in Wellington's Left Bank. It has a rich tomato taste, but no seafoody flavour at all. The turtle is shredded and feels mostly lean with a few bits of fat. It goes well with a slab of butter on the baguette.
Second Course
Seafood Stuffed Puff Pastry with champagne sauce
It's a giant bread dumpling in a butter sauce with a hint of Cajun spices and shrimp on the top. There is so much butter. It's quite tasty but wow, it's incredibly rich, perhaps too over the top. It really needs some acidity to break through that richness. I feel my arteries tightening. If that portion was any larger, I'd be having a heart attack.
Third Course
Grilled Beef Tenderloin with new potato mash, roasted almond, haricots verts, dijon and caper cream reduction
Immediately after, my beef comes out. I need a break from the previous course, they should be staggering these out instead of serving them one after the other. The menu is supposed to be reveillon after all, not a rush.
The tenderloin is so soft, it's cooked a perfect medium rare, and melts in your mouth, but doesn't have a strong flavour to it. I think it needs some more umami, a garlic hit or a nice non-cream sauce. However, the rest of the plate - the potatoes and beans - is just more cream and butter, and I'm kinda fed up with that taste after the last course. The toasted almonds were added too early and have softened, losing that vital textural component on this dish. After a while, I decide that I'm not going to finish the potatoes. It's too overwhelmingly rich and that creamy taste is saturating my tastebuds.
My water keeps getting refilled every five minutes. It's a bit annoying.
Fourth Course
Bananas Foster: flambed tableside with brandy and banana liqueur, served over vanilla ice cream
This is kinda the real reason I'm here. The authentic Bananas Foster can be found at Brennan's, the restaurant that started it, but there is a minimum order of two per table! The reviews on Google for this one are stellar, so here I am.
The flambé is impressive and I can smell the smokiness and sweetness of the rum from two metres away.
It's decadent, the caramelised sugar, the spicyness of the cinnamon and the bitterness of the rum make this dessert a real treat and a fantastic way to finish the night, despite all the disappointments in the previous courses. Definitely a step up from the deconstructed cheesecake from a few nights ago, and a fitting way to end my time in New Orleans.
Posted by Jeremy at 9:48pm on Friday January 3, 2020 :: 0 comments ::
Killer PoBoys
Where? Killer PoBoys (French Quarter, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America) Map Menu
When? Saturday December 28, 2019
Who? Me
Food Style? PoBoys
My time in New Orleans is running out and there's only a few more things on my food checklist to eat. Today I'm going to have a poboy, the New Orleans submarine sandwich. Originally called poor boys, these were served to the striking streetcar workers in the 1920s, then to the working class. Killer PoBoys is another eatery in the French Quarter and very appropriately next to the Museum of Death. They're known for international flavours with local style.
Mains
Glazed Pork Belly Po'Boy with rum-ginger cane syrup, lime slaw and garlic aioli
I've gone for the pork belly, because I can't resist that delicious layer of fat and thick meat. It's sweet from the cane syrup, and savoury from the garlic aioli, with a hint of acidity from the lime slaw to balance out the flavours. I'm normally not a fan of overly sweet things, but this is on par with the sweetness of hoisin or plum sauce that you'd get with Chinese cuisine.
Posted by Jeremy at 9:42pm on Friday January 3, 2020 :: 0 comments ::
The Original French Market Restaurant and Bar
Where? The Original French Market Restaurant and Bar (French Quarter, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America) Map Menu
When? Friday December 27, 2019
Who? Me
Food Style? New Orleans Seafood
I require more seafood so I want to get the crawfish pot from this restaurant. It's insanely busy and even though I can sit down at the bar immediately, it takes a while for me to get my drink and order in. I've gone with a Gingeroo, which has a very spicy ginger flavour and a smooth rum finish. I ask if they think I can eat a pound of crawfish as well as half a dozen oysters and the bartender recommends getting the crawfish first then seeing how I feel half way through. Sounds good. Challenge accepted!
While I'm waiting, I'm drawn to the television screen showing a college football match between Louisiana and Oklahoma, and Louisiana are doing extremely well. My rudimentary knowledge of American Football (thanks to that one game I made) is paying off. Go sports team, score the points! Do better than the other team!
Mains
Cajun boiled crawfish
Crawfish is half way between prawns and lobster, it's got the rich meatiness of lobster but it's finicky like prawns and doesn't have that much meat. In saying that, what they've done here is true New Orleans style seafood, juicy, spicy, full of flavour and totally delicious. I devour everything like a savage, pulling apart heads and claws, sucking out that sumptuous roe and meat from the shell. My hands are dripping with juices and I'm having such a good time. If I want ice cream, then I don't think I should get the oysters. Wow. That was fantastic. I still prefer lobster, but it's nice to have experienced a New Orleans signature dish.
Oh yeah the corn, potatoes and sausage were nice too.
Posted by Jeremy at 9:39pm on Friday January 3, 2020 :: 0 comments ::
Cafe Beignet
Where? Cafe Beignet (French Quarter, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America) Map Menu
When? Friday December 27, 2019
Who? Me
Food Style? Coffee and beignets
Of course I can't come to New Orleans and miss the opportunity for beignets, these rectangular fried pieces of dough coated in powdered sugar were introduced by the French Creole colonists and are the official state doughnut of Louisiana. And where better to get some than from the eponymous Cafe Beignet on Decatur? I can't walk straight into the bar this time, I have to queue to order and pay like everyone else.
This was actually my second choice. First choice was the iconic Cafe du Monde by the French market, but the line for that was so ridiculously long for both a table and for take out that I decided to pass.
I've ordered an iced hazelnut with milk. It is not a hazelnut drink at all. It's coffee. This is a problem, because I don't like coffee. I'm going to have to chuck this out discreetly after I leave the restaurant (thankfully it's in a plastic cup). I should have gone for an iced chocolate. Regrets were had.
Beignets
I've had beignets before from the creole kitchen in Wellington, Sweet Mother's. I now realise that what I had was not beignets, what I had was nothing. These are beignets. They're delicious and warm and there is so much powdered sugar that Charlie Sheen would take a second glance. The outside is crispy and the inside is soft and fluffy. Definitely a must-have if you're ever here.
Posted by Jeremy at 9:35pm on Friday January 3, 2020 :: 0 comments ::
Stanley of New Orleans
Where? Stanley of New Orleans (French Quarter, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America) Map Menu
When? Friday December 27, 2019
Who? Me
Food Style? New Orleans Breakfasts
I've lost track of what day it is but this is a good sign. Stanley's is right by Jackson Square, in the French Quarter where all the other great food places are. It's a busy breakfast and lunch place serving some classic Louisiana favourites as well as traditional brunch foods like benedicts, pancakes and waffles. There's room for one at the bar so I can skip the queue again. There is one dish that has caught my attention...
Mains
Crab Cakes and Soft Shell Crab Benedict: Fried soft shell crab and seared crab cakes with poached eggs and creole hollandaise
I can't pass up soft shell crab. It is one of the most delicious things on the planet. This one isn't as crispy as I would have liked, but it's seasoned well and that crab flavour comes through nicely. The eggs are poached perfectly and the yolk seeps through into the crab cakes below. Mmm yum!
Posted by Jeremy at 9:32pm on Friday January 3, 2020 :: 0 comments ::
Royal House
Where? Royal House (French Quarter, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America) Map Menu
When? Thursday December 26, 2019
Who? Me
Food Style? New Orleans Seafood
I passed by this very busy place on the way home last night and the $9 half dozen fresh oysters piqued my interest, so here I am, going straight for some of that famous Louisiana seafood. No alcohol tonight...for now. Thanks to single diner privilege, I can skip the queue and sit at the bar.
Appetiser
Six fresh Louisiana oysters, shucked to order and served with all the "fixins"
I love fresh oysters. There's something about the natural saltiness that you get when they're raw, and it loses that when you cook them or pile them with cheese and other flavours. These Louisiana ones aren't that salty but they have a great meatiness and savouriness. The only condiment I'll usually add is tobacco or lemon, but this spicy chunky tomato cocktail sauce goes very well with the oysters. Great start!
Mains
Peel-n-eat Gulf Shrimp: jumbo gulf shrimp boiled in Cajun seasoning, with a side of cocktail sauce
What a magnificent aroma of spices, real Cajun style. The shrimp is absolutely delicious by itself, with the butter or with the cocktail sauce. I dive straight in with both hands and ravenously rip apart the shells to get to the meat. It's slightly overcooked but the flavours are spot on, and there's plenty of spice. That cocktail sauce is so good. Even the potato and corn on the cob are impressive.
Dessert
Bananas Foster Cheesecake: Creamy cheesecake scoops topped with warm bananas fosters sauce and a cinnamon graham cookie
Bananas Foster is pretty famous in New Orleans. It was created to help boost sales of this newly imported fruit in the 1950s. While this is just a cheesecake version, I'm hoping the flavours of smoky rum and cinnamon will come through.
It's...deconstructed and not what I was expecting. The cinnamon is definitely there, and so is that lovely rum taste. The filling - the two scoops of cheesecake - are extremely small in comparison to that biscuit base, and that's not how a cheesecake should be. There's a few banana slices on the plate and the filling does have a nice banana flavour, but I'm hoping the real one is much better than this.
Oh, the cheesecake is free because it took so long. Sweet!
Posted by Jeremy at 9:26pm on Friday January 3, 2020 :: 0 comments ::
Oceana Grill
Where? Oceana Grill (French Quarter, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America) Map Menu
When? Wednesday December 25, 2019
Who? Me
Food Style? New Orleans Seafood
When I arrive at 6pm, there's already a queue outside. Fortunately for me, I'm by myself and there's plenty of seats at the bar. I start the night off with a smooth margarita called “Road to Bourbon Street”: tequila, Cointreau, lime sour and agave nectar. It's got some dry ice for theatrics and it already feels like I'm going to have a good time. The menu is different to what was advertised on a Google, but I ended up going with the special which wasn't on the menu anyway, redfish tchoupitoulas. I overheard some lady on the plane saying redfish was amazing so I might as well give it a go now.
Mains
Redfish Tchoupitoulas: Blackened redfish fillet on a jalapeño crawfish cornbread dressing, topped with sautéed shrimp in a garlic lemon butter sauce and mustard greens
Damn it's good. There's heaps of delicious buttery sauce coating the shrimp and fish, the proteins are cooked perfectly, the redfish has a beautiful crust on the outside that packs a punch. Even the mustard greens, which have never really made an impression on me, are tasty, and help to cut through all that richness. The jalapeño dressing underneath is quite subtle, so I've added a few drops of some local hot sauce to give it more of a kick. Yum!
By this time, the margarita is very much in effect and it suddenly dawns on me that American pours are much more generous. I should be careful next time.
Dessert
Kentucky Bourbon Pecan Pie: Large buttery pecans, layered on a rich, smooth filling with a hint of kentucky bourbon, on a pastry crust
I can't resist dessert. Pecan pie is a southern staple and this one hits the spot. It's warm and comforting, and the center is soft and gooey, which contrasts well with the roasted pecans on top. The bourbon comes through nicely. My only criticism is that the crust is too sweet, the dessert has enough sugar already!
Posted by Jeremy at 9:19pm on Friday January 3, 2020 :: 0 comments ::
Chartres House Restaurant and Oyster Bar
Where? Chartres House Restaurant and Oyster Bar (French Quarter, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America) Map Menu
When? Wednesday December 25, 2019
Who? Me
Food Style? Cajun and Creole
Right in the heart of the French Quarter, this 1830 building stands on the site of the Good Friday fire of 1788. A lot of the places on my list are super busy and I'm tired and hungry, so whatever, I'll give this place a go. What inspired me to even come to New Orleans? To put it simply, this viral video of two Swiss girls who copied an episode in the Simpsons, frame by frame, of Homer gorging himself in creole cuisine.
Mains
Taste of New Orleans: chicken and sausage jambalaya, chicken and andouille gumbo, crawfish étouffée
I've ordered a taster of gumbo, jambalaya and crawfish étouffée. I'm suddenly reminded of the Carpenter's song Jambalaya, where Karen Carpenter sings about jambalaya, crawfish pie and fillet gumbo. These three dishes are all extremely well-known Cajun and Creole classics. When it comes out, I absolutely have no idea which is which so I have to ask the waitress.
The red one, the crawfish étouffée, is my favourite. It's spicy and the seafood flavour comes through nicely. The garlic bread on the side is perfect with that sauce. It reminds me of a less creamy chowder.
The brown one with the yellow pepper is jambalaya. It's a fusion of Spanish, French and West African cuisines, and it resembles paella with sausage. This one is okay; rich and tasty, but not out of this world. I had a better one at this restaurant in Toronto called...New Orleans.
The saucy brown one is gumbo, a thick, hearty stew containing celery, capsicum and onions. This has a nice smokiness and pepperiness to it.
The food here is very comforting, really rich and soulful. It doesn't look like it's a large portion, but the sauces really fill you up, especially with that side of bread and all that rice.
Posted by Jeremy at 9:14pm on Friday January 3, 2020 :: 0 comments ::
Betsy's Pancake House
Where? Betsy's Pancake House (Midtown, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America) Map
When? Wednesday December 25, 2019
Who? Me
Food Style? American Breakfast
I've arrived in New Orleans, Louisiana for a five day food excursion and I'm starting it off at Betsy's Pancake House. As I sit down, the aroma of toast and coffee fills the air, and after a brief read of the menu, I've decided to go with the pecan pancakes.
Mains
Pecan Pancakes
Warm, fluffy and aromatically nutty, this is a delightful way to start the day. Obviously they're not going to have authentic Canadian maple syrup here, but whatever this sweet brown sugary liquid is will do.
I love these suburban joints, full of locals enjoying their neighbourhood eateries. I'm really amused by the southern vernacular - especially “howdy y'all”, which is incredibly common. Also I think I'm the youngest person here.
I keep forgetting how large these American portions really are. I'm struggling to finish the pancakes but I power through. Phew.
Posted by Jeremy at 9:04pm on Friday January 3, 2020 :: 0 comments ::
Wildberry Pancakes
Where? Wildberry Pancakes (New Eastside, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America) Map Menu
When? Friday June 14, 2019
Who? Me
Food Style? American Breakfast
I'm in Chicago for Pokémon Go Fest 2019 and right near Millennium Park is a massive crowd of nerds (myself included) waiting to get into this highly popular restaurant. Thanks to Yelp, I'll get a text message when there's a seat available and I can also see how many parties are ahead of me in the queue. We live in the future!
As I'm seated, I take a glance around the tables (OBLOT strategy: order by looking at other tables). Holy Mac the portions are massive. Welcome to America, I guess. I'm up for the challenge. I'll need sustenance for a long day of walking aimlessly around Grant Park catching virtual monsters on my phone.
Mains
Butchers Block with Key Lime Pancakes: hash browns, cheddar and jack cheese, two eggs, ham, sausage, turkey sausage, chicken sausage and bacon
Good heavens. This is a hearty meal, full of delicious meats and two perfect runny eggs on top. The hash on the bottom mellows out the saltiness of the sausage and cheese. A few shakes of hot sauce and I'm ready to go.
I can feel myself slowing down. I'm about 80% the way through the hash but I need to save room for the pancakes. I'm thinking of cutting my losses and going straight to the sweets. I decide to do that Asian thing where I eat all the meat and leave the carbs in the plate. I start on the pancakes. Light and fluffy, with a beautiful rich key lime cream to give that delightful tart flavour. The fresh blackberries help cut through the richness and the biscuit crumb and white chocolate pieces add some nice texture. I'm impressed and well and truly stuffed.
I ended up skipping lunch and having dinner at 9pm - deep dish pizza!
Posted by Jeremy at 4:31pm on Thursday January 2, 2020 :: 0 comments ::
Mamak
Where? Mamak (Doraville, Georgia, United States of America) Map Menu
When? Friday April 19, 2019
Who? Me
Food Style? Malaysian
I've picked up my rental car and I'm off to explore the fringe of Atlanta. In the appropriately named Asian Square, there's a Malaysian restaurant called Mamak, and I absolutely can't resist trying it out. Mamak refers to the open-air restaurants commonly found in Malaysia serving Indian food like roti, murtabak and briyani. The menu here is full of wonderful dishes from home, like rendang, char kuay teow and nasi lemak, but also specialities that I don't often find outside of Malaysia, like bak kut teh and yong tao foo.
I want to try everything but I can't. This is a sad recurring theme in my food life. I've gone for the curry laksa, which should be a delicious creamy soup with a great chicken broth and a bit of spice to top it off.
Mains
Curry laksa: classic coconut milk curry noodles with yong tau foo
I dig in. It's so good. I pause to catch my breath and write my thoughts down. It's rich and tasty, full of flavour. The yong tau foo has soaked up all that delicious laksa and bursts with flavour as I bite into it. I ask for a bit of sambal on the side and that magnificent, intense fish flavour lifts the laksa. This tastes of home.
Posted by Jeremy at 4:35am on Thursday January 2, 2020 :: 0 comments ::
Ponce City Market
Where? Ponce City Market (Old Fourth Ward, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America) Map Menu
When? Thursday April 18, 2019
Who? Me
Food Style? International
A massive indoor food hall, the Ponce City Market has attracted a large crowd on this rainy Atlantan day. I'm taking in the smells of the different kinds of ethnic foods available - Japanese, Chinese, Mexican, South African, Indian, Mediterranean and more. I want to try everything, but I can't. 
I've started off with a honey and lavender gelato from Honeysuckle and it's delightful, but as I'm wandering around, a loud ventilation sound fills the hall and the police and security order people to evacuate.
Thankfully the evacuation is short lived and I'm back at WH Stiles Fish Camp to try some catfish, a southern favourite. The temptation to get some oysters is great, but I will reserve my stomach for more food.
Mains
Pan-seared Vietnamese catfish salad with cabbage, cucumbers, peanuts, cilantro, scallions and jalapenos
The catfish is delicious. It's flavourful and cooked perfectly, glistening on the inside and flaking away, with a slight crispiness to the skin. The vegetables are well seasoned and have that delightful sourness from the fish sauce, an ingredient integral to Vietnamese cuisine. What would I change? A bit of freshly sliced chili on the side would have elevated this dish.
I got a cashew fudge donut from for Saturday's breakfast and a key lime tart from Saint Germain Bakery for now. Mmmm...that hits the spot. Bursting with that magnificent citrus flavour, not sickly sweet, just the right dessert to top off an enjoyable visit to this part of Atlanta.
Posted by Jeremy at 3:59am on Thursday January 2, 2020 :: 0 comments ::
Sweet Georgia's Juke Joint
Where? Sweet Georgia's Juke Joint (Downtown, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America) Map Menu
When? Wednesday April 17, 2019
Who? Me
Food Style? Southern
I've left the chilly spring weather of Toronto for the green and warmth of Atlanta, Georgia. I'm here to experience some of that great southern food - though I'm not that far south, I'm sure I'll be able to get something close enough anyway.
Appetiser
Southern Starter: fried green tomatoes, crispy vidalia onions, fried okra, topped with herb goat cheese and red pepper aioli
With a name like Southern Starter, I can't resist. It comes out pretty quickly and, kinda true to the south, it's all deep fried. It's not very crispy and it could use a bit of salt, but the goat cheese and aioli adds the flavour and richness in this dish.
Mains
Juke Joint Fried Chicken: signature juke joint seasoning blend, southern mac & cheese, smoked turkey collard greens
Winner winner chicken dinner. Mac and cheese has never really been a favourite of mine, and this one is okay. Nothing outstanding. Same with the collard greens. They're a bit soggy, and they taste okay, but again, nothing to rave about. The chicken though is better. It's not as crispy as it should be and it needs a bit of salt, but there's a nice sweetness to it, it's juicy and it's satisfying enough.
Also I have forgotten that American portions are massive. I will not be needing dessert after this.
As 7pm rolls around, the entertainment starts - this is a juke joint after all. I'm staring at my leftover Mac and cheese and collard greens with disdain, but I'll chill and listen to these smooth soul tunes for a bit before leaving. I might not have had a great time with the food, but the music is pretty amazing.
Posted by Jeremy at 3:41am on Thursday January 2, 2020 :: 0 comments ::
Alexander's Steak House
Where? Alexander's Steak House (Cupertino, California, United States of America) Map Menu
When? Thursday July 30, 2015
Who? Rob
Food Style? Massive Steaks
We were all the way out in Cupertino for no reason whatsoever, and some of the other visitors had spoken highly of "this amazing steak place with gigantic slabs of meat". That pretty much nails the description of Alexander's Steak House, so Rob and I headed out on a 40 minute walk past the Vallco Shopping Mall to this restaurant.
The restaurant is dimly lit and I almost feel underdressed, except there are loads of tourists and developers (you know developers don't dress formally for anything.) There's a cabinet separating the entranceway and the kitchen, and it's full of different cuts of meat. You can tell this place means serious business.
Though we are on company expenses, we go for the moderately priced option (still US$46). The prices only go up from there - check out the Wagyu beef for US$120 to US$180, or the caviar for a whopping US$300!! Beef weights are in pounds so I have no idea what how big these things are until it arrives in front of me.
Amuse Bouche
Peachy and nutty with good crunch. Interesting!
Irrelevant Tummy Filler
I don't think I ended up touching this. I don't know why we let the waiter talk us into getting a baked potato. Same goes for the complimentary sourdough bread - I love it, and California does it really well, but honestly this stuff is a distraction from the main event.
Mains
Slow Roasted Prime Rib (20oz)
20 ounces is 570 grams. That's over half a bloody kilo of pure unadulterated steak. Holy moly. Served with three different sauces - creamy miso, bacon and trio of horseradish - this is without a doubt the largest steak I have ever consumed in my life. It is bigger than my face. Juicy in the middle, crispy on the outside, perfectly pink but oh my goodness there is far too much. I really struggled towards the end. I could feel my brain shutting off and saying "the stuff you are putting in your mouth is no longer edible". I wouldn't have finished if it weren't for Rob threatening to post the details of a defeat on Facebook, but at last, the final mouthfuls were shoveled down and all glory shone around.
Regret.
We politely passed on the dessert menu but I kid you not, they brought out their famous home-made candy floss, on the house. Apparently this is tradition.
Fortunately, this massive stick of grape-flavoured candy floss doesn't take up too much room in the stomach, but I was still reeling from the overload of meat, so I took a few tufts of floss and bailed.
I spent the next hour in a food coma.
Posted by Jeremy at 11:06pm on Wednesday March 30, 2016 :: 0 comments ::
Pier Market Seafood Restaurant
Where? Pier Market Seafood Restaurant (Pier 39, San Francisco, California, United States of America) Map Menu
When? Sunday August 2, 2015
Who? Meeee
Food Style? Seafood
The Pier Market Seafood Restaurant is one of the busiest eateries at Pier 39 in San Francisco. There's an efficient paging system for the hordes of people waiting to get in, but fortunately since I'm #ForeverAlone, I can walk straight in and sit at the bar. I've actually been here before, back in 2011 with Jimmy and Tony. I love company paid trips... teehee. I also love the free refills of root beer I get from many American establishments (though it's probably ruining my teeth.)
Mains
Pier Market Mixed Grill: Fresh Salmon, Fresh Swordfish and Shrimp Skewer
It's hard to go past the mixed grill, purely because of the variety you get. The swordfish and salmon have perhaps spent a little long on the grill, but they definitely pack some great flavour, all the regular tastes you find in good, fresh seafood. The swordfish is very enjoyable actually, the meat has more of a bite to it than most fish - it's almost like chicken. I think the salmon is a little over-seasoned, but it's still tasty and I'm happy to have a slice of fresh San Francisco seafood. The shrimp is simple but flavoursome too, and again the grilling has brought out the natural sweet and saltiness, along with that smokey flavour you get from the hot plate.
At US$24, this was a solid, satisfying meal, but the New Zealand exchange rate at the time I had this was quite unfortunate. Don't forget to tip!
Posted by Jeremy at 10:38pm on Wednesday March 30, 2016 :: 0 comments ::