fchrisgrimm

About four months worth of restaurant comments here. Unfortunately, most of my mental notes have faded. Most places I've previously commented on... Meigas - two meals including tonight. Tonight I had the marinated tuna with olive oil ice cream ap and the grilled sea bass over rice with ox tail. Both fabulous and both possibly ranked up with the dishes on the tasting menu at Ibiza, where I ate for the first time a couple of months ago. Meigas has long been a special occasion place for us (we were there for my b'day, too) and they continue to best one of the best restaurants in the area - putting Norwalk at the forefront of Spanish food in the US. The Ibiza tasting menu was really great - but (dopey complaint) the dishes were a bit too large. I had the wine option - odd and interesting choices - three PX's, as I recall. Have also had a couple of fairly recent meals at La Paella (nee Mecca). Still a cozier, less expensive, less haute Spanish option to Meigas. The lamb stew was a special when I was last there - one of my favorite dishes at the place, in the winter. The bar also makes for a good place for solo dining. Have eaten at Thali in both the News Haven and Canaan this quarter. Superb - not quite Vikram Vij superb, but excellent Indian. I tend toward a chat, the Manchurian shrimp, and chicken Kori Gasi. We also were here for New Year's Eve. Both settings are beautiful, the drinks are mammoth, and the wine list is quite good for matching the food. Went to Chocopologie for their Valentine's Dinner (nearly snowed out). Love the chocolate at this place and they have a limited menu but do have some 'special' dinners. Three courses, about $40 each, I recall having salmon and Leslie having the lamb chops (I think that is what she had). A fab goat cheese truffle started things off. The food was very, very good, but the service was erratic in a "we don't usually serve people" sort of way. But it wouldn't stop me from coming back, because it's the best local BYOB I can think of. When I can bring a 90 Dom and a 02 SQN Pinot and get out at about $100 on the check, I'm a happy camper. Have had some great food at Paci in Southport a few times. As it is barely more than walking distance, I tend to sneak over and eat at the bar when Leslie isn't around. Had my favorite main on the menu, the veal Milanese, last night. Started with a really good shimp and white beans ap. The veal dish tastes like Spring, even if the weather is more like Christmas than Easter. Couple of months ago, after ten-plus years of eating there, I finally ordered the dry-aged sirloin (after I found out that Bob Patchen came from a Norwalk family of butchers). The steak had always seemed slightly out of place on the menu. This was nothing short of the best steak I have ever been served in a restaurant. Boring notes I suppose - but after thirteen years of living here, when I/we go out, we go where we like - and I think that Paci, Thali, and Meigas are the best three restaurants in the county. Tried the new Ole Mole in Westport (near the Fairfield line). One can do a whole heck of a lot worse. Coppia in Fairfield is also serving some terrific Italian food though emphasizing fresh, local (when the season allows) ingredients. I'd urge anyone looking for something different to try out this still fairly new place. Not to mention that Brian and Kiki who own, cook, and run are about the nicest people you'd ever want to meet (at least next to Jaime at La Paella). Had a very good (though slightly odd) dinner at Zinc in New Haven. Met a bunch of strangers (to me) there for a wine tasting dinner. Food was very good - a really nice cheese plate, nifty duck nachos, and the hanger steak with red curry creamed spinach, and sweet potato gratin. I thought the service was terrif - much patience shown for our group - though others in our group disagreed - so I handed off my money, gave the server an extra $40 in case anyone tried to take it out on her tip, and split. I think that covers most recent local food. Cheers!

Good weekend visiting Portland. 555 was very good. The mussels were terrific - the thickest broth (from the roasted garlic?) I can recall. Had the rissoto with Maine shrimp that was also fab. Combined, the two dishes made for something of a heavy meal - but that was my fault, not the restaurant's. Can't remember what Leslie had. It was a Friday night, which I say to preface my comment that the service rather lurched along. My fault for waiting to order drinks/wine until we knew what we were eating, but I'd have liked the drinks to come before aps, nonetheless. Street & Co was the usual top notch. Had the best seat in the house, with the great view of the kitchen. Had their mussels, which I have to admit were very good, but shy of those from 555. Unfortunately (Saturday night) our main course orders seemed to be misplaced, so service here was especially slow. While we enjoyed watching the goings on, we shouldn't have had to entertain ourselves for the half-hour plus after ours aps were cleared. Grrr. But the bluefish special (blackened, over asparagus with hollandaise) was speactacular. Remains our fav place in Portland. Did also have a cheese plate and wine at Fore Street - and told ourselves that we'd dine there (again) on our next trip. Had one lunch at Duckfat - really, what can beat (between the two of us) soup, frites, a black & white shake, homemade ginger soda, and beignets! Also were well fed breakfasts at Pomegranate Inn - which we love after ten+ years of visiting (though we tend to stay there only in the off season now, cuz it isn't cheap in season!)

Welcome to the world of Whole Paycheck. btw - made res for Street & Co. and 555. Do I ever need the break! Looking forward.

I'd unfortunately missed the thread as I hadn't scoped the page to plan our next Montreal trip yet. (And I was terribly slack in not writing up our Fall meals in APDC, Anise, and Joe Beef.) So I'll belatedly ask if anyone has heard what Racha's next project will be? Anise absolutely changed the way I thought about food. I thought it possibly the finest restaurant in which I had the pleasure of dining - and that's going up against the best of New York and London, against Keller, Ramsay, and (now) Robuchon. While I look forward to our next trip to Montreal, there is truly not the imperative I would have felt, knowing Anise would have still been there. I'm terribly saddened by the news.

I also thought it held up well against the original. I'm not sure what nights the reviewer got in, but I've only been on weekends and the lines were pretty long. If there's a line and you don't want to wait, Super Duper Weenie is right around the corner!

Hey, all. To answer a couple of questions... Coming up at the end of this month. Were probably last up something between one and two years ago. We used to come up every Fall (for close to ten years) - though now Montreal is the new Fall weekend getaway place. I have a business meeting in Portsmouth and will drive up after. Leslie is flying up to meet me - $64 from JFK to Portland. Cheap! How's Street & Co. holding up with a new chef? We've always loved the place - though it has certainly gotten fancier over the last decade. Always felt it was different enough from Fore Street that it didn't bother me to go to both - though a fair enough point. I'm probably leaning toward 555, though Cinque Terre may be more up Leslie's alley. Doesn't look like Caiola's has the fish emphasis of S&C. Over the years, we've enjoyed Back Bay Grill. A couple of places on that side of the peninsula - and that main drag past the museum, toward the hospital. There was a good Italian place up there. A few interesting places - though we prefer being right downtown. Will grab Saturday lunch at Duckfat, I'd bet. But I'm always eager for suggestions - especially things that have opened up fairly recently. I'm sure eG'ers pointed us toward Hugo's - and we absolutely loved the place. (While I'm thinking of it - obviously for a different thread - recs for a solo dinner in Portsmouth?)

Hello Portlanders! My SO and I are returning to Portland for prolly the dozenth time. Love the city and love the restaurants. (Which is why much of this thread just cracks me up, at least at the beginning. It takes all of Fairfield County to come up with as many superb restaurants.) Two nights. One night Street & Co. (we will never come to Portland and not dine at Street & Co.). But the other night... We love Fore Stret. We love Hugo's. But always good to try something new. Was considering... Cinque Terre or 555. Firm opinions? Something else I'm missing. Not too concerned about price (everything's comparatively reasonable up there). btw - how close is Arrow's to Portland? Thanks all. (Been enjoying your shrimp that I get from Cap'n Cliff's van in Redding, CT.)

OK - so I'm set for my trip - still a couple of weeks away - New Rivers and La Laiterie is the plan. I'll be there for NEBA. Though we've been in Connecticut for a dozen years, this is my first trip to Providence. Staying near the Convention Center. Any suggestions for where to get a belt nearby? Assuming easy access to and fro the noted restaurants. Anything else to recommend local? Edible goodies to bring home to the SO? And where should I grab my morning cup o' joe? And if you violently disagree with my dining plans, say so - but I've come to trust Chris (and am kinda eagerly waiting for part 2 on the DG),

Obviously, I love Anise and will be following you there a couple of weeks later. APDC is a must. Closest thing to St. John in North America. If you don't trust me, trust Bourdain!

Anything new in Providence? Visiting for the first time in a few weeks and looking for two dinner suggestions. New Rivers and...?

Can you get someone to serve you Elk?

About a year ago I burnt the bejeezus out of my hand when I grabbed the handle of a pan in the oven (a steak was finishing in there). Cold water fast and straight to the aloe vera gel. Others may be a little less enthusiastic about it, but I find nothing better than aloe vera. Now if I could just quit cutting my hands! (And yes, I do keep my knives sharp.) Always happens when I'm trying to do too many things at once. (Or when I try to mandoline one to many slices off of a potato.)

While no Zagat apologist, I would suggest that the diners who provide opinions for Zagat are not unlike the diners that provide opinions for eGullet! While they take a "populist" approach, the critics who take swipes at Zagat's Guides would seem to simply be defending their turf. "Always consider the source" is fine advice my daddy gave me. It goes for a review one reads (anywhere) as well as the critic of the review. That's not a swipe at, for instance, Lesley - as I love your perspective (and the book) and I trust your palate. But Zagat's does generally represent something resembling popular concensus. If you know that isn't what you're looking for, no harm no foul. Zagat's Guide's are criticized because they are an easy target. Look at, for instance, Robert Parker. He would seem to represent exactly what some of the commenters (above) want - a single (more or less), consistent, knowledgable, reliable source of criticism. But he basically gets hit with the same knocks as Zagat's. It's because they are both more influential than any other source of criticism in their respective fields. The only similarity is that they are both big targets. (The lack of a French survey was an awfully bad oversight, I will admit. But the criticisms come from every market in which Zagat's publishes, not just Montreal.)

Anise will hopefully by open again for Labor Day. We're going later in the month - I made the restaurant res before I set travel plans! In the winter I made the plane res only to find that it was duing High Lights - nonetheless, it was a complete pleasure eating Vikram Vij's cuisine at Anise on that trip! Though diffrerent, Racha and Vikram would seem to be kindred spirits.

Anise. I've eaten in most of North America, in France, London, and a variety of European locales. When I travel, dining is a focus. I try to eat at the benchmark restaurants. Anise is, simply, my favorite restaurant in which I have ever eaten. (I know that ten minutes ago, elsewhere, I posted my latest rave about Blue Hill. But when I considered it's position amongst restaurants, I said "US" restaurants, because as great as it is, it isn't as great as Anise.) We'll be back in Montreal in September for a weekend, primarily to have the opportunity for another dinner there! (Though we will also go back to APDC, which is a blast.) We'll love the rest of the trip because we love Montreal - but there's only reason we're going twice in one year!

Had another fabulous dinner at Blue Hill at Stone Barns two Friday's ago, and I'm opting to post back here in NE because it is close (in Westchester) for Fairfield locals and has as much a contemporary New England vibe as anything. We were with four other people who hadn't eaten there before, so we all ended up going for "the Farmer's Feast" - the seven course dinner (thank goodness we were part of a crowd - Leslie would have never let me choose that!) -- Though I should say that when we went with Leslie's family, we had a "can the chef cook for you?" meal that was terrific - and our special needs on that night included two vegans and one diner with a broken jaw that could only have liquids and soft foods -- Anyway, this time we got there at 8 Fri, had drinks, sat down at 8:30, and were out of there at 12:45! Almost closed the place. Splendid meal. Three Pre-Ap's: Tomato Water A quarter of a just picked and raw patty pan squash - almost tasted like a radish - yum. A tiny green squash, wrapped in pancetta, breaded with panko, and pan fried. Heirloom Tomato Salad with tomato ice cream and seared watermelon chunks. Fresh baby greens salad with favas and a soft fried breaded egg. Their eggs are great - always laid that day. Not sure how they make the egg - must boil it just long enough to have some firmness, carefully shell it, bread it, and fry for just a few more seconds. It's amazing because it has no shell and holds it's shape, but is barely firm. Sockeye salmon (I'm assuming it was cooked by vacuum packing in a bag and boiling until done - what do they call that?) Completely moist, but still with the deep red color. With lightly fried fresh corn, pancetta, and more favas. Forget the sauce. Four local cheese gnocci with, as I recall, a fava bean sauce. Wonderful pork chop with a juicy square of back bacon - instant heart attack! (But you'd go with a smile on your face!) Fresh berries with a custardy-sauce of which I can rarely remember the name. A variety of desserts followed for all... (a former Free Press publicist has been working there as a pastry chef, which was the reason for the original res - as she's leaving soon to drop some offspring) Chocolate bread pudding with Earl Grey ice cream Raspberry tart and a few others. Drank some of the seasonally house specialty drinks before - some had the basil mojito, Leslie had an elderberry champagne cocktail, I had a cucumber martini. With the meal, this ligjht-drinking group drank a Ken Wright Pinot Blanc and a Patricia Green Oregon Pinot noir. I've raved elsewhere about Blue Hill, so I am somewhat raved out. But this is dining at the highest level. I've heard the "it's farming not cooking" complaint, which stumps me - when you can get ingredients that are so same-day, from this earth fresh, why fool with them too much? The preparation is impecable and you can taste that actual fresh ingredients. The setting is gorgeous, the dining room is spacious and beautiful (hip/mission/formal)_and the service is solid. Outside of NYC, it is without question, for my money, the finest restaurant within driving distance for dinner (from Westport, CT). Beyond that, I'm hard pressed to name a restaurant in the US that has given me more of what I'm looking for in a dining experience. Last note - they do seem to be booking up earlier and earlier, so if you want to go for a special occasion in the Fall, best to call now.

I would suggest that Missoula isn't a foodie haven. Though the setting is, of course, marvelous. I was staying at the Doubletree Edgewater, so ate at Finn & Porter. Perfectly okay - I had lamb chops. But doesn't bode well if it is high-end for Missoula. Nifty location on the river, though - pretty place with a nice bar in the middle of things. Had a nice casual business dinner at Scotty's Table, downtown, on Higgins - there seem to be a few Higgins restaurants worth trying (The Bridge bistro) being another. I'm curious about Red Bird, in the Florence Hotel. Of course, if you just want a beer, you can go to the famous Stockman's ("liquor in the front, poker in the rear") Bar. I looked, and I simply didn't see signs of "fine dining," so good luck, Erik.

LOL - belated reply (with a faded memory).... LOVED Red Iguana - fantastic assortment of moles. Line out the door by the time I left the place. (Just beat the crowd.) My bosses are at OR this weekend, so I'm steering them that way.

Had a great trip. Couldn't avoid eating at the Equinox one night. Thoroughly enjoyed Bistro Henry - terrific wine list, too. Fun dinner at Candelleros.

Go to Norwalk for Spanish at Meigas or La Paella (nee Mecca). Paci in Southport for special occasion Italian. Thali in New Canaan for Indian. Super Duper Weenie for dogs in Fairfield. I live in Westport and get grocs at the overpriced Balducci's or at Wild Oats. The Saturday Farmer's Market in New Canaan is terrific. For wine, Harry's in Fairfield is terrific. I also like to take the trip to Wine Connection in Pound Ridge, NY. Good luck!

Asked some knowing looking strangers on the street for a rec tonight and they sent me to the Stock Pot. Good enough Greek salad and a very nice shrimp and scallops with red beans & rice and sort of a creamy creole sauce. I recall being underwhelmed by Lindberg's Crossing, but my SO says I am wrong. But Stock Pot was a nice, reasonably-priced find.

iriee - those sure aren't local favas! balducci's has them year-around - but then again, they have canned vegetables year-aound, too! that said, friends have said that frozen favas are amongst the best frozen vegetables - but I've never seen those. (though I do keep around frozen sugar snaps, just in case. and I always have frozen chopped spinach for making creamed spinach a la The Palm Cookbook.)

I'm still somewhat hammered, but thought I'd file a quick report... Set-up: Me (typically trying to strike up a conversation with the comely waitress): So how does a restaurant stay in business in a predominantly dry town? Comely waitress: Tourists. So ended my first meal in Salt Lake City, at Metropolitan. It's strange to sit in a really nice place, watch cute couples eating and canoodling, and think "he's not getting her drunk? what's the point of taking her out to dinner?" because they're just drinking water. Like living on another planet. I wandered around SLC (what a clean city!) until I found this place, previously endorsed by other e-g'ers. Having been recovering from a dreadful two-week cold, and a couple of days on planes, I decided to treat myself to the seven-course, with wine ($75 + $60). Two bottles of water, too. Watercress salad with watermelon, crab meat, and juniper. Terriric starter, very autumn (even considering the watermelon). I don't usually like watermelon, but loved the combo. (Charles de Fere Brut). Double Tomato Soup (with a goat cheese thing-y, and a dried slice o' tomato). Good, but still just tomato soup. (2004 Boutari Moschifilero from Greece - a nice, but bone dry match with the creamy soup). Seared foie gras with radish, green onion, and ginger. Another very autumnal dish (never mind that it is March). I'm not used to having foie gras without a sweeter, say chutney-esque, accompaniment. And I really liked this approach. (Chateau Lafaurie-Peyraguey Sauternes). Seared diver scallop (with red pepper sauce, tomato, basil sauce, and artichoke). Grrrr. Another dish (first one here, but an ongoing complaint of mine) in which salt is used like an herb. Too salty. Ruined the dish. (2004 Crow Canyon Chard - I'm guessing an oak-free Chard, which made it a bit of an odd match, too). Watermelon sorbet. It's funny, because isn't watermelon sort of sorbet like anyway? And (as I mentioned above), it's not my fav ingredient. But I loved this sorbet. It was a great palate cleanser but (contrarily) had a long finish like a fine glass of wine. Terrific thing. Filet mignon with cinnamon cap mushrooms, truffled potato foam. It's hard to get jazzed about steak. I like steak, but steak is steak. But this was some fabulous meat. And I loved the potato foam. I know it is all the rage in Barcelona, but I can't say that I've had serious foam yet - and this was the second time this meal. What do you put the mashed pots in a whipped creme canister? Rockin' good. (02 Clos du Val Cab Sauv) Passion fruit and white chocolate mille-feuille, with coconut, sesame, and vanilla. (banfi rosa regale). All fruit, including that nice "greenness" that you get from passion fruit. All in all, it was a very good meal. I don't think it was worth the total price. But I'd go back and order a la carte, without hesitation. On a four fork scale, the salad gets 4 forks, the foie gras, sorbet, and steak get 3, the dessert gets 2.5, the soup gets 2, and the scallop gets 1. So what's that, about a 2.75 average? Pretty good in my book. Being semi-liquored up, I was directed to the Red Door, where I bought my three-week membership (guess I'm going tomorrow, too!) and had a solid Cosmopolitan, in order to complete the job. Started schlepping back to the Radisson and realized I was out of smokes. Finding cigs in SLC is harder than getting a drink - I felt like I walked five miles. Anyway, the front desk at the hotel directed me to the Maverick gas station. It was from there that I saw Crown Burger, down the block! I'm only here for two nights, so I better strike the Crown Burger while it's there to be struck. Got my burger, and a Coke. These things have been previously noted on other threads. A cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato, and onion, topped with pastrami and Russian dressing. Sort of a cross between a cheeseburger and a ruben. Good stuff - even on a full stomach. Hope to follow-up fairly rapidly with a report on Red Iguana - tomorrow's destination.

Anything new to report for SLC? Will be there for a couple of nights next week. Definitely going to Red Iguana, but undecided on the other night.

I'm headed to Missoula in a couple of weeks, for three nights. Suggestions? Traveling on the company dime, so can't go too crazy (though might treat myself to something especially nice one night, if recommended). Always prefer regional cuisine, but happy for any and all recs.