As some of you know, my day job involves me spending long hours at the hospital. I have let this blog waste away and my promise to you is to revive this.
Despite my absence, I have continued to cook, learn new methods, and even had some failures in the kitchen. I have bunches of pictures including recipes I've tried, ones I've created, and ones I want to try.
Also, since my last post, I've traveled to Guam, New Orleans, Houston, Key West, Vegas and Honduras finding great foods along the way.
I hope that this finds my followers in good health and that everyone has not yet given up on me just yet.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Capers - Little Rock, AR
Yesterday, I went to dine at a place I had been wanting to go since I began medical school, CAPERS....
The Place: Dim lighting with lots of windows, it has a very cozy feel to it. The artwork on the walls keeps your eyes very busy and interested. Its kinda like being in the kitchen of Paula Dean. I enjoyed the look of the place
The food: My starter was BBQ shrimp with grits. Ok....the dish was ok, but it was nothing like I expected it to be. The shrimp did not even faintly taste like they had any essence of BBQ in them. There was a kick to them, but it was solely spice, not BBQ or smokey. The grits tasted like potatoes. I took a small bite and tried to make them taste like grits, but they tasted like mashed potatoes. To make matters worse, it was surrounded by what looked to be Thanksgiving Turkey gravy. The dish tasted good, but it was not what I expected from the description.
For my main dish I had a cup of mushroom soup and the Albacore Tuna Salad over greens. The Tuna Salad was stuffed inside of a fresh tomato and on a generous serving of veggies. I enjoyed the combination of the tuna salad with everything, but by itself, it was VERY salty. The salad had a dressing on it that I still have not decided on what exactly its purpose was. It was definitely sweet and a little acidic...less sweet and more tang would have been appreciated. The soup was THE BEST part of the meal. This soup is the best soup I've ever had in my life. It was this creamy, rich portabella mushroom soup. The mushroom were minced and were throughout the soup. It looks like cookies and cream ice cream if you were to let a bowl of it melt. It was the best part of the meal....so good, I went to the market and got some to go
My dessert was a chocolate creme burlee......it was more dense than i wanted in a dessert. It was good, but did not feel like a creme burlee on my palate.
Service : HORRIBLE. I was there a total of 2 hours and not because it was busy. It was because my server just did not pay attention to us. The young lady pouring the water came to us 8 times, he came 3.
Impression: Capers is a slightly overrated, reasonablely priced spot. Good for lunch, but i wouldn't return for dinner.....probably won't go back for dinner.
Rating: ** 2 stars
The Place: Dim lighting with lots of windows, it has a very cozy feel to it. The artwork on the walls keeps your eyes very busy and interested. Its kinda like being in the kitchen of Paula Dean. I enjoyed the look of the place
The food: My starter was BBQ shrimp with grits. Ok....the dish was ok, but it was nothing like I expected it to be. The shrimp did not even faintly taste like they had any essence of BBQ in them. There was a kick to them, but it was solely spice, not BBQ or smokey. The grits tasted like potatoes. I took a small bite and tried to make them taste like grits, but they tasted like mashed potatoes. To make matters worse, it was surrounded by what looked to be Thanksgiving Turkey gravy. The dish tasted good, but it was not what I expected from the description.
For my main dish I had a cup of mushroom soup and the Albacore Tuna Salad over greens. The Tuna Salad was stuffed inside of a fresh tomato and on a generous serving of veggies. I enjoyed the combination of the tuna salad with everything, but by itself, it was VERY salty. The salad had a dressing on it that I still have not decided on what exactly its purpose was. It was definitely sweet and a little acidic...less sweet and more tang would have been appreciated. The soup was THE BEST part of the meal. This soup is the best soup I've ever had in my life. It was this creamy, rich portabella mushroom soup. The mushroom were minced and were throughout the soup. It looks like cookies and cream ice cream if you were to let a bowl of it melt. It was the best part of the meal....so good, I went to the market and got some to go
My dessert was a chocolate creme burlee......it was more dense than i wanted in a dessert. It was good, but did not feel like a creme burlee on my palate.
Service : HORRIBLE. I was there a total of 2 hours and not because it was busy. It was because my server just did not pay attention to us. The young lady pouring the water came to us 8 times, he came 3.
Impression: Capers is a slightly overrated, reasonablely priced spot. Good for lunch, but i wouldn't return for dinner.....probably won't go back for dinner.
Rating: ** 2 stars
Friday, April 23, 2010
Michelangelo's in Conway, AR
Michelangelo's is a very classly establishment in Conway, Arkansas, about 20 miles west of Little Rock. A friend and I went there today for lunch.....
Atmosphere - An Italian spot with seating that ranges from intimate tables to more open areas where you can enjoy the view of Oak street. Our table today happened to be in the middle of the place. It was quiet but I enjoyed the view of the kitchen and the rest of the vivid decor. It didn't make me feel like I was in Italy, but it was very well decorated with lots of hard wood pieces and earthy tones. Felt like a visual hug...Oh yes. our server, who I will only refer to as J, was an amazing part of our meal.
The Dish - Gnocchi - The potato dumpling dish was prepared with a roasted garlic sauce and baked with parmesean. Ok, so presentation wise, this dish was perfect. Golden brown top, creamy sauce and the smell of roasted garlic was amazing! The first bite was almost as good as the appearance. Gnocchi is a rather heavy dish and this one was no exception. I went for a piece futher down in the bowl, one covered by the sauce. After taking a bite, I realized that what I had gotten was not a piece of Gnocchi, but a whole clove of garlic, roasted garlic. Now I'm a garlic person, so I didn't mind the surprise so much the first time, but after the 3rd clove, I couldn't enjoy the sauce any longer. The Gnocchi were tasty, but the cloves of garlic kinda ruined the delicate flavor of the dumplins.
Dessert? - YESSSSS, we had these shooters. The bottom part of them was this custard meets creme burlee. Very light and not super sweet. The toppings we enjoyed were caramel and chocalate. Both were divine and without a doubt the perfect way to end a meal.
Overall Michelangelo's is a laid back Italian spot. The crowd seems to be business oriented and provides a rather quiet dining experience. The wait staff are very nice, the food is above average and it is a place I will be visiting again.
Rating - 4 stars
Atmosphere - An Italian spot with seating that ranges from intimate tables to more open areas where you can enjoy the view of Oak street. Our table today happened to be in the middle of the place. It was quiet but I enjoyed the view of the kitchen and the rest of the vivid decor. It didn't make me feel like I was in Italy, but it was very well decorated with lots of hard wood pieces and earthy tones. Felt like a visual hug...Oh yes. our server, who I will only refer to as J, was an amazing part of our meal.
The Dish - Gnocchi - The potato dumpling dish was prepared with a roasted garlic sauce and baked with parmesean. Ok, so presentation wise, this dish was perfect. Golden brown top, creamy sauce and the smell of roasted garlic was amazing! The first bite was almost as good as the appearance. Gnocchi is a rather heavy dish and this one was no exception. I went for a piece futher down in the bowl, one covered by the sauce. After taking a bite, I realized that what I had gotten was not a piece of Gnocchi, but a whole clove of garlic, roasted garlic. Now I'm a garlic person, so I didn't mind the surprise so much the first time, but after the 3rd clove, I couldn't enjoy the sauce any longer. The Gnocchi were tasty, but the cloves of garlic kinda ruined the delicate flavor of the dumplins.
Dessert? - YESSSSS, we had these shooters. The bottom part of them was this custard meets creme burlee. Very light and not super sweet. The toppings we enjoyed were caramel and chocalate. Both were divine and without a doubt the perfect way to end a meal.
Overall Michelangelo's is a laid back Italian spot. The crowd seems to be business oriented and provides a rather quiet dining experience. The wait staff are very nice, the food is above average and it is a place I will be visiting again.
Rating - 4 stars
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Bonefish Grill, Little Rock
Place: Bonefish Grill - a quiet yet vibrant establishment off of Cantrell Road in West Little Rock. Yesterday was my first visit and I was VERY impressed. The lighting is dimmed enough to make each customer feel at peace but not too intimate. I went with friends for a birthday party and it went very well. We didn't have to worry about getting too loud, but if you and your friends would rather get drunk and pass out on the floor, then Bonefish is not for you. But if you want a setting that is sophisticated, modern, and comfy, then definitely visit this place
Meal: Sea Scollops, Shirmp w/ steamed Veggies - A very light pairing. The seafood was wonderfully prepared with a chimichurri sauce suggested by my waiter. The portion was adequate because I was not starving when I got my meal, but if you are truly hungry, you should go after something more filling (perhaps the sea bass or the mountain of mussels). The veggies were slightly over salted, but not to the point of being unable to eat them. The downfall of the meal was the succotash. The lima beans were almost crunchy and the corn was the consistency of baby food. It was the one part of the meal I could've done without.
Overall: Bonefish Grill is a must visit to any visitor of Little Rock Arkansas. Its atmosphere, great seafood, and wonderful staff earns it a **** & 1/2 * from me.
~YBFB
Meal: Sea Scollops, Shirmp w/ steamed Veggies - A very light pairing. The seafood was wonderfully prepared with a chimichurri sauce suggested by my waiter. The portion was adequate because I was not starving when I got my meal, but if you are truly hungry, you should go after something more filling (perhaps the sea bass or the mountain of mussels). The veggies were slightly over salted, but not to the point of being unable to eat them. The downfall of the meal was the succotash. The lima beans were almost crunchy and the corn was the consistency of baby food. It was the one part of the meal I could've done without.
Overall: Bonefish Grill is a must visit to any visitor of Little Rock Arkansas. Its atmosphere, great seafood, and wonderful staff earns it a **** & 1/2 * from me.
~YBFB
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Lunch - Taziki's
In this season of Lent, I've given up meat. No lamb, chicken, beef (didn't eat pork anyway). So while driving through Little Rock I tried to think of a place that would be fish/veggies friendly. Taziki's came to mind. It is a Mediterranean restaurant with a reasonably large selection of dishes from Humus to Lamb Kabobs to my meal, Tilapia. I also got a side of humus with my meal. The humus was definitely not the best I've had. Wasn't terrible. Nice balance of spices and not too oily, but i think the consistency could have been better. It was a little uncomfortable on the tongue...
The actual dish was very nice: a nice fillet of Tilapia, roasted new potatoes, and a nice sized Greek salad. There was also a Feta Vinaigrette and "tartar" like sauce. I hate tartar sauce, but this sauce was very nice. Light even. The best part, it worked with both the potatoes and the fish. The fish alone was perfect. Moist, well seasoned (not salty) but not so much that you couldn't enjoy the fish. Potatoes....eh.......well with the tartar sauce they were very good. Some of them were a little on the burnt aka Cajun side, but they were not bad. The salad was fresh, well constructed with veggies and the dressing matched perfectly.
There was no dessert today
Service was very very good. After ordering your food they bring it to your table and check on you to see how your meal is going. The patrons range from college students to older ladies having lunch. Dress is casual so put on your flip flops and jeans and check this place out for a light , but satisfying meal. Taziki's gets 4.5 stars from me.
The actual dish was very nice: a nice fillet of Tilapia, roasted new potatoes, and a nice sized Greek salad. There was also a Feta Vinaigrette and "tartar" like sauce. I hate tartar sauce, but this sauce was very nice. Light even. The best part, it worked with both the potatoes and the fish. The fish alone was perfect. Moist, well seasoned (not salty) but not so much that you couldn't enjoy the fish. Potatoes....eh.......well with the tartar sauce they were very good. Some of them were a little on the burnt aka Cajun side, but they were not bad. The salad was fresh, well constructed with veggies and the dressing matched perfectly.
There was no dessert today
Service was very very good. After ordering your food they bring it to your table and check on you to see how your meal is going. The patrons range from college students to older ladies having lunch. Dress is casual so put on your flip flops and jeans and check this place out for a light , but satisfying meal. Taziki's gets 4.5 stars from me.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Dinner tonight...
I decided to start this blog due to a) wayyyyyyyyyyyyyy to much watching of the food network and b) way too few bloggers of color in the food world. I am not a student of food, I'm a doctor. I have an advanced knowledge of the functions and taste distribution of the tongue, but my palate is being trained by myself. I grew up in the south, a land full of fried foods, pork, green, and good ole soul food. Thank God he made me a woman of color because I was born to a woman who would take nothing and turn it into Christmas dinner. She taught me that you cannot mess up food....and that you can't be afraid of it.
With that in mind, in my 26 years, i've been to 30 states and about 11 countries. I've tried a wide range of foods and there are very very few things that I will not try. This is the beginning of what I hope will one day be a sounding board for the voices of minorities as food bloggers to be heard.
Dinner tonight.......was actually not much on the special side, but I will tell you about it anyway....
Place: Macaroni Grill
Time: 9pm Sat night
Dish : Eggplant parmesan
Wine: Syrah, 2003
Good points: The wine was a perfect pairing with a wonderfully prepared dish. Most critics I've heard from complain about the peel being left on their parmesan, but I appreciated the integrity it gave my dish. It wasn't overloaded with cheese either. I appreciated the woody and rich taste of the wine with the tomato sauce that worked like a charm with the eggplant. I know this is a main stream place, but this is a great dish and the staff made me feel welcome to have a meal there
Bad points: I did not particularly have a bad experience at this dinner
Rating: on a scale of * to *****, this meal gets a ****
With that in mind, in my 26 years, i've been to 30 states and about 11 countries. I've tried a wide range of foods and there are very very few things that I will not try. This is the beginning of what I hope will one day be a sounding board for the voices of minorities as food bloggers to be heard.
Dinner tonight.......was actually not much on the special side, but I will tell you about it anyway....
Place: Macaroni Grill
Time: 9pm Sat night
Dish : Eggplant parmesan
Wine: Syrah, 2003
Good points: The wine was a perfect pairing with a wonderfully prepared dish. Most critics I've heard from complain about the peel being left on their parmesan, but I appreciated the integrity it gave my dish. It wasn't overloaded with cheese either. I appreciated the woody and rich taste of the wine with the tomato sauce that worked like a charm with the eggplant. I know this is a main stream place, but this is a great dish and the staff made me feel welcome to have a meal there
Bad points: I did not particularly have a bad experience at this dinner
Rating: on a scale of * to *****, this meal gets a ****
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