“Luck be a lady tonight…”

Posted on September 15, 2011 by Maureen

Who: A dashing duo

What: A special occasion

Where: Truluck’s Seafood, Steak, & Crab House Restaurant

When: Evening

Why: Because all beautiful things end in pairs

The gentleman appeared with a wild orchid and a giant grin to spare. We pulled into valet, and the royal treatment began. The double doors opened to a scene of cool and collected members of Truluck’s. A minute in the foyer and we were introduced to the best table in the house. The red booth was complemented with warm lighting and white linen. Roses awaited in a delicate vase and a bottle of wine ready to cork. A pianist serenaded the clientele in the distance. After greeting the gentleman by name, the team began to serve with grace and poise. Truluck’s, a Ritz-Carlton of restaurants.

The meal was superb. We sipped the gorgeous wine hand-selected by experts. After warming our palates, we opted for the featured oysters on the half shell. The fresh delicacies were accompanied by the most unique condiment, a garlic and herb minuet sorbet. The chilled sweetness was the perfect compliment to the lemon-drizzled oysters. Following the first act, the house wedge salad. The giant iceberg lettuce was garnished with velvety blue cheese, fresh tomatoes, warm brown sugar bacon, and finished with an accent of homemade ranch dressing. This salad is not for the faint of heart. The main dish was then presented, the Dutch Harbor Alaskan King Crab. Two ramekins warmed butter over an open flame: pure and garlic. Though, the crab was so rich on its own, the extras were just that. Garlic mashed potatoes and broccolini were served as sides to the dish.

The meal was a far treat from ordinary. So blessed for these moments in life.

“Luck let a gentleman see
Just how nice a dame you can be”

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Piranha Killer Sushi…well…kills it

Posted on September 11, 2011 by Maureen

I’m beside myself. I truly wish I had more critiques…more sassy, dissatisfied reviews. I could really use that attitude right now. Why? Because I’m so damn happy. It’s sickening really. I mean, I’m euphoric. Somebody, get this girl a net for when she finally falls. But, until then, once again, another fabulous review.

Not many words. Just clean, pure sushi.

Piranha Killer Sushi is insanely fresh. We were first seated by the bar/kitchen/restrooms. The date was not having it. After trading out for a more intimate booth in the corner, we eased back into our seats and ordered a bottle of the Spellbound Cabernet from California. After deciding on the Sashimi roll with salmon, crab & scallions wrapped with hand peeled cucumber, we dove into the delicious conversation. The roll was intoxicating, exciting, refreshing, and lavish, all at once. That about sums up the night. Following, we had the shrimp, white tuna, red tuna, and salmon. All sashimi cut and prepared to perfection.

To wrap it up, we moved down the block for an improv showing of Four Day Weekend. The laughter was sweet and fulfilling, better than dessert.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

No One Can Take Your Power Away

Posted on August 25, 2011 by Maureen

Love Yourself. You certainly deserve it.

Power shake

Ingredients

Preparation method

  1. Put all the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
  2. Pour into glasses and serve with a straw. This shake will keep in the fridge for two days.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

An Osteria to Dine For in Denver

Posted on August 12, 2011 by Maureen

In Italian, “Osteria” is a very humble dwelling where friends and family members gather to dine on good food and wine. A place to share stories, laugh, and revel in homemade delicacies like burrata, recla speck, and seasonal gaspacho. And when in Rome…that is just what we did.

The decor is modern with a rustic appeal that invites old and new world. We passed the young crowd on the patio of Larimer street, the mini butcher counter to our right, and followed our hostess down the steep stairs into the basement where we tucked ourselves away into one of their dark oak booths. To our left the brick wall was accented by large rustic mirrors. The ambiance was cool and warm as our fellow diners mingled in hushed conversation. If one would enter into our world now, they would think none other then we were in some obscure back alley restaurant of Firenze.

Our meal held its own next to the ambiance. With everything seasonally fresh, our bruschetta was crusted to perfection with creamy homemade cheese and locally grown tomatoes. The salad was a beautiful mix of baby greens tossed with warm candied walnuts, fresh goat cheese, a tangy vinaigrette, and topped with the sweetest strawberries. The pizza is truly Roman with the taste of oven-fired dough as you bite into the crisp thin crust. Nothing short of amazing here.

Osteria Marco is truly inspired.

 

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Botanical Gardens, Lili’s, and The Usual

Posted on July 31, 2011 by Maureen

On the short and skinny of Fort Worth, this town has character and charm that’s tucked away behind the shadow of Dallas. I think  the locals like to keep it this way. With more of a humble personality, Fort Worth takes care of itself and the citizens. Here is a recap of my Saturday eve in the quaint Texan town.

Botanical Gardens

We met in the gardens expecting romance and mystique. We did get the mystique, but unfortunately due to the heat of summer, the rose gardens were barren and the Japanese gardens were down to shrubbery. With imagination, this place has potential for a perfect romance effect. There is a shaded patio open day hours for a nice cooling beverage amidst all the greenery. Suggestion: meet at dusk for a serene atmosphere and the beginning stages of the twinkling moon.


Lili’s Bistro

Located on Magnolia Ave, Lili’s is one destination for date night and young professionals. The cobblestone street lends itself character as each restaurant alone the row is unique in spirit. After walking in and out of three restaurants, we opted for bar-side seats in Lili’s. As the piano serenaded the diners, we settled in with the posh clientele. I strongly suggest sharing small plates, because the more flavor you can experience here, the better. I was able to sample the fresh and vibrant tabouli salad, the spicy calamari saute, and the rich and velvety tomato and ricotta tart. Ah-ma-zing.

The Usual

The meal and conversation concluded on a high note. We moseyed on down two stores to the apparently happening spot in downtown Fort Worth. What we walked into was an urban chill atmosphere hosted by some of the state’s best mixers. And that brings me to the BEST cocktail I’ve had yet in the Lonestar State: Bees Knees. With gin, honey, and lemon being the three components, what resulted was a tangy and refreshingly crisp cocktail to savor. No gulping this one down, it’s one to be remembered and sipped cautiously. The crowd was a younger clientele and the loud music was a bit obnoxious for conversation. We tucked ourselves outside on the patio and continued a discussion on how great Led Zeppelin is.


The end to an eve of bliss.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

SANGRIA

Posted on July 27, 2011 by Maureen

In Dallas, there are many options for the first date. Choosing the right place can make or break first impressions. It showcases your personality: if you’re exciting and loud, or quiet and subtle. So when the date chose Sangria Mediterranean Tapas and Bar, I thought, romantic and saucy. It was a hit.

The ambiance is wonderfully warm. The open kitchen offers first-hand views of the colorful chaos from the grill and the cacophony of pans sizzling. After enjoying the bar scene, we were seated center of the European cafe.

Now for the meat of it: the meal. We started with the fried ravioli drizzled with honey. The plate reminded me of sopapillas , yet these raviolis were stuffed with a spinach and cheese concoction. It had the perfect combination of sweet and salty. Matched with a beautiful Malbec, we were in our own Mediterranean delight. Following, my date chose the chicken kabobs and I chose the stuffed peppers. Both were bursting with vibrant flavors. The peppers were stuffed with bits of eggplant and topped with a walnut pesto. And to wrap up the beautiful meal, we tried the bacon-wrapped goat cheese stuffed dates. They were so velvety rich!

Needless to say, my cheeks were flushed from all the food, wine, and great company. Sangria also offers live music on Fridays, which was a nice surprise too.

Sangria Tapas y Bar

Dallas

4524 Cole Avenue
Dallas, Texas 75205
Phone: (214) 520-4863
Menus: Brunch | Dinner | Dessert | Wine

Hours: Monday-Thursday 4:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Friday 4:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.
Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.
Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Directions: Get driving directions to this location.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Honey + Ice Cream = Ecstasy

Posted on July 15, 2011 by Maureen

Home with Lisa Quinn on the Live Well Network is like the PG version of Martha Stewart. Lisa Quinn teaches viewers how to give their bathroom a green face lift or shares the skinny on 400-calorie meals. My personal favorite, how to become a beekeeper. Which brings me to the topic of, honey. Oh, the sumptuous sweet goo from the gods. As a diabetic in training, I can plow through a bottle of honey in a week. And so, adding it to anything creamy is plain genius! And that is why I feel obliged to share an entire post on…(drum roll fx)…honey ice cream.

Check out the recipe here.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Parisian flare in a southwest diner?

Posted on July 13, 2011 by Maureen

Alright ladies and gents, this is the latest news. Tex-mex is back and it has a Parisian flare. Seriously, this is something to write home about, or blog if that’s more your speed. Voted ‘BEST USE OF AN AVOCADO‘ by D Magazine, Taco Diner’s Los Cabos salad is a southwest twist on the class Cobb salad. Avocado mixed with greens and bits of bacon, topped with grilled chicken and accented with a toasted tortilla and a southwest dressing. Each bite is near sinful. Who knew a salad could be done up so much? The surprising fact, all the flavors with avocado, bacon, tomato, blue cheese, egg, and chicken, meld so simply the salad is humble. Uptown Dallas is where you’ll find Taco Diner.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Homemade cafe au lait

Posted on March 24, 2011 by Maureen

The beautiful part of making your own anything is that you can make it how you like it. Same goes with making your own warm frothy cup of coffee. I woke on this rainy San Francisco morning not wanting to leave the confines of my apartment. I took out my milk, New Orleans Chicory blend, and raw sugar. Sans French press or coffee machine, I took out the old fashion stove pot and lit my fire. Next, poured my milk into the warmed pot and scooped two heaping spoonfuls of chicory blend into the milk. I then sweetened to taste. I made mine skim, extra sweet, extra hot. Finally, added some cinnamon to taste. I couldn’t think of a better way to sip my cafe au lait then inside with my pug and a cozy sweater.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

UPDATED: The City’s Finest Coffeehouse

Posted on February 17, 2011 by Maureen

ALRIGHT! I had to take this opportunity to update my last post on the city’s finest coffee establishments. There are some new and exciting coffee endeavors and connoisseurs in the Paris of the West!

As I stated in the previous post, San Francisco has been known as the Paris of the West. With its foggy haze, eccentric writers, and ardor for coffee, it makes sense we love our cafes. Tucked away from the robust winds, one will find a plethora of nooks and crannies to sit back with an enticing book, warm conversation, and that promising cup of coffee. I left the homestead and ventured into the streets of fog and dog shit. On the hunt, there was something to be considered: San Franciscans like a competition. Here is an UPDATED list of the city’s finest coffeehouses:

Contraband Coffee Bar – WOW! Said to be the best lattes outside of Italy. Their cortados are the industry’s favorite. The beans solely come their roaster based out of Oakland and espresso served up in shot glasses. An homage to John Barleycorn himself? Most likely. The cafe features empanadas from a local baker, Dynamo donuts, and a few other pastries featuring local artisans. Also, art from bay area artists are displayed on the sleek walls and rotated monthly. Not to mention, the staff is a sweet treat on its own.

Little Bird Coffeehouse – Whiskey Thieves owners opened the joint in the Tenderloin. The ‘bar’ of coffeehouses, this place serves it up to clientele hipsters and downtown goers. They offer Ritual and De La Paz beans, dripped by hand or pulled espresso on their snazzy bar. Worth checking out.

Hooker’s Sweet Treats – An oasis in the middle of the Tenderloin. An aside from coffee, the salted caramels are something to moan about. Pair up the sweets with Sightglass coffee, a match made from heaven in the midst of the city’s most devilish neighborhood.

farm:table – This review is more food-based, but must be included in my list. The name alludes to the freshness and pureness of its dishes. The food is amazingly simple and brilliant with the ingredient combinations. The menu is constantly evolving and shifting according to what is in season. The coffee and food are all locally sourced, with ultra-fresh ingredients that are a step above the rest.

Amen.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment