Laguna Beach part 2

The Rooftop at Casa del Camino was the ultimate SoCal party deck. Sweeping views of the deep blue Pacific frame a teak and granite bar where the bartenders lose track of how many mojitos they serve after the first 10 miutes of their shift (true story--I asked).

Sangria + View

Fresh berry sangria, grapefruit fizz martinis, fabulous Bloody Marys, and those magnificent mojitos... Where o where do we begin? I'll take you through all of them (I did have a whole weekend.... Haha).


The sangria was delightful. It was comprised of great red wine, brandy, Grand Marnier , pineapple and orange juices, and more fruit than an office-to-office Christmas gift basket. Not overly sweet, not overly boozy (at least on the palette), I think it may be the perfect breakfast drink. (Besides, with pomegranate seeds and blueberries, this beverage can certaily be classified as a wellness tonic.)


The mojitos--available in four great fruit flavors--were out of this world. A handful of muddled mint leaves gave way to Bacardi Silver, a homemade citrus sour mix, a mango puree, fresh citrus and a sugar cane stick to stir. No little umbrella necessary for this vacation dream-drink.

Ahi Tuna Poke

The grapefruit fizz was ok. Our bartender (Pete-a supermacho cheeky badass) accidentally put a salt rim on it instead of a sugar rim. Gross. Then he didn't even believe me and had to try it to make sure. Come on, Pete--the customer should always be right. Yikes!

The Bloody Marys were also fabulous--very spicy with lots of lime. The food on the roof was decent. I wouldn't call it amazing but it was sufficient for munching. We went with the pork dumplings, the Hawaiian Ahi Poke, and edamame. Nothing was overly noteworthy, but it was all fresh. The Poke was served with fried wontons that resembled pork rhinds and were far too heavy and oily for the delicate miso-soy tuna. The pork wontons were tasty with a satisfying crunch.

The RoofTop gets 2.5/5. The food was standard and overpriced, the service was substandard, it was always very crowded, but the ocean views and SoCal atmosphere still made it the place you wanted to be. My prediction it tat it will always be tat crowded, but if you are in Laguna Beach, you might as well enjoy the view.... Cheers!

Laguna Beach (part 1)

This weekend we pretended to be jet-setters and headed out to Laguna Beach. Laguna Beach is home to unbelievable surfing, hyper-developed coastlines and faux celebrities. In fact, it only took us (ok, just me) a few hours to spot a OC Real Housewife at the hotel rooftop bar (Jo from season1. Yes, I am mildly embarrassed that I know that).


I had my doubts, but the occasion was one of my dearest friend's nuptials, so I happily decided to enjoy the premium price of sun and surf.


We arrived at 10:30pm on Friday night, hungry and bleary from the exploits of LAX, piece of-crap-rental cars and far too many hours without sleep. Hotel Casa del Camino is right on the South Coast Highway. It is decorated in a Moroccan theme (there were Moroccan lamps, adobe walls and a hookah in our room). The lobby is always bustling with trendy beachgoers and edgy partygoers.

The Lost Suite at Hotel Casa Del Camino

Lucky for us, the hotel tapas restauarant--K'ya Bistro--was still hopping. In fact, it seemed like the place to be. Ripe with locals (hipsters, posers, and plenty of people wanting to be seen) it was a people watcher's dream.


Our server (a handsome young model/actor/surfer type) was kind and knowledgable and happy to make recommendations to two road-weary travelers. I had a beautiful glass of La Crema Pinot Noir (one look at the wine list had me exclaiming "Toto, we aren't in the MidWest anymore!"). Jeff had a craveable mango mojito (many more would be enjoyed throughout our stay). Cheers to vacation! We ordered Tilapia Piccata and Truffled Mac and Cheese (with blue cheese, porcini, and crispy almonds). Both hit the spot.

It was pricey (about $70 with tax and tip for a very lean version of dinner). Then again, this is the OC. I give K'ya 3.5/5 for a kickin' atmosphere, good food, great drinks and friendly service. Welcome to the beach! Cheers... (stay tuned for part 2 and pics)

Wine Professionals

Since opening the Lobby Lounge several years ago, I've had the opportunity to travel through California's wine country and meet several winemakers.  Making wine certainly is not as glamorous as one may first think, but it has an undeniably romantic appeal. If you've ever been to a small winery (say, out in Sonoma or Mendocino counties), you know that the people who make wine are salt-of-the-earth and incredibly knowledgeable about their land and the process.  For me, knowing the winemaker--hearing their stories, passions, and experiences--enhances the entire experience.

So that the next time you run into a wine professional you have some context, here are all of the professions that one can have in that sector.  Even if you don't run in circles teeming with viticulture, this will at least be good cocktail party fodder.  (Thank you wikipedia!)

I had no idea what any of these occupations were before I got into the industry.  Wine can be a very intimidating topic, but I firmly believe that it shouldn't be.  To the contrary, wine--like everything else we love and cherish--is meant to be enjoyed and understood in a way that doesn't make anyone feel stupid, uneducated, or having a lesser-than pedigree.


So go forth and confidently speak of Oenologists, Sommeliers and Terroir.  Help me in my quest to demystify this nectar of the gods.  Cheers!

Seasons 52

Seasons 52, part of the Darden group of restaurants (of Capitol Grille and Outback Steakhouse fame) is new to our city.  Located at Keystone at the Crossing, it is a tempting lunch choice.  The concept is revolutionary in the restuarant world:  every menu item (including desserts) is 475 calories or less.  They don't even have mayonnaise in the kitchen (those of you who know me know that scores major points for me).  Surely this is too good to be true.

Today I am meeting a friend of mine who has recently ended a long hotel career to embark on an exciting new position in the restaurant arena.  We sit at the bar, which they call "the piano area" for its live piano music every night.  The decor is warm and welcoming, masculine with a touch of modern.  I dislike the loud fabric on the banquets, but I am a tough critic and everything else looks and feels great.  Our server, Mel, is fabulous!  She knows the wine list in and out.  I inquire about the Verdejo, and she tells me all about it.  It is delightfully crisp and refreshing.

The menu is fraught with seasonal offerings from a variety of different backgrounds and influences.  I opt for the Lemongrass Salmon Salad and my friend orders the Chipotle Shrimp Flatbread.  My salad is a thing of beauty.  The salmon comes on a spear of lemongrass, the salad comes in a glass hurricane that they lift upon service to release the greens to the plate.  The flavor is well-balanced, with slivered almonds, edamame, small bits of sauteed pineapple, a white balsamic vinaigrette and perfectly grilled salmon.  The flatbread is a little of everything:  sweet, smokey, and salty with a slight kick of heat.

Mel also promises us a taste of their new white feature on the wine list, a Veridicchio from Marchetti, and Italian white in the Pinot Grigio style but with more body and notes of peach.  The wine does not disappoint.  She informs us that the point of a wine bar in Indy is to help people try new wines.  Mel, we couldn't agree more!  

Overall, this lunch experience was stellar!  It was a little pricey ($52 for two with 2 glasses of wine, tax and tip), but it was worth every penny.  I give them 4/5 for excellent service, delicious food (the waist-trimming component is a bonus), and a wonderful ambiance.  I will be back many times.  My wallet may not thank me but my waist just might.

CDM #3: Marco's

For our second ChowDownMidtown meal, we tried Marco's at 54th and Keystone.  We made a reservation for four, and we were promptly seated in the bar at our request.  Marco's is well-known for it's Tuesday night filet mignon special ($14.95), but it has new ownership as of recently, so ChowDownMidtown presented as a great opportunity to try their 3-course 2/$30 menu.

We ordered a bottle of the Frenzy Sauvignon Blanc, but that was out of stock so we got a bottle of Oyster Bay which was a fair substitute (I was disappointed since I had never tried the Frenzy and Oyster Bay is everyone's house Sauvignon Blanc these days).  The wine was served in painfully small glasses.  In my humble opinion, it is a true annoyance when a full pour of wine completely fills the glass (no room to swirl the wine properly or even just get a little sloppy with your hand gestures).

The CDM menu included 2 appetizers for the four of us, so we chose the Calamari and the Fried Mozzerella.  The mozzerella was particularly good, as it was fresh Buffalo Mozzerella (not the typical fried string cheese on most menus).  We then had salads, which were requisite.  The only perceptible difference between the Greek and house salads was the presence of one calamata olive and one small nugget of feta. No big deal I suppose.

For entrees, three of us ordered the Parmesan Pork Medallions, while Courtney ordered the Veal Marsala.  The veal wasn't the best version of Marsala either of us had had, but it was fine.  The Parmesan Pork was delicious, but very heavy.  It was served on a bed of fettuccine with a light tomato cream sauce, which was tasty but their wasn't enough sauce for even half of the pasta (which is fine for the waistline I suppose but disappointing nevertheless).

All in all, 2.5/5.  Service and atmosphere were standard.  The food was marginal (some good, some fair, some disappointing).  I salute them for participating in CDM, but it seemed like they were caught in a minor identity crisis between fine dining and a casual neighborhood joint.  Cheers!

Blind Wine Tasting Party (on a Budget)

So this is a great party that I have done for my wine friends;  here's how it works:

I really like to isolate only one variable to make the tasting more of a conversation starter.  We'll do this one on price, but there are more suggestions below.  Ask everyone to bring a 750ml bottle of wine at a certain price point ($13-15, for instance).  Instruct your guests to stay within one varietal (Sauvignon Blanc for instance) or flavor profile (crisp, unoaked, white).  You provide a bottle that is significantly higher in price (say $35).  Put them all in numbered brown bags (of course you'll need to record which bottle is in which bag, but keep it to yourself). 

Hand out pieces of paper (if you want to go "overachiever" on this you can print them out with the numbers and lines for "notes" and a ranking of 1-x, the number of bottles you are tasting).  Give everyone a glass and have them rank each wine and make notes.  Tell them that there is one wine that is much pricier than the rest, and let them speculate.

The reveal is the fun part.  I ask each guest to reveal one bottle.  Entertaining guesses as to which is which before-hand is really fun too.  It's hilarious to see who gets what right.  I've done this several times where not one guest has correctly guessed the expensive bottle.  

Here are some more ideas:

*Everyone brings a bottle of merlot, for instance, and you research snacks that bring out the different flavor aspects of that varietal.  Make tasting notes according to how the wine tastes with the different snacks. You may be surprised how food can completely change the taste of wine!

This is a good resource for food pairing purposes:  http://www.gayot.com/wine/pairing/appetizers.html

If you have a more casual crowd (they like potato chips and salsa more than bacon wrapped dates), try this one http://archive.supermarketguru.com/page.cfm/page.cfm/283

*Each guest brings a different varietal (you assign).  Brown bag them and try to guess which bottle is made from which grape.  This idea is great to bring wine experts down to earth, and an approachable way to let wine novices try a spectrum of wine without any preconceived notions.

*If you have an expert crowd, focus on wines from one country (preferably not USA for interest's sake), or even one region.  You can provide snacks inspired by that part of the world.  Chile would be fun, for instance, or even the Loire Valley in France.

Cheers- and happy tasting!

CDM #2 Aristocrat Pub

Our third ChowDownMidtown meal was at the Aristocrat Pub.  They had a 2/$30 menu, but we went with three people so my borhter had a regular menu experience while Jeff and I split the CDM menu.  Service was great!  Vincent showed up to a lovely table on the patio.  The Aristocrat is pleasantly surprising.  Though it is right on College Avenue (just North of 52nd), it is so well landscaped that you feel as though you are in a lovely courtyard (with some random traffic noise, but still). 

Our server, Will, was knowledgeable about the local craft beer on tap (Flat 12 Hlaf Cycle IPA for Jeff) and the CDM menu.  We started with the beer cheese crock with Granny Smith apples and pretzel bread, which was delicious.  It didn't bowl me over, but it was tasty, and we were very hungry and happy with the satisfying starter.  Jeff ordered a Cajun Greens Salad as his entree, a hearty composed bowl of corn, black beans, cajun grilled chicken, tomatoes, feta and mixed greens.  This is a man salad (and Jeff thoroughly enjoyed it).  

Cajun Greens Salad-Aristocrat

Ryne ordered a burger with grilled onions and cheddar, and it was definitely enjoyable (and looked amazing).  I was disappointed in my Portabella Ravioli.  The pomodoro sauce was poorly seasoned (too much pepper for the delicacy of the sauce, and the wine wasn't cooked out of it so it had a bitter, hot flavor) or a good match for the ravioli, which was undercooked.  This was a failure, but certainly not the worst thing I've eaten.

Dessert was a dense Guinness Chocolate Cake with a fudge-like ganache frosting and raspberry sauce.  It was satisfying, if a little on the dry side).  All in all, 3/5.  We will be back, but we won't hurry.  The Aristocrat's service and atmosphere was very nice and the prices were fair.  The inconsistent food left something to be desired.

CDM #1: Ripple Inn

Ripple Inn's Caesar Salad

The Ripple Inn has taken a lot of heat from critics since the beloved Broad Ripple Steakhouse closed just a short year ago.  I have been wanting to try it for myself now for quite some time, and what better opportunity than a prix fixe , three-course, $30 menu courtesy of ChowDownMidtown?  Rumor has it they hired new superstar Executive Chef Joseph Davey (of Chicago's 3-Michelin-star Alinea fame).  Let's see what he's got for Indy!

Service started off very slowly as we waited to order, waited for wine, waited for the first course.  That's where the complaints end and raving begins.  We ordered three spectacular courses (all different, so we could taste).  The minestrone I ordered had smoked chicken and a surprising broth flavored with miso and nutmeg.  It was like opening a gift from your uncle (you love him, but you don't expect to love the gift) and it being the most thoughtful gift you've received that year! Jeff's caesar salad had whole white anchovy fillets, radicchio, and a lovely dressing with long strands of lemon zest.

The entrees were also noteworthy.  My salmon was cooked to a perfect medium (upon request) and complimented by a briny cured olive tapanade, tomato vinaigrette, lemony sorrel, and a bed of arugula.  Jeff's roasted chicken had 2 unctuous sauces--demi-glace and piccata--and a ratatouille of beautiful spring vegetables.

Plank-Grilled Salmon, Tapanade, Olive Gel, Sorrel-Ripple Inn

Dessert was a "last but not least" type of moment.  My chocolate pot de creme was rich (not too sweet) with salty candied hazelnuts, vanilla bean mousse and cat's tongue's tuiles (strange but a surprising herbaceous touch).  Jeff had a lemon tart that looked like (in his words) "strawberry Stone Henge meets a crashed lemon-tart UFO," and (in my words) "a party on a plate."  There was unbelievable lemon curd with homemade crust, pound cake, dried and fresh berries, pretzels, M&Ms, and chantilly cream.  See what I mean?  Party!

My favorite part of the meal was what I didn't order.  Gnocchi pomodoro was on the entree list, so Jeff asked our server if I could have a tasting portion.  Not only did they oblige this request, but it was phenomenal!  The gnocchi was seared (a la the Meridian), the pomodoro was rich a developed with oregano and mirepoix, and there was a basil "pudding" that added a nice zing.  The manager and our server (Melinda) were so nice to accommodate my little gnocchi obsession.

Taster of Gnocchi Pomodoro-Ripple Inn

To sum up:  Slow service was more than compensated for by a very attentive and accommodating staff--just don't be in a hurry.  The food was daring-lots of molecular gastronomy from Chef Davey that I hope Indy people will embrace!  The value was incredible, but I owe that mostly to ChowDownMidtown ($115 with tax, tip, and a bottle of New Zealand pinot noir).  I give it 4/5.  Only the speed of service could improve, and in some cases there was too much on the plate.  Coco Chanel once said, "When accessorizing take off the last thing you put on."  Certainly establishments featuring haute cuisine could often take a cue from this.  Nonetheless, we will be back, and probably often.  Cheers!

the little dumpling that could

Gnocchi (or as my tastebuds know them, "little pillows of heaven") is my ultimate comfort food.  Why have one starch when you can have two in the same perfect bite?  Potato and semolina pasta come together to make a versatile comfort food equally well-suited for spring vegetables, parmaggiano reggiano and white wine or a hefty red sauce bolognese.

Making gnocchi is not my favorite (making anything time-consuming is not my favorite), so gnocchi has become my Italian restaurant benchmark.  As some say the mark of a great French restaurant is the soups, I say the mark of a great Italian eatery is its gnocchi (unless it is home-made they shouldn't even put it on the menu in my opinion).

My favorite restaurant to eat gnocchi is the unassuming Nob Hill Cafe in San Francisco (with creamy pesto or spicy Arrabiata sauce, I alternate).  In Indy, Capri has some pretty good stuff too (try it in the Bosceola style, tomato cream with mushrooms).  Since I do not get out to Frisco often these days, and Capri is not on my weekly circuit, my favorite way to enjoy my little heavenly pillows is... drum roll please... at my desk!  Trader Joe's (a truly spectacular wonderland of short-cut foods) has a fabulous Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Butter and Sage sauce in their freezer section.  Just heat and serve (it is enough for two perfect lunches, I've found).  The best way to heat it initially is in a sauce pan over medium heat.  Use the microwave to reheat it, but not to cook it from a frozen state--the gnocchi lose their shape entirely.  Sadly, pillows = mush at that point.  It is also good with add-ins, like walnuts, butternut squash, asiago cheese, and fresh spinach.  If you try it let me know what you think!

I'm still looking for my summer equivalent of this dish, as that dish is completely autumnal in its flavor profile. I haven't yet found it, but rest assured that I will not give up!  I may even one day try to make my own pillows of perfection, but don't hold your breath.  It just seems like a lot of work.  At this point I am all too happy imagining an Italian grandmother lovingly shaping each little dumpling for the enjoyment of her boisterous and large Italian family (and me, if I'm in her restaurant that night).  It is a nice picture.  Cheers!

saying good-bye

This week we said good-bye to a dear friend who is moving to Georgia to be reunited with her husband, who has been serving in Iraq for the past year.  Though she is overjoyed that their family will finally be together, she was so very sad to leave a group of girlfriends that has grown close.

It all started when my dear friend, Cara, invited a group of women for a weekend in Michigan.   Each year the group changes slightly as we caravan up to South Haven for a weekend of amazing food, hilarious stories, walks on the beach and bottles (many bottles) of wine.  We divide up the weekend's meals and attack them in teams of two or three.  As you may have guessed--we bring our best.  This isn't just cooking for the family, this is foodie women cooking for foodie women! We all raise our game.  Every year the food gets better.

Cara and I team up to make the comfort food of the weekend: gourmet grilled cheese and tomatoMagic soup.  It may sound simple, but it gets rave reviews year after year.  The grilled cheese is buttery, toasted sourdough with sharp Vermont white cheddar, herbed boursin, and muenster with wilted spinach and tomato.  The soup is a Provencal-style tomato bisque floavored with orange and lavender and given depth by caramelized carrots, shallots and garlic.  They can each stand tall alone, but when they are together a symphony plays in your mouth.  Seriously (you can hear it).  I'm salivating just thinking about it!

But on the night in question, which is one of our quarterly gatherings of our ever-expanding Michigan group, we are bittersweet.  Saying good-bye to our Carrie is sad, though we are so very happy for her to be with her husband as he gets a break from honorably serving our nation.  We celebrate memories with amazing hors d'oeuvre:  creamy crab cocktail, chorizo with arugula pesto, brie with honey and pecans, and lots of delicious dips.  We devour too-big pieces of "We will miss you!" chocolate-chocolate-chip cake from Classic Cakes (their buttercream is something for the ages). We raise our glasses--this time filled with deliciously sweet sangria--one last time to our friend as a neighbor.  And we vow to do it again in Michigan this fall.  Cheers to friendship!

Petite Chou

The is Broad Ripple, right? Because right now it feels as if I am in Paris, which makes me soooo happy!  We walk up to Petite Chou in the heart of cafe-ridden Broad Ripple Village.  It is twilight.  The tables are full of people chatting; dogs are on leashes lazing about their owners feet; intimate conversations are lingering over wine and champagne. The mood is somewhere between festive, sophisticated, and "best kept secret"--clearly these people know something the rest of the world hasn't yet discovered.  This is my kind of place...

The servers, clad in black and all looking very fit and urban, are knowledgeble.  The menu includes St. Germain with Prosecco by the glass or by the pitcher (wow!).  I order a glass-heaven!  Jeff orders the Domaine Aine & Fils Pinot Noir, which is delightfully lean and European in its style.  We start with the goat cheese salad, which is delightful.  The warm crouton (slathered with goat cheese- mmm), is so crunchy that I'm glad I'm not wearing dentures, but the taste is great.  The homemade blackberry-pear vinaigrette is not as sweet or fruity as I expected and it is perfectly balanced.

We decide to order the famed Chicken Paillard ("pie-yar" as I remember from Paris) and the Catch of the Day (Halibut).  We also order the Gruyere Mac and Cheese and the Lentils (the server recommends we add tomatoes and garlic, so we do) for the table.  Now I'm going to start gushing: phenomenal, cravable, delectable, scrumptious... these are the words coming to mind as I indulge in all of this cuisine.  The Halibut was incredibly fresh, perfectly cooked (not a smidge dry), and sauced in a buerre blanc that would have made Julia Child weep (I am close to tears of joy myself).  The paillard is perfect--seared, flattened, classically topped with a lemony pan sauced, a mountain of peppery arugula and lots of shaved parmesan for a nutty, salty finish.  The Mac was so good I made it the next day for family dinner- I couldn't get it out of my head!  The lentils weren't ravable, but they were as good as lentils get (I'm not a lentil enthusiast, but I respect them). 

When you put all of this food together with a great small-batch wine and craft beer list, many sparkling selections, and great service, it is a home run!  I have always respected Martha Hoover as a woman and a business person, and she has taken it to another level with this concept.  Though Petite Chou is only a five block walk from my house, I wish it were even closer (though my bank account probably doesn't).  I give Petite Chou 4.5/5.  The food is spectacular, the prices are fair (we spent $83 with tax and a healthy tip), the service is professional, and the ambiance is tres chic.  A Votre Sante!

Family Dinner SUCCESS!

Family dinner, family dinner... Our family dinners have a variety of concepts--from formal and strategically planned to thrown-together pitch-in.  Interestingly enough, it doesn't count as a family dinner at our house unless several parts of our family (or friends) are included.  More is truly merrier at our houses (there are 4 houses where our family dinners typically take place).  Family dinner has become as much of a social construction as a way to share the cooking load and keep menus from getting stale.

Tonight's family dinner was impeccable and thrown-together! Courtney (who is always a source of culinary inspiration) wanted to try a quinoa salad with lemon vinaigrette, veggies, and wilted spinach (it was amazing!).  Salad and starch, done.   I had purchased a beautiful chimichurri-style cilantro pesto at the Broad Ripple farmer's market (from the Country Mouse stand--be sure to try their spicy red pepper pesto too) and used that to marinate lamb kebabs with some lemon zest.  Boneless, skinless chicken thighs were also on sale, so I ended up marinating them in Bell's HopSlam IPA, buttermilk, and Greek herbs.  We threw all of that beautiful meat on the grill, and the main course--a duo, no less--was done!  Courtney tossed wedged Yukon Golds in a bunch of garlic and olive oil, and we roasted them.  We cheated and steamed fresh corn on the cob in the microwave, but it was so sweet and delicious you didn't detect one ounce of short-cutting.  Sides-done!

So we feasted.  A simple gathering of family and friends is the perfect end to a long, fun-filled holiday weekend.  Family dinners have become such a breath of fresh air for me that when I'm tempted to order in (or grab that drive-through paper sack), I just call Courtney and try to get a family dinner in the works.  Courtney is technically my niece by marriage according to our family's strange generational structure, but we function more like great friends who work really well together, especially in the kitchen.  We've started calling ourselves the "C and C Food Factory" on family dinner nights.  Mostly we say this to make our husbands, my stepsons, and whomever else is listening roll their eyes (yes--it is an incredibly dorky name jacked from the one-hit-wonder 90s music group of "Gonna Make You Sweat" fame).  We say this in part, also, because we are proud that we can crank out a massive amount of delicious food and make it look relatively easy.  And it is easy with the whole family dinner concept, because no one gets stuck with all of it.  So now the voices of my grandmother and my mother  are popping into my head "Many hands make light work." How true that statement is!

Now this isn't a recipe blog, and I generally don't cook with recipes (except the "in my head" kind).  If any of you would like me to give you a basic recipe for anything you read about us cooking, I'll do my best to recreate it for you.  It may not be exact, but I'll get you close.  Just leave a comment and I'll respond.  Here's to many amazing family dinners in your future (and mine!).  Cheers...