Review: Taste of Belgium

There really is nothing like a cool December evening.  I love looking up and seeing stars, dark sky, and tops of buildings lit just blocks away. Last saturday, after an afternoon at Memorial Hall listening to orchestral music and an early evening of shopping for holiday gifts, Steve and I were looking for a cozy spot to enjoy dinner.  I'm not sure if the stars aligned or if it's really just that easy, but we walked right in to Taste of Belgium on their second night of dinner service and enjoyed warm hospitality, delicious food, and the buzz of the city.

I'm not someone whose name appears on special invite-only lists nor do I often (or ever!) attend grand openings, hob-nobbing with the social elite.  I'm looking for good laughs, honest answers, and casual dining experiences.  Don't get it twisted -- I love getting dressed up, enjoying the latest that Cincinnati has to offer and meeting new people -- but I'd much prefer a spot at the bar talking to the bartender.  That was my first experience at Taste of Belgium, and it couldn't have been better.

When we first pulled up to the bar shortly after 7 pm, we were greeted by our bartender and server extrodanairre, Shane.  Shane described the restaurants' beer on tap -- belgium selections ranging from Chimay (what I ordered) to the very own Taste of Belgium brew (Steve enjoyed this).  I truly cannot say enough nice things about the service.  There was no panicked sense that, "THIS IS THE SECOND NIGHT OF DINNER SERVICE."  Everyone was laid back but attentive -- a mark of a great dining experience.

After enjoying a beer, we opted for dinner.  What I appreciated about the menu was that it was concise and to the point.  It's clear this restaurant only provides dishes that they will do well, and therefore isn't drowning in unnecessary offerings to appease those who may not like cafe-style european food.  It's well executed and therefore impossible to pick because everything sounds delicious!  Unless you are me and you immediately know that you want Mussels frites and you are desperately hoping for your partner to order Steak frites so that you can try a bit or two!  Fortunately for me, that's exactly what happened! 

Before our entrees, we split the liegeoise salad.  Wow-o-Wow.  If you are looking for a side dish/salad to bring to a holiday meal -- consider making this!  With the soft potatoes, crisp green beans, mild shallots, a bit of bite from vinegar and BACON - what could be bad?  I've since looked up numerous recipes to re-create this delight and I cannot wait to try it again! 

The mussels come four ways, but I wanted to try the provencal style (tomatoes, garlic, herbs) because these are the flavors I readily cook with and love.  They come ready to eat in a pot and eat I did.  2 lbs worth of mussels!  The only change I'd make to this dish is to serve it with a bit of delicious bread to soak up all the yummy goodness at the bottom of the pot.  So. much. flavor.  

(I apologize for this picture but iPhones have their limitations at times)

The frites were a thing of beauty.  And who doesn't like saying frites.  FRITES.  Something about that word is more uplifting then saying fries.  The frites were crispy and on the shoe-string side served with a slightly tangy aioli sauce.  I could eat that all day long in tub fulls!  

Steve's steak was pretty much made by the savory garlic butter slipping down the sides of the meat.  Again, well executed and easy.  There is no pretense or stuffiness here -- just steak.

Finally, at the suggestion of another bartender, we tried the Belgian chocolate mousse because how can you say no to Belgian chocolate??  Ok, maybe you have that will power but I don't.  The mousse was somehow light and dense simultaneously and served on a crispy web-like cookie.  Sweet way to end a delicous meal....

Only, we took home a bag of liege waffles!!  EEK!  Did I mention their desserts to-go?  We've already been back for a cream puff pastry and have future plans to order macarons. Also, a few of you lucky family members will be receiving Taste of Belgium gift cards this year! The waffles and desserts make for delicious host/hostess gifts...if they last that long!

The owner, Jean-François, has successfully taken a Findlay Market niche of waffles and crepes and turned it into a casual restaurant warm with hospitality and memorable food.  I can't wait to visit again! 

Review: Abigail Street

Abigail Street, the sister restaurant to Senate, is much like a sibling.  The laidback, conversationalist sibling who entertains with ease.  The sibling that makes you a little jealous because you want to be more like her. That's Abigail Steet.  The perfect place to sip wine from a tap (yes, just like a beer tap) and enjoy tapas with your friends.  From the lovely selection of high-quality wines (Have you ever had a sparkling malbec?--It's delicious!) to the wide variety of food that both comforts and surprises, Abigail Street is worth checking out.

Here's the run-down:

The menu lists veggie, seafood, and meat dishes denoted by the carrot, anchor, and cleaver, respectively.  Very clever and an easy way to sort through the menu.  

I tried a flight of reds wine served on customized placemats.  They even give you a little putt-putt pencil to make notes or if you are like me, doodle.  I love the attention to detail here.  Try the Pinot Noir and the Reginato (an Argentinian sparkling rose of malbec) -- they were delicious and complimentary to our meal.

The servers suggested ordering two or three tapas per person.  I'm pretty lucky that my company and I have similiar tastes but they always push me a bit.  This is helpful when going to a tapas restaurant.  It's low stakes because it's small plates (you aren't stuck with a large entree you may not like) and enjoyable because you can try many different tastes.

Take the carrot salad, for instance.  I enjoy raw carrots but often find cooked carrots to be overdone and mushy.  I wouldn't normally order this, but I am so glad we did!  The crunchy pumpkin seeds and creamy goat cheese was a perfect compliment to the crunchy-but-cooked purple and orange carrots.

Another favorite for our table was the chorizo stuffed dates.  These are not your grandmother's pruny, wrinkled health-conscious dates.  These are sweet dates plumped with spicy chorizo and topped with a delicious tomato sauce.  I'm so glad we took the advice of our servers, again.  They know what they are talking about!

Other highlights of the meal was the lamb and fruit couscous and the octopus with chickpeas.  Full disclosure here -- I've been to New Zealand and have enjoyed the best lamb I will ever eat in my life.  That being said, Abigail Street's lamb was the best lamb I have since enjoyed state-side.  The lamb was cooked to perfection and fell off the bone.  The slightly sweet and light couscous was the perfect compliment to the hearty meat. The octopus salad is worth trying, if you want to push your comfort zone a bit.  We are talking full tentacles here.  This salad is meaty and bright with flavors of lemon, diced tomato, and a distinct mediterranean spin.  

Other plates we tried were the stuffed grape leaves and the kefta and eggs. Both were fine, but I'd try other plates next time.

We ended our meal with one of my favorites -- churros.  Who doesn't love fried batter topped with cinnamon and sugar and a side of chocolate dipping sauce?  Yes. Please.

Price wise, Abigail Street makes sense if you are approaching it as it should be enjoyed -- a tapas place where you will split the bill with others at the end of the night.  If you are trying to eat any of the dishes as your main course, you may find them to be over-priced for a smaller amount of food. Remember, this is tapas not entrees. 

Abigail Street is such a wonderful addition to the growing culinary world in Cincinnati. The food was well executed, the wine list ideal, and the service attentive.  I look forward to going again!

 

Review: Enoteca Emilia

Last winter, when Steve and I were training for the Cincinnati Flying Pig Half Marathon, we often ran past the old Balboa's building in O'Bryonville and wondered when a restaurant would finally stay, for good, in that space. Ladies and Gentleman, I think we have a winner.  From the looks of the crowd inside and those waiting for a table Friday night, Enoteca Emilia is here to stay.  It really fills a void in the Hyde Park, O'Bryonville area -- tapas and wine.  And who doesn't like tapas and wine?  Small plates of delicious food to share and a great variety of wine.

The restaurant is large with two dining areas on the first floor and entire upstairs area that takes reservations. Beware, if you want a table with ease -- go early.  This place was steadily busy all night and only takes reservations for parties of six or more.

And now, the important part -- the food!

We started by ordering a Chianti, although we probably could have picked one of 20 other bottles off the list. The wine list was large enough without overwhelming a wine novice.  We asked for something medium-bodied with some spice and the Chianti fit nicely.  

The meat and cheese plate seemed like a must for tapas -- and thank goodness for our server!  She was very knowledgeable about the different meats and cheeses.  Per her suggestions, we ordered the tartufo (sausage and truffles -- seriously, I can't pass that up), Whipped Larson and Nduja (basically a gelatinous salami that tastes better than it looks), and speck (very similiar to a prosciutto).  Cheese wise we had the Robiola and Casaticia di bufala -- both were creamy and paired nicely with the meats.  My favorite part?  The spread of fig jam and the ramekin of honey on the plate to eat with the meat and cheese.  Sweet and savory.  Yum.  

I can't lie to you, we also tried the deviled eggs.  It's a weakness for Steve especially and one we had to try. The egg smoked with trout and the one with the salsa verde (think mint, basil, and olive oil) were by far the best.  I could have passed on the egg topped with mortadella breadcrumbs.  I also think the yolk was creamy to the point of being nearly un-recognizable and the eggs were far too cold.  It seems this is a dish that's made ahead, ready to go, and topped on the way out of the kitchen.

For dinner, we split the caesar salad, wild boar lasagna, and garganelli with mushrooms.  The caesar salad was fine, but nothing too special here.  

The wild boar lasagna was delicious.  Very crispy, not very saucy, but so, so good.  It's amazing the difference between wild boar versus ground meat or sausage.  Now before you get freaked out about wild boar, it's very similiar to pork (it is a type of pig) with a bit more of a gamey taste.  If gamey taste means nothing to you, I'd say it's stronger or more distinct in flavor.  I enjoyed my bites of this lasagna and Steve REALLY enjoyed it.

My preference?  The garganelli with mushrooms.  How can you go wrong with sturdy pasta, delicate mushrooms, and a butter truffle sauce.  You can't -- it's not possible...until you meet dessert and then you can't remember anything you ate in the previous 2 hours!

Dessert.  It's not something we often order, but this dessert was on the house.  While the kitchen was slow at times (I tried to think of it as forced relaxation), the service was great.  When asked to move tables to accommodate for a larger group, the manager gave us dessert on the house.  Very kind.  Our choice?  Fried ricotta fritters with orange marmalade and chocolate sauce.  Yum. Yum. Yum.  Soft on the inside, crispy on the outside topped with a slightly bitter orange marmalade and lovely warm, sweet chocolate. These couldn't have been cooked more perfectly.

Overall, the experience at Enoteca Emilia was a relaxed environment filled with good wine and good food.  I'd say it was a bit on the pricey side, but to stop after work for a glass of wine and small bites to share -- it's perfect. Or just order the fritters.  You won't regret it! 

 

Favorite Bites around OTR

A culinary tour is over-stating it, so I'd say this is more like a 'bite crawl' of my favorite places on Vine Street. Sometimes I have a really difficult time deciding where to eat on the weekends.  It's too large of a commitment to expect me to make reservations most weekends.  Reservations take away the spontaneity of weather (what if it's a beautiful fall day and I want to sit on a patio and drink wine, but I've booked a meal in a dark, crowded space??).  Reservations also remove the surprise of what will I eat tonight (whenever reservations are involved, you know I've already checked out the menu online and mentally picked my meal).  

On a day when it feels like too much to have to choose, it's nice to be non-commital and Vine St. in Over-the-Rhine offers me that:  options.  So, on a Saturday night, why not wander downtown for a drink at the Lackman, an appetizer at Senate, and a pizza at A Tavola. 

There are certain dishes that I literally dream about and crave.  Food memories are strong ones.  They sear the brain with aromas and feelings.  I can literally taste the smurf cone with rainbow sprinkles from Kings Island after riding the Beastie.  OR feel my throat close up at the thought of having to choke down a forkful of green bean casserole.  Food memories for me have always been indellible and there is one dish in Cincinnati that has recently been added into my food memory bank:  poutine. 

Senate's poutine is a sinful dish -- a plate of truffle fries, topped with braised short ribs, melty cheese curds, and for some extra gooeyness, we like our crowned with a fried egg.  I dream about this dish.  It's sad, but true.  I love it and wish more restaurants would embark on this Canadian treat.  See -- the canadians offered up something even better than Ryan Gosling.  

I'd also like to praise Senate for carrying one of my favorite beers: La Chouffe.  Read about it here. Besides the cute little gnome guy on the bottle, it's light and full of spice.  

After a plateful of fries, it's time to follow up with a little trip to A Tavola for a pizza.  We have been to this place 4 or 5 times since its opening in June and every time I think I'm going to write about it.  But I don't. I want to share all of it's glory with you, but words can't do this place justice.  I also don't want to wait ever longer for a table -- but I will, happily.  It smells smokey, the tables are beautiful, imperfect wood and I haven't had a bad bite here.  In fact, I've had many wonderful bites here! 

Some of my favs:

 Arancini -- fried risotto is creamy and tasty with the bright salsa verde for dipping.  I can't say enough about these.  Delicious.

And then, the pizza:

White anchovy pizza with fontina and arugula.  Salty and lemony.  

Margherita pizza on bottom and sopresetta and provolone on top.  

Fig jam w/ proscuitto and arugula on top.  This is by far my favorite. Smokey and sweet.  Love it.

Happy Pizza Goers:

**Please note** These pictures were taken after multiple visits -- no one can eat that much in one sitting! Also, A Tavola, if you are reading this, please bring back the fried fennel rings.  They were my favorite!

So, if you find yourself needing some excitement this weekend -- start a food crawl and let me know where it takes you! 

Review: The Wine Guy Bistro

I will say it.  I like my red wine.  I also like private alcoves with fun drapes to close and rustic tables that look hand made.  Not to mention munching on olives, pita bread, and assorted spreads.  If these statements ring true for you, you will want to find yourself at the Wine Guys Bistro in Rookwood on an upcoming evening. 

I've been to Wine Guys a few times and each time I'm struck by how cozy the space feels and truly how many options there are for wine drinkers.  The best part?  The flights of wine that give you the option of trying different types of wine if you are indecisive and adventurous like me.  Four 2 oz pours (it's about a glass and a half of wine) -- I'm partial to the International flight, but they also have whites and various other reds.  You can't go wrong.  Another appealing part of this place are the tapas.  I love the hummus and tapenade plate -- garlicky, sundried tomato hummus and salty olives on warm pita and cucumbers.  Great to share!

Wine Guys is great for after work drinks, but it's also a nice place for dinner -- most of their tapas portions can be ordered as entrees.  I had the spicy shrimp pasta.  Big enough portion to have some left over for lunch the next day.  I really loved the creamy sauce and the scallions as a topping for a nice crunch.  Steve opted for the hamburger -- it's a daily special -- and this time it was topped with salami and provolone and served on a pretzel bun.  The bite I enjoyed was grilled and had that summery charcoal flavor.  The burger was more medium well than medium, but still juicy.

Don't forget -- this is also a wine store, so bring a bottle home to enjoy! 

Steve doesn't know I took this one :-)