Dairy Queen in Rockingham - Fan Food, not Fast Food

Happy Thursday!

Sorry for the delay in posting again, life has been crazy lately between moving and getting settled in to my new place and work! I wanted to tell you about our recent experience at the Dairy Queen in Rockingham, NC last week, where we stopped on our last trip back to Wilmington from Huntersville. Our first visit had been two months ago, during our first trip out here, as there isn't a DQ that serves food in Wilmington (just a stand that serves ice cream). We've seen countless commercials extolling the virtues of the food and definitely wanted to check it out, and were very glad that we did!

Fried Cheese Curds

When we saw that there were fried cheese curds on the menu, we knew we had to get some! I am a huge fan of Mozzerella sticks, and these were pretty similar, only bite-size! They were lightly battered and fried just enough so that the insides were gooey but there was a nice crunch when you bit into them. They were fresh out of the fryer and were perfectly cooked - you definitely want a long string of cheese with these, and DQ definitely delivered! I was pleasantly surprised with the end result as I'd never had cheese curds cooked like this before. Like most Mozzerella sticks, they were served with marinara sauce, but I ordered a side of Ranch as well, and the combination was absolutely incredible. I know I will be ordering these the next time I stop in!

Salted Caramel Truffle & Strawberry Cheesecake Blizzards

Everyone knows that DQ is famous for their blizzards, so we had to get some for the road. I opted for the Salted Caramel Truffle Blizzard while Chris chose the Strawberry Cheesecake Blizzard. Mine was absolutely delicious! It was chock full of chocolate and caramel, and also had little chocolate candy pieces with salted caramel inside (they were the best parts). I am a huge fan of salted caramel - I feel that the salty/sweet mixture is just about as decadent as you can get. This blizzard certainly did not disappoint! Chris' Strawberry Cheesecake was one of the classic blizzard creations and it was also quite yummy. It's a vanilla-based blizzard with tons of strawberry chunks and real cheesecake pieces. It really makes you feel like you're eating a true New York style cheesecake with strawberries on it. Of course, the employees have to show you how thick the blizzards are by turning them upside down with the spoon inside, and these certainly held up to the test! 

The last great part of this visit was that there was a guy there with a guitar, taking requests and singing. This is just a tiny part of his cover of "My Girl" - he had an exquisite voice and was just an added bonus to the stop. (I made sure to tip him generously, don't worry!)

Today's quote is by Euripedes: "When a man's stomach is full it makes no difference if he is rich or poor."

Have a great day!

Duckworths - Best apps and atmosphere!

Happy Friday!

Today is my last official day at my job in Wilmington and then we are off to Mooresville! I wanted to write about some of the delicious appetizers we had our last night in Huntersville from Duckworth's. There are several locations around the Charlotte area and there was one right beside our hotel! We ordered some food from there the last time we visited and knew we had to do it again. They are famous for their beers (over 440 on tap for 5 locations!) as well as their wings, which we got last time (and were incredible). The restaurant itself is very welcoming, and when we move we will probably go and dine in, but we just wanted to get some food to take back to the room. They have over 50 LG flat screen televisions - it's like a sports bar, but with a nicer atmosphere than any sports bar that I've ever been to. This time we opted for the potato skins, onion rings and Loaded Nachos with Fajita Chicken.

Potato Skins

One of Chris' favorite apps of all time is potato skins. The ones at Duckworth's come with scallions, cheese, bacon (can be substituted for Jalapeño bacon) and sour cream on the side. We also got a side of Jalapeños for some additional heat. As you can see the potatoes themselves are of decent size, and the flavor is amazing. The outside of the skins was seasoned perfectly (sometimes they can be bland, but these were salted nicely) and were tender enough to cut with a fork without being mushy. They use Applewood Smoked Bacon, which was cooked perfectly so that it was crispy and decadent. We had ordered them the last time we were in Huntersville and were pleased both times!

Onion Rings

I had a random craving for onion rings and I am very glad I decided to get these! They were crispy and light, not too heavily battered, and, again, seasoned to perfection. The best part was the honey mustard which wtih they were served. As a general rule, I'm not a huge honey mustard fan, I prefer the sweeter kind over those with more of a mustard flavor. This one used whole grain mustard and was creamy and sweet. It reminded me of the honey mustard at Eddie Romanelli's (my second waitressing job), which was my favorite until I tried this one. I normally dip onion rings in Ranch dressing but this honey mustard was outstanding! The sweetness and bite of the onions complemented the savoriness of the dressing. I will definitely be ordering these again!

Loaded Nachos w/ Fajita Chicken

The star of the three apps we got was undoubtedly the loaded nachos with fajita chicken. Let me start by telling you that this serving size was ENORMOUS, in case you can't tell by the pictures. Because we got them to-go, they came in an aluminum pan that was probably 8/8 (or, close to it), and they put all the fixins on the side (tomatoes, jalapeños, sour cream, guacamole and red onions). Also it is worth noting that there was an entire POUND of chicken, so the whole dish weighed probably 3 pounds! The nachos themselves were loaded with cheese and chicken, and you definitely got some of each in every bite. We sprinkled the veggies on top and dipped the chips in the guac and sour cream so they wouldn't get soggy, and the result was amazing. This dish is enough to serve at least five people - we had well over half left over! I highly recommend ordering these nachos if you are looking for a filling, decent-sized appetizer for a party or any other social gathering. You can also order these loaded nachos with chili or buffalo chicken, which would make for a perfect winter meal. I'm not exaggerating, folks - these are DEFINITELY meant to be shared!

To summarize, Duckworth's is the perfect place to go, whether you want to have a beer and watch the game or have a family meal that won't kill your wallet (the rest of their menu is quite extensive, ranging from Philly cheesesteaks to fajitas to flatbreads). I am very excited to be moving someplace where there are multiple venues - looking forward to trying them all!

Today's quote is by Elsa Schiaparelli: "Eating is not merely a material pleasure. Eating well gives a spectacular joy to live and contributes immensely to goodwill and happy companionship. It is of great importance to the morale."

Have a great Friday (the 13th!) and weekend... since I'm moving I probably won't have time to post again until next week. Wish me luck! 

Best Chinese Food Take-Out in Huntersville - Dragon Express

Beef Lo Mein, General Tso's Chicken, Won Ton Egg Drop Soup, BBQ Boneless Spare Ribs & Egg Roll

This trip to Charlotte/Mooresville/Huntersville has been a whirlwind! So much going on trying to get everything set up for my new condo as well as work, which is why this blog has unfortunately gone by the wayside. I apologize deeply but will try to get back on it... starting now! 

Wherever we live we try to find the best local Chinese take-out restaurant and we found it at Dragon Express in Huntersville, right off Sam Furr Road (in the Northcross Shopping Center). It was a rainy Monday night and we just wanted something quick, easy and satisfying that we could take back to the hotel and eat while sitting in bed and watching Netflix. We looked on Google for almost 10 minutes trying to find the best and closest place and were eventually led to this little hidden gem. I was a little worried at first because their sign wasn't lit up, but as I've previously discovered, you can't always judge a book by its cover. Their food more than made up for it!

We ordered a ton of food so we'd have leftovers for the next day and were NOT disappointed. I'll start with the boneless BBQ spare ribs. At the Jade Garden in Rocky Point (where we currently live), we always get the ribs with the bones still in so were hoping to get the same, but these boneless ribs were the BEST I've ever had at a Chinese take-out joint. They were incredibly tender little strips of meat covered in this amazing sweet and spicy (but not too spicy) sauce. Sometimes spare ribs are overcooked and tough, but that was not the case with these. Even when we re-heated them last night they were still extremely delicate and moist, and I was worried that the sauce would get too thick but it coated the ribs nicely. 

One other thing we always order is egg drop soup with won tons. If you're a fan of either egg drop or won ton soup but have never tried the mix, put it on your to-do list RIGHT NOW. I am a big fan of both and love the mix even more! This one in particular had the perfect consistency and taste and the won tons themselves were amazing. They were dense and chewy and the meat inside had incredible flavor. Again, when I had it the next day the texture of the soup remained silky, unlike some other soups I've had in the past which break down when re-heated.

We also ordered beef lo mein and General Tso's Chicken, two other staples in our Chinese food repertoire. The lo mein was fantastic - not greasy at all, the noodles had a great mouth-feel, and there were lots of other vegetables present. The container it came in was HUGE - even after eating again (both of us), we STILL had some left over! It was even better the next day, as some foods tend to be. The chicken was also pleasantly surprising. Sometimes General Tso's is overly breaded and the sauce is too syrupy, but this one was perfect. The pieces did have a thick breading on them but they were still crunchy, even drenched in the sauce, which was the perfect combination of sweet and savory. I also thoroughly enjoyed the green bell peppers that were mixed in with the chicken; most places add vegetables but they don't always mix with the sauce (the place by our house adds broccoli, and, while I love broccoli, I don't feel that it goes well in that particular dish). These peppers were cooked perfectly so they still had a crispness to them, but they were soft from being sauteéd (presumably). 

The last thing I need to mention is their egg rolls. I am very picky about egg rolls - there's this place in Castle Hayne (Jung's Egg Roll Express) that is known for their egg rolls and they are the best I've had to date. These run a close second, and that says a lot. I opted for the pork egg roll rather than the shrimp and, let me tell you, it was spectacular. It was quite large (as you can see in the picture) and not as greasy as a lot of others that I've had. The filling was generously seasoned with black pepper, which is a necessity when it comes to cabbage (which is, of course, the main ingredient in egg roll filling). The wrapper was crunchy but chewy and it was absolutely delicious. 

The entire meal was extremely satisfying - I'm disappointed we won't be living in Huntersville, but it will be well worth the 13 miles to drive to get some of their food! I definitely want to go back to try some of their other dishes! Thanks for everything, guys!

Today's quote is about Chinese food and it's by the tennis player Michael Chang:"As long as there's pasta and Chinese food in the world, I'm okay."

My philosophy exactly! 

Until next time...

A Time for Celebration - 2015 Birthday Dinners at Catch and manna

Happy Monday!

As this year is coming to a close, I wanted to share some of my experiences from this year from both Chris' and my birthdays. We had amazing dinners at two of the best fine dining restaurants in town, Catch and manna, and both were extremely memorable. Chris' birthday was earlier so I'll start with our night at Catch.

Thai Sake Blossom Martini

My aunt Tricia (who is also a foodie) gave us an incredibly generous gift card to Catch for Christmas, so since Chris' birthday was right after New Year's, we decided to use it then. I had heard about Catch a lot; the chef there, Keith Rhodes, is fairly well-known - he was an NC James Beard Semifinalist for Best Chef, Southeast in 2011, and has also been voted the city's best chef for three consecutive years. This was all a promising start!

The restaurant is tucked away in a sort of strip mall on one of Wilmington's main roads (the same road where Indochine is located, but farther north). While the outside is nothing special, as soon as you walk in the door you are greeted with warm colors, a large, beautiful bar and modern, coastal-inspired decor. We were seated immediately and given menus, and our server came to tell us about the specials. We ordered drinks to start - I ordered the Thai Sake Blossom Martini (see above). I'm not normally a fan of sake but it was paired with enough other juices and liquors that I could barely taste it. (And, it was pretty!) Their menu is quite extensive so it was difficult to choose what we wanted, but I think our decisions were all the best off the menu. Rather than describing each dish individually, I'm going to lump them all together, as I was unfortunately unable to find specific descriptions for each item (in addition to being long, their menu changes seasonally, so their current dishes are not the same as what they had back in January).

Cajun Fried Oysters

Duck Confit

Crab Cakes

 We chose the Cajun Fried Oyster as an appetizer, which were served with some sort of spicy sauce and pink peppercorns. They were fried perfectly so the outsides were crunchy, yet the oysters themselves still had the consistency and flavor that you want (chewy, and  tasting of the sea), and whatever sauce came with them had just the right amount of fire. I knew our subsequent dishes would be just as appetizing. Naturally, I went with the duck entree, which was duck confit (two legs), served with venison sausage and foie gras. Now, I've had duck a LOT of places, but this has to be one of my favorites of all time. The legs were tender and juicy, the venison sausage was gamey and the casing snapped when you bit into it, and the sauce... oh, that sauce! Again, I'm not exactly sure what was in it, but it was like a gravy that had been upgraded x100. With the foie gras and apples, it balanced the sweet and savory like you would not believe. The duck was supposed to come with blue cheese polenta, but I am NOT a fan of blue cheese (one of the few foods I don't eat), so I just ordered the polenta plain. Between that and the greens it came with, I think that was the most well-rounded and -balanced meal ever.  Catch is famous for their crab cakes so we knew we had to try them! Most  places tend to make their crab cakes about 50/50 (crab to filler), so we were pleasantly surprised to find that these were mostly lump crab. They were incredibly delicate but still quite filling. These particular crab cakes were served over white truffle mash with mixed greens and what is described on their menu as a "Pamlico Shrimp and Cognac bisque." It reminded me of the quality seafood bisque that you get in Charleston, South Carolina - it was so delicious! I can taste it right now - it was light yet chock full of shrimp flavor. The mashed potatoes had an earthy, truffle flavor that was not overwhelming, and the greens were the perfect complement. We were very pleased overall with our meal and felt like it was the perfect way to celebrate both Chris' birthday as well as ring in the New Year!

Seared Duck Breast

My birthday was in April and my wonderful Aunt Trish took me out for dinner at manna, which is in downtown Wilmington. I had never been there either, but had heard wonderful things, so I was very excited when she suggested we go there! The head chef specializes in French technique, which he incorporates into fine American cuisine. Their menu is full of elegant dishes with mostly local ingredients. Once again, I was faced with a tough decision... but as soon as I saw "seared duck breast" I was hooked. Searing is the best way to prepare the breast meat of a duck. The skin gets nice and crispy and the meat itself is still tender and flavorful. This duck in particular was served with parsnip puree and gnocchi. I had never had parsnips before but had always wanted to try them, and I'm very glad I chose to try them for the first time at manna! Being that they are root vegetables, parsnips (when mashes) have a similar texture and taste to potatoes. They were the perfect combination of smooth and creamy. The "gnocchi" was not the traditional dumpling-style but actual diced potatoes that were very soft and seasoned perfectly. They were a terrific accent to the parsnip puree. Drizzled on top was a sort of pan gravy that had delicious flavor and added a little something extra to the overall dish.

Lemon tart

After the meal I wasn't too hungry for dessert, but since it was for my birthday I decided I had to have something - I'm very glad I did! Instead of ordering my usual, crème bruleé, I went outside the box and chose the lemon tart with shortbread crust, caramel gastrique and basil ice cream. As you can see above, it was beautifully presented! The tart had a perfect lemon flavor - bitter yet sweet, and the crust was absolutely amazing. It was exactly like a shortbread cookie, buttery and crunchy, and complemented the smooth, creamy texture of the tart. The basil ice cream was very interesting - not something I would have chosen but somehow the earthy, herbaceous flavor of the basil worked with the lemon. All in all I was extremely satisfied with my birthday dinner and would be more than happy to revisit manna sometime!

I'll leave you with a quote by Louise Fresco: "Food, in the end, in our own tradition, is something holy. It's not about nutrients and calories. It's about sharing. It's about honesty. It's about identity."

Basically, food is what life is all about. Have a great rest of your Monday!

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!

Happy Hump Day!

(Sorry for the delay in posts - I've had a lot going on lately. Trying to get everything ready for this move, work has been extraordinarily busy, and also my dad's had some health issues as of late and has been in the hospital since the weekend. He's doing better now but please say a prayer for him!)

Some of the best things in life are also the most simple. Take, for instance, last night's dinner: roasted (whole) chicken, macaroni and cheese and peas. Nothing fancy, but it does take skill, and when prepared correctly, it's one of my all-time favorite meals. There's just something enticing about  the smell of homemade roast chicken, not to mention it's the best comfort food ever, in my opinion. Additionally, a good roasted chicken doesn't take much for it to be delicious. This one in particular was only seasoned with salt, pepper, garlic, onion powder and sage. Sage is KEY when making chicken - the two were just meant to be together! The skin was still crispy in some areas and had soaked up all the flavors of the spices and the chicken fat. The meat itself was tender and juicy (I think I've mentioned before that we prefer dark meat, which is why I love duck so much - it's basically all dark meat), and you could taste the flavors of the juices from the pan. My mouth is literally watering right now as I'm remembering it... mmm... moving on!

As for side dishes, we chose fairly easy ones, as well - macaroni and cheese and tiny green peas. (No, I did not intend for that to rhyme, it just happened.) Normally we go all out with our mac and cheese - I make mine the REAL way, making a roux by sauteéing onions with butter and flour, then adding milk and cheese to make the sauce. I like to use white cheese that melts easily, like Monterey Jack or mozzerella, sometimes with some Colby Jack. Occasionally I'll add breadcrumbs and pop it in the oven to brown the top and bake it all the way through. This was your basic kind that comes in a box, but it was (almost) as good. Mac and cheese is another great comfort food - how can you go wrong with pasta and cheese sauce? I'll tell you - you can't.

We only started eating a lot of peas within the last few years, but they've become a staple in our house. Baby back ribs? Have some peas with 'em. Fried chicken? How about a side of peas? They're easy to make and are a fun, tasty vegetable. They just need a little butter, salt and pepper, and they're good to go. The key is to not overcook them. If you buy the frozen peas (like we do), you only need to boil them long enough so that they thaw out, since you're going to put them back in the pot when you add your butter and spices. Of course, you can vary your seasonings if you would like, depending on your taste and preferences. Peas are pretty hard to mess up! We like the tiny green peas, which are smaller and slightly sweeter than normal peas. Personally, this was my favorite part of the meal. Everything was fabulous, of course, but for some reason the peas really hit home that night.

The quote I'll leave you with today is by Julia Child: "(But) my favorite dish remained the basic roast chicken. What a deceptively simple dish. I had come to believe that one can judge the quality of a cook by his or her roast chicken. Above all, it should taste like chicken: it should be so good that even a perfectly simple, buttery roast should be a delight." 

I believe that to be true. Have a great rest of your Wednesday!

Soft Shell Crab, Eel Sauce & Duck: A Few of my Favorite Things @ The Bento Box

Happy Sunday!!!

Hope you are all doing well today! I know that I am extremely glad it's the weekend! In keeping with my Asian theme from Thursday I thought I'd write about another of my favorite local restaurants, The Bento Box. It's a sushi restaurant that opened several years ago but just underwent a makeover (and a short move) within the past few years. We've been going ever since it first opened and have never been disappointed. The atmosphere is very modern and zen, the food is fantastic and the service is always exceptional. I don't go as often as I'd like, as it's not particularly close to where I live or work, but each time I've gone I've always left satisfied. My most recent visit was over the summer, when I went with my mom and Chris.

Duck Confit Spring Rolls

As I've mentioned before, if a restaurant has duck on their menu, I will always order it, regardless how it is served. As soon as I saw that they had duck spring rolls listed as an appetizer I knew we had to get some. They come filled with duck confit, Thai chili, roasted garlic, cilantro and hoisin sauce, and served with a mango-meyer lemon relish. If you're not familiar with confit, I'll go ahead and tell you that it is the most juicy and savory way to serve meat (normally poultry, like goose or duck). The meat (usually served from the leg) is cooked slowly in grease, oil, fat or sugar water at a lower temperature than what is used when deep-frying. The result is absolutely incredible, and these spring rolls were no exception. They were fried perfectly - very lightly, and the duck combined with the herbs and other ingredients melded beautifully. I was slighgtly hesitant about the relish, because, personally, I wouldn't pair lemon with duck, but the mango sweetened up the lemon flavor and complemented the duck very nicely. The only other appetizer I had ordered here before was the tuna tartare (which I also highly recommend) but these spring rolls were equally as delicious. Definitely a promising start!

Garden Spider

The Bento Box is famous for its sushi, so choosing which roll to order is always difficult. This time, I went with the Garden Spider, which is an inside-out roll (meaning the rice is on the outside of the roll rather than the inside), consisting of soft shell crab tempura, shredded carrots and cucumber, topped with tempura crumbles, scallions, masago (fish roe, or eggs) and a spicy honey glaze. I have had Spider rolls before - generally, they have tempura soft shell crab, of which I am a huge fan. This particular Spider roll was fantastic. The crab was crispy and flavorful, the veggies were fresh and the glaze drizzled on top was phenomenal. If you have never eaten fish roe, I suggest that you try it at least once in your lifetime. The texture is surprising - the tiny eggs are firmer than you'd expect and burst in your mouth when you bite into them. I prefer the red or orange roe over the black (caviar); it's not as salty, and the flavor seems slightly less fishy. Every bite of this roll was spectacular, but my favorite part was the glaze. Equally spicy and sweet, it complemented the crab perfectly. Believe me when I say that every bite was savored.

Katsu

     Chris ordered the Katsu roll, which had eel, salmon, asparagus and cream cheese, rolled in panko (Japanese-style breadcrumbs) and flash fried topped with eel sauce and scallions. We are both big fans of eel and eel sauce in sushi - they add an extra savoriness to it, and really aren't as fishy as you might think. Flash frying the roll gave it a nice, crunchy exterior texture and warmed the cream cheese just enough so that it had a soft, velvety feel. Salmon, asparagus and cream cheese are some of the most popular items combined in sushi for a reason - these three elements go extremely well together. Between the Duck Spring Rolls, the Garden Spider and the Katsu rolls, we were all quite pleased with the outcome of our lunch choices. 

I'll leave you with a quote today from Virginia Woolf: "One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well."

Enjoy the rest of your weekend! 

#TBT - Date Night @ Indochine

Happy Thursday!

Since I just did a "Throwback Tuesday" blog, I thought I would continue the theme by posting a "Throwback Thursday" one as well. I also wanted to write about my favorite restaurant in Wilmington, Indochine, and the one I will miss the most when I move. I know there are a plethora of excellent Asian restaurants in the Charlotte area, and I am definitely looking forward to trying all of them, but this one will always have a special place in my heart. Ask anyone who lives here what their favorite Asian restaurant is, and I guarantee that at least 85% of them will give the same answer - Indochine. I remember when it first opened and went with my parents - we knew it would be a hit from our very first visit, and it certainly has. It has excellent ratings on TripAdvisor and Yelp, and has been given numerous awards by Encore, one of our local publications. Everything on their menu is equally delicious, from their sushi to their calamari to their curry dishes, and everything in between. I am going to write about my most recent experience from earlier this year, when Chris and I went for a (much-needed) date night.

Red Lotus Martini

The first thing I need to mention is Indochine's atmosphere. It is the most beautiful restaurant I have EVER been in, and I'm no stranger to nice restaurants! When you step inside, you feel as though you've been transported to a palace in Southeast Asia - it's decorated to the nines with paintings, artifacts and artwork. The best part is that they have an outside patio with secluded Thai huts around the central lotus pond, so you can sit outside when it's warm and feel like you're in zen garden. (You can see photos of both the exterior and the interior on their website here.) It was voted Encore's Best Asian and Best Atmosphere for 10 years in a row for a reason! Something else I want to acknowledge is that I've always had exceptional service each time I've visited. The servers are extremely friendly, attentive and knowledgeable, which, after waiting tables myself for over a decade, I appreciate. Additionally, the waitresses wear Asian-inspired dresses, which adds to the overall ambiance quite nicely. 

We went on a Friday night in February, and the restaurant had little lights hung everywhere, giving it a magical feeling. It was warm inside, and busy, too, which isn't unusual - they're always packed. Since there was a wait, we decided to get some cocktails and relax until our table was ready. As I've mentioned before, we don't drink alcohol much anymore, but they have a great wine list as well as some amazing signature drinks, and it WAS a date, after all! I ordered the Red Lotus martini (see above). It contains raspberry vodka, pomegranate liquor, triple sec, cranberry, and fresh-squeezed lemon and lime juices. It was an absolutely beautiful drink (as you can see in the picture), in addition to being delicious. It was definitely strong, especially with the three different liquors, but the alcohol itself wasn't too overpowering. I squeezed the orange slice into the martini and the result was a sweet and tangy drink that I would definitely order again. (As an added bonus, I kept the decorative flower that was served with it to remember that night!) Chris ordered a Tsingtao, which is his usual order at Asian restaurants. If you've never heard of it, Tsingtao is a Chinese pilsner-style lager with a nutty, sweet taste that complements spicy and Asian food perfectly. We took our drinks outside to enjoy the crisp air and the beautiful surroundings while we waited. 

Hokkien Hot Noodles

I order the same few things whenever I go to Indochine - I know I should be more adventurous, but it's hard when I find something I really like.  The Hokkien Hot Noodles are definitely one of my favorites (see above). I have probably ordered this more times than anything else on this menu, and each time it's better than the last. This dish consists of yellow and rice noodles mixed with shrimp, chicken, pork, squid, bean sprouts, eggs, and green and caramelized onions. Everything is tossed together in a wok in a sweet and spicy sauce, and it is just outstanding. I can't even describe the multitude of flavors you get in each bite! The noodles are chewy and go perfectly with the other ingredients, and the sauce isn't too heavy where it overwhelms the other flavors. You can have them make it as spicy as you want, but I generally order it medium, so you get the heat without it being unbearable. Whenever I order this dish it's always chock full of both meat and veggies, and I always have enough to take home as leftovers. Speaking of leftovers, this dish is definitely one that is even better the second day, after the flavors have had more time to sit and develop. 

Chris ordered another of their specialty dishes, the Imperial Pineapple Rice. I don't have a picture of his meal, but I definitely feel that it is worth mentioning. I don't typically order rice at Asian restaurants (I prefer noodle dishes), but this was unlike any other that I've eaten. Shrimp, chicken, pork and Chinese sausage are stir-fried with eggs, peanuts, cashews, yellow beans, edamame, pineapple and mushrooms, and then all the ingredients are added to the rice. I can't even begin to describe the aroma and flavors you get as soon as the plate is set in front of you.  As for the flavor, well, suffice it to say that it is the epitome of umami. The sausage is salty and spicy, and adds a great contrast to the nuts and proteins. The pineapple sweetens and brightens up the dish as a whole, and the result is absolutely incredible. This was the first time we had ever tried it (one of my colleague's girlfriends suggested it), and we were pleasantly surprised. 

All of their entrees are of decent size, and we both had plenty of food to take home and eat the following day. One of my biggest issues with taking food home is that, more often than not, when re-heated, the food tends to dry out in the microwave. I've already mentioned how satisfying my noodles were, and the Imperial Rice was just as good. Both were still extremely flavorful, and luckily, their respective sauces prevented both dishes from becoming too dry. Chris and I have both discussed ordering these two dishes again before we move; we know that whatever we get will be just as wonderful whether we choose to dine in or take it home. Five stars all around for Indochine - keep up the spectacular work!

The quote I'll leave you with today is from J.R.R. Tolkien: "If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world."

Couldn't agree more. :)

#TBT - Summer 2015 - The Jersey Shore

Shark River Inlet - July 2015

In honor of "Throwback Tuesday," I thought I'd blog about my fabulous vacation to the Jersey Shore. I traveled up there with Chris, my mom and my aunt for a family get-together and had the most amazing time. I used to love to visit when I was younger (my grandparents used to live there) but I hadn't been in about 15 years or so, and it was so much better than I had remembered. We went in mid-July, which is usually miserable here in Wilmington, but the weather up there was positively incredible. Sunny and warm during the day, but without the stifling humidity you get here in the South, and cooler in the evenings with a wonderful ocean breeze. The best part about the trip, as with any vacation, was eating at some of the best local restaurants. Below are some of the highlights.

Thursday - Lobster Night at The Columns

We drove up on a Thursday - left Wilmington at 7 that morning and didn't get to Avon until around 5:30... it was a really long drive! We checked into the hotel and immediately went in search of food. My aunt was staying at a hotel that was a block from the beach and right beside The Columns. I had heard numerous stories over the years about that place from my whole family, especially my uncles (suffice it to say that they were frequent patrons). Upon arriving, we learned that Thursday night is Lobster Night - talk about being in the right place at the right time! We wanted to sit outside, as it was a gorgeous night, but there was a 45-minute wait, so we decided to sit in the Grill Room, instead - that way we could order the lobster as well as items from the raw bar. We ordered whole steamed lobsters, raw and steamed oysters and clams, seafood bisque and chicken Caesar salads. Everything was perfect, especially after being cooped up in the car for 11 hours!

I had never had whole, steamed lobster before, and let me tell you, it was quite a treat! As you can see in the first picture, they were quite large, and served with real butter (a must-have when eating lobster). It was cooked perfectly, for exactly the right length of time. You can tell if lobster (or crab) is cooked properly by how tender the meat is, and how easily it comes out of the shell. These were absolutely divine. The bisque was another highlight (unfortunately, I don't have a picture of it). It was chock full of various types of seafood and potatoes, and was extremely flavorful. One of the best bisques I've ever had, especially out of a paper cup! The chicken Caesar salad was very tasty, and was, strangely enough, more expensive than the lobster! I am very particular about Caesar dressings, but this one had just the right amount of tang. You could also taste the anchovies in it, but they didn't overpower the dressing itself, which was nice. The oysters and clams were also superb, and paired quite nicely with the white wine I had chosen. Overall, the entire meal was outstanding, the atmosphere was relaxed and lively, and it was the perfect way to start the trip.

Belmar Bagel Cafe - Best Bagels at the Beach!

Some of the best things about visiting anywhere up North are the breads and pastries. Friday morning we went in search of "real" bagels before heading to the beach. We found the Belmar Bagel Cafe nestled beside a used bookstore, in what I suppose could be considered a strip mall in (you guessed it!) Belmar. My parents lived in Belmar when they were first married so my mom was familiar with the area, but not this particular joint. As you can see from the exterior, it was bright and colorful, and had a carefree, beach-like vibe. I ordered an everything egg bagel with veggie cream cheese (as did Chris) and my mom got the same bagel with cream cheese, lox, capers and red onions. I didn't photograph the bagel itself because I was starving, and it looked so delicious I couldn't wait! We sat outside underneath an umbrella, and between the gorgeous weather and the awesome breakfast, it was the ideal start to the day.

I love bagels. Plain, everything, cinnamon raisin, you name it - I could eat them all the time. Egg bagels in particular are one of my favorites, but I've noticed that it's difficult to find good ones down South. Some people think that bagels are the same everywhere, but that is just not the case. These were some of the best I've had in years - chewy, dense and with just the right amount of seasonings and spices on the outside. Apparently they boil their bagels before slow hearth baking them, and it makes a HUGE difference. We were all extremely pleased with our choices. I'll definitely be back the next time we visit the Shore, and next time I'll remember to get a dozen (or two) to bring home with me!

Last night at the Shore - Brandl, Belmar, NJ

Outside of Brandl - love the modern logo!

 Sunday night was our last night at the Shore, and trust me, we were NOT ready to leave! The whole trip had been nothing short of amazing, and I was extremely glad that I had been able to take the time off of work for this much-needed vacation. We wanted to go somewhere memorable for dinner so we decided upon Brandl, also in Belmar. We had seen their food truck at the beach and that menu alone looked incredible (you can check it out here), so we were especially excited to try their restaurant. Let me tell you, we were SO glad that we did...

Escargots and Foie Gras appetizer

We ordered two appetizers (see above): escargots and foie gras. Unusual, I know, but we love French delicacies like these. The escargots were baked in a garlic basil butter and were absolutely amazing. For those of you who have never dared to try escargots, I can assure you that they're not what you'd expect. When done correctly, they have a texture and taste similar to sauteed mushrooms. I've been a fan for several years, ever since I tried them at a local European bistro. It has since closed down, so I order excargots whenever I see them. These were exquisite - I've never had them cooked in the shells, before, but they were delicious. Tender enough so they weren't chewy, but still firm enough so they didn't just disintegrate when I bit into them. And that sauce... escargots are best in a garlic butter sauce. The two are just meant to together! The foie gras was melt-in-your-mouth tender and incredibly savory. I know that a lot of people think it's cruel how ducks and geese are force-fed to get the best foie gras, but I figure, that's what they're put here for. Human beings weren't made to be vegetarians. We've lived for millions of years eating animals to survive. Foie gras and other such foods are just higher-end versions of hamburgers and hot dogs. But enough of my ranting about that. Suffice it to say that these two appetizers were definitely a promising beginning to the meal.

Lazy Lobster

In keeping with the seafood theme of the weekend, Chris ordered the Lazy Lobster. The lobster was poached in a vanilla bean butter and served over asparagus risotto. We were hoping that this lobster would be at least as good as what we had at The Columns, and we were not disappointed. It was wonderfully cooked, very tender, and the vanilla bean butter it was poached in was just fantastic. I had never thought to mix the sweet and savory when it comes to seafood, but it was an excellent compliment to the natural saltiness of the lobster. The risotto was also cooked perfectly - it still had a bite to it (al dente, that is) and the creaminess served as a nice foil to the brightness and crispness of the asparagus. All the flavors mixed very well together to create the perfect summer dish.

Short rib special

I chose the special, which consisted of a boneless short rib served over garlic mashed potatoes. I am a huge fan of short ribs - something about slow-cooking meat for long periods of time is just incredibly satisfying. These in particular were braised for 48 hours and served with garlic mashed potatoes and pickled red onions (thanks to Chris from Brandl for responding to my email inquiry so promptly with this description!). I thoroughly enjoyed it - the short rib was cooked to perfection and was juicy and tender, and the pickled onions were an excellent counterpart to the richness of the mashed potatoes. I don't know exactly what the sauce was but if I remember, it was some sort of jus, red wine perhaps? Whatever it was, it could not have been a better finish to this dish. As you can see it was visually appealing as well and, after all, we eat with our eyes first, right? 

Crème bruleé

What better way to finish a wonderful meal than with a decadent dessert? As soon as I saw they had crème bruleé on their menu, I knew I had to order it - it's my favorite dessert, hands down. (I am so lucky to have found a man who can make this dish, also!) It's essentially a custard base topped with a contrasting layer of caramelized sugar. Simple yet delicious. There are thousands of variations and I've had so many different kinds, from Grand Marnier-infused to lemon-flavored, but my favorite is just the standard vanilla base, like this was, served with fruit. Good crème bruleé doesn't need a lot of fancy flavors added; if a quality vanilla is used, that speaks volumes by itself. The texture is just as important as the flavor, and this one was perfectly smooth and creamy, not curdled at all. The berries on the side served as the perfect accompaniment, as they were tart yet sweet, and really brought out the floral vanilla notes. As full as I was from dinner, I definitely made sure I ate every last bite of this crème bruleé - it would be a shame to let something so beautiful and delicate go to waste!

Chris & me on the boardwalk, last night at the shore!

All in all, we have a fantastic trip - the weather was gorgeous the entire time, it was great to see all my family, and the food, oh the food! Four stars to everyone mentioned in this post. A big shout-out and THANK YOU to everyone involved in the food posted here, and again I have to especially thank Chris from Brandl for sending me the description of the short ribs. My Chris has even said he can't wait to go back, which is HUGE for a born-and-bred boy from the South like him! It was the best summer vacation I could have taken, and I am so grateful I got to spend it with my culinary partner in crime.

My food quote for the day is by Lin Yutang (a Chinese writer, translator, linguist and inventor) - I felt it very apropos for this post:

"Our lives are not in the laps of the gods, but in the laps of our cooks."

Thanks for reading, and have a wonderful night!

Belly full of goodness - a culinary overview of my weekend

Happy Monday, everyone!

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend! Mine was excellent - extremely busy, but definitely one of the best I've had in awhile! Spent some time with my mom, saw my dad (who is having some medical issues - please say a prayer for him!), got some more household items for our move, and ate some amazing food! I'll just be posting the highlights, as there was so much yummy goodness it would take me days to describe every tasty morsel. I'll start with the highlights from Friday's dinner...

The potato that will change your life

 Friday night's meal consisted of a good old steakhouse dinner: medium-rare (more rare, honestly - I prefer my beef practically still mooing) porterhouses with braised cauliflower and a baked potato. Everything was highly enjoyable: the steak was cooked perfectly and the cauliflower was buttery and tender, but the real star was the potato. I love a good baked potato as much as the next person, but Chris has opened my eyes to a new way of eating them. I thought he was crazy the first time he told me about this, but I trust him when it comes to food, so I tried it. You add the normal salt, pepper and butter to your potato, but you top it off with cottage cheese and French dressing. Sounds insane, right? Believe me, it will change your life. I detested cottage cheese when I was younger, but now, this is the only way I'll eat baked potatoes! Somehow the creaminess of the cottage cheese blends with tang of the French dressing, and the result is absolutely unbelievable. We prefer Ken's Country French with Orange Blossom Honey - it has an extra layer of sweetness that is downright heavenly. I could drink that dressing all by itself and savor every drop! If you are looking for a new spin on an old favorite, try your next baked potato with cottage cheese and French dressing - your friends may look at you like you're mad, but you will NOT regret it!

Saturday Sushi with Mom

Nikkis Restaurant & Sushi Bar

Saturday was awesome because I got to spend the day with my mom, as well as run some much-needed errands, and we also had lunch at my all-time favorite local sushi restaurant, Nikki's. In addition to a wide variety of sushi, sashimi and other Asian delicacies, they also have several items on their menu for the less adventurous types out there. I normally get their sushi, although I love their Beancurd Pita Melt (sounds terribly unappetizing, I know, but it's delicious, especially for a vegetarian sandwich). This time, though, I got a seaweed salad and my mom and I split the sushi special, which consists of two special rolls for around $16 - you can't beat that deal!

Their seaweed salad is perfect - the seaweed itself is crunchy and is seasoned perfectly with soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger and just a dash of rice wine vinegar, and was topped lavishly with sesame seeds. I love seaweed salad, and Nikki's makes one of the best I've ever had. Unfortunately, I don't have a description of the sushi itself, as these were special rolls that change daily and therefore are not on the menu. I can tell you that the one pictured on the right was cooked tempura-style with eel sauce and Sriracha drizzled on top, and was very flavorful and spicy (not sure exactly what was inside). The one on the left had asparagus, cream cheese and crab inside, as well as more crab, tempura flakes and fish roe on top. I thoroughly enjoyed both of them, as did my mom. If you are ever in Wilmington you must check out Nikki's - they have 5 locations around Wilmington and have been voted Wilmington's Best Japanese and Sushi by Encore Magazine for several years in a row, and it's not hard to see why. I don't know of anyone who has had a bad experience there. 

Sunday dinner, Italian style

The last dish I'll share today was from last night. Chris made a pasta dish with an Italian twist - carbonara. I want to post a quick disclaimer that this is a variation on the traditional carbonara, as I was (quite rudely) told on my Instagram account that this is not a "real" Italian carbonara. I looked on Wikipedia for the definition of a carbonara and discovered that Chris' version is about as authentic as it gets, with eggs, bacon, cheese and black pepper. While spaghetti noodles are normally used, several other types of pasta (including rigatoni, which he used) can be substituted. The article also clearly states that there are many variations outside Italy which can include an assortment of other vegetables. I felt tremendously better after reading that; even though I never doubted his skills and knowledge (he's been a chef for nearly two decades), it was reassuring to have Wikipedia echo my thoughts. So that's my disclaimer, so as not to hurt any feelings: this is not a "classic" carbonara, but a variation on a theme, if you will, and an outstanding one at that. The rigatoni (one of my favorite types of pasta) was cooked perfectly al dente. The sauce was light and silky, and brought the flavors from all the other ingredients (bacon, onions, peas and mushrooms) together beautifully. To top it all off, he added a light topping of shredded Italian cheeses, which added a creaminess and richness to the sauce. Noodles are some of my all-time favorite things in the world (I could never survive on the Atkins diet!), and luckily my amazingly talented fiance can make a pasta dish like no other, ranging from Italian to Asian cuisine. This dish was hearty and satisfying, and the perfect way to end the weekend.

Here's my food-related quote of the day: "You don't need a silver fork to eat good food." - Paul Prudhomme

Hope your Monday wasn't too stressful! Thanks for reading!