Coffee & Tea – Page 8 – The Celiathlete

July 10, 2011July 10, 2011

The French should know their coffee, but failed to impress in Vegas

Café Belle Madeleine, inside Paris Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada

I am always in search of the best coffee experience anywhere I travel. I used to work for Starbucks, and I used to hate coffee. But, that changed. And now, I make it a point to have a cappuccino or latte or something everywhere I visit. Why? Because the greatest things in life, the best moments, the best conversations happen over a hot cup of coffee.

I have yet to make my way over to France to get the ultimate café experience. Until I make that journey, I thought to try out a café while in Las Vegas. What better place to get coffee than in Paris Las Vegas? I mean, the french know espresso better than anyone. And this resort as close to Paris as I can get for now. Why not go all out?

Decision made. Now it was a matter of choosing the place. My friend and I settled on Café Belle Madeleine. I’ve noticed since my trip high praise from those who sampled their pastries and their gelatos. But I have a gluten allergy so pastries are out of the question. And I was not in the market for gelato that day. Espresso was what I craved so when I stepped up to the counter, I ordered a small sugar-free white chocolate soy latte. My friend opted for her first cappuccino…ever.

Orders placed, we paid for our drinks and eagerly awaited our anticipated caffeine rush. We were able to watch the drinks being made and soon after we were handed our order and we went to seat ourselves at one of the round tables and just take in Paris Las Vegas as we would on the street of Paris, France.

I blew across the lid of my to-go cup and took my first sip. Every anticipation of latte greatness disappeared immediately. The flavor was awful. The soy milk tasted like they burned it by heating it above the standard temperature for espresso drinks. I thought it was just a shot that ran too long, so the bitter flavor was overpowering everything else. I managed a few more sips before I gave up on it. Nothing improved it. It was just overdone and lacking the punch of a real latte. I ended up throwing it away and sulking back to the table to watch my friend finish off her cappuccino, which she ended up having to add cold milk to in order to truly enjoy it.

Needless to say, I was beyond disappointed. I understand I should have returned it to the counter and inquired if something else could be made instead, but I was so unimpressed with the drink that I didn’t even want to give Café Belle Madeleine another try. Unfair, perhaps, but I just couldn’t stomach anything else at that point. It turned my stomach and it took the rest of the day to settle it.

While Café Belle Madeleine may be known for their pastries, I highly recommend trying out somewhere else if you are searching for good coffee or espresso. My experience left me unimpressed.

I think I’ll leave my high expectations for espresso drinks in the hands of a real French café next time, and not at the whim of a patisserie in a Las Vegas casino. Lesson learned.

Epic coffee fail.

July 10, 2011

French bistro food a winning bet at Bouchon in Las Vegas

Bouchon. Very French, oui? That’s the brilliant thing about Las Vegas…it literally has a little of everything. And thanks to the extraordinary culinary mind of Thomas Keller, one of the most renowned chef’s in the world, Vegas has a touch of French class with delicious bistro food.

I knew little about French food coming into this restaurant. What captured my attention was the name attached. Thomas Keller. Foodie nerd…that’s me. Pair that with an episode of Anthony Bourdain’s “No Reservations” where he visited Las Vegas and ate at Bouchon, raving about the frites (fries)…and I knew…next time I was in Sin City, I had to try this place out.

Bread and nuts — Bouchon's homemade bread and toasted pistachios

My friend and I were seated immediately upon our arrival for our reservation. Our table was beautiful. Simple. Understated. But illuminated by the natural light of summer in Las Vegas. Nothing was overdone. And that was part of the beauty of it. Our server came over and poured us water. As he did so, he inquired if we would be interested in any wine. Neither of us are wine drinkers, and while the experience would have been amazing, we passed. He unfolded our menus for us (they are paper and guests are allowed to take them with them upon leaving) and told us of the specials that night. It was then that we alerted him of my food allergies and dietary restrictions, and he assured me that I would have no problem finding something. That being said, he pointed out that the soupe du jour that night was vegan – roasted potato leek soup with a black truffle oil. The very description of the soup was enough to win me over, so both my friend and I unexpectedly ordered the soup as a starter.

The rest of our order was taken and we eagerly anticipated our first taste of food from one of Thomas Keller’s restaurants. The food nerd inside me was squeeing with delight. As we waited, we were brought homemade bread and a small bowl of roasted pistachios to wet our appetites while we waited. My friend threw herself on the bread, and I enjoyed the nuts.

Soupe du jour — Bouchon's Soupe du Jour: Potato & Leek Soup with Black Truffle Oil

And then…the soup arrived. It look fantastic. Most soups with any sort of potato base are heavy, but not this one. It was light and the swirl of truffle oil added just the right about of flavor without overpowering the essence of the root vegetables in the soup itself. In fact, the truffle oil made the soup the perfect trifecta of seasoning and taste. One spoonful and Thomas Keller and his restaurant won my heart. Each ingredient melted on my palate and I soon polished off the bowl. My friend used the bread to mop up every last drop. Yeah…it was that amazing. And that was just our starter!

Since I am a vegetarian, there was only a few items that I could order on the menu. Pair that with a gluten-intolerance, and quite a bit more got knocked out of the running. Never fear though. Restaurants normally have a salad that will work and that held true for Bouchon. My entree of choice that night was the Salade Maraîchère au Chèvre Chaud, which consisted mixed greens with red wine vinaigrette, warm goat cheese and herbes de Provence. I ordered it with a side of the much raved about Pommes Frites…because whenever Anthony Bourdain says the fries are better than the ones from his restaurant, Les Halles, you know they have to be amazing. I certainly wasn’t going to miss out on trying them. My friend, following Bourdain’s lead, ordered the Steak Frites, which she has henceforth deemed one of the best medium-well steaks ever made for her (it was still juicy, while being cooked to an actual medium-well) and topped with a shallot-butter that she wants to baptize her children in. Apparently, it was mind-blowing.

Bouchon's Salade Maraîchère au Chèvre Chaud

When the entree was brought out, I already knew that, despite being a salad, it was going to be a good one. The thing with salad is, they don’t always have to taste alike. Salads can be a mishmash of amazing flavors that tantalize and tease taste buds. Or they can be bland. While this salad was minimal as far as ingredients go, the flavors were WOW! The goat cheese practically melted in my mouth. The herbes de Provence provided a bit of flair to what would have otherwise been a rather bland pile of mixed greens. And the red wine vinaigrette was the right hint of tart to marry the flavors together. Salads can be boring, or they can take “rabbit food” to the next level. Bouchon takes it to the next tier.

As for those much-raved about frites, Anthony Bourdain was right on the money. Thomas Keller trained his chefs at Bouchon right. Because fries are fries…in most cases. They can either be really good…or really bad. Most of the time it has to do with the cut and the how they are cooked, or how long for that matter. I do not like mushy fries. Steak fries are not my favorite cut. Neither are curly, nor crinkle-cut. Shoestring fries are generally my favorite because they come out with a crisp crust on them that lends bite to the potato. At Bouchon, the Pommes Frites were above and beyond any other fries I have ever eaten in my life. And I LOVE my fries. Bourdain is one of my culinary heroes for a reason. He has good tastes in deep-fried potato-y goodness. Bouchon doesn’t just serve up a sizable portion of frites on the side, they do a damn good job of cooking them to perfection. The waiter thought there was way too many frites on the table between my friend and I, but we polished them all off. Not one went to waste. Normally, I don’t finish my fries because there are so many of them…but that wasn’t the case here. I almost wished I had more. You think you’ve had fries…then you eat at Bouchon and you realize they set the bar for french fry standards and those waffle fries from Chick-Fil-A will never equal what you just consumed. Considering the paragraph on the Pommes Frites is now longer than that on the soup and the salad…just believe me. Try it for yourself and no other restaurant fries will ever compare. Nowhere. No way. No how! It isn’t a pompous French thing to call them Pommes Frites and serve up average fries. No…these have every right to be pompous and French. They earned it.

Dark chocolate mousse with burnt orange cream — Bouchon's Marquise au Chocolat

Despite being full, dessert was a must. The dessert menu was presented to us and after a bit of discussion, my friend and I decided that we would split Marquise au Chocolat, a dark chocolate mousse with burnt orange cream. The dessert won my heart with dark chocolate. The orange cream was an added bonus. And when it arrived, we couldn’t have been happier with our decision. It looked like a slice of cake, laid out and surrounded by dollops of edible-orange goodness. Picture-perfect. And the taste…manna from heaven. Everything paired perfectly. The citric bitterness of the orange cream paired with the smooth dark chocolate and the melt-in-your-mouth texture of the mousse. It was fantastic. Down to the last bite, which was smeared through the last of the burnt orange cream so that nothing went to waste. I finished off the evening with an after-dinner cup of tea that just polished off the perfect meal.

There is French bistro food and then there is Bouchon. Thomas Keller set out to do something amazing in Vegas, and he succeeded. Bouchon, tucked away in the Venezia Tower of The Venetian in Las Vegas, is one of those must-go places. When I return to Vegas, I will be making another reservation for a dinner there. Despite all of the culinary treats that are hidden away in Vegas, I can’t help but think of what new treats might be served up on the menu here. And I can’t wait to sink my teeth into those Pommes Frites once again. Make a reservation. Dress up. Dine. It’s a feast so pleasing to the any palate that there is literally something for everyone. Even this gluten-free vegetarian. Amazing food outweighs the celebrity name and the Michelin stars any day. From the moment you step into Bouchon, you feast upon great ambiance, great service, and great food. How can it get better than that?

It can’t.

Take it from this vegetarian foodie.

Bouchon...amazing food! — This Vegetarian Foodie ♥'s Bouchon

June 15, 2011

A culinary explosion of the palate at Nobu

I just returned from an amazing culinary excursion of the West. If there was good food to eat, I was going to find it. And this trip proved my instincts to be right on par.

My culinary vacation began with a dinner at the world-renowned Nobu restaurant in Las Vegas, Nevada. Located in the Hard Rock Hotel, this beautiful restaurant is tucked away in a quiet section and you immediately feel the difference upon entering. My roommate and I had reservations for 7:00 pm. We showed up about 15 minutes early, and were immediately seated. The first thing the waiter did, after unsheathing our chopsticks was to ask what we knew about the restaurant. Since we were Nobu-newbies, he went through the history of the restaurant briefly, then offered suggestions from the menu, including Nobu’s signature dish: Black Cod Miso. We alerted him to my food allergies and he assured me the kitchen had gluten-free soy sauce should I need it, as well as any sushi dish could be done vegetable style. He left us alone as he went to fill our drink order and we pondered the menu for a moment.

Upon his return, we placed our orders. My roommate went with one of the recommended dishes: the Miso Soup followed by the Rock Shrimp Tempura with a Creamy Spicy Sauce. I was craving vegetarian sushi. So I put in for the Mushroom Soup and a cut roll of the Vegetable Sushi and a cut roll of the Oshinko Sushi.

The soup arrived first. And this was going to be it. Our first taste of the much-raved over Nobu food. I picked up my spoon, eyeing the floating bits of mushroom in the broth before taking my first sip. And it was good. Beyond good. While most vegetable-based soups can run bland, this exploded with flavor, without being overpoweringly earthy. It was fantastic. My roommate gave it a try as well, although her favorite soup is still the Miso. We finished our soups and had time to let it digest before our dinners arrived.

Green Tea — Nobu's green tea - proceeds from the sale of their tea went to help with Japan's earthquake relief

The cut rolls were absolutely stunning. The Vegetable Sushi roll was cut in circular slices, stuffed with rice and a variety of vegetables. The Oshinko Sushi roll (pickled vegetables) exploded with flavor. This one was cut into smaller, square pieces and all displayed against a dark green banana leaf with ginger and wasabi on the side. Their ginger, by the way, was awesome. And I normally don’t like ginger. I opted to try the vegetable one first and took one bite and immediately fell in love with it. It was the best vegetarian sushi I had ever tasted. Packed with flavor…not bland or dull. But the real treat was the Oshinko. The pickled vegetables packed a powerful punch that played well against the rice. It was one of the most amazing things I have ever let cross my palate. It alternated between the two throughout the meal and polished off each roll, savoring every bite.

With the appetizer and main course down, we decided that since we were on vacation we’d treat ourselves to dessert. With my gluten intolerance, this can sometimes be a challenge. But, not at Nobu. We ordered the Bento Box, a flourless chocolate cake with a white chocolate sauce, shiso syrup and green tea ice cream. Was that ever worth the splurge. I have never, ever had a cake melt in my mouth before, but this did. Like butter. It was soft, creamy, dreamy, chocolate goodness paired with a green tea ice cream that paired so well with the gooey chocolate cake that it was an unbelievable party in my mouth. My roommate commented upon finishing that if it wouldn’t go against all dining etiquette, that she would lick the box it was served in. I also tried their green tea with my dessert and it was warm and delicious. All proceeds from the tea sold went toward helping Japan. A worthy cause…delicious tea.

Nobu was more than a splurge. It was a dining experience. No one should visit any city one of these restaurants are in without going. The tastes, the food, the ambiance…it all plays into one of the most amazing dining experiences. And the food…well, that’s a culinary vacation all its own. And one so good, that my roommate and I cancelled our Thursday night dinner reservation to return. But that is another blog…

Vegetable sushi — Nobu's Cut Roll Sushi: Vegetable (round) and Oshinko (square)

June 11, 2011

Praise of Celestial proportions!

Sleepytime Love — I love Celestial Seasonings!

It’s not every day that you run across a company that really, really cares about its clientele. Seriously. I’ve written letters to restaurants regarding their menus (lack of options for a vegetarian with a gluten intolerance…trust me!) and have received defensive letters in return or a form letter.

That was not the case with Celestial Seasonings in Boulder, Colorado. I visited the plant back in April when I ventured away from a convention I was attending in Denver to go see the plant. I am a tea fiend and Celestial Seasonings is my go-to tea…because it’s available EVERYWHERE! Before taking the tour, I had dropped into the café for a small breakfast and fell in love with some gluten-free breads that they had for sale.

As mentioned in my previous blog about my visit to Celestial Seasonings, I had e-mailed them about possibly receiving the recipes for the bread, as buying anything gluten-free out in Indiana is not only expensive, it’s practically impossible. (Seriously, grocery store sections are usually very small and most don’t even carry Udi’s bread!).

I received a message back from their Consumer Relations saying that they stumbled upon my blog and have been trying to locate the recipe for me, but currently haven’t been able to track it down. And they apologized for the time it took to get back to me. Needless to say, I was already impressed. One weeks later, I received another e-mail back from a different person in Consumer Relations, this time telling me that the gluten-free breads are actually brought into the café and not made on site, so recipes are not available to them. The fact that they spent all that time trying to track this down for me spoke volumes of the dedication they have to their customers. If I was impressed before, I was now gobsmacked.

But here is the epitome of customer appreciation. Upon returning home from work yesterday, I went to get the mail from my box and noticed an envelope in there from Celestial Seasonings in Boulder, Colorado. Upon opening it, I found a nice letter from a Jessica, a Consumer Relations Representative. This was no form letter either. It was typed out addressing not only their delay in getting back to me, but voicing their appreciation of my patience. But here is the kicker, folks…also inside were not only coupons for Celestial Seasonings tea and Arrowhead Mills gluten-free baking mixes…they also put in some recipes for a variety of gluten-free breads, muffins, cakes, pancakes, waffles, cookies, etc. This goes beyond customer service. This is ensuring customer satisfaction!

I said it to our tour guide on the tour of Celestial Seasonings, I said it to everyone back at the convention center where I was in Denver, and I’ve said it to people here where I live. I would work for this company!! I would love to work for Celestial Seasonings…even more so now because I have now been given ultimate customer service. When contacting companies these days over things, normally you don’t even know if you’re going to get a person on the other end. Celestial Seasonings is definitely run by real people. Real people who care and who take time to not only find an answer for you, but contact you back and make sure you are satisfied with the response they give.

I’m impressed. I’m beyond impressed. Boulder, Colorado is such a healthy area. The fact that gluten-free products are so readily available make me want to pack up and head out west. Maybe one day. But for now, I’ll remain in Indiana…and give these kindly provided recipes a whirl.

Thank you, Hain Celestial Group, for making me a bigger believer, not just in your company, but in your dedication to your customers. I raise a mug of Sleepytime Tea in your honor. Cheers.

May 27, 2011May 27, 2011

The only thing Strange about this coffee shop is the drink names…

It’s the greatest coffee shop I have ever been to. Honestly. And the name puts it all into perspective.

Strange Brew.

Located in Greenwood, Indiana, this little coffee shop offers up the finest coffee I have ever…ever…tasted. I mean, honestly, when you have a Peanut Butter Cup Mocha on the menu…is there anything left to say? And that…is my usual order (with soy milk, please), when I venture up to the Indianapolis area. Yes…no matter what time of year or what time of day Strange Brew is a regular stop for me. Their drinks are honestly that good.

The entire shop has a very casual and laid back feel to it. The walls are adorned with local artists work, up for sale, as a matter of fact. The counter has not only coffee, pastries, cookies and muffins around it, but also mugs and merchandise. Oh yes…we have merchandise. And not that crazy Starbucks mumbo-jumbo. No, no. I bought this large Strange Brew mug when I was in there a couple months back and I’ve not only used it for hot drinks at home, but also soups, pastas, and the occasional scrambled egg mug breakfast concoction.

So is the coffee really that good? It’s amazing. This past time I was set on getting my usual…the Peanut Butter Cup Mocha…but once I got there, I went off the beaten path. I got the Blonde Bombshell, and with the permission of the owner to raid her super-secret stash of almond milk, had it prepared warm with almond milk over soy. And…I fell in love with espresso all over again. If a blondie brownie could melt it would have tasted like what I was drinking. Dessert in caffeinated form. And it’s always served in a bitchin’ mug. It doesn’t get much better than that. It can’t get much better than that!

And if that isn’t enough to convince you to go to Strange Brew…consider that it is an independently owned business run by very awesome people. The baristas are amazing. And every now and again, upon entering, you get handed a cup of something and told to try it. This happened to me once. It was hot chocolate with a touch of cayenne pepper…no whipped cream. The name of this drink: The Amanda Palmer – Topless.

YES!! This is my kind of place. This is my kind of coffee shop. And this won’t change. I only wish I didn’t have to drive over an hour and a half in order to get it. It just makes the trips up that way even more worth it.

Next time you are around Greenwood, Indiana and have a hankering for some really good coffee…go to The Strange Brew. Try something new…different…and perhaps, a little bit strange. When coffee tastes this amazing it’s good to be strange!

May 24, 2011

Boulder’s Bookseller – Trident – offers best coffee in town!

Okay…it’s a bookstore. How good can the coffee be? Well, we heard about the café located inside Trident Booksellers and Café, through a list of reviews online. Everyone declared it the best coffee…in town…anywhere…ever. This sounded, to me, like a challenge. Since I rediscovered a love of espresso drinks, and since we just happened to be in the area…and even happen to love bookstores…we stopped in.

After a bit of browsing, we headed into the small café and up to the register to place an order. I ordered a sugar-free soy mocha, sans the whipped cream. Right there, you can watch the barista prepare your drink to absolute perfection. I got the drink to take away, rather than sit and sip, which would have been quite okay as the café was quite cozy and full of people mulling over books and holding friendly conversations. But I had a lot to accomplish that day. And stepping outside into the biting wind with a warm drink was the perfect compliment.

The mocha was perfect. Just the right hint of chocolate flavor. The soy milk was steamed to creamy perfection. This was smooth. Very smooth. It was rich and creamy without being too much for the palate. Reviewers were right, it was some of the best coffee I had ever had. Probably not THE best…but it ranked up there. I enjoyed it all the way down to the final sip and had to resist going back for a try at another drink. Another time. Always save something to bring you back.

And, with coffee drinks like that…there is no doubt I will be back. Boulder does a lot of things right. Not just tea (Celestial Seasonings is located there), but coffee too. They do it oh, so right! Yes…even at café’s in bookstores.

Soy Mocha — Trident Café's classic soy mocha - no whipped cream

May 24, 2011

Tea time!

On my recent trip to Denver, Colorado, last month, my roommate and I spent Friday morning traveling to Boulder, Colorado with the intent of going to the Celestial Seasonings plant. Why? Because I am a tea fiend. No kidding. If it’s tea…I love it. And there is no doubt that Celestial Seasonings has some of the best teas out there. Why not go to the source?

We headed out early from Denver and made it to the plant before it even opened. But we were a little hungry and, thankfully, their Celestial Café was open and serving breakfast. I noticed a menu hanging on the wall with a variety of dishes that could be ordered, but it appeared everything was being done cafeteria style. There were hot trays of breakfast casseroles (one vegetarian, one not), breads, your usual bagels, muffins, etc. Since I have a gluten allergy I got a (very) small bowl of the vegetarian breakfast casserole (eggs, potatoes, cheese) and discovered some delicious gluten-free breads in a small refrigerator near the front of the café. My roommate grabbed the gluten-free cinnamon coffee bread and I decided to go for the chocolate zucchini bread. And we decided we would split a bag of sweet potato chips…just for a little more sustenance.

We paid for our food and headed out into the dining area, pulling up a seat and digging in. I have to say…my favorite thing was the gluten-free chocolate zucchini bread. After one taste, I left it alone so I could eat everything else and save that for last. Yeah…it was that good. I later wrote an e-mail to Celestial Seasonings hoping to obtain a recipe for it…but never heard back. I live in an area where buying gluten-free anything is not only impossible, but expensive. But…it was worth a shot. The breakfast casserole was…okay. After all, it was sitting on a warming plate for the better part of the morning. It wasn’t…fresh, but it was good. I threw a dash of hot sauce on mine and enjoyed it well enough. And the chips…well…they weren’t so good. But we ate them because we were hungry.

After polishing off breakfast, I went back and grabbed more of the coffee and chocolate zucchini bread to take back to Denver with us. I probably could have bought them out of that stuff without blinking an eye. So…if you go to the café…turn around away from the food counter and check that small refrigerator behind you. It was in there. And even if you don’t have a gluten allergy (like my roomie), you’ll LOVE this bread.

Then…enjoy the rest of your time at the Celestial Seasonings plant. Take a tour. Sample every flavor you want (I know I did). Visit their Tea Room…and buy whatever flavor you want. I walked out of their with a new tote bag and filled it to the brim with tea flavors I can’t get in my area! I’m making sure that every time I go to Colorado, this place is one of the stops I make. I had such a great time there.

And I’ll hopefully be able to snag more bread from their café…

Celestial Food — Sweet potato chips, vegetarian breakfast casserole, and chocolate zucchini bread at the Celestial Café

May 22, 2011

Nothing says coffee like a Crazy Goat!

When you think of delicious coffee drinks, what sort of places usually cross your mind. At the top of the list is probably the biggest coffee franchise in the world: Starbucks. While Starbucks has its place in the coffee world (I can say this…I used to work for them!), they are a chain and, let’s face it, overpriced and over-roasted. (*GASP!*)

I discovered something recently. Despite having been a barista years ago, I never really took the opportunity to really taste and find a liking for coffee. Until I stumbled into a local place here in the area and was introduced to the perfect espresso pour with the perfect temperature of soy milk and a sugar-free chocolate flavor. It wasn’t just a latte…it was a latté that changed my life and my feelings toward coffee in general.

So, on a recent trip to Columbus, Ohio, my friends and I decided to forgo the usual stop at another (but even more delicious than Starbucks) coffee shop chain, Caribou Coffee, and opted to try a local place out instead. We drove into Gahanna, Ohio and stopped off at Crazy Goat Coffee.

I know what you’re thinking…coffee and goats should not work. But, not to worry my friends…step into the warm interior of this local café and you immediately feel welcome. The barista, a young gentleman, was on his own that Saturday morning and the coffee shop was booming with business. That…is a great sign. We placed our orders…one friend getting the Crazy Irishman (she wasn’t impressed) and the other getting the Crazy Goat Mocha, which means…extra espresso (and she loved it and was over-caffeinated the rest of the day!), and I got the dark chocolate, soy mocha.

Rich…delicious…smooth…and gone way too soon. The dark chocolate syrup really, really complimented the rich soy milk and the delicious roast of espresso used in the mocha. I gave each of my friends a sip and they immediately wished they had ordered that as well. Speaks highly of the drink, I would say.

So, while Crazy Goat satisfied (and caffeinated!) one of us, left one of us wishing we ordered something else, and made my dreamy mocha something I crave almost every morning, it is a local coffee shop with an array of flavors, specialty drinks, bakery items, and even a lunch menu. Stop in for a morning, afternoon, or even an evening pick-me-up. Their signature drinks have fun names and an interesting blend of ingredients that may suit your palate. Or, if nothing else, get the dark chocolate soy mocha. I promise…you will wish you ordered the largest size available.

Crazy Goat Coffee's Dark Chocolate Soy Mocha

March 13, 2011

It was all about the cream puff…

Schmdit's Sausage Haus und Restaurant, Columbus, Ohio

I know what you’re thinking…

A sausage haus? But…but…but you’re a vegetarian!

That’s right. I am. But this is Schmidt’s Sausage Haus und Restaurant in Columbus, Ohio. After watching an episode of Man v. Food on Netflix one night, my roommate saw this place featured. After Adam Richman’s suggestion that everyone try the Bahama Mama sausage, Schmidt’s signature one, she knew we had to go next time we were in town. And, lucky us…we just happen to know people in Columbus.

Me? I totally wanted one of their half-pound cream puffs. Yes…you read that right…HALF A POUND OF CREAM PUFF!! They are known for them and I can tell why.

We went early on a Friday night to Schmidt’s, knowing that it is a really busy place on weekends. But, we got a table immediately and were given time to look over the menu before placing an order. The waitress was informed of my vegetarianism and immediately began pointing out what on the menu could be done for a vegetarian, depending on how strict one is. I am really strict when it comes to that, so anything with chicken broth was out, but there was still plenty out there.

I opted on the appetizer of Pretzel Nuggets with a side of the Potato Pancakes und Apple Sauce. To drink, I got the hot tea, which just happened to be served in what looked like a tube for a science experiment. It was different…and I love different.

The food was amazing. I absolutely fell iin love with the potato pancakes. The pretzel nuggets were perfect…crispy and chewy. The right texture. And the apple sauce had so much fresh flavor…it was delicious. I sampled a couple of sides from my roommate’s plate, as she opted for the big buffet, known as “The Autobahn.” The macaroni and cheese was delicious!! My roomate sampled a bit of everything…and the mild and hot versions of the signature Bahama Mama sausages, prefering the bite of the hot one to the mild. It may have still had a bit too much spice as soon she was just mixing the sausage in with her macaroni and cheese, but I give major kudos to her for stepping out of her usual comfort zone and trying something different!

Pretzel Nuggets and Potato Pancakes und Apple Sauce — Schmdit's Pretzel Nuggets with a side of Potato Pancakes und Apple Sauce

And then came dessert. The half pound cream puff. As it wasn’t a Saturday or Sunday, we didn’t get the option for a specialty, but that was fine. Our choices were vanilla, chocolate, and peanut butter. My roommate went for chocolate. I wanted the original. The Vanilla Cream Puff. And when it was delivered…I was in dessert heaven. No, I didn’t eat it all then. I had maybe 1/3 of it and saved the rest of it for another time. Rich. Delicious. Creamy. The pastry was the perfect compliment to the creamy topping. Half a pound of deliciousness. I already crave another one.

So…if you find yourself passing through Columbus, Ohio and want to try out an awesome place to feast…check out Schmidt’s Sausage Haus und Restaurant. It’s vegetarian friendly, despite it being meat-heavy and specializing in sausage. And the food is far and away some of the best to be served up anywhere.

And…save room for that cream puff. You know you want one!

February 20, 2011February 20, 2011

Rovin’ Through Louisville…

So…here’s the deal.

My roommate loves fish and chips. LOVES them. If we go to an Irish pub, I already know what she’s going to order. And we do love our Irish pubs. Oh yes…yes we do.

Interesting thing with Irish pubs when it comes to this my eating habits at these establishments…as a vegetarian pub grub isn’t always the easiest thing to navigate around. Honestly. It’s greasy, it’s fried, and not every pub offers much in the line of foods for vegetarians.

But almost every pub has something, be it a burger, a sandwich, a pasta, or a wrap, that incorporates portabella mushrooms. And that will do for this veggie-lovin’ girl!

We ventured off our normal pub routine in Louisville, deciding to give the others in the area a try. After all, while we are quite happy with our ‘home’ pub, it’s always good to branch out and see what else the Louisville area has to offer in the line of Irish pubs and the food they serve.

The Irish Rover came recommended to me ages ago by a co-worker at a law firm I used to work at, so I finally made my way down there. The building itself is just how I would picture a pub. On the inside, upon entering, you have the definite pub atmosphere, greeted by a large, fully-stocked bar. The tables are scored and scratched. The floor is wooden and showing signs of wear. Yes…this is a pub.

But the expanded rooms are not as dimly lit, and while the atmosphere is still pub-like, it’s a more family-friendly feel. Not that it’s a bad thing…just not how I picture a pub. But this blog isn’t a critique on architecture and interior design, so let’s get down to the nitty-gritty: their food.

The Irish Rover offers up a good selection, better than most pubs, for vegetarians. I had it down to a possible four choices: the Cashel Salad, consisting of lettuce, walnuts, Cashel blue cheese, cheddar cheese made near the Rock of Cashel in County Tipperary, Ireland, and dressed in a balsamic vinaigrette; the Veggie Gratin, a mix of eggplant, portabella mushrooms and other in-season vegetables, baked in a curried tomato chutney and topped off with parmesan, all served with toasted foccacia; the Veggie Sandwich, two thickly sliced pieces of homemade bread, filled with diced sautéed vegetables and melted cheddar cheese, served with a side of Irish chips; or the Portabella Sandwich, a large mushroom cap, topped with marinated, roasted red peppers and melted swiss cheese, served on a toasted bun with Dijon aioli and a side of Irish chips.

Homemade Bread at the Irish Rover, Louisville, Kentucky — Homemade white bread and Irish soda bread at the Irish Rover, Louisville, Kentucky

I love a good portabella sandwich, so I went with this option. However, since my body tends to despise being filled with fried foods, I substituted a side of fresh fruit for the Irish chips. And I got the Barry’s hot tea for my beverage.

While we waited for food, we were brought a basket of their homemade bread, a combination of white and soda bread. I’m an Irish soda bread fiend, so I dove right in. And it was good. It was VERY good. The white bread, while I only sampled a bite, was a bit sweet and still tasted of the yeast. I wasn’t a fan of it. And since I do bake my own breads, I can be a bit of a bread connoisseur and snob at times. It just wasn’t to my taste. But yes…more of that Irish soda bread, please!

The drinks and food arrived in good time. The portion sizes actually weren’t overwhelming, as I find to be the case at a lot of pubs. Everything was cooked to perfection, including my roommate’s fish, which fell apart when her fork would slice through it.

The portabella sandwich was good. The Dijon aioli spread was quite tasty, and a nice touch to the sandwich as a whole. The peppers grilled peppers and cheese worked well with the sweetness of the perfectly cooked portabella mushroom cap. It was just releasing its juices, which made for a dripping mess. But I eat these sandwiches with a fork and knife…always! The fruit I was given was fresh, ripe, and so good. I almost wanted to order another serving. Everything tasted really, really good and I was quite happy with the service, as I was given refills on my hot tea whenever needed.

Barry's Tea at The Irish Rover, Louisville, Kentucky — A hot cup of Barry's Tea at the Irish Rover, Louisville, Kentucky

I do admit though, a lot of amusement was taken at watching my roommate tackle a pint of Guinness. We had just watched an episode of No Reservations, where Anthony Bourdain went to Ireland. He had Guinness everywhere…so she figured…maybe it tasted better with food. She learned – it doesn’t. But seeing the faces she made while trying to knock it back with her fish and chips did offer up a nice bit of entertainment that afternoon.

The Irish Rover in Louisville, Kentucky does offer up a great menu of great pub grub and a nice selection for those who go meatless. That’s refreshing. However, don’t go in there expecting a classic pub atmosphere. What you find is more of a restaurant than pub.

And that’s okay…because their food comes with an Irish brogue and packed with flavor. It’s authentic Irish…without the run-down appeal of a pub. Great for a lunch out, but if you want to watch the rugby match choose your pub more wisely.

Come for the food and service…and you won’t be disappointed.