Showing posts with label restaurant week. Show all posts
Showing posts with label restaurant week. Show all posts

Monday, August 20, 2012

weekly menu posting

jared asked for a week of repeat recipes, which doesn't excite me too much because i just love trying out new recipes but with it being restaurant week and all, i happily obliged.

sunday: black bean burgers with cilantro lime rice and homemade gauc and salsa -- pretty simple and quick meal that makes our menu often.  to make things even better we got to enjoy it outside on the deck.

monday: steak salad with bacon, crispy potatoes and blue cheese dressing --  well this was supposed to be on the menu tonight but we had leftover steak for lunch and  i just wasn't feeling steak again so instead we had a fridge full of leftovers that got put to good use. but if you're looking for a different way to have steak, i would recommend this recipe, it was one of my favs.

tuesday: chipotle-honey-glazed chicken wings with toasted sesame seeds and green onion and sweet corn -- i stumbled upon this recipe a few years ago in one of bobby flay's cookbooks and was in love.  these wings are sticky, spicy and sweet, i just love them. as far as the sweet corn goes, i'm going to try something new by baking it.

wednesday: picnic dinner with chicken salad, cheese, salt and vinegar chips and fruit -- we're hitting up our first i cubs game of the season so instead of eating out before, i'm going to pack a picnic for us to enjoy before the game. and i do have to say, i make a mean chicken salad.

thursday: cafe di scala -- i can't wait for another trip to cafe di scala, everything on their menu is simple but elegant. oh and you have to get their tiramisu!

friday: 801chophouse -- we have a special occasion to celebrate, my parent's 30th wedding anniversary.  i've said it before and i'll say it again, 801 deserves all the hype it receives.  hands down they serve the best steak i've ever had...i can't even think of anything that has even come close. their grand marnier souffle is also worth the splurge, it is served with three decadent sauces. 

saturday: jethro's bbq -- my dad is busy working on a home project for me so to repay him, we will treat him to his favorite restaurant in town.

whoa, talk about a week of eating out. i can't think of any other week where i've gotten to eat at four of my top ten restaurant picks in one week.  looking forward to a week of good food and family.

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

weekly menu posting

better late than never...here is the menu for this week:

sunday: grilled chicken and peaches with green beans and orzo -- we didn't get to eat this last week so it got moved to sunday.  oh my goodness, this recipe was super easy, quick, healthy and delicious...i would highly recommend it.

monday: eat-your-plate taco salad with black beans and grilled corn -- i try to cook at least one meatless meal a week, so this was it.  we still got in our protein with the black beans and had plenty of leftovers for lunch.

tuesday: buffalo chicken rolls with carrots and celery and skinny blue cheese dressing -- these buffalo chicken rolls were one of the best things i've had in a long time and to make it even better, they are only 100 calories a roll.  this recipe will definitely have to make a repeat appearance.

wednesday: chicken enchilada pizza -- my good friend kate shared this recipe with me last week and i knew it had to make my menu asap.  fyi, if you're looking for a perfect pizza crust, i would recommend the fresh pizza dough from trader joe's, it is by far the best i've had.

thursday: the cheese shop -- after work happy hour with kate and nic, hoping to find the delicious manchego cheese that we had at leslie's bachelorette party.

friday: alba -- restaurant week is here!  first stop is my all-time favorite, alba.  my fingers are crossed they have the sweet corn soup, it is so good i want to lick the bowl.

saturday: flank steak with balsamic bbq and fresh corn casserole with red bell peppers and jalapenos -- pretty pumped for this evening, sounds like a perfect summer evening meal to me. 


Tuesday, August 30, 2011

restaurant week review

well restaurant week has come and gone and i'm happy to report it was an overall success. we were able to make it to five different restaurants this year. the receipts have been sent in and fingers are crossed for a trip to wine country (if you went to at least four places and sent in your receipts, you qualify for the trip.) i apologize in advance, this is a pretty lengthy post for me.

baru 66: i ordered the roasted tomato and sweet pepper bisque, mediterranean couscous and for dessert bitter chocolate tart. i thought the soup was good but the couscous and tart were just okay. the portions were small and we received terrible service. after three courses, i still left hungry. i had been looking forward to eating at baru since last october when i first started blogging and left beyond disappointed.

luna bistro: j-rod and i went to luna for lunch on a saturday. i ordered the niscoise salad, brushetta side and a peach and plum crisp. the place was so cute and our food was very good. the chef/owner use to be the chef at le jardin. i can't wait to go back.

centro: we went to centro for lunch one day during the work week with nic, lucas, j-rod and myself. i ordered the verde gnocchi and centro salad. i love the centro salad, it is my favorite in des moines. i've had a lot of gnocchi and this dish left me wanting more. it was on the gummy side and under-seasoned. Nic was gracious enough to give me a bite of her cavatelli and it was to die for. centro still remains one of my favorites in the city, despite their not-so-good gnocchi.

kirkwood lounge
: i've been anxiously awaiting to try kirkwood since their chef won the DSM Top Chef Challenge. we started the meal with their famous bacon fat popcorn, it was full of smokiness but a little on the salty side for me. it was tough for me to decide what to order, all of their restaurant week choices looked delish. i had the waitress surprise me with the first two courses. i ended up with the fried green tomatoes (first picture below) and the game hen 2 ways and the lemon icebox cake for dessert. the fried green tomatoes were texturally perfect. i loved them. i really liked the entree as well but it came with a side of stewed beans. it was a strange combo in my opinion, i would have preferred mashed potatoes. i was excited to try a new place and would be willing to try it again.

alba: we saved the best for last. here's what i ordered, fresh sweet corn soup, prawn chive potato gnocchi (second picture below) and for dessert the salted toffee creme bruelee. it was by far the best meal i've ever had in des moines. i honestly dreamt about it that night, pathetic i know. the soup was absolutely amazing, i didn't want to waste a single drop. the gnocchi was the best i've ever had. it was light and fluffy just like a pillow. i love creme bruelee and this one was rich and creamy with just a hint of salt to balance out the sweetness. great service, great food and great ambiance. i love love this place! and it definitely deserves the number one slot on my top 10 list.



cannot wait for 2012 restaurant week!


Thursday, May 19, 2011

greatest week ever.

Restaurant week participants have been announced! Don't expect a menu that week, I'll be dining out as much as possible. I love a great restaurant and a good deal! For those of you who don't know how restaurant week works, you get a three-course dinner for $25 and at lunch two people can dine for $25. Now I just have to wait until August...

2011 Restaurant Week Participants:

801 Chophouse
Americana Restaurant and Lounge
Baratta's
Baru 66
Bistro Montage
BOS
Cafe di Scala
Centro
Cosi Cucina
Court Ave. Brewing Company
Django
Dos Rios
Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
Gateway Market
Gino's West Glen
Greenbriar
Johnny's Italian Steakhouse, Des Moines
Johnny's Italian Steakhouse, West Des Moines
Latin King
Luna
Maxie's
Mojo's
Open Sesame
Proof
Raccoon RiverBrewery
Rock River
Sbrocco
Splash
Tally's
The Q
Trostel's Dish
Waterfront Seafood, Ankeny
Waterfront Seafood, West Des Moines
Zingaro
801 Chophouse
Alba
Americana Restaurant and Lounge
Baratta's
Baru 66
Bistro Montage
BOS
Cafe di Scala
Centro
Cosi Cucina
Court Ave. Brewing Company
Django
Dos Rios
Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
Gateway Market
Gino's West Glen
Greenbriar
Johnny's Italian Steakhouse, Des Moines
Johnny's Italian Steakhouse, West Des Moines
Latin King
Lucca
Luna
Maxie's
Mezzodi's
Mojo's
Open Sesame
Proof
Raccoon RiverBrewery
Rock River
Sbrocco
Splash
Tally's
Waterfront Seafood, Ankeny
Waterfront Seafood, West Des Moines
Zingaro