New Life

So...I think I'd forgotten that this blog even existed. That is, until I checked it this morning and discovered that I haven't posted anything since December 2010...yikes.

Tom and I certainly haven't stopped going to restaurants; in fact, we go out more now than we did when I was writing regularly, thanks to Groupons and such. We're still in Louisville, which is a great city for dining out. We've had some great culinary experiences here, and I hate the idea of not getting to share them just because the experience may not have been centered around a special occasion. But life is not just the special occasions, is it? Of course not; it's the day-to-day! So I hereby declare this blog to be a true chronicle of "a life in meals" from this day forward!

[insert breath of fresh air here]

With a new format comes a few new features: 1) There's now a tab near the top of the page, entitled "The List." There you'll find a fairly extensive list of Louisville restaurants, with star ratings for the ones we've actually tried and dates next to the places I've already written about. Call it a bucket list, of sorts. 2) Tom will be getting in on the action and writing some posts too!

As we work through the list, we'll post about either a new place we've just visited or an old place we haven't described yet. We both love to write, and we've both been wanting to do more of it, so we're killing two birds with one stone because this is also something fun we can do together!

I also should mention: If you live in or have visited the Louisville area and somehow stumbled across this blog, I would love to hear your suggestions for places that aren't currently on the list. We're always looking for new places to try!

And away we go!

A Blog for Mama

Shalimar Restaurant: Louisville, KY

September 24, 2010

It's true what they say: you don't know what you have until it's gone. That was certainly the case when it came to me and my mom's cooking. When I was a kid, it seemed like we had Indian food for dinner all the time, but I never wanted to eat it because it was too spicy or too messy or too different. It wasn't until I was older (and slightly less...well, childish) that I realized what a privilege it was to have good, home-cooked Indian food almost any day of the week. I also realized just what a masterful cook my mom is. I remember asking her for recipes so that I could attempt to recreate some of her masterpieces. She replied that she didn't use recipes; she'd made these things so many times, she had just memorized everything in them, so I resorted to watching her and trying to write things down; this was impossible as well since she never measured anything, yet everything she ever made for us was great. And now that Tom and I live more than 600 miles away and can't just come over for dinner whenever we want, I appreciate my mom's artistry in the kitchen even more. One afternoon I found myself craving those familiar flavors while I was looking for a place to go on our next date night. Shalimar seemed like as good a place as any, and we were not disappointed. Even our drinks deserved a place in this entry.

Starter: Pappadam

They brought these out to our table when we were first seated, like how they bring you bread at other places. Now, I've heard these described as flatbread, but based on my experience, they're really more like thin wafers, made with black gram or rice flour and deep-fried. These were nice and crispy and surprisingly not oily, just something nice to snack on while waiting for our other food.

Tom's Beverage: Chai
Most people already know what chai is, but I love it so much, I'm going to talk about it anyway. It's an incredible tea that originated in South Asia and is made with tons of different spices like cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, cloves, and even a little bit of pepper. It's swept the US in recent years, showing up at just about any coffee shop you walk into, but the chai at Shalimar was unlike any I'd had before. First of all, it tasted like it had been brewed, not made from a powder or a syrup/concentrate. Second, it was creamy, but it tasted more like tea and less like flavored milk. And finally (this was the kicker): it tasted...nutty! I swear, I tasted some cashew in there. *sigh* Amazing. If this is how it tastes in India, someone book me a flight.

My Beverage: Mango Lassi

It might just be the Indian in me, but I believe that just about anything can be made better by adding a mango. Lassi is a drink made with plain yogurt, and it can be made either sweet or savory. This one is sweet because it's blended with mango puree. It was so creamy and delicious, I could've ordered another one for dessert if I'd had any room left in my tummy. It's also an especially good choice if you order a spicy entree; Tom definitely reached for this a few times throughout the meal!

Bread: Poori

These start off as flat little rounds of dough that are deep-fried. Once they hit the oil, they puff up so the top half is thin and crispy while the bottom half is still a little soft. When I was growing up, I always considered these a special treat, and since Tom had never had them before, I insisted on ordering them. They were good for sopping up some of the different chutneys and sauces that were in other items, but as a stand-alone, I think we might have been better off with chapatis or naan.

Appetizer: Samosas

These are little triangles of dough stuffed with spicy peas and potatoes, then deep fried. Yum! And they were served with three different chutneys: mint, tamarind, and onion. All three were fabulous. The onion packed a good amount of heat, and the mint was nice and cool. I think my favorite was probably the tamarind, though. This surprised me because my previous experiences with tamarind paste were not pleasant, but this chutney was sweet and sour and just delicious.

Entree: Chicken Korma

The difficult thing for me was trying to find an entree on the menu that didn't sound like anything my mom had ever made for us. Anything else, I would've been too tempted to compare, and it probably wouldn't have been as good. But the chicken korma (pronounced KOOR-mah, as my mom later informed me) sounded different enough, so I gave it a shot. Korma is similar to curry in that it involves a sauce with a good variety of spices, but it's set apart by the addition of cashews, raisins, and just a hint of cream. Oh...wow. It was incredible! There were so many different and wonderful flavors going on all at the same time, but so well-executed: the spicy curry, the sweet raisins, the buttery cashews... And it's amazing what just a little splash of cream does for the entire dish; it just seemed to tie the whole thing together. I just can't say enough how much I enjoyed this. The chicken was cooked nicely too, but to be completely honest, I was almost full before I realized that I hadn't even tried the chicken yet; that's how good this sauce was!

I can see how Shalimar's location might be a bit misleading. It's in the middle of a shopping center, but on the inside, it's very elegant and intimate. I imagine they keep it classy for lunch as well, but maybe a bit less dramatic. Don't ever be fooled by appearances! I think Mom would approve, though. (And that's a pretty big statement!)

First & Last Birthday in Louisville

The Irish Rover: Louisville, KY

December 6, 2010

With all the good restaurants near our apartment, I was really excited about picking one to go to on my 24th birthday, my first one in Louisville. Well, about two weeks prior, Tom accepted a position at a new church-plant in Salisbury, Maryland, which means we'll be moving again next summer. So this was also my last birthday in Louisville, making the restaurant choice all the more important. Some good friends of ours recommended The Irish Rover, and after looking over the menu, I knew for sure that this was the place to go.

Appetizer: Garlic Mushrooms

These cute little mushrooms were sautéed in butter and minced garlic until they were the perfect tenderness. They came with Marie Rose sauce, which is not as glamorous as it sounds; it's just a combination of ketchup and mayonnaise...! It's actually really delicious with the mushrooms, though.

Tom's Entree: Guinness Beef Stew

Yes, this is exactly what it sounds like: beef stew cooked in the dark, famously Irish stout that is Guinness. The beef is nice and tender, as are the vegetables; and the base of the stew is hearty and rich. Then again, what else would you expect from a beer you can't even see through?

My Entree: Lamb Stuffed Cabbage

To be completely honest, if you don't love lamb, you definitely won't like this dish because the flavor of the ground lamb in it is really robust. Actually, pretty much everything in this has really strong flavor...but man, does it work. You get three boiled cabbage leaves, each stuffed with a mixture of ground lamb and smoked cheddar, then topped with a red wine reduction. It's really a one-two-three punch: Ground lamb, whap! Smoked cheddar, bam! Red wine, pow! But to lend some much-needed smoothness for balance, the cabbage rolls are served on a bed of champ, which is Irish mashed potatoes with butter, milk, and scallions. Just fabulous.

The Irish Rover is a real winner in my opinion, and not just because of the delicious food. Prices are reasonable, portion sizes are manageable, service is friendly and fast (we were out in less than an hour), and the atmosphere is comfortable; we got the impression that everyone sitting at the bar was a regular...kinda like a dimly lit, Irish version of Cheers. This was also the perfect choice considering the kind of weather we had that day; it was the fourth day in a row that Louisville got snow, so some warm, hearty Irish food really hit the spot.

By the way, you might be wondering why I didn't list a dessert. As tempting as the Irish Rover dessert menu was, we had to decline because there was homemade birthday cake waiting for us at home, thanks to my wonderful husband!

Leisurely Sunday Afternoon

(I can't believe it's been so long since I posted here. Sorry!)

Conez & Coneyz: Louisville, KY

August 8, 2010

Yes, this was our one-year anniversary, but this wasn't our official celebratory meal (although going to a place that has nothing but hot dogs and ice cream is celebration enough for us). It was my second day in Louisville, and we decided to go to Conez & Coneyz for a leisurely post-church lunch. We had gone there for ice cream a few months earlier when we visited Louisville to look for an apartment, and we had been itching to try their hot dogs ever since.

By the way, don't you love the name of this place? So clever. Their slogan is "A place where hot dogs and ice cream have attitude," and they're not kidding. The hot dogs are delicious; and with the topping combinations they offer, you'd be doing yourself an injustice by ordering a plain one. Same goes for the ice cream. And if that doesn't make the place sound nice enough, we were greeted by Nadine, one of the owners, who actually remembered us from our first visit over two months prior!

Entree: Monte Cristo Dog

Ever heard of the Monte Cristo sandwich? It's a ham & cheese sandwich with French toast instead of plain bread, and it's often served with jam or preserves on the side. The folks at Conez & Coneyz have come up with a great twist on this old classic. It's a grilled Hebrew National hot dog, split in half and placed in a bun. Then, Swiss cheese is sprinkled down the middle. Finally, it's topped with "Kentucky proud" strawberry jam. It's the perfect combination of sweet and savory, plus the hot dog has a nice little snap when you bite into it (that might not be a big deal to most people, but I just get excited when a hot dog has it). Nadine told us that this item was originally created for kids, but it's become one of the most popular among adults. I'm not surprised!

Dessert: Eskimo Kisses Ice Cream

This is chocolate ice cream with shredded coconut and little chunks of fudge. Need I say more? I don't even really like chocolate ice cream all that much, and I thought this was great!

This has become one of our favorite places to grab a quick, tasty, inexpensive lunch. I don't think you'll be disappointed no matter what you order, so if you're ever in Louisville, stop in and treat yourself to a coney...and a cone!

Pre-Birthday Breakfast

Joseph's Restaurant: Charleston, SC
December 5, 2009

Since my birthday fell on a Sunday last year, we decided to go out to eat on Saturday so we wouldn't feel rushed on Sunday, with church and all. As is my custom, I went online and looked at list after list of the best places to have breakfast in Charleston without spending an arm and a leg. One of those lists led me to the website for Joseph's on Meeting Street. Everything I saw on the menu sounded great, so that was that.

I have to be completely honest here: I wasn't sure I should even write about this trip because the entree I got wasn't really that great, and I didn't want to write anything negative. But if I'm going to share my experiences, the least I can do is be honest, for the sake of those who might choose to read this blog. Besides, you might have better luck than I did, even if you order the same thing. In all honesty, I think my entree might've just been a fluke. Anyway, I think Tom's entree and our "appetizer" redeemed the experience for me. I'll just get to it.

Appetizer: Beignets
I visited New Orleans about four years ago, as one of the many volunteers who helped clean up the city after Hurricane Katrina hit; and living in an Army family, Tom actually lived there for awhile. So we were both pretty excited to find out that a place in Charleston served these fluffy little powdered sugar-covered pillows of fried dough that are notoriously associated with New Orleans' famous Cafe Du Monde. We were so excited, in fact, that we decided to start off with them instead of waiting to have them for dessert. And let me tell ya, if you never make it down to the Big Easy, I'd venture to say the beignets at Joseph's are the next best thing.

My Entree: Crab Omelet
When I saw this on the menu, I knew it was what I wanted: fresh crab meat, oven-dried tomatoes, ricotta cheese, and fresh herbs folded into an omelet. Sounds great, right? I thought so too. In fact, I still think it has the potential to be really good, but maybe someone in the kitchen was just having a bad morning. I had to stop every few seconds to pull out little pieces of crab shell; by the time I was finished, I had a pretty decent pile on the side of my plate. I also had to pause for sawing through the tomatoes because they were still pretty tough. It was the first time I can remember seriously considering sending food back, but I didn't. (I guess I'm just paranoid; too many horror stories about kitchen staff getting mad at disgruntled customers and adding their own "special ingredients" the second time around, if you know what I mean.) I will say this, though: with a lot of their menu items, you get a choice between breakfast potatoes and grits (and maybe toast), but if you don't get the potatoes, you're missing out. These were some of the best breakfast potatoes I've ever had: very nicely seasoned, and crispy on the outside, smooth on the inside.

Tom's Entree: Sweet Potato Pancakes
OK, ending on a high note here! These pancakes were fluffy and moist, and just sweet enough to where you could have them without syrup if you wanted to, but they are even better with syrup. And the toasted pecan butter that comes with it is fantastic as well: warm, mellow, and a little salty to balance the dish's overall sweetness.

I have a theory that most restaurants keep the thermostat turned way down because they know that being cold makes people feel like they need to eat more. Not the case at Joseph's. Inside it's warm and cozy, which was really nice the day we went, because it was cold and rainy outside! For your inner child, each table also has a paper table cover and crayons, which we definitely used a little. Somehow, it made turning one year older not seem so bad. :)