Shrimp and Sirloin Skewers

Shrimp and Sirloin Skewers a photo by pjpink on Flickr.

From Tastebuds American Bistro. Thai-influenced with a peanut ginger sauce accompanied by a jasmine rice spring roll and veggies. $16. Tues-Thurs for $3 more one can add a salad (spinach with goat cheese is my fav) and chef's dessert of the day.

Bargain Hour at Bouchon

We finally made it to Bouchon and during the magical 5-6 PM time slot that features a $20 prix fixe menu (soup or salad, a choice of entree, and dessert).

We had not planned to dine at Bouchon or so early. We were in grunge jeans and shirts. But John, our waiter, welcomed us with open arms.

We chose a wine - Marc Kreydenweiss Perrierres. The menu stated it was a Rhone. Technically, this is true, but it's actually from the Vallee du Rhone and classified in AOC terms as Costiere de Nimes. This extreme southern part of the Rhone Valley produces different tasting wines than what I typically think of as Rhone. And while the wine was good and we enjoyed it, a French restaurant should have called out the distinction.

To begin the eating portion of the meal, hubby had the mixed green salad which was quite tasty and I had the soup. The soup for the evening was carrot/ginger/curry and it was fabulous. A great combination of flavors.

For the entree we had a choice of salmon with mushrooms and veggies or roasted chicken with a brandy-mushroom sauce. My spouse ordered the salmon which he liked (and I did not try - still not a salmon fan). I had the chicken.

We were pleased to note that the portion sizes were regular-sized, even though it was the bargain hour. We were also happy to see that our dishes used different types of mushrooms. The chicken was very tender. The mushrooms added a little earthy flavor, which paired nicely with the wine.

For dessert we both had the creme brulee which John promised would be the best we had ever had. Yes, the creme brulee was good, but, alas, not the best. The best ever was consumed at Chez Max (I still dream about this creme brulee).

We definitely want to return. The food was prepared with care and attention and there is a bufflo rib eye on the regular menu that is intriguing.

Tastebuds - A Restaurant for the Rest of Us

A ton of local bloggers have participated in a virtual discussion on locally owned Richmond restaurants that feature imaginative cuisine with reasonable prices. Great discourse. I agree that The Black Sheep and Café Rustica are the bomb. I’ve raved about them myself. And I also like Chicken Fiesta (yucca fries!). But there is one neighborhood gem that has gone unmentioned for the most part. This post seeks to remedy the oversight.

That place is Tastebuds American Bistro. The menu features a variety of tempting small plates, salads, and entrees. All at very reasonable prices. You can get your drool going over the following delectable samples from the menu:

Small Plates ($8 and under)
Eggplant Napoleon...Layers of Eggplant, Fresh Mozzarella, Tomato & Basil 7.00
Sweet Potato Ricotta Gnocchi with Pancetta, Sweet Onions & Golden Beets 7.50
Duck-Leek Spring Roll with Ginger-Pear Dipping Sauce 7.50
Pork Adobo Taco with Corn & Black Bean Salad and Tomatillo Salsa 6.50

Salads ($10 – if adding shrimp and under)
Golden Beet & Apple Salad over Greens with Blue Cheese & Candied Walnuts 7.00
Tuscan White Bean Salad over Arugula, Lemon-Olive Oil Dressing & Parmesan 7.00
(topped with Shrimp 10.00) (This salad without the shrimp was divine last night and big enough for a meal all by its lonesome)

Entrees ($16 and under)
Pork Chop with Apple Pan Sauce, Sweet Potato Mash and Sauteed Greens 12.50
Polish Kielbasa with Potato Pancakes and Napa-Apple Slaw 13.00
Pan Roasted Salmon, Red Wine Sauce, Potatoes Anna, Sautéed Haricot Vert and Carrots 15.00
Paneed Flounder with Almond Butter, Creole Crawfish Rice and Squash Hay 15.00
Shrimp with Creamy Cheddar Grits, Sautéed Kale with Country Ham & Mushrooms 14.50
Sliced Sirloin, Duxelle Demi Glace, Blue Cheese Mashed Potatoes, Sautéed Haricot Vert 16.00

Pizzas ($9 and under)
Seasonal Pizza…House Made Sausage, Mushrooms, Mozzarella, Red Onions, Marinara 9.00 (great little pie and very tasty sausage – good for lunch leftovers, as well)


And if you are looking for a deal – try the Prix Fixe. Salad, Entrée, and Dessert for $16 Tuesday – Thursday. Currently the prix fixe menu features:

Salad Choice
House Salad…Mixed Greens, Cucumbers, Tomatoes, Raspberry Vinaigrette (nice beginning for the evening)
or
Spinach Salad…with Pickled Red Onions and Goat Cheese Crumble

Entrée Choice
Bolognese Ragout (tomato-based meat sauce) over Campanelle Pasta (lovely pasta with a touch of hot spiciness)
or
Risotto of the Week
or
Chicken Marsala over Fettucini with Haricot Vert

Dessert
Special Dessert of the Week (last night it was a ricotta-filled crepe with strawberries)

None of the bottles of wine are over $35. We are partial to the St. Francis Cabernet for $27.50, but they also offer several options for $20 a bottle. The new thing we discovered last night was a cocktail menu. My husband enjoyed a Sazerac for $6.

I’m very glad that Tastebuds is here. And I’m thrilled that they are in my Northside neighborhood.

Go eat there and make sure they stay in business.

Six Burner Sustenance

Last week we managed to squeeze in a trip to Six Burner (located at 1627 West Main St.) to support Benefit Thyme. Monday – Thursday the restaurant features a 3-course prix fixe menu for $19.95 per person. On Wednesdays it is also $10 carafe night. We happened to stop by on a Wednesday (how serendipitous!). The interior featured both white-clothed tables and booths. Brass accents gleamed at the bar. Thankfully, no one was smoking at the bar (the place is really too small for smoking at the bar). We went for the carafe of red. Bottles were actually opened to pour into the liter-sized carafe. The wine was not spectacular, but it wasn’t rotgut either. I believe the wine was a Solar Tempranillo, but I have not been able to find a wine label to confirm. In any case a bargain. We also chose the prix fixe menu, with both of us ordering the Corn Soup with Truffle Oil and the Hanger Steak with Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Red Wine Sauce. We changed it up for dessert. I had the Cinnamon Panna Cotta; the hubby went for the Peanut Butter Cake with Chocolate Mousse.

When I mentally envision corn soup, invariably I think of corn chowder. This soup was not chowder. It was a pureed version of fresh creamed corn with a hint of corn meal on the finish. The truffle oil was more like truffle foam. Overall, an unexpected, but very tasty surprise. The hanger steak was tenderer than expected with a subtle sauce to accompany it. The potatoes could have had more garlic, but they were decent. My panna cotta had a very creamy, silky texture. The cinnamon was a little too strong for my taste, but for most, this would be a superb dessert. My husband’s dessert was knock your socks off. The peanut butter cake was an extremely moist pound cake bursting with flavor. The chocolate mousse was dark and intense with the chocolate flavor lingering long after swallowing. We decided to have coffee ($1.50) after our meal. Six Burner serves Illy. We had not had coffee this good since we were last in Paris. And this was a basic cup of coffee with cream and sugar. None of the frou-frou cappuccino stuff.

We will definitely return. The menu changes frequently, and the regular wine offerings list options from $19 - $60 a bottle.