PhotoHunt: Daily

An Apple a Day...Taken at the South of the James Market August 2009.

Anokha - Where I Now Go For Indian Cuisine

I had mourned the closing of New India in Lakeside. We were introduced to their great food only to have it disappear. Last week we finally had the opportunity to eat at Anokha. And what a spectacularly delicious place. First of all, when entering the establishment, one would never know that this was the former home of a fast food burrito place. The decor is colorful and sleek. I was even impressed with the women's restroom.

Next, Anokha features a fantastic wine list to pair with its cuisine at decent prices. We ordered a Peltier Station Petit Syrah. Next time we have vowed to pair the food with one of the many whites from Alsace.

We were served plain naan with three different sauces - tamarind-based (sweet and addictive), yogurt-based (not to our liking), and cilantro-mint (very tasty).

To start, we shared Shrimp Madras - Jumbo Shrimp Sautéed in Madras Spice Blend, Served with Pink Peppercorn-Mint Raita. The shrimp were big and meaty. Unfortunately, we did not know that it was topped with toasted coconut. Since I do not like coconut, I was a bit disappointed. If you like coconut, you would really like this dish. My hubby did.

For entrees, my hubby ordered Anokha Special Biryani - Saffron Rice with Shrimp, Scallops, Chicken and Nuts. The serving was huge and tasty. He took half of it home to consume the following day. I liked the fried onions that accompanied the dish. I had the Chicken Saffron - Tandoori Chicken Breast in a Delicately Spiced Saffron Sauce. My dish, while smaller in quantity,  transported me to tastebud heaven. The saffron sauce was magnificent. It was served with plain rice. We also ordered garlic naan to eat with the entrees. Good thing, too. I needed the naan to sop up the extra saffron sauce. Mmmm.

We will definitely return to this place. The food was flavorful, the decor pleasing, and someone took some time in putting together a wine list for the cuisine.

PhotoHunt: Cuddly

Game Plan for Hondo's

On SuperBowl Sunday my hubby and I dined early at Hondo's to take advantage of an incredible deal.

They had sent me a buy one entree, get another entree free. Since they opened the doors at 4:30 PM, we made reservations via Open Table and enjoyed a nice meal before trotting back home to watch the game. On top of that, Sunday is 1/2 price wine night and they let us take advantage of this special as well.

Can you say "WooHoo?"

The interior of the place is a maze of small rooms that can seat regular diners as well as small or large parties. It made for a more intimate atmosphere. And, unlike other steakhouses in the area, Hondo's entrees come with a small salad and choice of side dish.

We treated ourselves to a 2005 Chateauneuf du Pape which was quite pleasant.

To eat, my hubby had Bronzed North Atlantic Salmon - $25.95 Nature's perfect fish. North Atlantic Salmon rubbed with brown sugar and chipotle served with a red raspberry and Merlot reduction and a baked potato. I had Filet Mignon Small (8oz) - $30.95 with garlic mashed potatoes.

While the salad was not really impressive, it did satisfy the small veggie need. Hubby liked the raspberry/Merlot reduction and thought it enhanced the essence of the fish. My steak was very good. It sported herbed melted butter on top and added a subtle flavor to the meat (medium rare, of course).

We then ordered plain cheescake "to go" so we could enjoy dessert while watching the game. The cheescake slices were small and the cream cheese was not totally incorporated into the dessert. I kept getting hunks of cream cheese.

To wrap up - Go on Sunday for 1/2 price wine night. Sign up for email specials and coupons. Enjoy the main dishes. Skip dessert.

bonvenu reflections

At the beginning of February, in between snow deluges, we ate at bonvenu.

Gone were the vestiges of The Track decor, including the grass cloth walls (which had given us inspiration for our little office ceiling at home). bonvenu was bright with mod chandeliers that produced fascinating reflections. The female staff also sported great retro print tunics (not so much the male staff).

We began with glasses of sparking. A bit more of an apple bite than I like, but drinkable. The puzzling part was that the menu referred to this bubbly as champagne. While the wine was made in France, it was not produced in Champagne.

We ordered crispy calamari. My hubby thought the breading a bit much. I thought the seafood was very tender - almost melt-in-your-mouth.

We had a bottle of SO Zin which was very tasty.

For dinner, hubby had the Blackened Sea Scallops with celeriac purée, caramelized onion rice & baby bok choy. He really dug the scallops and thought the celeriac a great complement to the meal.

I had Roasted Veal Chop with charred corn, fire roasted peppers & whipped garlic mashed potatoes. The garlic/charred thread tied up this hearty tasty package with a flavorful bow. Each element of the dish picked up essences from each other and echoed back deliciousness.

We felt welcomed and the evening also lent itself to experimenting with reflective pictures...

Subscribe to J. Emerson's Newsletter

If you have not signed up to receive J. Emerson's electronic newsletter, now is the time. The newsletter currently includes an internet only special. This month I got an incredibly sweet deal on a 2004 vintage port.

And they featured a tasting of Pride Mountain offerings last Tuesday. All extremely great wines. And while the Pride Mountain was out of my price range, just the opportunity to taste (for free) and, as Matt puts it, "recalibrate my palate" is golden.

This month they are also featuring 2005 CHATEAU GREYSAC Medoc Rouge (Bordeaux, Franc) for $11.95.

PhotoHunt: Broken

One must break some eggs...

to make something delicious.

Rosy Tangerine Dream

I have fallen passionately in love with Luxardo Maraschino liqueur. We saw this elixir being used for the wonderful bar concoctions at Acacia. I bought a bottle for my hubby for Christmas and we just got around to opening it. First of all, this Italian import smells and tastes more like roses than cherries. An unexpected, yet welcome surprise. And a little splash adds a lot of flavor.

I've been experimenting with different recipes and my spouse insisted that I blog about this one. So here it is:

Rosy Tangerine Dream

6 ounces sparkling wine

2 ounces tangerine juice

Splash of Luxardo Maraschino (about a tablespoon)

Pour the sparkling wine in the glass first, add the Luxardo, and top off with the juice.

Enjoy.

Frittata

Cracked eggs

Leftover roasted potatoes, Italian sausage discovered in the freezer, a shallot, grated Romano cheese, oregano, salt, pepper AND a fairly new non-stick Calphalon pan

Adds up to a frittata

Yum.

This was my first attempt at a frittata. While I frequently used a non-stick electric skillet, I did not have a non-stick pan for the stove. Until I tried the Calphalon Unison non-stick pan (slide version). So far, I am impressed. And today the pan went from stovetop to broiler and delivered up a scrumptious dish.

For my technique, I consulted Marcella Hazan and her Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking. She never fails me.

PhotoHunt: Average

My average order at Buz and Ned's Barbecue.

Today is a Snow Day

Belle Vie - French (or Belgian) Comfort Food

Before Richmond received an avalanche of the powdery white stuff my spouse and I attended a basketball game to see my niece kick some b-ball behind on Friday. Hey M! Great form! Keep up the good work!

The game ended around 7PM and we found ourselves on the Southside, figuring out what to do for dinner. We ended up at Belle Vie located in the Alverser Plaza off of Huguenot Road. We chose wisely.

The man who greeted us turned out to be our waiter and the wine guy. We took our seat in a back booth near the kitchen and while this may not have been a stellar location, the aromas emanating from the kitchen were mouth-watering. Has any restaurant attempted to put together a menu by smell? Could be intriguing. The back of the house location did give us an opportunity to admire the decor and observe the wait staff, the Chef, and the Pastry Chef work the room. We heard both English and French. And my friend Eiffel Tartan would be pleased to know that I distinctly heard the Pastry Chef say dix-huit and understood that she referred to the number 18 (did not understand anything else, mais c'est la vie!).

The wine list featured a variety of French offerings with other old and new world bottles as well. The wine by the glass list was also fairly extensive. We went for a 2005 Chateau Maurac Haut-Medoc.

What a delightful Bordeaux. Fruity and ready to drink, but enough structure to hold up to a great piece of beef! We were quite pleased with our selection.

To eat we started off with a shared Frisee aux Lardons. I'm always a sucker for this salad which generally consists of frisee, poached egg, and bacon. Belle Vie's version presented the requisite ingredients along with some diced tomato and a creamy dressing. While I prefer a vinaigrette for this salad (and maybe a touch of bacon grease), this version satisfied me. And since we had stated up front that it would be shared, the staff plated it on two plates and presented the poached egg on a separate plate so we could divide or fight over it. I won. Hats off to the wait staff/kitchen in this attention to detail.

For entrees Belle Vie enticed us with all manner of delights: Coq au Vin, Moules Frites, Boeuf Bourguignon, Duck in Orange Sauce, etc., etc. We decided upon beef dishes. My hubby chose L'Entrecote Beurre Maitre D'Hotel - Ribeye topped with a parsley and shallot compound butter. He also ordered Gratin Dauphinois as a side dish. I ordered Le Filet Mignon with Bearnaise Sauce. A tiny side salad of mixed greens in a creamy mustard sauce accompanied both steaks - to be consumed as a digestif after the meal. Both steaks were cooked to medium rare perfection. Hubby loved the parsley and shallot butter and I enjoyed the Bearnaise sauce which was served warm in a small ceramic gravy boat. I did have to remind the staff that my filet was missing the Bearnaise, a minor glitch in the service. My hubby praised the balance of the side dish of potatoes. A lovely mix of thinly sliced potatoes, cheese, and nutmeg. None of the ingredients over-powered the others.

While desserts tempted us, we had no room. Next time we will plan accordingly and try the Apple Tart or the Dame Blanche - Vanilla Ice Cream with Hot Chocolate Sauce and Whipped Cream.

To top off the evening we saw Farouk. He had been our favorite staffer at Can Can and we had missed him. We were glad to become reacquainted at Belle Vie.

We had a delightful experience and must cross the river again to try more French/Belgian comfort food.

River City Supper Club #10

The Club took a break in December and reconvened last Saturday at Cous Cous. Amazingly, none of us had ventured to this restaurant and one us works just two doors from the establishment. We arrived at 6 PM. Actually, most of us found the place by 6 PM and then spent several minutes nabbing a parking spot. My hubby and I decided to park on Monument and walk down. We learned later that the lot next to CousCous is avaiable in the evening. This information is not listed in their web site so I'm not sure if it is a formal arrangement or tacit agreement. While 6PM seemed a tad early for dinner and diners were sparse upon our arrival, the place quickly filled and before we left every table in the room and every chair at the bar had been filled.

The interior of Cous Cous welcomed us into a dark, candle-lit, gauzy, bohemian space. I felt comfortable and cozy. A couple of our Supper Club members sported varying opinions:

From R-Prime: The atmosphere was loud and dark – much like a nightclub which immediately did not bode well. This atmosphere was furthered as our waitress began to lose clothing through the evening….had I not been with guests this would have been enough for me to leave prior to ordering (the atmosphere that is, not the waitress).

From K: Taking into account the location of the restaurant (in the heart of VCU), I thought the decor and noise level of Cous Cous was to be commended. I found that it was not as crowded and noisy as some VCU/fan restaurants can be.

Now on to the wine. Cous Cous offered a variety that my husband and I found appealing and most were $30 and under. Each couple in the Club ordered a different red wine. It took a while for our waitress to understand that we each wanted three separate glasses so we could compare. Once she got on the band wagon, she beautifully accomodated us with different glass styles. Only B managed to mix the reds, but that was only once.

Our wine choices included (pardon the pictures, the place was really dark):

Martin Codax Ergo Rioja

Trapiche Broquel Malbec

L de Lyeth Merlot

All were immensely quaffable. The one earning top accolades was the merlot. Neither my husband nor I were too surprised that the merlot took the top honors, Lyeth has been a consistent producer from California and we have enjoyed many of their wines (we are very partial to the meritages). But for our dining companions, the discovery of a yummy merlot was unique.

From K: I can honestly report that I was surprised how much I enjoyed the Merlot, as my luck with them has been intermittent at best. I attribute this fine selection to the masterful knowledge of my dining companions, as I rarely pursue Merlots myself. I also found the Malbec most interesting and would like to compare it to a couple of other Malbecs in a tasting.

From R-Prime: Oh, but speaking of the wine--in my opinion, for price and finish, the winning wine of the evening was actually the Lyeth Merlot! Admittedly I have been trained to be a snob to merlots both by friends and Hollywood. But this Merlot’s spicy finish was surprising and complex – hints of cherry, white pepper both delicately placed under an inviting herbal bouquet. In fact the Merlot in itself was much like my evening at Cous Cous, expectations started low and finished with one delightful surprise after the other.

I think our wine experience emphasizes the fact that not all merlots are bad. In fact, I will even admit that not all chardonnays are bad (but I do tend to be more of a snob when it comes to this white grape). Thus, when any of you go out to a wine shop or grocery store, etc. and a tasting is offered, unless you absolutely know the stuff is crap (i.e. you have tasted it before and either spit or poured the liquid out), give it a try. You may well find a gem.

Enough of the soapbox. On with the food.

The Cous Cous menu presented a variety of small plates. The one question all of us had was how big or small were these plates? If they were too small all six of us would not be able to share. We decided to each order our own things as a couple.

For B and G

• Harira Soup - Traditional family style home cooked soup w/ braised lamb and wild rice
• Lamb Tagine with Mediterranean Cous Cous w/ spinach, onions, garlic topped w/ feta and kalamata olives
• Chicken B'stilla - Moroccan pot pie w/ chicken and eggs mixed w/ almonds, onions, apricots, and mixed vegetables w/ a sweet spicy finish
• Almond Baklava
• Chocolate Bread Pudding with a Bourbon Glaze

Comments from G:

The soup was very tasty. It was a little on the oily side, but the flavors were great.

The Lamb Tagine was something I expected. It had a really good flavor profile, it was not overpowered by spices and you could actually taste the lamb. The lamb itself was very tender not gamy, it did not have a pungent smell or taste due to age and gender of the animal (usually female lambs that are older than 12 months tend to have that unique gamy flavor and smell) . The Mediterranean Cous Cous was bland, however when it was eaten with the lamb it was not disappointing.


I was not impressed by the Chicken B'stilla. It did not do much for me. Instead of complementing, sweet and savory flavors were rather fighting against each other.


Almond Baklava was OK nothing special.


Chocolate Bread Pudding was certainly something that I would be reluctant to order in a Moroccan Restaurant. Since it is one of B's favorite deserts, she could not resist ordering it. To me it was little on the bitter side (too much cooking chocolate was used) and it needed more alcohol.

B did not get back to me with any comments but she really liked the soup,especially on a cold evening, and she raved about the Chicken B'stilla. (I tried a piece of the chicken dish, but did not care for it. My hubby would not even consider it since it contained apricots.)

For R-Prime and K:

• Fried calamari w/ tangy remoulade
• Chicken Tagine with Mediterranean Cous Cous w/ spinach, onions, garlic topped w/ feta and kalamata olives
• Lamb Shank - Slow roasted shank served over brussel sprouts & potatoes and lamb demi glaze
• Chicken B'stilla - Moroccan pot pie w/ chicken and eggs mixed w/ almonds, onions, apricots, and mixed vegetables w/ a sweet spicy finish

Comments from R-Prime:

The Lamb Shank, while older than I like, was tender and delicately oiled. As the description read – indeed it fell off the bone. The potatoes and Brussels sprouts were slightly over cooked but still brought a nice satisfying stick-to-your-ribs quality to this dish. As I cleared my plate, I found myself digging for the marrow and even made several failed attempted to break the bone in an attempt to enjoy this portion of the meal a little longer…


Despite my enjoyment of the lamb, the Chicken B’Stilla that I shared with K (at the recommendation of B) was the hit of the evening for me. The flakey pastry crust was appealingly light and the chicken was well complimented by the chutney-esque flavors of the filling’s spices, apricots and mixed veggies. The dish had a slow, spicy burn that built as we progressed through the dish. It made the dry fruitiness of the Trapiche Malbec and the Codax Tempranillo even more delightful.

Comments from K:

R-Prime and I shared the fried calamari with remoulade sauce. The calamari was tender and lightly battered and thoroughly enjoyable. I would have preferred a wedge of lemon to squeeze over and the remoulade was lackluster and screamed of being yet another use for 1000 island dressing. I ordered the chicken tagine with mediterranean couscous. The chicken was extremely tender and left me wanting more. The mediterranean couscous was only average--not enough acid, vegetables, or seasoning to enable this blank canvas of a starch to make a statement.


R-Prime and I also shared the chicken b'stilla. I thought this was the highlight of the meal--balancing bits of savory chicken, sweet apricots, and the texture of nuts with a spicy hotness that presented progressively through the mouth and building in intensity that never overshadowed the main ingredients or became uncomfortable. The sriracha sauce used as a decorative garnish was a pretty but unnecessary companion as this dish was complex enough to stand on its own.

Hubby and Me

• Manchego Fritters - Manchego (spanish cheese) w/a mango coulis
• Chicken Tagine with Mediterranean Cous Cous w/ spinach, onions, garlic topped w/ feta and kalamata olives
• Chicken Kebab with Moroccan Cous Cous w/ chopped vegetables seasoned w/ moroccan spices
• Chocolate Bread Pudding with a Bourbon Glaze
• Chocolate Hazelnut Torte

Our comments:

The fritters tasted more like fried bread than cheese. A bit disappointing. The chicken tagine made up for it. Tender, stewed chicken with vegetables. And more than enough for a meal. Unfortunately the Mediterranean cous cous did not deliver on its promised flavor of feta and olives. With this combination the flavor should have been intense. It was lackluster and also room temperature. The same for the chicken kebab. Boring taste, but the Moraccan cous cous provided another highlight of the evening. This is the starch to get here. A ton of flavor with a vinegary/lemony undertone.

My spouse appreciated the rich chocolate  flourless torte, although the crust was made with almonds and pecans. He could not distinguish any hazelnuts. I agreed with G regarding the bread pudding. The chocolate overwhelmed this dessert. It would have been okay if the glaze had contained the promised bourbon flavor.

At the end of the evening we were quite full and satisfied. While some of the food could have been better, we discovered a few stellar dishes. Although Cous Cous advertizes small plates, most of the items we ordered were large enough for a meal, especially the tagines. For folks on a budget or ones seeking places for a cheap date, this is a good place. In fact, Mondays are Date Nights with a $40 dinner for two special.

PhotoHunt: Spotted

Turkey eggs.

Chocolate Cravings

Richmond Food Collective enticed me to visit the open house for Chocolate Cravings. Mmmm, chocolate. The tiny little space located at:

Chocolate Cravings
6929 Lakeside Avenue
(In the Hub Shopping Center at the corner of Lakeside and Hillard)
Richmond Va. 23228
804-363-6873

was tucked away from view of the road. No wonder I had not run across these fine purveyors of all things chocolate.

At the open house we were greeted with silky hot chocolate, intense brownie bits, and almond and sea salt bark. All very delicious and lovingly crafted.

They make the rounds of some of the farmers markets (not South of the James, however), and a few local shops carry their delectable offerings as well.

If you want to drop by the shop, call ahead to make sure someone is there. Attending farmers markets and delivering to retail shops can take a chunk of time.

Oh, make sure to check out the chocolate bunnies and chocolate filled eggs that will be available for Easter!