Menu Nomad

Cooperstown Diner

2012-02-06T15:45:00.000-05:00

They aren't kidding 'bout the 1/2 thing.

Nothing too special, just a tiny diner in Cooperstown that was open when the rest of the town was hibernating for the winter. There wasn't really any discussion on whether or not we'd go in; the "specials" sandwich board outside of this peculiar trailer-esque building compelled us inside.

The menu is your standard diner menu: photo of the diner on the front (or is it an imagined version of the diner at its best?), breakfast (served all day), sandwiches, burgers, platters, daily specials & sides. Highlights of the interior included diner memorabilia (all of which I was tempted to buy- especially a coveted tee with pixely photo of a burger that said "Worth the Wait"- a truism I was to later discover), donuts under glass and Capri Suns for sale on a shelf.

Trust me: Adults can't order off the Kids' Menu

We got the burger & a grilled cheese sandwich, and 35 minutes later, they appeared- greasy and hot next to our bottomless coffees and reluctantly refilled plastic cups of water. I had ordered the grilled cheese with ham, which turned out to be bacon. Curious, because bacon had been the other option with "The Mohican." I had wished it was Saturday night for their $5.95 All You Can Eat Spaghetti, but it turned out I found another way to carbo-load with my two side options: mashed potatoes and (extremely fried) eggplant fries. The burger was juicy and humungous, like a burger should be- way too big to get a bite with everything. We watched as a kid at a nearby table demolished his burger with enthusiasm as he tried to fit the whole stack in his mouth.

Mostly Fried Stuff

The tablecloths were checked, the cheese was American, and the toupee'd regular in the corner muttered to himself all through his meal of mashed potatoes. Just what you'd hope for at a diner in the town that's the home of America's favorite game.

Tiu Dropar

2012-02-02T16:21:00.000-05:00

Ooh, look at those coffee cup marks! I have some other menus with that on there, from enjoying a meal so much that I spill on my placemat menu. But wait... this wasn't a placemat... those marks are actually printed on the menu itself... Oh Tiu Dropar, what am I going to do with you?

Menus like this make me think I can almost read Icelandic. But later I realize it's really hard. Not enough vowels. (See Children's Hot Chocolate)

I guess this whole restaurant had questionable authenticity, but I loved it anyway. Iceland is questionable already- I mean, is it part of the EU? Is it its own continent? Is it covered in ice, or what? No, no, no. But do they have great waffles? Yes.

We tromped on down here in the darkness of a 9am winter morning, after being told by two sources to get waffles at (a) the bottom of the hill and (b) at the bottom of the steps. So we found Tiu Dropar, with the aid of a huge sign that promised *something* in Icelandic and a tiny sign that promised "fresh waffles" in English. We descended the steps to a classic tearoom interior, with modest crystal chandeliers and kettles decorating the walls. It looked like it had been a tearoom for decades, but it had a hipness about it that suggested it was a recent ploy to attract the likes of us tourists who love that sort of thing. It worked. We settled into a cozy table next to a window that opened up to the sidewalk above to watch passing footwear, and waited for our food.

Pictures of food make me hungry for food.

We only checked the breakfast menu, which was on the wall near the register- then later we found the other offerings at our table. But we really had all we needed to order- I was sold at "Vaffla med beikoni". Perhaps you don't know about my waffle obsession*. I always want to get them, ever since I had the best of my life in Brussels, Belgium. But I've been forever disappointed since those originals, even by waffles in Bruges, and (gasp) New York. And they also make my blood sugar shoot through the roof, so I need me some protein with them. Enter Tiu's Waffles+Bacon. I ate the waffle with my hands, breaking off squares and splitting them in half lengthwise to make bacon sandwiches, then dipping those in syrup. Can't say it did much for my blood sugar problem, but I really didn't have to eat again until like 4 in the afternoon, right as the sun was going down again.

=====

*I have tried several times, unsuccessfully, to get a tattoo of a waffle. Artists explain that it will look terrible, unless I get a very large tattoo of a waffle, which will itself look very ridiculous, because it is a waffle. If someday I do succeed at this tattoo operation, I will coerce C (of Viajante and Dinner fame) to accompany me and get one of her own; we have a pact.

Burma Superstar

2012-01-25T12:08:00.000-05:00

I'd heard of the legendary Burma Superstar for years: the tea leaf and rainbow salads, the perfect melding of Burmese, Thai and Laotian cuisine, and the extraordinary wait times.

Well, as luck would have it, I was visiting SF and ended up near Clement St. around dinnertime, and my friend had made reservations for B-Star, the lesser known offshoot of the original. I sort of hemmed and then opted to give a crack at getting into Burma instead. We waited the standard 45 minutes down the block at The Bitter End. A couple of Bear Republic Racer 5's later, we were back at Burma Superstar, shining golden menus in hand- easy as pie.

This is one (another) menu I really like to relive and redo. We ordered well, starting with the Tea Leaf Salad, adding the Chili Lamb, Garlic Noodles, Okra Egg Curry and Platha- but upon rereading I want to go back and order again. At the end of the meal we were totally satisfied, even plucking bits of noodle from the bottom of the bowls, but this menu is extensive! I read tons of reviews, each claiming a different dish is the best- a good sign for a restaurant. People want to try everything on this menu- no wonder the line is always so long.

We all know I want some of that Crispy Chicken.

I could probably eat Burmese food every day.

Many of these dishes could be names for my band (Homestyle Oxtail Claypot).

Burma Superstar is good to Burma.

Hot Box Grill

2012-01-20T15:57:00.000-05:00

What? Yum, Sonoma. This is the kind of menu I expect at Northern California joints, but rarely encounter. With phrases like "hand torn" and "roasted pear" and "cowboy steak." Things are more likely to be super fancy or like the places we grew up with, that never change to accomodate evolving food lingo (for better or worse). I haven't actually eaten here yet- this menu was given to me by MV as a taunt, since I was unable to join them for dinner when I was there- but I will do. It might give my other Sonoma favorite a run for its money.

Beets & goat cheese? A revelation!

Nitehawk Cinema

2012-01-19T15:59:00.001-05:00

Nitehawk Cinema is a movie theater slash restaurant slash bar, and I was prepared for it to be awkward at the least, anxious at best. You see, I brought some tacos into BAM last week and I know I was getting mean-mugged. Food in a theater means wrapping crunchery, odor imposition and fork fumbling. And Nitehawk takes fancy-chef food, adds alcohol, and has it all served in the dark by your-mother's-not-a-glassblower waitstaff. But we took a seat in the back, put in our order, and were immediately distracted by scenes of old Charlize Theron movies while we waited for our food.

This menu is a good one as far as novelty restaurants go.

Can you throw a little garlic curry on there for everyone
else in the theater to enjoy?

I wonder if they all watch the movies together and then shout out ideas for dish names or cocktails, or if Saul thinks of the dishes vaguely based on the title of the movie.

The Deconstructed Dragon Roll doesn't overly impress me- they could have at least referenced Scandinavia with some smoked salmon in there.

The Driver, on the other hand, is a stroke of brilliance. It's one of those fortuitous outsider-insider puns on Gosling's Rum that makes you wonder if they thought of that cocktail first, and the movie theater-bar concept second. The Young Adult drink isn't too bad either- you hate the idea of Diet Coke, but when you watch the movie, you kinda want to make up a drinking game with The Mavis Gary.

The Descendants- haven't seen it, but the reference seems pretty overt.

We had ourselves some Hot Bourbon Cider, and it was delicious. I recommend drinking one during a movie- it seems sort of mischievous and sophisticated at the same time.

Whoa, then there's all this other food down here!

I wish there were more movie allusions to comment on, but alas. We're in Williamsburg, so food standards are pretty high- they can't go spending all their time on dish names. Plus, it's probably a lot of effort to keep printing up menus every time there's a new release.

Let's not forget the classics: "The Dude" White Russian? Like Water for Hot Chocolate? Fight Club Sandwich?

Despite my initial anxieties (and fear of the dark), the Nitehawk experience was fantastic. I couldn't really see my food- the tempura'd Broccoli Rabe, the Spicy Mushroom Tamale & the Cheese Empanadas- or use my fork (as expected), but I liked having little morsels to pick at with my fingers and a table for my drink. I can't imagine navigating a salad in there or trying to not talk during the movie, so the experience isn't for everybody. But I'm totally going to keep in touch with this menu to see what they do with upcoming features- Carnage? Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy? Beauty & the Beast 3D?

Maimonide of Brooklyn

2012-01-15T21:15:00.003-05:00

Walking down Atlantic Avenue late the other night, I couldn't help but notice a dazzling display of lights and ultramodern decor glaring out of a windowed storefront. I hadn't noticed it before, but this restaurant popped up sometime in the last few weeks and now it is a bright and shining beacon that both intimidates me and tempts me to enter.

Well, it was midnight and the place had just closed, but I snuck into Maimonide's front door and grabbed a paper menu and a comic book from the front window (where they were presumably laid out for the taking). So much explanation for this one little restaurant! I mean, I guess that's what menus are for- information- but usually they're more of a list than an exposition. I guess this place is offering a new kind of restaurant experience, and they need to 'splain themselves.

So the front of the menu tells us all about Maimonide of Brooklyn and their layout... the back tells us the actual food items, and the comic book explains the restaurant's history & the deal with the vegetarian food they serve. Superheroic offerings of veggie-oriented dishes with a Brookyn-centric slant (puff-pastried shaped like Brooklyn Bridge arcs?). Ok... I'm interested to try it, but Brooklyn restaurateurs seriously need to spend less time on their dish titles and more time on the perfection of those dishes. We know- you guys are clever and stylish! Now get us to come through your doors for more than just the novelty of your whole thing.

Is there maybe a glossary for your fancy vegetable offerings?
Could it be in comic book form, please?
And would it perhaps be easier to keep the utensils on the table?

To be continued once I try the place: "One Oyster Mushroom and Chick Pea Nuggets, one Brave Heart MOB & a Brewklyn Grind Direct Trade Regular French Press, Please." Geez, could Brooklynites love themselves any more? I guess they could live in Manhattan...

Viajante

2012-01-11T14:54:00.000-05:00

I got a letter in the mail. The real mail, like with a stamp! Rarely does the postman bring so much joy.

When she says "Hearts," she means "Duck and Leek Hearts"

Joy that slowly simmers into jealousy, then back into joy. This menu is another crazy one from the Brits, who seem to be trying really hard to change their national stereotype of a bad-food-enjoying people. Or it might just be that C only goes out to extravagant Brit meals...

Yes, it's from June. It travelled all the way across the pond!

It's written on stationery, which added to the nice effect of being sent via snail mail. The restaurant is symbolized by a flying fish centaur hobo, as well as a butterfly mussel and a shrimp-toenail clipper. C pointed out a few mistakes (perhaps last minute changes?) and yet I'm still stuck wondering: What is Cod Tripe? How do they make Mushroom Floss? Brill? I think after 9 courses, one would imagine herself in a tiny fairey wonderland where down is up and Maple is frozen. But I guess that's just London for ya.

Van Horn Update

2012-01-08T13:33:00.000-05:00

Frankly, I was a little concerned when one of my favorite neighborhood joints got written up as one of the top new restaurants in Brooklyn. Call me selfish, but that type of publicity really makes certain places get out of hand.

I like the table-of-contents style price ellipses.

So I was pleasantly surprised to drop in to Van Horn the other night to find it pleasantly quiet. Of course, the pace picked up and most of the tables were full by the time we left for the movie theater, but we got to enjoy our awesome sandos without having to wait for a table. Not that I've ever had to wait here, but I fear, I fear.

I grabbed the menu because my original was a takeout, and also because they have definitely changed their style in the updated version.

Now, the contrast between the two menus is stark. I was always impressed at the simplicity- Chicken, Fish, Pork- they're sandwiches people, choose your filling. At the same time, I gave credit to the waitresses for probably having to field a ton of questions- let's face it, it's NYC. People love their food questions. The new menu maintains the stampy, manual typewriter look- and it looks like they really stamp the name of the restaurant on each menu (now I feel bad for taking it...). And in all actuality, it looks like they're printing them on a laserjet in the back office, and that's cool.

But now we have words like zesty and toasted and vinaigrette and, while I do want to know those details, I'm lamenting a little bit the simplicity of the original VH and their cafeteria-style basics.

By "Local" they mean they will be pouring it
locally from their draughts.

Thankfully, prices have mostly stayed the same (the BLT & BLP $ have mysteriously reversed, beets are up a buck). In conclusion, Van Horn seems to be staying true to their original comfy food, comfy restaurant roots- even in this top ten restaurant mecca. Let's not stay tuned for round three when we start learning the origin of their bacon and how the greens are prepared.

So I ordered the Brunswick Stew for the first time, and it was really good. Super hearty, it tasted exactly like it looked. Tons of smoked pork- and corn, tomatoes & some green. Of course got the Roasted Beets- we get them a lot but I'm always a little surprised that they're cold. But a good complement to the molten stew. And of course their beer list is great- I won't pretend I don't have a vested interest in Lagunitas, but it's still awesome to see a California beer on a North Carolinan menu. And even more awesome that they refer to Lagunitas as "Local Draft Beer." Shhh, we won't tell anyone.

Mary's Pizza Shack

2012-01-02T11:39:00.000-05:00

Mary's is just the pizza place in the town where I grew up. We went there for soccer parties, graduations, after school, and hot breadsticks. We embraced the pesto breadsticks when they appeared on the menu, and accepted the expansion of the brand as it moved outward, popping up along the highway and on billboards heading out of the county.

Now people have no reason to leave Sebastapol!

When I went this time with a group of friends, we stopped in at the Mary's "on the square" for dinner. There are a few portraits of Mary on the wall, as well as photos of the original space along Highway 12, where we all grew up grabbing pizzas with our families. We all kinda know what to order, pretty much salads & pizzas, but a couple of us go for the spaghetti & meatballs, stepping out of the box. We're grateful for leftover slices when our custom [garlic, onion, sausage, pepper & artichoke hearts(superfluous)] pizza has filled us up; we eat them the next afternoon on a car ride home.

The "Other Food" section- classic Mary's move. Other people call them "Sides".

Bayou Cafe

2011-12-18T14:04:00.000-05:00

Just when you thought cruises couldn't get more excessive, we paid extra and got reservations for the Bayou Cafe. The idea was the same: all you can order, twice as much as you should probably eat, but you get to pretend you're in a restaurant instead of a dining hall.

The theme was pretty clear: Cajun style cooking, a brass band playing and a muraled dining room decorated with wrought iron street lamps. The menu cemented it with "N-Awlins Crawfish," johnnycakes and Maw-Maw's Slaw. Well, we were ready for a change of pace from the standard dining room and it's always fun to order ridiculous menu items, so what the hey.

As opposed to the menu in the main dining room, the Bayou Cafe's listing was the same every night. They posted it outside the restaurant to tempt people into the $20 dining supplement- a successful strategy since I wondered about their Smothered Gator Ribs every time I passed by.

The menu itself was a plasticized card, laminated for spill protectage; by the end of the meal we'd be covered in all sorts of bbq sauces.

I tried to share, as is my standard technique for trying more menu items, but that tactic failed because it was No Limits. We ended up with almost every single dish on our 10 person table- the waiter brought out even the items we didn't order, because he was so sure we'd be into the Oysters Sieur De Bienville (they were fist size cheeseballs over an oyster).

The dishes themselves were as expected- by this point in the cruise we were always so full and drunk everything tasted more or less the same. The Gator Ribs, if you were wondering, reminded me of Dallas BBQ's- which I don't think are gators'.

Highlight for me was when I asked for "a tiny piece of cake" (I would never order cake in a restaurant- what, is it my birthday?) and the waiter brought me a piece about the size of a thumbnail- smaller than the sprig of mint accompanying it. Perfect! I felt like a giant! But then, he brought out the rest of it- the size of a brick, which is what it felt like in my stomach.

I'm on a boat!

Island Princess

2011-12-15T13:14:00.000-05:00

Cruises are ridiculous. They are the illusion of luxury by way of excess. Not that I'm complaining, because it's certainly a very easy way to travel. You don't have to negotiate transportation, skim guidebooks, consult maps, or make decisions- other than which 4 courses to choose from the menu.

I'll have the Penne with a side of Fettuccine.

The cruise menu. It looks like an acceptable selection at an upscale restaurant in a nondescript town. The order of items is somewhat odd, since the first page bombards you with Pasta and the Alternative Choices, and it isn't till you turn your head 12 degrees to the right that you see the appetizers. So much effort! How does this work?? Well, you see (say the cruise experts on voyage 3 or 14): the alternative choices are there every day, and the next page shows the daily specials. You choose an appetizer, a soup or salad, and an entree, and later you choose digestifs, coffee and a dessert from a second menu. Pretty standard stuff, but there's a lot of strategy to cruising, say the experts.

So let's see, these Alternative Choices have me picturing a wedding menu. Nothing wrong with that, just bulk food that will be inoffensive. Needless to say, I never ordered off this section, except for the Sweet & Nutritious Fruits (with a small side of ice cream) and C frequently got Domestic & Imported Cheeses (curious, I wonder what they mean by domestic out here) as her pretend dessert.

I chuckled to see the little "health bush" signifying those dishes "lower in fat, cholesterol and sodium". It made me feel guilty to order a shrubless item. C'mon cruise! I'm gonna order it either way. If it has a bush- I feel justified; if it's naked- I'm like, screw it- I'm on vacation! Not really; I totally kept my eye on that little leaf cluster and was dominated by his presence or absence.

What I love about this menu is all the fancy-ness. The menu itself is over a foot long, and was presented in a huge leather folio. The red cursive headings, all the titles at the top, the footnotes- it's basically a novel. And what the heck is that CHEF graphic? I want to draw a smiley face underneath it, like this:
_____
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
CHEF
o o
\__n/

But we enjoyed ourselves, course after course and tried not to spy last night's leftovers in the Horizon lunch buffet. From this particular menu, I got the Duck Liver Pate, the Romaine Lettuce Salad & the Slow Roasted Lamb Leg with garlic (ouch, no Spa Bush!). I took pride in the fact that I didn't have to look at my menu while ordering- with meals this size, memorizing one's choices is akin to the dramatic category in the Oral Language Faire.

La Mulata

2011-12-13T10:52:00.000-05:00

So in Cartagena, Colombia, there were 4 of us. This is 4 pared down from the 12 in the van ride to Old Town, down from the 25 total on Team Vacay, separated from the roughly 1,500 passengers loaded on the Island Princess as she voyaged through the Caribbean. Four scouts, with maybe 2 hours to investigate a new and exciting city, do something remotely resembling cultural inhalation, and locate and devour a "real", good, Colombian meal. Cruise ship culture makes one lazy when she finally makes landfall. So when we hit Colombia, we were really ready for something new and interesting.

Don't overthink it.

One of our scouting party utilized the precious pages of a NYT 36 Hours, printed for an arm + leg onboard. In Old Town, we collected a níspero to taste- hard to resist with the reported flavor of "chocolate, carmelized sugar & blackberry"- but we thought it had more of a savory guava taste & texture. Next, we popped into a Panaderia for some buttery pastries, and then we were on the hunt for a restaurant. We knew it was futile to seek out something atouristy in this section of town, but I used my best Spanish with a local & she directed us to La Mulata. She said it was popular with both tourists & locals- but more importantly, she said the food was good.

The place- marked out front by an ethnically ambiguous mannequin- was bigger than we expected. Behind the tiny storefront was a deep maze of rooms and exteriors, all sweltering hot. We parked at an outdoor table in an empty section, but by the time we left it was full & there were maybe 10 people hovering for seats. The waitress plunked bowls of soup in front of us, each graced with a motley assortment of tidbits. Floating in the savory broth, we found: squash, chicken, bones, leaves.

If you like Mote, TGIV.

Ordering was fun. My Spanish is good, but with food it's more about vocabulary and dish names. And on this menu, I had only a moderate clue about what we were in for. We sought out our Day-Square (Martes) and everyone took a stab at ordering. Here's one of those situations, though, where I wanted to spend time with each section, translating and imagining, but our time in Cartagena was short, so we got on with it. Another page led us astray with all-the-time specials, and there were fancy drinks that kept passing by, but we stuck with the local brew since we needed the cooldown.

Big font, weak alignment-
you Crazy Colombians!

We ended up with a Pechuga Asada (grilled chicken topped with melted cheese and a wee sausage), the Estofado C/Gnero (beef stewed in tomato sauce with rice), Arroz Cartagenero (smoky rice mixed with bbq'd chicken), and I got the Camarones Jamaica (fresh shrimp in a light tomato sauce). All came with tall spikes of fried plantains, and all were devoured with relish.

I had expected the type of Colombian food one might find in Queens, NY- heavy & rich, with ambiguous cuts of meat- but this food was fresh and almost light in flavor. Not what one would call Health Food per say, but not deadly food coma status either.

One challenge of the meal, apart from time limits and language barrier, was that we had changed only $40, so we had about $60 Colombian left to spend. It didn't really occur to us to worry about that though, so it was a nice surprise when the meal came in just under $50 (about $30 US). Not the best deal in South America, I'm sure, but were glad for our brief freedom from the cruise buffet. Now to return and actually see Colombia.

Medieval Times

2011-11-10T13:09:00.000-05:00

Excited as I was for a trip to a New Jersey castle, I wasn't expecting much of the food itself at this dinner experience. The menu was presented on napkins at our dining places around the horse arena, and we settled into the stadium seating for the show- a wildly lit and deliberately acted medieval jousting tournament. There was drama. There was intrigue. There was eating with our hands.

I generally enjoy menus that double as functional items, but this one I had to struggle to keep clean for my records. Not an easy feat, since there were bbq-slathered plasti-ribs to enjoy. The highlight for me was the tomato bisque, served in a heavy pewter-esque bowl with a single handle for medieval-style lifting and sipping. After that, it was what you'd expect with potatoes and meats, supplemented with all the Coke one could pour down one's gullet. Instead of soda, though, we sipped cocktails from our oversized novelty mugs. After much jeering pageantry and waving our Green Knight flaglets at the actors, we were released to take dress-up photos and get autographs from our heroes. Kitch factor: 10, Food: 4, Fun: 8. Sadly, our knight didn't win, but have you read Game of Thrones? I guess Medieval Times is just trying to be true to reality. Mission accomplished.

Note autograph of Green Knight

Do or Dine

2011-11-03T21:33:00.000-04:00

Here's one for the record books:

This menu was pretty much made as reading material. The food was tasty, but only because it was all deep fried. I like the idea of just making up recipes, because you want to taste certain combinations, but in all actuality, the concept will make Do or Dine into just a novelty restaurant. But it's pretty clear they spent a good amount of time on the titles of dishes and their descriptions. Not an exorbitant amount, mind you, like some other restaurants, but they certainly sat around a table and were like, Yeah, Woffal! The pumpkin-peanut butter soup came highly recommended, but I couldn't bring myself to do it (yeah, even me) because it sounded like dessert. Instead J & I had the Heart Attack!, fois gras donut and E666s. All weird, all fried. Side note: The owner told me I was the first person he knew of to "get" the Chicken and Woffal joke. Really, people?

Cantina di Manuela

2011-10-21T12:55:00.000-04:00

When it comes to Poetry of the Menu, the Italians have an upper hand; theirs is the kind of food you want to read aloud. Thankfully, I was visiting Italy with a Real Italian, who could not only read the food with an authentic accent, but could also translate. You can get the gist and some central ingredients with a scan, but it was nice to know what I was in for with a thorough translation.

And though it was lovely to hear the functional translations and be able to order according to reality rather than assumptions based on educated guesses (pomodoro, funghi: familiar!), here is a flowery description of what we ate, in my English translation:

A little pond of dark green olive oil for dipping, speckled with coarse salt.

Two plates, one with cubes of assorted cheeses and one with handkerchiefs of pink charcuterie; each with its small bowl of accompaniments: honey and pickled artichoke, respectively. The charcuterie included precious strips of white lardon streaked with pink ham, on which I went to town.

A pile of lovely noodles sprinkled with porcini mushrooms.

A hockey puck of raw beef, covered in sectioned grape tomatoes.

Ilia Ristorante

2011-10-19T06:17:00.000-04:00

What fun it is to have a working dinner in Milan! I traveled there with a genial group for a film shoot, and we hobnobbed in a selection of restaurants I might not have experienced in my traveler budget. Ilia was a lovely little spot, arranged for the tourist set, but on first glance you might assume it was the real deal family-style Italian joint. Just as we arrived, we saw the waiter pushing a mighty cart of desserts through the restaurant, a scene which would haunt us after we finished our final course. It had shiny glazed cakes and overfull baskets of brown cookies shifting as the wheels veered around our chairs. After it passed, we turned our attention to the menu, which had been thoughtfully translated for our consideration.

Working dinner means enjoying, apart from the company (of course), ordering a variety of courses, in true Italian fashion: antipasti, pasta and main dishes. Since we were on day 3 of pasta pasta pasta, I boringly went with an arugula salad from the sides section. When it came, it was a bowl of arugula leaves, so I had my Italian speaking comrade send it back for some parmesan shavings. "The American wants parmesan," he pointed out, much to my chagrin, when the waiter returned. I was shamed until I saw the American woman at the next table send her perfectly rare entrecote back to the kitchen to be re-heated and cut smaller. Cheese is no biggie next to that request.

I was glad I kept the menu, so I could check and see that I wasn't in the wrong; look, the menu says the arugula salad has cheese!

For an Italian meal, my order was quite out of order. A salad to start, and an antipasti as a main- Sacrebleu! Or rather, "mama mia"? I got the smoked swordfish (pesce spada), which was lovely and light and saved room for a post-meal gelato. M got the tortelloni- chunky little devils full of spinach that would have been nicer served more al dente. We ignored the passing dolci cart, hoping to find more appealing desserts on our after dinner stroll. Though Ilia turned out to be less of a treat than Cantina di Manuela, I was glad to end my night on the lighter side. Until the gelatera filled me with stracciatella.

La Maison de Rabelais

2011-09-28T09:08:00.000-04:00

While scouring the Loire Valley for chateaux, I kept my eyes peeled for little restaurants that epitomized my vision of French country cuisine. We didn't have a Michelin guide or anything else to guide us along (i.e. internet) so it was up to chance the food we came across during the few days we had between Bordeaux and Paris.

After one long day of driving, we ended up in Langeais, a charming town with a massive chateau smack in its center. We stayed at Hotel Errard, which was just as we'd hoped: an ivy-covered exterior with a maze of staircases leading to our rustic, velvet-walled chambers. For dinner, we ate in the hotel, a caricature of French dining. There was huge mahogany furniture and absurdly large and complicated menus. We ordered in hushed tones, like the few others in the dining room, and our dinner arrived under great silver domes. I documented the whole thing here, but the menu was not one to be pocketed. Instead, I enjoyed the meal in front of me: pig's foot and several glasses of red wine.

The next morning, after a jaunt around the damp medieval town, we stepped into the cafe across the great drawbridge of the chateau, La Maison de Rabelais. The croissants in the window were glistening and flaky, and when we had them we agreed they were the best of the trip. We ordered coffee, and- by happy accident- chocolate- which arrived in a separate mug and was dark and bitter and perfect for dipping and mixing with coffee.

The rest of the menu boasts sandwiches and an array of baked treats, which all looked lustrous and decadent behind the glass counter. Upon reading the names of the desserts in the menu, I am reminded of the extravagant cakes one finds in Viennese cafes. I am not one to go to a restaurant for dessert only, but they seem to be the highlight here. After our giant croissants, we didn't have the space for such luxuries, but we were glad to have tried the house chocolate, since the menu lets us know it is their specialty...

My initial reaction to this restaurant across from the chateau was that it was a tourist stopover, angling for the tour-bus hoards as they departed the landmark; as it turns out, I don't think there's too much of a concern with that kind of scheming in the Loire Valley when it comes to food. They take pride in their cuisine as much as their attractions; they're not just a commodity. In retrospect, I should have bought a croissant to hang on the wall- it might as well have been a piece of art.

La Boule d'Or

2011-09-21T07:12:00.000-04:00

I like to go back to some menus and re-order, sometimes by scanning through to remember what I picked, and how it was, or, more often, to try again on a fantasy trip to the restaurant, and maybe this time I will get something even better. This is one of the reasons why menus make for great souvenirs- even better than a photo, you get to relive a great meal AND all the possible alternate outcomes if you had been in the mood for this or that or another following of your gut in any general menu direction.

And while it's fresh in my mind, right now I'm reliving La Boule d'Or- the local restaurant in our randomly chosen appelation (Moulis) in Bordeaux, France. We passed by the place several times while lost, looking for the farmhouse where we'd spend the week surrounding the Medoc Marathon- and then we ate here twice, both times incredibly impressive and equally indulgent. And while I could discuss here the merits of the Formule, or the talents of the French cuisine, I kind of just want to marvel in full at this menu, only 1/3 of which I can adequately understand.

If I could, I would eat the 3 course chef's menu every day, but as it was (after all the baguettes and canele I was eating by day), I couldn't even get the whole menu two times. The Salad Norvegienne (with smoked salmon and shrimp) was pronounced "the best salad ever" by D, and the duck confit made it so I will be way critical of this dish every other time I taste it, forever.

But some dishes, I read and I wonder: Tartare de st jacques au gingembre et citron vert, Parillada de poissons au pistou? The first night I had a fabulous seafood plate, arranged by the chef and viewed by my table with envy, and the second time I ordered a duck appetizer as my main (not entree, mind you)- just because I loved the name: Nems de Canard au jus de truffe et foie gras. I would eat anything if they threw foie gras in the description.

Even the desserts! Normally I don't bother to brood over lost desserts- they're usually good but I'm usually too full to properly appreciate them. But these are made so much better by virtue of the fact that I have no IDEA what they are. And even now, with the internet at my disposal, I don't really want to know, I am just sure that I missed out on some amazing Ile flottante that I'm sure looks nothing like the Google image search if I were to go that route. Damn you, Internet!

And looking back, did I make the right choices? It's making me anxious now, wondering what I missed and wishing there had been tiny pictures on the menu to help my poor, indecisive, improperly translating, misguided-by-impressive-descriptions ordering self choose better. Once again, I ask: can't I just try one of everything? Then again, that's probably a bad idea.

Le Relais Gascon

2011-09-17T16:32:00.000-04:00

Last year we went to this restaurant based on a 2 sentence review in a guidebook. The place offered giant salads, and since we had been gorging on croissants for a week, we were ready for some greens. Instead, the giant "salads" were full of potatoes, croutons & of course, foie gras. Of course we wanted to go back. It might have been the impetus for the entire trip to Paris.

Unfortunately, we couldn't remember the name of the restaurant, only the neighborhood. That being Montmarte, it was a confusing tangle of winding streets and each corner looked like the one where the restaurant should be. C and I racked our brains, but ultimately resorted to the ol' Phone-A-Friend method. I sent a transatlantic message to G, and after not remembering, he googled "Best Salad Ever Paris." A simple, yet direct query with Le Relais Gascon as the top find. How often do you get that? I was astounded further to find that the restaurant was at the end of the cross street where we were staying. Just up the hill from tourist-ridden Pigalle we found the two-story Gascon, packed to the gills (with lots of Americans- surely they had done the same Google search), and we were tucked in the farthest corner of the farthest room and I began to wonder if the expectations of our memories would be met.

First of all, the restaurant looks nothing like the menu cover; that is Le Sacre Cour. Also the style of the menu is odd and makes one think of the restaurant as a sort of diner, but I think that's an empty comparison, considering we are in France. I think living in Brooklyn I have grown accustomed to fancily described foods that talk about provenance of ingredients and cooking styles and whatnot. These salads are just things in a list. All have fried potatoes with garlic. The text has a distracting shadow. Ok. We choose our salads shrewdly (knowing they are huge), add a plate of snails for culture and a Boeuf Bourguignon because we really like vowels.

All were impressed. Maybe we made the "salad" meal into a caricature of Frenchery, what with the Escargot and Bourguignon, but they performed amazingly. Our little corner was exceedingly loud as we polished off carafes of the house wine, and we hoped that next time we might remember the name of the restaurant.

Eiderdown

2011-07-12T06:10:00.017-04:00

Louisville, Kentucky is a pretty cool little town. During a car trip, you realize rather quickly the towns where you'd rather spend more time, and those you want to pass on through, and I realized that while I hadn't considered it a destination before, I could spend some time in Louisville. Fortunately, we had a friend to stay with who could show us around. Unfortunately, he was in his first week there so he didn't have a plethora of suggestions. Fortunately, his co-workers had taken him to Germantown to dine at Eiderdown, so he brought us back. Hilariously, our waitress recognized our transplant friend from that morning in a coffee shop, several miles away. The menu featured hip references to sustainability that I found out of place in the (mid?)south, but that's probably just my Brooklyn superiority complex talking. The food sounded interesting & upscale and the prices were utterly reasonable- so I had a hard time choosing.

Of course I had to go with the sweetbreads, since they were offered and our friend hadn't had them before (and we waited till after he had tasted to tell him what they were). And then I chose the tongue sandwich out of pure respect for having it on the menu, but in retrospect I really had wanted to go with the spring spaetzle, another item I usually order whenever I see it. But my weird meat selection was tasty enough, and with good German dunkels to wash it down. Good job, Louisville.

Crabtown

2011-07-11T05:39:00.001-04:00

Who would have thought Oklahoma City a good place for crab? I suppose in retrospect, we shouldn't really have gone here, but it was 110 degrees out and walking around with limited eating options wasn't on the road trip agenda. We skipped OK's best fried chicken joint for a crab feast in Bricktown- the industrial-chic downtown area- on our quick stopover in the dustbowl city. Mistake? Surprisingly not. Though I was bummed to miss the chicken, it wasn't as appealing in the heat as a cool plate of crab claws.

Menu-wise, this place seethes with kitch, but inside the restaurant was all steakhouse dark wood and birthday dinners. We sat at the bar and I investigated options & questioned our tender/waiter about the origin of the crab (just curious, not high-maintenance!)- which wasn't from the Bayou as I half-hoped, but shipped in from Alaska.

I selected from the appetizer menu, as is my shrewd habit especially when on a budget- be it monetary or because I have already used up my daily allotted allowance of meals. This turned out to be quite the effective strategy here, where they offered me a Crabtown Trash Bag- a net bag full of throwaway goodies taken from the grand tall-order plates of fancy crab legs. Though slightly unsavory to order out loud, it turned out to be the deal of the night; our neighboring diners with overflowing plates looked with envy at my manageable bag o' scraps. I also managed to cut myself on a claw, but it would be nursed back to health with a long post-meal car trip.

Frontier

2011-07-09T18:45:00.004-04:00

We are making our way through the Southwest, slowly, because there's so much to see and all is so far apart. But I honestly can't say much about the food we have discovered on this route. Albuquerque was more promising in terms of regional flavor- especially since we had a local to show us around. With talk of green chile everything, we happily joined her for a breakfast burrito at Frontier- a conspicuous barn-looking restaurant off the main drag (Old Route 66). The restaurant itself was an attraction, with John Wayne paraphernalia everywhere and a wide range of diners enjoying massive plates of food through the restaurant's several seating areas. I waffled between the huevos rancheros and the breakfast burrito, but we were taking it to go, so I went with the holdable-food.

Nice and spicy, full of the green chiles I'd been promised. I forgot to grab a 6-pack of sweet rolls, but with our road-trip diet thus far, I'm sure it was for the best. It would be too easy to come here every Sunday morning for a hangover fix, as I learned the college set is prone to do.

Blondie's

2011-07-07T17:22:00.004-04:00

Blondie's was a no-brainer lunch stop in Springdale, Utah- just outside of Zion National Park. We hadn't eaten all day, because, as I expressed before: Nevada is just no place for eatin'. It was hot as Hades and we'd been driving since the wee hours in order to get in a couple hikes before we had to move out of Zion. Springdale, the gateway town to the park, had an oddness about it- like the whole place got together and decided what their tourist-attraction aesthetic would be along the highway, but it was charming. We popped into Blondie's and it was no exception. A sort of faux-authenticity where at first you think you're in someone's family farmhouse- and you are- but then you realize all the decorations are for sale. They give you the scoop on the front of the menu; I think I only read half of it because I was super busy with my ice tea.
Then they present this odd Landlocked Westerner Cuisine which I am right now defining as things like Taco Salad, chicken strips and omelets. I guess it's like stuff our generation imagines our mom as making for dinner because she learned how to cook from the television.
I went wild with an Elk Burger, because I am the kind of person who, when she orders an elk burger in Utah, feels like she participated in the hunting of an elk, which surely took place just yonder in the foothills of the majestic mountains. I believe we discerned that the elk came from a farm about 50 miles away, same as the buffalo. This same train of thought led us to CrabTown in Oklahoma City a few days later- you'll learn about that later. The elk burger was fine, as was G's regular burger, but we were dented for our "strenuous" hike in the midday heat.

Stage Stop

2011-07-06T14:28:00.003-04:00

There's not much I like about Nevada. Lake Tahoe, occasional and brief trips to Vegas, giggling when I pass brothels. Other than that, I'd rather circumnavigate the state. And Tonopah was no exception. Our first real stop on this cross-country road trip, we got in late and left early. We bypassed the tempting Clown Motel and the inoffensive Jim Benton hotel (as comfortable as grandma's!) and chose the flashy Ramada Casino Hotel for its late-night restaurant availability. When we walked into the wild west themed diner, we knew we'd be staying for the night. There was a giant stuffed bear in the lobby and the bar and restaurant were a pastiche of western kitch.

It was not surprising that the menu lacked any Healthy option; after a day on my bum, I was hoping for something light but ended up with a chicken-substitute on a bed of iceberg with a plasticky vinaigrette. Not that I was really complaining- I was more there for the scenery. That's what life is on the road, anyway: taking what you find and shutting up about it, because that's why you're there.

Probably should have stuck with breakfast- who can mess with breakfast?

Lassoes, horseshoes, saddles and Cowboy font, what more can you hope for?

I wonder if there's another menu out there that's exactly this same layout. It looks like it was a lot of work to design. And with an abundance of options, ranging from Teriyaki Steak (so Nevada) to Linguica & Eggs. Which, of course, I had to ask about. Linguiça is a "type of sausage," "like a hotdog" and in the eggs, "it looks like cut-up hotdog." Later, I found that Linguiça is from Portugal, and the original looks delicious.

I was wary of the seafood options, since we were landlocked. Anyway, here's what the restaurant looked like, since that was way more interesting than the actual food.

Prune

2011-06-29T11:52:00.000-04:00

I should have posted this in early May, when Gabrielle Hamilton won a James Beard award for Best Chef NYC... or perhaps I should have posted it a year ago when I acquired it... but cest la vie. It's a great menu, one of the first to confound me in a bad way when I first started eating out "fancy" in New York.

Often I scan the appetizer list, both the full-fearing and the cheapo sides of me wondering if there is anything on there I can finagle into a full meal. And just as often, I finish my plate and end up eyeing my companions' dishes until they break down and share with me. My first visit to Prune was one of those times. I really really wanted the bone marrow, but no one else at the table did, so I ordered that as my main. After finishing my 2 delicious pieces of toast slathered in creamy marrow, I sat patiently until I got some bites of, oh, I don't remember- probably some sort of braised meat. And I'm sure it was glorious. Upon my next visit, my dining mates and I proceeded to order nearly one of everything- well, we probably got 6 or 7 plates among 3 of us- and some tasty cocktails from the bar. That was really the way to go.

The side of me that fears being full should really be terrified when approached with a menu of this opulence. But I do adore Prune for its accessibility and casual quality, when the food itself is inspired, classic and technically sophisticated. If only the wait wasn't so long. Heck, I haven't even tried to get in after all the hullabaloo in May. But the menu itself reminds me of what you'd hope for if you came across a little French cafe- with wooden booths and slightly over-loved chairs- with handwritten menus, simply drawn out dishes- and for some reason it's all in English.

Il Bambino

2011-06-23T22:36:00.001-04:00

Ok, ok, yeah, here's another sandwich menu- sorry. How many sandwich menus can you expect to read? I dunno, but it's summertime, and June is the month of the sandwich. I am declaring it so because there is so much to be doing that your food has to be hand-holdable and in a sort of pocket-form and there are so many good sandwiches out there. This here's a throwback to an old favorite of mine, but when it was my favorite was when it was a new kid on the block- that block being 30th Avenue in Astoria. It was waaay back when it was still fresh to use a pig silhouette on your menu. (But theirs is hand-drawn, not clip-art, so it's ok.)

And waaay back then the sandwiches were a dollar less than they are on here, and I was all about the crostini because they are basically mini sandwiches and you can try more of them for half the price.

I was really enamored because their menu has a glossary of meats, so you can limit your questions to cheeses and spreads. Also the wall in the restaurant has a huge painted cross-section of a pig that enthralls me- or is it an exploded pig?- I think it's the nostalgia.

But seriously, really good paninis to be found here, and really prettily presented on this little paper menu. I used to watch the main chef guy- I think Darren?- preparing the sandwiches and I remember him being so tender with the little arugula leaves, like they were precious. You could never get away with that in Manhattan- it was so Queens of him to be all tidy and careful and kind, and not at all affected about fancy sandwich fixins.

Of course I could never decide what to get but C and I would get 2 and have 2 halves and it would be some amazing combo of fresh (usually artichoke or bresaola) and meaty (usually prosciutto or soppressata) with a little bite of G's chicken (he got it every time). Anyway, that's how we spent scores of weekend afternoons eating them sandwiches. Squished flat sandwiches, that's what paninis are.

Saltie

2011-06-14T17:44:00.001-04:00

Speaking of sandwiches (and I could speak of sandwiches pretty much all day), Saltie has a good menu of well-named combos. The styling is reminiscent of Van Horn's: a rough-hewn mini menu with a basic inventory, but while Van Horn approaches with a printing-press style, Saltie comes right out with the individually handwritten list.

I came in here after E referred me to the Captain's Daughter, and it came as no surprise that it was the oddest creation on the menu. I deliberated a while at the counter and asked the lady behind it her opinion. She said that generally it's a good idea to make your way down the list from the top. And while generally I don't make my way back to any place (unless it's in my neigborhood or freakin' ridiculous), this was sage advice: she likened the sandwiches to a wine tasting. Perhaps I'll come in with 5 friends and do a sort of bite-each event. That actually doesn't sound very satisfying. Anyway, this woman looked me up and down, and since I was bike-sweaty with a tennis racquet sticking out of my bag and with helmet all a-dangle, she said I looked sporty so I might like the Clean Slate, too. Which I probably would. Name-wise, I was deeply attracted to the Scuttlebutt. But I ended up loving the Captain's Daughter- it was everything she said it would be: extremely fresh tasting with a lot of saltiness from the fish and olives, and not too heavy since it's on a light focaccia.
So here's to hoping I find my way back to the edge of Williamsburg, to that little triangle next to the BQE sometime soon, so I can work my way down the list.

Van Horn Sandwich Shop

2011-06-06T17:59:00.002-04:00

I wish that I could say that if I were a menu I'd look like this:

But I am absolutely not that simple, that concrete, that decisive. It's a good menu, Van Horn's, and a great little sando shop new kid on the block. Relying heavily on waitress ability to describe sandwich fixins and customer ability to decide based on prior knowledge of sandwiching, Van Horns is the opposite of what I sometimes think is my favorite type of menu- yet it is seductive in its simplicity. What are you in the mood for? A ginormous hunk of fried chicken on bread? Bam. Crunchy bacon and some salad on a bun? Done. Fried balls of goodness (hushpuppies) or adult mac-n-cheese (it's big shells with breadcrumbs on top)? Pow. And in case you're feeling the urge to feign healthy-ness (as I am wont to do), there's a chicken salad- with a giant hunk of the same fried chicken that's on that delicious sandwich!! Gym, no thanks- all I ate today was a salad!

The menu feels homemade like the food, and then there at the end, they graciously invite you back for a cocktail! And then they have Lagunitas on tap and a backyard, so yay, thanks for being my new spot, Van Horn. Except I walked into the door when I was looking at your bulletin board, so you owe me an apology.

BKLYN Larder

2011-05-22T18:02:00.000-04:00

I went here to do some sightseeing last week, with the understanding that I would be either vexed by another self-congratulatory array of local/sustainable/artisanal goods or spend a million dollars on said items. I was sent by the Franny's menu, along with a host of other food-writeries and one friend bearing Larder gelato to a dinner party. Of course, upon entering I saw many of the usual BKLYN things I see in Union Market, Foragers and the boutiquey shops along Smith Street, but the charcuterie deli and the cheese counter seriously blow away the competition. I picked up a Mast Brothers chocolate bar, which I have been hunting ever since E showed me her collection of designer wrappers; it is, she claims, a chocolate bar fully worth its spendy price tag. Ok, $8 Fleur de Sel dark chocolate: show me what you got. Then I meandered over to the cheese, just to peruse. The pink-haired punky girl behind the cheese waylaid me with a sample of aged gouda, which enticed me into conservation. She convinced me of the merits of early spring goat's cheeses and before I knew it I was at the counter with a little round of Lazy Lady Valencay next to my chocolate bar. "Just the cheese and chocolate?" asked the tattooed counter chick. Sheepishly, I looked up at the breads behind her and the glass boxes full of pastries and the chalkboard menu of interesting sandwich combinations. "Yeah, just this. That's not so weird, is it?" I guess I'll have to come back for some more of this stuff, though, when I get a little money saved up.

Bar Tabac

2011-05-20T22:08:00.000-04:00

We're thinking about going to Bar Tabac right now, so I'm checking out the menu I have, picked up from brunch one day. Bar Tabac is an ol' neighborhood standby, with good & reasonable brunch options and interesting small plates for late night hunger pangs, when you don't feel like sitting down for a real dinner.
I also like that this place is constantly at least semi-full, even on weekday afternoons, like, why aren't people working? Oh, because they're French and they think they get the French version of a siesta- siestique? Seriously, though, there are a surprising number of French people in this restaurant, which makes me think it's Authentic, or at least worthy of telling your French friends that they can pretend like they're back home or something.

Well, this menu is fun and unpretentious with great salads, shareables and French influences that are just enough without feeling like you're in a theme park. I think I've gotta go get a Croque Monsieur, which is really just a grown-up Toad in the Hole.

Fremont Diner

2011-04-23T11:59:00.000-04:00

It was sort of bittersweet to revisit the old Babe's burger shack in its new iteration`: a faux rustic diner farmhouse with fancy fried chicken and plenty of milkshakes. We stopped here first thing on our way to Sonoma and had a decadent post-flight meal. Of course they sport the now-iconic pig silhouette as their logo, and their menu is laden with pork products; I would have been more taken by the charm if I thought this place had been there for generations, but coming from Brooklyn I am just so darn skeptical of everything now.

But it was adorable and the menu was generous, with plenty of scintillating snack foods and dishes to come back for. M & I shared the Nashville Hot Chicken ("so spicy it will set a cheatin' man straight!") and a Mexican Chocolate shake, and I wish I had another stomach to have tried the oyster po'boy (though oysters were still to come on my California menu). Not to mention the brisket, reuben (prob would have shared this with C, had she been there) or the whole hog. The fennel pickles on our plate were a welcome touch after the overspiced, super-fried shell of the chicken, and the shake was amazing, served in the shake glass alongside the leftovers in the metal shake mixer, the way it should always be. If I sound hypercritical, it's only because I had high expectations of the reconstitution of one of my childhood favorites. I can definitely see making this a new coming-home-from-the-airport tradition.

DINNER BY heston blumenthal

2011-04-11T12:02:00.001-04:00

In a curious turn of events, I am including this menu submitted by C from a highly regarded London eating establishment where I myself would be neither authorized to dine, nor able to afford. It's called "DINNER: BY heston blumenthal" and it is a primeval relic of British eating bygones. A fine piece of reading material, and as I perused, I found myself full of envy at my sister's good fortune to choose from this list not once, but twice in two sittings- to retread past paths and counter errors in ordering judgment. Take a look:

See, I mean, what would you order? The dishes are startling, intriguing, and English as heck. Cucumber ketchup? Beef Royal? No wonder they get the bad rap over there on their island. In an effort to restore national cuisine, Blumenthal had to return to their origins of wacky castle-storming fare. I can picture the banquet hall, laden with Meat Fruit (c.1500) and Spiced Pigeon (c.1830); the faces of corpulent royalty dripping in Porridge (c.1660) before they delve into their individual Taffety Tarts (c.1660). Well, in case it helps you decide, here are the origins of the dishes (click to zoom):

I'm impressed with this approach to retro dining chic. But that still doesn't mean I'll ever get to eat here. Oh, bankers and their fancery.

Serious Pie

2011-04-06T18:03:00.002-04:00

It was kind of silly for me to go here by myself, being that I can only fit one pizza in my belly. And that is with some stretching and a little to-go box. But I saw this menu in the window and I had to have this experience.

It's another one of Tom Douglas's many enterprises in this little corner of Seattle, and I had been busying myself with Dahlia Bakery around the corner since it's more suitable for a solo eater. But it was time- a rainy Thursday night on my lonesome- and so I entered and had a Pike Brewing Co. IPA. With no one to help me narrow my options, I had to give the menu a real once-over. I asked the waiter (thank god I'm not in NYC where I'm more self-conscious about my endless menu queries) two questions he probably hears every night: What do you recommend? and: Hedgehogs are mushrooms, right? He told me that yes, they are mushrooms on the Roasted hedgehog & truffle cheese pie, although I was ready to order it either way- in fact I think that deep down, I was somewhat disappointed. And in terms of recommendations, he said that some famous foodie person claimed that pizza was the best he ever ate. It was either that or the mega-ingrediented special that sounded amazing but might've put me over the top with asparagus and chorizo and whatnot. Instead I went with simple and added the Turnip raab, salt cured tuna heart and chiles salad, because, hey- salt cured tuna heart! Fun! And it was, with little baby turnips and their greens coated with the slightly salty fishy taste of an invisible (or super-tiny?) heart. The meal, while delicious, turned somewhat awkward as the evening crowd poured in and looked at me like vultures, the seat across from me glaringly empty where they thought their party could be. But that might be my NY competitive eating mentality. When my beer and salad were gone, I boxed up the last few truffley-cheesy slices for some late-night snacking and walked out into the rain.

Quinn's

2011-04-04T16:26:00.060-04:00

I kind of splurged on my weekend in Seattle, meal-wise. By splurged, I mean that I ate both well and terribly, averaging one good restaurant meal and one cappuccino/donut meal per day. Being that my super-sketchy Motel was next to Top Pot Donuts (Oh my lord, why doesn't NY have maple donuts?), I had to stop by every day, and the well-windowed room gave me a great view of the pouring rain on the sidewalks outside. Seriously, Seattle? You have to fulfill your every stereotype by feeding me coffee during ceaseless rainstorms? Anyway, Quinn's. L took me here with the promise of Wild Boar Sloppy Joes, and while neither of us ordered it, that's exactly the kind of dish I'd want to hear about to entice me into a joint.

Yeah, tons of the kinds of dishes that strike my fancy: flamboyant ingredients like maple-bourbon marshmallows neighboring questionables like caraway spatzel. One of those anxiety-inducing menus where I have to narrow down my questions for the waiter so I don't come across as the most obnoxious PITA ever. I'm not a pretentious question asker; I just want to know what choucroute* is, even if I'm pretty certain I won't be ordering that dish. *sauerkraut

This place had a great beer and whiskey selection to match their game-infused menu. In case you couldn't guess, we ordered the duck terrine with fizzy grapes (they were shot through with Co2, and weren't the electrifying pop-rocks I imagined but fun nonetheless) and the venison sausage with the bourbon-mallow (melty rye goo) and the oxtail & gnocchi (of course, you say- gnocchi). And even though I'd just left the Bay, I got me a Pliny the Elder ale, cuz I can't find that stuff when I go back home. I figured I'd made up for it last weekend by getting a Pike's Kilt Lifter in Tamales Bay with E. A strange case of local brew-swapping. Ended the night wandering the Capitol Hill bar scene with L and thinking that I could live there, seriously if not for the rain.

Katz's Delicatessen

2011-03-01T20:22:00.002-05:00

This catering menu in no way does Katz's justice; to really understand the place, you have to go in with the throngs and squint up at the specials above the deli counter before joining the other bewildered patrons in the disorganized line. But you can tell enough, if you hadn't heard, that the place is all about their meat.

And then you look at the format of the menu, and it really manifests the underlying culture of the restaurant. Crazy fonts going every which way, so many items it puts you in a decision daze, and quotes, information and clip art abound. The salad platters are "artistically decorated." Like the menu, Katz's is a no-frills place that doesn't need to convince you to buy their goods.

We went here at 1am after Anthony Bourdain inspired us with his constant praise of this consummate New York deli. It was a perfect time to visit, as the crowds had thinned but we still had the authentic experience, jostling for line position and communicating our orders to one another in sign language to make sure no one got the same thing. I shared a pastrami on rye with Mom (who was in for a very unusual New York visit) G got a "nice, cold, bloody" roast beef and ve-G3 ended up with a "very un-Katz" egg salad and fries. All came with stacks of pickles and of course I almost lost my ticket stub before we walked out the door. I think I was too distracted trying to determine the celebrities on the wall next to us. Kramer, for one- yep, still up there.

Chinatown Ice Cream Factory

2011-02-26T12:01:00.000-05:00

On a chilly Saturday in February, M & I made a morning of Chinatown's best. We got reflexology in some dark, loud little shop, then they directed us to dim sum around the corner. We searched and searched for the restaurant that we obviously hadn't heard correct directions for, and eventually we were down on Bayard, right by the ice cream factory. No sense in missing an opportunity, even if we hadn't had breakfast yet.

You kind of have to go with one of the more unique flavors, which, according to the menu, are the Regular Flavors. My instinct was to go for avocado or wasabi, but after my Milk Bar debacle with their creamed corn and barbeque sauce soft-serve, we went with Black Sesame. After we tasted it, I realized this was the same flavor I got last time I was here. Some things never change.

WD-50

2011-02-25T21:01:00.007-05:00

One of the more outrageous menus I've ever seen. And even more outrageous was how stuffed we were when leaving WD-50, it was one of the more painful experiences of my life and I will probably refrain from ever again attempting a 12 course meal. Not that it was regrettable, just, whoa.

From Menu Nomad

M&B had been wanting to go here for a while, so I got some late-night reservations for their long weekend visit. Of course we had to go tasting menu; I've gone on and on about letting the chef make my decisions for me. The most memorable of the courses were those that really showcased Dufresne's talents with the ol' molecular gastronomy- or, foods disguised as other things. The "everything bagel" was a tiny ice cream ring, the shell of the poached egg was edible clay, and while the cocoa packets were edible too, they were disguised as something that had to be eaten despite our overwhelming fullness. Thankfully, the menfolk put theirs in their pockets so M&I could taste them on an empty palate the following day. I was a little confused at the playfulness of this extremely renowned restaurant- I'm always thinking I will be intimidated by certain restaurants, but this is impossible when the petit fours are tiny rice krispie treats. So much fun to play with food.

The Breslin

2011-02-24T12:20:00.004-05:00

We tried to go here on a Wednesday night at 6:30 and it was packed to the gills. Same sitch with the Spotted Pig last weekend- 3 hour waits galore. Oh, April, why did you have to go and be everyone's favorite gal?

So, I didn't actually eat here, but if I did, I would order the Chicken Liver Parfait with Madiera Jelly, the Miticrema bruschetta with chargrilled greens and speck, definitely the Sweetbreads and hopefully the Pig foot for 2. That's what I like about perusing and ordering fantasy-meals. It's not as satisfying as eating, but at least I'm not as uncomfortably full as I would be were I to actually take down all that animal byproduct.

Building on Bond

2011-02-21T14:57:00.000-05:00

In honor of a weekend full of brunches, here's a favorite neighborhood brunch menu of mine, at Building on Bond.

Though sometimes crammed with strollers, this place has plenty of window seats and banquettes and big refills on Stumptown coffee, all of which I request in a good brunch spot. And they've got a straightforward food selection, nothing too fancy or pricey and everything has at least one ingredient that makes you go, "oh, maybe I want that!" Like, "oh, salmon" or "oh, mushrooms" or "oh, thanksgiving dinner!" I like the way their liquids are ordered in terms of alcoholicity, too.

M. Wells

2011-02-18T11:54:00.007-05:00

My good friend E from S.F. sent me here a while back, probably inspired by her Canadian boyfriend- or at least that's what I was telling myself because she knew about this gem before me. I finally made it up there in conjunction with a P.S. 1 trip and a visit from C, who I knew would appreciate going back to the old hood. And, true to its reputation, M.Wells was -ahem- m.azing? Apologies for the dad joke.

We chose a special from off the menu- pickled pork tongue with homemade saltines- the highlight of the meal. I love tongue already, and it wasn't briny, just tender and vinegary. And, paired with the crumbled butter bar they called saltines, decadent. We added to this a "veggie" dish- bacon & hash with Brussel Sprouts (see, almost like a salad) and C just had to have a cubano sandwich. So, basically, we had a meal of pork 3 ways. It was great. And it was good to see this amazing diner space, which we had passed by on runs for many Queens years, turned into a reputable eating establishment. Good for Queens, my favorite borough!

Crumbs

2011-02-14T14:17:00.002-05:00

I'm a savory kind of girl, but sometimes you just want to read all the possible combinations of cakes, frostings, toppings and fillings. And decorations, most of which have the word "baby" in them. Especially on this day of valentine, when one is encouraged to overdose on sweet.

Franny's

2011-02-09T14:22:00.000-05:00

Fancy Brooklyn Italian means menus printed on paper bags, marked with the date, and hand stamped with "Franny's," to give it that Rustic look people seek when they hit up a destination spot like this one. Not that it's overrated, it's really yum. It just reeks of Brooklyn, and I don't know if that's good or if we have to make fun of everything cliche'd to make ourselves feel better about not living in The City. By we, I mean I.

Pizza and so many different kinds of cheeses, cured meats and obscure vegetables your head will explode. Also, they are very, very responsible.

Sheng Wang

2011-02-06T09:00:00.000-05:00

Wandering through Manhattan's Chinatown, I look around and think: I'm sure so many of these places are hidden gems, specializing in that one amazing dish- but I don't want to risk ordering the wrong thing! And there are so many tiny, dubious holes in the wall that, aside from ordering, it's tough to decide which doorway to step through. J had his eye on Sheng Wang, based on the table full of women rolling fish balls(?), hour in and hour out, so we knew they made (at least some of) their goods on premises. And one glance at the menu tells us that they have a specialty: noodles.

Our paper menu was decorated with ballpoint scrawlings, and while these appeared rather offensive, it wasn't in anyone's interest to take them that way, so we just laughed and scanned the list of noodle soups.

Although I was intrigued by the Duck w. Taco Rice and the Pig's Feet with Pell Noodle Soup, we thought we should start with the basics. We had a huge order of delicate steamed dumplings- the kind with thin skin, not the doughballs you sometimes find at the dollar dumpling spots. Then we watched the guy behind the window in the back make us Roast Duck Peel Noodle soup, where he slices slivers of dough from a ball to make slightly curved and somewhat more sturdy noodles than the elasticy pulled noodles. We grew envious as we saw him pull these type of noodles apart with his fingers, then smack them on the counter and repeat- but we were satisfied with our foray into the peel noodles.

Jake Walk

2011-02-04T21:04:00.005-05:00

Jake Walk is good when you forget to get dinner, and then you are like, oh, here: let's get some drinks and incidentally a good arugula salad with parmesan and a cheese plate and it's as if we went out to dinner but we are just at a bar.

Vinegar Hill House

2011-01-28T14:35:00.004-05:00

Good job, Vinegar Hill House. This is their fall menu, so I'm sure it's changed since my late post- but looking back on their offerings, I remember it was a tough choice. We went with ramps, octopus and pea raviolis. And then I got the lamb too. I even think Jessica Alba liked it- she got to sneak through to a secret back garden where I bet she ordered the Porterhouse steak special.

Smokin' Mo's BBQ

2011-01-24T10:13:00.001-05:00

This pint-sized menu is full of information: maps, history, awards, catering info... and the whole thing folds up into the size of a business card.

(click through to zoom)

Smokin' Mo's is one of the dozen or so restaurants on the main drag of Pismo that runs down to the pier over the ocean. I like the owners' expressive descriptions of their meat plates, drawing from their experiences rambling the country in search of the perfect bbq. One of my dreams, too, I've gotta say. They've set up a hodgepodge restaurant with assorted cueing techniques and down-home ambience. By that I mean license plate wall hangings and wooden paneling. Doesn't really read "Pismo Beach," or even California; instead it screams "BBQ!", which is probably why you came here.

Ivo and Lulu

2011-01-19T20:09:00.001-05:00

Simplicity and ease arrive in a laminated, two sided menu with only eight options.

We went here for $'s bday party and it was perfect. A glance at the menu to tell us that we wanted a grilled avocado and for someone else to get the pate so we could have some and we could get on with our bring your own bottles of wine. Oh wait! There's more on the back. Darn it!
Cool. Going with a French theme- is that Ivo, or possibly Lulu? Well, keep it up. The food was good, the company was great and the restaurant itself is a birthday party jackpot.

Eisenberg's Sandwich Shop

2011-01-12T19:54:00.014-05:00

Good, simple, New York stuff. This place was next to my work for a while so I tried a bunch of items from there: chicken salad, matzo ball soup, sandwiches. I was really glad to have it next door because it's not a destination spot, just a good old fashioned Jewish deli with standard food that's good for lunch. They really play to the 50's theme with the icons on the menu, but it's actually not a theme- the restaurant is actually old timey, just like the aggressive roll-eating photo on the cover.

It's always great when a dish says "from Bubie's original recipe". You probably can't do it the way g-ma did, but it's nice to pretend. Also they basically tell you they're going to scoop your tuna onto your plate with an ice cream scoop and that it will arrive on your table in ball form. Who orders "the tuna scoop platter"? The guy in the corner drinking the Lime Rickey.

A Tale of Two Tacos

2011-01-05T08:37:00.004-05:00

This chic new Mexican place popped up in Sonoma last time I was home, looking like the kind of place I would die to encounter in NYC. Yet somehow, it seemed out of place on the long stretch of Boyes Hot Springs dotted with long-lasting taquerias, bodegas and taco trucks. Still, I'm always on the lookout for delicious, so I tried to head there for dinner.

Unfortunately, they closed at a reasonable hour, and my 9:00 dinner was kaiboshed- so we went across the street to an old standby, still half an hour from closing. Without even really scanning the menu, we knew what we wanted to order.

We happily took away our carnitas tacos and carne asada burritos, tightly wrapped in tinfoil and accompanied by a greasy bag of paper thin tortilla chips. I amused myself at the salsa bar, concocting salsa combinations while we waited the 4 minutes for our food. Just what we were looking for: Coronas pictured on the menu alongside artfully skewed photos of the food. The next day, I wandered back over to El Molino out of curiosity, in part because I was enticed by their Blue Bottle Coffee advertisement, which was what originally tipped me off that this wasn't no standard taco joint. Here's what I found in their pocket-sized menu:

And they've got some good lookin stuff. Not your standard fare, but a good assortment of creative and high quality dishes, including a little fridge on the side with packs of pumpkin tamales to take home. They may not be Tacos de Jesus, but they know what they're doing- especially in this town, where the taco competition is stiff.

Fig Cafe

2011-01-02T20:27:00.000-05:00

In the spirit of resolve, this year I plan on being more decisive. This resolution can be put to the test with a good menu- one I must read and re-read- so that when the waiter approaches, I grow apprehensive, full of anxiety about the upcoming exchange. And for me, I want to know what everyone at the table is getting, whether or not there are apps and whatnot so that my meal can be comprehensively complimentary. At the Fig Cafe, I found my perfect balance, menu-wise, with great reading material, but also a dish that stood out to me so boldly that I could get my order on and go back to my wine.

I mean, come on, Glen Ellen. Be a little more quintessentially Californian without the pretension of pronouncing yourself thusly. Have more of a fabulous prix-fixe deal ($25 for 3 courses? Have I just been in NYC too long that this seems like a steal?), almost to the point where I think I can't not get it. And I've spoken before about the magic of prix-fixes, so I won't get into it again, but it was a good thing someone at the table got it so I could at least bask in the glory of salad, entree, dessert without feeling unfulfilled.

So halfway down the menu, I spot the word "spaetzle," which, if you've been with me to Munich, you know I can't ignore the tiny, oft-cheesified dough capsules. Spaetzle, ok- but then- roasted... wild... mushrooms? Ok, sold. They go with the fish du jour, and I've told myself that fish, when cooked, is never as good as it sounds. So, armed with the prix-fixe backup plan and silently mourning my tables avoidance of a cheese and salumi plate, I greet the waiter with my question: fish of the day? Bay scallops. I love you, California. One day, I'll be back, but until then, I'll just have to thank Fig Cafe for not letting me break my resolution in the first week of the year.

Schmidt's

2010-12-30T14:41:00.000-05:00

Thanks for taking me here, E+N, late one night after a tropical drinks session in Alameda. Most people would head home after our strange San Francisco night, but no, we headed to Schmidt's, their local snack-food-place for some assorted meats and the warm, silty dregs of the Glühwein.
The Glühwein warmed me, so I opted out of a warm entree and went instead with the "slaughter plate". Charcuterie is generally a favorite choice of mine since you get to try several options and share with the table (in return for bites of their dishes, obvi), and this one had loaves and wursts and fun things you don't often get to try at home. It's a funny version, that German charcuterie, not as sexy as the Italian or French variety, but a nice nitecap nonetheless.

Shake Shack

2010-12-28T00:11:00.002-05:00

I very much enjoy those little squiggle line drawings that represent hamburgers, hotdogs, and frozen custard. And their innocent appeal even reaches over into the alcoholic column with the adorable beer and wine cartoons. Now I'm just going to go ahead and read the possible concrete mix-ins to amuse myself. Seriously, that is one thing that satisfies me to read as much as to eat: dessert toppings. When I actually choose them, I make some absurd combination that isn't nearly as good as the individual items sounded on the list, like coconut with caramel or bananas and dog biscuit. Don't put it on the menu if I wasn't supposed to try it.

More Munchen: Manfred Vollmer

2010-12-20T11:51:00.000-05:00

This classic Munich menu gives a little sample of what dining would be like outside the walls of the Oktoberfest tents, while remaining stolidly within the cultural stereotypes. While the multilingual menu makes it clear that this is a tourist establishment (the restaurant was across from our hostel), we still got a taste of old-tyme authenticity. Especially because those brave enough were wearing our dirndl and liederhosen to the meal. I ordered cheese spaetzle, which became a fan favorite for the rest of the trip, but the knuckle of pork caught our eye and stayed in our hearts after we tried it the next day at the festival.

Also of note is the "brewer master special"- a combination plate the likes of which I long for in a menu like this, where all I really want to do is have them give me an assortment of random local specialties. I recall that much of our table wanted pretzels, and they were done for the night but our waitress appeared with a small bucket of broken bits, which may or may not have come from other tables' discards. Such is the spirit of sharing in Germany.

Germans love salads made of unconventional ingredients (for a salad), such as meats. I don't know if they share our delusion that "salad" is always a healthy option as long as that word is in the title, but the "sausage salad" certainly sounds like a dieter's delight. Instead, why wouldn't they let people order from the "seniors and children" section, which is most likely just a more reasonable portion of the same delicious delicacies? Surely this is discrimination.

Not very surprisingly on the menu: beer in abundance. However, although each of us ordered a separate variety from the list, we were all delivered large steins of the same light amber lager: Augustiner's real house specialty.

Denis Le Niçois

2010-12-18T20:55:00.002-05:00

Sometimes you are looking for the perfect restaurant to fit your imaginary experience of a place, this time I was seeking a specific dish that somehow weaseled its way into my brain as the ultimate experience of this place. I wasn't sure what I wanted to eat in Nice, France, and I had been grazing on baguettes and cheese rounds and hostel breakfasts for a day or so, but then all the tourist restaurants in the cobbley-street area down by the boulevard told me I wanted Niçoise salad. And as it turned out, I did. I didn't know if I was just reveling in the cultural fantasy of the millions of Riviera travelers who came before me, expecting that one can only consume this place by ingesting a specific combination of greens, tomatoes, eggs, olives and anchovies. So after much self-conscious solo wandering, I found Denis Le Nicois to satisfy my eating and people watching needs.

The menu wasn't much of a challenge because I came in knowing what I wanted- for me, an unusual dining circumstance. Looking back, this menu makes the restaurant seem like the ultimate in tourist traps, but the salad I had was exactly what I was looking for. I'm sure any of the crepes would have had the same effect- as it turns out, when people order the dish a city is famous for, they aren't necessarily enacting a tourist caricature- the dishes are done so often that they really are that good. At least at Denis, which also featured a crazy old man sitting at the table next to me and who appeared to be allowed a continuous supply of red wine. He may have been Denis.

Taller de Tapas

2010-12-02T17:37:00.000-05:00

It's difficult to make a decision on where to eat when wandering the rambling streets of Barcelona; lovely tapas peek their little toothpicks at you as you peer into tapas bar after tapas bar. Fortunately, a friend of C's recommended this place, and we took it as our reference to the taste of the city.

My personal favorite was the sausages braised in beer, but we shared many tasty treats (and a few carafes of sangria) to while away the afternoon. I was interested to see a menu for tapas, since in my limited Spanish experience have been a sort of point and grab ordering system. Which I prefer. Usually I want to spy around the other tables to see what dishes look the best; I find my mental image of things often greatly outshines the reality- leading to disappointment in the worst cases. Since the visual is a not underestimated element of meal enjoyment, I don't think it wrong to ask for a preview. Have you seen the ubiquitous plastic food representations in the windows of Japanese restaurants? They've got it right- even if the food isn't true to the shellacked version. I can't say the same thing for NY Delis and Chinese restaurants- sometimes you're glad your sesame chicken isn't tinged with blue like the image above the counter. Anyway, Taller de Tapas was kind enough to supply this brilliant menu, from which we of course wanted to order everything. I believe 5 dishes sufficed, punctuated by a delicious paella. Click on the menu to see the other pages in their entirety.

Bodean's BBQ Smoke House

2010-11-21T14:26:00.005-05:00

I guess in winter, most of my restaurant visits are going to be comfort food, and most of them are going to feature drawings of pigs. It's just a fact of being cold and wanting to eat something that'll give you an extra layer of warmth. Especially in London, where it's custom to warm up with boozy drinks and meaty pub food to stave of the parade of grey days. So we went to Bodean's to watch some American baseball and pack on the cals with some pulled pork sandos. A good place to accomplish these two feats, minus that the bar closed before the game ended. Dang Greenwich Standard Time!

Mandoo Dumpling Bar

2010-11-16T15:06:00.002-05:00

So one night after some shenanigans involving vegetarians and bonchon chicken, we ended up at Mandoo Bar.

This place is a gem, waiting patiently at the end of K-town row in Manhattan for people to pass by the crowded riots of the bbq joints and sidle into the narrow restaurant with dumplings in the window. When I see dumplings being made, I'm sold. Dumplings of different colors, sizes, pinched shapes- forget about it- favorite thing. We devoured the kimchee and pickles they left for us on the table, then did a bibimbop, dumplings and noodle share- the only way to go, in my opinion. What, am I going to take down a plate of dumplings by myself?

Marcos Boqueria

2010-11-08T11:31:00.002-05:00

Though here I herald variety as paramount to the enjoyment of a menu (and subsequent meal), a place that does something well needn't offer too many paths from which curious diners might stray. Take 100 Montaditos, for instance- there, I am tempted to get the most ingredient-heavy sandwich in order to experience as many menu items as possible in one meal- not necessarily the point of their extensive offerings. In contrast, Marcos Boqueria gives few options, all showcasing their specialty: cured meat- and so it's tough to wander.

One of the more permanent side stalls in the Boqueria along Barcelona's Las Ramblas, Marcos Boqueria has variously cured sides of ham adorning the walls, many of them older than us, and some of them excitingly ancient (and pricey!). To be honest, we didn't even look at the menu before deciding upon the Jamon Iberico special, scribbled on a blackboard in the window, which offered a sandwich and drink for 4 Euros. Could the drink be a beer? Yes, it could. The cured pork was hand-hacked with a huge knife into amazingly thin slices and arranged on a fresh baguette smeared with the mystery tomato sauce so abundant on Spanish toasts. The sandwich was weighed as the meat was placed, a far cry from the sloppily (yet wonderful) high-piled NYC deli hoagies. This meat is like gold- and the simple sandwich was a revelation. Jamon iberico is a variation of it's more widely available serrano cousin; the meat comes from black Iberian pigs and is cured in much the same way, but is far more expensive because of the special treatment and diet of the piggies.

100 Montaditos

2010-11-02T18:46:00.000-04:00

This place is Liz Lemon's fantasy. 100 Montaditos means 100 sandwiches, and in Spain, those sandwich combinations are magical. The pub-like interior had a slight fast-foody twinge, being that it is indeed a chain, but they sell beer too (in JARS!) so it was the kind of chain I wish I had access to.

I mean, consider some of these options: anchovies with blue cheese; sausage with tortilla española; cured ham and manchego; bacon and cream cheese, potato salad, shrimp, tuna, red pepper and anchovy?? This is why I love to read menus- they represent possibilities, and also cultural difference in terms of creative combinations.

The cheapest, one ingredient sandwiches start at 1 Euro, and they are the staples of the Spanish diet: aged cheeses, cured meats, tomato concoctions and various seafoods. Then at 1e20, they begin forming partnerships; finally at 2 euros, we have the complex artisan blends that we have come to expect at our local sandwichery. While I might be intrigued by the shiny ingredients that read off like a farmer's market, often the simplest sandwiches are the best. But this makes for great reading material.

I also like how there aren't any dessert options (besides the chocolate sandwiches)- just "dessert" for one euro. It looks like an It's-It! Sign me up- literally- put a little check in the postre box because I will take one of those.

Hofbrau House

2010-10-29T17:40:00.001-04:00

Everyone told us not to go into the Hofbrau House, that it was a tourist magnet, impossible to get into and had a raucous, rowdy crowd. So after a full day of resistance, we lost our resolve and wandered into the huge, cafeteria-style beer hall.

I suppose it was lacking in some of the "authenticity" we saw in the other tents, and there was a sort of "bad smell" permeating the late morning air, but we enjoyed ourselves once some litres had been downed. Then, much to the amusement of the frat-boy types around us, we ordered pickles. Now, 3 girls ordering pickles from a man walking around with a small wooden barrel is a wacky enough image- now add 2 picnic tables full of grown men, cameras drawn and ready to capture the spectacle. What is it about beer that makes us lose all accountability for our actions? I believe we ordered a pretzel as well, but also from a wandering salesman- so the menu is just for show.

Rasoi

2010-10-15T09:39:00.009-04:00

Generally my code is to display only hard copies of menus that I've accumulated, but since this particular menu was attached to a wooden plank, taking it from the restaurant might've proven a tad conspicuous. In breaking my rules, however, I'd like to take this opportunity to herald the set tasting menu. It's what the kitchen has determined to be the best dishes of the house, in the best order to be tasted, and in proper proportion to the meal in its entirety. Though it takes the guesswork out of the great menu item debate, one needn't question her choice later. Because if you didn't like their best, you might not be satisfied at all. Good thing we liked most of it. Rasoi is a Michelin-starred exclusive Indian restaurant in a seemingly residential space in Pimlico, London.

This was not a usual night out for me- we warmed up on champagne at a posh bar down the street and made our way down to King's Road, where we rang the bell (!) for the restaurant and were escorted into a beautiful chamber, lit by lanterns and devoid of humans- save for the many elegant waiters at their posts. Dinner was on the number munchers, so we went all out with the gourmand menu.

It was probably one course too many, with a few minutes too long between courses, but I'm a huge fan of trying little bits of whatever's best. Sometimes I think the ideal restaurant would give you a little taste of everything and you could choose which one you liked most for your meal. But I guess by then you'd be full. Which is why sometimes menus with pictures do the trick, or spying on people's food as they come through the dining room before you order. Anything to narrow the options.

Kafer Weis'n

2010-10-12T17:30:00.000-04:00

We went to Oktoberfest, and it was great.

The menus were great. I wanted to take them all, but this one at Kafer Weis'n, a classy wooden tent/restaurant stood out as particularly beautiful. It is a huge matte menu, with a lovely illustrated cover. So many items inside required thorough decoding, a nearly impossible feat after drinking a litre or 3 of Spaten. Instead, we had our friendly waiter translate for us some of the curiouiser dishes (to be forgotten after the next litre). In the end, we went with the Kasenspaetzel- cheese spaetzel (see what I mean about the decoding- easy when sober). And then when that was gone, we got another bowl of the same. Not too daring a choice, but after yesterday's weisswurst, we decided we should just stick with a winner.

Itsu

2010-10-10T14:45:00.000-04:00

I would be excited if Itsu came to the States. This Pinkberry-esque Asian chain serves noodles and sushi alongside frozen and normal yogurt and claims detox properties for its soups. While it would be nicer if the prices in dollars were equivalent to those in pounds, it's highly doubtful that it would be a sustainable enterprise at that level of affordability.

The menu itself is somewhat self-congratulatory, with the backside of the butterfly devoted to the story of Itsu and its bold mission to change the face of healthy food. In contrast to the Wagamama chains, the Itsu menu is basic and has limited descriptions, but often, that's what you're looking for in fast food. The little butterflies are kitschy but unique, especially considering the vast number of paper menus I've been finding recently.

Wagamama

2010-10-08T09:11:00.000-04:00

There is no better restaurant to exemplify London's burgeoning fastish chainish food scene than Wagamama. It's been around for years now, and I think there's one in Boston, but it still defines this phenomenon that is the only interesting thing about eating in London: why does everyone want to eat in chain restaurants? On streets dotted with Pret a Manger and EAT outlets, even Starbucks seem infrequent. And while I"m critical of the desire to eat prepackaged carryout for every meal- and I loathe the notion that these places will soon overrun all other options- to their credit, these spots tout local produce and freshly made products, and have far better options than their American counterparts like TGIF and Burger Kings (would those be our equivalents?). Take Wagamama, a more expensive noodle chain, with communal seating, casual waitstaff and creative healthy options:

I love their friendly folding menu with thorough dish descriptions, and reading over it now makes my mouth water for a ginormous noodle soup. Sharing a plate of gyoza, a sama salad and a bowl of kare lomen is a tremendous meal, and when you throw in a cucumber ginger lemonade, it seems downright healthy. Perhaps they should put the calorie count on there, though- then it might not seem so innocuous.
Next up: Itsu, another soupy British chain.

Wapping Food

2010-10-06T09:21:00.000-04:00

The Wapping Project is just what you'd hope to find down a curving cobblestone street in a dark corner of London. It's a huge industrial space turned restaurant slash exhibition hall, and still maintains touches of the hydraulic power plant it used to be, without being too bobo about it. I'm talking concrete floors and unfinished brick walls with old machinery laying around, at least in the exhibition space, that at the time of our visit was showcasing a layout artist for London Design Week. But I digress- the food.

The restaurant itself was actually pretty showy, with black-teed Dutch waiters and ornate 10 pound cocktails. The simple white paper menu suggested that the specialties change nightly, and we were pleased with the selection. As usual, the pleasure of reading the menu almost exceeded that of eating the food; we were dumfounded as to which items to choose. As a group of 3, we went with a charcuterie, the char grilled squid, and roast plaice to share. It was a small order, but we three are foragers and were pleasantly satisfied. Except looking back, I think we ordered a grilled sweet corn that never came. Sad face.

Menunomadding

2010-10-04T13:30:00.000-04:00

I apologize for the lack in recent posts... Menu Nomad has been on a menu collecting trip and will return in the middle of October with a glamorous European cache for your browsing enjoyment!

The Whiskey Brooklyn

2010-09-19T18:10:00.000-04:00

Another in the series of Brooklyn-based borough-titled cocktail menus: The Whiskey Brooklyn has a more down-home feel, with a menu starring fried snacks and amusement park staples. We wandered into the underground space after rejecting the line for the Brooklyn Brewery- and instead of beer, we were treated to a local whiskey: Tom Lawless. They have a fair selection of whiskey drinks and quality food, but this is more of a winter comfort bar than a hangout for a late summer's day.
I need to come back to try a spicy pickleback, though the Lawless made me crazy for the rest of the evening.

Manhattan Inn

2010-09-15T17:47:00.002-04:00

I hope no one's sick of looking at schmancy Brooklyn cocktail menus, because my collection is teeming with them.

Manhattan Inn's extensive listings harken back to simpler times, when cocktails were more complicated. As its name suggests, this is a very hip, speakeasy-style piano bar, the likes of which I am magnetically drawn towards, but afterwards can't remember which borough it referenced, and if it was "social," "public" or "inn" in the name. But the offerings are thorough- a trait I love in any menu- so that I can enjoy reading the ingredients of a champagne drink even if I don't like champagne drinks. Also, the colorful descriptions are ideal, though perhaps they exist so the busy bartender doesn't have to stop and chat.

Ethnic Cafe

2010-09-14T10:31:00.003-04:00

A "touristic" sidewalk cafe in Brussels- surprisingly, I wasn't tempted in by their offer of an Ethnopolitan.

The Good Fork

2010-09-07T13:17:00.003-04:00

I can't believe it's been a year since I first visited The Good Fork and admired their Nouveau Brooklyn menu. Korean steak and eggs alongside quinoa and homemade gnocchi, with a promise to utilize organic produce.

The backside of the menu features lovely classic cocktails and Asian-inspired concoctions, but the restaurant itself is anything but kitsch fusion. A simple, sweet menu and a charming space that rewards the trek to Red Hook. I'll be going back this weekend to see what has changed.

Brennan and Carr

2010-09-03T12:34:00.006-04:00

We biked out to this modest roast beef cottage seeking an authentic platter piled high with sheets of juicy meat. What we got was another type of authenticity.

The restaurant itself didn't disappoint, with wood paneled walls and butcher-coated waiters. But the sandwiches themselves left something to be desired. Paired with standard onion rings and below average cheese fries, we were content to admire the campy restaurant's ability to pack the house on a Tuesday afternoon. Loved the placemat menu and carved wooden wall hanger pricelist.

Fort Defiance

2010-09-01T11:09:00.001-04:00

A beautiful, simple menu for a likewise elegant spot in Red Hook. We love this place for their unique Manhattans and bar snacks.

Restaurante Santa Rita

2010-08-18T14:13:00.003-04:00

One of the strangest restaurant experiences in my life. I took my Guatemalan host mother and father to Restaurante Santa Rita, a place they had visited long ago, when the owner lived out back and knew everyone who stopped by his ranch-style roadside stand. Now, the place is a tourist haven, with giant buses parked out front for rest stops and souvenir shopping. Rosa and Cristobal were not received well by the black-vested waiter, and ordered only "el mismo"- the same as I did. I had to get up and change our order 3 times before we were satisfied.

Rosa was intrigued by the photos of the food, which did not arrive looking anything like the pictures. I got the Pierna de Marrano Horneada (pork leg- #1)- which came out in tiny white slices on the plate. After steering Rosa away from the Conejo (#2- she liked the picture but didn't want rabbit) the two of them chose Churrasco, which was so tough that Christobal was spitting out little stringy bits on the floor of the restaurant. Fortunately, he pulled a little plastic baggie out of his shoulderbag, so he could take it home for Watus. They said the cat loved the leftovers.

Deli Llama de Fuego

2010-08-16T15:03:00.019-04:00

My favorite thing about this menu is also what fills me with guilt at having taken it from the restaurant, a lovely little touristy gem on Santander Street in Panajachel, Guatemala. The little pictures you see are actually cut and pasted into the menu from actual photos of the restaurant's food. I know it's a lengthy booklet, but check out the pic on the last page to get a nice view of the restaurant from the 80s.

I was super excited to eat vegetables here after weeks of only fried meats and tortillas. Plus, there's a tree growing through the restaurant, the tranquility of which offsets the hordes of child street vendors who descend as you dine. Plus they sell this amazing cigar-shaped pure chocolate from San Pedro, and I just couldn't get enough. See the picasa album for the full menu selection (it's extensive!).

"Mushas Gracias" means Thank You at the Fire llama Deli!

Jardin Bavaria

2010-08-10T20:02:00.003-04:00

Antigua, Guatemala: they say it's where you go to see the fake Guatemala. And so it was where I ate pizza and watched the Germany-Australia World Cup game with a slew of German expats, who abound in this country.

The pizza wasn't great, but the beer, Gallo, came in hefty pints and made my experience satisfactory. Now, to be fair, this is the bar menu, so that's why they only have cheese, pretzels, pizza and pirujos (little sandwiches) available. But I heard the dinner menu, claiming schnitzel and spaetzel and whole fried fish was a little intimidating, so "El Pequeno" suited me just fine while I cheered for Germany in Espanol.

Restaurante El Fondeadero

2010-08-03T08:43:00.003-04:00

Nestled into the lower hills of Volcano San Pedro, this restaurant wasn't overwhelmingly special, but its menu exemplifies the type of tourist-centric restaurant that abounds in the pueblos around Lake Atitlan in the western highlands of Guatemala.
The photo on the front isn't the view from the restaurant terrace, rather, it is the view one would have of the volcano as she approaches San Pedro from Panajachel via lancha (little blue speedboat from the 70s).

Typical Guatemalan diner dishes like "pollo al vino" (a superflat chicken strip bathing in a pool of wine) sit alongside American faves like "coctel de frutas." I believe I ordered "yogurt con miel" (honey) in an effort to stave off the oil-saturated entrees that plagued me throughout my visit to the fair country. The "liquados"- fruit blended with water or yogurt, abundant in Guatemala- were excellent, served in a ginormous glass goblet. But the highlights of the menu, a trifold laminated number, are the colored clipart illustrations.

Today in Guatemala

2010-07-02T18:03:00.003-04:00

Apologies for the prolongued absence; I have been in Guatemala on a menu collecting expedition. Not really, but it´s one of the perks of being here- reading new and exciting menus, and then eating. But I´m not really in menu paradise down here, no- I´m staying with a family instead of doing the restaurant thing, so in lieu of a menu before I get a chance to scan in those I´ve pilfered, I´ll just give you today´s menu for the day.

Menu de Santa Lucia Utatlan, Casa de Muy:

Breakfast:
Platanos boiled with a generous scoop of sugar
Sheck- a semi-sweet bread round with an airy interior and yeasty flavor- heated for a few seconds on the stove (a roaring fire under a metal platform)
Black beans, refried

Snack:
Atol de corazon del bosque (hot cream of wheat juice)

Lunch:
¨Caldo de pescado¨- fish soup, made from small bass-looking fish, about the size of my hand- fresh caught yesterday from Lake Atitlan. The fish is served whole, separate from the broth, which is carrots, tomatoes and bell peppers boiled for hours with a bit of bouillon and some small noodle bits.
Tortillas made fresh from masa ground that morning from maize grown behind the house

Snack:
Sheck with Atol de Ava (wheat drink with cinnamon and tons of sugar) or instant coffee

Dinner:
Black beans, boiled overnight with some unidentifiable greens and plenty of salt
White rice boiled with tomato
More fresh tortillas

Ton Kiang

2010-06-01T10:11:00.006-04:00

We've been going to Ton Kiang since I was a little tot, and I've always loved their accessible (yet classy) drawing-based menu. As it is, the dishes are often described by patrons as they appear: fried crab claw ball, noodley ribbon meat thingy, twisty clear seafood dumpling; with this menu, one can simply point rather than expose one's lack of gastronomic adjectives within her vocabulary. Most of the menu items are visually tidy parcels- perfect for drawing, yet revealing nothing about their contents- my favorite of these enigmas being "foil wrapped chicken"- and as an added bonus, the dishes arrive under a silver lid or within a bamboo steamer. At least the we haven't entirely lost our appetite for the reveal.

Mission Street Food

2010-05-19T21:54:00.003-04:00

My favorite part of going to this clandestine San Franciscan eating operation was when E decided to order for us "the first 5 things" on the menu. Ordering in bulk is always a thrill, especially in a share-friendly group- and it's essential when in a fleeting small-plate restaurant "happening" held bi-weekly in a Chinese restaurant on Mission Street. The menu was titillating, with curious combos and a fully west-coast slant that didn't have me missing New York at all. My favorite might have been any of the 5 (perhaps 1- the crudo?) and we finished with the Cherries and Tarragon. Moving ever closer to my wish of "one of each, please," but I may have to be dining with more than 3 for that dream to come true.

The Spotted Pig

2010-05-07T08:56:00.006-04:00

I wish it were the future, because then, instead of writing text to accompany this menu, I would have the technology to have you hear that ethereal sound of God beaming down on you when you saw this. You know the sound. That's what the things on this menu tasted like, and that's the sound that confounded me while I tried to choose from among April's May menu offerings... J, L and I shared the roquefort burger, the grilled lamb's heart (special), ricotta gnudi, prosciutto tart, warm pancetta and the ramp champs- which turned out to be the champions of all mashed potatoes, slathered in ramp butter- and ended with a slice of rhubarb pie. The bike ride back to BK helped, but we felt like piglets.

Alinea's Tasting Menu Expressed in Jelly Beans

2010-04-26T17:29:00.004-04:00

I just found this ingenious creation on Michele Humes' site and had to share. As a childhood frequenter of the Jelly Belly Factory (including one memorable birthday tour) I can attest to their success in mastering the art of distilling flavor into a tiny parcel of sugar-coated sugar. My visits to fancy restaurants like Alinea are limited, however, and I don't know how adequately Humes' creation reflects actuality, but it's a great expression of menu appreciation.
For the full menu, go here.

Dirt Candy

2010-04-21T09:40:00.002-04:00

I was a little at risk of having a Brooklyn-heavy rotation of menus, so I present to you: the simple veggie stylings of Dirt Candy. Their vegetarian comfort food is small plates of just what you'd hope for in couture East Village fare- pretty little portions and super special accompaniments. I want to go back to just have a bowl of the maple butter that came with the jalapeno hush puppies. I do believe this is a menu that will change seasonally, since the chef-owner seems impassioned with the growings of the ground... I can't imagine she would ignore the seasons.

Henry Public

2010-04-10T17:17:00.012-04:00

This dark and cozy old-timey space on Henry Street wins because of its really good pub menu. The cocktail list is thoroughly entertaining; with names like "Two-Cents Fancy" and ingredients like creme de violette and house bark & root syrup, they're almost more thrilling to read than to drink. Which is why I got this menu to share. If you are fortunate enough to carouse with the Brooklyners, your aperitif will certainly be shaken by a surly gent in suspenders.

I can't get over them calling it a Hamburger Sandwich. I think the vernacular- and the font and design of the menu- is a fine touch. I only had the fries and a Brooklyn Ferry, but I'll be back for Marrow Bones (which I always want to order when they're on a menu) and perhaps the Wilkinsons: globular dutch pancakes with caramel sauce. Kinda pricey, but Gatsby era ambience doesn't come cheap.

Tortilleria Nixtamal

2010-04-03T16:54:00.012-04:00

On a lovely driving foodadventure day with G3, we vowed to add to the menu collection. Our first stop in Queens (after Astoria lunch of arepas) was at the Ice King of Corona, where we enjoyed synthetic flavored ices, of the sour apple and mango variety (menu photo to follow). Next up was Tortilleria Nixtamal, just what you were looking for in a tortilleria. Colorful picnic tables provided seating in the simple, clean space, and the (sadly non-running) tortilla machine sat patiently in the window.

We settled on a tidy little Chile Relleno, an immaculate Rajas Tamale, and I had to try Rosa's Carnitas Taco. All delivered and made us very pleased that this place exists in the world, whether or not we'll trek back out to distant Queensland. Would have loved to try the specials if we weren't already full, but we did manage to leave with a pound of fresh (warm!) corn tortillas (2.25!). I'll be darned if they weren't the best I've ever had.

Air France

2010-03-30T09:20:00.009-04:00

It's raining here, so it's time for a little reminiscing. Normally, I'm moderately interested in airplane food- slightly more so than your average flying companion, but I'm usually just as dismayed by my poor selection of pasta over chicken ("the chicken actually looks more edible!"). Anyway, the tiny silverware reminds me of my grandma's cutlery that she accumulated over years of golden-era plane travel, and there is usually a fun number of small portions to keep me amused.

From Menu Nomad

Well, here is the best airplane meal I have ever had, courtesy of Air France. Small wonder; these guys blow our lazy airlines out of the water with their fresh(ish) baguettes and camembert, salad with real vegetables!, and adorable mini bottle of good wine. I didn't even care what they had up there in first class, but now that I think about it, I bet it was absurd, like Ratatouille cheffing away from the overhead bin.

Check out What Are We Eating's lovely flying food!

Irish Toast

2010-03-17T18:00:00.014-04:00

On this festive day, when boiled meats are the norm and artificially modified beers abound, it's fun to harken back to an historic St. Patrick's Day when French was the language of gastronomy and there were vegetables served with your pub fare. This menu, courtesy my friend Rebecca at Cooked Books is from Delmonico's in 1864, and included a page of toasts to the following:

1. St. Patrick's Day (and all who honour it)
2. The United States
3. Ireland
4. The City of New York
5. Woman
6. Army and Navy
7. Our Sister Societies

I back it.

Mile End

2010-03-14T10:09:00.005-04:00

When this place opened, just down the street from me, I was surprised to see it immediately overrun by crowds. I assumed it was because they had been flaunting this massive "Delicatessen" mural over the entrance for months before opening, and that people in this Brooklyn neighborhood are starving for simple, cheap, quick, good. Then I realized it was because they've already been written up in New York Magazine and... they serve Stumptown coffee... recipe for success! Not to be entirely cynical/sarcastic- I appreciate the limited menu, since it means they must know how to do a few things and do them well. Meats!

Shopsin's General Store

2010-03-12T10:41:00.017-05:00

Perhaps the most ridiculous menu of all time; I challenge you to find a more substantial, diffuse, inventive menu anywhere in the world.

In a move out of character for me for this site, I have taken the menu from the restaurant's website. I fear that if I were to remove the menu from it's home, I might be banned from the establishment permanently. You see, the mercurial owner is the subject of much city lore (and attention), and his manner of managing and serving food are what you hope for and fear in a New York City diner. I want to try everything on the menu, but I would surely die.

Momofuku Milk Bar

2010-03-02T11:00:00.005-05:00

The menu at Momofuku Milk Bar is almost as exciting as those of the other David Chang spots in the area. Riddled with "TM"s and organic footnote asterisks, the odd assortment of breakfast foods, rich desserts and dim sum items makes for a great pre- or post- meal drive-by (as well as for interesting reading). Being more of a savory person, I was a little intimidated by the Crack Pie, but the Compost Cookie was the best cookie I've had in the city. I thought I would always be tempted away from desserts by pork buns, but the Compost Cookie haunts my dreams, and fantasies of the Crack Pie have begun to infiltrate my savory sensibilities. Until I can come here for a dessert dinner (in lieu of real food), it will have to remain a mystery (though my sleuthing reveals it contains at least a pound of butter per bite). The cereal milk soft serve taste exactly as it sounds.

Palais de Tokyo

2010-02-25T16:13:00.001-05:00

For an assortment of menus from Paris, I recognize the oddity of these selections. This is due both to the Parisian habit of writing menus on chalkboards and to the lack of menus in the patisseries we frequented.

The laminated drink menu in the neon-lit, modern art surrounded Palais du Tokyo bar had an impressive exhibition of sirops artisanaux. Also, note the adjectives by which one should select a wine.

L' homme tranquille

2010-02-25T15:38:00.000-05:00

This charming little local joint in Montmarte is one spot where I'd like a do-over. The gregarious waiter translated everything for us, which we promptly forgot or misunderstood. From their photocopied paper menu, I chose the terrine d'oie and plat du jour, which were "good" and "off," respectively- and there are very few food items I don't like. I ate half of my -offal sausage?- before deciding it really wasn't edible, and I wished I had gone with the "poulet aut miel" instead, if only because you can't go wrong with chicken in Paris.

The mousse glacee au chocolat with whisky was my favorite sweet dish of the trip- this, along with a bottle of vin rouge du maison, got me extremely tippy.

Estate

2010-02-10T12:09:00.001-05:00

Estate has a huge menu, both physically (11"x17") and in content. So many representations of "California cuisine"- as obnoxious as that determination is- make it an extremely hard menu to choose from. House made pancetta, salumi, ricotta? The cocktails are additionally impressive, and of course the wine list is infinite. The restaurant itself is an old victorian house near General Vallejo's home, and used to be The General's Daughter.

Bark

2010-02-08T20:43:00.001-05:00

A clean, classic menu with plenty of condiment options to make for entertaining reading. They have so many adjectives to variously describe bacon; also, their liquids selection is intriguing. As "green" a menu as I ever did see- I think I got some mustard on this copy.

Gates Bar-B-Q

2010-02-05T17:58:00.001-05:00

Perhaps the best menus of all time are simple, friendly, and serve another purpose. I suppose I'm thinking of napkin menus, or reusable chalkboards, or conceivably an edible menu printed on a cake. Kansas City's own Gates Bar-B-Q has created this sturdy option, printed on a full-size paper bag. The menu itself fully reflects the restaurant, which reminded me of an old A&W- a combination diner/fast-food chain with a smattering of steakhouse. Notably, they did greet us with a shouted "HiMayIHelpYou" when we walked to the counter to order, and the small soda was large enough to immerse my arm up to the elbow in root beer.

My order does not actually appear on the menu; I had the "burnt ends sandwich", an exemplary midwestern dish that I believe came from underneath where they cut the meat. If I were to order again from this menu- purely to order and not to eat- I would choose the "combination and a half," the "strawberry drink" and the "yammer pie."

Erroneous Menus

2010-02-05T11:29:00.000-05:00

Often my favorite types of menus are the poorly written, badly translated or grammatically unchecked. These types of food listings provide endless wonderment to the discerning (read: condescending) restaurant patron.

Better, still, are those ambitious menus that spell out a mission statement that are not so much lacking in accuracy as in common sense. Olympia Coffee House promised "No Branch" and later emphasized their "height's of Success" with boundless apostrophes.

The joke was on us, however, when we found their "Combined tradition and home made food" to be unrivaled in the form of roti.

Pancakes 't Singeltje

2010-02-05T10:38:00.000-05:00

Why would anyone, while traveling, visit the same restaurant twice? It's worse, I think, than two dining companions choosing the same entree- with so many options, why deign to repeat? Well, when in Amsterdam in January, there is only so much respite from the snowy, tourist-laden streets. And in the morning, that respite is limited to pannekoeken.

The day after our visit to this cozy, canalside pancake house, complete with fireplace and cat-friend, we tried another spot closer to the city center. The thinner pancakes and less rich fillings in the cafeteria-style second spot sent us clamoring back to 't Singletje our third day in town. Our overwhelming preference was for the savory ham and cheese; my vague threats of eggnog and pineapple were met with dissent by my eating partner.

Cafe Mondegar

2010-02-05T10:03:00.000-05:00

Many restaurants in downtown Mumbai are supposedly meeting points for Bollywood recruiters to gather extras for their upcoming shoots. Made famous by Shantaram, Leopold Cafe was one of these hotspots that we tried, more or less, to avoid. Instead, we were sucked into a Leopold impostor down the street. Mondegar, decorated on the inside with the same exaggerated line drawings as the menu cover, was intended to appeal to the tourists about to enter the gauntlet of Colaba's street vendors.

We found Mondegar to be a great place for garlic naan, Kingfisher pints and confusedly watching cricket on the giant projector screen. Some of the their proposed combinations were valiant indeed; I believe we experimented with a failed seafood dish, but the ubiquitous "creamy sauce" kept us away from many of the entrees.

Samarambha Kamat

2010-02-04T16:05:00.000-05:00

Although the menu collection began long ago, it really solidified in 2007, on a trip with G3 to the culinary wonderland of India.

Kamat was our breakfast spot on the Colaba Causeway and, despite the extensive choices, we usually chose wada and idli (simply put: lentil "donut" and lentil cake)in combination with raita (~yogurt) or lassi. Their onion rava (wheat pancake) also kept us coming back, because it definitely wasn't the service.
We didn't try the thali plate here, but we did experiment with kulfi in our last days, after hearing the myths of this fruity sorbet with crunchy noodles. A glass of Kulfi Faluda (#314) was the equivalent of just under $1 US.

Menu Nomad Backlog

2010-02-03T16:38:00.000-05:00

The Menu Nomad doesn't know which she prefers: eating or perusing the available food items. Since both activities are quintessential to the enjoyment of culinary exploration, and neither are entirely possible on the internet, this site will appeal to those who derive pleasure from the thrill of the chase. In those moments before the choice is inevitable, we can enjoy the text on the page, our curiosity piqued and our hunger not yet stifled by the bread-and-oil lure. While hope of piquancy remains intact, the risk of choosing an improper pairing causes adrenaline to sally forth- only in this moment is our imagination is free to run wild with the possibilities presented by the offerings of the Menu.

I hope to scan in as many menus from my collection as I can find or as can fit on the flatbed, and put them here for your reading enjoyment.