Showing posts with label Bourbon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bourbon. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

VIP at Del Frisco's

A small collection of nationwide restaurants that embrace the deep rooted American steakhouse tradition, Del Frisco's most definitely knows its prime grade steak and lucky for us New Englanders, a thing or two about seafood. Be that as it may, there's a lot more to the recently opened Boston location than just the food. Hesitant to make the jump from your tried and true upscale steakhouse in favor of the new kid in town? Here is a look at what you can expect! Entering into the first floor off a vibrant section of Northern Avenue known as Liberty Wharf, you continue up a grand staircase into an impressive space housing a swank circular bar with views of the downtown skyline; and an equally as stylish dining room inlaid with plush gray semi-circular booths overlooking a stunning harbor expanse.The media dinner I attended on Thursday evening was held in the appropriately named Harbor Room, housing within its massive wine rack enclosed walls are sweeping red curtains surrounding tables boasting crisp white linens and elegant leather chairs. Commanding attention overhead are two giant chandeliers, the sparkling crystal figures hang to resemble exposed light bulbs. Spectacular, grand, impressive, massive, giant, I'm pulling out all the "go big or go home" esque adjectives; Del Frisco's atmosphere embodies that mantra to a tee.And as the rooms namesake would imply, views of the harbor aren't too shabby either. Not to mention, the coveted outdoor patio space is easily a huge draw to the restaurant in the warm months. The dinner was based on a four course menu and was completely free of charge to attendees.After glancing over the regular menu, everything appears to be fairly expensive. But as usual, I've included the prices in my round up to let you be the judge. At Del Frisco's, you can't go wrong with a signature cocktail. After one a taste of the Absolut Orange Vodka that has been house infused with pineapple and shaken to creamy frothy martini perfection, "The VIP" ($13) will have you feeling just as the namesake touts. The Blackberry Ginger Cocktail ($14) made with Woodford Reserve Bourbon, fresh blackberries, fresh lemon juice, mint and a splash of ginger beer, was also a winner. Boasting an extensive wine list (if the glass walled wine racks were any indication) A Kung Fu Girl Riesling from Washington state was poured to compliment our starter courses. Once we made our way to the steak, a Cabernet Sauvignon made just for the restaurant was also nicely paired. The bread here is worth indulging - a full loaf is served warm, soft baked and studded with sesame seeds, be sure to break off a piece and slather it in some of that whipped butter. An extensive spread of shared appetizers began with the Shrimp Cocktail ($19) and Shrimp Remoulade ($19). I enjoyed the presentation with a vivid cocktail sauce layered over a row of jumbo shrimp on a bed of bright green lettuce. Both sauces were nicely flavored, however, I've had better tasting shrimp. I would skip this in favor of another appetizer, especially considering the price point. I wasn't overly impressed by the Ahi Tuna Tartare ($16). This one paled comparison to some of my Boston favorites, although the toasted bread with balsamic on the side was a nice touch. The appetizer worth splurging on is the Crab Cake ($19) with this one you get all the crab and none of the cake! A glorious mound of exceptionally tender and well seasoned crab meat is served over a creamy cajun lobster sauce. Order it if you are a crab lover for sure.I would also recommend the Prime Beef Carpaccio ($14) served with a creole mustard and dotted with capers, the thin but lengthy slices of raw beef were generously layered on the plate. Given a choice of salads, I opted for the Blue Cheese Lettuce Wedge ($11). With smokey bacon, fresh crisp lettuce and springy cherry tomatoes halves the components were lovely despite an overwhelming presence of blue cheese. The dry cheese crumbles are more than welcome in abundance but all that creamy dressing was too much for the wedge to handle.For the steak course, our waitress explained the degree of cooking runs towards rare, so in essence what is actually ordered medium would be cooked medium rare. (Or something along those lines, fair enough.)The supreme quality of beef was evident with each bite of my 8 oz Filet Mignon ($38) cooked to their ideal medium as desired with a fully pink center, retaining its flavorful juiciness. The fork tender filet was liberally seasoned with black pepper and salt. It was an excellent steak indeed. Vegetable sides run the gamut from simply steamed Broccoli ($10), to lightly blanched Asparagus ($11) with shaved almonds, to Sauteed Mushrooms ($10) bathing in savory pan juices. The Chateau Potatoes ($9) are a perplexing side, I guess because I am not really sure what a "chateau" potato is supposed to be. A dish of heavy waxy mashed potatoes with butter and cracked pepper are good, nothing extraordinary. A tower of the thickest Onion Rings ($10) I've ever seen are sensational, while the Lobster Macaroni and Cheese ($16) would prove more swoon worthy had actual chunks of lobster appeared within the cheesy sprinkled with buttery breadcrumbs sea of elbow pasta. Behold the dessert platter, a sampling of their Lemon Cake, Banana Bread Pudding and Molten Chocolate Cake. Each of these proved something incredible. Usually I can pick a favorite dessert, but this time around, I was at a loss. The Creme Brulee and Berries and Cream offer something lighter compared to a cake or bread pudding. Not that you didn't save plenty of room after all that steak! I am content to recommend any of the five as worthy contenders to end a meal here. The service executed by the waitstaff was friendly, helpful and attentive. The pacing of the meal, however, was considerably slower than expected. I took the opportunity to relish the time, enjoying the company of friends and new faces, appreciating the overall fantastic food and drink.
Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak House located at 250 Northern Avenue on Boston's Liberty Wharf is defined by a spectacular waterfront location where dining in luxury is met with extended hospitality. Come here to celebrate a special occasion, conduct a business meeting over lunch, relax after a long day in the office or have an extravagant night out!
Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak House on Urbanspoon

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

New Eats in Back Bay: 5 Napkin Burger

New to Boston but not to the upscale burger-joint scene in general, 5 Napkin Burger hails from New York City; boasting three locations in Astoria Queens, Hell's Kitchen and The Upper West Side. Following the NYC success is the the newest outpost, a chic setting disguised with butcher shop paraphernalia, located at 105 Huntington Avenue in The Back Bay's Prudential Center. A panoramic restaurant space is filled with black leather booths contrasted by glossy white tile walls lined with meat scales and shelves of brightly colored glass jars. Meat hooks adorn the ceilings alternating with exposed light bulbs dangling from electrical wires.
As you can see - the place is packed and unfortunately, restaurant policy does not allow reservations for parties over 8, which left our party of 12 (blog friends Michelle, Justin, Megan, Jen, Meghan and significant others) with a one and a half hour wait time. It was also unfortunate that when we called to make a reservation they were quick to assure us the wait would not be a problem (for who? Us or them?) I understand it might deter business if you proclaim, "we will be packed on Friday evening so expect a long wait!" but believe it or not, a little transparency goes a long way. We gathered at the bar and caught up over drinks, so the wait went by rather quickly. No hard feelings, I just figure it's good to inform future patrons of what to expect.While we waited I enjoyed an Alagash White ($7) on tap and was onto my second by the time we were seated. Following the beers a cocktail sampling was in order and I went with the Perfect 5 Napkin Manhattan ($11) Makers Mark, Brandied Cherry Juice, Sweet and Dry Vermouth, Orange Essence.
A well made Manhattan, the bourbon was prevalent and the sweet notes of cherry and orange were pleasantly subtle. As far as dinner was concerned, it was a no-brainer from my perspective, to order the burger that made them famous. And although I am aware of the hype only recently, I though it lived up to the expectation at a decent price point. The Original 5 Napkin Burger ($10.95) comes on a soft white bun with 10 oz. of fresh ground chuck, Gruyere cheese like you've never seen her before, a heaping pile of caramelized onions and a spoonful of rosemary aioli. Just look at that melted Gruyere cheese cascading over a patty so juicy it glistened! The thick pile of sweet caramelized onions welcoming atop them the velvety smooth herb infused aioli was a winning combination in my book. The concept of ordering fries and pickles a la carte is somewhat foreign, but was definitely embraced and worked out quite well for our large party.
The Tuscan Fries ($3.75) tossed in Parmesan, thyme, sage and rosemary, delivered on flavors but lacked in crispiness. I still housed a fare share of that plate. I love french fries, even a soft batch!
A Bowl of House Cured Pickles ($2.75) were really impressive. A briny sweet essence that was so tasty I even slapped a few on my burger. Not that the burger needed it, but the pickles were that good! Tater Tots ($4.25) (heck yes!) were crispy two-bite morsels packed with smooth potato goodness, another worthy side offering.The Cornmeal Crusted Onion Rings are served in a "starter" portion for ($6.75) and as a "side" portion for ($4.25). The opposite end of the table got it right with the starter portion, (photographed) served with blue cheese dressing and 5N sauce. My end of the table mistakenly ordered the side which was a rather small plate of only about 5 onion rings and minus the sauces. None of us realized there were two options (they aren't listed near each other on the menu.) The rings maintained a nice crisp, using cornmeal seemed like an innovative approach to this classic side.It was nearing 10pm and the table was settling into dessert mode. Adam and I had post dinner plans so we decided to make a break for it before it got too late. Had there been enough time, I would have ordered the Dark & Stormy Float ($8) Rum Raisin Ice Cream, Goslings Rum, Saranac Ginger Beer. It was definitely a long meal considering we just ate burgers and fries, and I was bummed to have to miss dessert! The great thing about this place is that it is relatively inexpensive and the lively atmosphere makes it a fun outing for large groups!They say if you can make it in New York City you can make it anywhere, and if the crowds are any inclination, 5 Napkin Burger is well on its way to finding success here in Boston, too.
5 Napkin Burger on Urbanspoon

Friday, January 21, 2011

Bourbon Apple Pork Chops

This recipe is adapted from Cooking Light Cookbook 1989. The cookbook was a Christmas gift from my Dad and has proved rather intriguing to page through, especially since not all the recipes have photographs attached. (Aren't you used to seeing what the finished product will look like, before you cook it?) I was curious to see how the recipes of the past would stack up. Turns out, the Bourbon Apple Pork Chops are pretty darn tasty. The recipe is ideal for preparing with any cut of pork, bone in or boneless. The Granny Smith apple topping originally called for the apple to be cut into rings, but I preferred to dice it instead. The result was a play on warm homemade applesauce; the leftovers even worked on their own as a side dish the next night. I'll admit, it is not the prettiest looking dish to grace the pages of III, but give it a shot. They knew a thing or two about cooking back in '89.
I paired the chops with corn and Near East rice pilaf. It would also pair well with a side salad or a green vegetable. Ingredients:
-3 bone in center cut pork chops
-2 garlic cloves
-1/2 teaspoon salt
-1/4 teaspoon pepper
-1/4 cup unsweetened apple juice
-1/4 cup bourbon
-1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
-2 tablespoons water
-1 teaspoon corn starch
-1 medium granny smith apple, dicedTrim the fat from the pork chops. Season with garlic, salt and pepper. Coat a large nonstick pan with cooking spray or olive oil and set over medium high heat. Add the pork chops and brown on each side, about 3-4 minutes.Add apple juice, bourbon and Worcestershire sauce, then bring mixture to a boil. Cover and reduce heat, simmer 10 minutes or until pork chops are tender.In another pan over low-medium heat combine water and cornstarch, stirring until smooth. Cook until mixture thickens, stirring constantly. Add the diced apple to pan and cook until thoroughly heated.Remove from heat and spoon over pork chops.I was skeptical about the whole water-apple-cornstarch-combination. (Is this an 80's thing, or a common cooking technique I am not privy to?) I didn't have cornstarch just lying around in my cabinet, that is for sure. But once the process was complete it all made sense. The cornstarch adds depth and consistency to the apples. It serves to meld them together and create a chunky sauce like topping, which complimented pork quite nicely. Simmered in spicy bourbon, tangy Worcestershire and tart apple juice, the pork came out tender and juicy soaking in all the delicious flavors of the sauce. The sweet corn kernels and savory rice pilaf accompanying the meal were easy-to-prepare sides."Living Well Is The Best Reward" ~ Cooking Light 1989