Showing posts with label Nachos. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nachos. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Waterville Valley, New Hampshire
From Killington, Vermont last weekend to Waterville Valley, New Hampshire this weekend, skiings got me beat. Even still, I wish every winter weekend could see some slope time in the Green or White Mountains. I write this post sore and tired, but happy and fulfilled at the same time. 
I took the day off of work Friday and ventured north with friends that afternoon. Originally we were planning to leave early and ski Friday but the rain kept us off the slopes. Upon arrival we checked into our super nice accommodations at The Town Square Condominiums, just minutes away from the mountain. Shops and restaurants line the ground level buildings in the square and multi-level condos are situated on the second through fourth floors. 
A touristy spot for sure, met with traditional New Hampshire charms offering a wide range of recreational activities (horse drawn sleigh rides, nordic skiing, ice skating) in addition to comfortable and convenient lodging. 
However, skiing was the only recreational activity on our agenda. Unless you count drinking beers as a recreational activity. 
Friday Night at the condo.
I didn't take any pictures on the mountain, I was too busy being a ski instructor. It was a long morning on the bunny slope and I got in a good amount of intermediate runs after lunch. The terrain wasn't incredibly challenging but sometimes crusin' the blue square trails is a perfect way to spend the day. 
We hit up apres ski at Buckets on the second floor of the lodge for $4 Coors Light drafts. We washed the beers down with a huge plate of nachos.
Skiing works up a serious appetite. This was one amazing plate of Nachos served with sides of sour cream, guacamole and salsa for $11.50. 
Saturday night we ventured out for dinner at Coyote Grill, described as Mountain Casual Dining. Though we fared about a 15 minute wait for our 8:00 reservation and the service overall was pretty slow, we knew it was not due to any other reason than the place was jam packed. Plus, they took our reservation only hours before. 
Our waitress was genuine, friendly and accommodating the entire evening, devotedly apologetic for our continued wait despite the fact that we were completely content to linger and enjoy ourselves some drinks. I drank a Coyote Margarita ($6) followed by a Makers and Ginger over the course of dinner. 
I feasted on a half of a Wedge Salad Iceburg lettuce, home made bleu cheese dressing, smoked New Hampshire bacon, red onion, roma tomato and candied walnuts.
All the ingredients were really fresh, contrasting taste and textures were well executed from the crispiness of the smokey and salty bacon, the crunch of the sweet candied walnuts, the tartness of the onions and the juicy roma tomatoes. The layers of iceberg lettuce welcomed a creamy bleu cheese laced with smooth blue-gray crumbles. 
For my entree I ordered the Braised Beef Rib ($21) Smuttynose Brown Ale braised boneless rib of beef, Yukon Gold mashed potatoes, root vegetable demi glace
Fork tender and flavorful beer braised rib sat atop well seasoned Yukon Gold mashed potatoes. A root demi glaze sauce added depth and enhanced flavors. In addition to the menu description the plate also benefited from bite size nuggets of squash, adding a playful sweetness to an otherwise savory dish. 
Other entrees like the locally raised Grilled Venison Steaks and the Almond Encrusted Chicken fared well, however, seafood dishes saw a tough time in this kitchen. Ahi Tuna came incorrectly prepared and scallops were undercooked. Never the types to send back food, we all agreed, it's no fun to admit a dishes defeat. Our waitress was understanding and replaced as well as comped the not up to par meals. Coyote Grill still deserves praise in my eyes as my food was excellent and our dinner was met with quality service. I'd recommend sticking with a meat or poultry entree and be prepared for a crowd!
After a fun group dinner we hung out at the local sports bar before calling it a night. 
The weekend saw plenty of Moosin' Around in Waterville Valley. It's always tough to say goodbye to another great ski weekend and hello to Monday in the office....
I took the day off of work Friday and ventured north with friends that afternoon. Originally we were planning to leave early and ski Friday but the rain kept us off the slopes. Upon arrival we checked into our super nice accommodations at The Town Square Condominiums, just minutes away from the mountain. Shops and restaurants line the ground level buildings in the square and multi-level condos are situated on the second through fourth floors. 
A touristy spot for sure, met with traditional New Hampshire charms offering a wide range of recreational activities (horse drawn sleigh rides, nordic skiing, ice skating) in addition to comfortable and convenient lodging. 
However, skiing was the only recreational activity on our agenda. Unless you count drinking beers as a recreational activity. 
Friday Night at the condo.
I didn't take any pictures on the mountain, I was too busy being a ski instructor. It was a long morning on the bunny slope and I got in a good amount of intermediate runs after lunch. The terrain wasn't incredibly challenging but sometimes crusin' the blue square trails is a perfect way to spend the day. 
We hit up apres ski at Buckets on the second floor of the lodge for $4 Coors Light drafts. We washed the beers down with a huge plate of nachos.
Skiing works up a serious appetite. This was one amazing plate of Nachos served with sides of sour cream, guacamole and salsa for $11.50. 
Saturday night we ventured out for dinner at Coyote Grill, described as Mountain Casual Dining. Though we fared about a 15 minute wait for our 8:00 reservation and the service overall was pretty slow, we knew it was not due to any other reason than the place was jam packed. Plus, they took our reservation only hours before. 
Our waitress was genuine, friendly and accommodating the entire evening, devotedly apologetic for our continued wait despite the fact that we were completely content to linger and enjoy ourselves some drinks. I drank a Coyote Margarita ($6) followed by a Makers and Ginger over the course of dinner. 
I feasted on a half of a Wedge Salad Iceburg lettuce, home made bleu cheese dressing, smoked New Hampshire bacon, red onion, roma tomato and candied walnuts.
All the ingredients were really fresh, contrasting taste and textures were well executed from the crispiness of the smokey and salty bacon, the crunch of the sweet candied walnuts, the tartness of the onions and the juicy roma tomatoes. The layers of iceberg lettuce welcomed a creamy bleu cheese laced with smooth blue-gray crumbles. 
For my entree I ordered the Braised Beef Rib ($21) Smuttynose Brown Ale braised boneless rib of beef, Yukon Gold mashed potatoes, root vegetable demi glace
Fork tender and flavorful beer braised rib sat atop well seasoned Yukon Gold mashed potatoes. A root demi glaze sauce added depth and enhanced flavors. In addition to the menu description the plate also benefited from bite size nuggets of squash, adding a playful sweetness to an otherwise savory dish. 
Other entrees like the locally raised Grilled Venison Steaks and the Almond Encrusted Chicken fared well, however, seafood dishes saw a tough time in this kitchen. Ahi Tuna came incorrectly prepared and scallops were undercooked. Never the types to send back food, we all agreed, it's no fun to admit a dishes defeat. Our waitress was understanding and replaced as well as comped the not up to par meals. Coyote Grill still deserves praise in my eyes as my food was excellent and our dinner was met with quality service. I'd recommend sticking with a meat or poultry entree and be prepared for a crowd!
The weekend saw plenty of Moosin' Around in Waterville Valley. It's always tough to say goodbye to another great ski weekend and hello to Monday in the office....
Friday, January 7, 2011
Tequila Haven Hits Back Bay
The enormous underground tequila den opened just last month at 271 Dartmouth Street has fast become a city dwellers must visit. Lolita Cocina & Tequila Bar revives the space formerly inhabited by Papa Razzi giving it a mysterious and seductive vibe with red lighting, Gothic accents and rose petal centerpieces. Weathered hardwood floors and reclaimed iron gates fill the space where deep set wall crevices give way to flickering candles.
Serving over 200 Tequilas and inventive margaritas (by the glass or pitcher) along with inspired Mexican dishes, its opening fills a niche for upscale Mexican food in a bustling neighborhood location seemingly void of such fare. Friends and I settled in at the reclaimed wood bar, scoring a couple of seats at the corner located next to the tequila shrine emitting a warm golden glow. 
The place was packed on Thursday evening at 6:30 and only seemed to get busier as the night went on. Between the six of us we sampled a good portion of the margarita menu from the classic Lolita ($12) made with sauza ‘100 years’, patron citronge, fresh lime, cane syrup & a squeeze of grapefruit to the sugary and spicy Diablo ($13) with lunazul reposado, luxardo triplum, serranochile, blood orange, pineapple & strawberry. 
My choice was a Spicy Cucumber ($13) consisting of don julio blanco, habanero infused vodka, patron citronge, fresh cucumber & lime. Tequila + vodka? I really wasn't doing myself any favors. The drink brought the heat with a refreshing cucumber and lime finish. The extensive drink menu included everything from Bebidas (miscellaneous cocktails), to Sangria and Mojitos to Aqua Frescas - which are non alcoholic iced beverages. 
Gretchen enjoyed the Lime Coco ($8) with fresh lime, coconut, citrus fruits & mint. Also pictured are Tequila shots, of which I sipped two over the course of the evening, and somewhere in between was a Dos Equis Lager ($6). But back to the tequila. The menu is downright fascinating offering shots from $6 to $450 (limited edition Cuervo 250 Aniversario) broken down into categories to help determine the palate. I chose from the "Hot Peppery" section an el charro ($6) served with an orange slice dipped in red sugar. It was smooth sipping, perhaps a little too smooth. 
As the evening progressed we were witness to a woman whose hair caught on fire from one of the many ornate chandelier candlesticks with an open flame. It was not the below candle display looking like it was removed straight out of a Gothic cathedral; where said woman's ponytail met its demise, however was still deserving of a photograph. 
It was time for some grub. We shared a plate of the Chile-rubbed short rib nachos ($15) which everyone seemed to enjoy. 
The dish itself is more like a short rib dip covered in cheese with only a few chips for presentation. A fun twist when compared to a typical plate of nachos, the rib was tender and juicy shredded and bathed in ancho sauce with garlic, mushrooms and jalapeno crema. Bowls of signature tortilla chips were served alongside.
Also included with the chips was a trio of flavorful salsas - roasted red pepper, crema, and tomatillo. 
Of the four different kinds of Guacamole on the menu we chose the Fresco ($9) 
Undeniably fresh and served with heaping chunks of avocado, this creamy guac was laced with diced red onion and topped with bright red tomato lending a textural contrast and a nice pop of color. Added generously is the cilantro, and less so the serrano chile. (Serrano is hotter than a jalapeno, but I don't recall intense heat.) In hindsight, the $9 price tag seems a bit steep for the portion size, but I definitely enjoyed the dip!
My favorite appetizer of the evening were the Crispy Masa Oysters ($11). Five lightly fried east coast oysters are dusted with red chile masa & chipotle crema followed up with a diced salsa giving way to clean sweet flavors. 
Our bartenders were most attentive and the food came out super fast. Overall the dishes we tried showcased inventive Mexican plates and I'd happily return to sample more of the menu and eat another plate of those oysters. 
Be sure not to miss the bathrooms at this place.
Mesmerized as I made my way down a dark twisty tiled hallway, set a glow by yet more candle light, Penelope greeted me at the door. 
Entering into a room alternating deep red damask wallpaper with exposed brick and white tile, I was greeted by sleek black sinks and crystal encrusted soap dispensers. 
Saloon style doors on the individual stalls open to reveal painted porcelain toilet bowls. 
If photographing toilets are wrong, (annoying overused cliche as it goes) then I don't want to be right. An experience in itself is taking a trip to the womens room, but Lolita as a whole warrants just as much praise. A fun and exciting Mexican Cocina in a desirable Back Bay location is sure to thrive.
As much as I'm into it, a glowing tequila haven can't keep us away from our go-to dive, and true to form we gallivanted down Dartmouth Street, 
past the extravagantly lit up Boston Public Library over to Delux to close out the night with Jen's Margaritas.
Tequila makes a night interesting/fun/crazy that is for sure.
Serving over 200 Tequilas and inventive margaritas (by the glass or pitcher) along with inspired Mexican dishes, its opening fills a niche for upscale Mexican food in a bustling neighborhood location seemingly void of such fare. Friends and I settled in at the reclaimed wood bar, scoring a couple of seats at the corner located next to the tequila shrine emitting a warm golden glow. The place was packed on Thursday evening at 6:30 and only seemed to get busier as the night went on. Between the six of us we sampled a good portion of the margarita menu from the classic Lolita ($12) made with sauza ‘100 years’, patron citronge, fresh lime, cane syrup & a squeeze of grapefruit to the sugary and spicy Diablo ($13) with lunazul reposado, luxardo triplum, serranochile, blood orange, pineapple & strawberry. My choice was a Spicy Cucumber ($13) consisting of don julio blanco, habanero infused vodka, patron citronge, fresh cucumber & lime. Tequila + vodka? I really wasn't doing myself any favors. The drink brought the heat with a refreshing cucumber and lime finish. The extensive drink menu included everything from Bebidas (miscellaneous cocktails), to Sangria and Mojitos to Aqua Frescas - which are non alcoholic iced beverages. Gretchen enjoyed the Lime Coco ($8) with fresh lime, coconut, citrus fruits & mint. Also pictured are Tequila shots, of which I sipped two over the course of the evening, and somewhere in between was a Dos Equis Lager ($6). But back to the tequila. The menu is downright fascinating offering shots from $6 to $450 (limited edition Cuervo 250 Aniversario) broken down into categories to help determine the palate. I chose from the "Hot Peppery" section an el charro ($6) served with an orange slice dipped in red sugar. It was smooth sipping, perhaps a little too smooth. As the evening progressed we were witness to a woman whose hair caught on fire from one of the many ornate chandelier candlesticks with an open flame. It was not the below candle display looking like it was removed straight out of a Gothic cathedral; where said woman's ponytail met its demise, however was still deserving of a photograph. It was time for some grub. We shared a plate of the Chile-rubbed short rib nachos ($15) which everyone seemed to enjoy. The dish itself is more like a short rib dip covered in cheese with only a few chips for presentation. A fun twist when compared to a typical plate of nachos, the rib was tender and juicy shredded and bathed in ancho sauce with garlic, mushrooms and jalapeno crema. Bowls of signature tortilla chips were served alongside. Also included with the chips was a trio of flavorful salsas - roasted red pepper, crema, and tomatillo. Of the four different kinds of Guacamole on the menu we chose the Fresco ($9) Undeniably fresh and served with heaping chunks of avocado, this creamy guac was laced with diced red onion and topped with bright red tomato lending a textural contrast and a nice pop of color. Added generously is the cilantro, and less so the serrano chile. (Serrano is hotter than a jalapeno, but I don't recall intense heat.) In hindsight, the $9 price tag seems a bit steep for the portion size, but I definitely enjoyed the dip!My favorite appetizer of the evening were the Crispy Masa Oysters ($11). Five lightly fried east coast oysters are dusted with red chile masa & chipotle crema followed up with a diced salsa giving way to clean sweet flavors. Our bartenders were most attentive and the food came out super fast. Overall the dishes we tried showcased inventive Mexican plates and I'd happily return to sample more of the menu and eat another plate of those oysters. Be sure not to miss the bathrooms at this place.Mesmerized as I made my way down a dark twisty tiled hallway, set a glow by yet more candle light, Penelope greeted me at the door. Entering into a room alternating deep red damask wallpaper with exposed brick and white tile, I was greeted by sleek black sinks and crystal encrusted soap dispensers. Saloon style doors on the individual stalls open to reveal painted porcelain toilet bowls. If photographing toilets are wrong, (annoying overused cliche as it goes) then I don't want to be right. An experience in itself is taking a trip to the womens room, but Lolita as a whole warrants just as much praise. A fun and exciting Mexican Cocina in a desirable Back Bay location is sure to thrive.past the extravagantly lit up Boston Public Library over to Delux to close out the night with Jen's Margaritas.Tequila makes a night interesting/fun/crazy that is for sure.
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