Primetime @ Ocean Prime

So after a fun day of golf and (I start a lot of these posts that way huh?) a short nap, it was time to eat.  Sol has been telling me to go to Ocean Prime for a while and last week I found out a friend of mine's brother works there as a bartender.  Those two things were enough to give it a shot.  Luckily my Mom was in town so she was able to come out to the extravaganza, and that is exactly what it was...

Three hours earlier...we pulled up to valet, because EVERY place in Dallas has a valet, even the sports bar, the tex-mex restaurant and the Cantina.  As we got out of the car there was a red carpet leading us to the glass doors that opened up into the restaurant.  The greeter was very friendly as we told her we would be going to the bar.  We found a seat on the right side of the U shaped bar.  It was very clean cut, LOTS of bottles of liquor and wine in neat rows, all of the finishes were polished and glimmering showing the new restaurant off.  We took a peek outside at the patio before going in and it was very rich also we later found out they dropped about a million on it.  If I didn't know any better i'd say we were in Beverly Hills - there was plastic every where, and not on the walls.

My friend's brother, Micah (My-kah), was our bartender and  asked us what we would be having.   He explained that they had "hand crafted cocktails" meaning they used fresh squeezed juices, fresh garnishes and house-made syrups.  My kind of place.  Folks if you haven't been listening to me - THESE ARE THE BEST KIND OF COCKTAILS!  Go get some, you can get a great deal on their cocktails at happy hour.  I will say you do need to be patient because hand crafted cocktails take some time to make, just like a good work of art.  Similar to the other places, the bartender tasted the drink with a straw to make sure it was right, if he needed to balance it out he would add a little more of this or a little more of that. 

While we waited...the bartender put a bowl of popcorn in front of us, drizzled with truffle oil, very nice.

Sol ordered a "Cucumber Gimlet" - Bombay Sapphire gin, muddled fresh cucumber and hand squeezed lime. Let me say, the fusion of cucumber and gin is a natural one. I believe this is the 3rd cucumber-gin cocktail I have written about and though all have been very different they have all be very good and well balanced, the Cucumber Gimlet was no different. The green you see was a cucumber peel for a garnish.

 
Next, I ordered a "Whiskey clover"
Gentleman Jack whiskey, Hennessy VS, honey water, hand squeezed lemon and orange.  You'll notice in the background of the Cucumber Gimlet picture the bartender is hand squeezing the orange juice to go in my cocktail.  This should give you an idea of the freshness of every concoction.  If you look hard enough you can see the built in wood cutting board that every garnish is cut on.  My Whiskey Clover was amazing, the perfect amount of fruit juice and liquor.  Micah, cut a piece of orange peel about quarter sized, heated the outside up with a lighter, then with the flame close he bent the peel squeezing a burst of juice out of the rind and the flame popped like someone was blowing fire out of their mouth, it was a nice touch.

We started with some bar appetizers: Sonoma Goat Cheese Ravioli with Golden Oak Mushrooms - a light, fresh slightly tangy dish.  The ravioli were small and bite sized.  What an easy dish, I have had this once before at a place called Anteprima in Chicago - I can't say one was better than the other but they were both wonderful and if you have an opportunity to try this dish or a variation of it, you should.

The next was as Micah put it: Texas "Surf n' Turf" - Diver Scallops, Slow Braised Short Ribs over a bed of mashed potatos.  The scallops were seared perfectly and the inside was tender and moist.  I LOVE scallops.  The addition of braised short ribs was a nice touch to this dish.  I am not going to lie before we ordered these flavors did not seem like they would go together but they did in a fantastic way.

I hate to do this to those of you that read this blog on a regular basis, but we ordered deviled eggs again...I'm sorry, No, No I'm not because they were amazing.  Devilled eggs are getting more and more trendy, and I can say, I'm not upset about it, because I love them.  These particular ones were "White Truffle Caviar Deviled Eggs".  So how could we not?  Truffle makes everything better.  They were a little salty but since I love salt they were perfect for me.  For those of you not into caviar, like my mom, just pop it in your mouth, close your eyes, and enjoy!  Go ask her, you can't even taste it.

We just relaxed for a while, did some people watching.  Oh, and in walks pretty much the whole offensive line of the Dallas Cowboys!!!!  I am an AVID fan so yes I knew their names.  Marc Columbo is the first one I recognized, then some of the backups.  It's crazy how us guys remember meaningless information like the 2nd string offensive line's names.  The punter and the EX-kicker were there too.  It was pretty cool, I was a little star struck.  Then we saw some cougars perusing the bar, apparently this is a pretty hoppin' place.  Obviously,I didn't get the memo.

After we worked up an appetite people watching we ordered some dinner.  My mom and I ordered Filets and Sol ordered a Chilean Sea Bass.  Our steaks were good and the Sea Bass was light and flaky.  For sides we asked the bartender what he liked and he said the creamed spinach.  He said it was cooked in bacon grease and though he normally doesn't like spinach it was to die for.  How could we not take his advice?  We didn't regret it, it was amazing, definitely not the spinach Popeye used to give him his strength.  Then there was the Chophouse Corn, a staple of mine when it comes to a steak dinner.  A real treat was mixing the corn and spinach together.  I am not sure if the bacon grease hopped the train or if the corn was cooked in bacon grease also.  Either way they were to die for both together and seperate.  Mom picked the starch and ordered a Scallion Twice Baked Potato with Cheddar Cheese & Bacon.  This was a monstrosity of a potato.  I mean that in a good way, the cheese was oozing, the bacon bits were crispy and the scallions were fresh.  How could we fit anything else in?

Fun fact:  Did you know our bodies were made so that when we we're done with dinner a pocket opens up in our stomachs for dessert?  It's some weird physiological thing where the stomach communicates with the brain.  I am happy we were constructed this way cause I love me some deeeeesert!  We ordered chocolate cake, a dessert we NEVER order.  Unbenownst to us it was actually more like a soufflé topped with homemade vanilla ice cream.  The chocolate filling rushed out like lava out of a volcano, the ice cream cooling it off to an edible temperature it was great.  My only gripe is I wanted more ice cream. Overall it was an excellent end to a fantastic meal.  I don't believe I have ever had a soufflé before so that was a nice surprise.

It was a pleasure showing my mom what Sol and I enjoy doing.  Galavanting around town to nice places enjoying life.  Soaking in the creations of great chefs and bartenders alike.  Trying something new or tasting a recreation of something old.  This is the life my friends.  Here's to you!

Flashy Ambiance_Hand Made Original Cocktails_Great Service

Truluck's on a Budget

Ever since Sol and I went to dinner at Truluck's in January we've wanted to return. It was one of the best dinners I have ever had. I had a perfectly cooked Filet Oscar and Sol ordered Surf n' Turf. The lobster was huge, but so soft and perfectly cooked. I am not big into lobster like my lady but if it tastes like this every time I might have to go get a higher paying job.

Anyways this blog is supposed to be about this visit, so lets get cookin'. We went last Sunday night for their happy hour. Half price off their bar apps, ALL cocktails and 25% off bottles of wine. If you were wondering why we went, hopefully you're not anymore.

We sat at the bar, our usual spot. We were instantly greeted by our bartender with a smile. She made some recommendations and we were off on our adventure. We decided to start with calamari (Sol's fav) and a ceviche. I dove into the calamari first, best I have ever had. It was served with two dipping sauces: a sweet chili sauce & a semi-spicy mayo, both great accompaniments. The calamari lay over a bed of julienned carrots and hearts of palm. The veggies were cooked nicely. The ceviche was interesting...it had pineapple which I am not sure I liked but it was different.

The bartender said she made a good margarita so I took her word for it, though it was satisfying it was a little heavy on the grandma and a little light on the tequila. I still had 2 :)

Our next round of apps was Hot & Crunchy Shrimp and Crab & Lobster Rangoons.The shrimp was butterflied then breaded in a slightly spicy batter and sat on mango coulis with a thick mango sauce drizzled over top. These were good but I probably wouldn't order them again they were a little sweet and I would have liked a little more spice. The rangoons on the other hand, I'm gonna say it, OH EMM GEE!!!! Phenomenal. A nice crunchy outside with a soft, creamy rich inside and there was a dipping sauce. Another variation of the sweet chili but less viscous than the first and spicier which added a very nice kick to the dish. Also you can see what tasted like a creamy sauce with a little hear drizzled on top. The presentation was great. I apologize about the picture to the right, as taking it was an after thought :)

As you can imagine by now we were stuffed! But the cupcakes were 1/2 off too! We ordered two, one chocolate and one carrot cake. Meanwhile we decided to get some after dinner drinks, sol ordered a chocolotini as for me I asked the bartender what she had up her sleeve. She gave me some choices I had heard before then wide eyed she exclaimed, "Oreo Cookie Martini!" - after about a half a second of debate I accepted. As I hoped she delivered, it was right on the money. The ingredients were: fresh Oreo cookie crumbles from the kitchen and it had White Godiva Chocolate liqueur, White & Dark Creme de cacao, Vanilla Vodka & Cream. Nicely done, she said it was her invention so there you have it, the only place you can get a Oreo Cookie Martini - move over Jack in the Box Oreo cookie shake.

We could only fit one cup cake in our stomachs so we took the carrot to-go.

What a great a great meal at a great restaurant for a great price; $58 for 4 apps, 6 adult beverages & 2 cupcakes. This place has hit a home run on both visits, highly recommended by yours truly.

Bang for your Buck_Amazing Food_Top Notch Service

Quick Hit: Dallas Chop House

After I had the pleasure of attending an event put on by Absolut Vodka, Sol and I wanted to go somewhere else. We were decked out and ready to rock, we finally landed at the Dallas Chop House. We touched down at the bar, always one of our favorite places. The restaurant had an open kitchen feel with a glass window so you could see everything going on. Maybe the coolest part was that I could see the beef aging in a cooler. The bar area was medium sized and had a very nice looking patio that we'd like to try on our next visit.

Though we both decided to give up beer for lent I indulged, however, I must say I have had less than 6 beers in about 30 days, which is VERY impressive for me. Nothing special just a good 'ol Dos Equis.

The bartender put a wooden bowl of fresh potato chips in front of us as we scanned the menu. F.Y.I. the reason bars give you snacks to munch on, usually salty or spicy, is so you DRINK MORE. The chips were quite good, they had fresh cracked pepper on them which gave you an occasional spice and of course plenty of salt.

First course was: "Shrimp Diablo", bacon wrapped shrimp with a poblano sliver over pepper jack grits with a creole something or other sauce. Very flavorful, the bacon had a nice crunch and the shrimp was cooked perfectly. A great take on shrimp and grits, although I couldn't really taste the "diablo", personally I would have liked more of a kick - none the less I would reorder them.

Next, I tried Oysters Rockefeller, my first go at oysters...the presentation was beautiful, 4 half shells with the oyster covered in Parmesan bread crumbs over a bed of spinach and bacon bits. The shells themselves sat over a large plate of rock salt. So there I was wondering why I never gave it a try then I took a bite. The oyster tasted exactly as I always though it would, a little slimy and slightly cooked in this case. Fortunately the overall texture was masked by the slightly toasted Parmesan bread crumbs. I did have a second just in case my half shell was an aberration. It wasn't. Sol and I both looked at the the 4th one, she had already eaten one and I two. She said, "go ahead" and a sighed, "please don't make me". Lucky for me the next appetizer was the best and we had saved it for last.

"American Kobe Hot Rock" - A sizzling round river rock (7" long x 4" wide x 2" thick") with thinly sliced American Kobe and dipping sauce. I had never seen Kobe in its raw state, it was a little startling to be honest, it was probably 50/50 meet & fat, but for those of you that know Kobe that is the marvel of it. The marbling was fabulous and it was just like all of the pictures I had seen. We were instructed to dip the beef in the soy sauce then place it on the rock so that it did not stick. The second it hit the rock it sizzled loud and fast, each side only needed seconds. Then off to my mouth that was savoring the experience before me. It was as tender and flavorful as Kobe is meant to be. It was $10 per ounce for those of you wondering, we ordered two ounces and easily could have had much more. If you are in the downtown area you must stop by the Dallas Chop House for this, lots of fun if you haven't seen this presentation before.

As a last note I tried a glass of Booker's (bourbon), 126 proof pfew! A few ice cubes to cut the harshness of the alcohol. It was very good, a hint of vanilla with sort of an oak flavor. I did enjoy it and it was a nice end to a great sampling of dishes.

Great Presentation_Inviting Patio_Tender Kobe

NYC Part 3 of 4: Quality Meats & S3

As I stated before we were originally supposed to go to a steakhouse in the meat packing district called STK but had to cancel due to our flights getting canceled and losing our luggage, etc. Believe it or not there are 2 good parts to that: 1) We found a great place to go instead 2) We went our last night anyway and had great drinks and an app that was to DIE FOR. I'll get to that in part 4.

Per another recommendation from the concierge we decided on "Quality Meats" not even a block south of snow covered Central Park where I had just proposed to my girlfriend. Good news is she she said yes so honestly anything was going to taste good at that point, but let me tell you...it was outstanding, especially for a last minute reservation in New York.

We started with a comp bottle of sparkling wine as a congratulations from the restaurant (thanks QM!!!) We started with with Seared Diver Scallops that sat in a light cream sauce with candied walnuts & grapes that added a nice salty and sweet combo. We also ordered a Crab Cake with HUGE lumps of crab that came with what tasted almost like a Tabasco red pepper sauce for dipping (see picture below). Home Run on the apps.


For our main course we decided to do something different, well different for us, and get the porterhouse for two, we are both normally filet all the way. As usual the filet side was great, tender and flavorful, you can't go wrong when the beef is aged (right Josh?). Any-who, the sirloin side though full of flavor just gad too many of those un-chewable strands of gristle; halfway through is when we ditched and devoured the better half. Overall, I'd still give the steak a B+. Our side items were scrumptious as well, a Sweet Corn Creme Brule if you can imagine that. I actually considered ordering a second helping of this because it was so good, thank you ELSA. Our other side was Gnocchi and Cheese, it was sort of a play on mac n' cheese, just what I had hoped for. It had a nice crusted top from the broiler and a creamy flavor, the contrast was a delight. I have to say the side dishes almost over shadowed the meat, but I am a carnivore at heart so no matter how good the sides are, the meat will always have my heart. On to the next question, "Would you care for any dessert tonight?" We decided to fore go dessert at Quality Meats and hit Serendipity, something I'd later regret.

I know what you're thinking, "it's so trendy, why there?"...but it was where my new fiancee' wanted to go and who was I to argue? I might as well get used to being agreeable. We ordered a frozen hot chocolate and a Forbidden Broadway Sundae - chocolate Blackout cake, ice cream, hot fudge topped with whipped cream - ate way too much of that.

The one good decision I made aside from finally putting a halt to my food intake was to walk the 20 blocks home. It seemed like a good idea...to walk off some of the binging I had just par-taken in; unfortunately for me it didn't work. I have never eaten so much in my life, I thought I was on an episode of Man vs. Food - and food definitely won this battle. But let me tell you, I put up one helluva fight.

Quality Meats: Aged Beef_Amazing sides_Killer Apps!