As a slow food enthusiast, I love tapas bars. I love them because I can order one or two small plates at a time and keep the pace slow. The portions are never overwhelming, leftovers don’t happen and it is always a treat to try so many varieties from what is often a very inviting menu. Recently, I found another St. Louis location that will join my other two favorites, Modesto and Mirasol to make a perfect threesome. That tapas bar would be Mosaic in downtown St. Louis. The only negative tapas experience in St. Louis so far has been the Clayton location of Barcelona, where the service was horrible and the food mediocre.
After ordering a moderately priced, very nice bottle of Spanish Tempronilla, it was time to focus on the food. We started with a soup flight that included a slightly sweet vanilla enhanced butternut squash soup, a carrot ginger soups as well as a black bean soup. All three were an interesting twist of flavor and a great way to start the meal. We followed the soup with carpaccio of beef topped with argula salad and toasted hazelnuts. Stupendous is the only way to describe the taste sensation. The tangy arugula was perfect with the beef and it did leave me wanting more, a definite order for next time. Next up was an herb gnocchi with asparagus tips covered in truffled asparagus sauce followed by the pulled Korean BBQ pork inside a baked Fuji apple with goat cheese, crème fraiche and five spice pistachios which was another outstanding merger of taste.
The service was completely top-notch and when I explained that this was a very delayed birthday dinner, our server promptly offered a free dessert and recommended a special pumpkin flan with a small dollop of ice cream topped with a caramel pumpkin seed brittle. This truly finished off a wonderful meal and I hope to return many times. Free parking right across the street is just one more bonus.
Nov 11, 2006
Nov 10, 2006
Modesto Review
Walking into Modesto brings Spanish color and light to any day with colors that are earth tones of orange and brown. On Monday nights, the places is filled with dancing, Spanish style and will truly leave you feeling as though you hopped the Atlantic for an evening in Spain.
I have been to Modesto many times and consider it to be one of the best dining spots in St. Louis. Though the menu offers some full course meals, the point of Modesto is in ordering the tapas. A tapas meal is great for a group of friends that want to share and enjoy the small plates. But it is equally appealing as a romantic dinner to share with the one you love.
The menu changes often with all the standard favorites, like Dátiles Relleno, which consists of bacon-wrapped dates stuffed with cabrales cheese. The sweetness of the dates and the pungent cheese will leave you wanting more, but then that is the idea of small plates. You want to try them all while at the same time discovering that one favorite that wish was the entire meal. Another on of my favorites is the Pinchos de Cordero which consist of Moroccan-style grilled lamb kebabs with mint-yogurt sauce and tomato-onion salsa. My partner chose one of her favorites, the steamed mussels in a tangy sauce made of hard cider, chorizo and peppers. On the new side, we tried a roasted quail stuffed with Majon cheese and bacon covered with red wine and fig sauce. Thought it was good, the flavor was a little weak in comparison to the Dátiles Relleno flavor which packs such a punch. But the quail were very tender and tasty as they were.
We enjoyed a great temporanillo wine, Vina Sandasol 2004, that complimented each of the plates. It was clean, balanced and silky and made for a wonderful dining experience. The chef
is Grace Dinsmoor
I have been to Modesto many times and consider it to be one of the best dining spots in St. Louis. Though the menu offers some full course meals, the point of Modesto is in ordering the tapas. A tapas meal is great for a group of friends that want to share and enjoy the small plates. But it is equally appealing as a romantic dinner to share with the one you love.
The menu changes often with all the standard favorites, like Dátiles Relleno, which consists of bacon-wrapped dates stuffed with cabrales cheese. The sweetness of the dates and the pungent cheese will leave you wanting more, but then that is the idea of small plates. You want to try them all while at the same time discovering that one favorite that wish was the entire meal. Another on of my favorites is the Pinchos de Cordero which consist of Moroccan-style grilled lamb kebabs with mint-yogurt sauce and tomato-onion salsa. My partner chose one of her favorites, the steamed mussels in a tangy sauce made of hard cider, chorizo and peppers. On the new side, we tried a roasted quail stuffed with Majon cheese and bacon covered with red wine and fig sauce. Thought it was good, the flavor was a little weak in comparison to the Dátiles Relleno flavor which packs such a punch. But the quail were very tender and tasty as they were.
We enjoyed a great temporanillo wine, Vina Sandasol 2004, that complimented each of the plates. It was clean, balanced and silky and made for a wonderful dining experience. The chef
is Grace Dinsmoor
Sep 3, 2006
LoRusso's, Zoe's, and Felix's Restaurants-Favorites
These are three of my favorite restaurants. As a confirmed foodie, it can be difficult to become a regular anywhere. But each of these restaurnts have warranted repeat visits and for good reason.
First, LoRusso's Cucinis is billed as Italian on the Hill. It is not really on the Hill in my mind but close enough at Watson and Arsenal. It is however, very authentic Italian and holds its own uniqueness. The decor is warm, the staff is always attentitive and will remember you if you come often enough. The wine list is very approachable with some great chiantis. My favorite entre is the squash ravioli with dried cherries in a creamy white sauce. The flavors of sweetness and tartness marry together so well and it keeps me coming back.
Felix's, in the Dogtown neighborhood, is the place to go for a quick happy hour bite on Friday afternoons. They have great drink specials( the mango martini is outstanding) to go with your pizza. The four cheese and sun dried tomato pizza is very good, featuring a thin crust and lots of great cheese. The lobster, pesto and cream cheese is a must try and it will keep you coming back for more. The food is great, the price is perfect and the service is always friendly. On the last visit, we chatted with our young waiter who was headed toward a culinary career.
Finally, Zoe's has a lot to offer. It is on the pricey side compared to the other two. But it offers outside dining in the great people watching area of the Central West End. The first time there was in our pre-sushi days and it was the very rare tuna that convince my partner and I to try sushi which has become an obsession, but that is for another review. On my last visit, I had the grilled Asian Bar-B-Que salmon with a ginger vinaigrette over mixed greens and Chinese mustard. It was outstanding with a nice crisp white wine. I even saved room for dessert in the form of Tahitian vanilla ice cream with fresh mango puree and cashews. It was a refreshing, wonderful meal.
First, LoRusso's Cucinis is billed as Italian on the Hill. It is not really on the Hill in my mind but close enough at Watson and Arsenal. It is however, very authentic Italian and holds its own uniqueness. The decor is warm, the staff is always attentitive and will remember you if you come often enough. The wine list is very approachable with some great chiantis. My favorite entre is the squash ravioli with dried cherries in a creamy white sauce. The flavors of sweetness and tartness marry together so well and it keeps me coming back.
Felix's, in the Dogtown neighborhood, is the place to go for a quick happy hour bite on Friday afternoons. They have great drink specials( the mango martini is outstanding) to go with your pizza. The four cheese and sun dried tomato pizza is very good, featuring a thin crust and lots of great cheese. The lobster, pesto and cream cheese is a must try and it will keep you coming back for more. The food is great, the price is perfect and the service is always friendly. On the last visit, we chatted with our young waiter who was headed toward a culinary career.
Finally, Zoe's has a lot to offer. It is on the pricey side compared to the other two. But it offers outside dining in the great people watching area of the Central West End. The first time there was in our pre-sushi days and it was the very rare tuna that convince my partner and I to try sushi which has become an obsession, but that is for another review. On my last visit, I had the grilled Asian Bar-B-Que salmon with a ginger vinaigrette over mixed greens and Chinese mustard. It was outstanding with a nice crisp white wine. I even saved room for dessert in the form of Tahitian vanilla ice cream with fresh mango puree and cashews. It was a refreshing, wonderful meal.
Sep 2, 2006
Three St. Louis Area Entertainment Experiences
Over the course of several weekends, I had the chance to experience a variety of dining/entertainment spots in the St. Louis area. The first was Jazz at the Bistro where we went to see a favorite jazz artist, Patricia Barber. She has an incrediby unique style and tours primarily in Europe. She and her band provided a first class show with drum solos that were out of this world. She was fun to watch as she played with "Schroder" like intensity, giving lots of credit and solo spots to her band. I spent every minute of the show, hoping it would go on and on. Because the second show was not sold out, we were at least able to stay and otherwise, I would have felt like it just wasn't enough. We began the evening with dinner at our assigned table that came with the ticket. The food was surprisingly good. I had the bistro chicken, it was chicken topped with a pecan cream sauce and finished with Brie cheese. The meat was moist, the topping unique and well done. The wine list was good and we had no trouble finding a suitable match to our dinner. Later, I made the evening complete by enjoying the concert while sipping a bit of Grand Marnier. The dining crowd was eclectic, with many same sex couples as a result of Barber's varied fan base that includes many lesbians.
Finale is a totally upscale restaurant in Clayton that also gives you the whole experience if you plan it right, a first class dinner followed by a show right next door. The entrees are a bit pricier but reflect a different dining style. The service was impeccable beginning with a chef's treat in the form of a tiny crab appetizer. The wine list was top notch and we chose a fabulous Oregon Cabernet. The next course included a fairly typicle Gorgonzola cheese, walnut salad that we were able to split. For an entree, I chose Duck Three Ways and it was fabulous as well as unique, serving the standard sliced duck breast, duck sausage, and duck wrapped in a cabbage roll that was along the lines of an egg roll. I passed on dessert, thinking I would have it during the concert. Once we were seated in the next room, it became apparent that table two, though sounding like a good thing, had its drawbacks. First, it was a small table for four and we were seated with strangers who had already picked the better of the four seats. They were a mother/daughter pair and both dressed right out of a Clayton style book, with the younger one dressed in evening wear.They were hardly friendly but I didn't take it personally. The real problem was that we were just too close to the stage and not in any position to order dessert. But the Frank Sinatra tribute was awesome anyway. The band was quite good and the singer defintely be spoke a middle aged Sinatra. He chose a nice variety of tunes and finished with "Chicago, Chicago" only to come back for an encore of "New York, New York". He was able to give lots of historic tidbits with the songs and it made for a most enjoyable evening.
The third event of this trifecta included a night at the races, horse racing at Fairmont Park, Illinois. We arrived and opted for valet parking as we were running late for a chance to see an appearance of the Budweiser Clydesdales. We then paid the $10 Party at the Park admission price that included an all-you-can-eat buffet and $1 long neck beers. We found our way upstaris to the smokiest room I had seen in years, it was like a typical Bingo room, with everyone marking on their racing sheets. We went through the buffet line and sat in the only open spot, right up by the Honky Tonk band that was playig. They were very good, though they looked a little rough around the edges, the music was perfect for the moment. The buffet had fried chicken, catfish, french fries, various potato salads and slaw. It was very good, particularly the catfish.After eating our first round and drinking our first round, we went off in search of betting windows. As we figured out how to place our bets, we discovered there was a non-smoking section downstairs. So we took refuge in cleaner air and found a table with a small TV that kept you aprised of the minutes before the next race and showed each of the 10 races. We placed $2 bets on each race and at the end of the evening, one of us won about 10 bucks and the other two had minimal losses. We wanted to go outside and actually watch the horses firsthand but the weather had turned and the wind was just too much. Inside, things got a little wild as the evening went on and longnecks flowed but it was probably much calmer than the upstairs smoking section. All in all, it was a great, very inexpensive way to spend an evening.
Finale is a totally upscale restaurant in Clayton that also gives you the whole experience if you plan it right, a first class dinner followed by a show right next door. The entrees are a bit pricier but reflect a different dining style. The service was impeccable beginning with a chef's treat in the form of a tiny crab appetizer. The wine list was top notch and we chose a fabulous Oregon Cabernet. The next course included a fairly typicle Gorgonzola cheese, walnut salad that we were able to split. For an entree, I chose Duck Three Ways and it was fabulous as well as unique, serving the standard sliced duck breast, duck sausage, and duck wrapped in a cabbage roll that was along the lines of an egg roll. I passed on dessert, thinking I would have it during the concert. Once we were seated in the next room, it became apparent that table two, though sounding like a good thing, had its drawbacks. First, it was a small table for four and we were seated with strangers who had already picked the better of the four seats. They were a mother/daughter pair and both dressed right out of a Clayton style book, with the younger one dressed in evening wear.They were hardly friendly but I didn't take it personally. The real problem was that we were just too close to the stage and not in any position to order dessert. But the Frank Sinatra tribute was awesome anyway. The band was quite good and the singer defintely be spoke a middle aged Sinatra. He chose a nice variety of tunes and finished with "Chicago, Chicago" only to come back for an encore of "New York, New York". He was able to give lots of historic tidbits with the songs and it made for a most enjoyable evening.
The third event of this trifecta included a night at the races, horse racing at Fairmont Park, Illinois. We arrived and opted for valet parking as we were running late for a chance to see an appearance of the Budweiser Clydesdales. We then paid the $10 Party at the Park admission price that included an all-you-can-eat buffet and $1 long neck beers. We found our way upstaris to the smokiest room I had seen in years, it was like a typical Bingo room, with everyone marking on their racing sheets. We went through the buffet line and sat in the only open spot, right up by the Honky Tonk band that was playig. They were very good, though they looked a little rough around the edges, the music was perfect for the moment. The buffet had fried chicken, catfish, french fries, various potato salads and slaw. It was very good, particularly the catfish.After eating our first round and drinking our first round, we went off in search of betting windows. As we figured out how to place our bets, we discovered there was a non-smoking section downstairs. So we took refuge in cleaner air and found a table with a small TV that kept you aprised of the minutes before the next race and showed each of the 10 races. We placed $2 bets on each race and at the end of the evening, one of us won about 10 bucks and the other two had minimal losses. We wanted to go outside and actually watch the horses firsthand but the weather had turned and the wind was just too much. Inside, things got a little wild as the evening went on and longnecks flowed but it was probably much calmer than the upstairs smoking section. All in all, it was a great, very inexpensive way to spend an evening.
Aug 3, 2006
Red Moon Restaurant Review
I chose Red Moon as my birthday destination because of the intriguing reviews that I had read as well as its location in the loft district.
The downtown loft district has not yet arived but it is well on its way and the addition of eateries such as Red Moon can only enhance
the locale. A must have in this area is valet parking and though they went no further than the parking lot across the street, it was still worthwhile.
Upon entering, the name Red Moon is laid out in a decor that is bright and of course red. Each table was beautifully set and the Asian feel
gives the diner a preview of what to expect on the menu. The wine list was nice but a sake flight seemed to be more appropriate and it was a great experience. A tray feautring 5 different sake varietieswas presented. The waiter was knowledgeable and gave an overview of each. The labeling on the tray was a nice touch as well, in the eventyou were not paying attention during the presentation.
The appetizer menu was irrresistable and our table chose a variety that included the ahi tuna tartare with pickled cucumber and Wasabi and an order of the aromatic braised baby back ribs which were spicy and aromatic. Had it not been the hottest day of the summer, the royal hot and sour soup with shrimp and scallions would have been quite tempting as well.
My entree choice was the sweet and sour mango duck breast after being discouraged in regards to the Peking duck. The meat was tender and of good quality. It came with sugar snap peas, carrots, and onions. The onions could have been just a bit more tender to make a better match to the duck but all in all, it was very good. Two of my dining partners had the Grilled Teriyaki Rib Eye withSweet Potato Orange-Ginger Aioli. Considering the taste of our group varied from those in love with Asian cuisine to more traditional meat and potatoes dining, that Red Moon was able to satisfy everyone is impressive. The food presentation is top notch
and that helped the entire group to appreciate the overall experience.
The conclusion was nice array of dessert offerings with a birthday dessert on the house. I chose the fruit mixture, raspberries, mango, papaya, and blueberries in a Grand Marnier sauce. It seemed to finish off an excellent meal with a guiltless ending.
Red Moon on Valentines Day 2007
A second visit was in order after a fabulous dinner there on my birthday. This time, we chose to order from the special menu which provided four courses. We started with a bottle of very nice wine for a decent price. That the wine was not overly expensive was good since the dinner price wasn’t cheap. For the first course, I had the risotto cakes covered with a miso honey vinaigrette that were quite nice. My partner had the electrified scallop which was topped with a lemongrass bell pepper sambal and Thai chili aioli. This was very nice with a good level of spice on a very decen scallop. For the next course, I had the Ozark forest mushroom soup and she had the blue crab ginger bisque. The mushroom soup was ok, nothing special considering I love mushrooms. But the base overpowered the delicate shrooms and it just didn’t work. Her soup was fabulous with a nice ginger kick. So far, she was two for two and I was glad that she was sharing. For the main course, we decided to evenly split the pan seared Atlantic salmon and the sweet, sour duck. I had eaten the duck at my last visit and this was even better, very tender and flavorful. The salmon was nice but again, nothing spectacular. The dessert menu gave us a choice of only one so we had to split that and we went with the healthier, lighter choice, an orange scented cheesecake which went quite well with a snifter of Grand Marnier.
All in all, it was a nice evening but when it started with the valet parking attendent running late, I knew that the attention to detail might just be lacking. For the price, well let's say I miss our old stand by French restaurant on Grand and we will keep trying next year until we find the Perfect place for Valentine's Day because this wasn't it.
The downtown loft district has not yet arived but it is well on its way and the addition of eateries such as Red Moon can only enhance
the locale. A must have in this area is valet parking and though they went no further than the parking lot across the street, it was still worthwhile.
Upon entering, the name Red Moon is laid out in a decor that is bright and of course red. Each table was beautifully set and the Asian feel
gives the diner a preview of what to expect on the menu. The wine list was nice but a sake flight seemed to be more appropriate and it was a great experience. A tray feautring 5 different sake varietieswas presented. The waiter was knowledgeable and gave an overview of each. The labeling on the tray was a nice touch as well, in the eventyou were not paying attention during the presentation.
The appetizer menu was irrresistable and our table chose a variety that included the ahi tuna tartare with pickled cucumber and Wasabi and an order of the aromatic braised baby back ribs which were spicy and aromatic. Had it not been the hottest day of the summer, the royal hot and sour soup with shrimp and scallions would have been quite tempting as well.
My entree choice was the sweet and sour mango duck breast after being discouraged in regards to the Peking duck. The meat was tender and of good quality. It came with sugar snap peas, carrots, and onions. The onions could have been just a bit more tender to make a better match to the duck but all in all, it was very good. Two of my dining partners had the Grilled Teriyaki Rib Eye withSweet Potato Orange-Ginger Aioli. Considering the taste of our group varied from those in love with Asian cuisine to more traditional meat and potatoes dining, that Red Moon was able to satisfy everyone is impressive. The food presentation is top notch
and that helped the entire group to appreciate the overall experience.
The conclusion was nice array of dessert offerings with a birthday dessert on the house. I chose the fruit mixture, raspberries, mango, papaya, and blueberries in a Grand Marnier sauce. It seemed to finish off an excellent meal with a guiltless ending.
Red Moon on Valentines Day 2007
A second visit was in order after a fabulous dinner there on my birthday. This time, we chose to order from the special menu which provided four courses. We started with a bottle of very nice wine for a decent price. That the wine was not overly expensive was good since the dinner price wasn’t cheap. For the first course, I had the risotto cakes covered with a miso honey vinaigrette that were quite nice. My partner had the electrified scallop which was topped with a lemongrass bell pepper sambal and Thai chili aioli. This was very nice with a good level of spice on a very decen scallop. For the next course, I had the Ozark forest mushroom soup and she had the blue crab ginger bisque. The mushroom soup was ok, nothing special considering I love mushrooms. But the base overpowered the delicate shrooms and it just didn’t work. Her soup was fabulous with a nice ginger kick. So far, she was two for two and I was glad that she was sharing. For the main course, we decided to evenly split the pan seared Atlantic salmon and the sweet, sour duck. I had eaten the duck at my last visit and this was even better, very tender and flavorful. The salmon was nice but again, nothing spectacular. The dessert menu gave us a choice of only one so we had to split that and we went with the healthier, lighter choice, an orange scented cheesecake which went quite well with a snifter of Grand Marnier.
All in all, it was a nice evening but when it started with the valet parking attendent running late, I knew that the attention to detail might just be lacking. For the price, well let's say I miss our old stand by French restaurant on Grand and we will keep trying next year until we find the Perfect place for Valentine's Day because this wasn't it.
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