A Preview of Spring Inspiration at Mill's Tavern, 101 N. Main Street, Providence, Rhode Island

A beautiful space on a quaint neighborhood block on College Hill in Providence, RI, Mill's Tavern is an upscale cozy steakhouse that would easily be my local watering hole if I were a local resident.

High ceilings accented with brick, finished, dark hardwood and dancing sunlight, Mill's Tavern feels romantic and cozy with a quiet, comfortable grace paired with warm, friendly management and serving staff.  Our server, James, easily became one of my favorite New England restaurant personalities in just the couple of hours spent during dinner.

It was an early Sunday evening and the sun was making cameos for most of the day.  We decided to be seated near the front windows.  The blinds were immediately adjusted for our comfort.  James thoroughly reviewed the menu with us.  My friend has been a patron on a few occasions, but we were both excited to learn about their new Spring menu!

The menu design is a la carte with offerings "From the Pantry", "From the Wood Burning Oven", "From the Wood Rotisserie", "From the Stove", and "From the Wood Grill".  Described by some outlets as a steakhouse, Chef Edward Bolus' vision and talent goes well beyond the beautiful steaks offered on the menu which range from a 10 oz. Filet Mignon to a 16 oz. Porterhouse.  The vast majority of his contemporary dishes embodies French influence.   

Chef Edward serves some of my favorite proteins as components of numerous options, including braised rabbit, rack of lamb, duck, and ostrich!  Check out the Spring 2013 menu here.

We began with a few Jamestown oysters served with beautiful pickled grapes and shallots and a creative mignonette in addition to the traditional accoutrements.

"From the Pantry"

The creamy veal sweetbreads were lightly battered and fried.  Thymus sweetbreads are a favorite of mine.  I am used to them prepared seasoned and pan-fried sans batter, but I did enjoy the layered texture of Chef Edward's.  The generous portions were set upon roasted sunchoke rounds and served with sweet, buttery, nutty vanilla sweetpea puree, and a cool red quinoa and whole spring pea salad draped with a single farm egg.

We ordered a couple of classic cocktails:

 
I enjoyed a couple of "Providence Manhattans" throughout the meal made with Bulleit rye (my top 3 favorites), Carpano Antica sweet vermouth, and blood orange bitters - a classic elevated with the blood orange notes - it was smooth and balanced overall with a sweet and herbaceous midpalate, and spicy, slightly acerbic finish.

Their Moscow mule was lovely, made with Russian Standard vodka, Gossling ginger beer, and lime (the norm).

A few of Mill's interesting, ginger, berry, and aromatic cocktails:

Millsberry Russian Standard Vodka Infused with Mixed
Berries, Shaken Straight Up or On the Rocks

 

The Royce Soul Cachaca Infused with Pears, Cinnamon, Star
Anise & Clove Shaken with Freshly Shaved Ginger,
Pear Nectar and Vanilla Syrup

Luxurious Lingonberry Grey Goose Vodka, Lingonberry, Domaine De
Canton, St. Germaine, Fresh Squeezed Lime Juice

My friend enjoyed the Caesar salad, to which she requested blackened scallops be added.  Now, I am a true believer in great salads.  

Some people may find them to be too simple, but this means you have not sampled a truly tremendous dressing or interesting toppings or additions.  I have actual cravings for salads that have seriously blown my mind!  

The Caesar dressing at Mill's was just the beginning of what makes it one of the simple yet magnificent salads in the running.  
The dressing: authentic, briny, creamy.   
The toppings: a crisp baked Parmesan chip and two white anchiovy beignets!  
Yep!  White Anchiovy Beignets!!  I was luck to enjoy them as my friend's fried food proxy and James actually took me seriously when I asked for a whole doggie bag full of the beignets alone!  Now I'm thinking I should have went along with it (wink).  They were seriously amazing!

Parmesan chip and white anchiovy beignet!

"From the Wood Burning Oven"
I moved on to the immaculate short rib...the fall away tender, braised overnight with local Yacht Club ginger beer black angus short rib!  Served over a white bean cassoulet, which I expected would be a bit more smoky due to the menu description of "house made bacon lardons" and topped with crispy leeks, the short rib won me over!

We had no room for dessert (and left with doggie bags), but the pear or the blood orange sorbet surely was sure to be a fantastic simple ending or perhaps the Portuguese bread pudding made with Madeira caramel, currants, and chantilly cream or the Pine Nut Pain de Genes with strawberry curd, whipped goat cheese, and 18 year balsamic with strawberry ice cream (who doesn't love a bit of sweet and savory?)

We were, however, treated to Moscato to whet our sweet tooth.

With my mother coming to visit this week, I'm thinking a "Rhode" trip is definitely in order.  Hope to see James and the gang at Mill's Tavern very soon!

The MET Back Bay, 279 Dartmouth St., Boston, MA (@Newbury Street)

The Met Back Bay is located in the historic townhouse building which previously housed Joe's American Bar & Grill, the not-so-average restaurant which hosted numerous historic figures and folklore. NOTE: Joe's has only moved up the street to Exeter and Newbury at the old Friday's site...awesome in the warmer months for open air dining.
A few changes were obvious....most notably, to the bar area on the main level.  The bar is now more intimate and closed in versus the previous open area design.  Otherwise, not much has changed, except perhaps one sequins-encumbered hostess...which I found a bit tacky.

The Met restaurants are well-known for their contemporary cuisine and variety of dining experiences from the low-key/sports bar feel of their Dedham (Legacy Place) locale, the swanky bar/restaurant feel and daily special ( http://www.travelingfoodie2006.blogspot.com/2011/12/best-weekly-restaurant-events-under.html ) at the Chestnut Hill location, to the posh Back Bay locale. 

I spent Valentine's evening with none other than an ex-boyfriend/friend so we unfortunately avoided the prixe-fix lover's menu (chuckle), but I thought the menu was well thought out.  It featured entrees for two and lover-themed desserts such as red velvet ice cream with a red hots caramel drizzle...very romantic idea.

My amazing meal consisted of the lobster bisque, a beautifully prepared medium-rare filet mignon + a side of Boston Béarnaise, creamy mashed potatoes, and curried cauliflower 'salad' and a couple of glasses of champagne and St. Germain.

The lobster bisque did not impress.  I found it thin, heavy on the cream, lacking enough sherry for my taste, with a hint of truffle (which you may have learned is my kryptonite).  Strangely enough, it was garnished with a seared scallop encased in a puff pastry ring.

Moving along...you should interpret the "Met Salads", both cold and hot, as side dishes.  The actual large, dinner salads are under "Large Standards".  The curried cauliflower blew me away!!! The cauliflower was cooked in a mildly aromatic, contemporary, island curry...primarily featuring delicate spices such as nutmeg, and ginger (maybe anise or fennel?) really rocked my world...so much so that I had to take some home for lunch the following day!!!  Chef Winer always appeals to my cauliflower obsession!

My friend started with the French onion soup which both of us found to be overwhelming in the onion department...so much so that I asked out server to inquire about the recipe in the back of the house.  We were informed that for every  30 gallons of base, 100 medium-sized onions are added!
I was disappointed with the fact that the dish was not baked, as is traditional, but that it was torched, as would be a crème brûlée.
For his entree he ordered the Back Bay Burger topped with a thin piece of fried cheese (marvelous) and melted Vermont extra sharp cheese, port wine infused onion, and smoked bacon on a sesame bun.  The burger was served with fantastic hand cut steak fries.

Overall, it was the atmosphere I expected and there are tons of items on the menu which I plan to try very soon!

St. James Room @ Fairmont Copely Place Hotel

I was disappointed when a few weeks ago I stopped by the Oak Room for the much desired (at least by me) Oysters Rockefeller only to find them closed.  Last weekend when I took an out-of-town friend there and they were still closed, I asked the doormen what was going on.  Unfortunately The Oak Room will reopen in the summer...

So I was forced to walk around to the St. James room.  I was not totally disappointed.
The floor manager/hostess was pleasant and even checked with the chef to see if he was able to make the oyster for me that evening.
NOTE: If you are going alone and not in a social mood, I would recommend checking out another place in the area.  The bar does not have stools for individuals to sit.  Instead it is surrounded by a 'lounging scene' with table and chairs set for 2 or more guests.

The bartender and general manager were friendly and accommodating.  Our drink orders remained simple: Black Label and a Champagne with St. Germain.

We started with a hearty crab cake served over a roasted red pepper coulis.  The cake was large, meaty, and seasoned well, but the binding could use some work.  It fell apart almost immediately.  I was NOT a fan of the lobster roll.  I can usually deal with cold lobster rolls if there is a rich mix/dressing/sauce on the meat and the bread roll stands out.  In this case, the lobster was fresh and tasty, but the dish overall left much to be desired.  The salmon entree was lovely.  The salmon was perfectly cooked and seasoned and served with a grilled garlic clove and a gravy boat of the roasted pepper coulis that came with the crab cake.  The coulis was unnecessary as the salmon was seasoned to perfection.

The atmosphere in the lounge area and the more formal small dining area is pretty low key...dark and intimate.  Though on this particular evening, the Patriots were beating Denver to a pulp and the crowd (spilling over from a wedding reception) was loud and rambunctious at times...I chocked it up to being the Boston way!

The Oak Room 138 St James Ave at the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel

The Oak Room is lovely with elegant decor and atmosphere.  It presents the perfect balance of ostentation and comfort/invitation.  It feels like you are a special guest=of=honor welcomed into a intimate, early 20th Century dining room with  floor to ceiling carved hardwood paneling and classic stately draping. The maitre d' was warm and welcoming and our server efficient, though the pacing could use some improvement (our appetizers took a bit longer than I'd deem necessary to prepare).

The escargot was superb and the oysters rockefeller were absolutely  amazing with their piping buttery, foamy sauce.

My filet a beautifully tender cut prepared  rare as desired.  The merlot demi glace accompanying it was nice The salmon which my friend ordered was seasoned well and the potatoes au gratin were the best I've ever eaten...rich and creamy with a nice breaded crusting!

The cocktail prices are a bit inflated (2 wines+2 martinis + bottled flat water = $95.00), but the presentation of my Ketel one martini was creative and functional having a cute mini-carafe of vodka inside a pitcher of ice versus bringing a metal shaker for my self-refills.

World Famous, 711 Pacific Beach Dr (between Ocean Blvd & Ocean Front Walk) San Diego, CA 92109

The chicken guadalajara was great! Cilantro and panko crusted moist, tender chicken stuffed with flavorful chorizo and creamy spinach, atop perfectly cooked white rice with grilled summer squash and zucchini. Loved it!  The lobster bisque was way too salty, but otherwise had a good flavor and richness. All of this washed down with Thomas Kemper ginger ale makes for a meal worth returning for. One dining companion had a beautifully crusted jumbo shrimp dish breaded in panko and toasted sesame seeds over a bright hoisin sauce. The other a fish and chips of which I did not partake.

The service was good and the atmosphere generally comfortable.

Tip:  Get here early for Sunday brunch!  This place was packed!  The 'outdoor seating' was closed in completely by glass, but the view of the ocean and the people watching is great!  We were thoroughly entertained by a man on a unicyle riding the sea wall...

World Famous Website:
www.worldfamous.signonsandiego.com/

Lou & Mickey's, 224 5th Ave San Diego, CA 92101

The view upon walking in the front door was great!...a lovely raw bar greets you!

It was late afternoon, so I kept my order pretty light.  I started will a half pound order of chilled mussels.  They were very fresh (even after the black out experienced the night before).

For my entree, I ordered the ahi tuna salad.  The chef really over-killed on the cracked peppercorn coating, but the fish was fresh and tasty.  The white anchovies were a nice touch as was the potato and green beans.

My companions had the chicken piccata and the fried chicken sandwich.  The piccata was cooked nicely and the lemon-caper sauce was light and flavorful.

The decor was lovely..beautiful hard wood was EVERYWHERE as a real steakhouse should be!  I wish were were there for dinner so I could try one of their steaks with a nice scotch (assuming they had a presentable list).  One gentleman at the next table seemed to really enjoy his steak and I was a bit jealous as I was totally distracted by the crazy awesome aroma!  :0)

The Met (Metropolitan) Bar, 1210 Boylston Street Chestnut Hill, MA 02467

So, I finally made it to The Met Bar last week for one of their weekly 'themed' meals.
The beautiful property offers the following deals throughout the week:
Sunday:  Chick Dinner Sundays ($15.95)
Monday: Burger Mondays ($4.99 per slider)
Tuesday: Taco Tuesdays ($6.00)
Wednesday: Twin Lobster Wednesdays ($24.99)
Thursday: Steak Frites Thursday ($17.95)

Chef Winer is superbly creative.  One menu item which left me speechless was the CAULIFLOWER STEAK!  Yes! You read that correctly!  This creation truly blew my mind and I am so glad my curiosity got the best of me when perusing the menu on Burger Monday last week. I packed a bit to take home...anticipating reliving the moment over lunch, but ALAS... my impetuosity got the best of me and I made a B-line for the doggie bag just minutes after getting home!  The cauliflower steak was beautiful...a pan-seared/charred complete slice of cauliflower from an intact head cooked in garlic/truffle oil in EVOO?? (which usually isn't my thing...but I love when a chef forces me out of my comfort zone).
It was Burger Monday so I tried the Mexican burger (slider) which was topped with cheese, fantastic guacamole, on a soft bun.  I order it medium well and it was perfect!


Anyone who has dined with me OR knows me well, knows I can be hard on Mac n' Cheese...The Met Bar exceeded my expectations with their hearty macaroni (large noodles).  It was not lacking in the cheese department as most restaurants are...not watery in the bit.  This was one solid, perfectly flavored and CHEESY mac n' cheese.  This makes my top list for Mac n' Cheese on Yelp.com (www.devotedfoodie.yelp.com )
The duck spring rolls were average. I found the duck a bit dry but the flaky spring roll wrap was perfectly flaky!  Because it was so late in the evening, I'd give this dish another try in the future.

The bartender was also on point with a perfect Manhattan (made with my favorite bourbon...Knob Creek).  I love any bar that serves bourbon cocktails (or those which call for a cherry) with authentic maraschino cherries (not the bright red average store-purchased kind)...this gave me a beautiful flashback to Marliave (the first to break the real maraschino cherry obsession for me in Boston).

The Met Bar is a perfect spot for weekly obsessions and dabbling into the creative mind of Chef Winer.