Tomato Soup

The Liberty Elm Diner

The Liberty Elm is another one of those places (of many) that I have been wanting to get to ever since it has opened- and ever since I've seen pictures of its delicious food popping up on flickr all the time!

We managed to get there on a Sunday morning- and JUST beat the morning rush. We were seated promptly at a booth at the window, but had to wait a while to get served. If you're going anywhere for a Sunday brunch (especially any place small that fits a couple dozen or so people) you just have to be willing to make it leisurely. And we were, as long as we had some coffee sitting in front of us. Sunday's, while a crapshoot on the wait, are a great place at The Liberty Elm because they have a live bluegrass band that rocks all afternoon.

I was actually in the mood for lunch when we arrived, so I had a bowl of their vegetarian lentil soup that they serve with foccacia (they have two soups that change daily- a veggie and a meat):

And a beautiful slice of veggie pizza:

I really liked the consistency of the soup. Sometimes, lentil soups can be really thick and heavy (which is not what I'm usually looking for in the middle of the day) but this was brothy and light. I do think it needed a little more spice, but other than that, it hit the spot on the cold rainy day. The pizza was fantastic. The crust was hearty, but not too thick and doughy, the sauce was very flavorful and the taste of fresh tomatoes was apparent, and there was the perfect amount of cheese. It was a great compliment to my soup.

Andy felt like breakfast so he had a ham, cheese, and broccoli omelette and a side pancake:

Andy thought the omelette was just average. Everything- including the toast- came out pretty soggy, but, in Andy's words "I don't want to be unnecessarily negative, it just wasn't my style. I like my omelette to be a little bit crispier." But the pancake, we both agreed, was excellent. It was fluffy, not to heavy, and served nice and piping hot. Next time, I think I'm going to order a big stack of them!

Sawaddee

I've been to Sawaddee before. But, it was long enough ago that it was before this blog existed (about a year and a half!) so I decided that it was probably time to return, especially because I remembered that their pad thai was some of the best I'd had in Rhode Island.

The great thing about Sawaddee, besides the fact that the food is good, is that it is also BYOB. The bad thing about Sawaddee is the ambiance. Andy and I always feel like we are walking in on a family dinner in a cramped dining room whenever we enter the place- it's really that small. It's also a little tired and shabby looking, with bad lighting, so it is definitely not a place to go for atmosphere.

We started with the chicken Sa-Tae with peanut sauce:

The peanut sauce was amazing, but the chicken wasn't char-grilled enough to our liking. It was tender, for sure, but the outside was lacking the crispiness that usually makes this dish.

For our mains, Andy and I went with our favorites. He got the chicken Red Curry:

And I got the shrimp Pad Thai:

The Pad Thai was as good as I remembered, and still deserves my vote for best in Rhode Island. The noodles were flavored perfectly, without being too sticky, heavy, and gooey. The shrimp were huge and fresh, and the portion size was great (and only $7.95)!

However, the Red Curry didn't receive the same review. The flavor was there, yes- the chilies, the lemongrass, the coriander- but it was very, very oily (which you can tell from the picture). The oiliness really ruined the texture of the curry, making it too runny, and the flavor from the oil lingered a bit too long on your tongue after a bite. Andy said he wouldn't order it again.

I've said it before, but I really think Providence is lacking in the Thai area. There just aren't any real stand-outs that ever keep me coming back.

Locally Harvested Food and Drink

I really like that Local 121's sign includes the phrase "Locally Harvested Food and Drink". It makes me happy that the sustainable movement has really taken flight, especially in a small city like Providence that can really mobilize its population. Not too long ago I made my first visit to Local 121, but just for drinks. We were really charmed with the place, so were excited to go back with Andy's mom before the theater on a Saturday night. The dining room is gorgeous (it has a slightly more upscale feel than the bar area, but both feel grand).

Since I loved my hot toddy so much, I had to start with a cocktail again this time around. This time, I chose the Dark and Stormy because I was eager to try the ginger beer:

The ginger beer was fabulous, and the drink was strong- a great combination in my book! For appetizers, Andy and his mom split the Root Crisps with herbed creme fraiche, and I had the Salad of Local Greens with red wine vinaigrette:

This was the perfect starter. It was lightly dressed so the  freshness of the greens really shined. And it was a good thing it was light, because for my main I had the North East Family Farms Grilled Strip Steak:

The steak was covered in a smoked paprika butter, and served with a twice baked potato and wilted swiss chard. It was all good, but not memorable. I thought the greens were over-salted and there was nothing particularly special about the potato, except that a twice baked potato is almost always tasty as long as there is cheese and fluffy potatoes. The steak was done a little rarer than I asked, but Andy didn't mind so he finished the rest of it for me.

Andy has The Local 121 Burger with aged Vermont cheddar:

I had a small bite, and felt the same way Andy did- that it tasted different. That was the best way to describe the meat. I personally didn't care for it, and thought maybe it needed a little more spice, and Andy said there were many other burgers he prefers more.

Andy's mom had the Prima Pasta special of the day which was fettucini with broccolini in a light cream sauce:

She liked it, and thought it was the perfect portion and that it was perfectly sauced- with a hint of red pepper flakes. But while she finished the bowl, she didn't seem 'wowed'- much like Andy and I's reactions.

For dessert we had the Chocolate Tart with house made ginger ice cream:

The ginger ice cream was the best part, and the tart was certainly made with a wonderful quality bittersweet chocolate. But the crust was too dry and flavorless and it made the dessert feel a little less balanced.

There was nothing in the particular flavors, presentations, or offerings that blew me away. In fact, I felt everything was fairly standard and could be easily re-created in my home kitchen for a better price. But that can be true of many dining out experiences, and that isn't to take away from the beautiful decor and my admiration for Local 121's mission. However, I don't think I will be going back for dinner anytime soon. For drinks in the cozy bar, certainly, but there are other restaurants I'd really like to try, or try again, before returning to Local 121.

 

Gracie's, Part 2

Recently, I posted about my experience at Gracie's. This particular post took me an extremely long time to compose, and I paid careful detail to all aspects of the meal- from the service, to the timing, to the food.

Before dining at Gracie's, I had met the Executive chef, Joe Hafner, at the annual Food for Thought event. He knew that I was a food blogger, and we had a brief conversation which included my eagerness to try his restaurant. While at Gracie's, he popped over to our table to say 'hello', and it was a very nice gesture considering how busy the restaurant was with all of the multiple course meals.

He told me he is a regular visitor to my blog, and thus read my Gracie's post. He then reached out to me and gave me a call to discuss my experience. He was apologetic about the timing, and not at all brash or defensive. In fact, he was wonderfully honest and appreciative of my comments. I was very happy to have the chance to speak with him, and thought it showed great class that he took the time (out of what I know must be a very busy chef's schedule) to call. It was a tribute to both his dedication to his profession, as well as to Gracie's. Joe also told me that Gracie's prides itself on satisfying its customers, and they often reach out to diners whenever possible to speak about their experiences. While my first experience at Gracie's wasn't 'ideal' I wholeheartedly look forward to trying the restaurant again.

I thought this was an important addition to my post about dining at Gracie's, and hope that everyone can appreciate this gesture as much I did.

Gracie's

Finally, the Gracie's post! After almost two weeks, and two phone calls to the restaurant, I finally received the course details from the meal Andy and I had there with my parents.

I wish I had received the details while everything was fresh in my mind, but I think I still have a good grasp of my opinion of the meal.

I was really looking forward to dining at Gracie's. It was the last meal of my parents' trip, and we were all ready to enjoy it. After looking at the menu (and after a little convincing on my part) we decided to do the 7-course meal with wine pairings. All of the multiple-course meals (5, 7, or 9 courses) are tailor-made for each table. You tell the waiter what things your table doesn't like (in our case- our mixed dislikes consisted of sweetbreads, veal, and goat cheese) and he relays this information to the Executive Chef, Joe Hafner, who then decides upon the meal. After the courses are decided, the waiter (not a sommelier) picks out the wine pairings.

Now, while this all sounds fantastic- it requires quite a bit of time. We arrived at 8 pm for our reservation, were seated around 8:10, and received nothing to eat besides a wedge of bread and a half-glass of champagne until 9, and the amuse-bouche arrived first:

This was a teaspoon full of beet salad- which, while delicious, did nothing to cure the hunger (which was mounting) or the slight champagne buzz we were all experiencing.

Another twenty or so minutes passed, and we received our first pour of wine, a Joseph Drouhin Saint-Véran, Bourgogne ’06 and the first course, an Avocado & Blue Crab Salad with shaved avocado, Meyer lemon, pickled onion & tarragon lemon vinaigrette:

This picture is a testament to our starvation. I had forgotten even to take a picture before I had to put a bite of this in my mouth. Luckily, the bite was delicious- and I'll say beforehand, that this was my favorite dish of all of the courses. The crab was fresh and briny, and the Meyer lemon wedge on top was a nice sweet and sour sensation in the mouth. I could have eaten a lot more of this.

After another twenty minutes, we received our second pour of wine, Louis Latour Valmoissine Pinot Noir, Burgundy ‘05, but no food yet. My dad commented to the waiter,  who said that four other tables had ordered the 7-course meal at the same time as us, so things were a little crazy. Now, here is where I started to become critical. The first thing that our waiter said to us when we ordered the 7-course meal, was, this is the best way to do Gracie's, and I tell that to everyone. So, I believed we all assumed that most people take his advice, and order either the 5, 7, or 9, with our without wine pairings. Therefore, when our waiter explained the reason why everything was taking so incredibly long, it seemed a very poor excuse for a restaurant that advertises these course menus and claims that it is the best way to enjoy the restaurant- the staff and the chef should be prepared. And, five tables is less than half of the restaurant's capacity, so it made even less sense to me. We were all pretty displeased by this point.

Ten minutes after the second wine pour, we received the second course of House-made Gnocchi with
braised oxtail, black trumpet mushrooms, celery root puree, fontina:

The gnocchi was different- hand rolled and extremely fluffy. I also loved the tender oxtail and creamy fontina. It was a lovely savory dish perfect for the winter weather.

In between the second and third courses, they came around with more bread- and Andy and I had to dive into another large slice because our hunger mixed with the ever-present glasses of wine were not a great combination. At the risk of sounding dramatic, I think we were all fading a little. For the third course (which arrived a little after 10 by this time) we had Pan Seared Hudson Valley Foie Gras with brioche tart au pommes “tarte tatin”, quince jam, hazelnut crispies, paired with a Chateau de Malle Sauternes:

Even though I was feeling a little skeptical about Gracie's by this point, I can't deny that this foie gras was phenomenal. Luckily for both my dad and I, Andy and my mom don't like foie gras, so we had a double portion (and left our poor meal-mates in hungry agony). The foie gras was done to perfection- salty and beautifully seared. The apple tarte tatin was the perfect compliment to the saltiness of the liver and I thought it was the most innovative of all the dishes.

For the fourth course, we had Crisp Striped Bass with French lentils, smoky bacon lardons, quail egg paired with a David Bruce Petit Syrah, Central Coast, CA ’05:

My dad, the wine guru of the bunch, really did not like this pairing. And, two weeks later, this dish isn't too memorable. The fish was nicely done and flaky, but the components of the dish fell flat.

For the fifth course, we first received duck breast:

Which none of us enjoyed. I am generally a true fan of duck, but we had to comment to our waiter that we couldn't take more than a bite. He quickly took it away, and promised another dish in its place, but asked for more details on what we thought were the faults of the dish. In an effort to be honest and really explain what my first reaction was after a bite- I told the waiter that, usually, the attraction of duck is its deep, fatty, almost smoky flavor and this dish tasted like bland, undercooked chicken.

Luckily, the dish that came in its place was a dish we had all been eying from the regular menu, Buffalo Tenderloin with gorgonzola polenta, braised escarole & poblano pepper, charred tomato jus paired with a
Mitolo “The Jester” Shiraz, McLaren Vale, Australia ’05:

Buffalo is the "in" meat now, and that is fine with me. It is tender and flavorful and I loved the creamy polenta.  I appreciated the course-switch, but I think we were all a little unhappy that it meant an extra wait.

By the time the sixth course arrived, it was around 11:15. We were all a little tired, a little tipsy, and too hungry. The problem was not only the poor timing of the whole meal, but also the portion size. Of course, you expect smaller portions in a 7-course meal because you don't want to be stuffed by the end of it, but these were too small- just a little more than a bite. So, after over two hours of eating, to still be very hungry after five courses, did not seem right. Maybe if the pacing had been quicker, we would have felt full- but we certainly had a lot of time to digest in between courses.

The sixth course was the cheese course, a paltry slice of Monteray extra mature cheddar with onion marmalade, paired with a  Ferreira ’85 vintage port:

The cheese was tasty, but it was a little overpowered by the large quantity of onion marmalade. My favorite thing about this course was actually the port, which I really enjoyed and thought was the most memorable of the wine pairings.

Then, a little before 12, the desserts arrived served with a La Spinetta Moscato di Asti. They brought out two different desserts (we each got our own), a Banana & Chocolate Terrine: banana cake, chocolate ganache, brittle crunch, banana gelee, espresso chocolate mousse:

And a, I think, type of apple cake (which was miswritten in the email as a chocolate tartlet):

I loved the Banana and Chocolate Terrine, but I had a serious problem with this course, which is hard to tell from the pictures...the desserts were huge! They were way more than enough for one person- and none of us could understand why the rest of the courses were so small and then, at midnight, we were served a large piece of cake. The savory courses were what I wanted more of- more gnocchi, more crab, a bigger piece of buffalo tenderloin. By midnight, I wasn't as interested in eating too much of a sweet thing, even if I did still feel a little hungry.

For the amount of money this meal cost (about a $100 per person with wine pairings), the pacing should have been better, the waiter more knowledgeable about wine pairings, and the servings slightly larger. I really hate to feel disappointed about a meal that I had such high hopes for -but we all left feeling that way. I think the way to go may be to order a la carte off the menu, because the 7-course menu seemed too much of a gamble- both in terms of timing, and wine pairings.

La Laiterie

This is a really hard post to write, because revisiting all the deliciousness makes my stomach growl and my heart yearn for the meal all over again. I have been waiting to go to La Laiterie for a long, long time. It is right in my neighborhood, but various reasons have kept Andy and I from going- fear of long wait times, fear of spending too much money...

But, my parents were in town (abolishing the fear of money), and we decided to go early on a Thursday (hopefully eradicating the fear of waiting). We had absolutely no wait, and we arrived at about 6:30. After salivating over the beautiful menu, we decided we could not resist the charcuterie plate and a sampling of cheeses.

Here is the charcuterie:

The offerings change daily, but from left to right we had: chorizo, pork rillette, house-made pork and chestnut sausage, and duck pate. The accompaniments were an apple mustard, cinnamon butter, and a selection of various pickled jalapenos, sweet pickles, and red onion. This was really phenomenal. The crowd pleaser was the pate, but the pork rillette also had a wonderful salty flavor and great, tender texture which went well with the sweet butter.

For our cheese plate, we let the cheesemongers do their job and pick out three of their favorites:

This is an awful picture, but the cheese included a Montgomery cheddar and a Bonne Bouche goats milk. Alongside the cheese were house-made nuts and dressed microgreens. The goats milk (to the right) was the winner for this plate- it's creamy texture and pungent taste and flavor made it also the most unique.

Because my mom and I could not fathom just trying one thing each off of the menu, we decided to split both the baked cheesemonger's mac n' cheese:

and the 1/2 pound Vermont burger:

These were the best two options. I think they may be the shining stars on the La Laiterie menu. The mac n cheese was crispy and bubbly on top, and the noodles were swimming in a smooth and creamy sauce. This looked like a huge portion, but once we all started taking bites of it it seemed to vanish quite quickly. We got the burger with gorgonzola cheese (the other options are cheddar or raclette), which was a great compliment to the sweet pickles atop the burger and the cheese provided an extra lick of saltiness that I loved. Then, there were the polenta fries- huge, piping hot alternatives to the potato fry. I love that La Laiterie chose to do something different with their burger and that they added a garlic aioli as an alternative to ketchup.

My dad also had the burger, but Andy went with the grilled statler chicken breast:

The chicken came atop sweet potato gnocchi, roasted root vegetables, and mustard jus. He thought all of the flavors came together really well, and that it was necessary to take a little piece of everything in each bite to get the full effect. I didn't try any of it because I was too engrossed in my mac n' cheese, but now looking at the presentation of it, I certainly wish I had.

I was pre-warned that I must order dessert if I go to La Laiterie because Kate, one of the owners, is a pastry master. So, I pre-warned my fellow dinner mates as well and we ordered both the gingerbread bread pudding with eggnog ice cream:

And the espresso cream cheese brownie sundae:

I thought the bread pudding was the most memorable of the two because it's texture was perfect and the eggnog ice cream was a taste of heaven. The bread pudding didn't have too powerful of a gingerbread flavor- just a nice hint to remind me of winter and festive eating. I also thought the presentation was a tribute to La Laiterie- simple, but certainly eye-pleasing.

I could go on and on about the experience at La Laitiere. The service was wonderful. We had a great waiter who wasn't overly attentive- but was enthusiastic about the restaurant. All of the employees were eager to please and come together to provide a sumptuous dining experience. The dining room is cozy and not too loud, and both the food menu and drink menu were impressive and wonderfully simpatico.

Needless to say, I will be going back. As soon as I can!

DownCity Diner

I am coming down from an almost weeks worth of serious eating in Providence. Tonight, Andy and I had leftovers, but previous to this, we were eating like royalty. It is going to be quite the journey recounting it here! I'm currently sipping a glass of wine to aide in my reflection, because I'd like to do these last several days as much justice as possible.

My parents came to visit from Georgia, with my mom arriving first and taking Andy and I out to eat at my first dining choice of the visit- DownCity. I unfortunately never experienced the old DownCity, but have heard enough about its legend to have been thrilled when they decided to reopen. I was working downtown when they were redoing the Weybosset space, but since leaving my downtown job I forgot about DownCity until I was presented with the arrival of my parents in Providence and the duty to take them out to some great places.

Last time they visited, we went to Pane e Vino's and Julian's. Both earned raves from my parents, and I wanted to make sure to pick some winners the second time around.

At DownCity, we started by sharing the California Caesar Salad:

This is the ultimate caesar. DownCity mixes up the classic with the addition of tempura artichoke hearts, goat cheese, and pepitas. Those three additional ingredients made all the difference for me, and took this salad to new levels of taste. The dressing was rich, and there was just enough to flavor the salad and compliment the artichokes and the creamy goat cheese. I will be going back to DownCity just for this.

I had the Buttered Shrimp Risotto for my entree:

The risotto was exactly as risotto should be- creamy, soft, salty. But the way it came together was not entirely impressive. It lacked any sort of punch to differentiate it from any other risotto dish. It was very basic, with the flavors of stock and parmesan cheese being the basics. I would have liked to see a more interesting twist to bring the prawns into the dish and excited my palate. After the innovative caesar, I was looking for those innovations in my entree.

Andy had the Chargrilled New York Sirloin:

He thought it was extremely rich, with its roasted garlic and thyme butter, and the sweet potato fries were large chunks of the potato- instead of just layers of batter. He also appreciated the grilled vegetable medley as a compliment to the steak. All of the sides came together well with the meat, and the dish made him want to go back to DownCity for dinner again.

My mom ordered the Chargrilled Tuna Steak Nicoise:

My mom asked if the chef would be insulted if she ordered her tuna medium-rare instead of rare, and when the waitress said 'no' my mom was relieved. However, when the dish arrived, it was very, very rare. We were engrossed in conversation and enjoying company as we were munching on our dinner, so my mom just picked around the seared edges of the tuna and didn't say anything to the waitress. But when the waitress came pack to clear our plates, she noticed that my mom barely touched the tuna and realized it was probably because it wasn't done to her liking. My mom admitted that was the case, but didn't make a big deal out of it- but the waitress took it upon herself to take the dish off the bill anyway. She was a fantastic waitress, and I thought that was a huge credit to her, and the restaurant.

We had to end the meal with something sweet, so we ordered the banana split- which the waitress accurately describe as "as big as the state of Texas":

From left to right, this banana split had: vanilla ice cream with caramel syrup, coffee ice cream with chocolate sauce, and strawberry ice cream with strawberry sauce. For it being so large and decadent looking, it was actually a wonderfully light dessert. The ice cream was fluffy, and the sauces were a perfect balance of flavor and sugar.

The highlight of the night was certainly the caesar salad and the overall funky atmosphere and lively vibe of the restaurant itself. It is definitely a place to go for some great cocktails (the cocktail menu has a refreshing emphasis on the classics like gimlets and pink lady's)- and draws a large after work crowd.

That was the beginning of the eating extravaganza- up next: La Laiterie, Gracie's, and my own home-cooked meal!

The Blue Cottage

There is a small, unassuming place that I frequent on weekend mornings when I'm too lazy to think of anywhere else to go- and every time I go, I don't even think to blog about the experience. But, I do think it is worthy of a review, because it is a simple, no-frills place that always cures my craving for waffles and sausage. So last weekend I finally remembered to bring my camera.

This little place is The Blue Cottage, and here is my Belgian waffle covered with real maple syrup:

I am always satisfied with this waffle. It is always fluffy, always perfectly crispy on the outside, always served with a nice sprinkling of powdered sugar, and always only $4.45.

Andy always gets an omelette (most specifically, a broccoli, ham, and cheese one). I also like the omelette, but I do have a few gripes about the plate. First, the cheese tastes like (and may very well be) processed American cheese, and the homefries aren't particularly flavorful. They need a lot of salt, pepper, and ketchup to be worth eating. But for only $4.95, it is a breakfast that won't make your wallet cringe, even after the night out on the town you may be recovering from.

The service is also nice and friendly, and we always get a kick out of the menu featuring a little cartoon chef with the name "Andy" on his hat, in reference to the owner and cook!

Food for Thought

Last Thursday was the 11th Annual Food for Thought at the Roger William's Park Botanical Gardens. I had been looking forward to the event since I'd first heard about it this summer, and was also excited to check out the remodeled Botanical Gardens.

The indoor gardens were spectacular and were a fantastic backdrop for an elegant food and drink event. When we walked in, we were greeted by a table of The Genesis Center's cookbooks:

And then we dived right into the food! Some of the highlights included Julian's spiced pumpkin gnocchi:

CAV's lobster bisque soup with creme fraiche:

El Rancho Grande's mole:

And Gracie's parfaits sprinkled with pop rocks!:

I even ran into the winner of my Food for Thought contest!  Andy and I felt like we needed to be rolled out  of there because we obviously had to try everything (and seconds of some things). So, obviously, the event was a great success!

Rasoi

Rasoi apparently opened a year ago already- but for some reason I felt like it was only a couple of months ago. Maybe it's because recently they did a marketing push for the restaurant and put coupons in the mailboxes of East Side residents. A week ago I saw the coupons peeking out from under some takeout menus in a basket I keep in the kitchen, put them in my purse, and Andy and I made a date to go last Thursday to Blackstone Place in Pawtucket and try it out.

The restaurant is different than the other Indian restaurants in the area (India, Not Just Snacks, and Kabob and Curry) in terms of decor. The proprietor of the restaurant, Chef Sanjiv Dhar, is also the owner of Kabob and Curry- a homey, local, college hang-out type of Indian restaurant. By contrast, Rasoi feels more upscale. The decor is sleek and modern, with tables divided by intricately carved red wood panels, and a bar situated in the middle of the restaurant.

We started with the potato and pea naan:

I think I prefer just plain naan, because the stuffed naan can be a little heavy when I'm ready to indulge in my full entree. But this was delicious- there was only a thin layer of potato and pea mixture in the middle and so the texture and taste of the fluffy bread were still the forefront taste.

I had the Frontier Garlic Shrimp marinated in a mix of yogurt, spices, and red chili with basmati rice and cauliflower:

The cauliflower was exceptional. I had heard, from other reviews, that the cauliflower was a must-try. And it is! It is an addictive combination of a fairly bland vegetable with a great texture, a spicy marinade, and a perfectly golden fried breading. I was sad it was only a side because I probably could have eaten an entire plate of it with rice. Luckily, the shrimp was also delicious. I wish it had been served with more of the yogurt marinade because, by preference, the dish was too dry. The flavors of the marinade (there were pieces of the red chili, carom seeds, and turmeric) were phenomenal and I think every bite needed a little bit of the spice.

Andy had the Chicken Tikka Lababdar with brown rice and lentils:

Andy was most thrilled that Rasoi had brown rice, but the chicken most definitely lived up to the glory of the availability of brown rice in a restaurant. The tomato sauce was rich and filled with the flavors of whole-milk yogurt, cumin, ginger, and garam masala. The lentils were also good, but paled in comparison to the wonders of the cauliflower.

We also had wonderful service, and left feeling great about Rasoi. In terms of decor, service, and authenticity- Rasoi is the best Indian I have had in Providence. They also have a vast menu (including Thali) which promises I'll be returning many, many times!