Crepes a la Carte

Crepes a la Carte
Breckenridge, Colorado

If you’re lucky enough to be walking through the streets of Minturn, Vail, or Breckenrige, Colorado you’re lucky enough.  That’s for sure.  

So how lucky are you considered if you just so happen to be eating a crepe at the same time?  I’d say effing lucky.  Really effing lucky.  

Crepes a la Carte was started by a mother and son team in the late 90’s and is a staple at the Minturn Market on Saturdays and Vail Farmers Market on Sundays during the summer.  They have 3 full time eateries in Breckenridge, Boulder, and New Orleans.  

Rounding the corner at these markets, you’ll normally stumble upon organized chaos—the line of people waiting for a crepe.  I may or may not have stood in this line upwards of half hour for a crepe once…just saying.   Yes, they’re that good.

The batter is thin—not fragile, but not pancake-y.  The ingredients are fresh.  The people are fun.  You really can’t beat this combo.  And they have crepes to suit all tastebuds:  breakfast, savory, and sweet.  

My favorites include the BEST (bacon, egg, spinach, tomato), Parisian (brie, mustard, and ham), and Nutella & Bananas.  My tastes are always changing, but a crepe is a staple at the Minturn Market!  They’re not greasy, they can be healthy…if you choose, and make your tastebuds sing!

Juniper Restaurant

Juniper Restaurant
Edwards, Colorado

Everyone in the Vail Valley, from locals to long time tourists, have their favorite fine dining restaurant in the valley.  Out of all these gems, Juniper is the diamond in the rough.  It’s off the beaten path—in Edwards, not the Beaver Creek or Vail Villages.  But it’s worth the trek, using only fresh, local, seasonal ingredients and a fantastic ambiance.  Plus, it’s kid friendly!  One of the owners has a 3 year old son, and his action figures can sometimes be seen by the kitchen.

Juniper does have a seasonal menu, but every season has delicious items to choose from.  In the summer, try the mixed berry and arugula salad or Oregon Dungeness crab cakes to start.  In the winter, few things hit the spot more than the butternut squash soup.  My favorite dish, one I’d consider being paid in, is the Veal Scallopini.  It’s absolutely incredible—the veal is seasoned and cooked perfectly (not rubbery), and the asparagus and tomatoes compliment the dish perfectly.  Can’t forget the little nuggets of mozzarella!  I’m very hesitant to get chicken at a restaurant—it’s something I can do at home.  But not at Juniper—their Herb Crusted Chicken is far better than anything I could ever dream of making!  And there’s something for everyone—chicken, steak, veal, fish, seafood, lamb and (seasonally) duck.  Can’t beat that!  

They’re also very accomodating—food allergies and dietary restrictions can be worked around, and they love their vegetarians!  If there isn’t a purely vegetarian dish on the menu during the season, they’ll whip something up by combining different elements from other dishes.

And then there’s the desserts.  I definitely would go with the dessert sampler or Charles’s Hot Sticky Toffee Pudding Cake.  Charles is the pastry chef.  He has a dessert named after him.  Yes, it’s that good.  

And make sure you don’t skip the drinks.  Their watermelon mojito is phenomenal, a perfect compliment to summer fare.  Their dessert drinks are the best way to wash down dessert.  The wine list is fantastic, and they always have wonderful beers both on draught or in the bottle.  

If you’re visiting Vail or Beaver Creek, venture away from the resorts and dine at the restaurant that not only rivals some of the best eateries in New York or Los Angeles, but is a locals favorite as well!

Haps on the Harbourfront

Hap’s on the Harbourfront
Kenora, Ontario, Canada

Hap’s looks like it should be another hole in the wall joint, with awesome Canadian pub grub, and a deck overlooking the Lake of the Woods.  But Hap’s is surprisingly big inside and very family friendly—it’s the perfect place to boat to and enjoy lunch or dinner.  You can drive there by car or take a boat—they’re located right by the docks in the main section of Kenora.

The food is incredible.  And incredibly comforting.  I went there for the first time four years ago, and couldn’t wait to get back to eat my favorite dish!  Poutine is something we don’t really have in America, but we should.  It’s right up our alley:  french fries, covered in gravy, and topped with cheese (or cheese curds, depending where you get it).  Hap’s makes the best poutine—normally it’s an appetizer meant to be shared, but I didn’t go all the way across the border to share!  Of course, I got a salad to calm my guilt.  

Also worth mentioning:  their chicken fingers are out of this world.  They’re perfectly crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and come with a house-made honey dill sauce.  Their French Dip au jus is killer as well—the meat is sliced thinly, not over cooked or dry, and the bread is the perfect jus-absorber.  

We also got cheesy garlic bread which, in my opinion, is never a bad idea.

If you find yourself in Ontario, and looking for a great getaway, Kenora is the place to go.  And if you make it to this sleepy lakeside town, Hap’s is a must eat.

Carnevino

Carnevino
Las Vegas, Nevada

Mario Batali is one of my favorite chefs of all time.  I’ve eaten at one of his restaurants in New York before, so when I saw Carnevino in The Palazzo I knew I had to go there before I left Vegas.  I mean, this place was meant for me:  steak wine.  Holy crap.  

I sat and the bar and chatted with the bartenders—they were very friendly and super knowledgeable about all the items on the menu.  I started with the steak salad that wasn’t on the menu (pictured) my bartender told me about, and a glass of prosecco.   It was basically arugula with steak carpaccio covering everything that was remotely green, with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper.  Seriously, my kind of salad!  

For dinner I had a small pasta dish, because really, it’s still a Mario Batali restaurant.  And there’s only so much one girl can eat by herself!  I had canneloni stuffed with rabbit, fennel, leek, and ricotta.  I’d never had rabbit before, and Carnevino was definitely the place to try it—they set the bar high.  The meat was shredded, and the flavors melted together so amazingly—definitely not a dish I would’ve ever thought up!  But then again, I’m not an Iron Chef.

For dessert I enjoyed another glass of prosecco and a rhubarb tart.  The tart was fantastic, but the crust was out of this world!  The spices were fresh and rich.  The rhubarb was poached in a great sauce.

Definitely worth the price—Carnevino is one of the more expensive restaurants I’ve reviewed.  But if you go with friends or family, share appetizers, and get a couple of things between a few of you, you’ll be all set.  And don’t skip dessert!

Norma's

Norma's (in Le Parker Meridian)
New York, New York

When I was visiting family in Manhattan, we went to Norma’s and I didn’t know what to expect—I mean, it’s a hotel breakfast place.  I was thinking more along the lines of big buffet and waffle machine, and I couldn’t have been more wrong.

When you first get to Norma’s, they pour you water and a sample of the day’s freshly made smoothie.  I had one with citrus fruits and banana.  It’s a perfect way to start breakfast!  Side note:  get there early.  It gets packed quick!

The last time I was at Norma’s I had the Waz-Za—a waffle loaded with fruit.  It was incredible.  The waffle was fluffy on the inside, crispy on the outside.  The fruit was fresh and sweet.  I was starving and I couldn’t even finish the thing!

See, the thing is, with Norma’s the prices are normally higher than most breakfast places (especially the $2 breakfast sandwich in every corner store in the city), but the sizes are humungous and and easily shareable.  If 3 people go in and split 2 things there will easily be enough food to go around.

Unless you get the Zillion Dollar Lobster Frittata.

I’m not kidding, this thing will put you $1,000 in the hole.  Yes, a thousand.  It’s made with eggs, chives, cream, butter, an entire lobster, and 10 ounces of sevruga caviar.  

I haven’t had one.  In fact, I don’t even know if anyone in the restaurant ordered one while I was there.  But people have.  And I presume it was a slightly balding short guy trying (possibly succeeding) to impress a beautiful woman.  One day though, I’ll order one.  One day when I’m so rich I have nothing better to do.  And I don’t even like caviar.  Until then, I’ll split my awesome waffle with a friend, drink my smoothie, and look forward to my next trip to Norma’s.  

Oh, and Norma's has a cookbook now.  So excited!  But that's a post for CBSmile....

Hash House A Go Go

Hash House a Go Go
Las Vegas, Nevada

I was lucky enough to stumble across this gem while visiting my best friend in Las Vegas.  She swears by it, and after hearing her description I was super excited to go.

Hash House A Go Go is known for their fresh ingredients—they consider themselves “twisted farm food.”  And yes, you might recognize them from Man Vs. Food.

The first time we ate there (yes, we went twice in one trip) was for breakfast.  I had the Griddled French Toast, complete with grilled bananas, maple syrup, fresh strawberries, and pecans.  She had the morning’s special.  Some kind of omelette with ever vegetable known to man and smothered in cheese.  Their portions are gigantic, so bring your appetite, a friend, or a to go box with you.  Plus, every day they make their own jam.  Ours was strawberry champagne!  Delicious.

We went back for dinner the following day and ate like champions, taking home not one, but FOUR to go boxes!  Our appetizer was fried green tomatoes with goat cheese and homemade chicken salad, drizzled with balsamic vinaigrette.  

Then we split two entrees:  Sage fried chicken eggs benedict over mashed potatoes, served with freshly baked biscuits, bacon, tomatoes, spinach leaves, and a chipotle drizzle and a Meatloaf (with bell peppers, parmesan cheese, and spinach in the loaf) Sandwich which consisted of meatloaf, mozzarella cheese, and roasted red peppers on their Amish Milk Bread. 

 For dessert, Snickers Bread Pudding.  Oh heck yes.

Hash House A Go Go is off the beaten path, closer to the residential area of Las Vegas and not the strip.  They’re good to their regulars, sending out coupons in the mail every week to two weeks (our feasts cost us about 15 dollars apiece).  The wait staff are knowledgeable and attentive, and the food can speak for itself.

Out of all the restaurants in Sin City, this is one you don’t want to miss!

Why?

I’ve written in to Diners, Drive Ins, & Dives a couple of times.  I’m sure Guy Fieri doesn’t read or respond back to most of the emails (because, really, we all know that’s what interns are for), and I wanted an outlet to share the amazing restaurants I’ve had the pleasure of eating in.

Contrary to Triple D, my inspiration, I’m not going to limit myself to dives.  Some of the best food I’ve ever eaten has come from five star restaurants!  So why leave them off the list?

I hope you, reader, get to experience and enjoy a restaurant from my list.  I’m going to link the restaurant’s website to the post so you can go eat there too.  And if you have a suggestion—a killer burger joint in your hometown or a fantastic lunch place by your office, etc.—I’d love to know about it!

Cheers, and good eats!

(This is the second installation of EDS, hopefully more user friendly.)