I promised some posts on Spain, so I'll start with one on sherry. If you're like me, sherry brings up notions of a sweet after dinner drink or something to use in cooking. However, Spanish sherry is quite wonderful, although an acquired taste.
After two days in Seville, we stopped in Jerez de la Frontera on the way back to our condo in Marbella. Jerez, simply translated as "sherry," is the home of this popular Spanish wine. We were definitely in the right place to learn about this spirit!
Sherry is a blended wine of several years, not a single vintage of grapes. There are many different types that range from very dry with a pale yellow color, to sweet and with a dark mahogany hue. Here's a quick primer:
Fino – This is a pale, straw-colored sherry that is dry, light and fragrant. It is served cold and is the most traditional style of sherry. It's an ideal accompaniment to tapas.
Amontillado – This variety has an amber color, with a nutty, smoky caramel flavor. It's aged in American Oak barrels and has a higher alcohol content than fino (somwhere between 17% & 20%). This was my favorite, almost like a brandy, but without the sweetness. It's even a literary icon -- check out "The Cask of Amontillado" by Edgar Allen Poe.
Olosroso - This one is full-bodied, dark and rich. Drink Oloroso before dinner or with red meats.
Cream Sherry - This variety is sweetened Amontillado or Oloroso. It is also full-bodied and velvety. Enjoy with fruit, mild cheese and even smoked meats.
Those are just a few varieties. I had most of my education at the Tio Pepe bodega (essentially a winery). Tio Pepe is the the best selling brand in the world, but just one of the many wineries tucked into Jerez' winding streets. My sister and mom really enjoyed the Croft Cream Sherry which is made in Spain and only exported to England. It blends the crispness of a fino with the depth of a cream sherry. It was good - not sweet like I expected - and Erin and Kate both brought bottles home.
If you want to give sherry a try, I'd suggest looking for a Jerez fino. BevMo has a couple in stock. I'd sip it chilled with some cheese and olives. I'd also savor some Amontillado after dinner. It's flavor comes on strong, but once you give it a few sips it mellows and is quite delicious.
Friday, January 30, 2009
De Lightful!
It's about time Sacramento had a new bar. I know there are restaurants and clubs on rooftops opening all the time, but what we've been missing is a place between a dive bar and a uber-hip lounge with $12 martinis. I think the proprietors of De Vere's Irish Pub have created something to fit the bill.
Inside the historic Firestone Building on 16th and L is a warm spot with a gorgeous dark wood bar, lots of tables, photos of Ireland and a general feeling of conviviality. They have a good variety of beers on tap, including their own lager and red ale. Prices range from $3.75 to $6 depending on the size and type. If beer's not your thing, there's a full bar as well. I'm not a scotch drinker, but their selection is pretty wide ranging; same for Irish Whiskey. The wine list boasts a variety of regional vintages, including Railbridge Cellars' yummy Lattice Red from right up 16th Street.
The menu ranges from small plates to heartier fare, including fish and chips and Irish stew. Lunch items include sandwiches and salads that are reasonably priced. A grilled cheese with tomato and a cup of soup is $5.50.
De Vere's isn't even officially open yet, but both times I went it was a full house. It's going to be a great place to go to grab a pint and hang out with friends. Don't wait for St. Patrick's Day to check it out! Sláinte!
Inside the historic Firestone Building on 16th and L is a warm spot with a gorgeous dark wood bar, lots of tables, photos of Ireland and a general feeling of conviviality. They have a good variety of beers on tap, including their own lager and red ale. Prices range from $3.75 to $6 depending on the size and type. If beer's not your thing, there's a full bar as well. I'm not a scotch drinker, but their selection is pretty wide ranging; same for Irish Whiskey. The wine list boasts a variety of regional vintages, including Railbridge Cellars' yummy Lattice Red from right up 16th Street.
The menu ranges from small plates to heartier fare, including fish and chips and Irish stew. Lunch items include sandwiches and salads that are reasonably priced. A grilled cheese with tomato and a cup of soup is $5.50.
De Vere's isn't even officially open yet, but both times I went it was a full house. It's going to be a great place to go to grab a pint and hang out with friends. Don't wait for St. Patrick's Day to check it out! Sláinte!
Not So Dreamy
I'd never been to Dream Ultra Lounge. I'm not an "ultra lounge" kind of gal, but when I heard Tokyo Fro's was taking up residence inside - AND that they had happy hour till 8:00 - I gave it a try.
There are two things I noticed right away. The decor is cold, despite the warm fireplace in the front window. And the waitresses wear very tiny clothes. Our poor server was in a skin tight mini-halter dress (in January!) and sky high heels. Watching her try to walk and balance food made me really nervous. So did watching her bend down to clear the tables. Talk about the risk of a wardrobe malfunction!
True to their advertising, their happy hour goes till 8:00 (which is a major plus). Bottles of beer are $3, well drinks are half off and almost all the sushi rolls are half price. I ordered a $3 Blue Moon and my friends and I perused the roll menu. Despite there being at least 15 options, they all kind of sounded the same. Tempura shrimp and/or crab seemed to be in every roll. We chose five to share but were really unimpressed. They all tasted the same. The crab didn't have any flavor and the actual pieces of raw fish were unsubstantial. It was very disappointing!
Another problem - the bathroom. There are three stalls. Two of the toilets were clogged and the third didn't have a seat!
In the end the bill was $52 for five people, five beers and five rolls. It's hard to complain about the price, but the food wasn't even worth the discounts. Carmen, who wasn't there with us, said the happy hour at Tokyo Fro's on Fair Oaks Blvd. has always been good. Maybe this sushi bar is still settling into its new home, but for now if I'll stick to the original location!
There are two things I noticed right away. The decor is cold, despite the warm fireplace in the front window. And the waitresses wear very tiny clothes. Our poor server was in a skin tight mini-halter dress (in January!) and sky high heels. Watching her try to walk and balance food made me really nervous. So did watching her bend down to clear the tables. Talk about the risk of a wardrobe malfunction!
True to their advertising, their happy hour goes till 8:00 (which is a major plus). Bottles of beer are $3, well drinks are half off and almost all the sushi rolls are half price. I ordered a $3 Blue Moon and my friends and I perused the roll menu. Despite there being at least 15 options, they all kind of sounded the same. Tempura shrimp and/or crab seemed to be in every roll. We chose five to share but were really unimpressed. They all tasted the same. The crab didn't have any flavor and the actual pieces of raw fish were unsubstantial. It was very disappointing!
Another problem - the bathroom. There are three stalls. Two of the toilets were clogged and the third didn't have a seat!
In the end the bill was $52 for five people, five beers and five rolls. It's hard to complain about the price, but the food wasn't even worth the discounts. Carmen, who wasn't there with us, said the happy hour at Tokyo Fro's on Fair Oaks Blvd. has always been good. Maybe this sushi bar is still settling into its new home, but for now if I'll stick to the original location!
Sunday, January 25, 2009
My other two favs
Wine and Cheese! Oh, how I love wine and cheese. I've been known to exist on wine and cheese for hours. (Had a bit of a stomach ache after that, actually.) I was visiting a friend in Oakland last weekend and she took me to the greatest little shop in Montclair and I had to share it with the world (or the small portion of the world that reads this blog). If you ever find yourself in the East Bay and have a hankering for some tasty cheese, check out Farmstead Cheese & Wine. They have locations in both Alameda and Montclair.
If you're unfamiliar with Montclair, it's a little wealthy community east of Oakland on Hwy 13. It's super cute, and has tons of little shops and restaurants. It's certainly not enough to do for a day, but if you find you have some time to kill while in Walnut Creek, Oakland, or even on your way out of San Francisco, it's an easy stop. The original Crogan's is here (although it's white tablecloth atmosphere is strikingly different than the bar I used to drink myself silly at in Walnut Creek), as well as a great Thai restaurant, burger place, and Italian place I went to once. Too bad I don't know their names. Up one of the side streets is Farmstead Cheeses & Wines. My friend Catherine and I went in to get some cheese for our dinner that night.
I loved this place because they have TONS of cheese from all over and all different kinds, and you get to try everything! You tell the very nice man behind the counter what you like and what you're looking for (and even what kind of wine you're drinking) and he'll give you little samples to see what you like. It's brilliant. The prices are good too, we got 1/3 of a pound of each cheese and only paid $10. Grocery store prices (even TJ's) are much higher. I don't remember what we ended up with, but one was really rich and creamy, and the other was tangy, like a light blue, but without the stink. Yum.
We didn't buy any wine (my friends have a rockin' wine cellar) but I checked it out and found a few I recognized from 58 Degrees and some that were really interesting and different. The white wine I saw that I recognized was $9, and I think that's cheaper than it is here in town.
Their blog is really cool too if you're interested in that sort of thing:
You can find them at 6218 La Salle Ave, Oakland, or 1650 Park Street, Unit C, Alameda. Check them out!
If you're unfamiliar with Montclair, it's a little wealthy community east of Oakland on Hwy 13. It's super cute, and has tons of little shops and restaurants. It's certainly not enough to do for a day, but if you find you have some time to kill while in Walnut Creek, Oakland, or even on your way out of San Francisco, it's an easy stop. The original Crogan's is here (although it's white tablecloth atmosphere is strikingly different than the bar I used to drink myself silly at in Walnut Creek), as well as a great Thai restaurant, burger place, and Italian place I went to once. Too bad I don't know their names. Up one of the side streets is Farmstead Cheeses & Wines. My friend Catherine and I went in to get some cheese for our dinner that night.
I loved this place because they have TONS of cheese from all over and all different kinds, and you get to try everything! You tell the very nice man behind the counter what you like and what you're looking for (and even what kind of wine you're drinking) and he'll give you little samples to see what you like. It's brilliant. The prices are good too, we got 1/3 of a pound of each cheese and only paid $10. Grocery store prices (even TJ's) are much higher. I don't remember what we ended up with, but one was really rich and creamy, and the other was tangy, like a light blue, but without the stink. Yum.
We didn't buy any wine (my friends have a rockin' wine cellar) but I checked it out and found a few I recognized from 58 Degrees and some that were really interesting and different. The white wine I saw that I recognized was $9, and I think that's cheaper than it is here in town.
Their blog is really cool too if you're interested in that sort of thing:
You can find them at 6218 La Salle Ave, Oakland, or 1650 Park Street, Unit C, Alameda. Check them out!
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Brews & Shrooms
I love beer. Lucky for me, my brother has been working as a microbrewery in San Francisco (shout-out to Speakeasy!) and therefore has become obsessed with beer. I consider myself fairly knowedgable about wine (an idiot-savant, I suppose), but know little about beer. Encouraged by him, I have decided to learn a little bit more about it and try as much as I can other than the standard blond ale (which I have learned I don't really care for anyway).
Living in Northern California makes beer tasting easy. There are breweries everywhere! In an attempt to take advantage of the current trend of upscale beer-drinking and beer-brewing, many of these breweries accompany their breweries with rather nice and delicious restaurants. Yay! Beer and Food!! I'm not going to go into the cultural reasons why beer is becoming so popular (although certainly the economy has something to do with it), I'm just going to take advantage of the food and the brews.
One post doesn't allow me the space to go into all local breweries and their food, so I'll just tell you about 3 of my favorites, and one of my favorite sandwiches, the Portabella Sandwich. (I'll save the fish & chips for another post.)
As you will remember from my previous post, I am not eating meat. Hence, the portabella. There are so many reasons to love this mushroom (Unless you hate all mushrooms, then this post does not apply. You know who you are.) It's rich and meaty, so you don't even notice that you're eating veg. It goes nicely with lots of different marinades and sauces, as well as other vegetables. It's large, so it fits well between two pieces of bread and doesn't fall out into little bits all over your plate, consequently requiring a fork to eat. None of these reasons equal the main reason for eating it at a brewery: it goes well with the brew. Here are three that I have tried recently:
Hoppy Brewing (Sacramento, Folsom Blvd & 65th): Hoppy's been around for ages. They have great, original beer (try the Christmas Ale) and a fun, large dining room. Service is generally, um, happy, and the food is consistent. I usually get their version of the chopped salad which has just about everything in it minus the kitchen sink (note to self: remember to ask for no bacon bits) but decided to go for the portabella sandwich the last time I was there with a large group of coworkers (which kind of sucked, because it was lunchtime and the boss didn't let us drink beer). Perhaps it was the lack of my preferred beverage that made this sandwich seem rather lackluster, or maybe it was because they had 10 lunches to pass out at once and the wait time made my sandwich a little soggy. I wasn't impressed. In comparison to the other standout dishes at this restaurant, the sandwich was boring and soggy, even with the red pepper aioli and grilled ortega chili. The chili was the best part, actually. They need marinade. Or I needed beer. Or most likely, we needed both. I'm not sure what other veg options are available at Hoppy, but I'll be trying something else next time to better match my fabulous Red Ale.
Sierra Nevada Brewery (Chico, CA): I was in Chico once for Halloween when I was 19. Yesterday, my friends took me back to their youth and showed me around the town, including lunch and a brief tour of the brewery where my friend Emilie made her college money (and spent a good portion of it as well). In my quest for the best portabella, I chose their sandwich. The mushroom was delicious, thinly sliced instead of the whole piece, which made the texture a little more like a traditional meat sandwich. It had a delicious bun and some tasty sauce, but there was lettuce on the sandwich which promptly wilted with the heat of the cooked mushroom. I didn't care for the lettuce, and would have liked some other additions to the sandwich, but was overall pleased with the taste and texture of the mushroom and the bun. The pitcher of Best Bitter we shared was a delicious accompaniment (kind of wish I had some right now, actually).
Rubicon Brewery (Capital Ave & 20th St, Sacramento): If you know me, you know I'm partial to Rubicon. The only complaint I ever have about Rubicon is that the service can sometimes be a little, well, snotty. (Although in all fairness, it has really improved lately, and not just because the weekend afternoon bartender recognizes me.) The beer is great, the food is great, the vibe is great, and the brief 4 block walk home is awesome. Here is where my favorite portabella mushroom sandwich lives. Nestled between two thick slices of focaccia bread with a roasted red bell pepper and a lot of gooey provolone, the mushroom not only stands out, but pairs nicely with the other flavors. Also goes great with a pint of Monkey Knife Fight, and the conversation of great friends.
I kind of like my new mission: seeker of great mushrooms and fantastic brews. Send me your favorite breweries in the area, and I'll be sure to report back on my favorite fungi.
Living in Northern California makes beer tasting easy. There are breweries everywhere! In an attempt to take advantage of the current trend of upscale beer-drinking and beer-brewing, many of these breweries accompany their breweries with rather nice and delicious restaurants. Yay! Beer and Food!! I'm not going to go into the cultural reasons why beer is becoming so popular (although certainly the economy has something to do with it), I'm just going to take advantage of the food and the brews.
One post doesn't allow me the space to go into all local breweries and their food, so I'll just tell you about 3 of my favorites, and one of my favorite sandwiches, the Portabella Sandwich. (I'll save the fish & chips for another post.)
As you will remember from my previous post, I am not eating meat. Hence, the portabella. There are so many reasons to love this mushroom (Unless you hate all mushrooms, then this post does not apply. You know who you are.) It's rich and meaty, so you don't even notice that you're eating veg. It goes nicely with lots of different marinades and sauces, as well as other vegetables. It's large, so it fits well between two pieces of bread and doesn't fall out into little bits all over your plate, consequently requiring a fork to eat. None of these reasons equal the main reason for eating it at a brewery: it goes well with the brew. Here are three that I have tried recently:
Hoppy Brewing (Sacramento, Folsom Blvd & 65th): Hoppy's been around for ages. They have great, original beer (try the Christmas Ale) and a fun, large dining room. Service is generally, um, happy, and the food is consistent. I usually get their version of the chopped salad which has just about everything in it minus the kitchen sink (note to self: remember to ask for no bacon bits) but decided to go for the portabella sandwich the last time I was there with a large group of coworkers (which kind of sucked, because it was lunchtime and the boss didn't let us drink beer). Perhaps it was the lack of my preferred beverage that made this sandwich seem rather lackluster, or maybe it was because they had 10 lunches to pass out at once and the wait time made my sandwich a little soggy. I wasn't impressed. In comparison to the other standout dishes at this restaurant, the sandwich was boring and soggy, even with the red pepper aioli and grilled ortega chili. The chili was the best part, actually. They need marinade. Or I needed beer. Or most likely, we needed both. I'm not sure what other veg options are available at Hoppy, but I'll be trying something else next time to better match my fabulous Red Ale.
Sierra Nevada Brewery (Chico, CA): I was in Chico once for Halloween when I was 19. Yesterday, my friends took me back to their youth and showed me around the town, including lunch and a brief tour of the brewery where my friend Emilie made her college money (and spent a good portion of it as well). In my quest for the best portabella, I chose their sandwich. The mushroom was delicious, thinly sliced instead of the whole piece, which made the texture a little more like a traditional meat sandwich. It had a delicious bun and some tasty sauce, but there was lettuce on the sandwich which promptly wilted with the heat of the cooked mushroom. I didn't care for the lettuce, and would have liked some other additions to the sandwich, but was overall pleased with the taste and texture of the mushroom and the bun. The pitcher of Best Bitter we shared was a delicious accompaniment (kind of wish I had some right now, actually).
Rubicon Brewery (Capital Ave & 20th St, Sacramento): If you know me, you know I'm partial to Rubicon. The only complaint I ever have about Rubicon is that the service can sometimes be a little, well, snotty. (Although in all fairness, it has really improved lately, and not just because the weekend afternoon bartender recognizes me.) The beer is great, the food is great, the vibe is great, and the brief 4 block walk home is awesome. Here is where my favorite portabella mushroom sandwich lives. Nestled between two thick slices of focaccia bread with a roasted red bell pepper and a lot of gooey provolone, the mushroom not only stands out, but pairs nicely with the other flavors. Also goes great with a pint of Monkey Knife Fight, and the conversation of great friends.
I kind of like my new mission: seeker of great mushrooms and fantastic brews. Send me your favorite breweries in the area, and I'll be sure to report back on my favorite fungi.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Southern Comfort
I feel I need to make a full disclosure before you read this post. I have gone mostly veg. As in vegetarian. OK, technically pescetarian (I hope I spelled that right) but I am trying (very hard) to cut out poultry and red meat from my diet. I don't think it will ever be completely out of my diet, but I am making every effort to keep it mostly out of my diet. My reasons are many, but this is mostly in an attempt to be healthier, both for my body and the planet. I'll keep you posted.
The immediate problem is that it alters my view of the following review. Pescetarianism is not something to take up a week or so before going to Sandra Dee's for dinner. Since it's a southern BBQ restaurant, I think the problems are obvious.
Anyway, we went for a friend's birthday the other night. First impressions: cute place. Nice service. OK beer selection but crappy wine selection (at least they had Stella and Sierra on tap). Do not come here if you are on a diet!
Lucky for me, southerners like fish. I had the fried catfish and it was delicious! The fish was so moist, not like some other fried fish can get. And not greasy at all! It was a little salty (although perfectly spicy) but this could be because I asked for it extra spicy and so had a lot of seasoning on it, and I'm just not used to that. I was really excited for the collard greens, but disappointed that they had smoked turkey in them. I went for it anyway (and decided to pick the turkey out) but they were still mushy and overly salty. This could be a preference thing--I love greens, but I like them lightly braised with balsamic (proving my Italian heritage, I suppose). These tasted over-done. The mac and cheese was delicious and could have been a meal all to itself. Creamy, cheesy, goopy, wonderfulness. I could eat this every day of my life (and probably die very early, clearly not diet food!). My friend insisted I try the tri-tip, which was perfectly cooked and tender, although drenched in BBQ sauce (not my thing). I heard the rib-tips were fantastic, as were the ribs, turkey burger, and baked beans. Another veg had the Caesar salad (which really was the saddest Caesar I've ever seen), it got a big thumbs down, but the yams got a thumbs up. The frog legs were even tested (tastes like chicken, apparently) and the peach cobbler (yummy).
The best thing to keep in mind when coming here is that it is Southern Food. For those of us growing up with some variation of California food, there is a lot of seasoning and sauce. They probably don't know the term "vegetarian" not to mention "pescetarian". I know that Southern Food is not my preference. However, the next time I have a hangover and am in need of some stick-to-your-ribs goodies, I know to head to Sandra Dee's and get some fried catfish and mac & cheese.
Sandra Dee's is on the corner of 15th and F, and it's remarkably easy to find parking. You have to try it, just once.
The immediate problem is that it alters my view of the following review. Pescetarianism is not something to take up a week or so before going to Sandra Dee's for dinner. Since it's a southern BBQ restaurant, I think the problems are obvious.
Anyway, we went for a friend's birthday the other night. First impressions: cute place. Nice service. OK beer selection but crappy wine selection (at least they had Stella and Sierra on tap). Do not come here if you are on a diet!
Lucky for me, southerners like fish. I had the fried catfish and it was delicious! The fish was so moist, not like some other fried fish can get. And not greasy at all! It was a little salty (although perfectly spicy) but this could be because I asked for it extra spicy and so had a lot of seasoning on it, and I'm just not used to that. I was really excited for the collard greens, but disappointed that they had smoked turkey in them. I went for it anyway (and decided to pick the turkey out) but they were still mushy and overly salty. This could be a preference thing--I love greens, but I like them lightly braised with balsamic (proving my Italian heritage, I suppose). These tasted over-done. The mac and cheese was delicious and could have been a meal all to itself. Creamy, cheesy, goopy, wonderfulness. I could eat this every day of my life (and probably die very early, clearly not diet food!). My friend insisted I try the tri-tip, which was perfectly cooked and tender, although drenched in BBQ sauce (not my thing). I heard the rib-tips were fantastic, as were the ribs, turkey burger, and baked beans. Another veg had the Caesar salad (which really was the saddest Caesar I've ever seen), it got a big thumbs down, but the yams got a thumbs up. The frog legs were even tested (tastes like chicken, apparently) and the peach cobbler (yummy).
The best thing to keep in mind when coming here is that it is Southern Food. For those of us growing up with some variation of California food, there is a lot of seasoning and sauce. They probably don't know the term "vegetarian" not to mention "pescetarian". I know that Southern Food is not my preference. However, the next time I have a hangover and am in need of some stick-to-your-ribs goodies, I know to head to Sandra Dee's and get some fried catfish and mac & cheese.
Sandra Dee's is on the corner of 15th and F, and it's remarkably easy to find parking. You have to try it, just once.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
New Year's Resolutions
Happy New Year! I'm not a big believer in resolutions, but I'm making one this year to be a better blogger. I really like this blog and we get good feedback, so I want to do a better job of updating it.
I also want to put out the call again for people to help contribute. I eat out a lot, but not enough to have a new blog every day (especially in these tough economic times)! If you're interested in helping out, send me an email or leave a comment and I'll set you up!
I am leaving on Tuesday for a two week trip to España, so I won't be able to start taking my resolution seriously until I get back from Europe. I'll try to take notes during my travels about all the tapas, fino and sherry I enjoy so I can share with you when I get back. ¡Adiós!
I also want to put out the call again for people to help contribute. I eat out a lot, but not enough to have a new blog every day (especially in these tough economic times)! If you're interested in helping out, send me an email or leave a comment and I'll set you up!
I am leaving on Tuesday for a two week trip to España, so I won't be able to start taking my resolution seriously until I get back from Europe. I'll try to take notes during my travels about all the tapas, fino and sherry I enjoy so I can share with you when I get back. ¡Adiós!
Friday, January 2, 2009
A little slice of Paris (I think that's the translation)
I had a crappy day at work today. I didn't think I should be there in the first place, then I was the only person working in my portable and I couldn't get the heater to work properly. So there I was, sitting in a 50 degree office playing on Facebook because I had nothing productive to do.
I'm not complaining for the sake of complaining; I actually have a point to my story. I couldn't wait to get back to Midtown and go somewhere for a big bowl of soup and a glass of red wine. That was the only way I would be able to feel my extremities again. I've been wanting to go to Le Petit Paris for quite awhile and decided that was the place to go. I love the window shopping there (I can't afford anything) and figured it was time to check the cafe out.
I was hoping for soup but they were out. I opted for the tomato, mozzerella and basil sandwich. For such simple ingredients, it was delicious. The baguette was fresh and perfectly toasty on the outside and warm and chewy on the inside. They serve the sandwiches open-faced so no chewed up roof of the mouth (I hate that!). It's not exactly tomato season, but the rest of the ingredients were fresh tasting and delicious. My glass of bordeax was a perfect compliment.
Le Petit Paris is a great little spot to treat yourself to lunch or have a glass of wine with a friend. The prices are reasonable, and just for a little while you can pretend you're in Paris (especially if you squint and don't notice the Chipotle across the street). I felt like myself again after lunch--in good spirits and warm and toasty. If you want soup, go early. Their coffees and desserts look amazing as well.
I'm not complaining for the sake of complaining; I actually have a point to my story. I couldn't wait to get back to Midtown and go somewhere for a big bowl of soup and a glass of red wine. That was the only way I would be able to feel my extremities again. I've been wanting to go to Le Petit Paris for quite awhile and decided that was the place to go. I love the window shopping there (I can't afford anything) and figured it was time to check the cafe out.
I was hoping for soup but they were out. I opted for the tomato, mozzerella and basil sandwich. For such simple ingredients, it was delicious. The baguette was fresh and perfectly toasty on the outside and warm and chewy on the inside. They serve the sandwiches open-faced so no chewed up roof of the mouth (I hate that!). It's not exactly tomato season, but the rest of the ingredients were fresh tasting and delicious. My glass of bordeax was a perfect compliment.
Le Petit Paris is a great little spot to treat yourself to lunch or have a glass of wine with a friend. The prices are reasonable, and just for a little while you can pretend you're in Paris (especially if you squint and don't notice the Chipotle across the street). I felt like myself again after lunch--in good spirits and warm and toasty. If you want soup, go early. Their coffees and desserts look amazing as well.
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