Tiffany Tastes

Small Plates and BYO at Bleu Restaurant

Bleu Restaurant and Lounge recently opened in the Westin right off Beale Street, and I have to admit, it's been on my radar since well before it opened for business (thanks to a very creative marketing campaign that built suspense by introducing certain elements of the restaurant to come without even divulging the name). I actually managed to go twice in the span of a week, once for lunch and once for drinks and small plates.

For lunch, I met up with Seth Agranov of the Best Memphis Burger Blog and his friend Jesse. (You might remember Seth from a previous post about the Kooky Canuck Kookamonga Challenge. For lunch, I took advantage of the BYO (Build Your Own) option that allows diners to create their very own sandwich (or burger or wrap) from the ground up. Choose your protein (chicken, angus burger, catfish, tilapia, catfish, sirlion or portabella mushroom cap) bread (kaiser roll, whole wheat bun, poor boy, tortilla wrap, grilled cheese bun (exactly what it sounds like)), cheese (American yellow, aged cheddar, Jarlsberg Swiss, sharp provolone, bleu or local goat), toppings (options include arugula, pickles, cole slaw, Bermuda onions, jalapenos, caramelized onion, sauteed mushrooms and roasted red peppers) and sides (hand-cut fries, potato salad, fruit cup, sweet potato fries and cole slaw. 

I chose to build a burger on a whole wheat bun with Swiss, lettuce, tomato, pickle and caramelized onions. I picked sweet potato fries for my side (which I selfishly forgot to share with my dining companions). My burger was perfectly cooked, and with the exception of my caramelized onions being more along the lines of "slightly sweated," I found the meal to be very enjoyable and a great value. Check out Seth's Bleu Restaurant blog entry for more details about our lunch.

The very next week, my friend Nikki and I, took on Bleu for dinner. What we didn't realize at the time was that there was a Grizzlies game at the FedEx Forum that very evening. This meant that Bleu was extremely busy and without a reservation, we were relegated to waiting 45 minutes for a table or sitting at the hotel lobby bar. Since most of the regular menu was available at the bar, we were more than happy to sit in the quieter bar area.

I decided to order a couple of small plates from the lounge menu. First, I chose the potstickers with sweet chili sauce. They were good - slightly elevated from the version served at your neighborhood Chinese restaurant. But, the smoked gouda mac and cheese was the real star.

This delightfully rich dish is served in a cast iron skillet and topped with citrus Panko crumbs. Obviously homemade in Bleu's kitchen, this is quite possibly the best macaroni and cheese I've ever eaten outside of my mom's house. And for the low, low price of $5, the portion you receive is absolutely massive. With a small side salad, it would have made a hearty meal.

We couldn't resist having two desserts. We started off with the molten chocolate cake with vanilla gelato. It was pretty tasty, but it didn't hold a candle to the mousse of the day.

Small servings of chocolate and cheesecake mousse with a raspberry coulis and chocolate chips...absolutely divine. This is the type of light, creamy dessert that you want after a meal.

Final Impressions: Bleu has a great vibe, and I really enjoy the atmosphere. Be sure to make a reservation if you want to dine during a Memphis Grizzlies or Memphis Tigers basketball game (the place empties out fairly quickly once the first whistle blows). If you eat in the dining room, ask for the lounge menu so you can indulge in their amazing macaroni and cheese. And don't worry about finding a downtown parking space as Bleu offers complimentary valet parking for 3 hours per visit; just make sure to get your ticket validated.

Bleu Restaurant and Lounge
221 South 3rd Street
Memphis, TN 38103
(901) 334-5950

Average Appetizer Price: (Lunch) $6-$10 (Dinner) $8-$14
Average Sandwich Price: (Lunch Only) $8-$12
Average Entree Price: (Lunch) $10 (Dinner) $23-$30
Averave Dessert Price: $8-$10 

Operating Hours
Breakfast: Monday-Sunday 6:30am-11:00am
Lunch: Monday-Sunday 11:00am-4:00pm
Dinner: Monday-Wednesday 5:00pm-10:00pm Thursday-Sunday 5:00pm-11:00pm

Five Star Dining at Restaurant Iris

So my husband and I finally made it to Restaurant Iris, and all I can say is what took us so long? For as long as Restaurant Iris has been open, it has been considered one of the best restaurants in Memphis, and it was a perfect location for a fabulous celebration dinner.

We decided on the five-course degustation which gave us seven courses total (with one shared appetizer and a shared entree.) 

I started with their version of soup and sandwich - butternut squash bisque and and grilled cheese piled high with duck confit. I can't say I've ever had duck on a grilled cheese sandwich before, but I definitely will again.

My husband, Tom, started off with the seared foie gras. He said it was simple, clean and very well-balanced.

For the salad course, I opted for the Brussels sprout salad with Benton's bacon. Now, bacon makes everything better. Benton's bacon is some serious stuff, way more robust than the regular stuff from the grocery store. I love it, and I really enjoyed it in this salad.

 Tom went with the tempura fried okra salad. This course featured whole okra pods, stuffed with pimento cheese, tempura battered and fried to a golden brown. Tom is an okra addict, and he was not disappointed in this unusual take on a Southern classic.

Then we split the Rod Bailey's raviolo. Raviolo is the singular form of ravioli, and this one is stuffed with braised Black Angus short rib meat and sits in a pool of the most delicious sauce. Big thanks to our waiter who suggested that we use the complimentary French bread to sop up the leftover sauce. That might have been my favorite bite of the night.

For our entree, we split the surf and turf - New York strip stuffed with fried oysters and topped with a blue cheese sauce. Can you believe that's only half of a regular portion? Tom said this was the best steak he's ever eaten in his entire life.

For dessert, Tom had the trio of ice creams (I cannot, for the life of me, remember the flavors)

And I had the praline bread pudding. This was the only course I didn't finish, and only because I simply ran out of room. I ate until I couldn't eat anymore.

Final Impressions: This was a true five-star experience from beginning to end. Every single bite was thoughtfully prepared and absolutely delicious. The service was stellar, the atmosphere was charming without being stuffy, and we had an absolutely amazing time. It will be extremely difficult to pick another restaurant for our next special occasion outing.

Restaurant Iris
2146 Monroe Avenue
Memphis, TN 38104
(901) 590-2828

Average Appetizer Price $7-$15
Average Entree Price $25-$35
Average Dessert Price $8-$10

Operating Hours
Monday-Saturday 5:00pm-10:00pm 

Small Bites at East Tapas

East Tapas is one of those places where I felt like a much cooler and hipper than I actually am, just by walking through the door.

The ginger pear martini is very sweet and very strong; it was an excellent way to start my evening, but I might have had a little too much of it on an empty stomach.

My husband and I decided to try several tapas, because, well, that's what a tapas restaurant is all about: lots of options! My husband, Tom, found the ceviche to be a solid representation, but the wontons served with it were exceptional. I could eat an entire bowl.

The Thai-lime chicken wings were zesty and flavorful with just a hint of spice. Tom said they were the best non-fried chicken wings he's ever eaten. That's quite high praise.

The macaroni and cheese was just it should be - rich, creamy and filling. The flavor was pretty standard, but no complaints here.

As far as dessert is concerned, if the cheesecake stuffed strawberries are on special, get them. Order two plates. They were, hands-down, the most delicious thing we ate that evening. Decadent with well-balanced flavors, this is one of those dishes that I'm going to attempt to make at home (with several more trips to East... for research :P )

Final Impressions: This place is trendy and creating a lot of buzz. Be prepared to wait for your table, especially on the weekend. But, it's well worth the wait.

East Tapas
6069 Park Avenue
Memphis, TN 38119
(901) 767-6002 

Average Small Plate Price $4-$8

Operating Hours
Monday-Wedneday 5:00pm-10:00pm
Thursday-Saturday 4:00pm-12:00am
Sunday 12:00pm-3:00pm

The Arcade: Memphis History and Sweet Potato Pancakes

The Arcade is a true piece of Memphis history. It opened in 1919, and was a favorite hangout for Elvis. (You, too, can dine in the Elvis booth - it's the last booth on the left when you enter the restaurant.)

I can't believe I lived in Memphis for over 4 years before making my first visit to this Bluff City institution.

For my breakfast pleasure, I went with the famous "Food Network Favorite" sweet potato pancakes with two eggs (over medium), hashbrowns or grits (hashbrowns) and bacon or sausage (bacon, obviously)

It was everything that a hearty, stick-to-your ribs breakfast should be. The perfect choice for a person on the morning after a night out partying on Beale Street (not that I do stuff like that, of course :P) 

The pancakes had a hint of sweetness and spice that you would associate with sweet potatoes (cinnamon, nutmeg, perhaps?). They were fluffy and delicious. My eggs were perfectly cooked, the bacon a little overcooked and the hashbrowns were crispy and well-seasoned.

Final Impressions: Do yourself a favor and make your way to The Arcade. Get a tasty breakfast (or lunch) and and steep yourself in Memphis history and tradition.

The Arcade
540 South Main Street
Memphis, TN 38103
(901) 526-5757

Average Breakfast Price: $4-$7
Average Lunch Price: $6-$9

Hours of Operation
7:00am-3:00pm Daily

Tasty Bites at Tsunami

Tsunami is one of those restaurants that's been on my to-do list for as long as I've had one. I don't know why it took me so long to get here, but my husband, Tom, and I wandered in on a Monday evening. We were treated to great service and some really delicious food.

We started out with 3 appetizers: jalapeno hush puppies with maple-soy aioli, bacon-wrapped dates with a sweet chili sauce and the Asian nachos - wontons with tuna tataki, cilantro, jalapeno and sriracha. 

The hush puppies were crisp without being greasy or heavy. There was a touch of heat that was mellowed by the sweetness of the aioli. The bacon-wrapped dates were a great combo of sweet and salty (and they were probably my favorite part of the whole meal.)

My husband enjoyed the nachos so much that he ordered tuna for his entree as well.

Tom enjoyed the spice crusted tuna with cucumber salad and wasabi vinaigrette for the most part. The portion was quite large; one end was thinner and the other, thicker. The thinner part was a bit overcooked and he felt that the cucumber salad accompaniment needed to be more substantial.

I chose the duck breast medallions with butternut squash puree and flash fried greens off the small plates menu. This menu changes daily, but if the duck is listed when you visit, order it. It was perfectly cooked and paired beautifully with the squash puree.

We finshed off our meal with the ginger doughnuts, which are normally served with coconut sorbet. I can't eat coconut, so we went with vanilla ice cream instead. The doughnuts had the texture of beignets and the ginger flavor was not overpowering at all. This was definitely the most intriguing of the dessert selections, and we were not disappointed in our choice.

Final Impressions: Wow, I wish that I'd visited Tsunami sooner. Except for the slight misstep with parts of Tom's tuna entree, the meal was well-prepared and delicious. Tsunami would be a great choice for a romantic date night or a girl's night out. They're also Project Green Fork certified.

Tsunami
928 South Cooper
Memphis, TN 38104
(901) 274-2556

Average Appetizer Price: $5-$10
Average Small Plates Price: $12-$16
Average Entree Price: $15-$28
Average Dessert Price: $7-$9

Hours of  Operation
Monday-Saturday 5:30-10:00p.m. 

Bringing it at Interstate Bar-B-Q

I know it's strange, but when it comes to barbecue (Bar-B-Q, BBQ, etc.), I can really take it or leave it. (I know, I know. A BBQ-less Memphian.) But, my husband and my mother both love it. I believe that my mother's plan is to visit every barbecue joint in the city of Memphis. Every time she visits, we hit at least 3 barbecue restaurants, and I don't believe we've done the same one twice.

During her last visit, we decided to go to Jim Neely's World-Famous Interstate Bar-B-Q. Jim Neely is renowned in Memphis and heads a lineage of barbecuers from here to East Tennesse to Mississippi.

My mom, the hubs and I ordered a sampler platter (Pork Ribs, Beef Ribs, Links, Beef Brisket, Pork Shoulder, B-B-Q Spaghetti, Beans, Slaw and Bread.)

We also grabbed a plate of rib tips. (My mom's favorite)

The food was okay. Better than some barbecue we've had, but not as good as some, as well. However, the service was friendly and attentive, even though the dining room was quite busy.

If someone were to ask me for recommendations on Memphis' best barbecue, Interstate probably wouldn't be my first nomination. But, prices are reasonable and service is good. So, if you're on the south side of town, it's not a bad place to grab a meal.

Interstate Bar-B-Q
2265 South Third Street
Memphis, TN 38109
(901) 297-4634

Average Sandwich Price: $3-$6
Average Entree Price: $7-$14

Operating Hours
Monday-Thursday 11:00am-11:00pm
Friday and Saturday 11:00am-12:00am
Sunday 11:00am-4:00pm

Kookamonga Challenge: Wrap Up

Last week, I wrote about a group of Memphis food bloggers gathering to take on the Kookamonga burger at the Kooky Canuck.

Along with my husband and I, Seth (Best Memphis Burgers), Shannon (Memphis Foodie), her boyfriend, Ken (Ken's Food Find) and Kevin (Burn My Mouth) all settled down last Wednesday to tackle this enormous burger.

(I borrowed this photo from Shannon, because my group shot didn't turn out very well)

While it was whole, the task seemed daunting. But owner Shawn Danko bet that we'd finish it off in less than 15 minutes.

Seth cut the burger into 7 pretty equal wedges, and we went to town. I see where they get you on this; there is a massive amount of bread attached to this 4 pound beef patty. But, the bread is really, really good. It's soft and a little sweet and a great accompaniament to the burger.

I was shocked at what this burger wasn't: It wasn't burnt, and it wasn't dry. What this burger was: juicy, flavorful and not nearly as massive when split up amongst 7 hungry diners. We smashed the whole burger and all the fries (which are extra delicious) in well under 15 minutes. We even ordered more food:

(Fried Pickles and Holy Smoke wings) - The fried pickles will change your life, trust me.

It wasn't an official challenge (since it was a group effort), but Shawn and the entire Kooky Canuck crew took great care of us. It was also really awesome to meet some of Memphis' finest food bloggers and put faces with names.

Hopefully, we'll be able to dine together again soon.

Kooky Canuck
97 South 2nd Street
Memphis, TN 38103
(901) 578-9800

Average Appetizer Price: $7-$10
Average Sandwich Price: $7-$10
Average Entree Price: $10-$15
Average Dessert Price: $6-$8

Operating Hours
Daily 11:00am-2:30am

iScream at iCream

In the trendy Chicago neighborhood of Bucktown, lies a hidden gem where you can be the chef (ice cream chef, anyway). But, I'm not talking a Coldstone or Marble slab, but a place where you can build your very own customized icy treat from the ground up.

iCream allows patrons to pick the flavor (or combination of 2 flavors), mix-ins, toppings and style of their frozen dessert. Then, they watch as their creation is frozen using a computerized system that combines the mixture and emits just the right amount of liquid nitrogen to freeze the ice cream, yogurt or sorbet in just a few seconds.

iCream employs a 4-step process.

1. Decide whether you want ice cream, frozen yogurt, sorbet or a milkshake. (The bases used to make these creations can be full-fat, light, fat-free, sugar-free or dairy-free).

2. Pick the flavor of your frozen concoction. You can blend up to two flavors, but since these aren't scoops of ice cream, it will be a combination of the two. iCream has traditional flavors like chocolate, vanilla and strawberry, but also utilizes non-traditional options like curry, green tea and burnt sugar.

3. Pick your toppings. There are a variety of fruits to choose from (blueberries, raspberries and bananas, for example), candy (Butterfingers, Snickers and peanut butter cups) and unique mix-ins (cream cheese, Nutella and granola).

4. Wait for your creation to be mixed and frozen, right in front of you.

(Cake batter ice cream with peanut butter cups, Oreos and Nutella, in case you were wondering)

iCream combines creativity with technology and allows customers to make exactly what they want. The best part is the texture. iCream creations are very creamy. Because it is frozen so quickly, there isn't enough time for the ice crystals to form that you'd usually find in typical ice cream.

In the cooler months, iCream also offers hot pudding (traditional or rice), which can be made with any of the ice cream flavors.

iCream
1537 North Milwaukee Avenue
Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 342-2834

Average Ice Cream Cost: $5-$7 depending on size. Toppings are extra.

Operating Hours
Sunday-Thursday 2:00pm-10:00pm
Friday & Saturday 2:00pm-12:00am

There's Nothing Like a Good Sandwich

If you check out this post, this post or this one, you'll see that I really, really love a good sandwich. I truly believe that a good sandwich is a much more difficult than slapping a bunch of stuff on some bread. I asked one of my friends where was the best place to get a deli sandwich in Chicago, and she told me Z&H Market Cafe was the way to go. Z&H, which stands for Zaleski and Horvath, features breakfast and lunch and offers diners the ability to shop for specialty goods, produce and groceries.

I to take the bus and the train, but my trek to Z&H was well worth the trip. With over 20 sandwiches to choose from, my decision was tough, but I finally settled on the Jamon, Jamon.

This sandwich was just an amazing combination of flavors - serrano ham, manchego cheese, quince paste, dijon mustard, mixed greens and roasted tomato. It was absolutely delicious and I enjoyed every bite.

Z&H carries items like maldon salt, gourmet baking chocolate, and San Marzano tomatoes. They also carry several culinary items made by Chicagoan artisans.

Zaleski and Horvath Market Cafe is a great place to grab a quick bite to eat for breakfast or lunch. However, the shop closes fairly early in the evening and it's off-the-beaten path location may make it difficult for diners to get there.

Z&H Market Cafe
1126 East 47th Street
Chicago, IL 60653
(773) 538-7372

Average Sandwich Price: $6-$8

Operating Hours
Monday-Friday 7:00am-5:00pm
Saturday & Sunday 8:00am-6:00pm

Small Plates Sing at Bistronomic

For a fairly new restaurant space, Bistronomic was surely hopping when we arrived at 8:30 p.m. on a brisk fall Thursday evening. Luckily, I had the forethought to make reservations, so a couple minutes before our 8:45 reservation time, we were shown to a table in packed dining room. The restaurant was completely full of Chicago diners waiting to taste Chef Martial Noguier's French bistro fare.

The menu is divded into small, medium and large plates. We decided to start off with soup. I had the Sweet potato puree with toasted almonds and cognac cream, while Tom began his meal with the Bistronomic fish soup with mussels, tarrgon and saffron.

The soup presentation was quite beautiful as it was poured into the crocks tableside. Both soups were delicious in different ways. The sweet potato was velvety with a hint of sweetness, while the fish soup was thick and hearty.

We followed our soup course with a dish of warm goat cheese with oven dried tomatoes and lemon confit and frisee salad.

The cheese was flavorful but the lemon was a bit overpowering. (And, as is always the case, there wasn't enough crostini. A quick word to our waitress remedied this.)

For our meal, we chose two daily specials: butternut squash ravioli with sage brown butter and balsamic and glazed pork cheek with fennel puree, arugula and candied orange segments

(Accidentally ate half before I took the picture)

I love butternut squash ravioli, and have enjoyed eating it in almost every instance that I've ordered it. This was no exception. The texture of the pasta was top-notch. I was a little mad at myself for ordering two things with similar flavor profiles (sweet potato, butternut squash) but c'est la vie.

The pork cheeks might have been my favorite dish of the night. The combination of the orange and fennel with the pork was absolutely delicious.

If you know me, you know there was dessert involved. We tried the chocolate hazelnut bars with orange sauce and the baked alaska with toasted meringue and caramelized almonds.

This dish was the one major miss of the night. The orange sauce did not compliment the bittersweet chocolate and it had a strange medicinal taste. It was the one thing we didn't finish.

The baked alaska, on the other hand, was successful in its simplicity - good quality vanilla bean ice cream topped with a wedge of toasted meringue and toasted sliced almonds. It had a great combination of textures with the creamy ice cream, chewy meringue and crunchy nuts.

BIstronomic would be a great place for a girls/guys night out or maybe a birthday celebration with a small group of friends. The small space and close proximity of the tables to each other prevents it from being an ideal location for a romantic date night. Prices are a little on the high side, but that's to be expected. If I lived in Chicago, I'd definitely put Bistronomic on my go-to list.

Bistronomic
840 North Wabash
Chicago, IL 60611
(312)944-8400

Average Small Plate Price: $8-$10
Average Medium Plate Price: $9-$13
Average Large Plate Price: $18-$28
Average Dessert Price: $8

Operating Hours
Lunch: Tuesday-Friday 11:30am-2:00pm
Dinner: Sunday-Thursday 5:00pm-10:00pm
            Friday & Saturday 5:00pm-11:00pm