Cru Cafe Charleston, South Carolina

So, the 2nd night in Charleston we went to Cru Cafe. This place was super cute. I started with fried greeen tomatoes. I know, I know way to predictable, but these had red pepper jelly and were one of the best dishes I've ever had. I shared it with my dinning companions and they had to order their own.

For a main course, I had to go with another grouper. This was served over a saffron broth, grilled with crispy onions. Another home run. My meat loving dinning companion had the lamb shank, this was one of the most tender dishes.

Dessert was cheesecake that melted like snow in July, and the coffee was hot, strong and had a complex taste that made us want to stay for many more cups.

Fat Hen

This year my trip to Charleston, SC came at the perfect time. I had spent the previous few weeks caring for a family member who had just had surgery. So, after taking care of my family member I was ready for some fun, good food and company, I wanted to try some new places in Charleston. The first stop was Fat Hen. This is just a few minutes from Charleston on Johns Island. The meal started with heirloom tomatoes over field greens with a friend poached egg. This had a smidgen too much salt, but I enjoyed the combination of the fresh tomato and the crispy outside of the egg. My dinning partner had the stuffed pork chop with gritts. I was a huge hunk of meal, suitable for any caveperson. I had the fish special grouper over vegetables. Oh my, it was so good. The grouper was cooked to perfection. The vegetables were so fresh, it was a real treat.

The service here was just outstanding! Our server was very knowledgeable and friendly.

There is no picture of the dessert as it was consumed before my camera made it out of my purse. It was a chocolate bread pudding.

Girls Night Out Part Two

The second girls' night out in Colorado was not about the food, but great company and wonderful memories. We went to the Blue Parrot. We went to this restaurant when I was very little and my mom used to go with her parents (this was a real treat). Years later I remember two great meals here, one with my sister Janet, my grandparents, and my uncles and my sister being so silly we laughed the whole meal and my stomach hurt. The other meal was with grandfather one summer after watching a bicycle race. We talked and talked and I learned what wonderful man he was and that will never leave me.

So this was not about great food (the food was so so). This was about great family and time together.

Sorry the delay in posts.

Vita Denver-Girls Night Out Part One

So, I try very hard to have a girls night out with my Aunts, cousins, and/or sisters in honor of my Grandmother when I visit Denver. This trip one night out just wasn't going to work for everyone, so we are having two. The first night out was at Vita. We arrive at Happy Hour and on a Tuesday where the wine was 1/2 off for bottles. The mark-up on the wine is crazy so 1/2 off makes it almost reasonable. We were starving, so we started with some appetizers and then each had salad. If you go, do not sit upstairs, it was crazy loud and when we left we were very sorry that we didn't insist on sitting downstairs. Here is what we had starting in the upper left:

• Trio of Sliders, Kobe Beef, Pulled Pork and Spicy Chicken. Each one of these was a delight and had enough zing to hit a different part of your palette.
• 7 hour pork--they said this was on tortillas, but the bread was more like a flat bread. This was a Carolina pork, slow cooked, tender and the vinegar was just perfect.
• Bruschetta with roasted garlic puree, balsamic reduction on perfectly grilled bread with some of the best fresh mozzarella (smooth and creamy).
• I must confess I forgot the name of the next flat bread dish, it has a very spicy sauce with an aged meat like prosciutto and an aged cheese with pea shoot sprouts. This was very tasty, not sure my dinner mates like it but I did.
• Don't let this last photo fool you, it was as good as the photo is bad. It was the Grilled Hearts of Romaine Salad Caesar dressing, Grana Padano, house made breadstick, avocado, sweet pepper bacon. This was a festival of all the right flavors. They grilled the lettuce, and the dressing was a thing of beauty.
• All of the breads were fresh and different. One of those extras that makes a good meal great.
  

But of course the best part is always the company at Girls Night Out. Love to Linda and Stacey two of my favorite ladies.

Snack for Dinner

So my Dad is not quite up to cooking a full meal just yet, nor are we wanting a full meal sometimes. This was his great snack dinner the other night.
Good cheese, great mustard, fresh bread and a little roast beef, so nice and very simple.

Corn Salad

I made this for Mother's Day Brunch, one of my favorites. My Dad was not so sure about this when I describe it, but one taste won him over.

This is the recipe for 6 servings

4 ears fresh corn (cut corn off off the Cobb)
1 tablespoon small dice red onion
2 fresh mangoes small dice (I like to peel the mango then slice, I find I get more mango this way).
1 tablespoon fresh cilantro minced
2 avocados small dice
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
Salt and Pepper

Optional: Grilled Chicken

Mix all ingredients together and let sit for at least 45 minutes. Do not use a metal bowl.

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day......