Category: RESTAURANTS

12 July, 2012

Cancun Palace Cuisine

A vacation is like love – anticipated with pleasure, experienced with discomfort, and remembered with nostalgia.

UNKNOWN

While in Cancun I mentioned that I divided my time between the beach and the spa, but I forgot to tell you the best part…the food! Forgoing my favorite Mexican pastime of drinking, I chose to eat my calories instead of drink them this year. The day usually began with breakfast overlooking the ocean. OMG!

With at least four courses at every meal, boy oh boy did I eat. A typical meal, at the restaurants, started with some bread on the table with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and Parmesan cheese.

While devouring the bread, they would bring out our salad of choice. I was over the moon when I saw my favorite Caprese Salad on the menu.

I did dabble in the Caesar Salad option too. The presentation was exquisite with long romaine lettuce leaf base.

Chris would usually forgo the salad, favoring a plate of meat. Beef Carpaccio is something I could never eat. Raw meat makes my stomach roll just thinking about it.

Usually you pick soup or salad, but that’s not the case in Mexico. Next up would be a delicious bowl of soup, and since we were so close to the ocean, most options were loaded with seafood like the Bouillabaisse Soup.

By the time the main course arrived, I would be praying that I ordered something light so I could still enjoy dessert. The Salmon Au Dill was the perfect proportion with a side of provencal asparagus.

The night I ordered the Ricotta Gnocchi Tricolore was painful. It was such a dense meal, I was asleep 20 minutes later.

The most over the top entree served was the Lobster with Risotto Nero Di Seppia E Gamberoni. All I know is that it involved calamari-inked sauce, so I stayed as far away as possible.

The desserts were my favorite part, so I always hoped I had saved enough room to squeeze them in. I was not about to pass up the Mascarpone Cheese Tiramisu.

With Chocolate Lasagna on the menu, you made room for dessert. I’m talking about chocolate crepe stuffed with dark and white chocolate mousse with toasted almond essence.

You would think that in Cancun that the Mexican food would stand out above the rest, but Chris and I tend to gravitate towards the Asian fare because that boy loves him some sushi.

He orders the craziest things like the Octopus Nigiris. If there are tentacles showing, get it away from me!

I prefer the greener items like Edemame. They served the most amazing edemame I have ever eaten. The flavors from the grill were out of this world.

If duck was on the menu, Chris ordered it. The Pekin Duck came laced with honey and spices.

I chose more traditional items like the Kung Pao Chicken.

The Asian Zen restaurant also featured hibachi grills with the most remarkable fried rice I have ever laid my eyes on.

We even were able to squeeze our whole party around the grill.

I have neglected to tell you about the best part of the whole restaurant, and the trip for that matter. The Banana Tempura has topped my list as my favorite dessert of all times. It’s hard to even describe it brilliance, but I’ll let you know it is like a warm version of a banana split with strawberry syrup dripping in each bite.

I didn’t even question why I had gained two pounds at my doctor’s appointment on Monday. It was worth every bite.

What is your favorite dessert of all times?

16 June, 2012

Alfredo’s Mexican Café

I am in charge of how I feel and today I am choosing happiness.

UNKNOWN

I work one Saturday a month, and today is the day. My bank organizes a book drive each year, and the most excitement of the day was the delivery of these little gems.

We always get some pretty interesting donations, which I blogged about here in the past, but I was shocked to see Dave Ramsey has a line just for children. He mentions how product placement is used everywhere, from books to toys, to implant ideas into children’s minds. For example, having a MasterCard register for toy shopping carts to instill that credit cards are something people use everyday. I think it’s great that he is teaching life lessons about savings to children too because I know I have learned a lot from him.

After a long week of working, eating out is always a nice option, so Chris and I decided to try a new Mexican restaurant.

Alfredo’s Mexican Café

I am on a tour to find my favorite Mexican restaurant in Oklahoma. There are so many differences between the cuisine here and what I grew up on in Kansas. The downside is I am yet to find a salsa that can even compare. Alfredo’s salsa tasted just like any other down here with its chunky tomato base, but they did offer a corn salsa alternative.

The benefit of the options down here is that you get complementary cheese dip and homemade tortillas!

But the best that comes on the house has to be the sopapillas, and Alfredo’s knows how to make a dessert. Look at these mouth watering little donuts.

For dinner we decided to split the fajitas. It works well for us because Chris likes the meat and I am all about the veggies.

Even though Alfredo’s had a long list of sides, including potato options and corn, I had to go with the traditional rice and beans.

I really enjoyed my experience here, and might even be tempted to do a little catering in the future.

The flavorful salas mission continues.

Does your favorite Mexican restaurant serve sopapillas?

2 June, 2012

Cafe Evoke

The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart.

ELISABETH FOLEY

A good friend helps you break your perpetual habits, and that is just what my friend Mel did when she introduced me to Café Evoke. It is a charming restaurant located in the heart of downtown Edmond.

Instead of commercialized coffee at Starbucks, I was treated to a new environment and a heavenly iced caramel macchiato, served in a real glass.

Did I mention the cookie too? Well it was an amazing sugar cookie with a lemon twist. My mouth delighted in every chewy bite.

Not only does Café Evoke do wonderful coffee, they also have a charming little café menu with sandwiches, salads, and soups. I was slightly disappointed we chose a four o’clock meeting time, which left no room for a Caprese Salad.

For days when coffee does not do the trick, they also serve craft beer and wine which can even be enjoyed at their modern bar atmosphere.

Modern and contemporary is definitely a theme throughout the café. It is even displayed in a personalized mural wall.

I am so grateful for good friends who get me to break out of my shell and try new things. Keeping it local does have its benefits.

What is your favorite local coffee shop?

12 May, 2012

Food Tour

Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try.

UNKNOWN

I like to have fun at work, so when my co-worker told me she had an Ugly Meter application on her phone, I was all for testing it out. After getting all my facial features lined up, they took the shot and then rejoiced when I got a ten.

I was warned not be bummed if I scored low, since my co-workers were shooting in the mid-range. I guess they didn’t read the fine print because a low score on the Ugly Meter sounds good to me.

Too cheer me up they decided to take me on a Food Tour, hitting up all their favorite spots. The tour began with coffee at The Red Cup.

I choose the Sexy Mexi, which was coffee blended with a mix of cayenne pepper and cinnamon topped with whipped cream and sprinkles.

It hit all the right notes with a pleasant mix of subtle heat and sweetness. For lunch, there was only one option. I had been hearing about the Frito Pie for months now, so it was inevitable that I must try it.

It was worth every bite! Vegetarian Chili topped a generous layer of Frito chips, giving each bite a tantalizing crunch. The toppings of melted cheese, sour cream, olives, and green onions were satisfyingly fresh.

I could have called it a day, but there was an afternoon planned with shopping and more food from the Paseo District. We said goodbye to the charming Red Cup location and were on our way.

The next stop on the Food Tour was Sauced restaurant, where they feature specialized New York style Neapolitan pizza, vegetarian, and vegan delights.

After still being full from lunch, I was happy to see their menu offered individualized slices.

The Lady Margarita called my name along with a tall glass of Wild Hop Lager. We were warned to only order one slice due to their massive size. I am glad I listened.

The slice overwhelmed the small paper plate with its oozing cheese and garlicky crust. Pizza and beer proved to be an amazing combination here.

The Food Tour was a success, and I now feel like I have a better appreciation for the Paseo District with its charming shops and mouth-watering food.

Have you ever had cayenne pepper in your coffee?

8 May, 2012

Happy Birthday Mel!

Playing dress-up begins at age five and never truly ends.

KATE SPADE

Happy Birthday to my former roomie and partner in crime, Melissa!

Destiny brought Mel and I together six years ago when I moved to Manhattan, KS, and it brought us together again when she took a job in Oklahoma City. We even dabbled in the roomie thing again, while she did a little apartment hunting mentioned here.