Restaurant Widow

Last Minute Valentine's Plans

If your late efforts for Valentine's Day dinner reservations are being thwarted, here are some last-minute suggestions:

The Burgundy Room in the Short North is accepting reservations for the first time this Valentine's Day.  I spoke with a manager there and they still have a few spots.  call 614.464.WINE (9463).  The Burgundy Room is nice because you can eat a lot or a little, sampling new and interesting things, and try some great new wines.

BoMA has been sending me so many Valentine's-related emails I can only assume they have spots open for Valentine's Day.  A quartet from the Columbus Symphony Orchestra will be serenading you while you dine; the prix fix menu is $75 and reservations are required.  Call 614.233.3000.

10 More Things You Probably Don't Care if You Know

Last year I did a piece on "10 Things You Probably Don't Care if You Know," and I thought I'd do another one this year, seeing as there is rather a dearth of cooking happening in my house (do you really want to know about my 10th loaf of bread?  More about my frozen dishwasher?)  So, without further ado . . .

1. I have a bit of a pen obsession.  Anyone at work will tell you I am very careful who gets to borrow a pen from me, even though I always have enough pens in my apron to provide one to each old lady who wants separate checks no matter how many there are at the table.  I even keep a few un-Lisa worthy pens in my pocket, just for doling out to my lesser-prepared coworkers.  I am very suspicious if ever I catch another server with my brand of pen, because, you see, there is only one pen for me: the Pilot G-2 clickable roller ball gel pen, preferably in the .05cm tip (they can be a challenge to find).  Black is preferable, but occasionally I like to work in blue as well.  The mini size (available only in the lesser, but bolder, .07cm tip), work perfectly with my Moleskin reporter's notebook, they clip on and are just right.  I can only feel comfortable if I have about 30 G2s in the house/handbag/apron/desk at a time.  I must have one within reach at all times.
2. I loathe the Food Network.  Loathe, loathe loathe.  It fills me with rage, just to see the logo flashing on the screen.  I used to really dislike Mario Batali, with his sausagey fingers and his creepy little pig eyes.  His mispronunciations and misinformation are a source of much derision here at Chez Widow.  Husband and I get a kick out of watching him just to point out everything he says that isn't factual.  It's a hoot.  These days, I can tolerate Mario because in truth, much of his food is appealing.  Mario was the Food Network's last remaining bastion of hope.  And soon he'll be gone, too.  Rachel Ray and Giada Lollipop head (ever notice how her eyes bulge whenever she's about to take a bite of something at the end of the show?  That's the only thing she's going to eat all week) only have to show up on the screen for me to start going into raging fits of profanity.  Stop smiling so hard - it's creepy, okay? 
3. Left to my own devices, I will eat nothing but carbs.  I could eat potatoes covered in fried rice with gravy made from egg noodles.  And still have some bread on the side.  There is nothing I love more than a carb covered in salt.  The pure beauty of a simple, cold, boiled potato dusted with salt is an amazing thing.  Don't even get me started on potatoes poached in duck fat.  Or noodles tossed in schmaltz.  Or foie gras dirty rice.
4. I'm actually a little bossy.  I've tried to be better at this since I made a boy cry at work last year when he refused to learn how to properly clean the cappuccino machine (I don't like lazy workers - sue me).  Recently, when we hired a new boy, I said "Hi, I'm Lisa.  Sometimes I make people cry.  Even boys.  You don't look like the sort who would cry, now do you?  DO YOU??"  This one hasn't cried.  Maybe I am getting better.
5. There aren't many things I compulsively shove into my mouth with abandon.  I prefer to remain slightly more civilized.  That being said, I could eat the skin from an entire roasted chicken standing at the oven, as soon as it's cool enough for my heat-resistant little fingers to pry into.  Fortunately for me, Husband can't stand chicken skin and never complains when his plate arrives at the table, chicken perfectly skinless.  He's also nice enough to eat the white meat, which I don't care for.  I will never understand why everyone loves white meat so much; it's almost always dry, pasty, and tasteless.  I am always the only one at Thanksgiving who will opt for the turkey leg, with pleasure. 
6. I love crime television, and I will watch almost anything, no matter how terrible.  It's only been recently that I've finally given up on CSI:Miami; I just couldn't groan through anymore over-acted melodrama.  From the good, high days of Lenny Briscoe Law & Order to the low, low Criminal Minds (I can't help it, I'm in love with that Matthew Gray Gubler), I love it all.  I also love the X Files.  I was informed at an early age from my classmates that I was a nerd and I have never looked back. 
7. No matter how old I get and how much I know I should be eating my whole grains, I still like white bread better than whole wheat.  Except the wheat bread with sunflower seeds in from the Winds.  I could eat that bread every day.
8. I drink more beer than wine.  This used to scandalize Husband's regulars when he worked at the Bar.  How could I be married to such a wine guy and be caught dead with light beer?  Well, as any wine person will tell you (any honest one, anyway), the best part of a wine tasting is the beer at the end.  It's refreshing.  Furthermore, it's cheap.  One can't always be lounging about with $18 glasses of pinot.  Well, not this one, anyway.
9. It is impossible for me to drive past a field of cows and not shout "MOO!"
10. I cannot convert to digital technology to save my life.  Husband gave me his PDA when he quit being a manager and I played solitaire on it for a few days before handing it back over.  I tried to switch from a paper calender to the Google calender and missed a deadline.  It just doesn't work.  I must have a notebook full of lists of things to do along with a paper calender with the dates they must be done.  I can't be the only one, because so far it's never been difficult for me to purchase a paper calender at Staples.

Well, there you have it.  Now we're even better friends.

Snow Covered Crumbs

It's going to be a long time before anyone is sitting here...

Folks, it's cold here in Columbus Ohio.  Cold and snowy.  In typical Columbus fashion, road crews seemed taken by surprise with the weather; streets in my neck of the woods still haven't been plowed or salted.  Oops - I'm not here to grouse about public services (COTA did get me to work in an hour yesterday - 4.5 miles, better than I could have done myself); I'm here to discuss food.  But here's the kick in the teeth:

does it ever happen to you that suddenly nothing seems to be working?  My computer has stopped recognizing my MP3 player, and I've been stuck with the same 300 songs for over a week now.  Everything in my house appears to be frozen - the water line to the fridge, all of the hot water to the kitchen, until yesterday my clothes dryer had ceased operations (kudos to the electric guy who showed up on time and got it fixed!), but the worst part of all is that the water line to my dishwasher is frozen!  (something one would only discover, of course, when one had a dishwasher full of dirty dishes to be washed)  With our predicted temperatures, I see no thaw in sight.  I'm about one plate away from doing things the old-fashioned way - kettles full of boiling water thrown into the sink.  Yikes.

All of this to say, I can't be forced to cook under these circumstances!  Nor encouraged to venture far from home to try new things.  I do, however, have a few crumbs to pass along:

• Pistachio Sweet Kitchen is moving from their charming Short North shop to larger digs in German Village.  The new home will be located in the former Thurn's bakery spot at 541 S. 3rd St.  This is not to be confused with Thurn's Specialty Meats, which I wrote about recently.  The press release hinted they might be considering some dessert-only table service, which would be a great addition to our fair city.  A fine dining restaurant had originally been planned for the space; a late summer opening is planned.
• The opening day for the much-anticipated (by me, anyway) Rosendale's restaurant is set for Saturday, March 17th.  A gutsy move, as most folks open on Wednesdays to work out a few kinks before the weekend.  St. Patrick's Day is always a weak day for non-partying restaurants, so perhaps it's a wise move.  Pictures of the food on the website look stunning.
• Things I've eaten this week you haven't:  A giant oyster.  I believe it might be known as a Miyagi oyster: after a little research, I've learned the Miyagi is a Pacific oyster (imported from Japan in the early 1900s) which can grow up to 10 inches in length!  Yes, that's right.  10 inches.  I hope you can see by comparing it to the lemon wedge in the photograph that this is one giant oyster.  It was probably as big or bigger than my cupped hand.  And I have rather long hands for a girl, 10 years of being chained to a piano will do that to you.  Fortunately, I was not expected to slurp this baby down raw (the thought is a little revolting, I must admit, even for an oyster lover); it was cooked over a flame at Kihachi, bathed in a little mirin.  It was quite entertaining to watch Chef Endo (who prepares the hot food at Kihachi) cook these guys as they sputtered, popped, and spurted juice into the air as they were heated.
  
• If you are interested in learning about "Fair Trade" coffee, or just the coffee racket in general, you might hop over to the Wexner Center this week to see Black Gold, a documentary about a man's mission to prevent his farmers from going broke.  It promises to be very enlightening, and will probably make you think twice about complaining about the price of coffee.  By the way, one can purchase fair trade coffee at Stauf's in Grandview.  The movie is being shown this Thursday and Friday at 7pm.  I just might take it in myself, if I can brave the cold.
• If the restaurants where Husband & I work are any indication, you are unlucky if you haven't made your Valentine's Day reservation yet, unless you would like to dine at 10pm.  Maybe you could try your hand at crafting Valentine's Dinner for yourself!  Or do as Husband and I do, and celebrate your own love-themed holiday the week after Valentine's Day, when all the crowds have settled down. 

Return of Weekend Cat Blogging

I've received a few e-mails inquiring after the Chez Widow Zoo, wondering if Weekend Cat/Insect/Dog/Whatever I find lying around Blogging would return.  Well, as I never stop taking pictures of my cats, here you are.  Plus, I have an announcement to make.  It's kind of an irresponsible announcement, I suppose, a confession and an announcement.  You see, Husband and I thought we could contain an "in tact" kitty in the house, suffering through nights of whining and wailing, with no repercussions until we decided when to have her fixed.  How foolish we were.  The night of our Christmas party, Mimi's biological drive surpassed our best policing efforts and she came home later, smug and sleepy.  We are expecting Tinies 2.0 sometime around Valentine's Day. 

Here's little Mama Mimi, waiting her turn at the refrigerator watering hole (Ike is shown in outline behind her.)

Crumbs

• Some sad news, this week - for those of who have relied on Food Lovers Companion for brief descriptions and pronunciation help, and to settle bets at work.  Sharon Tyler Herbst, author of my favorite quick reference tome, died this week from ovarian cancer.  You can read the AP obit here without registering or jumping through hoops.  Can a real journalist explain to me why the writer chose to put the title of the book in quotation marks instead of italics?  I'd appreciate that.  Sorry, it's the English major in me.
• July 21st marks the release of the final book in the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.  Pre-order your copies through me and I promise to use the 4% return to bring you more food news.  I will be incommunicado for the 85 hours it will take me to read book 7, so don't expect to hear from me July 21st - July 25th, okay?  Yes, I, along with the other 5 million people pre ordering the book, am a total geek.  I admit it.  Sometime you can ask to see my extensive graphic novel and comic book collection, and I'll prove it.
• I would like to declare that Mi Mi cafe has the best pho I have ever tasted.  Husband and I had a Mi Mi revisit yesterday, and it was even better than the first time, if possible.  The broth is lively with cinnamon and spices, the beef is good, the meatballs are filled (for better or worse) with fat pockets, there are bits of tendon to chew on, and the tripe is cut into slivers, making it chewy without its usual rubber-band quality, yet it isn't cooked into mushy submission, either.  Their banh mi (Vietnamese sandwich with liver pate, mayo, ham and pickled veggies) is the best I've had in Columbus; it might be my favorite sandwich, hands down.  Now, as I have stated before, I have never been to Vietnam, so I can't speak for its authenticity, although I know some of you have, so you should visit and give me a report (ahem, hem).  I am sure in a Ho Chi Minh back alley, there would never be beef slices, meatballs, tendon, and tripe all in one bowl.  As Husband and I were leaving, patting our satisfied bellies, I said "I think that might be the best $16 2 person lunch in the city."  That's $16 for 3 entrees (we have to try everything, we're gluttons) and a pot of tea.  Three people could conceivably eat for $16, folks.  Please go, and go often.  If they close, I will cry.  Read my first review here.
• Husband and I also had a Basi Italia revisit, our first in far too long (the last time we were there it was blisteringly hot outside, if that's any indication).  Their Caesar is still the best in the city, chicken is still only one of two chicken entrees I would order in a restaurant (the first being G. Michael's fried chicken), and my special entree of monk fish medallions with lightly cooked root veggies, foie gras ravioli (yum!) and port redux was really great.  I probably should have skipped the limoncello chaser, but hindsight is 20/20, as they say.
• My no-knead hard rolls turned out nicely, but I will spare you further details.  I am going to experiment with cultivating our own ambient yeast, since we seem to have a few tasty strains in our house.  A friend told me recently that her bread-baking grandfather used to say that the more you baked bread, the better your bread would be because you have more yeast floating about.  I have no idea if this is true or not, but each time I make this bread it tastes better and better.  This might be in part to my laziness - this past batch rose for a total of 28 hours, because we were in and out of the house so much.