Columbus Restaurant Week 2014: Flatiron Bar and Diner

Who wants to cook dinner on a cold and dreary Monday?  I'm pretty sure the correct answer is no one.  So of course Chris and I strategically planned our restaurant week visit last week to Flatiron on a Monday to combat the cooking issue.  Our friends Emily and Rob joined us for an evening of comfort food to the excess!

After a busy Monday we started with cocktails.  I got a Classic Vodka Martini, up with a twist, this was smooth and delicious.  I don't know why but I've been into the more simple and classic martinis lately.  Enough with the fruit loop triple berry sugar this and that I want less frills and higher quality!  Maybe its the winter weather making me feel not as festive?  Who knows.  Either way I don't mind where this new cocktail liking is headed, it feels very vintage and swanky if I do say so myself!

Classic Martini, up with a twist

Chris got the Sazerac made with rye whiskey, peychaud and agnostra bitters with an Absinthe rinse also served up.

Sazerac

We were a little early so once Emily and Rob got there and we started chatting I missed my photo op of their cocktails but they got a French Martini and an Old Fashioned of which they enjoyed.  We all ended up doing some version of the prix fixe Restaurant Week menu which ended up being super filling!

To start Em and I had the Egg Comfortage, a medium boiled free range egg on a bed of southern greens and toast topped with baconized pimento cheese sauce.  This was delicious.  I could have ended the meal right there I was so pleased!  I was a little worried how all the flavors would meld together but they sang in great harmony!

Egg Comfortage

Chris got the Hawaiian Bread Buns to start, which was comprised of three sliders: sorghum glazed pork belly, pickled shrimp with fried mirlitons and ravigote sauce and chicken confit with shaved brussel sprouts and a bourbon cranberry jam.  I snagged a bite of the chicken confit and it was very good.

Hawaiian Bread Buns

Next was Oxtail Soup with Fried Gnocchi with pickled pearl onions for one half of the table. Housemade Sauerkraut and Potato Cake, smoked pork over a toasted caraway applesauce for the other half.  I think the resounding reviews were that these were okay but nothing to write home about.

Oxtail Soup with Fried Gnocchi

Sauerkraut and Potato Cake

Final course was House Corned Beef with smoked tomato jus, schmaltz potato salad and creamed kale for half the table.  The corned beef was delicious and it was a very generous portion, most of which I ended up taking home (that made great corned beef sandwiches for another dinner that week).  I enjoyed the creamed kale, Rob wasn't so much a fan though so I think its something that's more for kale lovers like myself.  The potato salad was good, a great hint of mustard made it less boring than your typical potato salad.

House Corned Beef

The other half of the table went with Chicken and Waffles, maple bacon hush puppies, buttermilk fried chicken, sriracha aioli and candied pecans.  Emily and Chris said it was good but Chris said it didn't quite compare to his true southern C&W experience.  They would have liked a sweet syrup served with it since the hush puppies didn't have much of a maple taste but they said the chicken was very good.

Chicken and Waffles

We were stuffed little piggies by the last course came around so we decided no dessert for us.  We lingered a bit to digest and enjoy the ambiance of the little building.  It's very interesting and you can read on their website how it has become a Columbus icon with its unique architecture and history. 

You walk in and are greeted by the bartender behind a beautiful mahogany bar that has some scattered high tops adjacent to it.  As you continue in to the restaurant you walk past what I'm pretty positive is the kitchen itself or at least a main food prep station which is kind of cool walking past as food is being plated. Then you get to the cozy dining area that is painted a dark brown with dim lighting for a speakeasyish feel. 

The service was great, our server was very nice, accommodating and attentive.  Overall we had a generally good experience.  Since it is a comfort food focused menu it makes for a rich dinner but would be good for a little diet splurge.  I liked the off the beaten path feel plus the free parking right behind the building is a plus in the chilly weather!

So we are off to Michigan this weekend for Chris' cousin Noah's gymnastics meet.  We are so excited to see him tumble and flip around!  Then of course Sunday is the Superbowl so we will enjoy that when we get back.  Some pretty new shoes arrived on my doorstep yesterday so I'll be sharing the newest addition to my shoe family next week!

Have a great weekend!

Cheers!
Steph

Red Carpet Risks: The Grammys

Awards season is in FULL swing especially with an abbreviated timeline because of the Winter Olympics it seems like all I do is post about the looks of the red carpet!  That being said I'm trying to switch things up other than just fashion hits and misses but include some fun fashion topics!  Plus what better way to wind down on a Sunday while still soaking up the glamor than a cocktail?  So there's one of those too!

This week I thought we'd highlight red carpet risks.  I'm not talking about white after Labor Day kind of risks here.  We're talking Jennifer Lopez's plunging Versace dress at the Grammys in 2000, Lady Gaga's arrival via a human sized egg at the 2011 Grammys, fashion moments.  The "OMG WHAT are they wearing?!" moments.  They either go down in history, leave us a little confused or provide some shock value for the moment, or all of the above!

This year's Grammys was no exception, check out my top red carpet risks this year:

I love Giuliana Rancic's bright orange Alex Perry dress.  The color isn't one we've seen lately and the plunging sheer and lace detailing provide a wow factor that works!  This little mama has still got it!

Katy Perry on the other hand might have taken the musical theme of the show a little farther than necessary.  Although I'm all for a full layered tulle ballgown I'm not sure this risk was worth it.

Paula Patton took a walk on the wild side with this lion and zebra themed dress.  Just enough crazy for the Grammy's but still flattering to her figure.

Ryan Lewis and Macklemore stood out in the crowd for the guys with shiny hounds tooth and teal velvet suits!  Definitely a nice change from the classic black (or recent trend, navy) the hounds tooth is a little bit of a busy print for a full suit but isn't super jarring.

Now, on to the cocktail.  I call this the Red Carpetini, the glitz and glam of the carpet in a martini glass!

Red Carpetini
(Makes one serving)

Ingredients:
- 1 and 1/2 oz. citrus vodka (if you want something a little sweeter try vanilla vodka instead)
- 1/2 oz.  raspberry liqueur
- 1 oz. cranberry juice
- small bottle of champagne to top off

Instructions:
- Combine all ingredients except for champs in a cocktail shaker over ice.
- Shake and pour into a chilled martini glass.
- Top off with champagne.
- Enjoy!

Well that's all for the red carpet until March when the Oscars come around then we have to wait until summer for the Tony's!  I've got all kinds of blogging to catch up on now!  A post from restaurant week plus some new shoes are coming my way so I'll be sure to share!  Happy Monday!

Cheers!
Steph

The Color of the Carpet: Navy at The SAG Awards

Sorry this is a little behind but what a week!  This past weekend was the SAG Awards and the stars definitely brought their A game to the red carpet!  I couldn't help but notice that navy/dark and royal blues were the popular dress colors.  I for one am a big fan of navy for formal occasions, its a nice change up from classic black.  Here's my favorite stars who shined in navy!

Julia Louis-Dreyfus

 I love the one shouldered two toned design of this dress, makes it a little more modern but keeps it classy.

Anna Gunn

 I don't know why but I'm a sucker for high neckline, full sequined gowns, just. beyond. beautiful!

Kelly Osbourne

 This dress just hugged Kelly in all the right places, absolutely stunning dress from Zac Posen!

Jennifer Garner

 Jennifer Garner is such a classic beauty.  There's not a lot of frills to the dress but it just works!

Even the guys got in on the navy trend wearing navy jackets!

Chiwetel Ejiofor

Ross Matthews

Well there's the quick version of my SAG awards favs!  This weekend it's off to Holiday Valley for a family and friends ski trip!  Don't worry, I'm not actually skiing this close to the wedding, I'm far too accident prone!  Instead, Momma and I are working on wedding things (121 days to go!).    

Stay warm, Cheers!
Steph

Local Foodie Moment: The Pint House, Short North

Well we are in the home stretch in our new restaurants of 2013 list!  (I know, I'm a little behind but it's been a hectic few months!)  The day after Christmas, Chris and I typically recoup from all the travel and crazy of the holidays so cooking dinner tends to be low on the priorities list.

We decided to try The Pint House in the Short North.  Since it was the day after the holiday and it was a little earlier, about 6pm, it wasn't crowded so we found a table right away.  Chris' brother and our friend Joe decided to join us.  We had heard a lot of good things from our friends that have been to Pint House before but they warned us it gets pretty crowded in the evenings.

The restaurant has an industrial look with exposed brick and garage doors separating the two main rooms but they have some interesting details that make it unique.  As you walk in there is a waterfall wall with a painting behind it, upon closer inspection you realize the waterfall element is actually beer taps.  This serves as the backdrop for their photo booth which turns a causal dinner into a goofy string of photos with friends!

Beer tap waterfall!

We decided to split the Short Rib Nachos, tortilla chips topped with beer braised short ribs, black bean corn salsa, beer cheese sauce, diced tomato, jalepenos and drizzled with sour cream.  These were delicious, the short rib meat was nice and tender and the beer cheese sauce was awesome, definitely an elevated version of nachos!

Short Rib Nachos

I ordered the Black Bean Burger although I'm not vegetarian, sometimes I don't mind eating like one!  This was served on a brioche bun topped with housemade BBQ sauce, avocado mango salsa with a side of fresh cut fries and their housemade beer brined pickle.  This was super yummy and I honestly didn't miss the meat at all, the burger had a great texture as well as nice flavor to it.  The fresh cut fries were great, served with some malt vinegar and it was just perfection.  So many places claim to have fresh cut fries but they tend to be a let down, this is NOT the case at Pint House.  The beer brined pickle was good but I don't really discriminate, I couldn't really taste any difference in taste with the beer brine.

Black Bean Burger

Chris got the Beer & Cheese pizza, bacon, caramelized onion, cheddar-jack cheese and beer cheese sauce.  The flavors were great but it was pretty rich so it might have been better paired with a salad to cut it a bit or as a dish to share alongside something else.

Beer & Cheese Pizza

Service was good, a little discombobulated at times though.  One girl started serving us, then another came over then we finally told them they were both waiting on the same table and they managed to sort it out.  The food runner from the kitchen tended to be a little snippy for my liking and a smidge sarcastic.  Joe ordered a fish sandwich, on the menu said it was served with lettuce, tomato and onion.  When the runner brought it out there was no lettuce, tomato or onion so Joe asked why it wasn't on there.  The runner replied that it just depends who makes it if it gets made to menu specifications, ummm excuse me?  I'm no genius here but that's some bad PR for your restaurant that you openly admit inconsistency.  Either way Joe had to ask for his sandwich toppings before being able to enjoy his meal.  Maybe they were understaffed with the holiday, who knows.

Overall we had a good time, the food was good and the guys loved the vast beer selection and the cool vibe.  We definitely won't mind returning in the future!

Tonight is the Luke Bryan concert with some girlfriends and I'm SO excited!  A little fun with friends and some LB is just what I need to help me forget this cold weather.   (I know, I live in Ohio, it's part of the job description but about this time every year I'm ready to move south for the winter!)  Saturday is the SAG (Screen Actors Guild) Awards, hopefully I'll get to watch, I'll be sure to report the fashion yey's and nay's and maybe post a little red carpet snack!

Cheers!
Steph

Kicking Off Red Carpet Season, the Golden Globes!

Well last night kicked off another fabulous and fashionable award season.  I have to admit I tend to love the red carpet shows more than the award shows themselves.  Don't get me wrong the hosts tend to be great and the suspense of who wins what is attractive but I mean the fashion, COME ON, its like Christmas morning!

I'd have to say my best dressed goes to Julia Roberts.  I mean the woman is a stunner!  I loved the dress with a little bit of bling around the waist, so classic and sophisticated then the hair was just the icing on the fabulousity cake (I can't help it, I'm a sucker for big hair).  Apparently the collared shirt top was a controversial element as I saw her on some sites worst dressed list (how rude!).

via US weekly

My worst dressed goes to Zoe Saldana, in her E! interview she said she's friends with the designer.  By the looks of that thing she should cut all ties with that person.  I mean it was just all over the place, they basically took a little black dress and gunked it up with stuff that looked like bad Christmas wrapping.

via US Weekly

Honorable mentions:

Reese Witherspoon

via US Weekly

I loveeee this color on Reese, it's perfect with her pretty blonde bob and the cut of the dress flatters her in all the right places.

Sofia Vergara

via US Weekly

Oh that Sofia just stuns every time!  Maybe its just me but if there's ever a question of if to wear a full ballgown or not, I'm almost always going to vote YES.  She adds a little bit of sexy with the fit showing off her waist but keeps it very classy with simple black and a hint of color with a statement necklace. LOVE IT!

Lupita Nyong'o

via US Weekly

A cape to the Globes? YES, YES YES!  This color is stunning on her and the dress itself is perfect for her body shape, so timeless and elegant!

Horrible mentions:

Lena Dunham

via US Weekly

As a girl that's definitely not a size 2, I understand the struggles of finding a dress that flatters a fuller figure.  That being said, whoever told Lena this was good for her body shape was clearly blinded by the dress color.  It's too tight and its just not flattering, not to mention the color doesn't compliment her fair complexion.

Zooey Deschanel

via Huffington Post

Oye where do I even start?  For such a pretty girl Zooey picked the wrong dress.  I love the light airy layered tule but I would have much preferred to see her in a fitted bodice rather than that frumpy cap sleeved top.  It just makes her look wider than she is and the color isn't the greatest.

To kick off the glamorousness of awards season coming our way I decided to come up with a cocktail that sparkles like the celebs on the red carpet, a Pear Elderflower Sparkler.

Pear Elderflower Sparkler
(makes one)
 Ingredients:
- 1 oz. pear vodka
- 1/2 oz. elderflower liqueur (St. Germain)
- 5 oz. (give or take) champagne
 
Instructions:
- In a shaker with ice, combine pear vodka and elderflower liqueur, shake and pour into a champagne glass.
- Fill the rest of the glass with champagne.
- Toast to the stars and enjoy!

This is nice and light, a little on the sweeter side but delicious.  If you want something with a little less kick you can take out the vodka but what's the fun in that?!

Seems as though I'm on a bit of a roll with blogging this week, I hope I can keep it going!  Next up, I've got a few leftover Local Foodie Moments from our new restaurants list, next week is restaurant week and of course we gotta throw in some shoes!

Cheers!
Steph

Sunday Soup: Fresh Tomato Basil Bisque

Happy New Year everyone!  This is a little late but I came down with a nasty little tummy bug that left me with zero blogging energy.  Then by the time I felt better I was off to a three day conference in Sandusky.  Hope you all had wonderful New Years celebrations and have stayed warm with the recent crazy weather we've had!  Anyways, it's been awhile since I posted a Sunday Soup so why not start off a new year of blogging with it!

For some reason I have a major aversion to regular tomato soup.  I mean can you blame me?  Soup that you could make by essentially watering down ketchup, blech.  But when a tomato basil bisque is presented to me I'm a pretty big fan.  Probably because it has a little more texture and the really good ones are made with delicious cream (hey hey chubby soup, where did that wedding diet go?).  So when we got these super cool (or should I say SOUPER cool?  Hah man the corny never stops here!) soup and sandwich plates I was inspired to make soup!  Chris' mom got us these soup and sandwich plates for Christmas from uncommon goods.  Chris is a big grilled cheese and tomato soup fan although our recent dieting has curtailed our bread purchases, but ANYWAYS, back to the soup.

I stumbled upon this recipe through Kitchen Daily and decided to give it a whirl since it sounded nice and fresh without the added calories of heavy cream.  Although tomatoes aren't really in season right now I figured it was still worth a shot.

Fresh Tomato Basil Bisque
(about 3 servings)

 Ingredients:
- 3 large tomatoes, diced (you could also use a can of diced tomatoes)
- 1 c. yellow onion, diced
- 1 Tbsp. garlic, minced
- 1/2 c. fresh basil, roughly chopped
- 32 oz. chicken stock
- extra virgin olive oil (about a Tbsp.)
- pinch red pepper flakes
- sprinkle of parmesan for topping

Instructions:
- In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat.  Add onions and let cook until translucent (4ish minutes).

- Add garlic and let cook about a minute.
- Add chicken stock, tomatoes and basil then season with salt, pepper and red pepper flakes.  Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer for 30 minutes.

- Use an immersion blender to blend the soup so there's no more large chunks.  This is just preference, you don't have to blend it if you don't want.

- Serve and enjoy!

This turned out really yummy with a nice little kick to it (I might have been a little heavy handed on the pepper flakes)!  Definitely a good replacement for that condensed stuff and there's no cream in it.  I wish it made a larger batch so in the future I'll double it when making for lunches.  But if you are looking for enough for one meal than this will be just fine.  It was also pretty easy, didn't really require a lot of ingredients or effort.

Well it's time to kick off red carpet season with the Golden Globes so stay tuned for a glamorous cocktail and a review of the red carpet fashions!

Cheers!
Steph