Reeds American Table

Janet Jackson had to cancel on us and we suddenly had an opening on our calendar. We decided to keep date night to try out Reed's American Table. Let's just say it was still a night of watching super stars.

We really had a hard time picking out what to eat since we had seen so many recommendations online, and there were small plates as well as entrees. We couldn't decide between cocktails or wine either.

So we told our server, just order for us!

That's really the best way to try several dishes and we didn't have to make any decisions! (That's important during the work week.)

We ended up starting the evening with four small plates, splitting them all. The first two were some of the most popular dishes: Bacon Fat Fried Corn Bread with honey and thyme butter on top and a Pork Belly with shaved brussels, shiitakes, leeks, carrots, and maple-date jus.

Corn Bread

Pork Belly

If you look at the menu, each of the small plates listed below are paired with a cocktail! The first two came with a Martinez Lacuesta and a Dolin Blanc.

Small Plates Menu

The second round of small plates included the Roasted Cauliflower and a Pork Scrapple that came with a poached egg, brussels, and sage aioli. These were paired with a Imbue and a Ransom Dry cocktail.

Roasted Cauliflower

Pork Scrapple with a poached egg

I didn't know what a scrapple was and our server explained that it is pork mixed with polenta, chilled, then fried.

We really had our heart set on the Braised Beef Cheek so we had an extra small plate come out and I think this was the best one of them all! The beef cheek came on focaccia bread with oven dried tomatoes, arugula, and foie gras cream. So no wonder it was so rich and delicious!

Braised Beef Cheek

Then it was time for our main courses and we both already knew we'd be taking home enough for lunch the next day.

Again, we both got winners: Steelhead Trout on top of mushroom risotto and fried brussels and the Pork Chop on top of sauteed greens, mushrooms, potato, caramelized onion, marsala cream, and black walnuts.

Steelhead Trout

Pork Chop

These were perfectly paired with a Paul Vattan Sauvignon Blanc and a Etna Rosso, respectively.

Even though there were a few chocolate items on the dessert menu, we really just could not eat anymore!

Just a heads up... if you like what you see here, you might need to hurry because they definitely will be changing their menu up.

I was thrilled the experience lived up to the hype and I really like what they've done with the upstairs space. The lighting was a little dim so although it was romantic, I did struggle to read the menu. But it all worked out in the end when we tossed the menu to the side.

Resources:

Reeds's American Table - http://reedsamericantable.com/

Photos by Patience Scanlon

PW Pizza Schlafly Beer Dinner 2015

Since Patience is a huge fan of Schlafly, we didn't want to miss this year's pizza and beer dinner with them. We guessed correctly that their fall beers would be featured.

Menu

We started the night outside in the perfect October weather for the first course: Caprese Crostini with roasted tomato, parmesan, and a balsamic reduction paired with one of our favorites, Kolsch.

Caprese Crostini

The first pizza course was my favorite since the Chicken Alfredo had so much flavor and was paired with another favorite, Oktoberfest. You can see the provolone and blue cheese oozing on top with red onions and spinach.

Chicken Alfredo Pizza

I think the Roasted Butternut Squash pizza could have been just as good, but the goat cheese, broccoli, pecans, and cranberries kept falling off the crust. I made a huge mess trying to serve it. This was paired with the old stand by, Pale Ale.

Roasted Butternut Squash Pizza

And of course the dessert course paired the Pumpkin Ale with a Apple Roses pastry. This had a beautiful design that included apricot, coffee beans topped with caramel sauce and more ground coffee beans.

Apple Rose

Yet, the best part of the night was going downstairs to the 21st Street Brewer's Bar and getting to sample a new Schlafly beer. No photos were allowed so let's just say it's very light and refreshing!

Resources:

Schlafly = http://schlafly.com/

PW Pizza = http://pwpizza.com/

21st Street Brewers Bar = http://21stbrew.com/

Photos by Patience Scanlon

Fairview Lounge

Since I needed to cross the river into Illinois this weekend, I met a fellow foodie friend for lunch. Since it's mostly chain restaurants in Fairview Heights, she came up with a super unique place to eat that's within walking distance from her house.

Unique reason #1: It's in a gas station
Unique reason #2: It's Peruvian cuisine

When I walked in, instead of rows of chips and gum, the inside floor space really is used for tables and chairs as well as a bar in the back, with quite a few taps.

Bar

Since I had some partners in crime to help me, we started with a large order of Yucas Fritas, which came with three different sauces.

Yucas Fritas

We started on those since we had to wait on the empanadas and they were worth the wait. The empanadas were jammed packed with beef, onions, tomatoes, olives, and spices.

Empanada

We also started with an order of Boudin balls, which were densely packed with sausage, rice, and red pepper inside. You can find these listed on the back of the menu with a few Cajun chicken options as well.

The highly recommended chicken kabobs definitely lived up to the hype. The large hunks of chicken were incredibly tender. Almost forgot to get a picture in time!

Chicken kabobs

Since I don't know of any other Peruvian restaurants in the area, I have to admit that I'm really curious and hope to try it again sometime. I might have to make more friends on that side of the river!

Resources:

Fairview Lounge: http://www.bnd.com/living/magazine/article20032563.html

Riverbend

Unfortunately, this restaurant has closed.

Even though we're a year and a few weeks late, I finally got to take Patience to Riverbend so she could enjoy New Orleans-style cuisine for her birthday.

The new location is a lot closer to us so that worked out really well since we had to wait. There is a small bar and plenty of TVs everywhere, so it's a very casual environment with the menu listed on a folded piece of paper. And if you have kids with you, you can play "count the number of fluer de lis" since they are everywhere!

Yet, the simple menu is chock full of all your favorites like gumbo, po-boys, etouffee, hush puppies, and jambalaya. It was very hard to narrow down our choices.

The cocktail list is also New Orleans influenced and Patience tried her first Sazerac...quite boozy!

Sazerac

We started with a cup of chicken & sausage gumbo and crab cakes.

Gumbo

Crab Cakes

I went safe for my first time with a Fried Shrimp Po-Boy, with a side of Red Beans & Rice. The sandwich was so large that it was easily two meals.

Shrimp Po-Boy

Red Beans & Rice

Unfortunately, Riverbend has closed.

With the waiter's help, Patience chose the Crawfish Margaret Pasta. It had quite a kick and lots of little crawfish throughout. Also, two meals!

Crawfish Margaret Pasta

Since we were celebrating a birthday, we just had to get dessert to go with my singing. Highly recommended, we finished off the night with a House-made Creole Bread Pudding in whiskey sauce. Very heavy and sweet.

Creole Bread Pudding in whiskey sauce

We are definitely going back to try more...

Resources:

Riverbend = http://www.riverbendbar.com/

Photos by Patience Scanlon

Wine Merchant Cheese Class

It has been so long since I went to a Wine Merchant cheese class, that I hadn't gotten to try out the new location yet. I was concerned since I had a hard time finding the parking lot behind the building but all my concerns went to the wayside as soon as I walked inside.

First off, kudos on the huge ramp to the back door.

Second, there are two floors and a separate tasting room that looks like a board room with comfy leather chairs. And then there is STILL room for a tasting area.

Two bathrooms and an elevator. It's that sweet.

Although my favorite part was these giant maps!! (Don't worry, there is still a ton of room for wine on the floor.)

Wine maps!

Since I was there on a Friday night, they had a California bubbles tasting going on... great way to start the weekend!

Now on to the class... I wish I had taken a picture of the board room, I mean tasting room. You feel like a posh executive. It was even better with this wine and cheese list.

Wine and Cheese Pairing list

The first two wines were whites and were plenty high in acid to cut through the richness of the goat cheeses. Both cheese were soft and not too gamey, which you can get with goat cheese. The second pairing was a nicely matched wine and cheese from the Loire Valley, France.

A red wine was definitely needed to be paired up against the Black Truffle cheese from Italy, so a Primitivo  from Puglia, Italy was paired. Both had bold flavors, and that was just the start of the "in-your-face" flavors for the night.

A little bit of an "opposite" pairing was the Cabernet Sauvignon from Yakima Valley AVA in Washington state paired with the Cabot "Clothbound" cheddar from Vermont. This cheese is one of their special edition ones and  had quite a kick to stand up to the Cab.

The most intense pairing was the 2013 Herman Story Syrah, made from grapes all over California so it has a generic Califnoria AVA label. The Amirabella reminded me a lot of Epoisses. Both the wine AND the cheese had that barnyard smell and very funky taste! Woah! But what an explosion of flavors together!

(Why yes, I did purchase some Epoisses using my class discount!)

Then Jason was super nice and gave us a bonus pour of Non Vintage G.D. Vajra Barolo Chinato Vino Aromatizzato paired with dark chocolate almonds. I almost ate the entire box myself.

Resources:

Wine Merchant = http://www.winemerchantltd.com/