Shrimp with Garlic and Parsley

The simplest ingredients make some of the most flavorful dishes where each ingredients shines but mesh together in a tasty way. This recipe is a great way to create a sophisticated shrimp dish without a lot of effort...the power of spices is amazing. These shrimp are definitely don't boring and have a bit of heat to them. If you are looking for a quick weeknight meal, pair these shrimp with some tomato soup or zucchini tots and a salad for a healthy dinner. I didn't thaw my shrimp so there was a ton of liquid that that I needed to drain off. When you do that you lose the juice that helps keep the shrimp moist and adds an additional flavor component. However, the shrimp were still yummy nonetheless and for those that don't like a broth than you may be okay with forgoing the broth.

Ingredients:
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon paprika
1 lb small shrimp, peeled, deveined and thawed
2 tablespoons lemon juice, fresh
2 tablespoons, dry white wine (I used Uppercut)
Pepper
Fresh parsley
Lemon olive oil

Directions:

In a saute pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add in the garlic, red pepper flakes and the paprika. Heat until it becomes fragrant. Then add the lemon juice, white wine and shrimp and stir.

Cook over high heat for about 5 minutes until the shrimp are opaque and pink. Season with pepper and parsley then serve.

Houston Restaurant Weeks - Haven, A Seasonal Kitchen

Since brunch is my favorite, I had to try someplace for brunch for Houston Restaurant Weeks. Haven, A Seasonal Kitchen is a very unique restaurant in that many of the ingredients used in the dishes are grown on the property or sourced from local places in the Lone Star State. They have a large patio that is covered with plants and a bubbling waterfall. The interior is modern, bright and simple. When you walk in there is just a wave of serenity that comes over you. I started with a nice refreshing rum punch "brunchtail" (yes, this is my special name for a brunch cocktail) of rum, apricot liqueur, pineapple juice and lemon. It almost tasted like a lemonade so it was a perfect summer beverage for a broiling hot summer's day. It was a little sweeter than some drinks I have had in the recent past, but it was exactly what I wanted for this catch up session.

One of the things that I had heard about multiple times about were the shrimp corn dogs. This childhood treat is a giant shrimp on a stick coated and fried in a traditional corn dog batter. It was served with a tabasco mash remoulade and a baby glass of lemonade. The sauce had a bit of a kick to it and the lemonade was very sweet to balance the flavors. The corn dog batter was very traditional in that it was a bit sweet and the shrimp were tender. The remoulade was well composed and balanced out the sweeter batter and the lemonade. This dish was super playful and really unique. I can honestly say I have never had a shrimp corn dog before, but it was very delicious.

For my second course, I chose a whole roasted tomato with ratatouille, quinoa, purple hull pea hummus, olive oil and balsamic. I have never had ratatouille before but it was fairly delicious. Though I am not a huge fan of eggplant, but the taste wasn't super obvious and the dish was very comforting. I love quinoa as is is very filling and you can do a ton with it! The purple pea hummus was the perfect consistency and tasted exactly like hummus. I will have to start experimenting at home to make different hummuses. I had a lovely and relaxing meal at Haven and will need to go back to try their regular menu as well as their raw bar, The Cove.

Houston Restaurant Weeks - Lucille's

Lucille's is a neighborhood gem that I had begun to hear lots of rave reviews about, so it was only appropriate that I take advantage of the Houston Restaurant Weeks and check it out. I have found myself being much more open to trying different liquors in my cocktails these days, so I opted for a kiwi bourbon drink. I don't think that I have had a kiwi cocktail before and I am just beginning to explore the bourbon world, so I was taking a huge risk here. What I found was it not not sweet, it had more of a tang to it and the bourbon was subtly apparent in the aftertaste of the kiwi. Most people think that when you use fruit in something, it automatically makes it sweet which isn't the case. For me this was a good experimental drink and was pleasantly surprised.

I feel like I am not a very good Southern girl because I haven't had some of the staples until recently and fried green tomatoes was just another example of me failing. Thank goodness that this was on the menu so that I could rectify that. This dish came with four fairly large pieces of tomato coated in a spicy cornmeal breading and served with a spicy aioli. The tomatoes themselves didn't taste like a normal tomato. To me they were milder and less acidic which went well with the spicy cornmeal. There was quite a bit of heat to it, but not enough to overwhelm the dish. The aioli had a bit of heat to it, but balanced out the tomato. I am glad that I got to try them as I feel much more in touch with my Southern roots.

And speaking of becoming more Southern, I decided to try shrimp and grits in the Houston fashion. Based on my experience in Charleston were every version was different, I had no idea what to expect. What was delivered to me was something like a cross between shrimp and grits and a light gumbo. There were grits in the bottom of the bowl topped with shrimp and lots of andouille sausage with a sherry tomato broth over it all. The sausage wasn't spicy but had a nice flavor. Between the shrimp and sausage it became a very filling dish. The broth helped keep everything moist and the consistency of the grits made the very sturdy. These were stone ground grits which are ground using a traditional mill so they have the corn bran and tip cap in them (the little specks you see in the grits). This would be a lovely meal for a cooler fall evening as it it very hearty.

For the sweet finish, I chose the bread pudding. When they brought it out, I was shocked at how small the serving was and then that it was served in such a large bowl. The middle of the bowl was proportionate to the piece of bread pudding but there was a huge rim on the bowl that seemed like it didn't belong. After I got over the interesting presentation, I found that the bread pudding itself was just normal but the sauce it was served with was what made it so tasty. It sort of tasted like a caramel cream rum sauce. I was a denser sauce, but had a lovely combination of flavors. The berries on top added some freshness and texture to the dessert. Though I wasn't overly impressed with dessert, the rest of the meal was very fulfilling and so I will definitely be back to try the regular menu. Don't let the fact that this place is a little hidden deter you from trying it out.

Too Cute Cru

Sometimes you just need to get out of the city to clear your head and get a fresh perspective on things. A trip to the Deep South is just the thing the doctor recommended, so I packed my bags and headed to Charleston, South Carolina. Though Texas in the South, it's not quite the same. I wasn't quite sure of what to expect from Charleston, but I heard it was a beautiful place so I figured I probably couldn't go wrong with that. I wasn't quite sure what I was expecting, but Charleston didn't disappoint! So join me as we take a walk through the lovely city of Charleston.

I'm sure it's not hard to imagine that this journey will be filled with food and drinks because those are two of my favorite things, so the trip started to a quaint little place called Cru. Recommended to us by the hotel, this little spot is tucked away in a old house with a tiny porch that was full of charm. It was quite packed even for being after the usual lunch hour, but fortunately we had called ahead for reservations. (Reservations at pretty much anywhere in Charleston is a must!) After we had ordered, a basket of rosemary sourdough bread showed up on the table as well as a Fat Tire ale to help us plan the rest of the day. Whether they like it or not, my travel companions were pretty much required to share (Why not? You get to try so much more on the menu that way!) First up was a portobello mushroom mozzarella wrap with shoe string french fries. The french fries were slightly salted and crunchy with the nice soft inside. The wrap had tons of fresh, local veggies and melted mozzarella.

Though it was a little toasty outside, I couldn't help myself when I heard what the soup of the day was - truffle mushroom bisque. It wasn't a very heavy soup, it fact it was very delicate, but packed with tons of flavor. Though sometimes truffle can be very overwhelming, it complimented the mushrooms extraordinarily well. I ordered this with a grilled shrimp BLT. The bread was extra toasty and there was a very light layer of mayo, which I appreciated since most of the times there is way too much. This is the South and they do know how to properly cook bacon where is it super crunchy but somehow still, slightly chewy. The shredded lettuce was a nice touch so that there wasn't one bite with just bread and lettuce. The shrimp were grilled and juicy, not like some I have had. There really is a difference in that taste of fresh seafood. This little place should definitely be on your food list (which might get pretty long) to visit the next time you are in Charleston. This was a great place for a lite lunch to refuel ourselves for the next stop. Next up...Boone Hall!

REEF

There are sometimes when I just in the mood for some seafood, but I am not very familiar with the seafood restaurants in the area. At the recommendation of a very trusted source, I grabbed a friend and headed over to REEF. Located in Midtown, REEF is a hot spot that is drawing attention from all over the food world. I started off with an adult fresh berry lemonade and one of their super delicious rolls with a jalapeno jelly. The lemonade was refreshing and full of natural berry sweetness. The rolls were light and the sea salt on top was a nice touch. I usually shy away from anything that is remotely related to jalapenos, but I gave they jelly a try and was pleasantly surprised. It was sweet with a kick, but the flavors were well balanced. I stared off with a warm shrimp salad with haricot verts and spiced pecans. The shrimp and pecans were delicious, but I was not really a fan of the micro greens that were served with the shrimp.

I am never going to turn down macaroni and cheese and when I saw fried mac and cheese on the menu it was a must have. To be honest, I know that it doesn't look all that visually appealing, but I can assure you it was yummy in my tummy! There was a panko breading on the outside and the mac and cheese had a bit of heat to it. The spiral shaped pasta made sure that there was sauce on all parts of the noodle. It was soo delicious (definitely worth the calories though) and I will be making another visit. And you can't finish a wonderful meal without a fabulous molten chocolate cake. It was served with vanilla ice cream and a raspberry coulis. The cake was decedent and the ice cream didn't have the usual artificial vanilla taste. The molten chocolate was rich and almost a fudge like consistency. It was a heavenly end to a perfect catch up dinner! If you haven't been to REEF, be sure to go.

Eighteenth Cocktail Bar

Sometimes you need a change from the traditional bar scene and Eighteenth Cocktail Bar is the perfect place to do just that. Take a step back in time to the Prohibition era bar where you can sip on old school drinks and munch on house bites that are sure to satisfy. In case you aren't familiar with the staple drinks of the past, they are definitely something you need to try at least once in your life. Some of my favorites are Pimm's Cup, Mojito, and Bee's Knees. If you are a fan of fresh flavors that aren't overly sweet, then these should definitely be on your list. Whether it's cucumber, gin, and lemon (Pimm's Cup), mint, rum, and lime (mojito), or gin, honey, and lemon (Bee's Knees), these are sure to be pleasing to the palate. However, I was feeling super adventurous and decided that I was going to try the infamous Ramos gin fizz. This specialty cocktail is made with egg and becomes a frothy, heavenly beverage. Fun fact - it because it takes about 10 minutes to get the egg frothy, so it is somewhat time consuming to make. I know it sounds a bit odd, but give it a try because it actually turned out to be one of my favorites of the night! (Shout out to the bar tenders for their hard work to make such a wonderful drink!) However, one can't usually go to a bar now without ordering some kind of food, so we started with The Eighteenth Sliders. These sliders were served with a cheddar jalapeno aioli and kettle chips. These patties such packed a lot of flavor and weren't your average slider, especially with the yummy aioli. If you are looking for something extra spicy, be sure to order them with extra jalapenos.

Next up was the capicola margherita flatbread, which happened to be my favorite. This flatbread was topped with capicola, tomatoes, fresh basil, garlic and drizzled with balsamic vinegar. The bread was soft and not soggy from the toppings. The fresh basil kept the pizza from feeling too heavy and the capicola was a unique twist and made it feel a bit more substantial. The chimichurri chicken panini isn't your average sandwich because of the sauce. It added a smoky flavor note to the sandwich, which took it to the next taste level. I really like that they used wheat bread because it adds an earthiness to the panini and to be honest most places don't use it, so it's just a nice change. The kettle chips are crunchy, not super salty, and have a yummy smokey spice sprinkled on...much better than the bland regular potato chips that are usually served. (Plus they go great with the sauce.)

I know that shrimp cocktail isn't usually anything to write home about, nor is it something that I would usually order at the bar, but I figured this was a good opportunity to break out of the norm. The best part was how pleasantly surprised I was by the cocktail sauce. It was not your normal red sauce because how many times have you had jalapeno cocktail sauce, which made a huge difference in the dish. If you are a fan of shrimp cocktail, this is definitely something you need to try because it's not what you are expecting. I am still a child at heart and get really excited when places have a grilled cheese on the menu. This was a brie and proscuitto grilled cheese and it was heavenly! The brie had a touch of sweetness to it that balanced well with the salty proscuitto and melted perfectly. The best part is pulling the halves apart and watching the melty cheese stick together. This was a close second with the flatbread for my favorite bite of the night. For me this was an upscale way to enjoy one of my favorite childhood foods.

I can honestly say that I wouldn't have expected a Caprese salad to be on the menu, as it's most definitely not your typical bar food...but Eighteenth Cocktail Bar isn't about giving you the typical bar experience. I don't think that I should really ever be a judge of Caprese salads because I don't like the tomato - which is a problem since that's a major component of the dish. Luckily, I was with someone who did eat the tomatoes, so between the two of us I feel better about making a judgement on the salad. The fresh basil and mozzarella were well balanced and the balsamic vinegar gave it the touch of acidity that it needed. But what's not to love about cheese and basil?! Eighteenth Cocktail Bar is a great place to relax and catch up with friends. You can't help but forget about the world when you step inside and find yourself watching old school black and white movies, sipping on an Old Fashion. Whether you are looking for delicious food or unique cocktails, you can be sure you will find it at Eighteenth Cocktail Bar. Be sure to mark your calendars to head on over to their grand reopening on Friday, June 7! It will be a great time to eat, drink, and celebrate the start of the weekend. Cheers!

Genghis Grill

I usually try to stay in the know on the food scene, but some how this one managed to squeeze by me. Luckily, I have friends that watch out for me, so I was introduced to Genghis Grill. This is a Mongolian barbecue restaurant where you can create your own meal. You pick your protein, seasonings, veggies, sauce, and starch. I opted for shrimp and a few pieces of calamari, but they have beef, pork, chicken, fish...basically whatever you want. You can add seasoning to your protein like garlic, pepper, cajun seasoning, and lemon pepper. Add in your veggies like peppers, onions, carrots, broccoli, corn, mushrooms, and many many more. Then come the sauces with everything from dragon sauces to citrus ginger and regular soy sauce. If you are looking for a lower sodium option, you can try garlic water which is minced garlic in water. Last, but certainly not least, you get to choose the starch. You can pick brown or white rice, tortillas, or noodles, but I was feeling healthy so I skipped the starch. This is great place to go if you are looking for a quick bite and lots of food!

Table for Tapas, Please!

Photo Courtesy of Amsterdam

So getting to go on vacation and see a friend was a real treat, especially when it happens in the beautiful city of New York! I haven't had the opportunity to visit the Upper West Side during my previous travels to New York, so this was great. We went to this place called Amsterdam Restaurant and Tapas. I love tapas because you get to try a ton of different things and you don't feel overly full afterwards. We opted to try fried calamari, spicy Thai garlic shrimp, duck tacos, and sweet potato and apple pierogies. We got so caught up in the delicious food and chatting that I didn't get to take many pictures, so forgive me.

The calamari had a great seasoned coating and the remoulade sauce was amazing. The spicy Thai garlic shrimp were super spicy, but they were light and full of flavor. I have never had duck before, but we were feeling adventurous so we gave it a shot. It wasn't too bad, but it really wasn't my favorite and I probably won't be trying it again. The duck was similar to chicken and the sweetness of the pear added an interesting twist to it. However, it was the sweet potato and apple pierogies that were the favorite of the night. For those of you that don't know what a pierogi is, it's a dough that is first boiled and then fried and stuffed. I would have never put together sweet potato and apple together but it was heavenly! It was fluffy, sweet, and full of autumn spice. These are definitely something that I would eat more often if I was closer... but it's probably good that I'm not.

Since we were in the area, we of course had to take a detour through the Columbia campus. Even at night it was beautiful, though much smaller than some of the other campuses I have been to (which isn't all that surprising). This was the main library of the campus when it first opened, though it has since been changed to an office building. I didn't get to see it during the day, but I am glad that I got a chance to visit while I was up there. It's definitely something to stop by and see if you are in the area.

Super Simple Seafood Supper

I am a little bit picky about my seafood, mainly just because I don't like when it tastes fishy, so I don't usually tend to cook it at home. However, I was ready for something different. During one of my recent visits to Pinterest, I found this recipe for spicy shrimp on Cooking Melangery. It is simple and fresh and takes about 5 minutes to make.

The ingredients you need are shrimp, olive oil, garlic, crushed red pepper, lemon juice, white wine, and salt and pepper. The directions are pretty easy. Saute the garlic and red pepper in the olive oil. Add the shrimp, lemon juice, and white wine. Stir and season with salt and pepper. Cook until the shrimp turn opaque and begin to curl. That's it...seriously. I don't know how you could not want to make this. This is definitely a keeper recipe! The shrimp had a nice spice to them from the red pepper and soaked up the cooking broth, so they were moist and delicious.

I got some rather delicious garlic basil pasta from Trader Joe's that I served the shrimp with. I paired it with some homemade garlic bread and a salad. It was a super healthy and fresh dinner that took less time to make than it did to eat. Now that's what I call a simple supper that is easy to entertain with. You can find the full recipe at http://www.melangery.com/2012/01/shrimp-with-garlic-and-parsley-best.html or on my Pinterest board. Try and see for yourself how simple and yummy it is!