Happy hour…the place where you can kick back and enjoy a beer from one of Austin Brew’s  selections, or a simple cocktail.

As an early pre-party Thanksgiving celebration, a few of my friends and I went downtown to  McCormick & Schmick’s  for their late night happy hour. Their usual happy hour last until 7pm, but their second happy hour is from 9-10 pm.  This works out great for my schedule, since I’m a busy college student who  works and goes to school.

 McCormick & Schmick’s  offer great seafood dinner plates that cost about $20 during normal business hours. The place would be ideal for a nice romantic date. During happy hour, a few selected items cost $1.95-$4.95.

Laura looking at the menu.

I really enjoyed McCormicks, it’s affordable and good. Appetizers during happy hour are cheap. I was really hungry so I got calamari, buffalo quesadillas, and a Sangria. I’m usually a margarita type of girl but since they don’t offer frozen margaritas, I’d thought it would be nice to try a new cocktail.

Buffalo Quesadillas

Sangria

Fnan Gelai

Graduating UT senior Fnan Gelai said she would go back to McCormick & Schmicks. “I really like it a lot it’s a really good happy hour for college students. I think it’s very reasonable and the food was good…but they need to have frozen margaritas,”said Gelai.

Overall, the night ended great. We are all so busy that it was great to meet up and unwind for girls night out.

McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant
401 Congress Ave.
(4th St. and Congress Ave.)
Austin, TX 78701

Phone: 512.236.9600
HOURS:
M-WED: 11:00AM-10:00PM
TH-FRI:  11:00AM-11:00PM
SAT:        4:00PM-11:00PM
SUN:       5:00PM-10:00PM

538 Ramona St
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 322-6872
www.coupacafe.com

I think this is one of the first places where I really felt like I ordered the wrong item(s) on the menu. A couple of friends and I wanted to have a lunch date so we looked up a few places on Yelp! and settled on this little cafe based on the positive feedback and the enticing photos. It was a little confusing at first because its door wasn’t a typical glass door. The door looked like it belonged to somebody’s house so we actually walked passed it a few times before finally deciding that it must be the right place.

I had read sooo many good reviews about the Spicy Maya Hot Chocolate so of course I wanted to try it out. While I wasn’t as impressed as I thought I would be about the taste, I do have to give them an ‘A’ for presentation. I guess I shouldn’t be complaining since how elaborate can you be with spicy hot chocolate? It was good, but it tasted exactly like the spicy hot chocolate that my roommate in college used to make…and she would just buy the mix at a regular grocery store in the Hispanic foods section. If you’re craving spicy hot chocolate, just buy the mix from the store. It’s much cheaper.

As for the food, none of us were too hungry so we wanted to sample California Mozzzrella arepa and Mediterranean panini. The panini was okay… nothing special but it wasn’t bad either. However, the only taste that was prominent were the sun-dried tomatos. I couldn’t make out the mozzarella or the pesto that was supposed to be in it. Next time I would probably order a different flavored panini…or just go to Panera Bread.

As for the arepas that we ordered, I found that dish to be rather bland. It might be because the one we ordered only has sun-dried tomatos, mozzarella, and basil. I personally didn’t like the white cornmeal griddle for the taste or the texture. That is just my opinion though. I definitely was expecting more but since arepas are pretty much a snack food, I guess it makes sense that there wasn’t as much substance as I expected.

Even though I wasn’t impressed with what I ate here, I would still be willing to give this place a second chance. A lot of their other items on the menu look good and I’m surprised I didn’t order empanadas! Honestly, I think it’s what I ordered that dampened my experience here. If I ever come back again, I’ll definitely be ordering something that has more flavor.

The word “Eucharist” is taken from the Greek to mean “to give thanksgiving.” It is a verb, an action word. Giving thanksgiving to God is perfectly accomplished when we attend Mass and celebrate and/or receive the Eucharist (the real Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ).

Attending Mass on Thanksgiving morning is a perfect way to start the day, and it helps to keep our focus on Christ.

We’ll have tonight’s Behind the Dish post for you a little later. In the meantime, we thought we might satisfy your curiosity about what kind of Thanksgiving we’re planning for our day off tomorrow. Maybe you’re envisioning our family sitting down to an elaborate feast of authentic traditional foods lovingly prepared together. Well…not quite!

The truth of the matter is: When you cook six nights a week for a living, and even more on top of that for a catering business, the last thing you feel like doing on a holiday is COOKING! On the contrary, you can’t wait to sit back and let someone else do the cooking for you!

Normally, that might mean going out and looking for a restaurant where someone else is serving up a traditional Thanksgiving feast. But here’s another secret: In our family, most of us aren’t crazy about turkey. So what do we do? We go to the Siam Cafe on St. Clair Avenue and order up a Peking duck and all the trimmings for a great Chinese dinner.

We hope you have a terrific Thanksgiving tomorrow, however you celebrate it. Remember, if leftover turkey loses its appeal quickly for you, we’ll be back Friday, ready to help out, and with another great James Beard dish in the lineup. And if you just feel like doing something different tomorrow, or your original plans for the day should fall through, you’re welcome to take your cue from the Parker family in A Christmas Story and give something different a try, just like we do. Take it from us: there’s nothing like that “Chinese Turkey”!

Here at SavannahBest.com, we tend to feel obligated to try most newly opened eateries. After all, our regular readers expect us to keep you up on the latest nibbling news, even if it’s just another ho-hum tex-mex spot. This one, at 217 W  Broughton St., is at least a great downtown location. Well. It was love at first bite! Only a distant cousin to tex mex, and definitely not Mexican, it’s, well, T-Rex, I guess. The pork taco—soft tortilla style—proved to be a large quantity of delicious pulled pork with shredded romaine, fresh-made salsa and jack cheese. The brisket burrito was moist and tender brisket of beef rolled in a honey wheat tortilla with diced roasted poatoes, both black and pinto beans, jack cheese and fresh salsa. And there’s lots more to the menu, which we’ll dive into soon again. Most intriguing: a jerk chicken burrito, a tilapia burrito, plenty of salads and tofu dishes…and more. Try it, you’ll like it!

Come on out and see all of the new changes in our restaurant.  We have a wonderful new lunch and dinner menu.  Starting this week we have a new drink menu for our members to enjoy.  Try a Peanut Butter & Jelly Martini, or a Carrot Cake Martini.

Cold?  We have 12 new hot drinks on our drink menu that include Chocolate Covered Cherry Coffee, Mandarin Mocha, Banana Split Coffee, and many more.  Starting this week also, we will be putting together our new wine menu.  Come on out and see all of the new changes!

See you around the Club,

Braden

Eating out on a Tuesday afternoon isn’t usually the most dynamic dining experience.  In downtown Vancouver, midweek lunch tends to bring out the business types, texting with one hand and eating with the other.  In the air, there’s none of the anticipation of the evening or the energy of the weekend.  Throw in some dreary November weather, and it’s a recipe for eating at home.  

All of which makes Coast, a new seafood place in the heart of the downtown business district, a little unusual.  When I showed up at 12:30 Tuesday, the restaurant – all two floors – was full, with a line of people waiting inside for a table.  

At the big circular bar that dominates the bottom floor, diners were crowded elbow to elbow.  In the middle of the bar is a kind of seafood tower: a glowing column whose bottom tier is packed with ice and laden with crab, shrimp and lobster.  It’s a dramatic way to showcase the catch of the day, and it says a lot about Coast’s efforts to do seafood differently. 

I made my way past the bar and up to the second-floor balcony for a table overlooking the action downstairs.  The volume and the heat radiating from the crowd below takes a little adjusting to: It feels more Friday night than Tuesday afternoon.  

Coast’s focus is on locally caught seafood.  In fact, the menu spells out not just where your fish comes from but who caught it and aboard which ship.  There are some innovative items – temaki cones with tempura halibut, dungeness crab gnocchi – but the emphasis at Coast seems to be on letting the fish speak for themselves.  Dishes are patently unpretentious: fish and chips, oysters, huge shared platters of lobster, crabs and prawns.  There are few fancy sauces or elaborate confections to hide behind.  It’s a bold move, and one whose success hinges on sourcing super fresh fish.

I started with the octopus salad, big chunks of tender, marinated squid on a bed of greens.  Then, a classic: New England clam chowder, all fresh clams and smoked bacon.  Finally, after a side trip through Coast’s sushi menu, I finished with the dungeness crab cake.  The recipe seems to have cut out all the stuff that goes into the typical crab cake – the bread crumbs, the heavy shortenings, the seasonings – and just left the fresh crab.  It’s maverick.  It’s obvious.  It works.          

Which is true of a lot of what Coast does.  The food is simple and abundantly fresh.  The place is fun and loud and full of life.  It’s not rocket science, but few places get it right.  On a rainy Tuesday afternoon in downtown Vancouver, what more could you ask for?  

Have you had a chance to eat at Coast? Do you like the high-energy seafood vibe?  Please share any comments below.

Remy Scalza

www.remyscalza.com

A travel blog about places you haven’t been

Beware of santas bearing bad news.

If you aren’t one of the 3% of shoppers who are actually done with the Christmas shopaganza, welcome to the club. My friend, you need a strategy. Timing is everything, and what you’re in the market for should determine where you go. Here are some things to consider when drawing up the Black Friday shopping game plan.

Welcome to Anthony’s Woodfire Grill! This restaurant features specialties from its custom-built rotisserie, applewood-burning oven and an applewood grill. As a part of the Anthony’s family, Anthony’s Woodfire Grill serves signature fresh Northwest seafood selections such as margarita crab, as well as applewood roasted St. Louis style ribs and sirloin beef kabobs. Explore the culinary delights while enjoying a great waterfront view. When the weather allows it, you can also dine outside and relax in the fresh, clean air. Visit Anthony’s Woodfire Grill on Sundays to enjoy a rich brunch! It is located just off the I-5 corridor in the Everett Marina Village next to Anthony’s Home Port Everett. For more information, visit the Snohomish County Destination Guide.

Oh no! Despite reading Turkey Torching Tips for Guys, you have a great big, fully-cooked, deep-fried Thanksgiving turkey on your hands. You examine it minutely and discover there is no little red zip tab to open so you can take out slices. What now?

That’s some big old avian cadaver you got there, buddy. There’s only one manly way to divvy it up. That’s right: chainsaw.

Wipe off the chain and call the manufacturer to see if you can safely spray it with Pam or a similar food-grade lubricant. Use a clean bedsheet as a dropcloth to gather the “sawdust” for making turkey salad.

Observe all chainsaw safety rules, including use of protective eyewear. Imagine having to answer the question “Hey, what happened to your eye?”

Start ‘er up. Slice away. Man, that sounds great!

Clean out your Shopvac; use it to remove pulverized turkey shreds from the bedsheet drop-cloth before sneaking it into the laundry hamper. This may save your marriage. Reserve meat shreds for turkey salad.

Chow down, dude!

Clean the saw completely before using it to to prepare the winter woodpile or make those goofy lawn sculptures.

Disclaimer:The above is provided for amusement, not actual cooking; chainsaws have been known to malfunction when used on small objects and/or soft matter. NationsCapital is not responsible for interpretations by the humor-impaired, mentally-challenged, or emotionally-disturbed. If English is not your native tongue, please ignore this post. Yes, we are aware that people are injured while improperly using chainsaws, so keep it to yourself. Jeez, what a country.

Image by Mike Licht. Download a copy here. Creative Commons license; credit Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com

I was talking to a guy friend whose  life is dependent on dessert, about my favourite Rum Ball, & he has no clue what a rum ball is! So I went around asking & to my amazement, there are people in my circle of friends who have never heard of rum ball. Isn’t the two words quite straight forward? Rum. Ball. If you know what’s a chocolate ball, you must know rum ball too,  no?

Rum balls are little gem-like confection, very much like truffles but flavoured with rum. They obviously taste like rum & are sweet. Imagine you’re a chef & how upsetting & wasteful it is to throw away deformed (here meaning not perfect) cakes & brownies. So, these bits & crumbs are mixed into the cookie dough & flavoured with rum. Can also sprinkle some chopped or ground nuts like walnuts, almonds or marzipan (my favourite) before rolling into bite-sized pleasure. Wiki says they are roughly the size of a golf ball but I rarely see this size in Singapore.

 

The best rum ball I’ve eaten is from this small bakery run by old people. Nice ones. They don’t want to share their secret recipe though I believe I contribute a substantial part of their revenue . But they did tell me it takes them 3 days to make, so here’s a picture of the legend (featured last week on some food show on Channel U).

Best rum ball in town $1

Katong Shopping Centre L1

Got kick. I eat this when I’m happy, sad, hungry, need that extra boost for the day or have the extra dollar. Actually, almost everyday, any reason (: It’s a popular Christmas treat in New Zealand, Austria, Australia, Canada & Hungary but my craving for it never stops.

It’s moist, smooooth, richly layered & voluptuously decadent. I’m considering making Rummies for Christmas this year (: Friends, you’re in luck. 

So after ten years of asking, I am honored to say that I have permission to host the big meal this year.  I live in Idyllic Pound Ridge, have a beautiful house that I have spent the last 8 years perfecting, have a perfect country setting, and enough room for 20.  Why wouldn’t you want to spend a holiday here?  I swear if I had cooked for 40+ years for 20+ guests, I would be begging for this change!  Still, all these years have passed and I was not able to sway either my family or my husband’s to try it Pound Ridge Style.  FINALLY my mother in law gave in to my endless tirade (my own mother still refuses).  Sighing, I am sure, she said to my sister in law, OK ALRIGHT ALREADY!  I promise, she will not be sorry.

As I end the decade of my 40’s I have spent years on the perfect Eggs Benedict, Tuscan Steak, Risottos (we will not be having any of  it), acidity vs. sweet, texture, color, presentation, balance, and last but certainly not least: taste.  I have in fact cooked the perfect turkey a few times.  Once my own mother let me bring it to Ridgewood, NJ (where I grew up) and it was the best dish on the menu that year.

This year: we have 14 attending, about 1/2 kids 1/2 adults, and we will be serving: the Turkey: a Fresh Bell & Evans (organics from John Boy the farmer, and another Farm Guilford CT were sold out!) brined and roasted with Chanterelle Mushroom Gravy, two types of stuffing: apple/sausage, and chestnut/cranberry?, mashed potatoes, (turnips, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole brought by others), wild rice salad with apricots and currants, cranberry relish.  For dessert we have Pumpkin & Apple Pies, Bread pudding, coffee, tea, and perhaps some cookies.

I will seat the children with the adults, I will plan who sits where (to avoid stale conversation, and force kids to sit next to adults they don’t usually talk to).  I will hire a table and chairs big enough for all to sit comfortably.  There will be enough room for everyone to socialize, before during and after the meal.  The Kids can head for the TV room in the beginning, but during and after the meal I will FORCE them to sit with us at the table.  I hope they enjoy it! We (my husband and I) don’t have kids, and so will indulge ourselves in conversation that we don’t normally have the joy of sharing.

All of the craziness will be left aside for the day.  A delicious meal, enjoyed over time with family in a lovely country setting will hopefully create memories worth sharing until next year.  Lets see if they let me try it again!  Happy Holiday.

The average American eats out approximately 1-2 times a week and often it is in a restaurant so there are many eateries that capitalize on this lifestyle. There are a variety of restaurants to choose from depending on taste and certain times when it is wise not to eat out.

When ordering your meal take special notes that some words on the menu will be different or have different meanings. An Entrée in a U.S restaurant is equivalent to a main course and an appetizer is what Australians call an Entrée. I am still trying to get used to that system. In some fancier restaurants they offer chips with their sandwiches, just remember that you will get potato chips and not fries like you would normally expect. If you see the term Buffet it is “all you can eat”

When entering a restaurant, first check in with the host. If it is a peak time there will be people standing around everywhere but push through or otherwise you will stand there forever, as you need to get your name onto the list. Peak times tend to be on Friday and Saturday evenings after 5pm and Sunday after 12pm. Many Americans dine out after going to church and then hit the supermarket for their weekly grocery shop. Some of the more popular restaurants such as Olive Garden and Outback Steakhouse will give you a small device that flashes when your table is ready. During peak periods waits of 30-45 minutes are common. People tolerate it, as they know it could be a wait of one hour at the next restaurant. Many Restaurants will hand you a square object with LED lights around it. The purpose of this device is to alert you when your table is ready. When your table is ready the unit will vibrate and the lights on the unit will flash, alerting you and to anyone around you that you have been selected to proceed into the restaurant and away from the hoards of starving people outside.

Once your table is ready and you are seated make sure you get the name of your server and commit it to memory. Sometimes your waiter or waitress tends to disappear and knowing their name makes all the difference when you need to track them down. The have been times when our waiter has disappeared for 20-30 minutes and we have had to send other staff to find them for us. One local restaurant is very lucky that we didn’t walk out without paying after our waiter disappeared for 30 minutes while we waited for the bill on 2 separate occasions. Needless to say we haven’t dined there since.

Once you sit down and are handed the menu, remember that the prices on the menu are before tax. Each city or county sets the tax rate for prepared foods and beverages but is generally set around 10%. For groups of 8 and more there is also a 15% Gratuity added to the bill so the server receives a tip. It seems that restaurants have had problems with large groups forgetting to tip the server, I guess everyone in the group is assuming someone else in the group left the tip and at the end the server is left with nothing.

Non-alcoholic drinks have unlimited refills for the purchase price at most restaurants so if you are thirsty drink up and ask your server to get refills if you need them. Remember that they are there to look after you and that you will tip them according to their level of service. The average wage for a waiter or waitress is quite low (as low as $2.13 per hour) and they depend on tips from customers to supplement their wage, so if you get excellent service leave a good tip. The recommended amount is 15-20% of the bill but I personally tip according to the level of service I receive and how often the server disappears without reason. Amanda has been known to leave 1 penny for poor service (so the waiter wouldn’t think she forgot).

Tipping, or gratuity, is a common aspect of American culture and knowing when to tip and not to tip is very confusing to Australian tourists, or for that matter anyone who has not sampled American culture. Tipping is customary in sit down restaurants, in hotels when you use bellmen or doormen, skycaps in airports and delivery drivers for fast food. You are not expected to tip in fast food restaurants.

One of my favorite aspects of some restaurants is the fact that I can order breakfast at just about any time of the day. I am a big fan of omelets and I have been known on more than one occasion to go to IHOP (International House of Pancakes) and order an omelet with pancakes at 10pm. Denny’s also offers breakfast items such as omelets, pancakes and sausage at any time upon request. Some restaurants such as IHOP, Denny’s and waffle house are open 24 hours a day so you can dine in style at 3:30am if you wanted.

Our favorite restaurant is Applebee’s, which is marketed as a “Neighborhood Bar & Grill”. It offers a variety of sandwiches, shrimp, chicken, steaks and a variety of drinks. It is themed as many restaurants are, in a sports bar atmosphere.

You can choose just about any type of food or setting that you want. Many of the restaurants are national chains, which you will find throughout the country so you don’t need to risk something new and unknown when you travel from city to city or state to state. There is even a popular chain of restaurants that have an Australian theme, which is called the “Outback Steakhouse”. They sell steak, chicken and their “world famous” Bloomin’ Onion. The Bloomin Onion is supposedly world famous yet I had never heard of it. They are very popular but I don’t dine there much as it is a little too spicy for my liking. The Outback steakhouse has a very interesting menu that has lots of Australian names like Botany Bay prawn platter and Prime minister Steak.

Steak restaurants such as the Outback Steakhouse and Texas Steakhouse seem to be really popular and waits can be extensive and booking a table ahead is not possible at many restaurants. However if you want the restaurant quality food without the 45-minute wait and disappearing waiters you can order food to go at many restaurants. You simply call ahead, drive to the restaurant and park (usually there is reserved parking for take out orders) and pick up your food. The advantages of this system are it can be much quicker, cheaper as you can have your own drinks; eat at your own table in privacy, not having to cook and no tipping. You do have to clean up after yourself but that’s a small price to pay when you want to stay home but not cook.

Cafeterias are another draw card in the United States and can be found in many shopping centers and malls. These restaurants work where you pick your food as you move along a line, pay for the meal at the end of the line, then sit, eat and move on. This is very similar to eating in many of the RSL and other clubs in Australia. These places seem to be especially popular on Sunday afternoons and before major shopping holidays. The reason cafeterias are so popular is it is a perfect place to take the entire family, as it is an inexpensive and value meal. The table service at cafeterias is limited compared to other restaurants but then again you aren’t paying for it.

Mexican food has a strong presence in the United States. It seems to be a favorite with Americans probably due to the proximity to Mexico. Mexican food is usually cheap, tasty and inexpensive. If you are concerned about it being too spicy don’t worry, as the menu usually will highlight any dishes that are spicy. The best place to try Mexican food is at a small independent restaurant. If it is staffed by Mexicans than the food is often better as the best Mexican food is an art handed down from generation to generation.  It is well worth trying whilst you are visiting the United States

However you are not restricted to eating exclusively at national chain. There is several small family run restaurants that are often called “mom and pop restaurants”. Many of these serve home-style meals at reasonable prices and the food is often quite tasty. They are a great alternative to national chain restaurants. Personally I prefer the smaller non-chain restaurants as they tend to be cheaper, provide a really nice meal in a pleasant atmosphere and you don’t have to wait 45 minutes for a table. These places remind me of restaurants in Australia far more than the chain restaurants or even the Outback Steakhouse.

Tonight’s James Beard special is halibut with a lump crab and artichoke velouté sauce (a stock-based white sauce). To prepare it, we made a shrimp stock from shrimp and lobster shells that were simmered with carrots, celery and onion, then strained and reduced the stock. We then made the basis for a white sauce and added the shrimp stock with a little black truffle paste and Parmesan cheese. We are serving the entree with a basil pesto torte. A truly elegant and delicious fish dish!

Flickr

I had been there several times before I actually knew the name of the place. It didn’t seem important.  All that mattered was that I could get a good chicken dinner there.  So I called it “the chicken place.”  I would usually wander over with my friend, Nick after spending time next door at The Bourgeois Pig.  We’d sip our lattes and cappuccinos, futz around on the net and then when it was evening, walk over.  There was no plan, it was just understood.

This rotisserie chicken place on Franklin Avenue in L.A. is usually crowded, both for  indoor and outdoor seating.  The low-lit dining room with its tables, booths and red and black decor is inviting.  Those who stop in to drink more than eat like to cluster around the bar… especially while rooting for their favorite football or basketball team on the overhead television screen.   Nick and I prefer an outdoor table under the white Chinese lanterns, if we can get it.  The curb side patio is less crowded and has a laid-back feeling, even with street traffic whizzing by.

One night as we sipped our dirty martinis and dipped our chicken parts into our respective chipotle and garlic sauces, we realized exactly where we were.  We were sitting at Birds Cafe.  Okay, I had seen the name above the bar, but thought it was just something kitschy.  I had also never noticed the name right on the outdoor awning.  When it’s late and you’re hungry, trust me, that’s the last thing you’re looking at.  We also never saw the name on the menu.  Who needs a menu when you order the same thing every time.   But that particular night I decided I would write about this hipster cafe.  So I did some investigating.  I asked our server.

Birds Cafe.  Of course, the name made perfect sense now that I thought about it, and not just for the obvious reason.  There were hints all over the place… a poster of Alfred Hitchcock from the movie, The Birds hangs on one wall while a poster of a large chicken hangs on another.  The restrooms are labeled, Hens and Roosters and there is a human-sized bird cage dangling from the ceiling to the right of the bar.

I could have been just as happy in my oblivious state, but I have to admit, it’s nice knowing the name.  It makes the restaurant that much more interesting with its kitschy Asian-bird decor.  So if you’re looking for an offbeat place to go for dinner, you might want to try Birds… the place I still fondly refer to as you know, the chicken place.

When I was younger, my family would go the buffet often. It was great because I could get whatever I wanted and as much as I wanted. Now, that became a problem because I also had trouble keeping myself from eating, so I became a little over weight. I’m not at all blaming the buffets for that, it’s not their fault, totally mine, of course.

We haven’t been going to buffets because they just don’t seem that good, and they’ve gotten more expenseive. One buffet that we go to sometimes is the China Buffet. I love Chinese food so much. Granted, American Chinese food is much different than real Chinese food, but it’s still very good. Today, my dad and I went to the China Buffet for lunch. I dove into the buffet like a hungry person (granted, I WAS hungry, but still). But, after a full plate of white rice with honey chicken, shrimp in lobster sauce and chicken on a stick, I was almost full; excpet I did have room for some amazing fresh green beans (I watched them cutting the green beans while we ate) and crab rangoon….and 2 almond cookies, a fortune cookie (A merrier heart makes life better) and a manderine orange cheesecake square. Luckily I’ve taught myself some self control…or else many bad things would have happened!

Stay at the Inn at Cherry Creek and you’ll be in the center of world class shopping. From Louis to Juicy, embrace the luxury all the way from the shops back to the hotel.

Package includes: Glass of Wine & Cheese Tray Upon Arrival, Complimentary Parking,
Complimentary Upgrade Upon Check-In (based on availability), Passport to Shopping Offering Discounts to Over 60 Stores and Restaurants in Cherry Creek Shopping District

For reservations and availability, call us at 877-377-8577 and ask for the World Class Shopping Package, or visit us online at www.InnAtCherryCreek.com • Complimentary Newspaper & Starbucks Coffee Delivered to Your Room

Visit http://sweetcherrycreek.com/The-Inn-at-Cherry-Creek/

Stay at the Inn at Cherry Creek and you’ll be in the center of world class shopping. From Louis to Juicy, embrace the luxury all the way from the shops back to the hotel.

Package includes:
• Glass of Wine & Cheese Tray Upon Arrival
• Complimentary Parking
• Complimentary Upgrade Upon Check-In (based on availability)
• Passport to Shopping Offering Discounts to Over 60 Stores and Restaurants in Cherry Creek Shopping District • Complimentary Newspaper & Starbucks Coffee Delivered to Your Room

For reservations and availability, call us at 877-377-8577 and ask for the World Class Shopping Package, or visit us online at www.InnAtCherryCreek.com
Visit http://sweetcherrycreek.com/The-Inn-at-Cherry-Creek/

We can vouch for the excellence of EOS’ Thanksgiving dinners!  Went there last year for Turkey Day dinner, and were amazed to find it the all-time best turkey dinner ever!  I had only been to restaurants a very few times in decades of gobbling gobblers, all upscale fine dining establishments which left us disappointed at best.  Personally, I’d always thought my own, Gran Marnier-herb-butter-basted bird the world’s best (no modesty from me regarding turkey!), and had had many fine dinners at others’ homes, but EOS won the Grand Prize!  Here’s their line up for Thanksgiving Dinner:

Butternut squash for the first course, followed by your choice of roasted turkey with cornbread stuffing and a cranberry cream sauce, or prime rib with a horseradish jus.  All courses will be accompanied by your choice of side, and don’t forget dessert, baked apples in a puff pastry with Chantilly sauce.  Yum!

EOS will be open for only one seating at 1pm.  The cost is $30 per person with an optional wine pairing for $15 dollars extra.  To make your reservation, call 912-238-2400.

The way-cool Camden Harbour Inn, home to Natalie’s, one of Maine’s best tables, has a midweek, nonholiday off-season promo that’s a steal.

The Midweek Promo, available through May 2010, includes a room, a three-course dinner at Natalie’s, and a full champagne breakfast. Price is best available, with rates beginning at $109 pp.

Also included are the inn’s (not-so-) standard amenities:

• Welcome Prosecco upon arrival

• Complimentary wireless internet

• Complimentary in-room coffee, tea, and Poland spring water

• Turndown service including handmade premium Belgium chocolates

• Complimentary Portland Press Herald newspaper every morning

• Complimentary coffee, tea, pastries and snacks in the lounge (Baked treats from the chef, yum)

• Complimentary selection of magazines, books and newspapers in the lounge (I found quite a few good reads).

• Complimentary DVD library including the latest movies (again, good titles)

The fine print: Promotion is based on availability and excludes taxes, gratuity (20% for dinner will be added), & alcoholic drinks.

Exceptional décor and creative ‘fusion’ cuisine will delight the most discerning diner. The dishes created by the chef and his team, all use the freshest vegetables and all natural meats. A sushi bar is available. There are always 10 premium sakes on hand.

www.lemongrassnh.com/

This is what’s going on in Key West.