Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Coming soon...restauranteers.com!
Pretty soon, my blog will be one featured at http://www.restauranteers.com/ !! For now, it is local to the Washington area, but they are expanding, and approached me about showcasing my blog on their site! Be sure to check back for links to my actual page, and updates on the new expanded site!
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Crescent Moon Bakery's Football Pizza - Northeast Minneapolis
There are few things more adored by Americans than ordering a pizza. It's one of those activities that doesn't judge. You could be alone. You could be with your spouse and 8 kids. You can be with friends. You can be experiencing your first slumber party. For me; pizza, movies and pop (YES, pop) fall in that PB & J category. But sometimes, you have to shake it up a bit. Even if it means carryout. And so one night, I got a little crazy and went for a Crescent Moon pizza.
Crescent Moon is a Middle Eastern restaurant located on the Central Ave strip in NE Mpls. Along with official bragging rights that is was one of the first (because now they're everywhere), it also offers.....pizza. Want a gyro? Perhaps a heaping plate of chicken kourma? Crescent Moon has it for you. Oh, you wanted pizza as well? CHA CHING. Normally, mixed-cuisine restaurants scare me (imagine GYRO-PIZZA-FRIES in flashing neon signs) but Crescent Moon ain't like those suckas.
Advertised as Afghani pizza (or the "football pizza), it really is not as foreign as it sounds. They do offer gyro meat, eggplant, or afghani beef as toppings, but that's about it. The rest is pretty standard. We decided on a large Spinach Lovers (spinach, onions, tomato and garlic) with pepperoni (about $16.)
The picture doesn't do it any justice, as this is BY FAR the best pizza I have ever eaten. The crust is like a thick, more sturdy pita. I don't know what kind of cheese they use, but it is abundant and gooey without being overpowering. The sauce is tangy and a little kicky, and the pepperoni is the best I have ever had on a pizza. It is crispy, smokey and spicy. You must love garlic if you are to love this pizza, and it is served with their signature green chutney as a dipping element. It sounds strange, but that sauce is the best part of Crescent Moon. It is bright, spicy, and acidic. You can ask for them to put it directly onto your pizza, which I fully intend on doing next time I order from them.
While not bizarre, I do like to think of this pizza as being a little exotic. The tangy, bright flavors are a step up from the salty/cheesy/saucy that we're used to.The green sauce is a vibrant compliment to anything you order at Crescent Moon.
If you have never had a football pizza, and live in/around the NE area - YOU GO NOW!
http://www.crescentmoonfoods.net/RESTAURANT.html
Crescent Moon is a Middle Eastern restaurant located on the Central Ave strip in NE Mpls. Along with official bragging rights that is was one of the first (because now they're everywhere), it also offers.....pizza. Want a gyro? Perhaps a heaping plate of chicken kourma? Crescent Moon has it for you. Oh, you wanted pizza as well? CHA CHING. Normally, mixed-cuisine restaurants scare me (imagine GYRO-PIZZA-FRIES in flashing neon signs) but Crescent Moon ain't like those suckas.
Advertised as Afghani pizza (or the "football pizza), it really is not as foreign as it sounds. They do offer gyro meat, eggplant, or afghani beef as toppings, but that's about it. The rest is pretty standard. We decided on a large Spinach Lovers (spinach, onions, tomato and garlic) with pepperoni (about $16.)
The picture doesn't do it any justice, as this is BY FAR the best pizza I have ever eaten. The crust is like a thick, more sturdy pita. I don't know what kind of cheese they use, but it is abundant and gooey without being overpowering. The sauce is tangy and a little kicky, and the pepperoni is the best I have ever had on a pizza. It is crispy, smokey and spicy. You must love garlic if you are to love this pizza, and it is served with their signature green chutney as a dipping element. It sounds strange, but that sauce is the best part of Crescent Moon. It is bright, spicy, and acidic. You can ask for them to put it directly onto your pizza, which I fully intend on doing next time I order from them.
While not bizarre, I do like to think of this pizza as being a little exotic. The tangy, bright flavors are a step up from the salty/cheesy/saucy that we're used to.The green sauce is a vibrant compliment to anything you order at Crescent Moon.
If you have never had a football pizza, and live in/around the NE area - YOU GO NOW!
http://www.crescentmoonfoods.net/RESTAURANT.html
Brasa - Northeast Minneapolis
Having been a resident of NE Minneapolis for about twice as long as Brasa has been open, Mr. C and I figured it was about time we paid Brasa a visit.. I mean...the place has already been visited by every critic in the city, along with some Food Network celebs. So keeping true to my late bloomer pattern, off we went on an early weekday evening.
Brasa is a smallish cafe-style restaurant located on East Hennepin. Entering the restaurant, I felt a bit claustrophobic. The seating is a bit cramped, and the overall space is modest. We chose a window spot a little off the beaten path, and were seated immediately.
Brasa's theme is simple. Southern style cuisine, with the focus being on roasted meats - rotisserie chicken, slow roasted pork, e.t.c. They offer sides mostly foreign to the Midwest. Rice and beans, pigeon peas, yuca, cornbread, greens and yams being among them. I would recommend this to any vacationing Southerner, and would be eager to hear the assessment of these Southern staples. Being the sandwich girl I am - I settled on the Slow Roasted Pork sandwich (ginger mayo, cilantro, and pickled vegetables - $9) because I appreciated the Southern bahn mi integration. Mr. C chose the special, which was the beef brisket. Also ordered were chips and guacamole (small - $2.95), and my curiosity couldn't be denied for a spicy masa corn cake with cheese.
As we waited, an older man and woman sat down at the table next to us, about 4 feet away. What slowly unfolded made us a little uncomfortable. When I dine out, I'm not faint hearted. Albeit the Midwest, it is the city after all. But when a grown man 4 feet away from you starts to display increasingly aggressive behavior in regards to his coffee not being hot enough (literally. He wasn't just being some spoiled d-bag. This guy had some sort of mental illness going on, where he obviously found it difficult to control his anger), your dining experience becomes a little uncomfortable. His companion kept trying to soothe and reassure him that everything was going to be ok. When the waitress came to ask if there was a problem, he loudly told her that the coffee was lukewarm and he wanted another pot made right away. He was visibly agitated. He knocked a fork on the floor once. Mr. C and I just sat quietly...
Until our chips came:
With chips that are warm, and guac that is creamy but punchy with salt, garlic and onion, all was well again.
Spicy Masa Corn Cake
While I didn't detect any hint of spice, this corn cake was satisfying. It was a little cheesy, and the corn flavor came through with a good touch of char. It's the size of a small pancake, and can't be beat at only $1.95.
Slow Roasted Pork Sandwich
The sandwich came, and I was admittedly skeptical about the plain jane in front of me. But after the first bite, I was a goner. Not only was the architecture spot on, the flavors and textures were extremely gratifying. In one bite, you get soft chewy bread along with tender clusters of shredded pork. In another, you get a pop of cilantro, along with the same savory pork, and then brightness and sweet pickle of the vegetables. For a place that focuses on comfort meats, this sandwich was refreshing. Not too heavy, but not too light, it hit almost all my sandwich benchmarks. This is the plain jane you take home to mom.
Special - Brisket and Slaw
A brisket savant, I am not. As a former Texan (is this even possible??), Mr. C knows brisket, and unfortunately this disappointed on many levels. Mr. C reported it was gristly and tough. Even the few bites I had seemed bland and dry. Mr. C even said..."When will I learn not to order brisket in Minnesota?"
I would definitely recommend Brasa to anyone who favors meat and southern style comfort foods, and also does not mind a somewhat claustrophobic setting when dining. I personally would not revisit for a dinner, but I can see a lovely obscure lunch in my future.
http://www.brasa.us/menus_eat.aspx
Brasa is a smallish cafe-style restaurant located on East Hennepin. Entering the restaurant, I felt a bit claustrophobic. The seating is a bit cramped, and the overall space is modest. We chose a window spot a little off the beaten path, and were seated immediately.
Brasa's theme is simple. Southern style cuisine, with the focus being on roasted meats - rotisserie chicken, slow roasted pork, e.t.c. They offer sides mostly foreign to the Midwest. Rice and beans, pigeon peas, yuca, cornbread, greens and yams being among them. I would recommend this to any vacationing Southerner, and would be eager to hear the assessment of these Southern staples. Being the sandwich girl I am - I settled on the Slow Roasted Pork sandwich (ginger mayo, cilantro, and pickled vegetables - $9) because I appreciated the Southern bahn mi integration. Mr. C chose the special, which was the beef brisket. Also ordered were chips and guacamole (small - $2.95), and my curiosity couldn't be denied for a spicy masa corn cake with cheese.
As we waited, an older man and woman sat down at the table next to us, about 4 feet away. What slowly unfolded made us a little uncomfortable. When I dine out, I'm not faint hearted. Albeit the Midwest, it is the city after all. But when a grown man 4 feet away from you starts to display increasingly aggressive behavior in regards to his coffee not being hot enough (literally. He wasn't just being some spoiled d-bag. This guy had some sort of mental illness going on, where he obviously found it difficult to control his anger), your dining experience becomes a little uncomfortable. His companion kept trying to soothe and reassure him that everything was going to be ok. When the waitress came to ask if there was a problem, he loudly told her that the coffee was lukewarm and he wanted another pot made right away. He was visibly agitated. He knocked a fork on the floor once. Mr. C and I just sat quietly...
Until our chips came:
With chips that are warm, and guac that is creamy but punchy with salt, garlic and onion, all was well again.
Spicy Masa Corn Cake
While I didn't detect any hint of spice, this corn cake was satisfying. It was a little cheesy, and the corn flavor came through with a good touch of char. It's the size of a small pancake, and can't be beat at only $1.95.
Slow Roasted Pork Sandwich
The sandwich came, and I was admittedly skeptical about the plain jane in front of me. But after the first bite, I was a goner. Not only was the architecture spot on, the flavors and textures were extremely gratifying. In one bite, you get soft chewy bread along with tender clusters of shredded pork. In another, you get a pop of cilantro, along with the same savory pork, and then brightness and sweet pickle of the vegetables. For a place that focuses on comfort meats, this sandwich was refreshing. Not too heavy, but not too light, it hit almost all my sandwich benchmarks. This is the plain jane you take home to mom.
Special - Brisket and Slaw
A brisket savant, I am not. As a former Texan (is this even possible??), Mr. C knows brisket, and unfortunately this disappointed on many levels. Mr. C reported it was gristly and tough. Even the few bites I had seemed bland and dry. Mr. C even said..."When will I learn not to order brisket in Minnesota?"
I would definitely recommend Brasa to anyone who favors meat and southern style comfort foods, and also does not mind a somewhat claustrophobic setting when dining. I personally would not revisit for a dinner, but I can see a lovely obscure lunch in my future.
http://www.brasa.us/menus_eat.aspx
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