Belch. American Lipton was my first introduction to tea. It is hideous. The British mother of my sister’s boyfriend introduced me to proper tea. Her sister sent tea to Minnesota and Mrs. B brewed it correctly. I was smitten. Unfortunately, her son broke my sister’s heart and I was stuck with Lipton. During college in the Twin Cities I discovered a store that sold imported tea and my taste-buds rejoiced.
A few years ago my fellow tea-connoisseur, Allie, took me to Mrs. Kelly’s Tea Tasting extravaganza. The event is a tea-enthusiast delight to sample their extensive selection. Mrs. Kelly’s opens their spartan warehouse; provides hot water, and bistro tables. I have attended on several occasions and it is becoming more popular every year. I gathered a bunch of samples to sip at home since its rather crowded and loud. Mrs. Kelly’s Tea sells its creations on-line and opens its Minneapolis warehouse once per month. www.mrskellystea.com
Reviews of their flavors:
Russian Smoky is extremely robust, complexly flavored, and my favorite tea. The best way to brew extra-strong tea is to dump hot water on the tea and then pour it off immediately (first wash). Then, gently pour hot water on the leaves and let it steep. The resulting essence is fantastic. You can discard the first wash or else douse it with a lot of sugar, milk and/or mint.
Jasmine Pearl is an exquisite green tea. There is neither bitterness nor grassiness in its flavor. The tone is gentle and calming. The best green tea that I have ever experienced.
China Rose smells like my aunt’s favorite hand lotion but tastes scrumptious. It brightens the palate and would be fabulous with dessert.
Darjeeling Organic is smooth and mellow. A tiny touch of sweetener helps a bit.
French Vanilla with milk is like drinking delicious warm ice-cream.
Strawberry Swirl is disappointing. The strawberry flavor is weak and swirl is rather bland.
More reviews to come, as I taste them! I hope Mrs. Kelly’s Tea adds a spring Tea Party event, which could be expanded to the parking lot with tents and feature speakers. I’d love to learn how to make tea-liqueur.
Tea is served.
© 2012 Ima B. Musing
Showing posts with label food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label food. Show all posts
Friday, December 7, 2012
Monday, June 4, 2012
NOSH REVIEW: AMORE VICTORIA RISTORANTE
Consuming calories at a restaurant is a birthday tradition with my friends. We celebrated at Amore Victoria Ristorante located at 1601 West Lake Street in the Uptown area of Minneapolis. It was my first visit. The entryway was rather crowded and the tables extremely close together due to a renovation in the front room. We Minnesotans have a large personal bubble. I really don’t want to hear the sound of someone chewing their food at the next table. It was too close for comfort since we were seated at a table too small for our group. We had a reservation, there were empty tables nearby, and the host or waiter should have added another table on when they realized that six people were at a table for four. www.amorevictoria.com
We started with the Calamari Fritti, crispy calamari. The bands were soft and the legs crispy in a light batter. The sauce was unremarkable. Rosa de Pesto had a strong pesto flavor in a large portion. Grazies sweet Basil Sauce was a lighter pesto with delicate homemade noodles. Pollo con Penne e Shitake was salty. Needed more mushrooms and would have been better with bow-tie pasta. Lasagna was the best entrée. Excellent flavor and a good-sized serving.
My friend received a tiramisu for dessert. She really liked it. I didn’t try it because I am not a fan of coffee flavor. I did eat a piece of delicious chocolate cake. Soft texture and creamy mousse filling. Disappointed that the dessert menu did not include prices. The décor is a bit dark and there doesn’t seem to be a theme. Mood lighting made it difficult to read the menu.
Service with a smile. Waitron was friendly but he was very slow. Several of my friends only drank water and their glasses were not refilled. It would have been amenable to have a pitcher of water placed on the table. Bread was nice but it was served cold. The fresh Parmesan cheese was excellent with the bread but the olive oil was a rather bland brand. Overall, the prices were high for the portion size. Happy that there are windows in the kitchen. The staff needs to see the world and it improves their working environment.
Two and a half forks out of five, aka so-so.
Carpe Diem.
© 2012 Ima B. Musing
We started with the Calamari Fritti, crispy calamari. The bands were soft and the legs crispy in a light batter. The sauce was unremarkable. Rosa de Pesto had a strong pesto flavor in a large portion. Grazies sweet Basil Sauce was a lighter pesto with delicate homemade noodles. Pollo con Penne e Shitake was salty. Needed more mushrooms and would have been better with bow-tie pasta. Lasagna was the best entrée. Excellent flavor and a good-sized serving.
My friend received a tiramisu for dessert. She really liked it. I didn’t try it because I am not a fan of coffee flavor. I did eat a piece of delicious chocolate cake. Soft texture and creamy mousse filling. Disappointed that the dessert menu did not include prices. The décor is a bit dark and there doesn’t seem to be a theme. Mood lighting made it difficult to read the menu.
Service with a smile. Waitron was friendly but he was very slow. Several of my friends only drank water and their glasses were not refilled. It would have been amenable to have a pitcher of water placed on the table. Bread was nice but it was served cold. The fresh Parmesan cheese was excellent with the bread but the olive oil was a rather bland brand. Overall, the prices were high for the portion size. Happy that there are windows in the kitchen. The staff needs to see the world and it improves their working environment.
Two and a half forks out of five, aka so-so.
Carpe Diem.
© 2012 Ima B. Musing
Sunday, May 6, 2012
NOSH REVIEW: WINZER STUBE
Journeyed with friends to Hudson, Wisconsin to partake at America’s 5th favorite German Restaurant, Winzer Stube, to celebrate a birthday. The cozy eatery is located in the basement of the historic Opera House. We were fortunate to find parking behind the building and avoided plugging the meter. It has been several years since I have visited Hudson and the downtown area has become gentrified. www.winzerstube.net
My friends have been to Germany several times and said that this restaurant is authentic. The décor is rather kitschy but warm and comfortable. Odd that a French Moulin Rouge poster is displayed in the women’s bathroom. German tunes were background music. I love polka so it was a nice touch. Impressive selection of German beers and wines are available for consumption.
We started the meal with very American cheese curds. Tasty fresh curds in a donut-like batter. The portion was small for the price. Ruben Sliders were big enough for a meal and the French Fries were hot and delicious. The Cordon Bleu Winzer Art breaded pork cutlet was excellent. The Ziegeunerschnitzel Hunstruck pork cutlet was only so-so. The red & white cabbage was cooked to the consistency of goo. Warm German potato salad was flavorful but one friend complained that it was too sweet. I’m a third generation American so I cannot speak to the genuineness of the dishes, but recognize that there are regional and personal preferences. Another friend remarked that the Chicken with Cranberry Pecan Chutney was a bit bland. The server was attentive but forgot to bring us more bread. The crusty bread was steaming hot from the oven.
Fresh apple strudel was complimentary for the birthday celebration. The crust was crunchy and flaky. The apple was a bit gooey and not much flavor. Wonderful whipped cream and sweet vanilla ice cream. The birthday boy cooed with joy. He is a dessert fiend.
It was warm enough to take a walk after the meal. Downtown Hudson area has an array of shops and restaurants as well as a gorgeous park next to the St. Croix River. Plan to go for a few hours and explore. There are regular performances at the amphitheater and arts center. Book a room and stay for the weekend. www.hudsonwi.org
Three forks out of five.
Das est gut!
© 2012 Ima B. Musing
My friends have been to Germany several times and said that this restaurant is authentic. The décor is rather kitschy but warm and comfortable. Odd that a French Moulin Rouge poster is displayed in the women’s bathroom. German tunes were background music. I love polka so it was a nice touch. Impressive selection of German beers and wines are available for consumption.
We started the meal with very American cheese curds. Tasty fresh curds in a donut-like batter. The portion was small for the price. Ruben Sliders were big enough for a meal and the French Fries were hot and delicious. The Cordon Bleu Winzer Art breaded pork cutlet was excellent. The Ziegeunerschnitzel Hunstruck pork cutlet was only so-so. The red & white cabbage was cooked to the consistency of goo. Warm German potato salad was flavorful but one friend complained that it was too sweet. I’m a third generation American so I cannot speak to the genuineness of the dishes, but recognize that there are regional and personal preferences. Another friend remarked that the Chicken with Cranberry Pecan Chutney was a bit bland. The server was attentive but forgot to bring us more bread. The crusty bread was steaming hot from the oven.
Fresh apple strudel was complimentary for the birthday celebration. The crust was crunchy and flaky. The apple was a bit gooey and not much flavor. Wonderful whipped cream and sweet vanilla ice cream. The birthday boy cooed with joy. He is a dessert fiend.
It was warm enough to take a walk after the meal. Downtown Hudson area has an array of shops and restaurants as well as a gorgeous park next to the St. Croix River. Plan to go for a few hours and explore. There are regular performances at the amphitheater and arts center. Book a room and stay for the weekend. www.hudsonwi.org
Three forks out of five.
Das est gut!
© 2012 Ima B. Musing
Sunday, April 8, 2012
NOSH REVIEW: LITTLE SZECHUAN
Dodged around Central Corridor Light Rail construction to the St. Paul location of Little Szechuan Restaurant. I always judge the authenticity of an eatery based upon the referral of people who grew up with the food as home cooking. If the venue is as good as “grandma” used to make, then it is good for everybody. Little Szechuan always has people of Chinese decent dining there. Their vote counts much more than mine. www.littleszechuan.com
Went with a group so I was able to try several dishes. Dan Dan Noodle is a spicy appetizer. The Bamboo Tips are rather bland. Deep-fried Crabmeat Delight doesn’t contain much crab but is a tasty crispy cream cheese wonton served with sweet sour sauce. Spicy Belt Fish is bony and doesn’t look like the photo in the menu. Milky Crispy Shrimp is a perfect combination of crunch and sweet. However, the broccoli garnish was cold. Spicy Crispy Chicken is like eating chicken turned into potato chips, but it tastes excellent. Chung King Chili Shrimp has got a lot of kick. Spicy Beef Short Ribs are succulent and finger-licking good. Cumin Lamb is exceptionally wonderful. Tea Smoked Duck is passable. Crispy Rice with Triple Delight has a flavorful sauce that will make you want to lick the plate. My kind friends treated me to a wonderful meal.
There are probably one hundred dishes available. The restaurant is decorated in simple red and black with two koi-pond fish tanks. Fake bamboo shoots provide an odd screen from the larger dining area to the booths. The breeze can be rather cold from the front door on chilly days despite the screen behind the host table. The servers are friendly and helpful. They were kind enough to replace a friend’s meal that was too spicy for him because the waitron forgot to ask how hot to make the dish. Oddly, there is no scent to the room or music.
They have a spacious parking lot, which is accessible from Western Avenue via the alley behind the Mai Village Restaurant on the SW corner of University Avenue and Western Avenue. Don’t let construction keep you from this delicious experience on “Little Mekong.” Otherwise, you can try their St. Louis Park location or order takeout and pick up the meal to consume at home.
Four and a half forks! The menu is difficult to navigate and some of the dishes were mediocre.
Near perfection.
© 2012 Ima B. Musing
Went with a group so I was able to try several dishes. Dan Dan Noodle is a spicy appetizer. The Bamboo Tips are rather bland. Deep-fried Crabmeat Delight doesn’t contain much crab but is a tasty crispy cream cheese wonton served with sweet sour sauce. Spicy Belt Fish is bony and doesn’t look like the photo in the menu. Milky Crispy Shrimp is a perfect combination of crunch and sweet. However, the broccoli garnish was cold. Spicy Crispy Chicken is like eating chicken turned into potato chips, but it tastes excellent. Chung King Chili Shrimp has got a lot of kick. Spicy Beef Short Ribs are succulent and finger-licking good. Cumin Lamb is exceptionally wonderful. Tea Smoked Duck is passable. Crispy Rice with Triple Delight has a flavorful sauce that will make you want to lick the plate. My kind friends treated me to a wonderful meal.
There are probably one hundred dishes available. The restaurant is decorated in simple red and black with two koi-pond fish tanks. Fake bamboo shoots provide an odd screen from the larger dining area to the booths. The breeze can be rather cold from the front door on chilly days despite the screen behind the host table. The servers are friendly and helpful. They were kind enough to replace a friend’s meal that was too spicy for him because the waitron forgot to ask how hot to make the dish. Oddly, there is no scent to the room or music.
They have a spacious parking lot, which is accessible from Western Avenue via the alley behind the Mai Village Restaurant on the SW corner of University Avenue and Western Avenue. Don’t let construction keep you from this delicious experience on “Little Mekong.” Otherwise, you can try their St. Louis Park location or order takeout and pick up the meal to consume at home.
Four and a half forks! The menu is difficult to navigate and some of the dishes were mediocre.
Near perfection.
© 2012 Ima B. Musing
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
NOSH REVIEW: AL VENTO RESTAURANT
Consumed a scrumptious Sunday brunch at Al Vento Restaurant, located at 5001 34th Ave South in Minneapolis, MN. Long curtains adorn the crowded entryway but are not very effective at blocking out the winter chill for front room diners. It would be nice if they had a heated tent on the outside deck for people to wait for their table. Two hosts should be present at the doorway so that one can check in guests while the other seats a group, preps a table or at least post a sign that states “Wait to be seated.”
Buffet style brunch is arranged on tables and on top of the high bar. Eggs Benedict featured a nicely poached egg atop a small spinach leaf and soggy piece of bread with a tiny dribble of Hollandaise. It might be better to separate the components for the diner to reassemble into a toasty version. Hollandaise tasted homemade but larger dollop desired. Thick cut bacon of varying degrees of crispness available, which is good to suit the preferences of the diner. Zesty sausage and country cut potatoes, which need toppings. Plain egg bake had very little flavor. Blander tomato pasta dish was quite disappointing since this is an Italian restaurant.
Crisp waffles were in short supply. Wonderful real whipped cream to top the waffles but a drippy maple syrup container made hands sticky. Green salad ingredients displayed on top of the bar included pickled beets, cheese, olives, balsamic dressing, and other fixings. Saddened that no fresh mozzarella cheese was available for the green salad. Tomato-cucumber-bread salad was featureless. Perfectly blanched asparagus tips salad was good. Superb lox (salmon) was served with toasted bagels and cream cheese; dill sprinkles would have been nice addition. Simple desserts and fruit. Nice chocolate fountain and endless refreshments.
I ate so much that I wasn’t even hungry for breakfast the next morning. I drank water for 24 hours until consuming a light lunch on Monday. I have worked at several eating establishments. It is grueling work and one only hopes that the diners leave at least a 20% tip. Oftentimes, the server has to share the tip with the host, bus-person, bartender, and kitchen crew. Al Vento has possibly one of the smallest bathrooms in the Twin Cities. It is located near the bar, no room to turn around.
Ravenous crowd consumed a lot of food. Kitchen crew struggled to keep some of the containers filled. Perhaps they could install a camera to watch from the food prep area. Food labels and brighter lighting needed in the bar area on a cloudy day. Server was friendly but too busy to provide much attention. Salt and pepper shakers on the table or buffet area needed. Sixteen dollars was a reasonable price for the brunch. Smooth background music would add to the ambiance. Make a reservation because it is a popular destination. During the summer you can sit on their lovely patio. www.alventorestaurant.com
Overall rating of three and a half forks (out of five).
Yummy for the tummy.
© 2012 Ima B. Musing
Buffet style brunch is arranged on tables and on top of the high bar. Eggs Benedict featured a nicely poached egg atop a small spinach leaf and soggy piece of bread with a tiny dribble of Hollandaise. It might be better to separate the components for the diner to reassemble into a toasty version. Hollandaise tasted homemade but larger dollop desired. Thick cut bacon of varying degrees of crispness available, which is good to suit the preferences of the diner. Zesty sausage and country cut potatoes, which need toppings. Plain egg bake had very little flavor. Blander tomato pasta dish was quite disappointing since this is an Italian restaurant.
Crisp waffles were in short supply. Wonderful real whipped cream to top the waffles but a drippy maple syrup container made hands sticky. Green salad ingredients displayed on top of the bar included pickled beets, cheese, olives, balsamic dressing, and other fixings. Saddened that no fresh mozzarella cheese was available for the green salad. Tomato-cucumber-bread salad was featureless. Perfectly blanched asparagus tips salad was good. Superb lox (salmon) was served with toasted bagels and cream cheese; dill sprinkles would have been nice addition. Simple desserts and fruit. Nice chocolate fountain and endless refreshments.
I ate so much that I wasn’t even hungry for breakfast the next morning. I drank water for 24 hours until consuming a light lunch on Monday. I have worked at several eating establishments. It is grueling work and one only hopes that the diners leave at least a 20% tip. Oftentimes, the server has to share the tip with the host, bus-person, bartender, and kitchen crew. Al Vento has possibly one of the smallest bathrooms in the Twin Cities. It is located near the bar, no room to turn around.
Ravenous crowd consumed a lot of food. Kitchen crew struggled to keep some of the containers filled. Perhaps they could install a camera to watch from the food prep area. Food labels and brighter lighting needed in the bar area on a cloudy day. Server was friendly but too busy to provide much attention. Salt and pepper shakers on the table or buffet area needed. Sixteen dollars was a reasonable price for the brunch. Smooth background music would add to the ambiance. Make a reservation because it is a popular destination. During the summer you can sit on their lovely patio. www.alventorestaurant.com
Overall rating of three and a half forks (out of five).
Yummy for the tummy.
© 2012 Ima B. Musing
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