Comfortably Casual: Moxie’s Classic Grill

A few of my coworkers and I went to Moxie’s Classic Grill on Bourbon Street in West Edmonton Mall (1670, 8882-170 Street) for a bite to eat tonight.

My favorite of the non-Earls, upscale casual chains, I’ve always found Moxie’s inviting, with a good menu and reasonable service. Tonight was no different.

I ordered the Chicken Cannoli (spinach, ricotta cheese and chicken topped off with creamy sauces), which was a first for me, as I almost always choose the Penne Primavera (which typically takes care of a week’s worth of vegetables for me). Though the food arrived after a protracted delay, it was worth the wait – the melted cheeses and the sweet tomato sauce complemented the slightly dry chicken well. And with two pieces of crispy, buttery garlic bread, the meal was definitely satisfying.

My one nitpick of the evening was that they “Moxie-sized” my Bellini without confirming with me first, but I will give our server credit for waiting us out (leering at us only once during our lengthy post-dinner chat), as we did overstay our welcome somewhat.

All in all, it was a great night.

Chicken Cannoli

“Is it dark enough yet?”: Café Select

Before an 8pm curtain, May and I ducked into the downtown Café Select (10018-106 Street) for dinner. I went to the southside location for brunch on Mother’s Day last year, and wasn’t that impressed – while the restaurant had great ambiance, the wait for food was lengthy, and the portions were small. I was hoping dinner would change my impression of the eatery.

The dining room had the flavor of an upscale European bistro with gorgeous furniture (high-back leather chairs are a personal weakness of mine). However, the design of the space itself was slightly awkward, with an odd partition that ran down the middle of the room, and nooks and crannies that must have made it difficult for waiters operating on line-of-sight visibility to provide timely service.

The menu was impressively extensive (something I don’t smile upon in every instance, but with enough edible variety, I couldn’t complain). Though it was touch and go there for a while, in the end, nothing was standing between me and good old comfort food, which today manifested itself as a burger and fries (their version served with Coca Cola barbeque sauce).

It’s really a shame the cooks thought I had ordered a side of grease to go with my meal, because it would have been a great burger otherwise (the smoked apple cheddar was heavenly). The Coke sauce strangely tasted like anything but.

For some reason, the staff deemed it necessary to dim the lights twice! I felt like Steve in that episode of Sex and the City, where a candle was necessary to read the menu. In this case, I felt the reasoning behind dining ‘al darko’ could have been their desire to disguise the glistening on my plate.

Still, with the most polite (albeit softspoken) waiter I’ve come across in a while, and a Sangria that just about knocked me off of my feet (just ask May), I wouldn’t mind returning again to try the dishes I passed on this first time.

Casual Elegance: Murrieta’s West Coast Grill

It’s no secret that I love brunch, so it’s probably a blessing in disguise that such meal selections are relegated to weekends only, as I’d likely be unable to resist eating out more often otherwise. And really, the food served at brunch isn’t that economical, as most of the dishes can be prepared for much less at home. Still, there’s nothing better than good conversation over a hot cup of coffee in a well-lit, buzzing dining room on a weekend morning.

When May and I decided to indulge in a late breakfast before a matinee on Whyte Ave, I jumped at her suggestion of Murrieta’s West Coast Grill (10612-82 Avenue). I had heard many positive reviews of this restaurant, and thought it was time I experienced it on my own accord.

The hostess led us into a bright dining area, lit by a wall of windows on the right side. With high ceilings, hardwood floor, and a beautiful upstanding wine cabinet, the room exuded a clean elegance. The tables were immaculate with crisp white linens, though I did find it curious that they chose a blue checkered cloth to accent the setting, as the pattern countered the rest of the chic decor.

Although we were given the option of ordering from the regular lunch menu, of course, we decided to choose a more conventional brunch dish instead. I went with the Cinnamon French Toast served with Berry Compote and Lemon Sorbet, while May opted for the Eggs Benedict with Salmon and Asaparagus.

The plating was beautiful – great color and overall presentation. We were both hoping for a bigger portion, but our selections were delicious – the lemon sorbet in particular was an interesting substitute for the whipped cream normally found atop French Toast.

Though the service throughout our meal wasn’t spectacular (our server didn’t split the bill as requested, and only refilled coffee when prompted to), we ended off with a nice surprise – a written Chinese New Year wish at the top of our receipt accompanied by a Red Pocket! Our server was of Asian descent, and though I’m sure we were targeted because we look Chinese, it was a gesture that obviously required some prior preparation. It was definitely a special touch that made our experience that much more memorable.

Murrieta’s – a noteworthy destination for brunch.

Dining room

Dining by the fire

Coffee Fixtures

Eggs Benedict with Salmon and Asparagus

French Toast with Berry Compote and Lemon Sorbet

The Cooking Chronicles: Lemon Almond Polenta Cake

I was inspired to bake this cake after watching the characters in Dinner With Friends consume it. But who knew one of the main ingredients would be so hard to come by? After an exhaustive search of many major supermarkets (for the record, the grocery manager at Save-On Foods had never even heard of it), and with the help of my Dad, I was finally able to get my hands on a package of polenta flour (coarse corn meal) at the Italian Centre.

Corn flour vs. Polenta

The recipe in the playbill was written in Imperial measures, which meant the extra step of converting the quantities to Metric, but after that, it was fairly straight forward. Though I should have left the cake in the oven for a few minutes longer than I did, and let it set in the pan before attempting to overturn it onto the cooling rack (oops), I was very pleased with the end product. The combination of a generous amount of lemon zest and lemon juice resulted in a nice, refreshing flavor, and the ground almonds supplied a great texture and crunch.

As I still have quite a bit of polenta flour left, I may, out of necessity, have to recreate this cake again.

Lemon Almond Polenta Cake

EDIT: the recipe, from the Dinner with Friends program, as requested,

1lb unsalted butter at room temperature

1lb superfine granulated sugar

2tsp vanilla extract

10oz ground almonds

6 medium eggs

4tbsp lemon zest

2tbsp lemon juice

8oz polenta flour

1 1/2tsp baking powder

1/4tsp salt

Preheat the oven to 320 degrees. Grease and flour a 12-inch circular cake pan.
Whip the butter and sugar together until fluffy and pale. Stir in the almonds and vanilla, followed by the eggs, one at a time. Add the lemon zest and juice, the polenta flour, baking powder and salt. Stir well together. Put the mixture into the prepared pan and bake in the oven for around 45 minutes. The cake should be firm in the centre and golden on top.
Serve alone or with ice cream. Serves 10-12.

Quaint but Mild: 9th Street Bistro

Dickson and I went to 9th Street Bistro (9910-109 Street) for dinner last night. About two blocks from my place of work, it was a rather chilly walk with the wind, but we made it. I’ve eaten at 9th Street on occasion with my workmates, but never for supper.

Reminiscent of Rice Howard Way’s Bistro Praha, the decor was old world European – the faded wallpaper, aged wooden tables, and direct but dim pendant lighting created an intimate atmosphere. The menu boasted many mature and healthy selections, but Dickson and I both opted for the day’s Quiche Lorraine with a side of fries, and a plate of Fried Zucchini to share.

There were only two other tables, so the food was naturally prompt. The Zucchini was quite good – tender and crisp, the fried morsels made a surprisingly nice appetizer. As for the Quiche – instead of combining the egg with the filling, the cooks layered the swiss and ham on the bottom crust, poured the egg on top, and baked it as is. The result was a dense, heavy layer of egg comparable to a custard. I didn’t mind it so much (though I now know how much difference parmesan or asiago cheese can make in flavoring baked egg) but Dickson was disappointed, much preferring Urban Diner’s version.

So though the restaurant itself is charming in an inoffensive kind of way, I think we may have to shop around some more to find a Quiche we can agree on.

Fried Zucchini

Quiche Lorraine with Fries

The Cooking Chronicles: Super Easy Peanut Butter Cookies

This shouldn’t really qualify as a “Cooking Chronicles” entry, as what I made tonight was essentially baked peanut butter, but I wanted to include a picture, so here it goes:

Thwarted by my inability to find polenta flour, I was forced to switch from my desired Lemon Almond Polenta cake to my plan B craving, which this weekend has been Peanut Butter Cookies. I typically try to avoid recipes printed on the back of packages, but for ease and all-out laziness, I resorted to Kraft’s suggestion, albeit substituting the chunky version instead.

I think the preparation time worked itself out to 5 minutes, so topped off with 15 minutes in the oven, this was by far the fastest cookie recipe I’ve ever tried. The end product was all right – I should have omitted some of the sugar, but really, for 20 minutes, I can’t complain.

SEPBC

Not Quite Like Grandma’s: Sicilian Pasta Kitchen

After the movie, both Janice and I were craving pasta (Diane Keaton and Mandy Moore were shown cooking and eating pasta dishes throughout the movie). We tried to come up with a non-South Edmonton Common eatery that offered Italian cuisine, and she suggested Sicilian Pasta Kitchen (805 Saddleback Road) on the south side, something I didn’t know existed.

I had been to the downtown location before, and was fairly happy with their food and service. Janice said this neighborhood version was more casual and family-oriented than its central sister. She was right – the decor substituted dark wood for hand-painted murals, tiled countertops, and carpet. What was disconcerting, and not exactly suitable for Grandma’s kitchen was the hostess – she couldn’t have been older than 15, and was wearing a skirt and top more appropriate for a twenty-something bar patron than a greeter in a supposedly homey restaurant.

Thankfully, our waitress was properly attired. I ordered the Sacchetti Polo (satchels of chicken served with spicy ham and a garlic cream sauce), while Janice opted for the half and half pasta plate special (a novel idea, and great for sampling).

The portion size was fairly generous, but even now, I couldn’t tell you what was actually contained in the satchels. Not quite chicken, and with hints of green, it tasted more like mashed potatoes mixed with spinach. Though I appreciated the crunch provided by sliced green beans, I found both the ham and the sauce to be rather bland. The dish reminded me of something the inexpensive Fiore would serve, and I expected more from Sicilian’s pasta menu.

With decent service, and a quiet venue for conversation, I wouldn’t be averse to returning again, but I’d likely order their thin crust pizzas the next time around.

Sacchetti Polo

New York Style: Caffè Sorrentino

After lunch, May, Janice and I looked to unwind in a coffee shop, and stumbled upon Caffè Sorrentino (10665-109 Street).

Recently opened by Sorrentino’s, purveyors of fine Italian Dining in Alberta, the coffee shop exuded a New York flavor. The black, white and red color scheme was offset by clear light fixtures and stainless steel tables, creating a chic and sophisticated feel. A flat screen television was installed near the coffee bar, where many patrons were situated, fixating on the broadcasted Oilers game. Their menu is very similar to that of Zenari’s in Manulife Place – in addition to the typical coffee break fare, they also offer soups, paninis and pastas. But bonus – they also carry Fantasia Gelato, the must-have treat at Heritage Days. And for those who need an easy-to-make dinner, Caffè Sorrentino stocks convenient, take-home versions of their popular pastas and sauces (I myself wouldn’t mind trying their wild mushroom ravioli).

While I didn’t have the appetite to have anything besides a cookie and a cup of Tazo tea this time, I will be back to sample their Italian plates soon.

Counter

Cafe interior

Table with a view

Unusual napkin holder and mug

Western Sensibilities: Thanh Thanh Oriental Noodle House

After the ceremony, Janice and I accompanied May and her family for lunch. We decided on Thanh Thanh (10718-101 Street), a newly renovated Vietnamese restaurant at Janice’s suggestion.

Just outside of Chinatown, Thanh Thanh offers free parking, always a plus for eateries in the downtown core. The decor is impressively chic – tile floors, brown suede banquets, simple black tables, mirrors to create the illusion of space, and a clean tank filled with blood parrots. While this was my first time at the restaurant, I’m certain the changes have much improved the dining space.

I was surprised at how busy the place was, at noon on a random Saturday. By the time we left over an hour later, there was actually a wait for tables. We ordered a few dishes to share, including hot and sour soup, cashew chicken, beef, chicken and vegetable chow fun, and a sizzling beef and mushroom plate.

The food arrived in no time. Hot, fresh, and of reasonable quality, I was very happy with my experience. I’ll be certain to try their pho in the future.

With large portions and fast service, I can see why Thanh Thanh has become a lunch and dinner destination for those in the know.

Blood Parrots!

Restaurant interior

Hot & Sour Soup

Cashew Chicken

Warm and Inviting: Free Press Bistro

Dickson and I met up after work today for a quick bite to eat. He insisted on something “warm” (what can I say? He’s an articulate one), and I suggested the Free Press Bistro (10014-104 Street).

Until recently, the restaurant belonged to the Original Fare collective, a group of independently-owned eateries in the city. The following is an excerpt from an interview with Natasha Shekhter-Chapman, one of the proprietors of Free Press, distributed in the November 2006 Original Fare newsletter:

“Our concept is to do non-processed panini’s. What I found with panini’s is that most of them are processed, generic food. Whereas here the chicken is roasted, the pork is pulled. Everything down to our desserts we make here. For us it is about non-processed, unique, healthy, incorporating all different aspects of the world. You look at our menu and we’ve got Thai and Vietnamese, and then we have the French, the Cajun, kind of all over the world but combining them all into a very basic thing. Everybody loves sandwiches.”

I’d been there once prior, almost a year ago, on a similarly blustery day, but wasn’t too impressed with the food at that time, however. Just a stone’s throw (okay, maybe more like a punt) away from Bay Station, it’s in quite a convenient downtown location.

The restaurant was cozy and inviting, and even more so as the dimmed lighting brought out the warmth in the earth toned walls. Non-obtrusive vintage newspapers accented the dining room, a theme continued on their colorful menus. While I wasn’t a huge fan of their furniture (clunky metal and tacky pink), the calming ambiance somewhat made up for it.

To start, we ordered the intriguing Chip Butty, an apparent spin on a British pub classic, with fries and mozza grilled between Ciabatta bread. For our main plates, I went with the Chicken Parmesan (breaded chicken, tomato sauce, mozzarella), while Dickson chose the Free Press Club (chicken, lettuce, tomatoes, bacon).

The Chip Butty came soon enough, and my, it may be my new favorite sandwich. The combination of french fries and melted cheese encased in crisp Ciabatta tasted heavenly and had it been served with gravy instead of a lemon dill aioli, it could have been considered a ‘poutine sandwich.’ Come to think of it, perhaps I should add a panini grill to my kitchen wish list.

As for our entrees – the chicken in mine was a tad on the dry side, but using ketchup for dipping, it wasn’t too noticeable. The star of the sandwich was indeed the bread. Dickson wondered if they baked it on-site. Based on their interview excerpt above, I’d hope so. Lastly, the fries were of the shoestring variety (which I normally dislike), but I didn’t mind them on this occasion.

While I’m happy to say I had a good experience this time around, I may have to return to see if they can remain consistent with both the service and the food.

Restaurant interior