Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Dinner Review @ BLT Steak Waikiki

Just had dinner at BLT Steak Waikiki at the Trump Tower tonight.




Starting w/ the valet, I had a great personable experience, no ticket and problem attitude.  Cute boys.

We decided to sit at the bar tonight, because the restaurant was pretty quiet and the bar had a little more excitement going on.

As "pupus to go with your drink", you are given 3 little bowls of flavored popcorn, roasted almonds and herb marinated olives...which is a value, because my date got full on the popcorn, because they fill it up everytime it goes empty.

For appetizers we decided on the sashimi sampler and an ahi tartare.  Before the appetizers came out they gave us a delicious crispy & moist popover each w/ a side of butter.  Also a mason jar of chicken liver pate w/ toasted bread, which was really tasty.

The sashimi sampler was a selection of salmon, hamachi and ahi w/ pickled ginger & wasabi.  It was pretty regular, nothing special in taste and presentation - $22.  Then the ahi tartare was a perfect layered 2" square of diced ahi and avocado, in a pool of ponzu sauce.  A beautiful presentation, but the taste was okay, nothing special.

For dinner we decided to share a meal, because we were getting full on the pre-pre-pupus, pre-pupus, and pupus.  We had a caesar salad, hanger steak and sauteed cream spinach.  The caesar salad was light and tasty w/ parmesan crisps - basic.  The hanger steak was perfectly prepared and yummy - loved it.  The steak came w/ 2 sauces - a chimicurri sauce and a 3-mustards selection, which I got to pick from a list of sauces, when I ordered.  And the sauteed creamed spinach was not prepared like your usual creamed spinach.  It was fresh spinach thinly sliced and sauteed in light cream.  It was mostly spinach and very light on the cream, but very tasty and hearty - I would try another side next time.

The wine selection is still going through it's growing pains.  I ordered a wonderful Albarino for pupus and a fruity bordeaux for dinner, but the selection by the glass is slim.  The bartender commented that they are still tweeking it.

All in all, the ambiance of the restaurant is very big city steakhouse with warm browns, golds and rust colors - very inviting.  The bartenders were engaging and personable, service was prompt and timely.  The neighboring customers fun and colorful - new best friends.  Prices seemed reasonable for a good experience.  I would go back and try the restaurant experience instead of the bar experience, to really get a good example of the place.  Rating 7+.

Friday, January 15, 2010

2010 Restaurant Week in NYC starts January 25th




In over a week, Restaurant Week Winter 2010 will begin.  This will be the first Winter Restaurant Week that I won't attend in the last 3 years....sad face :(

I feel that this is the best way to eat at restaurants that you only read about in magazines and see on foodtv, on a budget.  Lunch is $24.00 and dinner is $34.00 for a 3 course menu.  YUM!

To view all of the participating restaurants and to make reservations go to www.opentable.com.

Here is a link to one of the exciting and wonderful restaurants: http://www.artisanalbistro.com/

I wish I was going to be there.

Here are some pictures from Restaurant Week past:



 

TTT, Third Tuesday @ Tango - next week

Here is a sneak preview of Tango's wine dinner next week:


Presents
“ T T T “
Third Tuesday at Tango
 Argentina / Chile “Happy New Year” Wine Dinner
Tuesday, January 19th, 6:30pm

MENU

Crispy Fried Calamari
on Buenos Aires, Hearts of Palm Saladwith Tomato and Avocado

Callia, Torrantes 2008  (Chile)
~
Grilled grass fed new york strip loin
With prawn skewer, kalamata olive chimichurri

Diseno, Malbec 2007 ( Argentina )

Escudo Rojo 2007 ( Chile )
Cabernet/ Carmenere Blend

~
Apple strawberry crepes with dolce de leche
 Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

Pisco Coffee Royal ( Argentina )

$40.00 plus Tax and Gratuity
Limited Seating- Reservations confirmed by Credit Card ( 593-7288 )

Thursday, January 14, 2010

A lot has happen since my last post!

Dear Friends,

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

I have not been on my blog since November - SORRY!  Lots have happened in my life and I am proud to say all GOOD!

I have a brand new granddaughter, Kalena and she is gorgeous!!!  And a month old yesterday.  I love her so much.  Did not know a granddaughter was going to be different than my love for my grandsons.  No more or less, but different.  Can't explain it, but will try throughout my journey.



And my other change in my life is my new job as Marketing Manager for Whole Foods Market @ Kahala Mall.  It has been such a fresh & wonderful experience.  It feels like the early days of Starbucks Coffee Hawaii and Jamba Juice Hawaii.  I get to work with creative and talented young people and I get be be creative and the best thing of all, I get to work with natural, organic and delicious FOOD!!!  My true passion!!

Today is my day off and I got to have brunch with my dear friend, Tony, and we had a delicious meal @ Downtown @ HiSam.

We shared everything...

started w/ a salad sampler (their salad ASAP bar is unbelievable)
a farro & fennel salad
a cabbage slaw w/ almonds, olives and herbs
a Molokai sweet purple potato salad w/ herbs
OMG!!!!
and ahi stuffed piquillo peppers....... 



then we shared a bottle of wine from Jumilla, Spain....

for lunch, Tony had a ahi club sandwich
and being that we were on a Spanish theme,
I had the Fideos (a paella dish w/ noodles & a poached egg)

Then for dessert we had an almond cake & gianduia (hazelnut & chocolate) gelato.

Hey, I know it is a little indulgent, but it is my day off and I deserve it!

It's great to be back!!!!!