As event planners and designers preparing for an event certainly has its benefits. Recently, we were planning a birthday party for a client's husband. She secured the venue and left the rest to us. The venue turned out to be one of the best restaurants with the most incredible menu and staff! I'm speaking of The West End Grill in Ann Arbor, MI.
While the decor was already really neat and could certainly stand alone with the stained glass pieces and vintage art work. So, what we brought in was icing on the cake! Let's talk menu and how wonderful that was! The passed hors d'oeuvres consisted of trendy sliders, bleu cheese tarts with sundried tomatoes, walnuts and chef made basil pesto. Married with that was a sauted, bacon wrapped shrimp served with a honey mustard. The salad course of a mix of greens and a choice of dressings: honey and roasted garlic or raspberry vinaigrette.
The main entree was brave and daring at the same time, but pulled off to the nines. Seven different entree options and sides were offered to the 80+ guest. Entree options included 3 beef, "brick" chicken, 2 different seafood items, lamb and even a vegetarian choice. All of these were paired with different compliment side dishes! I opted for the 6 oz. filet, medium, served with matre' d butter, and Parmesan-truffle French fries.
Of course what birthday could be held without birthday cake? Zingerman's bakehouse provided an incredible chocolate tier cake with raspberry filling and chocolate profiteroles all around the exterior edge. What an incredible dining experience.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Mango's on Las Olas
Recently, I reconnected with a wonderful friend who is living in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. In communicating with him, via FaceBook, about some of our craziness in Ann Arbor, I began to reflect on my time living in Plantation, FL and going to Culinary School at The Art Institute of Ft. Lauderdale. Those recaps shifted gears to one of my favorite places to eat: Mango's on Las Olas!
This was one of my favorite places with the most incredible foods! I loved Las Olas because it was the only area "downtown" that you could walk and experience wonderful shops. But, the beginning and end was always Mango's for cocktails, appetizers and dinner followed by dessert. I remember starting with fresh spinach and artichoke dip with corn chips. Usually after that to treat ourselves we followed with a baked brie in a sourdough boule! Dinner was an experience that varied on the "catch of the day" or what our budget allowed us to indulge in. Not being an avid seafood eater (sorry) I usually opted for the Grilled Pork Chops, duo boneless grilled chops with a honey-chipotle barbecue sauce, roasted corn salsa and crispy fries! The joy that brought me on many occasions!! Some of my other favorites were Filet Bleu, tenderloin topped with merlot wine sauce and blue cheese, served with smashed potatoes or Tenderloin Filet, char-grilled and served with bearnaise sauce and smashed potatoes. yes, life was good! Dessert some times followed, or became take out of key lime pie or a very sinful brownie concoction.
This was one of my favorite places with the most incredible foods! I loved Las Olas because it was the only area "downtown" that you could walk and experience wonderful shops. But, the beginning and end was always Mango's for cocktails, appetizers and dinner followed by dessert. I remember starting with fresh spinach and artichoke dip with corn chips. Usually after that to treat ourselves we followed with a baked brie in a sourdough boule! Dinner was an experience that varied on the "catch of the day" or what our budget allowed us to indulge in. Not being an avid seafood eater (sorry) I usually opted for the Grilled Pork Chops, duo boneless grilled chops with a honey-chipotle barbecue sauce, roasted corn salsa and crispy fries! The joy that brought me on many occasions!! Some of my other favorites were Filet Bleu, tenderloin topped with merlot wine sauce and blue cheese, served with smashed potatoes or Tenderloin Filet, char-grilled and served with bearnaise sauce and smashed potatoes. yes, life was good! Dessert some times followed, or became take out of key lime pie or a very sinful brownie concoction.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Farmer's Markets
For many years one of my favorite things to do is to wake up early on a Saturday morning to adventure the Farmer’s Markets around the area. Being an Event Planner/Designer those opportunities have become few. But, that doesn’t stop the heart from wanting to go and see the local products in their fresh glory.
For years, it was the Farmer’s Market in the Kerrytown area of Ann Arbor. That was one of my favorite stops, starting with coffee and pastries at Zingerman’s Next Door! What a delight and pleasure to walk the area and take in all the wonderful fresh produce, plants, honey, and baked goods. From there, the journey would continue inside Kerrytown to complete the list at Sparrow’s (meats), and Monaghan’s (seafood). Some of the other local favorite markets include, of course, Detroit Farmer’s Market, Birmingham, Royal Oak, and locally, Walled Lake Farmer’s Market.
At any of these destinations, the search for locally grown, out of the norm, produce is worth the travel. I can’t tell you the joy in finding Fingerling potatoes; blue potatoes, fresh greens/spinach, assorted herbs and the like are memorable! Some of the best dishes and recipes I came up with came from farmer’s market finds.
For years, it was the Farmer’s Market in the Kerrytown area of Ann Arbor. That was one of my favorite stops, starting with coffee and pastries at Zingerman’s Next Door! What a delight and pleasure to walk the area and take in all the wonderful fresh produce, plants, honey, and baked goods. From there, the journey would continue inside Kerrytown to complete the list at Sparrow’s (meats), and Monaghan’s (seafood). Some of the other local favorite markets include, of course, Detroit Farmer’s Market, Birmingham, Royal Oak, and locally, Walled Lake Farmer’s Market.
At any of these destinations, the search for locally grown, out of the norm, produce is worth the travel. I can’t tell you the joy in finding Fingerling potatoes; blue potatoes, fresh greens/spinach, assorted herbs and the like are memorable! Some of the best dishes and recipes I came up with came from farmer’s market finds.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)