Last Supper in Sprawlburbia

It was inevitable we'd visit the new Chili's down the street (Arlington's 100th?). When you have a happy hour a half mile away how do you pretend it's not there? After a looooong time with a huuuuuge menu, hubby sipping a marg and me with a draft Shiner, we settled on Portobella and Steak Fajitas and Chicken Tacos for me. It was a totally enjoyable meal, but a meal not without its problems, a few of which I will enjoy to point out. First, these "black beans" that Chili's serves up with all its Tex-Mex-esque dishes are nothing but Sysco cans of Goya beans, undoctored. Kinda gross in their plainness, mostly because you realize the profit margin here and it grosses you out. Second, ditto for the "Mission" tortillas. They are sweet and they are chock full of hydrogenated oils. Just because chain restaurants deal in warehouse foods, doesn't mean I can't complain about it. Our wonderful, attentive older waiter, the amazing cleanliness of the place, however, as well as hubby's great-tasting fajitas, made our early-bird meal a solid B-. Fajitas, heh-heh; now there is something chains get right.

Restaurant Updates: Bigotes, Estella's, Angelo's

Went back to Bigote's on Abram near 360 in Arlington for dinner last weekend. This time I took the husband, who was pleased with his Carne Guisada and whose digestive tract remained intact thereafter. My dinner and tract, on the other hand, were not so lucky. No need to get graphic -- only want to say that I won't be back and that I suffered for mulitple days. I had the tamales.

Finally made it to Estella's on Arkansas in Arlington. The food was more benign than Bigote's, thank God, but I won't be going back there, either, due to the fact that their "cheese" is the stuff that comes in those gallon cans at CostCo. And they put it on eeeeeeeverything. It's that cheese you get when you are so hungry and desperate that you order the "Nachos" at the AMC Theatres. Chips and salsa were tops, and the interior of this place is so stripped down and aged, it's sort of interesting to see. Depressing, yes, but still interesting in an 80s kind of way.

Now for the great news! Angelo's BBQ on White Settlement is amazing and I can't believe I wasted all this time/money on any other BBQ in town! The place is a giant, cavernous, big game trophied, dusty, dark, Shiner on tap, bar/picnic table joint. I had the two-meat plate w/ chicken and ribs and hot DAMN, it was good. One complaint: expensive ($14 for my plate, which comes with all the sides automatically). I like that you don't have to choose the side, that you get all of them on the plate: for me, the UN-decider, the ANTI-decision maker, this is just what the diner ordered. So to speak.

New Orleans Eating Tour: Part Un

With most of my clients on vacation and Lili's Bistro where I cook on the weekends closed for the Fourth of July, I decided to hop on down to New Orleans. The purpose of my trip: eat like a Cajun queen and become inspired to cook like one. Mission accomplished. Daniel Bouloud's After Hours forays into the Crescent City left a niggling bug in my brain for getting a meal at Cochon in the Warehouse District. I got an early start in the city, walking in the heat down Magazine Street, looking for a place to get a small plate and a glass of red wine. The nice man at Martin Wine Cellar told me to head for The Delachaise, corner of St. Charles and Delachaise. On my way there I passed Lilette in hopes I'd be inspired to make a reservation for the next night, only to discover they would be closed for the next few days. That was my first inkling that things in the restaurant world are a tad different in the Big Easy. I would discover many restaurants were closed for the July 4th long weekend (and into the week!), including Cafe Reconcile, the lunch spot my Mother and I were so looking forward to trying!

The Delachaise was real nice and friendly; a straightforward drinking place with class and tapas. Big blackboards lined the wall above the bar, each with its own heading: Bourbon, Red Wine, Gin, Tequila, etc., with their vintages and their prices per. This made ordering very easy. I had the cheapest glass of French red they offered ($7) and the crab-meat johnny cakes with wasabi caviar. Two female barkeeps graciously talked with me about their favorite places to eat while I took notes (the Rivershack Tavern was praised repeatedly). I asked them about Cochon, my destination for the evening. Looks of concern came over their faces and one said "It's OK if you like meat. I mean really like meat. You'll smell like BBQ smoke when you leave." That sealed it! I was going to enjoy my meal!

And so I did. Arriving around 7:30 PM, I think I took the last spot in the place. Very masculine in feel, decor and menu selections, Cochon didn't disappoint me. How could I resist a classic like North Carolina-style pork BBQ (called "Louisiana Cochon"), served w/ fresh cracklins and pickled peaches? This and the buttermilk-lemon pie w/ blueberries made my evening in NOLA a crackin' way to start my Fourth of July trip!