Sorry I haven't been posting much lately. It's summer. Sue me.
In an effort to help you enjoy your summer even more--and to preserve my public esteem as a timely source for useful information--here is some important news about appetizers.
First, what you already know:
- Appetizers can replace a meal.
- Appetizers are always a little bit naughty.
- Appetizers are half-price during happy hour.
Now, what you definitely need to know:
- The Herkimer has turned The Oasis into an appetizer to be reckoned with. What used to be lemon hummus, wheatberry tabouli, spiced sweet potato spread, and curried onion dip on a platter with piles of hot, grilled pita triangles is now all that and more. They've added 4 of their little black bean falafel patties and set them atop a generous handful of mixed greens tossed with the house vinaigrette. The Oasis has always been my favorite thing to eat at The Herkimer, and God bless them for making it even better (and a hell of a lot bigger).
- Bar Abilene has committed what I'm pretty sure will go down in history as a crime against humanity by removing the black bean and goat cheese skillet from their appetizer menu. This little item (otherwise known as Skillet Appetizer Thingy) was mashed black beans in a cast iron mini-skillet, topped with crumbled goat cheese and sliced jalapenos. They broiled it until the cheese was melted and bubbly, then added a little pico de gallo. It came out with warm tortilla chips and Salsa Roja, and it was absolutely delicious. My kind and courteous bartender was able to get the kitchen to make it for me the other night (thanks again, Mike!), so maybe if enough people keep asking for it, it'll return to the menu.
- The Independent is a spot I've only started going to recently. The hospitality industry seems to account for more than 80% of their business, so I just figured they wouldn't even let me in without a paystub. Luckily, I was wrong, and have been able to sample the veggie tempura appetizer a few times. It's more of a "tempura" than a tempura (non-traditional batter, side of cheddar cheese sauce), but who cares? It's deep-fried, delicious, and only a few bucks during happy hour. It also spawned a dream the other night in which I convinced Thom Pham to start offering a vegetable tempura on both his Azia and Anemoni menus. I'll keep you posted.
- Figlio is doing nothing to improve our love-hate relationship. Heirloom tomatoes are on the menu right now, so a few weeks ago I ordered the heirloom tomato bruschetta. There was something curious about the appetizer when it came out... what was it... just didn't look right... AHA! Those aren't heirloom tomatoes. I was so hungry that I scarfed the whole thing down, anyway, but I did point out to our server that they were just regular tomatoes. He replied with AssSpeak (used when one is talking out of one's ass), telling me that all they had in the kitchen were heirloom tomatoes, so I couldn't possibly be correct. Whatever, this kid wouldn't know a beefsteak from a big zebra, so I just let it go. Vindication was mine when I spotted someone I know having a drink on the patio. He happens to work at Figlio, and happened to work earlier that day. "Yeah, we ran out of the heirlooms. We're supposed to get more tomorrow morning."
Tsk, tsk.
ahh...food. a few things about your post:
1) Bar Abilene...is it me or does this place just plain suck? If you want a large tequila selection, shitty service with an attitude, and dry & bland Tex Mex in a prime uptown location then this is certainly the place for you. I'll cut them a little slack only because they did have the sense to make "Bar" the first & foremost portion of their name.
2) I've never darkened the doorway of the Independent, but I can be certain that it's not long for this world...I base this on your quote, "The hospitality industry seems to account for more than 80% of their business". That can only mean one thing...the staff is giving the house away. Every bartender on earth knows that there's a secret barter system and that one hand washes the other & the establishments lose when they let it happen.
Posted by: geoff | July 19, 2006 at 05:09 PM
Oh Geoff you are so right... the greatest summer of my life: I got a job as the beer tapping girl at Wisconsin State Fair, God bless Wisconsin, at the ripe old age of 18 everyone of my friend can tell a story of the summer of beer.
Now about food...
what's with all the uptown Alexis? Have you forgotten your roots?
My Favorite the peacock lounge... can you say nachos? Black bean topped perfection.
I am not a Suzy's fan but I can not argue with those cheese curds!!! I already said I was from Wisconsin.
Posted by: Sarah Buckley | July 20, 2006 at 10:00 AM
Sarah...I haven't forgotten about you. We were back in Detroit last month and I went back to my old hairdresser for my last cut. I'm due again in a couple of weeks.
Posted by: geoff | July 20, 2006 at 11:07 AM
Sarah: My only beef with The Peacock is that they're closing down the kitchen every time I walk in, and you can't even get a salad. I mean, come on; just a few small plates for the bar-dwellers of the world? That isn't too much to ask, is it? And I can't stand Psycho Suzi's. Nice idea, nice patio, nice people, but I'm the kind of girl who likes to sit at the bar and socialize with a bunch of people, or at least grab a high table. But the bar is too tiny, and they don't even have high tables.
Geoff: Bar Abilene is what it is, you're right. I go there every time I'm craving the Skillet Appetizer Thingy, but the other 2 vegetarian options don't even come close, and I don't drink margaritas. And the barter system isn't just for those that work in the business; my friends and I generally tip in the 50% range for a reason.
Posted by: Alexis | July 20, 2006 at 11:16 AM
So true...forgot to mention that attractive and/or loose women also benefit from the barter system. We still haven't met, but I presume that you fit one or more of those descriptions.
Posted by: geoff | July 20, 2006 at 08:32 PM
Oh yeah she is loose.
Posted by: sarah Buckley | July 20, 2006 at 10:37 PM
Wait a minute, Sarah -- Mom is reading this!!!
Posted by: MOM | July 21, 2006 at 06:53 AM
No really Mom she is loose both in attitude and body. Wait it got worse... I mean she is cool and can kick high.
Posted by: Sarah Buckley | July 21, 2006 at 09:40 AM
That last post leads me to belive that MOM is just one of Alexis' pseudonyms. I mean, whose mother refers to themselves in the 3rd person? Has anyone seen the 2 of them in the same place @ the same time and mentioned the blog?
Posted by: geoff | July 21, 2006 at 12:58 PM
While MOM and Alexis do bear a striking resemblance, I can vouch for them both being, in fact, separate people, having seen them together.
Posted by: Marchelle | July 22, 2006 at 05:53 PM