Banana Bean Cafe

Location:  Brewery District, Columbus, Ohio
Date:  Sept. 10, 2010

It was our first time in this "Floribbean" restaurant and we actually missed it because there's no sign along the side of the street.  I just saw it when we just passed it and had to make a U on the next block.  As we pulled in the parking lot, I noticed that they have a patio seating but I didn't feel like seating outside as the weather couldn't decide if its going to be cool or warm.  It's one of those September days again.

I felt a relaxed and laid back atmosphere the moment I came inside Banana Bean Cafe.   It's like I stepped inside a restaurant along Florida's sunny beach waters with my scarf and in an almost fall-like weather.  This picture I took doesn't do justice at all.

My hubby and I went there around noon time so it was great that they have a   brunch menu.  I've noticed in their drinks menu that they have a signature roast coffee.  When I ordered this, our server, Jennifer, said their coffee is from Stauf's thus, it must be good!

I've heard that their Eggs Del Mar ($14) is very good.  It has two poached eggs put on top of a house-made creole cornmeal-dusted crab cakes,
with seared spinach & roasted tomato hollandaise.  I've never cooked poached eggs before ( I didn't know how to)  and they made it amazingly soft and perfect.  The crab cakes are so tasty.  I've never thought this combination would work out perfectly.  This is highly recommended!

A meat-lover, hubby ordered Espresso Steak & Eggs ($15) which is cocoa & coffee rubbed 6oz Filet Mignon with two fried eggs and skillet red skin potatoes.

We also tried their Buttermilk Pancakes ($2).  It's like a dessert already as it came in late.  Jennifer apologized and said the chef had ran out of crushed almonds used in the pancakes batter so they had to make a new batch.  Their pancakes are rich and thick it made us full. I think they gave us 3 pancakes instead of just 2 which is specified in their menu.  Maybe to make up for its 'late arrival'.

It would seem that the 2 brunch items we ordered are not generous enough.  Maybe it would be a more satisfying meal if there are a couple of toasts on the side.  Good thing hubby thought of ordering the pancakes.  I want to try other items in the menu.  I'll be back!

Stauf's

Location:  Grandview Ave, Columbus, OH
Various dates starting late summer to early fall of 2010

It has been quite sometime already that I got hooked in watching tv shows that features Jamaica.  So one day, I checked out where in Columbus can I have a taste of Jamaica.  I found out that Stauf's offers Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee.  Jamaica is a big coffee producer but it's people are not coffee drinkers.  Though, they were out of stock ($55.00 for a bag), I decided to go there and see what else I can find.

This is what you will see when you come inside Stauf's, a wide variety of premium coffees, espressos, teas, mugs, even coffee makers and pressers.  When you approach those walls of coffees and start to browse, after a few seconds a staff will approach you and offer help.

 

I used to work close to Grandview Ave. and how I wished I've discovered this place while I was still working there.  How could I ignore this place!  They have an ample space, outdoor seating and free wifi for all of us who like to sip a good cup of coffee ($1.95 for 16 oz) while surfing the internet.  The espresso muffin is really good.  The dark roast coffee goes well with it.  The muffin has chunks or chips of espresso they're like dark chocolate. I was lovin' it!

I've been craving for their sausage, gravy and biscuits (one of their weekend breakfast menu) but they were out so I settled for Stauf's omelet ($6) instead.  Actually, they were out of it several items including pancakes.  We got there around 2pm on a Sunday.  I guess that was too late for a brunch already but nevertheless, their omelet is very good.  With ketchup and hot sauce, it's a winner.  The serving is also generous, I had to share it with hubby.  I also like the hashbrowns that goes with it.  Their chai latte is just ok.  I was looking for more spice I guess.  I think I like Starbuck's better.  Hubby ordered french toast with sausage which are also very tasty.  Their sausage is like McDonald's.

This place is truly a haven for coffee lovers.  This is going to be my new hang out place, where I can have a rich-flavored coffee while blogging, reading and just simply relax.   Maybe one thing that I wish they should do is when they give you the cup of coffee from the counter, I wish they put a lid on it.

Just a tip that I got from their website that I didn't know (duh!):  Never refrigerate or freeze your coffee.  Coffee absorbs flavors and aromas of other food products!

Northstar Cafe

Location:  Easton Mall at Columbus, Ohio
Date: Aug. 8, 2010

Recently opened at Easton Mall, Northstar Cafe features American cuisine with healthy, organic ingredients.  And with modern ambiance and relaxed atmosphere, surely, this restaurant will earn fans in downtown Columbus.

At first, I thought this is a vegan restaurant because I remember when we went to their Short North location, I had a vegan burger.  Some of their dishes may just have veggies, but those items with V on them, can be prepared with meat and if you want dairy free as well.    

I ordered Shooting Star ($3.50) which is a blend of orange, organic carrot, lemon and ginger.  It's not sweet at all and it actually tastes healthy.

Oh and btw, when you come in, give your order on the registers before you take your seats.  And after you place your order, they will give you a number that you will put in those things on top of the dining tables.  Those things have instructions in them.  So it's ok even if you don't remember what the lady says in front.  This is how the food is going to reach to your table.

I had a Meatloaf dinner with french fries and they're yummy!  Hubby had BBQ rib pulled pork sandwich.

Their sodas are organic too.  Hubby got the cane cola.

The next time we went there, I had Buddha Bowl with roasted chicken ($9.50). It has lots of long grain organic rice with peanut sauce, a generous serving and I couldn't finish it.  The broccoli and cauliflower are very soft and tender and can almost melt in your mouth literally! I wish I can make my vegetables that way.  I accidentally deleted my picture, but if you're a peanut butter lover, this one's for you.  My hubby had a very crispy BBQ flatbread ($12.50).  I just realized that we both ordered dishes with peanut ingredient on them.  It was a peanut night.

Wicked the Musical

Location:  Ohio Theater
Date:  July 31, 2010

I've been hearing a lot of good comments about this musical even before it came here in Columbus and it really made me curious.  With no idea what the story is all about, I went ahead and bought tickets as soon as it went on sale.  And I wasn't disappointed.  It was WICKED indeed!  The music is fantabulous! The cast is superb! The costumes and stage are gorgeous!  I have been to a few Broadway shows and so far, this is one of my favorites.  I just love everything about it! I wouldn't hesitate to see it again!

Without giving too much spoilers, the story conveys the social message of "Don't judge the book by its cover".  It is also about pursuing your dreams and taking a stand to follow your principles and moral sense.  But I wasn't expecting that it would also be about friendship.  A friendship that found a way to go beyond the tests and challenges thrown upon them and ended up having a mutual love and hope of good for both of them.  Everyone can really relate to the story.  This is an excerpt of Glinda's part from the song "For Good":

I've heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who helped us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true
But I know I'm who I am today
Because I knew you...

My favorite scene was when Elphaba is lifted up from the stage like she's flying.  This is when Elphaba discovers the wizard's true and evil character and decided to change her dreams and not to join his kingdom.  So, the wizard ordered the people to kill her because she's wicked.  Despite social rejection and separating from her best friend Glinda, Elphaba took a stand by following her inner moral sense.  In this scene, I could really feel the character's passion and emotion taking a stand, pursuing her dreams, flying high and defying gravity.

So if you care to find me
Look to the western sky
As someone told me lately:
"Everyone deserves a chance to fly"
And if I'm flying solo
At least I'm flying free
To those who'd ground me
Take a message back from me:
Tell them how I am defying gravity
I'm flying high defying gravity
And soon I'll match them in renown
And nobody in all of Oz
No wizard that there is or was
Is ever gonna bring me down!

As I was looking at the cd's pictures, I noticed familiar faces in Elphaba's and Glinda's characters from the original Broadway cast.  So, I googled it and lo and behold!  They were Rachel's mom and Will's high school crush, April, respectively, from the hit television show "Glee"! I feel so stupid as I'm the last one in the whole world to know.  Anyways, it would have been cool to watch the original cast.  But Jackie Burns did an awesome job!

Maggiano's Little Italy

Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Date:  July 29, 2010

It's been a very long time since my last visit to this Italian-American restaurant.  I couldn't even remember what I had.  Anyways, we were thirty minutes early for our 7:30pm reservation but they graciously seated us after a just a few minutes of waiting.  Their waiting area has an ample space and seats so there were no inconvenience at all.

Right after we were seated, my hubby said, "Happy anniversary!". How can I forget!  It's one day early but yeah, it's our second year of marriage.  How time flies!

After spending a few minutes on their big-size dinner menus, by the way, do you notice how most expensive restaurants have this big size menus?  It's like the bigger and heavier their menus, the classier they are.  So, after spending a few minutes browsing these menus, for appetizers, as crab cake lovers, we couldn't resist but order this.  They are priced at $12.75.  They came in two medium-sized lumps, topped with crisp onion rings and served with a side of mustard sauce.  They were superb (well, for the price, they should be)!  They're soft and very tasty.  You don't actually need the sauce to get more flavor.

For the main course, I ordered the Balsamic-glazed salmon ($17.95) served with Mediterranean orzo with pine nuts.  The aroma of the first slice of salmon is appetizing!  The temperature was hot not warm. This is my first time to eat Mediterranean orzo.  It looks like a different kind of rice and tastes like pasta, of course!  It's a rice-shaped pasta!  I find it kinda weird. I guess, it takes getting used to.  It's like I keep on expecting the taste of rice and couldn't get it.  Funny!  Italian servings are huge and so does this one. The dishes on my photos may look small but they are really more than satisfying.

Luckily, the taste of my sweet red sangria ($7) complimented with the dish.  I like their red sangria which came with a slice of orange and cherry.

DH had the Medallions of beef ($22.50) served with a delicious roasted garlic mashed potatoes (one of the best tasting mashed potatoes I've had) and a portabella mushroom sauce.

DH paired it with Maggiano's signature wine ($7), a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese.  DH loved it!

Unfortunately, the service was mediocre for this type of restaurant.   Our server didn't mention the specials which the other server did on the other table.  She didn't come back to check on us after serving the main courses.  We may have come during a busy time but we should be given the service that we deserve.

Nevertheless, we enjoyed our anniversary celebration.  It's the special person that you're spending your dinner with is ultimately what really matters.

Petit Chou

Location: Carmel, Indiana
Date: July 29, 2010

Today's my third time to dine in this casual, French restaurant, perfectly situated in the corner of Clay Terrace boulevard.  They have patio seating which is very popular in all restaurants during summer but hubby and I prefer to be seated inside especially dining during lunch.  Once seated, you will be served with a glass of ice water.  (Water is a staple for me.  I seldom order drinks, only in special occasions.  I know I should start ordering a variety of drinks if I continue making reviews).  One of the things I like about this restaurant, is they have this variety of coffees in thermos bottles, oh, like in Panera Bread.  Just help yourself, feel at home and grab a mug from their coffee mug tree and pour your heart out.  Their selections this time are Costa Rica blend, coconut cream pie and the usual patachou blend and patachou blend decaf.  The coconut cream pie tastes coconut and the aroma is distinctly coconut too.  But this is only at first.  After the few sips, you begin not to notice it anymore.

So, for my lunch, I chose Crepe Complete, which is a choice of bacon or ham, goat cheese and a touch of bechamel - a French white sauce made of butter, flour and milk.   Their crepes, as they mention in their menu, are made to order using French flour to ensure authenticity and flavor.  And that is true.  The crepe was made perfectly.  Once you make that gentle slice to the paper-thin crepe, the bechamel began oozing as well as the ham and goat cheese.  This is just a simple meal, nothing complicated.  But it always amazes me how they make a perfect crepe.  You know, how they look like neatly folded.  I can barely cook an omelet without dissolving it into pieces.  The lightly dressed field greens which is served alongside the crepe also compliments the flavor.  

I also ordered Harrison's crepe to go for dessert.  Hubby is already late for work so I just savored it (all by myself hahaha!) in the hotel.  Our server forgot to include a fork in the bag so I just got one from the hotel's cafe.  With berries and chocolate, you can never go wrong.  It's really the best of both worlds.  The crepe is filled with strawberries and blueberries, chocolate ganache and creme anglaise (rich vanilla-flavored sauce).  The warm chocolate ganache is just perfect, not too sweet.

Just a trivia:  What does "petit chou" exactly mean?  I learned that the literal translation is "a little cabbage" but generally used, however, to express how cute or sweet someone is.

Petit Chou (1st visit)

Location: Carmel, Indiana
Date: June 24, 2010

This is the first time that we dined in this restaurant.  Hubby and I got curious and we were not disappointed at all.  I like the feeling of openness of the dining area when you come in.  There's also a back area if you like to dine more privately.   There's also like mini bar area in the middle which is opposite the coffee section.

As crab cake lovers, we tried this as an appetizer.  It was really yummy!  Full of crab flakes.  We shared this one big lump of crab cake.  They served it with lightly dressed field of greens.  Actually, the crab cake is better than in Capt. Anderson's (Panama city, FL) that I had the previous week.

For entree, I ordered the Traditional Chicken Paillard which is seared flattened chicken breast with lemon-scented pan sauce.  The chicken was soft, juicy not dry and full of taste!  When you look at the dish, you will see too much oil but it doesn't taste oily.  The Marthas Paillard that my dear husband ordered looked and tasted the same as mine only his has mashed potatoes. Both dishes were served with a bed of lightly dressed arugula and shaved parmesan which both complimented well to the chicken.

We enjoyed our dinner here and we said we will definitely come back.

Question:  What is a paillard?  A paiillard is a scallop of chicken or veal that is pounded flat and grilled or sauteed quickly.