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| The Eatetarian!! |
| | No need for more- the Back Porch Cafe's veggie breakfast burrito- and a lot of hot coffee- filled the bill for a great breakfast in March!! |
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| The Eatetarian
by Tim Van Schmidt
The Pot Belly Cafe, Red Feather Lakes.
It's starting to become a tradition to go to the 9 News Health Fair up in Red Feather Lakes Village each year. It's so much more civilized, despite the long drive, than crowding into the busy Fort Collins venue where the lines are long. After fasting and accomplishing the blood draw, it makes sense to get some breakfast and this year we were pleased to find the Pot Belly Cafe, just north of the road into the village, open. We tried the Pot Belly last year, only to find it shuttered, but on this occassion it was open and busy.
The Pot Belly Cafe has a relaxed, casual environment, that does include a pot belly stove. Snow flurries swirled outside, but it was plenty warm inside. Hot coffee along with thick, hot pancakes and some piping hot potatoes- maple syrup, butter, the works- everything you could want out of a great breakfast when you're hungry- and probably everything the Health Fair is battling. No matter, everything tasted good, the plates around the table emptied while the restaurant buzzed. We even got a deal- a buck off per breakfast because of the Health Fair. The Pot Belly Cafe is just one more reason to return to Red Feather Lakes!
Chimney Park, Windsor.
For Mother's Day, we had a touch of elegance during a special brunch visit to Chimney Park in Windsor. It's an intimate and stylish restaurant- and very busy on Mother's Day. The menu was concise- a choice of three courses. I went with the deliciously creamy cheese blintzes to begin with, then a crispy fritatta and potatoes plus a scoop of a refreshing chopped veggie relish. A spicy Bloody Mary accompanied the meal perfectly and the dessert was a cute, individual flourless chocolate cake- all fine.
You could still get a sense of Chimney Park's general ambiance- relaxed yet slightly formal- despite the hub bub going on because of Mother's Day. It'll make the next trip to Chimney Park interesting indeed- because there will be another trip. The food was freshly prepared, tastes well-blended and served with panache- everything you could want in a better dining experience.
May 2010 |
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| "The Eatetarian"
by Tim Van Schmidt
Welcome to a new column, "The Eatetarian," a personal log of restaurant experiences in Northern Colorado. It's inevitable- eating in restaurants, I mean- so why not document those events with a little bit of cyber ink? I consider myself a basic vegetarian, heavily leaning toward vegan. However, at times, I'm not strict about consuming some animal products. I try not to for several reasons- it's just healthier is the bottom line- but many of the world's great recipes include such ingrediants. I'm interested in good food in general and do not exclude some dishes because of such concerns. Just call me an "eatetarian."
Here are my most recent area restaurant stops:
Sofia's Bistro, 1120 N. Lincoln, Loveland. 970-667-2929.
A relatively new restaurant in Loveland, Sofia's is homey and relaxed, while offering a creative, innovative menu. The impetus was an ad for buckwheat pancakes, a delicacy to my father who requested the trip. I'm a sucker for pancakes, so I did that too and left very satisfied. I imagine this would be a good date restaurant- people were hanging at their tables talking over coffee and things seemed pretty upbeat, without a particular rush involved.
Schmidt's Bakery and Delicatessen, 808 14th SW Street, Loveland. 970-667-9811.
On the restaurant side, I went for a late-in-the-day waffle, very crisp. It was fun having an accordion player make the noontime atmosphere festive. But the bakery side of Schmidt's was truly jaw-dropping. The choices in the long, long glass cases were somewhat overwhelming- it was good to eat in the restaurant before hitting the bakery. I'd hate to see what the bill would be like if you hit the bakery hungry. A little chocolate cream pie was my choice this time.
http://www.schmidtsbakery.com
Main Street Grill, 1294 Main Street, Windsor. 970-674-0810.
Nice relaxed ambiance to the main room. Had a portabello mushroom sandwich and sweet potato fries- mmmmm, not bad at all. Add an effective marg on the rocks and it was a pleasant lunch indeed. We arrived and were seated fairly early for lunch and watched as the Grill quickly filled up with a lunch crowd.
http://www.windsorgrill.com
The Egg and I, 1205 W. Main Street, Windsor. 970-686-6471.
I've been to both of the Egg & I restaurants in Fort Collins, but my favorite has become the outlet in Windsor. Part of that has to do with being a little outside the hub bub of the city. The Windsor restaurant has a small town feel, friendly and welcoming to all ages. It's very clean and inviting, especially thanks to lots of windows that not only let the daylight in, but also afford a view of the mountains if you look westward. I can't help it- I have had the blueberry pancake- served with blueberry compote- each time I've been to Windsor, but the menu has plenty more to choose from.
http://www.theeggandirestaurants.com
November 2009 |
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New!! Restaurant column!!
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| The Eatetarian!! |
| | Introducing a new column- "The Eatetarian"- Northern Colorado restaurant reviews!! |
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| The Eatetarian!! |
| | Honolulu in Colorado? YES! Okole Maluna Hawaiian Grill in Windsor serves fresh, tasty island food, with fine sauces and whole grains- a nice casual environment too!! |
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| "The Eatetarian"
by Tim Van Schmidt
Young's Cafe, 3307 S. College Ave #114, Fort Collins. 970-223-8000.
There is one single restaurant in Fort Collins that I can say I have NEVER been disappointed in and that is Young's Cafe. I have been to their location many times- enjoying the receiving area aquarium and trying various tasty examples of Vietnamese cuisine- making it a comfortable go-to spot for most special occassions. The atmosphere in the restaurant is usually kind of low key, yet they are usually busy enough to make you feel an energizing kind of hub bub going on around you.
But we have found that we don't necessarily have to sit in the restauarant itself to enjoy Young's food. We regularly get take-out as well and it works just about as well (except for having to drive home with the hot food filling the car with delectible smells.) Our favorite dish is the peanut tofu- a spicy dish with a savory-tasting sauce, topped off with vegetarian crystal rolls (the soft kind, wrapped in rice paper) and that great peanut sauce. Add a glass of wine (or, if you're at the restaurant, one of their great mixed drinks, the Zombie) and you have a satisfying meal indeed. The curied vegetables are great too. Any time I want to depend on having great food from an area eatery, Young's is the obvious choice, again and again.
http://www.youngscafe.com
Star of India, 2900 Harvard St. Unit B, Fort Collins, 970-225-1740.
Another area restaurant that is establishing a good track record of excellent meals is Star of India. We used to go to Star of India on occassion when it was located elsewhere, but have made it more of a point to visit in its present location. The dining room is spacious but has been pretty busy each time we have dined at Star of India- with a healthy buzz of people enjoying themselves. On one occassion I had one of the best margaritas I've ever had from their fully stocked bar.
On the most recent visit to Star of India, we shared three tasty dishes from the vegetable selections portion of the menu. Tarka Dal, with savory black lentils, Channa Masala, a spicy chic pea dish and Paneer Kadai, featuring cubed cheese and peppers, onions and spices. All of that spooned onto hot, steamy rice, along with the great Garlic Nan bread, made for a full meal for three and another successful trip to Star of India.
http://www.starofindiaftcollins.com
Avogadro's Number, 605 S. Mason, Fort Collins, 970-493-5555.
Avogadro's Number is a unique restaurant before you even eat a thing thanks to the hand-painted mural-covered walls that wind through the facility's different rooms. It's colorful, fantastic artwork that conjures up a mythical kind of dream world- and makes Avo's a cool place just to see. But then check out the diverse menu with a little something for everybody- sandwiches, treats, micro brew beer and much more. However, I'm a creature of habit in many ways and when I visit Avo's, I think of nothing else but having a tempeh burger- made in-house- with fries and a Fat Tire. That works so well, I rarely venture elsewhere on the menu- and that was the case, of course, on my most recent visit. Mission accomplished in terms of hunger satisfaction.
It should be mentioned that Avo's is not only a unique place to grab a bite to eat, but it is also known widely as a very active music venue. It could be said that Avo's hosts acoustic-based music, but the truth is, just about everything hits the stage in the showroom of Avo's at one time or another- from folk, blues and jazz to rock, reggae and even opera. Check out Avo's web site for the current calendar listings.
http://www.avogadros.com
Main Street Grill, 1294 Main Street, Windsor. 970-674-0810.
The Main Street Grill was cheerily decorated for the holidays on my second visit to the Windsor restaurant. This time, I tried the Grill fish taco plate- 3, not 2, is the recommended order. These were more of a fish quesadilla- served on flat tortillas with the fish and filling lined up in the middle for a fold and eat experience. Also I tried both the veggie and the chicken quesadillas and found the veggie one especially tasty thanks to the savory peppers. I mixed that with a good Grill margarita and then finished with the Chocolate Overdose desert. The "petite" version worked just fine after a full, satisfying meal. At the end of this visit, we were presented with a unique offer. We were given sealed red envelopes and told that inside were coupons for discounts- or even a trip to Las Vegas- but that they had to be opened in January on another visit to the Grill. I guess I'll be writing about the Grill again next month because I want to find out what kind of deal is in that envelope!! Clever marketing...
http://www.windsorgrill.com December 2009
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| "The Eatetarian"
by Tim Van Schmidt
Welcome to a new column, "The Eatetarian," a personal log of restaurant experiences in Northern Colorado. It's inevitable- eating in restaurants, I mean- so why not document those events with a little bit of cyber ink? I consider myself a basic vegetarian, heavily leaning toward vegan. However, at times, I'm not strict about consuming some animal products. I try not to for several reasons- it's just healthier is the bottom line- but many of the world's great recipes include such ingredients. I'm interested in good food in general and do not exclude some dishes because of such concerns. Just call me an "eatetarian."
Here is a round-up of my recent dining experiences:
Little Saigon Cafe, 3500 S. College, Fort Collins. 970-225-6630.
The Square is one of Fort Collins' most enigmatic shopping centers. Despite a continual rash of empty storefronts in the facility, it just keeps on opening its doors. The main reason I go to the Square these days is to visit Little Saigon Cafe, located on the eastern side of the Square. It turns out that Little Saigon is one great value for the lunch dollar.
On my most recent visit, for example, I ordered my favorite- chicken szechuan with vegetables. The main dish comes with lots and lots of food- I didn't think I would be able to finish it. But that's not all. With the lunch comes some soup to begin with- egg drop- as well as a pair of savory spring rolls. Mix it with a couple of cold Tsing Tao beers and you have the day's main meal in spades. My companion had an equally large meal and when the check came- it was my turn to buy- I was pleasantly surprised that a twenty dollar bill covered it all. The food is plenty tasty at Little Saigon- and one of the area's best kept secrets for lunch.
February 2010 |
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| The Eatetarian!! |
| | Introducing a new column- "The Eatetarian"- Northern Colorado restaurant reviews!! |
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| "The Eatetarian"
by Tim Van Schmidt
Guadalajara, 1281 Main St., Windsor. 970-686-2829.
Dining at Guadalajara in Windsor is a large experience. Yes, the dining rooms are large enough, but when I am talking about large, I am talking about the generous portions that were served to everybody at our table.
Sitting right off busy Main Street in Windsor, Guadalajara was also pleasantly busy with a lunch crowd on this visit. I had an excellent veggie burrito- beans, rice and savory veggies- including some really outstanding carrots (and I don't often say that about carrots,) topped with a red sauce. But across the table were two steaming plates of various mixtures of onions, mushrooms and even shrimp in a thick yummy cream sauce- so tasty. One order was full size- a mountain of food- and the other order was a half order- still a mountain of food. Apparently, no one goes away hungry from Guadalajara. Add a margarita and success- a great lunch experience.
This was just a first visit, but I'll be glad to try it again. If for no other reason than for the dessert- there was some yummy-looking flan, but I tried the apple chimichanga- served with a scoop of ice cream and drizzled with caramel sauce- mmmmm.
Biaggi's Ristorante Italiano, 5929 Sky Pond Dr., Loveland. 970-663-0100.
Located at the south end of the Centerra shopping center in Loveland, Biaggi's offers two very attractive reasons to visit. The first is the comfortable atmosphere. There was something elegant about Biaggi's with its high ceilings and warm decorations. The background music was suited for the experience- crooners and soft pop- and when we arrived for lunch, it was delightfully quiet. But that doesn't mean that the restaurant doesn't draw crowds. We must have been early for a Sunday lunch because as our meal progressed, the tables around us started to fill up.
The other reason Biaggi's is attractive, of course, is the tasty recipes, starting with bread and dipping oil with salts. For an entree, I had eggplant parmesan- with a savory red sauce. But what I really liked was the plate to my right- a butternut squash filled ravioli. Just as good was the "ravioli quattro formaggi," a bold blend of cheeses with a cheese sauce, naturally. Also great was the shrimp and crab cannelloni- just a fine blend of tastes, all wrapped together. I'm glad my companions like to taste and share! For dessert, it was no choice- the warm apple crostata- VERY similar to the apple chimichanga at Guadalajara- mmmmm, again. Biaggi's combined a dining elegance with hearty dishes for an impressive and satisfying weekend restaurant experience.
PS- Wow, January is full of birthdays in my life and Biaggi's worked so well the first time we went, it became the destination of a very important birthday indeed- my Mom's 83rd! I ordered the very light tilapia fish special, served with asparagus, but had already enjoyed plenty with the foccacia bread/oil, some great appetizers- like the crab and lobster dip, the crispy shrimp Amalfi, the bruschetta classico-and a sturdy glass of wine.
http://www.biaggis.com
Young's Cafe, 3307 S. College Ave #114, Fort Collins. 970-223-8000.
Back to Young's- again- to celebrate two January birthdays on the same night. It's no mystery why Young's has become our favorite place to party- the food is always reliably tasty, the drinks are plenty strong enough and the restaurant is busy enough to make for just the right atmosphere- upbeat yet consistent. Our table of six shared four entrees- peanut tofu (of course,) curried vegetables, peppery shrimp and sweet and sour shrimp. On this occasion the peppery shrimp was just right- the shrimp tender and the pepper savory. A couple of Zombies- rum, brandy and fruit juices, my favorite drink at Young's- plus the obligatory vegetable crystal roll with peanut sauce and good conversation make for an event that is hard to beat elsewhere. By no means will this be the last trip to Young's- maybe just the last trip this month!
http://www.youngscafe.com
The Egg and I, 1205 W. Main Street, Windsor. 970-686-6471.
The Egg and I is always a dependable destination for that breakfast-lunch time period. On this occasion I tried the "sunrise chili reno"- a cheesy, savory mix of eggs and tart chilies. But I have to admit, the plate to my left looked pretty great- French toast smothered with berries.
http://www.theeggandirestaurants.com
Odell Brewing Co., 800 East Lincoln Avenue, Fort Collins.
OK, so this is not about eating, but hey, eating and drinking go together don't they? In any case, my visit to Odell's Brewing was a happy one for sure thanks to the two taster trays I shared with my brother. From California, he's a beer fan and last time he came to town I took him to tour New Belgium. We didn't get to tour Odell's, but really enjoyed taking a "self-guided tour" through the wide diversity of beers represented in the Pilot and Co-pilot trays- 12 beers, 12 wildly different tastes. I'll admit it- I'm not a big fan of the super heavy, dark beer or the ones that experiment boldly with the mix of ingredients. I like the reds and lights, maybe some ambers, but the stuff you can't see through or the stuff that comes on like gangbusters through your nostrils before you can even taste it is less attractive to me. But that's what makes the beer culture so great- there's a taste for everyone and someone is out to try to satisfy them all. Namely places like Odell's, which was very busy indeed- those taster trays obviously the best value.
http://odellbrewing.com
Walrus Ice Cream, 125 W. Mountain Ave., Fort Collins. 1-866-834-2564 (Toll-Free)
With two special birthdays in January, there was little choice but to return to a good old Fort Collins friend for the right treats to celebrate. Namely, Walrus Ice Cream. Walrus has been a favorite for years and has maintained a unique hometown identity even through ownership changes. When I was a soccer coach, Walrus was the place for the team to go at the end of the season. During downtown summer events, you could always depend on a tasty treat from Walrus to complete the evening. For birthdays, however, we turned to Walrus for their ice cream cakes- both times this month ordering a delicious chocolate strawberry ice cream. Just one layer, with a thin "frosting" of vanilla or, even better, strawberry, plus an Oreo fudge crust- who needs more layers? It's a gourmet way to celebrate birthdays- you're glad you're alive when you've got some good Walrus ice cream in front of you!
http://www.walrusicecream.com
Inca Mexican Restaurant, 2413 S. College Ave., Fort Collins. 970-484-3400.
The final January birthday came- a friend celebrating 65- and we did that with a huge meal from Inca. I ordered the fish tacos- filled with tilapia and lots of stuffings. The margarita- ordered by the celebrant himself- came in a shaker and strainer, keeping the drink cold until ready to consume. When we signed on to go to the Inca, the birthday boy- who was hailed by restaurant staff with song- said he liked it for the portions. Indeed, there was absolutely no disappointment there- the plates were piled high- hot and tasty. I'll have to try more dishes in the future. Everyone was too busy enjoying their own meals to share this time around. A happy birthday indeed in the new year!
January 2010 |
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