Grace - Fort Worth

Our first visit to Grace was probably a little over a year ago right after our little veggie was born.  We had a Groupon and decided, what the heck, we'll give it a try.  Shocking!  The ambiance is posh, but the people are friendly and the chef is fantastic.
The items on the menu don't rotate like some of the other "local" style restaurants, but because the menu is simple and the items aren't ridiculously off the wall, it's easy for them to seem "in season" all year round.  But, it seems that they did learn that not all Fort Worth locals eat just meat and potatoes.  On our first visit the chef was so kind as to create a vegetarian dish from scratch.  With this last visit there was a vegetarian item on the menu (beside the salad).
I started with the Organic Local Greens (from Tassione Farms in Stephenville, TX) - crispy potatoes, Texas goat cheese and beets.  I know, some guys are afraid of those "local greens", but come on - who can resist a Texas goat cheese and beets.  The salad is worth that alone.  Hubby had the Shaved Asparagus.  This comes topped with something they call the "black hole" - it is a sort of egg, bacon and hash bake.  Shockingly tasty, and he said should have been a dish of it's own.
The veggie dish on the menu is a fresh made Five Cheese Tortellini - english peas, ramps and green onion emulsion.  I thought I could talk the chef into making something "off the menu", so I was slightly disappointed when this came to the table.  First bite taken - disappointed no more.  A great "warm" summer dish that was the perfect balance of both light and heavy.  And not overwhelming, so have no fear I had room for dessert.
One of the guests that joined us got the Meyer Ranch All Natural Beef - grass feed, antibiotic free, no growth hormones.  The fat structure in the beef just seems so unnatural from what we normally see, but it so smooth that you can cut it with a fork.  Sauce choice originally was just good 'ol original horseradish, but the waitress talked him into trying the chef's special preparation of Espresso Horseradish.  If you are a true horseradish connoisseur - steer clear of this - the flavor combination is unlike an other, but not in a good way.

Local Organic Greens

Five Cheese Tortellini

Meyer Ranch All Natural Beef

3 diners, 3 desserts - Warm Chocolate Pudding Cake topped with Henry's organic vanilla bean ice cream - Pain Perdu with butter pecan ice cream, bruleed bananas and salted carmel - Chocolate Walnut Milkshake made with homemade vanilla ice cream, Nochelle and dark Creme de Cacao.  I ordered the milkshake - the best combination of liquor and milkshake around (I drank the whole thing), then I tasted both the other desserts ordered and both were top notch.  But, if I had to put them in order 1. Milkshake, 2. Chocolate Pudding Cake, 3. Pain Perdu.  Would I recommend dessert - heaven's yes.

**Oh and please pardon the picture quality - I don't claim to be a photographer.  But I thought I had better get better about including photos of the meals.

Ellerbe Fine Foods

I know the reviews have been mixed, mine is no different.

About a month ago my mother-in-law came to town and hubby and I decided we should treat her to one of our fine establishments in our area. Since we had been dying to go to Ellerbe's we thought there couldn't be a better occasion.

We made reservations for 7:30 on a Saturday, and arrived to find a fairly full restaurant. Tables are presented with simplicity accompanied by a menu printed and posted on a wood board and attached by rubber band. Each table is topped with a vase of the herbs from their garden on site. I know what you are thinking -are you talking "country kitch"? Not quite - think simple French country.

The menu is limited, but created seasonally with high quality meats, vegetables and herbs. Each dish is paired perfectly - meat with a vegetable. Now, on to the more disappointing part of my evening. There is one salad that is prepared vegetarian right off the menu, but not one entree on the menu that is vegetarian.

Fresh french bread is served with creamed butter and Hawaiian pink sea salt. The trio is wonderful, a delightfully sweat treat to start.

The salad of choice was the Mexia Peaches and Deborah's Farmstead Chevre. The citrus vinaigrette was just delightful and paired perfectly with the peaches and Chevre.

On to the main course. I was so disappointed when the waitress gave pause to my question regarding a vegetarian dish. Almost half of their vegetable sides are created using chicken broth or cooked with a meat product, leaving me with a less than desirable option. I just couldn't believe that a restaurant located on Magnolia would find it acceptable to have a menu with no vegetarian alternative. I felt that as a restaurant who touts their fresh, local, simple - what better blank canvas than to create a masterpiece for the vegetarians that frequent the Southside.

Nonetheless, I was brought a dish of soup broth with summer vegetables topped with their fried okra. The vegetables included, squash, zucchini, green beans, asparagus and peppers. The broth was seasoned perfectly and would have been great for a soup. The vegetables were grilled and had no flavor beyond the broth. The okra was breaded and seasoned perfectly and actually cooked whole, sliced in half - which is a new way for me to eat fried okra. If this is the only option for a vegetarian - I think they will find we visit once not again. I can't imagine paying the average price of an entree for this dish more than once.

As far as the other dishes served at the table - Veal Picatta and Johnnie Fair Glazed Petite Pork Shank - all were a hit. Hubby has listed this as one of his favorites.

Now who can eat such a meal and not have dessert? I had the Maw Maw's Bread Pudding, hubby had Mexia Peach and Prosecco Semifreddo, mother-in-law had the Schokinag Pot de Creme. I think we all should have just started with dessert. All the comments involved - "best dessert ever"... blah blah blah. I have had to Bread Pudding grow on me over the past several years - and this was by far my favorite. Simple, traditional and to the point is the only way to describe. I hate when bread pudding is like eating custard - this had just the right consistency.

For those of you that don't have room for dessert, all tables are served a complementary pastry - a single bite pastry with a vanilla sugar center topped with powdered sugar - delightful.

Reservations are recommended especially on the weekend.

Ranking: 3-4 carrots (totally in the middle)

Brennan's, New Orleans - Brunch

This is Foodie husband's dream brunch. Brennan's, which has been open since 1946 (see website), is known for the set brunch menu. You begin with a starter, entree and then dessert. Yes - they encourage dessert even after breakfast.

We needed something to get us started and ordered their famous Brandy Milk Punch, for those of you that want to watch your figure skip this section - a concoction of half & half, brandy, and topped with a sprinkle of fresh nutmeg. Oh yeah it tasted as good as it sounds.

I started with the Baked Apple in Double Cream - a cored apple baked and then covered with warmed cream, carmel and cinnamon. Very delicious, and for those of you who have always talked about having dessert first - this the place. Other veg options included Strawberries and Double Cream. Hubby started with their signature Maude's Seafood Okra Gumbo. This gumbo is not made with a traditional roux of butter and flour, but is created using okra instead - there are several other restaurants that have stolen this idea and have an Okra based gumbo on the menu.

Our waiter, who has probably worked at Brennan's since it opened (not really), was outstanding - confident, suggestive, and very willing to take the bull by the horns if given the opportunity. I was debating between the two veg options on the menu - Eggs Sardou & Eggs Portuguese. Why debate when you can have both! He took over and offered to bring me one of each - how phenomenal! For my taste buds the Eggs Sardou was too bland, although it had an excellent presentation and overall did not taste bad. Now the Eggs Portuguese on the other hand - creative, tasty, and creole. There is no question, next time Eggs Portuguese will win the debate. I feel that this dish would have even be just as tasty without the pouched egg on top - the sauce and the flaky pastry were fantastic. Foodie's hubby didn't stray too far from the signature side of Brennan's (wait till you hear about dessert) - Eggs Hossarde was his selection - I don't even know if he tasted it, he woofed it down so fast.

Now to the important stuff - dessert. An order of Banana's Foster (Brennan's specialty) and Crepes Fitzgerald were ordered to share. Both were scrumptious. By this point in the meal I felt like I could bust, but why stop eating such luscious plates of food? We both cleaned our plates and seriously debated about picking them up and drinking the sauces left behind.

This is a "must go" in New Orleans. Reservations recommended. I might go back to New Orleans just to eat here - why aren't you an option in Fort Worth yet?

Ranking: 5 Carrots

Court of Two Sisters, New Orleans

Well, for those of you who aren't in the French Quarter "know", this is supposedly one of the "must go" places if you are in New Orleans. Foodie hubby and I decided late one evening to go here for dinner.

The outdoor patio has been painstakingly designed to provide shade during the heat of the day and a glorious nightly vision in the evening. The wait staff was pleasant, but not top notch. The maitre'D was polite to us, but I watched as another couple asked to be seated at a smaller table and you would have thought they asked him to cut off his right arm.

The restaurant is known for the Table D'Hote or the fixed price, 4 course meal. I politely asked if I might substitute the vegetarian option from the a la carte menu and order the 4 courses. They were not willing to work with me at all. I was extremely disappointed that a vegetarian is not allowed to enjoy the other 3 courses unless they are willing to spend an arm and a leg to order them all a la carte. Shame on you Court of Two Sister for discriminating on those of us in the community who do not want to eat a half a cow or a bottom feeder fish.

Now that I have ranted about their equality for all - I started with the Court of Two Sisters Salad (minus the Tasso or ham). The Creole French dressing was beautiful and had that kick. Overall nothing to toot your horn about. I then ordered the Eggplant Napoleon off the a la carte menu and I'm so glad that I did. This dish provided one of the most savory dishes the entire time we were in New Orleans. For the Vegetarian's in the hunt - this dish is well worth the money - I wouldn't hesitate to have it again. I just hope that the Court of Two Sisters opens their eyes to the fact that vegetarians might like to enjoy the 4 course meal as well and add an option to the fixed price meal.

Foodie husband of course ordered from the Table D'Hote. For a starter he had the Turtle Soup Au Sherry. The trick to this dish is the sherry added to the roux. Overall Foodie hubby gets this just for the roux - the turtle is a tougher meat and can take away from the overall enjoyment of the soup. For his entree - Corn Fried Des Allemands Catfish (served with lump crabmeat cole slaw & cajun tarter sauce). The presentation was striking - yes even for catfish. Hubby doesn't enjoy tarter sauce and it was all over the catfish, so this dish was wasted on him, but the cole slaw excellently seasoned.

The final event - Bread Pudding. This dish was traditional through and through. The bread was soaked and stuffed perfectly making the consistency exactly like a thick, moist cake. It wasn't over done, runny or stuffed with any frills. By far some of the best bread pudding eaten by either of us over the years.

Overall, if on a limited budget this is probably not the place you want to waste your money on. If you have the time and resources you should definitely add it to the list - just to say you have been. Would I give it a second try? - maybe if they added the Veg option to the set priced option.

Ranking: 4 Carrots

St. Emilion - Our Favorite

This is by far our favorite restaurant in Fort Worth, probably in Texas, and one of our top 5 in the country. If you are looking for a place to enjoy a special occasion, take clients or just enjoy a fabulously prepared meal - I don't think either of us could say enough good about St. Emilion.

We recently had both sets of our parents together for dinner and this was the place of choice. We request the same server every time - Jennifer, and had a wonderful time. This was my first visit back since I have stopped eating meat, and was unsure of the experience I would have.

For those of you who have never been, the menu is a set 4 course meal. You have a starter, soup/salad course, main dish, and dessert. The usual menu is posted on the web, but the best part is the large chalkboard w/ specials. These specials are made with seasonal ingredients and change regularly. There are a few options for starters and the soup/salad course that would work great for a veg dish.

I started with the Cream of Asparagus Soup (minus the shrimp puff pastry), followed with the Insalata Caprese and for my main dish I ordered the chef's veg special. I have never had anything bad, so I'm going to talk about the main dish. The Vegetarian Special was a beautifully presented plate of fresh vegetables - all prepared in a different manner. The plate had cabbage, classic mixed vegs, a potato au gratin made with spinach and red bell peppers, grilled asparagus, and mushrooms. I am sure I have forgotten a few of the veggies on the dish - but what a treat. They were all seasoned well, tasted great and will keep me coming back for more. Oh but wait! There's more - dessert. I tried the special apple tart flambe (topped with ice cream). It wasn't one of my favorites, but the creativity was outstanding. The tart comes out warm, and then is topped with flamed Calvados.

I could go on forever with everything that was ordered at the table. Foodie's husband had the Original Duck dish. Beautifully presented and so he says - WONDERFUL. Several people ordered the Filet, and my mother had Jennifer surprise her with one of the special fishes on the board. Everyone at the table ate everything on the plate - to the point of being stuffed. By far the most popular dessert is their homemade cookie formed into a cup and filled with "fromage blanc" and topped with fresh blackberries.

Make sure you make reservations (months in advance for New Year's or Valentine's Day). Recommended Pick!!

Ranking: 5 Carrots