Greetings once again readers!
Ok this time around I'm not cooking, but I promise that next week I will share my Chicken Mushroom risotto with you...
But today is about the Big Throwdown! Today it got settled! A few weeks ago I mentioned how my best friend Nicole and I were in complete disagreement about who makes the best Red Velvet cake in town, she thinks its Sandra Dee's, and and I think its Selland's. So there was only one way to settle this difference of opinion, we had to take it outside...
Tonight for Patty's birthday she wanted a group of friends to get together over at Sandra Dee's for dinner, so once I was made aware of that I went by Selland's and picked some of their Red Velvet cake to bring with me to Sandra Dee's. This was going to be resolved tonight, one way or the other! Since Nicole and I were partial, we didn't get a vote, so we decided to leave it to Patty and four other friends to judge. At desert we ordered 4 of the Sandra Dee's cakes, and had I the ones from Selland's that I picked up earlier. Each judge had a bite of one, than the other. The result: While both cakes were delicious, the winner by a vote of three to zero with two calling it a draw is.....Selland's!! I knew it all the time... Both cakes were moist and rich, and there were style difference involved, the Selland's cake had tiny red sugar crystals on the frosting and the Sandra Dee's cake utilized a hint of Banana in the frosting. The judges felt while both were moist, the Selland's cake was also fluffy and lighter. And as much as I would like to rub it in, because anyone who knows me knows that I'm all about dining at any of the Selland group of restaurants, (Ella, Selland's, and of course my favorite, The Kitchen), the fact remains that the Sandra Dee's cake was good. Really good. And I was not that certain of the outcome. So congratulations to both restaurants and they both produce an excellent Red Velvet cake, worthy of trying if you're in the area.
The other portion of the "Big Sexy Tour" involves dinner out at Morton's Steakhouse.
Over the holidays my friend Nicole went to Hawaii for a yoga retreat thing, but what she wasn't aware of was that part of the retreat involved eating like a Vegan. And I am not in any way ripping on the Vegan or Vegetarian lifestyle, but Nicole is a Carnivore and that just wasn't working for her. So when she was on her way back here she contacted me and asked said that she needed some Steak...bad. And had we ever been to Morton's Steakhouse, I told her that we hadn't, so she asked me to set up some reservations for when she got back.
Once we arrived there and were seated, we had the Crab Cakes and Shrimp Cocktail, which were excellent! As you know if you've been reading some of my earlier entries, I tried my hand at Crab Cakes and the result was...not good. The ones from Morton's were ridiculous. I got discouraged just by eating them. They are truly on another level and I have miles to go before I'm in that ballpark. Truly excellent! The Shrimp Cocktail was just as good. Then we moved on to our entree's. Nicole had the Filet Mignon Single Cut, and since I'm not a big steak person I had the Broiled Salmon. And because I'm a big Seafood fan, and have prepared Salmon recently, I was expecting a lot form this. And I was not disappointed! The Salmon was juicy and tender and flavorful, it was all that one could ask for, and as previously stated, I am not a big steak guy, but I had bite of Nicole's filet and it was fantastic as well. And of course with dinner we had a couple of glasses Pinot Noir, I was having a pretty nice evening. I can't speak highly enough about Morton's, from the decor to the service to the food, they are now my go-to steakhouse in the area. It used to be Ruths-Chris, not anymore. Ruths-Chris is good, but Morton's is a little better. And while The Kitchen is the "King of the Mountain", Morton's is top 3 in my book. Don't believe me? Make a reservation and experience what I had the pleasure of enjoying, you will not be disappointed.
Next week: Chicken-Mushroom risotto. (Yes!) And we'll try a little something new as well...something to satisfy that sweet tooth...
