Category Archives: Bread Basket

December 20, 2010
2:30 AM
by: Uhockey

L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon and Joel Robuchon [2], Las Vegas NV

One year ago a woman named Dara Pierce served as one of the best reservationists I’ve ever worked with and a lovely meal at Joel Robuchon at The Mansion followed. Highlighted by Kamel Guechida’s desserts there was no doubt in … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, Coffee, Dessert, Foie, Food, Joel Robuchon, L'Atelier, Las Vegas, Macaroon, Nevada, Sweetbreads, Tasting Menu, Truffle, Vacation

December 19, 2010
3:07 AM
by: Uhockey

Twist by Pierre Gagnaire, Las Vegas NV

Picasso came first from Serrano – the French masters came later; Robuchon, Savoy, Ducasse, and finally Gagnaire. Say what you will about Vegas, but without an overseas flight it is the only place (save for L’Atelier and Adour NYC) that … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, Dessert, Foie, Food, Gnocchi, Ice Cream, Las Vegas, Nevada, Pork, Souffle, Tasting Menu, Truffle, Twist by Pierre Gagnaire, Vacation

December 18, 2010
12:57 AM
by: Uhockey

Sage, Las Vegas NV

While I cannot be certain of it I’m willing to wager that when Aria was conceptualizing their restaurant collection it was not Shawn McClain that they expected to steal the spotlight – a Beard Award winner in his own right, … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, Bread Pudding, Dessert, Foie, Gnocchi, Ice Cream, Las Vegas, Lobster, Nevada, Pork, Sage, Sweetbreads, Tasting Menu, Truffle, Vacation

December 17, 2010
5:39 PM
by: Uhockey

Comme Ca, Las Vegas NV

…the new kids on the block, but not really, is probably the best way to describe the collection of restaurants at Vegas’ newest property – the Cosmopolitan. Sheik, swank, dazzling, and quite frankly over-the-top I have to say the property … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, Coffee, Comme Ca, Dessert, Las Vegas, Nevada, Pork, Vacation

November 8, 2010
1:38 AM
by: Uhockey

The Girl and The Goat, Chicago IL

…I’ll be the first to admit I do not watch Top Chef – as a matter of fact, I don’t watch The Food Network at all unless one of my favorite chefs happens to be battling it out on Iron … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, Chicago, Dessert, Ice Cream, Illinois, Pork, Sweetbreads, The Girl and the Goat

November 6, 2010
11:19 PM
by: Uhockey

Everest, Chicago IL

Next to Charlie Trotter’s iconic restaurant, Everest stands as perhaps the most well known elder statesman in a dining scene dominated by cutting edge technique and “hyper-modern” cuisine. While both styles clearly have their place in 21st century dining, Chicago’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, Chicago, Dessert, Everest, Foie, Ice Cream, Illinois, Pork, Souffle, Tasting Menu, Vacation

November 5, 2010
5:55 PM
by: Uhockey

Coco Pazzo, Chicago IL

Despite a large breakfast, after five hours of wandering SOFA, sitting in lectures, and chatting with persons far more creative than myself I was getting hungry – thankfully my lunch reservations had been made far in advance…nearly 2 miles away … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, Chicago, Coco Pazzo, Dessert, Foie, Food, Illinois, Italian, Pork, Vacation

November 4, 2010
4:37 PM
by: Uhockey

Henri and Pizzeria Uno, Chicago IL

In September of 2009 I ate at The Gage prior to U2’s opening date of the US tour at Soldier Field – it was a great meal in the most unlikely of spaces for someone who doesn’t fancy bars, beer, … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, Chicago, Foie, Henri, Illinois, Pizza, Pizzeria Uno, Pork, Vacation

August 29, 2010
12:48 AM
by: Uhockey

La Colombe and Zahav, Philadelphia PA

Surviving my trip to Camden despite a chance encounter with the wrong bus and some rather insistent homeless persons along my walk to and from the Adventure Aquarium, I arrived back in Philadelphia via bus safely and quickly. Thirsty and … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, Coffee, Dessert, Food, La Colombe, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Vacation, Zahav

August 28, 2010
11:04 PM
by: Uhockey

Le Bec Fin, Philadelphia PA

Amongst the primary reasons for visiting Philadelphia – research, museums, sports, dining, and culture – dining at Le Bec Fin was decidedly one of the more significant. Once considered by many the best restaurant in the United States I’d recently … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, Crab, Dessert, Foie, Food, Le Bec Fin, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Souffle, Tasting Menu, Vacation

August 27, 2010
10:09 PM
by: Uhockey

Vetri, Philadelphia PA

With Amis and Osteria setting the stage, Marc Vetri’s eponymous temple of contemporary Italian was “THE” destination restaurant of my visit to Philadelphia. Opened in 1998 and consistently named as one of the 40-best restaurants in the country by Gayot … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, Coffee, Dessert, Foie, Gnocchi, Ice Cream, Italian, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pork, Tasting Menu, Tiramisu, Truffle, Vacation, Vetri

August 27, 2010
5:01 PM
by: Uhockey

Osteria, Philadelphia PA

As a visitor to the City of Brotherly Love I guess I didn’t realize just how far the city itself spanned – as it turns out the walk from Carman’s Country Kitchen to the Art Museum is nearly three and … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, Coffee, Dessert, Food, Italian, Octopus, Osteria, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pizza, Vacation, Vetri

August 26, 2010
11:15 PM
by: Uhockey

Tacconelli’s Pizzeria and Modo Mio, Philadelphia PA

Dinner on the second day of my visit to Philadelphia would see me doing something quite uncharacteristic – deferring to the tastes of another – and a stranger at that. A man familiar to the ranks of Chowhound and (as … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, Dessert, Food, Gnocchi, Ice Cream, Italian, Modo Mio, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pizza, Pork, Sweetbreads, Tacconelli's, Tasting Menu, Vacation

August 26, 2010
3:15 PM
by: Uhockey

Lacroix, Philadelphia PA

Despite many people telling me it was worth it, that it was “different” from other buffets, that I’d have plenty of time to get to my plane I just couldn’t justify making reservations for one at Lacroix’s luxurious Sunday Brunch. … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, Dessert, Foie, Food, Lacroix, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Rittenhouse, Souffle, Vacation

August 25, 2010
5:08 PM
by: Uhockey

Amis Trattoria, Philadephia PA

Most epicures are aware of Marc Vetri and more and more are learning quickly of his 2010 Beard Award winning protégé Jeff Michaud. With three restaurants currently running under the Vetri lineup I have to admit that part of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Amis, Bread Basket, Dessert, Foie, Food, Italian, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pork, Sweetbreads, Tiramisu, Trattoria, Vacation, Vetri

June 30, 2010
10:38 PM
by: Uhockey

Bona Terra, Pittsburgh PA

Our final meal in Pittsburgh – literally, we drove back to Columbus after dinner – would actually be in Sharpsburg. A BYOB located in a rather blue collar part of town the restaurant may seem an odd choice to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Bona Terra, Bread Basket, Dessert, Foie, Food, Ice Cream, Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, Vacation

June 30, 2010
5:30 PM
by: Uhockey

Casbah and Prantl’s, Pittsburgh PA

For our last lunch in Pittsburgh we decided to return to the Big Burrito Group; Eleven was quite good and both Gayot and Pittsburgh Magazine compared the experience at Casbah favorably to that of Big Burrito’s crown jewel. Citing a … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, Casbah, Crab, cupcakes, Dessert, Food, Gnocchi, Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, Prantl's, Vacation

June 30, 2010
12:15 PM
by: Uhockey

Coca Cafe, Pittsburgh PA

After an incredible experience at Falling Water and Lautrec the night before it was back to The Burgh for more art, flowers, shopping, and food – waking up later than usual I decided to forgo the gym and after a … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, Breakfast, Coca Cafe, Coffee, Dessert, Food, French Toast, Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, Vacation

June 29, 2010
10:15 PM
by: Uhockey

Lautrec, Farmington PA

To this point I still have no idea what I did to warrant this gesture, but when it was all said and done I had just completed an absolutely stunning meal and was sipping my coffee when my waiter appeared … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, Coffee, Crab, Dessert, Farmington, Foie, Food, Lautrec, Macaroon, Madeline, Nemacolin, Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, Tasting Menu, Truffle, Vacation

June 29, 2010
4:06 PM
by: Uhockey

Lidia’s, Pittsburgh PA

Lunch on the second day of our visit was the one restaurant that gave me pause when booking the reservation – reviews were mixed, the chef was a celebrity, the location was trendy, and it was part of a mini-chain. … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, Coffee, Dessert, Food, Gnocchi, Ice Cream, Italian, Lidia's, Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, Vacation