Lanny's Alta Cocina

--------- Guest post from Sunni---------

Babysitter secured, everyone’s in - where to go? We originally planned to make reservations at St. Emilion, but alas, they are closed for renovations. Thinking caps back on . . . what about Lanny’s? I have had the pleasure of dining at Lanny’s on two other occasions, but it had been a while since I had visited, and I had a pleasant memory of lamb with cilantro chimichurri floating about in my head. It sounded good to the rest of the crowd, so with high hopes for a dazzling repeat, we headed east into the big city for a night out.

We arrived early and headed to the bar area for a pre-dinner drink. The ladies of the party opted for sangria. Delicious. Great balance of wine, triple sec, and fruitiness, but not too sweet. The gentlemen enjoyed a martini and scotch . . .yawn. But they seemed to enjoy them. Wish they would add a bigger bar area, because I would love to be able to go there for a pomegranate margarita or sangria then head over to St. Emilion or wherever for dinner. Anyway, on to the food.

It has been Restaurant Week in Fort Worth, and Lanny’s is still participating. There are two options each for starter, entrée, dessert, and 1 option for “fourth course.” It being August and all, none in our party were interested in the soup with duck confit, so we all began with the seared Ahi tuna and salad. The dressing was creamy but not overly so, with a tangy bite and satisfying crunch from the pine nuts sprinkled throughout. It wasn’t the freshest tuna I’ve been served but it was fine. The salad portion was great.

We ordered our entrees split evenly down gender lines: the ladies ordered the Sea Bass with fresh angel hair and garlic and the guys chose the lamb with roasted pepper marmalade and asparagus. My fish was a bit overcooked not to my liking, and my neighbor’s fish was overcooked according to her directions (she likes all fish, poultry, and meat cooked well done). The spice blend atop the fish was great- it gave an otherwise kind of boring fish a bit of zip. The star of the show was the homemade pasta. I forget, because I don’t take the time to make fresh pasta at home, how delightful it is, and how it picks up the accompanying flavors so much better than dried. Maybe that will be a goal for this winter: make some fresh pasta. But I digress. You need to hear about the lamb. As I mentioned earlier, the lamb at Lanny’s is a past favorite of mine. If there had been any mention of cilantro mint chimichurri I would have been right there ordering it. But sadly, it was not to be. It’s likely for the best as lamb gives me frightening indigestion- it’s so rich, you know? The husbands both enjoyed their lamb and asparagus but Neighbor husband’s seemed to be cooked more closely to the medium they both ordered. I had 3 bites of Nick’s lamb and I thought it was flavorful and tasted like high quality lamb, but I was disappointed in the red pepper marmalade. For those interested, Lanny’s uses only domestic lamb from Colorado. Many restaurants import from New Zealand. On to the fourth course. Oh, wait, I can’t report on this since the waitress didn’t bring it and I didn’t remind her until she brought the dessert, at which point I was not into the idea of scallops and couscous. For dessert, we split the ordering down couple lines- Neighbors opted for the chocolate brownie with ice cream and Husband and I ordered the carjeta crème brulee. This was not the best crème brulee I have ever had by a long shot. In my humble opinion, the addition of the caramel took away from the simple goodness of crème brulee. The brownies were rich but nothing groundbreaking. I would have liked to have seen some innovation at dessert- maybe some chile spice or something paired with the chocolate? And crème brulee seems like phoning it in. It was even topped with the very traditional raspberries and blueberries.

Wine: I am the only brave soul that chose the wine pairing option, and it turns out sometimes safety pays. All 3 wines were so forgettable I can’t even remember what they were called. The white was crisp enough, the red in the middle was highly touted by the waitress as being “organic,“ and the champagne finisher was so strong it almost tasted like port. I like port, but I just think my taste buds were confused. The guys picked the Trefethen Cabernet to accompany their lamb and it was delicious. The other lady in the party stuck to Sangria for the night -- another wise choice.

Moral of the story: Just reading the menu online tells you so much more about Lanny’s. Typically, a meal there is fresh, complex but not pretentious, and service is excellent. This being an overly crowded time, I think it hurt the experience wholesale -- from service to food. My recommendation is undoubtedly for you to go to Lanny’s -- just not during Restaurant Week, which I feel diluted what is usually an innovative dining experience. The lower than normal prix fixe is not worth it.
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http://www.lannyskitchen.com/index02.php

Lanny's Alta Cocina
3405 W 7th Street
Fort Worth, TX 76107
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From the editor: thanks again, Sunni.

Usain Bolt and the 40 Yard Dash.

My son reported to me today that Usain Bolt could run the 40 yard dash in about 4 seconds and some change. I read that his recent 400-meter clocked in at about 23 miles per hour.

On my bicycle I do about 18 mph on a flat service and at a steady pace. Usain Bolt could beat me at a 400 meter race if he started at a stand still running and I started at a roll on my bicycle.

Can he catch a football?

Top Ten Things to Do at Hatch Chile Festival:

The top ten things you should do at Central Market's Hatch Chile Festival:

1. If they are giving a sample and it has a chile in the ingredients, take it.

2. Purchase a very cold drink.

3. Stop by the salad bar, admire the fresh vegetables and display. No purchases here today.

4. Find the free sample of the hot chile sausage wrap. Get one.

5. Walk through the store and see what other samples are available. Taste all.

6. Put on disguise glasses and mustache and go back for another Hatch Chile sausage sample. Use foreign accent when saying, thank you.

7. Enjoy a 16 ounce Shiner summer ale or some such draft beer.

8. Buy one of everything with a chile in it.

9. Stop by Costco on the way home, you need a deep freezer.

10. Thank God you live in Texas.

11. __________________________

Okay that took me about 10 minutes -- what am I missing?

Hatch Chile Festival. Weekends: Aug. 21 and Aug. 28.

My favorite Central Market event. The Hatch Chile Festival. The following is taken directly from their website.

It's always been Central Market's claim to flame – each August, more than eight full truckloads of these beauties are delivered from Hatch, New Mexico, the Chile Capital of the World, as part of a celebration so big it takes not one, but two weekends to do it right. This time of year, we take our usual delicious recipes and add Hatch Chiles for an extra kick. Make sure to pick up your favorites, and look for our Hatch Chile cookbook, filled with Hatch-heavy recipes from savvy Central Market cooks – our shoppers! Mild or hot, fresh or roasted, toasted or diced, it is – at last – that Hatch time of year!

I think my first introduction to Central Market was in the parking lot of the store maybe six months before it opened and when they were having their first Hatch Chile event. They had a small kiosk in the parking lot with a grill and plenty of Hatch Chiles. They handed me a hot Hatch Chile sausage link wrapped in a flour tortilla. Right off the grill. One bite and I was in chile heaven. I still buy them every year.

Have a favorite Hatch Chile product? Fill me in. Thanks.
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Central Market's annual Hatch Chile Festival
August 21 – August 23 & August 28 – August 30

http://www.centralmarket.com/Company.aspx

The Michael Vick Kick.

It's Sunday, and on Sunday I feel like I can write on things of a more philosophical or moral nature without compromising the focus of the weblog and driving away the folks that read the food reviews. As the title suggests this post is on the public reaction of anger or disgust directed at Michael Vick.

Michael Vick was a starting quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons and a very wealthy man, thanks to his contract with the Falcons. He was arrested and convicted of cruelty to animals for his involvement in dog fighting. The kind where dogs die or are maimed severely. It is a gruesome and cruel activity -- and legitimately illegal. Michael Vick spent 2 years in prison for his participation after his arrest and conviction.

Cynics suggest that Mr. Vick is now engaging in a public relations bit in order to play football again. That is, he needs the money and if does not display some humility the NFL and the public will not accept him back. I understand cynicism, but it can be wrong and misapplied.

Others suggest that the crime was, in some sense, unforgivable, that to allow him to play again in the NFL is a kind of tacit endorsement. Again, an understandable sentiment, but who among us will be left standing if mercy is always withheld.

My disposition is simply this: he admits that he has done wrong and acted recklessly. He is asking for a second chance. Not a third, fourth, or fifth, just a second. Give it to him.

I watched the first public interview of Vick, Coach Reid and Coach Dungy at his side, and frankly, Dungy's endorsement is good enough for me. The possibility that Mr. Vick is working them and us through them is not my concern. A man should be be taken at his word until he proves his word is not worth taking.

The worst that can happen is that we will have been duped. So what. Give Michael Vick a break. He served his time. He paid for his crime in prison-time and through the loss of everything he once had: his money, reputation, and occupation. Isn't that enough?

He deserves the forgiveness he is asking for and he deserves to get back on the football field to try to do life right.

Towards that end, I wish him well.

How to Make an Open-Faced, Grilled Cheese Sandwich.

My wife calls this simply, cheese on toast. She has eaten it for breakfast, more days than not, all her life.

Since I was the weekend breakfast cook when the children were young, I learned how to make cheese on toast, and it is delicious if you do it right.

An oven grilled, open-faced sandwich is better than a grilled chesse sandwich, in my view, because it is not pan-fried greasy, and better than bruschetta, in the winter anyway, because the hot bread and cheese is cooked and blended.

Okay, here are the ingredients.

Slice of Bread.
Preferably fresh bread that can be sliced thicker the normal store-bought, sliced bread. But a quality pre-sliced is okay, too. I like the bread about 1/2" - 3/4" thick. I like whole wheat bread because the density of the bread suits and carries the melted cheese well.

Cheese.
We use sharp cheddar. I am sure other kinds of cheese will work as well, but some of them don't "cook-up" well. I have tried other cheeses when we were out of cheddar, and they tended to brown too quickly on the exterior.

1. Lightly, toast the bread in a normal toaster. Lightly, not toasted-through crispy.

2. Slice the cheese. On a block of cheese, the slices are about 1/8" thick and you need about 4 - 6 slices.

3. Place the toast on a cookie sheet or piece of aluminum foil and layer the cheese on the toast. Important: Make sure that the cheese overlaps the edge of the toast by a 1/4" or so.

4. In a conventional oven turn the knob to "Broil" and place the cookie sheet with toast under the open flame or heating element about 8" - 10" from the heat. Close the door.

5. Here's the tricky part. And important. It takes a couple minutes to get the cheese melted, but the desired amount of "cooked" is past the stage of a grilled cheese sandwich. "Cooked" for us is an almost toasted-cheese level of cooking. The cheese will bubble on top. That's what you want to see. I let it get a good bubble working to where the oil is melting away from the cheese. BUT, if you let it go too far, all the oil and moisture will boil off and the cheese on toast will be tough, which my wife actually likes. I like it before it gets to that stage.

Make it better: In the summer, when tomatoes are fresh, I like to place a slice of tomato on top of the cheese after it has cooked a while and almost ready. When the tomato is warmed, in about a minute, it is ready.

Almost Done:








Good.

Kentucky Fried Chicken. Grilled. Great.

I have not been to a Kentucky Fried Chicken in many years. I haven't spent $25 there in 25 years. Until yesterday.

Someone had told me that their new product, the grilled chicken, was good. So yesterday my wife and I decided to give it a try.

It wasn't good -- it was great. And I will go one compliment further, it was the best breast of chicken I have had in many years. Delicious. Hot, juicy, cooked perfectly, slightly crispy outside. It looked great, it smelled great, and it tasted great. I do not think you could make it taste any better. I am dead serious.

Now, that was only one visit, maybe I got lucky. Maybe I will go back and something will be different, but if they keep it up, KFC will be getting a lot of new business, at least from me.

Cost for one good size chicken breast? About $2.40, I think. Meals are even a better value. My wife had the chicken pot pie and said it was very good.
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For more information on Fort Worth food and entertainment see http://www.fwdowntownreview.com

Top Ten Water Activities During a Heat Wave

From least expensive to more expensive.

1. Lawn Sprinklers. They seemed to work well when I was a kid. Although jumping through a sprinkler gets a little monontonous after the third trip. I spiced it up a little for my kids by playing base tag with the sprinkler in the middle.

2. Your neighbor's swimming pool. This is why God gave us neighbors -- to use their swimming pool. When they are away on vacation and you can use it without them knowing it is even better.

3. Your own KMart swimming pool. I advise against this one. You've had one so you know why.

4. A real swimming pool. It's a little late to have one installed, but at some point any amount of money is worth it.

5. Country Clubs have pretty good deals these days for swim-only memberships.

6. Burgers Lake. Hey whats an occasional water born microbe gonna hurt. Actually, my kids used to enjoy Burgers Lake. Is it still open?

7. Airport Marriott. Still my sentimental favorite. Weekend rates, rooms on the pool level, bar, restaurant. Putt - putt golf in the hallways. Or closer, the Omni for the weekend. They have a rooftop pool.

8. Area lakes. I'm not a big lake person so I can't help much here.

9. The long drive to Corpus Christi. Nah.

10. Comal River around New Braunfels. I love this one. The water is as clear as can be. Cool. Spring fed. The best water spot in Texas. Likewise, tubing along the Guadalupe and drop off at Gruene. Then stay for beer and country music at Gruene Hall. Good choice there.

10b. Still too damn hot? Go north and east to a very big body of water called the Atlantic.

The Best Places to Visit in Fort Worth and Dallas.

Best places to visit? My favorite places to take guests? It is a question I am often asked. This post addresses that question. The selections are, of course, reflective of my interests and the interests of my guests, and I am sure I have missed more than a few. But these are the ones that came to mind quickly.

1. Central Market. Fort Worth, I30 and Hulen. Most of my friends like good food so Central Market is a must see. Great place for lunch or weekend Beer and Burger.
2. Bass Hall / Downtown Fort Worth. If there isn’t a show you want to see, walk by, walk in, and get a tour. It is one of the world’s best halls for voice performance. It is host to everything from opera to country music.
3. Stockyards / Far north side of Downtown. It has more than a little bit of the touristy old West feel but the remnants of old Fort Worth are there. The place cattle drives stopped and the industries that developed around them. In the evening you can find an small but authentic Texas beer joint or you go to Billy Bob’s, the world’s largest honky-tonk. You ought to go at least once.
4. Mi Cocina’s / Downtown Fort Worth. My favorite place for good Mexican food under American influence. Large portions, good food, excellent service and reasonably priced (the mixed drinks are expensive, like any restaurant). On a pleasant evening, eat outside.
5. Kinkaid’s / Camp Bowie / Fort Worth. Once a small grocery store that sold hamburgers. Now my favorite hamburger place in Fort Worth.
6. Dallas Cowboy Stadium / Arlington. Even if you don’t like football it is worth visiting. If you do like football, and had hoped to see the old Texas Stadium in Irving -- sorry the Cowboys have moved.
7. Ballpark in Arlington / Arlington. A great place to watch a game of baseball. Outfield seats are cheap. If you want to enjoy a good game in real Texas heat you’ll like it.
8. Bull and Bush / Montgomery Street / Fort Worth. There are plenty of places to get a cold beer in the area. Bull and Bush is one of the few without televisions and with darts.
9. Deep Ellum / Dallas. An evening visit to Deep Ellum is a walk into a world not usually associated with Texas. Very hip, youth oriented.
10. Modern Art Museum / Fort Worth. A beautiful building and home to many pieces of art worth seeing.
11. Kimble Art Museum / Fort Worth. One of the nations best art museums.
12. Farmer’s Market / Dallas. late spring -- mid summer are the best times to visit if you like garden fresh tomatoes.
13. Peaches / Weatherford. In peach season you will find no better peaches.
14. Botanic Gardens / Fort Worth. A great city park for walking. Rose gardens, walking paths, picturesque vistas.
15. Trinity River Walk / Fort Worth. 30 miles along the Trinity. Great place to walk or ride a bike.
16. Fort Worth Zoo / Fort Worth. One of the best in the nation. The oldest in the DFW area.
    
17. Dallas Arboretum / Dallas. Spring blooming season. Worth a visit.
18. Omni Hotel / Fort Worth. If you like looking at buildings -- this is a good one.
19. T&P Train Station / Fort Worth. Fort Worth's great contribution to trains and Art Deco.
20. Montgomery Ward Plaza. Again, another great building that has been renovated. I like the drive-through area, although other, more preservation minded folks didn't.
    

I know I missed some things. Any big oversights?

Bailey's Prime Steakhouse and Patrizio Pasta

"Bailey's Prime Steakhouse and Patrizio Pasta coming to West 7th."

That is the headline at DFW.com and the Star-Telegram website. The Star-Telegram article is little more than an announcement. I have never been to the Bailey's Steakhouse in Dallas, so I did a little research. The steakhouse was reviewed by the The Dallas Morning News restaurant critic -- but not favorably. As a matter of fact, he pretty much trashed it. http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontentl

I have to admit to having mixed feelings on the mega-steakhouses in general, at least from the view of a personal dining choice. The cost to build and build-out one of these places is anywhere from 2 -- 10 million dollars. The Del Friscos in Philly cost around 7 million, I hear. The prospective clientele for these restaurants is not the local diner but the business diner. We need them in the city but when the wife and I are going out for a special dinner, I want the money going into good food and not faux-velvet wall paper. But that's me.

Patrizio Pasta looks like a nice medium priced Italian restaurant. Again, I have never been to any of their Dallas-area locations.

Let's hope for the best in both restaurants, anyone with a comment on Bailey's or Patrizios please weigh in. Thanks.