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RW #2 this year was Hibiscus. I've been wanting to go here since I started doing RW many years ago. But they only participate the first week and so scheduling has never worked out. But finally... I made it there!
Hibiscus
2927 North Henderson Avenue
Dallas, TX 75206
(214) 827-2927
http://www.hibiscusdallas.com/
Price: $$$$
It was raining that night and parking on Henderson is almost nonexistent. Good thing they have complimentary valet. We arrived right on time but half of our party was running late due to the weather and traffic.
It looks like a quaint, unassuming restaurant from the front, but this place was huge! The room just kept on going! The lighting was very dim, but had a warm glow that was nice. They have several different rooms. My favorite one was the middle main dining area with the open kitchen. But we were seated in the back room. It was quieter back there though, which is good. And the entire restaurant was packed the entire night we were there. Very impressive!
I told them we had people running late and they were very nice and said it wasn't an issue. We were seated immediately once the majority of our group showed up.
Our waiter was very nice and energetic. He explained that they do a "family style" menu for RW. And we lucked out with 9 people because they round up! Basically, the appetizer, sides and desserts are all shared. 1 dish for every 2 persons. So since we had 9 people, we'd get 5 of everything. Awesome! This is the best deal for a large group because we get to try everything on the menu!
Openers -- (Choice of one per two guests, Served family style.)
- Baked Jonah Crab Dip (wood oven fired crackers). We got 2 of these for the table. It was quite good. I liked the browned breadcrumbs on top. And it was really creamy and rich. Initially it looked like just a bunch of cream, but there was actually quite a bit of crab in there. I just wish it was hotter.. like the cream should be bubbling when it's served or something.
- Tempura Green Beans (Meyer lemon aioli). We got 2 of these as well. I thought these were the best out of the appetizers. The batter was light and crispy and the beans were cooked well and had nice texture. You can taste the green beans without being overwhelmed by the batter.
- The Baby Wedge (house cured bacon, cherry tomatoes, crispy onions, Pt. Reyes Blue). We got 1 of this. It was a little less impressive than the other dishes. There were 3 small wedges on the plate, topped with a mountain of crispy onions. The flavors were pretty standard. My favorite surprise was the thick cut bacon on the bottom of the plate. Just a big slab of it.
Features -- (Choice of one per guest.)
- Roasted Chicken (braised spinach & potato). I think this was the biggest portion. And the flavors were fine, but not really that interesting.
- Horseradish Rubbed Scottish Salmon (jalapeno creamed corn, heirloom tomato vinaigrette). I opted for the salmon. According to some reviews online, people said the salmon and filet were really good. Since I don't really like the filet cut of meat, I went with salmon. Also because I wanted the jalapeno creamed corn. hehe. The salmon was really good. Cooked perfectly med rare and so tender. By far the best entree of the night.
- Petite Filet (butter poached shrimp and grilled asparagus). This sounded really good but was a disappointment. The meat was cooked really well even though it looked dry on the outside. But the entire plate just looked sad and bland. And it was very bland. The steak wasn't really seasoned. Neither was the shrimp and the potatoes weren't anything special. :( Everyone who go it just said it was "fine".
Sides -- (Choice of one per two guests, Served family style.) Now this is one of the highlights of the meal. I think the sides totally outshined the main course.
- Wood Roasted Cauliflower. This was the fav among the group. It had a nice spicy kick to it and lots of flavor. One of my friends thought it was too salty though.
- Wild Spinach. Pretty standard.
- Dish Deep Mac Casserole. I liked this one as well but it was super rich. I liked that the pasta was still somewhat al dente and not mushy like other mac and cheeses. One of my friends also liked the fact that they used more of a cheddar/yellow cheese and the flavor was bolder. I agree. The browned breadcrumbs on top was nice.
- Creamless Creamed Corn with Jalapeno & Bacon $8?~ A friend of mine ordered this as an extra side. It was delicious. The bacon came in large chunks! It could've used more jalapeno though. It wasn't very spicy. But I thought it was great, nonetheless.
It was a ton of food! Initially I thought we'd have no problem since everyone had to share but everyone was stuffed!!
Then it was time for Desserts -- (Choice of one per two guests, Served family style.)
I am so glad we had to share these because they were impressively massive. OMG! Especially the chocolate cake.
- Ice Box Pie (crushed Butterfinger, vanilla ice cream, Oreo cookie crust). We got 3 of these. What's not good about butterfinger ice cream and oreo crust? YUM! The majority preferred this one.
- Classic Chocolate Cake (devils food, truffle ganache, Morello cherry). We got 2. Wow.. this is a pretty epic cake. I'd say at least 6 inches high. I liked this one better. So chocolately and rich and decadent.
The ganache was amazing! I was super full but I think I managed to eat half of a slice by myself! It was actually great to eat both desserts together since ice cream pairs perfectly with chocolate cake!
We tried really hard to finish it all, but ended up taking some cake to go. Plus some of the girls (including me) boxed up half of our entrees. The desserts were a great ending to the meal. Overall, we had a good time. Some parts of the meal were disappointing, but I liked it for the most part.
Our waiter was great, didn't rush us or anything after our meal even though I saw a lot of people waiting at the bars for tables. He was also very accommodating to split the checks.
Just an advice if you are interested in their RW for the future. Make sure you go with at least a party of 3 or more. You get to try more dishes, it's a better deal! hehe. So far RW has been extremely filling! Sometimes you get restaurants that have tiny portions, but apparently I lucked out this year!
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The last night in London we decided to treat ourselves. Plus this place was HIGHLY recommended by others who were also there on the trip with us.
If you don't know who Gordon Ramsay is... then you must not have a TV or access to internet. haha. He's the British chef that is known for screaming at people on Hell's Kitchen or Kitchen Nightmares. One of my current favorite shows on TV right now: MasterChef, is also one of his creations. And these are just a few of his TV endeavors. In addition, he's got restaurants all over the world and has 12 Michelin stars under his belt. Pretty impressive empire he's built for himself.
Gordon Ramsay at Claridge's
45 Brook Street
London, W1K 4HR, UK
020 7499 0099
http://www.gordonramsay.com/claridges/
The restaurant is in the Claridge's hotel. A really nice hotel... Looked luxurious and fancy. The restaurant is also very high class looking. It made me feel a little out of place and had to be on my best behavior! haha.
All the staff was very polite and professional, from the Maitre D' (head waiter) to the assistant waiters to people who refilled our waters. They were also quite informative on the restaurant, the chef and the food.
They offered a 5-course tasting menu or a 3-course menu for £70 a person.
We started with an Amuse Bouche (Hash browns and Watermelon with Goat Cheese).
Gotta love the free stuff. haha. The bites looked so delicate and the watermelon was so vibrant. The hashbrown was very tasty and nice and crispy on the outside but we didn't know how to appreciate it more than the tots at Sonic or whatever. haha. I'm not a fan of watermelon or goat cheese but I was ok with the combination. The watermelon was slightly sweet and the goat cheese wasn't too pungent.
We also got some bread before the appetizer course. Wheat Roll and Brown Sourdough. I've realized that Europeans like their hard bread. Coming from Paris to London... all the breads were super hard. A little tough on my teeth!
Before appetizers we got a Cold Pea Soup with Ham (compliments of the chef).
It was sooo green! Very pretty. I've never had pea soup and always wanted to try. I'm not usually a fan of cold soups... But I loved it. You can definitely taste the peas but it was silky and rich and luxurious. Slightly sweet from the peas and contrasted with the salty bits of ham on top. It was great to dip the bread in. It was also very filling so I had to force myself not to finish to save room. We haven't even gotten our actual apps yet and I was already getting full! haha.
For the appetizer, I got the Ravioli of Lobster, Shellfish and Salmon (with lemongrass and chervil veloute).
It was highly recommended the Maitre D' explained that since the opening of the restaurant 11 years ago, this item has been on the menu the entire time because it is so popular. It was one massive ravioli. They poured the sauce in tableside which I always like. It was stuffed to the brim with various types of seafood. OMG. I'm not fond of lobster really and thought it was a bit more fishy than I'd like. But I really enjoyed the sauce. And the pasta on the ravioli was cooked well.
My bf ordered the Sauteed Scottish Scallops (with white asparagus, broccoli, caviar and Champagne veloute). It was a beautiful plate. The scallops were cooked well and I really liked the sauce on his dish as well.
For the entree... this is one of the main reasons we came... was the Fillet of Beef Wellington (with prosciutto, Somerset field mushrooms and pommes dauphinoise) (£10.00 supplement for two people).
Pommes Dauphinoise is basically potatoes au gratin. Comes with watercress and roasted garlic. Served with haricot vert (green beans).
It's so popular that they know they can upcharge it and people would still get it. And you have to order for 2 people since it is how it's made. If you just ordered it for one, they explained that you would have to pay a supplement of £35. This is one of his signature dishes. It's also been on the menu since the establishment of the restaurant 11 years ago. And it's always featured in his show, Hell's Kitchen. I've never had beef Wellington before and was always curious to try it. Beef and puff pastry...doesn't sound half bad! :P We understood why it was meant for two when they brought it out. That is the portion size they have to bake the beef and pastry in. It is cut and served table side.
I loved the presentation. While carving the meat, the Maitre D' explained to us what the components were (beef, a layer of mushrooms, and puff pastry), how it is normally served with roasted garlic and watercress, and after cutting the pieces, he rubbed a little bit of olive oil on the top of the meat and sprinkled just a touch of pepper.
It looked and smelled amazing!!! My favorite part of the dish was the pastry (as I expected). It was buttery and slightly crispy and not too greasy. The beef was cooked well, but I wanted more flavor from the meat and mushrooms. I loved the roasted garlic. I've never had it like that before. The top was caramelized and crunchy while the garlic was soft and creamy. It was a lot of food! I would say I wasn't blown away, but it was definitely quality food.
Before dessert we were served a Palate Cleanser: Passion Fruit Jello with Vanilla Bean Cream and some sort of fruit juice granita.
It's very similar to what we had at Joel Robuchon's restaurant in Paris. This was also really refreshing and yummy. I wonder if passion fruit was in season so it was featured in both restaurants...
For dessert I went with the Elderflower Infused Strawberries with Shortbread, Strawberry Sorbet, White Chocolate Macarons and Cream.
I wanted to get something different and I like the flavor of Elderflower. It was definitely not what I expected when served. It was beautifully presented. I like how the light captures the sugar snowflakes on top. It was basically a deconstructed strawberry shortcake. My favorite part was the macarons. Very very good. The sorbet overpowered the strawberries and shortbread a bit so I could only get hints of the elderflower.
My bf got the Cold Valrhona Chocolate Fondant (with poached cherry flambe).
The waiter described it as kind of like a cold molten chocolate cake. Interesting... We didn't know how it could be cold but still have the gooey chocolate on the inside. It was actually more like a cold chocolate mousse cake. The outside was a little thicker than a mousse but similar texture. And the molten inside was a white chocolate sauce I think. It was soooo good. The chocolate cake was rich and decadent. I definitely liked this better of the two.
Needless to say, we were both stuffed. I was so full I couldn't move! And then... we got more stuff! Homemade Chocolate Truffles and Marshmallows. Somehow we managed to eat them... hahaha.
It was a great experience. One of the more upscale dining places I've been to in my life. Very classy and professional. The food was definitely enjoyable. The best meal of my life? Not really.. But I can say I've been to one of Gordon Ramsay's restaurants now, and I've had beef Wellington from the master. hehe. And be prepared to drop some bucks. I think this is the most expensive meal I've had in my life... (so far...haha). Lucky for us it was included in the trip! :)
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When in England... gotta have afternoon tea! I was the most excited for this. I love afternoon tea and really wanted to do an authentic English tea time. I wanted to do 2 different afternoon teas but there just wasn't enough time and stomach space to take it all in. haha.
I chose this place after reading several reviews online. It had good ratings and was more affordable than some other more fancy hotels.
Harlequin Restaurant in Kingsway Hall Hotel
(Holborn Station)
66 Great Queen Street
Covent Garden, London WC2B 5BX
020 7309 0909
http://www.kingswayhall.co.uk/afternoon-tea.html
We arrived for our reservation at 1:30PM. The place was dead. But I didn't mind. It was like a private dining room for us. hehe. We were seated by the windows so it was nice and bright. I thought it was a nice setting.
They had a set menu for £15.95 per person. And it comes on one of those 3 tiered carriers.
YAY! That's what I wanted! :) The items we got per person were pretty standard afternoon tea foods. Start with sandwiches on the bottom, then scones in the middle and cakes/pastries up top. OMG! Sooo much food and it looks awesome!!
Sandwiches:
- Egg Mayonnaise & Mustard Cress - White Bread
- Smoked Salmon & Cream Cheese with Chives - Brown Bread
- Cucumber & Maldon Sea Salt - Basil Bread
- Ham & Mustard Mayonnaise - Walnut Bread
The sandwiches were presented very nicely. I like the look with the crusts cut off. My favorite was the egg. Most people think the cucumber sandwich is kind of a throw-away but I still liked it. It was refreshing in the midst of all the sugar and carbs. hehe.
Freshly Baked Scones
I really wanted to try British scones. I love scones in general but I'm pretty sure what I have in Dallas is not what they have in London. My friend, who has had many afternoon teas in London said their scones were much denser than usual. I'll have to take her word for it. But I loved it. I tend to like denser desserts/pastries anyways. But the inside was still moist and outside had a really nice crunch. With the clotted cream and jam it was awesome. My favorite part of the menu.
I was eager to try the clotted cream. Never had it before but I always thought I would love it. The one they had was really hard...it was basically butter. My friend said it was not right at all... booo. So I never really got to try real clotted cream. However, whatever we got here was still really good on the scones so it's all good.
Chef Selection of Afternoon Pastries
Wow... really so much food. I ended up taking a bite of everything just so I could try it all. But did not finish... The top layer had eclairs filled with lemon curd, pistachio macarons, fruit tart, strawberry cake, chocolate mousse cake, and coffee walnut pound cake. My favorite on this tier were the two cakes. Very light and creamy at the same time.
The eclairs were good too. I was surprised by the lemon filling. I'm used to having chocolate or custard. The macaron was no good. My friend said they put too much food coloring. It tasted artificial to us so that's probably the reason.
Unlimited Tea from Twinings Selection.
Can't be afternoon tea without the tea! haha. I was a little disappointed that it wasn't loose leaf teas, but oh well. You can choose from their selection of flavors and you can choose more than one. I liked that we could change it up. I started with a White tea then moved to Earl Grey.
I thoroughly enjoyed this experience. Although some aspects weren't as authentic as I wanted, it was still really cool. I wish we had more places in Dallas that does afternoon tea. It's really a relaxing and fun way to spend an afternoon. :)
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~~ CHOMP CHOMP ~~
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