Popping Up: Harvest Season Brings an Abundance of Corn Dishes

October 9, 2018 by Carley Wade Leave a Comment

It’s the final weeks of corn season – the last stretch to enjoy the snap of sweet kernels before a long winter. While elote, or Mexican street corn, is practically everywhere, restaurants are serving up creative interpretations of this harvest favorite. From Nashville’s hip Henley (perfect for catch-up cocktails with friends) to the clubby Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse in Boston (great for a business huddle or to impress the in-laws), check out these inventive corn dishes.

Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse, Boston, Massachusetts
Toss the conventional comfort-food classic to the side at Del Frisco’s (available at the brand-new Boston location in Back Bay and nationwide), where creamed corn gets spiced up with blistered shishito peppers for a flavorful finish. Make it a well-rounded meal with the sweet-corn bisque appetizer, a lush soup topped with crispy tortilla strips and drizzled crema that pairs well with pan-seared scallops. Make a reservation at Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse.

Stubborn Seed, Miami, Florida
South Beach is a long way from Australia, where the dessert is believed to have originated, but pavlova gets a contemporary revamp from chef Jeremy Ford. Light and airy and just right for refreshing finish, bay leaf meringue, strawberries, and Meyer lemon, (and, of course, corn) come together for a sweet and sour treat. Make a reservation at Stubborn Seed.

Hank’s Oyster Bar, Alexandria, Virginia
“Urban beach food” gets a little downhome twist, thanks to chef-owner Jaime Leeds. Her seasonal local corn and crab tamale is served with avocado and sour cream. Avo and corn aficionados can also opt for the avocado salad with shrimp, corn, tomatoes, red onions, and cilantro-jalapeno dressing. Make a reservation at Hank’s Oyster Bar.

Alden & Harlow, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Pancakes get a special accouterment with a popcorn garnish at Alden & Harlow, where chef-owner Michael Scelfo pickles corn from Concord’s Verrill Farm for corn pancakes served with roasted shishito peppers. Make a reservation at Alden & Harlow’s.

Kuro at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Hollywood, Florida
Crispy and just right for sharing come kakiage Japanese fritters. Typically made with vegetables like onions and carrots, executive chef Alex Becker’s version includes a seasonal staple, tempura, sesame-flavored furikake flakes, and ichimi (seven-flavor chili powder). Make a reservation at Kuro at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

Alma Cocina, Atlanta, Georgia
Georgia peaches get pushed to the side by Alma Cocina’s executive chef Chad Clevenger, who blends summer and fall flavors in a colorful — and flavorful — charred-corn, watermelon, and radish salad. It’s served nightly atop pan-roasted snapper. Make a reservation at Alma Cocina.

Bitter Suite: 7 Grapefruit Cocktails for a Citrusy Splash in Your Glass

October 5, 2018 by Carley Wade Leave a Comment

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Think summer has slipped away? Not with these sour sippers. Whether it’s mixed with mezcal, rum, or pisco, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the fruit of bartenders’ labors with grapefruit cocktails that are perfect for after-work drinks or to add some punch to your brunch.

Terrace 16, Chicago, Illinois
At this Windy City beacon craft cocktails are great for pairing with the views of the Chicago River and Michelin-lauded chef Nick Dostal’s dishes made with herbs from his garden adjacent to the restaurant. The inside bar and the outdoor terrace afford panoramas 16 floors up, along with treats like Bennett’s Blackout: a grapefruit juice-based invention with chartreuse and angostura bitters. Make a reservation at Terrace 16.

Tuscan Kitchen, Boston, Massachusetts
No matter which location of Tuscan Kitchen you’re at, herbs are all the rage, whether it’s in the gently simmered sugo or in the drinks. The proof is in the glass with the La Columba — featuring tequila, sage, lime, and grapefruit — at the Seaport District location in downtown Boston. Or, the other three locations (Burlington, MA, Portsmouth, NH, and Salem, NH) feature a tipple titled appropriately for an Italian restaurant: Palermo. It goes down smooth with spiced rum, elderflower liqueur, Tuscan’s homemade sour mix, grapefruit juice, and hand-muddled mint. Make a reservation at Tuscan Kitchen.

db Bistro Moderne, New York City, New York
The Pamplemousse, courtesy of beverage director and sommelier Josh McGregor, combines his cocktail and carafe expertise to get sassy and classy when it comes to presentation and taste at this Manhattan spot from the great Daniel Boulud. The refreshment includes pisco, the bitter aperitivo rinomato, sparkling wine, and grapefruit. Make a reservation at db Bistro Moderne.

Red Herring, Los Angeles, California
Austria comes to the City of Angels courtesy of Stiegl Grapefruit Rader, a low-alcohol juice and beer drink. At this elegant-yet-understated Eagle River eatery, the tangy, low-calorie beverage is mixed with grapefruit juice for extra sour, jalapeno for spice, and fresh thyme. Make a reservation at Red Herring.

Henley, Nashville, Tennessee
Henley celebrates the cuisine and cocktails of the American South with a spotlight usually thrust on Tennessee bourbon and whiskeys, but things go a little further south—in a good way — with mezcal from Mexico in the Eastern influence. It’s paired with aperol, blue plum, grapefruit, and jasmine for a herbaceous, fruity, spicy, and sour pour. Make a reservation at Henley.

Don’t Let It Go: Frozen Cocktails to Keep Summer Going

September 13, 2018 by Carley Wade Leave a Comment

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The season may be winding down, but there’s no reason not to hope for an Indian summer with frozen cocktails that offer creative cool-downs.

Arbella, Chicago, Illinois
Any cocktail on the menu can be frozen thanks to liquid nitrogen that adds a bit of theater to the bar. The internationally inspired passport menus for bar bites and tipples bring guests to Mexico with mezcal, Peru with pisco, the U.K. with gin and beyond. No matter which hemisphere you’re in, however, it’s always summer with a few favorites including Smokey the Bear’s habanero-infused mezcal with yellow chartreuse in a honey-bear jar that’s been smoked using a torched cedar plank and the Funky Chicken, a sweet-spicy-sour cocktail with Mexican lollipop-infused rye. Make a reservation at Arbella.

Harlow MXM, Dallas, Texas
Any English gent would likely snub his nose at a frozen gin and tonic, but this all-American remake proves you can’t mess with Texas ingenuity. Barman Alex Fletcher combines the classic spirit and mixer with ice, citrus, and sugar. It all goes down smooth with views of the Dallas skyline from the rooftop lounge. Make a reservation at Harlow MXM.

La Centrale Caffe, Miami, Florida
Cooling off is practically an art form in Miami, and it gets a special Mediterranean twist at Caffe, where an old-fashioned granita cart offers adult aperitifs. Some of the top sellers evoking the flavors of Sicily are the Aperol spritz, frozen Negroni, and espresso amaretto. Make a reservation at La Central Caffe.

Puesto, San Diego, California
No matter what the season, lactose-intolerant-friendly horchata helps cool down the zest of Mexican dishes at Puesto. This summer, that’s amplified with the Horchata Loca, which adds local Malahat San Diego white rum and an extra dash of cinnamon to the frozen horchata (made with rice milk). Make a reservation at Puesto.

Seeing Green: Restaurants with Secret Gardens Bring the Inside Out

July 27, 2018 by Carley Wade Leave a Comment

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Whether it’s an urban oasis or a hidden spot in the woods within yards of the vegetables that are served up on your plate, these spots are a world away from ordinary. Here are restaurants with secret gardens to hit up the great outdoors.

Zuma, Miami, Florida
Meaning literally “incognito” in Japanese, Zuma’s Oshinobi Bar is a private speakeasy space where guests can interact with a featured bartender and get off-the-menu specialty cocktails that aren’t on the main bar menu. Like the list, the space itself is pretty exclusive and is by invite-only; cards are given to select patrons by management for the only-20-person space. Enter the lush garden through a secret elevator and you’ll find garden furniture and earth-toned fixtures. The DJ, Miami River views, and Asian food complete the transportation process to the land of cool. Make a reservation at Zuma.

Earth at Hidden Pond, Kennebunkport, Maine
Dine underneath a blanket of stars and inhale the ripe, fresh scent of herbs and vegetables at the onsite garden at one of New England’s foremost farm to fork restaurants (also fish-to-dish, with lobster always on the menu, of course). Nestled among a birch forest and balsam trees, you’ll find cocktails muddled with herbs and fruits picked just a few feet away from one of the coveted outdoor tables, along with heirloom tomatoes, garden pea soup, and fire-roasted veggies. Make a reservation at Earth at Hidden Pond.

Bobo, New York, New York
When Bobo owner Carlos Suarez reopened last year with a new look for the restaurant’s 10^th anniversary, his goal was to share his passion for country living — especially having started a farm in Hudson Valley and given his love of the French countryside. It may not quite be Versailles but, like Louis XVI’s opus, there are citrus trees blooming year-round in his West Village hidden patio. Find herb pots and plenty of natural lighting, too, to complement French home-cooked classics by Michelin-starred chef Frederic Duca. Make a reservation at Bobo.

Butchart Gardens—the Dining Room, Vancouver, Canada
With more than a century as Canada’s most grandiose garden, there are stunning floral displays at every turn of the head — but you can see many of them while (seasonally) feasting on lunch, dinner, or high teas at the Dining Room. Spy the Private Garden, the Italian Garden or Tod Inlet from what feels like a greenhouse, with plants indoor as well. Vancouver Island wines are featured with local, sustainable fare. Make a reservation at Butchart Gardens.

Komodo, Miami, Florida
It’s a jungle in there at Komodo, a three-story indoor/outdoor eatery in Miami’s concrete jungle (aka, financial district). Nestled inside the restaurant is a hidden oasis boasting lush greenery and five outdoor floating bird’s nest pods. Private garden pods can be arranged for group business dinners or intimate date nights. Make a reservation at Komodo.