Interlaken, NY: Cayuga Lake Creamery

On the advice of friends at Cornell University I changed my driving route to go up Highway 89, which was a beautiful drive along the lake ... but beauty aside, the point of the drive was the much anticipated stop at the Cayuga Lake Creamery [http://cayugalakecreamery.com/]. The quintessential roadside stand on a road full of summer tourist excitement, it almost demands the driver stop the car. It was worth the detour and more ... and you know I love me some ice cream.

They have a full menu of casual food ... burgers, sandwiches and the like, but the draw here is the ice cream, so I really didn't pay attention to anything else. There are sundaes, shakes, and other treats but for me it was pure ice cream that I was after. And there are flavors galore, including wine sorbets that are made with local vintages and other interesting combinations. But before I get to the ice cream, there were cones to consider. In addition to the usual cake or sugar varieties, plain or dipped in chocolate, maybe some nuts or sprinkles there was one that I've never heard of ... a pretzel cone. Yes, you read right, a cone made from pretzel dough with salt on the outside. And with the Salted Caramel ice cream it was perfect ... crisp, salty, smooth, cold, creamy and everything that a person could want on a hot summer afternoon. There were so many tempting flavors that it was hard to decide, but I've been kind of addicted to salted caramel anything lately, so that was calling my name and the decision was sealed when I found out about the pretzel cone. I wish I was closer because there were so many other flavors that I wanted to taste, next trip to upstate New York for the Cayuga Lake Creamery will be on the list for sure.

Oh, and one more thing ... the have 'Breakfast a la Mode' on the weekends with some amazing sounding ice cream flavors including Maple Bacon [YES!!!] and Brown Sugar Oatmeal. Almost worth the trip back to give it a try, what could be a better way to start a summer vacation weekend!

The Cayuga Lake Creamery is a perfect spot, a slice of Americana that offers everything you could want for a summer day. Follow you reflexes, pull that car over and enjoy. This place is special.

EatHereOrNot: EAT HERE

Madison, WI: Nostrano

This quirky little space near the state capitol provided not only a cool ambiance, but really wonderful food as well. Quirky in the sense of the space's aesthetic [think almost Zuni Cafe in San Francisco], and the menu, but both in a very good way. The food was engaging without being fussy, and fresh and locally sourced as well.

I started with a spring radish salad, with both the greens and the radishes from the chef's garden. I will admit to a fondness for radishes, so it was a must have for me. The greens were a varied mixture, the sliced radishes crunchy, and the chive vinaigrette flavorful without being overpowering. There was a crouton made from sunflower bread, topped with a local goat cheese to complete the plate. The flavors worked well together and the dish was a success, with my only complaint being that the greens were tepid and somewhat limp. But the flavors were there, and that was a minor misstep.

For the main course I had a roasted squab, served with braised cabbage, buckwheat spatzle, and trumpet mushrooms, and foie gras. The squab was perfection, crisp on the outside and rosy red in the middle. The base of the dish, the spatzle,cabbage, mushroom concoction [almost a ragout, really] was excellent ... I could have eaten it as a main course. The foie gras, for me, was a gratuitous addition to the plate, not really melding with anything, just a cold chunk placed on top of the rest of the things on the plate. And, you now how much I like my foie [I'll risk a gout attack for some], but it really made no sense with the rest of the ingredients.

For dessert, a chocolate crema,served with buckwheat pizzelle, poached cherries [dried and fresh, poached in a cherry beer that was AMAZING], and a cherry gelato. AS much as I liked everything else, this was the best thing that I ate hands down. The combination of flavors and textures and temperature really played well off of each other, and I wanted more.

This is a stylish little restaurant in the capitol district and I highly recommend it. The servers were engaging, the space interesting, and the food held up its end of the equation as well. If you're in Madison, check it out.

EatHereOrNot: EAT HERE

Philadelphia: Amada

What a find . . . a perfectly beautiful and delicous tapas bar in the Society Hill area of Philadelphia, within walking distance of my hotel. I discovered it by accident as I was taking an afternoon walk around the historic areas near the hotel [remember Paul and the ride and . . . oh wait, what was he saying or doing Ms Palin?], and it was a perfect stop. Dark wood, a friendly bar, engaging staff, and beautiful food. So, here are the details:

Sangria Blanca to start, crisp white wine with pears, apples, and pineapple . . . refreshing, juicy and a great accompaniment to both the warm sunshine outside and the beautful food inside. And the food was beautful, true tapas on small plates, artfully arranged and perfectly spiced.

I started with a white asparagus gaspacho, served with a small, crisp, hot crab cake in the center of the bowl as the server spashed the pale green nectar around. Perfectly seasoned, smooth and delicous. And, close to the best gaspacho I've ever had. I almost ordered a second serving.

Then a tortilla with red pepper aoli, spicy and just right. The tortilla itself was a little bland, but the sauce made up for it.

A close second to the gaspacho was an amazing diver scallop [huge], butter poached, then seared. It was served with an orange aoli, finely sliced fennel and a minute lobster croquette. Amazing to look at, and an amazing combination on the palate.

I highly recommend Amada for a snack, drink, or a full meal. Everything about it was good, and its a real find in and around the tourist area of historic Philadelphia. If you're on the American heritage tour checking out Independence Hall, take a detour to Spain and enjoy this great spot.

EatHereOrNot: EAT HERE

Minneapolie: Restaurant Alma

Last night I ate at Restaurant Alma, a nondiscript neighborhood place that is easy to miss when driving by ... watch carefully. The space is sleek, yet warm and the staff an equal mix of urban hipster and welcoming charm. I was, in fact, blown away by the entire evening and can highly recommend a visit to this gem of a spot. The menu changes regularly, so what I'm describing here may not be available when you visit, but I have confidence that what you order will be equally wonderful. The tasting menu is a reasonable $48 and includes three selections, one from each section of the menu. The choices were varied and would, to my mind, accommodate a variety of preferences. For my dinner I had:

First Course: salmon tartar with avocado, baby basil and cavier creme fraiche. The dish was beautifully presented and went well with the cava that the bartender recommended. The salmon was clean tasting and the creme and basil offered nice counterpoints to its texture and flavor. The only down side to this dish was a not mentioned on the menu parmesean tuile, crushed and added as a layer on top of the tartar. I found it to be overpowering in flavor and distracting in texture, an addition that subtracted rather than enhanced the whole. Scrap it off and enjoy everything else.

Second Course: white corn polenta with mushroom stew and spring vegetables can only be described as PERFECT. The polenta was puffy and creamy, the mushrooms deeply flavored and the shower of al dente spring vegetables a perfect compliment. I could have eaten two or three portions of this dish, it was truly amazing and maybe the best polenta I've ever eaten. I want more!

Third Course: gently cooked trout with crispy artichokes, orange, and rosemay butter was also close to perfection. The fileted trout was beautifully cooked and the crispy artichokes were amazing, deep fried and crisp without being battered. The citrus balanced the plate well and cut the richness of the rosemary butter nicely. Wonderful.

Dessert: I wasn't going to, but there was a lemon souffle cake that sounded to good to miss, and I made the right choice. The chilled souffle was light and etheral, with some excellent lemon curd too boot. It was a perfect ending to an unexpectedly wonderful meal.

Now, about the staff, they were as good as the food. Charming, engaging and clearly proud of the food and the restaurant. Ready to offer suggestions, pair wine and generally make things happen. On this particular evening there was a big storm that droppend marble sized hail stones on the street and a funnel cloud threatened to form on the horizon ... the bartender poured me more wine and told me not to worry. And I didn't.

EatHereOrNot: EAT HERE

Portland: Driftwood Room at the Hotel deLuxe

This has to be one of the coolest bars in Portland . . . dark, intimate, and feeling like you've just entered the set of Mad Men. Or, maybe Bewitched . . . seems like you could run into Larry, Louise, Samantha and Darrin having a cocktail here on any night. There is a great happy hour menu, with interesting choices that are beyond the usual burger/fries/olives at some other places. My personal favorite is the savory gorgonzola cheesecake, served warm with roasted garlic and bread. It is close to perfect.

The down side of this place is the service, which can only be described as disorganized. There dosen's seem to be a particular server assigned to any given table, it all feels pretty random. And, maybe because of that, nobody takes responsiblity for checking in, taking orders, delivering drinks and food. On our evening one of the bartenders came over and took our drink order, then disappeared. Eventually the drinks arrived, but we had to flag someone down to order the above mentioned cheesecake. Someone else brought the cheesecake, and we asked her for another drink. Ten minutes went by and no drink, so when the original bartender walked by we asked about it and he was like 'oh, yeah' and walked over to the bar and brought the drink to the table . . . it had been sitting there all along and nobody bothered to deliver it. Disorganized and less than concerned about service, that's the take here.

Oh, and one more thing . . . my companion ordered this way: "I'd like a Bombay martini with three olives" and the bartender responded "What kind of vodka do you want?". Really? The BARTENDER? My personal soapbox is that a martini IS gin with a whisper of vermouth . . . and olives! You want onions with that? Then order a Gibson. And if I had wanted vodka, I would have ordered a VODKA MARTINI. Oh, and just because it is served in a martini shell doesn't make it a martini . . . so take your chocolate, pomegranate, coffee and cheese flavored drink and enjoy it . . . but don't call it a martini. OK, getting down off the soapbox now.

EatHereOrNot: EAT HERE

Good bye ten01

So last night I was walking with friends to one of my favorite Portland restaurants, ten01. We got there and found it closed, but peering through the glass it wasn't just closed, it was gone. Fixtures dismantled, boxes on the floor, glassware packed away. This elegant space, with its well prepared and forward thinking food, was one of my favoirtes, and a real gem in the Pearl District. Apparently they planned to be closed January 1 & 2 and just never came back. This is a blow to the neighborhood and the Portland dining scene, and I only wish the best to wonderful staff who always took such good care of me. I'll remember the food and experiences for a long time ... especially the spectacular mini ice cream sandwiches made with maple cookies and candied bacon ice cream from one New Year's Eve. Cheers!

Colorado Springs: The Broadmoor Hotel

This was my first time staying at the Broadmoor and for years I have been hearing about how wonderful it was and I figured it was so much hype. But, from the moment I checked in I was blown away. Everything was perfect, from the grounds to public areas and finally to the spectacular room. Beautifully decorated in a classic style that is at once understated and opulent. The whole resort was amazing . . . everything was well thought out, with a nod to the history of this fabled place. The variety of restaurants was also very cool, from casual to four star, and everything in between. All in all I wanted to just have my clothes shipped in and stay forever.

And one more thing, the staff was the best I have ever encountered . . . friendly, professional, and engaging. Complimenting the hotel ambience of the hotel and extending the experience. Start to finish a perfect experience.

San Pedro, CA: Think! Bistro

This is a promising looking establishment in a strip mall, warmly decorated and inviting from the outside. An older couple, seemingly the owners, greated us at the door and we were immediately seated. The menu was eclectic and interesting, with some classics that were right up my alley. Then the food came. It was a disaster for everyone at my table.

I started with a beet salad served with hearts of palm and goat cheese. The beets were large, flat slices with the texture of wet paper towels, either canned or boilded to death. The hearts of palm were OK, but nothing done to them except opening the can. For my entree I had beef stroganoff . . . it was served over spaghetti noodles and seemed to have been made using a hamburger helper mix. It was truly awful. Another member of my party had the boullibase, a favorite of her's, and she left most if it describing it as overcooked shellfish with jared marinara sauce dumped over it. Nothing even close to the real dish. And finally a potato crusted halibut, a very thin filet of some kind of white fish. Overcooked with a soggy potato crust.

This dining experience was a complete waste of calories and time, nasty food and inattentive service. I would have rather had fast food. Stay away, stay away this is not worth the investment of either your time or money.

EatHereOrNot: NOT

Bedford, MA: Flatbread Company

So here I am in Bedford on a Monday night, craving pizza after checking in to the hotel in an area where there is nothing visible around in terms of food [or anything, for that matter]. The front desk person vaguely pointed in a direction that there were restaurants and off I drove into the night. Random, really, that I found Flatbread, its in an office park kind of place with two other restaurants and barely visible from the road, but find it I did and went inside. They had actually closed for the evening, the ovens weren't hot enough to bake a pie, but the manager set me up with a great salad and I went back to the hotel happy. The next evening I went back for pizza [you can see that I was focused] and it was a great decision.

The restaurant is large, sleek in a funky kind of way, with an open kitchen and wood fired ovens. The ingredients are organic and locally sourced when possible, and the beers on tap from the area as well. Casual, but not without thought to both food and service, this was a very cool local place and popular with the community. The pizza was great, thin and crispy crusts on the pizzas [my favorite] and well balanced, housemade topping. I had a sausage pie with caramelized onions and it was close to perfect. The sausage was excellent and the portion not stingy. There is a nice selection of salads as well, organic greens with with goat cheese and vegetables, and a very nice berry vinaigrette to top things off. And some not-to-bad brownies as well, a great casual dinner on a midweek evening.

The focus here is on not only the food, but the community, and its very cool. The night I was there they were doing a benefit for a local high school, and the place was packed with happy pizza munchers. Good energy for a Tuesday night. Of course, regardless of how good the food may be, it is the staff who can make or break an establishment and on this count it is definitely a 'make'. The manager, Sean, was personable and welcoming, even in the heat of a very busy evening, making sure that everyone was taken care of an included. He has an infectious energy that kept the staff smiling and the pizzas flying out of the kitchen. The only negative thing that I can say is that the place isn't well marked, if you don't know what you're looking for you could easily drive right by .. . a sign please? Great place for a casual evening, go in and tell Sean that I sent you.

EatHereOrNot: EAT HERE

Painter [Eastern Shore]: VA: Big's Place

What a great find! Way out on the Eastern Shore ... you'd drive right by if you weren't paying attention ... and by all means, PAY ATTENTION. Open for lunch and dinner, the very casual menu features wonderfully fresh seafood, just pulled from the bay, and a great selection of sides to round out the meal. The room is not large, so you may have to wait, and some of the larger tables are used for communal dining, a good way to meet the locals people and make new friends. Just enjoy!

I had the best fried scallops that I have ever eaten, crisp and brown on the outside and wonderfully sweet and tender on the inside. I could have eaten a pound of them, but the side dishes called my name and I couldn't decide ... so I had several. Deviled eggs, Cole slaw [not flavored enough for my taste], macaroni salad, and excellent fried potatoes and onions. With sweet tea, of course. It was a perfect lunch and had me smiling all the way back to the Norfolk airport for my flight. This is a classic country/shore place that deserves a trip out of the way for a visit. And don't forget the orange blossom cake!

EatHereOrNot: EAT HERE

Portland: Hotel50: H50 bistro and bar

What a great spot! Sometimes a place is a real find, the kind of surprise that puts a long lasting smile on your face, and that is what H50 did on three visits. The sleek restaurant and bar are in the Hotel50 on the Portland waterfront, the new incarnation of a dismal Sheraton 5 Points and its even worse predecessor the Riverfront Hotel. Someone with real imagination and flair took the place from dismal to spectacular in a recent renovation, all glass and wood and sparkle that vanquishes the image of everything that went before in this building. Not just a remodel, but a reinvention of the highest order. The bar is beautiful and the staff is welcoming, and the food hits all the right notes without being overwrought. So, here are the highlights:

Braised pork belly served with French toast, seared figs and a savory maple glaze was amazing. Way too rich, just as it should have been, and I could have eaten more but thought better of it. A great combination of flavors and textures that looked wonderful on the plate. An intriguing wild mushroom rice pudding was a very interesting take on the classic sweet version, and though I'm not a rice pudding fan, this was good stuff. Tuna tartar cones, crisp cones filled with tuna, lemon zest, chives, capers and mustard were perfect, reminiscent of those at the French Laundry without the year-long wait for a reservation. And finally, smoked salmon fritters. You know how much I like smoked salmon, and here it was in a fritter deep fried . . . and fried anything is my friend. The parsley cream on the plate was a good counterpoint to the richness of the fritters, and made the plate look great as well. Last but not least, a venison burger on a house made bud with an apple and endive slaw . . . a friend ordered this and I stole most of it. Venison burger? Yes! I ventured beyond my usual wine here and had drink called Pamelo, pepper infused vodka with grapefruit juice. Bring me another, please!

You know its hard for me, but I really don't have anything bad to say about this place except that its location makes parking tough. But its worth the effort and a long walk if necessary to visit this new gem in downtown Portland. Go, more than once, and enjoy this inventive food in a beautiful location. And send your kudos back to the shy but charming Chef Nicholas Yanes, he's doing a great job and needs to hear it. Maybe he'll even make an appearance in the front of the house.

EatHereOrNot: EAT HERE

Greenville, SC: High Cotton

This is a beautiful new restaurant in the downtown area of Greenville that offers some twists on Southern cooking with excellent results. The space is huge, three levels, and well appointed. It reminded me in a vague way of the original Palomino in Seattle; polished, interesting light fixtures, glass. The service on both visits was excellent, with particular kudos the the bartender for an excellent martini and good conversation. I tried several menu items and enjoyed them all, with the exception of what I thought was going to be wonderful: smoked bacon hollandaise, which turned out to be heavy and rather bland. Maybe it was a bad day for the sauce chef. Some of the good things inclued a black-eyed pea hummus [a nice changes from the usual], pork belly tacos with a green tomato pico de gallo [what a concept], and a tuna tartar stuffed avacado with a tasty ginger and shallot dressing. An iceberg wedge was tricked out with fried green tomatoes and an excellent buttermilk blue cheese dressing and was pretty perfect. Good things all around.

The entree standouts included wild American shrimp and grits that included smoked chicken andouille, leeks, and charred tomatoes. I put in Tabasco, but that's just me as I think grits should have some heat. Also an excellent grilled pork chop that was served with a black-eyed pea ‘cassoulet’ that was a flavorful intrepertation of the original dish. Both plates were well balanced in terms of flavors and textures and fit in nicely with the concept.

Desserts were less successful, pretty pedestrian actually and a disappointing end to the meals. Seems like most of the inventive thought went into the other food on the menu. Oh well.

EatHereOrNot: EAT HERE

Greenville, SC: Sticky Fingers BBQ

Greenville is a nice town with a very cool restored downtown area that is charming and has a number of nice restaurants [and a surprising number of people asking for handouts . . . what's up with that?]. So today was a Sunday and I was disappointed in the number of what looked like great spots that were closed, but you know I like me some BBQ so I settled on Sticky Fingers. What a disappointment!!! The only thing that was good was the beer, everything else was average at best. The ribs looked promising, but the sauce was bland and boring. The mac'n'cheese tasted as if it came from a box and used that nacho cheese stuff rather than real cheese, and the baked beans were tepid. How can this happen in the heartland of BBQ? Then there was the service [or lack there of] . . . I sat at the bar, which is usually a good thing. Not here. The bartender was distracted by everything, including the TV. I had to ask for water, and after the food arrived had to ask for silverware. When I asked for the check and put out my card I actually had to ask him to process the card as he was leaving the area on some other distraction. This place has a prime location in the main street in downtown Greenville and is a prime disappointment. Don't waste your time or the calories, you'd be better off with room service at the hotel.

EatHereOrNot: NOT

Ilios: Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort: Fortlauderdale, Florida

So here I am in Fort Lauderdale on a Thursday night . . . what else is new. Been in Florida for a week, and didn't want to go out of the hotel for dinner, so I got on the elevator and rode down to Ilios. The menu looked interesting in a fusion-ish kind of way, so it seemed worth a try. Its an "interesting" environment . . . these weird faux bamboo things as a kind of room divider . . . some beautiful glass . . . bad fabric on the cushions . . . strange bar seating . . . BUT some friendly people behind the bar. But on to the food, which sounded like a good thing, but . . .

First up was the BBQ shrimp with avacado salad . . . this was just weird. There were three large shrimp, but two of them were shelled and the third had shell and head intact, was that a choice or mistake. Either was it was strange. The avacado salad was really just chunky guacamole, not particularly well seasoned. Some chips would have been a nice addition. Next up a 'tomato bisque' . . . now when I think of bisque I think that there will be some dairy products involved. This was like eating marinara sauce, perhaps just out of a jar from the supermarket. It was billed to be served with a 'proscuito profiterole' . . . which was a tiny cold-cheese-filled cream puff thing, with no trace of ham . . . and tepid at best. Not interesting, and again it was was like pasta sauce in a bowl. Finally, the best of the evening, was a blood orange and pistachio salad. Interesting flavors, fresh and clean, and a nice composition. A fairly strange meal at the bar, but nice guys behind the bar to chat with, so it wasn't a total loss.

All in all, this place was a South Beach wanna be . . . Fort Lauderdale as the step sister to glamerous Miami. A strange duo spining boring tunes, looking like small fish in an even smaller pond, bad lighting and all. This place should just admit that its not South Beach and go with it . . . trying way to hard to be hip and not making it. All in all an OK evening, weird but OK. Would I go again? Perhaps for the entertainment value?


EatHereOrNot: MAYBE

Ashland, OR: Oregon Shakespeare Festival

OK, so I know this is supposed to be about food and all . . . but the occasional detour can be a good thing. I have been attending the OSF for a bunch of years [more than I'd like to admit] and its always a good time, with some occasionally brilliant theater, and always something to talk about. This year was no exception, but it felt that overall the level of theater was elevated and there was more to think about, even where it wasn't expected, which is a good thing. I was able to see all of the productions that were running during my visit, so here are my snapshot reviews of each of them:

The Music Man: well, I was not looking forward to this old chestnut, but went more out of curiosity than anything else . . . too many community theater productions had numbed me to the real possibilities of this work. In a word, this production was wonderful. Nuanced, playful and rollickingly entertaining. The focus was more on the transformation of the town than on the developing love story, and the wonderful set and costumes, that moved from drab grey tones to brilliant color as the play progressed, fully supported that view. Michael Elich, as Professor Harold Hill, was outstanding in every way, a real star turn [and a surprise for me, I didn't think he had it in him]. The disappointment for me in an otherwise strong cast was Gwendolyn Mulamba as Marian Paroo . . . for me, she just didn't click with the other cast members, stiff and arch when saying her lines and her singing voice lacked warmth. Other than that, this was a wonderful evening in the theater, and would be a great introduction to the American musical to the younger audience member.

Equivocation: this was the jewel of the season, a truly spectacular event that had me fully engaged from start to finish. The small cast, each playing multiple roles, was at the top of their game and this world premier should be around for a long time. Challenging and yet fun, taunt and at times playful this is what good theater should be and often is not. Special kudos to the exceptionally talented [and HOT] John Tufts, who really came into his own at OSF with this performance. RUN to see this production. HURRY.

Macbeth: without giving anything away, the Scottish play is referenced in the above mentioned Equivocation and the potential here for an equally stunning production of this companion piece are mind blowing. Unfortunately, this production of MacB was AWFUL. Its one of my favorites in the canon, and I was excited to see it again and almost, really almost, walked out at the intermission. The cast never seemed to talk TO one another, they just spouted lines in any direction and MacB himself bellowed and thrashed without ever engaging. What an amazing waste of talent, and since there were so many talented actors on the stage it must be the fault of the director or vision, because something here was really wrong. The set was interesting, the costumes serviceable [and sometimes beautiful] but nothing ever clicked. And this far into the season things should have been perfect if they were ever going to be. A big disappointment.

The Servant of Two Masters: a screwball comedy played in various Venetian locales at a fever pitch, this was just plain fun. Wonderful costumes, broad performances, fast paced and with perfect timing to tie everything together this little play had me laughing out loud more than once. A big dose of the giggles all around, well done.

All's Well That Ends Well: in this interesting production a new character, The Clown, was introduced by the director to help the story unfold and act as a kind of ground between the present and the fable on stage. The play was well acted, with some truly touching moments and represents what OSF does exceedingly well. And, we got to see more of Mr Tufts, [but not as much as when he wore some great tights as Romeo, but I digress] which is always a good thing.

Don Quixote: every few years something on the Elizabethan stage catches the imagination . . . of cast, crew and audience . . . and takes on a joyful life of its own. That is the case here, a truly inventive production with strong performances all around, and at its core a revelatory performance by Armando Duran as Quixote. Fully believable, as he completely inhabited the character, Duran seemed to be having as much fun as the audience in discovering each new adventure. This has to be one of my very favorite OSF productions of all time, and I've seen a bunch of them, and I'm smiling now at the memory. By turns touching, beautiful, rousing and funny, this production had it all. BRAVO!

This production had only one flaw, that being the actor Terri McMahon . . . even in a very small role she brought the proceedings to a screaching halt wtih her wooden delivery and pasted on smile. The only upside here is that she had a very small role . . . why is she even on stage at OSF at all? Ever?

Paradise Lost: is, after all, Clifford Odets, so we know from the start that there will be no tap dancing or happy talk going on. What must be accomplished is keeping the focus on the story and not letting the whole enterprise sink under its own weight. That this production was engrossing throughout is testament to the fine work of the ensemble, keeping the pace brisk and the characters believable. Linda Alper was, as always, amazing. Particularly so in this difficult role in a tough play. Richard Elmore, another OSF veteran, brought a quiet dignity to a truly sad role that under girds the action of the play. While I won't say that I enjoyed this outing, its not fun, I did come away moved and challenged and that is in the end all we can ask. Well done.

Much Ado About Nothing: this charming and well known story, in the hands of the marvelous OSF company, is nothing short of a romp. As giddy and head spinning as first love in this WWII setting, with the dark undercurrent never far away. As Beatrice and Benedick, Robynn Rodriguez and David Kelly were perfectly matched and sizzled every time they were on stage together. I would have gladly watched it again if I could have stayed in Ashland another night. The whole production felt like a gift from OSF to its gleeful audience, tied with a sparkling bow of laughter that will not soon be forgotten.

Henry VIII: there is a reason that this play is not often produced, its not very good. But for all its shortcomings it allowed OSF to do what it does best . . . pageantry. Beautiful set pieces framing the action, spectacular costumes and strong performances make this a full evening, if wanting in content. The luminous Vilma Silva as Queen Katherine was amazing, but more than anything its the 'show' that drives here . . . consider it a postcard from another time and enjoy the view.

The bottom line is GET OUT AND SUPPORT LIVE THEATER . . . whether in your home town, at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, or on Broadway. Its our cultural treasure and we need to support and encourage its growth.

Nebraska State Fair

Sometimes you just need to say YES to all kinds of bad food . . . bad in a good way, of course. I spent today eating my way through the Nebraska State Fair in Lincoln on a beautiful late summer day. The focus here is fried things and things on sticks . . . sometimes fried things on sticks . . . and everything I ate was wonderful in a way only fair food can be. So, here are the highlights:

Hot Beef Sundae [yes, you read correctly]: garlic mashed potatoes, sliced roast beef, more mashed potatoes, brown gravy, cheddar cheese and a cherry tomato on top. Its like a roast beef dinner in a sundae bowl and it was GOOD! I could have eaten two, but wanted to save room for other treats. I had never seen anything like this before and hope that it makes its way to the Oregon State Fair in the future.

Deep Fried Peach on a Stick: oh yeah baby! A fresh peach, impaled on a stick, dipped in funnel cake batter and plopped in the hot fat. Crispy and hot, the peach warm and sweet, with a sprinkle of powdered sugar for good measure. Who thinks of this stuff!

Pineapple Whip: I'm not actually sure what this stuff is ... frozen pineapple stuff, kind of like ice cream, but not. Lighter in texture and full of pineapple flavor. Because its cold and light and tastes like fruit, it seems that it should be on the healthy side of the spectrum. But remember, this is the fair, so I'm sure its as full of empty calories and fat as everything else. And, its good!

Deep Fried Oreos: another fried revelation, oreo cookies dipped in batter, fried, then covered with some whipped cream when served. Crunchy, chocolaty, gooey and perfect.

Corn Dogs: who doesn't love a corn dog! They have gotten a bad rap because of the Costco/supermarket premade abominations. But a well made corn dog, dipped in the batter and lowered into the hot fat right in front of you, well, this is another story. Hot and crisp, flavorful corn bread batter and a good hot dog . . . dinner on a stick just in need of a slather of mustard and we're set. More fair goodness.

Deep Fried Twinkies: well, why not . . . frying makes everything better and a twinkie is no exception. Crispy, the outer layer of cake almost caramelized, and the filling [what is that stuff, anyway] warm and gooey. Again I ask, who thinks of this stuff!!

Lemonade: gotta have something to drink, and freshly squeezed is a fair staple and very good. Tart and cold, its the perfect thing to wash down the other tasty treats and refresh the palate in preparation for more fatty fun.

Don't tell the cardiologists about all of this, just enjoy. What fun!!

Omaha: The French Cafe

So, here I am in Omaha and have discovered that its a beautiful city with some great green spaces downtown and wonderful sculpture [I am particularly fond of the herd of bison and flock of geese: http://www.wowt.com/home/headlines/52978517.html]and interesting architechure. Who knew! And, an area called Old Market that is about three blocks of restaurants and clubs in the old market area that was alive with people on a beautiful summer evening. Among all of the this is The French Cafe, a real find of a French bistro in an old brick warehouse. Nice bar space, large dining room and a cool patio as well.

And on to the food. I started with Coquilles St Jacques which was described as seared scallops in a tarragon cream sauce with crimimi mushrooms and creme fraiche. Well, maybe. The sauce was flavorful and had a nice consistency, but the 'seared' scallops showed no signs of being near a saute pan, and there weren't many in the dish. The dish was served in the traditional puff pastry case, which was the main problem. The pasty was flaccid [yes, I said flaccid] at best and I discovered the reason: they covered the plate on its way from the kitchen to the table . . . so what probably started out as crisp, got steamed on its journey from the kitchen and the dish was ruined. For the entree I had a really good roast chicken, served on a bed of lentils with a roasted garlic and green peppercorn sauce. The chicken was perfectly cooked, moist and flavorful and I love lentils . . . so it was a good match. The lentils were well cooked as well, not to soft, and the garlic mustard sauce brought everything together. After the entree I had a small salad with a perfect vinaigrette.

This place is know for its mussels and has an entire section of the menu devoted to "les moules" with ten different preparations. I wasn't in the mood for mussels this evening, but saw several orders come out of the kitchen and they looked and smelled very good.

One thing that can elevate the experience is the staff, and in this case Kyle the bartender and Michael the manager were good company and kept the evening enjoyable. Even in the face of a completely drunk and abusive regular . . . arguing over a tab that he walked out on . . . they maintained both their composure and sense of humor. In spite of the misstep with the appetizer puff pastry, this was an enjoyable evening and I will return the next time I'm in Omaha.

EatHereOrNot: EAT HERE

Jonesborough, TN: Earth and Sky Confections

So, Jonesborough is the oldest town in Tennessee, a picturesque place filled with restaurants, stores [always called a shoppe] and stuff. Its also the home of the National Storytelling Festival and International Storytelling Center [with a degree program at ETSU], which is very cool. In a town of this type, folks in tee-shirts with 'sayings' on them, sipping from over sized cups and generally not at their best, it was with trepidation that I was lead to Earth and Sky Confections [described as a chocolate shop]. I was expecting something like Rocky Mountain Chocolates . . . Rocky Road and caramel apples and all . . . but what I saw blew me out of the water. This place is a gem, the chocolates jewels of color and bursting with flavor. I was immediately reminded of Vosges Chocolates in Chicago and Joseph Schmidt of San Francisco. And I'm in a tiny town in the Tennessee mountains. Amazing!

So many interesting flavor combinations: chili, herbs, honey, citrus and all perfectly beautiful. I could not decide, so had as many different pieces as could fit into a box without looking the complete pig. Or, maybe not. Anyway, this place is a spectacular surprise, tucked behind a nondescript storefront, and you should NOT MISS IT.

EatHereOrNot: EAT HERE

Asheville, NC: Corner Kitchen

I eat at this place every time I'm lucky enough to be in Asheville, North Carolina and am always rewarded with delicious, well prepared food from a menu that changes frequently and is always engaging. The place is a fairly casual space, in a old house in the historic Biltmore Village area and is crowded at prime time for dinner. I've been here in all seasons, this is actually my first summer visit, and have always seen many other happy diners, on the terrace if the weather is good.

Tonight the amuse was a potobello mushroom and smoked mozzarella relish on a small cracker. It was full of flavor and a great little bite . . . and because of the smoked cheese, it actually tasted like bacon was involved. How can you not like that! My starter was a spicy gazpacho with a cilantro cream that tasted like summer and had some nice heat going on. My only complaint was that the soup was tepid, I prefer my gazpacho chilled . . . really cold . . . and this did not deliver. If it was colder, I think it would have been near perfect. The entree was meatloaf . . . yes, meatloaf . . . made with three kinds of meat and served with three sauces. It was very tasty and there were some pistachios in the mix as well. Accompaniments included wonderful cheese grits and vapid greens . . . the weakest thing on the menu. For dessert a passable key lime tart, the highlight of which was the ginger snap crust, otherwise not remarkable.

I enjoy this restaurant, the service is friendly, the guys working in the kitchen are gregarious and seem to enjoy what they are doing, and the food is good . . . sometimes rising to wonderful. The changing menu will always have something surprising and in tune with the season. Give this place a go and let me know what you think.

EatHereOrNot: EAT HERE

Atlanta: The Varsity

OK . . . so you know I like just about everything . . . so here's on one the downside of fine dining. A drive in! With car service. In downtown Atlanta. Its an institution, a weird one, but an institution none the less. First of all, its HUGE. Car service for a bunch of cars, then a parking deck and large inside space to eat as well. The food is exactly what you'd expect . . . hot dogs and hamburgers [emphasis on the dogs here], and if you're eating inside, a serving of attitude from the women behind the cash registers waiting to take your order. The car service guys are friendly and great, inside . . . its all business. At lunch the place is hopping with business people, students from GATech and everyone else in the neighborhood. Its casual, fast and . . . well . . . interesting.

My advice would be to stick with the hot dogs, and get them served with stuff. I like the chili and slaw dog the best, but there are a number of variations. The thing to keep in mind here is that the dogs are small, you'll need two at least, its not foot longs at the ball park. The fries are good, and you can get them smothered with chili and cheese too to continue the bacchanal. Then its time for beverages, which of course is all Coke products. But then there is the curious case of the "frosty orange" or "orange frosty", both listed on the menu but when I asked no one could give me an answer as to the difference. I should probably order one of each sometime and do a taste test myself . . . its orange and cold and refreshing and kind of slushy like . . . go figure.

This is a cool place for a quick stop, take the kids and enjoy. Don't expect fine anything, its a drive in for goodness sakes, but its fun. Its been featured in magazines, on the radio and probably TV as well, and is an Atlanta institution worth a visit. Have fun, and if you can figure out the frost conundrum, let me know.

EatHereOrNot: MAYBE