Blog Archive

Naive

...From the impeccable, attentive service to the freshness of the ingredients, Naive hits every single mark. It captures an elusive balance. The room has energy, but also has a relaxed vibe. It is airy and filled with plants while also being clean and modern. The dishes range from elegant to rustic but are all served with art. Naive brings culinary precision to the table without ever sanitizing the raw, unpolished spirit of the neighborhood it calls home.

OMA

...The room itself feels like an encampment against the elements. Amber light plays off the massive, rough-hewn wooden bar and the warm leather of the stools. Country western music drifts through the space at a volume that feels less like a background playlist and more like a radio station tuned in from a pickup truck idling outside in the desert. Behind the counter, the three chefs operate in a quiet choreography of flame, smoke, and silver tweezers. Above the Argentine grill hangs a single pineapple, slowly cured by the rising smoke, a silent ledger of the fire’s progress.

Meesh Meesh

...From the first bite of the beets - sweet and earthy, the creaminess of the cheese adding richness, the freshness of the mint cutting through it all - it is clear that we are in for an incredible meal. We look at each other and the only thing I can think to say is, "Holy shit." The intensity of flavor overpowers our ability to be articulate.

Lou Lou Nulu

I am now struck by the subtlety of it all. Five orders placed, and our server, for whatever reason, has attempted to correct the women, but not the men. I have to admit that it escaped my notice in the moment. It did not escape the notice of the ladies...

Red Pony

A party of eight and we each ordered something different. I opted for the bacon wrapped elk meatloaf served with shitake gravy, sherry glazed carrots, Yukon potato puree, and huckleberry. It is rustic and refined at once. The combination of sweet and savory flavors is incredibly precise in its balance. It is rich. It is robust, but each flavor finds a way to shine. The textures blend beautifully. It is, in a word, perfect.

The Capitol Grille

The menu is, in a word, boring. There is not a single original idea or even compelling choice on the menu. It is without a doubt the most "by the book" steak house menu I've ever encountered. The only phrase that piques interest is the steak that comes with fig essence. I presume they let the steak rest in the vicinity of some figs before bringing it to the table.

What I Read in 2021

Wherein I reflect, briefly, on the books I read in 2021.