003/365: Self-portrait in Snow (January 31, 2011)
Monday, January 31, 2011
A Blizzard on the Way!
Trekking back from my night class. I slipped a few times, but otherwise survived the treacherous hilly landscape between my school and my apartment. Thank God for heavy wool coats with hoods.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Three Reviews in One!
This past week(end) I've eaten out more than usual. So I've got three restaurant reviews today.
Beans and Barley
We got seated fairly quickly, though the restaurant was busy beyond belief (The perks of knowing the host? Thanks, Rob!). Unfortunately, we were squished at a small table right by a walkway and the bar, with my back to a table of rowdy businessmen. It was pretty loud, so talking became nearly shouting. Our waitress was super friendly and accommodating, even when we had to wait an extra 10 minutes for Autumn to show up, and then even longer for us to order. And, on request, she even brought Carissa some complimentary birthday cake. Yum-my! Something all three of us could enjoy!
The Cheesecake Factory
The Cheesecake Factory isn't a Wisconsin-only restaurant, and I've been there quite a few times, but I thought I'd still do a quick review. Their menu (both the regular and dessert) is intense and intimidating, though the variety can be nice as well, since you're almost guaranteed to find a dish you're in the mood for. For the most part, I haven't been horribly impressed by the food they're serving up, however, I've learned over the past few visits, that small dishes are the way to go. Their appetizers stand out more than their main meals, and they're appropriately sized for the average person. Their avocado egg rolls are unique and delicious. The textures of the soft avocado and the crunchy roll blend well, and the sauces add whole new range of flavors. The toquitos are decent, though a bit dry. The Southern Fried Chicken Sliders are one of my favorites. Though they come with different sauces and toppings, the chicken is flavorful enough to stand on its own. A simple tossed salad makes a good companion. The vinaigrette dressing also makes a good dipping sauce for the huge basket of bread the waitress brought us. The cheesecake, though, is really the top dog here. Their original cheesecake with strawberries is simple, fresh, and delicious. If you want to be ambitious, their red velvet cake cheesecake gives you two pleasures in one. The waiters and waitresses there are some of the friendliest I've ever encountered. The atmosphere is a nice blend of fancy and laid-back, though the low-key lighting makes it rather difficult to read the menu and see your food.
Food: 3.5/5 (food) 4.5-5/5 (cheesecake)
Price: $$-$$$
Atmosphere: 3.5/5
Service: 4.5/5
So there you have it: three restaurant reviews for three Milwaukee(ish) restaurants. Out of the three, I'd probably recommend Beans and Barley. They serve good home-grown, organic food, and they cater to different diets and dispositions. The Wicked Hop would be a good stop for Happy (or Hoppy) Hour, or to watch a game (they have a massive TV!). And if you're shopping around Bayshore, stop in the Cheesecake Factory at their bakery counter and pick up a slice of cheesecake to go.
Beans and Barley
My sister introduced me to this restaurant a few years back when she was a vegan/vegetarian. I've gone a handful of times since. It's located on North, wonderfully close to the Oriental Theatre, Whole Foods, and a handful of other bars/restaurants. This past Thursday I went with two of my friends, Anna and Angela. I ordered the chicken quesadilla and a San Pellegrino Limonata. The Mexican food is by far their specialty. Their sandwiches are average and overpriced. The burritos and quesadillas are at least moderately priced and you get your money's worth. The salsa borders on sweet and the Chihuahua cheese melted on the quesadilla gives the dish a creamy taste, so those who are looking for spice and knock-your-socks-off flavors should probably seek elsewhere. The breakfast here also stands out; pancakes are delicious and you can mix and match whole-wheat, buttermilk, and blueberry. The ambience is really what shines here. Cathedral ceilings and huge glass windows gives the restaurant and airy, relaxed, and clean atmosphere, though the dining room was rather crowded. Our waiter was polite, but rather frazzled. He forgot our check three times.
Food: 2.5-3/5
Price: $$
Atmosphere: 3.5/5
Service: 2.5/5
The Wicked Hop
Friday night I went to The Wicked Hop with two of my friends, Carissa and Autumn, to celebrate Carissa's 22nd birthday. That's Autumn on the left, Carissa on the right. The Wicked Hop is located on Broadway, right across the street from the Milwaukee Public Market. It's nice because it's downtown, but not directly in the chaos, so there's still available parking.
Autumn ordered a reuben while Carissa and I got the BBQ Chicken wrap. The wrap was decent, though the peppers inside dominated the dish; I could barely taste the BBQ or cheese inside. Autumn and Carissa seemed to enjoy their dishes, though. The fries were delicious, flavorful enough that you could forgo ketchup or any other condiment. Their menu wasn't very varied--the usual burgers, salads, etc.--and prices were just okay. However, we arrived in time for "Hoppy Hour" deals, so our Strongbow and Spotted Cows were a nice $3.50, as opposed to the usual $5.00 at other locales. And though the place was crowded, it was relaxed enough that we were able to hang out for about a half hour afterwards, just chatting, and received no angry glares from the waitress (at least, none that I noticed).
Food: 2.5-3/5
Price: $$
Atmosphere: 2.5/5
Service: 4/5
The Cheesecake Factory
The Cheesecake Factory isn't a Wisconsin-only restaurant, and I've been there quite a few times, but I thought I'd still do a quick review. Their menu (both the regular and dessert) is intense and intimidating, though the variety can be nice as well, since you're almost guaranteed to find a dish you're in the mood for. For the most part, I haven't been horribly impressed by the food they're serving up, however, I've learned over the past few visits, that small dishes are the way to go. Their appetizers stand out more than their main meals, and they're appropriately sized for the average person. Their avocado egg rolls are unique and delicious. The textures of the soft avocado and the crunchy roll blend well, and the sauces add whole new range of flavors. The toquitos are decent, though a bit dry. The Southern Fried Chicken Sliders are one of my favorites. Though they come with different sauces and toppings, the chicken is flavorful enough to stand on its own. A simple tossed salad makes a good companion. The vinaigrette dressing also makes a good dipping sauce for the huge basket of bread the waitress brought us. The cheesecake, though, is really the top dog here. Their original cheesecake with strawberries is simple, fresh, and delicious. If you want to be ambitious, their red velvet cake cheesecake gives you two pleasures in one. The waiters and waitresses there are some of the friendliest I've ever encountered. The atmosphere is a nice blend of fancy and laid-back, though the low-key lighting makes it rather difficult to read the menu and see your food.
Food: 3.5/5 (food) 4.5-5/5 (cheesecake)
Price: $$-$$$
Atmosphere: 3.5/5
Service: 4.5/5
So there you have it: three restaurant reviews for three Milwaukee(ish) restaurants. Out of the three, I'd probably recommend Beans and Barley. They serve good home-grown, organic food, and they cater to different diets and dispositions. The Wicked Hop would be a good stop for Happy (or Hoppy) Hour, or to watch a game (they have a massive TV!). And if you're shopping around Bayshore, stop in the Cheesecake Factory at their bakery counter and pick up a slice of cheesecake to go.
Tea Does a Body Good!
Like clockwork, I usually get a cold/sinus infection during the first two weeks of school and the last two weeks of school. So, as you can guess, I am sick. However, there is this wonderful thing called tea that the Chinese and English rave about. Every since my trip to Scotland (where I had a cup of tea about every two hours), I have been obsessed with the drink. Coffee? No, thank you. It's part of the reason I love winter so much; drinking tea constantly is a little easier when it's freezing outside. So, now that this illness has attacked, tea has become my best friend.
002/365: Sweet Dreams Tea (January 30, 2011)
Saturday, January 29, 2011
365 Photography Project
For quite a while now, I've wanted to take part in a 365 Photo Project. So, here it goes. I will be taking a photograph every day. Actually, some days I will probably take a lot of photographs, but I'll chose one special one to put here for the project. 365project.org discusses how this will be a sort of visual diary, so I hope these snapshots will be little daily glimpses into my life.
Here is the first photograph, taken yesterday. It has been cross-processed in Picnik.
001/365: Cysco, the Harris' hawk (January 29, 2011)
More to come!
Here is the first photograph, taken yesterday. It has been cross-processed in Picnik.
001/365: Cysco, the Harris' hawk (January 29, 2011)
More to come!
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Monday, January 31, 2011
A Blizzard on the Way!
Trekking back from my night class. I slipped a few times, but otherwise survived the treacherous hilly landscape between my school and my apartment. Thank God for heavy wool coats with hoods.
003/365: Self-portrait in Snow (January 31, 2011)
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Three Reviews in One!
This past week(end) I've eaten out more than usual. So I've got three restaurant reviews today.
Beans and Barley
We got seated fairly quickly, though the restaurant was busy beyond belief (The perks of knowing the host? Thanks, Rob!). Unfortunately, we were squished at a small table right by a walkway and the bar, with my back to a table of rowdy businessmen. It was pretty loud, so talking became nearly shouting. Our waitress was super friendly and accommodating, even when we had to wait an extra 10 minutes for Autumn to show up, and then even longer for us to order. And, on request, she even brought Carissa some complimentary birthday cake. Yum-my! Something all three of us could enjoy!
The Cheesecake Factory
The Cheesecake Factory isn't a Wisconsin-only restaurant, and I've been there quite a few times, but I thought I'd still do a quick review. Their menu (both the regular and dessert) is intense and intimidating, though the variety can be nice as well, since you're almost guaranteed to find a dish you're in the mood for. For the most part, I haven't been horribly impressed by the food they're serving up, however, I've learned over the past few visits, that small dishes are the way to go. Their appetizers stand out more than their main meals, and they're appropriately sized for the average person. Their avocado egg rolls are unique and delicious. The textures of the soft avocado and the crunchy roll blend well, and the sauces add whole new range of flavors. The toquitos are decent, though a bit dry. The Southern Fried Chicken Sliders are one of my favorites. Though they come with different sauces and toppings, the chicken is flavorful enough to stand on its own. A simple tossed salad makes a good companion. The vinaigrette dressing also makes a good dipping sauce for the huge basket of bread the waitress brought us. The cheesecake, though, is really the top dog here. Their original cheesecake with strawberries is simple, fresh, and delicious. If you want to be ambitious, their red velvet cake cheesecake gives you two pleasures in one. The waiters and waitresses there are some of the friendliest I've ever encountered. The atmosphere is a nice blend of fancy and laid-back, though the low-key lighting makes it rather difficult to read the menu and see your food.
Food: 3.5/5 (food) 4.5-5/5 (cheesecake)
Price: $$-$$$
Atmosphere: 3.5/5
Service: 4.5/5
So there you have it: three restaurant reviews for three Milwaukee(ish) restaurants. Out of the three, I'd probably recommend Beans and Barley. They serve good home-grown, organic food, and they cater to different diets and dispositions. The Wicked Hop would be a good stop for Happy (or Hoppy) Hour, or to watch a game (they have a massive TV!). And if you're shopping around Bayshore, stop in the Cheesecake Factory at their bakery counter and pick up a slice of cheesecake to go.
Beans and Barley
My sister introduced me to this restaurant a few years back when she was a vegan/vegetarian. I've gone a handful of times since. It's located on North, wonderfully close to the Oriental Theatre, Whole Foods, and a handful of other bars/restaurants. This past Thursday I went with two of my friends, Anna and Angela. I ordered the chicken quesadilla and a San Pellegrino Limonata. The Mexican food is by far their specialty. Their sandwiches are average and overpriced. The burritos and quesadillas are at least moderately priced and you get your money's worth. The salsa borders on sweet and the Chihuahua cheese melted on the quesadilla gives the dish a creamy taste, so those who are looking for spice and knock-your-socks-off flavors should probably seek elsewhere. The breakfast here also stands out; pancakes are delicious and you can mix and match whole-wheat, buttermilk, and blueberry. The ambience is really what shines here. Cathedral ceilings and huge glass windows gives the restaurant and airy, relaxed, and clean atmosphere, though the dining room was rather crowded. Our waiter was polite, but rather frazzled. He forgot our check three times.
Food: 2.5-3/5
Price: $$
Atmosphere: 3.5/5
Service: 2.5/5
The Wicked Hop
Friday night I went to The Wicked Hop with two of my friends, Carissa and Autumn, to celebrate Carissa's 22nd birthday. That's Autumn on the left, Carissa on the right. The Wicked Hop is located on Broadway, right across the street from the Milwaukee Public Market. It's nice because it's downtown, but not directly in the chaos, so there's still available parking.
Autumn ordered a reuben while Carissa and I got the BBQ Chicken wrap. The wrap was decent, though the peppers inside dominated the dish; I could barely taste the BBQ or cheese inside. Autumn and Carissa seemed to enjoy their dishes, though. The fries were delicious, flavorful enough that you could forgo ketchup or any other condiment. Their menu wasn't very varied--the usual burgers, salads, etc.--and prices were just okay. However, we arrived in time for "Hoppy Hour" deals, so our Strongbow and Spotted Cows were a nice $3.50, as opposed to the usual $5.00 at other locales. And though the place was crowded, it was relaxed enough that we were able to hang out for about a half hour afterwards, just chatting, and received no angry glares from the waitress (at least, none that I noticed).
Food: 2.5-3/5
Price: $$
Atmosphere: 2.5/5
Service: 4/5
The Cheesecake Factory
The Cheesecake Factory isn't a Wisconsin-only restaurant, and I've been there quite a few times, but I thought I'd still do a quick review. Their menu (both the regular and dessert) is intense and intimidating, though the variety can be nice as well, since you're almost guaranteed to find a dish you're in the mood for. For the most part, I haven't been horribly impressed by the food they're serving up, however, I've learned over the past few visits, that small dishes are the way to go. Their appetizers stand out more than their main meals, and they're appropriately sized for the average person. Their avocado egg rolls are unique and delicious. The textures of the soft avocado and the crunchy roll blend well, and the sauces add whole new range of flavors. The toquitos are decent, though a bit dry. The Southern Fried Chicken Sliders are one of my favorites. Though they come with different sauces and toppings, the chicken is flavorful enough to stand on its own. A simple tossed salad makes a good companion. The vinaigrette dressing also makes a good dipping sauce for the huge basket of bread the waitress brought us. The cheesecake, though, is really the top dog here. Their original cheesecake with strawberries is simple, fresh, and delicious. If you want to be ambitious, their red velvet cake cheesecake gives you two pleasures in one. The waiters and waitresses there are some of the friendliest I've ever encountered. The atmosphere is a nice blend of fancy and laid-back, though the low-key lighting makes it rather difficult to read the menu and see your food.
Food: 3.5/5 (food) 4.5-5/5 (cheesecake)
Price: $$-$$$
Atmosphere: 3.5/5
Service: 4.5/5
So there you have it: three restaurant reviews for three Milwaukee(ish) restaurants. Out of the three, I'd probably recommend Beans and Barley. They serve good home-grown, organic food, and they cater to different diets and dispositions. The Wicked Hop would be a good stop for Happy (or Hoppy) Hour, or to watch a game (they have a massive TV!). And if you're shopping around Bayshore, stop in the Cheesecake Factory at their bakery counter and pick up a slice of cheesecake to go.
Tea Does a Body Good!
Like clockwork, I usually get a cold/sinus infection during the first two weeks of school and the last two weeks of school. So, as you can guess, I am sick. However, there is this wonderful thing called tea that the Chinese and English rave about. Every since my trip to Scotland (where I had a cup of tea about every two hours), I have been obsessed with the drink. Coffee? No, thank you. It's part of the reason I love winter so much; drinking tea constantly is a little easier when it's freezing outside. So, now that this illness has attacked, tea has become my best friend.
002/365: Sweet Dreams Tea (January 30, 2011)
Saturday, January 29, 2011
365 Photography Project
For quite a while now, I've wanted to take part in a 365 Photo Project. So, here it goes. I will be taking a photograph every day. Actually, some days I will probably take a lot of photographs, but I'll chose one special one to put here for the project. 365project.org discusses how this will be a sort of visual diary, so I hope these snapshots will be little daily glimpses into my life.
Here is the first photograph, taken yesterday. It has been cross-processed in Picnik.
001/365: Cysco, the Harris' hawk (January 29, 2011)
More to come!
Here is the first photograph, taken yesterday. It has been cross-processed in Picnik.
001/365: Cysco, the Harris' hawk (January 29, 2011)
More to come!
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