Another food review from STL

While I raved about Modesto in the last post, I have to admit that there was a restaurant we tried that had less than exciting results.

BARcelona had a couple of fantastic things going for it. The idea is great: a small tapas and wine cafe nestled in a quiet neighborhood just off a business district. And the weather was perfect for sitting outside. Unfortunately, the seating was limited, but BARcelona had thought of that. They put in large French doors that they kept open during nice weather, so most of the dining room was given a soothing, gentle breeze during the meal.

The drink I ordered was the restaurant's namesake (a BARcelona), and included a great blend of Stoli Vanil Vodka, Midori Melon Liqueur, Chambord, and pineapple juice. Because of the mixture, it's a beautiful green and red combo, like an inverted stoplight effect. After much deliberation, my boyfriend and I decided it was probably closest in flavors to a Now-n-Later. I enjoyed it heartily, even if it was a tad sweet--it made the good afternoon that much sweeter!

Unfortunately, the menu options were not quite as tasty as we had hoped. We ordered three items: pan con alioli (garlic bread with olive oil), Bacalao (fried codfish and potato cakes with lemon garlic alioli), and Solomillo con Cabrales (grilled beef with blue cheese, spinach, and served in a Rioja reduction). All of these quickly appealed to our palates, especially our love of garlic-flavored foods.

The bread, surprisingly, showed up last. And to be fair, we could've made this at home, using basic garlic powder, cheese, and some olive oil on the side. It wasn't anything unusual or special. It tasted only slightly different than the house bread, which was served at the table, sans butter. (Sorry, a MAJOR pet peeve for me!)

The Bacalao sounded unusual to me--a combination I wouldn't normally put together. I had tried to be daring on this trip, but much to my dismay, this proved my adventurousness to have been better left elsewhere. There was nothing specifically appealing about this dish. Its appearance reminded me of salmon cakes my mom used to make on Fridays during Lent. The potatoes were not hearty, but overly mashed, even creamy. Given that it was paired with codfish, even hash brown potatoes would have been a good alternative. The only firm texture came from the overly browned crust. And unfortunately, there was no seasoning. Salt from the codfish was very apparent, but no herbs or interesting flavors to tickle the tongue.

Finally, Solomillo con Cabrales--what should have been the piece de resistance--turned out to be as disappointing as it could have been. The meat was well prepared, certainly; it's difficult to get a chef who can hit "medium" right on the nose--not overdone, and not too pink. The cheese was a nice touch, and the spinach, while wilted, was not anything like I remembered from being a kid. The disapppointment in this dish was the sauch, which was more like a light glaze than a reduction. Overly sweetened, it competed with the saltiness of the cheese and the natural flavor of the meat, rather than offering a nice compliment. Personally, in some ways, this sauce would have made a nice salad dressing, rather than with this dish.

After a little discussion, my boyfriend and I agreed that BARcelona hit what happens with too many restaurants that expand too quickly (this is one of two locations). Its menu became simplified, so that you can have a similar experience in another location, in terms of food. But it has sacrificed a great deal of flavorful personality in the process. I'd be willing to give it a shot again, but only if I was certain that the food was more daring--or at least more like what we thought we'd be getting by the menu's description.

Finally! A food review

Les has asked me a few times to consider writing a restaurant review, and I finally have my opportunity this weekend.

Because of my birthday last week, the boyfriend and I drove up to grand St. Louis just to get away from work and enjoy one another's company. But mostly, I wanted FAR away from work. Especially since I was taking off a whole week for my birthday.

If you are in the area, I highly recommend taking a trip to The Hill, St. Louis's famous Italian-based neighborhood. But the restaurant I'm suggesting isn't going to be serving pasta, salad, or pizza. My favorite place in the neighborhood is easily Modesto.

Modesto is a wine and tapas bar, and is both comfortable and lively. My boyfriend and I found the place last year on a trip to the city, and it was definitely a gold mine of a find! The food is always expertly prepared, with just the right amount of spice. It's presentation is clean, and the menu options are generally way above standard.

For those unfamiliar with tapas as a food genre, loosely, it translates as an appetizer. In most restaraunts who specialize in this type of cuisine, it refers to "little plates", consisting of appetizer portions, but instead of a single plate, diners typically order several options. In this visit and between the two of us, we were able to stuff ourselves with roughly five plates. By the last plate, though, we were feeling sluggish.

My boyfriend and I discovered a shared affection for asparagus early in our relationship. When we see the option available on a menu at a new place, we usually try to include it as a side for at least one of us. If at Modesto, try the ESPÁRRAGOS CON ROMESCO. Grilled to near-perfection, it comes drizzled with a superb red sauce.

We also ordered the ALBÓNDIGAS CASERAS, a veal and beef meatball, which comes with a tomato sauce, then is topped with Manchego cheese, a favorite we discovered in our first visit.

After already being mostly full, we decided we should order one more plate--just to be sure. We chose the EMPANADILLAS DE POLLO, a mini Eempanada, consisting of chicken and Ibérico ham, shaved on site. Incredibly tasty, but overly filling, this was a fantastic way to end our meal.

Don't forget to order drinks! While the boyfrined enjoyed a Sangria Roja (he actually passed up a regular glass of wine!), I relished in a glass of Glorioso Crianza. Their extensive list of options, ranging from mixed drinks to fantastic bottles of wine will be sure to satisfy anyone's tastes.

I do recommend making a reservation, if you are sure when you want to eat. We had no problem getting a table at about 8 p.m., but we had to be willing to eat inside on a really beautiful night. If you plan to take Modesto up on their sidewalk dining option, arrive early. Tables fill up quickly on beautiful days!

In case anyone is concerned, this is an incredibly friendly atmosphere. We had a couple of odd looks from other patrons, but the staff was more than hospitable. If you're in the area, give it a shot!

How does one justify opposing a bullying ban?

Okay, as a person who considers himself religious, I understand the need for a church to stand up for its principles. But there's a serious problem in existence when I see that a church is ON RECORD saying that they oppose the ban on bullying.

If you think I'm making this up, I invite you to check out this link.

http://www.votervoice.net/Core.aspx?AID=917&APP=GAC&IssueID=17772&SiteID=-1

In short, the problem is--according to these bishops--because there's a bullying law on the docket, it might lead to same-sex marriage. In other states that have had bullying bans, the bans have been used in the case for same-sex marriage.

Human dignity is a primary teaching of the Catholic Church. It's the first tenet of the social teachings. Even from the USCCB's website, it reads, "...the measure of every institution is whether it threatens or enhances the life and dignity of the human person." This is a case in point where the dignity of human beings are being threatened, where worth is questioned, and lives sometimes become at stake.

Go to: http://www.cathnewsusa.com/article.aspx?aeid=13515#hys to voice your opinion on this article. Odds are good that you will find those who disagree, but even if you're not Catholic, this is a human issue!