Holy Mole` David's Birthday Trip

Bienvenidos mi amigo y amigas!

The inspiration for the title: Pollo y Mole Negro

First let me tell you about my spectacular better half, who takes me on a trip every year for my birthday!   That's right every year!  My Baby is the best!  I am truly blessed to have her in my life!  This year we went to the J.W. Marriott Resort and Spa in Cancun, Mexico.  Wanna hear about it...here it go!

International Trip Tips

Make sure your documents are in order.  Now I know some of you are saying: "Duh!"  Trust me I've seen people try to fly to Europe with only a driver's license...I swear!  Get your passport...it takes 4-6 weeks, but once you have it, it's good for 10 years.  You can download the forms online and do it yourself,  If you go to the post office don't pay them to fill out the forms!  Passports fees are around $60.00 to renew, and a few bucks more to get for the first time.  The Post Office will charge up to $30.00 just to fill out your forms, I wouldn't do that, fill out your own forms and mail it in.

Make sure you alot plenty of time for travel.  The last thing you want to do is create stress on your vacation by being late and worrying about missing your flight.  Make sure you are at the airport two (2) hours before your flight...trust me that's not a long time with all the stuff you'll have to do.  My philosophy:  I ain't from Russia, so I ain't rush'in  :-).

Learn to pack light.  On a 5 day trip and less, Michele and I carry everything on...we don't check anything...it will also save you up to $80.00 bucks in checked baggage fees!  Carrying on takes skill so make sure you have the proper size luggage for the over-head.

Eat at the terminal.  Ya know you will pay 10-20% more, but again, why create the stress and hassle...crushing your sandwich in your handbag.  If you pack light and carry on, your hands will be full.  That sandwich and chips dangling from your wrist will have bounced off of your thigh so many times, you will think its a salad by the time you are through the security check point!  Food is to be enjoyed, and I like to eat my food freshly prepared.  All due respect to the 3rd grade field-trip...I've had my fill of soggy sandwiches.

Pay no attention to the tropical storm headed our way

Warning...Cancun is totally touristy, meaning all the stuff we have here in the States is over there...especially in the hotel zone.  You have to go north into the interior of the country to get an indigenous Mexican feel, although there is plenty of Mexican culture to take in...just be ready for all the marked up touristy prices on everything.  We stayed in the hotel zone which has excellent access to all the stuff we wanted to do: eat, sleep, relax, and spa!

The J.W. was very nice, not as nice as I expected for the flagship Marriott that competes with the Ritz Carlton, but extremely comfortable with great service and amenities.  All the rooms had a beach/pool view, and the on-site facilities were excellent.

The view from our balcony

Standard guest room, nothing too fancy - minus the embroidered house coat and slippers

We got in late that afternoon, so we decided to try one of the five in-house restaurants.  We chose Gustino's a warm and engaging venue featuring Italian fare.  Right away we knew this place was a cut above, as every detail was meticulously tended to: the greeting by the hostess, the entrance and presentation, the live saxophonist setting the mood, not to mention the complimentary first course: bruschetta with shrimp, organic greens, and a balsamic reduction.

The hook up, complimentary first course

Interestingly enough, we both had beef this particular night.  Michele had the Rib-eye Risotto, which was incredible!  It was hearty with tremendous flavor and depth.  I was pleasantly surprised at what this dish was not.  Being a connoisseur of risotto, I had high expectations and what came out was a great partnership of culinary creativity involving beef and pasta.

Rib-eye Risotto

I had the Rib-eye prepared with mushrooms in a red wine reduction accompanied by organic wilted spinach and potatoes.  My dish was a bit on the salty side and extremely bold.  The red wine reduction was steeped with rosemary, which was a little over powering.  I wanted something to counter balance the concentrated flavor of the reduction...maybe a creamy cheese based polenta or some black pepper grits...I know, I know...its the southerner in me, and me probably taking my critique too seriously.  Nitpicking aside, this place and food was excellent!

Rib-eye Steak (medium well) with organic wilted spinach and potatoes

We finished the night with a walk around the hotel to take in all the sights and amenities of the resort.  They say a picture is worth a thousand words...what to you think?

The pool and beach at night

The lobby entrance

All right that was day one, come back in a few days and check out the rest of the trip - we were there for 5 days.

Hasta Luego!

O Lasagne!

There is a place in Irving where you can get great Lasagne, great pizzas, do a wine tasting, and they are just off I-635 at McArthur.  Maybe you've heard of it, I am talking about i Fratelli (pronounced e frah-telli).

Recently, I had the opportunity to experience i Fratelli with some friends for a meeting/early dinner so the place was not crowded, that gave me the opportunity to really look around.

The restaurant was divided into a spacious dining area on one side and a bar on the other.  Bottles of wine were everywhere in the restaurant as you can see on the back and side walls.

The restaurant has beautiful hardwood floors and a mixed ceiling of wooden beams and solid white surfaces.  Seating is appropriate with a lot of booths for an intimate dinner for two, or open table top seating for families and large gatherings.  i Fratelli has done a nice job combining warm music and great atmosphere, which always makes for an extremely inviting restaurant.

The restaurant also has a really great Wine Bar and they do Wine Tasting Events!  Each month they feature wines from all around the world.  They create specific menu items that complement the wine that they feature and have the Chef and their Wine Steward available to answer questions.  Well, if you want to just have good wine with your friends it is a great way to spend the evening too.

Ok, so this post is called O Lasagne!

Can you see why?!  Oh My Goodness, I swear this was the best Lasagne I have ever had!  The tomato sauce was so thick and sweet, not too tangy, and had a hearty consistency...the cheese was everywhere.  The pasta was just the right texture and the seasonings in the ground beef were perfect!  As you can see the serving is huge so you can definitely share it, or if you want eat it all yourself.  Yum!

If you are not in the mood for Lasagne you could have the Crab Stuffed Mushrooms topped with Garlic Cream Sauce,

or one of their many Pizzas,

they do Thin Crust cooked in their Old-Fashioned Deck Ovens.  They offer Signature Pizzas from Vegetarian to ones loaded with meat (my personal favorite) and so many toppings you would have a hard time choosing.

If you want to go to this restaurant and count calories, I don't know why, you could have a great salad.

i Fratelli has a very large menu so if you are looking for Italian I am sure you will not be disappointed.  Oh, and don't forget the wine - there is a bottle for everything.

Bon Appetito!

A Meal for All Seasons

Sometimes I wish I had the time and the creativity to go to the Farmers Market and pick fresh produce and fruit and create a fabulous meal made from scratch, but I don't have to wish anymore because now there is Seasons 52. 

What is Seasons 52?  Well it is this fabulous restaurant that just opened at The Shops at Legacy and they do what you can't or won't.  Their menu if filled with fresh fruits and vegetables, it changes every season and every meal is no more than 475 calories.  Ok, I know not everyone is interested in that kind of thing but I have some girlfriends who think this is a dream come true.  Not only does the menu change every season but there are some items that change every week and most importantly the food is delicious. Seasons 52 also boasts a fantastic wine bar with a wine list that would please everyone from the newbie to the enthusiast and the restaurant is open for lunch and dinner.

Recently I had the opportunity to go to Seasons 52 for lunch with a group of friends and it was fantastic.  We started off with the Ripe Plum Tomato Flatbread.

This crispy flatbread was covered with juicy tomatoes and fresh herbs and baked in a brick oven.  One bite of this and you knew you made the right choice to go to Seasons 52.  After a couple of slices we were well on our way to the First Course.

Do you want to just devour this salad or what?  Mixed Greens with plump, juicy grape tomatoes, toasted seeds for that roasted flavor all tossed in a White Balsamic Dressing.  There was nothing left on our plates.  The vinaigrette was delicious and every single component of the salad from the cucumbers to the greens to the nuts were so flavorful that you could not help but clean your plate. 
But not so fast, here comes the Main Course...........served Family Style so you know this is going to be good.

 Cedar Plank Atlantic Salmon with and Roasted New Potatoes, notice the grilled limes on the side.

Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Leaf Spinach, Cremini Mushrooms and Corn Polenta with a Sherry Glaze

Fresh Asparagus, Sweet Carrots, Dark, Grilled, Juicy Mushrooms and Sweet Grilled Red Bell Peppers.  I wish I had a picture of the Chicken and Vegetable Pasta with Market Vegetables Sauteed in a Lemon Basil Sauce with Parmesan Cheese but everyone started digging into it as soon as it hit the table, would not make for a pretty picture.  But, take it from me it will be one of the most well-seasoned, flavorful items that will bless your taste buds.  Remember - all under 475 calories.  I know you already forgot about that. 

The Mini Indulgences were presented on a tower and was a sweet combination of desserts like Old Fashioned Carrot Cake, Pecan Pie, Chocolate Peanut Butter Mousse and Rocky Road and this is just a small sample of what they have to offer. 

I remember the desserts came out and there was a hush in the room, everyone was focused on the desserts, see my friend Niki :-)
All of that cream sweet filling, graham crusts, fresh fruit and marshmallows...oh goodness!  Everyone was trying to figure out which one they were going to reach for then all of a sudden I heard..."I want that one", "that's fine as long as I get the Rocky Road", hilarious!

Seasons 52 also has private rooms so if you want to have meetings or just a big family dinner you can do that too.  There is also a piano right in the middle of the bar!

 I can see it now.  Friday evening, a great dinner, a mini indulgence followed by a nightcap all to the sounds of the dancing black and white keys......all season long.

Smith List Rating   ☆☆☆☆ out of  ☆☆☆☆☆

It really was AllGood!

Don't you just love Saturday mornings?  No hustle or bustle...just sleeping late and taking it easy...and there's no better way to start a lazy Saturday morning than with a good old fashion breakfast.  So that's what we're gonna do!

David and I always do the usual suspects: Cracker Barrel, Waffle House and IHOP, not to mention the tried and true Breakfast Taquitos at WhataBurger, one of my favorites, but today we want to do something different so we decide we are going to try one of the many breakfast places around town and head out to AllGood Cafe in Deep Ellum about 25 miles away.  Deep Ellum is one of the great entertainment districts in Dallas.  Located on the southeast side of downtown, it's known for its eclectic style and vibrant nightlife.

I know you're thinking 25 miles for breakfast...they must not be that hungry, but hey...the search for good food is always worth the time and travel.

The weather is definitely changing for the better.  It's bright, sunny, and cool...well cooler than our usual 90 degree summer mornings in Texas...ha!  Parking is easy, we actually park just a few doors down from the cafe, put some change in the meter and we're on our way.  There is a small line when we get there (always a good sign) but it moves really fast, and before you know it we are seated and ready to eat.

As you enter AllGood Cafe you immediately sense a warm familiar feel.  To your immediate right is a stage for live entertainment and performances.  The wait-staff sports a casual comfortable attire: fashionable jeans or shorts, t-shirts but no uniforms...nothing stuffy, after all this is Deep Ellum, remember eclectic; and there are lots of pictures on the walls while origami butterflies hang from the ceiling.

AllGood is known for using local suppliers for their food and you can get everything from your pre-requisite Tex-Mex items like breakfast Tacos, Huevos Rancheros and Migas to your American Breakfast of Bacon, Eggs and Pancakes.  Some people are seated outside, some inside on a raised platform and some on the street level in everything from free seating to booths. Everyone has their pre-requisite cup of coffee but every cup is different.  Some have flowers, some have company logos, some have nothing to do with food at all...reminds me of breakfast at my Aunt Dorothy's house :-)

We put our order in and we start looking around and this place is jumping for a Saturday morning, it is packed!  Couples, families, people starting off their Saturday shopping, groups getting ready to go to the nearby school football games - just a little bit of everything.

I order the Buttermilk Pancakes with Scrambled Eggs and Ham and David gets the Breakfast #1 - Eggs, Peppered Bacon (yes, peppered), Oven Roasted Potatoes and Biscuit and Gravy. (I wish I had a picture but he ate it too fast)

Look at that Ham Steak with grill marks no less!  And don't even talk about those pancakes...they were so light they were about to float off the plate.  Delish!

AllGood Cafe was a nice detour from our usual routine and definitely worth the drive.

Smith List Rating   ☆☆☆ out of  ☆☆☆☆☆