Tag Archives: food

Prescription? Cottonwood.

February 3, 2019 Rivergirl 44 Comments

After leaving the medical clinic, and arming myself with a large jug of Gatorade against the altitude sickness…. we followed the doctor’s advice and drove to Cottonwood, Arizona where the elevation was much lower. She told me to have lunch, slowly walk around and drink plenty of fluids.

Sadly, not my kind of fluids… but I obeyed because I was still feeling lousy.

Cottonwood is an old western town and Main Street plays that up for the tourists.

Although Santa looked a bit too happy if you want my opinion.

I really have no explanation for this.

So we walked…

And found a nice restaurant.

With a bit of history.

You have to hand it to their interior decorator.

Heck, I didn’t even know charred concrete was in this season.

There were also cacti in soup cans on each table. Very high class…

The husband ordered French Onion soup with Caesar salad, which came with an out of proportion loaf of bread.

I hemmed and hawed over the menu since…..

Sigh.

It would be an alcohol free meal.

But after not eating for 3 days I wanted comfort food…

And went with the ham and cheese stuffed meatloaf, mashed potatoes and veggies.

And then… Maple Bourbon Creme Brulee.

Because a girl can’t go completely cold turkey ya know.

After lunch we ducked in and out of a few shops where I saw purse that was screaming my name…

Have wine, will travel.

And passed by a plant called a desert spoon, which looked nothing like a spoon.

Really.. A spoon? How would you eat your Rice Krispies with that.

I think the botanist had my lunchtime cocktail. And then some.

Heading back to Sedona there were rocks…

Glorious, breathtaking rocks!

And this….

Beware!

Hula Hooping cowboys ahead.

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Rocks… and yes. More rocks.

January 28, 2019 Rivergirl 15 Comments

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We spent a lot of time riding around and getting the lay of the land that first day.

Or more accurately, the lay of the rocks.

Conclusion?

They’re really big….

And really red.

And people will build houses right on top of them.

I know I’ve said this before…. but get ready because I’m going to say it again.

The colors are amazing in Sedona.

And we hadn’t even seen the sun yet.

For a coastal flatlander like me, this was impressive stuff.

We have friends who had a spiritual wedding at a vortex in Sedona 2 years ago and they told us they stayed in a neighboring small town.

Small?

Small doesn’t begin to describe it. The only thing I found worthy of a photograph was a line of John Deere tractors wearing Santa hats.

Granted, you don’t see that every day….but still, we headed back to Sedona.

Where someone was giving my husband a sign to slow down.

Much more subtle than my fingernail imprints on the dashboard, but equally as ineffective.

It really was too cloudy and too wet to fully appreciate the natural beauty….

But Sedona’s businesses were pretty colorful in and of themselves.

Trip Advisor pointed us to Cuchina Rustica for dinner….

Which means rustic kitchen….

And looked anything but.

I started with a prickly pear margarita….

( Hey, when in Rome… )

The Christmas decorations were a little heavy handed for my taste….

But OMG, the food! A delightful scampi like dish with homemade fresh pasta for the husband…

And the most decandently rich veal with gorgonzola mushroom sauce, parmesan risotto with steamed broccoli for me.

We happily waddled out….

But not before the husband had to check if the fire pots were hot.

Tourists.

What can I say?

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Proof positive you can fry anything?

January 4, 2019 Rivergirl 25 Comments

The Macaroni and Cheese Bites we had as an appetizer the other day.

I wanted to hate them…

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But damn it, they were great.

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I know!

But they were cheesy, and oohey, and gooey and… damn it!

Great.

What made it even worse was serving the stupid things with a little tub of melted herb cheese sauce for dipping.

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I know!

Fried mac and cheese, dipped in cheese.

Double damn it!

We’re all doomed.

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We braved the shopping hordes.

December 30, 2018 Rivergirl 15 Comments

And went in search of some after Christmas bargains.

Even when not feeling quite up to par, my reaction is :

While the husband’s is more :

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We found a few things, but come on! 20% – 30% sales?

(That’s not enough to get me out of my pajamas and make me comb my hair.)

But I did manage to pick up this little jewel for my desk –

Which…. for some reason, the husband did not find at all amusing.

We had lunch at a place I’ve been meaning to try for years.

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But were disappointed to find the whole front section had been sold to another business and the restaurant was now relegated to a small space that used to be the bar.

Which would have been okay, had I been feeling well enough to drink.

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Shocking, I know.

But it happens.

Thankfully, the food was good.

French Onion Soup…

And a marvelous baked stuffed haddock with scallops, shrimp and Newburg sauce, roasted fingerling potatoes and asparagus with lemon butter.

While signs at the bar teased me about alcohol…

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I noticed some of the drinking patrons looked a little off.

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And decided staying sober might be the wise choice after all…..

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We had dinner in a treehouse…

December 22, 2018 Rivergirl 18 Comments

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No, not that kind.

This kind…

It was magical…

A hidden gem tucked away on the second floor of a nondescript building.

If a friend of mine hadn’t raved about it, I would have driven right by.

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I started here with the Starbuck…

Which was pretty, pink and potent. Everything a girl wants in a drink.

I had 4. (They were small, don’t judge.)

The home baked rye bread was wonderful.

But my ravioli crisp appetizer? OMG… to die for! With sauteed shallots, garlic, toasted walnuts tossed with spinach, creme fraiche and lemon. Ooh La La!

The husband and my girlfriend had the mussels, sauteed with pancetta, plum tomatoes, garlic, basil, lemon and white wine. They didn’t last long.

The entree menu was small, but the husband chose the Marsala pear chicken…

While I had the special….sea scallops baked in a phylo bowl with some sort of heavenly citrus sauce. Light, flaky and utterly and fabulous.

Naturally we had dessert.

Lavender creme brulee for our friend, chocolate stout cake for me.

We rolled out of there with full bellies and empty wallets.

Smiling, and already anticipating our next visit.

Life is good.

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Dockside Grille

December 15, 2018 Rivergirl 21 Comments

Don’t you love finding a great restaurant?

In a great spot….

With a great view…

And great natural light…

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With great lobster art…

And great planters….

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As well as great signs?

Not quite.

There were great drinks…

Great crab cakes…

Great mussels…

(So great I only got pictures of the shells.)

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More great drinks..

Great salads with rosemary garlic chicken…

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And great broiled haddock sandwiches….

But wait, there’s more.

There was great dessert…

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Really, really great Kahlua cake…..

Am I making myself clear here?

-Looks-great

Okay, good.

I wasn’t sure I was getting that point across.

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Ding dong, the diet is dead.

December 10, 2018 Rivergirl 21 Comments

Okay, so I wasn’t really on a diet.

(That’s a four letter word in our house…. and one I try to refrain from using. It’s vulgar and quite upsetting.)

But I was trying to watch what I ate lately so as not to frighten any holiday party goers I haven’t seen all year. Nothing like an abominable snowman waddling into your Christmas soiree to put the evening off kilter.

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The culprit?

These.

(…and let me preface it by saying I had never eaten a Ding Dong before in my life.)

(Stop snickering. You know what I mean.)

But I skipped lunch and went grocery shopping hungry last week….

(Shut up Justin, I know that now.)

And grabbed the first high calorie, sugary sweet, instant gratification I could find.

OH. MY. GOD.

I had one on the way home.

And one after dinner that night.

And yes, one for breakfast the next morning. Don’t judge.

At first I wanted to rail at all my friends for never telling me of it’s high fructose chemically enhanced goodness.

I was in a sugar induced haze.

Where had it been all my life?

But then, when I’d finished half the box and could hardly walk past the cabinet without salivating, (I swear I heard them calling me by name)

I realized –

I was hooked by white crack!

I saw my future. A 350lb addict walking the streets with a 3 a day habit, shaking from sugar withdrawal and Jonesing for a fix. Accosting perfect strangers, begging for a taste. It wasn’t pretty.

So I heaved them in the trash then and there. And took the trash out to the garage before I changed my mind.

Heed my warning friends… don’t be tempted.

Run… don’t walk, past the White Fudge Ding Dongs on your grocer’s shelf.

Don’t be taken in by their siren song, wear ear plugs if you must.

Ignore my advice at your peril.

There’s only room for one abominable at every party, and it’s going to be me.

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Bugs and dinner.

December 3, 2018 Rivergirl 19 Comments

Please note I did not say bugs for dinner. That would just be weird.

Although, admittedly…. a 3 piece cockroach musical ensemble would have been stellar.

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No… I’m talking about the last (and best!) part of the Fairbanks Museum.

Bug art!

I turned the final corner, and came face to ~~mandible~~ face with this beauty.

Isn’t it wonderful? I would totally display this on my front lawn, and perhaps pet it as I walked by.

As you can see, it’s a little large for the living room.

So while the husband was examining some ancient knives and swords, ( He glanced at the bugs and kept on walking. Go figure. ) I delved deep into art made from bugs.

Apparently it’s pretty rare, as evidenced by the fact there were only 8 pieces.

And if you’re not a fan of the creepy crawly…

You might want to scroll down to dinner… which thankfully, was bug free.

But if you’ve always wanted to see a beetle and moth likeness of Abraham Lincoln?

And George Washington?

I’m your girl.

Yes, those really are all bugs.

And bug art really is a thing.

Ain’t it grand?

General Pershing thinks so.

And so do I.

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Now for the (boring in comparison) food part of the blog.

Dinner was at a highly recommended little place called The Creamery….

Which, to be honest, felt like someone’s basement.

The bar was full of locals who gave us the stink eye as we walked in…

But the margaritas were large and tasty….

And while the menu was small, everything we had was perfect.

From the crispy green bean appetizer….

To the goat cheese and maple vinaigrette salad…

My fresh, succulent baked scallops with stir fried vegetable medley…

And the husband’s perfectly prepared shrimp scampi.

I would have loved to try their dessert but…

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I hate when that happens.

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Ooh la la! Best meal in Vermont….

November 25, 2018 Rivergirl 31 Comments

We had to drive to Montpelier to get it, but this little unassuming place was worth the wait.

It was funky inside..

With fabulous lighting and quirky decorative touches.

Red leather, white marble and deep circular booths, smooth jazz playing in the background…

It had that laid back, 1950’s Rat Pack vibe.

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I loved it at first sight.

The cocktail list was delivered on a leather bound iPad, and while it was full of maple goodness…. I opted for the fresh raspberry mule.

The menu was endless…

With a whole page devoted to salads. The husband ordered the Vermonter.

And then the French Onion Soup…

And finally the Vermont chicken with roasted brussel sprouts and cauliflower.

Me?

I’m a burger girl, and when I find a good one I will happily crow.

Oh yes….

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I’m surprised you couldn’t hear me squeal from there.

Let’s deconstruct this tower of mouth watering goodness shall we?

Buttered and toasted Brioche bun, bacon blue cheese slaw, perfectly cooked rare ground sirloin glazed with a sweet and spicy sauce, topped with fried onion strings and a cherry tomato.

(We won’t mention the mountain of garlic parmesan truffle french fries I shamefully inhaled. Seriously don’t…. It wasn’t my finest hour.)

And if that gargantuan plate wasn’t enough, I had to try the highly recommended strawberry cake.

I had to…. really.

Yes, it was as divine as it looks….

And I swear if I lived anywhere near this restaurant, I would happily pitch a tent out back and scrounge their dumpster. It was that good!

Clearly, I would be better dressed…

But you get the idea.

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White Horse for lunch….

November 12, 2018 Rivergirl 14 Comments

No, we didn’t eat Trigger.

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But Trip Advisor did lead us to one of the best restaurants ever.

The White Horse in New Preston Connecticut.

Yo, Trigger. Trot across the street will ya…

It was quite nice inside with warm woods, and a rustic English country pub atmosphere.

Yes, that’s a motorcycle enshrined behind the bar.

But not just any motorcycle. This was a 1920 Indian Scout, the first production year for what would eventually evolve into the famous Chief.

Sweet!!

But more importantly….

I began working my way down the martini list.

The Ginger Horse was first up… and first rate.

While we cruised the menu, I noticed there were some very interesting pieces scattered around the various rooms.

Take a look.

The husband ordered a chicken tender appetizer, and the presentation was kind of cute.

So while he ate, I drank. And the White Horse Cosmo was so good I forgot to photograph it.

Husband opted for the Chicken Pot Pie… and talk about presentation.

Isn’t that just the best?

I went for the Kobe beef burger with caramelized onions and blue cheese, which had a horse grilled into the bun. They’re nothing if not loyal to their brand.

Drink #3 was the Freedom Horse, because sure…

I can be loyal too.

And who could resist their desserts?