On Sunday we made animal waffles for Nicki's FWOYDA team. We used Bisquick pancake mix, which turned out so-so but at least they looked super cool! 
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Saturday, February 20, 2010
waterman grille
We decided to dine at Waterman Grille on Valentine's Day. Located on the bank of the Seekonk River, Waterman Grille weaves European and American flavor in their bistro-style menu. The restaurant, separated into two floors with bars and plentiful dining space,literally sits on the edge of the river. Our seats, located in the downstairs Riverview Room, were located right against the floor-to-ceiling windows.
It was pitch black though by dinner time in the winter, so we were not able to absorb the full Waterman Grille experience. This place is best known for their seafood. They had a Valentine's Day menu that was reasonably priced, but we weren't interested in the options so chose from their regular menu.
http://www.watermangrille.com/
Atmosphere
Although it was Valentine's Day and they were packed, the rooms were very spacious. We were far away enough from other people that we felt like it was our own restaurant. Definitely a plus. There weren't any decorations since they had full length windows to show off their waterfront. It would probably be a beautiful dining experience in the summer since the set would be setting right around dinner time.
Service
The service was professional, but not attentive. Our waiter was particularly more casual than the hosts. He was wearing jeans and did not even remember our dessert orders.
Food
The seafood really excelled. Both appetizers and the scallops were delicious, but the appetizers were a bit heavy leaving little room for the rest of the food. The desserts paired nicely with each other and were never too sweet or artificial tasting.
Rating:
It was pitch black though by dinner time in the winter, so we were not able to absorb the full Waterman Grille experience. This place is best known for their seafood. They had a Valentine's Day menu that was reasonably priced, but we weren't interested in the options so chose from their regular menu.
http://www.watermangrille.com/
the menus are on these wood boards and were really bulky. they are cute, but take up a lot of the table.
the bread was was really soft and had some sea salt on the top giving it a nice salty touch.
one of our appetizers was calamari. the portion was huge! the pieces were also big - we couldn't finish the whole plate. the batter was really light unlike most fried food. it came with some banana peppers making it spicy and a thick, sweet tarter sauce.
our other appetizer was their award winning "'chowdah." it was a creamy soup with crab, jalapeno peppers, potatoes, and breadcrumbs. full of rustic flavors, this soup was very chunky with pieces of onion and celery. to top it all off, it was served in this cute mini cauldron.
nicki's entree was grilled scallops with spinach and cheese risotto, a pancetta crisp, and a balsamic vinegar reduction. the scallops were cooked perfectly, but were all different sizes making the dish look not as pretty. the risotto was delicious and the spinach really lightened up the creaminess. the pancetta crisp added a different texture, but was just too salty. nom nom nom.
tim's entree was the waterman steak. it came with garlic mashed potatoes, caramelized onions, and a red chili sauce. we asked the steak to be cooked medium-rare, but it ended up being much more rare than expected. the mashed potatoes were yummy. the onions were way to sweet and the red chili had an off-putting color and taste. the combination sounded compatible, but the execution was anything but that.
our desserts were a chocolate bread pudding (top) and apple foster (bottom). the chocolate bread pudding was delicious - first time we've ever tried a chocolate breading pudding so we were very excited. it was sweeter and richer than a standard bread pudding. the apple foster was flambeed apples with a sea salt caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream. the softened apples with the vanilla ice cream was very sweet, but very well balanced with the sea salt in the caramel sauce. both desserts were delicious.
nicki excited for her chocolate bread pudding.
where's my food!
Atmosphere
Although it was Valentine's Day and they were packed, the rooms were very spacious. We were far away enough from other people that we felt like it was our own restaurant. Definitely a plus. There weren't any decorations since they had full length windows to show off their waterfront. It would probably be a beautiful dining experience in the summer since the set would be setting right around dinner time.
Service
The service was professional, but not attentive. Our waiter was particularly more casual than the hosts. He was wearing jeans and did not even remember our dessert orders.
Food
The seafood really excelled. Both appetizers and the scallops were delicious, but the appetizers were a bit heavy leaving little room for the rest of the food. The desserts paired nicely with each other and were never too sweet or artificial tasting.
Rating:
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
cafe noir
For Valentine's Day, we went to Providence. Our first night there, we chose to go to Cafe Noir, known for their French food and intimate setting. The restaurant was about five minutes away from Providence Place. The restaurant is divided into two rooms with the first one being more casual with a bar and the second one more formal with booths and tables.
http://www.cafenoirri.com/
Atmosphere
Smaller than we expected, the restaurant was still relatively quiet and calm. The artwork around the restaurant varied significantly with framed posters, mirrors, and some abstract artwork. It was very dark in the restaurant creating an intimate setting, but it was difficult for us to take pictures.
Service
Our waiter was very knowledgeable about the menu. With all the people he had to serve, he never forgot about us. With such a small space, all the waiters were bumping into each other, but they were very professional.
Food
With the exception of our pear dessert and some sides, the tastes and combinations here were delicious. While their highlights were their appetizers, they cooked the meat perfectly and presented manageable proportions.
Rating:
http://www.cafenoirri.com/
with our silverware settings, these quotes were folded into them. they're like fancy fortune cookies except no cookie and we got them before our meal.
one of appetizers was an asparagus salad. the asparagus was wrapped in prosciutto, topped with frisee, a poached egg and shaved parmesan. this was delicious. the saltiness from the prosciutto balanced the lightness of the frisee and the poached egg. the vinaigrette was very light.
our other appetizer was the classic tarte flambee. it came with gratin potato, bacon, and mushrooms. the softness of the bread was delicious and the toppings were not heavy at all. basically a classy mini pizza. nom nom nom.
nicki's entree was the ducks breasts with anna potatoes and a cranberry sauce. cooked perfectly medium rare, the duck was so tender. the sauce was sweeter than expected and the anna potatoes underneath the duck was a bit burnt on the edges becoming difficult to cut through.
tim's entree was the beef tenderloin with mashed potatoes, spinach, and a bordelaise sauce. also cooked perfectly medium rare, the tenderloin was a great portion. the mashed potatoes were so smooth - they had the texture of instant mashed potatoes. overall, it was very tasty.
one of our desserts was the vanilla creme brulee. this dessert is one of nicki's favorites. the flavor was delicious - the vanilla wasn't too overpowering. the top had that nice sound when you crack it, but the dish was at room temperature, which was not ideal at all.
our second dessert was spiced pear crepes with vanilla ice cream. this was a difficult dish to eat. the crepe with pears was rolled up into the dish all pretty-like, but it was difficult to break into smaller pieces with the spoon they give us. the warm crepe quickly became soggy and cold from the ice cream melting. by the end, the dish was just a mess and impossible to eat and enjoy.
such pretty desserts!
since it was valentine's day weekend, the restaurant gave everyone this pink cotton candy when they presented you the check. it was a cute touch. standard cotton candy, but it was huge - bigger than nicki's head!
Atmosphere
Smaller than we expected, the restaurant was still relatively quiet and calm. The artwork around the restaurant varied significantly with framed posters, mirrors, and some abstract artwork. It was very dark in the restaurant creating an intimate setting, but it was difficult for us to take pictures.
Service
Our waiter was very knowledgeable about the menu. With all the people he had to serve, he never forgot about us. With such a small space, all the waiters were bumping into each other, but they were very professional.
Food
With the exception of our pear dessert and some sides, the tastes and combinations here were delicious. While their highlights were their appetizers, they cooked the meat perfectly and presented manageable proportions.
Rating:
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