True Sushi Company- Truly a Winning Choice

It was definitely a happy birthday for me this year, especially being able to partake in my favourite cuisine... SUSHI. Last year, I was a ripe watermelon about to burst with my second child, and as all of us female sushi lovers know, and much to our dismay, it's a forbidden meal while pregnant.
And, as it has become habit for our special events, my husband made us a reservation at our favourite place: True Sushi.
Our reservation was for later in the evening, however, our earlier plans had fallen through and with a simple phone call to the restaurant, our reservations were changed to a much earlier time and we were welcomed to come any time.
We were the only patrons when we got there due to our early  arrival.  Fine with me!  I don't enjoy crowded places.  The hostess said we could sit anywhere, so we picked the best booth at the front of the restaurant by the only outside window.

The restaurant's interior from the front booth

Since we were just enjoying our time alone and being out minus the kiddos, the hubby and I ordered some Sake. (We like it hot.) At True Sushi you can order a large hot sake for around $10... and believe me, it's plenty for two.

Hot Sake and complimentary Miso Soup 
while we surveyed the menu

We definitely knew we had to have the amazing appetizer we'd tried on our very first visit: Heart Attack.  It's incredibly delicious.  Fresh jalapeno halves stuffed with tuna, fried in tempura batter and topped with spicy mayo and Sriracha.  Oh my goodness, let me just tell you... these things are so yummy, you may want to order a second plate of them.

The Heart Attack

In summary, the evening was a great success... and I was full and content.  The sushi at True Sushi is by far my favourite in the city.  Hayashi: overpriced.  Sushi King:  well, even though it's the EXACT same menu as and the predecessor of True Sushi, the atmosphere is much different and I don't feel as appreciated there.

 

Recommendations:  
Lady in Red ++
Tiger Roll
Philadelphia Roll
New Mexico Roll +
Crazy Roll +++
Tako (Octopus) ++
Salmon

To top off my third and most excellent experience here, when I asked our server to thank the sushi chef and compliment him on a yet-again fabulous meal, with his return thanks, he sent over a complimentary (and quite ADORABLE) dessert. 

Sliced orange with fresh creme and chocolate sauce

True Sushi is family-owned, tasty, tidy and well-run.  The staff is super friendly and polite.  From our first experience nearly one year ago on Valentine's Day to our massively-huge take-out order for our Wedding Anniversary picnic, True Sushi has come through for us on taste, presentation and efficiency.  My husband and I just wish we could frequent the joint more often.  We plan on returning for V-day again this year.  I can't wait!!

Our Anniversary platter, complete with two salads they added free of charge... just because it was our Anniversary.  As you can see... my husband had already been attacking the rolls before I could snatch this shot.  Soooo good.

True Sushi is perfectly located right off I-25 directly across from Cinemark Century Rio 24.  So, have a lovely time dining at True Sushi Company then head across the parking lot to catch a flick!  What could be a better combo?

Five Guys Who Got it Right

This will be a quickie. But, I just have to recommend Five Guys Burgers & Fries!

A few months ago, the family and I headed over to our neighborhood Five Guys. I had never eaten there before and I'd been reading such rave reviews.

Impressed.

All the feel of a Fifties-ish diner and one of the best burgers you'll ever eat. Cheesy, meaty, savory excellence on a bun.

Try the jalapenos on that burger... guess what? They're fresh! Not the soggy, pickled things you usually get.  Onions are the perfect size and flavorful.

Fries were good, (not perfect,) and they sure don't skimp on the serving size.  My baby sure liked them.  We had an order of regular fries and an order of seasoned fries.

 The family was happy.  I was happy.  Great place.  Certainly a stop everyone needs to make eventually.

Happy kiddos. 

If you've eaten here... let me know what YOU thought!  If you haven't yet... make sure you try it soon!

Delicious Cake as Easy as ABC

A little over a year ago, I attended a friend's baby shower, (our little girls are less than a month apart.)  The dessert she served was an ENORMOUS and beautiful cake.  Those who know me are well-acquainted with the fact that I LOVE a good bakery cake... especially if it's slathered in decadent buttercream frosting.  I know, I know... "a moment on the lips and eternity on the hips."  Well, there have been countless of those lip-smacking moments in my life and yea... I have the eternal evidence on these hips.

But, I digress.  This cake... Oh my goodness!  This cake!  It was heaven on a fork.  It was pure bakery genius.  Half marble and half red velvet; the entirety coated in thick, yet light, buttercream.  I HAD to know from whence it came.

ABC BAKERY 

Yes, yes... it was then clearer than a cold, mountain stream that this was the place from where all other cakes in future MUST BE PURCHASED!

My husband was a darling a few weeks later when he surprised me with a giant red velvet cake from ABC.  It was perfectly decorated for me and just as delicious as it had been at that shower.

_____________________________

Fast forward a few months and we visited ABC once again.  Our lovely and very intelligent daughter was accepted into a brilliant private school.  As a reward, we promised her a cake from ABC.

Step through the doors to the bakery on any given day and become overwhelmed with the sugary smells and friendly faces welcoming you to sweet paradise.

The process for ordering is simple and creative.  Along one wall are some internet-active computers where one may find ANY image at all or find a cake they like and like a magic wand is being waved... it shall be done.

I spoke with a girl for quite some time and we perused the net together finding the exact specifications for what I needed and even bargained on a fair price.  Warning:  this bakery is NOT CHEAP, but you WILL be happy with what you get for the price.  No money is required at the time of ordering but we decided to put down half... my thinking is that with a deposit the work is most-assuredly going to be good.

I was right.

Emily had no idea WHEN her cake would be delivered, but upon her return from summer vacation... there it was.

 Gorgeous, fine-tipped piping!

 

Perfect colours!

EXACTLY what I ordered...

 And worth EVERY penny.

The taste... was out of this world!  (Inside was marble cake.  Of course... buttercream icing.) 

This is a HIGH recommendation.  You MUST turn to this establishment when in need of a special-order cake.

ABC Cake Shop & Bakery

1830 San Pedro Dr. NE

Albuquerque, NM  87110

(505) 255-5080

Plenty Filling: Zea Rotisserie & Grill

About a week ago, I decided to take my husband and baby out for an early dinner/late lunch.  The hubby couldn't decide what he wanted, so I ventured over to my urbanspoon account to remind myself of my restaurant wishlist.

Surveying the choices, my eyebrows were knitting at the potentials... apparently I have expensive desires.  Then I saw it.  Bingo! Zea Rotisserie & Grill!  I have been wanting to try this place for a year, having driven past many times and having read plenty of rave reviews from local connoisseurs of Albuquerque establishments. 

  

Arriving in the late afternoon, (before the dinner rush,) we were immediately seated by the man who was also our server.  We were asked if we preferred a table or a booth and, as usual, we both said "booth."  Let me tell you... the booth was HUGE!  I wasn't too pleased that our server chose to seat us at the one booth in the joint that had a major dip in the cushion and had been sloppily repaired with industrial tape.  (I had to scoot way in to avoid the broken spring.)  All that aside, however, and not wishing to complain, we ordered our soft drinks and scanned the menu while our server, Mike recited the specials of the day.  (He was very sweet but his voice was unnecessarily loud.  So loud, in fact, he woke up the baby, who had been sleeping pleasantly in her carrier until then.)

Continuing an optimistic view and ignoring the booming sounds of our server, (even echoing throughout the fairly empty restaurant as he went about his serving duties with us and his other tables,) Michael and I continued to look at and discuss the items on the menu.  What a meat lovers dream!  Every kind of grilled and roasted meat you can imagine priced anywhere from reasonable to down-right riDONKulous.

Asian Almond Shrimp

Remembering other reviews I had read which lavished about the giant portions, the man and I decided to order two things and split them, but first... an appetizer.  The waiter recommended the Hummus or the Asian Almond Shrimp and I had also read about the Asian Shrimp being pretty tasty... So, we ordered the shrimp.  It was indeed delicious; large, crispy-fried shrimp on a bed of crunchy, fresh cabbage and topped with almond slivers, green onions and a spicy-sweet sauce.  (The "sauce" was more of a glaze and although yummy, it was a tad bit sticky for my taste.  Too much corn starch.)

For our main courses, we ordered the Sweet & Spicy Rotisserie Chicken with Zea Potatoes and Roasted Corn, and the Honey Island Chicken Sandwich with Fries.  (When we ordered the sandwich, the waiter asked if we'd seen one before and saying, "no," he said we were in for a treat.)

Boy, were we ever!  It was gigantic!  We could have just shared the sandwich...

Honey Island Chicken Sandwich - Fried breast, bacon, Jack cheese, honey mustard, lettuce & tomato

 

The french fries were quite thin and very crispy, (reminded me of Steak N' Shake's shoestring fries.)  Bridgett really liked them, too.  The chicken sandwich was killer!  And, it was only $9.95!  I didn't like their version of honey mustard though... too vinegary.  Good thing I ordered mayo on the side. 

What was really nice was how they split our chicken dish for us onto two separate plates.  The roasted corn was to die for!  I will return just for that!  The Zea Potatoes were heavily and deliciously seasoned chunks of potato... I wasn't sure if they had been fried or roasted, but they were good.  The chicken was moist and perfectly cooked, but I was highly disappointed to see that same, sticky glaze from the shrimp appetizer now smothering my chicken as well.  Like I said before, it was tasty, but way too sticky.  My hands were so messy by the end of the meal, I had to use a baby wipe to clean them.  (They should bring moist towelettes with the check.)

Sweet & Spicy Chicken with Roasted Corn and Zea Potatoes

Positives:

All in all, the food was quite scrumptious, the service was fast and our drinks were never empty.  If you order smartly, you won't spend a fortune.  Portions are large; sharing is not a bad idea.

 Negatives:

The broken booth, the overtly-loud server, the too-sticky glaze and no changing table in the men's restroom, (a MUST for any modern eating establishment.)  Also, we were seated near the servers' station and could hear EVERYTHING they said to one another, and a lot of it was NOT family friendly.

I WILL return, but not any time soon and I positively will NOT be ordering anything with that glaze on it.

All this food for less than $25, (excluding the appetizer and drinks.)

Never Disappointing: Sadie's

True-to-form and ever-faithful Texas girl that I am, finding the perfect Mexican cuisine to suit my Tex-Mex-spoiled palate is anything but an easy task here in New Mexico.  I have lived here in Albuquerque a little more than year now and have noshed at many a proclaimed "authentic New Mexican" restaurant.  As much as I have come to admire, enjoy and CRAVE the regional staple: green chile, (which is available everywhere here,) there still seems to lack a true understanding of quality Mexican food among the plethora of "Mexican" eating establishments.

There is, however, one amazing exception.  Sadie's.  Certainly not a Tex-Mex eatery, but Sadie's was the official mind-shifter responsible for allowing entry into my head the possibility that New Mexican cookery can be just as delectable.

Last Saturday evening was my 10th visit to this now-beloved restaurant; 8th visit to my personal favourite location: Sadie's East.

My husband and Mother-in-Law in front of Sadie's East.

From the very first moment of entry, Sadie's East welcomes you.  The front doors, obviously handcrafted, complete with whimsical red chile handles bring you into an inviting entryway dressed in Southwest textiles and Mexican decor, the distinct and tantalizing aroma of corn tortillas and chiles pulling you in with a smile.  Friendly and accommodating staff await you promptly, seating you either instantly or within minutes.  (Sadie's on 4th is a hit or miss when waiting and service are concerned.  I have been there twice and must say it's an entirely different vibe, one I don't care to repeat.)

Each and every visit to Sadie's has been a memorable, fun and FILLING experience.  All waitstaff are incredibly amiable.  We've yet to have a repeat server, yet each one has seemingly been better and more pleasant than the previous.  One thing I greatly appreciate is their abundance of staff, each table not only having a server but also a "helper" of sorts who takes care of your drinks exclusively for the entirety of your stay.

Is this ALL there is?  Great staff, traditional design, inviting smells of classically-favourite foods?  Oh nooooooooooooo, my friend.  

The Food!

Hungry?  Sadie's.  "Nuff said," as my little brother states often.  The inconceivable amount of food per portion can be intimidating to any who prefer to lightly pick at their meals or dieters.  Prepare to be full beyond full and almost always have to leave with an accompanying "doggie bag."  They are definitely not stingy; no portion control here.  

Keep in mind, however, that you will indeed pay for such beastly-sized dinners.  After our first couple of visits, the hubby and I got wise... especially once our eyes found a heaping MOUNTAIN of piled-up deliciousness.  We inquired to find that the mound was actually their famous Sadie's Nachos.  And not only are these humungous, (will feed anywhere from 3-6 people,) but they are unequivocally scrumptious, too.  The half order is just shy of $9 and the full order is a mere $10.99!  Where else can you feed so many with ONE dish at such a reasonable price?

Sadie's Nachos.  My FAVOURITE!
Photo courtesy of http://www.sadiesofnewmexico.com

As I have already stated, these nachos are not only unprecedented in their massive size, but also beyond delicious.  They can be topped with chicken or beef, (I recommend the beef.)  The deluge of toppings also includes refried beans, lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, guacamole (always yummy,) cheese (the finest,) and FRESH jalapeños (not the pickled kind either... these are hot and good!)

Another favourite here is the Sadie's Chile Relleno: a huge green chile stuffed with cheese and deep fried.  As with all Sadie's dinner entrees, the relleno is surrounded by a veritable moat of frijoles and papitas, (small cubes of pan-fried potatoes,) and is smothered with your choice of red or green chile, or as my husband orders- Christmas, (meaning both red AND green.)  After tasting one of these fine, fried peppers stuffed with cheese, my Dad proclaimed it to be "the best relleno he'd EVER had," and he is actually from New Mexico and had always shown allegiance to a family friend-owned hideaway in Clovis where he grew up.  (This place is now closed, owners have retired, but even I have had their famous rellenos and found them to be quite lovely.)  Never in a thousand years did I think my father would announce a NEW relleno favourite.

In addition to splitting the nachos with whomever may be dining with me, I usually order a beef taco a la carte.  It's never been disappointing; shell freshly fried, the ground beef spicy and more grated cheddar than you'd think legally possible.  Sometimes, I also order a side of guacamole, which is invariably fresh, but isn't the cheapest for the size you get.  The chile con queso is another smart order, but get ready to pay entirely too much for this savory dip.  (I have to admit my own queso blows this one out of the water... and I'd never charge over $7 for a tiny bowl.)

A simple substitution:

Try the refried beans instead of the traditional frijoles.  They are LOADED with flavour.

One last endorsement...

 Please don't discount the salsa!  Absolutely and without question some of the tastiest and HOTTEST salsa you'll ever eat.  It's genuinely spicy to a degree that will leave your mouth ablaze all while teasing your taste buds with its unmatched flavour.  You'll drink plenty of water and swear it's "just too hot," ...at the same time you're reaching for yet again your 50th+ chip to dip into it.  Every guest I've brought along has quite verbally and figuratively made their appreciation of the salsa known.

*You can also purchase this famous salsa in a jar... and while it is indeed better than any standard off-the-shelf-mass-produced hot sauce, the jarred product pales in comparison to the fresh.

Photo by: Eric Williams, Alibi.com

Come hungry... leave MORE THAN full.  Sadie's will leave you content, happy and craving it within a week.   I guarantee it.

I just went Saturday, and I'm already planning another trip.

Been to Sadie's?  What's your favourite menu item?  Haven't been... what's your favourite 

Mexican food place?

                                                                                          

 

A Difficult Assessment... Paisano's.

   Mother's Day, 2012.  My hopes were high, confidence incontrovertible as I made Paisano's my celebratory dining choice to commemorate my motherhood on this day.  Reviews digested and beautiful family in tow, I was sure it would be the best Italian lunch ever.

   Prepared for my newest adventure as a foodie blogger, I absorbed each detail with sponge-like precision.  The restaurant's exterior was noted, a tribute to authentic countryside cafes of Old World Italy.  The sky was thick with gray clouds, the smell of fragrant, soon-to-fall rain heavy upon the cool air... all of this adding to my fervor and motivation for the task at hand.  "Take it all in, Sunny," I whispered to myself as we entered the place.

   Cozy and classically decorated, the establishment was inviting and reminiscent of another time, when restaurants were mom and pop owned, before the sting of franchise vaulted in like a corporate scorpion, poisoning all sense of family-owned uniqueness.  I was comforted by the delicious smells emanating throughout and still positive the reviews I'd read would ring true on every level.

   After a fairly long wait, which I didn't really mind after seeing they knew a regular patron by her first name, (which was a pleasant sight,) we were at last seated on the closed-in patio, laden with mosaic-tiled tables, whimsically-coloured chairs and fresh greenery climbing the surrounding walls.

  

    My dreams of having the perfect dining experience were dashed, however, as soon as we sat... not due to shoddy service or an improperly-cleaned table, but my youngest little gem soon became the most fussy she'd ever been at any eating establishment.  She demanded food immediately and was less than quiet about it.  My husband and I scrambled to appease our 5 1/2-month old for well over half an hour, all the while ordering our drinks, perusing the menu, helping our oldest daughter decide what to eat, (which wasn't an easy task considering Paisano's does not offer a children's menu,) then eventually ordering our meals.

   The prices were high, as anticipated, but higher than I'd have liked.  I'd read a rave review of the Caeser salad, which I had to try.  Conquering a Caeser salad properly is not the simplest of tasks for any kitchen.  The exact balance of flavours must be perfect.  I am picky when Caeser is concerned so I didn't fuss about the additional charge of $2.50 that would be tacked on because of the substitution for a house salad.  My husband ordered the lentil soup, (another dish proclaimed to be "the best in town.")  The starters came.  How disappointed was I at that first bite of what I was sure to be the best Caeser salad?  Extremely.  The presentation was lovely, the ingredients unique... but, oh my! the overwhelming taste of anchovies!  Now, I enjoy the subtle flavour that fishy little critter adds to a Caeser indeed, but this was an absolute wreck.  Who wants a fishy salad dressing?  Not I.  I shuffled the tomatoes over to my eldest daughter and picked at the artichoke hearts.  I was, however, slightly more appeased when after reporting the condition of the salad to our server, she promised to deliver the message to the kitchen and upon returning, informed us that the additional charge had been removed from the bill.  At least they care about their patrons' opinions.

   I tasted the lentil soup to see what the fuss was all about... *sigh*  It was nothing to write home about and it certainly did not meet up to its standard of comparison with Jacob's so-good-his-brother-gave-away-his-birthright-for-it lentil soup as I had recently read in another blog.

   The bread came and olive oil was drizzled over a plate of herbs and spices.  Reaching into the basket, I was a little taken aback that the bread was not warm, but still pleased at the flavours coming alive on my tongue after dipping a hunk in the now-perfumed oil.  It would have been better warm, I'm convinced, and even better yet with butter.

   I felt compelled to order the stuffed portabella mushroom as it was yet another talked-about favourite in recently read reviews.  THIS was beyond delicious.  The mushroom was meaty and cooked to perfection.  Combined with plenty of cheese, tantalizing herbs and the most wonderful marinara I've ever had, this is sure to become a favourite on my list of scrumptious appetizers.  (The pool of chunky marinara doubled as a nice bread-dipper.)

   Our entrees arrived and everything was plated beautifully.  I had the Stuffed Shells.

   

   The filling was a divine concoction of cheeses and spinach, topped again with that lovely marinara which just about made up for the rubbery shells.  The freshly-grated Parmesan was impressive in it's larger-than-average sized shavings.

   Hubby had the Linguini alla Livorno.  The pasta was very good, but the flavours weren't unusual as I'd already had them in the Caeser salad: tomatoes, Greek olives and artichoke hearts.  I would have preferred the pasta dish to the fishy salad.

   My daughter ordered a pizza.  Oven-baked to a lovely colour, topped with Canadian bacon and green chile, THIS was the best of the entrees at our table.

   All in all, the service was efficient.  Our drinks were never empty and we didn't ever have to wonder where our server was.  The food was hit or miss I'd say.  If you know what to order, then Paisano's might be a delightful destination for a dinner date.  I'd recommend leaving the kiddos at home especially in the absence of a children's menu and kid-friendly foods. 

  My heart was certainly heavier at the end of the meal, even in the presence of our Molten Chocolate Cake and Gelato, which was fairly tasty, but not that amazing.  I'd say... overpriced.

   I couldn't help but think my days as a critic/food blogger were over as soon as they had begun.  How could I fully concentrate on "taking it all in" when there were even more important things to worry about, like feeding my little one and making sure a fussy baby didn't spoil any others' dining experience?  It was a difficult assessment indeed.

   My gorgeous husband wrapped me in his arms upon arriving home, and seeing that I was downtrodden, offered me some comfort food in the form of soothing and encouraging words.  He suggested I venture out once a month, more when finances allow, alone, and continue on my journey to be a genuine Foodie.   

   After mulling the idea over with a Mother's Day Mai Tai in hand, I think I will. _______