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Cafe Sacher

Sinful Sacher torte in Salzburg, Austria.

Sent from my iPhone

Claudia Danforth Ward

Amen Street

There was once a street in Charleston called Amen Street, named, they say, because "amens" could often be heard there from two nearby churches. The street has since been absorbed into Cumberland Street, but a restaurant at the corner of Cumberland and East Bay Streets has resurrected the name - the Amen Street Fish and Raw Bar. 

After enjoying the sea breezes on a midday harbor tour, Peter and I had a hankering for some raw oysters and happily stumbled upon Amen Street on our way to pick up a carriage ride. The menu outside was enticing and the bar was warm and welcoming, so we found two seats and introduced ourselves to the bartendress, Rae. She couldn't have been friendlier and was well informed about the differences between all of the oysters.

We each started with something I'd never had before, an oyster shooter, which is a single oyster in a shot glass swimming in tomato juice, spiked with vodka and lemon juice with a dollop of homemade horseradish - wow what a sensory experience that was - spicy, hot and sweet all at the same time.

Peter and I didn't know it but oysters are a local specialty, and the ones from Capers Island, just north of Charleston, are now our favorites. They are long and thin, with medium brine and a slightly sweet finish. Rae explained that She Crab Soup is also a local delicacy, a description we agreed with the minute that velvety soup touched our lips. It's truly a little bit of heaven.
We finished here with an Oyster Po'Boy and a local draft beer for Peter, and Blackened Salmon with a wonderful Rodney Strong chardonnay for me. We thoroughly enjoyed the food and the casual atmosphere of this restaurant and hope to be back someday soon. Amen to that.

With a Name Like Co Co. ...

it's just got to be good, right? We stumbled upon one of the best restaurants Peter and I have ever eaten in, on F Street in Washington D.C., called Co Co Sala. I'd seen it from the double decker bus that we'd been touring the city on to get our bearings, and with a name like CoCo I couldn't resist. There were tables outside under chocolate brown umbrellas, but the day had heated up and we decided to cool down inside. Walking inside was like being transferred to another world. It was immediately apparent that this was no ordinary restaurant and that this was going to be an experience to remember. In fact, Co Co Sala isn't a restaurant in the ordinary sense of the word, it's a "chocolate lounge and boutique". The decor is comfortably modern with two rooms and we chose to sit in the one where we could watch the artisanal chocolates being made as well as the artistic dessert plates being prepared. The staff could not have been more friendly and our waiter guided us to selections we may not have made without his assistance. 

Peter photographed every aspect of this unique environment, including the four foot tall flower sculpture made entirely of chocolate that could be seen behind the glass, in the kitchen. Once we finally settled in, our waiter suggested that we might like to try one of Co Co's "Signature Sips" - perhaps an Alisar might quench our thirst, made with Grey Goose Le Citron, cucumber and fresh lime juice, or perhaps the Co Cojito, Van Gogh infused vodka, with fresh mint and limes, topped with dark chocolate flakes, the latter having been recently voted the best cocktail in D.C. We had one of each and my oh my what an experience in flavors!

Co Co Sala has a three course prix fixe lunch which we had to partake in because it all sounded just so interesting and good. Peter started with Five Cheese Fritters and, believe it or not, I started with Rosemary and Parmesan Fries - the best fries I have ever had! Our entrees were Chicken Caesar Flat Bread and Artichoke Tart, and dessert was simply sublime. Check out the photographs in the slide show. Every plate was a work of art, appreciated by the eye as well as the palate. Needless to say, we didn't leave the boutique without a small sampler of Co Co's artisanal chocolates and of course Peter couldn't resist the chocolate cover, apple-smoked bacon! Mon Dieu!

This was such an unexpected surprise and an experience neither of us will forget. Co Co Sala is a must if you ever come to D.C., especially if you have a penchant for chocolate. It's located at 929 F Street, NW and you can call 202 347 4265 for a reservation.

Pittsburgh - The City of Bridges

Those of you who have been to Pittsburgh recently (and you know who you are) will recognize this perspective of Pittsburgh. It's from the Monterey Bay Fish Grotto Restaurant on Mount Washington in Pittsburgh. The food is wonderful but the view is spectacular during the day and downright breathtaking at dusk when the lights of the city sparkle.

 Photo by Peter Tooker 2010 All Rights Reserved

School's Out ...

After two and a half days of various classes and workshops in the city (New York City that is), Peter and I decided to reward the student body - literally. We went to one of our favorite restaurants in Manhattan - Balthazar - for lunch. Balthazar serves traditional bistro food in a perfect bistro environment. Tell me we weren't happy spending a couple of hours here!

Looking at the menu (and we recommend you do too), we grappled with our choices because there wasn't one thing listed that we didn't like. Peter decided to order completely off the appetizer portion of the menu and my eyes landed on Wednesdays' special, Koulibiac - a salmon dish wrapped in pastry with wild rice and spinach accompanied by sauteed mushrooms in a delightful white sauce. After sharing a sampler of east- and west-coast oysters and some delicious split pea soup with smokey bacon, Peter was served his "entree" - Chicken Liver and Foie Gras Mousse. 

Being a bistro, tables are quite close to one another which is cozy to the clientele but can be challenging to the wait-staff. As one of the waiters was delivering lunch to our neighbors, he accidentally tipped my water glass over. I successfully caught it before it emptied all of its contents in my half eaten lunch plate but some "damage" was still done. I mention this not to criticize but, in fact, to compliment the staff as they efficiently corrected the problem by whisking my plate to the kitchen, replacing the paper that covered our table cloth and delivering an entirely new entree - all within a matter of minutes. 
I certainly would have thought this would be enough compensation for what was obviously an accident, but not for the staff of Balthazar. Look what they brought to us ... homemade sorbets and assorted berries, "compliments of the house".

So our wonderful lunch became dinner for our last day in the city. For those of you who live in or around New York or plan to visit, we recommend you call to make a reservation at this very special restaurant. You'll probably have to wait to get through, but we assure you it's worth any amount of time.

For those of you who are interested, all of these photos were taken with the camera on our iPhone. 

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Restaurant Week - The 1770 House

It's restaurant week in the Hamptons and you can get a wonderful three course meal for $24.95 or less at a slew of restaurants all around the east end. Since the price was right, Peter and I decided to partake. We'd never eaten at  The 1770 House in East Hampton which is a lovely restaurant/inn that's been operating as an inn for 240 years.  Feeding all of my New England sensibilities, The 1770 House is charming in it's historic and beautifully maintained architecture - small rooms, lower than normal ceilings, and warm welcoming fireplaces. 

But ... we came for the prix fixe menu not the architecture. The choices on the Special Menu were diverse yet simple, all good combinations. Peter and I ordered food you'd probably say "don't get that you can have it at home" but what better way to test the real mettle of a restaurant - simple food for which your expectations are high!  We ordered roast chicken and meat loaf. Both were perfect and delicious, with accompaniments that reminded me of "the good old days", a little potato and some greens - delicious and comforting ... but the chef's version of this simple fare! To make something that's simple memorable is not that easy and I'm so happy we've found a chef who has mastered this art. 

And what about the service? The staff is friendly, knowledgeable and unpretentious, a perfect fit for this historic Inn. But there's one thing that the staff did that I feel compelled to mention. It was one of those small things that's the essence of simplicity, thoughtfulness and a touch of class. Peter and I enjoyed some wonderful cheeses for dessert served with the chef's homemade quince preserves and honey. We were too full to finish but loved them so much we didn't want to leave them behind, so we asked if could take the rest home. They agreed, of course, but they didn't deliver our parcel to the table, rather they handed it to us after we left the dining room on our way to the front door. I never knew that I was uncomfortable having my "doggy bag" delivered to the table until it didn't happen. It was such a small thing but so appreciated. 

The 1770 House is wonderful - delicious, satisfying, perfectly seasoned food, in delightful surroundings with a considerate, unpretentious staff. It's a winner and we can't wait to return, and we won't be waiting for Restaurant Week to do so.