Monthly Archives: December 2016

Sweet Basil

My family is spending winter break in Vail, Colorado. The Texas heat has simply overstayed its welcome so we thought it would be nice to go somewhere where you don’t start sweating just by breathing. As luck would have it, as soon as we left Houston, there was a  cold front and it started cooling down… Oh well….There’s so much fun stuff to do in Vail, and gustatorily, this place is no slouch either. So we might as well go.

Sweet Basil is the place that comes up every time you Google “best restaurant in Vail”. And I mean EVERY SINGLE TIME. So either they’re truly remarkable or they have the best PR people money can buy… Either way, the foodie that I am, I just had  to try it. They’re on OpenTable for a thousand points, goodie for me!

I scheduled our dinner for three right after a day of snowmobiling. I opted for early dinner because I want to have enough light from the outside to capture the famous ambience of the restaurant.

It boasts of a huge picture window that overlooks the park outside.

I’m glad they gave us a table next to this. I could look at those twinkling lights for the rest of the night. The park is next to  Gore creek which is semi-frozen at this time.

For appetizer we had Warm Blue Crab Dip — horseradish, salmon roe, rye cracker
Beans ordered Caramelized Onion & Fig Tortellini — it has gorgonzola fondue, roasted fennel, pistachio crumble, rosemary. The pistachio crumble is amazing.
I had Mediterranean Stone Bass —
served with shallot butter, vadouvan spice, melted leeks, parsnips.
I guess by now you already know what D ordered. Steak, of course ! He had Mishima Wagyu New York —
confit sunchoke, brussels, potato puree, brown butter hollandaise

The waiter boasted that their specialty dessert has been on the menu for more than 20 years. Naturally, we had to try it.

Sticky Toffee Pudding— it has 
brown sugar rum ice cream, peanut brittle
B had their homemade caramel swirl ice cream because he can’t have the rum in our dessert.

Overall, I know that this restaurant is not from a very good PR machinery. It is popular for a good reason. It is clearly superior than their sister restaurant, Mountain Standard. We were there last night and I am still debating whether I should blog about them or not—it was that disappointing. Sweet Basil is one of the better restaurants I’ve been to. Menu is inventive and properly executed. Definitely a must-try if you are ever in the Vail area.

 

Seasons 52

We were supposed to be in Fredericksburg for the weekend. There is a Light the Night Parade that we were looking forward to witness. But you know how it is, “we plan, God laughs”. The rain was incessant. We decided to sit this one out in fear of flooding and getting us stranded as it has happened before.

I had no plan B (not very smart; I already know about how bipolar the weather is here in Texas), so I left D to think of what to do with this rainy and gloomy Saturday. As always, we turn to food. He picked Seasons 52. Never heard of it but online menu looked good. Beans opted out, choosing to sleep all day. He is growing to be more and more like me…

Interior is good. I like good (flattering lighting) on restaurants. Having lots of wood paneling makes it all cozy.
Interior is good. I like good (flattering) lighting on restaurants. Having lots of wood paneling makes it all cozy.
Cocktail list include a bramble (my favorite!) and D had his usual petite syrah.
Cocktail list included a bramble (my favorite!) and D had his usual petite syrah.
If you noticed that most of my pics shows me holding a drink, it's because I always order a cocktail drink. I'm not a soda nor ice tea type of person. D, on the other hand, will always have some sort of red (syrah or malbec). His cocktail of choice is always a Manhattan.
If you noticed that most of my pics shows me holding a drink, it’s because I always order a cocktail drink. I’m not a soda nor ice tea type of person. D, on the other hand, will always have some sort of red (syrah or malbec). His cocktail of choice is always a Manhattan.
The waiter suggested this backbend steak and blue cheese flatbread for appetizer. It was amazing. It's crunchy enough without falling apart when you bite.
The waiter suggested this blackened steak and blue cheese flatbread for appetizer. It was amazing. It’s crunchy enough without falling apart when you bite.
Seafood paella!!! I did not expect and entire lobster tail for this entree, yet there it is!
Seafood paella!!! I did not expect and entire lobster tail for this entree, yet there it is!
D had a crabcake sandwich which turned out pretty good too. I like how they put the pickles in a teeny tiny mason jar. Nice touch.
D had a crabcake sandwich which turned out pretty good too. I like how they put the pickles in a teeny tiny mason jar. Nice touch.
All their desserts come in this tiny shot glass. Like they already know that you don't have any extra calories to spare after all the courses. Haha. D had a raspberry canoli and I had the pecan pie in a glass.. Both were amazing
All their desserts come in this tiny shot glass. Like they already know that you don’t have any extra calories to spare after all the courses. Haha. D had a raspberry canoli and I had the pecan pie in a glass.. Both were amazing

This restaurant reminds me of Houston’s, also on Westheimer, except not as swanky. Food quality is solid and,  considering that this is located in River Oaks District, reasonably priced too.

We went to Spec’s for some wine and  cheeses, then to Trader Joe’s for a seasonal brandy cake. Our activities are usually food-themed, I know. I wish I could tell you that we did anything else. But like I said before, quoting Julia Childs,  “People who love to eat are the best people”.