A Weekend of Comfort Food

I think everyone goes through those times when all you crave is yummy comfort food. This was my weekend to indulge, and I totally enjoyed it! It's not that the weather was so cold or terrible. It was actually beautiful out, but all I was wanting was some super high calorie food, and that's what I got.

The feast began on Friday evening at Steuben's. I love this restaurant. I can always be convinced to go there. With one exception, and it was a really bad night!, I have never been disappointed. So, anyway, Friday night, Steuben's, at about 8 pm, I arrived with a good friend in tow. After walking up and down 17th Street to pass the 30 minute wait, we were seated at a dark and cozy table in the back. The comfort began with the drinks. I had a root beer float, and my friend had a vanilla shake. Predictable in taste, but still good. For the food portion, we started with Shrimp and Grits. The shrimp were just spicy enough to really crave the grits. And the grits- oh my gosh, delicious! They were thick and creamy, with plenty of flavor. It's not as if Denver is known for Southern food, and for good reason, so delicious grits are really quite a treat here. I'm sure that pat of butter resting on top really helped too!

After we finished that off, it was onto the mains. I had ordered the Lobster Roll with Fries, while my friend ordered a Cheeseburger and a side of Mac & Cheese. The Lobster Roll was delicious, and stuffed full with meat. There was no skimping, and that's always good when you order the most expensive thing on the menu! It wasn't drowning in mayo, and the lobster was cooked perfectly, the bun toasted just right. The fries were good, with a little crunch and the skins left on. My eating partner-in-crime seemed to like the Cheeseburger, but the Mac & Cheese was just okay. The past few times I've been, it seems like they can't get it hot enough. It's not cold to the point of inedible, but if they are gonna go to the effort of sprinkling the whole dish with bread crumbs, they might as well put it under a salamander and get it brown and gooey. We were stuffed at this point so we called it a meal prior to indulging in dessert, but if you ever go, I highly recommend a cupcake!

Saturday wasn't much of an indulgent day for comfort food, but I made another attempt at it Sunday morning when I went to brunch with some of my girlfriends. We chose Lucille's- it's close and great people watching while you wait for a table to finally open. When we arrived at 10 am, we were told we had a 45 minute wait. One hour and a mug of Cafe Du Monde Chicory Coffee later, we were seated in a closed up back room with little air circulating. Our waitress was incredibly nice and attentive. Orders were placed within 5 minutes of sitting, and our amazing biscuits followed shortly thereafter. Their homemade apple butter is absolutely delicious. The rest of the food was just okay. I had two eggs, which I had ordered over medium. They came over easy, but I was fine with that. I had also ordered bacon, done really well. The kitchen had definitely not followed through with that request! There was nothing crunchy about any of my three pieces! And the grits paled- literally- in comparison to Friday nights version. They were cold, bland and boring. So white in color, that they blended into the plate. No hint of yellow from some yummy butter. More like Cream of Wheat from a box. No flavor at all and I left the majority of the serving. I can sadly say I won't exactly go running back there for breakfast. No one was overwhelmed with what they ordered, and after that long of a wait, you really do want some good food to feast on.

The weekend ended with a homecooked meal, created with my dad. Sunday is always our family day. Sometimes we eat out, other times we cook. He knows I want to go to culinary school, so I think this was his little test to check out my interest. We did a salad with Argon Oil, picked up on our recent trip to Marrakesh. Delicious and nutty, it was a great change from the predictable Olive Oil we usually use. We sprinkled some Sumac on top, and some smokey Black Sea Salt. Next time, we'll definitely need to add a punch of flavor, it was a bit dull, but still good. I'm thinking a little Chili Powder would have added some much needed heat, but the smokiness would have complimented it all well. On the grill, we did a bunch of veggies. Brussel Sprouts drizzled with Truffle Oil and some 35 Spice Blend from Morocco, Mushrooms drizzled with Olive Oil and some 5 Spice Blend, also from Morocco, and Asparagus drizzled with Olive Oil and some Black Olive Sea Salt. For some protein, my mom and I had some steak, and my dad a pork chop, all which had been marinated in some crazy oriental sauce that my dad has a vat of. It's really good, and added a good sweetness to the meal. A glass of Hey Mambo red and we were set! Oh yeah, and we started the meal with 5 delicious cheeses. The Goat Cheese was awesome, with a thicker rind than I'm used to and a much deeper flavor. The Cheddar was also a standout, as was the Brie with Truffles smuggled inside the creaminess. All in all, a very successful meal!

And so, after probably gaining 5 pounds in my quest to indulge in comfort, I think I need to get myself back to the gym. Overall, pretty worth it, though I won't be standing in line for lucille's anytime soon. Next weekend, it's all about good food in Vail! Till then, Happy Eating!