Restaurant Review - Bistro La Belle - Midway, KY

Tonight we celebrated my birthday (no need to mention which one) with a luscious meal at Bistro La Belle in Midway, Ky (a lovely little town boasting of antique and artisan shops and unique restaurants). Normally when I go out to dinner, I have some idea what I want to eat, but tonight I didn't. One look at the menu and I knew (from past experience) that my meal would include the low country shrimp. It grew to far more than that in the end, but it was wonderful. Below is a rundown of my meal and I apologize in advance if the quantity frightens anyone!:

Wine:
Rodney Strong, Sonoma, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2005
IMHO - This was full bodied and rich, with a lingering follow of black cherry and cocoa.

Appetizer:
Artichoke Pitza. A bistro favorite! Flatbread topped with creamed artichokes, tomatoes, herbs & Parmesan cheese.
IMHO - This was a mini meal in itself so we shared. Perfect blend of flavors and textures.

Salad:
Fresh baby lettuces and microgreens with a maple vinaigrette dressing
IMHO - I was mildly surprised at how much I enjoyed this dressing. No overwhelming maple or vinegar flavor...very subtle.

Main Course:
Low Country Shrimp & Grits, Sauteed tiger shrimp, onions & peppers, in a classic Bienville sauce. With Weisenberger cheese grits.
IMHO - I've had this before and it was fitting for a birthday feast. Describing this dish to people generally proves difficult due to preconceived notions about grits...forget all you know about grits! This will blow your socks off. I love shrimp and always look for new ways to serve them and I know Southern Living did a similar recipe in the last couple of years. If I can locate it I will be sure to print it because it is WORTHY!

Desert: (it is my birthday after all and I just can't let it rest!)
Vanilla Creme Brulee' with fresh raspberries
IMHO - What can I say. This is my all time favorite dessert (besides wedding cake). Creamy vanilla custard topped with a delicate sheet of crisp caramelized sugar and fresh raspberries. Oh yeah, did I mention coffee with cream (talk about overkill!)

The mark of a good meal is that I would do it all again, and while there is no doubt that I would do it again in a heartbeat, I probably better wait a little while. As they say in Maine, it was wicked good.

If you get a chance, try Bistro La Belle. Here's a link to their website:
http://bistrolabelle.googlepages.com/

Roasted Winter Tomato Miracle

Nothing beats a fresh tomato. This time of year you're pretty much out of luck if you want to sink your teeth into a good fresh tomato. But I've discovered that you can reach a garden-ripened intensity by roasting pale, winter tomatoes to a deep, rich, intense red.


Roasted Tomatoes

Toss in a large bowl:

6-8 large tomatoes, quartered

2-3 Tbl extra virgin olive oil

2 cloves of garlic, minced

1 tsp dried oregano

1 tsp dried basil

1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)

salt and pepper to taste

Pour tomato mixture into a lightly buttered 9 x 13 baking dish. Bake at 350 for approx 30-40 minutes. When done tomatoes should be a deep, rich red and have the intensity of fresh summer tomatoes just picked from the garden. Serve as a side dish, on bruschetta with olive tapenade, or toss with a little olive oil, pasta and freshly grated parmesan cheese.