Daily Planet Dining

Wednesday October 9, 2013 I along with my boyfriend of three years went to the DailyPlanet in downtown Burlington, Vermont.

 When I first heard about the Daily Planet I was a freshman in college and very interested as to what kind of food they served.  Coming from a large Greek family I am in love with food, so when I pick a restaurant to go to I want to know that it is going to be satisfying.  With this time going to the Daily Planet as being an occasion, I wanted to make sure that they would make the experience memorable.  When first walking into the Daily Planet you are greeted by a lovely hostess and a warm welcome.  As you are talking all you can smell is all the delicious food that is being cooked and that is something about this restaurant that I hope never changes.  Once you walk in you are seated in one of the many multi-decorative rooms.  We were seated a room that I have sat in before the renovations were made.  The room was filled with different plants and flowers making the overall experience feel very organic and comforting.  We got to sit in the corner which made for the meal to be romantic to say the least. 

photo taken from Google

            When going out for an occasion, drinks are always a must!  I ordered a regular mojito.  My mojito was sweet and had just the right amount of lime.  My boyfriend ordered a beer, the Sixpoint: Sweet Action to start with.  “The beer complimented the appetizers” my boyfriend stated.  With that being said and with it being his birthday I wanted him to get all that he wanted.  So along with getting complementary pieces of their fluffy rosemary bread, we ordered two appetizers.  The maura’s salad along with the corn crusted calamari.  The execution of both the dishes was to perfection.  The maura’s salad was a combination of baby greens mixed with roasted garlic, bleu cheese crumbs, sliced red grapes, toasted pecans, and dressed in balsamic vinaigrette.  At first, we weren’t sure about how the red grapes would marinate with the other ingredients, especially the dressing, but to our surprise they added some lightness and sweetness to the dish I didn’t expect.  The toasted pecans mixed with the crumbs of blue cheese created a sensational flavor in my mouth.  “When you got all of the ingredients in one bite it made all of the different flavors pop” my boyfriend commented.  There was a perfect amount of vinaigrette which made the baby greens stay fresh and not become wilted or soggy.  The salad made for a perfect compliment for the corn crusted calamari. 


 With the breading being corn crusted which means that the calamari is made with cornmeal and flour, and it being fried in canola oil rather than lard, it made for each piece to be fluffy and crunchy in every bite.  Many places tend to over batter anything they fry, but in the Daily Planet’s case that does not happen.  The ratio of batter to calamari was perfectly distributed and disabled the pieces from being greasy or dense.  The sauce that was given with the calamari was a tangy, yet sweet dipping sauce.  It sort of reminded me of a tarter sauce, but that much sweeter.  They also gave you a slice of lemon to sprinkle over the calamari pieces which certainly added an extra layer of flavor.  As we finished our appetizers in record time, our waitress brought out our main dishes of the evening.  In some senses I was stuffed, but watching her bring our enormous plates over to us brought happiness to my mind and stomach.

I got the pasta rigatoni which was pasta with a basil puree, heirloom tomatoes, arugula, parmesan & manchego, and pieces of grilled chicken.  I was expecting the basil puree to be much thicker and more like a pesto sauce, but it was more of a broth if you will.  However, the chicken was grilled perfectly and the mixture of tomatoes and arugula added some freshness to the dish.  The two different types of cheeses was a big hit in my book considering I am a sucker for any kind of cheese and mixing cheese with any kind of pasta is a win in my book.  The pasta was perfectly tender and the way the chicken marinated in with the noodles and other ingredients could be considered extraordinary.  I saved some of the rosemary bread to dip into my basil puree and I was surprised as to how the basil and rosemary created another wonderful and fulfilling flavor in my mouth.  My boyfriend ordered grilled bistro steak which came with a port wine demi sauce, fig butter, and butter milk mashed potatoes.  Thin, crispy strips of sweet potatoes topped the well-cooked steak along with a bed of sautéed carrots.  After taking a bite of the steak mixed with the mashed potatoes I was in awe.  The butter milk mashed potatoes were fluffy and when mixed in with the port wine demi it created a sweet, yet savory flavor in my mouth.  “The steak was marinated and cooked to perfection.  The mashed potatoes and sautéed provided great accents to this overall delectable entrée” my boyfriend stated.      

  

First Time Diner

While visiting Stratton, Vermont and my friend’s barn I was able to test taste some of the food that will be featured at the Fire Tower Restaurant& Tavern in the Stratton Mountain Ski Resort Village.  Her father is the owner of the restaurant so she was able to have some of the food sent over to the barn for us to try.  This wonderful buffet of food included stuffed pork & cabbage wontons, jerk seasoned chicken wings, garlic bread topped with goat cheese, and a pasta and beef dish tossed in a blue cheese sauce.  It was all so delicious that I can’t wait to try the other items that will be seen on the menu once they open which will be around Thanksgiving.

         Photo taken from Google

Now onto the pork & cabbage stuffed wontons.  I have never been a wonton lover, but this certainly changed my mind.  The way they were cooked was to perfection.  Rather them being fried they were lightly seared in a way that made the shell stay together, but also stay fluffy and not too hard.  The filling of pork and cabbage certainly complimented each other.  The spicy bits of pork mixed in with the highly flavored cabbage made for the dish to be refreshing and pallet cleansing.  With the flavors being not too over powering and the wontons themselves being almost bite size allowed them to be seen as a playful appetizer as well as a great initiation into the other dishes.

            The jerk seasoned chicken wings certainly packed a punch.  After eating different styles of jerk chicken before, I was surprised as to the amount of flavor that was given when I bit into these chicken wings.  In every bite there was a spicy, yet tangy note and it made my taste buds go wild.  “After eating the wings the seasoning lingers on your tongue and carries over onto the other dishes,” one of my friends commented.  Mixing the chicken wings with the blue cheese sauce from the pasta dish brought the intensity down a bit and that worked well for me, while my fellow diners loved the hotness that they were receiving from the dish.

            With that being said, the pasta and beef dish mixed in a blue cheese sauce, which is going to be called the “beef and blue” on the restaurant menu was at the top of my list out of all the food that we tasted and many agreed.  “The steak was tender and the blue cheese sauce held the dish together well” a fellow diner commented.  For those who are huge blue cheese fans they would love this dish especially with the mixing of the pasta and the little pieces of tender beef!  The ratio of sauce to pasta and beef was perfect and it made for a great dipping sauce for not only the wings as mentioned above, but also for the garlic bread.  The way the goat cheese almost sunk into the blue cheese was a shock to me and the others.  The pasta that was used in this dish was spiral pasta and that made the dish whimsical and fun for everyone.  By having the pasta and pieces of beef be almost the same size allowed for them to harmonize well with each other and the sauce.      

            When eating pasta bread is always necessary so the garlic bread topped with little crumbles of goat cheese was icing on the cake.  The bread was lightly toasted giving the top and outside exterior a golden brown coloring.  With the bread being slightly toasted it allowed for each piece to have a nice crunch, but the actual fluffiness when you bit into the bread was not compromised.  The garlic spread that was placed on the top acted as a seasoning making for each bite to be packed with garlicky goodness.  The semi-melted goat cheese crumbles added a sweet taste to the dish. 

            When first walking into my friend’s barn I was certainly not expecting this gourmet meal, but too my surprise there it was!  Four tin pans holding four great dishes.  So great that I would drive to Stratton, Vermont just to see and more importantly try all of the other food items on their menu.  

Favorite Party Dishes

When going to a party you always want to bring some dish to the table, whether it is shrimp cocktail, nachos or simply cheese and crackers.  I always go overboard with party dishes, so here are some of my favorite party favors!

• cheese & crackers- it can be hard cheese or the kind of cheese that you spread, either way it makes for a great party appetizer

• vegetables & dip- this is not only a healthy and refreshing party dish, but it also pairs well with other meals that other people are bringing

• buffalo chicken dip- this is a rather spicy dish, but is makes for a great dip for tortilla chips

• chicken wings- since you can hold them in one hand this makes them easy to eat and fun as well

• shrimp cocktail- this is a light and refreshing dish that can be paired with many other foods

• stuffed mushrooms- these are light and easy to eat, they also are small which allows you to be able to eat more of them

• nachos- these are always a party favorite, just make sure you include all of the toppings

• jalapeno poppers- for those who love that spice, you will love these

• salad- this is always something that people love, it is healthy and it also can be a great side dish to all of the other foods 

• finger sandwiches- these are easy to eat and they can be assorted with many different meats, condiments, and toppings

My Favorite 5 Leftover dishes

Being in college leftovers are a huge part of our eating habits!  We take leftovers from restaurants, our houses when we go one break, and our own cooking.  I am here to tell you what my favorite leftovers are

1. Pizza- whether you eat it cold or re-heated pizza is great anytime

2. Chinese Food- you can eat this cold or re-heated as well, but no matter which way you have it, it still tastes good

3. Salad- salad is one of those meals that will stay fresh and will be a great kick-starter to a meal

4. Pasta- re-heat your pasta and add some extra ingredients to it, whether it is sauce, cheese or something else, pasta is always a comforting meal.

5. Chicken and/or steak kabobs- these leftovers are always great!  But make sure you don't over-heat the meat because it will end up being very dry!

Leftovers are certainly a personal preference, but if you make the dish right the first time there is no way it can taste bad the second time!

After Workout Foods

Working out and staying healthy and fit is essential, especially when you are getting older.  I personally love working out and always have, but the one thing I can't crave is my need for food.  I have always wondered what the best foods are to eat after a hard workout.  Thanks to an article that was featured on BuzzFeed Food I learned what the 14 best after workout foods are.

1. Eggs
2. Quinoa
3. Orange Juice
4. Kefir
5. Bananas
6. Salmon
7. Blueberries
8. Whole-Grain Pita & Humus
9. Dried Fruit & Nuts
10. Pineapple
11. Sweet Potatoes
12. Kiwi
13. Water
14. EAT SOMETHING

Each one of these foods has a great amount of nutrients, making your body feel better both inside and out!

Top 5 Vegetables to Eat

Vegetables are an essential part to everyone's daily diet.  They provide a great source of nutrients to your body and they also can protect your body from different types of cancers as well as reduce the risk of heart disease.  With that being said I try to take in at least 2 servings of vegetables a day.  However vegetables are prepared they are always fresh and healthy!

My top 5 Favorite Veggies are:

5.Mushrooms

4. Tomatoes

3. Cucumber

2. Broccoli

1. Spinach

You can do so much with vegetables such as saute them, fry them, steam or boil them.  Whatever you do with your veggies they will be good no matter what.  My two favorite veggie dishes are my chicken and vegetables stir-fry and omelets.  I load so many veggies into both dishes that soon after my body feels great inside and out.

You can add vegetables to almost any dish making each meal taste light and fresh!

My top 5 Favorite meals that are based around veggies are:

5. Stir-Fry

4. Vegan Chili

3. Vegetable Soup/Stew

2. Vegetable Omelet

1.  Greek Salad

Vegetables along the side of fruit are that one food group that can be eaten almost anytime of the day and you don't have to feel bad about eating them!  It's a win win!  So go get off your couch and go to a local farmers market, grab yourself some fresh vegetables and make any of the meals that I have suggested or create your own vegetable oriented dishes!

Cereals Declining?

photo taken by Ariele Pappalimberis

After reading an article from the Huffington Post that talked about the eating of cereal declining I began to think about how much I like cereal and how much I do eat cereal.  When I was in high school I rarely ate breakfast, but now being in college I find myself eating cereal more and more.

The cereals that I always find myself going back to are Honey Nut Cheerios, Frosted Flakes, and Raisin Brain.  The reason why I love these cereals so much is because they taste good (of course) and because I have been eating them since I was a kid, so it is a comfort factor.

Now days kids aren't eating cereal for breakfast, but are more focused on eating things such as Nature Valley Bars, Yogurt, and protein shakes & bars.  Why are cereals declining you might ask... well according to the article featured in the Huffington post it is because "people are just bored with it and also because let's be honest, there are far more intersecting things to eat for breakfast now" (Cereal's Future Is In Jeopardy.)  

I found this article to be very alarming because many good things can come from eating the right kinds of cereals.  For example Honey Nut Cheerios are can help lower your cholesterol and Raisin Brain is rich in fiber.  I think that the real problem regarding cereals is that kids and parents these days don't want the good kind of cereals, but would rather the ones that just simply taste good such as Lucky Charms, Coco Puffs, Trix, etc.  Also, people these days just don't have the time for breakfast in general.  This idea was also brought up in the article and it made me think about how breakfast is the most important meal of the day.  We all should be eating something for breakfast whether it is cereal, yogurt, or a piece of fruit.  

I'm not sure if  the people who produce the cereal are at fault for this decline or if it is just simply because people these days have changed their ways of viewing breakfast as a whole.  I personally will never stop eating Cheerios or breakfast just because it is a necessity to the day.

 

Craving Mexican?

If you are one of those people who crave Mexican food, you have to try El Gato Cantina on Church Street in Burlington, Vermont.  Their food is good and the atmosphere is fun and lively! The first time I went to El Gato was just a few weeks ago, and although I am not a huge fan of Mexican food this place was certainly good.  I went with a friend and ordered appetizers and drinks.  

Right when you are seated the waitress brings over a large basket of very crispy tortilla chips with a side of spicy salsa.  I'm not a huge fan of spice, but the kick that I got in each bite of the salsa was great.  El Gato specializes in drinks that are filled with Tequila.  I personally am not a Tequila fan, but that didn't stop me from trying my friends strawberry Margarita.  The flavors were good and I liked how you couldn't really taste the Tequila.  For my drink I ordered a rum and coke and that went very well with the chips.  

Now onto the apps..... Although we already got our chip fix we ended up ordering El Gato's Nachos Grande.  This dish consisted of tortilla chips (of course) topped with cheese, beans, lettuce, tomatoes, and sour cream.  You could also get shredded chicken or beef, so we got the chicken.  After eating the whole basket of tortilla chips we were hoping that the nachos wouldn't be too big, but they were!

The dish was about 5 inches high, but it all looked so good!  The chips were totally bombarded with tons of each ingredient making each bite taste like heaven.  I ordered some guacamole on the side which added some light and freshness to the dish.  To my surprise they ended up charging us $4 for the added on guacamole which I was not too pleased with, but on the other hand the meal was great.  A few drinks later and as our belly's grew intensely full we decided it was time to leave.

El Gato is a great place to go if you want just a few apps and drinks.  Most of their prices are reasonable and the energetic personalities of the hostess and waitress made for a great night.

Simply Beef Stew

photo taken by Ariele Pappalimberis

  

One of my favorite meals of all time is my mom's beef stew.  Everything about this dish tastes good.  She puts so much love into the stew that I can never get enough!

The ingredients are as follows:

-medium size pieces of beef
-celery
-potatoes
-carrots
-spices/herbs
-onions
-broth




 When cutting the vegetables my mom always makes sure that they are all cut the
same size.  This allows each ingredient to cook at the same rate and time as all of the other ingredients.  She even cuts the beef the same size as the veggies and it certainly makes a difference.  When cooking the beef stew my mom always tries to cook the beef until it is tender; tender enough that you don't need to even use a knife when you are cutting it.  She puts all of these ingredients into a crock pot for a few hours until all of the flavors marinate in with each other.

photo taken by Ariele Pappalimberis

My mom usually makes her beef stew in the winter, so when my dad comes in from working outside all day he is cold and hungry.  To counter-effect his hunger my mom will serve the stew with a side dish, which is dinner rolls.  This meal doesn't need to be paired with anything, but bread always makes a meal better; especially dinner rolls!  They make for a great dipping item and they also add some texture to the dish as a whole.  Lather your roll with butter, dip it into the tasty beef broth, and there you have it!  A warm meal with a side of crunch.  You can't get much better than my mom's beef stew