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| Zootoo Review Thu, 1 May 2008 11:24:56 -0500 As Zootoo. com’s Richard Thompson spoke about the chances of the Bowling Green-Warren County Humane Society winning $1 million from the pet owners’ networking site for its animal shelter, a handful of dogs in an outdoor kennel appeared to bark their approval. |
| Park nearing completion Thu, 1 May 2008 11:19:08 -0500 A flurry of activity is expected over the next few weeks to get Circus Square ready for its May 31 scheduled completion. |
| Cops warn of pot fields Thu, 1 May 2008 11:19:09 -0500 Corn and soybeans aren’t the only crops being planted locally. |
| Lean time for Community Action in BG Thu, 1 May 2008 11:19:10 -0500 A hundred and thirty people who volunteer at Community Action of Southern Kentucky’s senior centers got a thank-you lunch at Living Hope Baptist Church on Wednesday, posing for commemorative pictures and listening to “WVOL Radio Hour” comedy skits modeled on Burns & Allen and Raymond Chandler stories. |
| CASA remembers Thu, 1 May 2008 11:19:11 -0500 Court Appointed Special Advocates of South Central Kentucky took time to remember victims of child abuse, holding a candlelight vigil Thursday night in Fountain Square Park. |
| Houchens buys interest in fence materials business Thu, 1 May 2008 11:19:12 -0500 Bowling Green’s Houchens Industries continues to add to its diverse portfolio of enterprises, announcing Wednesday that it has purchased a 50 percent interest in a Russell Springs fence materials distribution company. |
| Program collects more than 80,000 tires Thu, 1 May 2008 11:19:12 -0500 The state-sponsored tire amnesty program collected between 80,000 and 90,000 tires in Warren County during its three days of operation, Saturday to Monday, said Stan Reagan, county Environmental Planning & Assistance coordinator. |
| POLICE NEWS: Georgia man pleads guilty to sex charge Thu, 1 May 2008 11:19:13 -0500 Fahrudin Music, 24, of Lawrenceville, Ga., pleaded guilty Tuesday to traveling across state lines with the intent to engage in a sexual act with a minor. |
| Exploring the arts Thu, 1 May 2008 10:30:38 -0500 Independent galleries will open their doors to show what the Bowling Green arts scene has to offer with the second Gallery Hop. The Bowling Green Gallery Hop - from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday - will be at 11 different sites. Admission is free. Maps with locations and addresses of participating galleries will be available at each site. The maps will also list stops of GO BG Transit, which is offering Get Out on the Town Friday night in conjunction with the Gallery Hop. The first 60 people to call will be able to ride free, said Memphis Marsha’s Art Gallery and Classes owner Marsha Heidbrink, co-chairwoman of the Gallery Hop. After the first 60, tickets are $5 to ride for the whole evening. “Normally, it’s $2 every time you get on,” she said. “We didn’t know too much about shuttle service when we started doing this. We were looking for a shuttle service that is handicapped accessible.” Ginny Miller, executive director of VSA arts of Kentucky, is happy about the addition of GO BG Transit. “We’re real excited to see how this will work,” she said. “Transportation will be accessible. It’s right there.” The Gallery Hop - which is patterned after similar events in Lexington and Louisville - will include various types of artwork, including drawings, paintings, printmaking, collages, photography, sculptures and more. Heidbrink said she hopes this one is just as successful as the previous one in February. “Most of the galleries will have a different show this time from what we (had in February). We are pleased with the different groups that wanted to be on the Hop. We got a lot of good comments on the first one,” she said. “A lot of people come by and you get a lot of people who say they’ve never been in before. We think that the shuttle will help with that. You don’t have to park or know where it is.” Miller said the VSA arts of Kentucky gallery will feature artists Lanny Taulbee of Lexington and Pamela Tingle of Bowling Green. Both will be at the Gallery Hop so guests can meet them. “Lanny does stippling (using small dots in artwork). He does a lot of different mediums but likes pen and ink. He captures a lot of animals in his work. Nature is the major subject of his work,” she said. “Pamela will have some abstract art work and some black and white and color artwork. She has one piece that’s realistic; she does a variety of work as well.” VSA arts provides arts education and inclusion programs for children and adults with disabilities. “We wanted people to know the many places in the community where they can see visual arts. We just moved into our public space last May because we want to be a part of this community and wanted to be a part downtown,” Miller said. “We wanted to find a place in the arts district so that can people learn who we are, what we do and what we provide. We exhibit work because we are trying to help artists become professional. We don’t put it up just because they have a disability.” One of the things Miller likes most about participating in the Gallery Hop is the camaraderie among the galleries. “Nobody’s competing against each other. We’re helping each other advance because of the arts,” she said. “Art brings joy to our lives in so many different ways. When we can work together, we have a much stronger product.” The next Gallery Hops will be Aug. 8 and Dec. 12. Those who ride GO BG Transit should arrive at their stop five minutes early. For more information about the shuttle schedule, call 782-3162. For more information about the Gallery Hop, call 781-0872. The following studios are on the Gallery Walk: |
| Strawberry Fest returns Friday to Woodburn Thu, 1 May 2008 10:30:38 -0500 Woodburn will celebrate one of its former cash crops with the 10th annual Woodburn Days Strawberry Festival. The two-day event will begin at 8 p.m. Friday and continue Saturday along Main Street in front of Marsha T’s Antique Center. Also held in conjunction with the festival will be Rock Garden Farm’s Spring Gathering from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the shop at 12785 Nashville Road in Woodburn, as well as Chaney’s Dairy Barn’s Kentucky Proud Festival from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the restaurant at 9191 Nashville Road. The Strawberry Festival will include antique and collectible flea market, crafts, a citywide yard sale and children’s activities. There will also be barbecue, strawberry shortcake, strawberry fried pies, Mennonite baked goods and other types of food for sale, as well as registration for a free gift certificate and special discounts at Marsha T’s Antique Center. “The Strawberry Festival started as an anniversary celebration for Marsha T’s Antique Center, and now everyone in Woodburn is involved in it,” said Marsha T’s Antique Center owner Marsha McCurry, who helps with the festival. “The city does not charge the vendors. It’s a fun day for everybody.” It becomes a homecoming of sorts for people in and from Woodburn as well as a historical moment for those who visit, McCurry said. “People come who have a connection to Woodburn or because they want a little bit of history. You go back in time with the old buildings. There’s a lot of history in Woodburn,” she said. “They see friends they haven’t seen in a while. It’s like a big reunion. People come everywhere for this. Woodburn is a very special place.” Rock Garden Farm owner Darlene Sawyers agreed. Spring Gathering will feature 30 vendors from Kentucky, Indiana and Tennessee bringing a mixture of antiques, primitives, crafts, collectibles and flowers. “It’s a real social day. People from the community all come out,” she said. “It’s a good day to see everybody. A lot of people come from out of state. It’s a little gathering we enjoy.” The festival draws at least 1,000 to 1,500 people to Rock Garden Farm alone, Sawyers said. “We’ve done this here for at least six years. There was another shop up the road having a festival, and we were getting the overflow so we just decided to join in,” she said. “It’s the biggest day of the year for us.” Now in its fourth year as part of the Strawberry Festival, Chaney’s Kentucky Proud Festival will boast 14 Kentucky vendors selling a variety of items including soy candles, honey, handmade items and stained glass. The restaurant will also sell grilled ribeye sandwiches and hamburgers as well as a strawberry dessert, owner Debra Chaney said. “We’re part of the Woodburn community. When there are more things for people to do, it gives the crowd a variety of things to see and do,” she said. “We’re excited. I think it will be a fun day.” — For more information about the Strawberry Festival, call 529-2424 or 529-5101. For more information about A Spring Gathering, call 529-9144. For more information about Chaney’s Daily Barn Kentucky Proud Festival, call 843-5567. |
| Chemistry between Fey, Poehler absent in ‘Mama’ Thu, 1 May 2008 10:30:38 -0500 Tina Fey and Amy Poehler are two very funny women. But not even their talents, nor those of some other high-profile actors, can save the rather pedestrian “Baby Mama.” While this comedy does have a few mild laughs, it mostly misfires, thanks to a script that is nowhere near the talent level of its cast. Fey plays Kate, a successful businesswoman who believes she is finally ready to have a baby. Her plans are derailed when she discovers that she is infertile, forcing Kate to find an alternative plan to motherhood. Kate goes to a surrogacy center, where she is matched with Angie (Poehler) - a dim-witted, working-class woman who is the exact opposite of Kate’s controlling personality. The arrangement hits a different level when Angie leaves her boyfriend and arrives at Kate’s apartment looking for a place to crash. Screenwriter and first-time director Michael McCullers is obviously going for a female “Odd Couple,” but the formula feels stale and wastes the obvious chemistry Fey and Poehler had as castmates on “Saturday Night Live.” What does work are several subplots that display the immense talent depth of the cast of “Baby Mama.” Steve Martin nearly steals the movie as Kate’s eccentric hippy boss, and Sigourney Weaver is a welcome surprise as the owner of the fertility clinic. It’s during those scenes that you can see McCullers has some talent as a writer (he did help write two “Austin Powers” films and “Undercover”). Still, I can’t help but wonder what “Baby Mama” could have been if someone like Fey stepped in and added her talents as a writer. This was a film with material and a cast full of potential that I think Fey could have successfully tapped into. As it is, “Baby Mama” is nothing more than the final afterthought before Hollywood brings out the big guns for the summer movie season with the arrival of “Iron Man” on Friday. DVD dandy of the week This week’s dandy is “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” (A-), one of the most visually original films in recent memory, and one that features just as much substance as style. “Butterfly” is based on the true story of Elle magazine editor Jean-Dominique Bauby. Bauby seemed to have everything he could ever want, but his world came crashing down when he suffered a stroke that completely paralyzed his body - with the exception of his left eye. Despite his handicap, Bauby was still able to use his eye to blink his memoir - giving others a chance to feel his torment of being trapped inside a body that can no longer function. “Diving Bell and the Butterfly” was a film that received a lot of critical acclaim and arthouse buzz, but the subject matter was something I wasn’t sure would interest me. Fortunately, the film managed to greatly exceed my expectations, thanks in part to director Julian Schnabel. Here is a filmmaker not afraid to try something different, and his decision to film the majority of the movie from Bauby’s point of view after the stroke was nothing short of magnificent. By seeing the world through this person, Schnabel captures Bauby’s isolation - letting the audience have a better understanding of what he went through while writing his memoirs. It also serves as a way for Schnabel to take “Butterfly” out of the box - with dreamlike sequences that only emphasize how strong-willed Bauby was despite his paralysis. “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” is rated PG-13 for nudity, sexual content and some language and is available on DVD. — Micheal Compton - one of the more visually original sportswriter/movie reviewers in recent memory - can be reached for comment by e-mailing mcompton@bgdailynews.com. |
| Appreciation Fest returning Sunday Thu, 1 May 2008 10:30:39 -0500 Nearly 20 southcentral Kentucky musical acts will show their appreciation to fans with Appreciation Fest 2008. Sponsored by the Kentucky Blues Society, the Son Rhea Foundation and Franklin Bank & Trust Co., the concert will be from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday at Wha Bah Steakhouse Saloon and Steelhorse Ranch. An afterparty will start at 10 p.m. Cost is $20. Tickets are available at Wah Bah, Tony Lindsey and Co. and Airport Liquors. Proceeds will benefit the Son Rhea Foundation, a nonprofit group that gives children the opportunity to participate in music and art. Son Rhea founder Tony Lindsey said the concert will benefit a lot of people. “The main benefit is for the (Son Rhea) Foundation and helping children,” he said. “We’re also showcasing great talent.” According to the event Web site at www.appreciationfest. com, Appreciation Fest began when southcentral Kentucky musicians joined with local business to put on an annual concert the Sunday after Louisville’s Kentucky Derby to show appreciation to those who supported them throughout the year. The funds raised went to charity, and the event was held at Beech Bend Park. The event was put on hold for lack of a compatible location after Beech Bend was repeatedly sold. “In the 20th century, Appreciation was an event Tony and I were involved in,” Kentucky Blues Society member Kenny Lee said. “It showcased whatever our music output was for that year. It was a chance for fans to attend a real nice event outdoors.” The last Appreciation Fest happened more than 10 years ago, Lee said. “It was one thing missing for community. We’ve had a lot of great things coming out of Bowling Green musically, musicians who have gone on to great acclaim,” he said. “There are festivals like this around country. The Kentucky Blues Society and the Son Rhea Foundation depend primarily on fundraisers for our programs. We think this is something that will help contribute to growth of our community.” The concert will also expose the bands to more people, Lee said. “People may go out because one of their favorite bands are playing, and they may find three or four other bands they like in the process,” he said. — For more information about Appreciation Fest, call 782-6400. Outdoor Stage 2 p.m. - Stormbringer 3 p.m. - Taildragger 4 p.m. - Floord 5 p.m. - Skip Bond and the Fugitives 6 p.m. - The Last Straw with Kyle Daniel 7 p.m. - John Cowan Bill Lloyd 8 p.m. - Von Guarde 9 p.m. - Appreciation Fest All'Stars Indoor Stage 2 p.m. - Just Us (acoustic) 2:30 p.m. - Jonesy (acoustic) 3 p.m. - Brennan Graves (acoustic) 3:30 p.m. - Cheap Shot 4:15 p.m. - Pure Gravel 5 p.m. - Steve Sanders and Hardknocks 5:45 p.m. - Cootie Brown 6:45 p.m. - C. J. Vaughn & Highway 58 7:30 p.m. - J-Rod and the NMR 8:15 p.m. - Andrea Tanaro and the Optional Italian Buffet 9 p.m. - T Martel and Kenny Lee 10 p.m. - Appreciation Fest After Party for people ages 21 and up |
| Around town Thu, 1 May 2008 10:30:40 -0500 What’s going on in the area. Art The paintings of Rhonda Hartis Smith will be on display at the Health and Wellness Center of Greenwood Mall through June. Alison Houk’s photography will be shown in The Medical Center’s Cancer Center through May 15. The Capitol Arts Alliance Galleries and ArtWorks, a Visual Arts Coalition, will present the second annual art fair, “Saturday in the Park … with Art” from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. May 31 in Fountain Square Park. Artists who want more information should call Lynn Robertson at 782-2787 or look under “projects” at artworksinc .org. Register by May 10. In conjunction with the Bowling Green Gallery Hop, VSA arts of Kentucky presents a joint exhibition by two of its own registry artists, Lexington artist Lanny Taulbee and abstractions by Bowling Green artist Pamela Tingle. This exhibition will run from Friday until June 27. The Gallery Hop is from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday VSA’s gallery is at 515 E. 10th Ave. Art Times Three, an exhibition featuring the art of Colleen Hathaway, Marsha Heidbrink, and Delaire Rowe, is showing at The Presbyterian Church, 10th Avenue and State Street, in the Fellowship Hall Gallery from Friday to June 13. The works may be seen from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. There will be an opening reception honoring the artists from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday in conjunction with The Gallery Hop. Opening at the Capitol Arts Center’s Houchens Gallery on Friday will be an exhibit titled “A Tribute to Local Trees” featuring the watercolors of specific trees in the community by Jay Dougherty and the photography of Jared Weaver, both arborists for the city. The exhibit will also feature the bonsai trees of Mitchell Leichhardt and Steve Gardner. Leichhardt is a well-known local nurseryman and Gardner is a bonsai artist. The opening reception is from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and is a part of the Bowling Green Gallery Hop. Featured in the Mezzanine Gallery of the Capitol Arts Center will be the watercolors of Lana Williams with the photography of her son, Michael Williams. Both exhibits will run through May 27. Campus “Beyond Our Borders,” an exhibit of international photographs by Western Kentucky University photojournalism students, is on display at Mass Media and Technology Hall. The exhibit consists of photographs taken by students in France, Spain, Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru and others and will be on display in the gallery through August. The Kentucky Library & Museum will host two senior exhibitions this year. The Graduating Senior Art Exhibition will feature works from graduating visual art students Western Kentucky University. The exhibit will run through May 10. Exhibits at the Kentucky Building on Western Kentucky University’s campus include: “U.S. Bank Celebration of the Arts,” which opens Sunday; “VSA Arts: Side by Side,” “Recommended by Duncan Hines,” “Western 100,” “Growing Up Victorian,” “Roads, Rails and Rivers,” “Hascal Haile: Guitar-maker to the Stars” and “Taking the Mystery out of Prehistory.” For more information, contact the Kentucky Building at 745-2592. Western Kentucky University will host its semi-annual Performer of the Semester Recital at 1 p.m. Wednesday in Ivan Wilson Fine Arts Center. The event is free and open to the public. Clubs The Factory at Cave City will feature The Moon Woods Band from 8 p.m. to midnight on the first Saturday of each month. The facility is on U.S. 31-W, just north of the Ky. 90 intersection across from Dollar General. Saturday Night Karaoke with Wayne Hallet will be from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. each Saturday at Burgers On The Square in Franklin. The smoke-free facility is for the entire family, with the bar for adults only after 9 p.m. For more information, go to www.burgers onthesquare.com. Rick Dunn will have karaoke from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Thursdays at Spillway Bar and Grill, 2195 Louisville Road. Ricky Beavers has karaoke Friday nights at the Brown Jug, U.S. 31-W By-Pass in Bowling Green, beginning at 8 p.m., and from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays at Flealand in Bowling Green. Miss Kitty’s, 3315 Louisville Road, has live bands beginning at 9 p.m. each Friday and Saturday; Wednesdays feature karaoke and Thursdays feature acoustic music, nightly specials and pool tables. There is no cover charge. For more information, call 782-7777. Miss Kitty’s also offers a safe ride home program. Betty’s Bar has karaoke with Sheila on Wednesday and karaoke each Friday and Saturday. The Brewing Company, 423 Park Row, has live music from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. every Tuesday and Thursday through Saturday. Good Tymes 2, 1607 U.S. 31-W By-Pass, has top 40 hits from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. every Wednesday through Saturday. Music Fresh Fridays will be the first Friday of each month at Bread & Bagel, 871 Broadway Ave. The cost is $5 and doors open at 7:30 p.m. Nashville Soul Invasion will be there May 9, with doors opening at 8:30 p.m. Calvin Ray’s Live Music & Restaurant in Leitchfield features live music with Calvin Ray and The Blue Moon Highway Band from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. each Saturday. For more information, call (502) 538-2893. Dumplin’s Diner in Adairville has a karaoke contest each Saturday night. Entry fee is $5 and first prize gets $100. For more information, call (270) 539-5413. Lucio, along with The Rose Band, performs at Main St. Music in Morgantown from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays. Simply Country Band performs from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays at Main St. The facility is behind McDonald’s. Theater Fountain Square Players will conduct auditions for “Crazy for You,” directed by Kathy Wise-Leonard, on May 12 and 13. This is FSP’s fifth and final show of the 2007-08 season. Auditions will be at the Capitol Arts Center beginning at 7 p.m. The show calls for a large cast. Bring a song and be prepared to sing. An accompanist will be provided. Performances will take be at the Capitol on July 17-20. Help will also be needed with set construction, costumes, props and stage crew. Pine Knob Theatre “Under the Stars” will begin its 22nd season with a meeting at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Theatre. Present cast and former cast should attend, as well as newcomers interested in performing live theatre. Productions are Friday and Saturday nights, June through September. For more information, call (270) 879-8190 or go to www.pineknob.com. Expressions Performing Arts is looking to start a Creative Workshop Group for those interested in the performing arts. Those interested in traditional and improvisational storytelling, comedy, drama and Imagination Theatre as an art form are encouraged to attend. If you are interested, contact Robin Baldwin at 746-2988 for more information. Fountain Square Players presents, “First Baptist of Ivy Gap,” a comedy written by Ron Osborne and directed by Bill Russell, at The Phoenix Theater located on 545 Morris Alley. Performances are at 8 p.m. May 15-16 and at 3 p.m. May 18. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and students and $8 for children under 12. Tickets can be purchased through the Capitol Arts Center by calling 782-2787. The New Era Planning Association has announced plans for the fifth Shake Rag Heritage Festival from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. May 17 at Riverfront Park. There will be music, art and entertainment for children and adults. Free inflatable games and other activities will be provided. On-site food vendors will have food for sale. Odds & Ends Free dyslexia presentation is from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. May 8 at Greenwood Park Church of Christ. Sign up for the seminar online at www.GreenwoodEventBrite.com or call Bonnie Nicks at 303-6839 or Brandie Shelton at 846-7137 for more information. The law firm of Kerrick, Stivers, Coyle & Van Zant will be hosting an American Cancer Society Relay for Life yard sale from 6 a.m. to noon Saturday at 1025 State St. There will be many household items as well as office furniture. All proceeds will be donated to the American Cancer Society. The American Cancer Society Relay for Life is sponsoring “A Festival of Flava” on May 17 at the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, 874 East Eleventh Ave. (across the street from 11th St. Alternative School) This all day event begins at 6 a.m. with a yard sale. Beginning at 8 a.m., local grill masters will be competing for the best barbecue title. There will also be a competition for best side dishes and desserts. Inside the church there will be gospel singing and praise dancing from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., ending with a fashion show at 4 p.m. The public is invited to come out and support the Sisters Inspiring Sisters Relay for Life team and help raise funds for the American Cancer Society. Barren River State Resort Park’s 5k Classic is May 17. This is the second race in the Kentucky State Parks’ fourth annual Race Series. Start time is 8:30 a.m. Registration is $15 prior to race day and $20 on the day of the race. The Barren River Race is run on the 2.5 mile paved trail and a short section of the park road. For information, contact Lisa Deavers at 270-646-2151 or e-mail: lisa.deavers@ky.gov The SKY Farmers Market will be open from 7 a.m. to noon Saturdays and from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays in front of the Riverside Building at The Medical Center on U.S. 31-W By-Pass. Kentucky-grown agricultural, horticultural and artisan made products will be available for purchase. All produce and plants available at the market are 100 percent locally grown, 100 percent of the time. Karaoke is at Southern Lanes every Friday and Saturday night from 8:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. There is no cover charge. A regional chess club meets Tuesdays and Wednesdays at Barnes & Noble Booksellers. Players of all ages and talents are welcome. Tuesday’s meeting is at 9 a.m. and Wednesday’s meeting is at 1 p.m. For more information, call 991-0126. Friendly Hands Squares monthly dance is from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. the second Friday of each month at Cave Mill and Smallhouse roads in Bowling Green. For more information, call 781-6382. American Red Cross has blood drives each Friday at its office, 430 Center St., from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Additional drives are: 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday at Culvers of Bowling Green, 4903 Scottsville Road; 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Friday at Adairville Elementary School, 226 School St.; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday at WKU’s Diddle Arena; 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Bristow Elementary at 6151 Louisville Road; 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday at Cumberland Trace Elementary, 830 Cumberland Trace; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 8 at Briarwood Elementary School, 265 Lovers Lane. Lewisburg’s Purple Martin Festival is Saturday, beginning at 8 a.m. with a 5K. A parade will begin at 10 a.m., followed by various events throughout the day. — To add your event, go to www.bgdailynews.com/calendar |
| Hilton’s breakfast a luxurious escape Thu, 1 May 2008 10:30:41 -0500 There are several country-style, Southern breakfast eateries in Bowling Green that are deliciously greasy when I’m in the mood. But there is less than a handful of Tiffany-style breakfast establishments which I also find pleasurable. This is not to be confused with Breakfast at Tiffany’s, which was a simple menu outside the richest, most famous jewelry store in the country, but just the opposite - a breakfast with a well-to-do menu. I discovered the Hilton Garden Inn breakfast a few months ago, and finally made it in for a taste. While the Hilton did not have eggs Benedict on the menu (my personal standard for a lavish breakfast), it did offer a variety of breakfast items to enhance any morning meal. The restaurant, which also serves dinner, is housed just inside the lobby of the Hilton Garden Inn. I became enamored by the travel atmosphere, feeling as if I were actually away from home, and out of the blue began striking up conversations with the other guests about where they were from. My dining companion, on the other hand, sat at the table nostalgically noticing the upscale hotel d/cor that is a mirror image of any Hilton you might visit throughout the country. This luxury lends itself to the Tiffany-style breakfast, with thoughtful and soothing color combinations, deep grained decorative woods and opulent fixtures. The breakfast at Hilton Garden is a mix of buffet and made-to-order food. We each ordered at the made-to-order bar from a chalkboard menu. I ordered Texas-style French toast, my dining companion an omelet with potatoes. While we waited, we enjoyed a wide variety of fresh fruit housed in a bed of ice in the buffet. There were also the usual breakfast foods: bagels, doughnuts, toast, cereals - and even not so usual, soy milk. The buffet also included three kinds of juices, orange, apple and cranberry, in large ornamental carafes on the bar. I went for a cup of coffee and, by chance, discovered the Hilton Garden offers one of the best cups of coffee I have ever had. I don’t usually drink coffee black, but had overfilled the cup while chatting with a fellow traveler. I drank it down a bit so that I could add some of the flavored syrups they offered and was taken aback by the smooth flavor. Even my dining companion, who is not a coffee drinker, agreed. The first sip went down easy and lacked that usual bitter bite coffee can have. Our breakfasts arrived and while the omelet was not “fluffy” as the menu described, it was a flat, flavorful blend of eggs with a variety of chunky, abundant ingredients of your choice, like bacon, sausage, green peppers, onions, tomatoes, cheese and the like. It did not list mushrooms, but they were inadvertently included - so if you’re not a mushroom lover, take note and make sure to exclude them. The fried potatoes were tastefully unique and flavorful. The potatoes were uniformly cut into perfect half inch squares that were flawlessly fried in every direction - thick on the outside with a hint of soft potato on the inside. My Texas French toast was two pieces of thick bread, slightly crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. It needed just a small amount of butter and syrup because the sweetness of the egg batter was adequately enjoyable on its own. Breakfast at the Hilton Garden also offers patio dinning and was a splendid way to start the rest of our day, as we ended up engulfed in the true richness of taking in the wilderness while traveling down the Green River in a canoe. How lucky we are to have the best of both worlds in Bowling Green. — Our anonymous food reviewer gives new restaurants a six-week grace period before reviewing. To comment, please contact Managing Editor Mike Alexieff at 783-3235 or via e-mail to malexieff@bgdailynews.com. |
| Team slots still open for Rumble Run fundraiser Thu, 1 May 2008 10:30:41 -0500 Only a few team slots remain for the 2008 Rumble Run, a fundraiser for the Boys & Girls Club of Bowling Green. The marathon coaster ride is from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. May 10 at Beech Bend Park. The team competition will be from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., with a rules briefing at 5:30 p.m. There will be food, live music concerts and fun for the entire family. Discount event coupons can be picked up at any BB&T Bank branch location in Bowling Green. Teams must consist of five members and each team member is asked to make a $25 event donation, as well as sign a liability waiver. At least one member of each team should be on the ride at all times. Each team member gets free admission; event T-shirt; event certificate; complimentary bottled water and energy snacks. Team Competition deadline to participate is Wednesday. Interested participants should e-mail paulblick@insightbb.com or call 782-5964. |
| Johnny L. Combs II Thu, 1 May 2008 10:58:23 -0500 GLASGOW — Johnny Lee Combs II, 21, of Glasgow died April 30, 2008, at University of Louisville Hospital in Louisville. The Louisville native was an employee of Dana Corporation and a member of Dover Missionary Baptist Church. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and the outdoors. He was a son of Johnny Lee and Rebecca Sue Wilson Combs of Glasgow, who survive. Funeral is at 2 p.m. Friday at A.F. Crow & Son Funeral Home, with burial in Bethlehem Cemetery. Visitation is in progress until 9 p.m. today and continues Friday until service at the funeral home. Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to the American Cancer Society, c/o Nancy Richardson, 110 Ashwood lane, Glasgow, KY 42141; Kosair Charities, P.O. Box 37370, Louisville, KY 40233; or the Ronald McDonald House, 550 S. First St., Louisville, KY 40202. Other survivors include his fiancee, Emily Judd of Glasgow; three sisters, Vanessa Peterson and her husband, Marvin, of Horse Cave, Tonia Harris and her husband, Aaron, of Bowling Green and Vickie Shobe and her husband, Gus, of Glasgow; three brothers, Preston Ennis and his wife, Angela, Brian Combs and his wife, Amanda, and Timmy Combs and his wife, Tiffany, all of Glasgow; a maternal grandmother, Vetra Wilson of Glasgow; a paternal grandmother, Laverne Combs of Glasgow; 10 nieces; four nephews; and several aunts and uncles. |
| Agnes Ford Thu, 1 May 2008 10:58:24 -0500 TOMPKINSVILLE — Agnes Ford, 84, of Tompkinsville died April 29, 2008, at a Red Boiling Springs nursing home. The Monroe County native was born Feb. 24, 1924. She was a retired nurses’ aid from the Monroe County Medical Center and member of Cave Springs Missionary Baptist Church. She was a daughter of the late Arthur James Coley and Verna Etta Birdwell Coley and the wife of the late Van Tooley. She was preceded in death by a grandson, James Robert Branstetter. Funeral is at 1 p.m. Friday at Strode Funeral Home, with burial in Mount Poland Cemetery. Visitation begins at noon today and continues until the service time Friday at the funeral home. Survivors include a son, Larry Van Tooley of Tompkinsville; three daughters, Jo Ann Page and her husband, Charlie, and Mary Eugenia Branstetter, all of Tompkinsville, and Nancy Copass of Murfreesboro, Tenn.; two brothers, James Coley of Tompkinsville and Jesse Coley of Texas; a sister, Mary Miles of Tompkinsville; nine grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. |
| Neal Hall Thu, 1 May 2008 10:58:24 -0500 Neal Hall, 66, of Oakland died April 29, 2008, in Oakland. The Simpson County native was a farmer and truck driver for many years, a former employee of Snell and attended First Baptist Church of Woodburn and Lincoln High School. He was a son of the late Halis Viers and Loretta Duncan. He was preceded in death by a special family member, Sue Crowe. Funeral is at 11 a.m. Saturday at Burnam & Son Mortuary, with burial in First Baptist Church Woodburn Cemetery. Visitation is from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Survivors include a sister, Mary Helen Bunton of Woodburn; three nephews, Ronald Bunton, Felix Bunton and David Bunton; and his special family, Betty and the Rev. Bradley Lewis, Chester Crowe and his wife, Patsy, Anna Jones, Gladys Hite and her husband, Phillip, Alice Sanders and her husband, Edward, Beatrice Proctor and her husband, Richard, William Crowe, Brenda Ray, Alonzo Britt, Leroy Britt, Scott Britt, Albet Britt, Beatrice Dunn and Maneva Hays; 33 grandchildren; 46 great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild. |
| Lewis Hardison Thu, 1 May 2008 10:58:25 -0500 RUSSELLVILLE — Lewis Hardison, 81, of Russellville died April 29, 2008, at a Russellville nursing home. The Logan County native was born Dec. 27, 1926. He was a Baptist. He was a son of the late Eula Hardison. Memorial service is at 2 p.m. Friday at Young Funeral Home. Visitation begins at 1 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Survivors include a son, Steven Hardison of Russellville; two stepsons, Forrest Smotherman of Scottsville and Terry Smotherman of Auburn; three stepdaughters, Dorothy Fuller and Sheila Armstrong, both of Russellville, and Judy Pierce of Dunmor; six grandchildren; nine stepgrandchildren; 13 great-stepgrandchildren; and four great-great-stepgrandchildren. |
| Verna R. Morgan Thu, 1 May 2008 10:58:25 -0500 GLASGOW — Verna Ruth Pickett Morgan, 91, of Glasgow, died April 29, 2008, at the T. J. Samson Community Hospital. The Barren County native was a homemaker and a Baptist. She was a daughter of the late Robert and Lucy Bowles Pickett and the wife of the late John L. Morgan. She was preceded in death by a daughter-in-law, Virginia Mills Morgan; a step-granddaughter, Ginger Beckner; three sisters, Mattie Pickett, Mae Crawford and Ada Polson; three brothers, Paul Pickett, Raymond Pickett and Hall Pickett; a half-sister, Mamah McCoy; and three half-brothers, Harry Pickett, Willie Pickett and Amos Pickett. Funeral is at 11 a.m. Saturday at Hatcher & Saddler Funeral Home, with burial in the Glasgow Municipal Cemetery. Visitation begins at 2 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Survivors include four sons, Leonard Morgan and his wife, Shirley, and Michael Morgan and his wife, Jan, all of Glasgow, James Morgan of Boston, Ky., and Richard Morgan of Bloofield; two daughters, Shelby Bush and her husband, Rondal, of Glasgow, and Carolyn Sturgeon and her husband, Bryant, of Cave City; 10 grandchildren and two stepgrandchildren, Tina Burton and her husband, David, of Westmoreland, Tenn., Douglas Bush and his wife, Patricia, and Kelly Sturgeon and his wife, Janet, all of Glasgow, Jamie Shirley and her husband, Brandon, of Cave City, Chris Morgan and his wife, Stephanie, of Louisville, Angela Durham of Chaplin, Scott Morgan and Kasey Morgan of Boston, and Sara Russell and her husband, Kelly, John Michael Morgan and his wife, Kara, Jeff Hale and Kelly Pinkel and her husband, Chris, all of Glasgow; eight great-grandchildren, Quentin Burton, Cody Bush, Kelsey Sturgeon, Tyler Shirley, Logan Durham, Molly Durham, Bailey Morgan and Madlyn Morgan; and several nieces and nephews. |
| Kenneth J. Morrow Thu, 1 May 2008 10:58:25 -0500 MOORESVILLE, N.C. — Kenneth J. Morrow died April 28, 2008, at Lake Norman Regional Medical Center in Mooresville. The Bowling Green, Ky., native was born Sept. 4, 1932. He was employed by Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Mich., where he retired. He attended State Street School in Bowling Green, where he was active in the sports program, participating in basketball and football. He accepted Christ and was baptized in the early 1950s. He united with Third Park Street Church of Christ in Bowling Green. Later in life, he moved to the Detroit area, where he met and married Alma “Janie” Beatty Morrow. Children to this union are Kennyatta Morrow of Mooresville, Kenneth Morrow of Anderson, Ind., Tyrone Cole of Princeton, Ky., Donald Beatty of Durham, Debbie Preston and her husband, Anthony, of Mooresville and Terri Still of Durham; a goddaughter, Juantissa Hill of Washington, D.C.; 11 grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. He was a son of the late George Morrow and Margaret Chapman Morrow. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Lucian Morrow, Walter Morrow and William “Bill” Morrow; four sisters, Mary Chapman, Eva Pearson, Ruth Shannon and Irene West; a son, Kenneth Donnell Morrow; and two great-grandchildren, Tyrell Stokes and Zacariah Hampton. Funeral is at 1 p.m. EDT Friday at Clyburn and Bigham Mortuary. Visitation begns at noon EDT Friday at the funeral home and other times at the residence, 733 Lark Glen Drive in Mooresville. Other survivors include four daughters, Katherine R. Houchins and her husband, Robert, Ruth Ann Morrow, Beverly Louise Gilbert and Kenetha J. Bryant and her husband, James, all of Bowling Green; a son, Danny Joe Morrow; and two sisters, Virginia Demmings of Cleveland, Ohio, and Juanita Woods of Anderson, Ind. |
| James A. Nichols Sr. Thu, 1 May 2008 10:58:26 -0500 SCOTTSVILLE — James Albert Nichols Sr., 73, of Adolphus died at 1:25 p.m. April 30, 2008, at his residence. The Nashville native was a carpenter. He was a son of the late Albert Anderson Nichols and Jeanetta Pearl Meadows Nichols Williams. He was preceded in death by a son, Terry Nichols. Funeral is at 2 p.m. Saturday at Goad Funeral Home, with burial in Allen County Memorial Gardens. Visitation begins at 11:30 a.m. Friday at the funeral home. Survivors include his wife, Beverly Nichols of Adolphus; three sons, James A. Nichols Jr., Danny Wayne Nichols and Timmy Nichols, all of Adolphus; five daughters, Debra Diane Prater and Tabitha Graves, both of Lafayette, Tenn., Janice Barrientos of Adolphus, Lisa Nichols of Gallatin, Tenn., and Tina Frost of Scottsville; two brothers, William Thomas Nichols of Franklin and Robert Wayne Nichols of Portland, Tenn.; three sisters, Clara Mai Smith and Shirley Centers, both of Adolphus, and Betty Lynn Hardaway of Nashville; 18 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren. |
| Michael A. Poteet Thu, 1 May 2008 10:58:26 -0500 GLASGOW — Michael Anthony Poteet, 45, formerly of Glasgow, died April 28, 2008, in Oakland City, Ind. He was a member of Grider Memorial Baptist Church. He was a son of Barbara Franklin Poteet and the late John Clinton Poteet Jr. Funeral is at 3 p.m. Friday at Hatcher & Saddler Funeral Home, with burial in Hiseville Cemetery. Visitation is in progress at the funeral home. Other survivors include his wife, Charlotte; two daughters, Ashley Poteet and Amber Poteet of Cave City; two stepdaughters, Stephanie Sebrasky of Ohio and Danielle Coats of Cave City; a grandson, D.J. Miller; a brother, Johnny Poteet of Glasgow; there sisters, Rita Wilson of Indiana, Karen Elmore of Temple Hill and Christie Mosby Creek of Glasgow; five stepgrandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. |
| Barbara C. Renick Thu, 1 May 2008 10:58:27 -0500 Barbara Cole Renick, 69, of Cincinnati died at 9:35 p.m. April 29, 2008, in Cincinnati. The Brownsville native was born May 29, 1938. She was a former office clerk, a Baptist and loved reading. She was a daughter of the late Wallace M. Cole and Cleva Houchins Cole. She was preceded in death by a brother, David L. Cole. Funeral is at 2 p.m. Saturday at J.C. Kirby & Son Funeral Home, Lovers Lane chapel, with burial in Bowling Green Gardens. Visitation begins at noon Saturday at the funeral home. Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to Hospice of Southern Kentucky, 5872 Scottsville Road, Bowling Green, KY 42104. Online condolences may be made at www.jckirbyandson.com. Survivors include two sons, Steve Renick and his wife, Lori, and David Mark Renick and his wife, Beth, all of Cincinnati; three grandchildren, Lindsey, Megan and Aaron Renick, all of Cincinnati; three brothers, Charles Cole and his wife, Carole, of Rockspring, Ga., James Cole of Morgantown and Ronnie Cole and his wife, Karen, of Bowling Green; six sisters, Faye Moran and her husband, Ken, Eva Martens and her husband, Jim, and Dianne Hurlbutt and her husband, Al, all of Bowling Green, Jean Parsley of Cincinnati, Mary Brooks of Louisville and Sharon Pelicano and her husband, Chris, of Easley, S.C.; 25 nieces and nephews; and several great-nieces and great-nephews. |
| Brenda G. Wimpee Thu, 1 May 2008 10:58:27 -0500 SCOTTSVILLE — Brenda Gayle Hill Wimpee, 62, of Scottsville died April 29, 2008, at her home. The Olney, Ill., native was born Dec. 28, 1945. She was a retired records clerk for the Allen County School System. She was a daughter of the late Bernice Harold “Elzo” Hill and Ethyl Bernice Miles Hill of Fairfield, Ill., who survives. Funeral is at 2 p.m. Friday at T.W. Crow & Son Funeral Home, with burial in Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Visitation is in progress today at the funeral home. Other survivors include her husband, Adair Wimpee; two sons, Wayne Wimpee and his wife, Jill, and Kyle Wimpee and his wife, Tonya; six grandsons, Brandon, Cody, Kolton, Preston, Gavin and Carson, all of Scottsville; and three sisters, Lonna Wheat and her husband, Charlie, of Arkansas, Kaylyn Owen and Karen Hill of Fairfield, Ill. |
| Slaughterhouse cruelty shouldn’t be tolerated Thu, 1 May 2008 10:52:05 -0500 It is shameful and unacceptable that some slaughterhouses in this country are abusing livestock. A government inspection of slaughterhouses found significant problems with the treatment of cattle, and two of the nation’s largest beef producers - both of which provide meat for the National School Lunch Program - were cited with humane handling violations. The audits of 18 slaughterhouses found that some cattle were not being stunned properly on the first try; others were subject to overcrowding conditions and some had to be electrically prodded to get them to move. A video also showed workers shoving and kicking sick, crippled cattle, forcing them to stand using electric prods and forklifts. The audit comes after humane violations at Westland/Hallmark Meat Co. in Chino, Calif., led to the largest beef recall in the nation’s history. That plant, which was a major supplier of ground beef to the National School Lunch Program, was shut down after video was shot of the cruelty. We as Americans have every right to expect better. While these animals are going to the slaughterhouses to be killed so that humans can consume their meat, we should still ensure that they are killed humanely and experience no cruelty. Of the 18 houses that were audited, four were found to have violations, including one serious enough to be temporarily closed. Slaughterhouses that are mistreating these animals should be sanctioned. Not all slaughterhouses are guilty of this type of behavior, but those that are should be subject to frequent reinspections to ensure they comply with regulations. The government should be applauded for the audits of these slaughterhouses and the results should send a clear message that this type of inhumane handling techniques won’t be tolerated. |
| Red Lobster all about the extras Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:13:11 -0500 I was fortunate recently to enjoy a celebratory Sunday night at Red Lobster. Many local fine dining establishments are closed on Sundays, and since this was the only day we could all meet for a birthday, I was grateful Red Lobster was so accommodating. Accommodating, too, was the atmosphere. It was a festive evening, yet we had the good fortune of getting into one of those huge booths in the back, which felt as if we were a party unto ourselves. This was a treat since I haven’t seen those booths making their way into restaurants lately. Red Lobster, of course, is a seafood haven, yet it also offers a variety of steaks, pastas and some appetizers that are either cleverly disguised or lack the taste of seafood. We ordered a combination platter of southwestern lobster egg rolls and lobster, crab and seafood stuffed mushrooms. Even though they were smothered in cheese, the mushrooms definitely had the texture and flavor combinations that seafood lovers would be drawn to. The southwestern lobster stuffed egg rolls, however, were just the opposite with black beans, corn, tomatoes and a hint of seafood taste all wrapped in an egg roll shell and fried lightly crispy. Our server was fun and jovial and the rest of the wait staff worked well together - tag-teaming our order and other needs as the night went on. This made for a very pleasant dining experience, especially since I was with a lively group that didn’t need a lot of attention, just service. We each had our own special drinks for the evening and were impressed with what Red Lobster had to offer and what we were served. From an apple-tini for the birthday girl to imported beer on tap to a stellar Long Island ice tea and a bottle of Pino Grigio, we were treated as if we were dining royalty. I guess it’s about high time (or should I say high “tide”) to get to the food, which was good, but not as impressive as some of our locally owned fine dining establishments. This would be fine, if the prices were also lower, but they were not. I had a fine New York steak and was fortunate enough to be able to substitute the lobster tail for tilapia in a bag, which was a Bowling Green special. It was served with my choice of side item and a vegetable. My particular meal was acceptable. The steak cut was tender and grilled well, the fish seasoned well for the moist benefits when cooked in a bag. The vegetables were a little over-cooked for my taste. Also ordered at the table were combinations that included plates of chicken, salmon and seafood. The literally dozens of choice combinations are a big part of the dining options at Red Lobster and those who ordered them felt the meal was enhanced by a spicy dipping sauce they ordered separately on the side. Others at the table did not enjoy their meals as much. The fried shrimp, calamari and scallops were average in size, preparation and flavor - nothing to write home about. The “jumbo” shrimp scampi platter looked similar to the regular shrimp combination, so I didn’t see the advantage in going big. The comment was, “without all extras like the salad, sides and the Cheddar Bay biscuits, I might have been disappointed.” Maybe that’s the point - it’s all the extras that Red Lobster has to offer that make the difference. The staff warned us about their singing abilities, but we all engaged in a lively round of “Happy Birthday,” accompanied by at least one professional level singer at the table - so all ended well. And if that wasn’t enough, any off-key voices were long forgotten once we were served the New York cheesecake covered with strawberries that was a perfectly thick, rich, yet not-too-sweet dessert we all could share. So if you’re looking for a day or evening, especially on Sunday, of fun and fish, I would recommend Red Lobster for the extras and the variety of options that make dining an individual treat. — Our anonymous food reviewer gives new restaurants a six-week grace period before reviewing. To comment, contact Managing Editor Mike Alexieff at 783-3235 or via e-mail to malexieff@bgdaily news.com. RED LOBSTER 2525 Scottsville Road |
| Country Mill’s buffet offering wide variety Thu, 17 Apr 2008 10:33:36 -0500 I was invited by a couple of colleagues to dine at The Country Mill Restaurant this week. I didn’t know what to expect, but heard it had changed for the good since I’d last visited years ago. Upon entering, we discovered right away that there isn’t a menu, it is strictly buffet; however, that didn’t stop us from getting made-to-order food and a variety that rivals any menu in town. The conversation quickly turned to quality, standards, expectations and how all of us might effect change. We weren’t talking about the restaurant, but in the work place and academic worlds. As I listened and ate, I realized my experience at Country Mill was mirroring that very conversation. To begin with, Country Mill has a long-standing foundation of buffet-style country food. This included, but was not limited to, the collard greens with a hint of spice, the highlighted flavor of the pinto beans and the pulled pork that was lean, tender and seasoned to Southern perfection. Even with the catfish, which a fisherman at the table commented was the best he’s had in all surrounding counties, Country Mill was consistent while offering a large variety, all made from scratch - maybe not at any one’s “home,” but certainly homemade. Even the d/cor offered a big country welcome with a faux barn roof in the back, Southern paintings, era inspired music, and a sign that read: “Come on in and sit a spell.” Also, Country Mill now offers a saut/ bar, salad bar and an oasis of desserts. The saut/ bar offers made-to-order entrees that include appetizers, five made-to-order burgers, pasta dishes, wraps and even a chicken cordon bleu sandwich, which I gleefully ordered. While my sandwich was cooking, I headed off to the salad bar and created a monster of a salad with mixed greens, first of the season beefsteak tomatoes, green peppers, olives and a Caesar dressing. I returned to the table to find my sweet tea waiting for me, and this is where I experienced some disappointment. The sweet tea was barely sweet, which surprised me at a “country” restaurant. I certainly had the opportunity to add sugar, but it’s just not the same. Then, while the waitress was friendly and informative when I met her at the dessert counter later, she wasn’t very personable at the table. Again, nothing major, just some things my dining companions and I noticed when we visited. One area for improvement would be the consistency of the saut/ bar. We each noticed the dishes we ordered, the cordon bleu, a spicy ranch chicken wrap and a fettuccini alfredo with shrimp and broccoli, were all acceptable and appreciated, but also lacked the punch of flavor these dishes usually have. As the conversation meandered through academics, it was inevitable, with the huge selection of desserts, the subject of “pie-ology” brought us to the end of the week. I had a coconut cream pie that was clearly homemade - and the best I’ve ever had. Fresh, thick whipped cream; flavorful filling; flaky crust and baked crispy coconut on top. There was something like a derby pie that others at the table had, and reported the chocolate chips, nuts and abundant filling were delectable - as was much of the meal. It was a wonderful dining experience and an incredible value. And again, since we’re talking academics, I’ll use a spelling metaphor. To remember the difference in spelling desert (dry land) and dessert, I learned with dessert you always want a second helping, so it has a second “s.” If that’s the case, at County Mill everything should be spelled like this: dessssssssssssert! — Our anonymous food reviewer gives new restaurants a six-week grace period before reviewing. To comment, contact managing editor Mike Alexieff at 783-3235 or via e-mail to malexieff@bgdailynews.com. COUNTRY MILL RESTAURANT 600 U.S. 31-W By-Pass |
| Dining at Ichiban consistently good Thu, 10 Apr 2008 11:54:22 -0500 t was a sunny Sunday afternoon and my dining companion and I were in the mood for Japanese food. Ichiban came to mind, because, as far as my memory serves me, it’s the only Japanese food in town with patio dining. We arrived to find we weren’t the only ones with this idea and a group of very verbal Sunday travelers on the patio prompted us to eat indoors. Ichiban has been in Bowling Green for close to two years now and the cuisine, variety, service, value and just down-right fun remain consistent after all this time. The long strip of dining area inside the patio window means you can still enjoy the great outdoors if the blinds are open, yet also means the acoustics get chaotic and noisy with even just a dozen or so tables occupied. Not to worry though, if you can handle a little noise, the food is definitely worth it. My dining companion and I ordered the gamut after our complimentary clear broth soup with mushrooms and onions arrived. This included an egg roll for each of us, a crunchy shrimp roll for me and a veggie roll with a soy paper wrap for him, and a salad, tempura combo, chicken bowl and chicken lo mein to share. I didn’t see much of the chicken bowl (one of his favorite values at only $3.80), which is chicken on top of fried rice and carrots in a bowl served with a creamy light ginger sauce. All entrees are served with this signature sauce, as well as fried rice and carrots that are steamed just to the point of flavor enhancement. Later in the meal we discovered, by observing a nearby table, that you can order these delicious carrots by the bowl as well. The eggrolls, filled with a veggie and meat combination, were appetizing and generous in time. The chicken lo mein was enhanced by the perfectly grilled chicken and noodles tossed with vegetables and a light oil for flavor. The tempura combo was my least favorite, partially because it was served with onions as the only vegetable, but mainly because the tempura overwhelmed the meat or vegetables and was on the greasy side for my taste. I like a light tempura, not heavy tempura. My dining companion, however, favored the amount of tempura batter Ichiban had prepared. Our final fare was the sushi. We learned that those of you, like my dining companion, who strongly prefer sushi without the fish taste can order only veggies in the middle of a sushi roll, and substitute soy paper for the seaweed. This all but eliminates any fish flavor. I will say, over the years, my dining companion has been quite a trouper, trying eel, octopus and trying over and over the sushi seaweed despite his dislike for fish. So here’s a new culinary avenue for those who would like to try sushi, but have shied away due to the fish. Make sure to try the pickled ginger and wasabi that sushi is always served with, but beware of a little something I like to call wasabi wars. Wasabi, as I’ve reported in this column before, is served with sushi and has a horseradish quality. You can mix the amount, to your liking, with soy sauce in the Japanese bowl, stir with chopsticks, then dip a slice of roll into the mixture. The sauce mixture is not hot, as spicy food is, but a punch of intensity rolls through your mouth and sinuses, depending on the amount of wasabi you choose. My dining companion and I had a grand time, with each other, the staff and those around us, challenging each other to more and more wasabi, not just mixed in the soy sauce, but spread on each roll. It was a wild ride that led to some intense moments of deliciously cross cultural entertainment. So Ichiban turned out to be a lot of fun, out of the sun, on a Sunday afternoon, thanks to an informed, expedient staff (the sushi arrived faster than any I’ve ever had) and a variety of flavors at an excellent value. — Our anonymous food reviewer gives new restaurants a six-week grace period before reviewing. To comment, please contact managing editor Mike Alexieff at 783-3235 or via e-mail to malexieff@bgdailynews.com. Hours: 11 a.m to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday Cuisine: Japanese Price range: $3.00 to $11.99 Specialties: Steak, seafood, sushi Libation situation: Beer, wine Smoking: Yes |
| Embrace Brickyard’s mystery Thu, 3 Apr 2008 11:13:33 -0500 As a well-known eating establishment in Bowling Green, The Brickyard Caf/ may need little to no introduction, except that a friend of mine told me a few weeks ago, in her mind, The Brickyard was best for lunch. This puzzled me. I meandered in on a Saturday night to discover a pleasingly mysterious, yet charismatic, dinner dining experience. The staff dressed entirely in black against the dark salmon-colored walls is striking. Each room has soothing artwork and the quaintness of divided rooms offers a wonderfully private setting for each table. You can see those you know on the way in and out, yet not feel you’re having dinner at a large, impersonal restaurant. And then there’s the food. While the restaurant may need no introduction, the menu specials translate into a relationship with this restaurant that will not soon tire, and where living in the mystery is appetizing. My dining companion and I had two specials and two regular menu items. Our appetizers, artichoke fritters, were on the regular menu. The sight of them started the evening with an air of fun. What looked like large spindly, spiky round creatures on the plate were actually battered-dipped fried artichoke hearts. The artichoke fritters themselves had an adequate flavor, and were served with a remoulade sauce. The sauce was awkwardly sweet for our taste, but an enjoyable treat overall. From the specials menu, I had sesame encrusted ahi tuna with a beurre blanc (an emulsified butter sauce) with capers. Wow. Even though the amount of sesame seeds I expected with “encrusted” in the description was not what I thought it would be, the tuna was delectably raw in the middle and the delicious dipping sauce caused a pleased raised eyebrow right away. It was served with mashed potatoes and a combination of winter vegetables that were steamed and seasoned to perfection. From the regular menu, we also ordered the portabella stacker. This was angel hair pasta tossed with truffle oil, light pesto and tomatoes with a stack of eggplant, cheese, zucchini and roasted red peppers in the center of the pasta, topped with a portabella mushroom. It looked like a flying saucer in the middle of a wheat field on the plate, and yes, it was out of this world. The underlying theme of each meal seemed to be mystery in the balance. By that I mean, one part of each dish tended to lack flavor (not to a fault thought), the fritters, the pasta, the tuna, coupled with ingredients with an incredible burst of flavor, the remoulade sauce, the beurre blanc and the stack of veggies and cheese. That, when put together, created taste sensations to the liking of most palates - if not, one could eat just a part and be satisfied. This was even true when we ordered a salad. When asked if we wanted anchovies on the Caesar salad, there was a resounding “definitely” from me and an emphatic “no thanks” from my companion. Our professional and astute waiter offered to put them on the side and we were both taken care of. The Brickyard menu has steaks, seafood, pastas and pizzas, depending what you’re in the mood for, and still is European cuisine with an inclination toward Italian foods and seasonings. But before I sign off here, I’ll say the chocolate Grenache tort from the special desserts menu was poetry in motion and a mystery I won’t soon forget. The Grenache was a thin layer of breakable, dark chocolate on the top, with melt-in-your-mouth whipped chocolate on a bed of chocolate cookie crumbs. It’s as if the chocolate became a mist in your mouth. No chewing required and not even “melting” adequately describes the chemical reaction that took place in each bite. It was like cotton candy that becomes a liquid as you eat it, but just before that is this mist. Imagine chocolate mist. So then, don’t conceal your need for a little night time fun - live in the mystery and savor all the Brickyard has to take in because living in the mystery can be delightful. — Our anonymous food reviewer gives new restaurants a six-week grace period before reviewing. To comment, please contact Managing Editor Mike Alexieff at 783-3235 or via e-mail to malexieff@bgdailynews.com. THE BRICKYARD CAFE 1026 Chesnut St. |
| Sugar Maple eatery all about pizza Thu, 27 Mar 2008 11:55:18 -0500 I’ve been gladly writing reviews each week for a while now and each week my visits in, around and just outside of town, also bring a bit of inspiration when I sit down to write. An angle, if you will, because not only does Bowling Green have a high number of restaurants per capita, it also has some very creative minds with unique food offering ideas. This week I ate at You and Me Sports Bar and Pizza. Much as I tried to find an angle, some inspiration, I was blank. Now, don’t get me wrong, the experience was one of a kind with a staff that was both attentive and fun. The calzone was delicious. I went to report on a new restaurant in the Sugar Maple side of town and since I’m not sure what to tell you, I’ll just go with the facts, just the facts. The restaurant and structure of the bar are artistically beautiful, which, when I did a pre-visit a few weeks ago made me think this was an outside-town version of the You and Me Restaurant on Chestnut Street. The sports bar also has Mediterranean archways, deep rich wood and solid high-back bar stools. When my dining companion and I entered the other night and took a closer look at the tables, we experienced a casual setting, with pizza, pool and music - which was my first shot at an angle. When we sat at the bar, however, the height was awkward for eating comfortably. The wait staff gave us a menu right away and I could see it was limited to appetizers, pizza and calzone. I asked about salads and our server said they had none. I asked about pizza delivery and she said not yet. I asked how late they were open, and she said 2 a.m. - unless it was slow. She was very personable, talkative, informative, fun and apologetic if they didn’t have something we wanted. We decided to try a few items that sounded unique, so we ordered the “French fried 4 oz. baget” (verbatim from the menu), the tequila lime wings and a pizza calzone, which is pizza dough folded over salami, onion, garlic, tomato, ricotta cheese and parsley. There was a little confusion with the order, but sitting at the bar we had direct access to the kitchen staff through a portal, so we chatted and worked things out. What didn’t work out so well was the “baget.” It turned out to be a plate of French fries served with marinara sauce. I thought we were getting slices of sourdough-type baguette bread battered and fried with marinara sauce. The fries were thick and well made, but apparently the idea of serving the fries with the marinara sauce is why it’s called a baget instead of fries. The tequila lime wings were deep fried, lightly crispy. I was hoping for a punch of lime flavor, but the punch came from the hot sauce served with it. My dining companion had the brilliant idea of mixing the hot sauce with the ranch dressing we were also served. This created a fine combination of light hot wings with a punch. The calzone was the highlight of the evening, as I’m sure most of the pizzas at You and Me are. Is it the sauce, the dough, the unique combinations of toppings? I think it is that they take such care in all of the above, that it really does make for one of the best pizza experiences in town. After our dining experience I imagined that You and Me Sports Bar and Pizza puts more time into the live entertainment they offered on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, so I called a fun-loving friend, who I knew had been to You and Me the previous Friday night. She said it was fun, and the band was good, but since there weren’t many people she thought the focus was more on the restaurant aspect. Well that puzzled me, until I realized, maybe this little gem just hasn’t been discovered by any Bowling Green pizza or entertainment patrons just yet. Looking over the article I just wrote, “without an angle” I realized - it’s the pizza, stupid! So I do recommend you stop in and pick up a pizza. You might call ahead of you’re in a hurry and encourage them to start delivering as soon as they can. And finally, if you’re in the mood for more, there’s always the well established sister restaurant, You and Me Restaurant, right here in town. — Our anonymous food reviewer gives new restaurants a six-week grace period before reviewing. To comment, contact Managing Editor Mike Alexieff at 783-3235 or via e-mail to malexieff@bgdailynews.com. You and Me Sports Bar and Pizza 1347 Hwy. 185, Sugar Maple Square |
| Micki’s on Main reinvents menu Thu, 20 Mar 2008 12:19:53 -0500 The luck of the Irish was with me this week - I visited Micki’s on Main the week they were serving green beer and introducing a new menu! I was too late for green beer, so I delighted in the new menu, reflective of the power of change. I say the power of change because I visited Micki’s a few months ago and my experience that day was a disappointment. I imagine though, when you’ve been restaurateurs as long as the owners of 440 Main Restaurant and Bar have, reinvention is part of the cycle, and my last visit must have hit the lull before renewal. And I’m happy to report on the renewal. Micki’s on Main restaurant, formerly known as the bar attached to 440, has patio and sidewalk seating overlooking Fountain Square. The staff at Micki’s endearingly refers to it as “the grill” serving lunch as the companion restaurant to 440 that serves only dinner. As is the case with 440, Micki’s menu leans toward Cajun recipes and techniques, but this new menu expands into some light salads, a stir fry entr/e and even a veggie lasagna for an international reach. My dining companion and I came in for a late lunch and were greeted by a jovial, informed and attentive waitress. We had the opportunity to witness the shift change from lunch to dinner, and the waitress treated the situation professionally with style and compassion. The rest of the wait staff could have used a lesson about teamwork from the fighting Irish this week - my experience that day was that their focus was reserved for their tables alone and after our waitress left, we had long waits for everything. We actually lucked out with the waitress, because we had planned to sit outside. Mardi Gras collided with St. Patty’s day, so the beads and clovers (not to mention the weather) drew us inside. Indoor dining at Micki’s is a one-of-a-kind, low light atmosphere enhanced by the charm of cookbooks, novels and lanterns that line the shelves above the wall of booths. Appetizers were not an option until the evening, so we ordered a side of Cajun fries and a cup of gumbo to happily fill the void. The gumbo was a rich roux of a strong, stew-like stock with okra, sausage, green peppers, rice and a variety of other spices and veggies. It was rich with chunks of each ingredient (although the menu description included chicken and shrimp, which must have missed) and just spicy enough to enjoy. I don’t know how the chef did it, but each bite was spicy in and of itself, but the heat did not escalate as I ate on, which often happens when I eat spicy food. The fries were fun and unique, with blackened seasoning sprinkled on perfectly crisp, thick-cut fried potatoes. My dining companion enjoyed a new salad called the Athena Greek tuna salad - a goddess-light, yet flavorful dream of lettuce greens, seared sashimi tuna, feta cheese, red onion, kalamata olives, tomato and cucumber with a house vinaigrette served with a peppered crispy flat bread. It was a challenge, but getting one serving of each ingredient in each bite made for a subtly flavorful experience. I had a hard time deciding between the veggie lasagna, the blackened grouper, the muffaleta or a hot brown (only because the waitress said it was the best hot brown within 100 miles), but I opted for a Bayou Chicken salad instead. This was a grilled Cajun chicken breast (same spices as the French fries), baby spinach leaves, candied pecans and bleu cheese crumbles with a balsamic vinaigrette. The menu noted the pecans were both spicy and sweet, but I didn’t get that flavor combination. The balsamic in the vinaigrette was pleasingly subdued, allowing for the natural goodness of the spinach, bleu cheese and crunchy pecans to shine through. Micki’s has taken a few things off the menu, like the cheese steak that was problematic when I visited months ago, and replaced them with an inventive mix of blackened and Cajun delights, a few southern staples and some unique new eats that will surely become your favorites before the new summer restaurant season has even begun. — Our anonymous food reviewer gives new restaurants a six-week grace period before reviewing. To comment, contact managing editor Mike Alexieff at 783-3235 or via e-mail to malexieff@bgdailynews.com. |
| A Taste of Europe offers tasty gyros Thu, 13 Mar 2008 11:03:29 -0500 I have been attempting to visit The Taste of Europe for more than a month now and I finally made it in last week. This week was unique because not only was I anonymous to the restaurant, my dining companion was also not aware I was writing a review. As luck would have it, she had been to Greece a few years ago, and had a unique take on our dining experience. To begin with, she knew from her Greek island hopping days that you do not pronounce the Greek food gyro, which are predominate on The Taste of Europe menu, like “j-ai-roh,” which is how I was saying it. Gyro is pronounced, our waiter confirmed, “j-yeer-oh.” Or close enough. The “g” is not silent, but spoken with the “j” sound, just softly. This may be subjective, however, because an online search noted the word is often mispronounced and suggested the “g” is actually silent. I have to say it doesn’t matter how you pronounce it, they’ll know what you’re talking about, but the greatest challenge is in finding The Taste of Europe. It is so tucked away, that even though I was the one who suggested the restaurant, I almost couldn’t find it. It’s gently squeezed between two windows of furniture on State Street, one block from the square. It is definitely worth a little detective work, and, as my dining companion revealed to me, reminiscent of a petite, tucked away, unassuming European caf/ you might find in Greece. What you’ll also find at The Taste of Europe is a Greek specialty sandwich prepared in many different ways with different ingredients. Gyros is well-season beef shaved into fine slices from a large piece of meat on a cylinder. The meat is cut from a slowly rotating vertical spit, just like the spinning motion of a gyroscope. The Taste of Europe offers this in plate form and in sandwiches made with beef, chicken or a combination of the two. My dining companion had the “authentic” gyro sandwich with the choice of a side item, French fries, rice or small Greek salad. French fries by “default,” as the menu noted, which I thought was an adorable way of suggesting: Choose or it will be chosen for you. In sandwich form the gyro is put into a round piece of double layered flat, pita bread with tzatziki sauce, lettuce, tomatoes and onions (or as you like it) and folded in half. For me the tzatziki sauce made the meal. It’s a fresh, cool, cucumber yogurt sauce with a hint of mint. It was also served with the chicken gyro plate I ordered. Instead of coming in sandwich form, my well-seasoned shaved chicken was served on a bed of seasoned rice with vegetables. The pita bread, tzatziki and a small Greek salad with feta cheese and olives was served on the side. I thoroughly enjoyed the flavor of everything. The pita bread had substance and tasteful essence, but was not heavy or chewy. The rice was tenderly seasoned with light oils, herbs and vegetables. The gyro meat and chicken, odd looking at first glance, was a unique and delicious way to eat meat. Just as it was hard to find the restaurant, I didn’t see the appetizers on the front of the menu, or I certainly would have tried the hummus. Hummus is a dip made with chickpeas, oil and seasonings and is delicious on pita bread. The Taste of Europe also serves a variety of salads (yes, including a gyro salad), pizzas for dinner, other Greek specialties and even a fajita plate. The atmosphere is laid back, just like Europe. It took me a while to pay the check, waiting for an elongated conversation to finish while I waited in line, but hey, it’s like being in another country, which is similar to being country. All life enhancing experiences, no matter how you pronounce it. — Our anonymous food reviewer gives new restaurants a six-week grace period before reviewing. To comment, contact managing editor Mike Alexieff at 783-3235 or via e-mail to malexieff@bgdailynews.com. A Taste of Europe 1006 State St. |
| Bagels and Bites has great homemade breads Thu, 6 Mar 2008 11:16:53 -0600 I usually find myself gallivanting to opposite ends of Warren and its surrounding counties, but this week I found myself back in the heart of Bowling Green at Hartland. Vincent’s Bagels and Bites drew me in, and, like a scene from a Seinfeld episode, seemed to be drawing a lot of customers in. I entered the practically empty restaurant alone, looking to place a to-go order and after a couple of minutes, found myself at the front of a long lunch crowd line that was gently and willingly herded to the right with a retaining wall for excellent organization. A wall-sized mirror on the far right wall created a large space illusion and surely made the crowd seem much larger than it was. Or not. The d/cor was simple, light, clean and cheery with several four-top tables scattered throughout the restaurant. As I ordered, I kept looking back at the growing crowd and finally apologized to the women behind me for taking so much time. When I took a closer look at the reflections in the mirror, however, the customers seemed just happy to be there. The woman behind me only needed a New York accent and it really could have been a scene from Seinfeld - she said, “There’s no right time. We’re all used to this place being busy all the time. It’s worth it.” And it was! Vincent’s has a huge variety of homemade bagels for breakfast or anytime, as well as breads, muffins, pastries, cookies and even a breakfast sandwich if you stop by for breakfast. And for dinner or lunch, there is no limit to this homemade sky! I enjoyed the Hilltopper sandwich piled high with ham, salami and pepperoni and equally generous portions of provolone cheese, onion, green pepper, lettuce, tomato and a light drizzle of Italian dressing on thick slices of homemade bread. I was impressed with the long, lean, yet large slices of green pepper, which meant I got a taste in every bite, and the fact that the sandwich was perfectly moist without any other condiments meant the flavor of the meats and vegetables shined through. Not even the thick slices of wheat bread overwhelmed, but all ingredients worked together to form a delicious symphony of flavors. The pasta salad was also moist, light and appetizing with chunks of pepperoni, green pepper and onion. Both homemade soups were equally appetizing that day. The cheesy tomato was like having spaghetti in soup form. The blend of ground meat, pipe rigate pasta (large macaroni type) and a cheesy tomato base tasted like my favorite plate of spaghetti piled high with parmesan. The base of the ham and bean soup was where most of the flavor came from, slightly salty with the bean flavor cooked right in, then little bits of ham and a generous portion of white beans to round off this savory lunch treat. The green salad too was fresh and full of vegetables. A nice touch was that they waited to put the grated cheddar cheese on until just before they gave me the salad. The staff did forget to ask about or include salad dressing, but then so did I and I wasn’t under any pressure. The three women taking and making orders worked well together, had a system and stayed pleasant no matter how many sandwiches they were making all at once. The Californian sandwich was a unique and palatable delicacy. A slice of homemade bread was spread with a spinach/artichoke cream cheese, then piled with turkey breast, onion and tomato, and finally grilled on the panini grill - a lovely indulgence no matter if it’s cold or hot outside. One glitch - I arrived home to discover I had not been given a honey-go-round sandwich I’d ordered but chicken salad. This would have been fine, if I had liked the chicken salad, but it wasn’t as flavorful as the other two sandwiches and just listen to the description of the honey-go-round: “ham covered with melted Swiss cheese, onion and honey mustard, served on our toasted onion bagel.” You can bet I’ll be back in the Seinfeld line before long to try out the honey-go-round, the hartland, the country bumpkin sandwiches and to have another one of those deep, moist chocolate brownies while I try not to hold up the line. Luckily it’s not New York or there would have been no soup for me! No, it’s Bowling Green so I got a “bless her heart” pat on the hand to take my time, and a smile! — Our anonymous food reviewer gives new restaurants a six-week grace period before reviewing. To comment, please contact Managing Editor Mike Alexieff at 783-3235 or via e-mail to malexieff@bgdailynews.com. Vincent’s Bagels and Bites 1660A Scottsville Road |
| Awards shows are nothing without Oscar-worthy food Thu, 28 Feb 2008 11:08:50 -0600 What would the Academy Awards be without delicious food to mark the occasion? In this week’s review, appetizers from previous reviews will walk the red carpet as I revisit outstanding performances in the hors d’oeuvre category. Additionally, I will introduce four appetizers my dining companions and I consumed as we viewed the Oscars, honoring that writers are again writing in Hollywood. The first two appetizers from a former review hail from Anna’s Greek Restaurant and Bar. The croquettes santorini are a delicious mixture of tomato with peppers, onion, oregano and mint, breaded and lightly fried - no dipping sauce needed. Months ago, when my dining companions and I visited Anna’s, the wait staff also recommended the spanakopita. A great meal starter, it was a homemade crispy filo dough filled with spinach and spices served with a tangy cucumber and sour cream sauce called tzatziki. No one had to yell action to get us to gulp down these two perfectly executed treats. The next winner showed well in two categories: performance and value. This was the Belgian cheese fondue at the Cellar Restaurant and Wine Bar. When I dined there a few months ago, my dining companion and I were served a generous portion of artisan bread, apples, olives and tomatoes to dip into a fondue of melted cheeses with wine and kirsch. This was a glamorous appetizer on an independent film budget. Not to forget those in a supporting role, the deep fried ravioli from BB’s Italian in Leitchfield fared as a box office success when I visited last year, and the deep fried pickles from A Taste of Texas in Glasgow earned excellent achievement in Southern finger foods from dining companions who know country when they see it. On Oscar day, I ran around town getting just the right combination of appetizers. Much to my surprise, this was easier than I thought. All but one of the restaurants I ordered from had curb-side take out and all were efficient and friendly. Most notable of the four was an outstanding performance by a foreign appetizer from an American restaurant, namely the Asian dumplings from Ruby Tuesdays. Filled with chicken and seasonings, they could stand alone as a delicious steamed treat, but Ruby Tuesdays adds a thick peanut sauce with a hint of soy sauce, ginger and other spices to attain a pleasing dramatic effect. We also enjoyed the parmesan encrusted Sicilian quesadillas from TGI Friday’s and the Tillamook cheese and pico de gallo from Montana Grille. The cheese dip included sharp Oregon cheese, five pepper relish and rice wine vinegar served with tortilla chips. Like many actors, it was a little too cheesey for my taste, but good overall. The Sicilian quesadillas were flour tortillas pan fried with Parmesan cheese filled with chicken, sausage, bruschetta marinara, bacon and Monterey jack cheese and drizzled with a balsamic glaze. Wow, flavor combinations to rival any comedy or tragedy. I would, however, request the balsamic glaze for dipping, as we did not get any from takeout. Though neither may have won the Oscar outright, they were definitely among nominees and, after all, it’s just an honor to be nominated, right? Not forgetting to thank the little people in an acceptance speech is important. The Gold Coast Coconut Shrimp from Outback Steakhouse has always been a favorite of mine so I stopped by Outback for not one, but two orders on Oscar day, knowing it would go fast. This shrimp is beer battered, rolled in coconut and served with a Creole marmalade dip that is sweet with a hint of spiciness - just the opposite of Cate Blanchett as Queen Elizabeth. Finally, when you stage any event, it’s important to have wine that’s red-carpet worthy as well. I decided to stop by the quaint new wine shop at Hartland, called Chuck’s (behind Steak n’ Shake). It’s a high-end wine and spirits shop with a caf/ atmosphere including wine and cheese tastings on Friday and Saturday nights. The knowledgeable and attractive evening staff members (casting agents be aware) helped me pick out the best wine for my occasion. The first wine was something no female celebrity can be without. “Little Black Dress” was a 2006 Merlot from California. Like its namesake, it’s a subtle red wine and a fine choice to build from. The second wine was to honor Johnny Depp’s performance in the movie “Sweeney Todd: The Demon of Fleet Street.” “The Razor’s Edge” was a 2005 Shiraz from Australia. This red is a bit more complex but balanced nicely between extremes with full-bodied elegance and both went well with the appetizers. While none of my choices for movies or actors won this year, at least the Bowling Green eating and drinking establishments performed to perfection, making the evening at home a crowd-pleasing success. — Our anonymous food reviewer gives new restaurants a six-week grace period before reviewing. To comment, contact Managing Editor Mike Alexieff at 783-3235 or via e-mail to malexieff@bgdailynews.com. |
| Mis Amigos menu offers flavorful Mexican dishes Thu, 21 Feb 2008 09:50:41 -0600 While it’s true there are several fine Mexican food establishments in Bowling Green, you might consider a trip to Brownsville to experience the new Mis Amigos Mexican Grill as well. Mis Amigos, which means “our friends,” notes on its menu it offers “the best authentic Mexican food cooked fresh daily.” In my experience, that’s just what I found. I thoroughly enjoyed a few one-of-a-kind menu items, as well as taking a gander at the magnificent Green River as I crossed the bridge on Ky. 259 just past town that led me to Mis Amigos. As we often do at Mexican restaurants, my dining companion and I began with a bowl of guacamole dip to go with our complimentary chips and salsa. You can tell a lot about a Mexican restaurant by the guacamole, and this was the thick, deep green variety with the primary ingredient being avocado, enhanced with a hint of seasonings and no filler. The salsa was more of the same: fresh and appetizing. In my experience, Mexican restaurants have one good salsa (usually medium in heat) and then a backup salsa that’s just so-so for those who don’t want it as hot. At Mis Amigos, the mild salsa my dining companion requested was just as chunky, fresh and tasty as the medium salsa we were served. It was a good thing, however, that both the guac and the salsa were so flavorful, because the chips weren’t as appetizing. Not that they were bad, but they were overly dense and on the greasy side. They seemed to be made with a thick yellow corn tortilla, instead of the more popular white corn tortilla that’s not as thick. I have to say right now though, after the chips, every bit of food we were served was fresh and savory with abundant serving sizes and generous palatable flavors. For instance, when I ordered the guac, I also ordered a unique sounding shrimp cocktail - Mexican style. It included boiled large shrimp swimming in a tomato-based juice with pico de gallo and avocado. I could eat this dish every day. It was light, yet tangy. There were so many shrimp I couldn’t count them all and the grouping of flavors - the avocado, shrimp, tomato and peppers in the pico de gallo - was a delicious amalgam for the palate. My dining companion had the chicken fajita and reported it was the best he’d ever had. The taste seemed to be created as it was grilled in the skillet so that the marinade soaked nicely into the fork-tender chicken. I ordered a special dinner that had a “little of everything,” including a chalupa, enchilada, tamale, taco, chile relleno, Mexican rice and refried beans. It was enough for two people. Every item was unique, but my favorites were the tamale, a small round version of cooked corn meal surrounded by shredded beef and cheese, and the chile relleno, a cheese stuffed mild chile with a flavor-enhancing red sauce. There are so many items on the Mis Amigos menu it was really hard to choose, which was maybe why I ended up with such a variety. A few other unique items included Jim’s dip on the appetizer menu consisting of melted cheese with beef, mushrooms and scallions served with flour tortillas; 11 different kinds of nachos, and something called a Mexican pyramid with chicken, broccoli scallions, mushrooms and rice covered in cheese sauce. Inside the structure of the restaurant is a pleasing color combination of gray, red, black and white on the walls with booths down one windowed wall and a variety of table types and chairs throughout the restaurant. Mis Amigos was clean. However, as is common with rural restaurants, it was a little rough around the edges in a slightly run-down facility. This should not keep you from visiting though. Mis Amigos’ staff, as our waitress shared, is “a group of friends with the heart of a family.” I could feel this in our interactions with our waitress, with the management and it came through in the food. And, since it was a family birthday that had brought me to this neck of the woods, like family, Mis Amigos is well-worth the trip. — Our anonymous food reviewer gives new restaurants a six-week grace period before reviewing. To comment, please contact Managing Editor Mike Alexieff at 783-3235 or via e-mail at malexieff@bgdailynews.com. Mis Amigos Mexicano Grill 600 Ky. 295 N, Brownsville |
| Thai Express is fast on food, and doesn’t lack taste or freshness Thu, 14 Feb 2008 10:16:44 -0600 Thai cuisine hails from the country of Thailand in Southeast Asia. Thai Express is a new restaurant on the U.S. 31-W By-Pass that offers the fundamentals of Thai cuisine at a fast-food pace. Don’t get me wrong - there’s a dining area, and they bring the food out to you. It offers dishes that have a balance of flavors, (hot, sour, sweet, salty and even sometimes bitter) and uses fresh, not dried, herbs in all the dishes. Thing is, it just happens fast. After asking a few questions, my dining companion and I had an order of pad Thai chicken with thin rice noodles, cashew chicken over rice, two egg rolls, lemongrass shrimp soup and a Thai beef salad - all ordered on the mild side because, in my experience, spicy really means spice when it comes to Thai food. The pad Thai chicken had a light, yet appealingly flavorful, sweet-and-sour sauce tossed in with the thin rice noodles with small bits of eggs, bean sprouts, green onions and ground peanuts. If you’re looking for vegetables, this dish had only a few, but the taste was the best of the meals we ordered. The lemongrass shrimp soup with green onions and cilantro in a lemongrass broth had an abundance of mushrooms and fresh, plump shrimp. I ordered it mild, but it was still deliciously spicy and tangy. The Thai beef salad was a unique treat, but not what I expected. There was more beef than cucumber, lots of crispy fresh lettuce and a vinaigrette dressing that didn’t have a lot of flavor. But again, it was good. There was one other dish that didn’t have a lot of flavor and that was the cashew chicken over rice. As a replacement, I ordered the drunken noodle chicken with wide rice noodles, chicken, chili sauce, white wine, onions, red pepper, tomatoes and basil. This dish was also sparse on the vegetables, but not on taste. It hit all five Thai flavors, including a little bitterness from the basil, and all worked well together. In my experience, I would highly recommend Thai Express for taste, freshness, expedience and value, (especially since they take cash, credit cards and Big Red dollars). Thai Express 511 U.S. 31-W By-Pass Bowling Green, 796-3614 Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Specialties: Noodles, rice Price range: $5.75 to $6.95 Smoking: No Libation situation: None |
| Beijing Restaurant : Some things never change, and some improve Thu, 7 Feb 2008 11:22:22 -0600 At Beijing Restaurant, some things are the same, like the same haphazard pool of water in the concrete pond outside the restaurant, but some things have changed. Enough has changed so that I felt compelled to ask if the restaurant was under new ownership or management. It is not. Just some not necessarily needed, yet welcomed, fine tuning. To begin with, the overall food presentation on the buffet was much improved. The sushi has moved and is housed next to the stir fry station, all on its own. There are now five to six varieties of sushi, instead of just three, and each of them is covered in a solid plastic, rectangular lid with a handle, instead of just clear plastic wrap. Additionally, each variety of sushi was wrapped tight with more flavorful, traditional sticky rice than I remember from previous visits. So tight with rice, fish, vegetables and seaweed that it was easy to spread the pungent wasabi and soy sauce over the top and a breeze to pick up with chop sticks. The variety, as well as the freshness of each item on the buffet, seems to be much improved as well. Don’t get me wrong, Beijing has always had a high quality of food, freshness and service, yet what I’m reporting here is Beijing, on the day I visited, had gone beyond just above average to a stellar performance by a Chinese buffet. I opted for the sesame chicken, chicken with broccoli, fried rice and, of course, a variety of sushi. All fresh and flavorful in their own way. The sesame chicken was deep fried chicken covered in a thick sesame sauce. The chicken pieces were abundant enough that the balance of flavors between the chicken, the breading and the sauce were some of the best I’ve ever had. The chicken with broccoli was the same - enough broccoli, steamed crispy, with thin and tender pieces of chicken in a thick sauce. As I looked over the buffet, I could see numerous appetizing dishes, including steamed salmon, three kinds of soup, lo mien and shrimp with vegetables. The buffet still features both American and Chinese appetizers, green salad with all the fixings and an ice cream and dessert bar. The only items that seemed to be missing are some of the items like puddings, sweet salads and fried okra that for me just cluttered and confused anyway. My dining companion made a beeline for the fresh stir fry station, where there were two new sauces, including the one he chose, teriyaki. You can combine meats, rice, noodles and a variety of vegetables to be stir fried on the spot on a huge wok-like cooking device. He opted for noodles, broccoli, snow peas, bamboo and more - and I chimed in asking for a few of the deliciously flavorful and soft baby corn. The price of the buffet has increased from $8.95 to $9.50, but it was well worth it. I’d actually be willing to pay even 25 cents more if they’d do two things: Fill the pond with filtered water and some gold fish so that it’s not such an eyesore as you enter; and, at the request of my dining companion, bring the gong back. The gong used to signal for the chef to come out and stir fry the vegetables. It was such a nice cultural touch and the buzzer they’ve replaced it with just isn’t the same. — New restaurants are given a six-week grace period. Comments can be sent to Managing Editor Mike Alexieff by telephone at 783-3235 or by e-mail at malexieff@bgdaily news.com. Beijing Restaurant 1951 Scottsville Road Bowling Green 842-2288 Hours: 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday Cuisine: Chinese Specialties: Buffet Buffet price: Lunch $6.95; dinner and all day Sunday $9.50 Libation situation: Full bar Smoking: Yes |
| Sante Fe Cattle Co. offers lots of color Thu, 31 Jan 2008 11:39:59 -0600 Having not been to the Santa Fe Cattle Company for more than a year, I was pleasantly surprised to discover the menu has been expanded and includes a few one-of-a-kind items. I was greeted outside by a manager who opened the free swinging, barn-like doors, then greeted again as I entered the lobby. Being seated just outside the kitchen door usually prompts me to ask for a change of venue, but something told me to stay put today. My intuition was right. It added a little color to my meal. Color, because of the row of full-color plate presentation photographs the cooks effectively use for uniformity I could see when the hard-working wait staff swung open the stainless steel doors. And colorful, because when one of the wait staff dropped food off a plate as she exited the kitchen, I was close enough to hear the expletive she muttered and to see a helpful colleague soothe her co-worker. The wait staff was an interesting and pleasant part of the dining experience. It was as if they gently blended in to the southwestern, barn wood, rawhide motif, but at the same time were there whenever, and I mean whenever, needed. Our waiter was smooth but effective. He was the kind of waiter who doesn’t have to write anything down, but who gets everything right - even amid my “on the side” and unlimited questions about the side dishes and how long the veggies are cooked. I decided to skip the appetizers and have dessert instead. I usually like to have one or the other. This was hard, though, because Santa Fe has 11 appetizers to choose from, including deep fried flautas and Texas sausage, which both sounded unique and inviting. With it being so cold outside, I also skipped past the four salads, including a blackened sirloin salad with bleu cheese that had the flavor combinations I love. I opted for one of their specialties, ribs, combined with a little seafood, coconut shrimp, and my dining companion choose the one-of-a-kind chicken breast a la lawn boy. My combo platter was pricey, but I had enough for dinner that night and a few shrimp the next day. My first bite into the ribs was pleasant to the taste buds, yet tough on the teeth. The barbecue sauce had more than just a hint of what I think was orange zest and it was delicious. I’m going to have to try this at home. The meat was on the crispy side, so I asked the waiter about it and he said he’d be happy to replace the ribs, but that they do in fact cook them that way so that the sauce really cooks in and stays on. It turned out it was just the outsides that were crispy, and he was right, this method works. The coconut shrimp was fried crispy and deep in color, with a generous amount of coconut in the batter and the shrimp inside was still moist and flavorful. The green beans were overcooked for my taste - I think next time I’ll get the broccoli. Both my dining companion and I had a salad as one of our side items and it was a generous amount of lettuce, vegetables, red onion and dressing - on the side. The chicken my dining companion ate was a grilled chicken breast covered with spinach, mushrooms, saut/ed onions and Monterey jack cheese. The layers of flavors melded into one fine bite, bite after bite. The mashed potatoes came with a heap of unexpected white gravy and were, unfortunately, so dense they were hard to get through. Neither of us even wanted to take them home. I should have been listening to the same intuitive voice that told me to sit by the kitchen door when it told me to go ahead and order dessert with my meal. This was because when I ordered the dirt pie at the end of the meal, I was told the cookie crumb mix that goes over the top took 10 minutes to prepare and they had not prepped it for the day yet. Our waiter explained that it was mainly a dinner dessert, in his experience. I often go against the crowd in search of greater things. We ordered the brownie delight instead and it was a batter-gooey, slightly underbaked (and I mean that in the best way) brownie, with ice cream melting on top. Yum. So my Santa Fe suggestions include: Try something new or an old favorite - Santa Fe makes them equally well with appealing plate presentation and consistency. Want color? Sit by the kitchen door. Less color? Ask to be seated anywhere else. Want dirt pie at lunch? Order ahead as you would duck in a Chinese restaurant. And, just because the waiter describes green beans as fresh and steamed, this still may mean cooked well with bacon. I mention this not only for crispy veggie eaters like me, but for all those who like them this way. It’s OK to be different, and in fact when I complained about my beans, my dining companion exclaimed, “That’s the best way to eat green beans.” I’m sure many of you will agree. — New restaurants are given a six-week grace period. Comments can be sent to Managing Editor Mike Alexieff by telephone at 783-3235 or by e-mail at malexieff@bgdailynews.com. Santa Fe Cattle Company 247 Three Springs Road 843-4666 Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday Cuisine: Southwestern Price range: $6.99 to $15.99 (Express lunch $5.99 to $6.99) Specialties: Ribs, steaks, fajitas Libation situation: Full bar Smoking: Yes |
| Double Dogs offers clever, flavorful menu Thu, 24 Jan 2008 10:15:36 -0600 Looking over the Double Dog menu, I am challenged to offer just as many clever acronyms, metaphors and cute pooch connections as they have. Where else can you get a “sit, heel and peel shrimp” as an appetizer or Pavlovian references that a hot dog will “make your mouth salivate.” The canine cleverness begins long before the menu is ever placed in your hands. In the parking lot I was greeted by a motion sensor barking dog in a dog house and pup prints embedded in the concrete sidewalk. The Double Dogs wait staff opened both doors with a greeting as welcoming as man’s best friend, minus the face licking. I sat down and chatted with the waitress, when some sad news piddled on my parade. No tennis channel in this sports bar during the quarter finals of the Australian Open that was having the best play in decades! I will give Double Dogs the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps the thought of all those bouncing balls around when everyone knows how obsessed dogs can get with tennis balls was too much to consider, but I ask you to reconsider. Tennis is a legitimate and well-watched sport. I promise. As a matter of fact, I was dining with an avid tennis-playing, tennis-watching family that very night. As we looked over the menu, I decided to get a plate of nachos. But, as we should have guessed by its name, instead of coming on a plate, the nachos came in a bowl - a doggy bowl. The Bo’s dog bowl nachos were an abundant portion of white tortilla chips, beefy chili, refried beans, Monterey and jack cheeses, pepper jack sauce, shredded lettuce and jalapenos. Two kinds of beans and three kinds of cheese might sound overwhelming, but it wasn’t. It was, you guessed it if you‘ve read my columns, a appetizing flavor combination. It came with a side of pico de gallo and another unique twist, lime sour cream. This added an additional tang that was as satisfying as a scratch behind the ear. After a heavy appetizer, both my “official” dining companion and I decided to keep it light with a Greek salad and shrimp quesadilla. The quesadilla was a combination of spicy buffalo shrimp, melted Monterey and pepper jack cheeses and grilled onions wrapped in a garlic-herb tortilla with a side of that tangy lime sour cream. The flavors blended well, but the shrimp lacked the kick the menu implied. I would suggest, if you want a kick, order some buffalo sauce on the side. The GRRRRRReek salad, as it is called on the menu, was one of the most generous portions of lettuce, spinach, Greek olives, roasted peppers, feta cheese and cucumbers that I’ve ever had. The feta cheese vinaigrette dressing I was sure went with it lacked the flavor I like with a Greek salad, so I would recommend the balsamic vinaigrette instead - but that’s just me. I had a taste (or at least a look) at the other food served at the table that night. The wings were meaty, generous and covered in sauce that really stuck to the meat, right down to the bone. The chipotle BBQ sauce is a nice variation, with just the hint of a kick. I did not try them, but an avid “hot wing” eater reported his “double dog dare you” hot wings were not even as hot as you find at some local restaurants that don’t have a gradient of four kinds of hot. So that was a disappointment. Perhaps dogs feel the same way about humans feeding them cayenne that they feel about humans feeding them peanut butter: It takes too long to get the taste out of their mouths. The bulldog Philly cheese steak offered a generous and juicy amount of marinated beef, sweet onions, bell peppers and provolone cheese crammed into a hoagie roll. Looking around as we ate, the restaurant motif has, of course, gone to the dogs. Brick walls with all kinds of cartoon dogs, as well as a soothing poster-sized photograph of two actual dogs hanging out together on the lawn. The wait staff was friendly enough, but it seemed as if there were some kind of tag team system going and different wait staff helped us with different tasks. This created moments when we were taken care of frequently and times when no one visited our table for a long period of time. Not even calling, whistling and newspaper across the nose threats worked (those are all metaphors, not what we actually did). I had eaten at Double Dogs twice before this trip to record my experience in writing. We give restaurants six weeks to get on their feet (in this case all four) and from the food to the drinks, Double Dogs used that time well. A little more fine tuning with wait staff attentiveness and all will be well. In other words, they’ve gone from jackal to dingo to a pooch of a place to eat in Bowling Green. It’s like having the perfect mutt wander into your life at just the right time! — New restaurants are given a six-week grace period. Comments can be sent to Managing Editor Mike Alexieff by telephone at 783-3235 or by e-mail at malexieff@bgdailynews.com. Double Dogs 1780 Scottsville Road Bowling Green 843-9357 Hours: 3 p.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to midnight Friday through Sunday Specialties: Hot dogs, burgers, pizza Cuisine: American Price range for dinner: $4.99 to $19.99 Libation situation: Full bar Smoking: In separate bar |
| Short trip to quaint Franklin takes one to culinary heaven Thu, 17 Jan 2008 10:26:57 -0600 This week, I found not just a one-of-a-kind culinary treat, but a true recipe for success. The ingredients include two heaping cups of attitude, one level teaspoon of keeping the menu simple, a dollop of delightful flavor combinations and creativity to taste, all stirred gently and poured into an inviting home environment. What comes out of the oven is the ideal meal at the Sassy Lassie Cafe, just a short drive in the quaint town of Franklin. To begin with, I have never felt so at home and comfortable in an eating establishment. Certainly, there’s plenty of home-cooking eateries that offer comfort food, but this is like choosing your favorite spot in the house and settling in with a special meal. The setting is an old home with colorfully painted walls in each room. Each room houses a combination of dining tables and chairs for two or four and inviting, comfortable couches and chairs with a nook for every taste and mood. There’s the main room, where you might pick up a morning chat that I hear is more like heart-to-heart therapy with neighbors and friends; the well-lit computer room, where being alone in contemplation and technology come together; and what I call the secret room, which is a little more isolated so two friends can sit by the fire and possibly share their innermost secrets. But really, I have to stop gushing about the atmosphere and start gushing about the food. My dining companion and I visited the Sassy Lassie for lunch, but it also offers coffee and espresso drinks and an inexpensive breakfast you can take with you or cozy up with and eat in. All breakfasts are homemade and include items such as a sausage roll, which is a puffed pastry stuffed with fresh sausage. It also offers quiche, scones and muffins, as well as a new twist on a southern favorite. The eatery has biscuits rolled flat and stuffed with eggs, cheese and sausage or bacon, and newer twists without any old favorites - like spinach and feta cheese in pie pastry. Sassy Lassie also has what it calls “breakfast pudding” - a baked egg casserole with onion, sausage, ham, bacon, cheese and sassy seasoning topped with parmesan cheese. The lunch menu has been kept simple, just five sandwiches to choose from, but each of them sounded so good, it took me and my dining companion a good five minutes to try to choose just two. It couldn’t be done, so I ordered an extra sandwich to take home for dinner - and was still disappointed I didn’t get to try the other two. My dining companion had the southwestern cowhand with roast beef, herbed cream cheese, green chilies, cheddar cheese and a horseradish dressing on thick slices of sourdough. I finally chose the alpine mountain climber. This sandwich was made of ham, turkey, Swiss cheese and chipotle sauce on an asiago cheese roll. And for dinner that night, I took home the sea captain, which was tuna, feta cheese and black olive pesto on the asiago cheese roll. I am a huge, and I mean huge, fan of perfect flavor combinations and this is what made Sassy Lassie’s menu so inviting to me. Each sandwich had the usual meat and cheese suspects, but each had its own unique flavor twist, like horseradish on the roast beef, chipotle on the turkey and ham and olive pesto with the tuna. Each sandwich was served warm, making it especially inviting on a cold day. To top it all off, there is a soup of the day each day and on this day, I enjoyed the potato soup. Medium-sized chunks of potatoes floated in a thick (but not too thick) creamed soup, with a kick of cheddar flavor every now and then. My dining companion had the potato salad. It was homemade with a traditionally appealing flavor, but you can also have pasta salad or potato chips with your lunch. Before leaving, we just had to try a couple of coffee drinks - the white chocolate raspberry latte and a caramel macchiato. Each begins with a shot of espresso and then, as each name implies, flavors are added so that you get a jolt of caffeine minus the bitterness. My final purchase, to go with the coffee, was the locally famous empire bi |