Wild Olive-Restaurant Review

Okay, so here we go again.

 

Wild Olive is an Italian restaurant located on John's Island, SC. My food friend, Lauren, and I met for dinner Wednesday night to have a laid back night of great food and great conversation.

 

On entrance we were freezing and therefore asked for the warmest table in the restaurant, which was naturally right next to the kitchen. This would normally have been the choice seat, but we were able to enjoy our time there with shivering and it allowed us to keep an eye on our waitor!

 

Lauren and I sat down in comfortable seats at a table for two and handed a wine list. And to my excitement I found the white wine that I had had at Mercato a few weeks prior! Because that wine was heavenly I ordered it again! And while enjoying that Lauren and I munched on our Italian bread with olive oil and the Fried Risotto Balls with a Vodka Tomato Aioli that we ordered as an apptizer. And before I move I should tell you how delicious those risotto balls were! With each bite mozzarella and parmesan cheese came oozing out of it. Yum. The bread, on the other hand, not so great. It was tough and dry. But that would be the only bad thing I had to say about the entire evening.

 

The service the entire evening was right on point. With Paul, our waitor, and another guy double-teaming our table we were never without anything. The food came out promptly after cooking and everything was very professional and nice. They were accomodating to our needs and wants and anything extra we requested.

 

For our Primi we ordered:

Lauren-Penne with Sausage and Chicken in a cream sauce with sun-dried tomatoes

Kathryn-Linguine in a lemon-butter sauce with mussels, calamari, shrimp and scallops (I ate every bite ad soaked up the sauce with the leftover bread)

 

For our Secondi we ordered: (yes we ordered two dishes!)

Lauren-Pork Scallopine with Polenta and Sauteed Escarole

Kathryn-Veal Skirt Steak Marsala with Whipped Mashed Potatoes and Sauteed Spinach with a butter sauce

 

I should mention, for those who don't know, that skirt steak is typically a tough piece of meat and is difficult to keep tender. But I could cut that veal with the side of my fork (I didn't, but I could have). And as a side note: I should tell you that I couldn't eat all of it this night so I ate it Thursday night for dinner, which meant heating it up in the microwave and that veal was just as tender!)

 

The marsala sauce was heavenly. I ate every bite slowly so that I could enjoy it and my goodness, I wish I could have some of that right now!

 

For dessert:

As typical, Lauren and I split dessert.

We ordered: Almond Cake topped with Vanilla Gelato and Sweet Balsamic Strawberries. It was light and sweet, but not too much. And the vanilla gelato was smooth and creamy and wonderful.

 

Wild Olive is one of my new favorite restaurants and one I will return to as soon as I can.

Virginia's On King-Restaurant Review

This past Sunday I headed down to Virginia's on King with Beau, Donna, Mimi and my mother for brunch. I had bought one of the $25 gift certificates from Restaurant.com for only $1 and wanted to take advantage of it. Plus, I had never been there before. The restaurant is located on upper King St. (the part that is still 2-way). I made a reservation earlier in the week and I'm glad I did because Sunday mornings are packed!

 

Before going, I asked around to see what the word on the street was regarding the food and they were mixed. Some people said it was great and some people said it wasn't so great. Of course I'm going to find out on my own so out we went!

 

It's a nice atmosphere downstairs but the bar is right there in the middle of everything and you can't escape it. So if you don't like that, ask to be seated upstairs, which is cozy and it overlooks the city. While you're waiting to order or waiting for your food you can help yourself to breakfast bread (i.e. banana bread, lemon poppyseed bread, chocolate marble bread, etc.) at the end of the bar. And it's a good thing too, because our waitress was not so great. But to her defense I think she was overtasked. She was managing the bar, as well as waitressing a number of tables. Maybe they were down on wait staff that day. Hmm...

 

So the food. The brunch menu is full of appetizer options, omelettes, sandwiches and breakfast plates, with omelette and quiche specials changing everyday. After the women ordered their coffee and the gentleman ordered his Diet Coke we set out for the entree ordering.

 

Beau-Bull's Eye-Two eggs griddle fried in Texas Toast w/ macaroni and cheese and bacon

Kathryn (me) - Crab and Asparagus Omelette w/ Hollandaise, stone ground grits and a biscuit

Donna-same as me, exactly

Karen-appetizer of Fried Green Tomatoes, Biscuit, Sausage Gravy and stone ground grits (yes, she ordered everything a la carte to fit what she wanted to the tee!)

Mimi-Local Shrimp sauteed with smoked sausage and bell peppers, served over creamy stone-ground grits, topped with tasso ham gravy

 

So the verdict? Good. Yeah, not great, but good.

My mom loved her little a la carte thing and Beau loved his whole plate.

My grits were delicious! Heavy cream and initial salting makes all the difference when cooking grits. So good. My omelette was okay, but I could tell they used some sort of filler in the eggs. It was like they used Bisquick or something in them, they were extremely fluffy and solid yellow. Real eggs (with nothing added) aren't like that. I like real eggs.

 

I would probably return. Who knows.

 

 

Disney World Wine & Dine Festival-restaurant(s) review

Beau and I headed down to Florida on Friday primarily for him to run the Inaugural Wine & Dine 1/2 Marathon. And before I go on I should say that he did amazing! He set a personal record and that was after walking all over Disney World all day. Oh, did I mention the race started at 10:00pm Saturday night? Yes, a night race. WOW! I was really impressed and really proud of him. But as a bonus to the race, we were able to attend the 15th annual Wine & Dine Festival, which will become annual for us as well. So much fun!

 

Friday night Beau and I went to a restaurant in Downtown Disney called Portobello's. The reviews weren't great (we researched prior to going), but this place has an appetizer that is Beau's favorite so we went anyway. And I have to say, I was thrilled with the whole evening. We were able to be seated immediately and although our waiter was MIA for a while, when we did find him, he was fabulous. Stephen was his name and he initiated an evening of singing everything to us that I gladly reciprocated with singing back. So fun and so not Kathryn. But hey, I was in Disney World. It's a magical place right?! Beau and I ordered cocktails- Beau having a Long Island Iced Tea and me a Orangcello Martini that tasted like dessert! That app that Beau loved is a whole head of garlic that has been roasted to pure sweetness and then drizzled in more olive oil and topped with cracked pepper. You're given some really nice Italian bread to do the dipping and spreading and presto! deliciousness!

 

Beau ordered Shrimp in a what was more or less primavera. He needed something light since he was running the next day. I ordered Clams and Linguine and yes, that was a first timer for me and will not be a last timer. It was wonderful! I couldn't eat it all, but man did I want to! I wish I could have some right now!

 

Saturday started the wining and dining in EPCOT for the festival and Beau and I took advantage of that festival before and after the race. Here is what we had:

 

HOPS AND BARLEY:

Boston-style Crab Cake with Cabbage Slaw and Remoulade

New England Lobster Rolls

 

MOROCCO:

Kefta Pocket (Ground Seasoned Beef in a PIta Pocket)

Sangria

Tangerine Mimosa Royale

 

BELGIUM:

Freshly Baked Waffles with Berry Compote and Whipped Cream

Godiva Chocolate Iced Coffee

 

SPAIN:

Taste of Spain (Serrano Ham, Chorizo, Manchego, Olives and Tomato Bread)

 

FRANCE:

Escargots Persillade en Brioche

Creme Brulee au Chocolat au Lait

Sparkling Pomegranate Kir

Parisian Cosmo Slush

 

IRELAND:

Lobster and Scallop Fisherman's Pie

Bunratty Meade Honey Wine

 

CHARCUTERIE AND CHEESE:

Nueske's Charcuterie Plate (Applewood Smoked Beef, Duck and Ham)

 

I would have to say that my least favorite thing was the Creme Brulee which is a huge shock because that's my favorite dessert. But it had the consistency of Jello Pudding and not real custard. And my favorite would have to be the Escargots in Brioche. I had never had escargots, but wow. And well Brioche...enough said. But everything was really amazing! We'll be going back for sure and I recommend  you look into going next year. It's worth it!