Saturday, September 24, 2011

JTK

Lincoln, NE boasts a great higher end restaurant in JTK which is located in the historic Haymarket in the old train station.

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We accidentally (but thankfully) ate there two nights in a row this week.  One was a friend's birthday dinner and they were in the mood for American Kobe Beef and one was taking people who work for us out to a special dinner with special steak as steak is their favorite.  So, of course, we had American Kobe Beef again!  It is priced at market value so be ready to spend a bit of money on a great experience!  You should try it at least once in your lifetime!  It is a great experience for birthdays and anniversaries.  The servers are knowledgable and excited to serve, they have a 91 and above rated wine selection and other yummy menu selections of steak au pourve, medallions, pork tenderloin, salmon and duck breast to name a few. 

For two days in a row, I had the cheese plate and kobe beef sliders both appetizers and Kobe steak one night and the pork tenderloin the next night.

The cheese plate: Three different cheeses that change up every two weeks or so served with baguette slices, raspberries and thick proscuitto slices.  The flavors intermingle well but not fabulously which I would mention as the only draw back to the plate.

The Kobe beef sliders: Served on polenta cakes and topped with truffle oil and carmelized onions were amazing because they were made with the best beef around however, a little bit over done.

The orzo pasta: served with the Kobe beef steak was creamy and delicious although not much flavor to it. 

Finally, the American Kobe Beef steak: Cooked to medium rare is not the reason for its melt-in-your-mouth consistency and perfect flavor.  The fact that it is Wagyu beef is the reason you are enjoying that steak so much!  No other cut or quality of beef could ever compare to this style of raising, feeding, caring for and butchering this type of cow.

Monday, September 5, 2011

V. Mertz with friends

Omaha, Nebraska boasts a great high end restaurant with crumb catchers, pallet teasers and cleansers and 4 course extravaganzas for your mouth. V. Mertz used to have Jennifer Coco, now at Flatiron.  Their menu changes often and includes wonderful delights of Wagyu beef, scallops, polenta cakes and gnocchi which all sound plain when read in black and white but when tasted at V. Mertz in all their colorful, spicy accompaniments are breathtaking at worst. Try it out!  If you live in the Midwest and are looking for New York style dining and variety look no further than V. Mertz in Omaha!