Rey "Dorkier Than Thou" P.'s Profile

I spent a good month and a half in Louisville and although I had a hotel room, I basically lived at Hillbilly Tea.

The teas are amazing (I'm particularly fond of the licorice tones in Remedy and the heartiness of Good Earth) and the pastries and desserts will not disappoint (the Bourbon Bread Pudding, in fact, is a MUST-have). But what makes Hillbilly Tea a real find is the food. They're trying for a gourmet, veg-friendly, country menu and overall they succeed. From perfectly cooked eggs to the fritters to the portobello steak to the cauliflower soup to the succotash to the corn fried tofu to the biscuits... I never had a disappointing meal. And, believe me, I had SEVERAL meals here.

To top it off, the owner and staff were friendly beyond measure. By my second week in town many of them knew me by name. Moreover, they started to recognize the companions and colleagues I brought in (many of my social plans and work meetings happened in Hillbilly booths), extending them the friendliness of regulars by extension.

I have nothing bad to say about this place. Pop in, get yourself some grub, and stay awhile. You won't regret it.

You know, I've delayed reviewing Pam's because at one time I thought they were absolutely awesome. Then their quality started to dip, and I hoped it would rise up again. Now, however, it looks like the mediocrity is here to stay.

I used to think of them as my 5-star HK Thai go-to. They have a few more things on their menu than most standard Manhattan Thai places, the dining area is nice and homey instead of day-glo-WHOA, and they have several veg options.

Lately, however, the food just hasn't been that stellar. I've had stuff over-salted and over-sauced, I got noodles once that were under cooked, and they never seem to get the spicy right anymore (maybe to many Manhattan-ites who think they want hot when really they don't?).

I hold out hope that Pam's will return to it's former glory, but until then: 3-stars for you.

Taqueria Coatzingo has gotten so busy that they've opened up another spot 3 blocks further up Roosevelt Avenue. Which is closer to my apartment. Which is awesome for my tongue (but less awesome for my waistline).

Waistline be damned!

The dining room here is toned down and even a bit antiseptic compared to the raucous festival of neon lights, crazy colors, jukebox tunes, and football on the TVs at the original location. But depending on your mood, that can be a plus. Plus it's mostly empty since other folks don't seem to have discovered the second location as yet. Which they should, because the food is exactly the same (except I have noticed that they put a bit more avocado on the enchiladas here). And it tends to get to you more quickly, since there are fewer folks dining.

Love it on 76th, love it again on 79th. Thank god for second locations!

I know, I know -- how is it that a vegetarian, non-drinker is actually giving what's essentially a sports bar where beer is the draw and food is just an accompaniment a 3-star review?

It's because of this: fried green tomato sandwich with smoked gouda and roasted red peppers on a whole grain roll. Serve it up with garlic fries, and you're good to go.

For real. Eat it. It's SOOO worth the trip.

Crud. As my fans know, I like to save my milestone reviews for particularly awesome places, but I somehow got on a reviewing kick and flew right past 250. Anyway, I was saving ATL for my 250th review so please pretend that it received that honor (please please please!)!!!

I've been involved with this theatre in some capacity since 2006 when iI saw a play there with a friend and then was suddenly commissioned months later write for their 2007 anthology play. And I couldn't be happier with that relationship. The staff is the friendliest and have kept in touch since that time, and now they've not only commissioned me for the 2011 anthology but they are also producing the world premiere of my play EDITH CAN SHOOT THINGS AND HIT THEM.

Why should that mean anything to the average theatregoer? Because it's a clear example of how ATL seeks out and nurtures future generations of theatre artists. That means you crazy cool ticket buyers, subscribers, and donors in Kentucky are getting first look at new American work even before folks in "big" theatre towns like New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Minneapolis, and all the rest.

They've got several great spaces; a well-produced, community-centered season (including annual productions of Dracula and A Christmas Carol that locals flock, too); and the Humana Festival of New America Plays, which takes a veritable mob of new voices, performers, and artistic talent away from the coasts for all of Kentucky to enjoy every spring.

And so thank you ATL for starting my love affairs with Sherry Kramer and Alice Tuan; helping fuel my adoration of Naomi Iizuka and Jordan Harrison; and for putting your own staff, apprentice company, and fair city within cuddling distance. I'm pretty much a fan forever.

Curious hosted the latest NNPN Showcase of New Plays, so I was able to partake of their bountiful hospitality.

Their space is truly amazing -- a converted church with enormous ceilings, an amazing (and dramatic!) balcony, and a fun little bar on the second floor. I saw several readings and 1 full production here, and I have to say: there isn't a bad seat in the house.

The production values were really top notch, and I felt like I got a good taste of Denver's enthusiastic and talented theatre community and artists. Their season is heavy on the new plays, which is as exciting and adventurous as it gets! And I have to give some extra special props to Kate, Curious' Associate Artistic Director who jumped in and saved my reading in the last minute with some directing triage.

All in all, they took very good care of me and the other artists, and I hope I get a chance in the future to sample more of their shows.

Amala is a modest studio that reminds me of how New York yoga was in the early '90's (e.g. when it was just a bunch of hippies and artists). No lockers, just little cubby holes for your shoes; all mats and props are free, and the changing room is just the bathroom. There's nothing pretentious about Amala -- it's just a good room in which to practice yoga.

I popped in for an early morning Mysore class that was pretty solid. I was actually sad that the only other practice day I was in town was a moon day, because the relaxed atmosphere made for a nice place to do primary. The students here do one variation way outside the norm: after Prasarita Padottanasana D they insert a Hanumanasana sequence. They also tend to throw in more vinyasas to handstand than where I normally practice, to the point where some students actually paused in the midst of primary (following Navasana) to do a handstand practice at the wall.*

The instructor was helpful with spots, although a bit too gentle for my tastes. Strangely, he was also doing his practice while teaching -- not sure I'm a fan of that overall.

Still, I was quite happy that there was Mysore to be had at Amala. It was a great, no-frills practice with plenty of friendly yogis.

[* I remarked to my own teacher later that I was surprised that the students here could vinyasa from Dandasana to handstand but couldn't do the full expressions of Marichyasanas C and D unassisted. He mentioned that the two were linked: the advanced vinyasa tends to tighten the shoulders, which is why he doesn't encourage the fancy entrances/exits until people have a solid primary series.]

How disappointing. When I go to a city's "best" veg restaurant, I really expect to just give them 5 stars. But even though WaterCourse is far from the pits, I just can't do it.

First of all, the service really is THAT bad. Not in a malicious way -- these aren't snotty, mean, self-righteous waiters. These are the hipsters who somehow ended up in food service to support themselves before their bands hit it big kinds of waiters (or their novels get bought or their blah blah blah...). My waiter was actually a nice person, by which I mean she apologized profusely every time she messed up (which was often). Like when I sat down, she waved, and then didn't bring me a menu for 10 minutes. Or when she took my order, forgot the whole thing and then came back several minutes later to confess her crime. Or when she served my food but didn't bring me silverware and then disappeared.

But enough about that. Food is what counts, right? Well... the food here is actually only so-so.

I ordered the country fried seitan. The seitan steak itself was very well-seasoned and tasty, but that was about it. The mashed potatoes that came with it were almost watery and had that slightly over-mashed quality (no lumps, thin, but starting to get gluey). And the veggies on the side (peas, carrots, and corn like a frozen medley except all fresh) were over cooked. I just can't give stars to a vegetarian resto if they make the meat substitute tasty but they can't get the veggies right. I'm a vegetarian, because I like vegetables. The fake meat is only a novelty to me.

Finally (and I apologize for putting this in language that only NYC vegs will understand), the place has Curly's Vegetarian Lunch type food but the pretensions of Candle 79 or Blossom. You know what I'm saying? This is comfort veg, not gourmet veg, so what's all the hype, attitude, hipster waiter-ish-ness about? I swear if it were just a more chilled out place, I probably would have liked it more.

I'm not saying I'd never go back, but WaterCourse is definitely a solid 3-stars for me. I'll make a visit the next time I'm in Denver, but they've got lots to work on if they want my unabashed recommendation.

Oops... two months later and I'm just now rounding out reviews for my trip to Chicago. Sorry, guys!

I know what some of my fellow NY-ers might be thinking. Rey P. is giving four stars to a CHAIN RESTAURANT?!?! Has he gone off his head? Maybe it's that I didn't expect much, but I really did have a fine time here.

We went here for my little sister's birthday brunch -- we being, my sister, her husband, his sister, my 2-year-old nephew, my new niece, and I. Which brings me to star number 1: this place is great for families. Lots of space, lots of large tables, and staff who know how to accommodate babies and tots.

As is typical of chains of this size (they're related, apparently, to The Cheesecake Factory), the menu is gigantic. In fact, when you go to their website it says, "Grand Lux Cafe: Something for Everyone!" I ordered chilaquiles, knowing full well that they wouldn't be chilaquiles, but happy to have the egg and tortilla mix. I asked the waiter whether the beans in them were vegetarian. He didn't raise an eyebrow or look at me weird, he just said apologetically, "No, I'm sorry they're not." I asked him to omit them and put more avocado on, and he said great! Star number 2.

When my food came out, it was scrambled (not fried!) eggs with tortilla chips (not lightly fried stale tortillas!) mixed in, topped with salsa (not stewed in it!), monterey jack cheese (not queso fresco!), avocado, and shredded tortilla chips in a little spindly tower shape. Like I said, not chilaquiles at all... BUT... um, it tasted good. Star number 3.

And, finally, they have a dessert for which the are pretty well known, and it's really, really quite good. Beignets served with a vanilla cream, a chocolate sauce, and some raspberry compote. THEY ARE DELICIOUS. Star number 4.

So, in the case of Grand Lux, I'm afraid I'm going to have to break out of my mold a bit and say I had a good meal, some good company, and a good time.

I am a huge Bayless fan -- I used to love his show on PBS, and have cooked so many things from Authentic Mexican or based on what I learned from it. The weekend I was in town, It just made sense to brave the notoriously horrendous hordes of people and get fed by the man himself.

When we showed up we were told it would be 2 hours but that we should come back in an hour and check in. So after leaving our name and milling about for a bit., we returned as instructed and they sat us in about 15 minutes (so our actual wait time was 1 hour and 15). The whole getting seated bit was as annoying as expected, so steel yourself if you want to try Frontera out.

I ordered the quesadillas capitalinas, the tortas, and the platanos con crema. ALL WERE DELICIOUS. I had never heard of the tortas -- I actually asked if they were a sandwich (which they're not). Instead, they were these cheese croquettes, mixed with sweet corn, rolled in greens, breaded and then fried. They were served with a red pepper sauce and fresh greens on top. My dining companions ordered the tacos (with portobello mushrooms) and the carne asada.

Happily, they make a specialty cooler (agua del dia) for those of us who don't do well with the spirits. The evening I went, it was this refreshing cucumber-lime thing, that was a perfect companion for my meal.

I'd love to try and do it again when I'm in town next, although I have to confess that their reservation policy and the wait for walk-ins bumps them down from a 5-star experience for me. They ought to figure out a better way to accommodate their patrons, because that's all that keeps Frontera Grill from being a perfect Mexican lover's destination.