DISCLAIMER – I’m guessing if you are reading this you’ve either seen the movie or don’t plan on seeing it. If either of these is not the case and you don’t want anything ruined for you don’t read as there will be spoilers. You’ve been warned.
Apparently this whole Harry Potter thing is a pretty big deal, so big that the last movie is in two parts. Does Hollywood know no limits on money making? So after watching it I thought I would give my take of this whole thing.
It should be noted that I don’t consider myself a fan. I’ve never read the books. I have seen all the movies but not in order or with the most excitement. For the most part I’ve found them to be ok. Not amazing but not making me mad which I’m cool with.
I went into this movie expecting more than the previous films. This is the grand finale, think fireworks. The end should be better than the rest of the show. Also the actors are more than likely at their prime in this role considering their time devoted to these characters coupled with the expected maturation of their acting skills. On this note I can’t say I was disappointed.
This half of the final book was greatly driven by the predicaments of the main characters. Gone is the Gandolf like mentor and the familiar halls of Hogwarts. They are on the run…or rather the sit. Much of the middle of the movie is spent sitting around doing not much. I do have to say that considering this fact they did a great job of making you feel on edge. Since I don’t know the end of the book I was not sure of the events that were going to happen unlike many of the people who were watching.
You truly get the feel of people on the run. They are alone, afraid and outnumbered. They don’t know who they can trust and their world is crashing down around them. It’s a frightful time for them and in the entirety of this movie signs of hope seem to be dimming.
It’s a dark movie. Not what you would expect from kids movies but they have shifted that way since a few books back and the whole series is based around the murder of Harry’s parents so I guess I shouldn’t be too surprised.
Still…
I found this movie to be a little too much on the dark side. Sure there is some humor and the story is good but the evil is strongly portrayed. At one point early on a women who has been kidnapped and hurt is being held by the bad guys as they chat about stuff. She begs for her life and help from a former coworker only to be silenced permanently and then immediately fed to a giant snake. Now I understand the point here is to show pure evil at its best and I can’t say it the worst thing I’ve ever seen but still in the context of the children’s book movie I was a bit taken back.
To go along with this its seems like they are killing off people left and right throughout the movie and it’s hard to know who is going to make it through to the end. Again these are all valid story techniques just not what I’d expect from this series.
As for the plot…I felt like the story was understandable and well delivered. It is the set up for the ultimate showdown that is about to come. Visuals were impressive as always and it had enough dashes of humor to keep from being down right depressing.
Some people complained it was hard to follow but I didn’t have any trouble understanding the basic premise of what they were trying to accomplish. I needed to be reminded of some names, places and people but it was still understandable to me.
Would I recommend it? If you have not seen the previous films or read the books I would stay away. It won’t really make a whole lot of sense and nobody likes the person in the theater who is clueless. If you are savvy to the story line I’d recommend going.
Interested to see how the whole thing wraps up next July
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Chow down at Fogo de Chao
Before I begin I need to give full disclosure. I am not nor have I ever been a steak lover. In fact, due to poor cooking of steak throughout my childhood (sorry mom) I have had a disdain for steak my entire life.
Now let’s talk about Fogo. It is a Brazilian steakhouse with meat served the “gaucho” way. Gaucho is essentially a Brazilian cowboy. If you are unfamiliar with this style its worth checking out. Similar to the show put on at a hibachi style Japanese steakhouse Fogo’s food delivery is an experience all its own.
So the basic concept is that of a buffet, unlimited food. Only we’re talking high quality food and lots of it. Starting with a ritzy feeling salad bar to the endless supply of 15 different types of meat this is one dinning event that’s sure to leave you stuffed.
The meal, which is identical for lunch and dinner, includes the salad bar and endless meat service. A trip to the salad bar reveals a finely laid out selection of aged cheeses and succulent slices of meat. Everything is fresh and the vegetable variety for salad making is wonderful.
With all this said I don’t recommend wasting much of your stomach space on the salad bar. You’re paying for the meat and a salad is just going to fill you up on the cheap. If for some reason you’d rather just eat at the salad bar you can purchase it alone for a lesser amount.
Once you’ve satisfied your veggie cravings it’s time to let loose the carnivore in you.
Here’s how it works. The wait staff works as a team so any and all people working can and most likely will serve you. The chefs are also servers in a way as they bring you the meat on a skewer right to your table from the kitchen. It’s all controlled by this little coaster they give you. Flip it to the green side when you’re ready for meat and when you can’t fight them off any more flip it to red and they’ll leave you in peace. When the card is on green these chefs will literally come from every direction offering whichever of the 15 meat choices they have on their skewers. Like what they’re offering? Have as much as you would like. If you don’t you can just say no. sometimes they will ask if there is a particular cut you’re looking for and they will have it sent over on the quick.
To go along with this fantastic meat bonanza you will also be treated to “limitless service of traditional Brazilian side dishes, including: pão de queijo (warm cheese bread), crispy hot polenta, garlic mashed potatoes and caramelized bananas.” The bread is kind of a popover with a cheesy inside, hard to explain but I liked it. The mashed potatoes were good but nothing amazing. I tried the banana…it was different. I’m sure it’s a taste, texture, flavor some people like it just isn’t my thing. The polenta reminded me of a cornbread type thing but with a more unique flavor. All were good and all were refilled at an alarming rate.
The craziest and maybe the most impressive thing about dinning at Fogo is the service. Traditionally you would expect your glass to be refilled when it’s empty or soon to be. Not here. I couldn’t get my glass past halfway gone before it was being topped off, and those who know how fast I drink water should be in pure amazement at this. Everything else is treated in the same manner. Three polenta came on a dish. My wife and I grabbed one and put it on our plate. Moments later with one still on the plate they took it away and replaced it with a new set of three. Likewise with the potatoes, took a few spoonfuls and bam taken away and a new one is sitting there. Clean plates were also swapped out in just as efficient a manner.
It was this bizarrely fantastic service that makes it an experience worth trying, amazing meat selection aside.
But how about that meat? Well I personally could not get enough of the filet mingon. It was so soft and juicy that it literally melted in my mouth. There was also a garlic beef that was packed with flavor. I also could not pass up on juicy season chicken wrapped in bacon! Most every cut was the best I’ve tried. Even your run of the mill sausage was bursting with strong flavor. The one piece I didn’t like was the filet mingon wrapped in bacon. It just seemed to be a cooked poorly or just tasted less juicy.
Overall it is a pretty awesome time. The food is spectacular and the service is beyond marvelous. They had a vast selection of wines and offered several other drinks from Brazil.
As far as cost goes I would recommend going during the day for lunch time. The price is significantly cheaper, $26.50 compared to $46.50 for dinner. Sure it may not be as romantic and for most people will be more difficult to find the time during the day to go but it’s the same food and service for 20 bucks less.
I would definitely go back but it won’t be for some time. While I feel I got my money’s worth it is still an expensive time out for two people. Still I am recommending everyone try it at least once…even if you don’t care for steak.
Things to know Before You Go
Parking – While there are endless options downtown for parking most will cost you a decent amount. Also if you go during lunch daytime parking is harder to find. I took the light rail. It was cheaper than parking.
Prices – If you can make lunch work still expect to $80 or more for two people if you get something to drink and tip well. If you go for dinner $100+ are bare minimum.
Reservations – Always recommended. Even for lunch the place fills up fast.
Now let’s talk about Fogo. It is a Brazilian steakhouse with meat served the “gaucho” way. Gaucho is essentially a Brazilian cowboy. If you are unfamiliar with this style its worth checking out. Similar to the show put on at a hibachi style Japanese steakhouse Fogo’s food delivery is an experience all its own.
So the basic concept is that of a buffet, unlimited food. Only we’re talking high quality food and lots of it. Starting with a ritzy feeling salad bar to the endless supply of 15 different types of meat this is one dinning event that’s sure to leave you stuffed.
The meal, which is identical for lunch and dinner, includes the salad bar and endless meat service. A trip to the salad bar reveals a finely laid out selection of aged cheeses and succulent slices of meat. Everything is fresh and the vegetable variety for salad making is wonderful.
With all this said I don’t recommend wasting much of your stomach space on the salad bar. You’re paying for the meat and a salad is just going to fill you up on the cheap. If for some reason you’d rather just eat at the salad bar you can purchase it alone for a lesser amount.
Once you’ve satisfied your veggie cravings it’s time to let loose the carnivore in you.
Here’s how it works. The wait staff works as a team so any and all people working can and most likely will serve you. The chefs are also servers in a way as they bring you the meat on a skewer right to your table from the kitchen. It’s all controlled by this little coaster they give you. Flip it to the green side when you’re ready for meat and when you can’t fight them off any more flip it to red and they’ll leave you in peace. When the card is on green these chefs will literally come from every direction offering whichever of the 15 meat choices they have on their skewers. Like what they’re offering? Have as much as you would like. If you don’t you can just say no. sometimes they will ask if there is a particular cut you’re looking for and they will have it sent over on the quick.
To go along with this fantastic meat bonanza you will also be treated to “limitless service of traditional Brazilian side dishes, including: pão de queijo (warm cheese bread), crispy hot polenta, garlic mashed potatoes and caramelized bananas.” The bread is kind of a popover with a cheesy inside, hard to explain but I liked it. The mashed potatoes were good but nothing amazing. I tried the banana…it was different. I’m sure it’s a taste, texture, flavor some people like it just isn’t my thing. The polenta reminded me of a cornbread type thing but with a more unique flavor. All were good and all were refilled at an alarming rate.
The craziest and maybe the most impressive thing about dinning at Fogo is the service. Traditionally you would expect your glass to be refilled when it’s empty or soon to be. Not here. I couldn’t get my glass past halfway gone before it was being topped off, and those who know how fast I drink water should be in pure amazement at this. Everything else is treated in the same manner. Three polenta came on a dish. My wife and I grabbed one and put it on our plate. Moments later with one still on the plate they took it away and replaced it with a new set of three. Likewise with the potatoes, took a few spoonfuls and bam taken away and a new one is sitting there. Clean plates were also swapped out in just as efficient a manner.
It was this bizarrely fantastic service that makes it an experience worth trying, amazing meat selection aside.
But how about that meat? Well I personally could not get enough of the filet mingon. It was so soft and juicy that it literally melted in my mouth. There was also a garlic beef that was packed with flavor. I also could not pass up on juicy season chicken wrapped in bacon! Most every cut was the best I’ve tried. Even your run of the mill sausage was bursting with strong flavor. The one piece I didn’t like was the filet mingon wrapped in bacon. It just seemed to be a cooked poorly or just tasted less juicy.
Overall it is a pretty awesome time. The food is spectacular and the service is beyond marvelous. They had a vast selection of wines and offered several other drinks from Brazil.
As far as cost goes I would recommend going during the day for lunch time. The price is significantly cheaper, $26.50 compared to $46.50 for dinner. Sure it may not be as romantic and for most people will be more difficult to find the time during the day to go but it’s the same food and service for 20 bucks less.
I would definitely go back but it won’t be for some time. While I feel I got my money’s worth it is still an expensive time out for two people. Still I am recommending everyone try it at least once…even if you don’t care for steak.
Things to know Before You Go
Parking – While there are endless options downtown for parking most will cost you a decent amount. Also if you go during lunch daytime parking is harder to find. I took the light rail. It was cheaper than parking.
Prices – If you can make lunch work still expect to $80 or more for two people if you get something to drink and tip well. If you go for dinner $100+ are bare minimum.
Reservations – Always recommended. Even for lunch the place fills up fast.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Hot Night Out
Looking for a night out that wasn't too spendy but not too familiar led us to Flame restaurant in Rosedale mall. We walked in early on a Saturday night and got seated immediately. The atmosphere of the place was very fun and unique. The layout offered a solid mixture of tables and booths along with a bar area that was nicely sized for the restaurant. We were seated at a booth, which we prefer. These booths in particular were great because they had high backs and sides. In a full restaurant we felt quite secluded.
Our server was fun and outgoing and didn't mind getting to know us, without being bothersome of course. He told us what they are known for and what he recommends. Which was helpful because there menu is pretty typical Fridays/Applebees style but with a few exceptions that highlight their specialty. The Flame is known for cooking with fire and that’s what they specialize in.
We decided to start with an appetizer of Steak with a Gouda fondue. Now I have to admit I am not the biggest fan of steak thanks to my mother’s cooking but my wife likes it so we tried steak instead of chicken. The steak was amazing! Literally the best I've ever had and the cheese to dip it in was also incredible. It also came with bread and green apples for dipping. The bread was good and there was plenty of cheese for all the food for dipping.
For a main course I decided on a BBQ burger and fries and my wife got a roast beef and garlic mashed potatoes. The fries were great. Well seasoned so ketchup was not even needed. My burger was nothing special, a little over cooked but maybe that’s the flame cooking taste I’m not used to. My wife liked the potatoes but felt the roast beef was a bit too tough and not quiet juicy for her liking.
For the most part it was a great night out. Not too expensive for the food and atmosphere and that appetizer was amazing, will definitely be back for that. Also they run a promotion with the AMC Theater in the mall for $5 movie vouchers good any time if you purchase at least $15 not including tax and tip. We decided to get some since we were spending around $30 anyway and a weekend ticket to the movies is getting to be about $25 for two people.
In the end I would recommend trying it out. It is a fun environment with decent prices. The staff was great and the food was too. Plus it’s in the mall so it’s in a great place to either see a movie or walk the shops.
Things To know Before You Go
Parking - Tons of free parking in the mall area but can get very full on weekend nights.
Prices - For a whole meal for two and drinks expect to pay around $50 total
Reservations - A good idea for larger groups
Our server was fun and outgoing and didn't mind getting to know us, without being bothersome of course. He told us what they are known for and what he recommends. Which was helpful because there menu is pretty typical Fridays/Applebees style but with a few exceptions that highlight their specialty. The Flame is known for cooking with fire and that’s what they specialize in.
We decided to start with an appetizer of Steak with a Gouda fondue. Now I have to admit I am not the biggest fan of steak thanks to my mother’s cooking but my wife likes it so we tried steak instead of chicken. The steak was amazing! Literally the best I've ever had and the cheese to dip it in was also incredible. It also came with bread and green apples for dipping. The bread was good and there was plenty of cheese for all the food for dipping.
For a main course I decided on a BBQ burger and fries and my wife got a roast beef and garlic mashed potatoes. The fries were great. Well seasoned so ketchup was not even needed. My burger was nothing special, a little over cooked but maybe that’s the flame cooking taste I’m not used to. My wife liked the potatoes but felt the roast beef was a bit too tough and not quiet juicy for her liking.
For the most part it was a great night out. Not too expensive for the food and atmosphere and that appetizer was amazing, will definitely be back for that. Also they run a promotion with the AMC Theater in the mall for $5 movie vouchers good any time if you purchase at least $15 not including tax and tip. We decided to get some since we were spending around $30 anyway and a weekend ticket to the movies is getting to be about $25 for two people.
In the end I would recommend trying it out. It is a fun environment with decent prices. The staff was great and the food was too. Plus it’s in the mall so it’s in a great place to either see a movie or walk the shops.
Things To know Before You Go
Parking - Tons of free parking in the mall area but can get very full on weekend nights.
Prices - For a whole meal for two and drinks expect to pay around $50 total
Reservations - A good idea for larger groups
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Fondue is fun to do!
On this particular night the answer to "What to do?" was a fun and gooey trip to The Melting Pot.
Located in downtown Minneapolis next to the Foshay tower, The Melting Pot is a fun destination in the heart of the city. This was our first time at The Melting Pot and at any fondue based restaurant for that matter.
Not really knowing what to expect we sat down and gave a look at the menu. Our waitress was very helpful in explaining how things worked and what was included in each of the meal options.
The menu was loaded with choices and one could easily experience entirely different flavors upon each visit. We decided to start with some cheese fondue to begin the meal and chose a Mexican style mixture.
The tables are equipped with a built in stove top. This is pretty cool but makes for holding hand over the table a bit tough.
Our waitress mixed the flavorful concoction in our pot in the table and once it was ready we had a variety of things to dip in the cheesy fondue. We had our choice of apples and crackers as well as tortilla chips and bread for dipping. The apples were and interesting choice but my favorite was the bread. Soft warm bread covered in gooey goodness made for a tasty appetizer.
The main course was a bit of a surprise for me. You begin by selecting from a number of broths that you will be cooking your food in. That’s right, YOU do the cooking. After you pick the broth you get a plate full of raw meats of your choosing. I picked something of a variety platter that included chicken, shrimp, steak and sausage. Our waitress mixed in some vegetables and gave us some recommended cooking times and we started to cook.
The food was good and the cooking experience was unique. The poking, dipping and going after floating vegetables is far from the ordianry. It is a fun time filled with cooking and picking what to eat next and the time your food is cooking is great for conversation.
At last came dessert. We were so excited. My wife and I are not big fans of regular chocolate. However...we absolutely love white chocolate. They only have one white chocolate dessert but it looked so good! The White Chocolate Apple Cobbler is basically white chocolate melted with sweet apples and streusel toppings. The dessert is accompanied by a tray full of delicious sugary snacks and fruits for dipping. The items for dipping are refillable, which we took advantage of.
The dinner was over and we were stuffed. There was so much variety and food. My favorite was the dessert. My wife and I could not get enough and dipped till the pot was clean.
Overall we had a good time. The wait staff was excellent. They attended to our needs, answered our questions, kept my water glass full and most importantly left us alone to enjoy our evening when they did not need to be at the table. The evening was pretty expensive between parking and the meal but well worth it. If we go back I think it would be just for cheese and dessert. Not to knock the main course but for the price I would rather enjoy the melty fondue goodness of cheese and chocolate.
Another thing to note is that it is very oriented to large groups and can be very fun with all the dipping and pots to choose from. An evening for two is just fine but a group outing allows for more possibilities and interaction.
Things To know Before You Go
Parking - There are endless options for parking downtown. Most will run you about $5. There is a lot across the street
Prices - For a whole meal for two and drinks expect to pay over $100
Reservations - Highly Recommended even during the week
Located in downtown Minneapolis next to the Foshay tower, The Melting Pot is a fun destination in the heart of the city. This was our first time at The Melting Pot and at any fondue based restaurant for that matter.
Not really knowing what to expect we sat down and gave a look at the menu. Our waitress was very helpful in explaining how things worked and what was included in each of the meal options.
The menu was loaded with choices and one could easily experience entirely different flavors upon each visit. We decided to start with some cheese fondue to begin the meal and chose a Mexican style mixture.
The tables are equipped with a built in stove top. This is pretty cool but makes for holding hand over the table a bit tough.
Our waitress mixed the flavorful concoction in our pot in the table and once it was ready we had a variety of things to dip in the cheesy fondue. We had our choice of apples and crackers as well as tortilla chips and bread for dipping. The apples were and interesting choice but my favorite was the bread. Soft warm bread covered in gooey goodness made for a tasty appetizer.
The main course was a bit of a surprise for me. You begin by selecting from a number of broths that you will be cooking your food in. That’s right, YOU do the cooking. After you pick the broth you get a plate full of raw meats of your choosing. I picked something of a variety platter that included chicken, shrimp, steak and sausage. Our waitress mixed in some vegetables and gave us some recommended cooking times and we started to cook.
The food was good and the cooking experience was unique. The poking, dipping and going after floating vegetables is far from the ordianry. It is a fun time filled with cooking and picking what to eat next and the time your food is cooking is great for conversation.
At last came dessert. We were so excited. My wife and I are not big fans of regular chocolate. However...we absolutely love white chocolate. They only have one white chocolate dessert but it looked so good! The White Chocolate Apple Cobbler is basically white chocolate melted with sweet apples and streusel toppings. The dessert is accompanied by a tray full of delicious sugary snacks and fruits for dipping. The items for dipping are refillable, which we took advantage of.
The dinner was over and we were stuffed. There was so much variety and food. My favorite was the dessert. My wife and I could not get enough and dipped till the pot was clean.
Overall we had a good time. The wait staff was excellent. They attended to our needs, answered our questions, kept my water glass full and most importantly left us alone to enjoy our evening when they did not need to be at the table. The evening was pretty expensive between parking and the meal but well worth it. If we go back I think it would be just for cheese and dessert. Not to knock the main course but for the price I would rather enjoy the melty fondue goodness of cheese and chocolate.
Another thing to note is that it is very oriented to large groups and can be very fun with all the dipping and pots to choose from. An evening for two is just fine but a group outing allows for more possibilities and interaction.
Things To know Before You Go
Parking - There are endless options for parking downtown. Most will run you about $5. There is a lot across the street
Prices - For a whole meal for two and drinks expect to pay over $100
Reservations - Highly Recommended even during the week
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Night out in Northeast
Hello again everyone I'm back with my first answered "What to do?"
A couple weeks ago Katie and I along with some friends decided go out for dinner in Northeast Minneapolis area. If you are not familiar with the area its just outside of downtown on the North side of the Mississippi. It is packed with places to eat so we had quite a variety to choose from. The four of us finally settled on Ginger Hop and made our way inside. East meets Northeast is their slogan and that's exactly what we were to find at this oriental themed eatery.
It was a Friday night and since we had not planned too much in advance we had no reservations (I would recommend that you make some). The place was full and the wait was going to be about an hour. So we thought we would get a drink at a bar nearby. As we walked out and began looking I noticed a set of stairs heading into the basement below Ginger Hop so we decided to check it out.
The sign out front said Honey and not much else but it was underground which is all the motivation I needed. As we went down it seemed like a pretty basic bar lounge. Some funky robot/western art work covered the walls. We snagged one of the empty black couches and prepared for a live performance by Sophia Shorai.
We got lucky because just as she started the place filled in pretty good and we had some of the better seats in the house. Since we had such good seats and Ginger Hop was right above us we got a few drinks and decided to stay.
The music was good, and the service was OK but the sound system was a bit much. The room itself was not all that large and speakers at the front of the room would have been just fine but there was additional speakers in the rear of the lounge that were deafening. We basically had to yell in order to hear each other which made conversation a challenge.
The hour was up and our table was ready so we headed upstairs and sat down. The place was nice not too cramped and not too loud. The food was about what you'd expect for Asian cusine, nothing amazing but a tasty meal none the less. Combine that with a great atmosphere and friendly prices it made for a fun night out in Northeast.
Things to know before you go -Parking - There is a public parking lot nearby that charged per hour
Prices - Most entrees will run you about $10
Reservations - Recommended for Friday and Saturday night
A couple weeks ago Katie and I along with some friends decided go out for dinner in Northeast Minneapolis area. If you are not familiar with the area its just outside of downtown on the North side of the Mississippi. It is packed with places to eat so we had quite a variety to choose from. The four of us finally settled on Ginger Hop and made our way inside. East meets Northeast is their slogan and that's exactly what we were to find at this oriental themed eatery.
It was a Friday night and since we had not planned too much in advance we had no reservations (I would recommend that you make some). The place was full and the wait was going to be about an hour. So we thought we would get a drink at a bar nearby. As we walked out and began looking I noticed a set of stairs heading into the basement below Ginger Hop so we decided to check it out.
The sign out front said Honey and not much else but it was underground which is all the motivation I needed. As we went down it seemed like a pretty basic bar lounge. Some funky robot/western art work covered the walls. We snagged one of the empty black couches and prepared for a live performance by Sophia Shorai.
We got lucky because just as she started the place filled in pretty good and we had some of the better seats in the house. Since we had such good seats and Ginger Hop was right above us we got a few drinks and decided to stay.
The music was good, and the service was OK but the sound system was a bit much. The room itself was not all that large and speakers at the front of the room would have been just fine but there was additional speakers in the rear of the lounge that were deafening. We basically had to yell in order to hear each other which made conversation a challenge.
The hour was up and our table was ready so we headed upstairs and sat down. The place was nice not too cramped and not too loud. The food was about what you'd expect for Asian cusine, nothing amazing but a tasty meal none the less. Combine that with a great atmosphere and friendly prices it made for a fun night out in Northeast.
Things to know before you go -Parking - There is a public parking lot nearby that charged per hour
Prices - Most entrees will run you about $10
Reservations - Recommended for Friday and Saturday night
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)