Every now and then I need a break from beer and chicken wings so I tried the much heralded Matsutake mushrooms. I only know about them because I recently read a gushy review of the Matsutake mushroom menu at Restaurant i. I figured any restaurant that devoted an entire menu to shrooms means I needed to try the mushrooms. Afterall, I've eat shitake mushrooms and portabella. I like a mushroom and swiss burger every now and then. On Saturday, my girl and I stopped by Restaurant i to see what all the fuss was about.
I'm still wondering.
Restaurant i's menu included grilled Matsutake, Matsutake mushrooms over Kobe steak and Matsutake soup. I wanted the full Matsutake effect, so we ordered grilled Matsutake. The waiter presented our shroom with flair. He removing the top covering our bowl with chop sticks.
I was more impressed by the presentation than the actual mushrooms. They tasted like mushrooms. They weren't any more tasty than portabella or the cheapo sliced ones I get at Food Lion. Considering that one Matsutake mushroom cost me $27 because they're so rare to say I was disappointed is only the tip of the iceberg. Plus, I was still hungry. The two sushi rolls we ordered were good, but not filling.
We thanked the staff, who tried to help us figure out something more hearty and headed to Fuel pizza. Guess what I got.
A slice of pizza and chicken wings! The wings were soo good. I ate them with my fingers out of paperbowl resting on a cheap plastic tray. They were cooked too perfecrtion, seasoned like my mom's and so saucy I thought I was going to make a mess on my shirt. The next time I'm in the mood for wings, you can best believe, I'll call the Fuel on South to make sure Helen is hooking up the wings and then I'll order a dozen. If I want good presentation and sushi, I'll head to Restaurant i.
I know I'm not the only one who bombed picking an exotic dish. What exotic food experience sent you searching for the nearest McDonalds? Post your replies below.
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Shrooms anyone?
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3 comments:
I was incredibly disappointed with the Wings at Fuel. They answer the phone by saying "The best wings in Charlotte." That is a challenge I can not pass up. I ordered nine buffalo wings (why they come in an order of nine is beyond me; you can't throw one more in there?). I asked for hot.
The wings I got were big, which is always good. But they had no sauce at all on them, were not cooked long enough, and were essentially tasteless. A huge letdown from their phone bragging.
Coming from upstate NY and going to college near Buffalo, I know a thing or two about wings. These ones from Fuel were downright terrible.
Often wings are only as good as who cooks them that night - but when you answer the phone with a mighty boast, you best back it up every time, night in, night out.
Perfecrtion? Sorry, but no spell check would have let that one slide. I'm not one to criticize spelling but you are a journalist and are held to a higher standard when it comes to these things.
Smell them. Inhale the lovely vapors, of the rains and the ground. Imagine the wilderness around it, and put a little on your tongue. Savor.
It is in the aroma, more than in the taste. Trying buying some, and boil them in wine and soy sauce.
I tried Matsutake a few days back, and I have loved them ever since.
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