Alreddy Coffee & Cafe

Alreddy enough…

don't wear out the welcome mat

The Front Dining Room

     We'd love to have a place like the Alreddy Café in our neighborhood.  It's quaint, vibrant, and adds some new twists to a menu that deals with basic café fare.  Service is laid back with the feel that this is a family owned and operated restaurant.  (That's just an assumption.)  I've been there 

Side Porch Dining

3 times in the past 9 days, which would lead one to believe that it's a pretty special place.  That's true, but I don't want to get tired of it early on so I must let up this week.

Hot Ham & Brie Sandwich

     Having been there several times for lunch, I feel like I can give it a pretty fair review.  On my first visit I picked the Choose Two from a wide choice of sandwiches, quiche, salads and sides.  I went with the Hot Ham & Brie half sandwich and Tortillas with Mango Salsa and Red Pepper Hummus.  I had asked the server for suggestions on a side, but he pointed to the Fruit Salad and Fried Pickles.  I'm sure they're good, but neither struck a cord with me.  The sandwich came with chopped cucumber, tomato and onion with a creamy Raspberry Dressing.  All was good except the dressing portion was a little overwhelming making the sandwich difficult to eat and masking some other flavors.  The tortillas were abundant and the homemade salsa was pleasing.  It was nice to mix it with the hummus.  Karen had 

Tuna Melt with
Funnel Veggies & Dip

the Choose Two with Tuna Melt and Funnel of Fresh Veggies & Dip.  Jeff went with my second choice: the French Dip.  Both were hits.  We were sitting next to the pastry case and I had my eye on the scones.  I eventually took a Mocha and Caramel one with me, but I found it on the dry side.  That may be more traditional, but I love my scones soft and creamy (thank you Jenny at Bluebird Bakery in Glendale). 

French Dip
with Alreddy House Salad

     Dominic accompanied me for my second visit.  He had the Trio Salad with two servings of Egg Salad and one of Chicken Salad.  He found the egg very tasty, but the chicken was a little on the dry side.  I did Choose Two again with the French Dip and Alreddy House Salad, a combination of greens, toasted pecans, craisins, feta, strawberries and cucumber with an apple cider vinaigrette dressing.  Very nice.  We topped it off with their Cherry Cheese Cobbler, which I found to be like a pound cake, rather than a traditionally crumbled pie.  

Quiche of the Day and Seafood Bisque

     For my third visit, Eric and I went together for a late brunch.  He had Choose Two (there's a trend here) with the Quiche and cup of Seafood Bisque.  The quiche was an individual serving made with asparagus that day.  The bisque sounded so good I had to have a cup also.  It was full of seafood pieces in a rich cream that made us lap up the entire cup.  My Broken Yoke Angus Sandwich was 

Broken Yoke Angus Sandwich and Seafood Bisque

more than I expected.  It was piled high with a "runny" egg, as I preferred.  I think the next time I'll order it with just one slice of bread as it would make it easier to eat with more emphasis on the egg and various fillings.  We ended with the Peaches & Cream Cake–a variation on the cobbler from a few days back.  

Peaches & Cream Cake

Served warm, this one was the 2009 winner of Best Dessert at The Taste of Northern CIncinnati.  And one should not forget that this is a coffee house too.  They serve excellent brews.

     I see another visit in my future…soon!

alreddycafe.com

An Afternoon Outing in Glendale at the Grand Finale and Bluebird Bakery

It was a gorgeous sunny day for Neil to meet his good friend Angela.  She had a very thoughtful gift for him that I think was actually meant for me...a cat grass and catnip plant for our garden.  Gifts that keep on giving are the best in my opinion! 

Grand Finale

The Main Victorian Dining Room of the Grand Finale

      I've been thinking of having lunch at the Grand Finale so it was the first place that popped into my mind to meet.  It was their house salad and crêpes that were calling me.  We've been there numerous times and everything on the menu has always worked for me.  From brunch to lunch to dinner to dessert and drinks, the Grand Finale has been serving up french inspired cuisine since 1978.  It came into existence when the Sunday brunch was sweeping America and it's a tradition that continues today.  On Mothers' Day, the line can circle around the parking lot before they open. Is it worth it?  Absolutely!  The bite-sized crepes and desserts in tiny glass cups are just right for grazing on the brunch buffet.

       But today is all about lunch.  We arrived at 12:30 and the place is bustling.  Grand Finale is in a converted Victorian home that has been extended to include a garden room.  Fortunately, that's where we were seated – bright and inviting with just a glimpse of the outdoor courtyard.  

Mediterranean Salmon Salad

House Salad with Creamy Avocado Dressing

Spinach with Four Cheeses and Coq au Vin Crêpes

      Service was polite and attentive and it felt like all the servers were there just for us.  A selection of breads arrived.  They're so tempting, I can make a meal from them!  Angela ordered the Mediterranean salmon salad with a lemon oregano vinaigrette on the side.  The romaine base included chilled asparagus, artichoke hearts, calamata olives, and sweet peppers.  From her expressions and comments, she approved.  I went with my initial thought of the house salad with creamy avocado dressing, reminiscent of Seven Seas' green goddess.  The salad is cold, fresh, and crisp with a generous amount of sliced mushrooms and sprouts.  I chose two different crêpes (you can order either one or two from six choices)—the spinach with four cheeses and the coq au vin.  Both arrived piping hot, as they always have.  I'm completely satisfied and content. 

Grand Finale at 3 East Sharon Road in Glendale, OH

http://www.grandfinale.info

Bluebird Bakery

The Expanded Bluebird Bakery

      Remembering our stops at Bluebird Bakery when we were working in the area, Angela and I couldn't resist checking it out.  In addition to our regular visits, we went there once to sample cakes when Angela was planning her wedding.  It's a sugar experience that everyone should have at least once in this life!  They've now expanded their space to include the much larger store next door.  It was a wise move.  They've also extended their service to include breakfast and lunch.  The dining area is charming and cheery with yellow walls and blue and white accents.

Apricot Scone

Jenny Dennis is the proprietor and her confections are among the finest.  Angela chose her macaroons and I went with my favorite, her scones.  Only today, the selection was down to just the chocolate chip variety.  The young woman behind the counter (who remembered us from five years ago...it was probably the cake testing) suggested that there were more in the day old bin.  That's where I found two apricot scones for the price of one!  As for the taste?  I couldn't tell that they were from the day before.  They were still fresh in my opinion.  We sat in the corner and took in the new environs.  There's no rush here.  It's a place to sit and spend some time and the two of us savored our selections and time catching up with one another.  We vowed to come back for lunch some day.  On our way out, I picked Eric up one of Jenny's macaroons (not to be confused with the regular macaroon).  These are two macaroons stuck together with chocolate cream icing and dipped in a rich dark chocolate.  He enjoyed the treat, as did Dexter the cat grass and catnip.  It was a day when we all benefitted from our visit to Glendale.

Bluebird's Tempting Display Case

Bluebird Bakery at 29 Village Square in Glendale, OH

http://www.bluebirdbakery.com

One a Penny, Two a Penny, Hot Cross Buns!

Neil’s been humming around the house all morning.  There must be some reason he’s so happy.  It’s not the weather, as it’s a dreary chilly day.  Maybe he’s going to bake a squirrel pie.  That would make my day!

      I admit it.  I love hot cross buns!  Its reported origins are varied, but most agree that the hot cross bun was popularized in England when a 12th century monk made the spiced cakes and stamped them with the sign of the cross.  He made the buns every year thereafter and distributed them to the poor on Good Friday.

     The origin of the hot cross bun, as the Easter holiday itself, is mixed with pagan traditions.  Buns were considered a sacred food of the gods to the ancient Aztecs and Incas, while the Egyptians and Saxons offered them as sacrifices to their goddesses.  The appearance of a cross on top represented everything from the quarters of the moon to the horns of a sacred ox to the Christian interpretation today of the crucifixion.  Originally, the cross was marked in the dough with a knife but later creations used the piped icing that is popular today.  It's not clear when hot cross buns started appearing for sale before the Good Friday holiday.  Thankfully, the irresistible concoctions are available at bakeries during the entire six weeks of Lent leading up to Easter. 

Servatii's version of the hot cross bun

      I have my own favorite shops for what I consider to be the best hot cross buns.  In Cincinnati, my pick for the traditional bun is at the Servatii Pastry Shops, found throughout the city.  They are light and flaky with a generous "cross" of buttercream icing and not too much candied fruit.  For a scone version, I head to the Bluebird Bakery in Glendale.  Jenny's scones are the finest that I've found and her hot cross interpretation is divine!  My absolute favorite takes a little more effort as it is found on the east side of Columbus, OH at Resch's Bakery.  They're more dense and have a dusting of confectioner's sugar in addition to the icing cross.  I'm hoping my sister brings some when she comes to visit this weekend.  For me, it's probably just as well that they're not available year 'round.  However, I would like to hear where you find your favorite hot cross bun.

http://www.servatiipastryshop.com/Locations.aspx

http://www.bluebirdbakery.com

http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/33/372053/restaurant/East-Side/Reschs-Bakery-Columbus