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I recently took a Chinese cooking class with my mother at the Seasoned Chef Cooking School. I'm a big fan of Chinese food, and my mom is a big fan of cooking in general, so we knew we would enjoy...
I recently took a Chinese cooking class with my mother at the Seasoned Chef Cooking School. I'm a big fan of Chinese food, and my mom is a big fan of cooking in general, so we knew we would enjoy ourselves. The first thing that impressed me was the caliber of instructor - our class was taught by the executive chef of one of the most popular Asian restaurants in town. The facilities and tools were also top-notch. The class was split into teams, which made egg-drop soup, fried rice, baked tofu, dumplings, shrimp stir-fry and almond cookies. Everything turned out quite well and a fun time was had by all. At the end of the night we got to take home printed copies of the recipes we'd made and leftover cookies. I hope to be able to take another class at the Seasoned Chef next time I'm in town.
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The Westin Tabor Center is a great hotel right on the 16th St. pedestrian mall in downtown Denver. It is truly central to everything you could want to see or do in the city. It is rated four our...
The Westin Tabor Center is a great hotel right on the 16th St. pedestrian mall in downtown Denver. It is truly central to everything you could want to see or do in the city. It is rated four our of five stars, and room rates average about $230 per night, depending on the date.
The facility is also well-suited for small conferences of up to about three hundred attendees. There are a number of nicely-sized conference rooms and ball rooms all centrally located on the same floor. The in-house catering is also very good quality (as one might expect since The Palm Restaurant on the first floor is a very popular "in" place to dine.) I appreciated the fact that there was free fast wireless internet available. I would definitely recommend this as a conference location.
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My company uses software created by Dean Evans and Associates on a daily basis. We have found them to be a good company to work with as far as customer service, reliability and responsiveness. The...
My company uses software created by Dean Evans and Associates on a daily basis. We have found them to be a good company to work with as far as customer service, reliability and responsiveness. The product is very user-customizable and can suit a variety of settings.
A few weeks ago I attended the Dean Evans users conference in Denver, Colorado. I found it to be very informative and interesting (plus the food was great!) I really enjoyed having the opportunity to speak directly with the programmers who created the product I use every day and get some answers to nagging questions. All of the employees who I spoke with seems unusually capable and willing to help. A good experience overall!
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We went with a group of friends to take a nice drive down to Canandaigua Lake and get some dinner. The drive was lovely, but the dinner was quite a disappointment. Our group of seven adults and...
We went with a group of friends to take a nice drive down to Canandaigua Lake and get some dinner. The drive was lovely, but the dinner was quite a disappointment. Our group of seven adults and one child was too large for the main dining room, so we were seated in a rather chilly and drab side room (we all ate with our jackets on.)
Unlike in many Mexican Restaurants, the chips and salsa was not free, but you could order it as an appetizer. They were decent, but nothing special, especially since the salsa was onion-heavy and devoid of spiciness. Several of the entrรฉes seemed overpriced, or those that were a good deal did not include rice or beans (which could be ordered on the side for an additional charge.)
My husband and I decided to go "whole hog" and share the Fiesta Platter. This platter included:
2 flautas (dry plain shredded chicken fried inside a thin crispy corn tortilla)
3 chicken enchiladas (flat corn tortillas with shredded chicken, sour cream and green chile sauce),
1 sope (similar to a small tostada) and
1 chile relleno (a cooked poblano pepper stuffed with chicken and cheese, battered, fried, and smothered with a marinara-like sauce.)
The sope and the enchiladas were decent if plain, but the rellenos and flautas were very disappointing. Our dining companions also mentioned a lack of flavor and spice in the dishes they ordered. We also didn't like the fact that a 22% gratuity was added to our bill even though neither the menu nor the server made mention of this. We waited about 15 minutes after asking for our check, and by the time we left the restaurant only three plates had been cleared from our table. This place claims to be authentic, but we were not impressed.
http://www.elrincon.downtowncanandaigua.com/
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I recently tried Lorraine's Food Factory on Culver St. for the first time. My husband and I went on a Saturday evening, about an hour before closing. Parking was quite convenient next to the...
I recently tried Lorraine's Food Factory on Culver St. for the first time. My husband and I went on a Saturday evening, about an hour before closing. Parking was quite convenient next to the building, though I expect it fills quickly at peak times. The first thing I noticed was the unique decor. Every wall is covered with museum-quality displays about celebrities, politicians and musicians that have eaten at the restaurant. Some of those near our table included Jerry Garcia, Bill & Hilary Clinton and the Kids in the Hall.
The wait staff was friendly and lighthearted, and we didn't wait long for our food. I ordered a spicy shrimp wrap, and my husband ordered a shrimp and artichoke quesadilla. The wrap was unimpressive, with too much lettuce and rather bland cold cooked vegetables. The quesadilla was much better, with plenty of melty cheese, a good tortilla and plenty of fancy fillings. We also shared a basket of sweet potato fries, which were excellent.
We are planning to go back again sometime for a weekend brunch. Lorraine's also offers "take & bake" entrรฉes and catering. It is worth checking out, and would be a fun place for group get-togethers.
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We were looking for an Asian restaurant in the Syracuse area last weekend and my husband stumbled on the Iciban Japanese steak house. We were meeting up with friends who have slightly less...
We were looking for an Asian restaurant in the Syracuse area last weekend and my husband stumbled on the Iciban Japanese steak house. We were meeting up with friends who have slightly less adventurous palates, so we figured this place would have something for everyone.
The parking lot was surprisingly full at 4:30PM on a Sunday, which we took to be a promising sign. There were plenty of tables available, although the hostess indicated that sometimes several separate parties are seated together at one large table/grill. That seemed odd to me, but perhaps it is the norm at this type of place.
The menu is fairly large, including sushi, steak, tempura, teriyaki and more. My husband had the "regular" sushi dinner, which included about a dozen pieces of sashimi and California rolls. He said it was good, but not as good as we used to get in NYC. I had the vegetable tempura which was deliciously crispy and among the best I've had. Our friends both had the steak, which was cooked in front of us by a very entertaining and skilled chef on the built-in grill top on our table. He wowed us by creating large flaming blazes, flipping ingredients through the air, and bouncing an egg repeatedly on his metal spatula. He definitely wasn't Japanese, but we didn't care!
I would recommend this as a place to go with friends, but also with guests that you don't know too well. (The flying food will give you a topic of conversation!) Be aware that the table-top flames and flying knives may be scary for small kids.
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If you are looking for something a little bit out of the ordinary for dinner, check out Seoul Garden Korean Restaurant in Henrietta. This is the place place that native Koreans go to get...
If you are looking for something a little bit out of the ordinary for dinner, check out Seoul Garden Korean Restaurant in Henrietta. This is the place place that native Koreans go to get home-cooking, so I don't think you can do much better in this area. Entrรฉes range from $8-12 and a sampling of mini-appetizers comes before your meal. The wait staff is all very knowledgable, friendly, and willing to explain. Don't be shy about asking questions and soliciting suggestions.
After a delicious fried vegetable pancake appetizer, I ordered the spicy pork and veggies (can't remember the Korean name). It was good, but quite spicy. My dining partner had the noodles with black bean sauce, which was less interesting. We both took home doggie bags. I am told that the specialty of the house is Korean BBQ, so we will try that our our next visit.
The amosphere is quite plain but comfortable enough. The high ceilings and fluorescent lighting tip you off to the fact that this space was originally designed as warehouse, not a restaurant. The restaurant is not visible from the street - just turn right as soon as you come to Lori's Natural Foods and watch for a sign on the next building. There is plenty of free parking in front.
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My husband and I recently switched to a new dentist, and we have been very happy with him thus far. He seems to be much more thorough and technologically up-to-date than our last dentist. An...
My husband and I recently switched to a new dentist, and we have been very happy with him thus far. He seems to be much more thorough and technologically up-to-date than our last dentist. An assistant took high-tech x-rays of all of my teeth in less than ten minutes and they were immediately available on a flat screen panel in front of me for Dr. Raetz to review. (I could also have watched a movie on that same screen during the cleaning if I had wanted to!). He explains everything thoroughly and makes helpful suggestions about areas to be particularly vigilant with cleaning. He also has a great sense of humor (one of his exam rooms has a dentist Barbie doll!) His receptionist and dental hygienist are very friendly an competent. I would highly recommend him to anyone looking for a dentist in Rochester.
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Some good friends of mine recently had their wedding reception at the Peabody Library in downtown Baltimore. The setting is quite unique and lovely. Guests are surrounded by austere elegance -...
Some good friends of mine recently had their wedding reception at the Peabody Library in downtown Baltimore. The setting is quite unique and lovely. Guests are surrounded by austere elegance - multiple floors of old books, marble floors and a towering ceiling. There is also a foyer area with special displays in glass cases that is perfect for the cocktail hour. The lighting is very "romantic" in the main room, so you may find that photos come out very dark (a pro photographer may not have trouble with this, but I did as a guest.)
Despite the loveliness of the setting, there are some difficulties with holding an event at the Peabody Library. It seems that there are communication problems between the staff who co-ordinate the rentals, and the security guards. We were originally told that we could load in equipment at 2:30PM, but ultimately we were not allowed in the building until 3PM (a serious problem, since the ceremony started at 4PM and the groom was helping with the load-in). Then, at the end of the reception the library staff told us we needed to leave at 10PM, however the reception was scheduled to last until 10:30PM. Some of the staff members were difficult and unpleasant to the groom, which I thought was unnecessary. Parking was problematic in the loading area, and the underground garage locks up at 11PM. Overall the customer service and co-ordination left a great deal to be desired, but it is still a beautiful location.
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It has been many years since I was a regular pool-goer, but when I was growing up I was a huge fan of the Congress Park Community Pool. I took swimming lessons there as a youngster, and was very...
It has been many years since I was a regular pool-goer, but when I was growing up I was a huge fan of the Congress Park Community Pool. I took swimming lessons there as a youngster, and was very proud when I advanced from being a "tadpole" to a "minnow" and finally a "shark"!
The pool is outdoors, so expect the water to be chilly in the morning. There is also a wading pool for the little ones. The staff offer great family events and do an excellent job keeping things safe and fun for all. There are also times set aside for lap swim and water aerobics, as I recall. The changing and showering areas are convenient , and there is ample parking. I haven't visited in a while so I don't know whether the pool changes an entrance fee, but if so I am sure it is nominal.
Congress Park itself also offers plenty of other summer activities. There are picnic tables, tennis courts, a baseball diamond and a soccer field. Plus there are plenty of easy-to-climb trees for the kids to enjoy. It is one of the best deals in town for summer fun!
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