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Jade Mountain Cafe

April 8th, 2012

Before I stepped foot in Jade Mountain Cafe, I was trying to remember when was the last time I had bubble tea, the specialty here. Sadly, it may have been several years ago, when the bubble tea place at the old University Square existed (I never went to Bubble Island at the now-defunct food court).

I’m guessing it won’t be years in between sips again, as the bubble tea at this small cafe not too far from Ella’s Deli is fantastic. You can order from the milk teas (e.g. black, oolong, etc.) or from the iced fruit teas (e.g. peach, mango, etc.). Prices are $2-$2.50 for small, $2.30-$2.80 for medium and $2.50-$3 for large; just add 50 cents for the tapioca or lychee jelly bubbles.

I immensely enjoyed the passion fruit, lychee and red bubble teas, in that order. They’re just so refreshing that I could see myself slurping them on the outdoor patio on a hot summer day. Word of caution: don’t slurp too quickly, or you may choke.

Jade has a full coffee selection as well. There also are a few appetizers, desserts and pastries (provided by Stella’s) on the menu. I had the 10-piece chicken pot stickers ($4.99), which appeared overcooked but actually were quite flavorful. I wouldn’t order the pork steamed bun ($3.25) again, though delicious as the filling was, there was just a tiny bit of it (95 percent bread otherwise).

Jade Mountain Cafe is open every day. You can find parking on the street, or there’s a small parking lot nearby, though the stalls aren’t marked well.

Jade Mountain Cafe on Urbanspoon

Nonna Rita’s

April 1st, 2012

If you ever have both sweet and salty cravings, then Nonna Rita’s may be the place for you. The small store that boasts empanadas and pastries in its name opened in January in the space formerly occupied by Milio’s not too far from the intersection of East Johnson Street and East Washington Avenue.

I ordered the beef and chicken empanadas ($2.50 each). Instead of frying them, Nonna Rita’s bakes them. The crust was nice and flaky, but I didn’t care for the beef (too much cumin) or the chicken (a bit dry). You also can try taco, ham & cheese, spinach, corn and tuna; one dozen costs $25.

The small pastries are based on traditional Argentine baking techniques and are either topped or filled with dulce de leche (similar to caramel in flavor), a custard-like cream or both. I really enjoyed the dulce de leche–it’s a wonderful alternative to the typical chocolate topped/filled pastries you find at other bakeries.

I also liked both the butter croissant and the “saltier” croissant (as it was described to me). Both have so much flavor that you don’t need to add jam or anything. I paid $7 for a dozen pastries, but I got that as a discount since they were about to close for the day.

The only other item on the menu are the pizzettas  ($2.50, $3 or $3.50), personal-sized pizzas that can be topped with pepperoni, heart of palms or tomato basil, for example.

Nonna Rita’s is open Tuesday-Saturday. There’s usually ample street parking right in front. Credit cards are currently not accepted.

Mad Men cocktails

March 25th, 2012

After nearly a year-and-a-half without a new episode, “Mad Men” returns for Season 5 tonight. Here’s a list of cocktails you can serve at your viewing party, based on what the characters drink on the show:

Cocktail Ingredients Notes
Old Fashioned Muddle together bitters, Splenda, a splash of club soda and an orange slice. Add ice, brandy, rye or whiskey and top with club soda (optional). Stir. Don’s drink of choice, and the first drink you see any character consume in the series premiere.
Gibson Fill shaker with ice. Add dry vermouth, shake, then strain out the vermouth. Add three shots of vodka (e.g. Yahara Bay) or gin (e.g. Tanqueray 10), shake. Add two cocktail onions to a chilled martini glass. Pour vodka/gin over the onions. Roger prefers to drink clear liquids, and in one episode, calls for a “Gibson! Up!”
Vodka-Mt. Dew In a glass, add two parts vodka, three parts Mt. Dew. The creative staff is figuring out a cocktail using Mt. Dew. Peggy suggests they need three ingredients, as “vodka and Mountain Dew is an emergency.”
Vodka Gimlet In a shaker, add ice, 1 oz. fresh-squeezed lime juice, and 1-2 shots of vodka. Shake and strain into a glass filled with ice. Garnish with a slice of lime. While Betty Draper usually drinks wine, her cocktail of choice is the gimlet.
Sambuca con la Mosca In a brandy snifter, add 2 shots of sambuca and three coffee beans. Salvatore Romano explains to a client, “literally, with flies.”
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