While in Erie I had dinner with a former colleague from when I taught at Gannon University(hi Elisa!). She suggested we have dinner at 1201 Kitchen. She also told me she follows our blog! Personally knowing someone who reads it made me want to go home and try harder to keep it updated(so I'm going to try and try not to let the craziness of the semester get in the way of keeping it updated).
So back to 1201 Kitchen. We walked in and Elisa asked if we could sit downstairs in the kitchen. While they were checking with the chef to make sure it was ok we both ordered a spring shower at the bar. I don't remember exactly what was in it but I know it had some type of grape liqueur as well as some other citrus-y flavors. It was refreshing and had a grapefruit like taste despite it having no grapefruit in it. Soon the maitre d came and told us we were all set to sit downstairs and led us to our seats. When we went down a steep flight of stairs that opened up into a room that was next to the kitchen. There was a long bar that sat facing the final prep area for the chef and we took a seat directly across from where Chef Dan. It was so cool to be able to watch as he finished all the dishes. Chef Dan is really personable too. I highly recommend sitting in the kitchen if you can.
We started with appetizers. Elisa had the crispy pork belly pancake and I had the seared scallops. Elisa's was very good and mine was amazing. It is hard to cook a scallop perfectly. This scallop was perfect. It was beautifully browned on the top and had that melt in your mouth texture to it. It was served on top of a bed of roasted chickpeas, which were warm and also beautifully browned. All together it was a delicious dish that I knew would be the start to a great meal. For our second course we both ordered the tangerine and goat cheese frito. It had roasted shallots, tangerine, watercress, sunflower and the best crispy outside warm and gooey cheesy goat cheese inside. It was a perfectly balanced salad. I made sure to try and eat all the elements together and it all had a great harmony to it. We then moved onto our main entrees. Elisa had the Lake Erie Walleye, which she said was really good. I had the smoked brisket enchiladas. They were delicious. It was a plate of enchiladas on top of a bean salad. Inside the enchiladas was a deliciously smoked brisket. I'm pretty picky on my brisket after mine and Pat's multiple trips to Texas so you know if I thought it was good it was good. On top of it all was a rich complex mole sauce and then a runny yolk egg. It was delicious. And HUGE! I couldn't finish it all. Hopefully Chef Dan didn't take my half finished plate personally. Then came dessert. We both choose the special Key Lime dessert they had. It was so good. It was a deconstructed Key Lime pie. There were the graham cracker crumbles and a delicious key lime gelato or ice cream. It was so good and the perfect ending to a great night of catching up and conversation.
I highly recommend 1201 Kitchen. Not only did all the food taste good...it easily rivaled food I've had at higher end restaurants in Vegas every plate also came out beautifully. They were artfully arranged. Chef Dan truly has a flare and a passion that easily shines through in his plates.
While in Erie I visited another one of my favorite places from when I lived there The Brick House. It's a small coffee house in a...wait for it...a brick house! I love their many flavored lattes. Try one of my favorites: a Haystack(coconut and caramel), a Green Penguin(chocolate and white chocolate and mint), or an Almond Roca Mocha(Almond, chocolate). While there be sure to also try their Brick House Cookie. It's like an oatmeal cookie base but instead of oatmeal they put coconut, macademia nuts, and chocolate chips. Eating it while slightly warm is the best so leave it in your car in the sun for a short bit...or ask them to warm it up. I've even started bringing them back to my secretary to repay her for all the annoying student problems I send her way. And actually I haven't ever met a baked good from the Brick House I didn't enjoy. Another one of my favs is their banana muffins...they have this wonderful cake like light texture....it's probably a good thing I don't live near the Brick House anymore.
And if your from out of town and looking for a place to stay check out my favorite bed and breakfast: Light on the Lake Bed and Breakfast. It's not right in Erie but in North East. But it is literally right on the Lake. I try and get the Lakefront Room and hope it is a good temperature to leave the door slightly open so I can fall asleep to the sounds of the Lake. Dennis and Marcia are two of the nicest people. If you go there tell them Jen from Vegas sent you. And seriously what more do I have to say when this is the view you get there:
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