Solace is found in the familiar, and La Baguette with its French onion
soup sets the benchmark for comfort. Although I encourage others to
sample different dishes, the only deviation I’ll make is including a
salad or extra roll with my order.
The venerable Westside eatery has been serving soups, sandwiches and
a few hot entrees for 28 years. It rarely varies in quality. The gooey
cheese stretches like soft taffy from the steaming rich beef broth thick
with onions; the house specialty is comfort food deified. Served with
a hard roll, whose crust shatters when broken, this remarkably simple
meal ($6.25) is complete.
The house salad is romaine dressed with olive oil, tarragon and lemon
juice. Again, simplicity is as much an ingredient as salt and pepper.
La Baguette’s combination of French onion soup and salad ($7.75) is
the best of all worlds.
Orders are placed at the counter behind which are stacked more than a
baker’s dozen of bread types – from extra long French batards to round
walnut-raisin loaves. All are airy with a hard crust. To be honest even
day-old bologna would be elevated by this bread – but that would be a
waste. The pastry case includes croissants, Napoleons, clafoutis, and
more. The overall décor is bistro-like with tables crowded together
making for snug dining companions.
On each visit, I am thrilled with the delicious consistency of the soup
a la maison. Looking around at the elbow-to-elbow tables, I always seem
to be in good company.
Five Plates
La Baguette
2417 W. Colorado Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80904
719-577-4818
The trouble with reading Joan Didion’s Blue Nights is that I feel I have
eavesdropped on a private conversation. And it’s one she’s having with
herself.
This is Didion’s most recent work since The Year of Magical Thinking. It,
like Blue Nights, focuses on loss. In the former, it was the death of her
husband, John Gregory Dunne; and in the latter, the death of their daugh-
ter Quintana Roo, also known as Q. These are heart-breaking events but
Didion candidly shares a range of emotions. She writes, “When we talk
about mortality we are talking about our children.” Then, before I can
phrase the question myself, she asks what that means. I am still not sure.
What I do know that is Didion loved her daughter. Q was adopted, an only
child, insightful and perhaps a bit frightening, as a young child, in her
assessment of situations. Didion acknowledges she was not prepared to be
a parent, although it was something she wanted. Nonetheless, much of the
book has her questioning the decisions she made as a mother – something
not necessarily unique.
Surprisingly, the book has a lot of humor, after all who names a child
Quintana Roo (after the state in Mexico)? Didion also addresses the issue
of growing old, of experiencing physical decline. Overall, the strength
lies in her descriptions of those moments that set one family apart from
another: memories. In doing so, she may not be talking to herself as much
as thinking out loud.
Three and a half Bookmarks
Alfred A. Knopf, 2011
188 pages
A bungled reservation, an over-zealous server, and cold air wafting into the room
could have contributed to a disastrous dining experience at Springs Orleans.
Instead, the food not only ruled the night, it negated the coulda-been problems.
The menu is a what’s what in New Orleans cooking: Shrimp Etouffee, Red Beans
and Rice, Shrimp and Grits, Gumbo and much more. Prices range from moderate
($11 for a shrimp Po’Boy) to pricey ($20 for the Shrimp Platter).
We started with the Calamari and Creole marinara. Dual textures from the crunchy,
suggestively spicy breading and the chewy soft squid were a treat. The bonus was
the sauce: a spin on a traditional marinara with the addition of Cajun seasoning –
which, the hostess explained, has 32 herbs and spices.
I ordered the pasta with lobster and sundried tomatoes in a creamy tarragon sauce.
It was Mardi Gras on a plate: an exciting, festive combination but you can only take
so much. It wasn’t just rich, it was luxurious. The tubular spring-like pasta was
eclipsed by the profusion of flavor. My husband ordered the Fried Shrimp that was
neither greasy no heavy shone on the Platter. It featured the same breading as the
calamari. The Platterscome with choices of several sides including crispy French
fries, balsamic grilled vegies, mashed potatoes, greens and coleslaw.
The loud, cheerful atmosphere is enhanced by the live music from the keyboardist.
This is not the place for a romantic meal, but it’s perfect for being transported to
Louisiana without ever leaving town.
Four Plates
Springs Orleans
123 E. Pikes Peak
Colorado Springs
Feeding Christine by Barbara Chepaitis has most of the themes I enjoy
in a novel: friendship, food, mystery and personal growth. Unfortunately,
the plot and creativity, two fundamental elements for a truly engaging work,
lack flavor.
The book centers around four women who gather to prepare for the annual
holiday party hosted by their catering company. A fifth woman, Nan the
deceased sister of Teresa, is also a prominent character. And, Nan is the
mother of the title character. Rather than hold the party at their shop,
Teresa insists on having it in her home. The story takes place over three
days, but retells memories that span years.
Three of the women spend much of the time cooking in Teresa’s kitchen.
Meanwhile, the fourth is tied up in the basement – and everyone knows
it. I am not making this up. It’s difficult to know if Chepaitis’s intent
was to create a dark comedy, or if that was a consequence of the weak
storyline. Occasional references are made to the “hostage” but each
woman goes about her business. Trips are made to the grocery store,
delicious sounding ginger trout is prepared, love is a topic of conversa-
tion, and all the while someone they care about is secured in the cold,
dark basement. It’s almost comical.
The lone strength of the novel lies in the description of food and its
bond among the women. However, a menu at a nice restaurant could
provide the same thing without the contrived drama.
One Bookmark
Bantam Books, 2000
244 pages
The beauty of having my own blog is that I not only get to decide what
I want to write about; I can also determine the frequency, format and
tone. I’ve set my own deadlines, which means I can break them, if I
choose. I have also created my own focus: where I eaten and what I’ve
read. So far, so good, I think. With that in mind, I am, nonetheless,
taking today to do something just a little different: to give thanks.
I am grateful beyond words (written and spoken) for the support of
The Blue Page Special. I am especially thankful for my family and
friends who have recommended books through the years. And, of
course, a meal becomes more than just food when shared. Thank you!
In keeping with the food theme associated with Thanksgiving, here
are some places around Colorado Springs where I have enjoyed not
just good food, but good food with special people – this excludes,
of course, the homes of family, friends (and my own). At some point,
I’ll write reviews of these places, but until then (in no particular
order):
The Margarita at Pine Creek
Nosh
Adams Mountain Café (Manitou Springs)
La Baguette
Yakitori
Josh and Jon’s Ice Cream
Bird Dog BBQ
The Keg (Manitou Springs)
Yakitori
Alfonso’s
Joanie’s Deli (Woodland Park)
Check them out if you haven’t already; or wait until my reviews!
Thank you!
The name Snooze is ironically misleading because this is an exciting, ambitious, and,
apparently, very popular diner. Although there are others in Denver, Boulder and Fort
Collins, we tried the Larimer and Park location.
To be perfectly honest, breakfast is not my favorite meal. Snooze could change that. The
menu has several items that piqued my interest: Sweet Potato Buttermilk Pancakes, Breakfast
Tacos, Snooze Spuds Deluxe and much, much more. I opted for the Sweet Potato Pancakes which
may sway me from trying anything else. The cakes were surprisingly light and airy; the sweet
potato flavor was subtle, especially under the ultra-sweet caramel syrup, so it took a little
experimenting to find the right taste balance. Pecans and ginger butter were perfect final
touches. My son ordered Red Velvet Pancakes, with a hint of rich chocolate, complete with
cream cheese frosting.
All the egg dishes use Neiman Ranch Cage Free eggs. I am not a coffee drinker, but I know a
good cup when I smell it. Hash browns while creamy are perhaps not as crunchy as they should
be. Service is very friendly and efficient. Still, it’s clear pancakes are the stars of the menu.
Afterall, Snooze boasts: Peace, Love and Pancakes!
Be prepared to wait, we were told 15 minutes, which was pretty accurate; as we were leaving,
those waiting for tables were being told 30 to 45 minutes. Snooze, an a.m. eatery, is a fun
misnomer because it is wide awake on all levels.
Five Plates
Snooze
2662 E. Larimer St., Denver
7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. weekends
6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. weekdays
Considering the content of The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas, this book probably warrants an R rating; not
for violence as the title might suggest, but its strong sexual content and graphic language. That aside,
this Australian Literary Society Gold Medal winner is riveting in its cross-cultural, cross-generational look
at parenting, friendship, family and marriage.
Told from eight different perspectives, the story follows the events that lead to and from an adult slapping
the young child of another couple at a family barbecue. It’s a slap felt by everyone related to, or friends
with, hosts Hector and Aisha. The ripple effects go well beyond the afternoon gathering.
Although there are eight different viewpoints, including Hector and Aisha’s, the omniscient narrator remains
the same, and the story moves forward rather than being retold from various angles. This is a clever way to
demonstrate the impact without repeating the actual event multiple times. The slap is never far from the sur-
face, but neither is is it a repetitive action. The ultimate question within the book – and for readers, as
well – becomes which side is right: those who agree with the boy being slapped and those who don’t.
The primary weakness of the novel is the whiney, self-absorbed characters who populate it. With few excep-
tions, it is hard to feel an affinity with any of them. Sure, it was a bratty four-year-old child who was hit,
but some of the other characters might have benefitted from a quick smack, too.
Three and a half Bookmarks
Penguin Books, 2010
482 pages
The Landmark Café and Creperie has several house specialties, but I
only tried those on the dessert menu. Oh, it was tempting to select
savory crepes as my entrée, but the brandied apples, sun dried tomatoes,
mushrooms and duck over fettuccine was too intriguing to dismiss. I had
never considered pairing pommes de terre with pasta, yet the unlikely
couple made a fine marriage. The duck approached the dry side, but the
elegant sauce of the brandy, apples and sundried tomatoes made it possible
to overlook this potential flaw. The boring house salad was salvaged only
by the tangy cranberry vinaigrette.
Apparently, spinach bisque is a Landmark specialty, but I didn’t find this
out until later. In addition to pastas, main course salads and sandwiches,
the menu features at least half a dozen savory crepes. Chicken Divan and
Beef Burgundy were among those sampled and deemed delicious.
Although our small group of Knox College students claimed to be full, every-
one still had room for dessert. My son and I made the mistake of requesting
the large serving of the Crepes Banana Foster. We erred only because it was
far too much – even shared. Still, the caramel sauce was decadent. The Turtle
Crepes also got two thumbs up. We all agreed that the crepes were difficult
to cut with a spoon.
We’re likely to visit Galesburg over the next four years, so we’ll have plenty
of opportunity to sample the house favorites, and find new ones.
Four Plates
62 S. Seminary St.
Galesburg, Ill.
Riding a train on an overnight trip is nostalgic on many levels, but not
necessarily in a positive way. It’s a slumber party with strangers; or
perhaps a little like a B&B with neither a real bed nor a good break-
fast. Sure, breakfast is served, but that’s where another questionable
parallel surfaces: it’s like school cafeteria food.
The California Zephyr is a good way to get from Colorado to the Midwest.
I wanted an aboard meal, and breakfast seemed the best option. Following
a fitful night’s sleep, my husband and I wobbled our way to the dining car.
The menu featured scrambled eggs, French toast, oatmeal or cold cereal,
and The Chef’s Morning Special: tomato, spinach, mushroom quiche. Every-
thing was overpriced, but we were game.
I ordered the special which included potatoes and a choice of biscuit,
raisin bread or croissant. Another passenger, who had just spent his
second night on board, was seated at our table; he said he had the quiche
the day before. I blame lack of sleep on my inability to react. I chose
the quiche, realizing just before my plate arrived, that it was probably
leftover from the previous day. In fact, what was once perhaps a flakey,
buttery crust had become soggy and bland. The thick slices of French toast
weren’t any fresher.
As for the passenger who joined us, that was similar to a B&B; and the train
was, indeed, a throwback to another time. Too bad the meal tasted like it.
One Plate
Breakfast prices $7 to $10.75, includes juice and choice of coffee, tea or milk
Cutting For Stone by Abraham Verghese is a 600+ page novel about identity,
familial love and faith (or fate). Set in a missionary hospital in Ethiopia, the
story follows Marion and Shiva Stone, twin boys born to a nun who dies in
childbirth and a British surgeon father who abandons them. Now that’s one head-
turning premise!
Their unlikely birth, the loving physicians who adopt them and the unique bond
of twins share the spotlight with medicine. Marion is the narrator who tells
the story based on his own memories and from what those around him remember.
Chastity and promiscuity are important elements here. They’re bound by love
which means betrayal isn’t far behind. Verghese is a master of description.
His images are vivid and exciting whether of operating rooms or the countryside
of Addis Ababa where most of the story takes place. The story moves easily to
New York City then back to Addis Ababa. The revolution in Ethiopia is part of
the backdrop. Still, the focus is on the staff of the Missing Hospital, a mission
hospital, an appropriately humorous name.
The personality traits of the characters, particularly Marion and Shiva, are
compelling which goes beyond the circumstances of their birth. They are intelli-
gent and full of emotion, yet these twins are remarkably, even painfully,
different. Overall, with few exceptions, these are people we want to get to
know – and, thankfully, do! Don’t be put off by the number of pages; the end
comes all too soon.
Five Bookmarks
667 pages
Vintage Books, 2009
(Full disclosure: I wrote this one a few months ago)
The Blue Page Special 