#ctnoms

Yeah, so, we referenced WuTang lyrics, we couldn’t help ourselves, it was too easy. But seriously, WUJI in Greenwich was full of surprises that truly did make it “nuthin to f@$k with.”

The first surprise is we went there on a Tuesday night and the dining room was packed. Random? Or was it because the food is really that good? We were about to find out . . .

Second surprise: At a Chinese restaurant it’s rare to get a free starter (like bread) to snack on at the table while you peruse the menu, but imagine our delight when out came some crispy and flaky fried noodles with your choice of duck sauce, mustard, or soy dipping sauces. Yum!

The next surprise was just how nice the interior was. It felt very fancy, trendy, and upbeat yet true to that classic, more chill Chinese vibe. It was an interesting juxtaposition we weren’t expecting, but we totally dug it.

So, back to the food. Yeah, we ordered a lot, and as if that weren’t enough (because we were invited in to try things out) they brought even more than we ordered. Yeah, it’s rough as hell to be a food blogger.

Alright, so drinks bring us to our next surprise. See, our expectations for drinks at most Chinese restaurants aren’t super high. We expect something good, but maybe not well-executed, super creative cocktails, ya know? Well, WUJI was an exception.

Broken Heart cocktail at WUJI in Greenwich, CT

Blood Orange Mojito cocktail at WUJI in Greenwich, CT

Mai Tai cocktail at WUJI in Greenwich, CT

Cucumber Lemongrass Martini cocktail at WUJI in Greenwich, CT

Broken Heart: Patron Roca Silver, Patron Citronge, St. Germain, crushed grapes, raspberries, pink peppercorns, and rose water. Floral notes and aromas hit you up front along with a perfect balance of sweetness. A well-rounded drink perfect for before digging into your meal.

Blood Orange Mojito: the blood orange packs a citrusy and tangy punch, while the mojito side adds a minty nose and undertone. Fresh, fun, and just the right amount of sweetness and a nice complement to a spicy dish.

Mai Tai: fruity, but nicely balanced. Good floral tones, too. There’s this comforting black cherry finish that makes you want to drink more.

Cucumber Lemongrass Martini: more liquor forward than the other ones, but not overwhelming. Very refreshing with just the right amount of cucumber to add a hint of flavor. Perfect to go with most of the food on the menu.

Overall, the drinks had great balance, strong flavors, and were all creative and fun.

Ok, onto food, starting with the Dim Sum.

Chinese Heritage Spare Ribs at WUJI in Greenwich, CT

Soup Dumplings at WUJI in Greenwich, CT

Chilled Peanut Sesame Noodles at WUJI in Greenwich, CT

Spicy Beef Bao at WUJI in Greenwich, CT

Pork Dumplings at WUJI in Greenwich, CT

Crab Rangoon at WUJI in Greenwich, CT

Chinios Chicken Salad at WUJI in Greenwich, CT

Chilled Peanut Sesame Noodles: Rich and creamy, with nice chunks of peanuts on top. The sesame adds a warm and toasty flavor, but be ready because this is a heavier dish and will fill you up. This needs to be shared with multiple people for sure!

Spicy Beef Bao: Wow! Delicate and fluffy buns held flavorful cuts of beef. The wasabi mayo sauce added a nice little kick. These were killer.

Pork Dumplings: The perfect Berkshire-porkiness nestled inside a dough wrapper that was all browned up and ready for nomming. Excellent dim sum.

Fresh Crab Rangoon: Smooth, creamy, and rich, there was the right ratio of filling to dough on the outside. Not greasy, either, like many other rangoons we’ve had in the past.

Chinese Heritage Spare Ribs: Nicely cooked with a delicious sauce, but they didn’t go overboard with it . . . like when there’s more sauce than there is meat. True to the style, with just a few gentle tugs, the meat falls right off the bone. Good stuff.

Soup Dumplings: These are specially made for WUJI by a woman in NYC. As we write this review, soup dumplings have become super popular, but when we ate there they were just becoming trendy. Here’s how ya do it up, son—first you put the dumpling VERY CAREFULLY on the soup spoon. Then, just as carefully, bite down on a bit of the side of the dumpling. The soup will spill out into the spoon. Slurp it up then take down the filling left inside. It was tricky to do it perfectly, so we suggest you keep going back for more to practice, hehe.

Chinios Chicken Salad: If you feel like going with a slightly lighter option, check out this salad that’s made with Napa Cabbage. We dug the extra crunchiness from the wonton chips and the right portions of greens to chicken. Plus, a warm and toasty sesame taste  going through boosts up the flavor. Have we ever said that Dan has a sesame oil addiction? That said, we wouldn’t have ordered this if it hadn’t been sent to us. It’s very simple and there are so many better options on the menu.

Ok, if you can believe it, we actually had entrees on top of all that.

Peking Duck at WUJI in Greenwich, CT

Lobster Fried Rice at WUJI in Greenwich, CT

Spicy Eggplant at WUJI in Greenwich, CT

Classic Peking Duck: Order half or whole, but definitely order it here at WUJI. Can you believe this was our first Peking Duck meal experience? Crazy. You can think of these like building your own Chinese tacos: get one of the pancakes, add some duck, add some crispy crispy skin for a crunch, throw in some scallions and cukes, then top it all with the plum sauce. We just thought this was an amazing preparation of duck with such crispy skin. The wings were a bit drier than the breasts, but were still very good.

Rice. Yep, we ate more. Because, lobster fried rice. BOOM!

Lobster Fried Rice: Some of the rice had just a little crunchiness from the Wok, which brought a nice texture. The lobster was cooked damn perfect . . . never an easy task. We’d definitely order this if you’re looking to try one of their rice dishes.

Vegetables

Spicy Eggplant: We were told this was an item that we had to order from our waiter, Walt, so we obliged. Normally we’re not eggplant people, but we’re glad we tried this dish. The eggplant came out lightly battered in crispy strips. The spice level was definitely up there, thanks to the chili garlic sauce. A very nice vegetarian option.

So, onto our last surprise: Dessert.

Deconstructed Banana Split at WUJI in Greenwich, CT

Fruit Platter at WUJI in Greenwich, CT

Blueberry and Peach Oat Tart at WUJI in Greenwich, CT

Honestly, dessert was the last thing on our minds at WUJI. One, because we were so damn full, but also because we just don’t ever expect good desserts at a Chinese restaurant. Boy, were we wrong.

Banana Split: The banana came out warm and soft like butter, contrasting nicely with the flaky and crispy phyllo dough inside of this deconstructed version of a classic. We also dug the ice cream, all silky and chocolately. There was also a nice sweetness to the caramel sauce that tied everything together.

Fruit Platter: If you feel like you’ve eaten a bit too much and want a healthier end to your meal, you could stick with this. Fresh slices of orange, applies, and cantaloupe served with a side of rich, silky, and buttery hazelnut sauce. Simple but yum.

Local Farm Blueberry Peach and Oat Tart: A local farm gathered the fruit then baked it up for WUJI. The dough was buttery and flaky, adding a nice contrast to the big blueberry burst of flavor. The peach in the tart works more to sweeten things up a bit. Excellent!!!

Wrap Up

We’ve been to so many Chinese restaurants in the area, but they all seem to come up short. Some lack flavor, some lack high quality ingredients, and most lack creativity. So, after our meal at WUJI, we were pleasantly surprised. A Chinese restaurant with a farm-to-wok outlook, a creative cocktail program, and big, bold flavors in their dishes? Yes, yes. But, it’s not all about the food there. Service was outstanding too, especially with our server, Walt. He offered his suggestions throughout the night, had a great sense of humor, and was always making sure that our drinks were full.

It’s definitely a place that we’d come back to . . . and we think you should give them a shot, too, if you’re looking for a more refined culinary take on Chinese.

Disclaimer: We were invited by WUJI to try their food and the meal was comped; however, our thoughts, views, and recommendations remain ours and ours alone.

WUJI

Noms: 4

Cost: $$-$$$

Address: 68 E Putnam Ave. (the Whole Foods parking lot)

                   Greenwich, CT

Phone: (203) 869-1940

Saturday + Sunday: 12 pm-10 pm

Monday-Friday: 12-3 for lunch, 5-10 for dinner

Also located in Rye and Scarsdale. 

Big, bold flavors perfectly executed. Fun and lively vibes. That’s what we took away from a recent visit to Tablao, a new Spanish-Mediterranean tapas and wine bar that opened at 86 Washington Street in SoNo back in May. In fact, we enjoyed it so much we can’t wait to go back to this hotspot again. What made it such a nice experience, exactly? Well, you’ll just need to read our review to find out.

First up is service.

The bar quickly picked up after we arrived. Love those Edison bulbs!

Despite being busy with nearly every table taken and the bar area hopping, service was fast and friendly. Immediately, we were greeted by the manager of Tablao, Justin, who took us to our seats and made sure that we were comfortable. Very soon after that we had drinks in our hands, just the way we like it. Our server for most of the night (who also happened to be the owner of Tablao), Galo Aleman, was just as awesome and was passionate about every single detail of the menu. We obviously had to order a boat load of tapas and to our delight, they coursed them out perfectly, with only a few at a time and time in between each round. Ahhh, we love when that happens! Overall, we felt like everyone was treated like family when they were there, which is rare these days. And the best part? It didn’t seem like it was just us getting the special treatment—throughout the night, we saw Justin and Galo checking on tables and having long conversations with customers.

So, back to that wine . . . and some cocktails.

Go ahead, get Charred at Tablao

This Caipafruta went down pretty easy . . .

If you’re into drinking with your meal (and who isn’t?) or just wanna go out and let loose, Tablao is a great spot. For starters, the wine list has some great options, especially by the glass. When Kristien wasn’t sure which bolder red wine to try, our server not only had some pairing suggestions, but also brought over tastes of both so she could decide. In the end, Kristien went with the Marchigue Grand Reserve Carmanane from Chile that was bold, full, and had a nice peppery finish. Dan took on the cocktail menu and started with the Caipafruta. It’s like the caipirinha, but more amazing and more fruity. Passion fruit comes through so well adding an exotic tang. Also very drinkworthy was Charred, which had great balance, wasn’t too sweet, had a citrusy bite, and was a fun play of smoky and spicy. The drink had a smooth frothiness to it making it super easy to drink down.

Now how about ‘dem tapas?

No meal is complete at a Spanish restaurant without at least a taste of chorizo. But, if you’re like us, you’ll ensure that it shows up in a few dishes.

Pulpo a la Gallega is simply plated, but complex in flavor

The food, prepared by Chef Raul Gonzalez (who used to be the chef at Meson Galicia on Wall St.), showed some major skill. First up was the Chorizo Espanol, which came out hot with a gentle spicy bite. The beans added some great layers to the dish, helping to bring out contrasts of salty, sweet, and rich from the fig demi-glaze. We also dug deep into the Pulpo a la Gallega which was perfectly cooked and spiced nicely with paprika. The octopus was also served with potato, adding a nice starchy texture to balance it out. This took us back to our first day in Barcelona when Dan ate a similar dish for breakfast (yes, octopus for breakfast).

Shaved pile of Brussel sprouts illuminated as if to guide you to eat them.

Fried artichokes? Sign us up!

So, when we see pulpo on the menu, we always have to order . . . and the same is true of Brussels sprouts. These came out shaved thin on top of a crispy-crusted Fontina rice cake. As you forked into the cake, you could see it was super moist. Taking everything over the edge was the mixture of saltiness, with the richness of the parm, and the warm earthy punch from truffle. Another veggie dish on the menu is a must-order: Alcachofas. The bright punch from the cilantro and lemon mixed in nicely with the lightly crisped artichoke and the fatty finish of the ricotta salata. Rounding it all out was some jalapeno that added a little bit of heat.

Calamares a la Plancha is a must-order app if you’ve got a seafood addiction. ;)

Dat dough tho . . .

Another great test of a Spanish restaurant is how they handle their calamari, so we went with an order of Calamares a la Plancha. First up, there was a great char on the squid, adding nice flavor. Yep, it was cooked just right. The spice level was gentle, just enough to complement the acidic fresh vinaigrette. And, finishing the small plates up, we went with a mixture of beef and chicken empanadas. Let’s just say that these bad boys had some of the crispiest crusts we’ve had before on an empanada. The filling was in a great contrast, being moist and not dried out like many that we’ve had at other restaurants. And, while the chicken was great and full of flavor, the beef was our favorite because of that richness the meat delivered.

And, the obligatory paella.

  Classic Paella at Tablao is enough for 4 people . . . or just two of us as a snack ;)

One of the most memorable meals we had in Barcelona was paella on the beach. It was made right outside in giant pans so it came out steaming hot. So, we have high expectations when it comes to this Spanish specialty. At Tablao, you have two options: Classic or Mediterranea de Mariscos.  Our paella, the Classic, came out piping hot and featured a salty tomato forward sauce with some acidic bite coming through. The rice was served perfectly al dente, but, unfortunately, the shrimp was the same way. The other seafood (clam and mussels), though, were cooked just right, though. The thing that took this dish over the edge was the flavor contrast with the chicken and chorizo. Definitely one of the best paellas that we’ve had in a very long time.

  Because, dessert.

Silky, rich, and creamy Leches Leches Leches cake at Tablao in South Norwalk, CT

Chocolate Tart with Goat Cheese at Tablao in South Norwalk, CT

We don’t really know where all the food that we eat disappears to, but we still had some room to test out the sweeter side of Tablao. Up first was the Tres Leches cake. It was moist and creamy, with a warm coconut taste coming through. The consistency was great, not mush like others can be. It was skating that fine line . . . and skating it so well. Kristien was all over the Chocolate Tart with Goat Cheese. It was the perfect balance of bitter richness from the dark chocolate and a creamy, tanginess from the goat cheese. She really couldn’t think of a better way to end the night.

And, before we could leave, we were brought out Madeira, a thick and heavy wine to finish the meal off with. It warmed us up plenty quick and had these inviting fig and almond flavors surrounding the liquor.

Final Thoughts

Tablao has a great mixture of classics as well as creative new spins on Spanish/Mediterranean favorites. There are so many amazing options it’s kind of overwhelming. Just looking through the menu again, we can easily come back 4x  more before we finish other dishes like their charcuterie, mixed grill, croquettes, and meatballs. Aside from a few slightly overcooked shrimp in the paella, everything we tasted was top-notch from the tapas to the drinks. So that is why we’ll most definitely be back soon.

Disclaimer: Although we were invited to try the food at Tablao, our opinions, feelings, words and tasting notes are our own.

Tablao

Noms: 4.25

Cost: $$$

86 Washington Street

Norwalk, CT

UberEATS noms its way into Stamford with delivery (discount code inside)

UberEATS Stamford is now live . . . and your life may never be the same. Pic from UberEATS.

You rely on Uber to get you from Point A to Point B . . . plus when you’re drunk and have lost control of all muscular function in your body. And, starting today, you’ll rely on Uber in a new way: UberEATS. Here’s how it works:

Download the app (Android or Apple) or use their site.

Pick the restaurant…

Frank Jr., his sister Tina, Monika Rodriguez, and Zino Carr

It only took us a week after Garden Catering on Hamilton Avenue in Greenwich reopened to get down there for breakfast. Yes, we know they are the home of nuggets, but we are breakfast sandwich fiends (or sammies as we like to call them). In fact, if you had asked us if we’d rather give up our beloved sammies or lunch, we’d say sayonara mid-day meal . . . no one needs you when you can have eggs, bacon, chili, cheese, and in the middle of a big ‘ole doughy roll.

Because we wanted to pick up the sammies nice and hot, we ordered ahead on their website.  The thing we loved about ordering on the site was that we could fully customize them, from the toppings we wanted, to the size and amount of toppings, even to your preferred egg preparation.

  Look at that beauty . . .

Kristien got the Bacon, Egg, and Cheese on a roll (you can also wedge it up) and customized it by adding in some of their Hotsy’s chili, hot sauce, and an over easy egg. The egg was perfectly cooked and oozed all out with a big bite. We also like their style because they didn’t cut the sandwich—they realized that would ruin that coveted ooey gooey moment of biting into an over easy egg . The rich and flavorful chili and the hot sauce were both great, but she would have liked a little more heat coming through. And, pulling it all together was crispy and crunchy bacon. Will definitely order again!

  After eating this one, you’ll need to roll over and sleep a bit . . .

Dan went all out and got the Jalapeno Hotsy roll that comes with American cheese, bacon, chili, homefries, smashed jalapeno mac & cheese bites, and an over-medium egg. After tasting how good it was, he kinda wished that he had ordered the wedge. ;) You’d think all of these things together might be too much but oh no . . . so good together. The cheese was all melty and gooey and only enhanced the mac & cheese bites. Add the crispiness of the bacon and the rich meatiness of the chili, and this was just a fantastic sandwich.

We both agreed that next time we’d beef up (pun intended) the chili content of both sandwiches, but we’d keep all the other ratios the same. If you’ve never been for breakfast, definitely stop by and check them out . . . and be sure to get your rewards card. It’s free and you can rack up some serious rewards that get you a ton of free goodies and deals.

Garden Catering

Address:  177 Hamilton Ave.

                   Greenwich, CT

Phone: (203) 422-2555