The Cardiologist's Wife

Delicious New Find

[ Post by Lisa Tedder ][ Post on August 2, 2012 ][ In Diet Tips and Better Eating Ideas ]

By now you all know what a foodie I am and how excited I get about new foods, new recipes and new restaurants.  I try to show that you can eat well, enjoy yourself and most of all, that healthy food really is good.  I had to take my daughter to Little Rock yesterday to join some 50 swimmers from across Arkansas as they travel to Indiana for a big regional meet.  We had to eat lunch before meeting the bus so I searched for a decent restaurant nearby Wednesday night (no fast food crap for us!).  I randomly chose the Boulevard Bread Company as their menu looked good on the internet and I figured a sandwich wouldn’t take long.

 

From the menu to the friendly staff to the food, it turned out to be the best food experience I’ve had in awhile!  Grace chose the sandwich special which was a panini with a cream cheese/jalapeno spread, turkey, avocado and spinach.  I ordered the Artisan Cheese sampler, not really knowing what I was getting.  We were lucky to find a seat at the bar where we could see directly into the kitchen and the entertainment began.  We watched the chef chop an enormous pile of bell peppers, at times not even watching what he was doing as the he and the knife made short work of the job that would have taken me over an hour.  The rest of the staff pulled out fresh green beans, herbs, onions and pork loins in a harmonious rhythm.  The chef prepared a large tray of the sandwich Grace ordered and golden brown roasted chickens were plucked from the oven.  Grace and I craned our necks to see everything.  I watched in fascination as the chef dumped two huge tubs of sour cream in a pot the size of small barrel along with three quarts of heavy cream.  He added a brown liquid and blended it all with an immersion blender the size of a jack hammer.  Seldom do diners get to watch food prep and it is fascinating to see the large quantities of food chefs use and their skill with a knife.  I was impressed with the quiet efficiency of the whole staff as they prepared the lunch food and prepped for dinner.  It was like a well rehearsed dance.

 

But back to the food!  My cheese tray arrived and it was a beautiful site.  I had three types of Artisanal cheeses, a wonderful blue cheese, a mild cheddar rubbed with coffee grounds and another creamy cheese that was my favorite.  There were sliced bread rounds, grapes, olives, almonds, sweet hot peppers and tiny sour pickles as well.  It was delightful.  Grace agreed whole heartedly and judging by the lunch crowd, so do many others in our capital city.  For dessert, we shared a slice of what they called pan bread which was similar to coffee cake with pineapple and coconut but not too sweet.    In addition to the sandwiches, salads and other menu items, they sell fresh produce, artisan cheeses, coffee and hard to find gourmet items.

 

Boulevard Bread Company is dedicated to using fresh local produce, world class cuisine and the Slow Food Movement * as well as being environmentally friendly by using biodegradable products, earth friendly cleaners and recycling.  They seek to promote culinary education and indeed are happy to answer any questions and visit with customers.  We talked with the chef briefly (he couldn’t help but notice our curiosity) and found he is from Pocahontas.  There are four locations in Little Rock; the Heights, the Rivermarket, on Markham near UAMS and downtown on Main.  The next time you find yourself in Little Rock, give this wonderful restaurant a try and take home some goodies.

 

*The Slow Food Movement is a way of living and eating that links the pleasure of food to the community and the environment.  It is the exact opposite of fast food.

Upadated on August 2, 2012