Tag Archive | greenville sc

Basil Thai Cuisine #greenvillesceats

Decided to check out a new Thai restaurant in Greenville South Carolina. I know what I usually get at Thai restaurants, but I wanted to try something a little different.

My friend and I went to Basil in downtown Greenville SC.

We arrived at the restaurant about 5:30pm. The ambience was nice. We decided to sit outside because it was a lovely Saturday evening. There were people dining, but it was still early, so there wasn’t a crowd. By the time we left, the place was packed.

I started with appetizers. Instead of the traditional crab Rangoon (which is a wonton wrapper stuffed with cream cheese, seasonings, imitation crab meat, fried), this was stuffed with ground, chicken, shrimp, and cream cheese, served with a sweet and sour dipping sauce.

Rating: 4/5 – this was tasty, but I was not used to the ground chicken so the texture threw me off. if you like ground chicken, you will love this appetizer, but I probably wouldn’t buy it again.

I ordered the Pad Woo Sen with chicken. This dish was the cellophane noodles along with egg, Napa, cabbage, bean sprouts, snow peas, onions, tomatoes, and mushrooms.

Rating:4/5 – The flavors were well executed, the chicken and veggies were cooked well, and the sauce was tasty. I inadvertently ordered it hot on the spicy level and it was enough heat that I could tell it was there, but not so overpowering that my mouth was on fire. I did add some of my leftover sweet-and-sour sauce to have a little sweet, to balance out the heat. My only complaint would be that I felt like there were not enough noodles.

My friend ordered the pad Thai.

Rating: 3/5 – she said her meal was OK. In her opinion, the shrimp was undercooked and so she everything but that. they did forget to top her plate with peanuts, but provided them after and she sprinkled on herself. she said overall the dish was underwhelming and she probably wouldn’t get that again, but is open to try other dishes on the menu.

Of course, I had to order something from the bar and I got the lychee martini.

Rating: 5/5 – this was so good. It was very strong and sweet. Definitely packs of punch if you are not expecting it. I would not advise drinking these on an empty stomach because you will be falling down! However, it was a nice compliment to my meal, and very refreshing.

TOW FINAL COMMENTS: I am conflicted on how I feel about this restaurant, because the execution of the flavors as described were on point. The waitstaff were friendly and very accommodating. However, the dishes were not what I was looking for. If you like Thai food, but want it a little bit Americanized, this is the place for you. and come with your wallet full because this is definitely a $$$ restaurant .

Price per person

Entree only $30-40
Entree + drinks $40-50
Entree + drinks + appetizer $60+

Basilico Pizzeria & Italian #greenvillesc

Jan20

We were in the mood for Italian and had an very delicious dinner at Basilico Pizzeria & Italian cuisine next to the Haywood mall.

My cousin and I arrived about 5pm for an early dinner and fortunately there was not a wait. We were seated and the server came quickly to ask for our drink order.

While the server was polite, I did not get the type of reception I read about in reviews on a local foodie facebook page I follow. In their reviews, they said the servers were super friendly and treated you like family.

Case in point: I asked the sever what wines they had. She said “all kinds”. She acted like it would be an imposition to bring a wine list. I ended up ordering a house Pinot Grigio. Price unknown at time of ordering!! I figured it could not be more than $10-12 but it felt awkward to ask.

After that unpleasantness, we were ready to order because we were hungry and the service was not so bad we felt we had to leave.

The food was FANTASTIC!

Portion size 5/5 Taste 4/5 Appearance 4/5

Photo challenge- Games

Feb1

I decided to participate in a photo challenge. The next step was to look for a theme. The theme for January was “Games”. I knew I would have a difficult time taking pictures relating to the theme. I am not usually very athletic and, in January, I prefer to be inside. Instead of passing on the challenge, I made up my mind that this is what challenges are all about. I hoped this theme, while outside of my comfort zone, would help spur creativity.

All pictures were taken with my iPhone.

Picture 1
I decided to do a challenge that starts on Feb 1. It is a exercise and diet challenge from Guru of Abs. I have this listed under the “Games” theme because I think that getting my body in better shape will help me play games this spring and summer.

Picture 2
I had a Scentsy party (product party with concept similar to Tupperware sold by my friend Brittney). We were going to play games at the party. I was the hostess giving the party. This picture is right before it started when I had all the samplers organized. The Scentsy product is all about good smelling fragrances for the home, car, and body. They mainly sell wickless candles that are placed in a warmer. The melted wax diffuses the scent in the air without an open flame. I like them because they are good quality. Hubby likes them because there are no open flames (the firefighter in him will not let me burn candles). My favorite scent is Honeymoon Hideaway.

Picture 3

Hubby built a grill. The ribs that he cooked later were award winning to me. I wish he would enter them into a competition (hence the inclusion in the “Games” category).

Picture 4
My tennis shoes are Saucony brand. I love this brand because all the running shoes that I have bought from this brand have been very comfortable. This shot reflects “Games” because it is getting warm enough for me to shake off the icicles and begin training again for playing tennis in the spring. I am ready. Now that I know my size, I can buy Saucony Women’s Running Shoes on Amazon.

Picture 5
I went ice skating with my friend. While this is not a game, I decided to include any physical activity in my games category. We went skating in Greenville SC. I recommend it because it is a fun activity, especially if you have children. It costs about $10 for skate time and skate rentals. Check the website for skate times because they only have so many sessions each day.

If you want to see other variations on the same theme, this site to check out all the links.

Papi’s World Famous Travellin’ Tacos

Sep5

Papi’s World Famous Travellin’ Tacos

Looking for something different in the downtown Greenville, I found Papi’s. This restaurant is located below Lazy Goat and I think it has the same owners. Like Taco Boy in Charleston, this is expensive Mexican food.

Tacos are $3.

I am a traditionalist. I knew I had to pass on ordering tacos when I saw that the taco al pastor had pineapple in it. I do not know what part of Mexico that is from, but that is not what I had in Mexico City or Cancun. And that is not how the local taqueria makes theirs either.

I decided on a torta al pastor. Sandwich with the chopped cubes of marinated seasoned pork, tomato. lettuce, avocado, queso fresco, jalepeno, minus beans and onions. I cannot eat Mexican street food without drinking a Jarrito (the only soda I drink since I usually ask for water).

What I like about Papi’s -the atmosphere – it is a cute place with a lot ambiance and character. The walls paintings are bold and colorful. There is Spanish music (salsa, bachata, merengue) playing that makes you want to get up and dance.

The food was okay. I did think they were stingy with the jalapenos. If you never ate real Mexican food at the house of somebody’s abuela (translated grandmother) or at an authentic restaurant (the local Mexican restaurant that serves tortilla chips before your meal does not count) where someone’s abuela is the cook (she will not think she is a chef), you might think Papi’s is awesome. If you do not want to venture into the barrio (translated ‘hood) for $1.75 tacos, Papi’s is your place for tacos and tortas.

In any other case, you will probably think like me. I thought the flavors were muted. Toned down for a different palate. Do not misunderstand me. I think that Papi’s is a nice place to eat. However, for me, there are more traditional, bolder flavors at other Mexican restaurants.

You may go for the Mexican food, but (to borrow terminology from my hubby)….

Dark Corner distillery

Aug29

Looking for something to do if you are in downtown Greenville South Carolina? You need to make a stop by Dark Corner Distillery (241 N Main St Greenville, SC 29615).

I recommend doing a tasting but make sure you have had something to eat first. These liquors are potent. They will have your head swimming if you try to taste with an empty stomach.

Dark Corner is making legal moonshine. Some dress it up and call it “corn whiskey”. It is all the same.

Dark Corner have a cinnamon flavored liquor called Hot Mama. Since it is super spicy ( blend of 111 proof whiskey, cinnamon and chipotle peppers), to me, it is not good to drink by itself. However, it is awesome in mixed drinks. By itself the cinnamon intensifies the high alcohol content so much that it numbed my tongue and burned my throat. At this stage of my life, I like to savor the taste of my liquor. When using the same cinnamon flavored liquor in warm apple cider, it becomes a comfort drink that warms the insides. That is my kind of drink.

My favorite is Carolina Peach Shine. It is 70 proof and tastes really good on the rocks. Sip it if you want to enjoy the sweet peachy flavor. Since Carolina Peach Shine is very sweet on its own, the ice helps to mellow out and dilute it a little bit. Take it like a shot if you want to feel a pleasurable burn. I felt warmth as the liquid travelled down my throat, but it was not as overpowering as the cinnamon one. Nor did it have the numbing effect. Mix it in juice for a kicked up beverage.

What I most like about Dark Corner is the fact that they let you sample their flavors before you buy. When I went, it was not too crowded and so my friend and I were able to sample without waiting. If there is a crowd, you might need to be patient.

Don’t forget to TIP your server! You did just get a free liquor sample. Be appreciative.

Above all else, drink responsibly. Definitely do not drive if you are feeling tipsy.