Tortilla West

Tortilla West is a great little gem I discovered by word of mouth over the summer.  The first thing I heard was 75 cent tacos and I immediately, and with great zeal, inquired as to where it was such an insanely awesome deal was available.  Most people don't know where Tortilla West is namely because it's tucked back over by the ship yard over at 508 Orapax Street in Norfolk.  You would never even think there would be restaurants back there because it looks like a barren industrial area but, there are in fact a few great little places in that area.  

But, because I know I hooked you at 75 cent tacos, I'll get straight to the point.  On Mondays and Tuesdays from 4 p.m. till close Tortilla West offers beef or black bean tacos, soft or hard shell, with cheese and lettuce on the side, each for 75 cents.  Trust, it's the best deal I know in Norfolk.  They don't skimp you either.  This place makes Taco Bell look like what it really is...dog food.   



 Tortilla West also has an incredible selection of alcohol.  They are mainly known for their bar, in fact.  Especially for their love of tequila.  There are over 40 different kinds of tequila with all three types (blancos, reposado, and anejo) on tap.  There is an extensive beer menu and off course all over standard liquors you might find at a bar. Happy hour is from 4-7 on weekdays: dollar off any beer or well drink.  

                                        

The menu isn't traditional Mexican, rather their own take on Tex-Mex/South Western cuisine.  You can get near everything you would find at your local generic Mexican restaurant but with their own spin on it.  They offer HUGE burritos and and nacho plates, enchiladas, quesadillas,  and fajitas.

                                       

I highly recommend trying out the pineapple and pork loin fajita platter.  It is out of this world delicious.  A big stake cut piece of pineapple comes out with a good half pound of pork loin cooked to your liking comes sizzling out on the cast iron plate over a bed of mushrooms, onions, beans, and green/red peppers and of course a side of soft tortillas. It's $13.99 but it's well worth it.

I also recommend the jalapeno mac and cheese.  It's probably the most amazing mac and cheese I have ever had, and I have an affinity for the dish.

The atmosphere is warm and relaxed with an upbeat feel.  It seems to be a huge venue for the young and artsy crowd in the area, but anyone who eats there will surely become a regular.  Hands down, I give this place a 10 out of 10 and I BESEECH YOU...GO TO TORTILLA WEST!!

How to Brew an Oatmeal Stout with Joe (Part 1)

This is a seven part series on brewing one of my favorite styles of beer, the outmeal stout. Follow Joe as he prepares the extract kit from Midwest and takes you through the steps from adding the ingredients, to fermentation, to bottling and finally the tasting! (The end of the video will provide you with the link for the next part of the series)

How It's Made: Beer

 A good video on how beer is produced.

Beach Movie Bistro

I gotta give a shout out to Beach Movie Bistro.  This place combines not only my two of some of my favorite things (of which this blog is premised) but also another one of my other loves, film.  Located at 941 Laskin Road in Virginia Beach, Virginia, this location has a lot of history.  It was originally a motel and was then turned into an eight theater complex called Surf and Sand Theater.  After going out of business and closing for around three years, it reopened under new and old management.  

Everything has been remodeled. One of the old theaters was transformed into a full kitchen and the lobby sports an opulent bar with 13 beers on tap.  The menu offers a variety of foods, from starters to kids meals to entrees and of course traditional movie theater concessions like popcorn, candy, and Coke products. 

Take a look at the menu!

The way it works is, you show up 30 minutes prior to the start time of whatever movie you wish to see.  When you pick a seat in the theater you'll notice there is a table to every two seats.  The servers come in and take down your order using an iPod with a menu app that displays everything on the menu.  You tell them what you want, and they push the button and add it to the list.  When you're done ordering, the server sends the order from right there to the kitchen where the food runners start making 

your drinks and getting your concessions and the cooks start preparing your meal.  There server then takes your payment, right then and there.  They don't even have to leave to swipe your card!  Each 

iPod comes equipped with a car scanner.  Unfortunately, there is only one portable printer, and they're kinda bulky and annoying when having to power walk from theater to theater.  So, the servers do need to leave to get your check for signature.  The service is very fast and the goal is to get everyone taken care of within the 30 minutes before the previews start.  At the 30 minute mark, just before the previews, a server will come in and announce "last call."  If you want to order any last minute food items or another round from the bar (yes, you can drink in the theater) then that's the time to do it.  The servers will not be in the theater during the film unless, in some instances, the kitchen gets backed up and orders are still being served up.  

With only seven theaters, new movies are always coming and going.  Obviously, if a movie isn't doing well it's gonna get ditched.  However, if it is doing well, they will keep it until the demand dies off.  So, when Glee 3D came out, it was gone within the week.  However, when "The Help" came out in August, it was at Beach Movie Bistro for 7 weeks!  Beach Movie Bistro always tries to pick the best movies that they feel audiences want to see.  It's a perfect place to go on a lazy, rainy day or if you're down at the beach for the day.  It's also great for date night as it's pretty much killing two birds with one stone!  The staff and food are great and if you're of age, you surely wont be disappointed with the selection at the bar.  As a proud beer fanatic, I assure you.  So head down to the beach, kick back, catch a flick, have a beer and relax!  

Indian Pale Ale

The Indian Pale Ale, as a sister to the Pale Ale style of beer, was first introduced in England in the 19th century.  On their voyage to India, British sailors feared their beer going stale, so they had a heap of hops to help preserve it thus dubbing it the Indian Pale Ale.

According to Pete Brown, author of "Hops & Glory: One Man's Search for the Beer That Built the British Empire," the first known use of the expression "Indian pale ale" was used in an advertisement in the Liverpool Mercury newspaper published January 30, 1835.  Before this, the beer was simply referred to as "pale as as prepared for India," "India Ale," "pale India ale," or "pale export India ale"

The large amount of hops used is what gives the Indian Pale Ale its notoriously bitter flavor.

Southern Tier IPA

Name: n/a

Style: Indian Pale Ale

Brewer: Southern Tier

Alcohol by Volume: 7.3%

Price: $1.99 (12 oz bottle)

Rating: A++

I fell in love with this one.  Southern Tier brewery in Lakewood, New York, deliver their American version of the class British style brew.  They brewed it with four varieties of hops and 4 varieties of malts, and hop-damn does it have some flavor.  It has a nice hazy golden-amber color and the head dissipates quickly probably because of the hop oils (being that this is flooded with hops.)  It has nice floral accents, a little fruity/citrus-y, of course some pine from the hops and maybe a hint of caramel from the malt.  This is the kind of beer I wish I could just sit under a tap and drink as pleased.

The Ten Top

Tucked back next to the coin laundry on Shirley Avenue and Colley is a place where magic happens. IT is a place were flavor is forged and hunger is hindered.  The Ten Top takes taste to new heights with creative tenacity that will make your idea of satisfaction an enigma. It's places like the Ten Top that keep my spirit and wallet light, and my belly heavy.

The Ten Top has been serving the Norfolk area with a welcoming heart for 15 years.  It got its name from its first location, where the popular hookah lounge Nazef currently operates, in that it only had one round table with ten chairs surrounding it.  The original owner Peter Pitman, sold the business to his sister Allise for a dollar, whom after 10 years sold the business to current owner, Don Lester, where he runs the business at its current location.  Lester began working for Allise Pitman in 2004.  In 2008, Allise was having thoughts of moving on from the business and the area, and by a series of fortunate circumstances, Lester was able to buy the restaurant himself.

The quaint hole-in-the-wall accommodates roughly 20 people these days in the eclectic dinning room littered with pictures and vintage decor.  The service counter hosts an abundance of childrens toys for the little ones.

The best part about the Ten Top is everything is fresh.  Chef's Rick and Heather Fraley, as well as Lester, pride themselves on serving nothing but best.  Everything they buy comes from local independent businesses.  They get their produce and meat from Waterside Fish and Produce assuring everything is as fresh as possible.
(Lester in his restaurant/credit: Hannah Serrano/ AltDaily.com)

The Ten Top offers an extensive selection of menu items from soups, sandwiches, and salads to flat bread pizza's and daily and weekly specials. Everything is very reasonably priced and the portion sizes aren't anything but generous.  They also accommodate vegan and vegetarian diets.

(Right: toys litter the countertop/ a tasty meatloaf sandwich - photo by Kristen Alana)




Derek's Top Ten for the Ten Top

1. Chicken Apple Chutney Wrap
2. Greek Lamb Hoagie
3. Tomato Basil Mozzarella Sandwich
4.  Simple Chicken Salad Sandwich
5.  Turkey Apple Club
6. Warm Goat Cheese and Caramelizes Walnut Salad
7. Chicken Spinach and Feta Cheese Flat Bread Pizza
8. Grilled Turkey and Spinach Sandwich
9. Ten Top Chicken Wrap
10. Any soup  



Check out this article by Skye Zentz of AltDaily.com