The Inn at Kristofer's - Sister Bay, WI

The restaurant sits across the street from the harbor of Sister Bay and it has an unobstructed view of Green Bay. The location makes if probably one of the best places in Door County to enjoy a really fabulous gourmet meal while watching the sunset.

The Inn at Kristofer's is open year round and to be honest, it has never disappointed us. We have even gone there in the dead of winter when it was below zero. Oddly enough the restaurant had a small crowed of customers even in such miserable weather.

They always have something creative and this time was no exception. Depending on what time of year you go, the local restaurant suppliers are pushing one item or anther, so the restaurants in the area all have the same ingredients. It is how the chef prepares them that makes the difference.

This night, my wife started with: Escargot Kristofer -Six snails are sautéed in shallots, green onions, garlic butter and shitake mushrooms. Topped with garlic flavored Japanese breadcrumbs and broiled. If you are going to this restaurant only one time, get this! Just be aware that it is very rich so you should probably share.

I started with: Shiitake Mushroom and Asparagus Crepe -A thin crepe is filled with sautéed shiitake mushrooms, asparagus and brie cheese. Finished with a mint infused hollandaise sauce. This is a treat and I personally would not have thought of the combination, EVER. Once again, this is very rich, but worth the extra calories.

For the main course my wife had the special which was whitefish on top of risotto with a beurre blanc sauce, drizzled with a balsamic reduction. This was so good Chef Terri Milligan should get some award. We have never had whitefish taste so good.

I’m a game fan, so I had: Kristofer's Game Sampler - A grilled semi-boneless quail is finished with an apple brandy reduction and coupled with a chicken and pine nut sausage that rests on top of a polenta and applewood smoked bacon cake. Duck confit sits on top of the sausage which is then finished with a white wine, cream and rosemary reduction. As usual, I was not disappointed.

Just to let you know how much we like this restaurant, we have driven the 4 hours it takes us to get there, had dinner, spent the night at whatever place that would have us and drove back the next day. So, an 8 hour drive for dinner should tell you how much we like this restaurant.

One tip, call ahead and go on a night they have live music, it makes the experience even better.

http://www.innatkristofers.com/

T. Ashwell's - Ellison Bay, WI

There is a place called Door County Wisconsin, it is the little peninsula thing sticking off the east side of the state. This area is the Midwest's answer to Martha's Vineyard. It actually has a few vineyards and the best part there are many fine dining establishments.

One of our favorite restaurants is T. Ashwell's. We found this restaurant when we first started coming to the Door County area for vacation. We try to come up once a year and this is one of the first places we go.

The restaurant was a lodge, properly named The Ellison Bay Lodge. It had many guest rooms and served their summer long guests every meal. As you walked up past gardens of the entrance you can tell that you are entering a place that has a long history.

Now the important part, the food. I had the special appetizer, which was sauteed morel mushrooms. You only get these in season, so it is a very special treat. My main course was a bone-in ribeye which was cooked to perfection. I normally would be a little more adventurous and not get a steak, but for some reason I was craving meat.

We shared the appetizer and salad, but what was most remarkable was what my wife got, which was: VEGETARIAN TASTING - Italian fire roasted tomato & mozzarella bread pudding, with a sun dried tomato, caper-cream sauce paired with roasted vegetable raviolis, tossed with fresh mint pesto & caramelized apples finished with an aged Parmesan cheese custard timbale with a roasted tomato coulis. Neither one of us are vegetarians, but I'll tell you what, if all vegetarian meals were like this I might not want meat as much.

A few days later we saw in a real-estate magazine that the restaurant is up for sale. We are really going to miss T. Ashwell's if Chef Smith sells, especially since we have been going there since they opened. Maybe if you take our advice and go to his restaurant he will reconsider his decision to sell. It is a tough market with only 3 good months or so to be busy and T. Ashwell's stays open all year, we really don't know how any restaurants make it.

https://www.tashwells.com/

Gabriel's Restaurant - Highwood, IL

What a surprise, that's all I can say.

We have gone to Froggy's which is next door to Gabriel's many times and for one reason or another we just never tried going in. From now on we'll give them both equal opportunity to our dining dollars.

On this night we were greeted at the door by Gabriel Viti, who is the chef and owner. We were seated at a very comfortable and inviting booth and offered drinks immediately. The menu is a mix of French and Italian cuisine. We are not a big Italian fans, but if you feel the same way, you will not be disappointed in your dining experience.

We chose the degustation menu where Chef Viti come to your table and explains what each course will be. If you have any food allergies or just don't like something, the chef will accommodate you anyway he can. Also, if you choose, you can have a wine pairing. If you're not driving I highly recommend this.

Either way, don't miss out on a wonderful experience.

http://www.egabriels.com/

Ukai Toriyama - outskirts of Tokyo near Mount Takao

Ukai Toriyama is called a traditional Japanese restaurant. It is quite a long haul from Tokyo, but it really is worth the trip. If you are in the Tokyo area and you have money to burn, get your butt to this restaurant.

The food and service are spectacular, but the scenery is out of this world. The restaurant is made up of small private cottages where you cook over hot coals. The cottages are hidden away in a beautiful garden that sits in a ravine and there is a stream running right down the middle.

We started our trek from Tokyo just after lunch and after a few site seeing events (and wrong turns) we arrived for dinner at 5 pm. It is good to get to the restaurant just before sunset. This way you can see the garden in sunlight and then at night with all the artificial lighting and the warm glow coming from the cottages.

Can't find a website for them, but here is some information: Ukai Toriyama

Hyatt - Hakone, Japan

We spent a few days enjoying the spa area of Japan and we stayed at the Hyatt in Hakone. The hotel is a year old and it was just marvelous. In the lobby there is the aroma of wood smoke that comes from the chalet style fire place. It keeps you warm in the cold mountain air. This is a hot springs hotel, so you can enjoy a hot bath and let the volcanic minerals invigorate your body.

There are two restaurants, a French one and a Japanese one. We tried both.

The French restaurant is also where you have breakfast, but at night they dim the lights and it becomes quite intimate.

The Japanese restaurant is very authentic, except its decor. We had a private room with one large table made out of a polished tree. Our niece and nephew were with us and they had never had raw fish, but they were even impressed.
http://hakone.regency.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/entertainment/restaurants/index.jsp

Mere Bulles - Brentwood, TN

This restaurant is in an old mansion. The original owners apparently owned everything around it at one time, but now it is surrounded by office buildings and hotels. Don't let this dissuade you, this is a fine restaurant and well worth going to.

If you just look at the menu, it seems pretty plain. Simple meals like Veal Chops, New York Strip, Prime rib and others like Phyllo Wrapped Sea Bass are going to wow you with their taste and presentation.

This time I had the Phyllo Wrapped Sea Bass, which is stuffed with shellfish, brie and spinach. It is then wrapped in buttered phyllo and served with an artichoke tomato beurre blanc. I do not know if the Sea Bass is good every night, but the this night it was remarkable. No fishy taste at all and not oily at all.

On a previous visit I had the Rib Eye, I highly recommend this also.

The staff makes your meal even more pleasurable with prompt accurate service and they really do put on that southern hospitality.

If you are in the Nashville area, take a little trip south of the city and enjoy an evening at Mere Bulles.

http://www.merebulles.com/

Little Europe at Timber Ridge, Kenosha, WI

This is billed as a Bohemian restaurant, but the dishes come from all over such as Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Austria, and Poland.

The food is good, if you can put up with the bad service. Don't be in a rush and don't expect to be pampered.

The food has a home cooked feel and it really is good if you like this type of food. If you are a health nut this is probably not the place for you.

From the signs outside you can see this place is having an identity crises. It seems that the owners are trying everything they can to bring people in, but nothing seems to work. They even built a second restaurant next door and it has been filled by at least three endeavors. I believe it is empty at the moment.

For now, unless something changes, we are taking this one off our list.