Bayard’s Bon Appetite
John Bayard
Food Critic

Upon beginning my position as the new food critic for The Forum, it is my honor to discuss a necessity that binds us all together no matter what background. That of course is eating. Now granted a person can take any boring form of nutrients and survive, but what separates us from the animals is our ability to turn food into art. Yes readers I am well aware that it might be possible to teach Apes to cook or that an Octopus has a notorious taste in food, or even that the movie Ratatouille’s main character is rat who is also a gourmet chef. Save those comments for the opinion page. But I digest…
I decided to start the first restaurant review of the new school year off in style by reviewing Bistro 157 on 157 E Lincolnway, Valparaiso. Bistro 157 is one of several restaurants that participate in Eat Up, Wind Down every first Thursday of the month. On that day Bistro 157, Bon Femme, Paparazzi, Pike’s, and Don Quijote participate in discount drink specials and meals. Bistro 157 serves a rich menu of French, Asian, and American cuisine prepared by its head chief Nicole Bissonnette, who study at Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Institute, in France.
Upon arriving at the restaurant, I first noticed that the service is a bit slow in the beginning of the evening around 5 but quality improved as the evening continued. For all potential visitors I would plan on eating after 6. The atmosphere was that of a relaxing Jazz club, close, but still comfortable. The staff was pleasant as well as knowledgeable about the menu. This is a must for any inquisitive dinner. As part of their Eat Up, Wind Down menu, Bistro 157 offers several drink specials including Asian Pear Martini’s, Chocolate Martini’s, Hang Time Chardonnay, and Bouchard Pinot Noir. Sampling the Pinot Noir, I found it refreshing and strong with earth flavors, good for a red wine, but very difficult to pair with any non-beef dish so I’m not quite sure why they didn’t place a Merlot on the drink special menu instead.
On the other hand, the food itself was superb. For an appetizer, the escargot with onion and herb seasoning was delicious and made even better with a little pepper and olive oil. The escargot was tender and not tough and the added tomatoes matched well with flavors of the rest of the dish. If you don’t enjoy eating invertebrates, Bistro 157 offers a variety of appetizers as part of its Eat Up, Wind Down menu including duck pot stickers, smoked salmon pizza, crispy polenta with lemon pepper goat cheese fonduta, and grilled lamb kefta pita.
The main course was Grouper in a Thai peanut sauce with cilantro and ginger. The visual appeal of the dish matched its taste, which is to say the dish was a sensation to the palate. You could taste all the flavors of the sauce and the taste of the ginger and cilantro paired well with the addition of Puerto Rican rice and asparagus that was also served with the Grouper. Further, the peanut sauce did not in itself overpower the natural flavors of the fish, which sauces often do.
Finally, for dessert I had the Sorbet that included wild berry, citrus melon, and coconut key lime. The dessert was delicious and light, although the coconut key lime was a bit too sweet for me. The total price of the dinner was $41, which makes more of a once in a semester dinning experience. However, the specials were all around $5 and the main course by itself was $24. It is perhaps more suitable dinner for a celebration or a romantic evening. Bistro 157 has seasonal outdoor dining with live music acts. In conclusion, Bistro 157 offers fine cuisine and a delightful dinning experience. In the Bon Appetite rating, I give it 4 out of 5 stars.
John Bayard can be reached at forum@valpo.edu

Lone Star Picture Courtesy of FOX

In just a few short weeks, the fall television season will be underway. Last year produced a wealth of new critical and commercial successes with Glee, Modern Family, Parenthood, and The Good Wife standing out from the pack. This season, the networks are unleashing a plethora of new shows and I am here to tell you which ones are worth your valuable time this semester.

Leading the pack is HBO’s titanic blockbuster Boardwalk Empire, created by former Sopranos executive producer Terrence and Academy Award winning director Martin Scorsese. If there is one show that has a chance at taking down three-time defending champion Mad Men in the Best Drama Emmy category next year, this is it. Starring incredible character-actor Steve Buscemi as Nucky Thompson, the corrupt treasurer of Atlantic City, this show will delve into the criminal underworld of the 1920s prohibition era that Nucky ran underneath the government’s nose. Making his return to television, Michael K. Williams plays Chalky White, the unofficial mayor of the black community in Atlantic City and the head of Nucky’s bootleg operation. Williams became famous for his sensational turn in The Wire as gay renegade outlaw Omar Little, one of the most quotable and charismatic characters in television history. Michael Shannon also stars in the show as a prohibition agent. With its collection of fantastic actors and producers, along with a huge budget (the pilot cost around $20 million), Boardwalk Empire will no doubt deliver when it premieres September 19th on HBO.

By far the best new network television show of the fall is FOX’s Lone Star. Starring newcomer James Wolk as complex conman Bob Allen, a guy with a wife and a girlfriend who steals money from people by bilking investors of their savings, the show focuses on how long he can lead a double-life and keep the walls from closing in around him. His wife Cat (the gorgeous Adrianne Palicki) is the daughter of Clint Thatcher (Jon Voight), the head of a hugely successful oil company. Clint offers Bob a job at the company not realizing that Bob intends to embezzle money from the family. Bob is conflicted and contemplates starting a new venture where he can keep the two women in his life while doing legitimate work for the oil company. His mentor and father John, a longtime conman, continuously prods Bob to keep his eyes focused on the price, taking the oil firm down for all it is worth. Having seen the pilot, there are several more surprises that have not been revealed here. Suffice to say, Wolk is brilliant in the role, making you root for him even when he is a criminal and cheater who has never made an honest dollar in his life. The supporting cast is stellar and the show looks beautiful. Give this show a shot when it premieres September 20th on FOX and you will not be disappointed if you love great drama.

Another new network show with great potential is ABC’s No Ordinary Family, a show that looks like a live action version of Disney’s “The Incredibles.” Created by Greg Berlanti, who worked on Eli Stone and Dirty Sexy Money previously, the show focuses on a family that acquires superpowers following an accident. The show stars action star Michael Chiklis (The Shield) and Julie Benz (Dexter) as Jim and Stephanie Powell. The Powells have a son and daughter that also gain a specific power as the result of the accident. Romany Malco plays George, the best friend and confidante of Jim who finally finds a passion in helping the Powells use their powers to stop evil around the world. Autumn Reeser (who has been doing great work this season as Ari’s friend turned rival on Entourage) is also in the cast as Katie Andrews, a co-worker and friend of Stephanie, who is highly regarded scientist and the Executive Vice President of Research at Global Tech. Berlanti’s vision is for the show to blend action, drama, and comedy into a compelling hour each week. Several guest stars will be coming in to play villains, with the potential of more prominent bad guy to enter the cast in the future. From the previews, the show looks well-shot and the premise should intrigue anybody who likes comic books or fantasy novels and movies. By those who have seen it, Malco’s character is the standout in the cast, which should be no surprise for anyone who saw his comedic work on Weeds. While in a tough timeslot opposite of FOX’s Glee starting September 28th, this should turn out to be one of the better and most original shows of the fall so long as enough people watch it and give it a chance to grow.