Thai Cortez is a Mixture of Friendly and Delicious.

Thai Cortez

1430 East Main Street, Suite 2
Cortez, Colorado, 81321

Phone: (970) 564-3151

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/thaicortezcolorado

Hours of Operation:
Lunch (Mon-Sat) 11:30am to 2:30pm
Dinner (Mon-sat) 4:30pm to 9:00pm
Sunday - Closed







After reading many Trip Advisor reviews, my hubby and I decided to soothe our craving for Thai food while in Cortez, and try out Thai Cortez.  Adjacent to the parking lot of McDonald's, there is parking on the side and back of the restaurant itself.  Inside, we were immediately greeted in a warm manner and given a table for two.  The interior is small and narrow, so tables are close together; this is not the place if you are seeking privacy.  However, the staff are so very friendly and we truly didn't have just one server; all the servers took care of all the diners.  A couple sitting next to our table asked if we'd ever been to Thai Cortez; we told them no, and they informed us that they have been addicted to it since it first opened, and that we were in for a great meal.  They were not wrong in any way!

The menu is chock full of Thailand's cuisine, with a few Japanese inspired dishes thrown in as well.  The dishes have their Thai names, but are explained well, so you know exactly what you are ordering.  We began with Por Pia (Thai Vegetable Egg Rolls) and Kha Nom Jeeb (Thai Dumplings).  The Egg Rolls were deep fried to a golden brown with just the right about of shredded vegetables inside; sweet and sour was provided for dipping.  Before I could even take a photo, my hubby devoured one immediately!  The Thai Dumplings were packed with a pork and vegetable mixture wrapped in a delicate wonton wrapper; steamed and served with a special sauce very similar to Hoisin.  Both appetizers were delicious!

Por Pia - Thai Vegetable Egg Rolls

Kha Nom Jeeb - Thai Dumplings

For main dishes, my hubby ordered Pad Hed Horm; a Japanese inspired stir fry of vegetables in a special house sauce, and he chose beef for the protein addition.  The vegetables were perfectly cut for bite sized pieces and fresh; the beef was so tender and cooked medium-rare.  I ordered Mee Grob Rad Nah Ta Lay; deep fried egg noodles topped with a seafood mixture of shrimp, scallops, squid and mussels; vegetables and in a savory brown sauce.  All the seafood was cooked to perfection, especially the squid and scallops which were tender, NOT rubbery.  The entire dish was outstanding!

Pad Hed Horm

Mee Grob Rad Nah Ta Lay

All the while we were dining, the servers were so attentive filling our tea cups and asking how was the food, and did we need anything else.  The entire atmosphere is welcoming, we were not rushed, and we knew we would be coming back again.  So, if in Cortez, Colorado and in the mood for Thai, go to Thai Cortez for lunch and/or dinner and you will NOT be disappointed.

Mary Cokenour

From Farm to Table; the Freshness at The Farm Bistro.

The Farm Bistro

34 West Main Street
Cortez, Colorado, 81321

Phone: (970) 565-3834

Website: http://www.thefarmbistrocortez.com

Hours: Mon thru Fri, 11am to 5pm; Closed Sat and Sun

 On The Farm Bistro's website, this is how they describe the restaurant's concept, "Since 2009 we’ve been serving the best produce and meat from right here in Montezuma County. Award winning burgers, salads and sandwiches highlight our menus. Our “comfort food with style” offers homemade simplicity with great flavors in a warm and lively atmosphere."

Guess what?  It's all true!!!  I'd heard about this restaurant from several friends and was finally able to get there myself.  Once you enter, you are hit with the most awesome scents of herbs and food; and herbs are definitely a featured décor throughout, including on the table tops.  There is a Welcome stand instructing diners how to order from the menus situated in a basket on top.  This is a great way to find the table you want, peruse the menu and get comfy before ordering; looking confused, a staff member will gladly help you.

There is a lounge area in the back of the restaurant with a fireplace; what a lovely place to sip on tea or coffee and just relax!

Menu

After ordering and collecting our drinks (I was there with a friend), we received a gold colored candle stick as the "designated number" for our table.  What a unique idea!  Instead of a stark number, the markers simply match the warm, rustic décor of the restaurant.


I had the Turkey Pita (turkey breast, Swiss cheese, red onions, radish sprouts, lettuce and avocado aioli); slices of real roasted turkey, freshly shredded Swiss cheese and the veggies....a fresh clean taste as if they just came in from the garden!  The tortilla chips were warm and tasted as if they had just been made.

My friend had the Harissa Grilled Chicken Sandwich (grilled chicken breast, harrisa (slightly spicy) sauce, lettuce, onion, pickles and melted Swiss cheese); a plump chicken breast, those fresh tasting veggies; and she had the French fries on the side and they tasted like my own homemade ones!







Impressed?  We were both blown away by the décor, the staff, the food and the overall uniqueness of The Farm Bistro.  Price wise, for the amount of food you receive, and knowing how fresh it all is, it is extremely reasonable.  We both have gone to worse places that were pretentious, overpriced, and had lousy food; The Farm Bistro would put them out of business in a New York minute!

If in the Cortez, Colorado area and looking for a great meal; definitely put The Farm Bistro as a to-go place.

Mary Cokenour

 

This Shrimp Recipe is Light and Easy.

So, there I was at the City Market in Cortez, Colorado picking up the ingredients to make an Alfredo sauce. I had already purchased pappardelle elsewhere; now I wanted to combine it with shrimp, broccoli, sugar snap peas and cover it all in Alfredo sauce. That was the plan, until I got home and decided, "I don't want Alfredo sauce, I want something different!"  Now what, was the question indeed.

I still wanted the shrimp, definitely the sugar snap peas, but broccoli and pasta just didn't seem enticing at the moment.  Digging around the fridge, I found a red bell pepper and diced it up; in the pantry I found a jar of chopped shitaki and oyster mushrooms in brine (drained that off).  Hmm, now what, I thought, perhaps a stir fry?  Rice, sigh, rice is a bore; but wait, instead of water, why not cook it in broth and soy sauce...and a new plan was finally born.

The dish I ended up with was so light and yet, packed with flavor; it was hard not to eat the entire skillet full.  It was also very, very easy to put together.  The ingredients in the skillet finished cooking up just as the rice was done; no waiting for one, while the other got cold.  I love when a plan, turns into a plan which ends up delicious!  Oh, the other ingredients I had purchased to make an Alfredo; you know I'll come up with something else eventually.

Shrimp, Vegetables Over Rice

 Ingredients:

2 Tbsp. canola oil

½ cup diced red bell peppers
1 cup chopped mixture of shitake and oyster mushrooms
½ lb. sugar snap peas
½ tsp. garlic powder
½ tsp. ground ginger
½ lb. large shrimp, peeled and deveined
2 Tbsp. lemon juice

 

Ingredients for the Rice:

1 cup rice (white, long grain wild, brown)

1 Tbsp. butter (or butter substitute)
1 and ¾ cups vegetable broth
¼ cup soy sauce

Preparation:

 

 

 

In a medium saucepan, on high heat, bring the rice, butter, broth and soy sauce to a boil.  Stir, reduce heat to low, cover, let simmer for 15 minutes.  Turn off heat, uncover and fluff up rice; any excess moisture will evaporate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While rice is simmering, heat the oil in a 12 inch skillet over medium-high heat; add in bell peppers, mushrooms, snap peas, garlic powder and ginger; mix and cook for 3 minutes.  Add in shrimp, cook for 5 minutes; shrimp will begin turning pink, stir in lemon juice, cover and remove from heat.  Let mixture settle for 3 minutes; serve over rice.

 

 

Makes four servings.

Mary Cokenour

Yes, I Do Enjoy Going to Hong Kong.

The Hong Kong Chinese Restaurant in Cortez, Colorado that is.

Hong Kong Chinese Restaurant

332 West Main Street
Cortez, Colorado, 81321

(970) 564-8423
(970) 564-8419



Website: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hong-Kong-Restaurant/111629405540104?rf=138238292921800

Since moving to Utah in 2009, the first Chinese restaurant we discovered as we entered Cortez was Hong Kong; and we still enjoy dining there.  We were just there recently and begged the staff to please open up a second establishment in Monticello.  The menu variety is large and we have never been disappointed in the quality or portions; the staff have always been friendly and attentive.  We usually dine in after having a shopping day in Cortez, and always notice that their take out service is busy.  While there are a few tables, the seating area is mainly booth which are comfy and clean.

There is a separate lunch menu (served 11am to 3pm), again with a large variety, and it includes soup, fried rice, egg roll and the very American fortune cookie.  In case you weren't aware, the fortune cookie is an American invention, but now it goes hand in hand with Chinese cuisine.  The prices vary from $6.55 to $7.55 and you will definitely not walk away hungry; the service is fast also for those with limited time for lunching out.





Now after a day of hiking the North Rim of Canyon de Chelly and visiting the rebuilt Four Corners Monument, we ended up at Hong Kong Chinese Restaurant starving!  We could not decide on appetizers, so ordered the PuPu Platter for Two: egg roll, paper wrapped chicken, bbq spare ribs, beef stick, fried shrimp, fried cheese wonton (filling so creamy!).  Everything was delicious and there was not a crumb left; well, ok, we didn't eat the bone on the spare rib.  My absolute favorite was the beef stick; a thin strip of steak on a wooden skewer; crisply seared edges and melt in your month tender, flavorful beef.  The usual sweet and sour sauce was served, but what we really like is that they put a dollop of Chinese hot mustard in it...love that stuff!



PuPu Platter for Two

Main entrees are two of our favorites; oh lets be honest, everything we've ever had there is on our favorites list. Anyway, from the House Specialties list we ordered "Happy Family" - shrimp, beef, chicken, vegetables in a delectable brown sauce. We also asked for fried rice to go with this dish. Tender slices of beef and chicken; the shrimp has that fresh "scrunch" to them and the vegetables were crisp; oh so good!

From the Noodle section, we ordered "Beef Chow Fun"; not the broad noodle that we became so fond of in east coast Chinese restaurants, but just as yummy. Tender slices of beef, green scallions and those wondrous noodles; this is my idea of comfort food!







I'm giving Hong Kong Chinese Restaurant a huge recommendation to you; in the mood for Chinese cuisine, then give them a try.  You will be thanking me later on.

Mary Cokenour

Hunan in Cortez is Worth the Try.

Hunan Chinese Restaurant

2561 East Main Street
Cortez, Colorado, 81321

(970)
565-0919
Fax: (970) 565-0266

Website: N/A



Having been told about Hunan and the buffet by friends, we decided to try it out; unfortunately what we did not know is that the buffet is only served at lunch time.  Arriving around 5pm, we found ourselves to be the only diners in the restaurant; the staff were seated at a back booth talking, but seated us as soon as we got their attention.  After that, service was very attentive; making sure our water glasses were filled and that we were happy with the dishes we had ordered.

We ordered two appetizers, Egg Rolls and Dumplings (choice of fried or steamed); these are made fresh every morning in house. The wrappers on the egg rolls was lightly fried and crispy; it was loaded with shredded cabbage, so much so, that it was difficult to bite apart, so it all came out of the wrapper in a chunk. I used a fork to break it into smaller pieces to dip in my mixture of sweet/sour sauce and hot mustard. The dumplings were not pan fried like other Chinese restaurants usually do; they were deep fried which made the wrappers hard and too crunchy.


Before the appetizers were served, we were given a bowl of Egg Drop Soup; it was amazingly delicious.  Thicker than usual, with little bits of carrot and so satisfying.  Next time we go back, I'll fore go the appetizers and just enjoy the soup.




We also ordered two main dishes; Combination Rice Noodles and Happy Family.  The Combination Rice Noodles did not have any sauce on it which allowed the freshness of the noodles, vegetables, pork, beef, shrimp and chicken to sing out loud.  A slight sprinkling of soy sauce enhanced this dish more; but it was delicious with or without the sauce.  If you think about comfort food, this is it Chinese style.



Happy Family made us both very happy indeed; the brown sauce was out of this world in flavor; the vegetables were crisp; the BBQ pork slices, beef, chicken and shrimp were all cooked perfectly.  This is one of those dishes that, no matter how full you feel, you still want to keep on eating it.  It was served with white rice which we used to make sure we sopped up every bit of sauce.


Overall, the appetizers were a fail, but the soup and main dishes made up for it in spades.  In the mood for Chinese food and in the Cortez, Colorado area; Hunan Chinese Restaurant is a must try.

Mary Cokenour

Jimmers Gets Serious with BBQ.

Jimmers Back Country BBQ
                                                  
                                                                                         439 East Main (across from Burger Boy Drive-In)
                                                                                         Cortez, Colorado, 81321

                                                                                          (970) 516-1227

                                                                                          Website: N/A

Lets get to the gist of it, Jimmers is some of the best barbeque in the Four Corners Area.  Although I have tried the Serious Texas BBQ places in Durango, CO and Farmington, NM; Jimmers has got them beat hands down.

 

Upon entering Jimmers, there is a short, plain hallway with a beautiful antler chandelier.

As you turn the corner, there is a fireplace that is open on two sides; stuffed wild animals are on the wall in their predatory poses.






The main dining area resembles the great room of a hunting lodge; beautiful tables and benches; again wild animals displayed in their glory.

Towards the rear of the building you will see the kitchen area; off to one side, hanging off the back wall, is the menu written on a large chalkboard. Now if you need to know further information about any of the menu items, don't be shy about asking; the staff at Jimmers are very friendly and helpful.

Hubby and I settled on the "Feast For Two", so we would have a good sampling of the meats, poultry and sides. The pulled pork is tender and not dry; usually my hubby will not eat pulled pork unless it is swimming in bbq sauce, but didn't need it for Jimmers. The brisket was tender, yes there is a trend going on here, juicy and pulled apart easily. The turkey melted in your mouth; I made a sandwich with the soft bread and a little bbq sauce and was in heaven. Sides: Baked Potato Salad; chunks of baked potato in a sour cream, chive and bacon mixture...yum nummy! Cheesy Potatoes; diced, roasted potatoes with melted cheddar cheese throughout...very comforting! Baked Beans; beans and shredded beef brisket in a smooth sauce...very satisfying!

There are three types of bbq sauce: Original - mild heat, slightly sweet with a full bbq flavor.  Smoke - mild heat, but more sweetness than original and a slight tang.  Spicy - medium to hot in heat, slightly sweet, a slow burn develops overall in the mouth.  We stuck with the Original and Smoke as we felt these enhanced the smoked meats and turkey, while the Spicy hid their flavors completely.

When it comes to BBQ in the Four Corners Area; Jimmers Back Country BBQ is our new Mecca...try it when you're in Cortez, Colorado and hankering for really great BBQ.

Mary Cokenour