Reno, Nevada’s annual Food and Drink week not only features various fun activities in the culinary scene but also brings out some of the most delicious Reno Food and Drinks you can find in Reno. To give you an idea of what to expect, here are eight mouthwatering dishes you’ll find at this year’s Food and drink a week
1) Peanut Butter Curry Wings by Timpano Chophouse
In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, curry powder, salt, and pepper. Add the coconut milk and then stir in the peanut butter. Set aside for 5 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken up. Once thickened, coat your wings with the sauce and grill or bake until crispy on both sides. Serve over brown rice or rice noodles with chopped green onions.
2) Crispy Pork Belly Sliders with Caramelized Onions by Michael’s on Second
Since Michael’s on Second is just a hop, walk, or bike ride away, it would be an easy choice to stop in for one of their signature dishes. I recommend the Crispy Pork Belly Sliders with Caramelized Onions. The pork belly is served on a brioche bun and topped with an onion jam that is the perfect sweet counterpart to the salty meat. For a real treat, order them with one of their delicious milkshakes!
3) Grilled Lobster Tail with Black Garlic Butter, Citrus Herb Potatoes, and Leek Gremolata by Garduño’s
The Garduno’s Grilled Lobster Tail is truly a must-try dish. The lobster tail is grilled to perfection, then served with black garlic butter, citrus herb potatoes, and leek gremolata. The meat of the lobster was moist and flaky while the skin was deliciously crisp.
This dish was full of flavor, but not too spicy or salty like some other dishes we had tried. It also went well with the side dishes that came with it (especially because those dishes were made up of mostly vegetables).
4) Cheeseburger at Badlands Pizzeria
Badlands Pizzeria offered a great deal for those who attended Reno’s Food and Drink Week. For $5 you could get a cheeseburger with an order of fries or onion rings. The burger was pretty massive, with lettuce, tomato, mayo, pickles, ketchup and mustard. I added bacon to my order as well because bacon makes everything better!
The buns were fresh and the burger patty was juicy. It wasn’t too greasy either which is always a plus in my book. Although the fries were nothing special they were crispy and hot when they came out of the fryer so that counts for something!
5) Spicy Tuna Roll at Sushi Roku
The spicy tuna roll is a classic, but it was made even better by the addition of chopped jalapeño. The heat sneaks up on you at first, but then settles in to make your lips tingle with anticipation for the next bite. Even though this dish is traditionally served with soy sauce, the chefs at Sushi Roku recommended dipping it in ponzu sauce instead. Ponzu sauce has a citrus flavor that was an excellent compliment to the spice of the tuna and jalapeño.
We were also impressed with how delicate yet firm the fish was prepared–you can taste every nuance in each bite without any stringiness or chewiness.
6) Lamb Burger at Calico Basin Brewery
This past week, I was lucky enough to be able to partake in the Reno Food and Drink Week festivities. One of my favorite dishes I tasted was the lamb burger at Calico Basin Brewery. The lamb burger is served with feta cheese, tzatziki sauce, black olives, tomatoes, lettuce and onions on top of a brioche bun. The flavors really came together nicely with this dish. It was also cooked perfectly so that it was juicy but not dry.
7) Cannoli Cream Pie at Puccini’s Pastaria
Puccini’s Pastaria, one of the participants in this year’s Reno food and drink week, is known for their cannoli cream pie. They start with a graham cracker crust, add a layer of cream filling made with butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla extract, then top it off with chocolate chips. The pies are baked until the edges are golden brown. Once they’re cool enough to be served, they’re cut into six slices.
8) $10 Dessert Specials at Piñon Grill & Bar
Piñon Grill & Bar is offering a decadent dessert special: $10 for any ice cream or sorbet sampler, served in a waffle cone with toppings. Options include raspberry sorbet topped with fresh whipped cream and strawberries, vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce drizzle, strawberry ice cream with strawberry sauce drizzle, and salted caramel gelato. It’s the perfect way to end your night out on the town!
