Off The Menu... Off The Hook.
Latitudes Cafe
18 Main Street Milford 831-9888
Latitudes Cafe was the first spot to open on Downtown Milford’s Main Street to offer Chef inspired food with a focus on freshness and international flavors. The folks at Milford Latitudes have been consistently tweaking the menu in an effort to provide the most popular dishes from season to season. One method they employ is “crowd taste testing.” This tests the specials to see what strikes a chord with the locals. When they come across a hit, it goes on the menu. Simple as that.
Chef Mark Potratz and his team in the kitchen love creating cool off the menu items by cooking up what ever their taste buds demand of their imagination. The Chef says they never create specials with any preconceived ideas or recipes. Each one is unique and the next special may have no relationship to anything they have done in the past. That’s what keeps it fresh.
One such popular special that may make it to the menu soon is the Chef’s Chorizo Mussels, (above) Sauteed Canadian Mussels with spicy pork Chorizo in a blonde Cajun butter cream sauce (also quite spicy). This dish has been on the special board quite a few times and you’ll see it again in August. If it’s popularity continues it will go on the permanent menu. I suspect that will be the final outcome. It is damn good. We found it delicious and we’re not even mussel fans. These mussels had not a trace of fishiness and the highly spiced Chorizo shined well through the blonde sauce. It’s well balanced and bright. We see why it’s so popular. If you even barely like mussels this is a must try special.
The restaurant’s permanent menu is a list of crowd
faves. It’s stocked end to end with tapas dishes like the $9 Crab Nacho (above). Hot fresh fried tortillas, lump crab, tropical pico de gallo, green onions and sharp cheddar cheese. The $9 Jerk Chicken Kabobs (below). A cool fruit salad balances the heat in this dish but savory spices are still predominate in this Island flavored kabob.
PF Chang’s ain’t got nothin’ on these $8.25 Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps either (Below). When you add a fork full of the Asian chicken, water chestnut and crispy bean noodle to the crisp lettuce leaf, wrap it and dip it in the soy lime or Teriyaki ginger sauce (or both) you’ll taste why it’s a hit.
With a “can’t go wrong menu” and a handsome banquet room this place is perfect for hosting a business meeting that impresses the guests and your account manager. The food is reasonable and the room is free (lunch meetings only, 10 or more guests). In addition you can rent the room for a variety of events as well.
Personally, we think Latitudes got the ball rollin’ in Downtown Milford for the first time in a long time.
Then came 20 brix and Padrinos. The strip continues to prosper and a few amens and thank yous are due to the cool Cafe that paved the way. Today Downtown Milford’s dining & entertainment is small but superior to anything on the Parkway. It wasn’t easy and it may never be easy. Nevertheless, Latitudes is in it to win it and still remains as the first lighthouse of hope on a once otherwise blackened boulevard.
More Off The Menu Off The Hook
How many readers know anything about downtown Milford’s 20 brix? Judging by the restaurant’s comment entries on our site, it’s a mixed bag of praise and mystery. Check out these latest entries.
Marco Polo “I have not yet ate at this place. The dish on the cover looks great though, lamb and potato risotto I think. Post a review if you’ve had it please, or about whatever you have ate there.”
Eastsider 4 Life “Someone give me a heads up on what this place is all about, I can’t find anything on them except the basics. PS GREAT SITE!!”
Tony Toadvine “The Chef, Paul Baracco, is a great local talent. He does a great job with higher end meals, as well as his pairing of wines. Definitely worth checking out.”
Beer Snob “One of the best places in all of Cincinnati, not just the east side. Great food, service, and wines. They also have an excellent beer selection.”
Dino “I wonder why I’ve never seen much on it? EV did an article with a sweet photo of lamb, other than that I don’t see anything anywhere. Wonder what the damages add up to for a dinner for two? What gives EV? If it’s that great lets see an in-depth article (with prices) you are always on the mark (almost always) but you’ve left us hanging on 20 brix. Why the mystery?”
Dino, thanks for your interest and let us say, we’re sorry. 20 brix has been a bit of a mystery and we have to accept some of the blame for that. We did feature a beautiful 20 brix lamb dish on our September 08’ cover. (The article was titled Owners Favorites).
Polly Campbell gave 20 brix 3 out stars in a short article (Dec. 07’). CincinnatiUSA.com gave it a brief 12 line compliment and other blog sites like tripadvisor.com have awarded a few stars as well. Most reviews rave about the wine list but no one has dished out the details on the menu and prices. So here you go Dino, we dedicate this article to you.
20 brix leaves the menu up to the Chef and he leaves it up to the seasons. Chef Paul Barraco (on right in top left photo with manager Clay Mitchell) strives to use only seasonal, locally grown products to give the diner the best he can offer. When locally unavailable, he sources from other states and tailors the menu accordingly. That takes extensive time and money.
Dino, if your looking for a buy one get one free coupon give it up. 20 brix is not cheap. It’s not intentionally expensive either. When your buying $20 a piece chickens verses the $3 ones other places buy, the menu price has to be higher.
What’s so special about a $20 chicken. That’s the only bird 20 brix uses to make the “Tanglewood Chicken”. “A crisp breast atop potato puree with flash braised greens, roasted heirloom tomato, black olive oil, Asiago croutons in a natural chicken au jus ($22).
Heirloom tomatoes can sell for $5 each and a bottle of black olive oil goes for more than a bottle of decent vodka. Add in the Tanglewood chicken at $21 or so each and you couldn’t cook this dish at home for $22.
Tanglewood Farms in North Carolina specializes in offering only the best in fine poultry. They can claim many attributes including, “all-natural, minimally processed, humanely raised in a clean, low-stress environment, grown naturally on small family farms, fed only wholesome grains without animal by-products, no antibiotics, artificial ingredients or chemical preservatives, no hormones or artificial growth promoters, hand selected and graded for superior quality, environmentally friendly farming and processing” (Whew!). Those aren’t the only reasons why 20 brix skips the sysco fryers and spends the big bucks on the Tanglewood variety, they also do it for the flavor. Chef’s swear by Tanglewoods product.
Costs come last on the list of criteria at 20 brix. Chef Paul uses many tedious and time consuming techniques that other restaurants would never consider. All are costly.
Take a glance at one of the chef’s off the menu specials. Dead center you see the “Crispy Skin Barrarmundi” A fresh, flaky, white saltwater fish slightly dusted and crisped. Served with local heirloom tomatoes two ways atop a warm lentil & citrus salad, Parmesan & celery root puree ($27). A rarely found piece of fish, paired with top quality produce and labor intensive accompaniments. If your a “tired of tuna” fish fan, this is a must have dish.
The menu’s gourmet quality seasonal staples make the perfect backdrop for the savory specials. For your first course consider the House made Ricotta bruschetta (above) Chef Paul starts this dish by making the fresh ricotta, grills fresh bruschetta, adds Roma tomatoes, Panchetta, gives it a brush of 18 year vintage balsamic vinegar and seats some fresh micro greens on top for color & balance. $6 seems cheap when you think about what goes into making it.
Below is another interesting dish. It makes a nice starter as well. The Summer Blues Salad (below). It consists of candied Brie atop a spiced crouton resting on arugula, blueberries & strawberries, dressed in raspberry vinaigrette ($7).
So Dino, lets say you ordered one and your dinner date ordered the other, your up to $13 so far. Now for the entree course. For one thing one of you should definitely order the Pan Roasted Tanglewood Farms Chicken ($22). If your a steak fan add on the Steak Frites (center) a sweet hand cut sirloin steak served with a baby arugula salad and real French frites (fries). These fries are fresh cut potatoes, blanched off, cooled then flash fried again to achieve that perfect balance of crisp outside and light & airy inside. The French invented these to be cooked this way. America butchered them into the horrible fry we see in most restaurants today. Anthony Bourdain swears they are one of his favorite all time menu items at his place in New York. You’ll pay Tony $45 for this dish, at 20 brix it’s $25. Now your at $60 and you’ll need drinks and possibly dessert. At 20 brix the skies the limit with the wine but lets just say you budget another $20 for alcohol drinks and dessert. Grand total, $80 for two starters, two signature entree items, a glass from the bar and a dessert. Not bad considering this is about as expensive as it gets at 20 brix (without uncorking one of the best bottles).
If that’s more than you bargained for don’t freak out just yet Dino, you can get a much cheaper 20 brix experience. For instance their signature pizzas are all made with the same uncompromising quality and they run just $10-$12. That’s like Pizza Hut prices! There are other great dishes to pair with that pizza too. How about the “Local Tomato and Smoky Pepper Soup” (above) heirloom tomatoes and roasted Piquin peppers, Old Bay Crostine, lots of lump crab meat and Rouille, ($7). That would make a nice addition to a “Pizza Barraco” It’s more of that afore mentioned house made ricotta, caramelized onions, baby arugula, and roasted garlic oil ($12). 20 brix can even pour you a perfect wine to pair with them. You could get all three for around $20. Your dinner date might opt for a Southern style Shrimp & Grits for their entree. It’s a low country Cajun dish with fresh wild shrimp, braised shredded pork belly and jalapenos. Slow simmered in a Louisiana Pride grist meal polenta with aged cheddar ($25). Spicy, rich & creamy, a very unique find north of the Mason Dixon Line. One pizza, one starter, one shrimp & grits and your at $45. What you spend on drinks is up to you. $45 for a quality Chef created dinner is a deal. You’ll pay that per person at any of Ruby’s joints. You’ll even pay that for many commercial chain joints and they’re serving you boxed frozen food! Most anywhere in Hyde Park is going to set you back at least $30-50 per person. So, 20 brix is actually almost value priced for this level of menu quality & service.
The daily menu is pretty special in itself. With entrees selections like: Grilled Fontina and Prosciutto Stuffed Pork Chop ($26). Grilled Lamb Loin ($27). House specialties: Pan Seared Jumbo Day Boat Scallops ($27). Risotto Frutti de Mer, (Creamy Arborio Rice, Day Boat Calamari, Lump Crab Meat, Wild Shrimp, Spiced Tomato Lemon Parsley Crumble) ($28). Grilled Scottish Wild Salmon ($24) and Royal Malta Crab Cakes ($26).
Smaller Plates (for sharing or appetizers): Calamari Fritta ($8). Conversation Platter Selected Cheeses and Olives with an Assortment of Artisan Breads, Fresh Fruit, Cured Meats, small $8/ large $13. The popular Duck “Poppers” (below) ($11). 20 Brix Crab Cake (beautiful) ($13).
Try it Dino, that’s the only way your going to know if you love it, regardless of any review. All we can say is 20 brix spares no effort in pursuit of quality.
If your on a budget stop in for lunch. The lunch menu is priced under $15 most items are $7-10. Same ingredients and quality, just at cheaper lunch pricing.
There you have it Dino, we hope your at least curious enough to give it a try. If not, we failed at our attempt to explain away some of the mystery behind 20 brix. If you do give it a try, leave us a new comment and share your review. It’s worth every bit as much to us as anyone else’s is including Polly’s.
