Blue Stove is a hidden gem inside Nordstrom’s at the Burlington Mall. I thought twice about writing this review because I’m not sure I want the word to get out, but it’s too good not to share. This was my third visit in less than a year, and I would come more often if I thought about it, but it’s tucked away on the second floor – away from the handbags and shoes, so it falls into the category of ‘out of sight, out of mind’ – until I use my OpenTable app moments before I am about to melt into a puddle from desperate hunger because I’ve lost track of time while shopping. But, back to the food. Small plates for sharing is the concept here – and they only serve wine and beer. The servers are happy to let you try several tastings until you find something you like. Don’t hesitate to ask for one.
The tapas style menu changes seasonally, so you will want to go back often. I enjoyed the summer menu the best so far, but the others are good too. This time we ordered 4 tapas for 2 people. We started with the Goat Cheese and Arugula salad and thinly sliced beet carpaccio for $7. To me, this is the best flavor combination – the salty smooth goat cheese paired with the sweet beets and the spicy bitterness of the arugula balances the entire dish. Next we had the Chive Ricotta Gnocchi for $6 – perfect light little pillows in a sweet corn puree. The gnocchi was followed by Lemon Risotto with Seared Scallops for $11. This was the most disappointing dish – the scallops were sliced horizontally to make it look like there was more on the plate – I would rather have just two meaty scallops on the plate. It tasted very good; I liked the lemon risotto and would make it myself. The winner of the night was the Bahn Mi Chicken sliders – served two to an order, perfect tapas size. On my – I now know why the bahn mi food trucks are so popular. The flavors are reminiscent of Thai spring rolls with crunchy cucumbers and carrots, with warm chicken nestled between soft tiny rolls that soak up any juices so you don’t miss a drop! I’ve also had the Cilantro Lime Chicken Tacos a few times and they are very good too. We did order dessert – a lemon curd and blackberry shortcake that was too dry, even with the lemon curd to help in this department, so try something else. Total bill for 4 tapas, 1 dessert, 3 glasses of wine and 1 cup of coffee was $74. So be careful – those tapas can add up quickly!
However, I’m going to go back soon for to have those Bahn Mi Chicken sandwiches for lunch – all by myself, no sharing this time!
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