More Important than the Food

More important than the food you eat, is who you are eating it with! Tonight I had dinner with Paul and Barbara at Trattoria Pesce Pasta (http://www.pesce-pasta.com/) on Bleeker Street in the Village. Barbara and I went to Grand Central Station in the afternoon to check out The World's Largest Bake Sale sponsored by Sandra Lee to benefit the NYC Food Bank. Aside from seeing Duff Goldman from the Ace of Cakes for 2 seconds, there was nothing to talk about. Firstly, NOT the largest bake sale (our former parents' association in elementary school had more). Secondly, at 4 in the afternoon, NOTHING was left to look at or buy. The sale was billed as being open from 11:30 am to 7 pm. Clearly not well thought out by the planners. In any case, after perusing the Grand Central Market where I bought Sapore del Piave and Roomano (yes, it's spelled that way) cheeses from Murray's and mini Brussels sprouts from the vegetable counter, we called Paul and he suggested we come downtown for dinner. We debated over a few different place and settled on Pesce-Pasta. It's a very cute, small place, with attentive service and an average menu. Barbara had spaghetti with meat sauce and I asked them to make me escarole and beans over linguine in garlic and oil. Paul had bread and salad with no dressing (Lent got in the way of a full meal) .I had a glass of wine and all was well. PS: I know that Grand Central Terminal is the correct name for the building on 42nd Street, but since I've been alive I've called it Grand Central Station that's why I said it here. It's similar to me saying tin-foil instead of aluminum-foil. Creature of habit :)

I am Remiss

I must admit a terrible mistake on my part. When we were at Steve and Lori's on Sunday, Steve made fresh mozzarella. It is fantastic and a very special treat. I cannot believe I left it out of my previous entry. I apologize!

It's Difficult

It's so great to have friends who invite us over for wonderful food and friendship. Sunday afternoon we went over to Steve and Lori's. As usual, we stopped at Iavarone in Wantagh first. This particular store is amazing. Everything Italian you could want. Great olives, deli, prepared foods, pastas (fresh and dried), meats, fish, seafood, fruit, veggies, beer, desserts and bread (their own bakery). Anyway, after the obligatory 3 bags of food, we arrived at the Shapiro's house to be welcomed by their two dogs (Misty and Bella) jumping like crazy (it's nice to be wanted...) and their two girls (Michelle and Alyssa), and of course, Steve and Lori! Lori made a bean and cheese dip, right from the oven with jalapeno and black olives that I am crazy about. We put out our 3 cheeses: Parmigiano Reggiano, Asiago Fresca and Grana Padano. We also had marinated beets and roasted peppers, two kinds of bread, balsamic glaze for dipping, cracked Sicilian olives and roasted Brussels sprouts (Iavarone makes them really well). Michael and Steve had Innis & Gunn rum cask beer. We shared two bottles of wine also, then it was time for dinner. Steve and Lori made short ribs braised in wine, olive oil, chicken broth, and carrots. They were fall-off-the-bone yummy (I know I don't eat meat, but I tasted the gravy and even put a little of it on a piece of bread) so I know it was good. Also, shrimp marinated in wasabi, teryaki and garlic then butterflied and pressed into panko bread crumbs then fried till crispy. They were fabulous! Also, Greek salad and more bread. And more wine. Then coffee and dessert and home to bed :) Again, we are thankful for our wonderful friends!

It's a Tie

It's a tie between my two favorite "restaurants" in Forest Hills. One is Denise's house-she is an amazing cook, and the other is Dina's house-equally good. So hard to decide, but I am lucky I don't have to choose and I get the pleasure of eating at both their homes!

Last night we went over to Dina and Dmitry's. We brought wine (Cantina Zaccagnini Montepulciano d'Abbruzo) and rugalech from Bonelle's Pastry shop on Ascan Avenue.

Dina made: Roasted beets with crumbled goat cheese; pimientos de padron (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ma_htnz6Cmk) you can watch how they're made; cheese plate with salami and quince along with 4 Spanish cheeses (manchego, iberico, garrotxa and la serena-other than the manchego, I am guessing at the others because we couldn't figure out the names); mixed olives; pepperdew peppers; eggplant tahina; marinated Asian mushrooms;
sauteed shrimp; Spanish pork; roasted potatoes; roasted asparagus; two kinds of bread and I am sure I am missing something but I can't remember :)

Everything was totally yummy! The conversation was great and the company too! We even got to see their son Andrew home on Spring Break from Binghamton. That was a special treat!

Who knows what's on tap for this evening...but tomorrow we are going to the Shapiro's and bringing Iavarone stuff (yum) and I am sure Lori will make something great!

Saturday Night

We went to Scotto's with Glenn and Eileen and Joe and Debbie. We met at 7pm at the bar and had drinks and a garlic bread (yummy, with tomato sauce to dip) while we waited for our table.


We had mussels and clams in white wine and garlic ( good), a pizza with sauce, cheese and mushrooms (also good), chicken wings with potatoes and onions (can't say-didn't have any, but they were all eaten up). For dinner we had chicken marsala, veal marsala, veal francese, baked salmon, eggplant parm and I had an appetizer of artichokes over arugula. Dessert was two cannolis and an apple strudel (leave the strudel, take the cannolis)!

We had wine and drinks and conversation with good friends. We spent over two hours at our table chatting and catching up. An those were the best things about the evening. I can say, however, that this will not be a repeat. There was absolutely nothing special about anything. Everything was just average-including the service. The noise level was over the top as well. I did like the pizza, though :)

When Michael and I got home, Jill and Lenny were still up and hanging out with Sue and Steve Boyle, so we went down to their apartment for about an hour. It was a fun evening!!

Trattoria L'incontro

Friday Night we went to Trattoria L'incontro (http://www.trattorialincontro.com/) in Astoria with Joe and Denise and Monica and Tom. We had reservations for 7pm and our table was ready when we arrived. They had beautiful cherry blossom stalks in large vases by the front entrance. The main dining room had large artwork on the walls and a tiled floor. The service was terrific. We shared several appetizers: Fried calamari, a salad of calamari with white beans and red onions, a salad with raspberry vinaigrette and goat cheese, a pizza with mushrooms and a stuffed artichoke. All except the artichoke were served by a waiter and divided evenly over each of our plates.

For dinner: Joe and Tom had a pasta special of shrimp and scallops (maybe). Monica had a pasta special also. Denise had a pasta special with lobster and broccoli rabe. Michael had linguine with white clams. I had escarole with white beans that was an appetizer, but certainly enough for my main dish. All our dinners were great!

The waiter, from Kosovo we learned, recited a list of about 25 specials that were not on the menu, from appetizers and salads to pasta, meat and fish dishes. He had an amazing memory and we tested it with questions :)

We shared 3 bottles of wine and had candles (with NO SINGING PLEASE) in our two desserts of lemon cheesecake and tiramisu.

Great company, great food. This is a definite repeat! Thanks again Joe for the selection and Happy Birthday to Denise and Monica.

Spring on Sunday

It will be the first day of Spring 2011 on Sunday March 20. I have seen the forsythia buds and I am ready for warm weather!! I am making a prediction that warm weather (expect for today) is not yet here. Don't put away your winter coats yet.

Since yesterday was St. Patrick's Day I decided to make corned beef, even though Michael doesn't like it (he did eat it, however). It was mildly successful with the addition of baked potatoes and sauteed broccoli. We each had a beer :) Michael had an Innis & Gunn and I had (no it wasn't Coors Light, I know I fooled you all) Red Stripe.

Jesse came home last night and even though I am under strict instructions not to write about him or even mention his name on this blog, I just wanted (needed) to say that I am thrilled to see his face!

Wednesday night, Michael and I went to Dani's and believe it or not they had no eggplant. I always get their eggplant casserole, and now I had to switch dinners...so I had my second staple Baked stuffed shells. Apparently, unbeknownst to me, there has been a freeze of sorts in Mexico and the eggplant is not growing. Who knew?

Tonight we are going to Tratttoria L'incontro in Astoria with Joe and Denise and Monica and Tom. We are celebrating Denise's and Monica's 50th birthdays (well that's out there now-sorry). I have heard about this restaurant from Jennie and from Jill, all good things, so I am excited to see for myself. Thanks to Joe for choosing the restaurant!

Tomorrow night, we are meeting Glenn and Eileen and Debbie and Joe at Scotto's in Westbury. We were fans of Scotto's restaurant when Michael lived in Great Neck (about a hundred years ago) and we were also married at their Westbury Manor. They don't take reservations for under 7 people, which pissed me off, but we decided to meet at the bar and drink until a table was ready. And that was no problem :)

Have a nice weekend!!

Pros and Cons

I have found that no matter where we eat out, there are pros and cons to the adventure. It is possible, although, I have no actual memory of this, that there have been occasions when there were only pros. Only cons, I am aware of, unfortunately. Maybe I am overly particular...scrutinize details...OCD...whatever!

Last night Michael and I went to Pomme Cafe (www.pommecafeny.com) in Astoria. We discovered it while walking after dinner last weekend at Cronin & Phelan, an Irish Pub nearby. Aesthetically speaking the restaurant is very pleasing. Prior reviews I've come across state that the service leaves much to be desired. We did not necessarily find this to be true. The hostess was lovely and accommodating. Our table had a reserved sign on it (I made the reservation through www.opentable.com). She also checked on us, and, I noticed, other diners, throughout the evening. The waitress was fine as well. I DO NOT like that the bus boys (men) who clear your dirty dishes, ALSO pour water and ALSO deliver your dinner (presumably on clean dishes) with the same un-washed hands.

About the food: We shared onion soup (totally fine) and a cheese board with Parmesan (WAY too salty), smoked Gouda (just like you get at the supermarket) and goat cheese (same supermarket). It also came with toast points (fine), seedless grapes (also fine), sliced green apple (same), a few slices of rolled up soppresatta and get this: grape jelly (maybe Welch's, maybe Smucker's).

Moving on to dinner: I had their homemade goat cheese ravioli with sun dried tomatoes in a Parmesan cream sauce and Michael ordered their steak au poivre-sans peppercorns, sans brandy, sans heavy cream...Odd, no? Why do they bother calling it au poivre, when there's no evidence they even know what that means? So we asked? The answer: We used to serve it that way, but no one liked it, so now the steak is plain and there is a peppercorn sauce on the side. Peppercorn sauce on the side? Try weak, thin brown water with very little pepper.

Did we stay for dessert? No. Are you surprised?

Here's the funny thing-I wouldn't be adverse to going back. The soup was good.

Zagat Voting

So I have been voting in the Zagat New York City Restaurant survey for several years now. I am not sure if any of my comments have actually made it into print. But I am not concerned. Either way, I am sent a new free Restaurant Guide every year just for putting in my two cents.

They ask that reviewers be as witty as they can be. Sometimes I am and sometimes I am not. For instance: One review was-It's a deli, what'd you expect? Another was-very nice, very cute. Others included comments such as MUST HAVE, THE BEST, QUINTESSENTIAL.

I was happily surprised to have reviewed 24 restaurants in Queens. I didn't even bother with Manhattan or Brooklyn this year.

Our staples are: Dee's on Metropolitan and Barosa on Woodhaven. We have been visiting Astoria more lately and will continue to do so. We are planning on going to Pomme Cafe on Saturday night. And we will be back to Sanford's again too.

Yes, I have also been cooking. Actually more cooking than going out. Last night was chicken sausage with rice and snap peas. Tonight is filet mignon with salad and beets. No plans for the rest of the week. We'll see what happens...

A New Irish Pub!

Michael and I found a new (new to us anyway) Irish Pub in Astoria on Saturday Night.
For some odd reason, I have been craving Shepherd's Pie. We looked on line and found pretty favorable reviews for a pub called Cronin & Phelan (38-14 Broadway in Astoria). The outside leaves all to be desired, but the inside is nice. Ceiling fans, tin ceiling, long wooden bar, Irish waitresses and Irish customers and Irish food ie; Shepherd's pie, bangers and mash, etc... The Shepherd's pie was good, we shared French onion soup and Michael had a turkey burger with blue cheese and sauteed onions. The fries were really good, as was Michael's Black and Tan. I had my usual boring Coors Light :). We will be back though. Service was good and the food was good and plentiful.

After dinner we walked a bit and found Cream Bakery (http://www.creambakeryny.com/). Michael had a banana cupcake and we took home 3 others for the Wisners to share (red velvet, carrot cake and chocolate with Oreo cream).

We also passed a place I'd like to try: Pomme Cafe (http://www.pommecafeny.com/). The ambiance and menu look like what you'd expect from a French-styled Brasserie/Patisserie. Elegant, semi-dark, candles on the tables. Maybe next weekend!