Dee's (http://www.deesnyc.com/) is probably our favorite Forest Hills restaurant. We have NEVER had a bad meal or poor service or a long wait for a table. The majority of their wait-staff has been there for years, their brick oven pizza is second to none that I've had in the entire city.
Michael and I popped in for a quick meal on Saturday night before seeing The Lincoln Lawyer at the Cinemart. We shared a Caesar salad and a roasted red pepper and fresh garlic pizza. We finished off a bottle of Chianti and then had coffee. It was a great meal! We took a walk afterward, then went into the movie.
It was our first date night in quite some time :)
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Friday, June 24, 2011
Tonight at Barosa
Barosa (http://www.barosas.com/) is one of our favorite restaurants in Queens. Vinny the host is always cordial and our waiter Charles is exceptional. Water glasses refilled, bread basket replenished, dishes cleared appropriately.Tonight we were there for Jill's 49th birthday. We went with Jill and Lenny and Steve and Sue. We shared: Two Chopped salads - lettuce, tomatoes, onions, pimientos, black and green olives, salami and provolone; Calamari Barosa - Calamari in red sauce baked in a bread bowl; Seafood salad in half an avocado; Two carafes of house Montepulciano, Margaritas; Ketel one on ice; Captain Morgan with diet coke. Dinner was: Chilean Sea Bass Oreganata; Shrimp Oreganata; Chicken Scarpariello; Veal chop parmigiana; Seafood risotto.
Dessert was: My homemade Carrot Cake, which everyone liked, even those in the kitchen! Coffee and Sambuca rounded out the evening.
Happy Birthday Jill!
Carrot Cake for Jilly
Yesterday was Jill's birthday and I made her a carrot cake, as it is her favorite. I have made this cake only on Thanksgiving in the past, but it was fun to do on a rainy Thursday. We will share the cake with Jill, Lenny, Steve and Sue tonight after eating/celebrating at Barosa. I use the recipe from Silver Palate and it is outstanding (if I do say so myself):
Butter, for greasing the pan
3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
3 cups sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon baking soda
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1-1⁄2 cups corn oil
4 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1-1/2 cups shelled walnuts, chopped
1-1/2 cups shredded coconut
1-1/3 cups puréed cooked carrots
3/4 cup drained crushed pineapple
Cream Cheese Frosting (recipe follows)
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease two 9-inch springform pans.
2. Sift the dry ingredients into a bowl. Add the oil, eggs, and vanilla. Beat well. Fold in the walnuts, coconut, carrots, and pineapple.
3. Pour the batter into the prepared pans. Set on the center rack of the oven and bake until the edges have pulled away from the sides and a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, 50 minutes.
4. Cool on a cake rack for 3 hours. Fill and frost the cake with the cream cheese frosting.
Cream Cheese Frosting
8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
3 cups confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Juice of 1/2 lemon (optional)
1. Cream together the cream cheese and butter in a mixing bowl.
2. Slowly sift in the confectioners' sugar and continue beating until fully incorporated. The mixture should be free of lumps.
3. Stir in the vanilla, and lemon juice if desired.
Frosting for a 2-layer cake
Butter, for greasing the pan
3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
3 cups sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon baking soda
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1-1⁄2 cups corn oil
4 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1-1/2 cups shelled walnuts, chopped
1-1/2 cups shredded coconut
1-1/3 cups puréed cooked carrots
3/4 cup drained crushed pineapple
Cream Cheese Frosting (recipe follows)
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease two 9-inch springform pans.
2. Sift the dry ingredients into a bowl. Add the oil, eggs, and vanilla. Beat well. Fold in the walnuts, coconut, carrots, and pineapple.
3. Pour the batter into the prepared pans. Set on the center rack of the oven and bake until the edges have pulled away from the sides and a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, 50 minutes.
4. Cool on a cake rack for 3 hours. Fill and frost the cake with the cream cheese frosting.
Cream Cheese Frosting
8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
3 cups confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Juice of 1/2 lemon (optional)
1. Cream together the cream cheese and butter in a mixing bowl.
2. Slowly sift in the confectioners' sugar and continue beating until fully incorporated. The mixture should be free of lumps.
3. Stir in the vanilla, and lemon juice if desired.
Frosting for a 2-layer cake
Monday, June 20, 2011
Tazzina
Friday night we went out to dinner with Joe and Denise, Jill and Lenny and Tom and Monica. We went to Tazzina. It's in Glendale on 88th Street in the same location where La Tavernetta used to be. It's a small place, cozy really. Probably will only hold no more than 30 diners. They have tiled the floors and added a wood bar and accents. The owner/chef, Jason, came out to say hi and see how we were getting along. He was a very nice guy and the food was really good. Our waiter, Sandy was on the spot (and good looking too).
We shared appetizers: Arugula salad with goat cheese, fried calamari with spicy tomato coulis, zucchini blossoms stuffed with cheese and a trio of bruschetta. Dinner was: Mahi Mahi, Branzino, Veal Marsala, Chicken under a brick and linguine with shrimp. Dessert was: Panna Cotta with fresh berries, Lemon cheesecake and chocolate something (I can't remember) but everything was absolutely delicious. I was not in love with their wine list, however, Joe picked the Louis Martini Cabernet which was fine and Jill and I shared a bottle of their house Montepulciano-which we would not drink again. Coffee rounded it all out.
I can absolutely recommend this restaurant, but make reservations because they turned away many customers while we were eating because tables are not available.
Saturday night we went to Sato with Jill and Lenny. Hot white martini (raw fish, not a drink), seaweed salad, shrimp coated in crunchy garlic, chicken teriyaki, salmon sashimi, white tuna sashimi, salmon skin hand roll, sexy roll, dancing eel roll and of course, many bottles of hot sake to share :)
Sunday we spent a wonderful day with friends at Glenn and Eileen's for Father's Day: Hanging by and in the pool, Kan Jam on the lawn, steak and striped bass on the grill along with baked potatoes, grilled veggies and assorted salad. A strawberry shortcake cake for dessert. a circle of chairs around the fire pit and our day was complete!
Tonight I just felt like making a pot of sauce (gravy actually). Michael, Jesse, Glenn and Lenny joined the table and no one went away hungry!
Have a nice week!
We shared appetizers: Arugula salad with goat cheese, fried calamari with spicy tomato coulis, zucchini blossoms stuffed with cheese and a trio of bruschetta. Dinner was: Mahi Mahi, Branzino, Veal Marsala, Chicken under a brick and linguine with shrimp. Dessert was: Panna Cotta with fresh berries, Lemon cheesecake and chocolate something (I can't remember) but everything was absolutely delicious. I was not in love with their wine list, however, Joe picked the Louis Martini Cabernet which was fine and Jill and I shared a bottle of their house Montepulciano-which we would not drink again. Coffee rounded it all out.
I can absolutely recommend this restaurant, but make reservations because they turned away many customers while we were eating because tables are not available.
Saturday night we went to Sato with Jill and Lenny. Hot white martini (raw fish, not a drink), seaweed salad, shrimp coated in crunchy garlic, chicken teriyaki, salmon sashimi, white tuna sashimi, salmon skin hand roll, sexy roll, dancing eel roll and of course, many bottles of hot sake to share :)
Sunday we spent a wonderful day with friends at Glenn and Eileen's for Father's Day: Hanging by and in the pool, Kan Jam on the lawn, steak and striped bass on the grill along with baked potatoes, grilled veggies and assorted salad. A strawberry shortcake cake for dessert. a circle of chairs around the fire pit and our day was complete!
Tonight I just felt like making a pot of sauce (gravy actually). Michael, Jesse, Glenn and Lenny joined the table and no one went away hungry!
Have a nice week!
Friday, June 17, 2011
Teddy's
Last night Michael and I went to BQE Liquors (http://www.bqewineandliquors.com/) to buy an assortment of Father's Day gifts. The prices are very good and the selection is extensive. The owners and staff are knowledgeable about various liquors and wines and they are really helpful.
We are spending this Father's Day at Glenn and Eileen's with the Carbones, the Ochs' and the Creutz'. There will be five dads lounging around the pool, barbecuing, drinking and having fun!
After buying our gifts we decided to eat at Teddy's (http://www.teddyswilliamsburg.com/).
Lenny first brought us here a few years ago. It's a great bar with old tiled floors and a tin ceiling. Invariably they have live music and last night was one of the times. Michael had a Black and Tan and the BBQ chicken with rice and a side of fresh watermelon. I had Coors Light (surprise) and two of the specials: Fried vidalia onion rings and a salad of spinach, beets and goat cheese. All was yummy. We brought Jesse home a chicken quesadilla and when I woke up this morning it had disappeared from the fridge :)
Tonight it's dinner with Joe and Denise, Jill and Lenny and Tom and Monica at Tazzina (http://www.timesnewsweekly.com/news/2011-01-27/Local_News/Tazzina_Opens_With_Mediterranean_Flair.html). You can read a review here and I'll let you know how dinner goes in a day or so.
Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there and Thank you to the boys who have not become fathers yet!!!
We are spending this Father's Day at Glenn and Eileen's with the Carbones, the Ochs' and the Creutz'. There will be five dads lounging around the pool, barbecuing, drinking and having fun!
After buying our gifts we decided to eat at Teddy's (http://www.teddyswilliamsburg.com/).
Lenny first brought us here a few years ago. It's a great bar with old tiled floors and a tin ceiling. Invariably they have live music and last night was one of the times. Michael had a Black and Tan and the BBQ chicken with rice and a side of fresh watermelon. I had Coors Light (surprise) and two of the specials: Fried vidalia onion rings and a salad of spinach, beets and goat cheese. All was yummy. We brought Jesse home a chicken quesadilla and when I woke up this morning it had disappeared from the fridge :)
Tonight it's dinner with Joe and Denise, Jill and Lenny and Tom and Monica at Tazzina (http://www.timesnewsweekly.com/news/2011-01-27/Local_News/Tazzina_Opens_With_Mediterranean_Flair.html). You can read a review here and I'll let you know how dinner goes in a day or so.
Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there and Thank you to the boys who have not become fathers yet!!!
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Agora with Friends
Jennie, Barbara and I went to Agora (http://agorataverna.com/about.php) on Austin Street last night. We went early, about 7pm, because we've noticed that the place usually fills up and we didn't want to wait. There were open tables last night, but not many, all throughout our meal. It was a Wednesday night however.
Firstly, there are too many servers and wait staff in that place. They hover, uninvited, around the table waiting like vultures to scoop away your dirty dishes or empty wine glasses, even when you are not finished using them.
Secondly, similarly to its counterpart in Astoria (Aegean Cove-http://www.aegeancove.com/html/index.html) the fish is not up to par. I've had fish now in both restaurants and I always expect better. Last night Jennie and I shared a Branzino with a side of greens. The fish was thin, nearly tasteless with tiny bones inadvertently left in and the greens were so mushy I envisioned my later life with no teeth. Barbara had the lamb kebab, which she enjoyed very much. We all shared the Horiatiki salad (Greek salad with tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, onions, olives and feta cheese) and the grilled octopus which was AMAZING. It could be the best I've had. Dessert was Milopita (Granny Smith apples, raisins & spices, wrapped in phylo dough served with cinnamon ice cream ) and that was terrific too! We had a bottle of Greek red wine, certainly palatable, but nothing to write home about at $32 a bottle.
And finally, as with all meals, it's the company you keep that makes the evening! Thanks ladies.
Firstly, there are too many servers and wait staff in that place. They hover, uninvited, around the table waiting like vultures to scoop away your dirty dishes or empty wine glasses, even when you are not finished using them.
Secondly, similarly to its counterpart in Astoria (Aegean Cove-http://www.aegeancove.com/html/index.html) the fish is not up to par. I've had fish now in both restaurants and I always expect better. Last night Jennie and I shared a Branzino with a side of greens. The fish was thin, nearly tasteless with tiny bones inadvertently left in and the greens were so mushy I envisioned my later life with no teeth. Barbara had the lamb kebab, which she enjoyed very much. We all shared the Horiatiki salad (Greek salad with tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, onions, olives and feta cheese) and the grilled octopus which was AMAZING. It could be the best I've had. Dessert was Milopita (Granny Smith apples, raisins & spices, wrapped in phylo dough served with cinnamon ice cream ) and that was terrific too! We had a bottle of Greek red wine, certainly palatable, but nothing to write home about at $32 a bottle.
And finally, as with all meals, it's the company you keep that makes the evening! Thanks ladies.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Quick Week
This week I've made chicken chili over broiled polenta; chicken sausage with peppers and onions and chicken cutlets with corn on the cob. Enough chicken already! However, in the chicken chili I do use my very own dry Adobo concoction: Mix all and keep in a tightly lidded glass jar:
1/4 cup sweet paprika
3 tablespoons ground black pepper
2 tablespoons onion powder
2 tablespoons dried oregano
2 tablespoons ground cumin
1 tablespoon chili powder
1tablespoon garlic powder
It can be used in all Spanish or Mexican dishes, in chili, chicken, beef, soups, stews, etc.
Adios!
1/4 cup sweet paprika
3 tablespoons ground black pepper
2 tablespoons onion powder
2 tablespoons dried oregano
2 tablespoons ground cumin
1 tablespoon chili powder
1tablespoon garlic powder
It can be used in all Spanish or Mexican dishes, in chili, chicken, beef, soups, stews, etc.
Adios!
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Lenny is 50!
Friday night, Jill had a surprise (and I use the term loosely) party for Lenny for his 50th birthday. Lenny had been bugging her for weeks about having a "surprise" party...who was coming? who to invite? etc...So when Michael, Rick and Evan had Lenny walk to the backroom of the restaurant just to "check it out", he knew what was coming.
The party was at Manor Oktoberfest of Forest Hills (http://www.manoroktoberfest.com/oktoberfest_fh/). They have a great party room in the back. It easily accommodated the fifty or so guests there to celebrate Lenny's 50. They put out bottles (and bottles) of red and white wine, along with two draughts of beer (which everyone enjoyed) except you know I asked for Coors Light in a bottle :) Italian heros, salads, cheeses, wings, perogies, potato pancakes and really good roast chicken were served for dinner. Jill got a birthday cake in Bayside made entirely of Whoopie Pies! It was a great party for Lenny and a great night for all of his friends. Thanks for sharing your pleasures with us!
The party was at Manor Oktoberfest of Forest Hills (http://www.manoroktoberfest.com/oktoberfest_fh/). They have a great party room in the back. It easily accommodated the fifty or so guests there to celebrate Lenny's 50. They put out bottles (and bottles) of red and white wine, along with two draughts of beer (which everyone enjoyed) except you know I asked for Coors Light in a bottle :) Italian heros, salads, cheeses, wings, perogies, potato pancakes and really good roast chicken were served for dinner. Jill got a birthday cake in Bayside made entirely of Whoopie Pies! It was a great party for Lenny and a great night for all of his friends. Thanks for sharing your pleasures with us!
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Tough Guy Drinks Sissy Wine
Yes, Harvey Keitel of Pulp Fiction fame eats raw oysters and drinks rose wine. I witnessed it myself at Odeon in Tribeca. ( http://theodeonrestaurant.com/)
Barbara and I were there on Tuesday night, after a few hours of wandering the neighborhood and sitting by the Hudson river in very cool lounge chairs. Barbara said that to make her day complete we needed a celebrity sighting. As soon as we sat down at a sidewalk table Harvey Keitel sits down at the next table with his son. So I guess her day was complete :)
We shared: a Croque Monsieur with Black Forest ham, prosciutto di Parma, Gruyère cheese, Mornay sauce & french fries, and a Tuna Burger with wasabi mayonnaise & mixed greens. A few glasses of wine for me (and no sissy stuff either-who drinks pink wine anyway?) I had cabernet and Barb had a Stella. We couldn't resist dessert so we shared: a Warm Apple-Walnut Tart with salted caramel sauce & vanilla ice cream. Very yummy. We cleaned each and every one of our plates.
It was a fun afternoon in NYC!
Barbara and I were there on Tuesday night, after a few hours of wandering the neighborhood and sitting by the Hudson river in very cool lounge chairs. Barbara said that to make her day complete we needed a celebrity sighting. As soon as we sat down at a sidewalk table Harvey Keitel sits down at the next table with his son. So I guess her day was complete :)
We shared: a Croque Monsieur with Black Forest ham, prosciutto di Parma, Gruyère cheese, Mornay sauce & french fries, and a Tuna Burger with wasabi mayonnaise & mixed greens. A few glasses of wine for me (and no sissy stuff either-who drinks pink wine anyway?) I had cabernet and Barb had a Stella. We couldn't resist dessert so we shared: a Warm Apple-Walnut Tart with salted caramel sauce & vanilla ice cream. Very yummy. We cleaned each and every one of our plates.
It was a fun afternoon in NYC!
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