Agora

Tonight I went to Agora on Austin Street with Barbara.  It was great catching up on our families, children and events!

We shared:  Horiatiki salad, mixed spreads with pita and a swordfish kebab with roasted lemon potatoes.  Barb had a blue moon and I had a pineapple vodka (soooo good) and 2 ouzos :)  Then Greek coffee and dessert of shredded phylo, custard, cream and pistachios.

Yum!

Waterzooi

Waterzooi (www.waterzooi.com) is a Belgian bistro in Garden City.  Michael and I were there last Friday night.  Monday nights they have a 3 course dinner matched with 3 Belgian beers.  They also have 22 Belgians on tap!  We had lobster bisque (great, but needed a touch of sherry), French onion soup (very good), double cut bbq pork chops with shrimp mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus (very yummy) and lobster risotto with leeks and corn (could have used a touch of sherry also).  Michael had 2 different beers he liked very much and I had 2 glasses of Cabernet and I liked neither of them (I guess I'll have beer next time).  Their dessert menu looks great too, even though we were too stuffed.   It is a bit loud (actually really loud) and that would be the only draw back.  They have tons of mussel flavors to choose from, and although we don't eat mussels, we thought we'd go back with people who do so we could taste all the different sauces.  Also on the menu are typical fare such a steak frite and Belgian waffles.

Jesse is home and so far he's cooked for himself a few times :) outside on the bbq.  I made him a pot of pasta fagioli, chicken cutlets and lobster tails.  Tonight is brined pork chops on the grill with tomato and mozzarella salad and fried potatoes and onions (like home fries).

I am looking forward to a beautiful Memorial Day Weekend!

Two Pot Pies!

Beef and Stout Pot Pie:  Braised boneless short ribs (or you can use chuck), braised with two bottles of stout (I used oatmeal stout, but Guinness will work too), tons of thinly sliced onion, a bit of garlic and fresh rosemary.  Thinly sliced russet potatoes brushed with olive oil, a little salt and pepper.  Sauteed Brussels Sprouts on the side!

Shrimp and Chorizo Pot Pie:  Sauteed chorizo, shrimp, potatoes, a bit of flour, butter into a roux, add broth, thicken and bake with puffed pastry!

Going Backwards

Last night Michael and I went to Ovelia in Astoria with Joe and Denise.  We asked to be seated at a table serviced by Erica, since she was so great the last time were were there, and we were seated in her section.  Open Table makes it easy to make requests.

We had:  Pikilia dips that included tarama, tzatziki and eggplant; Skordalia with grilled zucchini and squash; grilled kalamari; Titia Pikilia which was broiled feta, kefalograviera (saganaki) and halloumi cheeses (wayyyyyyy yummy) and village salad-typical Greek-except there were no olives (odd).  Dinner was:  Lamburgini-ground lamb burger topped with crimini mushrooms and feta sauce served on a house baked pretzel bun along with hand cut fries; meat free Mousaka-layers of potato, eggplant, zucchini and a mix of vegetables in a tomato sauce topped with bechamel and garides ovelia-sauteed shrimp wrapped in roasted eggplant, baked in tomato sauce and broiled with feta.  Two bottles of Greek Syrah; and then dessert: Greek yogurt with sour cherries and honey and home made apple crumb pie.  Greek coffee; decaf cappucino and decaf espresso on ice and we were DONE.  So good!!

Saturday night Michael and I went to Tortilleria Nixtamal in Corona (http://www.tortillerianixtamal.com/).  We learned about it from Steve and Lori who had seen it on Diners, Drive ins and Dives.  We had:  Mexican Nachos-fresh made nacho chips with beans and melted oaxaca cheese, topped with pico de gallo, avocado and jalapenos; Tortilla soup-spicy broth with chicken and avocado and crunchy nacho chip strips; a bean and avocado taco, a shrimp taco and the Tinga platter-specially seasoned chicken with rice and tortillas.  The tortillas are made on the premises and actually taste of corn.  The sangria was really good too.  We will go back with Steve and Lori next time :)

Friday night we went to Cronin and Phelan in Astoria with Jill and Lenny and we had:  French onion soup; blue cheese burger, shepherd's pie, turkey burger and chicken something (lol, can't remember what Michael had).  Of course a few beers and all was good.

I also need to write a review of Gloria's Pizza on Queens Boulevard next to the Midway theatre.  They are the same Gloria's of Flushing and their pizza is GREAT!  Thin crust, small slices, but great flavor.  Please try it, you will agree.  However, and here comes the but...we have had salad a few times and it is weak-small portions, hardly any grilled chicken and too pricey for what it is.  The heros are nothing to talk about either.  We had meatball parm and eggplant parm and wouldn't bother with either again.  They still do not deliver, but if and when they do, it will be pizza only.

No plans for this weekend, believe it or not :) Michael is riding in the 5 Boro Bike Tour with his sister and niece and Captain Joe.  Good luck to them all!  I am not going...surprised? Not really :)