Jack & Nellie's

Barbara and Jennie took me out to dinner for my birthday last week.  Seems I had at least 3 celebratory dinners with friends and that's great!

Our usual routine is to meet at the corner (same corner for 15 years) and walk to Austin Street.  We then mosey around until we find someplace we like (or that has available tables). This time we walked with a purpose because we knew where we were going:  Jack & Nellie's.  It's in the space where Q Thai used to be on Ascan Avenue.

It's a small, quiet, dark place with a bar and tables.  There is a hostess, servers, bartender and a wine bottle opener (NOT a sommelier).  We ordered a bottle of Malbec which none of the staff knew anything about :)  Then a woman comes over with the bottle and says "I will be opening your wine bottle this evening."  Sommelier we thought...pretentious for Forest Hills.  Anywho...she didn't know anything about that wine or any other for that matter.  Jennie figured she was the only staff person who knew how to use a cork screw.  The wine was ok.

The food was really good:  Cheese plate with cow, sheep and goat milk cheeses along with grapes, fig jam, strawberries, sliced pear and great crostini.  We also had a manchego and mushroom quesadilla with jalapeno corn relish (sans jalapeno-no idea why it wasn't there).  Artichoke-cheese dip that rivals my own; lemon zested warm olives.  Wild boar pate with cornichons, pickled chestnuts (not a great idea), fig jam and really yummy mustard with more great crostini.

We discussed our love of small plates (or tapas) and a desire to open our own restaurant one day. That led to talk of living all together, which led to The Golden Girls, which led to Barbara announcing that she would be "Estelle Getty."  Which led to peals of hysterical laughter.  It was a fun evening and needs to be repeated.