So I've been cooking, and not...
Michael and I have been to The Village Grill, Joe's Shanghai and The Blackwater Inn. The grill is on Yellowstone Boulevard near the Little League fields. We had gyros and soup. Average, nothing to write home about, certainly not overflowing like Fontana, nor as tasty. But local and easy to sit and eat and leave. We went to Joe's Shanghai in Flushing with Jill and Lenny. Soup dumplings of course; just pork and pork and crab; young chow rice; pork and string beans in black bean sauce and prawns and scallops in garlic sauce. Yum! And because we went early, we just walked in and sat down...priceless :) Michael and I also went to The Blackwater Inn last week (used to be called The Old Brog) on Metropolitan Avenue. Beers; shepherd's pie and chicken Caesar. Their shepherd's pie used to be better, but you can walk in and sit down.
Lately I have a thing about waiting for a table. Pisses me off.
Jesse is home and I have also been cooking: Chicken soup, chicken cutlets, shrimp in a garlicky marinara over linguine. Tomorrow is pork roast with sauerkraut; salt potatoes (small white potatoes, boiled in a pot of water with a TON of salt) and Brussels sprouts.
Saturday is Glenn and Eileen's annual ornament exchange party and I am bringing Old Bay wings.
Sunday I am doing nothing :)
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Monday, December 10, 2012
The Good Life Ain't so Good
Saturday night, Steve and Lori called and asked us to eat dinner with them. It was such treat for the four of us to go out with kids. We went over to their house first for wine and apps (Iavarone...YUM) and then decided on going to The Good Life in Masspequa Park. We called at 7, they told us to come on down, showed up at 8, seated at 9. Not so good so far. It's 9:30 no food. Beer flight spilled on our lap! Bus boy who cleaned up with a wad of napkins NEVER washed his hands afterwards! Patty melt cold. French onion soup cold. Shepherds pie was a salty soup. We ordered a bottle of wine and it took over 20 minutes. The waitress said she asked for someone to go get her the bottle twice. The manager couldn't give a shit. Wish the owner knew what was going on here. We wanted to like this place so much and it was such a disappointment.
But as always, it's the company you keep, so the evening was worth it!
On the other hand, Friday night we went out with Dina and Dmitry to Jack and Nellie's on Ascan Avenue. It was Great! From the hostess to the service to the food. The only not so great thing was the apple tart for dessert. It was cold and semi-tasteless. However, we would go back in a minute. Love this place!
We had: A 3 cheese board; shrimp quesadilla; lamb meatballs over pureed cauliflower; short rib sliders with caramelized onions (Michael said the rolls were dry); warm olives; artichoke cheese dip (holy crap, it's good) sweet pea bruschetta and the apple tart. Coffee was good too. And even better, we got there at happy hour so the wine bottles were $24 each, so we ordered two at the same time (a Malbec). We we very happy!
Another night with friends. What could be better!
But as always, it's the company you keep, so the evening was worth it!
On the other hand, Friday night we went out with Dina and Dmitry to Jack and Nellie's on Ascan Avenue. It was Great! From the hostess to the service to the food. The only not so great thing was the apple tart for dessert. It was cold and semi-tasteless. However, we would go back in a minute. Love this place!
We had: A 3 cheese board; shrimp quesadilla; lamb meatballs over pureed cauliflower; short rib sliders with caramelized onions (Michael said the rolls were dry); warm olives; artichoke cheese dip (holy crap, it's good) sweet pea bruschetta and the apple tart. Coffee was good too. And even better, we got there at happy hour so the wine bottles were $24 each, so we ordered two at the same time (a Malbec). We we very happy!
Another night with friends. What could be better!
Thursday, December 6, 2012
The Irish Ivy
Tuesday night I met Barbara, Jennie and Jackie for our annual Christmas trek. We began at 42nd Street and Sixth Avenue. Into Bryant Park for the one hundred holiday and food kiosks surrounding the skating rink and big, blue, beautiful Christmas tree. Then we walked to Grand Central for their Holiday boutique. More upscale in quality and price. Afterwards we wandered for dinner, passed by several very expensive restaurants and settled upon The Irish Ivy (http://www.theirishivy.com/).
We had a few beers and cocktails, then ate: Shepherd's pie; beef sliders; Buffalo chicken nachos and a turkey club. Everything was good and the waiter was sooooo cute, and had a great Irish accent. Always great company and tonight made better by a taste of Ireland :)
We had a few beers and cocktails, then ate: Shepherd's pie; beef sliders; Buffalo chicken nachos and a turkey club. Everything was good and the waiter was sooooo cute, and had a great Irish accent. Always great company and tonight made better by a taste of Ireland :)
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Arcane
Last Thursday night I went with Barbara, Paul, Jackie, Andrew, Kenny and Joyce to see Katie play acoustic guitar and sing at a special lesbian night at the Alphabet Lounge. Afterwards we went to eat dinner at Arcane (http://www.arcanebistro.com/Arcane/Main.html) on Avenue C, across the street from the Alphabet Lounge.
They were very accommodating when we first told them our party would be 12 people, they actually moved a couple from their seats for us. Then when we were ultimately only 7, they were gracious about it. They bill themselves as Creole-Caribbean-French. I can see why, but I did not find their food selection to be out of the ordinary. Their website mentions conch, for instance, and there wasn't any on the menu. I understand that their menu changes not only seasonally, but with what's freshest and most available. We had: Sweet potato soup (not really sweet potato-y, but with a hint of spice); salad with shrimp and avocado (no flavor at all); french fries (really good); beef empanadas (they liked them, but nothing special-should have been more impressive-not like Tower Isles) although the spicy sauce accompanying them was really good; Chicken was good and fresh shucked oysters were a BIG hit. Nothing to write home about, but nothing to complain about either.
As always, the company makes the meal!!!
Lately I have been cooking: Garlic soup with homemade croutons; Tortellini soup with spinach; Broiled shrimp with horseradish sauce; The Best Blueberry Pancakes (recipe to follow).
We've also been to Dani's for dinner and Fairway for shopping.
Tonight begins my Christmas season. I have already hung the stockings, put out the electric candles on the windowsill (just 3, 1 in each window in the living room) and addressed and stamped our Christmas cards. Tonight Barbara and I and maybe Jennie, will go to Bryant Park at 42nd Street to browse the many quaint gift kiosks that they put up every year around this time. The skaters are on the ice and Christmas is in the air. Afterwards, we go to Grand Central to their Holiday boutique-also very nice, interesting gifts. Then dinner, of course, anywhere we end up. Each year is different, but this annual trek is one of my favorites!
They were very accommodating when we first told them our party would be 12 people, they actually moved a couple from their seats for us. Then when we were ultimately only 7, they were gracious about it. They bill themselves as Creole-Caribbean-French. I can see why, but I did not find their food selection to be out of the ordinary. Their website mentions conch, for instance, and there wasn't any on the menu. I understand that their menu changes not only seasonally, but with what's freshest and most available. We had: Sweet potato soup (not really sweet potato-y, but with a hint of spice); salad with shrimp and avocado (no flavor at all); french fries (really good); beef empanadas (they liked them, but nothing special-should have been more impressive-not like Tower Isles) although the spicy sauce accompanying them was really good; Chicken was good and fresh shucked oysters were a BIG hit. Nothing to write home about, but nothing to complain about either.
As always, the company makes the meal!!!
Lately I have been cooking: Garlic soup with homemade croutons; Tortellini soup with spinach; Broiled shrimp with horseradish sauce; The Best Blueberry Pancakes (recipe to follow).
We've also been to Dani's for dinner and Fairway for shopping.
Tonight begins my Christmas season. I have already hung the stockings, put out the electric candles on the windowsill (just 3, 1 in each window in the living room) and addressed and stamped our Christmas cards. Tonight Barbara and I and maybe Jennie, will go to Bryant Park at 42nd Street to browse the many quaint gift kiosks that they put up every year around this time. The skaters are on the ice and Christmas is in the air. Afterwards, we go to Grand Central to their Holiday boutique-also very nice, interesting gifts. Then dinner, of course, anywhere we end up. Each year is different, but this annual trek is one of my favorites!
Buttermilk Pancakes
2 cups flour
¼ cup sugar
2 & ¼ teasp. Baking
powder
½ teasp. Baking soda
½ teasp. Salt
2 eggs
2 cups buttermilk
¼ cup melted butter
(blueberries if you want)
Combine flour, sugar, baking
powder and soda, and salt.
Beat eggs with buttermilk and
butter.
Combine wet and dry into
lumpy batter.
Fry in butter. Add
blueberries to pancakes just after pouring onto pan, sprinkle a few.
Mangia!
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