June

I've cooked some...Asian pork burgers with corn cole slaw.  Burgers were ground pork (very underrated, even if i don't eat it much), scallions, ginger and rice vinegar.  Slaw was green cabbage, carrots, leftover corn on the cob (cut off, of course), mayo, sour cream, sugar and vinegar.

Also summer chili and corn bread.  Chili had no meat.  Pinto beans, frozen corn, stewed tomatoes, portobello mushrooms, onions, garlic, jalapeno peppers and 3 tablespoons of homemade adobo seasoning.  Cornbread had scallions and jalapenos.

Tried my hand at oatmeal raisin cookies from scratch.  Not bad :)

Made ham dinner for Brett.  Spiral ham, just gets warmed, ziti with pink sauce and mesclun salad with goat cheese, beets and bacon.

Went to Ithaca/Cortland for orientation.  Had a nice time.

Since home, been to Dani's, Don Peppe's and Barosa.

Almost 4th of July!!!!

Missed Some...

Just found notes on my phone for Oktoberfest:  Michael and I had Coors Light (me) and a Black and Tan (Michael).  We shared an Oktoberfest pretzel with mustard (no pickled veggies on the side, disappointed), a smoked Black Forest BLT and a Caesar salad with grilled chicken.  FYI: Female wait staff very nice, male wait staff not so much.

We were also at the Station House again, sitting at the bar this time: Smuttynose Star Island Dry Hopped with Lemon Drop (on cask) (me) and Left Hand Milk Stout for Michael.  Also, Imperial Stout and Blue Point Blueberry (me) and to top it off a Lagavulin 16 (Michael).  We ate:  Pizza (don't order it, it's yucky) and a pulled pork on brioche with slaw (very good).  Joe the manager/bartender was a great!

Cafe Ole

Michael and I checked out a new Spanish place in Astoria, Cafe Ole (http://www.cafeolerestaurantny.com/).  We were pleasantly surprised.  It was POURING outside and it was warm and inviting inside.  Small dining room, but seated immediately.  We shared a pitcher of red sangria, and also received two extra glasses on the house at the end of our meal :).  Stuffed mushrooms with crab meat were extra yummy! Shrimp in garlic sauce was good, garlic soup needed salt and smoked paprika, arroz con pollo was delicious (if not a tad small), Manchego cheese and olives were good and tostones were fresh and hot with great garlic sauce on the side. 

The ambiance is terrific.  Alex and his team know how to treat their customers and we will definitely be back.  The strawberry cheesecake was really good and so was my piping hot cafe con leche.

We've also been back to the Station House in Forest Hills.  Paolo was once again our server and he's just a pleasure to deal with!  We had:  Hell or High Watermelon, Bruery Bois, Blue Point Toasted lager, Ommegang Abbey, Left Hand Milk Stout, Heineken, Victory Hop Devil Nitro and Ketel One with club soda.  Great Beer selection!

We ate:  Fried pickles, Mac and cheese with bacon (yummy), pickled pepper wings, buttermilk chicken with chorizo and queso fries, a decadent burger and a portobello wrap.  Great company, great night!

Barosa with Joe and Denise

Wednesday night we went to Barosa with Joe and Denise.

Always good company!

We had:  Calamari Barosa in red sauce baked in a pizza crust; chopped salad, seafood salad in avocado; chicken scarpariello with cherry peppers; shrimp scampi; soft shelled crabs and chicken with chopped tomatoes and mozzarella.  Dessert was zabaglione with strawberries and an Italian Iced Coffee!  Coffee was great.  I must remember to order one every time I go.

Isabelle's Sweet 16 and More

Isabelle's Sweet 16 party was at Fox Hollow.  Cocktail hour was basic, we missed half of it because we were stuck in traffic.  But the room was pretty with a gas fireplace.

Her party room had wonderfully high ceilings and a fireplace too.  Centerpieces were all white and gorgeous.  Isabelle was gorgeous.  Everyone looked so nice, most of the girls had on short (and I mean short) dresses, but so cute.  Food was average, but it is a catering hall.  Music was loud and obnoxious just like the kids like it :) But we had a good time and hung out with good friends!

We also went to see Michelle Shapiro in her newest play: All Shook Up in Seaford.  The singing was great. Better than any other show we've seen her in.  She was cute in the ensemble but we'd love to see her in a starring role :) Afterwards we went to the Massapequa Diner.  All was average diner food, service was weird.  Loved the company though!!

I cooked too:  Chicken sausage with broccoli rabe over orrechiette; chicken sausage on skewers with peppers and onions on my outdoor George Foreman, along with Israeli cous cous with mixed veggies.  Must be a chicken sausage type of week.

Tonight is Barosa with Joe and Denise! Bobby, Ian and Jojo just turned 21!!!

Thursday Joey is 21. Yippee!

Have a good week.