Dinner out

Yes, I cook often, and Yes, we go out to dinner often (lunch and breakfast less frequently).

Recently we have been out to dinner with Jill and Lenny at Ovelia (http://www.ovelia-ny.com/) in Astoria.  We had:  Grilled octopus (which was so good the last two times) and not so good this time.  Village salad (standard Greek with feta, tomatoes, cucumbers and green peppers).  Hummus with pita (quite good).  Jill had grilled shrimp, Michael had a lamb burger, I had crab stuffed shrimp and Lenny had Fillet of sole.  Dessert was pumpkin galaktoboureko (way yummy) and Greek yogurt with sour cherries, also great.  Greek Shiraz and cocktails were good too.  Service was so-so, Erica no longer works there.  Would I go back. Nope.  Too many Greel places to choose from to settle for not-so-good-anymore.  But the company was terrific!

Michael and I took out from Fontana (http://www.fontanagyros.com/) for gyros and souvlaki.  The best place for both.

I also went to Jack and Nellie's again (http://www.yelp.com/biz/jack-and-nellies-forest-hills)
with Jennie and Barbara for Jennie's birthday dinner.  It was as good as it has been. Yes, I would go back.  We had:  Hummus and pita; artichoke dip and crostini; brie and prosciutto sandwich; cheese board with goat, cow and sheep milk cheeses; Cote de Narbonne wine; apple tart and coffee.  Both the company and the food were great!  Jill met us for dessert!  We walked home, each with a small airline size bottle of Amaretto, swigging all the way.  i thought it was a good treat for Jennie's birthday.  Drinking in the street-open container-good thing we didn't get stopped :)

Michael and I went to Dani's the other night.  Stracciatella soup, small salad, eggplant parm and chicken with broccoli, peppers and onions.  What more could we want?

Sunday we went to Paulie Gee's (http://www.pauliegee.com/home.php)  with Joe and Denise.  It was as good as last time.  Eden salad, Hellboy, Regina and Greenpointer pizzas.  A few beers there and a few at Brouwerij Lane (http://brouwerijlane.com/) and it was a fun evening.

This week's at home menu is:  Shrimp with chorizo and sun dried tomatoes along with Greek salad; Double cut pork chops with vinegar peppers and broccolini; chicken cutlets with wedge salad and blue cheese and spaghetti with garlic and oil.  That's all folks!

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 :)

After Wednesday

Thursday night I went to El Quijote on 23rd Street with my friend Christian from Jury Duty. It was as good as always.  He'd never been there and he liked it a lot.  A large pitcher of red sangria to share :)  Garlic soup, salad and lobster for me :)  salad and arroz con pollo for him.  Two cafe con leches and we were done.  Yum!

Friday night Michael and I went to Dirty Pierre's with Jill and Lenny.  We tried to get into 5 Burro (again) but the wait was too long so we wandered to Dirty Pierre's and waited 15 minutes while having beer and margaritas.  We had:  clams with chorizo (never had before, they were yummy); portobello mushrooms topped with roasted peppers and fresh mozzarella and white cheese empanadas.  More beer, more margaritas and even a cosmo! Then we had goat cheese salad, jerk chicken and a burger.  All good and we had a great time!

Saturday night Michael and I went to Ovelia Psistaria in Astoria with Dina and Dmitry.  None of us had been there before but we would all go back.  Out waitress was Erica and she was terrific!  We had:  Tzatsiki; grilled kalamata; saganaki and village salad (typical Greek).  Everything was really good.  We shared a bottle of Greek Syrah (very good) and Michael had two frozen mojitos that were amazing!  For dinner we had:  Garides ovelia which was sauteed shrimp wrapped in roasted eggplant baked in tomato sauce and broiled with feta and rice on the side; stuffed chicken breast with kafteri cheese and creamy tomato ouzo sauce; and grilled octopus with lemon potatoes.  All yummy, all around.  Dessert was:  Yogurt with sour cherries and fried dough balls (similar to zeppoles) but with honey drizzled over the top.  So sweet!  I had Greek coffee too.  Loved the whole evening, food and friends!

Sunday was Louis' 20th Birthday party and as always, good food, good friends and good times! Thanks Leslie!  Always our pleasure to share your special occasions.