Tazzina

Friday night we went out to dinner with Joe and Denise, Jill and Lenny and Tom and Monica.  We went to Tazzina.  It's in Glendale on 88th Street in the same location where La Tavernetta used to be.  It's a small place, cozy really.  Probably will only hold no more than 30 diners. They have tiled the floors and added a wood bar and accents.  The owner/chef, Jason, came out to say hi and see how we were getting along.  He was a very nice guy and the food was really good.  Our waiter, Sandy was on the spot (and good looking too).

We shared appetizers:  Arugula salad with goat cheese, fried calamari with spicy tomato coulis, zucchini blossoms stuffed with cheese and a trio of bruschetta.  Dinner was:  Mahi Mahi, Branzino, Veal Marsala, Chicken under a brick and linguine with shrimp.  Dessert was:   Panna Cotta with fresh berries, Lemon cheesecake and chocolate something (I can't remember) but everything was absolutely delicious. I was not in love with their wine list, however, Joe picked the Louis Martini Cabernet which was fine and Jill and I shared a bottle of their house Montepulciano-which we would not drink again.  Coffee rounded it all out.

I can absolutely recommend this restaurant, but make reservations because they turned away many customers while we were eating because tables are not available.

Saturday night we went to Sato with Jill and Lenny.  Hot white martini (raw fish, not a drink), seaweed salad, shrimp coated in crunchy garlic, chicken teriyaki, salmon sashimi, white tuna sashimi, salmon skin hand roll, sexy roll, dancing eel roll and of course, many bottles of hot sake to share :)

Sunday we spent a wonderful day with friends at Glenn and Eileen's for Father's Day:  Hanging by and in the pool, Kan Jam on the lawn, steak and striped bass on the grill along with baked potatoes, grilled veggies and assorted salad.  A strawberry shortcake cake for dessert. a circle of chairs around the fire pit and our day was complete!

Tonight I just felt like making a pot of sauce (gravy actually).  Michael, Jesse, Glenn and Lenny joined the table and no one went away hungry!

Have a nice week!

Teddy's

Last night Michael and I went to BQE Liquors (http://www.bqewineandliquors.com/) to buy an assortment of Father's Day gifts.  The prices are very good and the selection is extensive.  The owners and staff are knowledgeable about various liquors and wines and they are really helpful. 

We are spending this Father's Day at Glenn and Eileen's with the Carbones, the Ochs' and the Creutz'.  There will be five dads lounging around the pool, barbecuing, drinking and having fun!

After buying our gifts we decided to eat at Teddy's (http://www.teddyswilliamsburg.com/).
Lenny first brought us here a few years ago.  It's a great bar with old tiled floors and a tin ceiling.  Invariably they have live music and last night was one of the times.  Michael had a Black and Tan and the BBQ chicken with rice and a side of fresh watermelon.  I had Coors Light (surprise) and two of the specials:  Fried vidalia onion rings and a salad of spinach, beets and goat cheese.  All was yummy.  We brought Jesse home a chicken quesadilla and when I woke up this morning it had disappeared from the fridge :)

Tonight it's dinner with Joe and Denise, Jill and Lenny and Tom and Monica at Tazzina (http://www.timesnewsweekly.com/news/2011-01-27/Local_News/Tazzina_Opens_With_Mediterranean_Flair.html).  You can read a review here and I'll let you know how dinner goes in a day or so.

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there and Thank you to the boys who have not become fathers yet!!!