Sato

My favorite Japanese restaurant in Forest Hills is Sato. I ate here tonight and discovered that they have subtly made changes to their menu. I used to order a spicy tuna martini for an appetizer. It is not a drink, but spicy tuna, chopped small with caviar over chopped vegetables in a martini glass. This time they have added a hot white martini to their list. White tuna with crunchy flake and mayo over chopped vegetables garnished with caviar and a lemon swan. Yum!
We also had salmon sashimi and a shrimp tempura roll, along with chicken teriyaki , salad and 3 hot sakes.

They don't rush you and keep topping off your hot green cup of tea, which is SO necessary on a cold night like this. Walked home and became a Popsicle!

Tomorrow night is ham night with the Wisners. Quarter baked Virginia ham, mashed potatoes, mixed greens and apple cobbler for dessert. Too cold to be trekking outside.

Saturday I am visiting my brother, then we'll have Chinese with Glenn and Eileen and Sunday...JETS game at the Shapiros with friends and food and wine. Can't wait!!!

Since Friday

Friday night was Italian night with the Wisners. We had Sunday gravy with braciole, meatballs and sausage; garlic bread; salad; broccoli rabe with garlic and oil; wine; homemade iced tea; and cheesecake for dessert. Yum!

Sunday was eggplant parm. Monday was stir fry chicken with vegetables (baby bok choy, red pepper, broccoli florets, snow peas, baby corn, water chestnuts, onions, garlic) in a marinade of soy sauce, oyster sauce, rice vinegar, ginger and garlic. Today I made pasta fagioli. Tonight is turkey burgers and salad and tomorrow is penne vodka and spinach with garlic and oil.

Friday night is Ham night with the Wisners; Baked quarter ham; mashed potatoes; mixed greens, cranberry sauce and something for dessert I have not yet decided upon.

Saturday I am visiting my brother and Sunday we will be at the Shapiros for (you guessed it) the Jet game. J E T S Jets, Jets, Jets!!!

Brennan and Carr

Michael has been watching Man vs. Food on TV lately and...of course...we have to go check out his newest discovery :)

We went to Brennan and Carr (http://brennanandcarr.kpsearch.com/df/default.asp) last night. I drove into Brooklyn to pick up Michael from work and he drove us to Brennan and Carr. They are famous for their roast beef sandwiches (me eat roast beef?) well, yes I did! Not so happy later, but not so bad either. We each had a double dip, which is a roast beef sandwich on a hard roll. First the beef is dipped in the au jus, then put on the roll. The the whole thing is dipped again in the au jus. We even had juice on the side, along with onion rings. I had 2 Bud lights on draught ($2.50 each-wow) and Michael had a Corona and a diet coke! We brought sandwiches home for Jesse and he was happy!! No ambiance to speak of, a bit pub-ish but cool nevertheless.

Next on our list is L & B Spumoni Gardens, also in Brooklyn, but Lenny says they have an outside so summer seems better. They are famous for their Grandma pizza, and I CANNOT wait.

This past week I have made shrimp saganaki with Greek salad and Reuben roll-ups. The roll-ups are made thusly: Take egg roll skins and lay Swiss cheese, corned beef and sauerkraut in the center. Roll them up, closing the sides as you go along so nothing drips out, and lightly fry in canola oil. Dip in mustard or Russian dressing. Jesse was very happy! I liked them too :)

Tonight I made chicken cutlets, veggies with garlic and oil and also borscht with meat bones (no actual meat).

Tomorrow is a snow day, so they say...I am making a big, fat Italian dinner with meatballs, sausage and braciole in a pot of sauce with broccoli rabe and salad and rigatoni. Red wine (Chianti) and garlic bread too. Dessert is caramel cheesecake I made this afternoon. Hope the Wisners will be happy :)

Have a nice weekend!

Ciao Baby and Aegean Cove

Get ready for food!!

We were at Steve and Lori's Thursday night and we decided to order take out from a restaurant Michael saw on an episode of Man vs. Food. The place is Ciao Baby in Massapequa. They are famous for ginormous rice balls (at $15 a pop) and meatballs. So we ordered 2 rice balls, fried calmari, salad with mango and gorgonzola, Nonna's special with macaroni, 3 giant meatballs, hot and sweet sausage all covered with marinara sauce.

I don't think we even finished half of what we ordered. Jesse was happy with leftovers we brought home :)

New Year's Eve we went to Aegean Cove with Joe, Denise and Chuck. 3 times our reservation was confirmed and yet when we arrived, the table by the fireplace was not reserved for us. So...we waited until it was. Not more than 3 minutes anyway :)

We had Greek wine, 6 appetizers and 4 dinners, coffee and Greek yogurt and baklava for dessert. Denise's salmon was really good! The joke of the evening was that the yogurt is always gratis. They just bring it to you after your meal, but tonight, well...it was $7.50. Who knew? We had a very good time, even took photos.

Next New Year's Eve we've decided on Abbracciamento. Denise seems to think it's a whole party event and she wants to go. Who knew that either ? :)

Pulled Pork...

While we were out at Target today, the crock pot was going with a pork roast soaking in Jack Daniels Old No. 7 barbecue sauce for 7 hours! I even made tater tots on the side along with string beans (must have our greens).



Christmas Eve was not only a success, but we enjoyed our company very much!





Christmas Day at Denise and Joe's was great as usual. Good food and good friends!


New Year's Eve we are going out with Denise and Joe (our usual foursome) however, Chuck is joining us this year and we are going to Aegean Cove in Astoria. We have requested the table in front of the fireplace. Let's hope that happens!

New Year's Day is always a sleep in. But this year, we will be venturing out in the evening to see Katie Uva perform on her guitar and sing her wonderful songs at National Underground at 9pm.

What a perfect start to a great New Year!

Approaching Holidays

Jesse is home! Holidays are coming! Busy, busy, busy...

Can't say much about cooking lately. Made rosemary lamb chops, papardelle with mushrooms and Greek salad when my mother-in-law came for dinner the other night. Ordered pizza last night :) Tonight's plan (ha ha) is chicken sausage, rice and green beans.

Friday night, however, is a different story. Christmas Eve with the Figliolias and Wisners!!

Our menu is: (If you'd like to be surprised, skip the next paragraphs). Antipasti will include: Cheese board with Manchego, Ciao Angelo and Parmigiano-Reggiano with fig spread, honey, mustard and cornichons. Also, roasted tomatoes, marinated artichokes, olives and baguette and raisin-pumpernickel breads. Along with sauteed shrimp and chorizo.

Dinner is: Turkey lasagna (so all can eat it), Caesar salad, Linguine with white clam sauce, chicken cutlets, foccacia bread and a small baked ziti with no ricotta for Ian. Desert is: Apple and blueberry cobbler with caramel ice cream on the side, along with chocolate chip cookies.

I hope I didn't leave anything out...I am sure Michael will take photos for my next post.

I am making Michael's mom's recipe of sweet and sour meatballs for Christmas Day to take to Denise and Joe's along with a tray of Old Bay chicken wings.

Can't wait to celebrate! Merry Christmas to everyone!

Christmas is Coming!

We were able to spend another great few days with our family after Thanksgiving. Margo, Mike and Chrysalis came down from Ithaca last weekend so we could all go see Ryan perform in the Purchase Dance Company's Nutcracker. It was wonderful to see Ryan dance on a big stage. He is dancing again in February and also in April, so we will have more chances to see him and be proud!

Friday I went to see the tree at Rockefeller Center, the Christmas shops at Bryant Park, the Christmas shops at Grand Central and watched the skaters. Ate at Two Boots Pizza (not bad, first time there). Got into the Christmas spirit. The city always looks so beautiful when it's dressed up for the holidays!

Saturday afternoon we saw Ryan's performance. In the evening we went to Katz' Deli for way yummy pastrami, corned beef, hot dogs, pickles...and to The Mercury Lounge to see Sim Redmond. The band is great and Margo and Mike dancing are fun to watch too.

Family left Sunday after Michael and I made challah French toast. Last night we had a big salad with grilled chicken (shared with Jill too). Tomorrow I am making chicken marsala. Friday is up in the air. I am thinking about going to Barosa. We also need to get our Christmas tree from Joe and Denise's basement sometime this weekend.

Saturday night is Glenn and Eileen's annual Christmas ornament party. I am making Old Bay wings. It will be a fun night! Friends, food, wine, ornament exchange and laughter.

Next week I will officially go Christmas shopping (began on line already) in the stores. And Friday, December 17 our baby boy comes home from college for winter break for five weeks. I get all the hugs I want :)

Then we will continue the pleasure of our closest friends for dinners, conversation and holiday cheer!