Valentine's Day

I drove to Brooklyn yesterday afternoon to pick Michael up from work. We went to Jake's BBQ on Columbia Street for dinner.

Best thing: BYOB-2 beers
Average thing: Food and service
Good thing: Corn bread
We had: a $27 dollar meal for two--pulled chicken platter with Cajun rice and cole slaw and a pulled pork sandwich with cole slaw
Review: Don't need to go back, but totally edible

Moving on...After dinner we went to Fairway in Red Hook. Probably the 2nd greatest food store in New York State (after Wegman's of course). We did our shopping and came home.

Sounds crazy, but last year when Michael asked what I wanted to do for Valentine's Day I said the same thing as this year...Let's go to Fairway. Jewelry, flowers and /or chocolates not required :)

And for a post-Valentine's Day celebration we are joining Denise and Joe at Joe and Penny's in the Bronx on Wednesday night for dinner. Looking forward to an evening with our friends!!

This Weekend

Friday night Michael and I and Jill and Lenny went to Dani's. The four of us have not been there together in I can't remember when. It was long overdue and we had a great time. Of course, the company could not have been better, however, the food was really good too. We shared a salad with house dressing, too many pieces of their delicious bread, a straciatella soup, 2 half carafes of house red, 2 bottles of River Horse beer (10%). Lenny had shrimp parmigiana and ziti with meat sauce on the side. Michael had chicken breast with peppers, onions and broccoli in marinara sauce and Jill and I each had eggplant casserole (we only eat half and take the rest home for lunch another day).

Mike and Margo came down from Ithaca late Friday night, stayed over and we went to see Ryan dance in a senior dance concert at Purchase on Saturday night. Before we saw the performance, we met at a bar/restaurant near school called The Cobble Stone. We had a veggie stack (spinach, zucchini, summer squash, portobello mushroom and roasted peppers piled high and covered with mozzarella and balsamic glaze (WAY good); Buffalo wings; jalapeno poppers, a few beers and Michael and I shared a turkey burger.

Today is a lazy day. Change the sheets, towels, etc. and ready the wash for tomorrow, think about what to make for dinner (or order in). Michael is going out to do some errands.

Have a nice week!

Keeping up with the Shapiros

Well, that is a tough one!

Lori and Steve ALWAYS have great food, friends and wine when they have us over. Yesterday was no exception. It was Steve's 50th Birthday and coincidentally it was also Super Bowl Sunday. Two great reasons for a party!

The party started with Buffalo chicken dip (hot out of the oven) and spinach dip in a brown bread basket. There was also shrimp cocktail and pigs-in-a-blanket. Many great bottles of wine were opened and savored.

Dinner was catered from Iavarone (what could be bad about that). We had chicken balsamico - chicken breast and julienned vegetables in balsamic; orechiette with sausage and broccoli rabe; paella valenciana with sausage, chicken, shrimp and mussels. Lori made meatballs and chicken nuggets for the little super bowlers :) Pam and Joe brought Greek salad and pita from Greek Village near their house (it's a really great salad). Next time, I asked Pam if she would make homemade tzatziki (Joe says it's great) Yippee!

Dessert was a Reese's Peanut Butter Ice Cream Cake (of course Michael stayed away). Fluffy made her famous and delicious crumb cake. There were also various other sweets on the counter.

Everyone asked about Jesse, which is so nice! We had a terrific time, as always. HAPPY BIRTHDAY STEVE! and many, many, many...more.

View Steve's 50th Birthday and Super Bowl Party Video Slideshow

Belated Photos

Greek Salad



Chicken and Olives


Broccoli and Cauliflower




Mom's Birthday spread


Ceviche



Mini Quiche

Since Whenever

Last night we had one of our usuals: Turkey burgers and Greek salad. The night before was baked chicken breasts with olives, tomatoes and pearl onions in balsamic and olive oil with broccoli and cauliflower on the side. Photos are available and when I remember to ask Michael, he will post those as well as photos of his mom's birthday party.

I came down with a cold in Ithaca, so I haven't been myself lately :) Today I made pasta fagioli and tomorrow I am planning to make stracciatella. I also want Chinese food for dinner tomorrow night because...it's Chinese New Year...and it makes sense (to me).

The Creutz Family is coming for dinner on Saturday night (except if there's a storm) and I plan on serving chicken riggies, broccoli and cauliflower (so good together) and salad. We will start with the usual of bread, olives and cheese and I am making chocolate chip cookies and apple/blueberry cobbler for dessert. I am looking forward to our wonderful friends spending time with us!

Sunday, as you know, is Super Bowl Sunday and we are going to the Shapiro's to watch the game and celebrate Steve's 50th birthday. Woo Who!!!

In Ithaca

P.S. I forgot to mention the adorable wait staff at the restaurant uptown on Monday night :)

I have been in Ithaca since Wednesday night and it has been wonderful! I love visiting our family and especially spending time with Chrysalis!

So far we have had: Spaghetti all'amatriciana, spinach with garlic, garlic soup with egg and croutons. Today I made: Sweet and sour meatballs, chocolate chip cookies and artichoke spinach dip. Tomorrow is pancakes and bacon. And I am going home on Sunday to see my honey.

"My heart was in my underwear"

That's what the guy at the next table said to his date as we were eating at a new uptown Italian restaurant tonight. Bettolona (http://newyork.grubstreet.com/2010/09/bettolona.html).

I have no idea what he was talking about, but it was a laugh for us!

We had ASPARAGI AL FORNO baked asparagus with fontina cheese, parmigiano and a hint of white truffle oil; ZUPPA DI CAMPAGNA white bean and vegetable soup, Butternut Squash soup with goat cheese; PENNE SICILIANA penne, eggplant and soft ricotta cheese, tomato sauce; INTEGRALE whole wheat pasta, garlic, olive oil, seasonal vegetables and 3 kinds of pizza: REGINA MARGHERITA tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese and basil; PROSCIUTTO imported Italian prosciutto, homemade mozzarella and tomato sauce and AFFUMICATA tomato sauce, smoked mozzarella, hot sausage and cherry tomatoes.

We shared a bottle and a half of Montepulciano for $30 (not a bad wine, not a bad price). The service was very good, the ambience was lovely-exposed brick walls, wood tables and floors, heat lamps and a nice long bar area with bar height tables and chairs. Dessert was Tiramisu -good, but not like mine :) - and crepes with nutella and banana.

Uptown Monday Night is alive and well!