More Important than the Food

More important than the food you eat, is who you are eating it with! Tonight I had dinner with Paul and Barbara at Trattoria Pesce Pasta (http://www.pesce-pasta.com/) on Bleeker Street in the Village. Barbara and I went to Grand Central Station in the afternoon to check out The World's Largest Bake Sale sponsored by Sandra Lee to benefit the NYC Food Bank. Aside from seeing Duff Goldman from the Ace of Cakes for 2 seconds, there was nothing to talk about. Firstly, NOT the largest bake sale (our former parents' association in elementary school had more). Secondly, at 4 in the afternoon, NOTHING was left to look at or buy. The sale was billed as being open from 11:30 am to 7 pm. Clearly not well thought out by the planners. In any case, after perusing the Grand Central Market where I bought Sapore del Piave and Roomano (yes, it's spelled that way) cheeses from Murray's and mini Brussels sprouts from the vegetable counter, we called Paul and he suggested we come downtown for dinner. We debated over a few different place and settled on Pesce-Pasta. It's a very cute, small place, with attentive service and an average menu. Barbara had spaghetti with meat sauce and I asked them to make me escarole and beans over linguine in garlic and oil. Paul had bread and salad with no dressing (Lent got in the way of a full meal) .I had a glass of wine and all was well. PS: I know that Grand Central Terminal is the correct name for the building on 42nd Street, but since I've been alive I've called it Grand Central Station that's why I said it here. It's similar to me saying tin-foil instead of aluminum-foil. Creature of habit :)

I am Remiss

I must admit a terrible mistake on my part. When we were at Steve and Lori's on Sunday, Steve made fresh mozzarella. It is fantastic and a very special treat. I cannot believe I left it out of my previous entry. I apologize!

It's Difficult

It's so great to have friends who invite us over for wonderful food and friendship. Sunday afternoon we went over to Steve and Lori's. As usual, we stopped at Iavarone in Wantagh first. This particular store is amazing. Everything Italian you could want. Great olives, deli, prepared foods, pastas (fresh and dried), meats, fish, seafood, fruit, veggies, beer, desserts and bread (their own bakery). Anyway, after the obligatory 3 bags of food, we arrived at the Shapiro's house to be welcomed by their two dogs (Misty and Bella) jumping like crazy (it's nice to be wanted...) and their two girls (Michelle and Alyssa), and of course, Steve and Lori! Lori made a bean and cheese dip, right from the oven with jalapeno and black olives that I am crazy about. We put out our 3 cheeses: Parmigiano Reggiano, Asiago Fresca and Grana Padano. We also had marinated beets and roasted peppers, two kinds of bread, balsamic glaze for dipping, cracked Sicilian olives and roasted Brussels sprouts (Iavarone makes them really well). Michael and Steve had Innis & Gunn rum cask beer. We shared two bottles of wine also, then it was time for dinner. Steve and Lori made short ribs braised in wine, olive oil, chicken broth, and carrots. They were fall-off-the-bone yummy (I know I don't eat meat, but I tasted the gravy and even put a little of it on a piece of bread) so I know it was good. Also, shrimp marinated in wasabi, teryaki and garlic then butterflied and pressed into panko bread crumbs then fried till crispy. They were fabulous! Also, Greek salad and more bread. And more wine. Then coffee and dessert and home to bed :) Again, we are thankful for our wonderful friends!

It's a Tie

It's a tie between my two favorite "restaurants" in Forest Hills. One is Denise's house-she is an amazing cook, and the other is Dina's house-equally good. So hard to decide, but I am lucky I don't have to choose and I get the pleasure of eating at both their homes!

Last night we went over to Dina and Dmitry's. We brought wine (Cantina Zaccagnini Montepulciano d'Abbruzo) and rugalech from Bonelle's Pastry shop on Ascan Avenue.

Dina made: Roasted beets with crumbled goat cheese; pimientos de padron (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ma_htnz6Cmk) you can watch how they're made; cheese plate with salami and quince along with 4 Spanish cheeses (manchego, iberico, garrotxa and la serena-other than the manchego, I am guessing at the others because we couldn't figure out the names); mixed olives; pepperdew peppers; eggplant tahina; marinated Asian mushrooms;
sauteed shrimp; Spanish pork; roasted potatoes; roasted asparagus; two kinds of bread and I am sure I am missing something but I can't remember :)

Everything was totally yummy! The conversation was great and the company too! We even got to see their son Andrew home on Spring Break from Binghamton. That was a special treat!

Who knows what's on tap for this evening...but tomorrow we are going to the Shapiro's and bringing Iavarone stuff (yum) and I am sure Lori will make something great!

Saturday Night

We went to Scotto's with Glenn and Eileen and Joe and Debbie. We met at 7pm at the bar and had drinks and a garlic bread (yummy, with tomato sauce to dip) while we waited for our table.


We had mussels and clams in white wine and garlic ( good), a pizza with sauce, cheese and mushrooms (also good), chicken wings with potatoes and onions (can't say-didn't have any, but they were all eaten up). For dinner we had chicken marsala, veal marsala, veal francese, baked salmon, eggplant parm and I had an appetizer of artichokes over arugula. Dessert was two cannolis and an apple strudel (leave the strudel, take the cannolis)!

We had wine and drinks and conversation with good friends. We spent over two hours at our table chatting and catching up. An those were the best things about the evening. I can say, however, that this will not be a repeat. There was absolutely nothing special about anything. Everything was just average-including the service. The noise level was over the top as well. I did like the pizza, though :)

When Michael and I got home, Jill and Lenny were still up and hanging out with Sue and Steve Boyle, so we went down to their apartment for about an hour. It was a fun evening!!

Trattoria L'incontro

Friday Night we went to Trattoria L'incontro (http://www.trattorialincontro.com/) in Astoria with Joe and Denise and Monica and Tom. We had reservations for 7pm and our table was ready when we arrived. They had beautiful cherry blossom stalks in large vases by the front entrance. The main dining room had large artwork on the walls and a tiled floor. The service was terrific. We shared several appetizers: Fried calamari, a salad of calamari with white beans and red onions, a salad with raspberry vinaigrette and goat cheese, a pizza with mushrooms and a stuffed artichoke. All except the artichoke were served by a waiter and divided evenly over each of our plates.

For dinner: Joe and Tom had a pasta special of shrimp and scallops (maybe). Monica had a pasta special also. Denise had a pasta special with lobster and broccoli rabe. Michael had linguine with white clams. I had escarole with white beans that was an appetizer, but certainly enough for my main dish. All our dinners were great!

The waiter, from Kosovo we learned, recited a list of about 25 specials that were not on the menu, from appetizers and salads to pasta, meat and fish dishes. He had an amazing memory and we tested it with questions :)

We shared 3 bottles of wine and had candles (with NO SINGING PLEASE) in our two desserts of lemon cheesecake and tiramisu.

Great company, great food. This is a definite repeat! Thanks again Joe for the selection and Happy Birthday to Denise and Monica.

Spring on Sunday

It will be the first day of Spring 2011 on Sunday March 20. I have seen the forsythia buds and I am ready for warm weather!! I am making a prediction that warm weather (expect for today) is not yet here. Don't put away your winter coats yet.

Since yesterday was St. Patrick's Day I decided to make corned beef, even though Michael doesn't like it (he did eat it, however). It was mildly successful with the addition of baked potatoes and sauteed broccoli. We each had a beer :) Michael had an Innis & Gunn and I had (no it wasn't Coors Light, I know I fooled you all) Red Stripe.

Jesse came home last night and even though I am under strict instructions not to write about him or even mention his name on this blog, I just wanted (needed) to say that I am thrilled to see his face!

Wednesday night, Michael and I went to Dani's and believe it or not they had no eggplant. I always get their eggplant casserole, and now I had to switch dinners...so I had my second staple Baked stuffed shells. Apparently, unbeknownst to me, there has been a freeze of sorts in Mexico and the eggplant is not growing. Who knew?

Tonight we are going to Tratttoria L'incontro in Astoria with Joe and Denise and Monica and Tom. We are celebrating Denise's and Monica's 50th birthdays (well that's out there now-sorry). I have heard about this restaurant from Jennie and from Jill, all good things, so I am excited to see for myself. Thanks to Joe for choosing the restaurant!

Tomorrow night, we are meeting Glenn and Eileen and Debbie and Joe at Scotto's in Westbury. We were fans of Scotto's restaurant when Michael lived in Great Neck (about a hundred years ago) and we were also married at their Westbury Manor. They don't take reservations for under 7 people, which pissed me off, but we decided to meet at the bar and drink until a table was ready. And that was no problem :)

Have a nice weekend!!