Since Forever :)

So...

We've been to Dee's twice.  Once for Michael's birthday and then again for Jesse's.  Their pizza is always good, service as well.  Michael favors the rosemary turkey burger and Jesse usually tries a new pasta dish.

We've had take-out Chinese twice.  Once from Panda (near the fields on Yellowstone) where they took an hour to deliver (I know, waiting for Chinese for an hour, unthinkable). And the food was cold, not surprising, and they wouldn't give us a discount.  They are on the boycott list.  The other time we ordered from Hop Bo Palace right here on Queens Boulevard.  Average food, quick delivery. Just what you think it will be.

Moving along, we had a night of leftovers and a pot of home made pasta fagioli.  Yum!  Then a night of take-out from Press 195.  Their Belgian fries are great with chipotle mayo (although they don't travel so wel).  We had two sandwiches:  Spicy Buffalo panko breaded chicken with blue cheese and julienne carrots and celery and a Grilled portobello, arugula, goat cheese and roasted garlic and  black olive spread.  You can figure out which one of us ate which one :)

We tried a new Greek place with Joe and Denise called Psari (www.psari-restaurant.com)  but I wouldn't recommend it.  Cute place, really good grilled octopus, but average everything else.

Michael and I went to the Smorgasburg (www.brooklynflea.com/smorgasburg) on a Saturday afternoon.  The day was beautiful, the food was great.  We had Sunday Gravy (just what you think it is) and way yummy! Chocolate coffee stout cookies from the Cookie Guild.  Great horseradish from ISH.  Iced coffee from Grady's cold brew coffee concentrate. A chicken sandwich from Schnitz (Michael liked it a lot).  A brisket sandwich.  A lobster roll (but they are better at the lobster joint in Greenpoint).  A lobster and shrimp ceviche Yum! And I can't remember anymore right now.  But well worth the visit.  Afterwards, when we were stuffed, we took the East River Ferry to Governor's Island and walked around.  On the island they were hosting a roaring 20's party.  It was so cool to see everyone dressed up like flappers and gangsters.  The ferry ride was great because the weather was perfect.  Later that night, Chrysalis came to stay over and we went out to dinner at Dirty Pierre's.  Chicken sandwich, salad and quesadillas!

We've also been to take Jesse up to school so we ate in Ithaca at Viva Taqueria and Yogurtland.  Both are good and just what you think they are.  We also visited Sarah at Oneonta on the way home, so we took her to dinner at the Red Caboose.  Good American food, nice bar, good service. 

Since we've been home I made turkey/Italian sausage meatballs with braciole in sauce and a pot of lentil soup.  And that's all folks...

Since July 24-Where the F Have I Been

Well...Sine July 24 we've been to the Shapiros, the Creutz', the Gandiellos and the Brennans.We've also been to Dee's and West End Bar & Grill.  I've also cooked.  So here goes:

I went to see Michelle Shapiro in her showcase.  She sang and danced with a cast of other children.  It was great.  Best kids show I've seen so far!  Afterwards, Michael took the train to Wantagh and we ate dinner at Steve and Lori's-Steak and shrimp and goodies from Iavarone!

Pizza night at the Creutz' is always great.  Pizza from Emilio's!!! We also watched the opening of the 2012 Summer Olympics.  We also went crabbing, but were not successful.  Glenn tied chicken drumsticks to long pieces of twine, we stood in the wavses and threw in our chicken and slowly dragged the line back.  Sarah caught two and no one else caught shit! We were going to eat our full bucket, but we didn't have a full bucket :) We will be back for more again.  It was really fun!

At the Gandiellos we shared in Joe's 50th birthday celebration and Diana's graduation from high school.

At the Brennans we had a BBQ with Tom at the grill.  Good conversation and the best shrimp I've had all summer-orange marmalade did the trick!

We had our Annual Polikoff Family Beach Day on August 2.  29 people this year, a record for us! Great weather, great friends, great drinks (pineapple vodka-two cut up pineapples soaked in vodka for 3 days in the fridge) and great food from Mother Kelly's.  We celebrated birthdays for Joe, Michael, Glenn and Jesse!

We went to Dee's on August 7 for Michael's 51st Birthday with the Wisners.  Pizza was great. Company was better :) Happy birthday Michael!!!

We took Michael's mom out to dinner on Wednesday.  It was a nice family evening!  We went to West End Bar and Grill on 48th and 8th.  Our friend Mike is the manager.  The food was really good and the service was perfect!  http://www.westendnyc.com/.  Their menu is perfect.  Not too many choices and not too little.  Total recommendation from me :) and we will be back with friends!

I also cooked a bit:  Kasseler Rippchen with Sauerkraut (smoked pork chops braised in sauerkraut, onions and white wine).  Got the meat from Fresh Direct, it was terrific.  Also made Pat LaFrieda's dry aged beef hamburgers (also from Fresh Direct).  They were a bit overdone (sorry guys) but the flavor and texture were awesome.  If you haven't cruised Fresh Direct's website lately, go back and look around.  I also made broiled chicken drumsticks in an Oaxacan bbq sauce.  Chicken cutlets, beet, bacon and goat cheese salad, a bit of take out and here we are.  Another Friday night and I am not cooking. 

Have a good weekend!

Yummy Dinner

Last week I made a very yummy dinner (if I do say so myself).  Homemade turkey chili, cornbread and Brussels sprouts:

Turkey chili was:  sauteed onion and garlic, dark meat ground turkey, small red beans (as opposed to larger kidney beans) drained and rinsed (can't stand that yucky thick juice stuff), can of stewed tomatoes, splash of Rao's marinara sauce, and two heaping tablespoons of my homemade dry adobo.

Cornbread was:  Michael Chiarello's recipe, yet altered.  I used chopped jalapenos instead of his damn hot peppers, grated parmigiano instead of asiago and regular corn meal instead of very fine.

Brussels sprouts were:  rinsed, halved, tossed with chopped Trader Joe's bacon ends, tossed with olive oil, salt and pepper and roasted in the oven.

I made a big pot of sauce (gravy) yesterday.  I browned boneless country pork ribs (cut into smaller pieces), added chopped onion and garlic with two cans of crushed tomato, red wine, salt, black pepper, fresh snipped oregano from my garden and fresh snipped basil from Steve Shapiro's garden.  It simmered all day.

Chicken cutlets, roasted chicken, rice, broccoli and salad have also been staples this summer. 

I am going to see Michelle Shapiro in her summer showcase (musical arts) tomorrow, then we'll have dinner with them.

Saturday is a party at the Gandiello's for Joe's 50th and Diana's high school graduation!

Sunday is a BBQ at the Brennan's!

Maybe I'll cook some more next week :)

23rd Anniversary

Our 23rd wedding anniversary was Monday :)

We spent the day at the beach with Jill, Judy & Isa and Lenny.  There was fishing, netting, kite flying, boogie boarding, shell collecting, swimming, sun and surf  (the surf was what I call salad water-it was full of seaweed).  But we spent most of the day on the bay side, where there was no seaweed. Isa is 11, she is Judy's daughter.  She is great! I don't know who had a better day, Isa or Michael?

After the beach Michael and I went home, showered, changed and drove into the city to El Quijote for dinner. We had our usual:  1/2 carafe of red sangria, garlic soup, salad with blue cheese and vinaigrette, arroz con pollo (white meat only) with garlic sauce on the side and a 1 1/4 pound lobster.  Cafe con leche, iced espresso and flan and we were happy and stuffed.  It was a great day!

Last night I met my friend Joy from camp and her husband Jay at a restaurant called Bianca at 5 Bleeker Street (http://biancanyc.com/).  It's a very cute place with wood floors and Grandma's kitchen decorations, along with wine bottles and dish towels for napkins.  The bathroom is WAY TOO HOT. And the restaurant is WAY TOO LOUD, however, it was all good.

We had:  Carciofini-thin artichoke slices with parmigiano in a lemon dressing; Pomodori-tomatoes with red onions and anchovies and a salad of endive, radicchio, frisee.  Dinner was: Lasagnette di Verdure-eggplant, tomato and zucchini tart with grated parmigiano; Spaghettini al Pomodoro-with tomato and basil and Tagliolini ai frutti di mare-clams, mussels, calamari, shrimp in garlic and light tomato sauce.  Two glasses of wine, a bottle of Pellegrino and the check was $75.  Wow.  They have great prices and good food and good service.  I will go back with Michael and friends!

Afterwards, and the reason we were in the city, was to go to Von Bar next door for a Towanda get-together.  It was great fun to see my camp friends again (away from camp). The bar, hoever, has huge prices.  A glass of cabernet and a gin and tonic was $24!  Holy crap.  The downstairs bartender was nice, the upstairs bartender not so much.  One review on Yelp called her a "c".  Other than that, it was another great night.

I seem to be having a bunch of those lately :)

I am waiting for the shoe to drop...or maybe not :)

Cedar Creek

Last night we went to Cedar Creek in Glen Cove with Joe and Denise.  We had been here once before with Glenn, Eileen and Bruce (B1).

The service was just as good, the food was good too.  This time it was quieter, though it was a Thursday and not a Saturday.

We had:  Loaded Iceberg Wedge salad with bleu cheese, bacon, tomatoes and red onions; salt and pepper calamari with pineapple and peppers and tuna tartare.  We also had scotch, cabernet and a saki-tini that tasted a bit like floor cleaner, but they added some lychee juice and it was better.  Dinner was:  Spinach linguine; fish and chips; chicken paillard and turkey (TV) dinner.  Dessert was apple crisp and decaf cappucino.  Yum! Nothing to complain about, yet nothing to rush back for either.  Joe commented that the bathrooms were clean (I guess that's a plus).

Tomorrow we are going to see Futhur (a Dead band) in Coney Island with Jill and Lenny.  That may mean an obligatory stop at the original Nathan's (or not), it may mean pot will be smoked (or not).  It's all up in the air...

Monday is our 23rd wedding anniversary, although we have been together for 29 years.  We have no plans, dinner is involved I am sure, otherwise we are just happy to be together and happy to have our family and friends!

Bahia Social Club

Saturday after the beach, Michael I went to Bahia Social Club on West Beech Street in Long Beach (http://www.bahiasocialclub.com/eat.html).  We sat outside and had drinks: a CAIPIRINHA which is
brazilian cachaca, muddled lime+sugar and a MOJITO which has rum, muddled lime, sugar and fresh mint.   Their food is served tapas style, so small plates:  fried fish soft flour taco with slaw; fried calamari; arepas with black beans, avocado and jerk chicken.  The waitress never showed up-odd-so the hostess took our order and served us.  Other than that, the food was good and sitting outside on a summer night is heaven!  We walked across the street for frozen yogurt and ice cream afterwards. Yum!       

Since Camp

It's been two weeks since Michael and I spent the weekend at my childhood sleep away camp and I've been cooking some, going out some and ordering in some.

We've been to Dani's with the Wisners and had our usuals.  They have a new waiter (not that new, but I've not commented on him before).  He runs around and sweats and works really hard, but falls short of efficiency.  He spends time on unimportant things and leaves things like clearing and setting up new tables.  So there are empty tables with customers waiting.  Maybe he'll figure it out.  He also forgot to order one of our dinners, so that took some time...

Lenny and Karen planned and pulled off a wonderful surprise party for Jill's 50th birthday on Friday night the 15th.  About ten of Jill's girlfriends and family surprised Jill at Sato and the men went to Lenny and Jill's apartment for their own get together.  Then we all met back at Lenny and Jill's for more cocktails, cake and coffee.  Everyone had a great time and the food at Sato is always great. However, our most favorite waitress, Perlin, is no longer there.  After nine years she has gone back to Malaysia :(.  Lenny brought in two 3 foot heroes, antipasto, etc..for the guys. Most importantly, Jill was surprised and had a very good time!

Saturday the 16th, Michael and Lenny had a BBQ for their Little League team (burgers and dogs) and I made cole slaw, mesclun salad and Old Bay chicken wings, which were a big hit.

Father's Day we were supposed to go to the beach but we didn't like the weather.  We went to dinner with the Wisners to the Lobster Joint (http://lobsterjoint.com/) in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.  What a cool place. You order at the bar inside and then grab a table outside (or you can stay in if you prefer) and your food is brought to you.  We had:  Lobster corn bisque (no cream); fried clam strips and popcorn shrimp for appetizers.  A few Connecticut Lobster Rolls Served Warm with Butter and a few Lobster Club Rolls with Celery, Fresh Herb Mayo, Avocado and Bacon and a burger.  We had two pitchers of beer and Michael had an amazing Bloody Mary.  It was a great dinner.

Barbara and I revisited Atlas Park in Glendale for shopping and lunch.  We didn't buy much, not great stores or anything, but we did eat outside for lunch at Venezia Ristorante.  The food is average, but sitting outside under an umbrella, chatting with my friend and having a glass of wine (while Barb had a few sips of her cucumber-lemonade gin and tonic) was the best part of the day.

Friday night the Wisners came for dinner-we have seen much of them lately :)-and I made BBQ baby back ribs with homemade bbq sauce, farfalle with pink sauce and peas, mesclun salad with beets and goat cheese, tomato and mozzarella, brownies and fruit.  And wine of course!

Saturday we spent at the beach, all day and for dinner too.  It was actually Jill's 50th on Saturday and her sister Karen came too.  We ordered dinner from Mother Kelly's (balsamic chicken, linguine with white clam and Caesar salad).  We had little cakes for dessert that Karen brought and some coffee made in my 4 cup Farberware pot.  The weather was great and we loved the day.

Brett is graduating from high school on Tuesday and we have been invited to join them and their family at The Palm for dinner.  They have a great lobster special and I am jumping in :)

Congratulations Brett and Sarah on their high school graduations!