chocolate chip and apple
pie, family. Smile.
Anything and everything about food! Please use the search bar in the upper left hand corner to find a specific topic/recipe/restaurant. Thank you. :) Please click on Lucy and Ethel below and 'like' me on Facebook! Gracias!
Food is awesome!
Food is awesome! (photos on this blog are borrowed from the interweb, friends, and/or are personal shots)
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Sugar Baking Co. & Restaurant, Roslindale
Earlier this week, my good amiga and I ventured out into the brisk evening to enjoy dinner and drinks in my awesome hood of Roslindale. As I'm sure I have mentioned before, Rozzie and the surrounding areas have some really tasty joints to sample. My friend and I decided on Sugar Baking Co. & Restaurant, located on Washington Street in Roslindale Square. (http://www.sugarbakingcompany.com) We both wanted to try something new and after we perused the on-line menu, we were sold. The hubs and I had gone to Sugar's bakery for a take-out, late and light breakfast way back when. I had taken a mental note to return for lunch and/or supper and so happy I did.
The restaurant was dead with only two other people seated in the small dining area on a Thursday at 6pm. This made me kind of sad because I love to see small area businesses thrive. So fingers crossed, people The host was friendly and directed us to sit wherever we'd like. There was a tiny bar and the small dining area to choose from, and the bakery's located in the rear of the building. I picked a four person table, as I knew we'd be putting a hurting on some tidbits and would need the extra room. Our waitress (and I assumed part owner by my eavesdropping), was friendly and informative about the wine, the small but diverse menu, and the special of the night, which happened to be some form of duck.
We put in an order for the crab cakes and each ordered a glass of vino. Other appetizer and salad options included baby octopus, French onion soup, and Vermont goat cheese salad, etc. I adored the Garnacha - Vina Borgia Campo de Borja and mi amiga really liked the Malbec - Domaine Bousquet Tupungato. The soft, fresh, and warm bread was delivered right away, accompanied by an olive spread. Unfortunately, both of us despise olives so we opted for some butter. No biggie. When our crab cakes arrived we decided to order our dinner selections. The cakes could not have been more scrumptious. The nice sized patties were jam packed with rock crab meat, nicely blackened and crispy, served with a zingy citrus mayo and homemade potato chips to die for. Give me a big old plate of those with some onion dip made from scratch and I'd be ecstatic. Sooo good.
Not long after we devoured our fabulous seafood selection, our dinner entrees were served. Mi amiga que buena LOVED her pan seared salmon with baked smoked white bean and chive oil. And my grilled steak frites with bordelaise sauce was the bomb diggity. The steak was totally cooked to my liking which is medium well. Yes. Medium well. It was served with crunchy shoestring fries and a light salad. Delish but way too much for me to eat so the hubs scored big time on the leftovers. He totally dug the dish.
Of course we could not leave without getting our fix of chocolate and more spectacular wine. We both ordered our own chocolate lava cake drizzled with more chocolate and a super delicious raspberry sauce. OMG. Decadent fo sho.
In addition, the dinner menu includes choices such as lobster mac n cheese, veal, burgers, chicken, seafood, pasta dishes, and vegetarian. Each option looked fantastic and the prices and portions are just right. They serve some pretty funky, local beers and various wines, too. And they give each table their very own bottle of water so you can refill at your convenience which I totally likey. Also note they serve breakfast all day, lunch every day, brunch on the weekends, and dinner every night. Check out Sugar Baking Co. & Restaurant asap! You will be very happy.
(photo borrowed from Sugar Baking Co. & Restaurant's website)
The restaurant was dead with only two other people seated in the small dining area on a Thursday at 6pm. This made me kind of sad because I love to see small area businesses thrive. So fingers crossed, people The host was friendly and directed us to sit wherever we'd like. There was a tiny bar and the small dining area to choose from, and the bakery's located in the rear of the building. I picked a four person table, as I knew we'd be putting a hurting on some tidbits and would need the extra room. Our waitress (and I assumed part owner by my eavesdropping), was friendly and informative about the wine, the small but diverse menu, and the special of the night, which happened to be some form of duck.
We put in an order for the crab cakes and each ordered a glass of vino. Other appetizer and salad options included baby octopus, French onion soup, and Vermont goat cheese salad, etc. I adored the Garnacha - Vina Borgia Campo de Borja and mi amiga really liked the Malbec - Domaine Bousquet Tupungato. The soft, fresh, and warm bread was delivered right away, accompanied by an olive spread. Unfortunately, both of us despise olives so we opted for some butter. No biggie. When our crab cakes arrived we decided to order our dinner selections. The cakes could not have been more scrumptious. The nice sized patties were jam packed with rock crab meat, nicely blackened and crispy, served with a zingy citrus mayo and homemade potato chips to die for. Give me a big old plate of those with some onion dip made from scratch and I'd be ecstatic. Sooo good.
Not long after we devoured our fabulous seafood selection, our dinner entrees were served. Mi amiga que buena LOVED her pan seared salmon with baked smoked white bean and chive oil. And my grilled steak frites with bordelaise sauce was the bomb diggity. The steak was totally cooked to my liking which is medium well. Yes. Medium well. It was served with crunchy shoestring fries and a light salad. Delish but way too much for me to eat so the hubs scored big time on the leftovers. He totally dug the dish.
Of course we could not leave without getting our fix of chocolate and more spectacular wine. We both ordered our own chocolate lava cake drizzled with more chocolate and a super delicious raspberry sauce. OMG. Decadent fo sho.
In addition, the dinner menu includes choices such as lobster mac n cheese, veal, burgers, chicken, seafood, pasta dishes, and vegetarian. Each option looked fantastic and the prices and portions are just right. They serve some pretty funky, local beers and various wines, too. And they give each table their very own bottle of water so you can refill at your convenience which I totally likey. Also note they serve breakfast all day, lunch every day, brunch on the weekends, and dinner every night. Check out Sugar Baking Co. & Restaurant asap! You will be very happy.
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Angela's Coal Fired Pizza, Saugus
Confession:
Feeling kinda bad for totally slacking on my dope hobby. I've enjoyed all sorts of food over the summer by my design, or take-out, or dining out, or bbqing, or etc. And I have totally neglected to share the LOVE of my life with you on a regular. MY B. What can I say? I am a busy girl, blessed with a fantastic family and a fabuloso, close group of friends. We like to do fun stuff together which of course includes food and a healthy amount of beverages. :)
Last night, my family and I headed from C-town over the Tobin to Route 1 in Saugus. Our tasty destination for this spectacular evening out was Angela's Coal Fried Pizza (http://www.angelascfp.com/). There is one other location in Tyngsboro. The restaurant came super highly recommended by mi madre who was sitting co-pilot for our short voyage via that rickety old bridge that scares the bejesus out of me. Our gathering for this particular dinner was to celebrate my bro's awesome girlfriend's birthday. A wee bit late but that's how we roll. And score. They brought me a bottle of red sparkling wine! We had discovered the red sparkling vino on our trip to New York City in May. Can't wait to sample a nice big glass of it. :)
It was on the early side which was cool because we were seated immediately by our soft spoken, attentive, waitress, Jackie. The staff was friendly, efficient, courteous, and cordial even when the hubs knocked my sangria all over the joint. HA! The family owned and run establishment is decorated with black and white family photos and neat vintage artwork of former musicians and actors. It has an open kitchen which you know I likey. They cook the pizza and wings on Anthracite coal, a type which burns clean. There's a medium sized dining room and a small/medium bar, too. Frank Sinatra and other legends blared from the speakers. It was such a chill setting.
The menu consists of three food groups: fresh garden salad, wings to die for, and pick your own topping or signature pizzas cooked perfectly and so dang tasty. OMG. That's all they ever need to offer and they know it. There was a steady crowd in and out to dine there, or for take-out, and I am pretty sure I saw a delivery dude. They serve good sized pitchers of Sangria served with fresh fruit and it is muy bueno. We opted for a red and a white to start and they were both yummo and went down quite nice.
Shortly after our drinks were served, our family sized salad arrived. The Italian vinaigrette style dressing blended in perfectly on the classic, crispy garden salad topped with chickpeas, hard boiled eggs, and olives. They also offer Caesar salad and you can add chicken to either. The thinly sliced celery and the fresh Focaccia style bread was my fave part. While munching on our salads, the wings were served and devoured. The tasty, dry, oniony/lemony rub was delish and the meat literally fell right off the bones. Combined with more bread and the caramelized onions...MMM! And the servers give you plenty of napkins and wet wipes so you don't look like a hot mess while chowing down. The sangria continued to flow and our pizza was soon delivered.
We ordered a small Pollo Alfredo, homemade creamy Alfredo sauce, chicken, broccoli, mozzarella, and Romano cheese, a small with roasted hot peppers, and a large cheese. Each sensational slice was addicting. The hubs and I always forget how much we love white pizza and it was the bomb. The spicy pepper had a nice kick to it and the cheese was the classic. The flavorful sauce, crispy thin crust, and the various cheeses rocked. And we totally had plenty left over including one or two wings which I am about to inhale once this bloggggg is complete. Their website states that the food is cooked with love. And it is true in every delicious bite.
There is one complaint. Only two measly desserts which were not even homemade are offered. BOO! But other than that, our food was superb and the prices are very reasonable. I highly recommend Angela's.
Because we all yearned for a sweetie and some coffee drinks, we cruised down Route 1 to a little Italian joint called Caffe di Calabria that the hubs searched on his phone. It was a quaint, European, bakery kind of set up. And besides a friendly, elderly Italian gentleman and the woman who worked there, the five of us were the only ones in the place at first. The cannolis were grand central and per usual, the fam and I had some good laughs and a great time together.
Feeling kinda bad for totally slacking on my dope hobby. I've enjoyed all sorts of food over the summer by my design, or take-out, or dining out, or bbqing, or etc. And I have totally neglected to share the LOVE of my life with you on a regular. MY B. What can I say? I am a busy girl, blessed with a fantastic family and a fabuloso, close group of friends. We like to do fun stuff together which of course includes food and a healthy amount of beverages. :)
Last night, my family and I headed from C-town over the Tobin to Route 1 in Saugus. Our tasty destination for this spectacular evening out was Angela's Coal Fried Pizza (http://www.angelascfp.com/). There is one other location in Tyngsboro. The restaurant came super highly recommended by mi madre who was sitting co-pilot for our short voyage via that rickety old bridge that scares the bejesus out of me. Our gathering for this particular dinner was to celebrate my bro's awesome girlfriend's birthday. A wee bit late but that's how we roll. And score. They brought me a bottle of red sparkling wine! We had discovered the red sparkling vino on our trip to New York City in May. Can't wait to sample a nice big glass of it. :)
It was on the early side which was cool because we were seated immediately by our soft spoken, attentive, waitress, Jackie. The staff was friendly, efficient, courteous, and cordial even when the hubs knocked my sangria all over the joint. HA! The family owned and run establishment is decorated with black and white family photos and neat vintage artwork of former musicians and actors. It has an open kitchen which you know I likey. They cook the pizza and wings on Anthracite coal, a type which burns clean. There's a medium sized dining room and a small/medium bar, too. Frank Sinatra and other legends blared from the speakers. It was such a chill setting.
The menu consists of three food groups: fresh garden salad, wings to die for, and pick your own topping or signature pizzas cooked perfectly and so dang tasty. OMG. That's all they ever need to offer and they know it. There was a steady crowd in and out to dine there, or for take-out, and I am pretty sure I saw a delivery dude. They serve good sized pitchers of Sangria served with fresh fruit and it is muy bueno. We opted for a red and a white to start and they were both yummo and went down quite nice.
Shortly after our drinks were served, our family sized salad arrived. The Italian vinaigrette style dressing blended in perfectly on the classic, crispy garden salad topped with chickpeas, hard boiled eggs, and olives. They also offer Caesar salad and you can add chicken to either. The thinly sliced celery and the fresh Focaccia style bread was my fave part. While munching on our salads, the wings were served and devoured. The tasty, dry, oniony/lemony rub was delish and the meat literally fell right off the bones. Combined with more bread and the caramelized onions...MMM! And the servers give you plenty of napkins and wet wipes so you don't look like a hot mess while chowing down. The sangria continued to flow and our pizza was soon delivered.
We ordered a small Pollo Alfredo, homemade creamy Alfredo sauce, chicken, broccoli, mozzarella, and Romano cheese, a small with roasted hot peppers, and a large cheese. Each sensational slice was addicting. The hubs and I always forget how much we love white pizza and it was the bomb. The spicy pepper had a nice kick to it and the cheese was the classic. The flavorful sauce, crispy thin crust, and the various cheeses rocked. And we totally had plenty left over including one or two wings which I am about to inhale once this bloggggg is complete. Their website states that the food is cooked with love. And it is true in every delicious bite.
There is one complaint. Only two measly desserts which were not even homemade are offered. BOO! But other than that, our food was superb and the prices are very reasonable. I highly recommend Angela's.
Because we all yearned for a sweetie and some coffee drinks, we cruised down Route 1 to a little Italian joint called Caffe di Calabria that the hubs searched on his phone. It was a quaint, European, bakery kind of set up. And besides a friendly, elderly Italian gentleman and the woman who worked there, the five of us were the only ones in the place at first. The cannolis were grand central and per usual, the fam and I had some good laughs and a great time together.
Friday, August 31, 2012
Bombastic Banana Bread Recipe from Simply Recipes Jazzed up by Yours Truly :)
- 3 or 4 ripe bananas, smashed
- 1/3 cup melted butter
- 1 cup sugar (can easily reduce to 3/4 cup)
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- Pinch of salt
- 1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
METHOD
No need for a mixer for this recipe. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). With a wooden spoon, mix butter into the mashed bananas in a large mixing bowl. Mix in the sugar, egg, and vanilla. Sprinkle the baking soda and salt over the mixture and mix in. Add the flour last, mix. Pour mixture into a buttered 4x8 inch loaf pan. Bake for 1 hour. Cool on a rack. Remove from pan and slice to serve.
In addition, I added 1/3 cup of light brown sugar, 6oz of semi-sweet chocolate chips (half of the bag), tons of cinnamon, a bit of nutmeg, couple squeezes of lemon juice, and I totally meant to throw in some walnuts but I forgot. I sprinkled a good amount of sugar and cinnamon on top before baking. You may want to leave the delectable treat in the oven about 15-20 minutes longer than directed above. And I used baking PAM not butter. YUM!
http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/banana_bread
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Not just because I am Irish...
What is UP???
Hope you have been enjoying my wicked awesome Haiku from the heart. HA. But, really. Don't hate on them. They are fun and easy to write and usually convey in one way or another, my message on the topic at hand...FOOD.
Dang. Where do I begin? So much to say and not enough recall. The summer has surely flown by. I hope you all made some happy memories. Vacations, hanging with family and friends, getting color, bbqing, gardening, and relaxing are some of the many things I will miss as the days grow shorter and Autumn approaches. Harvested our first pumpkin this morning and it is a beauty. Totally makes me yearn for a nice, cool, crisp, Fall afternoon. Sipping cocoa with Bailey's on the back porch, watching the dog spaz out in the yard over nada, while waiting for the homemade apple pie baking in the oven. In the slow cooker, simmers deliciously, spicy, and tender pulled pork and onions. WHOAH. Tangent. But you get my point. I really do heart the fall months.
We recently returned from a fantastic two week holiday at my in-laws' villa, as I like to refer to it, in one of my favorite places on God's green earth, Ireland. Gorgeous and breathtaking are words that come to mind when looking around at the landscape and ocean views of Donegal. Over the years, I have visited different areas of the motherland and I would often joke with the hubs and family that I bring the sun to Ireland. And, when I leave the country, Ireland cries. Well, after this trip, it is a joke no more. It is fact. We couldn't have asked for better weather. Most days the sun was beaming down on us while at the beach or walking or hanging with the wee ones. I even got a sunburn. Believe that. I can count on one hand how many times I actually saw rain. Summer in Ireland is beautiful. And we were lucky enough to experience Giant's Causeway this time around. It should definitely be a Wonder of the World because it is that cool.
If you have never been to Ireland and when I say Ireland, I mean the most northern part of Donegal. Malin Head. Way, way up there. Put it on your bucket list. Like on a very clear day, from Banba's Crown, you can see straight across to Scotland. Amazing. The countryside's hills and valleys are various shades of green, dotted with colorful flowers, lambs, sheep, cows, donkeys, chickens, horses, remnants of thatched houses, modern homes, sheds, and tractors. The air is so clean, makes you sleep like a baby. Don't get me started on the clear nights with the millions of stars that light the sky. Constellations so close you swear you can reach out and grab one. Mesmerizes me every time.
The locals are more than welcoming and cordial. They are hysterical, generous, intelligent, and most importantly patient with us Yanks. :) The brogue is brilliant and at first, a bit difficult to understand. Their words are poetic and their stories are legendary. Their music is historical, rebel like, beautiful, folky, religious, and awesome, all rolled into one. The random sessions that break out in pubs are fantastic. One dude plays the guitar as another sings from his heart, others join in with various instruments and voices.
When you hear someone say the Irish love their meat and spuds. Believe it. The potatoes are so fresh and delicious. They don't even need butter or salt. But, come on. When given the choice of Kerrygold, you can't deny it. And I love me some salt. Fresh Daniel Doherty bread is my fave. Lathered with butter and raspberry jam, my snack of choice with our many cups of Lyons Irish tea. Sweeties, cakes, breads, chocolate, and other goodies were always in abundance. The tasty bangers and rashers with Galtee cheese fried up with some onions accompanied by more bread and butter...to die for. The hubs' favorite was the authentic fish and chips from the local chip van. The chips (fries) are so yummy doused with vinegar and salt. Can you say STARCH? My total favorite food group everrr.
During this trip the hubs and I enjoyed a lovely date night at a local restaurant called the Butterbean,(https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Butterbean-Restaurant-Carndonagh) in a neighboring town, Carndonagh. YUM. I ordered Merlot and a glass of water to wet the whistle. We shared the bruschetta for our starter. It was surprisingly delish, even with the small pieces of black olive. The tasty vinaigrette drizzled over crusty bread, piled with fresh tomatoes and mozzarella. MMM. I had the tender, boneless, chicken breast with garlic butter and crispy garlic potatoes with a small salad. Hubs devoured his tasty slab of sirloin beef and chips. For dessert, I enjoyed a warm piece of moist chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream AND whipped cream and the hubs inhaled the apple pie with the same. The staff was friendly and efficient and the prices weren't bad at all. Dos thumbs up. After our supper, we ventured out to the Clonmany Festival where we enjoyed The High Kings at an outdoor venue whilst drinking Smithwick's. Fantastic. And Butterbean was so good, we returned with the hubs' sister and husband for another tasty evening out on the town. Good times.
With Ireland as my subject, I could go on forever. My heritage and my husband's leads back to the very places we visit on a regular. We are blessed to have a home to stay in when we visit and a wonderful family to welcome us when we arrive.
Friday, August 24, 2012
Umgall, Doherty's, Anthony's or the...
Guest house for Smithwick's
Walkers cheese and onion crisps
cool, random sessions
Walkers cheese and onion crisps
cool, random sessions
You mean Ireland? Yeah, it's mine :)
Bread, butter, jam, tea
bangers, rashers, Galtee cheese
chips, vinegar, salt.
bangers, rashers, Galtee cheese
chips, vinegar, salt.
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Not so much about FOOD! :)
It's super hard to believe that it has been almost one year since I started blogging. Eighty-three entries later, filled with the tales of the love of my life...FOOD and all it's awesomeness, Rozziefoodie is still living it up and I seriously enjoy every minute of writing about it.
I would like to thank all of you who continue to read and show interest in my bloggy! Your heartfelt comments, compliments, recommendations, and support have really touched me. It's the coolest when I check the viewing stats on Blogger.com to discover that people from all over the world, from the United States to Russia to Brazil to Ireland and beyond, are reading MY thoughts. As of today, 5833 views in total. Wooohoo!! And glancing at my Rozziefoodie Facebook page (which you should really check out and LIKE if you haven't already) to find thumbs up and/or comments for my entries and status updates. So many of you I know and some I have yet to meet. Either way, you all have so made my day on several occasions with your kind words and suggestions. THANK YOU!
If you have been following along with me on my food journeys since last June, you can understand I am blessed with a spectacular life. Although, it has not always been a walk in the park, I wouldn't change it for the world. I am fortunate enough to have a loving family and close friends who accept and heart me for who I am. Now that is something to be thankful for. That and of course, FOOD!
Good news! I am willfully employed on a part-time basis. Funny thing, I am working in the Nutrition Department at a homecare agency, back with my oldies again. :) Probably the reason I have been slacking on writing and keeping you all in the loop on my food intake . Fo sho. Slowly but surely, I will get back on track. But in the meantime, don't hate on the Haiku because I come up with some funky ones.
From cooking to baking to eating in or dining out, from fancy joints to the reliable go to, far away or local, I will continue to express my opinion on the delicious tidbits I unmask. You are welcome. :)
I would like to thank all of you who continue to read and show interest in my bloggy! Your heartfelt comments, compliments, recommendations, and support have really touched me. It's the coolest when I check the viewing stats on Blogger.com to discover that people from all over the world, from the United States to Russia to Brazil to Ireland and beyond, are reading MY thoughts. As of today, 5833 views in total. Wooohoo!! And glancing at my Rozziefoodie Facebook page (which you should really check out and LIKE if you haven't already) to find thumbs up and/or comments for my entries and status updates. So many of you I know and some I have yet to meet. Either way, you all have so made my day on several occasions with your kind words and suggestions. THANK YOU!
If you have been following along with me on my food journeys since last June, you can understand I am blessed with a spectacular life. Although, it has not always been a walk in the park, I wouldn't change it for the world. I am fortunate enough to have a loving family and close friends who accept and heart me for who I am. Now that is something to be thankful for. That and of course, FOOD!
Good news! I am willfully employed on a part-time basis. Funny thing, I am working in the Nutrition Department at a homecare agency, back with my oldies again. :) Probably the reason I have been slacking on writing and keeping you all in the loop on my food intake . Fo sho. Slowly but surely, I will get back on track. But in the meantime, don't hate on the Haiku because I come up with some funky ones.
From cooking to baking to eating in or dining out, from fancy joints to the reliable go to, far away or local, I will continue to express my opinion on the delicious tidbits I unmask. You are welcome. :)
Friday, June 15, 2012
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Porter Cafe, West Roxbury
As quoted in the about section of their website, "The latest addition to West Roxbury, MA, the Porter Cafe, has a relaxed, pub-style atmosphere and a dedication to locally-produced and quality food that makes you happy."
And I totally agree. The hubs and I arrived at the Porter Cafe, (http://portercafe.com), a little before 7pm on a Wednesday evening, for a wayyyyy overdue date night. The restaurant is located at the end of a block of stores on Centre Street, that experienced a horrific fire back on Wednesday, August 29, 2007 which killed two Boston Firefighters, Paul Cahill and Warren Payne. I will never forget that day for the rest of my life. Just awful.
We were greeted immediately at the door by our overly attentive, friendly server and seated right away. There's a couple of tables out front and inside, there's a small bar of about 10-12 chairs which was fairly full. But the dining area which holds about 10ish small tables, was dead. Although when we were heading out after we had our fill, the joint was happening. They have an open kitchen which you know I likey and a chill dining environment.
We took a minute to peruse the menu with a selection of a million beers and a fair amount on vino, before ordering. I went with a Peroni and the hubs got a Harpoon. The menu is on the smaller side but the selection is diverse and fabulous. It pretty much covers any sort of craving you may have EXCEPT for dessert but I will get to that.
The hubs has been dying for fish tacos since he last had them. And per usual, I always check out a restaurant's menu on-line to make sure I approve. LOL! Like there is a place with FOOD, I would ever turn my nose up at. But never the less, I like to know what to expect. That's just how I roll. So I totally knew they had fish tacos and we sure as heck ordered them. To me the term, 'fish taco', does not at all sound the least bit appetizing but I was pleasantly surprised by the taste. Definitely could not make a meal out of them but the combo of the grilled fish, cilantro, salsa, and lime cream on a soft taco was actually quite yummy. The hubs destroyed them. In addition, we had a Caprese Salad with super fresh basil leaves, thick slices of creamy mozzarella, and whole cherry tomatoes, drizzled with a fantastic vinaigrette dressing. MMM. Just an fyi-the mussels looked amazing and the minestrone soup, as well. And the short rib and bleu cheese ravioli sounded interesting. There's always next time.
For my main entree I was torn between the Steak Frites and the 8oz Prime Chuck Burger. I love me some red meat! I decided on the burger and OOMMGG. It was scrumptious and declared my new favorite burger. That juicy piece of Heaven with cheddar, red onion relish, served on a lightly toasted, huge bulky roll with fries, was not long for this Earth. Devoured. The only thing that could have made the burger any better was a couple slices of bacon which was offered but I forgot to order. BOO. That's okay because the what appeared to be hand cut fries were extra crispy and awesome. The hubs went with the Catch of the Day Special, Sea Bass with peas, capers, and crunchy green beans. He thoroughly enjoyed it and I liked my wee bite.
The portions are not huge but for sure hearty. And as mentioned above, they don't offer dessert. WHAT!?! I may have to bake up some of my recent delectable creations and bring them in for them to sample, buy, and serve. But really! Wth? A little brownie sundae, cookies, chocolates, something?? C'mon people, step it up in that area.
Other than my dessert complaint, I fo sho enjoyed my meal and dining experience at the Porter Cafe. They also offer delish sounding sides like fried pickles, mac n cheese, etc; and their prices are very reasonable. Open every day for dinner and the bar is open until 1am. And they serve a tasty sounding brunch menu on Sundays. Most definitely, I will be returning. For our sweet tooth craving, the hubs and I took a stroll down Centre, just like my girls and I fancied back in the day, to iScreamWorks for some chocolate/vanilla swirl soft serve for me and a frappe for him. Pretty damn good date!
And I totally agree. The hubs and I arrived at the Porter Cafe, (http://portercafe.com), a little before 7pm on a Wednesday evening, for a wayyyyy overdue date night. The restaurant is located at the end of a block of stores on Centre Street, that experienced a horrific fire back on Wednesday, August 29, 2007 which killed two Boston Firefighters, Paul Cahill and Warren Payne. I will never forget that day for the rest of my life. Just awful.
We were greeted immediately at the door by our overly attentive, friendly server and seated right away. There's a couple of tables out front and inside, there's a small bar of about 10-12 chairs which was fairly full. But the dining area which holds about 10ish small tables, was dead. Although when we were heading out after we had our fill, the joint was happening. They have an open kitchen which you know I likey and a chill dining environment.
We took a minute to peruse the menu with a selection of a million beers and a fair amount on vino, before ordering. I went with a Peroni and the hubs got a Harpoon. The menu is on the smaller side but the selection is diverse and fabulous. It pretty much covers any sort of craving you may have EXCEPT for dessert but I will get to that.
The hubs has been dying for fish tacos since he last had them. And per usual, I always check out a restaurant's menu on-line to make sure I approve. LOL! Like there is a place with FOOD, I would ever turn my nose up at. But never the less, I like to know what to expect. That's just how I roll. So I totally knew they had fish tacos and we sure as heck ordered them. To me the term, 'fish taco', does not at all sound the least bit appetizing but I was pleasantly surprised by the taste. Definitely could not make a meal out of them but the combo of the grilled fish, cilantro, salsa, and lime cream on a soft taco was actually quite yummy. The hubs destroyed them. In addition, we had a Caprese Salad with super fresh basil leaves, thick slices of creamy mozzarella, and whole cherry tomatoes, drizzled with a fantastic vinaigrette dressing. MMM. Just an fyi-the mussels looked amazing and the minestrone soup, as well. And the short rib and bleu cheese ravioli sounded interesting. There's always next time.
For my main entree I was torn between the Steak Frites and the 8oz Prime Chuck Burger. I love me some red meat! I decided on the burger and OOMMGG. It was scrumptious and declared my new favorite burger. That juicy piece of Heaven with cheddar, red onion relish, served on a lightly toasted, huge bulky roll with fries, was not long for this Earth. Devoured. The only thing that could have made the burger any better was a couple slices of bacon which was offered but I forgot to order. BOO. That's okay because the what appeared to be hand cut fries were extra crispy and awesome. The hubs went with the Catch of the Day Special, Sea Bass with peas, capers, and crunchy green beans. He thoroughly enjoyed it and I liked my wee bite.
The portions are not huge but for sure hearty. And as mentioned above, they don't offer dessert. WHAT!?! I may have to bake up some of my recent delectable creations and bring them in for them to sample, buy, and serve. But really! Wth? A little brownie sundae, cookies, chocolates, something?? C'mon people, step it up in that area.
Other than my dessert complaint, I fo sho enjoyed my meal and dining experience at the Porter Cafe. They also offer delish sounding sides like fried pickles, mac n cheese, etc; and their prices are very reasonable. Open every day for dinner and the bar is open until 1am. And they serve a tasty sounding brunch menu on Sundays. Most definitely, I will be returning. For our sweet tooth craving, the hubs and I took a stroll down Centre, just like my girls and I fancied back in the day, to iScreamWorks for some chocolate/vanilla swirl soft serve for me and a frappe for him. Pretty damn good date!
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
New York City, My Perilla Experience
This past weekend, I was lucky enough to take a vacation with my family to the Big Apple. My brother and his girlfriend extended an invitation to mi madre and I to join them for Mother's Day Weekend. We stayed at the Grand Hyatt New York in Midtown Manhattan. It was a relaxing stay in a comfortable room in a funky, modern artsy kind of hotel. And the best part was that it was attached to Grand Central Station and all it's awesomeness!!
We arrived by Amtrak via Penn Station on Friday afternoon and decided to explore Grand Central Station before we headed out to the West Village for our 7pm supper reservations. We found ourselves amid the evening commuter crowd and Holy Crap! The saying "as busy as Grand Central" rang true. We decided to have a quick couple of drinks at the Oyster Bar and Restaurant. It was a chill environment and just what the doctor ordered after our four hour commute from South Station. After chatting for a while, we ventured out into the crowd to check out Grand Central Market. OMG! The scents and aromas of the cheeses, meats, veggies, fruit, fish, breads, pastries, and basically anything and everything you can think of to ingest, were absolutely to die for. I seriously considered just grabbing a baguette, some cheese, and some deliciously fresh meat and head on back to the room to call it a night. But thankfully, I did not.
We arrived at Perilla a bit early and situated ourselves at the bar for a quick libation and munched on one of the nightly specials which happened to be fresh popcorn popped in duck fat. YUM! The dude who worked the bar was ironically from Roslindale which I found hilarious. Such a small world and what a nice guy. Shout out to Tommy O'Malley! And I don't think that A&N has better pizza than the Pleasant but we can agree to disagree. HA!
Perilla is so quaint and adorable, (http://perillanyc.com/) and is co-owned by the winner of the first season of the popular show, 'Top Chef.' Harold Dieterle is the senior chef of the Seasonal American cuisine, neighborhood type joint, 18 table, restaurant, with a tiny bar, located on Jones Street in NEW YORK CITY. BABY! Just an fyi-Perilla is an herb and relative of mint and basil with a strong anise-like flavor. The staff, from the bartender, to the runners, to the wine connoisseur/manager, to our waitress, to the bus boys, were magnificent. So accommodating and down to earth. The dining experience was absolutely amazing. And to top it off, Mr. Dieterle sent out signed dinner menus to us from the kitchen, as we enjoyed our last course. Bonus.
Since I have yet to experience the luxury of dining on a six course tasting menu with a wine pairing, I decided, HEY! Why the heck not? You only live once. To tell you the truth, I was sort of nervous because as you all know, I am not a huge seafood fan and you never know what the chef will decide to serve up. But I decided to be a trooper and go all in. And I am super glad I did. No. I did not love all of the samples, but I kept an open mind and totally tried each and every option that was placed in front of me. And please keep in mind and don't get annoyed, I can't remember every little detail of this fine dining experience. I blame it on the six glasses of wine. There are some details that I may not recall, especially the brands and types of the wines that were served. But, I do know that the vino selections totally enhanced our dining experience.
After our Cava Brut sparkling white wine was poured and our crusty bread was delivered with some tasty olive oil, our first course arrived. Bigeye Tuna Carpaccio- "Vitello Tonnato", veal bone marrow crostini, chia seeds, and spicy almond sauce. Sounds like something I would never order but the combo of the ingredients was yummo.
The same sparkling white wine accompanied our second course which was the Spring Vegetable Salad, rover radish, Greek yogurt, pumpernickel and liberty farm greens. So fresh and tasty. Love. Our third course was the Crispy Soft Shell Crab, roasted vine tomatoes, spicy giardiniera, and grilled bread. Again, not something that I would normally order but I was pleasantly surprised by the tenderness of the crab meat and the weirdness of being able to eat the shell. Totally don't remember the wine option by this point but I do recall it was yummy.
The fourth course happened to be one of the specials of the evening which included snails mixed with housemade linguine tossed in a thick, rich sauce. The linguine was the bomb but I just couldn't get my head around eating snails. Call me crazy but I just couldn't! The texture was chewy and it tasted much like a crumbled, spicy, Italian sausage. And those lil' bastards are trying to destroy our garden so I am kinda not loving their general existence. Don't even bother asking what kind of wine was served at this point of the evening. I am thinking it was the nice sparkling red one. Hmm.
Our fifth course and entree was a sliver of duck breast cooked medium rare and a spicy duck meatball, mint cavatellli, spinach, and quail egg, well known as being one of the Chef Dieterle's specialties. The ball was delightful but I did not care at all for the rare piece of duck breast. That's just me. I tend to appreciate things that I am going to put into my mouth to at least appear to be cooked.
Our final and most delectable course was the Dark Chocolate Souffle, with coffee creme anglaise and almond-hazelnut biscotti. So freaking delish. And because none of us really care for dessert wine, the waitress let us choose our fave vino of the evening to accompany our sixth course . I went with the sparkling red option which was previously served with either the snail sample or duck entree. It was fabulous and even more bombastic was discovering a RED sparkling wine, Lambrusco di Modena, Opera 2002, (pictured below)! Our waitress was so sweet and offered to throw in cappuccinos and/or tea with homemade snickerdoodles to boot.
Keep in mind, the menu isn't huge but the options are diverse. Our entire night at Perilla is one I will cherish forever. It was great being able to hang with my family and to treat ourselves to such an amazing meal in New York. (photo above is of the South Reflecting Pool at the 9/11 Memorial)
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Orinoco, Brookline
When you hear me say I am truly blessed, believe it. It may be that I recently turned another year younger, or you can call it wisdom or whatevs. But I try to live every day by the rule that we should be thankful for what we have. Too often I hear people complaining and wishing their life away. We all need a reminder to take a step back and a gander at ourselves and just say thank you. :)
My birthday falls during the last week of April and as you may have guessed, food was a major priority in my celebration planning. It was so awesome to receive tons of birthday wishes from my fabulous family and fantastic friends. Whether it was in the form of a text, Facebook message, email, phone call, card, gift, homemade dinner, or outing, I sincerely appreciate all of you. THANK YOU!
As you may know and if you have been following my bloggggggg, my family and I share a birthday dinner tradition. Orinoco, A Latin Kitchen, (http://www.orinocokitchen.com), in Brookline was this year's choice for my comida de cumpleaños. And damn! I am good. The joint was spectacular. There are two additional locations in the South End and in Cambridge. The cuisine is South American with a Venezuelan focus. And just an fyi and according to the back flap of their menu, the Orinoco is one of the longest rivers in South America.
The hubs and I decided to head to the restaurant a bit early to grab a drink and reserve a table. When we arrived around six, the place was pretty dead so we grabbed a seat at the bar where we were greeted immediately by the server/host. He was super friendly, informative, and chill. Two other dudes who turned out to be runners/servers were also really nice. The chick bartender was cool and kinda all business but WOW does she know her mixology. I loved the sweet and refreshing Sangria with a hint of nutmeg and the hubs enjoyed a Presidente. All the wine, beer, and cocktails are of Latino decent. While downing our beverages, we glanced at the menu and around at the funky artwork and decor. The restaurant itself is not that big. There are about five or six booths along one wall, a huge family-style dining table in the center, some seats at the bar, and ten more smaller tables along the wall. Cute and cozy.
For our second libation, we each decided on a Mojito. OMG. This was my first experience having an authentic one. Freaking delish. The hubs and I can vouch for the Orinoco (Myer's, mint jelly), the Autentico (Pampero rum), and the Cojito (Parrot Bay and shaved coconut), all variations of this classic drink. Totally recommend.
Right before seven, mi madre, my bro, and his girlfriend walked in just before a huge deluge of people starting pouring in. Since I had told the dude beforehand, he had our table ready to go. They don't take reservations for parties smaller than six. We were seated at the gigantic table in front of the open kitchen in which other patrons shared with us. It wasn't annoying though. At this point the place was happening and lively. Spanish music streamed through the speakers, food was sizzling, conversations were brewing and the feasting was about to go down.
Right away, because we were famished, we ordered our starters and another round of drinks. This time a pitcher of Sangria, another Mojito for the hubs, and a Pacifico for mi madre and water for everyone. Oysters Rodriquez (oysters with fufu, horseradish cream, and saute manchego spinach), Datiles (bacon wrapped, almond-filled dates), one Arepa de Pelua (corn pocket filled with Venezuelan-style shredded, stewed, beef with edam yellow cheese, and lastly, two Empanadas (corn flour turnover patties). One with Venezuelan-style shredded beef and one with shredded pork, served with fresh green salad, tossed with queso blanco and a sherry vinaigrette. Que rico!! All of it was spectacular. Fresh, tasty, different, devoured.
For my main course, I went with one of the specials and of course a red meat option. Lomito Guayanes, beef tenderloin served with guayanes cheese, over a cabrales viniagrette arugula salad and panela asado veloute. Savory, tender, and sensational are three words that come to mind. The combo of the meat, cheese, and salad was the bomb. And I added, out of of principle, an order of Arroz con Caraotas (white rice and beans) to share. MMM! The hubs went with and inhaled one of the other specials, the Panela Salmon. Panela marinated salmon, cooked medium, served over Aji Amarillo creamed quinoa with jicama/arugula salad and broken olive vinaigrette. My bro got the Churrasquito, a seven ounce beef tenderloin cut churrasco style, char-grilled, with crab picadillo, grilled asparagus, and salsa chimi. He thouroughly enjoyed his dish. My bro's girlfriend went with the Pollo Adobo, adobo criollo marinated-halved chicken with oregano oil and grilled scallions with malanga gnocchi, which she really liked. Lastly, mi madre had an Orinoko salad, grilled chicken breast, spring mix, jicama, green grapes, sherry vinaigrette, tossed with feta and toasted almonds. Totally up her alley. Per usual, we sampled each others meals (which were sizable and reasonably priced) and I can say fo sho, all of our dinner choices were yummy. And the menu lists various other traditional Venezuelan delicacies and dishes. I could have ordered one of everything!
You know I could not leave, although stuffed to the gills, without appreciating some sort of sweet treat and/or Postres. We ordered two of each, along with more drinkies, homemade Quesillo, traditional Venezuelan flan with caramel and homemade Torta Fluida, molten chocolate cake made with 100% Venezuelan dark chocolate. I am not a huge flan/custard fan but the fam was pleased with it and I loved the warm and delectable cake. YUM!!
As we chatted, laughed, leisurely ate and drank, the evening flew by and before we knew it, it was almost 9:30. My birthday gathering was outstanding. The hubs and I have already made plans to return for apps and drinks in the very near future. Highly recommend Orinoco.
Friday, May 4, 2012
Drumsticks Diablo Recipe!
From http://www.cdkitchen.com and revised by yours truly! :)
16 drumsticks
salt to taste
black pepper to taste
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound crushed tomatoes (can)
4 tablespoons brown sugar
4 tablespoons cider vinegar
3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon dry mustard
salt to taste
black pepper to taste
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound crushed tomatoes (can)
4 tablespoons brown sugar
4 tablespoons cider vinegar
3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon dry mustard
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 chopped onion (because everything is better with onions!)
hot sauce and red pepper flakes to taste
hot sauce and red pepper flakes to taste
Sprinkle drumsticks with salt and the pepper. Brown in olive oil in a large frying pan. Remove.
Stir tomatoes, brown sugar, vinegar, Worcestershire, chili powder, dry mustard, garlic, onion, red pepper seasoning and sauce into pan drippings; bring to a boil.
Combine drumsticks and sauce in slow cooker and cover. Cook on low for 8 hours, 6 hours on medium, or 4 hours on high, or obviously until chicken is tender. Serve with spaghetti.
Stir tomatoes, brown sugar, vinegar, Worcestershire, chili powder, dry mustard, garlic, onion, red pepper seasoning and sauce into pan drippings; bring to a boil.
Combine drumsticks and sauce in slow cooker and cover. Cook on low for 8 hours, 6 hours on medium, or 4 hours on high, or obviously until chicken is tender. Serve with spaghetti.
This dish is SPICY!!!! Enjoy!! :)
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Monday, April 9, 2012
Bubba Gump, Madeira Beach
The hubs and I recently returned from a fantastic trip to the Clearwater/Seminole area of Florida. The weather was absolutely amazing. We ventured down for a couple days shy of a week to celebrate my cousin/godchild's graduation from USF! Go Bulls! I know what you all are thinking. How can I be old enough to have a 23 year old godchild. Well, believe it. I was very young when she was baptized. HA! To say the least, my family rocks. A whole bunch of us, including my aunts, uncles, and several cousins vacationed together and had a grand ol' time doing it. Despite the fact that there were a million of us, and all from the same bloodline, the drama llama behaved. :) We had a marvelous time together.
After chilling at the house for a couple of nights with the fam, several of us cousins headed over to my aunt and uncle's fabulous timeshare beachfront condo on Madeira Beach. Beautiful and relaxing are two words that pop right back into my head. The sunsets were breathtaking. Along with the constant and calming sound of the waves crashing on the beach. Paradise!. We chilled on the beach and hung out at the pool enjoying cocktails, chatting, and overall loving life.
Dragging ourselves from the pool and out of the sunshine to head back up to the condo to shower and get ready, was no easy task. My hubs, 3 of my cousins, and myself got spiffed up and walked about a half mile to Johns Pass which features several shops, tourist traps, restaurants, and bars. We had all agreed on having one nice dinner together. We decided to check out Bubba Gump which is a chain restaurant with a menu that features mostly fresh seafood. Their theme is based on the movie Forrest Gump. (http://www.bubbagump.com/)
It is a huge indoor/outdoor touristy kind of place. We arrived at one of the two host stands and inquired about a reservation. According to the first dude, there was a significant wait to be seated in the indoor dining area but was not very clear about the outdoor seating, which we all preferred. After some confusion and backtracking, we added our name to the list to be seated outdoors. While waiting for our name to be called, we decided to order a round of drinks and sit at the outdoor bar area which overlooked the water. Four of of five of us ordered this crazy ass beer and margarita combination of a drink called a Coronarita. It was a huge, classic margarita with a 6oz Corona clipped to the side which poured into the drink as you sipped away. It was actually quite refreshing and we all got free drink shakers for ordering the $12 concoction. HA!
Even though it was on the later side, there were still tons of people left eating and drinking when we were seated. Our waitress was pretty cool and down to earth. She attended to us right away and explained the theme, menu, etc. We were starving by this point so we quickly decided on a appetizer to share. We put in for the 'run across America sampler' which included hush pups, chilly shrimp, Bubba's far out chips and dip, spicy chicken strips, and Mama Blue's fried shrimp. As you know, I don't love seafood. But, according to the fish lovers, the shrimp selections were decent. I enjoyed the hush pups, dip, and chicken. They weren't anything to write home about but at that point I would have eaten sh*t on a shingle. I was THAT
hungry. Still famished, I asked for an order of garlic bread. So buttery and yummy. And we ordered another round of libations, of course.
For the main course I had the Dixie Style Baby Back Ribs. I asked to substitute mashed instead of fries, which they screwed up. No biggie. I heart fries, too. The ribs were tender and delectable with very little sauce, as preferred, and the portion was ginormous. The hubs killed his Lt. Dan's Drunken Shrimp which was char-grilled shrimp and Andouille sausage with mashed and bourbon sauce. One cousin enjoyed her Dumb Luck Coconut Shrimp served with Cajun marmalade and fries. Another totally liked her Jenny's Catch with Lobster Butter Sauce which included fresh pan seared fish over mashed, sauteed spinach, and a creamy lobster butter sauce. Last but not least, my other cousin devoured his dinner, which if buzzed memory serves correctly was, Shrimp New Orleans, shrimp broiled with butter, garlic, and spices served with Jasmine rice.
The friendly staff work as a team and the guests are given a license plate to flip which indicates if you need service or not. The atmosphere is busy and loud but not annoying. Throughout dinner, the servers ask trivia questions about the movie Forrest Gump which is fun at first but gets old quick. In my opinion, the prices are average/high for a chain, the portions sizable, and the food is good but not spectacular.
The best part of the evening was hanging out with my family. We had lots of drinks, loads of laughs and everyone was pleased with their suppers. After we had our fill, we paid the bill and headed for a quick brewski around the corner and then to a dive called Daiquiri Deck. After a few more drinkies there, and meeting up with another cousin, we were all starving again. So we ordered, cabbed it there and back, and demolished some delish pizzas from Delosa's while taking it easy back at the condo. Terrific time!
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Friday, March 23, 2012
Del Frisco's, Boston
Wowza. It has been quite a while since I wrote a blog for all you super people to enjoy. MY B! The life of an unemployed housewife ain't easy. I tell ya. HA HA! But for realz, I have been wicked busy. Took a mini-vacation to one of my best buddy's beautiful log cabin in Maine. Amazing! And with this gorgeous weather we have been blessed with so early in the year, the hubs and I have been out and about loving life.
On a random note, several of you have asked me why I don't have many negative reviews on my blog. And believe me, in general, I have plenty of complaints on a daily and tend to tell it like it is. But really, in my entries, I give my honest opinion of what I find to be good, bad, and mediocre about the food, atmosphere, service, etc of the places I sample. Since I started blogging, I haven't experienced a place so bad that I felt I needed to blast. So I will continue to give you all MY opinion on what I love most in the world...FOOD.
For mi hermano's BIG 40 birthday dinner, he chose Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak House at 250 Northern Avenue in Boston on the waterfront. (http://delfriscos.com) Mi madre, bro, his girlfriend, my hubs, and myself arrived promptly at 8pm for our reservation after having our car valeted. We were greeted immediately by friendly staff and seated right away at a large round table towards the end of the large dining room FILLED with tables and comfy looking booths. We were seated smack right in front of the occupied private dining room which had thick, swinging glass doors. Patrons and staff were in and out of the room frequently. From the moment we sat, our chairs were being bumped on a regular by the plethora of staff and diners. It made us feel uneasy and it was not a comfortable dining situation. The atmosphere was LOUD and bustling and the place was jammed. The dining area is wide open with cool light fixtures, glass walls filled with bottles of wine from floor to ceiling, and ginormous windows overlooking the water. The view was quite nice. In addition to the dining room and private function room, there is a huge bar.
Our not so friendly and probably overworked waiter did not attend to us right away which I found annoying at such a high end restaurant. When he did get to us, we ordered a round of drinks, mostly beer and wine and he didn't offer us glasses to drink from. Huh? Just an fyi- the wine list is extensive, to say the least. We took a while to peruse the dinner menu which is pretty straightforward and features mostly steak and seafood with a la carte sides. There are a good amount of appetizers and salads to choose from, as well. We placed our full order while enjoying super soft, warm bread with whipped butter, after the waiter listed off the specials and explained the menu and answered our questions.
To start, we ordered shrimp remoulade which is shrimp cocktail with a horseradish like creamy sauce drizzled on top and two orders of crab cakes (one per order). As you may know by now, I don't do much seafood. The fam loved the shrimp and I can vouch for the crab cake. It was fresh, tasty, and filled with good sized pieces of crab accompanied by a zingy sauce. YUM. By this time, we had basically had it with our seating arrangement. Honestly, we are NOT ones to complain but this was ridic. The waiter did offer and did move our table about a foot to accommodate us a bit better and for a while it was cool. All I can say is thank God we all have good sense of humors.
For dinner, my brother and I ordered the 16 oz prime strip, the hubs got the 24 oz. prime porterhouse, bro's girlfriend got the 8 oz filet, and mi madre ordered the pan seared scallops. We decided on potatoes au gratin, asparagus, sauteed shrooms, and one baked potato to share for sides. The staff appeared to be working as a team with various servers, runners, etc. But when our food was being delivered, it was an absolute disaster. The servers didn't know in which order to place our meals down. And when we tried to explain, it was like talking to a wall. There were so many people around our table trying to serve and help. I felt claustrophobic. It was nuts. Fine dining should not be this stressful. OMG!
And to top it off, our new location turned out to be even worse. As we were about half way through with our meals, a HUGE private party comes marching through to the private function room. For about two minutes straight, they were bumping us left and right. I really could not believe that a staff person would think it's a good idea to lead such a large crowd through the center of an overly filled dining room while paying customers are trying to enjoy an expensive supper. WTF! So at this point, we asked the down right rude hostess chick to speak with a manager. Thankfully our waiter realized what a crappy hand we had been dealt and quickly changed his demeanor and decided to have a manager speak to us, too. And we noticed our drinks started to come a bit faster, as well. Empty drinks are NOT a sign of good service.
I do have to say that the food was pretty damn good. The steak was perfectly cooked to everyone's liking and literally melted in your mouth. The scallops were huge, delish and cooked perfectly. I did enjoy the potatoes au gratin which were creamy and just cheesy enough. The asparagus which I love and eat on a regular, was bland and the mushrooms were a bit salty.
The manager arrived shortly after we all had our fill and the table was being cleared. He was friendly, absolutely amazing and understanding as we explained the negatives. While he was standing by our table conversing with us, he was being consistently bumped by people passing so he could see where we were coming from. It was clear that all we wanted was a comfortable and delicious dining experience to celebrate my bro's 40th birthday. At first, he offered his card with his cell number and a free dinner for all of us upon our next visit. My bro was the spokesperson and we all agreed that his offer was sufficient. But, we still couldn't wait to get the hell out of there. We were even going to skip dessert. Tragic. A couple minutes later, the manager returned to tell us that our whole dinner which cost very close to $500 would be on the house. WHAT!!!! We were ecstatic that he actually listened to us and for real made it up to us.
In addition to our free supper, the waiter surprised us with an array of homemade desserts perfectly decorated and with candles for my brother to blow out. The presentation was fantastic. The lemon cake with lemon frosting was to die for. So moist and just tart enough. I am not a big bread pudding fan but everyone loved and devoured the large portion served with vanilla ice cream. The fresh blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries topped with whipped cream were delightful and a very nice touch. Our least fave of the four desserts was a vanilla and chocolate like mousse. Beggars can't be choosers.
Because of the professional demeanor of the manager and his accommodating manner, I will return to Del Frisco's at some point to give them a second chance. It was a horrible dining experience, though the food was good. Quality not quantity is what they should strive for.
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Friday, March 16, 2012
Happy Saint Patrick's Day!!
Eat boiled dinner
sing, laugh, dance, sip on a pint
Guinness or Smithwick's
sing, laugh, dance, sip on a pint
Guinness or Smithwick's
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Seven Star Street Bistro, Roslindale, MA
Gluttony. Totally on the verge. But. Hey! You only live once. Correcto? This past week has been pretty damn good, food wise, as I have been blessed to try two new places, Seven Star Street Bistro in Rozzie and Annabelle's in Hyde Park. Food is love.
Wednesday evening, after watching Chronicle which is one of my favorite shows ever, the hubs decided that we needed to try Seven Star Street Bistro asap. This particular episode focused on local eateries. We text ourselves a list of places to sample. For breakfast, the Rox Diner on Centre Street in West Roxbury is next our agenda.
We figured there would be a significant wait for dinner take-out at Seven Star the following snowy night, but TWO hours? Damn. They were slammed because of their segment on Chronicle. NICE. Several friends and others who have commented on my blog have suggested Seven Star in the past but for some reason it kept slipping my mind. Very happy we finally gave it a try.
The chick who answered the phone was pleasant. I proceeded to order a fantastic variety of Xiao Chi (small bites), a crispy shrimp and scallops with garlic wok dish, and of course some pork fried rice. The woman took and read our order back, gave us a total, and time to pick up our food which was 8:06pm! She asked for our name and number and did end up calling about a half hour early which was cool.
The Asian appetizers and dishes were spectacular. The bold flavors and super fresh ingredients made each bite even better. The hot and sour soup was tasty and loaded with chicken. The crispy chicken wings were tender and totally crispy. YUM. The orange soy glazed baby back ribs took the prize. The meat literally fell right off the bone. The citrus flavor of the ooey gooey sauce. OMG! Savory. The scallion pancake rolled with sliced beef and Hoisen sauce was a very close second to the half rack of ribs. The dough was flaky and the beef thinly sliced and rolled with love. Fab. I thoroughly enjoyed the fried rice with little pieces of pork, peas, and other veggies. It was light and fluffy. The shrimp and scallop with garlic was a huge hit for the hubs and I even tried a scallop. Good stuff.
The tiny take-out/delivery joint does have a couple of tables to eat in at and is located on Belgrade Avenue in Roslindale. The menu has tons of the good old appetizers that we all know and love. There are several original dishes, as well. The prices are moderate and the portions just right. There was plenty left over for lunch the next day. Keep in mind, they are closed on Mondays. The only complaint I had was they didn't give us 'duck' sauce or any other additional dipping sauces. Hmm. I will have to inquire about that the next time we order. If you live in and around my hood, you should really order yourself some Seven Star next time you have the hankering for Asian cuisine. You won't be disappointed.
Wednesday evening, after watching Chronicle which is one of my favorite shows ever, the hubs decided that we needed to try Seven Star Street Bistro asap. This particular episode focused on local eateries. We text ourselves a list of places to sample. For breakfast, the Rox Diner on Centre Street in West Roxbury is next our agenda.
We figured there would be a significant wait for dinner take-out at Seven Star the following snowy night, but TWO hours? Damn. They were slammed because of their segment on Chronicle. NICE. Several friends and others who have commented on my blog have suggested Seven Star in the past but for some reason it kept slipping my mind. Very happy we finally gave it a try.
The chick who answered the phone was pleasant. I proceeded to order a fantastic variety of Xiao Chi (small bites), a crispy shrimp and scallops with garlic wok dish, and of course some pork fried rice. The woman took and read our order back, gave us a total, and time to pick up our food which was 8:06pm! She asked for our name and number and did end up calling about a half hour early which was cool.
The Asian appetizers and dishes were spectacular. The bold flavors and super fresh ingredients made each bite even better. The hot and sour soup was tasty and loaded with chicken. The crispy chicken wings were tender and totally crispy. YUM. The orange soy glazed baby back ribs took the prize. The meat literally fell right off the bone. The citrus flavor of the ooey gooey sauce. OMG! Savory. The scallion pancake rolled with sliced beef and Hoisen sauce was a very close second to the half rack of ribs. The dough was flaky and the beef thinly sliced and rolled with love. Fab. I thoroughly enjoyed the fried rice with little pieces of pork, peas, and other veggies. It was light and fluffy. The shrimp and scallop with garlic was a huge hit for the hubs and I even tried a scallop. Good stuff.
The tiny take-out/delivery joint does have a couple of tables to eat in at and is located on Belgrade Avenue in Roslindale. The menu has tons of the good old appetizers that we all know and love. There are several original dishes, as well. The prices are moderate and the portions just right. There was plenty left over for lunch the next day. Keep in mind, they are closed on Mondays. The only complaint I had was they didn't give us 'duck' sauce or any other additional dipping sauces. Hmm. I will have to inquire about that the next time we order. If you live in and around my hood, you should really order yourself some Seven Star next time you have the hankering for Asian cuisine. You won't be disappointed.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Because I Heart Carbs!
Wheat, rye, sourdough
pizza, pasta, cake, pie, rolls
fries, can't forget those!
pizza, pasta, cake, pie, rolls
fries, can't forget those!
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Sweet Cheeks Q, Fenway
The other afternoon, a great friend of mine and I had ourselves a fun, girly day. It was fabulous. We started off at Bloomingdale's in the Chestnut Hill Mall at the Bobbi Brown Cosmetics Department. Sarah, a sweet and talented makeup artist used her magic on our faces. She also gave us some great application advice and had tons of knowledge about the products in general. This was the first time I've had my makeup done by a professional. It was so not as intimidating as I had imagined. It was actually quite nice. The other artists were so down to earth, not pushy to purchase items, and overall cool to be around. Very pleasant experience and we both looked fantastic after.
Feeling pretty, we found ourselves in a late lunch/early dinner predicament We called several restaurants in the area and they were all closed for lunch at 3pm and would not open for dinner until 5pm. What!!! We were starving. Well at least I was. After some serious thought (LOL), we decided to wait it out and head towards Fenway. We ran out of errands to do and it was sooo windy on Boylston Street, we decided to head to Sweet Cheeks Q to hang at the bar until the kitchen re-opened.
The bartender was super cool and friendly but not in an annoying manner. I didn't catch her name, though. She offered mi amiga a sample of a mixed drink to try before ordering. Which was good because my friend did not likey. I decided on a tea/lemonadey, tequila, fresh mint and lemon, maple syrupy with some other alcohol added, kinda concoction. OMG. Strong! But tasty. (Sorry, the Sweet Cheeks website does not list the drink menu as far as I can see and I surely can not remember every ingredient in the cocktails.) My second libation which I enjoyed with my dinner was called a Heartless Jezebel. It was made with Prichard's Cranberry Rum, Sailor Jerry, triple sec, Clear Creek Cranberry liqueur, and orange juice. Thanks to boozieinboston.com for publishing the recipe. Very sweet, fruity and delish. It paired well with my dinner. The bar offers a million kinds of rum, tequila, beer, wine and several awesome sounding drinks.
We sat for dinner right at 5pm and had a freaking awesome waiter named Jeffrey. He was knowledgeable about the menu and put up with our million questions about everything on it while smiling and joking and giving us his honest opinion on the food. I really can't say enough about the service. From the dude pouring water, to the runners, to the waiters, and the bartenders. Terrific.
Right away, we put in order in for the bucket o' biscuits (4) with honey butter. Now as you know I LOVE me some carbs; especially in the form of a buttery, ginormous, warm, crumbly, buttermilk biscuit accompanied by excess sweet butter to lather on. OH MY GOD! My new favorite carbohydrate. Period. So we devoured one heavenly biscuit, each. And it was difficult not to indulge in the second. But I knew the feast I ordered would soon arrive. After hitting the Dolly Parton themed bathroom, I arrived back to my seat to find a brand new Heartless Jezebel. Short story is the bartender misunderstood our server and SCORE I got a free drink.
Our meals soon arrived which consisted of pulled natural chicken, broccoli cheese casserole, farm fresh salad which was crunchy, chopped brussels sprouts and other tasty greens, and halved red grapes in a light vinaigrette dressing, sliced pickles and onions, and a couple of pieces of white bread to make a sangie if you choose to. And one rib for my buddy. My tray option consisted of Pineland Farm short ribs, and two hot scoops, one mac n' cheese and one collard greens. And the thinly sliced pickles which I could have eaten a huge bowl of, pieces of onion, white bread and one extra rib for me, too. For some reason I was blessed with the salad, as well. Bonus. The short ribs were tender, smoky in a good way, but a bit salty. Their signature BBQ sauce was sweet but also had a bit of a tangy kick to it. A hot yellow/green like sauce and vinegar was also at every table All the meat is served dry for the customer to sauce up. The Berkshire pork rib was seasoned just right and came right off the bone. I could not get enough of the Ritz cracker topped mac n' cheese. MMM! The greens were cooked perfectly and oh so yummy. Both were served in cool, little, speckled, blue tin mugs. My pal thoroughly enjoyed her chicken and salad and rib but didn't totally love the broccoli cheese casserole.
For dessert, because I HAVE to get one every time. HA! I decided on the chocolate chip, pecan hand pie. Never again. I should have listened to Jeffrey and ordered the butterscotch pudding but I was so wanting a hint of chocolate. BOO. It stunk! It reminded me of a fancy pop tart. UCK!
But! I totally recommend and will be going back to Sweet Cheeks Q very soon with my man. He is lucky that the portions are on the larger side and that I tend to eat like a little bird. Haha. He gets a lil' nibble before the real thing. Jeffrey packaged everything in separate boxes and even gave me some barbecue sauce to go. He was awesome. Brisket, pork belly, hush puppies, and fried green tomatoes are just some of the other options on the down home Texas style BBQ menu. I will totally be sampling the blackeyed peas next time. The restaurant is wide open with a Lone Star/barn type appeal. Group seating allows for more patrons and the bar is small but fun to chill at. The atmosphere is laid back, loud and busy. And the prices aren't too crazy for the amount of food you are served. It would have been kinda cool to meet Tiffani, the chick from the actual show, Top Chef. Maybe next time. If you enjoy authentic BBQ and the staple fixings, get your butt to Sweet Cheeks Q asap! (photo below courtesy of my amiga que linda)
Feeling pretty, we found ourselves in a late lunch/early dinner predicament We called several restaurants in the area and they were all closed for lunch at 3pm and would not open for dinner until 5pm. What!!! We were starving. Well at least I was. After some serious thought (LOL), we decided to wait it out and head towards Fenway. We ran out of errands to do and it was sooo windy on Boylston Street, we decided to head to Sweet Cheeks Q to hang at the bar until the kitchen re-opened.
The bartender was super cool and friendly but not in an annoying manner. I didn't catch her name, though. She offered mi amiga a sample of a mixed drink to try before ordering. Which was good because my friend did not likey. I decided on a tea/lemonadey, tequila, fresh mint and lemon, maple syrupy with some other alcohol added, kinda concoction. OMG. Strong! But tasty. (Sorry, the Sweet Cheeks website does not list the drink menu as far as I can see and I surely can not remember every ingredient in the cocktails.) My second libation which I enjoyed with my dinner was called a Heartless Jezebel. It was made with Prichard's Cranberry Rum, Sailor Jerry, triple sec, Clear Creek Cranberry liqueur, and orange juice. Thanks to boozieinboston.com for publishing the recipe. Very sweet, fruity and delish. It paired well with my dinner. The bar offers a million kinds of rum, tequila, beer, wine and several awesome sounding drinks.
We sat for dinner right at 5pm and had a freaking awesome waiter named Jeffrey. He was knowledgeable about the menu and put up with our million questions about everything on it while smiling and joking and giving us his honest opinion on the food. I really can't say enough about the service. From the dude pouring water, to the runners, to the waiters, and the bartenders. Terrific.
Right away, we put in order in for the bucket o' biscuits (4) with honey butter. Now as you know I LOVE me some carbs; especially in the form of a buttery, ginormous, warm, crumbly, buttermilk biscuit accompanied by excess sweet butter to lather on. OH MY GOD! My new favorite carbohydrate. Period. So we devoured one heavenly biscuit, each. And it was difficult not to indulge in the second. But I knew the feast I ordered would soon arrive. After hitting the Dolly Parton themed bathroom, I arrived back to my seat to find a brand new Heartless Jezebel. Short story is the bartender misunderstood our server and SCORE I got a free drink.
Our meals soon arrived which consisted of pulled natural chicken, broccoli cheese casserole, farm fresh salad which was crunchy, chopped brussels sprouts and other tasty greens, and halved red grapes in a light vinaigrette dressing, sliced pickles and onions, and a couple of pieces of white bread to make a sangie if you choose to. And one rib for my buddy. My tray option consisted of Pineland Farm short ribs, and two hot scoops, one mac n' cheese and one collard greens. And the thinly sliced pickles which I could have eaten a huge bowl of, pieces of onion, white bread and one extra rib for me, too. For some reason I was blessed with the salad, as well. Bonus. The short ribs were tender, smoky in a good way, but a bit salty. Their signature BBQ sauce was sweet but also had a bit of a tangy kick to it. A hot yellow/green like sauce and vinegar was also at every table All the meat is served dry for the customer to sauce up. The Berkshire pork rib was seasoned just right and came right off the bone. I could not get enough of the Ritz cracker topped mac n' cheese. MMM! The greens were cooked perfectly and oh so yummy. Both were served in cool, little, speckled, blue tin mugs. My pal thoroughly enjoyed her chicken and salad and rib but didn't totally love the broccoli cheese casserole.
For dessert, because I HAVE to get one every time. HA! I decided on the chocolate chip, pecan hand pie. Never again. I should have listened to Jeffrey and ordered the butterscotch pudding but I was so wanting a hint of chocolate. BOO. It stunk! It reminded me of a fancy pop tart. UCK!
But! I totally recommend and will be going back to Sweet Cheeks Q very soon with my man. He is lucky that the portions are on the larger side and that I tend to eat like a little bird. Haha. He gets a lil' nibble before the real thing. Jeffrey packaged everything in separate boxes and even gave me some barbecue sauce to go. He was awesome. Brisket, pork belly, hush puppies, and fried green tomatoes are just some of the other options on the down home Texas style BBQ menu. I will totally be sampling the blackeyed peas next time. The restaurant is wide open with a Lone Star/barn type appeal. Group seating allows for more patrons and the bar is small but fun to chill at. The atmosphere is laid back, loud and busy. And the prices aren't too crazy for the amount of food you are served. It would have been kinda cool to meet Tiffani, the chick from the actual show, Top Chef. Maybe next time. If you enjoy authentic BBQ and the staple fixings, get your butt to Sweet Cheeks Q asap! (photo below courtesy of my amiga que linda)
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