Tonight was a crummy night. Plans for the "new" girls' night were cancelled, but I thought I would still drag my mother out with me. I had to run a few errands, and why not grab a bite while you're out running errands. The first place we went to was Christmas Tree Shops. I like to go there when I'm planning to eat out because there are many restaurants I enjoy in that area. I was in the mood for Italian, so it came down to Lisiano's or Gabriele's. To be perfectly honest, I chose Lisiano's because I already blogged about Gabriele's. There will eventually be repeat restaurants but no repeat dishes.
We arrived at Lisiano's and we were the only two there. It upset me to see how empty the restaurant was. Lisiano's is a very good restaurant. It's in the plaza with Clockwork Comics in Orange. (Near Starbucks) It's a cute little restaurant. It has an "at home" feel to it. There are quite a few tables in the front of the restaurant and the kitchen is in the back. You can see into the back quite clearly. They also have a television in the kitchen that you can see at times. Eating dinner while watching Jeopardy always makes me feel at home. It's nicely decorated.
We had a nice young waiter. He gave us some bread when we sat down. The bread is delicious. Fresh baked, you can tell. I also enjoy that they have olive oil on the table. I'm not a big fan of buttering my bread. I'd much rather dip it in olive oil. The next thing we ordered was the chicken tortellini soup. The best. The absolute best. Usually when you order chicken tortellini soup in a restaurant, they put a few tortellini in chicken broth. Not at Lisiano's. They have the tortellini, pieces of chicken, and vegetables. The broth is so flavorful. I could seriously go there and just eat soup and bread. Divine. I want to do that one night. I want to go to a restaurant- any restaurant- and just order different cups of soup. That would be so great in my opinion.
For dinner, I ordered eggplant rollatini. It was very good. There were two eggplant rolls stuffed with ricotta and mozzarella served over penne. It was a large portion and the sauce is very good. I took one eggplant and some penne home with me. My mom ordered chicken lisiano. It was chicken with mushrooms, potatoes, peas, and onions with a touch of tomato sauce. She said it was okay. I don't really like to order chicken any more. One too many times of getting that hard or gross piece of chicken. She didn't have any gross pieces, she just said she wasn't crazy for it. It was good but just good. The chicken was also served over penne.
The meal was good. A bit pricey. With the tip, it cost $50. We did get two entrees and soup (which is separate) and two drinks, but a little much. I've gone there before and have always been satisfied. I've also ordered the shrimp fra diavolo and the calamari fra diavolo. I ordered meatballs one time. I can't remember with what. The meatballs were not my cup of tea, then again, I'm very particular about meatballs. They had an odd taste. Almost a sweet taste. They also offer squash flowers as an appetizer, which is a rarity. But anyway, It was a bit pricey. Although, I believe Gabriele's would have been more expensive. I recommend it. It's a very low-key and quiet place during the week. It was pretty crowded when I've been there on the weekend, but I was able to get seated right away. I wonder if people just don't think of going there. It's a pretty good place. I will definitely go back. I don't know about my mom but part of me just thinks she said it was bad because she wanted to Gabriele's. Don't tell her I said that though. Until my next bite...
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Monday, February 25, 2013
Home Cooking
Even though today is Monday, I felt in the mood to cook tonight. I believe Monday gets a bad rap. Yes, you have to go back to work after the weekend but really it's the easiest day of the work week. Everyone, even the most miserable bastard, is slow-moving on a Monday. Everyone has a "case of the Mondays." Being a teacher, Monday is the only day I don't have to worry about correcting or bringing anything home with me. Usually I bring home some work on on the weekend and by Monday, I'm all set for the week. And it's only Monday so anything you have to get done can be done on one of the other days. Monday is usually my night for Dancing with the Stars. It's just a lovely night. I think Tuesday is really the worst day. I take that back. I don't want to jinx myself.
So anyway, I had planned to cook tonight. I wanted to make shrimp scampi but this time, I decided to add some spinach to it. Fabulous move. As you know, I love shrimp. I just basically love any type of fish over pasta. Shrimp, clams, mussels, scallops, calamari, you name it- I love it. I've actually become a shrimp scampi and shrimp fra diavolo snob. I just like the way I make it more than any way a restaurant has prepared it. I will almost always order some type of seafood over pasta, but I will not order scampi or diavolo. I don't do anything special to it. I'm not quite sure why it tastes different than at a restaurant.
Here's what I did tonight- I put the pot with salt and water on the stove to begin to heat up. While that was heating up, I started to cook the spinach. I put some olive oil and garlic cloves in a pan and then added the spinach. I let that cook until it wilted and reduced size. I then removed the spinach and garlic. In the same pan that I cooked the spinach in I added a bit of butter and a little more olive oil. I sauteed chopped garlic with some red pepper flakes. Put the shrimp in the pan, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and let that start to turn pink. By that time, the water should be boiling and some spaghetti-like pasta can begin to cook. I then added about 1/2 cup of white wine, some squirts of lemon juice and let that come to a boil. Then reduce the heat, add some pasta water to create more of a sauce. I put the spinach back with the shrimp mixture. When the vermicelli was ready, I just put it directly into the pan with the shrimp and tossed it together. Sprinkle a little parsley on top and boom- you're ready to eat.
It was a very tasty meal. You have your grains, vegetable, protein. Can't go wrong. Feel free to give it a try. The only difficult part about the meal was peeling the shrimp before I started cooking. Other than that, it was quick and simple. I would really love to add a little Parmesan cheese to that but I know there's the whole rule about not combining cheese and fish. I would just like to know why that is. Fish is delicious. Cheese is delicious. Why not put them together? People do all crazy shit these days. Chocolate covered bacon is OK, but oh Lord, don't put the cheese on the table with shrimp scampi! I believe that Giada said that rule is made up. I normally yell at Giada while I'm watching her show. I say things like, "Oh shut up, Giada!" It gets my anger out. But in this case, I agree with her. Feel free to leave a comment with your opinion on the matter. Time to go get ready for Fashion Police! Until my next bite...
So anyway, I had planned to cook tonight. I wanted to make shrimp scampi but this time, I decided to add some spinach to it. Fabulous move. As you know, I love shrimp. I just basically love any type of fish over pasta. Shrimp, clams, mussels, scallops, calamari, you name it- I love it. I've actually become a shrimp scampi and shrimp fra diavolo snob. I just like the way I make it more than any way a restaurant has prepared it. I will almost always order some type of seafood over pasta, but I will not order scampi or diavolo. I don't do anything special to it. I'm not quite sure why it tastes different than at a restaurant.
Here's what I did tonight- I put the pot with salt and water on the stove to begin to heat up. While that was heating up, I started to cook the spinach. I put some olive oil and garlic cloves in a pan and then added the spinach. I let that cook until it wilted and reduced size. I then removed the spinach and garlic. In the same pan that I cooked the spinach in I added a bit of butter and a little more olive oil. I sauteed chopped garlic with some red pepper flakes. Put the shrimp in the pan, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and let that start to turn pink. By that time, the water should be boiling and some spaghetti-like pasta can begin to cook. I then added about 1/2 cup of white wine, some squirts of lemon juice and let that come to a boil. Then reduce the heat, add some pasta water to create more of a sauce. I put the spinach back with the shrimp mixture. When the vermicelli was ready, I just put it directly into the pan with the shrimp and tossed it together. Sprinkle a little parsley on top and boom- you're ready to eat.
It was a very tasty meal. You have your grains, vegetable, protein. Can't go wrong. Feel free to give it a try. The only difficult part about the meal was peeling the shrimp before I started cooking. Other than that, it was quick and simple. I would really love to add a little Parmesan cheese to that but I know there's the whole rule about not combining cheese and fish. I would just like to know why that is. Fish is delicious. Cheese is delicious. Why not put them together? People do all crazy shit these days. Chocolate covered bacon is OK, but oh Lord, don't put the cheese on the table with shrimp scampi! I believe that Giada said that rule is made up. I normally yell at Giada while I'm watching her show. I say things like, "Oh shut up, Giada!" It gets my anger out. But in this case, I agree with her. Feel free to leave a comment with your opinion on the matter. Time to go get ready for Fashion Police! Until my next bite...
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Ready for Spring!
This weekend was very low-key food wise. It was damp and rainy. I really didn't feel like doing much at all. Although it was gray and dismal, it felt like spring was in the air! Friday I spent my day playing bingo at Foxwoods so I only ate a quick grilled cheese during intermission. Nothing to comment on. If we ate at one of the restaurants I would of had a review but no need for a counter service grilled cheese. We did, however, stop at Libby's Italian Pastry Shop on the way home. I love Libby's. It brings me to a different place and time.
When you walk through the door, the inside looks as it always did. To the left there's a little roped off area where you can sit down an get coffee. All of the cases are at the back of the room. First they have pastries and pieces of cake, then cookies, then the freezer with the Italian ice. I love it in Libby's. I'm usually intimidated to sit down and order coffee but I just love the whole idea of it. I could imagine myself living on Wooster Street and walking down for a normal coffee/chat session night every week. It's pathetic that I can imagine myself as a little, old fart, lady hanging out at a pastry shop. I've always said that I was born in the wrong decade. I would love a place like Libby's to be closer to me. I'm not a huge dessert person, so you know I didn't order pastries, pie, or cake. I went to Libby's for what I love- the cookies! I ordered myself a nice pound of cookies comprised of tri color, stars, milano, thumb prints, and pignoli. Delicious. If they had acorns, I would've ordered those too. I love their cookies. I also had a squeeze cup of lemon Italian ice. Another fabulous thing. You can buy Libby's Italian ice at a few different places, but it's not the same. To get it freshly scooped. Nothing like it. I'd also like to try their gelato but haven't yet. If anyone wants to join me in a weekly visit to Libby's once the warmer weather arrives, let me know.
Tonight my mom showed me how to make corned beef and cabbage. Let's stop right there. I just want those who read this to know that the beef is corned, or salt cured. It is not corn beef or corn, beef, and cabbage (it was written this way once in a SCSU newsletter). I love corned beef. It's so salty and tender I just can't get enough! I love it plain in a dish, I love it with mustard, I love it on a sandwich! I love it on a boat. I love it with a goat. I love corned beef and cabbage. I love it Sam-I-am. Some places, though, do not make it properly. Yes, corned beef and cabbage is a one-pot, boiled dish, but that doesn't mean that it needs to taste like a pot of boiled crap. I asked my mom how she and my Auntie Carm make it. The corned beef goes in water with a few garlic cloves and an onion studded with cloves. That should begin to boil and cook for 3 hours. The meat comes out, carrots, cabbage, and potatoes are then added. Those boil for a bit and then the corned beef is returned to the pot. Fabulous. It's amazing how much flavor comes out of the onion and cloves. That's it. It can also be done in the crock pot, which actually I prefer, but it really doesn't matter that much. We ate this with rye bread and Irish soda bread from Emerald Bakery. I like Emerald Bakery. Their cupcakes and dessert products aren't really that good but their bread and scones are out of this world. Russian pumpernickel. Divine. Toasted with butter. Out of this world.
I'm getting off track. That's really it though. I love a good corned beef and it always makes me think of spring. St. Patty's day is a few weeks a way. Hopefully I'll be eating it again soon. Maybe with something green. I love food that has food coloring in it. People were grossed out by the green ketchup, not me. Just makes it better. That's all for now. Keep eating and keep thinking of spring!
When you walk through the door, the inside looks as it always did. To the left there's a little roped off area where you can sit down an get coffee. All of the cases are at the back of the room. First they have pastries and pieces of cake, then cookies, then the freezer with the Italian ice. I love it in Libby's. I'm usually intimidated to sit down and order coffee but I just love the whole idea of it. I could imagine myself living on Wooster Street and walking down for a normal coffee/chat session night every week. It's pathetic that I can imagine myself as a little, old fart, lady hanging out at a pastry shop. I've always said that I was born in the wrong decade. I would love a place like Libby's to be closer to me. I'm not a huge dessert person, so you know I didn't order pastries, pie, or cake. I went to Libby's for what I love- the cookies! I ordered myself a nice pound of cookies comprised of tri color, stars, milano, thumb prints, and pignoli. Delicious. If they had acorns, I would've ordered those too. I love their cookies. I also had a squeeze cup of lemon Italian ice. Another fabulous thing. You can buy Libby's Italian ice at a few different places, but it's not the same. To get it freshly scooped. Nothing like it. I'd also like to try their gelato but haven't yet. If anyone wants to join me in a weekly visit to Libby's once the warmer weather arrives, let me know.
Tonight my mom showed me how to make corned beef and cabbage. Let's stop right there. I just want those who read this to know that the beef is corned, or salt cured. It is not corn beef or corn, beef, and cabbage (it was written this way once in a SCSU newsletter). I love corned beef. It's so salty and tender I just can't get enough! I love it plain in a dish, I love it with mustard, I love it on a sandwich! I love it on a boat. I love it with a goat. I love corned beef and cabbage. I love it Sam-I-am. Some places, though, do not make it properly. Yes, corned beef and cabbage is a one-pot, boiled dish, but that doesn't mean that it needs to taste like a pot of boiled crap. I asked my mom how she and my Auntie Carm make it. The corned beef goes in water with a few garlic cloves and an onion studded with cloves. That should begin to boil and cook for 3 hours. The meat comes out, carrots, cabbage, and potatoes are then added. Those boil for a bit and then the corned beef is returned to the pot. Fabulous. It's amazing how much flavor comes out of the onion and cloves. That's it. It can also be done in the crock pot, which actually I prefer, but it really doesn't matter that much. We ate this with rye bread and Irish soda bread from Emerald Bakery. I like Emerald Bakery. Their cupcakes and dessert products aren't really that good but their bread and scones are out of this world. Russian pumpernickel. Divine. Toasted with butter. Out of this world.
I'm getting off track. That's really it though. I love a good corned beef and it always makes me think of spring. St. Patty's day is a few weeks a way. Hopefully I'll be eating it again soon. Maybe with something green. I love food that has food coloring in it. People were grossed out by the green ketchup, not me. Just makes it better. That's all for now. Keep eating and keep thinking of spring!
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Savin Rock Roasting / Shake Shack
I went on a small food adventure today with Carrie. Not one of our best adventures but at least we tried something new. We started off at Savin Rock Roasting Company in West Haven. I ate there once when it first opened. I wasn't pleased then but it was when they first opened, so I thought I would give it another try. People rave about SRRC and go there all the time. I don't know why. I've changed my shirt twice and still have the stink of food, smoke, and fish all over me.
We walked in the door and there was a fog of smoke in the restaurant. It wasn't cigarette smoke just smoke from the cooking I guess. We were seated and offered a beverage. I followed Carrie's lead and ordered a Bloody Mary. It was good. Not Oyster River or Duffy's good but good. We decided to order a soup and some apps. I ordered the Rhode Island clam chowder and Carrie ordered the crab bisque. I tasted her bisque. Too rich and creamy for me but then again, that is a bisque. The chowder was delicious. Filled with clams and few potatoes. Perfect. For apps we chose fried calamari and crab cakes. The marinara had a nice amount of red pepper flakes on top. A good mixture of rings and the tentacle ones. Crab cakes were filled with different types of seafood. All of the food was good but I don't have any desire to head back there anytime soon. The parking is terrible. Small lot in the back- where everyone decided to park like an absolute fool and street parking.
Then we made a quick stop at Ikea. I kind of wished we just ate there. $3.99 Swedish Meatballs. Not bad. After our shopping we went to Shake Shack. We contemplated going there for lunch but ended up at SRRC. Shake Shack is on Chapel Street in New Haven. I have to say, I'm not a fan. It just wasn't my cup of tea. I felt like I didn't fit in there. It was an odd mix of people- college kids, hobos, old loners. It was weird. If I were still in college and lived in New Haven, it would be an ideal place to hang out with my friends. But because I do not fit any of those descriptions, I never want to be there again. Here's why:
I walked up to the counter and saw that there were two lines leading to the same cashier. This was the first strike. 1 line was like the "fast pass" lane for people ordering shakes and beverages only and the other was for people ordering food in addition to the shakes. I understand the purpose of the fast pass lane if there were more than 1 cashier, but today there was no need for it. So because there were only two people in front of us and there was only 1 cashier, Carrie and I stepped into line. Just as Carrie was about to order some guy came up the fast pass lane and went in front of her. Terrible! It really didn't matter much because I ended up getting my shake before Carrie and this guy, but it's the principle! Finally I made it up to the counter. I ordered a peanut butter shake. The girl said, "Your name?" Now I didn't expect them to need my name so I said what? She, very rudely, said, "Y-o-u-r n-a-m-e?" Stretching out the sounds. So I said Betsy. She said what? So then I, very rudely, said "Bet - see." Bitch. Strike 2. She then proceeded to give me one of those buzzer things that you get when you're waiting to be seated at a crowded restaurant. Completely ridiculous! Strike 3 as far as I'm concerned.
I ended up getting my shake before Carrie and the other guy, even though I ordered after them. My shake was okay. It was very peanut buttery. It wasn't worth the hassle. I thought it was going to be a fun place with a great menu but no. It was very anti-climatic. They have burgers, hot dogs, regular shakes (nothing really special) and floats. I may try it again for the burgers but most likely not. The concluded our food adventure for today. More Betsy/Carrie trips to come! Until my next venture...
We walked in the door and there was a fog of smoke in the restaurant. It wasn't cigarette smoke just smoke from the cooking I guess. We were seated and offered a beverage. I followed Carrie's lead and ordered a Bloody Mary. It was good. Not Oyster River or Duffy's good but good. We decided to order a soup and some apps. I ordered the Rhode Island clam chowder and Carrie ordered the crab bisque. I tasted her bisque. Too rich and creamy for me but then again, that is a bisque. The chowder was delicious. Filled with clams and few potatoes. Perfect. For apps we chose fried calamari and crab cakes. The marinara had a nice amount of red pepper flakes on top. A good mixture of rings and the tentacle ones. Crab cakes were filled with different types of seafood. All of the food was good but I don't have any desire to head back there anytime soon. The parking is terrible. Small lot in the back- where everyone decided to park like an absolute fool and street parking.
Then we made a quick stop at Ikea. I kind of wished we just ate there. $3.99 Swedish Meatballs. Not bad. After our shopping we went to Shake Shack. We contemplated going there for lunch but ended up at SRRC. Shake Shack is on Chapel Street in New Haven. I have to say, I'm not a fan. It just wasn't my cup of tea. I felt like I didn't fit in there. It was an odd mix of people- college kids, hobos, old loners. It was weird. If I were still in college and lived in New Haven, it would be an ideal place to hang out with my friends. But because I do not fit any of those descriptions, I never want to be there again. Here's why:
I walked up to the counter and saw that there were two lines leading to the same cashier. This was the first strike. 1 line was like the "fast pass" lane for people ordering shakes and beverages only and the other was for people ordering food in addition to the shakes. I understand the purpose of the fast pass lane if there were more than 1 cashier, but today there was no need for it. So because there were only two people in front of us and there was only 1 cashier, Carrie and I stepped into line. Just as Carrie was about to order some guy came up the fast pass lane and went in front of her. Terrible! It really didn't matter much because I ended up getting my shake before Carrie and this guy, but it's the principle! Finally I made it up to the counter. I ordered a peanut butter shake. The girl said, "Your name?" Now I didn't expect them to need my name so I said what? She, very rudely, said, "Y-o-u-r n-a-m-e?" Stretching out the sounds. So I said Betsy. She said what? So then I, very rudely, said "Bet - see." Bitch. Strike 2. She then proceeded to give me one of those buzzer things that you get when you're waiting to be seated at a crowded restaurant. Completely ridiculous! Strike 3 as far as I'm concerned.
I ended up getting my shake before Carrie and the other guy, even though I ordered after them. My shake was okay. It was very peanut buttery. It wasn't worth the hassle. I thought it was going to be a fun place with a great menu but no. It was very anti-climatic. They have burgers, hot dogs, regular shakes (nothing really special) and floats. I may try it again for the burgers but most likely not. The concluded our food adventure for today. More Betsy/Carrie trips to come! Until my next venture...
Gino's Steakhouse aka Chops aka Chuck's
Last night was my 1 year anniversary with DJ. We thought about going somewhere overnight seeing how I am currently enjoying my February vacation, but because the weather has been so unpredictable these days we decided to stay local. I was trying to think of a fancy or out-of-the-usual place to go eat. I'm disappointed with the lack of restaurants in the area. I know New Haven has a ton of places to eat but I never feel comfortable enough to venture out. I feel like there used to be more restaurants you could go to for a special occasion. Right now only Food and Beverage and The Gathering come to mind but I know if I sat here and thought a little longer, more would come to mind. Then I thought of Chuck's. It was always such a big deal to go to Chuck's when I was younger. It was where we would go for a special birthday or New Year's Eve. It has since changed hands a few times but it still is Chuck's when you sit inside.
We had dinner at 6 and we practically had the place to ourselves. Everything inside looks the same except for the chairs (they seem more comfy) and there's a piano in the main room. Some people were at the bar and there was one other couple eating dinner when we arrived. Our waitress was wonderful. She was kind, attentive, and friendly. The menu is simple. One page of choices. Chuck's always had a simple menu. The menu was comprised of steaks, other grilled meats, fish, and some apps. There weren't any main choices that were totally animal-free. Not that I mind, because I enjoy eating all types of animals. I started with the New England clam chowder. It was good. New England clam chowder has always upset my stomach so I don't know if I have lost my taste for NE, or if this just wasn't too good. It was served in a bowl and if I ate the entire bowl, I never would have eaten my dinner. It was thick and creamy. The potatoes were a touch hard and there were few pieces of clam. I think the thickness is what turned me off. I know NE chowder is supposed to be thick but again, I think I've gotten sick off of it too many times to fully appreciate it. If you're looking for very good NE clam chowder, go to Chandler's Tavern at the Yankee Candle Factory hub in Massachusetts. Best clam chowder I've ever had. Moving back to Gino's....
The salad bar is still there. All of the toppings are the same... I think. Although I don't think there were any black olives. I tried the cucumber wasabi dressing. Delicious. It was smooth tasting to start and then after you swallowed it, the heat took over your throat. Good stuff. They still have bread, croutons, bacon bits, black pepper, and all of the usual salad toppings. The beets are fresh. Chuck's used to have the slices from the can, but Gino's has chunks of beets. Good stuff.
For dinner I had the rack of lamb. Lamb was never on the menu when it was Chuck's so I thought I would take advantage. I really love lamb. It somewhat of an acquired taste but once you acquire it, there's no looking back. It was pretty tasty. There must have been a dry seasoning on it because it was flavorful but there was no sauce on it. It was char grilled. All that was served was the lamb. There were 4 pieces of it which was enough for me, but it made me wish I had kept the soup. All of the dishes are ala carte. Chuck's used to serve it with a potato but not Gino. DJ ordered the NY Strip. He liked it and also ordered a baked potato for $3 extra. It was a decent size potato but I still think all the meals should come with something. It wasn't that fancy or that delicious that everything needed to be sold separately. I went back to the salad bar after I finished my lamb. We had some wine and then left. I've mentioned before that I'm not a dessert person.
All in all, it was a nice meal. That building has such potential but no one goes there. I think it's because it is a bit pricy but not THE best, it's in a crappy spot, and there's nothing offered that pulls people in. They should have a special night or have a piano player. Bloody Mary Mondays. If they had that, I know I'd go. It did have that special night aura to it. I was even tempted to write something on the ladies' bathroom wall. As I scanned the various "Nicki lovin' Sam '91" I couldn't help but wonder if Nicki still loves Sam. That was written 22 years ago. I can't believe it. Where does time go? And because it was my anniversary, I wanted to write "Betsy lovin' DJ '13" but that just seemed stupid. It was still a thought I had. And until my next bite....
We had dinner at 6 and we practically had the place to ourselves. Everything inside looks the same except for the chairs (they seem more comfy) and there's a piano in the main room. Some people were at the bar and there was one other couple eating dinner when we arrived. Our waitress was wonderful. She was kind, attentive, and friendly. The menu is simple. One page of choices. Chuck's always had a simple menu. The menu was comprised of steaks, other grilled meats, fish, and some apps. There weren't any main choices that were totally animal-free. Not that I mind, because I enjoy eating all types of animals. I started with the New England clam chowder. It was good. New England clam chowder has always upset my stomach so I don't know if I have lost my taste for NE, or if this just wasn't too good. It was served in a bowl and if I ate the entire bowl, I never would have eaten my dinner. It was thick and creamy. The potatoes were a touch hard and there were few pieces of clam. I think the thickness is what turned me off. I know NE chowder is supposed to be thick but again, I think I've gotten sick off of it too many times to fully appreciate it. If you're looking for very good NE clam chowder, go to Chandler's Tavern at the Yankee Candle Factory hub in Massachusetts. Best clam chowder I've ever had. Moving back to Gino's....
The salad bar is still there. All of the toppings are the same... I think. Although I don't think there were any black olives. I tried the cucumber wasabi dressing. Delicious. It was smooth tasting to start and then after you swallowed it, the heat took over your throat. Good stuff. They still have bread, croutons, bacon bits, black pepper, and all of the usual salad toppings. The beets are fresh. Chuck's used to have the slices from the can, but Gino's has chunks of beets. Good stuff.
For dinner I had the rack of lamb. Lamb was never on the menu when it was Chuck's so I thought I would take advantage. I really love lamb. It somewhat of an acquired taste but once you acquire it, there's no looking back. It was pretty tasty. There must have been a dry seasoning on it because it was flavorful but there was no sauce on it. It was char grilled. All that was served was the lamb. There were 4 pieces of it which was enough for me, but it made me wish I had kept the soup. All of the dishes are ala carte. Chuck's used to serve it with a potato but not Gino. DJ ordered the NY Strip. He liked it and also ordered a baked potato for $3 extra. It was a decent size potato but I still think all the meals should come with something. It wasn't that fancy or that delicious that everything needed to be sold separately. I went back to the salad bar after I finished my lamb. We had some wine and then left. I've mentioned before that I'm not a dessert person.
All in all, it was a nice meal. That building has such potential but no one goes there. I think it's because it is a bit pricy but not THE best, it's in a crappy spot, and there's nothing offered that pulls people in. They should have a special night or have a piano player. Bloody Mary Mondays. If they had that, I know I'd go. It did have that special night aura to it. I was even tempted to write something on the ladies' bathroom wall. As I scanned the various "Nicki lovin' Sam '91" I couldn't help but wonder if Nicki still loves Sam. That was written 22 years ago. I can't believe it. Where does time go? And because it was my anniversary, I wanted to write "Betsy lovin' DJ '13" but that just seemed stupid. It was still a thought I had. And until my next bite....
Monday, February 18, 2013
A Little Shmorgishborg
I have a few quick bite that I'm going to put together in today's post. As I have mentioned, I have been searching for tasty meatless meals on Fridays due to the Lenten season. I ordered from China Pavilion because I was dining solo. Knowing that I inform people about different dishes, I decided to try something new. I ordered the hot and sour soup. Let's spend a minute here. My mother had raved about the soup and so had my friend and co-worker, Maria. I don't know what I was anticipating the soup to taste like but it didn't quite meet my standards. It was hot and it was sour, yet I didn't know what to expect that to taste like. It is a brownish kind of thick broth. In the soup is tofu, vegetables, and I think bits of egg. It was okay, but not something that I would order if wonton soup were an option. For my meal I ordered the Baby and Jumbo Shrimp in Two Flavors. Oh my word. Completely blew my mind! The two flavors are: prawn in chili sauce and shrimp with black bean sauce. Of the two, I prefer the black bean sauce but both were stunning. Both of the sauces are spicy, so if you're looking for spicy shrimp, I recommend it. The black bean sauce was not heavy at all. It was more of a stir-fry with black beans in it with various Chinese vegetables. It was spicy and salty at the same time. Next time I order from CP I think I'll just get the shrimp with black bean sauce. The prawn in chili sauce was spicy but sweet at the same time. It was very good but not something I typically order. If you like general tso's, sweet and sour, or anything with a heavier sauce, you might prefer the chili sauce. I believe that shrimp was lightly battered.
Today I went to Pop's in Milford for lunch. Now I know I was on a rant against Milfordians in my last post, but it's a love/hate relationship. It's true as a Westie, I've always hated Milfordians. As I've grown older I always wondered why I had this hate. I almost entirely forgot about my hate until I met that waitress at Seabreeze. The people at Pop's are wonderful. The waitresses are friendly, kind, and attentive and Victor, the bus man/host is also wonderful. Pop's delivers to Milford and has delivered to Haley school in West Haven. Right now they are only open until 3 but I believe when their new free-standing building opens, they will be open for dinner. For lunch I ordered the chicken salad melt. It came with coleslaw, french fries, a pickle, and coffee. I love their chicken salad. It's made with fresh chicken, mayo, and grapes. I love the grapes! It was served grilled on rye with cheese and bacon. Fabulous. They had a few lunch specials as well. I've ordered lunch from there a few times before. Very good wraps, and salads! The Greek salad with grilled chicken is magnificent! I always gave my stuffed grape leaves to Carrie, but still a delicious salad.
For dinner tonight I made a pork tenderloin and brussels sprouts. First time ever eating brussel sprouts. Not bad. I like cabbage. I like donuts. I like munchkins. So I figured brussel sprouts are just like munchkins. I just put olive oil, salt, and pepper and roasted them in a 400 degree oven for about 30 minutes. Very good. Like a veggie French fry. The pork was a combination of Ellie Kreger's recipe and Ina Garten's. I put a lot of spices on the outside, evoo, dijon mustard, garlic, and I let it marinate for a few hours. Seared in a saute pan, then finished baking in the oven with the brussels. A nice meal. And now I think it's just about time for a Dunkin run. No donuts or munchkins. I'm trying to cut down. Even with the sugar. Coffee- cream only. Until next time...
Today I went to Pop's in Milford for lunch. Now I know I was on a rant against Milfordians in my last post, but it's a love/hate relationship. It's true as a Westie, I've always hated Milfordians. As I've grown older I always wondered why I had this hate. I almost entirely forgot about my hate until I met that waitress at Seabreeze. The people at Pop's are wonderful. The waitresses are friendly, kind, and attentive and Victor, the bus man/host is also wonderful. Pop's delivers to Milford and has delivered to Haley school in West Haven. Right now they are only open until 3 but I believe when their new free-standing building opens, they will be open for dinner. For lunch I ordered the chicken salad melt. It came with coleslaw, french fries, a pickle, and coffee. I love their chicken salad. It's made with fresh chicken, mayo, and grapes. I love the grapes! It was served grilled on rye with cheese and bacon. Fabulous. They had a few lunch specials as well. I've ordered lunch from there a few times before. Very good wraps, and salads! The Greek salad with grilled chicken is magnificent! I always gave my stuffed grape leaves to Carrie, but still a delicious salad.
For dinner tonight I made a pork tenderloin and brussels sprouts. First time ever eating brussel sprouts. Not bad. I like cabbage. I like donuts. I like munchkins. So I figured brussel sprouts are just like munchkins. I just put olive oil, salt, and pepper and roasted them in a 400 degree oven for about 30 minutes. Very good. Like a veggie French fry. The pork was a combination of Ellie Kreger's recipe and Ina Garten's. I put a lot of spices on the outside, evoo, dijon mustard, garlic, and I let it marinate for a few hours. Seared in a saute pan, then finished baking in the oven with the brussels. A nice meal. And now I think it's just about time for a Dunkin run. No donuts or munchkins. I'm trying to cut down. Even with the sugar. Coffee- cream only. Until next time...
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Seabreeze Pizza Plus
Last night was the fourth time I had been to Seabreeze Pizza Plus in Milford. I always drive by the building on Seabreeze Ave and was always curious about the food. It's been a few other places but right now, it's Seabreeze. I asked DJ to be a brave soul and try it with me. We went once in the beginning of the summer- just the two of us. We also went with another adventurous couple, Andrew and Esther. On both of those occasions we were able to just walk in and get seated. Then we tried to introduce it to DJ's brother and soon-to-be-sister-in-law, and could not get a table. When we walked in, the waitress looked at us like we had 7 heads when we said we didn't have reservations. Needless to say, we weren't seated and ordered two pizzas to go. Last night I felt in the mood to go there so I had DJ make a reservation to avoid any problems. We walked in at just about 6:30 (reservations were made for 6:30).
The same waitress as last time asked us if we had reservations. DJ said yes- for 6:30. They were baffled when he said this. Oh I don't think so. I don't remember at DJ they said. But sure enough, they checked and we did. They were friendly the rest of the night but are you kidding me? Who the f-- hell are you to say we didn't make reservations? Typical Milford assholes. People think I'm crazy sometimes but being a kid from West Haven, you loathe Milford people. They think they are wonderful. For what reason? You are sandwiched between West Haven and Stratford. Give me a break. Unless you live in one of the mansions near the beach, don't give me that crap that you're rich. If you were smart and rich, you'd be living in a much more prestigious town with more land. I'm a fan of The Good Earth. Wealth comes from, and is shown by, the land you own. If my blog goes big, I'll move to Darien, Westport, Guilford, Cheshire, or Madison before I go to Milford. Now if it doesn't go big and I just continue to be a teacher, I may want to live in Milford. It will be a moment of defeat but what can I say? I wish there would be a mayor who would literally clean up West Haven. It has so much potential. There is the beach that begins to crap up as soon as you hit the People's Bank plaza, the beautiful wooded areas on Forest Road and near Carrigan. UNH is a thriving university but is located in the heart of the ghetto. West Haven is a great community! We need more businesses, cleaner streets, and attractive properties rather than abandoned factory buildings, homes in need of a paint job, and countless dollar stores. Nothing says class like a bar and a dollar store next to each other. This is heading in another direction. I'll stop and get back to the bites.
Seabreeze is really a nice place and the food is very good. I just think that they have been incredibly rude the most recent 2/4 times I've been there. If you want to go, I suggest making a reservation. It's BYOB which is always a plus in my mind. The inside of it is very small. I think there are about 8 tables. It also seems like everyone who goes in there knows each other, which is nice if you're in the know. Apparently if you're an outsider, you're treated like crap. The first time I went, I ordered the mussels praiano. Mussels, hot Italian sausage, peppers, onions, garlic over pasta. Very tasty. Cheese garlic bread- fabulous. The second time we had pizza. It is a thin crust pizza. I prefer thin crust so it's perfect for me. The third time we had pizza to-go. 1 was sausage and peppers (my pizza) and the other was buffalo chicken (an absolute sin in my opinion). This last time I ordered the short ribs Bolognese. It was very good. The meat was sweet and tender, covered in tomato sauce, and served over fettuccine. It reminded me of my mom's meat sauce. It seemed a little foolish to order that because I could just make it at home. When I go out to eat, I try to order things that I don't usually make at home. But if you're not a cook and you don't see mom anymore, it's a good choice. DJ ordered pizza. He had a meatball. I had to try it for my blog of course. The pizza was fabulous. There was a family of 4 that had a large cheese pizza that looked amazing.
The season of Lent has begun. Even though I don't consider myself a huge meat-eater, I always want meat on Friday during lent. Another crazy quirk about me, I like to order food loaded with meat when it is not Friday. It's almost as if I want to get it out of my system before Friday rolls around. I always think it's a waste to have a meatless meal on another night of the week during lent. That never really works, so I should probably stop doing that. I will share my meatless take-out in another blog.
To sum up, Seabreeze is a small restaurant that produces yummy food. It's nicer to go to in the summertime because they have outdoor seating. Regardless of the time of year, or the size of your party, make reservations! It's a cheerful place once you're in the "in-crowd." It's BYOB with a corking fee. They also offer a variety of Stewart's sodas and canned soda- regular and diet. The pizza is thin crust and very good. They offer regular toppings and have a few specialty pizzas. They have a selection of appetizers and entrees. I find it to be vegetarian-friendly or Catholic lenten Friday friendly. And if you've read this far, Here's my proposition- a group of us should go there on a regular basis. Let's take this place over Westie style. Let us be the ones in the in-crowd. Let us be the ones to curl our noses up! 6-8 weeks? Here's the website: http://www.seabreezepizzaplus.com/menu.html
Until my next bite....
The same waitress as last time asked us if we had reservations. DJ said yes- for 6:30. They were baffled when he said this. Oh I don't think so. I don't remember at DJ they said. But sure enough, they checked and we did. They were friendly the rest of the night but are you kidding me? Who the f-- hell are you to say we didn't make reservations? Typical Milford assholes. People think I'm crazy sometimes but being a kid from West Haven, you loathe Milford people. They think they are wonderful. For what reason? You are sandwiched between West Haven and Stratford. Give me a break. Unless you live in one of the mansions near the beach, don't give me that crap that you're rich. If you were smart and rich, you'd be living in a much more prestigious town with more land. I'm a fan of The Good Earth. Wealth comes from, and is shown by, the land you own. If my blog goes big, I'll move to Darien, Westport, Guilford, Cheshire, or Madison before I go to Milford. Now if it doesn't go big and I just continue to be a teacher, I may want to live in Milford. It will be a moment of defeat but what can I say? I wish there would be a mayor who would literally clean up West Haven. It has so much potential. There is the beach that begins to crap up as soon as you hit the People's Bank plaza, the beautiful wooded areas on Forest Road and near Carrigan. UNH is a thriving university but is located in the heart of the ghetto. West Haven is a great community! We need more businesses, cleaner streets, and attractive properties rather than abandoned factory buildings, homes in need of a paint job, and countless dollar stores. Nothing says class like a bar and a dollar store next to each other. This is heading in another direction. I'll stop and get back to the bites.
Seabreeze is really a nice place and the food is very good. I just think that they have been incredibly rude the most recent 2/4 times I've been there. If you want to go, I suggest making a reservation. It's BYOB which is always a plus in my mind. The inside of it is very small. I think there are about 8 tables. It also seems like everyone who goes in there knows each other, which is nice if you're in the know. Apparently if you're an outsider, you're treated like crap. The first time I went, I ordered the mussels praiano. Mussels, hot Italian sausage, peppers, onions, garlic over pasta. Very tasty. Cheese garlic bread- fabulous. The second time we had pizza. It is a thin crust pizza. I prefer thin crust so it's perfect for me. The third time we had pizza to-go. 1 was sausage and peppers (my pizza) and the other was buffalo chicken (an absolute sin in my opinion). This last time I ordered the short ribs Bolognese. It was very good. The meat was sweet and tender, covered in tomato sauce, and served over fettuccine. It reminded me of my mom's meat sauce. It seemed a little foolish to order that because I could just make it at home. When I go out to eat, I try to order things that I don't usually make at home. But if you're not a cook and you don't see mom anymore, it's a good choice. DJ ordered pizza. He had a meatball. I had to try it for my blog of course. The pizza was fabulous. There was a family of 4 that had a large cheese pizza that looked amazing.
The season of Lent has begun. Even though I don't consider myself a huge meat-eater, I always want meat on Friday during lent. Another crazy quirk about me, I like to order food loaded with meat when it is not Friday. It's almost as if I want to get it out of my system before Friday rolls around. I always think it's a waste to have a meatless meal on another night of the week during lent. That never really works, so I should probably stop doing that. I will share my meatless take-out in another blog.
To sum up, Seabreeze is a small restaurant that produces yummy food. It's nicer to go to in the summertime because they have outdoor seating. Regardless of the time of year, or the size of your party, make reservations! It's a cheerful place once you're in the "in-crowd." It's BYOB with a corking fee. They also offer a variety of Stewart's sodas and canned soda- regular and diet. The pizza is thin crust and very good. They offer regular toppings and have a few specialty pizzas. They have a selection of appetizers and entrees. I find it to be vegetarian-friendly or Catholic lenten Friday friendly. And if you've read this far, Here's my proposition- a group of us should go there on a regular basis. Let's take this place over Westie style. Let us be the ones in the in-crowd. Let us be the ones to curl our noses up! 6-8 weeks? Here's the website: http://www.seabreezepizzaplus.com/menu.html
Until my next bite....
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Chip's in the Blizzard
As long as it's daytime, I love to venture out in the snow. I really love to venture out in all types of bad weather. It probably began when my Uncle Paul used to come and pick my mom, brother, and I up to go "cane hunting" or driving around in Vermont in the snow. We had just shoveled out my car when I noticed on facebook that Chip's was open for business. We packed up Stella (my Subaru) and ventured out to Orange. It was a difficult ride; Kelsey Ave wasn't plowed, Sawmill was, and so was the Post Road. It was worse on the way home because we chose to go Marsh Hill Rd to Woodmont to Jones Hill to Platt to Kelsey.
When we got there I was so excited! I ordered my coffee and water and the chicken fajita wrap. That is a fabulous wrap. The salsa is delicious. I'm not sure if it's in-house made or what, but it is delicious. Chicken, onion, peppers, and cheese- can't go wrong. The fries and coleslaw were tasty as well. My brother ordered the Mediterranean panini- grilled chicken, mooz, roasted peppers, and pesto sauce. He enjoyed it. My mother went with Pepe's special which is oatmeal, egg whites, and a fruit cup. There may have been an English muffin but I can't remember. She said it was too much food but that it was all good. My dad ordered a Belgian waffle with blueberries on it. Chip's was a hit with all of us. I love a good Chip's run. It's a great restaurant. Until my next bite...
When we got there I was so excited! I ordered my coffee and water and the chicken fajita wrap. That is a fabulous wrap. The salsa is delicious. I'm not sure if it's in-house made or what, but it is delicious. Chicken, onion, peppers, and cheese- can't go wrong. The fries and coleslaw were tasty as well. My brother ordered the Mediterranean panini- grilled chicken, mooz, roasted peppers, and pesto sauce. He enjoyed it. My mother went with Pepe's special which is oatmeal, egg whites, and a fruit cup. There may have been an English muffin but I can't remember. She said it was too much food but that it was all good. My dad ordered a Belgian waffle with blueberries on it. Chip's was a hit with all of us. I love a good Chip's run. It's a great restaurant. Until my next bite...
Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day has never been a day that I liked. As I've said before, I'm not a sweets type of person. I like chocolate but I don't go crazy over it. I'm not a fan of the candy, I don't like those little chalky hearts, and I don't care for a box of Russell Stover's. I never liked passing out Valentines at school, I hated sending out a carnation to your secret love, and because I've been a single girl more often than a taken girl, Valentine's Day, to me, was always total bullshit. Now that I have my love, I still find the day to be total bullshit. I find a card out of the blue, or a surprise bouquet of flowers to be much more romantic than a gift on Valentine's Day. But because it is what it is, DJ and I followed tradition and went out and celebrated.
Last year DJ and I had just started to date around the time of Valentine's Day. We had only met a few days before so we went to Chip's for dinner. Now that we have been dating for a year, we still went to Chip's. It was more of a nostalgic thing, not an insulting thing. Anywho, we ate at Chip's. Now I love Chip's. I've been going there for years. I went there before the current owner, George Something Greek, bought the place. Normally I go there for breakfast; however, I enjoy their lunch choices as well. Lindsey, Cat, Connor, and I go there whenever there is a day off, a snow day, or some other catastrophic event occurs. This time I ordered the steak and cheese wrap with sweet potato fries. Pretty good. They used to have a steak peppercorn panini that was out of this world but they took it off their menu. There are mostly chicken choices now. The cheese melted more toward the bottom of the wrap so the first few bites were plain. Then it had a smell to it, so I had to stop eating. I have a strong sense of smell which is good if I'm in a burning building but when I'm living my daily life, it can be a problem. DJ had the golfer's panini, which I've had before. That is very good. Grilled chicken breast, mooz, and now I forget, tomato and bacon? The chipotle chicken panini is good as well. The two are similar but the chipotle is more spicy and has a breaded piece of chicken. I had my traditional beverage option of a coffee and a water.
The best part was the dessert. For dessert we ordered a short stack of the white chocolate rendezvous pancakes. Let me just type that word again- rendezvous. Ooo I love it. What a great word. The pancakes had macadamia nuts and white chocolate chips in it and then on top was a mound of fresh cut strawberries. Delicious. I highly recommend them. I was a little upset that they had no Valentine specials on the menu. Today on facebook it says that they had red velvet pancakes but I was there on Valentine's Day. If that was a special, it was not communicated. Chip's is wonderful. Wonderful eggs, pancakes, bacon, wraps, panini, but I don't like their physical menu. Chip's boasts 40 flavors of pancakes but only about 12 are listed. I would have liked to order the alleged "Valentine red velvet pancakes" but I'm telling you on that night, there was no mention of them.
After our meal we went to the movies. It was the best Valentine's Day I ever had. It could have been a smidge better if I didn't get the steak and cheese wrap, but it wasn't that bad. I've been a little delayed with writing about my bites so until the next time, happy tasting!
Last year DJ and I had just started to date around the time of Valentine's Day. We had only met a few days before so we went to Chip's for dinner. Now that we have been dating for a year, we still went to Chip's. It was more of a nostalgic thing, not an insulting thing. Anywho, we ate at Chip's. Now I love Chip's. I've been going there for years. I went there before the current owner, George Something Greek, bought the place. Normally I go there for breakfast; however, I enjoy their lunch choices as well. Lindsey, Cat, Connor, and I go there whenever there is a day off, a snow day, or some other catastrophic event occurs. This time I ordered the steak and cheese wrap with sweet potato fries. Pretty good. They used to have a steak peppercorn panini that was out of this world but they took it off their menu. There are mostly chicken choices now. The cheese melted more toward the bottom of the wrap so the first few bites were plain. Then it had a smell to it, so I had to stop eating. I have a strong sense of smell which is good if I'm in a burning building but when I'm living my daily life, it can be a problem. DJ had the golfer's panini, which I've had before. That is very good. Grilled chicken breast, mooz, and now I forget, tomato and bacon? The chipotle chicken panini is good as well. The two are similar but the chipotle is more spicy and has a breaded piece of chicken. I had my traditional beverage option of a coffee and a water.
The best part was the dessert. For dessert we ordered a short stack of the white chocolate rendezvous pancakes. Let me just type that word again- rendezvous. Ooo I love it. What a great word. The pancakes had macadamia nuts and white chocolate chips in it and then on top was a mound of fresh cut strawberries. Delicious. I highly recommend them. I was a little upset that they had no Valentine specials on the menu. Today on facebook it says that they had red velvet pancakes but I was there on Valentine's Day. If that was a special, it was not communicated. Chip's is wonderful. Wonderful eggs, pancakes, bacon, wraps, panini, but I don't like their physical menu. Chip's boasts 40 flavors of pancakes but only about 12 are listed. I would have liked to order the alleged "Valentine red velvet pancakes" but I'm telling you on that night, there was no mention of them.
After our meal we went to the movies. It was the best Valentine's Day I ever had. It could have been a smidge better if I didn't get the steak and cheese wrap, but it wasn't that bad. I've been a little delayed with writing about my bites so until the next time, happy tasting!
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Blizzard Bites
Well folks I don't know about you, but I'm going crazy over here. I never would have imagined that it would snow this much. Usually I think people get carried away when they go to the store to stock up on supplies, but this time I'm happy I did. I hope that I'll be able to get my car out tomorrow. I'm mad at myself for quitting the shoveling this afternoon. I'm not sure if any places are open anyway. So in this blog, I'll let you know what food I've been eating to get me through this blizzard!
Yesterday morning I made myself some scrambled eggs with an English muffin. It wasn't my best batch of scrambled eggs. I'm very particular with my eggs. Perfect scrambled eggs looks like popcorn to me. I don't like them to have any brown on them at all. I like them on the loose side. Yesterday, I was deciding on whether or not to add cheese to my eggs and ended up overcooking them. It would have been perfect if I was trying to make an omelet but alas, I was not. Every time I cook eggs I think of the Frugal Gourmet. He was great. He could blow any of these foodnetwork chefs out of the water. I remember an episode from years ago when he was making an omelet. He showed how to do it perfectly and since then, I've always made my omelets the Frug's way. I still ate my browned scrambled eggs with a little salt, black pepper, and hot pepper. Not bad. For lunch I had leftover Chinese food from the night before.
The highlight of my day was dinner. My mom made chicken soup with spinach. Fabulous! My mom makes the best chicken soup ever. It's my favorite thing that she makes. I don't understand why more people don't make homemade soup. I know the assembling of the soup is a pain, but it's worth it. It is a tasty and comforting meal that will last you a few days. Chicken, carrots, celery, onions, a can of whole peeled tomatoes, some spices and let it roll! My mom usually puts eggbows in the soup but that's just a matter of preference. She even made chicken salad out of the white meat. It's the best chicken salad because the chicken takes on all the flavors from the soup. Those are my two favorite things actually. My mom's chicken soup and chicken salad. This time she decided to add spinach which I think was a great move. It may become a regular. I made a box mix of brownies. And that was the end of Friday.
This morning I was shocked. The snow was ridiculous. I would have liked to go out to breakfast but that was impossible today. My mom broke out the skillet again this morning and made me some "fluffy eggs." It's basically a fluffy omelet with cheese on top. Delish. I had an English muffin with my fluffy eggs again this morning. I put some crushed red pepper flakes on my eggs. A great thing. I can't take credit for that though. The movie "Fatso" starring Dom DeLuise is what inspired me. If you haven't seen that movie, I strongly recommend it. It's a movie that came out in 1980 that's about a man who finds his life consumed by food. He tries throughout the movie to curb his cravings and be healthy, but always find himself in some comical mess. He's always eaten throughout his life but when his favorite cousin dies due to weight-related issues, he's thrown into a depression. He wants to eat due to his sadness but tries to stop because he is reminded of his cousin's cause of death. I know it sounds like a downer but it's hysterical, especially if you are Italian. There are so many scenes that remind me of my family. It's a great movie. There's a scene where Dom tells his younger brother that he "doesn't know how to run his plate." He sprinkles hot pepper on his brother's eggs. I tried it and now I'm hooked. If you like hot food and eggs- try it. Fabulous.
Lunch and dinner were pretty crappy. I had a Smart Ones TV dinner for lunch. Sante Fe rice and beans. Not bad. For anyone doing Weight Watchers, I think it's a good one. It is 8 points, which is high, but it does fill you up. For dinner we had leftover chicken soup and we cut up some frozen hot dogs and potatoes and cooked them on top of the stove together in a bit of oil. It was good in a pinch. We do have some things in the freezer we could make for dinner tomorrow. We'll probably have macaroni. I hope that by tomorrow we'll be able to get out and drive. I could go for a takeout right about now. Sorry this was a boring blog. The weather is really messing up my plans. I hope to have something a bit more interesting to share with you tomorrow. Until my next bite..
Yesterday morning I made myself some scrambled eggs with an English muffin. It wasn't my best batch of scrambled eggs. I'm very particular with my eggs. Perfect scrambled eggs looks like popcorn to me. I don't like them to have any brown on them at all. I like them on the loose side. Yesterday, I was deciding on whether or not to add cheese to my eggs and ended up overcooking them. It would have been perfect if I was trying to make an omelet but alas, I was not. Every time I cook eggs I think of the Frugal Gourmet. He was great. He could blow any of these foodnetwork chefs out of the water. I remember an episode from years ago when he was making an omelet. He showed how to do it perfectly and since then, I've always made my omelets the Frug's way. I still ate my browned scrambled eggs with a little salt, black pepper, and hot pepper. Not bad. For lunch I had leftover Chinese food from the night before.
The highlight of my day was dinner. My mom made chicken soup with spinach. Fabulous! My mom makes the best chicken soup ever. It's my favorite thing that she makes. I don't understand why more people don't make homemade soup. I know the assembling of the soup is a pain, but it's worth it. It is a tasty and comforting meal that will last you a few days. Chicken, carrots, celery, onions, a can of whole peeled tomatoes, some spices and let it roll! My mom usually puts eggbows in the soup but that's just a matter of preference. She even made chicken salad out of the white meat. It's the best chicken salad because the chicken takes on all the flavors from the soup. Those are my two favorite things actually. My mom's chicken soup and chicken salad. This time she decided to add spinach which I think was a great move. It may become a regular. I made a box mix of brownies. And that was the end of Friday.
This morning I was shocked. The snow was ridiculous. I would have liked to go out to breakfast but that was impossible today. My mom broke out the skillet again this morning and made me some "fluffy eggs." It's basically a fluffy omelet with cheese on top. Delish. I had an English muffin with my fluffy eggs again this morning. I put some crushed red pepper flakes on my eggs. A great thing. I can't take credit for that though. The movie "Fatso" starring Dom DeLuise is what inspired me. If you haven't seen that movie, I strongly recommend it. It's a movie that came out in 1980 that's about a man who finds his life consumed by food. He tries throughout the movie to curb his cravings and be healthy, but always find himself in some comical mess. He's always eaten throughout his life but when his favorite cousin dies due to weight-related issues, he's thrown into a depression. He wants to eat due to his sadness but tries to stop because he is reminded of his cousin's cause of death. I know it sounds like a downer but it's hysterical, especially if you are Italian. There are so many scenes that remind me of my family. It's a great movie. There's a scene where Dom tells his younger brother that he "doesn't know how to run his plate." He sprinkles hot pepper on his brother's eggs. I tried it and now I'm hooked. If you like hot food and eggs- try it. Fabulous.
Lunch and dinner were pretty crappy. I had a Smart Ones TV dinner for lunch. Sante Fe rice and beans. Not bad. For anyone doing Weight Watchers, I think it's a good one. It is 8 points, which is high, but it does fill you up. For dinner we had leftover chicken soup and we cut up some frozen hot dogs and potatoes and cooked them on top of the stove together in a bit of oil. It was good in a pinch. We do have some things in the freezer we could make for dinner tomorrow. We'll probably have macaroni. I hope that by tomorrow we'll be able to get out and drive. I could go for a takeout right about now. Sorry this was a boring blog. The weather is really messing up my plans. I hope to have something a bit more interesting to share with you tomorrow. Until my next bite..
Thursday, February 7, 2013
6-8 Weeks China Pavilion
I have this group of friends that meets for dinner every 6-8 weeks. We affectionately call it the "6-8 Week Club." Normally we meet at The Beachhead in East Haven but due to the recent hurricane, The Beachhead is on the DL. We decided to branch out from our normal cuisine to Chinese. I think it was a wonderful choice. I love Chinese food. I'm fascinated by Chinese customs and history. China Pavilion is my favorite restaurant. I thought they nailed it tonight. Though I've been to China Pavil many times, this was the first time I had been there with a large group. They seated us in the middle room that connects the two dining rooms. When I arrived the table was lined with crispy noodles, hot mustard, duck sauce, and oolong tea. Definitely a plus.
I started the night off with the wonton soup. Fabulous. I love soup as an appetizer, I love soup as a meal, I just love soup. Some of my dinner companions tried the egg drop and the hot and sour soup. For dinner I ordered the triple delight- a little spicy. It was very tasty. The triple delight is made up of chicken, shrimp, and pork stir-fried with mixed vegetables. The dish had a perfect amount of spice and a chilli pepper to top it off. I also ordered the alcoholic beverage "Pineapple Paradise." The waiter carded me! Are you serious!? I know I look young, but come on. First of all, I've ordered alcoholic beverages from there before and all 6 of the waiters that work there have seen me before. Second of all, I was there with a group of adults. What did he think I was trying to do? This may not sound appropriate, but I have a hard time gauging the age of people of other ethnicities. I wonder if it works the same from the other side. Either way, it irked me.
After the dinner is cleared away, fortune cookies and pineapple chunks are served. I didn't order dessert, although some of my friends did. They all seemed to enjoy it. I think the pineapple chunks are perfect. I'm not a big dessert person and the pineapple hits the spot. It gives you that little bit of sweet and cleanses your palette. I would say it was a great night all around. We were able to sit and talk without being rushed or ignored. The only downside to this evening was the language barrier. The waiters only know key phrases in English. Some questions were not appropriately answered and some of their questions weren't understood. That's not a huge issue but an issue for people who don't frequently order Chinese food. I love Chinese food. I'll venture off and pretty much try anything, but for those who are intimidated by a Chinese menu, go with a friend to help with the recommendations.
I am still stuffed as I sit here and write this blog. China Pavilion does not follow that myth of feeling hungry a half hour after you eat it. I can't even imagine putting another thing in my stomach. I keep thinking of that scene in Bridesmaids when Helen gives Annie the almond! Such a great movie. I'm going to have to plan a dinner and movie blog. I've done that in the past. I watched Twilight in my room on a red blanket with the book as a coaster. I ate mushroom ravioli (like Bella does in the book), had red wine, salad with red wine vinegar, and devil dogs (the werewolves) for dessert. That was the only light in my year-long depression. As for the next gathering, in 6-8 weeks, we were discussing trying something new. The Turkish Kebab House, Tengda, and Coromandel were the few mentioned. We'll see where we end up. To sum it up, China Pavilion is great. It is unlike any other Chinese restaurant you may have been to. I will be there again quite soon. As always, until my next bite...
I started the night off with the wonton soup. Fabulous. I love soup as an appetizer, I love soup as a meal, I just love soup. Some of my dinner companions tried the egg drop and the hot and sour soup. For dinner I ordered the triple delight- a little spicy. It was very tasty. The triple delight is made up of chicken, shrimp, and pork stir-fried with mixed vegetables. The dish had a perfect amount of spice and a chilli pepper to top it off. I also ordered the alcoholic beverage "Pineapple Paradise." The waiter carded me! Are you serious!? I know I look young, but come on. First of all, I've ordered alcoholic beverages from there before and all 6 of the waiters that work there have seen me before. Second of all, I was there with a group of adults. What did he think I was trying to do? This may not sound appropriate, but I have a hard time gauging the age of people of other ethnicities. I wonder if it works the same from the other side. Either way, it irked me.
After the dinner is cleared away, fortune cookies and pineapple chunks are served. I didn't order dessert, although some of my friends did. They all seemed to enjoy it. I think the pineapple chunks are perfect. I'm not a big dessert person and the pineapple hits the spot. It gives you that little bit of sweet and cleanses your palette. I would say it was a great night all around. We were able to sit and talk without being rushed or ignored. The only downside to this evening was the language barrier. The waiters only know key phrases in English. Some questions were not appropriately answered and some of their questions weren't understood. That's not a huge issue but an issue for people who don't frequently order Chinese food. I love Chinese food. I'll venture off and pretty much try anything, but for those who are intimidated by a Chinese menu, go with a friend to help with the recommendations.
I am still stuffed as I sit here and write this blog. China Pavilion does not follow that myth of feeling hungry a half hour after you eat it. I can't even imagine putting another thing in my stomach. I keep thinking of that scene in Bridesmaids when Helen gives Annie the almond! Such a great movie. I'm going to have to plan a dinner and movie blog. I've done that in the past. I watched Twilight in my room on a red blanket with the book as a coaster. I ate mushroom ravioli (like Bella does in the book), had red wine, salad with red wine vinegar, and devil dogs (the werewolves) for dessert. That was the only light in my year-long depression. As for the next gathering, in 6-8 weeks, we were discussing trying something new. The Turkish Kebab House, Tengda, and Coromandel were the few mentioned. We'll see where we end up. To sum it up, China Pavilion is great. It is unlike any other Chinese restaurant you may have been to. I will be there again quite soon. As always, until my next bite...
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Weekend Breakfasts
This weekend wasn't very exciting as far as dinners go, so I thought I would give an overview of the breakfast places I've been to lately. Every weekend I go with my parents to breakfast. My dad is a routine, very predictable kind of guy. He likes to go to the same places every week. Every now and then I meet a friend for breakfast, or go with my cousins. I decided to give a little review of the breakfast places I've been to.
Pop's in Milford. I like to go to Pop's, although I'm not crazy for their breakfast food. Before I continue I must let you know that I'm very particular about my breakfast. I drove my poor Auntie Carm crazy when I used to eat breakfast at her house before school. I really don't like syrup on my pancakes. I just like loads of butter. But not all pancakes taste good with just butter, so if they don't then I don't like those pancakes. Gianotti's that used to be in Baybrook had the best pancakes. What I wouldn't give for a short stack of their buttermilk pancakes. If I don't like the pancakes then i will use syrup to try to salvage them but that's not always possible. When I go to a new restaurant I always test out their pancakes by ordering blueberry. For some reason I will put syrup on blueberry pancakes. That's why I order them. If they're really good I'll just eat them with butter and next time I may try another flavor. I'm also not crazy for bacon. I don't know why now it's the cool thing to love bacon. People make me sick with their bacon comments, bacon t-shirts, chocolate covered bacon, bacon hear attacks. Whoops, I snuck that last one in. Let's get original people. If I am going to have bacon then I would prefer to have my own or my friend Chrissy's. She could always whip up a nice BLT. I'm side-tracking now.
Pop's. I love the sense of family in that restaurant. It's a caring and comfortable place to go. Bad pancakes, though. Eggs are okay, but they over cook a poached egg all the time. I feel like Gordon Ramsey every time I go there. I'll take my butter knife and lightly cross over the egg. If the yolk doesn't come spilling out, it's a dud. The waffles there are delicious. They always offer fresh fruit to put on top of the waffles. Very good. My favorite are the strawberry and blueberry. No whipped cream! Whipped cream does not belong on your breakfast plate. Omelets are okay, egg sandwiches are good, the baked goods (muffins, bagels, Portuguese rolls, Danishes) are delicious, fruit salad is good, I hear the oatmeal is fabulous, good corned beef hash, but the best thing I've ever had at Pop's for breakfast is the sausage gravy and biscuits. De-li-cious! I've tried to get sawmill gravy in a few other places but none of them even come close to Pop's. I think it's because it's not thick like the traditional southern sawmill gravy, but boy is it flavorful! I could just eat a cup of the gravy with some oyster crackers. Can't rave about it enough. I love the lunch at Pop's. Great wraps, wonderful Greek salad, delicious chicken salad. There was a short period of time when Pop's was open for dinner. There's a rumor that they will be open for dinner when their new restaurant opens. I sure hope so.
Sunrise Grill in West Haven. Sunrise is a small cozy place. If all the tables are filled up, there's no where to wait. That's the only downside. Eggs here a delicious. My favorite place to get an omelet. Their pancakes are hit or miss. It's safe to say, I always order blueberry from Sunrise just in case. Waffles are pretty good but they only have the fruit compote or frozen fruit. Again, I go blue. I also don't like French toast. They have stuffed French toast at Sunrise that many people have raved about. Their coffee is very good. The menu is not very large but it serves its purpose.
I was going to give a little blurb about each breakfast place but this blog is getting too long. I feel like people will stop reading after a while, if they haven't already. Stay tuned for reviews on Georgie's, Chip's, Sandy's, Breakfast on the Corner, and Cracker Barrel. Until my next bite..
Pop's in Milford. I like to go to Pop's, although I'm not crazy for their breakfast food. Before I continue I must let you know that I'm very particular about my breakfast. I drove my poor Auntie Carm crazy when I used to eat breakfast at her house before school. I really don't like syrup on my pancakes. I just like loads of butter. But not all pancakes taste good with just butter, so if they don't then I don't like those pancakes. Gianotti's that used to be in Baybrook had the best pancakes. What I wouldn't give for a short stack of their buttermilk pancakes. If I don't like the pancakes then i will use syrup to try to salvage them but that's not always possible. When I go to a new restaurant I always test out their pancakes by ordering blueberry. For some reason I will put syrup on blueberry pancakes. That's why I order them. If they're really good I'll just eat them with butter and next time I may try another flavor. I'm also not crazy for bacon. I don't know why now it's the cool thing to love bacon. People make me sick with their bacon comments, bacon t-shirts, chocolate covered bacon, bacon hear attacks. Whoops, I snuck that last one in. Let's get original people. If I am going to have bacon then I would prefer to have my own or my friend Chrissy's. She could always whip up a nice BLT. I'm side-tracking now.
Pop's. I love the sense of family in that restaurant. It's a caring and comfortable place to go. Bad pancakes, though. Eggs are okay, but they over cook a poached egg all the time. I feel like Gordon Ramsey every time I go there. I'll take my butter knife and lightly cross over the egg. If the yolk doesn't come spilling out, it's a dud. The waffles there are delicious. They always offer fresh fruit to put on top of the waffles. Very good. My favorite are the strawberry and blueberry. No whipped cream! Whipped cream does not belong on your breakfast plate. Omelets are okay, egg sandwiches are good, the baked goods (muffins, bagels, Portuguese rolls, Danishes) are delicious, fruit salad is good, I hear the oatmeal is fabulous, good corned beef hash, but the best thing I've ever had at Pop's for breakfast is the sausage gravy and biscuits. De-li-cious! I've tried to get sawmill gravy in a few other places but none of them even come close to Pop's. I think it's because it's not thick like the traditional southern sawmill gravy, but boy is it flavorful! I could just eat a cup of the gravy with some oyster crackers. Can't rave about it enough. I love the lunch at Pop's. Great wraps, wonderful Greek salad, delicious chicken salad. There was a short period of time when Pop's was open for dinner. There's a rumor that they will be open for dinner when their new restaurant opens. I sure hope so.
Sunrise Grill in West Haven. Sunrise is a small cozy place. If all the tables are filled up, there's no where to wait. That's the only downside. Eggs here a delicious. My favorite place to get an omelet. Their pancakes are hit or miss. It's safe to say, I always order blueberry from Sunrise just in case. Waffles are pretty good but they only have the fruit compote or frozen fruit. Again, I go blue. I also don't like French toast. They have stuffed French toast at Sunrise that many people have raved about. Their coffee is very good. The menu is not very large but it serves its purpose.
I was going to give a little blurb about each breakfast place but this blog is getting too long. I feel like people will stop reading after a while, if they haven't already. Stay tuned for reviews on Georgie's, Chip's, Sandy's, Breakfast on the Corner, and Cracker Barrel. Until my next bite..
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