The Gourmet Observer appeared on "Better Connecticut" today, December 8th! Thanks to WFSB, Channel 3 for this opportunity! Check out the clip of my appearance here!
Here are the recipes I presented on air today, which are examples of some great hors d'oeuvres for your upcoming holiday parties.
Onion Canapes
1 cup Mayonnaise
1 Medium Onion, finely diced
3/4 cup grated or shredded parmesan cheese
French Baguette from grocery store bakery, sliced thinly (about 1/2 inch) on the diagonal
Chives, finely diced, for garnish (can use dried if desired)
Smoked Paprika for garnish (optional)
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Toast one side of the baguette slices for about 3 minutes in oven on a large baking sheet. Combine first three ingredients. Spread about 1 tablespoon of the creamy mixture onto the non-toasted side of each baguette slice and place back on the baking sheet, creamy side up. Place canapes in oven for about 8-10 minutes, until the creamy mixture is slightly bubbly and toasted. Remove from oven and garnish with chives, serve immediately, or can be made up to an hour ahead (minus chives) and reheated for a few minutes in the oven before serving.
There are MANY variations you can make to this recipe based on the occasion and the amount of time you have. Instead of using a baguette, you can use a loaf of simple white sliced bread, cut with cookie cutters into whatever shape you like--simple round, Christmas trees, whatever! You can also use purchased brioche if you're really in a hurry, eliminating the time it takes to cut the bread and the first minutes of toasting. To spread a little holiday cheer, you can use the paprika along with the chives for garnish and you've got a Christmas-themed hors d'oeuvre. There are endless possibilities and this simple appetizer truly is a delicious crowd-pleaser.
Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp
Many folks love bacon-wrapped scallops or dates, but this is a little more economical as you can easily use frozen shrimp if desired, which will turn out much better than if you use frozen scallops. Additionally, the shrimp are marinated in chili sauce which really adds punch to this delicious combination. Here's the recipe:
1 lb. large shrimp (approximately 20 shrimp), raw, shelled, and deveined (you can use defrosted frozen shrimp or fresh shrimp)
1/2 jar chili sauce (approximately 6 oz.)
2 large cloves garlic, thinly sliced strips of center cut bacon cut in half width-wise (enough to wrap the number of shrimp you have, i.e. 10 strips for 20 shrimp)
toothpicks
Combine chili sauce and sliced garlic in medium bowl. Mix in shrimp and cover; marinate in refrigerator for a minimum of 1 hour, up to 6 hours. When ready to assemble, preheat oven broiler, or set to 500 degrees. Fry bacon half-strips in skillet on stove over medium heat until just about half done. (Bacon should still be pliable.) Drain on a paper-towel lined plate and allow to cool. Wrap one half-strip around each piece of shrimp, taking care to keep some of the chili sauce on the shrimp but discarding the slices of garlic. Secure the bacon to the shrimp using the toothpicks, pushing all the way through so the ends of the toothpick are sticking out both sides of the shrimp wrap. Place each shrimp wrap on a broiler pan (which is a slotted upper pan placed over a deeper, solid lower panpanpan called a drip pan--you might consider wrapping tinfoil around the lower pan to expedite your cleanup!), pushing the toothpicks through the slots so the shrimp wraps stay upright. Cook under the broiler for about 4-5 minutes, until the shrimp become opaque and the bacon appears fully cooked with a little charring on the edges. (The charring adds a LOT of flavor.) Let sit for about 2 minutes (as the shrimp wraps will be VERY hot) and then serve on your favorite holiday platter.
This recipe is great because there's a LOT of flavor in one small package, and you can also assemble the shrimp wraps and place on the broil pan in advance, then pop the pan in the oven at the last minute as your guests arrive. Everyone loves the smell of cooked bacon and these Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp are sure to be a hit with everyone.
Eating, Drinking and Cooking the World Over...
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Friday, November 20, 2009
It's Almost Turkey Day!
Everyone getting excited for Thanksgiving?!? Only a week away...K and I are heading out to California to visit family for the holiday with Sweetie.
I wanted to take some pies over to K's office before we left to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and, of course, show off our cute daughter. Mission accomplished---I made pumpkin pie from a Cook's Illustrated recipe--it was the best pumpkin pie I've ever eaten. (Sorry, Mom!) You have to pay to look at most of the recipes on the site, but I am telling you it is well worth it. All recipes are tried and tested--I love Bon Appetit and Food and Wine as much as everyone else, but I promise you will be more satisfied with the recipes at Cook's Illustrated on the whole. And of course they have a print edition, too.
So believe it or not, we're actually going OUT on Thanksgiving this year, but I think it will be a wonderful dinner. We'll be heading to the Montage in Laguna Beach for their Thankgiving feast. While in L.A., we're also going to check out The Must Bar, which is a popular gastropub that was recently written up in Bon Appetit. Will let you know how everything turns out!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
So believe it or not, we're actually going OUT on Thanksgiving this year, but I think it will be a wonderful dinner. We'll be heading to the Montage in Laguna Beach for their Thankgiving feast. While in L.A., we're also going to check out The Must Bar, which is a popular gastropub that was recently written up in Bon Appetit. Will let you know how everything turns out!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Thursday, November 12, 2009
New Local Favorite
As new parents, date nights are rare so you want to make the most of it. K and I got the opportunity last night to get out of the house so we tried a restaurant I've been dying to go to for a while: Chris's American Restaurant on Federal Rd in Brookfield. I'm really excited to report that this quaint little restaurant did not disappoint.
Chef Owner Chris Bruno has clearly poured his heart and soul into this restaurant and has reason to be proud of his 19 years of work and the resulting menu which is inventive and varied--I'm loving the international influences, particularly Asian. (More on the food in a minute.) The space is small but cozy and we loved the fireplace and candles. It was a little disappointing to be seated at the smallest table in the corner of a nearly empty dining room, however it quickly became clear that was necessary as the place filled up--surprising on a Wednesday night during a supposed recession! The by-the-glass wine list was small but clearly well thought out and I chose the Harlow Ridge Pinot Noir (with which I was extremely pleased) and K had a Bass.
It was hard to choose off the extremely interesting menu, but we started off with the Avocado "Carpaccio" which was great. Plated like you expect carpaccio to be, it consisted, of course, of thin slices of avocado, but the sauces and condiments were clever and delicious--rice wine vinaigrette, wasabi mayoinnaise, and soy mirin, along with pickled ginger, nori strips, and cucumber salad. I was really pleased. We followed that up with Chicken Ferrara (tender chicken with spinach, mushrooms, roasted peppers, sherry and cream over penne) and Wok Fried Panko Crusted Tilapia (perfectly cooked with red chile sauce, Japanese black rice and baby bok choy--which was a tiny too undercooked for me, but that's a personal preference.) We really enjoyed every bite, which means the portions were right on, too. I did have to add salt and pepper to the chicken ferrara--and it's extremely rare for me to salt anything--but that did the trick. Oh and the entrees came with a delicious salad and house vinaigrette--sadly, a complimentary salad that the chef actually takes pride in is something that is all too rare these days. Unfortunately we didn't have time to stay for dessert, but I'll report on that the next time we go, which hopefully will be soon.
As for service, we can't complain--one of the best things was that the server knew the menu which is extremely important to me, and usually is to chefs but the passion for the food doesn't always translate to the front of the house. I'm glad it does at Chris's. Oh and thank goodness they marked our table (took our used utensils and brought new between the courses)--why in the world is this still the exception as opposed to the rule? I did have to ask for a to go box as I was not offered one, but I think we threw the server for a loop by asking for the check before we were finished eating--hey, we were enjoying ourselves but this was date night and there was a movie to catch! Next time we'll make a point to linger longer.
So check out Chris's website at http://www.chrisamericanrestaurant.com/ (you'll need some time to decide what you want...but don't forget the menu is printed daily and might have even more choices) and then head over to the restaurant for a great dining experience. From the site to the ambience to the food and even the plating, the attention to detail at this restaurant is really inspiring. Let me know what you have and how you liked it!
Chef Owner Chris Bruno has clearly poured his heart and soul into this restaurant and has reason to be proud of his 19 years of work and the resulting menu which is inventive and varied--I'm loving the international influences, particularly Asian. (More on the food in a minute.) The space is small but cozy and we loved the fireplace and candles. It was a little disappointing to be seated at the smallest table in the corner of a nearly empty dining room, however it quickly became clear that was necessary as the place filled up--surprising on a Wednesday night during a supposed recession! The by-the-glass wine list was small but clearly well thought out and I chose the Harlow Ridge Pinot Noir (with which I was extremely pleased) and K had a Bass.
It was hard to choose off the extremely interesting menu, but we started off with the Avocado "Carpaccio" which was great. Plated like you expect carpaccio to be, it consisted, of course, of thin slices of avocado, but the sauces and condiments were clever and delicious--rice wine vinaigrette, wasabi mayoinnaise, and soy mirin, along with pickled ginger, nori strips, and cucumber salad. I was really pleased. We followed that up with Chicken Ferrara (tender chicken with spinach, mushrooms, roasted peppers, sherry and cream over penne) and Wok Fried Panko Crusted Tilapia (perfectly cooked with red chile sauce, Japanese black rice and baby bok choy--which was a tiny too undercooked for me, but that's a personal preference.) We really enjoyed every bite, which means the portions were right on, too. I did have to add salt and pepper to the chicken ferrara--and it's extremely rare for me to salt anything--but that did the trick. Oh and the entrees came with a delicious salad and house vinaigrette--sadly, a complimentary salad that the chef actually takes pride in is something that is all too rare these days. Unfortunately we didn't have time to stay for dessert, but I'll report on that the next time we go, which hopefully will be soon.
As for service, we can't complain--one of the best things was that the server knew the menu which is extremely important to me, and usually is to chefs but the passion for the food doesn't always translate to the front of the house. I'm glad it does at Chris's. Oh and thank goodness they marked our table (took our used utensils and brought new between the courses)--why in the world is this still the exception as opposed to the rule? I did have to ask for a to go box as I was not offered one, but I think we threw the server for a loop by asking for the check before we were finished eating--hey, we were enjoying ourselves but this was date night and there was a movie to catch! Next time we'll make a point to linger longer.
So check out Chris's website at http://www.chrisamericanrestaurant.com/ (you'll need some time to decide what you want...but don't forget the menu is printed daily and might have even more choices) and then head over to the restaurant for a great dining experience. From the site to the ambience to the food and even the plating, the attention to detail at this restaurant is really inspiring. Let me know what you have and how you liked it!
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Weekends in West Hartford
K and I are both still in the Army Reserves, which means we have the pleasure of attending Drill (also known as "Battle Assembly") one weekend a month. We do our best to make these weekends bearable, which (of course) means treating ourselves to a good meal for lunch on both Saturday and Sunday while we're in West Hartford, CT, where the Reserve Center is. After all, we're making pretty good money during those weekends, plus we're lucky enough to spend those weekends together even though we're working, so we want to make the most of that time!
If you're familiar with West Hartford at all, one of the first things that probably comes to mind is all the great restaurants along Farmington and LaSalle Avenues, as well as the new restaurants in Blue Back Square. Of course there's the ubiquitous Max Group, which are great, but I've had fun checking out a bunch of other ones. Some of the places we've been to recently include Cocoa (which recently opened), The Counter (a "Custom Built Burger" joint) and Rizzuto's (a local chain Italian restaurant that doesn't feel it).
Cocoa turned out to be fairly good--we ate outside because it was an amazing day (the last of the season, probably) so I didn't really experience the ambience inside, but it seemed very nice and cozy--the whole theme really does remind you of a cozy cup of hot cocoa--haha! Apparently they also have a garden patio which I'll have to check out when the weather warms up again. At any rate, they weren't serving their whole menu on Sunday (curses!) but believe it or not, their "light fare" menu is really varied and we all found something appetizing to us. K had the vegetable stir fry with sticky rice and grilled shrimp, I started with a salad and then had the baby back ribs with cornbread, and our friend had a dijon chicken sandwich with cole slaw and sweet potato fries (not made in house, but still good). It's not cheap but not exhorbitantly expensive. Everything tasted really fresh--my salad was huge, ribs came with extra bbq sauce (just the way I like them) and the cornbread was as good as my Nonnie's in North Carolina. (Bad cornbread is unforgiveable!) The service wasn't anything to brag about, but I'm pretty patient when I'm the only party seated in a certain area, plus they brewed us fresh ice tea so I'm not complaining.
The Counter is a chain (across the country, mostly in California, plus Ireland and Australia) but intriguing nonetheless...it truly is "build your own burger" to proportions you've never seen before. The choices are endless and it's a lot of fun to pick and choose...UNLESS your indecisive like me! I eventually made up my mind (1/3lb beef with Gruyere, Sauteed Mushrooms, and Peppercorn Steak Sauce on a bun) but if you can't, there's always the signature burgers or sandwiches and leave the decisions up to them. They advertise that their beef is 100% Natural, freshly ground Angus Beef, raised on a vegetarian diet without hormones or antibiotics--Certified Humane. It would be interesting to see who regulates such claims, but either way that must be better than some of the alternatives. It may seem gimmicky, but it was a lot of fun and I'd definitely go again when I'm hankering for a burger. Oh and try the Fried Dill Pickle Chips--yum!
Rizzuto's is a place I've been able to go to a couple of times--they make their own pasta in house (the choices available change every day) and have a good wine selection, as well as fresh market fish, wood-fired pizzas, and a great antipasto selection. (In case you don't know already, I'm all about the starters and often judge restaurants by them....) The ambience is very upscale but comfortable, and I love the open kitchen. This time I started with the Artichoke Fritters, then had the fresh linguine with pepper and handmade meatballs. The Fritters were definitely tasty but a bit underdone--I can't stand it when there's unfried batter on the inside--and the pasta was tasty but I couldn't figure out why all my linguine was clumped together. It was pretty disconcerting--that's something I'm going to have to look into and how to prevent it. But overall it's an enjoyable place to eat.
So stop by West Hartford and try one of these fun eateries when you get a chance and let me know what you think!
If you're familiar with West Hartford at all, one of the first things that probably comes to mind is all the great restaurants along Farmington and LaSalle Avenues, as well as the new restaurants in Blue Back Square. Of course there's the ubiquitous Max Group, which are great, but I've had fun checking out a bunch of other ones. Some of the places we've been to recently include Cocoa (which recently opened), The Counter (a "Custom Built Burger" joint) and Rizzuto's (a local chain Italian restaurant that doesn't feel it).
Cocoa turned out to be fairly good--we ate outside because it was an amazing day (the last of the season, probably) so I didn't really experience the ambience inside, but it seemed very nice and cozy--the whole theme really does remind you of a cozy cup of hot cocoa--haha! Apparently they also have a garden patio which I'll have to check out when the weather warms up again. At any rate, they weren't serving their whole menu on Sunday (curses!) but believe it or not, their "light fare" menu is really varied and we all found something appetizing to us. K had the vegetable stir fry with sticky rice and grilled shrimp, I started with a salad and then had the baby back ribs with cornbread, and our friend had a dijon chicken sandwich with cole slaw and sweet potato fries (not made in house, but still good). It's not cheap but not exhorbitantly expensive. Everything tasted really fresh--my salad was huge, ribs came with extra bbq sauce (just the way I like them) and the cornbread was as good as my Nonnie's in North Carolina. (Bad cornbread is unforgiveable!) The service wasn't anything to brag about, but I'm pretty patient when I'm the only party seated in a certain area, plus they brewed us fresh ice tea so I'm not complaining.
The Counter is a chain (across the country, mostly in California, plus Ireland and Australia) but intriguing nonetheless...it truly is "build your own burger" to proportions you've never seen before. The choices are endless and it's a lot of fun to pick and choose...UNLESS your indecisive like me! I eventually made up my mind (1/3lb beef with Gruyere, Sauteed Mushrooms, and Peppercorn Steak Sauce on a bun) but if you can't, there's always the signature burgers or sandwiches and leave the decisions up to them. They advertise that their beef is 100% Natural, freshly ground Angus Beef, raised on a vegetarian diet without hormones or antibiotics--Certified Humane. It would be interesting to see who regulates such claims, but either way that must be better than some of the alternatives. It may seem gimmicky, but it was a lot of fun and I'd definitely go again when I'm hankering for a burger. Oh and try the Fried Dill Pickle Chips--yum!
Rizzuto's is a place I've been able to go to a couple of times--they make their own pasta in house (the choices available change every day) and have a good wine selection, as well as fresh market fish, wood-fired pizzas, and a great antipasto selection. (In case you don't know already, I'm all about the starters and often judge restaurants by them....) The ambience is very upscale but comfortable, and I love the open kitchen. This time I started with the Artichoke Fritters, then had the fresh linguine with pepper and handmade meatballs. The Fritters were definitely tasty but a bit underdone--I can't stand it when there's unfried batter on the inside--and the pasta was tasty but I couldn't figure out why all my linguine was clumped together. It was pretty disconcerting--that's something I'm going to have to look into and how to prevent it. But overall it's an enjoyable place to eat.
So stop by West Hartford and try one of these fun eateries when you get a chance and let me know what you think!
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Pickin' Pumpkins
Fall is here...my favorite season! There are so many good things in season to cook and so many wonderful, warm, homey things to eat...and what is fall without a trip to the pumpkin patch to stock up on everything you need for homemade pies and other Halloweeny/Thanksgiving treats. That's why I love New England...it's nice and chilly and the leaves are oh so beautiful. This year was even better because we had our sweetie with us. :)
So on Saturday we headed out to Blue Jay Orchards in Bethel. They have an adorable gourmet store with some great canned veggies, butters, all sorts of baked goods and mixes, along with incredible apples, holiday decor and more. I bought some spicy canned green beans and some canned beets (I can never pass those up!) and K opted for the apple butter and some local honey. You just can't get any better than that. Then we took advantage of their photo opportunities since it's Sweetie's first Halloween (she was bundled up and wearing her costume...she's going as a pumpkin this year, of course!) and then we took the tractor trailer back to the pumpkin patch to pick out one big pumpkin, one medium pumpkin, and one tiny pumpkin. Okay, okay...predictable, but cute. :) The only disappointing thing was they didn't have hot apple cider, but at least they had cider donuts.
One of the highlights of the trip was visiting the Cap'n JACS hot dog stand...it sounds pretty mundane (after all, it's hot dogs, right?) but they were very yummy and I was excited by the multiple toppings available (definitely try the orchard salsa!) plus the story behind the business is really great. The stand was started by a couple (the daughter and son-in-law of the orchacrd's owner) and named after their four kids (J.A.C.S.), the oldest of which is in the Navy (which is where the "Cap'n" comes from). They opened the stand to teach their kids about running a business, and I was just really impressed so I thought I'd mention them. Be sure to go there on the weekend so you can grab a hot dog.
So hope you're having a nice fall and getting ready for all the yummy things that go along with the season....yum...turkey!!! Until tomorrow, have a hot glass of apple cider and a great three meals!
So on Saturday we headed out to Blue Jay Orchards in Bethel. They have an adorable gourmet store with some great canned veggies, butters, all sorts of baked goods and mixes, along with incredible apples, holiday decor and more. I bought some spicy canned green beans and some canned beets (I can never pass those up!) and K opted for the apple butter and some local honey. You just can't get any better than that. Then we took advantage of their photo opportunities since it's Sweetie's first Halloween (she was bundled up and wearing her costume...she's going as a pumpkin this year, of course!) and then we took the tractor trailer back to the pumpkin patch to pick out one big pumpkin, one medium pumpkin, and one tiny pumpkin. Okay, okay...predictable, but cute. :) The only disappointing thing was they didn't have hot apple cider, but at least they had cider donuts.
One of the highlights of the trip was visiting the Cap'n JACS hot dog stand...it sounds pretty mundane (after all, it's hot dogs, right?) but they were very yummy and I was excited by the multiple toppings available (definitely try the orchard salsa!) plus the story behind the business is really great. The stand was started by a couple (the daughter and son-in-law of the orchacrd's owner) and named after their four kids (J.A.C.S.), the oldest of which is in the Navy (which is where the "Cap'n" comes from). They opened the stand to teach their kids about running a business, and I was just really impressed so I thought I'd mention them. Be sure to go there on the weekend so you can grab a hot dog.
So hope you're having a nice fall and getting ready for all the yummy things that go along with the season....yum...turkey!!! Until tomorrow, have a hot glass of apple cider and a great three meals!
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Ulysses Oyster Festival in NYC
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| Oh, YUM! |
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Wednesday, September 30, 2009
McDonald's?!?!?!
Yes, I said it. McDonald's. Now that's a pretty bad word for some foodies, but I have to admit that there is a place in my diet for McDonald's--every once in a while! BUT, that's only when that's what I really want and I will really enjoy it, not when I have to eat it due to time, and certainly not because it's "cheap". (Because it's not!!!) Oh, and I don't look at the calorie counts when I'm eating at McDonald's. Let's ge real people...if I'm eating fast food I better not be worried about calories. So the last time I ate at McDonald's was a couple weeks ago, and I made the mistake of ordering the new Angus Third Pounder. Even after I wiped off the pound of mayo they had put on there, it was still pretty bad. It makes me mad when I waste a meal at a fast food restaurant by eating something I don't enjoy. Which also applies to a meal I had at a local Chinese restaurant, Beijing, while my sister-in-law was visiting last month. We ordered in because I didn't feel like cooking after a long day at work (yes, it happens even to me), and it was horribly disappointing. It's not even worth going into all the stuff that was bad about the meal, but here's the website just so you know where NOT to order from...http://www.blogger.com/www.beijingdanbury.com. I should have known...plus I'm terribly spoiled after going to some amazing, authentic Chinese restaurants with our friends Steve and Candace. There's little that beats well-prepared, authentic Chinese food. Which makes me think about my favorite Chinese cookbook that I ran across at a book store in Columbus, OH, titled "Helen Chen's Chinese Home Cooking". She's the daughter of Joyce Chen, and she shares family secrets with step by step instructions and some delicious but easy recipes. It's my go-to book anytime I cook Chinese. Check it out on Amazon.com.
So back to fast food, there's a whole lot of controversy surrounding it these days, and for good reason. K and I saw the documentary "Food, Inc." with my sister and brother-in-law, and I highly recommend it for everyone who eats food. (Yeah, that's you.) "You'll never look at dinner the same way." Sadly, the techniques required to meet the demands of huge restaurant chains like McDonald's and food producers like Tyson are wreaking havoc on our nation's farmers as well as the sources of our food...i.e., chicken and cows. I am a strong believer that all consumers, but cooks and chefs especially, should really understand where our food comes from and how it gets to our plate. Sometimes it ain't pretty, which this documentary points out. Watch the movie and let me know what you think!
Okay, gotta go make dinner. Until tomorrow, have a great three meals!
So back to fast food, there's a whole lot of controversy surrounding it these days, and for good reason. K and I saw the documentary "Food, Inc." with my sister and brother-in-law, and I highly recommend it for everyone who eats food. (Yeah, that's you.) "You'll never look at dinner the same way." Sadly, the techniques required to meet the demands of huge restaurant chains like McDonald's and food producers like Tyson are wreaking havoc on our nation's farmers as well as the sources of our food...i.e., chicken and cows. I am a strong believer that all consumers, but cooks and chefs especially, should really understand where our food comes from and how it gets to our plate. Sometimes it ain't pretty, which this documentary points out. Watch the movie and let me know what you think!
Okay, gotta go make dinner. Until tomorrow, have a great three meals!
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Discoveries
I love discovering new restaurants, especially when and where you least expect it. K and I decided to have drinks yesterday in West Hartford. Tons of great restaurants, but I was actually thinking to myself "same old same old...where do I want to go?" There are plenty of great places for drinks but "drinks" to me obviously means "drinks and apps" so I wanted a place that had a great app menu or small plates. This is my favorite type of meal...my mom used to call it "snacky dinner". Haha. So I parked in the parking lot off Farmington and LaSalle (which is surprisingly affordable) and discovered there's a Barcelona Restaurant and Wine Bar back there! (There are 6 locations...check them out at http://www.barcelonawinebar.com/) You can't see it from the street and there are no signs. I was thrilled...I love Spanish food (wait...I love all food...), probably because of good memories I have from a trip to Spain in high school.
So we walked into Barcelona around 4pm and they have a great "in-between" menu until they start serving dinner at 5pm. Perfect! (Although I know it's great for the staff to close between lunch and dinner, I love restaurants that are so accomodating.) On this beautiful day we took a seat outside (where else? Plus Sweetie was there and she loves being outside.)
We ordered albondigas (Spanish meatballs), manchego (famous sheep's cheese from La Mancha), and some bread, plus a beer for K and a Mojito for me. They have a great wine list, but I hadn't had a cocktail in so long I had to go for it. The meatballs were great...nice blend of herbs and beef in an uncomplicated tomato sauce and I really enjoyed the manchego which was served with membrillo (a sweet paste made from quince). Our server told us the bread was just out of the oven...it certainly was warm but I was not impressed. It had no independent flavor and the crust was too dense. In fact the whole thing was too dense...not impressed with the bread. And my mojito was great, other than that the limes were clearly a bit past their prime and they were brown. I'm sure it didn't affect the taste at all but the aesthetics were damaged...not to mention it was served in a tiny water glass. For $9 I expected to be a little more impressed with the cocktail. Something tells me the bartender was being a bit lazy.
For K's sweet tooth, I suggested the churros y chocolate. (He doesn't like flan!) We really enjoyed that...very traditional and great presentation. The churros were stacked in a square silver cup with an espresso cup holding the chocolate. I decided to take advantage of the great wine list so I ordered a glass of Juvé y Camps, Pinot Noir Rosé cava (Spanish sparkling wine) from Penedès, Spain. It was quite enjoyable. The rest of the wine list included, of course, a bunch of Spanish wines, as well as a few selections from the States and France, as well as some choices from Argentina, Uruguay, and even Australia. One of the things I really like was that there's a little tutorial in the front of the menu to teach you about the wine regions of Spain. I'm always ready for a wine lesson!
So all in all we spent over $50 (not including tip) but the service was really great and friendly. Our server was Anna, and she had some help from one of her coworkers but we didn't get his name. By the time we left around 5:15pm, the place was really filling up so I could tell it's quite popular despite its hidden location. Next time you're in West Hartford trying to decide between the many places to eat, definitely stop by Barcelona behind Mimi Maternity and The Toy Chest. You won't regret it!
Until tomorrow...have a great three meals!
So we walked into Barcelona around 4pm and they have a great "in-between" menu until they start serving dinner at 5pm. Perfect! (Although I know it's great for the staff to close between lunch and dinner, I love restaurants that are so accomodating.) On this beautiful day we took a seat outside (where else? Plus Sweetie was there and she loves being outside.)
We ordered albondigas (Spanish meatballs), manchego (famous sheep's cheese from La Mancha), and some bread, plus a beer for K and a Mojito for me. They have a great wine list, but I hadn't had a cocktail in so long I had to go for it. The meatballs were great...nice blend of herbs and beef in an uncomplicated tomato sauce and I really enjoyed the manchego which was served with membrillo (a sweet paste made from quince). Our server told us the bread was just out of the oven...it certainly was warm but I was not impressed. It had no independent flavor and the crust was too dense. In fact the whole thing was too dense...not impressed with the bread. And my mojito was great, other than that the limes were clearly a bit past their prime and they were brown. I'm sure it didn't affect the taste at all but the aesthetics were damaged...not to mention it was served in a tiny water glass. For $9 I expected to be a little more impressed with the cocktail. Something tells me the bartender was being a bit lazy.
For K's sweet tooth, I suggested the churros y chocolate. (He doesn't like flan!) We really enjoyed that...very traditional and great presentation. The churros were stacked in a square silver cup with an espresso cup holding the chocolate. I decided to take advantage of the great wine list so I ordered a glass of Juvé y Camps, Pinot Noir Rosé cava (Spanish sparkling wine) from Penedès, Spain. It was quite enjoyable. The rest of the wine list included, of course, a bunch of Spanish wines, as well as a few selections from the States and France, as well as some choices from Argentina, Uruguay, and even Australia. One of the things I really like was that there's a little tutorial in the front of the menu to teach you about the wine regions of Spain. I'm always ready for a wine lesson!
So all in all we spent over $50 (not including tip) but the service was really great and friendly. Our server was Anna, and she had some help from one of her coworkers but we didn't get his name. By the time we left around 5:15pm, the place was really filling up so I could tell it's quite popular despite its hidden location. Next time you're in West Hartford trying to decide between the many places to eat, definitely stop by Barcelona behind Mimi Maternity and The Toy Chest. You won't regret it!
Until tomorrow...have a great three meals!
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Ah....Coffee....
Today, as in most days, I woke up thinking about coffee. Actually, I think I went to sleep thinking about coffee. Of course my mind is always on K and Sweetie, but coffee is one of my little daily rituals that I look forward to no matter what's going on.
It all started when I was a summertime exchange student in Costa Rica in 10th Grade...I'm pretty sure I had never even tried coffee before then, and if I had I know my father always bought Folgers............not coffee in my opinion........so to arrive in Costa Rica and be served cafe con leche on a daily basis was totally eye-opening. I remember buying huge bags to send back as gifts and really never having that same experience with any cafe au lait bought in an American coffee shop.
It all started when I was a summertime exchange student in Costa Rica in 10th Grade...I'm pretty sure I had never even tried coffee before then, and if I had I know my father always bought Folgers............not coffee in my opinion........so to arrive in Costa Rica and be served cafe con leche on a daily basis was totally eye-opening. I remember buying huge bags to send back as gifts and really never having that same experience with any cafe au lait bought in an American coffee shop.
And so an addiction began...continued while I was at West Point (okay, the coffee in the mess hall was NOT good, but I still look back on it with fondness!!!) and the addiction turned into true passion during a family trip to Provence, France. Previously I had only ever had coffee in the morning but I fell in love with the French practice of multiple espressos daily, especially because I got to share the experience with K. Since I was not an espresso drinker before France, I had never tasted anything like it. My passion went even farther during my second deployment to Iraq. I brought my own electric French Press (I found this Chef's Choice one at Target.com for $89.99--I highly recommend it as it held up for 15 months in the desert!) and had Gevalia delivered monthly (http://www.gevalia.com/). I may have been living sparsely but I believe in creature comforts!!!
Now that I'm back home, the options for coffee are endless...I still love Starbucks (even though there are a bunch of haters...they're NOT anti-military!) and Dunkin' Donuts, of course (which was my choice this morning) but for home K and I have decided to go with the Tassimo machine. (http://www.tassimo.com/) Try it out...it's better than the other pod coffee machines because they actually have milk pods to make delicious cappucinos, lattes, and super creamy hot chocolates, along with all sorts of types of regular coffee, espressos, and teas. Don't pay more than $130...that's the price we paid at Lowe's and Costco even has it for that price with a bunch of free pods. They haven't started selling the pods separately yet so let's hope that comes next!
Okay, okay, but who doesn't like to support local, small businesses and who doesn't love a cozy coffee house down the street that doesn't feel so commercial....and what type of "observer" would I be if I didn't give you a suggestion of where to go for some great coffee!?!?! My choice in the area would be JoJo's Coffee on Pratt St. in downtown Hartford. (http://cafejojo.com/) Bottom line, don't go if you're in a hurry, but the coffee's great and they're extremely friendly. (Tell Bill, Cathy and Dalia I say hi!) They roast their own beans on site AND they're equally passionate about tea if that's your thing...I was quite grateful for that while I was pregnant as I was shying away from caffeine and they have lots of great decaffeinated tea. There's also a location in New Haven on Chapel Street.
Alright, that's enough on coffee for now...until tomorrow, have a great three meals (and a couple great cups of joe!)
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Celebratory Dinner
After a celebratory dinner at one of my favorites, Bricco in West Hartford, CT (for more info, go to http://www.billygrant.com/), I decided it was finally time to start my blog. What were we celebrating? Our Sweetie's 2 month birthday...I'm sure you'll hear plenty about her as time goes on. Especially because it's quickly becoming my opinion that having a baby changes a foodie's lifestyle in more dramatic ways than other parents! Hilariously I'm pretty sure Sweetie's already a foodie herself, but more on that later.
My experience at Bricco is always a positive one. I've heard how picky they are about who they hire on as waitstaff, let alone their cooking staff, and it really shows. We decided to head over there at about 6pm and I worried there might not be a seat outside since it was such an incredible evening. K said if there were no tables he'd officially call off the recession since it was a Tuesday night. (I'm sure Mr. Bernanke sits around waiting for his calls...) Fortunately we got there just in time, got a great table, and waited to see if Sweetie would disturb the other diners and force us to leave (#1 consideration for a foodie who's used to enjoying meals out!) She was a doll, fortunately, and we had a great meal.
I started with the featured appetizer, Stuffed Artichoke Hearts...I'm not sure I breathed once I started to eat it. It was delicious and perfect...lots of fresh vegetables and a delicious tomato-based sauce with capers--an ode to freshness. K had a local market green salad which, if you can believe, I didn't even get a taste of. Living in Connecticut I can't let opportunities like that pass me by! After all it's almost September. For our main course I had the Veal Milanese with Fingerling Potatoes and Arugula Salad with Heirloom Tomatoes. K had the Diver Sea Scallops with a summer risotto. Needless to say, everything was cooked perfectly...both the veal and the sea scallops melted in your mouth, which surprised me because the veal was incredibly thin and with the breading had the possibility of being pretty dry. The risotto was unlike any I've had before...the addition of fresh tomatoes and corn was so refreshing.
So there you have it...nothing controversial to report here--this time. It was a great meal at a great restaurant...other than that I found myself without a knife at one point...........ahhhhh...more on my silverware pet peeves later. Until my next post...have a great three meals!
My experience at Bricco is always a positive one. I've heard how picky they are about who they hire on as waitstaff, let alone their cooking staff, and it really shows. We decided to head over there at about 6pm and I worried there might not be a seat outside since it was such an incredible evening. K said if there were no tables he'd officially call off the recession since it was a Tuesday night. (I'm sure Mr. Bernanke sits around waiting for his calls...) Fortunately we got there just in time, got a great table, and waited to see if Sweetie would disturb the other diners and force us to leave (#1 consideration for a foodie who's used to enjoying meals out!) She was a doll, fortunately, and we had a great meal.
I started with the featured appetizer, Stuffed Artichoke Hearts...I'm not sure I breathed once I started to eat it. It was delicious and perfect...lots of fresh vegetables and a delicious tomato-based sauce with capers--an ode to freshness. K had a local market green salad which, if you can believe, I didn't even get a taste of. Living in Connecticut I can't let opportunities like that pass me by! After all it's almost September. For our main course I had the Veal Milanese with Fingerling Potatoes and Arugula Salad with Heirloom Tomatoes. K had the Diver Sea Scallops with a summer risotto. Needless to say, everything was cooked perfectly...both the veal and the sea scallops melted in your mouth, which surprised me because the veal was incredibly thin and with the breading had the possibility of being pretty dry. The risotto was unlike any I've had before...the addition of fresh tomatoes and corn was so refreshing.
So there you have it...nothing controversial to report here--this time. It was a great meal at a great restaurant...other than that I found myself without a knife at one point...........ahhhhh...more on my silverware pet peeves later. Until my next post...have a great three meals!
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