come dine with me...

After Theater Work's production of 'The Little Dog Laughed' [hilarious], we ate at Shish Kebab House of Afghanistan in West Hartford. I had never eaten at the original location in Hartford so had no preconceived ideas. Well, the meal was great.

Started with a basket [and then another] of hot Flatbread.

Entrées: Two Kabeli Palow 'special rice topped with almonds, raisins, carrots, flavored with cardamom, served with sautéed lamb [or chicken shish kebab] and choice of vegetable, one with Kadu Pumpkin purée and one with Brony Bonjan 'sliced steamed eggplant, fried and topped with tomato sauce, homemade yogurt, and mint. [$18.95] Superb!
One: Salmon Kebab marinated in lemon and avariety of traditional spices and side was Mushrooms sautéed with onions, tomatoes and seasonings. [$18.95] One Leg of Lamb Kebab with Spinach Rice [$19.95] and a special order of half portion of Mantoo steamed dumplings filled with mildly spiced meat and onions; topped with yellow split peas, homemade yogurt and mint and a half order of Ashak boiled dumplings filled with scallions and spinach, topped with spicy chopped beef, yellow peas, homemade yogurt and mint [$16.95].

bloginfo: Shish Kebab House of Afghanistan is located at 26 LaSalle Road, West Hartford, CT 231.8400
Lunch: Monday to Saturday 11 to 3
Dinner: Monday to Thursday 3 to 10, Friday and Saturday 3 to 11 and Sunday 2 to 9

blognote: Service is great, decor is authentic, servings are very good size and served hot.
I will return and make a meal of Sides or Appetizers or for just any reason to return!

Labels: Connecticut, Ethnic

Here today for a late lunch after two grandchildren basketball games; one win and one loss.

I had the Ribs and Shrimp Combo Special: a whole bunch of spicy battered medium-sized shrimp with a nice Remoulade dip, Mashed Potatoes and Broccoli. Only ate one rib and brought the rest home, definitely the hit of the combo. The other entrée was Chicken Fresco with the same sides. It looked good and moist. The other diner made do with the Salad Bar [figure that!]. She said she thought the choices were a little 'slim-picking' and there should at least be some bread. At that exact moment the fried Pumpernickel Bread arrived.

bloginfo: Ruby Tuesday's are [of course] all the same but this one was in North Windham. Good service and very clean.
blognote: check out the beverage choices [I only had the Iced Tea]; there are some interesting ones for next time

Labels: Comfort Food, Connecticut

I visited Shady Glen, post dentist visit and pre financial advisor visit. Now I know why he is so popular; his office is just down the road from this hallowed shrine. I ordered Bernice's Special Cheeseburger Platter: a big cheeseburger, coleslaw, lettuce and tomatoes [no fries on this diet!] and oh yes, that wonderful condiment tray.




Michael Stern [one of my favorite food critics] had this to say:

“What’s good to eat?” we ask the uniformed waitress when she steps to our booth.

“You are at Shady Glen,” she responds like a schoolteacher addressing especially slow students. “At Shady Glen, you must have cheeseburgers!”

Amen to that good advice. Although this fine old dairy bar has a menu of sandwiches and hot meals and is justly famous for its homemade ice cream, its way with cheeseburgers is nothing short of spectacular. The meat is not extraordinary and the cheese is merely tasty, but assemble the two of them together on the Shady Glen grill and magic happens. Three or four slices of cheese are carefully placed in a mosaic that extends far beyond the edges of the burger as it cooks, so the cheese melts directly onto the surface of the grill, turning chewy and crisp as it cooks. The hamburger with its soft cheese on top and its halo of textured cheese all around is hefted onto a bun to become one memorable sandwich!

bloginfo: 840 Middle Tpk E, Manchester, CT 06040 telephone: 860-649-4245

Labels: Connecticut, Hamburgers and such

Napa Valley found itself in the Forbidden City. Girard Vineyards from Napa Valley hosted a wine dinner at my favorite restaurant, Forbidden City, in Middletown last night.

I spent a very enjoyable evening there with a charming group of tablemates. We all had opinions on the wine and the food and enjoyed ourselves immensely. The tables were beautifully set with enough glassware to redo the Crystal Palace. Service [as always] was perfection.

And now for the food and wine:

Tuna Cannoli: Yellow fin tuna, black sesame oil, kaffir lime
served with Chardonnay Russian River Valley 2006

Shark Fin Dumpling: Shark fin, shrimp and crab meat, ginger balsamic vinaigrette
served with Sauvignon Blanc 2006

Sham Tseng Roast Duck served with spicy plum citrus and Old Vine Zinfandel reduction, accompanied by a crispy yam dumpling with duck confit filling
served with Old Vine Zinfandel 2005

Sichuan Peppercorn Crusted Lamb Loin with a cabernet sauvignon demi-glace
served with Girard Artistry 2004

Warm Fudge Chocolate with raspberry sauce
served with Petite Sirah 2005

bloginfo: Forbidden City is located at 335 Main Street, Middletown, CT
www.forbiddencitybistro.com

blognotes: favorite entrée was the Duck, favorite wine the Girard Artistry [oh, that I could afford a bottle of that], dessert was chocolate and what is better than that!

Labels: Asian, Chinese, Connecticut, Gourmet, Middletown

An excellent Greek Salad and the very best Boneless Wings in the universe here at Marlborough Pizza. I have been coming to this place for years. They have an excellent and varied menu BUT I always go back for the wings. And today's addition of the Greek salad made for a terrific early lunch. I have three wings left over and they will be my supper next week.

bloginfo: Marlborough Pizza is at 7 Independence Drive, off Route 66, near the center
telephone: 860.295.8181

Labels: Comfort Food, Connecticut, wings

THE LIGHTS ARE ON TONIGHT!

Drove by the diner tonight and the new lights are on. Inside still needs a lot of work but they were working on the lights in there also. Oh, when is the opening date? The lights were also on at Mitchell's on Main [formerly Mama Roux'] in Cromwell and that may open soon also. What could be a better sight than two new restaurants lighting up for their soon to be openings. It sure made a dreary, rainy night so much better.

Labels: Comfort Food, Connecticut, Cromwell, Middletown