come dine with me...

Great find this afternoon at Cibo, American Cuisine with Italian Flair, Restaurant and Lounge. It's off exit 18 in Colchester on South Main Street. One of those places you would probably drive by if you didn't know better. Well, I was tipped off that it was good so we went and tried it: it is good!

App: Fried Calamari with hot banana pepper rings and marinara sauce [$9.95]. The portion was not only huge but very, very fresh and just lightly breaded.

A whole loaf of freshly baked bread with a roasted garlic infused dipping oil came next. Great and included with dinner.

Side salad or soup [Minestrone or Meatball].

Entrées: Chicken Florentine with spaghetti was a breast of chicken and the freshest spinach and good cheese. A half rack of ribs [Friday and Saturday only] with Red Bliss Mashed Potatoes and Summer Squash sauté. My entrée was a New York Sirloin, medium rare, with the mashed potatoes and squash.

Dessert: no way, no room!

bloginfo: Cibo is located at 464 South Main Street [Route 85] in Colchester, CT.
Phone 860.537.6261
blognote: the chef loves garlic and uses it well; if you don't like this, watch out

Labels: Comfort Food, Connecticut, Italian

The Sunday, March 23, 2008 New York Times reviewed East Side Restaurant in New Britain, CT and gave it a GOOD rating. See the review at:

http://events.nytimes.com/2008/03/23/nyregion/nyregionspecial2/23dinect.html?scp=1&sq=east+side+restaurant&st=nyt

Labels: Connecticut, German

March 24, 2008
Lunch today here with no trouble getting a table at 1:00.
Started with a cup of Corned Beef and Cabbage Soup [$3.50]; delicious in a cream base not broth as I would have expected. Then had the 'Irish Tribute' which turned out to be even better than described on the daily specials' list. It was Lamb Meatballs over Bangers and Turnip Mash AND Hamhock over Brown Rice all smothered in a Mint Pea Gravy! [$11] and for dessert the Bread Pudding special which had layers of pound cake, scones and coffee cake topped with real whipped cream and raspberry preserve [4.50]. Bernie kept giving us samples of bread, coffee cake and Irish Soda Bread so we were entirely stuffed by the time we waddled back to the car.

February 21, 2008
Ate at the newly renovated O'Rourke's Diner this morning. The lines have been long as everyone is celebrating the reopening; we got a table without too much wait.

Two of us had the 'Dubliner' omelet: corned beef and cheese encased in an eggy omelet. It came with roasted fingerling potatoes with a slice of Irish soda bread slathered with raspberry preserves. Another entrée was a 'Casino' omelet: crab and bacon with potatoes and toast. The last entrée was 'Texas French Toast' [you can guess what that was] and sausages.

GOOD COFFEE! with slices of Lemon Poppy Seed bread on the table to start.

Brian was busy cooking, taking Lemon Poppy Seed bread to those waiting in line, and passing around a huge paddle from an industrial mixer so everyone could 'lick the batter' [almond based something good].

Labels: Breakfast, Comfort Food, Connecticut, Middletown

Ate at Michy's on Sunday evening to celebrate my return from Brazil.
One guest was a friend of one of the chefs so we were comped a course or two. Even though, it is expensive BUT well worth the expense! One unique thing about Michy's is the menu: order half or full portions of most items, giving the table the option to try a lot of things.

Started with Blue Cheese Croquetas, Fig Marmalade [comped] so we had time to peruse the very interesting menu.
Appetizers:
Roast Beet Salad, Red Wine Vinaigrette, Pecans, Endive, Horseradish Crema
Cured Foie Gras, Sweet Peach-Vanilla Marmalade, Brioche Crisps [excellent]
Turks and Caicos Conch, Escargot Style, Garlic, Parsley, Butter
Fennel Dusted Sweetbreads, Bacon Braised Fennel, Kumquat Brown Butter [outstanding]
Comped Starter Course: Seared Foie Gras, Corn Pancake, Savory Maple Syrup [the best ever!]
Main Courses:
Fettuccine 'Carbonara' My Way, Smoked Bacon, Crispy Jamón Serrano, Prosciutto, Melting St. Andre [perfect]
Short Ribs Falling off the Bone, Creamy Mashed Potatoes, Moroccan Carrots [sinful!]
Three Bone Colorado Lamb Chop, Chick Pea Panisse, Eggplant Zaalouk, Natural Jus [very good]
Gnocchi 'Lasagna,' Meat Bolognese, Creamy Parmesan, Melting Buffalo Mozzarella [exquisite comfort food]
Desserts:
Bread Pudding, Cuatro Leches, Chocolate Cake and for me a glass of Sherry with a plate of fruit and nuts ['La Música' as it is called in Spain]
Beverages:
Water was Badoit [in their ruby red bottle],
white wine was a Gysler Riesling and the red a stunning Beaumes de Venise

bloginfo: Michy's is at 6927 Biscaynes Boulevard in Miami, FL
valet parking in the rear [actually I don't thing they even use the front door]
telephone [reservations a must] 305.759.2001
blognote: the tip was $65.00

Labels: Gourmet, Miami