Forbidden City

Forbidden City, one of my favorite restaurants, had a special lobster dinner this week. They are using Open Table for reservations and for a nudge to use them, they had this great offer. With an Open Table reservation and a Promo Code number, you got the three course prix fixe Lobster Dinner with wine pairings for $29.95 [full price was $39.95]. So since I wanted to entertain for a birthday party, that is where we went. The meal was exceptional! The service, as usual, was super.

First Course-Chef’s Favorite Dim Sum

Crystallized Har Gao

Steamed shrimp dumpling in a transparent dough with ginger vinaigrette.

Wine Pair: Banfi Pinot Grigio

Or

Crab Shumai with Lobster Cream and Caviar
Seasoned crab meat with Chinese herbs in wonton wrapper.
Wine Pair: Laurent Miguel 100% Chardonnay

Second Course-Signature Cooking
Wok-Hei Maine Live Lobster (1.1/4Ibs)
Wok-seared with ginger and scallion with a touch of Chinese sake.
Served with shallot fried rice.
Wine Pair: Laurent MiguelChardonnay/Viogneer

Third Course-Hand Craft Dessert
Shangri-la Pandan Crème Brulée
Wine Pair: Moscato D’asti with Prosecco Style
Or
Toasted Hawaiian Pineapple Rice Pudding with Mandarin Orange Segment
Wine Pair: Banfi Rosé

*****

Andrea's Restaurante

This is the first week of the ACC Tour. I am teaching English to refugees on Wednesday afternoons. So after each class I intend to visit a restaurant in the vicinity for a late lunch. Today is After Class Cuisine Tour #1 at Andrea's on Franklin Avenue.

I had the lunch special [$6.99] which is available from 11 to 3 and has loads of choices. My choice was the Pernil [roast pork] and Arroz con Habichuelas [rice (choice of white or yellow) and beans].
The pernil was a good sized portion, juicy and lean with just a bit of the crunchy exterior. The rice was good and the beans tasty but there were some little bits of al dente veggies hidden there.

All in all it is a good priced, well cooked lunch.

bloginfo: Andreas [in the former Sorrento building] is located at 371 Franklin Avenue
Hartford, CT 06114 (860) 296-2100
blognote: I ate at the bar and the dining room is a bit formal. They must have a good evening crowd.

Cavos Tavern & Pizzaria

Just got back from eating lunch/dinner at Cavos. Heard a lot of foodie traffic about them and thought I would check it out. Anyway, good choice for a hungry afternoon.

It is Saturday and it was 3pm so I ordered from the Dinner menu. Don't know if there is a Lunch menu but will find out. You can too by going to their website [there was a slight problem with double images/double vision but I am sure they will fix it].

Ordered way too much food but had to do it for the blog!!! There is a huge menu.

Started with Saganaki [$8] from the Appetizer [Mezedes] menu. This is three large pieces of 'pan fried Greek imported aged cheese' and it is luscious. There also appeared a basket of great garlic bread.

Aegean Plates come with salad [my choice] of fresh greens, tomato, olives and feta with a smooth clear dressing OR soup [Avgolomeno for today] and a choice of rice or French fries.
So after much deliberation I ordered the Grilled Pork Chops [$16]. This platter contained two pork chops, a bed of delicious herbed rice, toasted pita and the best tzaziki sauce. I brought enough food home for Tuesday's dinner.

Finished with a Greek coffee made by Yaya [you will never go wrong if there is a Yaya in the kitchen] and it was sweet and strong.

bloginfo: Cavos is located at 2414 Berlin Turnpike in Newington. Telephone: 667-9200
blognote: You will recognize it with the walled-off patio with tables and umbrellas for al fresco dining.

Barça [after a long respite]

My new delight is Coca [the Catalan bread not the other stuff!]. Just had an order of this with spinach, mushrooms and cheese. It was great [$9]. The funny thing was that I never got to order it any of the many times I was in Barcelona [Spain, the real place where it's a hit] but had it in Hartford. There were two other tapas [meat/cheese combination plate and the the piquillo peppers stuffed with a mushroom risotto. A glass of Malbec helped too.

7/11/08

Barça is definitely habit-forming! Ate here again this afternoon with Miami guests.
Started with a pitcher of Cava Sangria. Very Good. AND a bottle of vino blanco special Martin Cadoux. Excellent summer wine.
Some tapas: Combinación de Quesos [San Martín and Mahon] and some great meats with good warm bread; Chorizo Asado [why I have not tried this before, I do not know] a piece of chorizo with shrimp and marinated vegetables and excellent; Tres Emapanadas Gambas which blew me away!
Chef Jesús originally from Santiago de Compostela has turned the kitchen around. Service from Sarah [con 'h'] was superb. What better place to spend a tired summer afternoon.


As many of you know, I spent two weeks in Barcelona in September celebrating my birthday. I raved about the food and restaurants there. But if you don't have the time, inclination, or $$ for the €€, stay in Hartford and eat at Barça!
5/17/2008
Ate there this afternoon and it was a great pleasure; I don't even know where to start; the decor, the service, the room, the tableware, the great wine by the glass list and, of course, the food.

Started with a glass of red [$6 but compliments of the party at RealArtWays Creative Thursdays [another story].
Moved on to the Combinacíon de Dos [$9]: Pato al estilo de China [Confit Duck Spring Roll and Pickled Red Cabbage in a Spicy Plum Emulsion] and Ensalada de Coliflor: Fried Cauliflower, Asparagus and Grilled Apricots with Black Olive Vinaigrette. Both were excellent and complimented each other. Also had the Gazpacho Blanco [$5]: White Gazpacho, Cantolonian Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Grapes and Crab Meat; this was so good it must be a sin to eat it!

Still ready to sample more, I ordered [on Nicole's suggestion] the Grelos con Gambas [$7] [Garlic Shrimp with Brocolli Rabe au Gratin with Pecorino Romano Cheese]. This very really very really good.

Finished with an espresso cortado [$2].

bloginfo: website Barça
1429 Park Street, Hartford, CT [in the Design Center]
phone: 724-4444
blognote: really great people and Nicole is a terrific waitperson [as is Sarah].

Forbidden City [after a long time]

I have a new favorite!!! Royal Malacca Prawn [$19] is it. Wok-flashed prawn, asparagus and red onion with ginger, Thai basil and chili. Just the best after a Duck Spring Roll [$8] accompanied by a glass of Wakefield Estate Shiraz [$9] and finished off with a pot of Puerh and Chrysanthemum Tea [$3]. Couldn't ask for a better meal, better service or better ambience; this place still rocks.

11/28/08

Haven't blogged Forbidden City since last April. Went there tonight; party of five. Good meal!

We started with the Crispy Baby Calamari served with Hunan chili aioli dipping sauce [$11]. Excellent!

Entrées: Two orders of Seared Duck Confit with scallions over flat noodles [$18] a Special of the night. Very good, seasoned well and had just the right amount of greasiness to the noodles. This was my order and that of someone who spent time in Beijing.
Shao Xing Pork Chop: pan-roasted grass fed natural loin chop with caramelized Shao Xing Meichai and shallot fried rice [$21].
[note] The pork chop was ordered medium but came very, very rare inside. Redone quickly but tasted more like fresh ham than porkchop.
Tangerine Beef: crunchy Ny strip steak with a spicy tangerine glaze [$18]. A favorite, my choice next time.
Triple Delight: sauté shrimp, beef and chicken with seasonal vegetables [$17]. Good and safe choice for the newbie.

Desserts: Two orders of Kalamansi [key lime] tart with mango glaze [$6] and my order of Pomegranate Sorbet [$6] which was outrageously delicious.
Tea: a Jasmine [$2] and a Puerh and Chrysantheum [$3]

Bloginfo: This is the best food of its kind anywhere outside of NYC or Boston; right here on Main Street in Middletown.
blognote: The New Year's Tasting Menu will be served on January 27th and I will be there.

Iguanas Ranas [repeat visits]

Since today is cinco de mayo, I just had to visit the only authentic Mexican eatery around. There were banners and balloons at La Boca on Main Street but this is where it’s at! 

Had a Gordita [$3.00]: a thick tortilla fried on the grill and filled with lettuce, onion, cheese and carnita [shredded pork]. It looked little but was very filling with some salsa verde dripped inside to give it that great bite. They are doing lots of business but everything is still made to order and very fresh [and the prices are good, too].

11/13/08        TORTA ALERT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just had lunch here at Iguanas Ranas and it was great! Had a torta, sort of a gigantic sandwich [$6]. There were two of us; one had the Pollo Asado [chicken] and I had the Milanesa [beef]. They came on huge rolls with lettuce, tomato, onion, fresh cheese, refried breans and a chipotle mayo. Thought I could never finish it but rose to the occasion. This is the freshest, healthiest, budget lunch around. Meet me there!

11/04/08
So there is a new taquería in Middletown [not a cantina like in the picture (but I stole that from Google images)]. And it's on Main Street but I don't know the number but I will check that info out soon. And it was reviewed in the Advocate and I'm still looking for that. ¿So I am very informative, de verdad?

OKAY - I did my homework and here is the review from the Hartford Advocate.

I had a chicken taco [$2] to go and it was okay. A little dry but I didn't use the salsa verde as it was too hot for me. Lots of chicken and cilantro. The Tortas [$6?] looked fantastic. So I will do a little more research and get back to you.

bloginfo: 574 Main Street, Middletown
blognote: They are very bilingual; no trouble ordering if you don't speak Spanish

Trinity Restaurant [another visit]

Ate here again today after Theater Works. We had originally intended to eat at Joey Garlic's new location in Newington on the Berlin Turnpike but decided we wanted a more intimate place after the intense theater presentation.

Each couple split a Greek Salad which was good and not overwhelmingly dressed. Then we ordered to small pizzas to share. I had had the Rucola Prosciutto pizza before and it was very good as was the Shrimp Scampi pizza. This was certainly just the right amount of food for four people. For dessert we all shared one portion of their version of Tiramisu. This was more like an Italian pastry but went well with their strong coffee.

blognote: The place was empty when we arrived but really started to fill up as we were leaving. That is so good as they run such a nice family place.

9/7/08
I think I ate at Timothy's restaurant once years ago. Ate here at same site tonight in its Trinity Restaurant rebirth. What a great place!

Started with an Antipasto with good bready rolls. Then on to two large pizzas: one of Proscuitto Rucola and the other Eggplant. The verdict was out; both were so good they came out as two winners.
Brought our own wine, a Spanish red Luzon, and they corked and provided stemware.

Read Hartford Courant review here.

bloginfo: 243 Zion St, Hartford, CT 06106
(860) 951-9747
blognote: There were four of us and this was after the Hartford Stage production of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream.'

Barcelona Wine Bar [revisited (again)]

'You have go get back on the horse!' so that is why we are back here again tonight. Last time there was a broken wrist [read below] and this time a gift card. Had a really great meal especially since it was all covered with the gift card. Will have to go back on a Thursday for tapas and live flamenco music.

Split a Spinach Salad: Portabella Mushrooms, Applewood Bacon,Herb Goat Cheese, Balsamic Glaze Dressing [$8.50] and a tapa of House-Cured Olives, Thyme, Citrus, Garlic [$3.50]

Both had the same entrée: Churrasco Grilled Skirt Steak, Garlic Spinach, Sweet Potato Fries, Chimichurri Sauce [$23.50]

For dessert we had Churros con chocolate: Fried dough tubes dipped in sugar and cinnamon with a cup of chocolate pudding for dipping; yum!

Saturday, December 13

Ate here again tonight after seeing 'The Seafarer' at Theater Works. From Irish boozing to Spanish tapas!

Five of us and each ordered a different tapa: Chorizo with figs, Blue Cod with parsnips, Gambas, Venison osso bucco [a racíon] and spicy Lamb with eggplant, also sneaked in an order of olives. The bread was still good but stingy with the olive oil. Service was very good. The Gambas and the Venison were the winners. The Chorizo is excellent also but was the winner last time.
I had an Argentine Malbec red and it was excellent [$7.50]. Ended with an order of Churros con chocolate to share: four piping hot 'crullers' coated with sugar and a cup of hot chocolate [pudding consistency] but topped with cream [lose the cream and stick to the chocolate]. Delicious.

blognote: The evening ended on a very bad note: the banquette seating in the bar is very DANGEROUS! My companion stepped off the riser, fell and shattered her left wrist. I drove her to the emergency room [she will undergo surgery next week to have a plate put in her wrist] while the manager drove the rest of the West Hartfordites home; a nice gesture but thought he would at least eat the check. The story will continue!

10/25/09
Had heard lots of good things about Barcelona and finally had a chance to stop in here last night. My shopping buddy is a West Hartford restaurant expert! Good room, good service, good food.

We started with a glass of white wine each. The winelist on the website is not up to date [according to staff] but it was the Viura/Verdejo [$6.50] and possibly not the bottle listed. Great bread; a big pail of sections [not wimpy slices] of warm crusty bread to sop up the olive oil and sauces and gravies. And Ian [our server] made sure we had plenty of this great bread.

Three tapas: Olives [$3.50] for a large amount of mixed excellent olive combination, Garlic bulbs [$3.50] two fat beautifully roasted steaming hot bulbs, Sweet sour figs with chorizo [$7.50] in a little cazuela [cazuelita?] of roasted figs and sliced chorizo.

Ración: one ración [larger than tapa serving] of Duck confit [$14] over goat cheese and spinach and a slew of baby concord grapes. This dish needs no explanation and was devoured with great gusto as it was delicious.

bloginfo: check website above for address [Farmington Avenue rear] and menu
blognote; restaurant has a late night menu ['til 2am on weekend] and rumor is is that they have Churros con Chocolate for dessert. Also offer a Tapas Sampler special on Sunday thru Thursday.