j. gilbert's [CT]

My favorite place for celebrations! There is something on the menu for everyone. Tonight was a birthday and a 'going into the army' celebration.

All four of us had the Shrimp Cocktail [$13.95 each] for the best ever appetizer. We ordered it the 'original' seasoned way.

I had the Pearly White Wine Flight [$13.00] with a 2 oz. serving of Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. Excellent selections and they started out good and ended beautifully [didn't think I would enjoy the Chardonnay as much as I did].

I had the Durango Shrimp Appetizer [$9.50] for my entrée which was a tad spicy as well as a Caesar Salad [$5.95] and I have had better Caesar salads.

The entrées for the others were: Pan Roasted Chicken [$18.75] which was the old menu item of Chicken Marsala. Added to this was a side of Lobster Mac and Cheese [$4.50]. A 10 oz Top Sirloin [$22.50] which looked great and a Combo of Petite Filet and Salmon [$26.95] which looked small but was very rich.

One order of Almond Cannoli [$7] and my DeCaf Cappuccino [$3.95] ended the very satisfying meal.

The Simple Man Saloon [MA]

Visited The Museum of Russian Icons today in Clinton, MA at Union Street. What an incredible gem of a museum.

For lunch we ate at The Simple Man Saloon closeby on High Street. The atmosphere is pure saloon and the food is 'bar' good.

We both had the BLT; one a wrap and the other on a bulkie roll. They were jampacked with a lot of thick crispy bacon and of course lettuce and tomato and real mayo. The fries were extra good. This was a very inexpensive meal [$6.50] for both the quantity and quality.

bloginfo: The saloon is located at 119 High Street. Look up their page on FaceBook.

blognote: Must not be much of a call for coffee as they couldn't get the coffeemaker to work.

East West Grille [CT]

So here I am having the special Breakfast Burrito which was cooked by the Hispanic grill crew, served coffee by the Mexican waitress and the Lao waiter who served my burrito was probably one of the Kindergarteners in the Lao/English bilingual program in New Britain that was part of my teacher-training duties before retirement 12 years ago.

I was too early for lunch which has both Lao and Thai menus; see their website here.The burrito [$8 and change with coffee and tax] was very good but now I have to go back for lunch or dinner to try out the other menus. Poor bloggers!!!

Anyway, this is the charm of this urban eatery on New Park Avenue in West Hartford.

The Angry Olive [CT]

Dropped in here unexpectedly tonight with two guests. Was going to come to lunch on Saturday but got to taste the dinner menu. I had already eaten lunch today but thought I could just have something light...

So this is what we ate at the The Angry Olive!

Good bread on the table with a delicious olive oil, tapenade and caper dip. Excellent.
[Naked] Bruschetta [$5] was delicious but it was basically fantastic toast without any veggies.
A glass of Lagaria Pinot Grigio [$6]

My Asparagus Salad [$8] which is the Friulli Salad on the lunch menu plus asparagus. It has grapes, gorgonzola and walnuts and is lightly dressed.
My Bolognese Gratinado [$9] an app that I could live on forever. It's a square ramekin full of super Bolognese sauce with a crust of Cheese and piles of addictive Eggplant Chips. It all came home!
Vitello Nicoise [$26] a plate of Veal paillard and a pretty trendy 'Lasagna' and very good.
Salmon [$21] with Fiddleheads, Bulghur and an overwhelming amount of Foam [couldn't parse the flavor].
A side of mashed potato [$5]. The salmon was medium well [too done for me] but exactly as ordered.

Skipped dessert as we didn't see anything unusual we had to try.

bloginfo: The Angry Olive is in the old Bickford's on the Silas Deane Highway.
blognote. The restaurant is VERY noisy. There was a party in the bar [lounge?]. A place for fantastic food but not a romantic tryst.