Bourne Scallop Fest [MA]

Spent a great sunny and breezy morning at the Scallop Fest in Bourne, MA. Went on an organized trip to the Fest and a narrated ride down the Cape Canal.

Got in line right away at 11am before the crowds started lining up like the security line at Heathrow [no xrays though].  Scallop Dinner Combination Ticket was $19 and included Succulent Fried Scallops, French Fries, Cole Slaw, Roll & Butter, Tartar Sauce, Ketchup, Can of Soda, MA Meals Tax and Admission. We enjoyed everything [except the lackluster fries] immensely.

But the highlight of the day's eating was the food from the Raw Bar! One Wellfleet Oyster, two Littleneck Clams and a sampler [see picture above] of Baked Oysters; one Rockefeller, one Thai and one Orange. All for $8.00.

bloginfo: see website here.
blognote: This was their 41st year and they hand 50,000+ meals each year.

j gilbert's

Birthday coupon from j gilbert's so I ran over at opening to get my free entrée but didn't have lots of time so got the Shrimp Cocktail instead. This is by far the best SC in the entire world. Done the 'old way' rubbed with olive oil and salted/peppered, it is divine!

This is not the picture of MY shrimp cocktail and forgot I had my new iPhone with me. Could have taken a picture of the real thing.

Metro Deli [NY]

Made it to Scarsdale before we had to stop and eat; almost made it home. Used the cellphone GPS to find us something and almost missed it. But it is not something to miss!

Someone was having a deli attack and had to have a Knish, a square one which was then smeared with mustard. Delicious.

Two hero [grinders to me]: one ham and cheese, the other roast beef. Extra for the hero bread, the tomato, the cheese, give me a break! I had the Chicken Salad wrap [$8.25] on honey whole wheat wrap [so healthful am I] and bacon and lettuce. It was huge [two meals, already] with coleslaw and a pickle.

El Nopal [VA]

Two things were memorable about this meal: the graduate ate with us [first time off the base] and the fish I ordered. The rest was pretty mundane especially for Mexican food.

The Filete de Pescado [$10.95] was the whole freakin' fish. Now I [Sr. Spanish-speaking person] should have known that. Anyway, the monster fish did freak out the rest of the table so it was worth it. The Tecate beer helped also. The others found their food filling but not memorable: Arroz con Pollo, California Enchilada [?] and the Steak and Chicken Fajitas. The Flan was homemade but Abuelita was sleeping on that one and let the bottom burn.

Embassy Suites Bar [SC]

Three of us stayed at the Embassy Suites [Hilton] for two nights in Columbia, SC to attend the Graduation Ceremonies at Fort Jackson.

The included breakfasts were great with omelets to order. But the highlight of the dining component of the SC trip was the 'snack' we had at the bar after a 'mess hall' meal for Family Day.

One French Dip Sandwich [$10.95] with Fries and Onion Rings. The sandwich was on Sourdough bread with Provolone cheese. Then I was in for half of a shared Walnut and Goat Cheese Salad [$7.95] with crunchy walnuts, currants and a raspberry vinaigrette. Good thing we shared the salad as it was quite large and very rich. Also got some fresh rolls. My Pinot Grigio added to the enjoyment.

Redwood Family Restaurant [VA]

This was a typical travel 'box' restaurant from the outside, all charm indoors. A group of six elderly ladies sat at a table in the rear, early dinner, separate checks for all. A simple menu with moderate choices, no dinner specials announced. Three entrées: a baked Tilapia dinner [$9.95], Rib Eye Steak [$10.95]; both good, not exceptional. My dinner was heaven! After a plain dinner salad, the same you've had so many times followed by a slab of Virginia Ham [salt-cured] slapped on the griddle, along with fresh and yeasty warm rolls, killer Mac and Cheese + applesauce. What a dream for $9.95 and a healthy dose of Southern charm from our waitress.

blognote: we were in Lexington, VA

Forbidden City [CT]

Another birthday celebration tonight! Had dinner at Forbidden City in Middletown, my favorite restaurant.


I had a glass of Cueto Selleccion Riojo from Spain and the Pan-roasted Duck Breast resting on a Malay Curry with Shallot sticky rice and Asparagus. The duck was medium-rare and crusty on the outside. 
My hostess had the Triple Combination of Shrimp, Beef and Chicken with Vegetables and a glass of Riesling.


What a great meal and a great way to end this year's 'birthday season'.

Puket Café 2 [CT]

Had a birthday lunch today [can I milk that birthday, or not?] at the new Puket Cafe in Rocky Hill. I have eaten in the original in Wethersfield and really like it. Here the food is the same but the room is different. This one is very modern with clean lines, beautiful!

We had the Pla Muk Tod appetizer [$6] battered calamari deep fried with Thai sauce. This is served over iceberg lettuce with the greatest sauce.

For entrées we shared a Massaman Curry with grilled shrimp [$11.50] and the 6 shrimp were perfect and the curry over the white rice was good. The other shared dish was the Pad Se Ew [$9] with fried tofu. I have always like these flat noodles. I prefer this to Pad Thai.

bloginfo: The website here has the menu which is the same for both locations.

willy nick's restaurant and bar [NY]

Lunch here today at Willy Nick's after seeing the Cuban show at the Katonah Museum of Art. This was our second time here [with two guests] so we wanted to try a new place. What good luck!

Three sandwiches: GRILLED CHICKEN SANDWICH fontina, bruschetta, roasted red onion on ciabatta roll and two TURKEY brie, bacon, granny smith apples on wheat toast.

My salad: Field greens, apricots, figs, roasted beets and feta. 'Where is my feta?' said I. 'Where is my feta?' and there it was - a great big brown fried mound of feta that flowed over the salad when the coating was pierced; oh yes!

blognote: Thanks RAW for lunch

Ruby Tuesday [CT]

Happy Birthday; got a coupon for a free burger for my birthday.

Had the new TP [top prime] Bacon Cheddar Burger [$10.99] cooked medium rare as requested. It was juicy and delicious, came with decent fries and was worth the money [oops, FREE!]. I would definitely go back and order this and pay for it!

Also my BFF had the Grilled Chicken Salad [$7.99] with added avocado [$1], bleu cheese dressing on the side. This was enjoyed also.

blognote: The new cheese rolls were awesome; keep them coming.

Esquire Diner [NY]

Had lunch/dinner at the Esquire Diner on the way to Comfort Inn to drop off passengers on way back to Beijing. They needed to stay overnight in the JFK area.

Our entrées were: Cheeseburg [5.95], Reuben with fries [$11.50], Hot Brisket Melt [$11.25] and my Mulberry Street [$11.50] grilled sweet Italian sausage, peppers and mushrooms on a grilled garlic roll.
The sandwiches were all excellent. All served with terrific coleslaw [see blognote] and a full sour pickle.

bloginfo: Esquire Diner 105-45 Cross Bay Blvd., Ozone Park, NY

blognote: My coleslaw had a hunk metal in it, looked like a dentist's separator. The coleslaw and pickle were quickly replaced with macaroni salad. After I gifted it to the waitress they kept looking at me like I had planted it. No damage however and no mention at checkout either.

Plan B [CT]

Got taken to Plan B in Glastonbury today for a birthday lunch!!!

Beef Wellington Bites for an app. Very good, I could have eaten about ten of them.

Then I had the Lobster Sliders with fries; three toasted yummies stuffed with 'claw and knuckle' lobster meat, drawn butter and greens. Across the table, my hosts had a Cuban burger of ground pork, bacon, spicy mustard and cheddar and a Low Carb which is a cheeseburger atop iceberg lettuce, red onion [discarded in my direction to add to my lobster], tomato and a side of green fries [green beans]. Allagash White beer for me and host, Pinot Grigio for hostess.

Thanks for the birthday fest out [there was also one at home the other night but don't blog private meals!]

Firebox Restaurant [CT]

Great dinner last night sending friends back to Beijing. Maybe I will visit there; good food blogging.

Started with good bread and a glass of Shiraz [$9], they had some of the great cocktails offered there: Beauregard Mojito [$11] and a Saint Rosemary [$10].

Starters were: PEI Mussels with chorizo [$12] huge with a great broth, the bread toaster got a bit carried away. A Tomato Combo [$12] was a plate of color with red, yellow and green lightly dressed tomatoes and fried green tomatoes. My Summer Squash Salad [$10] consisted of matchstick green and yellow squash with feta and a super dressing, sitting on top was a fried squash blossom stuffed with cheese. A meal in itself.

Mains were: Seared Duck Breast [$29] served medium rare over mushroom polenta with black trumpet mushrooms. The largest Scallops ever were the 'Catch of the Day' [$30] and served over a corn risotto. The scallops were tender, moist and rich.  My choice was the honey brined Pork Chop [$25] served over hearty grained mustard spätzle and grilled peaches; delicious.

For dessert we shared a Vanilla Bean Creme Brulée [$8] and the seasonal Peach Cobbler [$8] with valilla ice cream, both very good and a good combination.

the Clark Café [MA]

Went to the 'Picasso Looks at Degas' exhibit today at the Clark Institute in Williamstown, MA.

Had a delicious 'soup and 1/2 sandwich' lunch [$9.50] in the Café:

Both had the creamy Corn Chowder. The other choices were Gazpacho or Broccoli Rabe with cannellini beans.

One had the 'Turkey Beret' on a croissant with brie and cranberry sauce. I had the 'Mona Lisa Smile' which was tomato, mozzarella, grilled peppers, prosciutto and Equinox Farms arugula on ciabatta with pesto mayo. Both sandwiches came with kettle chips and coleslaw.

Excellent meal in a well appointed dining room which is not open all year. The view from our table was fine.