Chocolate to the Rescue

Chocolates
and Champagne!

Chocolates
and Champagne!

Chocolates
and Champagne!

Chocolates
and Champagne!

Chocolates
and Champagne!

Get the idea!!!!!















Thanks to JC of the Tgirls I went to the American Red Cross fund raiser: 'Chocoloate to the Rescue' at Water's Edge in Westbrook, CT today. Some of the other Tgirl gang was there along with husbands and friends from the Cape, D&SB. My 'date' [courtesy of KF] was TJ. We all enjoyed ourselves immensely and ate our way around the room. Some were more lucky than others at the raffle. Oh well, there's always next year.

Christmas at Bolton Notch

Actually it wasn't Christmas but I was taken to lunch as part of my Christmas gift. The gift 'coupon' was from the Andover crowd, BF and GC.

We ate at Georgina's in their new digs [formerly Fiano's]. They moved up to this building from their little pizza joint a few yards away. They must be doing fine as the place was packed. Who are all these people?

We each had a luncheon special which came with a nice House Salad [I know I have a big mouth but they should cut the ingredients a little smaller]; two with Honey Mustard dressing and mine with the house special homemade Creamy Italian. There was also a bread basket with three huge pieces of 'Texas' [actually Italian] Toast coated with Garlic Butter and Herbs. Yummy!

BF had the Chicken Parm, GC the Eggplant Parm and I had the Veal and Eggplant Parm. The sauce was very good and the pasta portion was more reasonable than most places. Maybe this was the lunch portion but I appreciated being able to see the veal and eggplant. We each had a different type of pasta but all the orders came out just right.

Soula and George are the owners. Soula stopped by the table and was really interested in how we were enjoying our meal.

We skipped dessert [there] and had fresh baked Cherry Pie and Coffee back 'at the ranch' in Andover.

The winner was the Cherry Pie [sorry Soula] AND the three Parm dishes.

IKEA Breakfast Bargain!

BD and Mofongoman went to IKEA in New Haven this morning to look at cabinets for my kitchen. We got there at 9:30am and the parking lot was empty except for a car/truck/van or two. The signage on the door said the store opened at 10:00. YUK! There were a few people standing around so we sat in the car. At 9:35 I noticed the doors were open. They open a half hour early to serve breakfast.

We each had the 99 cent special breakfast: Scrambled Eggs, Crispy Bacon [or Sausage], Fried Potatoes with Onions, Red/Green Peppers. At the checkout we found that unlimited Coffee was included!

The winner was the Price [I paid - big spender that I am] and the BACON!

Chale Ipanema [again]

Actually it's again and again and again. You just can't get a bad meal here at Chale Ipanema on Franklin Avenue in Hartford. This I didn't have a problem with the car either [earlier blog].

Went with neighbors SN and BN before they leave for Florida [snowbirds!]. We all enjoyed the meals.

We started with an order of Banana Frita and one of Yucca Frita. Both were hot and delicious and the mustard dipping sauce for the yucca was good. The rolls and olives helped fill us up.

SN had the Grilled Shrimp over Pineapple Mango Rice with Pinenuts. BN had the night's special of Salmon with Shiitaki Mushrooms and Lobster Sauce over Rice. I had the Bitoque [Bife Portuguesa]: a great steak grilled to medium rare perfection and covered with Prosciutto and a Fried Egg. This came with Portuguese Fried Potatoes.

To add insult to calories, we shared a special dessert of Chocolate Mousse with Chocolate and Raspberry Sauces and Vanilla Ice Cream.

The winner was the food, the ambiance and the company.

Chowder Pot [no chowder]

We ate at the Chowder Pot in Hartford on the road to Brainard Airport last night. We were treated by TJ, SO of younger son KF.

We didn't have the chowder [or the lobster bisque]. But we sure ate well. I had the Baked Stuffed Shrimp Platter with a Baked Potato and a Caesar Salad. I drenched the shrimp with the melted butter and the little casserole was swimming with calories. TJ had Clams on the Half Shell [6] but I had one of them. Very fresh with good sauce. Then she had a pound and a quarter Boiled Lobster. This came with a Caesar Salad. KF had the Shrimp Cocktail [I had one shrimp also]; the sauce was good and spicy. Then he had Surf and Turf: Stuffed Lobster Tail and an end cut of Prime Rib and a Side Salad. No room for dessert.

The winners were the Seafood [Chowder Pot - get the hint!] and the loser was the Salad.

Moon over Mediza

After seeing 'A Moon for the Misbegotten' at Hartford Stage yesterday, we went to Mediza. This new find is located at 35B LaSalle Road in West Hartford Center.

There were four of us: MER and NO [the theater gang] and LL, an old friend who met us there as she had already seen the play.

I started with a glass of Toad Hollow Cacophony Zin [couldn't resist the name] and MER had a glass of the Chateau [something] Cab. Wines were $6 and $7 a glass. The zinfandel was very good.

Osso Bucco with Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Creamed Spaghetti Squash was a special and was ordered and enjoyed by both LL and MER. Big ol' plate of comfort food. NO and I each had the Lamb Skewers with Lentil Rice and a good Tzaziki Sauce. He started with a Crispy Calamari Salad [radicchio, romaine slaw and orange segments is a shallot vinaigrette]. I was going to order the same starter until I heard the special: Octopus and Hearts of Palm Salad. This consisted of a large portion of hearts of palm with a superb dressing and three tiny grilled whole octopus [octopi, octopusses???].

For dessert we split a Pumpkin Bread Pudding four ways. And it was delicious!

Winners [for me] were the Lamb, Octopus and Wine.

Bloginfo: Mediza owners are Debra and Khen Raviv.
The telephone is 860.233.3370 and fax is 860.233.3377.
Open Monday through Saturday for Lunch and Dinner.
Lunch: from 11:30am
Dinner: 5:00pm until close [bar open late]
Sunday dinner: 4 to 9pm

Return to Tuscany...

Ate again at Todd English's Tuscany at the Mohegan Sun Casino today with my neighbor, KS. We partook of the Tuscan Table luncheon buffet.

This is a very good deal and what I consider a 'civilized buffet experience'. We started out with a glass of wine each: Pinot Grigio for him and a Tempranillo for me.

The highlights of the table today were Mussels, Tenderloin Tips, Pork in Ginger and Baby Back Ribs. The pastas were Bolognese and Primavera. The soup was Sweet Potato. Along with the other salads was a Seafood Salad with Shrimp and Smoked Mussels.

The dessert table was loaded [with calories] and featured: Tiramisu, Flourless Chocolate Cake, a Holiday Bread Pudding [raisins and cranberries], the fantastic Peppered Walnut Cheesecake and a Fruit Torte.

The winner was definitely the Tenderloin Tips and the Cheesecake. The Caesar suffered in comparison to the one at Boston Market [in another blog].

bloginfo: http://www.toddenglish.com/

the best salad...

Secret: The best Caesar Salad around is at Boston Market. I visited the branch in Glastonbury last night with son and granddaughter; they ate dinner and I had a salad.

The Caesar Side Salad consisted of fresh Romaine, shaved Parmesan and 4 Croutons [count them] and a tub of wicked Caesar Dressing. All this in a plastic container with plastic utensils and a plastic container of water [free]. Sounds like a dull meal but the salad is so good!

The winner was the price: $1.79!

cuckoo or bipolar?

Where in the world can you find a Mexican [Oaxacan style] brunch in an Irish bar? At the Cuckoo's Nest in Old Saybrook, that's where. And with the help of another gift card [this one a silent auction win], we had brunch here today. The BLD's and Mofongoman, that is.

Maybe it was the cold and wintry day but we had to change our table to the upstairs to get warm.

The brunch was quite adequate with a lot of choices. We sampled omelettes, burritos, fajitas and tacos and such. The Cajun Roast Beef was real spicy and the Pit Smoked Ham turned out to be roast beef also [?]. The Vegetable Spinach Soup was tasty and hot. The French Toast was cold. The waitstaff was bicoastal somewhere between Ireland and Mexico but not on duty.

There were many dessert items to choose from including a Banana 'Burrito', Oreo Pudding, Flan, Rice Pudding, Cakes and Pastries.

The winner was the Churros [but needed the chocolate] to be inspiring.

thanks for the gift card

Ate at Bertucci's on the Berlin Turnpike tonight with the BD's and thanks to their children, the SW's gift card made it was a very inexpensive meal.

Aside from the cost, it was an excellent meal too. After a 2o minute wait for a table; everyone is hungry over the weekends, we got a corner booth. On the way out, the wait for a table must have been at least an hour.

Kara was our server and she dealt with us quite well [three waters; two with lemon and one with lime!]. The Rolls there are great and very HOT and the dipping oil is spicy and garlicy [is that a word?].

JD and I each had a Side Salad; hers with Chianti Dressing and mine with Italian. BD had the Sausage Soup [always a favorite].

For the entrée BD had the Chicken Marsala with Pomodoro Sauce, Spinach and a side of Gemelli. JD and I both had the Rigatoni alla Norma with Grilled Eggplant.

We skipped dessert and didn't even turn in to Mortensen's for ice cream. Diet? No, just watch for tomorrow's blog and you will understand.

Norma was the winner but tied with the Chicken.

the first shall be last

and the leftovers will last a week!

Ate tonight with the WB's at First and Last Tavern on Main Street in Middletown.

We started with good Italian Bread and Herbed Focaccia. After Orange Salads, we had Stuffed Eggplant, Lasagne and Chicken Stemperata. The two non-pasta entrées came with shells; Marinara Sauce on one and Aglio/Olio on the other.

I had not had the Chicken dish for a long time and didn't remember that it consists of a half chicken [flash fried] with olives, garlic cloves and a great vinegary brown sauce. YUM!

The winner was the company as all the meals were thoroughly enjoyed.

lobster this and lobster that

Saybrook FishHouse on the Silas Deane Highway is jumping these days. Went there for dinner tonight younger son, KF, and his SO, TJ.

Started with Lobster Fritters, a huge plate of huge fritters; good amount of lobster and a little salty [apricot sauce with a base of horseradish made for a good dip].

The usual good Salad family-style with the famous dressings: creamy garlic and champagne vinaigrette. The cherry tomatoes had seen better days.

KF had the Seafood Combo: Bluefish with a Vegetable Stuffing, Sea Scallops and some other fish [attentive aren't I] with a Seafood Stuffing. TJ had Fried Catfish with Brown Rice. I had the Swordfish stuffed with Lobster and a Bernaise Sauce over all. This came with Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Steamed Zucchini [veg of the day].

KF had the Chocolate Mousse Cake [spelled 'moose' on the bill!] and we all shared the Fruit Basket.

The winners were anything with Lobster.

after the play is over...

Went to an Open Rehearsal for donors at Hartford Stage. Saw the first act of Eugene O'Neill's 'A Moon for the Misbegotten.' Interesting experience with a talk by the Production Manager and the Director.

Drove by Bin228 to see if I could find a parking space and there was one in front of the restaurant but I couldn't fit into it. Did find one around the corner, though.

Took a table in the window and had a small Pellegrino, a 3oz glass of Syrrah from the cruvinet, a bowl of Chicken, Shrimp, Sausage Vegetable Soup. For dessert [?] I had the Pear, Gorgonzola and Hazelnut Purée Bruschetta. It all came to $20 before the tip.

The winners were the Wine and the Bruschetta.