Cinco de Mayo

 Took a ride into Hartford because I knew that was the first place to have a Cinco de Mayo lunch. There was a pop-up at Parkville Market, one of my favorite places to eat. I had a delicious ear of Elote slathered with all the good stuff. Then are at Tortas for Carne Asada Tacos with all the trimmings. They were great! The music was, of course, mariachi which I do enjoy. Great sunny and warm day!

Peking Duck

 Peking Duck dinner tonight at CLoC dining room. What a success! Started with Shrimp and Pork Dumplings with honey soy dipping sauce that were so smooth and delicious. The dipping sauce was the perfect foil for the dish. Entrée was Shredded Peking Duck piled high covered with strips of crispy skin. Three Bao Steamed Buns were accompanied with a garnish plate julienne carrots, cucumbers, scallions and Hoisin and plum sauces. The vegetable Fried Rice was plentiful and tasty. A bottle of Sauvignon Blanc for dinner and some Fu-Ki Plum Wine served as dessert.

blognote: Mofongoman doesn't usually blog private meals but tonight's was def restaurant-worthy.

Memorable Meal @CLoC

 Don't usually blog meals from dining room at Covenant Living where I now reside but tonight... The squab stuffed with Peking duck and spinach was very good. It came with green beans and whipped sweet potatoes. There was a shrimp cocktail to start and carrot/raisin salad which was a mistake. We all shared a bottle of Merlot Blend which mixed well with the squab. A dab of ice cream and a cup of coffee ended a rather decent meal. Can't wait for the new dining rooms next spring!

                                          

La Piastra

I just had La Piastra's Buffalo Chicken Risotto Cakes [from  my freezer] and it is not on this month's menu! I need to buy at least a dozen to keep on hand. The outside is crunchy and the gooey yummy inside is so delicious with just the right bite. It was served on a bed of arugula with goat cheese and crushed walnuts. I used the dipping sauce as a dressing on the salad. This is truly gourmet to go and a masterpiece!

bloginfo: I use the Rocky Hill location but there is one in Glastonbury also.

Trinity Restaurant

SECRET: Go to Trinity Restaurant for lunch and have the Lamb Sandwich. This is the ultimate culinary gift you can give to yourself. Actually it is not a secret as it is on the menu. The succulent slices of roast lamb on a toasted roll with a filling of wilted arugula is delicious. Had it today and will return and have it again [and again]! There are many other dishes on the menu that are so delicious especially the pizza so go and enjoy.

blognote: street parking

Ice Cream...

The best [and only in my opinion] place to stop for ice cream when you are in those environs is A.C. Peterson's in West Hartford. It's right next to Playhouse on Park which makes the right place for pre and post theater delights. Their sundaes are memorable!

This time I had the mini sundae of Butter Pecan ice cream with Peanut Butter topping and [real] whipped cream. It was delicious!

blognote: Could not find a working website.

Chef Dinner at V's Trattoría for CLOC Dining Staff

Tonight I facilitated a Chef Dinner at V’s Trattoría hosted by Peter Fescoe, CLOC Dining Director, for six Dining Rooms' Managers and Supervisors. This team-building event featured the culinary skills of Chef Rob Mafucci. Our  5 course menu was exquisite. From the Antipasto to the Pappardelle in a creamy cheese sauce with pork belly lardons to the Monkfish and a Bread Pudding from the pizza oven...and a wine with each course [the Chocolate Expresso Martini with the dessert was a killer!]. It was a wonderful evening of great food, super wine and team building and entertaining stories via the Chef.

bloginfo: The restaurant entry is actually on Church Street across the street from Hartford Stage.

Memorable Evening...Memorable Wine

Stopped in at Firebox to have some apps and wine after an interesting evening at Real Art Ways holding its Christmas Artisan Market. Had a memorable fest at the bar with a dozen Atlantic Oysters [shared with my dining partner], Octopus [fennel, chorizo, white bean, chili flake, grilled baguette] and Brussels Sprouts [tamari, soy caramel, chili oil, toasted almond]. Everything was delicious but the Sparkling Rosé was so memorable! The waitstaff in the bar is very good which makes it the perfect place to just stop in and enjoy.

blog info: this is a stock image of the sparkling rosé so it might not be exact but it is the correct house

Whole Foods Pizza Bar

Was running around doing extra late minute type shopping in Glastonbury this afternoon and stopped at Whole Foods for a slice of pizza. It was a good-sized piece of White Pizza for $3.79 and it was delicious. There were at least eight types of pizza to choose from. This one caught my eye immediately with its glazed top of several types of cheese with the ricotta being the best. Ate it there at a window seat watching all other late shoppers coming and going.

blognote: This is a stock picture as I didn't remember to take a picture until I was about half-through the deliciousness.

Know Good Market

This monthly food fest is not to be missed. Taking place in a cozy urban alley surrounded by the best food trucks in the city is a thing of beauty. The food is amazing, the music great and the people super. 

I had a Lamb Slider from my favorite truck, Mercado, and the combination was amazing. Snuck over to G Monkey for a cacao masterpiece that will keep me full for a week.

Seasonal Treat...

Had this beautiful Lobster Roll at Panera Bread for lunch today with family friends. It was actually free with an old gift card that also paid half of my green iced tea. It was filled with big pieces of lobster with a slight smear of mayo on some good lettuce. That will probably do me for the summer now that I have had a super hot lobster roll at Pastrami on Wry.

Park and Oak Restaurant

On a cold and chilly afternoon I needed some comfort food so headed to an old favorite where I knew I could get what I needed, Park and Oak. Ordered a glass of Blood Orange Cider and ‘FREE BIRD’ CHICKEN AND WAFFLES [$17] with coleslaw, P&O maple-bourbon syrup. Somehow thought this would not be enough so ordered an appetizer I have been wanting to try CT “DEVILED” EGGS [$8] Park & Oak pimento cheese, crispy parmesan. The entrée was just as good as I had remembered it and the app was super filling and tasty.

blognote: the parking lot entrance has changed to Park Road with exit to Oak...what a difference!

August 9, 2017

Haven't been back here for five or so months so went and had a great lunch today.

This is the THE TONY-D SANDWICH [$13] filled with fried chicken, melted muenster cheese, sweet & spicy pepper jelly, tomatoes on a soft roll. Very good!


February 23, 2017
Still choosing from the menu at Park and Oak and am still satisfied. This time we split the Wild Mushroom Bruschetta [$9.95] which was absolutely fine and I had the Oyster Po'Boy Sliders [$11.95] so crunchy, so munchy. The Tomato Soup was homemade but didn't excite me that much. The Brussel Sprouts were even better than the last few times! And the Signature Negroni [$9] is still the best in town.

Brussel Sprouts and Slider

February 16, 2017

Third visit even better! This is becoming habit forming [and I have a reservation for next Thursday!].

Had the same Brussel Sprouts and the Fresh goat cheese flatbread, asparagus, fig puree, sherry reduction  [$9.95] both were excellent and the fig purée on the flatbread was delicious. Went well with their Signature Negroni. There was a Duck Breast special as an entrée so had the duck transferred to a roasted red beets, green apple, goat cheese, arugula, champagne vinaigrette Salad [$25] and this turned out to be a super combo! The duck breast was large, succulent and very tasty! An excellent pour of Barbera added to the deliciousness of the meal.

Flatbread

Duck Breast and Salad

February 4, 2017

Second visit just as successful as first. I had another Negroni [$9] followed by a shareable plate of Pan roasted Brussel Sprouts, candied bacon, pickled red onion, sambal aioli $[6.95] which was super delicious and the very tasty slow roasted beef brisket Sliders, tomato-chipotle jam, smoked maple cheddar [$9.95]

1/28/2017
Wonderful dinner at the new Park and Oak Restaurant in West Hartford tonight after the super play, Sunset Baby, at Theaterworks in Hartford. One Shrimp and Grits [delicious], two Baskets of Fried Chicken and my Chicken and Waffles [$15.95] with excellent coleslaw and bourbon-maple syrup. This was the best of this meal I have ever had! Started with a Negroni on my never ending Negroni search [this one had Aperol]. Ended with a shared warm Chocolate Bread Pudding with Pistachio Ice Cream. 

blognote: I will definitely go back!!! and recommend it highly for its excellent food, good service and very nice people.

21 OAK

Stopped in for dessert at 21 OAK after a very successful opening at the Dehn Gallery on Main Street in Manchester. The vegan chocolate hazelnut torte was delicious!

Taste of Hawai'i 2016/7

Spent Christmas and New Year's Eve and Day in Hawai'i at the home of friends. They have a teahouse set up for guests so I lived the real good life for two weeks.

Five places of note and off the tourist track were:

L & L where I had my annual dose of Moko Loko. I have eaten here before and Moko Loko is savory hamburger patties over rice, topped with brown gravy and 2 fresh fried eggs

7-11 for Spam Musubi and yes the 'mo bettah' is found on the counter at your local 7-11

Viet Pho9 for New Year's Eve lunch for a typical bowl of PHO

fixings for my PHO

Tempura Ichida for a Japanese prix-fixe New Year's dinner: Yose Nabe (Chinese cabbage, shrimp, shimeji, shiitake, enoki, tofu, snapper, chicken, carrot), Donburi Trio (tuna, unagi, tempura), Zouni (mochi, chicken, rape blossoms, shimeji, green onion, fu, seaweed, carrot), Chawanmushi, Yuzu sorbet

Aiea Bowl for my lunch before getting on the plane: sesame crusted Furikake Ahi (tuna) with mac salad and white rice

better butter...

Served with a cheese plate in Paris was an individual packet of butter and I fell in love with it. Looked it up on Amazon and found I could have it delivered to my cottage for about $80 a pound [shipping food from Europe sucks]. Because I am too thrifty for that I contacted Whole Foods in Glastonbury [my favorite] asking them if they had this brand. The Assistant Manager, Doug Pyne, contacted with the message that no they did not carry it. He suggested an alternate of which he comped me a package. I am now carrying on my taste test. The butter that I had in Paris was Echirré Buerre de Baratte and the butter I am trying now is Isigny Ste. Marie. 

Right now the Echirré is winning but maybe it was that I had it during lunch at The Restaurant in the Musée d'Orsay and the Isigny I am eating at home!

another 'rememberable'...

Don't usually blog my own dining room here at Covenant Village of Cromwell but the appetizer today was amazing...

Vegetable Risotto Cake over arugula with a cherry chutney...

McDonalds Lobster Roll

Yes, I am blogging McDonalds but it is for a cause! Because I wanted to try the lobster roll. And it was quite good; all lobster meat. The roll was toasted and fresh, the amount of lobster was fine and the claw on top was juicy and large. The shredded lettuce was a bit lackluster but there was a large green leaf hiding the rest of it. For me, it lacked enough mayo but that was easily remedied because I had ordered the lobster roll to go.

rememberable [not]

Tried the Mediterranean Flatbread today at Panera because I had a $2 off promo [$4.99 - $2]. It was not rememberable at all just underwhelming. It's a good idea: some shredded chicken, a try at some hot sauce and a little txatziki and sliced cucumbers with a bunch of chopped cabbage. It was a little dry but sure looked pretty...

Seasonal DD Lattes

Why do I keep doing this [disgusting...] thing. Just had a Sugar Cooking Latte [disgusting...] and not just the flavor [disgusting...] but all those little red and green dots floating around in your [disgusting...] cup!

Dunkin' Donuts has come out with a fall offering or should I say 'fail' offering. It's the well-hyped Pumpkin Creme Brulée Latte. I am not the only one not in favor of this lackluster sip of autumn.

It tastes as artificial as 'a rented Hallowe'en costume'!

Frittata redux...

So where should we go for lunch after the morning meeting and before the afternoon meeting? We went to O'Rourke's Diner where I hadn't been for ages. Sounded like a good idea, found a parking spot and there was a booth available. As usual the the menu had so many good items on it. Wanted the corned beef hash in some form or other but the special of the day sounded great. And it looked great too.

This is the Peach and Brie Frittata with Sausage Homefries [$16]. It was beautiful and bland where even a shake of salt and pepper didn't help. Labeled as a frittata but with the consistency of a quiche and 'I should have asked the price before I ordered it' syndrome kicked in.

And this is what it looked like the following morning after I sliced it and sautéed it in basil infused olive oil and butter. Not so pretty but oh so tasty!