VAUGHAN'S PUBLIC HOUSE

Oh how many years has it been...but the place looks the same as then. Too hot to eat outside at Vaughan's Public House today so found a little niche for two inside. She had the Shepherd's Pie [beef not lamb] and declared it luscious. The Brown Bread detail was only a taste tempter. I had the Cod and Chips which were a little too fried but hot, crunchy and delicious with a huge side of Onion Rings with a honey mustard dip. Yummy! The Bloody Mary was strong and started off the meal on a bang. Need to go back and have the Lamb Stew which I should have ordered but didn't so just the right excuse to return. Good service and a nice crowd, reminds me of my time back HOME.

SAMBA'S CUISINE

 Know Good Food market of food trucks had its last opening on Bartholomew Street. The Carne Frita con Tostones was highlighted on the Samba's Cuisine menu board. I was starved so tried this. The tostones were great and there were five of these big babies right out of the fryer. The carne frita was, however, a different story. The meat was very irregular and real tough. The mayo/ketchup sauce helped but didn't finish [a new one for me]. 

Lenny and Joe's Fish Tale

 My scale is writing this review note me! Took some family and a friend to lunch here at Fish Tale. Friday noon but the place was deserted! They now have table service which is nice because you don't have to stand in a crowd and wait for your order.

We started with an order of Calamari and Fried Pickles as appetizers. The calamari was good but not enough tentacles for me and the fried pickles are definitely an acquired taste. One Scallop dinner that looked good and plenty, one cod dinner with two slabs of fish that looked fine and two orders of Fried Oysters [one of which mine] were very good and fresh. The oysters were not inundated with a coating so the full oyster taste was evident BUT there was a large piece of shell in mine. Another reviewer felt it was expensive but the cost of seafood now is very high. The service was excellent so the change to table service was a pleasure.

Max a Mia

 Couldn't get a table on the patio here at Max a Mia but got a great booth inside. We had the best server, Sherry, and she made the night a lot of fun with great food. To start, their bread basket was excellent with a happy dipping sauce [but I used the oil, salt and pepper]. There were four of us and we had just been to TWH for a great matinée so were starved! My special of the night, Brisket with Gnocchi was cooked to perfection and my dining partner had the Pomodoro Stone Pie which she thoroughly enjoyed [as did I with my stolen piece]. The Pork Chop and the Gamberi on the other side of the people looked very good but too far to snatch a taste. Her dessert was a special surprise of Strawberry and Rhubarb Crumble but my Afogato was the perfect ending to a perfect meal. They were packed but table was ready right on time and the service as mentioned before was the best. Also, kudos to the Chef.

Square Peg Pizzeria

 What a gathering...only wore my flower and Denim and Flower jacket but so many in formal attire that it was a special evening. Met some great people here at Square Peg Pizzeria and that's what YELP Hartford is all about. The food and drink offerings were so special especially the Bacon and Pesto Pizza. Wow! Great wings and that drink had me in a great mood. The service was so friendly and our table of three was supper. You never have to worry about showing up single at one of these events as you end up meeting some special people. What a great spot for pizza and wings, 'I shall return' as the old saying goes...

OC Kitchen

 Haven't been here at OC Kitchen Bar in so long decided to give it a try. Sunday early evening just one other couple here. Started by splitting a Beet Salad which turned out well but needed a sprinkle of olive oil and some salt to moist it up a bit. The olive oil on the table was good but the bread was better. Need salt and pepper on the table. My dining partner had a special of night: Shortribs over mashed potatoes and carrots. The piece of meat was huge and cooked properly proved by falling off the bone. It was declared very good. My Tagliatelle Bolognese was good and filling. The Pinot Noir was a good pour. Homemade Tiramisu was def homemade and huge. Good service. Will go back for Happy Hour.

FOWL PLAY

 Was looking for something small and quick to eat while shepherding my group of seniors on our month Tour Hartford trip. So I picked the sliders/solo at Fowl Play in Parkville Market. What a big surprise from a little bite. These were delicious; the best, sweetest and juiciest chicken breast pieces ever. I picked 3/medium for the spiciness level but could have gone with the 2/mild. These two super treats came with creamy slaw, fresh pickles and comeback sauce. AND comeback I will!

blognote: Love this place for all its variety and just super food...

Shell and Bones Oyster Bar and Grill

A table for two on the deck overlooking the harbor here at Shell and Bones, what could be nicer? Having lunch here evidently! We hadn't been back to this gem for a while but were welcomed back with good service [Taylor] and delicious food. We both opted for a Mojito which was amazingly fresh with a boatload of lime. Great bread and real butter. A shared Pear Salad was a highlight of the day...Watercress, Shaved Fennel, Candied Walnuts, Pomegranate, Lemon Poppy Seed Vinaigrette. For our entrées we both had the AWESOME Baja Style Fish Tacos...Green Cabbage, Tomatillo, Crema, Pico de Gallo, Baja Sauce, Organic Corn Tortillas. The only let down was the shared dessert of Ricotta Doughnuts with Mexican Chocolate and Créme Fraíche. They were slightly overdone so their pillowy centers were a little bit hard. Finished them though!  

The Blue Lobster

 The Blue Lobster saved me from culinary disaster tonight...great front of the house. I got lost in picking up a pizza at a new place [to be reviewed tomorrow]. So I didn't have any prepared food to take home and I was being waited for. I stopped at the first place I saw and it was the Blue Lobster. I have eaten here many times before and the food is good. Without waiting for a long time I was able to get two orders of Fish and Chips but didn't really want the chips part. Anyway it turns out that I loved the chips but the fish wasn't as crispy as I wanted but it was the travel and not the kitchen. We all got fed and enjoyed our late dinners. Hopefully I can learn how to read a map and/or figure out the GPS but sometimes mistakes turn out to be godsends.

Kob Jai Thai

 We ate practically alone in this glorious restaurant...the colors of Thai culture here in the Kob Jai Thai restaurant surrounding us. I needed the solace of vibrant food on this eve of a saddening event in my life several years ago. The flavors of the food and the friendly service helped me concentrate on all that is still good in my life. The egg rolls were crispy and hot, the chicken wings were fresh and tasty but my entrée helped bring back sweet memories of Bangkok. I ordered something new: Garlic Pepper with Crispy Chicken. The plating was superb and the new taste was enlivening. A contrast of sweet and peppery floated over the Jasmine rice while the crunchy chicken made this dish alive. My day was now complete and I will live through tomorrow with these tastes still in my mouth.

YELP Elite Check-in at Twisted Italian

 Twisted Italian and YELP now that's a marriage made in culinary heaven. What a glorious offering today at the Elite YELP Check-in. The Garlic Knots are some of my favorite offerings at Parkville Market. The depth of flavor is such a little bundle of goodness and the dipping sauce can be enjoyed alone...but who would do that. The traditional Ham and Cheese Grinder takes another step toward yummy fame. I can never figure out what I want to order but today the decision was made for me. Can't believe it but I will keep coming back [and back]!

blognote: one of 20 vendors

SNO 'N' DOUGH

 SNO' N' DOUGH at Parkville Market is one of the newest vendors. What a great treat with their Dragon' Blood snow cone [like no other snow cone you've ever had before]. There's the delicious juice, the crushed berries and the whipped cream on top with sprinkles even. Just what we needed on a cold and wintry day to heat up our spirits. Can't wait to come back for some fried dough!

Hillstone

 Were going to dinner here at Hillstone/Houston's but decided to go to Bulla Gastrobar instead. We stopped here first, however, to have a drink and watch the sunset. Restaurant was very noisy but the grounds open up at 5pm for outside service. I had my Campari and soda which was about the color of the setting sun. We sat in some wooden Adirondack-style chairs which were not very comfortable at a wooden table a bit far from your seat. Aside from getting used to the seating, the sunset was very nice over the water. It got quite dark quickly but the pin spots above  the table lit up the space quite well. The Spinach Artichoke dip was a good choice but getting more chips [or the check] was a bit difficult as the servers had a lot of paths and darkness to cope with. Then we left the car in their parking lot while we crossed the avenue to eat dinner.

aVERT BRASSERIE

Couldn't afford to fly to Paris for the weekend, so had lunch at a'VERT Brasserie today. Four of us in a booth in the back, just the right atmosphere. The food was very good but we all ordered a lot alike. A Croque Monsieur and a Croque Madame both with those delicious frites. A Salade Niçoise and an app of Escargots looked good but my special of the day was the best. It was a Short Rib Dip...sumptuous short rib perfectly cooked over French bread covered with cheese and overflowing with sautéed mushrooms. I had a glass of Pinot Noir which complemented the dish, yum. For desserts there were two Creme Brulée and two Salted Caramel Sundaes with Caramel Sauce and Espresso sprinkles. So rich, so right, so me! A French press completed this course and we all left so satisfied and walked LaSalle Road in joy on this sunny day.

The SPICY GREEN BEAN DELI

 Looking for a light lunch...not! We had the perfect chilly day filling lunch. We both had the Deviled Egg Salad, Bacon, Cheddar Cheese on Sourdough sandwich. This was the special of the day and was it special! It was also huge and could have been lunch for two. The egg salad was superbly seasoned and the bacon and cheddar added just the right touch. Did I say the bread was buttered and toasted perfectly...yes it was. We left happy but not happily as my sister was leaving to go back home to Orlando. She will be back and we will eat once again at the Spicy Green Bean.

POND HOUSE CAFE

Autumn on a rainy afternoon...no leaf peeping, no drive through the woods and no brisk dry air but then there's brunch at the Pond House Café!

Started with a hot Ginger Tea that brought the zip back to the table. Went on to a favorite of Pond House Benedict. This culinary corsage arrived in a plain white [tilted] bowl looking almost too

pretty to eat. The arugula nest at the bottom was piled high with a potato pancake disk, superbly seasoned crab cake and  two perfectly cooked-to-order poached eggs with a sweet syrupy Hollandaise resting regally atop. No room for dessert but a second Ginger Tea finished the day's repast.

Millwright's on the Bridge

 If this is to be the last dinner of the outside season, it is the best! We sat overlooking  the waterfall and had a marvelous meal at Millwrights. This was the exact same meal we had last time here but at the Tavern. That is something I rarely do...order the same meal as last time and also rarely ever order what my dining partner has chosen. All things can change and this change turned out to be the best.

We started with Biscuits and Honey, Pinot Noir and a Cosmo. What a lead in to what lay ahead. The Berkshire Pork Chop was perfectly cooked; juicy and seasoned. The Pork Belly was crispy, the Parsnip Purée was heaven, the Brussel Sprouts were done the way I love them and the Apple Jus rounded out all the flavors. What a plate! With a shared French Press coffee and the Brown Sugar Chess Pie with Toasted Meringue atop, the meal ended with a fanfare climax. Thank you Chef, you are the best.

VALENCIA LUNCHERIA

 The best place to eat in Norwalk is Valencia Luncheria, either on the sand, on the patio or inside. Any way you choose, you get the best selection of authentic food around.

I was celebrating my birthday [again] and was taken here to enjoy Brunch. My order of Steak-N-Eggs was the best. Two fried eggs alongside a beautiful grilled piece of Skirt Steak was the center point to a dish of Hash Browns, Refried Beans, Tortilla with Salsa Ranchera and a hearty sprinkle of Queso Blanco. It all blended together into a rememberable meal. The wait for the Papaya Batida was a bit bothering but it ended up a smooth end to the meal. A slice of succulent Flan came home with me but only lasted a short time! So time to go back. This time for an order of three arepas with different fillings...can't wait.

PARKVILLE MARKET

 My monthly luncheon trip for my CLOC neighbors, EATING ON/OFF PARK, was very successful today. Seven of us traveled to the Parkville Market to enjoy a monthly luncheon. Every month I will be taking up to 12 residents to partake of the many choices here at one of my new favorite places to eat/enjoy/drink/celebrate life.

This time the visits were for The Twisted Italian, Crab Shack, !Que Chivo!, Effy's Place, Go Pho, Mercado 27, Meltdown on Park, Jamaican Jerk Shack and the new Frisbie's Dairy Barn.

Beef Pho @Go Pho

Twisted Meatball @The Twisted Italian

                                    Grilled Cheese+ @Meltdown On Park

Carne Asada @!Que Chivo!

Jerk Chicken @Jamaican Jerk Shack

                                                    Gyro @Effie's Place

Ceviche @Mercado27

blognote: Lots of Parking

PRAI KITCHEN

 Ended up at Prai Kitchen after attempting to have lunch at the Artisan in the Delamar Hotel and with no parking in their lot and no valet parking for lunch guests went here. What a great surprise that was. Really thought I was back in Bangkok. Always order some variant of Pad See Ew the first time I eat at a Thai restaurant. Their Duck Pad C U [as stated on the menu] is the best. Thought since it was on on the lunch menu there wouldn't be a lot of duck...no way...it was filled with succulent duck! The noodles were excellent and the choice of vegetables was perfect. The included salad was very fresh and the peanut dressing was right on. Will definitely go back for the Tamarind Duck.

blognote: great service