tartare de langostas (prawns with avocado) and a selection of dim sum (not pictured)
Japan noodles Tsuyo no moto
Tagine Casablanca
Texas pecan pie & Bomba de chocolate (as suggested by our waiter)
Showing posts with label Italian. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Italian. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Monday, July 5, 2010
Shiitake Ravi-bobi
I made this ravi-bobi (as my niece calls it) a while back with re-hydrated and minced shiitake mushrooms, parsley, garlic and parm. I used wonton wrappers as the dough, and topped each serving with what I call "liquid gold" -- eco olive oil that I carried back from Spain -- grated parm, and cracked peppercorns. It's hearty and light at the same time.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Restaurant Week
On our mutual vacation week, my guy and I visited a number of local restaurants. We tried to target places we hadn't been yet, and the places featured in this write-up were the results of a bizarre selection system that I'm pretty sure we couldn't repeat if we tried. These reviews are a combination of both of our thoughts.
Two Thumbs Up
The best meal we ate that week was, without a doubt, at Kong Chow in Shelburne. We were greeted enthusiastically by our awesome server Josh and the owner. We chose a table in the dining room (there's outdoor seating on the patio, too), and were presented with a dish of housemade fried noodles (Josh informed us that nearly everything -- sans soy sauce -- is housemade at Kong Chow), a sweet dipping sauce (similar to duck sauce), a pot of delicious tea, and of course, ice water. We started with an order of the Hot Oil Wontons, which are not fried, but steamed, and come drizzled with chili oil. My guy ordered the Tangerine Chicken, which was spicy, sweet, and perfectly cooked, and I ordered the Black Forest Shrimp.
The shrimp was also perfectly cooked, came with a delicious array of veggies, and was covered in a fantastic black bean - based sauce. The portions were great -- the perfect amount for my guy, and just enough so that I could enjoy my shrimp for lunch the next day (when I asked for a box to take home my leftovers, Josh said "Actually, we try not to let the food leave the building..."). We were visited multiple times during the meal, both by Josh and the owner, both of whom contributed greatly to our enjoyable experience. The delicious food, comfortable atmosphere, and great service (not to mention the added entertainment -- both Josh and the owner are pretty funny) combined to create an overall positive feeling about Kong Chow. We highly recommend it (and wish we lived closer to it)!
We enjoyed another great meal at Papa Nick's Family Restaurant in Hinesburg. Their menu includes a mix of American, Greek, and Italian specialties, and they serve Greek dinner specials every Thursday night. We sampled quite a bit of food at Papa Nick's -- my guy was dying to try the wings, so we got an order of hots, and they were delicious! My guy got fried clams, which came with delicious fries and a house salad. I ordered the Broiled Stuffed Halibut special, which was perfectly cooked, stuffed with spinach (and artichokes?) and topped with a delicious Newburg sauce. Since it was a Greek special, it came with an assortment of Greek appetizers, a Greek salad, and rice pilaf. Both of our meals came with freshly-baked rolls. The servings are generous, and we had no complaints (while the place was packed, we waited only about a minute to be seated). It was a meal to remember!
Two Thumbs Down
The positive reviews on Seven Nights drew us to Rozzi's Lakeshore Tavern in Colchester. In hopes of finding delicious burgers, we entered Rozzis... It was a bit confusing at first, since we seemed to enter a bar, rather than a restaurant. The restaurant seating area was separated from the bar with a handful of stairs, and no wall, which we found a bit strange. The tables were very close to each other, which led to feeling crowded, even though there weren't many other customers in the dining area. We started with mozzarella sticks, which were pretty standard (aka tasty) and came with plenty of marinara sauce. My guy ordered the Western Burger -- well done, which came with bacon, cheese, and BBQ sauce. I ordered the Jamaican Jerk Burger -- medium well, which I expected to be spicy. My burger was decidedly un-Jerk-like, and overcooked to the point where it had an outer layer of charcoal. Our burgers were very similar in taste and texture, regardless of toppings. Our fries, unfortunately, were a bigger disappointment. They were salt-less, and only partially cooked. We could not finish either of our meals. My guy suggested we give them the benefit of a doubt and try dessert -- after all, we were already there -- so we ordered the "strawberry shortcake with local strawberries," the dessert special. My guy and I were joking about what would be on the plate... He guessed that it would be a storebought shortcake sponge base (the kind you can find at the grocery store -- pack of 6 for $1.99), frozen strawberries, and whipped cream from a can. Unfortunately, he was not far-off in his guess. Storebought sponge, un-fresh strawberries (and I'd wager they weren't local unless Price Chopper counts), and canned whipped cream. Pretty unimpressive when you're being charged $4.99 for each serving. Good thing we shared dessert. I have to add that the crowding issue reappeared when we were leaving -- we nearly had to climb over a couple to get out of the place.
We consumed another disappointing meal at The Rotisserie in South Burlington, which also got decent ratings on Seven Nights. They're famous for their prime rib, so we both ordered a dish that included it. My guy ordered the Prime Rib with a side of fries, which was tender, but unseasoned, and I ordered the French Dip Sandwich. Although the meat was sliced quite thinly on the sandwich, it tasted like the color grey. The "au jus" portion of the meal was beefy, but like a liquid salt lick. The fries here were better than those of Rozzi's, but not fantastic. Our service was less-than-stellar (we tried multiple times to get our server's attention, and were not the only ones waiting for our check), and the tablecloth (which was under glass) was dirty, which was a turn-off. We will not be patronizing this establishment again.
Two Thumbs Up
The best meal we ate that week was, without a doubt, at Kong Chow in Shelburne. We were greeted enthusiastically by our awesome server Josh and the owner. We chose a table in the dining room (there's outdoor seating on the patio, too), and were presented with a dish of housemade fried noodles (Josh informed us that nearly everything -- sans soy sauce -- is housemade at Kong Chow), a sweet dipping sauce (similar to duck sauce), a pot of delicious tea, and of course, ice water. We started with an order of the Hot Oil Wontons, which are not fried, but steamed, and come drizzled with chili oil. My guy ordered the Tangerine Chicken, which was spicy, sweet, and perfectly cooked, and I ordered the Black Forest Shrimp.
The shrimp was also perfectly cooked, came with a delicious array of veggies, and was covered in a fantastic black bean - based sauce. The portions were great -- the perfect amount for my guy, and just enough so that I could enjoy my shrimp for lunch the next day (when I asked for a box to take home my leftovers, Josh said "Actually, we try not to let the food leave the building..."). We were visited multiple times during the meal, both by Josh and the owner, both of whom contributed greatly to our enjoyable experience. The delicious food, comfortable atmosphere, and great service (not to mention the added entertainment -- both Josh and the owner are pretty funny) combined to create an overall positive feeling about Kong Chow. We highly recommend it (and wish we lived closer to it)!We enjoyed another great meal at Papa Nick's Family Restaurant in Hinesburg. Their menu includes a mix of American, Greek, and Italian specialties, and they serve Greek dinner specials every Thursday night. We sampled quite a bit of food at Papa Nick's -- my guy was dying to try the wings, so we got an order of hots, and they were delicious! My guy got fried clams, which came with delicious fries and a house salad. I ordered the Broiled Stuffed Halibut special, which was perfectly cooked, stuffed with spinach (and artichokes?) and topped with a delicious Newburg sauce. Since it was a Greek special, it came with an assortment of Greek appetizers, a Greek salad, and rice pilaf. Both of our meals came with freshly-baked rolls. The servings are generous, and we had no complaints (while the place was packed, we waited only about a minute to be seated). It was a meal to remember!
Two Thumbs Down
The positive reviews on Seven Nights drew us to Rozzi's Lakeshore Tavern in Colchester. In hopes of finding delicious burgers, we entered Rozzis... It was a bit confusing at first, since we seemed to enter a bar, rather than a restaurant. The restaurant seating area was separated from the bar with a handful of stairs, and no wall, which we found a bit strange. The tables were very close to each other, which led to feeling crowded, even though there weren't many other customers in the dining area. We started with mozzarella sticks, which were pretty standard (aka tasty) and came with plenty of marinara sauce. My guy ordered the Western Burger -- well done, which came with bacon, cheese, and BBQ sauce. I ordered the Jamaican Jerk Burger -- medium well, which I expected to be spicy. My burger was decidedly un-Jerk-like, and overcooked to the point where it had an outer layer of charcoal. Our burgers were very similar in taste and texture, regardless of toppings. Our fries, unfortunately, were a bigger disappointment. They were salt-less, and only partially cooked. We could not finish either of our meals. My guy suggested we give them the benefit of a doubt and try dessert -- after all, we were already there -- so we ordered the "strawberry shortcake with local strawberries," the dessert special. My guy and I were joking about what would be on the plate... He guessed that it would be a storebought shortcake sponge base (the kind you can find at the grocery store -- pack of 6 for $1.99), frozen strawberries, and whipped cream from a can. Unfortunately, he was not far-off in his guess. Storebought sponge, un-fresh strawberries (and I'd wager they weren't local unless Price Chopper counts), and canned whipped cream. Pretty unimpressive when you're being charged $4.99 for each serving. Good thing we shared dessert. I have to add that the crowding issue reappeared when we were leaving -- we nearly had to climb over a couple to get out of the place.
We consumed another disappointing meal at The Rotisserie in South Burlington, which also got decent ratings on Seven Nights. They're famous for their prime rib, so we both ordered a dish that included it. My guy ordered the Prime Rib with a side of fries, which was tender, but unseasoned, and I ordered the French Dip Sandwich. Although the meat was sliced quite thinly on the sandwich, it tasted like the color grey. The "au jus" portion of the meal was beefy, but like a liquid salt lick. The fries here were better than those of Rozzi's, but not fantastic. Our service was less-than-stellar (we tried multiple times to get our server's attention, and were not the only ones waiting for our check), and the tablecloth (which was under glass) was dirty, which was a turn-off. We will not be patronizing this establishment again.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Rainy day food
With all this rain lately, I'm trying not to jinx myself by thinking about *cringe* last summer (I remember in June & July there were only 7 dry days... total! I can't remember specifics about August, but I know I didn't get a tan...). I'm trying to focus instead on the positive... comfort food!
When its cold and rainy outside, all I want to do is curl up inside with a blanket, a bowl of warm comfort food, and a good book (or a movie). In thinking about my favorite comfort foods, I came across these lasagna photos from a few months back. I made a big dish of lasagna bolognese...
I started with a rich bolognese sauce, sweet with carrots and onions. I layered the sauce with a mixture of ricotta, egg, and mozzarella cheese, no-boil lasagna noodles (we didn't have a pan big enough in our townhouse to boil lasagna noodles), and freshly grated parmesan cheese. I served the lasagna with a house favorite -- no-knead rolls. Delicious!
When its cold and rainy outside, all I want to do is curl up inside with a blanket, a bowl of warm comfort food, and a good book (or a movie). In thinking about my favorite comfort foods, I came across these lasagna photos from a few months back. I made a big dish of lasagna bolognese...
I started with a rich bolognese sauce, sweet with carrots and onions. I layered the sauce with a mixture of ricotta, egg, and mozzarella cheese, no-boil lasagna noodles (we didn't have a pan big enough in our townhouse to boil lasagna noodles), and freshly grated parmesan cheese. I served the lasagna with a house favorite -- no-knead rolls. Delicious!
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Pizzería Cervantes (Madrid)
Located on Calle de León, 8, Pizzería Cervantes serves up a delicious selection of salads, pastas, risottos, meats, savory crepes, and of course, pizza pies! Almost all of the items cost less than 10,00€.
In the foreground, my Pizza Rúcola (tomato, arugula, parmesan and olive oil) and in the background, Nat's Pizza Cervantes (tomato, mozzarella, anchovies, roasted red peppers, ham, olives, and oregano -- but Nat got it sin anchoas).
In the foreground, my Pizza Rúcola (tomato, arugula, parmesan and olive oil) and in the background, Nat's Pizza Cervantes (tomato, mozzarella, anchovies, roasted red peppers, ham, olives, and oregano -- but Nat got it sin anchoas).
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
La Nicoletta (Madrid)
Nat and I had lunch one day at La Nicoletta (C/ Orense, 4). It was the fourth or fifth time we had eaten there so we already had a favorite.
We started off with the insalate florentina (mixed lettuce, emmenthaler, edam and ricotta cheeses, walnuts and cherry tomatoes, all dressed with sherry and honey vinaigrette). Delicious!
For our main dishes, we both ordered pasta. At La Nicoletta, you can choose from a list of more than 20 pastas (dry, fresh, or filled) and more than 15 sauces (including amatriciana, carbonara, vongole, provenzal, and pesto).
I ordered orecchiete and Nat ordered gnocchetti di patate, and we both ordered salsa salmone (salmon sauce).
We started off with the insalate florentina (mixed lettuce, emmenthaler, edam and ricotta cheeses, walnuts and cherry tomatoes, all dressed with sherry and honey vinaigrette). Delicious!
For our main dishes, we both ordered pasta. At La Nicoletta, you can choose from a list of more than 20 pastas (dry, fresh, or filled) and more than 15 sauces (including amatriciana, carbonara, vongole, provenzal, and pesto).
I ordered orecchiete and Nat ordered gnocchetti di patate, and we both ordered salsa salmone (salmon sauce).
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Dinner @ Gino's #......4?
I think this may have been the fourth time eating at GINO'S (click on GINO'S link at top of page). This time we headed to the one near Metro Sevilla (C/ Alcalá, 23).
On the menu...
...a difficult-to-eat caprese salad.
...spaghetti al frutti di mare.
...and delicious maccheroni al forno (studded with chorizo).
Check out my earlier mini-post on GINO'S here.
On the menu...
...a difficult-to-eat caprese salad.
...spaghetti al frutti di mare.
...and delicious maccheroni al forno (studded with chorizo).
Check out my earlier mini-post on GINO'S here.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
walnut sauce, my newest obsession
In May, at Pinocchio in Nerja, Spain, I enjoyed a delicious dish of artichoke ravioli with a creamy walnut sauce. Even now, I'm thinking about that meal!
The other day, I cooked up some tortellini, tossed it with parmesan cheese, and poured my homemade walnut sauce over it -- toasted walnut chunks, a little heavy cream, chopped fresh parsley, salt & pepper, and a pinch of freshly grated nutmeg. Delicious. =)
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Bites in San Sebastián - Donostia
Spent the weekend in San Sebastián - Donostia with some friends, and enjoyed some delicious cuisine. If you are at a loss for where to go, check out the following suggestions:
- Pick up some local pastries at a pastelería, some fresh strawberries at a frutería, and head to the beach for a relaxing breakfast
- La Tahoma (pastelería/pastry shop in Gros, on San Franzisco) has a huge selection of pastries and breads.
- There are tons of pastry shops and bakeries, however, so take your pick. =)
- If you're there on a Saturday, check out the farmers' market in Gros and pick up some local goods -- breads, local goat or cow cheeses (sample some from the lady that sells only goat cheese... it's delicious!), baked goods, veggies and fruits, or flowers.
- Sample some delicious local seafood at Freiduría San Francisco in Gros (They have a selection of fried fish, grilled fish and shellfish. Try the gambas a la plancha -- grilled prawns, tortitas de camarones -- crispy fritters made with absolutely tiny shrimp, and fried chipirones -- crispy fried whole baby squid.
- For delicious Italian food, try La Mama Vía (Paseo Colón). They have a selection of pizzas, pastas, salads, and risottos. Try the pizza primavera (with chorizo and green pepper), the pizza la toscana (with chorizo, chicken and hot peppers), or the risotto quatro formaggio (four-cheese).
- Hit up any number of bars (they are all over the place -- Bar Barandiarán on Avda. Boulevard is just one) for local pintxos (pronounced "peen-chose") and a cold beer. Pintxos (or pinchos) are like tapas (appetizers), but refer to a specific type of appetizer. The words pintxo and pincho mean thorn (in Spanish and Portuguese, respectively), and a pintxo consists of a slice of bread, a topping, and a toothpick (aka. the thorn) holding it all together. Common toppings include fish -- tuna, bacalao, smoked salmon or anchovies, faux crab or tortilla de patatas (Spanish potato omelette). See photo below of pintxos and tapas...
Monday, April 14, 2008
Bites in Lisbon/Sintra, Portugal
I just spent the weekend in Portugal, and I have to tell you... The rumors are true! The Portuguese sure know how to do pastries... Walk into any local pastelaría (pastry shop) in Lisbon and you will find yourself surrounded by a mountain of pastries. Sweet or savory, bite-sized or the size of your head, you are bound to find something that appetizes you. Just a few tasty suggestions:
If you are in the mood for food from the other side of Asia, check out Bengal Tandoori on Rua Pendôa 11 in Sintra. It's got a sort of bizarre combination of Indian and Italian food, but it works if you have friends with different tastes. As far as Italian goes, the spaghetti/rigatoni con carne is recommended. As far as Indian goes, check out the chicken tikka masala (very saucy, not like others that we've had, but very delicious), the malai kofta (specialty of the house -- veggie patties sort of like falafel with a creamy and spiced sauce), veg soup (that's really what it's called, and it's good), and the paneer naan (flatbread stuffed with homemade cheese and cilantro). Avoid the tap water.
- Pastéis de Nata or Pastéis de Belém (traditional pastry made with flaky crust, custard filling and bruléed top... click here for a pic... so popular that now Brazil's fast food chain Habib's actually has their own version on the menu)
- apple-stuffed pastry (not too sweet, just right)
- empanada-type pastry with shrimp & creamy filling
- puff pastry squares baked with ham (fiambre) and cheese (queijo) inside
- fish fritters (made with whitefish & herbs... hard to explain, but delicious)
- croquetes (made with seasoned ground beef and chouriço (chorizo in Esp)
- roll stuffed with sliced chouriço (delicious choice for breakfast)
- roll/bread with chunks of chouriço baked right in
If you are in the mood for food from the other side of Asia, check out Bengal Tandoori on Rua Pendôa 11 in Sintra. It's got a sort of bizarre combination of Indian and Italian food, but it works if you have friends with different tastes. As far as Italian goes, the spaghetti/rigatoni con carne is recommended. As far as Indian goes, check out the chicken tikka masala (very saucy, not like others that we've had, but very delicious), the malai kofta (specialty of the house -- veggie patties sort of like falafel with a creamy and spiced sauce), veg soup (that's really what it's called, and it's good), and the paneer naan (flatbread stuffed with homemade cheese and cilantro). Avoid the tap water.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Pizza Jardín
If you're in the mood for pizza, check out Pizza Jardín (c/Goya, 5, and other locations). They, of course, have classic combinations, like sausage and onion, or mushroom pizza, but if you are in the mood for something a little more daring, you'd be in the right place. They have everything from the classic Margherita to the Cuatro Estaciones ("four seasons" -- tomato, mozzarella, mushrooms, York ham, shrimp and tuna -- a regular item on pizza menus here), the Calzone (which includes olives and asparragus), the Piamontesa (goat cheese, onion confit and apple), the Jamaica (which includes roquefort and banana), the Texas (chicken & BBQ), and the Hawaiian Tropic (which has not only pineapple, but mandarin, too). Last night, I opted for La Cosa Nostra (tasty cheese pizza topped with stuffed mushrooms -- filled with ham & garlic), and my friend had the Texas. All in all, they have more than 25 different pizza options, as well as salads, pastas, entradas (apps), and fondues. Their desserts are quite tasty, too -- try the chocolate fondue with fresh fruit. =)
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
I got to cook!!!!
I had dinner at a friend's house last night, and I have to say, I was so glad to be back in the kitchen again. This study-abroad-without-kitchen-priveledges thing is killing me. My friend made a caprese salad, and I roasted some veggies (shittakes, zucchini, onion, green pepper, and garlic) and served them over fresh pasta. Delicious. And it was great to chop things again. =)
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Wagaboo, take 2!
Went to Wagaboo again... Definitely loving their Pizza Mikonos (see earlier post for description). Delicious... =)
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Wagaboo
Excellent dinner last night! We ate a Wagaboo (General Martinez Campos, 26 -- check out the site for their other locations). Talk about "fun eating"! The atmosphere is really chic and fun, with low-hanging lighting and brightly colored everything. The food was really delicious. I had a the pizza Mikonos -- super thin crust with pesto, topped with raw halved cherry tomatoes, raw arugula, chunks of feta ("feta" here is not really the salty feta I know and love, but it was delicious anyway), and a few curls of parm. Ended the meal with a few scoops of light mango sorbete. The food was great, service was quick (to say the least), and you can watch them make your food (the kitchen is enclosed only by glass). They have a number of locations in Madrid... Pick one and check it out!
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Bites in Sevilla
Last weekend, we went to Sevilla. I was looking forward to experiencing Andalucían food and culture, but to tell you the truth, we had some pretty bad food experiences (paella that barely resembled paella, for example) and had a hard time finding nightlife that didn't involve riot police...
However, two places shone through the smog:
At Café de Indias (one of their many locations), my friends enjoyed batidos de chocolate (chocolate milkshakes) and I had a marruccino (espresso, foamed cream, and cocoa) and a slice of delicious chocolate cake layered with cocoa mousse.
At Mario, an Italian restaurant, my friend had the gnocchi with salmon and I had a refreshing insalata caprese. Much better than that fake paella. =)
However, two places shone through the smog:
At Café de Indias (one of their many locations), my friends enjoyed batidos de chocolate (chocolate milkshakes) and I had a marruccino (espresso, foamed cream, and cocoa) and a slice of delicious chocolate cake layered with cocoa mousse.
At Mario, an Italian restaurant, my friend had the gnocchi with salmon and I had a refreshing insalata caprese. Much better than that fake paella. =)
Sunday, February 3, 2008
La Bambola
After watching the end of the Carnaval parade last night, we went out in search of good food. We stumbled upon La Bambola (Travesía de Trujillos 2, metro stop Callao), a trattoría and café that specializes in Italian food. They offer a selection of pastas (dried or fresh, long or filled), carpaccios, risottos, meat and seafood dishes, salads, and pizzas. 
I recommend the Fettuccine Aglio Scampi e Pomodori Secchi -- tender shrimp over fresh fettuccine pasta, tossed with olive oil, roasted garlic, red pepper flakes, and delicious strips of sundried tomatoes. 
For dessert, I recommend the Torta di Ricotta Siciliana e Pere -- cake layered with sweet ricotta cream and pear confit. Delicious all around...
I recommend the Fettuccine Aglio Scampi e Pomodori Secchi -- tender shrimp over fresh fettuccine pasta, tossed with olive oil, roasted garlic, red pepper flakes, and delicious strips of sundried tomatoes. 
For dessert, I recommend the Torta di Ricotta Siciliana e Pere -- cake layered with sweet ricotta cream and pear confit. Delicious all around...
Monday, January 21, 2008
La vita é bella
La Vita é Bella is a TINY Sicilian take out place located at Plaza de San Ildefonso, 5 in Madrid. While the location is small and you can't legally eat inside, the food is abundant. They have a great selection of portioned pasta dishes, pizzas, and desserts. I recommend the mushroom "mini-pizza" (a giant thick-crust square piece). Check out pix here. And hey... once you try their stuff, life is good.
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