A new review by a guest editor (ess)

We hope that one and all had a delightful Easter Sunday.

Steve and I had the pleasure of dining with our good friends Frank and Lorraine at a great new restaurant in the Berkshires. It is tucked away on a scenic hillside and is called Chez Agita. We made reservations and it was a smart thing to do as the intimacy of the setting limited the number of available tables.

Upon our arrival we knew we were in for a special treat. Before we could take our coats off, our server brought to us delectable slices of warm Foccacia straight from the Il Costco toaster oven. Parmigiano Reggiano a la Queen Mary complimented this beautifully.

Our table, adorned in Mappa da McDonalds place mats was a sight to behold. As we began our main course, we toasted one another’s health with a robust and fruity glass of Dancing Bull Zinfandel straight from the Gran Prix Chopper marketplace. Without a doubt, it was Zin-fully delicious.

Chef Frankie prepared Pasta Castellane, a house special of the Dollare Store, and moist, tender and flavorful Chop of Pork presented on a bed of red peppers and onions. I’m salivating just thinking about it. The garlic and oil infused broccoli would have made a convert of the most ardent vegetaphobe.

Dessert was a blast from our Goombah past. Guest chef Lily-Belle prepared Easter pie filled with ricotta, pine nuts, vanilla. Confectioners sugar, eggs and orange zest. Otis Food Critic, and Critic of Everything, Stefano Barkerla, thought that it could have been a little sweeter. So what else is new?

Quiche Lorraine ended the evening on a high note with her aromatic blend of coffee from the Tassimo tub machine. This was the perfect end to a perfect evening.

ZAGAT says: A hidden gem in the hills of Otis, MA. Superior service, exquisite presentation, mouth watering fare……and the price is right. Did I forget to say that Chez Agita is pet friendly?

Take me out to the ball game

Scott and I went to the Home-Opener Yankee Game this week which was totally sold out with 55,000 people at Yankee Stadium. He got the tickets from MLB who work with his company on the video game of the same name. The game started well with Jason Giambi hitting a three run homer in the first inning. It then went down hill fast on less than stellar pitching from Chien-Ming Wang - last year's wunderkind. It even included an unexplainable lapse by fan favorite Bernie Williams who "wandered" off second base on a short fly ball to left field. The early chants of B-E-R-N-I-E for Williams decision to return as the DH, turned to brief BOOs as he was put out for an inning-ending double play. He later described it as a "brain cramp".

Everything turned around however, after the "seventh-inning stretch" when the Yankees came roaring back. Finally, they were ahead 7-5 on a homerun by Derek Jeter, the team captain and most popular player. The chants of "DER-EK JE-TER" continued through the end of the game and onto the subway. We also saw Mariano Rivera pitch his first save of the year. Overall, it was a wonderfully exciting game for the huge crowd and everybody left happy.

Scott and I left feeling all pumped up and decided we needed STEAKS! (This must be the testosterone! cdel) To me, the best steakhouse in New York is Sparks. Others may be prettier, but none have the combination of perfect steaks and decent ambiance (a steakhouse can't be too nice and still be called a "steakhouse" rather than a "restaurant" that serves steaks).

Sparks serves the traditional 16 oz. NY strip steak with traditional sides of homefries, mushrooms and a green vegetable. They also serve lamb or veal chops and some fish - including a 3-6 pound lobster! As an aside, in all the years I've been going to Sparks (over 20) I've never seen anyone but a Japanese tourist eat the lobster - it's huge, but they seem to feel it's a right of passage to say that they've had the lobster at a NY steakhouse and then complain how big the portions are!

We were in "men's night out" mode after the ball game so I started with scotch and a shrimp cocktail while Scott opted for bourbon and clams on the half shell; this was followed by steaks with the usual sides. Having been gone all day, we felt badly so we invited Christina and Jory (who was busy) to our "boys night". Since Chris isn't a "real" man she ordered a salad and sliced steak - she has no sense of tradition. The steaks were absolutely wonderful--even hers. They age their own beef and grill it at just the right temperature for a perfect seared black outside and medium rare inside. No one makes a better NY stripsteak. Peter Lugers, in Brooklyn, another wonderful spot does a fabulous porterhouse but Sparks in king of the NY strip.

Sparks is a NY institution. I've seen Muhammad Ali, H. Ross Perot, Paul Castellano, Woody Allen, Donald Trump and innumerable other greater and lesser lights there and I've taken every out of town visitor there for a quintessionally NY meal. The only downside is the crowd. The bar is a mad-house, it's never quiet and you always need a reservation.

Sparks Steak House
East 40s 210 E. 46th St.(bet. 2nd & 3rd Aves.)
Manhattan, NY 10017
212-687-4855

Zagats says...
You get to watch wheeler-dealers wheel and deal at this "manly man" Midtown meat market where everything's big, from the steaks flavors and the wine list to the dining room and the noise level; it's a prime example of how cholesterol should taste, but bring your checkbook and a carefree attitude to deal with the frequent waits since people are dying to eat here.

Mothers and Sons

As the mother of a son, I've always felt that the 'mother/son' relationship hasn't received adequate notice or attention; positive attention that is. Have you ever noticed the number of 'mother/daughter', 'father/son' and even 'father/daughter' events? When mother/son relationships are mentioned it's usually in a derogatory way; how often have you heard a reference to "mamma's boy" -- and doesn't that conjure up a picture? Why is that?

I'm happy to report that Scott and I have many mother/son days and enjoy each other's company and the fact that he lives in the city means that we get to see quite a bit of him. Not so long ago, he and I had dinner and went to a jazz concert at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It was the final in a series of Jazz evenings entitled "Three Mo Tenors". The artists, whose names I've now forgotten were a group of classically trained tenors. The program which included operatic music, jazz, gospel, soul, spirituals, Broadway and the blues was non-stop with only a short intermission and lots of participation from the audience. I'm sure that everyone in the there would agree that we got our money's worth this night.

Our evening out included dinner at a restaurant close to the museum; Girasole, a cute Italian spot on 82nd Street. It felt like a quaint neighbourhood spot with friendly staff, a good but unremarkable menu and a wine list that had some affordable selections. My mixed green salad was fresh with a light dressing and Scott enjoyed a cold calamari salad also in a vinaigrette. For the main course, I chose from one of the daily specials, a wild boar chop, served with fresh asparagus, green beans and red peppers. The chop was perfectly grilled and was topped with a mustard and peppercorn sauce. Scott thoroughly enjoyed a serving of grilled sea bass with mushrooms, asparagus and a mixture of rice. We finished with coffee and got to the show with minutes to spare. This is a quaint little spot, a bit on the pricey side, but worth checking out.


Girasole
East 80s 151 E. 82nd St.(bet. Lexington & 3rd Aves.)
New York, NY 10028
212-772-6690

Zagats says ...
“Popular with the Met staff” and Upper Eastsiders “who can afford” the tabs, this “small, refined” Italian functions almost like “a neighborhood club”; the “better-than-average” (if “unremarkable”) fare and “consistently good” service please its “generally older” crowd

Rouge

Rouge has been one of our favorite places in the Berkshires since it opened several years ago. This friendly restaurant is run by a young husband and wife team (Maggie's the hostess and front room manager and her husband Mark the chef). They've done a great job converting a local house to include several cozy dining areas, a small porch and a comfortable bar space with a few small tables where you can enjoy a drink while waiting for your table and have lighter fare--the tapas is particularly good. They have a nice mix of straightforward dishes (heavy on steaks and fish) prepared with a 'French Bistro' flare. Our only complaint has been the consistently slow service and sometimes long waits despite having a reservation. Most recently, the service was so bad, there were three different servers trading off. To make matters worse, they brought the check before even offering dessert or coffee.

Recently, we've also noticed that the usually reliable preparations have sometimes been inconsistent. We've had escargot that looked and tasted re-heated, salad that was not fresh and Duck that's been over-sauced. On this night however, the food was great. Christina and I had a roasted chicken on the bone (I thought mine was a little dry, she liked hers) with a wonderful lemony wilted spinach that was delicious. Others at our table had steak, sliced breast of duck and rack of lamb all of which got very positive reviews. The starters included their signature mixed greens with breaded goat cheese, mussels that were reportedly tasty (If our friend Joe says they're good, you know you have a winner). The wine selections are very good and the cocktails imaginative. Pomegranate seems to be the new "in" drink and here they made a tasty pomegranate sangria. We definitely think this is a place worth visiting. By the time we get back, Maggie and Mark will be proud parents for the second time. This may be the start of a new family dynasty!

Rouge
3 Center St.(Hotel St.)
West Stockbridge, MA 01266
413-232-4111

Zagats says:
Outstanding tapas and superbly prepared French bistro fare focusing on local ingredients are served by a lively, welcoming staff at this West Stockbridge two-year-old with a terrace overlooking the Williams River and a noise level that's tough on conversation; though some supporters are pleased, others say they still need to get their act together and open more often.

The Red Lion Inn

http://image.pegs.com/images/UZ/656/656_b1.jpg

The Red Lion Inn, in the heart of the Berkshires in Massachusettes is one of the oldest American Inns still in operation. Built as a stage coach stop in 1773, it still provides comfortable lodging to guests who come to the area to hike, visit Tanglewood or attend any of the other numerous cultural events found here. It still operates as a B&B, and apart from the main dinning room, you can get service in the "Widow Bingham's Tavern", "Jack's Grill", or in the summer enjoy dinning in the "Courtyard". Live entertainment is available in the "Lion's Den" most evenings. If you're there during business hours, there's a cute gift shop and they are home to one branch of "Country Curtains".

The Inn itself is rustic, filled with beautiful antiques and on this night there was still a welcoming fire in the grate. As we entered the main hall, guests were sitting around enjoying each other's company, reading a book or playing cards.

Tables in the main dinningroom are nicely spaced but it's beginning to look a little tired and the chairs need tightening! The atmosphere, however, is cozy, the staff efficient and courteous and we really like the place. This year on Sunday and Monday evenings, the resturant offers a prix fixed dinner menu based on locally grown and produced fare. We decided to give it a try since many of the area resturants support local farmers especially in season and often boast a "Proudly Serve Berkshire Grownand Produced Food Products" on their menus. We mixed and matched from the regular menu and the Prix Fixed and gave the meal an overall mixed review. We both started with soup, Paul their classic Cheddar, Ale & Sausage (which he loved) and I the locally grown veggie (which was rather watery and tasteless). For the main course I selected the wild mushroom Gnocchi with sauteed spinch and although it looked unappetizing, tasted delicious. Paul opted for the Roast Prime Rib of Beef and while the beef which was served medium rare just the way he liked it. Both meals were served on the cool side which did nothing for the vegetables and turned the mashed potatoes into a hard lumpy mass.

Museum visits

We've been to the Metropolitan Museum of Art twice a week for different courses - one sponsored by the museum on the Cities of Italy every Wednesday night offered an entertaining focus on the architecture of Florence, Rome, Venice and Naples. It was held in an auditorium and was sold out every night. The lecturer had a great sense of humor and brought the renaissance to life.

The other is provided by NYU (Continuing Ed.) every Friday night entitled "Hidden Treasures of the Met". We chose the course as part of our continuing effort to learn more about the museum and art in general. While we have learned quite a bit about the Asian collections, the instructor has a very poor attitude, is ill prepared and has left us with a feeling of disappointment many evenings.

In Paris, we discovered an organization called Paris Muse that uses Art History Phds to host focused small group ( 2 or 4 people) tours of selected museums and exhibitions. They really bring the museums to life providing insights we never could have gotten by ourselves. We have never been able to find any gorup like that in NY.

After the class we went to a new restaurant on E. 82nd - Le Refuge. It's a really nice looking and comfortable French Bistro. Unfortunately, the food is only so-so. I had a nice grilled goat cheese and vegetable tart but the duck entree reminded me of "continental" restaurants of old - over-sauced and tough. Chris was happier with her meal but I am writing this review. Cdelb--I really enjoyed my meal of hot goat cheese over a salad of arugula followed by stipped bass pan seared to perfection accompanied by fresh asparagus and green beans. My only complaint was that the beans were a little over cooked. I think that in a small bistro like this, the trick is to order from the list of 'chef's daily specials'. This usually ensures a fresh cut of meat or fish and veggies. I think the duck may have been a frozen entre!

One of the things that appealed to both of us was their attractive bar area and near the door there is a love seat and armchair with a small table which is perfect for anyone just wanting a cheese plate and a glass of wine.

Le Refuge
East 80s 166 E. 82nd St.(bet. Lexington & 3rd Aves.)
Manhattan, NY 10028
212-861-4505

Zagats says...
“Aptly named”, this “quiet” bistro nestled in an East Side townhouse offers “just the right dose of class” with its “rustic antique” decor, “sophisticated” French fare and “polished service”; for most, it’s a “best-known secret” where “reliable” quality comes at serious tabs.

The Oak Room at the Algonquin Hotel

On Tuesday night we went to the Oak Room at the Algonquin to see our friend Loren Schoenberg appear with KT Sullivan and Mark Nadler. The Show, "Swell Party" was a Cole Porter review. It was absolutely wonderful - maybe the best cabaret we've seen (see NYT review below). They really have fun with the sexy lyrics, outfits to match the mood and interesting interpretations of the life of Cole Porter. We had seen this pair (without Loren) in Palm Beach at the Colony. The show there was based on the work of Dorothy Fields and while good, nothing like this. Picture sultry lyrics sung suggestively or teasingly by either of the pair, mix in some attitude from the sax and imagine piano and base in the background. There were songs new to us, but old favorites like "Begin the Begine", or "Oh, La, La, La, C'Est Magnifique" and one song following the next with hardly a breather in the entire 90 minute performance

The Algonquin Hotel is famous for the Algonquin Round Table in the 1920's that included a group of literary legends including Dorothy Parker, George S. Kaufman and Robert Benchley. The Oak Room is a small, intimate, venue that makes you feel like you're in a nightclub with Humphrey Bogart - except for the lack of smoke! This night we shared the space with the likes of Kitty Carlisle (yes, she LIVES), Tova Feldshu and others not quite so famous. We usually enjoy the repartee in Cabaret. This time there was little of that but the songs told the story. We were sitting about 3 feet from KT; it doesn't get better. Loren accompanied them on the saxophone and really added a whole new dimension to some of the songs.

You need to have dinner to get a decent table (it's a small room but there are still corners!). There's a limited fixed price menu, choices of steak, chicken, salmon, or pasta. Those in the 'know' ask for a 'popover' along with their bread basket. Salads are usually very good; desert includes ice cream and chocolate choices. Overall, the food is pretty good for a night club.

I believe they are sold out for the rest of the run, but if you're there for a drink, be nice to Kendall at the door and she might find a spot along the wall.

Cabaret Review 'A Swell Party'
They Skip the Bio and Cut to the Cole Porter Chase

By STEPHEN HOLDEN
Published: March 18, 2006
In the language of Cole Porter: oo-la-la-la! C'est magnifique!

That burst of Gallic joie describes the ebullience of "A Swell Party — R.S.V.P. Cole Porter," the truly fabulous Porter tribute winked, smirked, crooned and shouted by K T Sullivan and Mark Nadler at the Oak Room of the Algonquin Hotel. A departure from the team's zany tutorials on luminaries of the great American songbook, "A Swell Party" skips the biographical part to deliver songs both famous and obscure, in a delirious whoosh of lubricious exuberance.
Imparting the composer's live-for-the-moment-of-passion philosophy, Ms. Sullivan and Mr. Nadler suggest a very ripened Botticelli Venus squired by Danny Kaye, freshly reincarnated as a hyperkinetic piano man visiting from vaudeville heaven. A valuable new addition to their act, the saxophonist Loren Schoenberg injects instrumental comedy into "Let's Do It," by deflating the phrase sung as "let's fall in love" by inflecting it with a corny vibrato; no, the song is definitely not about love. Later he returns for a husky insinuating solo of "Begin the Beguine" in which the singers and the bassist John Loehrke join him to evoke an image of an ocean liner swimming in Champagne at 4 a.m.

Beneath the brilliantine surface of Porter's lyrics, everything is sexual. The only times his double-entendres fade into the background is during sighs of besotted yearning and cries of rapture. Only then does lust turn into the kind of love that's "too hot not to cool down."
"A Swell Party" probably has more showstoppers than any other cabaret show this season. Here are two: After taking "Kate the Great," an editorial brief for nymphomania that offers Catherine the Great as a role model ("she made the butler/ she made the groom/ she made the maid who made the room"), Mr. Nadler astutely observes that the song describes how Porter might have ruled Russia.

The giddiest of Ms. Sullivan's several turns as erotic philosopher is a swiveling, eye-rolling "Most Gentlemen Don't Like Love," which warns all gals: "So just remember when you get that glance/ A romp and a quickie/ Is all little Dickie/ Means/ When he mentions romance."
There's more, much more where that came from in a show that reminds you that half the pleasure of excess is finding the perfect words to describe it.

"A Swell Party - R.S.V.P. Cole Porter" remains through April 1 at the Oak Room of the Algonquin Hotel, 59 West 44th Street, Manhattan, (212) 419-9331.

New York Luncheonettes

Those of us who grew up with the ubiquitous "luncheonettes", we mourn their passing. Before Starbucks they were the places where we "hung out" in High School and College (before we moved on to bars). Later, we would go there in the "wee hours" after a long night of drinking for a breakfast of eggs and homefries. You could also always get a (lousy) cup of coffee with a (better) piece of pastry. We spent many an afternoon and evening nursing our cups of coffee and talking about girls. The diners replaced the luncheonettes, but they were much more upscale. There weren't many diners in NY outside of Queens.

Today, there are almost no luncheonettes and very few diners in NY. Those that do exist are generally theme restaurants (like the Brooklyn Diner on 57th Street). There are many "coffee shops" which are really diners without the theme. They serve as NY's "affordable" restaurants. Generally, they have a large menu of items prepared in advance using fresh ingredients. The portions are large and the cakes and pies are a 'mile high'! We usually eat in one at least once a week for breakfast, lunch or dinner. They provide us with a, reliable, reasonably priced, quick but nutricious meal. What follows, is a list of some of the local places we've found to be particularly desirable:

Columbus Bakery (1st Avenue and 53rd Street) - great for breakfast (eggs, oatmeal and pastry) and lunch (wide variety of fresh salads, soups and individual pizza)
Sutton Diner (1st Avenue and 56th Street) - good for breakfast (coffee's not bad here)
Nectar (Madison Avenue and 81st Street) - great for salads after coming out of the Metropolitan Museum or shopping.
Brooklyn Diner - (57th Street and 6th Avenue) - fun place with just average food, a popular brunch spot.

I know that many of you will have your own favorites that should have been included. I welcome you to note them on the blog for everyone's information.

Pearls

The Berkshires have some of the best restaurants outside of NY (and maybe Boston). It's really quite exceptional for a weekend place. I'm sure no one will be surprised to learn this played a bigger role in our decision to buy here than Tanglewood. Pearl's is not one of those exceptional restaurants.

Pearl's is a large attractive looking Steak/Chop house in downtown Great Barrington. Their menu is heavy on "comfort food" like Steak, Fried Chicken, Meat Loaf, Liver. We go there because it is convenient and because Chris loves meat loaf. Unfortunately, they don't serve it in the wintertime.

W e went there recently with our friends Steve and Lillian. It's was a good choice for all of us as they are somewhat less adventurous than we are. We all started with salads which were quite good.

Zagats says:
Its “contemporary, chic” setting and “mouthwatering” New American fare bring a bit of “SoHo to the Berkshires” say loyalists who love this “upscale” Great Barrington sibling of Lenox’s Bistro Zinc; there’s an “energetic”, “exceptionally friendly” staff, the “best brunch” around and a bar area with “fresh” homemade chips; still, some are bothered by “aggressive pricing” and the “too chichi” feel of this “NYC wannabe.”

Pearls
47 Railroad St.(Main St.)
Great Barrington, MA 01230
413-528-7767
http://www.pearlsrestaurant.com/

Helsinki Cafe

Nothing says the hippy 60's like Great Barrington and the Helsinki Cafe. It's is a small "tea room" that serves diverse teas during the day and a FINNISH (that's Finland, the country!) menu at night. It also has a small night club that features an eclectic collection of generally unknown rock, blues and folk performers.

We had been to the Club previously to see a show but had never been for dinner. We decided to try the restaurant for an early dinner - before the show. The menu has a very different look to it (although, this may be standard fare in Finland).

I started with vegetable "piroghki" which were interesting but undistinguished. Chris had a green salad with grilled goat cheese that was quite excellent.

I followed that with the SWEDISH SAILOR'S SALMON (a house specialty) its horseradish-rubbed seared Atlantic salmon with a Gunpowder tea & Swedish dill sauce, potato strudel & Finnish caramelized cabbage. The salmon was adequate but the potato strudel and cabbage were out of this world - and I'm not usually a cooked vegetable eater. Chris had the daily special, a vegetable stir-fry with tofu that she thought was quite good (I'm not so sure).

The bottom line is the place is a "hippy" classic. The staff (mostly women) all have long hair and tattoos and were dressed accordingly (mostly in black). The food may be unreliable but the ambience is special. We can't be back to eat this year but will probably be back for the show.

Helsinki Cafe
284 Main St.(Railroad St.)
Great Barrington, MA 01230
413-528-3394

Zagats says:
Need “a nice reminder of Finland”? – “get the potato pancakes” slathered in gravlax, sour cream and caviar and served with wild blueberry compote at this “quirky” Scandinavian-Eclectic across from the Triplex in Great Barrington; though the “funky” interior and “borscht-and-dill” Nordic “home cooking” are “not for everyone”, the place sure is “interesting”, especially as it’s attached to the “hippest” “venue for music” “north of Chelsea.”

Super Duper Weenies

A “Super Duper Weenie”!

We’re back in the Berkshires and it almost felt like spring on the drive up here. Paul and I take different routes depending on our mood, the traffic and where we might like to stop. One interesting stop along the way was introduced to us by Scott and Jory; it’s exit 24 off Route 95 when heading north. They found it after their curiosity was piqued by a rather large billboard along the side of the road advertising “Super Duper Weenie”! Now, some of you are probably shaking your heads wondering why this would be a place we would ever consider. However, if hotdogs are your thing, this is an easy-off, easy-on, eating experience. AND, it’s really quite good. The restaurant is nothing more then a shack with a screened in porch and some picnic tables. You place your order at the counter from a listing on the wall. Super-Duper Weenie was started by a guy who had a very popular pushcart in NYC and graduated to a shop. There is a wide variety of ‘dogs’ (the Super Duper is a foot long) with every imaginable topping. Freshness is the key, they make their own relish from homemade pickles and the buns are freshly baked! There are sides of onion rings, french-fries and old fashioned drinks like root beer, cream soda and homemade milk shakes. There are a few other things on the menu but basically, people come for the many varieties of ‘weenies’! Service is quick and friendly and if you’re like Scott and Jory, you can satisfy a late night craving by ordering something to go.

Super Duper Weenie
306 Black Rock Turnpike
Fairfield, CT
203-334-DOGS

Cdelb
11/March/06

A evening out on the Upper East Side

We went to see a Big Bands concert at the Metropolitan Museum. It featured an old friend from Riverdale, Loren Schoenberg and his Big Band as well as the original "Chantels" and the "Classics" from the 40's and 50's. It was a great show and we had a great time. I recommend looking at the concerts sponsored by the Met. They are generally of good quality and reasonably priced.

Before the show we went to a new restaurant for dinner. It is a small restaurant with big aspirations located on the very commercial 86th street. They have a very interesting menu with daily specials including

Monday - Next Generation Chef Dishes inspired by our future chefs
Tuesday - Aloha Tuesday Hawaiian regional cuisine
Wednesday - Crispy Roast Duck flambed for two orange cognac sauce
Thursday - Dover Sole Almandine flown in from Dover, prepared on the bone
Friday - Lost Arts, A celebration of culinary traditions
Saturday - 3 to 6 lb Steamed Maine Lobster served table side on a bed of coals

We both had the Hawaiian Duck which was very good. . Chris started with steamed artichokes on a bed of field greens which she loved. I started with sauteed Foie Gras which was excellent.
The menu is heavy on "for two" items (see above) including a number of steaks.

We finished with a souffle and expresso. The souffle was a little over-cooked but the coffee was very good

Ian
East 80s 322 E. 86th St.(bet. 1st & 2nd Aves.)
Manhattan, NY 10028
212-861-1993

As Zagats says...
A real star on a culinarily challenged stretch of 86th Street, this Upper East Side New American offers addictive, out-of-the-ordinary flavor combos in a pleasant Downtown-ish space; the only kinks are sometimes-slow service and high prices (for the area).

Returning to an old friend

We went back to one of our all-time favorite restaurants this week. Jubilee is a small French restaurant in the Sutton Place area. There specialty is Mussels with the best Pommes Frite in the city. Christina loves the mussels but I usually order the Steak au poivre (because it comes with the "frites"!). All are delicious. The restaurant is always crowded with local people (you can tell by their ages) and reservations are necessary at all times. Prices are not cheap, but moderate.

We are already depressed that we can't go back for a year under our "restaurant challenge" but we will persevere.

We both had the Portobello mushroom Salad with Blue Cheese. It was very good.

Chris had the Mussels Marinieres - steamed with white wine, shallots and parsley, It's a huge bowl of mussels for $11.00.

I had the Grilled Scallops with Celery "tagliatelle" and bacon (Saint Jacques Poelles, Tagliatelles de Celeri Carbonara et Jus de la Truffe). It was delicious and much more "nutricious than the steak". I had to order a portion of the Pommes Frites because Christina was being good.

Jubilee
East 50s
347 E. 54th St.
(bet. 1st & 2nd Aves.)
Manhattan, NY 10022
212-888-3569

ZAGATS says...
Though you always have to mussel your way in to this cramped Sutton Place French bistro, the signature wonderful moules frites reward the effort; add a friendly?, neighborly ambiance and fair prices (for the locale), and you've got a party every night.

Bijou Cafe

We are coming to the conclusion that the state of Florida is one large wasteland crossed with awful roads with beautiful coasts. The East Coast is much more developed and attractive with A1A running the length of the state. The West coast is much grimmer between Naples and Sarasota. Sarasota itself was a breath of fresh air. Here there are wide streets and beautifully landscaped surroundings. Our stay at the Ritz in the downtown area was a short 10 min. walk from the Bijou Cafe. Paul is getting into the swing of early arrivals which gives us time to check out the bar. We took our drinks to the small outdoor seating area and enjoyed the warm evening enjoying some serious people watching. There are fewer manufactured "tight smiles" here in Sarasota and we see a more diverse age group and a more mixed population. Maybe this is because of the large student population.

Dinner was a joy from beginning to end. Both Paul's and my shrimp appetizer were excellent, his SHRIMP PIRI-PIRI were wonderfully spicy, sauted with just the right amount of garlic, lemon, and cayenne pepper. My
Boursin-Glazed Shrimp with fresh sliced Strawberries and Baby arugula, and toasted hazelnuts, was perfectly complimented with sherry vinaigrette and herbed croutons. For the entre, Paul selected the ROAST DUCKLING which was slow roasted, boned and served extra crispy with a fruit dressing and port wine sauce. It was delicious with none of the ugly fat sometimes associated with duck. I enjoyed a serving of the restaurants SIGNATURE CRABCAKES. They were perfectly sauted fresh lump crabmeat, served with Louisiana remoulade sauce, on a small bed of greens. Our wine wine selection was a surprisingly good California merlot.

We enjoyed dessert and coffee at the hotel where we eagerly watched some of the olympic events we'd been missing.

Bijou Cafe
1287 First St. (Pineapple Ave.)
Sarasota, FL 34236
941-366-8111

Zagats says:
No longer a diamond in the rough, this Downtown Continental (once a gas station) is now a “beautifully remodeled” “little jewel”, gratifying regulars with “rack of lamb to die for” and shrimp piri-piri courtesy of chef-owner Jean-Pierre Knaggs, who’s laid in a large wine list from his native South Africa, and a “precise, friendly” staff that “treats you like family”; book way ahead in winter to beat opera-bound crowds worried about curtain time.

Nektar - there's no excuse for this restaurant

We went here based on a brief review in the NYT Travel section that described it as a new Mediterranean-style restaurant--an in place with a younger crowd. The place was crowded, but with a reservation we were seated promptly. This was only a minor blessing considering our choice of two tables (one near the entranceway right in the line of traffic, the other while more inside, was next to the serving lane where busy staff whizzed by with armloads of dinner items and drinks. We, unfortunately, chose the one inside the restaurant! It was extremely noisy but we decided to hang in and found a nice bottle of wine to get us started. The menu was interesting with many Albanian family specialties. Unfortunately, all our courses were served reheated but not hot. I had a fried calamari appetizer that was very oily and not crisp. It was served with a sauce reminiscent of Campbell's tomato soup. When I asked for marinara sauce, it took another ten minutes during which time, the calamari became inedible. When I have doubts about a restaurant I order something simple, like roasted chicken. It was served overcooked and dried out. It had clearly been on a heating plate for hours. Chris' linguine with red sauce, eggplant and cheese was equally tasteless. There's no excuse for a nice restaurant to be this bad. We were unwilling to even try coffee and dessert.

Nektar
849 7th Avenue South
Naples, Florida 34102
Phone:239.435.1882

Chop's City Grill - Naples

This hip restaurant is in downtown Naples on the local "Fifth Avenue". At night the street is alive with people "promenading" and all the stores are open. We noted, with delight, that these stores are local places - the large chains are relegated to the Tamiami Trail (Rt 42) where there are more malls than in NJ! We really enjoyed walking after dinner and looking in the galleries and shops along the Avenue. Overall, Naples was a disappointment because it's very overbuilt and not especially attractive. In Old Naples there are no high-rises and the dense single family homes make it feel crowded. It didn't help that it was a holiday weekend with crowds of people and many young children all out looking for a good time.

The restaurant is primarily a steakhouse with a southern-Florida flair - lots of fish and some Asian vegetables.

I had the Stacked Tomato Salad – Beefsteak, Golden, and Orange Tomatoes with Roquefort Cheese, Onions and Black Pepper Ranch Dressing. This seems to be a Florida specialty found on many of the menus we've seen, but it was well done here.

Chris had Red Oak Salad with Portobello Mushrooms, Gorgonzola, Pecans and Pear, served with a Miso – Maple Dressing. It was very fresh and tasty.

She also had the Grouper special which came with fresh asparagus, and an interesting cauliflower mash that I'm sure she's going to try to recreate and make me eat when we get back home!

I had a pepper steak with a Blackberry – Cabernet Sauce, Grilled Sweet Potato and fried Onion Rings. We also tried something called Chop's "Steakhouse Style" Vegetables which were grilled broccoli Rabe, spinach, and mushrooms with garlic.


Zagats says
“Hip and happening” types frequent this “lively”, often-“noisy” Pan-Asian surf ’n’ turfer (think “grilled-to-perfection” Mongolian beef, teriyaki-glazed sea bass, etc.) where the “warm” atmosphere is made even more so by the “friendly” staff; almost as alluring as the prime “people-watching” are “great wine flights” that allow you to “sip some pretty good choices without losing your shirt.”

Chops City Grill
837 Fifth Ave. S.
(US 41)
Naples, FL 34102
239-262-4677

Cafe Chardonnay

It would be easy to give this resturant a miss given it's location in a strip mall. Afterall, who wants to sit among attractively arranged tables amidst the foilage and gas fire pits only to look out at a parking lot and traffic on the main road! Having said this, it would be a shame to miss a good meal because once inside, it's cozy, there's a long bar to accomodate wine tasting and the staff is friendly and efficient.

We had a fine meal both starting with a salad of red and yellow beefsteak tomatoes with feta cheese, Tuscan Olive Oil and 1891 Acetain Dodi Vinegar. The flavour was good but like so many large resturants, a good salad would become excellent if it were made fresh when ordered. Our salads seem to have been prepared LONG in advance.

Paul's entree consisted of an oven roasted veal chop, ricotta, broccoli rabe, cipollini onions and porcini mushroom sauce. Paul felt that the chop was good, but nothing special and the veggies were a bit overcooked, but the meal was generally satisfying. Christina's skillet roasted sushi grade tuna with shrimp, asian vegetables and dumplings (very like potstickers) were with the exception of the veggies cooked to perfection and tasted great. We washed this all down with a very good bottle of red wine (Rosso Di Montalcino, Argiano '02).

We probably will go back next year.


Cafe Chardonnay
Garden Square Shoppes
4533 PGA Blvd. (Military Trail)
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418
561-627-2662

Zagats says:
It’s “hard to believe” it’s in a strip mall, but this Palm Beach Gardens “jewel” defies expectations with “divine” New American food delivered by an “excellent staff”, a “stellar wine list” and “pretty decor” that contributes to an overall “unpretentious” ambiance; all in all, it’s a “winner”, albeit one that comes with a “high price” tag.

Leila's Restaurant and Belly Dancer

For Valentines Day we went to a Syrian restaurant with our friends the Fleischers and the Sharfsteins. Dorothy, whose heritage is Sephardic, and whose family enjoyed middle-eastern food and entertainment, was our guide to the food and customs. We really enjoyed the different tastes and ambience. You can see the menu on-line at Leila’s.

We ordered, and shared, a number of "Mezzes" - a Syrian tapas. They included:

• Hommous - a chickpea pate.
• Baba Ghanouj - smoked eggplant dip.
• Falafel - chickpea croquettes.
• Kibbe - fried beef kneaded with burgha wheat, sauteed onion, and toasted pinenuts.
• Jibnee Mishwieh - grilled halloumi cheese.
• Feta Puffs - petite fried feta cheese pastries scented with mint.
• Hommous Bi Lahmeh - topped with sizzling minced meat and toasted pine nuts.
• Ma anek - spiced sausages with Port and pinenuts.
  

For entrees we ordered various types of lamb, beef, chicken and shrimp kebobs. Everyone enjoyed their dishes, but I thought the lamb I ordered was the best. The small pieces of meat remained tender after grilling. All were served with grilled veggies and couscous or rice. The couscous served at room temperature was a surprise to some of us but tasty with rasins, nuts and peppers.

We didn't have dessert but Barry and I had turkish coffee that was delicious - dark, thick, strong and sweet. They offered a Hookah or Arguileh (waterpipe), filled with tobacco (a smooth, molasses-fused blend with the fruitiness of apples, apricots, mint and cherries). We did not try it because you had to smoke outside and it was cold that night. I have read that these water-pipes are very trendy in NY right now.

Zagats says;
It's always a fun night at this downtown West Palm Beach Middle Eastern, which feels straight out of the most chic South Beach hotel, complete with sophisticated, helpful service; as for food,it's fresh, tasty and prepared with style., though some complain of “big prices for small portions”; P.S. check out the “cute outdoor seating” area and “entertaining belly dancing” on some nights, and hookah-smokers can indulge on the patio.

Leila’s
120 S. Dixie Hwy. (Datura St.)
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
561-659-7373

San Gennaro in Palm Beach

Our Concierge strongly recommended this "family" italian restaurant (he knows the chef). We checked it out in Zagats. They described it as:

Diners “never leave hungry” from this “popular” Italian in North Palm Beach that would be right at home in “NYC”; the food’s “reliable”, and since the portions are “family-style”, it’s little wonder that it’s a “great place to take the kids.”

We went anyway with our friends Barry and Dorothy who have a home in the area. The restaurant was very comfortable and we had a great table in a little nook of our own. Overall, the food was just adequate, prepared with too much sauce and salt. More importantly, the portions were large, even when shared. Unfortunately, we succumbed, and overate even thought the food was un-memorable.

We shared an appetizer of Sausage with Broccoli Rabe. The sausage was good but the Broccoli was overcooked and stringy with too much olive oil. Chris would have been happy with a salad but I love sausage.

Our main course was "Country Chicken" - small pieces of chicken (on the bone the way we like it) sauteed and served with sausage (again), potatoes, mushrooms and peppers. It reminded me of Cacciatore but was too oily and salty.

We shared a nice Chianti Classico

And shared a Tartufo with our friends for dessert. It was large enough for 4, but seemed like a standard commercial preparation.

This time our “Restaurant Challenge” will not be a challenge!

San Gennaro's Italian Restaurant
1201 US 1 (Crystal Tree Plaza) south of PGA Blvd.
North Palm Beach, FL 33408
561-625-0611

Seasons 52 restaurant

We had dinner at the newly opened Seasons 52 in Palm Beach. This chain of 5 restaurants in southern Florida focuses on fresh ingredients prepared in a "healthful" way (Our friend Estelle told us that the chain was owned by the same people who own 'Olive Garden'). No single menu selection is more than 475 calories and actual calorie counts are available. We both came in at about 1,250 calories. This included an appetizer, glass of wine, salad, main course but no dessert. We enjoyed our meal and left feeling like heroes!

Scotch (250 calories)
Baked Flatbread (similar to thin crust pizza) (450 cals for 2)
The flatbread was really good. It looks a lot like a rectangular pizza. They make it with all kinds of toppings but we like the traditional "marguerita).

Appetizer:
Tossed Salad (227 cals)
Vegetable Soup (238 cals)
Pretty good, but not great. The soup was good but it's hard to ruin a salad?

Entree:
Grilled Salmon on cedar plank (458 cals)
Venison Chop served with greens (471 cals)
Baked Onion with mushrooms (200 cals) This was their "seasonal vegetable" and we both had it. It was wonderful!
The portions were a little small and there was no bread on the table but the entrees were delicious and we didn't leave feeling hungry.

Coffee (0 cals)

Glass of White Wine (100 cals)

While we did pass on dessert, they sure looked worth trying. Waiters bring a variety of sweets presented in small tall glasses arranged on a wire rack. There are about a dozen in total to choose from. They're so cute, that I'm sure people are tempted to have the entire 'rack' put on the table for consumption! However, the 475 calorie limit applies to each one in the flight a little misleading!

Overall, we enjoyed the meal and would go back if we could. They have 2 other restaurants in the area. I wonder if that counts as "going back". Maybe next year.

Seasons 52
On the Intracoastal waterway at PGA Blvd.
11611 Ellison Wilson Road
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33408
561-625-5852