Perfection at Sunset

HERS:
What could you wish for more after a hard day than
to sit by a rushing river with a class of cold wine?
We go to Apricots in Avon on those kind of nights.
It's not only Steve Crutti, our friend and maitre' D
extraordinaire that draws us, or the wonderful food,
or the wine even. It is also this ambiance. Check
it out!!!

And when you've talked and loved, and become
mellow again, by now it is probably sunset.
Either you drift away back to your abode,
or you walk upstairs and brace yourself for
a romantic and epicurian evening that will
make a memory. Nice choice.

APRICOTS
AVON, CT

The Venetian Restaurant in Torrington, CT

HIS:
Walking in, to me, was like walking into the old
Italian section of Hartford 25 years ago.
When you open the door, you feel a touch of
Italian class. And it never stops the rest of
the evening.
Just being seated in this place is so very
different from 90 percent of the restaurants I
have been in the past several years. Seasoned
waiters and waitresses, not the typical restaurant
amateur hour. Caesar salad made at the table
by the maitre d', where are you going to find that?
And delicious to top it off. The staff took pains to
help us pick a fine wine. My entree, Fettucini
Alfredo, was one of the best I have ever had.
And ending the meal with Tiramisu and an
after dinner drink and an espresso, all made
for an absolutely incredible, romantic, and
magnificent dining experience.
WITH MARY OUR WAITRESS!!!
HERS:
In Europe, most people visit their local.
It's a nice little restaurant where they feel
at home and know they will eat well.
If I lived closer, this would be mine.
Pasta made fresh, I opted for the
fettuncini with clams and mussels....
it was awesome.
His Fettucini Alfredo was pure and delicious.

and of course, HIS knows all the chefs and
owners! Hence his picture with one again!!!


THE VENETIAN Restaurant
52 E. Main Street
Torrington, CT
860.489.8592
www.venetian-restaurant.com

Blue Smoke in Bloomfield

The owner of Blue Smoke, his sister the Manager,
and HIS.........
HERS:
We were on our way to a party but wanted to snack
before and heard good things about Blue Smoke.
What a pretty restaurant, almost a New York feel
to it. The rooms are calming in latte tones and
there's a huge bar wide enough to dine on.
We had a simple Chopped Salad which was
ample, pretty, and delicious - shaped like an
upside down bowl.

And a platter of Calamari. I always order Calamari.
So I can say that this was outstanding in that it was
so tender it almost melted in your mouth.

I was sided by a Wasabi Sauce and a
Marinara Sauce. Now we know we are going
back to have a full dinner. The place was jammed.
And the menu was interesting, including Beef
Carpaccio which I have to try!!!
BLUE SMOKE
6 Wintonbury Mall, Bloomfield, CT
860.243.9167
www.bluesmokegrill.com

Rise Bar, Lower Manhattan

HERS:
Perched 14 floors above Wall Street, facing
the river, is a fabulous bar located in the
Ritz Carlton. Its large patio is open in warm
weather, although on this day we sat inside.
As you can see, the view is magnificent,
magnified at night by the stars and sparkling
skyline of the city. If it is very hot, it's great
to sit outside for the sea breeze to watch the
cruise ships and seagulls pass by.
Kamilyn Trotman, one of the first people
you see when you enter, and by the way, the
one that gets you a great seat, is pictured
here on the lap of you know who!

This great lady makes you feel at home
and pampered. We ordered Campari
and Orange Juice. We ordered a Mojito.
We ordered a "Tier". We started by
enjoying 1/2 pound of nuts from a heavy
crystal bowl. Our drinks were superb.
And our Tier was surprisingly filling.
It had three layers of small treats,
including brucheta, skewers of baby
mozerella and cherry tomatoes, grilled
tomatoe and prociutto sandwiches on
croissants. The NYC Tier looked great
with baby hamburgers.


This bar draws a beautiful crowd.
Go dressed.

RISE BAR
The Ritz Carlton
2 West Street
New York 10004
212-344-0800

Long Live Prima Vera!!

HERS: We got a tip from a Portugese family about a
great place for Portugese food. They said it was where
they went and where Portugese families get their parties
catered. Two hours later we arrived there for dinner and
just loved the place. Owner and Chef T. Vincente proved
a hospitable host, walking around talking to his guests
as well as cooking for them.
We were there on Saturday night when - although not
listed on the menu - he offers Grilled Red Snapper.

Also not listed on the menu is what they offer
for Friday lunch.....octopus sauteed in garlic and
white wine! The Grilled Red Snapper was just
scrumptious, sided with boiled potatoes and
broccolli rabe. I ordered the Seafood Mix and
asked for an addition of Portugese sausage.
Wow! What a combination. The juices from
the clams spilling over to mix with the juices
from the grilled smoky sausages, mixed in with
grilled shrimp and squid.....another awesome
dish!
The place is packed with families and lovers,
so be patient for your table, there are only
about 8 of them.
Of course we had to have the Flan for dessert
and it was tender and wonderful. The chef/owner
brought out as a treat a plate of sliced
goat cheese and sliced sweet cinamon
bread as well as two glasses of white port
and two shots of something he called:
Portugese Custard Cake Liquor.
Here's a picture of this ambrosial drink!

You need to go to this restuarant.
There are so few real restaurants left.
Let's make sure they endure.
HIS:
I was a little nervous about going over there
having never heard of the restaurant. Hidden
not only in reputation but also hidden in kind
of an oddball place where you would never
run into it. The parking lot was jammed.
The place looked like a little dinky local
bar from the outside. Walked inside.
Had a five minute wait. It appeared to be
a restaurant where the owners and the
staff knew everyone and everyone looked
like they were at home.
The portions looked not only beautiful but
huge. I felt like I might have been in another
country or a New York Portugese ghetto.
They sat us, and were embracing, almost
with a Welcome to my House attitude.
The waiter came over - very warm, very
helpful, because the menu needed describing.
The atmosphere for a place that mobbed was
quiet and peaceful and relaxing. The Portugese
rolls and Portugese white wine, the bowl of olives....
it was a fun way to start off the meal and the wine
was delicious. The presentation of all three dishes
we ordered was beautiful, and all were very fresh
and as you can see from the pictures very colorful.
The lettuce in the Caesar Salad was crisp. My Grilled
Snapper was absolutely perfectly prepared and each
bite was wonderful. The waiter was always on top
of us with great service. As the place emptied out,
the chef came out and mingled. We got a little bit
of insight into how the dishes were made and we
ended our meal with liquors and special treats.
All around, it was great food, warm environment,
hospitable help, great conversation place....and
wouldn't hesitate going back frequently. The prices
are more than fair. Delicious. Looking forward to
trying other dishes there. This place is really fun!
PRIMA VERA PUB
271 Newington Avenue
Hartford, CT
Telephone: 860-953-7411

Grant's in West Hartford March 28th

HERS: Ok, so we were here again! But we needed Grant's tonight.
We needed good food. We needed service. We like to
sit at the bar.
Now, look at this. There's this glass jar on the bar filled
with fresh pineapple slices and vodka. You know how good
this tastes, after it has been marinating a while? So fresh.
In Paris they do this jar BIG with limes and vodka. This was
slightly slightly sweet and fragrant. Still....very nice.
What was our dinner? Well, always Caesar Salad to start.
But then a STUNNER fresh trout with pistachio crust.
It came out hot, topped with crisp pistachio crust, then
tiny lentils in butter and lemon sauce draped all over
the trout. Are you droooling yet? It was droooooling
wonderful.

HIS: The vodka was unique and fun and very out of the norm
at a local bar. My Caesar's Salad was a delight in what has
been a long dark Caesar Salad hole.
The trout was a good portion considering that we
split it. It was beautifully presented. The pistachio
sauce was blended almost to perfection. The fish meat
was great, the skin was even better. The bartender,
who was our waiter, was very personable and tried
very hard to be a good waiter. The bread was OK,
but the bread at the sister restaurant BRICCO'S,
had the edge tonight. The atmosphere at the bar at
Grant's was calming, relaxing, somewhat romantic...
great spot to have good food and a love affair
with your mate.
GRANT'S
West Hartford, Ct

The Karate Club at Max Amore

HERS:

Someone should write a book about the Karate Club. A bunch
of guys that have known each other for over twenty years,
who once a week met to practice Karate. They were good.
Gentle souls. Now in older years having tons of fun in their
brotherhood of dining and imbibing.
Last night (March 21) they met at Max Amore in Glastonbury.
With their wives and girlfriends. You know how I know?
Because I was there. And because people were ordering
pink drinks, and that means women, not the Karate Club
guys!
We always have a good time.

Max Amore's signature is the little plate of roased garlic
that arrives for each diner. Well, Ok, I had two. On Foccacia.
Delicious salted.

Campari Orange followed.

An eggplant appetizer with crisp discs of eggplant pooled
by deep red tomato sauce. A Tilapia filet on top of aspargus
rissoto. Gnocci. Strip steak with Gorgonzola cheese.
Fettucini with a creamy Pesto and Shrimp saucing.
A Chianti soaked Short Rib. You know, every dish was
satisfying in a Tuscan way. They were big portions, mostly
meat dishes, and deeply satisfying. A little bit like
the Karate Club.

ELEGANT AND WHITE

HERS:
Imagine driving up to a large wooden structure at the
base of Mt. Monadnock in New Hampshire....
it is dark and it is starting to snow. You are entering
a barn. You have to cross a large polished
wooden floor in an elegant setting to arrive at your
table. And wait. You sit and wait while candles are
slowly lit around you, while gentle jazz begins to
float in the air, while your huge white napkin is
draped on your lap. Now you are realizing this
is a special place, a special experience. It is
a spa, a resort, an awesome restaurant, set in
the foothills and very quiet, very focused on
you. The chef/owner, Scott Mitchell, is cuts above
....he's so passionate about his food and cooking
he is insistent on at times delivering dishes
so that he can see your face ....
I can tell you that each and every dish I
had this night was intense, delicious, and
competing for honors with the best.
We began with ameuse geules...
one was a plate draped with lemon and
lime creme fraiche with little assiago
cheese chips to dip into it....another
was a small dried apricot stuffed with
goat's cheese and drizzled with 12 year
old balsamic reduction...so delicious.

These caramelized sea scallops
were perfection.

This was Seared Haddock Filet served with a
sweet corn risotto....small portion but
huge on flavor and satisfaction!
My Lobster Thermodore, made with
lobster, shallots, baby spinach and
napped with a Grain Mustard Brandy
Cream sauce stood out starkly from
any meal I have had for months.
HIS had his picture taken with
the chef/owner....as usual, loving it!




Churchill's
at the Grand View Inn & Resort
580 Mountain Road
Jaffrey, NH 03452
603.532.9898
www.thegrandviewinn.com

Max Amore in Glastonbury, CT

HERS:

Our table mates one night at Max Amore were
a load of fun. Pictured here, we laughed so
hard we had stomach aches leaving...but not
from the food. A quick pizza fix turned into
a really delightful interlude. It was light
and delicious enough to satisfy our
not-so-hungry desire to be out and about
but not overladen with food. Max Amore
hit the nail on the head. Our pizza was
crisp, smokey from the oven, and very
very fresh on top.


MAX AMORE
Glastonbury, CT

Geppi's in New Haven

HERS:
This Italian hangout in New Haven has been there
for years. We revisted the other night and were
wow'd by the food. No one was there. It was a
Wednesday night. Eeery. Yet the food was
so delicious it was more than worth a drive from
Hartford. Go figure.
The first thing they put on the table for you
to nosh on is a small dish of antipasto with
cheese, hot peppers, eggplant salad.....

The bread arrives as if from the local
farmhouse down the road in an Umbrian
Village, nicely darkened from the fire.
What was the best dish that night?
Awesome Grouper with Lobster Ravioli.

Parade Magazine did a survey and found that
Americans' favorite restaurant food is
Italian. It's mine too in America.

Geppi's
113 Grand Avenue
New Haven, CT
Telephone: 203-776-0100

Yahoooo! Bricco's Is Back!!

HERS:
We've been waiting for our favorite hangout to come
back .....it's been under wraps while it has undergone
renovations. Bricco's is open again. We went and had
dinner, drinks, saw friends and had a blast.
The menu is a little different and so wonderful.
Look at the bar. Billy's added warm wood.....



It was packed. The buzz was on. Lots of regulars
and lots of pretty new people.

I had Veal Tonnato as an appetizer. It was not at
all like traditonal veal tonnato, the kind that is
thick cut, cold, smathered with a very tuna/caper/salty
sauce. In the heat of the summer in Europe, this dish
is a standard and a reliable dinner party dish. Here at
Bricco's it elevates so much it levitates.
Here you get incredibly thinly sliced roast veal
(cold) with a dollop of sauce. Then on the other
side of the plate, Tuna Tartare. Clever, fun, and
really delicious.
We split a pizza, and yes, it was also awesome.
How can I talk about food at Bricco's and not
sound redundant? Everything is always delicious.
Period.
Here's another piece of Bricco detail that
delighted me:




Bricco's
West Hartford, Connecticut

A Bad Birthday Choice

HERS:

I was so disappointed. We were having dinner at the
beautiful Simsbury Inn. We were there to celebrate
our friend's birthday and we wanted something
special for her. The decorations, ahead of
Valentine's Day, certainly were. But the food left
all of us with cold hearts. Luckily Nancy

(seen here with her husband Jim)is a sweet person.
She had a nice time. But the food?
What went wrong?
Someone was cooking that doesn't like to cook,
and doesn't like food. How could anyone who
cares about food show so little interest or
respect for it? Well, here are a few pix so at
least you can see a visual record of what we had.
This salad with a half pear was the best of the lot.



As for the Steak Tips and Pasta, well.........








The Ravioli was dismal and gooey.










I hope no one I love takes me here for
my birthday. I want to go to McDonalds.
It's gotta be better.


The Simsbury Inn
Simsbury, Connecticut

Porto Fino A Hit For Lovers

HERS:
This is why we went. We heard about this romantic
Italian restaurant in New Britain, CT with live
gypsy violins. When is the last time you found
strolling violins while you dined a deux?
Silly question. This father and son duo
were so intriguing they brought me to
tears. Hard to do. To tears I tell you.
They played the Israeli National Anthem.
They played La Vie en Rose. They played
Eidelweiss. They played till I cried. We
bought their CD and when we play it
tears come to our eyes. I can't wait to
tell you that I believe, although I have no
formal musical training, that these two are
hidden gems waiting to be discovered.
Music to me is a string to my heart.
Few can pull it. So our meal was
extraordinary from the start. The food
is delicious, the ambiance is super pretty
with a fireplace in one room and cozy
banquettes and low lighting.
HIS decided to order for me....and a
wonderful Suppa Clams arrived.

To say
I ate it all and then scooped up all the
sauce with bread would be truthful.
HIS ordered the Sole Francaise, absolutely
perfectly done. And there were three whole
filets!

HIS ordered for me again. He knows I like
steak.

This one came with capers, artichokes,
lemon, tomatoes, and a baked potato
with sour cream. Yum. Took the potato
to a party in the leftover sauce.
For dessert? Don't know.

It was delicious. I think it was a
fruit ice cream molded and then
surrounded by whipped cream.
You've got to promise me you will try
this restaurant, and go too for the
music. Buy the CD. You won't regret
it on a lonely night when you need
some comfort.
PORTOFINO Restaurant
New Britain, CT

New Year's Eve in Boston!

HERS:
With ice sculptures in the big common, fireworks,
a mardi gras parade, children blowing long
horns....it really felt festive.
More and more it's becoming a
city of food.
From the beautiful produce on
street stands (amazing asparagus for
only $1!) - to a hole in the wall that
served only one thing: sandwiches from
Chile (these were delicious, made from home
baked rolls, barbequed chicken, munster
cheese, tomatoes, avocados, onions, and a
special piquant sauce)...we had a constant
food experience. Lunch? At Legal Sea Food.

For this plate of Butter Fish flown in
from Hawaii, served with Wasabi Mousse
and Seaweed Salad. It was awesome and
memorable.
And for this tender piece of Salmon
with a Falafal Crust!
We walked off lunch and couldn't
wait for dinner. Where to go on
New Year's Eve? Chinatown!!!
Having never heard of Barundi,
one of our party ordered this fish
so lively in the fish tank behind our
heads. We honored it. It was so sweet
and juicy and delicious....well, we hope
it is now an angel because it was when
we tasted it.
We also had some of the Lobster with
Ginger and Scallions. Again, one of the
best lobster dishes we have ever had.
Unanimous agreement all around.

We finished just in time to see the end
of the fireworks on Boston Common.

Light snow flakes began to fall.
We all hooked arms and walked back
to the hotel singing.

Holiday in New York City

HERS:

The holiday tree at Rockafeller Center this year is fat and jolly
and drawing record crowds. This warm evening we found the
magic as well!

We strolled most of the day up and down Madison
Avenue, sauntering in wherever our curiosity took
us. I was overjoyed to see
that San Ambroseus
is back! My favorite place had been taken over by a
large Fauchon for a while,
and now it is back, better than ever. So of course we
had to celebrate with an espresso at the bar! And then
have some of their chocolate dipped gooseberries.
Awsome. Really awesome. We walked outside. Then
decided to dive back again inside for some gelato.
We're coming back for dinner soon. It looks great.
Next? Well HIS has been on a mission to find
Matcha tea (from Japan) (it has about
5000 times the antioxidants that green tea has)
(Dr. Weill only drinks matcha tea now)
so we went to ITOEN
to find some.
We wanted to have a tasting and before deciding
which version to buy, we went upstairs to their
restaurant named Kai for a cup.

We asked for the
thick creamy one and we loved it because it tastes
so fresh, and so green. You can almost feel
wonderful things happening all over your body.

We met a couple from Texas who were also
there to try the teas and especially the desserts
which included a tiny cup of strawberry mousse,
a pistachio chocolate cake with gold leaf and
a piece of apple tart.


A tea menu is served in the afternoons, and there
are literally over 100 teas to choose from.
Back down in the store, after much consultation,
we chose our selection of matcha tea and a
bamboo whisk to froth it. We've by now only
had two or three sipping cupfuls and can
honestly say something interesting is going on
inside! Maybe this IS the new elixer of youth
and health. We'll keep you posted.

ITOEN
822 Madison Avenue, NYC
Telephone: 212-988-7111
Restaurant Kai telephone: 212-988-7277

SANT AMBROEUS
Madison Avenue, NYC
Telephone: 212-570-2211
Southampton
Telephone: 631-283-1233

Fantastic Italian in New Haven

HERS:
Ok. Now I can't complain any more how much I miss
living in Europe. Or miss driving into Italy for lunch.
(There's no Olive Garden In Italy. No chains to speak of.)
So imagine this.
We're driving around New Haven and get lost.
It's dark, we're hungry. We're all of a sudden on a
dark street and the only lights we see are off on
the right. We drive for them like a moth to
a flame. Yes. There's a swarm of cars, and more
pulling in. It looks intriguing. We decide to park
and take a chance. It's called Adriana's. After
talking with the gentleman at the entrance we
learn they have been there for 18 years, and
the crowd looks old world Italian. Ushered
past a crush to a table in the back room, we
get the feeling that this is going to be a pleasant
surprise. It was more than that. It was like being
transported back to a village in the old country,
where people still eat real food. Before long we
were talking like old friends to people at the
other tables who carried over their plates,
insisting we try a bite. Can you imagine? So
on top of the warm ambiance, they were all
their for the food. Now we learn that there is
a new chef in the kitchen - Chef Valentino from Rome.



What did I love the most?

My starter of
Escargot in a deeply flavored sauce
redolent of garlic, yet very subtle. It was
absolutely superb.

I also flipped for the
pasta dish of freshly made fettucini with
porcinni mushrooms, truffle oil, garlic,
brandy, cream, pancetta and peas. This
was the dish everyone was passing around.
In every way, I can't wait to go back.

Now, HIS turn!

(HIS and new owner, Francesco)


ADRIANA's Restaurant
771 Grand Avenue
New Haven, CT
Telephone: 203-865-6474

Carmen Anthony in Avon

HERS:
Filled with the holiday spirit, this pretty
restaurant has a wonderful feel to it.
You enter and the welcome is gracious.
The halls are decked. The holly is in place.
Ushered to our booth, we almost immediately
felt far away from the hustle and bustle of
this time of year. We usually go to Carmen
Anthony's on the Berlin Turpike in
Wethersfield. Tonight, we were in the one
in Avon (CT). HIS ordered for me, with
a twinkle in his brown eyes. Yes! He did
the right thing by his woman. He got her
Calamari.

....which was tender as butter, with a
perfectly executed exterior entirely dry and
crisp and tasty. Better yet, it had hot peppers
to scoop up as well. Wonderful dish.
And how could you expect this twosome to
dine out without their customary
Caesar Salad?!!

It was good, although I like mine better. I use
traditional things like raw eggs and lots of garlic.
I think this one was more mayonaise oriented,
a bit shy on garlic (well, it could be because it
is the kissing season?) and could there have been
horseradish in there? Don't know.
We dove into an order the size of a mountain
of mashed potatoes. And shared the same
entree, Filet of Sole Florentine.

It was nice. More than enough food, even
though we split an order for one person.
I had fun watching a young couple at the next
table downing an entire bottle of Perrier Joet champagne
and staring dreamily (lustily) into each other's eyes.
Another long table was filled with twenty female
friends - having the time of their lives. Very
festive atmosphere. Oh yes, dessert. We chose
again to split because it looked like a huge helping.

This was a Bread Pudding, sided by a Vanilla
Irish Whiskey Sauce and a Chocolate Sauce.
The chunks of chocolate inside the pudding
melted as you broke away a piece with your
fork. Good. Sweet, but good.

HIS:
After picking up my honey at the airport I had
an urge for a relaxing fish dinner and thought
about Carmen Anthony in Avon, only because
we had a great appetizer evening at their bar on
the Berlin Turnpike Carmen Anthony. Entering
Carmen Anthony's we were very warmly welcomed
by a great hostess and our request for a window
table was quickly granted. That was the beginning
of an evening that was well serviced.
My dinner began with an Absolut vodka with
four olives. I must say they did not short-change
me on vodka. After some conversation I indulged
in their Caesar Salad, which was made from very
fresh ingredients, but lacked the authenticity of
what I consider an authentic Caesar Salad. I am
starting to believe that Caesar Salad freaks would
like to find some restaurants using the old fashioned
Caesar Salad recipe, because today's chefs playing with the recipe,
for most cases, can't seem to find a way to improve on
it. If anything, they take away from it. My meal then
called for a glass of wine and they only had two glasses
available in Shiraz that evening, so after sampling both,
I chose the best of the two - but I was still very much
disappointed. The entree of Sole Florentine, as with the
rest of the meal, was generous in portion but lacked flavor
and uniqueness. The side order of Garlic Mashed Potatoes
was very disappointing, and was nowhere near the wonderful
flavor and texture of the same dish that I had in their
Berlin Turnpike restaurant. The restaurant was relaxing,
the evening was enjoyable, the service was very good
but lacked sophistication.....and the food for this level
restaurant very much needs to be enhanced. Would I
run back? Not sure.
CARMEN ANTHONY
Avon, CT
Telephone: 860-677-7788

Sunday Brunch Idea

HERS:
We heard about a Weekend Jazz Brunch in Manchester, CT and
decided to try it. And we liked it! It was a blustery, snowy
day with shafts of sunlight piercing through fierce looking
clouds. But inside it was warm and cozy. We met the owner
and chefs and were charmed by the wait staff. Once the
socializing was done and drinks ordered, we rose
en masse to pay homage to the food layed out
in the adjoining room.
Determined not to eat as much as I normally do when there
is an all-you-can-eat-buffet, I daintily headed for the
Appetizer Table.

Delighted at finding fresh food, I took a sampling
from the ample fruit platter which was filled with
big strawberries, grapes, watermelon, cantelope,
and huge chunks of cheese. I also slid some veggies
onto my plate with dipping sauce.
Next? The pasta station!

It was hard to choose, so I began with a
Fettucini with Bolognaise sauce. Came back
for some Fettucini Alfredo, with a generous
shower of shrimp, mushrooms, and grated cheese.
I justified another trip because, well, you know,
I should try everything because I want to review
it.....so I now navigated the hot table, taking
a bit of this and that along the way....when I
sat down and began to eat I was swept away
by the Stuffed Filet of Sole Newburg. Loving anything
Newburg, this one was stuffed with crab meat,
swam in a wonderful sauce with more chunks of
crabmeat.

Others in our party raved about the carving station.

I had to save room for dessert. I didn't try
all the offerings (fruit pies, chocolate pie,
carrot cake) .....only had a chocolate cream puff
with a side of chocolate pudding...and both
were delicious.

I really must come back here for dinner one night.
Perusing the menu, it intrigues me. Under appetizers
there is something called "Fried Lobster" with the
description "fresh lobster meat, lightly breaded and
fried until gold brown, served with drawn butter"....
yummmmm. Under sides there is something they
call "Westcoast Weeds". What? Wow. And a West Coast
Chopped Salad with avocado, blue cheese,
baby greens, red onion, dried cranberries....and
tons more.....plus great looking steaks, chops,
and prime rib.

OUR TABLE!

HIS:
Having been to this restaurant many times when it was under
a different name almost 20 plus
years ago, I was enthusiastic and looking forward
to trying the new dining resident. Entering the restaurant
it certainly was beautifully redesigned, contemporary and
physically refreshing from the old establishment. The hostess
and the wait staff - male and female - were very young but
very very efficient and hospitable, from the time we entered
to the time we left. The owners and the chefs at the buffet
were super responsive to our every request and made a buffet
a delight, and personalized, for a change.

(This is Sid, our 90 year old guest, having the time
of his life! He especially liked the carving station with
its tender Prime Rib).

(Below is Irvie, his older brother, overeating as usual!)

(The last picture is the matriarch of the family kicking people under the
table to signal that they should stop eating so much!!)
I didn't feel like
another number in this restaurant. The food was laid out
creatively in stations and the aroma of each dish cried out
to be tasted. All in all, we had an unusual, pleasant buffet
dining experience.

WEST COAST GRILL
103 Tolland Turpike
Manchester, CT 06040
Telephone: 860-647-0101

Bosc (A Drive By)

Hers:
Loathe to say anything unkind about most of the
restaurants we visit, tonight I can't help it. I feel
as if I've been duped. We just dined in Bosc in
Avon, Ct.
It felt like a wine shop masquerading as
a restaurant. Wine was the emphasis, the focus of
the staff's attention. They poured our wine into
glasses without stems....tres pretentious. We asked,
what are these? Oh, they're Reidel's wine glasses
called O. (OK.....) They were also pushing a
"flight of wine". We asked again, what is that?
Oh, it's a tasting of three Beaujolais Nouveau with
canapes. I don't know about you, but although I
get all excited about Beaujolais Nouveau every year
and run right out and buy some, I don't really think
this humble new wine is meant to be treated in such
a manner. A bit much. Yet, with all the emphasis
and hushed tones about wine, why did one of us get
such a bad Shiraz? On the bright side, there was
excellent French bread with butter.
So for the food. Here's a picture of our Spring Rolls.

They were soooooo salty they made my
ears ring. No substance inside. Outside still
smelled like the oil they were cooked in.
Our salad was shocking. Greens, Asian
sesame oil vinaigrette (it said Chai Tea
vinaigrette, but it sure smelled like
sesame oil and tasted like sesame oil to me)
baby-food-tasting pears
topped with sweeted pecans and cold hard
cubes of blue-ish cheese. Yuk. But the worst
was yet to come. The pumpkin and gruyere cheese
lasagna........

It was just a big mush in your mouth, and not a
very nice mush at that. Oh no. This was not good.
All in all, very disappointing food served in a nice
ambiance. Sad to say, but I'd be embarrassed to
take someone to dinner here.

His:
Another casual Saturday evening for the His and
Hers couple. I convinced my mate late Saturday afternoon
to run errands with me and at around
5:30 my stomach cried out for a great meal. We did not
have reservations anywhere and I love to
be a spur of the moment attendee, so without driving
away from the errand area in Avon, CT (where there
are some great restaurants) I thought we'd drop into a
restaurant that I'd heard was good: Bosc. We drove into
Riverdale Farms and saw this quaint building with a great
front porch. It seemed to say, come on in and try our
food!
We went into the restaurant, had a reasonably warm
and professional welcome, and we were seated in a romantic
room near the back. The decor was
certainly thought out and well done, until you sit for
a while and realize that it has a multitude of windows that
are a major distraction from the person you are
dining with and the interior design, because you are
constantly looking out at cars, trucks and people in two
adjacent parking lots. The interior was short
changed by not having some type of window decor to
eliminate the distractions of the parking lots. Service
in the first few minutes seemed to be superb but died off
quickly except for an extraordinary bus boy who frequently
stopped and refilled the bread plates. The bread was fresh
and had a fantastic texture. Unfortunately, it was the best part
of the meal.
We started our dinner with an order of Spring
Rolls which we normally love and are a delightful way to start
a meal but these three rolls had characteristics of sinkers,
were extremely salty, and had the quality of bad take out.
Our next course was the Bosc Salad, which was chosen because
it appeared to be one of the house specials. Unfortunately for
us, we may have been better off without that course. Apparently
the chef skipped class the day they taught about salad dressings
and how to blend them and the lettuce was not old, but was
not crisp. All this for only $9. The piece de resistance was the
unbelievable lasagna. Listen to how the menu read: Fresh egg
pasta layered with roasted pumpkin, spinach, roasted red
pepper& leeks with swiss gruyere. Sounds delicious, doesn't
it? It was absolutely disgusting. I wondered as I ate it if my
4 year old nephew wasn't in the kitchen playing with the food.
I never judge great food by the price. But in this restaurant,
when you look around for what they charge, you have a water
bottle on the table that looks like something you use in the
doctor's office....the service staff needs training....they put
paper packets of sugar on the table....and then when they
bring out the check they have the chutzpah to put a questionaire
to see if you are interested in wine parties, when the smart thing for
them to do would be to put a food questionaire, to find out
what is really happening in there. The only word that I can think
of that expresses my experience in this restaurant is: euoooch!
P.S. above is a picture of the restaurant. If you ever see it in your
travels, hit your gas pedal and run for McDonald's...you'd be
better off.
bosc kitchen & wine bar
Riverdale Farms
Avon, CT
860.676.2672

Thai Worth Talking About

Hers:
This is the best Thai food I have had in years.
Even when I was in Thailand, I don't remember
meals any better. It was recommended to us
by our friend Cathy Beck and her daughter Jennifer, both
food lovers and avid diners out. As we sat down,
an enthusiastic couple (shown above) across the room
gave us a thumbs up over their choice of Shrimp and
Mango Curry....later giving us another thumb
when they tucked into their dessert of
Fried Banana and Coconut Ice Cream. Lovely
wait staff with impeccable manners, gently
nudging you towards dishes that might please
added to the pleasure of dining here. This was
a place to unwind. Our shoulders relaxed. The
wine came, we savored the descriptions on the
lengthy menu, we took in the art work. Yes,
this would be good. It was better. It was spectacular
in flavor. Not presentation. But absolutely
spectacular in flavor. Take our salad.

Called SOMTUM, it was created from
shredded papaya, green beans, tomatoes,
garlic, chili, peanuts, lime juice and Thai sauce.
There was enough for two and it was sublime.
We then tried an appetizer called TOD MAN,
fish cakes with a dipping sauce.

Humble in looks, magnificent in taste.
Next? Well I love PAD THAI, so we
opted to share a plate of that as well.

Unlike all other PAD THAI I've had, this was
not a noodle dish with seasoning. This was
a vegetable dish with seasoning, and perhaps
a few noodles. This PAD THAI rose above the
ordinary, into a realm of serious cooking. This
was not thrown together. It was a focused,
sincere effort to cook really really well, and it
really really worked. For dessert?

Don't let the simple look of my photo deceive
you. This plate carries hot sticky rice to die for,
with every kernel distinct and beautifully flavored.
There's a wedge of Thai custard and half a mango
sliced. Wow. We wanted to order another plate but
were so full. I can't wait to come back for more.

HIS:
First I would like to applaud Cathy and her
daughter Jennifer for recommending this
restaurant to me. Since I haven't been a Thai food
fan, I reluctantly drove to Manchester with my
food partner (thinking about other restaurant
options on the drive out), but since "HER" is a
Thai food fanatic, I had to give myself another
chance at this type of cuisine. The restaurant
had a typical Thai type of atmosphere, quiet,
very clean, and almost meditative. After being
seated we were greeted by lovely young ladies
who service just seemed to come naturally to.
Suggestions by the wait staff were very
descriptive and extremely helpful. After listening
to them, you would have a very difficult time
not ordering the whole menu. The food was
absolutely delicious. The wine ordered was
superb. And as far as I am concerned, the
dessert was to die for. What a wonderful
experience for me. I could become a Thai
food addict at this restaurant. Would I
recommend it? What do you think?

SUKHOTHAI RESTAURANT
841 Main Street
Manchester, CT 06040
Telephone: 860.432.7405

A Night At Bricco

Hers:
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Connecticut.
I love the big open airiness of the interior,

the very savvy wait staff, and above all the great food.
Consistently great food. Last night we met friends there and started with
the bread basket of warm foccaccia and a bottle of wine.

Another reason we love Bricco's is
owner/chef, Billy Grant, pictured here with "His".

Billy disarms his diners with surprise and intense
flavors. Take this Ameuse sent over to our table.
One tender ravioli stuffed generously with sweet
potato and goat cheese, swimming in a
deep deep veal jus with pistachios....

It was so outrageous we ordered three more.
Our friends, Edward
and Alvin.....
loved their meals.....one had Penne in Vodka Sauce with
Shrimp, and the other had Diver Scallops with
Butternut Squash Risotto that was unblievably
fluffy.
We split a salad with Goat Cheese

and Billy split one order of Tuna for us

as you can see, they were monumental
portions and tasted as fresh and delicate
as they look. Yet, at the same time, they
were surrounded with a circle of really
delicious, strong little bits of olives - just
the right ping to offset the gentleness of
this dish. You've got to try Bricco if you
haven't done so yet! You won't regret it.

His:
Entering Bricco's I hear thoughts
in my head saying "Home Sweet Home".
I come in the door and I always feel
incredibly welcomed - as though I am
visiting family that really cares for me.
Even the bar itself is not isolated from
this warmth. The bar is a great place
to get a before dinner drink, have
conversation, see familiar faces,
and wind down before you step into
the next adventure. Dining here is
a combination of entertainment, being
spoiled, and having the opportunity to
taste in each course a dining extravaganza.
Billy Grant has to be one of the most
creative chefs in Connecticut. He has the
uncanny ability to combine flavor and
quality and texture and visual beauty in
every dish that is served to you. Menu
choices are overwhelming and makes
the task of selecting your evening's meal
a challenge. The tuna, as you can see
displayed above, is as close to having great
sex as you can ever get. We're talking here
serious food, serious quality, serious taste,
pure dining delight. Great atmosphere,
great service, great wines, great feel.
Can't get much better than this.
What I'd like to express to you in summary
is how I feel about the last five times I have
eaten at Bricco's. Wow.Wow.Wow.Wow.Wow.
(ps-our dining companions -whose pictures
are above, were wonderful company,
provided fascinating conversation, and best
of all, Alvin picked up the tab!!)
Bricco Restaurant
78 Lasalle Road
West Hartford, CT
860-233-0220

Bricco Restaurant Web Site

Casino Dining

Hers: There was a dog show at Mohegan Sun this
weekend, so we cruised down to find
breeders for Yorkshire Terriers (for me) and
Chiwowas (for him, spelling?)....disappointedly
they didn't let you in the back to visit with the
breeders and you had to sit so high up in the
bleachers you couldn't see the little dogs showing
below. To soothe our spirits we had lunch at
Jasper White's Summer Shack - a good place
to find fresh seafood and feel as if you are
really on vacation, if only for a day.

Tempted by the two pound lobster,

I instead opted to share a Tuna Burger after
seeing the size of the portions....it was delicious!

Simple American-Diner food done to
perfection. There was malt vinegar on the
table to douse the French fries with, as
well as ketchup. Lettuce and tomato
crisp and the dressings really good
again. Next time we're going to sit
up at the raw bar for fresh shucked
clams and oysters, sided with a cool
frothy draft beer.
His: Guess what? I did finally make
it down to see the dogs! Look
who I found: Willie!

We also dined in the evening at Todd English's Tuscany Restaurant
at the Mohegan Sun. Here is our review:
Hers: No comment.
His: As you are strolling through the Casino,
you stop in awe at the magnificence of the
outside of this restaurant. Waterfalls and
great architecture with what appears to be
a wonderful, relaxing outside bar. When you
enter the restaurant, the atmosphere is one
of a bistro versus what you would expect to
be the environment of an upscale restaurant.
The host appears to be a trainee on a high
school internship program. The service is poor.
There is zero sophistication. The food is
questionable at best. Todd English should be
ashamed of himself and the Casino management
should try the restaurant. They may be in for a
rude awakening. Shame on everyone. If you want
to visit a decent restaurant in the Casino that
is relaxed, twenty percent of the price, and
finer food, go to Summer Shack (above).

Whole Foods Opens in West Hartford

Hers: This is what Whole Foods is all about. Fresh. Fresh. Fresh.
And novelty. Meaning, stuff you don't normally find in
local stores. So it is an incredible joy going shopping here
if you love food. The fresh produce area is really the
heart of its appeal, because most of the produce is
organic. Huge artichokes lined up in a square frame,
so you are looking at a green square filled with
huge artichokes. Pure art. They have fresh burdock
root. Fresh horseradish. Tonight we are having
Chinese Cabbage which I'll make into a salad with
a Japanese Mirin/Italian Olive Oil salad dressing.
Last night we were there for dinner. Yes! There are
tables in the front you can picnic at. We had stuff
from the salad bar. Wish we had tried the three
selections of chili with all the toppings instead.
They smelled wonderful.
His: I think this is a great opportunity for
people who are trying to find organic food in
this area because there is no one in the area
except a few farmers that offer this type of food.
When you walk in the store the first thing that
hits you is incredible colors. The fruit and veg
section, which is huge, offers an incredible array
of just about any fruit or vegetable you can think
of, presented in a magnificent fashion. Walking
through the store is pure entertainment if you
like food at all, and I would compare the experience
with walking around Sharper Image. Little things
to see that you never see anywhere else, whether
fresh or packaged. The cheese section is overwhelming.
The candy counter screems out to you. Spices,
sodium free food, gluten free food, a selection that
the area does not offer anywhere. Employees reach
out to help you. A fun experience and prices that
seem to be highly competitive against even the
non-organic supermarkets. Spend an evening
browsing the store, it beats going to shopping malls.
Bon Appetit!

Tangiers in West Hartford A Jewel

Hers: One of the best alternatives to brunch on the weekend
is the little diner counter hidden away at the back of
this Middle Eastern gourmet food store we shop.
Only room for about 7 people, it can be standing room
or take out for their home made recipes. In fact, it is
really a non-stop food stop all day. There's falafals
to be devoured.

Fresh heavenly baklava for dessert. The
strongest coffee I've ever had anywhere,
just order it and tell me what you think! You
can even buy the coffee pots and coffee to
make it at home.

There's delicious Lentil Soup which I love
now that it is getting colder. And then there
is the store, full of ingredients so hard
to find in a normal supermarket. But there
is another reason I shop and eat at Tangiers.
Old world chivalry. The two sons of owner and
cook book writer Nancy Samia Latif are there
every day, charming and solicitous, they
make it a special occasion to be there.
I also love having classical music follow me
down the aisles. Worth a trip! Her cook book
is on sale behind the counter.

His: My Uncle Irvie loves these guys. He swears
they make the best Lentil Soup in Hartford. For
me, it's the coffee.....wow. Strong. Good. Clean
place.
Tangiers
668 Farmington Avenue
West Hartford, CT
860-233-8168

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like...

Karate Club Night Out at Pazzo's

Hers: Pazzo's in Glastonbury, CT is our favorite Italian
restaurant for big robust
flavor, an outstandingly fun atmosphere, and sharp
service. We were out last night with our friends.
The food was fantastic. So we took some pix to
show you what we had. Lobster ravioli!

We finally decided the intriguing flavor came
from tons of fresh basil that had been chopped
into the sauce at the last minute. Fresh fresh
fresh ingredients made all our dishes stand out.
Look at my Spagetti Gambera. Spicy. Lots of
shrimp and raw chopped tomatoes and herbs.

Wild salmon. Unbelievable. It was charred
on the outside, like butter and still hot
on the inside.