Lobster

This is my 300th Posting since I started this Blog. Many are comments on the same places we frequent, often. Most are here in the Cincinnati area but I have tried to cover our travels from New York to California and Lake Nebagamon to Barcelona. Thanks to you who have braved my writing, poor spelling and grammar, and to the few that have taken time to comment, my special thanks.

A couple nights ago we had an outstanding meal at the "Oriental Wok" Hyde Park. (Sorry about that Ed) Guy Burgess, the chef, had told us that he had been getting excellent, live Lobsters and fixing them Cantonese Style. Guy cuts the Lobsters into manageable pieces, sears them in extremely hot oil, washes off the excess oil and stirs them in a "dry' Wok, with Ginger, Scallions and rice wine. Unbelievably delicious. The searing makes the perfectly firm meat come away from the shell and makes the eating easy, if somewhat messy to those of us who really tear into the crustaceans. Six of us devoured 3 (1.7#) lobsters plus assorted, hot hors d'oeuvres, Halibut stir fried with asparagus and a few green Chinese veggies, plus two orders of Mei Fun Noodles, a more original, true Chinese Chou Mien. As I have mentioned, several times it is a good thing to put yourself in the Chefs hands, especially if you are an adventurous eater.
If you want to have the Lobster give them 24 to 48 hours notice (513-871-6888) so that they can have them on hand, if available, and hold them for you. The night we were there they sold out, of the lobsters, before 7 PM.

We have been out almost every night, for the last two weeks. Most of the time at restaurants. We did have a Birthday dinner prepared completely by our two local granddaughters and one or two other meals have been a friends tables. Eating out that much gives one a large group of experiences and a waist line to match.
Here, not necessarily, in order are some of the spots and a comment or two about various dishes:
"The Bistro" 413 Vine, Cincinnati, 513-621-1465. Decent food but spotty service the night we were there. The apple, endive and Swiss cheese salad was almost entirely apple and should be renamed essence of endive.
"La Poste" 3410 Telford 513-281-3663. Hot spot, good food, interestingly prepared and the Chocolate, cherry bread pudding covered with Carmel sauce is still "outrageous".
"National Exemplar" Mariemont is still easy for the senior crowd and the food and menu changes very little. I usually have the calf's liver but the accompanying bacon and onions are now chopped or minced. In my mind not a positive change.
"The Quarter Bistro" 6904 Wooster Pike ( Mariemont) 513-271-5400 always seems lively with a good mixture of ages if not locales. Service is uniformly good and this apple, endive and Gorgonzola salad had all the items in abundance. The chicken BBQ pizza was overwhelmed by the sauce, too sweet and too much.
"Wild Ginger" 3655 Edwards Rd. 45208 (513) 533-9500. Four of us divided 5 Sushi Rolls and several beers. This, after Pot stickers left no one hungry.
"Bonefish Grill" Madison and Edwards roads, Hyde Park is still in the midst's of their "soft shelled" promotions. Why eat anything else if that what they're pushing.
"Cumin Eclectic Cuisine" 3520 Erie Ave 45208 (513) 871-8714. Noise level drove us outside but it was a lovely night with lovely food. In my opinion that have become much less Indian and more continental.
"Otto's" 521 Main St. Covington KY 859-491-6678. Caught them over Memorial weekend, for brunch, and although it wasn't bad there was something lacking due to people on the staff on holiday.

We're headed to the West Coast this coming week so you may hear about food in the Pacific NW and other spots when next I write.