Sunday, September 4, 2011

Too much

I have been eating out too much. Too much good food, too much good wine and possibly too much Bombay. They company is great but we have to find another way to get together with friends and family.

Starting Friday August 26 it was "Barresi's Italian Restaurant" 4111 Webster Ave. Deer Park, Ohio (513) 793-2540. Deer Park is out of our orbit and so we hardly ever go in that direction. That evening we were with a new couple, for us, the husband of which loves this place, and since we are happy to have others suggest where to eat, a job that usually falls to us, we readily agreed.
I think it has been at least 15 years since we have eaten at "Barresi's" and I am in no rush to return.
Since our last visit they have added several rooms, but a week ago Friday they hardly filled the small room, in which they were serving. The decor is fairly dark and the food is decent, old time Italian. I chose a Torrentes( white, crisp Chilean) to go with my Linguine and Clams. The clams were sliced into flat pieces the size of a quarter. The dish was plenty but nothing to rave about. Marilyn had a large serving of Veal Marsala with a hugh amount of sliced mushrooms. She brought home plenty for her lunch for the next day. Prices seem to run in the $25 to $35 range for a main courses and side salad. Good company, but as the wife commented 'we'll try some place else the next time'.

The next outing was a week ago( 8/28) when the whole family, 7 of us, went to "Bella Luna" 4632 Eastern Ave 45226 (513) 871-5862. We had as many dishes as there were people, and maybe more. I tasted most. Among the favorites were a beef short rib Cannelloni( shredded short ribs wrapped in the dough and given the full Cannelloni treatment), Lobster and Crab Ravioli in a Lobster sauce, several pastas with different sauces, several wedges of iceberg split and dressed with all the trimmings( cheese, bacon, tomato and dressing), Calamari in a spicy tomato sauce plus a real winner, Chocolate Chip-Blueberry bread pudding with a warm vanilla sauce. The bar was given business as were the coffee and tea machines. Now you see what I mean by "too much food". Fun evening with Granddaughters, family and good food. "Bella Luna" is perfectly fine Italian and we certainly don't have to drive to Deer Park.

Monday, with our art instructor( he teaches a course in contemporary art at OLLI) and his wife, was a place I have been wanting to try while meeting some resistance from my loving wife. "Dancing Wasabi" 3520 Edwards Rd 45208 (513) 533-4444. "Dancing Wasabi" originated in Mt. Lookout Square and moved a couple of months ago to the vacated "Beluga" space on Edwards Rd. just off of Hyde Park Square. It is fairly large, very noisy and full of young(20/30) people, and why not, since they are the originators of 1/2 price sushi, a much copied idea, all over Cincinnati. There sushi is decent and plentiful, but not being fools, it is heavy on the rice and light on the fillings. We had a very good time, even as we raised the average age by at least 20 years. My two "rolls" were Spider( soft shelled crab) and Spicy Lobster. With Sushi my drink of choice is "Kirin Ichiban"and I tackled the 22 oz bottle. Marilyn had Yakisoba Chicken which was noodles, which she likes, with strips of chicken and vegetables. Hers' was full price($13) while my two 1/2 price rolls( 15 pieces) added up to the exact same amount. Unfortunately the restaurant is not handicapped accessible.

Lunch Wednesday, with our two Granddaughters, was at "La Poste" 3410 Teleford, Clifton (513)-281-3663. Knowing we were also going out that evening I ordered only the crab cake, but shared some pom frites and some chocolate, cherry bread pudding( just a taste). Marilyn had an imported(French) cheese sandwich, grilled, and a salad while the Granddaughters had roasted pear salad, as the main course for one and sliced pork tenderloin sandwich( the best item of the four) for the other.
That evening, again with another couple, we climbed Price Hill to "Primavista" 810 Matson Place (513)251-6467. Beautiful view of the city as the lights came on, great service from an intelligent server and good Italian( 3rd time in a week). After my Bombay it was salad and then Scampi Rigano( the scampi have shrunk to mid-sized shrimp) accompanied by a glass of "Benton Lane Pinot Noir" one of my favorite Pinot's. Marilyn stuck with a veal dish, the nights special, with two of her favorites, mushrooms and artichokes. Not cheap, but a meal never is with both whiskey and wine, especially if they are good.

Thursday night we were guests at Losantiville Country Club(LCC). Thursday is "big Bob's Burger night" and so after drinks, and nosh, we all ordered burgers, large, grilled perfectly, as ordered. They are accompanied by and array of toppings of which Marilyn and I chose sauteed onions and fresh sliced sauteed mushrooms. Marilyn, being smarter than I, passed on the bun. A salad bar is provided and I had a cup of excellent chili( loose hamburger etc) a small Cesar salad and to end the meal fresh pineapple and chocolate chip cookies.
Friday, with the whole 7 family members we celebrated our daughters' and son-in-laws' anniversary and a Granddaughter's September Birthday at "Orchids" 35 W 5th St.( in the Netherland Plaza Hotel) 513-421-9100. There are 3 postings about "Orchids' written in August and it is not necessary to, therefore, go into detail. They did not let us down and 3 bottles of wine later we left well content and as well feed and served and as any place we go in Cincinnati.

Last night, we went with a couple, for their first visit to "Otto's" 521 Main St, Covington KY
(859) 491-6678. The lady has really major problems with steps and since there are two, one must negotiate before entering, it took a maximum effort. Luckily the draw of "Fired Green Tomato's" was strong enough to help her summons the energy, with help, to gain entry. She assured us it was worth the effort.
After that build up we had to begin the meal with an order of Fried Green Tomato's. No one had any alcoholic beverage( I needed to dry out from the night before) and while the others had "soft drinks" and juices I started on my first, of several, glasses of water. Again I have written many time about "Otto's", sort of a home away from home, and last night was no exception. Wonderful assistance from Doug( with the entry and exit), fine service from attractive and attentive Meghan and fine food from Molly and the kitchen staff. Marilyn had her regular Tilapia( which they do as well as anyone). I find that fish too mild for my taste. While I had the Shrimp and Grits, a half dozen large shrimp over a grits cake and served with an slightly spicy tomato, onion and spinach broth. The other couple had the justly famous tomato dill soup and the women had her own order of the Fried Green Tomato's, since the table had shared the first. Her husband selected the Sea Scallops over a spinach risotto( I couldn't come up with that name at dinner last night). They both raved appropriately and I'll be interested to see if they summons up the courage to try it on there own, or with another couple. Great evening for us all.


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