Sunday, March 31, 2013

Visitors

Marilyn and I spend one or two days a month volunteering at the Cincinnati Visitor Center on Fountain Square. It is a good connection with the city and a good way to meet people who come to our area.
Yesterday, our first couple were "roamers". They sold their house in California in 1999 and moved to Texas. After a short spell there they bought a truck and have been on the move, ever since. They will be spending about 4 days in the Cincinnati area.
Next came a young women from Singapore. A speech therapist who is visiting hospitals in this country. She is spending 2 weeks at the Children's Hospital Medical Center. Next a lady from Ludlow KY, and so on.

After our 3 hours "on duty" we closed the Center and met some friends at "Abigail St." our favorite OTR destination. If you don't already know, "Abigail St" is at 1214 Vine St. "Over the Rhine" (513) 421-4040, and is owned and run by Daniel Wright and his wife Lana, the same duo that own "Senate", next door. Dan and his chef buddy Salazar, were both on the floor last evening( I'm name dropping).
I chose poorly. I started with an excellent Bouillabaisse and followed with a very good Paella. The reason that I say I chose poorly is they are both a mixture of fresh shellfish either in a creamy, tasteful broth, or on a bed of Risotto, seasoned rice.
Both were great dishes but a mixture of tastes might be a better choice. Not that having both was not enjoyable. Acompaning I had a Belgium Raspberry Beer, Framboise, a first for me.
Marilyn had the always excellent Gnocchi, with asparagus and mushrooms and a delicious Lamb Tangine, full of flavor and served on a bed of Cous-Cous, seasons with herbs and golden raisins.

Earlier in the week, with a young(47) friend we went "bar hoping", at least our version.
We started at "Unwind" on Michigan Ave. in Hyde Park. Our idea of what a wine bar should be, comfortable, welcoming and a nicely mixed clientele. Tables, easy chairs, couches and a bar and fireplace make up the decor. We had a glass of wine and a wonderful pesto and artichoke flat bread baked to perfection. Moving on we stopped at the "Brew River-Gastro Pub" on Riverside drive. Here our drink selection shifted from wine to beer, each of the drinkers choosing one from their offering of 18.
So as not to starve we split and order of stuffed white mushrooms, half a tennis ball size, and stuffed with pesto and bread crumbs, then oven fried and served on a platter layered with mushroom sauce.. To please ourselves, and the table next door we ending with a house made "pig in a blanket". Special mild sausage wrapped in a corn bread dough and sitting on house made "German" mustard. It was a somewhat new experience and we are rethinking our "old folks" attitude to an evening out.

Other sports since last posting have been "Oriental Wok" Hyde Park where Guy Burgess and Susannah Wong run our hospitable, tasty, Chinese haven. "The Quarter Bistro" 6904 Wooster Pike, Mariemont, nice, handy but a tad on the expensive side, especially the "specials". And lastly "Grand Finale" 3 East Sharon Road, Glendale, with things just the opposite, on the Wednesday night we were there. Food good, reasonable, and a long drive from our river view home. Only regret were the extra pounds, the next day, after Marilyn and I split an order of crepes, stuffed with ice cream and covered with a warm Apricot sauce.

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