It was a very big week at the feeding trough. Most were public, open to all, with cash or a valid credit card, but one or two were private.
Last Wednesday night was prime rib night at Losantiville Country Club(LCC). Marilyn and I, with our guest, took part. It was plate service and with the meat you had a choice or soup or salad and two sides. Both King and Queen size portions were served, the difference being 4 to 5 oz. All slices came covered with onion straws. Meat was cooked and served, as ordered and all sides were plentiful. The bar provided all kinds of beverages. Plenty to eat and a heavy stomach liner for the week to come.
Thursday, with another couple it was the "Oriental Wok" Regency where our friend Guy Burgess, the excellent chef, had ordered fresh "soft shelled" crabs from his supplier, at our request.
We started with spring rolls and a divided Scallion Pancake, eight pieces of a flat bread encasing chopped scallions and spices. The crabs came both sauteed or fixed in a Chinese manor having been covered with corn starch, before deep frying and then covered with diced vegetable and a very light spicy sweet sauce. I had the Chinese preparation.
Everyone left quite satisfied.
Saturday, after lunch at the Cincinnati Art Museum Terrace Cafe, good food at a reasonable price, we and two friends had dinner at "Ruth's Parkside Cafe" 4101 Spring Grove Ave. It was our second trip and the place was full, turning their tables, at least, three times that evening. The food is good, plentiful (except the pie) and reasonable. My "bone in" pork chop was excellent. Seasoned well and served with a wine reduction over a helping of mashed sweet potato. The plate was finished with marinated spinach leaves. Marilyn stuck with a large house salad and her favorite, pasta with meat sauce.
Sunday Brunch at the outstanding "Orchids" in the Netherlands Plaza down town. To quote Tom Gill "why in the world would you go anywhere else". The senior brunch is $24.95 and is enough for the whole day and the night. Everyone does not eat in the quantity that I do, but there are even a few who eat more. All at our table had 3 plates; one breakfast items, the second lunch and the third dessert, from excellent pastry chef.
Hospitality and service are the finest we find in the City.
Oh yes, my first plate was eggs Benedict, country pate, croissant, chilled shrimp( firm and sweet) smoked salmon, and cherry crisp, my fruit compote. Second plate, fried chicken drum stick, whole duck leg with ratatouille, and cheese grits, with bacon. Dessert included, two bite sized pieces of lemon tart, brown sugar, butter cake, "rocky road brownie with roasted marshmallow and tiramisu. Enough!!
That night we had a standing date, I wish we were standing, and we all went to "Zips Cafe", which I am never sure whether it is public or or private with just all the same people. A bowl of chili was sufficient.
Last night "Greyhound Tavern" 2500 Dixie Highway, Ft Mitchell KY 859-331-3767. We all started with a drinks and their Hugh onion rings followed by the perennially good Fried chicken "family style dinner". Chicken, mashed potato's, gravy, green beans, Cole slaw and biscuits. Always good and more sides available, upon request.
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
Straits of Malacca
Here is a new one for us. "Straits of Malacca" 202 W. Main St, Mason OH 45040 (5130 492-7656 bills itself as Uniquely Malaysian Dinning, and then lives up to it's billing. It is certainly for the more adventurous, although anyone can find something to eat. Those who are willing to experiment will find unique, delicious food, far different from most Oriental restaurants. To say the least, I loved the experience.
The help are most accommodating, from Chef through hostess to servers and busers. They could not have been nicer or more attentive.
Marilyn and I started with their version of a "spring roll". Translucent rice noodle wrap, not fried, with large pieces of chopped shrimp, bean sprouts, scallions, carrot strips and herbs all doused lightly with a semi spicy sauce. A luscious starter. Marilyn, being less adventurous than I, followed with rack of lamb, lamb pangkor, it comes in two sizes, full and light, served with noodles, cauliflower and mushrooms in it's own unique sauce.
The other man, and I shared a Curry Grouper fish head, for two. The platter, large, comes with the fish head broken into sections, including bones, swimming in a tasty curry sauce, broth consistency, loaded with cooked fresh vegetable; fresh tomato pieces, sweet red peppers, green beans, roasted pieces of eggplant and a few mushroom. Plenty of dinner for two healthy eaters ( cost $25). This is self served into an indented plate over a large helping of rice.Take as much and as often as you like.
Desert was a gelatin cake which while interesting was the least memorable. As you can guess we will return, although it is a long way from our home, in the city near the river.
Last night, for Marilyn's birthday, the family went to "Otto's", Covington, to celebrate. The menu has changed slightly, with more emphasis on bar food and smaller plates. Three of us had the sea scallops served on a bed of risotto, while Marilyn had her usual Tilapia, she had used up her experimental genes Saturday night at Straits. Of course, we all had the excellent fried green tomato's and others had Watermelon Gazpacho, fried eggplant sandwich and an interesting Brie and Berry green salad.
For desert our, in town children brought a BonBonerie Opera Cream cake, too rich , but enjoyed by all.
The help are most accommodating, from Chef through hostess to servers and busers. They could not have been nicer or more attentive.
Marilyn and I started with their version of a "spring roll". Translucent rice noodle wrap, not fried, with large pieces of chopped shrimp, bean sprouts, scallions, carrot strips and herbs all doused lightly with a semi spicy sauce. A luscious starter. Marilyn, being less adventurous than I, followed with rack of lamb, lamb pangkor, it comes in two sizes, full and light, served with noodles, cauliflower and mushrooms in it's own unique sauce.
The other man, and I shared a Curry Grouper fish head, for two. The platter, large, comes with the fish head broken into sections, including bones, swimming in a tasty curry sauce, broth consistency, loaded with cooked fresh vegetable; fresh tomato pieces, sweet red peppers, green beans, roasted pieces of eggplant and a few mushroom. Plenty of dinner for two healthy eaters ( cost $25). This is self served into an indented plate over a large helping of rice.Take as much and as often as you like.
Desert was a gelatin cake which while interesting was the least memorable. As you can guess we will return, although it is a long way from our home, in the city near the river.
Last night, for Marilyn's birthday, the family went to "Otto's", Covington, to celebrate. The menu has changed slightly, with more emphasis on bar food and smaller plates. Three of us had the sea scallops served on a bed of risotto, while Marilyn had her usual Tilapia, she had used up her experimental genes Saturday night at Straits. Of course, we all had the excellent fried green tomato's and others had Watermelon Gazpacho, fried eggplant sandwich and an interesting Brie and Berry green salad.
For desert our, in town children brought a BonBonerie Opera Cream cake, too rich , but enjoyed by all.
Saturday, July 12, 2014
Review
When I stopped posting every week one of the facts I used to support that decision was that a lot of the places we went were just repeats. That has turned out to be the case, however, several readers have commented that they often used the Blog for ideas and locations and so they urged that I continue to post, from time to time.
Here, in no particular order are placed we have been in the last several weeks;
"M.Wood Fire Oven" 3514 Erie Ave. 45238 (513) 386-7783.
The night was beautiful and so we ate outside. All the outside tables were filled an so service was somewhat spotty. As I told Alex, the proprietor, the food was not as good as usual. The Cauliflower Gratins, one of my favorite dishes was runny and void of it's usual flavor. The Chipinno turned out to be six shrimp covered with a fairly thick tomato sauce with a few small chunks of Salmon. Very little broth.
"Red Feather" 3200 Madison Road, Oakley"
Have been there several times. It is in the space that previously housed "Boca", before their move down town. I had excellent Vichyssoise, highly recommended by our companion, and good Shrimp and Grits. Marilyn's grilled Pork Chop looked perfect, but I was never offered a taste, maybe that's the highest praise.
"Zula" 1400 Race St. (OTR) 513-744-9852
This remains one of our favorite "Over the Rhine" (OTR) spots. That night we had the terrific Eggplant Fries, with our drinks followed by a large Beet salad, for me, and Citrus Cured Salmon for Marilyn. We then split an order of Gnocchi served in a lamb Ragu, out of this world!
"Salazar Restaurant" 1401 Republic St. (OTR) 513-621-7000 Down(east) 14th St. from Zula and open Monday nights.
With our drinks we had pan fried Broccoli with a slightly spiced dipping sauce and a Rillette of duck, one of Marilyn's favorite. She followed with roast chicken served on a bead of corn and mixed beans( succotash). My main was a good sized Panzanella Salad built around Romaine, Cucumbers, tomato's, onions and seasoned croutons.
"Wurst Bar" 3204 Linwood Ave 45226 (513) 321-0709. If the weather permits, eat outside on the back patio.
I started with a cool Avocado soup which was thick and spicy. Followed by the "Hans Gruber" a very good Knackwurst on a brioche bun. The sausage was covered with grilled onion and green pepper slices. The whole thing was bathed in good German mustard. Marilyn had very good chicken tortilla soup, again with some spice, it is a bar selling beer, and a "Wurst Burger".
"Montgomery Inn - Montgomery" 9440 Montgomery Road 45242 (513) 791-3482 A Cincinnati favorite for ribs but we are "Walt's" people. One of the local big controversies.
We split a Matula's salad( named for someone in the family) and the chopped steak plus chips and onion straws. Plenty for us.
"Enoteca Emilia" 2038 Madison Road 45208 (5130 834-5773
Wonderful Veal Meat balls and a Caesar salad split while Marilyn had Pasta Bolognese, her favorite sauce and I ate half of a 4 Cheese Pizza, shared with one of our companions. This place in O'Brianville remains a very good neighborhood restaurant, both in food and service
Here, in no particular order are placed we have been in the last several weeks;
"M.Wood Fire Oven" 3514 Erie Ave. 45238 (513) 386-7783.
The night was beautiful and so we ate outside. All the outside tables were filled an so service was somewhat spotty. As I told Alex, the proprietor, the food was not as good as usual. The Cauliflower Gratins, one of my favorite dishes was runny and void of it's usual flavor. The Chipinno turned out to be six shrimp covered with a fairly thick tomato sauce with a few small chunks of Salmon. Very little broth.
"Red Feather" 3200 Madison Road, Oakley"
Have been there several times. It is in the space that previously housed "Boca", before their move down town. I had excellent Vichyssoise, highly recommended by our companion, and good Shrimp and Grits. Marilyn's grilled Pork Chop looked perfect, but I was never offered a taste, maybe that's the highest praise.
"Zula" 1400 Race St. (OTR) 513-744-9852
This remains one of our favorite "Over the Rhine" (OTR) spots. That night we had the terrific Eggplant Fries, with our drinks followed by a large Beet salad, for me, and Citrus Cured Salmon for Marilyn. We then split an order of Gnocchi served in a lamb Ragu, out of this world!
"Salazar Restaurant" 1401 Republic St. (OTR) 513-621-7000 Down(east) 14th St. from Zula and open Monday nights.
With our drinks we had pan fried Broccoli with a slightly spiced dipping sauce and a Rillette of duck, one of Marilyn's favorite. She followed with roast chicken served on a bead of corn and mixed beans( succotash). My main was a good sized Panzanella Salad built around Romaine, Cucumbers, tomato's, onions and seasoned croutons.
"Wurst Bar" 3204 Linwood Ave 45226 (513) 321-0709. If the weather permits, eat outside on the back patio.
I started with a cool Avocado soup which was thick and spicy. Followed by the "Hans Gruber" a very good Knackwurst on a brioche bun. The sausage was covered with grilled onion and green pepper slices. The whole thing was bathed in good German mustard. Marilyn had very good chicken tortilla soup, again with some spice, it is a bar selling beer, and a "Wurst Burger".
"Montgomery Inn - Montgomery" 9440 Montgomery Road 45242 (513) 791-3482 A Cincinnati favorite for ribs but we are "Walt's" people. One of the local big controversies.
We split a Matula's salad( named for someone in the family) and the chopped steak plus chips and onion straws. Plenty for us.
"Enoteca Emilia" 2038 Madison Road 45208 (5130 834-5773
Wonderful Veal Meat balls and a Caesar salad split while Marilyn had Pasta Bolognese, her favorite sauce and I ate half of a 4 Cheese Pizza, shared with one of our companions. This place in O'Brianville remains a very good neighborhood restaurant, both in food and service
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