Big Week

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.

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.

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

I'm Back

Now at home and working on "old faithful" or at least on machine that I have used for many years, some successfully and some not.

Let's start with "Ruth's Parkside Cafe, 4101 Spring Grove Ave. 45223 (513)542-7884. This reincarnation of Mullain's Parkside Cafe, downtown is now located in the rehabed American can Co. building, which has both retail and residential. In my opinion the Cafe is a steep up from the one downtown, both in menu, more items, and quaitty of the food and service. This restaurant, open for both lunch and dinner, offers more and different items and is not concentrated on vegetarian or salads.
We went with another couple, as we often do and consiquently got to see, and taste several items.
After my Bombay I had the Cajan catfish, served on a rice cake. Tasty and enough unless one is in a feeding mode. I had seen on the menu Cherry Pie, an item I had been chasing for a month or more and so I wanted to "save room" for for that, and of course, ala mode.
Marilyn had an excellent Lamb Shank with root vegetables which was reasonably priced. As large enough to, again, satisfy most.
Others had a Spinach Satey and and order of Red Beans and rice, to my taste a bit on the mild side.

All the rests are repeat but deserve some comments:
Dinner, two different times, within seven days at "China Gourmet" 3340 Erie Ave. 45208 (513) 871-6612, argumenetly the best seafood prepairer in the area. One night I, along with Marilyn, shared a grilled Walleye, while the other I had the Lobster in Black bean sauce. Tuesday night is "Lobster special" with a pound and a half Maine Lobster for 18 dollars. That night Marilyn had shrimp Lo Mein. Bth nights we had side orders of vegetables.

"Greyhound Tavern" 2500 Dixie Hwy, Ft Wright KY. There it were two families, the other with their 6 year old, and we split four chicken, full family style, dinners. This added two several draft beers and giant onion rings sent us all away happy and satisfied and the 6 year old excited to be included with the adults while her sister was at Girl Scout camp.

"Salazar Restaurant" 1401 Republic St. 45202 (OTR) 513-621-7000, part of the Vine St.eating scene which is open Monday nights. This is the one that went into space and I'll write a new posting staring with Salazar

I need an 8 year old

Yesterday after returning from the Visitor Center, I sat now and wrote a long post. Really I did. More that half way through I did something that sent it into space, never to be seen again.
I'll try and recap, very briefly.

Ruth's Parkside Cafe 4101 Spring Grove Ave. 45223 (513) 542-7884. This 6 month old restaurant is in the old American Can Co. building which is now commercial and residential. It is run by the people who operated Mullain's Parkside Cafe, down town but has expanded their menu and in my opinion has a better Chef and a more interesting menu. They are open both lunch and dinner and the food was good and reasonable.
I had Cajun Catfish on a rice cake while Marilyn had a nice sized Lamb Shank with root vegetables. I ended with Cherry Pie, ala mode, for which I had been searching several months. Give it a try.

I also reported on two Meals at "Chins Gourmet", one of the best fish houses in town. One night it was Walleye, split for the two of us and the other Lobster( $18 on Tuesday night), for me, and Shrimp Lo Mien. Both nights we had sides of specially prepared vegetables. They are used to preparing food to special orders.

With another couple, and their 6 year old,  it was "Greyhound Tavern" in Fort Wight ( Dixie Hwy) for their family style Chicken dinners plus huge onion rings and draft beers( not the 6 year old or Marilyn).

I'll do another shortly but I think I have remembered how far I got, but in greater detail in the original.
Maybe this time it will get posted. It's been two interesting computer days.

By the seat of my pants

We are at work, The Cincinnati Visitors on Foutain Square, on Sunday from 12 to 3 and I thought I'd try to do a post. I have nothing to guide, including restaurent bills, a food cook book, for spelling, or magazines for addresses. I could, of course, look some of this up but that would take advanced planning.
In writting I find the I am unable to use the mouse and so this will end, to be continued, hopefully this evening, with the proper background material.
So much for a try.

The Other Coast

In the last posting I reported on our trip to the East Coast, now it's time to review the trip to Seattle for our Granddaughters Law School Graduation.
In between we had a dinner at "Otto's" with the usual Fried green tomato's, a bottle of Gamay( half priced wine night), Brazed, bone in short ribs, Pasta, and Apricot Bread Pudding. All well prepared and served perfectly. It's hard for us to try "Bouquet" next door, but we'll have to some time, if for no other reason than to stay abreast of the Covington food scene.


Hopped the plane to Seattle June 6 at 9:15 AM, arriving in time to check in our hotel and walk two blocks, down the street, to "Portage Bay", 4130 Roosevelt Way, Seattle -206-547-8230. This large, excellent, well run restaurant is open both for breakfast and lunch, 6 or 7 days/week. Not in the evening. The food is uniformly good and plentifully and we so enjoyed the experience, we ate our next two Breakfasts there. Some of the items that came to our table, and that we especially enjoyed were: Heirloom Tomato's Benedict, Swedish Pancakes with Lingonberrys, Spanish Skillet with 3 eggs, turkey sausage, ham and croutons all on top of Italian tomato's and with a slightly spicy sauce, served in an iron skillet right from the oven, "Migas" a mixture similar but without the bread, ham or whole Roma tomato's. The "Migas" can be ordered with Chicken, instead of sausage. Another hit was the crab cake Benedict. There is a large "breakfast bar" with toppings for pancakes, waffles and Oatmeal. Plenty for a variety of tastes and multiple meals.

The first evening 7 of us went to "Blind Pig Bistro", 2238 Eastlake Ave. Seattle - 206-329-2744, reservations highly recommended. It is a small restaurant seating no more that 40 and helpings are of the small plate fashion, encouraging people to have several, for sharing. We split 3 orders of Arctic Char, 4 orders of Gnocchi, two small loafs of french bread, one each of Octopus, Scallops, and 3 desserts. Several glasses of wine for those who imbibe. Food was excellent and the service was even better, with our server guiding us through all the offerings.

Next night was a South American picnic for 11 of us at "Gas Work Park", overlooking the water. Sunday was Graduation, in the afternoon, followed by a reception for the Law School. Then on to "Anchovies and Olives" where 12 of us we're greeted with a "price fixed", multi-course dinner selected by the chef. Too many items and courses to try to remember.

Monday Breakfast was at "Voula's Offshore Cafe, 658 NE Northlake Way Seattle - 206-634-0183. It's on the ship channel and a must try place if your in that neighborhood and like "old  fashion Diner food". Bacon( thick), eggs, outstanding hash browns, pancakes, omelets and anything else you desire from a diner menu.
That night, before the "red eye" a reduced and stuffed group had one final meal at "Etta's Seafood", 2020 Western Ave near the Pike St. Market. "Etta's specialty is fresh grilled or broiled Salmon with the "house" rub. It lived up to it's billing, with mine coming "rare, as ordered, and others fixed perfectly to their specifications. They know their business. Those who had no interest in the salmon had Crab Cakes, and would you believe it, Cheeseburgers.

Done with Graduations till this winter and back in Cincinnati, for several months.