NJP's Profile
New restaurant in Davidson, NC
By chance we came across an excellent new (3 weeks) restaurant in Davidson, NC. We were the first couple to arrive for lunch but the restaurant filled quickly. Although open only a short time we overheard several customers comment on previous visits. The light wood chairs blend well with the honey colored linens and dark brown napkins. Large modern oil paintings and framed prints add color. Italian music is playing but isn't intrusive.
We each selected the soup of the day which was thick and creamy with leeks, speck, garlic and noodles. Very good. This was followed with very small portions of pasta...one spaghetti al pomodoro and one fettucine "paisano". The fettucine was homemade with a cream, gorgonzola, parmiggiano and asiago cheese sauce. wow! In contrast the pomodor was very light with plum tomatoes and basil. Excellent.
The menu has both small and large portions of pasta. If only more restaurants would offer the same instead of the oversized platters that could serve six!
A special dessert of the day was chocolate mousse for two. Served in an oversized glass dish, it had a bottom layer of lady fingers topped with mousse and the entire top was a blanket of fresh raspberries.
Needless to say most of that was carried home for another meal.
Il Bosco has a small menu but an interesting choice of appetizers, salads, pasta and some panini for lunch. Another special was a fritatta. This was lunch menu. Dinner included entrees of chicken, veal, pork and beef. No fish. Perhaps there will be seafood specials.
The restaurant was very efficiently manned by a father and son. The son, also our waiter, said he does much of the baking and desserts and makes the pasta.
Unfortunately we were just traveling through Davidson and will not be in the area again. This restaurant would be high on our list of places for many return visits.
Hungarian in Punta Gorda
A newspaper article about Villa Gaspar was interesting enough for my husband and I to give it a try. The restaurant is in a little mall with only two other shops. Inside it is bright and cheerful with murals of Hugarian countryside. Everything looks spotless. The menu features Hungarian dishes cooked by the owner-chef. They also specialize in pizza. We have eaten at this restaurant twice and the food was very good.
Today we tried the lentil soup which the owner assured us was from a 100 year old recipe and different from other lentil soups. It was excellent and I did like it much more than other lentil soups I've had. Usually they are a dark color with a thin broth. This was very red and thick. There was anther surprise when we got our order of stuffed cabbage. I was expecting the usual cabbage leaves wrapped around a meat filling. What I got was a large bowl of chopped cabbage cooked down almost like a thick soup with three large meatballs. The meatballs had rice mixed in with the ground beef. It was really delicious and I told the owner it was not what I expected. He said it was Hungarian stuffed cabbage and what I expected had a different name.
We finished off the meal with a wonderful apple strudel. There was cherry strudel as well.
The owner wanted my husband to try something different and brought a glass that looked as though it was a parfait. It was cake with rum and citroen bits and "three kinds of cream" which the owner assured us had plenty of calories!! I would compare it to trifle but not as sweet.
The local economy is rough on restaurants here. We are snowbirds to this area and hope this nice restaurant will still be here when we come back next year.
Tail Gate Ideas Anyone?
How about some chili? Do you have a crock pot or slow cooker which would keep things warm. If not, heat your food (wings, or whatever) so it is really hot. Put in a covered dish and put it in one of the insulated bags from the supermarket. They are made to keep food cold, but do a fine job with hot food. For extra insulation wrap your covered dish with several layers of dish towels or a heavy bath towel. I've done extensive tailgating for years and know this works.
Peanut Butter and Pickle sandwich
My mother made sandwiches for my children when they were little of peanut butter, sweet pickle relish and Miracle Whip. Stir all together for a sandwich spread. They loved it and I make it for myself now and then.
Christmas Food Traditions
Christmas Eve was always the time for oyster stew.
The dessert for Christmas dinner was always persimmon pudding...a great Hoosier favorite. This is a true pudding and made with wild persimmons, not the big orange cultivated ones you buy in a supermarket. Some people make what they call persimmon pudding but it is like cake. My mother made her pudding in a huge crock and I found out (after mine didn't turn out right) that you have to stir it every 15 minutes! Get a book and sit by the stove!
Hard boiled eggs.... peeling issues
I agree the key is using eggs at least a week old. However, I strongly recommend using an electric egg cooker. You will get perfectly boiled eggs every time. I received one as a wedding gift 53 years ago and have worn out three since then. When I got this gift the giver told me I would probably think it was a weird gift, but I would love it! So true. I gave one to my daughter when she got married and have given them to friends through the years. It's not an expensive appliance and doesn't take up much space in a cupboard. Macy's and Williams Sonoma both promoted them this year.
Gifts from your kitchen -- what are you giving this year?
One year I made cranberry chutney and the next apple butter. Both can be made in the crock pot...so easy. Found some small plastic containers with Christmas decorations in the dollar store. Perfect size for a giveaway. This year I found, when traveling, fig jam in unusual containers. Friends will get these this year.
West Point / Highland Falls area
Suggest you try Canterbury Inn in Cornwall. Very reliable for good food and a long time favorite with locals. Also in Cornwall, in the strip mall by the post officeand supermarket, is Leo's. Doesn't look like much from the street. I always thought it was just a pizza place, until a foodie friend said they had excellent food. Had an excellent dinner there. You might also try The Reef at Peekskill traffic circle.
Lemon tree, very pretty...
You can order Meyer lemon trees from Logee's. Depending on the size, prices are from $11.00 - $25.00.
Favorite Oyster Stuffing Recipe?
What has worked best in my family, from my mother and grandmother, is to make a basic sage dressing. I put in yellow cornmeal rather than cornbread. We make one large pan of this and take out enough for a smaller pan to which a pint of fresh oysters is added. The only thing to be careful about is having it too soupy after the oysters and liquid are added. You can always add more bread if necessary. Well seasoned turkey broth is essential.
Where are all the Indianapolis 'Hounds?
Your Hall of Fame (RIP) should also include Sam's Subway, Hawthorne Room and a really good Chinese place,...the name I can't recall. Think it was at the corner of 38th & Ilinois. It was there in mid-50s. Maybe another ancient hound will remember!!
2 BBQ Joints in KC-What to get?
I have only been to Arthur Bryants once. Don't know what I expected, but this wasn't it. Didn't care for the food at all. Oklahoma Joe's..on the other hand...I love it! Ribs and pulled pork are really good.
Visting Chicago from Canada, where to eat and what to do!
For a fun evening and good food go to Greektown and have dinner at Parthenon.
"Covered dish" suggestions? [moved from Mid Atlantic board]
I also vote for deviled eggs. Not many folks make them and they disappear immediately.
I also like to make a cole slaw with a vinegar dressing. So much better than with mayo. Mine has tumeric in the dressing. Excellent!
What, if anything, do you buy at Whole Foods?
There is no WF anywhere near my home. So, when I have a chance to shope there I heard to the cheese section. Especially like the goat gouda. There is such a huge selection of cheese I like to try something new each time. Also like the granola choices in the bulk food section.
Have you ever successfully recreated a fast food or chain food item at home?
Does anyone remember Orange Julius? Put together orange juice and an envelope of Carnation Instant Breakfast vanilla flavor. Whirl in blender. Add some vanilla ice cream for a thick shake.
Lunch near United Nations
Looking for a place for lunch near United Nations. Will have a visiting teenage grandson. Would like to take him to Delegates Dining Room, but too expensive for his somewhat pickey eating! Any suggestions?
Trader Joe's - Never Been - What to Try?
I don't live near a TJ's. When I am near a store I stock up on the small elephant ears, maple/pecan granola and bread & butter pickles (in the refridge case), soup that comes in a box....roasted corn and the butternut squash are favorites.
BBQ in Orange County
For those fans of Barnstormer BBQ: A new location has opened this past week in Fort Montgomery.
Red Bank, NJ area - any suggestions for great chow?
If you like fish, try Bayshore Charlie in Fair Haven. They have a small retail market on one side and a small, but nice dining room on the other side. Have never had anything but excellent, fresh fish, well prepared.
Midwest 'hounds: food unique to or that defines your community/town/metro area/state
In Indiana we have shagbark syrup which comes from the shagbark hickory tree. I like it much better than maple syrup. Have never seen it any other place.
