Luigi Q

One of my to 50 top suggestions on Long Island- Luigi Q- situated on the border Plainview on South Oyster bay Rd. is a lovely continental restaurant owned & operated by Luigi, a charming Italian gentleman with a small but very friendly & knowledgeable staff of waiters, who bring you cheese, salami, olives, and crusty bread with garlic flavored extra virgin olive oil as you sit down to dine in this cozy place. They have a very nice wine list and a small bar in the front with a flat screen TV for those whose wish to wait at the bar and watch your favorite sport of the season.

Among the many selections on the menu, which include wonderful appetizers, numerous pasta choices, fresh fish, shrimp, veal and chicken dishes are the unique specials, which include paparadelle with braised rabbit, a tender frenched veal chop with mushrooms and cherry peppers, homemade fettuccini with shrimp in a light tomato concasse', seared sushi grade tuna in a sesame crust, and the grilled fish of the day, all served with fresh vegetables and a dollop of creamy potato puree.

Desserts, if you have room, are wonderful and they always served you their homemade biscotti- deliciouso!

Limani

In what used to be a car dealership in Roslyn/Manhasset, NY is Limani- a gorgeous Greek-style restaurant set in the trendy area of Northern Blvd & a stones throw from the premier shopping center- The Americana.

High soaring ceilings and a huge, very contemporary space with large columns, sheer white flowing drapes, and 2 large rooms with an additional separate room that is used either for a private event/party or overflow for dining.

Always using the freshest ingredients with a Mediterranean flair, organic vegetables, unusual herbs and spices, the quality is exceptional.

Whole fresh fish are displayed beautifully on ice with all the selections available for the day or evening. Fresh oysters, clams, mussels and lobsters are also displayed and the appetizers read like an encyclopedia- a long interesting list of saganaki, sppanakoita, calamari, octopus, as well as gigantes (large lima beans w/tomatoes & dill - yum), grilled mushrooms, greek spreads such as skordalia, and Tzatziki, etc. and much more.

Dinner is a bit pricey, but quite good, with whole fresh grilled fish, for one or two, shellfish, meats and lots of wonderful sides including yellow, purple and green cauliflower, Greek Fries dusted with oregano and kefalograviera cheese- delicious!

Lunch is the deal of the century, with salads priced the same as one found in a diner, but so far superior, including fresh lump crabmeat with avocado, corn, and heirloom tomatoes, and micro greens with jumbo sauteed shrimp with feta, and a nice assortment of interesting paninis, including grilled chicken served warm with a large marinated grilled portabello mushroom, sliced avocado & eggplant served with greek fries on crusty bread.

Reservations are suggested for dinner on weekends, and the bar is huge & always busy. The do a very lovely brunch on Sundays with omelettes, waffles, eggs made to order and an incredible display of cold items, smoked fish, a large array of salads & baked goods that go from one end of the restaurant to the other.

Bar Frites

Jut when you think the Poole Brothers- Entrepreneurs/ Restauranteurs of Bryant & Cooper in Roslyn, and Toku & Cippolini's at the famed American Shopping Center in Manhasset are thru, another restaurant opens.

Bar Frites in the Wheatley Plaza Shopping Center in Glen Cove. It has the buzz of a Manhattan style Bar/Bistro, yet is is every bit a restaurant on the North Shore.

Featuring "Le Bar A Huitres" (fresh seafood) on plates or in towers, such as oysters, littleneck & cherrystone clams, crabmeat, shrimp & lobster cocktail, a cheese assortment or a charcuterie platter (sausage, ate, etc.) .

There is also a long list of "Hor D'oeuvres", which are great, especially if you just want a "lite" supper, or just out with some friends for drinks. If this is also what you like- Bar Frites is the place, as the Bar is quite a scene!!

Last night, on a lovely summer evening, not wishing something too heavy, it was the perfect choice.

I chose the 'Bar Frites Salad' had lots of vine ripe red and yellow tomatoes, shallots, micro greens, and nice chunks of good french blue cheese in a zesty white balsamic vinaigrette with a bit of orange zest- refreshing, simple & so good.

Along with that, I had the escargot, baked with lots of garlic & parsley butter which was beyond wonderful-perfectly topped with little puffs of pastry for dipping.

My husband selected the grilled Branzino filet (2) which came with a healthy portion of a tri- colored salad dressed every so lightly in a lovely champagne vinaigrette & so delicious.

The have a large assortment of reasonably priced entrees, including fish, chicken, pasta and steaks, fabulous sandwiches including Croque Monsieur (smoked ham & gruyere cheese), sliders, burgers and nightly specials of short ribs, lamb shank, seared scallops and bouillabaisse, (last nights special, which looked amazing!).

They do a Weekend Brunch menu as well.

Definitely worth a stop next time you are shopping during the day & want to stop for lunch or dining out with friends on a summer evening as the outdoor patio is large (and not as noisy as the inside near the bar)

Bon Appetit!

Comfort at MIM's

There is something so comforting about certain foods- Mac & Cheese, Chicken Pot Pie, Meatloaf & Mashed potatoes with gravy, etc.

There is also something comforting about a place that makes you feel that same warm, confortable way.

That is Mim's. They have 2 locations- Syosset & Roslyn.

Over the years, it has developed a more contemporary vibe, but it still feels like "home" whenever I dine there.

As I lived on the North shore for the better part of 20 plus years, Mim's in Syosset became a mainstay in the neighborhood, and part of my two daughter's growing up years. It was the place where families went on Monday nights for " Lots of Pasta" (still do) where you can choose from dozens of different pasta with dozens of different sauces, (all you can eat) with a salad & garlic bread- how good is that? As teenagers, all the nightborhood girls would do their birthdays there, or when the kids returned home from summer camp, it was the first place they wanted to go for the famous Brownie sundae- an incredible fudgey chocolate brownie, topped with scoops of good vanilla ice cream, mounds of fresh whipped cream & and sprinkled with lots of M&M's- OMG!

Well, the menu still contains those good old standards as well as a variety of new and fantastic fresh dishes. An amazing array of pasta dishes- my favorite happens to be the rigatoni with mouth watering sliced skirt steak, portabello mushrooms and fresh spinach in a light creamy gorgonzola sauce- its heaven!

The thin crust pizzas are so good- especially the whole wheat pizza with grilled balsamic vegetables for only $11.00. There are many great salads and great sandwiches and burgers as well.

They have great steaks, including a cowboy rib eye and many fresh fish selections, and since almost everyone wants to eat healthier, in addition to their daily & nightly specials, they have a section of " simply grilled"- fish or meat, with a choice of 2 sides.

In addition to their many homemade desserts , (which still includes the brownie sundae thank goodness!) is the most amazing SMORES! These are not just a smore on a plate- this comes in a large lazy susan with lots of Hershey Bars, Graham crackers, marshmallows & a flame with skewers to roast & toast your marshmallows & place them on top of your square of chocolate & onto your graham cracker- YUM!!!

Rich, the owner, also has a new location in Bayville, Long Island with a similar menu to Mim's, but lots of other fun items as well.

Do go!!! You will feel so good!

ask me

So, many of you - especially my 45 PRIVATE followers not logged in, have been e mailing me at askilablog@gmail.com & asking me questions about restaurants & hotels.

Please post these on my blog so others can see the results as well- this would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

top 100- NY dining continued

I knew that if I did this list of the top of my head, a few would 'fall thru the cracks" & they did.

Now, it goes without saying that in addition to Per Se, Il Mulino, and Del Posto in Manhattan, are the famed La Bernardin (Eric Riepert) , Aureole, and Daniel which epitomize the ultimate in elegance, phenomenal food & 5 star service.

These are the top restaurants in NYC, (along with a few others) and while expensive, so very worth it for a special occasion.

I also happen to like One if by Land ,Two if by Sea.

On the Italian/Continental, La Campaneolla on the upper East side- excellent, but reservations are a MUST or you will never get a table- ever.

Now, the ones I forgot on the Island (how could I?) as they are a couple of my faves, are Luigi Q, a wonderful little Italian restaurant on the corner of Woodbury Rd. and South Oyster Bay in Plainview. Luigi is the proprietor and all the ingredients are fresh, made to order and just spectacular. His paparadelle with rabbit is outstanding, as are his fresh grilled whole fish selections, veal chops, marsala, saltimbocco, chicken dishes, and always extraordinary specials.

Also, a great wine list.

Next, is Ciao Bella in Valley Stream. Owned and operated by a husband & wife, Freddy is the chef in the back cooking all fresh pasta, including an incredible black linguine (squid ink) with shrimp in a light garlic sauce- amazing! There are many and savory appetizers, and terrific specials all the time. This place is under the railroad tressel of the LIRR but don't let that deter you!

Not to be missed!!

Tri- States Top 100

There are literally thousands upon thousands of restaurants in the Tri State Area- probably 1000's in this immediate area alone. I have not tried ALL of them, but I have been to many- too many to remember them all, but I will try and list what I consider the standouts- best of the best- approx 25 in the Long Island & surrounding areas- from Queens into Manhattan.

If I think of one that should have been on the list, I will add it later on! There are so many!

Obviously, Manhattan will require its own separate post at another time, but for now, ( a few will sneak in) and I will categorize them- meaning, Italian/Continental, Steak, French, etc. but suffice to say, these are what I consider, in my opinion to be the best, based on food, service and ambiance- and some are just plain fun!

I am not mentioning Asian, as that is in an entire different category, as far as I am concerned, & deserves its own separate post, coming soon. I will also have a separate post for New Jersey & Connecticut, as there are numerous places there that are outstanding & worth the trip!

Please feel free to ask me in detail about any of these if you are interested.

**I am not listing the " Family Style" places, as that was already in a post & in a different category.

Angelinas- Oyster Bay/East Norwich & Syosset- Italian

Ben & Jack's- Steak- NYC

Bevonda- Great Neck- Italian

Branzino- Lynbrook- Continental

Bryant & Coopers- Manhasset/Roslyn- Steak

Burton & Doyle's- Manhasset- Steak

Chez Noelle- Port Washington- French

Craftsteak- Meat Packing & other locations- Steak*

Da Ugo- Rockville Center- Italian/Continental

Dario's- Rockville Center- Continental

Freeman's Alley- Lower Manhattan

The Galleria- Westbury- Italian/Continental

Gemelli's- Babylon- Continental

Il Mulino- (Manhattan only as far as I am concerned) but also in Roslyn/Manhasset*

Il Toscana- Douglaston- Continental-Italian

Limani- Fish- Manhasset/Roslyn

Maroni's- **Unique Italian- Northport**

Nonina-West Islip

Old Homestead- Steaks (several locations but downtown NYC is the best)

Piccolo Liguria- Port Washington- Continental

Piccolo Venezia- Astoria- Continental

Raoul's- Manhattan- French

Rialto- Westbury/Carle Place- Continental

Roberto's- Bronx- Italian *

Rothman's- Steak- East Norwich

Stella's- Floral Park

Tellers- Steak- Islip

TJK-s- Douglaston- *Unique

Vespa- Great Neck/Little Neck Border- Italian

Wolfgangs- Park Ave. NYC- Steak

**Del Posto & Per Se are not in the above list as they are in a totally unique category, unto themselves, but I felt I needed to mention them , as well.

*Feel free to inquire further as it requires further discussion

Dinner

Tonight was dinner at a little continental restaurant I adore called Da Ugo.

It is on Merrick Rd. in Rockville Center. It s a small, quaint, 15 table Italian style restaurant that serves a very lovely menu of fish, veal, chicken and lots of specials that change every night. I love going there on a Monday or Tuesday evening as the weekends tend to be busy & a little noisy, but the owner & staff are wonderful -attentive and the food is consistently excellent.

The have a great selection of wines- Tonight we had a 2004 Amarone (one of my new favorites) Valpollicella- just Wonderful- warm, hearty & velvety smooth.

I normally get the whole grilled Branzino, served with extra virgin olive oil, lemon, parsley & lots & lots of slices of fresh garlic , but tonight the special- striped bass in a light tomato sauce with lots of little neck clams & 4 jumbo shrimp.

The veal chop is also wonderful, as are most of the dishes.

Every table is served a little mini antipasto of salami, cheese, eggplant componata, bruschetta, celery sticks & carrots and of course, delicious bread & breadsticks.

There are about a dozen of so great places such as this on the Island- I have a list of 50 in the Tri-State but in my top ten o the Island, this is one of them.

I will do a post on the others this week.

Enjoy! (do make a reservation on Fridays & saturday)

A taste of Italy in New Rochelle

Spadaro-

Once in a great while, a very special restaurant comes into your life. This was (is) the case with Spadaro, located in New Rochelle, NY. After a recent visit to a cousin in Rye, NY, we were leaving to have dinner at a favorite spot in the Bronx , and NOT on Arthur Ave. ( more about that another time) and she suggested that we 'foodies" try a place that recently opened and she knew it would be a fabulous find for us.

That was Spadaro. A gastronomic experience on every level. For those of you who have been fortunate enough to visit Italy, especially Florence or the Amalfi Coast, you will feel at home- transported. For those of you who have not been, do go! It is the closest you will ever feel to being there!

Run by an Italian born & bred couple, the husband is the chef and the wife, Rena, runs the front of the house. It is a small place- 9 tables, so do make a reservation- even during the week. The wine list is large and top notch.

**A Warning- Come hungry. There is NO menu. and this is NOT your traditional or typical Italian food- this is ITALY in NY. She feeds you!

The first course is a 14 dish antipasto- first cold, then hot. From smoked cured meats like prosciutto and supperasada , to cheeses like parmesan reggiano and fresh mozzarella, to olives roasted peppers, eggplant componata, to beans in a spicy red sauce, to mussels in garlic & wine, escarole, broccoli rabe, fresh sauteed string beans, grilled garlic infused crusty peasant bread, and on & on.

Do I have your attention so far?

Then, the pasta- made fresh- to order- and it depends on what they have made that day, but at least 3 or 4 to choose from. I suggest doing 2. I have had the papparadelle with wild boar ragu, spaghetti bolonese with cherry tomatoes, fresh basil and roasted garlic, to black linguine (squid ink pasta) with roasted shrimp and calamari in a spicy tomato sauce to the fettuccini with wild mushrooms- OMG! They are all phenomenal.

Next, Meat or Fish. Bisteca- Italian steak- melts in your mouth with sensational flavors, and the whole roasted Branzino is off the charts. She also offers Grilled Octopus, and so much more. It all depends on your appetite and your palate. Then comes the salad- fresh and delicious and refreshing with baby arugula, endive, radicchio, and the like.

If you still have room after all of this, I strongly suggest their homemade cheesecake- it is indescribably good- the real deal, and just the most delicious cheesecake you will ever have. They also have tiramisu, homemade apple cake, or whatever they have made that day. All fabulous.

I have sent dozens upon dozen of people there in the past year or so, and every single one has been back & they, in turn, have sent friends & family to enjoy this treasure. I hope she will still stay small and do what they do best and not have to grow even though we keep sending her customers and bringing friends and family!

Don't be turned off by the ride- It has never taken me more than 40 minutes- from Long Island. its right off Boston Post Rd on Main Street, and surprisingly, in a strip shopping center, so it is not what you would think driving up. It looks or appears to be a typical pizza/Italian restaurant. Trust me- there is nothing typical about it.

This is an experience you will truly enjoy, and, if it was a bit closer, I would be there more than once a week!

Mangia!!!!

(tell Rena "ila" sent you- it sometimes helps to get a table! LOL)

Enjoy

Family Style Italian Restaurants

There are numerous "Family Style" Italian Restaurants all over- there is Carmine's in Manhattan (& other locations out of town), Don Pepe's in Queens, La Parma (South Shore & North Shore), Matteo's (North & South Shore & Howard Beach), Piccolo Bussola (Westbury & Syosset), and then there is Mio Posto- a fairly new restaurant owned & operated by "Little Chris" formerly of Matteo's of Roslyn & Long Beach. Mio Posto is located in Oceanside, NY.

It is by far, in my opinion, the best family style place on the Island.

While they have the 'standards' such as Chicken Mio Posto (aka: Chicken Scarpariello) which for those of you who are not familiar, is roasted chicken on the bone, served on a huge platter with sausage, roasted potatoes, peppers, onions & broccoli in a white wine sauce and roasted garlic sauce. There is also Veal Valdestana, and other 'classics', but the best items on the menu are the items the other places do not have.

The Veal Loin is outstanding- a melt in your mouth filet mignon of veal, fork tender served over thinly sliced julienned potatoes topped with a triple mushroom light cream sauce , or the Porcini Mushroom & Veal Risotto, which is the real deal- not the "so called risotto" rice dishes that many places offer- this is real arborio rice- a rich risotto, loaded with large chunks of veal, and chock full of porcini mushrooms.

All the pastas are cooked to order with 8 different sauces and they offer Whole Wheat pasta. For those who want a "No carb" pasta- they have a "Zucchini Linguine" Marinara- thin linguine style strands of zucchini in a fabulous marinara sauce made with San Marzano tomatoes ("the best"). Also on the 'lighter side" are grilled chicken paillard, grilled shrimp, grilled vegetables, and roasted cauliflower, string beans , broccoli, and more!

Among the many hot appetizers are baked clams, a large stuffed artichoke, Mio Posto Meatballs , which are wonderful and their fried zucchini is not the usual thick, limp soggy, greasy ones- they are paper thin crisp strips of zucchini, lightly coated & fried & you can get a full or half order of any of the items.

They also offer a "Sunday Sauce" Dinner which includes their homemade meatballs, (2) Bracciole (2), and Sausages (2) all in their San Marzano plum tomato sauce- also available as a half or full order.

Last night, I had the "special" - a tender filet of red snapper served with clams & shrimp in a light tomato sauce with big cloves of sweet roasted garlic- just mouth watering!

They also have a private room for parties. *reservations are not mandatory but recommended - especially on the weekends. Take the ride- it's worth the trip.

Gary Danko- the Grande Finale in San Francisco

Okay- so, now , hopefully, I have set the scene for what is to come in this contemporary, 5 start dining experience. As I mentioned, you may choose the Chef's Prix Fixe with or without a wine pairing. The wine list reads like an encyclopedia- a leather bound book with over 1500 wines & champagnes from every region. It is a bit overwhelming, and we are red wine lovers, so we ordered a lovely Amarone, 2003, I think. It was excellent.

Many patrons seem to do the Chef's selections, as it seems to be a big undertaking to do the custom menu, but I much prefer the latter. It takes a little time to read it all & take it all in, but so well worth it. While we were waiting for our table to be set, I had a glass of French Champagne, and of course, did not ask, but I must admit, while fabulous , was a bit surprised that it was $25.oo ! Ouch! Oh well, I suppose when you are dining at a place of this magnitude, one goes with the flow!

After being seated, the staff begins to bring you a few "complimentary offerings" from the chef- a lovely lobster bisque- No cream, just stock & some fresh herbs, and then a crispy silver dollar size potato cake topped with thinly sliced smoked salmon, caviar & creme fraiche'- wonderful.

We began talking to a very nice couple seated to our left, and we found out they were from back East (Connecticut) so we began comparing and discussing NY restaurants. As it turns out, their son in law is a chef in a restaurant in NY, and was on the top rated TV show "Top Chef". This was their first time at Gary Danko, so they were in for a treat, but because were talking, I have to admit I did not really take in the entire menu, so I cannot recall all the choices, but there are so many in each course.

I was torn between the appetizer of seared oysters, caviar and zucchini pearls, which intrigued me, the lobster salad with avocado and golden pear tomatoes, or the sweet corn soup with dungeness crab & creme fraiche' drizzled with chive oil. I had the soup. It was outstanding! The next course was fish- 10 choices, from salmon wrapped in translucent cucumber, to wasabi dusted tuna, to seared Branzino with gnocchi, asparagus, shitake mushrooms and fried capers, to risotto with shrimp and lobster, to the lobster with sweet corn, etc. I had the lobster- large succulent pieces of lobster meat over warm micro greens with sweet corn and I can;t even remember what else but it was incredible.

Next- The entree. I choose from the enormous assortment of meats, including medallions of Filet mignon , Veal, Lamb, Chicken, etc.- I had the Foie Gras stuffed Quail served with a cornbread pudding, wild mushrooms and a confetti of vegetables- it was outrageous!

The next course is a cart that comes to you table side with a selection of Farmhouse and Artisanal Cheeses- sheeps milk, goats milk, cows milk, etc. served with slices of nut & raisin studded black bread & a cluster of large red grapes- you choose 4 cheeses. We shared that as well as the dessert. I did not even read thru the dessert selections as I knew I wanted the Chocolate Souffle from the minute we sat down & ordered dinner. It comes out hot and puffed and accompanied by two sauces- a sweet vanilla anglaise & a rich dark chocolate sauce, which they pour into your souffle- OMG!!! KILLER GOOD!

So, that was & is my favorite dining spot in all of San Francisco. The dinner is 3, 4 or 5 courses, priced $62. $82. & 102, respectively- without wine, of course. It is not to be missed!

The next day, we took a walk towards the Embarcadero, which has a farmer's market & flee market/craft fair along the streets. Normally, I rent a car while in San Fran, and drive or walk everywhere so I have never taken the Ferry from SF to Sausalito, and this was a treat! Before taking this lovely Ferry Ride across the bay to Sausalito, (one of my favorite places) we went inside the shops in the Ferry Building, which is similar to NY's Chelsea Market, but with a 'twist'. The shops are a FOODIE"S dream! It was like I died and went to heaven- everything from a place called "Shrooms" that had over 100 different mushrooms including jumbo golden chanterelles,king trumpets, 10 types of enoki mushrooms, to 10 types of morels & trufles that were $56.-$85. an ounce! They were amazing! Then, a place that carried over 60 different kinds of olive oils, a place called Boccalone, which served "tasty salted pig parts" LOL- which was really a nice assortment of artisan smoked meats, handmade in small batches such as salami and proscuitto de parma, etc, . a place for fresh baked breads including, of course, San Francisco's Sourdough, to a fabulous restaurant called "Boulettes Larder, that was incredible. I met the chef & owner, Amaryll Schwertner. She has this amazing, lovely place- outside tables and inside, a chef's tasting communal table, and the entire shop is filled with hanging copper pans, hundreds of glass apothecary jars filled with unusual and colorful salts and spices, sold by the pound, and all organic ingredients from Northern California producers. Her showcases of salads were magnificent, and her breakfast/brunch menu (sorry I didn't know about it sooner) looked amazing, from poached eggs on organic pinto beans, avocado, basil & hazelnut pesto, to scrambled eggs with squash blossoms, shaved pecorino and herbs to miso braised chicken legs served over congee of short grain rice, spinach & red shiso, just to name a few. She also serves dinner by request- reservation required. Her homemade desserts & pastries were spectacular looking and dozens of organic teas, eastern european style hot chocolate and seasonal beers & wines. This was a find.

Then, on the ferry to Sausalito, which is a fun place to walk around, drink, eat and shop with dozens of great boutiques, bistros, bars, hand blown glass shops, art galleries, and lots of funky little shops, etc. It is just great!

Well, that is about it for now, but there is so much more, so I will be taking another trip there in the next few months. So, that's it for my trip to San Francisco. Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did!

San Fran- continued

The next evening was dinner at Venticello- a romantic, lovely continental/Italian Bistro restaurant in Nob Hill. The ambiance is so warm and the food was excellent. A great wine list and many specials, which I always like to partake of unless something on the regular menu stands out- which it did- the seared lamb over yukon gold potato puree and sweet corn and zucchini confetti. Delicious!

Now- one of the reasons I returned to SF was for this next restaurant- GARY DANKO. Well, it wasn't the ONLY reason- but a close second to seeing the Mets play (& lose 3 or 4 games) Anyway, this restaurant is in my TOP 5 Best places in the USA. Set in the financial district & not far from Fisherman's Wharf on North Point Rd , it requires a reservation 2 months to THE DAY. It is a magnificent elegant place- about 12 tables in one room & 8 the side room. Asian inspired in decor with orchids and gorgeous floral arrangements, some mirrors, large glass windows & dark wood. The tables are set with the most magnificent silver embossed charger plates I have ever seen. The staff is plentiful with extraordinary service- not overkill like Per Se or The French Laundry- just enough that you want for nothing.

Now- this place does something that NO other restaurant does- or never that I have heard of. In addition to their Prix Fixe menu of 5 courses, on the right side of the menu is the 3-4 or 5- curse selections that you can choose from- Each course allows you to choose any item on the list- and the list is plentiful & quite exceptional. I recommend that one of you do the 5 course and the other do the 3 as the 2 other courses are the cheese course- a cart that comes to you after your main course, and the 5th course being dessert.

I cannot even explain the amount of gourmet items on each list of course- at least 9 to choose from from each category- appetizer, fish, entree', cheese, and dessert. Tomorrow- the choices... YUM.

The Four Seasons in San Francisco

I want to tell you that not only was the hotel in a perfect location, but as it is extremely difficult to get a cab in town, they offered us they hotel car - a very nice Mercedes Sedan, with a very nice driver, who took us to every restaurant each night & offered to pick us up when we were finished. This was a very wonderful treat & I would go back there anytime!!

Then, while on my floor, waiting for the elevator, I was standing next to a woman who I recognized to be the one & only Carole King! OMG! I just saw her in the Troupadour Tour at the Garden in NYC! I was so excited that I called my husband on his cell & he told me to come to the dining room as he was standing with James Taylor! What a treat to meet these two musical giant talents!! The Four Seasons was the perfect place!

San Francisco to be continued...... but now- Summer on Long Island

Summer on Long Island: Fire Island, The Hamptons, The North Fork, Montauk- you gotta love it!! There are so many great places to stay, to see, to eat- I love it!!

Many times, we will just take the ferry from Bayshore out to Ocean Beach Fire Island during the week for dinner- its a quick ride & dinner at Macquire's is the place to go!

The North Fork- great eateries & restaurants!

Montauk- great places to stay, eat & dine- from breakfast at Bird on the Roof or John's Pancake House to Dave's Grill down near Gosman's Dock, but my all time favorite is The Harvest, which is so good & so very beautiful, that when I got married three years ago, we had a small reception there! The food is awesome!!!

Take advantage while you can!

The Hamptons- there are fabulous places all the way from Westhampton, or continue on 27 thru Bridgehamton, Watermill, Southampton, East Hampton, Amagansett, etc

a side note about Breakfast

I just want to say that have nothing against breakfast-, really & truly, and, as you have read, I do on occasion eat it- but I happen to love a nice "Brunch" although usually, brunch is at nicer places and I have tried many. I have my favorites for brunch as well. On Long Island, the Garden City Hotel has a lovely one- lobster, shrimp, sushi and all the breakfast, lunch and dinner items you want

The two best brunches I have ever eaten- IN MY ENTIRE life, bar none, are: The Delano in South Beach & The Peninsula Hotel in Chicago.

Both of these places are spectacular- The Peninsula happens to be one of my most favorite hotels in the United States- just breathtaking in every way- from the huge cream colored marble lobby with enormously high ceilings, the magnificent rooms,- everything- but the brunch is just beyond words- room after room of every single delicious, beautiful food item you can thing of- and a room with just chocolates & desserts! The Delano also, is so beautiful, with the surroundings of Miami, palm trees- beyond compare with mounds of caviar, platters of incredible sushi, and also 100's of food items that are just a foodies dream .

I LOVE San Francisco

Well, after a horrowing flight late last night- (it is never a good thing to hear your pilot come on & use the words "severe & serious" in a sentence or to mention"wind sheer (shear?) so needless to say, the last leg of my journey was not great, but up until that point & from the very beginning of my arrival last Thursday, it was GREAT so here it goes!

First, Hotels. I have stayed at the Fairmont- elegant, stately & a piece of history in SF ( I recently stayed at one of the Fairmont Hotels in Montreblanc, Quebec, Canada & it was magnificent!) and my last trip to SF, I stayed at the Mandarin Oriental, in the Financial District, which was luxurious, ( sort of in between a large luxury hotel & a boutique hotel rolled into one) with the most spectacular views and beyond gorgeous rooms & bathrooms, and was planning on returning there but my concierge at American Express suggested The Four Seasons, as it is more centrally located. The hotel was lovely- large but not overwhelmingly big, and the rooms were very nice, pretty, lovely amenities, great bed linens, and very large bathroom with both a large jacuzzi tub and a large glass shower, so all was fine. (& one of the "highlights of my trip" was meeting two of my all time favorite musical artists- at the hotel- on my floor!) Hint...... CK & JT (more about that later)

As we were arriving early evening, we wanted someplace easy to get to and close to the hotel, (which is why the location was so great) everything is a few blocks in any direction, we

went to John's Grill, which is not only like "Sardis" of Manhattan, due to the fact that every famous person has been there at one time or another & has their photo on the wall, including the likes of Keanu Reeves, Renee Zelwiger, Hilary Clinton, and Johnny Depp , but due to the fact thay it is a National Historic Literary Landmark, since 1908, and the setting for the novel and subsequent movie, "The Maltese Falcon", so it is quite unique. It is a very casual dining experience, with very fair prices.

Featured on the menu is Jack Lalanne's "favorite salad", so as I always like to do, as it was featured as the most special salad on the menu I ordered it and it was delicious! Chock full of large chunks of fresh local dungeness crab, shrimp, avocado and tomatoes over seasonal greens with their house blue cheese vinaigrette dressing. Yum. While they are known for their Dry Aged T bone, Thick Bone in New York Steak and Porterhouse steaks, they were also featured in Gourmet Magazine for their Oysters Wellington, which is one of my favorite items. Usually, they are done in their own shell- these were baked in puff pastry with a touch of sherry cream- so good!

Next day, Breakfast.

Now, a little something I would like to say about breakfast. To me, or at least, in my opinion, breakfast is for eating- dinner is for dining. The greasy spoon- type diners are usually the best. And, on top of that, as I mentioned before, I am not a big breakfast eater. I love cooking it, serving it and watching others eat it, but I really don't like "breakfast" items in general- never have. NO pancakes, french toast, waffles, or basic eggs in general. However, that said, I do occasionally partake in an occasional order of eggs benedict or unusual omelette. So, Lori's Diner. A 50's style diner- upstairs on Geary street. The walls are filled with parts of old cars, old jukeboxes, the old fashioned ones on every table, and lots of 50"s memorabilia all over. Very cute place and breakfast, while nothing fancy, was very good,, and I ordered "The California Omelette", because, as they say, 'when in Rome" - smoked chicken sausage, green onions, avocados and cheese. It came with fresh fruit instead of home fries, which I liked. The basic fare includes french toast, all types of pancakes, eggs, and omelettes, and of course, lots of burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches and salads for lunch. A fun place with lots of decor to enjoy as you are eating.

That day, as the weather was so beautiful (escaping the heat wave of NY!) to no humidity, blue skies, and temps of mid 60's, we did alot of walking. I mean, maybe 10 miles. We walked to Fisherman's Wharf, which is more of 'tourist" spot, but they do have "In & Out Burger" (one of my daughters favorites) , Scoma's,, which had been around forever for seafood, and of course, Ghiardelli Square, and The Cannery, etc. (Also, lots of souvenier stores).

We then walked off breakfast, and walked to Chinatown. Now, another opinion, and I will eventually have a separate, much larger post about Chinese Food, but for now, lets just say that I am not a big fan of most "typical seedy" chinese food joints and am, admittidley, a bit of a snob when it comes to Asian food. However, on my last trip to SF, the concierge at the Mandarin Oriental highly recommended this place called "The Oriental Pearl" and it was fabulous. It is on Clay Street, and believe it or not, has tablecloths, and has won the Michelin Award for Food Excellence 6 years running, and Zagat rated as "the best chinese food" every year since 2001. Everything is cooked to order, including the Dim Sum, so be prepared to wait a bit- they don't just bring it all out-, but well worth the wait. Their 'signature" appetizer is fantastic- the House Special Chicken Meatball, (one per person) - a delectable meatball made of ground chicken, shrimp, mushrooms & virginia ham wrapped in egg whites and served in a scallion infused egg white sauce that is out of this world! OMG!! There is not a bad dish on the entire menu. If you just want Dim Sum, Yank Sing is the place- they have 2 locations, but the best one is in the Trans America Center.

We then opted to take a trolley ride thru the city, and then back to our hotel, and later that evening, walked to the AT&T Field (no longer Candelstick Park) to see the NY Mets play the SF Giants. I am amazed, even after going to many games at Citi Field, of the eaieries at these ball parks. What ever happened to the traditional hot dog? Yes, they have them, but I never saw such an array of food items & choices! Lo Mein, Tacos, Carribean Chicken, Greek Salad in Pita, Kosher Deli ,and Garlic Fries- an apparent favorite in Sf- French Fries drizzled with Garlic, Parlsey & Butter instead of Ketchup- wild.

That evening, we dined at a fairly new funky spot- Piazzia, owned and operated by a young, handsome Italian gentleman and his partner, and where the homemade brick over thin crust pizzas with dozens of toppings, and fresh pastas were wonderful.

Next Morning (are you feeling full yet? LOL) , we were gong to walk around to find a place or two that Guy had recommended on his show "Diners, Drive Ins & Dives", called 'Tommy's Joynt' & 'Dotties' & not in such a great area, but when we asked the doorman, he replied "that is sort of a dive & in a REALLY seedy area, so don't walk there- take a cab but instead, but definitely go to "Dotties- but there will be a long line ! " We took a chance & walked there and left our comfort zone of all the designer stores and boutiques, and the streets changed after 5 blocks or so, and the hotels looked more like the flee bag hotel that Tom Hanks stayed in after becoming"BIG" when he had to hide out the first night in NYC- these places were scary looking but then suddenly, a long line & "Dotties True Blue Cafe" . Heaven. This place has only 9 tables and a counter that seats 4. Its max is 32 people. The line- an hour & WELL WORTH THE WAIT!!!!

The only nice part about waiting on line, is you get to talk to other people who are also waiting in this ridiculous line and sometimes you meet some really nice, interesting people, which was the case- BOTH days (yes, we went back the next day & waited over an hour & a half)

Now, when you finally reach the promised land, (the inside) , there is a small chalk board on the wall with about 20 "specials". we were offered a table, but opted to wait (yes, waited some more) for the counter, to watch what goes on there & it is a show! I am embarrassed to say I normally carry REAL pure maple syrup when we travel, but believe it or not, in this joint, this dive, this treasure , was REAL maple syrup!

When we finally were seated, we read the menu, were poured some fresh delicious hot coffee, we watched the GRILL master- doing 4 orders at a time. The music in the background is Dorothy Dandridge, Lena Horne, and the likes, and photos of the same all over the walls, and fridge, which is in the grill area.

The specials included such items as Zucchini pancakes with poached eggs, butternut squash pancakes, a frittatta of eggs, feta tomatoes, and andouille sausage, and dozens of others. YOu can also customize your omelette , which I did, and the choices were wild! You want Sausage_ You can have Chorizo, andouille, smoked chicken apple sausage, lamb & fennel, or mild italian, etc. Cheese- goat cheese, french gruyere, jack, cheddar, etc. and so on. All the orders come with home fries and their own homemade buttermilk dill toast and you can order their own thick cut french toast or a short stack of pancakes- whole wheat with ginger and cinnamon, fresh blueberries, chocolate chip, buttermilk, cornmeal, etc. Just amazing!!

So, I had the lamb & fennel sausage omelette with goat cheese, mushrooms and avocado- just incredible!

I could write volumes about this place- it was outstanding! A must for anyone who loves breakfast (& even for those who really don't) **Don't leave without getting one of their huge iced cinnamon buns or their blueberry cheesecake bars!!!

More to come!!

San Francisco & Beyond

Well, I am off to one of my favorite cities and my journey will be filled with lots of great eateries, which goes without saying!

While I do admit that we mostly enjoy "dining out" rather than just "eating out", I also love finding "funky little joints" which is why I adore Guy Fieri of Triple D's (Diners, Drive In's & Dives) from the Food Network, so with my handy book written by him, given to me by my daughter & her boyfriend of all his "favorite spots" I will, of course, be checking some of them out!

On my trip to Baltimore a few weeks ago, he suggested & highly recommended the "Blue Moon" Diner for Breakfast, and while I am not a big breakfast fan, it was worth the 45 minutes- yes, a 45 minute wait for this fantastic fun little hole in the wall joint!

Back in my catering days, I used to make a stuffed french toast- thick challah bread filled with vanilla flavored cream cheese, mixed with marscapone cheese, raisins, cinnamon and sliced bananas, sauteed to perfection with GOOD maple syrup! Well, Blue Moon had a version with Brioche bread, sliced bananas & strawberries, and then dipped in their own special "Captain Crunch" cereal & served over fresh whipped cream, garnished with raspberries & blueberries! OMG!!

So, Guy is the Man and I will checking out a few lunch places that he writes about, as well as talked about on his show, and some places suggested by some friends & clients, as well as the dinner reservations I have had for MONTHS for 2 of my special places there, so look for my posts when I return next week & I will try and add some photos! Happy Eating!

West Coast

Tonight will be my last post for a few days as I am off to San Fransisco for a little R&R & dinner a tone of my most favorite restaurants there! (more about that when I return)

Also, as per your requests, upon my return, I will begin to put my recipes in a different format so you can print them & keep them in your recipe file- thank you for that suggestion!

Until then, keep cooking, entertaining & eating good food!

Il Toscano- Douglaston

Well, as I was on my way into Manhattan last night to see Sting at the Met (great) we stopped at one of my favorite places for Italian/Continental Dinner- Il Toscano.

It is on 235th St but at the base of the Douglaston/LittleNeck Train Station, and don't let that deter you! It looks small, but actually, has 2 rooms downstairs & a room upstairs.

The food is sensational. Last night, to start, I had the special salad- amazing! Organic Greens with red onions, grilled portabello mushrooms & monchego cheese in a roasted shallot vinaigrette- I have to figure out how to duplicate the recipe for the dressing- outstanding!! Larry has the homemade Gnocci- little fluffy pillows of handmade pasta filled with potato, served with veal sausage & broccoli rabe in a light olive oil & roasted garlic sauce.

Our entrees were also wonderful- I had the whole grilled Branzino, served with sauteed spinach with a wasabi drizzle and he had the grilled Rib eye in a jalapeno & tomato glaze served with fingerling potatoes, roasted corn & fresh asparagus- YUMMY! The meat was cooked to perfection.

I highly recommend reservations n Friday & Saturday night. We have never gone there on a Sunday, but they have a special pre-fixe and I have friends & clients who rave about their "SUNDAY DINNER" & the BEST lasagne ever!!! Mangia!

Tip of the Week- Ice Cube Trays

Ice Cube Trays- the best invention for leftovers.

Did you ever make iced coffee only to find it gets diluted by regular ice cubes? Next time, use the leftover coffee you have brewed, and pour the coffee into an ice cube tray & freeze, and whenever you make iced coffee, you can pop out a few coffee cubes to keep your coffee strong. It also works for iced tea, lemonade, etc.

I also use the trays for leftover pesto, wine & chicken stock for sauces.

A PLace for Steak= Dinner at Jimmy Hays in Island Park, NY

Last night's dinner-

Jimmy Hays is one of my FAVORITE restaurants on the South Shore. It equals & rivals any North Shore Steak House. The decor is very pretty- warm, rich woods, and the staff is wonderful & very attentive, but the best thing about the place is the food- excellent! Consistently good- and I eat there ALOT- at least once a week, and have never been disappointed.

The steaks are unbelievable wonderful (porterhouses, rib eyes, sirloins , etc.) & the LOBSTER JIMMY- one of their signature dishes- just fabulous! A large lobster served over a bed of shoestring crispy potatoes & drizzled with a rich cognac sauce- amazing!! The menu is vast so if you are not a meat lover (like me) there are many other selections -all types of fish and chicken choices .

The appetizers are exceptional, from their famous gorgonzola bread, drenched in a creamy sauce, to his shrimp scampi in a marsala wine sauce, delicious large crab cakes, full of lump crabmeat , served with a great corn salsa, and his PHENOMENAL Macaroni & Cheese- to die for- with or without lobster.

The bar menu is also great- sliders, lobster salad, large juicy burgers, ( just to name a few) and something I just ordered for the first time & it was GREAT!- Steak Tartare, which I never thought I would like and loved it!

They have a large wine selection and the place is always bustling, so do make a reservation, and while not cheap, so well worth it.

Dinner in Lynbrook- Branzino

We just returned from having dinner at a little find- Branzino- one of my favorite little places somewhat hidden away on Union Ave. in Lynbrook, NY. It is a lovely rather small restaurant-11 tables- continental cuisine.

The wait staff are all in tuxedos, and they also have one very small private table for two on second level which requires a reservation but very romantic for a special occasion !

They had a vast wine list.

Tonight, I have the dover sole- superb! I normally get the whole grilled branzino, which they filet for you table side if you so desire, but the Dover Sole sounded lovely, and it was superb. My husband had the veal chop-simply grilled- HUGE! My friends both had the specials- a Large platter of spinach fettuccini with half of a lobster, clams & shrimp in a light pink sauce- (excellent) and my other friend had the white alaskan salmon with champagne grapes-just wonderful.

We were too full to have dessert, but their homemade biscotti is always served at the end and is great with a cappuccino.

This is a great place for a special evening with friends or family for a really great dining experience. reservations are a must on Friday & Saturday nights.

meat packing District

Well, as it was not a beach day this afternoon, took a ride into Manhattan to the Meat packing District- one of my favorite areas in Manhattan over the past several years.

There are numerous restaurants from very casual (The Park) which I love for salads, burgers, paninis, etc. to fine dining like Del Posto (Mario Batali) & Craft Steak (Tom Collicchio) -both are excellent although a bit pricey, but today I went to the Standard Grill, on West 13th, under the Highline & part of the Standard Hotel, and the Biergarten.

I ordered the most fabulous salad- a Lobster salad served over micro greens with Gigante white beans (yes, Gigante- not a type-o) super large over sized white beans & topped with Caviar- YUM! It was just fantastic, served in a light citrus vinaigrette, nice slices of celery and lots of large chunks of lobster meat- really excellent! My husband has the eggs florentine, which were also quite good, baked & served in its own pan with brioche toast.

On each table, they have the most adorable ceramic sets of salt & pepper shakers, all different types of breeds of dogs,, attached magnetically nose to nose. We had Scottish Terriers, and next to us were a set of Daschunds, French Poodles, and Beagles. They were so cute!

The service was wonderful. The only problem I had was when I went downstairs to the restroom. The area is very large and open, and not clearly marked and I walked into the Mens' room & there was someone there! OMG! OOOPS! Yikes! How embarrassing!

So, that was today's adventure.

It's worth a trip there but be careful & look both ways if or when you need the restroom! LOL

fresh herbs

I love FRESH herbs- all kinds & summer is the very best time to enjoy them. However, there are a couple of herbs that are very strong and more aromatic than others and some people don't like them- particularly, rosemary & cilantro. I happen to LOVE cilantro and use it in many recipes. My favorite is my grilled corn, red onion, avocado & tomato salad with a cilantro vinaigrette.

If you don't like cilantro, you can leave it out & just add a bit more lime juice & some italian flat leaf parsley- don't use the curly stuff- it has NO taste but the flat is great & has a hint of of pepper and lemon . So, summer is a great time to serve this side dish with grilled chicken, fish or whatever you like.

I use one large or 1 & 1/2 smaller ears of corn per person- brush corn with oil & place on hot grill for 2-4 minutes, turning to grill all sides.

Cool & cut all the corn off the cob, and mix with some cherry tomatoes or diced tomatoes, one small red onion diced, 1/2 an avocado person, and then mix 1/4 cup of lemon & lime juice, 1/2 cup olive oil (EVOO preferably) , one teaspoon of chopped fresh cilantro & a dash of salt & pepper to taste. Bon Appetit!

dinner tonight

Well ,last night we went to Fishermans Catch- a water front restaurant in Point Lookout. Many boats dock there & come in for drinks on the dock (No dinner is served outside on the dock strangely enough) so dinner is either at the bar or in the dining room, which is quite large. They primarily serve fish, and have very good lobsters, of all sizes in their tank, but do offer some nice poultry & beef dishes for those who don't want fish. The specials are the best items to order.

I had the poached halibut over cous cous primavera with a lemon beurre blanc sauce- very nice & light, believe it or not. My husband had the swordfish- grilled with lemon, white wine , chopped tomatoes & capers- also very good.

Tonight was a lovely summer evening (a little warm) so off to Freeport- which is where I grew up, coincidentally. The Nautical Mile on Woodcleft Ave has been thru major renovations over the years & sorely needed it as Freeport went thru many changes, but I will say there are numerous restaurants that are quite nice- and my personal favorite in Freeport - The Nautilus Cafe.

On Monday & Wednesday nights, they offer specials- Lobster night on Mondays & Steak night on Wednesday- always top choice meats & always excellent. The veal chop is wonderful.

You definitely need a reservation, as many seniors arrive early as they give you a drink, an entree, a salad ,veg & potato- all for just $28.95! Its a great deal! Enjoy !

Summer Orzo Salad

Hi Eve,

In answer to your question- Yes, you may certainly use frozen chopped spinach (thawed & squeezed out well) in my orzo salad. I have done it that way for years until they began to sell fresh baby spinach in bags. The basic fundamentals of the salad remain the same-

One box of orzo- cooked in well salted boiling water for 9 minutes & rinsed

One pint of cherry tomatoes- rinsed & sliced in half lengthwise

6-8 oz. feta cheese crumbled

1 box of frozen chopped (thawed) spinach or one bag of fresh baby spinach

Mix well with all the above and toss with one of 2 different vinaigrettes *

As a COLD salad-

1/2 cup EVOO (extra virgin olive oil) whisked together with 1/4 cup red wine vinegar

1/4 teaspoon each of : garlic powder, white pepper, oregano, and parsley

a dash of red pepper flakes

toss, chill for several hours & remove & let come to room temp 30 minutes before serving

OR: WARM:

(Great with Fish & Chicken )

which gives it slight Mediterranean /Greek flavor with just EVOO (1/2 cup) & fresh lemon juice, (one large or 2 small fresh squeezed lemons & a bit of zest) salt & pepper to taste & a dash of fresh oregano

Either way, its a great summer salad!! YUM! Enjoy!!

places to drive from Long Island & visit over the summer

Hi Clare- Okay- Places to visit- 3-4 days that you can drive to?

I just sent a couple to Newport, RI- its beautiful this time of year & not a very kong drive- lots to see plus beaches & GREAT places to eat! Let me know if that sounds like something you might be interested in. You can even take the Block Island ferry which is nice as well & saves a bit of driving & a nice place to stop over!

I always love the Hamptons & Montauk this tine of year, although many places require a minimum of 3 nights, but sounds like that will work for you

So here it is! Finally! For years, friends have been asking me ("ask Ila") , begging me, to write a book- a cook book, a travel book, a restaurant review book, so after more than 25 years of entertaining, cooking, owning & operating a catering business, countless dinner parties, luncheons, brunches, etc., and now, the past 12 years or so have been spent DINING OUT- (almost 7 nights week I must admit) from the East coast to the West, from Long Beach, Long Island to the Hamptons, to Manhattan & everywhere in -between- I have tried more than 2000 restaurants in recent years and am forever recommending places for friends & clients to try or giving out a great recipe that has wowed friends & family for decades- hence, the ASKilablog.

We travel alot and enjoy trying new places, although I have my favorites. We like to venture OUT of the area from where we live, so many of the places I will recommend will not be in the general locale of Long Island all the time, so that is up to you.

I would love your feedback on what you are looking for- My blog is still a work in progress, so for now, twice a week I will answer questions & do a weekly tip, and see how it goes.

I look forward to hearing from you! Thanks & don'-t forget to Ask ILA!

Welcome to my blog - keep checking back for culinary insights in Long Beach and beyond!