Pot Pies

Well, this week, being that I was home sick , gave me an excuse to cook. So, Tuesday evening, my homemade deep dish chicken pot pie. I posted my recipe on my facebook page & got numerous comments. Then, coincidentally, the Food Network did a similar recipe the very next day, but instead of my putt pastry crust, he (GUY) used an herb crust Then, last night, since I was still home sick, I made four cheese mac & cheese, turned up a few notches with a dash of cayenne, nutmeg & using huge over sized rigatoni. I served it with my chicken milanese with a tri color salad on top with sliced cherry tomatoes & red onion.

Today, as I am still home, bored , I cleaned out my freezer and found some fish stock & some frozen lobster meat, so Lobster pot pie- I was inspired by Michael Mina!

Tonight, Ina Garten (Barefoot Contessa) also made hers! How funny! Interestingly, she also uses frozen peas & frozen pearl onions but no carrots & she added fennel.

Tis the season for comfort foods!!!

Dining in Atlantic City- The Borgata

The Borgata in Atlantic City is a great hotel with both the original Borgata & the Newer Water Club.

It has many great dining choices. There is the Old Homestead- the second of this venue- the first is over 100 years old in Soho. A huge "scene" at the bar, but good steaks.

There is also Wolfgang Puck - also very good (he happens to be one of my favorite chefs) Fornelletto- good Italian food but extremely noisy and usually quite crowded , Bobby Flay who used to be on of my favorites but after meeting him after years of following him on the Food Network, and all his shows, I finally met him at the Wine & Food Show in South Beach last year & he was the LEAST friendly chef there. But, I do still like his restaurant at the Borgata, while I am not a huge fan of his NYC places. Then, there is Seablue- a Michael Mina dining experience.

Wonderful. He has many other places, as you will see in my older posts, and this place is consistently excellent.

Do try & go there if you are ever in AC. as it is well worth the trip! SO fabulous. The lobster pot pie is huge and just sensational and although try t make it a rule never to order the same thing each time I go to a place I love, I couldn't help myself- the dover sole coated in phyllo flakes that resemble panko bread crumbs, garnished served with leaves of brussel sprouts and topped with crabmeat atop a potato puree. OMG!

4 Nights of Fine Dining

This is a busy time of year so I have not had a chance to talk about the last 4 nights of dining out.

Wednesday night- Mio Posto- already on my blog & still y choice for outstanding for Family style Italian cuisine on long island. Wednesday we has a stuffed artichoke- excellent, zuppa de' clams over linguine and then the Veal Eggplant- tender medallions of veal topped with proscuitto and mozzarella melted to perfection served with burnt broccoli & garlic- YUM!!!!!

Thursday= Sugo- a great urban bistro in Long Beach where the menu changes constantly & very creatively I had two of their nighty specials- (I always prefer the specials) The appetizer were three plump lightly fried oysters topped with caviar & served in large oyster shells on to of baby arugula- outstanding!.

Next, the short ribs over roasted butternut squash- incredible Low & slow, fork tender huge colossal Flintstone size rib served over a large roasted buttery piece of butternut & acorn squash . Just mouth watering!! Sugo also offers , in addition to their nightly specials, a prix fixe Mon- Thursday- a great deal!!!

Friday- Bella Note in Bellmore- a local favorite- great chops, sauteed and grilled fish, and pasta dishes, all served in a a warm friendly atmosphere.

Saturday- Uncle Jack's Steakhouse in Manhattan, They have 3 locations- one ins Queens, one on the upper east side & the one I love the best, on 9th Ave between 34 & 35th st.

A beautiful steakhouse- magnificently decorated for the holidays, with two levels and the most fabulous dry aged steaks & chops, seafood & seafood towers, wagu kobe steaks, and delicious and large sides that serve 2-3 people, and a fantastic wine list. I recently sent some people here & they just loved it!!! They were lucky enough to dine in one of the drawing rooms upstairs! Downstairs, in additon to the large bar & bistro high tops for non reservations the dining room is large & lovely and there is a private presidential suite/room as well for a large party.

The Oysters (both raw & rockafeller with a twist- goat cheese instead of traditional bechamel) were outstanding as well as the caesar salad served n a chilled plate, which I love and think should be a MUST for all restaurants, and then, the porterhouse, cooked perfectly and the sides which were all wonderful- a loaded baked potato, creamed spinach and sauteed broccoli

(The mud pie for dessert wasn't bad either!)

Good Eating for the Holidays!

Well, lots of traveling this time of year so lots of new places to report:

In Atlantic City, at the fabulous Borgata, Seablue- Michael Mina, one of my favorites all over the country but really spectacular!!! After eating at one of his places in Vegas a short month ago, I just had to go back to his place in AC. WOW!! so worth it & please do see my post from November. Michael Mina is an amazing Chef and restauranteur!

Going back there for XMAS! Can't wait!

Next- Florida- Many great places but a few of my favorites:

At the Hard Rock in Hollywood, is Council Oak. A true Steak house with aged steaks, a butcher shop behind a huge glass window to view what you select & you can watch them before it goes to the kitchen, from the bone in cowboy ribeye to the porterhouse to the incredible filet mignon and huge veal chops to phenomenal salads, sides, and a great wine list.

In Mizner park, Truluck's a seafood crab & steak house with a cool hot Miami like vibe, hoping bar and great food. The chocolate bag- an eye-popping dessert with a large chocolate bag filled with fresh whipped cream, berries and a light moist angel food like yellow cake- just decadent!

On Atlantic Ave. in Delray Beach the Atlantic Grill inside the SEAGATE Hotel- a beautiful restaurant with a large open kitchen and grill, banquets and tables, a hot crowd of both "Floridians and Tourists", a large trendy bar and a great menu of fresh fish, including sushi grade tuna, branzino, dover sole, swordfish, trout and more! The sides were fabulous and the desserts- amazing!

In Ft.Lauderdale- Casa d'Angelo- a lovely romantic and very beautiful restaurant with authentic Italian cuisine with a TUSCAN feel- all pastas are made on the premises and one of the best veal chops ever!!!

Post Thanksgiving- The Hamptons & Beyond

Well, while out in the Hampton's for a few days during the holiday , and after eating a few (ore than a few) leftovers the day after, that next evening, we dined at Pierre's= one f my favorites iin Bridgehampton.

The owner, Pierre, is always at the front door to greet his patrons.

A warm french bistro, with great ambiance, a lively bar and wonderful food such as authentic escargot, foie gras, seared duck breast, coq au vin, braised lamb shank with root vegetables, , boulliabaisse, dover sole, and the like.

He recently opened his own bakery directly next door, after years of having some of the best desserts and baked goods ever and people always wanting to take them home! Great idea!

The next day a drive over to Sag Harbor for a fabulous breakfast at a local place in town with homemade baked goods, wonderful french toast and 7 types of pancakes, and then the ferry over to Shelter Island for a lite lunch, and then on to the Ferry to Orient Point for the last leg of our trip to MGM at Foxwoods. Dinner was at one of my most favorite places for steak- Craftsteak, owned by damed chef Tom Colicchio, known for his grass and corn fed melt in your mouth huge steaks, including Wagyu beef, porterhouse, filet mignon, hanger steak, ribeye, rack of lamb, and more.

The sides are always seasonal- sweet roasted corn, brussel sprouts, fingerling sweet potatoes , a fabulous cauliflower gratin, yukon gold puree huge texas style onion rings, fresh asparagus, mac & cheese, sauteed or creamed spinach and an assortment of wood mushrooms, that are fantastic! Actually, they offer seven , yes (7) types of potatoes, four types of mushrooms and so much more.

The also happen to have one of the best roast chickens ever!!! Occasionally, they offer (during the week) the entire chicken for two, served with amazing seasonal vegetables, all in a sizzling copper pan. Just great.

Next day, lunch at Cedars in Foxwoods- a great casual place for lunch with a huge menu and then a great dining room open for dinner, also with American Classic cuisine, huge aged steaks & fresh seafood.

David Burke also has a resturaant calledPrime with meats literally handpicked at a farm house in Kentucky, dry aged on premises in a salt tiled room. If you have never had one of these, I strongly suggest you do- his restaurant in NYC has one and they are well worth the price! Incredible! (plus, his cheesecake lollypops for dessert are to die for!) OMG!

Al Dente and Altastrada are the Italian places at MGM & Foxwoods, respectively, wonderful pasta and veal dishes classic Southern and Tuscan cuisine and both excellent.

Are you full yet?? Always room for a slice of JUNIOR's famous cheesecake- either at their kiosk or their restaurant at MGM- OMG! Six types of cheesecake, but the devils food cake with huge layers of cheesecake in between is beyond words!!!