Delaware Chews on Foodie Friday at 1906 in Longwood Gardens

Had a fabulous day at Longwood Gardens with a good friend.  In an effort to be frugal and also save some time, I brought a nice light lunch of fruit and salads which we ate in a designated picnic area,  We were not hungry when we decided we just had to try the fancy restaurant, 1906, on the property.  And you must know after walking around for a few hours we were thirsty and wanted cocktails.  Look how they served the bread in the cutest little white ceramic planter...and it was delicious.  Soft and warm and really tasty. 

 

We ordered some special cocktails and admittedly they were a little weird.  We picked a charcuterie to share and everything on it was delicious.  Might have been a special because I just checked the menu and it is no longer on it.

 

Then I had to play around some.  I don't know why  people think you should never remove color from beautiful flowers.  I like to.

 

Thanks for joining me Jess.

 

Delaware Cruise and Chews: Day 3 Hudson River Valley on the BMW K1600 GTL

Following the same basic route as we did on day 2 we left Haverstraw on another  beautiful blue sky and sunny warm day to venture up to Hyde Park and explore the Roosevelt Estate.  This time after crossing over the Bear mountain Bridge and following 9D north, we arrived in Beacon and hungry and willing to explore. Being a Monday and fairly early it was not that crowded and being lovers of bread, and attracted to the Aroma we decided on the Beacon Bread Company.

 

I had to try the French Toast and although an advertised choice included CHALLAH, which I was of course excited to try, it turns out the challah was all gone and I had my delicious breakfast with Brioche.  Furm had a breakfast sandwich and we were both sated when we finished.  The orange juice was fresh squeezed and perfect.  We were informed by our waitress that everything served was made in house including LOX.  Yup, she told us she did not know how it was done but the in house chef makes everything right on the premises. 

After breakfast we made our way up to Hyde Park only to find that the FDR house and Eleanor's estate where separated by a short drive and incurred wto separate entrance fees.  Since we learned this at the visitor center at the FDR Home and Library of Franklin D Roosevelt we got started there.

 

The tour of the home was fine but limited with most of the rooms roped off so your view was from the hall.  The fascination was in the Library as it was not really a library at all but a full interactive museum that took us several hours to make our way through.  I would highly recommend it.  A final stroll around the property informed us that in a lovely rose garden Franklin and Eleanor were buried together...That left us with a lot of interesting questions to be answered but not enough time to visit Eleanor's Estate. I think I might have to research Eleanor quite a bit more and make time to go visit her home....maybe in the fall???

 

Buried together

 

 

 

 

Foody Friday: Delaware Chews at the Witherspoon Grill

Went to visit a friend in Princeton...Hi Jess... for a movie and bite to eat.  After sitting in the Garden Theatre for over 3 hours watching Boyhood, which by the way was very good and kept my attention for the entire movie, we were hungry.  We wanted to eat outside as it was a lovely afternoon. We  viewed the menu at the Witherspoon Grill, found it perfect to meet our desire and were seated outside as requested. Our server, Kennedy, was excellent.   The cocktails were very expensive so we settled on wine for me, and beer for Jess.  We started by sharing an appetizer of Artichokes Francaise. They were batter dipped and served in a light cream sauce with large chunk of very ripe tomato.  It was quite nice.  Jess had a salad, which she seemed to enjoy and I was delighted with a cup of lobster bisque, which was a very tasty, but spare with lobster. 

Foodie Friday: Delaware Chews at Cafe Alessio in Doylestown

Had a lovely day with my sister, starting with a light lunch at Café Alessio and ending after our visit to the James Michener Museum in Doylestown
In regards to the restaurant, It had a rather large and diverse menu so it took a while to narrow down our selection. We started by sharing Joe's Bangin Shrimp, which were delicious little one bite off the tail shrimp, smothered in a buffalo sauce and served with blue cheese for dipping.  To follow, we each ordered a soup and to accompany them, we got an order of Crostini with garlic and melted brie.
Sister ordered a Seafood Bisque and I chose the Tomato Basil.  Although our host did everything he could to compensate for the errors, once the errors were made well...they were made.
We asked for our Bangin Shrimp to come first and our soups and crostini to come second.  We sent back the soups that arrived first.  As indicated the Shrimp were delicious.  The soups...not so much.
Mine was bland and boring.  Sister indicated that hers was more potato than seafood. 
Mine came with a dirty spoon...EW.  We had to ask for fresh napkins because the ones that wrapped our utensils were icky/dirty.  It was nice to spend this time with my sister and the setting although on a street corner with lots of traffic was nice due to the wonderful weather we had.  There are enough restaurants in Doylestown to explore that I'm not sure if I will be trying this one again.  Those shrimp were pretty good though...so maybe.

Foodie Friday: Delaware Chews at the DAM GOOD CAFE

Seriously, that is the name of the place.  Just a small little restaurant in Perkasie, the Dam Good Café was Dam Good!  I had a nice sampler; pancakes, eggs, bacon and potatoes.  There were two pieces of bacon, but I often start eating before shooting.  Took this one with the iPhone, since once I started eating I didn't want to take the time to attend to Olympia Omde.  Not real maple syrup but could hardly tell.  It was perfect and filling...left some pancake and was still stuffed.  Furm had a breakfast burrito that could have been a little warmer...the cheese was hardly melted, but he gobbled it up anyway. 

 

I'm always looking for a new way to view.  Got down low and grabbed this shot as Furman was exiting the building. Put the nice flowers in a pot in the foreground with all green leafs shooting up and out.  Thought it worked well with the lines of the roof eave heading out in the other direction.  And there in the midst of it all my happy, sated hubby.

 

Delaware Chews at Paulies in Ewing

I like this place and it is close and convenient.  It is a bit pricey...but not any more than the other restaurants of its caliber in our area.  Hard to leave for much less than $40. after indulging myself ever so slightly with a nice entrée, glass of wine and coffee.  Well why not, it's worth it to sit outside in the evening with my good friend Patti, and dine on the patio at Paulies.  The night we went we were offered perfect weather,  and the service was excellent adding to the dining experience.  I had the Angeloni Fish advertised as the signature fish, herb encrusted and topped with a garlic white sauce.  It was cooked to perfection, tender and tasty with the light summer sauce.  Patti was able to order a vegetarian meal that completely satisfied her.  There was no rush, despite the patio filling up and we enjoyed tea and coffee and a nice chat outside in a lovely environment.  Think I might have to go back a little more often.

Foodie Friday: Delaware Chews at Via Ponte in Stockton, NJ

 

It happens every now and then that I cant really say a whole lot of good things about a dining experience.  Went to the via Ponte in Stockton with 3 others who ordered a lunch plate, while I chose a breakfast sandwich.  I can't quite figure out how someone can mess it up, but in this case I will say I was not pleased.  The lunch diners had nothing to complain about, but my bagel was egg style which I do not like, the meat on the sandwich was overdone, and the whole thing together was pretty bad.  We were able to sit outside and eat and that part was nice.  The service was also good.  So I may have just been unlucky on this day, since everyone else felt content.  I guess it might be worth one more try for lunch or dinner, but egg bagels just don't make it for me.  Better yet, next time we go to Stockton early morning, I might have to try the Stockton Inn.

Foodie Friday: Delaware Chews at the Frenchtown Cafe

Early morning rides on the BMW K16 GTL out for breakfast are one of my favorite activities when the temps rise above 55 degrees.  The ride out is cool and crisp.  The light makes everything look so gorgeously green, this time of year.  The river shimmers and sometimes you can even smell it.  I love it. Then you arrive at your destination and often for us that is the Frenchtown Café.  Just shy of an hour if we go directly up river, we are pretty hungry upon arrival.  We are never disappointed there.  I cant help but order the very same thing each time I go.  French toast with ham and brie.  It is just so yummy.  Even though I look at the menu and try to encourage myself to try something new, I find myself at the last minute reverting to what I know will be absolutely delicious.  On our last visit, I  thought I saw a cappuccino go by.  I searched the menu and didn't see it so I asked the waitress if indeed that was what I saw.   "Yes"! Rather than my typical cup of coffee I went for it.  HAHAHAH a real break out of habit.

Foodie Friday: Delaware Chews at Home but Not Mine

It is a great pleasure to  dine in fine restaurants and sometimes even not so fine ones.  There is nothing, however, like dining in the home of a good friend.  The wine flows freely, the laughter floats in the air, you can sit on a couch or floor after eating and delight in the comfort of cozy. If you are really lucky and have the pleasure of dining in the home of a friend who prepares the food with love it will be one of the best meals you ever had.   I had that pleasure recently

Chicken Burgers
1/2 cup mayo
1/3 cup finely chopped celery
1/3 cup finely chopped yellow onion
3 tblsp chopped fresh basil
2 tsps. kosher salt
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
1/4 tsp black pepper
2 1/4 pds ground chicken breast
1 cup panko

Mix all ingredients, shape into patties, and fry.  Serve with ketchup, mustard, mayo, lettuce, sliced onions and tomatoes and rolls or a side salad as my good friend Ruth did with selections of bread brought by my good friend Kathy.

ENJOY

low light Iphone selfthree OY
 

Foodie Friday: Delaware Chews at Home

I don't know about you but my mother always told me "Don't play with your food".  I wasn't really playing until I pulled out the camera.  It just sort of happened as I was molding my ground turkey into a meatloaf.  There was a little birdie trying to whisper in my ear.   Well, actually it was a big owl.  I heard it ask me, "must you eat meeeeeeat".  Well I suppose I must.  With just a few minor additions and substitutions to the recipe on the back of the Lipton Onion Soup my meatloaf is always a crowd pleaser. I use Italian Seasoned Bread crumbs, milk instead of water, a little A-1, some Worcestshire, and a very small squirt of Dijon.   

 

 

 

 

I did not forget Ruthy....next Friday I promise.  Would you consider sending me the recipe for the chicken burgers....I will post it if you do.

Foodie Friday: Delaware Chews at the OCF Coffee House

 

 Usually when I go out for a bite to eat, I prefer table side service.  Unfortunately, the place I had in mind was not open for lunch, nor was the nearby Tavern.  I took a quick look at the menu on the blackboard at the OCF Coffee House on Fairmount Ave in Philly as did my companions and we all decided to try it.  I ordered the Brie and Fig sandwich.  What a pleasant surprise.  The sandwich was a nice blend of flavors that I would never have thought to put together.  The atmosphere was bright and airy and right across the street from the Eastern State Penitentiary making it very convenient for our tired feet. The price was right too, since my house guests decided to treat.  

Foodie Friday: Delaware Chews at Fiddleheads in Jamesburg

My mother is preparing for hip surgery and I have had the pleasure of accompanying her to many of her pre-surgery doctor visits.  After these visits she insists on taking me to lunch.  Princeton Orthopedics has an office in Monroe so after our appointment she instructed me to drive into Jamesburg so we could search out a restaurant.  I eyed Fiddleheads and pulled over.  We checked out the menu and noticed the white cloths on the tables and decided to go in.  What a delightful experience we had from start to finish.  Our host seated us at a table for two near a window and in a small cozy nook.  We were introduced to our waitress who attended to us with perfection.  We both decided to try the soup of the day, a delicious Cream of Mushroom.  My mother ordered the Ciao BellaBurger;  A Dijon basted Portobello mushroom with red pepper mayo and provolone.  I would have ordered the same thing, but since we are tasters, I ordered the Crab Provolone Melt so we could try both.   Our plates came with a pile of salad, home made dressing, a small dish of Cole Slaw and pickles.  I was pleased when Chef Dan came out of the kitchen to check on us.  Although I tried to convince my mother it was my turn to treat she would hear no such thing.  However, she did allow me to pay 1/2 and we both agreed to over tip, extending our bill to $20 each. 

 

What more can you ask of a restaurant?  We received excellent service,  a tableside visit from the chef, delicious food, nicely presented at a reasonable cost, and the ambiance was just right. 

Foodie Friday: Delaware Chews at the Peacock Cafe

I can't say enough about the Grounds For Sculpture in Hamilton.  I have been there multiple times and never tire of it.  This last visit was one of the best, with all of Seward Johnson's sculptures from around the country home to view.  Most of the time, I go with my good friend Kathy and we lunch at Rats.  Rats is a special place with outside seating on the pond, reminiscent of Claude Monet's Giverny.  We throw care to the wind and our dollars too as Rats is rather pricey.  On my most recent visit, I brought out of town guests and they chose the Peacock Café which is cafeteria style.

  It is located in the Domestic Arts building with both indoor and outdoor garden seating.  Guests preferred indoors.  I would rate the experience far below that of Rats.  I think the best thing about the Peacock Café is that the real peacocks are fed nearby so they are always available for photo ops. 

 

 

 

 

Foodie Friday: Delaware Chews at Diamonds in Pennington

Hi Ruthy!  Thanks for joining me Friday and being my dining companion at Diamonds.  I so appreciate that we can find and agree to share yummy things on a menu and be satisfied without overeating.  So many great restaurants have moved out of the historic district of Chambersburg in Trenton, NJ.  Diamonds, being one of them, picked a great location in Pennington.

Ruth and I started with Happy Hour Friday Cocktails...hahahah and then were delighted with a happy hour offering of a Shrimp Crepe, for only $5.  Oh yea, I could have had another it was so tasty.  We went on to share a $19. appetizer, the Lobster St. Jacques, a South African cold water lobster tail sautéed in a cognac cream sauce served over mashed potatoes.  It really was plenty for the two of us, just that it was sooooooo goooooooood, I know I could have eaten more.  Good service at the bar and so happy to spend time with you Ruthy. 

 

Foodie Friday: Delaware Chews at the Riegelsville Tavern

Went for a Sunday ride on the BMW K1600 considering a late breakfast or brunch. Be warned this place does not serve breakfast, in fact they don't open until 11am. Being that is about the time we got there lunch was a fine option. We shared an Onion Soup which was acceptable, nothing special and Hubby was satisfied with a Turkey Wrap. I could not resist trying something new that via the menu sounded delicious and it was. I ordered the Not So Simple Grilled Cheese which was a mix of cheeses and sautéed onions. It was a perfect combination of cheeses and the onions were sautéed golden.  The grilled bread was salted adding a special and yummy touch.   It was served with French Fries and an Au jus that just might have been the onion soup broth. Our Server was friendly and attentive.  The Riegelsville Tavern is likely to be a return to place when the weather is a little warmer then it was on the day we went since we did notice outside seating and there were a few more unique things I thought I might like to try on the menu.

 

 

Delaware Views Hues of Red

He was just so cute with that red in his hair and kind enough to let me take this photo.

Ill tell you about chewing at the restaurant on Foodie Friday.

 

Foodie Friday: Delaware Chews at Back to the 50s Diner

 

I rarely have the occasion to post anything but fine reviews on Foodie Friday.  Today I will make an exception.  Took a motorcycle ride out for breakfast looking forward to try out a new diner in Furlong.  Looked really cute on the outside.

 

It looked even better on the inside, with all the 50's paraphernalia,  Elvis, Marilyn Monroe, James Dean and even Betty Boop, adorning the walls.

 

It was crowded, always a good sign.  We decided to wait for a booth.  The service was friendly and excellent.  Furman ordered an omelet and was content.

I ordered a mixed plate of eggs, pancakes and Canadian bacon.

You would think that it would be hard to mess up.  The pancakes were tough. 

I never had to work so hard to cut into pancakes.  The syrup FAKE. 

The Canadian bacon hard and dry.  The easy over eggs over cooked.  The orange juice was pretty good and I suspected it might have been fresh squeezed...another positive.

With so much going for this place, the service, ambiance and perfect distance for a morning ride, perhaps we will try it again.  I'll definitely go with a different selection. 

Just one more time to be sure.

 

 

 

 

Foodie Friday and the Wooden Bowl

I was chopping up some spinach the old fashioned way with an oval wooden bowl and a rocking blade.  That would not be very interesting if it wasn't for the fact that both belonged to my maternal grandmother.   While I was prepping the spinach, I wondered what my grandmother made with these  tools.  I felt comfort in knowing I was the third generation in my family using them.  Somehow it connected me to the women who came before me and prepared meals for their families.  We are entering into another Holiday season and I will be glad to prepare a holiday meal for my family.  It will be a very different celebration from that of my grandmother as far as the food and traditions go.  It matters not, the food will be prepared with love and the family will gather to share it.  That part will be the same.

Delaware Chews at Bellissimo's

Finally warm enough to venture out on the BMW motorcycle.  Layered up with riding pants and leather jacket I stayed quite warm riding in the afternoon sun. It was good to sit behind my man and cruise through the cool spring air.  It was my goal to find a new restaurant for our lunch stop and so we did.  Although this cute little place on the river with bar room and dining room has been around for a while, and we had stopped at this very place twice before, we were unable to try it.  The first time we stopped, a private party was occupying the whole place.  The second time it was closed for repairs.  What we found this time was a delightful little Italian place under new management, Bellissimo's on the River in Upper Black Eddie.

 

The lunch menu was varied and reasonable in price.  My companion ordered Rigatoni Vodka which was served with a choice of soup or salad.  When I saw Clams Oreganato on the appetizer menu, I had to try them, so I ordered a Caesar Salad to start.  This place had class.  From the linens on the tables, to the impeccable and friendly service, to the delicious food.  Makes me pretty sure we will go back again.

Delaware Chews at Chambers 19

 

I guess it was a few weeks ago I mentioned Chambers 19 and going to see a movie at the County Theater in Doylestown.  I was not that hungry so I ordered the French Onion Soup.  My companion ordered a Turkey Club.  The soup was unlike any I have ever had before...not to say it was the best...just different.  I am usually pretty good at distinguishing herbs, spices and different flavorings but there was something that made this different that I could not identify.  It was pretty tasty but towards the end was leaning toward the rich side and I had a hard time finishing it.  As I recall there was a mix of cheeses on top and I think that is where the unusual flavor came from...I just couldn't figure it out.   The Turkey Club was standard and devoured.  The place is quite large with a dining room on one side and a bar room on the other.  So many eating establishments in Doylestown to try and since I like to explore, I would love to try them all.  Never the less, this is a good fall back and go again and again kind of place.  In regards to food photography, I like showing the two meals, the first sharp and in focus and the one in the rear soft.  I always ask to sit by a window if there is one so I can take advantage of the natural light.