To Forgive or Not to Forgive

In this season of Lent, this is a topic I struggle with.   I wont drudge up my history with details, those who know me well know the big bad things that happened in my life, and the good too.  I had a period of 12 years out in the wilds of the world, confused and disenchanted, my whole outlook on real love put to the test - not just loving others but loving myself.  Not just with romantic relationships, but fake friends who crossed my path during this time too.  Thankfully, I'm in a place of real love and surround myself with wonderful friends and family, it took 39 years of weaning to get to this point though ;)  But, I often say if I had to do it again, go through all the pain, the heartache, I'd do it in less than a minute, my mind would be made up in a second, absolutely, positively, yes, bring it all back on.

The start of my life lessons in forgiveness:  I never did forgive the one bully I never got a chance to confront in my junior high days.  I try to remember how I overcame the cruelty...which wasnt just reserved for me by the way, they had a habit of picking on the "different" people in school.  .  I can't remember, I think I just avoided them, and by the time highschool rolled around, a new crop of kids to mingle with, many different, and with my academic success and theater, I think they lost their steam, with me anyways, or I just realized they were not worth the time to care about it.  Their words like venom, they liked to initimidate.  I had other bullies, both who I put in their place and both who backed off...but not with violence, I simply stood up to them, and that was the end of it.    Thank God for them for bringing out my assertive side, and an early lesson never to take any bullshit from anyone.  For the two who backed off...I forgave because they did apologize, probably more so because they were scared I was going to beat on them, but hey, an apology is an apology ;)    I was generally picked on for not being stick thin, my messy hair, I didnt have a knack for putting myself together like other girls concerned about their looks, but if you look at my pictures from those bygone days, I was a bigger girl than my classmates,  I had a woman's figure when the other girls were perfectly symetrical and thin.  I think of the bullies of today...they seem so unapologetic, and then the victims who lash out with violence, how do the victims learn to forgive these spoiled, mean tormenters, let alone justifying their retaliation with violence rather than rise above it?  Still, I cant say I dont envy the victims who torment back, I would have loved to been able to embarrass that bully or humiliate them...but what would I have gained?  A false sense of justice?   At what cost to my own virtue? Not that I see them regularly now, but last time I did, their face said it all, no sense of apology or realization how mean they were....looking at me with hate, for what?  I'm sure they would twist it as a "get over it, that was decades ago, we were kids"  but it meant something to me, it definitely wounded me in that time....do I think about it much now? No, but when I'm challenged to forgive at this time of lent, that one person has never made my list...nor would, since they hasnt even asked to be forgiven.

Moving beyond my early youth, and speaking of "getting over it"....how many times have you heard that expression?  Something that hurt you in your life from the past, and though you may be in a much better place, it still knaws at you, there was no closure, but you are told to "get over it", move past it...because look at yourself now, look how wonderful things are for you "NOW".  Hey, the "THEN" in my life helped shape who I am, and is a part of me....a good thing in some ways, made me stronger, made me be able to recognize real love, and real friends, and in many ways, I can attest personally, that it is possible to move on, absolutely, but you never truly "get over it"...especially if the incident was never resolved, or the party inflciting the hurt never asked to be forgiven in the first place.

 I look at the first part of my adult life, from 18 - 26 yrs old, as an old movie, I see it in front of me, I've learned to remove myself from the film, it was like another life many more years ago.  I'm numb to the actions, but it haunts me from time to time.  Then from 26-31, I feel more intune with that part of my life and my experiences, that was the "new Elaine" time....I came out from my shell, started experiencing a new way of life, some ways good, some ways bad.  Many people crossed my path from 18-31 who are still my friends today, but a few significant ones, who are not my friends now, they werent true friends, they didnt have my best interest at heart, they would smile to my face and gossip cruelly about me when I was beyond earshot....not one ever asked for forgiveness.   How do I forgive them - do they even want to be forgiven?  Sure, I can move past those times, and their cruel actions.  If I hadn't truly moved on, I couldn't possibly be in the place I am now in my life as I approach my 40th year, I would have never found my way to a better place if I continued to drown in my past sorrow.  I hadn't thought much about it until now, that the people I surround myself with, their isnt one of them I would tell you I don't trust.  I found balance, and success, true friendships, and real unequivocable love ---to the point I can't believe some of the antics from people that I used to put up with!  I found peace...but I havent been able to really forgive, its true.   I'd sure like to though, does that count?

I would love to hear from you - how do you feel about "Forgiveness"?   Is there one person you just can't seem to want to forgive?  And would you forgive them if they asked?

Is Richard's back? And my Made in NH weekend

Okay, I can only hope I keep my weight on the losing end after keeping up an eating out schedule, only for the sake of this blog ofcourse ;)  First of all, a shout out to the TBones in Bedford, for the wonderful casa caprese salad with grilled chicken that feels like such an indulgence but has kept me on my weight loss path, I bow down to you! 

This week will be a hurdle, a lunch and dinner out today, followed by lunch in the office and dinner out tomorrow, both business related.  Ay yi yi...just have to be choosy.

Attended the Made in NH Expo on Saturday.  Teddy ran into someone he knew during our morning walk who handed him two VIP passes, how could we say no?  Interesting stuff...what stunk is there were various local vineyards but you couldnt sample the wine!!  The food samples were in abundance, we tried a delicious maple flavored cotton candy, I'm not a cotton candy fan per say, but this was wonderful, a little piece mind you, but then I found out their shop is located in Peterborough, where I will be in that area in May, and they offer tours of their maple sugar plant, so you know I'll be getting me some more of that!!!!  I'm proud to report I only ate one small piece of chocolate sample, and believe me, that was a tough thing!  Teddy bought me some small pottery items from a local potter for our fireplace mantel, I love pottery.   We bought this really nice mission fig jam, the lady who makes it also goes to the Thursday farmers market here in Manchester so I'm sure I'll be seeing her again.  All in all, some nice things, but at $8 pp to get in, it was nice having those VIP passes, we were there for about an hour.  I do like supporting local businesses, and is was a nice way to do so...reminded me of the craft fairs I love going to, but on a smaller scale. There were only two potters, i would have liked to see more goods and less food...

Richards Bistro...once an institution here in Manchester for fine dining, right on up there with Hanover St Chophouse but as a more refined less costly gourmet meal.  Last two years, not so much, they had a new chef, I'm not sure its his fault, but the food quality went down slightly...anyone who was with me on New Years two years ago can attest to that, when all three of us who ordered their signature baked stuffed lobster had to send it back due to them being undercooked, obviously undercooked for that matter, surprised they left the kitchen. I heard the "new" chef recently left, but its only by coincedence that Ted and I ended up their, trying to find a place on Sunday for lunch with Ted's Mom, the usual places being very crowded, then we saw the billboard outside Richards for "$10 brunch" so we figured we would give it a go.

the one thing that never changed in quality at Richards was the bread basket...fresh baked assorted breads, a meal in themselves.  For Breakfast, they had the "breakfast version" of their breads....cinnamon roll, raspberry scone, bagel, poppy seed muffin, coffee cake...very yummy....plus assorted whole fruits and some wonderful cheese.  And this is just the beginning, their welcome basket to the diner.  Teddy ordered the $10 breakfast burrito, quite yummy and hearty...it didnt come with any fussy side dishes or even potatoes, but it was big and delicious...thin steak with veggies and cheese.  I got the salmon hash with poached egg.  I'd like to say it was perfect...the hash was decent, but my eggs were overcooked for poached.  lost a little flavor there, but that didnt stop me from eating it up. My dish was $13  Ted's Mom got the best dish - chicken asparagus and feta in a phyllo wrap.  Now, my MIL  usually eats very small meals or is very generous in sharing.   This was one of those rare occassions where she finished her plate...you couldnt even get your fork on there without her pulling it away!!!  I'm so glad she enjoyed it though, and she did give me one small bite for the sake of my review, and I would not have shared the meal as well, it was divine ;)  The phyllo was perfectly cooked, light and buttery.  It reminded me of the haddock wrapped in phyllo Ted had at Vlora in the backbay.  Her dish came at a higher price $18, but that sustained her throughout the day, again, very good portion.  What I like about Richards is they do not skimp for the cost...think about the fresh bread basket and whole fruit they started us with.  You certainly get your money's worth.  No dessert, but they always bring complimentary fresh made wine chocolates...i gave mine to Ted for fear any extra calories after such an indulgent weekend would do me in for sure.  So, is Richards back?  This was just breakfast, but would definitely go back for dinner...i think its making its way back home, but I'm not quite ready to change my 2011 New Years plans just yet...will keep you posted...

Great Steak in NH!

With Fridays come weigh in at Weight Watchers, which means indulging on Friday nights until the next time I have to get on the scale!  I had birthday plans with my good friend, but due to the weather, the hubby didn't want me going too far without him.  I did reschedule, so that will be a dinner review for another time....so as I sulked about my cancelled plans and dinner, Teddy was more motivated to take me somewhere special for a quiet dinner just the two of us.  Where to go?  With the weather being so crappy, we didnt want to go far, but we were in the mood for something a little special....Teddy remembered Buckley's Steakhouse was recommended by some people we knew, and we happen to know someone who works there, so we said "Why not"?  Buckley's is located in Merrimac, NH, very close to Manchester.  When you drive up to the restaurant, you feel like it should be further up North, almost like the setting of a nice B&B tavern, its just lacking the rolling hills and countryside surroundings.  I immediately felt quite cozy when we walked in, and the aroma was a great prelude to the dinner ahead.  There is a tavern on one side which I got a quick look at and was very cozy with a double sided fireplace and nice bar with some tables too, but we dined in the restaurant, and just as soon as we asked if our friend was working tonight, there was Connie with a big smile, who offered to wait on us, and she truly did make the experience even better.  Teddy ordered a beer that had a nice citrus flavor...I will remember the name and edit this post, I was savoring the rich hop flavor, truly had a nice zing to it.  I had a wonderful glass of the Bogle Phantom Sirah-zinfandel blend (okay, I really had two) - a great tasting red wine which complemented the meal perfectly.   We started with two specials...the seafood gumbo soup, and the lobster mac and cheese.  The soup had a nice red broth with fresh seafood and a little white rice, very warm going down on a cold night and again great with the wine.  Teddy's mac and cheese took the cake...chunks of fresh lobster, it wasnt drowned in cheese at all, very light, and the cheesiness really was at the bottom for the eater to gently mix with the rotini pasta...such a wonderful flavor, and certainly big enough for sharing.  To note, the table next to us ordered these wonderful looking onion rings, they are dipped in fresh panko crumbs and cooked tempura style, they looked wonderful, and sure enough, my dinner entree came with two of them!  The menu was what you would expect to find at a fine steak house.  A nice assortment of appetizers, they even serve raw oysters, nice looking wedge salad, a great assortment of dishes for the "non steak" fans, such as crab cake stuffed haddock, braised short rib stroganoff, a mixed grill of chicken breast, pork chop and steak tips, which is what I got, because it came with a side of tomato parmesean risotto.  Teddy order the prime filet, with a side of the risotto, but they had many sides he could have chosen from, asparagus and other vegetables, and potato sides.  And all the steak dishes offered a nice variety of sauces, I loved what was on mind, the red wine demi glaze.  The hollandaise was also very tasty, and Teddy ordered a garlic creamy sauce that was really yummy.  My dish was wonderful and enough to take home to enjoy the next day...the chicken was cooked so perfectly and it was a thick breast, the flavor was sumptious and the breast really juicy.  Steak tips too, very nice flavor, and the pork chop was quite large and tasted great with the risotto.  My entree cost $28 but I would imagine for this same dish in Boston, I would have paid $38 - they did not skimp on the portions at all.   Teddy's steak was divine, and anyone who knows me personally knows I'm not a steak fan, but it was some of the best beef I have tasted in a long time, and again, enough to take home - and we did enjoy our combined leftovers this afternoon!  Connie was quite instrumental in our menu choices, and knowledgeable...I noticed the waitstaff in general was fantastic, very intune to their customer needs and friendly.  We ended with chocolate bourbon pecan pie to share, a scoop of vanilla icecream...a must try!!  They also offered baked alaska, I saw it being served...piled high with merengue and described as a brown butter cake...certainly on our next visit, we will give that a go.  After dinner, we mozied over to the tavern for a soda before we hit the road...they serve the entire formal menu, plus their own tavern offerings, with a nice assortment of burgers.  We will definitely visit there too.  Again, the waitstaff in the tavern was very friendly, the atmosphere in general was quite comfortable and inviting.  So, for a fine dininig experience in NH, look no further than Buckley's in Merrimac!

Bret Michaels is a rocker, mover, and changer - the real deal

What would have been even better than this commentary, would have been the Iphone taped interview with the man himself, I had hoped to grab, though planned on a whim.  I am actually glad Bret was limiting his meet and greets to those who donated $500 or more to Diabetes ( I think it was for Juvenille Diabetes), he was auctioning off shirts he wore during the show he performed at MGM resort-Connecticut, as the girls swooned to the smell of the cologne lingering on his clothes, their money danced right out of their wallets, for a wonderful cause.  It was a little rich for my blood, though I had offered $100 for the charity if he could do the interview, and the manager and crew even had me wait with the others who were guaranteed their time with him, but without a wristband or special access badge, it wasnt to be.  The manager was very nice about it and even offered to get me access when he is back in the area.  Just the idea he would have considered to be an actual celebrity interview on my little blog was cool enough.  So, no, I dont have an interview, but a great memory of a terrific show.  I was in the 13th row thanks to my sister Olga for the great seats.  I became a Bret fan later in the game, though Poison was from "my time" I didnt really appreciate the music until I got older, but more so appreciate Bret for the amazing songwriter he is, and soulful singer.  He came on that stage with amazing energy, I pretty much new every song he sang, it was nice to hear some of the Poison classics too, and his own, a very simple set, three tshirt changes, he danced and put everything he had into it, and you could tell he loved his fans, not just by the way he talked to everyone, but he truly cares...i met a couple of the lucky ladies who purchased a tshirt while we were waiting to see him, then saw them roaming the casino after I had to go on my way...they waited about an hour and a half before they got to meet him.  He took his time with everyone who came through, making sure their pictures came out and not just rushing the experience.  They gushed his praises and understandably so, he definitely is a performer for the people and appreciates his fans.  More so, he understands the fragile nature of life, having had his own health issues this year, aside from his ongoing battle with diabetes, which he somehow is able to manage seemingly effortlessly with all the touring and hectic schedule he maintains.  The brain hemmorage and heart issue he had this year, within months of each other, only made him stronger and better, both physically and in his personal life.  He seems to have found some peace while keeping the beat up tempo. 

So, what would I have asked him if I did get in to see him?   "Do you eat a Mediterranean diet?  Are you related to "George Michael (s)?  How many bandanas do you go through in a year and how do you budget for them?"  ....okay, I would have come up with some better ones, maybe next time!

Mystic, CT, Julia Roberts, and what is in that secret sauce anyways?

Okay, so Julie Roberts wasnt behind the counter serving up a "slice of heaven", but you cannot not stop here if you find yourself in Mystic, CT.  It was a beautiful early spring day this past weekend, warm enough to walk around, but cold enough in the shade to keep your winter coat and gloves on.  Mystic really is a pretty quaint town, a ton of independently owned shops, boutiques, just beautiful unique things, I did a little shopping along with my walking.  I've never been to Mystic Pizza, nor walked around the area, though I think I've driven through here a time or two.  Other than the sign and tshirts for sale, the restaurant doesnt look at all like the movie set.  It was indeed filmed in the area though, and there was plenty of memorabilia in the restaurant to show how the actors and production crew bonded with the locals, I was sitting right infront of a picture of Billy Moses ("the architect" character) amongst a group of current waitresses.  The actors still have a soft spot for the area when they find themselves in the Northeast.

But what about the pizza, the real heroine of the film?  The menu had a neat story of how the restaurant came to be and was known for their "special ingredient"...the sauce.  Over the years, I imagine the place changed and simplified, we actually guessed its greek owned now, they offered a "moussaka pizza" which was a big clue!  But we went for the simple mediterranean veggie pizza.  We had to go for a small due to my diet, my picture didnt come out very well, but it was served in a round black pan, good size for two.  I thought the vegetables were very yummy, especially the artichoke hearts, it also had onions, peppers, olives...no feta, just regular pizza style cheese.  I wasnt crazy about the crust but at the same time, it was a decent pizza.  I didnt think the sauce was so special though.  I looked around at what other people were eating, food looked decent, like regular pizza parlor type fare.  And the ambience is fun with all the film props, photos, and they were even playing the movie Mystic Pizza on a flat screen.  Definitely worth a try when you are in Mystic and in a mood to make your mark in film history! :)

A Little Gem in the North End

Ted and I have been to L'Osteria a couple of times before, recommended to us on a summer's day sitting at a bar by the harbor in Boston.  We started to chat with the couple next to us, who highly recommended this North End restaurant located on Salem St, the "road less traveled" compared to Hanover St which is wildly popular with tourists and known for hot spots such as Strega,  Mike's Pastry, and our late night favorite Cafe Pompeii.  We went with another couple last night before a Celtics game.  Luckily, I discovered that they took reservations via their own website, we hadn't known this the last two times and were content to wait among the crowd.  I wasnt sure we even needed the reservation for a Wed night at 6pm, but sure enough after we got seated, the place filled up quickly, looked like everyone else had the same idea.  This is a "no frills" North End restaurant, very noisy, an accordian player roams the room, tight seating, and the closest restroom is downstairs.  I was having some minor anxiety and anticipation as I havent had any wine in nearly three months, and wasnt sure how I would handle my first glass.  I got the house Merlot which was truly delicious and balanced, plummy, as a merlot should be.  Striving to make this the "best year of Elaine"...i skipped an appetizer, we all did, and just stuck with our entrees.  I considered the linguine with shrimps and scallops or calamari in a light marinara sauce.  But then the waiter read the specials..."Seafood Risotto...shrimp, scallops and Calamari"  I was done for.  I am a huge fan of risotto, love the creamy texture of the rice.  Rissotto can go eiher way...can be extremely cheesy or more broth based, but either way incorporates butter for sure.  Awaiting my punishment, I decided I wouldn't obsess and beat myself up which would only take the pleasure away from my dining experience.  When the dish arrived, I was pleased to find out it was more the broth variety, white wine, garlic, and with a light tomatoe sauce mixed in.  The seafood was super fresh and tasty....portion plenty big everyone got a taste and Ted finished my scraps.  Ted got a simple buttered tortellini, which was "simply" wonderful.  My friends went for two house specials, the veal braciole which was in an unbelievable creamy tomatoe vodka sauce, and the chicken pescatore again in a delicious tomatoe sauce served with shrimp, both came with sides of pasta.   We graduated to a bottle of red wine from Napa Valley, dry and fullbodied, and enjoyed a delicious meal together.  At that point, we gave into the experience and decided to each order a cannoli, house made, fresh ricotta, served just as is, no sauce, no chips, no nuts, just the shell and super creamy ricotta...it was worth me declaring I would give up my traditional weekend dessert for.  So, Ted just needs to enforce that with me because I know I may get weak and try to sneak another one in ;)  All I can say is, WOW for a Wednesday night dinner!

Not to knock the wonderful restaurants on Hanover St, but I think the restaurants on Salem Street are geared more to the locals and less to the tourists.  The prices are a good $5-$10 less an entree.  The bottle of wine we ordered was $36 and was fantastic, whereas we may have been persuaded to buy a $50 of wine elsewhere.  I was surprised and pleased to find out another restaurant we like on Salem Street, called La Galleria 33, is also owned by the L'Osteria crew.  We chatted up some customers seating behind us at dinner who also gave La Galleria their full endorsement, though they love to go to L'Osteria and are frequent customers.   Safe to say, wont be the last time we will go there.  Check it out next time you are looking for an authentic, no frills, North End experience.

Early Spring day trip to Newburyport

Well, to catch you all up, I've been nearly a shut in since January, so getting out and about now has a whole new meaning!  Now that I can actually walk for more than 20 minutes at a time, I was itching to take a day trip a couple of weeks ago.  Ted and I didnt have much time but we left from NH at 3:30pm on a Saturday and rode over to Newburyport.  The weather was cool but sunny, and the drive was very scenic.  We first rode over to Plum Island, but no beach walking...there was a high level of bacteria alert so they closed all the beaches.  I absolutely love to walk on the beach in the Winter, as strange as that sounds, if the weather is tolerable, its not only good exercise, but wonderful to get in that sea air without the usual summer commotion while walking.  Its very peaceful and I highly recommend it.  In Newburyport, we made our way over to the Black Cow Grille.  Its towards the water close to the center of town, you have to look for it, its not on the main street...its close to Michael's.  Their bar is wonderful, cozy, romantic, fun....all tied up together.  We went light because we were meeting friends for dinner, but we enjoyed the PEI Mussels, so delicious, with a little bread.  Ted also got their clam chowder, very thick, creamy, he swears they put cheese in it, I took a couple of bites, it was really really rich.   There is a fireplace in the bar if you are lucky enough to get the corner table.  In the summer, they have a deck with seating.  The whole menu looks wonderful, I cant wait to go again in better weather for more exploring and snacking!

The World of W - A weekend in Boston

Our postponed Valentine's day celebration happened first weekend of March, we used our Starwood points for a free night at the W hotel in Boston.  In all my years of travel, I've never stayed at a W, but have heard wonderful things about the franchise.  We started our journey at the jewelers building in Downtown Crossing, Boston, at Gartigannis Jewelers, to buy a cross for my soon to be Godson.  Beautiful selection of all kinds of crossings, if you are ever in need, and for my fellow Greeks, they had beautiful byzantine and jeweled crosses at very good prices, best I've seen since being in Greece.  We made a detour to China town, a quick walk from where we were, and I've never eaten there before, believe it or not.  We went to New Golden Gate, shared the seafood Udon noodles...four people could have eaten this dish, it was amazing and lights, and we both got small soups, I had a hot and sour which was perfect for my oncoming cold, and Ted got the wonton soup, the wontons looked like they were freshly made, and they were loaded.  The whole meal with soda and tea, plus tip cost us $16, I couldnt get over the quantity and quality for the price!

Checking into the W, it was very modern and boutique-y, which is what I expected.  Our room was superb...#1427, I would request it upon return, king size bed, surrounded by windows with a city view, european style bathroom and there was a small work desk as well. Sitting on the bed and surrounded by that view, it was hypnotic.  We decided to try out the lounge in the lobby for drinks and a pre-dinner appetizer.  I will warn you, after 6pm, the lounge is "the" place to be and be seen.  I'll get to more of that later.  We had the endamame appetizer, created by the chefs in their award winning restaurant Market, it had chili oil and parmesean cheese, it was delicious and light in keeping (or trying to) with my Weight Watchers diet.  There were wonderful mini selections to choose from, you could literally get full order appetizers and drinks and just enjoying the scene at the lounge.  We took a window seat but they have couches by a fire place which looked very cozy too. 

We made reservations at Vlora Restaurant in the Backbay.  It was really authentic meditteranean cuisine.  We started with the grilled octopus, which can be hard to find in general other than when you are in Greece.  It was definitely frozen, but still they prepared it delicious with lemon and oil.  The Shrimp Saganaki was tasty as well, and the Village Salad was very authentic - i hate Greek places that put carrots in their greek salad...that is not authentic!  They thankfully stuck to the classic ingredients - tomatoe, onion, feta, cucumber, olives, hallelujah!  Ted got the haddock wrapped in filo, I got the classic chicken souvlaki...prepared just like in Greece, small pieces on two long skewers, with string beans and rice - we both enjoyed our meals tremendously.  Skipped dessert, headed back to the W to see if Ted could get a dessert at Market.

Getting back to the hotel, there was a huge crowd and line waiting to get into the hotel lounge...unbelievable!  We managed to get two seats at the bar in Market, Ted had cheesecake, from what I tasted, it was outstanding, fresh, and well worth the calories!

Definitely make a detour to the lounge at the W next time your travels take you to Boston, great atmosphere, and if you are fortunate enough to spend the night, this is a great place to do so!

Its been a while...and I still think of Rob

Hi,  Its been too long since me or Andrea have posted.  We are going to try to expand our blog a bit, be sure to come back for food tips, restaurant and resort reviews, travel commentary, and comments about life in general.  Stay tuned!!
After a bout of various health issues, I've decided to make 2011 and my soon to be 40th year of life my healthiest ever.  I'm on Weight Watchers now and doing well, but rest assured, still enjoying food and life in abundance.  I'm trying to be more creative, and keep up with my writing...the blog helps with that.  I was recently re-energized by an article I read in Vanity Fair.  Yes, I'm still a Twilight fan and still madly inlove with my husband, and his name did not change to Rob.  But Robert Pattinson, RPatz, "Edward", however you may want to think of him, he inspires me in many ways.  He is multi talented, actor, songwriter, singer (though I dont care for his singing voice), and now he is even working on screenplays.  Eventually when I finish my never ending novel, I may even ask him to help me cast my movie, ofcourse after my book is #1 on the NY Times best seller list, the movie deals will come pouring in!! ;)   Robert's breakout role in Twilight really inspired me to tap back into my creative juices.  Work, chores, TV, life in general can get in the way of being creative, it becomes downright hard to work on a hobby as you grow older unless you somehow incorporate it as part of your daily schedule, like exercise.  I envy my friend Marcus who sings for a living, he is currently getting his Doctorate, he travels, performs, and does what he loves every day, though I'm sure not without its challenges, I'm sure its not all roses, but to truly work on your passion, what you enjoy in life, must be amazing.  I digress...

The Vanity Fair article was about Rob, who is promoting Water For Elephants, which I will go see when its released in April.  It was yet another article describing him as shy, someone whose fame found him when he wasnt looking for all the perks of having screaming hoards of fans and being stalked in every aspect of his life.  Someone who just wants to practice his craft in piece and without media speculation of his every move.  But you know what, I got annoyed with him a bit reading this article.  I'd love for him to get the focus away from his disappointment with fame, and talk about how much appreciates getting to where he is, where he wants his career to take him now that he got his foot into a door that so many actors get slammed into when trying to enter.  Listen, we get it Rob, your life has changed and its not all great to lose your privacy, but fame comes because of fans in a way...they are the ones who will contribute to your success, increase your box office sales, insure your popularity that studios will want to work with you.  So if you have to pose for pictures, sign autographs, have your dinner or vacation interuppted at times, you should be so grateful for that recognition in so many ways.  I think that is the trade off and you just need to accept it and certainly find a balance as I think many super celebrities do, look at a Brad Pitt and Johnny Depp, you dont see them complaining as such in every article.  And perhaps the reporters are just putting too much focus on your disinterest with the public, and you are not wallowing in it as it seems, but you need to change that so they focus on what makes you so talented, and the pleasure of being able to do something creative as your career, something that you certainly connect so well with and have a passion for.  Next time you feel sorry for yourself,  think of us poor schmucks sitting behind a desk, only dreaming of the opportunities afforded to you through your fame.  Rob, I say this with just as much admiration, love and respect as I had for you from the first movie I saw you in, I'm "bothered" but still a huge fan.  So please for me, for us fans who look forward to seeing where your talent will take you, less self pity, and more embracing of a career you are so very suited for, okay?  Just had to put my two cents in....

With that, I will practice what I preach, and lets not pity ourselves for the time we don't have to be creative, but embrace the time we do, and I will try to make something of my desire to write more and get the novel done, soon, I hope, something to look forward to as I embark on the "transformed Elaine" for 2011!!

Oh Mickey your so fine

This is more of a lifestyle commentary than a food review or adventure in eating.  Have you seen 9 1/2 weeks?  Mickey Rourke, unrecognizable now from his younger days....a feast for the senses, quite a movie.  But I love how they immerse the film in the NY atmosphere, the people, the street vendors, you can almost smell the city..and though the movie is an adventure in sensuality, its a comment on living life beyond borders, indulging and experiencing.  I dont think even with age we ever get tired of trying a new experience, or setting ourselves up for a new adventure...but you need to go for it, and have the mindset to know you can stretch your perceived limits.  I get sad watching 9 1/2 weeks  now, seeing how handsome Mickey was, though he is just as talented today as shown in The Wrestler, but without his pretty boy looks, his potential is more limited.  Alas, I'm forever a fan.

Smaller portions need taste

Tapas is a very good example of small plates with interesting flavors, that keep you engaged and not wondering about topping it off with a hot fudge sundae.  I havent been in while to present a fresh review, but Dali in Cambridge, MA is fantastic.  Teddy and I went to Cava in Portsmouth, NH for Valentines Day and it was tremendous.  Expensive but good and "hearty" small plates.  Locally, we like to go to TBones for their "just right bites" (Bedford, NH), their pub version of small plates, tonight I had a whole grain flat bread bowl with grilled chicken, salad greens, olives and light cheese, with only fresh salsa as the dressing.  I had forgotten how wonderful salsa can be as a salad dressing substitute, fat free too and full of flavor.  Less succesful is Z bar on Elm Street in Manchester, small portions with high prices that are not justified, quality is so so, not my cup of tea.  Many restaurants are promoting smaller portions or healthier versions of their popular dishes, and me personally always likes to give them a try, considering we are considered the land of obese citizens, plus when your tummy starts to look like a mini mountain when you are lying down, I think its time to cut back! 

Its been a while - North End dining

Not only has it been a while since I posted, but we had our first dinner of the summer season in the North End-Boston last Friday.  We went to La Galleria 33 on Salem Street.   I love the restaurants on Salem Street, they seem to be about $5-10 cheaper a dish than Hanover Street and just as delicious.  We had been loving L'Osteria but we were a party of 7 tonight so not sure of the crowd on the streets, we went with La Galleria based on their willingness to take a reservation which can be rare in the North End.  They also had a decent variety on their menu, and rave reviews from fellow diners which I always look for when trying a new place.  I will preface this review with DONT order the salmon and vodka pasta.  It was smoked, and the flavor not all that pleasing, the two people who ate it, including Teddy, were not quite pleased with the dish.  I tasted it for freshness, and it wasnt very pleasing.  Having said that, the five remaining diners really enjoyed their meals, and we also shared an antipasto platter....at $16.95 for 7 people, it fed us all and was well worth it.  I had the Galleria stuffed chicken - mushrooms, fontina cheese, ham, a light lemon butter wine reduction sauce made it DEYUMMISH - truly DEYUMMISH, I have to say, even the side of linguine tasted like they churned it on the premises, with a simple tomato sauce.  A hearty dish at $21.95.  Our friend Neills enjoyed his dinner from the grill, a chicken and vegetables all looking quite fresh.  I noticed a shrimp scampi type dish that looked fantastic with large shrimps which you dont always find.  I cant remember what Lisa ate but she said it was excellent, and I believe it...we were all so quiet at dinner, which is a good sign that meals were being enjoyed.  Avoid the salmon, and I think you will agree this is a hidden gem in the North End.

Niagara-On-The-Lake

OK wine connoisseurs, if you haven't been to Niagara-On-The-Lake for some wine tasting then it's time to go up there!  While Napa Valley is the number one producer of wine in the U.S., the Finger Lakes area (right near Rochester NY) is the second largest, and there are many wineries north of us on Lake Ontario and near Niagara Falls as well.  This past weekend we went up to NOTL for a day trip to walk around the cute town, get some wine, and some delicious lunch.

Our first stop was lunch because I was starving!  We went to The Epicurean which has gourmet sandwiches and salads to choose from.  After standing in line (it's self serve) we decided to get a panini and some gourmet salads to share.  Unfortunately, they were out of panini's, so we made some impromptu choices.  The gourmet salads weren't very gourmet, just potato salad, marinated mushroom salad, and taboule.  We decided to get two sandwiches since they weren't very large, and settled on the ham and brie and california chicken club sandwich.  We also got some potato salad and marinated mushroom salad on the side.  The sandwiches were both very good, nothing to complain about, but nothing to rave about either.  Same with the salads.  The best part of this cafe/restaurant was the outdoor garden for eating.  It was such a beautiful day out and the setting really made it enjoyable.  The prices are ridiculous, it cost us $40 for lunch, but this was expected.  We've eaten in NOTL before and it was very very very expensive (more on that later).

We then walked around town and took in the sights and quaint shops.  It's really a beautiful town and if you're ever up in this area it's a must see.

When we went to NOTL last year it was more of a weekend trip, and we got much more sight-seeing in.  The wineries are absolutely gorgeous, and the wine is delicious of course.  We also had dinner one night at Hillebrand Winery and it was in the top 5 meals I have ever eaten, with a price tag to go along with it of course!  They also had outdoor seating overlooking their vineyards; let's just say I felt like I was in Napa Valley!  It was fabulous.

Overall, Niagara On The Lake is a great place to visit, but it is pricey.  And it's technically in Canada, so make sure you bring your passports!

Happy Fathers Day

We celebrated a day early with most of the Carras Clan - Olga Steven Marina and Nick, Cathy and Stevie , Jim Angela Jenna and Val gal, Mom and Dad Carras - get togethers are always filled with lots of laughs and loud conversation, we have a good time.  My Dad was in search of a great local seafood place, but we were tired of Legals' and afraid to venture towards the waterfront with the weather being so nice, so we went the traditional route to Brothers Kouzina on Rt 1 in Saugus for a taste of traditional greek food.  It didnt disappoint.  By the time Teddy and I got there, appetizers had been ordered - saganaki which is a fried cheese, horatiki salad which is basically a tomato and cucumber salad, homemade gyro platters, sauteed artichoke hearts, came with warmed pita bread.  The one thing were were missing is tzaziki, which would have served my chicken kabob dinner well since the chicken was very dry,  but I really enjoyed my greek style green beans , in tomato sauce, perfectly done.  The lamb kokinisto, which is a braised shank, I heard was great, but what really impressed was the stuffed veal chop, fontina, spinach and proscuitto stuffing with a mushroom garlic sauce seemed to earn the raves.  We topped it off with a stop at Richardsons Dairy Farm, which serves top class icecream in Middelton MA.  I would elaborate but i'm still with the Clan visiting at Cathy's - right now my two eldest sisters Olga and Cathy are sitting on the couch with me and my Mom is right by my side, its good to have a little moment of being "home" on a day like today, I hope everyone enjoys time with their families this weekend.

X Marks the Spot

Friday night, too hot to cook in the house.  I have several $25 gift certificates from restaurants.com - great deal by the way, they often sell them for $3, certain restaurants participate but a few we like in NH and in the New England area.  We decided to try the hot new NH restaurant - voted best new NH Restaurant, X on Elm.  MMMMMMMMM, MMM.  DEYUMMISH.  But  buyer beware, not cheap eats.  Portions were not overflowing but the quality made up for it.  We started with the middleeastern platter, homemade hummus had a hint of lemon and a nice consistency.  Also had their version of tzakiki with dill and cucumber, and olive tapenade, and couscous cold salad, but other than the hummus, not as impressed.  This appetizer came with pita bread and chips which were a nice compliment.  We did not get any dinner rolls or kind of bread, but we didnt need it, not sure if they offer it.  I also got their house Sangria but it had a hint of mint I wasnt crazy about.  Dinner was a braised lamb shank for me and lobster mac and cheese for Teddy.  My lamb shank was excellent, came with parmesean risotto that I think Gordon Ramsey would have said was perfect, and nice brocoli rabe.  Teddy's pasta was delicious, very cheesy, but he commented that he felt the lobster was not quite as fresh as they promoted.  All in all, a very good dinner, we would try it again for the chile salmon and Teddy wants the lamb shank next time.  Located on Elm street in downtown Manchester, we were able to sit outside and people watch too.  A must try next time you are in town.

Next Door Bar and Grill

Up in Rochester there aren't many 'trendy' places to go out.  Don't get me wrong, it's a great place to live and there certainly are some upscale restaurants to try, but nothing you could compare to a lounge in NYC or even Boston.  A few months ago, Wegmans opened up a new restaurant in Pittsford called Next Door Bar and Grill that was creating some buzz around town.  The first time I went there was this winter, and we only went to the bar.  The moment we walked in, I knew it was something special.  This level of coolness has not been seen in Rochester before, I can assure you that.  The bar isn't very big, but has plenty of space for everyone to pile in and order some fantastic drinks.  They also have cabana style rooms that branch off of the main bar area for more privacy, with benches and pillows and billowy canopy style curtains for a little privacy.  The dining area could not be seen or smelled from the bar (smelling food from a restaurant while at a bar is one of my BIGGEST pet peeves!), so I didn't get a chance to even get a glimpse of what it's like to eat there.

Well last night I went with 4 of my best girl friends for our monthly supper club, and it was a bit of a special occasion since we were sending off one of the girls who will be moving to Philadelphia at the end of the month with her husband.  We decided to try Next Door and see if the food was as good as the bar and decor.  The minute you walk in, you're greeted with the fresh aroma of green apples, as they are displayed on wine racks in the entry foyer.  They must replenish these apples every week, because they would certainly not smell so fresh if they had been sitting there for weeks on end.  The hostess was very nice and seated us 5 minutes early, our table was ready.  Another pet peeve is when I go to a restaurant where I have a reservation, and I end up waiting 15 minutes to be seated.  No waiting here.  The dining room at next door is very hip and urban chic, something I certainly haven't seen up this way.  There were many large parties seated, and we were surprised at how busy it was for a weekday evening.  There seemed to be at least 10 large parties of over six people there for dinner.  In the center of the dining room there was an exposed sushi bar with seating all around it, where couples were seated for dinner. Along the perimeter, were sliding doors that offered private dining areas for large parties and privacy.  One of the side rooms was decorated with branch-like chandeliers and had a large wooden farmstyle dining table for 20 with luxurious upholstered chairs.  I was very impressed, and will keep this in mind next time I want to go out for dinner with 20 of my closest friends!

Everything we ate at Next Door was excellent. We started with Edamame Hummus and Tuscan French Fries for our appetizers.  There were many options from mussells and oysters to crabcakes and flatbread pizzas, and they all appealed to me.  Prices on appetizers were reasonable and ranged from 5-$12.  The entrees all looked fabulous, and there were a few specials to choose from as well.  The other part of the menu that excited me was their extensive sushi list.  I eventually settled on a duck leg served with greens and beans.  For such a decadent dish, I thought the $19 price tag was more than reasonable.  While I don't have any pictures to share (my camera battery died!) I can assure you this dish looked and tasted exquisite!  Sometimes duck can be too fatty and flavorful, but this was cooked to perfection.  Many of the girls at my table got sushi, and one of my friends described it as the "best sushi outside of California" that she's ever tasted.  That sounds like a great review to me.  The entrees all ranged in price from about $15-$35.

I can't help but give this place an A+ for it's service, decor, food, and drinks.  While I didn't even touch on the drinks in this post, their bar area and drink menu are superb, as is their wine list in the dining room.  I had an Australian Shiraz for $5 a glass that was excellent, especially given the low price.  Their list had a wide range of variety and pricepoints.  This place is great for anyone who wants a gourmet meal in Rochester at a less than gourmet price.  I can't wait to go back!

Manchester Cheese and Scampiless Pasta

Every day these last couple of weeks, I give some thought to my last minute trip to Manchester, VT with Teddy over Memorial Day weekend.  Just decided that Friday we would head over for a night.  Beautiful little town in the heart of the Green Mountains which also offers high end outlet shopping.  Last couple of times I stayed at the Inn at Manchester which is really lovely, but this time we went commercial and used our Starwood points to stay at the Equinox Resort, which converted 2 years ago to Starwood hotels.  They also had a 10 million dollar renovation.  Very nice place and worth the trip.  But let me just tell you about the cheese plate.  The Equinox has a deck bar overlooking the mountains, a fire pit in the middle of the deck, nice music playing, and offer drinks and appetizers.  They customize a cheese plate for you, you can pick three or more different cheeses from local farms, then they bring out figs, nuts, and jam, crackers and bread to compliment the plate. I think it cost $12 for 3 cheeses and Ted and I could have made a dinner out of it, it was that yummy.  So when I came home I tried to recreate it, I bought a couple of cheeses, apricot preserves, dried figs, nice crackers, and presented it on a handpainted platter - its my new favorite weekend snack!  Also for you chocolate lovers, the Equinox boasts that they sell the 3rd best rated chocolates in the WORLD.  Now thats a big deal.  They are called Knipschildt and I can attest they are DEYUMMISH twice over.  You can also buy those at the deck bar or take some home from the hotel gift shop.

I go from that heavenly experience to a less heavenly last night, we found ourselves in Derry, NH.  I'm not going to name the tavern we went to, as the owners are very nice and Teddy is very fond of them, but you can ask me if personally if you want to know to avoid it.  Last time I was there was the week before my wedding, on painkillers, sitting with my Mom and Teddy.  We never went back, and I couldnt think of why, now I think I remember.  Food is plentiful and reasonably priced, but subpar.  The scallops in bacon were too syrupy, bacon overcooked and as an appetizer served with rice....it should have been labeled a small plate entree rather than appetizer, didnt make sense really.  Their award winning seafood chowder was drowned in sherry or some other liquor I couldnt make out, though a good amount of seafood and nice creamy consistency.  The seafood scampi lacked in taste...but chock full of lobster, crab, shrimp, and scallops, it had no wow factor, as if someone just tossed everything in boiled spaghetti...no lemony, buttery, garlicy sauce you would expect from a traditional scampi, though I certainly felt less guilty eating it given it was so bland it had to be less calories.  They boast that they make everything from scratch while you wait, well we waited and waited, even before they took our order.  I think we'll just drive by this one next time we contemplate why we dont visit there more often.

Adventures in New England

To continue about my week last week - if you checked out my Ogunquit post and cant wait to read MORE!  I had a sort of sabattical last week.  Some of you may already know I'm changing positions at work.  Its not something I can talk about on a public forum, but its a bittersweet move.  I took the opportunity to bond with New England, and remember how wonderful the world is outside of my four office walls.  Travelling is in my soul, whether its a day trip or flight to somewhere new.  I enjoy trying new flavors, seeing new places, and I hope you find my opinion on all things relevant, funny, and inspiring.

I started on Tuesday, which was one of two sunny days last week on a day trip to Queechee,VT with a good female buddy who is so much fun to daytrip with.  Have you been to Queechee?  Its about an hour and 15 minutes from Manchester, so short but it feels like you are transported to the center of the green mountains.  Queechee offers up a beautiful scenic walk along the Gorge, a National State Forest, which I have camped in.  Yes, you heard me right, I camped!  Bathed in bugspray ofcourse, but I did it!  The Simon Pearce Factory is there, beautiful pottery and glass by local artisans, they offer glass blowing demonstrations, and a top notch restaurant which I will get to in a minute.  Very scenic.  If you are ever game to spend a night, its right next to charming Woodstock, VT and I highly recommend the Parker House Inn, located next door to Simon Pearce, and the Inn has its own gourmet restaurant, chef owned, the innkeeper's wife.  The Innkeeper is an interesting guy, Teddy and I stayed there a couple of years ago, the Innkeeper used to be a big music executive, as he reminded us over and over again during our stay.  There is actually a recording studio in the basement of the Inn, and he has had big stars come there incognito, I recall him mentioning Sting.  Its consider a sanctuary of solitude and desired for the ability to hide out from the public for a few days.  Anyways, I digress.....

During my day in Queechee, we visited the Mill Shops where the Cabot Cheese tasting station is...some cheeses from them that you cant find in your local supermarket, definitely DEYUMMISH!  Especially after walking up and down the gorge.  The shops also offer a local winery ( I indulged in a tasting), local handicrafts, glass, jewelry, and other food goods like maple butter...lots of samples to try.  Then off to lunch at Simon Pearce, a window seat overlooking the man made waterfalls - its a pretty contraption that is also used to power the store, neato.  I had their special which was a seafood stew.  It is sooooo good, they have an email list for people just to be alerted when its on the menu!  Mussels, shrimp, scallops, and whatever is fresh catch like haddock. Broth is tomatoey and spicy, thick, served with garlic bread, I can smell it as I type...  my friend had an asian chicken salad I believe, which she really enjoyed, she started with their cheddar soup which ofcourse I tasted and approved, she had enough salad to bring home.  They served wonderful mini rolls that looked like fresh baked croutons.  And they use all their pottery and glasses for tablewear.  Its a must try if you find yourself in the neighborhood.

We took a detour before going home to the King Arthur Flour Store in neighboring Norwich.  I LOVE their mixes, their lava cake mix tastes like restaurant quality.  I will let you know about the new ones I just purchased, which included a popover mix.  Plus you can stock up on their various kinds of flour for those serious bakers, its a gem as you cant always find the variety and quantity they offer.  They also have very high quality kitchen gadgets, and a cooking school on the premises.   A fun place to visit.

Ogunquit was on Wed - see my 1st post!

Ted and I went to North Conway Thursday night to Sunday, weather was grey but rain held off, we were able to walk around without any downpours thankfully.  I want to remind everyone what a fun, yummy restaurant the Red Parka Pub is.  Great ribs, wings, and a nice salad bar for only $2.95 with your entree.  Everytime we end up there we always remark how much we enjoy our dinner.  They also have entertainment and a cute smaller bar to cozy up in.  We were joined by Ted's family, so we didnt do any fine dining on this trip with the kids, but we did enjoy an afternoon at Santa's Village in Jefferson.  There is a little shack between Santa's Village and Six Gun City, icecream sign (Giffords) on the road but I cant recall the name - they have picnic tables, kids plastic playground toys area, and behind it is a farm with goats and a miniature horse.   Icecream is good and cheaper than in the parks, $2.75 for a medium cone and plenty big, food was decent, they offered a kids meal at a reasonable price included drink, entree, side.  Chicken fingers though yummy were costly, $10 for 3 fingers and fries, not enough for two to share.  They also have a nice clean bathroom for a quick pitstop. 

Sunday before we headed home we dined at the Muddy Moose, just past the park in center of No Conway as you are heading towards Conway.  As many times as i've been to No Conway, i've never eaten here, but  I know my niece Marina Elaine used to like it.   I was tired of pub food so I ordered a grilled chicken breast with a pineapple salsa, came with rice and steamed brocoli.  It was a just enough portion and a good alternative to a greasy burger, I enjoyed it.   My brother in law ordered a smothered steak tip sub, and it was indeed smothered, looked REALLY good...i havent asked him how his stomach held up after eating the whole thing.  Ted's mom got a baked haddock, and said it was delicious.  Athanasia got the fried haddock sandwich, looked good, batter didnt look like the oil was old.  Teddy got the mexican salad, I took a taste, its huge, came with chili, was good but with so much cheese and sourcream, it wasnt saving any calories.

All in all, a great week around New England.  I'm back to reality and looking forward to posting new adventures in the coming weeks!  Thanks for reading.

First Greek Recipe!

Hi everyone! Since we're just starting out, we thought we'd introduce you to some of our favorite Greek dishes and how to make them. This particular dish, Makaronia me Kima (Spaghetti Bolognese) is not very difficult to make, and is a go-to in my house when I'm at a loss for what to make. All you really need is some ground beef and spaghetti, and the rest of the ingredients are things I usually have in the fridge or in my pantry. The ingredients are:

1-1.5 lbs ground beef

1 onion

1 14 oz can (or 1/2 28oz. can) crushed tomatoes

olive oil

salt and pepper

1-2 tbsp cinnamon

4-5 whole allspice

3/4 cup red wine

1 lb spaghetti or pasta of your choice

I start by heating up some olive oil (enough to coat the bottom of a saucepan) and sauteing the chopped onion until they begin to soften (about 3-4 minutes). Then add ground beef; cook until it browns (about 5 minutes). Then add salt and pepper to taste, 4-5 whole allspice, and at least 1 tbsp. cinnamon. Mix well. I like to add enough cinnamon so that you can really smell the aroma. If 1 tbsp. doesn't seem enough to you, then feel free to add more! Once the spices have been mixed, add 3/4 cup red wine and mix. Let the wine boil down (about 4-5 minutes). Then add 1 14oz. can crushed tomatoes (I usually only find the large 28oz. cans and use half), and 3/4 cup water. Mix well, add a little more salt and pepper, and lower heat so that it simmers. Now let this sauce simmer for about 40 minutes (it will take that long for the liquid to boil down anyways and thicken). The longer you cook this sauce, the tastier it is. You can always add some water and let it simmer longer if it starts to get too thick and you're not ready to boil your pasta yet. When you're ready for your pasta, just boil water and cook the spaghetti to your liking. I drain the pasta in a colander, and then put back in the original pot I boiled it in. Add sauce to the pot with your pasta, and mix well.

And that's it! It's very easy to make, and tastes delicious. This recipe makes about 6 large servings, so you'll have plenty of leftovers. Serve as is, or with some grated cheese on top. Kali Oreksi (Enjoy your meal)!

Yes, we like to eat

First of all, please know you don't have to be greek to enjoy this blog. The brainchild of my niece Andrea and a little suggestion from me, and voila! A new blog is born.

What will you find here? Reviews of restaurants and places from our various travels, sometimes a recipe or two, always an opinion and one you will hopefully find helpful. Our qualifications are an appreciation of fine food from our many years of travel and exposure to international cuisine. But we are anything but stuffy, we love greasy junky finger licking food just as much as the expensive stuff, anything pleasing to the palate, we will cover a wide range of places from all price points and for all lifestyles.

I'd like to start leaving a calling card at certain places we visit, telling the proprietor to visit us at www.greekgirlseat.blogspot.com when I know I will review them. You will find the good, bad, and ugly here, we promise not to hold back, and always feel free to ask any questions if we can elaborate.

A short introductory review today....I had the good fortune of getting a week off from work. Today, I journeyed to Ogunquit, Maine. I have travelled here for years, and it never fails to impress me. I try to avoid the tourist traps, like Barnacle Billy's in Perkins Cove. Though they offer a decent boiled lobster and steamers, there are more reasonably priced places offering similar dinners and ambience, like right across the way at Jackie's Too. A patio seat offers you a view of the marginal way and an ocean full of possibilities. Today, I had a simple lunch, seeing as I was still digesting my two peanut butter cups from the famous Harbor Sweets. I ordered a shrimp cocktail...4 pieces at $12.95, and when i asked which was better, the clam chowder or lobster bisque, I was given the tip that the $4.95 chowder would actually be the better choice than the $5.95 bisque. Intrigued that the waitress didnt actually push me toward the more expensive soup, I felt confident in choosing the chowder. The shrimp certainly were jumbo. I felt though they were like the kind you buy at the market precooked -- crunchy but kind of watery - I like mine presented drier. However, they were tasty in their cocktail sauce, which had just enough kick, perhaps it was housemade? I enjoyed them despite my first impression. The chowder was fantastic, very creamy, you must like creamy to enjoy this chowder. Served steaming hot. a nice subtle clam taste with potatoes and seasoning. A very nice value especially given the beautiful backdrop provided for my solitary lunch. I know i've had their salmon wrap and dinner in the past, also enjoyed. Definitely worth a visit next time you are in the area.