Category: Restaurants

Tidy Tidbits: Watching & Eating

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PURE ENTERTAINMENT

The Three Musketeers

Sword play (Herald Tribune)

We had almost front row seats for the Asolo Theatre’s action-packed performance of Ken Ludwig’s The Three Musketeers.  The early 17th century was the era of duels and only the slightest of slights could result in being called out.  Thus, there’s plenty of slashing and smashing of swords, leaping, and jumping about, and even the occasional fisticuffs.  This adaptation of Alexander Dumas’ work re-envisions and strengthens the role of women, especially Sabine.  This Sabine, D’Artagnan’s sister, is herself an accomplished swordswoman and won’t surrender to just attending a convent school.  She’s in there with the guys.  

King Louis is ineffectual, his queen is clever, and arch enemy Cardinal Richelieu is conniving, while the musketeers, along with the exuberant D’Artagnan, are ever ready to defend and serve.  It’s rollicking, fun, and even funny! Performances run through March 26.

MURDER IN THE AGE OF FREUD

Vienna Blood (Prime Video, 3 seasons)

Max & Oskar (Endor-Productions)

In 1906, the work of Sigmund Freud was the subject of debate and controversy in the Viennese medical world.  Young doctor Max Lieberman, a disciple of Freud, applies his theories and analyses to his patients and then to coming up with psychological profiles of murder suspects.  Shadowing a very reluctant detective Inspector Oskar Rheinhardt, Max’s insights help solve a case, and the two become “partners in crime.”  The murder scenes are graphic and even gruesome, and the crimes often revolve around religion, art, or the occult.  

Over the course of three seasons, the relationship between Max and Oskar evolves from strictly professional to comrades to a genuine friendship.  The title refers not only to the victims’ blood, but also to Viennese high society.  Great attention is paid to, and great concern is evinced about one’s standing and one’s reputation in the community.  

It took me a few episodes in Season 1 to become immersed in the series, but once I did, the Chief Penguin and I made it our focused viewing every evening.  I also enjoyed seeing the evolution of Clara Weiss, Max’s former fiancée, from society belle to emerging career woman.  Recommended!

DINING OUT—STEAK & MORE

Modern Chop

Interior (Restaurant Guru)

Modern Chop is a welcome addition to the west Bradenton dining scene.  Located close to Blake Hospital, it bills itself as a steakhouse, but it’s much more.  Yes, several cuts of beef are on offer, but also seafood, pasta, and vegetarian dishes.  

Short rib entree

The bar area was lively with lights and sound when we entered, initially giving me pause, but the hostess then led us to a slightly removed space with nicely spaced tables, large comfortable chairs, and quiet.

Our waiter was pleasant, and our foursome enjoyed everything we ordered.  We shared an appetizer of fried calamari which was excellent, and then individually we sampled the impressive short rib with truffled potatoes and carrots, almond crusted rainbow trout with Béarnaise sauce, and bucatini with chicken in a gorgonzola sauce.  It was an experience well worth repeating!

Rainbow trout with risotto and asparagus

Note: Header photo of Manatee County Map courtesy of whereig.com. Unattributed photos ©JWFarrington (some rights reserved.)

Tidy Tidbits: Local Color

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NATURE AND ART

Perico Preserve, one of several in Manatee County

Robinson Preserve

Manatee County is blessed with a collection of nature preserves, several fairly close by. We returned to Robinson Preserve twice in the past two weeks with my visiting sisters and brothers-in-law. It’s a great place for a winding walk up, down, and around several bodies of water. Each time we were rewarded with bird sightings, particularly a large group of white pelicans.  With binoculars in hand, our guests were also able to spot the occasional songbird, along with here and there a little blue heron.   

Art Show

This past weekend was our local art show.  Residents were invited to register to display their creative work.  The range of pieces from more than twenty individuals included paintings, jewelry, photography, quilts and needlepoint, ceramics, baskets, and even fused glass art.  Not surprisingly, there were many bird photographs, both of local tropical birds and songbirds.  For the record, the Chief Penguin and I each had several of our photos on display too. It was a most enjoyable afternoon event showcasing local talent.

DINING AROUND

Mean Dean’s Local Kitchen

We’d been told many of our neighbors had already discovered this newish Bradenton restaurant, but we just had our first meal with friends.  It was a weeknight, but still very much a happening place!  Mean Dean’s has a large space with bar seating and lots of booths.  Fortunately, we had a reservation and were seated right away.  

The menu is extensive with everything from spinach dip and fried calamari to soups, salads, and tacos to a variety of meat and seafood entrees.  Think comfort food.  Among the four of us, we sampled the shrimp and grits, lobster lasagna, fish and chips, and the short rib over a Thai peanut sauce.  The lasagna and the short rib were probably the standouts.  

Shrimp and grits

Portions are generous, and everything was tasty!  The noise level is boisterous so don’t expect a romantic interlude.  We will return, perhaps after the snowbirds depart.

WHAT I’M READING

Jane Harper’s latest mystery, Exiles, is off to a promising start and is a welcome change of pace from my last long book.  Set in Australia, it again features Aaron Falk, a financial detective.  I’ve read all of Harper’s previous books and am a big fan of hers.

Outside Bookstore 1 Sarasota

Footnote: All photos ©JWFarrington (some rights reserved)

Memo from Manhattan

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DECEMBER IN NEW YORK

Braving the cold in Central Park

I confess that I’ve become something of a Florida wimp when it comes to weather, and the cold here in New York makes me want to hibernate.  The Chief Penguin and I trek 20 minutes each way for our daily visit with our granddaughters and also walk to dinner at one of several neighborhood restaurants.  We have not been to any museum exhibits yet—that’s on the docket for this coming week. On a recent raw rainy day, we took a day trip to Philadelphia to spend time with some good friends.  The weather was cold, but the reception warm.  We’ve also been enjoying the lighted trees and decorations around town, something we see less of at home.

One of many lighted trees on Park Ave.
Elaborate Christmas decorations
Bells on the Mongolian consulate
Santa at The Mark Hotel

VIEWING 

Astrid (PBS Masterpiece)

Autistic characters are highlighted in several recent TV drama series.  A few years ago, I watched the American series, The Good Doctor, featuring a talented surgeon with autism, played by Freddie Highmore.  And as I mentioned in my last post, I’m now into the South Korean series, Extraordinary Attorney Woo, about an autistic young lawyer.  

My friend Cathie recommended Astrid, a French series set in Paris about a woman who works in the criminal records archives and, with an unusual memory for small details, sees connections between seemingly unrelated cases.  Detective Raphaelle Coste enlists Astrid’s aid in solving a case, and although Astrid is reluctant to step outside of her well ordered routines, she provides insights that no one else can.  It’s another realistic and engaging portrayal of autistic skills and challenges.  

The first episode introduces the characters and is an hour and a half; subsequent episodes run just under an hour.  There are 10 episodes in the first season; season 2 is out, but I am not sure whether it’s going to be available on PBS.

NEW DINING OPTIONS

Mediterraneo

This Upper East Side eatery on 2nd Avenue is a welcome addition to our roster of Italian restaurants.  We had walked by it many times, but never stopped.  This time, we had lunch with our son and family.  Our two granddaughters each ordered pizza, Margherita and an arrabiata and pretty much devoured them.  They were baked in a wood-fired oven with a very thin crust.

The adults ordered pasta from homemade gnocchi bolognese to spinach ravioli to pappardelle with duck ragu.  Everything was very good, but the standout was the almost silky duck ragu.  It deserved the two exclamation points by its description on the menu.  

The menu also includes several enticing veal entrees as well as salads so I see a return visit soon.  Service was pleasant and the restaurant only slightly busy on this Saturday.

Pil Pil

We mourned the loss of our favorite tapas restaurant El Porron which went out of business due to Covid.  Since then, we’ve been scouting around for a suitable replacement. While studying the menu outside the other day, the Chief Penguin met a young man from the Pil Pil staff.  He encouraged the CP to dine here and CP told him we soon would.  Pil Pil is a small place on E. 78th Street off Third Avenue featuring Spanish dishes including some tapas.  Our first foray here was good, but not outstanding.  

We sampled the tomato bread (excellent and more like a bruschetta than pan con tomate), fried calamari (thicker rings heavily breaded with a tasty lemon mayonnaise), ham croquettes, and the shrimp in olive oil and garlic.  

To close the loop, the Chief Penguin stopped the young man greeter from the other day, and then donned his fuzzy wool hat so the man could really remember him!  He’s from Serbia and all of 22. He was very personable and comped us cake for dessert.  We will definitely go back and try some of the ham and cheese selections.   

Note: Photos by JWFarrington (some rights reserved.)

November Interlude: Dining Out in North Carolina

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We spent Thanksgiving week in North Carolina enjoying relaxing times with family, but also dining out with my sisters and brothers-in-law. Chapel Hill and Greensboro offer a range of choices; here are several we tried. I also admired the last of the fall colors, here and there spectacular red and blazing yellow foliage.

IN GREATER CHAPEL HILL

Tarantini

An inviting casual Italian restaurant in the Governors Club development. The menu offers pasta, pizzas, and both veal and chicken dishes. The house and Greek salads were good, and, our table had several orders of lasagna and one of the beef short ribs. I had their chicken piccata with capers in a nicely thick lemony sauce. Service was very friendly, but our waitress was too eager to clear the plates.

Flair

Flair Fusion Restaurant (TripAdvisor)

Flair is a sister restaurant to Tarantini in the same complex and somewhat more elegant in its décor. It is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner with a menu that has some Asian touches. We had dinner and the food was delicious.

The entrée menu runs the gamut from sophisticated salmon and chicken dishes to shrimp and grits, lobster ravioli, and lamb osso bucco with risotto. There are also burgers, Asian noodle and rice dishes, and a wide range of starters including a tasty duck confit egg roll which I ordered. For my main course, I opted for rice vermicelli with veggies and shrimp in a scallion ginger sauce. A pleasant vibe and professional service make this appealing for a return visit.

PITTSBORO

The Modern Life Deli & Drinks

We always look forward to lunch and shopping in historic Pittsboro, just down the road from Chapel Hill. Our usual place is the S & T’s Soda Shoppe, but they are often closed around Thanksgiving. They were this time too, so we returned to The MOD for their good sandwiches, salads and pizzas. Noteworthy were the grilled cheese and bacon sandwich and the soft pretzels accompanied by mustard and an addictive queso which we all dipped into.

CARY

Academy Street Bistro

Exterior & courtyard of Academy Street Bistro (The Triangle Explorer)

Located in old downtown Cary in Ashworth Village, Academy Street Bistro is an attractive casual place serving both lunch and dinner. For summer days, there’s lovely patio seating. We had lunch here and appreciated the warm welcome and the delicious salads. My Caesar salad with grilled chicken was just perfect; the thin strips of chicken did not overwhelm the greens. Others in our group had their salads with a tasty crab cake on top. 

Ashworth Village is a charming set of shops including an olive oil and vinegar store and a gallery featuring works by local artists. This part of Cary is very walkable. We checked out the impressive new regional library and a grand red brick elementary school that is now a performing arts center.

GREENSBORO

Green Valley Grill

Located in the same area as the Proximity Hotel and its Printworks restaurant which we have enjoyed, the Green Valley Grill is adjacent to the O. Henry Hotel, Proximity’s sister property.  The dining room is spacious and attractive with dark wood and high ceilings. The menu is creative, and the chef has upped the ante on some standards with intriguing twists.  We began with za’atar spiced crispy cauliflower for the table.  

The Chief Penguin and I each ordered chicken salads; he the peasant variation with a tomato vinaigrette and I, the grilled chicken Cobb with Gorgonzola dressing.  A and P sampled the farro salmon salad and the white flatbread topped with several cheeses, mushrooms, and broccolini.  Everything was very good. I’d be happy to explore the menu further!

BACK HOME IN SARASOTA

Bijou Garden Café

Under new ownership for a about a year now, the formerly named Bijou Café revamped and redecorated and became the Bijou Garden Café.  Recently, we came to celebrate our anniversary. The new décor is lovely, even elegant.  One of the dining areas, which we liked, has been given over to the bar and bar seating and seems to be very popular. 

Swordfish

The menu has been streamlined, shortened actually, and a couple of my favorites like the chicken paillard and the trout are among the missing.  The entrees emphasize meat—beef, lamb, and duck, with prices ranging from $38 to $43.  I ordered the grilled swordfish on orzo with spinach which was delicious and less expensive at $30.  The Chief Penguin’s chicken Provencal with roast potatoes was a bit under seasoned.  This was our second dinner here, and we still miss the old Bijou.  I don’t think we’ll hurry back.

Fall foliage in Cary

Note: Photos of fall color in Cary and swordfish photo ©JWFarrington (some rights reserved.)