Candy

Happy Halloween.

(Image by AG)

Frank Pepe

Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana
157 Wooster Street
New Haven, CT
(Visit their website!)

My dining companion really wanted to try this place so we took a trip into New Haven to see if it was any good. Frank Pepe's claims to be the first place that served pizza in the U.S. OZ said that the plain cheese and plain tomato pizzas were good. Apparently, this is how one is supposed to judge a pizza. I had the sausage and mushroom one (half) and shrimp with garlic (other half). Pretty decent but not particularly spectacular in my book. The pizzas were a bit greasy but that is to be expected. They gave us really small soda glasses and didn't offer to refill them so I'm led to believe that the sodas are overpriced. That's not fair given that everyone needs soda with pizza. Pizzas came in large metal trays, hot out of the oven. I'll just say that there were plenty of leftovers and those leftovers were terrific. What is it about cold pizza that makes it so good?Here's the medium mushroom and sausage and shrimp with garlic.

(Images by AG)

Greek Lady

Greek Lady
222 S. 40th Street
Philadelphia, PA
(Check out their website)

This busy hangout for Penn students is also a good place to get lunch or dinner. The restaurant has both a well-lit and stylish inside seating area and a comfortable spot for those who want to be outside. The marble (they look like marble!) counter tops are shiny and attractive while the roasting spits of lamb and beef behind the cash register are just so tempting. They have a grill and cooking area behind that so you can see the sizzling meals as they prepare them. Don't worry, the ventilation is pretty good because the place does not smell of cooking food at all. The place gets excellent marks for atmosphere.

On my first visit I tried the mousaka, which is ground beef with eggplant and mashed potatoes topped with bechamel sauce. This came with a side of lemon roasted potatoes and roasted peppers. Now, the latter is OK but this place has terrific lemon roasted potatoes. I don't know where they've been my whole life but these spuds are just wonderful. The lemon flavor teases your taste buds and then the well-cooked potato just brings it home. The mousaka itself was OK but not spectacular.

My dining companion and I also shared a salad of greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, onions, a hard boiled egg, and stuffed grape leaves. (I believe this was the Greek Lady Salad.) The salad would have been a full meal on its own and we should have known that. I was glad that we ordered the mousaka though because it really boosted the flavor of the meal. The salad isn't their specialty and it was a bit bland. All the meals by the way come with white or wheat pita. At least we had leftovers.

Here's the salad with cheese on the side. Did I mention the shiny metal trays? Classy!

I was really impressed with the restaurant on my second trip when I ordered the T-bone steak. The meat was tender and the blend of the steak with the lemon roasted potatoes, and the green beans (with tomato sauce) was just wonderful.

(Images by AG)

Zinc

Zinc
246 South 11th St.
Philadelphia, PA
19107
(Visit their website)

My dining companion and I had not intended to go to Zinc. While wandering around looking for another restaurant, which apparently no longer exists, we came across this establishment. Pressed for time and hungry, we decided to give the cute looking place a bit of our business. We were not overly impressed.

Zinc - cute enough but we were not impressed with the service or the food.

The restaurant/bistro/bar is charming enough and, for a Sunday afternoon, it was doing brisk business. Unfortunately, the management had not counted on having so many people. Otherwise, they would have had more than one server on hand. The service was slow but we were the lucky ones. There was a patron who was sitting outside, hoping to get some sun and some service. She got the sun but was ignored by the server. She came in to remind the server of her existence at least once and then just gave up and came in to sit inside.

We ordered water with lemon and the server basically ignored us. It was not until my dining companion ordered a beer that we saw service. By the way, the other tables got their beer, drinks, and bread, well before we did. Not fair and we were not impressed.

How was the food? I had the lobster bisque with chunks of crab meat. It was tasty enough, I guess but it was a bit heavy and a bit too creamy. There is no need to overload the diner's system, is there? My dining companion had the Trevisse Rotie Au Fromage, which was basically a roasted radiccio covered with cheese and Saucisson. She said that the Saucisson supplied the salty taste but since the radiccio was grilled and the cheese was melted, there was no balance of tastes. "It was just more salty," she said.

For our lunches we tried to Les Escargots "Pastis". They basically put cooked escargots on top of delicate, cute little puff pastries and topped it off with garlic almond butter sauce. Not a bad dish but not overly impressive either. The rest of the menu was seriously overpriced and I doubt that the portions were large.

Overall, I wasn't impressed with this place. Maybe others who are not in a hurry and just want a place to watch pedestrians while sipping drinks will find Zinc to their liking.


(Images by AG)

Genazvale

Restaurant Genazvale
Windscheidstraße 14
10627 Berlin
Website

Georgian food is reputedly the very best food available in the land of the bear: the old Russian Empire's equivalent of French food. It is also very hard to come by in the United States; it is most likely to be encountered in Russian restaurants. It would be an exaggeration to say that I went to Berlin to find Georgian food, but my interest was quite piqued when I noticed a listing for Genazvale in my Time Out Berlin guide.

Georgia is a small Caucasian nation with two centuries history of being hitched to the Russian bear. They clearly hope this period of dependency is over now; since the recent "Rose Revolution", Georgia has sought to ingratiate itself with the West. After Britain, it is the largest troop contributor among the "coalition of the willing" (in spite of having only 4.7 million people). Russia has reacted with fury to Georgia's new course, unleashing national embargoes on Georgian products like wine and mineral water.

Russia's loss may be the rest of the world's gain. Georgia, long muzzled by the Soviet Union, is endeavoring to export its wine elsewhere. And restaurants like Genazvale may play a key role, introducing Westerners to Georgian cuisine.

Anyway, on to the food.

I had two meals at Genazvale, a cheery restaurant in the Charlottenburg district, within a quick walk of the Charlottenburg S-Bahn stop.

Genazvale's decor features images of mountains, a few balalaika hanging from the wall, and some paintings of men with Joseph Stalin mustaches (Uncle Joe is, alas, Georgia's most famous son).

I ordered two appetizers. On my first visit, I had some tasty spinach balls. On my second visit, I selected some really delicious eggplant appetizers. The eggplant came sauteed, folded over some walnut paste (Georgian food makes heavy use of walnut) and garnished with parsley. Delicious.

For main courses I had, respectively, chicken in walnut sauce (yes, they do make heavy use of walnuts) and a lamb stew. The chicken came in a tasty sauce, but came unaccompanied by vegetables - the dish was crying out for some onions at least. The lamb stew was delectable, served in a small ceramic container with a kind of inverted bread bowl on top. None of the ingredients were unknown: garlic and eggplant featured prominently, alongside the lamb and potatoes.

Alas, I'm not really a wine person, so I couldn't tell you about the Georgian wines. Order some yourself and pat yourself on the back for spiting Vladimir Putin!

Both meals came accompanied by fresh, tasty bread.

Only once did I have dessert. Here, we were on stranger ground. I ordered something described as a pudding, but it was very syrupy.

All in all, I found my trips to Genazvale worthwhile. The decor was nice. The food was tasty and different, though the ingredients were certainly not exotic and one could detect some similarities with, say, Persian cuisine. If you'd like a sample of a distinguished cuisine, still rare in the USA, this is the place to go.

Mantra - Entree

Mantra
122 South 18th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(Visit their website!)

The salmon fillet sandwich is a real treat. I was afraid that the bread roll would be too tough and hard but I was pleasantly surprised. My dining companion could not finish the sandwich, so I had almost half to myself. The salmon is well cooked and was neatly wrapped in the roll with greens, green chili peppers, and cilantro. There was also a light dressing that I couldn’t quite identify but it complimented the meal. We had a side order of sweet potato fries, which was topped with a sweet and hot sauce. One problem with order: we were told that we had a choice of greens or fries or something else. My companion ordered the sweet potato fries but when we got the check we found that there was an additional $2.50 charge for them. What’s up with that?

Fuzzy Navel

The Black Sheep Pub & Restaurant
247 S. 17th Street
(17th & Latimer, between Spruce and Locust)
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(Check out their website!)

One problem with Typhoon in Boston. These guys messed up my fuzzy navel. How do you mess up such an easy drink? There's peach schnapps, orange juice, and vodka. To make a great one, add ice. That's all there is to it. Why on earth would the people at Typhoon add Bailey's Irish Cream to my drink? It completely ruined it. Sorry, Typhoon but that's a strike against you. There is an impressive bar at your place but if your bartenders can't make a simple drink, that's not good.

The folks at the Black Sheep Pub in Philadelphia know how to make my drink! Well done!

(Image by AG)

Pomegranate Oolong Tea

In the mood for dessert but don’t feel like consuming the calories that usually accompany such decadent treats? Or perhaps, even if you couldn’t care less about health and calories, you just feel like satisfying your sweet tooth but don’t have the time or wherewithal to make yourself dessert. If so, Harney and Sons’ Pomegranate Oolong tea will hit just the right spot. It has enough of a fragrant, light-bodied, flowery aroma to satisfy your sweet tooth, yet isn’t so delicate that it can't stand up on its own to suit any occasion -- even when you don't crave dessert. Harney’s extra long oolong leaves are infused with flavorful pomegranate to create this unique blend. Now, what is oolong, you ask? Just a quick little tutorial before I proceed with the review: Oolong tea is a cross between green and black tea with a much more light and fragrant (and less brisk) flavor. Through repeated (and complicated) steps, oolong tea leaves are partially oxidized, whereas green tea is not oxidized at all and black tea is fully oxidized.
Anyway, I wasn’t expecting anything special from this tea, as most teas steeped with fruity undertones generally remind me of artificial gum, but I was delightfully proven wrong after my first mug full. This specific type of oolong meshes particularly well with the pomegranate flavors and leaves a pleasantly sweet flavor on the tongue after you’ve taken a swig. It tastes and smells juicy, and actually reminds me of chomping into the succulent seeds of a pomegranate. Best served by steeping one sachet in less than boiling water for five to eight minutes, depending on how strong you like your brew. Equally good when served with sweetener or without. If you do prefer sweet tea, my sweetener of choice is agave nectar! Creamer is a big no-no with this tea. Don't forget to inhale the sweet-smelling steam right before taking a sip -- the aroma greatly enhances the taste of this tea.

Mantra - Entree

Mantra
122 South 18th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(Visit their website!)

I had the Mongolian meatballs with lomein and enjoyed it thoroughly. There was nothing particularly special about the meatballs but the combination of lomein and vegetables in a light sweet sauce was pretty good. The taste was nice and not overpowering, plus the noodles were not too dry. Good dish to order.

(Image by AG)

Mantra

Mantra
122 South 18th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(Visit their website!)

Willing to spend a little bit of money on lunch in downtown Philadelphia? This tasty spot is a great place to sit and relax at any time but especially when it’s over 80 degrees outside and you can’t stand being in the sun for another second. The restaurant is a bit dark on the first floor (looks like there is additional seating on the second floor) but nicely decorated. Its “pan-Asian” theme allows for a blend of decorative styles. Combining glass marbles, mirrors and paper umbrellas, they also use Japanese screens, martial arts clippings (someone is a Jet Li fan), and a few Buddha statues to spice up the place.

But I wouldn’t go there just for the décor. The place is too dark for my taste. Hey, I want to see what I’m about to put in my mouth. Even though I am seeking refuge from the sun, I still need some light. I wouldn’t mind sitting there to read but with the bits of light that make it in, I would get a headache pretty fast. Good coffee though.

The food is terrific but, as I said, a bit pricey. My dining companion and I started with the Kinki Rice Bowl Salad. This dish comes with some perfectly prepared tuna (Kinki?). The fish is almost raw in the center but well cooked and a bit crispy on the outside. The sticky rice was great and I thought they had lightly grilled it although I may have been mistaken. Rice and fish combined with seaweed and a light sweet sauce made this a great combo. There were also slices of pears, nectarines, and cucumbers to go along with the salad. Squeeze a bit of lime and you’re good to go.

(Images by AG)

Trident

Trident
338 Newbury Street
Boston, MA 02115
(Check out their website!)

Trident also offers some mouthwatering French toast. Try it with bananas and real maple syrup!

(Image by AG)

Trident

Trident
338 Newbury Street
Boston, MA 02115
(Visit their website!)

Grab a book and have a meal early in the morning. With a tasty breakfast menu, which offers diners to add salmon to their morning omelet, the Trident bookstore and cafe is a fine place to dine. With a cozy setting and a well-lit dining area, the Trident offers visitors to Boston’s Newbury Street area a comfortable place to relax, get some coffee or juice, and scarf down some nice French toast or have a healthy turkey burger for lunch. A definite plus to their breakfast menu is the availability of real maple syrup, a rarity in most restaurants these days.

Be prepared for a large meal though. The omelet especially has a way of filling you up so that a weekend meal may be better unless you want to fall asleep at work. As for items that could keep you awake, the coffee mug is a bit small but, apparently, you get free refills with meals over $4.95. (I was not aware of this at the time.)

Like all the spots on Newbury Street, this can get pricey (though there are some good deals) but if you’re in the mood for a comfortable breakfast and don’t mind spending a little bit of cash for a pleasant environment and a cool place to read the morning paper, check Trident out.

I can’t speak to their dinner menu but, glancing at it online, it looks pretty good as well.

(Image by AG)

Hot Cinnamon Sunset Tea

There's nothing like the right cup of tea to complement a good read, good music, or a good pie (the latter being my preferred option). Oh hell, a good cup of tea makes anything better. Hot Cinnamon Sunset is one of the more fragrant blends of the many exotic teas produced by Harney & Sons. It comes in silken sachets (stylish little baggies fashioned into pyramids that show off the blend within and allow the tea to breathe) and it doesn’t surprise me that it is one of the company's most popular flavors. Those little sachets receive an A+ from me in the aesthetic department. Even the occasional tea-drinker will notice and appreciate an artistic difference in the presentation. But do not be deceived: despite the fancy, hoity-toity packaging, this is a tea that asserts itself and packs a punch. Guaranteed to soothe anyone’s frayed and frazzled nerves, Hot Cinnamon Sunset (sometimes referred to as Hot Cinnamon Spice in their catalog) is a mixture of loose black tea leaves, three different cinnamons, orange peel and sweet cloves. It is a medium-bodied tea that can be served with sweetener and creamer if desired, but is by no means essential. Added bonus: even if you have a sweet tooth like I do, dumping massive amounts of honey into your mug won’t be necessary – it can be enjoyed on its own just as much. But beware: while comforting and sweet, this tea isn’t for the weak. The earthy pungency of the cloves packs quite a powerful bite. Leave it to steep a few minutes too long and it will turn into a potent brew suitable only for hard-core tea enthusiasts and people with a penchant for spicy cinnamon stick candy. The best way to brew this tea is to steep one sachet in approximately two to three cups of almost-boiling water for five to eight minutes, depending on how spicy you want it to taste. I recommend leaving it in for a shorter period of time if this is your first Cinnamon Sunset experience. This will be a delightful change for people who might normally fancy something less bold like chamomile or similar herbal blends, but won't be too subtle or intimidating either. For those who prefer green or oolong tea variations that just barely suggest an aroma, this won't, forgive me for using the expression, be your cup of tea. Best served, as always, in a gigantic mug.

Image courtesy of ACB.

Grand City

Grand City
128 Maine Street
Brunswick, ME

Even if you’re not over 60, you can still enjoy the quick and cheap meals at this diner in downtown Brunswick. Part of an old general store, the cafeteria is open early and closes early. That should give you a sense of its regular crowd. The food isn’t necessarily healthy but it’s good for those who just aren’t sure what to get. They make good sandwiches and hearty, thick soups but the milkshakes are what come highly recommended. Order a plain vanilla one to go with almost any meal and you’re sure to leave happy. Don’t expect anything good from the vegetable menu as you’ll find rather pale lettuce and overly cooked steamed carrots but you’re at a diner for diner food so enjoy the sandwiches and the quick chopped steaks with extra gravy.

(Images by AG)

Tokyo Rose

2171 Ivy Rd # 13
Charlottesville, VA 22903

While sushi has ascended in status from exotic fad to international staple (I think I saw tuna rolls for sale in my local Safeway last week), it remains somewhat difficult to find restaurants serving more traditional Japanese dishes. Tokyo Rose combines a solid sushi bar with some slightly adventurous takes on Japanese foods. The restaurant is hidden away in a strip mall; while it presents an unimpressive facade, the interior is pleasant, with soft lighting and a natural decor. After some discussion, my companion Mr. K and myself decided on main dishes from the entree menu, to be accompanied by a few orders from the in-house sushi bar. And I was in for a treat- though I didn't see salmon skin sushi on the menu, the waiter informed me that they would be happy to make me rolls (above, middle). I also ordered eel nigiri (above, top), while Mr K selected the Alaska roll (above, bottom), containing salmon, avocado, and cucumber.

While most Japanese restaurants I've been to serve their sushi before the meal, Tokyo Rose brought our order to the table with the entrees- a slight disappointment, if you're expecting to be able to concentrate on your fish. My salmon skin rolls, however, eliminated all disappointment; the wonderfully crunchy texture of the salmon skin was well-supported by a mix of dense rice and crisp cucumber. The eel, too, was all eel should be- mild, flaky, and lightly glazed (though perhaps a little bland)- while the Alaska roll was (I felt) good without being great.


For my entree, I chose the nabeyaki udon, which has been described as a "Japanese hotpot". The base of the dish is udon noodles in a mild stock; chefs then add a variety of meats, seafood, and vegetables. (I, for one, have never had nabeyaki udon without fish cakes and an egg cooked in the broth.) Tokyo Rose's nabeyaki came to the table in the traditional earthenware pot, which keeps the dish hot (and also provides chilly diners with a place to warm their hands as the meal progresses). There were, of course, thinly sliced fish cakes floating in the broth, as well as squash, mushrooms, chicken, an number of plump shrimp, and the requisite egg, which I attacked with abandon. While the broth was more heavily seasoned then I was used to, I found it to be a pleasant counterpoint to the dense udon noodles rather than a nuisance. My only quibble with the dish was the chicken, which was too sweetly seasoned for my palate, and contrasted oddly with the rich, meaty tone of the broth. Soup and stew in much of Western cooking is frequently an opportunity to use cosmetically flawed ingredients. In contrast, Tokyo Rose takes delight in assembling a broth dish that is pleasing to both the eye and the stomach.

Mr K and I finished the meal with some green tea and adjourned to Ben and Jerry's for ice cream. I'm certain we'll dine at Tokyo Rose again; when we do, we'll be sure to try the
dessert menu. And if you find yourself in Charlottesville, I'd recommend uncovering a good meal at this little secret.