Three Latest and Best

Had a good evening at the Diamond in the Rough Sale the other night and ran into quite a few of you I know. Only ordered three cases -- two of a rose prosecco that I suspect didn't last long and one of Villa Maria Sauv Blanc that's become a weeknight staple around my house. Consider it the beginning of "the season." On to three latest and best!

The Best Fish Tacos in Town? I may have to conduct a fish taco taste-off this winter, but the new front-runner is most definitely the fish tacos at Adobo Grill. Lightly breaded, tangy seasoning, and perfectly delicious. Also Scallop: My New Favorite Ceviche.

MacNiven's. Again: You know, this pub is nothing if not consistent. Popped in for a desperado dinner and beer on Friday night where the plain, Jane chicken sandwich hit the spot even though skipped the fat tire onion rings that I *love*. Even better -- met the owners while they were strategizing on new bar snacks. Word up: Deep Fried Sausage Nuggets.

Great Googely-Moogely, Neighbor: Wow, and wow again to a pal who delivered a bottle of premium Ron Zacapa Centenario 23 from Guatemala. It's the single malt of rum, and quite possibly, the best rum I've ever tasted. Thanks again!

Three Latest and Best

Comfort Food at Capital Grille: Met some friends for a casual supper at Capital Grille on Saturday night. Just what I needed -- comfort food on a cold and rainy night. I love you, lobster macaroni and cheese and truffle Parmesan French fries!

Best Roast Chicken Ever: Yes, it's true. I can make a foie gras au torchon but I can't roast a chicken. Good thing I have friends who take good care of me. Friday, it was a perfect supper with juicy moist chicken, crunchy, fresh Ceasar salad (loaded with anchovies, the best way) and a bottle of Paraduxx for dessert. (Bonus, breaded and fried giblets with onion confit -- liver and onions!)

Burger Love at MacNivens: Every once in a while, we all crave a great, greasy burger and mine of choice has always been the pounded-flat, peppery behemoth at MacNiven's. The secret? Fold it up in quarters and center it on the bun. Sometimes, I feel little dirty afterwards. (Oh, how can you be so wrong when you taste so right?)

Three Latest and Best

After a long two weeks of hibernating with cold and a work deadlines, I'm back and eating! Probably eating too much, but who's paying attention. There will be plenty of time to workout when the weather warms up!

Comfort Food at MacNiven's: After a day of sloppy snow and freezing cold, I was ready for dinner at MacNiven's. Beer didn't sound good but the the Strongbow Cider hit the spot. Inspired by the guy next to us, I opted for that wonderful, decadent, full-of-meaty-goodness French dip, a fully loaded roast beef topped with melted swiss and dipped in brown gravy instead of au jus. How can it be wrong when it's so right?

If It's Good Enough for Alec Baldwin: Hadn't been to Mikado in ages and had forgotten how much I liked the Japanese wood booths, awnings, and appealing private rooms (although their website seems to have gone missing.) Super-fresh yellowtail and mackeral were the order of the day. (Delish with the sweet spinach-sesame salad, the perfectly crunchy tempura, and the green tea and red bean paste treat at the end.) Apparently, Alec Baldwin has been in lately and wins points for knowing his Japanese food.

A Feast at India Garden: We hadn't yet been to the downtown India Garden for dinner, so a cold winter night was the perfect chance. I went with an Indian friend who educated me on what *really* to order. We feasted on the vegetarian thalia (a sampler of all the best dishes with rice, naan, and tapioca) and a loaded-with-saffron shrimp biryani. Oh, so satisfied.

Three Latest and Best

Hoegaarden at MacNiven's: You've got to love a beer pronounced "'ho-garden". It sounds like something they should serve at The Rathskeller on Friday nights in the summer. And of course, I loved it! A light Belgian wheat beer different from its heavy, overly sweet German counterparts. It was full-bodied, not too heavy, slightly sweet, with a nice texture, and a dryer finish. (I leave it to you to complete the rest of the analogy.)

Crispy Chips at Danelli: Is the bar at The Canterbury Hotel considered part of Danelli? Well, maybe. After our first cocktail, a friend and I decided to put down roots and eat in the bar. I'd heard about the miniature Kobe burgers on the happy hour menu (two drink minimum.) The star of the show?! The crispy potato chips with ranch dressing! They were fantastic! So thin, and crunchy, and just the right amount of salt and pepper. Go for the drinks. Stay for the chips!

Strata for Brunch: If you're doing a brunch, you can *not* go wrong with a warm cheese and vegetable strata. At the Arts and Antiques Show Brunch, this mushroom and cheese dish was a satisfying breakfast choice and worked well with the tables piled high with fresh fruit (and better than the stuffed tenderloin.) The mounds of raspberries alone were worth it. Sometimes, pastries just aren't enough. Eggs and cheese are always a good bet. Plus, it's hard to transform part of the cow barn at the fairgrounds into an elegant setting, but they somehow managed to make it work.