Dream Cuisine Cafe

We visited Dream Cuisine Cafe tonight, since Jay had a birthday certificate, and we had a great time!

We ordered from the prix-fixe menu, which was quite extensive - the only restriction was the salad: house salad, soup OR small bite, entree and dessert.

Jay ordered the house salad, pig crepinettes (pig's feet - yummy), whole Pennsylvania trout and chocolate tart for dessert (take home).







Ken ordered the house salad, grilled jumbo shrimp over rattatouiellle, Dream Cuisine surf and turf scallops and the apple tarte for dessert (take home).



After suggesting that they offer a cheese tray, Beth offered the following cheeses complimentary: boursin, goat cheese, gorgonzola (the creamiest ever!) and brie. They were a wonderful end to a nice evening.

Wines enjoyed:
2004 Marigny-Neuf Sauvignon (from Moore Brothers)


2005 Jean-Luc Columbo Les Abeilles Cotes du Rhone


We will definitely return and request a cheese platter. They may want to add crudites and fruit, as La Campagne does.

Monsoon (Indian)

After yesterday's disappointing meal, Jay had a hankering for some Indian food, so we visited Monsoon and had an enjoyable evening. Jay was hungry after work, so we went to Monsoon a bit early, arriving about 5:45 PM. We were promptly seated with no reservations.

Appetizers - Tandoor wings, which we'd had before, as takeout. We weren't disappointed. The wing pieces were huge and tasty.

We each ordered our own naan. Ken ordered the Lasooni Naan - with lots of garlic. Jay loves the Keema Naan - stuffed with minced lamb. Delicious and hot.

Entrees:
Jay ordered the Lamb Vindaloo, which was spicy and hot, but tolerable. She struggled, but finished the whole thing. Ken ordered the Kadai Shrimp, which he enjoyed. He couldn't finish and had to leave some on his place.

Wine enjoyed:
We finished the 2007 Ravens Wood Zinfandel from last night.

Even though we've ordered the takeout a few times, and Jay has been twice for the buffet lunch, dinner was a wonderful surprise. Ken's already talking about friends we can invite...

Barnacle Ben's (Seafood)

We went to Barnacle Ben's Seafood on Saturday with our friends, Larry and Linda, and were a bit disappointed.

Nice hot bread was devoured with lots of butter.

After ordering appetizers: scallops wrapped in bacon, crab wontons and coconut shrimp, we were notified that they were out of scallops. Instead we ordered the crab balls, which are always delicious. The coconut shrimp was cooked to perfection. The crab wontons were a bit tasteless inside.

The Gorgonzola salad that Jay and Linda ordered was delicious!

Our entrees:
Jay - seafood au gratin: instead of scallops; fish was substituted without being informed; side of pepper hash
Ken - surf and turf: the lobster was bland and tasteless; side of pepper hash
Larry - crab cake and lobster tail with asparagus: again, the lobster was bland and tasteless; sides of stewed tomatoes
Linda - pecan-crusted salmon with asparagus

They were out of the "starches" - wild rice and baked sweet potato, so we went without, but we were still charged for them!

It will be a while before they see us again...

Wines enjoyed:
2007 Ravens Wood Zinfandel
2007 Hanna Chardonnay
2009 Frontera Chile Sauvignon Blanc

MaraVillas (Italian)

On a humbug, we decided to visit MaraVillas Grill for the third time. Since it was last minute, we didn't bring wine, but had a good time nonetheless. Their menu selection is very good.

We tried the scampi bruschetta, which was butttery, garlicky and delicious. We devoured it in minutes.

We both ordered brick oven pizzas. Ken then had The Maxine (red) - pepperoni; Jay had the Sam (white) - sharp provolone, Asiago & goat cheese - chopped plum tomatoes, garlic and basil olive oil. We both ate our entire personal pizzas (which are a pretty good size).

We will return. Thanks Joe!

La Campagne (Jay's Birthday)

After much deliberation, La Campagne won for Jay's birthday on Sunday! We were not disappointed.

We requested, and were seated, by the fireplace. It was perfect on such a cold evening.



Our server, Heather, brought focaccia bread with herbed butter, to the table. Even Ken enjoyed the butter.

Both of us had specials as appetizers: Jay had the lobster tourine (pate) with a delicious lemon whipped accompaniment.



Ken enjoyed the smoke duck ravioli and he doesn't normally order duck.



Entrees were equally delicious. Jay enjoyed the venison with homemade pasta. It was just the perfect portion size and quite light.



Ken had the fish du jour - Mediterranean Sea Bass which came with three large shrimp with the heads on - so flavorful.



We finished with the cheese plate for 2 - Purple Haze (NJ sheep), Beemster (like gouda), Gorgonzola, Shepherd's Pillow (Goat), sliced pear, crudites, mustard, fig spread and strawberry spread - so good that Jay wanted more.



We enjoyed a 2005 Acacia Pinot Noir, which Jay doesn't normally like, but this was velvety. We also opened Jay's Christmas gift, Moet & Chandon Nectar Imperial, which is always delicious.

Tarantella Ristorante

In celebration of the New Year, we visited Tarantella Ristorante with our friends Terry and Mary. We had 6 PM reservations and were promptly seated. Everything was fresh and delicious!





Warm bread and bruschetta were brought to the table. Fresh salad - three different salad dressings provided.

Appetizers - mussels in white sauce - huge platter! Fried calamari, perfectly cooked, with a delicious gravy.

Jay had the crab and lobster bisque, thinking it would be a small cup, but it was a huge bowl and very creamy and delicious.

Ken ordered the scallops imperial - he barely finished his plate.



Mary enjoyed the veal oscar and had to take her lefoverss home.



Terry had the osso bucco - although there wer a lot of bones, he couldn't finish his either.



Jay was not very hungry and ordered the antipasto appetizer (prosciutto, salami, provolone, mozzarella, olives) and the fried smelts appetizer - she had to take most of both home!





Dessert was a berry tart - very light and delicious!



We also had complimentary homemade limoncello - it was smooth and lemony.

Wines enjoyed:
2005 Sterling Vintner's Collection Chardonnay
2001 Selvole Sangiovese Toscana



This was a great way to end 2009!