Allora (One of our Favorites!)

3 1/2 hour lunch! We had such a great time with Karin and George at Allora, 892 Route 73, Marlton, 08053 (856-596-6882) on Saturday, April 22, 2017.

We can't get enough of the bread, which comes with a chimichurri sauce.

We shared the following appetizers:

Suppli - crispy Italian risotto balls over imported San Marzano tomato sauce Roman style filled with meat, fiore di latte mozzarella, and tomato sauce. Tender and flavorful.

Stuffed Artichokes - prosciutto wrapped roman style artichokes filled with house made chicken sausage, broccoli rabe, oven roasted with lemon aglio. Delicious!

Fried Calamari - tender, lightly dusted served with a marinara sauce.

Not on the menu, but Ken requested the chicken sausage with figs, which comes with a crispy round of cheese. We will request this every time we come here!

We also shared the Shrimp and Crabmeat Fra Diablo - spicy goodness!

Karin and Jay shared the Porcini crusted corvina special, which was quite lovely.

We ordered Poppie's salad (instead of the Caesar salad) which came with the special. This salad was a medley of hearts of palm, roasted red peppers, artichokes, olives, Boston lettuce, tossed with a secret balsamic and extra virgin olive oil dressing. Yummy!

George and Ken shared the Veal Saltimbocca.

For dessert, we enjoyed the Lemon cake

and the Salted Caramel Cheesecake

Our server, Summer (and Mark!) was very attentive, even though there was a large party in the next room.

We love coming here! Kudos to Chef Mark!

Wines enjoyed:

2014 Montepulciano d"Abruzzo

Tres Yan + Wu

Jay and Ken had an enjoyable meal at Tres Yan + Wu, 3131 Route 38, Mount Laurel, NJ 08054, (856-608-8888), on Friday, April 14, 2017. No reservations, we just took a chance and were seated at a booth (yay!).

Our server, Kim, was very knowledgeable and attentive. Great experience!

Appetizers enjoyed:

The Salt and Pepper Calamari was quite flavorful. No sauce necessary.

Jay enjoyed her Sashimi Sampler (salmon, tuna, and fish).

Entrees:

Jay enjoyed the Mongolian Lamb, medium, which was extremely flavorful (some went home for the next day's lunch).

Ken was extremely satisfied with his Honey Shrimp with Walnut (Fuji apple underneath). A crab, cream cheese wonton came with the meal - so delicious. We'll order this as an appetizer next time.

We both ordered brown rice with our meal.

Dessert!

Ken loves apples, so he ordered the Apple Tart; Jay enjoyed the Salted Caramel Ice Cream, which normally is placed on top (why - don't destroy the beautiful tart!)

Wine enjoyed:

Delicious meal - we will return.

Bistro SouthEast (Vietnamese) - Philly

Our monthly 3-hour lunch took us to Bistro SouthEast, 1824 South Street, Philadelphia, PA 19146 (267-758-2838), since Ken wanted to celebrate his birthday there. It was a wonderful experience!

Appetizers:

We ordered two different types of wings. The wings are crunchy deliciousness!

Spicy Curry Wings (fried wings tossed with a blend of curry, Thai basil, lemongrass, Thai chili peppers, and finished off with a drizzle of curry mayo). This is our new favorite! Ken took an order home!

We also enjoyed the Thai Sweet Chili Wings (coated with mild Thai chili sauce).

The ENTREE:

We ordered the Seafood Boil Combo 4 in advance (1 pound of crawfish, 1 pound of shrimp, 1 pound of clams, 2 lobster tails, 4 corn, 4 potatoes, and 4 sausages). We chose the Crasian sauce, which is flavorful, full of garlic, and addictive!

The crawfish was the largest Jay had ever seen!

We enjoyed the seafood so much that there was very little wine drinking going on at the time. So good!

Next, we tried the Lobster Summer Roll (includes purple & white cabbage, carrots, peppers, mint, Thai basil, and vermicelli noodle; rolled up in thin rice paper). Came with peanut sauce and house made hoisin sauce. Very refreshing!

Ken loves the Bahn Mi, so Ken, George, and Karin shared the Lemongrass Pork Belly Banh Mi (served on toasted French baguette with pickled carrots, cucumber, cilantro, spicy mayo, and jalapeño peppers).

Ken took home the Vietnamese BBQ Pork Banh Mi. There was enough meat for 2 sandwiches! Delicious!

Dessert was Fried Bananas, which Ken, who normally doesn't like dessert, enjoyed:

Wines enjoyed:

 2015 Cotes du Rhone (White)

People kept looking at the menu, and walking away. If they only knew how fresh and delicious this food is, they would pack the place!

Pho Barclay

Ken took Jay, who was fighting a cold, to Pho Barclay, Barclay Farms Shopping Center, 65 Barclay Farms Shopping Center, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034 (856-216-8050), for lunch, on Monday, March 6, 2017.

Hot tea was good!

Ken loves the BBQ pork rolls...

He was craving the Pork Banh Mi, which is so flavorful.

Jay ordered the Hot and Sour Seafood Pho, which helped to soothe Jay's throat.

The Black Olive Greek Cuisine

Ken treated Jay to dinner (yes, again!) on Saturday, March 4, 2017, at the Black Olive Greek Cuisine, 910 Haddonfield Berlin Road, Voorhees, NJ 08043 (856-435-5500). We had a wonderful time! Jay was glad that she made an Open Table reservation, because the place was packed! Even so, we only had to wait a few minutes for a table by the window.

Appetizers

Ken loves that the Charcoal Grilled Jumbo Shrimp comes with the shells on to add even more flavor to the dish!

Ken loves the Pork Souvlaki - tender and flavorful!

The Octopus, marinated and charcoal grilled, was tender and addictive!

Entrees (we both ordered Specials)

Fresh salad came with both meals...

Jay ordered the Surf and Turf (lamb and scallops), which came with potatoes and green beans. Excellent!

Ken ordered the Branzino, filleted, and was not disappointed...

Coffee capped off Ken's meal.

Wines enjoyed: