Foodie Hits and Misses

This past week held both highs and lows in our own little patch of the foodie world. I wanted to briefly share a few:

• Homemade lamb meatballs and tzadsiki sauce at a friend’s dinner party.
• Chocolate covered peanut butter cheesecake wedges on a stick, chocolate truffles, and homemade shortbread at same dinner party.
• Cured English shoulder bacon from The Belmont Butchery and used to make omelets (along with mozzarella and home-grown chives). The bacon was more ham-like (akin to a salt-cured country ham). A bit pricey, but delicious for brunch!
• Roasted turkey and bacon sandwich at The Edible Garden for lunch. We also liked the squash bisque. We must go back for dinner, soon. However, if the weather is cold, dress very warmly. The “sun room” held little in the way of heat.
• The lights at Lewis Ginter and a warming Latte from Espresso-a-go-go.
• A bottle of 2006 Piko Pinot Noir from New Zealand and the Tuna ‘Tini at Osaka in the River Road area. We also enjoyed the Shrimp Tempura Roll and the Christmas Roll. And we also were thankful that they were open on a Sunday evening.
• The low turned out to be Pomegranate’s in Shockoe Slip. Our main courses were mysteriously delayed. My pork tenderloin had little taste and the potato rosti was burnt. I will say that the roasted pear that accompanied the dish was heavenly. When my husband’s scallops arrived, we looked to see if maybe one had dropped out of the bowl. He received two medium-sized ones, which turned out to be $12 per scallop. While he liked the taste, there was a bitterness at the pit of the stomach when you realized you have been hoodwinked.
• We ended the week on an up note with a thick bone in pork chop from The Fresh Market that was smothered in crushed green peppercorns, sea salt, and homegrown oregano and sage and olive oil. The chops were pan seared and then roasted in the oven.