Old School Italian at Angela's

Angela's Ristorante is so old school I could not find an official website or Facebook page. Maybe it doesn't matter. On a Friday night the place filled quickly with regular patrons generating a neighborhood camaraderie that testifies to Angela's staying power.

The decor is a bit dated. It looks like it was established primarily as a pizza and pasta joint and then ventured out to other traditional Italian dishes. Our wonderfully capable and affable waitress told us that the kitchen had been expanded a few years ago.

Welcome to Angela's

The bar/hostess station contains all the basics and generous Manhattans were served to our table. We received menus and were immediately overwhelmed. Pages of offerings and a separate page of specials. We kept looking over the veal selections.

Angela's also features a small wine list. Generally, I find that traditional Italian places have a mediocre wine list with low-end Chiantis and Montepulciano's at sky-high prices. Not here. We had some decent choices from California at prices we could live with.

From some of the dishes served up at other tables we knew portions were large, so we did not order an appetizer. We finally decided upon the Veal Pizzaiola, which was served with a choice of pasta. I chose angel hair tossed with garlic and olive oil.

So here is the thing that really impressed me. Our waitress noticed we had only gotten through half of our Manhattans when we put in our order. She asked if we wanted to have the kitchen wait 5-10 minutes before cooking our meal. We immediately said yes! Such a delight to experience that attention to detail.

We finished our cocktails at a leisurely pace before dinner arrived.

And wow! did dinner arrive. The Veal Pizzaiola was huge. Tender cutlets smothered in a crushed tomato marinara with melted mozzarella. The side of pasta was a generous serving, too, and reeked of garlic in a good way. The dish was everything that I expected: over-the-top and yummy.

A generous serving of Veal Pizzaiola

Italian comfort food with lovely service and delicious leftovers for another night. Being old school has its joys.

Angela's is located at 425 N. Ridge Rd. in the Tuckahoe Shopping Center.

Pomegranate in Carytown

In the early Spring we wandered into Pomegranate for dinner. On that Friday night they still had a table available.

Hubby wanted to try the gnocchi. Unfortunately, they had just switched to their new Spring menu and it was not available. Disappointing, but the only disappointment of the evening.

We toasted our incredible lack of gnocchi luck with a Milanese Manhattan and then ordered a bottle of The Possessor, a Tooth and Nail red blend from California. Loved the wine; loved the label.

 

To begin our meal we ordered Roasted Veal Marrow Bones with Watercress and Radish Salad. Kind of a Winter into Spring starter. The marrow bones were rich and full of flavor; the salad, light and zesty.

For entrees I chose a traditional Steak and Frites accompanied by grilled ramps. All very tasty and so nice to welcome in Spring with the ramps. The large portion meant leftovers for a future dinner at home.

Hubby had the Italian Sausage with Pickled Mustard Seed, Spinach, and Spaetzle. The portion looked deceivingly small, but turned out to be just right and delicious.

We enjoyed great food. We also experienced excellent service from the talented Ashley. Her cheerful demeanor and patience as we perused cocktail and wine lists and her timing ensured that we had a most incredible evening.

An Evening of Specials at Tastebuds American Bistro

Yes, Tastebuds American Bistro is still my favorite dining spot in RVA. Hubby and I look forward to the weekly email listing the specials for the weekend. We then email each other to indicate we must eat there this weekend. We try to make reservations on Open Table and sometimes will leave a message. These guys ALWAYS read the messages. On this occasion I just stated "Yeah veal." We were set to dine on a Saturday. About an hour before dinner, we receive a call from Valentina making sure I still wanted veal. They had an early run of veal orders and wanted to make sure they reserved an order for me.  Talk about customer service.

And Andrew and Valentina do not reserve their customer service just for me and hubby. Take the wine we enjoyed on this trip - MacRostie Pinot Noir. Tastebuds American Bistro regularly hosts a table of four who always orders a pinot noir. Andrew ensures that pinot noir is on his list, but not just any run-of-the-mill stuff. He wants the pricing to be reasonable, while introducing the regulars to an expanded palate of the grape nectar. Hubby and I reap the benefits. It's all good. And despite my usual aversion to California pinots, I thoroughly enjoyed this one. It had enough punch for me and a lingering cherry essence. I can be such a sucker for cherriness in a wine.

For dinner we started with a Shrimp Saganaki with fresh tomato, feta, and a touch of ouzo. What a great dish. Tons of flavor. The licoriceness of the ouzo really made this dish special. We had to request extra rolls to sop up all of the feta and tomato sauce.

And, indeed, I had veal scallopini with fresh fig sauce and a green peppercorn-lemon risotto cake. Tastebuds has delicious veal and I love if when the fresh figs arrive and they utilize them in different ways. The fig sauce was delightful and different. The risotto cake featured a refreshing lemon accent. Lovely fruits of the summer.

Hubby selected seared scallops with pancetta cracklings and housemade wide fettucine. He greatly enjoyed his meal. The generous portion of pancetta crackling was particularly appreciated.

We also enjoy eating here because not only are Andrew and Valentina a wonderful and welcoming couple, but the rest of the staff also makes our experience special. Currently, James, Leanne, and Greg all say hello; ask us about our day; and other places we have eaten at lately. They understand we are here to enjoy the food, but to also relax and take a slow approach to dinner. This combination of good food and good staff along with the fortunate walking distance location keep us coming back time and again.

Tonight's Specials at Tastebuds American Bistro

Hubby and I enjoyed some lovely awesomeness at Tastebuds American Bistro last night. All of the dishes we consumed were part of the weekend specials. The specials are also available this evening. Go enjoy! Remember, you can make reservations on Open Table.

Here was our line up:

Blackberry Bourbon Smash - Larceny bourbon, blackberry cordial, lemon, and fresh sage.  A great start to the evening.  Andrew features a special cocktail and local draft beers every weekend.

Crab Fritters with Pequillo Pepper Remoulade. A wonderful balance of crab and hushpuppies.

Veal Schnitzel with Red Cabbage and Roasted Potatoes. We so enjoy the veal specials at Tastebuds. Last night's schnitzel was particularly tasty. The veal was so tender it melted in the mouth. The roasted potatoes were seasoned just right with salt and pepper (and all of the potatoes were done - sometimes restaurants overlook this important aspect when it comes to roasting potatoes). The red cabbage came out steaming hot and added a touch of winter sweetness to the meal.

Poached Bosc Pear with Whipped Goat Cheese and Fig and Brandy Reduction. Admittedly, dinner was plentiful, but at times dessert can be irresistible. The poached pear was a nice light choice. The pear was still a bit firm, but all of the graininess had disappeared and the pear was not very sweet (which I appreciated). The sweetness came from the goat cheese and the fig and brandy reduction. An elegant end to a wonderful meal.

So happy this place decided to land in my neighborhood!

Where to Eat in Bar Harbor Maine

We enjoyed visiting Bar Harbor, Maine. Lots of shops and restaurants. During September, as long as a cruise ship wasn't docked, the town was peaceful. Acadia National Park was nearby. All of the elements to make a great vacation spot for us.

In this post I will focus on the places we ate at. All of these places I would recommend.

First up is Jordan Pond House located within Acadia National Park and the only one that we drove to. We attempted to get lunch there a couple of days and the place was so packed that we opted for somewhere else. We did take advantage of the afternoon Tea and Popover service. A pot of tea of your choice served with two piping hot popovers along with butter and strawberry jam. Delightful.

Another lunch spot that would also be great for dinner is Blaze. They have the only beer that I can really tolerate on draft: Franziskaner. We shared lobster tacos and a tomato and basil wood-fired pizza. We sat outside and enjoyed the sunny weather.

We discovered a from-scratch bakery for breakfast called Morning Glory. Lots of locals hung out here, too.

For dinner we visited four very different places and had a lovely time at each one.

Mache Bistro is a tiny French restaurant and very popular. We were very fortunate to obtain a cozy table for two after a brief wait (long enough to order a glass of wine). We started with Marinated Olives and then proceeded to devour Beef and Shrimp over Mashed Potatoes and Duck Confit over Creamy Polenta. The wine was a Saint -Emilion from Bordeaux. Dessert, a shared Creme Caramel. An awesome meal.

The following evening we trekked to The Looking Glass Restaurant. It was just out of town and up a steep hill. A bit dark walking back to our hotel. The place itself was a large octagonal structure with blond wood and glass all around. The patio also had a fire pit. During daylight hours, the view should be stunning. Since we worked so hard getting there, we started with a Manhattan. Then had House and Caesar Salads. A Simi Cab was ordered for dinner and our entrees consisted of a Mixed Seafood Grill (scallops, shrimp, and lobster tail) and Filet and Lobster Tail (special for the evening). To fortify us for the walk back we finished up with an Irish Coffee. Wonderful food and a great place for folks who want more of a traditional menu offering.

The next night we decided to try this Italian place tucked a couple of blocks away from the main drag called Mama Dimatteo's. The place was not very busy, but the menu looked decent, so we took a chance. We ordered a Beronia Rioja for the meal and had traditional Italian dishes - Bucatini Bolognese and Veal Parmesan. Both well executed and tasty.

Our last night we spiced it up with a trip to Havana. As the name would lead one to believe, the space is colorful and airy. I had a true rum and cola with a Mexican Pepsi (made with sugar instead of corn syrup). We then ordered Lamb Meatballs and a Cuban-influenced Tuna Torte with Crispy Chips for appetizers. To enjoy with dinner we ordered a Stag's Leap Petite Syrah. For entrees we had Seafood Paella and a Filet Mignon with Chili Peppers. To end our meal we splurged on a flight tasting of ruby port: Ferreira 2000, Warre's 1997, Churchill's 1994, Warre's 1980. What an incredible opportunity. We have seen port flights before, but never a vintage flight. And a 1 ounce pour of each was only $22. Our order peaked the owner's interest and he visited our table to chat about port. Sipping wonderful port was a fitting end to our vacation.

Don't ask me for a favorite. I would go back to any of these depending on mood and what I had a hankering for. We were fortunate to find so many places that we truly enjoyed.

Bar Harbor offered us everything we wanted from a vacation spot - natural awesomeness nearby, great places to eat and drink within walking distance. I recommend going during lulls in the season. I imagine the place can be a zoo during peak times and would leave a very different impression.

Richmond Folk Festival 2012

Greetings all. You may or may not have missed me. Hubby and I have been gallivanting up and down the east coast on vacation with a few local festivals in between. Since I take a ton of photos, I've been busy editing and uploading all manner of visual stimulation.

My favorite RVA festival, hands-down, is the Richmond Folk Festival. We managed to attend all three days. The weather was wonderful. We like to mix it up a bit by listening to some wonderful performances and then enjoying dinner at one of the restaurants nearby.

On Friday before the festival began, we enjoyed a cocktail at Bistro 27 along with Fried Calamari at the bar.

While we there, Phil Wiggins arrived at the bar for a beer and the Beef Carpaccio.

At the festival we began on a Celtic note with the Liz Carroll Trio and some mighty fine Cape Breton and Irish fiddling.

We ended up at Chez Foushee for dinner. The Steak with Bordelaise Sauce and Truffle Salt Fries and Duck Confit with Candied Orange Peel Gastrique ended up being very satisfying choices. The orange sauce in the duck dish was subtle and gave the rice a slightly sweet and slightly tannic edge. A Milbrandt Vineyards Cab complemented both dishes.

On Saturday, we arrived around noon and enjoyed a wonderful Jambalaya from Gail's Gumbo House. Gail is local and the "better half" of Big Daddy's BBQ. You can also find Gail dishing up BBQ and Gumbo at the South of the James Market most Saturdays.

We experienced wonderful musical performances including Forro Pe De Serra All Stars and Nathan and the Zydeco Cha-chas.

Everyone rocked the Dominion Dance Pavilion. As usual, what a fun time.

We drifted over to the Community Stage to catch the American Indian Music and Dance Show as well as James "Super Chikan" Johnson and the Fighting Cocks. Super Chikan turned out to be my favorite act. These guys were so good and I appreciated the fact that all of the "Fighting Cocks" were women. If you get a chance make sure you catch a performance somewhere. I loved Lala on the keyboards and Heather on the bass was always cool and in the groove sporting bared feet.

After we revived from our blues-kicking experience we wandered over to Bistro Bobette to see if they had any tables available. We had not dined here in a very long time. Not because we didn't want to; it just did not happen. The sign of an incredible place is when they still recognize you and treat you as an old friend. Olivier, the bartender, greeted us enthusiastically and set us up with a nice table despite our t-shirts and somewhat dusty jeans. One of the owners also welcomed us warmly. We really felt like we had returned home. Hubby ordered the Arctic Char with a white wine pesto. He thoroughly enjoyed it. I could not resist ordering the Veal Tenderloin with a garlic, rosemary, and red pepper sauce. Most excellent. The touch of red pepper was a special treat along with a few sprigs of fresh oregano. We enjoyed a lovely and silky Burgundy with the meal.

Our aim on Sunday was to attend the Blues House Party with Nathan Williams, James Johnson, Phil Wiggins, and John Dee Holeman among others. What a great jam session. This was the best performance of the festival (at least for us).

John Dee Holeman

Phil Wiggins

One last bit and it was an unexpected delight. The folkways exhibits featured Fried Apple Pies. My Grandma used to make these half-moon shaped desserts for every family gathering and I loved them. She used dried apples and lots of spices and rolled out her own dough. I never got her recipe (she passed away before I became interested in cooking). I have run across fried apple pies in different places, but none of them had dried apples. Well, Frances Davis gave me a sweet taste of nostalgia on the final day of the Folk Festival. The dough was slightly different, but after one taste I knew it would be the closest I would get to my favorite childhood dessert.

The booth handed out recipes and I am including it here.

For the Pie Crust

4 cups plain flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 cups shortening
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup milk

Sift flour, baking powder, and salt into a bowl. Take out 2/3's of this mixture and mix with 1/2 cup milk to form a paste. Add the shortening to remaining flour and blend until pieces are the size of small peas. Add flour paste to shortening flour mixture. Mix well until dough comes together and can be shaped into a ball. Roll out crust 1/8 inch thick. Make five pie crusts. Use more liquid if you desire softer dough.

For the Pie Filling

6 cups dried apples
3 teaspoons allspice
3 1/2 cups sugar
1 tablespoon salt

Mix all ingredients together in a large sauce pan. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly until thick. Cool overnight before making pies.

This is the end of the recipe. I assume the next steps are to place the apples onto the pie crust, fold over, crimp, and fry in hot oil. In any case, a delicious taste of the past.

If you have never attended the Richmond Folk Festival, you are missing out on one of the best things that RVA has to offer. First of all, it's FREE!!! and they provide shuttle buses if you are not interested in finding parking downtown (also free). The wide variety of music is phenomenal and all of the performers are incredible. A great way to enjoy a weekend and discover new music and cultures.