January 3rd, 2019 § § permalink
HG has made HG’s followers envious with HG’s description of the wondrous Osso Buco Christmas Day dinner prepared by gifted daughter Lesley R.. Ah, Christmas at the Rhode Island home of Lesley, husband Massimo and daughters, Arianna and Sofia, captures all of the joy of family life. For many families, HG has observed over the years, buried hostilities emerge at holiday gatherings. Not when HG/BSK’s family gathers. Just warmth, love (great dining and presents galore).The only thing missing was the presence of HG/BSK’s son, Jeremy; his wife, Maiko (gifted chef and diminutive dynamo); Tall and handsome son, Haru; adorable daughter, Teru. Face Time was a blessing. Truly a miracle. HG thought HG had made a forlorn farewell to Osso Buco. Fortunately no. For HG/BSK, last Rhode Island dinner before traveling back to New Mexico, was pappardelle with a sauce of left over Osso Buco. Best ever use of left overs.
January 2nd, 2019 § § permalink
Los Andes restaurant in Providence, RI, was the site of a joyous birthday dinner for HG/BSK’s distinguished son-in-law, Profesore/Dottore/Ufficiale Massimo R. Following Italian custom, Massimo was the host and paid for the copious amount of food and drink. (It was Max Beerbohm who said: “Why does food always taste better when someone else is paying for it?). HG has often written about Los Andes which is a dining must whenever HG/BSK are in Rhode Island. The atmosphere is happy, festive, crowded. Service is very efficient. Often, there’s live music. (Alas, not on birthday night). The food is Peruvian. Super Pisco Sours. Ceviche. Grills. Whipped potato appetizers (unique and tasty). Much else. Big menu and big portions. Modest prices. HG/BSK and their gifted daughter, Lesley R, brilliant and beautiful granddaughters, Arianna and Sofia, Birthday Boy Massimo, tore into the food and wine with gusto. Memorable fun.
January 2nd, 2019 § § permalink
Tasty food evening. Started with Armenian and other Middle Eastern treats in the beautiful new kitchen of HG’s daughter’s close friends/neighbors. HG was introduced to a special caraway seed Aakavit. Pungent stuff. Then off to Cheng Du Taste, a hole-in-the-wall Szechuan restaurant in Pawtucket, R.I.. To get there, five hungry eaters had to follow a winding complex of streets from the Riva Rhode Island home. Well worth it (even with a 15-minute wait). Very flavorful food served swiftly and piping hot. Mo Po Tofu. Chicken with eggplant in garlic sauce. Sliced fish in chile oil. Pork dumplings. Soup dumplings. Pepper and salt prawns. There was divided opinion. HG raved but the others said that since the menu was so similar to the much more convenient Chonquing House in Providence, Cheng Du Taste was’t worth the longer trip. Who to trust? Choose HG since the senior gent has been consuming Chinese food in various locales for some 80 years. Experience counts.
