Hungry for the City of Light!

In exactly one week, I'm going to be eating my way through Paris!!  I've been eating healthy and exercising in anticipation for my gluttonous vacation, so far I've lost a pound which I plan to gain back through endless carbs.

I've never been to France, but I know I need to learn a few phrases to get me by.  My pronunciation is going to be horrid - but at least I'm going to try.  Hopefully the French will give me a gold star for effort.

So what am I going to eat in Paris?  I'm definitely going to try lots of breads and pastries, especially Pain au Chocolat or Chocolate Croissant.  See, I'm trying already!


Then there are loads of Crêpes to enjoy, which I will do anytime I'm hungry while I wander the gorgeous city.


 Other dishes I'm planning on trying there include...

Beef bourguignon, which will be my go-to-dish when I have NO idea what a menu is talking about and the waitstaff doesn't understand my allergy to dairy.  I think its a fail safe way to eat in Paris.

My other safety meal if I can't figure out what's what on a menu is coq au vin.  Believe me when I say that I'll try my best to navigate a menu in French, but sometimes French is REALLY confusing!  I heard tales of people ordered a dish and it turned out to be horse!!! 

I have no problem with people eating unique animals, but I happen to love horses and could never eat what many consider a pet.  This goes for cats, dogs, some bird and frogs.  I had pet frogs growing up, so I'm not about to eat me some frogs legs.


And my favorite of all safe-meals will most likely be the steak frites, which I rely on almost everywhere I go.  You should have seen how many times I ate prego no prato (steak with french fries and a fried egg) in Portugal. YUM!

Doesn't that look amazing???  EEE I can't wait!!!

Adam and I are also excited for some delicious, fresh escargot.  Many might thing this is gross, but they're really tasty.  If you can eat a clam or mussel - then you can at least try one of these little guys.  They're similar in texture without the grit you get in mollusks.  I think they're tender and tasty.  They mostly taste of butter and garlic, but does that just tasty delicious!


These are hard to get fresh and cheap in NYC, so we're going to eat up when we can in Paris.

We're also going to try and learn something about wine.  I haven't the faintest clue when it comes to wine - which my lovely Danielle can attest for - but if I'm giong to learn anything, it might as well be in the wine capital of the world!

I also read that Paris has some amazing ethnic restaurants including North African, Chinese, Vietnamese, Laotian and Thai cuisine.  I'm down for some tasty ethnic food and have no problem deviating from the norm while I'm abroad. 

The one things I'm still scared to try are moules since I had food poisoning a few weeks ago from a French cafe in the Lower East Side.  Yuck!  It'll probably be a long time before I can eat a mussel again.  ::sigh::

Anyone have a recommendation on a must-try eatery in Paris?? 

Playing Ketchup

I know, I know... I've been REALLY bad about writing posts lately. 

Between earthquakes and hurricanes its really hard to find the time to sit down and blog.  Excuses, excused - alas, here is a summary of what I've been up to in the last few weeks.

Adam's best friend Jeremy visited in early August for two weeks and we ate oodles of tasty food.  Most of what we ate I've blogged about, except for pizza.

Yes, I ate a slice of pizza.  It was a MAGNIFICENT slice and I savored every single hot and melty bite.

If I ever break my No Cheese Rule, it is for a really awesome slice of pie from just a few places, Carmine's Original Pizza in Greenpoint. 


I pass it every single day on the way and come from work.  It's torture, but every so often when its not too hot outside and can handle a few hives over a few days I'll cave in and enjoy a slice of heaven.

It's a tiny, hole in the wall joint with just a few seats and a window so you can order while standing outside.  Nothing has changed about this place in what feels like 25 years - but really it could far longer.

Adam loves their pepperoni, which is a damn good choice, but I'm a fan of the original.  It's perfect and simple - the way a slice should be enjoyed.

It's hard to find a better slice of authentic Brooklyn pizza.  Trust me, I know. 

The other big event to hit Brooklyn, besides the incredible Jeremy Craven visiting, was Hurricane Irene.  Everyone was freaking out and going nuts in my area.  People didn't know whether to evacuate or stay put with lots of supplies.  It felt very surreal and I'm glad nothing actually happened in my area besides a few trees being falling.

To prepare, Adam and I bought a flashlight, some non-perishable foods like canned soups,  peanut butter, bread, eggs (yes you do NOT have to refrigerate eggs) and granola bars.  Plus lots of beer - which seemed to be the theme of the hurricane.  We had some blankets, tape, candles and water set aside just in case.  My only concern was a broken window(s) since we're on the first floor and a corner house with tons of windows and trees suspiciously nearby.  We also filled the tub with water because apparently your toilet won't flush if the power goes out, or something like that.  I don't know but I didn't a non-functioning toilet for any amount of time.

It was BORING to wait for the storm to hit and I actually had to cancel an amazing 30th birthday bash for my lovely friend Liz's 30th in Atlantic City.  I was not a happy camper over the hurricane weekend.  I did, however, make awesome breakfasts each day including the one to the right.

My adviser at work gave me his old waffle iron, so I made some waffles with fresh strawberries and REAL maple syrup (accept no substitutions to the real thing), scrambled eggs just the way Adam likes 'em and chicken sausage.  It was an epic meal for a not-so-epic weekend.  This breakfast was mightier than Irene (in Brooklyn, I can't speak for anywhere else and understand that many people were devastated by the storm).   My heart goes out to those who were hurt or lost during Hurricane Irene!  She was forgiving to some and cruel to others, which is extraordinarily unfortunate.

 On Sunday, after Irene had passed NYC, I needed to get the hell out of my apartment.  I was going stir crazy, which was a common affliction in my area.  Every one was out and about, taking photos of the damage or lack there of.   Adam and I hit up a friend's rooftop to have a tasty beverage. 

Adam summoning Dagon... (it's a Lovecraft thing, don't ask).

I really couldn't have been happier to get out of my apartment.  I was so bored the whole weekend, although it was restful. 

Adam made me watch the entire Star Wars Trilogy (4, 5 and 6 cause those are the only ones that count and on original VHS).  So what if I fell asleep during the ewok dancing scene.  I've seen it a thousand times and I was pooped...

Yay for no more Irene!!!

Although Irene was a real bitch, she left some pretty clouds and a lovely sunset.  

Over Labor Day weekend, I spent more time on a rooftop, this time having a ghetto fabulous BBQ.  I bought this ridiculous disposable BBQ at Walgreens for $10 and it actually worked really well!! 

Being the classy folks that we are, we had burgers, hotdogs and canned pineapple. 

Zac made himself a double burger with grilled pineapple and enough mayonnaise to make our friend Tubby jump off a building.  (Tubby hates mayo)


It kind of looks like cheese, but no that is in fact a shit ton of mayo.  Gross!

Someone likes mayo a little too much...

I had mine sans mayonnaise but with lots of chips and a pickle. 

I love BBQs even if I'm just having a really simple meal.  There's something about cooking outdoors that makes food taste better.

Perhaps is our primordial sides kicking in?

Hopefully the weather stays nice enough so we can have a few more BBQs before the terrible NYC weather kicks in. 

Cafe Rakka Rocks My Socks!

I'm not the only one I know who likes good food, Adam is quite the foodie and I appreciate all the great places he's introduced me to over the last 5 years.  (wow, can't believe how time flies!)

One such place was introduced to him by a friend, I forget who though.  It was the go-to spot when he was working at an old bar that closed down in what seems like a past life.

Cafe Rakka, located at 81 St. Mark's Place near 1st Ave, serves just about the best gyro in NYC.  I've had a fair share of them over the years, but theirs is just too tasty for words and it keeps us coming back for more.



Their food is fresh, flavorful and really affordable.

I always go for their gyro sandwich ($5.50), which has a mix of chicken and lamb with lettuce, tomatoes and onions.  In the past I always opted for sauce on the side.

Looks like I've been missing out on their awesome tahini sauce, which is sesame based and has no dairy. 



 

My friend, Tommy, also got the gyro sandwich but had them put the sauce directly on it.  Looks so much tastier with sauce!

They also have a killer hot sauce that really enhances the flavor of the whole thing.

It's a messy but delicious meal.  But be prepared to eat this with a fork since it always falls apart.  They put the meat at the bottom and they really pack it!






Adam wanted to try something different, since he always gets the gyro.  He went for the shish kebab platter this time.

I warned him that it's huge, but I didn't think he was expecting this massive portion of food for just $12.

It came with a hearty portion of grilled meat, lamb I believe, with flavorful cous cous and a huge portion of hummus.  Cut pita bread was served on the side to enjoy with the hummus.

I thought this was a steal for $12.   I really liked each of the sides and thought they went together well.  I would totally order this the next time I came, but I'd probably end up taking most of it home as left overs.

What we didn't order, but is really good here, is the lentil soup - so check it out if you stop by.

I love me some Cafe Rakka! 

Rock, Rock, Rockaway Beach!

Considering how gross it is outside with NYC setting a record for most rainfall yesterday, I figured a little food porn and sunshine might brighten the day.

Over the last two months, I've made my way down to the Rockaways on my trusty bike on a number of occasions.  I know everyone is calling the Rockaways Hipster Beach or McCarren Beach - but its still a lot of fun and there are some really great eateries to check out.

We usually go for a nice swim before eating, but on occasion I'll have to spoil my appetite for an Italian ice, which vendors sell up and down the beach.

Zac is enjoying a rainbow ice, while I'm indulging in the coconut.  I'm a HUGE fan of anything coconut, yum!

Is there anything better than a sweet, cold icey on a super hot sunny day?  Perhaps a cold and good wheat beer... yes that is definitely better than an ice but alas I didn't have a bar nearby and I think there is a restriction on bringing alcohol on this particular beach.  Not that everyone wasn't doing it anyway.  But I sure as hell don't want a ticket...  

Recently discovered there was a plethora of tastiness to be had on the boardwalk through this article.  Also, this.

Adam enjoying some tasty food!

Sometimes it takes a while to get food.  We usually split up the purchases since there are multiple vendors and not everyone wants the same thing.  

I'm a sucker for anything fried, so I've been hitting up the Motorboat and the Big Banana, which has fresh fried seafood and apparently frozen bananas.  I hate bananas so I would never get one, but I trust they're good for those who like gross, long, mushy yellow phallic fruit.


After eating here a few times, the best thing to get is an order of french fries, since they're fresh cut and truly delicious, along with some sandwiches. 

Here we have the shrimp and fries platter ($7.50).  It's more fries than shrimp, but they're really good shrimp. 

I got the fish sandwich ($7.50), which is out of this world!  The bread is buttered and toasted, as all bread should be.  The slaw on it is fresh, sweet and crunchy.  The tarter they make has a nice kick to it.  Overall, its a superb fried fish sandwich.

Zac to the right is ready to take on this colossal meal!  They give you these fun tooth-pick forks to eat your fries with, which is what is in Zac's mouth over here...

Saw hello to my not-so-little sandwich!! 

Adam didn't feel like eating fried shrimp or fish, so he opted for the thai joint, Ode to the Elephants, which might just be the best name ever for anything.  I super <3.

The only prob with this place was how long it took the kitchen to turn out everything.  Zac and I ordered our food, got our food, got a pitcher of beer and picked at our food longingly until Adam showed up with two items.  It was really ridiculous, but its sunny, warm and they don't serve whine with our food, so we were patient.

I asked him to order me the chicken satay skewers ($4) cause I was afraid my fish sangwich wasn't going to fill me up.  I sometimes have WAY bigger eyes than stomach, especially after biking 18 miles. 


My skewers were really good, actually cooked over a real fire and the peanut sauce was really tasty.  It was a mighty portion for $2 per skewer and more than enough to share.

Adam accidentally ordered the wrong thing.  He wanted to get the Shrimp Summer Rolls ($6) since they looks fresh and light for a hot day, but ordered the Shrimp and Chicken Spring Rolls ($6) which are these above.  They not so healthy but very tasty!


We all ended up sharing and enjoying the food and drinking a couple of pitchers.  I was so full that I could barely walk back to the ocean to beach myself on my towel.  Maybe not the best look in a bikini, oh well! 

On another occasion at the Rockaways, we had some Blue Bottle Coffee drinks, which were good.  I had their hot chocolate, which wasn't my fave since they use a more bitter chocolate than I'm used to.  Adam raved about the coffee though, so if that's your thang definitely try some of their special slow drip brew.

Overall, the food here keeps me coming back for me.  Sure I have my fill of Caracas Arepas Bar in Williamsburg and the East Village, but some of the other options are fun and different from the usual summer fare.  Plus, sitting by the beach is a major plus.   If only they had better beer/alcohol options.  The bar next to The Motorboat and the Big Banana is limited and expensive.  They raised their bud light pitcher from $12 (beginning on summer) to $15 (current price).  Sorry, but at no point is it okay to charge that much for carbonated pee-water that can't give a buzz to save its life.

There are only a few weeks left of summer, so get down to the Rockaways while you can! 

Celebrating 5 Years at Vinegar Hill House

Adam and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary on Friday by enjoying a lovely meal at Vinegar Hill House.

We've been meaning to go for years, but never had the chance.  Danielle and Mark were raving about it and figured our anniversary was the perfect excuse to splurge on something tasty.

DUMBO isn't the easiest area to get to, especially from Greenpoint, so we took the East River Ferry for the first time.

If you haven't ventured on the ferry yet, you should.  It was only $4 and we loved the ride.  The ferries were so fast that we barely had time to take in the beautiful view of the city.   I wish it was a viable way for me to commute in the morning, but at least I have an easy way to get around the NYC waterfront.

When we docked in DUMBO, we had a bit of a walk to Vinegar Hill House, but I always enjoy exploring neighborhoods I'm not familiar with.

I've been to DUMBO on numerous occasions, I just never walked around extensively, instead I stick to the same streets over and over again.


We tried to get to the restaurant as early as possible since it was Friday evening and they don't accept reservations on the weekend.  We expected to wait but were seated right away by the window.   I wished we had sat in their adorable backyard, but our spot was great regardless.

Unfortunately due to my dairy allergy, I was limited to only a few entrees on their menu. 

We first started with their special appetizer of fresh sardine on a crispy crostini with wax beans, cherry tomatoes and basil.

I was surprised to find only one sardine, considering this was an $11 item, but like I always say "quality over quantity."

This dish was superb!  The fish was perfectly cooked and every ingredient enhanced the oily, fishy flavor of the sardine.  The crostini melted in your mouth and added a nice crunch to the delicate fish.  So yeah, it was worth the $11 and we savored ever bite.

Adam ordered the striped bass, which came with wood grilled eggplant and poblano peppers with a side of yogurt ($23).  It was a beautiful piece of fish, perfectly good and simply seasoned.  Fish this good doesn't need fancy dressings.  Adam doesn't like eggplant, so I lucked out and got to enjoy them instead.

I love eggplant, and these were particularly delicious since they were cooked over a real fire.  You could taste the difference!

This special dish of the night consisted of elbow pasta with grilled squid, cranberry beans, bread crumbs and seaweed ($17).  It seemed like a very simple dish, but as I slowly ate it, the flavors combined in unexpected ways.  Yes, it was very simple with just a few ingredients, but it worked and I enjoyed it.  This is the perfect summer pasta dish.  Light, but interesting with contrasting textures, which I'm a huge fan of.  The squish was cooked perfectly, so it was soft.  The beans had that mushy texture and then the bread crumbs added a crunch.  When you put everything in your mouth at the same time, this dish really sang.

With Adam's eggplant and this dish, I felt satisfied but not disgustingly full - which is how I usually feel after dinner.  Good thing I wasn't too full because their dessert was amazing!

I ordered the Guinness Chocolate Cake with cream cheese frosting ($8).  Needless to say I would come back just for this, it was that good.  The cake was moist with a rich, chocolately flavor.  The cream cheese frosting (which I know I'm not supposed to eat) was the best I've ever had in my entire life.  It was so smooth and thick I thought I was going to die. 

Every bite of this was heaven... oh man I can't stop thinking about it!!! AHhHH!!

Adam ordered the Salted Caramel Custard with coconut shortbread ($8).  I really couldn't eat much of this, so only had a little taste.  It was really intense!  The custard really tasted of salted caramel, which I love, but this was super concentrated.  It was really good and went well with the light whipped cream and shortbread cookies that brought out the sweetness in the dish and toned down the salty flavor of the custard.

Adam couldn't finish this dish, so its really the perfect dessert to share with someone.  After a while you get sick of the rich salty flavor, but that's just me.   

Overall, Vinegar Hill House was spectacular!  They were so unbelievable nice to us regardless of how crazy it got throughout the night.  By the time we left there was a huge line outside.  Thank goodness we came early! 

So definitely check this place out for fresh, inventive fare.  I'll definitely be back to try the winter menu and their brunch - all of which I'm sure is amazing.

Thank you Vinegar Hill House for making my anniversary so special.  <3

The Girl and the Goat

As I get more and more into food, not just the eating of it, but the reading of it, I'm noticing restaurant and chef names mentioned over and over again.

So when I discovered that a particular restaurant that my favorite turkey Mark worked at was one of these famed places, I wanted to learn more about his experience working at what many consider one of the best restaurants in the US.

When Adam and I mentioned our interest in Girl and the Goat, it was decided that we would check it out on Sunday during our trip to Chicago.  The amazing restaurant, the brainchild of Stephanie Izard, winner of the fourth season of Top Chef, is just a truly fun place to hang out and eat your face off.  Definitely check out their website and read the "About" section to get a sense of the laid back feel to this place.  It isn't your typical stuffy fancy restaurant.

First off, the decor is amazing!  Burnt wood, delicate wrought iron trimming around the bar and the whole back of the restaurant is an open kitchen so you can actually meet eyes with the chefs that are cooking for you.  The staff was warm, inviting and just a ton of fun to hang out with.  Perhaps I'm being biased here, since we were received with open arms due to the fact that Mark works here - but I like to think they make everyone feel VIP.

Although they have reservations booked solid for 3 months, we showed up about 5pm on Sunday (doors open at 4:30) and expected to just hang out till some room at the lounge became available.  We were in no rush, so we didn't mind grabbing a delicious cocktail and standing around chatting with the staff who came by to meet Mark's strange NYC visitors.

We hadn't even been there 15 minutes when seats at the bar opened up and by the time I sat down at their awesome and comfy bar, the lounge was then free for us to sit back and relax in.  Before I knew what was going on, Mark ordered a number of snacks to keep us busy.  Adam and I just sat back and went along for the ride.  I don't remember the last time I felt this carefree with someone else doing the planning (I'm usually the planner, so it was nice to take a back seat) and hanging out with my favorite people in the whole world, not to mention the cocktail I was sipping was out of this world delicious.  Ahh... this is the life, I thought.

The first dish to arrive was a wood-fired pizza with all these crazy toppings!  I wasn't able to eat any of it since there was a ton of cheese, but it looked and smelled like a pizza that took a tour of India.  Adam loved it, but Danielle assured me that it was the least exciting dish so I wasn't missing out.  The thing is, if this is the least exciting - what was I getting myself into?!

Well... let's find out!

First we had one of every oyster on the menu.  I never had a raw oyster before, but I felt that this was the place to pop that ol' cherry of mine.

This is the aw shibumi with radish mignonette and tarragon.  They were the cutest little oysters I've ever seen.  Not intimidating at all, so I dove right in.

Danielle had to remind me not to chew so much... whoops!




Although it was a bit cool and slimy, as I expected it to be, it wasn't at all gross.  It was a strange texture, one I'm sure people need to get used to - but I'm definitely over my fear of oysters and look forward to trying them when I have the chance. 



To the left are the fried east beach oysters with egg salad and capers, Adam's favorite of the four.  It was so good, I could ate just eaten these all night long.


Next up were the wood fired tomahawk oysters with horseradish, bacon and preserved lemon.

These were really good, super tender with a ton of flavor.  They had their juices still in the shell, so we slurped them down.  The horseradish provided a bit of spice while the bacon and lemon ensured it was a succulent affair.

It's amazing how each oyster was so different, not just in size and texture since each was a different variety, but the preparation helps you understand how versitle this shellfish really is.

Next were the grilled fanny bay oysters with soy cucumber mignonette.  These were HUGE and much meatier than the other three.  Adam had the giant one the far right and it was almost too much for him.

I liked all the oysters and couldn't really pick a favorite since they were each so unique.



Danielle was adamant about us trying her favorite dish, the Pinn Oaks lamb tartare with english pea tapenade and tuna aioli.  She had been raving about this all weekend, but to finally be faced with it was a bit overwhelming.  She reassured me that it wasn't as scary as it sounded and to get over the fact that this was indeed raw lamb.

I thought "why not... what have I got to lose?"  and so I dove right in.  Adam was taken back a little, but he soon followed and there we were, all eating some crispy flat crackers with a dollop of raw lamb and sweet peas.

And you know what - it was UNFUCKINGBELIEVABLE! 

I have NO idea how something so small and delicate could induce a food coma in a single mouthful.  It is far too difficult to describe how delicious this was, but it really is a life changing experience.  This alone is worth going for, but trust me everything else is delicious too.  We ended up eating 3 orders of this dish throughout the night.

At this point, a table was free for us to sit down and enjoy some larger plates.  Adam and I thought "there's more food to be eaten?  Oy vey are we gonna be full!"

They sat us at the best table in the house, right near the kitchen so we could see where the magic was happening.

We really couldn't be happier at this point, sitting down at a communal table with two other couples enjoying food.  Given we already had a few cocktails/beers in us and a appetizers that already blew our socks off. 

It was turning out to be the greatest night ever, and the rest of the night didn't disappoint. 

Adam and I liked facing the kitchen watching what the amazing chefs were cooking up.  We were near the staff entrance to the kitchen, so everyone would stop by to say hi to Mark and introduce themselves to us.

It was so fun meeting the people who make this place magical.

So thank you everyone for making our last night out the best ever!

Mark, since he's the expert on the food here, took the initiative and ordered a number of dishes for us to share.  They're focus is on large appetizers so you can try a little of everything.  There were a few items that really spoke to me, so he was sure to add those to the order, but for the most part, Adam and I just let him do his thang.  In chronological order, we have....

Hiramasa crudo with crisp pork I had no idea what this was at the time.  It tasted a bit like yellowtail sashimi, which I'm a huge fan of, but this was far and beyond much better than any sashimi I ever ate.  The yellow sauce was tangy while the pork belly gave it a salty crunch.  The caperberries tied the whole thing together.  Truly a delicious dish!belly, aji chili and caperberries.

Next up was the braised beef tongue with masa, beef vinaigrette and salsa verde.  Yes, I was nervous to try this dish since beef tongue sounds gross... but I already had lamb tartare and raw oysters, I figured I just had to open my mind and pallette and go all the way on this culinary journey.

And whadaya know... it was delicious!  The texture was a little off-putting, but it was really tasty.  A must try if you come here!



Now this dish was new on the menu... what do you think it is?

Duck tongues.  Yup, those are fried duck tongues with some pesto type sauce and tomatoes or something.  I have no idea but it was tasty.  We all agreed that this needed a little something more to pop, or perhaps this could be an addition to another dish. They didn't hold up to some of the other fare, but I still enjoyed the butter crunch of fried tongues.  Tasted a bit like duck skin to tell you the truth, the tastiest part of the duck ;)

Out came the grilled baby octopus with guanciale, wax beans, radish and favas in a pistachio-lemon vinaigrette.

I love octopus, so I was all about this - but it might have been a little salty compared to all the other food.  I ate up all the tasty tentacles, my favorite part - yum!

It was a bit dark where we were sitting so I was surprised to see how colorful this dish was on film.  Don't you just love food porn!




A few of the following dishes I wasn't able to try due to the cheese factor, but I was still working on finishing the ones noted above.

Here are the chickpeas fritters with romesco, hazelnut hummus,  sesame and goat feta.

Everyone raved about this and it did look really good.  Oh well - stupid allergy prevented me from having some fritter fun.

This was another new items on the menu, escargot ravioli.  I did try one of these since they said there wasn't any dairy in it, but it did have a bit of creaminess inside that made me think there was a bit of cheese.  They were really large so the snails must have been some big mofos...


Danielle said this was her official new favorite.  I wasn't the biggest fan since I was worried about cheese, but I do love me some escargot so understand her love for this dish.

Now these were amazing... the grilled pork ribs with tomatillo-mushroom slaw and grilled scallion vinaigrette.

The meat fell right off the bone!

This dish was finger-licking good.  Some of the best ribs I've ever had, ever.

The sauce on top was really tasty with a bit of spice to it.  I could eat this every day for the rest of my life and be a happy girl!

Another dish I couldn't try - the roasted cauliflower with pickled peppers, pine nuts and mint.  This was totally covered in cheese, so I stayed far away from it.

Mark mentioned that some of the best dishes were the vegetarian ones, and he always recommends this one to people who steer clear of the veggies.

Adam called this veggie crack since it was apparently one of the greatest things he ever ate.  Tasted like popcorn?  I'll take his word for it.

One of my fave dishes came out next, the seared scallops in brown butter XO with bok choy, shiitakes and white asparagus.  I don't know what the XO stands for, but felt it important to mention.

These were the most perfectly cooked scallops anyone ever ate.  They were sweet, succulent and everything that's right about simple ingredients coming together and making a dish sing.  I absolutely love scallops and this dish is the best I've ever had.




Mark thought it appropriate for us to try some goat, since it is the Girl and the Goat after all.


I believe this was the goat loin since it was so tender and juicy.  It was served with a tomato-based sauce that enhanced the sweet flavor of the goat but didn't take away from it.

It was a nice portion, so we each got about three slices.  It was so soft, you could use a spoon to eat this, no knife necessary.

I wish I had some bread to eat up the tasty sauce.  I usually hate goat, but this was really good!

Perhaps I like goat after all?

And finally our last entree was Mark's favorite, which inevitably because Adam's as well.






This is the confit goat belly with bourbon butter, lobster and crab topped with some fennel. 

You read correctly, that's bourbon butter and yes it tasted a bit like bourbon, just not as strong.

It was a serious dish, but not my favorite.  I was still swooning over the lamb tartare (Danielle totally called that one).

The goat belly was the best fried piece of fat I ever put in my mouth.  Its like the bacon of the gods.  Mix that with the best quality seafood and butter with a kick and you got yourself a dish that makes your toes curl in ecstasy.  So yeah, I see why the boys loved this dish. 

We were all stuffed to the brim in amazing food, but I had a chocolate itch I desperately needed to scratch.  After a few too many cocktails, I said this aloud and Mark ordered the bittersweet chocolate cake with shiitake gelato and toffee creme fraiche.

I seriously didn't think I had any room left in my stomach, but apparently I did...

We all inhaled this amazing dessert, although I didn't try the gelato - sounded really interesting though!

The service, decor and staff are enough to make people keep crawling back to the Girl and the Goat, but its the food in all its glory that keeps my mouth watering every time I think about my experience here.

I can't begin to thank Danielle and Mark for the incredible feast.  Adam and I still talk about this dinner and probably will for the rest of our lives.  I'm so grateful that I got to share the single most amazing culinary experience of my life with my best friends... I love you guys!