The Irascible Chef

When I want a very good, solid, Italian, meal at a very reasonable price, there’s no question that Pasta Pomodoro is the place. Consistency is key and they’re almost the definition of consistency.

We took the 3 kids there the other night and it was great! I must say the waiter was the best part on this particular night! The food was delicious, but the food is always delicious, like I said—Bubbie(def. #1), it’s consistent, and I expect it to be.

We didn’t have to wait to be seated and were sat at a nice spacious table—perfect for kids and the food and the drinks and the fun / educational placemats and crayons that keep them satisfied / occupied while waiting for their food.

The kids drinks were Shirley Temple cocktails (remember when they were fun and before you were too cool?) and PP has figured out that it just might be best to serve large spill-able drinks with covers for the kids! The focaccia was still warm right out of the oven and perfect in their seasoned olive oil pesto mix—we all love that!

The waiter came by many times to make sure we were happy—we were! He brought us extra bread when we needed it—which we did, you can’t let those delectable sauces stay on the plate when they can be in your belly with a little-bread-wrist action! He also brought refills for the kids drinks. Our Moretti’s were just fine—cold and perfect with the food!

Pasta with tomato sauce and meatballs (no as good as mine—but NOBODIES are!) grilled cheese pannini, Gemelli with chicken, mushrooms, sun dried tomatoes, in a garlicky cream sauce, and a half order of lasagna and small salad lightly and properly dressed.

Yummy, yummy, yummy!

Did I mention that the kids $6 dollar meals (in a sit down, waiter service, restaurant) come with ice cream sundaes? How can you beat that? You can’t! But Pasta

Pomodoro can!

On Tuesday’s, for every adult meal, the kids meal is free! Wahooo! Now in our case one of the kids had an adult entree, but our waiter brought three sundaes (no extra charge) because he knew it would make everybody very happy! (He probably also knew that it didn’t cost them anything because we had 3 Adult meals and probably were entitled to 3 kids meals if we wanted—the customers and the House won on this night!)

Special thanks to the waiter this evening! See, how important the waiter can be???

Oh, by the way Pasta Pomodoro can be enjoyed with or without the kids (though not as much fun) and a bottle of wine for a romantic delicious dinner for two or party of ten—and, regardless of the size of your dinner party, very affordable!

What are other people saying:

Melon Scrapings Stuff that wants to get out of my head. Life, and other things like it.

B O N N E T bitching and moaning inspired by teenage angst

Technorati Tags: Affordable Italian food, food review, Pasta Pomodoro, Restaurants, Shirley Temple

I want my baby back baby back baby back ribs! I want my baby back baby back baby back ribs! Chil… — wrong restaurant, wrong jingle, wrong, wrong, wrong! (Austin Powers, Fat Bastard’s version)

We’ll go Outback’s tonight! Life will still be there tomorrow!

We did the old-barnstorming-pop-in before the movie, Eagle Eye, trick. Told the waiter that we were in a rush. He handled it like a champ! We split: a No Rules Burger—medium, with everything except tomato and onion with the blue cheese dressing on the side, fries and a 22 oz Sam Adams October fest. Man O’ Man do they make a tasty burger at Outback! Menu and descriptions.

And I would dare say it was picture perfect! Fluffy bun, plump juicy burger, and fresh nicely done toppings! The perfect amount of food for two. Not too full, just right!

Of course we still got the buttered popcorn, sour something candy, and a large diet to wash it all down with.

Advice: Stick with the burgers, fries, and beer and you won’t be disappointed! Every once in a while (get a little excited drooling at the pictures on the menu) we stray from the proven recipe of perfection and we are muy disappointed—you will see the pretty pictures and get sucked in—don’t, just take our advice! Or don’t, you’re a big-boy (or big-girl, but you have to be careful with that one!) you have free will, live and learn!!!

—iChef

Technorati Tags: food, food review, iChef, Opinion, Outback Steak House, Restaurant

Wow did I luck out! My car was having it’s first checkup across the street and I was a little hungry and I don’t like being disappointed by any meal! The most risky meal for me may be when I’m forced to stumble on in (caught without a plan)—doesn’t happen often, but you have to eat when you have to eat

Lee’s Sandwiches.

I figure it’s a run of the mill sandwich shop like Subway and I will get the generic turkey with avocado—hard to screw that one up. Yes, when I walk in they have pictures on the wall of sandwiches, but I’m trying to process what all is going on. I see loaves of bread coming out, all the employees are of Asian decent, peoples food is being called out when ready, and there are prepackaged hot to-go delights. This type of food service is very similar to Nijiya Market in Mountain View—where, if I’m making Japanese Sushi or cooking any kind of Japanese, I buy my ingredients from. Nijiya Market (unbiased review) has the best quality, freshest sushi grade fish, nicest looking poultry and meats, that I trust enough to serve my guests. Japanese and Chinese food is all about the ingredients!

Just back from Beijing where the Hotel Kunlun dining area always smelled like you just walked into a Chinese Restaurant. I was still in the mood for a little more Chinese! As I said I don’t like to be disappointed and if there’s too much salt or my fries aren’t hot enough at McDonald’s I’m going to complain and send them back!

So, I’m going to Give Lee a shot! Yes, they had regular sandwiched as well, but come on—let’s roll the dice from up high!

I had rice paper wrapper spring rolls with shrimp and roasted pork and chicken lo mien. $2.50 each! Delicious! Fantastic! What a find!

Then I tell a couple of people about it and they tell me it’s a chain and they are all over—Double Fantastic! So, good job Lee and please keep up the great work!

—IrascibleChef

Technorati Tags: Chinese, food, Hotel Kunlun, iChef, Japanese, Lunch, McDonald's, Nijiya Market

It was the best of times it was the worst of times.

Palo Alto vs. Los Gatos

In this corner from Palo Alto the Italian Stallion: Il Fornaio and in the other corner from Los Gatos the Hoppin’ Jalepeno: Pedro’s Cantina. Yes, two different cuisines. Yes, two different levels of service. Yes, two different scales of pricing. Mismatch, let’s see!

Bring it on! Cage Match!

Wednesday night dinner for three at Il Fornaio. People dressed nicely, several tables of men looking like they’re in talks about trading and trafficking women. A table on the patio was very lovely, bread and oil vinegar very tasty. 2 glasses of white wine ordered and brought by transferable carafe which I thought at the time was genius (because of the tall wine glasses that probably cost them a few profits when they often broke—my speculation on this type of wine service.) The wine was on the warm side and this was noticed more when the third glass was ordered and sipped from. The third glass was very tasty and the proper temperature made all the difference in the world. (At $8.50 each glass=$25.50 for the 3 glasses and maybe, a 2.5 oz pour in each, maybe. It should at least be at the proper temperature)

The temperature was discreetly mentioned to the waiter. He apologized, but did mention that some people prefer their white wine warm because they get more flavor from it—so more of a you’re an idiot and an excuse than an apology.

Hello! I was pointing out that I am not one of those people and don’t try to infer that there’s something wrong with me! I was hoping for him to remove said glasses of warm wine and return with some properly chilled wine! Or at least offer!

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Technorati Tags: Cage Match, iChef, Il Fornaio, Pedros, Restaurants

Current: Oil Barrel Prices

Okay, I’ve been on a roll, eating a lot of good food served by many good people.

Stayed a little longer than planned in SC, to squeeze a few more experiences into the vaca. Like in Vegas, if you play long enough—you’re gonna lose! Well the streak has ended. It was a good one that was bound to end. It didn’t end in spectacular fashion as one might imagine, but it did end at Buzz’s Roost in Litchfield, South Carolina.

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Technorati Tags: iChef, Pawleys Island, Restaurants, SC

If you find yourself in Pawleys Island (right next to Myrtle Beach) in South Carolina and not sure which of the zillion restaurants to go to I can tell you that my experience at Wahoo’s Raw Bar and Marina, was Divine to say the least. Wahoo is an open-air, Tiki-bungalow-offshoot, adjacent to the Divine Fish House.

The rain, winds, booming thunder, not even the streaking bolts of lightning, could stop us from heading out to Murrells Inlet in search of some great food, drinks, with a high atmosphere in Low Country.

Recommended was the Blue Elephant Thai flavored restaurant which was closed due to renovations—I recommend that they need to renovate their website—no likee? Made me glad it wasn’t open.

Next stop: Divine Fish House. Trying to dodge the rain buckets we had to pass Wahoo’s tiki bar menu board, which looked like the menu from Divine. Let’s try it—enough items looked deliciosa. The Scallops wrapped with Proscuitto was too much to pass up… Continue Reading »

Technorati Tags: iChef, seafood, south carolina

Westchester, New York right off of route 22, a hidden gem?

The Blazer Pub is basically an Irish bar with some seats that serve a very limited menu, dark but not dirty place where guys can go after their softball games, business people can stop before they go home for dinner, the girls can meet up, locals can stop for a burger and beer for lunch or happy hour anytime for a few pints.

First of all I’ve been going to, stopping by for a burger, and or meeting my friends for drinks and laughs for an unrecorded record number of times. I’ve been going to the Blazer since I was 18 and really the only changes since those days… a renovation that patched up some drafts and better lighting allows one to see more than one might want to in that environment all because a mysterious blaze that closed the place down for some months.

Business meetings, watching whichever game on TV, meeting friends, taking the family out for a casual bite is what the Blazer Pub is all about—and of course the food!
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Technorati Tags: iChef