Ice Cream Machine

Where: 213 Main St, Charlestown, NH click this link to their site

When: Oct 7-2012

A view from the picnic tables in front...

There is nothing like taking back roads in the fall, through New England. The colors of the leaves can be spectacular! And I love to drive, because if I see a spot to stop at, I don't miss the chance to do so... whether it's for a photo, or some exploring.

I wanted to turn around and go check out an historic marker along Main St, and in the process of turning down a few side streets, by so-pilot saw this sign for 'homemade ice cream' painted on the side of a building (with an arrow pointed up this driveway).

We decided to make this our 'lunch stop', we wouldn't have enough room for lunch on top of these ice cream selections, anyway.

My so-pilot had Frozen Pudding and Pistachio and loved it...

This below is my combination.... Top is a Coconut base with shaved special dark chocolate and whole almonds (VERY yummy) on top of a scoop of Molasses Gingersnap ice cream (AWESOME!!!). The Molasses Gingersnap (my curiosity was peaked) wasn't as recommended by Dave (co-owner with John) as he said it was rather sweet, but we were told to ask for a spoonful of any selection we were contemplating. It tasted like Indian pudding, with crushed gingersnap cookies layered in throughout it. soooo gooood! We'll be back again!

Country Cook'n at the Lakeside

Where: 1457 Lakeshore Road, Gilford, NH (603)-524-3304

When : Oct 7, 2012

This was a place we spotted on the way to a wedding in NH. It was just a hop, skip and a jump from our motel, and by the look of the local NH plates on the cars, it's always a good sign.

It wasn't crowded at 8am on a Sunday morning, so we got seated and waited on very quickly.
Some of the decor inside was humourous, such as this sign behind the counter.

My date had the Chef's omelet ($6.25), onions, pepper, mushrooms, cheese, bacon and ham. It really looked good. Even had the choice of Raisin bread - looked homemade! (This time his comment was "Good!! I liked it!")

I had the Hash and cheese omelet, with homefries  ($6.75). It looked kan of plain, but tasted really good.
The nice thing was, who came in to sit near us as we were waiting for our breakfast to be served, was one of the couples that we sat with at the wedding the night before. Nice company, Joan and Walt. Hope you had as nice a ride home as we did.

The Margate

Where: Laconia, NH

When: October 6, 2012

The event: RJ & Kristel's wedding

Okay, I know that this was a 'wedding' menu, but since they have a restaurant in the resort, I'm assuming you could get this meal there, even if you were just coming in to eat. That being said, I'm gonna tell you what my impression of the meal was, just in case.

Appetizers were very good.... sausage and meatballs were tasty, but not extradinaire...but the little items on the bottom right (looked like wontons) were REALLY delicious. Not sure what was in them, but they tasted oriental.

They did come around with other appetizers (stuffed mushrooms- stuffed with sweet potato, goat cheese and spinach pizza chunks). Nice assortment.

 

 The salad was nothing to rave about, but several at our table laughed about 'casing' the lettuce around the plate. Too lacy for me! I happen to like color in my salad, not just fluff.

 This was my dinner.... Roasted stuffed pork loin, with pecans and cranberries (perfect for fall), along with smashed potato and mashed sweet potato (which had chunks of apple in it.... VERY delicious).

 My hubby had chicken with my same sides.... He said it was good (I have to have him elaborate more. Doesn't he know he's getting quoted on this blog???). Personally, it looked like a chicken crouquette.

The Gathering

When: Aug 23, 2012

Where: 465 Hartford Rd,  Manchester, CT

Okay.... we'd seen this restaurant reviewed on "Feast tv" (local NBC station) and it was praised for their breakfast. But you know how that goes... TV camera, sound man, local tv star. You can guarantee that their service and food should be great and look nice.

But then there is 'us'.... Those regular customers that come in, unannounced, that sneak a photo or two of our meals and jot down the notes that fall onto this page. My cohort and I decided to get up one weekday morning and head on over, just as they started their day. There wasn't many people inside, but it seemed that since you could seat yourself, we all chose the booths. (They were comfortable, as booths go).

Now, I'm particular. Outspoken. Really honest. So here goes...


We were greeted very nicely with menus and the usual offer of coffee (I requested tea) and while that came very nicely, my date showed me-- after-the-fact-- that on the back of the menu, they had the choice of "Specialty teas" where I could have chosen my favorite, Earl Grey (for another 10 cents). Guess I'll have it next time. Looking over the menus, the prices seemed very reasonable; omelets (what we both chose) were priced between $7.50 and $9.00, although building your own, seemed to feel like it could get rather expensive. AND plate sharing (I'd thought of having my date get the hash and we'd share) would cost you an additional $3.00! I decided it would be better to have my own and take home the leftovers (I often do).

We both had omelets, mine the "California" and his the "New Yorker" (does this give the hint we are opposites or what?) and I added the side of hash to mine. His had hash (along with onions, peppers and American cheese), but it was stuffed inside the omelet. Mine was 'stuffed (and I do mean stuffed) with broccoli, sausage, tomatoes and cheddar (both for $7.95).

I loved the fact that the choices of bread included pumpernickel and English muffin! They did have a cutely named Omelet called "The Mess", but I didn't think there was enough stuff in there to be much of a 'mess'. Add about four more things that could make it really sloppy and I'd agree with the name. The food was very good... The hash was nice and crispy (sometimes a restaurant can really make a limp hash). However, I couldn't finish mine, so I planned it to be able to take half of it home for another meal. My 'date' didn't even finish his (THAT'S a shocker!!) and I was so full from breakfast, I didn't even think of eating lunch until 2pm or so... (Here are my leftovers)

I would like to go back and try their pancakes, especially the "Harvest Grain and Nut". That looked good! Or the fresh Cranberry Walnut Belgium Waffle. I like places to have different things to try. (I experiment all the time with my food at home). I did check out the lunch menu and their melts and salads look 'road trip' worthy!! Check out their website below.... I didn't post it above, because then you wouldn't have read all the way to see OUR review of it.Enjoy the menu section, it will make your mouth water.

We will be back again,... maybe even with some friends! Thanks for a great start to our day.

Their website: http://www.thegatheringct.com/

16-Bean Soup- Recipe

Maine Fish Market

Where: 60 Bridge St., East Windsor, CT
When: Mar 2, 2012

The occasion was an annual 'taking my mom out for her birthday". At 84 yrs old now (and for a while) she really doesn't need any THING more. It's more that we have to clear out when we have to do that someday, so my Aunt Norma and I take her out for lunch.

Our waitstaff was the BEST!! Her name; Karin P. She was helpful, funny, attentive without being 'in the way' pushy. Thanks, Karin,... you made our lunch!

I had New England Clam Chowder since I'd read the reviews and it said it was the best they'd ever had. and it WAS!!! I'm a born and bred New Englander and we know our clam chowdah. It was the thickest I've ever had, too. So thick, I ate it on my very warm loaf of multi-grain bread. Yum....

 Sorry the photo is sideways, the upload would only load it that way... not sure why. But see how is just sits there?

Mom had a great looking salad. I would have had it if I didn't have the chowder instead. Really fresh!

 I had the Baked Stuffed Fillet of Sole, roasted red potatoes and cauliflower. I cut the fillet in half (since I knew I wouldn't eat all of it) and the filling was SOOO good. The fillet was flaky and tender and mild. I had two sea scallops with it which were eaten immediately. OMG......melt in your mouth.

This was the stuffing inside my fillet.

The potatoes were THE BEST!!! I could have made a meal out of JUST THEM!
Our waitress Karin, said they made them with butter and garlic. <<<OMG>>>

My mom had the Baked stuffed shrimp and let me try her seafood stuffing. "To DIE FOR!!" It was buttery and CHUNKS of crab (I think). Delightful, was my mom's comment.

 My aunt ordered what she always does, fried fillet of sole. When I asked her why she didn't want to try something else, her answer was ..."It's what I ordered the first time there, and it's excellent, so why not get what you know". OK! I tried that too and it was good, but I loved mine so much more. AND I CAN'T forget the French fries!!!! I didn't get them, but I think I scoffed up most of the ones my mom was to take home. They were truly the BEST french fries I've EVER EATEN!!!!! Crispy on the outside (no, not ONE soggy fry), and so soft inside. Just the way they should be. They don't even need ketchup!

 The cauliflower was a little undercooked on some of them, but when I reheated my leftover (see below), they were perfect!!

 I had to take a photo of the booth next to us, as this food is spectacular!!!

 I even got to "release a book into the wild" (on their window shelf outside). For more info on that you must go visit, www.bookcrossing.com . It's my favorite book website (for fun stuff).
What would I give them for forks, out of 5 forks? Probably 6 or 7!!

Flour Girls Food Truck

When: Feb 2012
Where: on the corner of Charlesfield St, & Thayer St, Providence, RI (Brown University)

We happened to accidently 'fall upon' this food truck on our way to lunch at Louis' Family Diner (see precious post). We thought we'd take dessert home, so we hit is for all three cookies ($2.50 each) on their menu. They do have a website and they do bring the food truck to parites (what a thought)

Ginger Mollasses (OMG- DEADLY!!!)
Chocolate Chip (the guy in front of my who tasted his said it was the BEST CHOC CHIP COOKIE HE:S EVER HAD!)
and a Cranberry Oatmeal (very deadly too!)
They had lemon bars and brownies, and apple cider donut holes, but we skipped those.

Nice to find a food truck after watching so many of them on the cooking channel.

Louis' Family Diner

Where: 286 Brook Street, Providence, RI (in the heart of Brown University)

How did we hear of it??
Googled 'diners' in CT, RI, etc.... and then saw a few in RI (of which this one was on Guy Fiero's Diner, Drive-ins and Dives). There were so many things that looked good on the DDD episode, that we had to take the 1.5 hr trip. Thankfully, the temp today was in the 50's, windy, but mild. Nice ride along Rte 6 (we meant to take my mom, but she had other plans).  And I love the area of the college...great buildings.

Very unassuming, and the side that we walked up to showed us a broken sign (glass), so we were not sure whether they were even open or not (and how long ago WAS this episode of DDD anyhow?)

There was very nice 'graffitti' on the side. Someone was artistic!

It's not very big, and moderately crowded at our 1pm arrival, so we took a corner table so I could get a feel for the place. One guy was waitering everyone, wasn't rushed, so you can see the ambiance was 'relaxed'.
There was lots of photos, articles and mementos that covered the walls (under glass frames).

And I loved the 'banana tree'.

They even had a spot on the wall where Guy Fiero signed the wall (look up when you walk in).

We got water right away, then looked over the menus (we already knew what we wanted) and ordered the BBQ Chicken Cheese Ravioli ($6.55). When it came, there were probably 10 raviolis (large ones), with a meatless sauce- chucks of tomato in it--


and it came with a HOT roll/butter that was the size of a 'torpedo roll' (small grinder roll). It was very yummy, although you'll have to check out the video from DDD to see what they put in it.

There is such a difference between canned/store ravioli and fresh ravioli. This was nice and firm. I couldn't finish mine (although Lee ate all of his and felt 'stuffed' on the ride home), so I brought 3 ravioli's home. I also ordered another plate of them for my daughter (to go).

I must say we enjoyed the meal, but we had a nice 'treat' walking back to our car.... (see the next post for FlourGirls)

Super Bowl Subs!

What better lunch to make than a LONG grinder (submarine sandwiches)....

This is a list of ingredients in no particular order:

deli- sliced ham (three kinds-honey, virginia, plain),
Swiss cheese, ex-sharp cheddar, american
Smoked turkey
mayo, mustard, guacamole, pesto,
Bread & Butter pickles
Jalepeno peppers
Salad stuff (from a bag)
thinly sliced red onion & tomatoes

 

Some of it I toasted in the oven (then sliced to whatever length anyone wanted), and some I left cold. I used whole wheat Italian bread... cut in half, into the top and down the middle, then slice each half in half horizontally. Really good bread.

Homemade Vanilla ice cream

Well, I asked for an ice-cream maker for Christmas, because I had a cone maker. I got two of them! So after deciding which one I'm keeping (the Cousinart- 2 quart one), I decided to make a normal recipe (from their booklet)... vanilla.

This is what the inside looked like after I made it (forgot to take prep photos), but the vanilla was the BEST I've ever had. I even used less cream than it called for! I substituted 1 cup fat-free half and half for 1 cup cream. I followed the rest of the recipe to a tea. 

YUM!