CHRISTMAS 2016

Roast Beast - Caroline outdid herself once again, so much so that we had no room to Eat Dinner after the appetizers were served and hastily devoured (in a gentle person fashion of course). The Roast Beast was done to perfection accompanied by a gathering of La Potato Y Carrots.

Seafood Assortment Appetizer - This was Shrimp and Lobster Claws served with a Dill/Mustard/Vinegar based Sauce and was aimed towards Cristina's pre-Dinner Fulfillment synapses, not that the rest of us did not indulge.

Matzoh Ball Soup - This was Delicious but truth be told I had it as a leftover and added perhaps too much Dill Weed accompanied by a Dash of Pepper after checking the reheated temperature so cannot truly report on its savoriness. Most Fine Indeed after the fact and Caroline doesn't mess around.

Let us not forget for Dessert there was home made Italian layer Cookies and Greek Sugar Cookies.

Cranberry Bread - This fell under the "Too Much" Food and not served as we were all Bloated from the gist of Appetizers (and Champagne) pre-Dinner but Cristina was enjoying a Slice here & there for Breakfast the next morning and room for a Slice was certainly made in my appetite, I felt this would be perfectly complimented with a Schmear (Sandwich style) of Cream Cheese.

Guess What ? I was Right.

12/24/16 Christmas Eve - Sea Breeze Fish Market was out of Salmon Pinwheels just a day prior to Christmas Eve Dinner and quite the crowd of shoppers were lined up outside mongering for their Seafood so Cristina told me on the phone "Don't worry about it, we can go to Silver Star instead" and that is exactly what we did, and We Loved it. 

No Mess, No Clean Up.

Yes there is a sense of achievement in Cooking for persons but for once I exited fulfilled, happy, in the spirit of the holiday and not even one drop of dishwashing liquid used. 

(Well afterwards at home but only for minor things).

Above is my Dinner of Chicken with Black Bean Sauce, Egg Roll and Pork Fried Rice.

Cristina enjoyed a new Dish to herself and even surprised the Chef by ordering Shrimp with Peppers & Onions which it seems is an rarely ordered plate due to the slight confusion that ensued but in Silver Star fashion was placated in under 10 seconds.

A POCKETFUL OF MIRACLES & A CHEESE DRAWER TOO.

ITS LIKE TRYING TO FIT THREE POUNDS OF BALONEY INTO A TWO POUND BAG

Not too much to report here except that I need to make MORE CHILI !!!. 

Going to get a few tips from Chef Joe as the Youtube clips I have viewed have not enlightened me with anything new recipe wise.

My Chili needs to be Hotter as in Spicier and Chili Peppers seem to be the Obvious remedy. 

As a new addition I added Diced Steak Pizzaiola alongside the Chop Meat to my Recipe which has only proved an improvement.

Freshly Diced Jalapeño and Garlic.

Diced Onion and in this case Beef Pizzaiola which may (or may not) differ from Steak Pizzaiola.

The best part of adjusting Spices is the Tasting test.

Some of the aromatic ingredients that are integral to a home made Chili.

And with the other Pound of Chop Meat I made Meatballs.

BEST OF BOTH WORLDS - TANGRA MASALA Queens, New York

T-Give 2016 - Wild, Wild Planet

My dearest Coraline prepared a Thanksgiving Feast of massive proportions this season as is in her wheelhouse. 

This was the first time Cristina attended a Santo's suarez and no stone was left unturned nor was a plate left un-Yammed. We had the pleasure of meeting Sharon and Joel (with whom I discussed Horror and Sci-Fi films of the golden era with much pleasure) and I finally got my Cider.

The Food was Delicious but this goes without saying.

Pictured above is something called Turkey complimented with Mashed Potatoes, Turkey Gravy, home made Cranberry Sauce, Sausage Stuffing (oh dear) and The Yams flanked by a glass of Apple Cider.

Bravo Coraline !!!

It always begins with Appetizers, at least thats the way "we roll".

Here we view (clockwise from 1) Cracker Barrel Extra Sharp white Cheddar, Vegetable Medley with dipping Sauce, Shrimp Cocktail and a remote control.

I was given the precarious honor and privilege of Carving the Turkey, something of which I have only attempted a few times in my life and to my fullfillment did what I consider a decent job of.

Our hostess (with the mostest) also had her birthday fall on the day and due to the nature of the calendar this is a slight rarity. Sharon was thoughtful to provide the birthday cake.

And of course Bartholomew Eck the Thanksgiving Rooster.

GYRO ll - "you'll love it, it's a way of life" - New York City

"Since 1972, same owner" is what the employee told me without question and I did not ask him, he was taking a break at the entrance and I friendlymumbled how much I love this place and that is what he proudly and casually replied, after all this is midtown Manhattan and a billion kooks per second is the norm, meaning me mumbling and not the employee of information. 

A lot of my buddies and myself have been frequenting THE Gyro ll since the early 1980's as a pre-concert Snack/Dinner haven it being placed one minute away from Madison Square Garden and offering a plethora of Foodiness of the not so usual manner which spelled backwards is GYROGOODMcDONALDSBAD.

How do you go to Gyro Two without having a Gyro Too.

Me and my bro' Frank (A.O.F.) are meeting up nearly 40 years after our initial oneminuteawayfrommadisonsquaregarden sojourn for a recreational event (see below) and I emailed him my interest in Gyro ll's Pizza (see below) to which was replied "This is a time honored tradition that does not include Pizza !!!".

This indeed does not bely their Pizza making prowess but a gravitas, dedication and fandom towards their Gyro. This is not just any Gyro, THIS IS A GYRO, at least american style.

Competitive Prices abound, you would be lucky to get a can of coke on 34th street for eleven bucks much less a meal.

Taking up a large portion of the operation is PIZZA. 

and it does look good too.

Whilst America and New York City is a melting pot of ethnictricity it is quite possible that many have no idea or interest in whatever a Gyro is so I must assume that Gyro ll ventured into other areas like PIZZA !!!

A friend of mine was introduced to Pizza for the first time via this joint and he claims its Greatness, so my next step shall be into the Pizzaness of it all,... and a Gyro to go.

It was his first Slice of Pizza ever, keep in mind.

And then we saw a RUSH movie.

11/5/16 -  Well, the Slice (Chicken Parmigiana $4.50) was just "passable" and I made a whole early morning sojourn for one. I was not disappointed however and did eat the whole thing but it was of a Rays Pizza style wherein the Crust is a little thicker so as to withstand the girth of the Toppings and I prefer a thinner Crust and also it being pre-noon the variety on offer was a shortcoming compared to a few nights before.

GYRO ll POSTING ONE

FUKI SUSHI (part V) - Fall/Winter 2016

The 18th Avenue Roll was the clear frontrunner in both of our opinions.

18th Avenue Roll - Lobster Tempura, Avocado (in), Tuna, Avocado (top) with Eel Sauce.

Dragon Roll - Eel, Cucumber (in), Avocado (top) with Eel Sauce.

Nice presentation on these specialty Rolls for a Brooklyn walk-in place, huh ?

10/26/16 - Cristina's Birthday

Cristina favored Sushi for her birthday dinner but did not in particular favor a place so we kept it close to home, as a matter of fact we took the Food home take-out style. Amongst the usual fare was the Eel Roll, Philadelphia Roll, Chicken Tempura Roll, Avocado Roll along with the 18th avenue Roll and,... But Whats This ?!!!

Well, I am not so surprised as I have been eyeing this little number for some months in part due to the braggadocio of "Crispy Ball of Rice" espoused amongst its mysterious Ingredients. Well, that is mostly what it consisted of,... that is Rice but quite well and entertaining it was.

Crispy Ball of Rice.

This was topped with Spicy Crunchy Tuna with Eel Sauce and Spicy Mayo.

A very simple concoction made mostly of Rice, enjoyable but I tried it, I liked it, time to move on.

SILVER STAR RESTAURANT FALL 2016 Brooklyn, New York

It is high time for a Silver Star entry on here,... Well,... Just Because.

10/10/16 (Cristina 2 year Anniversary Dinner).

Here we witness the Number 8 Combination Platter.

As of late I have been Hobnobbing as it were as an innocent bystander spying upon "other" peoples Culinary orders amidst visual viewing and audioception listening pre-soup time and the Number 8 is the clear frontrunner and for good reason as well.

Number 8 - Barbecued Spare Ribs, Chow Mein, Fried Rice, Egg Roll and of course the Appetizer portion of Soup. ($11.95).

Egg Roll (this photo should get the Pulitzer prize).

#19 - Beef with Oyster Sauce Combination Platter.

This was just grand as I was expecting the traditional "throw in a ton of vegetables to pad it out" but that was not the case. Strictly succulent Beef in Oyster Sauce which was actually Brown Gravy with no trace of Oyster Sauce but I did not complain and took some leftovers home as well.

Accidental photo titled "napkin on thigh"

10/15/16 - Shin Godzilla aftershow meal.

Above we see two of the mightiest Soups a Restaurant has to offer.

(Hot & Sour & Wonton)

The Won Ton Soup is served in proper Won Ton Broth as opposed to the run of the mill everyotherchineserestaurantusesit Chicken Broth (no offense to chicken broth but lets save that for chicken soup) and the Hot & Sour Soup speaks for itself chanting "eatme, eatme".

#17 - Roast Pork with Mushrooms in Brown Gravy Combination Platter.

In all honesty I know what I like and I like what I know sofar as the Silver Star Menu goes but in a transcendental state variety is where the mind and palette takes me heedingly as life is only a limited time and SO,...

What I am trying to type is that I am trying different things off of the Menu but my heart is with the Chow Mein and whatnot.

BUT I know What I Like so very soon it will be back to Chow Mein.

The Roast Pork with Mushrooms was Immaculate but did I expect anything less ? 

At one point I mentioned to Frank that "If you look up Tender Pork Medallion" in the dictionary this photo turns up.

I Love these dishes, next up might be the Chef's Specialties Menu and I do stress "might" as this is the Classic Chow Mein Joint of yore and when in France do as they do in Silver Star wich translated means "order Chow Mein".

Facing the Dining area right outside of the Kitchen is the S.S.S.S. (Secret Silver Star Stash).

Subgum Abounds.

Silver Star In Almost Full Swing (photo taken with camera positioned just over the S.S.S.S. bunker).

Noodlezilla Amok.

Shin Godzilla to whet the appetite.

11/10/16 - Today is my Birthday and of all the Restaurants to choose I choose Silver Star.

WHY ?

Because They RULE.

BEST OF BOTH WORLDS - TACO BELL YESTERDAY, BURGER KING TODAY, Brooklyn, New York.

This is not so much a photo of FOOD as it is a journal of places and Menu's but whatever !

A lot lighter on the pocket than the bill I was presented with at the Manhattan Taco Bell location.

This is more Like It.

The extensive
Taco Bell Menu board.

I will have one of everything please.

This is why they RULE.

Inexpensive Menu and as you will notice just one penny below the next numerical dollar denomination in some cases.

Kings Highway TB facade.

A 'nother Taco Bell photo.

 Taken "on the clock" somewhere on a One Hour PC job.

And this leads us to BK or Burger King which I adore and have but once a year (on the average).

Unfortunately on this day I was not in the best of moods and to aggravate me further was the caterwauling screech and din of what seemed thousands of high school students amongst me so this will just be a photoplay, BK ever the awesomeness it is. Eff Mickey Dee's

Hot Dogs ?!!!

Well this is new for them and I am yet to try one but boy do I want to.

Cristina and my serving tray.

These were not so great as the "Cheetos" moniker implies. Much like the Dunkin' Donuts Reeses Donut, please stop using tried and true names ya' Bastards !!!

The Cheetos Chicken Fries were just that. A Chicken Tender "Fry" shaped powdered in Cheetos Flavored Bread Crumbs.

Boy was I NOT impressed.

The French Fry. Essential with a Burger.

courtesy of the Prisma app.