Rockliffe Hall's BRASSERIE is brilliant experience in Hurwoth-on-Tees, UK(8-7-18)

On our last night in the UK, dear friends joined us at The Brasserie, the less formal of the two restaurants here at our hotel Rockliffe Hall just outside Darlington in Hurwoth on Tees.

The setting is indeed casual, but the prices are high as this is a country club/hotel/resort owned by the owner of the Middlesbrough Football Club.

I was quite shocked to see bread on the menu for 3 pounds, but when it arrived it was beautifully housemade  tomato bread and garlic/thyme bread along with a nice bowl of large pitted green olives in quite peppery olive oil. In the end our very helpful server Steven did not even charge us, nor did he charge for the extra slices Sam requested to mop up his starter, Pea Veloute with Curried Peas, Shallots, Bhaji and Creme Fraiche. He went on to a huge bowl of Hand Rolled Pappardelle with Wild Mushrooms, Truffles and Pecorino that he declared way too rich and creamy for his palate.

We started with a bottle of Legato Grillo 2016 from Sicily that was slightly creamy yet crisp and went excellently with our starters, so much that we ordered a second bottle to enjoy between courses.

The Scotch Egg wrapped in Black Pudding with Baked Beans, Smoked Bacon Jam and Brown Sauce was a revelation. The egg was cooked to perfection, wrapped in the pudding and then battered and fried brilliantly and the beans were huge white beans with a homemade tomato sauce, not your average "baked beans" at all. The bacon jam was truly unbelievable and made the dish ideal. The Whitby Crab with tossed salad and Hensleydale Hen's Egg was a nice timbale of crab with a light English mustard mayo binder that made for a light and delicious start.

The mains were just as superb with Slow Cooked Pork Fillet with Sage Pearl Barley Risotto, Apple Puree and Port Sauce as well as a tasty King Prawn & Chorizo Paella with Mussels, Red Peppers and Herbs.

Will & I chose the amazing Flatiron Steak with a Yorkshire Blue Cheese sauce which was cooked perfectly and came with a large rocket salad with parmesan shavings as well as crispy onion rings and of course th requisite chips which were awesome dipped in the blue cheese sauce. The meat had not a piece of gristle or fat and was just divine. Our red was a Fico Grande Sangiovese DOC Romagna from Poderi dal Nespoli 2016 which was a decent but not super full bodied red.

Desserts were nice with White Chocolate Mousse, Brandy Snap & Grapefruit/Rosemary Syrup (a bit too rich for moi) and Apple Bakewell with Lavender Ice Cream and Blueberry Emulsion.

Several of us split the full cheese platter which came with grapes and an onion chutney(odd choice) and some of the best crackers ever(called CF's) which were black, red and white yet not flavored to overpower the local cheeses:

Ribblesdale Smoked Goat from Ashes Farm, North Yorkshire was easily our favorite with an aged smokiness that was out of this world

Admiral Collingwood was flavored with Newcastle Brown Ale and came from North Doddington Farm in Wooler, Northumberland

Cotherstone Teesdale was a semi-hard cow that came from just around the corner near Barnard Castle, County Durham

Swaledale Ewes Natural form Swaledale Cheese Co in Richmond, North Yorkshire was a real treat

Mrs. Bell's Blumin' White was a creamy cheese with blue tones from Leachfield Grange, Newsham in also nearby Thirsk

The Wenslydale Blue from Hawes, North Yorkshire was a typical milder blue from the area which I adored and all of them made for one of the best regional cheese platters you could imagine.

It was a delicious meal with great friends and alas we are sorry to leave Yorkshire & the UK, but are headed now to South Africa for more adventure(and food!).

Middlesbrough's TURTLE BAY makes Caribbean cuisine cool (8-6-18)

Tonight we headed out in Will's hometown with family and enjoyed a thoroughly relaxed and fun evening. Turtle Bay is famous for its Caribbean drinks and before 7pm and after 930pm they are 2 for 1, so who could resist? Will tried the intense Tingwray made with Uncle Wray overproof rum and grapefruit juice, while I headed for the tamer Jamaican Mule composed of spiced & dark rums with line, ginger beer and bitters, a truly refreshing and light choice. The décor here is funky Jamaican with lots of reggae posters and such, washed wood floors and tables and a fun vibe to the music. The dish towel napkins are cute but the lint from them leave a mess if you are wearing dark pants!

Since we were two vegetarians and three meat-eaters I suggested we try two starter options. The Vital Veggie Platter consisted of sweet corn fritters, crispy okra with an aioli, jerk pit grilled mushrooms and peppers, jerk coconut sauce, halloumi & mango flatbread, sweet plantain and super green salad(chickpeas, pomegranate seeds, kale, spinach, rocket (arugula) in a coconut-citrus-lime dressing that was superb...everything was.

The even bigger Just Jerk Platter had the same salad with the same (easily the best ever) corn fritters and marinated jerk chicken wings, Jamaican beef patty (a ground beef inside a pastry akin to an empanada, but thinner), chicken flatbread and yummy glazed pork ribs with fall off the bone meat. Everything was super delicious and it was nice to order the starters then rest a bit before Lauren our server made some great suggestions.

Main courses were a Guyanese Duck Curry made from a slightly too dry duck leg, potatoes, scotch bonnet peppers, orange citrus, coconut rice & peas(really beans) and dumplings (made from fried bread that were super in the stews). The Trini Chicken Curry was better with chicken breast in a coconut milk, mango and spice sauce with sweet onion chutney and roti flatbread. The coconut in all the dishes was freshly shaved and not sweetened and really made the dishes superb. My Curry Goat was excellent with a similar base, the chutney, dumplings and sweet plantains all in a giant stew pot. The Spinach, Aubergine & Sweet Potato Curry used the same ingredients but was an excellent vegetarian option of which there we so many.

Sam also had a starter of yummy Garlic & Herb Flatbread with rocket, crushed chilli and garlic butter so he opted for a Four Grain salad as a main course with chickpeas, pomegranate seeds, lentils, spinach and more in a citrus-lime dressing. It was all delish, but very filling, so no room for dessert again....

cozy Indian food is fun at JOLSHA in Yorkshire's, Stockton-on-Tees(8-5-18)

Last night we joined our dearest friends in the are and headed around the corner from their lovely home to an adorable little neighborhood Indian spot called Jolsha, which has several locations in the area. The décor is clean, crisp and un assuming with a way white stucco wall on one side, bar on the other and tables spaced a bit too close if the place is busy. I only wish the nice tables were not covered by that silly giant piece of paper that crinkles all over.

Will & I ordered a Campari & Tonic and our server looked lost and returned after a while to say there was only "one left," so Will switched to a beer, which oddly never came with the drinks, so he ad to ask again. The service was indeed a bit odd, but never bad, just confusing. We ordered up a storm and started with the Pappadam and sauces as one always does. None of them were too spicy, and all were full of flavor. The starters included a yummy Prawn Puri which was several shrimp in a medium spiced sauce wrapped in fried bread, Garlic Mushrooms, a Vegetable Somosa that did not get high points and an Onion Bhaji.

The mains were much better with a rich creamy Lamb Pasanda, a Vegetable Biryani for Sam that got raves, a yummy Lamb Curry and my superb Jolsha Lucknow Grilled Chicken consisting of three large skewers of grilled chicken breast with a "mastered" paste, soft cheese, black pepper, garlic, ginger & lemon juice. The "mastered" was mustard of course and the amazing mildly spicy dipping sauce was superb as the meat was juicy, but not heavily spiced. Na'ans here were super, although coconut is a bit sweet for my taste. Vegetable rice is a nice change from the plain and was loaded with all kinds of fresh veggies.

The house wine was only about 14pounds (just over $18) and was listed as "dry-Spain" so I asked to see the bottle which had no info about grapes or anything. The wine was simple, refreshing and indeed tasted like it's description: dry & white, but uneventful, but went well with the rich food as well as the mild spices.

We were all full and headed back to our friend's house for a glass of red before retiring back at our hotel.

PINTURA is near perfect for Basque Cuisine in Leeds, UK (8-2-18)

Five of us arrived(all the adults) from Will's family for a wonderful and exciting meal that took us back to Spain via the UK with Chef Greg Lewis' novel take on Basque cuisine using local ingredients as well.

We decided to order in sections starting with the "Picotear" and "Charcuterie y Queso" as well as the amazing evening special's tapas of Bacalao Tempura with Lemon Alioli with pickled peppers (service on a aslice of bread as traditional tapas are). It was a great beginning as we adored a bottle of creamy rich and exciting, but slightly floral Tandem Immacula Viognier/Viura blend 2015 from Navarra, Spain.

The Pork Scratchings was about the least exciting dish all night as they were hard and boring(how could George Bush call these his favorite snack), but at 3pounds hardly a loss (under $5). The "Biscay Mix" cost even less and included tasty roasted giant corn, toasted Valencia Almonds and crunch fried broad beans. 

The setting is simple with a long bar on one side of the restaurant and a small several burner kitchen right next to it at the rear adjoining the bar space. I could not believe all the food for the two floors came from this one small space with staff of what seemed to be two! The walls were wood, tile and brick in an historic building in the Trinity shopping area in downtown Leeds where millennials hang out all day and night! There were neat modern Spanish posters as well as old tile and wooden floors. It's been warm here, so plenty of folk were dining outside as well.

We ordered up a second white: Aquitania Albarino from Rias Baixas, crisper and still delicious with our Pato Ahumado, a signature dish of Smoked Duck served with Celeriac Remoulade that was so good we ordered extras. We also ordered the Tabla De Casa which was a huge board with tons of meats and cheeses that was one of the best around for sure: Iberia chorizo, Lomo, Bayonne ham(air dried from Southern France spiced with Espelette Pepper), Manchego, Rosemary infused Manchego and an amazing creamy and rich Valdeon Spanish blue cheese. Quince Membrillo, Olives, crackers and Marcona Almonds graced the huge platter.

Our Pescado included Sardinas, whole fish grilled with Heritage (that's UK for heirloom) tomatoes and Espelette peppers. Even better was the Arroz Con Mariscos a plate of Saffron Rice loaded with head-on Tiger Prawns, the tiniest of sliced squid, chorizo and peas that had a "paella" feel to it on a smaller scale. 

Verduras are a treat here and we chose the Ensalada Zanahoria a gorgeous bowl of roasted Heritage Carrots with smoked Piquillo peppers, summer herb pesto and machego that was out of this world; definitely one of the best veggie dishes around.

Carne featured more of that Pato Asado, but here the duck breast is pan-roasted, not smoked, and served with the same celeriac puree but added are the amazing PX raisins, resonant raisin reasons because they are soaked in PX Sherry!

Our Huevos Selection was the Huevo de Pato with a perfectly fired duck egg on top of sprouting broccoli (akin to broccolini) with Nut-Brown Butter & almonds.

At this point I felt someone spitting on me, but it was the huge a/c unit in the ceiling that dripped a bit too much! We had also moved on to one of the best Spanish reds ever a 2006 Caller Sangenis, Vaque "Van Por" Merlot, Grenache, Samso & Cabernet Sauvignon blend from Priorat!

Dessert was shared and the Mousse de Chocolate of Valrhona Chocolate was a winner with its odd pretzel stick! The Tarta de Santiago of Citrus & Almond with Olive Oil Ice Cream and Orange Syrup was also very refreshing and went superbly with the Williams & Hubert Pedro Jimenez 20 year old Sherry which was gutsy, sweet and divine. The perfect ending to a perfect meal.

Kudos to our server Emily who was helpful, suggestive and always there to help!

Sad to leave Leeds, but headed to a family wedding further north in Yorkshire.

When in Leeds(Yorkshire,UK), head to the WETHERBY WHALER for a whopping fish & chips(8/1/18)

Each time we arrive in Yorkshire, we ultimately hit amazing fish and chips shops, but if you seek a quality batter, a seated dinner in a simple setting head just 15 minutes west  of downtown Leeds to the WETHERBY WHALER. We had an amazing bottle of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc for under 18 pounds(under $24!) and some of the best fish and chips anywhere, especially the amazing haddock and superb quality batter that keeps on crunching, even under the duress of a good vinegar dip. Also of the highest quality here are the excellent onion rings with a sweet chili dipping sauce. Sam ordered a yummy vegetable lasagna and it's an amazing deal if you are over 60 because you get wither a soup, salad or mushy peas with your fish and chip and a dessert to boot for just over 10pounds($13.50). The sticky toffee pudding wasn't too sticky or gooey as we like, but the apple & sultana crisp was simply devine with a scoop of vanilla custard ice cream! This is quality fish, quality batter and quality service from our attentive and entertaining Carys, who had lots of charisma!

What a wonderful treat on our first night with the family here in Leeds.

The ROSE & KETTLE in Cherry Valley rises again for our annual Glimmerglass Artists divine dinner (7-22-18)

Fifteen of us joined last night after the final concert of the weekend by Eric Owens (and he was in attendance as well) for our annual client/friends/young artists' dinner at the Rose & Kettle in Cherry Valley, just 15 minutes away from Cooperstown and the Glimmerglass Theater. Everything was a hit this year starting with the amazing drinks such as a Pomegranate Cosmo and Lancaster Lemonade(vodka,limoncello,cointreau). The wines were also excellent as always with a Wachau Gruner Veltliner, Chateau de Campuget Rose, Marchesi Mazzei Badiola and the always spectacular Earthquake Petit Sirah.

I started with the spicy delicious Samosas of sweet potato, pea and onion with mango chutney and tamarind glaze and tasted the awesome special of Salmon Cake with Nuoc Cham Asian Fish sauce. I almost always order the amazing definitive Meatloaf of locally raised beef, pork and lamb mixed and served with garlic mashed potatoes, an amazing pan gravy thick and rich and string beans. I think more than 1/2 the table ordered the special main course of NY Strip Steak with Horseradish-Dijon Cream, Steak Fries, Spinach and amazing crispy fried onions(FB photos). This is one of our favorite nights of the year and this year was just as special as it always is. Back in August 2019!

Cooperstown, NY's The BLUE MINGO brings me relaxation and rest on the shores of Lake Otsego, but sometimes barely makes the mark (7-19-18)

Each year that we return to Cooperstown, NY and the Glimmerglass Festival for our always memorable weekend of operas, we have a quandary as to where to dine on our nights free. As we attend four operas and a concert this year, one brunch and two dinners are arranged for patrons through the company and their superb caterer, The Horned Dorset. This year we have two free evenings and our last will be spent with a dozen and a half opera singers at The Rose & Kettle in nearby Cherry Valley, which we have deemed the best food in the region. Some of the places in town and out go up and down over the years, so we decided to return to the Blue Mingo where we have not been for sometime, in its placid setting on the lakeshore several miles north of town.

We had a beautiful view from our table(check the FB photos) and settled in with a Mingo Margarita and a Cooperstown Cosmo. Will learned a lesson by ordering the former frozen and it came loaded with way too many small chunks of just ice, rather than a smoother slush, while mine was nice, if a bit too loaded with cranberry juice; at least I got the extra from the bar in a small adorable container(see photo).

Bread was warm and delicious and came in brown and yummy mini corn muffins with soft butter.

Samuel had his eyes on the starter of SRIRACHA FRIES with Cilantro, Green Onion, Lime & Garlic Mayo and they looked great as he devoured the monstrous plate(please read on for my opinion). Will tried the TUNA NACHOS with Crispy Wontons, Seared Sesame Ahi tune, Wakame, Pickled Ginger and dipping sauces of Ponzu & Wasabi Crema. If the ordering of the ingredients on the menu has any meaning, then we should have noted that wontons are listed first as the dish was piled high with dozens of the fried tasty dough triangles, but sadly the less than a dozen tiny bites of ahi were negligible. The dish was tasty, but needs reordering of its ingredients and priorities. I fared best with the COCONUT SHRIMP featuring 6 plump pieces beautifully battered and fried with a sweet chili sauce, lime, ginger and a spoonful of Napa Cabbage(it was really a cabbage mix) underneath.

We ordered a bottle of Chateau d'Escalus Whispering Angel Rose which we knew and was crisp and refreshing as the weather cooled to below 70 and the sun set; it was a perfect evening. I noticed at this point the flowers(well on stem) in the vase on the table were wilting and needed some freshening, but at least that can't mar the beauty of the lake here.

Main courses were all decent, but still could use some minor improvements. Faring tops was Sam's QUINOA BOWL (the only veggie main option on the entire large menu!) made with Broccoli, Chickpeas, Zucchini, Squash, Sauteed Spinach, Sundried Tomato all dressed up with a delicious homemade Thai Sauce. Again it was huge, but truly varied and tasty. His friend's BAR STEAK was explained as a Sirloin on large roll with Maple Bacon Bourbon Jam and fries and it was just that and quite delicious as she raved about the tasty meat and sauce.

My LOBSTER ROLL was tasty but needed salt and pepper as it was barely seasoned, although the large chunks of lobster were delicious. It normally comes with a side of fries, but for $3 I upgraded to the Sriracha Fries. DON'T! They were truly the gummiest batch of fries I have ever had in my life, even if deliciously seasoned. The accompanying Garlic Mayo was perfect to add flavor to the lobster roll.

Will chose the SLEEPING LION BURGER, a gorgeous hunk of Grass-Fed beef on a bun with Arugula, Goat Cheese and that yummy Maple Bacon Bourbon Jam. Sadly the latter tow ingredients were barely in attendance, and I told him to ask for more, but he just ate on. A glass of Mountain Door Malbec from Mendoza, Argentina was a bit wimpy for the burger(oh, you Europeans might get that wimpy joke!).

The portions are huge and despite our seeing the totally fun looking dessert of "Grill you own Smores tableside" at the next table, we headed back to our cottage on the lake, very full, but wishing the Mingo took a bit more notice to its menu when delivering the dishes.

Des Moines, Iowa's HARBINGER is heavenly, modern and marvelous (7-8-18)and other Des Moines tidbits

My long weekend in Des Moines, Iowa was ,y virgin visit to the state's capital and I cam away finding amazing food everywhere, not to mention some of the friendliest folks around.

My first night at the Maytag Dairy Farm 40 miles east of town in the middle of nowhere, the Des Moines Metro Opera catered and amazing meal from Table 128 in town featuring Pork Chops with Maytag Blue Cheese, Grilled Corn, Beans, awesome biscuits and so much more. A real treat before the opera was the complimentary popcorn, made from the corn right next to the opera stage set outside! There were Maytag Blue Cheese & bacon popcorn as well as what they call Chicago popcorn (Cheddar & caramel mixed!!), there was an anise/orange which I skipped. After the opera, the cast and operagoers enjoyed the best ever Strawberry-Rhubarb pie made by a local woman in nearby Newton. It was a great first night. The other evenings I ate at the theater in Indianola and the food was a decent buffet, but needs no review.

One lunch at Bubba's in the city featured the best brined and fried chicken I have ever had that was so juicy I needed multiple napkins and the crusty skin was so good I at every last crumb. The mashed garlic potatoes won't win a prize, but the beans were delish. Sunday brunch, also in town, was at St. Kilda's, and when I arrived at 1130am the place was heaving. There was one party of 10 waiting for quite some time and it turned out to be the soprano lead from Fledermaus the night before! I was lucky enough to get a counter seat with a view of the whole place and enjoyed my one course of Salmon Burger with Avocado, slab bacon, fried egg and arugula on a gorgeous fresh seeded bun. The coffee was delish. It was a quick stop, but if you want to go reserve ahead!

The last meal and only real dinner out was at Harbinger, where Iowa native Chef Joe Tripp set up home just a year ago who has won TWO James Beard Awards for best Chef in the Midwest over the years. I invited 5 opera singer client/friends and we all had a truly amazing time. The grained wooden tables and chairs are pretty, but don't offer much rearend comfort; bu there are some bench leather seats along the walls. The walls have gorgeous lathed wooden bowls from local wood sculptors as well as jars with fresh sunflowers; one wall has a giant dried wreath. There is a small bar and the small space that seats under 50 is open to the kitchen at the side. I arrived early and started on a bottle of Stolpman Vineyard 2016 Roussanne from Ballard Canyon, Lompoc (Santa Barbara area), California. The rich unfiltered wine had tones of melon and pineapple and went with virtually everything, but drank beautifully alone. Our server Katelyn was extremely accommodating as we all ventured through the menu of 5 starters and twelve or so mains, but they were all really small plates meant for each person to have 4 or so. Some folks opted for the five course Chef's Tasting. I never did get a price on that menu, but the average cost per person without the drinks, tip or tax was about $45, and we ate a lot for 3 hours!

Many of the dishes can be viewed on my facebook page and are presented below in no specific order.

Haikuri Turnips were grilled over Thai Fruit wood and came with Nasturtium, Buttermilk and Green Tomato Marmalade (the marmalade enough was able to send us into ecstasy) was the first course of the tasting

Squash Blossom Rangoon was battered and deep fried with Tomato Sweet & Sour Sauce and Chinese Mustard. I started with this crunchy delight and it was the 2nd course for the tasting.

Spicy Eggplant toast with Thai Basil, Crispy Shallots and Pickled Fresno Chili looked a bit odd, but got raves, but the 

DUCK EGG inspired by Japanese omelet was a Tamago Custard with Smashed New Potatoes, Garlic Chives & Bacon Consomme that was truly a major breakthrough in cooking.

They also have Steamed Buns and the Vietnamese Meatball with Chili Glaze, Aioli and Cilantro got high marks as well.

The third course of the tasting was a perfectly grilled Miso Glazed Octopus and the

fourth course was a Superb Pork Loin with fermented Black Beans, Blueberry Vinaigrette(more like a gastrique) and Squid Ink.

Baby Heirloom Carrots (flavors of Thailand) with Lemongrass Marshmallow, Toasted Peanuts and Flowering Cilantro may not sound so interesting, but these were some of the best carrots from local farms and the lemongrass marshmallow was an inspiration that made the dish simply unequaled to any carrot dish ever had before in my mind.

I adored the English Pea Gnocchi-inspired Mochi with House Ricotta, Pine Nuts, Snap Peas & Tendrils which was probably one of the heaviest plates and at $9 was truly unbelievable.

My main course was the Lucky George Farm's Rabbit (memories of claypot in Singapore) with magnificent local mushrooms, broken rice and scallions. The dish was cooked perfectly so the rabbit shone, but like a stew without a single tiny rabbit bone.

By this time we had moved on to the celebratory Balfour Pinot Noir/Chardonnay Leslie's Reserve Sparkling Wine from Hush Heath Estate in Kent, UK and if this is where "champagne" is going in the future it's a good sign. It was intensely bubbly but full of wonderful yeasty flavors. It was even better using the Riedel crystal. Our dinner was right after the matinee of the remarkable Jonathan Dove masterpiece "Flight" and two of it's singers had joined us, so champagne was in order for it was one of the most memorable operatic encounters of my entire life.

The many plates were not that filling so dessert was in order and some chose the Lemon Meringue Blueberry and Spice which had a large lemon pudding with toasted meringue cookie. 

The tasting menu dessert was a Carrot Cake with Dehydrated Thai Chilis and while there was cream cheese involved, this was not your traditional carrot cake; it was divine, as was the entire evening with such a great group of singers.

This meal alone proved what Des Moines is capable of and I understand there are many other wonderful dining spots, so I guess I will have to return again for another Des Moines Metro Opera season!!

Bistro Aracosia brings awesome Afghan to DC(6-30-18)

Will had been to Bistro Aracosia around the corner on MacArthur Blvd a couple of times and has been raving all year, so we finally headed over last night for a quiet dinner for two(www.bistroaracosia.com).

The location is where the late Listrani's and Bistroquet were, but unlike those, the place was full on Saturday at 7pm and a line was waiting for tables. I think this is here to stay!

The décor in the front retains the tin ceiling and small bar with bistro style seating(chairs are more comfy, but tables are small and crowded) in the two rooms. The walls have Afghan jewelry, scarves, paintings (think whirling dervishes) and quotes from famous poets(Rumi, Hafaz) and the rear room now has a beautiful fabric ceiling that makes it quieter (but last night a tad warmer than the front room, especially with the outdoor heat topping 90). The staff sport long embroidered Afghan shirts, which are most attractive.

We were warmly greeting and seated quickly as we perused the drink menu. Will chose the Khyber Pass made with Casa Noble Crystal Tequila, Patron Citronage, lime and chile while I aimed for the Sumac Infusion with sumac-infused vodka(mild), velvet falernum, pomegranate and lime. The tall thin glasses look smaller, but are misleading as the drinks seemed to last quite long. The Afghan bread arrived and Will said it was not as fresh as the previous visits, but still delicious with the four "chutneys" or sauces that come with it and can be put on any or all of the various dishes, but especially the kebabs. The mildest was the Avocado/Yogurt with spices and they progress very quickly in spice levels to the Red Chile then the Thai Pepper & Green Herbs(almost tomatillo-like) and the intense Mango Sweet & Spicy, definitely the hottest, but still superbly tasty.

It was quite busy and took a while to order, but we specifically told the server to give us a good break between courses as we saw the portions arriving near us were quite huge. The owner was back over asking what we had ordered and if we had ever tasted the lamb chops. Within minutes he returned with a plate of two gorgeous grilled lamb chops in Afgan spices. Unfortunately, Will is highly allergic to sumac and when he asked, the owner mentioned that all the grilled meats use sumac as it is a pre-mixed spice rub; more for me. The chops were cooked perfectly and were even more amazing with the green and mango sauces.

We ordered a bottle of Rioja Imperial Reserva 2012 from Compania Vinicola del Norte de Espana in Haro and it was drinking beautifully. The wine list offers many lower prices options in the 30's and up, but they do tend to get pricey for the better quality ones and at $90 this was as high I was willing to go. Some wines were in the $300's!!

Will started with a Cold Scythian Soup of Yogurt, Avocado, Cucumber and Dill, with the latter being quite intense(a bit too much for my taste) while I was thrilled with my Sabzi Boulanee (turnovers) which are the flakiest of pastries (quasi-phyllo, less than turnovers), filled with spinach, kale, collard, mustard & turnip greens, and cilantro, then deep fried and served with the avocado/yogurt chutney dipping sauce. This is one of the best veggie dishes around for my bang!

I later learned that Sabzi means greens as Will ordered the Lamb Shank Sabzi Moghuli for his main course which was braised bone-in shanks with braised mixed greens in a spicy tomato stew with Garam Masala. It was delicious and huge as well.

I could not resist ordering the Bodana (Quail) Kabob with Basmati Rice and the most amazing Butternut Squash side dish topped with amazing spice sauce and a dab of yogurt drizzle. There were three huge quails(see the FB photos) all grilled and seasoned perfectly, but after those two lamb chops, I only got through half the plate and took the other 1-1/2 birds home for another night! Everything was cooked perfectly and again the supers sauces made every bite different.

We decided to try the Firni for dessert which is an Afghan pudding infused with cardamom and topped off with crushed pistachios akin to flan, but even thicker. It was nice, a bit rich and quite heavy, although refreshing. I would have liked more pistachios for crunch on top, but we left very happy knowing that we will be back soon to another awesome establishment in our 'hood!