Restaurant Week: D.O.C.G.

Our last Restaurant Week meal was at D.O.C.G. We really enjoyed the meal there last year and look forward to trying it again. It was packed and bustling on Friday at seven o'clock. In fact our table for three was the only one open when we were seated.

Our waitress was very friendly and it seemed every dish I ordered was her personal favorite. Other staff made for certain our water glass was never empty.

We got started with Fried Calamari; Spicy Tomato Sauce, Beef Carpaccio; Caper Aioli, Baked Ricotta Salata and Fried Artichoke; Lemon & Thyme.







Both the calamari and carpaccio were winning appetizers. The artichoke was overly fried. It was mostly inedible. Once the layers of char were peeled away, there was the tiniest bite of tender artichoke to be had.

Entrees came next, Maccheroni; Polpettine & Home Style Sugo, Tuscan Fried Chicken, Summer Vegetables and Braised Short Rib; Polenta, Summer Vegetables.







The chicken was the weak link. Decent, but difficult to eat. The pasta was fantastic. I'm in love with Scott Conant's pastas. They are always the perfect al dente. The meatballs weren't particularly notable, but those noodles? Yum! The short rib was fork tender and really wonderful.

We ended with dessert a Caramel Budino; Salted Caramel Sauce and Marscarpone Cheesecake; Amaretti, Candied Kumquats. The Budino is luscious, sweet, but not overly so. The cheesecake was fantastic, light and creamy. A perfect end to a delicous meal.

Restaurant Week: Comme Ca

Our fourth Restaurant Week meal was at Comme Ca inside the Cosmo. The restaurant was fairly busy Thursday evening about 7 o'clock. Our waiter was very attentive. Too attentive actually. The breads to get you started are fresh and warm.

For starters we had Roasted bone marrow and tarte flambe; smoked bacon, caramelized onion.





The tarte flambe was tasty; baked crisp and full of tang from the cheese, smoke from the bacon and sweetness from the onion.

I've never had bone marrow, nor oxtail jam. I was excited to try it especially after all the raves I've seen about this particular dish. It's $18 on the regular menu and I didn't see a single complaint about the price so I figured it must be good.

I have nothing to compare it to, but I didn't appreciate it. The oxtail jam taste like pot roast and the bone marrow had no distictive flavor. I couldn't say if I liked it or not, I couldn't taste it. All I could think was that it looked like the big bones we'd get in a doggy bag when I'd dine out with my parents as a kid. Our pups loved to chew on bones. So, yes, I'm saying this dish seemed like dog treat.

Entrees were steamed mussels; spicy tomato, andouille sausage and simple risotto with wild mushrooms.





The risotto was good, but not great. It was a bit grainy and we've been spoiled by truffles. The steamed mussels were very good, tender and in a nice broth. I really liked the meaty spicy andouille that accompanied the mussels.

Dessert was decadent and wonderful the salted caramel mousse; dark chocolate ice cream, cocoa nib crumble did not disappoint.



I was terribly disappointed with desserts at Comme Ca on a previous visit. Judging by this restaurant week dessert, they have really stepped up their game and that first visit has been long forgotten.

Photo a Day: Week 36

September 2, 2012 ~ My favorite boy torturing petting a kitten.



September 3, 2012 ~ The smile of a Sox fan.



September 4, 2012 ~ My beautiful sister.



September 5, 2012 ~ Fun at the Plush Horse.



September 6, 2012 ~ Breakfast.



September 7, 2012 ~ No points for presentation.



September 8, 2012 ~ Me, after a summer of fun, adventure and gluttony. Now, it's time to get back to eating right and exercising.

Photo a Day: Week 35

August 26, 2012 ~ Sunday funday in La Jolla.



August 27, 2012 ~ Somehow Mondays are less fun.



August 28, 2012 ~ Christmas stuff, already? Really?



August 29, 2012 ~ Moonlit skies over NYNY.



August 30, 2012 ~ Good night, Las Vegas!



August 31, 2012 ~ Good morning, Las Vegas!



September 1, 2012 ~ Another Vegas sunrise... Windy City, I'm on my way.

Back Home

I have a couple more restaurant week meals to share. Those will be coming soon. In the meantime, I'll share about my visit to Chicago. I left Sin City for the Windy City on Saturday. I stayed at my sister's house and got lots of time with her and Nicky. Visited my dad, inlaws and a few friends too. Nicky is in school now so we did our best to keep routine. It was wild to help him with his homework. It seems like yesterday he was still in Amy's belly and we were curious what he'd look like. Now, he's writing the letter S. How time flies!

I ate my favorites like Giordanos pizza, chinese and gyros. Even satisfied a craving for cream of chicken soup. I still love Greek restaurants. They have tasty home cooked food, a huge variety and cheap prices.

We took Nicky to his first home game, he's now a White Sox fan. He was loyal to the Angels. Our mistake for taking him to Angel Stadium first. The White Sox played the Twins and we won. It was a great game.

We rented a boat at the Monee Reservoir and fished. We didn't catch anything and it was mighty sweaty from the heat and humidity, but we enjoyed it. It's quite peaceful.

Amy's roommate has two cats and one recently had a litter of kittens. They are handfuls of utter cuteness.

Our last stop before they dropped me off at the airport was the Plush Horse, an old fashioned ice cream parlor with a huge selection of homemade ice cream. M'mmm strawberry cheesecake ice cream!