Anniversary Dinner at the Oxford House

Once again a lovely evening with Frond!
We each ate off the salad and appetizer lists so there was plenty to taste and share and fill up on.
I started with the Bacon Deviled eggs!

The one thing that really stood out to me on the menu, and something I have been desperate to try, was this angelic version of a watermelon and feta salad. The small dice of both parts, with a light dash of maple syrup was amazing! Perfection and a definite re-do in my own kitchen, because this makes me rethink my dislike of watermelon!

Pair this with their deep fried cheese curds, served with a fresh chunk marinara, and my taste buds were in heaven. Such an awesome harvest meal.

The most lovely taste, and largest risk for me as a picky eater, was this delicious tuna salsa.
 This is also something I want to recreate in my own kitchen. So wonderful and tasty and healthy! It was even garnished with a slice of deep fried avocado! It was so neat to eat it!




























Frond had the crispy duck appetizer (The Hoison braised pulled duck) and a fried zucchini dish.

Dog Watch Cafe, Stonington CT

Back to my roots, a nice lunch on the water in Stonington Burough at The Dog Watch Cafe. 

This beautifully presented dish was actually an appetizer. Perfect for little ole' me at lunch time.  This was the southwestern chicken egg rolls. It was yummy and had the perfect amount of kick to it!

Grace, Portland Maine

Every spring a wonderful thing arrives in our bank account that allows us to have a wonderful expensive dinner out. We call it our tax return dinner, and this year we found a wonderful place to splurge! Grace, in Portland Maine.

We started with drinks at the uniquely built center bar.  I had the yummy Holier Than Thou (HOLIER THAN THOU/ St. Germaine/ Grapefruit Juice/ Sparkling Wine) 




























and Shane had his usual Old Fashioned.  I really wish I got a picture of the bar - but there are some photos on their website at THIS link.  Grace really is a one of a kind and is built to resemble the symbol of the Trinity seen in the window below and various places throughout Grace.























Once comfortably ensconced at our nook of a seat,  we perused the generous yet somewhat complex menu with  another round of yummy cocktails and warm bread with molasses butter. Yes - soft molasses butter - it was genius and addictive.

 

The decisions for what to eat were easy for me (not a big meat eater) but more difficult for Frond.

I had the shaved asparagus salad which I will recreate at home at some point, followed by the sweet potato and ricotta gnocchi.

 YUM!

And no dinner would be complete with out a sampling of cheeses and the charcuterie plate. If I could go back and do it again I would have ordered more cheeses!

Ever since Frond drooled over a Anthony Bourdaine show serving bone marrow, I have wanted him to be able to order it. Grace was the first place we encountered it and I urged him to order it - he was not disappointed!

 Frond then had a bluefish dish with some of the yummiest most amazing sauce made out of blackened lime (a method of dehydrating) and other amazing ingredients.



















The meal would not have been complete without a helping of their local beets and goat cheese, but it did end up being almost too much. Our eyes were bigger than our stomachs!

 
















We sure did clean the plates though! We can not wait to go back again! This time we will sit in the open seating area and eat nothing but local cheese and the charcuterie plates!

Highly recommend having a party here.

Magic Lantern Pub

Went out for some cribbage and beers and got a surprise Stanley Cup Playoff viewing.
 Front row seats!

Home Kitchen Cafe, Rockland ME

 

















Celebrating the end of hockey season after the state championships, the whole family had Brunch at Home Kitchen Cafe in Rockland Maine.

The mimosas were fantastic.

 























I had their famous Huevos Rancheros and was very happy with my choice.






















 



My favorite part was that I asked for a side of Hollandaise with my potatoes.
 It was heavenly perfection.


























Great job Home Kitchen Cafe!

Panera Bread, Somewhere in hockeytown, MA

Turkey Roast, Coventry CT

This happens, every year, on the Saturday after Thanksgiving!

Colony Pizza

When in Connecticut....

Black Horse Brunch

I think the Black Horse Brunch post hockey board meeting is going to be our new once a month routine. Best Bloody Mary's - of course with extra olives - and the Eggs Benedict is just perfect for me! See the side portion of Hollandaise and hash browns? Perfection!






































And this was SP's omelet. I forget what was in it but I do remember that that is sourdough toast. Mmmm I love sour dough. 

Black Horse Tavern, Bridgton ME

 

























An après hockey board meeting brunch with my main squeeze! Oh how I was craving a Bloody Mary!
 

























Sadly we got there too late to order the New Orleans Eggs Benedict from the spacial board, but Shane did order the steak and cheese nachos. The chipotle ranch sauce was awesome!!!

I had my usual brunch order - a plain old standard Eggs Benedict, but with tomato in place of the ham. I always get an extra side of Hollandaise for the potatoes. YUM!