Boda, Portland Maine

We FINALLY got to go to Boda and it definitely lived up to all the raves we heard about it!

We both arrived famished after a long and stressful afternoon at Maine Med.  Everything is fine but it was an interesting adventure. All I can say is this...

So we started off with a bunch of small plated appetizers which Boda has a lot of.
There were quail eggs





























...and fried peanuts which brought me back to my days at Belle Haven.





























I also finally found a lobster that I like. I'm not a fan of anything on the bone. Similar to my dislike of anything on the bone, I have some serious texture issues with meats and lobster is one of those. Yes I live in Maine and am not a true Mainer. These crispy lobster treats were awesome!

 
I enjoyed the chicken skewers with the satay sauce!


















Frond ordered the crispy quail which he enjoyed all to himself. 

We both enjoyed some Thai Iced Tea and the sticky rice ball.

Moti Mahal, NYC

We surprised my Dad for his 80th birthday last spring in NYC! He had always wanted to go to dinner at Moti Mahal, as he had only been there for a lunchtime brunch spread and said it was fabulous! He was spot on!

Cheers Dad! We sucessfully pulled off surprising you at Susan's apartment!

 This is Dad with me on the right and my sister on the left.

 Always a gentleman, my father insists that women walk on the inside of the sidewalk, and always puts an arm around them especially when sharing an umbrella.

These appetizers were amazing! Tiny tasty poories atop faux cocktails of the usual papadum accompaniments.  There was a coriander cocktail, a tamarind cocktail, and even one that was a red spicy onion taste. So insanely creative!

 One of the many beautiful meals that adorned our table that night.

And of course, a piece of birthday cake to wrap up an amazing meal.

Happy 80th Birthday Dad!

Artisanal Bistro NYC

I can check this one off my bucket list! Sadly Frond was not there to enjoy this. I did however bring Pickle along to see my sister and Dad. This was the morning after we celebrated his 80th birthday by surprising him for an Indian dinner in Manhattan. 

Artisanal is not to be missed. It is expensive but it is worth the visit. We shared a group meal of fondues for the whole table. It was yummy and a memorable day.

Cafe Sopresso

My eldest child is a senior at MSSM, 6 hours north in Limestone, Maine. we have been fortunate to have a "host family" during the three years he has been there. Laurie live in Presque Isle, houses us every time we travel up to MSSM, and graciously allows us to store items such as his fridge and printer over the summer. 

As a thank you to Laurie, we took her family out to the nicest restaurant in town. Cafe Sopresso was a treat!

The kids cocktail were yummy hot chocolates while the adults had their own yummy treat!

 

Pickle chose the hot artichoke dip with chips and of course and orange soda!
 

Shane had a shrimp cocktail and the Thai Basil soup!

To my surprise, Baby ordered the pork tenderloin with a blueberry sauce! When did he go and grow up on me!?

 Strangely enough the other pictures are missing! I had a wonderful Thai Curry with rice.

Bareburger, Ridgefield CT

After a very late night drinking wine with Jen, all I wanted was coffee. When we woke the girls were already at school/work and we needed to head home. Since I did not want to make a mess of her kitchen, eating was the first stop on the agenda, and even though breakfast was the necessary meal, fresh organic burgers were the perfect way to satiate our empty gullets. Bareburger in Ridgefield CT was the perfect roadhouse to stop at!

The fries with the various dipping sauces were terrific. 

Our eldest child had the regular old burger above.
My favorite part was the awesome goat cheese fritter and pickled grape salad.

Unfortunately I burned my mouth on the cheese (I am so impulsive when it comes to cheese) so I had a hard time eating my sandwich.

I had the chicken and pickle.
It was really good.
Later.
When the burned mouth healed a bit.
Oh look! It's a picture of ME with my sandwich. Photo credit to the eldest.

 I asked the eldest to get a picture of Baby's sandwich. He took a thousand photos,  most of which were blurry, but I really like how this one captured Baby and his zealous excitement about the burger and all it's cheesy wonder. It's a Cheesy picture, a very cheesy picture.

 Just LOOK at all that cheese.

YUM!

Tutti Fruitti

When we left NYC and headed into CT, Baby decided he needed a new pair of shoes. Since H2 got her first ever pair of Vann's in Brooklyn, Baby decided that he needed a pair of nice blue Chuck Taylor Lone stars. My Mother in law took us to the Brass City Mall, and treated us to a lovely afternoon snack at Tutti Fruitti!I can't remember which yogurt flavors I chose other than chocolate, but those Swedisih fish, chocolate covered pretzels, and strawberries are mine.

Cafe Luka, 1st Avenue, NYC

On our last morning in NYC, Dad took us all out for brunch at a nice little cafe around the corner from his apartment. I had my obligatory eggs Benedict.


















I forget what everyone else ate, but the kids milkshakes were FANTASTIC.