tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38000904162913440952012-02-16T08:40:02.682-05:00Foodie in the Valleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17432491894150163660noreply@blogger.comBlogger131100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3800090416291344095.post-59380998506131209382008-11-23T23:34:00.003-05:002008-11-23T23:47:55.688-05:00

Every once in a while you have an experience you know you’ll remember forever. Even when you’re in the midst of it, you know it’s one of those life moments and memories you’ll always cherish.And so it was that we visited Arrows: the flagship restaurant of award winning chefs, Mark Gaier and Clark Frasier, and named 14th in "America's Top 50 Restaurants 2006" by Gourmet Magazine. Their garden

Foodie in the Valleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17432491894150163660noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3800090416291344095.post-3078035911909850622008-11-23T23:23:00.007-05:002008-11-23T23:33:39.629-05:00

Remember this mystery plate first posted in July? Read the next entry for mystery solved . . . !

Foodie in the Valleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17432491894150163660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3800090416291344095.post-17548180336672465532008-11-23T23:17:00.000-05:002008-11-23T23:18:24.902-05:00

For those of you who have been wondering where this white plate originated, wonder no more…it’s time for the great reveal! The restaurant is - drumroll please - the Restaurant at Hickory Ridge Golf and Country Club. It seems that every Wednesday evening they offer a 2 for 1 dinner special. So one Wednesday evening, we drove over to check it out. We wandered around a bit before being directed

Foodie in the Valleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17432491894150163660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3800090416291344095.post-517570973101921832008-11-23T23:14:00.000-05:002008-11-23T23:17:15.589-05:00

We heard the sound of rushing water as we walked towards the patio and outdoor dining section of the Night Kitchen. Choosing the inside space rather than eat with the mosquitoes, we were greeted by a hostess who checked the reservations list, smiled up at us, and said “you’re booked at the best table in the restaurant!”An auspicious beginning. Our table was tucked in the far corner and

Foodie in the Valleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17432491894150163660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3800090416291344095.post-8634470364127895772008-11-23T23:06:00.002-05:002008-11-23T23:14:23.689-05:00

Bistro Les Gras has a soothing, comfortable look inside. Small, but not crowded, the feeling is intimate and gracious. The menu describes “hot” and “cold” starters, main plates and a few side dishes or “garnitures.” The day we visited, we began with a hot starter, a pumpkin velouté soup with brown sugar croutons and sage oil. It was absolutely delicious and the essence of autumn in New

Foodie in the Valleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17432491894150163660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3800090416291344095.post-56119171284344437882008-07-29T17:28:00.003-04:002008-11-23T23:32:01.689-05:00

Can you tell where this dinner plate of food came from?Write in your thoughts and reactions please!(For the answer, see "Mystery Solved" posted in November 2008.

Foodie in the Valleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17432491894150163660noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3800090416291344095.post-49863787998261372782008-07-28T16:36:00.008-04:002008-08-01T06:33:18.342-04:00

We were ravenous when we entered the Big Mamou restaurant in Williamsburg. I’d heard recommendations for Chef Wayne’s Springfield restaurant many times but had never visited. Cajun food isn’t our typical fare, but when we were visiting the Williamsburg Country Store one day and spotted his new restaurant across the street, we couldn’t resist trying it out. We were shown to our table by a raspy

Foodie in the Valleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17432491894150163660noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3800090416291344095.post-74886122808021023622008-07-18T16:32:00.001-04:002008-08-01T06:34:41.740-04:00

The big spaceman is gone. I don’t know when it left, but I was sad and I miss him. Am I the only one who loves the fifties space theme this much? I love the big panels around the ceiling with outer space pictures and the big tall robot surrounded by salt and pepper “people” clustered at his robot feet. The candleholder at our table was from NASA, and the plates had cool space decorations, too. I

Foodie in the Valleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17432491894150163660noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3800090416291344095.post-52450731920558956232008-07-08T16:24:00.001-04:002008-08-01T06:38:31.557-04:00

It was a Saturday night, and my wife, son and I decided on the spur of the moment to go out to dinner rather than cook. Where to go? Fully aware that it might be too crowded without an available table for walk-in’s, we settled on Carmelina’s. To our delight, within minutes of our arrival we were assured that there was a table for us, and less than five minutes later, we were escorted to one by

Foodie in the Valleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17432491894150163660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3800090416291344095.post-44373061857446336982008-07-06T16:09:00.001-04:002008-08-01T06:42:29.983-04:00

Brace yourself - there may not be enough superlatives to describe my love affair with this restaurant. No matter where else I go, I always wonder at the end of the meal, “Should I have gone to Chez Albert instead - and why do I ever eat anywhere else?” The experience always begins with Emmanuel greeting us with his smile and French accent and directing us to a small, humble table in a small,

Foodie in the Valleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17432491894150163660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3800090416291344095.post-80296522869406362942008-06-25T16:15:00.002-04:002008-08-01T06:44:23.152-04:00

The atmosphere in Arigato, the expanded Amherst Japanese restaurant, was a little odd and off-putting. Although polite and smiling, the staff radiated a palpable tension and distance that turned the ambiance somewhat stressful. The hard chairs and low tables added to the uneasy feeling, and the huge menu was overwhelming and difficult to decipher. When we asked the hurried waiter (did they

Foodie in the Valleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17432491894150163660noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3800090416291344095.post-33652429445473769732008-06-14T16:03:00.001-04:002008-07-31T16:31:34.512-04:00

Does the term mixed bag sum up my thoughts about this restaurant? It did for me . . . that was, until last weekend. In the past I’ve thoroughly enjoyed their salads. Beyond enjoyed – it became a salad destination for me. My favorite was mixed greens topped with asparagus, chopped artichoke hearts, grape tomatoes, and a vinaigrette dressing so flavorful it begged to be

Foodie in the Valleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17432491894150163660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3800090416291344095.post-86585533153897746942008-06-10T15:57:00.001-04:002008-07-31T16:01:54.894-04:00

I’d been looking forward to eating at Europa for some time. The concept of Tapas or small plates has always appealed to the part of me that wants to taste as many dishes as possible. Naturally, I had read through the menu several times prior to my visit to consider and anticipate the interesting dishes I’d order. My wife and I arrived and immediately argued about how many plates to order. She

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