Tag Archives: sweet potato fries

Thank you BBQ

23 Oct

A few weeks ago, I got the hair brained idea to build a screen… divider… divider with door… divider with french doors for Mike and my new apartment. It wound up being quite a project, yet with the help of my fantastic dad’s building skills (and physical laboring) and tools borrowed from friends, Josh and Lillian, we managed to complete the undertaking. I seriously couldn’t have done it without dad, Josh, Lil, an Mike. Here is the finished product:


(doors closed)


(doors open)

Originally, I wanted to take everyone out to dinner, but Josh and Lillian had already taken out steaks for a BBQ and invited us over. I felt bad changing my treat dinner into crashing their BBQ, but I brought a thank you mini pumpkin, beer, shrimp, and veggies to hopefully show my appreciation.

When we got there, the steaks had already been marinated in Black & Tan beer. Lillian had thought up this master creation while BBQing a mushroom on a fire pit and determining Black & Tan to be the only viable liquid. Turns out it tasted great so we were treated to Black & Tan steaks.

As my dad said, there was a “bicycle seat of a steak” as well

Lillian also cut up some sweet potato fries (<3) and had some bok choy on the stove when we arrived.


Lillian even made a black & tan sauce to pour over top.

Josh carved up the steak for us

My additions to the menu were grilled asparagus (grilling veggies is so novel to New Yorkers!) and skewers of shrimp and tomatoes.

It all made for one beautiful plate

It was a great meal and so nice to have since I don’t get much BBQ.

Thanks again to my crew and tool lenders. You guys all rock!

Tags: , , , , , , ,

UWS Grill

1 Oct

A favorite place of my boyfriend’s, close to his work is Georgio’s Country Grill on 9th Ave at the corner of 53rd Street.  We stopped in for a late lunch on a Saturday and were welcomed by a very friendly host (Georgio maybe?) who found the 5 of us a table (we were dining with couple friends and their Grandma).  Originally, I was drawn to the blackberry sangria they advertised out front so Mike, Grandma and I all split a pitcher.  It was good but a little weak (on both alcohol and flavor) but the fruit in it was good.

The couple both ordered tuna melts (one on bread and one on English Muffins):


Grandma got the grilled cheese which made me instantly wonder if I should have ordered that:

Mike got Sonia’s wrap… but I forgot to take a picture of the inside.  Menu lists it as: tender marinated chicken strips smothered in sauteed fresh mushrooms, onions and jalapeno peppers, topped with monterey jack cheese, wrapped in a soft flour tortilla.  I obviously couldn’t eat it due to the peppers… but all I remember from his plate is the fries.  WOW were they good! INSANELY good.

I went with the late brunch option of Eggs Benedict with lox.  It was a good decision. The poached eggs were cooked perfectly… running but without being too raw.  The lox were flavorful and delicious and the English Muffin wasn’t too tough to cut through.  The sweet potato fries were also quite good.

I can’t speak for anyone else’s food, but what I tried was certainly above average. I’d go back just for the fries.

Total Nom Points: 7 out of 10

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

New Jersey Comfort

27 Jul

I grew up in New Jersey and, even through all the teasing, I am still quite proud to have grown up in a place where I was neither sheltered nor thrown into the streets, surrounded by mountains, and 45 minutes from NYC, Philly, and the Beach.  NJ gets a bum rap, but I’m happy it’s where I’m from.

Every time I go back to visit my parents, food becomes a big deal (whether home cooked or a night out).  The destination of choice near my father’s is a great, reliable, friendly place called The Stirling Hotel.  It has been around for over 100 years and has that “lived in,” comfortable feeling.  I think the main picture on their homepage defines it well:

The place itself has a tented outdoor space (heated in winter) and a cute outdoor bar served from within a small barn-like area.  Inside it’s a bit cramped, with an entry hallway where everyone has to turn sideways to allow people to pass from the outdoors/kitchen/hostesses/waitresses/etc but it works out.  They have a lot of old furniture inside with antique stoves and solid wood chairs in a tavern-like atmosphere.  The inside bar could also use a bit more room, but the selection is always one of my favorite parts.  They have unique beers on tap and I can trace many great discoveries to their bartenders recommendation.  I know I had my first Smuttynose Pumpkin Ale there, opening up my eyes to the glory of pumpkin beer (though nothing beats Smuttynose on draft).

I have probably been to The Stirling Hotel at least two dozen times over the years.  It used to be the place we stopped for dinner when I lived in NJ after volunteering at The Raptor Trust (a wild bird rehab center where I volunteered with my dad, who is still there, for about 8 years).  Now it’s the place we go to pretty much every time we go home, especially if my younger sister is with me.  It’s become our family’s go to place.

My dad is such a regular there that he knows the owner, Tom, personally.  We usually have different servers, however, they’re always nice and have a good friendly feel.  Our waiter this time around was Anthony, and he had such a fun personality that I’ll give him a special shout out here.  He spoke in about 4 languages (terribly yet hysterically) and managed to dance his way through the service.  I don’t think a few locals quite knew what to do with him, but he kept us laughing.  He even mugged for a picture with a rooster.

Now onto the food!  Well.. first the beer.  I ordered an Ayinger Weissbier.  It was so good that I wrote it down.  I love my white beers, but this one was extra special.  Lots of honey and overall deliciousness.

Now the Specials menu at The Stirling Hotel was something I always went for, and they used to have an almost daily special of these artichokes that were to. die. for.  I could eat them for my meal ever day of the week.  Unfortunately, they have been missing from the menu each time I’ve been there recently.

So, alas, with no artichokes, we ordered mozzarella sticks for the app.  They were fine, but nothing special.  Not too greasy though, so that made me happy. (I’m not a huge fan, so maybe I’m not a good judge?) 

After spending the day moving my boyfriend, Mike, from his place in Brooklyn into my apartment, and storing stuff at my father’s place in NJ, I was craving some classic home-style Noms for my entree.  I went with the classic half mac and cheese (comes with garlic bread, perfect for sopping up the cheese) and an order of sweet potato fries (always VERY good there).  I usually like a mac and cheese with a little less liquid, the cheesy garlic bread made it up to me.


Dad went with a half rack of ribs (that’s a half!) and I was delighted to find out that they were tasty without being spicy.  The portion seemed good for him and we all commented that it was a tasty sauce.

Mike went with (shocker) the burger.  It is a good burger, and I don’t think this one disappointed.  Interesting that lettuce and tomato is served a-la-carte, but it worked well.  (Besides, three of us ate for the price of two in typical NYC prices, including beverages).

I actually don’t think I’ve had dessert there before, but this tiring day called for some sweets.  Mike and I split an enormous brownie sundae.  The brownie was warm (Nom Nom Nom) and it had just the right balance of brownie to whipped cream to ice cream. 

Dad ordered the peanut butter bliss pie and it was deliciously peanut buttery, and if I’m going to eat chocolate ice cream, this is the kind I want it to be.

As a dessert lover, however, my one recommendation would be to up the ante on the chocolate syrup.  A little Ghiradelli goes a LONG way.

Overall, the food here is reliably good in a great atmosphere with great beer. Beyond that, it’s comfortable.  I look forward to going here every time I’m home.

Total Nom Points: 7 out of 10

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Newer Entries →