Happy & Full

Jaleo

Jaleo
2250 A Crystal Drive
Arlington, VA

Sherine suggested that we try Jaleo for dinner.  We were super excited to try something new and this definitely hit the spot after a day on the mall at the "Rally for Sanity and/or Fear".  The service was great and the decor was warm and inviting.

To start, we were served bread with rosemary and garlic in olive oil.

Buñuelos de bacalao, fried salt cod fritter with honey alioli was deliciously crisp on the outside with a moist shredded cod on the inside.  The honey alioli added just a touch of sweetness to the cod.

Calamares con piñones y Pedro Ximénez, seared fresh squid with pine nut praline and a PX reduction was slightly rubbery but the sauce was great with a little bread.

Vieiras con calabaza y naranjas, seared scallops with butternut squash purée, orange segments and pumpkin seeds had perfectly seared scallops. The butternut squash purée and orange segments were a unique combination of flavors.

Arroz a banda con gambas, literally meaning, "rice apart from shrimp", made with shrimp and cuttlefish was very flavorful but slightly saltier for our taste. The shrimps were huge!

The waiter divided this large paella into individual serving dishes.  YUM, look at the size of that shrimp!

Pastel Vasco con helado de leche merengada, basque cake with semolina cream, cinnamon-vanilla sauce & ice milk was delicious! As Sherine cut into the basque cake a burst of steam escaped the center; it was a nice duo which tastes even better than it looks!

So next time you are in the D.C. area make sure you get a little taste of their Spanish tapas selection but don't leave without trying their paella which is made to order and definitely have dessert if you have room in your stomache.

Alta for Valentine's Day

Alta
64 West 10th Street
New York, NY  10011

Shaun and I keep returning to Alta because of our attachment to its amazing food, warm rustic decor, great hospitality, and sentimental value.  I always reminisce about the day he asked me to be his girlfriend when we come here for dinner.  We are never disappointed by the delicious food!  We're especially delighted when we find a new dish on the menu to try.  It is a dinner perfect date and I have the best company to top it off!

I started dinner with a White Sangria which definitely quickened my pulse and gave me the Asian glow, but it tasted so good and was very refreshing.

The Fried Goat Cheese with lavender infused honey is always at the top of our list of favorites and a must order dish.  It's crispy on the outside and warm goat cheese goodness on the inside.

The Coca (Catalonian Flatbread) with oven roasted mushrooms, fresh ricotta, truffled boschetto, and herbs is so flavorful that your taste buds will be awaken by all the fresh herbs.

The White Truffle & Porcini Deviled Eggs with mixed field greens, and celery root crisps is a very light and airy dish.  The celery root crisps are yum!

This was our second favorite dish of the night! The Ricotta Parmesan Gnocchi with parsnip lemon puree, Prosecco almond espuma, and celery leaves was an explosion of flavors.  The gnocchi is so good, it melts in your mouth!

The Crispy Striped Bass with black olive puree, pickled fennel, pumpkin seed oil, anise air, and micro mesclun is a combination that really works well together.  I think that the most interesting part of this dish was the pickled fennel; it is a vegetable that we haven't had before.

The Smoked Mozarella with fried basil was like pizza on a skewer!


What would Valentine's Day be without dinner at Alta?  I don't want to find out; I love Alta!

After a fantastic meal, we headed over to Comic Strip Live for a great lineup of comedians. Ray Ellin hosted the show with comedians: Marina Franklin, Sherrod Small, Kevin Brennan, and Brian McFadden. It was the perfect end to a perfect Valentine's Day.

Alta

Alta
64 West 10th Street
New York, NY  10011

These are the words of a very satisfied customer, "Thanks Alta restaurant for the memories of gastronomical proportions."  Of course, delivered from the love of my life, Shaun, which basically sums up our second experience at Alta.  I can't begin to tell you how much I like the decor and overall atmosphere and ambiance of this restaurant.  You would very easily pass it by if you didn't know that it was there in the first place.

The last time Shaun and I came here it was our first meal together as a couple.  Now, it's the second time on our first Valentine's Day together with so many more to come.  This is a great date restaurant and I highly recommend taking someone you love here.  The dished are Spanish Tapas style which makes it so you can share 5-6 different dishes and not feel too stuffed for dessert.  There should always be room for dessert, if not, you aren't getting the full experience or the dinner was too heavy.

The line-up of tonight's dinner begins with a lovely dish:  Fried Goat Cheese with lavender infused honey.  The main reason why we have come back to Alta.

Next up...Wok Seared "Taglierini" of Calamari with haricot verts, garlic chips, jalapeno, and almonds.

Our second favorite dish of the night:  Spinach Salad dried cherries, toasted pine nuts & red onion, garlic cream.  I was really surprised that this was Shaun's second favorite also since he isn't a fan of salads.  He will eat them since he is a vegetarian but that doesn't mean he enjoys eating it.

Avocado Relleno with crabmeat and shrimp, frisee, and orange segments.

Grilled Skewer of Yogurt Marinated Lamb eggplant and okra, green leek sauce is last on my list.  The lamb was tough and it mostly tasted like charcoal.  When I think of lamb it usually take me back to Anita's wedding day when they served lamb chops and they were delicious.

Sea Scallops artichoke puree, yuzu mayonnaise, salmon caviar.

And it is always great when you have plenty of room for dessert...Donut Trio, which consisted of a Chocolate Hazelnut Ganache, Apricot Lavender Jam, and Cardamom Cream donut.

Overall, I think that it was a great second experience at Alta and we a few items that were different from the last time we were there.  The service was great and we love the food.

Salud!

Salud Restaurant & Bar
142 Beekman Street
New York, NY  10038

A hidden treasure among many mainstream restaurants.  We happened to stumble upon this Latin American restaurant in search of something a little more low key which didn't have a line and we wouldn't feel rushed to finish our food.  Located on a side street at South Street Seaport, it presents a very welcoming and relaxing atmosphere where the cuisine features dozens of delicious tapas.  They start you off with plantain chips and bean dip.

Green plantains with garlic topping, and boy were they garlicky.

Cubanito - mini cuban sandwich with tender & crispy pork loin, ham, swiss & pickles

Bacalaitos - codfish & potato croquettes with a saffron scent & salsa criolla

Pinchos - skirt steak medallions & grilled shrimp skewers w/ garlic mojo & chimichurri

My favorite part about going to a tapas restaurant is that you get to try several dishes without getting exceedingly full.  The flavors in each dish are so delightful that you'll want to come back next time and try the rest of the menu.  I highly recommend it!