Tuesday 6/29/10 dinner at Pistachio Grille

{I bought it last time I was at the beach

(6/19/10 in Pt Pleasant, NJ) 

after I played volleyball with my friend Suzy

– we came in 3rd place}

Arriving at Pistachio Grille ~Michael, Dan, Kim & ME – see my shadow?

Kim & Dan

(Michael hiding behind Dan)(no shadow this time)

The bread, butter AND roasted Peppers were ALL really very good. I could have made a meal out of just them! the WEIRD part was – they only gave us 3 slices of bread and there were 4 of us. Of course they brought more when we asked!

Mushrooms My Way
~ Portabella, oyster and shiitake
mushrooms quickly saut??ed in sherry,
sage and cream over puff pastry.

 

We all LOVED this app. 8 thumbs up!

Fried Calamari and Friends
Fried Calamari with shrimp, hot peppers and veggies with a
spiced tomato sauce served in a brown bag.

Interesting presentation – if you like calamari – you’ll love this!

Tortellini like dumpling with a marscapone/shrimp filling. Oh so good. so far they were 3 for 3. Loved all our Appetizers.

It was recommend that I get the short ribs over the risotto.

My friend was there before & gave me his recommendations.

Was NOT disappointed.

Cioppino – seafood stew – Dan said it was good – I didn’t try it – but I’ll trust him. It LOOKS fabulous!

Penne with Sausage 

with spinach and roasted peppers, mushrooms, garlic oil and parmesan.

The dish usually comes with Chicken but Michael got it without it.

Hands down – I think this was everyone’s favorite dish.

another wine I brought and would buy again.

2006 Incognito Viognier (a tasty white wine/grape)

 

TIP: A lot of people have trouble pronouncing viognier,

so here’s a foolproof way of remembering how to say it:
Think of yourself as a kindly farmer who’s just caught some pesky kids

stealing apples from your orchard. You give them a gentle scolding,

then smile and say, ‘Be on your way’.

Or, in the case of viognier, vee-on-knee-ay.

The Wine Story:

Back in MAY (2010) I “made” our friend Mary do

a 33 mile bike ride over in NJ. After biking we

always stop at Phillips Fine wines 🙂

http://www.phillipsfinewines.com/

 

Berry Tart

instead of mints – we got PISTACHIOS, of course!

neighbors Dan & Kim

Michael & Me

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Food is our common ground, a universal experience.

James Beard

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The only man who is really free

is the one who can turn down an invitation to dinner

without giving an excuse.

Jules Renard