meatball shop

the first time i went to the meatball shop, i was fully prepared  for a carbohydrate overload and that heavy feeling in the pit of my stomach that tells me i've consumed too much red meat... sound familiar?  guess what?  the meatball shop rocks because you can avoid all symptoms above, if you so choose.  i was pleasantly surprised to find vegetarian meatballs (full of lentils, mushrooms and other healthy delicious things) and fresh market greens as a side.  after all, if i kept my dinner relatively light, i could save room for the awesome ice cream sandwiches afterwards.

when we go to the meatball shop, we generally have to wait 20 minutes or so for a table.  it's all good though, you can get a pabst from the tap and chill up front until your table's ready.  this gives you time to fully digest the way the menu works as well.  it can be tricky for rookies so don't be afraid to ask questions.  first, you pick your meatball type (beef, pork, chicken, vegetable or special).  next, you pick what kind of sauce you want (classic tomato, spicy meat, mushroom gravy, parmesan cream or pesto).  my fave combination is the vegetable balls with spicy meat sauce, sooo good.  finally, you pick how you'd like the meatballs to be served.  by themselves, on a slider bun, on a hero, over pasta or maybe over some fresh greens?  so many options.  once you've nailed down your meatball selections, pick out a few sides as well.  i love the polenta, it's smooth, buttery and feels like down home cookin'. save a little room for dessert too.  how much fun is it to pick your own cookie type and ice cream flavor??  so fun and so tasty.  

definitely check out the meatball shop and don't shy away if there's a line.  belly on up to the bar, grab a drink and wait your turn.  it's well worth it~

thoughts on radishes

radishes

i haven't always been a fan of the natural pungency in radishes.  however, when prepared with a little extra love, they can be tangy and flavorful.  my father-in-law grows radishes in his little plot in carmel, new york.  after a visit upstate, i love coming home with bags full of cruciferous root veggies chock full of dirty bulbs and leafy tops fresh plucked from the earth. here are a few tips on how to get the most out of your radishes (from our trusty friends at green giant):

walter foods

walter foods

and for the saturday night birthday extravaganza dinner? where else but walter foods...  save yourself a trip to the cape and camp out here in the garden for an evening. dig into a lobster roll, fresh oysters or any number of other raw bar delicacies. be sure to try the french fries as well, they're the really skinny, crispy kind that can actually keep their shape when dipped into a nice thick mayonnaise.  


the atmosphere is laid back and gives off a bit of that hipster vintage vibe.  you'll also find fancy cocktails and a pretty lengthy wine list.  definitely make a reservation and make your way over to walter foods.  you will surely leave lickin' your chops!

dressler

dressler

this past weekend, i was a very lucky girl...my birthday was on saturday and my parents surprised me by coming into town for a visit. i couldn't have asked for a better birthday present!  we kicked off our celebration with dinner at dressler. i hadn't been there in about a year and i was absolutely overdue a visit.  this is by far one of the classiest spots in williamsburg.  fancy cocktails, chandeliers & wrought iron decorations dripping with french elegance and as a bonus, a very down to earth wait staff. 

we started off by introducing my dad to sweetbreads : )  quite a delicacy you won't find on any ordinary menu. they had a smooth texture and were complimented by a really nice pickled ginger on the side. we did the dayboat scallops as well and as expected, they were seared perfectly on the outside and melted in my mouth after the first bite. finally, a taste of pan roasted quail to round out the first course. it was crispy, rich and deliciously greasy.  

the boys both did the roasted loin and confited breast of colorado lamb for their main.  i went for the braised oxtail ragu.  mmm, mmm, good.  it was tender and the stock had a full, hearty body to it.  to top it off, they even let you order a half-size portion if you like. suddenly i didn't feel so bad for cleaning my plate...

don't skip coffee after dinner either.  they're old-school and serve your cup of joe in a french press.  i'm not one to drink my coffee black but this was just bitter enough and full of flavor.  i've only been to dressler twice now but both times, i thoroughly enjoyed myself~

aurora

aurora

the experience, the garden and the delicious heart-warming pasta dishes make aurora one of my favorite restaurants in the neighborhood.  whether you're visiting for brunch, lunch or dinner, you can bet you'll leave with a full belly and a smile on your face.  

our most recent visit was with friends who had traveled from the far west: the upper west side that is...  it's always a treat when they make their way out to williamsburg so we had to pick a special spot to take them to.  with a last name of del bene, you'd think they'd be psyched to check out our favorite italian restaurant.  until they told us they'd recently decided to go gluten-free...  hmm, what to do?  we went to aurora anyway.  i, of course, dug into the pasta special; pappardelle with gorgeous mushrooms and black truffle. i really tried to be a lady and leave a little leftover on the plate but you just can't do that here.  the food is so luscious and flavor-filled, you can count on me to be a member of the clean plate club. our gluten-free friends fared quite well also.  i'm told the chicken was perfectly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside and the scallops had been seared to perfection. we finished our meal with an affogato, i'm sorry i don't have a picture of this one to share.  our ice cream drowned in espresso obviously didn't last too long.  it was rich, had that slight bitterness and that hot/cold combination that always makes the flavors and textures of dishes more dynamic. 

if you're lucky enough to snag a table in the garden, be sure to soak up the scenery.  whether it's a frosty evening in december or a cool summer night, their garden is comfortable in any season.  treat yourself and enjoy every bite of it.  the well rounded menu and tasty wine list have made me a repeat offender  :) 

   

long day = light salad

citrusy arugula salad

if you read my travel page, you saw the crazy amount of food i ingested this past weekend.  i needed something light and refreshing for dinner tonight.  and since i didn't get around to opening the fridge until about 9, it needed to be quick.  this salad was citrusy, refreshing and had a bit of a snap from the minced ginger.  just a few simple ingredients required and there were hardly any dirty dishes at the end!

101: eating & drinking thru maryland and d.c.

maryland & d.c.

from crab feast to waterfront and sushi to cupcakes, check out the travel page for our favorites in the d.c. area. thanks to dear our friends, we had a delicious time!