>SHRIMP HEADS, PORK CHOPS & APPLESAUCE>>

So "the criminal," as my boyfriend calls her, is back from her visit to San Diego which means my Blue Ribbon dining compadre is back in tow.

Cynthia and I met Thursday at Woo Lae Oak where I was enjoying some Campari while awaiting her arrival. After I finished my drink, we headed next door to Lure because as I'd recently promised our favorite bartender, Laura, I'd bring Cynthia along with me to greet her on my next visit.

Unfortunately, the bar area was jam-packed and Cynthia and I had to wait (and hover) for an open bar stool to appear. (We'd better keep our eye on that one--I think she thinks she's going to snag our stools!) Just as I was about to finish my first glass of Schramsberg, the stools which Cynthia and I had been patiently awaiting were finally relinquished.

A brief pow-wow between Cynthia and I resulted in Fluke Ceviche with jalapeño, watermelon and meaty sashimi-like pieces. After thoroughly enjoying our dish, we told Laura that we were going to spend the rest of the evening doing things we've never done before--but instead, ended up back at Blue Ribbon.

As Cynthia slid herself into the banquette I noticed, above her head, a new addition to BR's permanent collection.

This is who keeps telling me to go to Blue Ribbon.

Narrowing down my list of dishes yet to be tasted, I opted for Pierogies while Cynthia went with New Orleans Shrimp. It wasn't until after I'd finished my first shrimp or two that I'd noticed I'd been eating them avec leurs carapaces; I guess that's just the way I eat shrimp now... Although, I didn't eat the heads until Cynthia suggested that I do and even then I tried avoiding the eyes, but misbit and accidentally ended up consuming them as well. I was fine.

Friday, by 3 o'clock in the afternoon, I had still not eaten anything because I couldn't decide where I wanted to eat for: breakfast, brunch, lunch. I decided I had to do something about it and after taking a look at their online menu, headed downtown, for East of Eighth.

They were offering a "Winter Lunch Break Menu" with plenty of choices for just $8.95. I chose the Grilled Pork Chop with grilled peaches and cornbread pudding.

It was amazing!

And I hate to say it, but it blew Blue Ribbon's pork chop out of the water. (but Blue Ribbon's was only a special, not a mainstay)

The cut was so thick and juicy (and lean too) and the grilled peaches added a very thoughtful touch. Even though I was already past the point of satiety by the time I finished my cornbread pudding, I managed to finish the squash and pearl onion salad as well.

Noticing this dish on their evening menu as well, I couldn't believe that what I had just had was an $8.95 dish. This dish could have justifiably gone for $23, or more! And I can't imagine that it was simply a smaller portion of the dinner menu dish; if it had been any larger it would have been too much!

Needless to say, I left East of Eighth very happy. (and my server was very accommodating as well--even to the point of bringing me an extra glass of champagne, compliments of himself)

Later that night, I ended up back at East of Eighth, for dinner. (I'm beginning to see a pattern here)

I ordered a glass of Australian Shiraz and the "Better than Mom's Meatloaf." Unfortunately, my wine was very unsavory--I don't recommend their wines by the glass. And the meatloaf was, unfortunately as well, not "better than Mom's." It was fine though and the garlic mashed potatoes weren't bad either.

(the dish did look nice though)

Saturday was a double shift for me at work. --Ugh.

At the end of it all, all I wanted to do was sit down and eat. I headed west, then north, and ended up at Cafeteria. Even though it was Memorial Day weekend and many New Yorkers had already scurried off to the safety of their nests in the Hamptons for the holiday, Cafeteria didn't register a blip. I spotted my friend (and Cafeteria's manager) Jon amidst the tumult and he directed me to go downstairs for additional seating.

I propped myself up at the bar and ordered a glass of prosecco. Jon was eventually able to escape the crowd long enough for a quick chat and to introduce me to the chef. I was telling her what all my favorite dishes there were, including the Chesapeake Crabcake Sliders. A few minutes later a slider appeared before me, unordered. (it pays to compliment the chef)

After scrolling over the menu, I decided upon (along with Jon's insistence) the Smoked Double Cut Pork Chop. A prosecco or two later, the dish arrived, looking scrumptious.

The cut of pork was, well... massive. And the dish accompaniments were apple sauce and potato pancakes with sour cream. The meat had a nice touch of charring on the outside, yet was still juicy on the inside and the apple sauce made for a nice dressing too. The pancakes were also tasty, although I only ate about half of them. (summer) According to Jon, all the accompaniments were "home made" and the proof was in the pudding--I'd say. > >

Next Post: Soft Shell Crab Sunday!

>(SOME OF) LURE BURGER'S SECRET RECIPE - REVEALED!>>

(at about 3:25... be patient) > >

N.Y.C. Dining Memories, by Sherry Vine

I have millions of memorable dining experiences (remember, I'm a JAP and don't cook!) but the ones at the top of my list all took place at Indochine! Jean Marc Houmand, one of the owners, also owned Bar d'O where I worked for 8 years with Joey Arias and Raven O. So, Indochine has always been very good to us. I also work there every year when we do the reunion show and New Years Eve. Anyhoo--Indochine has a colorful history, the hottest staff in Manhattan and the food is scrumptious. Joey and I had dinner there recently with some friends. The evening started calmly over some champagne and appetizers--the Thai Beef Salad is heaven! By the time the main course came--trust me, get the Snapper--we were on our third bottle of wine. By the time dessert and cognac came we were feeling no pain! Always a good time at Indochine!

Sherry Vine is an actor, comedian, guitarist, singer and more or less full time drag diva! She's starred in numerous theatrical productions such as E.S.P. -Eyes of a Supermodel Psychic ("The underground hit of the season!" -NY Times), Tell-Tale at the Cherry Lane Theatre ("Almost impossible not to have a good time!" -NY Times) and The Final Feast of Lucrezia Borgia ("A serious stage diva!" - Paper Magazine). Her film roles include Scream, Teen, Scream which LA Weekly called "The best comedic performance of the year!" Catch Sherry weekly at The Sherry Vine Show, Sundays, at Barracuda or The Blonde Leading The Blonde, Thursdays, at The Ritz. Or for a virtual experience, visit Sherry at www.sherryvine.com.

La Grande Dame and Shipwrecked Wine

ALLUDING to my previous post, the photo is of a piece from Veuve Clicquot's "cruise collection,"a collaboration with Italian luxury boat designer, RIVA.

The made to order (and made to measure) piece, made of mahogany, leather and chrome, houses: 4 bottles of La Grande Dame (Veuve Clicquot's Prestige Cuvée) '98, 2 magnums of La Grande Dame '88, 6 Riedel champagne flutes and water tumblers, and they even throw in a few plates, table mats and cutlery--all for a mere $80,000.

If that's a little too steep for you, there's also the "limited edition cruiser bag" (limited to 300 pieces) which comes with 1 bottle of La Grande Dame '98 and 2 champagne flutes--for the much more reasonable price of $425.

Shop Veuve here

BUT, if you're like some of us (I'm not one of them) and have money to burn, there's also:

• Cristal Brut "Methuselah," 1990 - $17,625
• Dom Perignon White Gold Jeroboam (which comes in a white gold bottle) - $40,000
• Pernod-Ricard Perrier-Jouët - $50,000
• and "Shipwrecked" Heidsieck, 1907

This last bottle comes from the Heidsieck vineyard in Champagne and was literally lost at sea (along with another 200-some bottles of the stuff) for over 80 years after a wreck off the coast of Finland in 1916. It wasn't until the late 90's that they were finally discovered and are now being sold for the lofty price of $275,000 a pop!

Cheers!

>$1,800 BOTTLE OF WINE??>>

So I just came back from a few glasses of Schramsberg sparkling white at Lure with my favorite bartender, Laura, and after asking her what time she got off, she replied that she may be sticking around a little late because somebody just bought an $1,800 bottle of champagne--what on earth could that have been?? (I'd like to taste some) > >

P.S. What is this??

>FROM THE [VENUS DINER] ARCHIVES>>

If you happen to be strolling along 8th Avenue late one night and happen to pass by Venus Diner, you might catch a glimpse of a gazelle, a geisha, a young page and a doll. If you're in the know, you'll know these mystical beings and socialites as Gazelle, Gaisha, Lui Antinous and Amanda Lepore, just to name a few. Why do these creatures and their friends always seem to gravitate towards this 'Chic Freak Eatery' time and time again? Is it perhaps the extraterrestrial name that reminds them of their celestial natures? To answer that question one would have to know the answer to this question: "Who are the Chic Freaks?"

I always thought of the original Chic Freaks as: Gazelle, Moondust, Lui Antinous, Tallula Blu, Gaisha and Dres, but this is only my interpretation. Maybe it's because I think of these people as my extended family. Perhaps that is what the Chic Freaks are all about. To be put simply, one can say that a Chic Freak is someone who likes to dress up in an exuberant and flamboyant manner, while usually paying special attention to their makeup. Yes, this is true, but I feel that doing this alone does not make one a Chic Freak.

In addition to knowing how to dress and do your makeup well, a Chic Freak is someone who genuinely lives for the [club]scene and grows from living through it; the Chic Freak is someone who recognizes the comradeship of this little community and who accepts and embraces its members. Although all Chic Freaks live for Music, Lights, Discoballs and Dancing, sometimes we want to connect with one other on a more intimate level. That is why we go to Venus Diner.

"Venus," as all Chic Freaks call it, is a comfortable place where we can all get together after a debaucherous night at Happy Valley or Distortion Disko. There, seated along with Kenny Kenny, Paul Alexander, Jun Nakayama and Sultana, you'll also find scenesters and new kids like Raquel Reed and Kayvon. Venus gives us all an opportunity to converse, mingle, catch up and grab a bite to eat all while making the night last a little longer.

At Venus the Chic Freaks are respected and admired for who they are. On more than one occasion an onlooker picked up our entire tab before anonymously making their way out. Another time a note was sent over saying that we were an inspiration. Venus has also been a favorite place for the Chic Freaks because of people like Phyllis, a waitress who would always bring pickles and coleslaw as soon as she sat us. If you're lucky enough to be at Venus on your birthday, Kenny Kenny will sing "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow" in between writing his number on sugar packets for lucky young bucks.

So, if you happen to be strolling along 8th Avenue in Chelsea some late night, you might spot a few of these dazzling and distinguished creatures. Maybe you're one of them! If so, save a seat for Tallula and me and go ahead and order us a cheeseburger deluxe, medium, and a side of mayo!

--Originally published c. 2005

>SO, CAN SOMEONE TELL ME? IS PORK IN SEASON??>>

So far this year, I've had pork chops more than anytime ever in my entire life (four times to be exact) and I'm not exactly sure why. I've been asking people: Is pork in season? ; because everywhere I seem to go (including my sister's house on Mother's Day), there seems to be a pork chop special...

Not that I'm complaining though, I've become quite fond of the quiet alternative to brother beef!

Friday, after going to a couple of kitchen cabinetry showroom parties with my friend, Walter, I stopped at Venus Diner in Chelsea to refuel. (I refused to eat any of the food being passed around at either party--aside from a piece of pâté and a few niblets of cheese...)

I noticed on Venus' specials board, a Pork Chop Special. As I propped myself up at the bar, I gave my specifications to the server: green salad, spinach and french fries. The salad was nice and tasty--very green with a nice balsamic dressing.

And the pork chops came in a pair, both lean; and the spinach, too, was tasty as well as the fries (and they didn't come in an obscenely large portion, which is nice for a diner, I'd say).

I must say that I enjoyed Venus' pork chops better than the chops I'd had at both Blue Ribbon and at B Bar. --Not nearly as fancy, but I'd rather have better tasting food with flimsy presentation than something that looks spectacular while only tasting subpar. (usually) > >

Venus Diner, 252 8th Ave. @ 23rd St.

>SAFE BETS>>

So I've come to learn, over these past few weeks, that sometimes your safest bet when ordering a cocktail at an establishment of "undetermined character," is to just order straight liquor. There's so many cocktail menus offering colorful, over-sweetened, sticky drinks; but they're usually not much more than just that.

Last Thursday, with a few minutes to spare before David's TRANSIT show, I made a pit stop at the Las Chicas Bar inside Sheraton's Four Points Hotel. (It was the only bar on the entire block!)

As I propped myself up, I just knew that this was one of those places where it wouldn't be wise to even take a gander at the cocktail menu.

Campari, up.

I had to explain to the bartender what "up" meant and she served my cocktail in a rocks glass, but I didn't mind; as always, whenever I order Campari, up, it tastes consistently perfect... (although once, at Cafeteria, my drink smelled mysteriously like leather)

Another welcome swallow to pass my lips this week was Agua de Piedra, Gran Reserva, Malbec, 2009, which I had at my sister's house on Mother's Day. At first taste: a healthy dose of acid with some tannins present too. It remained enjoyable throughout the afternoon even when paired with various cuisine flavors. (we had, both, pork chops and quiche and there were no run-ins with the Malbec)

I was additionally pleased over this Malbec because ever since my first Malbec tasting in a very early wine class, I had still yet to come across a close comparison (it was a Salentein, Numina--actually a Malbec/Merlot blend, I believe)--but this Malbec came pretty close...

and at $13, a very agreeable price; a nice red for casual dining, I'd say. > >

>OLD-FASHIONED BLUE RIBBON>>

Saturday was a long day for both Karen (one of our hostesses) and I and we decided to finish it off by rewarding ourselves with dinner at Blue Ribbon. I actually would have been fine with a glass of cava (or two) at the bar, but Karen was feeling pretty hungry so we opted upon a table instead. The maître d' sat us right away, but upon review of our menus, we were a bit flummoxed about what to order. We'd start with a drink.

Our server was Will and I told Will that I wanted something totally different (and that I've been drinking a lot of Campari lately). He recommended a Negroni, but I told him that I don't like Negronis--too bitter. He was trying to gauge what kind of drink I'd fancy and then said: "Old-fashioned?"

"Yes--I like old-fashioned drinks.

Oh--you mean an Old-Fashioned! Yes, I'll take one of those."

I tried to come up with a new concoction for Karen as well and suggested a Champagne Cocktail, but she instead just went with a classic Dirty...

Back to our ordering dilemma, we both agreed upon Salt and Pepper Shrimp and Karen decided she'd give their Steamed Artichoke a try. As usual, we fully enjoyed the shrimp and later, when our runner brought out our second dish, I became very interested upon seeing a whole artichoke before me.

So I know there's a certain way you're supposed to eat this, but I don't know how, do you?

I think you're supposed to peel back the leaves one at a time.

Let's ask Will.

Will instructed Karen and I on the proper artichoke-eating etiquette and I must say that I fully enjoyed it. It took a long time to finish which left us with plenty of time to converse and catch up; it'd be a good at-the-bar snack, I'd say.

Next, we were still feeling a little peckish and (after ordering a Champagne Cocktail, for myself) decided we'd give the scallops special a try. I'm not an avid fan of scallops, but wanted to try something new and Karen had never had scallops before.

It was a very pretty and colorful dish and the scallops topped a cauliflower purée which I was quite fond of. Another cocktail and few more exchanges later, Karen and I headed home, for tomorrow was Mother's Day and I had an early train to catch. > >

>ANOTHER PAIRING IN CHELSEA>>

Thursday night, was David's TRANSIT show at the Nabi Gallery on 25th Street. It was a really good show with a rockin' piano and percussion piece by Ted Hearne and a haunting performance, by David, of Daniel Wohl's Aorta. Afterward, the whole TRANSIT crew (and a few young composers) went for a bite at East of Eighth--a much underrated restaurant in Chelsea.

I always seem to forget about this place because it's a little on the outskirts of Chelsea--just off 8th Avenue on 23rd Street, but it really is one of the best places (if not the best) place to eat in "Gay Chelsea."

Now I say that it's underrated because I also always forget just how good the food is there; the food isn't flashy and the dishes aren't exotic--it's just good restaurant food. I've never been disappointed with a meal there (except one time, I think the chef got a little too adventurous with chestnut & strawberry pancakes--not the best combination.) But more often than not, I take out of town visitors there and on the rare occasion that David and I have a free Saturday or Sunday morning together, we brunch there. ($14.95 prix-fixe)

Back to Thursday.

The ten of us sat down (and amazingly, we all picked very appropriate seats) and since my meal was "on TRANSIT," for being their ticket-taker and wine-pourer, I didn't want to order anything too extravagant. The Warm Goat Cheese Salad caught my eye and I placed an order for that (and a glass of sparkling white wine).

When the dish came out, I was pleased over its size, because although I've been trying my best to "eat for summer," this salad was also going to be my dinner. Additionally, I was delighted to see all the goodies lined up on my plate: grilled endives, roasted apples and warm goat cheese, on crostinis, with roasted organic beets hidden just below them. The salad was not only delicious, but left me completely satisfied as well. And believe me, I'm not one of those people who normally order a salad as their entrée--but on this night, I found it to be just fine...

Alluding to my previous post--this salad, paired with Cafeteria's Chesapeake Crabcake Sliders, would be a perfect match, making a complete dinner (minus dessert) and a much lighter option than my previously stated Crabcake & Truffle Fries combo. Sure, you'd be doing a lot of hopping around, but that's the beauty of Gay Chelsea. > >

>SUMMER ON 7TH>>

It's Summer at Cafeteria.

The Chelsea late night eatery has recently switched from its winter menu to the summer menu, replacing the Lamb Sliders with Chesapeake Crabcake Sliders. Last night, I tried them a second time and christened them, along with a glass of sparkling white, the Chelsea Summer Meal!

The dish is a serving of two slider-sized crabcakes topped with tartar sauce and pickles, served on miniature brioche buns. It also comes with a little tin of cross-cut potato chips. --Not the heartiest of dishes (it is an appetizer, I believe), but I do try my best to eat lightly during the summer.

If you're still hungry (and decided not to worry about your figure, after all) you can go to Elmo for their Truffle Fries. For a little while, I was addicted to them and was always trying to get Fabiana, the other maître d' at work, to go there with me for truffle fries and prosecco--the perfect pairing. The combo can be a meal in itself (the portion is rather generous) or a side dish before or after a bite--somewhere else. Regretfully, I don't recommend any of the other dishes at Elmo.

But going back to Cafeteria, I do recommend the Almond Stuffed Dates, another favorite appetizer of mine and for a light-dining option, the Prince Edward Island Mussels, with a glass of sparkling rosé. But if you're going to go all out (and order the most expensive entrée on the menu), order the Rosemary Roasted Lamb Chops. It's hands down, their best dish. > >