tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1329268457515331622024-03-21T22:55:31.601-04:00Date Night with Jen and JoeDate Night with Jen and Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00334296988965040977noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-132926845751533162.post-42381124597589171812012-03-11T18:30:00.001-04:002012-03-12T17:52:51.164-04:00An update and a yoga adventure!Curious as to what we've been up to? Well, mostly, we've been busy. We had a couple of reviews from months ago that just haven't made it this way yet, so we hope you'll forgive us!<br />
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We have had one recent adventure, though. I (Jen, that is--hi!) have been very serious about my yoga practice lately, so I started a blog dedicated to all things yoga. After over a year of practicing, I finally got Joe to accompany me this weekend to a class at <a href="http://www.breatheyoga.com/pcms/?f=home" target="_blank">breathe</a>, my favorite studio in the Rochester area!<br />
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You can read all about it <a href="http://thenoviceyogi.wordpress.com/2012/03/11/adventures-in-couples-yoga/" target="_blank">here</a>! Be sure to keep checking my new blog for updates, if you're interested in the Rochester yoga scene, and eventually I <i>promise</i> we will have more reviews for you guys. With the warm weather coming back, we should have more regularly scheduled adventures in and around Rochester. (Though how about this mild winter, huh?)<br />
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♥Date Night with Jen and Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00334296988965040977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-132926845751533162.post-246335495739158132011-11-25T17:14:00.002-05:002011-11-25T17:26:24.530-05:00Happy (Belated) Thanksgiving!We hope you all had a great Thanksgiving celebration yesterday. Joe and I hosted our families at our place for the celebration, and everyone had a great time. (Living in an apartment makes this a bit of a challenge, but we've managed to pull it off for three years now!)<br />
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Once you're out of your food coma, you may want to begin your Christmas shopping. You may have begun earlier today--or even last night--so if malls and big box stores are your thing, you'll probably skip over this entry. If you're sane, like me and Joe, and you don't want to get into <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/25/waffle-maker-riot_n_1113293.html">a fight over a waffle iron</a>, you're probably staying in today or at least staying as far away from anything retail-related as possible. Today is <a href="http://www.adbusters.org/campaigns/bnd">Buy Nothing Day</a>, after all! (As another alternative, if you're unlucky, you were working today. I hope that you were treated nicely and that you're getting some rest now!)<br />
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Tomorrow is the continuation of Buy Nothing Day, but it's also a day when some plan to support small and local businesses. Rochester has so many great local businesses that it's hard to list them all, but they are definitely deserving of your hard-earned dough. Here is a list of some of our favorites. Think of it as our Rochester Gift Guide!<br />
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<a href="http://www.parkleigh.com/store/home.php">Parkleigh</a><br />
Parkleigh is on the corner of Park and Goodman in the city, and they're known for some of their high-end gifts and jewelry. They also carry Vera Bradley purses and accessories (great for moms and grandmoms!), luxury cosmetics and bath supplies, and delicious gourmet coffees, teas, and chocolates. They even have cute toys and gifts for the kid or inner child in your life!<br />
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<a href="http://www.recordarchive.com/">Record Archive</a><br />
If you're in your twenties or thirties, you probably remember seeing this store advertised on TV during Saturday morning cartoons; it's kind of hard to forget a guy dressed as a giant record! Even if you're not into collecting records (although I am), the Record Archive has all kinds of kitschy gifts, t-shirts, and even art. They have plenty of DVDs and (yes) CDs and records for the film buff or music fan in your life! Check them out at 33 1/3 Rockwood St. (how cool is that address?).<br />
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<a href="http://www.liftbridgebooks.com/">Lift Bridge Book Shop</a><br />
Not only does this great little store in Brockport carry plenty of books--they also have games for all ages along the back of the store. Lift Bridge is the perfect place to find something for any kids you may have in your family (especially if you're in the market for something educational or interactive). (While you're visiting Lift Bridge on Brockport's Main Street, be sure to check out the other shops in the area. You can find antiques, clothing, comics, and more!)<br />
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<a href="http://www.artisanworks.net/">ARTISANworks</a><br />
Artisan Works doesn't just host great events and have a gallery that's unparalleled in the Rochester area, but they also sell gifts and original art pieces. Resident artist Mark Groaning has a studio inside the gallery where he sells jewelry and stained-glass housewares in addition to his paintings and sculptures. If buying art isn't your thing, or it's out of your price range, consider a <a href="http://www.artisanworks.net/membership/individual.php">membership</a> for you or a loved one as a gift this holiday season to support this wonderful organization! You can find them at 565 Blossom Rd.<br />
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<a href="http://www.villagegatesquare.com/">Village Gate Square</a><br />
Want to do your shopping all under one roof without going to the mall? Check out Village Gate Square at 274 N. Goodman St. for vintage clothing, books, records, and collectibles, or pick up a gift certificate to one of their fabulous restaurants (Salena's, Lento, Gate House, and California Rollin')--a great couple's gift!<br />
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<a href="http://mybeersoftheworld.com/">Beers of the World</a><br />
Beer! Need we say more? With this store, you get exactly what's on the label: beer from countries all over the world as well as those from microbreweries around the US. You can create a custom six-pack or pick up a gift card. You can even get home brew supplies there! From experience, I can tell you that this place has plenty of great gifts for boyfriends, husbands, and dads (but the female beer drinkers and amateurs brewers in your life may like the place, too).<br />
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We hope you find what you want to give for the holidays with our guide! Have a great holiday season! Be sure to tell us what your favorite Rochester area business are in the comments or on Facebook!Date Night with Jen and Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00334296988965040977noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-132926845751533162.post-26767187065653576052011-11-09T17:55:00.005-05:002011-11-25T17:16:40.573-05:00Review: The Old Toad - 9/4/11Has it been a while since we’ve had a review on here? Sadly, it has. Life gets in the way sometimes. How about this warm November weather we’ve been having, though, right? Who can think of sitting at the computer when we have such surprisingly great weather for this time of the year?<br />
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We hope you enjoyed our last list, which was a unique guide to dating (or just hanging out) in Rochester. If you have any extra ideas, send them our way, and we can always put together a Volume 2 for the Date Guide. With the holidays coming up, we're bound to have more suggestions for you!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The outside of The Old Toad</td></tr>
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Back in September, Joe and I went to a place I’d been wanting to try for a long while, but I had put it off thinking that they wouldn’t have much in the way of vegetarian fare. Being a bit of an Anglophile (that is, somebody who loves all things British), I was intrigued by <a href="http://www.theoldtoad.com/">The Old Toad</a> for quite some time. Much of their restaurant either comes from Britain (like the bar) or is heavily influenced by the classic English pub. They bill themselves as “<a href="http://theoldtoad.com/about.html">a pub from over there, over here</a>.” Even their staff members hail from across the pond!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf1-C-s7qlJNVxLmfiKwG2Bc7DRG7Upd9DI9jOXVL9FoBDSNN8xRZuWt1AHH4w5dkaQs_wuH-q7BcpZMcceQYZtZgrbmtnXezDi6EUbFM75B-_yjTmOVFg6B_a6B_tWndrZLU_yVgpJo7F/s1600/IMG_1165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf1-C-s7qlJNVxLmfiKwG2Bc7DRG7Upd9DI9jOXVL9FoBDSNN8xRZuWt1AHH4w5dkaQs_wuH-q7BcpZMcceQYZtZgrbmtnXezDi6EUbFM75B-_yjTmOVFg6B_a6B_tWndrZLU_yVgpJo7F/s400/IMG_1165.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Penny Lane is in my ears and in my eyes</td></tr>
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Joe and I went on a somewhat gray Sunday afternoon for a late lunch (or perhaps early dinner?). This place was on our “to try” list for a while, and after viewing the menu on the pub’s website, we ventured out that day. I loved the charm—and I don’t use that word often—of the place as soon as I set foot in the door. From the Penny Lane sign near the entrance (Beatles fan here!) to the homey feel of the cute cushioned benches, the atmosphere immediately makes you feel at ease. Since we were there early, we probably didn’t get the full effect of the place on its busier evenings (when they host pub trivia games and sometimes even a Beatles tribute band). Something I also found refreshing was the lack of big flat TVs (or <i>tellys </i>here) all over the place blasting sports or news (or both) at you while you’re trying to have a relaxing meal or a night on the town. Could every place just do away with those? Our experience at The Old Toad certainly didn't suffer from having no screens around.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggzXDJ6uGt4ux5RpfE7Cd5fEkOBrjOmCwJJ7Uz510M49wZUjjpryWr8_-PRz1tLfTL5BbSArzPbcBMRZ610N4mgP_Va3B6uNEeWkEKDOQauGHhBuRc1hOgiSMgRrxGjf-va07zY5nC1IZW/s1600/IMG_1175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggzXDJ6uGt4ux5RpfE7Cd5fEkOBrjOmCwJJ7Uz510M49wZUjjpryWr8_-PRz1tLfTL5BbSArzPbcBMRZ610N4mgP_Va3B6uNEeWkEKDOQauGHhBuRc1hOgiSMgRrxGjf-va07zY5nC1IZW/s400/IMG_1175.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Awesome bar!</td></tr>
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Since we were there fairly early, we got right in, but we noticed that several tables had cards on them showing that they were reserved for dinner (many for 8:00, likely for pub trivia shortly after that!). Our booth was a small corner near the bar, which I thought was sort of cute. Our waitress was British, likely a student (since The Old Toad recruits them to work there). The bar must have been freshly waxed because Joe and I could smell it when we arrived. We ordered our food and drinks shortly after while some Brit rock-sounding bands played quietly overhead. <br />
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Joe ordered a Brooklyn Brown Ale to drink while I had a Fuller’s London Pride. Joe didn’t really like the Brooklyn Brown much and described it as skunky, so he ordered a Guinness afterwards. This, he said, was much better, even if a bit warm like the Brits prefer it. My beer, actually British, was delicious; after all, why order domestic in a place like this? <br />
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For dinner each of us ordered Shepherd’s Pie, but with one obvious difference if you’ve been keeping up with this blog. Joe had a traditional Shepherd’s Pie; mine was an Old Toad specialty of vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie (something I didn’t think existed). Joe’s dish, as he said, was well-executed. The mashed potatoes in both of ours were definitely homemade—none of that packaged stuff. However, Joe said the bottom of his dish lacked the gravy it was supposed to come with. Perhaps it was too early in their service to make a fresh gravy? (Vegetarian here, so I could be totally off base.) He also said there was some oregano in it, which might be okay for most people, but Joe is adamantly opposed to using oregano in his cooking. He added Worcestershire sauce in order to add a bit of saltiness to the dish. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joe's Shepherd's Pie</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz4JfnPbDwh3Fae8hudVxQt5eRRVKPl0EO6QAgaUoDGdFaG67zxnbrRsMfrdRzOajztmfbj9lFI5N5F5B4DANm5kotIpnjpCx0tlK5tHwm3u0qrq3mb5tk3rCZ9oMtLmpmV8BiUHY_my-S/s1600/IMG_1176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz4JfnPbDwh3Fae8hudVxQt5eRRVKPl0EO6QAgaUoDGdFaG67zxnbrRsMfrdRzOajztmfbj9lFI5N5F5B4DANm5kotIpnjpCx0tlK5tHwm3u0qrq3mb5tk3rCZ9oMtLmpmV8BiUHY_my-S/s400/IMG_1176.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Shepherd's Pie</td></tr>
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For me, this was the first time I had never eaten a dish like this before, even back when I ate meat a decade ago. It was a definitely a sort of comfort food. The mashed potatoes were delicious and the meatless crumbles were cooked perfectly. My dish actually seemed to have more cheese than Joe’s did, which was a bit too much, but not bad. My dish also plenty of spice to it, and unlike Joe’s, I thought it had enough salt (not too much but not too little either). Maybe the meatless crumbles, as they were referred to on the menu, added those flavors, or perhaps Joe has a more sensitive palate than me (okay, he definitely does when it comes to spices, but in a good way). Overall, I thought the meal was delicious, and our server was quick and attentive.<br />
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As for our review, it’s tough to come up with a number here. Since I don’t really want to give out half stars (it’s all or nothing), I almost feel that this place would get a 4.5 overall. Joe gave a 3.5 (3 or so for the meal and a bit extra for the atmosphere). Since I, however, am a biased anglophile and a vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie first-timer, I would give it a 4.5. For now, though, we’ll go with a tentative 4 stars since we were there at a more relaxed time. If we go back sometime for a pub trivia night, I have a feeling that rating will go up!<br />
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Rating: 4 stars<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0JJK-GEIzUhWUwDuOEkqJJZef2GJTo2x05CYK2CMQsUZR4jVoXqWVhM1x73DfFeU6LLsisjkSzyqW7OGeujvAuiKozM3eKueMy_jeiKAth3BbHtgq4nN1fDMQixizVSy2asZ1UPB2hz-i/s1600/4star.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="49" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0JJK-GEIzUhWUwDuOEkqJJZef2GJTo2x05CYK2CMQsUZR4jVoXqWVhM1x73DfFeU6LLsisjkSzyqW7OGeujvAuiKozM3eKueMy_jeiKAth3BbHtgq4nN1fDMQixizVSy2asZ1UPB2hz-i/s200/4star.png" width="200" /></a></div>Date Night with Jen and Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00334296988965040977noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-132926845751533162.post-48696411770009824312011-10-12T23:14:00.009-04:002011-11-25T17:17:40.133-05:00Your Unique Rochester Date GuideWhen you’re in an established relationship, things can get dull. I know sometimes, when Joe and I get home from work, all we want to do is park ourselves in front of the TV and watch something horrible on Netflix. However, this is no way to go through life! The trick to our success has been keeping things new. We may not have the time and the means to go out like we used to (work, school, and being a responsible adult paying the rent will do that to you!), but every now and then we go on what our friend Marie once referred to as Cool Adventures with Jen and Joe.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Best picture ever!</td></tr>
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</span></span></span></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;">The same thing—that sense of dullness—can happen with your love for your city, too. After a while, your familiar haunts feel too familiar, and you feel the spark has gone out of them. Everything is boring and bleak (and hey, the rain around here doesn’t help sometimes). However, the Rochester area has much to offer—as long as you’re looking in the right places and open to a bit of creativity.</div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;">So here is Jen and Joe’s Guide to Unique Dates in the Rochester Area!</div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><b>Pretend to be Tourists</b><br />
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;">Go around and take pictures of all of Rochester’s landmarks—High Falls, Highland Park, the downtown skyline, Highland Diner, Mt. Hope Cemetery, the pier at Ontario Beach Park, the George Eastman House, the Blue Cross Arena, and others (try searching <a href="http://rocwiki.org/">Roc Wiki</a>). Bonus points if you dress up in Rochester T-shirts, sunglasses with a cord attached, fanny packs, or other equally silly apparel. (Not that I advocate wearing a fanny pack ever, but, you know, if that’s your thing, go for it.) If anything, maybe you’ll see a sight that you hadn’t even noticed before!</div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Random Restaurant via Yelp</b><br />
Search <a href="http://yelp.com/">Yelp</a> for some place new to have lunch or dinner. If you’re feeling really adventurous, don’t read the reviews before you go there; just pick a random restaurant and head out. Who knows? You could have a horror story to tell your friends or you could find a new favorite! In fact, Yelp in general is a great way to find out about more of our local businesses. I’ve been addicted to it for a few months now, even though I’d seen it earlier than that. It definitely helps out the material for this blog (and hello iPhone app! How helpful if you’re on the go!). Happy hunting!</div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Sample Some International Cuisine</b></div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;">Rochester is host to so many diverse ethnic groups; in most cases, their foods have made it to our city as well! If you’ve never had Japanese food, why not give it a go? Maybe you’ve never tried Indian or Thai because you’re wary of spicy foods, but the good news is that most, if not all, places around here will cook dishes mild if you ask. Want to know what Ethiopian food is like? We’ve got it (and it’s good and vegetarian-friendly). We even have foods that are closer to home or from the Americas (Mexican, Caribbean, and Cajun, for instance). Many places in the area offer bits of ethnic cuisine, such as British, Polish, German, or Greek, interspersed with American fare. Throughout the year, the city hosts a variety of food-related festivals, so keep an eye out for those as well. As your mother may have said to you when you were young, “How do you know you don’t like it if you won’t try it?”</div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Take The McGregor’s Challenge</b></div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;">(This one involves drinking beer, so if you’re not interested in that, skip this one. Also, please bring a designated driver should you indulge.)</div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;">Joe and I completed this a couple of summers ago. McGregor’s is a local franchise of pub/restaurant, and their claim to fame is their wide selection of beers on tap. Their Rochester locations are in Canandaigua (near Canandaigua Lake), Penfield, Gates, and Henrietta (which, out of these four, has the most beers on tap). They used to have one in Perinton, near Lollypop Farm, but it recently closed. The chain did open one in Amherst, so if you’re willing to make the trip out that way, you can say you’ve done all five! The idea behind this is to go to all five McGregor’s (or four in Rochester) in one day and sample a different beer at each. Certainly, if you have a DD, you can choose your limit; I recommend spreading your trip out so you’re able to wait between visits. </div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;">Oh, and a word of advice: avoid ordering anything greasy at the bar. It might be tempting, but it doesn’t mix well with five-plus types of beer swishing around in your gut. </div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;">This activity would make an excellent group date! Have fun and be safe!</div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>A Museum Weekend</b></div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;">Here in Rochester, we have no shortage of museums and similar attractions. For your inner inquisitive child, you can visit the Rochester Museum & Science Center, the Strong National Museum of Play, and the Strasenburgh Planetarium. If you’re more of an art lover, check out the Memorial Art Gallery, the George Eastman House, the Center at High Falls, and our personal favorite, Artisan Works. Nature enthusiasts can enjoy the Seneca Park Zoo, the Lamberton Conservatory in Highland Park, or the Wild Wings Sanctuary in Mendon Ponds Park for birds of prey. Finally, history buffs will no doubt like the Genesee Country Village & Museum in Mumford (a short trip west of the city) or the Susan B. Anthony House. All of these places encompass the Rochester area’s rich history, patronage of the arts, and commitment to education. Be sure to support their causes (and donate if you can!).</div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Scavenger Hunt</b></div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;">This one is a bit tricky, since I’m not really giving you anything definite here, but this gives you and your partner (or even your group of friends) a chance for two dates: one to brainstorm, and one to actually go on the hunt. You can do something themed or you can just look for things you’ve always wanted to find. Get a list of some thrift stores in the area, head to a busy section of the city, or even head to a nearby mall, if you’re not feeling up to driving much. Joe and I did one once. We found a talking Freddie Mercury doll, a Darkwing Duck t-shirt, a copy of the Satanic Bible, and “dirty” candy hearts, but unfortunately not much else. You don’t have to buy any of these things, by the way. Just snap a picture or take a video on your phone and keep going! The warmer (or less snowy/slushy) the weather, the better! It’s no fun to drive around when there’s bad traffic and piles of slush for your car to slide through. </div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Do Something Seasonal</b></div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;">It’s autumn! Go check out the amazing foliage in the area while you can! If that’s not your thing, there are plenty of hayrides, haunted houses, and other spooky places to go before Halloween arrives! The wine trail around Seneca Lake is especially amazing this time of year! In winter, head to Black Creek Park in Chili to sled or snowboard down the big hill there (or, if you prefer, head down to Bristol Mountain in Canandaigua for some skiing). Spring is a great time to check out the Lilac Festival and the blooms in and around Rochester. Summer, of course, is beach and/or pool time, and another great time of the year to explore the county’s parks and nature trails.</div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;">Have any other ideas? Want to tell us your Rochester dream date? Leave it in the comments!</div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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</div>Date Night with Jen and Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00334296988965040977noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-132926845751533162.post-5334798514540766192011-09-07T00:22:00.009-04:002011-09-07T01:33:32.377-04:00ARTISANworks Reception – 7/23/11<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ARTISANworks!</td></tr>
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I admit it: I’ve been sitting on this entry for a while because it’s hard to do it justice. However, I’ve wanted to include it here; <a href="http://www.artisanworks.net/">ARTISANworks</a> is definitely worth bragging about as one of Rochester’s finest both as a cultural establishment and as a business! </div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">As some of you may know, Joe and I went to Las Vegas this past June to get married. We had a small “elopement” ceremony with just us there (yet everyone in our families knew where we were headed—and what we were doing!). We had so much fun in Vegas, since it also served as our honeymoon, though it was a bit weird having just us there. Our ceremony was so speedy we hardly remember our vows! We knew it would be strange getting married on our own; after all, most people enjoy having their friends and families there with them on that day. One thing that Joe and I avoided, however, was the awkwardness of choosing a wedding party; someone’s feelings would have been hurt from either not being chosen to be best man/maid of honor or not being chosen at all. I also didn’t have to deal with being fussed over by our female relatives; I can’t guarantee that I wouldn’t have gone “Bridezilla” with everyone trying to touch up my makeup or fix my hair!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joe and me at the Little Church of the West, Las Vegas.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Instead, we worked with our families to coordinate a reception for the following month. The idea was to have a big party without having to worry about tuxedo rentals, ugly bridesmaids’ dresses, limousines, lame wedding DJs, and that weird tradition where the bride and groom smash cake into each others’ faces (ugh!). After all, we were already married at that point. Why draw out the ceremony of it when we can just have fun with those closest to us?<br />
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When choosing a venue, my mom and I came up with a list of the typical party houses and restaurants that would cater to such an event. Boring! However, that’s all that we thought would be available. Then I thought of ARTISANworks after a bit of brainstorming. Joe and I both loved the idea of having our reception there; we had previously visited the gallery, and it instantly became a Rochester favorite for us! For those of you who haven’t heard of it, ARTISANworks is a non-profit gallery, set in an old factory, that displays the works of many local artists and sells and promotes their artwork. They also host events—anything from corporate fundraisers to proms to (you guessed it) weddings and receptions! The setting is one-of-a-kind: art doesn’t just hang on the walls; it leaps from them in intricate displays interspersed with antiques, furniture, and found objects. Each space has a different theme, and they can hold anywhere from three people to 300. It truly is one of Rochester’s most unique spots, and a trip there during gallery hours (Friday-Sunday) is guaranteed to amaze even the least artistic person you know. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This way to the reception!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The mermaid welcomes you!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I covet this shelf!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who can't like a giant pin cushion?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmtwUgs4alIN41kQA0WyvnJLlpqNlfn4lAVX_q2dB_YcfTV6KS4VPAL9icAnLKIfUCiXr4wgLREc9z0I2-iUcCM-NeFd0HdzsIFjbJlyGb31wBJNqNtZS8_OXCXTwYXiP5N9Kh02ZNA4VR/s1600/IMG_0955.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmtwUgs4alIN41kQA0WyvnJLlpqNlfn4lAVX_q2dB_YcfTV6KS4VPAL9icAnLKIfUCiXr4wgLREc9z0I2-iUcCM-NeFd0HdzsIFjbJlyGb31wBJNqNtZS8_OXCXTwYXiP5N9Kh02ZNA4VR/s400/IMG_0955.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They have many wooden sculptures like this at ARTISANworks. More awesome work by a local artist!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZqVU1z8zOCpr3Zu3iddaDfOrjqoCC2STYqof-dD8LWPVHdxjqz6_3pn6yxVQXTfaa8Va0-xVGEDFnfoIEnXyvew6QckDexvSEJy1YKKrlUP_GNtIwm8bJlKReoENNL49GCHT7I3spOklq/s1600/IMG_0807.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZqVU1z8zOCpr3Zu3iddaDfOrjqoCC2STYqof-dD8LWPVHdxjqz6_3pn6yxVQXTfaa8Va0-xVGEDFnfoIEnXyvew6QckDexvSEJy1YKKrlUP_GNtIwm8bJlKReoENNL49GCHT7I3spOklq/s400/IMG_0807.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hot stuff coming through!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">My mom submitted an inquiry to them online with a rough guest count and our budget. I honestly didn’t think we would hear back from them; our budget was fairly modest, and I believed that a place as interesting as ARTISANworks wouldn’t be available for the price we needed. Thankfully, we did hear back from Victoria, the Event Coordinator, and my mom and I met with her on Good Friday. (Joe was at work that day. And yes, we planned in advance, but not years in advance like some people feel they have to!)<br />
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In short, Victoria was excellent and incredibly helpful. She answered all of our questions and explained that ARTISANworks will work with you to meet your budget. She was a pleasure to work with and made everything so simple for our event. For our location within ARTISANworks, we chose the <a href="http://www.artisanworks.net/host/spaces/garibaldi.php">Boulevard Garibaldi & Courtyard</a> based on our projected guest count. Not only do you get the actual Boulevard, but there are a couple of smaller rooms to the side that come with it (the <a href="http://www.artisanworks.net/host/spaces/french.php">Vintage French Dining Room</a> and the “Retro Room” as I call it, not pictured on the site, sadly, but pictured below). I found this area of ARTISANworks most fascinating on my and Joe’s previous visit, so we were thrilled to have booked this section. Also, lucky for us, they had our ideal date available (a Saturday toward the end of July). </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When couches fly...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAWGmYZwymXlZXRegl4_0iYAYZvjk-bkWdTb-_sFM6AOQyX8fQBQ21fyRH04xO_nRTIJItT1vJcNoOe9IoI2B7VkvVSF6pc1FYqt7j_Wy0oESKh0nTkDwXBqFgMAKTaYjdAZkFsGqbj2Qk/s1600/IMG_0808.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAWGmYZwymXlZXRegl4_0iYAYZvjk-bkWdTb-_sFM6AOQyX8fQBQ21fyRH04xO_nRTIJItT1vJcNoOe9IoI2B7VkvVSF6pc1FYqt7j_Wy0oESKh0nTkDwXBqFgMAKTaYjdAZkFsGqbj2Qk/s400/IMG_0808.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside the retro room!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another nearby area. FYI: They really like taxidermy at ARTISANworks!</td></tr>
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Joe and I kept our guest list fairly small. We invited around 60, and we had just about 45 show up—not bad! About one-third of our attendees were family. Certainly, we would have liked to have a bigger celebration, but we felt the more people we invited, the more out of control things would have become for us (plus, you know—money!). Luckily, Joe and I are so compatible in our views when it comes to things like guest lists; we had no interest in inviting those distant relatives we never see. I mean, why invite Great Aunt Mabel from Utah who hasn’t seen you since you were three? Or cousin Ted (twice removed) who no one talks to anymore? (These are totally fictional relatives, by the way, but you get my point.)<br />
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Some of our "swanky" guests (I don't know, I just really like that word!): </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lex and Ben! You might remember them from a Double Date Night with Jen and Joe!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFPtwPi_dS1QVebJ-5Dr6d7nMVfWtd-w1xeY9ZucWwrsL34bIZGx9E9UZIIvUmzOM5-dHSRh_HJ6t2S3MlSsDuNIA3_4SuVwORkPuNddn1gUqwYXGMaS3JUE577dMIab1b_J8eikOOBFIJ/s1600/IMG_0791.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFPtwPi_dS1QVebJ-5Dr6d7nMVfWtd-w1xeY9ZucWwrsL34bIZGx9E9UZIIvUmzOM5-dHSRh_HJ6t2S3MlSsDuNIA3_4SuVwORkPuNddn1gUqwYXGMaS3JUE577dMIab1b_J8eikOOBFIJ/s400/IMG_0791.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marie and Scott, looking especially swanky!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK5nEQewrX_oi7eGVWV_mbiOVb0K8zyPj2vwoyOLC61yxfZBQYYw-a3ts3XkqYhhvxjb2v4OeJAb5rgV4RMY6DDULFZO6fHJh152ZWa9NxUdyiVy-AcVNsLA9he-Xd2EC4vOc2ptroKYhi/s1600/IMG_0803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK5nEQewrX_oi7eGVWV_mbiOVb0K8zyPj2vwoyOLC61yxfZBQYYw-a3ts3XkqYhhvxjb2v4OeJAb5rgV4RMY6DDULFZO6fHJh152ZWa9NxUdyiVy-AcVNsLA9he-Xd2EC4vOc2ptroKYhi/s400/IMG_0803.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me with Marie and Robin--two good friends of mine from SUNY Fredonia.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI1G-TYNOibN35QTxliQbJFtWgkQJoGTk7-7Tjn5odecn9lPa9wy1DEHQb2LXUKKrvuUOiAv9GW0zERBW3eXI8CFfEEBu90kngKbR2m5KtBsY7-vHTnq7RGXjxZp-rgMO9OieZY77WkucI/s1600/IMG_0795.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI1G-TYNOibN35QTxliQbJFtWgkQJoGTk7-7Tjn5odecn9lPa9wy1DEHQb2LXUKKrvuUOiAv9GW0zERBW3eXI8CFfEEBu90kngKbR2m5KtBsY7-vHTnq7RGXjxZp-rgMO9OieZY77WkucI/s400/IMG_0795.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My "Satellite Sister" Amanda and her brother Philip made an appearance!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRZRVptaU2v_tYQHfAgET_kWXPrceNa6wF04qYIw0gFPbFi9_ifLjk7NyZ7ISBBZNR5BS-yCCUhaV_iIqfVRqmvflovqYD3ilS0hm6YrhCBiIsCNx87Tw4vMfME1EopnJq4TlgBnACPwbf/s1600/IMG_0793.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRZRVptaU2v_tYQHfAgET_kWXPrceNa6wF04qYIw0gFPbFi9_ifLjk7NyZ7ISBBZNR5BS-yCCUhaV_iIqfVRqmvflovqYD3ilS0hm6YrhCBiIsCNx87Tw4vMfME1EopnJq4TlgBnACPwbf/s400/IMG_0793.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andy and Melanie hold up our friend's surrogate, Creepy Baby (a Boobah!).</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEja1GRGbImYSIgFEvpX4tMi-GBh69JPEyfIc55UxQiaksWDQEBuWRBj2bzumqeoFN_S3XCv4EsJCejElMhWZ9pHIXr8JZ0hSJJPtUdbXS4lqzH1S0eU3BV_HdfIXpk_VTfxypcbQPt2O5/s1600/11A_0018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEja1GRGbImYSIgFEvpX4tMi-GBh69JPEyfIc55UxQiaksWDQEBuWRBj2bzumqeoFN_S3XCv4EsJCejElMhWZ9pHIXr8JZ0hSJJPtUdbXS4lqzH1S0eU3BV_HdfIXpk_VTfxypcbQPt2O5/s400/11A_0018.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chris (a.k.a. Lunchbox) and his wife Joie: another cutesy couple from Fredonia!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibcz7ZAHJh5ivs8msp-7UnCeszvkKyZYFjdtwnJFllnOk-YJUmVnFBCQIL1p_HsMxyfDIz22_wk-eLIPaXhGQg-pD17R25py2nGKu1DclB3aYbdi-selYNJVb7OqEHz_Kl_y37Entn17wh/s1600/3A_0010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibcz7ZAHJh5ivs8msp-7UnCeszvkKyZYFjdtwnJFllnOk-YJUmVnFBCQIL1p_HsMxyfDIz22_wk-eLIPaXhGQg-pD17R25py2nGKu1DclB3aYbdi-selYNJVb7OqEHz_Kl_y37Entn17wh/s400/3A_0010.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ian and Jenn: starting to feel like this wedding is just over-run with cutesy couples yet?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwP7ikIU_tDGHhnfygPLY0LGWySX0k5U92SHoskkuVPz1PSGevTv_NHKz44eXukm-izzYbvsdjICifhUvX8o19M5TbrInLm8rAH4KlLVN1N66Nnz4N5kWqLvYaequHGlUEWqPlaNhaKOHu/s1600/10A_0017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwP7ikIU_tDGHhnfygPLY0LGWySX0k5U92SHoskkuVPz1PSGevTv_NHKz44eXukm-izzYbvsdjICifhUvX8o19M5TbrInLm8rAH4KlLVN1N66Nnz4N5kWqLvYaequHGlUEWqPlaNhaKOHu/s400/10A_0017.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lunchbox with the photobomb!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqEzkEo5quIuzwN-opX-sr9BR6hV7nNHW8M9fRdPTSb0Jn6ars-vKCE4dj2fsO3z_sfvvpUuEgnqYcNDQ5ZIyxuuD5VVpMQD7_9Z_sf_1LFtUtGPE4bvq2iozVbV4wudXuHs-P5ZxIlPvT/s1600/32_0015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqEzkEo5quIuzwN-opX-sr9BR6hV7nNHW8M9fRdPTSb0Jn6ars-vKCE4dj2fsO3z_sfvvpUuEgnqYcNDQ5ZIyxuuD5VVpMQD7_9Z_sf_1LFtUtGPE4bvq2iozVbV4wudXuHs-P5ZxIlPvT/s400/32_0015.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brian has a great appreciation for fine art!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNPmY5ypp1a0_osORLGTNU3LiRz55D9Nq48DHaZeiLzQll5hRHFmBJ1gCZ-Q_Orp2rFrS3eKtfFWg0QoeitDkwUJ1op1tbRBZrgY0_UJPOhhrhrmqZc3M-nt_S9ifW77ncH9cde8aimEx4/s1600/2A_0010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNPmY5ypp1a0_osORLGTNU3LiRz55D9Nq48DHaZeiLzQll5hRHFmBJ1gCZ-Q_Orp2rFrS3eKtfFWg0QoeitDkwUJ1op1tbRBZrgY0_UJPOhhrhrmqZc3M-nt_S9ifW77ncH9cde8aimEx4/s400/2A_0010.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An assortment of our guests--the zebra kind of just showed up!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3i8x8IXU0aB_7bxJFcgavguHInSTamrctrr6tqltk8ExMSzvGXsGxrL0BJPlxUvt2P4MuW8v6pFujarcQF5XrmPBSZ4fU9B9zJsRkhH7JY0jB6sDbKAeaYeNsxXhgEVVcfm9FWOQJC0h-/s1600/19_0006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3i8x8IXU0aB_7bxJFcgavguHInSTamrctrr6tqltk8ExMSzvGXsGxrL0BJPlxUvt2P4MuW8v6pFujarcQF5XrmPBSZ4fU9B9zJsRkhH7JY0jB6sDbKAeaYeNsxXhgEVVcfm9FWOQJC0h-/s400/19_0006.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here comes the bride with her glass of wine!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEHVx85GnQVTB1Y_j76QchJqyCJ99iX9p-3UgYcwKFoAjLzZv7R7TXH9I1pDrtcZAssv8KJqlLSfcWLN6xBm0J0hoHabP1JHMCFjm-PYr4wokIDjhHyhWtIj9YbAWcbPKgRmC5kyIaR4_g/s1600/5_0010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEHVx85GnQVTB1Y_j76QchJqyCJ99iX9p-3UgYcwKFoAjLzZv7R7TXH9I1pDrtcZAssv8KJqlLSfcWLN6xBm0J0hoHabP1JHMCFjm-PYr4wokIDjhHyhWtIj9YbAWcbPKgRmC5kyIaR4_g/s400/5_0010.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joe looks so triumphant here!</td></tr>
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ARTISANworks has in-house caterers, so we didn’t even have to look for outside catering. The food was excellent, and the menus, which you can customize to your heart’s desire, are varied enough to keep everyone happy. We had our cake delivered from Savoia Pastry Shoppe in Rochester, another excellent business that boasts delicious cake, helpful employees, and free samples (always a plus) without the need for an appointment. (We would have gone with Gruttadauria in Greece, but they were rude and unhelpful when we went to make an appointment. Too bad for them!)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixMQxhgPczgJllXjtEIRCM2MA5b3PivKDQUEl4GNTZwfw9RIC5G40oFf8sQskNnzOWD6A-51zydmifeK9Tgvoxss6KkjoO3QDZNjDmU1rDskKA0fbMLBaTj57-b5b9qPQ6eHvKKpUZT82n/s1600/IMG_0781.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixMQxhgPczgJllXjtEIRCM2MA5b3PivKDQUEl4GNTZwfw9RIC5G40oFf8sQskNnzOWD6A-51zydmifeK9Tgvoxss6KkjoO3QDZNjDmU1rDskKA0fbMLBaTj57-b5b9qPQ6eHvKKpUZT82n/s400/IMG_0781.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mmm... cake! Look at that detail! It was almost too pretty to eat!</td></tr>
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We also had a great amount of DIY in our celebration to add a personal touch. Joe’s mom made the centerpieces for the tables. Joe’s aunt made our card and camera boxes. We didn’t have an interest in having a lot of dancing or in listening to some middle-aged wedding DJ play the same crap he probably plays at every wedding ("The Electric Slide"? No thanks!), so I created a playlist for my iPod and hooked that up to the PA system for our reception. I kept it diverse enough so that Joe would approve, of course, and so the older relatives wouldn’t complain. Besides, at what other wedding can you listen to everything from Django Reinhardt to Benny Benassi or Bootsy’s Rubber Band to The Cramps? I made “kissy bird” favors (little handmade googly-eyed birds with Hershey’s kisses in their “mouths”). With the help of my mom and my brother’s girlfriend, Lynn, I put together the little boxes on the tables and filled them with personalized pink and black M&M’s. Instead of having a photographer, we had disposable cameras on the tables for our guests to take pictures. (I have to say, though, that I don’t recommend doing this in a place as large and not as brightly lit like ARTISANworks; many of our pictures turned out dark or not at all.) The typical wedding in American can cost close to $30,000; I won’t tell you how much we spent (how uncouth!), but it was nowhere near that amount! Our reception was definitely proof that you don’t need to go into debt to have the perfect day!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJaDVxYrv_FC4JDWN7K-fSKebqB3U4Y3HripKGA8hM86lWKRoXEuCOyaKk4WiQyBG-UBaJHT5oByAQ2duHzpT1wdMVnhQh0w8O9c1_anW4rs81YrzQqe_usvwTUZk50Mn2JLabq5ouTjLH/s1600/IMG_0746.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJaDVxYrv_FC4JDWN7K-fSKebqB3U4Y3HripKGA8hM86lWKRoXEuCOyaKk4WiQyBG-UBaJHT5oByAQ2duHzpT1wdMVnhQh0w8O9c1_anW4rs81YrzQqe_usvwTUZk50Mn2JLabq5ouTjLH/s400/IMG_0746.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A close-up shot of a few "kissy birds." Easy and fun to make!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkdrrGWD2EV4fC_lOHABEs8qa9z101KJlS_tfde96NQ4FVWG_GxejeNteSB0f9luKL8h61FggH-vYxybCvGLg3cKFelFSGEFe_A5ct-Fz2bsBeIeJ0jwgvXLZavRJmGesfAWumgZrS6TrM/s1600/27_0022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkdrrGWD2EV4fC_lOHABEs8qa9z101KJlS_tfde96NQ4FVWG_GxejeNteSB0f9luKL8h61FggH-vYxybCvGLg3cKFelFSGEFe_A5ct-Fz2bsBeIeJ0jwgvXLZavRJmGesfAWumgZrS6TrM/s400/27_0022.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The card box and the guestbook that most people didn't sign. :(</td></tr>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Victoria was handling a simultaneous event in the building that day, so we had April as our Event Coordinator that afternoon. April not only ensured that our reception went smoothly (did it ever!), but she had also painted us a beautiful picture of a bride and groom that now hangs in our living room. This is a lovely little tradition they have at ARTISANworks, where they give the gift of artwork to their guests of honor. I don’t think anyone has ever given Joe or me original artwork like this, and it’s a great way to start our art collection together. (Seriously, when we have tenure and a larger home to fill with works of art? We are so there!)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJUtVqIgKLQ4OotAz7Aa4GpM80y5ZmKWgLPWqfNkg1uby87lAtPo6Vq2_kzMK5iTtJpX6nnVqMJEFpAKvIaFva1kQbugs5pjZaGdtUtpcOOdnVQK8uadcr5gxvOZvzDw8ygl4Bzs_gSqfu/s1600/IMG_0794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJUtVqIgKLQ4OotAz7Aa4GpM80y5ZmKWgLPWqfNkg1uby87lAtPo6Vq2_kzMK5iTtJpX6nnVqMJEFpAKvIaFva1kQbugs5pjZaGdtUtpcOOdnVQK8uadcr5gxvOZvzDw8ygl4Bzs_gSqfu/s400/IMG_0794.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">April's painting for us! How cute!</td></tr>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">We couldn’t have asked for a better celebration, and all of our guests there had such a great time. Plus, there certainly couldn’t be a lull in conversation with so many wonderful things to see. We loved having our friends and family there to celebrate our day with us, and we feel so fortunate that a place like ARTISANworks is practically in our backyard for us to visit and revisit for years to come.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUkrdA5TcsuOb6Btrvry_vmnhbHwJnZn_lmk_XqRbH5aE3g-SmWG0u0OuPQgeCLK4aDw-K_6-OUM9dTNtqAlLi2QGFrpE9BHmG0EBdBYIBKeGAnkUM7rkzMsamVlyAnqKavdIcNFFPW3LP/s1600/9A_0009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUkrdA5TcsuOb6Btrvry_vmnhbHwJnZn_lmk_XqRbH5aE3g-SmWG0u0OuPQgeCLK4aDw-K_6-OUM9dTNtqAlLi2QGFrpE9BHmG0EBdBYIBKeGAnkUM7rkzMsamVlyAnqKavdIcNFFPW3LP/s400/9A_0009.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kissing under a zebra head... How romantic! We wouldn't have wanted it any other way!</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div>Date Night with Jen and Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00334296988965040977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-132926845751533162.post-8422485238824957172011-08-23T20:33:00.002-04:002011-08-23T20:46:50.083-04:00Date Day: A City Adventure – 8/13/11<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Joe and I went around to several places on Saturday, August 13. Rather than simply doing individual reviews, we've decided to give you a glimpse of a "date day." Here, for your reading pleasure, is a chronicle of our adventures. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">1. <a href="http://www.tapandmallet.com/">Tap & Mallet</a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Joe and I decided to go to Tap & Mallet for the Southern Tier Total Tap Takeover, a special event featuring all beers from the Southern Tier Brewing Company. We had actually never been to Tap & Mallet, even though we’ve had it recommended to us before. We weren’t sure what to expect this first time there. We stood at the entrance for a bit, feeling awkward while waiting for a hostess, but when there wasn’t one, we decided to sit at the bar. The bartender was excellent, attentive, and friendly despite it being a very busy day for him. We also had the added bonus of sitting near the bar’s bobcat, which I friended on Facebook after overhearing that <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheDreadedBobcat">“Bob Cat”</a> actually had an account. Why? I don’t know. Why not? </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS_Evk1VLBbRE-uCXMmkNUeOqIXX9H_sZNUDu6sO0PiprQn39hwzmNYu1ufX6F_h77Q1e8js3MCjT2pPcSM605v7UO1QfhSSRRT65WY6AgFSOAEPVbyLHIYP4PWjKTnmGV40RLpjYGx_fH/s1600/IMG_1051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS_Evk1VLBbRE-uCXMmkNUeOqIXX9H_sZNUDu6sO0PiprQn39hwzmNYu1ufX6F_h77Q1e8js3MCjT2pPcSM605v7UO1QfhSSRRT65WY6AgFSOAEPVbyLHIYP4PWjKTnmGV40RLpjYGx_fH/s400/IMG_1051.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who knew bobcats were such social creatures?</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Joe drank Krampus ’10. Seeing the name Krampus always makes me think of the <i>Venture Bros.</i> Christmas special (I don’t really feel like explaining that one—you’d have to see it). I drank the Wien Vienna Lager, which was good but really just reminded me of a fancy Yuengling. For lunch, Joe ate the burger with mash and gravy, and I ate the vegan chili. Overall, we thought it was a great place, and I have a feeling we’ll definitely be returning!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyWOEZGDZfUa2CFFzIJMG73799CxOwlb4Q891PDtQT1INfhcmCgHe2H8jz83b06dRqBLf1-bXCW92_MEpGrwTI1QLKo0T74Q5ls5JVhPt7_CP5y8_HQLUBlzgYtPtRwEyAqjGoyfOy_99o/s1600/IMG_1050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyWOEZGDZfUa2CFFzIJMG73799CxOwlb4Q891PDtQT1INfhcmCgHe2H8jz83b06dRqBLf1-bXCW92_MEpGrwTI1QLKo0T74Q5ls5JVhPt7_CP5y8_HQLUBlzgYtPtRwEyAqjGoyfOy_99o/s400/IMG_1050.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Surprise?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The vegan chili.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhInVXNoMgb2DTwxN9cyRBaoyag1UT7Di7ZRa9vPVw_F08x00DFy_dtaLEYTg5x5ezNx3ipnnuVnjKy4R9oPnRJZWjZ0GM6pM27SVG0n6E3bqXBdT-fhKMCbpm7-LA4n6T64-IlHcZOaA2m/s1600/IMG_1059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhInVXNoMgb2DTwxN9cyRBaoyag1UT7Di7ZRa9vPVw_F08x00DFy_dtaLEYTg5x5ezNx3ipnnuVnjKy4R9oPnRJZWjZ0GM6pM27SVG0n6E3bqXBdT-fhKMCbpm7-LA4n6T64-IlHcZOaA2m/s400/IMG_1059.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joe's burger--what, you didn't think it was mine, did you?</td></tr>
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2. <a href="http://www.villagegatesquare.com/%20">Village Gate </a> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Joe and I stopped in Village Gate Square on Goodman St., which is probably one of the most interesting places in Rochester. There are some popular restaurants there (Salena’s, California Rollin’, The Gate House, and Lento) and some cool specialty shops (The Bop Shop for records, Ricky’s Place for vintage clothing, Yankee Peddler for old books, and Outlandish for all of your gay pride and leather daddy needs... if that’s your thing). Village Gate is also home to many art studios as well. We visited Yankee Clipper, a collectibles store into which we rarely venture. Joe bought a football card, which I would rather not have to explain since it’s related to fantasy football. He doesn’t collect football (or any type of) cards, by the way, so this was a new thing for us. We also bought a Dalek figure there; Daleks are the things that look like fancy garbage cans on <i>Doctor Who</i> that fly around shouting “Exterminate!” We are very pleased with our Dalek and plan to include him this Christmas in a nativity scene, a la <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGzQFYaUHSQ">Mr. Bean</a>. </div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">We didn’t stop in The Bop Shop, and I’m not sure why, but it’s another favorite place of mine. I used to hate getting dragged there as a kid when my dad went record shopping, but when I finally started buying records too, it became one of my favorite places to go. Especially with some of my weird tastes, it’s the perfect place to go if you’re looking for something obscure, musically speaking.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">3. <a href="http://www.monroecounty.gov/parks-highland.php">Warner Castle/Highland Park/</a><a href="http://www.mounthopecemetery.com/walk_through.html">Mt. Hope Cemetery</a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">These three are all in the same area. We parked in the lot for Warner Castle and went there first. This “castle” is a beautiful old home in the city open to the public during certain hours. They also have a beautiful garden behind the home. We took some pictures and saw a cat sunbathing (he had a collar, so we guessed he wasn’t a stray). He kind of looked like our cat Charlie, only with white paws.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqWDXgYaqNh3MUZvGJK7XIdA_ofuvvRt3pvDJyHZHW81A-nI8T7IODhkpAai54hWNUs9GF7IwkmX1ykR-J_xwgW0AiJRTC3rFCQ81P96Xj2d4CLWqA59LYWd0x46IWoDeK_Y_4YpaTW7Ey/s1600/IMG_1060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqWDXgYaqNh3MUZvGJK7XIdA_ofuvvRt3pvDJyHZHW81A-nI8T7IODhkpAai54hWNUs9GF7IwkmX1ykR-J_xwgW0AiJRTC3rFCQ81P96Xj2d4CLWqA59LYWd0x46IWoDeK_Y_4YpaTW7Ey/s400/IMG_1060.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The front of Warner Castle.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXaKm-mJFurW49RCWOfb_JiVApLcvG9_UufLh8iuK8VTT5GXjRQlTPpVJ7PXgDdYCuKqU41mgnQfeT6Z2spQduaNyg9gHQG3ZGko0YODnabThyphenhyphenyypenu6JPhC1EUeeaXLQFbwhz10BVNlR/s1600/IMG_1063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXaKm-mJFurW49RCWOfb_JiVApLcvG9_UufLh8iuK8VTT5GXjRQlTPpVJ7PXgDdYCuKqU41mgnQfeT6Z2spQduaNyg9gHQG3ZGko0YODnabThyphenhyphenyypenu6JPhC1EUeeaXLQFbwhz10BVNlR/s400/IMG_1063.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The courtyard in the back.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEietk7ku8txhMg4EvirBa8p-i4o0TNxul4lCDE_4Pkwhms_pg9LMyNCmRMiUfsh1J6xPXVIjrczLKFm-1Ut7BXH7Ca3-XyQb_obcX5ZeQZkx_BAsezQiQYC0tgLhASNzRCtBkWm4bmUEg0H/s1600/IMG_1073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEietk7ku8txhMg4EvirBa8p-i4o0TNxul4lCDE_4Pkwhms_pg9LMyNCmRMiUfsh1J6xPXVIjrczLKFm-1Ut7BXH7Ca3-XyQb_obcX5ZeQZkx_BAsezQiQYC0tgLhASNzRCtBkWm4bmUEg0H/s400/IMG_1073.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kitty!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcjy32uFlZJcJui_zTdxHvFlxjn4dXEfGml2yYdiVINwSOHnIpRp1y4ey20ignIWDkbQgeRSHmRk4qP9tRR2dXBHWx9JOBGbu08QrcHX5p-gDsNekFzxrgE15gzw4WJgg_7a4KDAV_H-dN/s1600/IMG_1076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcjy32uFlZJcJui_zTdxHvFlxjn4dXEfGml2yYdiVINwSOHnIpRp1y4ey20ignIWDkbQgeRSHmRk4qP9tRR2dXBHWx9JOBGbu08QrcHX5p-gDsNekFzxrgE15gzw4WJgg_7a4KDAV_H-dN/s400/IMG_1076.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Near the front of Mt. Hope Cemetery.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp8vRgbrnFdZcZT4WaAdOaLUlbQ1W_oIjG4RJm43LYCKz7dFYcmESlAEdYXAyWRm2TUVKcMEgZzNUK8eBhXg3P3ngKrlZyy6oGQFvYKS651yziVENFA8jB_LvdbDl6knZa5CzM8Qiahjdv/s1600/IMG_1081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp8vRgbrnFdZcZT4WaAdOaLUlbQ1W_oIjG4RJm43LYCKz7dFYcmESlAEdYXAyWRm2TUVKcMEgZzNUK8eBhXg3P3ngKrlZyy6oGQFvYKS651yziVENFA8jB_LvdbDl6knZa5CzM8Qiahjdv/s400/IMG_1081.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the prettiest tombs there! Don't blink!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoqIC0qfqHDNKTtoWQHnYXH_dAqilzgqTMf4r-a0EwP8QP_cw8R1AJq3djL0jUK9JUH_pISzJVFy1z-N4TajP-30agtpqMX4gIgGUXKxl5BKBAd7dt-yEi8B7_zGcUGif0CkUgpZkWnNbi/s1600/IMG_1083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoqIC0qfqHDNKTtoWQHnYXH_dAqilzgqTMf4r-a0EwP8QP_cw8R1AJq3djL0jUK9JUH_pISzJVFy1z-N4TajP-30agtpqMX4gIgGUXKxl5BKBAd7dt-yEi8B7_zGcUGif0CkUgpZkWnNbi/s400/IMG_1083.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The older section, with the stairway from who knows when.</td></tr>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></div>Next we walked through the edge of Highland Park. During the spring it’s known for its lilacs (hence the annual Lilac Festival). After that we arrived in Mt. Hope Cemetery, famous for being where local abolitionists Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass were buried. We didn’t go too far since we were having dinner soon after, but we walked around near the entrance where the fountain and many of the mausoleums are located. It’s a very pretty area, and although it’s a cemetery, it makes for a beautiful location for a walk or run through its park-like setting. If we hadn’t had any time constraints, we definitely would have stayed longer. <br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">4. <a href="http://www.abundance.coop/">Abundance Co-op</a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Joe and I just went in here out of curiosity and to kill a few minutes before Lex and Ben arrived at The Owl House down the street for dinner. It reminded me of Lori’s Natural Foods in Henrietta, only smaller. If you live in the city and you’re in dire need of organic eggplant, I guess this is your place.</div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">5. <a href="http://www.owlhouserochester.com/">The Owl House</a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">We had dinner with our friends Lex and Ben, another cutesy couple. We sat at the bar for a few minutes, since we were early and the restaurant didn’t open for dinner until 5:00. The bartender was nice, and Lex ordered a drink called “Agent Cooper.” Sadly, it took me a minute to get the <i>Twin Peaks</i> reference (“The owls are not what they seem...”), but I decided to try that as well. For dinner, Joe and I both had the Viva Verde! Tacos (Joe’s had pork, mine had tofu). I think mine could have had way more tofu in it, but I liked their use of fresh ingredients and the water bottle left on the table so we didn’t have to wait for refills. Lex and I also appreciated the fact that The Owl House accommodates those with vegan/vegetarian and gluten-free diets.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxLHPyrlY4OutyDbu3br9gSUkIw44y__tOvPFPBfG2Cqm-GpWRDjZgoEJNLvMVYOdyImnoE7P6fhfKpidfp22kKI0AhzVFMmXdLXw3BMFrIa2yIp3liY9RZm5IBMR8s8vkK3IcRwfFzQF-/s1600/IMG_1088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxLHPyrlY4OutyDbu3br9gSUkIw44y__tOvPFPBfG2Cqm-GpWRDjZgoEJNLvMVYOdyImnoE7P6fhfKpidfp22kKI0AhzVFMmXdLXw3BMFrIa2yIp3liY9RZm5IBMR8s8vkK3IcRwfFzQF-/s400/IMG_1088.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A damn fine drink.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Xmu-TzIYOWEhxm0QQB4b3Rm1nDq6qQq5UdWqXAq6kU8_ruE1X54_KwUIRw7G3IqBy4QVnw59PVakHZSkmwuRinsD6xp9f1v1Eyt5wgu-rvbaFVy-dXEsuOisN8e5BosmRLfEMgj_YjTz/s1600/IMG_1100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Xmu-TzIYOWEhxm0QQB4b3Rm1nDq6qQq5UdWqXAq6kU8_ruE1X54_KwUIRw7G3IqBy4QVnw59PVakHZSkmwuRinsD6xp9f1v1Eyt5wgu-rvbaFVy-dXEsuOisN8e5BosmRLfEMgj_YjTz/s400/IMG_1100.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My tofu tacos, with way too much cabbage and a cold black bean and corn salad.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdITe_tzdx4vOTAU8oWzn6jsLljj73S7vIUh5eyFe5_tNwXAfxN8WoBlEFqAg1gc30912HtpuvrteKDFnhXMbq30gP81TNdZRp_Cf52Fahm1anNvv2onXsGXMoHAZt1Fzf7eST6yi6iyhc/s1600/IMG_1099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdITe_tzdx4vOTAU8oWzn6jsLljj73S7vIUh5eyFe5_tNwXAfxN8WoBlEFqAg1gc30912HtpuvrteKDFnhXMbq30gP81TNdZRp_Cf52Fahm1anNvv2onXsGXMoHAZt1Fzf7eST6yi6iyhc/s400/IMG_1099.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joe's pork tacos, which look almost exactly like mine... but with pork.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lex and Ben--Cutesy Couples Unite! </td></tr>
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6. <a href="http://bouldercoffeeco.com/">Boulder Coffee Company</a> (South Wedge)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">A coffee shop with beer? Sounds like Joe’s kind of place. Lex, Ben, Joe, and I decided to go there so we could continue our conversation (and to wait out the heavy downpour during the thunderstorm). I drank a ridiculously huge iced chai, and we brought “Daffyd” the Dalek (the only nice Dalek in the village... anyone?) with us, as we all decided to name him. We also witnessed a Cake cover band called “This is Not Cake.” We could tell. I liked the comfy couches (those are always a plus in coffee houses), and I really liked some of the avant garde art on the walls—all or most of it was definitely local.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mr. Bill!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Giant mermaid!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixrV0gSFlxuNcat79kaK6We0pHFLPgxrWyLLsYDZn9kFj-I__dIdnNe600boxcZNnyvfEpG2f9PetlZnHUN848Pb_YLeZ8azB-CiMOysz81VSzza09iCEQQ-m3xLsfMNR1RuJBQVcZWrY4/s1600/IMG_1104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixrV0gSFlxuNcat79kaK6We0pHFLPgxrWyLLsYDZn9kFj-I__dIdnNe600boxcZNnyvfEpG2f9PetlZnHUN848Pb_YLeZ8azB-CiMOysz81VSzza09iCEQQ-m3xLsfMNR1RuJBQVcZWrY4/s400/IMG_1104.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dalek heart chai!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEippeFrNiOR08f1do65repdbr2VvcvqVb0FPJUUF_V1vC0Z2ZyozhsFaRh-mjz8qGd7IU6UZNgiE41CC8C9qZZL36wojM4Z_fkijX16flBBJrJokfZDfjmQ7nmC_Hu8NlfHHDEJHVqU6qR5/s1600/IMG_1105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEippeFrNiOR08f1do65repdbr2VvcvqVb0FPJUUF_V1vC0Z2ZyozhsFaRh-mjz8qGd7IU6UZNgiE41CC8C9qZZL36wojM4Z_fkijX16flBBJrJokfZDfjmQ7nmC_Hu8NlfHHDEJHVqU6qR5/s400/IMG_1105.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lex posing as a Price is Right model.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">After the storm died down, we went out to Lex and Ben’s place to continue chatting. I think we were going to play a game, but it never really happened and didn’t need to. For anybody who says that there’s nothing to do in Rochester, well, I think we proved you wrong... and this was just the tip of the iceberg.</div>Date Night with Jen and Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00334296988965040977noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-132926845751533162.post-71637112583984788912011-08-16T22:41:00.005-04:002011-08-16T22:55:41.633-04:00Review: Grandpa Sam's Italian Kitchen - 8/5/11<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">When putting together our Top 5 lists, Joe and I had many different things to consider. We not only looked at the quality of the food for a particular restaurant, but also good service (and <i>consistent</i> good service), the atmosphere, the amount of options and flexibility in the menu, the presentation of the meal, the value of the meal for its price, and the ease of getting a table. One such place that Joe picked for some of these qualities was <a href="http://www.grandpasamsitaliankitchen.com/">Grandpa Sam’s Italian Kitchen</a> in Spencerport. If you recall the entry, however, you’ll notice that this restaurant ended up not in my Top 5 but instead in the honorable mentions section. Maybe since I’m the one writing this, I’m inclined to say that our recent visit to Grandpa Sam’s confirms my placement and not Joe’s. Don’t get me wrong; it’s a good little place to go when you’re craving a hearty pasta dish, but the lack of consistency in the above categories, to me, prevents it from being one of the Rochester area’s best despite its potential. </span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Joe and I went on a Friday night for a nice convenient date night right down the street. We hadn’t made a reservation, so we knew we would have to wait a bit. Sometimes we’re lucky and can get in almost immediately. Being that it was a Friday, we didn’t mind waiting. Joe entertained me by trying to test my psychic abilities by Googling pictures on his phone and asking me to guess what it was. (FYI: I’m not psychic... at all.) Joe and I waited ten minutes in the small waiting area by the door, which got crowded fast. During times like those, I appreciate restaurants with a decent-sized bar instead of a few uncomfortable chairs squished together. Finally, we were seated by the hostess not in the main dining area but instead in the room off to the side, which had many empty tables when we arrived in there. I’m not sure why we had to wait if they had extra tables available; it could have been that they were waiting for additional waitstaff to arrive at 6:00, but they’re only open for dinner, so I’m not sure that that’s it. I always find it perplexing when you have to wait while tables sit empty, but I’ll give Grandpa Sam’s the benefit of the doubt this time.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The interior of Grandpa Sam’s is a bit rustic and feels like eating at someone’s house. I like the burgundy paint and the Italian style mural on the back wall. The tables are spaced appropriately, so you never feel like you’re eating at someone else’s table (I remember this feeling quite frequently at the now-closed Henrietta Bazil location). The overhead speakers blasted out tinny ’80s Italian pop music, which I don’t think I’ve ever heard there before; it amused me and Joe for a while. Our server came over promptly, and except for disappearing once during dinner, she was consistently attentive and friendly.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_VU6isglajZwOkXrwD58YbnlKRdsajJMgZ1bHf_dAwzXk09bD1MK04l20YtvRK4DkFqqfFFaIesu_a9Pu624UrSIzH2GMVtGLS71f0bogF_lDhgz9r54zFVcQlrX9S0m0bYN46yMaWRIO/s1600/IMG_0919.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_VU6isglajZwOkXrwD58YbnlKRdsajJMgZ1bHf_dAwzXk09bD1MK04l20YtvRK4DkFqqfFFaIesu_a9Pu624UrSIzH2GMVtGLS71f0bogF_lDhgz9r54zFVcQlrX9S0m0bYN46yMaWRIO/s400/IMG_0919.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dancing to the Italian version of Gunther!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In front of the burgundy door to nowhere...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">For drinks, I stuck with a glass of water while Joe drank a Labatt. I had tried a sample of their pinot noir special for the evening and found it too sweet (it should be dry). After placing our dinner order, Joe and I received a mixed green salad and some freshly baked bread, both of which arrive with any meal you order. One thing I like about the bread is that the server gives you a dish of olive oil, ground black pepper, and grated parmesan cheese for dipping. You can order garlic bread instead for an extra fee, but the fresh Italian bread always tastes wonderful without that extra seasoning. The salad this time, however, lacked ingredients—only a couple of sliced grape tomatoes and too-garlicky croutons were added to it, and the dressing tasted too strongly of vinegar. For being a salad for two people to share, it also seemed fairly small, but given its lackluster taste, I guess we should have been glad they didn’t give us any more. While waiting for our food, Joe continued to test my psychic ability (still not psychic). We then had a disagreement over which Ramone was a conservative, and our friend Ian confirmed via text that I was right about “Kill a commie for mommy Johnny” (Joe said DeeDee—really?). I won $5, which he never actually gave me, and dinner on this date night, which he did pay for; I’m a lucky girl! </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Joe noticed that they had new specials. One dish sounded a bit more upscale: grilled salmon with risotto and a pineapple tomato salsa. Due possibly to Joe’s last disappointing experience with salmon at Ellicottville Brewing Company, he opted instead for the other special of lobster macaroni and cheese. The picture showed a dish of creamy macaroni and cheese topped with a rather large piece of lobster, and for the $18 price of the meal, it should have come with something close to that. This dish had the creamy sauce topped with breadcrumbs as in the picture, but the lobster came in small chunks. Joe also guessed, based on taste, that they had stretched the lobster portions of the dish with pieces of albacore tuna and imitation lobster. He said overall his dish was mediocre, and had this not been a special, I bet he would have gone with a bolognese pasta, which is one of his favorites. The menu asked “Need we say more?” after stating that it was a lobster mac and cheese; we would have to say that yes, they could have said a lot more. It just didn’t live up to Joe’s expectations.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg_R0F6ZhRiPJVC1YvHzzhQ_4iPRvMfvY6vzoMLLPkzq4xYg1I9LYm-AdbMaWT1MYyPF4ICANYYK5s-pk1EHvCDZZlFSsqhYPxIKdhuHacBSX4aRdeA7QIQysugElkz3Px-elOQHQwSY4T/s1600/IMG_0921.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg_R0F6ZhRiPJVC1YvHzzhQ_4iPRvMfvY6vzoMLLPkzq4xYg1I9LYm-AdbMaWT1MYyPF4ICANYYK5s-pk1EHvCDZZlFSsqhYPxIKdhuHacBSX4aRdeA7QIQysugElkz3Px-elOQHQwSY4T/s400/IMG_0921.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joe's lobster mac--not exactly what was pictured on the menu</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I ordered a create your own pasta dish because I wanted to do something I hadn’t done in a while. For some reason that I now forget, I had been craving alfredo sauce all week, so I decided to make that my order. Usually, I’m unable to get past the Butternut Squash Ravioli on their menu, a unique specialty that really makes the restaurant stand out amongst Rochester’s Italian restaurants. This time I ordered fettuccine alfredo with roasted red peppers. I, too, think I should have ordered something else; I’ve had their alfredo before, and I’ve never had a problem with it, but this dish was just too thick and too messy. I couldn’t take a bite without splattering the pasta all over, and the sauce was so full of heavy cream that after only a few bites I was full. I took the rest home, and I’m not kidding when I say it took me two more attempts in the following days to actually finish it. The flavor was good, but it was unnecessarily heavy. The added issue of making a mess trying to get the pasta on my fork didn’t do the restaurant any favors that night, and the presentation could have been better as well. This just looks like a big soupy mess.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp56_QZQrww-MaTEfPL61T4XFxYRmifh-o4Pi1CpUbk4stgUUIIws0Rc8Wj8OTJS0f_SIKErvW9jnxc8mUCRZY0j79qd9MlmsJ-qfFIDfzR6O9ForSnLSjcoKaTEUBE7rx-9RZSamBbCge/s1600/IMG_0922.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp56_QZQrww-MaTEfPL61T4XFxYRmifh-o4Pi1CpUbk4stgUUIIws0Rc8Wj8OTJS0f_SIKErvW9jnxc8mUCRZY0j79qd9MlmsJ-qfFIDfzR6O9ForSnLSjcoKaTEUBE7rx-9RZSamBbCge/s400/IMG_0922.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Say "cheese"! No, say "too much cheese"!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Our experience that night wasn’t really bad, but it wasn’t really good either. Both of us have had better from Grandpa Sam’s, and whenever we go back we expect better. We’ve had some really good service there, like when we took my Nana to dinner for her birthday in June. We’ve also had some really poor service; on one of my birthdays, Joe waited half an hour for a second (and small) dish of spaghetti on an all-you-can-eat spaghetti night—something that should have taken only seconds to prepare. This evening, our service was merely adequate, and the quality of the food was mediocre, if we’re being nice about it. For that, Grandpa Sam’s receives a mediocre rating, and I think it will be a while before we dare to return for another date night.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Rating: 3/5 stars</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9l7K78lzYe3r1sDLrpJ0WrwezRyw0u7muxmCw6euZw_qQ3mJIQmrE28pkM9VrvAelPN7oyBzq45q5uld8F08trfII81NKSFscn9MyjyK6R-NOS3IZ-Z8jw_aUTreDYz7J9qyHm1KnW-Pw/s1600/3star.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="49" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9l7K78lzYe3r1sDLrpJ0WrwezRyw0u7muxmCw6euZw_qQ3mJIQmrE28pkM9VrvAelPN7oyBzq45q5uld8F08trfII81NKSFscn9MyjyK6R-NOS3IZ-Z8jw_aUTreDYz7J9qyHm1KnW-Pw/s200/3star.png" width="200" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div></div>Date Night with Jen and Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00334296988965040977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-132926845751533162.post-85861845845160430172011-08-04T01:12:00.002-04:002011-08-16T22:56:04.352-04:00Review: Ellicottville Brewing Company – 7/30/11We're back! And this time with an actual dinner review (none of that silly lunch stuff here now!). Enjoy!<br />
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After a visit to Olean for a friend’s afternoon wedding reception, Joe and I decided to take a short excursion to <a href="http://www.ellicottvillebrewing.com/">Ellicottville Brewing Company</a>. This took us on a nice scenic drive of about 28 miles to the small ski resort town of Ellicottville, NY. Joe and I are both SUNY Fredonia alumni; during our last year or so there, a second Ellicottville Brewing Company (or EBC) opened up in the village. On any stop through Fredonia (or to it, back when we still had friends going there), EBC is a welcome sight and a great break on any road trip. On Saturday, we visited the original location for the first time, and we definitely found it a very enjoyable experience. <br />
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The first thing we noticed upon entering was that this EBC location is much more spacious than the Fredonia one. The interior has the look of an old ski lodge—almost everything is wooden and rustic, with detailed moldings, old black and white photographs of skiers from the 1950s or ’60s, and chairs actually made from rough-hewn branches. We waited at the door for about a minute (not very long on a Saturday night), and then the hostess greeted us and actually apologized for keeping us waiting. I was kind of surprised—on a busy Saturday night, I expect to wait, but I guess things are a bit different in Ellicottville. She seated us right afterward, and within a couple more minutes we had our drink order placed for a pitcher of Blueberry Wheat beer.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With apologies to the random people at the bar...</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTumMotsnwgkzEBXEth47tKPsJwCvxPeTf7KB7aSM9WQAg6Hi9lvLIcMm0YXobJgDLVEViyJ6eILohyfMI6PBKgueRaQ5N_I4mdlGSgcrTJ85ZQO4Gwr_6wmaOrwaARQodSSVulpJrINlA/s1600/IMG_0891.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTumMotsnwgkzEBXEth47tKPsJwCvxPeTf7KB7aSM9WQAg6Hi9lvLIcMm0YXobJgDLVEViyJ6eILohyfMI6PBKgueRaQ5N_I4mdlGSgcrTJ85ZQO4Gwr_6wmaOrwaARQodSSVulpJrINlA/s400/IMG_0891.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He looks like he has a halo and like he's in deep thought.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still somewhat chipper (and hungry) after driving to Olean and then to Ellicottville!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>If you’re going to a place where the word “Brewing” (or some variation) is in the name, you should expect good beer. EBC doesn’t disappoint! The Blueberry Wheat is my favorite, but they also have an Oatmeal Stout, “Nut Brown,” Pale Ale, and something Joe sampled later on called “Pantius Droppus” (he liked it, but it was too malty for me). Like the Rohrbach Brewing Company in Rochester, you would have to be crazy to order a Budweiser or Coors in a place like this. In our pitcher of Blueberry Wheat, they actually threw in some blueberries. I know this violates the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAXk8h1iHAw">Man Law</a> of “no fruit in beer,” but I thought it was a nice touch. (Joe drank it; he’s the manliest man I know!)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkE9b16f9-Nf8AdG-LC2S7ezUM-N-p2gvg3G3JJH-SRobGfUVpw33rtV2N0pViWU6d_vZtlpq-ke93rl4dyxi8LK7jaQcS6QcA5EfC7Tm1w7J8L-RmrNjU384LWn02YMvtUBVYQ-4CMLrH/s1600/IMG_0882.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkE9b16f9-Nf8AdG-LC2S7ezUM-N-p2gvg3G3JJH-SRobGfUVpw33rtV2N0pViWU6d_vZtlpq-ke93rl4dyxi8LK7jaQcS6QcA5EfC7Tm1w7J8L-RmrNjU384LWn02YMvtUBVYQ-4CMLrH/s400/IMG_0882.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our beer!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDJCqk8KEJxkGJMZGBYaFJX7y3CIVTYbYPUBwMwBU7E1AYGpNDHvFQdIyQoKGn48H2kO3muBx7QnmpKK-PABm4uYtcLTgTx1dvOBg9-KQbaaSKCGRqU0rtpM6WMyFHYvWiERC0UqY4Dpy1/s1600/IMG_0910.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDJCqk8KEJxkGJMZGBYaFJX7y3CIVTYbYPUBwMwBU7E1AYGpNDHvFQdIyQoKGn48H2kO3muBx7QnmpKK-PABm4uYtcLTgTx1dvOBg9-KQbaaSKCGRqU0rtpM6WMyFHYvWiERC0UqY4Dpy1/s400/IMG_0910.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beer taps</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Onto the actual meal: for a starter (sorry, appetizer—we’ve been watching too much Gordon Ramsay), Joe and I ordered mushroom bruschetta. It sounded too interesting not to try! The menus at each EBC location differ, and at “EBC East” in Ellicottville, they offer four different kinds of bruschetta: traditional, mushroom, steak, and pepper with goat cheese. The mushroom bruschetta was such a great start that it was almost too great; the rest of the meal had a lot to live up to. This dish consisted of four slices of Italian bread topped with a piece of ricotta cheese, arugula, and the cooked, marinated mushrooms. When the waiter first set the plate on our table, I detected the earthy scent of the mushrooms. The taste, although it started out a bit salty, finished nicely with no bad aftertaste, and we could easily pick up the traces of rosemary and the dish’s white truffle oil (fancy!). Our only (very minor) complaint was that the ricotta could have been a bit warmer—it tasted cold in comparison to the mushrooms and bread. That’s an easy thing to ignore, however, and the mushroom bruschetta serves as a great twist on a classic starter dish! (As an added bonus, check out the exquisite presentation—most of the meal came with square or rectangular dishes such as this one.)<br />
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For dinner, Joe ordered the Summer Salmon, which consisted of a grilled salmon topped with a cucumber and tomato tapenade with rice and asparagus on the side. After the excellent mushroom bruschetta, this dish really had to impress, and sadly Joe did not think that it did. He said for the most part that the meal was just bland. Everything was cooked fine—although the salmon was grilled too long and looked a little black around the edges—but mostly everything lacked seasoning. The saffron rice didn’t have a saffron taste, and I saw Joe add salt and pepper to it at least a couple of times. He had the same complaint about the asparagus—cooked well, but no real flavor. The presentation also lacked the same refined look as the bruschetta, since it was served on a bizarre beer bottle plate—cute, but not really fitting for this meal. The one thing that saved the entire meal from disaster was its side: a crisp Caesar salad with romaine, a house-made dressing, and “well-fired croutons,” according to Joe. Overall, however, Joe said that this ambitious meal was a letdown.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj58cjxgL9KuycMBhh-LlCkyEMQLEj2LkK55-VjUdBEvJ3KvfFTEl_Xy7EEvgxrQqE0bg-e4A-y9YL9Ny32tfaSY7v5ly05eZcqWP9hQ6NT6uRn45Mwt1wf0yc2jD0-jTVYSv3OX20UXnzN/s1600/IMG_0902.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj58cjxgL9KuycMBhh-LlCkyEMQLEj2LkK55-VjUdBEvJ3KvfFTEl_Xy7EEvgxrQqE0bg-e4A-y9YL9Ny32tfaSY7v5ly05eZcqWP9hQ6NT6uRn45Mwt1wf0yc2jD0-jTVYSv3OX20UXnzN/s400/IMG_0902.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joe's dinner with beer bottle plate!</td></tr>
</tbody></table> My meal was probably a bit less fancy, but mine was far from being a letdown. I ordered the falafel burger, which I thought was another unique twist on a classic. If you’ve never had falafel, I’ll explain it: it’s a Mediterranean food made from fried crushed chickpeas (same stuff used in hummus!), and it’s usually flavored with curry and other spices. It typically comes in a pita and is topped with tzatziki (a cold yogurt and cucumber sauce). Falafel usually consists of several smaller pieces of fried chickpea—EBC’s falafel burger was essentially one big falafel in a bun. I actually didn’t eat the bun because it was too big and instead just ate the falafel with my fork. I think it would have worked better in a pita. I know EBC was probably trying to get away from that traditional side of the dish, but it’s tradition for a reason: the bun is too big for the falafel burger. Unlike Joe’s meal, the falafel packed a lot of seasoning. In some places I actually found the curry too overpowering, but for the most part it had just the right amount of flavoring. I ordered a salad for my side dish, which I usually do because I hate french fries, and I loved its presentation in a neat little square bowl. The salad itself had a mix of romaine, arugula, and herbs, and the shaved parmesan and lemon balsamic dressing on it complemented the flavors nicely. My meal turned out perfect, except for the burger bun. This leads me to believe that the menu might be hit or miss; some of their dishes are quite ambitious, and sometimes you can only offer so much innovation on tradition.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great presentation... except for the plastic cup of dressing?</td></tr>
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On the night we dined at EBC, a jazz band, the Paul de Ritter Quintet, provided some entertainment. They even went around taking requests. After our meal ended, we sat at the bar with an old acquaintance from Fredonia and her boyfriend, since they also attended the reception. There we just talked, listened to the music, and drank a little bit more of EBC’s great custom brews. This must have been a festival weekend in Ellicottville, for there were bands in some of the other bars (and one out on the street). Maybe not every aspect of the meal was perfect, but I think we couldn’t have asked for a better night.<br />
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Our overall review is four out of five stars. The beer, the bruschetta, and the atmosphere definitely make Ellicottville Brewing Company a worthy excursion. <br />
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Rating: 4/5 stars<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKonxBDOhc4gxZG2D7E0QmnZzSszPSnlbWdkc0A3S8xk1AscFUNGjfDSN1Yth2XdcmpXotrcbvma5Oc7cGpda230CQzekUficC9Q5Ted2IL6849dNHT3uhG1buYNM3_hEsVTJFdLuzKCby/s1600/4star.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="49" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKonxBDOhc4gxZG2D7E0QmnZzSszPSnlbWdkc0A3S8xk1AscFUNGjfDSN1Yth2XdcmpXotrcbvma5Oc7cGpda230CQzekUficC9Q5Ted2IL6849dNHT3uhG1buYNM3_hEsVTJFdLuzKCby/s200/4star.png" width="200" /></a></div>Date Night with Jen and Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00334296988965040977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-132926845751533162.post-72367641876366420662011-07-23T09:34:00.008-04:002011-07-23T09:58:03.868-04:00Review: Simply Crêpes - 7/18/11<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">This is more of a mini-review than an actual one since it only features me (and my mom!). I realize that this is yet another lunch review, but I promise we will talk dinner soon. Very soon! After taking care of some business (finalizing plans for my and Joe’s wedding reception), we decided we were in need of some lunch. I’ve been to Simply Crêpes a few times with Joe and once or twice with my friend Alexis, but my mom had never experienced the mouth-watering deliciousness of Simply Crêpes. Interestingly, she said she couldn’t remember having crêpes since her honeymoon in Toronto with my dad... in 1983! Before that, she vaguely remembered having them when she lived in Washington, D.C. After some indecisiveness on where to go to lunch, we made up our minds once she revealed that little bit of information.<br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Simply Crêpes is located in Schoen Place in Pittsford and on Main St. in Canandaigua. Today, we went to Schoen Place, a small road set near the Erie Canal. All of the buildings in this area have a rustic cabin-like appearance, and the canal is popular for its path for walking and biking. When it comes to the matter of location (location, location, location!), this is a great spot for any restaurant. (Another favorite for me and Joe, Aladdin’s, also has one of their two restaurants in this area.)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_I6KxFfqJNYSctsEhK8JitWZJI2gvQ1E0sAADvupcimei0g8Yix2RJB5Alf_o9OGx5y0vR3Lmk_3BBltxINdKcQDjo4AhwFP3As_p8EZFWf9nUUiu7259GcV5luF5rJ5Yi6na9DZl2b5i/s1600/IMG_0764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_I6KxFfqJNYSctsEhK8JitWZJI2gvQ1E0sAADvupcimei0g8Yix2RJB5Alf_o9OGx5y0vR3Lmk_3BBltxINdKcQDjo4AhwFP3As_p8EZFWf9nUUiu7259GcV5luF5rJ5Yi6na9DZl2b5i/s400/IMG_0764.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The kitchen</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIX5BUjb7QNEvXbQh2AC9Dv3lCGsKPD_bVp-XKAzAaHEiVueNGVGgCjFwF5c9NhZeiGTVmFBITPQJbR7rHNMeXSlk106KJkw2fX8C4L51NVEmB7YLVMm4EyvOraa1hNvNVSOUP76ocUVUt/s1600/IMG_0765.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIX5BUjb7QNEvXbQh2AC9Dv3lCGsKPD_bVp-XKAzAaHEiVueNGVGgCjFwF5c9NhZeiGTVmFBITPQJbR7rHNMeXSlk106KJkw2fX8C4L51NVEmB7YLVMm4EyvOraa1hNvNVSOUP76ocUVUt/s400/IMG_0765.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the dining area</td></tr>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The interior of the restaurant reminds me of walking into someone’s kitchen, maybe someone’s mom or grandma. Upon entering, I always feel like an old lady should come up to me, tell me to sit down, and head into the kitchen to “whip something up.” Small wooden tables sit scattered around the room, and the far wall displays a tall brick fireplace. The kitchen is visible from the dining area, but this is deliberate in the set-up. Unlike the Frog Pond, which merely suffered from a lack of space, Simply Crêpes display their kitchen to highlight their cooks’ preparation of their unique dishes. The restaurant is also exceptionally clean with no flies buzzing around, which is impressive in the summer with doors always opening and closing.<br />
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</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmkJTOCwssHAGClOVzNTM-fpmPJKODYiho1DyYY3n0F-rhvPZxQvMpUG8w6RK32CiP9L1OdbAbEXoNyGsVbci9Zy32rADKkYxPkegLKfZyNbX9mx7CrQxWAf8-NP3j1C-icftjcisFxXvq/s1600/IMG_0761.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmkJTOCwssHAGClOVzNTM-fpmPJKODYiho1DyYY3n0F-rhvPZxQvMpUG8w6RK32CiP9L1OdbAbEXoNyGsVbci9Zy32rADKkYxPkegLKfZyNbX9mx7CrQxWAf8-NP3j1C-icftjcisFxXvq/s400/IMG_0761.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Traditional crêpes with strawberry</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">My mom ordered the Traditional Crêpes with strawberries instead of maple syrup. The presentation was exquisite. She said this was just how she remembered eating crepes—probably even better! She said she felt like she was eating a dessert, not a lunch. Try not to drool on your keyboard when you look at this picture.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimVtSmEj-caYt2pAQaqRz0De_xFjXM_T2QCOUxdN6juNfaqR1a5jABDHG-6AjWAB38VtNjdutomtmvHMcgqQ95eURouycg8Z0QCxESQMBz2aaySI8oXfQcolcf-gz3Yv5e4y7lnj5eDQCm/s1600/IMG_0762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimVtSmEj-caYt2pAQaqRz0De_xFjXM_T2QCOUxdN6juNfaqR1a5jABDHG-6AjWAB38VtNjdutomtmvHMcgqQ95eURouycg8Z0QCxESQMBz2aaySI8oXfQcolcf-gz3Yv5e4y7lnj5eDQCm/s400/IMG_0762.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crêpe Épinards</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I ordered the Crêpe Épinards—scrambled eggs, sautéed spinach and tomatoes, and feta cheese wrapped in a crêpe. Without the crêpe, I would call it a lazy omelet. With the crêpe, it transforms into a really fancy breakfast burrito. This was a dish I hadn’t tried before—I usually stick to the Traditional Crêpes that my mom had ordered. This was good, but it was not their best dish, especially since the presentation lacked pizazz. Then again, I tend to think of crêpes as sweet foods, so with eggs, cheese, and veggies, it had more of the traditional breakfast flavors I expect in foods like this rather than being a decadent pseudo-dessert.<br />
<br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">One disappointing thing about our lunch today was the service. It wasn’t horrible at all, but it <i>was</i> mediocre. Our waiter didn’t really come by too much. The cook called our order twice before our waiter came up to grab it. It’s kind of disappointing to sit right near the kitchen and see your order sitting for a minute or two where you could just grab it. However, our waiter was the only one on the floor. We were there during a later time for lunch, but we were not the only ones dining in the restaurant. There were several other staff members in the restaurant, but most of them were sitting at tables either in a meeting (two were sitting around a laptop) or putting napkins and silverware together. For most of our time there, only one young woman cooked in the kitchen. As I mentioned, this was not peak lunchtime, and the service didn’t greatly impact our experience, but that distribution of responsibilities seemed too unbalanced. That kind of thing can make customers very upset if it’s during a much busier time.<br />
<br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Overall, I’d give four out of five stars for today, not so much for my meal but because my mom left very impressed.</div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Rating: 4/5 stars</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilUpOJF5NirvCJyvERiQNRoidPiu92F7g_3FxysavBmSpBtH0M5H95kh8QlhQ2tO3znordiodmP8pCim-rh3-_bKP00quRUzTiiHUivkfC_vb3ehCVGAPbTHtBY6U5yS_71egdQbifQBHx/s1600/4star.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="49" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilUpOJF5NirvCJyvERiQNRoidPiu92F7g_3FxysavBmSpBtH0M5H95kh8QlhQ2tO3znordiodmP8pCim-rh3-_bKP00quRUzTiiHUivkfC_vb3ehCVGAPbTHtBY6U5yS_71egdQbifQBHx/s200/4star.png" width="200" /></a></div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></span></b></div>Date Night with Jen and Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00334296988965040977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-132926845751533162.post-85488221307675406442011-07-22T06:11:00.000-04:002011-07-22T06:11:43.691-04:00Date Night at Home: Cannelloni di Templare<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">This is what we had for dinner a few nights ago, and it was delicious. Joe came up with this recipe, and I told him that he could make it again any time he feels like it! This is a great option for a night in or even for hosting a dinner party. (We had a lot left over with this recipe.) Enjoy!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Cannelloni <i>di Templare</i></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">This recipe is a bit of trickery and pocket-sized morsels rolled into cannelloni. The “<i>di Templare</i>” part comes in the alignment of the cannelloni into a cross shape (especially since it’s a cheater’s dish with lasagna instead of cannelloni pasta). I made a vegetarian version with mushrooms and a carnivorous version with sausage. Here are the ingredients I worked with. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Here are the ingredients, many of which came from Wegmans:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">1 lb box of lasagna noodles<br />
1 16 oz can of crushed tomatoes</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">1 8 oz can of plain tomato sauce</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">4 oz sliced baby portabella mushrooms</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">.5 lb of chicken and apple sausage (can substitute with any sort of sausage as long as there are apples)<br />
.5 lb of smoked Gouda</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">8 oz heavy whipping cream</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">4 oz vodka</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">1 tbsp garlic (minced)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">shredded mozzarella</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">salt </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">olive oil</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">crushed red pepper</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">basil</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">rosemary</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">sugar</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Directions:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Cut the Gouda into 1.5 inch squares about 3 mm thick. Set aside.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">In a dutch oven or a large pot or wok, start the garlic* with 1 tbsp of olive oil, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp red pepper, and 1.5 tsp of basil. Brown the garlic on medium high. Lower the heat, add the tomatoes and tomato sauce, and sauté with 1.5 tsp of balsamic vinegar, 1.5 tsp of sugar, and the vodka. Let simmer for 20 minutes. Add basil to taste. When ready to taste, slowly whisk in the heavy cream so it doesn't curdle and then lower the heat until it's on a slow simmer. (*Jen’s note: Joe didn’t specify how much garlic here. With minced garlic, .5 tsp=1 clove, so it’s up to you how much you want to include based on your preferences.)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Start the lasagna with some olive oil and salt. Boil the lasagna until al dente and then bathe in a blanching shock bath to stop the cooking process.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Marinate the mushrooms with 1 tsp of olive oil, .5 tsp salt, .5 tsp red pepper, and .5 tsp rosemary flakes.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Grill or sear in a hot pan or a grill for 2 minutes (I use a Foreman Grill). Once grilled, chop the mushroom into a fine tapenade consistency. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Grill the sausage in a pan searing or on the grill for 5-10 minutes (again the Foreman Grill is best for this). When done, take off and slice into thin nickels.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdLTWO8rxv3evtYDUTQ9ySOMx7IAnhNrYnQ0MUEXXx2I6stcVVBQc9J8GGS18HrOKrzcIqqvLqi-Ewu58pzNI-RhZdg_o10oAwPIAOQ-cXoqdwk8PGJnNoQT0ExiNgYb0nDYKzUL6T1RRc/s1600/IMG_0771.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdLTWO8rxv3evtYDUTQ9ySOMx7IAnhNrYnQ0MUEXXx2I6stcVVBQc9J8GGS18HrOKrzcIqqvLqi-Ewu58pzNI-RhZdg_o10oAwPIAOQ-cXoqdwk8PGJnNoQT0ExiNgYb0nDYKzUL6T1RRc/s400/IMG_0771.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sausage nickels</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Preheat the oven to 325.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Take the lasagna noodles out one at a time and pat dry. Lay flat on a cutting board and add a wedge of Gouda at one end; next to the cheese, put some of the mushroom or sausage or both. Then gently roll the noodle on the cheese piece to completely tuck in the contents. After you have a roll, place it on a greased baking pan. Do this until you fill your baking pan. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE9pj56ylPdIznICBZ2rmpSgTxcjrbnhYG7TCexpguP-CCNh22K6IH0queZnl_g1e9oZrQIQUFUavXPTxgx9n6OEyEYB9DTfUxWKxSNSbB7bIafpfiVHbkqeQEvosGy2PPLroe4VeMdMJO/s1600/IMG_0766.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE9pj56ylPdIznICBZ2rmpSgTxcjrbnhYG7TCexpguP-CCNh22K6IH0queZnl_g1e9oZrQIQUFUavXPTxgx9n6OEyEYB9DTfUxWKxSNSbB7bIafpfiVHbkqeQEvosGy2PPLroe4VeMdMJO/s400/IMG_0766.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blond mushroom cannelloni</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1-AlOv_mbyHyUWQhPB0RnO7ssD474ndJHK2H9Cd6511F6_7hyZ6Ie7jncM1yKUlNaD3D0738bkKYYwgXVw3fEKxe5EuDRUx_L4inah46jzuk9ROd2dA8RykLH8XyzFaTPrnOAnLjG9nsb/s1600/IMG_0767.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1-AlOv_mbyHyUWQhPB0RnO7ssD474ndJHK2H9Cd6511F6_7hyZ6Ie7jncM1yKUlNaD3D0738bkKYYwgXVw3fEKxe5EuDRUx_L4inah46jzuk9ROd2dA8RykLH8XyzFaTPrnOAnLjG9nsb/s400/IMG_0767.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Close-up</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">With the pan or pans laid out with little rolls of cannelloni, cover them with sauce so there is no blond pasta showing. When that is accomplished, sprinkle with some shredded mozzarella to your liking. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwmP2TSbNR_Vm0aBqX78hHMxXxscbvJrBO65wi8P7mep_5WN3l4mCAJtaIRgHqXVO4uPl_rYCEpU3YINrSuGGqoNHNTk-PNUsyCqgugNLl6iZT1apjgWf8d8Z-6DOqoGeyHcKCavRmNj4l/s1600/IMG_0770.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwmP2TSbNR_Vm0aBqX78hHMxXxscbvJrBO65wi8P7mep_5WN3l4mCAJtaIRgHqXVO4uPl_rYCEpU3YINrSuGGqoNHNTk-PNUsyCqgugNLl6iZT1apjgWf8d8Z-6DOqoGeyHcKCavRmNj4l/s400/IMG_0770.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mushroom cannelloni before baking--lots of leftovers!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKdsINX3U92r1mtEkYHZKT1EJ0xTdFB_4hDwuZTSL2MZeW4dZHufOwzBcWiU1APjxLhUSw9wWin7TY5tM7cosD5-AVrz3tauwBP80QNY-WmeBvsjHpjdaZTI52SFMJ3Ptr_MfWNVkDf9x0/s1600/IMG_0772.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKdsINX3U92r1mtEkYHZKT1EJ0xTdFB_4hDwuZTSL2MZeW4dZHufOwzBcWiU1APjxLhUSw9wWin7TY5tM7cosD5-AVrz3tauwBP80QNY-WmeBvsjHpjdaZTI52SFMJ3Ptr_MfWNVkDf9x0/s400/IMG_0772.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joe's sausage cannelloni</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Put the pan(s) into the oven for 15-20 minutes. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">When they are done, serve in a cross formation on the plate. If you want to, put some leftover sausage nickels in the center. Cover the cannelloni with any leftover sauce and more mozzarella if desired. Garnish with parsley or basil.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjdxcLrhvSFy7IbjC6EqAMoiw4pdP7bHu-TCFe4iZol_c_6nJzA_hPZqtfjeE7kfK_CnSxrW2hdFUprNh8G_v56AtC9vDtSkALfbkRDlgwN1rJ8nEcT2WgqoTPfi0UQ5rfBXXNhkA1M1rz/s1600/IMG_0773.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjdxcLrhvSFy7IbjC6EqAMoiw4pdP7bHu-TCFe4iZol_c_6nJzA_hPZqtfjeE7kfK_CnSxrW2hdFUprNh8G_v56AtC9vDtSkALfbkRDlgwN1rJ8nEcT2WgqoTPfi0UQ5rfBXXNhkA1M1rz/s400/IMG_0773.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mushroom cannelloni--delish!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9b0kEpQSua9EkfSHglcjksu2NchSU8l5fhCY1xcsLNYBUVAsxXzYYnWwYikuov65uK5P1OI88JTkbIArwlIxkrWJeihzzuuAqj986sVzbZ_d1pqwP32nOiwMyQtY6cAnSgehG1XFcPLxK/s1600/IMG_0774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9b0kEpQSua9EkfSHglcjksu2NchSU8l5fhCY1xcsLNYBUVAsxXzYYnWwYikuov65uK5P1OI88JTkbIArwlIxkrWJeihzzuuAqj986sVzbZ_d1pqwP32nOiwMyQtY6cAnSgehG1XFcPLxK/s400/IMG_0774.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sausage cannelloni</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div>Date Night with Jen and Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00334296988965040977noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-132926845751533162.post-69880489459844448182011-07-21T05:03:00.000-04:002011-07-21T05:03:01.151-04:00Review: Leaf & Bean - 7/17/11Today seems like a good day for a coffee shop review. Maybe it's because I'm up so early. This time we actually remembered to take pictures, too! This was from Sunday, actually, but I'm sure you don't mind, right? Good!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzVxFCYnE_04JXXingYnGLszJN6_qYR-TwNrUbSpNhI2v_keZcX2JDkuLa9cYYQKds6uyrqXkohd-dTWUpSfGAnSOipttXKpSIRmXdjiHXGdERAfRKBIVN2k4ZJIKySWVR4WthsXEaygHc/s1600/IMG_0734.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzVxFCYnE_04JXXingYnGLszJN6_qYR-TwNrUbSpNhI2v_keZcX2JDkuLa9cYYQKds6uyrqXkohd-dTWUpSfGAnSOipttXKpSIRmXdjiHXGdERAfRKBIVN2k4ZJIKySWVR4WthsXEaygHc/s400/IMG_0734.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Java java java java java java!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Ever since Joe and I got the idea to start a blog reviewing restaurants in and around Rochester (or perhaps even before it), I’ve wanted to review Leaf & Bean Coffee Company in Chili (and that’s pronounced like chai-lie, not the food chili!). It’s one of my absolute favorite places to get an iced vanilla chai or Thai iced coffee in the summer or to get a soy latte or cherry hot chocolate in the winter. I’ve cut down on coffee this past year, but even going there for chai (a black tea blended with spices and steamed with milk) is a treat. I’ve never had a bad drink from this place, and their service is always quick and friendly. Since Leaf & Bean is a family-owned local business, I’m far more inclined to support them than a corporate chain like Starbucks. (Not to mention that Leaf & Bean’s coffee doesn’t have the harsh bitterness that Starbucks’ coffee tends to have.)</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Leaf & Bean also serve sandwiches, soups, and pastries. I’ve never attempted to sample any of the cakes in the glass case up front, but they look delicious! (Friends who have accompanied me on trips there have confirmed their wonderful taste.) On Sunday, Joe and I stopped in for a late lunch. My parents invited us over for a barbeque that evening, so it would still be several hours before we would get to eat dinner.</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Joe tends to avoid the coffee and tea there, not out of dislike but simply because even a small “cup of Joe” (haha) gets him pretty wired. Instead of ordering a coffee drink, he picked up one of the vintage-style Coca-Colas, made with sugar, from the case. I decided it was too hot for even a frozen chai latte (soy milk in summertime is occasionally iffy for me—it just starts to taste gross after a while). I ordered a strawberry mango “blenderita,” the term they give to either their iced lattes and smoothies. The smoothies are made with juice and tea, although I’m sure you can request them with milk as well if you prefer. I think one thing that would greatly improve them would be to include real bits of fruit; this would give a much thicker texture to the drink and make it more flavorful. This, I think, is really the only drink I would have a complaint about, and I partly blame the juice bar at Breathe Yoga in Pittsford for spoiling me when it comes to this sort of thing. (I’ll probably discuss them another time. If you’re looking for something quick and healthy, their fresh, organic meals, smoothies, and pressed juices are an excellent solution!)</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> </div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Most importantly for this trip, Joe and I ordered food. Leaf & Bean’s menu contains a wide variety of sandwiches, and one cool thing I really like about the majority of their food selection is that they name the entrees after street names in the Gates and Chili area (e.g. Westside, Haymarket, Howard, and Marway). This is a great local touch that you just don’t get with big chains. </div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Joe ordered the Union, a roast beef panini with Swiss cheese, roasted red peppers, and fresh greens. He assessed that the beef tasted medium rare—tough to do with roast beef; the sandwich left him sated without being overly stuffed. (How long have I been out of the meat-eating game? I had to ask him if it was possible for roast beef to be medium rare. Oh, dear...) His sandwich was supposed to come with a horseradish mayo. Instead they gave him the dressing I’m pretty sure is the only dressing I’ve ever seen with their sandwiches, a sweet and tangy balsamic honey dijon. I thought this was a bit strange—were they out of the other one? Nevertheless, he was content with the meal, or at least content enough for it to tide him over until the barbeque that night. </div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> </div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">For my meal, I ordered half a sandwich and a cup of soup. The sandwich was the Coldwater, a vegetarian panini made with fresh (very fresh!) mozzarella, roasted red peppers, and basil pesto. My sandwich arrived with the same dressing that accompanied Joe’s, which was a nice complement. I’m sad to say that this is one of few vegetarian options in terms of sandwiches, but their soups of the day are frequently veggie-friendly. Sunday’s soup du jour was a creamy roasted red pepper and Gouda soup, almost more like a bisque. It had just the right amount of seasoning and wasn’t too salty, either, as I find most soups to be. I was actually pretty stuffed when I finished. It doesn’t sound like a lot, but that half a sandwich is actually a pretty decent size! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXSDxPp8NsNPC10C6KgTDFYaeAvRguu3647E-K-hjkTT8e6LK8xEood9eqSdlI0_JWQX5HEvMfv-aPC688yql2cgqXghU-tUy9oS7Yid6BWxtbKCuMuGYzbNieJasGJ3yGC7KLxPpoz_Oz/s1600/IMG_0735.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXSDxPp8NsNPC10C6KgTDFYaeAvRguu3647E-K-hjkTT8e6LK8xEood9eqSdlI0_JWQX5HEvMfv-aPC688yql2cgqXghU-tUy9oS7Yid6BWxtbKCuMuGYzbNieJasGJ3yGC7KLxPpoz_Oz/s400/IMG_0735.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Experiencing the laid back atmosphere at Leaf & Bean makes for a great way to pass an afternoon. I know Joe and I have spent many an afternoon there, especially on snowy winter weekends. Back before we moved in together, the comfortable arm chairs and benches served as an excellent setting for our brainstorming sessions on how many dishes to buy or when we would finally be able to afford the adoption fee for our cat. Music plays on the overhead speakers, not too loudly, and it tends to vary depending on when you’re there, ranging from classic rock to indie to, I think at one point, some classic Motown. I’ve even gone there to write before, and it’s fairly common to see someone working on a laptop with a nice tall latte within arm’s reach. A few local artists have painted some of the art featured on the cafe’s walls, and up by the front entrance, you can catch a glimpse of a few well-deserved plaques and certificates awarded to Leaf & Bean from local organizations. They also have a wide selection of coffees, including flavored ones, for sale to bring home, along with t-shirts, coffee mugs, and other gift items. </div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Our overall review of Leaf & Bean is four stars in terms of the food (good quality cafe fare), but for their coffees and teas I’d give them five stars. I hope they stay in business for a long time because without them, I don’t know how I would get my chai fix every now and then!</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Rating: 4/5 stars</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYocH5P_6qunvf6MQGycbafhB4b5Jnjo7DXUvcZBCRylo5lbFxaERHopPA-VeRwo_m0JoMLD3at-I-Txd_8qeEt-dtVXYiO2Gr0TpDPOtS9iOgv7geCpd-H_t8Xn7lN42o3Qjv-B7PXOL_/s1600/4star.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="49" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYocH5P_6qunvf6MQGycbafhB4b5Jnjo7DXUvcZBCRylo5lbFxaERHopPA-VeRwo_m0JoMLD3at-I-Txd_8qeEt-dtVXYiO2Gr0TpDPOtS9iOgv7geCpd-H_t8Xn7lN42o3Qjv-B7PXOL_/s200/4star.png" width="200" /></a></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div>Date Night with Jen and Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00334296988965040977noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-132926845751533162.post-74692993589834993792011-07-19T15:28:00.004-04:002011-07-19T19:36:53.487-04:00Top 5 Rochester Restaurants: Jen<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-style: normal;">As mentioned yesterday, here are my Top 5 restaurants plus honorable mentions. Coming soon: two reviews and a feature on restaurant nightmare experiences! </span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Top 5 Rochester Restaurants</span> – Jen</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-style: normal;">5. </span><span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><a href="http://mamasans.com/"><span style="font-style: normal;">Mamasan’s</span></a></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"> (Thai/Vietnamese – Brighton/Pittsford)</span> </div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">I’m so happy my friend Lex suggested this place to me and Joe once (actually, we went there with her and her husband, Ben, for our first time). They have amazing Thai food, with plenty of vegetarian and gluten-free options, which made me and Lex happy, respectively. They also have pink chopsticks! Pink! I was elated when I saw this since it’s my favorite color and I’m easily amused. I have the Pad Thai when I go because that’s one of my favorite dishes anywhere it’s offered. The service is good and the atmosphere is modern and laid back, making this one of Joe’s and my favorite spots. </div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-style: normal;">4. </span><span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><a href="http://www.bazilrestaurant.com/"><span style="font-style: normal;">Bazil</span></a></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"> (Italian – Penfield)</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">At one time, this place would have been numero uno, but with the closing of their Henrietta location (to open a seafood restaurant—huh?), they’ve been bumped down to number four. The other thing that keeps them from taking the number one spot is their use of chicken stock in their red sauces, which keeps me from enjoying the vodka sauce. If you’re vegetarian, be sure to mention this when you go there! From what I’ve heard, they’re just like their older affiliate restaurant, Mario’s, only less dressy and a few bucks cheaper. Their pastas, despite any issues with the sauce, are amazing; I tend to order the alfredo or the pomodoro when I go. They offer a Pasta Per Te (Create-Your-Own Pasta) that allows for plenty of options for even the most finicky eater. Even going in once on a late night, Joe and I still received excellent service (although I wouldn’t recommend doing this since you’ll want time to really savor your meal). Their Penfield location, the only one left, is near Lake Ontario, so here you get the benefit of a nice view in addition to their savory dishes. </div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-style: normal;">3. </span><span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><a href="http://www.aladdinsonline.com/"><span style="font-style: normal;">Aladdin’s Natural Eatery</span></a></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"> (Mediterranean – Pittsford; Monroe Ave.)</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">I prefer the Pittsford location, simply because you get to sit near the canal, but if you get stuck inside, it tends to be a bit cramped. Joe and I also have the bad luck of going on rainy days, and although the balcony has a canopy to protect you from the rain, it just isn’t the same. The Monroe Ave. location in the city is a bit larger, and they also have a balcony where you can look out onto the street. Both locations serve the same excellent Mediterranean-inspired foods. One of my favorite things to get there is actually a starter—a sample of their staples such as hummus, baba ganoush, and dolmades. With plenty of vegetarian options, Aladdin’s has rightfully earned its place in my Top 5.</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-style: normal;">2. </span><span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><a href="http://hoganshideaway.com/"><span style="font-style: normal;">Hogan’s Hideaway</span></a></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"> (American – Park Ave.)</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Hogan’s is over on Park Ave. right next to Parkleigh (one of my favorite stores in that area), so a trip to one place usually, but not always, guarantees a trip to the other. They serve standard American fare (sandwiches, burgers, salads) but they also offer some unique dishes and specials (veggie burritos and stir fries, for instance, and pastas as well). I think I’ve tried a little bit of everything when I’ve gone there, simply because they have so many great options for vegetarians. The food is always fresh, and they even have their own beers provided by Custom Brew Crafters from Honeyoye Falls (another great reason to love this area of upstate New York). The interior is a little bit kitschy without being too weird, and they also feature some work from local artists and photographers at each table that’s next to a wall. Their portions won’t leave you feeling hungry when you leave either, which is a definite plus. </div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-style: normal;">1. </span><span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><a href="http://www.thaliofindia.com/"><span style="font-style: normal;">Thali of India</span></a></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"> (Indian – Brighton-Henrietta)</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Yum! Thali (meaning “plate” in Hindi) is my favorite Indian restaurant in the area, and it rightfully earns the top spot on my list! In fact, Joe just took me there for my birthday this past week. Again, they have a wide selection of vegetarian options, as many Indian restaurants do, and they’re even accommodating enough to prepare things vegan if you request it as such. If you’re not like me and you dislike spicy food, they will prepare things mild for you (our servers have never failed to ask us how spicy we would like our meals). Their paneers are my favorite dishes, especially the ones that come with tomato curry sauces such as Mattar Paneer and Paneer Akbari. Joe and I are pretty sure they sweeten their sauces with maple syrup, which may sound strange to some, but it offers a tanginess that compliments the spices well. I don’t think I have ever been disappointed with a meal from Thali, and on the rare occasion that I’ve had to wait a while for the food, it’s been 100% worth it!</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Honorable Mention</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">American:</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Fox’s (Brighton)</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Jine’s (Park Ave.)</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Rohrbach Brewing Company (Gates)</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Indian:</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">India House (S. Clinton Ave.; Victor)</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Italian:</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Grandpa Sam’s Italian Kitchen (Spencerport)</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Mexican:</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Los Gallos (Greece)</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Thai:</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Sak’s Thai (Fairport)</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Miscellaneous:</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">La-Tea-Da (Park Ave.)</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Leaf & Bean (Chili)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Simply Cr</span><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">ê</span></span></span></span></span></b><span style="font-style: normal;">pes (Pittsford; Canandaigua) </span> </div>Date Night with Jen and Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00334296988965040977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-132926845751533162.post-60660478230851195362011-07-18T23:28:00.003-04:002011-07-19T19:37:21.067-04:00Top 5 Rochester Restaurants: JoeHere at <i>Date Night with Jen and Joe</i>, we realize we've had a couple of reviews of date <i>days</i> but nothing so far of those nice dinners out. The bad news is that we have two more lunch reviews in our "queue," so to speak. The good news, though, is that we've created our individual Top 5 lists of Rochester restaurants (plus honorable mentions), and we're sharing them with you. We still have a few places that we'd like to try that we've heard good things about (Lento and Osteria Rocco have many excellent reviews on Yelp, for instance, but we just haven't gotten over there yet). If you think we're crazy for missing your favorite restaurant, or we should give another one a second chance, let us know! We hope you'll find our lists to be a fine representation of the best Rochester's local eateries have to offer (no Applebee's or Outback on these bad boys!).<br />
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For today, here is Joe's list. Tomorrow, I'll post mine.<br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Top 5 Rochester Restaurants – Joe<span style="font-style: normal;"> </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-style: normal;">5. <a href="http://www.grandpasamsitaliankitchen.com/">Grandpa Sam’s Italian Kitchen</a> (Italian - Spencerport)<br />
This Spencerport staple serves some of the greatest Italian in the area. The rustic Italian dishes go from classic staples (bottomless spaghetti and meatballs on Wednesdays) to borderline gourmet (Jen’s favorite, the butternut squash and candied pecan ravioli in an olive oil reduction). They have a wine and special of the day, and their seafood comes out skillfully prepared. The reason why this is not number one is because the small venue tends to overwhelm the staff during busy nights, parties especially. This restaurant is amazing on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday.</span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">4. <a href="http://www.bazilrestaurant.com/">Bazil</a> (Italian - Penfield)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The younger child of Mario's Via Abruzzi used to have two locations (Penfield and Henrietta). Since the Henrietta location has closed, it is now down to one. The food quality is comparable to Grandpa Sam’s but the service is better when busy. The restaurant is just bigger and can handle the capacity. Looking at the menu, you can see a wide selection of Italian favorites without a real focus on the gourmet. The relaxed but not too relaxed atmosphere and the proper lighting make Bazil a pleasant place to go and dine. <br />
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3. <a href="http://hoganshideaway.com/">Hogan’s Hideaway</a> (American – Park Ave.)<br />
This snappy modern American bistro is in the heart of the Park Ave. district and boasts simple homemade-based ingredients in their varied menu. The versatile staff can produce high quality and creative dishes that fit many different palates. Couple that with top-notch service and a great beer and wine list, it provides a superb dining experience without breaking the bank. <br />
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2. <a href="http://www.rohrbachs.com/">Rohrbach Brewing Company</a> (American - Gates)<br />
To say that Rohrbach’s is just a bar would be a gross understatement. The feature of Rohrbach’s is the microbrewery’s seasonal beers, but the taut and creative dishes offer many choices to go with the beer spectrum available. The specialties are crisp, light, and always show creative pizazz. It also features an extensive menu of German beer hall specialties such as sausages, schnitzel, and Bavarian style pretzels. Along with the helpful staff and great beer, the restaurant itself has a the cozy feel of a German beer house but with the elegance and charm of a fine dining establishment. <br />
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After much deliberation about great meals past, there have been few places that could stand out. Granted I have yet to try some of the truly unique restaurants in Rochester's Rolodex, but after careful deliberation I have decided on a number one.<br />
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1. <a href="http://shikirestaurant.com/">Shiki</a> (Japanese – S. Clinton Ave.)<br />
Rochester’s authentic Japanese restaurant serves the various courses of a traditional Japanese dinner with perfect execution and grace. South Clinton’s “Little Asia” as I call it holds this small building where magic comes alive. As I dined, I had a soup course, a sushi course, and a dinner course. The saki was excellent and the dynamic flavors and traditional attention to detail made the food stand out brilliantly. In terms of quality, it is just light years ahead of most restaurants in Rochester.<br />
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Honorable Mention</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">American:<br />
McArdle’s (Fairport)<br />
Jine’s (Park Ave.)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Ethiopian:<br />
Abyssinia (University Ave.)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Indian:<br />
India House (S. Clinton Ave.; Victor)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Thali of India (Henrietta)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Mediterranean: <br />
Aladdin’s Natural Eatery (Pittsford; Monroe Ave.)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Mexican:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Los Gallos (Greece)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Thai/Vietnamese:<br />
Mamasan’s (Brighton/Pittsford)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Sak’s Thai (Fairport) <br />
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Miscellaneous: <br />
Amiel’s Subs (Henrietta)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Simply Cr<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">ê</span></span></span></span></b></span>pes (Pittsford; Canandaigua)</div>Date Night with Jen and Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00334296988965040977noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-132926845751533162.post-4683022651176581042011-07-17T02:25:00.003-04:002011-07-17T03:56:15.476-04:00Review: La-Tea-Da – 7/16/11<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I’ll say before I begin this review that I am incredibly biased here. I <i>love</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> <a href="http://www.la-tea-da.net/">La-Tea-Da</a>. It’s definitely in my top places to go around Rochester. More of a tea room/cafe, La-Tea-Da has an extensive menu of teas in just about any flavor you can imagine. The décor has a quaint, Victorian influence, and there’s a large porch to sit out on as well. It’s been in business for years, and it now also shares space with the Sugar Mountain Bake Shop, which serves some delicious cupcakes! </span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-style: normal;">La-Tea-Da is easy to find; it’s right on the corner of Park and Alexander in a big purple building. They offer parking across the street. Joe and I arrived today close to 2:00 p.m., and the hostess/owner greeted us promptly. We’d seen her there before, and she is always upbeat and very accommodating, even if it’s later in their day. Because of the heat, we decided to sit inside where they had air conditioning. The owner told us to let her know if the a/c was too cold, but to us it felt great (and I’m usually the one reaching for a sweater when I go from 85 degrees or more outside to 70 inside—I’m such an old lady!). We sat in their main dining area. In the Alice in Wonderland-themed room in the back, we could hear (I believe) a bridal shower going on, but for most of our stay we had the room to ourselves. Later on, two older women sat at a nearby table. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj08-i8uh6CDjgyPCxWzdnNs21V_77yWP-A-QTXGa13VSdzrwN8z-mG1T0EW2m1l7bXbW2tTKCTwfJu7hSok3pEaLm9rcgqQY9VaNvEAlKAS-QgmfrL5Nm3A_vrzmSORMpwJVIj7oy6l2Bk/s1600/IMG_0727.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj08-i8uh6CDjgyPCxWzdnNs21V_77yWP-A-QTXGa13VSdzrwN8z-mG1T0EW2m1l7bXbW2tTKCTwfJu7hSok3pEaLm9rcgqQY9VaNvEAlKAS-QgmfrL5Nm3A_vrzmSORMpwJVIj7oy6l2Bk/s400/IMG_0727.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-style: normal;"> </span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-style: normal;">This main room is my favorite—it has Victorian-style décor, with red walls, a fireplace, and an ornate mirror above the mantle. One interesting thing about the table settings is that they have so many teacups and saucers that they don’t even bother to match them. Normally, this would irk my OCD tendencies, but instead I’m pleasantly surprised every time with my place setting. Another fun thing about the place is that they keep an abundance of hats around that guests can wear (and according to the owner, yes, they do clean them!). For those arriving with kids—La-Tea-Da frequently hosts parties for all ages—they have a selection of toys and costumes for the little ones. I noticed on this visit that they’ve cleared away most of the hats and their shelf in the hallway between the dining areas and kitchen and restroom. This was a good move since it makes the entryway brighter and less cluttered. The hats and accessories, like feather boas, are a fun touch, and even manly men such as Joe like to don the hats when we go!</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joe as "The New Yorker"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQn9muV_INandH5TXPa5jr6USRtTXzvzWa-sLXSgOBTjMWQDdlbHPFdFqNQ3VOgUJf1yyT8GFWJeoYpAFgy228WTbr6hfEDpkZm-bjpdlLghVcHaWdn16SqprZIhWvvw29VoFpbkxtU9zH/s1600/IMG_0724.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQn9muV_INandH5TXPa5jr6USRtTXzvzWa-sLXSgOBTjMWQDdlbHPFdFqNQ3VOgUJf1yyT8GFWJeoYpAFgy228WTbr6hfEDpkZm-bjpdlLghVcHaWdn16SqprZIhWvvw29VoFpbkxtU9zH/s400/IMG_0724.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A very pink Jen next to <strike>a Dalek</strike> an air conditioner</td></tr>
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-style: normal;">In keeping with the old-fashioned theme, the servers are called “<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nippy">nippies</a>,” which sounds like baby talk but was an actual term used for English tea room waitresses in the 1920s. To my surprise today, our nippy was a former coworker of mine. (Thankfully, she was one of the competent people with whom I worked; with some former coworkers, I would have been worried had they been handling my food.) After some chatter, we placed our tea order.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-style: normal;">As I mentioned before, they have a myriad of tea flavors, but the one I simply cannot resist is their Chocolate Mint tea. At $7.00 for a full-sized pot (cheaper for an individual serving), it’s definitely worth the price. A pot of tea split between two people should provide at least four cups for each person. The tea is sweet, but not too sweet, and it goes down well—no weird aftertastes. Two other wonderful things about tea service here are that the tea stays warm at your table and you get to add sugar cubes to your tea. The teapots sit atop ceramic candle holders with lit tealight candles inside them. The sugar cubes are an especially nice touch and too cute. (When is the last time you saw sugar cubes at a table, honestly?) </span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Joe and I had already eaten a few hours earlier, so we ordered off the menu for croissants with strawberry jam. We’ve eaten desserts there before, and even some of the meals, and they are, in a word, colossal. Arrive hungry if you choose to eat more than a snack! The croissants were warm and not too flaky, and the jam was served in small crème brulee-style cups—very cute! </span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Another nice thing about La-Tea-Da is that they currently offer 10% off if you pay in cash rather than with a credit or debit card. The table where Joe and I sat had very comfortable wide chairs, which definitely lent themselves to the relaxing tea room experience. Also, the dining areas are very clean. The only negative we could come up with was that the flowers at our table needed replacing (or some serious watering). </span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Beyond that, there’s not a whole lot to complain about when it comes to La-Tea-Da. Each time we’ve gone there has been an enjoyable experience. It’s a great place to take women, be they your wife, girlfriend, mother, sister, grandma, or even just your friends! While I do seldom see men in there, besides Joe, if the guy in question is up to it, he should have a good time and, if he has taste buds, enjoy the desserts. If you’re lucky, he might even wear a hat! This visit definitely reinforced La-Tea-Da as one of my favorites, and I know Joe and I will return again.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Rating: 5/5 stars</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6U8BTU3MblgUHiDSYTzb8A8EmeiOH8hS7bGdWZza69yFgDzMLLYLW4i2-YsCAGwoyBlDiMiYBMpbD9QoFYHiq2Jot6n6YFZ6zCethP9aw2zYiw1aEHrnK-VJSawvBDy6QTjbfyPOcxCBa/s1600/5star.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="49" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6U8BTU3MblgUHiDSYTzb8A8EmeiOH8hS7bGdWZza69yFgDzMLLYLW4i2-YsCAGwoyBlDiMiYBMpbD9QoFYHiq2Jot6n6YFZ6zCethP9aw2zYiw1aEHrnK-VJSawvBDy6QTjbfyPOcxCBa/s200/5star.png" width="200" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div>Date Night with Jen and Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00334296988965040977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-132926845751533162.post-76597746827208881152011-07-16T22:40:00.005-04:002011-07-17T04:00:44.921-04:00Review: The Frog Pond - 7/16/11<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Jen here! Welcome to our new blog! This is our first review on here, and we will definitely have more to follow!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">---</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Recently, I looked through Yelp.com to find some new places for Joe and me to try in and around the city. One of the places was one I’d passed plenty of times on my way to Jine’s on Park Avenue: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Frog-Pond-aka-Charlies-Frog-Pond/120520104636501">The Frog Pond</a> (recently renamed from Charlie’s Frog Pond). Mainly known for its breakfast and brunch menu, The Frog Pond sits at 652 Park Ave—a bustling area filled with trendy shops and restaurants catering to Rochester’s twenty- or thirty-something crowds (especially those living nearby in this artsy district). </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I was hesitant to try the place since I’d seen at least one review on Yelp saying that you were better off going to Jine’s next door. Other reviews, however, sang the eatery’s praises as a great place if you like breakfast foods. (I know I do!) Out of curiosity, Joe and I decided to venture out there this morning.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The first thing we saw upon walking up was that there were tables on the sidewalk outside. In this area, this is fairly common; in the summer, which doesn’t last ridiculously long in Rochester, getting to sit outside is something of a luxury. I didn’t really want to sit outside this morning since we would be in direct sunlight, so we sat inside in a booth. The restaurant has no hostess, so you are free to just seat yourself (or at least we were this morning). </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The décor in the restaurant is, I admit, a bit garish, and for some reason, perhaps being blinded, I forgot to take any pictures. (See another review and pictures <a href="http://lovetwoeat.com/2011/02/charlies-frog-pond/">here</a>.) The bright yellow wallpaper boasts a pattern of black and white frogs, and for some reason the owners decided to put full-length mirrors around the restaurant’s walls in the places that didn’t have wallpaper. In a slightly confusing twist, six pretty paintings of Victorian-esque girls hang on the walls as well. In short, there is no real theme to the place. I actually thought our booth was kind of cool. The booths in the restaurant are also bright yellow with red trim and made of vinyl, so they look fairly retro. Our booth was up front by the window, and the shape reminded me of the top part of an egg. At the very least, it gets some points for absolute kitsch—definitely an acquired taste.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">One waiter took our drink order fairly quickly (green tea for me and Coke for Joe) and brought out water as well. After our waiter brought our drinks, I noticed him busing tables, so I thought he may have forgotten us. To our surprise, a waitress came over and took our food order. I’m not really sure what the point is of having more than one waiter per table, unless the waitstaff experience some kind of mix-up. I don’t really know what happened there, but since both were courteous, I’d let it slide.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The food is fairly inexpensive and mostly diner fare. I think it comes in handy if you’re in search of some cheap eats, especially if you’re the partying type. The Frog Pond has one dish called the Hangover Omelet, although I cannot personally attest to its effectiveness with said affliction. The menu offers much more for breakfast than lunch, and today they had a good amount of specials. Joe ordered the half-pound ground round, and I ordered blueberry pancakes. This really is more of a personal preference for both of us. If out, I like to start my day with breakfast, even late morning or early afternoon; Joe is really more of a burger or sandwich kind of guy at that time. The food is pretty no frills; my pancakes did have a dash of powdered sugar on them, but they didn’t come with any sides. I found that kind of weird as most places at least include toast. Then again, I ordered off the specials menu, so that may have been the reason for that. Joe ordered his burger medium, and sadly it came well done. He did say that it was “dressed well,” however, with lettuce, tomato, and red onion. The burger arrived with some sad-looking chips on the side, but prior to the meal he ate a basic yet tasty-looking side salad with raspberry vinaigrette and homemade-style croutons.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">As for some more nitpicky details, we did have a few gripes with the place. With the door open on an 85+ degree day, we appreciated the waitstaff refilling our water regularly. I noticed later on, however, that the ceiling fans were off. I think the place definitely could have benefited from having fans on to move the air around. Joe said the booth was comfortable despite a rip in it. Our table, though in an interesting half-egg shape, wobbled slightly, and I had to keep my feet on the table legs to keep it from bouncing while we ate. Both of these issues probably could have been resolved by requesting fans on or a new table, but we didn’t bother to do so. There were a couple of flies around the restaurant, which happens when you have the doors open. You can also see the kitchen if you’re inside the restaurant, which I almost never think is particularly attractive, even in some fancier restaurants. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
Overall, this is probably good hangover food. There’s definitely something for everyone on the menu (unless you’re a vegan—sorry!). I started my day hungry and left sated, so I can’t complain too much. For now, though, I will agree with the aforementioned Yelp reviewer and say that if you have an extra couple of bucks and the wait isn’t too long, head over to Jine’s for a hearty breakfast and a much more extensive menu selection.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
Rating: 2/5 stars<br />
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</div>Date Night with Jen and Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00334296988965040977noreply@blogger.com2