Return to Wildfire Grill in Montgomery

"Let's get together."

People say it every day, life gets in the way and before you know it weeks or months have passed before you actually live out the promise of getting together.  One or the other person will eventually reach out with a plan.  It may look like this:

"Hey, want to rent paddle boats Saturday at Winding Hills Park?"

Ok. The first step is taken and the rest will fall into place.  We went on a double date with another couple and while we were paddling away in the middle of the lake, we thought about dinner plans and I suggested the Wildfire Grill in Montgomery.

I went not that long ago with the Mr. (click here to read my Hudson Valley Restaurant Week review) and we were happy so I felt comfortable returning with friends.

Funny, I clearly remember the bourbon bacon cocktail I had the last time I visited and was happy to see a specialty drink listed among the evening's blackboard specials.  This time, a Tamarind Margarita and since I had no idea what that could possibly taste like, the waiter was kind enough to bring a small sip to sample.  Sold.

Our waiter seemed familiar and it took a bit of working it out before the Mr. and I realized he once worked with our younger son at one of the steakhouse chains.  Hugs and smiles abound.

Time to order...to start we have a "pizza" with fig spread, goat cheese, arugula and sliced pears.  I know the Mr. was skeptical, but he at least made an effort and tried a piece.  I loved it.  The crust was super thin, the fig spread was just sweet enough and the arugula peppery bite balanced everything out.  Spectacular!

Our second shared appetizer is more traditional (old school) and I cannot resist...fried calamari.  In case you may not know, I have a little addiction - to fried foods! These morsels were crispy, golden, and made my taste buds smile.

Quite a different flavor from the fig pizza!

Looking around at the decor, eclectic is certainly a word that comes to mind..,.

We talk about children and families - our own and our point of view on those of the world.  How much does each generation change? For the better or for worse?  Do people spend more or less time together? Has the overall family dynamic changed vastly due to divorce and blended families? Heavy topics for a double date?

Well, we also spent a few minutes on Bethel Woods; the museum, the concerts and the overall venue. 

Soon, our main courses arrive.  How funny that 3 of the orders are the evening's chicken special: Chicken Oscar.  The dish is chicken topped with lump crab meat and Hollandaise Sauce.  2/3 asked for no sauce.  The spinach was velvety, the mashed potatoes had a hint of garlic and the chicken/crab combo was tender.

I opted for the crabmeat ravioli with toasted garlic bread.  I cleaned my plate with the exception of one ravioli I shared with the Mr. Yes, I soaked up any remaining sauce with the bread and no, I'm not ashamed.  I thoroughly enjoyed my meal.  The pasta was perfectly al dente and the filling had a nice mouth feel - not pureed mush.

Our glasses were kept filled both with water and from the bar.  I enjoyed my Tamarind Margarita and our entire dining experience at the Wildfire Grill.  Double dating is fun, especially with a couple that has known you since the start of married life.  We are lucky and Fed Well.

Harry's Oyster Bar - Atlantic City Boardwalk

Just the names of some places evoke images we cannot control. Paris = Eiffel Tower, New York City may be the Statue of Liberty or the Empire State Building and for Atlantic City we think of gambling and casinos, right? For me, it is really a combination of casinos, boardwalk, the ocean and yes, shopping.  It is so unfortunate that recent news about AC includes the closing of multi-million dollar casinos and regardless of the fault or where you stand on the issue of gambling, the impact will be sizable.

This past summer I was lucky to go on a week long vacation with the Mr. and our mothers.  We stayed in a small beach town just south of Atlantic City.  The location was perfect and allowed us easy access to AC while staying in a nearby shore area.

One day, the Mr. and I took my Mommy out for a little morning one-armed bandit wrestling which worked up our appetites before we hit the outlet stores.  We strolled a bit and came upon Harry's Oyster Bar and I fell in love with the outdoor seating.  I knew I wasn't quite close enough to hear the roar of the waves, smell the salt or feel the sea spray, but I was nearby enough to soak in the atmosphere that was clearly saturated with beach vibes.

 

The generous sized umbrellas allowed guests to enjoy their dining al fresco without feeling the sun's wicked summer scorch.

 

 

The restaurant only opens at noon and we are in our seats by 12:05 as the other tables begin to fill up quickly.  Staff are wearing sunglasses and the guests range from tourists like us to what appear to be local business folks.

 

I begin with..yes, New England Clam Chowder.  I know, I know, but just as I would eat cold fruit in the winter, I am perfectly happy with soup in the summer.

 

 

No, my camera did not need adjusting, the soup did have a pale greenish cast.  Could have been the ton of celery or the fresh bay leaf - either way it was pretty good soup.

 

The lunch menu was straightforward and as other's received their food, I felt like a cartoon character lifted into a horizontal position and trailing behind the most heavenly of lunchtime food aroma's - the after scent of fried food, more specifically french fries!

 

(photo source unknown)

 

Before you know it, our food arrives and I forget that none of us won $10,000 in the casino. 

The Mr.'s grilled chicken wrap

 

Mommy's classic cheeseburger

 

My lobster roll

 

I almost never eat the roll the lobster roll is served in.  Mostly because I simply enjoy the flavor of the lobster salad, but also if I am going to eat those preciously deep fried and perfectly salted potatoes, I think that is enough carbs for one sitting.  Also, I never really understood the shiny coating of butter and grilling of the roll, but that's just my taste.

 

 

Harry's Oyster Bar provided us with a great and simple lunch.  We were ready to face an afternoon of outlet shopping (despite the Mr. feeling I had revoked his man card) and were certainly feeling Fed Well.

 

Sweeney's Irish Pub in Walden

Last year, I had what I thought was my "scary" birthday and was so looking forward to this one.  All the bad stuff would be behind me and I could just move forward.  Turns out I had a little crying jag just a few days before this one - this middle of the road stuff can be tough - but then I quickly recovered.  I am very lucky to have a happy, healthy family, and good friends to help smooth out the tough spots.

And for me, dinner out is like repaving the bumpy lane!

Two of my lady friends invited me out for dinner at Sweeney's Irish Pub in Walden.  I'd never been to Sweeney's though I always hear about the bar.

The specials for the evening were clearly posted on the sidewalk as you enter.

Soup is a magical food for me.  It does not have to be cold out or a particular season.  Soup is like the hug of foods.  A great beginning, not much commitment, and it can be satisfying all by itself.  I look forward to ordering the seafood chowder.

The atmosphere is extremely casual.  The dining area is clean and orderly.

Balloons.  So fun and festive.  It truly is the little things that turn a day into a grand occasion.  We also had party hats and party blowers (not sure if they have a proper name) that rolled out but did not make noise.  Fabulous!

First things first, what to drink? Well, an Irish pub would seem the best place for a grand pint, but I'm not a huge beer fan. Whiskey or shots - not really.  Can I get a margarita? Is that allowed? Why yes!

 

And guess what? It was better than some latin/spanish/mexican restaurants!

 

Laughs, stories, sharing - that's what happens when you get together with friends.  Interrupted only by bites of food and sips of drinks.

The Seafood Chowder

 

The soup was the perfect serving size.  The broth was light and the potatoes were tender.

 

At first, I thought I would order the Shepherd's Pie because how can you review an Irish Pub without trying it? Well, then I asked the gentleman who took our orders what the most popular dish was and this wasn't it.  However, one of my friends did order it.  The pie was a base of mashed potatoes then topped with a Phyllo dough crust.

Among the popular dishes are the burgers and my other friend ordered hers with cheese and bacon.  A hit!

 

The classic "fish 'n chips" is one of Sweeney's most popular dishes and so, that was my dinner.  I have to say the fries were amazing! The fish was a nice, light, white fish in just the right amount of batter.  The portion may not seem amazing, but I was only able to eat one piece of the fish and took the rest home.  Could've been the soup started to fill me and I wanted to leave room for dessert, but I found it to be a healthy amount of food.  Crisp, crunchy and satisfying!

 

So for dessert, we chose between the house made rice pudding:

(yes, I had a spoonful and it was delicious)

 

or the Bailey's Pie:

I know we were also offered a 3rd option, but these are what we ordered.  The Bailey's Pie was rich and decadent, but somehow I managed to finish.



My wish, well, I understand it is bad luck to share...but, I can tell you this - I am always appreciative of all the times I am able to share food with friends and family.  I am grateful for every time I am Fed Well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blue Finn Grill & Sushi in Middletown

I am quite lucky and appreciative to lead a full and fairly busy life that includes a Mr. I adore, our fabulous adult sons and a pack of girlfriends with varying interests and levels of availability.  One of my newest gal-pals and I see each other every 2 weeks or so, sometimes alone, with our men, or with other friends.  One of us will simply text the other to see if we are up to do something and off we go or we may have to pass and offer to meet up another time.  No strings, no games, no pressure and I love it!

One Friday night the car cruise held in the Playtogs Shopping Center parking lot on Dolson Avenue was suggested and so the night begins.  The Mr. has 2 vintage/classic cars and he is always up for the opportunity to bring one out of the garage.  My friend has a fun Porsche which she enjoys driving as well as talking with other car enthusiasts about at the shows.  So, the 3 of us met up with my younger son and strolled the lot. Here is a small sample of the vehicles on site that night:

                          

The local Mustang club was also on hand, a number of muscle cars and other classics - untouched and custom restored.  

It wasn't long before we were hungry and my girlfriend opted to stay at the car cruise while we went off to the Blue Finn Grill and Sushi nearby and across Dolson Avenue.  I find that sushi is quite a polarizing food choice with people loving or hating the very idea of it.  It seems to be required the Blue Finn also have the word "grill" in the name to welcome a wider array of patrons.

I promise to bring my friend back some take out and send her cell phone pictures of the vast menu:

Here is how our food looked:

 

Steak with lobster tail

Steak with shrimp

Chicken Satay

Overall, we were very satisfied with the way our food tasted.  I had the chicken appetizer as a main course and was happy with the flavor of both the poultry and the peanut dipping sauce.  However, the Mr. and my son left the table hungry.  The meal was not inexpensive and so for them, I was disappointed.  My friend had salmon tempura and if I would have known the portion size, I would have either ordered 2 or encouraged her to make another selection. Again, the flavor was commendable.  

Back to the car cruise and my friend and a fun Friday night. Being together and able to combine hobbies, friends and family all leave me feeling Fed Well.

Culinary Creations Confections & Cafe

No one wants to be bored.  Children complain when they are not sure what to do next with cries and whines almost equivalent to actual pain, "I'm bored," or, "I don't have anything to do."  I can become bored with food or maybe that is a bit harsh, but I look forward to seeing and trying new things just as much as I love the classics.

Being invited to a catered party can evoke images of particular foods and yes, they can be boring.  I had a good feeling though, I have had treats from Culinary Creations when they were in Pine Bush. Their current location is on the property of Orange County Airport.

The event included complimentary plane rides and though I was a bit too scared to partake, many other guests had enjoyable experiences.  I kept my feet on the ground and a plate in my hand.

Here is an example of simply making food different to the eye and so the brain interprets it as "new," and cancels out the feelings of boredom with the familiar.  Yes, they are veggies with dip, but look, they are individually sized and served in paper cones.  Double dipping is not only allowed, it is encouraged.

Totally different.  Cold noodles with pulled pork in an aioli were presented in the cutest individual Chinese takeout style containers along with chop sticks.  Refreshing not only for the non-tasting senses, but the palette as well.  It was delicious enough for me to ask the server for more details.

Yes, a cheese platter.  Mix the familiar and classic with the trends (sort of like fashion) and the masses are happy.  I thoroughly enjoyed the fresh fruit for both a splash of color and the taste variation with the cheese.

Another blend of standard with modern was the shrimp tempura paired with a spicy dipping sauce.  I confess, I didn't try this one, but it looked so fabulous and was a crowd pleaser so I thought it couldn't hurt to share.

Eggplant Fries

The eggplant was sliced into pieces thicker than shoestring potatoes, but not quite steak fries and yes, they were crispy and salty like a french fry.  My senses were now firing on all cylinders and I was feeling culinarily invigorated (yes, I can take liberties with language).  I started to really look forward to what ever else would be passed or placed on the buffet in the center of the space.

Mere minutes later, I was rewarded once more and with duck breast bruschetta.  What!? It was amazing with carmelized onions as the first layer over the bread and then the duck.  The textures and flavors were complimentary; a bit of sweet and savory, crunchy and soft.  Heaven.  Yes, I had more than one.

Oh and then the Town of Wallkill Rotarian's honored their officers from last year and presented the new board.  I know that is the reason why I was present, but if good food is involved, everyone who knows me is aware I will likely write a blog about the event as well.

I am not a huge cupcake fan.  In fact, I am not really a cake lover at all unless it is to honor a birthday or wedding.  Even then, I am quite selective.  However, that doesn't mean I cannot appreciate the beauty of a thoughtfully prepared cupcake.

The foods were all presented with care and attention to detail in an artful manner.  Yes, as a result of this private party I would love to return for dinner or lunch to the Culinary Creations located on the property of Orange County Airport in Montgomery.  I was revived and Fed Well.