We enjoyed another sensational dinner at Cafe Panache in Ramsey, NJ including pistachio encrusted lamb loin; black bass, shrimp, and quinoa in a lobster sauce; Italian seafood salad in an excellent seafood broth; beautifully charred and crispy octopus and eggplant caponata. Both appetizers were very generously split (which is a lost art). It all went great with an excellent red blend and cabernet.
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That lamb! 
and the silky potatoes next to it. Just lovely!
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A quick thank you to @LindaWhit for reminding me I had asparagus in my crisper. I’m going to serve it tonight with dinner, although I’m going to oven roast mine.
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We had fresh swordfish with a Nicoise sauce, asparagus roasted with lemon oil and a parmesan pilaf. One of the best meals we’ve made for ourselves in a long time. (Should have cleaned the counter before he took the picture…)
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Mediterranean shrimp salad. On a bed of romaine and mixed lettuces, clockwise from the top, shrimp, marinated in oo, garlic, oregano, lemon juice and zest and then sauteed, peperoncini and cherry peppers, garbanzo beans, red onion, cucumber, cherry and grape tomatoes, kalamata olives. Creamy Greek dressing.
There was a Manhattan with a delicious Bidda Bing cherry.
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Thank you! It was outstanding.
Your duck looked swoon worthy as well, and was perfectly scored!
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Two all-beef hot dogs on potato buns with sauerkraut and Gulden’s brown mustard. I spent a few more hours cleaning my sister’s kitchen, did 2 loads of laundry for her and then went on a 8km/5mi walk.
She’s certainly appreciative of my helping her and has shown that by being very generous with buying groceries and other items I’m in need of, but she’s driving me up the wall.
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I feel like the density (or thickness?) of potato buns requires 2 hot dogs per bun.
God love me some 'kraut.
Well done.
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Lovely dinner last night with our friend. Fettucce with maitake and sliced KOS. Sauce consisted of the shrooms’ liquor, sautéed shallot & crushed garlic, RPF, red wine, pasta water, shot of soy sauce, splash of lemon juice, sploosh of heavy cream, fresh parsley. It’s not the greatest shot of brown food, but I’m very happy about having a little pasta leftover for lunch today
The vinaigrette came out especially well - I love my walnut mustard and use it almost exclusively for salads
Tonight’s showing of Poor Things @casa lingua has been postponed to a later date, and we’re good with that - it’s been a rather busy week socializing, with a party week in FL just around the corner. We shall rest our weary bones and have a quiet eve with just the two of us 
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One day soon, I will cook dinner again. In the meantime, it’s fun to catch up with friends over dinner out. Tonight’s going to be Thai.
Last night, dim sum, Cantonese, and American Chinese with a giant tableful of HO friends.
My favorites were the shiu mai and the pan-fried seafood noodles, and the roast duck was pretty excellent too.
.
Night before, sushi and more with one of my core groups, half of which moved away a few years ago but might be moving back, very exciting. (The husbands bungled the ordering out of food insecurity 
— they thought the might starve if they ate only the seafood we went there to eat; no, no one starved, but everyone hated the large plates they insisted on ordering, including them 
.)
I’m still dreaming of the brown butter scallop nigiri we got multiple orders of, and the warm Jonah crab roll brushed with ghee, plus I’d happily eat another order of the sake and soy marinated sea bass too.
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@LindaWhit how did you get the criss cross pattern on your steak? Do you have a griddle pan? And do the blackberries break down much during the cooking process? I’ve only made apple sauce and they break down a lot.
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Love Humboldt Fog - one of my favorites!
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I do too! It was nice to be able to indulge last night!
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A sort of Bouillabaisse made with striped bass. No fresh fennel so I added some fennel seed to the broth along with saffron, garlic, fish stock, tomatoes and onions. Toasted bread with a bastardized rouille - mayo, roasted red peppers, garlic and a tiny bit of harissa - on top.
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That’s a stunner of a dish! I love fennel seed, and I would think it would add even more anise flavor than fresh fennel. Love the rouille riff, too.
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I rarely drink white wine but your tasting notes makes this one sound delicious. I’ll keep an eye out for it.
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Thank you. I’m trying to work my way through our stash of frozen fish from last year before this year’s season gets started. I wasn’t in the mood to go out so I made do with what I had on hand.
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