Birthdays and Bid Whist

It was a chock full o' fun week with TWO birthday celebrations and an afternoon of bid whist. 

First off, we headed to the Lower East Side to celebrate Rob's birthday at Veselka.  Neither DJ nor Mel had ever really made a meal of pierogies, so it was quite the experience!  Ukrainian food with a diner kinda mood.

Then on the weekend we swung out to Long Island for an afternoon of card playing; first canasta, then bid whist.  After eating an awesome meal of lasagna and baked chicken, our tastebuds were happy (thumbs up to Mr. B for his Master Chef magic!) and our card skills were at their finest. 

Finally on Sunday we had a double treat:  DJ's family visiting Brooklyn for the first time AND celebrating Hirut's birthday.  We had a nice brunch at Picket Fence and then spent some time at the apartment for some birthday cake and dance lessons.  :)  Though it wasn't officially a housewarming party, the house definitely felt cozy with everyone here.

Adventures in Home Cooking: Jerk Chicken

Sometimes a Monday night needs a little extra kick, so Mel grabbed some jerk chicken marinade and went to town!

Verdict:  spice is niiiiiice, but sometimes chefs like to be mysterious.  (We just saw Pulp Fiction on TV the other night; 'nuff said.)

Gigi Visits Brooklyn!

Gigi's in town from Miami for a bit, so she came through Brooklyn to check out our 'hood!
In honor of the visit, where better to go than The Farm on Adderley.  :)

 

Appetizers were absolutely fabulous: squid for DJ, cauliflower soup for Gigi, and fresh harvest carrots with ricotta for Mel.  We were all wowed by how much unique flavor was in every single dish.  The squid was cooked perfectly, the cauliflower soup had kick while still maintaining the flavor of the usually bland veggie, and the carrots struck a great balance between crisp yet tender.

 

For our main courses, DJ and Mel couldn't resist the steak special of the night (only $22 for a piece of meat that would have been twice the price in Manhattan!), and Gigi went for a more seasonal butternut squash tart.  Were we pleased?  Let's put it this way: if licking plates was socially acceptable, it would have been done.

Now here's the kicker.  We were stuffed.  We were satisfied.  But because the wait staff at this place is SO nice, friendly, and knowledgeable about their food... the waiter actually convinced us to get desserts we didn't even think we wanted at first!  Mel told him he could have a career in selling bridges.  

Granted, we didn't finish them.  But we definitely enjoyed tasting the apple tart and gingerbread cake.  Both delicious, and somehow tasted even sweeter because we couldn't stop laughing at how well the waiter worked his persuasive magic.

Yet another high scoring night for the folks at The Farm!

Football on Flatbush

On the days we don't feel like venturing into Manhattan for Sunday football games, we found a great sports' bar nearby: Ocean's 8 on Flatbush Avenue, right by Grand Army Plaza.  Just 5 stops away on the Q, this place offers an entrance right next to the subway stairs, 30 large TV screens playing every game, comfortable seating, and a great beer selection.

This week we got adventurous and actually tried the food.  We admittedly had low expectations, so the surprise was even more pleasant when we realized that everything tasted like it just came off the grill!  DJ tried the chicken sandwich, Mel braved a buffalo chicken salad, and the empty plates and happy smiles spoke for themselves.  :)

Ocean's 8 = our new local football spot

Stewing Up a Visit with Yewoubdar

Aman's cousin Yewoubdar is in town from San Francisco, and we couldn't let her go back to the West Coast without a proper visit.  So Mel cooked up her first-ever beef stew (such a proud moment!), and we hunkered in for some fabulous conversation and catching up.  

Always a pleasure to chat with Yewoubdar!  Hopefully it won't be too long until the next visit.

Bid Whist Brunch

We hadn't seen Mel's parents (a.k.a. Toots and Toto) in a while, so we had them over for an afternoon of chatting, chewing, and cards.

We started the day with a hearty meal of turkey loaf, mashed potatoes, and veggies. 

Mel was pretty psyched because Toots even went back for seconds!  That definitely means a cooking victory.  :)  And Toto was able to sit by the wall decor he helped create.  Gotta love it!

Then we were ready to hunker down for some serious card playing.  DJ got a quick training on the rules of whist and bid whist, and of course within minutes he was playing like a pro.  So much so, in fact, that he and Mel had a clear winning streak for the day.  A rematch is most definitely in the making.

Hana's 21st Birthday! - Boston Bonanza

Hana is officially 21!  So of course her big brothers had to help her bring in the new year with flair.  DJ, Manny, Hirut and Mel headed up to Boston for a night of partying.

First stop: Sunset Cantina for the nachos that DJ's parents raved about, and their fab reviews were totally accurate.  The fajitas and nachos were delicious, and the margaritas were refreshing.  :)

Next stop, Down Under!  Not Australia, but a new Boston club where Hana decided to celebrate in style.  Definitely a memorable night.  

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HANA!

Kumo Sushi - a local treat!

We both had a long week and just wanted a nice dinner out... but close to home.  We've ordered from Kumo Sushi for take-out before, but never actually sat inside to eat.  We were pleasantly surprised to find that the decor is quite cozy (complete with light fixtures that look like woven pea pods), the service is quick and friendly, and the sushi pieces are larger when you eat on premises!

When we walked in, Mel noticed a sushi roll that looked particularly delectable and found out it was the Mango Lobster Roll.  Verdict:  HEAVENLY.  She got to the last piece and actually chewed slower because she didn't want it to end.

And since it was a rainy night, DJ went for some soothing hot ramen soup.  Verdict:  good consistency with a hint of spiciness.  We agreed it would make a GREAT meal on a cold winter night.

Looks like Kumo Sushi will be seeing us a lot more!  :)