Cafe Zelda

www.cafezelda.com
Newport Rhode Island

This enchanting eatery boasts itself as the best cafe between Key West and Bar Harbor. The nautical decor is enchanting. I could imagine the rear dining space as part of a ship, with its dark wainscot and deep blue striped wall covering, bench seat and wonderful framed ship picures.

But the food is my favorite part of the experience and the seafood bouillebaise will pull my back on every return to Newport. A generous assortment of seafood and fresh tuna adorned be a succulent broth rich in herbs and spices. For appetizers, we were elated to find the rare tuna appetizer served with a tempurah crust and delicous sauce.

A sure return for us...

Flo's Clam Shack-A Decadent Departure

Middletown, Rhode Isand

There are situations where a note to the regional and fresh warrant a departure from pure health and low salt offerings and Flo's Clam Shack has won me over. Despite my usual rules for quality cuisine, I applaud these clams so fresh with full belly that they melt in the mouth. For me there will be no other clam shack.. No food stupor followed this delicious meal, and the moisture of the fresh seafood secreting its plentiful moisture from a crisp coating was a delighful flavor not to be forgotten. In fact, it compares with some of the best soft shell crabs I have had. The shack is cash only and many tables have partial view of the water... a non pretentious place patronized mostly by returning clientele. No tableside service here. Wait on the line, and take your little numbered lobster to your table and wait for it to beep. Child friendly, and fun.

Simple Summer Treats at Home

Westchester New York

The lessons of this summer's home cuisine are:

A growing plant of basil on the patio is the best accent to the kitchen salads. Every salad was more delicious with a few sliced leaves.

The best salad of the season was mostly from Fairway Pelham- spinach leaves, nitrate free bacon, golden beets. tamari roasted almonds, and locally grown tomatoes . That dash of home grown basil topped it off.

Crab cakes ala Alyssa Ha. The crab meat at Stew's is pricey, but the result without all that breading of a restaurant crab cake is worth the expense.

Red velvet cupcakes ala Kathryn Ha, so moist! Hope she will share that recipe!

Blackened shrimp from Fairway at $14.99 per pound. All of our shrimp is brought frozen here in New York. But if you get it over the counter it may be free of the preservatives they put in packaged frozen shrimp. So for the price, this ready to eat delicious treat is a good deal.

Beans are good for memory. The Tuscan Bean soup, ribolito, is still my best.

Mint is good if chopped in a vodka cocktail. I have not tried it but a neighbor who walks by my mint garden tells me so, and is happy I let her take some.

Grilled steak is much more delicious with a grilled portabello by its side.

Would love to hear the summer treats discovered by others...

Summer Fests by Table d'Hote on the Hudson

Yonkers New York

This summer the efforts of Alex and Fred of Table d'Hote on the Hudson were enjoyed in the beautiful Hudson Riverside setting of the Beczak Environmental Center. The long farm table of jovial attendants brought all that one could hope for in an evening out.
The June event brought a Moroccan experience with lamb kabobs setting a standard for delicious. The wine matching by Fred was exemplary, as always, and the boisterous response to the evening brought the clapping of the crowd so appreciative of these events.
The July event was even more exuberant, with the long table of guests nourished by the incredible Nicoise Salad and lamb chattering away to late evening. The final song for Bastille Day was a joyful end to a beautiful evening. Fred and Alex, keep it coming. Your cuisine and company are beyond compare!