meet me for lunch in...miami

Captain Jim Hanson's is a gem of a find on the West Dixie Highway in North Miami, Florida!

What you see is what you get...and it's all as fresh as can be. You sit a booth set with plastic utensils and a roll of paper towels.

Complimentary [amuse bouche?] plastic cups of the best Crab Salad with a few strips of green/red pepper and onion mixed with a tiny dab of mayo. Delicious.
We started with an order of ten Stone Crab Claws [$28.24 for 1.13 lbs] and a half-dozen Oysters [$5.99]. Had a pitcher of Amber Bach [sic] for $10.

Main courses on plastic plates of Grilled Hog Snapper with fries [$13.95], Combo Plate of 3 fried choices with Red Rice and Beans [$14.75] and my Whole Florida Yellow Tail with Fried Plantains [$12.95].

Everything was done to perfection.

bloginfo: There is no website and they are at 12950 West Dixie, phone 305.892.2812

meet me for lunch in...springfield

Christmas lunch today at The Student Prince in Springfield, Massachusetts. The restaurant was decorated beautifully for the holidays. There are so many rooms there you can get lost; we sat in the Annex room which was nice and private.

We both ordered from the daily specials and were very pleased with the offerings: Veal Sage Sausages with sauerkraut and buttered noodles and my German Sampler. The sampler had good sized tastes of Bratwurst, Goulash and Roast Pork with sauerkraut and the buttered noodles. I had a Weiss Bier [wheat beer] to accompany my lunch. Rye and Pumpernickel breads at the table [the rye was my favorite]. The dessert menu made for very hard choices but we settled on a shared Flourless Chocolate Torte. The torte was moist and had a delicious chocolate frosting along with the whipped cream and vanilla ice cream. Glad we decided to split one dessert. Fresh brewed coffee was added to the end of a great meal.

bloginfo: This is a Gourmet magazine one of "21 Legendary Restaurants You Must Visit."

blognote: Next time I will go for dinner and use the valet parking. We used street parking two blocks away because the restaurant gets packed at lunch. Fort Street is one-way which adds another dimension to finding a parking place.

meet me for lunch in...hartford

I have heard so much about this restaurant I knew I needed to add it to my special meals blog. Here goes:

In a word this place is awesome; from the view [outstanding from the 20th floor] to the decor [earth tones, tortoise shell chargers, brown/yellow orchids on the tables] to the service [Danielle] and to the food [read and weep]. No need to search further for that special place to dine. I will return and often. This is a Hartford gem!

Went for the $35 prix fixe luncheon and enjoyed one of the best meals ever. It could be the fact that the chef kept sending out more and more food to taste. The deal is one starter, one entrée and one dessert. This is what I had:

bread: Sea Salt Focaccia and warm Whole Wheat

amuse bouche: Rock Shrimp Fritter in a Coconut Cream Cilantro Sauce

starters:
Seared Ahi Tuna with poached Quail Egg over frisée and tapenade
Grilled Baby Octopus over caponata
Seared Diver Scallop with bitter red cabbage and Crispy Pork Belly

entrée:
Maine Lobster and Tasmanian Crab Ragu over chef made/chef cut pappardelle pasta with lobster cream foam

dessserts:
Taste of Apple Tatín Ice Cream
Passion Fruit 'Tart' over pomegranate syrup and pomegranate sorbet
Assortment of mini cookies and truffles

beverages: Sparkling water [$7] and coffee [$2.50]

bloginfo: website
blognote: parking [$6]
tip was added to bill by establishment [22%]