Frog and Goat

Here’s what we had for dinner last night and it’s just as well that I don’t have a picture because it didn’t look like much but it had a great taste.

Quinoa, Vegetables and Smoked Salmon
Prepare the quinoa according to package instructions. It’s a lot like making rice so give yourself about 20 minutes. I used chicken broth instead of water.

Saute a shallot and a few cloves of garlic (whatever amount you like–I used 3). I sauted in some pork drippings and olive oil.

Chop up, pretty finely, a few button mushrooms. Toss those in. Chop up a roasted red pepper and throw that in as well.

Pick a yellow squash from your garden (or buy one) and then chop it up and throw it into the pan as well.

I then chopped up two small beets from the garden and put them into the mix as well and then whacked up the greens and added those at the very end. If the pan gets too dry, add the oil from the roasted red peppers until the pan is a little moist. If it gets really dry, pour in a little white wine.

I only added salt and pepper to the vegetables and quinoa. When the quinoa was ready, I mixed the vegetables in and then plated the mixata. I opened the smoked salmon packet (Keta salmon, if you want to know) and split the fillet between two plates. The fillet was room temperature and it mixed in well with the quinoa and vegetables. I really think the whole dish could have cooled to room temperature and been just as good.

We served a Pacific Rim Riesling and the food and wine paired pretty well.

We went to Little Venice the other night to celebrate the better-half’s birthday (he’s a solstice baby) and enjoyed a wonderful meal.

We started with cocktails and I had a slightly goofy moment when the waiter asked me what vodka I’d like in my vodka tonic. I looked at the better-half and asked “what’s that stuff I like?” He answered, “SKYY” (the stuff I’ve been drinking for years but am a big old goof and can never remember the name–usually I just bumble around mumbling about the blue bottle).

We ordered the calamari and it was faintly breaded and served with a lemon wedge and marinara. The calamari were delicious just with the lemon but the marinara was also delicious and very fresh. While we were eating the appetizer, the owner came by to say hello. The restaurant definitely has its neighborhood regulars and it was a nice touch to have the owner stop by to our table and we’re hardly regulars.

The house salads were just standard iceberg lettuce with decent dressings, but the main courses were pretty damn good. The better-half got pollo saltimbocca and I got a special, flounder almondine. Both were served with green beans and roasted potatoes. The better-half’s plate could have been placed back on the shelf it was so clean when he finished. I ate more than three-quarters of my dish but decided to stop so there’d be room for dessert.

There was a very nice name for the dessert we ordered, but I can’t remember it. It was a chocolate creme caramel and it was really delicious–chocolately and caramelly. While we were waiting for the dessert, the owner came back around to our table with two large shot glasses filled with a milky liquid. I asked him if he was giving us a glass of milk and he said “No, limoncello creme. It’s like liquid viagra–good luck to the both of you.” I haven’t been comped a drink in years and this was an excellent drink to remind me how nice it is to have a drink on the house.

If you find yourself in Richmond, make your way to Little Venice. I’ve only been there twice but both times have been impressive.