Greek Meal on Northern Blvd!

We had dinner plans with our daughter and son-in-law tonight and she suggested we try a restaurant she's passed a million times not far from their apartment.  We went to Sala on Northern Boulevard in Auberndale, Queens.  The approach to the restaurant is very odd the building looks like a large house with a grand entrance and a walled courtyard in front.  As you enter through the open iron gates you realize that the courtyard is set up for outdoor dining.  A server met us and asked if we preferred to eat indoors or out.  We chose to eat out as it was a wonderful low humidity evening in Queens.  We sat a a table for four near the staircase that led to the interior sections of the restaurant. 

We perused the menu and noticed many things we'd enjoy.  They have a page of 10 for 10.  They have ten of their entrees available for $10 and will add an appetizer platter of cheese pies and house salad for an additional $4.95.  We chose to order appetizers and share.  First lesson: their appys are similarly priced to their entrees and as it turns out they are huge servings.  We shared a plate of mussels, a sampling of 5 traditional cold spreads w/grilled pita triangles, eggplant and zucchini chips and grilled portabella mushrooms over field greens.  Every dish was outstanding and way more food than we expected.  I was figuring that the entrees had to be smaller!  Wrong! 

Our entrees were another plate of Mussels with the tomato/feta sauce and orzo; Lemon Chicken; Shishkebob; Pastichio.  The food was tasty, beautifully plated and abundant.  All but the mussels had a side of rice.  We had the leftovers wrapped to go.  After a lengthy discussion we determined there was very little room for dessert.  But one baklava and some coffees were in order.  By the time the waiter returned to take our order somehow we were ordering yogurt with black cherries and honey.

When our waiter returned to the table he had 4 desserts!  He announced to us that two were on the house!  We shared them, even though we said we didn't need them!  So we had Chocolate Mousse cake and Apple Strudel that were both out of the world, now the two we ordered were excellent and met their expectations but these two tasted were wonderful additions, took home the balance of the chocolate and the baklava.

They have a short wine list with some excellent choices, and a majority of them available by the glass.  A special drink list had a nice variety including the Mojito that was enjoyed by our daughter.
I did glasses of Sauvignon Blanc and Nana had Malbec.  Son-in-law indulged in his once a year Heineken.  It was a great evening, good company great food, good service, perfect surroundings, great weather, what more could you ask for?


Our plan to return includes drinks and tons of appetizers!  And maybe share an entree!  Went on our own volition without and preconceived notions, no read reviews in hand or recommendations of previous diners. This always makes it a great find! 

Go, enjoy, be prepared to bring food home!!

Off Topic: Relay for Life

Just a little off topic here, but you may notice I've added the badge for Relay for Life to the blog.

As a Cancer survivor (Prostate 2001) I have been honored twice in Relay For Life events.  Once with my daughter Tiffany's, restaurant Uno's in Fort Totten.  And once in Rhode Island with the whole RI Huff's family participation.  This year is a little different in that I am proudly attending the relay in RI with the RI Huff's.  We are looking forward to doing the relay walks throughout the night!  The event is this coming Friday, June 4th. The RI Huff's have been very instrumental in raising money for this event on their local front and have made me very proud!

I truly believe that there are very few people who haven't been touched, in some way, by this disease and we need to do everything we can to improve the survivor rate along with preventing Cancer altogether!

These lyrics from Melissa Etheridge resonant with me so much:

  "It`s a blur since they told me about it



How the darkness had taken its toll


And they cut into my skin and they cut into my body


But they will never get a piece of my soul


And now I`m still learning the lesson


To awake when I hear the call


And if you ask me why I am still running


I`ll tell you I run for us all"

So I'm just here to say that I'm hoping everyone, who has or has not been touched by the big C, can do something to help this cause.  If you wish to contribute via the Relay for Life Event, you can go here!

Thanx for reading and for doing whatever you can to help this cause.  We need to raise our voices and battle this disease!

Ravioli Mishap

I've been inspired to try my hand a pasta-making again and decided to try Ravioli.  Everyone on TV makes pasta like it's nothing, so I figured it was time (once again) to get into the game.  Got out my copy of Lidia's Family Table and reread the section on making the dough in the food processor.  Then proceeded to review her instructions for making large ravioli.  Picked a great filling recipe from Giada De Laurentiis with Prosciutto, Spinach, and Ricotta. Made the dough and wrapped it up and stored in the fridge.  Later, pulled it out made a quick tomato sauce and the filling.  Nana helped by setting up the dining room table for production.  Dug out the hand cranking pasta machine and proceeded to prove easy is not my strong suit! 

Created 20 LARGE ravioli, mind you no two were the same size!  Added them to the boiling water and waited for them to float to the top.  Selected the best looking 8 and sauced them up in pasta bowls and served with Poached Pear and Arugula Salad w/Champagne Pear Vinaigrette.  These ravioli were visually an abomination to the Italian Culinary World!  They didn't taste awful, they just weren't perfectly shaped and delicate as they should be!  So that's the story, sad, funny looking ravioli in the bowls and I wouldn't let Nana snap a picture!  Was afraid someone else would see them!  Stay tuned, I'm determined to get it right, someday!  Then there will be beautiful pictures!  Meanwhile enjoy the salad picture!