Henry the Friendly Ghost

Most days, this is Henry's morning entrance. At the bottom of the stairs he puts his sheet over his head and, without a word, "floats" into the kitchen and waits for breakfast. Elsa doesn't even look up from her book. Often he will whack his head on the wall, bump into the dishwasher, or walk into the table.

Date Night Chronicle

Pasta with Butter

Calamari, Salad, and Veal Parmigiana

Kissing Bridge Up Ahead...

She's a Good Sport

MOVIE! (The Pirates: Band of Misfits)

Rochester Food and Drink: What I Like

Martusciello’s Rolls

This is what Scott’s II serves at the Farmer’s Market. They don’t sell them anywhere in town, so I have to drive out to Greece (on Lyell, just west of 390) to get them. Chewy, with a crusty crust.

Polska Chata in Irodequoit

It’s the best Polish restaurant in the area, because it’s the only Polish restaurant in the area. Split pea soup, kielbasa, and potato pancakes.

Fava Beans from G and S Orchards

They take hours to pick and prep, but are so worth it. They are ready late June, early July, out on Atlantic Avenue. We get our apples out there, too.

Colter’s

My local. It’s “The Place to Be”.

Fried Calamari at The Food Bar

They toss it with roasted red peppers and capers. It’s delicious, briny, and cheap ($6).

Don’s Original Cheeseburger

Rochesterians do not realize how lucky they have it when it comes to Burger Joints. I’ve never been to a city with such a diverse array (Charlie’s, Bill Grey’s, the list goes on).

…and Don’s Chocolate Almond Ice Cream

So good.

Food at Fisher's Station
This little restaurant-in-a-house has great yeast rolls, ceasar salad, fish sandwiches, burgers, and more. Pancakes and their frittata are amazing, too. Great service. Straight ahead, no nonsense, fresh food.

Rohrbach’s Next Door Ale

My favorite local brew. The other is Golden Pale Ale from Roc City Brewing.

Both of these breweries have great new spots to hang out in- Rohrbach’s on Railroad Street and Roc City off the inner loop on Union Street.

Bee Sting Buffalo Wings at Jeremiah’s

Sweet and spicy, so good.

Spicy Gyro at Olives

This is a cool little spot, nice place for lunch.

Hartmann’s Chicken Sausage

(…and anything else for that matter).Yes, they are now in Canandaigua. They moved from the city about two years ago- I used to visit them up on N. Goodman I think.  It’s a shame, I heard that the city didn’t help them to stay here in Roc. Their stuff is all available at Wegman’s.

Good Luck Restaurant

Best atmosphere in town, (Osteria Rocco is second) and the menu is right up my alley: charcuterie, good beer, tasty salads.

Potato Pancakes at The Coal Tower

I always order these when we go there.

Chicago Style Hot Dog at DogTown

It isn’t quite authentic, but it’s close enough.

Starbucks Coffee

I have tried to love Joe Bean. I have tried to love Java’s, Spot, Boulder, and Canal Town… Why do none of them come even close to a normal, dark roast coffee from Starbucks? I eat local as much as I can, but I can’t do the coffee. Village Bakery in Pittsford has good coffee (and kick ass bread and breakfasts). But really, they are the ONLY other place in town where I will get coffee.

Pain Levain from Flour City Bread

This bread is totally killer- airy and crusty.

Wegmans

OK. I love Starbucks. And I love Wegmans.

Swan’s Market on Parsells Ave.

It’s where I get my bacon, and the Cajun brats are really good. Fun to eat lunch there

on weekends, but they need to work on the décor (too much clutter) and the service.

Baguette from Ravioli Shop

Best baguette in town.

Chuck roast from Seven Bridges Beef

We bought a quarter cow last year, and it changed our approach to eating red meat. Now our “approach” is to eat more red meat.

Man Book Club

"The first rule of Man Book Club is: You do not talk about Man Book Club. The second rule of Man Book Club is: You do not talk about Man Book Club!"

Mike and I are the sole members of Man Book Club. Here is our progress so far, with my personal  ratings based on a five star scale:

The Sense of an Ending Julian Barnes 5/5
The Devil all the Time Donald Ray Pollock 5/5 
Lost Memory of Skin Russell Banks  4/5
The Art of Fielding Chad Harbach 4/5
The Unnamed Joshua Ferris 4/5
Little Children Tom Perrotta 4/5
City of Thieves David Benioff 4/5
11/22/63 Stephen King 3/5
The 25th Hour David Benioff 3/5
The Help  Kathryn Stockett 3/5
Clemente David Maraniss 2/5

and beyond the club...

Barbarian Nurseries Hector Tobar 5/5
Townie Andre Dubus 5/5
Father and Son Larry Brown 5/5
Cutting for Stone Abraham Verghese 5/5
Garden of Last Days  Andre Dubus 4/5
Just Kids Patti Smith 4/5
Savages Don Winslow 3/5
South of Broad Pat Conroy 3/5
The White Devil Justin Evans 2/5
Bad Things Happen Harry Dolan 2/5
Snow Child Eowyn Ivey 2/5

Easter Dress

Elsie picked this little number out with Grandma Judy. Matching shoes and lip gloss as well. She made it through 75% of the church service. Better than Henry and I, we were out of there before the first hymn was sung.

Schwabl's

Dear God,

I know we don't talk often, and, when we do, it is usually when I need something, but I'd like to take this time to thank you for inventing the people that invented Schwabl's. First of all, it's such a beautiful word- Schwabl's- and secondly, there is a man inside whose sole job is to roast beef and serve it on Kimmelweck rolls. And thirdly, there is another man whose sole job is to serve Genesee beer.
So thanks God, and also thanks for the Santorum campaign "suspension"...You're the man.
Love,
Jeremy

He iz uh preddy good Hawkey player, eh!

Found myself perusing pics of Brad last night, here is a sweet one of him maintaining sweeeeet balance on the ice. Look at those guys next to him, they look like me trying to skate.

Was in Lincoln last weekend and saw two games. SO proud of him. Ben, Chris, Page and I were out there for three days of eating, drinking, and watching hockey. Brad's host Dad had an amazing mancave, an arsenal of motorcycles, and a slow smoker (IN THE MANCAVE!) The weekend inspired me to smoke more meat. I need less musical theater in my life and more smoked meat. And more hockey.