A Stay-Safe Sampler
These days there’s still more dining in for me than dining out, but Bonnie and I did have one restaurant visit—the biergarten at Purple Parrot. We’ve covered them before so you know I love their menu. The outside area is perfectly set up for excellent social distancing, the servers wear masks, and it feels very, very safe. And if you go, order The Big Helga…a giant soft pretzel with cheese…oh my….
Even the Iguana Grill now has socially distanced outdoor seating. It’s a wonderful addition for both safety and added outdoor dining.
For carry-out, we ordered dinner from Mariachi’s. Not only was the food delicious, but it came in nifty carryout containers that kept the items separated (the beans from the rice from the tacos) and kept everything hot, crisp, and tidy. What a good job Yolanda is doing.
We recommend the Carne Asada—charcoal broiled flank steak served with guac and rice and the Cheese quesadilla—served with guacamole, sour cream, and pico de gallo. And we always order a side of plantains, deliciously sweet as an accompaniment.
For Labor Day weekend you might want to investigate their famous brunch, with all kinds of heuvos—Benedictos, Florentinos, Rancheros. Those first two egg dishes are prepared the typical English muffin way. But the Rancheros offers two eggs over two crispy tortillas, served with refried beans, cheese, and zesty ranchero sauce.
The carry-out menu is chock-full of other delicious choices, like Pescado Criolla (broiled trout) which is a fave of mine, chicken tamales, seafood enchiladas, and so much more. And I would be remiss not to recommend the amazing Tres Leches cake for dessert. I have no words. Just try it.
If it’s sushi and Asian dishes you crave, try Route One’s Saketumi. Even though I am missing its famous 4-6 happy hour at the bar, take-out is great. The sushi rolls are delectably fresh, with our favorites: the Rainbow Roll (of course!) with it’s California Roll base topped with slices of tuna, salmon, yellow tail, and more; the Alaskan Roll with salmon and avocado, and the crunchy eggplant roll. The sushi bar has all your favorites and the staff is great to watch—sushi and show.
As for other entrees, I recently ordered the ample Dim Dum Sampler with steamed shrimp dumplings, veggie dumplings, and shrimp and pork shumai, along with an entrée of Red Curry Shrimp. I asked for “not too spicy” and it still had quite a kick—but I could handle it!. Bonnie had the Mussaman Curry Chicken, with onions and potatoes.
Saketumi has all your favorites and they come well-packaged for travel. And quite importantly to us, when you call in your order, they ask what car you’ll be driving and bring supper right out to you in the parking lot. Good job, Saketumi.
And finally, there are COVID-induced changes at Hopkins Farm Creamery out Route 9. Where once upon a time you’d line up at one of several windows and order your sundae or cone, mingling with the throng, often hearing a chorus of mooing from the ingredient producers, it’s different now.
Cars line up, masked employees come to your car window to take your order (Windsor asks for a Doggie Vanilla and it comes in a cup with a dog biscuit), and your dessert (or lunch) is delivered to you when you reach the front of the line of cars. It’s safe, efficient, and the ice cream is as phenomenal as ever. And by staying in the car, you miss the occasional farm aromas. So, it’s all good.
Enjoy!##