Appetizers

Re:Appetizers (CCinNJ)

Sun, 09 Sep 2012 13:52:58 GMT

On the menu they are...

Carrillera en salsa de Rioja

That sounds nice. I always pulpo (octopus) because beef cheeks & octopus and I get are you sure about that? Yes!!!

Re:Appetizers (mar52)

Sun, 09 Sep 2012 13:47:10 GMT

They ought to give beef cheeks some sort of fancy name. Maybe I'd try them.

Re:Appetizers (CCinNJ)

Sun, 09 Sep 2012 13:35:13 GMT

In the big boom of the 80s the happy hour bar sensations reached the menus in NYC...by popular demand. Sometimes much to the chagrin of Chefs who would come to be know by a bowl of sensational party nuts as much as anything.

The low carb diets also play a role in apps. Outside of the fried suspects found in chains...many good apps are low or free of all the heavy pasta/rice/potatoes found in entrees.

On older established menus...some items are listed that are more side than app...and are usually ordered that way.

I have always made lunch my primary meal...over dinner.

The beef cheeks are such a generous portion...I think I'll only make it to 3 (instead of 5-6)... and a bottle of wine or cava. A well-balanced meal.

http://www.kungfoodpanda....part-montreal.html?m=1

Pulpo is choice #2!!

http://www.goodfoodrevolution.com/montreal-day-1/

Re:Appetizers (mar52)

Sun, 09 Sep 2012 12:36:54 GMT

Around here the price of appetizers seem to be increasing. I think some of the restaurants realize they're losing money on those that don't order the dinner items.

Re:Appetizers (BelleReve)

Sun, 09 Sep 2012 10:37:40 GMT

My thoughts are along the same as CCinNJ, Seamus, and others. An appetizer with an entree is too much. There's three of us who eat out for lunch fairly often, and if the appetizer looks interesing, we'll split it. Takes the edge off being hungry while waiting for the meal, but doesn't fill you up, and it's fun sharing and talking while waiting for the lunch.

There's one restaurant here whose appetizers are better than the entrees. I like to order a cup-sized portion of soup or gumbo, and 1-2 appetizers, and it's very filling.

Re:Appetizers (ann peeples)

Sat, 08 Sep 2012 15:02:18 GMT

Frankly, I prefer appetizers, depending on the restaurant, as opposed to dinner.Also, it depends on whether it is a group setting, or just Bob and I.A good steak joint? No appetizers needed. Gotta agree with CC in NJ...

Re:Appetizers (CCinNJ)

Sat, 08 Sep 2012 14:14:18 GMT

A great way to take a luxurious tour of a delicious menu...without paying extravagant prices...or dealing with long service delays or disasters.

Re:Appetizers (kland01s)

Sat, 08 Sep 2012 13:57:19 GMT

Too many American appetizers are fried which tapas aren't.

Re:Appetizers (mr chips)

Sat, 08 Sep 2012 13:22:06 GMT

Depends on the appetizer. The best steakhouse in portland is the Ringside and they have an excellent bar menu of appetizers which trudy and i use as a tapas style meal. And sometimes i just eat an appetizer as it is enough food for me. I think appetizers are the American form of tapas though we don't call them that.

Re:Appetizers (CCinNJ)

Sat, 08 Sep 2012 10:42:25 GMT

I've been studying LTH and having fun deciding on the dozen donuts we will get...from maybe 12 different places. It will be a day of donuts at this point. We love cake donuts and I keep finding excellent candidates in the Chicago area.

I have five weeks to decide (write down... seal in an envelope...final decision...no going back or I get the silent treatment) how many & what I will order from Pintxo in Montreal. The pressure is on. I know beef cheeks will make it to the list. One down.

http://www.pintxo.ca/en/menu.html

Re:Appetizers (kland01s)

Sat, 08 Sep 2012 09:27:36 GMT

Many good places to eat around Oak Brook and Naperville, you will be busy!

Re:Appetizers (CCinNJ)

Fri, 07 Sep 2012 16:57:59 GMT

I'll be in Oak Brook in February. That's right down the road...and worth the trip.

It'll be fun!! I'll move in...if they let me.

Re:Appetizers (kland01s)

Fri, 07 Sep 2012 11:47:46 GMT

CC let me know if you do and we'll join you! Tapas are always more fun when shared with a group! Those are awesome photos, BTW, some of my favorites are mentioned. Oh heck, I like just about everything they have! I haven't been there in about a year and now I'm dying to go back!

Re:Appetizers (CCinNJ)

Fri, 07 Sep 2012 10:57:30 GMT

Wow!!!!

http://theamateurfoodiebl...icas-in-burbs.html?m=1

I'm coming for a visit!!

Re:Appetizers (ann peeples)

Fri, 07 Sep 2012 10:56:35 GMT

Have had the bacon wrapped dates-very good!

Re:Appetizers (kland01s)

Fri, 07 Sep 2012 10:24:30 GMT

CCinNJ

What a great menu!

I know I'd love to try the dates in bacon. My date would wait for me to make the other critical decisions. That's a good problem to have.

Meson Sabika also looks like a georgous place!

It is! The dates are one of my favorites as well as the garlic potato salad.

Re:Appetizers (CCinNJ)

Fri, 07 Sep 2012 09:51:14 GMT

What a great menu!

I know I'd love to try the dates in bacon. My date would wait for me to make the other critical decisions. That's a good problem to have.

Meson Sabika also looks like a georgous place!

Re:Appetizers (kland01s)

Fri, 07 Sep 2012 09:32:50 GMT

This is my favorite tapas place, yum!

http://mesonsabika.com/menu/lunch/

Re:Appetizers (Foodbme)

Fri, 07 Sep 2012 01:25:36 GMT

Today, a meal of just appetizers will cost as much as what a regular meal used to cost.
Both the bride and I can't eat a big meal anymore so we just get an appetizer, maybe soup or salad, a drink and the bill is usually $30-40 Dollars!

Re:Appetizers (FriedClamFanatic)

Thu, 06 Sep 2012 23:51:05 GMT

I assume we are talking more about "upscale places" here, than your typical roadfood place. Even there, sometimes the appetizers work better.

I'm one of those who will order 2-3 appetizers and no entree. Why?.I like the variety ( Love Tapas bars). the entree is often served with what I consider insipid sides ( this is in quote Higher end places unquote........roadfood places do much better on sides) Often the veggies that come with meal are lukewarm or cold and must be eaten before the rest of the plate if you want any sense of warmth out of them. The starch is sometimes interesting, but often not.

I can also have the place pace the appetizers.....No don't bring them all at once! And i feel better about sharing.stupid, but i do.

Often 2-3 appetizers will cost as much or more as the entree, sometimes as much as the entree and an appetizer, so I don't feel like I'm cheating the joint out of revenue - if anything, I may be saving them $$ since the plates are usually less "frou-frou"

Re:Appetizers (mar52)

Thu, 06 Sep 2012 21:39:03 GMT

Without appetizers it's just a game.

Ever go to a party where the appetizers run out really early?

So do the guests.

Re:Appetizers (MellowRoast)

Thu, 06 Sep 2012 19:55:47 GMT

Ann, those aren't appetizers, those are reasons to party!

Re:Appetizers (ann peeples)

Thu, 06 Sep 2012 19:34:12 GMT

I am an appetizer queen! Love having them as opposed to dinner. This Sunday( Packer game), its cocktail wieners in homemade bbq sauce, artichoke dip, hot ham and rolls, and cheese and crackers...yum!

Re:Appetizers (CCinNJ)

Thu, 06 Sep 2012 19:13:50 GMT

Carpaccio & Pulpo are an appetizer land & sea dream team. What entree?

Re:Appetizers (pnwchef)

Thu, 06 Sep 2012 19:12:18 GMT

I agree Mar, I can't see any reason to order them as they are meant to be ordered. If Joyce and I are splitting a meal at a restaurant that serves large portions, then we may get a appetizer. I have ordered Mollie items off the Appetizer menu because it's like an Adult menu with kids portions. ....Take care.................Bill

Re:Appetizers (mjambro)

Thu, 06 Sep 2012 18:39:35 GMT

MellowRoast

I find most appetizers rather unappetizing in the first place -- generally fried, greasy, fattening fare.

Good point - It seems appetizers today (especially at the chains) seem to be mostly fried, greasy items. Guess that's because they are quick to prepare prior preparing the main course (out of the freezer and either microwaved or dunked through a fryer).

My preference for an appetizer might be some mussels in a wine sauce, pan roasted clams or scallops, bruschetta, cold cuts & cheese, prosciutto & melon, crab meat cocktail, etc, although I'm not against occasionally enjoying a fried crab cake, chicken wings or some calamari. (Hmm - is my Italian preference shining through?) Guess my appetizer preference is primarily a small portion of a shellfish as a taste bud wakeup. (IMO, soup, pastas and/or salads are not appetizers.)

Re:Appetizers (rumaki)

Thu, 06 Sep 2012 16:00:53 GMT

I certainly agree with felix4067 about specials of the day. In my experience, they ARE special -- things they found at the market seasonally or serendipitously. At brunch at Beaumont Inn in Kentucky last spring, for example, it was frogs' legs. The previous fall, it was fried oysters -- both things not on their regular menu.

As for appetizers, I, too, enjoy having a couple with a salad, in lieu of an entree, because they tend to be more interesting as well as manageable portion sizes. Whether I have one plus an entree depends on the place, and who my dining companions are (and what they're having). I still love the supper club-type places that offer you soup or tomato juice as an appetizer with your meal, along with a relish tray, separate from the salad course and before the entree.

And at an old-fashioned, Chinese-American restaurant, I can never pass up an egg roll and (if they have it) rumaki. Of course.

Re:Appetizers (felix4067)

Thu, 06 Sep 2012 15:37:45 GMT

iluvcfood

One thing I will NEVER order.......... the SPECIAL of the day = what they couldnt sell the day before!

You're not going to the right places. Around here, the special of the day is planned in advance, and they specifically order in the ingredients to make it. Probably 90% of the time it's something not regularly on the menu.

Re:Appetizers (CCinNJ)

Thu, 06 Sep 2012 15:30:56 GMT

Tapas!! Small plates (our version of meat 3/5/8) is very popular delicious and far from the fried regulars.
http://www.casellula.com/...012/05/Menu-9.4.12.pdf

My parents never served cocktails during dinner either. That changed.

Re:Appetizers (kland01s)

Thu, 06 Sep 2012 15:12:22 GMT

We enjoy eating at a Spanish tapas place which is essentially eating appetizers. Fun to go with a group and order 15 or more things and pass them around. Each plate comes with 4 to 6 small portions and if we like it, we order more. We don't do this very often as the food tends to be very rich in butter and sauces.