LEAGUE OF KITCHENS IS A FOOD SPORT

Front left to right: Despina Economou, Laurie Ferreira
Back left to right: Sharon Ruwart, Tom Melcher, Leslie Koch

DAY-TRIPPING LONG ISLAND

Having two counties, Nassau and Suffolk, there are certainly an abundant amount of places to visit on Long Island.  I decided to do a day trip of just half the day.  I plotted out 4 spots in the Southern end of Nassau County and went with my old college buddy, Nancy.  

 

We started with the furthest town of Bellmore.  Having discovered the Philadelphia Pretzel Factory on my trip to Reading, PA, one franchise is located in this town.  Reading was doing a buy 15 for $5 deal.  I don’t expect to come out here often and I wanted to share pretzels with my neighbors as well. Not all locations have the same deal.  This place has a deal of 50 pretzels for $20.  I don’t think that I can coat soft pretzels in chocolate, but I can melt chocolate and dip pieces into it.  I like to use these flattened pretzels to make sandwiches, especially pressed ones.  Hey, you don’t even need to add salt to the innerds.  Ronnybrook Farms has this cinnamon butter that contains a bit of salt and sugar as well.  Great to spread on the pretzel. 

Rockville Centre was now on the itinerary wanting to visit the Center for Science, Teaching and Learning.  They have 17 acres of woods, fields, streams and nature trails to explore.  Not being able to do much walking, I decided to forgo this for the live animal exhibit.   No alpacas, though.  There was a replica of a dinosaur going back to the ancestry of chickens.   Perhaps that is why there were mostly featured creatures in the outdoor area.  All were caged and not for touching.  Some are reluctant to come directly to you.

The owls were so cute and could care less if you are admiring them. 

Next cage had a duck and pigeon. 

It’s apparent that the duck lets the pigeon do all of the talking.   Onto the pheasants, male and female.  His plumage is so colorful.  Hers is not as it helps her to be camouflaged.   

The adorable hawk will come right up to you. 

 

Skipped the peacock and peahen, looked at the turtles in a pond and headed for the goats.  Oh, those kids.  They were let out for a while to help “clean up” some leaves and acorns.  They are pretty friendly and “petable”. 

 

Inside is an area mostly used for teaching children.  The animals are taken out of their abode and you get an up close visit.  You can touch most of them, but not hold.  A Chinchilla was brought out.  I couldn’t help petting it a lot.  I would never have a chinchilla jacket but if I did I would spend most of the time feeling the fur.  

Three small birds are named, the Three Stooges.  They have been taught “window tapping”.  

The final creature observed was a huge parrot who is used to Matt one of the staff members. He had been assisting us throughout.  You can see the parrot through the window as he does his thing.  With all caged animals, photos are okay but no flash and no feeding them.

Not having indulged much on the pretzels, it was time to indulge in having lunch.  I chose a place called Press 195 as it was one of the restaurants that showed up on the search engine for “Rockville Centre restaurants”.   The menu looked interesting enough and it appears that they also have a restaurant in Bayside, Queens. 

 

There is a whole story that goes along with several partners that began with one restaurant in the Park Slope section of Brooklyn (No longer there).  Press 195 is well known for their sandwiches, especially panini style.   That is where the “press” comes in.  Their Belgian Fries are one of the most popular items as well.  Of the partners, Chef Brian Karp, is the brains behind the food.  I was able to meet Chris Evans, director/owner.   Jimmy Volz is the third owner.  John “Little John” Annechino is a half partner with the Rockville Centre location. 

Brian creates the dressings and sauces that pair with the food.   We started the meal with a few appetizers, one of which was the Baby Beet Salad.  It has roasted beets (fresh), baby arugula (aged enough so that it was not immediately taken from its mother), shaved Parmesan Reggiano (no shaving cream used in this process), with a delicious fresh lemon Dijon vinaigrette.  

A second appetizer, just as tasty, was the grilled Asparagus (“grilled” as in the cooking vs putting a spotlight on it and asking its whereabouts).  It comes with fresh mozzarella (so fresh that they have to slap its face), tomatoes and their famous pure maple syrup basil pesto.   A truly OMG taste bud experience.

All of the sandwiches are served on handcrafted Ciabetta Bread.  I heard that the “number 38” was one of the most popular, so I went for it.  Grilled marinated sliced steak, avocado, sweet onion jam, and fresh mozzarella.  The dressing is a creamy roasted pepper.  

Why stop at Ciabetta Bread when you can create a sandwich using a knish!  It’s a whole meal in itself!  A Meatloaf knish was chosen.  Just think about it.  Like having a portable Sheppard’s Pie with an added Vermont cheddar cheese and a side of gravy to dip it.  If you like celebrating Thanksgiving all year, they have one with turkey, cranberry pear chutney, fontina cheese and gravy.  I hear that you can create your own sandwich.  I will do that at the Bayside location.  www.press195.com

 

We might have engaged in topping the meal with dessert if it weren’t for our last stop, Chocolate Works.  This franchise stems from the original Fifth Avenue Chocolatier located on Madison Avenue.  John Whaley was the owner with the factory located in Long Island City.  John passed it on to his son, Joseph and it was moved to Valley Stream.  John decided to expand by building (or taking over an existing store) these franchises as well as now moving the factory to Freeport.

 

The chocolate itself is provided by the factory.  Aside from being able to purchase the chocolates and other candies, each of the stores has an area devoted to the hands on experience.  Perhaps you can have a birthday party for the kids.  I’m sure it would be a different idea for a bridal shower or part of a “girls’ getaway”.  Both children and adult Workshops are given as well. 

This particular location is owned by Stephanie Soloman who has also taken on a locale in Manhasset, on the north shore of Nassau County. Katie was there that day making the chocolates.

PEANUTS THE NEW 3-D MOVIE

I spent an evening at the Museum of the Moving Image not only previewing the new movie, Peanuts in 3-D but having both an explanation prior and talk afterward.  It really makes a difference when you can get the inside information about a movie and the creators. 

It's a definite must see movie.  Cute, funny and so artistically done. Will write more about this.  Couldn't take photos of the screen but here are some photos of the before and after.

FALL BEHIND BUT SPRING FORWARD ON YOUR HOME

Fall cleaning and home repairs were at the top of my “to do” list, both of which I had to rely on others to fulfill.  Cleaning was an issue.  Social media offers with a discount first time price.  I have tried a few.  The workers want to do the quickest job with the least amount of effort.   I decide on Keen Green Cleaning Service.  Eco-friendly and bring their own cleaning products.  Although they are located in the Bronx, they service the other boroughs as well as areas of New Jersey and Westchester County.  Looks like they were given the best janitorial awards in the Bronx.  Let’s see how they handle my home in Queens. 

I chose the two hour deal.  I can wash my dishes and vacuum that one rug in the living room.   With two cats and not being allergic to either the cats or dust, flying fur builds up not to mention that Dust “R” Us has a totally free service that includes delivery.   

What do you look for when choosing a company?  Do you want Eco-friendly if they provide the products?  Would you rather provide your own products?  Do you need to provide the vacuum, broom, mop or any other items?  Keep in mind that you really don’t want to have a company take cleaning utensils from one house to another.   Will there be any communication issue between you and the workers in explaining what needs to be done and not done?  Even after providing Amazon Local with my charge card, one company wanted my charge card in case the time ran over.  You already agreed on the price and time. Do not use that company. 

With a description of what the company will do, make your own list of what you want done in the amount of time agreed to beginning with priorities. 

How did it go?  Only a smell of “clean” was detected.  I didn’t have to open all the windows as I had to do in the past.  I walked around in my bare feet to test out the floors and nothing stuck to them (Dirt is drawn to the sweat in my feet).  It turns out that they make their own products.  Do they work?  Check online to find out how to make your own household products.  “Elbow grease” helps as well. 

Lance Andrade is the owner of Keen Green Cleaning company and an environmental enthusiast. He was introduced to the green aspect in early 2013, changing his life and putting him on a “mission to help expand green businesses for the sake of our environment and our world.” This is his first green business.  Lance sees it as a “business that could benefit the occupant’s health and our Mother Earth at the same time.”  Well, I’m a happy camper. 

Having a bad experience with Sears regarding replacement vinyl windows both with the salesman and price ($1000 per window?), I turned to HomeAdvisor for assistance. Reliable Remodelers was one of the companies listed. “Reliable” is defined as able to be trusted to do or provide what is needed and able to be believed.  Were they?

Owner John Malanka visited my home to both check out the windows and make his sales pitch.  My neighbor came over to listen as he and many of the house owners on the block are always looking to improve and get the best prices.  John also brought a small sized sample of the window that I basically requested.  He brought a brochure of NorthEast Windows to view the description as well as taking a quick measurement in order to determine the price.   Let’s just say it was less than half the price that Sears quoted. 

John does not to the work but gives it to an employee who will then take it over and supervise.  As stairs are a difficulty for me and where most of the windows were being done, I said that I needed to have someone else to accompany.   I do not allow strangers to go where I am an unable to see them. 

With the contract agreed upon, the next step was having the supervising employee measure as well as assessing if there was any extra work needed in the replacements.  Windows now had to be built.  They tell me that windows are not stocked.   No middle man…less on price.  Smart idea.

Price was scheduled with three payments: deposit, supervisor’s visit, final payment when completed.  I have become skeptic with so many scams, etc.  On the day of installation, they arrived only a bit early as I waited for someone who would be accompanying them upstairs.  In the meantime, there was one window to be done not downstairs.  I think it’s been here since the house was built. 

With everything seemingly completed, I later asked my neighbor to check it out.  He found a small hole in one of the screens.  It wasn’t until about a week later that this got done and with much annoyance as the accompaniment request was being ignored and the twice 6pm appointment arrived at 8:45 telling me that he was told, “Any time after 7pm”.   I had called the office at 7 to find out what was going on.  Tim said that he would get back with me.  Nothing.  At 8pm I called and a different person said that she would find out and get back with me.  Nothing.  The responsibility was not on the owner, who makes the assumption that his employee is doing a good job.  Yes, all was finally done and does look good…but with much insistence.  Reliable?

Changing the subject to the Mets bets.  Chicago was to send Lagunita’s Beer and Giordano’s pizza on one bet.  Got some of the pizza sent to me to review.  Deep dish pizza sent frozen.  Loved the crust, lots of cheese and comes with extra tomato sauce.  Probably better if gotten at one of their franchises.  Will have to try a similar one from Queens.   Doing a beer tasting and will report when I have gotten through each of the samples. 

Now that the Mets lost the World Series, cheesecake will be sent to the Sly James, the mayor of Kansas City.  DeBlasio is to send Junior’s Cheesecake to represent authentic New York cheesecake.  Junior’s has the hype and money for public relations but certainly not the best.  There are two cheesecake companies here in Queens; La Cheesecake and Cascon.  Will follow up on this one.