Andy Gavin's Blog, page 75
January 16, 2019
Salty Saturday 2018
Salty Saturday is the traditional family bagel and lox brunch we do on the Saturday after ThanksGavin.
For the last couple of years it’s been hosted at my cousin Matt’s house.
In his sunny dining room.
Across the way is the kids table.
And a look at the spread.
Olives.
Cucumbers and tomatoes as condiments.
Cucumbers and onions — looking pretty.
Capers and chives.
I like my cream-cheese with chives in it.
Muenster and Swiss. Always makes me think of the Muenst...
January 14, 2019
Fatty Friday 2018
It’s tradition at ThanksGavin (the 4 day feasting our family engages in each November) for one of my cousins to host the Friday Night dinner, which is like thanksgiving night all over again (but with different food). This year, Matt and his wife Andrea handled BOTH nights!
2015 Jacques Perritaz Cidrerie du Vulcain Apple Transparente.
Colorful peppers being prepped.
Appetizers of muhamara, tapenade, olives.
Cousin Matt ordered these incredible tomahawk steaks over the internet!
Check them...
January 11, 2019
Back East – IHop
Restaurant: IHOP
Location: 481 Old York Rd, Jenkintown, PA 19046. (215) 886-6150
Date: November 23, 2018
Cuisine: Breakfast
Rating: Cheap at least
_The morning after Thanksgiving we decided to pack up and head to east coast classic…
IHOP! Yep, Andy Gavin in a cheap mass market chain — take a photo now!
The inside is like a cleaner version of what I remember.
The table too, with the fake wood and the rake of flavored syrups.
The menu is prettier than it used to be!
What would a cold Phil...
January 9, 2019
ThanksGavin 2018
This year, after a brief California hiatus in 2016, ThanksGavin returned to Philadelphia last year — and continues in 2018 at my cousin Matt and his wife Andrea’s place.
Matt is in the back starting his kitchen prep.
But the OG crew, shown here, consisting of my mom and aunt are still on turkey duty!
From my cellar: 2006 Domaine des Comtes Lafon Meursault 1er Cru Charmes. BH 93. This is quite a bit riper though there is no overt exoticism present with aromas of peach, spiced pear and apricot...
January 7, 2019
Georgian Bakery and Cafe
Restaurant: Georgian Bakery and Cafe
Location: 11749 Bustleton Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19116. (215) 969-9900
Date: November 21, 2018
Cuisine: Georgian
Rating: Like bland Afghan
_It’s tradition on the day before ThanksGavin, for us Gavins to go somewhere ethnic.
For the last 2-3 years we’ve been going to an Uzbek place but this year it was slightly shifted to a nearby Georgian place — oddly located next to the home depot.
Here’s the restaurant itself in what was clearly intended as a big box...
January 4, 2019
Q by Peter Chang
Restaurant: Q By Peter Chang
Location: 4500 East West Highway #100, Bethesda, MD 20814. (240) 800-3722
Date: November 20, 2018
Cuisine: Szechuan Chinese
Rating: Great food, but flavors not as strong as in Szechuan
_Any excuse to go to a Chinese restaurant is a good excuse in my book — and that goes doubly so for Szechuan Chinese.
So back in DC visit my parents and friends we were drawn to “famed” (in Washington) chef Peter Chang’s flagship: Q.
Peter Chang is an award winning chef specializ...
January 2, 2019
Quick Eats – Mama Hongs
Restaurant: 
Decor is more “built” out than most small Vietnamese places.
The menu isn’t huge, and is most — but fortunately not all — Pho. There are a few salads and Banh Mi too.
Condiments are on the table.
Pork sausage spring rolls. I like this kind — because I love...
December 31, 2018
London in the Palisades
Restaurant: The Draycott
Location: 15255 Palisades Village Lane, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272. (310) 573-8938
Date: November 28, 2018
Cuisine: British?
Rating: Nice decor, menu too small
_The Draycott is the last of the four “sit down” Palisades Village restaurants I’ve tried.
The Draycott is a California-inspired family-friendly Brasserie, created by Matt and Marissa Hermer. Named as an homage to London’s Draycott Avenue, where the husband-and-wife restaurateur duo first met, The Draycott f...
December 28, 2018
LQ Truffles 2018
Restaurant: Laurent Quenioux [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]
Location: Near Pasadena
Date: November 15, 2018
Cuisine: Modern French
Rating: Truffles!
_Six and a half years ago Foodie Club co-organizer Erick and I put together one of our more legendary dinners, the Bistro LQ Trufflumpagus. Ever since then we periodically trek out to visit our friend Chef Laurent for some kind of extravaganza — and tonight we repeat (with changes) for our now more or less anual Trufflefest 2018 edition — plus tons of ot...
December 26, 2018
Veuve Clicquot at Spago
Restaurant: Spago [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
Location: 176 N Canon Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210. (310) 385-0880
Date: November 12, 2018
Cuisine: New American
Rating: Still great
_Spago is always fun but it’s especially good when it’s a Sage Society arranged Veuve Clicquot dinner. I love great Champagne and this sort of dinner is a fun way to learn more about different houses.
Spago has been an LA institution for over 30 years!
Tonight Veuve Clicquot has taken over the private dinner area.
We have...
