EXPLORING STATEN ISLAND

Eunice and I decided to begin exploring the borough of Staten Island in New York City. We met up with Merle who will be writing some articles. There are five boroughs in New York City. Manhattan is the one that everyone goes to and the other boroughs are referred to as the "Outer Boroughs". Because Staten Island is so separate from the others...for years, the only way to get there was by ferry...Merle is going to call it the "Outer-Outer Borough".

We went to this restaurant, Ruddy & Dean North Shore Stead Company, just a few blocks from the ferry. It looks like I'm needing glasses to read and sometimes to see the food up close. Oh well! I had to borrow Merle's glasses.

Great wine list! We had some oysters...I think one was a kumamoto, another was a Wellfleet and the other a Blue Point. We didn't care...we were just hungry!

We indulged in a cup of lobster bisque and then shared a Bone in ribeye steak and some tasty scallops.

All was delicious!

OUT TO EAT

It's been quite a while since Eunice and I went anywhere. We've been busy hanging out with our new friends, Marilyn and Minerva. They haven't been out in public as yet so Eunice and I went to this wonderful Dominican restaurant in Queens called Gran Rancho.

We started with this dip that had onions, charred tomatoes, olive oil, vinegar and chipolte. It was served with yucca chips and plantain chips. A bit spicy, but good.

Appetizers of shrimp cerviche, octopus salad and a trio of empanadas...beef, chicken...looked but didn't eat...and one with guava and cheese.

Out came this drink in a pineapple. I think we sipped it too quickly. Didn't realize that Merle was there. She sat down at the table with her friends Deveka and Ernie. Merle was aghast. She didn't realize that we were only kidding.

We met the owner, Oscar Monegro. Continuing with our food...we had some oxtail and some goat dish. Later this guy came over to sing with his guitar.

All in all the food was great.