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.

5 Napkin Burger Oozes With Taste

Eunice and I were invite to a restaurant called 5 Napkin Burger located in Astoria, a section of Queens here in New York City. There are other 5 Napkin Burger restaurants in Manhattan that we heard are pretty much the same except for a few specials that the chef concocts. Now, aside from burgers, they also feature seafood that includes some goodies on their Sushi Menu. There was a special sushi roll made with soft shell crab and we also had a California Rainbow roll with king crab, mango and cucumber on the inside, tuna, salmon, yellow tail and avocado on the outside.

Then there was this way cool appetizer of deep fried pickles and pastrami sitting atop sauerkraut with a mustard oil. Wow was that good!

Where most places have sliders of chopped meat, this one had lobster instead. The lobster was mixed with their specially made mayo, scallions and cucumbers. Of course we had to have their signature 5 Napkin Burger, of 10-oz. of fresh ground chuck, caramelized onions, gruyere cheese, and rosemary aioli on a bun. I love their buns! Because we got this we were able to taste 5 Napkin Burger's house made pickles.

Merle happened to be there and shared her black and white shake with us. Delicious!

ESTHER AND EUNICE AT VIRGINIA BEACH

Eunice and I set off for Virgina Beach where we first had a spa treatment at Flowering Almond Spa. After too much sun we were developing people skin. We then checked into the Hampton Inn Virginia Beach Oceanfront South. Eunice wanted to take a quick nap while I checked out the television to see if Golden Hens was scheduled. Then it was off to Edgar Cayce's Association for Research and Enlightenment for a tour and reading before heading for Croc's 19th Street Bistro. We couldn't believe what was being served! Some sort of fancy chicken dish! Merle popped in and had us pose with the chefs.

ESTHER'S TIME IN WILLIAMSBURG

Although I didn't get to see Colonial Williamsburg, I did go to a part of Williamsburg. There was this shopping area called Merchant Square where the Blue Talon Bistro is located. There's me with Merle and the chef and also trying to be part of the decor. Afterward I went to this place called The Peanut Shop of Williamsburg. I couldn't believe who I spotted. Merle, Nancy and Barb had met up with these animal crackers a few years ago. I heard that they were trying to decide whether to commit suicide knowing that they would probably be eaten. Well, here they were! I really just wanted to taste them and figure out what animals they were.

EUNICE TAKES ON COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG

Esther decided to take hang around the timeshare saying that it was just too darn hot for her. Besides, she had done a lot more than I. So, I'm off to Williamsburg with Merle, Nancy and Barb. I took a tour of the Governor's Mansion and must have done something wrong as I landed at the stockades. Merle was nervous about it. I wasn't. In fact you can see me posing as if I'm telling everyone to kiss my ass! Oh, yeah, comfortable tree but the same attitude.

ESTHER AND EUNICE AT THE TIMESHARE

This was such a fabulous trip and the first time that Eunice and I were on a trip together. Merle was kind enough to bring us with her to Williamsburg. We stayed at a timeshare with Nancy and Barb, too. They were celebrating Merle's birthday week as they have done for the past three years. That was so nice of them. We just couldn't sleep the first night as we were talking about the itinerary. There were some days that Eunice and I were together, some that I traveled without her and some that she traveled without me. I think we got Merle, Nancy and Barb a bit nervous with what it looked like we did. Hey, we can joke as much as they can!

For instance, there was one night that they saw Eunice trying to smother me with a pillow and another when Eunice pretended to be upset because I went somewhere without her.