Monday, March 24, 2014

Cuisinart Quesadilla Grilling Basket > CQM-195 - $19.99

image

PajamaGal came through the front door spitting and sputtering something about, “Your best buddy, the UPS driver, has been here again – what did you buy now?” Then she dragged two boxes in and threw them on the couch. I had no idea what was in them – I wasn’t expecting anything.

The first box contained the Cuisinart Quesadilla Grilling Basket - CQM-195 and the second, a Cuisinart Stuffed Grilled Pepper Rack – CPR-100

No note, no invoice, no packing slip. Ok, full disclosure – once I saw what the first box contained, I knew they were free-samples from Cuisinart. I’d posted a review of their “Cuisinart CSBP-100 3-in-1 Stuffed Burger Press” on Amazon and my “Reviews by PJ” blog. Cuisinart liked my review so I sent them some pictures and additional comments (I use and like very much the burger press) – in return they said they’d send me some of their grilling accessories. Without a note, I’ll guess these are those! I’ll review these products but note that Cuisinart did not request that I do.

For the quesadilla recipe I used, check out “Absolute Best Chicken Quesadilla” recipe at Food.com.

PJ’s Review:

Cuisinart Quesadilla Grilling Basket > CQM-195 - $19.99

I wanted to like this tool – mostly because Cuisinart gave it to me for free. I don’t always get what I want. I’m glad it was free – if I’d paid $20 for it, I’d probably be looking for a refund.

The bottom line: The basket’s small-grid wire mesh easily traps oozing melted cheese and bits of food, allowing it to burn and making the tool very hard to clean. Soft Flour Tortillas can stick to both the mesh and the previous quesadilla’s melted cheese overflow.

The recipe calls for you to brush melted butter onto one side of the tortilla, then turn it over so that it’s the buttered side that contacts the basket/grill. For theimage first batch I did so on the first quesadilla. On the 2nd one I buttered it, but forgot to turn it over – so the side touching the basket wasn’t buttered and it stuck – both to the mesh and to the cheese that had oozed out from the first one. (and mine were not as stuffed with cheese as are the ones in Cuisinart’s own promotional picture – {and there’s no way to get those grill marks using a mesh basket}

After making just 2 quesadillas, there was a fair amount of burned-on cheese and other bits of food.Quesadilla Grill Basket-T3i_3095

I had to soak it for 30 minutes (and you need a BIG sink to soak it in) before I was able to clean it with a soft-bristle nylon brush.

So – when I made the 2nd batch the next day, I was prepared to try to mitigate the issues.

I sprayed cooking-spray onto both sides of the basket. I sprayed cooking-spray onto the tortillas and made sure to turn the sprayed side over to face the basket. I tried to not spread cheese too close to the edges of the tortillas.

The 2nd and 3rd ones still stuck (albeit less than the previous batch) – even though I was very careful – certainly much more careful than if I was hosting a beer-swilling backyard grillfest.

Quesadilla-1-T3i_3097Quesadilla-4-T3i_3100Quesadilla-8-T3i_3108Quesadilla-10-T3i_3114

Quesadilla-12-T3i_3116Quesadilla-13-T3i_3117Quesadilla-14-T3i_3118

If I ever contemplate hosting a backyard grillfest, I will have Amazon send me a Charcoal Companion’s “Non-Stick Wire Quesadilla Basket” for $18.67.

imageimage

Why’s:

1. It’s non-stick

2. It’s not cheese-grabbing wire mesh

3. It will hold twice as much as the Cuisinart – either 1 double-tortilla or 2 folded-tortilla quesadillas.

4. The wooden handle won’t melt if you get it too close to the grill:

In general: Please make these tools with removable handles. Otherwise, I have to use a can of beans to prop the grill lid open.

image

- PJ

Sunday, March 9, 2014

Carrabba’s Tyngsboro -

clip_image002clip_image004
Carrabba’s Tyngsboro

386 Middlesex Road Carrabba's Italian Grill on Urbanspoon
Tyngsboro, MA 01879
Phone: (978) 649-8388

Website link: Carrabba’s

Carrabba's in Tyngsboro offers flavorful, handmade Italian dishes prepared to order in a lively exhibition kitchen. Guests enjoy Carrabba family recipes handed down for generations including crispy calamari, homemade lasagne and a variety of fresh fish, seafood and meats cooked over our wood-fired grill.” …from their website.

PJ’s Ratings:

  • Overall – 5 of 5
  • Service – 6
  • Food - 5
  • Drinks (full bar) – 4 (could have been a tad more generous)
  • Ambience – 4 (crowded, but still pleasant)

· They offer call-ahead waiting-list placement – use it! We drove 45 minuets and then waited another 60 before being seated.

· Saturday night – arrived 5:30 – seated at 6:30. – Waiting area still packed at 8:00.

This review’s Visit: 2014/03/08 – 5:30 P.M.

Server: Kristen – Excellent service – One of the very best servers, ever!

Starters:

· Calamari - $9.90 (Large)clip_image006
Hand-breaded to order and served with our housemade marinara or spicy Italian pepper and lemon butter sauce

Fried calamari is my favorite appetizer. Carrabba’s version is the standard against which I have measure all others – it’s still the best! If you like fried calamari – try it!

Main Dishes:

· clip_image008Veal Parmesan - $18.90
With Green Beans

It’s not on the menu. When Kristen too our order, I commented that when we lived in Houston, our local Carrabba’s on Bay Area Blvd. would always make Veal Parmesan for me although it wasn’t on the menu. She replied that, “Sure we’ll make it – we have the ingredients, and everything is made from scratch anyhow!”

It was exactly as my taste buds remembered from Houston. The tender and generous medallions of veal were cooked perfectly.

The green beans were a little too “crisp” and not enough “tender”.

· PajamaGal had the “Baked Ravioli Parmesan” - $12.50

She loved them. Although they were plentiful and she intended to take some home, there were only 2 left when she pushed the plate away.

Our friends had a Filet Fiorentina*, and a Shrimp Risotto

The filet was so tender that Ron cut it with his fork. Kathy said her risotto was delicious.

We didn’t have desert. From the fresh-baked bread to the salads and entrees, everything was just as it should be. PajamaGal and I each had a cocktail, and with the starter and entrees our check was $60.

It’s no wonder why the place was packed! We’ll be back!

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Jimmy’s Tavern & Grill

  • clip_image001

clip_image003

·

  • Jimmy's Tavern & Grill
  • 50 Boston Turnpike, Shrewsbury, MA 01545
  • (508) 793-9625
  • Website link: Jimmy’s
“Relax by our fireplace with a glass of wine from our creative list that goes from Zippy Whites to Big & Beefy reds. Watch the game from our sports bar with 40 craft beers in bottles and on draft, or try something new with one of our signature Wicked Good Cocktails.” from their website.

PJ’s Ratings:

  • Overall – 5 of 5
  • Service – 5
  • Food - 5
  • Drinks (full bar) – 5
  • Ambience – 5

This review’s Visit: 2014/03/03 – 5:00 P.M. MONDAY Burger Nite

Server: Chelsea (#19)
clip_image005

$5 Burger Nite!

Texas Burger with Sweet Potato Fries

clip_image007

We went to Jimmy’s for the $5 Monday Burger. We’d been there once before. We’ll go again. Jimmy’s produces a great burger – grilled perfectly, dressed expertly! They’re juicy, tender, and full of flavor! I don’t know how they do it, but the burgers are dressed (stacked) in such a way that the burger doesn’t slide around – everything stays centered within the bun.

And the Sweet Potato Fries are magnificent! They’re crispy-crunchy on the outside and almost melted-gooey on the inside. When dipped into the cinnamon butter your taste buds will jump up and down! (Be careful – fresh from the kitchen they’re much hotter on the inside – let ‘em cool a bit!)

One scotch, one white wine, 2 burgers, one with Onion Rings, one with Sweet Potato Fries – great friendly service, pleasant atmosphere – all for $22.74. I almost feel guilty!

We haven’t tried the $2 Taco Tuesdays yet, but we probably will. We’ll definitely head back for another $5 Burger Monday, and we do want to sample their regular menu.

Jimmy's Tavern and Grill on Urbanspoon

Sunday, March 2, 2014

An Expensive Disappointment

Ken's Steakhouse
95 Worcester Rd. (Route 9)
Framingham, MA 01701

Visit: March 1st, 2014 OpenTable reservation 5:30 p.m.

Server: Igor

Cost: 1 appetizer, 2 entrees, 2 cocktails, 2 wines - $104.43

PJ Rating: 2 of 5 – we won’t go back.

Starter: Calamari – The menu says, “Served with marinara sauce” for $9.95. Our server came back to the table and asked if we’d like the “Calamari Special” with feta and something else. We declined – wanting to sample the regular menu-listed item. I should have kept a menu. What we got was a bowl of over-breaded, fried calamari with tomatoes and peppers…and no marinara sauce. I should have asked, but I thought maybe I’d read it wrong. Oh well. It was dry, doughy, and as PajamaGal said, “flavorless”. The menu price is $9.95 – we were charged $9.00?

Salads: Dinner Salad & Caesar Salad – Both of our entrees included salad, PajamaGal chose the house dinner salad with Italian dressing; I chose the Caesar. What I got was a bowl of wilted, chopped romaine tossed with “Ken’s Caesar” dressing and 3 anchovies thrown on top. For a place whose name is synonymous with “Salad” one might think the salads would be at least better than average – they weren’t.

Entrées: P-Gal had the 12 oz. Prime Rib (Menu-$23.00, charged-$25.95) with a baked potato and squash. I had “Center Cut Filet Mignon* (10oz)” – with baked potato and carrots. (Menu price-$28.95, charged-$29.95)

The Prime Rib looked beautiful – but it was very chewy and flavor was just o.k. My 10 oz. filet couldn’t have been more than 8 oz., and had the texture of a sirloin. It was served dry – no herbed butter or steak sauce of any kind. I didn’t ask, and none was offered.

Both the carrots and the squash were overcooked and way over-sugared. The baked potatoes were foil-wrapped and overcooked with soggy skins. Reminded me of leftovers. And they’d been opened by cutting through the foil.

For being THE Ken’s Steakhouse, we expected more. We’ve had better meals at Golden Coral and spent a lot less than $100. I think they are riding on their past reputation and have grown lazy and mediocre. If Longhorn’s is a 10, Ken’s is a 5. (and what’s up with charging prices different from the menu???)

PJ