Last Child Free Night

    Coco and I decided to eat out for our last night home together child-free.  We tried a new neighborhood restaurant  called the Clinton Social, 700 Clinton Street, Hoboken, NJ.  The first thing in its favor is that it is 2 blocks from our house. When we went inside as soon as I sat down I said that it reminded me a little of my favorite restaurant,  The Madison.  Both restaurants have nice size casual bars in the front with a few tables and tv screens, making it a really welcoming spot to have a drink before dinner.  They both also have alot of exposed brick and warm lighting.  After I examined the menu I noticed they also had in common a very nice mix of food from formal to casual.  These things put together, both these restaurants are the perfect spot for a cozy date night, out with a group of friends, or even a family dinner.  It turns out the things are all in common because they share the same proprietor.  We started our meal by sharing Goat Cheese Potato Pierogies with caramelized onions.  Three perfect potato pockets arrived, just the right size and pretty much perfect in every way.   Coco continued his summer of beef with a Rib Eye Steak served with Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Sauteed Broccoli Rabe.   It was a perfect basic meal, but my rule when eating out is don't order things that can be easily prepared at home.  That said, I ordered the Braised Oxtail.  It was very similar to an Osso Buco with the tender meat falling off the bone in a delicious tomato based sauce.  It was served with Braised Carrots, cooked perfectly, and Potato Gnocchi.  There was a little too much parsley on the gnocchi for my taste, but otherwise a really nice dinner.  This restaurant will probably prove to be a regular hang out for us. I definitely plan to go back and try the Cassoulet of chorizo, garlic sausauge and duck confit!
         Conveniently, we were right across the street from the A&P grocery store where we stopped to stock up on some of the basics since the Spud is due in tonight and we have to prepare to get back on schedule by Thursday.  We didn't pick up anything too exciting, but I did buy the ingredients to make breakfast for tomorrow.   I just got finished preparing a Spinach and Cheese Strata, pg 655.  It is a perfect make ahead dish that can now stay in the fridge overnight and just be baked in the morning.  A Strata is basically a savory bread pudding.  This one is french bread layered with sauted onion and spinach,  gruyere & parmesan cheese, seasoned with salt and pepper and then an egg and milk custard poured over the top.  It will sit all night so the bread can absorb the custard and be baked in the AM.
      I hope everyone cooks something special for the long weekend!