Q-Tips Reviews

ITALIAN VILLAGE – 71 W Monroe St., Chicago, (312) 332-7005, italianvillage-chicago.com

Q-Tips say: The Q’s have not been to Italian Village in a while and it was ok. Huge portions of Italian Food, good drinks and a large take home container. Mrs. Q not being a real pasta person, was overwhelmed by the amount of pasta that came with her meal – Pappardelle con Veal Shank Ragu, slow roasted veal in a Bolognese style Ragu sauce with hand cut wide pasta and a cup of chicken soup. The Chicken Soup was a tad salty for me. The Mr. had Broiled Italian Sausage, Green peppers, onions and mushrooms in a tomato sauce, mostaccioli and a cup of Clam Chowder. Nice quiet relaxing dinner after the play.

We found ourselves in the Italian Village again after The Money Museum.  Mrs. Q had Prime Beef Carpaccio, Thinly sliced Prime raw beef, arugula, Parmesan-Reggiano, extra virgin olive oil for Mrs. Q.  The Mr. had pasta with sausages in Ragu sauce. Drinks were good. They have three different restaurants. This visit was in The Village rest. part. Cute decor.  The other two, The La Cantina and Vivere.

Cafe Amici – 1371 Main St., Sarasota, FL 34236, (941) 951-6896, cafeamicisrq.com

Q-Tips say:  Enjoyed our meal, service and drinks at this family owned Italian restaurant.

Our shared appetizer was: Carpaccio – Paper thin beef sprinkled with oil, lemon, and shaved Parmesan cheese. My main entree was: Braciole and Orechlette – Beef rollatini stuffed with garlic, parmigiana, parsley and slowly cooked served with homemade orechiette. I Was told by our waitress: It is Nonna Rita’s original recipe, a traditional Puglia district. The Mr. ordered for his main entree: Linguine alle Vongole – Littleneck clams over linguine pasta, oil garlic sauce. Along with fresh warm bread from the oven and an olive oil mix for dipping made for a delightful meal.

Having had many good meals in good Italian restaurants in Chicago, we can say this is a good Italian restaurant in the Sarasota Fl. area.

The Brilliant Young Mind – This heart-warming and life-affirming story follows the unconventional and hilarious relationship between student and teacher – whose roles are often reversed – and the unfathomable experience of first love – even when you don’t understand what love is.

Q-Tips say: We enjoyed this Netflick movie. Mrs. Q says: It’s pretty, it’s heartwarming, but it does both autistic and particularly smart girls a disservice. Much more and better than what the review says. Go ahead and enjoy.

CAROL – Carol, an unrequited lesbian romance set against the closeted and intolerant era of 1950s America. Carol (Cate Blanchett) is a rich wife who meets Therese (Rooney Mara), a department store employee who assists with her Christmas shopping. They are both drawn to one another in the strange way that love works, and their possible relationship could jeopardize Carol’s custody of her young child. Because of the time period, so much of this romantic liaison is internalized and thus we get longing looks, small gestures that are meant to speak volumes, and plenty of starting and stopping, leaving the audience to fill in the blanks. There’s no passion evident throughout the movie and I was left wondering what exactly Therese saw in Carol and vice versa. Neither woman has a particularly strong personality, though that could be a side effect of having to live publicly as a different person. I couldn’t get into them as characters and so felt little interest in seeing them together, which made the constant circling and nervous indecision even more belabored.

Q-tips say: It was ok but a tad long. Mrs. Q says: It has been nominated for some awards but see it as a rental you and you will enjoy not spending the money. Blanchett and Mara were excellent as was the character who played Carol’s husband. Tho the acting was good, Mrs. Q got tired of all the soulful longing looks. To me, it looked like a May/Dec. relationship between two gay women. Perhaps that is because it was in the 50’s and at that time gays did not feel as free as today to express their feeling in public and being gay was not as understood like it is today.

Apollonia Mediterranean Grill– University Shopping Center, 8235 Cooper Creek Blvd, Bradenton, FL 34201, (941) 359-4816, www.apolloniagrill.com

Q-Tips say: We really liked: The complimentary olive mixture w/ olive oil and drizzles of balsamic vinegar and our appetizer SAGANAKI Opa…! Grilled Kasseri cheese flamed with brandy at table side, with grilled pita bread. Mrs. Q liked her entree: LAMB KABOB – A Kebabs on a skewer with onions and bell peppers, seasoned and char grilled & a cup of AVGOLEMONO – The famous Greek Chicken, Lemon & Rice soup. Mr. Q enjoyed his GYRO Sandwich – Slices of rotisserie Gyro on a pita with onions, tomatoes, lettuce and house made Tzadziki sauce. Served with hand-cut fries. The Fries were delicious. Our friends had the GREEK SALAD – Fresh lettuce garnished with tomatoes,olives, cucumbers, pepperoncinis, beets, green peppers, onion and Feta cheese with Gyro Meat. The other had: the Greek Chicken, Lemon Soup and SEARED SCALLOPS – Ocean scallops seasoned and pan seared served over creamy leek & mushroom orzo, with arugula vinaigrette mix.

The only disappointment was the Pita Bread. Mr. Q was unable to cut it for his Gyro Sandwich.
The Happy Hour House Wines and Drinks were good and very reasonably priced. Service was good and our server was appropriately attentive.

Mrs. Q says: GO on Weds. for $5.00 Saganaki.

The Fremont Diner – 2660 Fremont Dr., Sonoma, CA 95476, (707) 938-7370,
thefremontdiner.com

Love going to off the beaten path restaurants and this is one of those places. We enjoyed breakfast at The Fremont Diner with “The Son” and “the soon to be favorite daughter-in-law.” Good, fresh, quality food (much of the food is locally grown), coffee, and service with a funky kind of ambiance. The owner originally opened “The Diner for locals”, but little would he know how fast the word spread and now people come from all over to eat here.

Will definitely go back for lunch/dinner when in the area.

Winchester Mystery House – 525 S Winchester Blvd., San Jose, CA 95128
(408) 247-2101, winchestermysteryhouse.com

Treated the “adult kids” to the Winchester Mystery House and had an enjoyable time. Children age, 7 and up, are allowed. Won’t say it is inexpensive but definitely worth it. You can buy discounted tickets on Groupon. Parking is free, and so are the walk thru Gardens. Of course, there is a Gift Shop and small restaurant. They have very knowledgeable tour guides.

The person who commissioned the mansion was a rich widow who was married to the heir to the “Winchester fortune.” “There are a few “ghosts” lingering here and there to add a little extra spookiness.” Stairs that lead to ceilings and many doors that lead to nowhere. No photos are allowed and, believe it or not, it is owned by a private party whose name they are not allowed to mention.

Mrs. Q says: Talk about someone who had so much money, did not know what to do with it and was not quite mentally adjusted as most. If in the area, see it. You will enjoy.

Ryde Hotel – 14340 Hwy 160, Walnut Grove, CA 95690, (916) 776-1318
rydehotel.com

Ryde Hotel Sun Brunch has a great selection of fresh food, seafood, meat, eggs, fruit, etc. along with Champagne Mimosas and other drinks along with musical entertainment. Voted in the top 5 places for Brunch in the Sacramento Area.

The Ryde Hotel was built in 1927 was an opulent establishment, complete with beauty salon and Historic-Ryde_Frontbarbershop, that served as a riverboat way station. It was also rumored to be a bordello. The lower level was a speakeasy, offering bootleg whiskey and jazz to a clientele in search of a good time.

There was even a trap door in the floor that allegedly opened to reveal a tunnel running under the road to a hidden doorway at the river’s edge. It’s not difficult to imagine the type of nocturnal activities that secret passageway has seen!

Speculation mixed with fact generated a good amount of notoriety that brought with it a certain cachet. The Ryde attracted celebrities of all types from President Herbert Hoover to local and state politicians to movie stars and mobsters. In later years the Hotel became a boarding house for the men and women who built the Delta levees and pioneered the area’s thriving agricultural industry. Over time, the Ryde has experienced many incarnations and owners including the Lon Chaney, Jr. family. At one point the name was changed to the Grand Island Inn. During the 1980’s it was even a rock’n’roll mecca!

Casa Nostra– 9217 Hwy 9, Ben Lomond, CA 95005, (831)609-6132
ristorantecasanostra.com

Mrs. Q says: Sounds like a restaurant you might find in Chicago, but not so. It is in Ben Lomand, Ca.

Nice place which has good food/a nice wine list. Service was good and has live entertainment. Our entrees consisted of LINGUINE ALLE VONGOLE.   They do not offer a “Children’s Menu” but will make half of anything on the menu and adjust the price or they ask if the child will share the adult’s entrees.

Went on Super Bowl Sunday and it was crowded in the bar area watching the game. The Vongole was a bit spicy for Mrs. Q but Mr. enjoyed it. Next time Mrs. Q will have the Carpacio and a Cesear Salad – her go to meal at Casa Nostra. It was great!    Go and enjoy! Mangia! Mangia!