Girls, It Was Practically A "Moonstruck Evening!!!!!!"

                             What a day we had yesterday!!!!!!!!!!  It started with meeting Monsieur's friend, Herb, whom we had not seen in ages, at 11am, in front of the Seafood Palace restaurant, in Brooklyn's Chinatown, somewhere in Sunset Park, on 65th Street, between Seventh and Eight Avenues!!!! How was I to know, there was anything over there???? But, when it comes to Dim Sum, Mister Herb will travel anywhere!!!!!
So, there we were.

                            Herb is as tall and fabulous as ever, but, oh, the weight he lost!!!!!  I was so concerned, I thought he might be ill!  And with his height (which I would put at somewhere between 6'5" and 6'7") I don't think it is a good thing for him to be neither too heavy or thin.  And he was never really heavy too begin with--just big, which made sense, because of his height.

                             Nevertheless, Herb, in spite of it, packed away a lot of Dim Sum, so he could not have been ill!!!!  Having been ill recently, myself, I was very prudent about what I ate, avoiding those overly friend calamari, which have more batter than fish on them, and , besides, no marinara sauce!!!!!!!!!!

                             At the Seafood Palace, I felt like I was back in Flushing!!!!  A big banquet hall, overflowing with tables, people, and staff hauling food carts.  Plus a couple of chandelier  sets which were so tacky I thought we  were at the Grand Prospect Hall, and I suddenly expected  to see that tackily dressed (especially the woman, in that cheesy sequined pants suit!!!) husband and wife, suddenly appear, and call out, "We make your dweams come true!!!!!!!!!!!"

                             Fortunately, that did not happen.  I guess my point here is, for all we enjoyed the Dim Sum, and, of course, Herb, there was nothing any more or less distinctive about this place than the ones  I had been to in Queens.  Dim Sum is fun, maybe twice a year!!!!  You've been to one Dim Sum, darlings, you've been to them all!!!!!

                               We got home, and rested all afternoon.  Because that evening, like two Princesses being escorted to the ball, we were picked up by Monsieur's very glamorous and sophisticated friend, Ellen, and whisked off to Cobble Hill--which has become so Yupped up since I was last there, girls, you simply would not believe it.  Where we were eventually joined by our beloved Auntie Alvin!!!!!!!!!!!

                                  Oh, and Lorraine.  Who, I swear, is draining the life's blood from our beloved Auntie!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                 At one point, I glanced down a side street, and was struck by a sense of familiarity.  As I told my sister this morning, I think this is where my niece Jennifer, and her husband, Jonathan, lived during the early years of their marriage, when they lived in New York.  I am certain of it.

                                   Anyway, we proceeded to a restaurant Auntie knew of, Pane E Vino, which had been recommended to him by those two scandalous libertines, Don and Dante!!!!!!!!!!   What they do would make this virgin blush!!!!!!!!  That's right, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!  You better believe it!!!!!!!!!!.

                                    We were seated in the most charming garden, which was enclosed, so that you still had an al fresco atmosphere, though, I bet, they could serve out there in Winter!!!!    To my left, was this charming table that had, on the wall, behind it, a glowing heart, made up of white, ornamental  lights!!!!  Talk about "Moonstruck."  I had thought about us all taking a group picture under there, but did not voice my suggestion soon enough.  Besides, we wanted to sample the cuisine.

                                      The table ordered a bottle of Montepulciano, which I adore, but, since I was having chicken, I ordered a glass Of Pinot Grigio.  What did we have????  Well, Monsieur started out with a lovely mixed green salad, with walnuts, pears and Gorgonzola cheese.  His main course was a Fettuccine Alfredo with shrimp.  Ellen had the most fabulous seafood pappardelle platter; I know, because I sampled some of it, and it was so good, I would order that, myself, if I were to go back.  Auntie Alvin went traditional, with a hearty minestrone, and meat lasagna.  I cannot resist traditional bruschette, so I had some of that, followed by this marvelous chicken, artichokes and mushroom dish, in a brown wine sauce.  It was luscious.

                                    Oh, and Lorraine had some sort of chicken dish, with onions and mushrooms--bet the old cow belched, all the way home!!!!!!!!!  And you should have seen her put away that Montepulciano. Talk about a hollow leg!!! I am talking Susan Hayward in "I'll Cry Tomorrow!!!!!!"

                                     Everyone looked their most glamorous--except Lorraine--and conversation just flowed.  Thank God Ellen and I were there to out talk some who should know better.

                                     I mean, of course, Lorraine.  If she had been in Chicago, she would have been the cow in  Mrs. O'Leary's shed that kicked the lantern over, and started the Chicago Fire!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                      Dining with her gives me a reason to watch "Investigation Discovery."

                                      The meal was so filling, we had no room for coffee or desert.  There was talk of going to a movie, but Monsieur was tired, and the Meryl Streep movie was not playing.  So, we walked about, returned to Ellen's car, and were whisked home, after a magical night, that made us both feel like
Cinderella!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                        With Lorraine in attendance, as the Wicked Stepmother!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!