Crab Cakes with Garlic Spiked Spinach & Lobster Sauce

Crab Cakes - yield 4 servings

Ingredients: 1 pound flaked lump crab, 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, 1 teaspoon dry mustard, 2 eggs, beaten, 2 tablespoons mayonnaise, 1 teaspoon hot sauce, 1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce, half cup fine bread crumbs, salt & pepper to taste, flour to dredge

1. Mix the mustard, hot & worcestershire sauces, parsley, mayonnaise & eggs together

2. Add bread crumbs, crab and salt & pepper

3. Divide the mix into 8 cakes and dredge in the flour

4. Pan Fry in butter on both sides until heated through -or- deep fry @375 for 2 to 3 minutes.

Saute 1 pound fresh spinach in butter and fresh chopped garlic to place crab cakes on

Lobster Sauce

Ingredients: 1 cup heavy cream, 1 cup whole milk, 3/4 oz lobster base, 1 oz sherry, 2 oz lobster meat chopped fine, 2 oz butter & 3/8 cup flour

1. Combine milk, lobster base, heavy cream & sherry. Heat stirring constantly until sauce starts to thicken. Add lobster meat & roux (flour & melted butter mixed together like a paste). When sauce thickens it's ready. Do not over boil, just keep sauce warm.

Ladle sauce on plate, place the spinach in center of plate and set 2 crab cakes on top.

I garnished with diced roasted red peppers.

Enjoy!

Go Roma - Kildeer, Illinois 5/8/2009

We love Go Roma! This is a new chain started by a former Levy Brothers Executive Chef. The concept is simple; Good, fast, reasonably priced, Italian food served up fast. When you go in you're always greeted enthusiastically. The ordering process is fast and easy also, you place your order and they give you a number you post at your table. The food comes up quick which is great if you're hungry! Kathie and I had the Spaghetti and Meatball and it did not dissapoint. The Meatball is huge and perfectly seasoned. The Spaghetti cooked just right and the sauce is to die for. You never leave hungry from here. Kendall had her "usual" as she calls it. Bow-Tie Pasta with Alfredo Sauce and Shoestring French Fries of which she ate all her pasta and about half her fries.

If you're looking for a fast dinner and a family friendly restaurant then Go Roma is the place you want to be. Go Roma accepts all major credit cards and is open 7 days a week from 11am to 8pm Sunday through Thursday and until 9pm on Friday and Saturday.

Ledo's Pizza - Countryside, Illinois 5/2/2009

Ledo's Pizza is a family owned pizza parlor in Countryside Illinois about 10 miles from Chicago. Owned and operated by the Dornan family since opening in the early 1970's Ledo's is a staple in the community. There is one and only one restaurant. The two brothers, Bobby(deceased) and Jimmy wanted a great family friendly restaurant that was involved in the community and would be exactly what it has become; a one of a kind experience. Nobody makes pizza like Ledo's. For some, my wife included, it is an acquired taste. For most; it's absolute love at first bite!
Today was my brother Bruce's birthday so he and his wife Cassandra and kids Liam & Catherine met us there. My brother John joined us solo as his wife was working and his kids were too busy to come. Ledo's is known for their Sausage & Cheese Pizza which is just perfect. A soft dough baked crust is topped with their own unique sauce made with fresh herbs and tomatoes, sausage they grind fresh daily that is out of this world and a secret blend of cheeses. We started with Garlic Bread, French Fries and Deep fried Mushrooms followed by our Large Sausage & Cheese Pizza.





The garlic bread was soft and chewy with a little crunch on the corners, just perfect. The french fries and mushrooms, while they looked greasy, neither were. The fries maintain their heat very well and were salted just right. The mushrooms are a favorite of my brother John but were a tad undercooked. Although they all got eaten, I only had two. The sauce for the mushrooms was a weak ranch dip that didn't add anything to them. Then the pizza came and here is where Ledo's shines. Piping hot from the oven with cheese bubbling and the sausage begging to be eaten we knew we were in for another pizza feast, Ledo's style and it did not dissapoint! This is singlehandedly the best pizza in Chicago. With every bite the flavors just make your mouth come alive with joy. You do not leave Ledo's hungry...ever.
Ledo's has televisions in every corner for sporting events. A game room with race cars, shooting games and pull your own prize machines. It still has the original ms pacman from when they opened. Ledo's is open seven days a week and accepts all credit cards and cash. Delivery is available during all hours of operation. Reasonably priced, I highly recommend bringing your family and friends and enjoying Ledo's for yourselves. Well Done!