Perry St.

"M", "S" and I went to Perry Street in NYC's West Village at 176 Perry Street for the Autumn prix fixe 3-course dinner for $38.

The amuse bouche was a leek consumer with truffle oil served in tiny espresso cups.

We started out with the lump crab meat appetizer on a light and crusty baguette.

We all had the fried chicken entree - two chicken breasts nicely fried served with pureed potatoes and wilted spinach.

And for dessert - the molten chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream. A classic!

Phillip's Famous Seafood - Charlotte

While waiting to board my plane in the Charlotte airport I stopped for lunch at this Maryland based restaurant. I had a soda ($2.49) and a premium crab cake ($14.99) with my choice of two sides (mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables) and hush puppies.

The crab cake was a little oily, but mostly lumb crab meat. The mashed potatoes tasted mediocre and the vegetables were overcooked and bland.

So I topped it off with a slice of key lime pie ($4.29) which was pretty good.

Paradou

...is located at 8 Little West 12th Street in NYC's Meat Packing District. On Sunday nights they offer an all you can eat suckling pig dinner for $29. It includes truffle mashed potatoes (creamy and delightful), jasmine rice (fluffy), tossed salad and a glass of wine (red, white or rose). What a great deal!

The pig was moist and flavorful and the skin was crispy and habit forming. So much so that "M" and I asked for just a plate of skin.

Hill Country Chicken

...is located at 1123 Broadway in NYC's Flatiron District.

"M", "S" and I tried various parts (breast $5.50, thigh $3.50, drum $2.25 and wing $1.75) in the two fried chicken options: Hill Country Classic (with skin and more seasoning) and Mama Els' Recipe (no skin, crunchier). I wish they had combined them for one crunch and more seasoned version. Even though both were juicy the Classic version was juicier and more flavorful.

We also tried the fresh cut fries (small $2.50) - average; cheesy fried mashed potatoes (large $5) - good and cheesy and blistered corn salad (large $5) - good.

We were very disappointed they had run out of all but two pies so we skipped dessert.

We also had small fountain sodas ($2) because they did not serve beer or wine yet.

Germany - Post 8

From Munich...

Homemade dinner of Beef Roulade (stuffed with bacon and cucumber), mashed potatoes, gravy, brussel sprouts and red cabbage.

And from Dallmayr (gourmet food market) - dessert Parfait with raspberries and Bavarian cream.