Waffles for dinner

steaming
Originally uploaded by EatingVideo

The kids and I decided to have waffles for dinner as their mom was going out with friends.
We did do the traditional chocolate chip waffle with chips inside and out



But we also mixed in some savory, such as the pizza waffle with cheese in and on top



Then the boy had a combo chocolate chip and bacon waffle, (not pictured as he ate it too fast)
and I had the sauteed onion and bacon waffle with KimKim Sauce all over it



Fun easy meal, just takes a little imagination to come up with combos

padron pepper pizza

piquillo pepper pizza
Originally uploaded by EatingVideo

Pizza crust, pizza sauce, wilted spinach and whole blistered padron peppers. Tasty!

Eating Out - Stuzzi and Acacia

happy
Originally uploaded by EatingVideo

The boy and I spent a day of eating out. We had read multiple Stuzzi posts online so we figured we would check it out for lunch. On a Friday it was busy, but not crazy, good mix of people, several families with kids, couples, larger groups... a good mix like I said. We checked out the oven and ordered the oven roasted olives, and the calamari fritti from the appetizer menu, a roasted pepper and anchovies salad and a carnivori pizza all for both of us to share.
I only got a picture of the pizza



the pizza was very good, (as many have pointed out the pies get a bit moist in the center, apparently from cooling on the plate, ours had a little puddle of water in the plate. But I think this added to the contrast of the charred bottom crust) We both loved the calamari, the salad was excellent colorful and tasty as were the olives, that when baked in the oven take on a more luxurious texture. Certainly will go back.



I swung the boy into The Belmont Butchery and we bought some foie gras for another time. Satisfied we returned home did some reading, played some video games and headed off to dinner. I wanted to hit a nice place, somewhat in defense of fine dining (Just messing with you RVAfoodie)
We chose Acacia, one I've never been and many proclaim it as one of the best restaurants in Richmond.
We showed up around 7:30 without a reservation and decided to sit at the bar rather than wait for a table. The boy hid from the paparazzi.



We ordered two appetizers, pork belly with mushrooms on seaweed



and the beef tongue



Both where very good, but it is hard to compete with the pork belly fatty and unctuous the tongue tasty but understated.
For our main course we both went with crab, I had the soft shell crab



and the boy had the crab cakes, which were served with a bacon cream sauce and some of the best polenta I have ever tasted.



We decided to finish out the night with dessert, he had the almond cake pastry



I had the chocalate ganache, but was more impressed with passion fruit panacota accompaniment



We had such a great time, yes we spent a lot of money but the food was excellent and the company better. We where treated well which isn't always the case when one dines with a kid and we laughed and talked into the night.

I love food curated and her videos, but I am so jeleaous of the pizza oven, as I would love to build my own.

Retiring to Make Pizza: Paulie Gee's from SkeeterNYC on Vimeo.

Pizza with the kids

pepperoni spinach pork
Originally uploaded by chuborupert

The kids and I made pizza. I started out planning to make some flat bread to eat with pasta, but as I got going and my daughter wanted to help, we switched gears and decided to go with pizza. My daughter took most of the pictures (except the ones she is in)
The dough was made with

one cup of yeast starter
2 cups of all purpose flour
one sprig of rosemary
1/4 cup of olive oil
2 tablespoons of salt
one teaspoon of sugar

Everything was combined the dough was kneaded for 10 minutes and then left to rest and rise



While the dough rested we prepped a little
sauteed one large bunch of spinach in olive oil with salt, dehydrated onion and granulated garlic



Then drained it and set it aside (It was really good just like this though)



We shaved some parmesan



Once the dough had doubled in size we split it in half to make two pizza's
My daughter demonstrates three methods of spreading the dough out.
Pressing it with her fingertips...



rolling it with a rolling pin...



and tossing it all fancy like...



We ended up with two very thin pies, so they would cook quickly and try to minimize the pizza being raw in the middle and burnt on the edge.

we loaded up the pizza's with toppings. On the pizza destined for myself and my wife we put down sauce, parmesan, spinach, mozzarella cheese, pepperoni and some leftover Chinese takeout pork (why not), The kids split theirs with one side including spinach and pepperoni the other just with some precooked chicken.



and the finished products after 10 minutes in a 500 deg oven. (Fahrenheit)





They turned out very good, even despite lacking a pizza stone and having to juggle the pizza around in the oven to keep it cooking even.
The crust was crispy with a nice rosemary fragrance that did not overpower the pizza. The biggest surprise was how good the spinach tasted all by it's lonesome as well as on the pie. That and the Chinese takeout pork worked very well with it's addition of some sweetness. And as usual it's a lot of fun to get the kids involved in what's for dinner.