Romeo Lunch 12-17-14

The Romeo gang met for lunch on Wednesday, December 17 at Turner’s Seafood in Salem, MA at 12 noon.  Turner’s is located at 43 Church Street. There is a parking lot and a parking garage nearby. Go to www.turners-seafood.com for more information.

I arrived in Salem at about 12 noon and drove by the restaurant looking for parking. There was a big municipal lot on the left. I drove in and found all the spots numbered and several metered machines located around the lot. I parked and remembered the spot number and walked to the machine. It only took exact change, no refunds and credit cards. It was $1.00 per hour and the smallest bill in my wallet was $10.00. I rummaged through the car and found $2.00 in quarters which would give me two hours. Later Jim told everyone there was a nearby lot that only charges 25 cents an hour. Thanks Jim (xyz!!!!!??????). Better late than never.

I entered the restaurant and found Ed and Joe L. at a table. Later the rest of the gang arrived. Seven Romeos were present including, Jim Terlizzi, Paul Girard, Joe Lapiana, Ed DeSchuytner, Mark Ryan, Steve Winter and Joe Pignatiello.  You can see photos at my Picasa Web Site, just click …. Romeo Lunch 12-17-14

The waiter was very attentive and took drink orders from everyone that included beer, soda, martinis and manhattans. Drinks arrived quickly and bread was served in baskets with pads of butter. We read the menus and ordered.  Since this was a fish place I assumed it would be great and ordered the Seafood Medley along with Joe L. and Ed. The others ordered the Portuguese Stew and Veal Picatta. Joe P. and Steve also ordered chowder and salad.  Jim asked if they had Finnan Haddie (A Favorite Scottish Smoked Fish Dish - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finnan_haddie ). The waiter checked, but it was only available at Dinner Prices. Jim declined and ordered his favorite (Picatta).

The food came in a short time and I was immediately surprized at the small portions on the dishes. I know this is lunch, but give me a break. I get more at McDonald’s.

The Seafood Medley was tiny and included (three tiny shrimp, a few tiny bay scallops and a one inch by two inch piece of fish). It was all very dry and had no flavour. We asked the waiter about the side of mixed vegetables which was supposed to include zucchini). The side only had two pieces of cauliflower and two slivers of carrots. The waiter said he would check and came back with three small bowls of spinach ?????   The Portuguese Stew was also tasteless and the chowder had a pungent Smokey taste. Needless to say, we were very unhappy with the meal.  

The conversation however was lively and bounced around the table. The usual items were covered including sports, trips, politics, movies, books, and home life.

Joe P. went skiing last week and had a great time. He will again volunteer at the ski clinic for disabled veterans next month. Jim said he got a ski package out west and was looking forward to it.  Joe L. said he booked a river cruise for the spring.

I said I saw a prize give away on TV for a trip to the Azores. Joe P. said that he had been there and it was beautiful. It was similar to Hawaii. I think he said that a plumber friend has a house there that he visited and was able to show Joe the special island sites. It’s only a 4 hour plane ride from Boston just off the coast of Spain.

We then talked about snow. Joe L. said he needs a new snow blower but is waiting. He got a price for plowing his driveway for $100 a storm or $700 for the season even if no snow. Jim said he would get a blower but he doesn’t have that much area to plow and no place to store it. Joe L and I said we normally spend 2 hours snow blowing our driveways.

My snow blower wouldn’t start this year, it was clogged with old stagnant gas. Ed said you can use a gas stabilizer or a new product with an Enzyme Additive that keeps the gas fresh.  I had my neighbour across the street give me a tune-up on the snow blower and it works great now. He has a small part-time business fixing small engines that he runs out of his garage. He also has a Bobcat with a plow and plows a few driveways in the neighbourhood after snow storms. He charges only $30 each storm, as a favor. He does the driveway and I do the walkways with my snow blower.  We then said we had generators to help with power outages during storms. Ed said he has one that comes on automatically when the power goes out and is run by propane.

Jim mentioned that he recently saw two movies that he recommended (Whiplash and Nightcrawler).  I mentioned that I have read some good books recently. One was “The Street Lawyer” by John Grisholm. It’s about the sad fate of Homeless People living on the street in most cities.

Joe L. mentioned that the price of gas keeps falling and recently was $2.55 per gallon. It’s now $2.47 in my neighbourhood. On the news I saw it was less than $2.00 a gallon in several southern states.

We then talked about where to meet next time. The restaurant Artichokes in Wakefield was mentioned.  Jim T. will send you all an email with time and date.

Joe P. gave us some sad news and said that our friend Jack Ahearn had passed. He was a sales rep for Prentice Hall. You can read the obit below……  http://m.legacy.com/obituaries/BostonGlobe/obituary.aspx?n=JOHN-S-AHEARN&pid=173347366&referrer=1232&preview=True

Comments and Suggestions Welcome:   … markryan82@comcast.net

Romeo Lunch 11-12-14

The Romeo gang met for lunch this month on Wednesday, November 12 at the Tuscan Kitchen in Burlington at 12 noon.  The Tuscan Kitchen is located at 24 New England Executive Park (next to the Lahey Clinic).  Go to www.tuscanbrands.com for more information.

There were seven Romeos in attendance including Joe Lapiana, Steve Winter, Joe Pignatiello, Jim Terlizzi, Ed DeSchuytner, Mark Ryan, and Paul Girard.  You can see photos at the Picasa link…. https://picasaweb.google.com/108806068200291783388/RomeoLunch111214

The waitress sat us in the middle of the dining room and then pulled up two more chairs for all of us to sit comfortably at a half round table.  The place was crowded but the waitress did her best with waiting on the table and brought bread and water all around.

 She then took our orders for drinks which included martinis, manhattans, beer, wine, soda and water.  There was a little mix-up on the beer.  Joe P. and Steve ordered the Miller Lite and Jim ordered the darker IPA which is heavier and more bitter.  Joe got the IPA by mistake and made a wrinkled face as he tasted it. He then switched with Jim with great relief.

The usual conversation included politics, weather, gas prices, retirement, and trips.  I congratulated Joe P. for his choice for the new Governor, Charlie Baker. Joe always gets a ribbing from all the democrats at the table.

We then talked about jobs and unemployment and the plans that Coakley and Baker had for Massachusetts.  Joe L . then said that his cousins in Italy recently told him the unemployment there was 54% compared to only 5.6 % in the US. I guess we are really lucky compared to the rest of the world’s economies.  As a result many people who lived in the suburban villages in Italy were moving to the big cities like Milan, looking for work.

We then talked about the Tuscan Kitchen which recently opened in Burlington, Ma.  The owner Joe Faro also owns the Tuscan Kitchen and Market in Salem, NH.  A graduate of the University of NH (91), he has been a shining star in the business world with more than 25 years of food experience. He is also involved with another business acquisition to open a fitness center on Main St. in Salem, NH and another venture at Rockingham Park.

The décor for the Burlington, Tuscan Kitchen was all deep wood mahogany with high metal ceilings depicting an industrial flavour.  However, they should install ceiling tiles to improve the acoustics. It was hard hearing everyone at the round table.

Although there were mixed reviews about the restaurant on the web site, our waitress was very pleasant and attentive and brought items quickly to the table. However, the kitchen was slow, leaving time gaps when bringing our entrees  at different times.

Our lunch orders included Paninis (chicken, beef and pork) with a choice of sides.  An order of Ravioli in Wild Mushroom sauce and one order of Ravioli with red sauce.  The food came in good size portions, was delicious, and had that authentic Italian flavour. They make their own pasta at the restaurant.

 Joe L. commented that he saw a review from Jack Tweedie on “Trip Advisor” regards Condos to rent in Pompano Beach, Florida.  John frequently stays there.

Joe L. also said he was visiting the Museum of Fine Arts that afternoon with the Art Council from Westwood, where he lives.  They would be seeing the GOYA Exhibit “Order and Disorder”. You can get more info at …. http://www.mfa.org/exhibitions/goya

We then talked about high school football teams and their ratings and divisions. Some schools have moved from one division to another.  Jim said that teams were rated be physical size of the players but Paul thought it might be due to winning records. Below are the rankings for schools in Division 3.

Bracket Notes:
1. Masconomet (6-1) 17.43
2. Marblehead (7-0) 17.00
3. Tewksbury (5-2) 15.86
4. Beverly (3-4) 10.00
5. Wilmington (3-4) 10.00
6. Danvers (3-4) 10.00
7. Somerville (2-5) 8.43
8. Revere (2-5) 6.71

We then talked about where to go to lunch next month. Tentatively it is Dec 17 at Turner Seafood in Salem MA.  Jim will send you an email to confirm.

Comments and suggestions always welcome : markryan82@comcast.net

Romeo Lunch 10-29-14

The Romeo gang met this month on Wednesday, October 29 at Nappi’s Restaurant in Medford at 12 noon.  Nappi’s is located at 370 Salem Street (Route 60).  It is just off Route 93.  Go to www.nappirestaurant.com for more information.

Nappi’s is a bring your own bottle restaurant and does not take reservations for lunch.  Seven Romeos attended including Joe Lapiana, Steve Winter, Paul Girard, Jim Terlizzi, Ed DeSchuytner, Joe Pignatiello and Mark Ryan and we all brought some wine to share.  You can see some photos at the link ….   https://picasaweb.google.com/108806068200291783388/RomeoLunch102914

Joe P. brought the wine that he made at the Boston Winery and I brought a red moscato and Jim brought a cabernet sauvignon. I like a more sweet wine but others might like the dry bitter wines. Wines can run in prices from a few dollars to hundreds. They say it doesn’t matter. It’s all what you like and pleases the palate. 

We then talked about buying wine in NH or locally. Joe P. found a Walgreens in NH that had a good selection.  Paul then said that of all the local places, Costco sells the largest volume of wine around. Jim then said that Trader Joes has the “Two Buck Chuck” selling for about $2.99 a bottle. This wine is bottled in California where surplus wines are purchased from local vineyards and resold under the new label. You can read an interesting article about this in “Today” at …… http://www.today.com/id/3076201/ns/today-today_food/#.VFIj1yGq_IU  .

As seasoned wine connoisseurs, we all filled our glasses with the ROMEO SELECTION of fine wines and toasted a good, long and healthy life.

Nappi’s usually doesn’t  have a menu and will make whatever Italian dish that you desire with white or red sauce, various pastas and meats.  Our waitress was Mrs. Nappi and she suggested the braciole with pasta. This is a rolled steak with raisin, pinole nuts and chopped hard boiled eggs.  Since no one could make a choice, she came back with a sample menu.

We then decided to have an appetizer of tripe (Joe P’s favorite) and an antipasto salad. Refilling our wine glasses and munching on the fresh Italian bread opened our palate for the main courses.

With a little help, we selected items from this cheat sheet menu which included the cioppino (a seafood stew with pasta) with red or white sauce, haddock pizzaiola, shrimp scampi, and Jim’s favorite dish veal piccata with pasta. The main course soon arrived on large square dishes with Italian motif and we devoured it like a Roman feast.

As usual, the conversation was lively and included politics, sports and trips. Steve talked a bit about his recent riverboat trip in Europe and how the boats couldn’t get under some bridges because of all the heavy rain raising the river levels. 

Joe P. talk about a music festival in Somerville called Honk that he thoroughly enjoyed. He bought some items and sent them to his granddaughter who now lives in Los Angeles. She always loved attending previous festivals with her grand pa Joe.  Joe’s daughter and family moved out to Los Angeles last year and her husband is now a teacher in the local school system.

We then talked about local rental properties and I relayed the story about my sister-in-law recently renting in a new high rise on the Chelsea-Revere line for $1800 a month. She recently lost her house in the Tornado that went through Revere, MA last month. She said the apartment is a very small one bedroom and she can’t wait till the lease is up. The neighbourhood isn’t that safe either. She is waiting for the insurance company to settle on her completely destroyed house and they are dragging their feet.

Ed then talked about his son who used to live in the North End at a rent controlled apartment paying $2500. He recently bought a condo on Beacon Hill and said they raised his old rent to $6500 a month. Ouch !!!!!

Joe L. then said he attended the recent “PooPooPlatter” NSSSA meeting at the Kowloon restaurant and commented that the new teachers and supervisors had a good round table exchange of ideas.

We then commented that gas prices keep going down. On the way, Ed saw a Medford Gas Station selling at $2.97 per gallon. I said that several stations in Wilmington are selling at $2.95 and this week at $2.93.

We then talked about the next lunch date and decided to go to the Tuscan Kitchen in Burlington on November 12^th. Jim T. will send you all an email.

Comments and Suggestions Always Welcome …….. markryan82@comcast.net

Romeo 9-24-14

The Romeo Gang met again this month at 12 noon on September 14^th at the Kitchen on Common restaurant in Belmont. Go to www.kitchenoncommon.com for menus and more information.  The restaurant is right in down town Belmont with plenty of free parking on the street as well as side lots. Kitchen on Common is located at 442 Common Street (Cushing Square).

Those Romeos present were Steve Winter, Paul Girard, Joe Pignatiello, Joe Lapiana, Jim Terlizzi, and Mark Ryan.  

We all arrived about 12 noon and were seated at a table for six along the wall. The restaurant is small and can seat maybe 20 people. Our waitress Kayla brought bread and water and left menus for us to review. You can see photos at my Picasa web site.  Go to ………. https://picasaweb.google.com/108806068200291783388/Romeo92414?authkey=Gv1sRgCMO7q8n1uZWIpQE

Several Romeos brought bottles of wine to share and filled glasses around the table. The restaurant does not serve alcohol and you can bring your own (BYOB).  We all toasted a good life and good health.  Although several bought local wines, Joe P. brought one that he made this year at the Boston Winery.  It was great and especially since it was a home brew.

Joe P. brought Steve who lives in Belmont and only 5 minutes away from the restaurant.  I came by way of rte. 60 and others came by rte. 128. Jim decided to go home rte. 60 since 128 had heavy traffic on the way down.

 Joe P. then said that a student he knew (Paula) from Somerville worked at the restaurant later in the week.  He then asked our waitress to leave her a note and say Hi from Joe.

The restaurant serves a limited menu each day of home cooked meals. There were four choices on today’s menu with a few sandwiches and some side orders.  The prices were quite reasonable with main dishes about $10 and sides $4-$6. 

We then gave our lunch orders to the waitress that included bowls of sausage soup with kale and potato, lentil soup with chilli oil, Farfalle with vegetables, pulled pork sandwich with cabbage slaw, chicken salad with assorted greens, and salmon croquettes with greens.  The food came quickly and was delicious.

 

The conversation was lively as always and bounced around the table. Joe P. mentioned that he will be going on a river cruise to Norway next spring. He said Steve just returned and raved about the trip. Joe L. also said he had been on several which were always a delight. 

Jim asked jokingly if anyone wanted some Sox tickets. They have had a terrible season although they did beat the Yankees 10-4 the other night where Derek Jeter got a standing-O.

Joe L said he quit skiing. The cost is over a $1000 for new skis and accidents happen more frequently the older you get. Jim said he still enjoys skiing and will continue as long as he can.  Joe P. said that he also skis and will again buy a season ticket to Wachusett Mountain.  He also volunteers for a week to help the disabled Vets at Mt Sunapee each winter.

We then talked about where to go for lunch next month and two places were mentioned (Nappi’s in Medford and the Tuscan Kitchen in Burlington). Jim will send emails later.

We then discussed a little politics and the governor’s race where Coakley and Baker are running neck and neck.

As we left the restaurant there were several electric bikes parked on display outside. The Bike shop proprietor came out and struck a conversation with all of us about his new venture and bike shop (PEDEGO).  He spoke with a German accent which interested Jim since his wife was born in Berlin. They talked a lot about skiing but also the electric bikes which cost  about $2000. You can see some photos at my Picasa web site.

Comments and suggestions welcome …. Markryan82@comcast.net

Romeo Lunch (7-17-14 and 8-27-14)

Romeo Lunches (July and August)

Romeo Lunch 7-17-14

This Blog will be a combined one from two lunches (July & August 2014). I didn’t make the July Lunch so Ed D. was kind enough to supply some details as follows:

Go to www.michaelsharborside.com for more information and directions.

Attendees: Jim T, Joe P., Steve W. Joe L. and Ed D.
Conversations;
Jim T. is taken his granddaughter on a 3 week European tour involving France (Paris & Normandy), England (via chunnel) & Berlin Germany)
Steve W. is taking his 3rd river tour  (Viking Cruises) via Rhine
Usual talk about Red Sox and discussion about world cup events

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Romeo Lunch 8-27-14
This lunch was on Wednesday, August 27 at Jules By the Water in Methuen at 12 noon.  Jules is located at 478 Lowell Street.  It is just off of Route 93.
Go to www.julesbythewater.com for more information.

Those in attendance were Joe Pignatiello, Ed DeSchuytner, Paul Girard, Joe Lapiana, Jim Terlizzi, Mark Ryan and Joe Tarello.  You can see photos at my Picassa web site …… Just click below.
https://picasaweb.google.com/108806068200291783388/Romeo82714#6052418212209233970

We all started to arrive at the restaurant about 11:45AM for the 12 noon lunch. The waitress (Pam) greeted us at the door and asked if we wished to sit on the deck. We chose outside on the deck overlooking the Merrimack River and what a beautiful view. After a while motor boats would cruise by and wave to any on lookers.

The restaurant was done over recently and has all new decor. Other restaurants had previously been at this location including the Seaport where seaplanes would dock after landing on the river.

The waitress then brought bread and dipping oil and glasses of water. She then took drink orders which included margaritas, manhattans and beer on tap. We then read the menus and ordered from the lunch selection (clam chowder, salads, chicken-broccoli-penne, chicken parmesan, baked haddock and lobster roll.  The drinks and meal came quickly and were delicious. Compliments to the new chef (Bob).

Soon I was asked about my new boat with all kinds of questions. The night before I had sent an email to some Romeos with info and a video regards the boat. I responded with the excitement of a child with a new toy. It has certainly been a lot of fun although I spent a few months repairing the old boat (fiberglass, new wiring and some needed equipment). Owning a boat can be expensive. Ed D. reminded me that the two happy days for a boat owner are the day you buy it and the day you sell it. Hope there will be more happy days. We will see. For more distant Romeos, you can see my boat video at the following address :   http://youtu.be/6tqmG9xzw-Y

It was nice that Joe T. joined us for lunch even though he hasn’t retired yet !!!!  He has been teaching 50 years. We chatted about old times and mutual friends. He is still at Somerville HS and will be starting school after Labor Day. He hitched a ride with Joe P. who also used to be at Somerville.

Jim T. then told us about his trip to Europe with wife and granddaughter. He rented a car and drove most everywhere. They visited northern Europe including Berlin, Normandy and then Paris.

We then talked a bit about sports (Red Sox and Pats) and the big salaries players get. Jim said it is all relative and on the average prices have risen 10X more than they were in the 1960s. The starting teacher salary was about $4,000 and now about $40,000.

We then talked about heating bills this coming winter. The Almanac predicts a colder winter but not much snow. Joe L. then said he cut up an Ash tree that came down in his yard and got about 3 cords of wood which he will use to heat this winter.  He has a stove insert in a fireplace that is then ducked to a couple of rooms and gives great heat with the wood. His neighbour had a log splitter and they spent two days splitting the wood.  Jim T. then said that was too much work for him. He would just turn on the electric heat.

We chatted about a bunch of other topics here and there and just enjoyed the fine weather. Soon it was time to leave but we still had to pick a place for next time. Joe P. recommended and place in Belmont.  Jim T. will let you all know by email.

Comments are always welcome ….   Markryan82@comcast.net

Romeo Lunch 5-21-14 and 6-25-14

Romeo Lunch   5-21-14 and 6-25-14
 

 The following blog report will contain info from the last two lunch meetings (May 21 and June 25).

Lunch May 21,2014

I wasn’t able to attend the May lunch since I had a tooth pulled that day.  Well you can’t keep them forever.  However, Jim T. was kind enough to provide me with some info from the May lunch which was held on Wednesday, May 21 at The Landing at 7 Central St. in Manchester By The Sea at 12 noon.  Go to www.thelandingat7central.com for more information.

Here is Jim’s report:

 

Mark,

 

Unfortunately, there were only 3 of us there.  Ed, Dick and I (Ed DeShuytner, Dick Costello and Jim Terlizzi) talked about old times and, of course, his ways of managing after 2 leg amputations.  He is doing very well.  He has 2 “stairmasters” in the house to get him from the first and second floors and from the first floor to the street.  He looks well and, to me, has not changed a bit.  After we solved all the school problems, we managed to solve all the political problems.  We missed Joe P.   Joe Lapiana called at the last moment saying that he did not feel well.  I think we should go back again (perhaps August) and we can have better number attend.  The Landing was very nice.  Both Ed and I had the $20 lobster and clam special.

 Jim T.

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Lunch June 25, 2014

The next lunch was on Wednesday, June 25 at the Danversport Yacht Club Grille and Bistro in Danvers at 12 noon.  The DYC Grille and Bistro is located at 161 Elliott Street (Route 62).

Go to www.danversport.com for more information.

Eight Romeos were in attendance: Jim Terlizzi, Joe Pignatiello, Steve Winter, Brother Tim, Joe Lapiana, Ed DeSchuytner, Paul Girard and Mark Ryan.  You can see photos at my Picassa Albums at …………………..

https://plus.google.com/photos/108806068200291783388/albums/6031590780537682225?authkey=CLe6mbOXgZCyhQE

Jim T. had made reservations and we sat at a nice table outside overlooking the harbour and boats. The boats were mini yachts and probably cost a gazillion. I visualized my yacht was the “black and blue” dingy.  I pretended to be Mr. Howell , the rich guy from Gilligan’s Island or maybe Mr. Magoo is more like it.

We all ordered drinks which came quickly (beers and margaritas and cola). The waitress then took our lunch orders. Most ordered the lobster roll, a turkey dinner and a fisherman’s plate.  Joe L. asked about the lobster roll not made with mayo and said he would have the lobster pie instead. Some also ordered choowda.

The choowda came and was great. We also had rolls and butter. The meals then came and we all got our choices except Joe L. by mistake got a lobster roll. The waitress realized the mistake and put in a rush order for Joe’s Lobster Pie.  Later she brought a great dessert pie compliments of the manager for the mistake.

The conversation was lively as always. Brother Tim talked about flying on Monday from Beverly Airport around the area looking out on Gloucester and Plum Island.  A bird’s eye view from the sky. Later, Brother Tim told us that as a brother his duties were mostly  teaching at St. John’s Prep and that he took a vow of poverty living on a small salary sharing living expenses with five others.

I then told the group that I recently bought a small motor boat. It is a Sunbird bow rider ski boat with 70 HP outboard. They say there are two happy days about owning a boat, the day you buy it and the day you sell it. Since buying the boat I have been spending a few dollars buying needed gear, paying sales tax, registering the boat in Boston, and registering the trailer at the local DMV in Wilmington. I also found out that to drive a bought greater than 25 HP in NH you have to have a boat license. This requires taking a boating safety course and then a proctored exam. Well its back to school again.

Jim T. then told us he spent a few days in Ogunquit, ME. with his wife.  Joe P. just returned from visiting his daughter in L.A. .   We then talked about our grand kids going off to college or taking a year off and how expensive college is now days.  Jim said it’s all relative and is about 10 times the cost when we were younger.  Like the price of gas in the 1950s use to be $ 0.36 cents and now is $3.60 per gallon.

 Ed then told us about his sons who went to BC. They both have good jobs today but the younger one had a circuitous college career. After three years as a chemistry major at BC he decided to take a year off.  Ed then told him that he would have to take a few courses at NECC as he decided his future. While there he took a few history courses and was inspired by the new subject.  He also took a few courses in IT computer tech. Later he graduated with a history major and got a job in IT. While Ed is happy his son has a good job he wonders about the expenses incurred at BC.

We then talked about where to go for lunch next month.  Joe P. suggested a restaurant along the Merrimac River but didn’t know the name.  We Googled it but couldn’t find anything.  Jim will decide and send out info later.  (See new email from Jim about eating in Newburyport.)

Comments always welcome……  markryan82@comcast.net

 

Romeo Lunch 4-23-14

The Romeo Gang recently had lunch at the Bonefish Grill in Woburn on Wednesday 4/23/14.

The Bonefish Grill is located at 4 Wayside Road.  Go to www.bonefishgrill.com for more information.

We sat at a long table near the window and the waiter brought water and left menus for us to look at.  The restaurant was empty at 12 noon when I arrived but by 1:00 pm it was packed.  Joe L. said it was probably the lunch crowd from local businesses but there was a good mix of young and old patrons. The food must be good!!! I hope.   Seven Romeos were in attendance for lunch including Ed DeShuytner, Jim Terlizzi, Joe Lapiana, Joe Pignatiello, Mark Ryan, Brother Tim and Steve Winter.

You can see photos at the Picasa web site …..  https://plus.google.com/photos/108806068200291783388/albums/6009707806046546241

It was funny that I was in the area earlier that morning attending Physical Therapy at the Lahey Hospital around the corner. I then went home at 10:00 AM and then headed back to the Restaurant at 11:30 AM.  Luckily I live close by and only 15 minutes away.

The waiter took orders for drinks and appetizers. Joe P. recommended the Shrimp appetizer and we ordered some with martinis and beers.  Jim saw that there was a large selection of beers online but a small selection at the restaurant.  Similarly, the entree included Grouper Fish online but was limited to only Salmon at the Restaurant. There were no vegetables for lunch and the sides only included French fries, coleslaw and cuscus. I got the cuscus which is like rice but it was cold.  

The drinks came quickly as well as the shrimp appetizer which was very good and tasty. However, I thought the martini was weak and all I could taste was the pineapple flavouring.  The entrees were then served for three of us but there was at least a 10 minute wait before the other four entrees arrived.  They should have come altogether.  The restaurant was ok but I thought there should have been more and better choices for beers, appetizers, sides and fish as well as coordinated service.

The conversation was lively as always and moved around the table.  I talked with Joe P. who sat next to me and he said that he attended the Boston Marathon as he has for thirty years.  Since he lives in Somerville, he took his bike into town and walked it around through the large crowd. He said it was a good day.  I also talked with Joe about the new bike trails leading into the city and road safety.  Joe said that even though he wears a helmet the drivers are crazy and you really have to watch out.

I then told Joe that I had Easter Dinner at my house and hid 50 plastic Easter eggs out around the backyard with candy, money and some quiz questions in each egg. 

Joe P then said that he took his grandchildren in town to see the circus and got tired out from all the walking.  His daughter lives in Los Angeles and she has a new job working for Telecommunications Company and her husband is a teacher in Los Angeles.

Jim is planning another trip to Key West in Florida around May 1 and won’t be attending the NSSSA
Lunch at the Danversport YC.  He is also planning another trip to Europe.  He is going to take his oldest granddaughter who wants to go to Paris.  

Brother Tim still loves his iPad and does a lot of his airplane navigation using it. The group then talked about the new powdered alcohol and they were curious about whether some kids will bring it to school with them and hide it in their water bottles.

Brother Tim was curious on how the powdered alcohol would stay together because he thought it would ionize when put it into water. I found an article in the latest Popular Science magazine and I sent it off to everyone showing that if you could bond the alcohol to powered starch or sugar it would stay together in water.

Joe L. said that he had planned to be at his Art Studio this week and he paid the extra money for the advertising for an Open House but then he also booked two weddings in the next couple of weeks. So he won't be able to do both. He is a Justice Peace and the weddings are in Westford and in Littleton.  He also said that he is active with his advisory role with the Pfizer Drug Company and he seems to be you doing a lot of work for them.

Ed talked with Brother Tim quite a lot about the online courses that he teaches as well as some of the work that Brother Tim has done at St. Johns Prep.

We then talked about meeting Dick Costello next time and planned a lunch in Manchester by the Sea at the Landing restaurant and set a date for 21^st of May.  Jim will send email to all.

Comments always welcome….  markryan82@comcast.net

PS.

Some of us attended the NSSSA Dinner at the Danversport Yacht Club on May 1^st. At the dinner they honored some exemplary teachers from several districts for their exemplary service and contributions. The highlight though was the recognition of Joe Tarello, science teacher from Somerville who has been teaching for 50 years and does not plan on retiring any day soon. Several people spoke highly about Joe’s career and his contributions to teaching.  He got a standing ovation from all.  You can see some photos at the Picas web site ……  https://plus.google.com/photos/108806068200291783388/albums/6009678858371166929

 

Romeo Lunch 3-26-14

The Romeo gang met again on Wednesday 3/26/14 at the Yella Grille in Andover on route 28. You can get more info at the website www.yellagrille.com. The restaurant serves Lebanese and Mediterranean food. Think Kabobs and Rolled Grape Leaves.  There were six Romeos present including Joe Lapiana, Mark Ryan, Joe Pignatiello, Jim Terlizzi, Steve Winter and Ed DeSchuytner. You can see some photos at ……
https://plus.google.com/photos/108806068200291783388/albums/5996597878442591729?sort=1

We all sat at a long table near the kitchen. The waitress filled our water glasses and took drink orders (beer and wine). We ordered a couple of appetizers to share which consisted of small meat and spinach pies with stuffed grape leaves and humus dipping sauce.

We then ordered the entree.  Most got the Combination Plate which had skewers of steak, chicken and lamb with side of roasted vegetables.  Joe P. ordered the Steak Tips at first and then changed his mind to the Combo Plate.  However, the waitress brought him the Steak Tips which were in a sauce that he thought too spicy.  The combo plate was very good with the meats done just right. The beer and wine offerings were a little more expensive than usual. 

We later had a dessert and coffee with spoons to share.  The meal was good but the conversation was better.

The combo plate included Kabobs on a skewer.  Kabobs with meat on a skewer are called Shish Kabobs from the eastern Mediterranean. From Europe kabobs on bread rolls are called Doner Kabobs.  The kabob can have roasted chunks of fish, meat  or vegetables.  The meat is normally served with a dipping sauce of Humus, Tahini or Baba Ganush.  Humus is made by mashing chick peas in a blender with olive oil and seasonings. Tanini dipping sauce is made by roasting sesame seeds and blending them with olive oil and seasonings. Baba Ganush is made by baking eggplant and  mixing the inner meat with olive oil, chick peas and tahini in a blender with other seasonings.  Each of these dips was served with the appetizers and  entrees and were super tasty.

As we ate and drank we talked about a variety of items. The weather was the main topic. Joe L. said he ran out of oil on a Sunday and had to pay extra for an emergency delivery.  

Joe P. talked about looking into buying a new car as his approaches 100,000 miles.  My 2004 Tahoe has 103,000 and is still running great. The only bad side for an eight cylinder is the gas mileage. I’m lucky to get 15 mpg. However, I do have a 2013 Chevy Equinox that gets about 30 mpg and use it mostly for long trips up north.

We then talked a little about the situation in Ukraine and Crimea.  Joe P. said he would like to take a trip to Turkey. Both Joe L. and Jim T. commented that they had been there and the scenery was beautiful.

Ed D. mentioned all the emails regarding the NSTA convention and related publisher breakfast invitations. Sean Musselman from NSSSA has also sent out info. John Papadonis from Cambridge College  has an invite to the Aquarium Reception. Checkout the emails from NSSSA.

Jim T. said he would miss the NSSSA end of year dinner on May 1^st  at the Danversport YC since he was planning a trip to Key West, FL.  We all added some info about trips that we had made in the past to Key West and all the attractions.

 Joe P. also mentioned that he collected the rest 300 bottles of wine he made this year at the Boston Winery where they had a recent tasting.  He was happy that he was able to swap some of his Pa's Zinfandel for a variety of other wine types.

Jim said he was still busy with the Salem State Collaborative, planning teacher workshops and events. He mentioned that they recently had the WISE program (Women in Science and Engineering). They again had meteorologist Danielle Niles from WBZ-TV as the keynote speaker who always does a great job.

We then discussed some restaurants for next time.  Joe P. mentioned a few he had been to lately and we decided on the Bonefish Grill in Burlington. Jim will send out info in another email.

Comments and Suggestions always welcome … markryan82@comcast.net

 

Romeo Lunch 2-19-14

The Romeo guys met for lunch this month at Jacks Restaurante in Malden located at 655 Eastern Ave.. You can see the website and menu at http://www.jacksinmalden.com . The restaurant was highly rated on the Phantom Diner and the Chronicle TV program. Four Romeos attended the lunch which included Joe Lapiana, Jim Terlizzi, Ed DeSchuytner and Mark Ryan. You can see some photos at the Picasa website .....
https://plus.google.com/photos/108806068200291783388/albums/5982597302561057889?authkey=CK3Zn_PmuruoswE

We just had another snow storm the previous night, dumping another 5 inches where I live in Wilmington and over one foot elsewhere. I like snow but this is enough. This year I have had my driveway plowed seven times so far and it has now become a headache. Luckily my driveway and the roads were cleared so we could attend the lunch date.

The snow and ice build-up on roofs has also become quite a problem with some roofs collapsing under the extra weight. Ed said that he has bought some ice removal packets (Calcium Chloride) that he throws up on his house roof to melt the ice and form small rivers for the water to flow off more easily.

Joe said that he is getting tired of lugging out the old snow blower to remove snow at his house because it weighs so much and is hard to manuever. Next year he is going to get a contract for the entire winter for snow removal. Right now he is paying more than $50 each time it snows. I have my neighbour plow my driveway for $30 a time. He has a small Bobcat with a plow and has piled the snow along the sides of my driveway. It now stands 10 feet high and I am running out of room.

Jim didn’t complain too much about the snow. I think it’s because he has been away skiing most of the time. He recently took a trip to Colorado for a ski vacation with his wife. However, even there he had a hard time getting around with all the snowfall. Luckily he rented a four wheel drive car so he could travel to several local areas. He also recently went skiing at Attitache with a neighbour during the week. Although ski rates keep going up he said it was only $25 for the day midweek.

The waitress seated us in a small room near the back of the restaurant. She then took drink orders and brought bread to the table. After waiting til 12:20, no other Romeos showed up, so we looked at the menu and made our lunch choices. 

There was a separate lunch and full menu and we ordered from both. We made our choices and the waitress returned with soups and salads to start. The soup was Italian Wedding and very good. We then got the main courses. Three of us ordered the Linguini with Clam Sauce and Jim ordered a Sausage dish. After we had coffee, cappuccino and a Bongo (chocolate covered ice cream). The waitress brought spoons for all to share the dessert. Everything was delicious and good size portions and we all had enough to take home for later.

Jim was interested in watching the Olympics Men’s Hockey on the TV near our table. Team USA was playing the Czechs. We won 5 to 2 and it was an exciting game. Jim still plays ice hockey once a week and loves the sport. As we watched the game on TV, Jim named most of the players and predicted future Boston Bruins players.

Ed then told us that on the way here for lunch he drove by the offices of the New England Pigeon Association located near the restaurant which brought back old memories. Ed said that he raised homing pigeons when he was a teenager. He even entered them in competitions where he won enough money to pay for his college tuition.

Later I told the group that I was starting Cardiac Rehab this Thursday. It will be 2 days of exercises each week for 12 weeks. I’m looking forward to the activity and plan on getting healthier, slim and trim.

We then talked about where to go for lunch next month and picked a Lebanese Restaurant in Andover for March 26th. Jim will send out email notices.

Comments always welcome …. Markryan82@comcast.net