The Reet says eat here....

Johnny K decided to take me to a special restaurant for my birthday his choice, not mine). We dined at O'Porto Fine Portuguese Restaurant in Hartford, with good friends Keith/Sharon and Vin/Marsha. We started with good wine (I had a diet coke with lemon) followed by great appetizers (my favorite, Camarao Grelhado, grilled shrimp in lemon sauce, was so good that next time I will order that for dinner).

Another good appetizer was their famous Portuguese fried potatoes. (also served as the dinner potatoes); very tasty. The big hit of the night was the Paehla or Paella. Various concoctions were filled with shrimp, clams, mussels, scallops, chicken or whatever and served with SAFFRON rice. The SAFFRON rice was everyone's favorite (but not mine). John order Black Pork, pork chops that were cooked to perfection, unlike the dried out ones I cook. Me, well I had a steak with those famous Portuguese potatoes again because I'm a wimp. My recommedation is if you want a great steak go to Anthony's Jacks. Portguese steak doesn't cut it. Now to the deserts, they were awsome! I had cheesecake with caramel sauce, very good. Keith and Sharon enjoyed an Almond Tarte together, and John and Sharon had Creame Brule together. We all shared, except Vin and Marsha, Marsha enjoyed her Chocolate Mousse and only gave Vin a bite. All in all, it was a great birthday evening with fine dining and good friends. I just don't think I would order steak again. And, too much Saffron rice for me.

O'Porto....

A Paehla For Everyone At O'Porto This Month by KORKY VANN, The Hartford Courant
O'Porto, 2074 Park St., Hartford, 860-233-3184

It's "paehla month" at O'Porto Restaurant in Hartford (paehla is the Portuguese version of paella), and culinary festivities around the event include hot deals for takeout customers. Get your dishes to go, and you'll save cool cash on the eat-in cost. The restaurant offers a number of classic combinations of meat, seafood and vegetables, all built on fragrant saffron rice and all great options for anyone looking to impress dinner guests without going near a stove.

We tried Paelha a Casa (the house version) and immediately make a note to add it to our holiday menu. (Discounted paelha to-go prices remain in effect through the end of the year. The takeout price is $30; the in-restaurant dinner regular price is $46 and $40 during paehla month.) The dish, packed with shrimp, clams, mussels, pieces of chicken and pork, chunks of spicy chouriço sausage and accented with red peppers and green peas, is an instant crowd pleaser.

Other varieties include Paelha Marinheiro, which features scallops and shrimp, Paelha Portuguesa which adds lobster to the mix, and Paelha Vegetariana, (a vegetarian version) with seasonal vegetables. There's a two-person minimum order for any of the paelhas and for an additional per head cost. You can expand your order to feed as many as you like. (If you're looking to feed 15 or more, call a day ahead, otherwise several hours notice will suffice.)

Another great deal is a fixed-price selection featuring appetizer, entree and dessert for $26. For starters, we opt for the Crepes Recheadoes, delicate pancakes stuffed with shrimp in a mild tomato broth, then move on to the Salmão à Sousa, a generous grilled salmon fillet, and finish with what instantly becomes our favorite dessert of the season - Tarta de Amendoa - a sweet pastry base topped with a toffee-like crust of caramelized almonds.

To sweeten the pot for takeout customers O'Porto is offering a $5 gift card good toward your next meal with any takeout order now through Thanksgiving.

The restaurant is open for lunch Tuesday through Friday from noon to 2:30 p.m. Dinner is served from 5 to 10 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. Sunday hours are noon to 8 p.m. O'Porto is closed on Monday. Information: www.oportohartford.com.