Roast that Chicken

Over the weekend Frank came down and we made a "Honey and Lemon Glazed Roast Chicken using a "Patagonian" recipe from Food and Wine magazine. It was very easy, which we like, and very tasty.
The recipe serves 8, adjust as needed. We fixed one chicken for the two of us.

INGREDIENTS

1. 1/4 cup plus 1 teaspoon honey
2. 2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
3. 2 tablespoons soy sauce
4. Three 3-pound chickens
5. Salt
6. 9 large rosemary sprigs
7. 9 garlic cloves, quartered
8. 1 lemon, cut into 12 wedges
9. DIRECTIONS
10. Preheat the oven to 450°. In a small bowl, combine the honey, lemon juice and soy sauce. Set the chickens on a large rimmed baking sheet and tuck the wing tips underneath. Season the cavities with salt and stuff each one with 3 rosemary sprigs, 3 quartered garlic cloves and 4 lemon wedges. Brush two-thirds of the honey glaze over the chickens and season lightly with salt. Roast in the middle of the oven for 30 minutes.
11. Reduce the oven temperature to 325°. Rotate the chickens in the pan and brush with the remaining glaze. Roast the chickens for about 45 minutes longer, until the juices run clear when the thighs are pierced; turn the pan halfway through roasting. Transfer the chickens to a carving board and let rest for 15 minutes. Carve the chickens and serve.

We also met our friends Rich and Craig for dinner at P.F. Changs last week - nice to see them. 

For lunch one day,  I met my friend Bob at The King and I, a nice Thai restaurant in downtown St. Petersburg. 

And finally, Frank and I made a return visit to Primi Urban Cafe. I had the always tasty Wild Mushroom ravioli in a wild mushroom, butter and sage sauce. Yummy.

Restaurant Weekend

Finally, I am regaining my appetite thanks to the magic Dr. W's elixir. I saw more restaurant interiors this past weekend than I have is a long time - that is all good. So here is a quick run-through beginning with an at-home dinner on Friday. Frank came over and made his famous "retro" burgers (my term). They are simple, and always delicious. 
Saturday we revisited an old favorite, Primi Urban Cafe. We have not dined there in a long time, partly due to a change of ownership, but we found the food equally as good as we remember. I had the ricotta ravioli with bolognese sauce which was delightful and tasty. I don't remember what Frank had, (feel free to add a comment...)
Sunday, Carol from Mount Dora arrived for a couple nights stay after dropping off her Brit friends and a couple from Mount Dora, at the Port of Tampa cruise docks to catch a 3- week repositioning cruise. It is always good to see Carol, and I didn't even make her cook this time. For dinner on Sunday, Carol and I went back to one of my old standbys - Cafe Alma. They have a nice variety on their menu including tapas, from which I selected a Tomato and Mozzarella Salad and a very good, tasty pair of Lump Blue Crab Cakes. If memory serves me correctly, (not always the case), Carol ordered the Seared Ahi Tuna Tapas. (Carol, any help would be appreciated.)
Monday we wanted to go to the Chihuly Collection (Carol had not visited the collection before, but she has been to more Chihuly exhibits than any one I know. Before visiting the collection, we stopped for lunch at 400 Beach Drive Seafood and Tap House.  Carol ordered the grilled grouper sandwich and I selected the Shrimp BLT which included Blue Cheese, Applewood Smoked Bacon, toasted pumpernickel and more. I am going back for another one.
Finally, Monday evening Carol, Frank and I tried Grazzi, recently relocated from Bay Walk plaza after a 2 to 4 month delay. They took over the old Pacific Wave space on 2nd St. South. I ordered the Chicken Marsala, which was tasty, but wasn't a Marsala sauce. While good, it is always disappointing when you get something pretending to be something else.
Whew... that is a long post, obviously I haven't been posting, but I thought you might find this restaurant wrap-up interesting. Do not expect a repeat this weekend.