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I always get a bit nervous when trying out a new restaurant; what if I can't find anything I like?

I recall several years ago going out with a group of friends to The River Cafe in Brooklyn in celebration of our friends recent engagement. They were my boyfriend's friends (said boyfriend is now said husband, and said friends are now dear friends of mine) all a few years older than me and all advanced eaters in my book. I remember checking out the menu days in advance trying to figure out what in the world I would order without sounding like a young and inexperienced eater. To the best of my recollection, it was devoid of "beef" or "chicken". As panic set in I had no clue what to order!!

I sat down at the table, hoping that one (just one) of the specials for the evening would include beef or poultry but I was out of luck. I believe I settled on a salad to start and for my entree, some sort of rabbit dish. A dish that I wasn't overly thrilled with but managed to eat anyway, trying my best not to draw attention to the fact that all I was wishing for was a plump, juicy, chicken breast whatever or a Filet Mignon, cooked to a medium rare perfection. For the record, there is now chicken breast, achem, organic chicken breast, on the menu. I felt like a child trying to hide my vegetables except that I had to swallow it! Knowing what I know now, boy, do I look back on that meal with regret. I wish I would've had the guts to enjoy the meal more and kept an open mind. I only hope that I have the chance to go back and redeem myself one day soon!

Over the weekend, said boyfriend (now husband) and I met up with some friends who were in town and decided to try a new restaurant out in Babylon on Long Island called Barrique Kitchen and Wine Bar. This place was jumping - we arrived at seven and had to wait over an hour for a table (no, they don't take reservations!). It was EXTREMELY refreshing to find a restaurant that offered more than the usual selection of Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvigion. I've been finding this at most LI restaurants that we've tried and, sadly, the wine selections are very limited. My husband and I used to live over a wine shop (4th floor walk-up) and we've become a bit snobby, so to speak. Not that we're connoisseurs but we do know more than "the standards".

Barrique has a wonderful selection of wines. I opted for a Viognier and he chose a lovely Pinot Noir from Lodi. The menu (read: food) was just as varied. I could have ordered the chicken or the sliced steak but before sitting down I told myself "NO!" and asked myself "What would Tony do?". He would try something new! He would order something out of the ordinary! And that's just what I did!

We ordered as a table: baby lamb chops(which came out way undercooked for me), sliced steak, veal meatballs, ravioli, eggplant something-or-other, crab cakes, a cheese plate and my dish, prosciutto-wrapped pork loin and wilted spinach with a mustard sauce. I NEVER order pork (the non-bacon kind, of course) and you know what - it was actually very good! Nice and juicy, tender, savory and perfectly cooked. The only thing wrong with the dish was that the spinach was a little cold. I detest cold hot food. The crab cake was my other fave. It had some really nice heat to it (I think there were jalapenos in there) with a great crunch.

Given the good service and great atmosphere, I'll be sure to order the baby octopus and the braised short ribs the next time - because there will be a next time! I might even try a fish dish and I never order fish! N.E.V.E.R. For me, it's all about baby steps and some hand holding. That's where Tony comes in. So, thanks Tony, this weekend was a step in the right direction. Check out a write up of Barrique Kitchen and Wine Bar in the New York Times from this past weekend HERE.