You Can Go Home Again ... well, for dinner anyway.

This is a very special Monday entry for Memorial Day.  My 40th birthday party was held in
the back room at the Ischoda Yacht Club.  Shortly thereafter, there was flooding which caused a fire that damaged the back room.  The fire put a huge strain on the club, but it was a challenge that this group was ready for.  Over the last four years, the membership of the Ischoda Yacht Club has pulled together like never before.  They turned adversity into triumph, one step at a time. 

With the back room out, the dining room was the first part of the process.  The smoking lamp was extinguished right off the bat, but that didn’t dampen anyone’s enthusiasm.  The dining room was remodeled and set a new standard for excellence when it reopened.  The news that I am celebrating, though is the opening of the new back room.  From what I saw, the craftsmanship is remarkable and will represent the can-do spirit of the club for a long time to come.  So, what does that mean to you?

Even if you aren’t a member, the Ischoda Yacht Club Galley is still open to you and is a great way to get to know the club.  I can say I have never had a bad meal there, and we are talking some serious meals. 

The place isn’t for everybody.  My mother loves it and will gently nudge me when she visits to make sure I take her for dinner.  The kids will have a great meal, too.  One must remember that it is an operating social club, there is smoking at the bar and if that offends you, well, there are other choices to explore.

Ischoda is and has been a great place for my family.  They don’t quite yell, “NORM”—er, I mean “DAVE” when I walk in, but Val knows our names and all too often she knows just to say “the usual” and take it from there.  The menu is solid and very much home style.  There is a seasonal variety and sometimes just a bit of a change up to see if you are paying attention.

The consistent favorites on my list:

The New York strip steak, either 8-ounce on a roll or 16-ounce blackened or broiled, is one of the best cuts of meat I have seen in a restaurant in Fairfield County.  The sandwich is my go-to meal.  The fries compliment it well, but a baked potato wouldn’t be out of place.  And have a beer. 

The meal that has made me think twice is the double dose of pork chops and hot cherry peppers.  I split this one with my mom when she is up … and neither of us goes hungry.  Thick and juicy. 

The pasta dishes are always just like Aunt Betty used to make.  Maybe not quite mom’s, but still a warm reminder of a home long ago. 

The kicker to the whole equation?  Rice pudding.  Pam is always asking for the addition of raisins, which has never happened and probably never will.  That is OK.  The pudding is the perfect way to end a great summer night, inside the dining room or out on the deck looking at the river.  Go.  Now. 

OK, not now, but Thursday through Saturday after 6 p.m.

Say hello to Val for me, and make sure she gets your name.  If you acquire a “usual” you have made it in my book. 138 Water St.  All the way back on the water, behind Pagano's.