DP8 made the best of ragged circumstances to enjoy a rare event lunch, this one in Windham. (The original Zicatela seems to be operating in Saugerties.)

The ragged circumstances (my assessment) included the uncharacteristic attendance of the Monteverds who would normally be in Florida (more below), Deb K’s first attendance at a DP8 event since her accident, and a daytime schedule that allows the Karneses a bit more time to accommodate Kalli. Throw in the Quinns and the eight of us enjoyed the bright interior of the Mexican (Oaxacan, I think) restaurant in the midst of a cold stretch of weather and one day before the onset of a snowstorm forecast to dump 20 inches of snow.

Four of us had been to Zicatelas 2 before and knew we could recommend it for DP8. The Mexican label often means some of our classic American cuisine received a different prep.

The menu included ten appetizers, five soups, almost ten salads, six burger types, five paninis, five steaks, a mix of enchiladas, burritos, street tacos, … and a whole bunch more that is bound to please almost everyone. The fajitas and the street tacos attracted five of us.

Lunch time poses a quandary, for some, whether to order a drink. Most did not but there was a wine and a Margarita order. Those of us ordering before that order almost changed our mind.

The dessert menu looked a bit plain and we did not order. However, on the way out, we discovered the unadvertised bakery shelf. Otherwise….

If the restaurant looked familiar it should have. Bistro Brie and Bordeaux had operated from this building for nearly a recent decade. And it sits with a good view of the ski trails.

Ambiance is Mexican colorful, reminding some of us of the Angels restaurants in East Durham and Cairo, both Mexican cuisines. Thrown in the Greenville Café also. First arrivals, and selectors of the restaurant, Ken and Kriss had selected a table (four tables, actually) close to the plastic-enclosed, heated deck. (If we were younger, we might have sat out there but even a covering could not hide the full effect of a 20 degree day.) Table settings are functional and practical.

Service was a mix. The basics were delivered. But, the touches that denote good service were haphazard. We would return but it is not FCI/MVB service.

As usual, with separate checks, a range of final bills showed. The low end might have been $35ish and the upper in the $75 range.

The table discussion, as always, strayed onto a variety of topics.

            Key topic  #1 was the progress of Ken’s treatments. And his not wearing glasses drew some attention about eye color. And although enduring a Freehold winter was not a Monteverd first choice, it is a familiar one from pre-retirement years. Too bad it has been colder and snowier than usual.

            Key topic #2 was Deb K’s progress. Had we not known about the accident and if we were just meeting for the first time in a while, I suspect most of us would not have noticed. Deb did confirm, however, that there still some mending to do.

            Other topics: A winter that is outdoing even last year’s cold winter by a cold spell; wishing the Notars an enjoyable FL stay; Kerry’s exemplary grandfatherly babysitting; appointments and appointments; Ski Windham and their private business model; memories of skiing some decades ago; Kalli’s well-being; keeping active in the winter; Lynda & Ross just leaving for Florida; the upcoming forecast of a big snowstorm (and it was); how busy Windham appeared to be, or not; the Adamses’ whereabouts; ways of keeping active; socializing; and more that has escaped this recording.