Erin A La Carte

Ma Peche

2010-06-19T16:03:00.004-04:00

Ohhh David Chang. You just keep on getting better and better! I actually had no intention of visiting Ma Peche until my colleague proposed it as an idea for a client dinner. The fact that we didn't have a reservation made me nervous, but we were pleasantly surprised by the exceptionally accommodating host upon arrival. We put in our name, requested a table for 8pm, and they eagerly put us in their book, happy to make it happen. Sure enough, we came back at 8pm after getting manicures, and were seated after 5 minutes. From the beginning Ma Peche impressed.

The vibe at Ma Peche is very laid back, but in a modern way. Light wooden tables, stiff, uncomfortable chairs, high, white-walled ceilings, and bright lighting give it a very sophisticated, classiroomy feel. The waiters are all very young, chummy, and evidently passionate about the food they're serving. You can tell that everyone there, waitstaff and customers alike, all feel privileged to be a part of the Ma Peche experience.

Considering we were taking out clients, the sky was the limit with our menu choices - my favorite type of dining experience! We literally picked everything that caught our eyes on the menu, and it ended up being a complete success. And for this reason (and because I'm lazy), I'm going to describe everything we ordered in list form:

1. Squid salad with scallions, peanuts - light with bright, citrus-y flavors
2. Beef tartare, soy, scallions, mint - not my typical appetizer choice, but the accompanying shrimp chips were tasty
3. Asparagus salad with crab and egg yolk - perfectly al dente aspargus with a creamy yet delicate crab dressing
4. Pork ribs with lemongrass caramel - one of my favorites, crispy fried pork that falls off the bone
5. Huge scallops, seared with brown butter, lime, pea shoots - gigantic scallops, perfectly cooked and buttery
6. Rice noodles, spicy pork, sawleaf herb - the oddly shaped noodles, crispy on the inside, were not at all what I expected but a nice surprise. The fleks of pork added great flavor and texture to the dish
7. Short ribs with carrots and spaetzle - another hit - melt in your mouth cubes of short rib with a light yet flavorful broth
8. Fried calamari with scallions and fish sauce - a vinagary delicacy, I could eat a whole bowl!

Unfortunately, I didn't take photos of the food, but I did get a chance to take photos of two equally stellar sightings: Neal Patrick Harris and Mark Summers, who were dining together amongst a large group of young men and one woman. After a cocktail and a glass of wine, I couldn't resist asking for a photo upon their exit. Success! They were both incredibly nice, and pleased to take a photo with their fans (especially Marc Summers, Double Dare blast from the past). If you are dying to see food photos, though, don't fret - about every blog out there is filled with Ma Peche slide shows - check out Grub Street for a sneak peek.
The experience didn't end with dinner, of course, though for the unmotivated it normally would. Ma Peche doesn't serve dessert in the main dining room. This, to me, is a huge setback. I don't want to get out of my chair to get dessert, because that's when I realize I'm too full to actually eat it. Ma Peche gives you two options - take dessert to-go from the Milk Bar that welcomes you upon entering with bright neon lights, or sit in the quiet upstairs lounge and order. We opted for the latter and pre-ordered four of the famous freshly baked Milk Bar Chocolate Chip Cookies, which take 10 minutes to bake. These were absolutely incredible, and washed down with a cold glass of milk, brought me more back to my childhood than Marc Summers and the classroom like setting did combined. Pure bliss. Warm, doughy, chocolatey, chewy cookies. We also ordered the Candy Bar pie, which is the perfect combo of salty and sweet, chocolate and caramel, hard and smooth textures.

Overall, Ma Peche was awesome and scored especially high on food and service. The host even left us with his card so we could give him a heads up on our future visits. He may regret that, because I will definitely be making this place a stop when visitors come to town!

Grade: A-
Address: Mezzanine of Chambers Hotel, 15 W 56th St between 5th and 6th
Website: www.momofuku.com/ma-peche/

Marea

2010-06-13T22:35:00.008-04:00

Marea Marea Marea. Everyone talks about Marea. Now I understand why! I rarely venture up to the Upper West Side but upon reading another review of the place, I felt compelled to give it a shot. Most importantly, one of my best friends was in town, and after a weekend of eating solely bagels, chips, bean dip and sangria, we were looking for a delicious and hearty meal.
Marea is a sophisticated spot, but it's versatile. You could dress up to go here, but you could also, like I did, wear Jeans and a nice top and feel comfortable. You can tell that every detail in the surroundings was very carefully chosen, down to the utensils and place settings. It's really a beautiful place, and the food is amazing. Below is a picture of Sophia, me and Sara, obviously really excited about our meal.
The servers wowed me from the start. Not only did they come around immediately after we placed our order with a wide selection of breads in a basket, but they brought an amuse bouche of delicious cubes of raw salmon to the table. I love freebies, especially when they involve seafood and are delicious. GOOD ONE MAREA!

I could have ordered everything on the menu, and being the indecisive person I am, it took me about 10 minutes of interrogating the waiter to finally decide. Thankfully I loved every bite and left without regrets. We started with the Chickpea and Seaweed Fritters, which were fried doughy goodness, and sardines, which I didn't touch. They have a great selection of little sharable bites, so I definitely plan to try something new next time around.

I am rarely wowed by pasta. To me, hot carbs with tomatoes and oil and a few other random ingredients is hard to mess up. Bur Marea's lobster ravioli with salmon roe was incredible. Ravioli especially tends to be dry, over or undercooked, but this ravioli was not, and the ratio of filling to pasta was perfect - rather than skimping on the filling, as most restaurants do, Marea literally stuffed these little dumplings to the brim with lobster goodness. The best part of the pasta, though, was the light buttery cream sauce. I could have made a meal out of this and the bread, along with the salmon roe that bursted with flavor with every bite. This ravioli may have been some of the best I've ever had.
I expected to be disappointed by the next pasta dish I tried, but fortunately I was wrong. The spaghettini with bone marrow and squid, which Sophia ordered, was up there with the ravioli. Such a rich, intense meaty flavor really deepened the flavor of what could have been a bland tomato sauce, and surprisingly coated the squid perfectly. I was in pasta heaven.
For my actual main course, I ordered the swordfish, which was delicious as well. Simple and delicate, it was the perfect main dish to follow the rich marrow pasta.
And of course, for dessert, we ordered the Gianduja with cocoa nib crem, hazelnut chocolate, and fior di latte gelato. Eating this after having consumed two bottles of wine, I have to say I wasn't in the best state to fairly judge, but, it was awesome. And as if I wasn't filled to the brim already, the waiter topped us off with a selection of hand crafted chocolates that I devoured. AND THEN, as we were leaving, they handed us a lemon poppy seed muffin for the morning. I told myself that I wouldn't be able to eat again until the next evening. Of course that was a lie, and the lemon poppy seed muffin turned out to be the perfect breakfast meal.

Thanks Marea - you get an A in my book (but please move further downtown if you can).

Grade: A
Address: 240 Central Park S
Website: www.marea-nyc.com

Maialino

2010-05-20T21:48:00.005-04:00

Maialino - another Danny Meyer spot in the Gramercy area, but with an Italian twist. As I've said in past posts, aside from Shake Shack, Danny Meyer's restaurants never blow me away. They're a safe bet - good for family outings, business dinners, formal dates - the food is solid and never fails, but it rarely merits a distraction from the conversation. Maialino runs along this typical Danny Meyer theme, but offers some of his best dishes I've tasted. And like all of his restaurants, the interior is absolutely stunning. Eclectic modern art adorns the brasserie-esque space, and though the wooden chairs and checkered floor emphasize a casual, laid back feel, the stunning flowers and long black bar preserve its sense of sophistication. The waitstaff, also common to all Meyer establishments, is excellent as well. There is an abundance of servers catering to each table, though not overbearingly so, and they glide by with beaming smiles - so much that I could have been convinced I was outside of New York City. With an extensive, well rounded menu, exceptionally accommodating waitstaff, a gorgeous, airy interior, and a view of the lush Gramercy Park, it seems like Maialino is a New York establishment with an infinite lifespan.

The meal started off with a bang - the bread came out before we ordered! I hate places that like to gauge the size of your order before deciding on your allocation of bread. The basket was filled with a good variety of Italian breads - all crusty and salt free, aside from the thin breadsticks. We then started off with the crostini di piselli e fave - four pieces of ricotta smothered thin crostini with a generous pile of bright green pea and fava bean puree. The flavors in this dish were reminiscent of spring... vibrant, and fresh. I loved it, nd the light dusting of parmesan on top rounded out the mild flavors of the ricotta and pea mixture perfectly.

The pasta course was a tough call for me, but after summoning the waitress'S advice, I opted for the bucatini all'Amatriciana, a thick hollow spaghetti with a hearty bacon-onion tomato sauce. The pasta was surprisingly light, as the guanciale was sparse and subtle. The noodles themselves were dense and al dente. Overall, it was a very simple yet well-executed and flavorful dish.

New York Magazine voted Maialino for best roast chicken in New York city, so in spite of its renowned namesake dish (maialino is suckling pig), we went for a crispy roast chicken and the waitress's other recommendation, the Pesca Spada, or swordfish. The roast chicken actually could have been one of the best I've had in New York. Flattened to a uniform thickness, it wasn't served as a typical Italian roast chicken, but it had tons of flavor of the drippings and skin, and was utterly tender, white and dark meat alike. The chicken is served in solace on a white plate amidst thin layer of juice; the clean presentation really encourages the diner to appreciate its quality.

The swordfish, also in true Roman style, was a very straight forward yet solid dish. The fish was dense, as to be expected with swordfish, but had a little more of a tender give that I liked. The wild mushroom bunch and fennel on the side were excellent - obviously sauteed in both oil and butter, they seemed like an indulgence more than a healthy side.

The dessert options all seemed quintessentially Roman and delicious - simple cakes dolloped with creams, tarts, tartufo, and gelati. Considering we had a $200 gift certificate (thanks to my wonderful team at work!!!), we ordered both the gelati, which consisted of pistachio, fior di late, and chocolate, and the rasberry tart. I loved the tart - it wasn't overbearingly sweet as tarts and pies so often are. In fact, it was a bit on the sour side, but along with its side of unsweetened creme fraiche, it formed such a unique combination. The gelati were delicious, though the chocolate was a bit more intense and dark than I like for ice cream. Melted onto a biscotti, though, it tasted just fine!

I feel very fortunate to have had a reservation on a Thursday evening at Maialino. The chicken was definitely the highlight of the night, and alone probably enough to bring me back, but I wouldn't be hugely disappointed if I never returned. I mean, there's always the 20 other sceney-impossible to get a table at-celebrity chef-italian restaurants in the city I could try! Still, the Danny Meyer sighting mid-meal is a thrill I could only find at Maialino :)

Grade: A-

Website: www.maialinonyc.com

Address: 2 Lexington Avenue at 21st Street

Corton NYC

2010-05-12T19:34:00.004-04:00

Corton has been praised as one of the best new restaurants in New York City, but based off of the descriptions of its delicate and refined food, it didn't strike me to be a potential favorite. While it may seem like I only dine at expensive, snooty places, I don't. I've just had a lot of reasons to dine at special occasion restaurant recently (birthday, new job, etc.). In fact, going to Corton wasn't even my choice - it was my manager Eileen's choice, since she and my two other managers kindly offered to take me out to celebrate my birthday. And in retrospect, I am SO glad we followed her suggestion!

The restaurant is absolutely gorgeous - with a white, pristine, Japanese-zen feel, and background noise so low you could almost hear a pin drop, it felt more like a wellness center than a typical New York restaurant. But everything about the restaurant coincides. The food is clean, beautifully and perfectly presented and combines pure, fresh, simple ingredients to create intense and complex flavors. The service is subtle and impeccable as well - calm yet attentive, and not overzealous in the slightest. Quite an artful place.
The *only* complaint I would have about the restaurant is that they do not allow photos of their food. Out of snobbiness or respect for their guests (I was sitting a table away from Matt Lauer), Idon't know; nonetheless it made me discouraged to write this blog. However, with constant flashbacks of the wonderful food I consumed at Corton, I couldn't help but distribute a stellar review to my (3) avid fans.

I and the rest of my group opted for the three course meal - along with 2 amuse bouches, a delicious selection of bread rolls (with two types of butter and fleur de sel), the various accoutrements the come as surprises with each dish, and a chocolate truffle and macaron tasting, it was more than enough food. To start, I ordered the "From the Garden" salad. While it sounds dull, it was probably the best, most inventive and artful "salad" I've ever tasted. Bright and beautiful young vegetables with edible flowers doused the plate on top of hidden of root purrees and flavored oils. Really light and clean, but totally satisfying. We also decided to split an "in between" course that was incredible - "Early Spring," which consisted of four separate plates: a scallop, sweat pea ravioli, a delicate crab salad, and a beautiful piece of rare quail. Of course I'm butchering the image of each course with poor descriptions, but you should know that each plated dish was as beautiful as food could be - a painting on a plate, with complimenting colors, textures, heights...it was almost surprising that it tasted as good as it looked!

For my main course, I had the halibut with morel mushrooms. Of course, it was perfectly cooked, light, comforting, and wholesome, but the best part about it was the heavy portion of freshly cooked green risotto served in a steel pot. I also managed to try the Angus beef, which was actually a hearty size. At that point in the meal, I was perfectly full (not only off of food, but off of probably close to a sweet bottle of Pouilley Montrachet burgundy), and felt so fortunate to have had one of the most intricate and spectacular meals of my life with three of the people I most admire.

Dessert followed the trend of the rest of the food - it was pure goodness. I ordered the "gold bar," which is Corton's version of a dense yet creamy, chocolate caramel layered cake. If I were to return, I would order a dessert with less intensity considering all of the wine and collectively-rich food I consumed, but no complaints in retrospect.

Grade: A+
Address: 239 West Broadway @ North Moore
Website: www.cortonnyc.com

Daniel

2010-04-26T22:28:00.013-04:00

It's 10.28pm and I just returned from a truly memorable dining experience at Daniel. My fellow foodie friend, Erin (a.k.a Ketel 2), and I sat down to our table at 6.15pm. Yes, we sat for four hours - but dining at Daniel revolves around so much more than just food. It's about service, experimentation, conversation, gluttony, luxury...just about everything I love in life! Truly indescribable, and on a entirely different level than most restaurants I've tried.

The setting is absolutely stunning: ornate, yet subtly so. Gorgeous, bright red fresh flowers adorn the space, surrounded by smooth oak vaults of aged wine, and long glossy columns supporting the adorned vault ceilings. Round tables evenly disperse the dining room, each with exceptional views spanning the entire restaurant - not one bad seat in the house. In fact, the host positioned Erin and me in a somewhat remote corner of the restaurant, but we could still view the mastery of the servers collectively tending to each table.

Before even attempting to decide on my main course, I was forced to choose a cocktail. With a long list of intriguing and never-before seen ($20+) cocktails, I decided to follow the advice of our (one of five) servers and have a famous white cosmopolitan made with St. Germain Elderflower Liquor, Lime Juice, and White Cranberry Juice. The long stem glass came holding a tennis-ball shaped ice cube enclosing a vibrant purple flower. The cocktail itself went down a little too easily, and reminded me of a subtler, more natural version of a starburst fruit candy. I loved it.

The waiter was amazingly accommodating, and upon inquiring about the wine, he brought out three tastings of three whites. We played a guessing game, and he asked me to pick my favorite without revealing the names of each. Considering the seemingly stuffy surroundings, I appreciated his light heartedness. His warm humor, along with the friendliness of the other waiters, proved to me that Daniel is a step above the rest of the fine dining establishments in New York - though the food and service is refined to a T, the staff and surroundings are warm, comforting, and playful. "Daniel is very much about experimentation, and trying something new..if you don't like it, send it back, or throw it in my fave" one of our waiters joked.

As you can see already, there are many steps to the dining experience at Daniel. After ordering our drinks, we were given a beautiful amuse bouche a la lemon grass. Three tiny tastings of unexplainable lemon grass dishes gave Erin and I an idea of the remarkable journey to foodie land we were about to take.

And as if that weren't enough, Mr. Bread-melier came out with a basket of 7 selections of bread - french baguette, sourdough baguette, rustic sourdough slices, butter rolls, olive rolls, parmesan garlic rolls, and seven seaded loaf. Between Erin and me, we were able to try almost every type of bread. The bread, along with cold french butter, made my entire experience at Daniel worth my while.

After bread service, and about 45 minutes through the meal, we were ready to order. The servers were receptive to our requests for suggestions, and their decisiveness was refreshing. Per their recommendations, I ordered the Maine Peekytoe Crab Salad, split an extra course of the Artichoke Raviolini in Saffron sauce with clams, squid, and cuttlefish, and decided on the Black Sea Bass with Syrah Sauce for my main. The crab salad was served in rolls of thinly sliced apple, and a lightly sweet granny smith apple dressing. The gorgeously plated dish was light and refreshing, with bursts of different flavors and textures.

The raviolini was a seafood lovers heaven - tiny green ravioli with generous portions of mussels and squid lay amidst a velvety saffron seafood broth, with stunning organic flavors.

I even snuck a taste of Erin's foie gras...velvet in my mouth!

Picking one fish dish among the four listed was definitely a feat, but I was very happy I decided on the bass. The mysterious syrah sauce tasted more like a salty, rich caramel sauce, and while it sounds uncomplimentary, it accompanied the simple, delicate white fish just perfectly. The crispy potato parmentiers adorning the plate were also delicious.

Erin's Duo of Wagyu beef was also delicious - the short ribs were like butter and the filet was perfectly cooked.

The dessert course could have been a meal (or two) in itself. Of course I skipped the entire 5-item long "Fruit" section and went straight to the "Chocolate" section. Erin ordered the Chocolate Peanut Butter Ganache with caramel ice cream, while I had my "go-to" dessert: warm chocolate cake (aka Warm Guanaja Chocolate Coulant) with milk sorbet. Both were exceptional, and as expected, beautifully plated. The chocolate cake came out as a mini bundt, and upon being punctured, oozed out with hot chocolate liquid - just as a molten chocolate cake should!

Erin's dessert was my favorite - with a thin, crunchy, somewhat salty peanut butter layer and a mound of dense chocolate mousse, it tasted similar to what I would imagine a sophisticated candy bar to taste like.

In addition to these two desserts, the staff brought out a dessert on the house for my birthday (thanks to Erin!): the Coconut Lemongrass Soup with poached Pineapple and Coconut Rum sorbet. Not necessarily my dessert of choice, but I could still appreciate it for its beauty, creativity, and summery flavors.

And then...as our buttons bursted, we were given a dish of petit fours. And then, warm Madeleines. And then...a chocolate truffle course. Of course I had to taste a little bit of everything, but at that point I was so full it was hard for me to truly appreciate the flavors of each.

Once I thought the night couldn't improve any more, Erin 2 decided to ask about the private dining space, called the sky room. The sky room sits adjacent to Daniel Boulud's office, and directly above Daniel's kitchen. The room has glass windows, so the special party of four reserving the space can watch every move of the kitchen staff as they glide through an 8 course meal. Fortunately, Erin's interest led to one of the servers encouraging us to take a look, so upon finishing our meal and signing the bill, we were escorted a la VIP to the kitchen. While the private space, with a big window overlooking the kitchen, was awesome, it was the kitchen itself and the art and dance occurring inside of it that truly amazed me. The focus and determination in the eyes of each chef was breathtaking - to see a team of people, so driven and so dedicated to their work and the flavors and beauty of the plate after plate was truly inspiring. I could have stayed and watched for hours. The fact that each chef was a good looking french man may have played a part as well :)

Dining out for me, regardless of where I go, is an experience in and of itself. It's like going to see a show, or going to see a baseball game, or taking a hike with your family. It's an experience that allows you to interact, engage company, activate your senses, bond with your loved ones, bond with new friends, and release whatever tension you have built up inside. But dining at Daniel...not only is that an experience, but it is truly an EXPERIENCE. An Experience with its own definition; an Experience in its own right. And you must experience this Experience to know what I mean...and believe me, it's worth it.

Grade: A+
Website: www.danielnyc.com
Address: 60 East 65th Street between Park and Madison

Babbo

2010-04-23T18:47:00.014-04:00

My favorite Christmas gift this year was a gift from my dear friend Carolyn: a gift certificate to Mario Batali's famous Italian restaurant, Babbo. I couldn't wait to use it...but considering tables are next to impossible to reserve there, I had to wait four months to do so. Thankfully, my kind boss knows Mr. Batali, so I was hooked up with a Thursday night reservation at 6.15pm - ideal compared to the other (if even available) choices of 5pm or 10.45pm.

I decided to take my fellow food lover Sonia, and we counted down the seconds leading up to the event. Sonia is not just a regular Babbo customer, though; considering Mario Batali religiously and exclusively uses her father's olive oil, Da Vero, she is basically a celeb at the establishment. I had to embarrass her upon entering by revealing the fact that Da Vero's daughter was in the house, and very glad I did - they basically bowed at our feet and even sent out a delicious freebie. Oh, the life of excess and hangin' celebs...doesn't get much better than this.

Bottom line is that Babbo's ambiance is cozy and wonderful, its service is attentive and friendly, and its food is delicious. I have to say that though Babbo's menu is more varied and extensive than that of Lupa, Mario's other Italian restaurant, the quality of food is on par. That said, I think Babbo is a better and more popular establishment because of its gorgeous, upscale interior...you really do feel special when sitting amidst the warm, living room-esque surroundings.

Now, the food. I love surprises, and fortunately, the waiter brought out a small serving of chick pea bruschetta to start off our meal. It was much appreciated and definitely tasty, but nothing to rave about.

After a few sips of an incredibly stiff French 75 cocktail and the best glass of buttery, golden Italian chardonnay I've ever had, we started with fettuccine with housemade pancetta and asparagus. With the overwhelming list of incredible pastas, deciding was not a simple task, but our waiter recommended choosing one with seasonal ingredients. The pasta was, of course, amazing. Though it was served on a butter sauce, it was surprisingly delicate and light in flavor - the asparagus was very subtle, and the pancetta, much more like thin crisp pieces of bacon than thick cut fatty chunks of meat, added the perfect textural variety that the soft noodles and asparagus needed. A classic spring dish.

One of my favorite dishes of the night was not featured on the menu, and came out on the house: fresh mozzarella di bufala served with sauteed ramps and charred italian bread. The dish sounds simple, and it was, but its simplicity served a purpose by allowing the quality of each individual ingredient to shine. The mozzarella was milky and soft, perfect to smash on top of the grilled bread and layer under the salty ramps. Loved it!

For my main, I ordered a seasonal special: sauteed swordfish with sweet peas, morel mushrooms, and an incredibly delicate broth poured tableside. The fish was perfectly cooked - skinless, yet seared to a crisp on both sides. No salt needed - wonderfully seasoned, and some of the softest, most delicate sword fish I've tasted.

Sonia ordered very well, also - a beautiful duck with radicchio and house made pancetta. Both the breast and the leg of the duck were served, and I was stunned at the light, crispy-crackle-ness of the skin. I am not an avid duck fan, but I can accurately profess that this duck dish was out of this world.

To finish off our wonderful meal, Sonia and I shared a cheese plate of tallegio, triple cream cheese, and pecorino (I think). Though a light serving, it was just enough to top off a night of buttery chardonnay, buttery pasta, and buttery fish...or should I say Olive-oiley? Either way, the food was glorious, and I'll be back as soon as I feel so inspired to bug my boss for hook-up or dine out at 5pm on a Monday.

Grade: A

Address: 110 Waverly Place between 5th and 6th avenues

Website: www.babbonyc.com

Union Square Cafe

2010-04-15T19:57:00.005-04:00

I've been to Union Square Cafe a few times, and have never been wowed by the food, which disappoints me for a variety of reasons. For one, foodies rave about this place. Secondly, the service is impeccable - waitstaff is friendly and efficient, which would be a perfect match for incredible food. Lastly, after reading his autobiography, I came to respect and admire Danny Meyer both as a chef and entrepreneur, so I really want to be in love with his food (fortunately I swoon over Shake Shack). Sadly, after this weekend's visit with my parents, my perception of his first NY restaurant didn't change much. It's not that the food isn't good; it's generally tasty, well seasoned and simply prepared. It's just that it doesn't stand out or impress. I have trouble remembering what I ate during each visit, which enough of an indicator that it probably wasn't worth remembering. That said, Union Square Cafe does serve a very specific purpose incredibly well, more so than any other restaurant in downtown New York: it has a calming, sophisticated, unpretentious ambiance that is perfectly fitting for family or a group including a multiple generations. It's a crowd pleaser - young people love it for the perfect cocktails and well rounded food options, mature adults appreciate it for the tolerable noise volume level, good service, and un-intimidating, comprehensible menu. Another plus for groups: they have large round tables, a rarity in the cramped spaces of most NYC restaurants.

The standout of the meal I shared with my extended family last Saturday was the berkshire pork lasagna with ricotta and English Pesto pea sauce that my grandmother ordered - though rich and flavorful, it was surprisingly light and delicate. The restaurant also offers the option of ordering a half portion of all of its pastas, so she was able to order just enough to satisfy her hunger. My mother's giannone chicken, served atop a parmigiano bread pudding and grilled maitake mushrooms deserves praise as well. The chicken was perfectly crisp, juicy, tender and subtly salty, and the bread budding tasted as decadent as and similar to a fancy macaroni and cheese. However, it must be noted that my sister ordered the same dish, and found a few pieces that were on the verge of raw...definitely not cool for chicken, and definitely not acceptable at a long-standing, revered restaurant like Union Square Cafe.

After tasting what looked best on the table, I finally focused on my own dish: seabass served with broccoli raab and morel mushrooms. It was no doubt delicious, but not a stand out among other fish dishes I've tasted elsewhere.
Dessert fortunately pleased me, as always. The flourless chocolate cake was dense, chocolatey, and rich, and was served with a salted caramel sauce that brought a simple dish to a whole new level. The waitress also brought out a complimentary cookie plate, so on the dessert front, I was totally satisfied.

My parents absolutely loved Union Square Cafe. I enjoyed it as well. I always have an overall pleasant experience at Union Square Cafe, but as I said before, it's lack of wow-ing food erases it from my brain as potential options for my friends and me. However, it's the perfect place for out of town visitors, or for a manageable and relaxed dining experience amidst the hustle and bustle that is New York City, and I'm sure I'll visit again in the future.

Grade: B
Address: 21 East 16th Street between 5th Ave and Broadway
Website: www.unionsquarecafe.com

Balthazar

2010-04-11T10:14:00.007-04:00

I can confidently say that Balthazar is one of my all time favorite New York City restaurants. With such bustling energy, a beautiful, aristocratic-brasserie setting, bright lights and constant action, it's so quintessentially Manhattan, and I thrive off of its pulse. The food is equally thrilling - with a something-for-everyone menu and a list of to die for desserts, one really can't complain about its menu options.

Balthazar impresses tourists and locals alike, so I decided to bring my New York native father and my California dreamin' mother for their first night on the town. They, like I and the rest of our group, had an amazing experience. Though my parents would have appreciated a lower volume level, they adapted to Balthazar's vivacity quite quickly, and were soon enough yelling over the noise to boast about their dishes. And, our Argentinian server was an angel - on a packed Friday night, she accommodated every one of our requests, gladly took back a cocktail that was not to my liking, and served desserts on the house without explanation. Considering the extreme difficulty in scoring a Balthazar reservation, the place is surprisingly unpretentious, which is best demonstrated by the incredibly friendly wait-staff.

First thing's first: Balthazar's bread is melt in your mouth, as is its cold french butter. The bread is as fresh as bread can be - cool, soft, and dense - a great indication of Balthazar's food quality as a whole. Deciding what to eat was the toughest part of the night, but I narrowed it down to my sister's favorite frisee aux lardons salad, a chicory salad with warm bacon shallot vinaigrette and a poached egg, and the grilled brook trout with warm spinach and lentil salad. The bacon salad was just about as decadent as a salad could be, and with a perfectly poached egg and crispy pieces of bacon, could be a perfect meal for brunch.

The grilled brook trout was a good light, basic choice, but nothing spectacular. However, I don't blame the chef for my lack of interest; I blame my decision making skills. I was hoping for something a bit more flavorful, but the trout came out exactly as described on the menu: grilled, simple, and light.

My mother loved her boulliabase (one of the specials); Sonia seemed thrilled with her roasted leg of lamb; my sister described her pumpkin ravioli as "heavenly"; and my dad was more than overwhelmed by the quality and deliciousness of his duck confit (see smiles below).

Unfortunately, my Eli's steak was undercooked, but the waitress's profuse apologies and willingness to bring him a new one made up for the damage.

The desserts were more than just the "icing on the cake." Oh my. They were nothing short of incredible. The profiteroles with generous scoops of vanilla ice cream and hot fudge poured table-side, the warm chocolate cake with white chocolate ice cream, the perfect pot de creme...these all remain in my memory as some of the best, most well-executed desserts I've had in New York. I'd return just for dessert and go home a happy camper.

My family is a tough crowd to please, so leaving a restaurant complaint-free is quite a rare occurrence. Balthazar seemed to master the art of becoming a Bellsey favorite, however, which means that for every future NY family gathering, I'll be on the phone to book a reservation before it's too late. Wish me luck!

Grade: A

Location: 80 Spring Street between Broadway and Crosby

Website: www.balthazarny.com

Rayuela: LES Latin American fare

2010-04-07T21:40:00.009-04:00

I've only heard great things about this Nuevo Latino restaurant, interestingly enough hidden on an insignificant block in the Lower East side, and after tonight's meal I can understand why. Its food is inventive, enlivening, and filled with flavor, its ambiance cool, collected, and modern; the plentiful drink options are vibrant and eclectic; and the service, from what I could tell, is seamless. Its uniqueness is best represented in the first sight upon entering the space: a young sprawling tree bursting through the roof of the first floor. With all of these attractive qualities, I was surprised to see Rayuela practically empty until about 8pm, but I can understand that its swank and spunk feel make it more of an appeal to the younger, more adventurous nocturnal crowd.

Crowd or no crowd, I sincerely enjoyed every dish at Rayuela, because each contained an element of bright and invigorating flavors so quintessential in Latin America cuisine, and so representative of Latin American culture.

Before diving into the dishes we ordered, I have to give special praise to Rayuela's complimentary serving of bread. I've always said a restaurant is only as good as its bread. While this usually doesn't apply to Latin American spots, which typically serve tortilla chips (or nothing) to curb the appetite, I was ecstatic to learn that it applied to Rayuela. And it wasn't enough that they served bread; they served the most delicious, moist, dense and cheesy breads I've ever had...served hot out of the oven. This little nugget of dough accompanied by chilled sweet cream olive butter is worth being sold as an appetizer on its own. Or even a main! I'd go back just to have another.
For our actual appetizers, we actually didn't order any ceviche, and they had quite a variety. Instead, we shared the special: spicy guacamole mixed with tomatoes, crab, and shrimp, which couldn't have been more simultaneously light and luscious. The chips were even worthy of praise - crispy, salty, and light, they were a perfect side to the rich and creamy avocado dip.
We then split two refreshing, tasty ensaladas: Cangrejo con Esparrago with jumbo lump crab meat, white asparagus, spinach, tomatoes and bacon in a grapefruit ginger vinaigrette, and the Pera Peral with spice and rioja wine infused pear, watercress, la peral cheese, toasted walnuts and a guindilla-agave vinaigrette. Both were light, citrusy, and flavorful, and I was particularly and pleasantly surprised by the generous portion of crab in such a dainty salad. Another wonderful and easily sharable appetizer was the Jalea: a mix of tempura seafood with mango-aji amarillo aioli, served with red onions and yucca fries. While I would have appreciated a larger share of my favorite part, the yucca fries, the meaty pile of delicately fried seafood in the center of the plate was a fair distraction.
For my main course, I ordered perfectly: grilled chilean seabass with a delicious sweet corn mash and a chorizo-salsa verde salad. The seabass was perfectly velvety, buttery and flakey; it practically melted in my mouth.

I couldn't resist ordering the arepas con queso as a side dish, and I am glad! Dense, subtly sweet, and creamy, they were a delicious partner for the light fish. Also notable was the Asian style Paella, or paella de coco with lemongrass, coconutmilk, shrimp, calamari, scallops, octopus, manila clams and peas, which basically looked like a fiesta on a plate. The grilled beef tenderloin was also well liked by all. Essentially, every dish was an inventive mix of contrasting yet complimentary flavors that brought me straight back to warm nights in Brazil (though I've only experienced a few). Party on a plate (above)
The dessert list was not as enticing as the main menu, but considering my sweet tooth I couldn't resist. Most delicious was the Chocolate Cortazar, a white, bittersweet and milk chocolate mousse, with mate ice cream and both chocolate and macadamia sauce. Desserts rarely surprise me with new flavors, but this particular one brought to life an unfamiliar, yet delicious sweetness - similar to honey but with more of a nutty flavor, which I assume was the "mate." The overall dish was scrumptious and deceptively light after a load of savory food. The other desserts we ordered were, while beautifully plated, not too exciting as they didn't involve ice cream or chocolate...and close friends know about my passion for those two things.Despite the scarce amount of appealing dessert choices, and an overly sweet and practically fruitless sangria, I had a great experience for Rayuela and would be back there again in a heartbeat. Whether just to have an inventive cocktail and a tasty appetizer, or to have a fun night with a group of friends, Rayuela is an awesome choice in a fun area - a posh restaurant positioned perfectly before a night out in the not so posh Lower East Side.

Grade: A-
Location: 165 allen street between rivington & stanton
Website: www.rayuelanyc.com

Stanton Social wahooo

2010-04-03T07:26:00.005-04:00

Two of my closest friends from grade school were in town last night, so my fellow New Yorker friend Sonia and I decided to take them to a well known, quintessentially Manhattan-trendy hot spot: Stanton Social. They absolutely loved it. With the overload of tapas style food options on the menu, an outstanding cocktail list, a vibrant (though quite loud), upbeat vibe, and surprisingly friendly service, the restaurant turned out to impress my friends just as I had hoped.

We of course started the night out with a selection off of the extensive and creative cocktail list. Per Sonia's suggestion, I had the pink grapefruit mint martini with a hint of lemon simple syrup. Delicious, and quite dangerous, as I consumed it within minutes. I also tried the cucumber-vanilla cosmopolitan made with white cranberry juice. Though this was a little too sweet for my taste, my friends Gillian and Carolyn love it. My favorite of the night, however, was the blood orange-jalapeno margarita - perfect for those who like a little kick in their cocktail.
We were then told to order at least 6 menu items for three of us and an additional 3 for my gluten allergic friend who was thrilled to learn they had an entire gluten free menu (which was filled with options that I wanted to order as well!). After ordering our options, our friendly waitress brought out an amuse bouche of lobster goat cheese crostini. Very light and tasty, but nothing too special.
We then started with the hand pulled chicken arepas with jalapeno salsa. These were beautifully presented and quite a hit among the group. Not your typical sandwich-style arepa, these were more of a twist on the Venezuelan classic, but delicious nonetheless.
For our next round we tasted their famous French Onion Soup dumplings, interestingly served in an escargot dish. I often associate my loved ones with particular dishes I know they would amaze their taste buds. The instant I tasted this burst of french onion soup, an image of my father popped into my head - as a french onion soup connoisseur, he would obsess over these (as did Sonia). You're supposed to pop the gruyere-encased dumpling in its entirety in your mouth; accompanied by a small crouton, it tastes exactly like a burst of the classic cheese laden soup we know and love. Wonderfully creative and flavorful.Next, we had another big hit - the Potato and Goat Cheese Pierogies. I've never tried a pierogie, so I'm not the best critic of these Russian classics, but I can safely say that the ones at Stanton Social are delicious. The best part about the dish, though, was the truffle creme fraiche served on the side - I could have eaten this by the spoonful!
Next we had an item off of the gluten free menu - Red Snapper Tacos. This was a light dish, perfect for summer. A great mix of flavors and textures, and I would definitely order this again.
At this point, we were full, but there was no turning back as we had already placed our order. Out came the Cider and BBQ Baby Back Ribs, the Gluten Free Chicken, the Butter Poached Lobster Pizzetta with truffled marscopone and bacon bits, and the Steamed Sea Bass with Mushrooms and Ginger. I'm not a rib fan, but my friends raved about these as the meat literally fell off the bone. The Gluten free chicken was perfectly crisp and atop a healthy portion of delicious garlicky sauteed spinach - this was my personal favorite. The lobster pizzetta and the fish, on the other hand, were two misses of the night - I couldn't taste one ounce of lobster on the pizza, and the fish was overwhelmed by a sweet cinnamon spice not indicated on the menu description. I would definitely not order these two options again.
The disappointing main dishes were however soon forgotten after our Chocolate Tasting - a tray of house-made chocolate items, from a triple layered chocolate mousse to a chocolate dulce de leche ice cream. The house made chocolate hazelnut truffles were decadent, and I couldn't stop taking spoonfuls of the light chocolate flan-like dish (on the left).
With all things considered, Stanton Social is a great place, especially for out of towners who are looking for an epitomizing NYC hot spot and would like to make dinner the event of the night. Great for pre-party bites. The atmosphere is energizing yet intrusive, so don't come here expecting a romantic evening. Instead, know that you'll leave the restaurant ready to hit the town and dance the night away (if you're not too full).

Website: www.stantonsocial.com
Address: 99 Stanton Street between Orchard and Ludlow.
Food grade: B+
Overall grade: A

Cafe Gitane - new WV favorite

2010-03-25T19:45:00.006-04:00

I've been to (and thoroughly enjoyed) the Cafe Gitane in Nolita, so I was thrilled to find out they had opened another location in the Jane Hotel, just five feet from my apartment. The West Village is in desperate need of affordable restaurants, so this unpretentious cafe with delicious and simple Moroccan-inspired food is heaven sent. The menu offers a great mix of light salads, plates to share, and a few heartier mains. The space has tons of light and is very inviting - and apparently well liked by models, artists, and Europeans alike. With eclectic mismatched furniture, a black and white tiled floor, large ceiling fans, a Victorian bar and servers in matching green dresses, the atmosphere is quite quirky, but charming nonetheless. This place is absolutely a new favorite and I intend it to be my go-to for casual dinners or evenings dining solo.
Last night was my second time trying Cafe Gitane in the hotel, and just as good as the first. My friend and I shared delicious avocado toast to start - big chunks of avocado, garnished with pepper flakes and a hint of citrus, spread on top of hearty, homemade multigrain toast. The combo was delectable. For our entrees, we had the hearts of palm and roasted chicken salad with a light lemon vinaigrette, and the famous cous cous with merguez sausage.
The cous cous is served as a tower beneath a massive blob of hummus, which acts as a wonderfully smooth compliment to the mass of grain. The merguez is smoky, salty, and cooked almost to a crisp; delicious as a cous cous side as well.

For dessert, we had the warm chocolate cake with a scoop of vanilla gelato (straight from Italy as our waiter professed). We refrained from speaking for a few minutes so we could demolish both dishes. The food is great, the prices are even better, and the ambiance is just what I need after a hectic day at work - soothing, mysterious, and calm. Tables are easy to come by in the evening, but I predict that this place will blow up before long.

Address: 113 Jane Street at West Street in the Jane Hotel
Website: not yet created

Olives in the W Hotel - who knew it would live up to all the hype?

2010-03-25T18:26:00.011-04:00

After interacting with Todd English (though admittedly very briefly) during the Google Chef competition March 5th, I was inspired to dine at his well known chain restaurant Olives, housed in Union Square's W Hotel. I didn't know much about his style of cooking before meeting him, and to be honest, I never had the incentive to learn. But after meeting him in person, thumbing through his cookbooks, and looking at his snazzy website (you guessed it, ToddEnglish.com), I became intrigued and decided to give it a try. And, after an enduring evening of devouring seven courses, two glasses of wine, and 1 (or 2?) delicious cocktails at the place, I can confidently say that I am thrilled I took the trip.

This entry runs the risk of being exceptionally lengthy as I intend to give due justice to everything I tasted at Olives. The quantity of food my two girlfriends and I consumed was unthinkable, and I get flashbacks of stomach pains whenever I recount the night. But, each course deserves bounties of praise, so I'll stop my intro here and cut to the chase before I lose you.

After sitting down and sipping a specialty pineapple-ginger martini, we decided to order a standout on the menu - the Fig and Prosciutto Flatbread with rosemary crust, sweet and sour fig jam, gorgonzola cheese, and prosciutto di parma. Wow. All I can say is WOW. For some reason I am a sucker for oblong-shaped pizzas - imperfections in the dough make me happy. And this flatbread wasn't the typical sweet ingredient with strong cheese combo flatbread - the rosemarry golden brown dough was just perfection with the unique flavor of the sour fig jam and soft gorgonzola. With such generous portions of prosciutto on each square, I could have had this as a meal, and would consider returning just for this dish.
We then decided on a tasting of some of Todd English's favorites. We moved onto something lighter - a duo of Yellowfin Tuna Tartare with spun cucumber salad, crispy rock shrimp, sesame dressing, whitefish caviar, and silky scallop ceviche beautifully presented atop a grilled meyer lemon. The plate was gorgeous, as you can almost see in my terrible photos (at that point I was more concerned with eating). The tartare tasted so incredibly fresh, and the dressing provided a warm subtle hint of toasted sesame. I generally stay away from raw scallops, but these were just perfection - not slimy or chewy in the slightest, but buttery and tender.
NEXT, we were given the most inventive combo of the night - roasted duck piled with a crispy garnish and oh, no big deal, seared foie gras. As an accomplished 21-day cleanser, this course at one point would have looked like the devil to me, but I was intrigued. With reluctance, I tasted it, and within seconds, I was a convert. THE MOST incredible meat combination I've tried - silky, rich foie gras with delicate pieces of sweet duck breast. The mix of insanity, discovery, and gluttony I felt upon eating this was all so overwhelming.
We're just halfway, so be patient. We were then given a crab bisque which was brought to the table in pitchers alongside a bowl holding a large, shelled crab leg. The presentation was quite enticing - the crab was calling my name! The bisque itself, once poured into the bowl, was hot, incredibly flavorful, and though lighter and smoother in consistency than bisque I've had prior, it had every bit of intricate flavor I would expect from a master chef.
Then, we finished off the savory dishes with the other favorite of mine - the pasta tasting. We were each served a small sampling of Tortelli of Butternut Squash with brown butter, sage, parmesan, Parsnip Candy Wrappers with brown butter wild mushroom sauce, thyme, and parmesan, and dense, short pieces of Twisted Spaghetti with tomato basil ragu. The tomato pasta was a perfect compliment to the rich and creamy ones surrounding it, and all three were incredible. The parsnip candy wrappers had a wonderfully buttery sweetness that I've never tasted in pasta, and were definitely my favorite.
At this point any prospect of leaving the restaurant without popping a button was shot, so we graciously accepted our dessert, which Todd English referred to as the "Chocolate Orgasm." A bit alarming of a name, but I can't think of a better description, as it was probably one of the best chocolate desserts I've ever had in a restaurant. Todd loves to mix flavors, temperatures, and textures in everything he creates, even his desserts. Warm chocolate cake with crunchy cookie crumble, chocolate pop rocks and a large scoop of homemade chocolate gelato did quite the job of satisfying every possible craving I could imagine.
AND, that's not it. We were, without choice, then served two vanilla souffles, hot out of the oven, which the server then immediately filled with large scoops of citrus vanilla gelato and creme anglaise. Of course I had to taste it, but at that point I didn't want to disturb the lovely memory of chocolate heaven, and I couldn't imagine putting an additional ounce of food in my body.
All in all, I was blown away by every course at Olives. Todd English deserves all of the praise and accolades he's given - he's a genius artist in the kitchen and has a keen sense of mixing and matching flavors, textures, and temperatures to invent unique novelties for even the most experienced foodie. Though the restaurant resides in the hotel and shares some of the stark and standard warehouse like feel of a typical hotel venue, the location is convenient, reservations aren't too competitive, and the food alone is worth giving it a try. Let me know what you think if you do!

Address: W Union Square: 201 Park Ave. South, at 17th St.

Website: www.toddenglish.com

Yerba Buena - definitely a new favorite

2010-03-13T08:29:00.006-05:00

My meal and experience at Yerba Buena Perry last night was excellent. In a nutshell, I had exceptionally friendly and accommodating service, incredible and inventive Latin American food, and an awesome time amidst the loud and inebriated tables surrounding me. In fact, it's worth just coming here for the cocktails themselves - very rarely do I have trouble deciding which drink to pair with my food. Their long list of light, not overly sweet varietals could appeal to any cocktail palette.

I'm thrilled that I was finally able to locate a West Village restaurant with both impeccable service and food. While I would suggest waiting to order your courses after receiving your drinks (ours appetizers came out too soon), I can say that their waitstaff is likely to honor absolutely any request you may have. They're incredibly friendly, that even after I had switched an appetizer choice just seconds after ordering, they brought the original one on the house, and get this - with a huge smile! Hence the order of croquettes below.

These were melt-in-your-mouth incredible. The lightest, crispiest version of fried food, the manchego cheese croquettes were a show-stopper. I'm so glad the waiter proceeded to bring them out despite canceling our order. Just as delicious was the vegetarian empanadas filled with spinach, manchego cheese, beside huge pieces of peruvian corn and a fig vinagrette. While some in the past have described these as pita pockets, I found them unique, flavorful, and deliciously cheesy. I loved the oversized kernels of peruvian corn on the plate, too.

The Yerba Buena salad, served with jicama, tomatoes, avocado and a sherry vinaigrette was very light and tangy - perfect as a refreshing appetizer and a great excuse to order carbs and proteins for the rest of your meal.

The meal got better as it progressed, though the entree portions could have been larger. The grilled black cod was amazing and served beside a wonderfully smooth and rich Peruvian corn puree. The cod itself tasted just like the cod you can find in Asian restaurants - buttery, soft, and delicate. I would definitely return to Yerba Buena just to have this again. The arroz con pollo also had somewhat of an Asian touch as well - the rice beneath the chicken tasted similar to Benihana Japanese rice, but was buttery, light, and deliciously garlicky nonetheless. The chicken, served with a generous portion of avocado salad, was quite tasty, but paled in comparison to the cod.

Overall, though, the entrees were awesome and I would recommend both to those planning to visit Yerba Buena. Dessert was also a hit, but then again, how can one fail with a Dulce de Leche sundae. Despite the big scoops of caramel ice cream, sprinkling of candied pecans and bananas, and heap of whipped cream, this dessert was surprisingly only delicately sweet, and not overpowering in the slightest. A great end to a consistently tasty meal.

Needless to say, I loved Yerba Buena Perry and would return in a heartbeat. It's tough to find reservations here Thursdays through Sundays, but (patient) walk-in parties generally get lucky. It's a perfect spot for a fun group dinner, or a date before going out on the town, but be prepared to talk louder than normal, as the space is quite small and crowded. Can't wait to go back, and thank you Mike for supplying the meal!!

Website: www.yerbabuenanyc.com

Address: 1 Perry Street at Greenwich Ave

Featured post: ErinALaCarte @ Martha Stewart

2010-03-12T18:04:00.005-05:00

No, I didn't try a new restaurant, but today was a special day nonetheless. For the third time since 2008, I had the honor of sitting in the Martha Stewart Show's studio audience.

This time, however, was far better than the rest because Martha herself featured the finalists from the Google Chef competition that I and two other Googlers put on just the week prior. In 2007, a wonderful Google philanthropist launched Google Chef in New York to raise money for City Harvest - over 15 teams of 3 formed in the office, all raising as much money as they could in order to become a competitor in the actual Iron Chef like challenge a month ahead. Each year, a variety of celebrity chefs and Googlers sign up to judge the competition - last year we had Gail Simmons, Marcus Samuelson, and Martha Stewart. The event has gotten better each year.

This year, Barbara Bochner, Michelle Rosen (pictured below with me) and I decided to switch things up.

Rather than reveal the winning Google Chef team the day of the event, we decided to narrow the competition down to two finalists teams that would then compete LIVE on Martha Stewart a week later. This DEFINITELY increased the tension and the pressure to win each round - no longer just fighting for a Google trophy; now fighting for Martha's stamp of approval! The food trivia round was especially intense - we had over 5 tie breakers, leading Todd English to devise trivia questions on the spot to stump the three teams on the stage!

We ended up with three finalists teams, and today, Martha instructed them to create dishes live on her show that included a variety of Spring ingredients: baby rack of lamb, spring aspargus, new potatoes, her very own chickens' eggs, and spring onions. While all teams put in a ton of effort crafting and executing their recipes, Team USA stood out with their crusted lamb tacos and chipotle crema. They looked delicious! And, their personally designed yellow Google aprons (adorned with striped ribbon and white buttons) definitely won bonus points with Martha. After tasting all of the teams' dishes, she had no hesitation that Team USA was a winner. I was so thrilled considering they were the only all women team. GIRL POWER!

We ended up raising over $30,000 for Share our Strength, and the event was an awesome hit at the office. Very happy with the results and can't wait to plan it again next year! And for your viewing pleasure, an epitomizing picture of Martha below.

Locanda Verde - Italian food in a French brasserie setting

2010-03-11T12:53:00.010-05:00

After reserving a table one month in advance, I was finally able to try Locanda Verde - a favorite of my manager and co-worker alike. I rarely venture down to Tribeca, but after my visit to Locanda I see why people make the trip - this place is truly a unique version of an Italian ristorante. Rather than the typical mundane decor and paper table cloths prevalent in Little Italy or North Beach, Locanda Verde resides in a vast, brasserie-like space with a massive bar, delicious Italian fare and even better desserts (in fact, it just won NY Mag's "Best of" for pastries). Not at all your typical mom & pop Italian restaurant, Locanda Verde is very upbeat vibe, appealing to a younger, better-looking New York crowd and down-towners seeking solid food with their after-work drinks. Loved the vibe...and, really enjoyed the food as well - just wouldn't give it an A for service. My waitress seemed as if she were dodging fire the entire night, rarely pausing to give us a chance to speak. But, I guess that's to be expected when you go to such a high-profile joint like Locanda Verde, which probably turns tables faster than most Tribecan hot spots.

Food was delicious, but not hundreds of steps ahead of the Batali or Denton restaurants I've visited. In fact, its menu is very similar to that of L'artusi and Dell'Anima - a couple of crostini options, a variety of pastas, a choice of sides, and a small range of meat and fish.
One thing that did help Locanda stand out was its bread - rosemary lemon focaccia baked on the premises and served warm. Texture like pillows of dense, perfectly soft bread dough. So yummy. Look at that - the definition of buttery and golden brown!
To start I of course ordered my favorite of any Italian menu - crostini. Locanda is known for its sheep's milk ricotta and the accolades are totally deserved - it was probably the best ricotta cheese I've tasted. Wonderfully smooth texture, accompanied with sea salt and a pocket of amazing extra virgin olive oil, this could be my breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The wild mushroom crostini came in a different form than the ricotta crostini - rather than a pile of topping beside a stack of crusty bread, it arrived as a flatter, thinner piece of crostini with its topping pre-mounted. I'm not sure if I like the inconsistent interpretation of crostini- I prefer that a restaurant take a solid stance on their crostini preparation choice. Anyway, this topping was not my favorite - the mushrooms were smothered with a thick, balsamic vinaigrette which was, while flavorful, quite sour and overpowering. I wanted to actually taste and feel the texture of the wild mushrooms, but that didn't happen (again, missing Frankie's crostinis...).
For my main course, I ordered the Stuffed Mountain Trout with gala apple and pancetta, which was served as a roulade atop a creamy bed of lentils, which I really enjoyed.
The fish was great, but as to be expected with trout, not overly flavorful or wow-ing. I would order it again if I were in the mood for something very simple and light on the stomach.
I have to say, the side of brussel sprouts was probably the star of entree. Served hot in a dish with generous chunks of pancetta and crispy, buttery bread crumbs, the sprouts felt less like a vegetable than a main course, but was a great accompaniment to a light entree. I was also able to try a pasta my co-worker had raved about - the Gigantone with sunday night ragu and provolone picante. I unfortunately forgot to take a photo in my food bliss, but the huge chunks of shortrib were quite noteworthy - a meat lover's pasta fantasy. The gigantone itself - larger versions of rigatoni - was wonderfully al dente and held the sauce just right. I would definitely order this pasta again if I were craving something on the heavier side.

For dessert, I ordered the La Fantasia di Cioccolata, which consisted of two huge scoops of homemade gelato (amazing), a drizzling of warm salted caramel sauce, and a couple mini chunks (wish there had been more) of dense chocolate brownie. This was incredible. And to top it off, they sent us off with two dark chocolate -walnut biscotti upon signing our bill. I definitely left the restaurant as I usually do - rolling. But having been able to experience such a fun and spunky ambience while tasting creative modern Italian food, I was definitely okay with the stomach pains.

Website: www.locandaverdenyc.com
Address: 377 Greenwich St (corner of N.Moore and Greenwich)

Oscar Party Goodies!

2010-03-08T10:49:00.004-05:00

I just had to write a post about the festive Oscar Party I attended last night (and by Oscar Party I mean a party to watch the Oscars live on TV, not an after-party in L.A.). How cute are these cookies from Eleni's bakery? Not the tastiest treat, but definitely worth the $5 a pop for the added decor!

Oscar party meat spread...

And my first cupcakes from Sugar Sweet Sunshine bakery in the Lower East side...have to say better than Billy's, Buttercup, Magnolia, and all the other sought after cupcake joints in NYC. Pumpkin with cream cheese frosting helloooo!

And a cute photo of two of my favorites :).

Freeman's: gorgeous setting and consummate ambiance

2010-03-05T16:49:00.009-05:00

I've only heard great things about Freeman's, and after my meal there yesterday, I can finally see why. Ambiance is just second to food quality in my list of crucial restaurant features, and Freeman's fits the build of my opinion of ambiance perfection. Tucked away at the end of a cobblestone alley, identifiable by only a string of soft white lights and a square-windowed storefront (San Franciscans, think Notte), the restaurant is a little gem in a somewhat no-man's-land between Bowery and Christie.
Its interior is even more gorgeous. Walls are lined with unique antique-framed photos and a sporadic placement of taxidermy (odd but adds to the rustic feel) - and though there's not much room between tables, there is ample hang out space for those waiting for a table or lingering for a drink: two bars in fact!
Note that while its somewhat hidden location adds to its mystique, it also requires you to come fully prepared with explicit directions - despite a Google Maps image on my phone screen, my taxi driver and I circled the block 3 times before succumbing to asking a fellow New Yorker for help. Fortunately, the food and the experience made it worth the trouble.
Freeman's doesn't generally take reservations for small parties, but my friend and Freeman's employee Janet was kind enough to set aside a table for me and my friend Lauren, which was fortunate considering the growing crowd around 7pm. While deciding on our menu choices, I sipped on one of the great selections of white wines by the glass, and Lauren had one of their inventive cocktails - conveniently organized by type on the menu (dark and stormy, light and crisp, etc). We were told that the menu had recently changed, so most of the staff admitted they lacked honest recommendations, so Lauren and I just went for what sounded best. We started with their famous artichoke dip, which was sinfully cheesy and creamy in the center and perfectly crusty on top, and served warm with thick slices of toasted baguette. NOT for the lactose intolerant (too bad I am), but delicious nonetheless.

For our mains, we shared the half roasted chicken served with grilled romaine and homemade ranch,
and the pan seared fluke with air popped something and fried rapini.

Can't remember what the fish was laying on, but it was something light and airy - like a denser popcorn. Both dishes were well priced, perfectly portioned, non-complex, and delicious. The food is not the type that makes you go home feeling heavy - which I loved.

For dessert, Lauren and I shared the chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream (and were VERY tempted to get the sticky toffee pudding but resisted). Although the ice cream was almost entirely melted, the chocolate fudge sauce and old fashioned style of the dark chocolate cake won back our praise.
Overall, Freeman's is a casual, cozy, and quaint find with tons of atmosphere, personality, inventive cocktails, and affordable, straight forward yet delicious food. Great for a fun group, a catch up with a friend, or a romantic, care-free date. Its versatility is makes it a standout - it really has the potential to please anyone from a high class snob to a lower east side hipster. Nice work Freeman's, and thanks again for the reso Cuisson!!

Website: www.freemansrestaurant.com

Location: Freeman's Alley in Lower East Side

Mole West Village - an answer to my prayers

2010-02-28T00:48:00.005-05:00

When my friend Sonia (aka Runway Hippie) moved to the Lower East Side last year, she discovered a tiny yet magical Mexican joint called Mole. I visited once and instantly became an addict for its tableside gaucamole, tangy margaritas, and amazingly varied menu of authentic Mexican dishes. Though the space is a bit cramped. its charm and family-owned feel was a fresh breath of air among the overload of Mexican restaurant imposters (ehem...Dos Caminos..). The only issues for me was the hassle of getting to the LES everytime I wanted to go!

Well, I can complain no longer as Mole number 2 just opened only three blocks away from my apartment. Talk about convenience! And not only that, this Mole is larger (though relatively quite small), and still seemingly undiscovered - a party of two before 7.30pm on most nights can most likely be seated within 15 minutes. I've been desperate to visit since it opened, and I finally got a chance tonight with a few of my friends from Semester at Sea. Though their company makes any food taste good, I can honestly say that the quality of the food at this location was just as good as that in the first.

To start, the drinks were just perfectly sweet - something VERY important for me in a cocktail. I can't stand overly sugary drinks, and Mole does a perfect "Paloma" with tequila, grapefruit soda, and lime that is a great compliment to the salty Mexican food. My friends ordered the special "acai" flavored margarita - also deliciously tangy and sweet.

The guacamole was incredible as usual, and the chips served with it were satisfyingly sturdy and crisp.

I ordered the grilled chicken tacos as a main course - with rice, beans, salsa, and a small side salad at just $14, I definitely got my money's worth.

My friend Prin ordered the Carnitas special, which was also delicious.

Another creative dish on our table was the vegetarian burrito served with cabbage, mushrooms, and spinach - surprisingly flavorful and satisfying.

Anthony with his bountiful taco salad in a flour tortilla basket

I wouldn't go so far to say that Mole's food is as good as the Mexican I can get in California, but it's definitely my favorite Mexican restaurant (along with Papazul in Soho) in the East Coast. Considering I am continuously on the search for good Mexican, that says a lot. Go to Mole for a good margarita and a hearty, fresh Mexican meal in a cozy, charming, and vibrant setting. A definite stand out in the typically chique / sceney West Village bistro scene. I have a feeling that despite its hidden location on Jane and Hudson, this place will stick around for a while. Here's hoping!

Website: www.molenyc.com

Location: 624 Hudson Street at Jane Street

L'Artusi - L’ARTE DI MANGIARE BENE is right!

2010-02-25T21:45:00.008-05:00

I'm sitting on the couch after an evening at L'Artusi with my team at work, and for once in my life, I can say that I feel just perfectly full after a four course (with a mix of dishes each round) Italian meal. That fact alone makes L'Artusi a unique and worthy find - its variety of light fishes, meat-centric mains, and hearty pastas appeals to not only those hankering for a heavy traditional Italian meal, but also to those craving something light and simple. Plus, the menu and food quality are not the only things going for this place - unlike its sister restaurant, Dell'Anima, L'Artusi has an ample, airy space with a beautiful bar and open kitchen on the first floor, as well as an upstairs to seat at least 20 small tables. With its brighter lighting and chic, yet cozy feel, the setting stays true to its classy West Village home, and is a great spot for any function - a fun date, group dinner or a meal solo at the bar. Despite the steady influx of clientele, the service is consistently attentive and personal - our server proved to be very eager to ask our questions, and if she wasn't readily available, another was right behind her to help. Great, well-rounded find that I'd 100% recommend.

Let's cut to the chase and talk about what REALLY matters - the food. I have to say the first time I visited L'Artusi, I was powering through week one of a 21-day cleanse, and therefore restricted myself from tasting virtually anything on the table. Talk about torture. However, there's always a silver lining - visiting with no restrictions tonight felt like Christmas morning. I came with the intention of trying everything, and fortunately, my colleagues were willing to share!

We followed our waitress's advice and ordered a few sharable appetizers to start, two pastas for what they call a "mid-meal," and then individual main courses. The standout appetizer: Roasted Mushrooms with fried egg, pancetta, and ricotta salata. The broken egg yolk was the perfect mild, creamy compliment to the bed of well-seasoned savory mushroom bits and crisp fried pork. Incredibly unique yet addictive flavor combo. Sinful!

But that's not to say that the other dishes paled in comparison. Served as a stack of cool, crunchy leaves dressed lightly with mild gorgonzola and roughly chopped hazelnuts, the Butter Lettuce Salad was another example of simple flavors combined to create a masterpiece.

For those in the mood for something even more light, the Citrus-Fennel Salad is a must, and for the 1 in 100 beet fans, the beet salad served on a bed of greens with a creamy, mild goat cheese base is also a winner. After the appetizer course there was no doubt in my mind that the meal would end well.

The pastas were probably my favorite part of the night. The tagliatelle "bolognese bianco", with thick, wide, al dente green pasta and a surprisingly light, tomato-less meat sauce was incredible. I'm not typically a bolognese fan, but this dish successfully showcased each key ingredient, unlike the usual three or four noodles swimming in an overpowering and oily, sloppy-joe like sauce. The Garganelli with mushroom ragu was yes, you guessed it, also delicious. The pasta was just perfectly cooked with that subtle density I look for and coated with a hearty, well-balanced finely-chopped mushroom sauce. The portions were a perfect size to share for 2 or three people as an appetizer - two for six mid-meal was plenty.

For my main, I had the Pan Seared Branzino with olives, lemon, and honey. The honey was hardly noticeable but added a subtle sweetness that balanced out the saltiness of the olives. I could have devoured pounds of the perfectly-crispy fish skin, and the meat itself was light and delicate. The ONE flaw I would point out in the dish was the olive mixture laying beneath the fish. A pile of 12-15 olives with sauteed lemon rhind is too strong an accompaniment to such a delicate fish, but it definitely didn't ruin the fish itself.

I was also able to taste the roast chicken which was SO tender and crispy. However, don't expect your typical Italian roast - L'Artusi's chicken is a deboned and flattened dark meat piece with a very flavorful skin. Different yet delicious.

The crispy roasted brussel sprouts and thick and creamy polenta with pecorino were great Contorni choices.

No meal is complete without dessert, and on a special occasion, why not order four! I loved the chocolate budino (we ordered two) which I'm used to calling "pot de cremes" - the chocolate flavor was bittersweet and rich; the texture utterly smooth. The other two desserts - the pineapple coconut sundae and the chocolate semifreddo were also tasty, but nothing I would remember months down the road. Then again, its tough for a dessert to strike my interest without a big scoop of ice cream on the side.

Chocolate sauce is poured atop the semi-freddo tableside

L'Artusi gets an A plus in my book for its well balance of all things important in a good restaurant: ambiance, service, menu selection, and food. Definitely plan to go back soon when my friends come to town.

Website: Lartusi.com

Address: 228 West 10th Street between Bleecker and Hudson

Zampa - no frills Italian small plates

2010-02-21T04:40:00.008-05:00

Last evening my friend Sonia and I dined at Zampa and had an overall pleasant experience. I appreciate this place for its diverse menu selection and cozy, warm ambiance, but the food can be unpredictable. I've found that generally, I have the best luck with the appetizers and the small plates, which focus on the flavors of 1 or 2 simple, fresh, and high quality ingredients. While the "large plates" are decent, they aren't the best depictions of simple Italian food that I've had, and the portions are anything but large. However, combining a relaxed yet energetic wine-bar vibe, friendly Italian servors, affordable prices, a-typical NY restaurant wait-times, and quite a varied menu, this place remains high on my list of neighborhood faves.

While I would classify Zampa as Italian, I wouldn't recommend it for those expecting homemade pastas and typical Italian mains. In fact, the only pasta on the menu is the Lasagna Bolognese, and the main courses are more inventive than what you'd expect at an Italian ristorante. However, I'd be surprised if you found trouble finding something tasty - there are tons of crostini, cheeses, meats, antipasti, and panini to choose from - carnivores and vegetarians alike are sure to find a winner.

Sonia and I started with the selection of 3 crostini - White Bean and Duck Proschutto, White Bean and Rapini, and Ricotta with Roasted Red Pepper. While I usually prefer ricotta with sweeter accompaniments, the roasted pepper combo happened to be my favorite. The white bean mixture had a deliciously chunky texture and was very well-seasoned, and all three crostini were perfectly toasted and piled high with toppings as I like. Next, we shared the Fennel and Arugula Salad with Oranges, which was great - light and refreshing with a well-balanced citrus-licorce-y flavor. The crostini and the salad was the perfect amount of food for an appetizer course.

Then, I had the Oven Poached Salmon with Lentils and Green Beans. While it was gorgeously plated, the salmon was overcooked, and the dill / parsley pesto piled atop clashed with the mild flavor of the lentils. The lentils, however, were actually perfectly cooked - a bit al dente as I prefer. Sonia ordered the Braised Short Rib Special, which was unfortunately overpowered by fat and bone and difficult to dissect due to the tiny serving dish in which it was served. The fat factor wouldn't have been so hard to work around had the bone been in a wider dish. Still, the meat that she did find looked tender and juicy, and Sonia said she was pleased with the dish. The warm, muffin shaped polenta served on the side definitely contributed to her evaluation.
One more bone to pick...I have to say their white wine needs to be served a few degrees warmer...my glass felt like it had been in the freezer, and it weakened the wine's flavor. But, the seriously heavy pours and the pre-glass selection tasting definitely made up for it!

Despite the imperfections I found in their main courses, I would recommend Zampa to anyone looking for a laid back, no frills, casual dining experience in the presence of an unpretentious crowd, or in the mood for a wide selction of italian antipasti. Don't spread it around though...this is one of the few places in New York city where you can be guaranteed a seat (or at least a minimal wait) on any night of the week.

Address: 306 W 13th St between 8th Ave & 4th St
Website: www.zampanyc.com

Scarpetta....wow... WOW (the food).

2010-02-18T22:05:00.000-05:00

Scarpetta, in my mind, is one of the most well-known Italian dining establishments in New York City. Mention Scarpetta to a past visitor and chances are they're a die-hard fan. With such a reputation, Scarpetta has been on my Must Try list for ages, but getting a reservation at a reasonable hour is a struggle ("only 5pm or 10pm available this Tuesday..."). Finally, I was given the opportunity to check out this mysterious gem / long-time fantasy for a team gathering, and left ample belly space the day of to make sure I arrived capable and eager to taste enough to give this supposedly incredible a fair assessment. Fortunately I wasn't paying :)

Scarpetta is in the heart of the Meatpacking District, so I expected the same sceney-swanky vibe like that of Buddakan, or Abe and Arthur's, or other over-hyped (despite decent) restaurants in the area. I was immediately proven wrong - the vibrancy and "cool" factor is still there, but the soft colors and warming lighting give it a sense of both elegance and comfort lacking at most restaurants. No pumping house music in the background, no snooty bartenders, no warehouse ceilings, and last but not least, space for 5 at the bar! I was instantly quite impressed.

My perspective on the service is mixed. Our waiter was young, natural, and personable, totally open to our questions and obviously eager about the restaurant's food. When he was around, he was charming and accommodating. However, when he disappeared, there was no sign of him ever returning. Wait time between courses was far too long, and simple requests for more wine or salt and pepper required a belting of "excuse me sir!" Probably to be expected due to the crowd - and it wouldn't stop me from coming back again.

Ok ok, on to the food. Firstly and most importantly, the bread basket...Scarpetta basically had me at hello. Before even ordering our food, we were handed a bountiful basket of meat and cheese filled spirals, soft foccacia, and crusty Italian rolls with an array of ricotta-whipped butter, eggplant caponata, and olive oil. Rule of Thumb: Exceeded bread expectations generally equals start to an excellent meal.

After attempting to restrain myself from bread, I tried virtually everything that touched the table. Do the same if you have the stamina. To start, we ordered the Creamy Polenta with Truffed Mushrooms, the Raw Yellowtail, and the Tagliatelle with Truffles and Parmesan.

Each dish was simply yet beautifully plated and utterly delectable in their own right, but the Tagliatelle received by far the most attention. The pasta, creamy, silky, and buttery, sat under the biggest mound of shaved truffles I have ever witnessed. At $42, this dish is quite the treat but worth every penny, and totally justified compared to the typical claiming-to-be-truffle-filled courses that arrive with three microscopic black specs.

By main course time my belly was feeling quite full, but once the Black Cod with caramelized fennel and sundried tomatoes reached the table I was back in the game. With melt in your mouth texture, perfectly crispy skin, and delicate yet bold seafood flavor, this cod was probably one of the best Italian fish dishes I have ever tasted.

For a more simple, yet equally solid dish, I would recommend Scarpetta's famous "Spaghetti Tomato & Basil" - sounds boring but the uniquely dense homemade noodles and light, yet ample tomato sauce make this dish seem unique.

The Roasted Chicken with parsnip puree was also very tender and flavorful, and another great picky-eater option. For the adventurous the Black Tagliolini with mixed seafood and sea urchin broth is a gold medal. While the dishes were on the heavier side, their unique flavors and textures made it worth rolling out of the restaurant at the end of meal. After dessert, that is.

I went a bit crazy for dessert - purely as a result of that incentive you get to eat more food once you've eaten so much already - like there's no turning back so you just keep going, consequences totally out of mind. So, instead of ordering 1 for the table, I ordered 3: the Chocolate Cake (HOLY MOLY BEST CHOCOLATE DESSERT EVER), the Chestnut Cake with prune ice cream, and the Banana Budino (what is that?) with pecan gelato and oat tuile. My intention to try one bite of each absolutely failed after trying one bite of each. The chocolate cake had that intense, chocolate flavor that sadly is so rare in chocolate desserts, and the accompanying burnt orange caramel gelato really brought out its true flavors. Though the Chestnut Cake wasn't my favorite, I'd definitely recommend it to those non-chocolate dessert fans (not sure who because I don't associate with them).

Hopefully you're convinced that Scarpetta's label as a "must-try" is justified. If not, maybe the fact that I'm sitting here wishing for more truffled tagliatelle despite my stomach-pinching elastic pants gives you ample proof. If you visit Scarpetta, definitely reserve in advance and eat VERY lightly that day - it would be a shame if you didn't have sufficient stomach space to taste the bounty of treats its menu has to offer!

Address: 355 West 14th Street near 9th avenue (near The Diner)

Website: www.scarpettanyc.com

Mercer Kitchen - come for the scene and to be seen, not for the food or service

2010-02-16T11:02:00.000-05:00

I've been to Mercer kitchen countless times, and I always leave with the same impression. The restaurant is notable for the location - heart of Soho; the space - a chic, modern, clean-cut interior; and the people it attracts - celebrities ranging from Lenny Kravitz to Tom Cruise, but it's not somewhere to run to for the great bites or wonderful service. This particular visit was most notable for the miniature debacle.

My aunt made a 12pm reservation 2 weeks in advance, and the host promised brunch. Go anywhere, even the corner Sushi joint on a Saturday before dinner in New York, and you no doubt will find a standard brunch menu. 12pm rolls around at Mercer Kitchen and our party is seated, and within seconds the waitress hands over dinner menus. After rejecting what we thought were the wrong menus, we were told that due to the Valentine's Day "holiday," that only dinner is being served - all day. Who wants a rack of lamb first thing in the morning? When you want eggs, you want eggs, and despite our hissy fit no breakfast menu came our way. Minus 10, Mercer Kitchen. The day old basket of muffins on the house didn't do much to mitigate the pains either.

Anyhow, the lunch...or dinner...we did have was not bad, just not great. The pizzettes were about the size of a round pita, not at all enough for a full meal (and we weren't warned). My squash soup with mushrooms had great flavor, but it was as thin as chicken broth and served luke warm. Despite the fancy serving method (empty bowl with random particles then gets filled by waiter with soup from vessel), I wasn't impressed. My sister's shrimp cocktail looked decent, and her Fennel Salad actually was pretty tasty. Overall, none of the dishes on my table thrilled me and if it weren't for this review I'd probably forget what I ate by tomorrow.
If I could write home about one thing I ate, I would pick the Molten Chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream. At least the kitchen got molten down to a T - when the cake was pierced, warm, delicious, ooey gooey chocolate oozed out just like it should. Plus 1 point Mercer.

No real celeb sightings this time around, but the scene with the waiters over the menu confusion was enough to keep me entertained. The food wasn't great, but I'll be back simply for the small tinge of celebrity I feel in Mercer Kitchen's presence.

Website: www.mercerhotel.com
Location: 99 Prince Street @ Mercer in the heart of Soho

Almond - sure, it's good

2010-02-15T19:34:00.000-05:00

Almond took Borough's place in the Flat Iron about a year or so ago, and since it opened it's received great reviews and is generally always packed. The diverse, Americanized French menu provides a variety of options for the hearty or complicated eater, and the place has managed to accomplish a warm, intimate glow in a large space with candles, low lighting, vintage mirrors, and hardwood floors. Versatile as well, as it can easily fit both a good number of large tables and a bar scene.

I went for dinner, and my only qualm about the space is that if it's not totally full, it can feel a bit like a vacant warehouse. However, I can say that they do the best possible job in making the empty space feel inviting with the dim lighting, homey decor and subtle background music. The booths are quite comfortable, and the service was great, so the externalities net-net fit the build of a good restaurant.

The bread was served immediately, but stale and crusty, it was a big disappointment for a French restaurant. My aunt ordered the cheeseburger for her main course, and that looked quite juicy and delicious. My scallops, served with red cabbage, polenta ravioli, and duck proschutto was just an overwhelming party of over-powering, clashing ingredients. It felt like 3 separate dishes smashed into one, and what I thought was going to be a bit light and unique turned out to be a total disaster. Each scalloped was accompanied by sand, and I could hardly finish a quarter of the portion.

However, the bad main course experience was definitely mitigated by the ultimate Pot de Creme with fresh whipped cream and almonds - this dessert was superbly rich and decadent, and I would order it again and again.

Though my experience wasn't the best, I would 100% give almond a second chance. I think I failed to order correctly - I suggest sticking to typical french bistro dishes - the roast chicken, the steak frites, or the croques monsieurs - and staying clear from the seemingly inventive menu items. I hope to try Almond next for brunch, as I've noticed most of the rave reviews are a result of the breakfast items such as the delicious french toast. The space is great for groups, so consider Almond for your next laid back, non-food focused gathering.

Address: 12 East 22nd Street(between 5th Ave & Broadway)

Website: www.almondnyc.com

Dell'Anima - a successful combo of coziness and swank

2010-02-15T18:51:00.000-05:00

I've been dying to try Dell'Anima since I moved to the West Village, and finally stopped in for Valentine's Day. I was pleasantly surprised to enter a warm, intimate space after constantly hearing about its popularity and dodging crowds of people outside this place on my daily walk home. Though the name and menu give it an aura of sophistication and refinement, the small space and friendly service send the opposite message, which I consider a real plus. Staff is generous and friendly; when I began asking the bartender questions about the wines by the glass, he graciously offered me tastings of at least 5 different bottles. We were seated within 15 minutes of our reservation, and service was timely and accommodating despite the crowd.

I'm a huge crostini fan so quite the tough critic when it comes to judging a restaurant's crostini selection. Dell'Anima has 5 options to choose from - I did the 3 for $10 - and a unique way of serving. Rather than serving the crostini prepared, diners are given a bowl of warm, olive oil-drizzled bread alongside the various selected crostini toppings. The bread was a bit thicker than what I'm used to, but deliciously doughy and flavorful. Though I didn't mind the extra step of spreading my own toppings aboard the crostini, I much prefer being served an appetizer that requires nothing more than eating. The Octupus Passina Crostini was a bit on the fishier side, but very flavorful and textural. The Avocado Crostini was my favorite, and the Rapini-Pesto Crostini was delicious as well. Frankie's Spuntino in LES still takes the cake for best crostini in NYC.

The Endive Salad with Pecorino and Anchovy Dressing was actually the star of the night - crisp, perfectly chilled, and refreshing, it was the perfect compliment to the various olive-oil laden dishes. The Garganelli with Funghi Trifolati was deliciously flavorful, with no shortage of mushrooms, but it was a bit on the greasier side as non-tomato-based Italian pastas usually are. For my main, I ordered the Pollo "al Diavlo" - dark and light meat chicken with a spicy and overwhelmingly flavorful (in a good way) skin crust, accompanied by a well seasoned and generous side of broccoli rabe. The portions were overall very generous, but the food was just perfectly filling and surprisingly light. For dessert, I tried both the Chocolate Hazelnut Torte with Fior de Late gelato, as well as the housemade Mint Stracciatella Gelato - both were light and perfectly sweet.

Overall my experience at Dell'Anima was very positive - I love the warm, inviting vibe, and the food is affordable, simple, creative, and beautifully crafted. This place is perfect for a romantic date, a dinner solo at the bar, or a small (as in tiny) group. Book in advance for a good table.

Address: 38 8th Avenue @ Jane Street, New York, NY

Website: http://dellanima.com/index.html

Cookshop NYC: Up in the running as my favorite NYC restaurant

2009-06-21T22:43:00.000-04:00

I went to Cookshop 2-3 months back, but it has stuck in my mind as one of my favorite places in New York since then. My friend Janet knows the General Manager of the restaurant, so we both dined together and got a boat load of free delicious wine and little food tasters thoughout the meal. While it may have been the special treatment that lured me into being an avid Cookshop fan, the fact that I thoroughly enjoyed every bite of every dish I consumed is a very telling sign that Cookshop is, VIP treatment or not, a sincerely great find.

To start, the restaurant is very California-esque with high ceilings allowing a warm, open air, un-claustrophobic space. The restaurant spans half of a block between 19th and 20th street, and large windows spanning the walls make the place appear even more spacious than it is. Such a great find amongst the delicious yet exceedingly cramped joints in NY. Despite the large establishment feel, though, you'll find a menu filled with refined yet homey, filling food made with local and organic ingredients at great prices.

To start, I had a deliciously salty proschutto and egg on a piece of grilled bread with some watercress to lighten it up. The egg was cooked perfectly and poured over the bread when punctured to add a creaminess that partnered with the tangy, salty pork to start a party in my mouth. Crusty, crunchy break added the perfect texture to round out the dish. The next dish I tried was almost sinful - a thick, spicy crab bisque - creamy and just chunky enough to convince me that there was in fact fresh crab in the bisque. And to top off the deliciousness, there was a lightly fried softshell crab that stuck out of the bowl - not sure if you're supposed to pick this crunch, bisque-soaked creature up to eat, but I sure did. And I have no regrets.

For my main course I went for the sea scallops. Generally, I find sea scallops tough to ruin unless they're sandy or not fresh. These, however, weren't just good. They were stellar - Maine Day boat scallops with creamed English peas, sugar snap peas, and morel mushrooms. The scallops were huge, and an overly generous portion of about 6-7 surrounding a large plate with flavorful sauces and veggies. Janet ordered wisely as well by ordering their signature dish - Vermont Suckling Pig "porchetta" with green garlic potato puree, pickled onions, mushrooms and asparagus. Literally, the crispiest pork skin I have EVER tasted. Justin, the GM told us how it was made, and if I remember correctly they put the pork in the oven first to render the fat and flash fry the outside to make the skin as crispy as a pork rind. So so flavorful and so so good - and they truly succeeded in making a rich dish taste light.

For dessert, I was literally awed by the Cookshop Candy Bars, which are described as Devil's food cake, gianduja crunch, praline ganache, frozen peanut nougat and chocolate shell. The saltiness of the nougat complimented the sweet chocolate cake and praline chocolate sauce perfect - truly bringing out the flavors and making this dessert so much more than just "sweet." It really brought that meal up that extra mile to make me leave the restaurant thinking "I GOT TO GO BACK THERE!"

Please take my advice and give Cookshop a try - an all-types-of crowd pleaser, a beautiful space, wonderful wonderful service, and tons of local, organic foods (have you SEEN Food Inc??).

Address: 156 Tenth Avenue, New York, NY 10011

Website: www.cookshopny.com