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Showing posts from April, 2013

Brio Flatiron

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Located right on Broadway, with enormous glass windows encompassing the entire restaurant, Brio is a fantastic place to grab a bite to eat and do a little people watching.  Mr. T and I stopped in the other night for a little bit of wine. Which turned into dinner of thinly sliced Beef Carpaccio with Arugula and Parmesan... ...and Seared Octopus with Cannelini Beans, Tomatoes and a light Lemon Olive Oil. The apps were so tasty we decided to split an entree too of Tagliatelle alla Bolognese. The hearty meat sauce and toothsome pasta was the perfect way to round out our little date night out.   Brio Flatiron

A Quick Bite at Millers Tavern

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Sometimes a girl just needs a glass of wine, a nice comfy bar stool and a crisp, zesty plate of greens to end a long day. The Romaine Salad from Millers Tavern combines spicy fried oysters with roasted beets and a creamy oyster dressing.  It has a distinct southern flair that's light and satisfying, perfect for unwinding. Millers Tavern

New Brew Friday - Allagash Interlude

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The long week is over and I'm ready to break something fabulous out of the vault. This Friday it's one of my favorites from Allagash Brewery the Interlude. Made from a combination of Belgian Farmhouse and Brettanomyces yeast, this beer has a ton of funky, bubbly flavor that's further enhanced from aging in French Merlot and Sirah oak barrels. It's dry and tart with strong cherry flavor, gorgeous lacing and such a tannic end it almost tastes like a wine, if it weren't for the thick mouthfeel.   This is one to sit back, swirl and enjoy.  It's on tap various places right now such as Birreria and Fourth Avenue Pub, but you can also pick up a bottle at Whole Foods.  Cheers to the weekend! Allagash

One Mile House

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This place has quickly become one of my favorite bars in the city.  Located right next door to Bowery Ballroom, One Mile House is an absolute gem on this stretch of Delancey.  The first thing you'll notice walking inside is that this is a serious beer bar.  With a constantly rotating draft list of 30 beers I find something new and delicious each visit.  Last weekend we enjoyed the brand new Founders Doom and the Widmer Brothers Alchemy Ale. The Alchemy was a tasty, easy drinking pale ale while the the Doom was a crazy bourbon barrel aged Imperial IPA .  Don't worry if you're not sure what beer to order.  One Mile House offers flights, so you can try out a few different varieties and discover what pleases your palate.  Carry your flight to the patio out back and enjoy some brews while basking in the sun.     I highly suggest ordering some bar food as well.  I love a saucy bar pizza and t...

Mojicone at Los Paisitas

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I was back in Elmhurst for work the other day and stopped into one of my favorite Colombian bakeries Los Paisitas.  All of the baked goods looked amazing, but the Mojicone called my name.   Maybe it was the sparkly sugar on top...  ....or the light, fluffy exterior... ... or the swirl of milk and molasses tucked away in the bottom fold.  Such a nice little surprise to find :)

Morandi

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It seems like only a few days ago the sun was shining bright and the weather was so warm it was as if Spring had finally arrived.  Actually it was only a few days ago and I had a brief moment to enjoy the weather with an al fresco meal at Morandi.  Notice the sun shining on my basket of freshly baked bread. The big wooden tables at Morandi have a fantastic rustic feel just like being back in the tiny villages of Tuscany. The food is rustic as well.... housemade Cavatelli with pumpkin, broccoli rabe and sausage topped with a flurry of fresh grated Pecorino.  This is a fresh, simple pasta dish I could eat every day.  The warm sunshine on my back just made it that much better. Morandi

Mighty Quinns

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If you walk down 2nd Avenue on a nice warm day, you'll start to smell delicious smoked meat around 6th Street where Mighty Quinn has set up shop.  It's almost impossible not to stop in for the incredible BBQ they're churning out.  Start with their crackly smoked brisket.... Chock full of flavor without all the fat...its definitely a contender for best brisket in town.  The tender Pulled Pork is right up there with the brisket and the don't forget about the Baked Beans... Creamy morsels with crisp hunks of burnt ends make for the best side dish on the menu (and fills a serious bean void left from the closing of RUB). Cut all the meat with side of pickled veggies and vinegar based coleslaw and you've got a perfect meal of slow smoked BBQ. Mighty Quinns BBQ

New Brew Friday- Raspberry Tart

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It's time for a delicious weekend beer.  This one is something I think anyone would enjoy- Raspberry Tart from New Glarus. One whiff of this beer is like walking into a field of raspberries.  It's light bodied with a little carbonation and a great sour bite that will make your mouth pucker for a moment before hitting the sweet balanced end.  It's made with Oregon berries and Wisconsin hops...truly a fabulous collaboration from both states and an absolutely incredible beer.  If you can get hands on one of these don't let go. New Glarus Brewing

Keste Pizzeria

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After a few pints at Blind Tiger Monday night Mr T and I walked over to Keste.  The narrow space was crowded but we were able to get the last table without a wait.  We've been to all the Neapolitan joints in town and Keste was the last one we needed to check out.  Since it was our first time we went safe and ordered with the Classic Margherita with homemade mozzarella, pecorino romano and extra virgin olive oil. The pie arrived with an incredible aroma of basil and oil... surprising since there didn't seem to be much basil on top. The crust on this pie was absolutely gorgeous.  It was fluffy with an excellent chew and crisp pockets of char on the edge. Of the Neapolitan joints we've been to this was as close to perfection we've either seen.  The simplicity of the pie allowed all of the fresh, fabulous ingredients to really shine through.    The restaurant has a small wine list with mostly I...

Smorgasburg DUMBO

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I woke up Sunday morning and was absolutely starving.  I never ate dinner the night before and it was hitting me hard.  It was a gut wrenching hunger.  A hunger so massive it needed something big...something huge... like a giant food market...Smorgasburg!!  And just like that I hopped on the F train to Brooklyn. It was such a gorgeous day to walk around but I was so hungry I couldn't enjoy myself until I had a bite to eat.  Brooklyn Piggies would have been a great choice... ...but they were still cooking in the oven.  The Hash Bar sounded like a fantastic idea... ...but the line was way too long for me to handle so I ended up at Takumi Taco. The Short Rib Taco had a nice spice and although the meat was a bit dried out the wasabi crema on top helped a lot.  The woman next to me was devouring a Spicy Tuna Taco which looked amazing.  I was about to order one of those as well when I noticed I was right next to the Solber Pupusa ten...

A Blue Ribbon Day

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I was so excited to see the sun shining Saturday I was ready to jump into summer mode with both feet. What a better way to jump right in then with a flight of rosés from Blue Ribbon Downing Street Bar. I love flights of anything...flights of wine, flights of beer, flights to Paris...you get the picture. I enjoyed each of these but the standout was the Sancerre which was dry with just a bit of fruit.   We were enjoying ourselves so much at the bar we decided to keep the evening going across the street at flagship Blue Ribbon. The bakery downstairs was in full swing...the smell of yeast permeating through the air.. We started out a little healthy with a creamy Cesar Salad... ...but then it was onto Fried Chicken for the main course of the night. This is one of those dishes I dream about.  The skin has the most incredible crunch with just enough salt to keep you licking your lips...the inside is chock full of meat and I usually dip each bite int...

Brunch at Barbounia

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When my best friend from college came into the city last week I wanted to schedule some serious catch up time.  We chat here and there through email and Facebook but we needed much more than that.  We needed a few hours of one-on-one talk preferably with lots of champagne cocktails and delicious food to accompany it.   Barbounia offers a regular a la carte brunch on Saturday and Sunday with an option for unlimited champagne, Bellini's and Mimosa's for $18.95 a person.  Looks like I found our place! I made a reservation for 1:00 Sunday and the gorgeous room was absolutely packed.  Luckily we got seated right away and started with a trio of Mezze...hummus, tzatziki and spicy feta. All three were wonderful but the standout was the spicy feta.  It was incredibly creamy with a lingering pepper finish that just made you want more and more. A piping hot baguette wa...

Lunch at Aquagrill

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Ahhh...one of my old standby's.  I've been going to Aquagrill as long as I've been living in NYC and the gorgeous weather this week was the perfect opportunity to check out an old favorite for lunch on the patio.   If you come to Agqugrill the oysters are a must.  They have an incredible selection that are so fresh you can almost smell the sea in the air. The complimentary bread is always a treat... onion focaccia, jalapeno corn bread and baguette all arrive at the table so there's no need to choose just one.  I like the spicy cornbread the best but I always nibble on the fluffy focaccia with my oysters. The classic Rare Yellowfin Tuna sandwich with avocado, red onion and arugula is a perfect choice.  The  flavors work so well together and you can taste a nice smoky char on the tuna from the grill.  It was a lovely lunch...the outdoor space is one of the best places to have a leisurely meal and jus...

Brisket and Beer at Rye House

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Rye House is one of those places that is just a block too far away to become a neighborhood staple.  The food is always good, the beer list changes frequently and if you avoid the after work crowd it can be quite a relaxing little spot.  We stopped in one lazy Saturday afternoon and split the BBQ Beef Brisket with house slaw and potato salad. This beast of a sandwich was packed with layers of moist brisket smothered in a sweet Dale's Pale Ale BBQ sauce...on the side some traditional coleslaw and nontraditional potato salad. We paired this meat bomb with a refreshing Peekskill Simple Sour, one of my favorite beers going right now.   Rye House

Char No. 4

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We ventured out to Brooklyn Friday night for a feast of meat and whiskey at Char No 4.  The cozy Smith Street spot was absolutely packed and for good reason.  I seriously wanted to order everything on the appetizer menu and we almost did.  To begin House Smoked Bacon with spicy pickled cabbage and cashews. The thick cut bacon was excellent with a sweet maple glaze and a lingering smoky finish that made me want to lick my lips to keep the incredible flavor going. The Crispy Cheddar Curds were pipping hot nuggets of goodness made oh so much better with the spicy pimento sauce. House Cured Lamb Pastrami was so moist and thin it almost looked like raw tuna with flavors leaps and bounds beyond your average deli meat. The Cornflake Crusted Crab Cake had nice notes of meyer lemon but it paled in comparison to the other appetizers. My entree of Smoked Chicken with bacon whipped potatoes and mushrooms was incredible.  The...