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Showing posts from June, 2015

Happy Hour at Tasca Chino

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The newest restaurant to hit our neighborhood is Tasca Chino loctaed inside the old Sushi Samba on Park Avenue South.  The restaurant helmed by Chef Alex Urena is billed as Spanish and Chinese fusion which is playfully evident from the decor of bullfighters and Chairman Mao covering the bright red walls.  We stopped in a few times for happy hour at the bar where the small food menu covers everything from dim sum to tapas. Each order begins with some warm complimentary breadsticks covered in toasted sesame seeds and some wonderful dipping sauces. There are crisp salty Spanish Croquetas in both Salt Cod and Ham served with a spicy szechuan pepper aioli; a perfect marriage of the two cuisines. Less successful plates were the Black Bass Ceviche and Spanish Mackerel Crudo. The bass was overcome by an aggressive tomatillo sauce and the mackerel had so much soy on top my tongue felt like sand paper after just a few bites.  Hopefully these are just part of opening j

The House of Angostura U.S. Cocktail Challenge

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This past week I was invited to the U.S. Cocktail Challenge hosted by The House of Angostura.  It was a face off between East Coast bartenders all vying for a spot in the finals at the fabulous Tales of the Cocktail  in New Orleans and ultimately a trip to Trinidad for the Global Cocktail Challenge finale.   The rules were simple...create two cocktails under six ingredients the first using 5 dashes of Angostura Bitters and the 2nd using Angostura Rum.  Maggie Arts the bartender/manager from  Salt of the Earth ,  Butcher & The Rye  and the brand new  Tako  out in Pittsburgh was the first to compete with her cocktail the Hummingbird's Garden. Spencer Warren (Beverage Director from Butcher & the Rye) was up next with his cocktail Rum for the Money followed by Megan Arts from  Marvel Bar  in Minnesota with the CocoTea and finally Aaron Butler from West Village favorite  L'Artusi  with his drink the Julia's Conundrum.  And the winner is... ...Aaron!

Brunch at Mezcla

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I'm so freaking excited to have found a solid brunch spot right in the neighborhood- Mezcla! Okay for some reason walking all the way over to 2nd Avenue sometimes feels a bit far but the extra avenue or two is worth it for three big reasons... #1- Free Drink with every entree.  And not just a boring OJ mimosa but choice of peach puree, mango and one of the most incredible looking Bloody Mary's I've ever seen.  WHY IS THIS DEAL SO HARD TO FIND ANYMORE! #2- Ridiculously delicious food that will actually keep one full all day from Huevos Rancheros to Apple Cinnamon Pancakes and Seared Tuna Salad. Seriously Mr. T's dish came with sausage, bacon, eggs, guacamole  and  a warm buttery jalapeno biscuit with homemade raspberry preserves.  That's a solid meal. #3- Farm to Table.  It really makes such a difference not just for fresh delicious food but also for helping to promote and grow our local farms in the area.  It's a win win for

Seaport Eats at Barbalu

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When Mr. T and I first moved here I loved the Seaport area.  It always blew my mind that we lived so close to such a beachy little spot.  Of course I quickly grew tired of dealing with the hordes of tourists so I slowly stopped going.  Then Sandy hit and so many places were destroyed it seemed like the area would never recover and I realized how much I still loved this NYC spot.   Lucky for me places  did  recover and one of those is Barbalu; a restaurant known as Barbarini before being completely destroyed in the storm.  This husband and wife team love the historic area so much they decided to rebuild on the very same location and hence Barbalu was born. The menu is focused on Italian fare with an array of salads, pastas and secondi like Potato Crusted Salmon and Veal Scaloppine.  We skipped secondi in favor of a big Spinach Salad loaded with funky Gorgonzola cheese and crisp pancetta followed by a bowl of Fettuccine with Shrimp, cherry tomato and zucchini. Everything taste

Happy Hour at Flatiron Lounge

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 I've been on a mission to rediscover some of my old favorites in the city and the Flatiron Lounge was the perfect place to start.  This bar was pretty much flawless when it opened way back in 2003 and it hasn't lost a step.  From the sexy curved banquettes to the low playing jazz...it's just a fantastic place to hang out and have a delicious cocktail or two from the always fabulous Julie Reiner. The Beijing Peach is a gorgeous blend of Jasmine vodka, peach puree and lime.  It's a touch fruity and tropical...something to whisk away all the worries in life and make everything seem just wonderful. Plus it's only $9 during their happy hour from 5- 7...it doesn't much better than that. Flatiron Lounge 37 West 19th Street between 5th & 6th New York, NY 10011

Brunch at Dover

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I've been dying to try out this cute Carroll Gardens spot but could never quite get a reservation until we walked by on a Saturday afternoon.  The usually packed space was downright empty.  In fact we weren't even sure they were open until the lovely hostess ushered us in. The brunch menu is small with only six main dishes and a few specials.  To begin they brought out a Fried Dough amuse bouche dusted with powdered sugar. These piping hot little balls were the perfect simple and delicious start to brunch.  Mr. T ordered the Ruby Red Shrimp Etouffee; a dish neither of us had ever had before. When it arrived the rich smell of sausage and herbs wafted over the table. I didn't even wait to be offered a bite before diving into a tender morsel of braised chicken and creamy grits.   Luckily Mr. T shooed me away so I could enjoy my own outstanding dish the Tuna Salad sandwich.  Two slices of super fluffy focaccia bread layered with

Lady M Cake Boutique- Strawberry Mille Feuille

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There are lots of incredible bakeries in NYC, but when I'm truly looking to impress I head to Lady M Cake Boutique for her dazzling array of cakes and pastries. I've been obsessed with their wondrous Mille Crepe for years but the other offerings as just as fabulous like the Gateau aux Marrons and Strawberry Mille Feuille. This towering mass has layers of strawberries, whipped cream, sponge cake and strawberry jam all sandwiched between flaky, buttery pastry.  The only challenge is getting a bite of everything at once. Lady M Cake Confections 36 West 40th Street @5th Avenue New York, NY 10018

Pearl Oyster Bar

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Going to Pearl Oyster Bar without getting a lobster roll is kind of like going to Las Vegas and not gambling...your missing the main attraction.  But we've had so many lobster rolls it was time to check out the other goods on the menu like the shrimp cocktail. I can't even remember the last time I ordered this in a restaurant and I have no idea why.  These were plump, juicy and so perfect we agreed this will be a regular with our Lobster Roll rotation at Pearl. The Pan Roasted Scallops were also perfection; simply pan roasted with some butter and rosemary to allow the natural flavor of the scallop shine. Mr. T's Lobster followed suit with just a small bowl of butter and a ramekin of piping hot corn pudding.  This was fresh seafood at it's finest and we didn't really miss the lobster rolls!  Well maybe just a little bit... Pearl Oyster Bar 18 Cornelia Street New York, NY 10014

Getting the Munchies at Ample Hills

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Ample Hills is hands down the  best ice cream  in town.  And scorching hot days like today make my summer mission seem easy to accomplish...try each and every Ample Hills flavor.  This feat is going to be quite difficult given that they introduce new flavors almost every week and the fact I'm a bit lactose intolerant BUT until my stomach completely shuts down I'm giving it a whirl and kicking things off with The Munchies. Pretzel infused ice cream swirled with clusters of Ritz Crackers, potato chips, pretzels and mini M&M's.  It's a creamy delicious blend of butter, salt and chocolate....three of my favorite food groups.  I'm not sure how far I'll get but I'm certainly loving the start to this challenge! Ample Hills Creamery Multiple locations in NYC

Huertas

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We were celebrating the birthday of a fabulous friend and it just so happened to coincide with the unveiling of a new Basque menu at Huertas.  We ordered so much food it's honestly a little ridiculous but here's a quick run down: Chicken Liver Toast Egg with ramps Duck Croquette An array of Spanish meats... ...to complement an array of Spanish cheese. Mackerel in Olive Oil Rojo with potato strands, poached egg and chorizo Salt Baked Trout with Swiss Chard, romenesco, aioli verde and salpicon Lamb Saddle with piquillo peppers Saffron Fried Rice with ramps, English snap peas, egg and aioli And finally an order of Papas in spicy bravas sauce.  The meal was just like a parade of unending dishes.  Everything was great but the standouts were definitely the crisp salty Duck Croquettes, the rich Mackerel in olive oil and the Salt Baked Trout with that incredible romenesco sauce. And of course the desserts...this is where I fell in love with those sugar crus

Pies 'n Thighs- Canal Street

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One of my favorite Williamsburg spots has expanded across the bridge to the Lower East Side and I couldn't be happier.  Pie's & Thighs set up a new shop right on Canal Street offering all the things I love in the world...that decadent Bourbon Pecan Pie, those thick cheesy grits and my absolute favorite sandwich the Chicken Biscuit. One big crispy chicken cutlet slathered with hot sauce and honey butter then sandwiched between a warm buttery biscuit.  It's not so pretty to look at and eating it can be quite messy but it's so worth it for each incredible bite. Bonus points to the Canal Street spot for having extra hot sauce and honey on each table for those of us who like it extra saucy.  Plus this new location is just blocks away from craft beer bar Top Hops. Chicken Biscuit and beer...it just doesn't get much better than that. Pies N Thighs 43 Canal Street between Orchard & Ludlow New York, NY 10002

DYI Cocktail- Moonshine Mule

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It's National Moonshine Day!  I never even knew this holiday existed but it certainly sounds like something worth celebrating.  Let's cheers to this Friday with another Do-It-Yourself cocktail recipe the Moonshine Mule. Moonshine Mule 1 Part Ole Smoky White Lightnin Moonshine 2 parts Ginger Beer Top with Angostura Bitters Mix well in a Copper Moscow Mule glass over ice; Garnish with a wedge of lime. Ole Smoky Tennessee Moonshine

Rocky Slims

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The newest pizza place to hit Murray Hill is Rocky Slims, taking over the space that once held slice joint Mike Due.  While the cuisine is still the same, the atmosphere is totally different.  Gone are the white tiled walls and rickety tables; they've been replaced with a sleek new bar, exposed brick walls and a wood fire oven churning out whole pies with exotic topping like Smoked beets with ramps and Gorgonzola, and Mussels with burrata and borttarga. We dined in for our first visit and tried out the Classic Pie with tomato, mozzarella, pecorino and basil.  The ingredients were super fresh and I loved the puffy charred bubbles on the crust and light charring on the bottom. My only gripe would be the price...$17 for what they consider a personal pie is a bit more than I'm willing to part with for a pizza.  Our next visit we skipped the sit down restaurant and went directly to the slice counter on the side.  This is where I found one of my favorite white slice's

Colicchio & Sons

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It's been years since I dined at Colicchio and Sons.  I swing by the bar up front for a quick drink once in a while but an actual fine dining experience in the back is usually reserved for a special occasion; like a good friends blow out birthday meal.  There were many so many courses here's just a quick run down of the food: Hamachi Crudo with Citrus, Celery & Pistachios Charred Octopus with Citrus, Caramelized Endive & Chorizo Vinaigrette Beef Tartare with Jicima & Smoked Mayonnaise Campanelle with Ramps, Morel Mushrooms & English Peas  Halibut with Hearts of Palm, Fava Beans & Preserved Lemons Toasted Marshmallow, Olive Oil and Coffee Ice Cream The standouts of the meal were definitely the fresh, spring flavors in the Campanelle and the soft, fragrant lemon essence in the Halibut.  However nothing else truly stood out for a restaurant of such high caliber.  Our service was also lacking wit