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Showing posts from March, 2016

Philly- Butcher and Singer

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Dinner Friday night was at Butcher & Singer a gorgeous steakhouse decked out in the decor of Old Hollywood.  It felt a little bit like dining on the set of Mad Men with big plush booths  and whimsical paintings on the wall of dogs playing poker. We had been eating all day long so we decided to skip an entire round of appetizers and simply share a salad to start, the only thing green we'd had in the last 24 hours. Of course a Wedge Salad isn't healthy at all, loaded up with big chunks of blue cheese, egg and squares of bacon; screw healthy this was delicious. Mr. T ordered the classic Delmonico, perfectly charred with a thick salty crust on the outside and juicy red center. The Filet Mignon was just as wonderful, not as much outer char but an insanely soft buttery texture that was almost like cutting into a piece of tuna sashimi. For sides a big bowl of Creamed Spinach (more greens?)... ...and the Stuffed Hash Brown, a HUGE shredded potato with crispy fried ext

Philly- DiNic's & Sonnys

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After downing our coffee and doughnuts for the morning we took off for Reading Terminal to explore some of the food stalls and more specifically have a sandwich at DiNic's. This family run sandwich shop has been around forever and currently holds the title of "Best Sandwich in America" from the Travel Channel.  The small menu includes Roast Beef, Meatball and Italian Sausage but the fan favorite is definitely the Roast Pork with sharp provolone cheese and broccoli rabe. The combination of bitter greens, funky cheese and rich juicy pork all on a great crusty roll is amazing.  Ask for an extra dip in au jus to completely seal in all the fabulous flavors.  After Reading Terminal we walked over to the historic district and did some touring around; trying to burn off a few calories before our second sandwich of the day- the classic Philly Cheesesteak.  Before coming to Philly my brother mentioned that he really wanted to try one.  I assumed he meant finally trying a Phil

Philly- Federal Doughnuts

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We did a LOT of eating on Friday.  I probably didn't need to start the day stuffing my face full of hot carbs but when Federal Doughnuts is only two blocks away, it's impossible to pass up. We started with a few of the "fancy" doughnuts; the classic Old Fashioned Glazed and Milk and Coffee being the favorites of that group; before moving on to the "hot & fresh" doughnuts in Vanilla Spice and Cinnamon Sugar. The fancy doughnuts are always available but the hot and fresh take about a 5 minute wait and it's completely worth every second. There's something utterly glorious about a piping hot doughnut fresh from the fryer.  The sugar crystals all start melting into the dough as they fall apart...good lord it's just fantastic! These paired with a Black and White draft coffee from Colombe and the day is off to a great start. Federal Doughnuts 1632 Sansom Street Philadelphia, PA 19103

Philly- Pumpkin Restaurant

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Mr. T and I trekked to Philadelphia this weekend for two jam packed days of food, beer and basketball to celebrate my brother's birthday.  We arrived Thursday night and headed right to one of Philly's longest running and best known BYOB spots Pumpkin.  This cozy little place was at the forefront of the farm-to-table movement when it opened 11 years ago and continues to focus on local and seasonal ingredients.  We began with a Dry Riesling from the Finger Lakes and a few appetizers to share; Spanish Rock Octopus with squid ink, citrus and couscous. Crispy Sweetbreads with spinach, roasted grapes and Yellowfoot mushrooms Beef Tartare with kohlrabi kimchee and black garlic I absolutely loved the sweet, funky flavor of the black garlic in the beef tartare while Mr. T foodgasmed over the decadent sweetbreads.  All three of the appetizers were excellent.  We finished the Riesling and moved onto a bottle of Pinot Noir for our entrees. Teres Major Steak with red wine, co

New Brew Friday- J Wakefield DFPF

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This rainy weather today has me thinking back to the sunny skies of Tampa two weeks ago and one of my favorite beers from this year's Hunaphu fest J Wakefield's DFPF. DFPD stands for Dragon Fruit Passion Fruit; a shockingly bright pink Berliner Weisse that turns heads whenever it's on tap.  The mouthfeel is light and bubbly with the sweet candied aromas of passionfruit taking over the nose.  The flavor is tons and tons of freshly peeled dragonfruit with a touch of lemon zest.   The passion fruit comes in on the end creating a nice balance which is much more tart and refreshing than sour. This 3.5% beer is just perfect for drinking in the Florida sunshine- Cheers! J Wakefield 120 NW 24th Street Miami, FL 33127

Maroni Cuisine- Northport

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There's little in life I enjoy more than a long leisurely lunch with friends and my favorite one yet just occurred at Maroni's in Northport Long Island. This cozy little restaurant pretty much defines the term "quirky".  The 20 seat space felt like both a smoky cafe in Paris and an Italian mothers kitchen with a smattering of rock band memorabilia adorning the walls to confuse patrons even more.  I still don't understand the idea behind the decor but somehow during the meal I learned to love the eclectic setting. Maroni's serves strictly a chef's tasting menu, no a la carte.  Simply state any allergies or special requests and sit back for about 25 small courses to be brought to the table one by one.  Our meal began with thick slices of bacon topped with Peter Luger sauce, a Brussels Sprout Cesar Salad, Shrimp Scampi and an incredible Sea Bass Scallopini tossed with breadcrumbs and lemon. A delicious array of Tuna Tartare & Spicy

Two Incredible Reds from Andrea Scovero

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I had the incredible pleasure of meeting Andrea Scovero at Eataly last month; a winemaker known for his dedication to crafting small production wines completely by hand and focusing on the nature of the land to "paint" and create.    All of his wines are lovely but I suggest Barbera D'Asti Ciapin; the late harvest grapes create bold dark fruit flavors that are incredibly lush or the Il Clown Nebbiolo; a favorite of the world's best restaurants like Copenhagen's Noma for its powerful yet elegant body and distinct floral flavor. These slightly esoteric wines are a true delight to find- Salute! Eataly Vino 5th Avenue at 23rd Street New York, NY 10010

The Bar Room at American Cut

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Happy Hours and Hamburgers; two of my favorite things in the world and they both come together in one perfect little package at Marc Forgione's American Cut.   Every day at 4:20 PM American Cut tweets out the number of burgers available in the bar; usually between 10-15 a day. The burgers go fast so getting an early spot is a must which means partaking in their incredible happy hour well. A menu of $5 wines, half priced Old Fashioned's and a small selection of appetizers including chili lobster Chicken Wings and $1 oysters are available from 5:00- 7:00 each day. It would be incredibly easy to make a meal of happy hour alone but don't skip out on the off-menu burger. Short rib, brisket and dry aged rib eye are blended together then piled high with beer cheese and bourbon caramelized onions resulting in a  juicy, funky burger that's absolutely incredible.  The fries are more of an afterthought.  They're long and skinny but lack the crispness of a good fry and co

The Iced Coffee of My Dreams

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The title pretty much says it all.  This is the end all be all of Iced Coffee drinks and it can only be found at Gaddy Lane.   This pop up/catering spot is best known for their amazing combination sandwiches like the Weekend Lover with Grilled Eggplant, tamarind BBQ and toasted cashews or the Virtuous Yenta which combines "pastrami spiced" beets, horseradish mayo, cucumber and dill.   But my absolute favorite creation is their Iced Coconut Coffee. I'm a bit obsessed with coconut in my drinks (coconut flavored stouts especially) so it would only make sense to find this amazing coffee available at Other Half beer releases.  It's rich and frothy with such big bold coconuts notes I have to close my eyes with each sip to ensure nothing else distracts me from that intense creamy flavor.  This little place has actually made waiting in a long line simply delightful- thanks Gabby Lane! Gaddy Lane

Greenwich Project

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It's crazy to think how the little block of 8th Street between 5th and 6th Avenue has transformed over the past few years.  The former shoe district only has about one or two stores left and in their place a slew of restaurants and bars have popped like the wonderful Greenwich Project.  Housed in a 2 story townhouse the space has both a sleek downstairs cocktail bar and a more refined dining area upstairs with soft banquets and elegant chandeliers. The menu is a mix of French, Mediterranean and American inspiration with lots of great apps to share like warm crispy Tallegio Croutons drizzled with white honey truffle... ...and a small raw menu including Chilled Maine Lobster, Crab Legs and Tuna Tartare served inside a crispy tapioca crackers with a citrus soy dressing. Entrees include meat-centric dishes like Cote de Boeuf for two and Amish Chicken but the seafood dishes are what really shine here.  The Local Fluke with spinach, oyster mushroom and truff

Tacqueria Diana

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Taco joints are a dime a dozen but until recently finding one with actually good food was a bit of a challenge.  Luckily in the past few years newcomers like Dos Toros, Empellon Cocina and now Tacqueria Diane have really changed the Mexican food scene of the city.  This tiny little spot in the East Village churns out some incredible tacos and super thin crispy nachos. I especially love the Al Pastor; rich tender meat seasoned with just a bit of hot sauce, shredded lettuce, roasted pineapple and a flurry of cotija cheese.  Taco awesomeness at its' finest. Tacqueria Diana 129 2nd Avenue at 8th Street New York, NY 10003

Lunch at Till and Sprocket

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The Madison Square Garden area is slowly moving away from the food wasteland it once was with places like The Pennsy, Lupulo and now Till and Sprocket popping up with some serious lunch game.  I walked by this place about ten times thinking it was just a cafe but surprisingly they serve a full lunch and dinner menu in a large back area with ample seating for big parties.   The menu includes an array of house made salads, pizzas and sandwiches like Egg & Avocado, Chicken Melt and this Roast Turkey Breast on sourdough bread. This was packed with thick juicy tomatoes, arugula and melted Swiss cheese then topped with an incredible herb mayo.  It was a bit more expensive than your average deli sandwich, around $10 total, but the fresh artisan ingredients make it completely worth the extra bucks. Till and Sprocket 140 West 30th Street at 6th Avenue New York, NY 10001

S'Mores Ice Cream Cake from Parm

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Please don't be put off by the crazy flurry of chocolate crunchies scattered across this cake. Things got a little jumbled as I carried this home but I assure you there were no crunchies lost in transit.  This is the incredible S'more Ice Cream Cake from Parm in SOHO. Most people are familiar with the original Pistachio, Chocolate and Strawberry cake (always a classic) but I prefer the insanity of the S'more with layers of Toasted Marshmallow, Chocolate and Graham Cracker Ice Cream layered with rich chocolate crunchies, a toasted marshmallow on top and a graham cracker crumble crust.   This is the perfect marriage of everything I love in life...which I why I shared with Mr. T for our anniversary.  One great marriage deserves another :) Parm 248 Mulberry Street at Prince Street New York, NY 1001 2

The International Restaurant & Foodservice Show

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The International Restaurant and Foodservice show returned to the Javits Center this Sunday for three full days of food panels, culinary demonstrations and exhibitions showcasing current food trends in the industry. Taste NY had its own special pavilion pouring beer from Sixpoint, Ommegang and 212 in addition to  wine from  Dr. Frank Konstantin .  I always enjoyed their Dry Riesling but I had no idea they produced such incredible sparklers.  I absolutely fell in love with the Chateau Frank Blanc de Blancs.   Over in the spirits section I found another surprising love Pitorro Coquito from  Port Morris Distillery  in the Bronx.   Pitorro is a potent moonshine usually found throughout homes in Puerto Rico. Owner Rafael Barbosa persuaded his uncle to bring his recipe to NYC and together they have come out with a line of three different Pitorro's.  The classic cane sugar Pitorro Shine, an Anejo aged in wood barrels and the Coquito; a shockingly delicious blend of cinnamon and