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Showing posts from May, 2017

Lunch at Sushi Yasaka

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I'm always on the hunt for quality sushi at an affordable price.  Back in the day I could eat just about anywhere but unfortunately after multiple meals at the greats like Hatsuhana ,  Cagen  and Sushi Yasuda I just can't go back to the neighborhood  sushi spots anymore.  And although  Sugarfish  is more affordable and close by the hour long waits continue to be an issue. So last week I headed to the Upper West Side to check out the much talked about Sushi Yasaka. This tiny little spot located just off the 1, 2, 3 train station is cozy with no frills.  Just a few small tables in the front and an L-shaped sushi bar in back perfect for watching the sushi chefs. I ordered the mini Omakase; that day a chefs selection of Snapper, Yellowtail, Ebi, Bluefish, Otoro, Saba and Toro Roll. Wow- everything was so fresh!  The otoro melted ever so slightly into the sushi rice, the ebi was delicate and sweet and the toro roll was just perfect.  And all of this fabulous food was only $23

Huevos Rancheros at Cornelia Street Cafe

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Last Sunday was one of the first perfect days of summer.  The sun was shining bright in the sky, the temperature hovered right around 76 degrees and it seemed like every single person in Manhattan decided to soak it all in with an al fresco brunch.  Of course I was one of those people.  I walked from one restaurant to the next trying to find a table in the sun; from Nomad to Chelsea down into the West Village until finally I found a spot at Greenwich Village staple Cornelia Street Cafe. I had been planning on a light meal but after all that walking I decided to go a bit heartier with the Huevos Rancheros.  Two grilled corn tortillas loaded with whole black beans, fried eggs, salsa verde and mounds of melted cheddar cheese topped off with a dollop of creme fraiche.   Paired with a crisp Vinho Verde and the fabulous weather outside- this was some serious brunch success.   Cornelia Street Cafe 29 Cornelia Street New York, NY 10014

Memorial Day Weekend Events

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Memorial Day weekend- WooHoo!   Time to break out the white pants, pop up some rose and start hitting up all those rooftops, patios and park parties.   This city has a ton of great events going on all weekend long but here’s a few especially for the food focused.   We even included something on Tuesday night for those who wish to extend the holiday weekend just a little bit further. Saturday May 27 th - Fried Chicken Doughnut Collaboration Southern food favorite Root & Bone and the incredible Doughnut Project are teaming up this weekend to serve a fantastic Fried Chicken Doughnut sandwich.  This isn’t just a regular doughnut either; it’s a Maple Bourbon Tabasco Glazed doughnut!  The sandwich is available at Root & Bone and the doughnuts will be at Doughnut Project all weekend long. Sunday May 28 th - Soft Shell Crabs at Toloache Celebrate Memorial Day by digging into some the seasons first Soft Shell Crabs in taco form at Mexican hot spot Tolache.  Th

Fusco

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I was incredibly sad when the elegant  Elan closed last year.  I spent so many Sunday's in their front window watching the bustle and buzz of Gramercy go passing by.  I prayed something wonderful would move into the space and something wonderful actually did! Scott Conant's new Italian restaurant Fusco. We stopped in for dinner Saturday night and my old spot at the front window just happened to be open.  A smooth, silky bottle of Chianti to share and we were off for a fabulous night. Thick crusty rolls served with freshly churned butter and a beautiful garlic broccoli rabe pesto to begin. This would have been enough carbs for most people but we just couldn't pass up an order of the Stromboli... ... layered with  squares of smoked mozzarella, salami and bright sprigs of rosemary. Since we did so much carbo loading to start we decided to go light for the mid-course and split the Truffle Pea Cesar appetizer. This was lovely- fresh peas

Breakfast Delivery- Creamline

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Ugh Monday.  It's bad enough that it's cold and rainy outside but the lingering effects of too much wine during Cher's Billboard performance last night has made it so much worse. Seems like the appropriate day to stay under the covers, work from home and order in a delicious breakfast. Creamline is my favorite new spot for a classic NYC breakfast sandwich.  All of their ingredients are sourced from nearby farms meaning everything is super fresh and all natural. I chose to stack these sandwiches this morning because why not   ¯\_(ツ)_/¯     If Cher can turn back time why can't I stack my breakfast sammies? Each sandwich comes loaded with melted cheddar cheese, thick cut sausage or bacon and a perfectly fried egg on an English muffin. The best part about Creamline breakfast- it's served the entire day!  So no matter what time the party lasted until the night before there will still be an incredible breakfast in the morning.   Creamlin

Da Marino

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2016 was Book of Mormon summer for Mr. T and I.  We were determined to win front row tickets during their daily lottery and showed up Tuesday- Friday for two months straight and NEVER WON. It was incredibly disappointing and we quit all together.   It wasn't until I found myself in Times Square for work last week that I decided to stop by again. This time as I was placing my lottery ticket into the barrel I suddenly felt a bolt of electricity.  Seriously if this had been a movie, magical beams of light, glitter and possibly even unicorns would have come shooting out from all sides.  I knew was going to win that day- and I did! Of course with less than a two hour window between winning the ticket and showtime we had to scramble a little.  I called Mr. T immediately to tell him we finally won and to leave work immediately so we could grab dinner before the show. I started to think of places we like in the area; Danji, Sake Bar Hagi, Don Antonio, etc.  All great places but I was fe

Negroni Sessions at Dante

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My favorite happy hour in the city right now just happens to be inside my old favorite coffee shop Caffe Dante.  Mr. T and I used to come here years ago for their  frothy cappuccinos  and sweet Italian cookies.  The space has since been redone with much more emphasis on the food and drink menu and the addition of a long bar/table up front for extra seating.  Happy Hour here isn't called "happy hour" it's called The Negroni Sessions because every drink on their list is some take on the classic Negroni.  There's the spring time Lavender Negroni and the pick-me-up Coffee Swizzle Negroni made with mezcal, cold brew and bitters. There's the bright, citrus forward Negroni Frappe made with Junipero, Gran Lusso and orange juice... ...and of course even the Classic Negroni made with Bombay Sapphire, Campari and Maritni & Rossi Vermouth. Unfortunately word on the Negroni Sessions is out because this place is always packed! However the

Mother's Day Rose's

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Mother's Day is this Sunday which is always the perfect excuse to officially kick off Rose season. Soon the sun will be shining bright, people will start getting Hampton ready and that pretty pink drink will be in glasses everywhere.  With the liquor stores stocking so many roses this time of year finding the perfect one can be tough.  I could suggest you just join the masses and bring Whispering Angel to every party but why do that when there’s so many great local rose producers right here in New York.   Here are my picks for a few delicious, local summer suppers sure to please Mom: Wolffer Estate- Summer in a Bottle Nothing sends out summer vibes more than Wolffer Estate's Summer in a Bottle.  This incredible wine is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay and Gewurztraminer giving it juicy, ripe flavors of peaches, pear and melon with a long elegant finish.  This wine is absolutely bursting with fruity goodness and the bottle design is sure to delight Mom.  

Black Sesame Goodness at Patisserie Chanson

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I've talked about the creamy eclairs and rhubarb studded  custard  from Patisserie Chanson but my favorite treat in the entire bakery is actually the Black Sesame Kouign Amann. Golden, flaky strands of pastry brushed with butter and sugar than stuffed full of sweet, nutty black sesame seeds.  It makes a satisfying little crackle when it's pulled apart and exposes those speckled pockets of goodness inside.  I love black sesame so these are absolutely perfect for me.  However their Kouign's are also available in plain, gianduja and rhubarb & thyme jam. Mornings are always delicious with Patisserie Chanson in the neighborhood. Patisserie Chanson 20 West 23rd Street New York, NY 10010

Simple Sunday's at Balthazar

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I absolutely love Sunday afternoons with nothing to do.  I suppose I could use the time to clean the apartment or run some errands but it's so much nicer to just go for a long walk instead and relax with a solo dinner at Balthazar. Their incredible Steak Tartare chopped with capers, cornichons and anchovy then served with crispy slices of baguette and a lovely glass of Bordeaux. This classic NYC restaurant is always lively and bustling.  Even when Mr. T and I had our somewhat secret court house wedding we got the very last table in the bar area at 10:30 on a Friday morning.  And we certainly weren't the only couple drinking a bottle of champagne at that early hour either.  It's just one of those magical spots that everyone seems to love.  Simple, delicious Sunday at its finest. Balthazar 80 Spring Street New York, NY 10012

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

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Even though it's a gross rainy day there's still reason to celebrate the fabulous Mexican culture with my favorite food in the world- TACOS! I'm planning to head to Casa Neta tonight for their absolutely incredible Short Rib tacos loaded with manchego cheese, guacamole and poblano rajas.  Plus they have a great happy hour from 5:00-7:00 which means delicious $10 margaritas. I honestly think it should be taco and tequila time every day- happy Cinco de Mayo! Casa Neta 40 East 20th Street New York, NY 10003

NYC Street Nuts Bar from Chocolat Moderne

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I tend to embarrass myself quite a bit when I'm walking around the city.  I'm klutzy so I trip over things a lot, I'm easily distracted so I also walk into things a lot and I get very excited about things in the moment and tend to scream a lot like I did the other day inside 2Beans when I saw this incredible new delight- the NYC Street Nuts Bar from Chocolat Moderne. Those sweet and salty caramelized peanut, almond and cashews from the NYC Nuts for Nuts carts enrobed in Chocolat Moderne's rich, creamy milk chocolate. Two of my favorite things combined into one incredible bar! Of course it would be my favorite chocolatier in the city who came up with this genius concoction. Joan and her crew at Chocolat Moderne never disappoint and this is truly a New York City classic.   Chocolat Moderne 27 West 20th Suite 904 New York, NY 10010

The New Bar Menu at Torst

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I'm a big fan of Greenpoint craft beer bar Torst.  Ever since it opened four years ago I've spent hours upon hours sampling their rotating drafts, scouring through the massive bottle list and chatting with the incredible bartenders.  However one thing was always missing from the total bar experience- the bar food.  They had the wonderful Michelin starred Luksus in the back room where I enjoyed an  incredible tasting menu ; but unfortunately that was just way to expensive for a casual beer drinker most evenings and has since closed its doors. In its place Torst has opened up the back room for more bar seating with a brand new a la carte menu of incredible dishes like Fried Maine Shrimp Sandwich with celery gribiche and hot sauce, a traditional Danish Hot Dog topped with scallions and daikon kimchi and the French Montana; a rich tender short rib sandwich topped with melted gruyere cheese and horseradish. The food is inventive and delicious, much more upscale than sta

Getting Monday Happy at Bo's Kitchen & Bar

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Monday is easily the most underrated day of the week.  It signals the start of work which can bring dread for many folks.  But it also signals the start of a new beginning!  A chance to put whatever happened last Monday in the past and start of a bright, positive new perspective. So it's really a day we should all celebrate and Bo's Kitchen & Bar is the perfect place to do just that with their fantastic Monday night happy hour. This New Orleans inspired bar in the Flatiron District serves up $5 Bo's Lager, $7 Wines and Specialty Cocktails like the savory Boss Lady Thyme with St. German and fig jam for just $10 all night long on Mondays. In addition to the fabulous drinks Bo's boasts juicy Double LaFrieda Burgers and fries for $7.50, creamy Thai Curry Mussels with coconut milk and fresh oysters for just a buck a piece.  With specials this good it's hard to be down on Monday's any more.  Time to celebrate instead. Bo's Restaurant 6 West 24th Street Ne