NYC Tastes

When I read the Best of 2018 lists this year, there was one place that appeared in almost every article, Frenchette; a lively little French bistro on the edge of Tribeca. Chef Riad Nasr and Chef Lee Hanson are in the kitchen; a dynamic duo who opened the kitchen of Balthazar together back in 1997. The space exudes a mix of characteristics similar to city's classic French spots; the bright, clean elegance of Balthazar and the cool, bar vibe of Raouls; but it's also decidedly different with a small, simple menu and a casual, laid back style of service. On the weekend lunch menu a rich, smoky Duck Confit served atop a bounty of root vegetables perfect for soaking up all the juicy drippings. A beautiful Brouillade studded with garlic Peconic escargot; a dish that truly showcased the French lust for butter.    Crispy Pomme Frites with an eggy mayo  and a scoop of creamy Salted Caramel Ice Cream for dessert. C'est magnifique! Frenchette 241 West...

It's mind blowing to think that five years have passed since Other Half opened up its doors in Brooklyn.  Mr. T and I had been lamenting the nonexistent beer scene in NYC; then that tiny little tasting room opened up and voila, IPA's for everyone!  Of course it wasn't perfect at first.  The tasting room was so small, only one table fit inside and a single fan spun slowly in the corner, almost mocking us with its false respite from the scorching hot weather.  But today the tap room is much bigger, release lines much more manageable and although I miss the single hop series that kicked off their fame, it's really great to have such an awesome brewery in the city.  Cheers to Other Half's Anniversary and New Brew Friday! Other Half Brewing 195 Centre Street Brooklyn, NY 11231

Hidden on the edge of the Financial District sits Temple Court; Tom Colicchio's lesser known restaurant inside the stunning Beekman Hotel.  This sleek little spot specializes in classic American food using the fresh seasonal ingredients.   I wanted to order everything on the RW menu; creamy Burrata with heirloom squash and pesto, Mussels steamed with saffron and Gnudi with shaved Brussels sprout, Granny Smith apples and sage. To be quite honest, if a dish mentions both sage and brown butter, I'm always going to order it and these little pockets of cheesy potato gnudi were the perfect vessel for that explosive flavor combination.    Onto entrees a beautiful Skate Meuniere dressed with lemon, capers and a trio of roasted cauliflower.  Restaurant Week which ends in a few days, so make those lunch/dinner plans now before time runs out. Temple Court 5 Beekman Street New York, NY 10038 

As the polar vortex continues to unleash freezing temps across the city, we search for more warmth in comfort food like the velvety Tomato Soup & Adult Grilled Cheese from Sarabeth's. Adult here really just means excessive; as in excessive amounts of glorious melted cheddar, manchego and gruyere cheese sandwiched between a buttery Bavarian pretzel roll dusted with salt. This sandwich has enough cheesy goodness to provide comfort for days, especially when dunked properly into the creamy tomato soup. This thick broth is full of chopped shallots, chunky tomato and even more cheddar cheese shredded on top, making this the ultimate soup and sandwich comfort combo. Sarabeth's 381 Park Avenue South at 27th Street New York, NY 10016