NYC Tastes

I can't remember the last time Cinco de Mayo and the Kentucky Derby fell on the exact same day.  Not to mention it being a fabulous sunny Saturday on its own.  This called for some serious day drinking, away from all of the crowds over in Alphabet City. First stop The Wayland, one of my favorite Avenue C spots for a Rosé Sour garnished with fresh leaves of basil. Then onto the new hot spot Loverboy for a boozy brunch carafe of vodka, St. Germain and peach puree paired with a slice of the signature Loverboy pizza. Cut square with a crunchy buttery bottom (reminiscent of Pizza Hut) and a blend of melted house cheese, crisp pepperoni and ramp ranch dressing drizzled on top; this was one messy, decadent and delicious slice. Then up the block to Mace Bar for a round of herbaceous drinks including this fantastic Fennel Pollen cocktail which tasted just like a warm McDonald's Apple Pie (in a very good way).   The Wayland 700 East 9th Street ...

I've never noticed this sleek little cocktail bar on Avenue C and 9th Street.  Maybe I'm always distracted by the festive folks outside Esperanto or too busy gazing at the plants in the park across the street, but this is certainly not a place to overlook.  In fact it just might be the best cocktail bar in the city. Barman Nico de Soto has created a cocktail list that focuses on the flavor profile of the drink rather than the spirit. The menu reads like a beautiful journey into someones spice cabinet with colorful pictures and detailed descriptions of each offering. I'm obsessed with anything banana and coconut based so the Kewra was an easy choice.  However as soon as the words were out of my mouth I had immediate order regret.  It was such a hot day the last thing I wanted was a rich milky tiki drink. Imagine my surprise when this arrived.  I almost thought the bartender had given me straight bourbon; but once I took a whiff the sweet ar...

Mr. T and I celebrated Easter at Zum Schneider last week.  This was an annual tradition of ours for years so it was nice to finally get back.  There's an Easter Egg hunt inside for the kids, traditional German music playing overhead and awesome Easter menu specials like Baked Honey Glazed Ham and Roasted Lamb Shank in red wine sauce with green beans and gratin potatoes. I always feel like I'm back at Mid-Evil Times eating this massive platter of meat.  We could have split this dish and been fine but we were so excited to finally be back we had to order our old favorites. Zum easily makes the best Potato Pancakes in the city; fried to a crisp golden brown served with applesauce and greens tossed with their delicious house lemon honey dressing. And of course leaving a German restaurant without ordering a Brat and two enormous beers would just be wrong.   The weather was so nice we even got to sit outside for a few hours.  Mr. T had just gotten over his su...

OMG this was  the longest coldest week EVER.  I really try not to complain too much but it was loooooooong.  A week like this is the perfect excuse to get things started early.  Summit Bar over on Avenue C has a great happy hour with six different kinds of wine and six different cocktails all for around $7 each. My two favorites are the Charmanes Star made with Polish Vodka, Cinnamon Infused Agave, Cucumber, Shisho, Lime and Rhubarb Bitters & The Guv'nor with Whiskey, Toasted Cardamom Infused Agave, Yuzu and Orange Juice.  Happy Hour runs from 5:30-7:30 Monday thru Friday and 4:00- 7:30 on Saturday and Sunday.  Might as well ride this cocktail train right into the weekend! The Summit Bar 133 Avenue C between 8th & 9th New York, NY 10009

There have been a handful of critical darlings that opened this year and Virginia's is definitely on the list. This cozy Old World bistro by Per Se and Locanda Verde alums in Alphabet City is just churning out delightful dishes like appetizers of toast points layered with creamy goat cheese, honeycrisp apples and sunflower seeds... ...and beautiful Caramelized Romanesco Salad topped with smoked pine nuts, clothbound cheddar cheese and speck vinaigrette.  You could make a meal of the small plates alone but then you would miss out on some truly fantastic large plates like the hearty Hanger Steak with Argentinian chorizo and bok choy... ...an incredible Sweet Corn Risotto dotted with hunks of okra and plump chanterelles... ...and some of the best cooked Scallops I have ever had in my entire life; crisp and buttery on the outside and silky smooth inside. Virginia's is a fantastic new neighbor in the ever growing restaurant/bar scene...

I absolutely love summer Saturdays in NYC. The streets are empty, the sun is shining bright and everything just feels so peaceful compared to the hustle and bustle of everyday life.  It's the perfect time for a relaxing cocktail infused brunch at The Wayland. Everything on the menu is amazing; creamy Avocado Toast, Cauliflower & Egg Sandiwch with jalapeno yogurt and Blueberry Corn Cakes are all sure bets. But for a classic "Big Breakfast" it gets no better than The Man Child; a massive platter of eggs, bacon, fingerling potatoes, brussels sprout hash and sausage bread. It's everything that's amazing about breakfast on one big plate.  The only thing that makes this even better are the incredible cocktails like the Sugar Magnolia with marmalade and orange peel... ...or the refreshing Rose Sour with a twist of mint. Summer in the city just doesn't get much better than this. The Wayland 700 East 9th Street @Avenue C New York, NY 10009