NYC Tastes

I love Sunday mornings at Patisserie Chanson.  This beautiful French bakery makes my favorite baked goods in the city, from their flaky Raspberry Croissants and Black Sesame Kougins to the creamy Eclairs and Chocolate Mille Feuilles. My current obsession is their seasonal Yuzu Bomboloni.  It's impossibly fluffy and light on the outside, rolled in sugar, then stuffed with a bright, citrusy yuzu cream that's so refreshing, I actually feel transported to a beautiful yuzu tree filled island.   Of course I'm actually just sitting across from Eataly, two blocks from my tiny apartment, but it's good to have island daydreams once in a while.  Patisserie Chanson 20 West 23rd Street New York, NY 10010

Korean BBQ meets American Steakhouse in every sleek, over the top style possible at COTE in Flatiron. This hot spot is known best for it's Butcher's Feast, a selection of four cuts of meat with Korean sides, but if you're a glutton (like most of us are) you'll probably want to add on a few extra items like the Korean Bacon.  These thick, squares of pork belly were almost melting when they arrived with a smokey, charred exterior and soft, fatty center, kicked up a notch with spicy pickled jalapeno.  I would also add on the Fisherman Welcome, a briny West Coast oyster topped with a beautiful dollop of uni.  What's not to love about that? Onto the Butchers Feast a selection of four cuts of USDA Prime meat and American style Wagyu served with an array of sides including spicy kimchi stew, savory dwen-jang stew, a gorgeous egg souffle, scallion salad and red leaf lettuce with ssam-jang.   The waiters cook everything for you at the table and gu...

Hortus is one of the most recent openings in Nomad, helmed by Suhum Jang of Jung Sik and Chef Seungjoon Choi of Blanca.   This Asian infusion spot boasts a long sleek bar downstairs overlooking a beautiful open kitchen and a 2 nd floor dining room for more formal occasions.   The menu is broken down into five different sections; Raw Bar, Cheese & Charcuterie, To Start, To Share and Sides.    We began with the Shrimp Cocktail, four pieces of the freshest, most flavorful shrimp I've ever experienced served with a house made sauce studded with jalapeño, cucumber and avocado.   King Crab dressed with crème fraîche, Asian pear and red sorrel; this was a beautiful bite of cream and citrus. Onto the Starter portion of the menu, Calamari Tempura with Korean Shiso and spicy mayo.  I loved how they prepared both the rings and tentacles in two unique styles. Unfortunately, the Yuzu Tare Angel Wings were a disappointment.  The b...

Monday mornings are always the worst, but the final Monday morning of summer is just downright brutal.  I contemplated staying under the covers all day but I do have this thing called a job . So I dragged myself out of bed and headed to Patisserie Chanson in hopes of some Monday motivation. The aroma of fresh baked bread and coffee greeted me at the door; forcing my sleepy eyes open and luring me towards this flaky, sugar dusted Kougin Amann stuffed with tart Pistachio cream.  As I peeled apart each nutty, sweet layer I could feel my Monday blues start to melt away. Of course this positive energy I was feeling now might not last all day, so I grabbed a Lemon Yuzu tart for later, just to be sure :) Patisserie Chanson 20 West 23rd Street at Broadway New York, NY 10010

I've been battling a terrible cold the past few days and in serious need of some comfort food.  Of course nothing says "comfort" more than a thick, creamy bowl of tomato soup and a melty Grilled Cheese Sandwich. Beechers Handmade Cheese is only four blocks from my apartment and a total lifesaver in this situation of illness. Their tomato soup is super chunky with shreds of melted Parmesan cheese inside and loaded with crunchy croutons.  Of course I always ask for my croutons on the side in favor of dipping my sandwich directly into the bowl instead.  It's not exactly proper dining etiquette but honestly when you have a bad cold who really cares.   Beechers Handmade Cheese 900 Broadway at 20th Street New York, NY 10003

My favorite new spot in the city for Thai food is newcomer Thai Villa in the Flatiron District.  The restaurant itself is absolutely gorgeous; big golden leaves hang from the ceiling over wooden alcoves with soft golden lights illuminating the main dining room. Thai Villa is excellent at any time but I like to go at lunch where every entree comes with a free salad and appetizer.  On my last visit I started with the Steamed Pork & Shrimp Dumplings with the Chicken Cashew Nut entree. I loved the spice level of this dish; the hot chili jam and roasted peppers balanced by the jicama and scallions. My friend ordered the Fried Chive Pancake appetizer which was actually more like a chive dumpling served with a sweet brown sauce and the Eggplant Basil lunch with long hot peppers and Thai basil leaves. The food is always incredible and for just $12.00 a person this is a seriously filling and affordable way meal for just about any budget. Tha...

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

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...

Spring is in the air and what better way to celebrate than with a fresh fruity dessert from the exquisite Patisserie Chanson. This gorgeous new bakery just opened in the Flatiron district and serves up all sorts of wonderful french pastries from Chef Rory MacDonald.  There's row upon row of creamy eclairs in luscious flavors of  pistachio, blood orange and cafe au lait. Stunning Mont Blanc cakes topped with chestnut cream and bright lemon custard bars layered with fresh chopped rhubarb and berries. In addition to the pastries up front Patisserie Chanson also offers afternoon tea in the dining space in back with tea sandwiches, macarons and cakes.   A full dessert bar with a tasting menu is also coming in the next few months so be on the lookout for a LOT more excitement around this already amazing spot.  Patisserie Chanson 20 West 23rd Street at 5th Avenue New York, NY 10010

The explosion of international chain restaurants continue as the first NYC Wagamama opened on 5th Avenue this past Fall, causing a line of hungry guests to camp outside in wait for their delicious bowls of ramen, donburi and curry.  I love all three of those things but I was honestly most excited for their insanely delicious Warm Chili Chicken Salad. Baby Gem Lettuce studded with stir-fry chicken mixed with red pepper, onion and broccoli then tossed with chili, spring onion and cashews in a sweet chili dressing.  It's spicy and sweet; one of my all time favorite lunch salads.  I've ordered this dish at both the Wagamama in Copenhagen and London so it's nice to finally be able to enjoy on my soil (not to mention 3 blocks from my apartment). Wagamama 210 5th Avenue New York, NY 10010

I love Covino so much that I named it as one of my favorite new places of 2016.  I was obsessed with their incredible Hummus , then the fabulous Wagyu Cheeseburger and now its the wonderful Chopped Salad served at lunch. Let me preface this by saying that I love   a good Cobb Salad and this is similar but better; mixed greens topped with fresh sliced avocado, green & red onion with crumbles of blue cheese, then kicked up a notch with thick, crispy Nueske's smoked bacon, a flurry of Parmesan cheese and a sweet and spicy dressing.  I loved the strong smokiness of the bacon and the light spicy vinaigrette was a welcome change from the heavy dressing that all to often weigh down the salad and drown out the other flavors.  Another simple yet fabulous dish from Covina! Covina 127 East 27th Street New York, NY 10010

It's been so cold and windy lately it's been hard to venture to far from home.  Luckily we have Eataly right nearby for all of those winter food needs. There is little in life that makes me happier than lush, beautiful ribbons of prosciutto and thick sliced chunks of mozzarella dusted with salt, pepper and olive oil. Fior di Zucca~ house made ravioli filled with butternut squash and ricotta cheese, tossed in a wonderful brown butter sauce topped with crispy sage and a flurry of grana padano. And for a little something green the Fusilli with broccoli, pecorino cheese, house made mozzarella, breadcrumbs and chili.  It's got a fantastic crunch from the breadcrumbs and a spicy little kick at the end that's just lovely. La Pasta at Eataly 200 5th Avenue at 23rd Street New York, NY 10010

One of the hottest sushi joints out of  California just opened up in the Flatiron district; Sugarfish a casual but trendy spot touting high quality sushi at an affordable price.   The main draw at Sugarfish are the "Trust Me"menus available at both dinner and lunch which give the diner a sampling of menu items designed around portion size; the regular Trust Me for the average diner, the Trust Me Lite for smaller appetites and the Nozawa Trust Me (named for Chef Nozawa ) for those with bigger appetites or in this case for a couple who likes to share.  To begin a bowl of Tuna Sashimi. Sugarfish uses Albacore for its tuna, a cut usually reserved in NYC for sandwiches and salads.  The texture was surprisingly rich and creamy, sprinkled with chopped scallions and brushed with a bit of soy, I would come here for this wonderful dish alone. Salt dusted organic Edamame to snack on with the sashimi before moving onto the sushi course. First plate Albacore, ...

It's crazy to think almost all of my neighborhood happy hour places have closed over the past year- City Crab, Duke's, Tasca Chino....all boarded up and gone.  I've had to expand my search west for new options which landed me at Sagaponack; an adorable restaurant/bar styled after the breezy, beach life of Southhampton. During happy hour Sagaponack offers $4 draft beers, $5 wines and $9 cocktails; all of which are much better than the average happy hour choices.  The beers are from local breweries like Montauck and Braven Brewing, the wines are Wolffer Estate (the perfect summer rose) and the house cocktails are incredible!  I highly suggest the Smokey Farmer, a twist on an Old Fashioned made with Johnny Walker and wine barrel smoke, creating a big swirling cloud above the drink like some sort of neat magic trick.  Or for something incredibly refreshing the Rosemary Bramble made with Montauck Citrus Gin, Yuzu, Creme de 'Mure, blackberries and rosemary essence. ...

When Mr. T and I are at a complete loss at to where to eat in our neighborhood we almost always turn to Blue Smoke. It has a bright airy atmosphere with both indoor and outdoor seating, a well curated list of beer and cocktails and although BBQ is the specialty they also do a great job with other items beside the standard pulled pork and ribs. Like the hearty Breakfast Burger; a thick ground beef patty topped with choice of cheese including blue, cheddar and pimento; thick slices of bacon and a fried egg on top.  I'm not a fan of the thick cut fries (more like a potato chopped into three parts) but I usually pass those off to Mr. T in exchange for some of his delicious green beans. Yes I said delicious green beans. They've been simmered long and slow in butter and bacon taking away that awful bitter flavor I remember from growing up.  In fact there are still chunks of bacon in every bowl.  A perfect addition to the spicy Fried Chicken and thick cut Texas To...

There's little in life that makes me happier than a beautiful pink drink and a delicious brunch; both of which were accomplished at The Gander. Two pinks drinks to be exact.  A refreshing Raspberry Lemonade for Mr. T made with local raspberries & mint and the Itza Spritza for me with pisco, prosecco and raspberry syrup. For brunch I ordered the Omelet with creamy cheddar cheese, mushroom and scallion while Mr. T went for southern fare with the Shrimp and Grits loaded up with smoked mushroom and crispy pork cracklings. Everything was perfect. Food, drinks, service...Saturdays are just so much better with a delicious start :) The Gander 15 West 18th Street New York, NY 10011