NYC Tastes

The newest addition to the Murry Hill scene is Grace.  Located in the old McCormick's space this place has a refurbished bar, a veteran mixologist and a brand new menu.  I'll admit I was a little leery after I paid $9 for a Founders All Day IPA on opening day but I decided to give it another shot when we were strapped for a brunch spot.  We arrived right around 12:30 on a Saturday and the place was virtually empty. The brunch menu had various options from a classic Irish Breakfast to Roast Prime Rib.  I wasn't feeling very adventurous so I went for the Fried Egg Croissant sandwich. This was a pretty standard dish...flaky croissant, american cheese on top and a slab of undercooked hash browns on the side.  I probably could have gotten the same thing done slightly better at my local bodega. The Kale Salad was a better option.  Filled with Parmesan cheese, hazelnuts and a creamy tahini dressing the only thing wrong with this dish was the small se...

We woke up day two of our trip and quickly walked around the city of Portsmouth before hopping back in the car.  We had a LOT to accomplish so it was a bright and early start for our ride up to Freeport and Maine Beer Company. The Freeport Tasting Room was located in a cute old motel space off the main drag.  It was much smaller than I had imagined, with a homey neighborhood feel just perfect for escaping a rainy day.   I love just about everything Maine puts out so I went for a flight of beers including two that are brewery only releases.  Everything was fabulous, the beer was super fresh and I loved the sleek serving tray and rounded glassware. They had a bunch of board games out for people to play and a small assortment of local food options including this delicious Cheddar Pretzel that was still warm from the oven. The tasting room looked out onto the brewing floor where some work was being done.  I honestly could have st...