NYC Tastes

There's not much to see on sleepy Forsyth Street in the Lower East Side.  In fact, one might pass by this tiny, florescent lit Chinese spot, if it weren't for the crowds of people standing outside; hungry and often carrying a six pack of beer from the nearby bodega. These people are all waiting for the same thing, a tiny table inside to devour some Spicy Big Tray Chicken.  This dish is exactly as it sounds; big chunks of chicken doused in spicy chili oil, loaded with cumin and peppercorn, usually served with fresh cilantro on top and a suggested order of hand pulled noodles. This chicken has the perfect amount of heat, just enough to leave some lingering heat on your tongue, but not enough to start sweating.  The noodles also add a cooling element to the dish as do the BYOB beers you hopefully brought along for the meal.  There are other items on the menu worth trying out like the crispy pancakes stuffed with pork and the scallion sauce dumplings. ...

If your perfect weekend involves drinking copious amounts of beer, eating delicious hot dogs and hanging with some fantastic people then I got you covered.  Head down to One Mile House tomorrow for Chef Rob's annual Dog Days of Summer event!  There will be an incredible line up of beers from Queens favorite Singlecut Beersmiths including their hazy, hoppy IPA Does Anyone Remember Laughter and their tart fruity Kim Raspberry Berliner Weisse... ...along with an incredible menu of specialty hot dogs created by Chef Rob like the classic NYC Bagel Dog topped with cream cheese, everything seasoning and scallions, the decadent Haute Dog with foie gras, fig jam and truffle mayo and the spicy the Perros Elotes with corn salsa, Oaxaca, chili powder and lime. Delicious dogs, incredible local beer and a great outdoor patio in back to catch some of this wonderful summer sunshine.  Saturday plans secured! One Mile House 10 Delancey Street New York, NY 10002

Stanton Social was absolutely my favorite restaurant when it opened years ago.  I went there for almost every occasion- birthdays, friends visits, mothers day...really anytime was an excuse to hang out in those cozy booths and share small plates all night.  I'm not really sure why we stopped going.  Maybe I just got caught up in all the new places opening but I totally forgot about this lively little spot until last week when Mr. T suggested we stop in for brunch. I mean any meal that comes with a mini Philly Cheesesteak sandwich is a big yes in my book... ...not to mention a delicious martini made with mango and sage.  We were both so excited to be back we may have done a tad bit of over ordering. Croque Monsieur "Satays" on a buttery brioche bun with country ham, gruyere and munster cheese. r That glorious mini cheesesteak and a mini Kobe Beef Burger.  Did I mention the cheesesteak was covered in a truffle and goat cheese fondue...

The newest venture from the Contra team opened just a few doors down on Orchard Street; Wildair is the causal sister restaurant with an open kitchen serving up a variety of small plates. Be prepared for adventure when dining at brunch.  Most of the plates include ingredients like seaweed butter, boudin noir and littleneck clams with lardo.  Probably the only true "breakfast" item on the menu were the wonderful Soft Scrambled Eggs dusted with herbs and a flurry of toasted kale. The Fried Squid was more of a whole fried platter with slices of lemon and onion fried right along side with the seafood and a squid ink mayo for dipping. The only dish I really didn't enjoy was the Little Gem Lettuce.  This is one of my favorite types of green but it was overdone by too many sesame seeds and a thick sour lime sauce. As always the wine list was stellar.  I had a gorgeous sparkling rose and Mr. T enjoyed one of the orange wines by the glass that always taste...

Mr. T and I kicked off our 4th of July weekend with dinner at Contra; one of the newest hot spots serving a prix-fixe only tasting menu.  Immediately upon seeing the space and cuisine I thought of Manfred's & Vin ; the cozy restaurant we fell in love with during our visit to Copenhagen last year. The idea is much the same- small courses, built around three or so ingredients, that change daily.  As with Manfred's & Vin I was completely blown away by the incredible food combinations and creativity by the chefs.    Gem lettuce, milkweed, almond- this crunchy stalk reminded me a Cesar Salad with a salty, nutty tang that was addictive. Bread & Butter- this was a $3 addition to the regular prix fixe and possibly the best $3 I've ever spent.  That luscious creamy butter and warm sourdough bread...YUM Summer squash, burrata, sorrel- just a bright, vibrant summer dish. Crab, english peas, potato- this combination surprised both Mr. T and I.  We'...

One of my favorite Williamsburg spots has expanded across the bridge to the Lower East Side and I couldn't be happier.  Pie's & Thighs set up a new shop right on Canal Street offering all the things I love in the world...that decadent Bourbon Pecan Pie, those thick cheesy grits and my absolute favorite sandwich the Chicken Biscuit. One big crispy chicken cutlet slathered with hot sauce and honey butter then sandwiched between a warm buttery biscuit.  It's not so pretty to look at and eating it can be quite messy but it's so worth it for each incredible bite. Bonus points to the Canal Street spot for having extra hot sauce and honey on each table for those of us who like it extra saucy.  Plus this new location is just blocks away from craft beer bar Top Hops. Chicken Biscuit and beer...it just doesn't get much better than that. Pies N Thighs 43 Canal Street between Orchard & Ludlow New York, NY 10002

I was so cold on Friday I actually thought my toes might fall off.  The wait for Bourbon County Stout was a full four hours outside in the frigid wind.  When we finally hobbled over to Schiller's for brunch I honestly contemplated shoving my ice cold hands directly into my Huevos Rancheros. I decided this might actually gross out my companions so I dove in with my fork instead.  The eggs were exactly as I like them in the morning; cooked almost completely through but not quite with lots of tomato sauce, cheese and beans. The doughnuts were awesome too.  The simple cinnamon sugar topping and slightly crunchy exterior were an oddly satisfying combination. And of course the drinks were fantastic.  There's nothing quite like a steaming hot cider and Blood Orange Mimosa to thaw out the bones...Black Friday success! Schiller's Liquor Bar 131 Rivington Street @Norfolk New York, NY 10002

I'm always on the lookout for dessert shops and this cute little bakery on the corner of Rivington Street may be my new favorite- Sweet Buttons Desserts. They specialize in all kinds of mini treats like bite sized Lemon Meringue tarts, creamy Blueberry Cheesecake rounds and a delightful array of cupcakes. These are about three times the size of a Baked By Melissa and for just $1.50 a piece this rich Nutella stuffed chocolate cake is an amazingly delicious deal and just perfect for an afternoon pick me up. They also have some special dessert jars just for the month of July. I was eyeing the Chocolate Covered Monkey filled with banana custard, chocolate mousse,cookie crumble and vanilla wafers.  Twist on a top and you got a tasty treat to go! Sweet Buttons Desserts

Tabelog is Japan's top food review site and it's just been launched here in New York.  The website held a round of Food Blogger Restaurant Awards of which I was asked to be a judge.  To celebrate the awards the judge's panel was invited to Sakemai in the Lower East Side for a fabulous tasting of food and drink.  There were so many wonderful dishes, my favorite of the night being a spin on the classic beef tartare. Chef Akiyama of Sakemai used filet mignon and topped it with uni, wasabi mascarpone, crushed poached egg and a side of brioche.  Uni, filet and egg... three of my  favorite things... Another favorite of the night was the Tsukune Slider made with a Chicken Meatball, foie gras, caramelized onion and harissa aioli.  The foie gras melted right into the meatball and even though it was pretty messy to eat, it was totally worth it for the flavor. I'm not sure what I felt about the Carrot Puree, dashi gelee and summer truffle.  I lik...