NYC Tastes

Summer in the city means long leisurely afternoons at Pier I Cafe, soaking in the suns rays and catching a nice breeze off the waters edge.    Located right off 70th Street at Riverside Park this casual cafe is a hidden oasis in the heart of the city.  It's quite similar to the Boat Basin but with more of a family friendly vibe.  There's lots of outdoor seating and a casual menu including burgers and hot dogs in addition to more upscale items like Blackened Salmon with corn & tomato salad and Grilled Skirt Steak. I like to take a walk up here late on Friday afternoons for their delicious Cesar Salad topped with sheets of Parmesan cheese and creamy dressing.  Paired with a glass of Sauvignon Blanc and some sunshine, it's the perfect way to kick off the weekend. Pier I Cafe 500 West 70th Street New York, NY 10023

It's not every day that Mr. T gets excited about a brunch dish.  In fact our recent visit to the Llama Inn might be the very first time I've seen him actually happy at brunch and that's even with the loud bumping music playing overhead.   The Llama Inn is a new Peruvian restaurant located on the odd stretch of land below the Brooklyn Queens expressway in Williamsburg. We were just stopping by for a quick bite but ended up staying all afternoon after this dish completely blew us away- the Beef Tenderloin Stir Fry. Two perfectly fried eggs sat atop a mound of beef, french fries, tomato and slices of banana with a rich, slightly spicy sauce covering the base drizzled with rocoto pepper crema.  Everything about this dish was incredible- the meat was tender as a filet, the french fries somehow stayed crispy and the banana imparted a sweet tropical flavor that brought it all together. In addition to the incredible food the other big draw was obviously the Lla...

There are so many new restaurants popping up along Atlantic Avenue sometimes it's easy to forget about the wonderful old standbys in the neighborhood like Bacchus; the cozy little bistro known for it's beautiful outdoor garden, extensive wine list and wonderful French fare. I stopped in for a quick brunch the day after Thanksgiving when the pastries were just being pulled from the oven filling the air with the sweet aromas of yeast and sugar.   Bacchus has everything from crepes to quiches but I went straight for the Croissant Sandwich with scrambled eggs, melted cheddar cheese and thick cuts of prosciutto.  I love  prosciutto and eggs together and add on that flaky, buttery croissant with just the perfect amount of chew...heaven on a plate. Bacchus Bistro 409 Atlantic Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11217

The weather is finally getting a bit blustery but up until Sunday it's been absolutely heavenly.  So heavenly that we got to have an al fresco brunch on Saturday...the weekend after  Thanksgiving!   We stopped into the Marshal; a farm to table restaurant known for sourcing all local NY ingredients.  I highly suggest starting any meal here with the biscuits.  These were straight out of the south with a buttery golden brown outside and a fluffy middle served with both pumpkin butter and whipped honey butter.  Two butters are always better than one :) The brunch menu had everything from savory Meatloaf Sandwich's to bright Brussels Sprout Salads with Cesar Dressing.  We were all on the egg game that day; Mr. with the Lobster and Bacon Fritatta and me with the classic brunch order of two scrambled eggs and bacon. I'll admit this sounds like a boring brunch order but I wouldn't change it for the world. These eggs w...

The next two days of Memorial Day weekend were completely boat themed.  The first was a stop at North Boat Lobster Company in Hell's Kitchen.  This place is basically just a version of the Frying Pan but with better food and drink prices and a boat that actually moves. I'm not saying the drinks were fantastic but they had a few additional beer options than just Bud Light and Corona plus a few decent bottles of wine perfect for sharing with a group. The menu is all about seafood with Lobster Rolls, Fish and Chips and some Cajun Spiced Peel and Eat Shrimp. The boat leaves dock at various points during the day for a 45 minute sail up the Hudson River.  The views were fantastic and not having to pay an extra ticket for the ride was a downright steal.  It got really crowded and a little bit like a Frat House at certain points but I would do it again for sure. On the opposite end of the spectrum from North River Lobster Co. is the Grand Banks,...

My favorite semi-annual pop-up is back for the Spring season and this years line up is better than ever.  My first stop is usually at Roberta's for their delicious  Bee Sting  pie but this year Takumi Taco won the first season pit stop.  I've become obsessed with both their Spicy Tuna and Short Rib tacos topped with cabbage, wasabi crema and scallion. Old favorites like Red Hook Lobster Pound, Illili Box and Asiadog were on hand doling out lobster rolls, shawarma and all sorts of specialty hot dogs topped with Chinese pork belly, and sesame slaw. But the biggest line of the day was at newcomer The Truffleist.  In addition to their specialty truffle oil and butter products they were whipping up Cheesesteak Sandwich's with rich truffle bechamel sauce and melted Swiss cheese. And there's no shortage of beverage options this year; passionfruit & mango margaritas at Mexicue, prickly pear Shiner Bock and white wine sangria at Hill Country ...