NYC Tastes

It's no secret, the popularity of rosé wine has absolutely exploded over the past few years.  Wine stores that once housed two or three bottles of that sweet, cheap Zinfandel, now have shelves filled to capacity with rosés from all over the world.  The hashtag #yeswayrosé and #roséallday aren't just for Instagram anymore, they're actual brands all on their own and while the Provence region continues to lead in the marketplace, countries like Argentina, Spain and Italy are beginning to emerge with their own exciting new wines.  So when we were invited to the Puglia in Rosé event at Scavolini SoHo, we were ready to soak in all the wonderful food and drink coming from this region. Puglia is located in the south of Italy in what is known geographically as the heel of Italy's "boot".  It's characterized by more than 500 miles of coastline bathed by the Adriatic and Ionian Sea's.  The climate is typical Mediterranean, which make it the perfect place fo...

There's no shortage of incredible cocktail bars in NYC.  In fact, the city is so flooded with them it's easy to forget about one of the best that started the mixology movement years ago, the fabulous Pegu Club.   We stopped into this second floor SOHO spot right before dinner Friday night.  The long elegant bar and wrought iron laced windows overlooking Houston were just as gorgeous as I remembered and the cocktails just as perfect. Mr. ordered the Pegu Club made with London Dry Gin, bitters and orange curacao; a classic drink from the 1900's that packed a tropical snappy punch.   I ordered the Earl Grey MarTEAni per a friends suggestion and it did not disappoint.  Made with Earl Grey Tea infused gin, lemon juice and egg white, this cocktail was the perfect balance of sour and savory. I loved it so much I bought a bottle of Earl Grey Gin for home in hopes of recreating this fantastic drink.  Alas I am no match for the incredible Pegu Cl...

NYC has seen a serious influx of new Chinese spots in recent years. Restaurants once confined to Chinatown have been popping up in all new neighborhoods like Jing Fong in the Upper West Side, Tim Ho Wan in Union Square and my new favorite, Pinch Chinese in SOHO.  This sleek spot on Prince Street is run by a former chef from  Din Tai Fung , a Taiwan based restaurant that earned Michelin stars across the globe for its addictive Xiao Long Bao. These soup dumplings are much smaller than most, almost bite sized with a thin exterior of dough that somehow manages to stay perfectly intact.  Inside a mix of pork and seafood soup that's rich and satisfying without that fatty shine of most soup dumplings. These were absolute perfection; I've never enjoyed xio long bao as much as these little pouches of goodness. In addition to traditional dishes like cold Sichuan Chicken and Pan Fried Beef Dumplings Pinch also has more whimsical menu items like...

Checking out an old NYC classic at The Mercer Kitchen; Jean George's market driven New American spot that opened back in 1998. This place was the hottest ticket in SOHO then and seems to be going strong twenty years later with the downstairs dining room almost completely full on a Wednesday evening. I was in a "classic NYC" state of mind so I ordered the signature Mercer Burger~ grass fed beef patty with pepper jack cheese, sliced avocado, red onion, lettuce, tomato and Russian dressing. First of all this thing was sloppy; the slippery avocado caused the meat to slide off the bun and the dressing on top made things even worse.  However it was so insanely delicious the mess just doesn't matter. I ate the entire thing before I even realized what was happening.      Also delicious were the accompanying French Fries done McDonald's style~ thin, salty and perfectly crisp.  I may have liked these even more than the burger!   ...

Le Coucou is the newest Stephen Starr restaurant to grace the NYC dining scene.  It's been getting rave reviews since opening last year and most recently took home the James Beard award for Best New Restaurant in May.   The space is absolutely gorgeous.  The entryway is flanked by a beautiful bar to the right with fresh flowers and citrus fruits and a dining room to the left, bright and crisp with long rays of sunshine streaming through the windows onto the white linen tablecloths. I was seated in the middle of the dining room with direct view of the open kitchen in back.  A warm  basket of bread to begin studded with toasted sesame seeds and freshly churned Vermont butter.   Le Coucou offers a two course prix fixe menu at lunch time with an ever changing choice of dishes like Grilled Leeks with hazelnuts, Fried Montauk Eel and Halibut in buerre blanc. I chose the Charred Asparagus with Big Eye Tuna sashimi for my first cours...

I absolutely love Sunday afternoons with nothing to do.  I suppose I could use the time to clean the apartment or run some errands but it's so much nicer to just go for a long walk instead and relax with a solo dinner at Balthazar. Their incredible Steak Tartare chopped with capers, cornichons and anchovy then served with crispy slices of baguette and a lovely glass of Bordeaux. This classic NYC restaurant is always lively and bustling.  Even when Mr. T and I had our somewhat secret court house wedding we got the very last table in the bar area at 10:30 on a Friday morning.  And we certainly weren't the only couple drinking a bottle of champagne at that early hour either.  It's just one of those magical spots that everyone seems to love.  Simple, delicious Sunday at its finest. Balthazar 80 Spring Street New York, NY 10012

A full day of shopping always deserves a drink at the end which is why SoHo has some great happy hours.  The always popular Lure  of course with it's fruity martini's and crisp calamari, the wonderful  Pera SoHo  with it's bright, fabulous bar and then there's Lucky Strike, one of the first restaurants from Keith McNally that is my absolute favorite.  This lively little brasserie has just the right amount of glitz and grit with a somewhat worn but comfy decor. From 4:00-7:00 every day Lucky Strike offers $5 glasses of wine, beer and margaritas along with a small food menu including delicious Moules Marinieres with white wine and garlic, Tomato Bruschetta with Avocado Cream and a big bowl of classic Bistro Fries for just $3.00. The tiny round tables may be a bit cramped but the soundtracks overhead are always awesome (Jimmy Hendrix and John Coltrane the last visit), the drinks are stiff and the prices can't be beat.   Lucky Strike 59 Gra...

Saturday night I had a shocking revelation. The summer was almost over and I had yet to enjoy a single lobster roll.  Mr. T and I were actually on our way to Parm for their  incredible mozzarella sticks  but as we walked past Ed's all thoughts of Italian food went out the door and seconds later we were sitting at the bar with cocktails in hand and lobster rolls on our plate. Two top loading buns toasted on the grill with butter then stuffed with fresh claw meat, mayo and a sprinkle of herbs.  I was trying to be somewhat healthy with greens on the side but the long crispy french fries Mr. T got were a much better choice.  Paired with a refreshing John Daly this meal couldn't get a better summer time vibe. Ed's Lobster Bar 222 Lafayette Street New York, NY 10012

The French Cheese Board just moved from midtown to hip new digs in SOHO and this weekend everyone is invited to check out the new space and drink and eat as much wine and cheese as possible. On Friday May 20th and Saturday May 21st from 11:00 AM -6:00 PM the housewarming party will be in full effect. Expect lots of culinary art and rich buttery Bries. So if those weekend plans happen to be in SOHO this is certainly a party not to miss!   French Cheese Board 41 Spring Street New York, NY 10012

I'm starting to compile a list of al fresco dining spots for the summer and this beachy seafood joint in SOHO is first on the list.  Located right on the edge of Little Italy, Chinatown and LES; this place is the perfect spot for people watching of all kinds.  Tables of two and four line both sides of the street and the indoor space is bright and airy for those needing a bit of shade. The menu changes daily depending on the catch of the day and market veggies but a few staples include Tuna Poke with ponzu and peanut, Curry Mussels, and Big Fish Tacos served either crispy or seared.  Obviously I went fish tacos all the way (Dogfish that afternoon) served with shredded cabbage, guacamole and an ample drizzle of chipotle mayo. These tacos were AMAZING- super crisp, super spicy and the grilled flour tortilla actually held up to all the toppings instead of falling apart.  This dish and a delicious glass of rose in the sun make for a perfect afternoon. Seamores 3...

Please don't be put off by the crazy flurry of chocolate crunchies scattered across this cake. Things got a little jumbled as I carried this home but I assure you there were no crunchies lost in transit.  This is the incredible S'more Ice Cream Cake from Parm in SOHO. Most people are familiar with the original Pistachio, Chocolate and Strawberry cake (always a classic) but I prefer the insanity of the S'more with layers of Toasted Marshmallow, Chocolate and Graham Cracker Ice Cream layered with rich chocolate crunchies, a toasted marshmallow on top and a graham cracker crumble crust.   This is the perfect marriage of everything I love in life...which I why I shared with Mr. T for our anniversary.  One great marriage deserves another :) Parm 248 Mulberry Street at Prince Street New York, NY 1001 2

To kick off my birthday weekend Mr. T and I began with dinner at the Musket Room.  This New Zealand restaurant down in SOHO gives off a cozy rustic vibe. It feels like an old farmhouse with the delicious smell of wood from the oven warming the front entrance as you enter.   We began with a few of their specialty cocktails; the Elizabeth Street Mara with cucumber, basil and black lime for Mr. T and a frothy Lady Rutherford for me with cachaca , brazil nut and toasted coconut orgeat .   The Musket Room offers three menus; a six course tasting, a ten course chefs tasting and an a la carte.  We decided to do the $75 six course with two additional add-on's not listed on either of the tasting menus. To begin an amuse bouche from the chef including a trio of veggies asparagus, daikon and celery... ... and a basket of warm cheddar brioche rolls served with a rich creamy bone marrow butter. The Duxbury Oyster with nasturtium vinaigrette was o...

As summer winds down I'm trying to pack in as many delicious meals as possible while NYC is still relatively empty.  Once Labor Day ends the city morphs back into a crazed, fast paced mess of students, tourists and people who are so tan it's obvious they never set foot inside this concrete jungle all summer.  These are last moments to get an incredible meal at hot spots around the hood without a wait...like walking into a completely empty Parm at  7:00 Saturday night. I mean completely  empty; just us and the workers.  I'm not sure if the staff were so bored they put an extra dose of love into the cooking or it was just us being so thrilled to get a spot right away but this was the best Chicken Parm showing I've ever had.  The chicken was super tender, the cheese was melted just right and that spicy rigatoni on the side...OMG SOOOO GOOD!  It just doesn't get much better than this. Parm 248 Mulberry Street between Prince & Spring New York...

Shopping for me is always stressful.  I never like anything I see and when I do finally buy something I have buyers regret immediately.  So when shopping in Soho it's always important for me to have a spot to chill out and regroup; Pera is just that place.  Located right on Thompson St. this airy Mediterranean bar and restaurant has just what I'm looking for- relaxed cushy seating, delicious cocktails and a fantastic happy hour. I highly suggest the Blood Orange Martini made with vodka, Dom Benedictine and blood orange puree along with a mezze from their bar menu.  I had skipped lunch my last visit so the hearty Lamb Sliders with crispy shoestring fries were my savior.   Happy Hour at Pera runs from 3:00 -7:00 each day with $6 specials on cocktails, wine, draft beer and mezze.   Pera Soho 54 Thompson @Broome New York, NY 10012