NYC Tastes

One of the best parts about living so close to Gramercy Tavern is the ability to just stop by on a random night for a drink, appetizer or just a snack. We stopped in last week just to indulge in some delicious sweets. Mr. T ordered the Ricotta Cheesecake with Fudge Brownie and Black Currant Sorbet. The cheesecake was ultra smooth and creamy going perfect with the tart sorbet. I enjoyed Mr. T’s choice but preferred my Chocolate Hazelnut Layer Cake. Each layer of this cake is like eating a decadent Roche. The Sweet Cream Ice Cream really helps cut the richness and the hazelnut foam gave it that extra special touch. I topped my dessert off with a glass of Barbera while Mr. T went extra sweet with their house made hot chocolate. What a perfect little treat for a chilly autumn night. Gramercy Tavern

I was invited to a press lunch last week hosted by South Africa tourism, held in the DeGustibus Cooking School in Macy’s. I enjoy a decent amount of South African white wine but I honestly know very little about the food so I was incredibly excited to learn something new. After a little bit of wine and mingling we were invited to sit down for our three course lunch and cooking demonstration by Chef Wamu himself. Our first course was Chicken Bunny Chow paired with Raats Chenin Blanc 2009. The chicken was spicy with potatoes and carrots mixed in on top of a cake bread. This had a lot of nice big curry flavors going on. I really liked how the sweet cake bread worked with the spices on the poultry. Our next course was Beef Bobtie paired with Rudi Schultz Syrah 2007. I absolutely loved this dish. The top was like a custard with lots of saffron and turmeric mixed in and a base of milk soaked bread. Once I got past the smooth yellow top a fragrant broth of grou...

The little corner of 14th Street and 2nd Avenue has really been getting a makeover. First an IHOP opened up and now Top Chef alum Dave Martin has moved in next door with his brand new restaurant the Meatball Factory. First off it’s pretty amazing what they did with the space. The grimy spot that was once an Arthur Treachers/Nathans has been transformed into a cozy, low lit space with brick walls and quite a nice beer list. Since the autumn is ending soon I figured I had to get at least one more seasonal beer so I had the Greenpoint Harbor Leafpile Pumpkin Ale and Mr. T had a Sarnac Root Beer. The menu is divided into meatballs, sauces and fries- so there are a hundred different combinations you make depending on your mood. We began with an order of the Lambda, Lambda meatballs made from Elysian Farms Leg of Lamb & Shoulder, Oregeno & Pecorino Romano. The meatball itself was really tasty with surprising hunks of meat throughout instead of being entirely ground down. ...

Tucked away in the quiet little town of Hastings-on-Hudson is a tiny restaurant with some really big flavor- Juniper. Chef Alex Sze opened the place about two years ago and the place has been packed ever since. The daily specials are written on the chalkboard to the side and the open kitchen is alive with excitement. I stuck to the regular menu items that day and ordered the Brisket Burger with Gruyere Cheese, Roasted Tomato, Grilled Onion and Mustard Aioli. I have to tell you thing is all about that aioli. The brisket was delicious, don’t get me wrong, but it was a little overcooked. I requested a medium rare and it came out closer to well so it lost some of its flavor. Luckily the creamy, garlicky mustard was there to spice it up a bit and give it a little more moisture. The Gruyere and Grilled Onion completely worked as well. This was a delicious, albeit overcooked, gourmet burger. The fries were no joke either. They were long and skinny with a satisfying ...

Looking for a serious taste of Autumn? Head on over to the Porch Cafe on the Highline. The newly opened space has a short list of snacks with beer, wine and for a limited time Local Apple Shandy. How does one make this Shandy? Take an almost full glass of Captain Lawrence Kolsch and then fill it to the top with Apple Cider. It’s amazingly crisp and so deliciously seasonal. The view is gorgeous and it’s the perfect spot for a nice break from the crowds on the Highline. Bring a coat- the wind up there is nippy. If you get too cold you can partake in some warm apple cider as well!

I love this time of year and luckily the snow in the city is all gone (that was crazy btw) and the crisp fall air is back. Time for some Halloween goods! I treated myself to a wonderful treat the signature Burdick at L.A. Burdick yesterday. Alternating layers of almond mousse and rum ganache made for a delicious dessert. The different textures were so satisfying, chewy here, smooth there. The slice was tiny but after a few bites of the rich almond paste I knew it was sized perfectly. Add on a double macchiato and I had a perfect little Halloween treat. Enjoy!

Saturday we returned to the annual Das Oktoberfest event at the La Venue space. They had 150 kinds of beer, schnapps and wine to choose from over the 5 hour period and food to buy on the side. I was psyched when I saw Schnitzel and Things had a table. I would finally get to try out their food! I know I probably should have gone for a schnitzel but the brat smelled so delicious I had to go for that. I don’t know how delicious the schnitzels are but my heart was pretty sold on the brat. It had a great deep smoky flavor and came with some seriously sour pickled slaw and a nice squishy bun. The fries were excellent as well with a just the right amount of salt and crunch. I started out with some Goose Island and Spatan, two of my favs, and then noticed something called the Bronx Brewery set up in the front. I tried a sample and was really blown away by the rich amber tone and bold but smooth flavors of caramel and toasted nuts. I also loved their sign and slogan. So muc...