NYC Tastes

It's all over the news...this terrible flu that everyone has that just won't go away.  I've had it the last twelve days and it's finally coming to an end.  My road to recovery was long and arduous but three things helped me to recover- lots of sleep (like 14 hours a day), tons of vitamins and a big bowl of rib sticking noodles. I was living on grilled cheese and soup until I finally felt well enough to venture out for some real food.  The Tagliatelle with Short Rib Ragu from La Pasta was just what the doctor ordered.  The noodles were perfectly al dente with a hearty sauce and big chunks of short rib.  I remember watching the Cosby Show when I was little and Bill Cosby saying "You need to feed a cold!" before throwing down a huge hoagie.  I think his advice was correct. La Pizza & La Pasta

Each year Mr. T and I celebrate the holiday season with a special meal alone in lieu of presents.  This year we took a half day off work and celebrated with a long fancy lunch at Asiate, on the top of the Mandarin Oriental.   We began with a tray of Herb Gruyere Gougeres... ...and an amuse bouche of salmon tarter with pickled cucumber.   The gougeres looked tame but each one had a spicy jalapeno kick that warranted a few big gulps of water.  Onto appetizers Mr. T ordered the Butternut Squash Soup with Grilled Kale and Croutons. This was a fantastic seasonal soup, the strong flavor of kale paring nicely with creamy broth.  My dish was just as wonderful...Smoked Sturgeon with Barley, Cucumbers and Honey Mustard. I've really been enjoying the flavor and texture of barley lately and once again it was a perfect complement to the tangy mustard and smokey fish.  Onto entrees...

Restaurant Week is running January 14th to February 8th this year.  They upped the prices a bit to $25 for lunch and $38 dinner.  I'm not sure if $38 for dinner is such a "deal" anymore but regardless I thought I would resurrect my Restaurant Week Guidelines from last year.  You can also find it quickly by heading to the page up top... Enjoy! Restaurant week can be a crazy time of year. Some people love going around and finding great three course deals; other people hate it and think it’s a waste of time. I fall into the first category. I absolutely love the idea behind it and the excuse to go out for a lot of great meals. However I've had both great and not so great RW experiences so I thought I would share a few tips I’ve learned over the years so hopefully your experience can be tasty and wonderful. 1. Research the menus BEFORE booking. Just because you’ve always wanted to go to a certain restaurant doesn’t mean RW is the time to do it. One of my fir...

I love the vibe at Jimmy Bradley's lively little restaurant over on 10th Avenue.  It's great for everything from a cozy date night to a celebratory work lunch or simply a little something sweet. I was surprised to see the Lemon Souffle Cake on the menu last visit.  I assumed it was a special summer dessert but I guess any season is a good time to enjoy a tart and citrusy sponge cake. I could certainly indulge in this waffle cookie with vanilla ice cream, pralines and a rich, hot fudge any time of year.  It was like eating an adult Nutty Buddy bar... ...and if a whimsical dessert like that doesn't put a smile on your face maybe the bartender can whip up something for you that can :) Red Cat Restaurants

It's hard to find a good meeting spot among the mess of generic, touristy bars in Union Square.  Which is why the lively new Corkbuzz is always packed.  If you're actually able to nab a seat it's worth to stay on for more than just a glass of wine or two. The burrata may seem like an obvious choice, but it's nowhere near as thick and creamy as the burrata I'm used to from Eataly.  A much better choice would be the delicious roasted Brussels Sprout with shaved pecorino... ...or the incredible Butternut Squash with chickpeas and tamrind-yogurt sauce. Both are great for sharing and have fabulous nutty flavors just perfect with a crisp glass of Pinot Gris. If your more in a dinner mode, the Scallops with cauliflower puree, brown butter and capers are an excellent choice...perfectly cooked and well seasoned, this seemed more like upscale restaurant dining than wine bar bites... The Fingerling Potatoes w...

Hope everyone had a great New Years Eve last night.  I was blessed with a wonderful cold this year but still managed to have a great time at The Blind Tiger enjoying some delicious beers.  As always I look forward to the new year with some hopeful dining experiences in mind.  I had thirteen places on my wish list last year and only accomplished seven but some of my best dining experiences were unplanned so we'll see how it goes.  My 2013 Wish List: Atera Battersby Chez Sardine Library at the Public Neta Brooklyn Fare BrisketTown Robertas Pok Pok Thai Tribeca Canvas Queens Comfort Perla Brought over from last year  L'Artusi John Dory I also plan to brew my own beer (finally) and spend a lot more time in Chinatown.  But overall these are just small wishes.  This year has done nothing but reinforce the importance of family, friends and a place to call home.  As long as I have those three thin...

It's New Years Eve...the last day to celebrate all that happened in 2012.  I think this deserves a special drink and the King Cole Bar is a perfect spot to rehash the year. Find a seat at the long oak bar and take in the gorgeous King Cole mural on the wall.  You could sip on a delicious martini such as the Gora made with Belvedere, Cointreau and pomegranate... ...or get the drink created here long ago the Red Snapper (or Bloody Mary as we know it).  Either way your sure to have a lovely celebratory experience...one you (nor your wallet) will soon forget.  Cheers! King Cole Bar