NYC Tastes

Mr. T and I did a little beer crawl across Williamsburg last weekend and ended at one of my favorite stops of all time- Pies 'n' Thighs.  I've talked about this amazing sandwich before remember ....it would probably be my last meal on earth if I had to choose. Crispy Fried Chicken breast, slathered with spicy hot sauce and honey butter all sandwiched inside a fluffy biscuit.  This is what I dream about at night...seriously. We usually get some extra cheesy Mac and Cheese as a side and add on a Cobb Salad for something a little green...and of course there's always pie!  One slice of boozy bourbon pecan pie with dark chocolate and a dollop of fresh made whipped cream on top.  It really gets no better than this. Pies n Thighs

I had high hopes for brand new Pavilion in Union Square; my first visit was very promising.  I loved the outdoor atmosphere, the french fries were wonderful and aside from some super boring mussels it was a delightful meal. My second visit didn't go quite as well.  I brought along Mr. T and we began with a few drinks....that took a very looooong time to arrive. Almost as long as our Popover but luckily this was worth the wait...crunchy exterior with layers of fluffy pastry inside and a fresh vanilla bean custard studded with raspberries. Unfortunately then we another loooooong wait for our entrees and it was a poor showing at best.  My Kale Salad had been chopped so fine it was almost impossible to get a full bite.  Add on a dressing with absolutely no flavor and you got a total kale salad fail. The only thing worse was Mr. T's Oatmeal. I would liken the texture to "soggy mush" and the flavor to wet cardboard.  They would have been ...

There's little better in life than a long leisurely lunch...sharing it with good friends and a few delicious cocktails certainly makes it a bit more special.  The wine list at Fig and Olive is wonderful but if you want the full "Fig and Olive" experience I suggest starting out with one of their signature fig cocktails. They were participating in Restaurant Week so we all decided to do the three course prix fix which began with an amazing Beef Carpaccio.    Thin ribbons of beef dressed with 18 year balsamic, tomato, Parmesan and a white truffle olive oil that was absolutely incredible.   This was one of the tastiest carpaccio's I've ever had and the portion size was large enough to be my entire meal. Filet Mignon Salad followed with fresh avocado, asparagus, grilled onion and a delicious pine nut vinaigrette. For dessert a dainty Chocolate Pot De Creme topped with vanilla creme and a crunchy praline financier. A rich d...

I've been obsessing over something all week...something so wondrously delicious I get little goosebumps on my arms just thinking about it.  Toffee Bar Crunch from Ample Hills Creamery. Thick, creamy vanilla bean ice cream, laced with ribbons of caramel, crunchy chunks of toffee and milk chocolate.  It's sweet and buttery; much more of an adult delicacy then a childhood treat. They have two permanent locations in Brooklyn and one seasonal spot on Pier 5 in Brooklyn Bridge Park. Their flavors change every day but on my last visit they had a Mexican Hot Chocolate, Sweet as Honey and their signature Salted Crack Caramel that sounds downright dangerous. Incredible ice cream, NYC view...perfection! Ample Hills 

It's that time of year again...Restaurant Week! Time for my bi-annual trip to Cafe Boulud for the best RW deal in the city. Of course the meal always begins with a delicious Black Truffle Arancini amuse bouche. Onto appetizers a zesty Shrimp Ceviche with avocado, champagne, mango and crunchy plantain chips.  Followed by a crispy Skate Grenobloise with haricot verts, slivered almonds and onion soubise. One bite of this luscious brown butter sauce and I'm immediately reminded that Daniel Boulud is the absolute king of classic french cuisine.   For dessert a gorgeous Mocha Torte with coffee genoise, praline wafer and marsala ice cream... ...followed by a basket of piping hot Madeleine's...the perfect end to every Boulud meal. Cafe Boulud

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

I was having a serious taco craving the other day.  My first instinct was to run over to El Presidente for a quick Madison Gringa but I've been there so much lately well...I was honestly a little embarrassed to be going back again.  I'm already on a first name basis with half of the staff and they've only been open a month or so. Instead I started walking downtown and ran right into Pinche Tacqeria right around Nolita. Pinche is a tiny little joint located right on Lafayette.  You place your order at the bar inside, take a table number and voila- your food appears as soon as it's ready.  I went for two of my favorites Carne Asada and Pescado with Cotija cheese added to both. The steak taco was fantastic...juicy char-grilled meat with the flavor of mesquite and a dollop of guacamole on top. Unfortunately the fish was overwhelmed by it's accouterments.  There was so much onion and cilantro on top any other flavor was completely cancelled.  ...