NYC Tastes

I'd say during an average summer I consume anywhere from 8-12 lobster rolls.  I almost always have one Memorial Day weekend...the kickoff...then slowly order more and more as the days grow warmer.  I'm not sure what happened this year, be it the cooler than normal temperatures or crazy amounts of travel we did, but I realized on Sunday morning that summer was about to end and I hadn't eaten  a single lobster roll .  Obviously I couldn't let something like this pass so we headed immediately to our favorite joint Pearl.  Upon arrival we were greeted by darkened windows, closed for the holiday!  Ditto for Mary's Fish Camp...we decided to head east and finally two empty bar stools greeted us at Ed's Lobster Bar. I rewarded myself with a delicious Bloody Mary... ...while Mr. T rewarded himself with a big old pot of Steamers.  Then it was onto the main event- lobster rolls. This roll has a lot less mayo than Pearl, only enough to kee...

It's official- summer's over.  My walk to work was jammed with brand new college kids headed to their first class.  The train was an unhappy mess of commuters...most sporting scowls of disdain underneath shiny tan faces.  It's never a fun week...so I've put a stop into my favorite spot in the world for a little pick me up- Eataly.   It's hard to be angry when slicing into a ball of fresh mozzarella cheese sprinkled with sea salt and soft beautiful ribbons of prosciutto.  Summer may be over but the crisp cool air of autumn is nothing to be sad about...the trees will change, the leaves will crunch under your shoes as you walk and football is back! Those are three wonderful things to celebrate :) Eataly

Three day weekends deserve a beer of epic proportions and what's more epic than a Tyrannosaurus Rex! The pseudoSue from Toppling Goliath Brewing is named for the largest T-Rex fossil ever discovered and this mammoth American Pale Ale deserves the name.  The nose has big beautiful aromas of pineapple, grapefruit and mango with a gorgeous orange body that's so crystal clear I get goosebumps just looking at it. The flavor is all tropical fruit with lots of juicy mango and a smooth creamy mouthfeel.  I can't think of a better way to usher in the long weekend. Cheers! Toppling Goliath

I rarely get out to Bayridge, Brooklyn; something that's a total mistake on my part.  I love the friendly neighborhood vibe, the gorgeous views of the Verazzanno Bridge and the incredible little bakeries and restaurants that line the streets. One of these cute little places is Paneantico, a small cafe that serves up big Italian hero's, fresh baked pizzas and an absolutely amazing house salad.  This bowl is filled to the brim with lettuce, cucumbers, eggplant, red peppers and an entire ball of fresh mozzarella. Everything is then doused with a homemade Balsamic dressing that is simply delicious.  You can order either small or a large...this happens to be the small you see above and I ended up taking about half with me home for dinner that night. However I did save room for one of their delicious baked goods...a crisp chocolate cannoli filled with thick creme.  I could definitely get used to this Bayridge lifestyle. Paneantico

I never really thought a fried cheeseburger sounded very tasty until I stopped into Korzo Haus. This tiny Slovakian cafe in the East Village is famous for this specialty...one beef patty, topped with cheese then encased in langos bread, fried and cut in half.  The result is a juicy, delicious burger with surprisingly no grease at all.  The bread kept everything evenly cooked and chock full of flavor. The menu is tiny...a handful of toppings for the burgers (including a tasty beet ketchup), goulash and Halusky, basically a bowl of fried Spatzle. It's quirky and fun, not a place for those on a diet but best enjoyed after a couple of beers.  Cheers! Korzo Haus

Two flour tortillas, scrambled eggs, salsa, cheddar cheese, beans and avocado on top... ...it's saucy and spicy, fantastic for a lazy Sunday morning brunch and the perfect complement to the best item on the menu... ...three crispy, salty slices of candied bacon! The Smith

My parents are visiting this weekend so I was scouting out some of my favorite dessert places near their hotel.  Of course scouting turned into eating as it usually does when pastries look this incredible. This is the Dulce Creme Brulee Tart....a flaky almond shell filled with a thick dulce de leche ganache, fluffy vanilla bavarois and a handful of candied almonds on top. This was the perfect combination of salty and sweet..that buttery tart just sealing the deal.  Extra Bonus Francois himself was in the back while I was there! A firm winner in the parent dessert tour. Payard Patisserie