NYC Tastes

I was so cold on Friday I actually thought my toes might fall off.  The wait for Bourbon County Stout was a full four hours outside in the frigid wind.  When we finally hobbled over to Schiller's for brunch I honestly contemplated shoving my ice cold hands directly into my Huevos Rancheros. I decided this might actually gross out my companions so I dove in with my fork instead.  The eggs were exactly as I like them in the morning; cooked almost completely through but not quite with lots of tomato sauce, cheese and beans. The doughnuts were awesome too.  The simple cinnamon sugar topping and slightly crunchy exterior were an oddly satisfying combination. And of course the drinks were fantastic.  There's nothing quite like a steaming hot cider and Blood Orange Mimosa to thaw out the bones...Black Friday success! Schiller's Liquor Bar 131 Rivington Street @Norfolk New York, NY 10002

Every time I trek to the Upper East Side I make a quick stop at Payard for a treat or two. It's impossible to pass up the gorgeous Louvre Cake... ...chocolate and hazelnut mousse layered with hazelnut dacquoise, hazelnut wafer and enrobed in a shiny chocolate glaze.  It's one of my favorite desserts of all time. Mr. T always sticks with classic French pastries like the eclair. Payard's version is much more elegant than you find in most places.  The classic choux dough is baked to a gorgeous golden brown, stuffed with pastry creme then topped with a thick coffee fondant. This begs to be eaten slowly with a nice frothy macchiato on the side. Francois Payard Bakery 1293 3rd Avenue at 74th Street New York, NY 10021

It's almost time to go shopping...

I love everything about the Hudson Valley region.  The gorgeous hills, the crisp clean air and all of the wonderful restaurants that source their food directly from farms in the area.  121 Restaurant is one of these fine places and with the return of their chef Beck Bolender from Jean Georges this place is really hitting its stride.  Normally I would avoid any kind of Americanized empanada but not here... ...these were so buttery and crisp I almost didn't want to delve into the ham and cheese goodness in the middle.  They came with hot sauce and salsa verde but these didn't need anything...they were perfection on their own.  Instead I used the hot sauce on my incredible Breakfast Tacos filled with nuggets of crisp chorizo and fresh avocado. And although this salad doesn't exactly look pretty it was awesome.  That long crust is actually filled with a creamy goat cheese fondue... ...mixed with bitter greens and a pear vinaigrette.   We were too ful...

As 2014 winds down I start to think about all the incredible bars and restaurants I've enjoyed over the past year and surprisingly one of my favorites from 2013 keeps on popping up in my head- Paulie Gee's. This Greenpoint pizzeria is simply amazing.  The puffy chewy crust, the fresh herbs and incredible toppings...here's some glamour shots from our last visit.   When I look at this picture all I think is YES, YES, YES!!!   This is the Hell Boy and it my be my favorite pizza in the world.  Fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, sopresetta piccante and parmigiana reggiano all drizzled with Mike's Hot Honey.  It's spicy and sweet...one piece is never enough. I truly think I could eat this whole pie if no one was looking.  Mr. T likes the Ricotta Be Kiddin' Me made with Canadian bacon, sweet Italian fennel sausage, fresh basil and dollops of ricotta.  You really can't go wrong with any of the pies here...Paulie Gee's is where its at. Paulie Gee's 60 G...

Today's beer comes from Sante Adairius Rustic Ales, a tiny brewery located just south of Santa Cruz. SARA specializes in Belgian ales, usually aged in some sort of wine barrel with various yeast and bacteria.  I was lucky enough to try out Brackish, a Dark Farmhouse Ale brewed with grains of paradise and sea salt. Brackish has a spicy herbal aroma with lots of dark berries, lemon zest and black pepper. The taste is just crazy...it's salty like a Gose but with tart berries, oak, chocolate and roasted malts.   This is one of those beers where each sip brings out a new flavor. I absolutely LOVED this beer. Unfortunately it's only been brewed once so if you get a chance to try this beauty enjoy it to the fullest because you probably won't see it again- Cheers! Sante Adairius Rustic Ales

Ever since Nancy Olson left as Gramercy Tavern's pastry chef, I feel the need to stop in once in a while and ensure that things are still running smoothly.  This springy Chocolate Cake with Concord Compote, Buckwheat and Toasted Almond Ice Cream is a clear indication that things are on track... ....paired with a creamy Founders Porter for extra dessert bliss :) Gramercy Tavern 42 East 20th Street New York, NY 10003