NYC Tastes

People are always asking me to recommend the "perfect" NYC spot.  Something comfortable but classy, a place with great food and drink that Mom and Dad would enjoy but also a place for friends without those crazy Manhattan prices.  When I get this request I almost always send people to the same place- Walkers in Tribeca.   This isn't a place that's going to blow your socks off.  No this is a a neighborhood bar that's sophisticated yet comfortable with a variety of food always done well.  Regulars occupy most of the bar stools; a mix of young professionals, older couples and solo drinkers just stopping in for a pint and a chat.  The tables are usually filled with families.  Parents have some quiet time to talk while the kids draw on paper tablecloths with the free crayons. The menu includes everything from saucy Buffalo Wings with blue cheese and celery to Pan Roasted Salmon with roasted potatoes and asparagus.  I highly suggest che...

It's extremely rare that Mr. T and I dine at the same place in one month but we feel so in love with Convina we went back the very next night for dinner again! Located inside the Park South Hotel the space serves as two different spots; a cozy cafe up front by day and a sleek, sexy restaurant by night with an open kitchen and gorgeous cocktail bar perfect for dining.  I'm a little obsessed with the Covina Hummus; served with bright market vegetables, warm chickpeas, toasted cumin and pita bread.  The veggies were so fresh they reminded me of my carrots from Blue Hill Stone Barns years ago and the huge platter was perfect for sharing over a drink or two. The menu includes a smattering of small plates along with handmade pastas, pizzas and mains.  Mr. T and I ordered the same exact thing both nights we dined; Wood Grilled Half Chicken for him with perilla and lemon jus... ...and the Covina Burger made from Wagyu and Ground Chuck for me. ...

I'm absolutely  obsessed with Mexican food lately.  Mr. T thinks I'm crazy but I seriously just want to eat some form of taco for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  So when taqueria and tequila bar Casa Neta moved into the old Flute Gramercy it was like a chorus of angels came down from heaven just for me. The redesigned space is long and sleek with a marble topped bar and a cozy alcove for more intimate dinners.  Drinks include all sorts of wine, margaritas and beer cocktails along with some Casa Neta originals like the creamy Oxacan Sunscreen with house horchata and coconut and a fruity Frida's Lover with cinnamon tequila and strawberry. A variety of tacos, ceviche and queso dot the menu including hefty Short Rib tacos loaded with layers of tender beef, poblano rajas, manchego cheese and an avocado- crema.  These were amazing and I loved how they put both the pico de gallo and guacamole on the side when I asked for no cilantro.   I was t...

I was devastated three years ago when Nancy Olson left Gramercy Tavern to move back to her native North Dakota.  She created some absolutely incredible desserts including my favorite ice cream treat of all time the  Blueberry Corn Sundae .  I honestly thought that masterpiece was gone forever until I found a similar creation just last week at sister restaurant Maialino. Blackberry takes the place of blueberry in this dessert with a rich mascarpone gelato drizzled with caramel sweet corn and blackberry compote then topped with a crispy popcorn cookie.  It's got that incredible sweet and savory balance I love so much and those fresh blackberries really showcase our fantastic New York State farms.  I split this dessert with friends on my birthday and then returned the very next day to have one all to myself :) Maialino Gramercy Park Hotel 2 Lexington Avenue at 21st Street New York, NY 10010

Just about everyone in NYC is talked about the new Impossible Burger from David Chang.  His Chelsea Momofuku Nishi gets absolutely slammed at lunch and happy hour with eager vegetarians, vegans and carnivores alike clamoring to get a taste of this "unburger".   Created by a group of scientists, farmers and chefs who collaborated on getting that same delicious flavor of beef into an entirely plant based burger.  What they discovered was a molecule called "heme" which gives meat its that rich beefy flavor and even the red bloody color.  This "heme" molecule also occurs in plants and serves as the basis for this Impossible Burger.  Of Course veggie burgers have been around for ages and NONE of them taste like real beef...does this Impossible Burger really hold true?   First let's talk about the french fries.  These long, skinny ridiculously crisp fries are perfection. I mean seriously these are reason enough alone to go to Nishi.  The b...

I love finding hidden little gems around New York City my most recent discovery is Hi-Collar in the East Village.  Located bustling East 10th Street this tiny 13 seat spot is what's known as a "kissaten" a Japanese style tea house that also serves coffee.  The menu boasts over 10 different types of beans that can be served pour over, siphon or aeropress in addition to a few specialty drinks like the creamy Royal Milk Tea and my favorite the luscious Vietnamese Iced Coffee. The small food includes Omelets with tomato sauce and rice, a limited Berkshire Pork Katsu sandwich (only 10 per day) and wonderful Japanese Hot Cakes served alongside maple syrup, strawberries and a tangy yuzu butter.  These are quite similar to Western style pancakes but much lighter and fluffier. I felt delightfully content after eating these instead of stomach overload from the usual cakes.   The menu also includes an array of desserts and at 6:00 PM the entire space turns into a bar with...

It was an absolutely gorgeous day to be on the Brooklyn waterfront celebrating the third year of Taste Talks and the All Star BBQ Sunday.  The grills were smoking hot as chefs and celebs alike showcased some fantastic food collaborations.  There were 16 different food/drink stations and I manged to hit them all.  Here are a few of my favorites. My very first stop was at Blue Smoke for Chef Jean Paul's juicy Chicken Wings tossed in Alabama white sauce... ...followed by an incredible Grilled Pizza with pulled pork, creamy ranch slaw and crispy onions from the Brooklyn powerhouse team of Emily Loves Pizza and Hometown BBQ. I was really excited to check out the Chicken Thigh sandwich from MOMO Sushi since it incorporated yuzu kosho; an amazing spicy sweet condiment of yuzu peel and chilies from Japan that I love. Not only was this Chicken Thigh one of the best bites from the afternoon but it was served to me by none other than Chef Jarobi ...