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The East Coast Answer to In-N-Out?

29 Monday Apr 2013

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I love a good burger.  Understatement.  I LOVE a good burger.  However, in my mind, there is nothing like In-N-Out, the West Coast staple.  Since I can’t get a weekly fix from Cali, I have turned to Shake Shack as my #1 in NYC.  Of course, everyone in NYC or California has a strong opinion on where to find the best burger.  There is even a HIMYM episode dedicated to the pursuit of Marshall’s favorite burger in New York.  There are so many in the city that are great – BareBurger & Counter offer great variety and options (both also have GF buns), Burger Joint is old school and no frills, and even high-end restaurants can put together a mean piece of meat, like the one you’ll find at The Breslin.

I recently heard about a newly opened burger spot, said to rival In-N-Out:   BurgerFi.  I knew I had to get there immediately.  The menu offers a wide variety of burgers and toppings, and there is even a secret menu (though not so secret…you can find it on their website).  I went with the “All The Way” burger, topped with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, pickle, american cheese, and a special sauce.  I took it “garden style”, meaning with a lettuce “bun”.  I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of the lettuce – crispy and thick – I could actually eat the whole burger with my hands.  The fries offer many toppings- from chili to Parmesan cheese to our choice, Cajun spices.  Solid portions and great taste.

The wine is also a big plus.  Glasses are just $4.97, but I recommend grabbing friends and going for a bottle or two, priced at just $19.97.  With relatively quick service, an outdoor seating area, and great food, head to the UES and check out BurgerFi on a beautiful afternoon or evening this spring.  While it is not quite In-N-Out, it has earned itself a spot on my list of go-to burger joints.

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BurgerFi | 82nd and 2nd, New York City

Enter DUMBO. Or…the LES.

12 Friday Apr 2013

Posted by in Bars, Dating, Restaurants

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If I had to choose one type of cocktail to drink for the rest of my days, it just might be the margarita.  A staple at nearly every establishment across the city, there are a few places that have an especially great variety that makes it’s nearly impossible to drink just one…or two…or…you see where I’m going.  One of my favorite places for tequila-based drinks has always been Hecho en Dumbo, located on Bowery and 4th Street (the establishment originally hailed from DUMBO, but made its way across the river in 2010).  It’s perfect for happy hour, with a variety of drinks and snack food specials (their guac is really awesome).  However, this week a group of my friends and I ventured there for dinner.  I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of the food.  To start, we had the guacamole, which I washed down with the Margarita de Mezcal.  This marg is comprised of the naturally smoky Mezcal Blanco, fresh lime juice, Cointreau, and served on the rocks with Sal de Gusano, better known as worm salt.  Worm salt is made of the worms found in Agave – and it packs a punch!  Next up were the Salbutes de Cochinita Pibil – Berkshire Pork steamed in a banana leaf with Yucatan spices, served with sour orange juice, bean purée, and pickled red onion, served over corn tortillas.  The three tacos were perfectly sized and very tasty.  It was quickly time for the next cocktail: the Esmerelda.  This fusion cocktail combines Gin & Mezcal (Oh, how I love gin too) with muddled cucumber, basil, and lime juice.  It was fantastic, and quite strong.

marg photo

So, head down to the LES and check out Hecho en Dumbo for happy hour or dinner.  With a warm and romantic ambiance, creative libations, and tasty food, it’s the perfect place for date night or dinner with friends.

Hecho en Dumbo | 354 Bowery, New York City

Like Vermont on the UWS

24 Sunday Feb 2013

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There are some restaurants in NYC that people will tell you to go to time and time again, and for whatever reason, it takes a long time to actually get there.  For me, one of those had been Good Enough To Eat.  Located on 83rd and Amsterdam, this american restaurant is very special for someone who grew up in New England.  As you walk down the street, look out for the white picket fence, which is wrapped around the front of the entrance.  When you walk in, you are immediately transported to a small town in Vermont, complete with a brick wall, cow pictures, and Vermont-y knick knacks.  I went for a 3pm weekday brunch (served until 4pm every day) with a friend also from NE.  We sat and after enjoying the ambiance for a few moments, got down to business: the menu.  Naturally, I was going for an omelette, my brunch staple.  I decided on the BLT omelette, filled with double-smoked bacon, tomato, and Gruyère cheese.  It typically comes with a buttermilk biscuit; I was able to substitute a salad.  My friend had the Gramercy Park – an omelette filled with granny smith apple and VT sharp cheddar cheese.  To wash them down, we each went for a mimosa – mine with peach, hers with pomegranate.  They were delicious and surprisingly strong.  My omelette was absolutely delicious.  Tons of fillings, perfectly cooked – and only $10.25.  Take my advice: go to Good Enough To Eat now.  With an amazing ambiance, reasonable prices, and, for those of you who can indulge, a take-out bakery inside, you are going to have a wonderful experience.

Good Enough To Eat | 483 Amsterdam Avenue

Where to Eat Now: Barclays Center

19 Saturday Jan 2013

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I have now been to the Barclays Center several times, and I’m increasingly impressed by the food options each time I go.  So buy a ticket to an upcoming Nets game, concert, or even Disney on Ice (kidding) and head to Brooklyn for a great night of eating – seriously, there are 37 different vendors!

The Best Eats

Fatty Cue BBQ: The delicious BBQ Brisket Sandwich is your best bet at this little outpost of the West Village/Brooklyn favorite.

Calexico: The nachos.  Topped with fresh guac, warm crema, beans cheese and pico de gallo.  Need I say more?

Burgers/Hot Dogs: They have Brooklyn Burger, Brooklyn Bangers & Dogs, Clinton Hill Brugers, Nathan’s, Park Slope Burgers, and more!  Oh, and tater tots at several joints.

Dessert?  I thought so.  Check out Junior’s on the main concourse.

AND for all you gluten-free’s out there, they now have a gluten-free station with hot dogs and beer.  I could hardly contain my excitment when I stumbled upon this ( loon the main concourse).

So, go to a game and stay for the food.  I promise you will not be disappointed.

Barclays Center | 620 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn

Brooklyn Calling

13 Sunday Jan 2013

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Since moving to New York, I have found that I rarely venture outside of this lovely little place called Manhattan. Since I can get everything I want in this borough, there is no need to venture out of it, right? Wrong. As much as I don’t want to admit it, there are some really great restaurants and bars outside of this borough. And when New York Magazine came out with “The Best Places to Eat in 2013″, I found that the first list was composed of only Brooklyn restaurants. So when a friend recommended that our group go to Traif, in Brooklyn, I hopped on the M to see what I would find.

Traif, meaning “non-kosher” is a small plates restaurant focused on pork and shellfish. To increase its allure, it is set in the middle of a Hasidic neighborhood in Williamsburg. The seasonal menu is full of the ingredients you might expect in a restaurant of its sort, but each is artfully composed into delectable dishes, which ultimately earned it a rating of 27 by Zagat. I started with the “Burning Bush” – a whiskey-based cocktail which had roasted hot peppers and cucumber bitters. It was spicy, yet soothing to my sore throat. I then had a salad, composed of baby spinach, sugar snaps, red grapes, currants, sunflower seeds, feta, and spiced vin. Yum. Each ingredient complimented the next perfectly. The table had various dishes – pork belly, seared foie topped with a sunny egg, and braised short rib sliders. The clear winner was the dayboat scallops topped with snap & english pea risotto in a lemon-caper brown butter sauce. We went through three orders. Again, yum.

I plan to venture more to Brooklyn in the coming months. With great chefs opening up restaurants in that borough, I’m sure to find some great dishes. If you have recommendations, please send them to me.

Traif | 229 South Fourth Street, Brooklyn

A Year in Lists

12 Saturday Jan 2013

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How many lists have you already made in 2013?  I’m going to bet a few.  Between resolutions, bucket lists, and the evasive to-do list, it’s easy to make many lists, but how do you ensure that you’re going to do everything on them?  Make them awesome.  Two of my favorite lists came out this week: the updated EATER 38 and the NY Times “Where to go in 2013.”  Enjoy, and get out there to check these places off your own list!

EATER 38

1. Locanda Verde | 377 Greenwich Street
2. Nom Wah Tea Parlor | 13 Doyers Street
3. Torrisi Italian Specialties | 250 Mulberry Street
4. Balthazar | 80 Spring Street
5. Lure Fishbar | 142 Mercer Street
6. Commerce | 50 Commerce Street
7. Red Farm | 529 Hudson Street
8. Takashi | 456 Hudson Street
9. The Spotted Pig | 314 W. 11th Street
10. Kin Shop | 469 Sixth Avenue
11. Momofuku Noodle Bar | 161 1st Avenue
12. Hearth | 403 East 12th Street
13. Casa Mono | 52 Irving Place
14. John Dory Oyster Bar | 1196 Broadway
15. Hill Country Barbecue Market | 30 West 26th Street
16. Legend Bar & Restaurant | 88 Seventh Avenue
17. Keens Steakhouse | 72 West 36th Street
18. Benoit Bistro | 60 West 55th Street
19. Szechuan Gourmet | 21 West 39th Street
20. The Modern | 9 West 53rd Street
21. Esca | 402 West 43rd Street
22. Danji | 346 52nd Street
23. Salumeria Rosi Parmacotto | 283 Amsterdam Avenue
24. Boulud Sud | 20 West 64th Street
25. Telepan | 72 West 69th Street
26. Sushi of Gari | 402 East 78th Street
27. Amali | 115 East 60th Street
28. Donguri | 309 East 83rd Street
29. Red Rooster | 310 Malcolm X Boulevard
30. Roberta’s Pizza | 261 Moore Street, Brooklyn
31. Diner | 85 Broadway, Brooklyn
32. Frankies 457 | 457 Court Street, Brooklyn
33. Lucali | 575 Henry Street, Brooklyn
34. Franny’s | 295 Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn
35. The Good Fork | 391 Van Brunt Street, Brooklyn
36. Vinegar Hill House | 72 Hudson Avenue, Brooklyn
37. Ayada Thai Restaurant | 77-08 Woodwide Avenue, Queens
38. Tortilleria Nixtamal | 104-05 47th Avenue, Queens

NY Times “Where To Go In 2013″

1. Rio de Janeiro
2. Marseille
3. Nicaragua
4. Accra, Ghana
5. Bhutan
6. Amsterdam
7. Houston
8. Rossland, British Columbia
9. New Delhi
10. Istanbul
11. Singapore
12. Montenegro
13. White Salmon River, Washington
14. Hvar, Croatia
15. Mongolia
16. The Big Island, Hawaii
17. Philippines
18. Vernazza, Italy
19. The Kimberley, Australia
20. Ningxia, China
21. The Adirondacks, New York
22. Oslo, Norway
23. Constantia, South Africa
24. Lithuania
25. Burgos, Spain
26. Lens, France
27. Changbaishan, China
28. Porto, Portugal
29. Puerto Rico
30. Koh Phangan, Thailand
31. Kalpititiya, Sri Lanka
32. Jackson Hole, Wyoming
33. Bangkok
34. The Jeseniky, Czech Republic
35. Waiheke, New Zealand
36. Yucatan, Mexico
37. Charlevoix, Quebec
38. Pecs, Hungary
39. Republic of Congo
40. Ireland
41. Getaria, Spain
42. Mergui Islands, Myanmar
43. The Falkland Islands
44. Washington, D.C.
45. Casablanca, Morocco
46. Paris

 

Comfort Food, Vegan Style

22 Saturday Dec 2012

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As a meat eating, cheese loving, omnivore, I never thought I would consider vegan food as something I would be interested in. That was before Candle 79, an organic vegan food restaurant located on the Upper East Side. I recently went for dinner with a vegan friend, and two other omnivorous food lovers. Upon sitting down, one friend proclaimed that he was in the mood for fish. The three of us looked at each other, and I had to admit I had neglected to tell him we were going to a vegan restaurant, as I knew he would be even more skeptical than me. Oops!

The atmosphere was a big win right away. Although the entrance was very crowded, once we went upstairs, the low-lit ambiance was lovely. I don’t know why I was surprised, but had always assumed the atmosphere of a vegan joint would be much more earthy crunchy, not so upscale with a romantic edge. To start, I ordered a favorite of mine, the spanish tempranillo. It was full-bodied, delicious, and familiar.

The best part of Candle 79, is that they have a separate gluten-free menu.  To start, we had one of the specials, which contained brussel sprouts, shallots, and other fall vegetables. It was hearty and tasty, but not something with any vegan subsitutes.

For my entree, I ordered the wild mushroom-squash risotto, made with cashew cream, pumpkin seeds, fresh herbs and frizzled leeks. I thought to myself, cream from cashews?!  I don’t know about that. However, when I took my first bite, I was hooked. The risotto was perfectly tender, the cashew cream was light, yet filling, and the mushroom and squash were just the right size and texture. The meal was hearty and homey, and I finished feeling completely satisfied.

To finish, we had to order dessert. I was even more hesitant that the pastry chef could pull off a good vegan AND gluten-free dish, but I was pleasantly surprised with the mexican chocolate brownie. With caramalized bananas, candied pecans, and chocolate-ancho sauce, it was divine. We shared, but the few bites I had were the perfect ending to this beautifully done meal.

Candle 79 | 154 East 79th Street | Manhattan

Seeing Spots

10 Saturday Nov 2012

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I have wanted to go to The Spotted Pig for years.  Located on the corner of West 11th and Greenwich Street, this West Village gastropub serves  a great selection of british/italian favorites in an intimate, crowded, and very trendy atmosphere.  Often touted as a favorite of stars living in the area, “The Pig” is a great place to stop in for a comforting meal paired with delicious drinks.

I was headed to the restaurant with 3 others – I arrived at 7pm to put our name in, and was told it would be a 2-2.5 hour wait – expected.  The wait to get a spot by the bar (for 2) was a more manageable 20 minutes.  After an hour of meandering around the West Village (I added many places to my list of “must-go”), we all met at the White Horse Tavern, conveniently located just steps from The Pig – perfect to wait for the call saying our table was ready.

Once we were called – after just 2 hours – we were ushered to the crowded second floor (from the crowded first floor) and snagged a corner table.  We were seated so close to another group, it felt like we were at a table for eight.  Drinks were ordered: a bourbon/campari concoction was an easy choice for me.  Up next was the “Pot of Pickles” and the deviled eggs.  The pickled plate was delicious – complete with a variety of pickled vegetables that were just sour enough for my liking.  The spicy deviled eggs packed a punch, and I am surprised I resisted the urge to order another round.

Next up was a round of vegetables – broccoli with pancetta, sunchoke smash with parsley, and the famous shoestring fries, which do count as vegetables in my mind.  All tasty, but I was still anxious for the main event.  First, we moved to wine – I went for the tempranillo, a great pairing for my entree.  I ordered the skirt steak (medium) with beets and horseradish cream; at the table we also had the pan seared sea bass, crispy pork belly in a broth, and of course, the burger.

Completely satisfied at this point, we forgoed the dessert course, and instead enjoyed our wine and the company of our new table-mates.  The Spotted Pig is worth the wait.  Get there early, grab drinks nearby, and then get ready for a great meal with an oft-changing menu.

The Spotted Pig | 314 West 11th Street

A New Neighborhood

19 Wednesday Sep 2012

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I am now officially living on the Upper East Side (UES).  After an awesome year downtown (Financial District, FiDi), I have made the trek back uptown.  The UES, known as one of the most affluent, beautiful, mansion-ed areas of the city, is full of life.  Restaurants, Museums, Bars, and Coffee Shops are everywhere you turn.  I’m already creating a list of all the places I want to discover as soon as possible.

My first restaurant experience since moving in (Obviously I have been to the UES many, many times before) was Mxco.  On Saturday evening my mom and I stopped in to Cascabel Taqueria for dinner - then, after finding out that salsa is only served during happy hour (which is apparently not happening at 6pm) we promptly left and walked diagonally across the street, landing at Mxco.  The menu, which was in part designed by a chef of Mexicana Mama (a favorite of many in the West village), featured tacos, quesadillas, burritos, and a few main dishes, such as enchiladas, tuna, and steak.  I chose the mushroom quesadilla, which was not in line with my typical adventurous taste, but was just what I wanted after a long day of moving.  The dish was surprisingly great.  The chef accomidated my need for corn tortillas, and the quesadillas themselves were filled with chihuahua cheese, several types of peppers, lots of mushrooms, and came with a side of crema fresca.  My mom went for the pomegrante-glazed skirt steak tacos.  YUM.  The marinade was light, tangy, and paired supremely well with the nicely seasoned steak.  We added a side of rice and beans, and with our drinks in hand, dove into a great, filling dinner.

I am so excited to explore the UES.  If you have recommendations, please share them with me.

Mxco | 1491 Second Avenue | NYC

The Best Breakfast…Anywhere

18 Tuesday Sep 2012

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Have you heard of the $1000 omelette?  If you live in NYC, you probably have.  This omelette, and so many wonderful – and slightly more affordable, particularly if you have an expense account – breakfast options are at Norma’s at Le Parker Meridien in Midtown Manhattan.  LPM, home to Norma’s, Burger Joint and Knave, is a little haven of culinary adventures.

On a recent Wednesday morning, two colleagues and I ventured to Norma’s for a celebratory breakfast.  We started with the freshly squeezed Orange Juice ($9, with free refills) which was deliciously fresh, as promised. Next came a complimentary “shot” of a Strawberry Banana Smoothie.

As a gluten-free diner, I was not able to enjoy about half the menu, but still must write about the sweet dishes (I’m savory leaning, anways).  One of my fellow diners indulged in the WaZ-Za, a waffle covered in fresh fruit ($17).  And I mean, covered.  In her words, it was delicious – the belgian-style waffle had fruit in it, and then was covered in a yogurt-like sauce, with the fruit piled high.  My other colleague had the Crunchy French Toast ($17) - served on two huge pieces of brioche and covered with rice krispies, this dish came with a side of warm caramel, to be generously poured over the toast.

I decided to go with the “Make Your Own” Omelette (3 toppings, $17).  I chose the Applewood-Smoked Bacon, Wild Mushrooms, and Gruyére Cheese.  It was heavenly.  I do consider myself a NYC Omelette connoisseur, and this was up there with the best.  The fillings melted together in a delicous medley, and the fresh eggs were hot and tasty.

When you have something special to celebrate, think you can get away with expensing that omelette (it has 10oz of caviar), or just want a delicious breakfast, head to Norma’s – you will indulge in great eats in a modern, lovely, well-serviced atmosphere.

Norma’s | Le Parker Meridien | 119 West 56th Street

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