Coming up Ros(a)y

Guacamole is Best Served in Massive Quantities

Last week, I went out to dinner on a date at Rosa Mexicano (http://www.rosamexicano.com/newyorkcity/unionsquare/index.php?action=page&id=1976&group_id=1955&location_id=9). There are multiple locations of this popular chain and we went to the one in Union Square. I haven't been to this location and it much larger than the one in Midtown East - the ceilings are higher and the vibe seems younger in general. There is also one on the Upper West Side. Naturally, we started with the Guacamole. It is delicious! It is made tableside. There are servers at the restaurant that push the Guac Cart around and are busy NON-STOP! People cannot get enough of that green goodness.

GUACAMOLE FOR DAYS!

After we were happily nibbling on yummy chips and guac, I ordered Frozen Pomegranate Margarita, made with silver tequila, pomegranate and lime juices. My date ordered a Michelada, specifically the Chelita. It is made with Tecate, fresh lime and Tabasco, served over ice with a salted rim. As soon as he tried it, he commented that he hated it. I tried it and agreed. Sometimes being adventurous doesn't pay off.

Frozen Pomegranate Margarita

For my entrée, I got the Chamorro (Crispy Pork Shank). It is a slow-braised "carnitas-style" with chipotle-creamed spinach and red bean-chorizo chili. SO TASTY! It is served with teeny-tiny tortillas to make baby tacos.

Chamorro / Crispy Pork Shank

The meal was delicious! My date ordered the Chicken Enchiladas - I tried a little and they were good, though a bit limey. I was glad with what I ordered.

There is a Happy Hour here Sat- Thurs from 4pm - 7pm in the Bar Area. Cocktails are $6-$7, Beers are $4 and a selection of appetizers and rotating tacos are $6. I will need to check that out!

Cheers,

Liz 

 

Bao Chicka Wow Wow

Baoburg in Williamsburg is a Little Gem!

Last week, I caught up with Christine at a lovely little (this is an understatement!) restaurant in Williamsburg. The spot is called Baoburg (http://baoburgnyc.com/) and it describes itself as "artisanal cuisine" - the dishes certainly lived up to this hype. The restaurant has about 20 seats and many of the seats are counter style. We ended up sitting on two counter seats facing a mirror. This choice made it easy for me to check that I had nothing in my teeth, an unintended benefit.

To start our meal, we ordered a bottle of Ramon Bilbao Albarino, a nice Spanish white that was reasonably priced at $25. Our server presented the wine a bit awkwardly. It wasn't chilled already, so he brought it over in an ice bucket but did not open it. We were sort of confused since the bottle cap was a screw off - do we open our own bottles now? Is that what "artisanal" means? I attempted to take it off and it didn't work, so I asked the server. Naturally, I loosened it for him so it was soooo easy for him to open. Once it was open, it was a nice wine. We were desperate for a drink, so warm was going to have to do for the first pour!

We ordered several plates to share and were very pleased with our choices! We started with the Cheesy Truffle Fries with BACON ($7). The fries were a lovely start while we waited for our entrees to come.

French Fries TOTALLY count as vegetables!

Our first entrée that arrived was the Sparkling Ribs ($12), grilled baby back ribs tossed in a Cola cider sauce with truffle fries potatoes and a pickled garnish. This was absolutely fantastic! I was concerned I'd have to eat the ribs with my hands and this would result in sticky fingers. To my delight, the ribs were fall-off-the-bone tender. The cola marinade was so yummy.

Sparkling Ribs

Our next arrival was the Lamb Stew. I didn't take a snap of the menu and the entrée must be new as it is not yet on the Baoburg site. The dish was fantastic and influenced by Asian flavors. It was served with a poached egg on top, it really added to the creaminess of the sauce and overall nom-factor.

Lamb Stew

The final entrée was the Seared Duck Breast Noodle ($16). This dish was my favorite! Seared duck breast is served on top of fresh, thick ramen noodles, bok choy, shiitake mushrooms and poached daikon in a duck consommé. Since this is a broth based dish and awkward to share, I asked our server to have the chef split the entrée into two portions.  Instead of splitting it PRIOR to bringing to us, he brought two extra bowls for us to split it. This was a bit awkward but I managed because the dish was THAT delicious.

DUCK DUCK YUM

Overall, this is a solid new spot. I highly recommend checking it out!

Cheers,

Liz

 

Back to Back Forty!

A Dinner Out with a New Friend!

Last week, I planned a fun evening out with Aish, a lovely lady I met in one of my classes at Stern. She is HILARIOUS and I knew I had to impressive her with my knowledge of restaurants and cocktails. I knew Back Forty (http://backfortynyc.com/) would be a solid option for dinner. Although Aish is a gluten-free vegetarian she does not suck as a person. She was flexible in my restaurant choices and knew that I could find something suitable for her particular dietary needs. I instantly knew we would be best friends.

During my internship, we had a dinner at Back Forty and it was yummy! Fantastic cocktails and entrees. I really wanted to order the corn bread so naturally it was no longer on the menu - a "seasonal" issue. I was "upset" but managed to find something else on the menu. We each started with their signature cocktail, The Back Forty. It is made with George Dickel #12, Maple and Lemon. Each cocktail is $11; there is also an option for a large format carafe for $55.

The Back Forty

While I was sipping on this delicious cocktail, I selected the Crispy Duck Confit, served with Fregola Sarda (a style of semolina pasta from Sardinia, Italy), Turnips, and a Citrus Marmalade. It was absolutely delicious. I love duck and this one was prepared perfectly. I highly recommend it.

Crispy Duck Confit

Aish ordered the Housemade Pappardelle, served with a broccoli pistou, winter vegetables and Toussaint Cow's Cheese. It didn't look that pretty so I forgot to take a photo. What it lacked in looks, it made up for in taste, at least according to Aish and her gluten-free vegetarian palate.

Back Forty has great desserts but it was the first stop of our evening, so we wanted to have room. The donuts are yummy!

Cheers,

Liz

 

The Smith...

Where the People are Terrible and the Food is Great

After getting some drinks at Pierre Loti, we walked down the street to The Smith (http://www.thesmithnyc.com/) for our dinner reservation. I chose this place because I had heard good things about it from multiple people. Given the location, however, I was a bit worried that the place may be chockfull of the crowd that the area (Midtown) tends to attract (read: terrible people). Anyway, I was deadset on going here, so I was just going to have to block out the awful conversations held by the people sitting next to us. Topics ranged from unreturned Snapchats to Juice Cleanses.

As I mentioned in my prior post, dinner with a romantic interest is a rare event for me. This whole "online dating" situation I've found myself in doesn't tend to led itself to second dates or breaking bread with people. To say I was excited would be an understatement.

After looking at the menu, I decided to order a unique cocktail I had not seen before, the Dirty Jane. It was a reinterpretation of a dirty martini but instead of olives, it was made with pickled tomato. I tend to prefer a dirty martini made with pickle juice over olive juice, so I was looking forward to trying this - I'm glad I ordered it. It was practically an alcoholic salad.

For my main course, I got the salmon. It was served with mushrooms, Brussels sprouts, leeks, parsnips and bordelaise (a red wine sauce). It was quite yummy. The salmon was served as two smaller pieces instead of a larger piece. Which I think made it a little dry, even though I ordered it medium.

Of course we ordered dessert. Their menu is pretty tempting and when I read "S'mores Bread Pudding" I was done. It was made with a chocolate brioche bread pudding, graham cracker crumb bottom and homemade marshmallow topping with a honey anglaise. It was one of the best desserts I've had out in a restaurant. I would be happy to go here and just get drinks and dessert in the future. Cut out the crap with ordering entrees. Who really needs actual food? Desserts for life.

Check out those PICTURE skills!

Anyway, this is a nice place, especially for cocktails and dessert . Be forewarned, it attracts a certain type of Midtown / Murray Hill-ish crowd.

Cheers,

Liz

Hot Ramen. Cold Nights.

Of Course I Ordered Extra BBQ Pork!

In order to escape the polar vortex that plagued NYC last week, my friend Scott and I filled our faces with a hot bowl of noodles otherwise known as Ramen. Scott suggested Ramen Setagaya (http://www.ramensetagayany.com/), located near NYU on St. Marks. I've walked by it many times without knowing it was any good. Isn't that common in this insane city? There are simply too many fantastic options we take for granted.  

Customized Bowls? This place means BUSINESS!

I haven't had a ton of ramen in my life, but the last time I got it, I ordered spicy miso ramen. It was fantastic, so I stuck with that. At this spot, the miso ramen contained many of the typical characters: BBQ pork, salt tasted eggs (I usually pass on that), bamboo shoots, beansprouts, cabbage, corn, and of course glorious noodles. I paid $2 extra for additional pork ("chasyu"). This was a shrewd decision and Scott copied my move. He is a smart one!

Spicy Miso Ramen!

This is a tiny spot, like most Ramen spots, that is worth visiting. I would note that even with paying the upcharge for additional pork, there wasn't that much. Boo!

Cheers,

Liz

So This is Ladies Night

Sotto 13 for a Delicious Meal!

Last Friday, Elspeth, a lovely lady from my block at Stern, organized an unlimited (I love the sound of that!) wine meal at Sotto 13 (http://sotto13.com/). This spot is known for its boozy brunch, which I still need to check out!

For our dinner, we had a great selection of different tapas and pizzas. We had calamari, arancini balls, meatballs, shrimp scampi and two different pizzas (cheese and sausage). We also had a great selection of wines: different reds, whites and roses.

I was too engaged in conversation with the other ladies in my block and sampling the different wines to document each part of the meal. Trust me, it was yummy. I will need to go back for the brunch. I snapped a photo of the group of ladies.

The Beautiful Ladies of Block 3

The vibe of the spot is nice. It is in a great neighborhood and right next to Flex Mussels, a favorite place of mine. If you'd like a glass of wine and some tapas, stop by Sotto 13. I hope you're also having a great night and preparing for Christmas! :)

Cheers,

Liz

 

Indowhat? Indochine!

Colonial French Vietnamese, or something like that

Last night, I had a wonderful night catching up with one of my favorite MBA1s: Scott! We had a night (sort of) planned out. We knew we were going to go to Lexington Bar & Books, but weren't sure where to have dinner. Luckily, Scott had an idea! He recommended a spot near school: Indochine (http://www.indochinenyc.com/index_F.html).  I haven't had much Vietnamese food and I have never had Colonial French Vietnamese food - so what is not to love? Naturally, we started the meal with a cocktail. But which one? According to Yelp! reviews, I went with a clear winner: the Indochine Martini, made with citrus vodka infused with pineapple and ginger and fresh lime juice.

Indochine Martini

It was quite good - far too easy to drink. I only ordered one since we were going uptown for cocktails and cigars after. For dinner, we split three items. The Spicy Shrimp sautéed with long beans, fresh tomato and basil, the Glazed Duck Breast, with long stem bok choi and a baked Vidalia onion broth and Sautéed Rice with shrimp, green peas and egg.

Spicy Shrimp

The shrimp were so tasty! The spice level was just right - it added flavor without being overbearing. Ugh, I hate that!

Glazed Duck Breast

The duck was also lovely. The broth really complemented the side of rice.

Sautéed Rice

I loved that the shrimp were normal size in the rice. Sometimes fried rice can have "baby" shrimp which just taste super fishy to me. Barf. This was not like that, yummy!

If you want a special dinner near campus, check out this spot. Also, on our way out, we saw the actor Wallace Shawn (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001728/?ref_=tt_cl_t5). He is best known as the voice of Rex in the Toy Story franchise, Cyrus Rose in Gossip Girl, and Vizzini in Princess Bride. I didn't take a photo because I'm not a super weirdo.

Cheers,

Liz

 

Murphy & Gonzalez

Hidden Gem for Fajitas Near NYU

Before a night class last week, I caught up with Christine. We wanted to meet somewhere close to campus and I've had good luck at Murphy & Gonzalez (http://www.murphy-gonzalez.com/). 

My favorite thing to order is the chicken fajitas. They are DYNAMITE! I mean, look at that photo. 

Chicken Fajitas

If you're hungry and feeling like Mexican near campus, this pub is a surprisingly good spot for fajitas.

Cheers,

Liz

 

Balls on Balls

The Meatball Shop is the #1 place for Balls

Last weekend, Meredith and I shared our last meal together at The Meatball Shop in Chelsea (http://www.themeatballshop.com/). I chose this location (there are multiple in the city) because it features the downstairs bar adorably called Underballs. I was heartbroken to see that the bar isn't open on Sundays!

I chose to order the Spicy Pork meatballs with the Parmesan Cream Sauce. You get 4 meatballs with an order. I got a side of broccoli so I could dip it in the sauce instead of the foccacia bread that comes with it. Sad panda. 

Do your balls hang low?

I love love love this place. The cocktails are great too but I chose not to imbibe. 

Cheers,

Liz

 

Ramen is Only 3 Hours, I mean 1.5 Hours, I mean 30 Minutes Away!

When You Need a Fix, Hit Minca!

One of my good friends, Meredith, visited me from California this past weekend. We met up with some of her friends for dinner. Originally, we wanted to conquer Ippudo. I've lived in the city for over a year and I still haven't gone. There really is no excuse since it is so close to Stern. I haven't wanted to wait. This past Friday was no exception! The wait (at the no reservation restaurant) was over 3 hours! So, we decided to walk over to Momofuku Noodle Bar (which also does not take reservations) which had a 1.5 hour wait.

One of Meredith's friends suggested going to Minca (http://www.newyorkramen.com/) instead, where the wait was *only* 30 minutes for the five of us! We walked over (by this point we had quite an appetite after searching for ramen!) and waited for our table. I have not gone to many ramen spots, so I wasn't sure what to order. The waitress suggested their most popular option: the spicy miso ramen. It was delicious!

The broth had a fantastic flavor, the pork was perfectly fatty without being gross and the noodles were perfectly tender. This meal was for sure a "cheat meal" as I've been doing Atkins for the past month and a half with great success. Sometimes, you need to live on the edge, even if that includes eating carbs. 

Spicy Miso Ramen!

I'm not a ramen expert, so I may not be the best judge. I really loved what I ordered. It was a big bowl and I left very satisfied having only spent $13 on the entree. Also, because this isn't as much of a tourist trap as Ippudo, you likely won't have to wait as long. I only have a sample size of 1 (my own experience) so I cannot guarantee a timely meal. Put your name down and grab a drink across the street at Ace!

Check it out!

Nom,

Liz

 

So EN Love with this Place!

Dinner with Famous People

This past Thursday, I had a truly special evening. In my Digital Media Innovation class, a classmate and I won the opportunity to have dinner with several heavyweights in the digital/tech industry. I knew that my professor (Greg Coleman) and the CEO of LinkedIn (Jeff Weiner) would attend. I didn't know that one of the largest investors in Twitter (Fred Wilson) and basketball legend Dr J (Julius Erving) would be there as well! 

I tried to remain calm and not embarrass my professor and his super important (and rich) friends. We dined at EN Japanese Brasserie (http://www.enjb.com/). I only took *one* picture. Naturally, it was of the super swanky drink I ordered: The Local Honey. 

Local Honey

This cocktail is made with Yamazaki 12 whisky. local honey with wasabi, Beefeater gin and royal bee pollen. It was DELICIOUS!

Our meal was INCREDIBLE. It was a pre-set menu and we dined on the following items:

Edamame - soaked in dashi (pretty basic, yet the addition was welcome)

Freshly Made Scooped Tofu - served warm with wari-joyu (not sure what the sauce is, but this was one of the highlights of the meal. It was so interesting and the texture was super creamy/soft. Also, it is made hourly!)

O-Tsukuri - chef's sashimi selection (definitely some of the best raw fish I've had in a long time!)

Oysters with Ponzu - chef's selection (these were ok, I had one that was a bit "fishy" and it made me have to chug my lovely cocktail. Eek)

Lobster Ishiyaki - stone grilled lobster with a butter miso sauce (yum city, loved this)

Stone Grilled Kuroge Washugyu Ribeye - with ponzu and arajio (the marbling on this was insane, I can only imagine it was expensive)

Sushi Rolls - chef's selection (basic but nom. I tried an eel roll, I am so adventurous...it tasted like chicken, sort of?)

Seasonal Panna Cotta - with a hojicha cookie (the seasonal selection was chestnut, really lovely)

This restaurant is expensive and certainty worth it. I hope to return soon with friends, even if only for the drinks!

Cheers,

Liz

 

Colicchio & Sons Tap Room

Dinner and Drinks

Tonight, I had dinner at Colicchio & Sons Tap Room (http://www.craftrestaurantsinc.com/colicchio-and-sons/). It was fantastic. The bread looked amazing but I didn't have any - I'm still doing a special diet and cannot have any of that, wah! I ordered a Ketel One and Soda. It was great, as usual.

For my entree, I ordered the Skate. It was DELICIOUS! It is such a light and yummy fish. If you haven't had it, definitely try it if you see it on a menu.

One of my friends ordered dessert. He got the beignets (little balls of fried dough goodness). Again, couldn't partake but I lived vicariously through him and it looked/smelled lovely.

Instead of giving patrons a mint or something else when the check comes, the server gave each of us a freshly baked pumpkin spice muffin to go! What a great idea! I gave mine to my friend.

Happy Sunday!

Liz

 

Tapas at Salinas

The Fun Continues in Chelsea!

After we left the Tippler on Friday, Christine and I headed several blocks uptown to Salinas (http://salinasnyc.com/). We wanted something a little more to eat beyond what was offered on the first venue's menu. We started with the Trio of Charcutero - it was delicious. It came with some toasted slices of bread and a fig spread; Christine said it was tasty. 

Meat on Meat on Meat

To complement with carnivore dream, we ordered some cheese. We got the daily selection of "Quesos Artesanales" - naturally, this is translated to "the expensive cheese" - not really, but basically.

More Cheese Please - MASSIVE GRAPES!

The spot definitely had mood lighting. I didn't want to use my flash so all my photos have a red hue...how mysterious. I ordered my go to drink for now - try to guess!

Bulleit Rye Perfect Manhattan

I had a date scheduled later that evening after my date with Christine - I am such a double booker! So, I ordered a cappuccino to keep going. 

You think you're fancy? Yes, of course!

Salinas is a lovely spot. There are a lot of tapas places in the city that I want to explore, so not sure if I would go back.

Cheers!

Liz

 

Gramercy Tavern

Catching up with a Mentor over Manhattans

My old boss, John, was in town and suggested we catch up over a meal at the bar at Gramercy Tavern (http://www.gramercytavern.com/). He has been such a great mentor to me over the past couple of years; especially in my transition to business school from investment banking. To celebrate my job offer, I ordered a Bulleit Rye Manhattan. I need to support my brands!!

Bulleit Rye hits the Spot - the brandied cherries are a classy touch!

As an appetizer, I ordered four oysters. So yummy!!

Oysters, on the rocks

As my main course, I ordered the crispy duck leg with zucchini and grilled pole beans. Absolutely delicious. 

Quack Quack Nom Nom

To round out the meal, I finished with a Blue Bottle cappuccino.

I heart this drink

This place is super fancy (even at the bar area where we ate) - it has one Michelin star. It was a wonderful place to catch up with John. I will need to go back - that was one hell of a Manhattan!

Cheers, 

Liz

 

The Commodore

Birthday Drinks in Brooklyn

This past Friday, there was a Stern birthday celebration at The Commodore (no website, http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-commodore-brooklyn). I've heard that the food there is legendary, so that alone was worth the trip. For a dive bar, the Commodore offered several interesting drink options. I wasn't sure which to order first...the Perfect Manhattan or Old Fashioned. 

Where to Start?

I started with a Bulleit Rye Perfect Manhattan. I love love love Bulleit! It really makes wonderful cocktails. I've been dabbling in dark spirits more. I haven't gotten to just drinking bourbon neat, so a little cocktailing never hurt. 

Perfect Manhattan - made with Sweet and Dry Vermouth

After I finished this delicious drink, I moved on to the Old Fashioned. I ordered it with Bulleit Rye as well. This cocktail was a bit too weird for me. For the size of the glass, the slice of orange was HUGE and the drink was way too red. It just seemed off - should have gotten another Manhattan since it was "Perfect" after all. 

Old Fashioned

Once we were hydrated, we checked out the menu. I loved the monkey on it - really different!

The place is pretty famous for the fried chicken. Ingrid was smart and ordered that. I ordered a Kale Caesar salad. Complete rookie mistake. I'm trying to eat healthier...yet ordering a salad in a place famous for frying food is just a bad call.

What You Should Order - Fried Chicken

What You Shouldn't Order - Salad...

The birthday boy, Tim, kept ordering rounds of  Bandera Shots aka Mexican Flag Shots. The shot is made out of three separate shots: tequila, lime juice and Bloody Mary Mix. Woof. I didn't partake. It looked interesting..

Bandera Shots

This is definitely a place to check out. It was cold outside and HOT inside. The bar is small and I got overheated pretty quickly. I would recommend wearing layers so you can prevent yourself from sweating your face off.

Cheers,

Liz

 

A Cause for Celebration!

Visiting NYC's Hottest New Restaurant, Piora

My close friend, Liv, and I had two huge reasons for celebration: after a year of recruiting, interviewing, and interning, we have job offers. It feels great! I tend to celebrate momentous occasions with food and drink. Allison, the fabulous entrepreneur behind Brenne Whisky (http://drinkbrenne.com/), recommend this spot: Piora (http://www.pioranyc.com/). In addition to carrying her incredibly whisky, the restaurant is currently ranked #1 on Eater Manhattan's Heatmap for Where to Eat in Manhattan. Given these two pieces of information, I made a reservation!

As we reviewed the menu, we ordered cocktails. I ordered Fall Leaves (Plymouth Gin, Calvados, Apple, Maple Syrup, Tea and Lemon). It was yummy! It reminded me of fall, a blend of apple cider flavors and maple! Liv ordered the Wear and Tear, a play on an Old Fashioned, made with Old Overhold Rye, Aperol, Chartreuse Jeune, Cinzano  and Angostura. 

Fall Leaves

Wear and Tear

Once we got our cocktails, the chef presented us with an amuse-bouche. It was crisp, light and tasty. A nice way to prepare the palate for what was to come!

Amuse-Bouche

We had to order the Monkey Bread!! It is served hot, warm, sweet and salty with two awesome spreads: Lardo (aka pork fat) and Seaweed Butter. Each spread was awesome in its own right and I'm not sure which I preferred.

Monkey Bread - Lardo (left) and Seaweed Butter (right)

For our entrees, we started with a split order of Bucatini. The pasta is black because it is made with black garlic and a little squid ink is added. There is also crab and mushrooms on top - simply divine. Since we split the pasta, our server was gracious enough to separate into two bowls. It can be awkward to split pasta!

Bucatini

For the entrees, we split the Duck (a perfectly prepared breast) and the Halibut (with mushrooms and brown butter)

Duck...Duck...

...Halibut!

With our dinner, I ordered a glass of white and Liv ordered a glass of red wine.

A pair of happy glasses

You know we totally got dessert! Liv ordered a glass of Port, but I wanted to try the ice cream (chocolate, salted caramel and vanilla). Liv is such a good friend that she offered to try it too!

3 Scoops of Awesome

The owner, Simon, came by our table and we chatted about our mutual friend (Allison, mentioned above). I should say that I know her more, since she is a celebrity of sorts - we got a complimentary dessert! It was lovely.

Chocolate Raspberry Tart

Before we left, I had to snap a photo of the back-bar. I saw Allison's bottle of Brenne! I am so proud of her! I realize the photo is bad. It was tricky taking a photo without completely infiltrating someone's personal space.

Brenne, right next to Blue Label - so impressed!

You must try Piora!

Liz

 

Burger Joint Moves Downtown!

Friends and Fries!

I always heard really great things about Burger Joint, a secret burger spot located within Le Parker Meridien, but never quite made it there for one reason or another. I received an email from the new location (http://www.burgerjointny.com/8thstreet.php) right by NYU with an offer for a free dinner of burger and fries for up to 10 people. As any smart full-time MBA student (read: no current source of income), I jumped at this opportunity and gathered friends to scope out the new spot!

The Burger Joint!

While we waited for our food, we ordered drinks. I got a beer (it seemed appropriate given the food). I believe it was Ommegang. It was a nice and light option.

The glass reminds me of a grenade

It's showtime! The burgers have arrived, mine is personalized! I think it says Liz?

I *meant* to take a photo, but I was overwhelmed and had already started to inhale it. Oops.

The burgers are great! Just so you know, Burger Joint has an incredibly small menu. What it lacks in variety, it makes up for it in quality.

I love the sign in the restaurant. It makes you think. Does it say "Eat" or "Fat" or "Who cares?"

CHECK OUT BURGER JOINT! It is awesome. Support local businesses!

Cheers,

Liz

 

Stopping by the Rooftop of the McKittrick Hotel

Gallow Green - AMAZING!

To celebrate the end of our incredible internships, my good friend Olivia and I went to an awesome spot: Gallow Green (http://mckittrickhotel.com/gallowgreen/) at the McKittrick Hotel. We had visited the hotel last year to see the interactive Macbeth performance of "Sleep No More" - this was certainly a different experience!

The venue is gorgeous. I highly recommend visiting it for drinks (the live music is fantastic) and/or dinner (the food is also lovely). I am a huge fan of large format cocktails, so we started with a bowl of boozy popsicle punch. It was made with Ketel One vodka and absolutely splendid! There were two fresh fruit popsicles inside - one pineapple and one watermelon - and a large square ice cube. The shape of the cube allowed it to melt slowly (chilling without too much diluting). As they continued to melt, they added to the taste and profile of the punch.

Once we finished the punch, we moved on to more cocktails! I ordered a glass of rose Champagne. It was served in a couple glass - how lovely! 

I strongly believe that glassware can influence the taste of a cocktail. My Grandma always said this and it has stuck!

After we finished up at Gallow Green, we went to The Heath (one floor below the rooftop). It was AWESOME. Great live music and dancing. I ordered a twist on a vodka lemonade, it was tasty. The credit card machine wasn't working though, so it was a bit annoying with cash/ATM fees.

You must check out this spot! A real "wow" location in the city.

Cheers,

Liz

 

Keens Steakhouse!

Birthday Dinner!

My wonderful brother and I share August birthdays. Since we both live in NYC now, we tend to have an annual birthday dinner at a steakhouse to celebrate. I heard rave reviews for Keens (http://www.keens.com/) and it is randomly right near my apartment in Midtown: #winning! While we contemplated which massive piece of meat to order, I ordered a cocktail.

I don't recall everything that went into the cocktail, but it was gin based and delicious. It felt incredibly adult, which is fitting because I am older...ugh!

The decor is really beautiful and historical. Starting in the early 20th century, men would keep their pipes at Keens. The pipes were too fragile for transporting around and remained at the restaurant for safe keeping. 

For dinner, we chose the Porterhouse for two. It was delicious. So delicious in fact, that this happened.

YUM! Keens is a classy joint. It is an old-school steakhouse, rich with New York history. It isn't like the new swanky steakhouses (Strip House or STK). I highly recommend it. Even if you don't want to have dinner here, visit the bar. It is worth the trip.

Cheers,

Liz

 

The Dead Rabbit (The Hot Bartender)

The Speakeasy to End all Speakeasies!

FINALLY! After researching this spot for a school project and hearing it swept the Tales of the Cocktail awards, I HAD to come! Boy, was this trip down to the Financial District worth it and then some! My friend Kate and I had an incredible evening and Jack McGarry (International Bartender of the Year) gave both of us HUGS. Love him! We planned to have dinner at The Dead Rabbit (http://www.deadrabbitnyc.com/), but wanted to eat and drink at the bar by Jack to see him in action - it is quite the show!

Do you see all of these beautiful bitters and tinctures? The teacups are awesome!

Look at that huge ice cube and teacup!!! I have no idea what the drinks are that I ordered. I just stared into Jack's eyes and he knew what I wanted. It was that simple!

Delicious, but no idea what was in this!

Again, fabulous but ?

I wouldn't want to be a bartender with Jack in town. Check out what he sent to a rival bar - WATCH OUT NYC!

It is absolutely worth the trek downtown to check out this fantastic location! It is truly amazing. Make sure to go and sit at the bar upstairs to watch Jack in action.

Cheers, 

Liz