The River(park) Runs Deep

Depth of Flavors Delight the Senses

Ah! Restaurant Week, you are amazing! Not only do you deliver delicious food to my mouth at a huge discount, you last for WEEKS! Melissa and I hit up one of her favorite spots, Riverpark (http://www.riverparknyc.com/), for dinner. As an aside, Melissa already came here 3 times (!!!) for Restaurant Week. I knew this was going to be a delicious meal!

A unique feature of this Tom Colicchio is that the entire menu is featured for Restaurant Week. Naturally, some of the menu items have an upcharge due to the ingredients featured. I forgot to snap a picture, but we started our meal with a delicious piece of fresh baked bread. The bread is made on site and so yummy!! We were offered another piece but I said no because I already stuffed a slice of pizza in my mouth at Beer Blast (the Happy Hour at Stern). See, I have self-control! ha

We both ordered the same pasta as an appetizer. It featured cocoa spaccatelli, pork ragu, Honeycrisp apples and sage.

Beautiful Pasta!

The pasta was tasty! The cocoa was likely added for color as I couldn't taste it directly. Though, the overall profile of the dish was very complex, so I'm sure it added to the taste.

After looking at the menu, we found two entrees we both wanted to try. So, we ordered one of each! We got the Whole Roasted Dorade with baby artichokes, capers, fennel and olives and the Cocoa Spiced Pekin Duck with blood orange, fennel, pearl onions, red cabbages and chiles.

Whole Roasted Dorade

Cocoa Spiced Pekin Duck

It is hard to pick which of this dishes was my favorite! The fish was moist, light and flaky. You can't really tell from the photo, but once you lift it from the middle, the fish was completely deboned and ready to NOM! It is nice to not have to pick out the bones. The assortment of vegetables and spices was lovely and not overwhelming to the fish. The duck was tender and tasted great with the blood orange.

For dessert, we ordered "Cereal & Milk" - the restaurant's signature dessert. Melissa assured me that it was worth the $3 upcharge! The dessert is composed of a chocolate ganache cake, caramelized rice puffs, and vanilla malt (hidden within the chocolate shell). We also got the Beignets that were served vanilla custard and spiced chocolate sauce.

Cereal & Milk

Beignets

We totally messed up and should have ordered TWO Cereal & Milk desserts!!! The beignets were ok but could not stand a chance compared to this delicious dessert. You break the chocolate shell and the vanilla malt inside covers the entire dessert. I should have taken a photo of it after we broke the shell but we were too busy eating it!

This is an incredible restaurant with phenomenal food! It is a much better value to come here during Restaurant Week but worth a visit regardless JUST FOR THE DESSERT!

Cheers,

Liz

 

It's Miller('s Tavern) Time!

Hot Drinks on a Cold Night

After our dinner at M Shanghai, Christine, Lisa and I headed to Miller's Tavern (millerstavernbrooklyn) for after dinner drinks. After I read through the menu, I knew I would order a hot drink. When it's freezing outside, it just makes sense.

I started with the Hot Buttered Rum, made with Dark Rum, Clove and Vermont Butter.  

Hot Buttered Rum

This drink was nice and I loved the cup it was served in! I'm sure you can see the butter clustering at the top of the drink. It had a hint of creaminess from the butter but wasn't overpowering. If anything, it could have benefitted from more clove/spices in it to up the flavor profile. It was good but not particularly memorable.

For my second drink, I ordered The Regulator - another hot cocktail! It is made with Applejack, Bourbon, and Ginger.

The Regulator

This drink had more flavor, likely due to the Applejack - an Apple Brandy. I really enjoyed it!

After we had our first two cocktails, we ordered a dessert to split between the three of us. We ordered the Molten Chocolate Cake served with gelato and sea salt. For this evening, the gelato was a caramel flavor. SO TASTY!

Oh, hi there dessert!

We didn't order any food here beyond the dessert, though Lisa's boyfriend joined us and got the burger. It looked yummy! Since the dessert was really tasty, it could be worth coming back here for an entire meal.

Cheers!
Liz

 

M Shanghai Delight

The L is a Direct Route to Incredible Shanghainese Noms

This past Friday, I met up with Lisa and Christine (two of my favorite Stern ladies) for dinner in Williamsburg at the ever popular M. Shanghai Bistro & Garden (http://www.newmshanghai.com/). It should be noted that Christine, Michelle, Ilya and I attempted to go here on Chinese New Year and were DENIED. Nothing was going to stop us this time - NOTHING!

When we arrived, we were prompted seated. Naturally, we checked out the cocktail menu first. Is there any other way to start a meal? I ordered a Caipirinha and Christine & Lisa both got a Mojito. The drink was lovely. Lisa and Christine said their cocktails tasted super strong but I didn't feel mine tasted that way. It didn't mean it wasn't strong though!

The Caipirinha - a great way to prevent scurvy

If you come to this Williamsburg treasure, you absolutely must order the Steamed Juicy Pork Buns (SOUP DUMPLINGS!) - you get 6 for $7.50. Each of us got 2 - I could have easily eaten the entire order but I would like to keep my friendships.

Lovely TREASURES

There is an art to eating a soup dumpling - you must bite the top off so the interior can cool off. If you are an amateur and go in for a bite, you will be burned - literally. The inside is piping hot, so be patient you hungry fool! Once the soup cools down, slurp it up and then eat the rest of the dumpling. You're welcome.

For our entrees, we split three items. We got the #55 Sliced Beef with Scallion and Onion in Brown Sauce (Awesome!) [note: that is how it is actually listed on the menu] , #37 Shanghai Style Lo-Mein with shrimp, shredded chicken, pork and spinach in a delicious brown sauce and Kung Pao Tofu with Chinese Broccoli (not on the menu, but Lisa knew of this secret amazing dish).  

BEEF

NOODLES

TOFU

This was a great mix of dishes since each was different/unique. I hate when I get Asian food and everything ends up tasting the same - so boring! It is hard to pick a favorite because they were each so different. I'd recommend ordering the same exact thing!

If you have the courage to leave Manhattan, this is a lovely spot to explore in Williamsburg. It is near many cool bars and other places to visit. Embrace Brooklyn people! It is fun and a great value - also many of my favorite people live there!

Cheers,

Liz

 

To the Junoon and Back!

Restaurant Week Round 2!

After my first Restaurant Week meal at The Marrow, I headed to Junoon (http://junoonnyc.com/) with Scott. I had heard rave reviews about this Michelin-rated Indian spot in Flatiron but couldn't convince myself to go due to the price of the entrees (most protein entrees are $25+) and the size (not very large!). I'm a hole-in-the-wall Indian cuisine gal, but for Restaurant Week I enjoy living on the wild side and indulging! This place opened in 2011 and received one star from Michelin JUST ten months after it opened! Very Impressive.

The restaurant was running behind so we each ordered a cocktail at The Patiala Lounge (the bar). I went with the Blood Orange Sour, made with Kentucky Bourbon, Homemade Blood Orange and Lemon Puree, Clove-Campari Reduction with Egg White for Texture.

Beautiful Color and Delicious Taste!

My cocktail was yummy - I love the taste of Blood Orange Juice, it is like the adult version of OJ! Scott went with the Tandoori Tequila, a spicy cocktail made with silver tequila, lime, muddled Tandoori pineapple, curry leaf and pippali pepper.  

Blurred Lines

I sipped his drink and it did have a certain KICK to it! Scott sometimes feels that I don't give him the star power he deserves on my blog, so I took a photo of him. Of course it came out terribly - it is the thought that counts, right?

The lounge area is pretty swanky. You feel like you're on the set of a high-budget Bollywood movie.

Patiala Lounge

Scott and I have similar taste preferences, so we ordered different appetizers, entrees and desserts and shared everything.

As we waited for our appetizers, we were each served an Amuse-Bouche, or complementary tasting from the chef. It was something or other with butternut squash and quite delicious! The sizing was a preview of what was to come...tiny dishes!

Amuse-Bouche of Butternut Squash from the Chef

To start, we got the Lahsooni Gobi (crispy cauliflower with chili flakes and garlic tomato chutney) and Chipotle Chicken Tikka (chipotle marinated chicken with crispy potatoes and lime aioli).

Lahsooni Gobi

Chipotle Chicken Tikka

Both were delicious but VERY SMALL! If I came here and paid the menu price I would be very disappointed. 3 pieces of cauliflower is a bit lame!

For the entrees, we ordered the Kerala Shrimp Curry (seared shrimp with coconut milk, curry leaves, mustard seeds, green chiles and smoked kodampuli) and the Lalmas (Rajasthani lamb curry with black cardamom, clove and chili)

Kerala Shrimp Curry

Lalmas

I absolutely loved the Shrimp Curry BUT THERE WERE ONLY 3 SHRIMP! WHAT GIVES!!! I felt super cheated. The lamb had more chunks in it but wasn't bountiful by any standards.

We also got one order of Pulao Rice and Naan to split.

NAAN NOM

Pulao Rice

I would have preferred Garlic Naan but we weren't able to upcharge to that which I thought was annoying - you may be sensing a trend!

For dessert, we ordered one Rice Pudding served with candied almonds, cinnamon and golden raisons and one Passion Fruit Mousse.

HEY PUDDIN

Get that PASSIONfruit!

I loved the rice pudding but hardly got to taste it - it was about 3 spoonfuls. This is the unfortunate downside of Restaurant Week - going to fancy places and leaving feeling like you want to eat an entire pizza! I'm glad we went because the food was phenomenal it just left me wanting more...FOOD!

Cheers,

Liz

 

I Love You Down to The Marrow

Restaurant Week Begins!

In New York City (and in cities across the country), Restaurant Week is a magical time. Not only do you get to visit many restaurants that may be outside of your price range for $25 for lunch and $38 for dinner, the week breaks rules of the universe. The "week" lasts from February 17th to March 7th - amazing! Also, if you have an American Express card and register it to save $5 for EACH Restaurant Week transaction (https://enroll.amexnetwork.com/US/en/winternycrw2014/).

I'm a big fan of the Top Chef franchise and winner of the first season, Harold Dieterle - this is his third venture in NYC (also owns Perilla and Kin Shop). The Marrow has German and Italian influences. The menu for Restaurant Week is key - even if the spot you're going to is well-known for certain dishes, make sure some of them are on the reduced-price menu! Otherwise, what is the point of visiting it?

We arrived a bit earlier and each ordered a cocktail at the bar. I got the Eye of the Tiger, made with Cognac, 7 year old rum, vanilla and cinnamon.

Eye of the Tiger

The cocktail had a wonderful profile; I loved the touch of the single massive ice cube too! Aish ordered the Miss Roberts' Cobbler, made with Owney's Rum, Pear Jam, Lavender and Thyme.

Miss Roberts' Cobbler

She loved it so I had to try a sip - it was tasty! Once our table was ready, we were seated and given the menu. We already looked it over before we came so we knew exactly what to order!

We did noticed that the menu featured three bottles of wine for $38! We ordered the Red, the Pittnaur Velvet 2008 from Burgenland, Austria.

Lovely Red Wine!

I'm glad we split this - for about 2.5 glasses each, that is a great bargain. While we waited for our entrees, we were served a freshly baked (and HOT!) pretzel style roll with mustard and oil.

I think I could have eaten 10 of these...

Spicy mustard and olive oil complement the bread!

Just as we were finishing up our rolls, we were served our first course. We both ordered the Roasted Sunchoke Soup topped with toasted sunflower seeds and snipped chives.

A Bowl Full of Warm Deliciousness

The soup came out PIPING HOT! After it cooled down for a hot second (no pun intended), we enjoyed each and every spoonful. The soup had a velvety texture and was utter perfection.

For my entrée, I ordered the Sautéed Skate Wing, served with Black Forest Ham, Cabbage and Warm Mustard Sauce. I'm a huge fan of Skate, so I was excited to try it.  

Skate into my mouth please

The German-style prep on the Skate was different and incredibly tasty. I was very happy with my order! Aish, the vegetarian that she is, ordered the Housemade Pappardelle served with braised forest mushrooms, lemon thyme and pecorino.

Who's Your Pappardelle?

She really liked it, or at least I assume she did, since she inhaled it. This is why we're such good friends!

For the desserts, I ordered the Spiced Streusel Kuchen, served with roasted apples and caramel ice cream.

Spiced Streusel Kuchen

This dessert was delicious!! Aish wanted no part of it since she isn't a big fan of apples - weirdo! Just kidding. She went with the other option, the Milk Chocolate Panna Cotta, served with grape jam and peanut biscotti.  

Milk Chocolate Panna Cotta

I much prefer dark chocolate to milk, but Aish loved it. I was happy for her. She avoided the apples, so she was a happy camper.

When we were given the check, we were presented with MORE food. Two gingersnap style cookies - so great.

COOKIES NOM NOM NOM

I was very happy with the overall experience. I look forward to coming back here to order some other menu items, especially the Pan-Fried Duck Schnitzel!

Happy Restaurant (Three) Week(s)!

Cheers,

Liz

 

No Breakfast? No Problem.

When I can't order an Omelette, I order Cake.

Instead of sipping a fine Cab in Napa on President's Day, I attempted to not get hit by a cab in New York as I sloshed through the yucky, mucky snow with Aish. We originally wanted to go to this crazy diner called Shopsins but it is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. At least I checked online before we walked over so it wasn't a complete bust.

I suggested going to Max Brenner (http://maxbrenner.com/locations/usa/restaurant-nyc/) since we wouldn't have to wait. I made a reservation on OpenTable...just in case! We were ready to feast on Omelettes. As a side note, I already talked up this dish A LOT so we were both excited to order them!

When we arrived, it was clear a reservation wasn't necessary. If we had arrived 30 minutes later (say around noon), it would have been a different story. Better safe than sorry! We gave the server our order and were promptly SHUT DOWN. No breakfast after 11am! Even on a holiday! Instead of sulking, we made the adult decision of ordering a dessert instead.

Apparently this culture does not include breakfast after 11am!

I knew I didn't have to look at the menu! I was in the mood for the Melting Heart Truffle Heart Cake & Shake. It consists of a milk & white chocolate heart cake served with creamy vanilla ice cream, red berries and an iced milk chocolate shot.

SO CUTE!

You may be wondering: what is in the martini shaker? Melted milk chocolate of course! I drizzled it all over everything and, at one point, directly into my mouth. Whatever, it happened.

Aish went with the Banana Split Waffles, made with caramelized bananas, vanilla ice cream, sugar krispies, milk chocolate ganache and Choco-pops (little balls of chocolate).

Is that a Banana on your plate? Oh ok, thank you for clarifying.

Her dish was very tasty! The waffles were not warm in temperature - likely pre-prepared. If they were a bit warm, they would melt the ice cream, which would have been better.

Overall, I do like this place but not as much as I used to. It may be because I've gone to so many other places in NYC that are better that the novelty has worn off. I think I'm also bitter about being able to order the Omelette I really wanted - ha!

Cheers,

Liz

 

We Hit The (Dessert) Jackpot!

Rice to Riches = Nom to Nom

After we finished up our dinner at The Boil, Scott and I were sad to learn that there was no dessert offered at the restaurant! To think this place calls itself an upstanding establishment but offered no dessert - insanity!

This did not deter our quest for sweet, sweet satisfaction. I looked online and saw that we were close to Rice to Riches (https://www.ricetoriches.com/), a very tasty Rice Pudding spot. Since it specializes in one type of dessert, it has utterly mastered it. I went here one time before with my parents so I knew this was a solid choice.

Scott shared with me that I didn't show him enough love on my blog, so here he is! Standing outside all the glory that is Rice to Riches!

Oh hi there, are you a model? EXCEL MODELER I MEAN - finance joke.

I love the entrance to the location- it looks like a grain of rice! Foreshadowing of what is to come! We sampled a few of the offerings but I already knew what we were going to order. In the past, I got the Sex Drugs and Rocky Road and the Fluent in French Toast. Aren't the names punny? I just cannot handle it. I deal with it by eating all of it quickly, "sharing" some with Scott.

French Toast (left) and Rocky Road (right) - NOT REFRIED BEANS! I bet you cannot unsee that though...

The spot has a fun vibe to it. The walls are filled with snarky comments. One of my favorites is the warning to potentially annoying customers.

You've Been Warned!

If you're craving rice pudding, this IS the place to go.

Cheers,

Liz

 

Serious Eats Require a Bib and Gloves

Dinner in a Plastic Bag Can Still Be Classy

While we were waiting at Fig. 19 for our table to be ready, I received a text message from the restaurant, The Boil (http://www.theboilny.com/). I love that restaurants are now using this form of communication to tell you when the table is ready - no more guessing or waiting around in a crowded waiting area!

I love the efficiency!

We closed out our check and headed next door to the restaurant. We were seated in the rear of the restaurant, which was nice since we were away from people coming in and out - aka the freezing cold air coming into the restaurant.

Before we ordered any food, one of the servers dressed each of us in a bib. Naturally, I had to take a shellfie (this is a selfie at a seafood restaurant, just FYI). Check out my hot outfit below.

Shellfie!

Don't be jealous of the bib - if you go here, you can get one too! We were going to order Bloody Marys but decided to get beers instead. I ordered the Abita Purple Haze. Yum!

Much Better Than Water

To start, we go an order of Cajun Fries. We ate these before we put on our gloves to eat all the seafood. SO TASTY! The dipping sauce was almost like a tartar sauce. Very good. Also, as a side note, my hands still smelled like Old Bay, Butter and Shrimp even with the gloves. This is what soap is for.

Cajun Fries

We also got an order of Oysters. The cocktail sauce and the vinaigrette were yummy. The oysters were super fresh and tasty.

Oysters!

We ordered the Combo bag of 1lb of Crawfish and 1 lb of Shrimp as well as 1lb of Snow Crab Legs. We got them with everything (The Boil Special): garlic butter, Old Bay, and lemon pepper.  For the temperature, we got Mild. This was the right call for me since spicy can get too aggressive too quickly.

Snow Crab Legs

The snow crab legs were easier to eat than the crawfish. They were SO HARD TO EAT! I never had them before and neither had Scott. Like some people I've dated, I'm not sure they were worth the effort. The shrimp had more payoff for the work required to peel them. The crawfish just didn't have much meat in them.

So many eyes looking at us!

The boil included sausage, potatoes and only ONE EAR OF CORN! We felt a bit robbed since there were two of us. I ate it and Scott seemed sad. While I was eating it, I didn't realize I was eating the ONLY one. Oops. It tasted great!

I highly recommend coming here, especially with someone you're close with. I say this because you will be a complete slob and look like a fool while you're eating. I had on blue gloves, a bib and managed to have food on my face the entire time. Scott doesn't judge, so he was the perfect companion.

Check out The Boil! Note: Cash only!

Happy Dining,

Liz

 

Super Secret Speakeasy

Fig. 19 is a Truly Hidden Treasure

Scott and I were planning to eat dinner at a spot that didn't take reservations - normally this pisses me off, but we wanted to do a seafood boil and there are limited options! When I got there, I gave them my number and was told that the wait would be about an hour. As I waited for Scott to arrive, I went on Yelp! to see if there were any interesting bars nearby for a cocktail. A spot a couple doors down caught my attention: Fig. 19 (http://www.figurenineteen.com/).

This is a legit speakeasy. I almost went into the bar downstairs (Home Sweet Home) but luckily I asked the bouncer where Fig. 19 was located. The bouncer was standing between Home Sweet Home and an art gallery. Based on the reviews I read, I did not know that Fig. 19 was located through a secret door in the art gallery. So, when I asked the bouncer "Where is the bar?" I basically handed in my New Yorker card and looked like a complete n00b tourist. Better safe than sorry - the last thing I wanted to do was open the wrong door. Sometimes, a surprise is not the best thing on the other side of the door!

The bar is a stark contrast to the art gallery. The gallery is bright, white and sparse. The bar is brooding, dark and cluttered with knickknacks - including taxidermied animals.

The Menu

I really loved some of the details, especially the back bar. Check out that spooky animal and owl. Creeptastic.

Yes, that is me in the photo

The fireplace was also very inviting. The peacock was beautiful and very watchful. Dead serious. See what I did there? I know. No shame.

Warm lighting, spooky bird

From the menu, I selected the Rhapsody in Rye, made with rosemary infused rye, ginger syrup, Campari, fresh grapefruit juice and sea salt. It had a certain bite to it from the ginger but was overall very balanced.

Rhapsody in Rye

Scott ordered the Red Lead, made with Irish whiskey, red wine reduction, dry vermouth, Sherry and Absinthe. I gave it a sip - a very complex flavor profile from the reduction and the Absinthe.

The Red Leaf

Although I was initially annoyed I couldn't make a reservation, I'm glad we had an hour to kill! I had no idea this speakeasy existed. Make sure to add it to your list of hidden NYC treasures - like PDT and Milk & Honey.

Cheers,

Liz

 

Opps! I Ate My Valentine (Doughnut)

It was Delicious!

After our yummy lunch at the Rocking Horse Café, Melissa and I headed to Doughnut Plant (http://doughnutplant.com/) for dessert. Since it was a Hallmark holiday, we needed to celebrate it. This menu welcomed us with open arms, of course we were going inside!

DOUGHNUTS!

The inside of the location is warm and inviting - this may be because it is full of doughnuts! The doughnut pillows on the wall add a certain touch.

CHECK OUT THESE DOUGHNUTS!

If you think the wall art is beautiful, check out the real thing!

Do I have to pick just one?

Given that it was Valentine's Day and the description sounded delicious, I ordered the Everything's Coming Up Roses, heart shaped rose doughnut.

Rose Doughnut - photo does not want to cooperate!

This yeast doughnut was delicious! The rose petals were beautiful to look at and delicious to eat! This is not your average grocery store doughnut - this place is on another level.

Cappuccino

To complement the doughnut, I ordered a cappuccino. The place has wonderful hot chocolate but I thought it may be too much sweetness together.

I cannot wait to go back here to try some more doughnuts! If you're in Chelsea or the Lower East Side, please check it out!

Cheers,

Liz

 

Rocking Horse Cafe

A Chelsea Spot with an Incredible Lunch Special

Napa was cancelled. Only creepy people have reached out to me this Valentine's Day on OKCupid. Where is the silver lining in this sh!tstorm? The silver lining, my friends, is Rocking Horse Café (http://www.rockinghorsecafe.com/). I walked from the subway to meet Melissa for lunch. I also managed to walk through a 2 foot deep puddle of questionable sludge on the sidewalk that I THOUGHT was frozen or at least only an inch deep. This is one of the few situations in which I've been disappointed that something has been bigger than I thought!

This cute Mexican spot has a kick-ass lunch special. For $8 you can get a soup or salad WITH enchilada! I also love that you're greeted with free homemade chips and salsa when you sit down. Many of the uber-fancy Mexican spots don't offer this for free, so I appreciate that.

CHIPS AND SALSA!!!!

The chips are delicious, just the perfect amount of salty and not greasy at all. The salsa was smoky and had a hint of spice to it without being overwhelming.

The three soup specials for the day all sounded lovely. Melissa and I both ended up with the butternut squash. A gentleman that was dining next to us gave it rave reviews and Melissa had it before. Two positive reviews was enough to encourage me!

Beautiful Hue

The soup had a wonderful depth of taste to it. I loved every spoonful! The enchilada was the one featured on the menu: Enchilada de Pollo, made with pomegranate charred chicken, pomegranate-guajilo salsa, refried beans and pickled cabbage.

Enchilada de Pollo

The addition of pomegranate to the enchilada was delicious! It added an unexpected surprise to a typically traditional Mexican dish.

I look forward to coming back here for brunch or dinner! If you're looking for Mexican with an updated twist, this is your jam!

Cheers,

Liz

 

Winter Weather = Short Wait Times

Five Minutes Was All It Took for Some IPPUDO!

Tomorrow was a rollercoaster of emotions. There was a snowstorm (see below) BUT school was not cancelled. After trekking through the wasteland outside my apartment, I arrived on campus to check into my flight to Napa TO SEE IT WAS CANCELLED. I checked to see if there were other available flights to prevent a total disaster of my weekend. There were only flights going out on Friday but, naturally, these were all sold-out...UNTIL SUNDAY!

LOOK AT THIS NONSENSE! Winter, you're not cute anymore. Please stop.

In order to combat this disappointment, Christine suggested we go to lunch at Ippudo (http://www.ippudony.com/) and take advantage of whatever perk terrible weather is; in this case, it is an incredibly short wait time!

We started with the Hirata Buns. They are steamed buns filled with pork or chicken (we picked pork) served with Ippudo's original spicy buns sauce.  

Hirata Buns

These were incredibly delicious! I could have eaten several of them but I didn't want to be a complete animal, so Christine and I split an order and had one each.

While reading the menu and picking what to order next, we each ordered a Sapporo Light.

The shot glass for the beer adds something for sure

Out of the different Ramen styles available, I ordered the Akamaru Chashu. This is the original silky "Tonkotsu" (pork) soup noodles topped with Ippudo's secret "Umami Dama" miso paste, pork chashu, cabbage, sesame kikurage mushrooms, scallions and fragrant garlic oil.

Akamaru Chashu

This was delicious! Ippudo is certainly worth the hype though I am not an expert on Ramen. I have been happy at many other spots, including Ramen Setagaya and Minca, so I'm not sure if I would bother coming back here if the wait was over 30 minutes. It is good but to my unrefined palate it may be a *tad* overhyped.

Cheers,

Liz

 

The Madelyn NYC is a Spicy Lady

Spicy Mayo on a Burger? Why Doesn't This Happen More?

After an evening class on a cold(ass) Winter's night, I had a late-night bite with Christine and Duygu. I wasn't sure what I wanted for dinner, I just knew I did not want to be outside any longer. With this information, The Madelyn NYC (http://themadelynnyc.com/) was promising. I had gone here before for some cocktails when it was a different concept...a wine bar, I believe?

The inside is warm and inviting - check out that fireplace! The colored lights are a bit tacky but I think the idea is to create an ambiance. The random stagecoach above the fireplace adds just that a hint of randomness.

Just the right amount of random?

When I saw the menu, I knew I had to get the burger. Inside this lounge-like location, I didn't know what to expect from a burger. I was tentatively hopeful but prepared for it to be as random as the stagecoach.

BURGER

The Charcoal Grilled Burger was the perfect amount of random, by way of the Spicy Mayo. I got it with lettuce, tomato, onion, cheddar cheese and ketchup. The burger was AWESOME - very juicy and flavorful. I asked for it medium and it was cooked to temp! Love when that happens. The fries were very tasty and a portion that prevented me from overeating. Would I have eaten more? Um, of course.

I'll have to come back during the weekend sometime. A Tuesday was especially dead and hard to establish the vibe.

Cheers,

Liz

 

I love that Aroma!

A Chain with Decidedly Delicious Food

After class last week, Ingrid suggested somewhere for lunch that was not on 8th Street. Immediately, I was alarmed. Are there other places to eat at Stern that are not on 8th Street? Ingrid calmed my fears and told me it was the same distance just in the other direction! Who knew?

The spot she suggested was Aroma Espresso Bar (http://www.aroma.us/) in SoHo. There are four locations in NY and locations in Maryland, New Jersey and Florida.

When I stepped into the location, I was overwhelmed with delicious smells and an exciting menu. I love that the menu has photos! It makes it easier to visual your lunch with an actual visual! I felt like a salad and the Warm Grilled Chicken Salad looked yum yum! It is made with warm grilled chicken (SHOCKER!), chopped tomatoes, shredded carrots, red onions and a handful of peanuts on a bed of mixed greens with a drizzle of olive oil. It was served with a honey mustard dressing. You get to choose bread with the salad and I went with grain. A great choice!

Warm Grilled Chicken Salad

I look forward to returning to this place to try out different menu items.

Cheers,

Liz

 

Coffee & WiFi - OH MY!

Demarco Coffee Stole my Heart

Last weekend, I needed to meet up with a classmate to finish an assignment. He lives on the Upper East Side and I'm in Herald Square. We both didn't want to trek down to campus, so I looked for some coffee spots that were located between our apartments.

I checked on Yelp! (because I do this automatically) and Demarco Coffee (http://www.demarcocoffeenyc.com/) caught my eye. Not only were the reviews for the coffee overwhelming positive but it also offered free WiFi! I tend to do my homework at my apartment or school, so I'm not sure if free WiFi is not much of a perk anymore. At this point, is it like a hotel room offering bath towels? Is it such an essential amenity that it is no longer a perk?

After looking at the menu, I decided to order a cappuccino.

Cappuccino, how I heart you!

The coffee was great and hit the spot. I needed some caffeine to get my Sunday jumpstarted. If you're in Midtown East, check it out! 

Cheers,

Liz

 

Visiting a Beautiful County

Lovely Food, Cocktails and Dessert!

Ingrid and I went for a lovely girl date last Saturday! There is nothing better than catching up with a close friend over delicious food and cocktails! Before we headed to a comedy show at The Stand, we had dinner at County (http://countynyc.com/).

Interior of the Restaurant

The seating is family style. We went at 6pm so THANK GOD we did not need to sit by other people.

Fresh Cut Flowers Added a Touch

We each started with a cocktail. I chose the Lavender Diamond, made with Gin, Crème de Violette, Dry Vermouth, Hibiscus Flower, Orange Bitters and Rose Water. I'd compare it to a floral martini.

Lavender Diamond

The cocktail was well balanced but a bit strong. I did like it but it was definitely a sipping drink...not a chugging a drink! Ingrid went with the Hudson Swizzle, made with Vodka, Fresh Blueberry & Lemon, Ginger, Pomegranate, and Orange Blossom Water.

Hudson Swizzle

We decided to split an appetizer based on Yelp! reviews. The Salmon Tartare was made with Crispy Sushi Rice, Herb Crème Fraiche, Fresh Grated Horseradish and Lemon Zest and Sesame Garlic Topping. This was SO GOOD! The sauces really complemented the salmon - so tasty!

Salmon Tartare

Ingrid ordered the Pan Roasted Chicken. The dish featured organic chicken, garlic mashed potatoes, braised collard greens and pan drippings.

Pan Roasted Chicken

The chicken was very tender! I was a bit jealous of what she ordered when I saw it! She is a good friend though, so she let me try some. She also ordered a side of Garlic Herb Parmesan Fries. She said we could "share" it - I clearly ate more than my part, but we cannot let fries go to waste!

Garlic Herb Parmesan Fries

I read rave reviews about the House Cavatelli, made with Pork Ragu, Fresh Ricotta, Braised Kale, Lemon Breadcrumbs, and Pecorino Pepato.

House Cavatelli

The pasta and the pork were great however the lemon breadcrumbs were a bit excessive. It would have been ok if there was only a dusting of breadcrumbs and not a blizzard.

After I finished my first drink, I ordered the Candied Ginger Old Fashioned, made with Bourbon, Ramazzotti, Candied Ginger, Angostura and Orange Bitters.

Candied Ginger Old Fashioned

I loved this drink! For me, it was much more smooth than the first cocktail. I never really upload photos of me enjoying my cocktails, so here is one for your viewing pleasure! :)

Cheers from Personalitini!

Ingrid and I are both big fans of dessert (because we are humans), so we decided to split one. We went with the bread pudding, topped with a bourbon glaze.

Bread Pudding

This was delicious! Overall, a solid restaurant with a strong cocktail list, delicious entrees and great service. I would recommend getting the Salmon Tartare appetizer and the Bread Pudding for sure!

Cheers,

Liz

 

Strong Cocktails Only

Employees Only Serves Up The Good Stuff

Our final stop on our West Village cocktail crawl was Employees Only (http://www.employeesonlynyc.com/). This lounge has been on my list for a long time. Unlike the other places that we went into, Employees Only is primarily a drink spot. Wallflower and Whitehall are focused much more on food. Given its focus, smaller size and exclusivity, there were doormen outside. When we managed to get to the address, we saw that there were several other people waiting outside. The inside is small, so I understand they cannot let everyone in. My frozen face was hoping some people would be leaving and, luckily, we did not have to wait much longer than a minute or two.

When we got inside, the beauty of the bar struck me.

Swank City

We weren't able to snag any seats at the bar, so we had to awkwardly stand. I say awkwardly because the inside is small - this feeling is amplified by how many people were inside. There is a fire place, which adds certain character to the venue, but if you're too close, you feel like you may melt. For cocktails that are $15-$16, I very much prefer to be able to sit down. The last thing I want is for some girl taking a #selfie to knock into me and spill my drink.

I settled on ordering the Blondina, made with Wild Turkey Bourbon, Apple Liqueur, puréed Pears and Fresh Lemon Juice.

Blondina

I did enjoy this cocktail. The glassware made it a bit tricky to handle since we were standing. The thin stem was not very reassuring! The cocktail glasses are personalized for the bar. Night touch.

Aish ordered the Provencal, made with Lavender-infused Plymouth Gin stirred with Herbs de Provence-infused French Vermouth and Cointreau. She took a sip and commented: "I'm drunk." The drink was STRONG as all the ingredients were alcohol-based.

Provencal

While I did enjoy this spot, I would have much preferred to have someone to sit and place my drink down. Instead of returning here, I'd much rather check out The Experimental Cocktail Club again!

Cheers,

Liz

 

The Polar Vortex Had No Chance

Hungry? Have a Salty Pimp

In between our West Village Cocktail Crawl, Aish and I required dessert. Naturally, it was freezing outside, so we chose ice cream. Was there even a choice? I'm not sure.

I suggested that we go to Big Gay Ice Cream (http://biggayicecream.com/treats/). I've been there before to get the Salty Pimp, made with vanilla ice cream, dulce de leche, sea salt and chocolate dip. I love the taste combination, so I ordered it...again!

Salty Pimp

Aish went with the Rocky Road cone with chocolate ice cream, marshmallows and nuts. It looked delicious and she loved it. It didn't look cute so I didn't take a photo. Sadness.

There is ample seating inside so we were able to enjoy our frozen treat inside without freezing ourselves.

If you're in the neighborhood (or the East Village, there is another location), stop by!

Cheers,

Liz

 

Cocktail Crawl Stop #2: Whitehall

Cocktails that Taste as Good as the Bartenders are Cute!

After we finished up at Wallflower, we headed to Whitehall (http://whitehall-nyc.com/). Given that it is also in the West Village and has a great reputation for cocktails, it was a natural second stop on our tour.

Inviting Entrance!

The outside of the bar is a preview for the warm and inviting atmosphere that is inside! We circled the bar for a while as we waited for a couple to close out their check. We couldn't help but focus on the bartenders - their uniforms and suspenders were a great touch to the overall vibe on the place.

Can you see those suspenders?

I decided to go with the Hedgerow Bramble, made with gin, muddled black and blueberries, thyme and lemon. I would have preferred if the fruit was more mixed throughout the cocktail - it was just lumped on the top, so I mixed it in. The thyme added an interesting layer to the cocktail - sometimes sips were a bit too herbal.

Hedgerow Bramble

Aish ordered The Mancunian, made with organic sage infused gin, lychee puree, St. Germain, lime and soda. She LOVED it.

The Mancunian

I want to come back her for a meal. The cocktails are certainly a positive indicator of quality all around!

Cheers,

Liz

 

Being a Wallflower is a Good Thing

West Village Cocktail Crawl, Spot #1

After our lovely dinner, Aish and I headed to our first spot on the cocktail crawl, Wallflower (http://www.wallflowernyc.com/). I read about this place when it opened and ALMOST went on a first date here. I say almost because we were going to go out and then we didn't. CRAZY STORY...I know!

Right when you step inside, you enter the tiny bar area. It is a SMALL space!

I read a lot about the different cocktails offered at Wallpaper. I was excited to try either the Betty Draper or the Bartender's Breakfast (it has Nutella in it!). Much to my surprise, but also to my delight, I found out that these cocktails were not currently offered. I was delighted because the bar has a seasonal cocktail menu that frequently rotates - how fun!

The Menu!

Given the current offerings, I went with the Belle Helene, made with Evan Williams Bourbon, Pear Williams Purkhart (a type of brandy distilled from pears), Vanilla Ice Cream, Salted Caramel and Whole Egg.

The bartender was talented and all about multitasking!

I was eagerly awaiting getting my cocktail and when it arrived it was BEAUTIFUL! It tasted like a light, bourbon-y caramel milkshake!

Belle Helene

Aish ordered the other drink I had my eyes on, Mother's Milk, made with Kaffir Lime & Oolong Tea Infused Avua Prata Cachaca, Thai Coconut Milk and Lime Juice. This drink had a definite citrus profile to it. I would describe it as ZESTY! 

Mother's Milk

The food has rave reviews though we didn't try any since we just had dinner! I'd love to come back here on a less busy night (we went on a Friday). Since the space is so small, you feel like people are sort of sitting in your lap. I'd prefer not to experience that again.

Cheers,

Liz