Italian at Otto

A Tasty Meal in the West Village

I got to catch up with one of my favorites, Aish, last week! We've both been bogged down by school and we haven't been able to catch up. What better way to spend time together than over glasses of red wine and yummy Italian food? Otto Enoteca Pizzeria (http://www.ottopizzeria.com/restaurant.cfm) is right near campus, so it was the perfect place to go to!

Red wine for the soul

We split the Baby Spinach, Ricotta Salata and Truffle Honey salad. It was delicious! If anything, it may have been a bit overdressed, but it was very tasty.

Truffles are now a required part of salads

I ordered my favorite pasta from Otto, the Carbonara. It was tasty but not as much as I remembered.

Pasta Carbonara

Aish ordered the pizza and she was pleased with it. This is a really fun, casual Italian spot. It is low key and the quality far exceeds the price points.

Cheers,

Liz

 

Easter Brunch at Commerce!

Catching Up with Some Favorite People

I love brunch so much! I love it EVEN MORE when I can share this awesome meal with people I love. I met both Erin and her boyfriend, JBJ, during my trip to Santiago, Chile during spring break. Since I've returned from the trip, I've had the opportunity to get to know them better and it has been lovely.

I suggested going to brunch and Erin picked a great spot: Commerce (http://www.commercerestaurant.com/). I heard good things about this West Village spot but had yet to check it out, so, naturally, I was excited. 

On my walk, I loved seeing all of the blooming flowers. It has gotten chilly again recently, but hopefully it was warm up soon!

Love the window box flowers!

I'm glad we had a reservation! The place was PACKED with eager brunch go-ers in their Easter best! I spotted a couple people in seersucker (oh my). I read on Yelp! that the pecan cinnamon rolls were a must order item! We ordered it and split it as an appetizer.

Can't you just taste it now? DELICIOUSNESS!

This was by far the highlight of the meal. Everything was good, but what can compare with this ooey gooey scrumptiousness? Nothing! I would like to note that like most places that take advantage of holidays, this venue bumped up all their prices by $5-$10 because it was Easter. Sort of annoying, but I get it. People are working on holidays so ya gotta pay $$$

I ordered a Bloody Mary, because, it was brunch and that is what you do at brunch.

Bloody Mary

Our server "warned" me that their Bloody Mary is "very different" and I was a bit hesitant, but I ordered it anyway. It was good though it had a strong horseradish presence. Also, one of the garnishes was chorizo. Although it was very tasty, I am still on the fence about meat products served in beverages. I love bacon but still not 100% convinced I need it in my cocktail as well.

For my entree, I ordered the short rib ravioli with hen of the woods mushrooms and Barolo. This was delicious!

Nom nom! Get in my belly ravioli!

Although this pasta dish was nearly $30 (Easter pricing hike from $22), I felt it was the best value dish from what we ordered. It was a large serving - sometimes you order ravioli and get four. Also, the flavor of the beef was delicious!

Erin ordered the Shakshuka, a baked eggs dish, and JBJ got the Croque Madame. 

Shakshuka!

Croque Madame

I sampled each of their dishes - I preferred the Croque Madame though the Brussels Sprouts on the side of the Shakshuka were quite nice. 

Overall, this is a fantastic spot and I would like to go back for a different meal! I will also attempt to go on a non-holiday to take advantage of normal (already high) prices!

Loving the tulips in the West Village!

Cheers,

Liz

 

Gelato at Grom = $$$

It Tastes Great....but it will Cost You!

After our meal at De Santos, Melissa and I walked by Grom (http://www.grom.it/eng/) on our way to the subway. Our meal didn't include a dessert and my sweet tooth was aching, so I wanted to pop in for a treat. 

I always struggle with what flavor to order at new places: do I want to go with a flavor I know I will be happy with....or do I experiment with a new flavor? While I realize you can sample whatever you ultimately purchase, somehow liking a small sample doesn't always translate into liking an entire serving!

I decided to order mint chip. It was DELICIOUS! 

This photo is not to scale, it makes the container look HUGE

After enjoying my dessert, it was clear that it was a high quality product. It is expensive though, especially considering the serving size. I got a medium (which wasn't that sizable) and it had to have been $5 or more. 

I think the best bet would be to get a larger size and split it with someone else so you can try several flavors!

Cheers,

Liz

 

OH...You have a Living Social Deal...

An Experience at De Santos Leaves Much Desired

A week or so again, Melissa and I tried our luck at De Santos (http://desantosnyc.com/). We had never been but there was a great deal on Living Social, so we snapped one up. I'm always hesitant about deals because I've gotten burned before with Groupon...but this wasn't Groupon! I had my eyes on certain menu items so it was exciting that we would each get to pick an appetizer and an entrée as well as two glasses of wine each! OR....so we thought! Once we arrived, we shared with our server that we had the Living Social deal. I guess this is fairly popular option since they had a separate pre-printed menu. Most of the entrees on the menu are in the same price range, so we thought we could pick up to a certain value and then just pay the difference. Apparently, that was wrong. So, our options were limited to 2 appetizers and 3 entrees.

The Dreaded DISCOUNT MENU

I'm always down to try Mac and Cheese, so the Truffled option wasn't a big deal to be "forced" to order. I would have preferred a different appetizer (I read RAVE reviews on Yelp! for the Beef Carpaccio), but I was being flexible. For my entrée, I wanted to swordfish or the duck, but went with the salmon as it seemed the most appealing to me at the time.

Even with the coupon, at LEAST we got the same yummy bread!

As we waited for our courses, I was pleased that the bread was fantastic. I got a bit scared we wouldn't get it because it wasn't explicitly listed on our Living Social deal, ha! The bread was served warm with a honey butter - SO good!

Truffle Mac and Cheese but not really

This Mac and Cheese was SO SAD. It was as if the pasta was just in a big bucket and they slopped some into an individual serving dish. Typically, places finish it off in the oven so it gets a nice crust. I'm not sure if the presentation suffered because we had the Living Social deal or if they just executed poorly. Either way, it could have been so much better.

Salmon

The salmon was quite good. It was cooked to the right temperature (medium) and the Greek salad served with it went nicely with the dill cream sauce. While it was good, I probably would have preferred a different entrée.

For the wine, we could pick a house red or white. The red was just fine, but I guess it was the quality you'd expect with a  Living Social deal.

I'm undecided if I will return. I'm not sure if these restaurants realize that through a deal, many customers are experiencing the restaurant for the first time. If I paid full-price, I'm not sure I would be pleased with the money spent.

Cheers,

Liz

 

Pizza "Making" and Wine Night

Visiting New York Vintners for a Lovely Weekend!

Last week, I went with a group of Sternies to New York Vintners (http://www.newyorkvintners.com/) for a night of pizza "making" and wine. The reason I used the quotes is because I was much more focused on appreciating the fine wines we were offered (featured below) than getting my hands dirty.  I loved both of the reds, the sparkling and the first white wine. The Chardonnay didn't do it for me.

Our Wines for the Evening

Some of the attendees got in on the action. I am typically all about this type of activity. I love cooking! That night, I took a back seat because I wanted to relax and catch up with some of my friends that were there (Katharine and her lovely boyfriend, Dan, for example).

Pizza Making in Progress!

The ingredients! Cheese, chicken, veggies and more CHEESE!

We had a variety of pizzas made! My favorite was the confit chicken with Boursin cheese. It was DELICIOUS! I had more than one slice for sure - oops! The other ones offered were roasted veggie and roasted pork with blue cheese and bbq sauce. The veggie one was nice. The pork one was ok - the pieces were a bit huge and unwieldy to eat. Smaller pieces of meat would have been a lot better.

Pizza NOM NOM NOM

My main criticism would be no dessert. I am a sweets gal and would have loved a dessert pizza! This would have been a nice touch. While people were making pizza, I saw cookie dough. I was silly to think it was for us. It was merely a tease for another event. Not cool!

Even though my sweet tooth was not satisfied, I still recommend this spot and would love to go back. Events range in price from $30 to $75 (majority at this price point), so you can find something in your price range: http://www.peek.com/widget/calendar/530ffd60c41aae6def001bc0

Cheers,

Liz

 

Totto Ramen 2.0

The New Location is Right Next Door to the Original - How Convenient!

I met up with Lauren, a lovely classmate of mine, to catch-up over dinner. Lauren recently moved into a new apartment with her boyfriend, another classmate of mine, in Hell's Kitchen. She suggested a spot right near her place: Totto Ramen (http://tottoramen.com/). This well-known ramen spot recently opened up a second location (464 W 51st St, btw 10th and 9th Ave) right near its first location (366 W 52nd St, btw 9th and 8th Ave). Luckily, the crowds haven't gotten to this new spot just yet, so we were able to get a table at 7pm with no problem.

The Menu! and my finger!

Before we dug into the ramen, we split an order of the pork buns. They were utterly sinful! The pork is melt-in-your-mouth heavenly meat. It is by no means a lean cut of meat. The fat is what makes it so tasty. I'm not normally into aggressive amounts of visible fat (unless it is bacon) but this is something I will welcome with an open mouth. Delicious - a must try if you're here! I thought it was as good as, if not better, than Ippudo.

Char Siu Pork Buns!

For my ramen, I ordered the Miso. It looks a bit odd since a scoop of miso and ground pork sit on the top of the bowl. Don't be scared! Just take your chop sticks and mix it in! I tend to prefer Spicy Miso Ramen, but that wasn't offered. To make my own, I ordered a side of rayu. This is spicy sesame oil. It really adds a depth of flavor and isn't overly spicy. If you haven't tried Miso, I HIGHLY encourage it! Lauren doesn't typically order it, but once she tasted the broth, she is now a converted believer!

Totto Miso Ramen

Also, I used to be scared of the "egg in the soup" thing. Don't be! The egg is perfectly cooked here! The yolk is slight set without being hard or too runny. It has a delicious taste from the soup. Trust me! I was scared too, just go for it.

This is a fantastic ramen spot. If you want to go, you know you have someone willing to join you!

Cheers,

Liz

 

Good Ol' Diner Food Hits the Spot

Waverly is a Master at Consistency

I love Scott. He is one of my favorite MBA1s and also one of my favorite people in general. We often end up catching up whenever both of our schedules allow. Typically, these catch-ups are done over a shared meal. We both love breakfast. A diner that is one of our favorites is Waverly (http://www.yelp.com/biz/waverly-new-york-2). It is so legit that it doesn't even have a website. This is the real deal!

When we went here the first time, we both got the breakfast skillet This is more of a savory play. Eggs. Bacon. Hash Browns. GAME OVER. I wanted to change it up this time, so I ordered chocolate chip pancakes. I prefer hot syrup with my pancakes and I appreciate that they would heat it up for me. Cold syrup sucks - it doesn't melt the butter and cools down the pancakes. NOT COOL...literally, COLD.

Chocolate Chip Pancakes for the WIN

This place is great. If you're in the West Village and looking for a great meal, hit up Waverly!

Cheers,

Liz

 

A Battle Through Times Square for Happy Hour!

Gyu-Kaku has Deals all Day!

Recently, I met up with Melissa during the week to take advantage of Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ Times Square's Happy Hour (http://gyu-kaku.com/ny/timessquare.htm). This location has Happy Hour for lunch (11:30AM - 3:00PM) and dinner (3:00PM - 6:00PM & 9:30PM - 11:00PM). The drink deal during this time is 50% off select drinks. The meal deal is reduced pricing on most menu items.

I enjoy informative art

We ordered the steamed chili dumplings ($6, normally $8), bistro hanger streak ($5, normally $8), sukiyaki bibimbap ($6, normally $10), and chocolate lava cake ($6, normally $8). With a Yelp! check-in, we each got a free edamame ($4 value). Social media has measurable value people!

Steamed Chili Dumplings

Chocolate Lava Cake

I didn't snap photos of everything, but trust that it was yummy. The Bibimbap arrived in a hot stone pot. It is served with a raw egg and continues to cook. We didn't realize how hot it was and some of the rice started to get too crispy...nearly burnt. Next time, I'll need to make sure to monitor it more closely!

The dessert was super tasty. It didn't have any Asian twist to it (I love the Green Tea one at Spot Dessert Bar) but it was lovely.

I would recommend only visiting this spot if it is during Happy Hour, otherwise it is a bit pricey for what it is.

Cheers,

Liz

 

Eating Early = Saving Money

Boyd Thai has a Nom-Worthy Dinner Special!

I have been missing out on an incredible Thai spot near campus! Luckily, I have smart friends that are in the know (like Melissa) to make sure I stay on top of the best meal deals in town!

Most Thai restaurants in NYC have a reputation for having awesome lunch specials, so it is a nice change to see a restaurant also offering a dinner special. Boyd Thai's (boydthainyc.com) "early bird" special is from 4pm - 7pm. For $12, you get an appetizer plate with a summer roll, house salad and dumplings! The dressing on the salad is so tasty. The peanut sauce for the summer roll is out of this world. I didn't use all of it but I still ended up eating it with a spoon. Sometimes, you do what you need to do. No judgment here.

Appetizer plate is included for the early birds!

For my entrée, I got the pineapple curry with chicken. The curry is very similar to a red curry but with pineapples. I ordered it mild since I was warned this place can make food very spicy! It was delicious. I had to get it to go because I was running late for class. Trust that it was delicious and I enjoyed every bite!

If you're in between classes at NYU and looking for a tasty lunch ($8 special!) or dinner, give this Thai joint a try! It has semi-open air seating, so it is great to enjoy as the weather improves.

Cheers,

Liz

 

Put the TKettle On!

Bubble Tea Fix on St. Marks!

I was walking to pick up jewelry I got fixed at a great shop in the East Village (http://pilarjewelry.com/services) and passed one of my favorite bubble tea shops on my walk: TKettle (http://www.tkettle.com/). One of my favorite items to order is a Taro slushie with tapioca pearls.

So tasty!

The bubble tea is great here but sometimes I feel like it is too sweet. When I go, I request for only 50% sugar and it is much tastier! I encourage you try this place out - the Black Milk Tea is great too!

Cheers,

Liz

 

Visiting the Lab for Kickass Gelato

Il Laboratorio Del Gelato is a Treat!

After our lovely dinner at Katz's Deli, Scott and I spotted the perfect spot for dessert: il laboratorio del gelato (http://www.laboratoriodelgelato.com/) is right across the street!

A peek into where the magic is made!

This is not your typical gelato shop. It is full of incredibly unique flavors. I wanted to try something different while making sure I would still enjoy it (this can sometimes be a difficult balance to achieve!). I chose a selection of three flavors: espresso chip, malt and Vietnamese cinnamon. I loved the malt and cinnamon flavors! I found the espresso to be a bit too bitter for my liking.

My dessert!

Next time, I may try some of the more exotic flavors: earl grey, lavender, pumpkin, and wasabi!

If you're in the Lower East Side and craving something sweet, make a stop here!

Cheers,

Liz

 

Meow...is that a Katz?

Eating at an Iconic Restaurant with an Iconic Friend

FINALLY! I went to Katz's Delicatessen (http://katzsdelicatessen.com/) with my buddy Scott. This New York icon has been open since 1888 and serves up 10,000 pounds of pastrami..WEEKLY! Impressive, right?

Bright lights, BIG pastrami

As a big fan of pastrami, I knew I had to try this place out. Sometimes, I enjoy getting a turkey sandwich with bacon at a deli. But, as a Kosher deli, Katz doesn't dabble in bacon.

Order Up!

When you arrive, you're given an order ticket. I didn't realize that we could sit down for table service (which would have been much easier/less stressful), so we got on line to order. Scott waited for the sandwiches and I ordered my bowl of soup. It was a bit tricky to juggle everything and stake out a table, but great challenges yield great rewards. I managed to get most of the soup to the table...

Allegedly, this is Matzo Ball Soup 

I don't know if you could tell by the photo, but the matzo ball was just insanely out of proportion. It was a bit intimidating. I ate around it but didn't eat the whole thing. It was simply too much. I would have preferred several small Swedish meatball sized ones than this softball.

Lean Pastrami Sandwich

Sometimes pastrami can be way too fatty, with loads of gristle. NOT A FAN! As a precaution, we ordered the pastrami lean. Personally, the meat was cut too thick. I prefer thinly sliced pastrami. Also, they give you a lot of lip if you ask for mayo on your pastrami. Not cool! Whatever, I sucked it up and got it. Whatever it takes, right? I prefer Carnegie Deli's pastrami. Plus, they have BACON.

We also got some pickles...or should I call them salt bombs?

Salt Delivery Vehicles

I LOVE salty foods but even these pickles were too much for me to handle. Oh well.

You likely know, but this deli was famously featured in "When Harry Met Sally" in the "I'll Have What She's Having" scene. My sandwich was good but not orgasmic.

Hollywood Baby!

I'm glad I finally went here but I'm not sure I'll come back. There are simply too many incredible places I have yet to visit!

Cheers,

Liz

 

Milk Does a Body Good

Dessert as Addictive as Crack

After our wonderful dinner at B4, the girls and I headed to Momofuku Milk Bar (http://www.yelp.com/biz/momofuku-milk-bar-new-york-4) is the East Village. I've had the pleasure of dining here before, so I was full of recommendations on what to order.

First, we started with a pint of the Cereal Milk soft serve. If you get an individual serving, it is $4. The pint (which is easily more than 2x the size of the individual) is $8. Make sure to get the pint layered with cereal crunchies! The salty-sweetness is what makes this dessert a stand out. If you're a fan of things like salted caramel or kettle corn, you will LOVE this! I was too busy eating to remember to take photos, so this is all I have. #sorryimnotsorry

Tasting Portions

We split up the pint into individual servings so we could taste a bunch of things. We also ordered a slice of crack pie (it reminds me of a pecan pie...minus the pecans). It has the sweetness of a condensed milk dessert. So yummy! We also got the birthday cake truffles. If you love that taste, this intense flavored ball of goodness will blow your socks off.

There are several other Milk bars in New York, including the Upper West Side, Midtown West, Williamsburg and Carroll Gardens. Make sure to check it out and you MUST try the cereal milk!

Cheers,

Liz

 

Where Did I Ever Eat B4?

Fresh Vegetables Served Up in the East Village

I caught up with my best friend's (WARREN!!) sister-in-law Tammi last night for dinner! She was visiting the city from Philadelphia with some of her girlfriends. As the resident local, I knew I needed to recommend an awesome spot for dinner that was very New York! Two friends, Lauren and Elizabeth, recently raved about B4 (http://www.b4nyc.com/), a New American restaurant that serves up reinvented comfort food in the East Village.

While we were looking over the menu, we were enjoying the delicious bread. There is a toasted garlic-bread and a fluffier focaccia style bread. I was glad they were generous with the refills! I ordered a glass of the Cabernet Sauvignon. Serving it in a mason jar was on theme for the restaurant but I prefer a wine glass. My grandma heavily influenced me into believing that the glassware changes the taste of the wine. I'm sure it's in my head, but it does change my perception.

Bottoms up!

We ate our meal family style and shared all of the courses. The first course was a bit tricky - Butternut Squash SOUP! The dish was fantastic so we got over sharing from the same bowl.

Roasted Butternut Squash Soup

The flavor of the soup tasted like the butternut squash had been prepared with apple juice, onions and a hearty broth. Like a traditional casserole, it was dotted with marshmallows. This sweetness brought out the flavor. It also had a sherry-infused cream drizzle.

Roasted Pear & Arugula Salad

The sweetness of the pears and the sharpness of the Gorgonzola balanced the peppery bite of the arugula. It was topped with a honey chili vinaigrette and spiked pumpkin seeds. Loved it! 

Winter Kale Salad

Kale is still super popular, which is great for me because it is yummy! This salad was served with an herb buttermilk dressing, cucumbers (HUGE slices), pickled red onions (gave great flavor and color) and cornbread croutons.

Pork Chop

This meat was delicious and moist!!! The pan seared heritage pork chop was served with an apple bourbon reduction and a warm fennel-cabbage-red onion slaw. The combo of the slaw and the sauce were scrumptious!

Pumpkin Ravioli with Duck Confit

This dish was my least favorite. The raviolis were served in a sage brown butter sauce. The filling wasn't that flavorful or that plentiful - they could have been a bit more stuffed. Also, the duck confit seemed a bit overdone - I think it was potentially over fried. It was still good, but compared to all the other knock-out dishes, it didn't stand a chance.

Salmon

I loved this dish! The butter poached salmon had a mustard glaze, shitakes, red peppers and an INSANELY awesome butternut squash wild rice salad. I could eat that salad by the bucket! The salmon was also the perfect temperature - medium/medium rare and so tender.

General Tso's Duck

If you come here, YOU MUST GET THIS DISH! By far the star of the night. A pan-seared Moulard Duck Breast is prepared in a General Tso's style. It is served on top of a ginger carrot puree with haricots verts (fancy Fresh green beans). I wish I just ordered this for myself so I wouldn't have to share it, it was THAT good!

Check out the awesome vibe of the spot - so relaxed and welcoming.

Don't you just want to come on in?

A unique way to chill beverages

This is a wonderful restaurant. It has outstanding food and an inviting atmosphere. I look forward to coming here again and trying more dishes.

Cheers,

Liz

 

My Favorite Bar in Santiago

Killer Cocktails Complement the Killer Views!

Whenever I'm in a new city, I'm determined to explore the best culinary and cocktail spots. During my stay in Santiago, I went with a group of new friends to the W Santiago (http://www.starwoodhotels.com/whotels/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1979). known for its rooftop views, fantastic restaurants and incredible cocktails.

WHAT A VIEW!

Naturally, this wasn't the only photo we took. Heading into this trip, I didn't know many of the people on it. I'm glad that I went on it because I ended up making great new friendships.

Sophia, Frank, me, Asuka, Gabriel, Erin and John ("JBJ")

A good looking group of people, right? The bar wasn't open on the rooftop, but we headed down to the W Lounge for cocktails! I got the Kappa Punch - a Pisco based cocktail with Grand Marnier and Pineapple Juice. So delicious!

Kappa Kappa YUM

We ordered some snacks at the bar before we headed to dinner. I got empanadas that reminded me of Totino's Pizza Rolls - so authentic!

Funs times with new friends :)

If you find yourself in Santiago, check out this spot for a drink and a view!

Cheers,

Liz

 

Haute Cusine in Chile

A Meal to Remember

 

I have the pleasure of serving as a Teaching Fellow for an undergraduate course. As part of the course, my class (along with four other sections) traveled to Santiago, Chile for about a week to learn more about international business and specifically business in Chile. There were over 200 people on this trip - we all made it back in one piece (mostly)!

It should be no surprise that I was focused on the food and beverage aspect of this trip. I love experiencing another country through its cuisine. There is a group in my class of very sharp and clearly very food-focused students and I overheard them mentioning they made a reservation at a culinary mecca in Santiago: Borago (http://borago.cl/?lang=en). Naturally, the nosey person that I am, I asked if I could invite myself. I am lucky that I have a great group of students and they warmly extended an invitation! Extra Credit for them :)

We got dressed up and called taxis to get to the restaurant.

Me and the "kids" - to be young again!

Once we arrived at the restaurant, there was a bit of a SNAFU. Allegedly, the restaurant never got our reservation - that pesky internet can be unreliable! Oh well, our group was resilient and the host made a reservation for us at incredible restaurant: Astrid y Gaston (http://astridygaston.com/). You will need to translate the page with Google to English...unless, of course, you can read Spanish! This is one of the top ranked restaurants in Latin America as well as the world. It is Peruvian - my friends that are Peruvian are quite proud of this culinary gem!

The restaurant is located in a house - so cozy!

We did the Tasting Menu with the Wine Pairing. There were 6 courses and as many (if not more!) wine pairings. The food was spectacular and the wine complemented each course. It is one of my most memorable meals to date; not only for the food but for the company as well.

Beautiful Place Setting. I'm ready to eat! NOM!

If the table setting was an indication of the quality of the food, I knew I would be in for a real treat. We were served up delicious bread. It wasn't just tasty, it was warm! There was a hearty brown bread, a garlic focaccia-like bread and a seeded roll. The butter was also delicious - the perfect temperature. I hate when it is too cold.

Catch 22 - the bread! BEWARE!

As we hit the 5th course, I knew I shouldn't have eaten any of the bread. I got too excited at the beginning. Next time, I need to think that a Tasting Menu is a marathon...not a sprint! Now...the first course!

Art or food? Either way, it is edible and incredible!

I tried to get the exact descriptions off the site, but naturally, this is a struggle because the menu changes daily and it is translated oddly. It would have been nice to have gotten a printed menu, but oh well! On the left, was a puréed sweet potato stacked with crab and served with two sauces that brought out the flavor profile. On the right, a beautifully prepared ceviche.  Next up, the second course!

Can you handle this presentation?

What is that above you ask? Let me tell you! On the left, a freshly prepared scallop served in its shell and on the right, a panko-crusted shrimp. I loved both of these!

Salmon - the seafood can't stop, won't stop!

This course was a great combination - salmon served over risotto with a shrimp sauce.

Fancy Pasta!

All over Santiago, I saw on the menu a super expensive type of crab: large spiny crab. About $200! This pasta had a bit of the meat in it to not break the bank. Very tasty though!

How cute is the sunny-side up egg?

The last savory course was veal served with a soy-sauce, egg, french fries (or as the Chileans say, papas fritas!), and rice. I really liked the taste combo but I couldn't finish it. I was too full! I even had to pump the breaks on the wine - so cray cray!

Now...onto dessert!

How do you eat this? Quickly, of course!

This plate was full of stars! From left to right, a hot fruit soufflé, sorbets served in a cookie shell and Peruvian style donuts with ice cream!

This was an incredible meal and a great deal! The food was $60 and the wine pairings $24! In NYC, a similar experience could be over $200 a person. If you find yourself in Santiago, Chile and have time for an incredible meal (it took about 3 hours), this is the place to go!

Cheers,

Liz

 

Visiting Temple (Bar) Again!

Cocktails that are a Religious Experience

I met up with one of my MBA1 buddies, Katharine, for a cocktail last weekend. I am so excited for her summer internship! She will be at the company that I will be joining full-time upon graduation.

Katharine lives near campus and I chose Temple Bar (http://www.templebarnyc.com/). I've been to this bar before and had a great time. I knew this would be a solid spot for a strong cocktail and good conversation. After looking at the menu, I picked the Femme Fatale, made with Bulleit Bourbon, Orchard Cherry and Allspice Dram.

Temple Bar

As a bourbon fan, this drink hit the spot! It's a bit sweeter than a Manhattan but has many of the same flavors.

If you're in NoHo and looking for a cocktail, this is a wonderful spot to check out. Especially if you're looking for a more upscale vibe and a quiet spot, this is for you!

Cheers,

Liz

 

Sundaes and Cones

It's Never Too Cold for Ice Cream!

After dinner at Han Dynasty, I was craving dessert. Especially given that my lips were numb from eating super spicy Szechuan food, I was wanting some SWEET relief - get it? Ok, I'll stop.

I knew we were right up the block from Sundaes and Cones (http://www.sundaescones.com/), a cute ice cream shop I've wanted to visit but never passed at the right time.

After looking at all of the ice cream flavors, I went with Mocha Chip. There are a ton of fun flavors to choose from, especially Asian-inspired ones like Thai Tea and Black Sesame.

Mocha Chip

The ice cream was delicious. I thought I ordered one scoop and when this thing came out I was a bit taken aback, but that didn't stop me from finishing it. CLEAN PLATE CLUB.

Liv, Christine and I were looking at the ice cream cakes behind the display and I noticed this lovely cake.

A Crappy Cake

It looks like dog shit on grass. Surely, this must be a special order cake from someone with interesting taste, to say the least. I checked the company website and this is ACTUALLY FEATURED under cakes as "Poo on Grass" - WHY? Evidence:

http://www.sundaescones.com/display_cake.htm?cake=013&caption=Poo%20on%20Grass

If you want to get someone a cake for a celebration, maybe don't order this one...

Cheers,

Liz

 

Han Dynasty

So Tasty, it Will Leave You Numb!

I heard so many RAVE reviews of Han Dynasty (http://www.handynasty.net/) that when Liv suggested going to dinner here with Christine, I was thrilled! This lovely Szechuan restaurant has locations in Philly and Cherry Hill, NJ as well. Now that it is in the East Village, there is simply no reason to not RUN here!

This restaurant is quite popular and does not take reservations. However, they have an iPad reservation system, so if you are nearby, stop in and give the hostess your phone number. You can grab a cocktail at any of the nearby bars in the East Village and get a text when you are ready to be seated!

We ordered a bottle of wine for the three of us. The pricing is incredible - we got a nice bottle (Dreaming Tree) of Cabernet for about $30.

To start, we obviously got the Dan Dan Noodles. THESE ARE SO YUMMY!

Dan Dan Noodles

I could have easily eaten the whole bowl myself, but I remember that we ordered other food, so I held back. The spicy level was high (8 out of 10) but it is more of a numbing heat than a hot heat if that makes sense. I've found many times I've had Thai food that is significantly spicier even if it is only "medium" at the restaurant. It is the type of spice that matters as much, if not more, than the quantity!

Aside from the Dan Dan Noodles, we asked for the gentleman that took our order to give us some guidance on what to order. He suggested the Spicy Crispy Cucumber, Dumplings in Chili Oil, String Beans with Minced Pork, and the Dry Pot Style Lamb.  

Spicy Crispy Cucumbers

These were yummy! They had a great bite to them and were a nice contrast to some of the heavier/carby dishes. I highly recommend them.

Dumplings in Chili OIl

SO TASTY! I could eat a bucket of these. You get at least 6 dumplings, so it is certainly enough to share with others, or be selfish and just get for yourself!

String Beans with Minced Pork

These string beans were ok but couldn't compare with the rest of the dishes. The amount of pork wasn't really anything to write home about. Next time, I would order a different veggie dish.

Dry Pot Style Lamb

This is the style of preparation that Han Dynasty is famous for!! The entrée is served in a sizzling mini wok and cooked in a spicy hot pot sauce with black mushrooms, bamboo shoots, bell peppers and Sichuan peppercorns. We were advised to get it with a fattier protein than chicken so we got lamb. It was very tender and delicious! Normally this is the spiciest item on the menu (10 out of 10) and we asked for it at a level 5. I loved eating and could not feel my lips afterwards, so who knows how much the spice was actually adjusted.

This is somewhere I will take my parents when they visit. My dad LOVES spicy food and I know he will greatly enjoy eating here!

Check this spot out and try going during off-times to avoid the lines!

Cheers,

Liz

 

Juke Bar has Happy Hour Hits

Happy Hour Every Night Until 9pm!

Before meeting up for dinner with Liv, Christine and I hit up Happy Hour at Juke Bar (http://jukebarnyc.com/). This East Village establishment has awesome drink specials: all beer if $5 and wine & well-drinks are half-priced AS WELL AS the specialty cocktails ($8 instead of $13)!

Given how awesome this deal is, you can imagine the bar got a bit crowded. Christine is a genius and managed to snag a table. After I waited at the bar for our drinks (it took about 10 minutes to order), we found out once I was seated again that there was waitress service. Oh well, sometimes you live and you learn. At least we were able to order our second round without going to the bar - the wait wasn't much shorter but at least I didn't spill!

For my first cocktail, I got the Junior's Levee, made with Old Grand Dad Whiskey, fresh blackberries, lemon, cracked mint leaves and simple syrup.  

Junior's Levee

I did like this cocktail but felt it was a bit teeny. Sometimes those fancy glasses end up backfiring on the customer.

For my second drink, I got the Maple Old Fashioned.

Maple Old Fashioned

I'm not sure what spirits were used in this cocktail (no further details on the menu), but I loved it! It was a normal sized drink and had a lovely taste to it.

If you're looking for a solid Happy Hour with specialty cocktails, this is a great option. It does get crowded though, so try to come earlier!

Cheers,

Liz