Where: 64-13 39th Avenue, Woodside, NY, 718-899-9599
How to get the there: 7 train to 61st Street/Roosevelt Ave., Queens
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Sripraphai
The best Thai food in New York City, as per Bruni, Chowhound and the rest not only met, but exceeded expectations. Ordered: Beef tendon soup (dark), roast duck salad, beef with spicy sauce, southern style beef curry (pictured), BBQ chicken with papaya salad, drunken noodle with chicken, mushroom salad with calamari. It was a feast (it came to $82 total) like no other. I cannot recommend it enough. Photos before, during and after!
Where: 64-13 39th Avenue, Woodside, NY, 718-899-9599
How to get the there: 7 train to 61st Street/Roosevelt Ave., Queens
Where: 64-13 39th Avenue, Woodside, NY, 718-899-9599
How to get the there: 7 train to 61st Street/Roosevelt Ave., Queens
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Winter Feasting
I don't care what people say about this so-called 'mild winter'. It's cold out there. Really cold. And that makes me hibernate and eat like a sad, cooped-up person. To wit, today I ate: A banana, some yogurt, two bowls of Rice Crispies, four cups of coffee, Tasty Bite Spinach Dal (in a foil bag), eight wasa crackers. And so on. I just couldn't do it. Go out there. Not after last night's resto debacle. Graffiti, a literal hole in the wall in the East Village, was a sore disappointment. Trying hard to be an Indian/Spanish fusion wine bar meets tapas, it was just a little too funky. Bright spots included the Green Mango Paneer ($7) and the hamburger sliders ($15); low points were anchovy and seaweed pizza ($12) and chili shrimp ($15). However, the desserts were primo.
Other recent excursions:
Hearth: Loved, loved, loved it. I would go here for the Californicated Tuscan cuisine again and again. They have a tasty assortment of non-alcholic bevs, including vintage grape juice.
Extra Virgin: Friends in from out of town, and it did exactly what we needed: suitably impressive dinner, with hip atmosphere on a show-off block in the West Village. A staple.
Caviar Russe: For power brokers in midtown and us on V-Day. Skip the menu, go straight for the Osteria and don't look back (or at the prices.)
Brown Cafe: Cute as a button seasonal, organic fare in the East Broadway nabe; poster child for "Stuff White People Like".
Franny's Pizza: Mouth-gasm. Did I say that? But much like a hot Russian hooker, I didn't want to pay as much as it actually cost. It was still good. Too good. Give it to me!
Mr.Chow's: To my surprise, it was not over-rated. I loved it and its terrible 80s decor. There was some tender buffalo thing and succulent shrimp, and fish dumplings. Go for it. Drop the cash. (No menu, but it's $65 each and then some.)
Grand Sichuan: The cumin beef was crazy good and different. And the Sichuan Dumplings fiery hot. Cheap, surly and tasty.
Other recent excursions:
Hearth: Loved, loved, loved it. I would go here for the Californicated Tuscan cuisine again and again. They have a tasty assortment of non-alcholic bevs, including vintage grape juice.
Extra Virgin: Friends in from out of town, and it did exactly what we needed: suitably impressive dinner, with hip atmosphere on a show-off block in the West Village. A staple.
Caviar Russe: For power brokers in midtown and us on V-Day. Skip the menu, go straight for the Osteria and don't look back (or at the prices.)
Brown Cafe: Cute as a button seasonal, organic fare in the East Broadway nabe; poster child for "Stuff White People Like".
Franny's Pizza: Mouth-gasm. Did I say that? But much like a hot Russian hooker, I didn't want to pay as much as it actually cost. It was still good. Too good. Give it to me!
Mr.Chow's: To my surprise, it was not over-rated. I loved it and its terrible 80s decor. There was some tender buffalo thing and succulent shrimp, and fish dumplings. Go for it. Drop the cash. (No menu, but it's $65 each and then some.)
Grand Sichuan: The cumin beef was crazy good and different. And the Sichuan Dumplings fiery hot. Cheap, surly and tasty.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Aquavit
Duck tongues are black and slightly curled at the end. These snippets of muscle looks wicked and cunning yet luckily, they taste nothing like they appear. Indeed, they have an almost creamy texture. It is just one of those small reminders that at extreme latitudes they eat everything. Aquavit, the Swedish destination restaurant helmed by Marcus Samuelsson, does what not all haute cuisine shops do in the city: it is fun, exquisite and relaxed without indulging in trends or snobbery.
The tasting menu - $110 for six plates - mapped out a savory tour of the kitchen's offerings. The aforementioned duck tongue was served with yellowtail and sea urchin, and was followed by foie gras ganache, beautifully sinful and last-meal worthy. Of the dishes in the tasting menu, the standout was the hot-smoked trout served in an apple horseradish broth - the fish's delicate husky flavor was sensitively rendered and served well with the spiky sweet and sour of the broth. The fish and seafood plates were generally far superior to the meat. The venison loin was particularly tasteless, and the short ribs not as tender as one might hope. Perhaps the only disappointment is that the cuisine was not overtly Swedish enough - a Wasa-like cracker here and the pickled herring there - were not quite convincing that the fare had a distinctly Scandinavian flare. The desserts, while enjoyable enough were not memorable. However, the final Swedish touch - a box of ginger snaps for the road - added a sweet punctuation to a fine meal worth the expense.
Where: 65 East 55th Street, 212-307-7311
The tasting menu - $110 for six plates - mapped out a savory tour of the kitchen's offerings. The aforementioned duck tongue was served with yellowtail and sea urchin, and was followed by foie gras ganache, beautifully sinful and last-meal worthy. Of the dishes in the tasting menu, the standout was the hot-smoked trout served in an apple horseradish broth - the fish's delicate husky flavor was sensitively rendered and served well with the spiky sweet and sour of the broth. The fish and seafood plates were generally far superior to the meat. The venison loin was particularly tasteless, and the short ribs not as tender as one might hope. Perhaps the only disappointment is that the cuisine was not overtly Swedish enough - a Wasa-like cracker here and the pickled herring there - were not quite convincing that the fare had a distinctly Scandinavian flare. The desserts, while enjoyable enough were not memorable. However, the final Swedish touch - a box of ginger snaps for the road - added a sweet punctuation to a fine meal worth the expense.
Where: 65 East 55th Street, 212-307-7311
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Di Fara, revisited
Success. Axel, the BF and I made it. Best. Pizza. Ever. Food heaven. The deets:
Ordered: Regular pie with mushrooms
Wait time: 45-50 minutes
Beverage: Bottled coke
Added: Red pepper flakes
Slices count: Catherine, 3; Axel, 4; Anjum 4
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Di Fara
Can you smell the despair? Note to Belly Uppers: Before embarking on a food expedition to the outer boroughs - that would be Avenue J in Brooklyn - make sure the destination is indeed open. The legend preceeded Di Fara and our stomachs were growling on Monday as we made our way on the Q train to Midwood. But, like most normal things outside Manhattan, a case of the Mondays prevailed. Closed. Locked up. Pizza pies just beyond reach. After we licked our wounds and pressed sandies back in Park Slope at Press 195, we regrouped. Next Friday. Noon. The best pizza in America. We will not be stopped.
Where: 1424 Avenue J, Brooklyn, NY 11230, 718-258-1367
Friday, November 30, 2007
Crispo
On Axel's recommendation I went to try Crispo, a cavernous basement level Italian place on 14th Street (next to, I should mention El Rey, which has the best margarita-drinking patio ever). Crispo has nothing to jinx or wow you in terms of space or decor. It's your basic restaurant and the menu has many many choices.
The place to stay on the menu is the small plates - I made the mistake of ordering the orchiette with rabe and sausage ($20). It was mediocre, too oily and was an enormous, hip-widening, mid-America portion that seemed unecessary. We had pickled beets and crostini to start, which were just fine, and then "Artichoke alla romana" which was serveed with almonds, mint and fontina. This was quite tasty. The Boyfriend went for the Veal with lemon and artichokes, served with potato croquettes - which was tasty, though lacked anything special. Overall, it was fine. A B+ you might even say. (Boyfriend says this is generous rating; or rather my rating scale changes from place to place.) The kind of place that serves its central location very well or would be a good in a group situation. We ordered the hazelnut praline for dessert and it was terrible - there's no need. Stick to the antipasti and small plates and you'll have a very nice meal.
Where: 240 W. 14th Street
The place to stay on the menu is the small plates - I made the mistake of ordering the orchiette with rabe and sausage ($20). It was mediocre, too oily and was an enormous, hip-widening, mid-America portion that seemed unecessary. We had pickled beets and crostini to start, which were just fine, and then "Artichoke alla romana" which was serveed with almonds, mint and fontina. This was quite tasty. The Boyfriend went for the Veal with lemon and artichokes, served with potato croquettes - which was tasty, though lacked anything special. Overall, it was fine. A B+ you might even say. (Boyfriend says this is generous rating; or rather my rating scale changes from place to place.) The kind of place that serves its central location very well or would be a good in a group situation. We ordered the hazelnut praline for dessert and it was terrible - there's no need. Stick to the antipasti and small plates and you'll have a very nice meal.
Where: 240 W. 14th Street
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Bettola
It's the plight of the local; the place you go over and over again but you kind of forget about until the moment you know you need something reliable and good and simple. It's only taken me six years to figure it out: Bettola is that place for me.
Went with the Ex last night for our monthly chew and chat (yes, we are still friends). And we always go here or across the street to Swagat Indian. The menu, laquered on a board, never ever changes - six pasta dishes, a selection of wood-stove pizzas and some meat plates. They do always have daily specials and I always order that. Last night it was flat pasta with wild mushrooms and goat cheese ($15). You can just never go wrong here - the environment is warm and inviting, with the heat from the pizza oven keeping it cozy. In the summer they open to a full people-watching gallery with sidewalk seating. The waitresses are always from some Eastern block country, barely understandable and gorgeous. Anyway. It's my local. Go find yours now and write me back and tell me about it.
Where: 412 Amsterdam Ave., 212-787-1660
Went with the Ex last night for our monthly chew and chat (yes, we are still friends). And we always go here or across the street to Swagat Indian. The menu, laquered on a board, never ever changes - six pasta dishes, a selection of wood-stove pizzas and some meat plates. They do always have daily specials and I always order that. Last night it was flat pasta with wild mushrooms and goat cheese ($15). You can just never go wrong here - the environment is warm and inviting, with the heat from the pizza oven keeping it cozy. In the summer they open to a full people-watching gallery with sidewalk seating. The waitresses are always from some Eastern block country, barely understandable and gorgeous. Anyway. It's my local. Go find yours now and write me back and tell me about it.
Where: 412 Amsterdam Ave., 212-787-1660
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)