When the topic of Mother's Day came up in my house, Big Z with his 4-year old generosity said "Mom, I will get you treats." He never defined treats, so I defined them for myself, which meant a trip to the North Fork for wine and food, in that order.
The first stop was the always lovely McCall Wines in Cutchogue. While we love going to any vineyard, many of them are too commercial and frankly, not that kid-friendly. McCall is open only seasonally and it is essentially a barn with a few picnic tables scattered on the lawn, with amazing wine. JB purchased us a lovely bottle of 2010 Pinot Noir and we were able to imbibe while the boys were relatively well-behaved. Their selection is not huge, but it is stellar. Check it out - mccallwines.com. They have a new wine club, that we joined (and JB tried to convince me that was my Mother's Day present). If you can't make it there, they will get the wine to you.
After corking up our nearly empty bottle, thanks mainly to me, we drove further east to Greenport for a late lunch at First and South. Greenport is an old whaling and ship building town that is somewhat of a destination for both daytrippers and vacationers. The restaurant scene is always improving and I'm happy to say that First and South is contributing heavily to that.
Set a few streets back from the main drag in Greenport, on you guessed it, the corner of First and South, the restaurant is in an unassuming house shaded by cherry trees. We heard acoustic Pearl Jam as we approached the entrance and immediately felt relaxed. (The McCall Pinot Noir probably helped with that, too.)
We were lucky enough to score an outdoor bar table where we sat under one of the aforementioned cherry trees. And were even luckier to have one sleeping child. We didn't need any more drinks, other than water, so we focused on the food.
We had arrived at around 3, sort of straddling a late brunch and an early dinner. JB cobbled together a brunch-type meal with a mason jar full of steel cut oats plus a side of applewood bacon and a side of grain toast. It was eclectic to say the least, but JB is a sucker for anything in a mason jar.
Big Z and I both had the burger. On their menu, it's called the "Really Good Burger" and it is. But besides the awesome brioche, the gooey cheese and the pickle pile, the best part of the dish is the kimchi slaw. If JB is a sucker for mason jars, then I'm a bigger sucker for kimchi; the spicier the better. Fortunately, Big Z didn't want any of his (no surprise for a 4-year old) so JB got a taste, too.
And let's not forget the fries. Hand cut fries are their specialty, so much so that you need to order them separately. The boys indulged in a salty mound of almost-perfect fries. Even little D ate them cold when he finally woke up.
We skipped dessert for frozen yogurt in the village, but I saw homemade cookies on the menu for next time.
Speaking of next time, we need to go back for dinner. The dinner menu appears to have some interesting bites like crispy duck tongue and a pickle plate that I know little D would adore. And I am fairly certain, I could go for that burger again, and all of its accompaniments, too.
Until our next Berger,
KLB
First and South
100 South Street
Greenport, NY
631.333.2200
firstandsouth.com
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Date Night with my Parents: Erminia, New York, NY
Time for my parents to get blogged. Hereby known as Bubba (my mom) and Best (my dad) because that is what our boys call them.
So, Bubba suggested dinner and a Broadway play for Best's birthday. Date night with the parents - who could resist.
The issue became where to eat. I immediately started researching ethnic spots in the Theatre district -Indonesian perhaps? Maybe some good Persian. Bubba shot my ideas down. For them, pre-theatre dining needs to be safe and not laden with any potential gastronomic anomalies let's just say.
The next consideration was noise, or the lack there of. Best likes it quiet. Bubba likes a scene, or better yet to be seen.
With all of these stipulations, we decided to expand our search and I settled on Erminia on the Upper East Side. Erminia is one of those places that you always hear about, but never go to. It's a tiny, and I mean 12 tables tiny, Italian restaurant, by way of Rome. It's romantic and candelit, perfect for Best's auditory preferences, yet still has an air of exclusivity to it, which met Bubba's requirements.
A 6PM on Saturday night, we found ourselves at one of only two tables filled at the restaurant. Less people meant we had the full attention of the waitstaff and Bubba loved it. She practiced her "Italian" and lingered while making her dinner choices.
Apparently Bubba had a, let's call it, well-saturated evening the night before, so she skipped the cocktails and appetizers portion of the meal. So the three of us worked on the wines by the glass - the three Pinots as the waiter called it - Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir and Pinot Chianti. (Yes, an Italian waiter joke.)
Best and I split a garlic/basil/olive oil Calamari alla griglia appetizer that was light and tasty. JB indulged in the Carciofi Alla Giudia (artichoke) as he usually does when he thinks we are at a real "Roman" restaurant. They lacked seasoning and crunchiness, but they were tasty. What isn't when covered in olive oil. FYI, if you ever go to Rome the best carciofi we've ever had is at Al Pompiere in the Jewish District. Go. alpompiereroma.com. But first, back to Erminia.
For our mains, 3 out of 4 of us went the pasta route. Bubba had the house specialty -
Until our next Berger,
KLB
Erminia
250 East 83rd Street
New York, NY
212.879.4284
erminiarestaurant.com
So, Bubba suggested dinner and a Broadway play for Best's birthday. Date night with the parents - who could resist.
The issue became where to eat. I immediately started researching ethnic spots in the Theatre district -Indonesian perhaps? Maybe some good Persian. Bubba shot my ideas down. For them, pre-theatre dining needs to be safe and not laden with any potential gastronomic anomalies let's just say.
The next consideration was noise, or the lack there of. Best likes it quiet. Bubba likes a scene, or better yet to be seen.
With all of these stipulations, we decided to expand our search and I settled on Erminia on the Upper East Side. Erminia is one of those places that you always hear about, but never go to. It's a tiny, and I mean 12 tables tiny, Italian restaurant, by way of Rome. It's romantic and candelit, perfect for Best's auditory preferences, yet still has an air of exclusivity to it, which met Bubba's requirements.
A 6PM on Saturday night, we found ourselves at one of only two tables filled at the restaurant. Less people meant we had the full attention of the waitstaff and Bubba loved it. She practiced her "Italian" and lingered while making her dinner choices.
Apparently Bubba had a, let's call it, well-saturated evening the night before, so she skipped the cocktails and appetizers portion of the meal. So the three of us worked on the wines by the glass - the three Pinots as the waiter called it - Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir and Pinot Chianti. (Yes, an Italian waiter joke.)
Best and I split a garlic/basil/olive oil Calamari alla griglia appetizer that was light and tasty. JB indulged in the Carciofi Alla Giudia (artichoke) as he usually does when he thinks we are at a real "Roman" restaurant. They lacked seasoning and crunchiness, but they were tasty. What isn't when covered in olive oil. FYI, if you ever go to Rome the best carciofi we've ever had is at Al Pompiere in the Jewish District. Go. alpompiereroma.com. But first, back to Erminia.
For our mains, 3 out of 4 of us went the pasta route. Bubba had the house specialty -
Rotolo di Pasta - which is a rolled pasta stuffed with spinach, ricotta and mozzarella. She generously shared her filling dish which was sweet and delicious. I opted for the Bucatini all' Amatriciana, a thick linguine in red sauce laden with pancetta. And JB's Farfalle alla Capricciosa had too much of an olive taste for me, but he managed to polish off those bowties that also had capers and sun-dried tomatoes.
Best surprised us all by ordering the Scaloppine Di Vitello Con Carciofi E Funghi
since he's usually the two appetizer king. We think he was off his mark since the restaurant was beer and wine only, i.e., no vodka, so he splurged on an entree. He did not surprise us, however, when he didn't offer tastes to anyone (although Bubba managed to steal a bite off his plate).
As curtain time loomed, it was coffee and dessert time. Chocolate mousse pie for JB and me was just OK and Bubba and Best chose the tartufo, which I think received the same OK-grade.
All in all, though, it was an excellent choice for a quiet dinner and I do recommend it.
I also recommend the play - Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike - only on Broadway through the end of June.
Until our next Berger,
KLB
Erminia
250 East 83rd Street
New York, NY
212.879.4284
erminiarestaurant.com
Tuesday, May 07, 2013
A Mistake in Googling: Greek Island Diner, Wading River, NY
I have a problem. I am always looking for a new restaurant and sometimes I get led astray. Take for example yesterday, when I'm at the doctor for an evening checkup in Wading River which is about 25 minutes away from home. Close enough that I know where I am, but far enough where I don't really know the culinary landscape. So in the waiting room, I Google. And waiting in the office, I Google. And then I text JB saying I've found the perfect takeout. 1 hour and $30 later, we have a mediocre falafel sandwich that resembles a chicken cutlet, decent fries, and a Greek Salad big enough to feed a family of 10.
So lesson learned, sometimes Google is not your friend.
Until our next berger,
KLB
Greek Island Diner
6324 Rte 25A # 6 Wading River, NY 11792
631.886.1989
greekislanddiner.com
So lesson learned, sometimes Google is not your friend.
Until our next berger,
KLB
Greek Island Diner
6324 Rte 25A # 6 Wading River, NY 11792
A Miami Must: The Bazaar, Miami Beach, FL
This past weekend, I was lucky enough to find myself on a girls weekend that was all about sun, rosé and restaurants -- in that order. Seriously, after 10 hours on the beach on Saturday and a few bottles of the pink stuff, we headed to what would be the best meal of our trip and probably one of the best meals I've had in recent history.
We teetered in our heels a few blocks from our hotel to the Hotel SLS and were immediately entranced by the scene of beautiful people. After an attempt by the hostess to seat us in the bar/lobby area (don't you hate how hostesses always try to give you a bad table first? Even other reviewers on Yelp say the same thing about their experience here), we found ourselves in the best spot in the house.
The room is awe-inspiring with a massive coral-like chandelier and books painted on the walls. Our table had a couch in lieu of two chairs with side tables flocking the couch. It almost felt like we were in someone's living room, almost.
By definition, Bazaar is a tapas restaurant. The Spanish-born José Andrés, however, created not just Spanish choices but also Asian, Italian, American Comfort Food, you name it. The menu is daunting. Fortunately our Frodo-looking waiter, Christopher, provided some guidance.
Per Chistopher's recommendation, we ordered 3 to 4 plates per person. It seems like a lot, but the servers space it out and trust me, you are able to savor everything. Just think of it as your own tasting menu where you get to choose everything.
Most dishes were both delicious and gorgeous, and really just a few misses.
Here was our tally (with descriptions from the menu in italics):
HITS:
- Kueh Pai Ti Singapore’s favorite street food - shrimp, peanuts, chili sauce: Christopher's recommendation was messy after the first bite, but its tough to complain when you combine shrimp, peanuts and chili sauce.
- Japanese Taco grilled eel, shiso, cucumber, wasabi, pork chicharrones: I wasn't sure if I was going to like this one and was pleasantly surprised. The star of this was the cucumber "taco shell".
- Dragon Fruit Ceviche tuna, pecans, lime, hibiscus: I think this was the all-around favorite. Tuna-style sushi covered in foam all inside a carved out dragonfruit.
- Brussels Sprouts lemon purée, apricots, grapes, lemon air, banana: A big hit in our group, the brussel sprouts were light, tasty and, yes, foamy. Again, with the foam.
- Papas Canarias salty wrinkled potatoes, mojo verde, mojo rojo: These potatoes were a suprising hit. Tiny potates that were almost air-popped had two spicy dipping sauces. I let this dish rest right next to me so I could keep partaking.
- Sautéed Shrimp garlic, parsley, lemon, guindilla pepper: Simple, yet excellent. Shrimp is also an easy sell with this crowd.
MISSES:
- Pollo al Ajillo Cubano slow-cooked chicken leg, black garlic: OK, so this might not be fair. Ever since my niece Jessie said at around age 5 "Who would eat a chicken's leg" - I don't. So this gets an automatic miss for me.
- Cuban Coffee Rubbed Churrasco passion fruit: Disppointing and boring, and its rare (no pun intended) that I don't like a steak dish.
- Cubano’ In Honor of Café Versailles: Again, not really fair, since I'm not a ham person, but still it didn't make much traction on the table. It did come at the end though, when we reaching capacity.
- Black Rossejat paella-style pasta, squid ink, shrimp, alioli: Another disappointment. From the menu description we almost ordered two of these, but Frodo told us one would suffice and he was right. The paella-like pasta was overwhelmingly fishy and really, I usually love squid ink.
- Empanadillas de Bacalao salt cod, honey: These were quite forgettable. Sweet and airy is an odd combination for cod.
There were so many more items on the menu we could have had. If only we could have stayed in Miami one more day.
Bazaar is an experience. It's not bizarre, it's amazing. And best of all, they are expanding. There is currently another Bazaar in Beverly Hills AND they are planning to also launch in New York and Vegas within about a year.
If you ever get a chance to go here, do.
Until our next berger,
KLB
The Bazaar
1701 Collins Ave.
Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 455-2999
sbe.com/thebazaar
We teetered in our heels a few blocks from our hotel to the Hotel SLS and were immediately entranced by the scene of beautiful people. After an attempt by the hostess to seat us in the bar/lobby area (don't you hate how hostesses always try to give you a bad table first? Even other reviewers on Yelp say the same thing about their experience here), we found ourselves in the best spot in the house.
The room is awe-inspiring with a massive coral-like chandelier and books painted on the walls. Our table had a couch in lieu of two chairs with side tables flocking the couch. It almost felt like we were in someone's living room, almost.
By definition, Bazaar is a tapas restaurant. The Spanish-born José Andrés, however, created not just Spanish choices but also Asian, Italian, American Comfort Food, you name it. The menu is daunting. Fortunately our Frodo-looking waiter, Christopher, provided some guidance.
Per Chistopher's recommendation, we ordered 3 to 4 plates per person. It seems like a lot, but the servers space it out and trust me, you are able to savor everything. Just think of it as your own tasting menu where you get to choose everything.
Most dishes were both delicious and gorgeous, and really just a few misses.
Here was our tally (with descriptions from the menu in italics):
HITS:
- Kueh Pai Ti Singapore’s favorite street food - shrimp, peanuts, chili sauce: Christopher's recommendation was messy after the first bite, but its tough to complain when you combine shrimp, peanuts and chili sauce.
- Japanese Taco grilled eel, shiso, cucumber, wasabi, pork chicharrones: I wasn't sure if I was going to like this one and was pleasantly surprised. The star of this was the cucumber "taco shell".
- Dragon Fruit Ceviche tuna, pecans, lime, hibiscus: I think this was the all-around favorite. Tuna-style sushi covered in foam all inside a carved out dragonfruit.
- Not Your Everyday Caprese
cherry tomatoes, liquid mozzarella: Christopher practically insisted on this one. The cheese was burrata style, almost straight from Capri and the tomatoes were on a bed of amazing pesto. I considered licking the plate. - Papas Canarias salty wrinkled potatoes, mojo verde, mojo rojo: These potatoes were a suprising hit. Tiny potates that were almost air-popped had two spicy dipping sauces. I let this dish rest right next to me so I could keep partaking.
- Sautéed Shrimp garlic, parsley, lemon, guindilla pepper: Simple, yet excellent. Shrimp is also an easy sell with this crowd.
- Banana-Mojito
Mojito sorbet, mint and caramelized bananas: We didn't even look at a dessert menu, but we had to pick one and this was Christopher's rec. Looking back at the menu now I probably would have preferred to get Key Lime Pie which is my all time favorite dessert, however, this creation was good, too. I enjoyed the graham cracker crust over the mojito sorbet immensely, but I skipped the carmelized bananas.
- Drinks: How could a pitcher of white sangria and dessert wine ever be a miss??
MISSES:
- Pollo al Ajillo Cubano slow-cooked chicken leg, black garlic: OK, so this might not be fair. Ever since my niece Jessie said at around age 5 "Who would eat a chicken's leg" - I don't. So this gets an automatic miss for me.
- Cuban Coffee Rubbed Churrasco passion fruit: Disppointing and boring, and its rare (no pun intended) that I don't like a steak dish.
- Cubano’ In Honor of Café Versailles: Again, not really fair, since I'm not a ham person, but still it didn't make much traction on the table. It did come at the end though, when we reaching capacity.
- Black Rossejat paella-style pasta, squid ink, shrimp, alioli: Another disappointment. From the menu description we almost ordered two of these, but Frodo told us one would suffice and he was right. The paella-like pasta was overwhelmingly fishy and really, I usually love squid ink.
- Empanadillas de Bacalao salt cod, honey: These were quite forgettable. Sweet and airy is an odd combination for cod.
There were so many more items on the menu we could have had. If only we could have stayed in Miami one more day.
Bazaar is an experience. It's not bizarre, it's amazing. And best of all, they are expanding. There is currently another Bazaar in Beverly Hills AND they are planning to also launch in New York and Vegas within about a year.
If you ever get a chance to go here, do.
Until our next berger,
KLB
The Bazaar
1701 Collins Ave.
Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 455-2999
sbe.com/thebazaar
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Worth the Trip Thai: Ayada, Elmhurst, NY
I am constantly on a quest for the best Thai food. We may have found it today in Queens or, specifically, Elmhurst, at Ayada Thai. Let me explain.
Since we have young boys, we often have to go out of our way to find activities that will entertain all of us and, hopefully, tire them out. Today we went to the Kids NY Tennis Expo at the Billie Jean King Tennis Center which allowed our boys to play on US Open tennis courts and then be exhausted enough to sit through lunch. A perfect plan.
In my former life I was spoiled by Chicago Thai food, so whenever I hear about a superb Thai establishment, I try to go. Guided by GPS, we found Ayada and a parking spot, too. On the way, I read aloud an old New York Times review of the restaurant and JB's mouth starting watering.
We arrived around 2 on a Sunday to a small, clean and bright storefront filled with Asian diners (an excellent sign to us.) We were able to secure a table and start skimming the very long menu. And as a somewhat funny surprise, they highlight the New York Times-recommended dishes.
We had a small feast:
- Papaya Salad: JB is always obsessed with this dish whereas I rarely even ask for a taste. It's a simple salad of shredded papaya, this one had dried shrimp and cherry tomatoes with chopped peanuts lodged inside. Yum!
- Sticky Rice: Apparently, sticky rice is a customary side to papaya salad. Sadly, JB did not offer this one up.
- Tom Ka Chicken Soup: We often get this at our local Chinese/Japanese/Thai hoping that it will be good, and we are usually disappointed. Not here. JB did allow me a taste of this delicious coconut milk soup -- I avoided the mushrooms -- as he slurped down the rest he pronounced it perfection.
- Raw Shrimp Salad: Yes, that's correct, raw shrimp salad. This was one of the "recommended" dishes, so I felt compelled. About 10 large shrimp heavily seasoned with chili, lime and garlic covered the plate. It is super spicy. I found myself alternating between this and the papaya salad to calm down the heat. After a few bites though, I was able to really enjoy this delicacy. I recommend this recommendation.
- Pad See Ew with Tofu: Pad See Ew is my favorite Thai noodle dish, so I had to try their version. Wide rice noodles with soy sauce and broccoli are typical for this usually mild dish, but I was feeling adventurous and asked for it spicy. This spice I could handle and the tofu was the perfect complement.
- Jasmine Rice: This was for little D only. Big Z had devoured a concession stand New York soft pretzel after tennis and paid attention mainly to JB's iPhone throughout lunch.
Our lunch bill came to $34 which was a small price to pay for such a treat. JB wanted to order food to take home for dinner, but we decided against it and started the long journey home. As Big Z said, as we got in the car, "I wish this were closer." Me too.
Until our next berger,
KLB
Ayada Thai
Since we have young boys, we often have to go out of our way to find activities that will entertain all of us and, hopefully, tire them out. Today we went to the Kids NY Tennis Expo at the Billie Jean King Tennis Center which allowed our boys to play on US Open tennis courts and then be exhausted enough to sit through lunch. A perfect plan.
In my former life I was spoiled by Chicago Thai food, so whenever I hear about a superb Thai establishment, I try to go. Guided by GPS, we found Ayada and a parking spot, too. On the way, I read aloud an old New York Times review of the restaurant and JB's mouth starting watering.
We arrived around 2 on a Sunday to a small, clean and bright storefront filled with Asian diners (an excellent sign to us.) We were able to secure a table and start skimming the very long menu. And as a somewhat funny surprise, they highlight the New York Times-recommended dishes.
We had a small feast:
- Papaya Salad: JB is always obsessed with this dish whereas I rarely even ask for a taste. It's a simple salad of shredded papaya, this one had dried shrimp and cherry tomatoes with chopped peanuts lodged inside. Yum!
- Sticky Rice: Apparently, sticky rice is a customary side to papaya salad. Sadly, JB did not offer this one up.
- Tom Ka Chicken Soup: We often get this at our local Chinese/Japanese/Thai hoping that it will be good, and we are usually disappointed. Not here. JB did allow me a taste of this delicious coconut milk soup -- I avoided the mushrooms -- as he slurped down the rest he pronounced it perfection.
- Raw Shrimp Salad: Yes, that's correct, raw shrimp salad. This was one of the "recommended" dishes, so I felt compelled. About 10 large shrimp heavily seasoned with chili, lime and garlic covered the plate. It is super spicy. I found myself alternating between this and the papaya salad to calm down the heat. After a few bites though, I was able to really enjoy this delicacy. I recommend this recommendation.
- Pad See Ew with Tofu: Pad See Ew is my favorite Thai noodle dish, so I had to try their version. Wide rice noodles with soy sauce and broccoli are typical for this usually mild dish, but I was feeling adventurous and asked for it spicy. This spice I could handle and the tofu was the perfect complement.
- Jasmine Rice: This was for little D only. Big Z had devoured a concession stand New York soft pretzel after tennis and paid attention mainly to JB's iPhone throughout lunch.
Our lunch bill came to $34 which was a small price to pay for such a treat. JB wanted to order food to take home for dinner, but we decided against it and started the long journey home. As Big Z said, as we got in the car, "I wish this were closer." Me too.
Until our next berger,
KLB
Ayada Thai
78-03 Woodside Ave. (Woodside Ave & 78th St)
718.424.0844
ayadathaiwoodside.com
718.424.0844
Friday, April 26, 2013
A Season Opener: Starr Boggs, Westhampton Beach, NY
Some background for those of you non-locals (Hamptons locals feel free to skip this part). We live in a resort area. There are more and more people who live here year round, like us, but there is still a "season". In season, our formerly quiet village becomes a madhouse, and personally, I love it.
There are two annual season openers that are a must. We recently got to partake in them both.
1. The Dockers Kickoff Party
The biggest appeal of this event is that it is free. Dockers does have a beautful waterfront setting and decent food, but it's usually too cold to stand outside for more than one drink at the kickoff party and they don't serve the real restaurant food at the party. I recommend going for the 2 hours of free drinks and free food and then taking your buzz elsewhere. I don't think it would be fair to judge Dockers by what they give away, so I won't. Let's just say, free drinks=no brainer. Get on their list so you can go next year. dockerswaterside.com
2. Starr Boggs Opening Night
This is a tough one. Given my upcoming travel schedule and not wanting to leave JB home alone with the boys, again, I almost didn't go and then changed my mind. I needed to go to see my friends, to participate in this annual tradition, and, of course, for the sake of the blog (thanks, blog). And as you get to know the Bergers, you'll know we hate to decline an invitation to go out. So off I went.
Since it was opening night, there was a special commemorating the year - $20.13 for any appetizer and entree off the menu. This is a tremendous deal considering most of their entrees hover in the $30 range and apps around $15. There were a few supplemental charges, but I chose the standard fare, that may have been where I went wrong.
I had the caesar salad which was delicious after I picked the anchovies that were supposed to "only be in the dressing". For my main, I chose the Lamb Trio. I usually go for the flatiron steak at SB, but since I'd had steak for lunch (no joke my office cafeteria makes a mean skirt steak), I chose something different. Lamb is usually one of my favorites - not tonight. The trio consisted of moussaka (too much cinammon or allspice or something like that), lamb sausage (too oily) and lamb loin (completely rare). So my order was a flop.
Everyone else seemed pleased with their dinner but no one in our party of 8 was gushing. We had dessert, too, an unremarkable flourless chocolate cake.
Starr Boggs is a good restaurant, JB and I had an excellent meal there last August at the height of the season. When I got married, we had my bridal luncheon here. This time, it missed the mark.
The restaurant is beautiful, the service is always great, and they have a stellar wine list - we had a lot of that, too.
I will go back later once the season has picked up and so should you. Just be wary of what you order.
Until our next Berger,
KLB
Starr Boggs
6 Parlato Drive
Westhampton Beach, NY 11978
631.288.3500
starrboggsrestaurant.com
There are two annual season openers that are a must. We recently got to partake in them both.
1. The Dockers Kickoff Party
The biggest appeal of this event is that it is free. Dockers does have a beautful waterfront setting and decent food, but it's usually too cold to stand outside for more than one drink at the kickoff party and they don't serve the real restaurant food at the party. I recommend going for the 2 hours of free drinks and free food and then taking your buzz elsewhere. I don't think it would be fair to judge Dockers by what they give away, so I won't. Let's just say, free drinks=no brainer. Get on their list so you can go next year. dockerswaterside.com
2. Starr Boggs Opening Night
This is a tough one. Given my upcoming travel schedule and not wanting to leave JB home alone with the boys, again, I almost didn't go and then changed my mind. I needed to go to see my friends, to participate in this annual tradition, and, of course, for the sake of the blog (thanks, blog). And as you get to know the Bergers, you'll know we hate to decline an invitation to go out. So off I went.
Since it was opening night, there was a special commemorating the year - $20.13 for any appetizer and entree off the menu. This is a tremendous deal considering most of their entrees hover in the $30 range and apps around $15. There were a few supplemental charges, but I chose the standard fare, that may have been where I went wrong.
I had the caesar salad which was delicious after I picked the anchovies that were supposed to "only be in the dressing". For my main, I chose the Lamb Trio. I usually go for the flatiron steak at SB, but since I'd had steak for lunch (no joke my office cafeteria makes a mean skirt steak), I chose something different. Lamb is usually one of my favorites - not tonight. The trio consisted of moussaka (too much cinammon or allspice or something like that), lamb sausage (too oily) and lamb loin (completely rare). So my order was a flop.
Everyone else seemed pleased with their dinner but no one in our party of 8 was gushing. We had dessert, too, an unremarkable flourless chocolate cake.
Starr Boggs is a good restaurant, JB and I had an excellent meal there last August at the height of the season. When I got married, we had my bridal luncheon here. This time, it missed the mark.
The restaurant is beautiful, the service is always great, and they have a stellar wine list - we had a lot of that, too.
I will go back later once the season has picked up and so should you. Just be wary of what you order.
Until our next Berger,
KLB
Starr Boggs
6 Parlato Drive
Westhampton Beach, NY 11978
631.288.3500
starrboggsrestaurant.com
Monday, April 22, 2013
Edible Food Truck Derby: Riverhead, NY
After a rainy morning and a cancelled soccer session- we thought what better way to re-kickoff our Bergers and More blog than with a good old-fashioned Food Truck-athon? The Food Truck Derby, to be precise, was put on by the local foodie magazine, Edible East End. The location was the Tanger Outlets parking lot in Riverhead, that we often frequent on the weekend. Food and Shopping? We were in.
The promotional emails from Edible promised a variety of food trucks, from Korean BBQ to the local oysterman, and not everyone showed (flat tire, maybe?), but we still managed to score some tasty treats:
Food:
- Morris Grilled Cheese - morrisgrilledcheese.com: This truck had the longest line, so JB went here first. We each got a classic which is NY Cheddar and Landaff on two slices of buttery, griddled bread. Truthfully, I really wanted the Delicate Cheese, which was an excuse for truffles with my grilled cheese - and JB denied me. I'm still a little mad at him about that.
- Silver Spoon Specialties - silverspoonspecialties.com: Big Z and little D each had a basket of fries from this truck, so I can't personally vouch for the food, but considering it made them sit calmly for at least 15 minutes, I'm a fan.
- Van Leeuwen Ice Cream - vanleeuwenicecream.com: Whoa, one of the best ways to ever spend $5 is on a cup of their vanilla ice cream.
- Sebastian Cakes - sebastiancakesllc.com: Ok, this wasn't a truck, but instead an area of local vendors selling baked goods, pickled items, etc. I stumbled upon some egg-free chocolate cupcakes for little D who has a mild egg allergy and they also happen to be gluten-free and dairy-free, too. Again, I didn't try these, although from the amount of chocolate on their faces (Big Z also happily had the cupcake) I'm pretty sure it fit the mark.
Drink:
Note: No one told me the best part about the Derby - free drinks! If I had known, I might have gotten there earlier.
- Greenport Harbor Brewing Company - harborbrewing.com: We each had a small glass of one of their fresh brews. JB went for the Spring Turning and I had something IPA-like. Next time we are in Greenport, we will be stopping by. A trip to the carousel and some beer, I like it.
- True Believer Cider - empirestatecellars.com/standard-cider-co-true-believer-hard-cider-beerhard-cider-p-1692.html: This was my favorite item of the day - sparkling hard cider - who could argue with that. We actually had the True Believer and the True Companion, and both preferred the Believer version. If you see this, buy it.
- Hampton Coffee - hamptoncoffee.com: I can't forget to mention JB's free coffee from our local Westhampton shop.
Had the boys sugar rush stayed away for a few more minutes, we would have more - drinks for sure, and probably food, but alas, we had already crossed that Derby finish line.
Until our next Berger,
KLB
Edible East End sponsored the Food Truck Derby - edibleeastend.com. There is another event later this summer sponsored by a their sister publication. Check it out: ediblemanhattan.com/event/the-great-food-truck-derby-2013
The promotional emails from Edible promised a variety of food trucks, from Korean BBQ to the local oysterman, and not everyone showed (flat tire, maybe?), but we still managed to score some tasty treats:
Food:
- Morris Grilled Cheese - morrisgrilledcheese.com: This truck had the longest line, so JB went here first. We each got a classic which is NY Cheddar and Landaff on two slices of buttery, griddled bread. Truthfully, I really wanted the Delicate Cheese, which was an excuse for truffles with my grilled cheese - and JB denied me. I'm still a little mad at him about that.
- Silver Spoon Specialties - silverspoonspecialties.com: Big Z and little D each had a basket of fries from this truck, so I can't personally vouch for the food, but considering it made them sit calmly for at least 15 minutes, I'm a fan.
- Van Leeuwen Ice Cream - vanleeuwenicecream.com: Whoa, one of the best ways to ever spend $5 is on a cup of their vanilla ice cream.
- Sebastian Cakes - sebastiancakesllc.com: Ok, this wasn't a truck, but instead an area of local vendors selling baked goods, pickled items, etc. I stumbled upon some egg-free chocolate cupcakes for little D who has a mild egg allergy and they also happen to be gluten-free and dairy-free, too. Again, I didn't try these, although from the amount of chocolate on their faces (Big Z also happily had the cupcake) I'm pretty sure it fit the mark.
Drink:
Note: No one told me the best part about the Derby - free drinks! If I had known, I might have gotten there earlier.
- Greenport Harbor Brewing Company - harborbrewing.com: We each had a small glass of one of their fresh brews. JB went for the Spring Turning and I had something IPA-like. Next time we are in Greenport, we will be stopping by. A trip to the carousel and some beer, I like it.
- True Believer Cider - empirestatecellars.com/standard-cider-co-true-believer-hard-cider-beerhard-cider-p-1692.html: This was my favorite item of the day - sparkling hard cider - who could argue with that. We actually had the True Believer and the True Companion, and both preferred the Believer version. If you see this, buy it.
- Hampton Coffee - hamptoncoffee.com: I can't forget to mention JB's free coffee from our local Westhampton shop.
Had the boys sugar rush stayed away for a few more minutes, we would have more - drinks for sure, and probably food, but alas, we had already crossed that Derby finish line.
Until our next Berger,
KLB
Edible East End sponsored the Food Truck Derby - edibleeastend.com. There is another event later this summer sponsored by a their sister publication. Check it out: ediblemanhattan.com/event/the-great-food-truck-derby-2013
An Old Favorite: Cafe Mingala, New York, NY
Many moons ago, before I even was a Berger, JB took me to a tiny, non-descript Burmese restaurant on the Upper East Side called Cafe Mingala. At that time, I had never had Burmese before, and I was blown away. If you were to combine all of the best things about Chinese, Thai and Vietnamese food, you'd get Burmese. When we lived in the city, we were addicted, and would either go or order from here at least once a week.
I've been in serious Burmese withdrawal for years. There are days that I dream of their string bean salad. And today, we happened to be in the neighborhood and we stopped by for a trip down our culinary memory lane. We didn't have much time, so we just ordered two dishes:
- Peah Thee Thoke, the aforementioned string bean salad. It's a cold salad of string beans, peanuts and crispy onions with some lettuce, carrots, and unbelievable (but unknown) dressing. We gobbled it up. If anyone is on their way from the city to the East End, please bring some for me!
- Nungi Kyaw, a hot rice noodle dish in a garlic scallion sauce that we got with tofu and vegetables. We, or really, I picked this one because I have a current obsession with tofu. Trust me, I am a serious meat eater, (bacon, anyone?), but when I saw tofu, I had to have it. And I was happy with my choice, although I could have used more tofu.
Mingala is one of the places where you really should just order by number, because you have no idea how to pronounce anything, but if you're feeling daring, feel free to ask for them by name.
Like I said, this is a sliver of a restaurant, its definitely not the place for a happening Saturday night. I think their most popular drink is water and trust me its the perfect match for the string bean salad.
Until our next Berger,
KLB
Cafe Mingala
I've been in serious Burmese withdrawal for years. There are days that I dream of their string bean salad. And today, we happened to be in the neighborhood and we stopped by for a trip down our culinary memory lane. We didn't have much time, so we just ordered two dishes:
- Peah Thee Thoke, the aforementioned string bean salad. It's a cold salad of string beans, peanuts and crispy onions with some lettuce, carrots, and unbelievable (but unknown) dressing. We gobbled it up. If anyone is on their way from the city to the East End, please bring some for me!
- Nungi Kyaw, a hot rice noodle dish in a garlic scallion sauce that we got with tofu and vegetables. We, or really, I picked this one because I have a current obsession with tofu. Trust me, I am a serious meat eater, (bacon, anyone?), but when I saw tofu, I had to have it. And I was happy with my choice, although I could have used more tofu.
Mingala is one of the places where you really should just order by number, because you have no idea how to pronounce anything, but if you're feeling daring, feel free to ask for them by name.
Like I said, this is a sliver of a restaurant, its definitely not the place for a happening Saturday night. I think their most popular drink is water and trust me its the perfect match for the string bean salad.
Until our next Berger,
KLB
Cafe Mingala
393 2nd Ave, New York 10021 (Btwn 72nd & 73rd St)
212.744.8008
Too old school for a website, but you can find their menu at menupages.com
Friday, April 19, 2013
7 Years Later - The Bergers are Really Back!
The Bergers are back - can you believe it? We've been thinking about restarting our blog for awhile, but something always got in the way, like a baby. But we have new inspiration and it's time to go accomplish what we've always dreamed of - eating well and spreading the word.
A quick recap on our life for our followers, we've been out of NYC full time for almost 7 years, living on the East End of Long Island, a place rich with farmstands, wineries and over-priced restaurants. There are now 2 more Bergers, Z and D, who (lucky for us) are both burger fanatics. JB did a few chef stints and now says he works full-time as a private chef for the three of us in between his SAHD duties. I still have the day job that occasionally takes me to some interesting, foodie places, like Indianapolis (seriously, I do love going to Indy). What hasn't changed is our love for food, how we research every foodie opportunity that we face - be it what to cook for dinner or where to stop for lunch on a road trip.
For those of you new to Bergers & More here are a few details about how Bergers & More works:
1. We love to share our restaurant experiences, from dives to fine-dining, we are up for anything but our fave is to go out for burgers. We get extra excited when we have a "Berger Review".
A quick recap on our life for our followers, we've been out of NYC full time for almost 7 years, living on the East End of Long Island, a place rich with farmstands, wineries and over-priced restaurants. There are now 2 more Bergers, Z and D, who (lucky for us) are both burger fanatics. JB did a few chef stints and now says he works full-time as a private chef for the three of us in between his SAHD duties. I still have the day job that occasionally takes me to some interesting, foodie places, like Indianapolis (seriously, I do love going to Indy). What hasn't changed is our love for food, how we research every foodie opportunity that we face - be it what to cook for dinner or where to stop for lunch on a road trip.
For those of you new to Bergers & More here are a few details about how Bergers & More works:
1. We love to share our restaurant experiences, from dives to fine-dining, we are up for anything but our fave is to go out for burgers. We get extra excited when we have a "Berger Review".
2. Sadly we don't go out to eat as often as we did at the inception of B&M, so we will also feature any amazing meals that JB makes for us (Note: you will not get any amazing cooking tips from me unless you want to hear how I recently caught the broiler on fire or melted Saran Wrap). Or perhaps some awesome snack that one of us uncovers on our travels. Our goal is to post at least one review a week, even if it's been one of those weeks where you just get takeout every night.
3. You can be a part of Bergers and More, too. The easiest way is to go out with us! Or give us a recommendation and we'll try to go and review it!
Now about our signoff, when we started in 2005, we closed all of our blogs with "until we eat again". I'm not saying anyone stole my idea BUT now there is a much more prominent blogger with the same sign off who uses the same closing, so I'll be the bigger blogger and simply say:
Until our next Burger...
KLB
P.S. - For kicks, take a look at some of the old posts. I know I enjoyed re-reading them.
KLB
P.S. - For kicks, take a look at some of the old posts. I know I enjoyed re-reading them.
Sunday, May 06, 2007
Bergers Are Back...Soon!
Readers,
Its been awhile and a lot has happened since my last post in June 2006. The Bergers have moved out of New York City to the up and coming culinary land that is the East End of Long Island. So while we still eat great and interesting meals, many of them come from our own kitchen.
We've spent the past 7 months exploring new restaurants, markets, farms, vineyards and more in our new neighborhood. we have lots to share and we will share it soon -- please be patient - the best is yet to come.
Until we eat again, KLB
Its been awhile and a lot has happened since my last post in June 2006. The Bergers have moved out of New York City to the up and coming culinary land that is the East End of Long Island. So while we still eat great and interesting meals, many of them come from our own kitchen.
We've spent the past 7 months exploring new restaurants, markets, farms, vineyards and more in our new neighborhood. we have lots to share and we will share it soon -- please be patient - the best is yet to come.
Until we eat again, KLB
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Cafe D'Alsace, 6/22/06
As our week of eating continued, we headed uptown for a dinner with JB's mom. We hardly ever cross paths in the summer, so this was our farewell dinner.
With no reservations, we decided to try Cafe D'Alsace which has received some recent raves. Lucky for us, we snagged the last outdoor table on 2nd Avenue at 7:30 to enjoy the longest day of the year.
JB's mom had been a few times and recommended the burger. It was Burgers all around for the Bergers. They come with grilled onions, muenster and fries. Simple, perfect. Wait, this is a Berger Review!
But Cafe D'Alsace is more than a burger place, it's a beer place. They have TONS of beer. JB had a Trappist Ale which I learned is 11% alcohol making my 4% Hoegarden a measly sip. JB wanted three beers but could barely finish the one (lightweight).
We also shared some homemade duck sausage (JB's mom is much better sharer than mine) and a goat cheese tartlet. I didn't care for the sausage but JB loved it. So I took charge of the goat cheese. And we all took charge of the molten chocolate cake which had just enough molten, for once.
As the evening continued, we enjoyed people watching and soaking in the Frenchbistro ambience. So much so that we did not notice the slow as molasses service - maybe that's why it is so hard to get a table. Or maybe it is the food, which I strongly recommend.
Until we eat again, KLB
With no reservations, we decided to try Cafe D'Alsace which has received some recent raves. Lucky for us, we snagged the last outdoor table on 2nd Avenue at 7:30 to enjoy the longest day of the year.
JB's mom had been a few times and recommended the burger. It was Burgers all around for the Bergers. They come with grilled onions, muenster and fries. Simple, perfect. Wait, this is a Berger Review!
But Cafe D'Alsace is more than a burger place, it's a beer place. They have TONS of beer. JB had a Trappist Ale which I learned is 11% alcohol making my 4% Hoegarden a measly sip. JB wanted three beers but could barely finish the one (lightweight).
We also shared some homemade duck sausage (JB's mom is much better sharer than mine) and a goat cheese tartlet. I didn't care for the sausage but JB loved it. So I took charge of the goat cheese. And we all took charge of the molten chocolate cake which had just enough molten, for once.
As the evening continued, we enjoyed people watching and soaking in the Frenchbistro ambience. So much so that we did not notice the slow as molasses service - maybe that's why it is so hard to get a table. Or maybe it is the food, which I strongly recommend.
Until we eat again, KLB
Kittichai, 6/20/06
Coming off the horrible dinner at Gramercy 24 (see below), I had superhigh expectations for Kittichai. It had been on my list for almost 2 years and when my mom asked where I wanted to go for my belated birthday dinner, it sprung to mind.
Kittichai was early in the Asian pioneers, before Spice Market, before Buddkhan, before Buddha Bar. It is Thai by nature, even though all Asian fusion places tend to follow similar themes.
The restaurant is in 60 Thompson, a boutique hotel on Thompson Street where you often read that celebrities hang their hat. The restaurant is celebrity-worthy, with a pool in the center of the room complete with floating candles and orchids, it is a downtown Four Seasons Pool Room.
My parents, not the best sharers, rose to the challenge and shared every dish. I had done the requisite research and ordered for the table. Appetizers were crispy rock shrimp with eggplant, seared tuna, foie gras and chocolate spare ribs. Sea bass and wok fried chicken rounded out the meal along with fried rice and asian greens.
All dishes were tasty. Highlights included the seared tuna which you cooked on a hot rock on the tabletop. The chocolate ribs were fun to watch being eaten -- my dad's face was covered in chocolate -- than to eat. I did not have the foie gras which JB especially loved and my mom devoured the shrimp.
I found the mains on the small side, especially the chicken, however, since we had a lot to start we were sated. And the extensive cocktail list helped, too.
Dessert included banana spring rolls and honey ice cream. The honey ice cream was a standout. A nice reminder of summer.
Until we eat again, KLB
Kittichai was early in the Asian pioneers, before Spice Market, before Buddkhan, before Buddha Bar. It is Thai by nature, even though all Asian fusion places tend to follow similar themes.
The restaurant is in 60 Thompson, a boutique hotel on Thompson Street where you often read that celebrities hang their hat. The restaurant is celebrity-worthy, with a pool in the center of the room complete with floating candles and orchids, it is a downtown Four Seasons Pool Room.
My parents, not the best sharers, rose to the challenge and shared every dish. I had done the requisite research and ordered for the table. Appetizers were crispy rock shrimp with eggplant, seared tuna, foie gras and chocolate spare ribs. Sea bass and wok fried chicken rounded out the meal along with fried rice and asian greens.
All dishes were tasty. Highlights included the seared tuna which you cooked on a hot rock on the tabletop. The chocolate ribs were fun to watch being eaten -- my dad's face was covered in chocolate -- than to eat. I did not have the foie gras which JB especially loved and my mom devoured the shrimp.
I found the mains on the small side, especially the chicken, however, since we had a lot to start we were sated. And the extensive cocktail list helped, too.
Dessert included banana spring rolls and honey ice cream. The honey ice cream was a standout. A nice reminder of summer.
Until we eat again, KLB
Gramercy 24, 6/19/06
This was quite possibly the worst dinner in New York city in my lifetime. I knew to question the crowd which was small and obviously from out of town. But I had hope for the chef and the restaurant. Hope was not enough.
It wasn't entirely my fault. We had agreed to go to a seafood place. I nominated Tides on the les or Ditch Plains in the west village. It was kimberly who suggested something closer. And that's how I found gramercy 24.
A seafood place in the gramercy park area - how bad could it be?
At least the wine list was good. A nice bottle of reisling was reasonably priced. When we finished dinner JB asked what everyone's favorite of the worst was - matt's was the wine, confirming that he is indeed the smartest of us all.
I'll talk about the food in order of bad to worse. Kimberly had the linguine and clams which were sort of safe, Matt and I each had the tuna burgers, which were small, overcooked and taseless. JB had pizza for reasons no one could explain. Seriously, why order pizza in a seafood place? But he had a craving that was not satisfied. Elio's would have been better.
Also on the menu was a lobster club which was my first order. When ordering I specifically asked if there was celery, being a celery-hater. I was told a definitive no and wouldn't you know it, the club came packed with celery. I sent it back, but not before JB tasted it and declared it equally awful. At least they were consistent, consistently awful.
Until we eat again, KLB
It wasn't entirely my fault. We had agreed to go to a seafood place. I nominated Tides on the les or Ditch Plains in the west village. It was kimberly who suggested something closer. And that's how I found gramercy 24.
A seafood place in the gramercy park area - how bad could it be?
At least the wine list was good. A nice bottle of reisling was reasonably priced. When we finished dinner JB asked what everyone's favorite of the worst was - matt's was the wine, confirming that he is indeed the smartest of us all.
I'll talk about the food in order of bad to worse. Kimberly had the linguine and clams which were sort of safe, Matt and I each had the tuna burgers, which were small, overcooked and taseless. JB had pizza for reasons no one could explain. Seriously, why order pizza in a seafood place? But he had a craving that was not satisfied. Elio's would have been better.
Also on the menu was a lobster club which was my first order. When ordering I specifically asked if there was celery, being a celery-hater. I was told a definitive no and wouldn't you know it, the club came packed with celery. I sent it back, but not before JB tasted it and declared it equally awful. At least they were consistent, consistently awful.
Until we eat again, KLB
Saturday, June 17, 2006
TBD, 6/15/06
OK, so this makes for interesting restaurant reviewing, since the restaurant is so new it has yet to be named.
It is located on Little w. 12th Street, and can't go by its number because that would be ripping off One Little W. 12th Street, a restaurant took its addresss first. And so in its place, it will now be called the great, new restaurant where we had Matt's birthday dinner.
Now that we've cleared that up - let's discuss food.
Aubrey had organized Matt's birthday dinner in a beatiful back garden, nearby their equally beautiful new apartment in the West Village. Each place setting had a single hydrangea defining our assigned seat. The menu choices were simple -- to start: a simple salad or a tuna ceviche or shrimp in black sesame paste or tomato and mozzarella salad. To middle: filet or swordwish or spaghetti alla vongole. To finish: chocolate crunch or do it yourself tiramisu or, darnit, something else with a coffee flavor. (This is why I should take notes and not relinquish my menu or both!)
JB and I were both thrilled with our meals. When you have a new, really new restaurant, you always need to be wary of the food while they get their feet wet. Since this place began as bar, they had a head start. Although their were a few service questions that took awhile to be answered. For example, it took our waiter a few trips to the kitchen to leanr the main ingredient of the ceviche. He tried to convince me it did not have any fish in it, which by definition, is always the main ingredient.
Nonetheless, the ceviche was delicious. The other starters I tried were even more so. I typically love tomato and mozzarella salad, but have had a few unripened tomatoes of late which is why I skipped ordering it. Big mistake - huge! That cheese reminded me of capri and the tomatoes were right on.
I did order better on the main with the filet that was accompanied with three sauces, a balsamic, a bbq and a terriyaki. I stuck with the terriyaki, of course.
We shared lots of sides including asparagus and hand cut french fries.
After all of the wine and champagne (and food), dessert was almost an afterthought, but my few bites of the chocolate crunch were tasty. JB demolished his make your own tiramasu and starting making more tiramisu off of Aubrey's plate.
As the evening progressed, the bar area spilled into the outdoor restaurant and we found ourselves in a veritable hot spot, which is when we left for the more laid back atmosphere of Matt and Aubrey's rooftop and more champagne (obv).
To bring it full circle, I'd like to offer up the first suggestion for a name for the new restaurant - Matt's, in honor of his birthday.
Until we eat again, KLB
It is located on Little w. 12th Street, and can't go by its number because that would be ripping off One Little W. 12th Street, a restaurant took its addresss first. And so in its place, it will now be called the great, new restaurant where we had Matt's birthday dinner.
Now that we've cleared that up - let's discuss food.
Aubrey had organized Matt's birthday dinner in a beatiful back garden, nearby their equally beautiful new apartment in the West Village. Each place setting had a single hydrangea defining our assigned seat. The menu choices were simple -- to start: a simple salad or a tuna ceviche or shrimp in black sesame paste or tomato and mozzarella salad. To middle: filet or swordwish or spaghetti alla vongole. To finish: chocolate crunch or do it yourself tiramisu or, darnit, something else with a coffee flavor. (This is why I should take notes and not relinquish my menu or both!)
JB and I were both thrilled with our meals. When you have a new, really new restaurant, you always need to be wary of the food while they get their feet wet. Since this place began as bar, they had a head start. Although their were a few service questions that took awhile to be answered. For example, it took our waiter a few trips to the kitchen to leanr the main ingredient of the ceviche. He tried to convince me it did not have any fish in it, which by definition, is always the main ingredient.
Nonetheless, the ceviche was delicious. The other starters I tried were even more so. I typically love tomato and mozzarella salad, but have had a few unripened tomatoes of late which is why I skipped ordering it. Big mistake - huge! That cheese reminded me of capri and the tomatoes were right on.
I did order better on the main with the filet that was accompanied with three sauces, a balsamic, a bbq and a terriyaki. I stuck with the terriyaki, of course.
We shared lots of sides including asparagus and hand cut french fries.
After all of the wine and champagne (and food), dessert was almost an afterthought, but my few bites of the chocolate crunch were tasty. JB demolished his make your own tiramasu and starting making more tiramisu off of Aubrey's plate.
As the evening progressed, the bar area spilled into the outdoor restaurant and we found ourselves in a veritable hot spot, which is when we left for the more laid back atmosphere of Matt and Aubrey's rooftop and more champagne (obv).
To bring it full circle, I'd like to offer up the first suggestion for a name for the new restaurant - Matt's, in honor of his birthday.
Until we eat again, KLB
Thursday, June 08, 2006
Dinosaur BBQ, 6/6/06
Let's just say that it took me a full two days to recover from the amount of food consumed two nights ago at Dinosaur BBQ. This is not a joke. Never have I ever had such a vast quantity of such delicious food that I could not stop eating. Let's begin at the beginning.
Dinosaur BBQ is a local restaurant in Syracuse, New York that opened a Manhattan, Harlem actually, branch last year. To get there is no easy feat, you must take the Subway up to 125th Street and walk over to 12th Avenue and then up to 131st Street. Luckily, 126th - 129th street do not exist that far west, or as our friend Jenn noted they must have been "stolen", so the walk is shorter than you think.
Inside, it looks like a large bar with tables one step up from picnic. But seriously, who cares.
There were four of us, which was the perfect number for the appetizer sampler of friend green tomatoes, deviled eggs, spicy shrimp and wings. One for each, with some extra shrimp to share. The FGTs were particularly good, and surprisingly, so were the wings.
I was dead set on ribs and got the smallest portion available which was subsequently huge. I got 2 sides, mac and cheese, adequate, and salt potatoes which came in a butter bath. JB and Jim both had platters of brisket, ribs and pulled pork. Everything fared well and Jenn especially liked her pulled pork which was her only meat.
As if that wasn't enough, we had key lime pie and peanut butter pie, not mention several beers from their huge selection.
The next day, I told everyone I knew to check it out. But the problem is, I can't go for awhile. I'm still full!
Until we eat again, KLB
Dinosaur BBQ is a local restaurant in Syracuse, New York that opened a Manhattan, Harlem actually, branch last year. To get there is no easy feat, you must take the Subway up to 125th Street and walk over to 12th Avenue and then up to 131st Street. Luckily, 126th - 129th street do not exist that far west, or as our friend Jenn noted they must have been "stolen", so the walk is shorter than you think.
Inside, it looks like a large bar with tables one step up from picnic. But seriously, who cares.
There were four of us, which was the perfect number for the appetizer sampler of friend green tomatoes, deviled eggs, spicy shrimp and wings. One for each, with some extra shrimp to share. The FGTs were particularly good, and surprisingly, so were the wings.
I was dead set on ribs and got the smallest portion available which was subsequently huge. I got 2 sides, mac and cheese, adequate, and salt potatoes which came in a butter bath. JB and Jim both had platters of brisket, ribs and pulled pork. Everything fared well and Jenn especially liked her pulled pork which was her only meat.
As if that wasn't enough, we had key lime pie and peanut butter pie, not mention several beers from their huge selection.
The next day, I told everyone I knew to check it out. But the problem is, I can't go for awhile. I'm still full!
Until we eat again, KLB
Monday, June 05, 2006
Berger Review! Zip Burger, 6/5/06
It's been ages since I've done a Berger Review, but even longer, it's been a year and a half since I'd seen my friend Jeramie.
Jeramie and I started working together in 2000 and then when he moved jobs, I followed suit. And we were at the same place when he left in May 2004 to follow his dream and move to Australia.
What I miss most about Jeramie are our food discussions. We both love food in its simplest form, especially burgers.
And so, it was almost fate that Zip Burger, the newest "foodie" burger joint to hit Manhattan, opened last week mere blocks from my office on 52nd & 2nd. Jeramie had asked to have lunch near my office.
I had, of course, reviewed the menu in advance. It is simple -- burgers only -- beef, veggie, turkey and salmon. Pick your bun, your cheese, your sauce and any extras. Fries and shakes complete the menu. And hamburger salad -- right.
All ingredients are high quality which is why our two burgers cost over $20 at this takeout place.
My burger was topped with Vermont cheddar and grilled vidalia onions wrapped in a lettuce wrap. I don't recommend the lettuce-wrapped burger, it just falls apart. I do recommend the vidalia onions.
Jeramie chose a more extravagant bunned burger of guacamole, bacon and cheddar.
We had similar opinions: excellent toppings (next time I want to try the goat cheese burger), decent beef and at an average price. Both burgers, though, came underdone at medium, so I'd order up.
And get there early, the lines can be long and last week they ran out of meat!
Until we eat again, KLB
Jeramie and I started working together in 2000 and then when he moved jobs, I followed suit. And we were at the same place when he left in May 2004 to follow his dream and move to Australia.
What I miss most about Jeramie are our food discussions. We both love food in its simplest form, especially burgers.
And so, it was almost fate that Zip Burger, the newest "foodie" burger joint to hit Manhattan, opened last week mere blocks from my office on 52nd & 2nd. Jeramie had asked to have lunch near my office.
I had, of course, reviewed the menu in advance. It is simple -- burgers only -- beef, veggie, turkey and salmon. Pick your bun, your cheese, your sauce and any extras. Fries and shakes complete the menu. And hamburger salad -- right.
All ingredients are high quality which is why our two burgers cost over $20 at this takeout place.
My burger was topped with Vermont cheddar and grilled vidalia onions wrapped in a lettuce wrap. I don't recommend the lettuce-wrapped burger, it just falls apart. I do recommend the vidalia onions.
Jeramie chose a more extravagant bunned burger of guacamole, bacon and cheddar.
We had similar opinions: excellent toppings (next time I want to try the goat cheese burger), decent beef and at an average price. Both burgers, though, came underdone at medium, so I'd order up.
And get there early, the lines can be long and last week they ran out of meat!
Until we eat again, KLB
Saturday, June 03, 2006
Hosteria Mazzei, 6/3/06 (Port Chester, NY)
I needed a reason to get back into the Berger Blog and what better way than a Berger birthday. Well technically, my mom is not a Berger, but it sort of counts.
For my mom's XXth birthday, my dad, generously, took several of us to an Italian restaurant in Port Chester. We knew it would be good because my Uncle Jim recommended it and nothing comes between him and fine Italian cooking.
The meal was, to my father's liking, not conduive to sharing. So I can only report on my dishes and JB's, my ever-willing dinner partner.
The options ran your typical Italian fare, from antipasti to grilled meats to delicious pastas.
I started with an insalate caprese, a constant favorite of mine. I've been wary of it lately since tomatoes are not yet in season, but the fresh mozzarella was tempting. The cheese was tremendous, very fresh and the tomatoes were almost there. JB's stewed calamari starter was too fishy for me, I had anticipated a Batali-like calamari and was let down.
I opted for a pasta special of homemade cavatelli with lamb ragu for my main. It was tasty and hearty. I think from now on I will only eat pasta if it is homemade. Otherwise, it is just not worth the carbs.
JB chose one of my all time favorite dishes -- rack of lamb. It was not a huge portion, nor was the pasta, but my (small) taste was good. Not as good as I've had elsewhere, though JB seemed to gobble up the four grill-marked chops.
Dessert was somewhat of a lowpoint, as it often is, my apple cake was just too muffiny. JB did like his panna cotta although what's not to like about a gel-formed milk.
Regardless, it was a festive evening for all and another Italian Job well done.
Until we eat again, KLB
For my mom's XXth birthday, my dad, generously, took several of us to an Italian restaurant in Port Chester. We knew it would be good because my Uncle Jim recommended it and nothing comes between him and fine Italian cooking.
The meal was, to my father's liking, not conduive to sharing. So I can only report on my dishes and JB's, my ever-willing dinner partner.
The options ran your typical Italian fare, from antipasti to grilled meats to delicious pastas.
I started with an insalate caprese, a constant favorite of mine. I've been wary of it lately since tomatoes are not yet in season, but the fresh mozzarella was tempting. The cheese was tremendous, very fresh and the tomatoes were almost there. JB's stewed calamari starter was too fishy for me, I had anticipated a Batali-like calamari and was let down.
I opted for a pasta special of homemade cavatelli with lamb ragu for my main. It was tasty and hearty. I think from now on I will only eat pasta if it is homemade. Otherwise, it is just not worth the carbs.
JB chose one of my all time favorite dishes -- rack of lamb. It was not a huge portion, nor was the pasta, but my (small) taste was good. Not as good as I've had elsewhere, though JB seemed to gobble up the four grill-marked chops.
Dessert was somewhat of a lowpoint, as it often is, my apple cake was just too muffiny. JB did like his panna cotta although what's not to like about a gel-formed milk.
Regardless, it was a festive evening for all and another Italian Job well done.
Until we eat again, KLB
Monday, April 03, 2006
Wrist Recap -Part I
This is one-handed typing here, so I'll be brief.
I've had a bunch a great meals in the past few weeks, but no time (or ability, thanks to my recently repaired ligaments). Here are some truncated thoughts on the standouts:
- Spigolo: This Upper East Side italian redefines neighborhood italian restaurant. Pastas (which are small) and desserts are the things to order here; gnocchi, papparadelle and donuts specifically. It does not come cheap and it is worth it.
- Mercadito: I anxiously awaited our reservation here on Avenue B and was disappointed. Food was fine, again small portions, but lacked the kick that Mexican should have. Drinks, cucumber margaritas especially, rocked.
- Highline: This restaurant answers the tired Meatpacking District question - where without the big spend. Thai food here was indeed delicious and reasonable. Everything was good and gave us fuel for a late evening. Stay away from the underage lounge, however.
- Cookshop: My new fave in Chelsea and all over town. Snacks, starters, mains and dessert were perfect. The only flaws were the sides which were too oily around the table. My short ribs fell off the bone and my grilled squid was not overly rubbery. Try the sundae for the dessert. And check out the mighty fine bus boy (Taye Diggs in training).
Until we eat again, KLB
I've had a bunch a great meals in the past few weeks, but no time (or ability, thanks to my recently repaired ligaments). Here are some truncated thoughts on the standouts:
- Spigolo: This Upper East Side italian redefines neighborhood italian restaurant. Pastas (which are small) and desserts are the things to order here; gnocchi, papparadelle and donuts specifically. It does not come cheap and it is worth it.
- Mercadito: I anxiously awaited our reservation here on Avenue B and was disappointed. Food was fine, again small portions, but lacked the kick that Mexican should have. Drinks, cucumber margaritas especially, rocked.
- Highline: This restaurant answers the tired Meatpacking District question - where without the big spend. Thai food here was indeed delicious and reasonable. Everything was good and gave us fuel for a late evening. Stay away from the underage lounge, however.
- Cookshop: My new fave in Chelsea and all over town. Snacks, starters, mains and dessert were perfect. The only flaws were the sides which were too oily around the table. My short ribs fell off the bone and my grilled squid was not overly rubbery. Try the sundae for the dessert. And check out the mighty fine bus boy (Taye Diggs in training).
Until we eat again, KLB
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Alison (Bridgehampton), 3/11
Another weekend, another prix-fixe. I'm not getting tired of it, because in a month or two the Hamptons will be mobbed and I'll be barbecuing on my deck instead of eating at fine restaurants.
This weekend we tried one that has been on both of our lists for quite some time, Alison in Bridgehampton. Alison used to be in Sagaponack, and was on the beach, and there was also one in the city, but no longer. Instead, the restaurant is housed in a charming white house just off of Montauk Highway.
We were there early to take advantage of the deal, $19.95 for two selected courses, or $26.95 for three if you order before 7:00. Selections were limited and they make you suffer through the same menu and just tell you what you can have. Smart (and tricky if you ask me). We both wanted something else, but felt we should try to stick to the PF for our first time. If we loved it, we could always come back in the summer and pay retail.
We each chose the mixed greens salad (over the alternate of soup) and it was extraordinarily fresh, albeit a bit boring.
Dinner options were a flounder and a chicken. JB opted for the flounder which came with fennel and truffle risotto, while I opted for a simple chicken with mashed potatoes and brussel sprouts. Everything was good, but nothing was stellar. The chicken lacked flavor and the MPs were bland. JB enjoyed his flounder, but I, again, thought it could have had more of a kick to it.
We decided to skip dessert. Nothing looked too terrific, although we had the full run of the dessert menu which I appreciated.
All in all, it was a nice meal, but I don't think I'll suffer through the summer, weekend prices of $28 - $35 for an entree. The room never filled up.
As we drove home, we passed the Almond where the week before we'd had another terrific prix-fixe meal. Theirs is $19.95 for 3 courses and I think better all around. And just to compare, they were packed.
Until we eat again, KLB
This weekend we tried one that has been on both of our lists for quite some time, Alison in Bridgehampton. Alison used to be in Sagaponack, and was on the beach, and there was also one in the city, but no longer. Instead, the restaurant is housed in a charming white house just off of Montauk Highway.
We were there early to take advantage of the deal, $19.95 for two selected courses, or $26.95 for three if you order before 7:00. Selections were limited and they make you suffer through the same menu and just tell you what you can have. Smart (and tricky if you ask me). We both wanted something else, but felt we should try to stick to the PF for our first time. If we loved it, we could always come back in the summer and pay retail.
We each chose the mixed greens salad (over the alternate of soup) and it was extraordinarily fresh, albeit a bit boring.
Dinner options were a flounder and a chicken. JB opted for the flounder which came with fennel and truffle risotto, while I opted for a simple chicken with mashed potatoes and brussel sprouts. Everything was good, but nothing was stellar. The chicken lacked flavor and the MPs were bland. JB enjoyed his flounder, but I, again, thought it could have had more of a kick to it.
We decided to skip dessert. Nothing looked too terrific, although we had the full run of the dessert menu which I appreciated.
All in all, it was a nice meal, but I don't think I'll suffer through the summer, weekend prices of $28 - $35 for an entree. The room never filled up.
As we drove home, we passed the Almond where the week before we'd had another terrific prix-fixe meal. Theirs is $19.95 for 3 courses and I think better all around. And just to compare, they were packed.
Until we eat again, KLB
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Bread, 2/28/06
After getting fitted for our bridesmaid dresses for Vicki's wedding, Laura and I felt like eating. We thought we should eat as if we were the actual size that we had to order our dresses in. What better name for a restaurant in this situation than: Bread.
Avoid the carbs no more, Bread is the perfect excuse. This tiny restaurant on Spring streetin Nolita is an Atkins nightmare.
The carbs, of course, outweigh the dietetic options.
We started with a salad - arugula and parmeggiano. Boring and healthy.
The eponymous bread was delicious, although it took awhile to come.
We each had a pasta dish, tortellini for me and lasagna for Laura. I think Laura won. While my tortellini was flavorful, it bordered on too oily. Laura's lasagna on the other hand was meaty and delicious. Lucky her.
Service was slow...but the space fun and the crowd, your typical hipster. I'd go again, if I didn't have a work deadline. Like I do tonight.
Until we eat again, KLB
Avoid the carbs no more, Bread is the perfect excuse. This tiny restaurant on Spring streetin Nolita is an Atkins nightmare.
The carbs, of course, outweigh the dietetic options.
We started with a salad - arugula and parmeggiano. Boring and healthy.
The eponymous bread was delicious, although it took awhile to come.
We each had a pasta dish, tortellini for me and lasagna for Laura. I think Laura won. While my tortellini was flavorful, it bordered on too oily. Laura's lasagna on the other hand was meaty and delicious. Lucky her.
Service was slow...but the space fun and the crowd, your typical hipster. I'd go again, if I didn't have a work deadline. Like I do tonight.
Until we eat again, KLB
Sunday, February 26, 2006
Mac and Cheese Off, 2/24/06
Our friends Kimberly & Matt decided to do something a bit strange for us this weekend, have people over instead of going out. This night had a twist - a contest,a macaroni and cheese contest to be specific.
4 teams of two squared off in the competition. We were judged on four categories: presentation, individuality, texture and taste.
Here's how it shook out:
- Mini-Mac: Our entry was a basically Annie's Cheddar M & C with a lot of Old Bay Seasoning. We knew, or rather I knew, that since it would be basic, we should beef up presentation. We decided to put some of our wedding gifts to good use and brought espresso cups that we stacked into a pyramid each with an individual serving.
- Suck My Elbows: This elbow casserole dish had way too many onions. Seriously, who puts onions in mac & cheese?
- Cheesus Christ: Obviously, this entry had the best name. In addition to an abundance of cheese, there were crisped breadcrumbs on the top giving the dish amazing texure.
- 7th Heaven: 7 different cheeses made up this overwhelming dish. I only tasted one and it was strong. Everyone else, however, seemed to love it.
In the end, we got third, but we won hands down for presentation. 7th Heaven was a clear winner, followed by CC. Suck my elbows brought up the rear.
Although we didn't win, it was a fun event and different from the traditional going to dinner and drinking lots of wine. Thanks to our hosts and event creators.
Watch out, next year, the Bergers are going to win.
Until we eat again, KLB
4 teams of two squared off in the competition. We were judged on four categories: presentation, individuality, texture and taste.
Here's how it shook out:
- Mini-Mac: Our entry was a basically Annie's Cheddar M & C with a lot of Old Bay Seasoning. We knew, or rather I knew, that since it would be basic, we should beef up presentation. We decided to put some of our wedding gifts to good use and brought espresso cups that we stacked into a pyramid each with an individual serving.
- Suck My Elbows: This elbow casserole dish had way too many onions. Seriously, who puts onions in mac & cheese?
- Cheesus Christ: Obviously, this entry had the best name. In addition to an abundance of cheese, there were crisped breadcrumbs on the top giving the dish amazing texure.
- 7th Heaven: 7 different cheeses made up this overwhelming dish. I only tasted one and it was strong. Everyone else, however, seemed to love it.
In the end, we got third, but we won hands down for presentation. 7th Heaven was a clear winner, followed by CC. Suck my elbows brought up the rear.
Although we didn't win, it was a fun event and different from the traditional going to dinner and drinking lots of wine. Thanks to our hosts and event creators.
Watch out, next year, the Bergers are going to win.
Until we eat again, KLB
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Almondito (Wainscott) 2/19/06
We are still loving the Hamptons in the winter and the dining bargains to be had. This weekend was especially great because the offer we found is available all year round and we cannot wait to get it again soon.
Almondito is a cavernous Mexican eatery just on the outskirts of East Hampton. As we pulled up in the 15 degree weather I could imagine 100 people hanging off the deck in the 85 degree weather margaritas in hand. This is a great party place. And they have a great deal. Order by 7 and 3 courses are $19.95. No joke.
OK, entree selections are limited, chicken, salmon or pork, however appetizer choices are varied and portions are HUGE. After eating the delicious chips and salsa (two baskets, we'd skipped lunch) I couldn't finish half my tomato soup with chorizo and corn dumplings. JB on the other hand polished off every mussel on his plate. We both had the chocolate-y chicken mole devouring the bird, spinach, rice and beans. And a simple ice cream scoop for us both.
Dinner, with a large margarita for JB and a pinot noir for me, was just $60! Now that is deal. I'd do the Mexican hat dance to make it my regular place.
Until we eat again, KLB
Almondito is a cavernous Mexican eatery just on the outskirts of East Hampton. As we pulled up in the 15 degree weather I could imagine 100 people hanging off the deck in the 85 degree weather margaritas in hand. This is a great party place. And they have a great deal. Order by 7 and 3 courses are $19.95. No joke.
OK, entree selections are limited, chicken, salmon or pork, however appetizer choices are varied and portions are HUGE. After eating the delicious chips and salsa (two baskets, we'd skipped lunch) I couldn't finish half my tomato soup with chorizo and corn dumplings. JB on the other hand polished off every mussel on his plate. We both had the chocolate-y chicken mole devouring the bird, spinach, rice and beans. And a simple ice cream scoop for us both.
Dinner, with a large margarita for JB and a pinot noir for me, was just $60! Now that is deal. I'd do the Mexican hat dance to make it my regular place.
Until we eat again, KLB
Valentine's Day Special: Via Emilia, 2/14/06
Many years ago, JB and I had our first date at a restaurant called Trattoria I Pagliacci on Park Avenue South. I still remember what I wore (grey skirt, black sweater, black boots) and what I ate (minestrone, grilled calamari) which is a good thing because the restaurant no longer exists. Instead, Via Emilia is in its place. And for the past few years, JB have headed there for Valentine's Day.
It is small, no reservations, cash-only type of place. Most tables are two tops, so it should be romantic, but there is a lot of light and bare walls. Yet, the food is consistently terrific.
Their specialty is stuffed pastas. Perennially, I get the pumpkin torteloni and this year was no different. It was as sweet as I remembered it. JB mixed it up with lasagna, that he loved, and we both mixed it up with an oysters appetizer. Come on it was v-day.
Dessert was the downfall, the berry pastry was still frozen, but by then we'd had enough Italian wine that it did not matter. I think we'll skip dessert next year and just get an extra order of torteloni.
Until we eat again, KLB
It is small, no reservations, cash-only type of place. Most tables are two tops, so it should be romantic, but there is a lot of light and bare walls. Yet, the food is consistently terrific.
Their specialty is stuffed pastas. Perennially, I get the pumpkin torteloni and this year was no different. It was as sweet as I remembered it. JB mixed it up with lasagna, that he loved, and we both mixed it up with an oysters appetizer. Come on it was v-day.
Dessert was the downfall, the berry pastry was still frozen, but by then we'd had enough Italian wine that it did not matter. I think we'll skip dessert next year and just get an extra order of torteloni.
Until we eat again, KLB
The Bergers Hit the Road! San Diego, 1/27 - 1/30
This entry we're expanding beyond food into travel. It is called Bergers & More after all.
So here goes.
JB & I decided at the last minute to take a weekend trip to San Diego. We wanted to see a new place, get some sun, oh and there was a golf tournament. Thanks to American and Hilton for the miles and points respectively, we were able to get free airfare and 2 of 3 nights of our accommodations.
Here are the highlights:
Friday, 1/27 - San Diego/Coronado
Mission - This plantation-styrestaurantant fed us one of the best meals of the trip. We wanted to start out with the Mexicali flair and here we could. JB ordered a breakfast burrito my urging and I ordered breakfast quesadilla that I had read about. Major YUM. My breakfast quesadilla had bacon, cheese, tomatoes, beans and lots of cilantro.
Hotel Del Coronado & Moo-time - We spent the day exploring San Diego, the gaslamp district, where we stayed, and Coronado, an island just off the coast of SD. We headed to the famous Hotel Del Coronado and walked on the beach picking up purple sand dollars (yes, purple!). Since we'd had a late, and large, breakfast we each just got a scoop of amazing ice cream from the Moo-time creamery. Get the vanilla.
Rama - San Diego has a lot of asian restaurants and Rama is one of the best. We stuck to basics here, spring rolls and pad see yew, in a very trendy setting.
Saturday, 1/28 - San Diego
San Diego Zoo - This is the best place to spend 5 hours. Buy tickets online and save a few dollars. We walked around the whole zoo and then took a bus your to make sure we didn't miss anything.
Little Italy - I guess every city has a Little Italy. SD's is still developing but we found a great shop, Niche Boutique and a cafe for a mid-afternoon snack.
The Beach - And every city now also has a W, where the bar is also bound to be trendy. The SD W bar is literally a rooftop beach with heated sand where you can almost see the sunset. The roof is really only three flights up, but the eye candy is really the view.
Chive - We had reservations at Candelas, a haute Mexican restaurant, but they could not honor our reservation. We found ourselves wandering around the Gaslamp district and fell upon a Chive. A newish spot that had one of the best chicken dishes stuffed with goat cheese and on a bed of risotto. JB got mini-burgers (of course) and feta fries, which were stellar.
J Bar - Stiff competition for the Beach, this rooftop bar had an even bigger roof and crowd.
Sunday, 1/29 - La Jolla
Buick Invitational - The main point of our trip. This was six hours of unadultarated golf, Tiger to the max. The Torrey Pines course is beautiful overlooking the Pacific, but the crowds were horrific. (Note: On Tiger Woods golf on xbox, they have a much smaller crowd)
George's at the Cove - The most romantic restaurant of them all is in La Jolla hanging over the edge of the Pacific. We sat upstairs on the less expensive Ocean Terrace. Fish tacos were a mandatory. Worth the trip alone.
Monday, 1/30 - Old Town, La Jolla
Old Town Mexican Cafe - We thought it was a necessity to visit Old Town San Diego, the birthplace of San Diego. I'd skip it next time. Although the chorizo breakfast quesadillas were not half bad.
Roppongi - We spent our last afternoon driving through all the beach towns and ended up shopping and gallery hopping in La Jolla. Our final dinner was at Roppongi, a renowned Japanese restaurant with a renowned early dinner special, half-price off all small plates. We cleaned up the ribs, tuna and more.
Accomodations:
As I mentioned, this was a points trip so we were married to Hiltons, San Diego Gaslamp and Hilton Torrey Pines, respectively. They both had nice pools with views. The Gaslamp had huge complimentary breakfasts. TP had the benefit of golf course and Pacific views, plus JB saw Sergio Garcia in the elevator.
We used two great resources planning our trip that I would recommend:
Foodtv.com - The Food Network's website. They have a specific travel section. We took recommendations from both Bobby Flay and Rachael Ray, FYI Bobby's recs were better!
Nytimes.com - Lucky for us, the 1/20 Escapes section featured 36-hours in San Diego. We didn't follow it to a tee, we had about 84 hours after all, but we came pretty close.
Until we eat (and travel) again! KLB
So here goes.
JB & I decided at the last minute to take a weekend trip to San Diego. We wanted to see a new place, get some sun, oh and there was a golf tournament. Thanks to American and Hilton for the miles and points respectively, we were able to get free airfare and 2 of 3 nights of our accommodations.
Here are the highlights:
Friday, 1/27 - San Diego/Coronado
Mission - This plantation-styrestaurantant fed us one of the best meals of the trip. We wanted to start out with the Mexicali flair and here we could. JB ordered a breakfast burrito my urging and I ordered breakfast quesadilla that I had read about. Major YUM. My breakfast quesadilla had bacon, cheese, tomatoes, beans and lots of cilantro.
Hotel Del Coronado & Moo-time - We spent the day exploring San Diego, the gaslamp district, where we stayed, and Coronado, an island just off the coast of SD. We headed to the famous Hotel Del Coronado and walked on the beach picking up purple sand dollars (yes, purple!). Since we'd had a late, and large, breakfast we each just got a scoop of amazing ice cream from the Moo-time creamery. Get the vanilla.
Rama - San Diego has a lot of asian restaurants and Rama is one of the best. We stuck to basics here, spring rolls and pad see yew, in a very trendy setting.
Saturday, 1/28 - San Diego
San Diego Zoo - This is the best place to spend 5 hours. Buy tickets online and save a few dollars. We walked around the whole zoo and then took a bus your to make sure we didn't miss anything.
Little Italy - I guess every city has a Little Italy. SD's is still developing but we found a great shop, Niche Boutique and a cafe for a mid-afternoon snack.
The Beach - And every city now also has a W, where the bar is also bound to be trendy. The SD W bar is literally a rooftop beach with heated sand where you can almost see the sunset. The roof is really only three flights up, but the eye candy is really the view.
Chive - We had reservations at Candelas, a haute Mexican restaurant, but they could not honor our reservation. We found ourselves wandering around the Gaslamp district and fell upon a Chive. A newish spot that had one of the best chicken dishes stuffed with goat cheese and on a bed of risotto. JB got mini-burgers (of course) and feta fries, which were stellar.
J Bar - Stiff competition for the Beach, this rooftop bar had an even bigger roof and crowd.
Sunday, 1/29 - La Jolla
Buick Invitational - The main point of our trip. This was six hours of unadultarated golf, Tiger to the max. The Torrey Pines course is beautiful overlooking the Pacific, but the crowds were horrific. (Note: On Tiger Woods golf on xbox, they have a much smaller crowd)
George's at the Cove - The most romantic restaurant of them all is in La Jolla hanging over the edge of the Pacific. We sat upstairs on the less expensive Ocean Terrace. Fish tacos were a mandatory. Worth the trip alone.
Monday, 1/30 - Old Town, La Jolla
Old Town Mexican Cafe - We thought it was a necessity to visit Old Town San Diego, the birthplace of San Diego. I'd skip it next time. Although the chorizo breakfast quesadillas were not half bad.
Roppongi - We spent our last afternoon driving through all the beach towns and ended up shopping and gallery hopping in La Jolla. Our final dinner was at Roppongi, a renowned Japanese restaurant with a renowned early dinner special, half-price off all small plates. We cleaned up the ribs, tuna and more.
Accomodations:
As I mentioned, this was a points trip so we were married to Hiltons, San Diego Gaslamp and Hilton Torrey Pines, respectively. They both had nice pools with views. The Gaslamp had huge complimentary breakfasts. TP had the benefit of golf course and Pacific views, plus JB saw Sergio Garcia in the elevator.
We used two great resources planning our trip that I would recommend:
Foodtv.com - The Food Network's website. They have a specific travel section. We took recommendations from both Bobby Flay and Rachael Ray, FYI Bobby's recs were better!
Nytimes.com - Lucky for us, the 1/20 Escapes section featured 36-hours in San Diego. We didn't follow it to a tee, we had about 84 hours after all, but we came pretty close.
Until we eat (and travel) again! KLB
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Mo Pitkin's 1/24/06
Ever since I read about Mo Pitkin's I've been dying to go. They positioned themselves as Juedo-Latino restaurant on where else but Avenue A. Think Jewish comfort food, chorizo and Manishevitz-tinis.
We met our friend Amanda for some noshes and catch-up at their East Village location, following a long meeting with our wedding photographer. I needed a drink.
The center of the menu offers specialty cocktails, JB and I each got a spiked egg cream, mine with Stoli Vanilla and his with chocolate vodka. It was like starting with dessert. I could have had 3.
I wanted everything on the menu. They have brisket, roast chicken, matzoh ball soup, cuban sandwiches, you name it.
We settled on the following -- an order of latkes to start, a mo pitkins platter for Amanda, a Mo Burger for JB and deep-fried macaroni & cheese for me. As you can see, we opted for Jewish, not Latino.
In short, the food is good, but it is a little gimmicky. The latkes were fine, better than the ones JB tried to make in a soup pan in December, and surprisingly the applesauce was superior with lots of cinnamon. I didn't have any of the items on Amanda's sampler that included deviled eggs, chopped liver and lots of veggies, but it was served on a seder plate, so that has to be good.
The burger is one of their trademarks. It comes with a shmear of chicken liver and a fried egg. It was too much for me, sort of ripoff on the DB Burger, though not a bad deal at $11.
And then there was the mac & cheese. It was a brick of breadcrumbs sitting in velveeta soup. Inside was perfect macaroni & cheese. This side order was more than enough food for me, I'd argue that it is a meal for two.
An hour later, I'm still stuffed and probably will still be tomorrow. But isn't that the point of good Jewish comfort food?
Until we eat again, KLB
We met our friend Amanda for some noshes and catch-up at their East Village location, following a long meeting with our wedding photographer. I needed a drink.
The center of the menu offers specialty cocktails, JB and I each got a spiked egg cream, mine with Stoli Vanilla and his with chocolate vodka. It was like starting with dessert. I could have had 3.
I wanted everything on the menu. They have brisket, roast chicken, matzoh ball soup, cuban sandwiches, you name it.
We settled on the following -- an order of latkes to start, a mo pitkins platter for Amanda, a Mo Burger for JB and deep-fried macaroni & cheese for me. As you can see, we opted for Jewish, not Latino.
In short, the food is good, but it is a little gimmicky. The latkes were fine, better than the ones JB tried to make in a soup pan in December, and surprisingly the applesauce was superior with lots of cinnamon. I didn't have any of the items on Amanda's sampler that included deviled eggs, chopped liver and lots of veggies, but it was served on a seder plate, so that has to be good.
The burger is one of their trademarks. It comes with a shmear of chicken liver and a fried egg. It was too much for me, sort of ripoff on the DB Burger, though not a bad deal at $11.
And then there was the mac & cheese. It was a brick of breadcrumbs sitting in velveeta soup. Inside was perfect macaroni & cheese. This side order was more than enough food for me, I'd argue that it is a meal for two.
An hour later, I'm still stuffed and probably will still be tomorrow. But isn't that the point of good Jewish comfort food?
Until we eat again, KLB
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Berger Review! Burke in the Box, 1/18/06
It seems that everyone wants to get on the burger train these days. First it was Daniel Boulud, then Danny Meyer and now the latest entry, David Burke.
You'll find Burke in the Box at Bloomingdales, believe it or not. You can enter from the cosmetics department or 59th Street. The idea is smart, have a snack and keep on shopping.
JB and I stopped in for just that in between another one of my all-too frequent visits to the Bobbi Brown counter and a quick movie.
We opted for the sliders which at $9.95 include 3 mini-burgers in haute-cuisine style. They looked terrific and tasted terrible. A serious miss.
The meat was completely dry and the brioche bun was hard. The highlight was the lone cherry tomato atop the bun secured by a toothpick.
This burger is not worth it, too bad, because I would have been a very regular customer.
Until we eat again, KLB
You'll find Burke in the Box at Bloomingdales, believe it or not. You can enter from the cosmetics department or 59th Street. The idea is smart, have a snack and keep on shopping.
JB and I stopped in for just that in between another one of my all-too frequent visits to the Bobbi Brown counter and a quick movie.
We opted for the sliders which at $9.95 include 3 mini-burgers in haute-cuisine style. They looked terrific and tasted terrible. A serious miss.
The meat was completely dry and the brioche bun was hard. The highlight was the lone cherry tomato atop the bun secured by a toothpick.
This burger is not worth it, too bad, because I would have been a very regular customer.
Until we eat again, KLB
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Yum! 1/16/06
I try not to eat at restaurants that are named for the sound you are supposed to make while eating their food. But I can't help myself at Yum.
I learned about this hole in wall, real dump of a place on chowhound.com. It looks like nothing, but the Thai food taste is all there. Located on 44th Street between 6th & 7th, it is the perfect place if you have only 30 minutes to eat before a show. And it is cheap, $7.50 is the high price on most menu items and the portions are huge.
As we trudged out of Penn Station yesterday, JB and I considered our dinner options. Pizza from the guy downstairs or leftover lamb from Sunday night, we both agreed on Thai food. The lightbulb went on and we wheeled our bag over to Yum for some takeout.
It was worth the trip. The food stayed warm in the taxi home and was the ideal Golden Globe watching fare. I had my pad see yew, JB had his pad thai. It was just that easy.
Until we eat again, KLB
I learned about this hole in wall, real dump of a place on chowhound.com. It looks like nothing, but the Thai food taste is all there. Located on 44th Street between 6th & 7th, it is the perfect place if you have only 30 minutes to eat before a show. And it is cheap, $7.50 is the high price on most menu items and the portions are huge.
As we trudged out of Penn Station yesterday, JB and I considered our dinner options. Pizza from the guy downstairs or leftover lamb from Sunday night, we both agreed on Thai food. The lightbulb went on and we wheeled our bag over to Yum for some takeout.
It was worth the trip. The food stayed warm in the taxi home and was the ideal Golden Globe watching fare. I had my pad see yew, JB had his pad thai. It was just that easy.
Until we eat again, KLB
The Palm (East Hampton), 1/14/06
I think its red meat week at the Bergers. After Paul's on Thursday, we were invited to a celebratory birthday dinner for our sister-in-law Melissa at The Palm in East Hampton in Saturday night. The Palm, for those of you who don't know, is a temple to steak.
I'd been to Palm Too and Palm West both in NYC, and JB had been to Palm Too (with me!) and to the Palm in EH before. Actually, it was on his bachelor party weekend so I didn't have too many details and I was excited to try it for myself.
We sat for dinner at 6:30 and the restaurant was mobbed. Families mostly, each with a kid or two, including ours, jammed each table. It was old home week for half of our table who knew the groups on both sides of us. To say it was a scene was an understatement. You'd think it was Boca over Christmas, not Martin Luther King Day in the Hamptons.
Nonetheless, I was there for the steak (and the company of course). We tried to stick to Steakhouse favorites. 4 ribeyes and 2 strips. Sides of creamed spinach, mashed potatoes, green beans and broccoli. Salads all around from caesar to iceberg.
I was the only member of the clean plate club. 12 ounces of steak is no match for me. The first bite was the best - warm, slightly greasy, juicy steak. As I sat, talked, drank and continued eat, the steak became less juicy but kept its flavor. And while I almost threw in the napkin with about 4 bites to go, I perservered after a 5-minute break focusing on the sides.
The sides I had were tremendous with tons of garlic in the green vegetables. We learned the secret ingredients of the mashed potatoes, corn starch and flour, and found them perfectly whipped. I did not try to the creamed spinach, but JB found it a bit thick. There's flour in there, too.
No one had room for dessert but for a birthday we all made the sacrifice. The key lime pie was excellent as was the chocolate mousse pie.
All in all, a great meal. I did not see the bill, nor did I want to, and I can only imagine the cost. This is not a cheap dinner by any means, but worth a splurge to your wallet (and your arteries) once or twice a year.
Until we eat again, KLB
I'd been to Palm Too and Palm West both in NYC, and JB had been to Palm Too (with me!) and to the Palm in EH before. Actually, it was on his bachelor party weekend so I didn't have too many details and I was excited to try it for myself.
We sat for dinner at 6:30 and the restaurant was mobbed. Families mostly, each with a kid or two, including ours, jammed each table. It was old home week for half of our table who knew the groups on both sides of us. To say it was a scene was an understatement. You'd think it was Boca over Christmas, not Martin Luther King Day in the Hamptons.
Nonetheless, I was there for the steak (and the company of course). We tried to stick to Steakhouse favorites. 4 ribeyes and 2 strips. Sides of creamed spinach, mashed potatoes, green beans and broccoli. Salads all around from caesar to iceberg.
I was the only member of the clean plate club. 12 ounces of steak is no match for me. The first bite was the best - warm, slightly greasy, juicy steak. As I sat, talked, drank and continued eat, the steak became less juicy but kept its flavor. And while I almost threw in the napkin with about 4 bites to go, I perservered after a 5-minute break focusing on the sides.
The sides I had were tremendous with tons of garlic in the green vegetables. We learned the secret ingredients of the mashed potatoes, corn starch and flour, and found them perfectly whipped. I did not try to the creamed spinach, but JB found it a bit thick. There's flour in there, too.
No one had room for dessert but for a birthday we all made the sacrifice. The key lime pie was excellent as was the chocolate mousse pie.
All in all, a great meal. I did not see the bill, nor did I want to, and I can only imagine the cost. This is not a cheap dinner by any means, but worth a splurge to your wallet (and your arteries) once or twice a year.
Until we eat again, KLB
Thursday, January 12, 2006
Berger Review! Paul's 1/12/06
Boy I have missed these Berger Reviews. Its been a busy beginning to 2006 and today I finally had my first burger of the year.
I met JB at Paul's on 2nd Avenue near 8th Street in the East Village. According to JB it's a "dive" but who doesn't love a good dive. I certainly do.
Paul's is full of NYU students, wanna-be NYU students and people like us who read that Paul's has one of the best burgers in town. There were even a few tourists in the corner, complete with camera and all.
JB got there first and was moved to a few different tables before I got there 15 minutes later. (Note: I was not late, he was early!) He was disgruntled upon my arrival but his mood quickly picked up when we got a back table against the wall.
Burgers are the thing here. I ordered a mozzarella burger with grilled onions and JB opted for a cheddar deluxe that also came with raw onion, lettuce, tomato shoestring fries. He also splurged on a vanilla shake.
We noshed on the complimentary pickles and watched Jeopardy on the big screen while we waited. The milkshake came first which was mostly milk and little shake.
The burgers followed quickly and were 8 ounces of delight. They were greasy, flavorful and cooked to our specifications. They also got it right with the bun which was slightly smaller than the burger so you weren't stuck with a boring bun at the end. The shoestring fries were top-notch and there were plenty on the deluxe for both of us to share.
At the end of the meal, we'd spent less than $20 and were more than satisfied.
So the question remains, is Paul's the best burger? Probably not, but it's up there. We have some more burgers to review.
Until we eat again, KLB
I met JB at Paul's on 2nd Avenue near 8th Street in the East Village. According to JB it's a "dive" but who doesn't love a good dive. I certainly do.
Paul's is full of NYU students, wanna-be NYU students and people like us who read that Paul's has one of the best burgers in town. There were even a few tourists in the corner, complete with camera and all.
JB got there first and was moved to a few different tables before I got there 15 minutes later. (Note: I was not late, he was early!) He was disgruntled upon my arrival but his mood quickly picked up when we got a back table against the wall.
Burgers are the thing here. I ordered a mozzarella burger with grilled onions and JB opted for a cheddar deluxe that also came with raw onion, lettuce, tomato shoestring fries. He also splurged on a vanilla shake.
We noshed on the complimentary pickles and watched Jeopardy on the big screen while we waited. The milkshake came first which was mostly milk and little shake.
The burgers followed quickly and were 8 ounces of delight. They were greasy, flavorful and cooked to our specifications. They also got it right with the bun which was slightly smaller than the burger so you weren't stuck with a boring bun at the end. The shoestring fries were top-notch and there were plenty on the deluxe for both of us to share.
At the end of the meal, we'd spent less than $20 and were more than satisfied.
So the question remains, is Paul's the best burger? Probably not, but it's up there. We have some more burgers to review.
Until we eat again, KLB
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
Sick in the 60s, 12/19 & 12/20
I'm sick. And the best part about being sick in the city is that you can still get whatever you want without leaving your apartment. Here's how I survived:
Day 1 - Sable's, 2nd Ave between 78th & 79th St. On the way home from the Dr. yesterday I needed some matzoh ball soup. I actually went in (but they of course deliver) to Sable's to experience some of NYs finest Jewish home cooking. I asked for the requisite matzoh ball soup and then scoured the cases for something else while waiting for them to heat it up. Lobster salad? Which they actually gave me a taste of without asking, but not today. Noodle kugel? No. Rugelach? No. Latkes? Yes! I asked for a small order of latkes with apple sauce.
When I got home I had a bowl of soup first. The matzoh ball was a little chewy but the broth was right on. I then had the latkes and applesauce to complete the meal. I was perfectly sated and slept all afternoon.
When I woke up I heated up the rest of the soup and it was even better. JB brought me home an ice cream.
Day 2 - Spice, 2nd Ave between 72nd & 73rd st. Spice is one of my go-to ordering places. I don't love their food, but it is convenient and usually predictable. I read that they had a reasonable lunch special on menupages.com. So I called them up. I called and called. No answer, then busy. Transit Strike, I thought. Finally I got through. 1 hour and 15 minutes later my cold food arrived. Starving, I ate it anyway. Steamed shrimp and chicken were OK and my black noodles with chicken was not only cold and tiny, but relatively flavorless. I saved the vermicelli noodle soup for later. And was awake almost all afternoon.
I just heated up the soup and its the best part of what I ordered from Spice. Chicken, noodles, garlic. Maybe Spice just had a rough day. Kind of like me.
Until we eat again, KLB
Day 1 - Sable's, 2nd Ave between 78th & 79th St. On the way home from the Dr. yesterday I needed some matzoh ball soup. I actually went in (but they of course deliver) to Sable's to experience some of NYs finest Jewish home cooking. I asked for the requisite matzoh ball soup and then scoured the cases for something else while waiting for them to heat it up. Lobster salad? Which they actually gave me a taste of without asking, but not today. Noodle kugel? No. Rugelach? No. Latkes? Yes! I asked for a small order of latkes with apple sauce.
When I got home I had a bowl of soup first. The matzoh ball was a little chewy but the broth was right on. I then had the latkes and applesauce to complete the meal. I was perfectly sated and slept all afternoon.
When I woke up I heated up the rest of the soup and it was even better. JB brought me home an ice cream.
Day 2 - Spice, 2nd Ave between 72nd & 73rd st. Spice is one of my go-to ordering places. I don't love their food, but it is convenient and usually predictable. I read that they had a reasonable lunch special on menupages.com. So I called them up. I called and called. No answer, then busy. Transit Strike, I thought. Finally I got through. 1 hour and 15 minutes later my cold food arrived. Starving, I ate it anyway. Steamed shrimp and chicken were OK and my black noodles with chicken was not only cold and tiny, but relatively flavorless. I saved the vermicelli noodle soup for later. And was awake almost all afternoon.
I just heated up the soup and its the best part of what I ordered from Spice. Chicken, noodles, garlic. Maybe Spice just had a rough day. Kind of like me.
Until we eat again, KLB
Sunday, December 18, 2005
Rectangles, 12/18/05
I'm so over brunch. I like eggs just as much as the next person, but waiting in line at EJs for an hour seems so 5 years ago. I still like to eat at the brunch time, but not your typical brunch fare.
JB and I, exhausted from holiday parties, set out this morning (or early afternoon)and wanted something different. We settled on Rectangles, a relatively recently relocated Israeli Kosher restaurant on 1st Avenue in the 70s. We both had a strange craving for falafel.
There was not a yarmulke in sight at the restaurant but there was Israeli TV. The menu was filled with kabobs, stuffed cabbage other typical Israeli staples. We chose two falafel platters and a white bean soup. Oh and JB wanted french fries.
The tomato-based white bean soup came with hot, fresh from the oven pita. We shared the bowl which was simple and tasty. Midway through our soup the fries came which we found a bit strange. We asked if we could get them with the falafel instead and they happily obliged.
The falafel platters came with five balls each on a bed of tahini and more pita. I found the falafel had a good crispiness, but the tahini too smoky. JB thought it was perfect. New fries arrived which were good, although nothing special.
All in all, we were happy with our choice. There was no wait and no $12 egg whites. In fact, our whole meal with a nectar soda for JB came to $24. Definitely a bargain. The one thing I did miss those sweet potato fries at EJs....
Until we eat again, KLB
JB and I, exhausted from holiday parties, set out this morning (or early afternoon)and wanted something different. We settled on Rectangles, a relatively recently relocated Israeli Kosher restaurant on 1st Avenue in the 70s. We both had a strange craving for falafel.
There was not a yarmulke in sight at the restaurant but there was Israeli TV. The menu was filled with kabobs, stuffed cabbage other typical Israeli staples. We chose two falafel platters and a white bean soup. Oh and JB wanted french fries.
The tomato-based white bean soup came with hot, fresh from the oven pita. We shared the bowl which was simple and tasty. Midway through our soup the fries came which we found a bit strange. We asked if we could get them with the falafel instead and they happily obliged.
The falafel platters came with five balls each on a bed of tahini and more pita. I found the falafel had a good crispiness, but the tahini too smoky. JB thought it was perfect. New fries arrived which were good, although nothing special.
All in all, we were happy with our choice. There was no wait and no $12 egg whites. In fact, our whole meal with a nectar soda for JB came to $24. Definitely a bargain. The one thing I did miss those sweet potato fries at EJs....
Until we eat again, KLB
Berger Review! Sparky's 12/17/05
Amidst our Holiday shopping, we needed a snack. I told JB that when we got out of the subway at Lafayette and Bleecker we'd find a place. And, boy were we lucky when we walked up from underground and saw Sparky's. Then I remembered, Sparky's was a burger place in Williamsburg that had just opened a Manhattan location. We charged the door.
The space is the weird triangle just north of Houston on Lafayette so Sparky's has tons of light. They are known for having all organic ingredients and famous for burgers and dogs.
I ordered up a cheddar cheeseburger and JB had a hot dog with mustard and sauerkraut. We grabbed a table and waited for our food. Less than 10 minutes later I had a gourmet-looking burger with melted cheddar, raw onion, lettuce, tomato and pickles on a brioche-type bun. Boy was it juicy, JB had several bites as well, claiming me the winning orderer. My only complaint was that the bun was a little big so there were a few burger-less bites at the end.
JB certainly liked his hot dog, but will opt for the burger on our next visit. And we'll get the fries, too. I hear they are outstanding.
Until we eat again, KLB
The space is the weird triangle just north of Houston on Lafayette so Sparky's has tons of light. They are known for having all organic ingredients and famous for burgers and dogs.
I ordered up a cheddar cheeseburger and JB had a hot dog with mustard and sauerkraut. We grabbed a table and waited for our food. Less than 10 minutes later I had a gourmet-looking burger with melted cheddar, raw onion, lettuce, tomato and pickles on a brioche-type bun. Boy was it juicy, JB had several bites as well, claiming me the winning orderer. My only complaint was that the bun was a little big so there were a few burger-less bites at the end.
JB certainly liked his hot dog, but will opt for the burger on our next visit. And we'll get the fries, too. I hear they are outstanding.
Until we eat again, KLB
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Cesca, 12/13/05
Tonight was a pre-holiday treat with my parents. True to form, the first part of the evening was same-sex events only. JB & my Dad went to the University club for cocktails and my mom and I went to the Nutcracker. We met up for dinner, of course.
My mom had picked the restaurant, Cesca, since it was sort of close to Lincoln Center and she thinks it's "hot". JB and I, having never been, happily agreed and a I booked a reservation on opentable.com.
We arrived early at 8:20 for a 9:00 reservation. We asked if something was open and they said no, but to keep checking. We sat at 8:45 in a side room that seemed to have just opened. I'm not sure I would say Cesca is "hot" although it was certainly bustling.
I had heard about the parmesean fritters so I ordered those for the table. Everyone loved them. Who can disagree with fried cheese? There was a meat, pork maybe?, in the mixture, but it was pretty much 100% cheese tasting. A must order.
Because of the frigid temperatures we ordered two soups. My mom had mini-veal meatballs in a beef broth with acini di pepe. JB, my dad and I split a carrot soup. Which was light years ahead of the pumpkin soup JB and I made for Thanksgiving.
Main courses came quickly, too quickly. They had barely removed the soup bowls when the hot plates were put down.
My mom, who always has to have the most expensive thing on the menu, had the whole fish which was roasted dorado. A bit fishy for me, but the roasted tomatoes were perfect. JB had bacon wrapped pork tenderloin. I found it interesting to have two parts of the pig at once and so did he. I did not taste it, but JB devoured it. His plate also came with a surprise - fried broccoli rabe. Imagine broccoli tempura, this was amazing.
I had the smallest dish of all, a pasta with asaparagus and ricotta salata. The food was fine and the portion allowed me to try a lot of other dishes.
My dad had the lasagna and did not share, which I guess means he liked it.
Overall, the food was delicious. But we all agreed that the service was way too fast. They should have a dollar to minute ratio for food. If your dish costs less than $10 it should come out in less than 10 minutes. Less than $20, less than 20 minutes and less than $30 you get the idea. Otherwise, I think I'm getting ripped off.
Until we eat again, KLB
My mom had picked the restaurant, Cesca, since it was sort of close to Lincoln Center and she thinks it's "hot". JB and I, having never been, happily agreed and a I booked a reservation on opentable.com.
We arrived early at 8:20 for a 9:00 reservation. We asked if something was open and they said no, but to keep checking. We sat at 8:45 in a side room that seemed to have just opened. I'm not sure I would say Cesca is "hot" although it was certainly bustling.
I had heard about the parmesean fritters so I ordered those for the table. Everyone loved them. Who can disagree with fried cheese? There was a meat, pork maybe?, in the mixture, but it was pretty much 100% cheese tasting. A must order.
Because of the frigid temperatures we ordered two soups. My mom had mini-veal meatballs in a beef broth with acini di pepe. JB, my dad and I split a carrot soup. Which was light years ahead of the pumpkin soup JB and I made for Thanksgiving.
Main courses came quickly, too quickly. They had barely removed the soup bowls when the hot plates were put down.
My mom, who always has to have the most expensive thing on the menu, had the whole fish which was roasted dorado. A bit fishy for me, but the roasted tomatoes were perfect. JB had bacon wrapped pork tenderloin. I found it interesting to have two parts of the pig at once and so did he. I did not taste it, but JB devoured it. His plate also came with a surprise - fried broccoli rabe. Imagine broccoli tempura, this was amazing.
I had the smallest dish of all, a pasta with asaparagus and ricotta salata. The food was fine and the portion allowed me to try a lot of other dishes.
My dad had the lasagna and did not share, which I guess means he liked it.
Overall, the food was delicious. But we all agreed that the service was way too fast. They should have a dollar to minute ratio for food. If your dish costs less than $10 it should come out in less than 10 minutes. Less than $20, less than 20 minutes and less than $30 you get the idea. Otherwise, I think I'm getting ripped off.
Until we eat again, KLB
Monday, December 12, 2005
CamaJe, 12/12/05
Tonight was a funny night. JB and I got invited to an NYU Holiday Party where we could not say no to the free food and drinks. It the least they owe me after what I paid for grad school. And since we were in the neighborhood we met Matt, who is mid-finals, and Kimberly for dinner.
Kimberly and I, of course, debated where to go, but location won and it was off to CamaJe on MacDougal for some student eats.
I don't know what I expected, but the restaurant was not it. It was really small, I mean really small. Just a few tables, one of which was a table of 12 or so who appeared to be doing a Secret Santa/cooking event. Weird.
We opted for simple fare. A kobe beef burger for JB and Kimberly. A tuna salad for Matt and a hangar steak sandwich for me. Of all the dishes, Matt enjoyed his most. No fair, he's been before. I guess experience counts here.
We did split a delicious chocolate crepe for dessert, the highlight of the meal.
As Matt said, its good for lunch at school. But JB and I would take Mamoun's falafel up the street over this any day of the week.
Until we eat again, KLB
Kimberly and I, of course, debated where to go, but location won and it was off to CamaJe on MacDougal for some student eats.
I don't know what I expected, but the restaurant was not it. It was really small, I mean really small. Just a few tables, one of which was a table of 12 or so who appeared to be doing a Secret Santa/cooking event. Weird.
We opted for simple fare. A kobe beef burger for JB and Kimberly. A tuna salad for Matt and a hangar steak sandwich for me. Of all the dishes, Matt enjoyed his most. No fair, he's been before. I guess experience counts here.
We did split a delicious chocolate crepe for dessert, the highlight of the meal.
As Matt said, its good for lunch at school. But JB and I would take Mamoun's falafel up the street over this any day of the week.
Until we eat again, KLB
Welcome Back at Stantion Social, 12/2/05
Marius fell. And then he got up, a few months later after back surgery. So went out to celebrate, to welcome him back (pun intended). Laura organized 28 people on a Friday night in the holiday season, place cards and all. No easy feat.
The location was perfect. Stanton Social on the Lower East Side. IÂ’d been wanting to go there for ages and now here was my chance. Laura designed a set menu which allowed us to taste about a third of the menu. HereÂ’s what we had:
1st course
Sweet & sour chicken & cashew spring rolls: These were the standouts. They flew at our table. Delicious.
Wood grilled pizzetta with figs, smoked bacon, blue cheese and truffle honey: A mixed bag here. I typically don't like blue cheese, but I liked this. JB vehemently did not.
Red Snapper Tacos with fiery mango and avocado salsa: I was excited for these and found them a disappointment. Taco shell seemed ordinary. JB, however, loved this. No wonder Laura sat us at opposite ends of the table!
2nd course
Warm spinach salad with roasted corn, smoked goat cheese, & chile cashews: Again, this dish was a mixed bag. I found it a welcome treat, just to have one item and a light one at that. Others at our table were not fans.
3rd course
Wasabi pea crusted wild salmon with asian pesto and soba noodle beet salad: I do not like salmon or beets, but I liked this, the pesto gave it a kick. A testament to them.
Dry-Aged Hangar Steak au poivre with carmelized cippolini onoins: This dish was the one least touched at our table. It was perfectly fine, just not as complex as the other flavors.
Spaghettini with sweet roasted tomatoes, fava beans, arugula, lemon and pecorino: JB happened to love this dish. I found it ordinary but good. JB always loves a simple pasta.
Sides
Herb dusted frites with red chile mayo: No complaints here other than not enough for our table of 10.
Haricots Verts with garlic, olive oil, almonds and a sprinkling of cheese: These I liked, but most others didn't. Lucky for me, I'm married so I can have as much garlic as I want and there was a lot of it.
Bonus dish
Kobe Beef Burgers: JB & I table-hopped and convinced Matt & Aubrey to order the Kobe beef burgers with us. They were OK which was the disappointment of the evening. Laura was right in not putting them on the menu.
Dessert
Jamie's Dessert Platter: At this point, dessert was almost a no go. There were black and white cookies and donuts. I had a small taste of each. Go with the donuts and dip them in caramel. Serious yum.
To recap, it was an amazing party and Laura did an amazing job. Everyone had fun and everyone ate a ton. A lot of cheese and a lot of nuts, but that may have just been the menu.
There are a lot of items on the menu and JB and I have already decided that we must return for some more signature items. Especially the French Onion Soup dumplings, now that sounds awesome.
Until we eat again, KLB
The location was perfect. Stanton Social on the Lower East Side. IÂ’d been wanting to go there for ages and now here was my chance. Laura designed a set menu which allowed us to taste about a third of the menu. HereÂ’s what we had:
1st course
Sweet & sour chicken & cashew spring rolls: These were the standouts. They flew at our table. Delicious.
Wood grilled pizzetta with figs, smoked bacon, blue cheese and truffle honey: A mixed bag here. I typically don't like blue cheese, but I liked this. JB vehemently did not.
Red Snapper Tacos with fiery mango and avocado salsa: I was excited for these and found them a disappointment. Taco shell seemed ordinary. JB, however, loved this. No wonder Laura sat us at opposite ends of the table!
2nd course
Warm spinach salad with roasted corn, smoked goat cheese, & chile cashews: Again, this dish was a mixed bag. I found it a welcome treat, just to have one item and a light one at that. Others at our table were not fans.
3rd course
Wasabi pea crusted wild salmon with asian pesto and soba noodle beet salad: I do not like salmon or beets, but I liked this, the pesto gave it a kick. A testament to them.
Dry-Aged Hangar Steak au poivre with carmelized cippolini onoins: This dish was the one least touched at our table. It was perfectly fine, just not as complex as the other flavors.
Spaghettini with sweet roasted tomatoes, fava beans, arugula, lemon and pecorino: JB happened to love this dish. I found it ordinary but good. JB always loves a simple pasta.
Sides
Herb dusted frites with red chile mayo: No complaints here other than not enough for our table of 10.
Haricots Verts with garlic, olive oil, almonds and a sprinkling of cheese: These I liked, but most others didn't. Lucky for me, I'm married so I can have as much garlic as I want and there was a lot of it.
Bonus dish
Kobe Beef Burgers: JB & I table-hopped and convinced Matt & Aubrey to order the Kobe beef burgers with us. They were OK which was the disappointment of the evening. Laura was right in not putting them on the menu.
Dessert
Jamie's Dessert Platter: At this point, dessert was almost a no go. There were black and white cookies and donuts. I had a small taste of each. Go with the donuts and dip them in caramel. Serious yum.
To recap, it was an amazing party and Laura did an amazing job. Everyone had fun and everyone ate a ton. A lot of cheese and a lot of nuts, but that may have just been the menu.
There are a lot of items on the menu and JB and I have already decided that we must return for some more signature items. Especially the French Onion Soup dumplings, now that sounds awesome.
Until we eat again, KLB
Monday, December 05, 2005
Asian Culinary Tour, 11/20/05
Two weekends ago (I’m a little behind!), JB & I decided to spend the day on a Culinary Tour. We (I) picked out a few snack-type spots and decided to walk around the city eating. Cheap eats was the goal and as it turned out they all had an Asian twist. Here are the highlights:
- Rickshaw Dumpling Bar, 25 W. 23rd: We took it easy here since it was our first stop on the tour. Only one order of dumplings for the two of us to share. We decided to go traditional and had the pork & chive dumplings which were seriously awesome. We wished for another order, but were on our way for our next snack. Total cost: 9 dumplings for $8
- Tebaya, 114 w. 19th: Our friend Cynthia had told us about a place that specialized in Japanese chicken wings and we had to try them. Tebaya is a tiny store front with a just a small counter, but they churn out the best snacks. We had to get the chicken wings which were spicy and delicious. I also got kushikatsu which is basically chicken fingers on a stick and potemochi, which is similar to gnocchi but fried and in a soy sauce. These are definitely not your run of the mill snacks. If it were closer to us, I think it would give our pizza place a run for its money.
- Momofuku, 163 1st Ave: We slowly meandered from Chelsea to the East Village, stopping at Paragon for golf stuff (of course),Astor for wine and made it to 1st Ave. We walked past a few times before finding the sliver of a restaurant. The inside is a series of counters and at 5:45 it was already crowded. We sat where we could see them make our food which also happening to be under an air conditioning vent. I froze. We went there for the ramen which is one of JB’s favorites. He found it “eh”. The ingredients were fresh, pork, egg, noodles, but overall it was nothing special and not worth $14. Isn’t ramen supposed to be cheap? I was really full from Tebaya so I had an order of pork buns which I’d heard were standouts. They were. The pork was placed inside a biscuit with fresh cucumber. It was probably the best thing I had all day.
We’re thinking if planning another tour, so if you have any ideas, let us know.
Until we eat again, KLB
- Rickshaw Dumpling Bar, 25 W. 23rd: We took it easy here since it was our first stop on the tour. Only one order of dumplings for the two of us to share. We decided to go traditional and had the pork & chive dumplings which were seriously awesome. We wished for another order, but were on our way for our next snack. Total cost: 9 dumplings for $8
- Tebaya, 114 w. 19th: Our friend Cynthia had told us about a place that specialized in Japanese chicken wings and we had to try them. Tebaya is a tiny store front with a just a small counter, but they churn out the best snacks. We had to get the chicken wings which were spicy and delicious. I also got kushikatsu which is basically chicken fingers on a stick and potemochi, which is similar to gnocchi but fried and in a soy sauce. These are definitely not your run of the mill snacks. If it were closer to us, I think it would give our pizza place a run for its money.
- Momofuku, 163 1st Ave: We slowly meandered from Chelsea to the East Village, stopping at Paragon for golf stuff (of course),Astor for wine and made it to 1st Ave. We walked past a few times before finding the sliver of a restaurant. The inside is a series of counters and at 5:45 it was already crowded. We sat where we could see them make our food which also happening to be under an air conditioning vent. I froze. We went there for the ramen which is one of JB’s favorites. He found it “eh”. The ingredients were fresh, pork, egg, noodles, but overall it was nothing special and not worth $14. Isn’t ramen supposed to be cheap? I was really full from Tebaya so I had an order of pork buns which I’d heard were standouts. They were. The pork was placed inside a biscuit with fresh cucumber. It was probably the best thing I had all day.
We’re thinking if planning another tour, so if you have any ideas, let us know.
Until we eat again, KLB
Monday, November 21, 2005
Zeytin, 11/18/05
Friday night kicked off our first full weekend in the city since probably April. It had been a long time. JB & I planned a weekend to catch up with friends, see family, visit museums and eat food.
Friday night after work we zipped over to the MOMA to see the Pollocks. Since our visit to the Pollock-Krasner house in October, JB has had a mild obsession. And Friday nights at the MOMA are free so it was a no-brainer. Luckily it was not as crowded as anticipated (as an aside, the Van Gogh exhibit which we saw at the Met the next day, was not free and was ridiculously crowded.) After our art fix, we headed to the Upper West Side for dinner with our friends Ed & Vanessa.
Vanessa, who lives in the neighborhood, suggested Zeytin, a Turkish restaurant on 85th & Columbus. JB & I love Turkish so we were quick to agree.
Having done my research, I knew to order the lamb dumplings as an appetizer. They were tiny dumplings in a tahini like sauce and they were delicious. We had red caviar spread that everyone loved except me (I don't eat caviar). And finally, mashed eggplant and grilled octopus, both of which were just OK.
Since our first dinner at Turkish Kitchen in the Kips Bay area, we have always LOVED Hunkar Begendi. It is a lamb dish served on a bed of pureed eggplant. It is the eggplant that makes the dish. Its almost like mashed potatoes except it is eggplant. JB & I both had to order it and of course cleaned our plates. Ed followed with a lamb special which had some supposedly amazing rice and Vanessa a quail in grape leaves. I didn't try either of their dishes but everyone seemed to enjoy it their meals.
We finished our dinner with some Turkish desserts, a milky creme brulee-type dish and a baklava. The baklava was a standout.
Service was a low point, so we decided just to focus on the food which was a good move.
Overall, it was a fun evening, with good friends and good food. And I'm looking forward to our next Turkish meal.
Until we eat again, KLB
Friday night after work we zipped over to the MOMA to see the Pollocks. Since our visit to the Pollock-Krasner house in October, JB has had a mild obsession. And Friday nights at the MOMA are free so it was a no-brainer. Luckily it was not as crowded as anticipated (as an aside, the Van Gogh exhibit which we saw at the Met the next day, was not free and was ridiculously crowded.) After our art fix, we headed to the Upper West Side for dinner with our friends Ed & Vanessa.
Vanessa, who lives in the neighborhood, suggested Zeytin, a Turkish restaurant on 85th & Columbus. JB & I love Turkish so we were quick to agree.
Having done my research, I knew to order the lamb dumplings as an appetizer. They were tiny dumplings in a tahini like sauce and they were delicious. We had red caviar spread that everyone loved except me (I don't eat caviar). And finally, mashed eggplant and grilled octopus, both of which were just OK.
Since our first dinner at Turkish Kitchen in the Kips Bay area, we have always LOVED Hunkar Begendi. It is a lamb dish served on a bed of pureed eggplant. It is the eggplant that makes the dish. Its almost like mashed potatoes except it is eggplant. JB & I both had to order it and of course cleaned our plates. Ed followed with a lamb special which had some supposedly amazing rice and Vanessa a quail in grape leaves. I didn't try either of their dishes but everyone seemed to enjoy it their meals.
We finished our dinner with some Turkish desserts, a milky creme brulee-type dish and a baklava. The baklava was a standout.
Service was a low point, so we decided just to focus on the food which was a good move.
Overall, it was a fun evening, with good friends and good food. And I'm looking forward to our next Turkish meal.
Until we eat again, KLB
Thursday, November 17, 2005
Bistro 61, 11/17/05
Scheduling is tough. So much so that we had not seen Kimberly & Matt since their wedding in early October. Between the four of our schedules, we were able to squeeze in dinner tonight for almost all of us. Unfortunately, JB got stuck at work. I was the lone newlywed at the table.
We met at the Terance Conran shop where they were having a shopping event. 20% off all items and I thought I'd get a jump on my holiday shopping. I came away with only a gift, for myself, the much-written about 2006 NYC Michelin Guide. I even got a picture with myself & the Michelin man. I can't wait to read it.
After our botched shopping trip, we looked for a neighborhood spot. Bistro 61, on 1st & 61st (obviously) was where we landed. As Matt called it, the decor is "formulaic". Trust me, the exposed brick with cutouts for candles did not exist when this same space was an Indian restaurant.
The menu has typical bistro fare like mussels, french onion soup and frites, but also has some pasta dishes and salads. Our waitress was so skinny we felt guilty ordering. Nonetheless, Kimberly & I ordered a tuna tartar to start while Matt had a tomato/mozzarella tart. The tuna was served in a martini glass with rather large chunks of fish which pleased me. Matt silently ate his starter, so I can't really comment.
When we had been ordering our main courses, Kimberly had asked for the burger with foie gras. "A bargain!" she exclaimed, especially when compared to DB's burger. The waitress then let us know that that was the last one of the evening. We found that quite strange considering it was only a little after 8:00 but oh well. I did taste it and thought it just OK. The foie gras was pate-style so it was not for me. The fries, however, were close to perfect. They are on the list.
Matt & I each opted for the pasta. Mine was a rigatoni with eggplant & zucchini which I thought was somewhat healthy. Matt had black linguine, which he deemed fresh, with crab, which he deemed not.
All in all, we agreed that it was a good neighborhood spot. We then talked about their neighborhood bistros like Park Bistro & Cossette and said we'd go there next time.
Until we eat again, KLB
PS - Matt, good luck in the marathon on Sunday!
We met at the Terance Conran shop where they were having a shopping event. 20% off all items and I thought I'd get a jump on my holiday shopping. I came away with only a gift, for myself, the much-written about 2006 NYC Michelin Guide. I even got a picture with myself & the Michelin man. I can't wait to read it.
After our botched shopping trip, we looked for a neighborhood spot. Bistro 61, on 1st & 61st (obviously) was where we landed. As Matt called it, the decor is "formulaic". Trust me, the exposed brick with cutouts for candles did not exist when this same space was an Indian restaurant.
The menu has typical bistro fare like mussels, french onion soup and frites, but also has some pasta dishes and salads. Our waitress was so skinny we felt guilty ordering. Nonetheless, Kimberly & I ordered a tuna tartar to start while Matt had a tomato/mozzarella tart. The tuna was served in a martini glass with rather large chunks of fish which pleased me. Matt silently ate his starter, so I can't really comment.
When we had been ordering our main courses, Kimberly had asked for the burger with foie gras. "A bargain!" she exclaimed, especially when compared to DB's burger. The waitress then let us know that that was the last one of the evening. We found that quite strange considering it was only a little after 8:00 but oh well. I did taste it and thought it just OK. The foie gras was pate-style so it was not for me. The fries, however, were close to perfect. They are on the list.
Matt & I each opted for the pasta. Mine was a rigatoni with eggplant & zucchini which I thought was somewhat healthy. Matt had black linguine, which he deemed fresh, with crab, which he deemed not.
All in all, we agreed that it was a good neighborhood spot. We then talked about their neighborhood bistros like Park Bistro & Cossette and said we'd go there next time.
Until we eat again, KLB
PS - Matt, good luck in the marathon on Sunday!
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Applausi, 11/15/05
My parents had been begging us to come out to Old Greenwich to see them. Its hard with our weekends away and our late hours during the week, but my mom had essentially put her foot down, so JB and I dutifully boarded the train and headed to the land of suburbia.
My dad greeted us in his new Mini. Boy is that car small, but awesome. Especially awesome because my mom won it for him at a charity event. That $25 raffle ticket is probably the best return she’s ever gotten on her investment.
After spending some time at the house and opening a few wedding gifts, we headed up the road to Applausi. If you’ve never been to Old Greenwich, it’s a small town. One main road with a few restaurants and shops. Everyone knows everyone. So sitting in the window at Applausi I thought we were doomed to never catch our return train home, but luckily my mom only knew the people at two tables.
The setting is pleasant and the waiters congenial. The food is Italian, in a fancy way. Home-made pastas are in the low $20s and entrees are in the $22 - $34 range.
The bread was the best part. Crusty Italian and focaccia with delicious olive oil.
We moved on to salads, a mixed and a Caesar, which were both ordinary.
We all had pasta for dinner. Sadly, I was the loser of the evening. I chose a fusilli with pesto and shrimp. The shrimp was small but tasted fine. The pesto sauce did not. Way too creamy, and since when is there cream in pesto sauce? I ate some but not all. JB and my mom had ravioli, my mom’s plain and JB’s with lobster and crab. I tasted my mom’s and found the ravioli hard and almost cheese-less. My dad quietly consumed is spaghetti with shellfish. I think he won.
We didn’t have time for dessert because we had to make the train, but I think I would have passed. My parents come here often, I don’t think the place is bad, I just think we did not order right. Next time I’m staying away from the pasta.
Until we eat again, KLB
My dad greeted us in his new Mini. Boy is that car small, but awesome. Especially awesome because my mom won it for him at a charity event. That $25 raffle ticket is probably the best return she’s ever gotten on her investment.
After spending some time at the house and opening a few wedding gifts, we headed up the road to Applausi. If you’ve never been to Old Greenwich, it’s a small town. One main road with a few restaurants and shops. Everyone knows everyone. So sitting in the window at Applausi I thought we were doomed to never catch our return train home, but luckily my mom only knew the people at two tables.
The setting is pleasant and the waiters congenial. The food is Italian, in a fancy way. Home-made pastas are in the low $20s and entrees are in the $22 - $34 range.
The bread was the best part. Crusty Italian and focaccia with delicious olive oil.
We moved on to salads, a mixed and a Caesar, which were both ordinary.
We all had pasta for dinner. Sadly, I was the loser of the evening. I chose a fusilli with pesto and shrimp. The shrimp was small but tasted fine. The pesto sauce did not. Way too creamy, and since when is there cream in pesto sauce? I ate some but not all. JB and my mom had ravioli, my mom’s plain and JB’s with lobster and crab. I tasted my mom’s and found the ravioli hard and almost cheese-less. My dad quietly consumed is spaghetti with shellfish. I think he won.
We didn’t have time for dessert because we had to make the train, but I think I would have passed. My parents come here often, I don’t think the place is bad, I just think we did not order right. Next time I’m staying away from the pasta.
Until we eat again, KLB
Monday, November 14, 2005
3 Bergers, 1 Weekend, 11/11/05 - 11/13/05
We just came back from spending a fun weekend with JB's mom at our villa in the Hamptons. We walked on the beach, we shopped, we saw art and we ate. Boy did we eat.
Here are the highlights:
- Dinner, Friday, Triangle Pub in Eastport: As I've mentioned time and again this place has the best burgers around. $5 of perfection. See our August review for the full report.
- Lunch, Saturday, Sydney's in Westhampton Beach: We knew we were having a big dinner so we split some curried chicken salad after shopping in town. The three of us downed that pound of chicken. It was delicious, not too mayonnaise-y and complete with currants (yes I picked them out, but the others enjoyed them). We also had the most amazing bag of olive oil and rosemary potato chips. You should order them online, they truly are awesome. www.goodhealthnaturalfoods.com/oliveoilchips.html
- Dinner, Saturday, The Almond in Bridgehampton: We were big winners at the Almond with their prix-fixe. Before 7PM they offer three courses for $19.95, a steal in any season. JB & his mom started with the mussels while I chose a simple goat cheese salad. I tasted the mussels which were plentiful and full of garlic. All three of us had the roast chicken which had a breast and a thigh. JB traded his breast for my thigh since I don't love dark meat. Potatoes and spinach complemented the dish which disappeared from all of our plates. Dessert was ice cream or sorbet, neither were noteworthy, but by then we'd had our fill. We also enjoyed a great bottle of Lieb Chardonnay from Mattituck. Truly a perfect evening.
- Brunch, Sunday, Trumpets on the Bay in Eastport: As if we weren't full enough, we opted for a fancy brunch overlooking the bay. JB and his mom continued the festivities with Bloody Marys while I stayed with water only. The bread basket was huge. Sweet buns, cheddar rolls, flatbreads, I think we finished three baskets. Our 12 year old busboy was not thrilled, neither was our waitrees. Alas, we also paid for food. Trying to get back on track, I had an egg white & asparagus omelette but wound up eating much of my new mother-in-law's steak frites. JB had tuna tartar to start which was not original but good and then had an escalar salad. A strange finish if you ask me, but he liked it.
We waddled back to NYC full, happy and relaxed.
Until we eat again, KLB
Here are the highlights:
- Dinner, Friday, Triangle Pub in Eastport: As I've mentioned time and again this place has the best burgers around. $5 of perfection. See our August review for the full report.
- Lunch, Saturday, Sydney's in Westhampton Beach: We knew we were having a big dinner so we split some curried chicken salad after shopping in town. The three of us downed that pound of chicken. It was delicious, not too mayonnaise-y and complete with currants (yes I picked them out, but the others enjoyed them). We also had the most amazing bag of olive oil and rosemary potato chips. You should order them online, they truly are awesome. www.goodhealthnaturalfoods.com/oliveoilchips.html
- Dinner, Saturday, The Almond in Bridgehampton: We were big winners at the Almond with their prix-fixe. Before 7PM they offer three courses for $19.95, a steal in any season. JB & his mom started with the mussels while I chose a simple goat cheese salad. I tasted the mussels which were plentiful and full of garlic. All three of us had the roast chicken which had a breast and a thigh. JB traded his breast for my thigh since I don't love dark meat. Potatoes and spinach complemented the dish which disappeared from all of our plates. Dessert was ice cream or sorbet, neither were noteworthy, but by then we'd had our fill. We also enjoyed a great bottle of Lieb Chardonnay from Mattituck. Truly a perfect evening.
- Brunch, Sunday, Trumpets on the Bay in Eastport: As if we weren't full enough, we opted for a fancy brunch overlooking the bay. JB and his mom continued the festivities with Bloody Marys while I stayed with water only. The bread basket was huge. Sweet buns, cheddar rolls, flatbreads, I think we finished three baskets. Our 12 year old busboy was not thrilled, neither was our waitrees. Alas, we also paid for food. Trying to get back on track, I had an egg white & asparagus omelette but wound up eating much of my new mother-in-law's steak frites. JB had tuna tartar to start which was not original but good and then had an escalar salad. A strange finish if you ask me, but he liked it.
We waddled back to NYC full, happy and relaxed.
Until we eat again, KLB
Thursday, November 10, 2005
$1 Dinner at Dumpling House, 11/10/05
All Bergers love a good bargain. Tonight we had one of NYC's best.
Our dumpling quest occurred circumstantially because we went to a Golf Digest gallery opening on the edge of Chinatown. Art, golf, Grey Goose and free food. Paradise for JB. The food was ordinary but everything else was spectacular.
And so since we were in the neighborhood I thought we should try a dumpling place to see what they were all about.
The Dumpling House is on Eldridge Street just south of Delancey. A few more blocks and you're in the familiar Lower East Side, but Eldridge Street is far from familiar. Its Chinatown without the tourists.
Dumpling House's special is, of course, dumplings. 5 for $1 or 10 for $2. They come boiled or fried; pork, vegetable or a combination of the two. They also have some soups and scallion pancakes that resemble pizzas. Everything is made on site and the kitchen workers constantly run to the front of the house with freshly made dumplings.
We had dumplings. 20 to be exact. 10 fried pork & chive, 5 boiled pork & chive and 5 boiled pork & vegetable. They all won. The boiled dumplings are round and compact whereas the fried ones are longer and flatter. Yum all around.
Dumpling House is not a dining destination. We were there only about 15 or 20 minutes, you can't make a night of it, but its the perfect stop if you're (sort of) in the neighborhood.
Oh, we took home a bag of 30 frozen dumplings for $5 so we can make them at home. We'll let you know how that goes.
Until we eat again, KLB
Our dumpling quest occurred circumstantially because we went to a Golf Digest gallery opening on the edge of Chinatown. Art, golf, Grey Goose and free food. Paradise for JB. The food was ordinary but everything else was spectacular.
And so since we were in the neighborhood I thought we should try a dumpling place to see what they were all about.
The Dumpling House is on Eldridge Street just south of Delancey. A few more blocks and you're in the familiar Lower East Side, but Eldridge Street is far from familiar. Its Chinatown without the tourists.
Dumpling House's special is, of course, dumplings. 5 for $1 or 10 for $2. They come boiled or fried; pork, vegetable or a combination of the two. They also have some soups and scallion pancakes that resemble pizzas. Everything is made on site and the kitchen workers constantly run to the front of the house with freshly made dumplings.
We had dumplings. 20 to be exact. 10 fried pork & chive, 5 boiled pork & chive and 5 boiled pork & vegetable. They all won. The boiled dumplings are round and compact whereas the fried ones are longer and flatter. Yum all around.
Dumpling House is not a dining destination. We were there only about 15 or 20 minutes, you can't make a night of it, but its the perfect stop if you're (sort of) in the neighborhood.
Oh, we took home a bag of 30 frozen dumplings for $5 so we can make them at home. We'll let you know how that goes.
Until we eat again, KLB
Monday, November 07, 2005
Berger Review! Good Bergers at Goodburger
JB and I have been waiting for Good Burger to open. We saw the signs on the windows, we read the news of the its opening and today we ate it.
And it is a good burger.
Burgers are small, very juicy and delicious. I opted for a plain hamburger with lettuce, tomato & onion. JB had a cheeseburger with the works which, in addition to what I had, has mustard, mayo, ketchup and pickles. We split the fries which were Mickey’s D style but not quite as good.
It was super crowded at 1PM on a Monday. Its on 43rd & 2nd so it is packed with business people and tourists. There are very few seats. JB stood while I was on a stool at the counter.
Here’s the complaint. This place is expensive. A hamburger, fries & a drink make a combo which is priced at $8.00. The hamburger alone is $4.75. And neither of those prices includes cheese. But is it worth it? Sometimes. I think its worth a try, I mean I have to try every Berger place out there. But I’ve had better for less.
Shack burger anyone?
Until we eat again, KLB
And it is a good burger.
Burgers are small, very juicy and delicious. I opted for a plain hamburger with lettuce, tomato & onion. JB had a cheeseburger with the works which, in addition to what I had, has mustard, mayo, ketchup and pickles. We split the fries which were Mickey’s D style but not quite as good.
It was super crowded at 1PM on a Monday. Its on 43rd & 2nd so it is packed with business people and tourists. There are very few seats. JB stood while I was on a stool at the counter.
Here’s the complaint. This place is expensive. A hamburger, fries & a drink make a combo which is priced at $8.00. The hamburger alone is $4.75. And neither of those prices includes cheese. But is it worth it? Sometimes. I think its worth a try, I mean I have to try every Berger place out there. But I’ve had better for less.
Shack burger anyone?
Until we eat again, KLB
The Bergers Drink Beer & Eat a Great Meal, 11/5/05
Free Beer. Two of the best words in the English language for many people. And we found it in Patchogue.
JB and I decided to go on a Long Island excursion. Instead of going east as we typically do, we went west in search of the Blue Point Brewery.
We found it not in Blue Point, but in an unassuming warehouse in Patchogue. We walked in and found a crowded bar. Its crowded because its free. All the beer is free except one or two kinds which cost $1.
We found a spot at the bar and JB had a taste of each of the 10 or so on tap. 10 beers for free. They were small cups and JB couldn't drink them all, but some people do and then some.
I stopped on the light beers but JB went all the way to darkest & stormiest brew. And we got a free tour from one of the brewers. He tastes each beer every day. Tough job.
After all the drinking we were hungry. A guy we befriended at the bar urged us to go to a patches seafood restaurant, but we had had enough of patches and decided to try a new town - Bellport.
We had heard that Bellport is a mini-Hamptons and wanted to see what it was all about -- in the off season. With my trusty Long Island Zagat we read about a restaurant called Bellport Restaurant.
In a word, it was awesome. Some of the best cooking we've had in a long time. Food was simple and delicious. All the ingredients were fresh, portions were large and prices were reasonable.
I splurged on the buttermilk fried chicken, a self-reported favorite, with chive mashed potatoes and string beans. I almost ate the whole thing.
JB started with a lobster bisque, that didn't quite have enough lobster, but finished strong with the Long Island duck. JB is a duck snob. He rarely likes it, but always gets it and is disappointed. Tonight he was thrilled. The duck came in a wine sauce with the leg and the breast, plus a pile of stuffing. (I cannot wait for stuffing at Thanksgiving).
We skipped dessert, and drinks for the matter, but still had a lovely dinner. It was the polar opposite of the Blue Point Brewery, including more money. But it was so worth it. We will be back.
Until we eat again, KLB
JB and I decided to go on a Long Island excursion. Instead of going east as we typically do, we went west in search of the Blue Point Brewery.
We found it not in Blue Point, but in an unassuming warehouse in Patchogue. We walked in and found a crowded bar. Its crowded because its free. All the beer is free except one or two kinds which cost $1.
We found a spot at the bar and JB had a taste of each of the 10 or so on tap. 10 beers for free. They were small cups and JB couldn't drink them all, but some people do and then some.
I stopped on the light beers but JB went all the way to darkest & stormiest brew. And we got a free tour from one of the brewers. He tastes each beer every day. Tough job.
After all the drinking we were hungry. A guy we befriended at the bar urged us to go to a patches seafood restaurant, but we had had enough of patches and decided to try a new town - Bellport.
We had heard that Bellport is a mini-Hamptons and wanted to see what it was all about -- in the off season. With my trusty Long Island Zagat we read about a restaurant called Bellport Restaurant.
In a word, it was awesome. Some of the best cooking we've had in a long time. Food was simple and delicious. All the ingredients were fresh, portions were large and prices were reasonable.
I splurged on the buttermilk fried chicken, a self-reported favorite, with chive mashed potatoes and string beans. I almost ate the whole thing.
JB started with a lobster bisque, that didn't quite have enough lobster, but finished strong with the Long Island duck. JB is a duck snob. He rarely likes it, but always gets it and is disappointed. Tonight he was thrilled. The duck came in a wine sauce with the leg and the breast, plus a pile of stuffing. (I cannot wait for stuffing at Thanksgiving).
We skipped dessert, and drinks for the matter, but still had a lovely dinner. It was the polar opposite of the Blue Point Brewery, including more money. But it was so worth it. We will be back.
Until we eat again, KLB
Le Zie, 11/4/05
Happy Birthday Emily! We missed the official celebration on Saturday night so we decided to have a birthday weekend kickoff dinner on Friday night at Le Zie. Emily loves Italian and we needed to be close-ish to Penn Station to get our 10:29PM train, so Le Zie on 7th Avenue & 20th Street was a great fit.
When considering Le Zie we were worried that they didn't take reservations. But they did for a party of 6, which we were, so an 8:00 dining time was set. When we ran into Emily & Greg on 7th Avenue at 8:15 I was slightly worried the table would be gone, but Le Zie is very casual. Very casual. They sat us at our 6-top with only 4 of us and were accommodating when Seth & Emily (a different Emily) appeared from the back garden.
Now the food. I had heard lots of rave reviews on Chowhound.com. Plus my friend Laura recommended the Mac & Cheese and/or the gnocchi. We were set.
JB & I did a mini pasta tasting menu. A pumpkin ravioli to start, followed by the macaroni & cheese with black truffles and the ricotta & spinach tortellini. We shared well, passing back & forth every few bites.
But there were problems. Almost all of the dishes were cold. I do not like cold food. Emily sent her gnocchi back it was so cold.
The pumpkin ravioli was super sweet. Birthday girl Emily had an entree size worth and could not finish.
The macaroni & cheese, as Laura had recommended was the clear winner. Clear winner. Greg & Seth had opted for more meaty dishes, veal and lamb respectively, but all took from the macaroni & cheese.
We did have a fun, and a lot of prosecco.
Oh and by the way, we caught the train by about two minutes. I would not recommend trying to catch a train after a birthday dinner. The buzz goes right through you when you're running for a train.
Until we eat again, KLB
When considering Le Zie we were worried that they didn't take reservations. But they did for a party of 6, which we were, so an 8:00 dining time was set. When we ran into Emily & Greg on 7th Avenue at 8:15 I was slightly worried the table would be gone, but Le Zie is very casual. Very casual. They sat us at our 6-top with only 4 of us and were accommodating when Seth & Emily (a different Emily) appeared from the back garden.
Now the food. I had heard lots of rave reviews on Chowhound.com. Plus my friend Laura recommended the Mac & Cheese and/or the gnocchi. We were set.
JB & I did a mini pasta tasting menu. A pumpkin ravioli to start, followed by the macaroni & cheese with black truffles and the ricotta & spinach tortellini. We shared well, passing back & forth every few bites.
But there were problems. Almost all of the dishes were cold. I do not like cold food. Emily sent her gnocchi back it was so cold.
The pumpkin ravioli was super sweet. Birthday girl Emily had an entree size worth and could not finish.
The macaroni & cheese, as Laura had recommended was the clear winner. Clear winner. Greg & Seth had opted for more meaty dishes, veal and lamb respectively, but all took from the macaroni & cheese.
We did have a fun, and a lot of prosecco.
Oh and by the way, we caught the train by about two minutes. I would not recommend trying to catch a train after a birthday dinner. The buzz goes right through you when you're running for a train.
Until we eat again, KLB
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